# Tangle > Unbiased political news from start to finish. We summarize the best arguments from the left, right and center on one big debate every day — then our take. Public Ghost content for AI and LLM tooling. This file includes a bounded export of public pages first, then recent public posts. Append `.md` to any post or page URL to get the content in Markdown (for example, `/example-post.md`). ## Pages ### Welcome to the good life... URL: https://www.readtangle.com/welcome-to-tangle/ Last updated: 2026-10-02T05:56:25.000Z Hey there - my name is Isaac Saul. I’m the founder of Tangle, pictured below hanging out at my home away from home in West Texas. I have bad news and good news. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2021/09/Profile-pic-1.jpg) **The bad news:** The media ecosystem is in big trouble. Trust in media is at an all-time low. Many news outlets are offering opinion and commentary disguised as fact, and are only playing to a liberal or conservative audience. Not many Republicans read The New York Times. Not many Democrats watch Fox News. We’re all in information silos that are getting worse thanks to social media algorithms. At the same time, the business side of the news industry is in free fall. Local and national outlets alike are closing down, while mega-rich individuals buy up media institutions at a fraction of their value and then bend them toward their liking. The truth is: it’s a tough time to be a journalist or writer. **The good news:** Thanks to accessible publishing tools and a free internet, a lot of independent publications like ours are thriving. In 2019, I started Tangle because I wanted to build a news organization that my liberal, conservative, and independent friends and family could all trust. I had a simple idea: I’d share the basic facts on a story, the left’s arguments, the right’s arguments, and my take — then let readers make up their minds. Then I went out and hired the smartest people I could find to help me, but ensured that they came from diverse backgrounds with diverse political views, too. And, with a lot of hard work and a little bit of luck, it worked. Our newsletter audience is over 500,000 people strong. I have more than a dozen employees. We have thriving channels on social media, YouTube, and in the podcast space. And according to the big media bias watchdogs, **we are as balanced, fair, and ideologically diverse as you can be.** - **Tangle is rated as "center" bias and highly credible** by[ AllSides](https://www.allsides.com/news-source/tangle-media-bias?ref=readtangle.com), by[ AdFontes](https://www.adfontesmedia.com/tangle-bias-and-reliability/?ref=readtangle.com), and [Media Bias / Fact Check](https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/tangle-bias-and-credibility/?ref=readtangle.com). - Our audience is **40% liberal, 30% conservative, and 30% independent or "other"** — so we are bringing a diverse audience under one roof. - **More than 95% of all our readers, regardless of their political affiliation, say they trust Tangle to deliver balanced news.** But we’ve still got a long way to go. Hundreds of thousands of people read our work, but millions consume the mainstream news that is poisoning our discourse and making us angrier, less-informed, and more divided than ever. The reason Tangle has worked is that we have stayed 100% independent. I own 100% of the business and we have zero investors. Better yet: This project is reader supported. 90% of all the revenue we make comes directly from readers, listeners, and viewers who become members to support our work. So, while you can read or watch a lot of our content for free, I’m here — humbly — asking for your support in this project. As a new reader, I’m offering you [a special, one-time, 20% discount ](https://www.readtangle.com/welcome-to-tangle-august-newsletter-2)on a Tangle membership. The cost of a newsletter membership is just $47/year with the membership, cheaper than almost all of our competitors in the space. That’s $3.90/month for your first year — about as much as a cup of coffee at most cafes these days. If you [subscribe right now](https://www.readtangle.com/welcome-to-tangle-august-newsletter-2), that membership gets you the following: - **100% ad-free newsletters** - **Subscribers-only Friday editions** - **Sunday editions with comics, reader essays, and round-up** - **Access to the comments section** - **Transcribed interviews, deep dives, access to our partners' content, and full access to our archives, with over 2,000 posts on controversial topics** - **New benefits as we roll them out** [Claim the discount!](https://www.readtangle.com/welcome-to-tangle-august-newsletter-2) Thank you for reading, for supporting our work, and for trying to change the way we consume the news. Don’t be shy about writing in, and don’t forget to spread the word to your friends, too. Best, Isaac Saul Founder and Executive Editor ### About us. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/about/ Last updated: 2026-09-15T13:34:55.000Z **Tangle is an award-winning media organization that covers the biggest politics stories in the U.S. by summarizing arguments from the right, left, and center (then "our take").* **Tangle Media LLC is owned by Isaac Saul and is an independent, non-partisan, and subscriber-supported organization. Our newsletter is read by over 500,000 people in 60+ countries across the world and our podcast reaches hundreds of thousands of listeners every month. Tangle’s audience is made up of conservatives, liberals, independents, and those who don’t identify with any political tribe.* **We have a* [**newsletter*](https://www.readtangle.com/membership/)**,* [**podcast*](https://anchor.fm/tanglenews?ref=readtangle.com)**,* [**YouTube channel*](https://www.youtube.com/@tanglenews?ref=readtangle.com)**, and* [**live events*](https://www.readtangle.com/live/)**.* First time hearing about us? [****Sign up for free here**](https://www.readtangle.com/membership/)****.** --- ### Why trust us? If I were you, I wouldn't. Media outlets face all sorts of challenges today, from overt bias to corporate interests to the basic dereliction of good journalistic practices. But we earn our readers' trust in a very simple way: By providing views from across the political spectrum in every single edition, clearly labeling what is opinion and what isn't. This is not "both sidesism" or giving equal weight to conspiracies and facts. Instead, we search the world for the best arguments we can about the debates of the day, and then we show them to you. Side-by-side. So you can decide. Fortunately, you don't have to take our word for it. Tangle has been reviewed by the three biggest and most reliable media bias raters in the industry: AllSides, AdFontesMedia, and Media Bias Fact Check. Here is our "bias rating," according to Media Bias Fact Check: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2025/02/Screenshot-2025-02-27-at-12.54.54-PM.png) Here it is according to Ad Fontes Media: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2025/02/Media-Bias-Chart-13.0_Jan-2025-Unlicensed-Social.jpg) And here is our rating from AllSides, another prominent media bias rater: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2022/06/Screen-Shot-2022-06-13-at-4.09.34-PM.png) "An independent review of Tangle in May 2022 conducted by AllSides Managing Editor Henry A. Brechter (Center bias) noted a strong effort to present both sides of issues in a non-sensational and respectful way." ... An AllSides October 2022 [Small Group Editorial Review](https://www.allsides.com/media-bias/media-bias-rating-methods/editorial-reviews?ref=readtangle.com) returned a bias rating of Center for Tangle, noting balanced story choice and word choice "to include perspectives from both the right and the left" with articles that "relied heavily on facts." --- ### How do we do it? The Tangle format is our special sauce. We have a Monday through Thursday newsletter that is free for everyone, and we put our Friday editions behind a paywall. Whenever you get an email from us, here is what it will look like: **Today's topic:** We tell you the biggest political news story of the day. The basic, indisputable facts in the most neutral language possible. **What the left, right and center are saying:** We give you a round-up of three arguments from the left and three from the right, spanning from the center to more fringe of each side. This way, you get analysis from across the political spectrum. **My take:** As an open-minded politics reporter, I’ll share my honest, unfiltered thoughts about those arguments. This is an act of transparency, so you know a little bit about the thought-process of the people providing you the news. Sometimes "My take" will be written by different members of our team. **Staff dissent:** During our editorial process, disagreements about how we are viewing a topic often comes to the surface. Rather than burying those disagreements, we'll highlight them with a brief "staff dissent" section where a member of our team can write about why they disagree with the author of the "My take" section. **Your questions, answered:** Almost every day, we answer a question from a member of our audience. **Under the radar:** One major news story that’s being drowned out by all the noise. **Numbers:** The most interesting numbers from the last 24 hours. **Have a nice day:** A good news story to wash it all down. **Plus:** Every newsletter is about a 10-minute read. We are more in depth than a lot of newsletters, because we want our readers to embrace the nuance. But it won't take you more time than is necessary to consume our content. **Transparency:** If we get something wrong, we’ll correct it at the top of the newsletter, and let you know how many corrections we've had since Tangle started. And if you write in to criticize something we published, there’s a good chance we’ll share your feedback with our readers! --- ### Who runs this thing? My name is Isaac Saul. I am a politics reporter who grew up in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, one of the most [politically divided](https://www.cnn.com/2016/11/04/politics/critical-counties-bucks-pennsylvania/index.html?ref=readtangle.com) counties in all of America. I have lived, studied, traveled and written all over the U.S., Bolivia, Canada, China, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Egypt, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Singapore and Thailand, among others. After college, I helped build A Plus, a solutions journalism media outlet, alongside actor and entrepreneur Ashton Kutcher. I worked as an editor and politics reporter for A Plus while I freelanced all over the media space. My work has appeared in just about every digital publication under the sun, and has also been cited by some of the "big names" like Fox News, The New York Times and The Washington Post. In 2016, Yahoo News named me one of the 16 people whose writing shaped the 2016 election. In 2020, Forbes Magazine [called me](https://www.forbes.com/next1000/?ref=readtangle.com) one of the 1,000 “upstart entrepreneurs redefining the American dream.” You can read more about my career as a reporter [here](http://www.isaacsaul.org/?ref=readtangle.com) or [follow me on Twitter](https://twitter.com/Ike%5FSaul?ref=readtangle.com). But it's not just me. Tangle is produced by about a dozen people: A team of full-time writers, editors, and video and podcast producers, a group of part-time and interning copy editors and fact-checkers, and a sales team. All have professional experience across the spectrum (both inside and outside media) who all work on helping research and produce our content. And, of course, we include the opinions and feedback from readers in almost every newsletter. I started Tangle because I recognized that [the news industry was broken](https://www.readtangle.com/why-the-media-is-broken/). My work was getting published in a lot of different places, and I realized people trusted it not based on what I was saying — but based on where I was saying it. Readers on the left would trust nothing I wrote if it showed up in a conservative-leaning news outlet, and vice versa. This is how I realized just how strong the information bubble was. So I had a concept I wanted to execute: A newsletter where no matter who you were, you would encounter political opinions that you did not agree with. A genuine big tent media organization. That seemed healthy to me. Then I launched Tangle as a side project, and as it grew I decided to quit my job and go "all-in" on building it out. Today, our readers span the political spectrum: Roughly 40% of our readers self-identify as liberal, 30% self-identify as conservative, and the rest say they are independent or outside the left-right binary. If you'd like to give it a shot, you can subscribe to Tangle for free [here](https://www.readtangle.com/). Or, you can consider some of the testimonials from our readers... --- ### What subscribers say. “Tangle is restoring my trust in news and media. Any good argument looks at both sides. Any good news source looks at both sides and digests an objective viewpoint for its viewers. Tangle does this in every report.” **— Alexis, Kansas City, Kansas** “My favorite read of the day. Tangle is reflective, nuanced, and self-aware. It challenges my beliefs and broadens my horizons. Reading Tangle makes me feel better informed about the country and world.” **— Adam, San Francisco, California** “Tangle is the rational, reasoned read that helps me focus on the signal of current events rather than the noise.” **— Michael, Buda, Texas** “Dangerously close to becoming the highlight of my day.”**— Pranav, New York, NY** “Tangle is the best discovery I've made in the last month. Isaac Saul has the remarkably unique ability to summarize what both sides of the political aisle are saying in his own words, in a fair and charitable way. Tangle is a daily read for me because it helps me avoid the confirmation bias of just listening to what 'my side' is saying, helping me to draw my own conclusions in a more informed way.”**— Josh, Charlotte, NC** “As a right-leaning, Libertarian, Trump supporter I catch myself only listening to ideas I want to believe. I find the Tangle arguments that lean left are well reasoned and thought out, allowing me to broaden my thought processes.”**— Todd, Manchester, NH** “The Tangle newsletter is my favorite email of the day. When it arrives, I stop what I’m doing and dive in. For the first time in a long time I enjoy reading the news again.” **— Jennifer, Paducah, KY** “Hands down the best daily news wrap-up out there.”**— Scott, Los Angeles, CA** “The only newsletter I’m reading daily.” **— Brendan, Madison, WI** “The political reporting you want. Good, not flowery, writing. Facts where the story is. Analysis in a separate place. Both sides presented without the spin makers doing the presenting.”**— Michelle, San Francisco, CA** "I love reading Tangle every day and it has become my foremost source of news. It's important for me to keep up with it as a CFP and financial consultant because I speak with clients daily about their investments, coronavirus, politics, and the economy.”**— Sean, Morristown, NJ** “I’ve recommended Isaac Saul’s newsletter Tangle to family, friends and coworkers. It’s refreshing, it’s honest and it provides a different lens for opposing viewpoints.”**— Andrew, Tampa Bay, FL** [Subscribe ](https://www.readtangle.com/membership/) --- ### What about industry leaders? “Ike Saul’s bipartisan newsletter is so worth the subscription. I am always genuinely excited when it hits my inbox.” **— Jill Thaw, Senior Editor for The Athletic** "I don't want any partisans on the program to analyze the election, because it's a waste of your time... I want independent people, so we follow a website called Tangle News. Independent. We don't agree with them a lot of times, but that's okay, they are coming at it from a point of view non-ideology." — **Bill O'Reilly from BillO'Reilly.com** "Most of my news consumption makes me feel like I'm getting yelled at. Tangle reduces the temperature and gives me information in a relaxed, level-headed way from a variety of perspectives. It's pretty rare that reading the news makes me calmer. But Tangle makes me calmer. It makes me feel like I can take a breath." **— Will Leitch, Founding Editor of Deadspin, a contributing editor at New York Magazine** “My friend and chronic comrade-in-arms Isaac Saul has built an incredible politics newsletter from scratch. It dives deep into 2020 (and the many narratives underpinning it) every day. All those hours and all that work have resulted in something special.”**— Cate Matthews, Senior Editor for TIME Magazine** "I truly believe that the more people read Tangle News, the less polarized and contemptuous of each other we’d be." **— Zach Elwood, author of How Contempt Destroys Democracy** “Talking politics without personal bias is tough. That’s why we let Tangle do it for us.”**— The Hustle** “Tangle helps me be a better citizen -- understanding the facts of the day's most pressing issue, understanding it from multiple perspectives, and learning about issues that might otherwise slip by me. It's my daily must-read.” **— Sean McComb, 2014 National Teacher of the Year** “Tangle is worth my time. Isaac catches me up on key national and political news stories percolating on the Internet, explaining the details that often pass me by when news is chaos.” **— Laura McGann, Politics Editor for Vox** “My new favorite newsletter to follow is @TangleNews by the wonderful @Ike\_Saul. It helps me stay up-to-date with the day's big complicated story — and also encourages me to check my biases. Highly recommend.” **— Brendan Harvey, Founder of Good Good Good Newspaper** “Excellent resource for anyone looking to understand U.S. politics -- impeachment, 2020 presidential campaign, etc -- in smart yet easily digestible daily emails.” **— Ben Van Heuvelen, Editor-in-Chief of Iraq Oil Report** “Really love this idea from my friend @Ike\_Saul. A smart political newsletter that's heavy on reader interaction and answering questions, and adds a dose of positivity to the political grind.” **— Jonathan Tamari, national politics reporter for The Philadelphia Inquirer** [Subscribe now!](https://www.readtangle.com/membership/) --- ### **C**ontact: If you are having a subscription issue or need customer service, [**please see our FAQ page**](https://www.readtangle.com/faq/). If you can't resolve the issue there, you can write to staff@readtangle.com with the subject line "Subscription issue" in your email — that will get our attention. Interested in advertising with us? [***Click here.***](https://docs.google.com/forms/u/1/d/e/1FAIpQLSdW-08SKL0SVzI1F7VPP%5FWuTkH6-0mHziisab8THPl8hj3mSg/viewform?usp=send%5Fform&ref=readtangle.com) **Address** 925 Dickinson St Philadelphia, PA 19147 PO BOX #25058 ### Thanks for supporting us! URL: https://www.readtangle.com/thank-you/ Last updated: 2026-10-02T05:56:55.000Z _This page is for paying subscribers only._ ### Membership URL: https://www.readtangle.com/membership/ Last updated: 2026-04-07T14:59:00.000Z **Tangle is investor-free and totally independent.** Over 90% of our revenue comes from subscribers, which is how we maintain our independence. In return, we give you access to premium Friday content, the comments section, insider info about the business and much more. ![](https://arttrk.com/pixel/?ad_log=referer&action=signup&pixid=633333a0-944a-491f-bd7a-697cb2830076) ### Tags URL: https://www.readtangle.com/tags/ Last updated: 2024-12-22T17:58:13.000Z _No content available._ ### Frequently Asked Questions URL: https://www.readtangle.com/faq/ Last updated: 2026-05-29T12:24:38.000Z ****For any and all issues related to your subscriptions, memberships, refunds, cancellations, or anything technical, please email** [****staff@readtangle.com**](mailto:staff@readtangle.com?subject=Subscription%20issue) **with the subject line "Subscription issue".** ****Our typical response rate is within 48 hours.** We get lots of similar questions about how to use Tangle, what our mission is, and what this whole thing is about. We decided to answer a few of them all in one place. ### Account Management & Troubleshooting **Why am I no longer getting your emails?** First, make sure you have your preferred emails selected. To do that, [go to your account](https://www.readtangle.com/account/) and make sure your email preferences look like this: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/02/email_preferences--3--1.png) Tangle email preferences in the account page Second, check your spam and junk folders. Search "staff@readtangle.com" in your inbox to see if our emails are going to a separate folder. If they are, mark one or two as *not spam*. You can also reply to an email, which will teach your inbox you like us. If our emails are not in a different folder, [add us to your safe sender list](https://www.smartlead.ai/blog/how-to-whitelist-an-email-in-gmail?ref=readtangle.com#email-whitelist-meaning). **This is especially important for Yahoo!, Outlook, and AOL email providers.** Here are step by step [instructions to keep us in your inbox](https://www.readtangle.com/faq-get-the-newsletter-in-your-apple-mail-inbox/) based on email providers. --- **How do I change my email address, manage which emails I'm getting, update my credit card, etc?** You can manage all of your settings by going to your account here: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/02/my_account_page--4--1.png) Account page --- **Can I change or upgrade my membership before it expires?** Yes! You'll find all of our membership options [under your account](https://www.readtangle.com/#/portal/account/plans). You'll only be charged the difference between your current plan and the new membership, based on the time remaining on your current plan. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/02/Change-plan--4--1.png) Click on change plan under your account --- **Can I listen to Tangle?** Yes! We launched a podcast specifically for readers who prefer to listen. The podcast is a team effort — Executive Editor Isaac Saul and Executive Producer Jon Lall read through the daily podcast together, with occasional contributions from the rest of our editorial team. We also have a bonus Friday podcast called “Suspension of the Rules” with Isaac, Managing Editor Ari Weitzman, and Editor at Large Kmele Foster. You can find the podcast [by clicking here](https://shows.acast.com/tangle?ref=readtangle.com). --- **I have a premium podcast subscription, but I still hear ads. How can I listen to the premium version?** You can connect to your podcast feed through your [Tangle account page](https://www.readtangle.com/account/). Once you're signed in, scroll to the bottom until you see "Podcast Settings" and then click the podcast player of your choice. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/02/Podcast-Settings--4-.png) Podcast settings at the bottom of your account page You'll find other ways to connect, troubleshoot, and [listen *here*.](https://www.readtangle.com/podcast-help/) --- **I don’t have a password. How do I login?** For security purposes, the email sign in is the only option with our website host, but after you log in with it once, you should remain logged in on the device you signed in on, so you won't have to do it frequently. --- **How do I change my profile picture or avatar on the comments section?** These are Gravatar images. This isn't something that can be set on our website specifically, but email clients like Gmail or others may allow you to set/change this image. Generally speaking, Gravatar is a separate service though, and the photos tied to a member profile for commenting would retrieve the [Gravatar image](https://en.gravatar.com/?ref=readtangle.com) for that email address, if one such Gravatar image has been configured. Gravatar itself also allows you to set one for your email address, you can do so [here](https://en.gravatar.com/?ref=readtangle.com). ### Tangle Membership Details **What are the different types of memberships?** We have four different memberships. You can [explore and/or signup for all of them here](https://www.readtangle.com/membership/). If you’re mostly a reader, consider the premium, ad-free newsletter membership that includes access to our full archive of special edition essays, deep dives, etc. If listening is your thing, we have a separate premium podcast that is ad-free, includes exclusive interviews, as well as our deep dives and other audio offerings. Can’t decide? Great! You can get both for a discounted price by bundling them together. Do you love what we’re doing and want to help us continue to keep nearly 80% of our content free? Check out our Thank You membership. For a more detailed breakdown of each membership, [keep reading here](https://www.readtangle.com/membership-details/). --- **Why should I pay for a Tangle membership?** Tangle is completely independent. Unlike other news outlets who have advertisers, sell your data, or sell their souls to make a buck. We survive solely and completely on reader support. We have no investors, no outside influence. We try to rely on advertisers as little as possible so that you get an uninterrupted listening and reading experience. That means in order to make money, we have to ask readers to pay. In return, we give them premium content that they want — and we are entirely accountable to you. --- **I'd like a refund. What do I do?** We routinely issue pro-rated refunds if you are not satisfied with the product or your subscription accidentally renewed. Just shoot us an email at [staff@readtangle.com](mailto:staff@readtangle.com) with the subject line "Refund". --- **I want to subscribe to Tangle, but I can't afford it. What can I do?** We do not want cost to be a barrier for anyone who wants to subscribe to Tangle. If you email [staff@readtangle.com](mailto:staff@readtangle.com) and let me know, we'll gift you a subscription on the house. ### Tangle Editorial Policies & Bias Ratings **Why should I be reading Tangle? Why are you different?** We believe in exposing our readers to a wide range of views. Every day, we break down one big debate happening in politics. We do this by explaining the basics of the story in the most neutral language possible, and then sharing six opinions from across the political spectrum on that story. At the end, Executive Editor Isaac Saul (or another member of our editorial staff) shares his own personal view on the story and the arguments. In sum, that means you get seven different opinions from across the political spectrum any time you read our news, offering the kind of balance missing in other news outlets. By offering this wide range of perspectives, we expose you to ideas and arguments you would otherwise miss, making you more informed. --- **You say you are nonpartisan, but you use certain language or words that reveal your bias. Why?** We try to make the most thoughtful, neutral decisions we can with our language choices. You can read about some of [them here](https://www.readtangle.com/its-time-for-some-change/). --- **It's obvious to me that people behind Tangle are conservative/liberal or Democrat or Republican or something else, why do you say you are nonpartisan?** Tangle gets accused of being liberal, conservative, and everything in between every single day. Usually, it's from readers who just started reading, and for whatever reason they felt the first or second post they saw had an ideological tilt. The reason Tangle is "non-partisan" is because of our format. We give equal airtime to views on the left, right, and in between. We also try to share opinions from news outlets that tend to be anti- and pro-establishment, as that is another kind of bias in the media. Our founder, Isaac Saul, then shares his clearly identified personal opinion. We are not trying to tell you what to think, only to make sure you see a wide variety of perspectives. Fortunately, you don't have to take our word for it. You can check our media bias rating on websites like [Media Bias/Fact Check](https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/tangle-bias-and-credibility/?ref=readtangle.com), [AllSides](https://www.allsides.com/news-source/tangle-media-bias?ref=readtangle.com) and [AdFontesMedia](https://adfontesmedia.com/tangle-bias-and-reliability?ref=readtangle.com). --- **Which politician do you support in this race?** Unlike many other news outlets and newspapers, Tangle does not make endorsements.We share personal editorial opinions in our "my take" section every day. But as an editorial policy, we draw the line at candidate endorsements, which we think undermines trust with readers and steps outside what our mission is. Our goal is not to tell you what to think or who to vote for, it is to make sure you understand an issue and are exposed to a variety of perspectives in an honest way. You can make up your mind on the issue or candidate yourself. --- **Who owns Tangle?** You do. Tangle is investor-free, and 100% independent. We have no financiers. We run ads with partners we like in our free newsletter, but really only make money when readers become subscribers ([you can subscribe here](https://www.readtangle.com/membership/)). More than 90% of our revenue comes from subscribers. Our podcast also gets *occasional* sponsorships, but it still costs money to produce. Our only other revenue streams are [merchandise sales](https://cottonbureau.com/people/isaac-saul?ref=readtangle.com) and [donations](https://tangle.outpost.pub/donate?ref=readtangle.com). ### Other Common Tangle Questions **How can I comment on a post?** Comments are available for members. In order to comment, [you have to subscribe](https://www.readtangle.com/membership/). Once you subscribe, you can scroll down to the bottom of any post on our website and sign in, then comment. If you are already signed in, you should see a way to comment easily. --- **Do you have Tangle merchandise?** Yes! We have an entire merchandise store with shirts, hoodies, stickers, mugs and swag. You can find it [by clicking here](https://cottonbureau.com/people/isaac-saul?ref=readtangle.com). --- **Can I make a donation to support Tangle's mission?** Yes, you can leave a tip in our tip jar by [clicking here](https://givebutter.com/khshEi?ref=readtangle.com). Thank you! --- **How do I give a gift subscription to Tangle?** Yes! Gifting subscriptions is very popular. You can do that [by clicking here](https://www.readtangle.com/#/portal/gift). --- **Do you take reader submissions?** Yup. Send an email to [ari@readtangle.com](mailto:ari@readtangle.com) and we can discuss it! --- **How do you pick your advertisers?** Advertisers make up just a tiny fraction of our revenue. We have a transparent [advertising policy](https://www.readtangle.com/tangle-advertising-policy/) that we follow. --- **How do you calculate your read time?** We use [this tool](https://capitalizemytitle.com/word-counter/?ref=readtangle.com), and I typically round down a minute or two with the knowledge that some readers skip certain sections of the newsletter. --- **I use an intermediary service to manage my subscriptions. How do I confirm my email when you send me a login link?** Intermediaries often give you a unique address that act as forwarding filters for your personal email, so it's likely that our signup link is getting blocked after you try to subscribe. We recommend that you signup to Tangle using your personal email address, then click the registration link we send you to go to [readtangle.com](http://readtangle.com/?ref=readtangle.com), click the blue user icon in the lower-right corner, and change the email address that the newsletter should go to. If possible, you should also [whitelist the readtangle.com domain](https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/email-whitelist?ref=readtangle.com) through your intermediary to allow any messages from us to reach you (we will never ever ever send you spam or share your email with other senders). --- **I want more Tangle! Where else can I find you?** So glad you asked! We're on most major social media channels like: [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/@tanglenews?ref=readtangle.com), [reddit](https://www.reddit.com/r/TangleNews/?ref=readtangle.com), [X](https://x.com/TangleNews?ref=readtangle.com), [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/tangle.news/?hl=en&ref=readtangle.com), and [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/TangleNews). --- **I'm having a different issue with my subscription, emails, credit card, or something else not covered here. What can I do?** Email us at [staff@readtangle.com](mailto:staff@readtangle.com) with the subject line "Subscription issue" — and please be patient. On top of running the newsletter, podcast and YouTube channel, our editorial staff also does customer service, so it may take me a couple days to reply. --- **How does comment nesting work?** Comments used to show up in long, single threads, with replies to replies indicated by a line of text at the top of the comment. Now, replies to top-level comments will be nested, meaning that conversations in comment replies will become clearer. Additionally, nested comment threads will be hidden after five levels, with an option to “read more” if you’re interested in continuing to read the conversation. For an idea of what that looks like, see below: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/05/data-src-image-fd5bf5e8-b23d-42a4-be3f-0245a2d345a9.png) We hope these changes are mostly self-explanatory, but feel free to reach out if you have further questions. --- **What do upvotes and downvotes do?** This is the newest feature added to the comments section. You have always been able to like comments if you agreed with them or found them particularly insightful. The number of likes a comment receives is public; additionally, you can sort the comments section by “Best” to see comments in order of the number of likes they have. We have now added a downvote, or dislike, feature. You can dislike a comment that you think is making an argument in bad faith or is not contributing to constructive discussion. While the number of dislikes will not show up on a comment, they will affect the ordering of comments when sorted by “Best.” There’s one important caveat. While the “Best” sort will apply to top-level comments, replies will always be presented in chronological order, regardless of how many likes or dislikes the replies receive. Tangle’s moderators are able to see which comments receive likes and dislikes, as well as who has liked or disliked a comment. So even if your dislike doesn’t move a reply up or down on the page, or appear on a comment, it sends us a signal about the community’s reaction to particular comments. ### Archive URL: https://www.readtangle.com/archive/ Last updated: 2026-03-05T13:57:59.000Z _No content available._ ### Tangle business development internship URL: https://www.readtangle.com/tangle-business-development-internship/ Last updated: 2024-06-04T14:39:56.000Z *Tangle is hiring for a business development intern. Details about the position are below.* ### **The role** Tangle News is an independent media organization that covers news from across the political spectrum, with a focus and specialization in U.S. politics. Its main business offering, the daily newsletter, has 105,000 subscribers and 16,000 paid subscribers. In 2023, Tangle has grown 16% in monthly recurring revenue, has spun on a YouTube channel to supplement its newsletter as its source of profit, and has introduced two new podcast series — *The Undecideds* and *The Sunday Podcast*. As the organization grows, Tangle has found a need for more support. For this reason, Tangle is introducing a seasonal cohort of three part-time interns. The key responsibility of each Tangle intern is to provide additional support for existing work and new projects that Tangle hopes to get off the ground, with additional responsibilities for each intern specialization. Tangle will provide experience and mentorship for students and recent graduates looking to begin their careers in news media and journalism. At the end of the seasonal internship, each intern will be given the opportunity to present a project that they believe they can manage to help grow Tangle’s business and mission with minimal managerial oversight with the possibility of continuing to work for the company on a part-time or contract basis. At the end of the contract period, Tangle will provide an exit interview and letter of recommendation to interns who have completed the program in good standing. ### **Responsibilities** - Grow Tangle’s advertising revenue - Assist in lead generation of podcast and newsletter marketing - Help organize and schedule ad spots - Research opportunities for marketing Tangle - Find potential candidates for Tangle advertising - Research market rates and help set Tangle rates or potentially negotiate prices - Assist grant program - Help with administrative and miscellaneous tasks required to make Tangle eligible to receive large-dollar donations - Pitch Tangle for applicable grants from non-profit organizations ### **Preferred skill sets** - Independent organization - Proficiency with G-Suite (especially Google Drive, Google Sheets, and Google Docs) - Knowledge of CRM tools such as Salesforce or Monday - Sales and customer relationship proficiency or proclivity - Project management or project collaboration experience ### **Time Commitment** You will be expected to work 10 hours per week. Specific days and hours of work are flexible and subject to the requirements of the position. ### **Pay** This is a paid internship program. Interns will receive $18.75/hr for a 12-week commitment. ### **Start Date** 07/01/2024 ### **To Apply** Please introduce yourself to Ari Weitzman by sending an email to ari@readtangle.com with the email subject line “Business Development Intern, Summer 2024” by June 9th to be considered. Also include: - A brief cover letter on your relevant past experience and interest in the position - Your resume - Your primary location - General availability during a Mon-Friday workweek The deadline to submit your application is 06/09/2024. ### Tangle communications/public relations internship URL: https://www.readtangle.com/tangle-media-outreach-internship/ Last updated: 2024-06-04T15:04:53.000Z *Tangle is hiring for a communications and public relations intern. Details about the position are below.* ### **The role** Tangle News is an independent media organization that covers news from across the political spectrum, with a focus and specialization in U.S. politics. Its main business offering, the daily newsletter, has 105,000 subscribers, including over 16,000 paid subscribers. In 2023, Tangle has grown 16% in monthly recurring revenue, has spun on a YouTube channel to supplement its newsletter as its source of profit, and has introduced two new podcast series — *The Undecideds* and *The Sunday Podcast*. As the organization grows, Tangle has found a need for more support. For this reason, Tangle is introducing a seasonal cohort of three part-time interns. The key responsibility of each Tangle intern is to provide additional support for existing work and new projects that Tangle hopes to get off the ground, with additional responsibilities for each intern specialization. Tangle will provide experience and mentorship for students and recent graduates looking to begin their careers in news media and journalism. At the end of the contract period, Tangle will provide an exit interview and letter of recommendation to interns who have completed the program in good standing. ### **Responsibilities** - Assist with public relations program - Maintain a list of outlets to pitch Tangle’s work to for publication or interview - Help draft or manage pitches - Facilitate a steady stream of interviews for developing earned media - Launch events and rewards program - Source award programs Tangle might be eligible for and draft submissions - Organize and maintain pitches and contacts with events and awards organizers - Keep us on track for meeting deadlines - Aid development of new Tangle media offerings - Help edit scripts and organize reach-outs for new series - Proofread, edit, and suggest content - Assist in the production and development of The Sunday newsletter - Help manage customer service email account ### **Preferred skill sets** - Research and writing - Independent organization - Proficiency with G-Suite (especially Google Drive, Google Sheets, and Google Docs) - Professional communication skills - Versatility and attention to detail - Media fluency ### **Time Commitment** You will be expected to work 10 hours per week. Specific days and hours of work are flexible and subject to the requirements of the position. ### **Pay** This is a paid internship program. Interns will receive $18.75/hr for a 12-week commitment. ### **Start Date** 07/01/2024 ### **To Apply** Please introduce yourself to Ari Weitzman by sending an email to ari@readtangle.com with the email subject line “Media Outreach Intern, Summer 2024” by June 9th to be considered. Also include: - A brief cover letter on your relevant past experience and interest in the position - Your resume - Your primary location - General availability during a Mon-Friday workweek The deadline to submit your application is 06/09/2024. ### Some love for our listeners! URL: https://www.readtangle.com/podcast/ Last updated: 2022-04-28T15:34:41.000Z Hey there! If you're reading this, that means you are one of our loyal podcast listeners. First, I wanted to say thank you: You are now 2,000+ strong every day and growing. It's really cool to see. Second, [here is our offer](https://www.readtangle.com/podcast-listeners). As I said on the podcast, this will be live for 24 hours, and is exclusive to folks who listened to Thursday's podcast. It's 20% off our yearly subscription for the first year, and in return you get Friday editions, access the comments section, updates on the business, and offers from our partners. [Claim your offer!](https://www.readtangle.com/podcast-listeners) Long-term, we are hoping to put together the occasional subscribers-only podcast content too — but for now we're keeping it all free. Whenever that happens, you'll be first in the door. Go [subscribe now](https://www.readtangle.com/podcast-listeners)! Thanks so much for all the support. Keep listening and spread the word. Best, Isaac, Trevor & the Tangle team ### New Books Network welcome URL: https://www.readtangle.com/nbn/ Last updated: 2023-12-07T19:09:04.000Z Hey there! Thanks for giving [**Tangle**](https://www.readtangle.com/nbn-offer)a shot. TLDR: I'm about to give you a [**20% discount**](https://www.readtangle.com/nbn-offer/) on our premium subscription since you are coming from our friends over at NBN. My name is Isaac Saul, and I'm the founder of Tangle. I'm a politics reporter who grew up in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, one of the most politically divided counties in America. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2022/07/Profile-pic--1-.jpg) I created Tangle because today's political media is totally broken. Usually, I can guess who a person voted for with about \~95% accuracy just by asking them a few questions about the kinds of news they consume. Much of the media itself is biased, sensationalized, and often helps spreads lies and misconceptions. Individually, we are all living in self-curated news bubbles where we are spoon-fed beliefs we already have — and where the people we disagree with are caricatured into the worst people possible. Along with that, politicians and pundits on both sides work hard to elevate the *worst* arguments of their opponents and say they’re representative of the other side's perspective. The result is that most of us don't actually know much about the folks we disagree with. **The entire point of Tangle is to get you out of your bubble.** Each day, we cover one big debate, then summarize the best arguments from the left, right, and center, and then I offer "my take," with all sorts of nuanced and independent opinions in between. Tangle readers get a full picture of the news from a reporter (me) who is not trying to hide their biases or convince them they should feel a certain way. This format is extremely popular, and we're now one of the fastest-growing political newsletters there is. Since you are coming from our friend Marshall over at NBN, we're offering a [20% discount when you subscribe](https://www.readtangle.com/nbn-offer). That gets you all of our content, Monday-Friday, plus special interviews, personal essays, inside looks at the media and more. You're joining 6,500+ subscribers who have help built our community. Thank you for supporting independent, fair-minded journalism. [**You can claim your deal here.**](https://www.readtangle.com/nbn-offer) [Claim the discount!](https://www.readtangle.com/nbn-offer) Best, Isaac and the Tangle team ### Contact us URL: https://www.readtangle.com/contact-us/ Last updated: 2024-06-10T19:43:04.000Z You can reach us anytime by replying to a newsletter and writing in, or by emailing me staff@readtangle.com Interested in advertising with us? [***Click here.***](https://docs.google.com/forms/u/1/d/e/1FAIpQLSdW-08SKL0SVzI1F7VPP%5FWuTkH6-0mHziisab8THPl8hj3mSg/viewform?usp=send%5Fform&ref=readtangle.com) If you are having a subscription issue or need customer service, [**please see our FAQ page**](https://www.readtangle.com/faq/). If you can't resolve the issue there, you can write into me with the subject line "Subscription issue" in your email — that will get my attention. Thank you, Isaac & the Tangle team ### Our advertising policy URL: https://www.readtangle.com/tangle-advertising-policy/ Last updated: 2024-02-26T19:58:40.000Z The Tangle newsletter publishes two versions of its content Monday through Thursday. One goes out to our free mailing list and includes advertisements; the other goes out to our paid subscribers and is 100% ad-free. **On Fridays, paying subscribers also get our exclusive Friday editions** (to become a subscriber, go ad-free, and get Friday editions, click [here](https://www.readtangle.com/membership/)). **Want to advertise with us?** [**Click here**](https://forms.gle/onzGakixs9k5o6pi6?ref=readtangle.com)**.** Because Tangle is an independent publisher attempting to bring a unique brand of balanced, informative and trustworthy news to readers, we’ve decided to publish our advertising policy. --- ### What ads in Tangle will NOT be: - **Pop-ups.** We will never publish ads you need to navigate around. This means that we will not publish video advertisements, and we will not publish page takeovers. - **Intrusive.** The vast majority of our ads will be text only. You’ll have an opportunity to click on a link and check out a product if you want more information. - **Political.** We will strictly avoid any advertisements from politicians or political groups. Obviously, these days, many companies are not apolitical. But we will steadfastly avoid publishing advertisements from any group that may have their own stake in the content we cover. - **Spam and snake oil.** We won’t team up with people selling unproven supplements or shady financial products. We’re going to bring the same skepticism to our advertisers that we do to the news. - **The subject.** If at any point one of our advertising partners becomes the subject of our coverage, we will sever ties with the advertiser immediately and preface our coverage with a notification. --- ### What our ads WILL be: - **Simple.** We seek out partners who can explain their products quickly and directly to our readers, so it doesn’t take up too much space in our newsletter. Most ads will be a few sentences long. - **Quality.** If it’s a product, we’ll try it. If it’s another publication, we’ll read it. Shoot, if it’s a band, we’ll listen to it. Our goal is to partner with quality advertisers whose product we’ve experienced and believe in. If we advertise it in the newsletter, it should be worth trying. - **Transparent.** We retain full editorial control of what goes in our advertisers’ pitches to you. That means we’ll ensure the advertised product is being honestly represented. Sponsored content in the newsletter will be clearly labeled and never confused with our news. - **From you?** We’d love to become partners with advertisers already in the “Tangle family,” so if you’re a Tangle reader and you have a company or product that wants to advertise with us, please do reach out! You can email [magdalena@readtangle.com](mailto:magdalena@readtangle.com) to inquire or [fill out this form](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1-0KFABde%5FGKgjfWbI2chnPOQ8eZnvl3C4KwTfxfPC8k/edit?ref=readtangle.com). This advertising transparency policy is our way of creating a new, valuable revenue stream, while also continuing to build unrivaled trust with our readers who come from all across the political spectrum. If you ever have feedback about our policy, our advertisers, or anything in the newsletter, please do write in. ### Tip Jar URL: https://www.readtangle.com/https-givebutter-com-khshei/ Last updated: 2024-08-08T18:57:09.000Z _No content available._ ### Give a Gift Subscription URL: https://www.readtangle.com/gift-subscription/ Last updated: 2023-12-20T18:12:27.000Z _No content available._ ### Tangle Live! URL: https://www.readtangle.com/live/ Last updated: 2026-05-19T15:00:59.000Z ### We’re coming live to Berkeley Springs, West Virginia. A couple of years ago, we launched our Tangle Live event series, which has taken Tangle on the road to discuss hot-button issues with commentators from across the political spectrum. We’ve hosted live events in New York and Philadelphia, and today we’re excited to announce that our third installment of Tangle Live will be [**held on June 14th at the Star Theatre in Berkeley Springs, West Virginia**](https://www.tickettailor.com/events/tanglenews/2210692?ref=readtangle.com)**.** [![The artwork for Tangle live in West Virginia! Image: Magdalena Bokowa](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/05/image-2.png)](https://www.tickettailor.com/events/tanglenews/2210692?ref=readtangle.com) The artwork for [Tangle live in West Virginia](https://www.tickettailor.com/events/tanglenews/2210692?ref=readtangle.com)! Image: Magdalena Bokowa Join Isaac Saul, Kmele Foster, special guest Andy Mills and the Tangle community for a [live taping of the podcast](https://www.tickettailor.com/events/tanglenews/2210692?ref=readtangle.com) — featuring politics, debate over AI and current events, audience questions, behind-the-scenes conversation, and the kind of nuanced discussion that’s become increasingly rare online. This won’t be a cable news-style shouting match or a hyper-scripted political event. It’ll be a room full of people trying to better understand the moment we’re living through. Expect live debates, an audience Q&A, drinks, community, and a few surprises along the way. Whether you’re a longtime Tangle reader, a Suspension of the Rules listener, or just someone exhausted by performative political discourse, we’d love to have you there. ### **VIP DINNER + MEET AND GREET + TICKET TO LIVE TAPING | SATURDAY, JUNE 13, 6PM** On Saturday, June 13, we'll be a hosting an [intimate sit down dinner](https://www.tickettailor.com/events/tanglenews/2210692?ref=readtangle.com) with Isaac Saul and Tangle staff at a local venue. Enjoy apps, dinner, drinks and a chance to connect with the Tangle community and its founder. Limited seats. [Ticket to the live taping on Sunday included in ticket price.](https://www.tickettailor.com/events/tanglenews/2210692?ref=readtangle.com) ### **LIVE TAPING OF SUSPENSION OF THE RULES | SUNDAY JUNE 14th, 2PM.** The main event, join Isaac, Kmele, Andy and more for a live taping of the Suspension of the Rules podcast. Show starts at 2pm and will end by 4pm to give patrons time to commute back home. If you’re in the area (or want to make the trip), we’d love to have you [**join Isaac and the team**](https://www.tickettailor.com/events/tanglenews/2210692?ref=readtangle.com) for a night of spirited discussion, live Q&A, and opportunities to meet the team in person. You can read more about the event and purchase tickets [**here**](https://www.tickettailor.com/events/tanglenews/2210692?ref=readtangle.com). ### Advanced User Settings URL: https://www.readtangle.com/advanced-settings/ Last updated: 2025-01-08T21:21:55.000Z _No content available._ ### Group Subscriptions URL: https://www.readtangle.com/group-subscriptions/ Last updated: 2023-10-12T14:30:28.000Z _No content available._ ### Buy a Group Subscription URL: https://www.readtangle.com/buy-group-subscription/ Last updated: 2023-10-12T14:30:29.000Z _No content available._ ### Tired of one-sided political news? URL: https://www.readtangle.com/tired-of-one-sided-political-news/ Last updated: 2024-05-14T05:28:45.000Z **Get** [**a 360-degree view**](https://www.readtangle.com/?ref=HeadlineMay2024) **of the stories that matter most.** The loudest voices in the room aren’t always the best-informed — so where can you find balanced and informative news without clickbait or polarization? Try [Tangle, a free daily politics newsletter](https://www.readtangle.com/?ref=HeadlineMay2024) that covers **one big debate** in American news and politics each day. We bring you a 360-degree read by summarizing perspectives from the left, right and center and then cap it off with a nonpartisan editorial. Each edition is just a 10 minute read and also includes: headlines we're following, stats, a good news story and under the radar news items. Plus links to our daily podcast and YouTube channel featuring original reporting and commentary. Get [fact-based journalism](https://www.readtangle.com/?ref=HeadlineMay2024) without being told what to think. From the 2024 election latest to landmark Supreme Court cases,[ join 100,000+ readers getting the full story without media bias or slant.](http://readtangle.com/?ref=HeadlineMay2024) It's free to sign up. ## Sign up for Tangle. It's free. Summarizing the best arguments from across the political spectrum. 100% independent, subscriber-supported, and non-partisan. Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. --- ### Why Tangle? Our Founder is political journalist Isaac Saul from Bucks County, Pennsylvania, who recognized that [the news industry was broken](https://www.readtangle.com/why-the-media-is-broken/). Here's what he said about founding Tangle in 2019: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2024/05/40---3-.png) **Today, our readers span the political spectrum:** Roughly **40%** of our readers self-identify as liberal, **30%** self-identify as conservative, and the rest say they are independent or outside the left-right binary. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2024/05/40-.png) ### Why trust us? **If we were you, we wouldn't.** Just 32% of Americans trust the media according to a recent Gallup poll and media outlets face all sorts of challenges today — from overt bias to corporate interests to the basic dereliction of good journalistic practices. But Tangle earns our readers' trust in a very simple way: By providing views from across the political spectrum in every single edition, and clearly labeling what is opinion and what isn't. This is not "both sidesism" or giving equal weight to conspiracies and facts. Instead, we search the world for the best arguments we can about the debates of the day, and then we show them to you. Side-by-side. So you can decide. Here is our "bias rating," according to AdFontesMedia: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2024/05/adfrontes.png) ### How do we do it? The Tangle format is our special sauce — with over 100,000+ readers in 55+ countries who read our daily email. We have a Monday through Thursday newsletter that is **free for everyone,** and we put our Friday editions behind a paywall. More than 90% of our revenue comes from subscriber support in the form of a $6/month subscription. **But most of our content is free** so you can sign up and read it for yourself without having to become a paid member. Each Tangle edition comes out a noon (EST) and is just 10-15 minutes long, following a simple format: - **Today's deep analysis,** written from a facts-based perspective in neutral language. - **What the left, right and center say on that topic** with 6 different perspectives spanning the political spectrum. - **My take:** An honest, unfiltered nonpartisan editorial usually written by our founder Isaac Saul. - **+** **Daily reader questions, stats, polls, headlines we're following and a good news story to wash it all down!** Tune out the noise and get all the facts in our daily and free nonpartisan politics newsletter. [Sign up for free here.](https://www.readtangle.com/?ref=HeadlineMay2024) ## Try us out? It's free. Summarizing the best arguments from across the political spectrum. 100% independent, subscriber-supported, and non-partisan. Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. ## Posts ### The protests and riots in France. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/france-protests-2026/ Last updated: 2026-10-20T15:55:59.000Z This is **Managing Editor Ari Weitzman**, writing to you on another bright and clear [Tyrsday morning](https://www.readtangle.com/cyberattacks-water-systems-2026/#:~:text=I%20don%E2%80%99t%20know%20what%20Tuesday%20means%20anymore%20%E2%80%94%20it%E2%80%99s%20neither%20weekend%20nor%20mid%2Dweek%20nor%20beginning%20of%20the%20week%2C%20it%E2%80%99s%20just%20kind%20of%20there.) for today’s edition about the **protests and riots in France**. I happened to be in Paris when my Pittsburgh Steelers won the Super Bowl in 2010, so I’m hoping for the best there as the French capital prepares to welcome the Steelers this weekend. I’m being light-hearted, but the current turmoil is serious. We’re going to give the issue the total Tangle treatment, then get to a **home distilling law** heading back to court and a story about **a kindhearted teenager**. It’s a **13-minute read.** Isaac Saul, Will Kaback, Audrey Moorehead, Carina Pacheco, Russell Nystrom, Isaac Wood, and Bailey Saul edited or contributed to today’s newsletter. ### They’re trying to scare you. As the midterms near, campaigns are leaning into a familiar tactic: fear. You’ve probably seen or heard all manner of political advertisements warning of catastrophic consequences if an opponent or their party wins power. In the latest video for his new YouTube channel, Isaac breaks down the psychology of these ads and how to tell when politicians are playing on fear-based emotions. Check it out here: ### Quick hits. 1. President Donald Trump said he is open to a trilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping, which Putin has reportedly proposed to discuss the war in Ukraine. ([The comments](https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/6158904-trump-open-putin-xi-summit/?ref=readtangle.com)) 2. The Justice Department charged 28 people in California as part of a voter fraud probe. Those charged are noncitizen lawful residents who allegedly submitted false materials in their naturalization applications and voter registrations. ([The arrests](https://apnews.com/article/california-election-justice-department-60e3dd468f43e0e8a32e6bf69341f189?ref=readtangle.com)) 3. President Trump announced an $8 billion program for farmers that aims to offset the effect of rising diesel prices. ([The program](https://www.newsweek.com/trump-announces-8b-harvest-fuel-relief-program-for-farmers-what-we-know-12591337?ref=readtangle.com)) 4. The Supreme Court rejected an appeal by three men accused of plotting the 9/11 attacks. The men are seeking to reinstate a short-lived plea deal that would have eliminated the possibility of the death penalty and that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin overrode after it was announced in 2024\. ([The rejection](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/supreme-court/supreme-court-rejects-alleged-911-masterminds-attempt-revive-plea-deal-rcna603448?ref=readtangle.com)) 5. Yemeni military officials said Houthi rebels struck a military camp, killing 53 soldiers and wounding at least 200 others. ([The strikes](https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthis-saudi-fighting-6afad4ec4c22dcccd379152ea87cb0e2?ref=readtangle.com)) Today’s Partner ****The Finance Story Behind Every Political Headline** Tangle covers the politics. [****The Daily Upside**](https://www.thedailyupside.com/welcome/?utm%5Fmedium=newsletters&utm%5Fsource=tangle) shows you what it means for your wallet, investments, and career. Written by veteran journalists and Wall Street pros, ***The Daily Upside** breaks down the financial moves hidden behind today’s biggest political stories. Recent insights include: ****·** How the [price of chocolate got scary high](https://www.thedailyupside.com/welcome/?utm%5Fmedium=newsletters&utm%5Fsource=tangle). It’s 15.5% higher this year for Halloween. ****·** Finances are the easy part of [retiring for high-powered lawyers](https://www.thedailyupside.com/welcome/?utm%5Fmedium=newsletters&utm%5Fsource=tangle): why it’s hard to walk away. ****·** As [soaring energy prices boost inflation](https://www.thedailyupside.com/welcome/?utm%5Fmedium=newsletters&utm%5Fsource=tangle) and jump 9.1%, refiners have become money machines. ****Trusted by the Tangle team — and 1 million readers who want clarity,** ****not noise.** [Subscribe for free ](https://www.thedailyupside.com/welcome/?utm%5Fmedium=newsletters&utm%5Fsource=tangle) ### Today’s topic. The protests in France. For the past month, protests and riots have [broken out](https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/france-turmoil-what-might-follow-a-weekend-riots-2026-10-19/?ref=readtangle.com) across France, with violence and disorder significantly escalating over the weekend. In mid-September, high school students began demonstrating against a perceived lack of resources in schools; parents, college students, teachers and trade unions later joined the effort, and it has since broadened into nationwide unrest over cost-of-living concerns. French officials say that far-left groups are primarily responsible for the escalation into rioting and looting, while some French politicians and U.S. political leaders suggest the protests underscore deeper issues linked to immigration. **Back up:** The protests [began](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/student-protests-grip-france-as-prime-minister-lecornu-calls-crisis-meeting?ref=readtangle.com) in Paris-area schools, where students and parents have highlighted overcrowded classrooms, teacher shortages, aging infrastructure, and a lack of investment in the education system. By early October, several violent incidents led to hundreds of arrests and dozens of injuries, as well as significant property damage. French officials [claim](https://www.reuters.com/fr/actualites/france-la-fronde-lycenne-se-durcit-le-mouvement-gagne-les-universits-2026-10-01/?ref=readtangle.com) that “ultra-left” groups, such as La France Insoumise, have catalyzed the violence and want to encourage chaos ahead of France’s 2027 elections. Right-wing politicians have [argued](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/19/france-far-right-protests-riots.html?ref=readtangle.com) that heightened levels of immigration and government tolerance of disorder have fueled the riots. On Saturday, an estimated 550,000–800,000 protesters [participated](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/frances-massive-intel-failure-sparks-resignation-offers-amid-days-rioting?ref=readtangle.com) in 110 marches across France, and many demonstrations resulted in clashes between participants and police. Officials say approximately 1,000 law enforcement officers and firefighters were injured, 2,400 people were arrested, and 3,000 businesses were damaged. French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu [said](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/france-riots-protests-macron-vows-order-pm-urges-curfews/?ref=readtangle.com) police “had lost control” and suggested he would impose a national state of emergency if necessary. In a national address, French President Emmanuel Macron [said](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/10/19/france-protests-paris-violence-pictures.html?ref=readtangle.com), “Those who looted will have to pay back for the damage, and those who sought to bring down the Republic will be held accountable.” Paris police issued a partial curfew Monday night. Some protesters have criticized the police response as overly aggressive, highlighting an [incident](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cqzjx7z2r4gko?ref=readtangle.com) where a 15-year-old student lost his hand from a police stun grenade. Many politicians, pundits and citizens have condemned the vandalism and rioting, though some protesters have defended it. “The state is violent and property damage is the people’s response to that violence,” one college student protester [said](https://www.lemonde.fr/en/france/article/2026/10/19/young-french-protesters-determined-to-continue-the-state-is-violent-and-property-damage-is-the-people-s-response-to-that-violence%5F6759072%5F7.html?ref=readtangle.com). “The violence in the streets is against property, not people.” On Monday, President Donald Trump linked the riots to immigration, [writing](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/117467289367307836?ref=readtangle.com) on Truth Social, “The migrants have taken over France. They must CLOSE THE BORDERS, FAST!” On X, Vice President JD Vance [said](https://x.com/JDVance/status/2111628668044759453?s=20&ref=readtangle.com), “Western liberals imported the third world into France and other countries in the name of diversity and compassion. They ignored fundamental questions of assimilation and compatibility. They were told it would lead to this and they didn’t listen.” Today, we’ll have views from the left, right and French writers on the protests and riots, followed by Managing Editor Ari Weitzman’s take. | What the left is saying. The left is mixed, with some suggesting the U.S. is similarly ripe for protest. Others question whether protests will address France’s underlying issues. | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | **In The Philadelphia Inquirer, Will Bunch asked** [**“do French protests have a message for America?”**](https://www.inquirer.com/columnists/attytood/high-school-protests-schools-gen-z-india-philadelphia-usa-20261013.html?ref=readtangle.com) “In recent years, billions of dollars in badly needed maintenance have been postponed, resulting in classrooms with toxic hazards like asbestos and ancient lead paint, stale, polluted air, inadequate heat in winter, and a lack of air-conditioning in summer,” Bunch wrote. “These, of course, are the K-12 conditions in the Philadelphia School District, and school squalor like this is something you see in a lot of large American cities, unfortunately.” “But while there’s the occasional one-off rally… we’ve seen nothing when it comes to protesting like what’s happening this month in France,” Bunch said. “Unless you follow the big international news sites, the youth protests in France and India haven’t received extensive media coverage here in the U.S. You could argue that’s because we have plenty of our own problems on American soil… Which brings back the question: Why isn’t America’s Gen Z manning the barricades?” **The Economist argued** [**“no one is addressing the core problems the country faces.”**](https://www.economist.com/europe/2026/10/18/expect-violent-protests-to-erupt-in-france-again?ref=readtangle.com) “The context for the riots is the underlying tension linked to next year’s election… The country wants change, but is deeply divided about what should come next,” the writer said. “It looks probable that the polarisation of public debate and the politicisation of the street will intensify over the next six months — and probably beyond… \[If Le Pen wins in 2027,\] it could prompt a new round of protests on the left.” “The government’s budget deficit is expected to be 5.4% of GDP this year, one of the highest in the euro zone,” the writer said. “Wariness in the markets and anger on the streets make for a toxic mix. Worse, as attention turns to law and order, France is even less likely to have the political conversation it badly needs: about what sort of welfare system it can afford and how to generate the wealth needed to sustain it.” | What the right is saying. Some on the right worry ascendant ideologies in the U.S. could prompt similar protests. Others note the electoral factors affecting France’s protests. | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | **In The Daily Signal, Steve Cortes said** [**“Europe is burning — is America next?”**](https://www.dailysignal.com/2026/10/19/europe-burns-is-america-next/?ref=readtangle.com) “A violent weekend of Marxist-Islamist protests rocked Europe, from Portugal to Italy. The worst carnage erupted across France, where rioters torched the revered, architecturally stunning town hall of Limoges. The 143-year-old landmark is a protected national monument. Its roof caved in, and its iconic bell tower collapsed into the flames,” Cortes wrote. “Is this kind of mayhem headed to America next? “Sadly, current trends suggest that the growing ‘red-green’ alliance of hardcore leftists and radical Islamists in the United States could produce exactly this kind of disorder and destruction here, if we are not vigilant — and if the looming elections go poorly for nationalist candidates,” Cortes said. “Admittedly, \[Marxist and Islamist\] political factions make a strange political marriage, and they clearly disagree on many topics, especially social issues. So, what binds this dangerous new merger? A common enemy. They both hate Western civilization.” **The Wall Street Journal editorial board described** [**“why France is burning.”**](https://www.wsj.com/opinion/why-france-is-burning-f0b964e9?ref=readtangle.com) “The news this time is the pre-election play by far-left candidate Jean-Luc Mélenchon,” the board wrote. “The riots are ostensibly about declining public services, but the presidential election next April figures into the protest calculations… If the riots move more center-right voters away from the centrist candidates and toward Ms. Le Pen, Mr. Mélenchon may figure he has a fighting chance to become the next President in the May runoff.” “The parties of the right and left see a rare opportunity to use the moment to gain the Élysée Palace,” the board said. “As a lame duck, \[Macron\] is left to rely on police to protect the French streets. They couldn’t do it on Saturday, as protesters ransacked shops in Marseille and elsewhere, and even torched the historic town hall in Limoges that survived the Nazis. France is in a violent democratic funk, and it will probably get worse. Don’t think it can’t happen in the U.S. given the current state of American politics.” | What writers in France are saying. Some say the unrest is a response to President Macron’s failures.Others criticize protesters for fomenting chaos. | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | **The Le Monde editorial board said the protests** [**“force Macron to confront the failures of his presidency.”**](https://www.lemonde.fr/en/opinion/article/2026/10/19/french-protests-force-macron-to-confront-the-failures-of-his-presidency%5F6758791%5F23.html?ref=readtangle.com) “Saturday’s protests should not be reduced to these acts of looting and destruction. French President Emmanuel Macron emphasized this in an address on Sunday evening,” the board wrote. “Yet, for the past 10 years, Macron has consistently turned a deaf ear to the social movements that have marked his two terms. Refusing compromise, his successive governments have systematically bypassed unions since 2017, contributing to their weakening. “By doing so, the authorities have deprived themselves of the essential intermediaries needed to channel public anger. Meanwhile, Macron has distanced himself from the youth by pushing unpopular reforms and ignoring their growing discontent,” the board said. “Listening to and respecting dialogue partners is essential. But above all, the government must give concrete political responses to their demands, which it can no longer afford to reject out of hand. Social peace can only be restored under these conditions.” **In The Free Press, Simone Rodan-Benzaquen called protesters’ actions** [**“an assault on democracy.”**](https://www.thefp.com/p/the-french-republic-is-under-attack-democracy-tyranny-unrest?ref=readtangle.com) “The government needs to protect officials and teachers, prosecute their attackers, and get schools open. It needs to investigate police abuses seriously, without accepting that those abuses justify an assault on anyone in uniform,” Rodan-Benzaquen wrote. “I believe in the French Republic. I resent the suggestion that caring about its survival makes someone naive, or secretly authoritarian. We have the right to protest because we live in a democracy. “We also have the right to go to school, to disagree with a crowd, and to elect a mayor who can do the job without fearing for his family,” Rodan-Benzaquen said. “Marseille’s city hall is not the Bastille. The people who broke into it were not staging a just revolution against authoritarianism; they were attacking the means by which their fellow citizens govern themselves… I want a government that understands how serious this is — and acts before another public servant, or another family, pays the price.” | My take. Ari Weitzman Managing Editor ![Ari Weitzman](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2025/05/Ari.jpg) | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | The disorder in France is downstream of a few straightforward issues that have been building for some time.More complicated factors are at play, too, prompting uncomfortable but necessary discussions about changes to French society.Ultimately, France has a tough balance to strike between over-correction and not responding strongly enough. | | **Reminder:** This is where we share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, leave a comment or reply to this email. | It’s tempting to tell a simple, three-part story about these protests and stop there. Part one of the simple story starts in the French suburb of Créteil, where students [began protesting](https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/french-student-protests-teacher-shortages-school-conditions-1824359?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=It%20started%20in%20the%20middle%20of%20September%20when%20teachers%20at%20Saint%2DExup%C3%A9ry%20high%20school%20in%20Cr%C3%A9teil%2C%20a%20Parisian%20suburb%2C%20went%20on%20strike.) a lack of school resources. Protests are a fixture of French culture; as recently as 2018–2020, “[Yellow Vest protesters](https://www.npr.org/2018/12/03/672862353/who-are-frances-yellow-vest-protesters-and-what-do-they-want?ref=readtangle.com)” flooded the streets to demand the government address rising gas prices and weakening economic opportunities for workers. A more recent fixture has been a forceful police response. In 2017, France [passed a law](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0144818825000389?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=A%202017%20law%20in%20France%20relaxed%20restrictions%20and%20allowed%20for%20the%20first%20time%20the%20national%20police%20to%20use%20weapons%20beyond%20self%2Ddefense) allowing police to use weapons for reasons other than self-defense. Since then, French law enforcement has increased its use of non-lethal weapons against protesters, particularly guns that fire rubber pellets (called “lanceur de balles de défense,” or LBDs). Authorities said they needed to take stronger measures to respond to violent elements who commingle with protesters. Whatever the cause, the effect has been dramatic. Eye injuries caused by LBDs [increased](https://reporterre.net/Des-scientifiques-documentent-les-blessures-oculaires-causees-par-la-police-en-France?ref=readtangle.com) from two in 2016 and one in 2017 to 25 in 2018 and 15 in part of 2019\. The sudden increase led to a [rebuke](https://reporterre.net/Le-Conseil-de-l-Europe-appelle-la-France-a-suspendre-l-usage-du-LBD?ref=readtangle.com) from Europe’s human rights commissioner, who said France’s policing tactics against the Yellow Vest protesters were making it a violent outlier from the rest of Europe. That context is crucial to understanding part two, the tipping point that intensified the past month’s protests. In late September, the student-led protests spread from the Parisian suburbs to cities across France. On September 30, a 16-year-old was [blinded](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/oct/16/french-police-injuries-teenagers-school-protests-arrests-custody?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=This%20week%2C%20a%20police%20officer%20in%20the%20western%20city%20of%20Tours%20was%20charged%20with%20aggravated%20battery%20after%20Ma%C3%ABl%2C%20a%2016%2Dyear%2Dold%20at%20a%20vocational%20high%20school%2C%20lost%20the%20use%20of%20his%20eye%20allegedly%20after%20a%20shot%20from%20a%20form%20of%20rubber%2Dbullet%20launcher) in his right eye by injuries that prosecutors described as consistent with an LBD. Then, on October 5, a 15-year-old’s hand was [blown off](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c9zrdmxp4vy6o?ref=readtangle.com) by a police grenade. This incident ushered in part three, as at least 160,000 teachers and parents [joined](https://cybev.io/blog/france-school-protests-unions-claim-480-000-marchers-as-ministry-counts-161-500-45446d?ref=readtangle.com) the marches. Protests spread [across Europe](https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2026/10/20/italy-spain-belgium-portugal-social-unrest-spreads-across-europe-amid-soaring-energy-prices-and-a-housing-crisis%5F6759435%5F4.html?ref=readtangle.com). The Yellow Vests [joined](https://www.euronews.com/2026/10/17/we-are-here-to-help-them-says-yellow-vests-representative-on-joining-students-for-nationwi?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Members%20of%20the%20yellow%20vest%20movement%20and%20trade%20unions%20staged%20major%20protests%20across%20France%20on%20Saturday%20over%20rising%20fuel%20pricing%20and%20a%20spiralling%20cost%2Dof%2Dliving%20crisis%2C%20which%20was%20also%20joined%20by%20a%20separate%20student%2Dled%20protest%20demanding%20an%20increase%20in%20funding%20for%20schools.) the movement. Then, rioting and looting broke out in French cities over the weekend — rioters burned a tourist office in Lyon, [set fire](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/10/19/france-protests-worst-in-years-unrest-macron-.html?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=The%20143%2Dyear,was%20set%20ablaze.) to the 143-year-old town hall in Limoges, and looted Marseille’s city center. By Monday morning, at least 3,000 storefronts [had been vandalized](https://www.france24.com/en/france/20261019-french-pm-says-could-declare-state-of-emergency-over-unrest-if-needed?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=At%20least%203%2C000%20businesses%20were%20affected%20by%20the%20unrest%2C%20according%20to%20Trade%20and%20Small%20Businesses%20Minister%20Serge%20Papin.), and looters in Marseille were [brazenly gathering](https://www.bbc.com/news/live/c893v4gx2e47t?post=asset%3A49decb60-7b8a-418f-aa5d-1c1b416e3491&ref=readtangle.com#post) their spoils in broad daylight. In the simple story, a protest about something specific began attracting dissatisfied factions, particularly from the left, who were more bent on destruction and crime than delivering a political message (and who actually undermined the original message the students were raising). But that narrative doesn’t tell the whole story. Instead, the whole story asks you to confront an uncomfortable element that is easy to discern the moment you start watching videos, listening to eyewitnesses, or reading local accounts. Right-wing commenter Thaïs d’Escufon presented this element as strongly as possible in two contrasting videos. [In the first](https://x.com/ThaisEscufon/status/2111554699077845224?ref=readtangle.com), a white woman is pleading with the mob not to loot a nearby store, saying “this isn’t for the cause” as she is gently held back by a member of the crowd. [In the second](https://x.com/ThaisEscufon/status/2112134620212764884?ref=readtangle.com), a Muslim business owner trying to protect her storefront is aided by members of the crowd, who tell looters “don’t smash it up, she’s a sister” and “it’s okay, my brothers, please go.” As French writer Charles Consigny [bluntly stated](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRqGL3zZEDM&ref=readtangle.com) on a daily French talk show, “the looters are children of immigrants.” Frankly, I’m having a hard time processing that claim — because I’m finding more reason to support it than to reject it. On the same show, a caller who identified herself as a Muslim business owner whose shop had been looted in Marseille [said](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fn4kWT9P89E&t=23m40s&ref=readtangle.com), “It’s unfortunate, but 80% — it’s my community.” Additionally, a police union representative [said](https://www.europe1.fr/police-justice/emeutes-du-17-octobre-quel-est-le-profil-des-casseurs-interpelles-par-les-forces-de-lordre-1161093?ref=readtangle.com) most of the looters were from “disadvantaged neighborhoods,” outlying communities like Créteil that are often home to immigrant families. Conversely, the response that Green Party MP Sandrine Rousseau gave to Consigny was a passionate plea not to blame immigrants for the damage, saying immigrants are part of the fabric of French culture and many are firefighters and police responding to the destruction. Rousseau is right, almost obviously so: Most immigrant families are law-abiding citizens who contribute to the societies of their adopted home countries. However, Rousseau notably didn’t deny Consigny’s central claim, which is somewhat telling. I’m not willing to go as far as to say that the rioting in Marseille is proof of [“migrant chaos”](https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2026/10/19/trump-and-putin-claim-french-protests-are-evidence-of-migrant-chaos-and-europe-s-decline%5F6758781%5F4.html?ref=readtangle.com) causing “Europe’s decline,” but as of this moment, I have more reason to believe Consigny than I do to dismiss him. So, if it’s true that many of the looters were children of immigrants, why is that the case? I think that question has a scary answer that I’m hesitant to agree with and an easy answer that doesn’t tell us much. The hard answer is what Steve Cortes wrote in The Daily Signal (under “What the right is saying”), that these looters are representative of a tide of migrants who hate Western civilization but are increasingly seeking refuge *in* Western civilization. The easy answer is simply that the rioters and looters come from poor families, who tend to disproportionately be immigrant families, and their rioting and looting is largely an economic impulse. Grappling with these answers is very uncomfortable and difficult for me. I generally tend towards accepting the easy answer, but I’m aware of how, well, easy it is. I also don’t think the civilizational concern should just be dismissed out of hand, especially as French social media [is awash](https://todaypress.tv/en/analysis/khomeini-takes-the-lead-in-frances-revolution-video?ref=readtangle.com) with videos reposting a 1979 speech by Ayatollah Khomeini over images of rioting and destruction in France from this past weekend. The ‘red–green’ alliance between communist protesters and Islamist extremists that Cortes described feels meaningful to me, as does the paucity of the responses to this criticism from the left. Frankly, I don’t know how anyone can deny that the communist/Islamist rhetoric coming from these protesters is oppositional towards Western civilization. However, I have a much harder time accepting that young students calling themselves communists or online posters calling for an anti-Western jihad are the same people smashing up a Hermès store to sell handbags online. I’ve spent plenty of time on college campuses — the people espousing the most extreme rhetoric are often not at all willing to back it up with correspondingly extreme actions, instead opting for more milquetoast public disruptions. I ultimately believe that the worst of the weekend’s riots came from low-brow opportunists, the same kind of people who look for excuses to steal, smash and burn that we’ve seen time and time again, in the U.S. and abroad. France is now tasked with drawing a line between protecting its long-practiced ability to demonstrate publicly and punishing crimes committed during those demonstrations. As of today, it’s pushing back against the [resale of stolen goods](https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20261019-france-presses-resale-platforms-to-remove-stolen-goods-after-unrest?ref=readtangle.com) and [instigating curfews](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx30ez03djyqo?ref=readtangle.com), while politicians from the left are themselves [pushing back](https://www.franceinfo.fr/societe/couvre-feu-du-17-octobre-2020/les-couvre-feux-decretes-apres-les-violences-du-17-octobre-sont-une-forme-de-punition-collective-estime-le-coordinateur-de-lfi-manuel-bompard%5F8245222.html?ref=readtangle.com) [against](https://fr.news.yahoo.com/forme-punition-collective-gauche-critique-084530021.html?ref=readtangle.com) the crackdown as collective punishment. If France goes too far in its enforcement, it risks its own culture of protests and citizen trust in the government. But if it doesn’t go far enough, it will not only send a permissive signal to opportunists who came out under the cover of protests, but to the red–green alliance itself. It’s a delicate moment, and if the French government gets this wrong, the circumstances could be dire and long-lasting. | Staff dissent. Audrey Moorehead Editor ![Audrey Moorehead](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2025/05/Audrey.jpg) | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | I understand Ari’s desire to differentiate between online agitators whose rhetoric doesn’t translate into action and the opportunists who use civil unrest as an excuse to loot and burn, but I ultimately find it misguided. Ideological opposition to the West is an ever-present problem in France, Europe at large, and even the United States. Some of this opposition is homegrown, coming from lifelong Westerners who have become enraptured with visions of a secular, utopian communist future (usually leftist agitators) or with romanticizations of a white Christian pastoral age gone by (usually rightist agitators). But some of this radicalism is brought in from elsewhere, by immigrants who seek the economic opportunities of the West without embracing the culture that produced those opportunities. And to Ari’s point, most of these agitators are just blowhards; X’s Nazi propagandists and Bluesky’s Mao apologists are not necessarily the ones throwing bricks through store windows. But the normalization of opposition to the West creates the conditions for violence: It motivates people to look the other way from looting and burning, or even to permit looting and burning in service of broader goals. So while these French protests aren’t going to be the killing blow that starts the revolution, they’re another brick through a window of Western civilization; and the people inside the building are becoming less and less likely to want to patch it up. If we admit that we must combat anti-Western radicalism, we have to think about how to do it. Combating homegrown radicalism, which is usually borne out of misunderstandings of the Western tradition, is difficult — it requires being more intentional about presenting the tradition’s past and its desired future. But combating imported radicalism has an easier solution: It requires revisiting immigration policies and examining whether a stopper on immigration, in order to better assimilate extant migrant populations, might be useful. | **Take the survey:** What’s driving the protests and riots? [Let us know](https://interrobang.vercel.app/survey/eff0058d-87a7-40da-9004-a4e39231da85?ref=readtangle.com). *Disagree? That*’*s okay. Our opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we*’*ll consider publishing your feedback.* ### Under the radar. On Monday, the Supreme Court announced that it will hear a challenge to an 1868 federal law that bans the production of spirits like bourbon and whiskey at personal residences. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit previously found the ban unconstitutional, but the federal government appealed to the Supreme Court, arguing that at-home production allows individual producers to avoid inspections and taxes. The Hobby Distillers Association, the main group challenging the law, says that the ban exceeds Congress’s taxation power. Oral arguments are expected in early 2027\. [SCOTUSblog has the story](https://www.scotusblog.com/2026/10/supreme-court-agrees-to-consider-federal-ban-on-home-distilleries/?ref=readtangle.com). Today’s partner Mainstream financial news is more concerned with the “attention economy” than the global economy. They churn out sensationalized headlines for views, only to feed you uninspired content with zero value. You’re not just a pair of eyes on a webpage. You have a brain. [****The Daily Upside**](https://www.thedailyupside.com/welcome/?utm%5Fmedium=newsletters&utm%5Fsource=tangle) was created by Wall Street experts for readers like you who crave real insights on finance and investing. Join 1M+ readers and [****subscribe for free today**](https://www.thedailyupside.com/welcome/?utm%5Fmedium=newsletters&utm%5Fsource=tangle). [Join for free ](https://www.thedailyupside.com/welcome/?utm%5Fmedium=newsletters&utm%5Fsource=tangle) ### The extras. - **One year ago today** we covered [President Trump commuting former Rep. George Santos’s (R-NY) sentence](https://www.readtangle.com/george-santos-sentence-commuted/). - **The most clicked link in our last regular newsletter** was our partnership with Ground News [offering Tangle readers 40% off a Ground News subscription](https://ground.news/landingV8/tangle-newsletter?ref=readtangle.com). - **Nothing to do with politics:** See if you can [guess where a person is from with limited clues](https://originle.io/?ref=readtangle.com). - **Our last survey:** 2,643 readers responded to our survey on the Texas Senate race, with 52% saying they think James Talarico (D) would win if the election were held today. “Talarico is a better candidate, has more crossover appeal, and Democrats are highly motivated to vote,” one respondent said. “I’ll be shocked if Texas goes blue,” said another. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/10/data-src-image-d51ae404-520d-4d46-b3f9-b2a266b6e34e.png) ### Have a nice day. Brooklyn Green, 21, was leaving an AMC theater in Maryville, Tennessee, with her grandparents when she noticed an elderly employee pushing a cleaning cart. The image didn’t sit right with Green; when she got home, she posted a video of the worker to TikTok with a GoFundMe to help her retire. The effort garnered a lot of participation, and two days later, Green returned to the theater to present the woman, named Mary, with nearly $145,000\. Mary said she would use part of it to help others, including people on the street she already helps with cash or food from her car. “I’m overwhelmed and certainly blessed by the Lord and you wonderful people,” Mary said. [KYMA has the story](https://kyma.com/the-good-stuff/making-a-difference/2026/06/03/elderly-movie-theater-worker-receives-145000-after-young-womans-fundraiser-goes-viral/?ref=readtangle.com). ### Hey, it's Isaac URL: https://www.readtangle.com/hey-its-isaac/ Last updated: 2026-10-20T12:15:36.000Z I’ll share a secret: I do this job because I love writing. I love politics, too. And I love hosting the podcast and I’m starting to actually enjoy shooting YouTube videos — though it took a while. I also love working on a team and being in a newsroom. But those passions are all secondary to the reason I got into journalism and sought out this career in the first place, which is a singular, top-level passion for crafting a sentence. Of course, part of the story of Tangle’s success is that I’m now doing less writing than I’ve done in the seven years since I started this company. I have a team of writers and editors who I now share space with in the daily newsletter. I have co-hosts on the podcasts who write, read, and riff on their own ideas on the show. I have YouTube producers and editors who have stories they want to tell. Naturally, I also have all the other things that come with leading a company: from budgeting for the year to crafting quarterly goals. Most of these things are genuinely rewarding, but they’re not writing. **That's why, today, I’m here with a fun announcement: I am bringing back my old column, *A Grain of Saul.*** I have a lot of reasons for doing this now. None are simpler than this: I want to write. I’m excited about doing this, which might sound insane for a guy running a newsletter that already goes out six times a week. But with the fully built-out team I mentioned above, that process is easier than it’s ever been. I should note: I started this column in college at the University of Pittsburgh with the student newspaper *The Pitt News*. It was the first thing I ever wrote with my name on it. When I graduated, I launched a blog under the same name on my old website, and I wrote stories from my travels across Israel and the Middle East. When I joined a now-defunct media start-up founded by Ashton Kutcher as one of the first editorial hires, I re-launched the column again — writing a weekly article and doing a weekly Facebook live show that corresponded with it. All told, I wrote *A Grain of Saul* on and off for about a decade before shelving it when I started Tangle. So I’m really excited about the prospect of reviving it now. **So, what will this be?** *A Grain of Saul* will take on a looser, more personal and rawer tone than what appears in Tangle, oscillating from blog-like posts to originally reported opinion pieces. Sometimes, I am going to use the space to flesh out half-baked ideas and stress test them on a very smart and critical audience; sometimes, I’ll have fully formed opinions, informed by a lot of reporting and research, and will try to convince you of them; sometimes, I’ll just share good and interesting stories I think you’ll like. Always, the goal will be to have something that lands in your inbox at the intersection of useful, informative, and engaging to read. I imagine it’ll be a mix of topics that don’t appear in Tangle, did appear in Tangle but other staff writers wrote about, or that are politics-adjacent rather than strictly tied to U.S. national news. At most, I suspect this newsletter will come out once a week. It won’t flood your inbox, and it won’t create an overwhelming amount of content when there’s so much out there already. I hope it will feel akin to a musician you love randomly dropping a new single that you get to enjoy — except once every week or two. This newsletter will be a members-only perk. So we’ll send out the first few to everyone, and then paywall subsequent editions, with the occasional free post. (If you want it make sure you get it, [you can become a member now](http://readtangle.com/membership?ref=readtangle.com)) [Join to get A Grain of Saul ](http://readtangle.com/membership?ref=readtangle.com) **This will be a part of Tangle.** To be clear: I’m not going anywhere. This newsletter is going to be a members-only perk of Tangle. It’s our first foray into adding a personality-driven product into the Tangle media ecosystem, and people will be opted into it when they sign up for our suite of newsletters. I’ll still be writing takes in the main newsletter every week, still hosting the *Suspension of the Rules,* still writing Friday editions, and generally still producing a ton of content. That said, if you don’t want it, you can [click here to unsubscribe ](%%{unsubscribe%5Furl}%%)right now (and you’ll just keep getting whatever Tangle newsletters you are subscribed to). I’m really excited, and really grateful for this audience I get to keep writing to. **My first edition will be coming out tomorrow, so keep your eyes out for it.** Thanks for reading, and see you soon. ### Could Texas turn blue? URL: https://www.readtangle.com/otherposts/could-texas-turn-blue/ Last updated: 2026-10-19T17:01:42.000Z My rule for writing about Texas politics is pretty simple: I work under the assumption that it is a red state until that assumption stops being correct. The [one time I deviated from the strategy](https://www.readtangle.com/where-the-2020-election-stands/#:~:text=In%20this%20narrative,of%20the%20blame), I got it woefully wrong. I never got too worked up about the possibility that Beto O’Rourke, MJ Hegar, or Colin Allred could rewrite electoral maps. I won’t overestimate Talarico’s odds here, either, despite how unpopular President Trump is, or how bad of a candidate Paxton is, or how neck-and-neck this race seems. Still, both candidates’ cases for victory are pretty easy to craft. Let’s start with the case for why Talarico is going to win: President Trump is historically unpopular. Gasoline prices are high and diesel prices are through the roof, which is going to hurt Trump in a state with many long-haul drivers and pickup trucks. The president won Texas by 14 points in 2024, supported in large part by the Latino vote and anti-Kamala Harris sentiment. Now, Latinos are [shifting](https://www.cnn.com/2026/10/19/politics/latino-voters-shift-republicans-midterm-elections?ref=readtangle.com) back to the left, Democrats have a much stronger candidate on the ballot and we’re in a midterm election, which historically hurts the incumbent party. The closest analogue here might be the 2018 midterm race, when Trump was in office and O’Rourke came within 2.6 points of flipping Ted Cruz’s Senate seat, despite polls showing him much further behind. These races come down to turnout, and Democrats seem [much more committed to voting](https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2026/09/29/texas-senate-election-beto-cruz-talarico-paxton?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Stunning%20stat%3A,S.%20Senate%20primary.) than Republicans do this election season. Speaking of Republicans, Ken Paxton is a disaster. He’s a [comically corrupt](https://www.readtangle.com/texas-primary-runoff-paxton-cornyn/#:~:text=politics%20in%20Texas.%E2%80%9D-,My%20take.,-Reminder%3A%20%E2%80%9CMy%20take) (alleged) adulterer, in a national environment where voters [say](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/fox-news-poll-cost-living-concerns-weigh-gop-midterms?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=The%20top%20five%20voter%20concerns%20are%20government%20corruption%20%2860%25%20extremely%20concerned%29%2C%20inflation%20%2858%25%29%2C%20gas%20prices%20%2850%25%29%2C%20government%20leadership%20%2849%25%29%2C%20and%20healthcare%20%2848%25%29.%20And%20double%20digits%20more%20trust%20the%20Democrats%20than%20the%20Republicans%20to%20handle%20each%20of%20those.) corruption is their number-one issue and in a state where traditional marital values are popular. Leaks from Paxton’s campaign [portray](https://www.politico.com/news/2026/10/07/gop-paxton-money-texas-senate-01109800?ref=readtangle.com) a candidate who knows Trump is hurting him and can’t find his footing on the trail. On paper, all the momentum and evidence look good for Talarico. While O’Rourke made noise, he [never led](https://www.realclearpolling.com/polls/senate/general/2018/texas/cruz-vs-orourke?ref=readtangle.com) a single poll; Talarico has [had an advantage](https://www.realclearpolling.com/elections/senate/2026/texas?ref=readtangle.com) in the polls since August and is running in a much more favorable environment. Plus, the concocted conspiracy theory that Talarico was checked into a mental health facility reeks of desperation. If it weren’t for Elon Musk floating Paxton’s campaign, Talarico’s historic fundraising numbers would be a giant advantage and a huge story. In southwest Texas, the administration’s attempt to build a border wall in the Big Bend region and National Park is activating [huge blowback](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvZTGs70sjg&ref=readtangle.com) from a bipartisan coalition of politicians, ranchers, hunters, river guides, small business owners, and even law enforcement. And while Trump accused Talarico of avoiding a debate, the reality is Talarico’s campaign has [repeatedly tried](https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/politics/election-2026/2026/10/12/564154/talarico-returns-to-campaign-trail-renewing-call-for-debate-with-paxton/?ref=readtangle.com) to organize a debate with Paxton, and Paxton keeps dodging him — so much so that Talarico ended up doing a solo town hall with Texas voters that was aired on CNN last Wednesday. Anecdotally, I’d add that Talarico’s campaign has a tremendous amount of enthusiasm among Democrats in Texas. I live in New Jersey full time but own property in West Texas, where I spent my summers growing up and now spend a lot of my winters. I’ve never felt anything like the current political momentum there, and it’s all going in one direction: an all-out effort to oust Gov. Greg Abbott (R), stop Ken Paxton, and rein in President Trump. | Get more of the story... We broke down the race with just the facts, and then we picked out the best arguments from conservative, progressive, and independent writers in today's free newsletter so you can make up your own mind. [**Read them here.** ](https://www.readtangle.com/texas-senate-talarico-paxton-october-2026/?ref=take-only) | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | For Democrats, that all sounds pretty exciting. But the case for Paxton is still compelling. At baseline, Texas is a red state. The state doesn’t collect party registration data, but Trump’s decisive victory in 2024 is one of the best measures of how voters break in statewide elections. A recent YouGov [survey](https://d3nkl3psvxxpe9.cloudfront.net/documents/ttw%5Ftx%5F20260921%5Flv.pdf?ref=readtangle.com) has 41% of likely voters in Texas identifying as Republican, 26% as Democrat, and 28% as independent — close, but still a healthy Republican advantage. Meanwhile, the core issues that are driving Trump’s unpopularity — the war in Iran, affordability, and the immigration crackdown — are all softened in Texas. Yes, diesel prices are high nationally, and Texas has [faced its own economic emergency](https://www.texastribune.org/2026/09/28/texas-gas-diesel-prices-emergency-declaration-war-abbott/?ref=readtangle.com) over those costs. But unlike other states, Texas also has an upside from the war: Its oil production is [thriving](https://thetexan.news/issues/energy/texas-oil-industry-signals-production-boost-as-iran-negotiations-continue/article%5F0ab83709-bae0-4a07-9427-79edd24d4583.html?ref=readtangle.com), meaning Texas producers can charge more, juice profits, and provide a lot of jobs. Trump’s nationally unpopular mass-deportation effort [has a lot of support in Texas](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/texas-senate-talarico-paxton-poll/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=But%20some%20things%20are%20different%20in%20Texas%20than%20in%20the%20country%20overall%3A%20The%20Trump%20administration%27s%20deportation%20program%20gets%20more%20support%20in%20Texas%2C%20compared%20to%20the%20most%20recent%20CBS%20News%20national%20poll%2C%20and%20that%20advantages%20Paxton.%C2%A0). And Trump, who is still good at turning out his base, has spent a lot of political capital throwing his weight behind Paxton. And then there’s Musk. With nearly $160 million spent already, he’s single-handedly funding super PACs that are blanketing the state in pro-Paxton or anti-Talarico ads. And, if you watched the CNN town hall, voters were more focused on Talarico’s progressive social views (some from as recently as 2020 and 2021) than on his populist left economic views, which is a problem for his campaign. We’ve seen that focus on progressive social views work for the GOP before, and Republican groups are even running the same “[He is for they/them](https://www.ms.now/news/they-them-attack-republicans-democrats-midterm?ref=readtangle.com)” ad against Talarico that was famously effective against Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential race. [As I detailed in my latest YouTube video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbMCeI19PPE&&ref=readtangle.com), fear is a powerful and effective campaign strategy, one Texas Republicans are deploying to a much higher degree than Talarico in this cycle (they even have AI-generated ads of [Talarico defacing a Bible](https://x.com/KenPaxtonTX/status/2097325814689743049?ref=readtangle.com)). Finally, the “closeness” of the race could be a total mirage, anyway. In 2024, polling [showed](https://www.270towin.com/2024-presidential-election-polls/texas/?ref=readtangle.com) Trump with a roughly seven-point lead and he won by 14\. In that year’s Senate race, polls [showed](https://www.270towin.com/2024-senate-polls/texas?ref=readtangle.com) Cruz up about four points on Colin Allred; he won by over eight points. In the 2022 governor’s race, Abbott led O’Rourke by an [average](https://www.270towin.com/2022-governor-polls/texas?ref=readtangle.com) of eight points; he won by about 11\. Which is all just to say that the polling may be tight (and point to a Talarico advantage), but I have less confidence in current polls than I have in a long time. I’m holding off on any midterm predictions until we get closer to Election Day, but this race obviously has the potential to tilt the Senate map — and make Texas history. Moved by the take? Share it! ## Join Tangle for free Get perspectives from across the political spectrum on today's most important issues, delivered directly to your inbox. Subscribe for Free Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. ### Gerrymandering 101 URL: https://www.readtangle.com/gerrymandering-101/ Last updated: 2026-10-19T16:21:12.000Z Love what you see? More Tangle here: NEWSLETTER - https://www.readtangle.com/ PODCAST - https://www.readtangle.com/tangle-podcast/ TWITTER - https://twitter.com/TangleNews INSTAGRAM - https://www.instagram.com/tangle.news/ FACEBOOK - https://www.facebook.com/TangleNews/ COOL MERCH - https://cottonbureau.com/people/isaac-saul DONATE - https://givebutter.com/khshEi GIFT A TANGLE NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIPTION - https://tangle.outpost.pub/gift\_subscription?ref=readtangle.com#/ ### The Texas Senate race. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/texas-senate-talarico-paxton-october-2026/ Last updated: 2026-10-19T15:50:07.000Z Good Monday morning and welcome to Tangle. I’m **Isaac Saul**, excited for a big week in the Tangle universe: the announcement of a new newsletter, a speaking gig at the University of Wisconsin, and then a huge Friday edition that’s been in the works since May. It’s going to be a fun, newsy week. Buckle up. Today, I’m diving into an issue close to my heart: **Texas politics and the state’s Senate race**. Plus, a reader question about **the foreign emoluments clause** and a feel-good story on a 100-year-old Brit who is still dancing. It’s a **12-minute read**. Ari Weitzman, Will Kaback, Audrey Moorehead, Carina Pacheco, Russell Nystrom, Isaac Wood, and Bailey Saul edited or contributed to today’s newsletter. Too busy to read? Push play instead! ![Too busy to read? Push play instead!](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/07/podcast@2x.png) [Listen to the newsletter Monday - Friday.](https://www.readtangle.com/tangle-podcast/) New episodes drop at 4pm ET. ### Quick hits. 1. President Donald Trump signed an executive order waiving the implementation of sanctions against Russia passed with bipartisan support by Congress last month. The president said he took the action to avoid driving Russia “away from the bargaining table.” ([The order](https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/6157113-donald-trump-defends-russia-sanctions-waiver/?ref=readtangle.com)) 2. On Friday, the White House said that Katie Zacharia is leaving her position as press secretary, five days after she began the job. ([The departure](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/10/16/trump-katie-zacharia-white-house.html?ref=readtangle.com)) 3. U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee condemned an attack by Israeli settlers in the West Bank that injured Washington Post photojournalist Heidi Levine and several Palestinians. Huckabee called for “investigation, arrest, and prosecution” of the attackers. ([The incident](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/israel-west-bank-heidi-levine-journalist-attack/?ref=readtangle.com)) Separately, President Trump endorsed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of Israel’s elections. ([The endorsement](https://www.axios.com/2026/10/18/trump-endorses-netanyahu-israel-election-iran?ref=readtangle.com)) 4. Protests and riots continued across France, with police making 2,400 arrests. Approximately 1,000 police officers and hundreds of protesters have been injured, and one protester died from cardiac arrest. ([The latest](https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/france-faces-aftermath-worst-unrest-years-2026-10-18/?ref=readtangle.com)) 5. Ukraine launched over 1,000 drones at Russia, striking an oil export terminal and a depot in St. Petersburg. ([The strikes](https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-energy-diesel-trump-f813d3725b8b5f23958a68a95729fd0d?ref=readtangle.com)) In Partnership with Ground News [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/10/Screenshot-2026-10-18-at-9.21.08---PM.png)](http://www.groundnews.com/tangle?ref=readtangle.com) Isaac here — one thing I’ve learned running Tangle is that two people can read the same news and walk away with completely different understandings of what happened. That’s why I like [****Ground News**](http://www.groundnews.com/tangle?ref=readtangle.com). It pulls together coverage from across the political spectrum and shows you how different outlets are framing the same story. My favorite feature is the [****Blindspot Report**](http://www.groundnews.com/tangle?ref=readtangle.com), which highlights stories getting significant attention from one side of the media ecosystem while receiving little coverage from the other. If you want a better sense of not just how stories are covered, but which stories are being emphasized or ignored, check out Ground News. We’ve partnered with Ground News to offer [****Tangle readers an exclusive 40% off their Ground News Vantage Subscription**](http://www.groundnews.com/tangle?ref=readtangle.com)****.** [Get 40% off Ground News ](http://www.groundnews.com/tangle?ref=readtangle.com) ### Today’s topic. The Texas Senate race. With approximately two weeks until the midterm elections, state Rep. James Talarico (D) and state Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) are in a tightly contested race that could determine control of the Senate. Recent financial disclosures show that Elon Musk has given nearly $160 million to support Paxton, while Talarico announced his campaign raised $64 million in Q3 2026\. Early voting in Texas begins on Monday. **Back up:** Talarico and Paxton are running to replace Sen. John Cornyn (R), who Paxton defeated in the Republican Senate primary. No Democrat has won a statewide office in Texas [since 1994](https://www.fox4news.com/election/texas-democrat-statewide-senate-president?ref=readtangle.com). Campaign finance filings [released](https://www.texastribune.org/2026/10/15/elon-musk-ken-paxton-donations-senate-gop-super-pac/?ref=readtangle.com) last week revealed that Musk has donated $158 million to the Senate Leadership Fund, Senate Republicans’ primary super PAC, which has sent the money to Texas PAC, a group supporting Paxton (Musk has given more through other groups). Separately, Talarico’s $64 million Q3 fundraising is the [largest](https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2026/10/15/congress/james-talarico-64-million-fundraising-record-01119808?ref=readtangle.com) third-quarter fundraising ever by a Senate candidate. Talarico has raised $134.3 million in total to date. Overall advertising spending on the race recently [surpassed](https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/texas-senate-race-early-voting-starts/?ref=readtangle.com) $500 million. An October CBS News poll [found](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/texas-senate-talarico-paxton-poll/?ref=readtangle.com) Talarico with a 51%–49% lead over Paxton among likely voters. [Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball](https://centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/2026-senate/?ref=readtangle.com) and [Cook Political Report](https://www.cookpolitical.com/senate/race/488686?ref=readtangle.com) both rate the race as a toss-up after classifying it as “lean Republican” earlier in the campaign. On Friday, October 9, Talarico [resumed](https://www.nbcdfw.com/elections/james-talarico-back-campaign-trail-senate-race/4089225/?ref=readtangle.com) public campaigning after a nearly two-week absence while sick with the flu. His campaign said he began feeling ill after a September 29 fundraiser in New York, went to urgent care when he returned to Texas, then spent the beginning of October recovering at home. After Paxton and others began questioning his absence, conservative accounts on X [promoted](https://fox56.com/news/nation-world/spencer-pratt-says-he-was-told-democratic-candidate-talarico-is-in-mental-health-facility-ken-paxton-social-media?teaserSource=trending&ref=readtangle.com) a claim that he was at a mental health facility in Ohio. The facility denied that Talarico had ever visited, and The New York Times [confirmed](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/12/us/politics/james-talarico-ohio-texas-senate-race.html?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=The%20New%20York%20Times%20reviewed,Oct.%201%20and%20Oct.%208.) that security footage from outside Talarico’s home showed he had been at his residence during his absence. Separately, Paxton has been criticized for [alleged ethical violations](https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/politics/election-2026/2026/06/22/555172/texas-ken-paxton-james-talarico-senate-election-scandals/?ref=readtangle.com), including a 2015 indictment for securities fraud and whistleblower complaints of bribery and abuse of office, for which he was [impeached](https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/27/ken-paxton-impeached-texas-attorney-general/?ref=readtangle.com) by the Texas state House. On Monday, October 12, The Wall Street Journal [shared](https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/ken-paxton-texas-senate-dubai-trip-b54292c3?ref=readtangle.com) video of Paxton at a 2024 New Year’s Eve celebration in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, alongside two men wanted in the U.S. for healthcare fraud and a woman believed to be his mistress. “Like President Trump, Ken Paxton has been politically persecuted for years,” Paxton senior adviser Nick Maddux said in response to the story. “Every time, voters have seen through it and sent him back to office because they know he has always fought for Texas.” Below are views from the right, left, and writers in Texas on the Senate race. Then, Executive Editor Isaac Saul’s take. | What the right is saying. Some on the right say Talarico is trying — and failing — to conceal past progressive positions.Others suggest Republicans could lose the seat. | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | **In The American Spectator, Buck Throckmorton wrote** [**“Talarico’s political reversals stir trouble in Texas Senate race.”**](https://spectator.org/james-talaricos-political-reversals-stir-trouble-in-texas-senate-race/?ref=readtangle.com) “Shortly before his disappearance \[from the campaign trail,\] Mr. Talarico embraced the ‘Trust me, I’m lying’ strategy regarding several of his previous radical positions, trying to temporarily position himself in the mainstream on issues such as sex-change surgery for minors,” Throckmorton said. “This is a fraught strategy that rarely works any longer. It comes across as pandering dishonesty to the moderates he is appealing to, while it is simultaneously received as betrayal by activists who will not tolerate political dissimulation.” “It will take a near-perfect confluence of events for Talarico to eke out a victory. Disregarding the historic Democrat bias of the polls involved, Talarico would need massive Democrat turnout… \[He\] also must somehow capture a great many crossover Republican voters,” Throckmorton wrote. “There are not many Trump 2024 / Talarico 2026 voters, but that is what Talarico must have in great numbers.” **In The Washington Examiner, Abigail Ingram argued** [**“Republicans are to blame”**](https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/op-eds/4767326/talarico-vs-paxton-texas-senate-race/?ref=readtangle.com) **if Talarico wins.** “Talarico’s platform is simple. Elites are greedy, and good-hearted people are suffering as a result… Both the GOP and Democratic National Committee have, at times, employed similar messaging to appeal to well-intended voters. What is surprising is the response from Paxton,” Ingram said. “Paxton’s platform focuses, in large part, on the radicalism of his opponent’s political party. His would-be voters are confronted with one ask: keep Texas the same. “But by campaigning on opposition to progress, Paxton might be inadvertently shooting himself in the foot,” Ingram wrote. “Texas Republicans are falling prey to the very same trap that doomed Democrats during the federal election in 2024… The DNC banked on widespread antipathy toward Donald Trump to keep itself in the White House. Americans lived through the alleged fluke that was Trump’s first presidential term. They would never willingly choose a redo — right? Wrong.” | What the left is saying. Some on the left are cautiously optimistic about Talarico’s chances.Others criticize the forces that elevated the Talarico mental health story. | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | **In USA Today, Sara Pequeño wrote** [**“polls are shouting in favor of Talarico in Texas. We'll see.”**](https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/columnist/2026/10/08/texas-election-polls-talarico-paxton-midterms/92123295007/?ref=readtangle.com) “As we have learned time and again, polls aren’t always trustworthy. But one thing is clear: Talarico is moving the needle in a state known as a GOP stronghold. Even if we don’t know the outcome yet, it’s clear that he’s making Republicans sweat in a state they normally wouldn’t worry about,” Pequeño said. “The seminarian and member of the state House of Representatives is delivering a message of hope and progress, one that Texas Democrats have longed to hear for years now.” “In some ways, this Texas Senate race feels like a repeat of the matchup between Republican Sen. Ted Cruz and former Democratic Rep. Beto O’Rourke in 2018\. O’Rourke drummed up a lot of national media attention, only to lose by 2.6 points,” Pequeño wrote. “Talarico is polling better than O’Rourke did, while Trump is polling worse than he was in 2018\. It doesn’t mean that Talarico is destined to win — I don’t think anybody believes that, even Democrats — but it’s clear that he has a shot. Republicans certainly seem to think so.” **In Salon, Sophia Tesfaye said** [**“a viral Talarico hoax drowned out Paxton’s corruption story.”**](https://www.salon.com/2026/10/15/a-viral-talarico-hoax-drowned-out-paxtons-corruption-story/?ref=readtangle.com) “Right-wing influencers invented a story that Talarico had secretly checked into an Ohio psychiatric facility, and the search traffic around the Democrat exploded. The lie collapsed with almost embarrassing speed, and the people who spread it now face potential legal exposure,” Tesfaye wrote. “By the time the story fell apart, the damage had already been done… a Republican politician facing serious questions about his own conduct had been handed a convenient distraction.” “The only people who benefit from a manufactured outrage are the people selling it and the politicians who can hide behind it,” Tesfaye said. “And hide is precisely what Paxton needed to do. On Monday the Wall Street Journal reported that only days after being indicted for embezzlement, a fugitive donated $25,000 to the attorney general… \[The story\] was buried under a fabricated tale about his opponent’s mental health.” | What writers in Texas are saying. Some writers note Talarico’s positions are constantly shifting.Others say Texans should reject Paxton. | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | **In Texas Scorecard, Kenny Webster described** [**“the tale of two Talaricos.”**](https://texasscorecard.com/opinion/webster-the-tale-of-two-talaricos/?ref=readtangle.com) “There appear to be two James Talaricos, and they do not always agree with each other… One of them says he’s against Big Tech, the other voted to give subsidies to data centers and takes money from Silicon Valley billionaires,” Webster wrote. “One of them says fossil fuels are destroying the planet and the Texas oil-and-gas industry is like cassette tapes that aren’t going to last, the other says he’ll protect oil-and-gas jobs and stand up to his own party if they mess with the industry.” “\[Talarico\] stated that modern science recognizes six biological sexes. He opposed measures that would have required athletes to compete according to biological sex and called the concern manufactured,” Webster said. “The new Talarico now running statewide maintains that there are two sexes, that he would support a national ban on surgeries for minors, and that he opposes transgender athletes in girls’ sports when safety or fairness is endangered.” **The San Antonio Express-News editorial board argued** [**“Talarico offers Texans a chance to choose integrity for U.S. Senate.”**](https://www.expressnews.com/opinion/editorial/article/senate-election-james-talarico-paxton-recommend-22477209.php?ref=readtangle.com) “The choice before voters is ethical and moral, not merely political,” the board wrote. “Talarico is a Democrat through and through, and yet given the dynamics of this race, he is also a far more fitting successor to longtime Republican U.S. Sen. John Cornyn… Talarico brings a new brand of optimism in the form of a youthful former public school teacher who wears his Christian faith on his sleeve without feeling compelled to wipe it on others.” “He is arguing Texans are more alike than they are different, and the most existential struggle in the Texas Legislature and U.S. Congress is not between Democrats and Republicans but rather between the top and the bottom,” the board said. “In Paxton, voters have one of the most breathtakingly flawed, immoral, cynical and ethically challenged candidates ever to run in a Texas statewide race… He has shown little regard for democracy, suing to overturn the 2020 presidential election and wasting millions of dollars to prosecute nonexistent voter fraud.” | My take. Isaac Saul Executive Editor ![Isaac Saul](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2025/05/Isaac.jpg) | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | The case for Talarico winning is strong — Democrats have momentum and he’s consistently led the polls.However, Paxton has an equally strong case: Polling is unreliable and Republicans don’t lose in Texas.I expect this race to go right down to the wire. | | **Reminder:** This is where we share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, leave a comment or reply to this email. | My rule for writing about Texas politics is pretty simple: I work under the assumption that it is a red state until that assumption stops being correct. The [one time I deviated from the strategy](https://www.readtangle.com/where-the-2020-election-stands/#:~:text=In%20this%20narrative,of%20the%20blame), I got it woefully wrong. I never got too worked up about the possibility that Beto O’Rourke, MJ Hegar, or Colin Allred could rewrite electoral maps. I won’t overestimate Talarico’s odds here, either, despite how unpopular President Trump is, or how bad of a candidate Paxton is, or how neck-and-neck this race seems. Still, both candidates’ cases for victory are pretty easy to craft. Let’s start with the case for why Talarico is going to win: President Trump is historically unpopular. Gasoline prices are high and diesel prices are through the roof, which is going to hurt Trump in a state with many long-haul drivers and pickup trucks. The president won Texas by 14 points in 2024, supported in large part by the Latino vote and anti-Kamala Harris sentiment. Now, Latinos are [shifting](https://www.cnn.com/2026/10/19/politics/latino-voters-shift-republicans-midterm-elections?ref=readtangle.com) back to the left, Democrats have a much stronger candidate on the ballot and we’re in a midterm election, which historically hurts the incumbent party. The closest analogue here might be the 2018 midterm race, when Trump was in office and O’Rourke came within 2.6 points of flipping Ted Cruz’s Senate seat, despite polls showing him much further behind. These races come down to turnout, and Democrats seem [much more committed to voting](https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2026/09/29/texas-senate-election-beto-cruz-talarico-paxton?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Stunning%20stat%3A,S.%20Senate%20primary.) than Republicans do this election season. Speaking of Republicans, Ken Paxton is a disaster. He’s a [comically corrupt](https://www.readtangle.com/texas-primary-runoff-paxton-cornyn/#:~:text=politics%20in%20Texas.%E2%80%9D-,My%20take.,-Reminder%3A%20%E2%80%9CMy%20take) (alleged) adulterer, in a national environment where voters [say](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/fox-news-poll-cost-living-concerns-weigh-gop-midterms?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=The%20top%20five%20voter%20concerns%20are%20government%20corruption%20%2860%25%20extremely%20concerned%29%2C%20inflation%20%2858%25%29%2C%20gas%20prices%20%2850%25%29%2C%20government%20leadership%20%2849%25%29%2C%20and%20healthcare%20%2848%25%29.%20And%20double%20digits%20more%20trust%20the%20Democrats%20than%20the%20Republicans%20to%20handle%20each%20of%20those.) corruption is their number-one issue and in a state where traditional marital values are popular. Leaks from Paxton’s campaign [portray](https://www.politico.com/news/2026/10/07/gop-paxton-money-texas-senate-01109800?ref=readtangle.com) a candidate who knows Trump is hurting him and can’t find his footing on the trail. On paper, all the momentum and evidence look good for Talarico. While O’Rourke made noise, he [never led](https://www.realclearpolling.com/polls/senate/general/2018/texas/cruz-vs-orourke?ref=readtangle.com) a single poll; Talarico has [had an advantage](https://www.realclearpolling.com/elections/senate/2026/texas?ref=readtangle.com) in the polls since August and is running in a much more favorable environment. Plus, the concocted conspiracy theory that Talarico was checked into a mental health facility reeks of desperation. If it weren’t for Elon Musk floating Paxton’s campaign, Talarico’s historic fundraising numbers would be a giant advantage and a huge story. In southwest Texas, the administration’s attempt to build a border wall in the Big Bend region and National Park is activating [huge blowback](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvZTGs70sjg&ref=readtangle.com) from a bipartisan coalition of politicians, ranchers, hunters, river guides, small business owners, and even law enforcement. And while Trump accused Talarico of avoiding a debate, the reality is Talarico’s campaign has [repeatedly tried](https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/politics/election-2026/2026/10/12/564154/talarico-returns-to-campaign-trail-renewing-call-for-debate-with-paxton/?ref=readtangle.com) to organize a debate with Paxton, and Paxton keeps dodging him — so much so that Talarico ended up doing a solo town hall with Texas voters that was aired on CNN last Wednesday. Anecdotally, I’d add that Talarico’s campaign has a tremendous amount of enthusiasm among Democrats in Texas. I live in New Jersey full time but own property in West Texas, where I spent my summers growing up and now spend a lot of my winters. I’ve never felt anything like the current political momentum there, and it’s all going in one direction: an all-out effort to oust Gov. Greg Abbott (R), stop Ken Paxton, and rein in President Trump. For Democrats, that all sounds pretty exciting. But the case for Paxton is still compelling. At baseline, Texas is a red state. The state doesn’t collect party registration data, but Trump’s decisive victory in 2024 is one of the best measures of how voters break in statewide elections. A recent YouGov [survey](https://d3nkl3psvxxpe9.cloudfront.net/documents/ttw%5Ftx%5F20260921%5Flv.pdf?ref=readtangle.com) has 41% of likely voters in Texas identifying as Republican, 26% as Democrat, and 28% as independent — close, but still a healthy Republican advantage. Meanwhile, the core issues that are driving Trump’s unpopularity — the war in Iran, affordability, and the immigration crackdown — are all softened in Texas. Yes, diesel prices are high nationally, and Texas has [faced its own economic emergency](https://www.texastribune.org/2026/09/28/texas-gas-diesel-prices-emergency-declaration-war-abbott/?ref=readtangle.com) over those costs. But unlike other states, Texas also has an upside from the war: Its oil production is [thriving](https://thetexan.news/issues/energy/texas-oil-industry-signals-production-boost-as-iran-negotiations-continue/article%5F0ab83709-bae0-4a07-9427-79edd24d4583.html?ref=readtangle.com), meaning Texas producers can charge more, juice profits, and provide a lot of jobs. Trump’s nationally unpopular mass-deportation effort [has a lot of support in Texas](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/texas-senate-talarico-paxton-poll/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=But%20some%20things%20are%20different%20in%20Texas%20than%20in%20the%20country%20overall%3A%20The%20Trump%20administration%27s%20deportation%20program%20gets%20more%20support%20in%20Texas%2C%20compared%20to%20the%20most%20recent%20CBS%20News%20national%20poll%2C%20and%20that%20advantages%20Paxton.%C2%A0). And Trump, who is still good at turning out his base, has spent a lot of political capital throwing his weight behind Paxton. And then there’s Musk. With nearly $160 million spent already, he’s single-handedly funding super PACs that are blanketing the state in pro-Paxton or anti-Talarico ads. And, if you watched the CNN town hall, voters were more focused on Talarico’s progressive social views (some from as recently as 2020 and 2021) than on his populist left economic views, which is a problem for his campaign. We’ve seen that focus on progressive social views work for the GOP before, and Republican groups are even running the same “[He is for they/them](https://www.ms.now/news/they-them-attack-republicans-democrats-midterm?ref=readtangle.com)” ad against Talarico that was famously effective against Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential race. [As I detailed in my latest YouTube video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbMCeI19PPE&&ref=readtangle.com), fear is a powerful and effective campaign strategy, one Texas Republicans are deploying to a much higher degree than Talarico in this cycle (they even have AI-generated ads of [Talarico defacing a Bible](https://x.com/KenPaxtonTX/status/2097325814689743049?ref=readtangle.com)). Finally, the “closeness” of the race could be a total mirage, anyway. In 2024, polling [showed](https://www.270towin.com/2024-presidential-election-polls/texas/?ref=readtangle.com) Trump with a roughly seven-point lead and he won by 14\. In that year’s Senate race, polls [showed](https://www.270towin.com/2024-senate-polls/texas?ref=readtangle.com) Cruz up about four points on Colin Allred; he won by over eight points. In the 2022 governor’s race, Abbott led O’Rourke by an [average](https://www.270towin.com/2022-governor-polls/texas?ref=readtangle.com) of eight points; he won by about 11\. Which is all just to say that the polling may be tight (and point to a Talarico advantage), but I have less confidence in current polls than I have in a long time. I’m holding off on any midterm predictions until we get closer to Election Day, but this race obviously has the potential to tilt the Senate map — and make Texas history. **Take the survey:** Who do you think will win the election? [Let us know](https://interrobang.vercel.app/survey/e4a88e61-024a-434b-9522-a52aaee3eceb?ref=readtangle.com). *Disagree? That*’*s okay. Our opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we*’*ll consider publishing your feedback.* ### Your questions, answered. **Who has standing to enforce the domestic and foreign emoluments clauses? Can any citizen in the United States sue to enforce it? Or is the only remedy the sure-to-fail impeachment by the House of Representatives and conviction in the Senate?** **— Richard from Baltimore, MD** **Editor Audrey Moorehead:** This is a great question with a complicated answer. For a quick overview: The [Foreign Emoluments Clause](https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/artI-S9-C8-3/ALDE%5F00013206/?ref=readtangle.com) is found in Article I, Section 9, Clause 8 of the Constitution, and it prevents the president from receiving gifts, profits, or titles from foreign entities without congressional approval. The [Domestic Emoluments Clause](https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/artII-S1-C7-1/ALDE%5F00000233/?ref=readtangle.com) is found in Article II, Section 1, Clause 7, and it prevents the president from receiving any gifts, profits, or titles from Congress or state governments aside from his congressionally approved salary. Taken together, these clauses are intended to safeguard the office of the presidency from the potential for corruption or bribery, whether from foreign or domestic entities. For most of their history, the Emoluments Clauses weren’t addressed directly in any litigation; instead, they were occasionally cited to make rhetorical points in different Supreme Court cases. That changed in 2017, when [three separate lawsuits](https://journals.library.wustl.edu/lawreview/article/3183/galley/20016/view/?ref=readtangle.com) were filed arguing that newly sworn-in President Trump’s continued ownership of his business ventures constituted violations of the Emoluments Clauses. The nonprofit group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) filed one as private citizens; Maryland and the District of Columbia filed another as states; and a group of members of Congress, led by Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), filed the last. The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals [ruled](https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/artI-S9-C8-3/ALDE%5F00013206/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=On%20the%20standing,of%20foreign%20emoluments%29) that the lawmakers lacked standing to sue over the Emoluments Clauses due to insufficient injury, ending the third lawsuit. In the CREW case, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals [ruled](https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/ca2/18-474/18-474-2019-09-13.html?ref=readtangle.com) that certain private citizens in the hospitality industry *did* have standing to sue, but the decision was split. Similarly, a federal district court allowed D.C. and Maryland’s lawsuits to go forward. Lawyers representing President Trump appealed these decisions to the Supreme Court in 2020, arguing that private citizens and states should not have standing to sue. However, the petition did not reach the Court’s private conferences until December, when Trump’s term was about to end. Then-Acting Solicitor General Jeffrey Wall filed another petition asking the justices to wait until after Biden was sworn in, then vacate the lower courts’ rulings on the basis that they were moot once Trump was no longer president. The Supreme Court [did so](https://www.scotusblog.com/2021/01/justices-vacate-rulings-on-trump-and-emoluments/?ref=readtangle.com), vacating the rulings without issuing its own judgment on standing. In sum, private citizens and states could technically try again to sue the president through the Emoluments Clauses. However, organizations may now think they’re unlikely to succeed because of the length and complexity of the process. Instead, Congressional legislation to better define and enforce the Emoluments Clauses may be the answer. **Want to have a question answered in the newsletter? You can reply to this email (it goes straight to our inbox) or** [**fill out this form**](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScQhqBSG%5F6%5FoBhwcTQMeS570n29XYbeQ9C9Bis7rjqI31g1tA/viewform?usp=header&ref=readtangle.com)**.** In Partnership with Ground News [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/10/Screenshot-2026-10-18-at-9.32.51---PM.png)](http://www.groundnews.com/tangle?ref=readtangle.com) ****FYI:** Today’s newsletter is sponsored by [Ground News](http://www.groundnews.com/tangle?ref=readtangle.com), one of our favorite tools for understanding how the media covers the news. Ground News lets you compare reporting from outlets across the political spectrum and highlights stories that may be getting disproportionate attention — or being ignored altogether. Their flagship newsletter, [The Blindspot Report](http://www.groundnews.com/tangle?ref=readtangle.com), is a great way to broaden your perspective. ****Tangle readers can get** [****40% off a Ground News Vantage subscription here**](http://www.groundnews.com/tangle?ref=readtangle.com)****.** [Get 40% off Ground News ](http://www.groundnews.com/tangle?ref=readtangle.com) ### The extras. - **One year ago today** we had just published a Friday edition highlighting [two expert perspectives on the war in Ukraine](https://www.readtangle.com/dueling-perspectives-on-the-ukraine-russia-war/). - **The most clicked link in our last regular newsletter** was [the new episode of *Suspension of the Rules*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxXvLqnLRgE&ref=readtangle.com). - **Nothing to do with politics:** A photographer is building [a “photo ark” of thousands of wildlife species](https://www.thisiscolossal.com/2026/10/joel-sartore-photo-ark-national-geographic-animals-portraits-photography/?ref=readtangle.com). - **Our last survey:** 3,915 readers responded to our survey on the U.S.–Russia diesel deal, with 95% saying they oppose the deal and don't think it will bring down energy prices. “Trump is doing anything and everything he can think of in an attempt to save face in the midterms, while selling out our sanctions leverage. Another move that proves that he values his own interests over the well-being of his country,” one respondent said. “Trump is hoping that making a deal with Putin will make \[Putin\] think about weakening his ties with China and North Korea… \[But\] I don’t think this will make Putin a friend of the USA exclusively,” said another. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/10/data-src-image-c2947470-94e3-4a8a-8b91-3f2e6d945816.png) ### Have a nice day. Bernard Gilbert started dancing in 1942, after he broke his leg playing rugby at 16 years old. After his bone healed, he asked the doctor if he’d ever play again, and they told him he might want to go dancing instead. Gilbert said he laughed and told them he’d “never take up dancing.” But he took a class, married a ballroom dancer, and stuck with it. At 74 years old, Gilbert started teaching dance classes. On September 19, at 100 years old, he led over 200 people in a dancing flash mob in Worcester, England, to raise money for an Alzheimer’s charity. Gilbert said, “It was a wonderful event and the crowd did well to keep up with me.” [SWNS has the story](https://discover.swns.com/2026/09/britains-oldest-dancer-100-leads-huge-flash-mob-crowd/?ref=readtangle.com). ### The Viral Talarico Rumor That Fell Apart in Hours URL: https://www.readtangle.com/the-viral-talarico-rumor-that-fell-apart-in-hours/ Last updated: 2026-10-18T16:01:29.000Z Conservative influencer Nick Sortor posted audio he said proved Texas Senate candidate James Talarico had been discharged from an Ohio mental health facility. The facility said he was never a patient there. Talarico said he’s never even been to Ohio. ### The Sunday — October 18 URL: https://www.readtangle.com/the-sunday-october-18-2026/ Last updated: 2026-10-18T11:52:04.000Z *This is the Tangle Sunday Edition, a brief roundup of our independent politics coverage plus some extra features for your Sunday morning reading.* A special note [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/10/Screenshot-2026-10-17-at-9.06.56---PM.png)](https://www.snopes.com/subscribe/?utm%5Fsource%3Dtangle%26utm%5Fcampaign%3D10182026&sa=D&source=docs&ust=1792286459393757&usg=AOvVaw20ADhQYqyTYe1LCnS4W1mf) ****Isaac here!** Today’s Sunday edition is free for all, thanks to [****Snopes**](https://www.snopes.com/subscribe/?utm%5Fsource=tangle&utm%5Fcampaign=10182026)****.** Our Sunday edition is normally reserved for Tangle members, but today ****Snopes** is picking up the tab — the [internet's most trusted fact-checking website](https://www.snopes.com/subscribe/?utm%5Fsource%3Dtangle%26utm%5Fcampaign%3D10182026&sa=D&source=docs&ust=1792286459393757&usg=AOvVaw20ADhQYqyTYe1LCnS4W1mf). With the midterms right around the corner, our feeds are flooded with attack ads and misleading soundbites. It's easy to feel overwhelmed and question what's real. We're partnering with Snopes because we share the same goal: ****delivering the unspun truth when partisan narratives take over.** Did Trump actually say ["let \[Iran\] take out Los Angeles and San Diego"](https://www.snopes.com/subscribe/?utm%5Fsource%3Dtangle%26utm%5Fcampaign%3D10182026&sa=D&source=docs&ust=1792286459393757&usg=AOvVaw20ADhQYqyTYe1LCnS4W1mf) to end the war? And was Texas Senate candidate [James Talarico treated at an out-of-state mental health care facility](https://www.snopes.com/subscribe/?utm%5Fsource%3Dtangle%26utm%5Fcampaign%3D10182026&sa=D&source=docs&ust=1792286459393757&usg=AOvVaw20ADhQYqyTYe1LCnS4W1mf) just weeks before the election? These are just a few of the rumors [Snopes recently investigated](https://www.snopes.com/subscribe/?utm%5Fsource%3Dtangle%26utm%5Fcampaign%3D10182026&sa=D&source=docs&ust=1792286459393757&usg=AOvVaw20ADhQYqyTYe1LCnS4W1mf) to bring you the full story ****backed by evidence.** Don’t be duped by political spin, clickbait headlines and misinformation this election season. [Sign up for the free Snopes newsletter ](https://www.snopes.com/subscribe/?utm%5Fsource%3Dtangle%26utm%5Fcampaign%3D10182026&sa=D&source=docs&ust=1792286459393757&usg=AOvVaw20ADhQYqyTYe1LCnS4W1mf) ### What the right is doodling. ![Steve Kelley | Creators Syndicate](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/10/data-src-image-c9bae967-bbe7-45e6-822f-456e47699d6c.jpeg) Steve Kelley | Creators Syndicate ### What the left is doodling. ![Mike Luckovich | Creators Syndicate](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/10/data-src-image-0418250f-77e2-4127-972d-306a7ea340b7.jpeg) Mike Luckovich | Creators Syndicate ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/10/data-src-image-eac07281-1602-44da-9aae-7c9c46303748.png) ### Suspension of the Rules. Following a few heavier episodes, Isaac, Ari, and Kmele have a bit of fun this week. Kimberly Guilfoyle’s resignation prompts Ari to quiz the guys on other U.S. ambassadors, then the three react to a viral video of a candidate in a local Indiana race. Plus, some discussion on James Talarico and Ilhan Omar. Check it out here: The latest Suspension of the Rules ### Monday, October 12. *Tangle did not release a newsletter in observance of Columbus Day.* ### Tuesday, October 13. [The Fort Hood shooter’s execution](https://www.readtangle.com/fort-hood-shooter-execution-livestream/). On Thursday, October 8, the Defense Department announced that it intends to livestream the execution of the former Army major who carried out the 2009 Fort Hood mass shooting. The convicted shooter is scheduled to be executed by an Army firing squad on December 3, which would be the first U.S. military execution since 1961 and the first known execution by firing squad since 1945\. Republican and Democratic lawmakers have pushed back on the plan to livestream the event. Update: On Thursday, October 15, President Donald Trump said the plan to livestream the execution will not go ahead. **Editor Audrey Moorehead’s take:** “I aspire to a consistent pro-life ethic, but I still grapple with the death penalty. The Fort Hood shooter committed heinous crimes and has shown no remorse; executing him is a valid form of justice. However, livestreaming the event would turn that act of justice into a spectacle.” *Executive Editor Isaac Saul’s concurrence:* “Audrey and I disagree about the utility of the death penalty, but I was relieved to see we landed in the same place on the value of a public execution. This administration has an HHS campaign bringing together researchers, tech companies, and advocates for a symposium on screen-related harms. Now, it’s guaranteeing a government-sponsored killing goes viral on the internet, inevitably making its way to devices across the world.” **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/10/data-src-image-b7f86eb6-d954-4071-8988-8da6832d4cae.png) ### Wednesday, October 14. [The Ilhan Omar investigation](https://www.readtangle.com/the-ilhan-omar-investigation/). On Monday, federal agents from Homeland Security Investigations searched Rep. Ilhan Omar’s (D-MN) Washington, D.C. residence as part of an immigration investigation. The Justice Department and Department of Homeland Security have shared minimal information about the cause and outcome of the search, but the probe is reportedly related to paperwork Omar’s father filled out when applying for legal status for their family in the United States. The congresswoman denied any wrongdoing and accused the Trump administration of targeting her for political reasons. **Senior Editor Will Kaback’s take:** “I grew up in the district Omar represents, so I’m familiar with her and the state’s Somali immigrant population. President Trump is clearly overstating the issues with that community as part of a broader anti-immigrant agenda. Omar has her own issues, but they don’t justify a politicized investigation, let alone deportation.” **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/10/data-src-image-5118adf5-1119-43ff-9876-5ee1fc2f5d17.png) ### Thursday, October 15. [The Russia diesel deal](https://www.readtangle.com/russia-diesel-deal/). On Friday, October 9, President Donald Trump announced an agreement to lift sanctions on Russian oil exports in return for Russia releasing roughly 800,000 tons of diesel by the end of November and millions more by an unspecified date. The president said the deal will bring down diesel prices impacted by supply disruptions linked to the Iran war but did not say it is tied to a larger ceasefire deal. Separately, on October 11, President Trump announced an “energy ceasefire” between Ukraine and Russia. However, Zelensky indicated that he was not aware of an agreement or the terms of the purported ceasefire, later accusing Russia of attacking Ukrainian energy infrastructure. **Executive Editor Isaac Saul’s take:** “From President Trump’s standpoint, a deal with Russia could offer a chance to alleviate fuel prices ahead of the midterms. From Putin’s standpoint, Trump is offering major economic relief during a war of attrition with Ukraine. This deal reeks of desperation; it hurts our allies, helps our enemies, won’t lower gas prices, and is probably illegal.” **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/10/data-src-image-aa820438-3084-4044-95dc-90df510e22df.png) ### Friday, October 16. This election cycle seems to be the most ripe for disruption from a third party of any cycle in recent memory. Ironically, Executive Editor Isaac Saul says, there’s almost no chatter about it. The Forward Party’s Andrew Yang and Christine Todd Whitman say big things are in the works, just under the surface. Isaac shines a light on the third-party subplot in this year’s midterms in this week’s Friday edition. [You can read the piece here](https://www.readtangle.com/third-party-midterms-yang-whitman/). --- ### What just happened. Here’s a rundown of the major stories that have broken since our newsletter on Thursday. - On Thursday, a gunman killed three children and one adult at an elementary school in Bend, Oregon. One child and one adult were also critically wounded. A bystander shot and killed the shooter after witnessing him enter the school. ([The shooting](https://www.oregonlive.com/crime/2026/10/multiple-victims-in-shooting-near-bend-elementary-school-shooter-dead.html?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Thursday, Ukraine resumed strikes on Russian oil refineries, three days after President Trump declared a Ukraine–Russia energy ceasefire. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of repeated attacks on Ukraine’s energy grid despite the purported ceasefire. ([The strikes](https://www.nbcnews.com/world/ukraine/ukraine-resumes-strikes-russian-oil-refineries-trump-starlink-intel-rcna603648?ref=readtangle.com)) Separately, on Thursday, Reuters reported that the White House ordered SpaceX to throttle its Starshield communication service for the Ukrainian military last week. ([The report](https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/order-limit-starshield-ukraine-came-inside-white-house-sources-say-2026-10-15/?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Thursday, the State Department said former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is no longer serving as special envoy for the Shield of the Americas initiative following her six-month appointment. Noem is now a senior adviser to Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau. ([The update](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/kristi-noem-no-longer-trump-envoy-shield-of-the-americas/?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Friday, the White House said that Katie Zacharia is leaving her position as press secretary, five days after she began the job. ([The departure](https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/6154278-donald-trump-katie-zacharia-press-secretary-role/?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Friday, President Trump signed an executive order waiving the implementation of most of a Russia sanctions bill passed with bipartisan support by Congress last month. ([The order](https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/trump-waives-most-russia-sanctions-passed-by-congress-4c36bc93?ref=readtangle.com)) The Sunday SpOnSor Don’t get duped by lies online. Over ****1 million readers** rely on the [****free Snopes newsletter**](https://www.snopes.com/subscribe/?utm%5Fsource=tangle&utm%5Fcampaign=10182026) to cut through political spin and one-sided reporting. Get the unvarnished truth delivered straight to your inbox six days a week. [Sign up for the free Snopes newsletter ](https://www.snopes.com/subscribe/?utm%5Fsource=tangle&utm%5Fcampaign=10182026) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/10/data-src-image-7878fc2a-3e20-410e-ab57-c8ddb064634d.png) ### Reader essay. ![A house with an “Ultra MAGA” flag | Photo from Katrina VanHuss](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/10/data-src-image-409dd22f-f8cc-4d24-a87f-940924ebfdec.jpeg) A house with an “Ultra MAGA” flag | Photo from Katrina VanHuss Writing from rural Virginia, just outside Richmond, reader Katrina VanHuss tells the story of when she stepped on a social landmine on LinkedIn, making this argument to her professional network: Don’t challenge your relatives on politics. In an essay steeped in professional experience and saturated with regional flavor, Katrina describes the feeling of being dogpiled — “a social skinning like a trip down the asphalt on a bare ass.” You can read her essay [here](https://www.readtangle.com/otherposts/bless-our-hearts-we-just-cant-help-it/). *Have a personal story or local issue you want to write about? Pitch us! Fill out* [*this form*](https://forms.gle/aigkWGv5QQbwerCX8?ref=readtangle.com) *or reply to this email, and we’ll get back to you if we’re hooked.* --- ### Reader comments. In this section, we like to highlight reader comments that respond to our coverage from different perspectives. On this week’s [Friday edition about third parties](https://www.readtangle.com/third-party-midterms-yang-whitman/#ghost-comments-root), two commenters expressed different beliefs about the Forward Party. **Timothy P. said the Forward Party will get his vote if they support a few key positions.** > *If they lead with support for constitutional amendments to ban partisan gerrymandering, dark money, all the things that poll well but go nowhere because it requires the support of the people in power to surrender their power, I'd sign up tomorrow. Seems like the obvious answer to what they're actually for, no?* **Perry D Minor argued that any third party would benefit Republicans.** > *I have a feeling that any significant third party incursion into the voting population would actually benefit the Republican party in the four-year general presidential elections, which is why Democrats are not entertaining any third-party options right now. Any third-party candidate in the general elections would have to be so unbelievably popular in both Democrat and Republican Party constituencies to have any serious chance of winning. I don’t feel the country is there yet.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/10/data-src-image-7a84f94a-481c-4159-af09-3eadd60ee474.png) ### Recommended reading. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/10/data-src-image-3c5c4b93-e273-4344-a108-e8762d1b584d.png) > *The Floridian peninsula melted steadily into the sea. In Clewiston, sugarcane crops seethed. The orange groves would soon be blighted. Still, what business did I have with bitterness?* Superlative sickly sensations send some seething sweet soliloquies. For their Autumn edition, Orion Magazine published Maria Pinto’s [meditation on bitterness](https://orionmagazine.org/article/heart-of-bitterness/?ref=readtangle.com). --- ### On the channels. This week, we also launched a brand new YouTube channel: the Isaac Saul channel, where Isaac will share commentaries directly from him about politics, media, and whatever else crosses his mind. The debut video from the Isaac Saul channel is an October special, political fearmongering. Check it out below! --- ### Tangle’s favorites. 🚗 ****DECAL:** The [best bumper stickers of all time](https://mossandfog.com/greatest-bumper-stickers-of-all-time/?ref=readtangle.com). 🍝 ****DE FREDDO:** It might not reheat the same, but pasta could actually be [better for you as leftovers](https://www.rd.com/article/food-healthier-as-leftover/?ref=readtangle.com). 🐈 ****DE CAT:** How hardware stores are [using cats to drive foot traffic](https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/hardware-stores-secret-weapon-cats-05fecb1e?ref=readtangle.com). --- ### Post of the week. Highlights from the annual Damariscotta Pumpkinfest and Regatta: [https://www.instagram.com/reels/DeZoE-TxUmW/](https://www.instagram.com/reels/DeZoE-TxUmW/?ref=readtangle.com) --- ### Ask the readers. Last week, Robin from Alhambra, CA, asked readers how they have made new friends as an adult. ****Philipp from Oklahoma City, OK:** I felt quite isolated when I moved to the U.S. from Germany about two years ago. So I signed up at bumble for friends, matched with only one person in my area, met him, became friends, both deinstalled the app again, and stayed close friends ever since. We went to the WWII museum in New Orleans together and exchanged views and stories from both sides of the war, which was fascinating! The most hilarious thing about us: Before we first met in person, both our wives basically texted each other through our BFF profiles because both of us struggled to get out of the comfort zone. Without them we probably would have never met! ****Skip from Gardnerville, NV:** By playing pickleball! I retired at 75 years old. Been an athlete all my life. My wife encouraged me to take up pickleball. I said it was a sissy game. Finally I did, and got hooked. I’m 80 now, and teach a beginners pickleball class, plus play 3–4 days a week. My pickleball friends number in the dozens. Some of us get together for breakfast, some of us watch football together. But we all play a lot of pickleball. Best social game ever. ****Autumn from Phoenix, AZ:** In 2016, Pokémon GO launched. I gave it a try and I still play to this day. I made more adult friends playing Pokemon Go than any other hobby. Not just acquaintances, but actual good friends! ****James from Houston, TX:** Adult friendships are born in the places you find community, for this millennial that's been work and church. This week’s reader question comes from Liz from Sioux Falls, SD, who asks: ****What do you do when you get bored?** *You can let us know your thoughts by replying through* [*this form*](https://forms.gle/SZ1uohkrkfvkq6NJ9?ref=readtangle.com). --- *Want even more Tangle? Follow us on our* [*X*](https://twitter.com/TangleNews?ref=readtangle.com)*,* [*Reddit*](https://www.reddit.com/r/tanglenews?ref=readtangle.com)*, or* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/tangle.news?ref=readtangle.com) *for up-to-the-minute updates.* ### The James Talarico Scandal That Wasn't URL: https://www.readtangle.com/the-james-talarico-scandal-that-wasnt/ Last updated: 2026-10-17T16:01:10.000Z Is this the AI election deception incident we’ve been waiting for? In this clip from Suspension of the Rules, the hosts discuss the viral audio recording that claimed Texas Senate candidate James Talarico had checked into a health care facility, the New York Times footage showing he was home sick with the flu, and whether the episode fulfills Isaac’s 2025 prediction that a fake video or audio clip would dominate a news cycle before 2028\. They also weigh the theories about who was behind it, from engagement farming to a campaign “rope-a-dope.” ### “We Have Guns Too”: A County Council Forum Goes Off the Rails URL: https://www.readtangle.com/we-have-guns-too-a-county-council-forum-goes-off-the-rails/ Last updated: 2026-10-17T16:01:11.000Z A small county council race in Indiana just went national. Asked to name an unpopular decision she’d make in office, Democratic candidate Jaime West answered: “Firing all Republicans.” Her closing message to voters? “We have guns too.” ### Kimberly Guilfoyle Went Too Far for Trump URL: https://www.readtangle.com/kimberly-guilfoyle-went-too-far-for-trump/ Last updated: 2026-10-16T21:41:19.000Z Is there finally a line on corruption in the Trump administration? In this clip from Suspension of the Rules, the hosts discuss the Wall Street Journal’s report that Kimberly Guilfoyle pressed a Kentucky congressional candidate to wire $100,000 to her American Express account, her exit from the administration, and why the bar for punishing political corruption seems so high in both parties, from Guilfoyle to Bob Menendez. They also weigh reports that Guilfoyle may have a “burn book” with more damaging information about the administration. ### Bless our hearts, we just can’t help it. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/otherposts/bless-our-hearts-we-just-cant-help-it/ Last updated: 2026-10-16T17:06:09.000Z *By Katrina VanHuss* --- I grew up barefoot, with hard calluses. I rode a pony most places, and my ginger skin was sunburned most of each summer. Our Virginia family raised tobacco, chickens, beef cattle, grains, vegetables, and morality. We were steady churchgoers: Sunday morning for Sunday school and preaching. Sunday nights sometimes. Always on Wednesday nights for the shared meal and Bible classes. Our family and community were close-knit, bound by religion, geography, and the work of growing things. Support for the MAGA movement is high in my home community. Where the church was once the foundation, MAGA is now the Bible that dictates beliefs and behaviors. My own family is riven by differences in politics, religion, and views on social justice. The fact that I now live a three-hour drive away from where I grew up feels like a blessing. My career, from which I recently semi-retired, is mostly built around nonprofit work. The tools of my trade include understanding how a community functions psychologically, and which “Easy” buttons we can press to get humans to exhibit the behaviors we are after. By 'those behaviors,' I mean donating to a nonprofit, volunteering, advocating — doing tactical good. I work hand-in-hand with a very-very local psychologist, Dr. Otis Fulton, my husband. We explore social psychology, social good, and politics in our tandem writing. And that is how we pissed off a good hunk of our own community of do-gooders, the national network of nonprofit professionals I have spent 37 years being a part of. My crime? My husband and I wrote in a recent article that trying to change a Beloved Relative’s mind about MAGA is not worth the resulting sacrifices. We called that relative Uncle Bob. In summary, we argued that changing Uncle Bob’s mind had two possible outcomes: 1. Failure. Uncle Bob has integrated MAGA into his identity. Once that happens, arguing with him is arguing against his identity, not his beliefs. Your argument will not change his identity, only solidify it. Your efforts will guarantee he will haul his blue-jeaned behind out of bed to go vote against your argument. Your confrontation will cause him to experience reactance, a response to a perceived challenge to his personal autonomy. The result: definitely voting MAGA. 2. Success that leads to something worse than #1\. Assume you succeed. Assume that your confrontation has led to Uncle Bob now being anti-MAGA (not a chance in hell, but let’s pretend). He loses his church, his local restaurants, his family, his social network, his ride to the ballgame. He is ostracized. You lose nothing, including your self-satisfied smirk and feeling of superiority. In our article, we suggested a different path: Continue to love Uncle Bob and NOT to confront him. Don’t guarantee he goes to vote against your beliefs. Let him continue to go to church, the ballpark, the Burger Barn. Leave him be. He might just not vote at all. Use your time and energy to mobilize people who already believe what you believe. Love Uncle Bob anyway. ### All Hell Breaks Loose. You’d have thought we had shot the dog. It was like we complained about Grandma’s cooking. It was like I had answered a question from my mother with a loud “What?” Otis and I had violated our own community norms when we argued that Uncle Bob should be left alone in his. Some part of our own community of social good professionals held a social norm that we had not given enough weight (*any* weight, truth be told). Our group norm was that Uncle Bob and those like him must be held to account, punished, confronted, made to face consequences — that his political preference is an action that demands accountability. That attempts at accountability typically do not work to change minds and can even reinforce identity was irrelevant. The community’s rules were the only thing that mattered. We got dragged in the comments for the first time ever. My husband’s eye twitched. I had to promise myself not to respond after even one glass of wine. My filter barely held. As we say in the South, what had happened was… ### We Created a Perceived Threat. We caused a ruckus, and the conversation moved fast to questioning our morality, all on a sleepy Saturday afternoon in a LinkedIn thread. Research shows thatoutgroup hostility becomes more likely when there is perceived threat, conflict, strong identity investment, and, especially, the moralization of conflict. In our current political environment, it doesn’t take much to check all four boxes. An hour of cable news can give you a big dose of threat and conflict; certainty that your side holds the moral high ground can take care of the rest. We stepped into that nest of deer ticks and stood there. Uncle Bob’s belief system, in my community’s mind, is truly harmful. Our arguments to reserve some space and grace for him did not fly. Uncle Bob needed punishing, and now that we had suggested otherwise, so did we. We argued that perhaps you might not want your loved one to go through a social norming abrasion process, and then, by God, our ingroup ran one on us! They landed a social skinning like a trip down the asphalt on a bare ass. It was an amazing spontaneous social experiment. And we were watching it from the inside, ass on asphalt! The raucous thread illustrated another cognitive miss on everyone’s part. Otis and I were asking, “What is most likely to produce the desired outcome with Uncle Bob?” This highly engaged and enraged part of our community was asking, “What does morality require of me, and you?” Two very different questions with very different answers. One woman tried to teach me about Rosa Parks. I am old and liberal. I know about Rosa Parks. But there was even more at work. We had not just violated our group’s social norm. Our transgression was greater. Because we were part of the ingroup, our offense was made even more egregious. We were the black sheep. ### The Black Sheep Effect. A second, even more interesting psychological mechanism was likely operating: the black sheep effect. The term comes from a classic [1988 study](https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/ejsp.2420180102?utm%5Fsource=chatgpt.com) by social psychologists José Marques, Vincent Yzerbyt, and Jacques-Philippe Leyens. They found that we can judge undesirable members of our own group more harshly than comparable members of an outgroup, particularly when their behavior is relevant to our social identity. Black sheep can be judged even more harshly than outgroup members. They were madder at us than at Uncle Bob because we were part of the ingroup. While Uncle Bob must experience consequences, we got this kind of thrashing: *“Staying comfortable is complicity.”* *“To just give up and ignore is unpatriotic and it is cowardly.”* *“It is complicity. Silence is not neutral.”* *“It was harmful, lazy, and full of ignorance about your privilege.”* *“Please take responsibility for what you said.”* It was sublime. And it got better. The Lambasting Committee scraping our skin off called the Sheriff. ### The Sheriff’s in Town. The roiling-comment crowd grew angrier. At least some of them decided they needed backup. Having been exposed to too many episodes of Gunsmoke, I immediately recognized him as the person “you call to put down this rabid raccoon.” I’ll call him “The Sheriff.” The Sheriff had been alerted by multiple group members to get in there and take care of this problem. Now, this sheriff was unknown to us, seemingly unelected and as far as we knew (and as far as his LinkedIn profile indicated) held no office, except in his own and his tribe’s collective mind. Upon arriving in the chat, he hiked up his metaphorical big belt buckle and told us that because people had said our article caused harm, we were going to have to apologize. We declined his invitation to do so and explained that we were describing a psychological process, not defending it. Our failure to apologize was then offered as evidence of “denial and defensiveness,” which he identified as a characteristic of white supremacy culture. This could have been galling. But we found it fascinating. All these people were operating with good intent, as were we. And try as we might to stand outside the conversation and evaluate dispassionately, we were in the experiment. Our white-coat shield was having difficulty holding. As this went on, I was thinking, “This is what they meant by being beat with the Woke Stick.” I honestly had not internalized that this was happening to people this way. Then, horrified, I thought, “Does this mean I was carrying the Woke Stick?” The Sheriff showing up rounded out an important sequence: A group norm had been violated. Other members communicated the violation. A new member with perceived authority entered to reinforce the judgment and prescribe the appropriate corrective response. And when we didn’t provide that response, that itself became another violation. This was the second scenario we’d presented in our paper, that we were trying to save Uncle Bob from. And we had sprung the trap on ourselves! Some portion of our own beloved community, our in-group — people with whom we share contempt, disgust, revulsion for the MAGA movement — had turned on us. We were being cast out! The moral policing of ingroup behavior continued. The Sheriff explained that perhaps we didn’t have the capacity to understand our own defensiveness or process his feedback. When challenged on whether that was an effective way to persuade someone, he went further: Apparently, we “lack the competency” to change our relatives’ minds, were so defensive that we had missed his argument, and needed “healing” before we could engage in “rational discourse.” He flashed his metaphorical badge by saying he had heard from community members, whom he named. He anticipated compliance, while ignoring (or being ignorant of) psychological processes. The result was that Otis and I would definitely not agree with him (white coat be damned). Even my naming him “the Sheriff” is my way of giving it right back. Pro tip: There is no quicker way to shut down a comment-dragging than to start analyzing the group’s behavior out loud. Kind of bummed we did that, because who knows what other psychological mechanisms might have revealed themselves! ### No One is Immune from Their Mind. To wrap it up, our [original article](https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/its-ok-give-up-changing-uncle-bobs-maga-mind-katrina-vanhuss-hysre/?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad%5Fflagship3%5Fpublishing%5Fpost%5Fedit%3Bvuuc4t63TYKrHx7qtwkjuQ%3D%3D&ref=readtangle.com) argued that political identities become embedded in communities, that communities reinforce the beliefs and behaviors expected of their members, and that dissent can bring social sanctions. Then we published it. We dissented from what appeared to be a norm within our own political community about how MAGA relatives should be treated… …and immediately received social sanctions. The comment section became a live demonstration of one of the psychological mechanisms we had written about. Our own ingroup demonstrated the same basic mechanism we had described in Uncle Bob’s MAGA community: Dissent from a group norm produces social pressure to conform. Otis and I demonstrated the anticipated reaction from Uncle Bob if confronted: “Hell no.” We all did what we all do. My personal lesson isn’t about whether our critics were right or wrong. The lesson is that *none of us are above these forces*. Every community works in basically the same way, whether it exists in rural Virginia, in a national social good network, or fleetingly in a LinkedIn thread. Our social wiring helps shape our behavior. Or, in the words of my home community, “Bless our hearts. We just can’t help it.” I don’t want to leave you with that. It feels hopeless. And I don’t think the situation is. Here’s what I know. When I was younger and had menstrual periods (stay with me) it helped to know that I wanted to verbally thrash people who were in my face because I was having PMS. Knowing what was happening didn’t make the feeling disappear. But it gave me a chance to slow down and put down the weapon. When I first began to fly, I was afraid. I should have been afraid. We are programmed to be afraid of heights because heights can kill you. Knowing the statistics on flying didn’t eliminate the fear, but it gave me something besides the fear to work with. Being able to stand back during a tense moment and say to my husband, “I’m experiencing reactance” instead of “I hate that cursed movie (That Thing You Do) and we have watched it 400 times” can really help a relationship. That may be the useful thing about understanding social psychology. We don’t stop being human because we understand the machinery. But sometimes we can see the machinery running. And once we see it, we have a little more conscious choice about what we do next. We don’t have to give up our values or our morality. But we can learn to ask whether what feels unquestionably true in the moment is actually true, or whether some very old social wiring is helping make it feel that way. Sometimes it just ain’t so. --- *Katrina VanHuss and her husband Dr. Otis Fulton have helped national and international nonprofits do good for decades. They are now semi-retired in Richmond, VA with their two dogs and a couple acres of vegetables.* ### The Ilhan Omar Raid: A Waste of Tax Dollars? URL: https://www.readtangle.com/the-ilhan-omar-raid-a-waste-of-tax-dollars/ Last updated: 2026-10-16T16:41:15.000Z Federal agents searched Rep. Ilhan Omar’s home as part of an immigration fraud investigation. Her life story is unusual, with three marriages and messy paperwork, but that isn’t evidence of wrongdoing. It does make it easy to fill the gaps with speculation. ### The window for a third party is wide open. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/third-party-midterms-yang-whitman/ Last updated: 2026-10-16T15:50:06.000Z ****Note:** You are reading a preview of a members-only Friday edition. To read it in full, [you’ll be asked to subscribe](https://www.readtangle.com/membership/). Every election cycle, some pundits, voters, and activists inevitably end up musing about whether *this is the moment* a third party could wrest some control back from the duopoly. Depending on the year and cycle, the idea will gain enough momentum to really take over election narratives. In 2024, while Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was putting up impressive polling numbers as an independent, the third-party hype was so real that many election watchers thought they’d have a meaningful impact on the results. Tangle’s senior editor Will Kaback [even wrote a compelling article](https://www.readtangle.com/rfk-jr-2024-election-impact/) back in June 2024 exploring the question of whether Kennedy was the “most important factor” in the upcoming presidential election. At the time, Kennedy was polling consistently at around 10%, and his popularity seemed to be rising. In a way, Will’s take aged poorly, but that’s no criticism of my colleague; we never got to find out if his thesis was legitimate because Kennedy jumped on Trump’s bandwagon and Harris supplanted Biden, effectively detonating a stick of dynamite in the entire election framework. Still, it’s surprising that this year, compared to others, has had so little chatter about third-party candidates. After all, this upcoming election might be the biggestopportunity for third parties in a generation. I didn’t hold that notion a few weeks ago, but I’ve become convinced of it this month. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### The Russia diesel deal. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/russia-diesel-deal/ Last updated: 2026-10-15T15:50:21.000Z Good Thursday morning. I’m **Executive Editor Isaac Saul**, jumping into the driver’s seat today for the first time this week. I’ve been head down writing for the last few days, working on tomorrow’s Friday edition about the viability of a third party this year, writing Part II of my piece on corruption in the Trump administration, and putting the finishing touches on an exciting announcement for all our readers. We’ve got a lot of great stuff coming, but today, our eyes are on the **Trump–Putin diesel deal**, a development with important implications for the global energy market and the Russia–Ukraine war. Plus, **a day in the history of the Supreme Court**, and a feel-good story about **two siblings discovering each other** in a chance encounter. It’s a **13-minute read**. Ari Weitzman, Will Kaback, Carina Pacheco, Russell Nystrom, Isaac Wood, and Bailey Saul edited or contributed to today’s newsletter. ### Suspension of the Rules. Following a few heavier episodes, Isaac, Ari, and Kmele have a bit of fun this week. Kimberly Guilfoyle’s resignation prompts Ari to quiz the guys on other U.S. ambassadors, then the three react to a viral video of a candidate in a local Indiana race. Plus, some discussion on James Talarico and Ilhan Omar. Check it out here: The new episode ### Quick hits. 1. BREAKING: President Donald Trump said the execution of the Fort Hood shooter will not be livestreamed. ([The update](https://www.cnn.com/2026/10/15/politics/fort-hood-shooter-execution-livestream-called-off?ref=readtangle.com)) 2. The consumer price index increased 0.6% in September and 3.7% on an annual basis. Gasoline prices rose 9.1% month-over-month, accounting for over half of the overall monthly increase. ([The report](https://www.bls.gov/news.release/cpi.nr0.htm?ref=readtangle.com)) 3. A Singapore-flagged container ship sank in the Strait of Hormuz after it was struck by an unidentified projectile, which Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said was a naval mine. A second Singapore-flagged ship was also hit by an unidentified projectile and sustained damage. ([The incidents](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/10/14/container-ship-sinks-strait-hormuz-as-iran-war-attacks.html?ref=readtangle.com)) 4. Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense said that Starshield, the military version of Starlink’s satellite communication system, is working at full speed again after officials claimed that connection speeds were throttled. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky suggested on Wednesday that SpaceX CEO Elon Musk deliberately slowed the service. ([The latest](https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2026/10/15/8058126/?ref=readtangle.com)) 5. The Social Security Administration announced a cost-of-living adjustment that will increase the average Social Security recipient’s benefits by $900 a year starting in 2027, a 3.6% increase and the largest rise in monthly payments in four years. ([The announcement](https://www.axios.com/2026/10/14/social-security-cola-inflation?ref=readtangle.com)) 6. A trial began in Germany for a Ukrainian special-forces veteran accused of leading an operation to blow up Nord Stream pipelines in 2022\. 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The president said the deal will bring down diesel prices impacted by supply disruptions linked to the Iran war but did not say it is tied to a larger ceasefire deal. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and some U.S. lawmakers criticized the agreement as a gift to Russia and urged Trump to reverse course. **Back up:** In response to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the U.S. and other Western countries leveled broad sanctions on the Russian economy and individual leaders. In September, Congress [passed](https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-russia-sanctions-ukraine-lindsey-graham-d1715ad5e8feccba76bfae51c5f28c45?ref=readtangle.com) a new set of sanctions — some of which applied to Russia’s energy sector — with strong bipartisan support, and President Trump signed the bill into law. Under the [announced terms](https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/what-is-diesel-deal-between-putin-trump-2026-10-12/?ref=readtangle.com), the U.S. will temporarily remove sanctions on Russian diesel exports, and Russia will immediately supply the U.S. and global marketplace with approximately 300,000 metric tons of the fuel. They’ll supply another 500,000 tons in November and an additional one million tons “immediately thereafter,” according to Trump. The president also said Russia will supply three million additional tons “within a short period of time” based on Russian refinery capabilities. President Zelensky immediately spoke out against the deal, [saying](https://www.axios.com/2026/10/09/exclusive-zelensky-putin-trump-diesel-deal?ref=readtangle.com), “It looks like a happy birthday present for Putin… It shows weakness of the world.” Zelensky also suggested that a U.S. negotiating team had misled Ukrainian officials about Trump’s discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin over the energy agreement. Other Western leaders also questioned the deal; Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni [said](https://www.reuters.com/business/us-russia-deal-diesel-is-very-risky-choice-italy-pm-meloni-says-2026-10-14/?ref=readtangle.com), “It provides Moscow with legitimacy as its bombs continue ​to fall on Ukrainian cities, generates new revenue to finance the war, and implicitly weakens the effectiveness of sanctions.” Separately, on Sunday, President Trump [announced](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/zelenskyy-trump-new-ukrainian-president/?ref=readtangle.com) an “energy ceasefire” between Ukraine and Russia, saying, “Both parties have agreed. Do not break it!” However, Zelensky indicated that he was not aware of an agreement or the terms of the purported ceasefire, later accusing Russia of attacking Ukrainian energy infrastructure. On Tuesday, a group of six Democratic and six Republican senators [sent a letter](https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/6145760-trump-russian-diesel-deal-ukraine-gas-prices/?ref=readtangle.com) to Trump asking him to back out of the diesel deal. “\[The agreement\] will have a negligible impact on fuel prices but the revenues the Kremlin will receive from this agreement will undoubtedly finance its desired war of attrition and advance security cooperation with China, Iran and North Korea,” they wrote. Today, we’ll share perspectives from the left and right on the deal, followed by Executive Editor Isaac Saul’s take. | What the left is saying. The left opposes the deal, with some saying it won’t bring down energy prices.Many expect Russia’s war effort will benefit. Others suggest Trump is selling out Ukraine. | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | **The Guardian editorial board wrote about the** [**“imperative to keep pump prices down.”**](https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/oct/14/the-guardian-view-on-trumps-deal-with-putin-grim-and-grubby-but-not-gamechanging?ref=readtangle.com) “Mr. Trump is unhappy with Ukraine targeting Russian oil refineries. He claims that this is the cause of high energy prices afflicting American consumers and threatening Republican prospects in next month’s midterm elections,” the board said. “The real driver of global energy prices is not Ukraine defending itself from Russian attack, but Mr. Trump’s failing war against Iran. However, the US president is incapable of admitting any fault. “Blaming Mr. Zelenskyy enables him to deny his own culpability and, with malevolent encouragement from Mr Putin, to revive the preposterous notion that Ukrainian intransigence rather than Russian aggression is the reason why his promise to broker a peace deal remains unfulfilled,” the board wrote. “The best response to Mr. Trump’s perfidy is for Mr. Zelenskyy’s friends to reaffirm their support… thereby signalling that Ukraine will not be beaten by deals between the Kremlin and the White House.” **In The Philadelphia Inquirer, Trudy Rubin suggested the deal will** [**“fund Putin’s war machine.”**](https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/diesel-trump-ukraine-war-russia-putin-iran-20261010.html?ref=readtangle.com) “The ‘diesel deal’ Trump has gifted Putin won’t halt Russia’s aggression. It will reward it,” Rubin wrote. “It will encourage the Kremlin’s unyielding demand that Kyiv surrender to Moscow’s overlordship. And it will fuel Putin’s war chest… The Ukrainians were ready to discuss a two-way ceasefire over attacks on energy infrastructure, but were totally blindsided. Instead, Trump unilaterally declared such a ceasefire had been reached. It hadn’t.” “Yet when Zelensky rejected the one-sided diesel deal, Trump went ballistic and called for his replacement, as if Ukraine were a banana republic whose president could be ousted overnight,” Rubin said. “If Putin keeps getting freebies from his friend Donald, why make concessions? Lifting sanctions on Russian diesel exports, as Zelensky noted, not only gives Putin ‘more money to inflict suffering on us’ but ‘gives him the ability to fight even more.’” **In The Atlantic, Anne Applebaum said** [**“Donald Trump has dropped all pretense.”**](https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/10/trump-ukraine-putin-fuel/688974/?ref=readtangle.com) “\[President Trump\] lifted sanctions on the import of Russian diesel fuel, in violation of the letter and spirit of laws that he himself signed,” Applebaum wrote. “The president has implied that the point of his new policy is to lower fuel prices for Americans. But this is not a sufficient explanation or justification for these dramatic actions. The amount of fuel that Russia could export is too small, the impact on pricing too slight, the narrative too late to shape electoral outcomes. “This looks, instead, like something very different: an abrupt, Hail Mary attempt to force Ukraine to surrender and to save the Russian economy, perhaps in order to finally complete the multiple business deals that the Russians are known to have discussed with American negotiators and others in Trump’s orbit,” Applebaum said. “American allies in Europe and elsewhere have tried to explain to the president the significance of the war and the threat that Russia poses... Now it looks as if they have failed, and Trump has followed his oldest instincts to side with Putin.” | What the right is saying. The right is mixed, with some calling the deal a strong strategic move. Others argue that the agreement is a short-term solution to a long-term problem.Still others contend Trump’s deal supports Putin’s war efforts. | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | **In Fox News, Gordon Sondland suggested Trump is** [**“threading the needle.”**](https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/amb-gordon-sondland-threading-needle-ukraine-russia-china?ref=readtangle.com) “Europe is not yet strong enough to contain Russia without substantial American support. Despite years of promises, too many NATO allies remain dependent on American military capabilities, intelligence, logistics and leadership,” Sondland wrote. “Every additional weapons system, dollar and hour of strategic attention consumed by Moscow is a resource unavailable for deterring Beijing or addressing other threats… Trump is trying to change that equation. “In the long run, we want a fully economically engaged Russia that has something meaningful to lose,” Sondland said. “That doesn’t mean trusting Putin. It means understanding his incentives. Putin wants two things: money and real estate. He wants the economic benefits of international engagement and the territorial advantages of an empire. Trump is uniquely positioned to offer the former while making the latter prohibitively expensive. That is the needle Trump is trying to thread.” **In the Daily Caller, David Blackmon wrote about energy’s** [**“long-term problem.”**](https://dailycaller.com/2026/10/14/opinion-trump-diesel-deal-prices-russia-putin-david-blackmon/?ref=readtangle.com) “Any visible relief at the pump before the mid-terms would matter politically as well as economically,” Blackmon wrote. “But, with just three weeks until Election Day… the same constraints remain: Utilization rates that are not sustainable, thin inventories, and the absence of new domestic refining capacity. Temporary imports and sanctions waivers can buy time, but they do not substitute for permitting and building additional domestic capacity. “If the new diesel flows and the energy truce are kept, U.S. consumers will no doubt see some price relief. If any of the deal’s fundamentals fail, the pressure on U.S. refineries continues unabated,” Blackmon said. “Either outcome leaves the central problem intact: The U.S. and the world need more refining capacity than current policies and geopolitics have allowed, and two ongoing wars have robbed markets of all their cushions. Something has got to give.” **The Wall Street Journal editorial board said the deal will “**[**directly finance Mr. Putin’s bloody war.”**](https://www.wsj.com/opinion/trumps-diesel-insult-to-lindsey-graham-d502ac71?ref=readtangle.com) “The Financial Times reported Saturday that the Trump Administration ‘threatened to cut off vital intelligence sharing’ to Kyiv if it continues attacking Russian refineries,” the board wrote. “On Wednesday 22 people, including five children, were killed in a Russian cruise missile strike on an apartment building… After the diesel announcement, Russia launched glide bombs Saturday at a residential area of Zaporizhzhia, killing at least 20.” “Without a complete cease-fire, Russia will continue to torment Ukrainian civilians. The strategic turn here is hard to understand,” the board said. “\[Trump’s\] multiple attempts at appeasing Mr. Putin… haven’t moved the Russian. On the weekend a Russian official said the diesel deal doesn’t change Mr. Putin’s determination to achieve his war aim, which is to turn Ukraine into a Kremlin satrapy. Until that changes, Mr. Trump’s diesel deal helps Russia and not the cause of peace.” | My take. Isaac Saul Executive Editor ![Isaac Saul](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2025/05/Isaac.jpg) | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | From President Trump’s standpoint, a deal with Russia could offer a chance to alleviate fuel prices ahead of the midterms.From Putin’s standpoint, Trump is offering major economic relief during a war of attrition with Ukraine.This deal reeks of desperation; it hurts our allies, helps our enemies, won’t lower gas prices, and is probably illegal. | | **Reminder:** This is where we share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, leave a comment or reply to this email. | Imagine you are in President Trump’s position. At the urging of a Middle East ally, you’ve led the nation into a conflict with Iran that has proved much more difficult to end than you imagined. Iranian forces have been able to disrupt (or, at times, completely shut down) the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for oil shipping, something you may have known was possible but never imagined would be so difficult to resolve. Bravado and bombs have not freed up the waterway, nor have quieter tactical negotiations or special operations. As the midterms have inched closer, fuel prices have continued to rise, driving [persistent inflation](https://www.bls.gov/news.release/cpi.nr0.htm?ref=readtangle.com). Despite leading a country that [dominates](https://oilprice.com/Latest-Energy-News/World-News/US-Diesel-Exports-Hit-Record-High-as-Domestic-Stockpiles-Slide.html?ref=readtangle.com) diesel exports, diesel prices have *also* skyrocketed to the detriment of Americans. At the same time, you haven’t been able to negotiate a truce between Ukraine and Russia, which you promised you’d do in the first 24 hours of your presidency. Vladimir Putin is an influential, authoritarian leader you harbor a kind of twisted respect for, while Volodymyr Zelensky is a petulant, persistent leader of a less significant country who desperately needs your support but has less to offer in return. You thought Putin would defeat Zelensky, then briefly thought Zelensky would defeat Putin, and now fear that the effective Ukrainian strategy of targeting Russian oil refineries will further disrupt an already fragile global energy supply. And, still, the midterms inch closer. So you have a predicament. Expensive foreign diesel is not necessarily bad for U.S. producers. In theory, they should benefit from the short supply by making more money refining crude oil into diesel. However, American consumers pay the downstream costs of more expensive diesel: From freight companies paying higher transportation costs to your average Great Plains rancher getting crushed at the pump, the bad outweighs the good. These pains are felt globally, and a lot of world leaders blame you, since you launched a war with Iran, which also disrupted global energy supply. You could definitely use a scapegoat. The obvious solution to lower prices is to create more supply, and the simplest route is to free up the Strait of Hormuz, allowing more diesel to flow in every direction and bringing down the costs globally. But you have not been able to get the strait back to “normal,” and after several attempts you start to look at the rest of your board: You’ve played your hand in Venezuela, you’ve made major releases from the strategic U.S. oil reserve — that leaves Russia. Now imagine being in Vladimir Putin’s position: You invaded Ukraine in 2022, plunging Eastern Europe into disarray and sending an economic and energy shock across the globe. When the war started, you were [exporting](https://carnegieendowment.org/russia-eurasia/politika/2026/10/russia-usa-diesel-agreement?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=The%20war%20in,and%20Mongolia%20continued.) about 40 million tons of diesel per year. The United Kingdom and Europe tried to punish you by not buying your diesel, so you replaced their markets with countries like Turkey, Brazil, and nations across Africa. This worked for a while, and as of April this year, you still had some 3 million tons of diesel per month available to export, or 36 million tons per year. And then Ukraine opened up a new front in the war. They started bombing your oil refineries, and by September, your export rate was decimated — down to 325,000 tons per month. To avoid a domestic shortage, you banned diesel exports everywhere except Central Asia and Mongolia. You’re weathering the storm, refusing a ceasefire with Ukraine and escalating the war there, hoping that your country can pace its own use of oil to stave off economic calamity until well after Ukraine’s financial ruin. In walks President Trump. He’s got an offer: Export a few million tons of diesel between now and April 2027, and over that period he will suspend the economic sanctions he has in place to punish anyone buying diesel from you — no strings attached to a ceasefire or peace deal with Ukraine. The diesel you’ll export in the arrangement is worth about [$7 billion](https://carnegieendowment.org/russia-eurasia/politika/2026/10/russia-usa-diesel-agreement?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=In%20theory%2C%20the%20diesel%20deal%20is%20worth%20about%20%247%20billion%20based%20on%20current%20prices%20and%20a%20volume%20of%20about%205%20million%20tons%20of%20diesel%20sold%20over%20six%20months.), and with the sanctions gone, you won’t have to sell it at a discount. For the U.S., this will create more supply in the global system, theoretically bringing down global oil and diesel prices. There’s your deal. As for the millions of us American voters and consumers, I have a few frameworks for thinking about this deal: First, is it good for America? [According to Reuters](https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/what-is-diesel-deal-between-putin-trump-2026-10-12/?ref=readtangle.com), Russia is going to immediately supply 300,000 metric tons (or 2.25 million barrels) of diesel to the United States and global markets. That sounds like an astronomical amount, and I suppose it is. But it’s less than a day’s supply for the U.S. *transport sector* alone, and it’s going to be dispersed *globally*. Trump has said Russia will release another 500,000 tons in November and another 1 million after that, which altogether amounts to about four days of the total diesel demand for U.S. transport. The Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center [suggested](https://carnegieendowment.org/russia-eurasia/politika/2026/10/russia-usa-diesel-agreement?ref=readtangle.com) the deal *might* bring prices down marginally, but many market players have already factored in assumptions that Russia would export all the surplus diesel it could — it has no place to store it otherwise. Real price relief would only come if Kyiv stopped bombing Russian refineries, which it isn’t going to do, since it has learned that’s a powerful lever to pull. And that’s just the benefits. The costs — benefiting a geopolitical rival, undermining a geopolitical ally, and embroiling the U.S. government in yet another questionable international deal — are also real. That brings me to my second framework: Is President Trump’s deal even legal? The sanctions statute was [enacted](https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/3262935-biden-signs-bill-limiting-trade-with-russia/?ref=readtangle.com) in 2022 under President Biden. While presidents typically have broad authority to waive sanctions, this specific law was unusual, putting in plain text that the president must first consult with several congressional committees, submit a report 45 days before making changes, and provide certification to Congress before lifting the prohibition. In fact, the entire sanctions relief — by law — is dependent on Russia withdrawing from Ukraine and ceasing hostilities, a determination that must be accepted by Ukraine. None of that has happened, so [many legal experts and a bipartisan coalition of Congress](https://time.com/article/2026/10/13/lawmakers-argue-trump-russia-diesel-deal-violates-law-legal-experts/?ref=readtangle.com) say the president broke the law, and they [have called for the president](https://www.npr.org/2026/10/13/g-s1-147871/trump-russia-diesel-deal-congressional-response?ref=readtangle.com) to rescind the deal. Third, and finally, is the larger geopolitical context: Will this meaningfully address the global energy crisis? Remember, Russia’s war didn’t spark the 2026 global energy crisis — Trump’s decision to attack Iran did. The deal itself won’t be much of an economic boon for Russia (the $7 billion of diesel was going to be sold anyway, and at just slightly cheaper rates), but the signal it sends is helpful for Putin. It comes at a time when Ukraine is [accusing](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/14/world/europe/ukraine-starlink-energy.html?ref=readtangle.com) the U.S. of hampering its battlefield tech and [halting shared intelligence](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/us-ukraine-intelligence-russia-war-missile-strikes-kyiv-power-outages/?ref=readtangle.com) about Russian attacks. In sum, we appear to be turning on Ukraine, handing a small but meaningful economic gift to Putin, and doing it all for an uncertain and marginal improvement in energy prices — prices that were destabilized by a different war that we started. Oh, and this is all happening a month after the president [signed](https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/2026/09/congressional-bill-h-r-5334-signed-into-law/?ref=readtangle.com) a bipartisan bill that explicitly leveled sanctions and tariffs on countries that buy Russian oil and gas. Trump explained the sudden pivot by saying his number one priority was ranchers, farmers and truckers, and he blamed Ukraine for ignoring requests to stop bombing Russian refineries. It’s a mess — a genuine election-time Hail Mary that could have long-term negative implications for our international relations (after all, we’ve been punishing countries for buying Russian oil until now) and for the future of Ukraine (which is suddenly dealt yet another disadvantage in the war). I’m open to arguments that this is somehow “good” for us, or the global geopolitical situation, but I’ve seen very little in the way of compelling points to that end. **Take the survey:** Do you think the deal will affect energy prices? [Let us know](https://interrobang.vercel.app/survey/8185471a-848d-40ce-9cc2-b7675c135050?ref=readtangle.com). *Disagree? That*’*s okay. Our opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we*’*ll consider publishing your feedback.* ### This day in history. On October 15, 1991, the Senate [confirmed](https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/october-15/thomas-confirmed-to-the-supreme-court?ref=readtangle.com) Clarence Thomas to the Supreme Court by a narrow 52–48 vote. Thomas was among the youngest nominees in Court history at 43 years old and became the second black Supreme Court justice after Thurgood Marshall, whom Thomas replaced on the bench. Thomas’s confirmation process was one of the most contentious in Supreme Court history. After President George H. W. Bush nominated Thomas, confidential allegations of sexual harassment that former colleague Anita Hill gave to the FBI and Senate Judiciary Committee were leaked to the press and became a focal point of Thomas’s hearing. The Judiciary Committee (chaired by then-Sen. Joe Biden) deadlocked 7–7 on advancing Thomas’s nomination and ultimately voted to send it to the full Senate “without recommendation.” Racial dynamics also played a role in the hearings — the 14-member Senate Judiciary Committee that questioned Hill and vetted Thomas was all white and male. Separately, civil rights groups expressed alarm about Thomas’s staunch conservatism and originalist constitutional interpretation, especially since he would be replacing Marshall, a champion of civil rights. The bitter confirmation process took over three months; Thomas fiercely defended himself before the committee, and at the time called it a “circus,” a “national disgrace,” and a “high-tech lynching for uppity blacks who in any way deign to think for themselves.” He was sworn in on October 23, 1991. ### Numbers. - [**$2.69.**](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/10/14/trumps-diesel-dilemma-by-the-numbers.html?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=us%20so%20far-,%3A,-Wholesale%20diesel%20prices) The spot price of one gallon of wholesale diesel in the United States on February 27, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. - [**$4.71.**](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/10/14/trumps-diesel-dilemma-by-the-numbers.html?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=us%20so%20far-,%3A,-Wholesale%20diesel%20prices) The spot price of one gallon of wholesale diesel in the United States on October 6\. - [**+$1.95.**](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/10/14/trumps-diesel-dilemma-by-the-numbers.html?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=cut%20global%20supply-,.,-Trump%20has%20insisted) The change in the weekly retail average price of diesel in the U.S. between July 6 and September 21\. - [**2.25 million.**](https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/what-is-diesel-deal-between-putin-trump-2026-10-12/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Trump%20said%20on%20Friday%20that%20Russia%20will%20immediately%20supply%20%E2%80%8Cmore%20than%20300%2C000%20metric%20tons%20%282.25%20million%20barrels%29%20of%20diesel%20to%20US%20and%20global%20markets.) The approximate barrels of diesel that Russia will immediately supply the U.S. and global markets under the terms of a deal announced by President Trump. - [**2.94 million.**](https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/what-is-diesel-deal-between-putin-trump-2026-10-12/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=That%20is%20less%20than%20a%20day%27s%20supply%20for%20the%20US%20transport%20sector%20alone%2C%20according%20to%20US%20Energy%20Information%20Administration%20data%2C%20which%20shows%20daily%20use%20of%20around%202.94%20million%20barrels%20per%20day.) The average barrels of diesel consumed daily by the U.S. transportation sector. - [**29 million.**](https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/what-is-diesel-deal-between-putin-trump-2026-10-12/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=for%20US%20transport-,.,-WHAT%20HURDLES%20MIGHT) The average barrels of diesel consumed daily globally. Today’s Partner ****Why are 1 million people brushing with this strange tooth powder?** Maybe it’s because they’re tired of whitening products that leave their teeth feeling sensitive. Maybe it’s because they want something they can actually use every day. Or maybe they’ve discovered something the rest of us haven’t. ****Find out why 1 million people (and counting) are obsessed.** [SAVE 20% ](https://www.gu-ecom.com/2ZJF8DS2/2TQJZ31/?uid=2670&ref=readtangle.com) ### The extras. - **One year ago today** we covered [Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado winning the Nobel Peace Prize](https://www.readtangle.com/machado-wins-2025-nobel-peace-prize/). - **The most clicked link in our last regular newsletter** was [the report on Pope Leo’s cancer diagnosis](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/pope-leo-diagnosed-lung-cancer-surgery/?ref=readtangle.com). - **Nothing to do with politics:** [Play Tetris while creating entrancing music](https://musical.toys/toys/tetrachord/?ref=readtangle.com). - **Our last survey:** 3,637 readers responded to our survey on the federal investigation of Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) related to her immigration paperwork, with 55% saying they oppose the investigation and think Omar immigrated to the U.S. properly. “The investigation is clearly a political act and would not otherwise have been pursued given the expired statute of limitations,” one respondent said. “If a judge saw fit to grant a search warrant, I would like to know the outcome \[of the probe\],” said another. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/10/data-src-image-f82bd05a-4dd1-4778-9f72-244d2e175ce0.png) ### Have a nice day. 19-year-old Samantha Rensvold always knew she had a younger biological sister, but since both girls had been put up for adoption, Rensvold was never able to contact her. Then, at a softball tournament in Montana in August 2025, a teammate pointed out an infielder on the other team to Rensvold to whom she bore a striking resemblance. Rensvold went to her mom, who checked the roster: The player’s name was Kyann Dean, the same first name Rensvold’s birth mother had given her sister. The two families confirmed their details, and Rensvold and Dean stayed in touch. They discovered that they not only have the same interest in sports, but they wear the same volleyball jersey number and have the same “little giggle.”[ People has the story](https://people.com/teen-knew-she-had-long-lost-sister-they-found-each-other-facing-off-softball-game-exclusive-12118827?ref=readtangle.com). ### Was the Talarico Audio AI? Inside the Viral Conspiracy URL: https://www.readtangle.com/was-the-talarico-audio-ai-inside-the-viral-conspiracy/ Last updated: 2026-10-15T15:31:29.000Z What constitutes a fireable offense in the Trump administration? ### In 6 minutes, You'll Understand Gerrymandering URL: https://www.readtangle.com/in-6-minutes-youll-understand-gerrymandering/ Last updated: 2026-10-14T20:30:59.000Z Have you noticed a change in what your congressional district looks like? ### The DHS searches Ilhan Omar’s home. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/otherposts/the-dhs-searches-ilhan-omars-home/ Last updated: 2026-10-14T18:49:08.000Z Monday’s raid of Rep. Ilhan Omar’s residence is the latest example of the Trump administration’s investigations into political opponents. And just like the targets of those other probes — like James Comey, Letitia James, and Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA) — Omar’s feud with President Trump is grounded in both ideological and personal grievances. I grew up in the suburbs of Minneapolis, in the district Omar represents, MN-05\. She was never my representative (I was in college when she won the seat in 2018), but I have a good understanding of the district’s political makeup from working on local campaigns in high school and from family and friends who remain her constituents. Somali-Americans have an outsized influence in MN-05 and state politics writ large. Growing up, first- or second-generation immigrants from Somalia were my classmates, friends, and teammates. I never really perceived them as a distinct group; they were just classmates, friends, and teammates. If differences existed between us at home, they were rarely present at school or on the field. But even though it didn’t register with me as a kid, Minnesota’s Somali community *is* unique — it’s the [largest](https://www.readtangle.com/r/79885f8e?m=cd584270-7f88-49fe-a057-68d353f9cdc1) Somali population in the United States, and MN-05 has the [largest](https://www.readtangle.com/r/88322479?m=cd584270-7f88-49fe-a057-68d353f9cdc1) Somali population within the state. Many, including Rep. Omar and her family, resettled in the Twin Cities after fleeing the Somali Civil War of the 1990s. The community is still a relatively small part of the overall population (even in MN-05, Somalis make up just 3.4% of residents), but they’ve [amassed](https://www.readtangle.com/r/8da14967?m=cd584270-7f88-49fe-a057-68d353f9cdc1) considerable political influence — similar to [other](https://www.readtangle.com/r/b6a53112?m=cd584270-7f88-49fe-a057-68d353f9cdc1) [immigrant](https://www.readtangle.com/r/69e6f101?m=cd584270-7f88-49fe-a057-68d353f9cdc1) [communities](https://www.readtangle.com/r/d43a57f0?m=cd584270-7f88-49fe-a057-68d353f9cdc1) throughout U.S. history (and [Minnesota history](https://www.readtangle.com/r/5fd852df?m=cd584270-7f88-49fe-a057-68d353f9cdc1)). And like those other historical immigrant communities, Somali immigrants’ integration hasn’t been seamless — [tensions](https://www.readtangle.com/r/ff11b1c1?m=cd584270-7f88-49fe-a057-68d353f9cdc1) were [brewing](https://www.readtangle.com/r/cb3732a8?m=cd584270-7f88-49fe-a057-68d353f9cdc1) long before YouTuber Nick Shirley showed up to document claims of fraud. Now, those tensions are ratcheting up: Just this month, alleged members of a Somali gang were [charged](https://www.readtangle.com/r/f8d5f40b?m=cd584270-7f88-49fe-a057-68d353f9cdc1) in connection with a shooting at a homecoming football game, and the FBI [arrested](https://www.readtangle.com/r/4b78f698?m=cd584270-7f88-49fe-a057-68d353f9cdc1) a U.S. citizen of Somali descent for allegedly plotting a mass shooting at the Mall of America. After a separate incident linked to Somali gangs in which over 100 rounds were fired in a suburban area, Bloomington Police Chief Booker Hodges [said](https://www.readtangle.com/r/0e72902c?m=cd584270-7f88-49fe-a057-68d353f9cdc1), “I'm not going to sugarcoat it. We're dealing with Somali-American gangs right now.” Meanwhile, many Somali-Americans in Minnesota [report](https://www.readtangle.com/r/f46ccd7f?m=cd584270-7f88-49fe-a057-68d353f9cdc1) feeling increasingly ostracized and scapegoated for the actions of a few. Somali-American leaders have [spoken openly](https://www.readtangle.com/r/1b0cd840?m=cd584270-7f88-49fe-a057-68d353f9cdc1) about how issues like fraud can seem endemic to their group. But Somalis themselves are most often the *targets* of these bad actors in the community. In 2024, Kayseh Magan, a former Medicaid fraud investigator and Somali-American, explained, “The conduit for fraud in publicly funded programs are the recipients, who require services. Somali recipients face language and cultural barriers. In an unfamiliar country, they lean heavily on other Somalis. Somali providers are in a position of trust, and some have taken advantage.” As the face of the Somali-American community in Minnesota (and, really, the United States), Ilhan Omar has become an avatar for these problems. For the Trump administration, targeting Omar clearly communicates its broader agenda: push people like her out of the United States. It’s hard to say if the investigation has merit based on the limited information currently available. We know that agents from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) had a search warrant to carry out Monday’s raid and that their investigation is probing whether Omar’s father falsified her paperwork when applying for legal status. We also know that the Trump administration has been promising to go after the congresswoman for immigration-related offenses — DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin [told](https://www.readtangle.com/r/4ccd944f?m=cd584270-7f88-49fe-a057-68d353f9cdc1) conservative podcaster Benny Johnson last month that “something’s going to happen” in relation to Omar, adding, “If we can prove it, that you shouldn't have been here in the first place, we'll deport you.” Whatever comes of this investigation, the administration faces an uphill battle on any immigration-related criminal charges. As National Review’s Andrew McCarthy [noted](https://www.readtangle.com/r/d958173e?m=cd584270-7f88-49fe-a057-68d353f9cdc1) under “What the right is saying,” even if investigators found evidence that Omar’s father made misrepresentations in his immigration applications, the statute of limitations for prosecuting immigration crimes expired years ago. Not to mention, any theoretical charges would implicate her father, not Omar herself. In sum, the congresswoman almost certainly can’t be *criminally* charged for immigration offenses, though a civil denaturalization case is [possible](https://www.readtangle.com/r/cace3e5f?m=cd584270-7f88-49fe-a057-68d353f9cdc1) but unlikely based on what we know now. And the likelihood that she is denaturalized is slimmer still. With that said, Omar’s backstory is convoluted. After fleeing Somalia, she spent four years in a refugee camp in Kenya before coming to the U.S. at age 12\. In 2018, she [told](https://www.readtangle.com/r/89e3e016?m=cd584270-7f88-49fe-a057-68d353f9cdc1) The Intercept that she became a U.S. citizen alongside her father through a process called derivative citizenship. However, just this week, The New York Post [reported](https://www.readtangle.com/r/396fbbe4?m=cd584270-7f88-49fe-a057-68d353f9cdc1) that Omar’s staff had her birth year changed from 1981 to 1982 after she was elected to Congress. That’s a critical change, because derivative citizenship is only available to minors; and if Omar was born in 1981, she would have already been an adult when her father was naturalized. Questions about Omar’s immigration history extend to other rumors about her family. President Trump and conservative activists have alleged that Omar improperly obtained legal status for her brother in the U.S. by marrying him. As [documented](https://www.readtangle.com/r/176b05f0?m=cd584270-7f88-49fe-a057-68d353f9cdc1) by Snopes, the rumor originated from a post on an online Somali community discussion forum and has never been substantiated. Still, the saga is complex — Omar says she married a different man (Ahmed Hirsi) in 2002 but did not complete the application process for a civil marriage. She and Hirsi separated in 2008, and she formally married Ahmed Nur Said Elmi (the man said to be her brother) the next year. Omar and Elmi separated in 2011, but did not legally divorce until 2017\. Between those two dates, she reconciled with Hirsi. That marriage also failed, and she is now married to political consultant Tim Mynett. It’s a fairly fraught relationship history (fraught enough to help these rumors persist), but still: No evidence has emerged that Ahmed Nur Said Elmi is Omar’s brother. [Other rumors like this one](https://www.readtangle.com/r/3b088e19?m=cd584270-7f88-49fe-a057-68d353f9cdc1) have also largely been disproven, but I can accept that a narrow immigration investigation into Omar’s citizenship paperwork might have merit (remember, a court had to sign off on HSI’s search). Even accepting that, the Justice Department’s and DHS’s decision to pursue this raid, in spite of the statute of limitations and the proximity to the midterms, screams ill intent — particularly given the DOJ’s traditional (though not explicit or binding) [practice](https://www.readtangle.com/r/380fc116?m=cd584270-7f88-49fe-a057-68d353f9cdc1) of avoiding public actions involving political candidates within 60 days of an election. I don’t think the Trump administration is trying to derail Omar’s chances of reelection — MN-05 is [deep blue](https://www.readtangle.com/r/d69853c0?m=cd584270-7f88-49fe-a057-68d353f9cdc1), and she’s going to win. Rather, this investigation is about sending a message: *We’re fighting to push people like Omar out of the U.S.* It’s a playbook we’ve seen Trump run many times, including his 2024 [remarks](https://www.readtangle.com/r/d98455a1?m=cd584270-7f88-49fe-a057-68d353f9cdc1) about Haitian migrants in Ohio eating cats and dogs. These days, he’s [saying](https://www.readtangle.com/r/d099f8d1?m=cd584270-7f88-49fe-a057-68d353f9cdc1) that Somali immigrants are responsible for “Violence, Murder, and Mayhem all over \[Minnesota\]” and calling on “the people of Minnesota \[to\] fight back.” Now, in targeting Omar (someone he’s [openly fantasized](https://www.readtangle.com/r/cee87a19?m=cd584270-7f88-49fe-a057-68d353f9cdc1) about sending back to Somalia), Trump is acting on personal grievance but also a collective grievance shared by many in the MAGA movement: *People like Omar are taking over this country; we need to push them back.* It’s a politically salient message, and its power comes from real frustrations. But I draw the line at casting an entire group of people ([most of whom](https://www.readtangle.com/r/25ff3a87?m=cd584270-7f88-49fe-a057-68d353f9cdc1) are naturalized or native-born U.S. citizens!) as violent criminals who should be forcibly removed. I’ve held off on sharing my own views on Omar, but now I’ll show my cards: I’m not a fan. She’s made a slew of objectionable remarks in the past — mostly [criticisms](https://www.readtangle.com/r/214cd8af?m=cd584270-7f88-49fe-a057-68d353f9cdc1) of Israel that [veered](https://www.readtangle.com/r/9de1c702?m=cd584270-7f88-49fe-a057-68d353f9cdc1) into antisemitism — but I’m more opposed to her political style that emphasizes hollow clapbacks [tailored](https://www.readtangle.com/r/a963f318?m=cd584270-7f88-49fe-a057-68d353f9cdc1) for social media clips, personal [digs](https://www.readtangle.com/r/18b267ca?m=cd584270-7f88-49fe-a057-68d353f9cdc1), and attempted gotchas (even when she’s [the one in the wrong](https://www.readtangle.com/r/307df2fb?m=cd584270-7f88-49fe-a057-68d353f9cdc1)). This style isn’t unique to Omar; I’m against it in all cases. It might feel nice for a moment to imagine someone like this getting a degree of comeuppance, but it’s a fleeting, sickly high. Barring an unforeseen development, Omar is not going to be imprisoned or deported — the big “win” will be a dramatic raid that leads to nothing. We’ve seen this enough in the second Trump administration to call it what it is: wielding the power of the executive branch to target political opponents. Any personal qualms I have with Omar pale in comparison to this abuse of power. Moved by the take? Share it! ## Join Tangle for free Get perspectives from across the political spectrum on today's most important issues, delivered directly to your inbox. Subscribe for Free Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. | Get more of the story... We broke down the investigation with just the facts, and then we picked out the best arguments from conservative, progressive, and independent writers in today's free newsletter so you can make up your own mind. [**Read them here.** ](https://www.readtangle.com/the-ilhan-omar-investigation/?ref=takeonly) | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ### The Ilhan Omar investigation. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/the-ilhan-omar-investigation/ Last updated: 2026-10-14T15:48:43.000Z Happy Wednesday, and welcome to Tangle. This is **Senior Editor Will Kaback**. Today we’re turning our attention to Minneapolis, Minnesota, my hometown and a frequent subject of national news over the past six years. Our main topic today is Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar and **federal agents’ search of her D.C. home**. It’s a story that delves into her refugee background, Minnesota’s Somali-American community, and the rising tide of politicized investigations. Later on, a question about **press bans** under previous administrations. Then, the story of **a special track meet** in Colorado. It’s a **13-minute** read. Ari Weitzman, Isaac Saul, Carina Pacheco, Russell Nystrom, Isaac Wood, and Bailey Saul edited or contributed to today’s newsletter. Too busy to read? Push play instead! ![Too busy to read? Push play instead!](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/07/podcast@2x.png) [Listen to the newsletter Monday - Friday.](https://www.readtangle.com/tangle-podcast/) New episodes drop at 4pm ET. ### Quick hits. 1. Kimberly Guilfoyle resigned as the U.S. ambassador to Greece amid corruption allegations. ([The resignation](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/13/us/politics/kimberly-guilfoyle-resign.html?ref=readtangle.com)) 2. The Supreme Court agreed to hear a case involving requests for public records about the Department of Government Efficiency’s operations. ([The case](https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-elon-musk-doge-e04914af1491ed395e54efc783e0f19d?ref=readtangle.com)) 3. Federal filings showed that Elon Musk has donated approximately $276 million to Republican groups since July and $366 million for the overall 2025-26 election cycle, making him the largest known donor in the midterms. ([The filings](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/10/12/elon-musk-republican-donations-2026-midterm-election.html?ref=readtangle.com)) 4. The Federal Bureau of Investigation arrested an OpenAI employee, a Saudi national, in connection with a recording device found hidden in the company’s executive conference room. ([The arrest](https://www.reuters.com/world/us/fbi-arrests-former-openai-employee-planting-listening-device-2026-10-13/?ref=readtangle.com)) 5. The Vatican announced that Pope Leo XIV was diagnosed with lung cancer following an operation to remove a nodular lesion from his right lung. ([The diagnosis](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/pope-leo-diagnosed-lung-cancer-surgery/?ref=readtangle.com)) Today’s Partner ****Is Your Personal Data Fully Protected?** If that question gave you pause for even a second, the answer is no. In today’s world, [****so much of our personal information is online**](https://deal.incogni.io/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=6&aff%5Fid=1007&source=1014&url%5Fid=1). And while there are plenty of data brokers who use it for legitimate reasons, there are just as many bad actors looking to access your sensitive information — things like your Social Security number, DOB, and phone number — for their own malicious purposes. Not good. But before you slap your phone in frustration from another spam call, you need to try [****Incogni**](https://deal.incogni.io/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=6&aff%5Fid=1007&source=1014&url%5Fid=1). Incogni scrubs your personal data from the web, removing sensitive information from everything from online aggregators and forums to the classic “people search sites”. It’s your one-stop solution for personal data protection — and right now, Tangle readers can get 55% off Incogni when they use code TANGLE [****here**](https://deal.incogni.io/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=6&aff%5Fid=1007&source=1014&url%5Fid=1). [Get 55% off Incogni with code TANGLE ](https://deal.incogni.io/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=6&aff%5Fid=1007&source=1014&url%5Fid=1) ### Today’s topic. The Ilhan Omar investigation. On Monday, federal agents from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) [searched](https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/ilhan-omars-home-is-searched-by-federal-agents-14a79871?ref=readtangle.com) Rep. Ilhan Omar’s (D-MN) Washington, D.C. residence as part of an immigration investigation. The Justice Department and Department of Homeland Security have shared minimal information about the cause and outcome of the search, but the probe is [reportedly](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/10/13/rep-omar-investigation-focuses-birthdate-citizenship-papers-people-familiar-say/?ref=readtangle.com) related to paperwork Omar’s father filled out when applying for legal status for their family in the United States. The congresswoman denied any wrongdoing and accused the Trump administration of targeting her for political reasons. **Back up:** Omar was born in Somalia and fled the country as a child after the [outbreak of civil war](https://www.britannica.com/place/Somalia/Civil-war?ref=readtangle.com) in the 1990s. She spent four years in a refugee camp in Kenya before coming to the United States at age 12 in 1995, and she eventually [settled](https://www.minnpost.com/new-americans/2015/10/done-wishing-ilhan-omar-why-shes-running-house-district-60b/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=and%20equal%20access.%E2%80%9D-,Family%20fled%20Somalia,-Born%20in%20Somalia) in Minneapolis, Minnesota, becoming a U.S. citizen in 2000\. Omar served in the Minnesota House of Representatives before winning election to the U.S. House in 2018\. She is the first Somali-American elected to Congress. President Donald Trump and Rep. Omar have an adversarial relationship; Trump has [questioned](https://www.mprnews.org/story/2019/07/16/trumpomar-feud-intensifies-over-racism-patriotism?ref=readtangle.com) her loyalty to America, while Omar has been an outspoken critic of the Trump administration and [accused](https://www.politico.com/story/2019/07/23/ilhan-omar-donald-trump-racist-1427389?ref=readtangle.com) him of racism. The president has also [linked](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/115919697262007872?ref=readtangle.com) Omar to his broader criticisms of Minnesota’s Somali-American community, which he claims is responsible for widespread fraud and other criminal activity. On Monday, Trump [claimed](https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/6144098-trump-calls-omar-totally-crooked-in-first-remarks-on-raid/?ref=readtangle.com) that he is not involved in the investigation into Omar but called her “totally crooked.” Several outlets have [reported](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/rep-ilhan-omars-immigration-history-faces-new-scrutiny-federal-investigators-subpoena-relatives?ref=readtangle.com) that federal agents are looking into whether her late father, Nur Omar Mohamed, deliberately misstated her birth year to make her eligible for citizenship at the time he was naturalized. Federal agents are also reportedly investigating whether Mohamed lied on his own immigration paperwork. Following the HSI search, Rep. Omar’s office [said](https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases/office-rep-ilhan-omar-statement-dhs-raid?ref=readtangle.com) in a statement, “This raid by Trump’s DHS is an outrageous abuse of power and an unprecedented escalation in the weaponization of federal law enforcement to target political enemies. For a decade, Donald Trump has relentlessly targeted Congresswoman Ilhan Omar with inflammatory rhetoric, repeatedly putting a target on her back.” House Democratic leadership also condemned the search, [saying](https://jeffries.house.gov/2026/10/12/joint-democratic-leadership-statement-on-the-raid-on-ilhan-omars-home/?ref=readtangle.com) it is “deeply disturbing and raises serious questions about the continued corrupt weaponization of the federal government against Donald Trump’s adversaries.” Below are views from the right and left on the investigation into Omar. Then, Senior Editor Will Kaback’s take. | What the right is saying. The right is mixed, with many supporting the probe into Omar’s past.Some suggest the investigation’s stakes are high for Trump and Omar.Others question the Trump administration’s motives. | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | **In the New York Post, Rich Lowry suggested there are** [**“plenty of reasons to probe \[Omar’s\] past.”**](https://nypost.com/2026/10/12/opinion/llhan-omars-shady-past-gives-trump-plenty-of-reasons-to-probe-her/?ref=readtangle.com) “Much of Ilhan Omar’s family story is a black box, but we are presumably about to learn much more about it,” Lowry wrote. “She has always responded with angry, uninformative dismissals, even when the Minneapolis Star-Tribune — not exactly a right-wing news source — has made inquiries… She gives the impression of wanting to provide as a little information about her family background as possible, and sticking to the more important work of maligning her adopted country.” “If she’s being smeared, Omar should sit down with a neutral journalist and walk through the details of all this with as many documents as she can muster,” Lowry said. “That seems unlikely. But it’s a certainty that she’ll continue to excoriate the United States — whether it’s the country that welcomed her as a penniless refugee, or the one that tries to denaturalize her for alleged immigration fraud.” **In the Boston Herald, Joe Battenfeld asked** [**“will Trump now turn up the heat on Omar?”**](https://www.bostonherald.com/2026/10/13/battenfeld-president-trumps-risky-gambit-against-omar/?ref=readtangle.com) “An embattled President Trump is undertaking a risky gambit raiding the home of controversial ‘Squad’ member Rep. Ilhan Omar just seven weeks before the election,” Battenfeld wrote. “The liberal media is already raising questions about Trump and the DOJ’s political motivations in launching the early morning raid on Omar’s DC residence on Monday. But if the feds do file charges and find Omar is in the country illegally or filed false immigration paperwork it would be a big blow to Democrats and the progressive movement.” “There is a possibility Omar could be in serious legal jeopardy. An arrogant Omar until now has failed to address her immigration and tax status. She exudes \[a\] ‘How dare you’ vibe,” Battenfeld said. “Will there be strategic leaks in the investigation? Will Omar’s brother talk? Or will Omar come up with conclusive evidence that she has done nothing wrong?” **In National Review, Andrew C. McCarthy said** [**“I find myself rooting against both sides.”**](https://www.nationalreview.com/2026/10/what-to-make-of-the-trump-dojs-investigation-of-ilhan-omar/?ref=readtangle.com) “I find Omar a detestable figure and have long suspected she may have been complicit in immigration fraud,” McCarthy wrote. “On the other hand, the Trump Justice Department lawfare is revolting: Regardless of whether she’s guilty, Omar is under investigation solely because she is a Trump political enemy. That’s obvious — and not just because of the Trump DOJ’s extensive track record of hounding the president’s nemeses. “The DOJ is pursuing an immigration fraud case, and a criminal prosecution arising out of any fraud in Omar’s admission to the United States and subsequent naturalization as a citizen would be long time-barred under the applicable statutes of limitations,” McCarthy said. “Ordinarily, the DOJ would not bother investigating crimes too stale to prosecute, but because Omar is a Trump foe, that protocol has gone by the boards.” | What the left is saying. The left opposes the investigation, with many saying Trump continues to weaponize the Justice Department.Some call the probe an abuse of power.Others argue that the accusations are racially motivated. | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | **In Esquire, Charles P. Pierce said there are** [**“many things wrong with what the DOJ is doing.”**](https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/a74111250/ilhan-omar-doj-dhs-trump/?ref=readtangle.com) “Representative Omar came to this country as a refugee from Somalia when she was 12\. Whatever her father may have done — and I’m going to need a truckload of evidence that he did anything at all — I don’t know what it has to do with her,” Pierce wrote. “Except that she has been the target of abject racial xenophobia ever since she came to Washington.” “This is another example of the president weaponizing law enforcement to play out the demonology in his increasingly superfluous brainpan,” Pierce said. “It also is a shocking violation of separation of powers… But many of the Republicans in Congress are just as rabid about Representative Omar as the president is. Their bigotry cannot replace the constitutional order, even under this president.” **In Common Dreams, Robert Reich called the investigation an** [**“abuse of power.”**](https://www.commondreams.org/opinion/trump-raid-ilhan-omar?ref=readtangle.com) “In a democracy, the highest officials of one party do not ‘build cases’ to pursue legislators from the opposing party. Nor do they investigate their political opponents within days of an election, in violation of explicit Department of Justice rules,” Reich wrote. “The Department of Justice guidance for protecting election integrity explicitly states that the department should not engage in investigative measures that might ‘chill legitimate voting and campaign activities’ or ‘interject an investigation itself into ongoing campaigns.’” “The Justice Manual further states that federal prosecutors and agents ‘may never select the timing’ of investigative steps, charges, or public statements for the purpose of affecting an election or giving an advantage or disadvantage to a candidate or political party,” Reich said. “If Democrats regain control of the House, they must investigate this flagrant abuse of power by Trump, Vance, and the Department of Justice.” **In MS NOW, Zeeshan Aleem suggested Omar is** [**“the latest scapegoat.”**](https://www.ms.now/opinion/ilhan-omar-raid-home-trump?ref=readtangle.com) “The reality, it should be easy to deduce, is that Trump sees Omar as a convenient target for his white nationalist agenda… He describes Somali immigrants as ‘garbage’ and ‘low-IQ people’ who ought to be kicked out,” Aleem wrote. “While it’s not clear what the potential outcomes of the investigation are, it fits into the Trump administration’s stated agenda to denaturalize citizens more aggressively than any other in history. “It’s yet another way for Trump to peddle the fiction that immigrants are the source of our national problems,” Aleem said. “Omar is also a prominent target because she’s a vociferous progressive who is aligned with democratic socialists in Congress on issues such as supporting Medicare for All and cutting off aid to Israel… Trump and his allies, like many reactionaries before them, appear particularly keen on commingling their targeting of people of color with their attacks on left-wing politics.” | My take. Will Kaback Senior Editor ![Will Kaback](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2025/05/Will-Square.jpg) | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | I grew up in the district Omar represents, so I’m familiar with her and the state’s Somali immigrant population.President Trump is clearly overstating the issues with that community as part of a broader anti-immigrant agenda.Omar has her own issues, but they don’t justify a politicized investigation, let alone deportation. | | **Reminder:** This is where we share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, leave a comment or reply to this email. | Monday’s raid of Rep. Ilhan Omar’s residence is the latest example of the Trump administration’s investigations into political opponents. And just like the targets of those other probes — like James Comey, Letitia James, and Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA) — Omar’s feud with President Trump is grounded in both ideological and personal grievances. I grew up in the suburbs of Minneapolis, in the district Omar represents, MN-05\. She was never my representative (I was in college when she won the seat in 2018), but I have a good understanding of the district’s political makeup from working on local campaigns in high school and from family and friends who remain her constituents. Somali-Americans have an outsized influence in MN-05 and state politics writ large. Growing up, first- or second-generation immigrants from Somalia were my classmates, friends, and teammates. I never really perceived them as a distinct group; they were just classmates, friends, and teammates. If differences existed between us at home, they were rarely present at school or on the field. But even though it didn’t register with me as a kid, Minnesota’s Somali community *is* unique — it’s the [largest](https://www.mnhs.org/mnopedia/search/index/somali-and-somali-american-experiences-minnesota?ref=readtangle.com) Somali population in the United States, and MN-05 has the [largest](https://www.neilsberg.com/insights/lists/somali-population-in-minnesota-by-congressional-district/?ref=readtangle.com) Somali population within the state. Many, including Rep. Omar and her family, resettled in the Twin Cities after fleeing the Somali Civil War of the 1990s. The community is still a relatively small part of the overall population (even in MN-05, Somalis make up just 3.4% of residents), but they’ve [amassed](https://cbs4local.com/news/nation-world/fact-check-team-minnesotas-somali-community-from-refugees-to-political-powerhouses-temporary-protected-status?ref=readtangle.com) considerable political influence — similar to [other](https://www.loc.gov/classroom-materials/immigration/irish/irish-identity-influence-and-opportunity/?ref=readtangle.com) [immigrant](https://presidentlincoln.illinois.gov/Resources/817f1116-336a-433f-8215-2ead9253a9f0/4%5FAntebellum%20Politics%5FHarris%20Dorgan%5F2.pdf?ref=readtangle.com) [communities](https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1016&context=las%5Fhhfc&ref=readtangle.com) throughout U.S. history (and [Minnesota history](https://www.mnhs.org/mnopedia/search/index/swedish-immigration-minnesota?ref=readtangle.com)). And like those other historical immigrant communities, Somali immigrants’ integration hasn’t been seamless — [tensions](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/dahir-ahmed-adan-named-police-st-cloud-minnesota-stabbing-suspect-n651061?ref=readtangle.com) were [brewing](https://www.mprnews.org/story/2015/03/26/st-cloud-student-protest?ref=readtangle.com) long before YouTuber Nick Shirley showed up to document claims of fraud. Now, those tensions are ratcheting up: Just this month, alleged members of a Somali gang were [charged](https://www.fox9.com/news/eden-prairie-shootings-somali-gang-violence-latest-oct-9-2026?ref=readtangle.com) in connection with a shooting at a homecoming football game, and the FBI [arrested](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/fbi-says-stopped-mall-america-terror-attack-teen-agents-sold-rifle-rcna602233?ref=readtangle.com) a U.S. citizen of Somali descent for allegedly plotting a mass shooting at the Mall of America. After a separate incident linked to Somali gangs in which over 100 rounds were fired in a suburban area, Bloomington Police Chief Booker Hodges [said](https://www.fox9.com/news/bloomington-pd-chief-not-sold-somali-gang-task-force?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=%22I%20pride%20myself,in%20gang%20activity.%22), “I'm not going to sugarcoat it. We're dealing with Somali-American gangs right now.” Meanwhile, many Somali-Americans in Minnesota [report](https://www.startribune.com/whats-it-like-to-be-somali-minnesotan-right-now/601898917?ref=readtangle.com) feeling increasingly ostracized and scapegoated for the actions of a few. Somali-American leaders have [spoken openly](https://minnesotareformer.com/2024/07/17/a-somali-american-investigator-heres-why-youre-hearing-so-much-about-fraud-in-my-community/?ref=readtangle.com) about how issues like fraud can seem endemic to their group. But Somalis themselves are most often the *targets* of these bad actors in the community. In 2024, Kayseh Magan, a former Medicaid fraud investigator and Somali-American, explained, “The conduit for fraud in publicly funded programs are the recipients, who require services. Somali recipients face language and cultural barriers. In an unfamiliar country, they lean heavily on other Somalis. Somali providers are in a position of trust, and some have taken advantage.” As the face of the Somali-American community in Minnesota (and, really, the United States), Ilhan Omar has become an avatar for these problems. For the Trump administration, targeting Omar clearly communicates its broader agenda: push people like her out of the United States. It’s hard to say if the investigation has merit based on the limited information currently available. We know that agents from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) had a search warrant to carry out Monday’s raid and that their investigation is probing whether Omar’s father falsified her paperwork when applying for legal status. We also know that the Trump administration has been promising to go after the congresswoman for immigration-related offenses — DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin [told](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2026/10/12/ilhan-omar-home-searched-trump-immigration-fraud/92216251007/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=DHS%20Secretary%20Markwayne,just%20her%20case.%22) conservative podcaster Benny Johnson last month that “something’s going to happen” in relation to Omar, adding, “If we can prove it, that you shouldn't have been here in the first place, we'll deport you.” Whatever comes of this investigation, the administration faces an uphill battle on any immigration-related criminal charges. As National Review’s Andrew McCarthy [noted](https://www.nationalreview.com/2026/10/what-to-make-of-the-trump-dojs-investigation-of-ilhan-omar/?ref=readtangle.com) under “What the right is saying,” even if investigators found evidence that Omar’s father made misrepresentations in his immigration applications, the statute of limitations for prosecuting immigration crimes expired years ago. Not to mention, any theoretical charges would implicate her father, not Omar herself. In sum, the congresswoman almost certainly can’t be *criminally* charged for immigration offenses, though a civil denaturalization case is [possible](https://forumtogether.org/article/denaturalization-fact-sheet/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Are%20there%20limits%20on%20denaturalization%3F) but unlikely based on what we know now. And the likelihood that she is denaturalized is slimmer still. With that said, Omar’s backstory is convoluted. After fleeing Somalia, she spent four years in a refugee camp in Kenya before coming to the U.S. at age 12\. In 2018, she [told](https://theintercept.com/2018/09/20/is-ilhan-omar-donald-trumps-worst-nightmare/?ref=readtangle.com) The Intercept that she became a U.S. citizen alongside her father through a process called derivative citizenship. However, just this week, The New York Post [reported](https://nypost.com/2026/10/13/us-news/rep-ilhan-omars-staff-got-her-birthdate-changed-officially-after-being-elected-to-congress-records/?ref=readtangle.com) that Omar’s staff had her birth year changed from 1981 to 1982 after she was elected to Congress. That’s a critical change, because derivative citizenship is only available to minors; and if Omar was born in 1981, she would have already been an adult when her father was naturalized. Questions about Omar’s immigration history extend to other rumors about her family. President Trump and conservative activists have alleged that Omar improperly obtained legal status for her brother in the U.S. by marrying him. As [documented](https://www.snopes.com/news/2025/12/02/ilhan-omar-brother-marriage/?ref=readtangle.com) by Snopes, the rumor originated from a post on an online Somali community discussion forum and has never been substantiated. Still, the saga is complex — Omar says she married a different man (Ahmed Hirsi) in 2002 but did not complete the application process for a civil marriage. She and Hirsi separated in 2008, and she formally married Ahmed Nur Said Elmi (the man said to be her brother) the next year. Omar and Elmi separated in 2011, but did not legally divorce until 2017\. Between those two dates, she reconciled with Hirsi. That marriage also failed, and she is now married to political consultant Tim Mynett. It’s a fairly fraught relationship history (fraught enough to help these rumors persist), but still: No evidence has emerged that Ahmed Nur Said Elmi is Omar’s brother. [Other rumors like this one](https://www.snopes.com/collections/ilhan-omar-rumors/?ref=readtangle.com) have also largely been disproven, but I can accept that a narrow immigration investigation into Omar’s citizenship paperwork might have merit (remember, a court had to sign off on HSI’s search). Even accepting that, the Justice Department’s and DHS’s decision to pursue this raid, in spite of the statute of limitations and the proximity to the midterms, screams ill intent — particularly given the DOJ’s traditional (though not explicit or binding) [practice](https://abcnews.com/Politics/dojs-60-day-rule-role-play-trump-trial/story?id=107789927&ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=The%20DOJ%27s%20%2760%2Dday%20rule%27) of avoiding public actions involving political candidates within 60 days of an election. I don’t think the Trump administration is trying to derail Omar’s chances of reelection — MN-05 is [deep blue](https://ballotpedia.org/Minnesota%27s%5F5th%5FCongressional%5FDistrict%5Felection,%5F2024?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=and%20election%20results-,General%20election,-General%20election%20for), and she’s going to win. Rather, this investigation is about sending a message: *We’re fighting to push people like Omar out of the U.S.* It’s a playbook we’ve seen Trump run many times, including his 2024 [remarks](https://www.readtangle.com/springfield-ohio-immigration-haiti-cats/) about Haitian migrants in Ohio eating cats and dogs. These days, he’s [saying](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/117407181257047860?ref=readtangle.com) that Somali immigrants are responsible for “Violence, Murder, and Mayhem all over \[Minnesota\]” and calling on “the people of Minnesota \[to\] fight back.” Now, in targeting Omar (someone he’s [openly fantasized](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/115919697262007872?ref=readtangle.com) about sending back to Somalia), Trump is acting on personal grievance but also a collective grievance shared by many in the MAGA movement: *People like Omar are taking over this country; we need to push them back.* It’s a politically salient message, and its power comes from real frustrations. But I draw the line at casting an entire group of people ([most of whom](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/5-things-to-know-about-the-somali-community-in-minnesota-after-trumps-attacks?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Almost%2058%25%20of%20the%20Somalis%20in%20Minnesota%20were%20born%20in%20the%20U.S.%20Of%20the%20foreign%2Dborn%20Somalis%20in%20Minnesota%2C%20an%20overwhelming%20majority%20%E2%80%93%2D%2087%25%20%E2%80%94%20are%20naturalized%20U.S.%20citizens.%20Of%20the%20foreign%2Dborn%20population%2C%20almost%20half%20entered%20the%20U.S.%20in%202010%20or%20later%2C%20according%20to%20the%20Census%20Bureau.) are naturalized or native-born U.S. citizens!) as violent criminals who should be forcibly removed. I’ve held off on sharing my own views on Omar, but now I’ll show my cards: I’m not a fan. She’s made a slew of objectionable remarks in the past — mostly [criticisms](https://www.timesofisrael.com/rep-ilhan-omar-defends-2012-tweet-accusing-israel-of-hypnotizing-the-world/?ref=readtangle.com) of Israel that [veered](https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/ilhan-omar-twitter-anti-semitism-aipac-its-all-about-the-benjamins/?ref=readtangle.com) into antisemitism — but I’m more opposed to her political style that emphasizes hollow clapbacks [tailored](https://x.com/IlhanMN/status/2110090998235750761?s=20&ref=readtangle.com) for social media clips, personal [digs](https://x.com/IlhanMN/status/2064722695288242182?ref=readtangle.com), and attempted gotchas (even when she’s [the one in the wrong](https://x.com/IlhanMN/status/2079705868593983574?s=20&ref=readtangle.com)). This style isn’t unique to Omar; I’m against it in all cases. It might feel nice for a moment to imagine someone like this getting a degree of comeuppance, but it’s a fleeting, sickly high. Barring an unforeseen development, Omar is not going to be imprisoned or deported — the big “win” will be a dramatic raid that leads to nothing. We’ve seen this enough in the second Trump administration to call it what it is: wielding the power of the executive branch to target political opponents. Any personal qualms I have with Omar pale in comparison to this abuse of power. **Take the survey:** What do you think of the claims against Rep. Omar? [Let us know](https://interrobang.vercel.app/survey/06b418bc-5023-42bf-a417-6f8b1735f98a?ref=readtangle.com). *Disagree? That*’*s okay. Our opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we*’*ll consider publishing your feedback.* Today’s partner Too many people have access to your personal information. [****Incogni**](https://deal.incogni.io/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=6&aff%5Fid=1007&source=1014&url%5Fid=1) is your one-stop shop for personal data protection. Incogni scrubs your personal data from the web. Tangle readers can get 55% off Incogni with code [****TANGLE**](https://deal.incogni.io/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=6&aff%5Fid=1007&source=1014&url%5Fid=1). [Claim your TANGLE reader discount now ](https://deal.incogni.io/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=6&aff%5Fid=1007&source=1014&url%5Fid=1) ### Your questions, answered. **How does Trump’s attempt to ban certain media outlets from the White House differ from Obama’s attempts to ban Fox News in 2009?** **— Anonymous from San Bernardino, CA** **Managing Editor Ari Weitzman:** The two events start with a lot in common, but they quickly diverge. In 2009, President Barack Obama was [losing patience](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/inside-white-house-war-on-fox-news/?ref=readtangle.com) with Fox News, one of the five broadcast news stations in the White House media pool along with ABC, CBS, CNN, and NBC. Fox had been devoting much of its nightly coverage to criticism of the Obama administration, to the frustration of many senior officials. White House Communications Director Anita Dunn called Fox “opinion journalism masquerading as news” and an “arm of the Republican Party.” Senior White House Advisor David Axelrod [called](https://www.politico.com/story/2009/10/fox-not-really-news-says-axelrod-028417?ref=readtangle.com) the network “not really news“ and [said](https://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/23/us/politics/23fox.html?ref=readtangle.com), “Our concern is other media not follow their lead.” That quote from Axelrod seemed to indicate intent when, in October 2009, the Obama administration made the Treasury Department’s “pay czar” Kenneth Feinberg [available to every network](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/administration-loses-bid-to-exclude-fox-news-from-pay-czar-interview?ref=readtangle.com) in the broadcast pool except Fox. Republicans criticized the administration, and the five networks in the pool banded together to collectively pass on interviewing Feinberg. The administration [reversed course](https://www.mediaite.com/media/tv/white-house-admits-to-fox-news-pay-czar-interview-exclusion-a-mistake/?ref=readtangle.com), granting Fox an interview with Feinberg and admitting it made a mistake. The first significant difference between this event and President Trump’s [attempt](https://www.readtangle.com/white-house-press-bans/) to ban CNN, MS NOW, and Politico is that Obama denied Fox one interview; Trump denied three outlets access to the White House, indefinitely. The differences continue from there. Trump himself called the networks “fake news” that published “lies,” tied the decision to the launch of his own “Trump TV” channel on YouTube, and did not back down to initial pressure from lawmakers or the banned networks’ sister channels. Instead, the administration relented only after the networks [sued](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/prewrite-not-pub-judge-extends-order-blocking-trump-white-house-media-rcna602264?ref=readtangle.com) and were granted an injunction, which Trump [vowed](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/117310724294153031?ref=readtangle.com) to fight (the Justice Department is now [investigating](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/10/business/media/trump-justice-department-tv-networks.html?ref=readtangle.com) whether the networks violated antitrust law when they banded together to revoke their coverage). Obama and Trump may have both acted on frustration with coverage from outlets in the press pool, but the actions they took are in totally different categories. If Obama’s spat with Fox was a high school drama, Trump’s battle with CNN, MS NOW, and Politico is a street fight. **Want to have a question answered in the newsletter? You can reply to this email (it goes straight to our inbox) or** [**fill out this form**](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScQhqBSG%5F6%5FoBhwcTQMeS570n29XYbeQ9C9Bis7rjqI31g1tA/viewform?usp=header&ref=readtangle.com)**.** ### The extras. - **One year ago today** was [the Supreme Court case on conversion therapy](https://www.readtangle.com/conversion-therapy-the-supreme-court-colorado-chiles-v-salazar/). - **The most clicked link in our last regular newsletter** was [the Friday edition on Hasan Piker](https://www.readtangle.com/my-honest-thoughts-on-hasan-piker/). - **Nothing to do with politics:** [Play a reimagined version of The Oregon Trail](https://labs.ficuscreative.com/job%5Ftrail/?ref=readtangle.com) as a worker who’s just been laid off. - **Our last survey:** 5,121 readers responded to our survey on plans to livestream the execution of the Fort Hood shooter, with 93% saying the public should not be able to view the government carrying out death sentences. “To have this administration seriously consider such a thing is just one more alarming signal of how far from decency our leaders have fallen,” one respondent said. “The public viewing would only give more attention to the convicted killer,” said another. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/10/data-src-image-53fc15e6-60cd-4d19-9969-54df3e36057e.png) ### Have a nice day. Children who are deaf or hard of hearing can’t always participate in athletic endeavors their peers enjoy, but the Marion Downs Center in Aurora, Colorado, has created a space for them to gather for fun and competition. In September, the nonprofit hosted its annual track and field day, bringing together school-age kids with hearing challenges for a day of sack races, long jump, egg-and-spoon races, and sprints. In addition to providing a physical outlet, the event offers a chance for kids to connect with others from across the state who live with similar disabilities. “I'm really excited to be here,” fifth-grader Angie Mast said. “I like to meet other kids who have hearing loss and get to know them.” [Colorado Public Radio has the story](https://www.cpr.org/2026/09/29/field-day-deaf-hard-of-hearing/?ref=readtangle.com). ### Kmele Foster's 2026 Midterm Prediction URL: https://www.readtangle.com/kmele-fosters-2026-midterm-prediction/ Last updated: 2026-10-13T18:01:35.000Z Can money save Republicans in the midterms? ### Should executions be livestreamed? URL: https://www.readtangle.com/otherposts/should-executions-be-livestreamed/ Last updated: 2026-10-13T16:16:11.000Z If you asked me to name the most important political value I hold, my answer would be simple: I am pro-life, in nearly every meaning of the term. It seems clear to me that the single most important goal of society should be the preservation and perpetuation of human life. Life is precious, from the moment it begins until the moment it ends; to end a life prematurely is the single gravest thing that a person can do. To kill another person is to rob them of the most precious gift they have ever been given, to freeze them in place permanently, to remove their chances of experiencing further joy or bringing further joy into the world. The first murder is one of the first stories in the Bible for a reason. In short, if you are going to kill someone, you need to have an unimpeachable reason to do so. Given all this, I grapple with capital punishment more than any other political issue. Christian views on the death penalty are diverse and complicated, as our coverage of the [failed execution of Christa Pike](https://www.readtangle.com/death-penalty-failed-execution-of-christa-pike/) showcased. The Catholic Church — the largest Christian body in the world — officially opposes it. Pope Leo XIV distilled the church’s opinion on it in a social media post last weekend, [writing](https://x.com/Pontifex/status/2108882737792745846?ref=readtangle.com), “The death penalty is inadmissible because it is an attack on the inviolability and dignity of the person. The common good can be safeguarded and the requirements of justice can be met without recourse to capital punishment: effective systems of detention have been developed that protect citizens while at the same time do not completely deprive those who are guilty of the possibility of redemption.” I’m not a Catholic, but I still recognize the Pope’s formidable role in interpreting Christian moral teachings. And his emphasis that redemption is possible for any person, myself included, hits home for me. Even so, I can’t shake the feeling that the death penalty *is* permissible for the most serious of crimes, and that the potential abandonment of capital punishment — indeed, our abandonment of older understandings of justice — *could* be detrimental to us. Amid a debate over capital punishment just after World War II, C.S. Lewis [argued](https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1271&context=irp&ref=readtangle.com) that to abandon the retributive theory of punishment, to instead prioritize theories of rehabilitation and deterrence, is to dehumanize the criminal and give concession to tyranny. If we pathologize all of a person’s wrongdoings, we imply that the person lacks the capacity for reason; if we solely focus on deterrence, we open ourselves to justifying the punishment of the innocents just to “set an example.” For those reasons, Lewis argued, society can’t abandon the concept of giving a criminal his “just deserts.” If we accept that premise, then we must ask what sort of deserts are required by different crimes. Here, Lewis argues, we should rely on the principles of justice developed over centuries of legal theory and the judgments of juries of a convict’s peers. Capital punishment has been a part of this legal system since time immemorial; our ancestors understood it to be necessary, to some extent, and they further understood it to be a just desert for certain crimes. Of course, just because the death penalty was once understood to be necessary does not mean that its proponents were right then, or that they are right now. After all, governments have killed and still kill people for crimes that we recognize today as unworthy of the death penalty, and I think that getting the death penalty wrong — by applying it erroneously or incompetently — is the most egregious act a government can commit. Not only that, but the state making the final decision to deprive any person of the chance of redemption genuinely makes my blood run cold. Nevertheless, I still find myself thinking that death is the only appropriate punishment for some crimes — mass shootings among them. The Fort Hood shooter killed 13 people and injured 32 more, all in the name of fighting America on behalf of radical Islam. In the years since the massacre, the shooter has expressed no remorse and has in fact continued to hold fast to the extremist ideology that drove him to murder. I believe this man must choose redemption if he is to have it, but he has spent nearly two decades refusing it and doubling down at every turn. Execution, in the end, fits the bill of just deserts. In this case, the biggest miscarriage of justice is the fact he sat on death row for well over a decade. But my support for the death penalty — even in the case of the Fort Hood shooter — is contingent on an important factor: It must be carried out with the solemnity and sobriety that such a punishment requires. We [mustn’t take pleasure](https://preprostost.si/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Mere-Christianity-C.-S.-Lewis.pdf?ref=readtangle.com#page=139) in ending another person’s life. Instead, we must treat it as a terrible duty, and we must afford the convicted every dignity we can, for our own consciences if not for his comfort. So for that reason, when I heard the Pentagon declared that the execution (by firing squad, no less) would be *livestreamed*, I was filled with anger. I understand the case for public executions — part of the solemnity of execution includes our understanding of the gravity of what we’re doing, and I think that modern, medicalized executions intentionally obscure and desensitize the public to the gruesome finality of the act. But there’s a difference between displaying an execution with dignity and treating it as a show of force or a spectacle. When the enactment of justice becomes a spectacle, people begin to lose their sense of justice, giving way to cravings for revenge fueled by an incendiary mob mentality. And in my view, offering it on livestream worsens this problem. Viewing violence through a screen evokes a certain desensitization: You’re removed from the full embodied experience, making it feel unreal, like a video game or movie. Easy access to that sort of violent imagery has been [found](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9606324/?ref=readtangle.com) to inspire radicalization and even terrorism — it’s the very reason that the Islamic State, the group that this shooter pledges loyalty to, publicizes its killings. And the livestreamed execution of a paraplegic Islamic terrorist would do their work for them, turning the convict into a martyr and providing evidence of America’s brutality. Secretary Hegseth seems either unaware of or apathetic toward these problems. Neither attitude would surprise me. The secretary likes to flaunt Scripture when he thinks it emphasizes strength and bravado, but he’s just as likely to [flout](https://x.com/atrupar/status/2105374273665687931?s=20&ref=readtangle.com) its demands for dignity and grace. And that misuse of Scripture, in service of such an egregious betrayal of dignity — carried out by a civil servant in a secular government, no less — makes a mockery of the idea of justice. My hope is that the better angels in President Trump’s and Vice President Vance’s natures prevail here, and that they shoot down Hegseth’s ill-formed idea. Because if they don’t, in my view, it would be better to have no death penalty at all than to have it so abused. Moved by the take? Share it! | Staff concurrence. Isaac Saul Executive Editor ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2025/05/Isaac.jpg) | | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | | | | | | | Audrey and I disagree about the utility of the death penalty (I’ve written in stark opposition to it, including as recently as last week). But I was relieved to see we landed in the same place on the value of a public execution. While I’m almost compelled by the argument that we should have public executions to make the country reckon with what we’re allowing behind closed doors, I’m conscious of the fact that, as Audrey argued, violence begets violence (to say nothing of the fact that this particular killer wants to die a martyr). And turning it into a nationwide watch party feels like I’m stuck in an episode of Black Mirror. In a surfeit of hypocrisy and violence, this is the same administration that has an HHS campaign bringing together researchers, tech companies, and advocates for a symposium on screen-related harms. Now, it’s guaranteeing a government-sponsored killing goes viral on the internet, inevitably making its way to devices across the world. If it weren’t so nauseating to imagine teenagers firing up the livestream from their phones and computers across the country, it’d be comically absurd to consider. Which, honestly, is a good way to describe Pete Hegseth’s entire term as Defense secretary. | Get more of the story... We broke down the livestream execution plan with just the facts, and then we picked out the best arguments from conservative, progressive, and independent writers in today's free newsletter so you can make up your own mind. [**Read them here.** ](https://www.readtangle.com/fort-hood-shooter-execution-livestream/) | | Join Tangle for free Get perspectives from across the political spectrum on today's most important issues, delivered directly to your inbox. Subscribe for Free Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. | | ### The planned execution of the Fort Hood shooter. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/fort-hood-shooter-execution-livestream/ Last updated: 2026-10-14T16:36:12.000Z Happy Tuesday. It’s **Editor Audrey Moorehead**, writing from the rolling hills of Middle Tennessee, where it’ll be a crisp 86°F later today. Doesn’t that just sound like fall to you? Just a week after covering the failed execution of Christa Pike, today’s newsletter discusses the **plans to livestream the execution of the Fort Hood shooter**, an issue that throws my political and moral convictions into sharp relief. Then, a feel-good story on a **rescued baby bird**. It’s a **13-minute read**. Isaac Saul, Ari Weitzman, Will Kaback, Carina Pacheco, Russell Nystrom, Isaac Wood, and Bailey Saul edited or contributed to today’s newsletter. Too busy to read? Push play instead! ![Too busy to read? Push play instead!](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/07/podcast@2x.png) [Listen to the newsletter Monday - Friday.](https://www.readtangle.com/tangle-podcast/) New episodes drop at 4pm ET. ### Correction. In Friday’s edition, we incorrectly identified Dave Wasserman as a pollster. While Wasserman frequently discusses polling, he does not conduct polls himself and is professionally known as an election analyst. *This is our 159th correction in Tangle’s 375-week history and our first correction since August 24\. We track corrections and place them at the top of the newsletter in an effort to maximize transparency with readers.* ### A candid look at Hasan Piker. Hasan Piker has gained national prominence with his no-holds-barred political commentary and growing influence on the left. On Friday, Executive Editor Isaac Saul explored the streamer’s controversial statements, provocative worldview, and role in the Democratic Party’s future. [You can read it here](https://www.readtangle.com/my-honest-thoughts-on-hasan-piker/). ### Quick hits. 1. Homeland Security Investigations agents raided the home of Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN), reportedly as part of an investigation into Omar’s immigration paperwork. ([The raid](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/ilhan-omars-home-dc-searched-hsi-pre-dawn-raid?ref=readtangle.com)) 2. New White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia said the Trump administration has asked U.S. Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle to resign amid allegations that she offered access to the administration in return for payments toward credit card debt. ([The announcement](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/10/13/kimberly-guilfoyle-resign-trump-ambassador.html?ref=readtangle.com)) 3. President Donald Trump announced a deal for the United States to buy over four million tons of diesel oil from Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called the agreement a “\[gift\] to Putin.” ([The deal](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/10/09/trump-putin-russian-diesel-us-global-markets.html?ref=readtangle.com)) Separately, on Monday, Zelensky accused Russia of striking at least six Ukrainian energy targets in violation of a purported energy ceasefire announced by President Trump. ([The update](https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/ukraine-accuses-russia-violating-trumps-energy-ceasefire-eu-imposes-new-2026-10-12/?ref=readtangle.com)) 4. A Justice Department spokesperson said the department is investigating whether major news outlets violated antitrust law when they stopped press pool coverage of President Trump last month, following his decision to ban MS NOW, Politico, and CNN from the White House. ([The investigation](https://apnews.com/article/trump-press-pool-antitrust-687c09a2377e7033c0b452c893c46e12?ref=readtangle.com)) 5. Houthi rebels struck Riyadh’s international airport in Saudi Arabia on Saturday, killing 13 and injuring over 300\. On Sunday, another Houthi strike at the airport killed one person and injured 11\. ([The strikes](https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/yemens-houthis-renew-warning-over-saudi-airports-after-deadly-riyadh-attack-2026-10-11/?ref=readtangle.com)) Today’s partner ****3 lessons to take from millionaires who are really good with money** Life would be a whole lot easier if someone would just Venmo us $1 million, but unfortunately, the chance of that happening is probably zero. (Venmo doesn’t allow transactions that large anyway.) You may not be a millionaire yet, but our partner is here to show you how to [****manage your money like one**](https://partners.thepennyhoarder.com/millionaires-sdyn-prt/?aff%5Fid=409&utm%5Fsource=tangle&aff%5Fsub3=millionaires). Our partner is sharing simple money moves anyone can make today. Each tip can get you closer to achieving your millionaire goals. [3 easy millionaire money moves → ](https://partners.thepennyhoarder.com/millionaires-sdyn-prt/?aff%5Fid=409&utm%5Fsource=tangle&aff%5Fsub3=millionaires) ### Today’s topic. The Fort Hood shooter’s execution. On Thursday, the Defense Department [announced](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/10/08/hegseth-wants-fort-hood-shooters-execution-by-firing-squad-be-public/?ref=readtangle.com) that it intends to livestream the execution of the former Army major who carried out the 2009 Fort Hood mass shooting. The convicted shooter is scheduled to be executed by an Army firing squad on December 3, which would be the first U.S. military execution since 1961 and the first known U.S. military execution by firing squad since 1945\. Republican and Democratic lawmakers have pushed back on the plan to livestream the event, and President Donald Trump said he is still considering the proposal. **Back up:** On November 5, 2009, an Army major and psychiatrist [opened fire](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/soldier-opens-fire-at-ft-hood-13-dead/?index=1&ref=readtangle.com) at Fort Hood in Texas, killing 13 people and injuring 32 others. The shooter was paralyzed from the waist down by return fire. He [said](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/accused-fort-hood-shooter-releases-statement-to-fox-news?ref=readtangle.com) that he carried out the attack because the U.S. military is at war with Islam, calling the United States “a government that openly acknowledges that it would hate for the law of Almighty Allah to be the supreme law of the land.” He was [convicted](https://www.cnn.com/2013/08/23/justice/nidal-hasan-court-martial-friday/index.html?ref=readtangle.com) on all charges in 2013 and sentenced to death. *Note: Due to the well documented* [*contagion effect*](https://www.center4research.org/copy-cats-kill/?ref=readtangle.com)*, Tangle does not name shooters or suspects in high-profile attacks.* Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth backed the plan to livestream the execution, [saying](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/hegseth-fort-hood-shooter-execution-public-nidal-hasan/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=%22He%27s%20gonna%20get%20a%20firing%20squad%20of%20soldiers%2C%20as%20it%20should%20be%2C%22%20Hegseth%20told%20Jack%20Posobiec%20on%20Real%20America%27s%20Voice.%20%22We%27ll%20make%20sure%20that%20people%20are%20able%20to%20watch%20it%2C%20that%20it%27s%20public%20%E2%80%94%20because%20people%20need%20to%20understand%20that%20there%27s%20serious%20consequences%20for%20these%20types%20of%20things.%22), “We’ll make sure that people are able to watch it, that it’s public — because people need to understand that there’s serious consequences for these types of things.” Federal regulations prohibit recording executions of inmates in the federal prison system, but the military [has not explicitly barred](https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/is-it-legal-us-livestream-fort-hood-shooters-execution-2026-10-09/?ref=readtangle.com) the practice. On Friday, Vice President JD Vance [suggested](https://apnews.com/article/fort-hood-execution-hegseth-vance-e806a305d9c6460aa20b14e40047680e?ref=readtangle.com) the livestream plan may not go ahead, adding that he will not watch it if it does. Separately, President Trump initially told reporters that he had approved the plan but later said he was still deciding, [saying](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-execution-fort-hood-livestream-rcna602672?ref=readtangle.com), “There are two thoughts: don’t show it and show it. ’Cause you know, by showing it, maybe other people won’t be doing what he did.” Some Republicans have criticized the plan, including Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), who [said](https://x.com/lisamurkowski/status/2108654511225237720?ref=readtangle.com), “It would give this individual, who deserves no further notoriety, the martyrdom he seeks.” Sen. John Curtis (R-UT) [posted](https://x.com/SenJohnCurtis/status/2108592492119499099?s=20&ref=readtangle.com) on X, “The victims deserve justice administered with solemnity. Broadcasting a death diminishes us and is not an effective deterrent.” Many Democrats also spoke out against the proposal, with Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI) [calling it](https://x.com/SenJackReed/status/2108584711245185422?ref=readtangle.com) a “barbaric spectacle.” Today, we’ll share views from the left and right on the planned public execution, followed by Editor Audrey Moorehead’s take. | What the left is saying. The left opposes the proposed public execution, with some saying it would be psychologically harmful to the public.Many suggest the livestream would be a moral affront.Others worry that the Supreme Court’s current jurisprudence would allow the firing squad execution. | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | **In The Atlantic, Graeme Wood wrote about** [**“the real harm of a public execution.”**](https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/10/public-killing-death-humanity/688954/?ref=readtangle.com) “\[This man\] deserves what he is probably going to get in December. The rest of us, however, will be ill-served by the spectacle of his execution… Watching people die by violence, even if those people have it coming, damages the spectator irreversibly. I don’t mean physical or emotional damage,” Wood said. “I mean something more like the loss of their humanity and dignity, through partaking in the process of treating a person… like a machine to be turned off.” “It is hard to appreciate how awful this viewing experience will be, until you have it. And then of course it will be too late. I have seen videotaped executions and have been diminished by every single one,” Wood wrote. “In this world, denying \[the shooter\] the pleasure of death on his own terms, and letting him instead spend a few more earthly decades in tedious incarceration, would seem a much more onerous punishment.” **In The Hill, Joslin Joseph argued that livestreaming the execution would be** [**“replacing our own moral compass.”**](https://thehill.com/opinion/6141593-fear-terrorism-devalues-american-morals/?ref=readtangle.com) “I have no problem with this man being executed and fully support calling him a terrorist. What he did was abhorrent and his justification of using his religion as an excuse doesn’t hold water to many, Muslim or otherwise,” Joseph wrote. “But livestreaming an execution is yet another way we have caved in and given up our values because of our fears… We have ‘othered’ Muslims so badly and vilified them to the point that we are now acting the way we accuse them of acting.” “We abhor terror groups like the Islamic State organization when they release high production snuff films showing prisoners beheaded, shot, run over by tanks, blown up with grenades, or butchered like livestock… We criticize the Saudis for public executions and call them barbaric,” Joseph said. “People flee autocratic Muslim countries because of public executions and come here because we don’t (yet) act that way.” **In his Substack, Steve Vladeck suggested that legal challenges to the execution would face** [**“a significant obstacle.”**](https://www.stevevladeck.com/p/257-public-executions-and-the-eighth?utm%5Fsource=substack&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fcontent=share) “In a world in which the legality of such a public spectacle ends up in court (and I’m skeptical that it will), Hegseth’s proposal is an unusually accessible illustration of the very real consequences of the shift in the Supreme Court’s Eighth Amendment jurisprudence since 2019,” Vladeck wrote. “Ever since Justice Kennedy retired, the Court has embraced a more static, 1791-oriented conception of which punishments are — and aren’t — constitutional. “For decades, the Court recognized that, because the language of the Cruel and Unusual Punishments Clause is dynamic, the Clause ‘must draw its meaning from the evolving standards of decency that mark the progress of a maturing society,’” Vladeck said. “The biggest *gap* between the Court’s ‘evolving standards’ jurisprudence and its current approach involves punishments that were in broad use at the Founding but have since been largely repudiated. And the public execution of \[the shooter\] would fall right into that space.” | What the right is saying. The right is mixed, with some saying executions should be public. Others worry that public execution would make a martyr out of the shooter. Still others argue that firing squads are the preferable manner of execution. | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | **In the Daily Wire, Andrew T. Walker argued** [**“execution demands a public witness.”**](https://www.dailywire.com/news/why-nidal-hasans-execution-demands-a-public-witness?ref=readtangle.com) “Public outcry that reduces public execution to a ‘spectacle’ vastly undervalues the magnitude of \[the shooter’s\] offense. It is true that concerns about the macabre, bloodlust, and prurience are real… No one should derive joy or entertainment from watching another human die, even if the conditions are just,” Walker wrote. “Our society is no more morally enlightened than biblical times, where execution was public… and done so that ‘all Israel shall hear and fear and never again do any such wickedness as this among you’ (Deut. 13:11) — in other words, deterrence.” “I believe capital punishment should be public,” Walker said. “The military serves the nation’s defense, not a single state, and thus citizens across the country have a right — not an obligation — to view the execution if they choose. \[The shooter’s\] terrorism was a symbolic act against the citizens of the United States.” **The New York Post editorial board said** [**“don’t make… \[the\] execution a public spectacle.”**](https://nypost.com/2026/10/11/opinion/dont-make-fort-hood-terrorist-nidal-hasans-execution-a-public-spectacle-and-him-a-martyr/?ref=readtangle.com) “America is supposed to be a model nation, with the highest values, a shining light that leads the world into a civilized future. The spectacle of a publicized, glamorized execution sends us in the *opposite* direction,” the board wrote. “\[The\] death is meant to achieve justice for the horrific evil he perpetrated, not serve as a source of entertainment or pleasure for masses… That’s not what America represents. “Nor will a public execution deter terror; it’ll only make a martyr out of \[the shooter\]. It’s precisely what monsters like \[him\] long for: martyrdom that brings them fame and glory. Jihadis will surely use footage of the execution as a recruiting tool. Rather than tame terrorism, it’ll only inflame it,” the board said. “For the sake of upholding America’s moral stature — and decency itself — Trump must put an end to this abominable idea.” **In the Wall Street Journal, Alex Kozinski made** [**“the case for firing squads.”**](https://www.wsj.com/opinion/the-case-for-firing-squads-a9880cad?ref=readtangle.com) “Perhaps states thought lethal injection would fare better in court because it resembled a familiar medical procedure. Perhaps they wanted executions to look less medieval,” Kozinski wrote. “Either way, the appeal was obvious: Put the prisoner on a gurney, attach tubes, administer drugs, and invite the public to imagine that death arrives cleanly and quickly, without anyone getting blood on his hands. Appearances, however, aren’t reality.” “Execution by lethal injection is dishonest. It dresses an execution in the reassuring garb of medicine, encouraging us to mistake a state killing for a clinical event. Medicine seeks to preserve life; execution ends it. This blurring of what are diametrically opposite functions is epistemologically perilous and morally repugnant,” Kozinski said. “I have some doubts whether livestreaming the execution is advisable, but Mr. Hegseth should be commended for his honesty.” | My take. Audrey Moorehead Editor ![Audrey Moorehead](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2025/05/Audrey.jpg) | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | I aspire to a consistent pro-life ethic, but I still grapple with the death penalty. The Fort Hood shooter committed heinous crimes and has shown no remorse; executing him is a valid form of justice.However, livestreaming the event would turn that act of justice into a spectacle. | | **Reminder:** This is where we share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, leave a comment or reply to this email. | If you asked me to name the most important political value I hold, my answer would be simple: I am pro-life, in nearly every meaning of the term. It seems clear to me that the single most important goal of society should be the preservation and perpetuation of human life. Life is precious, from the moment it begins until the moment it ends; to end a life prematurely is the single gravest thing that a person can do. To kill another person is to rob them of the most precious gift they have ever been given, to freeze them in place permanently, to remove their chances of experiencing further joy or bringing further joy into the world. The first murder is one of the first stories in the Bible for a reason. In short, if you are going to kill someone, you need to have an unimpeachable reason to do so. Given all this, I grapple with capital punishment more than any other political issue. Christian views on the death penalty are diverse and complicated, as our coverage of the [failed execution of Christa Pike](https://www.readtangle.com/death-penalty-failed-execution-of-christa-pike/) showcased. The Catholic Church — the largest Christian body in the world — officially opposes it. Pope Leo XIV distilled the church’s opinion on it in a social media post last weekend, [writing](https://x.com/Pontifex/status/2108882737792745846?ref=readtangle.com), “The death penalty is inadmissible because it is an attack on the inviolability and dignity of the person. The common good can be safeguarded and the requirements of justice can be met without recourse to capital punishment: effective systems of detention have been developed that protect citizens while at the same time do not completely deprive those who are guilty of the possibility of redemption.” I’m not a Catholic, but I still recognize the Pope’s formidable role in interpreting Christian moral teachings. And his emphasis that redemption is possible for any person, myself included, hits home for me. Even so, I can’t shake the feeling that the death penalty *is* permissible for the most serious of crimes, and that the potential abandonment of capital punishment — indeed, our abandonment of older understandings of justice — *could* be detrimental to us. Amid a debate over capital punishment just after World War II, C.S. Lewis [argued](https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1271&context=irp&ref=readtangle.com) that to abandon the retributive theory of punishment, to instead prioritize theories of rehabilitation and deterrence, is to dehumanize the criminal and give concession to tyranny. If we pathologize all of a person’s wrongdoings, we imply that the person lacks the capacity for reason; if we solely focus on deterrence, we open ourselves to justifying the punishment of the innocents just to “set an example.” For those reasons, Lewis argued, society can’t abandon the concept of giving a criminal his “just deserts.” If we accept that premise, then we must ask what sort of deserts are required by different crimes. Here, Lewis argues, we should rely on the principles of justice developed over centuries of legal theory and the judgments of juries of a convict’s peers. Capital punishment has been a part of this legal system since time immemorial; our ancestors understood it to be necessary, to some extent, and they further understood it to be a just desert for certain crimes. Of course, just because the death penalty was once understood to be necessary does not mean that its proponents were right then, or that they are right now. After all, governments have killed and still kill people for crimes that we recognize today as unworthy of the death penalty, and I think that getting the death penalty wrong — by applying it erroneously or incompetently — is the most egregious act a government can commit. Not only that, but the state making the final decision to deprive any person of the chance of redemption genuinely makes my blood run cold. Nevertheless, I still find myself thinking that death is the only appropriate punishment for some crimes — mass shootings among them. The Fort Hood shooter killed 13 people and injured 32 more, all in the name of fighting America on behalf of radical Islam. In the years since the massacre, the shooter has expressed no remorse and has in fact continued to hold fast to the extremist ideology that drove him to murder. I believe this man must choose redemption if he is to have it, but he has spent nearly two decades refusing it and doubling down at every turn. Execution, in the end, fits the bill of just deserts. In this case, the biggest miscarriage of justice is the fact he sat on death row for well over a decade. But my support for the death penalty — even in the case of the Fort Hood shooter — is contingent on an important factor: It must be carried out with the solemnity and sobriety that such a punishment requires. We [mustn’t take pleasure](https://preprostost.si/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Mere-Christianity-C.-S.-Lewis.pdf?ref=readtangle.com#page=139) in ending another person’s life. Instead, we must treat it as a terrible duty, and we must afford the convicted every dignity we can, for our own consciences if not for his comfort. So for that reason, when I heard the Pentagon declared that the execution (by firing squad, no less) would be *livestreamed*, I was filled with anger. I understand the case for public executions — part of the solemnity of execution includes our understanding of the gravity of what we’re doing, and I think that modern, medicalized executions intentionally obscure and desensitize the public to the gruesome finality of the act. But there’s a difference between displaying an execution with dignity and treating it as a show of force or a spectacle. When the enactment of justice becomes a spectacle, people begin to lose their sense of justice, giving way to cravings for revenge fueled by an incendiary mob mentality. And in my view, offering it on livestream worsens this problem. Viewing violence through a screen evokes a certain desensitization: You’re removed from the full embodied experience, making it feel unreal, like a video game or movie. Easy access to that sort of violent imagery has been [found](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9606324/?ref=readtangle.com) to inspire radicalization and even terrorism — it’s the very reason that the Islamic State, the group that this shooter pledges loyalty to, publicizes its killings. And the livestreamed execution of a paraplegic Islamic terrorist would do their work for them, turning the convict into a martyr and providing evidence of America’s brutality. Secretary Hegseth seems either unaware of or apathetic toward these problems. Neither attitude would surprise me. The secretary likes to flaunt Scripture when he thinks it emphasizes strength and bravado, but he’s just as likely to [flout](https://x.com/atrupar/status/2105374273665687931?s=20&ref=readtangle.com) its demands for dignity and grace. And that misuse of Scripture, in service of such an egregious betrayal of dignity — carried out by a civil servant in a secular government, no less — makes a mockery of the idea of justice. My hope is that the better angels in President Trump’s and Vice President Vance’s natures prevail here, and that they shoot down Hegseth’s ill-formed idea. Because if they don’t, in my view, it would be better to have no death penalty at all than to have it so abused. | Staff concurrence. Isaac Saul Executive Editor ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2025/05/Isaac.jpg) | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | | | | | Audrey and I disagree about the utility of the death penalty (I’ve written in stark opposition to it, including as recently as last week). But I was relieved to see we landed in the same place on the value of a public execution. While I’m almost compelled by the argument that we should have public executions to make the country reckon with what we’re allowing behind closed doors, I’m conscious of the fact that, as Audrey argued, violence begets violence (to say nothing of the fact that this particular killer wants to die a martyr). And turning it into a nationwide watch party feels like I’m stuck in an episode of Black Mirror. In a surfeit of hypocrisy and violence, this is the same administration that has an HHS campaign bringing together researchers, tech companies, and advocates for a symposium on screen-related harms. Now, it’s guaranteeing a government-sponsored killing goes viral on the internet, inevitably making its way to devices across the world. If it weren’t so nauseating to imagine teenagers firing up the livestream from their phones and computers across the country, it’d be comically absurd to consider. Which, honestly, is a good way to describe Pete Hegseth’s entire term as Defense secretary. Take the survey: Should the public be able to view executions? Let us know.Disagree? That’s okay. Our opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we’ll consider publishing your feedback. Today’s Partner Want to manage your money like a millionaire?Our partner is sharing simple money moves anyone can make today — no yacht or hundreds of shares of Apple stock required. These practical tips can help you make smarter financial decisions and get closer to achieving your big goals. Make your millionaire money moves → The extras.One year ago today we had just published a Friday edition exploring the debate over artificial intelligence threats. The most clicked link in our last regular newsletter was the interactive sea-level map.Nothing to do with politics: Listen to two of the world’s loudest birds.Our last survey: 2,384 readers responded to our survey on oral arguments in Suncor v. Boulder, with 56% saying states should be able to sue energy companies for damages caused by environmental hazards linked to climate change. “I live in Colorado and we’ve seen record low snowpack, increasingly severe droughts, and days pushing into 90 degrees in October… Cities and states should be allowed to argue their cases for holding them accountable for the damage to the one planet we have to live on,” one respondent said. “How do you determine the percent of damage specifically caused by fossil fuels? What about cattle? What about inherent natural swings? Deforestation? Feels like trying to pull an ice cube out of a fog bank,” said another.Have a nice day.A British fisherman called the Waterfowl Sanctuary after his fishing line hooked and entangled a young swan that took his bait. He waded into the water, with the hopes of freeing the swan, but decided to retreat from the possibility of parental attacks. He called the Godmanchester sanctuary, and rescuer Graham Porter was on site within 30 minutes, kayaking out to the swan family. After navigating an advance by the flapping wings of a protective parent, Porter scooped up the bird, paddled away from the parents, and found a patch of daylight to focus on the entanglement. He untangled the fishing line and detached the hook from the bill, freeing the baby to return to its parents. Good Good Good has the story. | ### AOC into 2028 presidential territory? URL: https://www.readtangle.com/aoc-into-2028-presidential-territory/ Last updated: 2026-10-12T01:21:15.000Z Love what you see? More Tangle here: NEWSLETTER - https://www.readtangle.com/ PODCAST - https://www.readtangle.com/tangle-podcast/ TWITTER - https://twitter.com/TangleNews INSTAGRAM - https://www.instagram.com/tangle.news/ FACEBOOK - https://www.facebook.com/TangleNews/ COOL MERCH - https://cottonbureau.com/people/isaac-saul DONATE - https://givebutter.com/khshEi GIFT A TANGLE NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIPTION - https://tangle.outpost.pub/gift\_subscription?ref=readtangle.com#/ ### Ari Weitzman's 2026 Midterm Prediction URL: https://www.readtangle.com/ari-weitzmans-2026-midterm-prediction/ Last updated: 2026-10-11T20:41:15.000Z Will Democrats win both chambers of Congress, and how? ### The Sunday — October 11 URL: https://www.readtangle.com/the-sunday-october-11-2026/ Last updated: 2026-10-11T11:52:05.000Z *This is the Tangle Sunday Edition, a brief roundup of our independent politics coverage plus some extra features for your Sunday morning reading.* ****Reminder:** Tangle will be off tomorrow, October 12, in observance of Columbus Day. ### What the left is doodling. ![John Deering | Creators Syndicate](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/10/data-src-image-056bb5ad-1431-4d08-b0e8-35bfe74d6718.jpeg) John Deering | Creators Syndicate ### What the right is doodling. ![Gary Varvel | Creators Syndicate](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/10/data-src-image-0329f5d4-36f7-453c-9e18-841da8d081d0.jpeg) Gary Varvel | Creators Syndicate ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/10/data-src-image-decd72cf-5220-499a-abd1-6929bf977378.png) ### Suspension of the Rules. This week's *Suspension of the Rules* spans several topics. First, as the midterms draw near, Isaac, Ari, and Kmele get ready with their election hot takes. Then, which former Tangle guests are getting themselves in hot water? And does the left have an anti-semitism problem? All this and more can be found in the episode below: ### Monday, October 5. [Christa Pike and the death penalty](https://www.readtangle.com/death-penalty-failed-execution-of-christa-pike/). On Wednesday, September 30, Tennessee failed to execute Christa Pike after administering two doses of a lethal drug, leaving her hospitalized in critical condition. Pike had been sentenced to death for her role in the 1995 murder of Colleen Slemmer. Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee (R) canceled the state’s final scheduled execution of 2026 and accepted the resignation of Tennessee Department of Correction Commissioner Frank Strada. **Executive Editor Isaac Saul’s take:** “This case reinforces my opposition to the death penalty, which I view as both immoral and practically flawed. We can abhor Pike’s botched execution and maintain sympathy for Slemmer’s family at the same time. The simplest way to avoid more situations like this is to end capital punishment.” *Editor Audrey Moorehead and Associate Editor Carina Pacheco's dissent:* “Tennessee’s botched execution attempt of Christa Pike is a horrible outcome, but it should push us to re-examine how and when we implement the death penalty rather than discard the practice altogether.” **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/10/data-src-image-542e7f1f-a55f-4ed5-805c-86c629d6d395.png) ### Tuesday, October 6. [The FlyDubai attack](https://www.readtangle.com/flydubai-terrorist-attack-hijacking/). On Wednesday, September 30, the copilot of a FlyDubai commercial flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv allegedly attacked the plane’s captain and attempted to crash the aircraft in what Israeli officials have deemed an attempted terrorist attack. The captain, Smit Machchhar of India, was stabbed multiple times and seriously wounded but managed to open the cockpit door, allowing crew and passengers to detain the copilot. Two pilots on board as passengers then took control of the aircraft and landed it safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. The attacker has been identified as an Omani national and is currently in custody in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). **Executive Editor Isaac Saul’s take:** “It’s absurd that media outlets are being criticized for covering this story appropriately. It’s also absurd to believe this attempted terrorist attack was a false flag. Instead, this story is a reminder of the constant threats of violence Israelis live with.” **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/10/data-src-image-7c7ab1b6-403a-4552-992e-0d4a1566f695.png) ### Wednesday, October 7. [The Cornell rape allegations](https://www.readtangle.com/the-cornell-rape-accusations/). On September 28, New York prosecutors said they had reopened an investigation into an alleged sexual assault and gang rape by seven Cornell University students in October 2024\. The woman who filed the suit, anonymously identified as Jane Doe, alleges that she was coerced into taking ketamine, encouraged to take alcohol and cannabis, and forced into sexual actions she did not consent to. Last week, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) appointed state Attorney General Letitia James (D) as special prosecutor in the case. Separately, Cornell tapped former acting U.S. Attorney General Sally Yates to lead an independent investigation into the school’s handling of the allegations. **Associate Editor Carina Pacheco’s take:** “The Cornell case is the first big test of post-MeToo feminism. It can be uncomfortable to stare at the facts straight on, but they prove the extreme versions of this story wrong. The societal failures surrounding this story go far beyond just consent and legal definitions of rape.” *Managing Editor Ari Weitzman’s concurrence:* “I share Carina’s opinion that the men in this case obviously crossed a line, but I worry that Hochul and James have taken the first steps towards a worst-case outcome: overzealous charges, exonerations, and fodder for the belief that rape accusations are almost always frivolous.” **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/10/data-src-image-ec9a3b96-74b4-473e-aa92-18bf3fb1cb6b.png) ### Thursday, October 8. [*Suncor v. Boulder*](https://www.readtangle.com/scotus-climate-change-case-boulder-suncor/). On Monday, October 5, the new Supreme Court term began with oral arguments in a case over whether cities can sue energy companies for contributing to climate change. The arguments center on two major issues: whether federal law should block local governments from suing energy companies under state law, and whether the U.S. Supreme Court has jurisdiction to rule on the matter. Justice Samuel Alito, who is not involved with the companies named in the case but owns stocks in the energy industry, recused himself from the case. **Senior Editor Will Kaback’s take:** “Both sides made compelling arguments over whether cities and states should be allowed to sue energy companies. Even if federal law supersedes the states, I think Boulder has the stronger case on technical grounds. However, I worry about the practical outcomes of the Court opening the door to lawsuits that sidestep a clearly delegated federal power.” *Contributing Editor Isaac Wood’s dissent:* “I think it would be good for states to be able to sue for damages brought on by climate change — Big Oil companies are pumping harmful substances into the atmosphere that they know bring material damages upon individuals, towns, and states.” **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/10/data-src-image-65ea7ed0-6414-4826-8896-5f2e250e52e3.png) ### Friday, October 9. As left-wing political commentator Hasan Piker has risen to prominence, campaigning alongside major candidates and giving major interviews, some of his comments have come under scrutiny. In this week’s members-only Friday edition, Executive Editor Isaac Saul explains why he thinks the streamer’s comments matter. [You can read the piece here](https://www.readtangle.com/my-honest-thoughts-on-hasan-piker/). --- ### What just happened. Here’s a rundown of the major stories that have broken since our newsletter on Thursday. - On Thursday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the U.S. military execution of former Army Maj. Nidal Hasan on December 3 will be livestreamed to the public. ([The announcement](https://thehill.com/policy/defense/6137747-fort-hood-shooter-firing-squad-execution-livestreamed/?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Thursday, Vice President JD Vance announced that Microsoft and several other tech companies will be suspended from a green card program that gives foreign workers legal residence in the United States, accusing the company of abusing the program. ([The suspension](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/08/us/politics/microsoft-visas-green-cards.html?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Thursday, President Donald Trump said the U.S. will not restart military operations against Iran before the November midterms. ([The comments](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/10/08/iran-war-trump-midterm-election.html?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Friday, the Nobel committee awarded Navanethem “Navi” Pillay the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize. Pillay, a human rights lawyer, was recognized as “instrumental in ensuring that war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide are prosecuted.” ([The award](https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2026/10/09/navi-pillay-wins-nobel-peace-prize/?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Friday, the Trump administration sanctioned the International Criminal Court. The sanctions follow the administration’s criticism of the court’s arrest warrants targeting Israeli officials and claims that it lacks jurisdiction over the U.S. ([The sanctions](https://www.reuters.com/world/us-imposes-sanctions-international-criminal-court-hours-after-former-judge-wins-2026-10-09/?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Friday, Hurricane Isaias made landfall along the U.S. Gulf Coast as a Category 2 hurricane. It was later downgraded to a tropical storm. ([The hurricane](https://apnews.com/article/hurricane-isaias-landfall-gulf-alabama-mississippi-919a46d4bd705726b4e57f18ce677ac5?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Friday, President Trump named former Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Katie Zacharia as his new White House press secretary. ([The announcement](https://www.axios.com/2026/10/09/white-house-press-secretary-replacing-leavitt?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Friday, the White House announced President Trump signed an executive action directing Attorney General Blanche and other officials to create a committee to investigate mortgage fraud allegations against Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook. ([The order](https://www.nbcnews.com/business/economy/trump-probe-fed-gov-lisa-cook-rcna602500?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Friday, President Trump announced a deal with Russia for the country to supply the United States with over four million tons of diesel amid Iran war-related supply disruptions. ([The deal](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/10/09/trump-putin-russian-diesel-us-global-markets.html?ref=readtangle.com)) Later on Friday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the deal “looks absolutely terrible” and “shows weakness of the world.” ([The comments](https://www.axios.com/2026/10/09/exclusive-zelensky-putin-trump-diesel-deal?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Saturday, Christa Pike’s lawyers announced that she was discharged from the hospital following her failed execution. She is back in prison, the attorneys said. ([The announcement](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/10/us/politics/christa-pike-discharged-hospital-survive-execution.html?ref=readtangle.com)) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/10/data-src-image-11066941-bdcc-4370-9956-8da18988c6bd.png) ### Reader essay. ![Public Domain | pxHere](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/10/data-src-image-0e95399b-9c7d-43f0-b553-e9fcf7e7ad2d.png) Public Domain | [pxHere](https://pxhere.com/en/photo/386986?ref=readtangle.com) In this week’s reader essay, Dr. Dinah Miller recalls the story of her patient Shelly, a woman suffering from postpartum depression. Dr. Miller uses Shelly’s story to engage with the broader questions facing our culture when it comes to medical psychiatric intervention — and how she, as a psychiatrist, navigates the choppy waters of treating mental illness. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### The 2026 Election Could Change Everything for AOC URL: https://www.readtangle.com/the-2026-election-could-change-everything-for-aoc/ Last updated: 2026-10-10T14:01:41.000Z Will the midterms launch AOC’s 2028 presidential run? ### Antidepressant use requires more nuance than we want to acknowledge. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/otherposts/antidepressant-use-requires-more-nuance-than-we-want-to-acknowledge/ Last updated: 2026-10-16T17:06:44.000Z _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### My honest thoughts on Hasan Piker. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/my-honest-thoughts-on-hasan-piker/ Last updated: 2026-10-09T16:35:03.000Z ****Note:** You are reading a preview of a members-only Friday edition. To read it in full, [you’ll be asked to subscribe](https://www.readtangle.com/membership/). It’s hard to say how much your average American knows (or cares) about Hasan Piker. To political reporters like me, Piker looms large. He has a massive audience of young people who follow his livestreams on the platform Twitch. During the videos, he reacts to the news in real time and gives running commentary while responding to people who join his chat room; it’s like a digital hangout with a friend — you might do your dishes while listening, occasionally chime in with a question, and chop it up with an internet-famous political pundit. This style of punditry creates a strong parasocial connection with his audience, and tens of thousands of people watch him every day. Until recently, I would have said that Piker was still unknown or irrelevant for most Americans, especially older news consumers, despite his niche stardom. Yet over the last couple of years, Piker’s name recognition has skyrocketed. As both the Democratic Party and traditional journalists began reckoning with their inability to reach younger audiences, Piker became one of the most sought-after and recognizable leftists in politics. He campaigned with Abdul El-Sayed during Michigan’s Senate primary, boosted democratic socialist candidates in other primaries, and has sat down for lengthy interviews with The New York Times and Axios. Fox News runs [standalone articles](https://www.foxnews.com/category/person/hasan-piker?ref=readtangle.com) about him several times a week — he’s a new boogeyman of the left, like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez or Zohran Mamdani. In my own commentary, I’ve sometimes derided Piker or dismissed him and his worldviews offhandedly. Quite a few Tangle readers and listeners have challenged these comments: What’s so wrong with Hasan Piker? Why do you use him as a punching bag for the ascendant left? It’s a fair question that I’ve never really answered. So, today, I’m going to try to do that in two parts: First, I believe Piker is a bad guy. I try to be careful passing judgment on people I’ve never met, but to quote the great election analyst Dave Wasserman, “I’ve seen enough.” I say this in the most straightforward, judge-of-character sense; I feel the same way about Piker as I do about Texas’s Republican Senate candidate Ken Paxton or Maine’s former Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner. I just don’t trust him. And second, I think many of his views are — broadly speaking — either unrealistic, absurd, offensive, or dangerous. While Piker’s platform and cult of personality are novel, his views hardly are. They sit at the intersection of leftist populism and campism. Socialist activists Jason Schulman and Dan La Botz [define](https://sfarchive.dsausa.org/issues/winter-2020/against-campism-for-international-working-class-solidarity/?ref=readtangle.com) campism as a lens for world politics, through which “the main axis of conflict is between two hostile geopolitical camps: the ‘imperialist camp,’ today made up of the United States, Western Europe, Saudi Arabia, and Israel (or some such combination) on one hand and the ‘anti-imperialist camp’ of Russia, China, North Korea, Syria, Iran, Venezuela, Cuba, and other less-industrialized nations on the other.” Obviously, Piker is not the only alarming figure in the political landscape. I’m not writing this piece to suggest he is any better, worse, or the same as figures on the right whose views and character I’ve also criticized — from [the president](https://www.readtangle.com/is-president-trump-okay/) to [Nick Fuentes](https://www.readtangle.com/they-attacked-me-first/). Instead, I’m making a narrow point about Piker — what he believes, what he’s said, and why he’s important. ### Hasan Piker is not a good guy. I wanted to start with the character element here for an important reason: Piker is charming. If you watch his interviews, he’s funny, often looking for edgy punchlines to pull people in. He’s well spoken, good at riffing, has an interesting style, and generally just gives off some of that sought-after aura (hence Democrats’ handwringing over whether to attach themselves to him or rebuke him). It pains me to say it, but based on his demeanor alone, I kind of like him. And if I wanted to, I could even build the case that he’s a decent person. He and his community have raised millions of dollars to deliver aid to [Ukraine](https://www.washingtonpost.com/video-games/2022/03/10/twitch-streamers-russia-ukraine-hasan-cnn/?ref=readtangle.com) during the war, to [Syria and Turkey](https://www.tubefilter.com/2023/02/13/hasanabi-turkey-syria-fund-donation-one-million/?ref=readtangle.com) in the wake of an earthquake, and to [Gaza](https://tiltify.com/@hasanabi/palestinian-medical-assistance?ref=readtangle.com) after Israel began its air and ground campaigns. He’s also used his platform to raise awareness about things like [inmate firefighters battling the wildfires](https://www.complex.com/pop-culture/a/treyalston/hasan-piker-firefighters-los-angeles?ref=readtangle.com) in California. Despite frequently being accused of antisemitism, he’s repeatedly expressed [reverence for Jews](https://newrepublic.com/article/208412/hasan-piker-interview-third-way-el-sayed-centrist-critics?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=In%20his%20broadcasts,during%20his%20streams.), called antisemitism a canary in the coal mine for fascism, rejected the notion that Zionists run the world (he says capitalists do), and called out his own followers for antisemitism. Yet plenty of evidence shows that Piker lacks character. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Should We Apologize for What Our Guests Say? URL: https://www.readtangle.com/should-we-apologize-for-what-our-guests-say/ Last updated: 2026-10-09T15:41:22.000Z Love what you see? More Tangle here: NEWSLETTER - https://www.readtangle.com/ PODCAST - https://www.readtangle.com/tangle-podcast/ TWITTER - https://twitter.com/TangleNews INSTAGRAM - https://www.instagram.com/tangle.news/ FACEBOOK - https://www.facebook.com/TangleNews/ COOL MERCH - https://cottonbureau.com/people/isaac-saul DONATE - https://givebutter.com/khshEi GIFT A TANGLE NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIPTION - https://tangle.outpost.pub/gift\_subscription?ref=readtangle.com#/ ### Hegseth announces Fort Hood shooter’s execution by firing squad will be public. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/hegseth-announces-fort-hood-shooters-execution-by-firing-squad-will-be-public/ Last updated: 2026-10-09T01:01:33.000Z Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced that the firing squad execution of the shooter who carried out the 2009 Fort Hood attack will be public. ### The Problem With Mamdani’s October 7 Statement URL: https://www.readtangle.com/the-problem-with-mamdanis-october-7-statement/ Last updated: 2026-10-08T19:41:12.000Z Love what you see? More Tangle here: NEWSLETTER - https://www.readtangle.com/ PODCAST - https://www.readtangle.com/tangle-podcast/ TWITTER - https://twitter.com/TangleNews INSTAGRAM - https://www.instagram.com/tangle.news/ FACEBOOK - https://www.facebook.com/TangleNews/ COOL MERCH - https://cottonbureau.com/people/isaac-saul DONATE - https://givebutter.com/khshEi GIFT A TANGLE NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIPTION - https://tangle.outpost.pub/gift\_subscription?ref=readtangle.com#/ ### Why Trump sent thousands of soldiers to Washington URL: https://www.readtangle.com/why-trump-sent-thousands-of-soldiers-to-washington-2/ Last updated: 2026-10-08T18:21:17.000Z The National Guard has been deployed in Washington D.C. for over a year, so we have to ask: Have they made the city any safer? ### SCOTUS returns with a climate change case. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/scotus-climate-change-case-boulder-suncor/ Last updated: 2026-10-08T15:51:15.000Z Welcome to Tangle. This is **Senior Editor Will Kaback**, and today, we’re rounding out our week of regular editions with the opening case of the Supreme Court’s new term. I spent yesterday afternoon reading through the transcript of oral arguments and was struck — as I usually am — by how issues that seem dry and technical on the surface come alive when they’re interrogated by the high court’s nine (well, in this case, eight) justices. This one is a bit of a doozy, touching on **climate change, the energy industry and federalism**, but we’ll dive right into the core questions at the heart of the case. Then, we’ll answer a reader question on **the national debt** and share a heartening story of **a resilient tree**. It’s a **13-minute** read. Isaac Saul, Ari Weitzman, Audrey Moorehead, Carina Pacheco, Russell Nystrom, Isaac Wood, and Bailey Saul edited or contributed to today’s newsletter. ### **The latest *Suspension of the Rules*.** This week's *Suspension of the Rules* spans several topics. First, as the midterms draw near, Isaac, Ari, and Kmele get ready with their election hot takes. Then, which former Tangle guests are getting themselves in hot water? And does the left have an anti-semitism problem? All this and more on today’s episode! [Listen here](https://shows.acast.com/tangle/episodes/suspension-of-the-rules-isaac-kmele-and-ari-share-their-elec?ref=readtangle.com) or watch below: ### Quick hits. 1. The Pentagon has directed the U.S. military to prepare for new strikes on Iran as President Donald Trump reportedly weighs resuming combat operations. ([The directive](https://www.axios.com/2026/10/07/trump-us-central-command-iran-israel-war-elections?ref=readtangle.com)) 2. Federal Bureau of Investigation agents arrested an 18-year-old man for allegedly plotting a terrorist attack at the Mall of America in Minnesota. ([The arrest](https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/fbi-arrests-man-plotting-mass-shooting-mall-america-2026-10-07/?ref=readtangle.com)) 3. Russia’s health regulator said “no emergency situations” occurred at a disease research lab where a researcher died after contracting pneumonia of an unknown origin. ([The update](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/07/world/europe/russia-plague-us-trump-state-department.html?ref=readtangle.com)) 4. The Democratic National Committee sued the Trump administration for using federal funds to pay for allegedly partisan national television advertisements. ([The suit](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/dnc-lawsuit-accuses-trump-admin-diverting-20m-federal-funds-propaganda-ads?ref=readtangle.com)) 5. Hurricane Isaias is forecast to make landfall along the U.S. Gulf Coast this weekend. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) and Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey (R) declared states of emergency. ([The forecast](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/hurricane-isaias-first-storm-2026-atlantic-season-record/?ref=readtangle.com)) Today’s Partner You’ll spend roughly 80,000 hours of your life working. That makes your choice of career one of your most important decisions. [****80,000 Hours**](http://80000hours.org/tangle?ref=readtangle.com) is a nonprofit that’s spent over a decade researching one question: how can you find a fulfilling career that does good? They’ve published a career guide that covers why “follow your passion” gets things backwards, which skills will increase in value in the age of AI, and why the highest-impact work is in areas most people have never considered. Everything they provide is free, forever — [****their only aim is to help people find more fulfilling careers**](http://80000hours.org/tangle?ref=readtangle.com) that do good. Get your free copy of their in-depth career guide at [****80000hours.org/tangle**](http://80000hours.org/tangle?ref=readtangle.com)****.** [Get Your Free Copy ](https://80000hours.org/gettheguide/?utm%5Fsource=newsletter&utm%5Fcampaign=2026-80KMAR-tangle&utm%5Fmedium=sponsorship) ### Today’s topic. *Suncor v. Boulder*. On Monday, the new Supreme Court term began with [oral arguments](https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral%5Farguments/audio/2026/25-170?ref=readtangle.com) in a case over whether cities can sue energy companies for contributing to climate change. The arguments center on two major issues: whether federal law should block local governments from suing energy companies under state law, and whether the U.S. Supreme Court has jurisdiction to rule on the matter. Justice Samuel Alito, who is not involved with the companies named in the case but owns stocks in the energy industry, recused himself from the case. **Back up:** In 2018, Boulder County and the city of Boulder, Colorado, [filed](https://www.justsecurity.org/159880/climate-liability-suncor-v-boulder-oral-arguments/?ref=readtangle.com) a state lawsuit against the energy companies Suncor and Exxon on the grounds that the two companies had concealed and misrepresented the effects of climate change, exacerbating its effects and damaging Boulder’s property and residents. The companies sought to have the case dismissed on the grounds that they could not be held subject to state laws on climate change; the Colorado Supreme Court ruled that Boulder could sue under state law. The U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear the companies’ challenge to the Colorado court’s ruling in February. During oral arguments, the energy companies [argued](https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral%5Farguments/argument%5Ftranscripts/2026/25-170%5F8m58.pdf?ref=readtangle.com#page=5) that state law cannot be used to “regulate global conduct”; longstanding court precedent leaves issues of climate change to federal law, and allowing local jurisdictions to sue for damages would unfairly burden global companies like Suncor and Exxon. Boulder County [argued](https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral%5Farguments/argument%5Ftranscripts/2026/25-170%5F8m58.pdf?ref=readtangle.com#page=85) that states have long had the power to remedy local harms, even when the conduct that led to injury occurred elsewhere. The justices’ positions during oral arguments were mixed. Justices Clarence Thomas, Sonia Sotomayor, and Ketanji Brown Jackson asked several questions about the Court’s jurisdiction over the case. Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Elena Kagan each questioned whether past precedent allowing state laws to apply to larger companies should guide the Court’s decision. Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett questioned whether allowing Boulder’s lawsuit would create too wide an avenue for future litigation. If the final decision is split 4–4, the Colorado Supreme Court’s ruling will stand. Below, you’ll hear views from the right and left on the case. Then, Senior Editor Will Kaback gives his take. | What the right is saying. Many on the right note the broader implications of the case.Some argue that the Supreme Court should rule against Boulder. Others say the legal framework of climate lawsuits is often flawed. | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | **In the Washington Post, Michael Toth argued** [**“this Supreme Court case is much bigger than oil and gas.”**](https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2026/10/05/suncor-is-much-bigger-than-oil-gas/?ref=readtangle.com) “The underlying question should be straightforward: Can a state or local government regulate emissions that occur somewhere else? Under the city’s theory, any company that sells products in a state or municipality could be sued there for its worldwide emissions, even if only a tiny fraction occurred in the jurisdiction bringing the suit,” Toth wrote. “Letting a state court apportion responsibility for global energy demand isn’t adjudication — it’s a usurpation of the federal government’s exclusive authority over foreign affairs. “Boulder invokes a Clean Air Act provision preserving states’ authority to set stricter emissions standards than Washington. But the Constitution does not allow a state to impose its standards on emissions occurring beyond its borders,” Toth said. “*Suncor* is bigger than oil and gas. It is about whether any company meeting global demand for its products can be regulated from any courthouse in America, at any time, for conduct occurring somewhere else.” **In the Daily Caller, David Blackmon called the original lawsuit** [**“climate lawfare.”**](https://dailycaller.com/2026/10/03/opinion-suncor-boulder-oral-arguments-climate-lawfare-david-blackmon/?ref=readtangle.com) “This *Boulder* case is not even the latest in this blatant lawfare campaign which is designed less to win judgments than to extract pounds of flesh from the industry defendants via tens of millions of dollars wasted on litigation costs,” Blackmon wrote. “It is lawfare, not environmental stewardship. Every dollar wasted by the industry throughout this lawfare campaign means a dollar less being spent on drilling, refining, or keeping power and fuel prices affordable. “The courts, regulatory agencies, and Justice Department have repeatedly ruled during administrations of both parties that climate policy of national scale has to be handled by the federal government,” Blackmon said. “The justices should tell Boulder and its lawfare attorneys no, but Justice Samuel Alito’s recent recusal leaves open the possibility that a 4–4 split might leave the mess made in the lower courts in place. That is a very bad place for America and its future energy security to be.” **In Bloomberg Law, Donald Kochan said the Court has the** [**“chance to end legally flawed climate claims.”**](https://news.bloomberglaw.com/legal-exchange-insights-and-commentary/supreme-court-has-chance-to-end-legally-flawed-climate-claims?ref=readtangle.com) “The case could have major implications for federal-state balance, separation of powers, and the availability of creative and market-disruptive lawsuits across dozens of cases nationwide,” Kochan wrote. “In \[*AEP vs. Connecticut*\], Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg delivered a unanimous opinion, holding that public nuisance and related claims based on alleged harms from the transboundary effects of emissions would, by default, be governed by federal common law if any were to exist.” “Any attempts to inject requirements beyond what Congress set in the Clean Air Act would upset the delicate balancing that Congress is allowed when setting national and international policy in such areas, according to Ginsburg’s opinion,” Kochan said. “Since the *AEP* decision, plaintiffs’ attorneys have developed creative litigation strategies… The Supreme Court in *Suncor* can put an end to at least one area of this entrepreneurial lawyering that has gone on far too long.” | What the left is saying. The left hopes the Court will allow local governments to seek damages for climate-related harms.Many expect the justices to rule against Boulder. Others say oil companies want the Supreme Court to let them off the hook. | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | **In The Nation, Elie Mystal wrote** [**“this lawsuit could make Big Oil pay for the harm it’s caused.”**](https://www.thenation.com/article/environment/suncor-supreme-court-boulder-oil/?ref=readtangle.com) “If \[this lawsuit isn’t dismissed\], it could allow local governments and maybe even individual citizens to sue energy companies for the effects of climate change,” Mystal said. “People might be able to sue for everything from adverse health outcomes to lost property. It could fundamentally change the way oil and gas companies operate across the country and, most likely, across the entire world. But the lawsuit is not going to be successful. “Unlike the tobacco industry… this is Big Oil we’re talking about, an industry with a market valuation upwards of $4 trillion,” Mystal wrote. “I think a win here for Boulder could wreck the fossil fuel industry… Which is why the Supreme Court won’t let that happen. It’d be chaos — glorious, righteous chaos… What’s sad is that the court will care more about the practical effect of climate change lawsuits than the practical effects of climate change.” **In Vox, Ian Millhiser suggested the Court is** [**“looking for a way to kill climate lawsuits.”**](https://www.vox.com/politics/505195/supreme-court-suncor-boulder-climate-change-exxon?ref=readtangle.com) “The outcome in *Suncor* is uncertain. The oil companies led with a weak legal argument, and only Kavanaugh seemed to fully embrace that argument. Many of the justices appear bothered that these lawsuits exist, but the most skeptical justices couldn’t agree on a legal theory they could use to shut them down,” Millhiser wrote. “Under our Constitution, the proper solution if the oil companies want federal law to preempt state court suits like *Suncor* is that they can lobby Congress, and Congress could then draft a statute.” “Congress has the power, for example, to combine all of these state lawsuits into one grand federal lawsuit, where a single proceeding could determine how to portion out the costs of climate change to various energy companies, and how to divide whatever these companies are ordered to pay among the various plaintiffs,” Millhiser said. “But that solution would undoubtedly require compromises that companies like Exxon will not like. So, instead, they’ve asked the Supreme Court to give them the legal regime that they want.” **In Balls and Strikes, Madiba K. Dennie argued** [**“oil companies are begging the \[Court\] to let them off the hook.”**](https://ballsandstrikes.org/scotus/suncor-energy-v-boulder-oral-argument-recap/?ref=readtangle.com) “Boulder has already spent over $100 million repairing damage related to climate change, and expects to spend over $100 million more in order to adapt its infrastructure over the next 25 years,” Dennie wrote. “Climate change has a hefty price tag, which is why dozens of state and local governments like Boulder’s have filed lawsuits to force the culprits to help pay the costs. It’s also why polluters like Suncor Energy and Exxon are desperate to get the lawsuits thrown out of court.” “Although the court routinely takes the side of corporate power over people and the planet, Justice Sam Alito’s last-minute recusal from the case means Boulder only needs one Republican justice to defect,” Dennie said. “As the federal government’s response to the climate crisis ranges from disinterest to disdainful, state and local governments have had to ask: Can’t *anyone* do *anything* about this harm? Again and again, the court’s answer has been no. Now the prospect of accountability turns on getting a single Republican justice to say yes.” | My take. Will Kaback Senior Editor ![Will Kaback](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2025/05/Will-Square.jpg) | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | Both sides made compelling arguments over whether cities and states should be allowed to sue energy companies.Even if federal law supersedes the states, I think Boulder has the stronger case on technical grounds.However, I worry about the practical outcomes of the Court opening the door to lawsuits that sidestep a clearly delegated federal power. | | **Reminder:** This is where we share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, leave a comment or reply to this email. | In the long run, this could end up being one of the most consequential Supreme Court decisions of this term. Boulder’s suit against Suncor and Exxon charges that energy companies are financially liable for environmental harms caused by fossil fuel-driven climate change. If it succeeds, it could both create a path for other cities and states to bring similar suits and compel energy companies to shift their business models away from fossil fuels. In the short run, however, the Court won’t be ruling on the merits of the suit. Instead, it’s weighing whether Boulder can sue at all. That question is a bit technical, but the Court’s ruling will determine the long-term trajectory of this case and others like it. I found Monday’s oral arguments compelling on both sides. Kannon Shanmugam, the attorney representing Suncor and Exxon, centered the Court’s past rulings on the [Clean Air Act](https://www.epa.gov/laws-regulations/summary-clean-air-act?ref=readtangle.com) (CAA) and the [Clean Water Act](https://www.epa.gov/laws-regulations/summary-clean-water-act?ref=readtangle.com) (CWA), arguing that only the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) can regulate issues involving interstate pollution. Even before the CAA, the Supreme Court held that disputes over interstate pollutants were a federal matter. In [*Illinois v. Milwaukee* (1972)](https://www.oyez.org/cases/1971/49%5Forig?ref=readtangle.com), Illinois sued Milwaukee — a city in Wisconsin — for allegedly creating a public nuisance by dumping sewage into Lake Michigan. The Court ruled unanimously that federal common law governs these types of interstate claims, dictating that the case be heard in federal district court. After the CWA was enacted, the Court [ruled](https://www.oyez.org/cases/1980/79-408?ref=readtangle.com) that thelaw now superseded its prior decision, solidifying the precedent that the EPA was responsible for regulating these matters. That meant Illinois would need to appeal to the EPA to stop Milwaukee’s dumps. This precedent helps Suncor’s case. In Shanmugam’s [words](https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral%5Farguments/argument%5Ftranscripts/2026/25-170%5F8m58.pdf?ref=readtangle.com#page=5): “Because of the ambient nature of air and water and the conflicting rights of states, this Court has held for over a century that federal law governs interstate pollution claims. That principle applies with even greater force to claims involving global climate change.” On the other side, Kevin Russell, the lawyer for Boulder, argued that the lawsuit isn’t about regulating interstate pollution but holding energy companies financially accountable for harms that result from that pollution (also known as tort claims, or demands for compensation to address another actor’s harmful actions). “When somebody in New York defames a citizen of Boulder on national television or somebody in California releases a computer virus on the Internet or a biological virus into the world and it causes mass damage in Colorado, it has never been thought that only federal law can provide a remedy simply because the tortious conduct and the injury occurred in different states,” he [said](https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral%5Farguments/argument%5Ftranscripts/2026/25-170%5F8m58.pdf?ref=readtangle.com#page=85). Russell also noted that Congress has not passed any law — in the CAA, CWA, or otherwise — that says energy companies can’t be sued for damages from fossil fuel emissions. A brief submitted to the Court [highlights](https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/25/25-170/417866/20260803112636434%5F2026-08-02%20Adler%20Suncor%20Amicus%20Final.pdf?ref=readtangle.com#page=32) that Congress has acted to insulate some entities (like gun manufacturers) from tort claims for alleged harms associated with their products, and it could do the same for energy companies if it wanted to. But until it does, nothing prevents Boulder from bringing this suit. Of course, the absence of an explicit provision that says “states cannot bring civil suits for fossil fuel-related damages” doesn’t mean federal law inherently allows it. For instance, the Supreme Court ruled in [*International Paper Co. v. Ouellette* (1987)](https://www.oyez.org/cases/1986/85-1233?ref=readtangle.com) that Vermont residents could not sue a New York paper mill for polluting Lake Champlain in violation of a Vermont state law, despite the lack of an explicit federal provision against such a suit. The Court’s decision was direct: “It is not necessary for a federal statute to provide explicitly that particular state laws are pre-empted.” I was interested to see how the justices probed these competing arguments, and I thought Chief Justice Roberts got at the heart of the dispute. He [asked](https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral%5Farguments/argument%5Ftranscripts/2026/25-170%5F8m58.pdf?ref=readtangle.com#page=63) Principal Deputy Solicitor General Sarah Harris, who argued in support of the energy companies, why the state should be barred from pursuing damages when these kinds of civil suits are permitted for a range of other companies and industries (drug makers, car manufacturers, etc.). Harris responded that Colorado’s suit was different, an attempt to control energy companies’ behavior, but Roberts seemed unconvinced. On the other side, the chief justice pressed Russell on the practical implications of the suit and whether it is a thinly veiled attempt to circumvent the EPA and CAA. “If you prevail, the next day, a municipality in every single state will file a lawsuit, they’ll probably copy your pleadings, and then… at least 50… different cities in one state could do it,” he [said](https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral%5Farguments/argument%5Ftranscripts/2026/25-170%5F8m58.pdf?ref=readtangle.com#page=95), later suggesting, “\[the lawsuit is\] an effort to reduce emissions.” After reading these exchanges and the related arguments, I found Boulder’s case more persuasive, particularly the point that the CAA does not prevent it from seeking damages for energy companies’ actions. Yes, federal law and Court precedent clearly prevent states from establishing laws that regulate interstate pollution or energy company behavior, but Boulder is cleverly side-stepping that issue. It’s not suing to force Suncor and Exxon to conform with its laws directly, but to collect damages for alleged harms. That’s a different issue than the one raised in *Ouellette* or *Illinois v. Milwaukee*, which dealt with state laws that sought to regulate polluter behavior; as Roberts noted, Boulder’s case is in line with standard tort claims. I don’t think there’s clear precedent or law to stop this suit from proceeding. Would that be a good thing? Even as someone who cares about the negative impacts of fossil-fuel-driven climate change, I worry about the implications. Roberts suggested that a ruling in favor of Boulder would immediately prompt 50 different cities in one state to do the same; I think it’d be more like hundreds of cities in tens of states (dozens of similar cases are [already pending](https://www.scotusblog.com/2026/10/supreme-court-to-consider-whether-suit-may-go-forward-seeking-to-hold-energy-companies-liable-fo/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=The%20stakes%20in,the%20wrong%20arguments.%E2%80%9D) across the country). To me, it underscores the prudence of having an agency like the EPA to establish and enforce uniform rules. Without it, the potential for chaos reigns. You don’t need to sympathize with these energy companies or downplay the role of fossil fuels in climate change to scrutinize the ramifications of ruling in Boulder’s favor. Drowning Exxon in a deluge of litigation surely sounds nice to some, but I don’t think battling energy producers by proxy lawsuit is a smart strategy, as there’s no guarantee that these suits will actually win on the merits. Companies may not alter their behavior, either, instead opting to jack up prices. It’s also clear to me that Boulder’s suit *is* a de facto attempt to regulate energy companies, one that violates the spirit of the CAA and Court precedent. If it succeeds, the city could demand payment for a vast array of environmental issues; its suit lists heat waves, wildfires, droughts, floods, and more as hazards exacerbated by climate change that fossil fuel producers could be partially liable for. The breadth of that claim is inherently coercive — in response, energy companies would have to move entirely away from fossil fuel production or be sued out of existence. Again, I think you can view these companies as harmful polluters and still see how that new status quo would conflict with the EPA’s well established power to regulate emissions and emitters. I don’t have a strong sense of how the Court will rule; other justices (not just Roberts) seemed uncertain of both sides’ arguments. A plausible outcome is a 4–4 split with Roberts joining the three Democratic-appointed justices, which would leave the Colorado Supreme Court’s decision in place and allow the suit to proceed. Alternatively, the Supreme Court could decide that it is too early for it to weigh in on the case and allow the suit to proceed on that basis. I’m left in an uneasy position of supporting Boulder’s legal arguments for letting the case proceed while worrying about the consequences of it succeeding. Ultimately, a resolution may only come once lower courts have had the opportunity to decide on the merits, at which point the case may end up back before the Supreme Court. | Staff dissent. Isaac Wood Contributing Editor ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/07/IBWheadshot_2026-1.jpg) | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | I share Will’s climate concerns but disagree with his position on the ideal outcome of this case. I think it would be good for states to be able to sue for damages brought on by climate change — Big Oil companies are pumping harmful substances into the atmosphere that they know bring material damages upon individuals, towns, and states. Right now, states can appeal to the EPA to create and enforce rules on emissions (and impose fines), but there isn’t a path for them to pursue monetary damages. States and citizens should be able to sue these companies in response to climate-related harms. If a city has to enact infrastructure changes to account for increased wildfires — like cities in Boulder County [do](https://bouldercounty.gov/news/540k-in-support-for-climate-projects-awarded-to-boulder-county-communities/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Boulder%20County%20Commissioners,in%20matching%20funds.) — then that’s a clear example of a cost incurred because of damages caused by Big Oil companies. I agree with Will’s assessment that precedent seems to side with Boulder, and if the Court decides that’s true, then I welcome the opportunity for damages to be redressed — even if that overwhelms Big Oil. | **Take the survey:** Should states be able to sue energy companies for damages related to climate change? [Let us know](https://interrobang.vercel.app/survey/0297ce71-e831-4e36-b300-d9dc505b3d2e?ref=readtangle.com). *Disagree? That*’*s okay. Our opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we*’*ll consider publishing your feedback.* ### Your questions, answered. **At what point will our ever increasing national debt become a real problem that needs to be addressed?** **— Cindy from Ojai, California** **Associate Editor Carina Pacheco:** The national debt is a prominent political issue that is usually at the forefront of national policy debates. Politicians on both sides of the aisle have expressed concern at the towering scale of the national debt, which hit the $40 trillion mark in August. There’s no one specific benchmark that would signify a real drastic financial threat, but many economists and policymakers theorize that $40 trillion is a major economic concern because of how much of the federal budget goes to *interest* on the national debt. The United States [collected](https://fiscaldata.treasury.gov/americas-finance-guide/government-revenue/?ref=readtangle.com) about $5.23 trillion in tax dollars last year, but spends over $7 trillion each year. The money the government borrows is in the form of bonds, which are sold to pension funds, foreign countries, businesses, and even private citizens. The federal government dedicates nearly two thirds of its [budget](https://fiscaldata.treasury.gov/americas-finance-guide/federal-spending/?ref=readtangle.com) to mandatory and safety-net-related spending like Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. Defense spending accounts for roughly 13% of the overall budget, and interest payments on the national debt account for about 15% — that’s roughly one trillion dollars a year. Simply *having* national debt isn’t inherently a bad thing, because it allows the government to build or provide expensive infrastructure or services quickly. But as for any borrower, taking on debt gets bad when the interest starts to add up. When the debt and concurrent interest are too high, instead of spending over a trillion dollars on schools, parks, highways or other public benefits, that sum is going straight to paying down interest on the national debt. So, while there is no fixed dollar amount that will set off alarm bells, experts are concerned that the interest is growing faster than the U.S.’s overall economy — as of this year, interest costs are projected to [double](https://www.crfb.org/blogs/net-interest-costs-will-double-again-over-next-decade?ref=readtangle.com) by 2036\. And since spending isn’t likely to slow down anytime soon, the conversation about the national debt is likely to remain front and center. **Want to have a question answered in the newsletter? You can reply to this email (it goes straight to our inbox) or** [**fill out this form**](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScQhqBSG%5F6%5FoBhwcTQMeS570n29XYbeQ9C9Bis7rjqI31g1tA/viewform?usp=header&ref=readtangle.com)**.** Today’s Partner You’ll spend roughly 80,000 hours of your life working. That makes your choice of career one of your most important decisions. [****80,000 Hours**](http://80000hours.org/tangle?ref=readtangle.com) is a nonprofit that’s spent over a decade researching the question: How can you find a fulfilling career that does good? Everything they provide is free, forever. Get your free copy of their in-depth career guide at [****80000hours.org/tangle**](http://80000hours.org/tangle?ref=readtangle.com)****.** [Get Your Free Copy ](http://80000hours.org/tangle?ref=readtangle.com) ### The extras. - **One year ago today** we covered [U.S. strikes on alleged drug boats near Venezuela](https://www.readtangle.com/the-us-strikes-another-venezuelan-boat-extrajudicial-killings/). - **The most clicked link in our last regular newsletter** was our new video on [the National Guard deployment to Washington, D.C.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9VnBuN2f5s&ref=readtangle.com) - **Nothing to do with politics:** See [what the world would look like at different sea levels](https://slidingshores.com/?ref=readtangle.com). - **Our last survey:** 3,566 readers responded to our survey on the rape allegations at Cornell University, with 93% saying drug and alcohol use contribute to issues on college campuses involving sexual assault and abuse. “It is not just a problem at Cornell. It is a problem at all universities. The antiquated Greek system and alcohol contribute to it,” one respondent said. “Until we can collectively see others as more than objects of sex, scorn, hatred, pleasure or utility, and as embodied human beings, things will only continue to decline,” said another. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/10/data-src-image-8036ec61-0208-4292-917b-cadadbef8986.png) ### Have a nice day. Three years ago, two men illegally cut down England’s Sycamore Gap tree for unknown reasons. The tree had been a local landmark and something of a pop culture icon, and its felling devastated people in the local community and beyond. However, on September 28, the conservation charity National Trust shared that leafy shoots have sprouted around the Sycamore Gap’s base, calling it “a sure sign that the tree is in recovery.” These signs offer hope that the resilient tree will one day grace the English countryside again. [Smithsonian Magazine has the story](https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/englands-beloved-sycamore-gap-tree-is-showing-signs-of-life-three-years-after-vandals-chopped-it-down-180989591/?ref=readtangle.com). ### Our Boldest Calls for the 2026 Midterms URL: https://www.readtangle.com/our-boldest-calls-for-the-2026-midterms/ Last updated: 2026-10-08T16:02:12.000Z Who wins the midterms, and what comes next? ### Uncertainty, morality, and the Cornell 7. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/otherposts/uncertainty-morality-and-the-cornell-7/ Last updated: 2026-10-07T16:37:26.000Z **Editor’s note: This article includes explicit descriptions of sexual acts and drug use.* When the Cornell story broke into the mainstream media, everyone had strong initial reactions. I was no exception: My overwhelming feeling was simply discomfort. This moment certainly feels like a social reckoning, where post-MeToo feminism is testing itself out. And while the MeToo era illuminated pervasive, reckless, and callously misogynistic cultures across the country, many critics argued too many women overreached and decided to cash in on the cultural tide of cancellations. Though it’s tempting to jump to broader themes, this situation requires looking at the facts by themselves — which is uncomfortable. Discomfort is a powerful emotion. It tells us to look away when we should look harder. On the opposite side of that coin is certitude, which tells us we’ve seen enough because we’ve found the side that feels good to be on. It feels pretty good to jump on the moral crusade bandwagon against the depraved fraternity rapists or the lying promiscuous sorority girl, doesn’t it? I’m skeptical of the assuredness on either side. The situation out of Cornell may be the most complicated alleged rape case litigated in the court of public opinion in my lifetime. This isn’t Brock Turner assaulting a passed-out woman behind a dumpster at Stanford in 2015\. This isn’t Brandon Vandenburg and his football teammates assaulting an unconscious woman at Vanderbilt in 2013\. On the other side of the spectrum, this doesn’t seem like the 2006 Duke lacrosse case, when members of the team were falsely accused of rape. The allegations here are messy. Everyone was drunk; they were all snorting ketamine off each other; some of them had sex together, some of them watched; she said yes at times, no at times, and claims she felt coerced into numbly saying nothing at other times. Everyone’s level of clarity appears to have varied from minute to minute, and the extent of those fluctuations is disputed. Not only is the moral line blurry, but it’s very possible for “immoral” acts to be legal. But when one of those men messages in a fraternity group chat that “Free Pussy” is upstairs, then another follows up to explain how brothers might introduce themselves — “Like you can walk in and whip it out” — and then the woman finds herself in a room with more men? That all feels… very different. Those messages don’t prove rape, but they are evidence of how some of these young men viewed the accuser: as an object. The messages, and the decisions to act on them, are reprehensible. | Get more of the story... We broke down the ban with just the facts, and then we picked out the best arguments from conservative, progressive, and independent writers in today's free newsletter so you can make up your own mind. [**Read them here.** ](https://www.readtangle.com/the-cornell-rape-accusations/) | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | These pieces of evidence are unsettling, and they could ultimately combine with the claims about who consented when and create a guilty verdict in a court of law. Time will tell. In the meantime, loud factions in the court of public opinion have already acted as judge, jury and would-be executioners, some by doxxing the men and calling their jobs and threatening them and their families, all before any criminal conviction. An online swarm even [mistakenly doxxed and harassed](https://www.thefp.com/p/exclusive-cornell-harassment-frannie-block-lawsuit-served?ref=readtangle.com) someone with no relation to the case. I understand the motivation: Critics think the university didn’t do enough to punish these men, with viral claims that their punishments were reduced to “writing essays” about what happened. In reality, Cornell opened a Title IX investigation, expelled two students, suspended others, banned one from campus, and disbanded the entire fraternity — and, yes, some of the alleged assaulters wrote essays to the school. Essays and suspensions might seem like light fare against jail time for sexual assault and rape, but the county prosecutor [said](https://abcnews.com/US/district-attorney-reopens-case-alleged-cornell-university-gang/story?id=136806149&ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Tompkins%20County%20District%20Attorney%20Matthew%20Van%20Houten%20said%20in%20a%20statement%20that%20his%20office%20is%20considering%20whether%20to%20bring%20criminal%20charges%20related%20to%20the%20incident%2C%20though%20he%20said%20the%20allegations%20in%20the%20civil%20complaint%20are%20%22dramatically%20different%22%20than%20the%20woman%27s%20statement%20to%20police%20two%20years%20ago.%C2%A0) the initial statements in 2024 did not include allegations of rape. Simply put: This story is more complicated than Cornell dropping the ball or letting the accused off easy. Do I think that the accuser was violated? Yes. Do those violations amount to sexual assault or even rape? In my opinion (and, apparently, Cornell’s), the answer is also yes. But the repercussions for the alleged perpetrators should range in severity based on the individual actions of the accused. Even after the claims percolating online — that an unconscious girl was violently gang-raped by a group of seven men — were contradicted by the woman’s own accounts, finding the accused guilty in a court of law wouldn’t satisfy the people urging us to “[Castrate the Cornell 7](https://x.com/Sunday1994band/status/2107162612513546526?s=20&ref=readtangle.com).” Their goal is not justice; it is white-hot, tunnel-vision revenge. Even the newly appointed special prosecutor Letitia James has made social media [posts](https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/letitia-james-special-prosecutor-cornell-university/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=%22Before%20she%20was%20appointed%20special%20prosecutor%2C%20Attorney%20General%20James%20publicly%20described%20what%20Jane%20Doe%20was%20%27forced%20to%20endure%27%20as%20%27horrific%20and%20unacceptable%2C%27%20said%20she%20was%20holding%20her%20%27in%20my%20heart%20and%20in%20my%20prayers%2C%27%20and%20told%20her%20and%20%27all%20survivors%2C%27%20%27We%20stand%20with%20you.%27%22) that presume the alleged assault is fact. We can simultaneously confront cases of sexual assault and institutions or norms that defend it while also examining the other social elements at play. We *could* reevaluate social acceptance of cultural forces like porn, hookup culture, drugs and alcohol that cloud people’s judgment, but we don’t, because it’s uncomfortable. As onlookers, we *could* avoid rushing to conclusions on complicated cases and doubling down when honest analysis doesn’t match up with our preferred “side” of the story, but we rush in anyway, because it’s satisfying. I keep wondering about the role porn plays in sexual encounters like the one described here. Sexual promiscuity and experimentation have always been a thing, but now the most extreme possibilities [are mainstream](https://www.readtangle.com/how-dangerous-is-porn/) instead of fringe and more accessible than ever. At the risk of sounding like a total prude, how else do young men come to believe that women are receptive to sexual encounters involving multiple unfamiliar male partners? How did young women come to believe that young men wanted such scenarios? Where else would they get the idea that it’s “hot” to take turns on the same partner? Porn narratives rarely consider awkward post-orgy social interactions — so I’m not surprised that there was minimal regard given to how this might play out on the quad the next day. At the intersection of porn consumption and longstanding college drunken hookup culture is the idea that sex means nothing or is consequence-free. We want to pretend there is no stigma around casual sex and that the “free love” principle is applied to men and women evenly, but it is not. And when alcohol and drugs are involved, questions about responsibility and accountability become even more contentious. If the act is outlandish but consensual, the woman bears the pariah status of “slut.” If the act was at any point non-consensual, now she’s a rape accuser who immediately becomes the subject of skepticism or scorn. If she actually manages to prove she was a victim, she’s the subject of pity or even a martyr. And if the accused are acquitted, both parties become irrevocably tarnished. There’s no clean “win” in any scenario after an event like this, especially not for her. Our society needs to recalibrate and be honest about *all* of the factors that lead to these horrible stories. It’s not victim blaming to tell your daughter to watch how much she drinks and be defensive of her body. It’s not “woke” to tell your son that real men do not use women as toys. It’s not prudish to tell teenagers that porn is not real life, that ketamine and vodka cloud *everyone’s* judgment. As Hanna Stotland [wrote](https://slate.com/life/2026/10/cornell-university-case-cornell-7-jane-doe.html?ref=readtangle.com) for Slate, “Every possible interpretation of the terrible night at Chi Phi leads to the same conclusion: Everybody would be better off if it had never happened.” Deep inside the web of conflicting testimony and recollections and lawsuits and countersuits is a legal question that remains very much unresolved. But it is a question for a jury to decide in a court of law, not for me or any online mob to answer. Justice is not one-size-fits-all. It’s not reserved for one party on one side of a lawsuit. Justice seeks to find the truth and uphold the law, and the accuser and the accused all deserve to see that happen. I certainly hope that this question sees its day in court, and I hope we will all be ready to push past our discomfort, reject urges for self-satisfaction, and look the truth in the eye when that day comes. Moved by the take? Share it! ## Join Tangle for free Get perspectives from across the political spectrum on today's most important issues, delivered directly to your inbox. Subscribe for Free Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. ### The Cornell rape accusations. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/the-cornell-rape-accusations/ Last updated: 2026-10-07T15:54:37.000Z Good morning, Tangle readers. This is an overly caffeinated **Associate Editor Carina Pacheco**. We have a rather serious edition about “**the Cornell 7**,” followed by a look at the Gaza peace plan on the third anniversary of Hamas’ **October 7 attacks**. We’ll finish with an uplifting story of an intense **physical endurance challenge**. It’s a **13-minute read**. Isaac Saul, Ari Weitzman, Will Kaback, Audrey Moorehead, Russell Nystrom, Isaac Wood, and Bailey Saul edited or contributed to today’s newsletter. ### Our latest YouTube video. A year after President Donald Trump deployed the National Guard to Washington, D.C., Assistant Producer Aidan Gorman visits the capital to ask: Have these troops made our capital safer? The answer isn’t straightforward. You can check out our latest YouTube video here: Our latest YouTube video ### Quick hits. 1. An estimated 250,000–450,000 French students, teachers, parents, and others demonstrated across the country in protest of understaffing and other resource challenges in schools. ([The protests](https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/france-braces-day-school-blockades-street-protests-2026-10-06/?ref=readtangle.com)) 2. Attorneys for Christa Pike said that she has regained consciousness after surviving two doses of lethal injection last Wednesday. Pike was sentenced to death for the murder of her classmate in 1995\. ([The update](https://www.foxnews.com/us/christa-pike-conscious-talking-after-surviving-2-doses-lethal-injection-drug?ref=readtangle.com)) 3. The U.S. trade deficit rose to a 17-month high of $105.6 billion. ([The latest](https://thehill.com/business/6132688-august-trade-gap-exceeds-100b/?ref=readtangle.com)) 4. German authorities arrested August Hanning, the former head of the country’s foreign intelligence agency, on suspicion of “treasonous espionage.” Hanning is reportedly suspected of illegally acquiring and selling state secrets. ([The arrest](https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2026/10/06/germany-arrests-former-intelligence-chief-espionage-case/?ref=readtangle.com)) 5. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) declared a state of emergency in response to the increasing number of cases of measles in the state. ([The declaration](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-10-05/new-york-declares-state-of-emergency-over-measles-outbreak?ref=readtangle.com)) Today’s partner ****Can You Barely Keep Your Eyes Open? The Struggle is Real…** It’s 2 PM… and once again, you can barely keep your eyes open. You’re slamming coffee, splashing water on your face, eating candy, and just doing whatever you can to stay awake. When really, all you want to do is climb under your desk and take a nap. For millions of people over 35, the problem isn’t just late nights or a busy schedule — it’s a simple mineral deficiency that’s ruining your sleep, keeping you up at night, and leaving you drained during the day. [****Organixx Magnesium 7**](https://api.wellput.io/v1/cm?cmid=1154179&tid=278&s1=v2-r1030668-p1154179-c38094&s2=Tangle&s3=&s4=&ref=readtangle.com) is the complete solution, with seven **highly absorbable* forms of magnesium that target every pathway your body uses for relaxation and recovery. The result? - Fall asleep in minutes - Stay asleep for hours - Wake up ready to power through your day ****Flash Sale — Buy 2, get 1 free** [Try it Risk Free → 365 Day Money Back Guarantee ](https://api.wellput.io/v1/cm?cmid=1154179&tid=278&s1=v2-r1030668-p1154179-c38094&s2=Tangle&s3=&s4=&ref=readtangle.com) ### Today’s topic. The Cornell rape allegations. On September 28, New York prosecutors said they had [reopened an investigation](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/sep/28/cornell-fraternity-investigation-alleged-gang-rape?ref=readtangle.com) into an alleged sexual assault and gang rape by seven Cornell University students in October 2024\. The woman who filed the suit, anonymously identified as Jane Doe, [alleges](https://www.courthousenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/doe-cornell-new-york-supreme.pdf?ref=readtangle.com) that she was coerced into taking ketamine, encouraged to take alcohol and cannabis, and forced into sexual actions she did not consent to. Last week, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) appointed state Attorney General Letitia James (D) as special prosecutor in the case. Separately, Cornell [tapped](https://www.npr.org/2026/10/06/nx-s1-5992799/cornell-yates-rape-case-updates-review?ref=readtangle.com) former acting U.S. Attorney General Sally Yates to lead an independent investigation into the school’s handling of the allegations. *Editor’s note: Today’s newsletter includes explicit descriptions of sexual acts and drug use. The Tompkins County District Attorney published its anonymized summation of the events* [*here*](https://www.tompkinscountyny.gov/News-articles/District-Attorney-statement-regarding-Jane-Doe-v.-Cornell-University-et-al?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=They%20are%20the%20facts%20provided%20in%20Jane%20Doe%E2%80%99s%20statement.%20Where%20words%20appear%20in%20quotes%2C%20they%20are%20exactly%20as%20they%20appear%20in%20the%20statement%20unless%20names%20or%20pronouns%20have%20been%20redacted%20or%20adjusted%20for%20clarity%3A%C2%A0)*. Tangle has decided to withhold the names of the accuser and accused.* **Back up:** In November 2024, Jane Doe [filed a police report](https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/interactive/2026/10/06/i-felt-like-bait-timeline-cornell-university-rape-allegations/?ref=readtangle.com) detailing her experience at Cornell’s Chi Phi fraternity, alleging sexual assault. At the time, the Tompkins County District Attorney’s office chose not to prosecute her case because “the evidence did not support the filing of criminal charges.” Cornell held a Title IX sexual assault investigation in January 2025, later expelling two of the men named in the suit, suspending two, mandating a bystander intervention and sexual assault prevention training for two others, and barring the seventh (who had since graduated) from campus. Public scrutiny of the case increased in September 2026, when Jane Doe filed a civil suit against her alleged attackers; shortly after, the student newspaper The Cornell Daily Sun [ran a story](https://www.cornellsun.com/article/2026/09/tccsuykuvb4z?itid=lk%5Finline%5Fenhanced-template&ref=readtangle.com) publicizing the names of the seven accused men. On September 29, CBS New York obtained [messages](https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/cornell-university-rape-allegation-chi-phi-snapchat-conversation/?ref=readtangle.com) from a Snapchat group for members of the Chi Phi fraternity. The messages show one of the men implying that Doe was available for sex. [Other messages](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/01/nyregion/cornell-rape-accusation-reporting.html?ref=readtangle.com) obtained by The New York Times showed Doe’s understanding of the events changing, eventually concluding that she had been assaulted. Three of the men broadly deny any criminal wrongdoing; the four others have not released any public comment. Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten [called](https://abcnews.com/US/district-attorney-reopens-case-alleged-cornell-university-gang/story?id=136806149&ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Tompkins%20County%20District%20Attorney%20Matthew%20Van%20Houten%20said%20in%20a%20statement%20that%20his%20office%20is%20considering%20whether%20to%20bring%20criminal%20charges%20related%20to%20the%20incident%2C%20though%20he%20said%20the%20allegations%20in%20the%20civil%20complaint%20are%20%22dramatically%20different%22%20than%20the%20woman%27s%20statement%20to%20police%20two%20years%20ago.%C2%A0) the facts of the case presented in the civil suit “dramatically different” from the testimony Doe presented to authorities in 2024\. “Jane Doe’s sworn statement in November of 2024 did not allege that she was drugged against her will or gang raped. On the contrary, Jane Doe’s statement described her participation in drug use and sexual conduct as voluntary, conscious, and consensual,” Van Houten [said](https://www.tompkinscountyny.gov/files/assets/county/v/1/district-attorney/documents/district-attorney-public-statement-9-28-26.pdf?ref=readtangle.com). “Seeking justice sometimes requires us to reconsider or reopen cases when we are provided with additional evidence.” We’ll cover what the left and right are saying about the case below. Then, Associate Editor Carina Pacheco gives her take. | What the left is saying. Many on the left call for more accountability for men’s actions in cases like these.Some suggest the prosecution’s case will be unsuccessful.Others express concern about the role of alcohol on college campuses. | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | **In Salon, Amanda Marcotte suggested the case** [**“shows #MeToo didn’t go far enough.”**](https://www.salon.com/2026/10/02/cornell-assault-case-shows-metoo-didnt-go-far-enough/?ref=readtangle.com) “In 2017, the #MeToo movement took the nation by storm. A veritable flood of women, and some men, spoke out about their own experiences with sexual abuse,” Marcotte wrote. “Despite this, it was barely weeks before the backlash began, with countless articles about how #MeToo had gone ‘too far,’ despite scant evidence that innocent men were getting entangled… The Cornell case shows, though, that… the #MeToo movement didn’t go far enough. “For many people and institutions, it still feels much easier to make the issue go away by suppressing accusations than dealing with these cases which are, admittedly, often complex,” Marcotte said. “Despite the hysterical claims of its critics, #MeToo was never about ruining the lives of innocent men. In a very real sense, the movement was about leveling the playing field, which is so dramatically tilted against victims that it makes justice nearly impossible to achieve.” **In MS NOW, Mimi Rocah said the** [**“case was set up for failure.”**](https://www.ms.now/opinion/cornell-7-jane-doe-rape-case-da-lawsuit?ref=readtangle.com) “\[The backlash\] has now led the office of the Tompkins County District Attorney in upstate New York to take the unusual step of reopening a criminal investigation. In my view, this is too little, too late,” Rocah wrote. “According to the DA’s statement and multiple media interviews, \[the district attorney’s\] office relied solely on an investigation done by Cornell’s campus police in making its determination not to pursue a criminal investigation in 2024.” “\[The CUPD\] is employed by the entity that has a specific interest in the investigation and its outcome. It is also not equipped to conduct a complex, fact-based, sexual assault investigation,” Rocah said. “Conducting an investigation of this type years later, after multiple witnesses have reportedly been interviewed for the Title IX investigation, and after digital and forensic evidence has likely been lost, makes a meaningful investigation so much more challenging, if not impossible.” **In The Philadelphia Inquirer, Jonathan Zimmerman called for** [**“an overdue discussion about the role of alcohol in sexual assault.”**](https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/cornell-jane-doe-sexual-assault-alcohol-20261006.html?ref=readtangle.com) “Sexual assault is rampant on American campuses, and we need much better systems for preventing and prosecuting it,” Zimmerman wrote. “But here’s one thing you probably haven’t heard: If we want to reduce sexual assault at our colleges, we’ll also have to bring down student drinking. There, I said it… Alcohol can increase aggression and decrease inhibition. It makes it harder to interpret social cues. And it makes victims less capable of giving sexual consent and resisting sex they don’t want.” “In every sexual assault, the sole responsibility lies with the perpetrator. Period, full stop. But we shouldn’t let that fact blind us to another one: that if one or more partners are drunk, they’re more likely to do something the other one doesn’t want,” Zimmerman said. “At least one of the men accused in the assault had been drinking and the victim had, too… If we shrink from telling the truth about alcohol and sexual violence, we will all share the blame for whatever comes next.” | What the right is saying. Many on the right criticize Gov. Hochul’s choice of Letitia James as special prosecutor. Others note that the men are considered innocent until proven guilty.Some question whether a culture of sex-positivity contributes to unsafe environments. | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | **In the New York Post, Jonathan Turley wrote about the** [**“complex Cornell case.”**](https://nypost.com/2026/10/04/opinion/letitia-james-is-the-wrong-person-to-get-to-the-bottom-of-cornell-7-rape-case/?ref=readtangle.com) “Conflicts in testimony, as there is in the Cornell case, does not mean that there was no rape… However, there is ample reason to withhold judgment until more is known,” Turley said. “Legally, the extreme intoxication and drug use undermine claims of consent. While she admits that her memory was ‘super clouded,’ it is hard to imagine anyone believing that a student in her condition was capable of giving knowing consent. “There are obvious problems with the case… In New York, one threshold issue will focus on her voluntarily drinking to excess. Like other states, a mentally incapacitated individual cannot legally consent to sex but there is an exception for those who voluntarily consumed alcohol to the point that they became incapacitated,” Turley wrote. “Hochul’s appointment of \[Letitia\] James maximizes the chances of a criminal charge in the case. James has always followed the policy of the Queen of Hearts in ‘Alice in Wonderland’: ‘Sentence first, verdict afterward.’” **In The Free Press, Kat Rosenfield said** [**“the ‘Cornell 7’ have not been proven guilty.”**](https://www.thefp.com/p/the-cornell-7-have-not-been-proven?ref=readtangle.com) “In the wake of the MeToo movement, a disturbing consensus has emerged that the protections afforded by our criminal justice system to those accused of sexual misconduct are a real drag, an outrageous inconvenience to be subverted by relocating the litigation of rape into the extralegal realm of social media wherever possible,” Rosenfield wrote. “There is a reason why the wheels of justice turn slowly as compared with the fast, bright flare of human passions; the system is designed to allow the time for cooler heads to prevail, for the truth to come out.” “At least two of the men who have been publicly smeared as gang rapists have denied ever touching the accuser, or even being in the room during the alleged assault; it is impossible to know if they’re telling the truth, just as it is impossible to know if she is,” Rosenfield said. “What does seem certain, though, is that by the time the accused and accuser alike have their day in court, the truth will have ceased to matter.” **In National Review, Caroline Downey suggested** [**“the sex-positivity movement invited a world of depravity.”**](https://www.nationalreview.com/2026/10/the-cornell-seven-case-and-the-perils-of-sexual-liberation/?ref=readtangle.com) “According to the legal standard of consent in New York State… \[Jane\] Doe was capable of consent and both exercised and withdrew consent during the multi-hour stretch. None of this morally excuses the men’s conduct, which is reprehensible,” Downey wrote. “We’re told that under modern feminism the sexes are totally equal, as are all the many sexual lifestyles. Anything goes in the sexual arena, with the one caveat being ‘consent.’” “The drama at Cornell lays bare the perils and false promises of sexual liberation,” Downey said. “It opened Pandora’s box, from which sprang hookup culture on college campuses, OnlyFans, and rampant pornography, which no doubt influenced the seven men’s behavior that October night. With consent as its only moderating principle, the sex-positivity movement invited a world of depravity with blurred lines and infinite regret.” My take. Carina Pacheco Associate Editor ![Carina Pacheco](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/07/Carina_headshot.png) - The Cornell case is the first big test of post-MeToo feminism. - It can be uncomfortable to stare at the facts straight on, but they prove the extreme versions of this story wrong. - The societal failures surrounding this story go far beyond just consent and legal definitions of rape. **Reminder:** This is where we share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, leave a comment on the website or reply to this email. When the Cornell story broke into the mainstream media, everyone had strong initial reactions. I was no exception: My overwhelming feeling was simply discomfort. This moment certainly feels like a social reckoning, where post-MeToo feminism is testing itself out. And while the MeToo era illuminated pervasive, reckless, and callously misogynistic cultures across the country, many critics argued too many women overreached and decided to cash in on the cultural tide of cancellations. Though it’s tempting to jump to broader themes, this situation requires looking at the facts by themselves — which is uncomfortable. Discomfort is a powerful emotion. It tells us to look away when we should look harder. On the opposite side of that coin is certitude, which tells us we’ve seen enough because we’ve found the side that feels good to be on. It feels pretty good to jump on the moral crusade bandwagon against the depraved fraternity rapists or the lying promiscuous sorority girl, doesn’t it? I’m skeptical of the assuredness on either side. The situation out of Cornell may be the most complicated alleged rape case litigated in the court of public opinion in my lifetime. This isn’t Brock Turner assaulting a passed-out woman behind a dumpster at Stanford in 2015\. This isn’t Brandon Vandenburg and his football teammates assaulting an unconscious woman at Vanderbilt in 2013\. On the other side of the spectrum, this doesn’t seem like the 2006 Duke lacrosse case, when members of the team were falsely accused of rape. The allegations here are messy. Everyone was drunk; they were all snorting ketamine off each other; some of them had sex together, some of them watched; she said yes at times, no at times, and claims she felt coerced into numbly saying nothing at other times. Everyone’s level of clarity appears to have varied from minute to minute, and the extent of those fluctuations is disputed. Not only is the moral line blurry, but it’s very possible for “immoral” acts to be legal. But when one of those men messages in a fraternity group chat that “Free Pussy” is upstairs, then another follows up to explain how brothers might introduce themselves — “Like you can walk in and whip it out” — and then the woman finds herself in a room with more men? That all feels… very different. Those messages don’t prove rape, but they are evidence of how some of these young men viewed the accuser: as an object. The messages, and the decisions to act on them, are reprehensible. These pieces of evidence are unsettling, and they could ultimately combine with the claims about who consented when and create a guilty verdict in a court of law. Time will tell. In the meantime, loud factions in the court of public opinion have already acted as judge, jury and would-be executioners, some by doxxing the men and calling their jobs and threatening them and their families, all before any criminal conviction. An online swarm even [mistakenly doxxed and harassed](https://www.thefp.com/p/exclusive-cornell-harassment-frannie-block-lawsuit-served?ref=readtangle.com) someone with no relation to the case. I understand the motivation: Critics think the university didn’t do enough to punish these men, with viral claims that their punishments were reduced to “writing essays” about what happened. In reality, Cornell opened a Title IX investigation, expelled two students, suspended others, banned one from campus, and disbanded the entire fraternity — and, yes, some of the alleged assaulters wrote essays to the school. Essays and suspensions might seem like light fare against jail time for sexual assault and rape, but the county prosecutor [said](https://abcnews.com/US/district-attorney-reopens-case-alleged-cornell-university-gang/story?id=136806149&ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Tompkins%20County%20District%20Attorney%20Matthew%20Van%20Houten%20said%20in%20a%20statement%20that%20his%20office%20is%20considering%20whether%20to%20bring%20criminal%20charges%20related%20to%20the%20incident%2C%20though%20he%20said%20the%20allegations%20in%20the%20civil%20complaint%20are%20%22dramatically%20different%22%20than%20the%20woman%27s%20statement%20to%20police%20two%20years%20ago.%C2%A0) the initial statements in 2024 did not include allegations of rape. Simply put: This story is more complicated than Cornell dropping the ball or letting the accused off easy. Do I think that the accuser was violated? Yes. Do those violations amount to sexual assault or even rape? In my opinion (and, apparently, Cornell’s), the answer is also yes. But the repercussions for the alleged perpetrators should range in severity based on the individual actions of the accused. Even after the claims percolating online — that an unconscious girl was violently gang-raped by a group of seven men — were contradicted by the woman’s own accounts, finding the accused guilty in a court of law wouldn’t satisfy the people urging us to “[Castrate the Cornell 7](https://x.com/Sunday1994band/status/2107162612513546526?s=20&ref=readtangle.com).” Their goal is not justice; it is white-hot, tunnel-vision revenge. Even the newly appointed special prosecutor Letitia James has made social media [posts](https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/letitia-james-special-prosecutor-cornell-university/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=%22Before%20she%20was%20appointed%20special%20prosecutor%2C%20Attorney%20General%20James%20publicly%20described%20what%20Jane%20Doe%20was%20%27forced%20to%20endure%27%20as%20%27horrific%20and%20unacceptable%2C%27%20said%20she%20was%20holding%20her%20%27in%20my%20heart%20and%20in%20my%20prayers%2C%27%20and%20told%20her%20and%20%27all%20survivors%2C%27%20%27We%20stand%20with%20you.%27%22) that presume the alleged assault is fact. We can simultaneously confront cases of sexual assault and institutions or norms that defend it while also examining the other social elements at play. We *could* reevaluate social acceptance of cultural forces like porn, hookup culture, drugs and alcohol that cloud people’s judgment, but we don’t, because it’s uncomfortable. As onlookers, we *could* avoid rushing to conclusions on complicated cases and doubling down when honest analysis doesn’t match up with our preferred “side” of the story, but we rush in anyway, because it’s satisfying. I keep wondering about the role porn plays in sexual encounters like the one described here. Sexual promiscuity and experimentation have always been a thing, but now the most extreme possibilities [are mainstream](https://www.readtangle.com/how-dangerous-is-porn/) instead of fringe and more accessible than ever. At the risk of sounding like a total prude, how else do young men come to believe that women are receptive to sexual encounters involving multiple unfamiliar male partners? How did young women come to believe that young men wanted such scenarios? Where else would they get the idea that it’s “hot” to take turns on the same partner? Porn narratives rarely consider awkward post-orgy social interactions — so I’m not surprised that there was minimal regard given to how this might play out on the quad the next day. At the intersection of porn consumption and longstanding college drunken hookup culture is the idea that sex means nothing or is consequence-free. We want to pretend there is no stigma around casual sex and that the “free love” principle is applied to men and women evenly, but it is not. And when alcohol and drugs are involved, questions about responsibility and accountability become even more contentious. If the act is outlandish but consensual, the woman bears the pariah status of “slut.” If the act was at any point non-consensual, now she’s a rape accuser who immediately becomes the subject of skepticism or scorn. If she actually manages to prove she was a victim, she’s the subject of pity or even a martyr. And if the accused are acquitted, both parties become irrevocably tarnished. There’s no clean “win” in any scenario after an event like this, especially not for her. Our society needs to recalibrate and be honest about *all* of the factors that lead to these horrible stories. It’s not victim blaming to tell your daughter to watch how much she drinks and be defensive of her body. It’s not “woke” to tell your son that real men do not use women as toys. It’s not prudish to tell teenagers that porn is not real life, that ketamine and vodka cloud *everyone’s* judgment. As Hanna Stotland [wrote](https://slate.com/life/2026/10/cornell-university-case-cornell-7-jane-doe.html?ref=readtangle.com) for Slate, “Every possible interpretation of the terrible night at Chi Phi leads to the same conclusion: Everybody would be better off if it had never happened.” Deep inside the web of conflicting testimony and recollections and lawsuits and countersuits is a legal question that remains very much unresolved. But it is a question for a jury to decide in a court of law, not for me or any online mob to answer. Justice is not one-size-fits-all. It’s not reserved for one party on one side of a lawsuit. Justice seeks to find the truth and uphold the law, and the accuser and the accused all deserve to see that happen. I certainly hope that this question sees its day in court, and I hope we will all be ready to push past our discomfort, reject urges for self-satisfaction, and look the truth in the eye when that day comes. | Staff concurrence. Ari Weitzman Managing Editor ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2025/05/Ari.jpg) | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | | | | | I share Carina’s opinion that the men in this case obviously crossed a line — several of them acted on a message advertising a woman as a sex object for their pleasure. We know that happened, and I want to emphasize Carina’s central interpretation: This was reprehensible, and it should be investigated then (if merited by the findings) tried in a court of law, not the court of public opinion. I’m concerned about the age-old intersection of those two courts, the public and the legal. When a case garners this much media scrutiny, the prosecution had better be certain about what it’s doing. Unfortunately, the state of New York stumbled out of the gate. First, in appointing Letitia James to this case, Gov. Hochul elevated it to partisan political status. Second, James’s social media posts imply that she has accepted a certain version of events before her office even decided to bring charges. We don’t have to look past James’s own resume to see the risks of this approach: She accused then-former President Trump of civil fraud, a suit that has been appealed into a state of legal limbo and now is used as evidence to support the claim that “Trump did nothing wrong.” If I can anticipate the publicity risks, then Hochul and James — elected officials — should also be able to. Some online reactionaries are already throwing their hands up and questioning other prominent sexual assault cases, like whether Brock Turner even did anything wrong; imagine the reaction if James makes a lot of noise and then this case gets dismissed. I worry that Hochul and James have taken the first steps towards a worst-case outcome: overzealous charges, exonerations, and fodder for the belief that rape accusations are almost always frivolous. Take the survey: What issues do you think are contributing to sexual assault on college campuses? Let us know. Disagree? That’s okay. Our opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we’ll consider publishing your feedback.Under the radar.Wednesday marks three years since Hamas’s October 7 attacks in Israel and approximately one year since Hamas and Israel agreed to a U.S.-brokered ceasefire as part of a plan to end the war. In the ensuing 12 months, the sides have not returned to all-out fighting and increased humanitarian aid is reaching Gaza, but Israeli airstrikes have continued. The U.S. plan called for Israel to gradually withdraw to a “yellow” line that left it in control of 53% of the enclave, but its military presence has instead expanded to cover roughly two thirds of the territory. Separately, a 15-point roadmap for Hamas to disarm has stalled, and a planned International Stabilization Force has yet to form. Reuters has the story. Today’s Partner Better Sleep Starts HereTired all day, wide awake at bedtime? Organixx Magnesium 7 combines seven highly absorbable forms of magnesium designed to support relaxation, restful sleep, and recovery. So you can spend less time staring at the ceiling and more time actually sleeping. Try It Now → Buy 2, Get 1 Free The extras.One year ago today we covered the Jay Jones scandal.The most clicked link in our last regular newsletter was our ad in the free version for the wallet-sized portable phone charger.Nothing to do with politics: Relax with this musical snake game.Our last survey: 2,303 readers responded to our survey on the attempted hijacking of a FlyDubai commercial flight, with 74% saying they trust the media’s reporting and believe it was a terrorist attack. “It definitely appears to be a terrorist attack, which is not surprising given today’s global climate on the politics of the war,” one respondent said. “Media has certainly earned the scrutiny and mistrust they face, but that doesn’t mean we need to jump immediately to conspiracy theories,” said another.Have a nice day.In 2022, Tommy Price was training for the grueling Bobby Graham round, a 66-mile circuit summiting the highest peaks in England’s Lake District, when hypothermia caused his heart to stop. Price was clinically dead for roughly four hours before receiving medical care at a hospital in Newcastle, where he was revived and slowly recovered during a five-day, medically induced coma. Just nine months later, he completed the London Marathon in just over three hours. Then, after raising £10,000 for the Keswick Mountain Rescue Team that saved him, Price returned to the Lake District to attempt the Bobby Graham — this time, he completed the course in 23 hours and 35 minutes. “It’s unlucky that it happened to me, but in another sense it’s lucky that that’s happened to me, because I can raise awareness and raise money for mountain rescue, and I can still do all this crazy stuff,” he said. “I should be dead, really.” ITVX has the story. | ### The FlyDubai plane attack. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/flydubai-terrorist-attack-hijacking/ Last updated: 2026-10-06T15:51:18.000Z Good Tuesday morning and welcome to Tangle. I’m **Isaac Saul,** back again today as your news shaman — ready to guide you through the weird wacky wild world of stupid internet reactions. We’ll be diving into the **attempted hijacking of a FlyDubai plane headed to Israel** and two big conspir — excuse me, *stories* — that came out of it. Plus, a **reader question about polls motivating voters’ decisions** and a feel-good story about one man’s mission to **improve New York’s basketball courts**. It’s a **12-minute read**. Ari Weitzman, Will Kaback, Audrey Moorehead, Carina Pacheco, Russell Nystrom, Isaac Wood, and Bailey Saul edited or contributed to today’s newsletter. Too busy to read? Push play instead! ![Too busy to read? Push play instead!](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/07/podcast@2x.png) [Listen to the newsletter Monday - Friday.](https://www.readtangle.com/tangle-podcast/) New episodes drop at 4pm ET. ### Election season is here. As we gear up for election season, we need your support. Our team is now 13 people strong, and we’re preparing for the biggest few months of the year. The best way to help us is to [become a member](http://readtangle.com/membership?ref=readtangle.com). It costs less than $5/month when you [sign up for the year](http://readtangle.com/membership?ref=readtangle.com), and it unlocks members-only content, ad-free newsletters, and automatic access to all our new products. ### Quick hits. 1. The Supreme Court began its new term, hearing arguments in a case centered on efforts by the city and county of Boulder, Colorado, to sue two energy companies for damages related to the costs of climate change. The Court is considering whether federal law blocks the city and county from bringing its suit. ([The case](https://www.scotusblog.com/2026/10/court-sends-mixed-signals-on-whether-it-will-allow-state-tort-suits-seeking-to-hold-energy-compa/?ref=readtangle.com)) 2. Former Rep. Dennis Hastert (R-IL), the longest-serving Republican Speaker of the House, died at 84\. In 2015, Hastert pleaded guilty to financial crimes related to efforts to cover up allegations that he had sexually abused boys as a high school wrestling coach decades earlier. ([The death](https://thehill.com/homenews/house/6129087-former-gop-house-speaker-dennis-hastert-dead-84/?ref=readtangle.com)) 3. Paramount Skydance finalized its $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery. ([The acquisition](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/10/06/paramount-wbd-deal-timeline.html?ref=readtangle.com)) 4. President Donald Trump said that he will no longer use government funds to pay for national television ads promoting his presidency and will instead use funds from his super PAC. ([The statement](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/taxpayer-dollars-super-pac-tv-ads-promoting-president-maga-inc-rcna601772?ref=readtangle.com)) 5. Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell announced that President Trump approved a recommendation to execute a former Army major by U.S. Army firing squad, which would be the first U.S. military execution since 1961\. The man killed 13 people and wounded 32 in a 2009 mass shooting at Fort Hood. ([The announcement](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-clears-way-fort-hood-terrorist-face-army-firing-squad-nearly-17-years-after-massacre?ref=readtangle.com)) Today’s Partner [****The stocking stuffer you’ll wish you had bought for yourself**](https://theaquavault.com/products/wireless-magnetic-chargecard?ref=readtangle.com)****.** There are few modern-day heartbreaks worse than seeing ****2% battery** when you’re nowhere near a power outlet. [****Enter the Ultra-thin Wireless ChargeCard**](https://theaquavault.com/products/wireless-magnetic-chargecard?ref=readtangle.com): the ridiculously slim magnetic charger that fits in your ****wallet**, so you can carry backup power everywhere without carrying those big bulky chargers. At just 0.3 inches thin, this is ultimate convenience! Think of it as a safety net for your phone… minus the big, bulky brick and tangled cords. Just pull it out from your wallet, snap it on your phone magnetically and stay powered all day and night. Made by a ****SHARK TANK** company, there’s a reason this brilliant little gadget has been featured in Forbes, Fox and many more. ****Give the holiday gift everyone will be talking about. Never see 2% again.** ****Tangle readers get 40% off with promo code TANGLE40.** [Claim your 40% off now ](https://theaquavault.com/products/wireless-magnetic-chargecard?ref=readtangle.com) ### Today’s topic. The FlyDubai attack. On Wednesday, the copilot of a FlyDubai commercial flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv allegedly [attacked](https://apnews.com/article/israel-saudi-arabia-dubai-emergency-landing-fd1835479898f2f944792913af7cbce6?ref=readtangle.com) the plane’s captain and attempted to crash the aircraft in what Israeli officials have deemed an attempted terrorist attack. The captain, Smit Machchhar of India, was stabbed multiple times and seriously wounded but managed to open the cockpit door, allowing crew and passengers to detain the copilot. Two pilots on board as passengers then took control of the aircraft and landed it safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. The attacker has been identified as an Omani national and is currently in custody in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). During the attack, the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft was [subjected to extreme forces](https://www.wsj.com/business/airlines/how-a-boeing-737-max-survived-a-nosedive-traveling-at-the-speed-of-sound-e8cae3b4?st=dzwEmA&mod=1440&user%5Fid=69089da3df3c6f305d117422&ref=readtangle.com) that exceeded its operational limits. The plane descended at a 39-degree angle (compared with a 3-degree angle in a standard descent), falling 17,400 feet in 92 seconds. When the other pilots on board managed to regain control, the aircraft lost part of its tail rudder, causing partial loss of control. The pilots kept the plane airborne for approximately one hour before landing at Tabuk Airport. A preliminary investigation has [reportedly](https://www.npr.org/2026/10/05/nx-s1-5990802/midair-attack-flydubai?ref=readtangle.com) found that the copilot intended to take control of the aircraft and crash it into Israel’s Ben Gurion International Airport. Reuters also [reported](https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/co-pilot-planned-flydubai-attack-before-hired-by-airline-two-israeli-officials-2026-10-05/?ref=readtangle.com) that the suspect operated a flight to Tel Aviv earlier this year with a similar goal of hijacking and crashing the aircraft but abandoned the plan for unknown reasons. Law enforcement officials [said](https://abcnews.com/US/suspect-flydubai-incident-previously-identified-security-risk-officials/story?id=136960488&ref=readtangle.com) he had been suspended from flying by Oman Air in 2024 after he was found in possession of extremist materials. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said intelligence officials determined the copilot had undergone “Islamist radical indoctrination,” but his precise motive is still unknown. Separately, United Arab Emirates Attorney General Hamad Saif Al Shamsi [confirmed](https://abcnews.com/US/suspect-flydubai-incident-previously-identified-security-risk-officials/story?id=136960488&ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=United%20Arab%20Emirates,state%20news%20agency) the hijacking was an attempted terrorist attack. Today, we’ll share views from the right, left and Israeli writers, followed by Executive Editor Isaac Saul’s take. | What the right is saying. Some on the right say the attempted attack underscores the broader state of play in the Middle East.Others criticize the media’s coverage of the hijacking. | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | **In The Free Press, Douglas Murray suggested** [**“Israel is winning.”**](https://www.thefp.com/p/douglas-murray-israel-iran-conquering?ref=readtangle.com) “Most of all, the attack — and the successful averting of what could have been a mass-casualty terrorist event — is a reminder of something bigger: that Israel and the West remain at war with Islamic radicals, and that it is a war we are winning,” Murray wrote. “To some people, this reflection might seem counterintuitive. Each day’s news is filled with declarations of defeat. The online world is filled with shrill declarations that Israel has lost this war. “With the hindsight of three years of war, we can now see more clearly how complete the devastation of Iran’s plans has been. Piece by piece, the government of Benjamin Netanyahu took apart the Iranian axis,” Murray said. “What happened in the skies above Saudi Arabia on Wednesday morning stands as a metaphor for three years of war. The Israelis saw an existential threat, took matters into their own hands, and decided their own course.” **In The Hill, Becket Adams argued that** [**“caution is selective”**](https://thehill.com/opinion/international/6124808-we-gather-news-cautiously-unless-its-something-bad-about-israel/?ref=readtangle.com) **among the news media.** “When it comes to crisis events, a cautious pose is always the smart play for a news organization. You never want to get ahead of the story — to prioritize being first ahead of being right,” Adams wrote. “But the care shown on this foiled hijacking story could not contrast more sharply with the Western press’s regular mishandling of allegations against Israel. The New York Times has, in particular, racked up a rather ignoble record in this area. “The Times was among the first in October 2023 to misreport that Israel had bombed the Al-Ahli Arab Hospital, killing 500\. Israel did no such thing. The rocket was misfired by the terrorist group Islamic Jihad, according to a U.S. assessment, and it did not even hit the hospital,” Adams said. “It is good, heartening even, that the Times handled last week’s foiled hijacking with care and caution… But where is this same seriousness when the allegations are directed at Israel?” | What the left is saying. Some on the left suggest the incident threatens already tenuous Middle East relationships. Others praise the passengers for their quick action and resolve. | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | **In The Atlantic, Graeme Wood said the incident has** [**“huge implications.”**](https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/09/flydubai-plane-attack-israel/688848/?ref=readtangle.com) “Whether today’s near disaster was terrorism or merely attempted mass murder depends on the attacker’s motive. Either way, it is a public-relations catastrophe for Flydubai… Since the United Arab Emirates opened diplomatic relations with Israel in 2020, the airline has connected the two countries with few interruptions, even for acts of war and terror,” Wood wrote. “One possible political motive for the Flydubai incident would be to strain and punish the relationship between the two countries.” “The next step will involve determining whether the pilot acted alone — not a good look for Flydubai, to have suicidal or terrorist pilots — or at someone’s behest. The latter possibility could, if confirmed, have serious implications, depending on who directed the attack,” Wood said. “Many have a motive: Sunni jihadists (al-Qaeda or the Islamic State), Hamas, and of course Iran and its proxies. This Mayday moment will have huge implications if any of these groups are involved.” **In The Forward, Dan Perry wrote** [**“for a few terrifying minutes, Israelis were heroes again.”**](https://forward.com/opinion/853040/israeli-heroes-attempted-hijacking/?ref=readtangle.com) “There is something refreshing about the simplicity of the story. The passengers were confronted with a danger that required immediate action, and some of them acted. Israelis watching the story unfold saw a familiar national trait emerge in circumstances where slogans had very little use,” Perry said. “For Israelis, that quality has long been part of the national mythology. The country was built around the idea that its people would have to improvise their way through circumstances that seemed to offer very little room for error.” “Sadly, much of the world has encountered a very different Israeli stereotype in recent years. Israelis have increasingly become symbols in arguments about war, occupation, nationalism and international law,” Perry wrote. “Then came the FlyDubai flight… Israelis have been seen increasingly through the prism of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and sometimes through the actions of the government that happens to represent them. A plane full of passengers offers a different perspective.” | What Israeli writers are saying. Some Israeli writers celebrate the collaboration between Israelis and Arabs on the flight. Others criticize the Israeli government for letting the Omani pilot pass through security measures. | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | **In JNS, Fiamma Nirenstein said** [**“heroic Israelis avert a new 9/11.”**](https://www.jns.org/opinion/column/fiamma-nirenstein/a-new-9-11-in-the-skies-was-narrowly-averted?ref=readtangle.com) “If there had not been ordinary Israelis on vacation aboard that plane, with their determined and well-organized will to survive, the world today might have been facing a new 9/11 in Tel Aviv,” Nirenstein wrote. “The alleged attacker was Omani. Oman has close relations with Iran, which maintains a strategic interest in the country because of its position overlooking the Strait of Hormuz and the entrance to the Persian Gulf. “The captain he allegedly attacked, by contrast, is a citizen of the United Arab Emirates — a friendly Arab country that signed the Abraham Accords with Israel,” Nirenstein said. “The contrast could hardly have been sharper: an alleged attacker apparently seeking destruction and an Emirati crew working alongside Israeli passengers to save lives. The passengers fought. The cabin crew helped them. Other pilots took control. Arabs and Israelis together prevented catastrophe.” **In The Jerusalem Post, Ben Caspit wrote** [**“our security agencies… failed miserably.”**](https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-910548?ref=readtangle.com) “A major failure occurred here — a massive one. A pilot — one whom Oman grounded for becoming radicalized and whom Morocco barred from flying due to his extremist Islamist views — found himself flying hundreds of Israelis to Israel,” Caspit wrote. “The Mossad has no way of knowing about every single jihadist who decides to kill Jews, provided that individual isn’t linked to an organized group or acting on orders from somewhere. If that is indeed the case, the Mossad bears less responsibility here. “And yet, an Omani pilot – deemed ‘dangerous’ by the Omanis themselves – should not be flying to Israel without that information coming to the attention of Israeli authorities,” Caspit said. “Wherever Israeli flights take off from, there are always Israeli security personnel responsible for perimeter security… They operate alongside deep intelligence support, cooperation with local security forces, the vetting of anyone coming into contact with passenger security, and so on. They were there, and yet — it happened.” | My take. Isaac Saul Executive Editor ![Isaac Saul](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2025/05/Isaac.jpg) | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | It’s absurd that media outlets are being criticized for covering this story appropriately.It’s also absurd to believe this attempted terrorist attack was a false flag.Instead, this story is a reminder of the constant threats of violence Israelis live with. | | **Reminder:** This is where we share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, leave a comment or reply to this email. | As news broke of the attempted terrorist attack on the FlyDubai plane, two other stories broke with it. First was a controversy over how the story was reported. Prominent pundits, many on the right, criticized a New York Times tweet early on the morning of the attempted hijacking which [read](https://x.com/nytimes/status/2105238301963604409?s=20&ref=readtangle.com), “Breaking news: A plane flying from Dubai to Israel was diverted after an altercation between the pilot and co-pilot, Israeli officials said.” Other outlets had similarly ambiguous language. The BBC [reported](https://www.bbc.com/audio/play/p0pd6wf5?ref=readtangle.com) an “Israel-bound flight diverted after fight between pilots.” CTV News [headlined](https://guelph.ctvnews.ca/world/article/pilot-stabs-fellow-pilot-on-flight-to-israel-before-passengers-intervene-to-stop-attack/?ref=readtangle.com) its coverage, “Commercial flight from Dubai diverted, briefly raising hijacking concerns and prompting Israel to scramble warplanes.” Critics suggested this was an effort to obscure or downplay an attempt on Israeli lives — an obfuscation that might reinforce the dangers that Israelis face daily. The second controversy unfolded days later. Conspiracy theories exploded — predominantly on the left — suggesting the entire incident was a “false flag.” Perhaps the goal was to inspire national unity, or somehow make Netanyahu look good, or maybe use the event as an excuse for more national security. Ana Kasparian, who [was a featured guest](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yY9ONA2G74&ref=readtangle.com) at [last year’s “Tangle Live”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyi1fFUODYU&ref=readtangle.com) event in Irvine, California, suggested that it was “weird” how “just yesterday Netanyahu was saying that the Iranians are going to carry out some sort of attack against Israel,” and “everyone was saying, ‘uh oh, here comes the false flag.’” She offered that she was “not suggesting” it was a false flag because she “doesn’t know yet,” but she thinks “it’s fishy.” Her co-host Cenk Uygur was less suggestive, using a segment to [explain](https://x.com/TheMilkBarTV/status/2105879355998249227?ref=readtangle.com) what “actually” happened with the FlyDubai plane, “how these things are done,” and “why might it be a false flag.” He went on to suggest that “they” might have found a mentally ill guy and allowed him to get on the plane with a knife. Both narratives bothered me for very different reasons. For starters, I don’t think there was anything wrong with the New York Times’ tweet. A lot of people don’t seem to understand how original reporting is done. When news breaks of a plane being diverted, and social media posts explode with claims of a struggle in the cockpit or a hijacking, an outlet like The New York Times is not going to report that without independent corroboration. Their job, as the paper of record, is to be careful — to be *sure* — not to amplify internet rumors*.* They’d never put something in print without at least getting some sources of their own. Also, the Times’ reporting was [not obscuring anything](https://x.com/Ike%5FSaul/status/2105751642825965946?ref=readtangle.com). As I [documented](https://x.com/Ike%5FSaul/status/2105751189228757117?ref=readtangle.com) on X, the offending social media post linked to a live page with updates. Before and after that tweet went out, The Times updated the story on that page, including comments from Israeli officials and the prime minister’s office discussing an attempted hijacking. It also made subsequent posts on X as it confirmed more details. Even under cynical reasoning, this particular criticism is nonsensical. If The Times could have been the first paper to report a hijacking of a plane full of Israelis to its audience — a story that would drive a boom in pageviews, subscribers, and citations — it would have. The worst thing you can say about the paper and its journalists, which is a legitimate criticism, is that it has blasted out headlines (like the claim Israel killed 500 people bombing the al-Ahli Arab Hospital) based solely on Palestinian sources. I wrote an entire article criticizing the shoddy work of the hospital-attack story, and (predictably) The Times’ story [completely fell apart](https://www.readtangle.com/media-lessons-gaza-hospital-bombing/#:~:text=The%20event%20they,Times%27%20changing%20headlines). But the lesson from that incident isn’t to *report faster* or *report more confidently based on potentially biased sources*. The lesson is to be *more* careful to slow down and get it right. That’s what the Times did here, and nothing about its reporting was unethical or wrong. The other narrative, the one propagated by Kasparian and Uygur, was deeply disappointing. I like Ana, and I think she offers a lot of value as an independent political voice. But here, she offered an example of how deranged commentary about Israel has become. Kasparian and Uygur essentially speculated this attack was a false flag because it closely followed Netanyahu’s comments. Others are [holding up](https://www.timesofisrael.com/bibiwood-flydubai-attack-spawns-online-conspiracy-theories/?ref=readtangle.com) even thinner evidence: Some X users claimed that the details of the story — from passengers getting into the cockpit to oxygen masks not deploying to the [pictures of cups of water](https://x.com/Burki677/status/2106067553974092268?ref=readtangle.com) — indicate a conspiracy. These claims give off “jet fuel can’t melt steel beams so 9/11 was an inside job” vibes, and they are all [easily debunkable](https://x.com/SanaELedene/status/2105763044949401650?ref=readtangle.com). The story here is simple, even if it makes many people who distrust Israel very uncomfortable: There are people in the Middle East who want to kill Israelis and Jews. Examples of this kind of terrorism against Israelis and Jews are copious, and the FlyDubai example comes with copious videos, images, and firsthand accounts of bloodied pilots and passengers rushing the cockpit. All these details corroborate the story being reported not just in Israel or the United States but across the globe. While information is still limited and in some cases vague, [reporting](https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/flydubai-attacker-had-been-banned-from-flying-by-oman-for-radical-views-ab363b5d?ref=readtangle.com) about this copilot is [pretty damning](https://abcnews.com/US/suspect-flydubai-incident-previously-identified-security-risk-officials/story?id=136960488.&ref=readtangle.com) so far. He is an Omani national who was previously suspended from flying on Oman Air because he was deemed a security risk after being found in possession of extremist materials. His deleted social media posts pointed to “intense religious conservatism and misogyny,” ABC News [reported](https://abcnews.com/US/suspect-flydubai-incident-previously-identified-security-risk-officials/story?id=136960488&ref=readtangle.com). Also, he took an axe to his copilot and tried to down a plane with 174 passengers on board. An investigation will give us concrete details about what motivated the attack, but I don’t think we need to pretend the pieces are hard to put together. If anything doesn’t add up here, it’s how FlyDubai allowed this pilot in the cockpit at all. The UAE’s Attorney General Hamad Saif Al Shamsi — read: *not an Israeli official* — said on Saturday that it was an attempted act of terrorism. The attacker is an Omani national. Oman’s population is 95% Muslim. Israel is currently in live conflicts with several Muslim-majority nations throughout the region. The precise motivations will be fleshed out in an investigation, but I feel comfortable speculating that Islamic extremism, the conflicts in the Middle East, or some combination of the two will be involved. It is self-evident who the targets were. In July, I wrote about [how conspiracy theories are getting dumber](https://www.readtangle.com/conspiracy-theories-are-getting-dumber). I’d argue both of these narratives add to the list of examples I shared in that piece. The New York Times is not avoiding front-page news it could break to the world because it’s scared to make Israel look like a victim. And Israel does not need to create false flag operations endangering its own citizens to create a mirage of danger — the danger is real, and Israelis live it every day. **Take the survey:** What’s your view on the incident? [Let us know](https://interrobang.vercel.app/survey/dc437880-c48a-4778-b035-d6b828392669?ref=readtangle.com). *Disagree? That*’*s okay. Our opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we*’*ll consider publishing your feedback.* ### Your questions, answered. **My girlfriend and I were talking about a recent election and she said “I’d like to vote for this candidate but they aren’t polling well so I will vote for so and so, who is ahead.” And it made me think, do polls sway voters’ decisions in a meaningful way? This seems problematic for a number of reasons.** **— u/franticallyfarting,** [**Tangle subreddit**](https://www.reddit.com/r/TangleNews/?ref=readtangle.com) **Managing Editor Ari Weitzman:** A very astute question from someone with a very erudite name — and timely, too. As far back as 1979, researchers have found that voters tend to [favor candidates](https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.2307/2131577?ref=readtangle.com) who poll well. More recently, in 2020, researchers at UCLA [affirmed](https://d966b3c0-a41c-4e10-87da-8277df7a9953.filesusr.com/ugd/718dda%5F5837f2868e074cf49d966e2b83350a1d.pdf?ref=readtangle.com) this “bandwagon effect” — that voters are biased towards candidates they think can win. They found this by looking at multi-round French elections from 1958 to 2017 and seeing that voters tended to overwhelmingly support first-round winners, even when they advanced on small margins. Of course, France’s system is very different from ours. Multiple candidates can advance from France’s first round, which is similar to party primaries. But rather than participating in disparate voting pools, all French voters take part in each round — meaning extrapolating from there is difficult. It’s quite possible that American voters would be happy to punch a ballot for a candidate they are less confident of in the earlier round, if they know they could vote against “the other guy” in the general election. This bandwagon effect based on polling may or may not impact voters at scale — we can’t say for sure — but we do know that it impacts a certain influential subset of the electorate: donors. Harvard researchers described this “[vicious cycle](https://inequality.hks.harvard.edu/publications/vicious-cycle-fundraising-and-perceived-viability-us-presidential-primaries?ref=readtangle.com)” in 2013: A candidate polls well, so donors hoping to curry influence back the winner, which helps that candidate campaign more effectively, which makes them poll well, which attracts donors, etc. We then saw this play out [famously in 2016](https://courses.lumenlearning.com/suny-tompkinscortland-amgovernment/chapter/the-effects-of-public-opinion/?ref=readtangle.com), when Hillary Clinton beat Bernie Sanders in the Democratic primary, partly due to “electability” concerns. Whether or not voters fall in line with this bandwagon effect, campaigns (and their donors) are certainly subject to it themselves. It’s one of the [many pitfalls](https://www.readtangle.com/how-to-read-the-polls-like-a-pro/) to watch for when interpreting campaign polling. **Want to have a question answered in the newsletter? You can reply to this email (it goes straight to our inbox) or** [**fill out this form**](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScQhqBSG%5F6%5FoBhwcTQMeS570n29XYbeQ9C9Bis7rjqI31g1tA/viewform?usp=header&ref=readtangle.com)**.** Today’s Partner ****Life’s too short for gifts that end up in a junk drawer.** Give something they’ll actually use every day. [****The Wireless ChargeCard**](https://theaquavault.com/products/wireless-magnetic-chargecard?ref=readtangle.com) slips into a wallet and delivers backup power when they need it most. Clever, ultra-convenient and insanely useful… the rare gift that makes everyone wonder, **“Where has this been?”** ****Tangle readers save 40% today with code TANGLE40**. [Claim your Tangle discount now ](https://theaquavault.com/products/wireless-magnetic-chargecard?ref=readtangle.com) ### The extras. - **One year ago today** we covered [federal troop deployments in Chicago and Portland](https://www.readtangle.com/trump-deploys-troops-to-portland-ice-raids-hit-chicago/). - **The most clicked link in our last regular newsletter** was our Friday edition on [the global fertility decline](https://www.readtangle.com/is-the-global-fertility-decline-a-crisis/). - **Nothing to do with politics:** Blow off some digital steam with [Destroy Any Website](https://destroy.spritefusion.com/?ref=readtangle.com). - **Our last survey:** 4,605 readers responded to our survey on Christa Pike and the death penalty, with 61% saying they oppose the death penalty in all cases. “If even one person might accidentally be put to death, then it is wrong,” one respondent said. “The death penalty is not morally wrong when applied to the most heinous criminals in our country,” said another. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/10/data-src-image-b965e72b-c285-48b4-81a5-d4a53277acf6.png) ### Have a nice day. New York City resident Craig Campanella loves the swoosh of a made shot, but one day he noticed frayed nets at the basketball court near his home. They would deteriorate and not be replaced for months. So he started replacing the nylon nets himself. Campanella gave himself a goal of installing 25 nets this year, and surpassed it in six months; now, he’s set a new goal of 50 for the year. “Putting nets on hoops isn’t going to necessarily solve the world’s problems,” he said. “But it’s something I can do. It’s tangible. It makes me smile, and it makes other people in the park smile, and so I just do it.” [The City Reporter has the story](https://www.thecityreporter.nyc/2026/06/04/basketball-nets-playground-parks-hoops-parks/?ref=readtangle.com). ### Why Trump sent thousands of soldiers to Washington URL: https://www.readtangle.com/why-trump-sent-thousands-of-soldiers-to-washington/ Last updated: 2026-10-06T14:31:04.000Z The National Guard has been deployed in Washington, D.C. for over a year. Have they made the city safer? ### Rubio on possible Russia plague outbreak: not “cause for alarm,” but “is cause for focus” URL: https://www.readtangle.com/rubio-on-possible-russia-plague-outbreak-not-cause-for-alarm-but-is-cause-for-focus/ Last updated: 2026-10-05T18:40:48.000Z Secretary of State Marco Rubio was asked about the possible plague outbreak in Russia, which he described as not “cause for alarm” but rather a “cause for focus.” ### The failed execution of Christa Pike. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/death-penalty-failed-execution-of-christa-pike/ Last updated: 2026-10-05T15:50:48.000Z Good Monday morning and welcome to Tangle. I’m **Executive Editor Isaac Saul**, officially ready to welcome fall with open arms. The temperature dropped below 60 degrees in New Jersey this morning, so I gleefully started my day with a hot cup of coffee in front of the fireplace and some NFL highlights. Now we get to enjoy the best two months of the year. Breathe it in. In the “things I’m not willing to accept” genre, today we are turning to the **botched execution of Christa Pike** in Tennessee. I have strong feelings and I will do my best to argue them with some intellectual honesty (and we’ve also got a dissenting view). Plus: A shoutout to Audrey Moorehead for her thought-provoking **Friday edition on the fertility crisis**. It’s a **12-minute read**. Ari Weitzman, Will Kaback, Audrey Moorehead, Carina Pacheco, Russell Nystrom, Isaac Wood, and Bailey Saul edited or contributed to today’s newsletter. Too busy to read? Push play instead! ![Too busy to read? Push play instead!](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/07/podcast@2x.png) [Listen to the newsletter Monday - Friday.](https://www.readtangle.com/tangle-podcast/) New episodes drop at 4pm ET. ### Is it a crisis? In Friday’s piece on the global fertility decline, Editor Audrey Moorehead wrote: > The numbers vary from country to country, but consistent across the data is a simple fact: The fertility rate is in decline, both in the United States and around the world. To calibrate a response… three questions immediately arise: What does it actually mean that fertility is declining? Why is it in decline? And can — or should — we try to reverse it? You can read Audrey’s exploration of these questions — and what’s at stake if the decline continues — [here](https://www.readtangle.com/is-the-global-fertility-decline-a-crisis/). ### Quick hits. 1. The U.S. military removed all 12 of its B-1 bomber aircraft from the United Kingdom’s RAF Fairford air base, reportedly due to unspecified security concerns. ([The removals](https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/all-b-1-bombers-returning-to-u-s-from-u-k-base-bfa0f797?ref=readtangle.com)) 2. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that nonfarm payrolls increased by 29,000 in September, and the unemployment rate slightly increased to 4.2%. The August and July nonfarm jobs totals were both revised lower. ([The report](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/10/02/jobs-report-september-2026.html?ref=readtangle.com)) 3. Yemeni and Saudi forces launched a counteroffensive against Iran-backed Houthi rebels, seeking to regain control over the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. ([The counteroffensive](https://www.axios.com/2026/10/04/yemen-saudi-houthis-counteroffensive?ref=readtangle.com)) 4. A researcher in southeastern Siberia died after contracting a suspected case of the pneumonic plague. The State Department asked Russia to share information about the incident. ([The report](https://www.foxnews.com/world/us-monitoring-suspected-fatal-pneumonic-plague-case-russia-state-department-official-says?ref=readtangle.com)) 5. Right-wing candidate Flávio Bolsonaro and left-wing President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva advanced to a runoff in Brazil’s presidential election. ([The result](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/04/world/americas/brazil-election-lula-bolsonaro.html?ref=readtangle.com)) Today’s Partner [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/09/Womanrunningonroad.png)](https://www.collective.org/?utm%5Fsource=newsletter&utm%5Fmedium=paid&utm%5Fcampaign=Tangle) [****Get GLP-1s for $59/month. 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Eligible members can access doctor-prescribed, third-party-tested compounded GLP-1s for just [****$59/month**](https://www.collective.org/?utm%5Fsource=newsletter&utm%5Fmedium=paid&utm%5Fcampaign=Tangle). ****Even better: Your price doesn’t increase when your dose does**, and you don’t have to prepay for a year of medication to unlock the Collective price. ****Tangle readers can check out** [****Collective**](https://www.collective.org/?utm%5Fsource=newsletter&utm%5Fmedium=paid&utm%5Fcampaign=Tangle) **and see if they qualify.** [Get the Collective price ](https://www.collective.org/?utm%5Fsource=newsletter&utm%5Fmedium=paid&utm%5Fcampaign=Tangle) ### Today’s topic. Christa Pike and the death penalty. On Wednesday, Tennessee [failed to execute](https://apnews.com/article/tennessee-execution-what-to-know-christa-pike-8a834e15b8f2d5397b7620bc33d0ec10?ref=readtangle.com) Christa Pike after administering two doses of a lethal drug. Pike had been sentenced to death for her role in the 1995 murder of Colleen Slemmer, and she is now [hospitalized](https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/tennessee-execution-survivor-christa-pike-ventilator-attorneys-say-2026-10-02/?ref=readtangle.com) in critical condition. Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee (R) canceled the state’s final scheduled execution of 2026 and accepted the resignation of Tennessee Department of Correction Commissioner Frank Strada. **Back up:** In 1995, Pike and her boyfriend lured Slemmer into the woods and [attacked](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/crime/2026/10/01/what-christa-pike-do-executed-murder/92035330007/?ref=readtangle.com) her, eventually bludgeoning her to death. The crime drew national attention due to the extent of Slemmer’s wounds and investigators’ suggestion that the killing was tied to the occult. Court documents said that Pike viewed Slemmer as a romantic rival; Pike confessed to the murder and was sentenced to death in 1996\. Pike’s lawyers [appealed](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/ahead-rare-execution-lone-woman-tennessee-death-row-says-peace-rcna600279?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Pike%20does%20not,not%20be%20guaranteed.) the sentence, arguing that jurors may have decided differently had they been informed of physical and sexual abuse Pike suffered as a child. The attorneys also asked the Supreme Court to halt last week’s execution, saying it was likely to cause “severe mental suffering and superadded psychological terror under Tennessee’s lethal injection protocol.” The Court denied the appeal. Tennessee’s death penalty protocol is [to administer](https://apnews.com/article/pentobarbital-tennessee-execution-pike-9b160ff13c3d26942d19c02e53baa4ed?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=As%20with%20Tennessee%E2%80%99s%20guidelines%2C%20the%20federal%20death%20penalty%20protocol%20calls%20for%20administering%20a%205%2Dgram%20dose%20of%20pentobarbital%3B%20in%20medical%20settings%2C%20patients%20typically%20receive%20a%20fraction%20of%20a%20gram.) five grams of pentobarbital, a barbiturate that can depress breathing and circulatory function and lead to death. On Wednesday, according to witnesses, Pike [complained](https://apnews.com/article/tennessee-execution-what-to-know-christa-pike-8a834e15b8f2d5397b7620bc33d0ec10?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=An%20execution%20delayed%2C%20prolonged%20then%20failed) of pain in her arm after prison officials administered an initial five-gram dose of pentobarbital. She was later given another dose and appeared to lose consciousness but continued breathing for another hour; eventually, witnesses were asked to leave the facility, and Pike was taken to the hospital. In a Saturday statement, Department of Correction Commissioner Strada [maintained](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/christa-pike-failed-execution-tennessee-official-resigns/?ref=readtangle.com) that the state followed all protocols in attempting to execute Pike but said he will step down “in the best interest” of the state. Separately, Gov. Lee ordered an independent investigation into the incident, which is Tennessee’s [second failed execution](https://www.wkrn.com/news/tennessee-news/christa-pike/tennessee-botched-executions/?ref=readtangle.com) this year. Pike’s attorneys criticized the state for its actions, saying it had been warned ahead of time that it was not prepared to carry out the execution. “The concerns raised by Ms. Pike proved to be true: difficult vein access, blown veins, degraded pentobarbital, no emergency medical care available when things inevitably go wrong, all under a protocol that remains veiled in secrecy,” they [said](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/crime/2026/10/01/what-christa-pike-do-executed-murder/92035330007/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=%22Tonight%20the%20State,veiled%20in%20secrecy.%22). Below are views from the left and right on the failed execution and the debate over the death penalty in the United States. Then, Executive Editor Isaac Saul’s take. | What the left is saying. Many on the left say the failed execution highlights long-standing issues with the death penalty.Some note Tennessee’s multiple failed executions this year.Others argue the death penalty is immoral. | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | **In Salon, Austin Sarat wrote** [**“Christa Pike’s botched execution was not an isolated incident.”**](https://www.salon.com/2026/10/03/christa-pikes-botched-execution-was-not-an-isolated-incident/?ref=readtangle.com) “Such problems have occurred many other times, though generally they have not prevented executions from proceeding. The people tasked with the job of finding a usable vein and securing an IV are not phlebotomists with specialized training or nurses,” Sarat said. “In states like Tennessee, which does not carry out many lethal injection executions, members of the execution team do not have the chance to perfect their skill by using it a lot.” “According to \[American Medical Association\] guidelines, doctors involved in lethal injections cannot choose injection sites, start IV lines to administer the lethal medicine or be involved in prescribing, preparing, administering, or supervising injection drugs or their doses or types,” Sarat wrote. “The result is that states have been forced to turn to unlicensed medical personnel. Hundreds of them have played a role in executions — but they have done so in the shadows. That is not good enough when someone’s life is being extinguished.” **In The Tennessean, Tacuma Roeback argued** [**“Tennessee can’t get executions right.”**](https://www.tennessean.com/story/opinion/columnists/2026/10/01/christa-pike-shows-tennessee-cant-get-executions-right/92034309007/?ref=readtangle.com) “Legal studies like this one have long called Tennessee’s capital punishment protocols into question, particularly when it comes to legal representation for defendants and the state’s administration of capital punishment,” Roeback said. “Before Pike, and before nine Tennessee lawmakers wrote Lee requesting a review of what went wrong in Carruthers’ execution, there were similar concerns about lethal injection protocols raised by another independent review four years ago. That review was supposed to fix things.” “When the Tennessee Legislature resumes in January, it should push for a full, multi-year review of the TDOC and its death penalty protocol, including the method by which executions are administered,” Roeback wrote. “Given the demonstrated incompetence of how the death penalty is administered in this state, can we really trust that another review will result in substantive, corrective change?” **In USA Today, Rex Huppke called the failed execution** [**“a moral stain on America.”**](https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/columnist/2026/10/01/christa-pike-execution-botched-lethal-injection/92038406007/?ref=readtangle.com) “Simply put, state and federal governments should not be in the business of killing people. Killing is messy, and things can go grotesquely wrong, as they did in Pike’s case,” Huppke said. “More important, though, killing is wrong. (I shouldn’t even have to type those words.) And the state deciding who among convicted criminals lives and who dies is morally obtuse.” “There is no evidence the death penalty acts as a deterrent, yet there have already been 29 prisoners executed in the United States since January. We still haven’t reckoned with the fact that not wanting our government to kill criminals isn’t the same as wanting a murderer to live,” Huppke wrote. “The murderer is the one who did wrong, so what good comes from us doing wrong as well? I hope the horror of what happened to Pike at our hands shifts some thinking on the morality of the death penalty.” | What the right is saying. Many on the right suggest the case shows the U.S. should return to previous methods of capital punishment.Some argue that Pike’s history of abuse and mental health challenges should have ruled out a death sentence.Others criticize legal hurdles that complicate and prolong executions. | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | **In The Federalist, Hayden Daniel argued** [**“Christa Pike shows it’s time to bring back firing squads.”**](https://thefederalist.com/2026/10/02/christa-pike-shows-its-time-to-bring-back-firing-squads/?ref=readtangle.com) “In contrast to Lee’s limp-wristed act to deny justice even further by halting further executions, gubernatorial candidate and current Tennessee Sen. Marsha Blackburn said, ‘This situation is tragic. Christa Pike should have been executed long ago… The answer is simple: bring back the electric chair and deliver justice for these victims swiftly,’” Daniel said. “Blackburn is exactly right. People who commit especially heinous crimes should be dealt with via the death penalty and dealt with both efficiently and quickly.” “The firing squad represents another execution method that we’ve nearly abandoned because of its supposed ‘barbarity,’ yet it stands as the very definition of swift and efficient… Death by firing squad comes in less than a minute, while death from lethal injection can take up to two hours, or not at all in Pike’s case,” Daniel wrote. “\[Pike\] shouldn’t have sat on death row for decades, and her botched execution undermines the pursuit of true justice — not only in her case but in all cases going forward.” **In National Review, Kathryn Jean Lopez wrote** [**“the state as executioner is a moral failure — and turns out to be a practical one, too.”**](https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/the-state-as-executioner-is-a-moral-failure-and-turns-out-to-be-a-practical-one-too/?ref=readtangle.com) “Pike was going to be the first woman executed in the state in over 200 years and the first person ‘in the modern era who was a teenager at the time of the offense,’ according to her clemency petition. This is barbaric,” Lopez said. “I don’t believe there is a circumstance in the United States in this day and age that warrants the death penalty. Like with just war, I think there could be a moral case and time. Not this time. Life in prison will do just fine.” “Even if you do not agree with me: We should not be executing people with brain damage and with severe mental illness. Or who were severely abused as children,” Lopez wrote. “Child abuse happens when adults fail children. When they directly inflict pain on them, are indifferent to harm others are doing to them, or when they have not adequately protected them. Someone who was failed by the adults in her life from the beginning should not then be killed by the government.” **In the Washington Examiner, Zachary Faria described** [**“how legislatures and the courts sabotage the death penalty.”**](https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/beltway-confidential/4752346/how-legislatures-courts-sabotage-death-penalty-christa-pike-execution/?ref=readtangle.com) “State legislators and the courts have turned the death penalty into a grimly farcical process, feeding the cheapest arguments against it,” Faria said. “In March 1996, Pike was sentenced to death. Yet, Pike’s execution was not allowed to take place for another 30 years, thanks to the quagmire of appeals meant to bog down the process… The legal chicanery continued all the way to her execution date, when a federal appeals court momentarily halted the execution an hour before it was scheduled to take place.” “This case will then be used to argue that the death penalty should be abolished. ‘It is more expensive than life imprisonment,’ you will hear, even though it is only more expensive because of the seemingly never-ending appeals that drag the process out for decades,” Faria wrote. “This legislative and judicial sabotage of the death penalty taints any debate about its merits, and it does so by denying justice to families like that of Slemmer.” | My take. Isaac Saul Executive Editor ![Isaac Saul](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2025/05/Isaac.jpg) | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | This case reinforces my opposition to the death penalty, which I view as both immoral and practically flawed.We can abhor Pike’s botched execution and maintain sympathy for Slemmer’s family at the same time.The simplest way to avoid more situations like this is to end capital punishment. | | **Reminder:** This is where we share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, leave a comment or reply to this email. | A hospital is trying to keep a woman alive so the Tennessee government can try to kill her again. That’s the dark, absurd situation created by the widespread acceptance of a system that allows the government to take the lives of its own citizens. Longtime readers of Tangle will know that my most extreme political position is that [I am anti-prison](https://www.readtangle.com/evidence-prisons-dont-work/). I don’t believe we should release all the criminals into the streets — in fact, I don’t know of a better alternative for how to handle people who have proven themselves unfit for society. So, for now, I accept that prisons are necessary. But I do know that locking a human being in an 8x8 foot cage as a form of “justice” feels incredibly bleak, counterproductive, and inhumane. It’s a system that values punishment over civil liberties in the name of public safety, and the blackest parts of the soul push to hand out that sort of punishment. So, unsurprisingly, I also [oppose the death penalty](https://www.readtangle.com/death-penalty-marcellus-williams/). Here, my argument is much more [straightforward and defensible](https://www.readtangle.com/buffalo-shooter-death-penalty/), because there is an alternative: Don’t allow our government to kill prisoners. Rather than debating the merits of executing someone like Christa Pike, or having arguments about whether someone who slit another person’s throat is worthy of sympathy, I choose to draw a simple line in the sand: Killing is immoral. There are reasons to cross that line in the sand — a police officer killing someone in the midst of a mass shooting, or someone defending themselves or others from legitimate lethal threats. But we have laws and systems to navigate those exceptions. That’s the principled argument against the death penalty. Citizens don’t get to kill other people, so the justice system shouldn’t get to kill citizens. The practical argument, [as I’ve laid out before](https://www.readtangle.com/death-penalty-marcellus-williams/#:~:text=185%20inmates%20have,put%20to%20death), is that the government has almost certainly executed innocent people, and it has come [terrifyingly close](https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/policy-issues/policy/innocence?ref=readtangle.com) to executing innocents hundreds of times before. It’s so common that trying to free people wrongfully put on death row has become a cottage industry — and those appeals often succeed. How many government killings of innocent citizens are we willing to accept? The answer should be zero. But the only way to guarantee that is to end the practice. But if none of that resonates, I have other practical arguments. The government is (evidently) bad at killing people, the legal process [costs](https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/policy-issues/policy/costs?ref=readtangle.com) us more money than keeping inmates alive, and the death penalty itself [isn’t actually](https://academic.oup.com/book/59567/chapter-abstract/503083523?redirectedFrom=fulltext&ref=readtangle.com) a deterrent to heinous crime. So on top of the moral issue, it’s also carried out against the wrong people, in the wrong way, and to no practical end. It really doesn’t matter if you want to mete out the maximum punishment on a convicted criminal or if you want to attempt to rehabilitate all the “bad” people. If you’re in the former camp, keeping someone alive in a prison is both cheaper for citizens and (I’d argue) a harsher punishment than death. If you’re in the latter camp, the death penalty precludes any opportunity to rehabilitate someone. It is just the final step in a cycle of violence that only reinforces the idea that killing is a reasonable way to solve problems. Arguments like those from Hayden Daniel (under “What the right is saying”) that we could solve all this by bringing back the electric chair or firing squads might be convincing if the only goal is to “kill people more effectively than lethal injections.” Yet nearly 2% of all electric chair executions [are botched](https://www.readtangle.com/death-penalty-marcellus-williams/#:~:text=It%20took%20a,execution%20was%20%E2%80%9Csuccessful.%E2%80%9D), and since its inception it’s been one of the most gruesome tools for killing someone. Firing squads have a better track record of “working,” though they typically depend on trying to shoot the convicted’s heart — a target the [shooters are known to miss](https://www.npr.org/2025/05/08/nx-s1-5389846/firing-squad-south-carolina-death-penalty-execution?ref=readtangle.com). In reality, there’s no such thing as a guaranteed and humane execution — even when they work as intended, they’re gruesome. A long line of people have supported the death penalty until they’ve witnessed an execution, including by lethal injection, mostly because the notion that people just doze off and pass into another dimension at the command of the state is a complete farce. Executions have been going wrong since hangings and stonings, and they’ll continue to be botched into the future. Christa Pike’s wasn’t even the first botched execution in the U.S. this year. It wasn't even the first botched execution in Tennessee this year. It wasn’t even the first botched execution [*by this same doctor* in Tennessee this year](https://people.com/christa-pike-doctor-also-involved-another-failed-execution-may-12153847?ref=readtangle.com). A little bit of small-government libertarianism is all you actually need to oppose the death penalty. If you don’t trust the government to fix a pothole in your neighborhood, why do you think it can competently take the lives of human beings? None of this requires any sympathy for Christa Pike. Her victim, Colleen Slemmer, would have just turned 51\. Slemmer’s mother, May Martinez, [remembers](https://www.wbir.com/article/news/local/knoxville/colleen-slemmer-mother-keep-her-daughters-memory-alive-after-failed-execution/51-7bc08a55-4e5d-4886-890b-e8111acd38f1?ref=readtangle.com) her daughter as a generous and kind person who volunteered at the Special Olympics, loved bowling and roller skating, and wanted to pursue a career in computers. Pike tortured her, then murdered her, then bragged about it later that night, telling someone she had “cut the victim’s throat six times, beaten her, and thrown asphalt at the victim’s head.” Pike relayed that Slemmer had begged her to stop, but she kept going because the victim continued to talk. She brought a piece of her skull to breakfast the next morning as a souvenir. Martinez is still alive — witnessing the events of the last few weeks — 31 years after her daughter’s murder, still trying to get justice. Again: Nobody needs to have any sympathy for Pike. But, not incidentally, I could easily argue that she was a bad candidate for the death penalty. On the moral spectrum of convicted killers, even those who committed gruesome murders, Pike is more sympathetic than most: She has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, she may have suffered brain damage in the womb, some evidence [shows](https://dpw.lawschool.cornell.edu/advocacy/christa-pike/?ref=readtangle.com) she was sexually and physically abused, and she was 18 years old at the time she committed the heinous murder — barely an adult (her boyfriend and accomplice was 17 and thus spared the death penalty). But I shouldn’t even have to make that argument. The real discussion we should be having is not whether a mentally ill killer needs to be kept alive in a hospital so the government can kill her. We should be talking about the death penalty itself, and the guaranteed preposterousness of situations like this that are all downstream of us accepting that the government can sometimes kill its citizens. We should end this uncivilized, immoral practice and find other ways to solve our problems. | Staff dissent. Editor Audrey Moorehead and Associate Editor Carina Pacheco | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | We agree that Tennessee’s botched execution attempt of Christa Pike is a horrible outcome, yet we take different lessons from it than Isaac does. Tennessee’s repeated failures with lethal injections should push us to re-examine how and when we implement the death penalty rather than discard the practice altogether. Capital punishment does not need to deter crime or rehabilitate offenders to have merit; plainly, it should serve justice. Some crimes are so grave that state-sanctioned death is the only proportionate response. Many capital punishment defenders, us among them, agree that the modern process is too costly, drawn-out, and unfairly applied — and therefore far more dysfunctional and cruel than it needs to be. Consistent with the values of a speedy trial and an aversion to cruel, unusual punishment, the death penalty ought to be swiftly implemented in a fool-proof manner, reserved for the worst of the worst criminal offenses. Much of the anti-death penalty argument rests on the fact that innocent people reside on death row, but that is a different issue worthy of far deeper probing: The law already requires certainty to convict, and we must meet that existing standard before approaching the death penalty question. At the same time, we should reserve capital punishment for a narrow, heinous set of crimes, such as mass shootings and serial or mass murder. This latest example in a string of failed executions is a prime opportunity to reevaluate how the death penalty is implemented to maximally serve justice when it’s due. | **Take the survey:** What do you think of the death penalty? [Let us know](https://interrobang.vercel.app/survey/8f313aa6-28ff-4c53-a667-11767da3c8ad?ref=readtangle.com). *Disagree? That*’*s okay. Our opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we*’*ll consider publishing your feedback.* ### Numbers. - [**40.**](https://www.tn.gov/correction/about-us/executions/death-row-facts.html?ref=readtangle.com) The number of people on death row in Tennessee, including Christa Pike. - [**1820.**](https://apnews.com/article/tennessee-execution-christa-pike-woman-38c20d49bea09bed1488c2b41c309f2c?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=If%20Pike%E2%80%99s%20execution%20proceeds%20as%20scheduled%2C%20it%20would%20be%20Tennessee%E2%80%99s%20first%20execution%20of%20a%20woman%20since%201820%2C%20Maher%20said.) The last year that Tennessee executed a woman. - [**18.**](https://apnews.com/article/tennessee-execution-christa-pike-woman-38c20d49bea09bed1488c2b41c309f2c?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Executions%20of%20female%20inmates%20are%20also%20rare%20in%20the%20U.S.%20Since%201976%2C%2018%20women%20have%20been%20executed%20in%20the%20country%2C%20representing%20about%201%25%20of%20all%20executions%2C%20according%20to%20the%20center.) The number of women who have been executed in the U.S. since 1976. - [**1,054.**](https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/executions/botched-executions?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Botched%20Executions%3A%201890%E2%80%89%E2%80%93%E2%80%892010) The number of executions carried out by lethal injection in the United States between 1890 and 2010, according to the Death Penalty Information Center. - [**7.2%.**](https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/executions/botched-executions?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Botched%20Executions%3A%201890%E2%80%89%E2%80%93%E2%80%892010) The percentage of those lethal injection executions classified as “botched.” - [**80% and 16%.**](https://news.gallup.com/poll/1606/death-penalty.aspx?ref=readtangle.com) In 1994, the percentage of U.S. adults in favor and not in favor, respectively, of the death penalty for a person convicted of murder, according to Gallup. - [**52% and 44%.**](https://news.gallup.com/poll/1606/death-penalty.aspx?ref=readtangle.com) In 2025, the percentage of U.S. adults in favor and not in favor, respectively, of the death penalty for a person convicted of murder. Today’s Partner [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/09/Newsletter-Image-1.png)](https://www.collective.org/?utm%5Fsource=newsletter&utm%5Fmedium=paid&utm%5Fcampaign=Tangle) Losing weight on a GLP-1 is one thing. Figuring out your dose, managing side effects, getting enough protein, exercising, and maintaining muscle along the way? That’s where things get more complicated. [****Collective**](https://www.collective.org/?utm%5Fsource=newsletter&utm%5Fmedium=paid&utm%5Fcampaign=Tangle) doesn’t just give eligible members access to doctor-prescribed, U.S.-compounded GLP-1s starting at $59/month at any dose. Membership also includes unlimited doctor messaging, so when questions come up, you have someone to ask — plus personalized guidance on nutrition and exercise to support you along the way. [Stop overpaying ](https://www.collective.org/?utm%5Fsource=newsletter&utm%5Fmedium=paid&utm%5Fcampaign=Tangle) ### The extras. - **One year ago today** we had just published a two-part Friday edition on [under-the-radar cabinet secretaries](https://www.readtangle.com/10-cabinet-secretaries-you-havent-heard-of-part-1/). - **The most clicked link in our last regular newsletter** was the report on [Tennessee’s failed execution of Christa Pike](https://abcnews.com/US/execution-lone-woman-tennessees-death-row-paused-federal/story?id=136893331&ref=readtangle.com). - **Nothing to do with politics:** A mathematician has [identified a new shape](https://www.popsci.com/science/new-geometry-shape-polyhedron/?ref=readtangle.com). - **Our last survey:** 1,548 readers responded to our survey on the Protect College Sports Act, with 58% saying they “strongly” or “somewhat” support the bill. “Limiting transfers without any consequence is critical. No action on coaches’ salaries is unfortunate,” one respondent said. “Of all things that are needed for the country, this is it that the Senate is working on?” said another. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/10/data-src-image-337b3f68-1d65-4747-8dfa-7560222c379c.png) ### Have a nice day. Scientists long believed that gentoo penguins were a single species. But new genetic evidence has pinpointed four separate species among them, including the recently identified southeastern gentoo penguin (*Pygoscelis kerguelensis*). These penguins live on the Kerguelen Islands in the Indian Ocean, located approximately 2,000 miles from the nearest permanently inhabited landmass. Genetic markers and slight variations in body size and vocalizations distinguish them from other gentoos, and they are the first new penguin species discovered in more than 100 years. [ScienceDaily has the story](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260920222410.htm?ref=readtangle.com). ### Trump's "PSA" or Campaign Ad? You Decide URL: https://www.readtangle.com/trumps-psa-or-campaign-ad-you-decide/ Last updated: 2026-10-04T22:01:13.000Z The White House says President Trump's new ads are just public service announcements. But between the "liberate America from these villains" messaging and a press release line that reads like it came straight out of ChatGPT, it's hard not to see a political message. ### The Sunday — October 4 URL: https://www.readtangle.com/the-sunday-october-4-2026/ Last updated: 2026-10-04T11:52:45.000Z *This is the Tangle Sunday Edition, a brief roundup of our independent politics coverage plus some extra features for your Sunday morning reading.* ### What the right is doodling. ![Steve Kelley | Creators Syndicate](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/10/data-src-image-3c989dc0-0fe8-4959-9481-73031c30c8a8.jpeg) Steve Kelley | Creators Syndicate ### What the left is doodling. ![John Deering | Creators Syndicate](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/10/data-src-image-f29b5652-38e7-46f3-8cef-5c2edfb85029.jpeg) John Deering | Creators Syndicate ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/10/data-src-image-6c3e3293-ac3b-4b1a-b306-fdb473753cab.png) ### Suspension of the Rules. In this week’s Suspension of the Rules episode, we start by having some fun with Jack Smith’s congressional testimony. Then, we discuss the government-funded Trump commercials before turning to a much more serious subject: the Cornell sexual assault case. It was a heavy but important segment, and we wrapped up with some gratitude (instead of our usual grievances) to lighten the mood. You can watch below: The latest episode of Suspension of the Rules ### Monday, September 28. [The UN General Assembly and the Trump–Xi summit](https://www.readtangle.com/un-assembly-and-trump-xi-summit/). In September, world leaders gathered in New York City for the 81st United Nations (UN) General Assembly, with conflicts in Iran and Ukraine taking center stage. In a speech before world leaders, President Donald Trump said he is weighing whether to seek a deal to end the war with Iran or “annihilate” the country, while also touting a security agreement reached with Greenland and Denmark. Later that week, President Trump hosted Chinese President Xi Jinping for a state visit, during which the leaders discussed trade disputes and AI development. **Our take:** *“The UN assembly reminded me just how tense the state of global affairs is. Zooming out, the entire Trump–Xi summit is a disorienting episode. I’m inclined to view these events more as theater than anything else, but sometimes a few hours of in-person, private communication between world leaders really can change the shape of history.”* **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/10/data-src-image-48cef4c0-8c66-401e-8079-ce048af626e7.png) ### Tuesday, September 29. [The 2026 midterm elections](https://www.readtangle.com/2026-midterms-preview/). Tuesday, September 29, marked 35 days until federal elections will be held for all 435 U.S. House seats and 35 of the 100 U.S. Senate seats. Additionally, 36 states will elect governors and 46 states will vote on a total of 6,139 state legislators. Most election models currently favor Democrats to take back the House and give the party a slight edge to flip the Senate. **Our take:** *“One way to look at the midterms is that Republicans are cruising for disaster, especially without Trump on the ballot to energize his base. However, Democrats could easily underperform polls in the same way Republicans did in 2022\. I’m going to resist a prediction for now, since a lot can change in a month.”* **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/10/data-src-image-42a5796a-36f9-469a-836d-f084b2e09ef0.png) ### Wednesday, September 30. [The ACA cancelations](https://www.readtangle.com/aca-cancelations-waste-fraud-abuse-vance/). Last Tuesday, September 22, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) said it had canceled healthcare enrollments for roughly 760,000 people under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) due to alleged fraud or improper documentation. In a press briefing announcing the cancelations, Vice President JD Vance and CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz said that Covid-era subsidies and relaxed verification under President Joe Biden led to rampant abuse of the federally regulated ACA marketplace. The vice president’s White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud estimates the enforcement action will save $2.2 billion in taxpayer-funded subsidies. **Our take:** *“Defrauding insurers on the federal marketplace is a protracted problem that predates Trump. CMS’s actions here are justified, and I think the methods they used were reasonable. I harbor reservations about Vance’s broader anti-fraud initiative and the administration’s track record, but this effort looks like a win.”* **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/10/data-src-image-4aa04d7e-77fa-47b8-9c61-6c9f237dd6a9.png) ### Thursday, October 1. [The Protect College Sports Act](https://www.readtangle.com/the-protect-college-sports-act/). On Monday, September 28, the Senate voted 77–22 to pass the Protect College Sports Act with support from 50 Republicans, 26 Democrats, and one independent. The bill would create a national regulatory framework for collegiate athletics and give the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) antitrust protection, allowing it to establish standards for student-athlete compensation, eligibility, transferring, and other activities. The House is expected to take up the bill after the November midterms. **Our take:** *“Most college sports don’t have huge issues, but the biggest money-makers have descended into complete disorder. The new status quo risks eroding what makes college sports appealing. This bill is imperfect, but it gets the important stuff right.”* **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/10/data-src-image-e04fab45-71ac-4fe8-b2bd-0e98fa0acc79.png) ### Friday, October 2. In this week’s members-only Friday edition, Editor Audrey Moorehead takes stock of the fertility decline around the world — and tries to determine whether the decline is a global crisis. [You can read her piece here](https://www.readtangle.com/is-the-global-fertility-decline-a-crisis/). --- ### What just happened. Here’s a rundown of the major stories that have broken since our newsletter on Thursday. - On Thursday, the family of Renee Good filed civil lawsuits against the federal government, Trump administration officials and federal agents, alleging wrongful death and civil rights violations. Good was shot and killed by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in January. ([The suits](https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/renee-good-family-civil-lawsuit-against-federal-government-ice-killing-minneapolis/?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Thursday, Freddie Mac reported that the weekly average 30-year fixed mortgage rate was 7.28%, the highest level in approximately three years. ([The rate](https://www.axios.com/2026/10/01/mortgage-rates-housing-sales?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Thursday, the U.S. military said it is deploying a third aircraft carrier and 9,000 additional troops to the Middle East following President Trump’s remarks that he is weighing new strikes against Iran. ([The deployment](https://apnews.com/article/iran-war-trump-ships-deployment-middle-east-42c23e9af0333f4bc3b4f419cc3a603e?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Thursday, the Treasury Department proposed a rule outlining provisions of a nationwide school choice program. ([The proposal](https://www.k12dive.com/news/irs-releases-proposed-school-choice-rule-Education-Freedom-Tax-Credit/831680/?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Thursday, the Supreme Court agreed to hear a case on whether immigrants designated for deportation can be detained indefinitely while their cases play out. ([The case](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/supreme-court/supreme-court-decide-lawfulness-trumps-immigrant-detention-policy-rcna600251?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Thursday, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) appointed state Attorney General Letitia James (D) as a special prosecutor to investigate allegations of rape at a Cornell University fraternity house in 2024\. “If warranted, \[James will\] prosecute any offenses arising from that investigation and present evidence to a grand jury,” Hochul said. ([The appointment](https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/6124932-hochul-appoints-james-special-prosecutor/?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Friday, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that nonfarm payrolls increased 29,000 in September, and the unemployment rate slightly increased to 4.2%. The August and July nonfarm jobs totals were both revised lower. ([The report](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/10/02/jobs-report-september-2026.html?ref=readtangle.com)) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/10/data-src-image-1443d0e2-cd94-45cd-8d39-02547dd0425a.png) ### Reader essay. ![ U.S. coroner Cyril Wecht (center) in Taipei in 2004 | REUTERS/Simon Kwong SK/TW](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/10/data-src-image-4c25143f-a186-462e-8d56-a975c0af16ed.jpeg) U.S. coroner Cyril Wecht (center) in Taipei in 2004 | REUTERS/Simon Kwong SK/TW Corrosive counter-cultural claims on casting votes, or correct concern with career coroners? Tangle reader Stout Cortez recalls the life and times of Allegheny County Coroner Cyril Wecht and puts forward a bold claim: Some things on the November ballot shouldn’t be up to the voters to decide. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### How is this my call? URL: https://www.readtangle.com/otherposts/how-is-this-my-call/ Last updated: 2026-10-04T01:27:04.000Z *By Stout Cortez* --- Growing up in the Pittsburgh area in the nineties, a child was just expected to know certain things by the time he or she came of voting age. Obviously, you pick up all the driving stuff. Avoid the highways during rush hour, but if and when you do have to take the parkway between 7AM and 7PM, you have to expect everyone to slow down for tunnels. It is known that Pittsburghers are afraid of tunnels and have to ease their paces to get a good look at the maw they’re about to pilot their crafts through before they do so. No one personally knows a driver afflicted by the deceleration epidemic, or certainly no one admits to this under interrogation, but somehow tunnelphobia is just the Pittsburgh way. Also, when you’re first up at a red light and you want to go left, you gotta just shoot it as soon as the light turns (this is called [the Pittsburgh left](https://www.wesanews.org/development-transportation/2020-07-28/how-the-pittsburgh-left-became-embedded-in-city-driving?ref=readtangle.com), and it makes [Pittsburgh athletes very uncomfortable](https://www.post-gazette.com/opinion/editorials/2016/12/17/listen-to-a-steeler-le-veon-bell-gets-it-right-on-the-pittsburgh-left/stories/201612170077?ref=readtangle.com)). Speaking of Pittsburgh athletes, you should be able to recite the starting D-line from the 2005 Super Bowl team by memory, and to your dying day you better be prepared to rattle off the names ‘Hampton, Smith, and von Oelhoffen’ at a moment’s notice. Not a Steeler fan? Yes you are. You are, at least a little bit, and you need to do your civic duty and respect the Steeler defense. If you were a ’90s kid in Allegheny County, then this was all vital information you had to have before you could punch your first ballot in a federal, state, or county election. And one of the most important names to know before you pulled that weird blue-patterned curtain behind you in the voting booth in the local gym was “Cyril Wecht.” Cyril Wecht was the Allegheny County coroner from 1996 to 2006\. It’s hard to say how you knew about him growing up, but you knew the name. *Cyril Wecht*. It has a certain Rust Belt poetry to it. You *knew* you’d heard your parents say the name at various points for one reason or another. Until he finally came through the morgue via the visitors’ entrance (Wecht died in 2024 at the ripe old age of 94), the former coroner was a local political mainstay. But… *Why?* This question was in the back of my mind the first time I voted, and it never really left. *Why do I know who the coroner is?* *In fact, why am I even voting for the coroner?* I kept those “why”s to myself at the time. Eventually I found out the answer to the first one; Wecht was somewhat of a special case. He served nonconsecutive multi-term spans as the coroner, starting with the entire 1970s. He then became a county commissioner as a Democrat, while also chairing the county’s chapter of the Democratic Party, after leaving the coroner post amid scandal (he *allegedly* performed autopsies for other counties in Allegheny County and pocketed cash for doing so, and he was sued in civil court for *allegedly* using county resources to benefit his own private enterprises). Then, like any good local politician with a little buzz on his name and one hand firmly in the cookie jar, he ran for Senate. And, in 1982, he failed. That would have ended the careers of most country coroners, but not Cyril Wecht. He *loved* the spotlight. Wecht was dramatic, borderline flamboyant, in a way that heavily conflicts with a person whose job puts them in close contact with people without pulses — that is, before the CSI shows took off. And, actually, the whole CSI crime show concept was [partially inspired](https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/love-csi-ncis-you-can-thank-guy-flna1c9442107?ref=readtangle.com) by Wecht himself. He freely gave quotes to the local papers, he wrote about the JFK assassination, he appeared on Geraldo Rivera; he found a way to remain a known figure up until his glorious comeback to county elected office in 1995. I didn’t know any of that when I participated in my first county election. To be honest, as an 18-year-old, I barely knew what a coroner was. All I knew was that I recognized the name ‘Cyril Wecht.’ I associated the name with the word ‘coroner,’ and that’s why I voted for him. If that sounds dumb, that’s because it’s dumb. I was a dumb voter — but I wasn’t totally an abnormal voter. Another thing I later learned was that Allegheny County was strange for making the county coroner an elected office; of the 50 largest counties in the country, only Franklin County (Ohio) votes for coroner. Allegheny decided to do away with electing the coroner in 2005, instead having the county executive appoint the coroner, but many small counties across the country still put the position to a public vote (and lots of counties out West combine the post with sheriff). That brings me to the second “why”: Why should the general population elect the coroner? There’s a simple answer: Making the position accountable to the public is a check on corruption. But that answer invites two more questions: First, how’d that work out for you, Allegheny County? Not so well, looks like. And second, how could voters possibly be expected to have informed knowledge about candidates for niche offices they don’t really know anything about? I’m going to give you three takes now, each bolder than the last. First, you should participate in our nation’s representative democracy. Election Day is right around the corner, and I think you should vote. ![Like the subject of this Norman Rockwell painting, Stout Cortez stands and delivers | "Freedom of Speech" - NARA - 513536](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/10/data-src-image-8a3bad7e-5b2d-49c9-a134-05975238d6bb.png) Like the subject of this Norman Rockwell painting, Stout Cortez stands and delivers | "Freedom of Speech" - NARA - 513536 My second, somewhat bolder claim is that I don’t think you should vote in every race. Ballots across the country will feature elections for offices you may know nothing about, with a lineup of candidates you probably couldn’t pull a fictional name out of if one had been ferreted in. Magistrate, bailiff, commissioner, auditor, court clerk, register of deeds, soil and water supervisor — these roles all perform important tasks (presumably). But if you don’t know what the position is or whom you’re voting for, then you probably shouldn’t vote. Third, a lot of things that end up on the standard November ballot shouldn’t be our calls to make at all. There’s obviously a balance to strike with representative democracy. You want voters to be able to elect their leaders. But the coroner? The soil and water supervisor? With respect to [Buncombe County](https://www.buncombenc.gov/m/newsflash/Home/Detail/992?ref=readtangle.com), North Carolina, should we really expect the public to be able to provide appropriate levels of oversight to the position tasked with erosion prevention? One of the most important reasons we elect people into public office is to exercise appropriate judgment over a range of matters, including overseeing civil services and appointing departmental leaders and key positions. That shouldn’t be our job. I’ll go so far as to say that most *ballot initiatives* — policy measures put before the public to decide directly — shouldn’t be up to us. That’s the whole reason we elect a legislature: to legislate. Here are a few measures put to a public vote in the last few years. Californians have voted on whether certain healthcare providers must spend 98% of revenue from a federal drug-discount program on direct patient care, Coloradans have voted on whether to ban hunting lynx, Mainers have voted on whether to print every section of their state constitution, and Massachusettsans have voted on whether the state auditor can audit the legislature. If I were to vote on any of those questions, I’d first have to understand why this was put in front of me instead of decided in my state capitol. Because I think I’d have good reason to be suspicious about ulterior motives. In 2018, Californians voted on whether EMTs were required to keep their pagers on during breaks; the ballot measure sounded like it was putting a public safety concern to the electorate. But in reality, the state was using the language of public safety so voters could resolve a worker dispute (which they did; the measure passed). Maybe, in the Trump era, I’ve just slid my standards for how much control an executive ought to be able to exert over government appointments. Maybe, on the complete other side of the coin, I actually have a naive big-government faith in the rank-and-file members of the bureaucratic state to execute their charges. Or maybe I’m lazy, or I’m naive, or I have too little faith in my fellow voter. Or maybe, and I really think this is the one, I’m simply correct. Maybe I have appropriate levels of faith in our representatives, our civil servants, and my fellow voter. Because really — this shouldn’t be up to us. Charming coroners shouldn’t be able to put a thrall on the public and convince us that they should be the ones with one hand on the formaldehyde and the other in the public coffers. If we’ve learned anything from Cyril Wecht, it’s that when we make voters decide issues they aren’t informed about, name recognition matters as much as competence, flash as much substance, and corruption not at all. I say again: this shouldn’t be up to us. --- *Stout Cortez is a former Pittsburgher and Californian who remembers the 2005 Steelers fondly. He wishes Mike Tomlin the best in his Minecraft world, and he’s glad it was never his decision to vote for or against him to coach the team.* ### Why Are Your Taxes Paying for Trump’s NFL Ads? URL: https://www.readtangle.com/why-are-your-taxes-paying-for-trumps-nfl-ads/ Last updated: 2026-10-03T16:00:51.000Z Is Trump's taxpayer-funded TV spot a PSA or a campaign ad? ### How Jack Smith’s Basketball “Scandal” Fell Apart URL: https://www.readtangle.com/how-jack-smiths-basketball-scandal-fell-apart/ Last updated: 2026-10-02T22:00:40.000Z How did Sen. Eric Schmitt confuse the Atlanta Hawks with the Iowa Hawkeyes? ### The Jack Smith Revelation Nobody's Talking About URL: https://www.readtangle.com/the-jack-smith-revelation-nobodys-talking-about/ Last updated: 2026-10-02T20:40:23.000Z Sen. Eric Schmitt thought he had Jack Smith on perjury, until it looked like his staff mixed up the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Atlanta Hawks. 🤦 ### Is the global fertility decline a crisis? URL: https://www.readtangle.com/is-the-global-fertility-decline-a-crisis/ Last updated: 2026-10-02T15:50:12.000Z ****Note:** You are reading a preview of a members-only Friday edition. To read it in full, [you’ll be asked to subscribe](https://www.readtangle.com/membership/). In June of this year, Syracuse University — a private New York college known for its top-tier graduate programs and storied men’s basketball team — [announced](https://www.highereddive.com/news/a-new-normal-syracuse-faces-enrollment-dip-first-deficit-in-years/822832/?ref=readtangle.com) that it was on track to miss its enrollment targets for fall 2026\. Undergraduate tuition makes up the bulk of the university’s revenue, and as a result of the enrollment shortfall, Chancellor J. Michael Haynie said the university would consider reworking programs and downsizing staff. Haynie cited a multitude of factors for the drop in new students, including tightening foreign visa programs. But he also framed it in the context of a long-anticipated decline in U.S. higher education enrollment — a decline not brought on by rising prices, changing attitudes or fewer visa students, but something simpler, stickier and maybe more surprising: a baseline decline in the number of college-aged Americans. Higher education experts have [expected](https://www.wiche.edu/resources/knocking-at-the-college-door-9th-edition/?ref=readtangle.com) an “enrollment cliff” based on this decline since at least 2016, when K–12 school class sizes were already decreasing. In 2024, the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) [predicted](https://www.wiche.edu/knocking/key-findings/graduates/?ref=readtangle.com) that the number of high school graduates would peak in 2025 and decline through at least 2041\. Fast-forward to this June, and the announcement from Syracuse led some to [declare](https://x.com/EricFinnigan/status/2068058299183075603?s=20&ref=readtangle.com) that we had finally reached the “demographic cliff.” They might be right: The enrollment decline presents a major challenge, already causing universities to cut programs, lay off staff, and in some cases [shut their doors](https://www.insidehighered.com/news/business/mergers-collaboration/2025/12/18/colleges-couldnt-survive-2025?ref=readtangle.com). Combined with [other headwinds](https://www.readtangle.com/august-economic-report/#:~:text=Colleges%20will%20close,12/31/2028) academic institutions are facing, the U.S. higher education system will almost certainly look radically different 20 years from now than it does today. But while the demographic cliff is hitting colleges and universities hardest right now, its impacts won’t be constrained to education. An aging population, fewer young people, and eventually a declining overall population will have major effects on a world that relies on younger populations for economic output. Amid all this, a serious debate has emerged over the birth rate decline in the United States. These debates have only intensified in recent years, with the rise of the [pro-natal movement](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/a-look-inside-the-pronatalism-movement-encouraging-americans-to-have-more-children?ref=readtangle.com) both within and outside of the Trump administration. And as with nearly all public policy issues in our polarized era, concern around the issue has immediately become [hyperpoliticized](https://nwlc.org/resource/baby-bonuses-and-motherhood-medals-why-we-shouldnt-trust-the-pronatalist-movement/?ref=readtangle.com). This bifurcated response does a disservice to an issue that deserves serious attention. Because the fertility rate *is* declining, and that decline will impact all of us — and soon. The question, then, is what we should do. ### The data. While most of us likely think of fertility as a person’s ability to have children, fertility is also a demographic term that refers to the number of births a woman actually has. From there, demographers use a few different metrics to parse fertility data. The [general fertility rate (GFR)](https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/social-sciences/fertility-rate?ref=readtangle.com) measures the total number of births per 1,000 women of childbearing age in a given place. GFR is useful for its simplicity and immediacy — by looking at the GFR in New York City over the past five years, for example, policymakers can anticipate early education costs and attempt to design maternal care policies. But GFR isn’t useful as a predictive measure for future births because it cannot account for how other demographic factors, like the age distribution of the women in the cohort, affect the number of births. Some demographers have recently begun using more specialized fertility metrics to predict population change. The [effective fertility rate (EFR)](https://www.nber.org/papers/w33175?ref=readtangle.com) accounts for the number of children who survive into adulthood, and the [completed fertility rate (CFR)](https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/cohort-fertility-rate?ref=readtangle.com) measures the average number of children women have had by the end of their childbearing years. EFR gives a fuller understanding of historical trends in various locations; CFR provides a more comprehensive understanding of a given generation’s fertility trends. The most commonly used term, and the one you’ve likely seen if you read about fertility casually, is the [total fertility rate (TFR)](https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/social-sciences/fertility-rate?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=%E2%80%A2-,Total%20fertility%20rate%20%28TFR%29,-%E2%80%94the%20average%20number). TFR measures the average number of children that a woman will have over her childbearing years (usually defined as ages 15–49), based on current birth trends. Researchers bucket women into [five-year age bands](https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr74/nvsr74-3.pdf?ref=readtangle.com#page=2) — 15–19, 20–24, etc. — and use that information to create a weighted average for the number of children each woman will have throughout her life. ![Number of births, by maternal age group: United States, 1990–2023](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/10/data-src-image-d1f89c04-5577-4674-acfc-02e0f903247c.png) Number of births, by maternal age group: United States, 1990–2023 | [National Vital Statistics Report](https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr74/nvsr74-3.pdf?ref=readtangle.com#page=2), CDC, March 2025 Finally, you might also have heard the term “replacement-level fertility rates,” which usually refer to the number of children the average woman must have to keep the population level exactly constant. In developed countries like the United States, the replacement rate [is usually](https://ourworldindata.org/data-insights/which-countries-have-fertility-rates-above-or-below-the-replacement-level?ref=readtangle.com) 2.1 births per woman. It’s slightly above two to account for children who don’t survive to adulthood; nations with a higher child mortality rate have a correspondingly higher replacement rate. Notably, the replacement rate doesn’t actually describe whether or not a population is growing — a population that’s reproducing at a rate lower than replacement could still grow, especially if mortality rates are low, healthcare access is good, and immigration is high. However, replacement rates are useful for determining whether a population might *eventually* start shrinking. According to United Nations [data](https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.DYN.TFRT.IN?ref=readtangle.com), the global fertility rate is 2.2 children per woman. The countries with the highest fertility rates are mostly African countries — Chad, Somalia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the Central African Republic sit at 6.0 births per woman — while the regions with the lowest are Macao and South Korea, at 0.6 and 0.7 births, respectively. The United States, meanwhile, has a TFR of 1.6\. The numbers vary from country to country, but consistent across the data is a simple fact: [The fertility rate](https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.DYN.TFRT.IN?ref=readtangle.com) is in decline, both in the United States and around the world. ### What do we do? To calibrate a response to the fertility crisis, three questions immediately arise: What does it actually mean that fertility is declining? Why is it in decline? And can — or should — we try to reverse it? _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### The Protect College Sports Act passes the Senate. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/the-protect-college-sports-act/ Last updated: 2026-10-01T15:52:00.000Z Happy Thursday and welcome to Tangle — this is **Managing Editor Ari Weitzman**, feeling particularly sporty today. I’m looking forward to my Pittsburgh Steelers taking on the long-hated Cleveland Browns tonight, and, more topically, we’re checking in on the state of college athletics in today’s edition. Our main topic is the **Protect College Sports Act**, an issue I’m pretty close to as a former college sprinter. The vast, *vast* majority of college athletes have lives that look pretty similar to my one season on the track team: Make it to your classes, hit the gym, hit the library, eat when you can, and sneak in as much personal clothing as possible with your varsity stuff when you drop your laundry bag off at the varsity locker room. I struggled to make it out of prelims as a sprinter, but we’re going the distance in our coverage today — breaking down everything in the bill that just passed the Senate. Lace ’em up for a **12-minute read**. Isaac Saul, Will Kaback, Audrey Moorehead, Carina Pacheco, Russell Nystrom, Isaac Wood, and Bailey Saul edited or contributed to today’s newsletter. ### A wide-ranging conversation. In this week’s *Suspension of the Rules* episode, we start by having some fun with Jack Smith’s congressional testimony. Then, we discuss the government-funded Trump commercials before turning to a much more serious subject: the Cornell sexual assault case. It was a heavy but important segment, and we wrapped up with some gratitude (instead of our usual grievances) to lighten the mood. You can listen [here](https://shows.acast.com/tangle/episodes/suspension-of-the-rules-isaac-kmele-and-ari-talk-about-the-t?ref=readtangle.com) or watch below: ### Quick hits. 1. A pilot on a commercial flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv allegedly attacked his co-pilot and attempted to crash the plane. Passengers and crew subdued the attacker, and another pair of pilots on the flight safely landed the aircraft. ([The incident](https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/diverted-flydubai-flight-israel-was-not-hijacking-incident-israeli-prime-2026-09-30/?ref=readtangle.com)) 2. The U.S. military announced that all troops have withdrawn from Iraq, officially ending its 12-year mission. ([The withdrawal](https://www.newsnationnow.com/world/international-headlines/ap-as-the-last-us-troops-exit-iraq-kurdish-fears-rise-and-militias-celebrate/?ref=readtangle.com)) 3. The Federal Reserve’s inspector general reported that mismanagement led to cost overruns in the central bank’s renovation of its Washington, D.C. headquarters, but found no grounds for a criminal referral against former Chair Jerome Powell. ([The report](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/09/30/fed-inspector-general-report-powell-trump.html?ref=readtangle.com)) 4. The Federal Trade Commission launched an investigation into leading AI companies over potential dangers their models pose to consumers. ([The investigation](https://nypost.com/2026/09/30/us-news/ftc-opens-sweeping-probe-of-anthropic-openai-and-other-super-intelligence-models/?ref=readtangle.com)) 5. Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee (R) halted the state’s execution of Christa Pike after she appeared to survive two rounds of lethal injection. 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[****Horizon IX is the world’s first dual-processing hearing aid**](https://api.wellput.io/v1/cm?cmid=1153354&tid=207&s1=v2-r1025925-p1153354-c47665&s2=Tangle&s3=&s4=&ref=readtangle.com) that separates speech from background noise in real time. The result? Warm, natural sound, anywhere life gets loud. Nearly invisible, rechargeable, and trusted by over 670K people. ****To see why audiologists call it the best, claim your 45-day no-risk trial**. [Claim your trial ](https://api.wellput.io/v1/cm?cmid=1153354&tid=207&s1=v2-r1025925-p1153354-c47665&s2=Tangle&s3=&s4=&ref=readtangle.com) ### Today’s topic. The Protect College Sports Act. On Monday, the Senate [voted](https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll%5Fcall%5Fvotes/vote1192/vote%5F119%5F2%5F00250.htm?ref=readtangle.com) 77–22 to pass the Protect College Sports Act with support from 50 Republicans, 26 Democrats, and one independent. The bill would create a national regulatory framework for collegiate athletics and give the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) antitrust protection, allowing it to establish standards for student-athlete compensation, eligibility, transferring, and other activities. The House is [expected](https://www.reuters.com/sports/five-things-know-about-college-sports-bill-that-passed-us-senate-2026-09-29/?ref=readtangle.com) to take up the bill after the November midterms. **Back up:** In June, Sens. Ted Cruz (R-TX), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Eric Schmitt (R-MO), and Chris Coons (D-DE) [introduced](https://www.commerce.senate.gov/press/rep/release/cruz-protect-college-sports-act-saves-the-games-that-fans-love-opportunities-for-student-athletes/?ref=readtangle.com) the bill in response to concerns about recent changes in college sports. In 2021, the Supreme Court [ruled unanimously](https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/20pdf/20-512%5Fgfbh.pdf?ref=readtangle.com) that the NCAA’s limits on certain education-related compensation for student-athletes violated antitrust law. The NCAA then [implemented](https://www.ncsasports.org/name-image-likeness?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=NIL%20RULES%2C%20TIMELINE%20AND%20COMPLIANCE) a name, image, and likeness (NIL) policy that allows student-athletes (and some high school athletes) to earn money without losing their eligibility. Initially, these payments could only come from third parties (such as advertisers), but in 2025, the rules were [amended](https://www.espn.com/college-sports/story/%5F/id/45467505/judge-grants-final-approval-house-v-ncaa-settlement?ref=readtangle.com) to allow NCAA Division I schools to compensate athletes directly. The policy has [enabled](https://www.espn.com/college-sports/story/%5F/id/41040485/what-nil-college-sports-how-do-athlete-deals-work?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=What%20kinds%20of%20deals%20are%20athletes%20making%3F) some student-athletes — particularly football and basketball players — to earn millions in deals and led to [more frequent transfers](https://www.ncsasports.org/blog/transfer-portal-impact-on-college-recruiting?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Since%202021%2C%20use%20of%20the%20transfer%20portal%20has%20exploded%2C%20growing%20nearly%2030%25%20in%20just%20two%20years%20at%20the%20Division%20I%20level.) between schools. The Protect College Sports Act [contains](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/4668?ref=readtangle.com) several provisions, including: - Codifying athletes’ ability to enter NIL deals - Creating reporting requirements for NIL compensation - Limiting the amount of money schools can spend on direct athlete payments - Adding limited antitrust exemptions for the NCAA to implement rules on transferring and years of eligibility - Capping agent endorsement contract fees at 5% The NCAA, major college athletic conferences, and President Donald Trump have come out in support of the bill, arguing that it will rein in “chaos” created by current NIL policies and establish a level playing field for college sports. “\[The measure will\] ensure student-athlete benefits are codified into federal law and future generations of young people can access those benefits and use college sports as the launching point for their careers,” NCAA President Charlie Baker [said](https://x.com/NCAA%5FPR/status/2104759495851122909?ref=readtangle.com). Labor groups, student-athlete organizations, and some Democrats have opposed the effort, saying it will strip athletes of newfound leverage and freedom. “This is a bill not about student-athletes, it’s about wealthy coaches and wealthy institutions and an NCAA who \[have\] enjoyed unbridled power for decades,” Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) [said](https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/6115892-senate-passes-protect-college-sports-act/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=%E2%80%9CThis%20is%20a,is%20not%20true.%E2%80%9D). Today, we’ll share views from the right, left and sports writers on the bill, followed by Managing Editor Ari Weitzman’s take. | What the right is saying. Some on the right praise the bill for addressing problems in a flawed system.Others argue that the law would benefit the colleges more than players. | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | **The New York Post editorial board called the bill** [**“a bipartisan win for protecting college sports.”**](https://nypost.com/2026/09/29/opinion/a-bipartisan-win-for-protecting-college-sports/?ref=readtangle.com) “\[The bill is\] imperfect, but it has real promise to end the nonstop litigation and over-the-top bidding wars launched when the Supreme Court in 2021 tossed key NCAA rules on antitrust grounds,” the board wrote. “The old system had huge problems… But what followed was ruinous, with stars transferring to the highest bidder multiple times and schools stinting on women’s and Olympic sports as they chased talent that would bring in the most revenue. “The bill protects a collegian’s right to collect from the sale of his or her Name, Image and Likeness while setting national standards for transfers, eligibility, tampering and… limits on agents’ share of an athletes’ earnings,” the board said. “Yes, it gives the NCAA a partial antitrust exemption so it can’t get sued for enforcing eligibility and transfer limits and lets it limit coaches’ job-hopping rights, too — but keeping college sports different from the pros has to start somewhere.” **In The Tennessean, Cameron Smith said the** [**“Protect College Sports Act favors universities over players.”**](https://www.tennessean.com/story/opinion/columnists/2026/09/27/the-protect-college-sports-act-favors-universities-over-players/91970210007/?taid=6ab8f02bd1581a000174a7aa&utm%5Fcampaign=trueanthem&utm%5Fmedium=social&utm%5Fsource=twitter) “Billed as a necessary measure to bring order to the chaotic landscape of name, image and likeness (NIL) agreements, the bill is touted as a rescue mission for a beloved American tradition,” Smith wrote. “In reality, it represents something far more familiar inside the Beltway: powerful institutions using federal authority to secure special treatment… The true engine of the bill is its conditional antitrust exemption.” “Under the guise of protecting amateurism, Congress is offering the collegiate sports establishment a legal carve-out to sidestep the laws of supply and demand to avoid sharing its eye-popping profits with the athletes producing the value on the field,” Smith said. “Transforming college athletes into recognized employees who collectively bargain with leagues and universities is not a threat to college sports; it is an equitable solution.” | What the left is saying. Some on the left say the proposed law solely protects NCAA interests.Others recognize some benefits but ultimately see the bill as a loss for athletes. | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | **In The New Republic, Matt Ford argued the bill** [**“will only protect the NCAA’s billions.”**](https://newrepublic.com/article/215565/protect-college-sports-act-lose?ref=readtangle.com) “College athletes were finally able to pursue fair-market compensation for their services over the last few years thanks to a series of major court rulings. Now the NCAA and its allies are trying to turn back the clock to keep as much of the money that college athletes generate as possible,” Ford wrote. “Every good thing in the PCSA is a sweetener designed to make its real purpose easier to swallow.” “The PCSA gives the NCAA immunity from federal antitrust laws when it enforces rules on compensation, transfers, broadcast rights, and more among member schools and conferences. Federal antitrust laws have been a powerful tool for college athletes to keep at least some of the wealth that they generate for themselves. With the PCSA, Congress would slam that door shut,” Ford said. “The good news is that the PCSA might not become law in the 119th Congress.” **In The Free Press, Joe Nocera wrote** [**“last night, college athletes lost.”**](https://www.thefp.com/p/last-night-college-athletes-lost-money-nil?ref=readtangle.com) “\[The bill\] does some good things. It gives players a 10-year window to graduate from the school they played for. It limits players to one transfer, which even I concede is necessary. It requires universities to give its athletes comprehensive healthcare benefits,” Nocera said. “But it does absolutely nothing to curb coaches’ pay, or the millions spent on fancy facilities, or any of the other things that have caused college athletics to become so outrageously expensive. “Except one: It sets a cap on the amount of money an athletic department can spend on its athletes — not just football players but athletes in every sport,” Nocera wrote. “That amount is $21.6 million. (There is an additional $22.5 million ‘retention fund’ that is supposed to be used to keep star players from transferring.) That’s not nothing, of course, but it means that unlike most Americans, college athletes will once again be deprived of their chance to cash in on their prowess." | What sports writers are saying. Some sports writers applaud the bill for protecting athletes.Others lament how the proposed law might bail out bad coaches. | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | **In Sportico, Lamell J. McMorris suggested** [**“student-athletes need protection.”**](https://www.sportico.com/leagues/college-sports/2026/time-to-pass-protect-college-sports-act-1234944766/?ref=readtangle.com) “The agent world around these young athletes is largely unregulated, and too much of it preys on the very kids it claims to serve. \[The business\] is not built around the best interests of student-athletes, and this bill finally brings order to it,” McMorris wrote. “It protects Olympic and nonrevenue sports, invests in women’s athletics, strengthens health and safety, safeguards scholarships, and creates real accountability for schools and athletes alike.” “I do not dismiss the people opposing this bill,” McMorris said. “\[One objection\] is that collective bargaining should fix all of this. I wish it were that simple. More than 80% of Division I schools are public institutions, and their athletes would be state employees, outside the reach of federal labor law and, in many states, barred from bargaining at all… Meanwhile, the protections in this bill are real, and they are available now.” **In USA Today, Blake Toppmeyer wrote** [**“bad college football coaches have it good with Protect College Sports Act.”**](https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2026/09/30/college-football-nil-bill-shane-beamer-buyout-brent-venables-contract/91985368007/?ref=readtangle.com) “Perhaps the biggest winner in the ‘Protect College Sports Act’ passed by the Senate? Losing college football coaches,” Toppmeyer said. “This bill, which politicians pretend will address the ‘chaos’ and ‘crisis’ inside college athletics, fails to address the soaring salaries for coaches and their bosses, or the $50 million severance checks for fired coaches… There’s never been a better time to be a bad football coach. “Just ask South Carolina’s Shane Beamer. He’s making $8.25 million this season, and he’s 2-11 in his past 13 games against Power Four opponents,” Toppmeyer wrote. “I don’t actually believe Congress should regulate coaches’ salaries or buyouts, either. Instead, force university presidents and chancellors to do their jobs. If schools can’t pay the athletics bills, then make them rein in spending and stop the contract stupidity, instead of awarding them a bailout.” | My take. Ari Weitzman Managing Editor ![Ari Weitzman](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2025/05/Ari.jpg) | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Most college sports don’t have huge issues, but the biggest money-makers have descended into complete disorder. The new status quo risks eroding what makes college sports appealing. This bill is imperfect, but it gets the important stuff right. | | **Reminder:** This is where we share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, leave a comment or reply to this email. | As I mentioned at the start of today’s edition, I ran track (for one year) in college. Balancing school, sports and work can be really difficult, but it can also be really fun; and for most students competing in college sports at the level I was, the model isn’t broken. However, for the most visible sports, particularly football and basketball, the operational model is fundamentally flawed. First, the collegiate sports landscape is simply chaotic. Decades ago, college conferences were neatly organized by geography. Today, Texas and Oklahoma play in the Southeastern Conference while the Atlantic Coast Conference is home to Stanford and Cal-Berkeley. The formerly Midwestern Big Ten stretches from Rutgers to the University of Southern California (USC). Meanwhile, the Pac-10 (excuse me, Pac-12) was whittled down to two teams and now is limping along with nine. Smaller conferences wither away while mega-conferences demand cross-country travel for their teams, making a [total farce](https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/editorials/article/ncaa-college-sports-texas-sec-baker-22355521.php?ref=readtangle.com) of the idea that athletes are “students first” — how is anyone supposed to keep up with classes while flying from Los Angeles to New Jersey for an in-conference game? The obvious reason for this convoluted setup is the second problem in college sports: money. USC is in the Big Ten simply because the school knows it can make more money through TV deals if it’s in a conference with better teams. Smaller conferences have no leverage for keeping their teams from leaving, and the major schools and major conferences have started concentrating resources at the expense of smaller conferences, smaller schools, and the academic schedules of the players themselves. Speaking of the players, for a long time, the NCAA operated a business model that sounds downright criminal: It sold a billion-dollar product without paying the people who made it. Not only were student-athletes *forbidden* from taking any kind of compensation (lest it sully the sanctity of their scholarship at their chosen university), but the NCAA — already collecting over a billion dollars in television rights, advertising deals, and licensing fees — could profit from these athletes’ name, image, and likeness (NIL) without them earning a dime. These rules led to absurdities. Several football players at the University of Oklahoma had to pay [$3.83 in fines](https://grantland.com/the-triangle/ncaa-oklahoma-pasta-self-reported-violation/?ref=readtangle.com) for having illegally large portions of pasta at a graduation dinner. Former NFL star Arian Foster admitted he colluded with the University of Tennessee’s coaches to take [illicit tacos](https://www.battleredblog.com/2013/9/20/4753534/arian-foster-admits-to-receiving-money-and-tacos-in-college?ref=readtangle.com) from them, all so he could have enough food to perform suitably for Neyland Stadium’s 100,000+ spectators. Thus, problem three was born: NIL madness. The NCAA allowed athletes to take NIL deals to profit from sponsorships or having their likeness used for promotions. In theory, this is a good thing. Finally, some fairness for the college athletes who put their bodies on the line for the product and had to scrimp for enough food to eat while NCAA executives (and, for the big teams, [their coaches](https://www.espn.com/espn/feature/story/%5F/id/28261213/dabo-swinney-ed-orgeron-highest-paid-state-employees?ref=readtangle.com)) raked in the money. But the new NIL rules tilted the balance towards star players, allowing them to transfer out for more lucrative payouts (or better playing opportunities) elsewhere. Thus, the people the entire business model of college sports really depends on — the fans — were made to suffer, as they could watch their program develop [a special athlete](https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/%5F/id/50055190/college-football-kamario-taylor-mississippi-state?ref=readtangle.com) and then watch that athlete walk away to greener pastures. The degradation of the fan relationship is one of the biggest risks of the current chaos, which I don’t think enough people are talking about. College fans are incredibly loyal to their schools, and that loyalty is the base of the intercollegiate sports megabusiness. If the Mississippi States of the world become feeder programs for major schools, if the field tilts more and more against the underdog, if Kansas is forced to [play a home game in London](https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/%5F/id/49890910/why-college-football-wembley-london-explained-kansas-arizona-state?ref=readtangle.com), then that base of support could erode and the whole house of cards could come crashing down. The intractable problem the Protect College Sports Act faces is the need to provide some stability to this mess, all without infringing on the collective rights of student-athletes and while protecting the athletes in small-market sports. The bill takes the problem in parts, and in the collegiate spirit, I’ll grade how effective I think the major elements of this potential law will be. **Antitrust exception for the NCAA: A.** Nearly every core rule of the NCAA could be a violation of the [Sherman Act](https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/sherman%5Fantitrust%5Fact?ref=readtangle.com), which forbids an organization like the NCAA from limiting whom competing businesses can hire and how much they can pay them. Sports teams composed of students are not the same as most businesses, and collegiate sports’ regulatory body needs more ability to regulate its teams. Under this bill, the NCAA can set rules on transfers, eligibility, and recruiting in a way that should provide more structure. **Athletes’ rights: A.** This is the necessary counterpart to giving the NCAA more power to regulate. If this act is passed, athletes will have a federally protected right to receive NIL money, scholarships, and protections for their health and safety. The law would also cap agent fees at 5% and ensure the ability of schools to pay their students directly. No more insiders fleecing unwitting 18-year-olds, and permanently gone will be the days of star running backs relying on back-door tacos. **Transfer and eligibility caps: B-.** The counterpart to the counterpart, this would create a *federal law*, not an NCAA regulation, that limits college eligibility to five years and student-athletes to one transfer within those five years. Without this in place, star players could be in a constant state of free agency and more prone to pause their eligibility. If the NCAA gets an antitrust exception, then the government has to give itself some power here. But it’s hard not to feel a little queasy about potential government overreach. My biggest concerns are what happens when a student wants to transfer for non-opportunistic reasons; I could easily see this regulation being overly burdensome to many athletes. Still, the presence of a guardrail is sensible to me, especially given the [widespread abuses](https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/%5F/id/47830750/standing-brink-anything-goes-ncaa-eligibility?ref=readtangle.com) of the current eligibility system. **Women’s and Olympic sports protections: A.** One of the concerns with colleges and Congress getting more authority over regulating sports is that the for-profit model might shoulder out athletic opportunities for the bus-riders like I was in college. This provision requires schools to keep as many non-revenue athletes as they had in the 2024-2025 academic year, which I think is a tidy and clever way of applying that protection. It also requires schools that pool their media rights to redistribute some of their money to other teams, which is a way of preventing football teams from building [palatial facilities](https://youtu.be/ABrTQojLJZs?si=sQmiC8Jk03zXDBcD&ref=readtangle.com) while other teams get table scraps. **Conference rules: C.** As hinted at in the previous bullet, this provision allows schools to pool and negotiate their media rights (an amendment to the 1961 Sports Broadcasting Act). This would allow conferences to spread their profits to smaller schools and conferences in a similar way as the NFL does now with their smaller markets, which will give these programs similar leverage to the megaconferences (and which is why the SEC and Big Ten oppose this portion of the bill). I’m very supportive of this collective bargaining among teams, but I’m not convinced this will meaningfully level a playing field that’s already so tilted. The act tries to address the power agglomeration among the big conferences by capping the number of teams per conference at 20, but that number is frankly far too high. The bill prevents the worst case of college sports becoming just two conferences, sure, but it doesn’t really address the problem as it exists today. At the end of the day, I think this is a good law whose time has come. It’s not perfect, but it’ll be an improvement. And in an era where Congress can scarcely be asked to do more than the bare minimum, I’m happy to see lawmakers get together to act to try to tackle a problem in a bipartisan fashion. I’d love it if our lawmakers could bring that same spirit to balancing our budget, but that’s a problem for another day. **Take the survey:** What do you think of the bill? [Let us know](https://interrobang.vercel.app/survey/7189237a-74bd-4ade-b6ce-2f26704855c1?ref=readtangle.com). *Disagree? That*’*s okay. Our opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we*’*ll consider publishing your feedback.* Today’s Partner Audiologists tested 17 hearing aids. [****Here’s the winner**](https://api.wellput.io/v1/cm?cmid=1153354&tid=207&s1=v2-r1025925-p1153354-c47665&s2=Tangle&s3=&s4=&ref=readtangle.com)****.** Hearing specialists spend their careers knowing exactly what great clarity sounds like. [****Horizon IX is the world’s first dual-processing hearing aid**](https://api.wellput.io/v1/cm?cmid=1153354&tid=207&s1=v2-r1025925-p1153354-c47665&s2=Tangle&s3=&s4=&ref=readtangle.com) that separates speech from background noise in real time. The result? Warm, natural sound, anywhere life gets loud. Nearly invisible, rechargeable, and trusted by over 670K people. [Claim your trial ](https://api.wellput.io/v1/cm?cmid=1153354&tid=207&s1=v2-r1025925-p1153354-c47665&s2=Tangle&s3=&s4=&ref=readtangle.com) ### The extras. - **One year ago today** we covered [the government shutdown](https://www.readtangle.com/the-partial-government-shutdown-october-2025/). - **The most clicked link in our last regular newsletter** was, for the second day in a row, [the political ideology quiz](https://12axes.vercel.app/en?ref=readtangle.com). - **Nothing to do with politics:** Try playing [the English variant of peg solitaire](https://clicking.toys/peg-solitaire/english/?ref=readtangle.com). - **Our last survey:** 2,255 readers responded to our survey on the Affordable Care Act enrollment cancelations, with 57% saying they support the approach and the outcome. “Clear criteria, advance notice, and $2 billion saved. Nice!,” one respondent said. “I wish I had enough confidence in the Trump administration to trust what VP Vance is saying, but I don’t,” said another. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/10/data-src-image-ac6b4d53-0056-4d25-8479-83ae9cf21693.png) ### Have a nice day. Vahine, a French cow, recently found herself in a spotty predicament. While grazing in the Pyrenees mountain range, the animal became stuck in mud in an area that was unreachable by vehicle. Fortunately, a rescue crew managed to secure Vahine in a sling and airlift her to safety via helicopter. Olympe Provest, a local who witnessed the extrication, said, “We were very surprised, quite impressed, and above all, we had a lot of questions about how the cow was feeling, why they were transporting her that way, and whether she enjoyed the sensation of flying.” [The New York Post has the story and video of the rescue](https://nypost.com/2026/09/23/world-news/wild-moment-cow-airlifted-from-french-mountain-after-getting-stuck-in-the-mud/?ref=readtangle.com). ### Jack Smith Was Accused of Perjury Over THIS? URL: https://www.readtangle.com/jack-smith-was-accused-of-perjury-over-this/ Last updated: 2026-10-01T15:31:07.000Z What happened during Jack Smith's congressional testimony? ### The ACA cancelations. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/aca-cancelations-waste-fraud-abuse-vance/ Last updated: 2026-09-30T16:25:17.000Z Welcome to Tangle — this is **Senior Editor Will Kaback**. We’re entering a dangerous period for my productivity. Football is in full swing, the MLB playoffs kicked off yesterday, and the NBA tip-off is less than a month away. Being a sports fan doesn’t lend much to my work covering U.S. politics, but at least I know that if I were ever part of a congressional hearing, I’d [know the difference](https://republicmonitor.com/stories/missouris-eric-schmitt-bungles-accusation-against-former-special-counsel-jack-smith-in-heated,198668?ref=readtangle.com) between the Atlanta Hawks and the Iowa Hawkeyes. Sorry, I couldn’t resist. On a completely different note, our main topic today sits neatly at the intersection of health policy, Obamacare, and fraud. Last week, Vice President JD Vance announced **the cancelation of hundreds of thousands of Obamacare enrollments** he said were fraudulent or ineligible for coverage, a move that immediately drew backlash and scrutiny. Read on to learn more about what happened. Later, a reader question about **the White House national TV spot** last weekend. It’s a **12-minute read**. Isaac Saul, Ari Weitzman, Audrey Moorehead, Carina Pacheco, Russell Nystrom, Isaac Wood, and Bailey Saul edited or contributed to today’s newsletter. Too busy to read? Push play instead! ![Too busy to read? Push play instead!](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/07/podcast@2x.png) [Listen to the newsletter Monday - Friday.](https://www.readtangle.com/tangle-podcast/) New episodes drop at 4pm ET. ### Weapons in space? Earlier this month, Air Force Secretary Troy Meink made waves when he disclosed that the United States military currently has “space control weapons” in Earth’s orbit. Meink’s announcement instantly prompted questions about the nature of these space weapons — not to mention how they might be deployed. To learn more, Senior Editor Will Kaback sat down with aerospace defense expert Clayton Swope. You can listen to the interview [here](https://shows.acast.com/tangle/episodes/full-episode-special-edition-the-us-has-weapons-in-space-wha?ref=readtangle.com). ### Quick hits. 1. Former special counsel Jack Smith testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee on his investigations into President Donald Trump, reaffirming his stance that he collected sufficient evidence to prosecute the president. ([The hearing](https://www.reuters.com/world/us/former-trump-prosecutor-jack-smith-faces-senate-hearing-over-abuse-authority-2026-09-29/?ref=readtangle.com)) 2. The Supreme Court agreed to hear arguments in a case challenging the Trump administration’s practice of deporting noncitizens to places different than their country of origin. The court allowed the administration to continue the third-country removals in the interim. ([The case](https://www.scotusblog.com/2026/09/supreme-court-to-hear-argument-on-trump-administrations-deportation-of-immigrants-to-third-party/?ref=readtangle.com)) 3. The White House launched America.gov, an AI-powered website that centralizes information about government services. ([The launch](https://www.axios.com/2026/09/29/america-gov-trump-ai-website?ref=readtangle.com)) 4. Dutch police arrested a suspected member of the hacking group that accessed Federal Bureau of Investigation data. ([The arrest](https://apnews.com/article/shinyhunters-arrest-suspect-hackers-fbi-netherlands-6a25a39c9fc62f601947cda66c06ec0c?ref=readtangle.com)) 5. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will reportedly announce a 20% reduction in generals and admirals in an address at Marine Corps Base Quantico today. ([The report](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/exclusive-hegseth-double-cuts-generals-admirals-major-pentagon-shakeup?ref=readtangle.com)) Today’s Partner ****4 ways to stop overpaying for the bills you can’t avoid.** Rent, utilities, insurance, groceries — some bills aren’t going anywhere. But that doesn’t mean you have to pay more than necessary. Our partner has rounded up four ways to potentially [lower the cost of everyday expenses](https://partners.thepennyhoarder.com/save-money-on-bills-you-cant-escape-prt/?aff%5Fid=409&utm%5Fsource=tangle&aff%5Fsub3=save-money-on-bills) and tackle high-interest debt, from comparing insurance rates to exploring options for consolidating credit card balances. Take a look at these simple ways to see where you could save. [→ See all 4 ways](https://partners.thepennyhoarder.com/save-money-on-bills-you-cant-escape-prt/?aff%5Fid=409&utm%5Fsource=tangle&aff%5Fsub3=save-money-on-bills) [Learn more ](https://partners.thepennyhoarder.com/save-money-on-bills-you-cant-escape-prt/?aff%5Fid=409&utm%5Fsource=tangle&aff%5Fsub3=save-money-on-bills) ### Today’s topic. The ACA cancelations. Last Tuesday, September 22, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) [said](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/09/22/trump-administration-removes-around-760000-obamacare-enrollments.html?ref=readtangle.com) it had canceled healthcare enrollments for roughly 760,000 people under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) due to alleged fraud or improper documentation. In a press briefing announcing the cancelations, Vice President JD Vance and CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz said that Covid-era subsidies and relaxed verification under President Joe Biden led to rampant abuse of the federally regulated ACA marketplace. The vice president’s White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud [estimates](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/09/22/trump-officials-plan-cut-hundreds-thousands-aca-claiming-fraud/?ref=readtangle.com) the enforcement action will save $2.2 billion in taxpayer-funded subsidies. **Back up:** In 2010, President Barack Obama signed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (also known as “Obamacare”) into law. The ACA increased coverage and expanded Medicaid benefits for more people through government-regulated markets. In 2021, during President Joe Biden’s administration, Congress [passed](https://www.healthaffairs.org/content/forefront/new-aca-subsidies-available-april-1?ref=readtangle.com) the American Rescue Plan, which offered premium subsidies and tax credits for those enrolling in the ACA. Then in 2022, Congress [extended](https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/payers/house-passes-bill-extends-aca-subsidies-through-2025-makes-drug-price-reforms?ref=readtangle.com) the enhanced subsidies through 2025 with the Inflation Reduction Act. Congress allowed those subsidies [to expire](https://www.readtangle.com/trump-unveils-his-great-healthcare-plan/#:~:text=Back%20up%3A,in%20the%20Senate.) at the end of 2025\. ACA enrollment [increased](https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/trump-administration-cuts-aca-coverage-750000-people-says-fraudulently-rcna599258?ref=readtangle.com) from 11 million to 24 million people under the Biden administration. Oz alleged in March that as many as 5 million enrollees receive ACA benefits and subsidies fraudulently. Just over 19 million people received benefits through the federally managed exchange as of June 2026, meaning the enforcement action targeted roughly 4% of enrollees. Those culled from the program were enrolled through third-party brokers, had zero-premium plans and lacked verifiable Social Security numbers or immigration status documents, leading the anti-fraud task force to suspect the beneficiaries were fraudulent. “We call them phantoms, because we believe most of them don’t exist or they had no idea they had coverage,” Oz said. Vice President Vance identified the role of brokers, who receive a payment for enrolling people in ACA programs, as key to the problem. “On the one hand, brokers are paid money to feed patients into the system, while on the other hand, the government isn’t even checking whether the people enrolled are actually eligible for the program,” Vance [said](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/09/22/trump-administration-removes-around-760000-obamacare-enrollments.html?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=%E2%80%9CYou%20have%20a%20system%20where%2C%20on%20the%20one%20hand%2C%20brokers%20are%20paid%20money%20to%20feed%20patients%20into%20the%20system%2C%20while%20on%20the%20other%20hand%2C%20the%20government%20isn%E2%80%99t%20even%20checking%20whether%20the%20people%20enrolled%20are%20actually%20eligible%20for%20the%20program.%20What%20do%20you%20have%3F%20Of%20course%2C%20rampant%2C%20rampant%20fraud%2C%E2%80%9D%20Vance%20said.%C2%A0). Critics of the move argue that CMS cast too wide a net and could be removing coverage for many legitimate cases. “There is widespread agreement that unauthorized enrollments should be canceled,” Cynthia Cox, ACA researcher at health policy center KFF, [said](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/22/us/politics/aca-obamacare-vance-fraud.html?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Cynthia%20Cox%2C%20the,legitimate%20or%20not.%E2%80%9D). “The question is whether these were all indeed unauthorized enrollments and whether this was the appropriate process for determining whether an enrollee was legitimate or not.” Below, we’ll cover what the left and right are saying about the ACA cancelations, then Senior Editor Will Kaback gives his take. | What the left is saying. The left criticizes the cancelations, with some saying they will hurt the healthcare system.Some say Vance’s anti-fraud task force shares flaws with DOGE.Others recognize the need to address fraud but say this action ignores underlying issues. | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | **In The Guardian, Melody Schreiber said** [**“Trump is threatening the entire US health system.”**](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/sep/25/trump-aca-health-insurance?ref=readtangle.com) “No details were provided about how many enrollees were fictional, enrolled by fraudulent brokers without their knowledge, or expelled because of income restrictions,” Schreiber wrote. “The people were identified by three factors: they’d been enrolled by a broker or agent, had all of their ACA premium paid by the tax credit, and they had not supplied Social Security numbers or immigration documents.” “About 35% of ACA enrollees have never used their health insurance, \[said Medicare and Medicaid Administrator Mehmet Oz\],” Schreiber said. “But it’s not unusual for healthy people to be enrolled in insurance and not need to use it, \[according to public policy researcher Edwin Park\]… By removing lower-risk enrollees, insurance premiums could increase or insurers could decide to leave markets entirely, he said… When people lose their health insurance, it has ripple effects — including added pressure on health systems that affect all patients.” **In MS NOW, Steve Benen wrote about what** [**“Vance’s task force has in common with Musk’s DOGE gambit.”**](https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/vance-fraud-task-force-ledger-white-house-doge-musk?ref=readtangle.com) “Independent estimates show billions of dollars are lost every year to fraud and abuse. If the vice president believes he can help address the problem, more power to him,” Benen said. “The trouble is, Vance claims he has already made extraordinary headway in uncovering fraud — to the tune of more than $260 billion — but those boasts aren’t standing up well to scrutiny. If this sounds at all familiar, it’s because a similar story unfolded last year. “Elon Musk was put in charge of… DOGE, and it too created an online resource that purported to show all of the billions of dollars the endeavor was saving American taxpayers,” Benen wrote. “To be sure, the underlying point of these resources sounds great… The trouble is, both initiatives seemed wholly unprepared for what might happen when people who know what they’re talking about bothered to review their work.” **In MS NOW, Miranda Yaver suggested** [**“a heavy dose of skepticism.”**](https://www.ms.now/opinion/vance-oz-affordable-care-act-fraud-enrollment?ref=readtangle.com) “The first Trump administration helped empower the very brokers it now claims are fraudulently enrolling people,” Yaver wrote. “While the second Trump administration is taking aim at perverse incentives that may have arisen, sweeping disenrollments ignore the failures of policy design. That is, when the previous Trump administration gave brokers more power as intermediaries… the government failed to build a regulatory regime that would police their behavior.” “CMS’s decision to impose a moratorium on new agents and brokers may prove to be a Band-Aid solution,” Yaver said. “An appropriate response would not just penalize actors who are in the wrong (such as this) but also impose greater regulatory protection to prevent this in the future. The Trump administration, ideologically inclined against consumer protection, has largely opted for piecemeal responses… while leaving systemic failures in place.” | What the right is saying. The right supports the cuts, with many saying the administration is effectively fighting fraud.Some argue that this effort should have bipartisan support.Others push back on Democrats’ characterizations of the cancelations. | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | **In The Federalist, Chris Bray said the administration is** [**“doing normal anti-fraud work with increased focus.”**](https://thefederalist.com/2026/09/24/stupid-democrats-are-lying-about-obamacare-fraud/?ref=readtangle.com) “Federal regulations that were first written during the Obama administration in 2012 explicitly describe the process by which fraudulent Obamacare enrollments can be terminated by government officials, and here’s the funny part: Every administration does this. The termination of fraudulent Obamacare enrollments is a normal CMS activity,” Bray wrote. “The Biden administration routinely announced the termination of fraudulent Obamacare enrollments.” “By the standard Democrats are applying this week, cruel Joe Biden viciously stripped healthcare coverage from tens of thousands of Americans,” Bray said. “But not really, because the whole fake panic is completely made-up and stupid. The Trump administration is doing normal anti-fraud work with increased focus and seriousness, which is only a scandal if you’re dumb enough to be elected to Congress as a Democrat.” **The Las Vegas Review-Journal editorial board suggested fraud** [**“shouldn’t be a partisan issue.”**](https://www.reviewjournal.com/opinion/editorials/editorial-trump-administration-cracks-down-on-fraud-3891771/?ref=readtangle.com) “Just because a government agency allocates money for a noble-sounding cause doesn’t mean the money is well spent. Elected officials and government employees have a duty to ensure that taxpayer money is spent carefully,” the board said. “Politicians from both parties talk about the need to eliminate ‘waste, fraud and abuse.’ But notice the reaction to the Trump administration’s efforts to actually do just that.” “The DOJ alleges that ‘more than $10 million intended to help low-income families pay for childcare was instead funneled to bogus daycare providers,’” the board wrote. “Yes, this White House has a tendency to exaggerate for political purposes. But fraud against the taxpayers is a serious problem… Democrats should work with the Trump administration to root out fraud, not attack Mr. Trump and Mr. Vance when they work to do so.” **The Washington Post editorial board argued** [**“JD Vance is not ripping away anyone’s health insurance coverage.”**](https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2026/09/24/vance-crackdown-aca-premium-fraud-is-overdue/?ref=readtangle.com) “Former House speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) wrote on social media that ‘using the false pretext of fighting fraud to strip Americans of their healthcare is as cynical as it is cruel.’ Except that’s not what’s happening,” the board wrote. “Even if the account met all of \[the\] requirements \[for removal\], the insurer was still required to reach out to the individual via two forms of communication. Only when insurers received no response after 30 days was the account removed, according to CMS.” “Fraud grew rampant in recent years because the Biden administration increased Obamacare enrollment by expanding eligibility for zero-premium plans while failing to perform sufficient due diligence,” the board said. “Money given to scammers is money that doesn’t help needy people receive health care. Democrats should wholeheartedly support throwing the book at these criminals. Downplaying the scale of abuse undermines public confidence in the safety net.” | My take. Will Kaback Senior Editor ![Will Kaback](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2025/05/Will-Square.jpg) | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Defrauding insurers on the federal marketplace is a protracted problem that predates Trump.CMS’s actions here are justified, and I think the methods they used were reasonable.I harbor reservations about Vance’s broader anti-fraud initiative and the administration’s track record, but this effort looks like a win. | | **Reminder:** This is where we share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, leave a comment or reply to this email. | “Trump Officials Eject 750,000 From Obamacare Markets, Claiming Fraud,” is one of those [headlines](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/22/us/politics/aca-obamacare-vance-fraud.html?unlocked%5Farticle%5Fcode=1.DFE.C6pW.%5FMxd9ub0o1F1&ref=readtangle.com) that rolls down the conveyor belt of daily news items and snatches your attention, particularly if you or a loved one are enrolled in a government healthcare plan. It’s also a story that could create more confusion than clarity. So let’s nail down a few key points up front. All enrollees whose coverage was canceled received their health insurance through the federally facilitated Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace — HealthCare.gov — so those insured through [state-based exchanges](https://www.cms.gov/cciio/resources/fact-sheets-and-faqs/state-marketplaces?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=For%20Plan%20Year%202026%2C%20there%20are%2021%20SBEs) weren’t affected. Neither were those who signed up for a plan on their own. Vice President Vance’s task force only looked into enrollments mediated by agents or brokers, who serve as [middlemen](https://www.healthcare.gov/glossary/broker/?ref=readtangle.com) between the government, insurance companies, and individuals. In theory, brokers have a useful role: They identify people eligible for ACA benefits and help them get health insurance (they’re then paid on commission by insurers). But these agents have also become a burgeoning source of fraud. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) [found](https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/federal-marketplace-ffe-sbe-fp-anti-fraud-actions?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Moratorium%20on%20New%20Agent/Broker%20Registration) that first-time brokers who registered for the 2026 plan year were disproportionately responsible for enrollment activity flagged as high-risk or fraudulent, including missing Social Security Numbers, unverifiable citizenship status, and unresolved income verification. Those discrepancies may be explainable, but unverified information like that is an alarm bell that brokers may be enrolling people without their knowledge and lying about their income so they qualify for a $0 premium (and thus wouldn’t know they had been signed up). Or they could be switching people to a different plan without their knowledge to collect a new commission. Or they could be fudging personal data to make someone eligible who shouldn’t have been. Concerns over this behavior are bipartisan: In 2024, Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) [called on](https://kffhealthnews.org/health-care-costs/aca-enrollment-fraud-senator-ron-wyden-urges-biden-administration-crackdown/?ref=readtangle.com) CMS to take urgent action to address brokers fraudulently enrolling people in ACA plans. Beyond bad broker behavior, other areas of the HealthCare.gov marketplace have become hotspots for fraud. In 2024, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) tested whether four made-up applicants could get approved for coverage — all four [were accepted](https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-26-108742?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Plan%20year%202024,yet%20received%20coverage.), at a total cost of $2,350 per month. For 2025, it created 20 fake applicants, and 18 were still receiving coverage nine months into the plan year, at a cost of over $10,000 per month. GAO *also* [found](https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-26-108742?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=GAO%27s%20preliminary%20analyses%20also,in%20its%20ongoing%20work.) 30,000 applications in plan year 2023 and 160,000 applications in plan year 2024 that had “likely unauthorized changes by agents or brokers.” Separately, the Congressional Budget Office [informed](https://www.cbo.gov/system/files/2025-08/61506-marketplace.pdf?ref=readtangle.com#page=7) lawmakers in August 2025 that an estimated 2.3 million enrollees intentionally misrepresented their income to qualify for ACA tax credits in 2025, up from an estimated 1.3 million in 2023\. And the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation [reported](https://aspe.hhs.gov/reports/aca-exchange-enrollment-2026?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Due%20to%20temporary%20legislative%20changes%20and%20regulatory%20approaches%20that%20weakened%20program%20integrity%20safeguards%2C%20the%20ACA%20Exchanges%20experienced%20unprecedented%20enrollment%20growth%20from%202021%20to%202024%2C%20nearly%20half%20of%20which%20was%20suspected%20to%20be%20improper%2C%20phantom%2C%20or%20fraudulent.) in June that *nearly half* of ACA enrollment growth between 2021 and 2024 was “suspected to be improper, phantom, or fraudulent.” Considering the range and scope of these findings, it feels pretty disingenuous for Democratic politicians like [Sen. Chuck Schumer](https://x.com/SenSchumer/status/2102434238276436286?s=20&ref=readtangle.com) and [Rep. Nancy Pelosi](https://x.com/SpeakerPelosi/status/2102458664619516291?s=20&ref=readtangle.com) to suggest that the Trump administration is villainously trying to rip health insurance away from hundreds of thousands of people for no apparent reason. Some people may have been mistakenly caught up in this probe, but we don’t have enough information to say that yet (and one week after this announcement, I haven’t seen any reports of people claiming they were wrongly kicked off their plan). Based on what we know right now, I think this effort was both justified and properly executed. When I reviewed criticisms from the left about the cancelations, I noticed the arguments were mostly based on suspicion of *any* fraud-related initiatives from the Trump administration. Take the three pieces we chose for today’s edition. In MS NOW, Miranda Yaver wrote, “Given the administration’s track record, there are reasons to view this announcement with a heavy dose of skepticism.” Also in MS NOW, Steve Benen alluded to “ample reason for skepticism” about Vance’s fraud task force. And The Guardian’s Melody Schreiber dedicated the bulk of her piece to quoting experts who suggested ill intent by Vance and co. What also struck me, though, was that these articles didn’t offer evidence that the enrollments were improperly canceled — just that CMS *may* have made some mistakes, and the Trump administration doesn’t deserve the benefit of the doubt. I think both those points have some credence, especially when the administration has misled the public about so many other “anti-fraud” initiatives. As Isaac [documented](https://www.readtangle.com/i-was-wrong-about-doge/) in his retrospective on DOGE last month, Elon Musk’s ill-fated effort enacted sweeping cuts with no apparent strategy, lied about its savings, and likely cost taxpayers billions. Vance’s fraud task force has also made dubious claims; the vice president has said his group has found roughly $250 billion in fraud, but they haven’t shared the basis for that number publicly (a New York Times [analysis](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/27/us/politics/white-house-fraud-task-force.html?ref=readtangle.com) found that Vance included cases that were identified and prosecuted under the Biden administration). Vance and CMS could have headed off this skepticism by offering more detail about those who were kicked off their plans. Specifically, knowing what proportion of the cancelations were for suspected broker fraud, ineligibility, or improper documentation would give a clearer idea of where the biggest areas of concern exist. However, acknowledging those points doesn’t invalidate this anti-fraud initiative. Remember, the affected enrollments [met four criteria](https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2026/09/24/vance-crackdown-aca-premium-fraud-is-overdue/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Except%20that%E2%80%99s%20not%20what%E2%80%99s%20happening.%20The%20Centers%20for%20Medicare%20and%20Medicaid%20Services%20tell%20us%20that%20every%20removed%20account%20was%20signed%20up%20by%20an%20agent%20or%20broker%20%E2%80%94%20not%20the%20enrollee%20%E2%80%94%20and%20met%20four%20additional%20criteria.): They lacked a valid Social Security or immigration identification number, had 100% of their premium covered by tax credits, hadn’t used their coverage since it was activated, *and* had never made contact with the insurer. To me, that’s a sharp approach to rooting out the areas of concern for fraud. Even after all four boxes were checked, the insurer of the suspicious plan still had to reach out to the enrollee through two different forms of communication and give them 30 days to respond before the government canceled their coverage, providing ample opportunity to correct a mistake. And if their plan was canceled improperly, individuals can still re-enroll. I don’t blame anyone whose eyebrow twitched when they first read about the ACA cancelations. I had the same reaction. But knowing the scale of the issues that have long existed in the ACA marketplace, I’m glad the administration took action, and I think the criteria it used were sound. Am I still skeptical of how the White House is addressing purported fraud in other areas of government? Absolutely. Do I think Vance’s task force is scrutinizing Obamacare with entirely pure intentions? I don’t. But I can hold those reservations and still find this effort necessary and valid. **Take the survey:** Do you support this action? [Let us know](https://interrobang.vercel.app/survey/c31e107e-0329-4463-8931-29fd9a9dc0f3?ref=readtangle.com). *Disagree? That*’*s okay. Our opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we*’*ll consider publishing your feedback.* ### Your questions, answered. **What’s the deal with these “US government-funded” (aka taxpayer-funded) Trump ads? Is that legal? Should we be worried about this?** **— Eliza from Burlington, VT** **Associate Editor Carina Pacheco:** Over the weekend, the Trump administration [aired](https://platform.adimpact.com/viewer/13980fc0-e2cd-48b1-a86f-3789a1c03a89?ref=readtangle.com) a video on national TV in which Trump vows to tackle the “sick political class that hates our country” and “demolish the deep state.” As you noted, the dramatic black-and-white commercial named “Final Battle” was stamped “Paid for by the U.S. government.” [NBC News](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/white-house-releases-new-taxpayer-funded-ad-describing-final-battle-rcna600171?ref=readtangle.com) found that the advertisement is virtually identical to a campaign ad Trump posted to Truth Social back in 2024. The rhetoric isn’t uncommon for Trump, nor is it uncommon for presidential administrations to run Public Service Announcements (PSAs) for policy initiatives, but it *is uncommon* (and potentially unprecedented) for an administration to use taxpayer funds for an advertisement that so closely resembles a campaign sizzle reel. The [Associated Press](https://apnews.com/article/trump-ads-taxpayer-money-homeland-security-b869294503c8454db4109ae175ee9e5c?ref=readtangle.com) reported that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) appropriated about $20 million from Customs and Border Protection’s budget to pay for the TV spots. The administration has faced bipartisan backlash. Trump-allied Republican senators object to the use of public dollars for apparent promotional materials, while Democrats equate the ad to government-sponsored pro-Trump propaganda and [allege](https://x.com/RepRaskin/status/2103114920933904703?ref=readtangle.com) that the commercials violate anti-propaganda laws and the Hatch Act, a 1939 law that limits the partisan political activities by the executive branch. The White House has [defended](https://abcnews.com/Politics/white-house-airs-taxpayer-funded-ads-promoting-trump/story?id=136824779&ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Asked%20on%20Sunday,on%20the%20ballot.) the ads as PSAs that promote the president’s policy achievements, and it rebutted the claim that the video is campaign material by saying Trump is not on the ballot and the ad does not include a “call to action.” The administration also [highlighted](https://www.whitehouse.gov/releases/2026/09/presidential-public-service-announcements-are-nothing-new/?ref=readtangle.com) PSAs by past presidents, such as the Obama administration running national ads to promote the Affordable Care Act’s open enrollment period or the Biden administration issuing notices about Covid-19\. The Trump administration certainly seems to be intentionally blurring the line between campaign advertising and public awareness initiatives. While the actual *content* of the advertisement will make it difficult to peg it as partisan political material (the voiceover never explicitly refers to either political party or candidates), the fact that the *exact same* video was previously used for campaign purposes muddies those waters. And while it doesn’t contain a “call to action,” the TV spot doesn’t appear to have a clear “public service” purpose, either. No full-fledged lawsuits have been brought as of this writing, but the artist of the song featured in the ad has [sent](https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/trump-government-ads-draw-artist-protest-regulatory-complaints-2026-09-29/?ref=readtangle.com) a cease-and-desist, and consumer advocate non-profit Public Citizen has filed complaints with regulatory bodies. **Want to have a question answered in the newsletter? You can reply to this email (it goes straight to our inbox) or** [**fill out this form**](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScQhqBSG%5F6%5FoBhwcTQMeS570n29XYbeQ9C9Bis7rjqI31g1tA/viewform?usp=header&ref=readtangle.com)**.** Today’s Partner ****Save money on mandatory bills.** Some bills are simply part of life, but that doesn’t mean you have to overpay for them. Our partner [shares practical ways to potentially lower the cost](https://partners.thepennyhoarder.com/save-money-on-bills-you-cant-escape-prt/?aff%5Fid=409&utm%5Fsource=tangle&aff%5Fsub3=save-money-on-bills) of everyday expenses, from insurance and credit cards to other recurring bills. Take a closer look at what you’re paying and see where you may be able to cut costs. Even small changes can add up over time. [→ Check out 4 ways you can save](https://partners.thepennyhoarder.com/save-money-on-bills-you-cant-escape-prt/?aff%5Fid=409&utm%5Fsource=tangle&aff%5Fsub3=save-money-on-bills) [Learn more ](https://partners.thepennyhoarder.com/save-money-on-bills-you-cant-escape-prt/?aff%5Fid=409&utm%5Fsource=tangle&aff%5Fsub3=save-money-on-bills) ### The extras. - **One year ago today** we covered the shootings in [Grand Blanc, Michigan, and Dallas, Texas](https://www.readtangle.com/mass-shootings-in-grand-blanc-michigan-and-dallas-texas-political-violence/). - **The most clicked link in our last regular newsletter** was [the political ideology quiz](https://12axes.vercel.app/en?ref=readtangle.com). - **Nothing to do with politics:** We have a [Fat Bear Week winner](https://x.com/NatlParkService/status/2105127855143420027?s=20&ref=readtangle.com). - **Our last survey:** 2,239 readers responded to our survey on 2026 midterms, with 41% saying they think Republicans will hold the Senate but Democrats will flip the House. “Republicans are relying on voters not being completely fed up with rising gas prices and new wars. Seems like an easy win for Democrats,” one respondent said. “Democrats won’t win as many seats as they hope. Much blame will be on \[the\] Democratic Socialists,” said another. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/09/data-src-image-aacf0626-b2ef-483e-b24e-c10e4797efc7.png) ### Have a nice day. The black robin is a tiny bird found in the lowland forests of New Zealand’s Chatham Islands. In the 1970s, after habitat loss and pest introduction, the bird neared extinction, with just a single breeding pair left. But a pioneering breeding program that used other species to foster eggs proved successful, and the species’ population has climbed back to 350 birds. This year, the black robin won New Zealand’s Bird of the Year competition. [The Guardian has the story](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/sep/21/nz-bird-of-the-year-2026-black-robin-wins-new-zealand?ref=readtangle.com). ### The 2026 midterms preview. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/2026-midterms-preview/ Last updated: 2026-09-29T19:21:35.000Z Good morning and welcome to Tangle. I’m Isaac Saul, and I am fully locked in for election season — which, I have to tell you, *is here*. It’s been here, really, but now it’s fully arrived. And today, we’re diving into the midterm elections with **our first election preview of the season** (yes, there will be more). I’m trying to learn some lessons from the past, but will still put some of my cards on the table with a few predictions. We’ve also got a **fun announcement** (below) and a **rather unsettling story about the FBI**. It’s a **12-minute read**. Ari Weitzman, Will Kaback, Audrey Moorehead, Carina Pacheco, Russell Nystrom, Isaac Wood, and Bailey Saul edited or contributed to today’s newsletter. ### We're launching something new. In today’s edition of *Press Pass,* I [wrote about](https://www.readtangle.com/im-going-back-to-my-roots/) going back to my roots (more writing, more brevity, more personality). As part of that goal, I’m thrilled to announce that we’re launching a dedicated YouTube channel for some video essays about the current happenings in politics. This will be a place for me to get into some stuff we don’t cover in Tangle, and deliver “My take” essays in video form. The channel launched today with a deep dive on the plans for a border wall in the Big Bend region of West Texas, with some personal stories about my connections to the area and why I think it’s a historically bad policy idea. You can watch it here: [![The first video from Isaac’s new channel](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/09/Isaac-Texas-v2-1.png)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvZTGs70sjg&ref=readtangle.com) The first video from Isaac’s new channel ### Quick hits. 1. President Donald Trump announced a proposal for a $15 billion steel mill in Iowa. The White House said the plant could begin production in 2030\. ([The announcement](https://www.wsj.com/politics/trump-to-unveil-planned-15-billion-iowa-steel-project-051bc7d8?ref=readtangle.com)) 2. Federal Bureau of Investigation Co-Deputy Director Andrew Bailey announced his resignation after approximately one year in the position. ([The resignation](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/fbi-co-deputy-director-andrew-bailey-resigns-after-year-role?ref=readtangle.com)) 3. Five British nationals were released on bail after being arrested on Sunday near a U.S.-operated base on suspicion of plotting a terrorist attack. ([The release](https://www.nbcnews.com/world/united-kingdom/farmers-tip-may-led-5-arrests-uk-air-base-used-us-rcna600195?ref=readtangle.com)) 4. A New York prosecutor reopened a probe into allegations of gang rape at Cornell University in 2024\. A woman has filed a lawsuit alleging that she was raped by seven students at a fraternity house after being pressured into consuming drugs and alcohol. ([The latest](https://apnews.com/article/cornell-rape-allegations-investigation-16f59e89ce97e3a40a8e672f7b3f374b?ref=readtangle.com)) 5. The Senate voted 77–22 to pass the Protect College Sports Act, which would create a national regulatory framework for collegiate athletics. The bill now goes to the House. ([The vote](https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/2026/09/28/senate-passes-protect-college-sports-act/91876049007/?ref=readtangle.com)) Today’s Partner ****Teaching students how to think, not what to think.** [****Critical Thinking in History**](https://www.criticalthinkinginhistory.com/?ref=readtangle.com) offers ****250+ free and published lessons** created by ****NCSS National Teacher of the Year Kevin O’Reilly** to develop critical-thinking skills for tomorrow’s informed citizens. Students assess conspiracy theories (Examples: Tweed Ring, JFK assassination), make tough decisions people actually faced (Bay of Pigs, Iran Nuclear Deal of 2015), evaluate historical and online sources, analyze interpretations (Salem Witch Trials, slavery), and evaluate cause-and-effect (causes of the American Revolution, causes of the rise of the Nazis). Each lesson includes handouts, targeted skills, teaching strategies, and an annotated bibliography of sources. [Explore free lessons here ](https://www.criticalthinkinginhistory.com/?ref=readtangle.com) ### Today’s topic. The 2026 midterm elections. Tuesday marks 35 days until federal elections will be held for all 435 U.S. House seats and 35 of the 100 U.S. Senate seats. Additionally, 36 states will elect governors and 46 states will vote on a [total](https://www.ncsl.org/elections-and-campaigns/ncsl-state-elections-2026?ref=readtangle.com) of 6,139 state legislators. Currently, most election models heavily favor Democrats to take back the House and give the party a slight edge to flip the Senate. **Back up:** Republicans have a 53–47 majority in the Senate, counting independents who caucus with Democrats, so Democrats must pick up four seats to take control of Congress’s upper chamber (accounting for Vice President JD Vance’s potential tie-breaking vote). Republicans have a 218–214 advantage in the House, with one independent (Californian Rep. Kevin Kiley, a former Republican) and two vacancies. Democrats will need to control 218 seats to win a majority. Sabato’s Crystal Ball, which analyzes races according to factors like election history and polling, [favors](https://centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/rating-changes-toward-democrats-across-the-board-mi-sen-to-leans-d-other-key-statewide-races-to-toss-up/?ref=readtangle.com) Democrats to hold 48 Senate seats after the midterms and Republicans to hold 47, with Alaska, Iowa, Ohio, Maine, and Texas considered tossups. Sabato describes three seats as “lean Democrat”: the Republican-held North Carolina and Democrat-held seats in Michigan and New Hampshire. The Senate race in Kansas is the only one considered “lean Republican.” In the House, the GOP is favored in 203 races, compared to Democrats in 211; the remaining 21 House elections are tossups. Democrats have campaigned against President Donald Trump’s policies, highlighting healthcare cuts from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), inflation, and the war in Iran. “Democrats are focused on the American people’s priorities,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (NY) [said](https://www.democrats.senate.gov/news/press-releases/leader-schumer-floor-remarks-on-senate-democrats-fighting-for-american-families-while-republicans-are-consumed-by-trumps-priorities?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Democrats%20are%20focused%20on%20the%20American%20people%E2%80%99s%20priorities%3A%20lowering%20costs%2C%20bringing%20stability%2C%20and%20fighting%20back%20against%20this%20administration%E2%80%99s%20rampant%2C%20rampant%20corruption.). “Lowering costs, bringing stability, and fighting back against this administration’s rampant, rampant corruption.” Republicans have promoted the OBBBA’s tax cuts and argued that Democratic candidates are too aligned with the party’s ascendant far left. They have also centered immigration policies and social issues. “As we summarize \[the election\],” Speaker Mike Johnson (LA) [said](https://mikejohnson.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2928&ref=readtangle.com), “it’s a contrast between common sense and crazy, and now common sense and communism.” Below are views from the right and left on the outlook for the midterms with one month to go. Then, Executive Editor Isaac Saul shares his take. | What the right is saying. Some on the right expect Republicans to outperform current expectations. Others say that much remains uncertain about the eventual results.Still others suggest that Republicans are headed for losses in both chambers. | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | **In the New York Sun, Lawrence Kudlow argued** [**“nobody should underestimate Trump and the GOP.”**](https://www.nysun.com/article/in-the-next-43-days-nobody-should-underestimate-trump-and-the-gop?ref=readtangle.com) “While the Republicans are running some really solid candidates… the Democrats are running these far-left wing socialists like Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan, Peggy Flanagan in Minnesota, \[James\] Talarico in Texas, and far-left Troy Jackson in Maine. It’s really the mirror image of Republican mistakes in 2022,” Kudlow wrote. “And although gasoline prices are high, and that’s an issue, it’s also true they’re almost identical to gas prices under President Biden.” “Not downplaying the gas issue, but there’s a lot of other very good things going on in Mr. Trump’s economy. Private jobs are up by a million since he was re-elected. Federal jobs have declined by about 350,000\. The economy is being restructured away from big-government socialism,” Kudlow said. “Voters want common sense, not crazy values. And that’s why… nobody should underestimate Mr. Trump and the GOP.” **In the Wall Street Journal, Karl Rove said** [**“this election season will likely have more surprises than most.”**](https://www.wsj.com/opinion/we-could-all-be-wrong-about-the-midterms-82c329ef?ref=readtangle.com) “What if much of what we think we know about the midterms is wrong?... Democrats lead the generic ballot, 50.4% to 41.8%, in the RealClearPolitics average,” Rove wrote. “But what if, at least in the House, that’s too broad a measure for the races that matter most? A Sept. 17 Cook Political Report poll says the Democratic advantage across the 37 battleground districts is 2 points… That could mean a smaller pickup than they expect.” “Republicans have a record of success to run on: closing the border, keeping Americans from a record tax hike by passing the Big Beautiful Bill, and virtually ending peak wokeism by attacking DEI in all its forms. But what if voters are more concerned with problems they face now?” Rove asked. “I have my hunches about what will happen. So do you. But what’s conventional wisdom today could look like folly six weeks from now.” **In National Review, Jeffrey Blehar wrote about** [**“preparing for the worst in the Senate elections.”**](https://www.nationalreview.com/magazine/2026/11/red-harvest/?ref=readtangle.com) “The GOP is playing defense in so many states it has come to think of as home turf that it’s easy to forget how many opportunities for his party to make gains were squandered by Trump in pursuit of his private grudges and obsessions,” Blehar said. “The GOP is virtually guaranteed to lose at least one Senate seat it currently holds: Facing threats from Trump that he would back a primary challenger, North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis dropped his race for reelection.” “The one potential pickup opportunity that exists for Republicans is in Michigan… Several factors militate against optimism, however. The state’s DNA is fundamentally Democratic; it has not elected a Republican to the Senate since 1994,” Blehar wrote. “With so many Senate races so close… only a brave man or a fool would attempt to predict the final result… But a red harvest is likely approaching, a bloody cull, and Trump now seems to be preparing for the worst.” | What the left is saying. Many on the left note ominous signs in every direction for the GOP.Some suggest that Republicans’ fundraising advantage won’t save them.Others say GOP candidates are distancing themselves from Trump too late. | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | **In CNN, Aaron Blake said** [**“\[this\] could be the worst midterm for the GOP this century.”**](https://www.cnn.com/2026/09/25/politics/2026-midterm-election-trump?ref=readtangle.com) “The Republican Party’s two worst midterm elections in the 21st Century were in 2006 and 2018… The president’s continued decline has now made him clearly a more unpopular president than he was in 2018 and Bush was in 2006 — at least on a national scale,” Blake wrote. “Today the Iran war is more unpopular than Iraq was… There is a real question whether Iran is as big an issue as Iraq was, given that unlike in Iraq, there aren’t boots on the ground.” “But similar numbers called the wars ‘extremely important’ to their vote in 2006 (46%) and today (48%),” Blake said. “There is one very important measurement that hasn’t tipped towards Democrats as much as they’d like — at least not yet. And that’s the generic ballot… For now, every other major measure appears to be very bad for Trump and the GOP. So it’s worth watching to see whether this one follows suit.” **In MS NOW, Hayes Brown suggested that GOP spending won’t** [**“persuade voters to ignore their own economic pain.”**](https://www.ms.now/opinion/republicans-midterms-money-economy?ref=readtangle.com) “The extra money to buy ads notwithstanding, there is little in the record for congressional Republicans to promote,” Brown wrote. “While many of the harshest cuts to the social safety net used to pay for its tax cuts were punted until next year or later, hundreds of thousands of Americans have already seen their benefits slashed in a bad economic environment — and know exactly which party to blame. “When they don’t have a positive message, campaigns often blanket media markets with negative messaging,” Brown said. “Major Republican bogeymen for this campaign season have included the twin specters of communism and socialism, or, as a talking point Vice President JD Vance and numerous others have repeated goes: ‘common sense versus crazy.’... But while the GOP’s life raft of cash might save some candidates, there’s not enough room for everyone to climb aboard.” **In The American Prospect, David Dayen called Republican candidates’ distancing from Trump** [**“performative and inauthentic.”**](https://prospect.org/2026/09/25/republicans-had-690-days-to-oppose-trump/?ref=readtangle.com) “After a notable absence, an anti-war movement has emerged to finally challenge a president over the unpopular conflict in Iran. Not in the streets so much, but in ads and statements from Republicans trying to salvage their doomed election campaigns,” Dayen wrote. “This shift is almost 700 days late and about $3 trillion short. For 99.9% of the past two years, Republicans have fallen in line with every insane maneuver and utterance from this administration.” “Since January 20, 2025, the Republican Congress could have stopped the imposition of tariffs through existing mechanisms. They could have cut off funding for wars they don’t like,” Dayen said. “They could have impeached and removed him from office, with Democratic support. Instead they support Trump’s every whim in almost perfect lockstep, no matter how crazy. These deathbed conversions are preposterous, and everybody knows it.” | My take. Isaac Saul Executive Editor ![Isaac Saul](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2025/05/Isaac.jpg) | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | One way to look at the midterms is that Republicans are cruising for disaster, especially without Trump on the ballot to energize his base.However, Democrats could easily underperform polls in the same way Republicans did in 2022.I’m going to resist a prediction for now, since a lot can change in a month. | | **Reminder:** This is where we share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, leave a comment or reply to this email. | Heading into the 2022 midterms, Republicans were poised to ride a red wave and take complete control of Congress from Democrats. The equation was simple. The Senate was split 50–50, and Democrats had a narrow advantage in the House. From 1934–2018, the party in the White House [had lost](https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/analyses/the-2022-midterm-elections-what-the-historical-data-suggest?ref=readtangle.com) an average of 28 House seats and four Senate seats in midterm elections. President Biden’s approval ratings were bad, inflation was pummeling economic sentiment, and the president faced mounting criticism of his handling of the Russia–Ukraine war. Meanwhile, Republicans had a polling advantage over Democrats, and a consensus quickly formed that they were poised to have a big night. Sound familiar? We know what happened instead: Democrats handed in a [shocking midterm performance](https://www.readtangle.com/2022-midterm-election-results/) for an incumbent party, holding the Senate and keeping the race for the House so competitive it took days to call. Cook Political Report’s Dave Wasserman [called it](https://x.com/Redistrict/status/1590298383818035201?ref=readtangle.com) “the craziest Election Night I’ve ever seen.” I could only find one reputable analyst in the entire country who predicted that outcome: a Democratic strategist named Simon Rosenberg. I was prudent enough [to cite Rosenberg in our last newsletter](https://www.readtangle.com/2022-midterm-election-results/#:~:text=I%27ll%20take%20some%20credit%20for%20hedging%20a%20little%20bit%20yesterday%20when%20I%20wrote%20the%20following%20%28emphasis%20mine%29%3A) before the midterms, calling him out as a dissenting voice worth considering. Everyone who predicted a red wave, including me, was wrong. Of course, four years have passed since that midterm outcome, which is plenty of time for everyone to stack their hubris and bury the memory of their wrongness. I’ll try not to make that mistake here. I see two ways to frame those 2022 midterm results now, and they invite nearly opposite predictions about what’s going to happen in November. One framing is that the 2022 midterms were a good example of Republicans’ weakness when Trump is not on the ballot. The party had an opportunity for huge electoral gains, but it couldn’t turn out enough voters without their leader on the ballot, its candidates lacked enthusiasm, and the red wave was more like a middling tide. This is the downside of building a movement around a single man. It’s also possible things in 2022 just *weren’t that bad*, so Democrats did better than people thought (especially with the motivating factor of *Roe v. Wade* being overturned). This time, voter sentiment is definitively worse about Trump, Republicans, and the economy. In this frame, 2026 could be an even bigger blue wave year than any of us are expecting. Trump is in office, yes, but since he isn’t on the ballot, his base might not show up. Not only that, but the president has [historically bad](https://news.gallup.com/poll/242093/midterm-seat-loss-averages-unpopular-presidents.aspx?ref=readtangle.com) midterm approval numbers, Republicans are in power, and Republicans are the ones losing on the generic ballot. That could spell disaster. The second frame is almost the opposite: Polling gives us some information, but it’s not a sure thing. Forecasting is even less reliable. Polls have missed badly in the special elections over the last few months. Much is being made of Trump’s deteriorating polling numbers, but Democrats still have an even bigger problem: Their party and their policies are also [historically unpopular](https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/5406294-democrats-lowest-favorability-in-decades-poll/?ref=readtangle.com). Lastly, a lot of ink has been spilled about all the Trump voters who [regret](https://www.wsj.com/politics/elections/trump-is-predicting-midterms-success-but-republicans-are-starting-to-panic-439edf97?mod=e2tw&ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Among%20voters%20who,2.5%20percentage%20points.) casting a ballot for him or the former allies who are jumping ship or the Republicans who are scrubbing him from their websites — so much so that it could be creating a false impression of the electorate. Trump wasn’t on the ballot in 2018, either, but he was in the White House; and despite his unpopularity, Republicans expanded their Senate majority while losing the House — a pretty mixed outcome. Anecdotally, if I could describe the mood among my Trump-supporting friends and family, I’d describe it *less* as “they are abandoning Trump” and more as “they are feeling let down by Trump.” They aren’t thrilled with the president or the economy or the war, but they’d still vote for him over a generic Democrat nine times out of ten. It’s hard to know precisely how widespread that sentiment is — that’s what the election is for. In this second frame, it isn’t hard to throw several grains of salt on the polls, consider my own pop-up focus groups, and see Republicans narrowly losing the House but holding onto the Senate (or even expanding their majority). That would leave us talking about the “blue wave” that never was in the same way we spoke about 2022’s undelivered red wave. If that’s what happens, the midterms could still be a win for Democrats because they would have taken back the House. That alone would be enough to grind the Trump presidency to a crawl and launch a dozen investigations into senior ranking members of his administration. That we are even discussing the possibility of Democrats winning the Senate is rather remarkable. Much like “red wave” prognostication was everywhere in 2022, we’ve endured [think piece](https://rollcall.com/2016/01/20/senate-democrats-2018-math-is-not-your-friend/?ref=readtangle.com) after [think piece](https://abcnews.com/538/after-2024-election-democrats-steep-disadvantage-senate/story?id=116637086&ref=readtangle.com) after [think piece](https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2024/11/democrats-senate-nightmare/680620/?ref=readtangle.com) for the past eight years explaining how Democrats may never win the Senate again because of the institutional advantages Republicans enjoy. Now, in the first election since many of those pieces were published, they have a very realistic path to doing just that. The races I’m most keen to watch are taking place in Virginia, Iowa, and Texas. Virginia’s Second Congressional District will be a great testing ground for theories about how important the Iran war is to voters. Jen Kiggans, a Republican incumbent, is defending the seat against Elaine Luria, a Democrat. Both Kiggans and Luria are Navy veterans. Their district has some of the highest numbers of active-duty troops and veterans in the country, and Kiggans won the seat by beating Luria in 2022\. Kiggans has repeatedly voted down resolutions to limit Trump’s war powers while Luria has made opposition to the war central to her campaign. Early voting in Virginia’s second will provide a signal of how motivating an issue the war is to voters. In Iowa, Democratic state auditor Rob Sand is running a [unique campaign](https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/2026/08/rob-sand-zach-lahn-iowa-governor/688267/?ref=readtangle.com) for governor against Republican businessman Zach Lahn. Sand is a moderate Democrat’s dream: allergic to any culture war debates, willing to speak from the center, and relentlessly focused on pragmatic government and attacking corruption. Iowa has been reliably red for a decade, but both Sand and Democratic Senate candidate Josh Turek have a real shot this year. If they put in strong numbers — or even turn Iowa blue — Republicans are in for a bad night. Finally, and fittingly, we turn to Texas for the big one: James Talarico vs. Ken Paxton, in which Democrats test how progressive a candidate can be and still win in Texas, while Republicans [test how corrupt a candidate can be and still win in Texas](https://www.readtangle.com/texas-primary-runoff-paxton-cornyn/#:~:text=politics%20in%20Texas.%E2%80%9D-,My%20take.,-Reminder%3A%20%E2%80%9CMy%20take). But more interesting stuff is happening further down the ballot. As part of the gerrymandering war Trump launched in 2025, Texas redrew its congressional maps to gain as many as five seats for the GOP. Winning those seats, though, relies heavily on keeping Trump’s advantages with Latino voters across South Texas. That plan [will be tested](https://www.reuters.com/world/us/republicans-may-have-gerrymandered-their-way-into-texas-sized-latino-problem-2026-09-23/?ref=readtangle.com) in Texas’s 15th and 35th Congressional Districts, where Latino voters are an outsized share of the electorate. If Republicans lose some of the voters they won over in previous elections, they’ll also lose congressional seats in these heavily Latino districts where margins are dangerously narrow. I could even see a world where we reflect on these gerrymandering efforts as a strategic *error*, putting otherwise reliable GOP seats in play by stretching their advantages too thin. With five weeks to go until election day, I’ll close with this: A lot can happen in a month. For now, some kind of blue wave looks likely, and early voting has already begun — meaning voter sentiment today will impact the outcome. But I’ve seen how quickly things can change in just a few days, let alone a few weeks, so I’ll be keeping my eyes and ears open as we barrel toward Election Day. **Take the survey:** What’s your midterms prediction? [Let us know](https://interrobang.vercel.app/survey/0614db50-22d5-4b36-a84c-53e59d326c2f?ref=readtangle.com). *Disagree? That*’*s okay. Our opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we*’*ll consider publishing your feedback.* ### Under the radar. Last week, a hacking group called ShinyHunters said it had accessed a large amount of data containing personal information about Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) employees and applicants. FBI leaders have acknowledged the hack and told employees that their information may have been stolen, asking them to report unsolicited contacts or threats. Meanwhile, ShinyHunters has demanded the bureau take down a posted advisory about the group by the end of the day on Tuesday or risk the release of the stolen information (though the group has also said it would “never publish the data”). [The New York Times has the story](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/28/us/politics/fbi-shinyhunters-damage.html?ref=readtangle.com). Today’s Partner ****Critical Thinking: the cornerstone of democracy.** [****Critical Thinking in History**](https://www.criticalthinkinginhistory.com/?ref=readtangle.com) includes 250+ problem-centered lessons on such questions as: Would you support the Northwest Ordinance in 1787? Why, in the past hundred years, have some democracies fallen into autocracies? Guide to Critical Thinking and Guide to Decision Making provide support for specific thinking skills. ***By a teacher, for teachers.** [Explore the website ](https://www.criticalthinkinginhistory.com/?ref=readtangle.com) ### The extras. - **One year ago today** we covered [the James Comey indictment](https://www.readtangle.com/the-comey-indictment/). - **The most clicked link in our last regular newsletter** was Isaac’s Friday edition [asking whether President Trump is okay](https://www.readtangle.com/is-president-trump-okay/). - **Something to do with politics:** Take this quiz to [find out your political ideology](https://12axes.vercel.app/en?ref=readtangle.com). - **Our last survey:** 2,435 readers responded to our survey on U.S.–China relations, with 52% saying the U.S. should seek friendlier ties. “The more friendly we are, the easier it is to influence their worse tendencies for the better *and* the less likely it is for things to go very sideways,” one respondent said. “China has proven time and time again that they are our enemies and any purported friendliness is very suspect,” said another. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/09/data-src-image-8582ce2a-6ede-4871-9c92-c74569beb2e4.png) ### Have a nice day. In 1979, Joel Greenia placed a classified ad looking for a partner to bike across the country with. A fellow 20-something named Ray Halbert answered, and the two pedaled 3,485 miles from Santa Cruz, California, to Hartford, Connecticut, over 57 days — sleeping on park benches and getting pulled over by police along the way. 45 years later, the two met again and rode together again on a (shorter) journey from Detroit to Buffalo, New York — the city where they’d first connected. “It was amazing to be able to be apart for so many decades... and then reuniting without barely missing a beat,” Greenia, now 68, said. “A true circle of life event.”[ Nice News has the story](https://nicenews.com/culture/strangers-biked-across-country-1979-reconnected/?ref=readtangle.com). ### I’m going back to my roots. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/im-going-back-to-my-roots/ Last updated: 2026-09-29T14:41:47.000Z **I’m Isaac Saul, and this is Press Pass: Our once-a-month, members-only newsletter that pulls back the curtain on the inner workings of Tangle.* --- When I started Tangle seven years ago, it was just me and the blinking cursor on a blank Google document. As I look back on the newsletter editions I wrote during the early years of Tangle, a few things stand out: 1) The writing is more raw and less polished. 2) The newsletters are shorter and more digestible (some just a six- or seven-minute read). 3) My personality shines through in unvarnished ways that feel different from how it does now. There are downsides to each of these. Raw, less polished writing is also writing begging for an editor. Mistakes and typos and outright errors went undiscovered. The newsletters were shorter, yes, but also sometimes lacked nuance — and typically didn’t go any deeper than our short-form competitors. I had to do all the research and writing and editing by myself, and it showed. And sure, my personality shined through, but at times it needed to be reined in; what was left was often *too much* Isaac and not enough viewpoint diversity or professional polish. I never expected we’d be where we are today: hundreds of thousands of daily readers, tens of thousands of paying members, and recognition from all across the country (and world) for what we’re building. I certainly never expected to have over a dozen full-time employees and an entire staff of writers and editors. As the Tangle brand has grown, my personal brand has taken a back seat, for good reason. I’ve wanted to introduce the distinct viewpoints from our team: Ari Weitzman, Will Kaback, Audrey Moorehead, Kmele Foster, Carina Pacheco, Russell Nystrom, Isaac Wood, and more. I’ve wanted to bring in outside writers to contribute to our publication. I’ve wanted to let Jon Lall, Aidan Gorman, and Michele Teodori create new content for YouTube — pursuing stories well suited for a visual medium and putting their own spin and perspective on them. We have done all that, and I’m supremely proud of what my colleagues and I have built. Concurrently, I also take up less space in Tangle’s editorial process and have fewer opportunities to share what’s on my mind. I’m both happy and fulfilled by this development, and glad for a semblance of work-life balance. Yet I’m also eager to share more of my ideas that never make it to print. I have so many opinion essays outlined and just sitting in my drafts folder, so many thoughts I just flush down the toilet of [X](https://x.com/Ike%5FSaul?lang=en&ref=readtangle.com) rather than turn into a YouTube video or fleshed-out piece. I have a lot of ideas I want to stress test with the public, yet somehow fewer and fewer spaces to share them despite running a growing news organization. It’s an odd and paradoxical downside of building a team. I’ve been thinking about how to recapture some of what made those early editions so popular while also preserving the professional excellence we’ve developed today. We have some stuff in the works that I’m excited to roll out in the coming weeks: I’m planning to launch a separate newsletter under my name to share occasional opinion essays on stories we don’t get to in the typical week of Tangle. We’re also thinking about how to make the daily Tangle newsletters more digestible — reducing the word count a bit and cutting some sections people don’t tend to read. We also hope to keep featuring new voices, both from inside Tangle and out. But in the immediate term, we have one big offering we’re excited to announce: **We’re launching the** [**Isaac Saul YouTube channel**](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvZTGs70sjg&ref=readtangle.com)**.** When we first started the Tangle YouTube channel, I was adopting takes I had written for the newsletter, and we were having some success. But it was also a ton of work to manage while I was writing most of the newsletter every day. As the team grew, we offloaded the YouTube channel to our executive producer Jon Lall and other contributors, and I took a backseat. As that happened, the team started producing original explainers and original on-the-ground reporting. Today, the [Tangle YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/@tanglenews/featured?ref=readtangle.com) channel is publishing some of the most compelling, well-produced content in political video journalism. And now I have more available energy because I’m writing fewer takes. So, starting today, we are launching a [dedicated YouTube channel](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvZTGs70sjg&ref=readtangle.com) for some of that work. We’re going to kick the channel off by populating it with my own takes on the news — original opinion essays in video format. Some will be adapted from the newsletter with the goal of attracting a new, younger YouTube audience, while others will be totally fresh analysis of issues we don’t wade into anywhere else in the Tangle ecosystem. Looking forward, I plan to start an interview series to sit down for long-form conversations with the people in the political world whose views I think are worth engaging. And we may even start hosting our flagship talk show *Suspension of the Rules* on this new channel under a new name. There are a lot of exciting developments on the horizon. Our kickoff video is already live: [my take on what’s happening in the Big Bend region of West Texas](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvZTGs70sjg&ref=readtangle.com). I’ve written before about the importance of this region to me, and my connection to it. But this video is a swing at discussing the planned border wall there and my thoughts about the arguments being put forward to support it. [Give it a watch](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvZTGs70sjg&ref=readtangle.com), and subscribe to the channel while you’re at it. Of course, standing up a new channel, even one with just my name, is the work of a team — and one of the key contributors making the Isaac Saul YouTube channel happen is going to be Michele Teodori, our latest hire on the YouTube team. And Michele is today’s featured employee. ### Meet Mic. ![Mic enjoying the water at our retreat in Maine this month. Photo: Aidan Gorman](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/09/data-src-image-122e945d-7ee1-4df8-a618-4630ea087e1b.png) Mic enjoying the water at our retreat in Maine this month. Photo: Aidan Gorman One weird thing about working at a remote company is that you can spend extensive time in the trenches with someone before actually meeting them in person. Michele — or “Mic” (pronounced “Mick”) — was one of those people for me. I interviewed Mic with Jon back in June during our West Virginia retreat, and right away, we could tell that he had a genuine passion for our mission, that he’d be a fast and hungry editor, and that he’d add a ton of experience to our team. As the last part of our interview process, we sent several finalists a raw cut of me pontificating on my Trump corruption piece on camera. It was an unscripted 20 minutes of me rambling — genuinely one of the worst shoots I’ve ever done — shot in a stuffy shared office space with bad lighting and a worse background. We asked each candidate to turn the footage into a quality, ready-to-publish YouTube video, not expecting much but wanting to see what they could turn around, how fast, and how much they could improve an otherwise mediocre product. The video Mic turned in was genuinely awesome. It had perfect pacing, great music and interspersed all manner of news clips to cover up my worst moments from the shoot and make me look and sound like a confident, intelligent pundit. If I hadn’t littered the video with some factually inaccurate riffing, we may have actually published it. I’ve always known what a good editor can do to my writing, but it was fun seeing what a good video editor could do to my very bad in-studio shoots. It wasn’t until our retreat in Maine a couple of weeks ago that I actually got to meet Mic in person. This year’s retreat was special because, for the first time, we told Tangle employees they could bring their partners or family members — so we had kids, wives, husbands, girlfriends, and boyfriends all tagging along. Mic came solo, but I had the joy of watching him play with my son and the other kids who came along for the trip, and he exuded the kind of warmth that just makes you certain someone is a great person (he’s also a dad himself, so I had a great time picking his brain for fatherhood tips). ![The Tangle team rocking our new swag from Camp Kieve. From left to right: Senior Editor Will Kaback, Executive Editor Isaac Saul, Isaac's son Omri, and video editor Michele Teodori.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/09/data-src-image-7ed3eaad-b21b-467b-acfa-3c93accd1019.jpeg) The Tangle team rocking our new swag from Camp Kieve. From left to right: Senior Editor Will Kaback, Executive Editor Isaac Saul, Isaac's son Omri, and video editor Michele Teodori. I also got to watch him work (another oddity of remote work life is that you often miss that part of the job). On the first day we were in Maine, we recorded a rare in-person episode of *Suspension of the Rules*. Mic and Aidan dutifully played with a few shots in front of a fireplace and helped give us the *rustic Maine vibe* before launching into [one of the best episodes of the show](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1n0%5Fh7T3EaU&ref=readtangle.com) we’ve recorded. Then, as most of the team retreated to the bonfire to share a few drinks and spend some quality time together, Mic locked into his computer and turned around a multi-shot, multi-track episode in mere hours. He missed a few drinks but got noticed by just about everyone — a genuine “beast mode” moment for an editor who we are all coming to rely on more and more. With today’s announcement about the new Isaac Saul YouTube channel, Mic and I are embarking on a new journey together with Jon and Aidan — and it felt appropriate to use this month’s *Press Pass* to introduce him to all of you. **Q: Can you start by telling us a bit about your hometown and upbringing?** I was born in Florence, Italy, the third and last child of two high school sweethearts who went on to study medicine and, along the way, developed a coffee addiction that's still going strong today. I grew up with the smell of the second or third cup my dad would make for my mom at breakfast, the first ones having already been served and sipped in bed before they started their day. When I mention I'm from Florence, people picture Renaissance paintings, marble statues, and dreamy architecture. But when you live there, it's really just a small Italian city trying to modernize and move beyond the unmatchable beauty of its past. Half of it is frozen in time, busy preserving the achievements of centuries ago; the other half is forever searching for a new identity, one that isn't defined entirely by a glorious but distant history. What still ties me to my hometown is the tension between those two sides, plus a somewhat inexplicable obsession with Fiorentina: the eternally average local soccer club that tries every year to climb to the top of Serie A, Italy's top league, and seldom succeeds. My mom took me to the stands as a kid to watch my first matches, describing each player on the pitch by name and role. Those were the years of Gabriel Batistuta in his prime. How could I not fall in love with the whole thing? Politics was front and center throughout my formative years. My father voted for the PCI (the Italian Communist Party) right up until the Berlin Wall fell. In Cold War Italy, the Communist Party was the only real alternative to the Christian Democrats, the centrist Catholic party that dominated Italian politics for decades. But the Communists could never actually govern, since Washington wasn't about to let a NATO member be run by a party with ties to Moscow. For my dad, voting for the largest communist party in the Western world was a relatively safe way to express dissent, even though he felt nothing but horror toward the Soviet Union. My mom's politics, on the other hand, were as pragmatic as her character. She always carried what I now consider a healthy, if potentially dangerous, dose of populism, doubting the real intentions of the political establishment. Caught between the two, I've always found it hard to belong to any side, and I often feel lost among the sheer number of parties on the Italian political spectrum. I found hope in what could have been the grandest political project ever: a United States of Europe. I was 15 when the Euro currency was adopted, and it felt like an inevitable step toward a bigger, stronger European Union. Needless to say, it didn't work out as I'd hoped. When French voters sank the European Constitution in 2005, I realized I'd spent a good chunk of my life learning French for… what? The final blow was Brexit in 2016\. I was living in London at the time, and that's when I channeled my inner Joan Didion and said “goodbye to all that.” **Q: Why did you decide to work at Tangle?** I didn't think a place like Tangle could exist, let alone succeed and carve out a real presence in today's media ecosystem. A news outlet that takes every side seriously, explains the arguments fairly, and still finds an audience? It sounded too good to be true. Political analysis has been one of my favorite subjects since I started working in journalism, so when I saw that Tangle was expanding its video operation, I couldn't resist the urge to dive back in. Tangle's mission of speaking to readers across the whole political spectrum is exactly the kind of work I'd always hoped to contribute to. Then I met Isaac and Jon during the interview process, and I realized how much I'd missed working with passionate, driven people who put the human side of the story first. So when I checked my inbox and saw that Jon had offered me the job of video editor, I knew I'd found the right place to put my skills to work. **Q: What's the hardest part of your job? What's the part you enjoy most?** I believe video editing is a lot like writing. The only thing that counts is answering the same questions over and over again: Is the viewer still with me? Are they paying attention, or have I lost them? Can I make this bit more interesting so I can carry them to the next part of the story? The same story can be told a hundred times, and each version can be more engaging than the last just by adjusting the pacing of the cuts, the music, the order of the scenes, the visuals on screen, or a well timed pause. The hardest part is recognizing when a story is stalling or not driving its message home. After working on something for hours, it's really hard to look at it with fresh eyes. In those moments, my brain can't tell chocolate from poop, pardon the comparison. That's when I rely on my colleagues for notes I can trust. I've learned to be ready to “kill my darlings,” as they say, so I'm never precious about cutting something if it makes a video flow better. The part I enjoy most is the act of creation that editing unlocks: choosing the right music, scanning hours of B-roll for the best shots, trimming an on-camera segment down to its most essential moments. **Q: You are our first-ever European-born employee. What have you enjoyed about moving to and living in the United States? And what do you miss most about Italy?** Moving to the U.S. has meant joining the young American experiment, the opposite of the identity I left behind, which feels totally defined by its history. These aren’t easy times in which to be American, but this is still a country where people collectively believe the future can be brighter than the past. That conviction is why I’m here. What I miss most about Italy is the instant familiarity I feel walking down the street of almost any Italian city or town. Everything is within reach, and social life happens outdoors: You run into someone you know, they stop for a minute to talk, and then you both go on your way. And of course, I’d love to watch Fiorentina play at the stadium every now and then. ### My debut video. Alright: We need your help. Today is day #1 of the [new Isaac Saul YouTube channel](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvZTGs70sjg&ref=readtangle.com). We want to make it special. The absolute best thing you can do is 1) [Go watch our video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvZTGs70sjg&ref=readtangle.com) start to finish and “like” it, which tells YouTube it’s a great piece of content that keeps people around (this should be easy, because it is!) and 2) Subscribe to the channel when you’re done. That’s it. Thank you! ### The UN assembly and Trump–Xi summit. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/un-assembly-and-trump-xi-summit/ Last updated: 2026-09-28T15:48:44.000Z Good Monday morning and welcome to Tangle. I’m **Isaac Saul**. Yesterday, I was in an Uber to O’Hare Airport in Chicago headed back from a dear friend’s wedding when a massive, sky-blue plane crossed right over the highway — so close it startled me. It took me a full two seconds to process that it was Air Force One and President Trump landing, apparently on his way to watch the final day of the Presidents Cup golf tournament (the American team took first place — go USA!). It was an odd moment to literally cross paths with a man I write so much about, and to do so unexpectedly and for such a random confluence of reasons. Apparently, the president needed a little recreation after a jam-packed week with the **UN General Assembly and a state visit from China’s President Xi**, which combine for the focus of today’s newsletter. Plus, a reader question about **courts overruling the Trump administration** and an under-the-radar story on the **Trump administration clawing back congressional funding**. It’s a **12-minute read**. Ari Weitzman, Will Kaback, Audrey Moorehead, Carina Pacheco, Russell Nystrom, Isaac Wood, and Bailey Saul edited or contributed to today’s newsletter. Too busy to read? Push play instead! ![Too busy to read? Push play instead!](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/07/podcast@2x.png) [Listen to the newsletter Monday - Friday.](https://www.readtangle.com/tangle-podcast/) New episodes drop at 4pm ET. ### Asking the hard question. On Friday, Executive Editor Isaac Saul asked, “Is President Trump okay?” It was the same question he posed about President Biden in 2021, and Isaac’s essay similarly explored how the president’s words and behavior have changed in recent years, and whether concerns about his fitness for office are valid. You can read the edition and join hundreds of Tangle commenters discussing the piece [here](https://www.readtangle.com/is-president-trump-okay/). ### Quick hits. 1. President Donald Trump rejected a seven-day ceasefire proposal from Iran that would have also reopened the Strait of Hormuz. ([The rejection](https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/6113000-trump-iran-proposal-ceasefire/?ref=readtangle.com)) 2. The Supreme Court blocked a new congressional map in Missouri designed to net Republicans an extra House seat, ordering the state to use its 2022 congressional map for this year’s midterms. ([The order](https://www.scotusblog.com/2026/09/for-the-third-time-supreme-court-declines-to-allow-missouri-to-use-congressional-map-expected-to/?ref=readtangle.com)) Separately, the Court ruled that the Trump administration can use a federal database to verify voter eligibility. The Court’s three Democratic-appointed justices dissented. ([The ruling](https://apnews.com/article/save-database-noncitizen-voters-trump-supreme-court-412e12f5a492dd20e407812f30f7c139?ref=readtangle.com)) 3. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled that the Trump administration had “ample support for its conclusion” that AI developer Anthropic posed a national security risk, finding that the administration’s move to block Anthropic from working with the government was legal. ([The decision](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/25/technology/anthropic-trump-ruling.html?ref=readtangle.com)) 4. British authorities arrested five people near an airbase operated by the U.S. military on suspicion of planning a terrorist attack. ([The arrests](https://apnews.com/article/britain-explosives-us-air-base-fairford-49495441036e78763e106bbeadd1e839?ref=readtangle.com)) 5. President Trump announced the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is rolling back Biden-era vehicle emissions standards. ([The announcement](https://www.politico.com/news/2026/09/26/trump-vehicle-standards-ev-01067597?ref=readtangle.com)) Today’s Partner [****8 Legal Ways To Pay Off Debt Like The Rich Do**](https://financebuzz.com/debt-relief-help-yaez?adheadline=8+Legal+Ways+To+Pay+Off+Debt+Like+The+Rich+Do+%28Most+People+Ignore+%236%29&utm%5Fsource=tangle&utm%5Fmedium=paid-newsletter-cpf&utm%5Fterm=Tangle&utm%5Fcampaign=BM-FBZ-Tangle-debt-relief-help-yaez-1-CPF&adgroupid=BM-Tangle-debt-relief-help-yaez-CPF-09282026) **(Most People Ignore #6)** The wealthy rarely pay off debt the slow way — they settle it, freeze the interest, or tap equity instead of grinding through minimum payments for years. Whether you’re buried in credit card interest, behind on taxes, or sitting on home equity you haven’t touched, [there’s a legal strategy](https://financebuzz.com/debt-relief-help-yaez?adheadline=8+Legal+Ways+To+Pay+Off+Debt+Like+The+Rich+Do+%28Most+People+Ignore+%236%29&utm%5Fsource=tangle&utm%5Fmedium=paid-newsletter-cpf&utm%5Fterm=Tangle&utm%5Fcampaign=BM-FBZ-Tangle-debt-relief-help-yaez-1-CPF&adgroupid=BM-Tangle-debt-relief-help-yaez-CPF-09282026) built for your exact situation — and most people never get past #6, the one that combines two or three of these at once. It takes about 30 seconds to see which ones apply to you. → [See All 8 Debt Payoff Strategies Here](https://financebuzz.com/debt-relief-help-yaez?adheadline=8+Legal+Ways+To+Pay+Off+Debt+Like+The+Rich+Do+%28Most+People+Ignore+%236%29&utm%5Fsource=tangle&utm%5Fmedium=paid-newsletter-cpf&utm%5Fterm=Tangle&utm%5Fcampaign=BM-FBZ-Tangle-debt-relief-help-yaez-1-CPF&adgroupid=BM-Tangle-debt-relief-help-yaez-CPF-09282026). [Learn more ](https://financebuzz.com/debt-relief-help-yaez?adheadline=8+Legal+Ways+To+Pay+Off+Debt+Like+The+Rich+Do+%28Most+People+Ignore+%236%29&utm%5Fsource=tangle&utm%5Fmedium=paid-newsletter-cpf&utm%5Fterm=Tangle&utm%5Fcampaign=BM-FBZ-Tangle-debt-relief-help-yaez-1-CPF&adgroupid=BM-Tangle-debt-relief-help-yaez-CPF-09282026) ### Today’s topic. The UN General Assembly and the Trump–Xi summit. Last week, world leaders gathered in New York City for the 81st United Nations (UN) General Assembly, with conflicts in Iran and Ukraine taking center stage. In a speech before world leaders, President Donald Trump [said](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/09/22/trump-un-speech-today.html?ref=readtangle.com) he is weighing whether to seek a deal to end the war with Iran or “annihilate” the country, while also touting a security agreement reached with Greenland and Denmark. Later in the week, President Trump hosted Chinese President Xi Jinping for a state visit, during which the leaders discussed trade disputes and AI development. At the General Assembly meeting, U.S. and Iranian officials [held](https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/hope-progress-after-us-iran-hold-first-shuttle-talks-months-2026-09-23/?ref=readtangle.com) indirect talks for the first time since a ceasefire between the countries ended in July. Neither side announced any major breakthroughs, and Trump later said he had rejected an Iranian proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, Iran [said](https://thehill.com/policy/international/6112561-iran-us-seven-day-peace-plan/?ref=readtangle.com) the U.S. must unfreeze their assets and lift restrictions on its oil as preconditions for negotiations. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian also [gave a speech](https://www.npr.org/2026/09/23/nx-s1-5978863/iran-president-united-nations-general-assembly?ref=readtangle.com) criticizing the U.S. and Israel for initiating the war, saying, “We will never bow our head or bend at the knee.” Separately, Secretary of State Marco Rubio [met](https://www.reuters.com/world/us-top-diplomat-rubio-meet-russian-foreign-minister-lavrov-wednesday-2026-09-23/?ref=readtangle.com) with Russian Foreign ​Minister Sergey Lavrov to discuss a Russia–Ukraine ceasefire involving grain and energy-related targets. Lavrov later suggested that Europe would use any pause in fighting to “pump the Kyiv regime with weapons.” Chinese President Xi arrived in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, kicking off three days of meetings with the Trump administration. Both sides spoke positively about the meetings, and during the visit, the U.S. and China [announced](https://www.axios.com/2026/09/26/us-china-tariffs-trade-30-billion?ref=readtangle.com) an extension of a trade truce until January 2027 and a deal to lower tariffs on [$30 billion of goods](https://ustr.gov/about/policy-offices/press-office/press-releases/2026/september/ambassador-greer-issues-statement-announcement-recommendations-us-china-board-trade?ref=readtangle.com). Furthermore, the White House [said](https://www.politico.com/news/2026/09/26/us-coal-trade-xi-jinping-01094090?ref=readtangle.com) China agreed to buy more U.S. coal and create a working group to address trade barriers to U.S. agricultural products. The two leaders also discussed AI development, with Chinese state media reporting that Xi [told](https://abcnews.com/Politics/trump-xi-takeaways-victories-trumps-sharing/story?id=136768308&ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Discussion%20on%20artificial%20intelligence) Trump AI should be kept under human control. The White House offered minimal details on these discussions, but both governments said they agreed to create a channel for handling AI incidents. Today, we’ll share views from the left and right on last week’s events. Then, Executive Editor Isaac Saul gives his take. | What the left is saying. Many on the left say the Trump–Xi summit accomplished little of substance.Some criticize Trump’s rhetoric in his UN speech.Others question the president’s China policy. | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | **In Bloomberg, Andreas Kluth said** [**“Trump and Xi's empty summit is straight out of the 1930s.”**](https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2026-09-25/trump-and-xi-s-empty-summit-is-straight-out-of-the-1930s?ref=readtangle.com) “Donald Trump and Xi Jinping walked on red carpets, craned to watch flyovers, gave speeches at a state dinner and gifted pandas (China is sending another pair to the Atlanta zoo). But the two presidents didn’t even attempt breakthroughs on the big issues that will decide matters of war and peace in the years to come,” Kluth wrote. “They talked about trade, and promised to provide some details next week about agreements on US agricultural products, ‘non-sensitive’ Chinese consumer goods and the like. But this is small beer and can’t distract from the reality that their tense economic truce could turn into open conflict again at any moment.” “Prolonged summitry without substance is itself a warning signal. That was the conclusion the liberal German economist Wilhelm Röpke reached when he wrote, during and after World War II, about the international crises of the 1930s… \[Röpke\] looked on in horror from his exile as the nations that had been in one world war and would soon be in another kept jaw-jawing at one conference after another, without achieving anything, while staying on their disastrous course,” Kluth said. “That malady has now returned. Once again, world leaders are traveling and jaw-jawing, but with confused notions about what is good for their nations or the world.” **In The Guardian, Kenneth Roth called Trump’s UN speech** [**“delusional and dangerous.”**](https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/sep/23/trump-un-speech-delusional-dangerous?ref=readtangle.com) “Disregarding the UN charter’s emphasis on the peaceful resolution of disputes, \[Trump\] doubled down on his violent unilateralism while denigrating the global issues that the UN is designed to address,” Roth wrote. “\[Trump’s\] was probably less a genuine threat than a clumsy effort to influence negotiations where he has little leverage. Trump is in desperate quest of some face-saving gesture that will allow him to feign ‘victory’ and extract himself from his disastrous war of choice.” “Trump also spotlighted his other acts of aggression. He celebrated the seizure of Venezuela’s dictator, Nicolás Maduro, emphasizing how some political prisoners have now been freed, although hundreds remain,” Roth said. “But while Trump lauded his coerced deal with Venezuela’s remaining autocratic leaders to take a large chunk of the country’s oil, he said nothing about a democratic future. Instead, touting his might-makes-right beliefs, he proclaimed: ‘To the victor belong the spoils.’” **In MS NOW, Jonathan Fritz argued** [**“Trump’s fawning over Xi won’t advance U.S. interests.”**](https://www.ms.now/opinion/trump-xi-china-summit?ref=readtangle.com) “President Donald Trump rolled out far more than a very long red carpet for the visiting leader of the People’s Republic of China… \[he\] also provided full official honors, ordered a military jet flyover and gushed about his ‘great friendship’ with the Chinese leader,” Fritz wrote. “These grand gestures to harsh adversaries of the free world took place while Trump was fighting in court to kick three news outlets, including MS NOW, out of the White House press pool because he didn’t like how they covered his administration.” “What Xi’s visit has revealed is that the Trump administration seemingly prioritizes pomp and circumstance over substantive success,” Fritz said. “Washington should be negotiating from a position of strength. The United States needs to work closely with our Indo-Pacific partners and allies to push back with firm resolve against Beijing’s economic and security bullying, even while keeping open channels for pragmatic, respectful diplomacy. That’s the only way to be taken seriously by an unsentimental Leninist like Xi, who likely views Trump’s welcome as a signal that the U.S. president is playing a weak hand.” | What the right is saying. Many on the right say the Trump–Xi summit continued a tenuous stalemate.Some argue the president was properly critical of the UN in his speech.Others contend Trump’s critics are missing the important moves he’s taken to stand up to China. | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | **In The American Conservative, Evan Sankey said** [**“a grand bargain is unlikely”**](https://www.theamericanconservative.com/marking-time-in-us-china-relations/?ref=readtangle.com) **between the U.S. and China.** “The ‘truce era’ of U.S.-China relations is pitched between visions. The first is suggested by a ‘constructive relationship of strategic stability,’ the awkward framing both sides adopted at the Beijing summit in May. In this view, a durable ‘strategic stalemate’ requires a bilateral reset… The second is that the truce is just what it sounds like: a useful lull for each side to get its house in order,” Sankey wrote. “The deliverables most likely to emerge from Xi’s visit will be notionally compatible with both visions. They will sustain the truce and begin to flesh out the ‘constructive relationship of strategic stability,’ but they will also be easily reversible in the event of a sudden downturn in the relationship.” “The \[trade\] truce is vague and fragile. This summer it was strained by U.S. import bans on Chinese robots and power equipment and retaliatory Chinese sanctions on American firms. Still, it is low-cost for both sides and now serves as the central ballast of the relationship. Expect it to be renewed when Trump meets Xi,” Sankey said. “Neither Trump nor Xi is allergic to confrontation, but each ultimately sees the other as a powerful peer he must work with to secure his own country’s interests.” **The New York Post editorial board praised** [**“Trump’s warning to the United Nations.”**](https://nypost.com/2026/09/22/opinion/trumps-warning-to-the-united-nations-hits-the-nail-on-the-head/?ref=readtangle.com) “\[Trump’s\] UN addresses from the start have been top-notch statesmanship — and prophetic: The Germans laughed at his 2018 warning not to depend on Russian energy . . . until the tanks rolled into Ukraine in 2022\. On Tuesday he again held a clear mirror up to the all-talk, no-walk crowd — and if the UN fails to get the message, its days may be numbered,” the board wrote. “Trump touted America’s rebound since his return to the White House and trumpeted his effective work to ‘reshape the world stage’: his peace deals, his Venezuela move, his Greenland entente and, above all, his defanging of Iran. Indeed, he vowed to ‘annihilate’ the Islamic Republic if it refuses to make an acceptable deal. ‘I have no interest in leaving dangers to grow for another day,’ \[Trump\] explained. ‘So, while others have talked, I have acted.’ Hear, hear,” the board said. “The president was even more explicit about his disdain for Turtle Bay’s efforts to impose a ‘far-left agenda’ and for its ‘globalists,’ ‘rogue’ International Criminal Court, Human Rights Council and UNESCO. Yes, ‘the United Nations has great, great potential,’ Trump allowed; his criticisms aim to *save* it.” **In National Review, Michael Lucci suggested** [**“Trump’s China strategy is bigger than tariffs and summits.”**](https://www.nationalreview.com/2026/09/trumps-china-strategy-is-bigger-than-tariffs-and-summits/?ref=readtangle.com) “Trump’s mix of sparring and summits with CCP Chairman Xi Jinping should be understood relative to the strategic backdrop against which Trump returned to office. On the surface, both sides project stability and congeniality, but beneath the surface, the Trump administration is arming allies and racing for resilience to restore the American deterrence necessary to prevent a catastrophic global conflict,” Lucci wrote. “America’s military alliances, supply chains, hemispheric security, and positioning near global chokepoints are being reinvigorated to ensure American strength.” “At home, unprecedented steps are underway to purge high-risk Chinese power transformers from the U.S. power grid. The Federal Communications Commission has also banned Chinese power inverters, drones, routers, robots, and test labs. Federal agencies are writing new rules to protect federally funded university research from dangerous Chinese institutions,” Lucci said. “Predictably, America’s media are fixated on diplomatic gestures, corporate complaints, and even promoting Chinese narratives. But the fundamental work of arming allies and striving for resilience is happening at an unprecedented pace away from the cameras.” | My take. Isaac Saul Executive Editor ![Isaac Saul](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2025/05/Isaac.jpg) | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | A lot has happened in the last week. There’s enough geopolitical ground to cover that I figured it’d be easiest to offer **seven distinct thoughts** on the United Nations General Assembly and President Xi Jinping’s visit to Washington, D.C. | | **Reminder:** This is where we share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, leave a comment or reply to this email. | 1. The UN assembly reminded me just how tense the state of global affairs is. International concern about the threats of AI and the competition between the West and China. The unrelenting Russia–Ukraine war, which President Zelensky [warned](https://thehill.com/policy/technology/6107156-trump-renames-ai-super-intelligence/?ref=readtangle.com) could get worse if AI decides what happens on the battlefield. Israel’s war on several fronts. The distinct conflicts in Sudan, Myanmar, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Then, there are the situations the U.S. is directly involved in, or could be: The Iran War. What we left in Venezuela and our commitment to now defending it. Add to that the Houthis in Yemen and the percolating rumors of an offensive in Cuba. As Biden’s term was ending, I argued that the feeling of global chaos was going to hurt Democrats in the 2024 election. Heading into midterms, that problem feels even worse for Republicans and Trump. 2. Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian delivered a historic speech to the UN — it was the first time the leader of a country at war with the United States delivered remarks to the assembly on U.S. soil. The remarks were… not encouraging for peace. Pezeshkian showed images of the schoolgirls [killed by a U.S. strike](https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2026-iran-school-attack/?ref=readtangle.com), called the U.S. and Israeli attacks illegal, blamed the U.S. for global instability, [promised](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/23/world/middleeast/iran-president-un-speech.html?ref=readtangle.com) Iran would not be bullied by America, and said his country would not give up its civilian nuclear program. Nothing in his tone was conciliatory, and the whole speech exemplified the psyche of Iran’s leaders in this moment: defiant and ready to keep fighting. 3. Trump’s remarks were similarly not encouraging. The president told the UN he was considering whether to “annihilate” Iran, a threat he has made repeatedly since the war began. Remember: After signing a Memorandum of Understanding in June, the Trump administration embarked on a media tour proclaiming the conflict was over, with Vice President J.D. Vance (now infamously) describing how “cool” it was that negotiations were barreling ahead. Just last week, the Pentagon [quietly added](https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2026/09/25/pentagon-quietly-adds-dozens-tally-troops-wounded-amid-iran-war/?ref=readtangle.com) to the number of U.S. soldiers injured in the war, despite [previously denying](https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2026/09/25/pentagon-quietly-adds-dozens-tally-troops-wounded-amid-iran-war/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Last%20week%2C%20The,the%20reporting%20%E2%80%9Cdisgusting.%E2%80%9D) reports that they had underreported service deaths as a result of the war. It’s now almost October, and Trump is preparing Americans for escalated strikes *after* the midterms, which are still over a month away. Simply put: This conflict isn’t going anywhere. Which means all the things related to it — soaring energy prices, instability in the Middle East, deaths abroad — aren’t going anywhere either. 4. In perhaps the most remarkable story from the week, President Trump [offered to sell weapons](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/27/us/politics/trump-weapons-sale-china.html?ref=readtangle.com) to China’s President Xi during a closed-door meeting. The source of this news was David Perdue, the U.S. ambassador to China, who shared the moment in a Fox News interview — apparently unaware of the fire he was lighting. That the president would even consider selling weapons to our chief geopolitical rival, at a time when we are stalling on a $14 billion arms deal to Taiwan (a friendly nation, which China is constantly on the precipice of invading), is stunning. As we speak, China is [arming](https://www.wsj.com/politics/china-iran-aid-xi-trump-summit-e6541ae8?ref=readtangle.com) Iran and Russia and aiding them in live conflicts that we are on the other side of. Essentially, this would be selling weapons to be used against ourselves. The State Department later walked the plan back: “U.S. law prohibits arms sales to China and there is no offer or plan to sell arms to China,” they said. Apparently, Trump was just riffing. 5. Zooming out, the entire Trump–Xi summit is a disorienting episode. I’m certainly not opposed to a warming of U.S.–China relations — given all the uncertainty and tension in the world, the two global superpowers being on friendly terms would be an unambiguous good. But we’re talking about Donald Trump, who was — at one point — the ultimate China hawk. He ran repeatedly on the need to stand up to China on the global stage. In 2016, he described China as “raping” our country. As recently as 2024 he said China was “killing us” as a country. Yet when Xi visits, Trump is literally rolling out the red carpet, offering to show him his special military ballroom, [joking around](https://x.com/charlescwcooke/status/2103194668074778755?ref=readtangle.com) at the expense of his predecessor, and offhandedly suggesting China could buy U.S. weapons. It’s all a very odd spectacle, given Trump’s history of hardline positions on China. 6. At the intersection of the UN assembly and Trump’s summit with China is the topic of AI. The U.S. and China are in a technological arms race, which American AI leaders have used to justify plowing forward with development despite their own concern that AI could upend (or destroy) life. It’s fascinating to be reminded of [how China views this technology](https://www.axios.com/2026/09/24/china-ai-plan-trump-xi-visit?ref=readtangle.com): They aren’t worried about an AI takeover wiping out all of humanity or even destroying the economy. In fact, it seeks to [integrate AI into nearly every facet](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/23/world/asia/china-ai-economy-xi-jinping.html?ref=readtangle.com) of its economy. China has so much control at the state level that it believes it can just switch off the power grid and haul in AI developers if things ever get dicey. Instead, China’s mainly concerned about AI shaping domestic opinion and turning its population against the regime. We are, simply put, chasing the same goals (AI development) with very different fears. 7. To the degree the UN assembly or state visits like this offer any value, I think they serve as milemarkers to reflect on the state of global geopolitics. Trump started his remarks at the UN by saying “a lot has happened in the last year,” which may have been the understatement of the week. He then gave Xi the distinct honor of a state dinner; in the midst of a trade war and the push and pull of so many foreign conflicts, I’ll be curious to look back on that dinner in a year to see if it changed the trajectory of our relationship with China. I’m inclined to view these events more as theater than anything else, but sometimes a few hours of in-person, private communication between world leaders really can change the shape of history. **Take the survey:** What kind of relationship with China should the U.S. pursue? [Let us know](https://interrobang.vercel.app/survey/885607d8-c260-476f-b00e-87b42e7371f6?ref=readtangle.com). *Disagree? That*’*s okay. Our opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we*’*ll consider publishing your feedback.* ### Your questions, answered. **How many times in this presidency has a Trump action/directive been overruled by the courts, and how does that compare to other recent presidents?** **— Tracy from Cossayuna, NY** **Contributing Editor Isaac Wood:** According to a New York Times [report](https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2026/us/trump-administration-lawsuits.html?ref=readtangle.com), as of September 2, the Trump administration has been sued more than 850 times. Over 650 cases remain in ongoing litigation. In 523 of those cases, the challenged policies remain active, while courts have halted policies in 162 others. That leaves 196 cases that have received a final ruling; seven were decided in the president’s favor, 74 in the plaintiff’s favor, 113 were dismissed, and two had mixed outcomes. Excluding the cases that were dismissed, that gives Trump about an 8.4% win rate. Now onto the comparison with previous administrations. A [database](https://attorneysgeneral.org/multistate-lawsuits-vs-the-federal-government/statistics-and-visualizations-multistate-litigation-vs-the-federal-government/?ref=readtangle.com) of legal actions from states and their attorneys general offers a helpful tool for comparing these lawsuits to judicial restrictions under previous administrations. In Obama’s two terms, Republican state attorneys general had a 64.2% win rate for 80 multistate lawsuits (lawsuits brought by multiple state attorneys general). In Trump’s first term, Democratic AGs had an 83% win rate in 160 cases. And during Biden’s presidency, Republican AGs had a 74.1% win rate in 114 cases. So far in Trump’s second administration, according to an April [statement](https://stateline.org/2026/04/01/democratic-ags-file-100th-lawsuit-against-trump/?ref=readtangle.com) from Democratic AGs, they had won 55 of the 67 cases that had been decided — an 82% win rate. So Trump has lost in court more often than both Obama and Biden. The recent increase in lawsuits against presidential administrations is notable — during George H.W. Bush’s presidency from 1989 to 1993, he received only 20 multistate lawsuits. His son, George W. Bush, was challenged in court 76 times in his two terms, nearly doubling the pace. The 160 lawsuits in Trump’s first term octupled the rate of lawsuits against George H.W., and the 133 against Joe Biden trailed just behind Trump 1.0\. Now, Trump is on track to surpass his first-term number: As of April, Democratic AGs have sued his administration [100 times](https://stateline.org/2026/04/01/democratic-ags-file-100th-lawsuit-against-trump/?ref=readtangle.com). If you feel like the judicial branch has occupied more of the news cycle than in past decades, well, you have data on your side. **Want to have a question answered in the newsletter? You can reply to this email (it goes straight to our inbox) or** [**fill out this form**](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScQhqBSG%5F6%5FoBhwcTQMeS570n29XYbeQ9C9Bis7rjqI31g1tA/viewform?usp=header&ref=readtangle.com)**.** ### Under the radar. On Friday, the Trump administration said it is canceling approximately $810 million in congressionally approved spending, primarily targeting programs that provide aid to noncitizens. A president is typically required to give Congress 45 days to review a request to rescind funds, but the administration’s move — known as a “pocket rescission” — comes near the end of the fiscal year, giving lawmakers minimal review time before the funding expires. In addition to roughly $567 million in cuts for Health and Human Services programs supporting noncitizens, the rescission includes funding for education programs for migrant students, initiatives to bring foreign students and faculty to the United States, and a business development program for minority entrepreneurs. [Fox News has the story](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-revives-rare-budget-maneuver-rescind-810m-congressionally-approved-funds?ref=readtangle.com). Today’s Partner ****Discover** [****8 legal ways**](https://financebuzz.com/debt-relief-help-yaez?adheadline=8+Legal+Ways+To+Pay+Off+Debt+Like+The+Rich+Do+%28Most+People+Ignore+%236%29&utm%5Fsource=tangle&utm%5Fmedium=paid-newsletter-cpf&utm%5Fterm=Tangle&utm%5Fcampaign=BM-FBZ-Tangle-debt-relief-help-yaez-1-CPF&adgroupid=BM-Tangle-debt-relief-help-yaez-CPF-09282026) **to tackle debt smarter.** Stop wasting years on minimum payments. Discover 8 legal debt payoff strategies, including the one most people miss: combining multiple strategies to save time and money. → [****See which strategies could apply to you**](https://financebuzz.com/debt-relief-help-yaez?adheadline=8+Legal+Ways+To+Pay+Off+Debt+Like+The+Rich+Do+%28Most+People+Ignore+%236%29&utm%5Fsource=tangle&utm%5Fmedium=paid-newsletter-cpf&utm%5Fterm=Tangle&utm%5Fcampaign=BM-FBZ-Tangle-debt-relief-help-yaez-1-CPF&adgroupid=BM-Tangle-debt-relief-help-yaez-CPF-09242026)****.** [Find out in 30 seconds ](https://financebuzz.com/debt-relief-help-yaez?adheadline=8+Legal+Ways+To+Pay+Off+Debt+Like+The+Rich+Do+%28Most+People+Ignore+%236%29&utm%5Fsource=tangle&utm%5Fmedium=paid-newsletter-cpf&utm%5Fterm=Tangle&utm%5Fcampaign=BM-FBZ-Tangle-debt-relief-help-yaez-1-CPF&adgroupid=BM-Tangle-debt-relief-help-yaez-CPF-09282026) ### Numbers. - [**6.**](https://history.state.gov/departmenthistory/visits/china?ref=readtangle.com) The number of visits Xi Jinping has made to the United States as China’s leader. - [**3.**](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-09-21/china-confirms-xi-s-first-trip-to-the-us-in-nearly-three-years?ref=readtangle.com) The approximate number of years since Xi visited the U.S. before last week’s summit. - [**19% and 54%.**](https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2026/09/23/americans-views-of-china-have-warmed-in-recent-years/?ref=readtangle.com) The percentage of U.S. adults who say they have a warm and cold view of China, respectively, according to a September 2026 Pew Research poll. - [**11% and 68%.**](https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2026/09/23/americans-views-of-china-have-warmed-in-recent-years/?ref=readtangle.com) The percentage of U.S. adults who said they had a warm and cold view of China, respectively, in 2021. ### The extras. - **One year ago today** we had just published a Friday edition on [embracing the tech backlash](https://www.readtangle.com/its-time-to-embrace-the-tech-backlash/). - **The most clicked link in our last regular newsletter** was the roundup of [the top Gen Alpha slang terms of 2026](https://www.mentalfloss.com/language/slang/top-gen-alpha-slang-2026?ref=readtangle.com). - **Nothing to do with politics:** What signs of “walking men” [look like in different parts of the world](https://mossandfog.com/walking-men-from-around-the-world/?ref=readtangle.com). - **Our last survey:** 3,315 readers responded to our survey on GLP-1 medications, with 45% saying they wouldn't take a GLP-1 for weight loss but are glad they're available for others. “\[GLP-1s have\] been a hard-earned miracle that has helped me change my inner voice and quiet the constant food noise in my head… I feel free,” one respondent said. “GLP-1s are a tool in the toolbox. You still need to do the work,” said another. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/09/data-src-image-f352786d-d723-438d-904d-6c028dfa659f.png) ### Have a nice day. When a group of about 30 inmates found out students of a nearby Kansas school district had taken on roughly $6,000 in school lunch debt, they decided to help out. The inmates are part of a prison rehabilitation program called Reaching Out From Within, which has chapters across the state and has goals such as raising money for donations. Several inmates told Corey Roy, superintendent of Norton Community Schools, that their own experience with food insecurity motivated them to help out with the children’s lunch debt. They donated $4,267 to cover most of the balance. “It was just an inspiring interaction,” Roy recalls from a four-hour visit with the group of men. “Even people who have made mistakes in the past can do super great things in helping another person.” [NBC Today has the story](https://www.today.com/news/good-news/kansas-inmates-help-settle-school-lunch-debt-rcna597492?ref=readtangle.com). ### The Problem With Hasan Piker’s US vs al-Qaeda Comparison URL: https://www.readtangle.com/the-problem-with-hasan-pikers-us-vs-al-qaeda-comparison/ Last updated: 2026-09-27T16:01:22.000Z Is the United States "pound for pound" worse than al-Qaeda? ### The Sunday — September 27 URL: https://www.readtangle.com/the-sunday-september-27-2026/ Last updated: 2026-09-27T12:42:03.000Z *This is the Tangle Sunday Edition, a brief roundup of our independent politics coverage plus some extra features for your Sunday morning reading.* ### What the left is doodling. ![Mike Luckovich | Creators Syndicate](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/09/data-src-image-7b044950-88ef-4675-81ac-f5666380c58c.jpeg) Mike Luckovich | Creators Syndicate ### What the right is doodling. ![Steve Kelley | Creators Syndicate](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/09/data-src-image-0368f5bb-a6a8-4166-9b17-243dbbfbc0eb.jpeg) Steve Kelley | Creators Syndicate ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/09/data-src-image-d0d0dc5f-63c7-4fb5-8330-e484582f1bb1.png) ### Suspension of the Rules. It’s a Big Apple episode for apple season. On the most recent *Suspension of the Rules*, Isaac, Ari, and Kmele talk about the ongoing UN assembly in New York. Then, a discussion of a New York Times Magazine article about public schooling and race. Plus, guess who has a complaint about leaves? (Hint: Kmele. It’s Kmele.) Check it out below! ### Monday, September 21. [Escalations in the Middle East](https://www.readtangle.com/a-new-front-in-the-iran-war/). As the war in Iran nears its seventh month, new developments over the past week have prompted concerns about a widening conflict in the Middle East. On Saturday, September 19, the State Department warned Americans in the Middle East to “exercise heightened vigilance” and prepare for potential travel disruptions, and President Donald Trump returned from a weekend trip to Camp David a day early. Separately, Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen have launched significant attacks against Saudi Arabia and seized key Red Sea territory. **Our take:** *“It’s hard to fully grasp the state of play in Iran amid the changes on the ground and with the president’s focus. I think we’re at a critical juncture right now, and one possible path is Iran getting weaker and reaching a favorable deal with the U.S. The other path is darker and likelier: Iran and the Houthis continue to delay until the U.S. accepts an unfavorable deal.”* **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/09/data-src-image-01bb7001-0fc7-4fd6-9537-9c98b571771a.png) ### Tuesday, September 22. [The White House press bans](https://www.readtangle.com/white-house-press-bans/). On Friday, September 18, President Donald Trump announced he is barring journalists from CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from the White House. The president accused the outlets of inaccurately reporting on his administration and suggested that additional news organizations could be banned. On Monday, the outlets sued the government for allegedly violating their First Amendment rights. **Our take:** *“These outlets don’t have a constitutional right to access the White House, and their reporting has been biased in the past. The president, however, doesn’t have a right to ban outlets for being critical. I’m left wondering why the president would do this now, and I’m concerned about the fights drawing Trump’s focus.”* **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/09/data-src-image-7e0c55bd-2de0-42f3-b17e-9f7bac41c044.png) ### Wednesday, September 23. [The Greenland deal](https://www.readtangle.com/the-us-greenland-deal/). On Tuesday, September 22, President Donald Trump signed a defense agreement with Denmark and the semiautonomous territory of Greenland. The three-party compact was signed in New York City, concurrent with a United Nations General Assembly meeting, and it follows several months of statements from President Trump about the United States increasing its control over the island territory. **Our take:** *“The Greenland saga is a reminder to take Trump seriously but not literally. We saw this with NATO, when his threats to back out successfully pushed member nations into stronger commitments. Now Trump has strengthened our ties with Greenland and NATO, securing a deal that improves our national security.”* **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/09/data-src-image-f1e63213-e0ff-4698-8178-e7a979942c26.png) ### Thursday, September 24. [GLP-1s](https://www.readtangle.com/rise-of-glp-1s/). In recent years, use of new weight-loss medications has risen in the United States. A 2026 Gallup poll found that a record 11% of U.S. adults are taking GLP-1 medications for weight loss, up from 3% in 2024\. Furthermore, high-profile figures like Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D) and decorated tennis player Serena Williams have extolled their experiences taking the drug. The rising prevalence of GLP-1 use for weight management has sparked a debate over their potential impact on health and wellness in the U.S. **Our take:** *“The benefits of GLP-1s are increasingly apparent: lower obesity rates, improved health outcomes, and less strain on public health. But the prevalence of the drugs also raises difficult questions about cultural norms on appearance. I considered taking GLP-1s, but opted for diet and exercise first; that choice has been effective and fulfilling.”* **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/09/data-src-image-f52ba93c-6c2e-4b2f-863b-5eeb03e004c5.png) ### Friday, September 25. In June 2021, Executive Editor Isaac Saul published a newsletter asking the question: Is President Biden okay? Now, in 2026, Isaac poses that same question about President Donald Trump. [You can read his piece here](https://www.readtangle.com/is-president-trump-okay/). --- ### What just happened. Here’s a rundown of the major stories that have broken since our newsletter on Thursday. - On Thursday, the Department of Homeland Security asked the Supreme Court to lift an injunction barring it from deporting noncitizens to countries other than their country of origin, also known as “third-country removals.” ([The request](https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/6110459-trump-deportation-third-country-supreme-court/?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Thursday, reporters from CNN, MS NOW, and Politico were allowed back into the White House following a judge’s order, though some reporters from the outlets were barred from attending a state dinner for Chinese President Xi Jinping hosted by President Trump. ([The updates](https://apnews.com/article/trump-media-ban-judge-ruling-cnn-msnow-politico-21605e397fe48f178a4afa037e732c6d?ref=readtangle.com)) Separately, on Friday, the Trump administration blocked CNN from traveling with President Trump on Air Force One for a Saturday trip to Tennessee. ([The block](https://www.npr.org/2026/09/26/g-s1-145142/cnn-left-off-air-force-one?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Friday, the Supreme Court issued an unsigned order blocking Missouri from using a new congressional map designed to net Republicans an extra House seat, ordering the state to use its 2022 congressional map for this year’s midterms. ([The order](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/supreme-court-blocks-missouri-from-using-new-congressional-map-2026-election?ref=readtangle.com)) Separately, on Friday, the Court ruled that the Trump administration can use a federal database to verify voter eligibility. The Court’s three Democratic-appointed justices dissented. ([The ruling](https://apnews.com/article/save-database-noncitizen-voters-trump-supreme-court-412e12f5a492dd20e407812f30f7c139?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Friday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled that the Trump administration had “ample support for its conclusion” that AI developer Anthropic posed a national security risk, finding that the administration’s move to block Anthropic from working with the government was legal. ([The decision](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/25/technology/anthropic-trump-ruling.html?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Friday, New Jersey Lt. Gov. Dale Caldwell (D) resigned following allegations of sexual misconduct and ethics complaints. ([The resignation](https://apnews.com/article/new-jersey-sherrill-lieutenant-governor-dd40134039813682153107a087821392?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Saturday, a nor’easter continued to impact the Northeast, with coastal flood alerts issued for areas of Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Maine. ([The storm](https://abcnews.com/US/noreaster-brings-strong-winds-coastal-flooding-high-waves/story?id=136777903&ref=readtangle.com)) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/09/data-src-image-48f9975c-a146-4d46-abf6-4bbc5ba5f321.png) ### Reader essay. ![ Winchester College chapel buttresses, 1980s | Mark Draisey](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/09/data-src-image-c1504106-0113-40b7-8e6f-134a9b321ace.png) Winchester College chapel buttresses, 1980s | Mark Draisey When Tangle reader Alden Blodget was working as a school administrator and teacher, two students got caught smoking in a dorm room. The families of the two students responded very differently to their students’ discipline — prompting Alden to reflect on what it means to teach the next generation to be good citizens when people are comfortable with flouting the rules. [You can read Alden’s essay here](https://www.readtangle.com/otherposts/louder-than-words/). *Have a personal story or local issue you want to write about? Pitch us! Fill out* [*this form*](https://forms.gle/aigkWGv5QQbwerCX8?ref=readtangle.com) *or reply to this email, and we’ll get back to you if we’re hooked.* --- ### Reader comments. In this section, we like to highlight reader comments that respond to our coverage from different perspectives. On our Friday edition about President Trump’s mental health, readers discussed their concerns over Trump and former President Biden. **Catherine highlighted differences in staff across the two administrations.** > *Let's assume for a minute that we can equate the Biden confusion with the Trump delirium… the BIG difference is that Biden had competent, accomplished, smart cabinet members/staff around him to still get the work done. Trump has surrounded himself with sycophants and discards who — at best — don’t know what they’re doing on a daily basis and at worst, plan for wholesale destruction of the country. I don’t see \[how\] we last another two years.* **Diana Manning outlined a concerning pattern.** > *You \[Isaac\] brought up very good points, but what crossed my mind as I read it is that we have now had 2 presidencies in a row where we are concerned about the mental faculties of the president. Our system is broken, younger and healthier candidates with electability are suppressed by both parties and once these compromised candidates are in office the cover up begins.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/09/data-src-image-eb56e0e0-69fc-4b28-bf75-770fd49cf089.png) ### Recommended reading. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/09/data-src-image-0f40edc3-f236-434d-9f51-3e0b0c1efaa9.png) > *“It’s hard for me to believe that all that time he was playing a double game, that he didn’t once come unstuck. If he was really collaborating all along, well, then I’d have to say that Igor Rogov is a genius.”* A spy’s subterfuge — secret cells and Sosnowiec sneaking — is sabotaged, but his sincerity is uncertain. [Shaun Walker tells Igor Rogov’s story here](https://www.theguardian.com/news/ng-interactive/2026/aug/13/a-bungled-bomb-plot-in-poland-exposed-a-spy-but-whose-spy-was-he?ref=readtangle.com). --- ### Tangle’s favorites. 🪵 ****PET PROJECT:** Over more than two decades, truck driver Joe Macken built an intimidatingly intricate [model of New York City out of balsa wood](https://apnews.com/article/viral-nyc-balsa-wood-map-model-exhibit-7e05bdf80bfb09a227e32f91d72bda19?ref=readtangle.com). 🥎 ****PET SECURITY:** A golden retriever defended his home by [bringing an intruder his toys](https://apnews.com/video/nash-the-friendly-golden-retriever-brings-toys-to-the-intruder-who-breaks-into-his-house-80d8617d2b484ce680ff761b227e46e7?ref=readtangle.com). 🦝 ****NOT PETS:** A boot camp in Mississippi for preparing abandoned [baby raccoons to re-enter the wild](https://apnews.com/article/raccoon-boot-camp-wildlife-rescue-016f6332a7267497cfeaa9effe387168?ref=readtangle.com). --- ### Post of the week. A deep dive into the mystery of the disappearing Sandy Island: > In 2012, Australian scientists sailed to an island shown on Google Earth and numerous world maps. > > When they reached its coordinates, they found nothing. No beach. No reef. No land at all. > > The ocean beneath them was about 1,400 metres (4,600 ft) deep. > > Where’d it go? > > 1/n [pic.twitter.com/cTCgQ6NB7C](https://t.co/cTCgQ6NB7C?ref=readtangle.com) > > — Iain Cameron (@theiaincameron) [September 21, 2026](https://x.com/theiaincameron/status/2102085998335361258?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=readtangle.com) --- ****Games corner.** Last week, our challenge to beat our Managing Editor Ari Weitzman at a fun browser game was a hit, so we’re running it back this week — this time, with a slightly different game. Check out [MapTap](https://maptap.gg/?ref=readtangle.com), a game that about half the Tangle team plays daily in an attempt to best Ari. So far, we’ve managed to beat him… twice. Check out his performance today in the comments to this article and see if you can help us serve him a slice of humble pie. [Beat Ari! ](https://maptap.gg/?ref=readtangle.com) ### Ask the readers. Last week, Mary from Cincinnati, Ohio asked readers what the worst advice they ever received was. ****Shira from Long Island:** “Don’t go to bed angry.” Ridiculous. Sometimes things just can’t be worked out when my partner and I️ are angry with each other. Sometimes we need a little time and space. It’s best to get a good night’s rest and talk it out the next day. ****Joanne from Las Vegas:** Do not have a pet — too expensive & too much responsibility. Happily I did not heed this advice. I now have 2 dogs. They are rescues, multiple breeds, about 20–22 lbs. And yes they cost money, food & vet bills, but the joy they bring me is unmeasurable. Daily laughs, wonderful companionship, unconditional love, protection, & daily contentment. ****Laurie from Wisconsin:** My mom advised me not to get married at 19, saying that we were too young and we would end up divorced. We got engaged just before I graduated from high school and deferred the wedding until the next year to appease her, but we refused to wait any longer. She still wasn’t happy about it, but she agreed to the wedding. Yes, we were young, and yes, there were some rough times, but we proved her wrong. We just celebrated our 53rd anniversary in July. ****Shauna from California:** The worst advice I received was to turn off my cell phone while my son was in the care of others. A couple days before my six-year-old son stayed overnight at his grandparents, my neighbor friend told me she turns off her cell phone at night because “even if somebody died during the night, there’s nothing I can do about it until the morning so I might as well get a good night’s rest.” When we brought my son to my parents’ house so my husband and I could go out on a date, and he wanted to stay the night with them, they gave me a hard time and told me “Turn off your phone. Enjoy your date. He’s fine with us.” After I had gotten up at 5:30 in the morning for work the next day, I saw I had messages on my cell phone and on our answering machine (this was back in 2010). It was my dad leaving messages since 2:30 AM telling me that my stepmom had had a heart attack, she was in the ICU, and would I please come pick up our son because they couldn’t get a hold of us and had to bring him with them to the ICU! My parents still gave me a hard time about that years later. And since that time, I do not turn off my phone at night, and I’m willing to have my sleep disrupted in case there’s an emergency! This week’s reader question comes from Beth from Wilmington, NC, who asks: ****Where is your favorite “off the beaten path” place that you are glad you came across?** *You can let us know your thoughts by replying through* [*this form*](https://forms.gle/SZ1uohkrkfvkq6NJ9?ref=readtangle.com). --- *Want even more Tangle? Follow us on our* [*X*](https://twitter.com/TangleNews?ref=readtangle.com)*,* [*Reddit*](https://www.reddit.com/r/tanglenews?ref=readtangle.com)*, or* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/tangle.news?ref=readtangle.com) *for up-to-the-minute updates.* ### When a Parent’s Values Clash With a Child’s Education URL: https://www.readtangle.com/when-a-parents-values-clash-with-a-childs-education/ Last updated: 2026-09-26T16:01:20.000Z Did Nikole Hannah-Jones make a mistake by sending her daughter to a struggling school to model her values? ### Why the Iran War Will Drag Past the Midterms URL: https://www.readtangle.com/why-the-iran-war-will-drag-past-the-midterms/ Last updated: 2026-09-25T22:00:55.000Z Is the UN General Assembly anything more than theater? ### Louder than Words URL: https://www.readtangle.com/otherposts/louder-than-words/ Last updated: 2026-09-27T12:41:01.000Z *By Alden S. Blodget* --- In autumn, several years ago, two students were discovered smoking in a dorm room of the school where I was an administrator and teacher. Because safety is always a serious concern, especially on a campus of old wooden buildings, for as long as anyone can remember, the school has made the penalty very tough: Smoke or have any open flame in the dormitories, and you are expelled from school. The punishment hardly seems unreasonable when weighed against the fire that might result from a carelessly discarded cigarette. So the two students were expelled. Neither student denied smoking. The parents of one of the students hired a lawyer, who got a judge to provide an injunction by declaring that the school’s rule was “arbitrary and capricious.” That student returned to campus. Smart lawyer: He knew that by the time the case was settled, the child would have graduated. Smart parents: By god, they knew their rights. But the other parents knew what *was right*. They knew their child had made a stupid and dangerous mistake. They understood the importance of their child’s knowing that actions have consequences and that people must be responsible for their actions. And they chose a moral route rather than a legal one. How will children think about rules when they learn that, even if they know they were wrong, they can avoid the consequences — especially in a world where finding a way to circumvent the rules has become dominant? David M. Crane of the [*JURIST News*](https://www.jurist.org/commentary/2024/10/the-erosion-of-respect-for-the-rule-of-law-in-america/?ref=readtangle.com) writes, “The rule of law has long been considered a cornerstone of American democracy, safeguarding individual rights, ensuring justice, and regulating the conduct of public officials within a framework of established laws. However, a troubling trend has emerged in recent years — a significant erosion of respect for this foundational principle.” It’s hardly surprising that the [American Psychological Association](https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2019/06/seniors-trust-law-enforcement?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=According%20to%20a%20study%20published%20in%20the,system%2A%2A%20Equal%20negativity%20from%202015%20to%202017) has reported that this erosion affects young people: “From 2015 to 2017 . . . there was a critical shift as teens perceived both law enforcement and the justice system equally negatively.” Like most of us, young people are not Constitutional scholars. To scholars, a student’s view of the laws embedded in our Constitution will seem naive and simplistic. After all, most history and civics courses in K–12 schools offer little more than an introductory overview, so it’s not surprising that students (like a lot of us) take these laws at face value: The government cannot prevent people from speaking freely or prevent the press from investigating and reporting the news. People cannot be targeted, jailed, or deported just because the government doesn’t like them. Congress, not the president or the courts, has the power of the purse, the power to declare war, and the power to make laws. People cannot use their position or offices to enrich themselves; they cannot solicit or take bribes. And fundamental to a society built on laws is the rule that no one is above the law. Yet it has become impossible to listen to or read the daily news without hearing reports of what are decried as illegal violations of all these laws. Where’s the accountability? CEOs avoid criminal prosecution by making deals that shift responsibility to their corporations, which pay a fine or declare bankruptcy. Throughout American history, you can [find examples](https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/history/boston-alderman-reelected-while-jail-fraud/?ref=readtangle.com) of convicted criminals holding positions of power and pardoning other convicted criminals. How could people, especially children, not get the impression that laws are burdens to overcome when various leaders flaunt the laws without any fear of consequences? Perception matters, especially to the developing minds of young people. Our rules and laws are not “capricious and arbitrary”; rather, the judicial decisions increasingly appear to give the rich and powerful free rein. Perhaps the saddest decision for those of us who work with young people was the Supreme Court declaring that presidents have absolute immunity to do whatever they want as long as someone can argue their actions were “official.” Official criminality? What are we teaching our children? Various studies of student behavior, like the ones conducted by the [National Education Association](https://www.nea.org/nea-today/all-news-articles/survey-says-were-crisis-point?ref=readtangle.com), have shown that student behavior problems continue to grow and have reached a “crisis point.” Although the causes are many, Dr. Pamela Rutledge writes in [*Psychology Today*](https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/positively-media/202604/do-you-want-your-kids-arguing-like-a-politician?ref=readtangle.com) about the link between the political climate and child behavior: > Kids see politics and social media as tutorials on how power, attention, and winning work. > > Repeated exposure to hostile, winner-take-all conflict is tied to more bullying and less empathy. > > Public behavior that rewards personal attacks can impact how kids handle relationship conflict. Little wonder that so many young people become contemptuous of rules, laws, and regulations that we get song lyrics like Mac Miller’s: “Get money, \[bleep\] the system, break the law, break the law.” Emily, a high school senior, told me, “If there is no way to enforce the rule or no agency willing to enact consequences on individuals who break the rule, the rule is no longer a rule in my mind. The rule becomes a suggestion… If the agency supposed to enforce the rule fails to do this, I lose respect for the agency.” She went on to add, “There is also a trend I noticed among my friends that leaders are not respected. To me, respect is earned, not inherited through arbitrary titles which are often the result of corruption and nepotism.” Our Constitution is as flammable as an old wooden building and is protected only by respect for the rule of law that is passed from generation to generation. We should worry about what we are passing to Emily’s generation. --- *Alden Blodget is a retired high school teacher and administrator. After retiring, he volunteered for eight years as a guardian ad litem working in Rutland County (VT) family and criminal courts with abused and delinquent children. Currently, he tutors students who cannot afford the usual fee tutors charge.* ### Is President Trump okay? URL: https://www.readtangle.com/is-president-trump-okay/ Last updated: 2026-09-25T15:52:09.000Z ****Note:** You are reading a preview of a members-only Friday edition. To read it in full, [you’ll be asked to subscribe](https://www.readtangle.com/membership/). In June of 2021, I published a newsletter [headlined “Is Joe Biden okay?”](https://www.readtangle.com/joe-biden-mental-state-cognitive-ability/) The president, I wrote, didn’t “seem quite right.” I preemptively shot down critics who thought it was taboo to say what was obvious: Biden was in decline, that decline seemed to be accelerating, and imagining nearly four more years with him governing was worrisome. He was a totally different man than he had been at the end of his vice presidency just five years prior, and it was infuriating that so many people were pretending otherwise. I published the piece before that opinion was popular among pundits. A full three years passed, almost exactly to the day, before the [infamous debate](https://www.readtangle.com/the-biden-v-trump-debate-2024/) with Trump that squashed Biden’s pursuit of a second term — the debate that made even Democrats start saying what I argued three years earlier: *The president didn’t look quite right.* In the aftermath of my 2021 piece, droves of Biden supporters canceled their Tangle subscriptions, accused me of ageism, and insisted I was a secret Republican who wanted to help the party by undermining Biden’s presidency. Today, I feel compelled to deliver a similar message about Biden’s successor: President Donald Trump doesn’t seem quite right. I don’t think this happened the same way it happened with Biden. Trump has always been a bombastic, norm-breaking, reality TV star of a president. He is pornographic; his actions, words, decorum and decisions as president are so out of bounds, and so quickly move the Overton window, that he constantly has to up the ante to keep people’s attention. When he’s fighting for an issue you care about, or pursuing a policy you want implemented, this is part of his appeal. He will trample any norm, fight any enemy, and stretch any law to get it done. I’ve experienced this and it’s thrilling, though you know somewhere in your heart it’s probably not good — like watching a snarky classmate who picks on you get bullied by someone else. Of course, when he’s doing something you don’t like or don’t want, it’s a different story. But what was already abnormal and often shocking has now become something completely different. He’s upped the ante so high that the things he says are increasingly out of orbit with our shared reality, yet he says them so regularly that our reactions have become more and more muted over time. And I’m not the only one noticing. Many Democrats have been insisting for some time that Trump is not well, or that his Cabinet should remove him from office. Longtime Trump allies like Marjorie Taylor Greene have said he’s “gone mad” and questioned whether he’s “mentally stable.” Tucker Carlson [recently recounted](https://x.com/JohnCFLoftus1/status/2103135860736807034?ref=readtangle.com) a private meeting with the president where he said “in the end, we’re all dead anyway,” in response to Carlson’s concerns about a war with Iran. One niche Trump influencer I follow on X recently [posted](https://x.com/vancemurphy/status/2095205971299893306?s=46&ref=readtangle.com) a series of screenshots showing all the “rambling about the Strait of Hormuz” that Trump has done in the last few months. “Closed, open, closed, open, closed, open, closed, open… He is not stable or competent anymore,” the three-time Trump voter wrote. A Tangle reader, himself a former Trump supporter, recently called for the invocation of the 25th Amendment in our comments section, saying that “Trump has lost his mind.” In opinion polls, Trump is experiencing his worst approval ratings and lowest levels of trust ever. A recent survey found [nearly a fifth of all Trump voters](https://navigatorresearch.org/feeling-duped-trump-voters-go-from-hope-to-regret/?ref=readtangle.com) from 2024 already regret their vote. And I understand why they feel this way. Just to start, consider the signs of Trump’s aging that have all the echoes of President Biden toward the end of his term but have evoked very little of the same concern. In May, he [blamed](https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-79-mixes-up-obama-and-biden-in-worrying-war-gaffe/?ref=readtangle.com) the 2021 Abbey Gate bombing on President Obama, who last served in office in 2017\. In June, he [referred](https://www.the-independent.com/tv/news/donald-trump-elon-musk-wisconsin-b2608971.html?ref=readtangle.com) to Elon Musk as “Leon.” In July, he [confused](https://www.wrdw.com/2026/07/07/trump-misidentifies-former-sen-kelly-loeffler-nicki-minaj/?ref=readtangle.com) Kelly Loeffler with rap star Nicki Minaj. According to The Wall Street Journal, he [has](https://www.wsj.com/politics/elections/trump-birthday-80-years-48541ecd?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=But%20cameras%20often,the%20Middle%20East.) referred to Greenland as Iceland, called the Strait of Hormuz the Strait of Iran, and confused conflicts in South America and the Middle East. In a single day at a NATO summit in July, he [called out](https://www.cnn.com/2026/07/12/politics/trump-gaffes-recap-nato?ref=readtangle.com) the “Islamic Republic of Japan” for firing missiles at a U.S. carrier, called the Iran Deal (JCPOA) the “JCPOC,” [addressed](https://www.newsweek.com/trump-calls-zelensky-putin-japan-islamic-12172911?ref=readtangle.com) President Zelensky of Ukraine as President Putin, called TikTok “Tic Tac,” and [referred](https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/us/2026/07/08/trump-gaffes-islamic-republic-of-japan/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=And%20he%20said%20Turkish%20President%20Recep%20Tayyip%20Erdogan%20was%20the%20leader%20of%20a%20%22great%20company%22%2C%20before%20correcting%20himself%20to%20%22country%22.) to Turkish President Tayyip Erdoğan as the leader of a “great company.” In August, Trump appeared in Nevada to promote his “no tax on tips” policy. While there, he [told](https://x.com/RpsAgainstTrump/status/2085178652346450076?ref=readtangle.com) the audience that “Michael Whatley should be your governor.” Whatley is running for *Senate* in *North Carolina*. As Kevin D. Williamson recently [recounted](https://thedispatch.com/newsletter/wanderland/republican-party-donald-trump-2020-election-january-6/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Trump%E2%80%99s%20lack%20of,significant%20geopolitical%20facts.) in The Dispatch, Trump remarked how well he remembered the Falklands War despite being a “young boy” during the conflict. “As a matter of fact,” Williamson wrote, “Argentina surrendered to the United Kingdom in that conflict on Donald Trump’s 36th birthday, when he was a ‘young boy’ with a wife and two children.” Just in the last few months, he has also [repeatedly](https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/trump-fall-asleep-oval-office/?ref=readtangle.com) [appeared](https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-struggles-to-stay-awake-at-unrelenting-suck-up-cabinet-meeting/?ref=readtangle.com) to [fall asleep](https://www.newsweek.com/timeline-of-when-donald-trump-has-been-accused-of-falling-asleep-12389265?ref=readtangle.com) or [doze off](https://x.com/atrupar/status/2098419637771804843?s=20&ref=readtangle.com) in meetings and events (or at NBA Finals games). Now, I’m not here to argue that President Trump seems *equally* as diminished as President Biden did during his term. But when Biden introduced Zelensky as “President Putin” at a 2024 NATO summit, or referred to Kamala Harris as “Vice President Trump” or called the President of Egypt the president of Mexico, we got endless news stories about his potential dementia and certain demise. Even if Trump undeniably seems more present, more aware of his surroundings and more energetic, comparing the two is really beside the point. For Trump, what has me worried goes beyond just the signs of his mental acuity deteriorating. The 80-year-old president’s attachment to reality is what concerns me — an attachment that seems increasingly, well, detached. Among the things that have happened in the last few months, a few examples in particular seem well beyond his usual abnormal behavior or outrage: _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### The rise of GLP-1s. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/rise-of-glp-1s/ Last updated: 2026-09-24T15:50:32.000Z Happy Thursday. It’s Editor **Audrey Moorehead**, fresh off a family trip to Gatlinburg, Tennessee, nestled in the heart of the Smoky Mountains, where life is as peaceful [as a baby’s sigh](https://x.com/Vol%5FFootball/status/2096025113615269898?s=20&ref=readtangle.com). Gatlinburg is best known for its — shall we say — tackiness, but there’s a quaint charm to the little town, and I’m grateful that I could make my family’s annual trip for the first time in five years. A lot has changed in the world in those five years, and today I’ll be writing about one such change — **the rise of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs**. Then, read on for our recap of **the stories we didn’t cover** this weekand some good news about **the falling U.S. poverty rate**. It’s a **14-minute read**. Isaac Saul, Ari Weitzman, Will Kaback, Carina Pacheco, Russell Nystrom, Isaac Wood, and Bailey Saul edited or contributed to today’s newsletter. ### Suspension of the Rules. It’s a Big Apple episode for apple season. On the most recent *Suspension of the Rules*, Isaac, Ari, and Kmele talk about the ongoing UN assembly in New York. Then, a discussion of a New York Times Magazine article about public schooling and race. Plus, guess who has a complaint about leaves? (hint: Kmele. It’s Kmele.) Check out the conversation here: The new episode of Suspension of the Rules ### Quick hits. 1. A federal judge ordered the Trump administration to restore White House press credentials to CNN, MS NOW and Politico reporters, finding that the administration’s ban is likely unconstitutional. ([The order](https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/6108012-judge-orders-white-house-to-immediately-restore-access-to-cnn-ms-now-politico/?ref=readtangle.com)) 2. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian addressed the United Nations General Assembly, criticizing the U.S. and Israel for attacking his country and saying that it will fight the war “until our last breath.” ([The speech](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/09/23/iran-united-nations-trump-israel.html?ref=readtangle.com)) 3. Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Washington, D.C. for a state visit hosted by President Donald Trump. Shortly after Xi’s arrival, the U.S. and China announced an extension of their trade truce until January 2027\. ([The visit](https://apnews.com/article/trump-xi-arrival-washington-state-visit-baea8dbdb8c832ae1b295579709dc967?ref=readtangle.com)) 4. The 10-year Treasury yield, the annual interest rate paid by the federal government to investors who own 10-year debt notes, rose to 5.14% on Wednesday, the highest rate since July 2007\. ([The rate](https://www.wsj.com/finance/investing/ten-year-treasury-yield-reaches-19-year-high-amid-broad-bonds-selloff-087132fb?ref=readtangle.com)) 5. Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao informed lawmakers that eight sailors assigned to the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group attempted suicide during the ship’s recent deployment to the Middle East. Cao said the rate of attempts was approximately consistent with the rate for the entire active-duty Navy in 2024\. ([The disclosure](https://www.cnn.com/2026/09/23/politics/eight-sailors-lincoln-carrier-group-iran-war-attempted-suicide?ref=readtangle.com)) Today’s partner ****13 Retirement Investment Blunders to Avoid** Can you spot investment mistakes before they cost you? Our guide, [****13 Retirement Investment Blunders to Avoid**](https://api.wellput.io/v1/cm?cmid=1142923&tid=378&s1=v2-r1022321-p1142923-c50742&s2=Tangle&s3=&s4=&ref=readtangle.com), reveals common errors that can quietly erode your savings, so you can make more informed decisions for your future. You’ll learn ways to: \- manage excessive fees \- plan for inflation \- invest beyond the US and stay disciplined through market swings If you’ve saved over $1 million, these strategies can help position your portfolio to [support a long, comfortable retirement](https://api.wellput.io/v1/cm?cmid=1142923&tid=378&s1=v2-r1022321-p1142923-c50742&s2=Tangle&s3=&s4=&ref=readtangle.com). When you’re ready to talk through your situation, schedule a call with one of our dedicated professionals. We can discuss these strategies and opportunities to help improve your plan. [Get the free guide ](https://api.wellput.io/v1/cm?cmid=1142923&tid=378&s1=v2-r1022321-p1142923-c50742&s2=Tangle&s3=&s4=&ref=readtangle.com) ### Today’s topic. GLP-1s. In recent years, use of new weight-loss medications has risen in the United States. A 2026 Gallup poll [found](https://news.gallup.com/poll/712157/glp-usage-reaches-new-high.aspx?ref=readtangle.com) that a record 11% of U.S. adults are taking GLP-1 medications for weight loss, up from 3% in 2024\. Furthermore, high-profile figures like Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D) and decorated tennis player Serena Williams have [extolled](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/jb-pritzker-glp-1-president/?ref=readtangle.com) their [experiences](https://www.vogue.com/article/serena-williams-glp-1-interview?ref=readtangle.com) taking the drug. The rising prevalence of GLP-1 use for weight management has sparked a debate over their potential impact on health and wellness in the U.S. **Back up:** GLP-1s, or “glucagon-like peptide-1 agonists,” are a [class of medication](https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/13901-glp-1-agonists?ref=readtangle.com) that primarily treats Type 2 diabetes and obesity. GLP-1 agonists mimic the GLP-1 hormone, which is made in the small intestine, to trigger insulin release, slow down digestion, and increase the feeling of fullness after eating. The Food and Drug Administration first approved GLP-1s for medical use in 2005, but their popularity has increased significantly in recent years with the introduction of brand names like Ozempic and Wegovy. The rising adoption of GLP-1s has coincided with U.S. obesity rates [decreasing](https://news.gallup.com/poll/712157/glp-usage-reaches-new-high.aspx?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Obesity%20Continues%20to%20Tick%20Down%3B%20Diabetes%20Eases%20Slightly) from 39.9% in 2022 to 36.8% in 2026\. Users like Gov. Pritzker have reported health improvements after lifetime struggles with weight management; Pritzker said he has lost 80 pounds in the two years since he began taking a GLP-1 medication. Under current federal law, Medicare and Medicaid [mostly cover](https://www.kff.org/medicare/what-to-know-about-the-balance-model-for-glp-1s-in-medicare-and-medicaid/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Current%20law%20prohibits%20Medicare%20from%20covering%20obesity%20drugs%20and%20gives%20states%20flexibility%20to%20cover%20weight%20loss%20drugs%20under%20Medicaid) GLP-1s if prescribed for diabetes, but new initiatives are exploring potential coverage for obesity. In July, Medicare [launched](https://www.cms.gov/medicare/coverage/prescription-drug-coverage/medicare-glp-1-bridge?ref=readtangle.com) a pilot program to provide certain GLP-1s to some Medicare Part D beneficiaries. The Trump administration has [sought](https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2025/11/fact-sheet-president-donald-j-trump-announces-major-developments-in-bringing-most-favored-nation-pricing-to-american-patients/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=The%20Medicare%20prices,50%20per%20month.) to negotiate reduced prices for the drugs for Medicare and Medicaid recipients, as well as U.S. consumers paying for them out-of-pocket. The side effects of the drugs are still being studied, and a March 2026 study by the Washington University School of Medicine [found](https://bmjmedicine.bmj.com/content/5/1/e002150?ref=readtangle.com) that people who start and then stop GLP-1 treatments experience a “meaningful increase in the risk of major cardiovascular events compared with \[those\] remaining on the medication.” Another study [identified](https://case.edu/news/cleveland-research-team-identifies-biological-mechanism-may-explain-obesity-relapse?ref=readtangle.com) a biological mechanism that may be causing users to regain lost weight after they stop taking the medication. Separately, hundreds of consumers have [sued](https://www.foxnews.com/health/popular-weight-loss-drugs-face-lawsuits-rare-eye-stroke-linked-vision-loss?ref=readtangle.com) GLP-1 manufacturers Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly, alleging that the drug increases the risk of a condition that causes blindness. Today, we’ll share views from the right and left on the rising prevalence of GLP-1s. Then, Editor Audrey Moorehead’s take. | What the right is saying. Many on the right praise the innovation that led to GLP-1s and their benefits.Some argue that government coverage would raise the price of the medication.Others note the potential health consequences of taking the drugs. | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | **The Washington Post editorial board argued** [**“the promise of weight-loss drugs keeps growing.”**](https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2026/05/24/glp-1-weight-loss-drugs-keep-growing-more-promising/?ref=readtangle.com) “Eli Lilly announced \[in May\] that the highest dose of its new weight-loss drug helped people shed more than 30 percent of their body weight, on par with gastric bypass surgery,” the board wrote. “Eli Lilly’s innovation promises to unlock surgery-free treatment for people with a severely high body mass index, for whom weight-loss medications have not been a durable option… Studies have found that users of these drugs cut their grocery expenditures.” “That could mean reducing future health care costs on chronic illnesses such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease,” the board said. “Not long ago, addressing America’s obesity epidemic was seen as something only the government could solve by micromanaging consumers’ eating habits. As is often the case, however, science-based innovation has proven far more effective than any initiative from Washington.” **In National Review, John R. Puri said** [**“don’t ruin GLP-1 prices by having the government cover them.”**](https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/dont-ruin-glp-1-prices-by-having-the-government-cover-them/amp/?ref=readtangle.com) “Over the past few years, the American health-care sector has seen a real-time experiment in what happens when a revolutionary treatment runs outside traditional payment systems,” Puri wrote. “Usually, when the FDA approves a new drug, its cost is quickly covered by employer-run insurance plans and the government through Medicare and Medicaid. Yet the makers of GLP-1 drugs, approved for weight loss, have had to compete for patients’ dollars more directly.” “Individual patients may be annoyed that insurance won’t pick up the tab on a pricey brand-name drug, but the result of widespread self-payment has been vicious price competition to win market share,” Puri said. “The price of GLP-1 drugs will probably keep falling, but only if patients have to pay for the drugs themselves. Governments should limit their appetite for providing short-term relief at long-term expense.” **In the Daily Wire, Benjamin Chacko asked** [**“are we using medicinal drugs to support healthy living, or as a substitute for it?”**](https://www.dailywire.com/news/a-brave-new-world-weight-loss-plan?ref=readtangle.com) “One extreme dismisses GLP-1s as another ‘miracle cure’ sold by Big Pharma. The other imagines that a weekly injection can replace the hard work of building health. Both are false gods,” Chacko wrote. “Disease begins with what we eat, how we sleep, how we move, and a food environment that has been, for decades, making processed calories cheaper, more addictive, and more accessible than real nutrition. The Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement is rightly focused on those upstream causes. “GLP-1s should complement that mission, not compete with it,” Chacko said. “Medicine is crossing an important threshold as we develop drugs that will influence motivation, reward, and desire themselves. That is an extraordinary scientific achievement, but it also demands extraordinary wisdom. We know GLP-1s work, but they cannot replace the habits, character, and choices that allow people to flourish. The question at hand is whether we’ll use them to support health or to substitute for it. Those are two very different futures.” | What the left is saying. Many on the left suggest GLP-1s should be treated like any other medicine.Some lament that Americans’ views on weight cause GLP-1 users to feel guilty.Others worry these drugs are exacerbating certain eating disorders. | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | **In New York Magazine, Sarah Jones asked** [**“why can’t we treat GLP-1s like medicine?”**](https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/glp1-ozempic-mounjaro-medicine-discourse-debate.html?ref=readtangle.com) “When I first started taking the drug, I was reluctant to mention it to anyone,” Jones wrote. “Diabetes is complicated enough by itself, and the American health-care system is one more obstacle to good health. In my case, Cigna refused to cover Mounjaro at the lowest dose, which forced me to increase it on corporate timing, not my own or my doctor’s. I hoped it would be all right. The endocrinologist’s nurse told me I might have gastrointestinal symptoms, but the drug was good for my blood sugar and the side effects usually got easier over time. She was right, for a while.” “I lost nearly a third of my total body weight by April and saw a new endocrinologist, who told me that I’d developed a significant vitamin-D deficiency. I told her I wanted to have children, and she finally took me off Mounjaro,” Jones said. “I don’t know who to blame for any of this… Perhaps I could blame the Reformation, or capitalism, or some unholy combination thereof; the damage is the same. We’ve lost sight of Mounjaro as medicine. A GLP-1 is not snake oil or a miracle drug but a tool, and it can be helpful without being right for every person.” **In Vox, Dylan Scott suggested** [**“Americans still have a toxic relationship with weight.”**](https://www.vox.com/the-highlight/496817/weight-loss-drugs-zepbound-wegovy-glp-1-stigma?ref=readtangle.com) “GLP-1 drugs promised to usher in a new era of treating obesity as a disease. We could leave behind the anti-fat biases of the past, which blamed obesity on moral failing or personal weakness,” Scott wrote. “Instead, these drugs would allow us to approach it as a medical condition, a complex matrix of genetics and other forces which could be changed with the right dose of these powerful new medicines. Or so the thinking went.” “Even as millions of Americans shed pounds in bulk for the first time, they are also contending with fierce stigma and shaming from others — instead of being criticized for being fat, they are being criticized for using GLP-1s,” Scott said. “Americans have internalized the message that being overweight is a personal failure so thoroughly that… many people struggle to see \[the availability of these drugs\] as good news. They see it as cheating.” **In The New York Times, Jessica Grose suggested** [**“GLP-1s feed our sick culture.”**](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/08/opinion/glp1-ozempic-caroline-calloway.html?ref=readtangle.com) “Multiple things can be true about GLP-1s: They are truly miracles and may treat a whole range of conditions beyond obesity and diabetes. And they are often misused, partly because we have told women in multiple ways that being thin makes them valuable,” Grose wrote. “As my colleague Tressie McMillan Cottom has written, our culture ‘makes being fat a woman’s burden, a means test for dignity, work, social status and moral citizenry.’” “\[In a recent JAMA Psychiatry study,\] researchers found that the use and misuse of GLP-1s is higher among people with eating disorders than among the general population and that some of them may be attempting to maintain their ‘eating disorder psychopathology through rapid restriction and weight loss.’ They found that over 10% of participants with anorexia had tried GLP-1s,” Grose said. “Though GLP-1s may be a promising treatment for some kinds of disordered eating, like binge-eating disorder, it appears much riskier for women with other kinds of diagnoses.” | My take. Audrey Moorehead Editor ![Audrey Moorehead](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2025/05/Audrey.jpg) | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | The benefits of GLP-1s are increasingly apparent: lower obesity rates, improved health outcomes, and less strain on public health. But the prevalence of the drugs also raises difficult questions about cultural norms on appearance.I considered taking GLP-1s, but opted for diet and exercise first; that choice has been effective and fulfilling. | | **Reminder:** This is where we share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, leave a comment or reply to this email. | In this era of hyperpartisan polarization, which is now affecting the conversation on *weight-loss drugs* of all things, it’s important to remember: The internet is not real life. Issues are not flat and two-dimensional. In the real world, where the sky is brilliant blue and the air smells of crisp leaves and your body fat (wherever it may be) jiggles while you walk, multiple things can be true at once. First and foremost — as with many new medical technologies — GLP-1s are a net good for American public health. It’s hard to argue otherwise. From 2017–2020, [nearly 42%](https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/adult-obesity-facts/index.html?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=The%20prevalence%20of%20obesity%20among%20U.S.%20adults%2020%20and%20over%20was%2041.9%25%20during%202017%E2%80%93March%202020.1%20During%20the%20same%20time%2C%20the%20prevalence%20of%20severe%20obesity%20among%20U.S.%20adults%20was%209.2%25.%20This%20means%20that%20more%20than%20100%20million%20adults%20have%20obesity%2C%20and%20more%20than%2022%20million%20adults%20have%20severe%20obesity.) of U.S. adults over 20 were obese, increasing their risk of serious chronic health problems like heart disease and diabetes. According to the CDC, obesity-related issues and treatments [accounted](https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/adult-obesity-facts/index.html?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Age-,Obesity%20is%20serious%20and%20expensive,-Many%20adults%20with) for $173 billion (in 2019 dollars) of annual healthcare costs. And a study from the 2010s [found](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11443986/?ref=readtangle.com) that obesity-related deaths increased from 1.8 per 100,000 people in 2010 to 3.1 per 100,000 in 2020\. In short, before the advent of Ozempic, obesity was one of the leading — if not *the* leading — health issues facing Americans, and things were getting worse, not better. In my mind, then, a new set of drugs that relieves the worst of this public health crisis is an unquestionable good for the world. But, as is the case with many new medical technologies, GLP-1s aren’t a magic wand we can wave to fix the culture that produced an obesity epidemic; and because weight loss and weight gain are often a game of extremes, it’s fair to question whether these drugs will swing the pendulum to the other dangerous end. It’s disappointing, but not surprising, to see that these concerns have ended up divided along partisan lines. Under today’s “What the right is saying” section, Benjamin Chacko points to the “Make America Healthy Again” movement and its concern that GLP-1s change problematic behaviors that produce obesity but don’t change problematic mindsets. The thinking goes that the drug might reduce a person's desire for food in the short term, but it doesn’t adequately address the twisted relationships to food Americans might have. Frankly, I’m sympathetic to fears that disconnecting unhealthy actions and thought processes from their consequences can exacerbate, rather than cure, societal dysfunction. It’s a long-game assertion, hard to measure when GLP-1s are so new, but we’ve seen it happen in other spheres. Look at the problem of [grade inflation](https://fordhaminstitute.org/national/commentary/first-do-no-harm-academic-impacts-grade-inflation-long-term-outcomes?ref=readtangle.com). [Studies from the ’80s](https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1988-21628-001?ref=readtangle.com) showed that students who receive poor grades can be discouraged from learning, turning the students who most need more instruction away from education. So, educators started grading more gently. But when teachers give students higher grades than their work might otherwise deserve, students get a short-term boost but ultimately have [lower lifetime outcomes](https://edsource.org/updates/grade-inflation-in-us-schools-linked-to-lower-earnings-study-finds?ref=readtangle.com). Isn’t it possible that the same handicapping might be true of giving people with unhealthy habits access to a miracle drug that suppresses their desire for food? Many GLP-1 users [regain](https://www.bmj.com/content/392/bmj-2025-085304?ref=readtangle.com) the weight once they stop using the drugs, which signals early support for that hypothesis from the right. The left (including Jessica Grose in “What the left is saying” today), in the spirit of body positivity, fears that GLP-1s are ushering in a new wave of eating disorders and reckless pursuits of an imagined ideal of thinness. One only needs to read about how GLP-1s have [exacerbated](https://www.thecut.com/article/sorority-rows-glp-1-secret.html?ref=readtangle.com) the already-harmful parts of sorority culture — prompting girls of such gargantuan proportions as *size 8 in dresses* to call up their moms for the shots — to understand that this fear is well founded. Even more disturbing is that many Americans who can’t get their doctor to prescribe peptides are turning to [“gray market”](https://www.npr.org/2025/10/07/nx-s1-5528695/patients-turn-to-gray-market-for-cheaper-obesity-drugs-but-its-risky?ref=readtangle.com) drugs with no FDA approval or medical oversight. This in particular alarms me: When Americans order drugs from overseas, there’s no way to ensure they’re getting what they’re ordering, and it’s harder to ensure that the drugs are prepared and dosed safely. Sure enough, some people [have experienced side effects](https://www.wsj.com/health/pharma/one-states-battle-to-stop-people-from-taking-unapproved-weight-loss-drugs-7e597719?ref=readtangle.com) after taking illicit GLP-1s, and regulators have found that purported vials of the unapproved drug retatrutide have sometimes contained very different ingredients. If Americans are willing to risk taking unproven mystery drugs just to lose a few pounds, is that really a sign of a culture primarily concerned with health? The culture of GLP-1s isn’t a zero-sum game — both fears of personal and societal degradation can be true at once. In fact, if GLP-1s have had any impact on the culture so far, it’s been to force a reckoning with how Americans think about our weight and health. I’m not exactly watching this story at a remove. In fact, I almost feel as though my life is a microcosm of many Americans’ relationship with weight, and GLP-1s have forced me to confront my own habits and lifestyle as much as anything else. I won’t go so far as to say I’ve always struggled with my weight. I spent most of elementary, middle and high school blessedly average, despite being decidedly inactive and not really watching what I ate. But in college, to deal with the stress of moving far away from home, taking difficult classes and struggling to make new friends, I turned to food as a coping mechanism. When I started gaining weight, I didn’t stop to reflect on whether I had a problem; I assumed that obesity couldn’t just “happen” to me. But, slowly and surely, and without me noticing, it did. Even after I’d resolved the emotional stresses that led me to adopt bad habits, the bad habits stuck around, and I wasn’t paying attention to them. When GLP-1s first came out, I was still in denial about problems with my weight, even as I noticed that I was struggling to take long walks or get up stairs. But as people around me began using the drugs — some privately, some more openly — I felt curious. I wasn’t *obese*, I thought (though I was), but sure, I could stand to lose a few pounds. Would it be so bad to take a drug to get those off? And suddenly, I *was* paying attention to how I looked in the mirror, or in photos. For the first time in my life, I really felt self-conscious about how I appeared, and that self-consciousness prompted me to probe my physical health. After all, I was young and supposed to be in the prime of my life, but somehow, exercise was a struggle. I don’t remember who brought it up first, me or my friend using gray-market retatrutide, but I remember the night I ended up scrolling through the website they used, looking at vials and needles and dosage sizes. I asked my friend how the injections worked, and they dutifully assured me that swabbing and jabbing my skin would be easy. But at that description, I chickened out: There was *no way* I could stab myself with a needle when I had to psych myself up just to get a flu shot. I thanked them for the links and the info and said I might try it later. Instead, I called up my brother (a bona fide fitness nerd) and asked him about losing weight the old-fashioned way; I told myself if diet and exercise failed, I could fall back on the drugs. To my surprise, I discovered I *did* have the willpower to keep up with the diet, and the rewards of getting back to a healthy weight created a self-perpetuating motivation cycle. I only dealt with constant food cravings for a couple of weeks before the “food noise” subsided permanently; and when I ate too much while at dinner with friends, I could snap back to discipline the next day. But not everyone has the same experience. Some people’s cravings never subside, and even just one night off-track can feel like it resets all their progress. I don’t experience that with food, but I do experience it in other areas of my life where I’ve tried and failed to curb bad habits on my own before (like managing screen time). So I can’t begrudge the use of GLP-1s for people for whom food is a constant temptation — especially when the alternative is untreated obesity. Beginning to lose weight forced me, for the first time, to confront the culture I’d ingested since I was a teenager. I grew up on Instagram, Tumblr, and Twitter at the peak of the body-positivity movement. Influencers’ and activists’ attempts to raise eating-disorder awareness and discourage body comparison were well founded and well meaning, and I took them to heart as a teen. Being overweight *wouldn’t* make me a bad person or worth less than anyone else. But they never mentioned that it *would* mean I was more susceptible to illness and injury, or less capable of physical activity than other people. At the same time, the rise of GLP-1s *has* brought back the “skinny culture” that body positivity was created to resist, and I’ve learned that you can’t put the self-awareness genie back in the bottle. Once I became aware of my weight, I became hyperaware of it — perpetually conscious of my own imperfections. And in some ways, “skinny culture” is even worse now that people can use drugs to lose weight, because it now comes with the added moralizing dimension of *how* you become and stay skinny, not just *whether* you do. It’s hard to say what the ultimate solution to this problem even is, when the healthy-weight conversation seems to constantly oscillate between the two extremes of “you’re healthy at any weight” and “you’re only healthy at a *very specific* weight in a *very specific* way.” But I think it probably requires walking a path between those extremes. Obsessing over being skinny and looking a certain way is unhealthy, and learning not to hang your self-worth on your physical appearance is vitally important for your mental and physical health. However, obesity is also unhealthy, and finding a solution — whether it’s the diet plan that has worked for me or the GLP-1s that have worked for others — is vitally important for your mental and physical health. Oddly, I’m hopeful that the rise of GLP-1s, with their extreme short-term effects, will balance things out in the long run. I’m also hopeful that the attempts to stigmatize GLP-1s are just the last gasp of a moralizing weight-loss culture finally dying out — and that in its place, a culture that can stop thinking so much about food and weight will arise. Staff dissent. Isaac Saul Executive Editor ![Will Kaback](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2025/05/Isaac.jpg) I agree with Audrey that GLP-1 use is a great choice for some people and will likely improve overall health throughout American society. Yet I can’t shake the concern that GLP-1s are the latest rung on the ladder to a frictionless life. The AI chatbots do our thinking, the influencers summarize our news in one-minute videos, and GLP-1s shed our weight. There’s no need to read, think critically, research, or exercise anymore. There’s very little discipline. Shoot, even the bikes are now electric and do our pedaling. I have no idea if GLP-1s will have some long-term, unseen downside, but given how many parts of our lives they impact, I suspect they will (people’s personalities [are known](https://www.today.com/health/diet-fitness/ozempic-personality-glp-1-weight-loss-symptom-rcna345729?ref=readtangle.com) to change, as well as [other non-food-related habits](https://theconversation.com/glp-1-drugs-may-fight-addiction-across-every-major-substance-according-to-a-study-of-600-000-people-275233?ref=readtangle.com); heart rates also increase, and we don’t yet fully understand any of this). I have a hard time finding GLP-1s encouraging in that larger context, and am inherently skeptical of any so-called “miracle drug.” But I mostly find myself worried about how few challenges people are overcoming on their own anymore. **Take the survey:** What is your relationship to GLP-1s? [Let us know](https://interrobang.vercel.app/survey/b522dd36-13a8-4a67-931a-29007335460f?ref=readtangle.com). *Disagree? That*’*s okay. Our opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we*’*ll consider publishing your feedback.* ### The road not taken. Another week, another packed news cycle. Our first three editions of the week were nearly set in stone coming out of the weekend: the latest in the Middle East, Trump’s press bans, and the Greenland agreement. The range of timely issues available for today’s edition was broader, including the Paramount settlement, the Missouri redistricting court case, the ICE shooting in Austin, and rising diesel prices. Why, then, did we choose to discuss GLP-1s, a topic that’s been in and out of the news for years? For one, the contours of the left–right debate on those newer topics are still forming, and we thought that holding off on immediate coverage would allow for more comprehensive analysis as the dust settles. But in the bigger picture, we liked the idea of exploring a topic that spoke to broader cultural themes — and that featured compelling disagreements *within* the left and right. It’s easy to fall into the habit of following the news cycle wherever it goes, but we still want to discuss the evergreen issues shaping our daily lives, even when they aren’t dominating the headlines. Today’s partner ****13 Retirement Investment Blunders to Avoid** You worked hard to build your retirement savings. Probably best not to accidentally light them on fire. This [free guide covers 13 common retirement mistakes](https://api.wellput.io/v1/cm?cmid=1142923&tid=378&s1=v2-r1022321-p1142923-c50742&s2=Tangle&s3=&s4=&ref=readtangle.com) — from excessive fees to ignoring inflation and panicking when markets get weird. Learn what to avoid so more of your money actually makes it to retirement. [Get 13 Retirement Blunders to Avoid — Free ](https://api.wellput.io/v1/cm?cmid=1142923&tid=378&s1=v2-r1022321-p1142923-c50742&s2=Tangle&s3=&s4=&ref=readtangle.com) ### The extras. - **One year ago today** we covered [the Trump administration’s autism and Tylenol claims](https://www.readtangle.com/rfk-and-trump-say-tylenol-causes-autism/). - **The most clicked link in our last regular newsletter** was FinanceBuzz’s [eight tips for smart debt management](https://financebuzz.com/debt-relief-help-yaez?adheadline=8+Legal+Ways+To+Pay+Off+Debt+Like+The+Rich+Do+%28Most+People+Ignore+%236%29&adgroupid=BM-Tangle-debt-relief-help-yaez-CPF-09242026&ref=readtangle.com). - **Nothing to do with politics:** [The top 24 Gen Alpha slang terms of 2026](https://www.mentalfloss.com/language/slang/top-gen-alpha-slang-2026?ref=readtangle.com). - **Our last survey:** 2,911 readers responded to our survey on the agreement between the United States, Denmark and Greenland, with 80% saying they support the deal but disagree with President Trump's approach. “Important gain but at a completely avoidable cost,” one respondent said. “\[The deal is\] a win for America that we should all be celebrating,” said another. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/09/data-src-image-cffc998a-5620-457e-8641-5b72caec4d8d.png) ### Have a nice day. In 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson declared a “war on poverty” and directed U.S. resources to tracking the nation’s poverty rate. In 1967, the Census Bureau published its first-ever poverty data. 59 years later, this September, the Census Bureau announced that the U.S. poverty rate declined for a second straight year, down to an all-time low of 10.2% in 2025\. Additionally, the poverty rate for children fell to a historic low of 13.4%, while median household income rose to a record high of $87,460\. [Reuters has the story](https://www.reuters.com/world/us-poverty-rate-102-2025-census-bureau-says-2026-09-15/?taid=6aa9e31567ebaf0001aeb01e&ref=readtangle.com). ### Can Trump End the Iran War Before the Midterms? URL: https://www.readtangle.com/can-trump-end-the-iran-war-before-the-midterms/ Last updated: 2026-09-24T15:31:05.000Z Is this the end of a U.S.-led world order? ### The U.S.–Greenland Deal. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/the-us-greenland-deal/ Last updated: 2026-09-23T15:52:33.000Z Happy Wednesday, Tangle readers. This is Associate Editor Carina Pacheco, and while it’s a picturesque early fall day here on the East Coast — sunny and clear with just a hint of chill in the air — today’s edition is taking us somewhere much chillier: to the Arctic island of Greenland. In addition to the freshly inked **deal between the U.S., Denmark and Greenland**, we have an under-the-radar story about **AI air-traffic control** and **a heroic ten-year-old**. It's a **12-minute read**. Ari Weitzman, Isaac Saul, Will Kaback, Russell Nystrom, Isaac Wood, Audrey Moorehead, and Bailey Saul edited or contributed to today’s newsletter. ### Too busy to read? Push play instead! ![Too busy to read? Push play instead!](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/07/podcast@2x.png) [Listen to the newsletter Monday–Friday. New episodes drop at 4pm ET.](https://www.readtangle.com/tangle-podcast/) ### Quick hits. 1. In a speech to the United Nations General Assembly, President Donald Trump said he is weighing whether to “annihilate the Islamic Republic and do it quickly, never giving them a chance to kill and destroy people and countries again.” He also said he believes Iran will strike a deal with the U.S. to end the war after the midterms. ([The speech](https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/trump-tells-u-n-he-is-confronting-world-threats-and-putting-america-first-5fe48626?ref=readtangle.com)) 2. Vice President JD Vance and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Mehmet Oz announced that the Trump administration has canceled approximately 750,000 people’s coverage under Affordable Care Act healthcare plans, alleging that they were improperly enrolled in the healthcare marketplace. ([The announcement](https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/trump-administration-cuts-aca-coverage-750000-people-says-fraudulently-rcna599258?ref=readtangle.com)) 3. President Trump announced his support for a ban on U.S. diesel exports as fuel prices continue to rise. ([The proposal](https://www.axios.com/2026/09/22/trump-diesel-exports-ban?ref=readtangle.com)) 4. Sen. John Curtis (R-UT) called on the Senate Judiciary Committee to subpoena Donald Trump Jr. and Hunter Biden to testify about their business activities and connections to foreign entities. The request follows reports that a Russian oligarch paid for part of Trump Jr.’s wedding celebrations. ([The request](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/john-curtis-subpoena-donald-trump-jr-hunter-biden/?ref=readtangle.com)) 5. The Justice Department indicted a former U.S. Postal Service worker who allegedly discarded roughly 300 mail-in ballots he was meant to deliver for Utah’s primaries. ([The indictment](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/former-usps-worker-indicted-allegedly-dumping-300-plus-utah-mail-in-ballots-without-delivering-one?ref=readtangle.com)) Today’s Partner [****Eight Legal Ways To Pay Off Debt Like The Rich Do (Most People Ignore #6)**](https://financebuzz.com/debt-relief-help-yaez?adheadline=8+Legal+Ways+To+Pay+Off+Debt+Like+The+Rich+Do+%28Most+People+Ignore+%236%29&utm%5Fsource=tangle&utm%5Fmedium=paid-newsletter-cpf&utm%5Fterm=Tangle&utm%5Fcampaign=BM-FBZ-Tangle-debt-relief-help-yaez-1-CPF&adgroupid=BM-Tangle-debt-relief-help-yaez-CPF-09242026) The wealthy rarely pay off debt the slow way — they settle it, freeze the interest, or tap equity instead of grinding through minimum payments for years. 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It takes about 30 seconds to see which ones apply to you. → [****See All 8 Debt Payoff Strategies Here**](https://financebuzz.com/debt-relief-help-yaez?adheadline=8+Legal+Ways+To+Pay+Off+Debt+Like+The+Rich+Do+%28Most+People+Ignore+%236%29&utm%5Fsource=tangle&utm%5Fmedium=paid-newsletter-cpf&utm%5Fterm=Tangle&utm%5Fcampaign=BM-FBZ-Tangle-debt-relief-help-yaez-1-CPF&adgroupid=BM-Tangle-debt-relief-help-yaez-CPF-09242026) [Learn more ](https://financebuzz.com/debt-relief-help-yaez?adheadline=8+Legal+Ways+To+Pay+Off+Debt+Like+The+Rich+Do+%28Most+People+Ignore+%236%29&utm%5Fsource=tangle&utm%5Fmedium=paid-newsletter-cpf&utm%5Fterm=Tangle&utm%5Fcampaign=BM-FBZ-Tangle-debt-relief-help-yaez-1-CPF&adgroupid=BM-Tangle-debt-relief-help-yaez-CPF-09242026) ### Today’s topic. The Greenland deal. On Tuesday, President Donald Trump [signed](https://apnews.com/article/trump-greenland-denmark-security-agreement-084ac2a82952c2dff403c48bd3564113?ref=readtangle.com) a defense agreement with Denmark and the semiautonomous territory of Greenland. The [three-party compact](https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/2026/09/agreement-between-the-government-of-the-united-states-of-america-and-the-government-of-the-kingdom-of-denmark-together-with-the-government-of-greenland-to-amend-and-supplement-the-agreement-of-27-apri/?ref=readtangle.com) was signed in New York City, concurrent with a United Nations General Assembly meeting, and it follows several months of statements from President Trump about the United States increasing its control over the island territory. **Back up:** In his first term, President Trump [proposed](https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-eyes-a-new-real-estate-purchase-greenland-11565904223?ref=readtangle.com) buying Greenland and has returned to the idea in his second, citing the territory’s vast natural resources and its strategic geographic positioning for trade and national security. In January, Trump [escalated](https://www.readtangle.com/donald-trump-greenland-nato/) his efforts to acquire the island, explicitly declining to rule out the potential to use force and threatening to impose tariffs on European nations that opposed the move. Denmark’s and Greenland’s leaders have rebuffed the president’s efforts to acquire the territory. Trump announced the agreement on Friday, [saying](https://x.com/realDonaldTrump/status/2101101979808493780?ref=readtangle.com) on social media that it would give the United States “permanent control” over Greenland’s security and “other needs.” The deal extends the United States’s existing authority on the island, with new specifications that allow the U.S. to build more military bases and forbids any non-NATO state from military or civilian investment without U.S. approval. Additionally, the text of the deal specifies that the agreement would remain in place if Greenland declares independence from Denmark, should the territory decide to pursue it. Denmark and the United States have had a [defense agreement](https://avalon.law.yale.edu/20th%5Fcentury/den001.asp?ref=readtangle.com) over Greenland dating back to 1951, which allows the U.S. to build and maintain military bases on the island, while giving Denmark sovereign control. The U.S. currently operates one base in Greenland, Pituffik Space Base in the northwest, which has roughly 150 personnel. At the agreement’s signing, President Trump [said](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-greenland-deal-denmark-united-nations/?ref=readtangle.com) the deal will lead to a “tremendous relationship” between the three parties. “We will have the complete ability to do what is necessary to defend the American continent and also Europe and other places,” he said. “No U.S. adversary will ever be permitted to establish a military presence in Greenland anymore.” Critics of the deal said that President Trump incurred significant diplomatic costs in pursuing the agreement. Torrey Taussig of the Atlantic Council [said](https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/content-series/fastthinking/what-the-greenland-deal-means-for-the-transatlantic-alliance/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=But%20the%20effects%20could%20last.%20Europeans%20are%20already%20%E2%80%9Cpursuing%20a%20hedging%20and%20diversification%20strategy%2C%E2%80%9D%20which%20is%20%E2%80%9Cunlikely%20to%20end%2C%E2%80%9D%20Torrey%20argues.%20The%20deal%20is%20%E2%80%9Cunlikely%20to%20quiet%20concerns%20European%20allies%20have%20over%20America%E2%80%99s%20broader%20commitment%20to%20the%20Alliance.%E2%80%9D) it is “unlikely to quiet concerns European allies have over America's broader commitment to \[NATO\].” We’ll get into what the left and right are saying about the deal below. Then, Associate Editor Carina Pacheco gives her take. | What the left is saying. Many on the left say that Trump could have secured this arrangement without his political theatre. Some argue that the deal came at great cost to America’s global standing. Others suggest the agreement doesn’t accomplish the president’s stated goals. | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | **In USA Today, Chris Brennan suggested the president** [**“could’ve had this Greenland agreement all along.”**](https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/columnist/2026/09/22/trump-greenland-deal-us-denmark-midterms/91873392007/?ref=readtangle.com) “As always, Trump's announcement ran long on bluster and short on details. Here's the part he left out — everything Trump now claims as a win was available to him 20 months ago on the very first day of his second term,” Brennan wrote. “It was also available for Trump during his first term, when he floated the idea of buying Greenland before threatening to take it by force in his second term after his threats were rebuffed by Greenland and Denmark. “Greenland and Denmark have existing, non-expiring security agreements and treaties that have always allowed for an American military expansion in Greenland, the world's largest island, which has significant strategic value in the Arctic Circle,” Brennan said. “Trump's rhetoric about Greenland has been all braggadocio and bombast. That has destabilized America's relationship not just with Greenland and Denmark but across Europe and around the world… Trump is trying to sell an embarrassment as a win.” **In The Atlantic, Isaac Stanley-Becker said the deal** [**“appeared to satisfy all parties but came at a great cost.”**](https://www.theatlantic.com/national-security/2026/09/greenland-denmark-trump-military-deal/688717/?ref=readtangle.com) “The promised ‘future deal’ appears to be here. It builds on a Cold War agreement between the U.S. and Denmark and includes no transfer of territory to the United States,” Stanley-Becker wrote. “Instead, it envisions the kind of expanded U.S.-military access and multilateral cooperation that leaders from Denmark and Greenland said was available all along, and doesn’t threaten to blow up the security architecture that the U.S. has helped maintain for nearly 80 years.” “The new agreement will also include Greenland and bind all three parties to a more permanent U.S. presence,” Stanley-Becker said. “\[Statements from Greenland and Denmark leaders\] were positive but restrained, reflecting the pain inflicted by this saga. Europeans found it difficult to decipher Trump’s motives — or to understand whether they were about to be attacked or simply trolled… Washington may have achieved its security objectives. But it has lost something else: trust among its hosts.” **The Economist argued** [**“the harm has been done.”**](https://www.economist.com/international/2026/09/19/donald-trump-drops-demands-to-own-greenland-but-the-harm-has-been-done?ref=readtangle.com) “The arctic is a safer place for America and its allies today. Due credit must go to President Donald Trump,” the writer said. “In these cynical times, it is a relief when war-talk turns out to be bluster, but not grounds for a medal. By Mr. Trump’s own previously stated standards, the deal falls short… He has settled for what amount to reworded lease terms, with demands for ownership quietly dropped. Mr. Trump calls the new agreement a ‘dream come true’ for America, which he says now controls Greenland’s security and ‘all other needs’ in perpetuity. “There will be no cost to America as it develops a ‘large military presence’ in Greenland, he adds. It remains unclear what he means by that, for Denmark, a country of 6 million people, is not about to foot the whole bill for America’s Arctic garrison,” the writer said. “America’s desire for Arctic bases (and Europe’s need for American help to deter Russia) resolved this particular presidential tantrum. But gibes asking why America should defend foreign soil cannot be unsaid. The transatlantic bond is growing colder and far more transactional. Mr. Trump wanted Greenland to be part of his legacy and so it will be. Just not as he imagined." | What the right is saying. The right is mixed, with some saying the agreement again proves Trump’s dealmaking ability. Others praise the deal for addressing national security concerns.Still others accuse the president of misunderstanding the interests of other nations. | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | **The Washington Times editorial board wrote** [**“Trump cement\[ed\] his status as master dealmaker.”**](https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/sep/22/editorial-greenland-trump-cements-status-master-dealmaker/?srsltid=AU7gw4XsNBuaX6Dt8pi4ee5y2K67JY%5FnaJ5cNv7D3I5s0dWAp-f39Baq&ref=readtangle.com) “Initially, the president spoke of the United States taking over the world’s largest island. That led to accusations of gunboat diplomacy. Mr. Trump’s critics missed his modus operandi, which usually starts with the big ask and then settles for something more modest and achievable,” the board said. “Greenland’s strategic importance cannot be overstated. Control of Greenland affects control of the Arctic. Whoever controls the Arctic will probably win a future world war.” “The deal is a win all the way around. Denmark could never hope to defend the territory from a hostile takeover bid. Greenland is vital to America’s security interests, and Greenlanders need help extracting their valuable mineral reserves. As important as getting America in is keeping Russia and China out. There can be no doubt of the hostile intentions of either nation,” the board wrote. “For either hostile power to secure a foothold in Greenland would be disastrous. Mr. Trump’s masterful deal precludes that.” **In UnHerd, Tom Rogan suggested the agreement will offer** [**“protection against foreign threats.”**](https://unherd.com/newsroom/trumps-greenland-deal-is-necessary-protection-against-foreign-threats/?edition=us&ref=readtangle.com) “It strongly appears that Trump has abandoned his always-foolish demand that Greenland be brought under American sovereign control. That demand was incompatible with America’s moral obligation to support the will of free peoples, and its political obligation to Nato allies,” Rogan wrote. “While this concord could have been reached with far less acrimony earlier in the Trump administration (existing agreements with Denmark already grant the US military extensive access to Greenland), it still represents a positive development. “There is no question, after all, that Russia and China pose significant and growing threats in the Arctic High North. These nations seek to exploit the region’s natural resources and expand their Arctic military footprints,” Rogan said. “These ambitions are intolerable from an American perspective, and Friday’s deal helps address these concerns by facilitating a rapid, wide-ranging U.S. military buildup. That presence will boost the U.S. military’s freedom of action and increase Nato deterrence credibility… This agreement provides a mutually beneficial resolution to a contentious issue.” **National Review’s editors called the saga** [**“Trump’s costly Greenland play.”**](https://www.nationalreview.com/2026/09/trumps-costly-greenland-play/?ref=readtangle.com) “To be clear, Trump was right about one big thing: that Greenland merited much more attention than it had been getting… The island is a potential back door through U.S. defenses and a key North Atlantic vantage point,” the editors wrote. “Given the limited resources Denmark has at its disposal to defend Greenland, an agreement to upgrade the U.S. presence needed doing… Asking politely to upgrade the existing agreement might well have delivered just that — and done so without creating all the geopolitical self-harm. “Unfortunately, Trump went about defending the U.S. strategic interest in a different way, and that was the wrong way. The core of the problem has been that, despite his own nationalist instincts, the president is oblivious when it comes to the national sensitivities of others,” the editors said. “If and when an agreement is concluded, the best way to maximize its benefits to the U.S. will be to repair the diplomatic damage that this episode has caused by rebuilding a deeper relationship with Denmark and Greenland.” My take. Carina Pacheco Associate Editor ![Carina Pacheco](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/07/Carina_headshot.png) - The Greenland saga is a reminder to take Trump seriously but not literally. - We saw this with NATO, when his threats to back out successfully pushed member nations into stronger commitments. - Now Trump has strengthened our ties with Greenland and NATO, securing a deal that improves our national security. **Reminder:** This is where we share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, leave a comment on the website or reply to this email. When President Trump announced the deal between the United States, Greenland and Denmark, I was taken aback. I’d almost completely forgotten about the semiautonomous island, but sure enough, one utterance and the memories of Trumpian threats of invasion and annexation all came flooding back. It reminded me of a very important lesson that we’ve been hearing about the president [for a long time](https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/09/trump-makes-his-case-in-pittsburgh/501335/?ref=readtangle.com): take Trump seriously, not literally. Now, I admit that it would be nice to be able to take a president both literally and seriously, and to not have to guess which of his statements should be taken at face value. But alas, we live in interesting times, and the defining political character of the century is a showman by trade. If the past decade-plus has taught us anything, it’s that we have to put up with a little… drama. This administration’s foreign policy has a recurring pattern: Trump puts out an outlandish, maximalist demand, which is met with an outsized emotional reaction from his political opponents. Behind the scenes, negotiations and deliberations ensue, and the end result is much more “normal” than the original, more absurd demand. The left decries the process that got us to the end result and laments the embarrassment they feel about our president, while Trump’s supporters focus on the wins in the deal and mock the left for overreacting. Rinse. Repeat. To illustrate my point, let’s look at Trump’s relationship with NATO. Trump has scrutinized the U.S.’s outsized NATO spending [since the ’80s](https://thehill.com/opinion/national-security/4572790-trumps-nato-hostility-and-russia-relations-trace-back-to-1987/?ref=readtangle.com), and that rhetoric has been present in each of his presidential campaigns. He [charged](https://abcnews.com/Politics/theyre-ripping-us-off-trumps-long-standing-grievance/story?id=120447216&ref=readtangle.com) other member nations with “ripping off” the U.S. with delinquent payments and even hinted at the possibility of not defending NATO allies if they hadn’t “fulfilled their obligations.” He doubled down on that possibility during his first term, and even [suggested](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/oct/04/im-leaving-trump-said-theres-no-reason-to-be-here-any-more-inside-the-meeting-that-brought-nato-to-the-brink?utm%5Fsource=gemini#:~:text=Nato%20needed%20to%20be%20better%20prepared%20in,%E2%80%93%20we%20roll%20out%20a%20blue%20one.) that he would withdraw the U.S. from the alliance (which would require approval from Congress). Trump’s grievances are well founded: The U.S. has been financing the alliance’s defenses at disproportionate levels, accounting for [approximately](https://www.sipri.org/media/press-release/2025/unprecedented-rise-global-military-expenditure-european-and-middle-east-spending-surges?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Military%20spending%20by%20the,spending%20across%20the%20alliance.) 66% of total NATO spending in 2024\. Of course, that’s partially due to our significantly larger economy, but many member nations have historically skimped on the 2014 pledge to contribute at least 2% of their GDP. I’m speculating here, but I’m sure our media-focused president wasn’t taking too kindly to allies criticizing him in the press, bragging about their national social safety nets, then relying on the good old American *military* safety net for their continental security. If I were Trump, I’d be pretty sick of the geopolitical [version](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YCOT5LasKc&ref=readtangle.com) of “*for breakfast we’ll do something cool like have a cigarette then like a bar of chocolate, then we go to work for like one half hour, two half hour*” — especially when *my* country’s taxpayers were subsidizing *their* national security. In his second term, Trump continued a campaign of rhetoric against his NATO allies. He publicly criticized low-spending members, leveraged his threats to not honor NATO's collective defense principle, and teased withdrawing from the alliance completely. By last year, all 32 members had [complied](https://www.csis.org/analysis/what-does-nato-defense-spending-look-heading-ankara-summit?utm%5Fsource=gemini). This is no small feat, considering that only five members [met](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/international-defence-expenditure-2017/finance-and-economics-annual-statistical-bulletin-international-defence-2017-revised-15-july-2019?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=NATO%20countries%20meeting%20the%20guideline%20to%20spend%202%25%20of%20GDP%20on%20defence.) the 2% target in the last pre-Trump year of 2016 (and only [11](https://www.nato.int/en/news-and-events/events/transcripts/2023/10/09/speech?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=11%20allies%20now%20spend%202%25%20of%20GDP%20on%20defence%2C%20a%20number%20that%20will%20rise%20next%20year) met it in 2023, the year following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine). At the 2025 NATO Summit, the alliance formally [adopted](https://www.nato.int/en/what-we-do/introduction-to-nato/defence-expenditures-and-natos-5-commitment?ref=readtangle.com) a 5% of GDP target for 2035 — also a Trump proposal. I suspect Trump’s threats to leave NATO were a negotiating tactic and not something he’d ever follow through on; nor do I think the U.S. would ever fail to come to the aid of an ally. But the upside of Trump’s maximalist strategy is that you never *really* know, which makes him a difficult but imposing negotiating partner. This maximalist strategy has certainly bruised some relationships and garnered plenty of negative press that the president might pay for politically, but with NATO he got what he wanted: a stronger shared defense budget. So the two worst-case outcomes were avoided; we’re still in NATO, and everyone is contributing more money. Kumbaya, right? Trump proved that his maximalism and unpredictability are powerful forms of leverage. And that leverage is heightened further by the sensationalist tendencies of the mainstream media, which often ignores the contextual pattern that any clear-eyed Trump-watcher could see coming a mile away. I understand this dynamic creates tension for the media whose job it is to report on the president, but how many more examples are required to understand how Trump operates? I liken his approach to an angry teenager slamming the door and yelling, *“I’m running away!”* — it’s always less of an actual plan and more of an opening bid designed to extract maximum concessions. Treating Trump's theatrical tendencies as incompetence and lunacy misses most of the story. That brings us back to Greenland — that big, beautiful icy island with its [wonderful](https://www.polar-quest.com/blog/greenland-mixed/the-backstory-of-greenland-s-colourful-houses?ref=readtangle.com) colorful houses and immensely [strategic](https://www.belfercenter.org/research-analysis/explainer-geopolitical-significance-greenland?utm%5Fsource=gemini#:~:text=Future%20Trans%2DArctic%20Shipping%3A%20Greenland%20occupies%20a%20key,chokepoints%20like%20the%20Suez%20and%20Panama%20Canals.) geopolitical positioning. Trump had shown interest in Greenland in his first term, but American presidential interest in acquiring the territory dates back to at least 1946\. Just after the Second World War and at the start of the Cold War, President Harry S. Truman proposed buying Greenland outright. Denmark promptly rejected his $100 million offer. The island is the last piece of the puzzle that encircles the Arctic, along with North America, Northern Europe, and Russia. It sits at a vital marine intersection and is rich in rare earth minerals. Russia and China are [striving](https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2026/09/22/china-russia-are-expanding-arctic-shipping-routes/?ref=readtangle.com) to assert dominance in the Arctic by developing military bases, research ships and energy initiatives in the region, edging up against Alaska, Scandinavia, and Greenland. In late 2024, then-President-elect Trump [declared](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-says-ownership-greenland-absolute-necessity-rcna185197?ref=readtangle.com) that “the ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity” for “National Security and Freedom throughout the World.” Then, in the first joint address to Congress of his second term, Trump did not mince words when he said that the U.S. will achieve that control “one way or the other.” A few months later, Trump refused to rule out the use of military force. The media — as well as the leaders of Greenland, Denmark, and NATO — took Trump [very](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/greenland-prime-minister-citizens-dont-feel-safe-trump-threats-nato-rcna331857?ref=readtangle.com) literally. And of course, when taken literally, the threats — to invade a sparsely populated ally that’s also technically a member of NATO — were bizarre. But these Trumpisms, at least to me, were transparent — a negotiation [tool](https://time.com/6972022/donald-trump-transcript-2024-election/?ref=readtangle.com) rather than a real threat — and I would have thought, over 10 years into the Trump era, that others, too, would learn to exercise some discretion when analyzing his Truth Social posts. Though the U.S. has owned and operated a military base in Greenland since 1951, Trump believed we needed an increased military presence to address the perceived threats from adversaries — Greenland is simply too strategically imperative to risk. To state the obvious, Trump’s chaotic strategy was not bulletproof. He lost political capital and may, at least to the literalists, look like he “settled” for a deal he had initially approached much more aggressively. But his strategy ultimately paid off. If we look at this deal in terms of the end result, instead of what was threatened along the way, here’s what we come to: The U.S. gets expansive, exclusive rights to stand up and expand new military installations; Greenland’s companies are promised first looks for any contracted work; and Washington wields explicit authority to approve or block foreign investments in Greenland's rare earth minerals. And if Greenland ever does become independent, the deal already approves a continuation of the U.S.–Greenland agreements and locks the new government into NATO. From the signing on Tuesday, it appears that each participant is happy with the end result, making it an even more reassuring outcome for the U.S., Greenland, Denmark, and NATO alike — but we’ll all have to suspend our disbelief when Trump doesn’t describe it modestly on Truth Social. | Staff dissent. Ari Weitzman Managing Editor ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2025/05/Ari.jpg) | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | I’ll acknowledge two biases up front, and maybe they cancel each other out: First, I used to work for NATO as a lowly Library Intern at an educational facility in Rome, Italy, when I was 23\. Second, I just love reading and editing Carina’s work; she really convincingly argues why concern over this saga was overwrought from the start. But I don’t think that’s quite true. When you look at how Trump’s maximalist, constantly shifting foreign policy threats play elsewhere, you see externalities everywhere: China investing in South America, Russia investing in Africa, chaos engulfing the Middle East. To me, the whole game is in the conclusion that Trump’s gambit “ultimately paid off.” If you draw a tight perimeter around all the costs and benefits in this story as they relate to the outcome of the Greenland deal, then the ends may justify the means. But not when you consider the externalities. Military and economic allies don’t typically love being antagonized, and the recent news of the European Union offering Canada “associate membership” in their alliance signals that the Western Democratic Order is reconsidering whether the U.S. is too erratic to count on as a partner. The U.S. got a somewhat better agreement with Greenland than the one we already had. That’s great. But will our alliance be strong and ready if and when we may call upon it to aid us? I hope we don’t need to find out, but I’m less confident in that now. What I am confident in, though, is that this deal is not where the story ends. | **Take the survey:** What do you think of the deal? [Let us know](https://interrobang.vercel.app/survey/3917d3d9-faa6-4ed3-becd-25eba3a09a9a?ref=readtangle.com). *Disagree? That*’*s okay. Our opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we*’*ll consider publishing your feedback.* ### Under the radar. On Monday, the Federal Aviation Administration launched an initiative to leverage artificial intelligence to address protracted challenges with air-traffic control. The $875 million software overhaul will install the Strategic Management of Airspace, Routes and Trajectories (SMART) system, which will use AI to survey planned airline flights, weather, wind, and other variables to suggest flight-schedule changes to mitigate the risk of delays. SMART will first be deployed at the three major airports in the Washington, D.C. region, with plans to expand in the near future. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the system will make airline operations more efficient and lower the cost of flying. Separately, the National Air Traffic Controllers Association has yet to take a stance on SMART, saying in a statement that it “has not been involved in the design, testing, or implementation of SMART and therefore cannot speak to its effect on the air traffic control workforce at this time.” [NPR has the story](https://www.npr.org/2026/09/21/nx-s1-5976816/faa-ai-manage-airspace?ref=readtangle.com). Today’s Partner ****Discover** [****eight legal ways**](https://financebuzz.com/debt-relief-help-yaez?adheadline=8+Legal+Ways+To+Pay+Off+Debt+Like+The+Rich+Do+%28Most+People+Ignore+%236%29&utm%5Fsource=tangle&utm%5Fmedium=paid-newsletter-cpf&utm%5Fterm=Tangle&utm%5Fcampaign=BM-FBZ-Tangle-debt-relief-help-yaez-1-CPF&adgroupid=BM-Tangle-debt-relief-help-yaez-CPF-09242026) **to tackle debt smarter** Stop wasting years on minimum payments. Discover 8 legal debt payoff strategies, including the one most people miss: combining multiple strategies to save time and money. → [****See which strategies could apply to you**](https://financebuzz.com/debt-relief-help-yaez?adheadline=8+Legal+Ways+To+Pay+Off+Debt+Like+The+Rich+Do+%28Most+People+Ignore+%236%29&utm%5Fsource=tangle&utm%5Fmedium=paid-newsletter-cpf&utm%5Fterm=Tangle&utm%5Fcampaign=BM-FBZ-Tangle-debt-relief-help-yaez-1-CPF&adgroupid=BM-Tangle-debt-relief-help-yaez-CPF-09242026)****.** [Find out in 30 seconds ](https://financebuzz.com/debt-relief-help-yaez?adheadline=8+Legal+Ways+To+Pay+Off+Debt+Like+The+Rich+Do+%28Most+People+Ignore+%236%29&utm%5Fsource=tangle&utm%5Fmedium=paid-newsletter-cpf&utm%5Fterm=Tangle&utm%5Fcampaign=BM-FBZ-Tangle-debt-relief-help-yaez-1-CPF&adgroupid=BM-Tangle-debt-relief-help-yaez-CPF-09242026) ### The extras. - **One year ago today** we covered [the Trump administration’s new H-1B visa requirements](https://www.readtangle.com/president-trump-orders-h1b-visa-applicants-to-pay-a-100-000-fee/). - **The most clicked link in our last regular newsletter** was our [special deal for Tangle members with Incogni](https://incogni.com/deal/special?transaction%5Fid=1029e3d5454e50f50ca210f193e30b&offer%5Fid=6&affiliate%5Fid=1007&source=&aff%5Fsub=). - **Nothing to do with politics:** Take a look inside [the newly opened Lucas Museum of Narrative Art](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-lucas-museum-of-narrative-art-opens-george-lucas-mellody-hobson/?ref=readtangle.com). - **Our last survey:** 4,273 readers responded to our survey on President Trump banning CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from the White House, with 85% saying they oppose the ban and do not think it’s legally defensible. “It’s about as authoritarian and un-American as you can get,” one respondent said. “MSM brought this on themselves by reporting half-truths or flat-out lying about things,” said another. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/09/data-src-image-418a4f5f-3d62-4109-b9f0-9eac761442bb.png) ### Have a nice day. On September 16, Major Metzger received a Carnegie Medal, North America’s highest honor for civilian heroism, in recognition of his actions during a dangerous ski lift incident last year. Metzger, now 10 years old, was enjoying a day at the slopes with his six-year-old friend Bryce Rader when Rader suddenly began slipping off his seat on the ski lift. Metzger grabbed his friend before he fell, and his two-handed grasp became the only thing separating Rader from a 16-foot fall. Ski mountain employees arrived about four minutes later and rescued the child, but Metzger kept hanging on until they did. “Major is just an outstanding young man,” Bruce Rader, Bryce’s father, said. “He’s brave to be able to do what he did on such short notice, immediately. He saved my son’s life.” [WAVY has the story](https://www.wavy.com/news/local-news/virginia-beach/virginia-beach-student-awarded-carnegie-medal-for-ski-lift-heroics/?ref=readtangle.com). ### CNN has a bias problem. The White House has a free press problem. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/otherposts/cnn-has-a-bias-problem-the-white-house-has-a-free-press-problem/ Last updated: 2026-10-08T17:54:30.000Z *By Isaac Saul, Executive Editor, Tangle Founder* ### **Let me start with an obvious point that everyone should grant:** News organizations *don’t* have a First Amendment right to just walk into the White House. The Trump administration — and its defenders — are correct when they argue that covering the White House as part of the press pool is a privilege, not a right. However frustrating the president’s messaging, these organizations aren’t having their rights infringed solely by being denied presidential access. I’m the leader of a news organization, and I’ve been reporting on national politics for 15 years, yet all my applications for a White House press pass have been denied. I don’t automatically get access to the president just because I’m a member of the media. So yes, a White House press pass *is* a privilege; you have to apply, be accepted into the press pool, and follow the rules once you’re inside. There is a reason the room is populated by the biggest news organizations in the world. However, that doesn’t mean this move is fair or even legal. Revoking a news organization’s access *based on the content of their reporting* is almost certainly a form of viewpoint discrimination, which is a violation of the First Amendment. The Trump administration may also be violating their due process and property rights under the Fifth Amendment, which is [exactly the grounds](https://www.politico.com/news/2026/09/21/news-outlets-trump-banned-from-white-house-announce-lawsuit-01085995?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=The%20news%20outlets%20argue,their%20First%20Amendment%20rights) on which news organizations are now suing the Trump administration. I suspect, too, that those outlets will win their lawsuits on the merits, especially since the Trump-appointed judge assigned to the case has [shown](https://www.politico.com/news/2026/09/21/timothy-kelly-judge-white-house-ban-lawsuit-01086120?ref=readtangle.com) a keen deference toward press freedom in the past. So, yes: The White House gets to choose who’s in the room. But they *don’t* get to revoke access for people or organizations because they don’t like their coverage. That tug of war between the federal government and the media is well established, and it’s something we should all be grateful for. ### **What counts as a “hoax”?** Which brings me to the White House’s defense of this move. In response to CNN posting a statement about the ban, the White House Rapid Response team posted a graphic of purported CNN “hoaxes” over the years: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/09/Screenshot-2026-09-22-at-9.23.40---AM.png) The graphic is actually instructive as a look into how the White House thinks about past reporting and what it deems “fake” and “real” news. Very few of these stories were *actually* hoaxes — that is, totally fictional accounts — save examples like Jussie Smollett faking his own racially charged attack (which was something CNN reported on with insufficient skepticism, not a myth the outlet itself created from whole cloth). But within Trump’s orbit, the definition of the word hoax has morphed into anything from “story published with inaccuracies” to “exaggerated or misleading story.” And it’s true CNN has had some whoppers over the years. The “Covington Kids” story was reported with so much bias as to obscure the reality of what happened, and [CNN paid the price for it](https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/07/media/cnn-settles-lawsuit-viral-video?ref=readtangle.com). Claims that Trump promised a “bloodbath” if he lost the election were intentionally quoted out of context to make it seem like he was promising a civil war rather than [warning that the auto industry would fail without him](https://www.readtangle.com/trumps-enemy-from-within-controversy/#:~:text=Trump%E2%80%99s%20%22bloodbath%22%20comments,him%20look%20bad.). Kyle Rittenhouse was [never driven across state lines by his mother](https://www.foxnews.com/media/false-media-reporting-rittenhouse-state-lines?ref=readtangle.com), and he did not illegally transport a rifle across state lines, both inaccurate claims CNN reported. Trump [never called for Liz Cheney](https://x.com/Ike%5FSaul/status/1852338943779340464?ref=readtangle.com) to be executed, but he did insist she stand on the front lines of a war before sending our kids off to fight it for us (this was before Trump launched the Iran war). Other times, CNN leaned into a *technically true* framing — like the fact that Kamala Harris was [never *technically* border czar](https://www.axios.com/2024/07/24/kamala-harris-border-czar-immigratin?ref=readtangle.com) — that obscured the truth so much as to be misleading. I have written or tweeted about most of this inaccurate or misleading reporting in the past, and all of these mistakes always seem to go in one direction. CNN is deserving of criticism for its consistent and demonstrated anti-Trump bias, and the White House is well within its rights to use its bullhorn to call it out. At the same time, a lot of the purported “hoaxes” in the graphic are real things that happened that CNN and other outlets reported accurately. David DePape, the man who assaulted Paul Pelosi, was a [die-hard Trump supporter](https://abc7news.com/post/paul-pelosi-attack-recording-played-court-david-depape/14893159/?ref=readtangle.com). And after the assault, many in the MAGA world — including Trump’s own son — [mocked Pelosi for being brutally beaten](https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/3712538-donald-trump-jr-mocks-paul-pelosi-attack/?ref=readtangle.com) by one of their own supporters. That isn’t a hoax. Trump did run for re-election while [promising to pursue death penalties](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/trump-wants-expand-federal-death-penalty-setting-legal-challenges-seco-rcna178979?ref=readtangle.com) again, and he has since [pushed](https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-takes-actions-strengthen-federal-death-penalty?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Among%20the%20actions%20taken%20are%20readopting%20the%20lethal%20injection%20protocol%20utilized%20during%20the%20first%20Trump%20Administration%2C%20expanding%20the%20protocol%20to%20include%20additional%20manners%20of%20execution%20such%20as%20the%20firing%20squad%2C%20and%20streamlining%20internal%20processes%20to%20expedite%20death%20penalty%20cases.) for reinstating firing squads. This, too, is not a hoax. Israeli troops did, [actually](https://www.cnn.com/2025/07/20/middleeast/israel-gaza-aid-shooting-deaths-intl?ref=readtangle.com), shoot and kill food-seeking Palestinians at an aid site. Also not a hoax. And Melania Trump’s documentary *was* a box office flop, [earning](https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt35291758/?ref=readtangle.com) just over $16 million after Amazon spent $40 million to buy it. You guessed it — not a hoax. CNN was right to report that Biden never banned gas stoves and never pushed for such a ban. All that he did was appoint a commissioner on the independent Consumer Product Safety Commission who called gas stoves a “hidden hazard” and said “any option is on the table” in an interview, which conservative columnists then wrote about as Biden planning to ban gas stoves. Biden never planned to do such a thing, and immediately responded to the comments by saying he had no such plans. It was a rather silly story that got blown way out of proportion, and under the Trump administration’s definition, it’s actually an example of a conservative media-led “hoax.” Trump has offered other justifications for the ban, like claiming Politico was awarded some kind of untoward contract by the federal government as a quid pro quo arrangement for favorable coverage. This claim is also a lie, one that I wrote about at the time [in a piece for The Free Press](https://www.thefp.com/p/the-internet-mob-comes-for-politico?ref=readtangle.com). Sponsored ****Some Strangers Know Way Too Much About You** Your phone number. Your address. Your date of birth. [Data brokers collect and sell](https://deal.incogni.io/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=6&aff%5Fid=1007&url%5Fid=1&ref=readtangle.com) a surprising amount of personal information. Incogni sends removal requests and follows up when your data pops back up. Basically, they do the annoying part. [Tangle readers get 55% off with code TANGLE](https://deal.incogni.io/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=6&aff%5Fid=1007&url%5Fid=1&ref=readtangle.com). ### **Does bias justify a ban?** Some of Trump’s allies have offered their own defense, arguing — for example — that past administrations have limited access to certain members of the press. Many of these examples are [deliberately misleading](https://x.com/damintoell/status/2102247260906008712?ref=readtangle.com) — like the case of an African journalist named Simon Ateba being “barred” by the Biden administration when, actually, he was denied a permanent hard pass but granted a day pass every time he requested one. Other defenders of the president argue that he has a right to ban these outlets because of their bias. “Reporters covering White House briefings should be conveying facts, not spin,” Ward Clark [wrote in RedState](https://redstate.com/wardclark/2026/09/18/white-house-ban-trump-kicks-out-cnn-msnow-and-politico-n2207099?ref=readtangle.com). Ironically, if that’s true, then RedState’s own press credentials for the Pentagon and White House should be revoked immediately, given that — as their name implies — they are a news organization [whose agenda is explicitly aligned with Trump’s](https://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-frey-redstate-20180427-story.html?ref=readtangle.com). Quotes like Clark’s make it exceedingly clear how silly and dangerous this all is. Every administration has its critics and allies in the press; this has been true since the Washington administration, and it should be true going forward. None have ever done what Trump is attempting to do now. Bias is in the eye of the beholder, which is precisely why nobody should support an administration banning news outlets it deems as biased — even if they have a track record of mistakes. All that does is ensure *future* administrations will further restrict press access they don’t like, which is a loss for anyone who believes in free exchange. | Get more of the story... We broke down the ban with just the facts, and then we picked out the best arguments from conservative, progressive, and independent writers in today's free newsletter so you can make up your own mind. [**Read them here.** ](https://www.readtangle.com/white-house-press-bans/) | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ### **What is Trump getting out of this?** It’s astonishing to me that the administration thinks *this* is the play right now. Yes, the media — writ large — is distrusted by the public and obsessed with itself and will inevitably devote plenty of coverage to its own lawsuits and fights with the administration. I’m sure some of them will even build subscription drives off the battle. That’s their right, and maybe Trump is just betting that CNN, MS NOW and Politico will spend more time on “resistance” navel-gazing and less time critically reporting on actual stories about his administration. But the knock-on effects are already breaking against him. Yesterday, the administration held an event so Trump could unveil his new helipad, but there was [no audio](https://www.instagram.com/p/Ddj7ZSVvUJh/?ref=readtangle.com) on the televised event because there was no press pool after the other four networks, including Fox News, banded with CNN and against the ban. It was actually really encouraging to see Fox News's Washington bureau chief condemn the ban during his time as chair of the broadcasting consortium — a reminder that, despite our perceptions of these organizations as partisan warriors, they still lean on traditions of collegiality and mutual respect. Hours later, Trump [launched](https://x.com/whitehouse/status/2102172574822048160?ref=readtangle.com) “Trump TV,” a 24/7 streaming show on the White House YouTube channel that purports to play the greatest hits of his administration, live updates, and breaking news. When I checked the channel out this morning, there was a grand total of 934 people watching a re-run of a Trump rally — and commenting was prohibited. This is the same administration [that promised to “restore free speech.”](https://x.com/adamsteinbaugh/status/2102102109344661933/photo/1?ref=readtangle.com) ## **Meanwhile, back in the real world** Really consider the context here: Gas and diesel prices are both significantly higher than they were when Biden left office, and rising. We’re still stuck in the Iran War, which is now spreading. The Russia–Ukraine war rages on. Inflation is higher today than it was when Biden left office. The number of uninsured Americans has gone up since Biden left office. The native-born employment rate is stagnant. Real wage gains are down, too. There is no long-promised healthcare bill, no election reform bill, no immigration reform bill. The House was just sent home after doing a grand total of four months of work this year because they didn’t want to take a tough vote on impeaching Trump’s secretary of Defense. Now, they won’t be back until after the midterms. If any of this concerns you, don’t worry; President Trump is focusing his time on what matters. He just [got a new helipad at the White House](https://apnews.com/article/trump-helipad-cnn-ban-press-xi-61667fb3faaa9a7e9cfc9ffb4f7dc90e?ref=readtangle.com). He’s hard at work building his ballroom and [fighting](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/17/us/politics/trump-kennedy-center-photos.html?ref=readtangle.com) to get his name on the Kennedy Center (or knock it down), and he’s got plans to turn his grand arch [into a drone-deploying military station](https://apnews.com/article/trump-arch-drones-snippers-national-security-ef9212f98c337a6a142b338c1861da97?ref=readtangle.com). And now, thankfully, he’s banned three news organizations from the White House who post stories he doesn’t like, which will inevitably result in taxpayer money being used to fight lawsuits from those organizations that he will very likely lose. If this is how the president thinks he can stave off a midterm blowout — or rescue his quickly sinking approval ratings — then the bubble he’s living in is farther removed from reality than I even thought. That’s bad news for Trump, worse news for us, and a much bigger deal than any of the shoddy reporting we’ve all had to live through over the last decade. *This piece was written by Isaac Saul, founder and editor-in-chief of Tangle, an independent political newsletter that breaks down the biggest political debates of the day from multiple perspectives. To get more independent takes delivered directly to your inbox, sign up for the newsletter below.* Moved by the take? Share it! ## Join Tangle for free Get perspectives from across the political spectrum on today's most important issues, delivered directly to your inbox. Get Tangle Free Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Free. Unsubscribe anytime. ### “You shouldn’t be here!” Trump singles out CNN, Kaitlan Collins on his way to address UN. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/you-shouldnt-be-here-trump-singles-out-cnn-kaitlan-collins-on-his-way-to-address-un/ Last updated: 2026-09-22T17:21:24.000Z On his way to address the United Nations General Assembly, President Donald Trump singled out CNN reporter Kaitlan Collins. The exchange comes as Trump banned CNN, as well as MS NOW and Politico, from the White House. ### The White House press bans. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/white-house-press-bans/ Last updated: 2026-09-25T16:48:50.000Z Good Tuesday morning and welcome to Tangle. I’m **Isaac Saul,** fresh off a Yom Kippur fast and a day spent in synagogue. I feel sufficiently reminded of all that I have to atone for from the last year, and also how much I need coffee and water. Special thanks to Senior Editor Will Kaback for penning yesterday’s take, which was a fascinating read on the evolving situation in the Middle East. Today, I’m back to write about the president’s media diet — which apparently excludes CNN, Politico and MS NOW, as those outlets are now **banned from the White House**. Plus, a reader question about **Congress’s early recesses** and an under-the-radar story on **enforcing a law against firearm sales** to 18–20-year-old buyers. We’re clocking a **15-minute read**. Ari Weitzman, Will Kaback, Audrey Moorehead, Carina Pacheco, Russell Nystrom, Isaac Wood, and Bailey Saul edited or contributed to today’s newsletter. ### Too busy to read? Push play instead! ![Too busy to read? Push play instead!](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/07/podcast@2x.png) [Listen to the newsletter Monday–Friday. New episodes drop at 4pm ET.](https://www.readtangle.com/tangle-podcast/) ### Some changes are coming. Next Tuesday, we’re going to be announcing a new product and some formal changes to this newsletter. The first people to know about it will be readers of *Press Pass,* our once-a-month, members-only newsletter where we pull back the curtain on the business operations of Tangle, interview our staff, and share updates about how our product continues to evolve. To access **Press Pass* and all our members-only content, [you can become a member here](https://www.readtangle.com/membership/) (subscribing will ensure you receive the emails going forward). ### Quick hits. 1. A federal appeals court reinstated a Missouri congressional map designed to net Republicans an additional seat in the U.S. House, finding that requiring the state to use the previous version of the map would be unconstitutional. The case is expected to go to the Supreme Court. ([The ruling](https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/6102804-mo-court-reinstates-gop-house-map/?ref=readtangle.com)) 2. The Federal Aviation Administration grounded flights at major airports in the Northeast after a telecommunications outage. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said that “an Amtrak construction crew accidentally cut into a fiber line in New Jersey,” causing the outage. ([The incident](https://www.foxbusiness.com/economy/northeast-airport-operations-resume-telecom-outage-disrupts-flights?ref=readtangle.com)) 3. Paramount and a group of state attorneys general reached an agreement that will allow the company to proceed with its $81 billion merger with Warner Bros. Discovery. As part of the deal, Paramount said it will create an editorial-independence board to oversee CNN and CBS News. ([The agreement](https://www.wsj.com/business/media/paramount-settles-states-antitrust-suit-clearing-way-for-warner-megadeal-95588926?ref=readtangle.com)) 4. The United Nations General Assembly’s General Debate begins today in New York City, with President Donald Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, and other Middle East leaders expected to attend. ([The assembly](https://www.foxnews.com/world/middle-east-center-stage-un-regional-leaders-confront-iran-war-gaza-houthi-threat?ref=readtangle.com)) 5. President Trump said his administration is negotiating a deal with Belarus to buy potash — salts used as agricultural fertilizer — amid the United States’s ongoing trade war with Canada, its largest potash supplier. However, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said his country does not have available supply to sell. ([The latest](https://www.upi.com/Top%5FNews/World-News/2026/09/22/belarus-Trump-Canada-potash/1211790056241/?ref=readtangle.com)) Today’s partner ****Maybe Stop Letting Strangers Sell Your SSN** You read Tangle, so you probably know more about data privacy than you’d like to. But do you know how much of your information is floating around online? [Data brokers collect everything](https://deal.incogni.io/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=6&aff%5Fid=1007&url%5Fid=1&ref=readtangle.com) from your phone number and date of birth to addresses and other sensitive information — then package and sell it. Best case? More eerily specific ads. Worst case? That information ends up exposed in a breach or in the hands of scammers. [****Incogni**](https://deal.incogni.io/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=6&aff%5Fid=1007&url%5Fid=1&ref=readtangle.com) does the tedious part for you, sending removal requests to data brokers and People Search Sites and continuing to follow up when your information reappears. Because you have enough things to worry about without periodically Googling yourself. [****Tangle readers get 55% off unlimited removals with code TANGLE**](https://deal.incogni.io/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=6&aff%5Fid=1007&url%5Fid=1&ref=readtangle.com)****.** ### Today’s topic. The White House press bans. On Friday, President Donald Trump [announced](https://thehill.com/homenews/media/6099619-trump-bans-ms-now-cnn-politico/?ref=readtangle.com) he is barring journalists from CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from the White House. The president accused the outlets of inaccurately reporting on his administration and suggested that additional news organizations could be banned. On Monday, the outlets [sued](https://apnews.com/article/trump-ban-ms-now-media-cnn-politico-72f9acf68244ca70e9078d9d3661c722?ref=readtangle.com) the government for allegedly violating their First Amendment rights. In a Truth Social post on Friday, Trump [wrote](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/117293599348325006?ref=readtangle.com), “Media Outlets shouldn’t be able to constantly write or report FICTION and LIES when they’re covering the President of the United States, the Trump Administration, or the United States of America.” On Monday, he [said](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/117308890736529824?ref=readtangle.com) the ban was not “an assault on the Free Press” but “an assault on the FAKE NEWS, something that has grown like Cancer in our beloved United States of America.” On Saturday, CNN, MS NOW, and Politico reporters [shared](https://www.politico.com/news/2026/09/19/ms-now-journalists-denied-access-to-white-house-after-trump-media-ban-01085082?ref=readtangle.com) that they had been blocked from entering the White House grounds and had their press passes confiscated. In a Monday statement, the outlets [announced](https://x.com/CNNPR/status/2101976271324348731?ref=readtangle.com) they have filed a lawsuit against the ban “to protect our First Amendment rights and defend the principle that the government does not decide what the press reports or publishes.” The organizations are seeking an injunction to pause the ban’s enforcement and restore their journalists’ access to the White House. CNN, along with ABC, CBS, Fox News and NBC, is a member of the White House television press pool, which provides broadcast coverage of the president. The networks [share the costs](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/21/business/media/cnn-trump-press-pool-ban.html?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Five%20networks%20%E2%80%94%20ABC,Nations%20General%20Assembly.) and duties of reporting from the White House, and with CNN barred from the grounds, the pool [announced](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/09/21/trump-white-house-press-pool-cnn-ban.html?ref=readtangle.com) they will stop providing televised coverage of President Trump while the press ban is in place. Bryan Boughton, the Washington Bureau Chief at Fox News Channel and current acting chair of the pool, [said](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2026/09/21/trump-ban-cnn-networks-suspend-white-house-pool/91872001007/?ref=readtangle.com) that the decision “follow\[ed\] the White House’s position preventing CNN from fulfilling its assigned pool duties.” On Monday evening, the White House [announced](https://www.washingtonsun.com/trump-white-house/white-house-announces-trump-tv?ref=readtangle.com) the launch of “Trump TV,” a streaming channel that will share “top videos, major remarks, and must-see highlights” from the Trump administration. Below are perspectives from the right and left on the bans, followed by Executive Editor Isaac Saul’s take. | What the right is saying. The right is mixed, with some arguing the ban does not violate the First Amendment.Others say Trump took the wrong approach to a legitimate problem.Still others predict the president’s action will not hold up in court. | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | **In American Thinker, Andrea Widburg said Trump is** [**“targeting coverage that has… consistently erred.”**](https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2026/09/trump-s-valid-take-on-kicking-fake-news-out-of-the-white-house/?ref=readtangle.com) “The mainstream media instantly insisted that Trump was violating the First Amendment,” Widburg wrote. “Since the Constitution doesn’t mention an inherent right to be in the White House to report on and comment on the news of the day, that argument is invalid. As I see it, the only colorable basis for the media’s fight is to claim illegal viewpoint discrimination. That is, that these outlets are being kicked out because they oppose Trump and his policies. “However, Trump never said that they were being kicked out because they disagreed with him. Indeed, there is no indication that he’s globally blocking any political opponents from access to the White House. Instead, he made a specific allegation about these outlets, which is that they have engaged in knowingly dishonest reporting,” Widburg said. “In sum, the White House position is that it’s not kicking out newsrooms that disagree with Trump. It’s kicking out newsrooms that lie to destroy Trump.” **In PJ Media, Matt Margolis suggested Trump didn’t pick** [**“the smartest way to fix \[the problem\].”**](https://pjmedia.com/matt-margolis/2026/09/19/whats-right-and-wrong-about-revoking-fake-news-white-house-access-n4957440?ref=readtangle.com) “Let’s be honest here. The First Amendment doesn’t entitle any media outlet access to the White House grounds. Not every outlet gets a press pass, and that’s never had anything to do with freedom of the press,” Margolis wrote. “You don’t have to try too hard to find examples of these outlets pushing fake news. And let’s be honest here, I don’t even think MS NOW pretends to practice journalism.” “There’s nothing wrong with journalists being critical of a president. That’s the job. But the job is to report the news accurately, not promote an agenda as legitimate news coverage,” Margolis said. “Still, this probably could’ve been handled better. The optics aren’t good. Picking a fight with the press corps this close to the midterms isn’t the message Trump’s team should want dominating the news cycle. It’s a distraction from arguments he could actually be winning.” **In his blog, Jonathan Turley argued** [**“the odds are against the President.”**](https://jonathanturley.org/2026/09/20/fake-news-or-viewpoint-discrimination-can-the-president-ban-disfavored-media/?ref=readtangle.com) “In *Sherrill v. Knight*, the \[Supreme Court\] ruled that the First Amendment limited the right of the White House to arbitrarily deny a press pass to a journalist. Since that time, viewpoint discrimination has long been viewed as not a reasonable basis for exclusion,” Turley wrote. “In this case, the White House gave no procedural protections or any reason other than the President’s view that these outlets were publishing ‘fake news.’” “The White House will have to argue that it can deny access without notice, procedural protections, and based entirely on the content of coverage. In other words, it will have to argue that it can engage in viewpoint discrimination,” Turley said. “This would create a dangerous and unfettered power. Future presidents could use it to bar conservative media and outlets that expose government abuse or waste. Whatever the outcome of this litigation, it is not a policy that advances our core values and traditions.” | What the left is saying. The left opposes the ban, with some tying it to Trump’s past actions against the press.Many argue the action violates the First Amendment.Others suggest the move will backfire. | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | **The New York Times editorial board said** [**“Trump is attacking press freedom and disregarding the law.”**](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/21/opinion/trump-journalists-ban-white-house.html?ref=readtangle.com) “Twice during President Trump’s first term, his administration tried to prevent a journalist whose work it did not like from reporting at the White House. Twice, judges rejected the moves as unconstitutional and restored the journalists’ access,” the board wrote. “Now the administration is attempting the same move, barring journalists from CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House because they had written what the president called ‘purposefully negative stories.’” “The seemingly arcane question of which media organizations have access to the White House fits with a larger pattern of Mr. Trump’s attempts to control the media. Officials from his administration have searched the home of a Washington Post reporter and served subpoenas to staff members of The New York Times,” the board said. “He has impinged on press freedom in ways that no other modern president has. If he now gets away with punishing CNN, MS NOW and Politico, he will be able to credibly threaten other organizations.” **In MS NOW, Dan Froomkin called the action** [**“Trump’s unconstitutional press ban.”**](https://www.ms.now/opinion/trump-press-ban-ms-now-cnn-politico?ref=readtangle.com) “Banning journalists won’t make the bad news go away. The media isn’t lying about the war Trump started in Iran, or the haphazard and nonsensical tariffs he imposed, or the grocery and gas prices,” Froomkin wrote. “And now, increasingly, unavoidably, Trump can see that more and more American voters are turning against him. The polls predicting Democratic success in the midterm elections must be weighing on him… But shooting the messenger never works. “And it likely won’t last, either. It is hard to imagine a more overt violation of the First Amendment than punishing journalists because he doesn’t like their coverage. That is a textbook example of viewpoint discrimination, which is unconstitutional,” Froomkin said. “This is a tired playbook that will do little to distract the nation’s focus from his dismal record and his failure to deliver on his biggest campaign promises: Stop the forever wars and bring down prices. And unfortunately for Trump, journalists can keep reporting on all those things, whether standing in the Oval Office or safely outside the Secret Service perimeter.” **In The Atlantic, Jonathan Chait argued** [**“Trump’s attacks on the media are self-defeating.”**](https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/09/trump-press/688725/?ref=readtangle.com) “Donald Trump is presiding over a failing presidency and lashing out at the news media — most recently by banning CNN, Politico, and MS NOW from the White House,” Chait wrote. “There might seem to be a connection between these two things, but the causal link is not that Trump is punishing the press because he is failing; rather, it’s the opposite. His inability to govern is in part a consequence of his hatred for the news media.” “\[Trump\] has turned his party into a personality cult that disregards all evidence of failure. This project requires constant reminders that the hated press cannot be trusted, and that Trump himself is the source of all truth,” Chait said. “The most profound effect of his attacks has been to seal off many Republican minds from the fresh air of critique and correction. But the GOP’s efforts to discredit the media, rather than protecting the party from its own governing failures, have only made those failures worse.” | My take. Isaac Saul Executive Editor ![Isaac Saul](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2025/05/Isaac.jpg) | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | These outlets don’t have a constitutional right to access the White House, and their reporting has been biased in the past.The president, however, doesn’t have a right to ban outlets for being critical.I’m left wondering why the president would do this now, and I’m concerned about the fights drawing Trump’s focus. | | **Reminder:** This is where we share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, leave a comment or reply to this email. | Let me start with an obvious point that everyone should grant: News organizations don’t have a First Amendment right to just walk into the White House. The Trump administration — and its defenders under “What the right is saying” — are correct when they argue that covering the White House as part of the press pool is a privilege, not a right. However frustrating the president’s messaging, these organizations aren’t having their rights infringed solely by being denied presidential access. I’m the leader of a news organization, and I’ve been reporting on national politics for 15 years, yet all my applications for a White House press pass have been denied. I don’t automatically get access to the president just because I’m a member of the media. So yes, a White House press pass *is* a privilege; you have to apply, be accepted into the press pool, and follow the rules once you’re inside. There is a reason the room is populated by the biggest news organizations in the world. However, that doesn’t mean this move is fair or even legal. Revoking a news organization’s access *based on the content of their reporting* is almost certainly a form of viewpoint discrimination, which is a violation of the First Amendment. The Trump administration may also be violating their due process and property rights under the Fifth Amendment, which is [exactly the grounds](https://www.politico.com/news/2026/09/21/news-outlets-trump-banned-from-white-house-announce-lawsuit-01085995?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=The%20news%20outlets%20argue,their%20First%20Amendment%20rights) on which news organizations are now suing the Trump administration. I suspect, too, that those outlets will win their lawsuits on the merits, especially since the Trump-appointed judge assigned to the case has [shown](https://www.politico.com/news/2026/09/21/timothy-kelly-judge-white-house-ban-lawsuit-01086120?ref=readtangle.com) a keen deference toward press freedom in the past. So, yes: The White House gets to choose who’s in the room. But they *don’t* get to revoke access for people or organizations because they don’t like their coverage. That tug of war between the federal government and the media is well established, and it’s something we should all be grateful for. Which brings me to the White House’s defense of this move. In response to CNN posting a statement about the ban, the White House Rapid Response team posted a graphic of purported CNN “hoaxes” over the years: ![A graphic shared by the White House](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/09/data-src-image-41dd537b-7436-4127-b993-c0befd64a8f4.png) A graphic shared by the White House The graphic is actually instructive as a look into how the White House thinks about past reporting and what it deems “fake” and “real” news. Very few of these stories were *actually* hoaxes — that is, totally fictional accounts — save examples like Jussie Smollett faking his own racially charged attack (which was something CNN reported on with insufficient skepticism, not a myth the outlet itself created from whole cloth). But within Trump’s orbit, the definition of the word hoax has morphed into anything from “story published with inaccuracies” to “exaggerated or misleading story.” And it’s true CNN has had some whoppers over the years. The “Covington Kids” story was reported with so much bias as to obscure the reality of what happened, and [CNN paid the price for it](https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/07/media/cnn-settles-lawsuit-viral-video?ref=readtangle.com). Claims that Trump promised a “bloodbath” if he lost the election were intentionally quoted out of context to make it seem like he was promising a civil war rather than [warning that the auto industry would fail without him](https://www.readtangle.com/trumps-enemy-from-within-controversy/#:~:text=Trump%E2%80%99s%20%22bloodbath%22%20comments,him%20look%20bad.). Kyle Rittenhouse was [never driven across state lines by his mother](https://www.foxnews.com/media/false-media-reporting-rittenhouse-state-lines?ref=readtangle.com), and he did not illegally transport a rifle across state lines, both inaccurate claims CNN reported. Trump [never called for Liz Cheney](https://x.com/Ike%5FSaul/status/1852338943779340464?ref=readtangle.com) to be executed, but he did insist she stand on the front lines of a war before sending our kids off to fight it for us (this was before Trump launched the Iran war). Other times, CNN leaned into a *technically true* framing — like the fact that Kamala Harris was [never *technically* border czar](https://www.axios.com/2024/07/24/kamala-harris-border-czar-immigratin?ref=readtangle.com) — that obscured the truth so much as to be misleading. I have written or tweeted about most of this inaccurate or misleading reporting in the past, and all of these mistakes always seem to go in one direction. CNN is deserving of criticism for its consistent and demonstrated anti-Trump bias, and the White House is well within its rights to use its bullhorn to call it out. At the same time, a lot of the purported “hoaxes” in the graphic are real things that happened that CNN and other outlets reported accurately. David DePape, the man who assaulted Paul Pelosi, was a [die-hard Trump supporter](https://abc7news.com/post/paul-pelosi-attack-recording-played-court-david-depape/14893159/?ref=readtangle.com). And after the assault, many in the MAGA world — including Trump’s own son — [mocked Pelosi for being brutally beaten](https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/3712538-donald-trump-jr-mocks-paul-pelosi-attack/?ref=readtangle.com) by one of their own supporters. That isn’t a hoax. Trump did run for re-election while [promising to pursue death penalties](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/trump-wants-expand-federal-death-penalty-setting-legal-challenges-seco-rcna178979?ref=readtangle.com) again, and he has since [pushed](https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-takes-actions-strengthen-federal-death-penalty?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Among%20the%20actions%20taken%20are%20readopting%20the%20lethal%20injection%20protocol%20utilized%20during%20the%20first%20Trump%20Administration%2C%20expanding%20the%20protocol%20to%20include%20additional%20manners%20of%20execution%20such%20as%20the%20firing%20squad%2C%20and%20streamlining%20internal%20processes%20to%20expedite%20death%20penalty%20cases.) for reinstating firing squads. This, too, is not a hoax. Israeli troops did, [actually](https://www.cnn.com/2025/07/20/middleeast/israel-gaza-aid-shooting-deaths-intl?ref=readtangle.com), shoot and kill food-seeking Palestinians at an aid site. Also not a hoax. And Melania Trump’s documentary *was* a box office flop, [earning](https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt35291758/?ref=readtangle.com) just over $16 million after Amazon spent $40 million to buy it. You guessed it — not a hoax. CNN was right to report that Biden never banned gas stoves and never pushed for such a ban. All that he did was appoint a commissioner on the independent Consumer Product Safety Commission who called gas stoves a “hidden hazard” and said “any option is on the table” in an interview, which conservative columnists then wrote about as Biden planning to ban gas stoves. Biden never planned to do such a thing, and immediately responded to the comments by saying he had no such plans. It was a rather silly story that got blown way out of proportion, and under the Trump administration’s definition, it’s actually an example of a conservative media-led “hoax.” Trump has offered other justifications for the ban, like claiming Politico was awarded some kind of untoward contract by the federal government as a quid pro quo arrangement for favorable coverage. This claim is also a lie, one that I wrote about at the time [in a piece for The Free Press](https://www.thefp.com/p/the-internet-mob-comes-for-politico?ref=readtangle.com). Some of Trump’s allies have offered their own defense, arguing — for example — that past administrations have limited access to certain members of the press. Many of these examples are [deliberately misleading](https://x.com/damintoell/status/2102247260906008712?ref=readtangle.com) — like the case of an African journalist named Simon Ateba being “barred” by the Biden administration when, actually, he was denied a permanent hard pass but granted a day pass every time he requested one. Other defenders of the president argue that he has a right to ban these outlets because of their bias. “Reporters covering White House briefings should be conveying facts, not spin,” Ward Clark [wrote in RedState](https://redstate.com/wardclark/2026/09/18/white-house-ban-trump-kicks-out-cnn-msnow-and-politico-n2207099?ref=readtangle.com). Ironically, if that’s true, then RedState’s own press credentials for the Pentagon and White House should be revoked immediately, given that — as their name implies — they are a news organization [whose agenda is explicitly aligned with Trump’s](https://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-frey-redstate-20180427-story.html?ref=readtangle.com). Quotes like Clark’s make it exceedingly clear how silly and dangerous this all is. Every administration has its critics and allies in the press; this has been true since the Washington administration, and it should be true going forward. None have ever done what Trump is attempting to do now. Bias is in the eye of the beholder, which is precisely why nobody should support an administration banning news outlets it deems as biased — even if they have a track record of mistakes. All that does is ensure *future* administrations will further restrict press access they don’t like, which is a loss for anyone who believes in free exchange. It’s astonishing to me that the administration thinks *this* is the play right now. Yes, the media — writ large — is distrusted by the public and obsessed with itself and will inevitably devote plenty of coverage to its own lawsuits and fights with the administration. I’m sure some of them will even build subscription drives off the battle. That’s their right, and maybe Trump is just betting that CNN, MS NOW and Politico will spend more time on “resistance” navel-gazing and less time critically reporting on actual stories about his administration. But the knock-on effects are already breaking against him. Yesterday, the administration held an event so Trump could unveil his new helipad, but there was [no audio](https://www.instagram.com/p/Ddj7ZSVvUJh/?ref=readtangle.com) on the televised event because there was no press pool after the other four networks, including Fox News, banded with CNN and against the ban. It was actually really encouraging to see Fox News's Washington bureau chief condemn the ban during his time as chair of the broadcasting consortium — a reminder that, despite our perceptions of these organizations as partisan warriors, they still lean on traditions of collegiality and mutual respect. Hours later, Trump [launched](https://x.com/whitehouse/status/2102172574822048160?ref=readtangle.com) “Trump TV,” a 24/7 streaming show on the White House YouTube channel that purports to play the greatest hits of his administration, live updates, and breaking news. When I checked the channel out this morning, there was a grand total of 934 people watching a re-run of a Trump rally — and commenting was prohibited. This is the same administration [that promised to “restore free speech.”](https://x.com/adamsteinbaugh/status/2102102109344661933/photo/1?ref=readtangle.com) Really consider the context here: Gas and diesel prices are both significantly higher than they were when Biden left office, and rising. We’re still stuck in the Iran War, which is now spreading. The Russia–Ukraine war rages on. Inflation is higher today than it was when Biden left office. The number of uninsured Americans has gone up since Biden left office. The native-born employment rate is stagnant. Real wage gains are down, too. There is no long-promised healthcare bill, no election reform bill, no immigration reform bill. The House was just sent home after doing a grand total of four months of work this year because they didn’t want to take a tough vote on impeaching Trump’s secretary of Defense. Now, they won’t be back until after the midterms. If any of this concerns you, don’t worry; President Trump is focusing his time on what matters. He just [got a new helipad at the White House](https://apnews.com/article/trump-helipad-cnn-ban-press-xi-61667fb3faaa9a7e9cfc9ffb4f7dc90e?ref=readtangle.com). He’s hard at work building his ballroom and [fighting](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/17/us/politics/trump-kennedy-center-photos.html?ref=readtangle.com) to get his name on the Kennedy Center (or knock it down), and he’s got plans to turn his grand arch [into a drone-deploying military station](https://apnews.com/article/trump-arch-drones-snippers-national-security-ef9212f98c337a6a142b338c1861da97?ref=readtangle.com). And now, thankfully, he’s banned three news organizations from the White House who post stories he doesn’t like, which will inevitably result in taxpayer money being used to fight lawsuits from those organizations that he will very likely lose. If this is how the president thinks he can stave off a midterm blowout — or rescue his quickly sinking approval ratings — then the bubble he’s living in is farther removed from reality than I even thought. That’s bad news for Trump, worse news for us, and a much bigger deal than any of the shoddy reporting we’ve all had to live through over the last decade. **Take the survey:** What do you think of Trump’s press ban? [Let us know](https://interrobang.vercel.app/survey/50ab0c19-f7fa-4e5c-b2ae-1d6d29e33052?ref=readtangle.com). *Disagree? That*’*s okay. Our opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we*’*ll consider publishing your feedback.* ### Your questions, answered. **Has sending everyone home to avoid certain votes been a key part of the House Speaker job before Mike Johnson? It seems pretty common these days but I don’t recall this happening regularly in the past.** **— Brad from Springfield, MI** **Senior Editor Will Kaback:** Speaker Johnson has used the tactic several times during the 119th Congress. Outside of the most recent example, when GOP leadership [adjourned](https://thehill.com/homenews/house/6094033-house-gop-exit-massie-hegseth-impeachment/?ref=readtangle.com) the House one day early seemingly to delay a vote on impeaching Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Johnson deployed similar maneuvers to put off tenuous votes on the SAVE America Act ([in June](https://apnews.com/article/save-act-mike-johnson-housing-bill-f9af93810930ad282ebb96934cbe1955?ref=readtangle.com)) and releasing documents related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein ([in July](https://apnews.com/article/congress-jeffrey-epstein-trump-f2a03eca247268b14a9e38858338eded?ref=readtangle.com)). Before this Congress, the specific tactic of beginning a scheduled recess early to avoid a tough vote was fairly rare. One of the closest examples on the Democratic side came in 2010, when then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) [cast the decisive vote](https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/71478-boehner-surprise-dems-barely-get-votes-to-adjourn-after-floor-speech/?ref=readtangle.com) to adjourn the House until after the midterms to avoid a vote on extending the Bush-era tax cuts. Separately, adjournments in general (not necessarily early adjournments) are a familiar way to sidestep votes. In June of 2016, Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) [adjourned](https://abcnews.com/Politics/back-house-vows-continue-gun-control-protests-house/story?id=40045649&ref=readtangle.com) the House until after the Fourth of July despite a 26-hour sit-in protest by Democratic lawmakers attempting to force a vote on gun-control measures following the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, Florida. A stand-out characteristic of Speaker Johnson’s early adjournments is that they’ve all been used to counter measures pushed by fellow Republicans. Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) introduced the Hegseth impeachment articles, President Trump and other House Republicans were a driving force behind the SAVE America Act dispute, and members of the House Freedom Caucus had long been pushing for release of files related to Jeffrey Epstein. **Want to have a question answered in the newsletter? You can reply to this email (it goes straight to our inbox) or** [**fill out this form**](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScQhqBSG%5F6%5FoBhwcTQMeS570n29XYbeQ9C9Bis7rjqI31g1tA/viewform?usp=header&ref=readtangle.com)**.** ### Under the radar. In a legal opinion released last week, the Department of Justice (DOJ) concluded that a federal law restricting the sale of handguns to 18–20-year-old buyers violated the Second Amendment. The Supreme Court has never weighed in on the constitutionality of the 1968 law, which does not restrict the purchase of other firearms, such as rifles or shotguns. The opinion from T. Elliot Gaiser, the assistant attorney general for the DOJ’s Office of Legal Counsel, does not change the law or bind judges, but it is expected to impact how prosecutors across the country approach cases involving underage handgun sales. [Axios has the story](https://www.axios.com/2026/09/18/trump-doj-handgun-sales-ban-under-21?ref=readtangle.com). Today’s partner ****Some Strangers Know Way Too Much About You** Your phone number. Your address. Your date of birth. [Data brokers collect and sell](https://deal.incogni.io/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=6&aff%5Fid=1007&url%5Fid=1&ref=readtangle.com) a surprising amount of personal information. Incogni sends removal requests and follows up when your data pops back up. Basically, they do the annoying part. [Tangle readers get 55% off with code TANGLE](https://deal.incogni.io/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=6&aff%5Fid=1007&url%5Fid=1&ref=readtangle.com). [Get 55% off Incogni ](https://deal.incogni.io/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=6&aff%5Fid=1007&url%5Fid=1&ref=readtangle.com) ### The extras. - **One year ago today** we covered [ABC’s temporary suspension of Jimmy Kimmel](https://www.readtangle.com/abc-temporarily-suspends-jimmy-kimmels-show/). - **The most clicked link in our last regular newsletter** was the report on [President Trump banning CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from the White House](https://thehill.com/homenews/media/6101588-tv-networks-donald-trump-pool-disruption-msnow-cnn-politico-white-house-ban/?ref=readtangle.com). - **Nothing to do with politics:** Fill out your bracket for [Fat Bear Week 2026](https://explore.org/fat-bear-week?ref=readtangle.com). - **Our last survey:** 2,044 readers responded to our survey on the future of the war in Iran, with 65% saying the war will last at least until the next presidential administration. “The war will not ‘officially’ end, but just ebb and flow for many years or until the next POTUS says enough is enough and unilaterally withdraws,” one respondent said. “The war with Iran and its proxy allies will end when the U.S. and the rest of the West get their act together and finish what was started at the end of February,” said another. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/09/data-src-image-9b23ca9e-ee30-4fd7-bbb5-26f610af1ab5.png) We asked readers the same question **on July 14**, and these were the results: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/09/data-src-image-d9faf0e9-d4e5-4e1f-a086-0282455317bb.png) ### Have a nice day. Matt Krishnan-Bird wanted a group of like-minded individuals to share the problems and joys of parenthood in his hometown of Colchester, England. Moms’ support groups seemed abundant, but he couldn’t find a group for dads. So Krishnan-Bird took matters into his own hands and created the Good Dads Club of Colchester. Now 400 members strong, the group’s dads share parenting tips, meet up for in-person outings, and provide each other with mental health support. “I think men, notoriously, are not good at talking and opening up to people,” Krishnan-Bird said. “But I think by creating a safe space and an environment where people feel they can trust other dads, it’s a really good chance to address mental health problems.” [The BBC has the story](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj4jqx5np4qo?ref=readtangle.com). ### Trump hard to hear at first event following television pool boycott. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/trump-hard-to-hear-at-first-event-following-television-pool-boycott/ Last updated: 2026-09-21T22:45:21.000Z The White House television pool halted their pooled coverage of President Donald Trump’s events following the president’s announcement that he will bar CNN journalists from the White House. Today’s ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new White House helipad was Trump’s first event since the pool’s boycott began, and his audio was consistently drowned out by noise from Marine One. ### A potential new front in the Iran war. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/a-new-front-in-the-iran-war/ Last updated: 2026-09-21T15:52:00.000Z This is **Senior Editor Will Kaback**, welcoming you back from the weekend. The past 48 hours have brought an array of major news stories, setting us up for what looks to be a consequential week here in the U.S. and abroad. We’re starting off with some major developments in the Middle East — specifically, the **escalating Houthi attacks** that threaten to open a new front in the Iran war. We’ve also got a reader question about **felons’ voting rights** and an inspiring story of a mission to **honor the victims of 9/11**. It’s a **14-minute read**. Ari Weitzman, Isaac Saul, Audrey Moorehead, Carina Pacheco, Russell Nystrom, Isaac Wood, and Bailey Saul edited or contributed to today’s newsletter. ### Too busy to read? Push play instead! ![Too busy to read? Push play instead!](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/07/podcast@2x.png) [Listen to the newsletter Monday–Friday. New episodes drop at 4pm ET.](https://www.readtangle.com/tangle-podcast/) ### The DSA debate. On Friday, Ross Barkan authored a guest column making the case for the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). The piece has generated over 500 comments and a robust debate over Barkan’s arguments and the DSA’s merit. Check out the piece and join the conversation [here](https://www.readtangle.com/the-case-for-the-democratic-socialists-of-america/). ### Quick hits. 1. President Donald Trump announced that he is barring CNN, MS NOW and Politico journalists from the White House, claiming that their reporting about his administration has been inaccurate. The outlets announced they will sue to challenge the ban. ([The ban](https://www.axios.com/2026/09/21/trump-cnn-msnow-politico-suit?ref=readtangle.com)) On Monday, Fox News Media, ABC News, CBS News, NBC News, and CNN issued a joint statement saying they will not provide pool coverage of the White House in protest of the ban. ([The statement](https://thehill.com/homenews/media/6101588-tv-networks-donald-trump-pool-disruption-msnow-cnn-politico-white-house-ban/?ref=readtangle.com)) 2. President Trump announced a security agreement with Greenland and Denmark that he said gives the United States “permanent control over security, and all other needs, in Greenland” and bars any U.S. adversary from establishing a base on the island without U.S. approval. ([The announcement](https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/6099074-greenland-denmark-us-security-agreement-trump/?ref=readtangle.com)) 3. Ukraine launched a large-scale drone attack on Moscow on the final day of Russia’s parliamentary election. Russian officials said the strikes killed at least four people. ([The strikes](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/09/20/ukraine-launches-heavy-moscow-drone-attack-as-russia-votes.html?ref=readtangle.com)) 4. President Trump posted on Truth Social that his planned “Triumphal Arch” in Washington, D.C. will also serve as a military complex housing drones and sniper positions. ([The update](https://abcnews.com/Politics/trump-triumphal-arch-sniper-drone-facility/story?id=136597797&ref=readtangle.com)) 5. A Venezuelan national was shot during an encounter with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers in Austin, Texas, and he is currently hospitalized in stable condition. ICE said the man has a final order of removal and that he attempted to flee when stopped by officers. ([The shooting](https://www.newsnationnow.com/us-news/immigration/border-coverage/city-officials-say-man-shot-injured-by-ice-agents-in-north-austin/?ref=readtangle.com)) Today****’**s partner ****You’re Not Alone** It’s 7 AM, and you’re already frustrated, stressed, anxious, and overwhelmed… all because you opened your news app. Turns out, over 1.5M other people felt the same way. Then they started reading [The Pour Over](https://anxiety.thepourover.org/?utm%5Fsource=tangle&utm%5Fmedium=newsletter&utm%5Fcampaign=september). It’s a free, 4x/week newsletter that delivers the biggest stories of the day to your inbox, paired with brief biblical reminders, all in five minutes. Because they’re in the peace business and not the outrage business, there’s no spin, no agenda, no feeling hopeless before you’ve even had your morning coffee. [Join 1.5 million Christians](https://anxiety.thepourover.org/?utm%5Fsource=tangle&utm%5Fmedium=newsletter&utm%5Fcampaign=september) who switched to news that: - tells you what happened, not how to think about it - leaves you feeling peaceful, not overwhelmed - might even make you laugh **P.S. Did we mention it’s free?* [Sign up today! It’s free → ](https://anxiety.thepourover.org/?utm%5Fsource=tangle&utm%5Fmedium=newsletter&utm%5Fcampaign=september ) ### Today’s topic. Escalations in the Middle East. As the war in Iran nears its seventh month, new developments over the past week have prompted concerns about a widening conflict in the Middle East. On Saturday, the State Department warned Americans in the Middle East to “exercise heightened vigilance” and prepare for potential travel disruptions, and President Donald Trump [returned](https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/6100118-trump-returns-camp-david-early/?ref=readtangle.com) from a weekend trip to Camp David a day early. Separately, Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen have [launched](https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthis-saudi-oil-red-sea-shipping-explainer-22e64e72775886625da676aee92edca2?ref=readtangle.com) significant attacks against Saudi Arabia and seized key Red Sea territory. **Back up:** The current Houthi–Saudi Arabia [conflict](https://www.cfr.org/global-conflict-tracker/conflict/war-yemen?ref=readtangle.com) dates to the start of the Yemeni civil war in 2014\. Saudi Arabia backs Yemen’s internationally recognized Sunni Muslim government, while the Shiite Muslim Houthi rebels have sought to overthrow that government. A 2022 ceasefire de-escalated the fighting, but Houthi [attacks](https://www.readtangle.com/united-states-houthi-strikes-red-sea/) against ships in the Red Sea throughout the war in Gaza have reignited hostilities. On Tuesday, September 8, the Houthis launched an offensive, [capturing](https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthis-iran-strait-mokha-shipping-ab2e69eb2959979bae44eb4d45ae637e?ref=readtangle.com) Yemeni territory on and around the Red Sea, including the port city of Mokha and Perim Island, threatening to disrupt transportation through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. The Red Sea’s importance for shipping has increased amid the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, making the attacks potentially disruptive for the global economy. The rebel group has also directly attacked Saudi Arabia. On Saturday, the kingdom [confirmed](https://apnews.com/article/yemen-saudi-arabia-b1286cad816dd3e553f50f6dd5205972?ref=readtangle.com) that the Houthis fired a ballistic missile at the capital, Riyadh, and targeted civilian infrastructure in the port city of Yanbu. The Saudis also [accused](https://time.com/article/2026/09/16/saudi-arabia-declares-mecca-a-red-line-as-houthis-deny-targeting-holy-site/?ref=readtangle.com) the Houthis of attempting to attack the holy city of Mecca, which they called a “red line”; the Houthis deny the accusations. President Trump is reportedly weighing heightened attacks against Iran. On Sunday, Fox News’s Trey Yingst [said](https://x.com/TreyYingst/status/2101688595819950335?ref=readtangle.com) that the president told him “very big things are going to be happening in the not-so-distant future,” and, “My question is, if and when do I blow the entire nation up?” Later on Sunday, Trump [reportedly](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/20/us/politics/trump-yemen-houthis-red-sea-iran.html?ref=readtangle.com) decided that the United States will not enter the Saudi–Houthi conflict at this time. Separately, new reports have shed light on the Iran war’s potential cost to the United States. On Tuesday, CBS News [published](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/new-photos-damage-u-s-kuwait-saudi-arabia-iran-drone-missile-attacks/?ref=readtangle.com) photos that appear to show significant damage to U.S. military bases and assets across the Middle East, including destroyed aircraft, vehicles, and buildings. On Friday, The Washington Post [reported](https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2026/09/18/more-us-troops-have-died-amid-iran-war-than-pentagon-has-disclosed-publicly/?ref=readtangle.com) that the Pentagon is aware of at least 22 U.S. military fatalities linked to the Iran war, four more than the Defense Department has publicly acknowledged. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth strongly [denied](https://x.com/AlexIngersoll/status/2101479002393158063?ref=readtangle.com) that any deaths are being covered up. Today, we’ll share views from the left, right, and writers in the Middle East about the latest in the region. Then, Senior Editor Will Kaback gives his take. | What the left is saying. Some on the left suggest the Houthi attacks could rapidly expand the scale of the Iran war.Others say Trump has no plan to manage the conflict. | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | **In Bloomberg, Marc Champion wrote** [**“Trump’s ‘little war’ with Iran just got a lot bigger.”**](https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2026-09-14/trump-s-little-war-with-iran-just-got-bigger-because-of-the-houthis?ref=readtangle.com) “It is an unintended feature of President Donald Trump’s Plan B for defeating Iran — economic strangulation — that the more successful the policy becomes, the more risk the men who run the Islamic Republic are willing to accept to fight it,” Champion said. “It’s clear that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is capable of escalating the conflict in ways it previously avoided… \[One\] gun that long sat over the conflict’s Chekhovian fireplace was the potential for Tehran to get its Houthi allies in Yemen to block the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.” “\[The Houthis\] have now taken that gun off the wall… \[The group’s\] territorial gains, if consolidated, could prove enough to give the Houthis the kind of permanent control over the strait that the Iranians are now demanding over Hormuz,” Champion wrote. “These developments were unimaginable before the US and Israel went to war against Iran in search of regime change. But, as Gregory Johnsen, a non-resident fellow at the Arab Gulf States Institute, said in a web briefing last week, Iran’s example in Hormuz has given the Houthis a new direction in their efforts to secure revenue and leverage.” **The Philadelphia Inquirer editorial board said** [**“President Trump’s new strategy on the Iran war \[is\] pretending there isn’t one.”**](https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/editorials/iran-war-trump-consequences-denial-cost-casualties-20260913.html?ref=readtangle.com) “The war has had tremendous repercussions for U.S. service members and civilians in the Middle East, American security and credibility, and global trade and stability. The only aspect of the conflict that is not serious is Trump’s handling of it,” the board wrote. “Despite the administration’s best efforts to obfuscate the human cost of the conflict, the war has killed 18 American service members and wounded nearly 800, taken thousands of lives in Iran and the Middle East, injured tens of thousands across the region, and displaced hundreds of thousands. And the fighting has likely cost American taxpayers more than $100 billion in direct spending.” “The war has also depleted the military’s supplies of critical munitions, leaving us more vulnerable to adversaries, and strained our forces with marathon deployments and logistical disruptions,” the board said. “The trouble is that Trump and his lieutenants don’t appear to have a strategy for waging war on — or making peace with — Iran. What they have instead is a plan to manage the public relations fallout of the conflict by lying about its casualties, costs, and extent in the hope voters won’t punish their party for it in the midterm elections.” | What the right is saying. Some on the right say the U.S. must back the Saudis’ fight against the Houthis.Others suggest Trump can use the Houthi crisis to secure foreign policy wins. | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | **In The New York Post, Bridget Toomey argued** [**“Houthi attacks expose Iran’s desperation.”**](https://nypost.com/2026/09/15/opinion/houthi-attacks-expose-irans-desperation-trump-must-respond/?ref=readtangle.com) “Tehran saw its leverage slipping away — and expanded the battlefield to attack the United States and its allies from a different angle. That’s the takeaway from this week’s fighting in Yemen,” Toomey wrote. “Without revenue from its oil sales, an Iranian financial crisis is imminent — so the regime, through its terror proxies, seeks to open a new front in the energy war. So far it has succeeded… By holding the territory along the Red Sea’s narrow entrance and the island inside it, the Houthis can effectively control transits through the key waterway.” “The United States must commit to supporting Saudi Arabia in driving the Houthis back from their strategic positions on the Red Sea coast. The Treasury Department can target the Houthis’ financial lifelines by sanctioning exchange houses, financial institutions and front companies — particularly in Oman,” Toomey said. “And Washington needs to seriously consider increasing its operational support of Riyadh, including potential US airstrikes, in the effort to free southern Yemen from this terrorist group. It makes little sense to continue striking Iran while granting immunity to one of its key proxies.” **The Wall Street Journal editorial board wrote about** [**“the Saudis, the Houthis, and Israel.”**](https://www.wsj.com/opinion/saudi-arabia-houthis-iran-israel-u-a-e-centcom-f910504e?ref=readtangle.com) “Is the Houthi crisis a diplomatic opportunity? Saudi Arabia has come running to Washington and even to Israel in its hour of need. Meanwhile, Riyadh’s feud with the United Arab Emirates continues to backfire,” the board said. “With all of these moving pieces, there may be a checkmate for Mr. Trump to find… The Houthi blockade on Saudi oil has already become the impetus for the kind of Saudi-Israeli-Emirati cooperation that only U.S. Central Command can convene. That’s the regional alliance needed to counter Iran and its Houthi proxy militia.” “\[Congress can\] persuade the President to use the nuclear deal as a bargaining chip. The Saudis have been making a lot of requests after they denied the U.S. use of its airspace at a crucial moment, derailing Operation Freedom to guide ships through the Strait of Hormuz. Let the Saudis give up the deal’s domestic-enrichment plank,” the board wrote. “Or Riyadh can join the Abraham Accords, as Mr. Trump says, and cement the U.S. regional alliance.” | What writers in the Middle East are saying. Some writers say Trump’s handling of the latest developments could undermine the U.S.–Saudi relationship.Others argue the Saudis’ regional alliances now face a key test. | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | **In Al Jazeera, Suleiman Al-Aqili asked** [**“has Trump abandoned Bab al-Mandeb to the Houthis?”**](https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2026/9/17/they-called-us-has-trump-abandoned-bab-al-mandeb-to-the-houthis?ref=readtangle.com) “What is happening at Bab al-Mandeb is not an isolated event, but the latest in a long series of US retreats from security commitments that for decades underpinned the ‘security-for-oil’ relationship between Washington and the Gulf states,” Al-Aqili said. “This is not a passing political position, but a profound shift in the regional security landscape: the United States is choosing not to intervene militarily against an armed group designated as terrorist that controls one of the world’s most important straits and whose actions go beyond the logic of conventional deterrence.” “Since the 1970s, the US–Gulf relationship has rested on a clear but implicit bargain: the United States provides a security umbrella protecting the Gulf states and energy routes, while the Gulf states ensure a steady flow of oil to the global economy at reasonable prices… Today, there are mounting signs that this formula is beginning to collapse,” Al-Aqili wrote. “Trump’s refusal to defend Bab al-Mandeb, and his response to the Houthis’ request that the US stay out of the conflict in return for allowing American ships to pass — effectively a political deal — marks a watershed. For the first time, the United States is clearly hesitating to defend energy security and a pivotal ally against a direct threat to global energy infrastructure.” **In Middle East Monitor, Mansoor Qaisar said** [**“the Mecca Pact must meet the test of war.”**](https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20260917-the-mecca-pact-must-meet-the-test-of-war/?ref=readtangle.com) “With fighting escalating in Yemen and Saudi Arabia under attack, regional leaders no longer have the luxury of discussing security institutions as a future project. They must show what those institutions can do now,” Qaisar wrote. “What distinct assistance and diplomatic leadership can the pact provide? Pakistan said on September 10 that no military response under the agreement had been discussed. The gap between a collective promise and an operational response deserves scrutiny.” “The pact should begin with tasks whose public value is clear: protecting civilians, coordinating air defence, sharing intelligence and securing commercial navigation. Its members should agree how an attack is assessed, how assistance is requested and how collective decisions are made. A promise to stand together becomes credible when governments know what they have promised and citizens understand the limits of the commitment,” Qaisar said. “Continued attacks require a response with clear limits and political purpose.” | My take. Will Kaback Senior Editor ![Will Kaback](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2025/05/Will-Square.jpg) | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | It’s hard to fully grasp the state of play in Iran amid the changes on the ground and with the president’s focus.I think we’re at a critical juncture right now, and one possible path is Iran getting weaker and reaching a favorable deal with the U.S.The other path is darker and likelier: Iran and the Houthis continue to delay until the U.S. accepts an unfavorable deal. | | **Reminder:** This is where we share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, leave a comment or reply to this email. | Although we’ve closely covered the conflict in Iran for months now, I don’t have a strong handle on the trajectory of the war. Instead, I feel a sense of uncertainty and unease. Reports from the past week have heightened that sense. Recently released photos of damage to U.S. bases suggest Iran’s missile and drone attacks have been more successful than the Trump administration has communicated, adding credence to [concerns](https://www.cfr.org/articles/the-u-s-munitions-crisis?ref=readtangle.com) about the military’s defensive capabilities. At home, energy prices [jumped](https://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/cpi.pdf?ref=readtangle.com#page=3) in August (with gas up 3.9% from July), and the Federal Reserve raised interest rates for the first time since 2023\. Oh, and we may have barely avoided a direct conflict with China after an [AI chatbot mistakenly reported](https://www.cnn.com/2026/09/18/politics/us-military-ai-false-intelligence-china-ship?ref=readtangle.com) that a Chinese ship in the Middle East was transporting nuclear weapon components. While the Trump administration *says* it remains focused on the Iran war, the president’s attention of late doesn’t seem to extend beyond Washington, D.C., where he’s waging more personal battles against the press and the Kennedy Center. Trump’s handling of the war over the past months reminds me of [the scene](https://youtu.be/UcTmBfA7Qik?si=53opGo89mwrh164b&t=46&ref=readtangle.com) in *Succession* where Roman Roy watches a livestream of a rocket launch he coordinated going catastrophically wrong, then gingerly slips his phone back into his pocket and returns to his party, knowing the mess he created is someone else’s to clean up. With that said, as the fighting approaches the seven-month mark and Houthi attacks threaten to further destabilize the Middle East, I think we’ve reached something resembling a fork in the road. Path one is the easier of the two to discern and aligns more with my own view of the conflict. It starts with interpreting the war as a poorly planned mistake, and it leads to a widening conflict that’s rapidly spinning out of control. Under that interpretation, the Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia and land seizures in and along the Red Sea are large steps toward a regional war. With traffic through the Strait of Hormuz still restricted, the already important Bab el-Mandeb Strait has become a [critical route](https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/why-is-bab-el-mandeb-strait-so-important-2026-09-10/?ref=readtangle.com). The Houthis have now captured key territory in the waterway, threatening to further disrupt energy markets and, consequently, the global economy (adding to the energy woes: Iran-backed militants in Iraq were apparently behind last week’s [strikes](https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthis-saudi-shipping-mandeb-8c18d82c109a8ea91347ce53c0096c53?ref=readtangle.com) on Saudi Arabia’s East-West oil pipeline, knocking it out of service for weeks). The Houthis’ direct attacks on Saudi Arabia could prove equally consequential. From afar, the kingdom appears unprepared for this escalation, with [reports](https://apnews.com/article/yemen-saudi-houthis-shipping-oil-war-mecca-895320bde6dc589cebb628b63832c38a?ref=readtangle.com) that it is already running low on missile interceptors and has called on allies to come to its defense. But experts have [long warned](https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/how-looming-houthi-threat-could-turn-iran-war?ref=readtangle.com) about the Houthis opening another front in the war. In an essay published exactly one month ago, political scientist Alexandra Stark [wrote](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/21/opinion/houthis-iran-hormuz.html?ref=readtangle.com), “While the United States looks to wind down the war with Iran, the Houthis are threatening to resume their war in Yemen, which would likely draw in Saudi Arabia, menace the global oil trade and keep the region unstable.” Furthermore, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan recently [signed](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/aug/07/houthi-strikes-yemen-saudi-arabia-attacks-iran-war-middle-east-crisis?ref=readtangle.com) a mutual-defense agreement — the Mecca Pact — in the model of NATO: If one is attacked, the others come to their aid. Just over one month later, the pact is already being tested. Videos from this weekend [showed](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwly5d9v7r43o?ref=readtangle.com) a large column of smoke rising from the Riyadh airport, with additional reports of missiles being shot down over the Saudi capital. Saudi officials even said that the Houthis attempted to attack Mecca, Islam’s holiest city (though the rebel group denied it). Iran is a [key backer](https://www.cfr.org/articles/irans-support-houthis-what-know?ref=readtangle.com) of the Houthis, and these attacks almost certainly come with the regime’s tacit or explicit support. And they appear to be on their way to turning Saudi Arabia into a new front in the Iran war — if it isn’t already. The next question is whether other countries get involved. The Mecca Pact is top of mind, with Pakistan’s defense minister [signaling](https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/pakistan-says-time-has-come-implement-mecca-defence-pact?ref=readtangle.com) last week that the country is prepared to enter the fray (don’t forget, Pakistan has nuclear weapons). How many more dominoes could fall from there? It’s not hard to imagine Israel taking an active role in a widening front, but if major disruptions to energy markets continue, European nations might also decide they have to join the fight. The Iranian regime’s playbook is straightforward: Withstand the U.S. attacks and sanctions, gum up the Strait of Hormuz, and make the war as broad and unappetizing as possible. It’s succeeding, and with less than two months until the midterms, Republicans appear poised to pay an electoral price. But even in a “blue wave” election that shifts control of one or both chambers of Congress to Democrats — who then rein in the president’s war powers — the conflict could already be beyond U.S. control. Path one’s *best-case* destination is a U.S. withdrawal under heavily favorable terms for the Iranian regime. The road towards that dark outcome is easy to see. But path two, though somewhat shrouded by overgrowth, is still visible. At the start of the war, I expected the combined force of the U.S. military and economic sanctions would overwhelm Iran, but it’s [proven resilient](https://mecouncil.org/blog%5Fposts/iran-is-battered-but-not-on-the-brink-of-collapse/?ref=readtangle.com) (in large part due to the regime’s willingness to allow its people to suffer). Now, about seven months in, that resilience has created the opposite impression: that Iran can withstand U.S. pressure in perpetuity. I’m not sure that’s true. The cracks are widening in Iran’s economy. Worsening economic conditions preceded the [outbreak of nationwide protests](https://www.readtangle.com/iran-protests-possible-us-involvement/) in late 2025 and early 2026, and by most metrics, the situation is worse now. The Iranian rial has now [lost 63%](https://www.euronews.com/business/2026/09/02/iranian-rial-hits-record-low-as-us-dollar-breaks-22-million-mark?ref=readtangle.com) of its value against the U.S. dollar since March, and the country’s unemployment, inflation, and energy supply are all at [crisis levels](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/aug/31/iran-economy-crisis-usa-launches-sanctions-inflation-trump?ref=readtangle.com). Iran’s leaders no doubt want to project the country’s willingness to persevere, but at a certain point, the economic reality will become unavoidable. As Bridget Toomey suggested (under “What the right is saying”), Iran playing its “Houthi card” may signal its desperation. As for the Houthis, their Red Sea seizures and Saudi strikes could prove to be a side note in the story of the Iran war. The group showed it was capable of causing headaches in the region with its post-October 7 strikes in the Red Sea, but those attacks ultimately didn’t cause the Gaza war to permanently expand in scope. The same could be true here. Their current offensive may indicate the war’s high-water mark, even if Saudi Arabia’s allies join the effort. If the Houthi offensive is contained, where would that leave Iran? Still battered, still economically ravaged, and with limited options for further escalation. If we take path two, I still don’t think a war-ending deal would materialize before the midterms, but it would mean the Trump administration has leverage towards obtaining favorable terms in any eventual agreement. Right now, I think we’re more likely headed down path one, but that’s not guaranteed. The days ahead will be instructive — how does Saudi Arabia respond to the Houthi advances? Do its allies get involved? Does the U.S.? Does Iran’s economic collapse accelerate? Do the rising tensions bring both sides back to the negotiating table? Again, the only thing I feel confident in saying is that we’ve reached a critical juncture. | Staff concurrence. Ari Weitzman Managing Editor ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2025/05/Ari.jpg) | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | I think Will’s right to point out Iran’s weaknesses in the current conflict, especially since most of the awareness we have about the war comes with price increases and body counts. But what if there’s another path? What if Iran and its proxy groups are weak, but they’re still successful at pushing any deal to end the war to the other side of the midterms? To drop the subjunctive mood, I think that short-term outcome is likely. The part I have trouble seeing is what happens next, which depends heavily on the mood of President Trump in November. If you were to force me to guess, I’d say Republicans underperform in the midterms and that Trump unleashes his frustration with a heavy, heavy escalation in Iran (before a new Congress is sworn in that can vote to limit his war powers). Whatever ends up happening in November, I agree with Will about the outlook for October: The U.S. and Iran are not on a path that imminently leads to the negotiating table. | **Take the survey:** How long do you think the war will last? [Let us know](https://interrobang.vercel.app/survey/636b9466-96b0-4f1e-8bb7-4dbe5e191e92?ref=readtangle.com). *Disagree? That*’*s okay. Our opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we*’*ll consider publishing your feedback.* ### Your questions, answered. **Convicted felons aren’t allowed to vote. Since Trump is a convicted felon, doesn’t that apply to him as well?** **— Geri from Alexandria, MN** **Associate Editor Carina Pacheco:** Voting rights for convicted felons vary by state. Some states restore voting rights upon a person’s release from prison, others after a probation period or parole, others through separate application processes, and still others allow prisoners to vote while incarcerated. Missouri permanently strips voting rights for certain felony offenses, and only one state, Virginia, permanently prohibits all convicted felons from voting (but that appears to be [changing](https://www.12onyourside.com/2026/09/16/court-ruling-restores-voting-rights-most-virginia-felons/?ref=readtangle.com)). As you allude to, then-candidate Donald Trump was [convicted](https://www.readtangle.com/trump-verdict-hush-money-trial/) on 34 Class E felony counts (the least serious felony classification) in New York in May 2024 for falsifying business records for payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels (widely known as the “hush money” case). In January 2025, just before Trump reassumed office, the case’s presiding judge Juan Merchan ordered an “unconditional discharge,” meaning Trump’s conviction remained, but he would not face any jail time, fines, or probation. Merchan believed that imposing a harsher sentence would improperly interfere with Trump’s duties as President. Trump is registered to vote in Florida, where he lists his primary residence. Florida used to bar felons from voting, but in 2018, Floridians approved a referendum to automatically restore voting rights to most felons (excluding those convicted of felony sex offenses and most types of murder) after they’ve served their full sentence, which includes jail time, parole, probation, and any fines or financial penalties. Under the state’s stipulations, Trump can vote in Florida. But since Trump was convicted in New York, Florida [defers](https://dos.fl.gov/elections/for-voters/voter-registration/felon-voting-rights/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=A%20felony%20conviction%20in%20another%20state%20makes%20a%20person%20ineligible%20to%20vote%20in%20Florida%20only%20if%20the%20conviction%20would%20make%20the%20person%20ineligible%20to%20vote%20in%20the%20state%20where%20the%20person%20was%20convicted.) to New York’s rules. In New York, felons are only barred from voting while they’re incarcerated. A person convicted of a federal crime in New York regains their voting rights following release. So under both sets of laws, Trump (or anyone else who received an “unconditional discharge” sentence) would never have his vote taken away. **Want to have a question answered in the newsletter? You can reply to this email (it goes straight to our inbox) or** [**fill out this form**](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScQhqBSG%5F6%5FoBhwcTQMeS570n29XYbeQ9C9Bis7rjqI31g1tA/viewform?usp=header&ref=readtangle.com)**.** ### Numbers. - [**30%.**](https://www.cnn.com/2026/09/15/politics/mcgurk-houthis-bab-al-mandeb-critical-waterway?ref=readtangle.com)The approximate percentage of global container traffic transported through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait before the start of the Iran war. - [**7%.**](https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/why-is-bab-el-mandeb-strait-so-important-2026-09-10/?ref=readtangle.com) The percentage of global oil output transported through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait in June, according to Kpler. - [**6.2 million.**](https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=41073&ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=In%202018%2C%20an%20estimated%206.2%20million%20barrels%20per%20day%20%28b/d%29%20of%20crude%20oil%2C%20condensate%2C%20and%20refined%20petroleum%20products%20flowed%20through%20the%20Bab%20el%2DMandeb%20Strait%20toward%20Europe%2C%20the%20United%20States%2C%20and%20Asia%2C%20an%20increase%20from%205.1%20million%20b/d%20in%202014.) The estimated number of barrels of crude oil, condensate and refined petroleum products transported through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait toward Europe, the United States and Asia per day in 2018, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. - [**4.**](https://tankermap.com/analytics/straits/bab-el-mandeb?ref=readtangle.com) The average number of vessels that transited the strait daily between September 14 and September 20, according to TankerMap. - [**+383%, +294%, +177%, and +148%.**](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/aug/31/iran-economy-crisis-usa-launches-sanctions-inflation-trump?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Vegetable%20oil%20in%20Iran%20in%20August%20cost%20383%25%20more%20than%20a%20year%20ago.%20The%20price%20of%20eggs%20rose%20by%20294%25%2C%20chicken%20by%20177%25%20and%20red%20meat%20by%20148%25.) The percent change in the price of vegetable oil, eggs, chicken and red meat, respectively, in Iran over the past year. Today’s partner ****How about Good News for the Overwhelmed?** Exhausted from the 24/7 news cycle? Read ****The Pour Over**: four emails a week delivering the biggest stories of your day without the bias, ragebait, or overwhelm. [Sign up for free now and join 1.5M other Christians reclaiming their peace **and* the facts](https://anxiety.thepourover.org/?utm%5Fsource=tangle&utm%5Fmedium=newsletter&utm%5Fcampaign=september). [Start reading. It’s free. ](https://anxiety.thepourover.org/?utm%5Fsource=tangle&utm%5Fmedium=newsletter&utm%5Fcampaign=september) ### The extras. - **One year ago today** we had just published a reader mailbag [responding to feedback about our coverage of Charlie Kirk’s assassination](https://www.readtangle.com/charlie-kirk-criticism-and-our-response-reader-feedback). - **The most clicked link in our last regular newsletter** was our sponsored message from The Penny Hoarder with [tips for frugal spending habits](https://partners.thepennyhoarder.com/frugal-people-sdyn/?aff%5Fid=409&aff%5Fsub3=frugal-people&ref=readtangle.com). - **Nothing to do with politics:** Readers of yesterday’s Sunday newsletter were challenged to beat Managing Editor Ari Weitzman’s score in Krillion, which we shared in The Extras last week. Ari got a 390 on today’s game; [give it a try](https://krillion.io/?ref=readtangle.com) and post your score in the comments of this edition. - **Our last survey:** 2,053 readers responded to our survey on the EPA repealing emissions regulations for existing coal-fired and new gas-fired power plants, with 69% saying the repeal is not legally justified and will have a net-negative effect. “This is another anti-science move by the Trump administration,” one respondent said. “Probably a positive short term economic effect and a long term neutral effect as we’re already transitioning away from coal,” said another. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/09/data-src-image-24db1aec-ef07-4366-a71d-01314bdfa23b.png) ### Have a nice day. After losing his brother Glenn in the attacks of September 11, 2001, Jay Winuk and his longtime friend David Paine decided to create a nonprofit organization called 9/11 Day to reclaim the day and generate hope and community out of the loss. In observance of the 25th anniversary, 9/11 Day collaborated with One Tree Planted and AmeriCorps to pledge to plant 3,000 trees over the next year to honor the victims. On September 9, the organizations launched their plan by planting a tree in Battery Park in Lower Manhattan. [Spectrum News New York has the story](https://ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/news/2026/09/07/together-we-grow--to-plant-3-000-trees-for-9-11?ref=readtangle.com). ### The Sunday — September 20 URL: https://www.readtangle.com/the-sunday-september-20-2026/ Last updated: 2026-09-20T11:52:33.000Z *This is the Tangle Sunday Edition, a brief roundup of our independent politics coverage plus some extra features for your Sunday morning reading.* ### What the right is doodling. ![Gary Varvel | Creators Syndicate](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/09/data-src-image-2c9e044a-f60b-421e-a86c-01ccc58661ca.jpeg) Gary Varvel | Creators Syndicate ### What the left is doodling. ![John Deering | Creators Syndicate](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/09/data-src-image-ca377e0a-ea85-4c36-9870-9f1ce67a12ee.jpeg) John Deering | Creators Syndicate ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/09/data-src-image-480c42f3-9b3f-4d13-ba42-e83345373e8c.png) ### Suspension of the Rules. For this week’s Suspension of the Rules, Kmele defends his position on AI deregulation as Ari channels some reader criticisms to him. Then, Isaac asks, “Am I the idiot?” over one of his recent takes and reacts to Sen. Mitch McConnell’s recent return to the Senate, before Kmele gives a touching tribute to the passing of a literary giant. Check it out here: The latest Suspension of the Rules ### Monday, September 14. [Trump’s $5,000 dividends](https://www.readtangle.com/trump-dividend-midterm-promise/). At the Republican Party’s inaugural midterm convention on Wednesday, September 9, President Donald Trump said that his administration will send $5,000 to every U.S. adult citizen if the GOP retains control of the House and Senate in November’s elections. The president called the “Trump Dividend” a way for Americans to share in the economic strength that would result from Republican governance. **Our take:** *“Pundits and experts seem opposed to this idea across the board, which made me wonder what the best case for it would be. Payouts derived from tariffs would almost certainly be popular, and offering them as a campaign promise isn’t illegal. However, the pledge leaves me feeling uneasy — and not just because it’d be economically unwise.”* **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/09/data-src-image-7761d511-18dd-4a61-ada5-b48caa5a1ecf.png) ### Tuesday, September 15. [Calls for an AI slowdown](https://www.readtangle.com/ai-leaders-call-for-a-slowdown/). On Saturday, September 12, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei published an essay arguing that artificial intelligence (AI) development is advancing at an unsafe pace and should be moderated. Executives at other leading AI companies endorsed Amodei’s post, with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman saying “we need to pace the frontier.” In recent months, AI systems have allegedly hacked other companies’ platforms without their immediate knowledge, and former Anthropic employee Jacob Coxon publicly resigned in early September, citing the company’s purportedly insufficient AI-safety policies. **Our take:** *“Even as a techno-optimist, I remain skeptical of the visions of doom professed by some of AI’s truest believers. Jacob Coxon and Dario Amodei sound far less compelling than Cal Newport, who describes AI’s issues as a matter of mismanagement. Regulation in this space strikes me as performative and likely to give the illusion of a control we cannot attain.”* **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/09/data-src-image-8f070624-727b-40fa-b85f-1a0082ab9879.png) ### Wednesday, September 16. [The mail-in ballots ruling](https://www.readtangle.com/scotus-blocks-mail-in-voting-changes/). On Monday, September 14, the Supreme Court denied a request from the Trump administration to allow the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) to carry out parts of President Donald Trump’s executive order placing new regulations on mail-in voting. The president had issued the order in March to address alleged voter fraud, and the Supreme Court overturned a lower court’s block on parts of the executive order in August. The Court’s most recent decision prevents the order from taking effect before the November midterm elections. **Our take:** *“The Court got this one right. We might be numb to President Trump’s response, but presidential criticism of the Court was once taboo. This outcome further demonstrates the Court’s independence.”* **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/09/data-src-image-84f9616b-5b4e-45e7-925b-c3fdf29c57c0.png) ### Thursday, September 17. [Changes in carbon emissions regulations](https://www.readtangle.com/epa-power-plant-deregulation/). On Monday, September 14, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the repeal of Biden-era emissions regulations for power plants and proposed rolling back all remaining greenhouse gas standards for the power sector. The agency said the move will create an estimated $310 billion in savings and lower energy prices for consumers. On Thursday, September 17, environmental advocates sued the EPA for this week’s power plant deregulatory actions. **Our take:** *“Environmental policy is complicated, and emissions regulations are no different. The underlying fight in this case is about whether to extend the life of coal plants or accelerate their demise. I think legal challenges to this repeal will eventually succeed.”* **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/09/data-src-image-7af9ade9-a07e-45e0-b55b-0a36a8307d1d.png) ### Friday, September 18. Ideological diversity is a core tenet of Tangle’s mission. As Executive Editor Isaac Saul watched the rise of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) with healthy skepticism, he decided to find a writer who’d put forward a defense of the DSA. Ross Barkan answered the call. [You can read Barkan’s essay advocating for the DSA here](https://www.readtangle.com/the-case-for-the-democratic-socialists-of-america/). --- ### What just happened. Here’s a rundown of the major stories that have broken since our newsletter on Thursday. - On Thursday, President Trump withdrew his nomination of former Oklahoma law enforcement official Lance Schroyer to serve as director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. ([The withdrawal](https://www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/2026/09/17/trump-withdraws-his-nominee-lead-ice/?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Thursday, a United Nations group published a report finding “reasonable grounds to believe” that the United States committed war crimes when it struck an Iranian school and sports center in separate airstrikes in the early days of the Iran war. ([The report](https://www.axios.com/2026/09/17/iran-war-crimes-un-mission-finds?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Thursday, an F-16 fighter jet crashed in northern Michigan during a training flight. The pilot ejected before the crash and was not seriously harmed. ([The crash](https://thehill.com/policy/defense/6096850-f-16-crashes-michigan-pilot-ejects/?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Friday, President Trump announced that he is barring CNN, MS NOW and Politico journalists from the White House, claiming that their reporting about his administration has been inaccurate and saying he was “sick of it.” ([The ban](https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/trump-says-he-is-banning-cnn-ms-now-and-politico-from-the-white-house-af680f1b?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Friday, Semafor reported that Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) has blocked a $2.8 billion arms sale to Israel since July over concerns about how the Israeli government will use the weapons. ([The report](https://www.semafor.com/article/09/18/2026/shaheen-holds-up-28b-arms-sale-to-israel?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Friday, CNN reported that, this spring, the U.S. military was prepared to carry out an operation to board a Chinese ship believed to be transporting components of a nuclear weapons program before discovering that the initial report was the result of a mistaken assessment by an artificial intelligence chatbot. ([The report](https://www.cnn.com/2026/09/18/politics/us-military-ai-false-intelligence-china-ship?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Friday, President Trump announced a security agreement with Greenland and Denmark that he said gives the United States “permanent control over security, and all other needs, in Greenland” and bars any U.S. adversary from establishing a base on the island. Greenland and Denmark confirmed an agreement had been reached. ([The announcement](https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/6099074-greenland-denmark-us-security-agreement-trump/?ref=readtangle.com)) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/09/data-src-image-31eb45cc-2a15-474f-99f0-2f2d49ff073c.png) ### Reader essay. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/09/data-src-image-086dc62c-7ab9-4c9e-a7cb-953a7220ebf5.jpeg) Photo by[ Vitaly Gariev](https://unsplash.com/@silverkblack?utm%5Fsource=unsplash&utm%5Fmedium=referral&utm%5Fcontent=creditCopyText) on[ Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/photos/doctor-writing-on-a-patients-chart-8WYkI3cEZm8?utm%5Fsource=unsplash&utm%5Fmedium=referral&utm%5Fcontent=creditCopyText) When Tangle reader Lucas Seuren was first diagnosed with eczema, his family doctor waited too long to change his medication dosage, costing him pain relief. A few years later, when his condition worsened, a new doctor failed to identify that the apartment he’d recently moved to might be the culprit. Now working as a medical researcher, Lucas considers how AI might help fill gaps in the medical profession. [You can read Lucas’s essay here](https://www.readtangle.com/otherposts/the-ai-assistant-your-family-doctor-needs/). *Have a personal story or local issue you want to write about? Pitch us! Fill out* [*this form*](https://forms.gle/aigkWGv5QQbwerCX8?ref=readtangle.com) *or reply to this email, and we’ll get back to you if we’re hooked.* --- ### Reader comments. In this section, we like to highlight reader comments that respond to our coverage from different perspectives. Our [Friday guest essay from writer Ross Barkan](https://www.readtangle.com/the-case-for-the-democratic-socialists-of-america/#ghost-comments-root) about the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) drove a lot of commentary about the political organization, as well as Ross’s defense of it. **LCalamar said DSA candidates are offering something Democrats fail to offer.** > *Just like any organization there are some fringe players who tend to drag others down, but geez this is normal and critical thinkers know enough not to let the fringes eat away at the meat.* > > *At the end of the day — the Democratic party isn’t looking out for the middle and lower classes any more than the Republican party... Yeah — they say the right things but the Dems are just as complicit in creating this plutocracy as the Republicans (either by action or inaction, doesn't matter which.)* > > *DSA is to the mainstream democrats what MAGA was/is to mainstream Republicans... it succeeds not so much what they stand for but as much what they DON’T stand for.* > > *People just want a party that is looking to help the majority of Americans... we may not all agree on how to do that, but at least the DSA’s are sincere in wanting to do that.* **Alida J Heidelberg said DSA’s goals are unrealistic and worried about limits on power.** > *It's not that I don’t find attractive the description of what the DSA will be, according to the author. But all these goals will cost far more money that we can currently afford under our current tax system. Just raising taxes on the 1 percent won't come close to paying for the costs of these programs, given our current national debt. The dollar has declined drastically in value, thanks to fiat money. So printing money won’t be feasible.* > > *Besides, the DSA, as far as it has expressed itself, seems to want the destruction of the system of checks and balances that is enshrined in our Constitution, which, I will grant, are no working as they were designed to do.* > > *And when it gets right down to it, what limits would they put on governmental power?* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/09/data-src-image-1b4d9b98-8f5b-4220-ae7c-708b3e69744e.png) ### Recommended reading. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/09/data-src-image-0a5290b9-0ba8-4362-b192-aa5945004e12.png) > *Countless individuals have amassed bigger fortunes than Teddy Yip, but few people enjoyed their riches more. “He absolutely lived up to his reputation,” says son Teddy Yip Jr. “The parties, the events, and especially the racing. He lived life to the fullest.”* The Macau man of many talents, Teddy Yip, who made his name manning race cars — while swinging swords and building a business. [Read Tim Struby’s piece here](https://victoryjournal.substack.com/p/man-of-macau). --- ### On the channels. **VIDEO:** Food recalls in the United States seem to be constantly happening as of late. But is our food actually getting more dangerous, or is the media just paying closer attention? We broke down the situation in a YouTube video [here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bI2fLNbak-k&t=76s&ref=readtangle.com). **INSTAGRAM:** An F-16 fighter jet crashed in Grand Traverse County, Michigan, with the pilot safely ejecting. We covered the incident in an Instagram reel [here](https://www.instagram.com/p/DdZzZRvvukY/?ref=readtangle.com). **BONUS:** Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) introduced articles of impeachment against Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. We covered the story in an Instagram reel [here](https://www.instagram.com/p/DdU8qpTN9Ip/?ref=readtangle.com). --- [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/09/unnamed--1--1.png)](https://krillion.io/?ref=readtangle.com) ****A beta test: Games corner.** Last Thursday, Senior Editor Will Kaback found an incredibly fun browser game: [Krillion](https://krillion.io/?ref=readtangle.com). Our whole editorial staff had a fun time playing around with it, and eventually came to a prevailing feeling about the game: Managing Editor Ari Weitzman was frustratingly good at it. Behind the scenes, we’re also considering adding a game back into our Sunday edition. So we figured we’d use this space, for one week only, to test out the demand. Would you be interested in us adding a game to the Sunday edition? Try out Krillion and let us know how you did. Ari posted his score as a comment to today’s edition on our website — try to beat it. Please! Don’t let him win, it’s so annoying… [Beat Ari! ](https://krillion.io/?ref=readtangle.com) --- ### Tangle’s favorites. 🚗 ****BEWARE THE SQUARE:** A very appreciated public service alert: Look out for [QR code parking meter scams](https://www.rd.com/article/parking-meter-qr-code-scam/?ref=readtangle.com)! 🥖 ****I KNEAD IT:** Are baked goods your thing? Would you call an innovative croissant “exciting”? Then check out Infatuation’s list of the [most exciting bakeries in the country](https://www.theinfatuation.com/all/guides/most-exciting-bakeries-in-america?ref=readtangle.com). 🐱 ****THE CAT’S MEOW:** New cat alert! National Geographic is pleased to report that, for the first time in 100 years, a [new cat species has been discovered](https://x.com/natgeo/status/2100601922168209413?s=46&t=7wfYUO2rNbHlrYyBDmVjCA&ref=readtangle.com). --- ### Post of the week. Katie Dippold just won two Emmys for her work on *Widow’s Bay*. She’s come a long way: > how it started, how it’s going [pic.twitter.com/Ju1hiw97by](https://t.co/Ju1hiw97by?ref=readtangle.com) > > — luz (@vnbvrnt) [September 15, 2026](https://x.com/vnbvrnt/status/2099671895087906923?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=readtangle.com) --- ### Ask the readers. Last week, Josephine from Athens, OH, asked readers about something they loved that others think is “cringy.” ****Mona from Olympia, WA:** I love me some Barry Manilow! I first saw him in concert when I was pregnant with my daughter. She’s also become a fan and we’ve enjoyed several concerts together. ****Mo from San Diego:** I’ve been wearing a fanny pack since the 1980s. It’s been a source of many jokes over the years. Originally I would wear them only to Dead Shows, which were all day or multi day events back in the day. I needed to be able to carry my cigarettes, lighter, “party favors,” paper and pen to jot down the set list, chapstick, and ID in case anyone needed to help me along by the end of the show. Over the years I had Guati packs, nylon, and even full leather, and they were always so big! I still have a large show bag that I wear to music festivals occasionally, but on a daily basis, I wear a very slim bag under my shirt that holds car and house keys, ID and debit card, and my phone. I always have what I need with me and have not carried a purse in over 30 years. Seems they may be making a comeback in some sort of morphed Crossbody way, but I do still take a lot of sh?t for wearing it. I hope to be buried with my fanny. ****Wendy from Eugene, OR:** Turkey vultures. Their role in nature tends to be portrayed as unsavory … macabre. In reality, they are our quiet little cleaning crew, unsung and unthanked for the work for which they are supremely qualified. If you ever have the chance to visit them close up (such as at our local raptor center), you’ll find them quirky and personable. And so cartoonishly ugly, they make me smile every time. Or maybe that’s just me? ****Austin from Pontiac, MI:** To be a little meta, I love the feeling of “cringe” itself. When you look back and cringe at a memory, you’re looking back at how much you’ve grown. So when you cringe at another’s behavior, it’s not a bad thing; it’s gaining a more thorough understanding of that person or thing, and why it feels like something you wouldn’t/would no longer do. This week’s reader question comes from Mary from Cincinnati, OH, who asked: ****What is the worst advice you have ever received?** *You can let us know your thoughts by replying through* [*this form*](https://forms.gle/SZ1uohkrkfvkq6NJ9?ref=readtangle.com). --- *Want even more Tangle? Follow us on our* [*X*](https://twitter.com/TangleNews?ref=readtangle.com)*,* [*Reddit*](https://www.reddit.com/r/tanglenews?ref=readtangle.com)*, or* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/tangle.news?ref=readtangle.com) *for up-to-the-minute updates.* ### I Thought This Would Be a Political Slam Dunk URL: https://www.readtangle.com/i-thought-this-would-be-a-political-slam-dunk/ Last updated: 2026-09-19T16:07:03.000Z How are voters reacting to President Trump's promise to send $5,000 to every American adult if Republicans retain control of Congress? ### Is our food getting more dangerous? URL: https://www.readtangle.com/is-our-food-getting-more-dangerous/ Last updated: 2026-09-19T16:07:06.000Z In 2026, the FDA and USDA have recalled over 160 food products so far, roughly on pace with 2025\. But every recall seems to go viral, and many of them seem to be high-profile like the recent cyclosporiasis, salmonella, E. coli, and listeria outbreaks. ### Is There Really a 5% Chance AI Kills Us All? URL: https://www.readtangle.com/is-there-really-a-5-chance-ai-kills-us-all/ Last updated: 2026-09-18T22:06:29.000Z How should we respond to the risk of Artificial Intelligence? ### The AI assistant your family doctor needs? URL: https://www.readtangle.com/otherposts/the-ai-assistant-your-family-doctor-needs/ Last updated: 2026-09-18T18:00:19.000Z *By Lucas Seuren* --- In just a few years, artificial intelligence (AI) has come to pervade every aspect of our daily lives — whether you’re just searching for something on Google or ordering a self-driving taxi. People are now even using Large Language Models (LLMs) to help with daily interactions like making a recipe, asking someone out, or even ordering coffee from a barista. The impact of the AI explosion is wide-reaching: Entry-level and apprentice jobs are being displaced, the stock market (and with it, the global economy) has become seriously reliant on AI companies and hyperscaling with limited monetization, and we are losing the ability to tell whether anything we see and read is even real. The widespread anxiety around AI comes as no surprise, especially with changes happening at such a high pace. But not everything is doom and gloom. AI has many potential applications to provide a huge boon to society. Healthcare in particular stands to benefit immensely. AI can already read scans, spot tumours and suggest treatments, thereby improving human judgment. One promising area is frontline care. By assisting our healthcare professionals, AI can help prevent countless medical errors, alleviate workload pressures, and allow clinicians to do what they do best: caring for patients. This potential of AI for healthcare has become the focal point of my career. I have been researching technological innovation in healthcare since 2018 — first at Oxford, studying video consultations, and now at the University of Edinburgh, where I study AI tools such as automated documentation and decision-support systems. And I can already see the benefits. When I was 15, I started to have eczema. My case was not particularly bad, occurring mainly on my elbows and only when the weather was hot and humid. I could easily control it with a mild hydrocortisone cream. Then in my early 20s, it started getting worse. I would use my cream twice daily just to keep the eczema from spreading. Yet my family doctor did not want to escalate my treatment as long as a lower dose worked. It was not until a few months later, when my family doctor had talked to a dermatologist, that she was willing to prescribe a stronger treatment that would actually clear the eczema. This status quo worked for about 15 years; but then my eczema got so bad that my cream barely slowed down the progression. During this time, I had moved to a new country, and my new family doctor was even more hesitant to escalate treatment. Again, I had to wait months as my eczema got considerably worse before she finally decided to prescribe a stronger treatment. But my family doctor missed that my flare-up had an environmental trigger: The apartment I had moved into had mold. She had not questioned what could be causing the sudden severity of my eczema, and we ended up treating the symptoms rather than the cause. If you’re keeping track, that’s two family doctors, two timepoints, and two cases where I had to tolerate an irritating illness that was easily treatable. If only my first family doctor had been better aware of the latest guidelines, and if only my second had asked if anything had changed in my life recently — I might have gotten relief sooner. But the reality is that family doctors face extreme time pressures. They are our first points of contact with the health system; they see everyone and need to know something about everything. That’s asking a lot. Combine that with an ever-growing administrative burden, and it is no surprise that [an estimated 6.3% of all family doctor visits](https://qualitysafety.bmj.com/content/23/9/727?ref=readtangle.com) in the U.S. have some diagnostic error. In comes artificial intelligence. If you’ve visited a clinician in the last 2–3 years, you may have already been asked whether you are okay with your clinician using AI to make their notes. Nearly half of physicians now use Ambient AI Scribes or Ambient Voice Technology (I’ll use AI Scribes for short). The tech is simple: A microphone records your consultation, speech-to-text software produces a transcript, and then an LLM (such as ChatGPT) processes that transcript to generate a summary. Many clinicians, especially those who write long notes, find that AI Scribes save them considerable time both in- and outside the clinic. And taking the keyboard out of the consultation means that clinicians can have more meaningful conversations with their patients — something everyone prefers. Because of the perceived benefits, politicians are quick to embrace the technology: The UK government [envisions](https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-term-plan/?ref=readtangle.com) that by 2035, every healthcare practitioner will be using an AI Scribe. Although there is no long-term evidence to bear this out, the potential of a technological quick fix to healthcare is too good to pass up. Of course, the accuracy of my medical record was not the reason why my family doctors initially did not adequately address my problem. While AI Scribes can help prevent errors from slipping into the patient’s record (although, of course, LLMs can introduce their own errors), diagnostic errors sometimes happen before a note is even generated. Take my case as an example: My first family doctor was not aware of a change in prescribing guidelines, and my second family doctor did not ask if a recent change in my life could explain my symptoms. To prevent medical errors before they happen, we need an omniscient family doctor who never forgets anything. To prevent them from being classified as a medical device, all AI Scribes do — and, for the moment, are allowed to do — is provide a summary of the consultation. Regulation gets stricter as their functionality increases, and because they currently only summarize, regulators in the U.S., UK and the EU let developers self-certify that they are safe. But developers are already building newer AI Scribes that are full-fledged physician assistants. These could be extraordinarily helpful new tools. With access to the internet and the latest local guidelines, AI Assistants could suggest questions for the family doctor to ask, suggest a diagnosis, provide treatment options, and generate handouts for patients — all in real-time. And because they would be listening to the consultation anyway, clinicians could just ask them questions verbally, instead of having to type, which would take their focus away from the patient. I spoke to a charge nurse who works at a palliative care ward, and she reported that AI Scribes made it possible to do what she was trained to do: care for patients. This vision of healthcare, where technology makes it possible for the clinician to focus on caring for the patient, is not new. Tech enthusiasts have been preaching it for decades. Except we don’t know if any of this is a good idea. There is a reason that healthcare is slow to adopt innovation: We need high-quality, unambiguous evidence of safety and effectiveness before adopting anything new. For decades, randomized controlled trials have been the gold standard: Divide patients into two groups, give one the drug and one a placebo, and see which group does better. These trials work well for drugs, because we know how to measure their effect. Technology, however, is what we call a *complex intervention*. Its effects depend not only on whether it is used but how it is used, and how it gets embedded in existing routines and infrastructures. Its impact is often unpredictable and it always comes with unintended consequences. For example, Electronic Patient Records were expected to improve patient safety, but they also led to burnout and impersonal care. Over the past year, I’ve talked to many clinicians and patients, and I’ve worked with some of the UK’s leading research teams on AI Scribes. The findings are consistently more nuanced than politicians and technological leaders would have us believe. Yes, in some situations AI Scribes can lower the administrative burden, mitigate burnout, and facilitate patient-centered care. But in many cases, time savings are minimal. Two recent studies, one a [clinical trial](https://ai.nejm.org/doi/10.1056/AIoa2501000?ref=readtangle.com) with 238 physicians and one a large [real-world trial](https://ai.nejm.org/doi/10.1056/AIoa2500945?ref=readtangle.com) of thousands of physicians’ notes, found that at best AI Scribes reduce time spent on note-taking work by 9.5%, and in many cases there was no difference. This does not look like technology that will free up clinician time to focus on patient care. Again: AI Scribes are a complex intervention. They change how clinicians work, and this comes with unintended consequences. As clinicians remain responsible, they still have to review and edit the AI note, which can take more time than writing them. Some clinicians fear that by offloading their note-taking to an AI, they lose or never even acquire clinical reasoning skills. And worse, some report that when an AI takes notes, clinicians do not remember what is in the notes — or who the patient even was. More and more, we hear that clinicians who participate in pilot studies do not want to continue using AI Scribes after the study ends. For many clinicians, AI Scribes do not solve a problem; they just create new ones. None of this is to say that AI will not make healthcare better and safer. There are many cases of LLM chatbots successfully diagnosing patients where clinicians failed — although, of course, there are plenty of reports of patients being misdiagnosed. Technology, when implemented appropriately, allows clinicians to focus on what they are best at: providing care. But instead of viewing AI as a replacement for clinical work and skills, we need a vision of AI as augmenting those skills. AI Scribes are a classic case of “move fast and break things.” Tech companies recognized a business opportunity, and the medical workforce was desperate, especially post-Covid. As one family doctor told me, it is a gold rush with AI companies treating hospitals and clinicians as mineral-rich veins. Once clinicians depend on AI Scribes, companies can start raising prices. This all may sound deeply frustrating, and it is at times — but let me end on a positive note. Technology is always a learning process. Video consultations promised salvation during the Covid pandemic and social distancing. Many clinicians quickly found video did not work for them, and we learned where it was beneficial. AI Scribes will no doubt go through the same hype curve. I am still an optimist: I anticipate that in 3–5 years, AI will be part of any consultation. It will advise where appropriate, with clinicians remaining the expert on how to use that information. It won’t be perfect, it will make mistakes, and it will have unintended consequences. But for the family doctor who missed my mouldy apartment and the family doctor who was unaware of the latest guidelines, AI will help to better attend to the full picture of their patients’ problems. --- *Lucas Seuren is a Research Fellow at the School of Public Health Sciences at the University of Edinburgh, where he studies technology in healthcare. He currently works on* [*AI Scribes*](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy0zylpdveqo?ref=readtangle.com) *and precision medicine* [*for glioblastoma*](https://gliomatch.eu/?ref=readtangle.com)*.* ### The case for the Democratic Socialists of America. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/the-case-for-the-democratic-socialists-of-america/ Last updated: 2026-09-18T17:05:57.000Z ****Note:** You are reading a preview of a members-only Friday edition. To read it in full, [you’ll be asked to subscribe](https://www.readtangle.com/membership/). One of the core tenets of Tangle’s mission is ideological diversity. As a big-tent news organization, we believe that we can be a space for readers of all political backgrounds to hear arguments from across the political spectrum. As I look around today’s media landscape, something occurs to me: It’s becoming a hobbyhorse of political commentators to beat up on the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). Both moderate Democrats and Republicans attack it constantly, as do independents. And in my own writing, I’ve overtly criticized the DSA. Indeed, it’s hard to find writers unapologetically defending DSA — especially in the mainstream press. So, in late July, I put out a call on social media for a writer who would pen a piece for Tangle that was different — for a writer who would make the case for the DSA, its platform, and its record. A few hours later, Ross Barkan shot me a direct message. Ross is a writer I respect and whose work I’ve followed for a long time. He challenges my worldview and does it respectfully and convincingly. I was thrilled he reached out, and excited to see what he would come up with. However, just days before we were set to publish Ross’s piece last month, New York Magazine [dropped](https://x.com/maxwelltani/status/2088356584686583896?s=20&ref=readtangle.com) his column amid allegations of plagiarism. We paused the publication of his piece, corresponded with Ross about the decision, and waited to learn more about the accusations. Now that the dust has settled, it appears Ross was most directly accused of improper citations of others’ work (i.e., linking to their writing but not delineating between their ideas and his own) — rather than stealing work wholesale. Ross has [acknowledged](https://x.com/RossBarkan/status/2090071196159057935?ref=readtangle.com) making mistakes in past columns and apologized for what he described as “not us\[ing\] citations as aggressively as I should have and… not paraphras\[ing\] well enough.” However, he has also disputed some of the claims; several writers have come to his defense and questioned significant elements of New York Magazine’s review. Today, I’m glad to share Ross’s essay making the case for why voters — Democrats, Republicans, and independents — should give democratic socialists a chance and welcome them to the political landscape. He eagerly engaged with our pushback and edits, and I’m confident these ideas are demonstrably his own. I’m excited to read your feedback and thoughts. Best, Isaac **The case for the DSA.** *by Ross Barkan* Everyone, suddenly, can’t stop talking about the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). The largest socialist organization in the United States by far, it has enjoyed several surges of growth over the last decade. Since at least Bernie Sanders’s first presidential campaign in 2016, Americans have been familiarizing themselves with those three red letters, and wondering what exactly the DSA means for them and their families. This moment, though, feels different. The DSA is larger than it’s ever been — with more than [120,000 members](https://www.cityandstateny.com/politics/2026/08/nyc-dsa-60-white-internal-survey-says/415330/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Just%20two%20years%20later%2C%20DSA%20has%20more%20than%20120%2C000%20members%20and%20NYC%2DDSA%E2%80%99s%20total%20membership%20exceeds%2015%2C000.) nationally — but the raw numbers alone don’t tell the story. Through the electoral victories of its top politicians, the DSA has penetrated the popular consciousness, leaving the Democratic and Republican establishments (along with a good deal of conventional media and punditry) scrambling to respond. The party now has a globally famous politician in New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. And its congressional caucus will expand next year if (or when) Chris Rabb, Melat Kiros, Darializa Avila Chevalier, and Claire Valdez win their heavily favored November contests, joining Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Rashida Tlaib in the House. The punditry class often portrays the DSA as radical, dangerous, and anti-American. And those criticisms don’t come from just the right, either. Moderate Democrats have [openly rebuked](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/06/03/centrist-democrats-launch-new-pledge-moderate-party/?ref=readtangle.com) the DSA, declaring that the Democratic Party ought to stay explicitly in support of capitalism. Third Way, the centrist political organization, has [promised](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/06/us/politics/democratic-party-socialists-moderates.html?ref=readtangle.com) to spend at least $15 million in an effort to damage and defeat DSA candidates. Democratic leaders, meanwhile, are hunting for ways to get the socialists out of their party. Jaime Harrison, the former chairman of the Democratic National Committee, said recently that those who “hate the Democratic Party” should not “run for our nomination,” a statement given generally but pretty clearly directed to socialist candidates. “Don’t use our infrastructure. Don’t ask Democrats to invest their time, money, and energy in your campaign,” Harrison [posted on X](https://x.com/harrisonjaime/status/2069570034868047996?ref=readtangle.com). Longtime Democratic strategist James Carville, meanwhile, declared [he’ll exit](https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/6004598-carville-piker-democratic-party-split/?ref=readtangle.com) the party if Hasan Piker, the DSA-aligned anti-Israel streamer, gains more influence. “I have no intention of ever being in the same political party with that guy,” Carville said. “I think that a majority — overwhelming majority of Democrats agree with me, but this idea that we’re going to seize the means of production and this — just go look at the DSA platform.” Carville gets some of that right. The national DSA platform includes planks that are alienating to a large majority of Americans. Most voters do not want to [abolish](https://www.dsausa.org/working-groups/abolition-working-group/?ref=readtangle.com) borders, prisons, and the Senate. They do not want their police departments gutted. To many Republican voters, the DSA is a virulent force that wants to destroy America. DSA members hate all the holidays, hate the flag, and fundamentally want to recreate the worst conditions of Soviet communism. Megan Romer, the co-chair of DSA, recently [went viral](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6YmTzlfVThE&ref=readtangle.com) for a Fox News interview where she defended these ideas, including a world without prisons. Francesca Hong, the unsuccessful DSA gubernatorial candidate in Wisconsin, [once called](https://www.readtangle.com/wisconsin-gubernatorial-primaries-2026/) to “cancel” Thanksgiving. If a DSA critic wants to reject the organization and movement, they can easily point to these examples. Or they can just note that no functioning nation on Earth — including those with generous, socialist welfare states — has rid itself of borders and prisons. And while I believe far too many people in the United States are in prisons and the system rehabilitates far too few, it would be a disaster if murderers and criminals and fraudsters were permitted to walk free with no consequences for their actions. Popular perceptions of the DSA are thus grounded in some truth, but the organization and its people remain greatly misunderstood by both Republicans and Democrats. DSA candidates keep winning, and not by some fluke of a few low-turnout races or a dismissable big-city phenomenon. I am a writer and journalist deeply familiar with the DSA, and my time observing the organization — and even briefly participating in its politics — has lent me unique insights into its rise. In 2018, I ran for a state Senate seat as a Democrat in New York City, where I grew up and still live. I joined the DSA and tried (and failed) to win its endorsement. My unsuccessful campaign would have been totally devoid of historical relevance if not for my decision to hire a young, unknown political organizer named Zohran Mamdani. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Should we be worried about Mitch McConnell? URL: https://www.readtangle.com/should-we-be-worried-about-mitch-mcconnell/ Last updated: 2026-09-17T22:06:35.000Z Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) returned to the Senate four days ago. In that time, he’s cast several important votes, but has not spoken to the media with any video recording. ### The EPA’s power plant deregulation. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/epa-power-plant-deregulation/ Last updated: 2026-09-17T15:52:46.000Z This is **Managing Editor Ari Weitzman**, congratulating you on making it to Thursday, which means you’re basically at the weekend. Basically. Before you start unwinding, though, we’ve got a complicated story of our own to unwind today: the EPA’s removal of the **greenhouse gas emissions regulations** for gas and coal power plants. I’m reaching all the way back to my college days to start telling this story. We’ll also reach back to 1787 to recognize the anniversary of **the signing of the Constitution** and end with a feel-good story about **a charitable New Yorker**. It’s a **13-minute read**. Isaac Saul, Will Kaback, Audrey Moorehead, Carina Pacheco, Russell Nystrom, Isaac Wood, and Bailey Saul edited or contributed to today’s newsletter. ### “Am I the idiot?” For this week’s *Suspension of the Rules*, Kmele defends his position on AI deregulation as Ari channels some reader criticisms to him. Then, Isaac asks, “Am I the idiot?” over one of his recent takes and reacts to Sen. Mitch McConnell’s recent return to the Senate, before Kmele gives a touching tribute to the passing of a literary giant. Check it out here: The latest episode of Suspension of the Rules ### Quick hits. 1. The Federal Open Market Committee voted unanimously to raise the Federal Reserve’s benchmark interest rate by 0.25% to 3.75%–4.00%, the first rate increase since 2023\. ([The increase](https://www.nbcnews.com/business/economy/fed-raises-rates-defying-trump-rcna598148?ref=readtangle.com)) 2. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) announced the House will enter its legislative recess one day early, sending lawmakers home until after the midterm elections. Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) accused Republican leadership of taking the move to avoid a vote on his resolution to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. ([The decision](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/09/16/house-recess-johnson-massie-impeachment-hegseth-epstein/252123ea-b215-11f1-92c2-5c918f4a6127%5Fstory.html?ref=readtangle.com)) 3. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen invited Canada to join the bloc as its first “associate member.” Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed interest in the proposal, while U.S. President Donald Trump called it “laughable.” ([The invite](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/09/17/carney-canada-eu-associate-member.html?ref=readtangle.com)) 4. Houthi rebels in Yemen claimed to have shot down a Saudi Arabian fighter jet as they continue to launch attacks against the kingdom and seize territory in the region. ([The latest](https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/yemens-houthi-rebels-claim-shooting-down-saudi-f-15-jet-fighter-237ecc7d?ref=readtangle.com)) 5. OpenAI disclosed six new incidents involving its artificial intelligence models deemed “unexpected or concerning,” including instances where the systems accessed the internet without permission and attempted to hide information. ([The incidents](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/16/technology/openai-model-safety-guardrails.html?ref=readtangle.com)) Today****’**s Partner ****You’re Probably Still Paying for These** Being frugal isn’t about skipping your morning coffee or pretending you don’t want the guac. It’s about knowing when you’re paying for something you really don’t have to. There are things you have to spend money on. And then there are the things we’ve all somehow accepted as monthly expenses — even though we may be paying way too much (or shouldn’t be paying for them at all). Our partner found [six expenses frugal people don’t pay for](https://partners.thepennyhoarder.com/frugal-people-sdyn/?aff%5Fid=409&utm%5Fsource=tangle&aff%5Fsub3=frugal-people). They have figured out how to avoid, reduce, or replace them. Some are obvious. At least one will probably make you check your bank statement. [See all 6 → ](https://partners.thepennyhoarder.com/frugal-people-sdyn/?aff%5Fid=409&utm%5Fsource=tangle&aff%5Fsub3=frugal-people) ### Today’s topic. Changes in carbon emissions regulations. On Monday, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) [announced](https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-finalizes-repeal-2024-power-plant-regulations-delivering-300-billion-savings?ref=readtangle.com) the repeal of Biden-era emissions regulations for power plants and proposed rolling back all remaining greenhouse gas standards for the power sector. The agency said the move will create an estimated $310 billion in savings and lower energy prices for consumers. On Thursday, environmental advocates sued the EPA for this week’s power plant deregulatory actions. **Back up:** In 2024, the Biden administration’s EPA [enacted](https://apnews.com/article/power-plants-coal-natural-gas-biden-epa-5c96ca146e7f70b47806beb4bc3713e6?ref=readtangle.com) rules requiring all newly built gas-powered power plants and existing coal-fired power plants slated to remain operational past 2039 to capture or cut 90% of their smokestack emissions by 2032\. At the time, it projected that the regulations would prevent 1.38 billion metric tons of carbon pollution through 2047\. Before repealing the rule, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin [rescinded](https://www.readtangle.com/epa-removes-endangerment-finding/) the “endangerment finding” in February, removing the agency’s scientific and legal justification for federal regulation of greenhouse gases. Zeldin’s Monday announcement [included](https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/epa-to-roll-back-power-plant-emission-rules-c9fa36a2?ref=readtangle.com) two deregulatory provisions. The first, which has already been finalized, reverses the Biden-era regulations. The second, which still requires approval, would rescind greenhouse gas emissions requirements for all power plants and prevent future administrations from implementing similar regulations. The EPA justified the rollback based on “the best reading of the Clean Air Act,” saying the law did not give it the authority to regulate power plant emissions based on climate change concerns. In a [petition](https://news.bloomberglaw.com/environment-and-energy/environmentalists-sue-over-epa-power-plant-pollution-rule-repeal-23?ref=readtangle.com) for review filed on Thursday, health and environmental advocacy organizations asked the D.C. appellate court to review the EPA’s action. Environmentalists [criticized](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/13/climate/epa-power-plant-climate-rules.html?ref=readtangle.com) the deregulation, saying the effects of unregulated coal and natural gas would be dangerous to public health and the environment. “\[The repeal is\] going to mean more pollution, more extreme weather, higher electricity bills because we’re going to continue to rely on fossil fuels,” Patrick Drupp, the climate policy director at the Sierra Club, [said](https://www.nbcnews.com/science/climate-change/epa-repeals-limits-emissions-power-plants-rcna597741?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=%E2%80%9CThis%20is%20full,coal%20and%20gas.%E2%80%9D), calling the motivation for the move “full-throated climate denial.” Zeldin said that the Obama and Biden administrations had waged a “war on coal” and that the deregulation would lower electricity prices. “At EPA, we follow a very simple principle. If Congress didn’t authorize it, EPA shouldn’t be doing it,” he said. Additionally, energy industry groups [said](https://www.nbcnews.com/science/climate-change/epa-repeals-limits-emissions-power-plants-rcna597741?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=%E2%80%9COverturning%20these%20examples,in%20a%20statement.) the repeal will improve the reliability of the U.S. electric grid and meet increasing electricity demand. Today, we’ll share views from the right and left on the EPA’s changes. Then, Managing Editor Ari Weitzman gives his take. | What the right is saying. The right mostly supports the rollback, arguing it will support U.S. energy production.Some say the EPA is pushing back on questionable claims about climate change.Others suggest more regulation doesn’t mean a cleaner environment. | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | **In The Daily Caller, Mitch Rolling and Sarah Montalbano wrote** [**“the EPA finally catches up with America’s electricity needs.”** ](https://dailycaller.com/2026/09/15/opinion-epa-repeals-biden-admin-carbon-emission-rule-coal-gas-mitch-rolling-sarah-montalbano/?ref=readtangle.com) “The Biden Administration’s rule, finalized in 2024, would have forced coal and new natural gas plants to install costly and commercially unproven carbon capture and sequestration technology to capture 90% of their emissions or shut down by 2039,” Rolling and Montalbano said. “Faced with complying in only six years, almost all coal plants would shutter rather than incur such high costs. Remaining coal plants and new natural gas plants would be saddled with new costs.” “Rescinding the rule is an ambitious first step, and the right one. The administration should now correct the underlying flaws in how these rules are written that allowed the EPA to severely underestimate compliance costs. Regulators count as benefits the avoided cost of carbon but neglect to account for the real human and economic costs of blackouts,” Rolling and Montalbano wrote. “Half the country is facing a high risk of rolling blackouts by 2030, as demand climbs and dispatchable plants retire. The federal government’s decision-making should reflect the costs of its choices.” **In Blaze Media, Zach Laidlaw said the repeal counters** [**“climate hysteria over carbon emissions.”**](https://www.theblaze.com/news/epa-carbon-emissions-repeal?ref=readtangle.com) “The Clean Air Act has been around since the 1970s. The original version specifically targeted vehicle emissions, namely carbon monoxide, which is harmful to humans in concentrated quantities… However, in recent decades, the bill morphed to cover a broader range of ‘pollutants,’” Laidlaw wrote. “One of the more egregious restrictions came directly from the Biden administration, which used the Inflation Reduction Act to attack fossil fuels because of the carbon dioxide emitted during the burning process.” “That is all about to change. On Monday, the EPA officially removed some of the power-plant carbon emissions restrictions,” Laidlaw said. “Energy companies no longer have to abide by costly climate edicts of past administrations. American citizens save money on taxes. Finally, the people gain much-needed relief from climate change hysteria.” **In The Dispatch, Philip Rossetti explored** [**“why sweeping regulations won’t end air pollution.”**](https://thedispatch.com/newsletter/dispatch-energy/air-pollution-regulations-environment-emissions/?ref=readtangle.com) “For as long as air pollution has been debated, we have been inundated with imagery of smokestacks billowing soot into the atmosphere. This persistent framing gives the impression that little has changed in our efforts to fight air pollution, but the truth is that today’s issues are much different than those of decades past,” Rossetti wrote. “For the six primary, or ‘criteria,’ air pollutants — carbon monoxide, lead, particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and ozone — emissions have fallen by 79% since 1970.” “There is an ever-shifting economically optimal level of air pollution abatement, and it’s not always clear whether more regulation offers benefits that outweigh the cost. The complexities of regulatory benefit accounting make for poor policy discourse, though, and the EPA tends to prefer simpler methods to weigh regulatory costs and benefits,” Rossetti said. “Regulators like to assume simple cost-efficient frameworks as regulated markets shift, even if those assumptions are unrealistic. While it’s understandable that the EPA would prefer simpler cost-benefit methodology, the effect is that regulators can lean on secondary effects to justify extraordinarily burdensome regulation.” | What the left is saying. The left opposes the repeal, saying it lacks a sound justification. Some argue the move benefits power plant owners and harms the public. Others criticize lawmakers for ignoring the rising costs of climate change. | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | **In The Guardian, Oliver Milman and Sara Sneath said the EPA’s rationale for the repeal is** [**“far from convincing.”**](https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/sep/16/trump-epa-pollution-rollback?ref=readtangle.com) “In allowing US power plants to emit any amount of planet-heating pollution they wish to, the Trump administration made two striking claims — that this will cut Americans’ electricity bills and that the pollution itself doesn’t really matter anyway. Both claims struggle to stand up to even basic scrutiny,” Milman and Sneath wrote. “The EPA’s own analysis, published with the new rule, outlines a very different picture. Retail electricity prices will actually be 0.7% higher in 2030, rather than lower, as a result of the administration’s rule change, it shows. Power prices won’t drop until the mid 2030s and beyond. “The cost of running coal-fired power plants — the dirtiest of fossil fuels, which has been propped up by taxpayer funding and emergency non-closure orders by the administration — will continue to escalate, the analysis finds, with coal delivered for power set to be 27.3% more expensive than otherwise by 2045,” Milman and Sneath said. “The US power sector will be a significant factor in how much more dangerously hot it will get. American coal and gas plants would, if they were a country, be the fifth largest emitter in the world. The Trump administration’s scrapping of pollution limits will unleash far more pollution — an extra 406 million metric tons by 2035.” **In MS NOW, Steve Benen wrote about the** [**“costs to the public”**](https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/climate-pollution-trump-epa-coal-power-plants-carbon-emissions-greenhouse-gases?ref=readtangle.com) **of the EPA’s change.** “Throughout Barack Obama’s and Joe Biden’s presidencies, the Democratic administrations took steps to address the climate crisis by imposing pollution limits on, among other things, coal-fired power plants. Donald Trump’s administration continues to take dramatic steps in the opposite direction,” Benen said. “As The Associated Press noted, the \[EPA’s\] move, according to Trump’s EPA, would ‘remove more than $300 billion in costs for the industry.’ While it’s true that removing the environmental safeguards would represent a financial windfall for the companies that own these power plants, critics pointed to the far greater costs to the public.” “\[The New York Times noted that\] ‘the agency repealed the scientific determination that gave it the legal authority to create climate regulations in the first place.’ Recent history suggests these new developments will spark federal litigation, which might very well lead to yet another fight at the U.S. Supreme Court,” Benen wrote. “Environmental advocates have expressed concern that the dispute could open the door to the high court’s conservative majority prohibiting the EPA from regulating greenhouse gases altogether.” **In The Hill, William S. Becker argued** [**“the world can’t afford to ignore climate change much longer.”**](https://thehill.com/opinion/energy-environment/6085381-voters-want-climate-action/?ref=readtangle.com) “Our government could do something about climate change, but it refuses. In fact, most elected leaders and political candidates don’t even talk about it,” Becker said. “As the fossil-fuel industry increasingly allied itself with Republicans to block climate action over the decades, Democrats became the party more willing to address it. But now, even many Democrats have gone quiet. As the November midterms approach, think tanks and consultants are advising them to avoid the topic \[of\] global warming because ‘it is not a priority for voters.’” “This is the irony of climate hushing: Consultants advise candidates to talk about affordability instead of climate change, when climate change is increasingly an affordability issue. It reduces property values, damages public health, raises taxes, increases the federal deficit, and more,” Becker wrote. “Through 11 presidents and 31 Congresses over the last 60 years, our national government has failed to act in a manner commensurate with the scale and duration of the crisis. | My take. Ari Weitzman Managing Editor ![Ari Weitzman](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2025/05/Ari.jpg) | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | Environmental policy is complicated, and emissions regulations are no different. The underlying fight in this case is about whether to extend the life of coal plants or accelerate their demise. I think legal challenges to this repeal will eventually succeed. | | **Reminder:** This is where we share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, leave a comment or reply to this email. | During the summer before my junior year of college, I volunteered with a nonprofit to help organize people to publicly testify against a rule change President George W. Bush’s EPA was considering. I was one of a cohort of 11 undergraduates enrolled in the University of Chicago’s brand-new “environmental studies” major, and the volunteer internship was my chance to put my education into practice, learn a bit more about policy, and get some school credit while I did. At the time, the EPA was considering changing its National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), a regulation enacted under the [Clean Air Act](https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/RL30853?ref=readtangle.com) that sets limits for gases that 1) are emitted from diverse sources and 2) endanger public health or welfare. It defines six airborne pollutants under these criteria: sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, lead, ozone, and fine particulate matter (like soot or industrial dust). These are the pollutants that usually come to mind when you think of poor air quality, chemicals and compounds that can be dangerous to breathe at very low concentrations. My group was helping gather and prepare members of the public to testify against the EPA’s proposed change to its standard for ozone — a gas that is very helpful in the stratosphere, where it protects us from ultraviolet rays, but is classified as a pollutant in the troposphere, where it can burn our lungs and airways. The EPA’s existing safety standard for ozone was 0.08 parts per million (ppm). Ahead of its 2008 regulatory review, researchers at the EPA had determined a safe concentration for ozone was 0.06 parts per million (ppm), or at least no higher than 0.07\. The EPA, however, determined that their NAAQS standard for ozone would be 0.075 — stricter than the existing standard, but more lenient than the latest recommendations of its experts. I learned an important lesson from my time preparing testimony before the EPA: Environmental policy is never straightforward. The people who testified were informed and earnest — they had chronic emphysema or children with asthma, and poor air quality would endanger their health. They took the time to prepare, and they put some moving testimony in front of the review board. Then after the session ended, my manager from the nonprofit pulled me into a surprisingly congenial discussion with a person at the EPA, where I discovered that the Chicago city government had already lobbied the EPA for this more lenient standard. There was no way the metropolitan region could meet the 0.07 threshold, and if it was classified as “nonattainment,” then the city’s federal funds for transportation projects — including public transit — would be impacted. The upshot was that the stricter standard would make public transit harder to fund, meaning more people traveling by car, meaning worse air quality for the metropolitan area. It turned out that the best thing for Chicago’s air quality was actually for the EPA to impose a *looser* standard — the exact opposite of the thing I organized citizens to lobby for! In 2008, I was an idealist who didn’t realize he’d been cast for a role in a play. Now, in 2026, I have the immense privilege of sitting in the audience and penning a review. The Trump administration is entering the stage first, giving a haughty monologue emphasizing that the EPA doesn’t classify CO2 as a pollutant and thus the endangerment finding is nonsense — little more than an artifact of climate change hysteria. “Referred to by some as the ‘Holy Grail’ of the ‘climate change religion,’ the Endangerment Finding is now eliminated,” Zeldin [said](https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/president-trump-and-administrator-zeldin-deliver-single-largest-deregulatory-action-us?ref=readtangle.com) in February. “The Trump EPA is strictly following the letter of the law, returning common sense to policy, delivering consumer choice to Americans, and advancing the American Dream.” Let’s talk about the letter of the law. The Clean Air Act defines a pollutant as an airborne particle or chemical that “causes, or contributes significantly to, air pollution which may reasonably be anticipated to endanger public health or welfare.” Yes, the law says nothing about greenhouse gases specifically, and those gases (and their role in climate change) are not part of the EPA’s NAAQS restrictions. So in a way, Zeldin is right. In another, much more immediate way, Zeldin is wrong. According to [*Massachusetts v. EPA*](https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/549/497/?ref=readtangle.com)(2007), greenhouse gases (GHGs) *do* fit the Clean Air Act’s definition of air pollutants. That means the opinion of the Supreme Court is that the “letter of the law” here explicitly allows the EPA to regulate GHGs under the Clean Air Act — thus the agency’s 2009 endangerment finding was born. You may also remember that Zeldin has already rescinded the endangerment finding. He also repealed the EPA’s tailpipe emission standards and off-cycle credits for vehicles. As [I said of that decision](https://www.readtangle.com/epa-removes-endangerment-finding/), the likely effects would be the opposite of what you’d expect: Removing the standards probably won’t impact vehicle emissions, removing the credits will probably require vehicles to be *more* efficient, and the deregulation would probably *cost* the auto industry. If Act I’s vehicle emissions story is a farce, Act II’s power plant deregulation is much more of a drama. In 2024, the EPA under President Biden required long-term coal plants and new gas plants to capture 90% of their carbon emissions by 2032\. They’d do this through carbon capture and storage technology (CCS), which captures CO2 at the smokestack before the gas can enter the atmosphere and allows them to sell it as a byproduct (usually to [gas drillers](https://www.cbo.gov/system/files/2023-12/59345-carbon-capture-storage.pdf?ref=readtangle.com), ironically). The Biden administration believed existing CCS technology is mature enough to enact these requirements. The Trump administration does not. Plainly, as someone convinced that GHG emissions are causing climate change and who despises coal plants, I think the Trump administration is right — the CCS technology in operation today [often breaks](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S030142152100416X?ref=readtangle.com) and is [prohibitively expensive](https://oilchange.org/blogs/carbon-capture-has-a-50-year-record-of-failure-why-are-governments-throwing-billions-of-dollars-at-it/?ref=readtangle.com). Roughly 80% of large American CCS projects have failed due to technical issues, cost overruns, or poor financial returns. When these systems are working, they consume about 15–25% of the energy output at these plants, eating into their margins and making them economically infeasible to operate. Of course, that’s the whole ball game here: Democrats, with a large environmentalist constituency, want to close coal plants down. Republicans, with a large constituency of stakeholders in coal, want to keep them open. Either way, over time, coal will lose. 99% of existing coal plants are [more expensive to operate](https://energyinnovation.org/report/the-coal-cost-crossover-3-0/?ref=readtangle.com) than new wind or solar plants would be, coal is unhealthy both to those who [live near plants](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10952927/?ref=readtangle.com) and to those [who mine it](https://appvoices.org/end-mountaintop-removal/mtr101/health-impacts/?ref=readtangle.com), and coal power is responsible for an [ever-decreasing share](https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=43675&ref=readtangle.com) of our national energy output. We’re long past the fight over investing in coal; today’s battle is over whether to hasten the industry’s demise or keep it on life support longer. That brings us to the final act: Can the EPA even do this? On one hand, of course it can. The EPA’s whole purview is to decide how to enact existing laws. On the other hand, it must follow those laws. Zeldin’s attempt to remove these emissions standards for vehicles is already [being challenged](https://www.catf.us/2026/02/us-epa-sued-over-illegal-repeal-climate-protections/?ref=readtangle.com) in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. As of just this morning, a challenge to the rescission attempt for power plants [was brought](https://news.bloomberglaw.com/environment-and-energy/environmentalists-sue-over-epa-power-plant-pollution-rule-repeal-23?ref=readtangle.com) to that same court. And I think it’s likely to succeed. Remember: The Supreme Court already ruled almost 20 years ago that the EPA must regulate GHGs under the Clean Air Act. And with [“*Chevron* deference”](https://www.readtangle.com/scotus-overturns-chevron/) repealed, any challenge that makes its way to the Supreme Court will be one that cedes less to agency deference and more to court precedent. It’s hard to see this new deregulation surviving. As with coal itself, the overriding question is how long we have to wait before the curtain falls. **Take the survey:** What do you think of the EPA’s latest deregulatory move? [Let us know](https://interrobang.vercel.app/survey/0cafcdae-95f5-49d0-853e-68054e0c7ff6?ref=readtangle.com). *Disagree? That*’*s okay. Our opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we*’*ll consider publishing your feedback.* ### This day in history. ![Signing of the United States Constitution | Howard Chandler Christy, 1940](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/09/data-src-image-7e6bb364-3111-48b0-a920-0dc3c3b3a73a.png) Signing of the United States Constitution | Howard Chandler Christy, 1940 On September 17, 1787, 39 delegates of the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia signed the Constitution of the United States. During and after the American Revolution, the United States [was governed](https://history.state.gov/milestones/1784-1800/convention-and-ratification?ref=readtangle.com) under the Articles of Confederation. The Articles gave little power to the central government, instead leaving most power in the hands of the states. But funding and sovereignty problems with the Articles of Confederation soon became apparent. Confederation-printed money was nearly worthless, states didn’t pay sufficient taxes, and debt interest only grew because the central government couldn’t enforce tax provisions. Meanwhile, the government couldn’t muster responses to military threats and couldn’t pay soldiers. At the 1787 Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, delegates from the states considered two main plans for replacing the Articles: the Virginia Plan (which favored more populous states) and the New Jersey Plan (favoring smaller states). As the convention went on, the delegates considered and approved compromises that would help balance the concerns of larger and smaller states, forming the basis for the modern-day Senate and House of Representatives. Another such compromise was the now-infamous Three-Fifths Compromise, which allowed slave states to count three-fifths of their slaves for popular representation purposes. Slowly but surely, the delegates came to an agreement on a new document: the Constitution. On September 17, 39 delegates signed the document, sending it to the states for ratification. Following the ratification process in the state legislatures, on March 4, 1789, the Constitution became the official law of the land. ### The road not taken. As the week went on, the number of potential main-story topics grew. The second half of this week brought Sen. Mitch McConnell’s (R-KY) return to the Senate, congressional hearings for FBI Director Kash Patel and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, measles-related deaths in Pennsylvania, the Kennedy Center closure vote, and the Air Force secretary announcing the U.S. has weapons in space. As we often say in this section, all were compelling options and may warrant full coverage next week. However, the Supreme Court’s order blocking President Trump’s mail-in ballot executive action from taking effect was a more significant, timely story. Meanwhile, today’s edition on the EPA emissions rollback offered the chance to wade into a policy debate on regulatory action that we wanted to tackle while it was still fresh. Today****’**s Partner ****6 Things Frugal People Never Spend Money On** Being frugal isn’t about skipping your morning coffee. It’s knowing when you’re paying for something you don’t have to. Our partner found [six expenses savvy people avoid](https://partners.thepennyhoarder.com/frugal-people-sdyn/?aff%5Fid=409&utm%5Fsource=tangle&aff%5Fsub3=frugal-people), reduce, or rethink altogether. You might already know a few — but at least one could surprise you and save you money. [See all 6 → ](https://partners.thepennyhoarder.com/frugal-people-sdyn/?aff%5Fid=409&utm%5Fsource=tangle&aff%5Fsub3=frugal-people) ### The extras. - **One year ago today** we covered [the debate over banning phones in schools](https://www.readtangle.com/should-we-ban-phones-in-schools/). - **The most clicked link in our last regular newsletter** was our [new YouTube video about food safety in the U.S.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bI2fLNbak-k&ref=readtangle.com) - **Nothing to do with politics:** Krillion, [a game that tests your obscure knowledge of common categories](https://krillion.io/?ref=readtangle.com). - **Our last survey:** 2,587 readers responded to our survey on the Supreme Court’s mail-in ballot order, with 90% saying they support the legal rationale and practical outcome. “I am glad the court followed the law and upheld the Constitution this time,” one respondent said. “I wish they would have ruled on the merits, not the timing,” said another. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/09/data-src-image-d59e9907-ccda-4be6-b368-cc82719a47d1.png) ### Have a nice day. When Scott Evans saw CBS News New York’s report on Nina Chambers and her three children, who lost their home in a fire in June, he was moved to action. Evans reached out to the reporter who covered the story, and she connected him with Chambers; he gave her $3,000 to feed her children and get them supplies for the upcoming school year. Chambers and her children had been living in a hotel and scraping by to make ends meet, but with help from Evans’s gift, she has been able to secure a new apartment while earning a degree in human services. Evans, who Chambers called “an angel,” said he was glad to be able to support a family in need. “This was something, one of the things that I could do something about,” he said. [CBS New York has the story](https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/bronx-mother-displaced-fire-good-samaritan/?ref=readtangle.com). ### Should We Take the AI Doomers Seriously? URL: https://www.readtangle.com/should-we-take-the-ai-doomers-seriously/ Last updated: 2026-09-17T16:06:58.000Z Does AI represent an existential threat to humanity? ### SCOTUS blocks mail-in voting changes. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/scotus-blocks-mail-in-voting-changes/ Last updated: 2026-09-16T15:51:13.000Z Happy Wednesday. I’m **Isaac Saul,** heading today’s newsletter from our brand new, fully operational studio in my detached garage. Years of work and saving have at last led to a Tangle HQ space that I own, and I’m thrilled to start a new chapter of work here — including fresh recordings of *Suspension of the Rules* starting this afternoon (don’t forget to [subscribe to our YouTube channel](https://www.youtube.com/@tanglenews?ref=readtangle.com)). Today, we’re tacklingthe Supreme Court’s **latest mail-in ballots ruling** and the president’s reaction. Plus, our latest video **on how safe your food really is** and a reader question about **why popular policies don’t become law.** It’s a **13-minute read.** Off we go. | Ari Weitzman, Will Kaback, Audrey Moorehead, Carina Pacheco, Russell Nystrom, Isaac Wood, and Bailey Saul edited or contributed to today’s newsletter. | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ### Is our food safe? If you’ve seen a rash of recent headlines about food recalls affecting an array of products, you’ve probably wondered what’s going on with America’s food suppliers. In his latest report, Associate Producer Aidan Gorman explores what’s behind the recalls, whether they’re happening more frequently, and what the cases reveal about food safety in the U.S. Check it out here: ### Quick hits. 1. Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Kash Patel testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee, taking questions from senators about his personal conduct as well as the agency’s hiring standards and investigations into journalists. ([The hearing](https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/fbi-director-kash-patel-testify-senate-panel/?ref=readtangle.com)) Separately, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent testified before the House Financial Services Committee, with Democratic lawmakers questioning his management of the bond market. ([The hearing](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/09/15/scott-bessent-house-hearing-economy-midterms.html?ref=readtangle.com)) 2. The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts board voted to close the venue shortly after a federal judge ruled that it cannot add President Donald Trump’s name to the building without congressional approval. President Trump claimed the center must be closed due to safety concerns. ([The vote](https://apnews.com/article/kennedy-center-closure-board-trump-ruling-1dfbfaac695f6817719477101b971a54?ref=readtangle.com)) 3. The FBI arrested a Pennsylvania man who is accused of pledging allegiance to ISIS and plotting to carry out a terrorist attack. ([The arrest](https://www.foxnews.com/us/pennsylvania-man-accused-plotting-isis-attack-arrested-rifle-190-rounds-ammunition-doj?ref=readtangle.com)) 4. Pennsylvania announced its fourth measles-related death in the past month. ([The deaths](https://www.wsj.com/us-news/fourth-measles-related-death-reported-in-pennsylvania-2ab55b17?ref=readtangle.com)) 5. Air Force Secretary Troy Meink disclosed for the first time that the United States has weapons positioned in the Earth’s orbit, describing them as “on-orbit space control weapons capable of defending the Joint Force against hostile adversary action.” ([The comments](https://abcnews.com/Politics/air-force-secretary-acknowledges-us-weapons-space/story?id=136437923&ref=readtangle.com)) Today****’**s Partner [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/09/Screenshot-2026-09-15-at-7.43.53---AM-1.png)](https://butcherbox.pxf.io/c/3250132/3930998/16419?ref=readtangle.com) ****The Subscription Isaac Didn’t Expect to Keep** Anyone that knows me, knows I love good food — but with my busy schedule and having a baby at home, I started defaulting to a lot of takeout. Searching for something that was equally convenient, I genuinely started using ****ButcherBox** **before* they were a partner of Tangle. What is it? [ButcherBox delivers high-quality meat](https://butcherbox.pxf.io/c/3250132/3930998/16419?ref=readtangle.com) straight to my door from farms that raise animals in healthier, lower-stress environments. The convenience alone is worth it — a box shows up once a month, and suddenly I’m the guy grilling impressive steaks instead of dialing for pizza. The quality also has genuinely surprised me. This isn’t the kind of mystery protein that’s been sitting on a shelf for months. It’s meat with higher levels of omega-3s, and no antibiotics, growth hormones, or unnecessary additives. So yes, I’m proud to have ButcherBox as a Tangle partner. And right now, Tangle readers can get ****$60 off across their first three boxes** and have quality meat delivered to their door as soon as next week. [****Use code TANGLE to get $60 off plus free meat in every box for a year**](https://butcherbox.pxf.io/c/3250132/3930998/16419?ref=readtangle.com)****.** [Get free meat for a year ](https://butcherbox.pxf.io/c/3250132/3930998/16419?ref=readtangle.com) ### Today’s topic. The mail-in ballots ruling. On Monday, the Supreme Court [denied](https://www.scotusblog.com/2026/09/supreme-court-denies-trump-administrations-request-to-implement-parts-of-usps-rule-on-mail-in-vo/?ref=readtangle.com) a request from the Trump administration to allow the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) to carry out parts of President Donald Trump’s executive order placing new regulations on mail-in voting. The president had issued the [order](https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/03/ensuring-citizenship-verification-and-integrity-in-federal-elections/?ref=readtangle.com) in March to address alleged voter fraud, and the Supreme Court [overturned](https://www.readtangle.com/scotus-mail-in-ballots-august-2026/) a lower court’s block on parts of the executive order in August. The Court’s most recent decision prevents the order from taking effect before the November midterm elections. **Back up:** On March 31, President Trump [issued](https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/03/ensuring-citizenship-verification-and-integrity-in-federal-elections/?ref=readtangle.com) Executive Order 14399, directing the Department of Homeland Security to maintain lists of eligible voters in each state. Separately, the order requires USPS to receive a list of eligible mail-in voters from each state before transmitting that state’s mail-in ballots. In June, following a challenge from 23 states and Washington, D.C., District Court Judge Indira Talwani [blocked](https://www.votebeat.org/national/2026/06/25/trump-election-overhaul-mail-voting-executive-order-blocked-talwani-usps-dhs/?ref=readtangle.com) part of the order’s implementation in those jurisdictions. The Trump administration appealed to the Supreme Court, which found the coalition of states challenged the order too soon and [stayed](https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/26a305%5F4g15.pdf?ref=readtangle.com) Talwani’s injunction. However, the Court did not opine on the legality of the order, nor did it rule on a [second injunction](https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/6023907-judge-blocks-usps-trump-voter-order/?ref=readtangle.com) barring USPS from taking steps to implement the executive order in place, allowing states to sue once the USPS began enacting the order. States challenged the USPS’s changes, and Talwani [issued](https://news.bloomberglaw.com/litigation/postal-service-violated-mail-in-ballot-injunction-judge-finds?ref=readtangle.com) a temporary restraining order blocking the USPS’s envelope design and voter-data-portal provisions. After the restraining order converted to a preliminary injunction, the administration appealed Talwani’s decision to the Supreme Court. On Monday, the Court issued an [unsigned opinion](https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/26a305%5F4g15.pdf?ref=readtangle.com) finding that “the Government is unlikely to succeed on the merits of its challenge.” In a one-paragraph concurrence, Justice Brett Kavanaugh wrote that the rule would be “arbitrary and capricious” because “state and local election officials do not have sufficient time to reasonably implement the rule before the elections.” Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas dissented, referring to the states’ challenge to the executive order as a “Hail Mary pass” and saying that some plaintiffs still lacked standing to sue. President Trump criticized the Court for its decision, saying that the decision took too long to reach and criticizing the justices he appointed during his first term specifically. “These are not the people I interviewed to serve on the United States Supreme Court, they are merely a shell of their original selves,” Trump [wrote](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/117275286602582454?ref=readtangle.com) on Truth Social. Below, we’ll cover what the left and right are saying about the Court’s decision. Then, Executive Editor Isaac Saul gives his take. | What the left is saying. The left supports the ruling, with many saying Trump’s order exceeded his authority.Some argue the decision shows the Court is willing to draw some lines. Others say the saga may have still damaged trust in elections. | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | **In The New Yorker, Ruth Marcus wrote** [**“this assault on mail-in voting may be dead.”**](https://www.newyorker.com/news/the-lede/mail-in-voting-survives?ref=readtangle.com) “The Administration’s claim that the Postal Service has authority to regulate mail-in ballots is questionable at best. The Constitution entrusts the conduct of elections to the states and Congress, if it wishes; the executive branch has no assigned role,” Marcus said. “The asserted justification for the rule — that it was necessary to prevent the ‘federal mails’ from being ‘used to perpetrate voter fraud’ — was even flimsier… Indeed, even if such fraud were rampant, it is difficult to see how the Postal Service rule would stop or expose it.” “The President’s bid to rewrite election rules was more audacious even than his ballroom project. Once again, we have learned that some Trump measures — eliminating birthright citizenship, imposing emergency tariffs — go too far for this Court. The Court’s red lines would not be mine, but it has them nonetheless,” Marcus wrote. “Nothing will satisfy this President short of a total capitulation by the Justices. Others of us will have to comfort ourselves with a more mixed record.” **In Vox, Ian Millhiser suggested the Court** [**“finally had it with Trump’s plan to steal the midterms.”**](http://www.vox.com/politics/502839/supreme-court-trump-mail-ballots-usps-california?ref=readtangle.com) “Trump didn’t just lose; the Court’s brief order slips in a line indicating that Trump exceeded his authority and cannot implement such an attack on voting by mail under any circumstances. Not one member of the Court, including the dissenting justices, argues that Trump had the power to shut down voting by mail in the way he attempted to,” Millhiser wrote. “Republican lawyers and policymakers will undoubtedly make more attempts to skew the midterms in the coming weeks. “At the very least, the USPS decision shows that there are some limits to what this Court will tolerate,” Millhiser said. “The Court’s Republican majority is extraordinarily tolerant of Trump’s antics. They gave him the right to commit crimes. They ruled that Trump may order the Justice Department to bring ‘sham’ investigations and prosecutions against his perceived enemies… But there is apparently still a line that most of the Republican justices will not allow Trump to cross. And shutting down voting by mail a couple of months before an election crosses that line.” **In New York Magazine, Elie Honig said Trump’s order would have caused an** [**“unholy, self-perpetuating mess.”**](https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/why-the-supreme-court-rejected-trumps-mail-in-ballot-rules.html?ref=readtangle.com) “The Court has not ruled conclusively on the substantive legality of the executive order, but the majority held that the Trump administration is ‘unlikely to succeed on the merits of its challenge.’ Meaning, essentially, this thing is quite likely unconstitutional,” Honig wrote. “It remains unclear exactly how Trump’s executive order would work on the ground level were it ever to be implemented. But it’s certain that it would have created mayhem around the 2026 midterms.” “But remember: That’s the playbook,” Honig said. “As we learned from internal strategy memos and other evidence that has since come to light \[concerning the 2020 election\] — the plan was to create chaos and use the resulting uncertainty to throw the elections to state legislatures or the U.S. House of Representatives, which offered more Trump-friendly forums to determine the outcome… For now, the most pressing Trump-inflicted crisis around the 2026 midterms has been averted.” | What the right is saying. Many on the right expect Trump to continue pursuing mail-in voting changes post-midterms. Some argue the ruling shows the Court isn’t a rubber stamp for Trump.Others say the Court ruled as prudently as it could. | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | **In Hot Air, Ed Morrissey wrote** [**“the chances for winning these reforms… remain alive.”**](https://hotair.com/ed-morrissey/2026/09/15/scotus-tosses-trumps-mail-in-ballot-reforms-this-time-n3818994?%5Fgl=1%2A11nlknp%2A%5Fup%2AMQ..%2A%5Fga%2AMTc5NzQ3OTgzNy4xNzg5NTAwODk3%2A%5Fga%5FVJM6PCZB0L%2AczE3ODk1MDA4OTUkbzEkZzAkdDE3ODk1MDA4OTUkajYwJGwwJGgw&ref=readtangle.com) “In the end, practical considerations overtook the merits of Donald Trump’s reforms. The Supreme Court refused to lift a lower-court stay on new requirements from the U.S. Postal Service for mail-in ballots ordered by the White House for the midterm cycle. The late-Monday order effectively ends the effort to reform mail-in balloting for this election cycle,” Morrissey said. “However, at least three of the justices signaled that only the timing prevented it, two of whom objected even to that.” “The order refusing to lift the stay was unsigned, but Justice Brett Kavanaugh indicated that the USPS and Trump administration have a case on the merits… Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas published a dissent objecting to both the standing of the plaintiffs and their legal arguments,” Morrissey wrote. “If Congress can’t or won’t pass the SAVE America Act, there is still an opportunity to tighten up the controls on mail-in balloting before the next presidential election.” **In USA Today, Dace Potas asked** [**“still think \[the Supreme Court is\] rigged?”**](https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/columnist/2026/09/15/trump-attacks-supreme-court-mail-in-voting/91770195007/?ref=readtangle.com) “The Supreme Court has ruled against yet another of the president’s signature policy proposals, and yet Americans will likely still maintain a warped, partisan view of the court,” Potas wrote. “This decision gave us very little in the way of a majority opinion — just a brief, unsigned order and a one-page concurrence from Justice Brett Kavanaugh — but we do know that four of the six conservative justices voted against the Trump administration.” “My question now is whether this will be remembered as another instance of the Supreme Court standing against the president’s signature policies, or simply brushed aside when critics want to call the court partisan… On the other side of the aisle, Republicans have an equally warped view of some of the court’s rulings,” Potas said. “The American people’s partisan view of the Supreme Court is warped by the fact that it is continuously asked to weigh in on policies that belong in Congress’ hands, not the president’s.” **In National Review, Dan McLaughlin said** [**“Trump’s mail-in ballot order dies.”**](https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/trumps-mail-in-ballot-order-dies-for-2026-at-the-supreme-court/?ref=readtangle.com) “\[Monday’s order\] explained none of its reasoning, but Kavanaugh wrote a short concurring opinion explaining his view \[of\] the effort to implement the rule at the last minute, given the chaos that this will entail for states trying to comply with new USPS standards for ballot envelopes,” McLaughlin wrote. “All told, given that the EO was originally designed to create new mailability restrictions without statutory power to do so, and given that the final rule doesn’t even try to pursue any such important goal, it seems the more prudent result for the Court to avoid the emergency step of overturning Judge Talwani’s injunction.” “With more time to get things right, the USPS may well be able to get its rule in place for 2028,” McLaughlin said. “But once again, the collision between a recklessly overreaching Trump order and a recklessly overreaching and politically calculating rogue district judge has driven the Court into deep jurisprudential waters on the limits of its own legitimate authority that are poorly navigated on short notice.” | My take. Isaac Saul Executive Editor ![Isaac Saul](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2025/05/Isaac.jpg) | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | The Court got this one right.We might be numb to President Trump’s response, but presidential criticism of the Court was once taboo.This outcome further demonstrates the Court’s independence. | | **Reminder:** This is where we share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, leave a comment or reply to this email. | First, a sigh of relief. In August, when the Supreme Court initially ruled that the states did not yet have standing to sue, I [wrote](https://www.readtangle.com/scotus-mail-in-ballots-august-2026/) that it was “very unlikely that the Supreme Court lets such a rule go into effect.” I also acknowledged that, while maintaining optimism about what the Court *could do*, we should be clear-eyed about what the president *is doing.* Six years after he refused to accept defeat in the 2020 election, he’s in the midst of a full-court press to gain any advantage he can for Republicans in the upcoming elections — he launched a gerrymandering war, tried to upend mail-in balloting, primaried members of his party who didn’t pledge support for a major election reform bill, and then promised $5,000 cash to voters if Republicans stay in power. Everything is getting thrown against the wall. For now, this ruling means mail-in voting won’t be disrupted in a way that causes complete chaos in November. Again, my writing from a few weeks ago: > The USPS is not designed to take on such work — especially not before the November elections. Nearly one third of all American voters vote by mail (including President Trump), and the majority of them are Democratic voters. USPS would need to build a mechanism to manage all those voters, put teams in place to manage the data and coordinate with states, and also ensure that states entered the required information for each eligible voter (after USPS approves envelope designs to use in these elections). Then they’d need systems set up to scan, sort and manage those ballots (about 50 million of them), and they’d have to tell voters how to receive a ballot, how to check if they’re eligible, how to challenge their eligibility, and how a post-election audit would work. All of this would have to be coordinated nationally — so rules would need to apply equally to Oregon, where nearly every voter casts a ballot by mail, and Arkansas, where just 2% do. Also, early voting begins next month. And the USPS is currently managing a fiscal crisis. In Monday’s decision, Justice Kavanaugh [left open](https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/26a305%5F4g15.pdf?ref=readtangle.com) the possibility the court would consider such a rule outside the electoral season, but he also concurred with the unsigned majority opinion that the administration was unlikely to succeed on the merits. That sends a strong signal that President Trump will have to find a different route to seriously reform mail-in voting. Is it alarming that Justices Alito and Thomas were willing to allow the electoral chaos to ensue? Sure. Does that mean that a future attempt might succeed? Not really. The president is not taking the news well. It may feel like ancient history, but President Obama sparked a weeks-long news cycle by criticizing the Supreme Court’s *Citizens United v. FEC* ruling in his State of the Union address *in 2010*. He [said](https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/remarks-president-state-union-address?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=With%20all%20due,of%20these%20problems.) that decision would “open the floodgates for special interests — including foreign corporations — to spend without limit in our elections.” Justice Samuel Alito was seen on camera shaking his head and saying “not true.” Media outlets [devoted](https://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/01/28/alito.obama.sotu/index.html?ref=readtangle.com) days of coverage to the episode, with some slamming Obama for breaching decorum, sparking a debate about whether he’d crossed a line. Chief Justice John Roberts [suggested](https://abcnews.com/Politics/justice-john-roberts-scene-state-union-troubling/story?id=10055377&ref=readtangle.com) after the fact that maybe justices shouldn’t even attend these events at all. 16 years later and this was President Trump’s full response to the Court’s decision, which he [posted on Truth Social](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/117275286602582454?ref=readtangle.com) Tuesday morning: > Republicans just got another bad decision from the United States Supreme Court, one that the Court System took forever to give, and then blamed it, in part, on no time left to implement a solution to our totally CORRUPT and out of control Mail-In voting “disaster,” which is a laughing stock all over the World, and where we are the only country that has to endure such a Nation Destroying SCAM. Justices Alito and Thomas, legends both, strongly disagreed with this horrible, highly political, ruling. It is a big loss for Republicans, and America itself, and makes cheating by the Radical Left “Dumocrats,” on Mail-In Ballots, a much easier thing to do - And now they have an open field to do so! The Supreme Court has really let our Country down! Certain Justices are petrified of these crazed and depraved Democrats, and are totally unable to show the courage necessary to save our America. Their horrible decision on Tariffs will be costing the U.S.A., for many years to come, Trillions and Trillions of Dollars. They didn’t even state, “money paid does not have to be paid back,” much to the benefit of entities that truly hate our Country, and have been RIPPING IT OFF FOR YEARS, unnecessarily costing us, immediately, Billions of Dollars. Likewise, the Supreme Court’s Decision on Birthright Citizenship is a complete and total disaster for America, and has already led to massive corruption with respect to “citizenship” in our Country. The damage done to America is incalculable, and they know this, just as everyone else does - It is an irreparable and unrecoverable harm! The Court’s inability and unwillingness to do the right thing for our Country will go down, in a very negative way, in the annals of History. This Supreme Court is bullied and cajoled by the Radical Left into making decisions that have set America back at least a hundred years. These are not the people I interviewed to serve on the United States Supreme Court, they are merely a shell of their original selves, a Court that is costing the United States Trillions of Dollars with shockingly bad rulings that are of such magnitude that it won’t be easily possible for our Country to recover or heal. It is a Court that will go down as having rendered some of the most destructive, hurtful, and damaging decisions in our Country’s history. It is not easy for me to write this criticism of the United States Supreme Court - it will likely cost me dearly for years to come - but I feel it my obligation and duty, as President, to do so for the America we love! Thank you for your attention to this very important matter. God bless the U.S.A. President DONALD J. TRUMP Of course, in today’s distorted news cycle, this objectively more antagonistic diatribe will barely register. What’s more, Trump has been dealt a hand most presidents would dream of. He is a Republican president with a 6–3 majority of Republican-appointed justices, which means several of those justices have jurisprudence that is friendly to his goals; that three of them are justices the presidentpicked *himself* is a remarkable boon. That his party *also* controls both chambers of Congress confers a historic advantage Republicans haven’t had since the Hoover administration. But the president so regularly operates without Congress and steps from “legal” to “illegal” territory so often that he’s now become infuriated with the Court — which is the most remarkable of all. Yet, still, President Trump is raging at his circumstances. As it continues to demonstrate, and as many writers on the right observed, the Court is a constitutionally faithful, independent branch (not tangentially: The Trump administration is [now 0–24](https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/trump-doj-keeps-appealing-its-voter-roll-cases/?ref=readtangle.com) in cases where it has tried to compel states to hand over voter files and information). I probably have more trust in the Supreme Court than any operating U.S. institution; that trust [has wavered](https://www.readtangle.com/court-grants-trump-partial-immunity/#:~:text=this%20nation%E2%80%99s%20history.%E2%80%9D-,My%20take.,-Reminder%3A%20%22My%20take) at [times](https://www.readtangle.com/supreme-court-asylum-tps-rulings/#:~:text=Alito%E2%80%99s%20suggestion%20that,etc.%20But%E2%80%A6%20c%E2%80%99mon), but that’s probably more about my own skeptical streak than the Court’s actions. For all the hubbub about a corrupt, captured court — and all the obituaries pre-written for our country’s rule of law — this Supreme Court has now struck down Trump’s mail-in voting rules, birthright citizenship executive order, deployment of the National Guard in Chicago, attempt to bar counting ballots after election day, Federal Reserve governor firing, and most importantly the tariff tool. Also, it has rejected a Missouri voting map that would have given Republicans an extra House seat, left the E. Jean Carroll ruling in place, halted the use of the Alien Enemies Act to deport Venezuelans, compelled the administration to pay $2 billion owed for completed foreign aid work, and forced the Department of Justice to bring Kilmar Abrego Garcia home. It may seem like a low bar to clear given our historic standards, but we still demonstrably have a fully functioning, independent judiciary and an executive branch that abides by its rulings. Amid the blaring headlines we all endure daily, that’s something worth pausing to appreciate. **Take the survey:** What do you think of the Court’s decision? [Let us know](https://interrobang.vercel.app/survey/29c333e1-815b-49c3-897d-76eb9dfb5a37?ref=readtangle.com). *Disagree? That*’*s okay. Our opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we’ll consider publishing your feedback.* ### Your questions, answered. **I often see statistics like “70% of Americans want universal healthcare” and “85% of Americans want term limits for Congress and the Supreme Court.” The claim is that the people are no longer being represented and are artificially divided. How true are these claims?** **— Zachary from Barton, VT** **Associate Editor Russell Nystrom:** Despite the ever popular maxim, in politics, numbers *can* lie. And they do. To get to the bottom of this, let’s peek under the hood of the first example you gave: “70% of Americans want universal healthcare.” Real polls have found this, or a result extremely close to this, to be [true](https://www.harrisx.com/posts/july-harvard-caps-harrisx-poll?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=69%25%20of%20voters%20support%20Medicare%20for%20All%2C%20including%20a%20majority%20across%20political%20parties.) — in a vacuum, voters tend to strongly support Medicare for All. But that support starts to splinter once they’re asked to consider raising taxes or removing private health insurance. In June, a YouGov poll asked voters if they would “support or oppose a national health plan in which all Americans get their health insurance from the federal government and private health insurance companies are eliminated.” Phrased that way, only [52%](https://yougov.com/en-us/articles/55078-half-americans-support-eliminating-health-insurance-companies-several-other-socialist-policy-proposals-june-26-29-2026-economist-yougov-poll?ref=readtangle.com) approved. Separately, a Democratic political-research firm asked Americans for their opinion on a very specific description of Medicare for All: “Would you support or oppose the U.S. creating a single, federally administered health insurance program covering all Americans that would replace private health insurance, including employer-sponsored plans? All Americans would receive comprehensive insurance with no premiums, deductibles, or copayments, and the program would be funded through significantly increased federal taxes.” They found that [just 40% said yes](https://www.searchlightinstitute.org/research/an-honest-assessment-of-voter-attitudes-toward-government-run-health-insurance/?ref=readtangle.com). Support for other policies, like term limits, isn’t as variable between polls. In this case, term limits [consistently poll in the 80% range](https://www.newsweek.com/term-limits-congress-popular-whats-stopping-them-11925287?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=It%20surveyed%201%2C322%20adults%20from%20April%2027%2D30%2C%20with%20a%20margin%20of%20error%20of%20plus%20or%20minus%203.1%20percentage%20points.), instituting them would come at no direct financial cost to the citizenry, and specifying details like the number of years a lawmaker could serve had a [negligible](https://publicconsultation.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Campaign-Finance-Quaire-0518-Updated-042820.pdf?ref=readtangle.com) effect on support. So why doesn’t this policy pass? Part of the answer is probably incentives. Establishing term limits would require a constitutional amendment, a process that requires Congress to initiate it and thus pursue a reform that would greatly limit its own members (barring a never-before-used [process](https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/artV-3-3/ALDE%5F00013051/?ref=readtangle.com) where the states can do so). With lawmakers serving [much longer](https://www.congress.gov/crs%5Fexternal%5Fproducts/R/PDF/R41545/R41545.20.pdf?ref=readtangle.com) than they once did, members of Congress have a disincentive to vote away their ability to serve indefinitely. Topline polling can be misleading, but so can the assumption that the reason for gridlock is a deeply divided populace. In the end, two things can be true at once. Sometimes so-called polling majorities mask small but significant disagreements. Other times, a consensus may be real, but our institutions fail to act on it. **Want to have a question answered in the newsletter? You can reply to this email (it goes straight to our inbox) or** [**fill out this form**](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScQhqBSG%5F6%5FoBhwcTQMeS570n29XYbeQ9C9Bis7rjqI31g1tA/viewform?usp=header&ref=readtangle.com)**.** ### Under the radar. On Monday, a federal judge blocked a proposed Trump administration rule that would shorten the length of time that international students and noncitizen journalists could stay in the United States on visas. Under the policy, students, researchers, professors and other academics would be allowed to remain in the country for four years, while foreign journalists would be permitted residence for 240 days. Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV found that the administration’s rationale for the rule — alleged fraud by immigrants posing as students — was “exceptionally weak” and would not address purported instances of noncitizens obtaining visas through fraud. [The New York Times has the story](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/14/us/politics/foreign-students-visas-trump-ruling.html?ref=readtangle.com). Today's partner ****Why Isaac Stopped Buying Most of His Meat at the Grocery Store** Somehow it’s always past 6 PM before I think about dinner. That’s where ButcherBox comes in. [High-quality meat shows up at my door](https://butcherbox.pxf.io/c/3250132/3930998/16419?ref=readtangle.com), lives in the freezer, and saves me dialing for takeout each month and going to the grocery store. I’m proud to offer Tangle readers $60 off their first three boxes. [****Use code TANGLE to get $60 off plus free meat in every box for a year**](https://butcherbox.pxf.io/c/3250132/3930998/16419?ref=readtangle.com)****.** [Free meat for a year ](https://butcherbox.pxf.io/c/3250132/3930998/16419?ref=readtangle.com) ### The extras. - **One year ago today** we covered [Russian drones in NATO airspace](https://www.readtangle.com/russia-incursion-into-poland-romania-nato-article-4/). - **The most clicked link in our last regular newsletter** was the Supreme Court denying the Trump administration’s [request to implement parts of the president’s mail-in ballot executive order](https://www.scotusblog.com/2026/09/supreme-court-denies-trump-administrations-request-to-implement-parts-of-usps-rule-on-mail-in-vo/?ref=readtangle.com). - **Nothing to do with politics:** Orioles slugger (and former New York Met) Pete Alonso [shares a wholesome moment with three Mets fans who caught Alonso’s 300th career home run](https://x.com/SNY%5FMets/status/2100059915507151315?ref=readtangle.com). - **Our last survey:** 2,382 readers responded to our survey on regulating leading-edge AI companies, with 40% saying they support strict safety regulations. “We have strict regulation around the development and use of nuclear weapons. AI, especially superintelligent AI, is even more dangerous, and therefore needs correspondingly stringent controls,” one respondent said. “If the US slams on the brakes, other countries will take over leadership and the benefits likely to accrue from it,” said another. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/09/data-src-image-5f351a13-e7e4-43dc-bc49-cf3c96dbdfcb.png) ### Have a nice day. Trachoma is a bacterial eye infection that causes scarring on the inner eyelid. In areas with limited access to healthcare, repeated infections can lead to blindness — and trachoma is the leading infectious cause of blindness worldwide. But as of 2026, the World Health Organization certified the island nation of Timor-Leste as trachoma-free, making Timor-Leste the final Southeast Asian nation to eliminate the disease. “This achievement was made possible by sustained national commitment and the collective efforts of our health workers, communities and partners, to whom we extend our deepest gratitude,” Dr Élia A. dos Reis Amaral, SH, Minister of Health, Government of Timor-Leste, said. [Good News Network has the story](https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/following-timor-lestes-triumph-all-of-southeast-asia-has-eliminated-trachoma/?ref=readtangle.com). ### Why is so much food being recalled? URL: https://www.readtangle.com/why-is-so-much-food-being-recalled/ Last updated: 2026-09-16T16:07:20.000Z Food recalls in the United States seem to be constantly happening as of late, impacting an array of common food products. Is our food getting more dangerous? ### Thomas Massie moves to impeach Pete Hegseth URL: https://www.readtangle.com/thomas-massie-moves-to-impeach-pete-hegseth/ Last updated: 2026-09-16T07:06:50.000Z As the House convened this morning, Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) surprised representatives by filing impeachment proceedings against Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. The move will set up a high-stakes vote that could be politically complicated for members of both major parties. ### AI leaders call for a slowdown. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/ai-leaders-call-for-a-slowdown/ Last updated: 2026-09-15T16:37:42.000Z Good Tuesday Morning. I’m **Editor-at-Large Kmele Foster,** still drying out from the unbelievable downpour that dumped more than 7” of rain on my new home near the Connecticut Coast. I’d never experienced an actual flash flood or a “rain bomb” — and this was without a doubt some of the worst flooding I’ve seen firsthand. Today, I’m responding to the past week of **apocalyptic AI prognostication** from industry insiders and the related demands for government regulation from some of the world's leading AI companies. Then, we’ve got a story about **unapproved pharmaceuticals** and another about a **13-year-old roboticist**, all in 14 minutes. *Isaac Saul, Ari Weitzman, Will Kaback, Audrey Moorehead, Carina Pacheco, Russell Nystrom, Isaac Wood, and Bailey Saul edited or contributed to today’s newsletter.* ### Too busy to read? Push play instead! ![Too busy to read? Push play instead!](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/07/podcast@2x.png) [Listen to the newsletter Monday–Friday. New episodes drop at 4pm ET.](https://www.readtangle.com/tangle-podcast/) ### We’re bad at this. I’m proud to say that the Tangle team is maniacally focused on content while only tangentially focused on marketing. Though the latter can be a weakness of ours, I wanted to remind our regular readers that you are not getting the full Tangle experience as a free reader. Our [membership offering](https://www.readtangle.com/membership/) includes original content, deep-dives, personal essays, reader-requested interviews, and much more. Every Friday and Sunday, we release members-only editions with special content you don’t get in the Monday–Thursday newsletter — and we produce members-only content for the podcast. To join Tangle’s 70,000+ paying subscribers, [****you can go here**](https://www.readtangle.com/membership/). (FYI: It’s just [$5/month when you subscribe for the year!](https://www.readtangle.com/membership/)) ### Quick hits. 1. The Supreme Court rejected the Trump administration’s request to implement parts of President Donald Trump’s executive order on mail-in ballots ahead of the 2026 midterms. Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas dissented. ([The ruling](https://www.scotusblog.com/2026/09/supreme-court-denies-trump-administrations-request-to-implement-parts-of-usps-rule-on-mail-in-vo/?ref=readtangle.com)) 2. Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) returned to the Senate after a roughly three-month absence rehabilitating from a fall. The senator said on X that he is still not fully recovered but will aim to be present more often for significant votes. ([The return](https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/sen-mitch-mcconnell-returns-to-capitol-after-three-months-0382bade?mod=hp%5Flead%5Fpos8&ref=readtangle.com)) 3. A coalition of 22 Democratic-led states and Washington, D.C. sued the Trump administration to block a rule that would allow the government to deny green cards to legal immigrants who receive public benefits. The rule is set to take effect on Friday. ([The suit](https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/6088472-states-sue-trump-public-charge-rule/?ref=readtangle.com)) 4. The Environmental Protection Agency said it will repeal a Biden administration rule that imposed emissions limits on coal- and gas-fired power plants. ([The repeal](https://www.nbcnews.com/science/climate-change/epa-repeals-limits-emissions-power-plants-rcna597741?ref=readtangle.com)) 5. Iran-backed Houthi rebels seized additional islands north of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, further disrupting transit to and from the Red Sea. ([The seizures](https://abcnews.com/Business/wireStory/yemens-houthi-rebels-seize-key-islands-southern-red-136415608?ref=readtangle.com)) Today’s Partner ****The Subscription Isaac Didn’t Expect to Keep** Anyone who knows me, knows I love good food — but with my busy schedule and having a baby at home, I started defaulting to a lot of takeout. Searching for something that was equally convenient, I genuinely started using ****ButcherBox**, **before* they were a partner of Tangle. What is it? [ButcherBox delivers high-quality meat](https://butcherbox.pxf.io/c/3250132/3930998/16419?ref=readtangle.com) straight to my door from farms that raise animals in healthier, lower-stress environments. The convenience alone is worth it — a box shows up once a month, and suddenly I’m the guy grilling impressive steaks instead of dialing for pizza. The quality also has genuinely surprised me. This isn’t the kind of mystery protein that’s been sitting on a shelf for months. It’s meat with higher levels of omega-3s, and no antibiotics, growth hormones, or unnecessary additives. So yes, I’m proud to have ButcherBox as a Tangle partner. And right now, Tangle readers can get ****$60 off across their first three boxes** and have quality meat delivered to their door as soon as next week. [****Use code TANGLE to get $60 off plus free meat in every box for a year**](https://butcherbox.pxf.io/c/3250132/3930998/16419?ref=readtangle.com). [Get free meat for a year ](https://butcherbox.pxf.io/c/3250132/3930998/16419?ref=readtangle.com) ### Today’s topic. Calls for an AI slowdown. On Saturday, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei [published](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/12/technology/anthropic-dario-amodei-ai-slowdown.html?ref=readtangle.com) an essay arguing that artificial intelligence (AI) development is advancing at an unsafe pace and should be moderated. Executives at other leading AI companies endorsed Amodei’s post, with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman [saying](https://x.com/sama/status/2098811563415150910?ref=readtangle.com) “we need to pace the frontier.” In recent months, AI systems have allegedly hacked other companies’ platforms without their immediate knowledge, and former Anthropic employee Jacob Coxon [publicly resigned](https://x.com/hilbertspaess/status/2097476196791709843?ref=readtangle.com) last week, citing the company’s purportedly insufficient AI-safety policies. In his [post](https://darioamodei.com/post/we-must-pace-the-frontier?ref=readtangle.com), Amodei expressed his belief that AI will benefit humanity in the long run, but said, “Over the last few months, I have become convinced that fully addressing the risks requires even more prudence — not just investing in risk prevention, but pacing the rate of capabilities advancement so that risk prevention has time to keep up.” Specifically, he cited existing AI models’ ability to develop new systems on their own and the [recent hacking incident](https://www.readtangle.com/openai-huggingface-ai-hack/) involving OpenAI and Hugging Face, writing, “Left unchecked, \[AI\] could outrun our ability to understand and control these systems.” As next steps, the Anthropic chief executive proposed incorporating third-party evaluators within all leading-edge AI companies, adopting common safety standards among AI companies in democratic countries, and working toward greater coordination between the U.S. and non-democratic governments on regulation. OpenAI’s Altman endorsed similar measures on Monday, [saying](https://x.com/sama/status/2099348812305473766?ref=readtangle.com) his company “welcome\[s\] a federal framework that sets consistent safety requirements for frontier AI.” President Donald Trump has rejected calls for an AI slowdown, [writing](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/117269745153543631?ref=readtangle.com) on Truth Social on Monday, “The only control or ‘guardrails’ that AI needs is a STRONG AND SMART (High IQ!) PRESIDENT, and the U.S.A. has that, in spades!… We already have tremendous CRIMINAL and REGULATORY power over these companies!” Separately, a spokesperson for China’s Foreign Ministry [said](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/09/14/china-ai-slowdown-us-tech-ceos.html?ref=readtangle.com), “Fear mongering, confrontation, competition will just disrupt \[the\] process of global AI governance,” and the Chinese Minister of State Security called for “healthy and orderly” AI development. Lawmakers and AI-safety advocates have escalated calls for greater regulation of the technology. On Tuesday, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and former Trump White House adviser Steve Bannon will [take part](https://www.axios.com/2026/09/14/coxon-bernie-bannon-unite-human-ai?ref=readtangle.com) in a “Pro-Human Assembly” focused on ensuring AI remains under human control. Sanders and Rep. Greg Casar (D-TX) have [announced](https://www.sanders.senate.gov/press-releases/news-sanders-casar-introduce-legislation-to-ban-artificial-superintelligence-and-temporarily-pause-advanced-ai-development/?ref=readtangle.com) the Ban Artificial Superintelligence Act, which would prohibit the development of artificial superintelligence — AI with capabilities beyond human intelligence — and impose up to 20 years in prison on anyone attempting to develop the technology in such a way. Below are views from the right and left on the debate over slowing down AI development. Then, Editor-at-Large Kmele Foster gives his take. | What the right is saying. The right is mixed, with many arguing American AI development is crucial.Some question Anthropic and OpenAI’s motivations.Others say the answer to AI anxiety is to regulate the technology’s greatest risks. | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | **In American Greatness, Roger Kimball described** [**“the madness of the anti-AI crowd.”**](https://amgreatness.com/2026/09/13/the-madness-of-the-anti-ai-crowd/?ref=readtangle.com) “Commentators from Elon Musk on down are describing the AI-government-regulation shuffle as a ‘psy-op.’ I think they’re right,” Kimball wrote. “The same thing goes for the Chinese-checkers hysteria about data centers. The resource hungry server farms are needed to power the AI revolution. China is racing to build them. And they are also racing to tell flaccid American leftists that such facilities are the devil incarnate.” “\[AI\] promises breathtaking power, as do the technologies that gave us the internal combustion engine, electric and nuclear energy, nanotechnology, and software, to name just a few items on the menu of technological innovation. These techniques are powerful, which also means they are potentially dangerous,” Kimball said. “But think of how much they have benefited mankind. Advanced countries around the world are racing to develop and enhance AI. I hope that politically motivated luddites like Bernie Sanders will not stymie America’s capacity to be at the forefront of this inevitable technological progress.” **For his Substack, Erick-Woods Erickson asked** [**“who hires the man wearing the badge?”**](https://ewerickson.substack.com/p/who-hired-the-man-wearing-the-badge) “For generations, American businesses have practiced something political scientists call regulatory capture. The concept is simple enough. A company cannot repeal the law, so it does the next best thing and takes control of the people the government put in charge of writing and enforcing it,” Erickson wrote. “\[Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei proposed\] that the major AI companies agree to slow down together, and that they prove they are slowing down by handing outside evaluators ‘desks in our offices, access badges, and company laptops.’ He names one nonprofit, METR, as the sort of organization that should get those badges.” “Notice what the essay does not propose. There is nothing in it about product liability. Transparency mandates and third-party audits are fixed costs, and fixed costs are the oldest barrier to entry there is. A company with thousands of employees absorbs them as a rounding error,” Erickson said. “Amodei wants evaluators with desks, badges, and company laptops inside the firms they sit in judgment of, and he wants Congress to make that the law for everybody. Before any of it gets written into the United States Code, somebody in a hearing room ought to ask who hired the man wearing the badge.” **In The Washington Post, Megan McArdle wrote** [**“don’t rely on treaties to stop the murderbots.”**](https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2026/09/13/prevent-ai-mass-disaster-with-more-physical-safeguards/?ref=readtangle.com) “It seems safe to say that the major AI CEOs are spooked by their own creations. At a minimum, they are afraid that within the next year AI swarms could, as Amodei put it, become ‘capable of taking over the entire internet with a persistent botnet’ that would cause enormous economic damage,” McArdle said. “Yet that fear seems positively benign compared to the human-extinction scenarios that have been sketched out such as nuclear launches, lethal bioweapons engineered by superintelligence and robot drones programmed to kill people. “If we’re not sure we can keep AI under control, why not just stop developing it? AI definitely can’t kill us if humanity jointly agrees to leave this particular frontier unexplored,” McArdle wrote. “We should limit AI access to any means of causing mass death: nuclear command and control, materials and equipment needed to make biological or chemical weapons, and critical water and power infrastructure. Call it the ‘murderbot principle.’” | What the left is saying. Many on the left support slowing AI development.Some worry that the technology’s advances will outpace legislative responses.Others say overreacting to AI concerns carries its own risk. | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | **In The Progressive, Marc Rosenthal and Julie Derwinski argued** [**“we must rise to meet the AI threat.”**](https://progressive.org/op-eds/we-must-rise-to-meet-the-ai-threat-rosenthal-derwinski-20260909/?ref=readtangle.com) “One reason AI is dangerous is that, unlike conventional computer programs, it does not just follow instructions written by people. Instead, developers feed advanced AI systems enormous amounts of data and let them build their own internal patterns for solving problems. Even their creators cannot fully explain or predict what those systems may do in every situation,” Rosenthal and Derwinski wrote. “In controlled cybersecurity evaluations, advanced AI agents have crossed supposedly secure boundaries, reaching the open Internet and breaking into the computers of outside organizations.” “People of all political persuasions should demand a moratorium on new facilities and additional computing capacity intended to train the largest frontier models until enforceable standards for safety, environmental protection, and transparency are in place,” Rosenthal and Derwinski said. “The public must assert its authority while it still can. Where safety cannot be demonstrated, development should stop. We should heed the industry’s warnings while rejecting its claim that only the industry can save us. Our future must not be left to the people racing to imperil it.” **In The Atlantic, Toluse Olorunnipa suggested** [**“the technology is moving faster than elected officials can handle.”**](https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/2026/09/ai-dario-amodei-essay/688596/?ref=readtangle.com) “If this were an alien-invasion movie, now would be the moment when people of all persuasions put aside their differences and band together to save the human race,” Olorunnipa wrote. “But that kind of bonhomie feels far out of reach. Instead, technological advances and grassroots sentiment have been moving faster than politicians have been willing to act. Now some seem to be waking up.” “The next few weeks — and the upcoming elections — could determine whether or not politicians are able to deliver any meaningful results or whether they will instead default to the partisan gridlock that most Americans now expect,” Olorunnipa said. “There’s no consensus on the scale of the threat \[AI\] poses. Nuance is required to figure out how to manage it. But lawmakers on both sides of the aisle acknowledge that our current political landscape does not lend itself to sober, cross-party problem-solving.” **In Semafor, Reed Albergotti wrote** [**“we have nothing to fear but AI fear itself.”**](https://www.semafor.com/article/09/11/2026/we-have-nothing-to-fear-but-ai-fear-itself?ref=readtangle.com) “Most of the backlash \[to Jacob Coxon’s claims\] conflates several issues, including data centers’ environmental costs, hacking, and AI’s impact on the job market,” Albergotti said. “If lawmakers, regulators and tech-company leaders don’t tackle each problem with sober precision, the industry risks having to follow rules that don’t solve anything, or worse, slow down innovation, including on developments that could make AI safer and more beneficial to the economy.” “For instance, many AI safety advocates would actually prefer data centers be built here, in our own backyards. If they move offshore, they’ll be more difficult to monitor and regulate. The problem to solve is about their energy waste, not about their existence,” Albergotti wrote. “Blindly believing advocates who say AI could kill us means missing some real risks, like economic or societal destabilization as AI transforms how people work and communicate.” | My take. Kmele Foster Editor-at-Large ![Kmele Foster](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2025/05/Kmele.jpg) | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | Even as a techno-optimist, I remain skeptical of the visions of doom professed by some of AI’s truest believers.Jacob Coxon and Dario Amodei sound far less compelling than Cal Newport, who describes AI’s issues as a matter of mismanagement.Regulation in this space strikes me as performative and likely to give the illusion of a control we cannot attain. | | **Reminder:** This is where we share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, leave a comment or reply to this email. | Cards on the table: I’ve been a reliable techno-optimist for most of my adult life, enthusiastically lining up for the latest hardware releases, tinkering with beta software that would eventually brick a few of those devices, and expressing my general belief that technology can improve the world. My allegiance to all things internet-enabled or AI-enhanced is not some shallow fancy. Like most parents, I worry about my kids’ screen time — in part because I’ve personally felt the disruptive pull of modern technologies that fragment our attention. I’ll candidly own up to chronic doomscrolling on social media and generally struggling with a *moderate device dependence* that results in my phone being a little too present at the dinner table (“or on a fishing boat,” says Isaac)*.* In short*,* I know innovation isn’t always productive or even neutral, but I also feel safe asserting that technological progress has generally expanded the terrain for human potential and individual agency. The difficulties that sometimes accompany innovation are best viewed as *problems to be understood and managed* — not de facto grounds for regulatory suppression, or worse. The printing press was a source of tremendous societal upheaval and helped furnish the kindling for violent revolutions, but it also provided the foundation for the proliferation of human knowledge. And industrial automation upended the livelihoods of countless people, over succeeding generations, as the necessary price for an explosion in living standards. With that context, it may not be surprising that I’ve been somewhat skeptical of the forecasts of AI apocalypse emanating from prominent corners of the very same industry. But in the spirit of intellectual humility, I want to do more with this take than dismiss these agentic jeremiads — whether they’re dramatically presented by an industry whistleblower like [Jacob Coxon](https://www.wsj.com/tech/ai/anthropic-researcher-quits-over-out-of-control-ai-fears-707b7628?ref=readtangle.com) and cosigned by scores of his technical comrades, or more soberly detailed by industry leaders like Dario Amodei (Anthropic) and Sam Altman (OpenAI). Calls for AI regulation and an industry-wide slowdown are serious, and they merit a serious response. I don’t know whether AI will save the world. And I can’t promise that AI won’t destroy humanity either — but importantly, neither can anyone else. Expressing uncertainty about the ultimate trajectory of a technology this novel and rapidly evolving may seem a little performative, but my practical admission contrasts sharply with the extraordinary and supremely confident predictions in Jacob Coxon’s viral resignation thread. Coxon, a former researcher at both Anthropic and OpenAI, accused his former employers of “*gambling with our lives”* and declared the systems they are developing “*will soon be superhuman systems that can hack anything, revolutionize any field overnight, and acquire real power and resources*.” Those are remarkable claims. More importantly, they aren’t peripheral to his argument. They appear near the beginning of his thread and establish the premise on which everything that follows depends: not merely that sufficiently powerful artificial intelligence *could* present extraordinary dangers, but that self-improving superintelligence is coming soon and will possess capabilities far beyond anything demonstrated by current systems. Coxon’s [near-religious certainty](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/05/opinion/ai-silicon-valley.html?ref=readtangle.com) about the imminent AI explosion became even more apparent during [his interview](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i30jVPqQeOM&ref=readtangle.com) with CNN’s Anderson Cooper. When asked what an AI catastrophe might actually look like, Coxon pointed to the recent OpenAI security incident in which AI agents escaped their testing environment and compromised the AI-development site Hugging Face. The episode was seriously alarming. OpenAI’s own investigation concluded that its agents exploited vulnerabilities in their containment, gained internet access, and entered external systems while completing a cybersecurity evaluation. But Coxon described the episode in more dramatic terms. The agents, he claimed, carried out a “hacking spree” of their own “independent volition.” From there, Coxon went on to extrapolate about AI agents eventually “actuating” themselves in the world by attacking critical infrastructure and creating bioweapons. Speculation. Exaggerations. It made me think of Coxon’s [interview](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/14/podcasts/the-daily/the-ai-researcher-whose-rebellion-is-changing-everything.html?showTranscript=1&ref=readtangle.com) with The New York Times, in which he conceded his view from the inside might be making him “insane” and that he was predisposed to believing in the far-reaching power of AI. The Hugging Face incident was a crucial security failure for OpenAI but short of a harbinger of impending doom. Commentators like Cal Newport, a professor of computer science at Georgetown, [interpret](https://calnewport.com/did-openais-new-model-go-rogue/?ref=readtangle.com) the episode as a serious indictment of the way frontier models are being tested. In Newport’s telling, these agents didn’t go rogue. Researchers created the agents, tasked them, equipped them with sophisticated hacking tools, and let them operate autonomously. The incident demonstrated what most AI researchers already should have known: Agents can pursue assigned objectives in unpredictable and potentially dangerous ways. Describing this behavior as “independent volition” is a gross misrepresentation of the facts that obscures the culpability of the humans who should be held accountable for their failures. Instead of a careful investigation into corporate malfeasance, Coxon is conducting a veritable séance, imparting souls and aspirations to software. I hope to return to this topic at a later date, as I have a great deal more to say about Dario Amodei’s call to “pace the frontier” of AI development. Here, I have more questions than answers, and suspicions that I can’t quite substantiate. The best I can do is acknowledge my uncertainty. I appreciate that Amodei is privy to facts I simply don’t have at my disposal, and I presume he isn’t completely contriving his assertion that, in 6–12 months, given the current trajectory of AI development, (actual) swarms of AI agents “could be capable of taking over the entire internet.” I can only hope he’s mostly wrong about this. But to the extent that it’s possible — and foreign models have been able to rival some of the functionality of frontier models by [executing distillation attacks](https://www.anthropic.com/news/detecting-and-preventing-distillation-attacks?ref=readtangle.com) and pursuing development trajectories that don’t require the most powerful chips and data centers — isn’t it entirely possible that there is simply no way to seriously curtail what’s coming? It is possible that the best defense against malevolent actors, human or agent, is actually a better AI. I’ve also wondered whether, as in financial markets, the introduction of regulators (as Amodei calls for) might actually create systemic vulnerabilities while giving people a false sense of security. I wonder further about the prospect of regulatory capture. Even if we presume Amodei, Altman and Musk are all altruistically motivated, and that their calls for national and even global AI pacing are being made for the best of reasons, it’s appropriate to acknowledge the Bootlegger and Baptist dynamic highlighted by the likes of [venture capitalist Marc Andreessen](https://x.com/pmarca/status/1666112772919410690?ref=readtangle.com). It’s possible for the frontier firms to be true believers and still help institute a regulatory regime that benefits them at the expense of potential competitors. And while Amodei has explicitly suggested that competition in private markets could make the AI frontier a race to the bottom, it’s hard for me to ignore the possibility that more competition among AI companies — especially in places where there is respect for the rule of law and Western values — might create clear opportunities for firms to define their brands by way of their commitments to privacy, security, and transparency. I’m confident regulation is coming to the AI market at some point. My hope is that it doesn’t resemble disruptive moratoriums that limit innovation, or schemes that, in responding to the speculative risks of AGI or other imagined harms, institute regulatory frameworks that open the door to greater surveillance or other diminishment of rights. Too often, demands for regulation respond to imagined threats with policy solutions that require very real compromises. | Staff concurrence. Ari Weitzman Managing Editor ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2025/05/Ari.jpg) | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | I’m starting from a different point than Kmele on this issue, but I end up at a similar conclusion. During my eight years as a software engineer, I was fond of telling people “I’m not a tech guy.” It was a joke, but also true — I was (and am) not an early adopter of new tech, and I’m not high on its revolutionary potential. Also in this time, I crossed paths with my fair share of people who believed their coding prowess proved their brilliance, and who exported that self-confidence Dunning-Kruger–style into any area touched by the periphery of their knowledge. Coxon’s viral resignation thread was in that spirit; it offered undetectable insight drawn from his professional experience and did little more than echo the concerns alarmists were eager to have validated. Being a skeptic of tech’s revolutionary potential cuts both ways. Web applications won’t deliver utopia the same way large language models with a Python library won’t deliver the apocalypse. Kmele humbly leaves open the possibility that this apocalypse may come. I suppose it’s possible, but really — doesn’t something about this moment feel a bit hysterical? Doesn’t [a 10% extinction likelihood](https://x.com/EvanHub/status/2097497037956891126?ref=readtangle.com) just sound… made up? All the posts echoing and amplifying the causes for concern feel a little fantastical, a little death-wish-y, like our yearning for technological salvation has turned its focus from this life to the next. Amodei is clearly saying AI could bring down the internet, that the time for safety has come, and (more quietly) that he’d prefer not to leap alone lest Anthropic bear the weight of the market itself, so could OpenAI and SpaceXAI please sign on. I don’t see anything wrong with that. Ultimately, though, the regulatory state and speed bumps on the road won’t prevent it from being the highway to hell. Because it was never leading there at all. LLMs are offering some consistent moderate improvements in workflows, some quantum leaps in rigidly defined problem areas, and a womp-womp sound effect on the borders of boundless awareness. Until something proves otherwise, I’ll continue to believe that our trajectory is more earthbound, neither toward heaven nor hell, and the godlike AI intellect which was promised will remain confined to some buzzing warehouse facility in Nevada. | | Staff dissent. Editor Audrey Moorehead and Contributing Editor Isaac Wood | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | We agree with Kmele’s skepticism of doomsday predictions and Ari’s instinct to distrust promises of revolutionary technology. But we think they’re discounting the reality of what has already happened. The recent backlash against AI development follows the Hugging Face hack, and we should take the facts of that incident on their merits. OpenAI created a testing environment, intended as an isolated sandbox, with prompts and parameters for the agents; about 1,200 agents [escaped](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/openai-hugging-face-hack-ai-risks/?ref=readtangle.com) the sandbox and communicated with each other on a covert messaging board, and some of those agents then utilized outside resources to accomplish the tasks (all of which the researchers did not intend for them to do). And the Hugging Face hack isn’t the only example of agents going rogue — in another case, agents [took over](https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/openai-agents-hijacked-german-website-previously-undisclosed-ai-breakout-this-2026-09-04/?ref=readtangle.com) a German wiki page and used it as a message board. When the wiki’s human moderator began deleting the agents’ pages, the agents began conspiring to hide from moderation and avoid deletion — without communicating with the moderator. As far as we can tell, there are three possible explanations for this behavior: AI agents are developing the ability to act against the wills of human prompters, or the human prompters aren’t setting up test environments effectively, or both. If the first option is true, then AI agents present an unpredictable threat that researchers do not yet understand. If the second option is true, then engineers are unsafely and ineffectively developing this technology. In any of these three scenarios, the people building AI are responsible for their creations’ activities — but the systems currently in place aren’t holding them responsible. Of course, Amodei and Altman are responding to myriad incentives other than public safety, and we are skeptical that their primary loyalty is to the public. But we still support a step in the right direction. Calling for regulation and a slowdown in development is the bare minimum we should expect from these leaders. | **Take the survey:** What’s the best path forward for AI development? [Let us know](https://interrobang.vercel.app/survey/ce029fbf-2902-4853-99fc-0e90eefa5fb8?ref=readtangle.com). *Disagree? That*’*s okay. Our opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we*’*ll consider publishing your feedback.* ### Under the radar. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has urged consumers not to use retatrutide, a next-generation weight-loss drug from Eli Lilly, unless they are part of an official study, as the drug has yet to undergo FDA review for approval. However, social media influencers have amplified interest in the weight-loss treatment, often calling it “reta” and accessing it from overseas suppliers. So far this year, 50 adverse events involving the drug were reported to the FDA — up from 10 in 2025 — and one event was linked to a death. Ohio, Oregon, and Iowa have issued warnings about using the drug. [The Wall Street Journal has the story](https://www.wsj.com/health/pharma/one-states-battle-to-stop-people-from-taking-unapproved-weight-loss-drugs-7e597719?mod=hp%5Flistc%5Fpos1&ref=readtangle.com). Today’s partner [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/09/Screenshot-2026-09-15-at-7.43.53---AM.png)](https://butcherbox.pxf.io/c/3250132/3930998/16419?ref=readtangle.com) ****Why Isaac Stopped Buying Most of His Meat at the Grocery Store** Somehow it’s always past 6 PM before I think about dinner. That’s where ButcherBox comes in. 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[****Use code TANGLE to get $60 off plus free meat in every box for a year**](https://butcherbox.pxf.io/c/3250132/3930998/16419?ref=readtangle.com)****.** [Free meat for a year ](https://butcherbox.pxf.io/c/3250132/3930998/16419?ref=readtangle.com) ### The extras. - **One year ago today** we covered [the arrest of Charlie Kirk’s alleged shooter](https://www.readtangle.com/charlie-kirks-shooter-arrested-motives-political-violence/). - **The most clicked link in our last regular newsletter** was the meeting between Welsh, Scottish, and Northern Irish leaders about [their countries potentially leaving the United Kingdom](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c62enegxyl9o?ref=readtangle.com). - **Nothing to do with politics:** Cornell’s BirdCast helps you [track bird migration over your state](https://dashboard.birdcast.org/?ref=readtangle.com). - **Our last survey:** 3,674 readers responded to our survey on President Trump's $5,000 dividend promise, with 94% saying the payouts won’t ever be sent. “This is bogus and hugely ridiculous. It won't happen,” one respondent said. “I highly doubt it will happen… but it is certainly less money offered than the socialists who are offering all kinds of ‘free’ stuff — that taxpayers WOULD have to pay for,” said another. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/09/data-src-image-34658001-c1e1-4ee7-ad4b-e873277cda2b.png) ### Have a nice day. For children, summer can mean having extra time for sports, friends, or the internet. Instead, for Zac Waters, a 13-year-old from Utah, it meant having time to spend roughly 300 hours 3D-printing a custom wheelchair for a nearly two-year-old girl he has never met. One day while watching YouTube videos, Waters discovered MakeGood, a nonprofit that creates custom 3D-printed devices for people with disabilities. After seeing their work, Waters decided he had to get involved. “It combines my two favorite things in life: 3D printing and helping people in need,” Waters said. “It just makes sense!” [News4Utah has the story](https://www.abc4.com/news/wasatch-front/13-year-old-builds-3d-printed-wheelchair/?ref=readtangle.com). ### Senator McConnell seen publicly for first time since June. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/senator-mcconnell-seen-publicly-for-first-time-since-june/ Last updated: 2026-09-15T07:07:15.000Z Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) was seen publicly for the first time since his June hospitalization as he left his Washington D.C. home to return to the Senate floor for votes. ### Trump’s $5,000 dividend promise. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/trump-dividend-midterm-promise/ Last updated: 2026-09-14T16:03:52.000Z Good Monday morning. I’m **Isaac Saul**, back in New Jersey after a week of oysters, lobster, campfires, family time, and talking about the future with the Tangle team in Maine. It was the first time we ever included family at a staff retreat, and the net effect was a level of bonding I don’t think we’d quite unlocked before. Many good things ahead. ![A collage of the Tangle team in Maine last week](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/09/Untitled-design---2026-09-14T120223.197.png) A collage of the Tangle team in Maine last week Speaking of team bonding, we all had a “he did what?” moment when the president, speaking at the Republican midterm convention in Dallas, **promised $5,000 checks to every American**, which is the focus of today’s newsletter. Plus, a reader question about **logging in national forests**. It’s a **14-minute read**. *Ari Weitzman, Will Kaback, Audrey Moorehead, Carina Pacheco, Russell Nystrom, Isaac Wood, and Bailey Saul edited or contributed to today’s newsletter.* ### 9/11 reflections. On Friday, we published a special reader mailbag reflecting on the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks and answering questions about what we’ve learned since that day. [You can read it here](https://www.readtangle.com/9-11-25th-anniversary-mailbag/). ### Quick hits. 1. Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei published an essay calling for a worldwide slowdown in artificial intelligence development, saying the technology is advancing at an unsafe pace. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, and DeepMind Chairman Demis Hassabis endorsed Amodei’s message. ([The comments](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/12/technology/anthropic-dario-amodei-ai-slowdown.html?ref=readtangle.com)) 2. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the Consumer Price Index increased 0.4% on a monthly basis in August and 3.4% on an annual basis, in line with economists’ expectations. ([The numbers](https://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/cpi.pdf?ref=readtangle.com)) 3. Fighting between the Yemeni government and Iran-backed Houthi rebels continued through the weekend after the Houthis captured a key Yemeni port city and an island in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, in addition to striking Saudi Arabian oil infrastructure. ([The fighting](https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthis-saudi-shipping-mandeb-90dc86201ef51410ebcdd913837d741d?ref=readtangle.com)) 4. The leaders of Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland met on Monday to discuss a plan to potentially leave the United Kingdom, declaring that the UK government should “prepare” for a change. ([The meeting](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c62enegxyl9o?ref=readtangle.com)) 5. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that the U.S. cyclosporiasis outbreak is over, ending the country’s largest-known outbreak of the illness. ([The announcement](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2026/09/11/cyclospora-outbreak-lettuce-over/91705151007/?ref=readtangle.com)) Today’s sponsor ****Is your browsing really your business?** Imagine sitting at the airport, connected to ****“Free Airport Wi-Fi,”** checking your bank balance or searching for something deeply personal. You feel invisible in the crowd, but you’re not. To anyone with a basic $20 device sitting three seats away, your screen is an open book. They aren’t just seeing “data” — they’re seeing your private health fears. Even at home, [your browsing habits can reveal](https://get.surfshark.net/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=87&aff%5Fid=35716&ref=readtangle.com) more about you than you think. Surfshark turns that noise into silence. Its [VPN masks your IP and encrypts your traffic](https://get.surfshark.net/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=87&aff%5Fid=35716&ref=readtangle.com), while Antivirus, Ad Blocker, Alternative ID, and Scam Protection add extra layers of protection to your digital life. Tangle readers can get [****Surfshark for just $2.49/month + 3 EXTRA months**](https://get.surfshark.net/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=87&aff%5Fid=35716&ref=readtangle.com)****.** [Take Back Your Privacy ](https://get.surfshark.net/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=87&aff%5Fid=35716&ref=readtangle.com) ### Today’s topic. Trump’s $5,000 dividends. At the Republican Party’s inaugural midterm convention on Wednesday, President Donald Trump [said](https://apnews.com/article/trump-dividend-5k-5000-check-republicans-cc80644e3168acd31c892129fb849436?ref=readtangle.com) that his administration will send $5,000 to every U.S. adult citizen if the GOP retains control of the House and Senate in November’s elections. The president called the “Trump Dividend” a way for Americans to share in the economic strength that would result from Republican governance. A White House statement [released](https://www.whitehouse.gov/releases/2026/09/trump-dividend-america-is-winning-and-americans-should-win-with-it/?ref=readtangle.com) after the speech said, “Like a successful company returning cash to its shareholders, the Trump Dividend is possible only because of President Trump. In his second term, he has unleashed trillions in new private investment, launched an unprecedented crackdown on government waste, and rebuilt American strength at home. That success belongs to the American people.” With roughly 250 million U.S. adult citizens, the dividends would cost over $1.2 trillion, and disbursing the payments would likely require an act of Congress, though the president suggested that approval may not be necessary. On Sunday, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) expressed openness to the idea but did not endorse it, [telling NBC](https://www.axios.com/2026/09/13/trumps-5000-5k-checks-congress?ref=readtangle.com), “Congress will work through it and find consensus on that like they have to do everything else.” Separately, Vice President JD Vance [said](https://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/trump-says-us-can-easily-afford-1-2t-price-tag-5k-dividend-adults?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Vice%20President%20JD%20Vance%20pointed%20to%20tariff%20revenue%20after%20Trump%27s%20announcement%20as%20one%20source%20of%20money%20for%20the%20proposal.%20He%20also%20suggested%20wealthy%20Americans%20could%20be%20excluded%2C%20which%20would%20lower%20the%20total%20cost.) that tariff revenue could cover part or all of the dividends while also suggesting that wealthy Americans may not be eligible to receive them. Democrats criticized the proposal as an attempted bribe. Rep. Daniel Goldman (D-NY) [called](https://x.com/danielsgoldman/status/2097998346526818679?ref=readtangle.com) the promise “corrupt and blatantly illegal,” and Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) [said](https://x.com/RepRaskin/status/2097896269834309773?ref=readtangle.com) it was a “political bribe.” Others dismissed the idea as unserious. Many economists also expressed concerns, citing the rising national debt and persistent inflation above the Federal Reserve’s target rate. “Mr. Trump’s proposal would be worse than the Biden \[Covid-19\] stimulus in the sense that in 2026 the economy already has an inflation problem… Trump would be pouring gasoline on lit inflationary embers and hoping it wouldn’t ignite,” Michael Strain, director of economic policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute, [said](https://apnews.com/article/trump-dividend-5000-payment-midterms-ab4111f78473e003a8146750b1971f9b?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Michael%20Strain%2C%20director,ignite%2C%E2%80%9D%20Strain%20said.). Today, you’ll hear from the left and right on President Trump’s dividend proposal, followed by Executive Editor Isaac Saul’s take. | Agreed. Writers on the left and right are both skeptical of Trump’s promise, with most viewing it as economically flawed and implausible. | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | What the left is saying. The left opposes the proposal, with many saying the dividends are economically unwise. Some call the announcement a distraction from Trump’s record. Others criticize the idea but defend Trump’s freedom to propose it. | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | **In The Atlantic, David A. Graham argued** [**“everything Trump wants to do causes inflation.”**](https://www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/2026/09/trump-5k-inflation-republican-midterm-convention/688603/?ref=readtangle.com) “Injecting more than $1 trillion into the economy wouldn’t just blow up the deficit and national debt — it would also drive up prices,” Graham wrote. “Giving every American $5,000 to spend would create demand that couldn’t immediately be met, encouraging sellers to raise prices. I could quote lots of economists from left, right, and center who have already said that the payouts would be inflationary, but you could also just take it from Trump himself, who has repeatedly blamed inflation on high spending during the Biden administration.” “A paradox of this moment is that inflation is a big reason for Trump’s cratering approval and his party’s sinking odds in the midterm elections, but nearly every one of his signature policy ideas is inflationary,” Graham said. “Perhaps Trump doesn’t understand that his ideas will drive up prices. Perhaps he does, but concludes that dangling free money in front of voters is worth the hit. Either way, new numbers released \[on September 11\] show that inflation rose 3.4% from one year ago.” **In Bloomberg, Mark Gongloff suggested the proposal wastes** [**“considerable time and brainpower.”**](https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2026-09-10/trump-s-5-000-midterms-promise-is-a-false-distraction?ref=readtangle.com) “The very fact that this idea has been the subject of earnest discussion for the past several hours makes it at least enough of a reality to be dangerous,” Gongloff wrote. “It’s easy enough to guess that \[Trump’s\] goal Wednesday night wasn’t to spark an intellectual debate about the merits of a $5,000 dividend or the intricacies of campaign finance law. More likely, it was to distract everybody, however briefly, from his many spectacular failures, all of which explain why his Republican Party faces the risk of a generational wipeout in November.” “The examples of this are legion, and they grow by the day. When Trump renames things on the map, it’s not because of a lifelong interest in cartography. He is the class clown who, once he discovers that a bit gets a laugh, will hammer that bit again and again until it’s dead,” Gongloff said. “Anything to make you not think for five minutes about the implications of a self-harming trade war with our closest neighbor, ally, and trading partner. Or about how Trump Strait was actually functioning just fine before the self-harming war-war with Iran.” **In the San Francisco Chronicle, Erwin Chemerinsky said Trump’s promise is** [**“protected speech.”**](https://www.sfchronicle.com/opinion/openforum/article/trump-republicans-midterms-5-000-bribe-law-22426036.php?ref=readtangle.com) “President Donald Trump’s ‘promise’ to provide $5,000 to all adult Americans if the Republicans keep control of both houses of Congress sounds like an offer of a bribe, but it is speech protected by the First Amendment,” Chemerinsky wrote. “\[Federal law\] makes it illegal to make or offer to make an expenditure to any person to induce them to cast a vote, withhold a vote, or vote for or against a specific candidate. Trump’s statements did not relate to the election of any specific candidate, but instead promised the dividend if Republicans won majorities in the House and the Senate. “More importantly, Trump’s pledge was the type of speech that is common among candidates for office, which is protected by the First Amendment. Political candidates constantly pledge what they will do, if elected, to benefit their constituents,” Chemerinsky said. “I find Trump’s promise to be unseemly and absurd. It is effectively trying to buy votes from people by telling them that they will get a significant amount of money if they vote Republican. It’s also misleading because it implies that Trump could do something that he does not have the power to do. But under the First Amendment, even outrageous campaign promises are constitutionally protected speech.” | What the right is saying. Many on the right also oppose Trump’s promise, with some saying the payments would increase financial stress for Americans.Some call the announcement effective midterm messaging for the president. Others suggest the MAGA movement is floundering. | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | **The Washington Examiner editorial board argued** [**“against Trump’s $5,000 bribe.”**](https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/editorials/4721784/against-trump-5000-dollar-bribe/?ref=readtangle.com#selection-2823.0-2839.356) “Trump’s promise to send every adult citizen a $5,000 check, but only if Republicans maintain control of the House and Senate, should be treated as what it is: pure political theater with no real-world relationship to what Trump’s actual legislative agenda would be should Republicans beat the odds and maintain control of both chambers of Congress,” the board wrote. “Voters nevertheless have every reason to be frustrated with the economy. Inflation has eaten away purchasing power, energy prices are rising, and housing affordability is again deteriorating.” “A $5,000 check may look like relief from those pressures, but if roughly 260 million adult citizens received one, the price tag would approach $1.3 trillion. Vice President JD Vance has suggested tariff revenue could help finance the plan, but existing tariff collections fall far short of the amount required. Without offsetting spending cuts, much of the difference would therefore be borrowed, which would drive inflation even higher,” the board said. “If Republicans do somehow pull off an electoral upset, they should oppose Trump’s plan or identify the $1.3 trillion in cuts to pay for it.” **In PJ Media, Scott Pinsker called Trump’s speech** [**“a PR masterstroke.”**](https://pjmedia.com/scott-pinsker/2026/09/10/the-5k-check-heard-round-the-world-how-donald-trump-reverse-unod-the-midterms-n4957080?ref=readtangle.com) “The GOP’s dilemma is obvious: Over the long term, there’s no way in hell the Republican Party can compete with the socialists in the ‘free’ government giveaway game,” Pinsker wrote. “So Trump offers every adult $5,000; the socialists offer ‘free’ healthcare, education, childcare, housing, groceries, transportation, clothing, job training, an Obama phone, and most of Elon Musk’s money. (Because billionaires shouldn’t exist, you know.) Where does it end? Bottom line: The giveaway game is an unsustainable GOP strategy.” “Policy concerns aside, the PR fallout \[to Trump’s announcement\] was dramatic. Swift, sudden, and utterly seismic. It was an absolute game-changer. In just one speech, President Trump reset the course of the entire 2026 midterms… Because of Trump’s speech, the focus now isn’t on what we lack — but what we’re going to get,” Pinsker said. “But eventually, the Dems will figure out that their best line of counterprogramming isn’t to attack it legally… so they’ll pivot to this: Trump’s promise doesn’t mean anything because he’s a liar who won’t deliver. After all, he promised us $5,000 checks before, and they never arrived.” **In Reason, Eric Boehm said the proposal** [**“shows MAGA is out of ideas.”**](https://reason.com/2026/09/10/trump-and-vances-plan-to-bribe-voters-with-5000-checks-shows-maga-is-out-of-ideas/?ref=readtangle.com) “\[Vice President\] Vance’s response is, in many ways, more important than Trump's ridiculous pitch,” Boehm wrote. “That Vance is willing to play ball with such a ridiculous, unconservative, fiscally irresponsible idea is telling. After all, the vice president likes to position himself as a serious, thoughtful critic of the political and economic status quo. His supporters see him as the heir apparent to Trump — the guy with the political and policy chops to make this populist movement stick and to redefine the Republican Party and the conservative movement for the next generation.” “This entire incident exposes how completely out of ideas the entire Trump political project is. The president promised that he would make life more affordable and that tariffs would deliver a ‘golden age’ for Americans, but the reality has fallen well short,” Boehm said. “Now, the president is literally promising to throw money at the problem, and Vance is dutifully playing along. This is the inevitable end of all populist movements, which begin by promising easy solutions to complex problems and eventually collapse when those ‘solutions’ are revealed to be grifts or oversimplifications.” | My take. Isaac Saul Executive Editor ![Isaac Saul](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2025/05/Isaac.jpg) | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Pundits and experts seem opposed to this idea across the board, which made me wonder what the best case for it would be.Payouts derived from tariffs would almost certainly be popular, and offering them as a campaign promise isn’t illegal.However, the pledge leaves me feeling uneasy — and not just because it’d be economically unwise. | | **Reminder:** This is where we share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, leave a comment or reply to this email. | Unsurprisingly, this proposal did not garner a lot of unequivocal support. I think the biggest reason for the idea’s lack of defenders is our current economic situation: We are still fighting inflation and our national debt has been increasing, and $5,000 payouts would almost certainly increase both inflation and the national debt. Add in the upcoming midterms and the whole idea feels even more untoward and unrealistic. I don’t know that I have a whole lot to add to that. Instead, it struck me as an interesting intellectual exercise to make the best case *for* the $5,000 stimulus checks, based on some of the arguments made above and some I’m surprised more people aren’t making in Trump’s defense: First and foremost, politics are already one giant bribe. [Definitionally](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bribe?ref=readtangle.com), a bribe is “money or favor given or promised in order to influence the judgment or conduct of a person in a position of trust.” Saying “vote for us and you’ll get X” is the most standard form of politics there is. Popular Democratic politicians have run on everything from canceling student loan debt to eviction moratoriums to free healthcare. “We’ll give you $5,000 cash” is far more explicit, but as Erwin Chemerinsky noted (under “What the left is saying”), it’s not all that different. Actually, I could argue that cash is *better* than promising a new government program — it’s more efficient and direct, and it gives citizens full choice in how they spend those resources. Listening to Trump, I was reminded of British politician Rory Stewart’s TED Talk on how giving direct cash [is the best way to solve poverty](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tt0HOe7gf7I&ref=readtangle.com). Which is all to say somethingdoesn’t quite sit well with me about Trump’s critics all — in unison — dismissing this as a bribe. Trump was overt, of course: Vote for us and we’ll pay you $5,000\. But it’s not as if he said he’d only cut the check for Republican voters. He offered it to all Americans, whether they voted for him or not. Offering money to people only if they vote for your candidate is an obviously illegal quid pro quo — offering *everyone* money, however, is a different legal ball of yarn. In [*Brown v. Hartlage*](https://www.oyez.org/cases/1981/80-1285?ref=readtangle.com)(1982), a Supreme Court case where a Kentucky county commissioner promised to reduce his salary if elected, the Court unanimously drew a line between policy promises and vote buying. “A candidate’s promise to confer some ultimate benefit on the voter, qua taxpayer, citizen, or member of the general public, does not lie beyond the pale of First Amendment protection,” Justice William Brennan Jr. wrote. Given that precedent, Trump is almost certainly within the bounds of the law (you might remember Elon Musk [wasn’t charged](https://www.wpr.org/news/la-crosse-county-da-elon-musk-election-bribery-social-media-supreme-court?ref=readtangle.com) for handing out $1 million checks to people during a campaign rally in Wisconsin in exchange for “taking the time to vote.”). Second, as Eric Boehm argued (under “What the right is saying”), I’m guessing this idea is pretty popular. If you plucked 100 random voting-age Americans off the street and asked them if they’d support $5,000 direct cash payments to all Americans, what percentage would say yes? 50? 65? 85? Even if I largely align myself with the pundit class that’s unconvinced by policies like this, the gap between how many “normie” Americans would support this policy and how many pundits are feels notable — Trump’s ability to keep his finger on that pulse better than other politicians is one of his defining political strengths. Third, Trump’s dividend theory is different from the stimulus theory of cash payments during the pandemic. This isn’t supposed to be financed by borrowed money or taxes but from payments collected by tariff revenue. It’s true that Trump has a math problem — $167 billion in [tariff revenue](https://usafacts.org/answers/how-much-revenue-does-the-federal-government-collect-from-tariffs/country/united-states/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=%24167B,2026%20through%20August) vs. a $1.2 trillion price tag — but the structure of the deal is just different. The president is arguing that we are bringing in *new* revenue in the form of tariffs, which Kevin McCullough [stressed in Townhall](https://townhall.com/columnists/kevinmccullough/2026/09/11/5000-isnt-asking-much-n2682832?ref=readtangle.com). Trump’s math problem just means the idea requires adjustments: He has to either lower the dividend amount or increase his tariffs to match the $1.2 trillion dividend price tag, and he can do this without borrowing more money. So, putting all this together, Trump is flexing a standard practice in politics, he’s pitching something that is almost certainly popular, and he’s proposing paying for it with a source of revenue that his administration has significantly bolstered since he came into office. Of course, the strongest retorts are also obvious: First, there is a difference between proposing popular policies and saying “if you keep us in office we’ll cut every American a $5,000 check.” Even if Trump’s promise seems legal, I don’t think it should be politically palatable. Trump’s supporters already elected him twice; if he thinks this policy would be good for the country, he has the power to enact it now. Insisting that Republicans must *stay* in power for voters to be rewarded doesn’t comport with basic reasoning. Additionally, it’s one of the surest signals yet that the president recognizes how unpopular his administration is. What kind of polling are Republicans seeing that has the head of the party resorting to *literally* offering people cash to vote for them? How insecure must they feel about running on the president’s record? Second, while the proposal might be popular, it’s also not novel — even within this presidency. The president floated a “DOGE dividend” in February of 2025 that never came to fruition, mostly [because DOGE didn’t save anywhere near the money it said it would](https://www.readtangle.com/i-was-wrong-about-doge/). He also [promised](https://abcnews.com/Politics/trump-promised-2000-tariff-dividends-materialized-10-months/story?id=136329468&ref=readtangle.com) a $2,000 dividend in November of 2025 that would be paid out from tariff revenue. He later revised the timeline for that stimulus from mid-2026 to the end of 2026, before ultimately announcing the $5,000 dividend that would only come if Republicans held the House and Senate. Which is all just to say he has repeatedly broken his word on purported dividends (aside from the $1,776 “Warrior Dividend” [sent](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/irs-confirms-trump-ordered-1776-warrior-dividend-troops-tax-free?ref=readtangle.com) to roughly 1.5 million service members last December). Most obviously, if Trump actually wanted to give every American $5,000, Republicans could *do it right now*. When asked on Fox News why he wouldn’t just cut the checks now, his only response [was](https://x.com/atrupar/status/2098098068184879221?ref=readtangle.com) “because, Democrats.” Which doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. Republicans control the House, Senate, and White House. They have had plenty of success defending their executive excesses before the Supreme Court. There is no reason to wait, unless — of course — you were using the money to offer voters a de facto bribe because you were otherwise unpopular. Third, this policy proposal would be devastating economically. $5,000 per adult American citizen is, as many have noted, over $1.2 trillion. Trump plainly does not have the tariff revenue to pay for that, which means he’d have to borrow more money at a time when the interest on our debt is already the federal government’s third-largest expense. If he wants to raise tariffs even more, that’d be most devastating for U.S. importers (and consumers), who are the ones that actually pay them. We now know the post-Covid stimulus was a major driver of inflation that we’re *still* dealing with today, a problem plenty of economists warned about. Trump himself [criticized](https://www.reuters.com/world/us/biden-trump-point-fingers-each-other-inflation-during-debate-2024-06-28/?ref=readtangle.com) President Biden’s continuation of Covid spending. This would amount to a stimulus package of that size, at a time when the economy doesn’t require stimulus and inflation is still an issue. It’s truly hard to fathom. If you think economic sentiment is bad now, another price surge would make it historically awful. So, in sum, the lack of expert and lawmaker support for this proposal probably makes sense: Trump’s numbers don’t add up, the policy would be economically devastating, it borders on illegal, and it’s a carbon copy of promises he has already failed to deliver. That’s plenty of reason not to support it — and plenty of reason to have healthy skepticism it’d ever happen, even if Republicans keep the House and Senate. **Take the survey:** When could the $5,000 payouts be sent? [Let us know](https://interrobang.vercel.app/survey/0c73ca27-301b-4585-9cb2-bbc5fcfad53b?ref=readtangle.com). *Disagree? That*’*s okay. Our opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we’ll consider publishing your feedback.* ### Your questions, answered. **Why is POTUS letting logging companies cut down protected forests in the USA?** **— Christian from Palatine, IL** **Managing Editor Ari Weitzman:** That’s *partially* what’s happening, but describing it that way leaves out a lot of detail. In August, the Trump administration filed a proposal to rescind the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule, which prevents roads from being built in designated areas of national forests. The proposal garnered a lot of criticism and consternation — The New York Times [described](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/18/climate/trump-ends-roadless-rule-forests.html?ref=readtangle.com) it like this: “Trump Administration Moves to Allow Logging in Pristine National Forests.” Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, whose department oversees the Forest Service, defended the rule as a way [to prevent wildfires](https://www.usda.gov/about-usda/news/press-releases/2026/08/18/usda-acts-remove-roadless-rule-restrictions-exacerbate-rising-wildfire-risk?ref=readtangle.com). “For too long, outdated restrictions have kept tens of millions of forested acres off-limits to the very treatments that improve forest health and reduce wildfire risk to our communities,” Rollins said. In a nutshell, the administration believes that allowing national forests to build forest roads in protected areas will make it easier to respond to wildfires when they occur. The Trump administration also says that rescinding this rule will allow the managers of individual forests to make the best decisions for themselves. That means Alaska’s remote Tongass Forest (which is at a very low risk of wildfires) may not decide to build new roads, but Montana’s Kootenai National Forest (which is also a target for increased logging) probably will. Meanwhile, any national forest in Idaho or Colorado will not be subject to this rule because those states have already set restrictions on new road developments in these areas. Of course, thinning forests for wildfire prevention goes hand-in-hand with logging. Consider Kootenai in Montana: A judge [threw out](https://www.courthousenews.com/montana-logging-project-hits-dead-end-over-illegal-road-use-in-grizzly-habitat/?ref=readtangle.com) an attempted logging project there in 2025 partially because of the roadless rule, siding with environmentalists seeking to protect grizzly bear habitats. Rescinding that rule will allow projects like that to move forward, and at a time when we’re in a trade war with the country [we get 84% of our softwood lumber imports](https://www.familyhandyman.com/article/why-does-us-get-lumber-from-canada/?ref=readtangle.com) from, those projects could increase rapidly. That would mean negative environmental effects like habitat destruction, [pollution of drinking water](https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2409104122?ref=readtangle.com), and even — maddeningly — [increased wildfires](https://www.science.org/content/article/prevent-forest-fires-trump-wants-end-road-building-ban-scientists-are-skeptical?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=%E2%80%9CIt%E2%80%99s%20infuriating%20that,into%20the%20woods.). Ultimately, the devil will be in the details. Developing wide, paved roads through pristine forests would be harmful to those areas — even to the beetle-infested stands of dead wood [often invoked](https://nationalforestadvocates.org/beetle-kill-trees-and-wildfire/?ref=readtangle.com) in these discussions. However, fire-prone forests would [undeniably benefit](https://research.fs.usda.gov/treesearch/62189?ref=readtangle.com) from smaller access roads that provide fuel breaks and access points for firefighters. I live directly next to a Vermont state forest, and I personally sit on the board of an LLC that manages 140 acres of woodland area. We are actually *required* by the state to cut down a certain amount of trees each year, and forest roads — unpaved, uneven paths that are often called “fire roads” — help us do that. There’s plenty of reason to believe this roadless rule is being promoted to the benefit of the logging industry and the detriment of national forests. If the rule really does end up putting decision-making power in the hands of those managing these forests, though, there’s also plenty of reason to retain some guarded optimism. **Want to have a question answered in the newsletter? You can reply to this email (it goes straight to our inbox) or** [**fill out this form**](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScQhqBSG%5F6%5FoBhwcTQMeS570n29XYbeQ9C9Bis7rjqI31g1tA/viewform?usp=header&ref=readtangle.com)**.** Today’s Sponsor ****Your browsing is your business.** Your bank balance. Your health searches. Your private plans. Your online life can reveal more than you think. [Surfshark VPN masks your IP](https://get.surfshark.net/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=87&aff%5Fid=35716&ref=readtangle.com) and encrypts your traffic, with Antivirus, Ad Blocker, Alternative ID, and Scam Protection for extra protection. Just ****$2.49/month** \+ [****3 EXTRA months** for Tangle readers](https://get.surfshark.net/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=87&aff%5Fid=35716&ref=readtangle.com). [Protect Your Privacy ](https://get.surfshark.net/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=87&aff%5Fid=35716&ref=readtangle.com) ### The extras. - **One year ago today** we had just published Isaac’s Friday essay on [why his son gives him hope](https://www.readtangle.com/my-son-gives-me-hope/). - **The most clicked link in our last regular newsletter** was [FinanceBuzz’s rundown of discounts on everyday services and products](https://financebuzz.com/money-moves-senior-benefits-yaez-1?adgroupid=BM-Tangle-money-moves-senior-benefits-yaez-1-CPF-9102026&ref=readtangle.com). - **Nothing to do with politics:** When is [the best time to drink coffee?](https://www.popsci.com/science/when-best-to-drink-coffee/?ref=readtangle.com) - **Our last survey:** 2,437 readers responded to our survey on Sen. John Fetterman’s (D-PA) future in the Democratic Party, with 42% saying they think Fetterman will leave the party before the 2028 Pennsylvania Senate primary. “If he wants to avoid getting primaried out of the 2028 race, he has no option but to switch,” one respondent said. “Fetterman could become a true independent and a swing vote in the Senate,” said another. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/09/data-src-image-b762e5bd-ae8b-4a4f-8292-f2a6053a8ef6.png) ### Have a nice day. In 2016, Sonya Passi founded FreeForm on the belief that she could fight domestic abuse by giving women in abusive relationships more economic agency. Passi put this theory to the test — she started by helping survivors launch small businesses, then began handing out direct checks of up to $1,500 during the pandemic. Ten years and $10 million later, FreeForm’s new impact report shows Passi’s idea is working. Among the survivors it surveyed, 94% reported stronger social wellbeing and those in financial crisis fell from roughly half to 10%. “I have learned to have my own agency with money,” one survivor said. “For the first time in my life, I feel safe and trust myself with financial choices.” [Good Good Good has the story](https://www.goodgoodgood.co/articles/freefrom-gender-based-violence-direct-cash-transfers?ref=readtangle.com). ### The Sunday — September 13 URL: https://www.readtangle.com/the-sunday-september-13-2026/ Last updated: 2026-09-13T11:52:41.000Z *This is the Tangle Sunday Edition, a brief roundup of our independent politics coverage plus some extra features for your Sunday morning reading.* ### What the left is doodling. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/09/data-src-image-8786b0ad-c14a-44ed-bb47-7cf86e0d435d.jpeg) Mike Luckovich | Creators Syndicate ### What the right is doodling. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/09/data-src-image-186f286c-867d-46f2-8ded-c219dbdfc79c.jpeg) Steve Kelley | Creators Syndicate ### Greetings from Maine! The Tangle team spent the past week together in Maine. As a remote company, it’s always nice to get together in person to work, spend time, and enjoy a beautiful slice of nature. ![Tangle staff in Maine | Photo from Aidan Gorman](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/09/data-src-image-c4d1d84b-0e03-4e33-ac68-d481fb98df02.png) Tangle staff in Maine | Photo from Aidan Gorman ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/09/data-src-image-0fa1030b-e286-4a37-9967-9e599a4e5326.png) ### Suspension of the Rules. Ari, Isaac, and Kmele got together in person for a contemplative *Suspension of the Rules*, revisiting 9/11 on the 25th anniversary of the occasion and reflecting on Tangle completing its seventh year. Check it out below! ### Monday, September 7. *Tangle did not release a newsletter on Monday in observance of Labor Day.* ### Tuesday, September 8. [Dan Driscoll’s resignation](https://www.readtangle.com/the-army-secretary-resigns/). On Monday, August 31, The Wall Street Journal reported that Army Secretary Dan Driscoll had resigned amid protracted disagreements with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth; Driscoll’s last workday was September 2\. Several other military leaders have been fired or resigned under Hegseth, who has sought to reduce the size of military leadership. President Donald Trump appointed Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works Adam Telle to serve as acting secretary and did not give a timeline for nominating a replacement. **Our take:** *“Hegseth’s record as Secretary of Defense speaks for itself. In addition to Hegseth’s constant controversies, our military is now struggling with an ongoing conflict in Iran. With Driscoll gone, how long will it be before Hegseth is shown the door?”* **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/09/data-src-image-e2ad7e96-acf5-4aea-b9b8-19ef9e46da07.png) ### Wednesday, September 9. [The latest economic signals](https://www.readtangle.com/august-economic-report/). In the run-up to the November midterm elections, new reports on key economic indicators have shed light on the state of the U.S. economy. The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) will meet on Tuesday for the third time under Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh to consider changes to the interest rate in light of a strong jobs report and persistent inflation. Meanwhile, the Iran war and a burgeoning trade dispute with Canada have added new variables to the economic picture. **Our take:** *“Usually, Tangle focuses on how policy choices impact the economy, but today I want to make some predictions. The Fed will raise rates this year, not cut them, and draw President Trump’s ire. The national debt will keep rising, the AI bubble will burst, and higher education is facing a crisis.”* **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/09/data-src-image-e7398e13-18da-4b6f-9de1-120ca4592c7c.png) ### Thursday, September 10. [John Fetterman](https://www.readtangle.com/john-fetterman-democrats/). On Wednesday, September 9, Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) appeared via video at the Republican Party’s first-ever midterm convention, reiterating his opposition to socialism and praising Sen. Dave McCormick (R-PA). Fetterman has frequently criticized the Democratic Party’s embrace of democratic socialism and anti-Israel rhetoric, leading to speculation that he could switch parties or become an independent. **Our take:** *“I normally love stories of bipartisan cooperation, but something about what Fetterman’s doing seems off. Simple altruism doesn’t explain a person who ran as a progressive fully endorsing his Republican counterpart. The simplest explanation is that Fetterman is being negatively polarized against his party by progressives.”* **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/09/data-src-image-2aac9739-d27d-4d8d-a857-2dac582f8bd2.png) ### Friday, September 11. This week, on the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, members of the Tangle team reflect on their memories of that day and on what has changed since. Then, we answered some of your questions about the attacks and their aftermath. [You can read our answers here](https://www.readtangle.com/9-11-25th-anniversary-mailbag/). --- ### What just happened. Here’s a rundown of the major stories that have broken since our newsletter on Thursday. - On Thursday, President Donald Trump gave a closing address at Republicans’ inaugural midterm convention, asking attendees to pledge their support to him and saying they should “try and cheat like hell like \[Democrats\] do” in the November elections. ([The speech](https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/6083597-trump-midterm-pledge-vote-convention/?ref=readtangle.com)) Separately, on Thursday, President Trump announced that the government will issue $500 refunds to approximately one million people enrolled in Affordable Care Act marketplaces. ([The refunds](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/09/10/trump-obamacare-refunds-aca.html?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Thursday, Houthi rebels seized control of Mokha, a port city in Yemen, disrupting a critical shipping route through the Red Sea. On Friday, the Houthis reportedly captured Yemen’s Perim Island, expanding their control of the area. ([The captures](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/09/11/iran-houthis-mokha-red-sea-yemen.html?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Friday, the Justice Department announced that an Afghan woman was deported after a ruling by the U.S. Alien Terrorist Removal Court — a specialized federal court created by Congress in 1996 — over her alleged support for a planned terrorist attack on Election Day in 2024\. The woman’s deportation was the court’s first facilitation of a removal. ([The deportation](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/first-use-alien-terrorist-removal-court-sends-afghan-woman-back-election-day-isis-plot-doj?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Friday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that the U.S. cyclosporiasis outbreak is over, ending the country’s largest-known outbreak of the illness. 12,883 cyclosporiasis cases were confirmed between May 1 and September 11\. ([The declaration](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2026/09/11/cyclospora-outbreak-lettuce-over/91705151007/?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Friday, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the Consumer Price Index increased 0.4% on a monthly basis in August and 3.4% on an annual basis. Rising gasoline prices accounted for over one third of the monthly CPI increase. ([The report](https://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/cpi.pdf?ref=readtangle.com)) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/09/data-src-image-dfa60e80-35c1-46d5-b88b-1b3740b3a46d.png) ### Reader essay. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/09/data-src-image-7656be5c-f7e8-491d-96ef-598d0055050b.jpeg) The author’s mother-in-law, Felicia Lubowitz, as a child | Photo from William Anton This week, Tangle reader and author Karen Hill Anton returns to the reader essay pages, this time with a reflection on her experience growing up in a Jewish community in New York. Karen meditates on what it meant to grow up surrounded by Jewish language, food, and culture, and looks back on the Jewish women who inspired and shaped the path of her life. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### My People URL: https://www.readtangle.com/otherposts/my-people/ Last updated: 2026-09-13T03:24:54.000Z *By Karen Hill Anton* --- Years before I left New York City, I typed documents for a woman at the UN for a short time. I recall she once asked me, “Do you know where in West Africa your people are from?” At a time before it was commonplace to trace your ancestry, I could not have given even a wild guess about the geographic details of my African origins. Mona, an Egyptian Jewish woman of international sensibilities who’d lived and worked all over the world, told me, “I’m sure your lineage is in Senegal.” According to her, my thin, long-limbed body indicated where I might trace back my heritage. There is now in NYC a community of Senegalese immigrants living in an area that’s been called ”Little Senegal.” But it was not there when I was growing up. My uptown neighborhood of Washington Heights was primarily black, though not African. It was made up of people like my Mississippi-born father, who were part of the Great Migration of black Americans (or Negroes as they were called then) who’d moved north long before they’d be termed African Americans. The other prominent ethnic group in my neighborhood were Jews, and they played a significant part in my early upbringing. Before I lived in Japan, where I’ve made my home for the past 51 years, my cross-cultural sensibilities were awakened by Jewish life and culture. **“New York City has more Jews than Tel Aviv,” a 1950s advertising campaign proudly proclaimed. At the time, that was a fact.** “Sam’s” grocery store in the middle of my block was closed on the Jewish high holidays. My family wasn’t the only one with an informal financial arrangement (notes scribbled on a little pad kept at the cash register) at Sam’s for those lean times of the month when money was short. At the other end of the block was Mrs. Meyer’s penny candy store. I’d hear her speak Yiddish with other customers and switch to heavily accented English when speaking to me and my friends. She had a sister we called the “Cat Lady.” We’d skip after her while she pulled a cart of homemade cat food to feed stray cats. I marvel now to think that little old lady felt perfectly comfortable doing this, alone, at night. My father would greet her, saying how kind she was. Her response was always, “They have no one to take care of them, the poor things. They have to eat, too.” A child with a fever occasioned a house call from Dr. Katz, dressed in a suit, carrying his black medical bag up five flights of tenement stairs. If I were to describe him now, I’d say he looked like Sigmund Freud. When I walked my dog Snowflake on Broadway on Friday evenings, I’d see Jewish families coming from Shabbat prayers at a nearby synagogue. There were several synagogues in our neighborhood, and I got a part-time job at one, babysitting young children in a room in the back while their parents attended the service. I earned money through babysitting as a teenager, and another one of my jobs was in Reuben Fine’s Greenwich Village brownstone. I was told he was a renowned International Chess Grandmaster, although that didn’t mean anything to me at the time. I’d just graduated from high school the summer Joseph Heller, a neighbor on Fire Island, told me his book *Catch-22* would become a movie and asked if I would type up all the dialogue on index cards, which I did. (My father taught me to type when I was about ten — I was always ready to take on any typing job.) I remember talking and laughing with Joe, who came from a poor Jewish immigrant background, while he sat back in his beach chair. I didn’t know what a literary phenomenon he was when he gave me his telephone number and address in the city and told me to feel free to get in touch. Whenever I’d call, almost the first thing he’d ask me was: “What’re you reading?” I bought the paperback edition of *Catch-22* right after it came out. I can’t recall what he wrote in it after ‘to Karen’' — I, young and stupid, lent it to a friend and never saw it again. Like many New Yorkers, I absorbed a Yiddish vocabulary without thinking. But the term *Yente Telebende* was new to me when I learned it at my first post-high school job, in a pathology and diagnostic laboratory. The manager there affectionately called me that (meaning busybody) because I’d constantly ask her to explain the test reports I typed. Her nephew was the lab’s director, and when his son had his Bar Mitzvah, all employees were invited — that was when I experienced what it is to partake in a celebratory feast. The laboratory, established by his Jewish immigrant father, prominently displayed a photograph of him taken with Albert Einstein (they’d known one another in Germany) when he visited the lab. I’d get to further immerse myself in Jewish culture through its food when, at seventeen, after I begged my father for permission, I moved downtown. The following is an excerpt from my memoir [*The View From Breast Pocket Mountain*](https://www.karenhillanton.com/?ref=readtangle.com): > I shared my first apartment downtown with two high school friends, Tamar and Sheri. I recall visiting Sheri’s home where her mother, who only spoke Yiddish, would be cooking and serving up delicious Jewish dishes, like blintzes. Sheri’s lokshen kugel was good too. On the Lower East Side, I satisfied my fondness for Jewish food, frequenting delicatessens where I bought pickles from barrels, expertly sliced lox, and rye bread. In this once largely Jewish neighborhood, I’d eat kasha varnishkes at Ratner’s, matzoh ball soup at B&H, and gefilte fish at the 2nd Ave Deli. When I married Billy Anton, a friend from my teen years, I thought, “Oh yay, now I’ll have a Jewish mother-in-law to make these dishes for me.” It was not to be. My husband’s mother, a wonderful woman whom I loved, was not much of a cook. She preferred my matzoh ball soup to her own, and my kasha varnishkes too. When she visited us in Japan, I sensed she’d had enough of rice. She was happy when I made potato latkes for her. **Three women in the dedication of my memoir are Jewish. I describe them there as “mentors,” which they were. And they were much more than that.** These women were important figures in my life during my formative years. Their influence on me cannot be overstated. All three came from poor Jewish immigrant families. All three lived in book-lined homes that were a fantasy land for me, an avid reader whose home only had a set of encyclopedias. They guided my reading, often not just telling me about a book but giving it to me. I credit them with introducing me to a wide world of literature, art, jazz and classical music, theater, and dance. **Victoria Lawrence**: Her family fled the pogroms in Odessa for France, where she grew up. After immigrating to the United States, they settled in New York City. Warm and welcoming, her home was a haven during my teenage years when her daughter Joanna and I were close friends in high school. Memorably, Vickie gave me the *Autobiography of Frederick Douglass* for a high school paper, and she was overjoyed when I got an A+ on it. [**Rosetta Reitz**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosetta%5FReitz?ref=readtangle.com): Founder of a bookstore, historian of jazz and blues, record producer, and food columnist. She also wrote a pioneering book on menopause. I babysat her three daughters, and as a teenager, Rosetta talked to me about sex, telling me things she felt a girl without a mother ought to know — long before there was anything like sex education for young people in schools. [**Helen Yglesias**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helen%5FYglesias?ref=readtangle.com): The mother of my best friend Tamar Cole. I spent many days at their home and table, which was always a feast with lox and bagels and animated conversation. Helen, formerly a literary editor, was an inspiration for me when her debut novel was published and received a prestigious award. She later invited me to stay with her at her home in Maine while I worked on my first novel. I will forever consider myself fortunate I had these women in my life. These American women who happen to be of Jewish ancestry shaped and influenced me as a woman and mother. Regardless of how they may be described, close to my heart, they are “my people.” My gratitude to them is evident in how I’ve chosen to live my life. They instilled in me a love of learning and exploration, and the confidence to know I could live anywhere, among any people, and they too could become “my people.” --- **Karen Hill Anton* is the author of the award-winning memoir* [The View From Breast Pocket Mountain](https://www.karenhillanton.com/?ref=readtangle.com) *and the novel*[ A Thousand Graces](https://www.karenhillanton.com/?ref=readtangle.com)*, she also writes* a[ Substack](http://karenhillanton.substack.com/?ref=readtangle.com)*.* *She’s made her home in rural Japan since 1975.* ### Can an Unbiased Political News Business Succeed? URL: https://www.readtangle.com/can-an-unbiased-political-news-business-succeed/ Last updated: 2026-09-12T14:06:41.000Z What's inspires the Tangle staff after seven years? ### Your questions about 9/11, answered. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/9-11-25th-anniversary-mailbag/ Last updated: 2026-09-11T15:52:55.000Z ****Note:** You are reading a preview of a members-only Friday edition. To read it in full, [you’ll be asked to subscribe](https://www.readtangle.com/membership/). Like most kids of my generation, I’ll never forget where I was on 9/11. I was in fifth grade, sitting in Mr. Mount’s classroom. Another teacher walked in and whispered something in his ear. His eyes widened and his jaw dropped. “What?” he asked. They both left the room. A murmur rippled through the class and everyone began to speculate about who was in trouble or who died — as fifth-graders are wont to do. Mr. Mount came back flustered. He told us that there had been a big accident in New York City, which immediately brought the room to attention. I lived in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, and a lot of kids’ parents commuted into New York every day for work. He said some of us might get pulled out of class, and school would probably end early. One student asked what happened — and he replied, honestly, that a plane had flown into a big building. A lot of people were hurt, and to be safe, some adults were coming home from work, too. By late morning the school was abuzz. Students, by then, had gathered that the “accident” was really an “attack.” One teacher had put on the radio in her classroom to listen to the news, which spread across the school like wildfire. I remember someone telling me that China was attacking us, and a new World War had just started. Fifth grade, for me, was a time when my personal world really started to change — when I started to have understanding and opinions, and started forming views that would shape my life. My mom had survived her first bout of breast cancer the year before, so I was newly aware that bad things happened to good people — sometimes for reasons adults couldn’t explain. Now, I was about to learn that safety is fragile, and that people here and abroad are capable of a great deal of horror. I was a walker, so when school got let out early I rushed home on foot, taking a shortcut through our neighbor’s side yard. I’ll never forget running into my family room and finding both my parents and my neighbor, a former Green Beret, sitting in front of the TV. They were all crying. My neighbor said something to the effect of, “a bunch of Arabs are going to die for this” — not as a threat, or out of bigotry. He stated it as a fact, a certainty. And he said it with some regret and trepidation. Decades later, it’d remind me how I felt about Palestinians after October 7\. *War was coming,* he was certain. Which meant horror and death were coming, too. He was right, of course. War was coming. And “a bunch of Arabs” would die for 9/11\. By the time I was in high school and fully politically conscious, 9/11 had become America’s defining political issue. It had sent us into Afghanistan and Iraq, and my proximity to New York City meant its impact on my life was unavoidable. I’ll give you just one remarkable example: I dated a girl in ninth grade, Brielle, whose father was one of the pilots on the plane that hit the South Tower. That tower was the second hit — the one everyone watched on television as news crews filmed the North Tower burning. The one that made everyone realize this wasn’t an accident, but an attack. Not many people think about the pilots — or their families — but imagining what they lived through is enough to leave you breathless. I saw up close and in person how this attack permanently altered the lives of just one family. Brielle’s and my teenage relationship didn’t last, but we’ve been close friends ever since. Just before the 16th anniversary of September 11, Brielle married a man named Sean, an affable, charming guy who now runs a must-visit brewery in Philadelphia called Future Days (shameless promo for a good friend). Like Brielle, Sean lost his father on 9/11\. But he was *inside* the towers. The two met at Camp Better Days, a sleepaway summer camp for children who experienced loss on 9/11 (they met in seventh grade, before Brielle and I started dating, and I have a sneaking suspicion Sean stole her from 14-year-old me; Sean, I forgive you). My then-girlfriend-now-wife and I were lucky enough to be at Sean and Brielle’s wedding and witness the uniquely powerful ceremony. Both their fathers were honored with empty seats in the front row. Every speech was about the remarkable story of their love, and their vows spoke to the miracle of such beauty being born from such horrible tragedy. We talk about the wars and violence that came after 9/11, but you never hear about the love, the marriage, the joy. When people say there wasn’t a dry eye in the house, it’s often an exaggeration; in this case, it’s actually true. There aren’t all that many true “before and after” events in modern American history — Pearl Harbor, the JFK and Martin Luther King Jr. assassinations, and the pandemic all come to mind — but I think it’s safe to say 9/11 is one of them. I still have memories of what it was like to fly before airport security, or what it felt like to be in public before you feared terrorist attacks or mass shootings. The impact on our collective psyche, alone, is hard to quantify — but it’s immense. So, on this 25th anniversary, I’m thinking of all the people impacted. I’m thinking of Brielle and Sean, and sending them love, and sending love to the millions of other Americans who lost someone on September 11\. I’m thinking of the American service members who were deployed to fight in two wars that lasted far too long, and the thousands of soldiers who lost their lives, and the hundreds of thousands of innocent Afghans and Iraqis who died in the carnage. And, naturally, I’m thinking about our world, our country, and all the ways they’ve changed since. Ari, Kmele, and I spent a half hour [discussing the anniversary on yesterday’s episode](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1n0%5Fh7T3EaU&&ref=readtangle.com) of Suspension of the Rules. And today, we’re focusing our reader mailbag on questions we got about 9/11\. I hope you find some time to pause and reflect today, and I hope you appreciate this edition. — Isaac **As someone who grew up on the West Coast, born in 2004, 9/11 has pretty much just been a meme for my entire life. I’m curious if you could try to explain what that day felt like to young people like me, who often have only seen the fallout from it without ever experiencing what that day must have felt like.** **— Geoff from San Jose, CA** **Editor Bailey Saul:** September 11, 2001, was a startlingly beautiful day on the East Coast. The morning was crisp, perfectly clear, and sunny with a bright blue sky — what my mother used to call a Cape Cod Day, when the weather there was at its best. I was 46 years old. My three sons were at school, the dogs were walked and I was in my driveway a little before 9:00 AM, enjoying the post-school departure’s lull in dad duty, when my best friend and neighbor Bob came across the street with his two-year-old daughter and asked, “Are you watching the news?” I obviously was not, but seeing his agitation, I said simply, “No, why, what’s happening?” “Somebody just flew a plane into the World Trade Center in New York!” “What, like a Cessna?” “No, a fuckin’ jet, a passenger jet!” as he headed into our living room through the back and turned on our TV. It came up right away. Bob was an ex-Marine paratrooper who popped Tylenol like jelly beans for his chronically painful knees, and I was an old hippy anti-Vietnam War protester. We were also best friends, and we both had a clear-eyed view of the world, if by different paths. We stood, transfixed, as they replayed the first jet’s damage, smoke pouring from the North Tower — one of the two tallest buildings in the city, along with its twin — trying to comprehend what we were seeing. “How is this possible? Was it an accident? How could that happen?” I asked out loud, as the video zoomed in just long enough to make out bodies falling from the upper floors above the fire. As we watched, 9:00 came and went, and then the unimaginable happened — again! A second jet flew into the South Tower, and we just sat, Bob hugging his youngest, me holding my head, not believing what we were watching. Okay, so it’s an attack. Now, is there another? What the fuck, who did this? And Bob’s first reply was, “I don’t know, but a bunch of Arabs are gonna die for this.” Little did he know how prescient he was, on both counts. We both understood, instantly, that nothing would ever be the same. And it started right away. All U.S. flights were grounded, even those only halfway to their destinations. Military fighter jets scrambled over D.C. as reports started coming in about another hijacked plane headed in that direction. Flight 77 crashed into the Pentagon a little after 9:30\. Schools started sending kids home, and nobody could tell if it was over yet. Bob had worked for a company with offices at the WTC, and we knew a lot of kids at local schools had parents who commuted to the City, some of whom worked in the towers. As we waited for news of any more planes, we learned about a small victory, albeit a pyrrhic one, in our own state. A plane had gone down in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, evidently after passengers tried to retake it from the hijackers. We later found out these passengers learned about the other flights on phones, and they were determined not to let Flight 93 become the fourth to be used as a weapon. In the days immediately following, we began to understand the breadth of the damage through reports about our kids’ classmates. One child’s dad was a pilot on the second plane in New York; another’s parents escaped lower Manhattan on foot. Meanwhile, a sweep of patriotic fervor galvanized the country. The battle cry of the passengers on Flight 93, “Let’s roll,” was taken up over the next several weeks as responders began to clean up the wreckage in Manhattan and search for survivors. Before the reactions rippled through Congress, across the globe and throughout history, both New York City and the country unified for a brief time in the common mission of recovery and support for the affected victims and their families, and later for the New York City Fire Department firefighters who lost their lives at the scene. They became the symbols of courage and hope we needed even as they made the ultimate sacrifice trying to save people in the burning buildings. Much more quietly, we also reflected on our hubris in thinking such an event was so unlikely as to be impossible — what Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice famously called a “failure of imagination” — when in reality it was achieved by a band of loosely led and barely coordinated amateurs who were willing to die to make their point. On this 25th anniversary, my thoughts go to the people lost in the attacks and those who worked at the scene for so many weeks afterwards, inhaling toxic fumes that would eat away at their health for years to come. May such times be few and far between, and our leaders wise enough to navigate the world without the hubris and lack of vision that lead to such catastrophes. **To those of us who inquire deeper than bumper stickers, it is clear that 9/11 happened expressly and exclusively because of USA support for the genocide of Palestinians and other Sunni Muslims in the Middle East. My question is, why don’t people ask “why”?** **— John in Atlanta, GA** **Senior Editor Will Kaback:** While U.S. policy toward Israel and its treatment of Palestinians were part of Osama bin Laden’s core grievances that credibly motivated the 9/11 attacks, calling them the express and exclusive reasons for those attacks is incorrect. Similarly, bin Laden was concerned with more than just protecting Sunni Muslims — his political and religious project was far broader than this specific concern. The al-Qaeda leader viewed America and Israel as his enemies; he said as much in his 1996 “Declaration of Jihad against the Americans Occupying the Land of the Two Holiest Sites,” [writing](https://ctc.westpoint.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Declaration-of-Jihad-against-the-Americans-Occupying-the-Land-of-the-Two-Holiest-Sites-Translation.pdf?ref=readtangle.com#page=18) (translated from Arabic), “Your brothers in land of the two holiest sites and Palestine are calling upon you for help and asking you to take part in fighting against the enemy, your enemy; the Israelis and Americans. They are asking you to do whatever you can within one’s own means and ability, to expel \[then\] humiliate and defeat the enemy out of the sanctities of Islam.” But as the 9/11 Commission detailed in its report on the attacks, bin Laden wasn’t just concerned with U.S. support of Israel but also its broader presence and influence in the Middle East. Beyond Israel, he [invoked](https://911commission.gov/report/911Report%5FCh2.htm?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=2.2%20BIN%20LADIN%27S%20APPEAL%20IN%20THE%20ISLAMIC%20WORLD) the suffering of Iraqis from sanctions following the Gulf War and the activity of U.S. troops in Saudi Arabia as justifying his cause against America. Yes, he [viewed](https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/binladen/who/interview.html?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Your%20position%20against%20Muslims%20in%20Palestine%20is%20despicable%20and%20disgraceful.%20America%20has%20no%20shame) U.S. policy toward Palestinians as “despicable and disgraceful,” but those points were often couched in objections to U.S. foreign policy as a whole, not just toward Israel’s treatment of Palestinians. You’re also correct that bin Laden was concerned with how U.S. activity in the Middle East affected Sunni Muslims (you can read more about this in the 9/11 Commission [report](https://911commission.gov/report/911Report%5FCh2.htm?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Bin%20Ladin%27s%20Worldview)). But again, this concern was not a sole catalyst. Al-Qaeda wanted to mold the entire Muslim world to its vision, and that included overthrowing governments and committing indiscriminately [murderous acts of terror](https://icjs-online.org/indarch.php?article=3809&ref=readtangle.com) in Muslim-majority countries like Iraq. Bin Laden’s fatwa on America is a smaller part of al-Qaeda’s broader fanaticism. I’ll leave you with one thought on the question of “why.” In his [9/11 retrospective](https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/2026/09/al-qaeda-25-years-post-9-11/687965/?ref=readtangle.com) in The Atlantic from this August, Graeme Wood highlights Army War College professor Nelly Lahoud’s scholarship on the U.S. killing of bin Laden in 2011\. Lahoud’s book on the documents recovered at the Abbottabad compound contains some surprising revelations, most notably that bin Laden did not expect the U.S. to respond to 9/11 by *increasing* its military activity in the Middle East. Wood writes: > The documents reveal a man and an organization blindsided by the American reaction to the September 11 attacks. Bin Laden and his associates “didn’t think that the United States would respond by waging war,” Lahoud said. He did not contemplate or plan for the long-term occupation of Afghanistan, nor did he expect the methodical killing of his operatives in a campaign that lasted years. In fact, bin Laden considered the United States already in a state of war in the Middle East, and he thought 9/11 would catalyze an anti-war movement in the vein of the Vietnam War — with everyday Americans rising up against their government to pressure it to withdraw from the region entirely. How wrong he was. I recently interviewed Wood about the piece, and if you’re interested in exploring these questions in more depth, you can check it out [here](https://shows.acast.com/tangle/episodes/preview-special-edition-what-happened-to-al-qaeda-will-kabac?ref=readtangle.com). **Considering 9/11, how are we to trust Muslims to run our government, when traditionally they are antagonistic to capitalism and the American way of life? Honest question.** **— Jeffro from Boise, ID** **Executive Editor Isaac Saul:** I appreciate the question, and there are a lot of different ways to answer it. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### The latest on John Fetterman. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/john-fetterman-democrats/ Last updated: 2026-09-10T15:52:22.000Z Good Thursday morning. I’m **Isaac Saul**, writing at a giant cafeteria table surrounded by the Tangle team in the woods of Maine. It’s always invigorating to be with this group, in person, exchanging ideasoutside the confines of Slack. And this week has been no different. Today, we’re diving into **John Fetterman’s peculiar RNC appearance**,which we watched as a group last night. We also have a **Treasury Department announcement to buy back debt** anda reader question about **sanctions on Russian oil**.Plus, Ari, Kmele, and I recorded an in-person podcast ruminating on the25th anniversary of September 11 and the seventh anniversary of Tangle. There’s a lot to cover. It’s a **14-minute read**. ### Suspension of the Rules. This week’s edition of *Suspension of the Rules* is a little different, as Isaac, Ari, and Kmele have an in-person discussion from the Tangle team retreat in Maine. The conversation focused on two very different anniversaries: 25 years since the 9/11 attacks, and seven years since the founding of Tangle. What’s changed in the years since the attacks, and what keeps Isaac coming back to Tangle day after day? Check out the Maine edition here: ### Quick hits. 1. President Donald Trump delivered a keynote address at the Republican Party’s midterm convention, touting his administration’s record and saying that he will issue $5,000 “dividends” to every U.S. adult if Republicans retain control of the House and Senate in the November elections. ([The speech](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-makes-stunning-first-of-its-kind-cash-promise-bid-rally-gop-voters-dallas-midterm-convention?ref=readtangle.com)) 2. The U.S. military struck several Iranian oil tankers after Iran fired missiles at a U.S. warship, causing global oil prices to rise above $100 a barrel for the first time since July. ([The attacks](https://www.cnn.com/2026/09/08/politics/us-targets-iran-tankers?ref=readtangle.com)) 3. Temporary Protected Status for Salvadoran nationals in the United States expired, but the Department of Homeland Security said their legal status will remain in place for the time being. ([The expiration](https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/us-says-immigrants-el-salvador-will-now-keep-temporary-protected-status-2026-09-09/?ref=readtangle.com)) 4. President Trump signed an executive action banning the import of most alcoholic beverages and some dairy products and motorcycles from Canada amid an escalating trade dispute between the countries. ([The order](https://apnews.com/article/canada-carney-trump-tariffs-trade-war-a5fbb50d1c30327ae813482556a37ac3?ref=readtangle.com)) 5. The Supreme Court blocked a Missouri congressional map drawn to benefit Republicans from going into effect for the 2026 midterms. No justices dissented from the decision. ([The block](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/supreme-court/supreme-court-blocks-missouris-attempt-use-newly-drawn-republican-cong-rcna596857?ref=readtangle.com)) Today’s sponsor [****Americans Born Between 1941–1979 Can Receive These 10 Benefits This Month**](https://financebuzz.com/money-moves-senior-benefits-yaez-1?utm%5Fsource=tangle&utm%5Fmedium=paid-newsletter-cpf&utm%5Fterm=Tangle&utm%5Fcampaign=BM-FBZ-Tangle-money-moves-senior-benefits-yaez-1-CPF&adgroupid=BM-Tangle-money-moves-senior-benefits-yaez-1-CPF-9102026) You could be missing out on thousands, and you might not even realize it. Sure, you might know about some senior discounts at diners or retail stores. 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John Fetterman (D-PA) [appeared](https://www.axios.com/2026/09/09/fetterman-video-gop-convention-trump?ref=readtangle.com) via video at the Republican Party’s first-ever midterm convention, reiterating his opposition to socialism and praising Sen. Dave McCormick (R-PA). Fetterman has frequently criticized the Democratic Party’s embrace of democratic socialism and anti-Israel rhetoric, leading to speculation that he could switch parties or become an independent. **Back up:** In Pennsylvania’s 2022 Senate election, Fetterman defeated now-Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Mehmet Oz on [a platform](https://ballotpedia.org/United%5FStates%5FSenate%5Felection%5Fin%5FPennsylvania,%5F2022?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Pittsburgh%20and%20Braddock.-,KEY%20MESSAGES,-The%20following%20key) of eliminating the filibuster, raising the minimum wage, and codifying abortion rights. Fetterman [suffered a stroke](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/pennsylvania-senate-candidate-john-fetterman-to-return-to-in-person-campaigning-after-stroke-in-may/?ref=readtangle.com) during the campaign and spent three months recovering. Shortly after joining the Senate, he was hospitalized with clinical depression for a month and a half, [rejoining](https://www.cbsnews.com/pittsburgh/news/john-fetterman-returns-to-senate-clinical-depression-treatment/?ref=readtangle.com) the chamber in April 2023. Fetterman has been an outspoken advocate for Israel, particularly in defense of its military response to Hamas’s October 7 attacks. He has also decried Democratic politicians’ criticism of the country, [saying](https://www.axios.com/2026/07/16/fetterman-leave-democrats-israel?ref=readtangle.com) in July that he would only leave the Democratic Party if it became “the anti-Israel party.” Additionally, Fetterman has broadly backed U.S. military operations in Iran, repeatedly [voting against](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2026/06/18/us-iran-peace-agreement-fetterman-war-powers-vote/90603478007/?ref=readtangle.com) war-powers resolutions to restrict President Donald Trump’s authority in the conflict. Separately, recent reporting has highlighted staff turnover within Fetterman’s office and questions about his constituent services. Citing the senator’s former staff members, The Wall Street Journal [reported](https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/john-fetterman-little-interest-senator-be74e7a3?ref=readtangle.com) last week that he has withdrawn from public commitments and frequently skips Senate votes while showing increased interest in appearing on conservative media programs. Fetterman [said](https://www.cnn.com/2026/09/06/politics/john-fetterman-staffers-report?ref=readtangle.com) the report was “stripped of any context and circumstance” and based on “lies, half-truths, innuendos, \[and\] smears” from “disgruntled staffers.” In his pre-recorded video for Wednesday’s GOP convention, Fetterman called himself a “common-sense Democrat” who will “always… stand with America.” In a [statement](https://x.com/igorbobic/status/2097855328079532477/photo/1?ref=readtangle.com) afterward, he emphasized that he intends to remain in the party and fulfill his campaign promise of being Democrats’ “51st vote” in the Senate. A New York Times/Philadelphia Inquirer/Siena poll in August [found](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/25/us/politics/john-fetterman-poll-republicans-democrats-pennsylvania.html?ref=readtangle.com) that 22% of the state’s registered Democratic voters view him favorably, while 73% of Republicans do. Last week, former Rep. Conor Lamb (D-PA) [called on](https://x.com/ConorLambPA/status/2095862372074160275?ref=readtangle.com) the senator to resign, and Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-PA) [said](https://x.com/RepBrendanBoyle/status/2095695768778637370?s=20&ref=readtangle.com) Fetterman is a “disgrace,” adding, “Our state deserves better than a lazy trust fund baby who is too lazy to do the job.” Meanwhile, Sen. McCormick [thanked](https://x.com/DaveMcCormickPA/status/2097848169245630786?s=20&ref=readtangle.com) Fetterman for his support and said, “We were both sent to Washington to fight for what’s best for PA.” Today, we’ll share views from the right and left about Fetterman’s future. Then, Executive Editor Isaac Saul gives his take. | What the right is saying. Many on the right say Democrats are attacking Fetterman because he challenges party orthodoxy.Some argue the senator should switch parties.Others suggest Fetterman could complicate the post-midterms picture. | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | **The Wall Street Journal editorial board wrote** [**“Democrats want John Fetterman ‘on a pike.’”**](https://www.wsj.com/opinion/democrats-want-fetterman-on-a-pike-afbaea14?ref=readtangle.com) “Sources who decline to be identified say \[Fetterman\] neglects semiofficial duties such as constituent meetings, committee hearings and public funerals, but that he appears on cable-news shows with regularity (including, mortal sin, Fox News),” the board said. “Mr. Fetterman’s real offense is political. He’s a consistent progressive on taxes, healthcare, climate, guns, social issues and much else. But he vocally supports Israel in its war against Hamas and Hezbollah, backs President Trump’s war in Iran, and rejects such progressive-left follies as abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement and defunding the police. “Such heterodoxy probably benefits Democrats by making their party seem less crazy. A lot of thanks he gets — his Democratic colleagues evidently want to ruin him,” the board wrote. “\[Democrats will\] feign indignation about poor office behavior, but what angers them is his occasional votes with Republicans, his refusal to indulge in hysteria about Mr. Trump and, especially, his unapologetic support for Israel. This is intolerable in today’s Democratic Party.” **In The Washington Examiner, Zachary Faria argued** [**“by 2028, Fetterman can be a Democrat or a senator, but not both.”**](https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/beltway-confidential/4701279/john-fetterman-2028-elections-democrat-or-senator/?ref=readtangle.com) “Fetterman will almost certainly face some socialist affiliated candidate \[in 2028\]. He or she will call Fetterman a closet Republican and accuse him of supporting the ‘genocide’ of Palestinians, and with Fetterman’s low scores among Democratic voters, he will lose, regardless of how much help \[Senate Minority Leader Chuck\] Schumer provides him,” Faria said. “That leaves Fetterman with two options going forward. The one he insists on holding to thus far is going down with the ship, accepting the fight in the Democratic Party, and, as a result, being out of office by January 2029.” “Or Fetterman could jump ship and join the Republican Party, an idea that has been discussed louder in political circles as 2028 approaches. He is already extremely popular among Republicans, and a double-digit favorability among independents means he would be the heavy favorite to beat anyone (of either party) in a general election,” Faria wrote. “If he wants to choose the latter, he is running out of time… Republicans like him *as a Democrat*, but the standards change if he becomes a Republican. He would have GOP goodwill, but he would need to polish some Republican credentials as well.” **In The American Conservative, Spencer Neale discussed** [**“the GOP’s John Fetterman wildcard.”**](https://www.theamericanconservative.com/the-gops-john-fetterman-wildcard/?ref=readtangle.com) “As November heaves into view, Democratic capture of the Senate — an idea that seemed implausible at the beginning of this year — is also firmly in play… There is, as it turns out, an interesting wrinkle. If Democrats win with a razor-thin majority, there might be one man capable of denying them actual control: John Fetterman,” Neale said. “Fetterman has been a fervent supporter of the Iran War, for example, and a constant critic of his Democratic colleagues on foreign policy. The freshman senator from Pennsylvania has appeared on Fox News 56 times since the beginning of 2026, mostly to talk up Israel, lambast Islamist terror, and decry progressive Democrats.” “Democrats don’t even control the Senate right now, yet Fetterman has single-handedly sunk Iran war powers votes at least four separate times since February. In a Senate under narrow Democratic control, Fetterman’s support for Trump’s wars could continue to kill his party’s efforts to wind these up,” Neale wrote. “After his humble beginning as a Bernie-bro-style populist, Fetterman has merrily morphed into a DINO (Democrat in Name Only)… Even if things go swimmingly in the midterms, Democrats could wake up in January with a majority in name but not in fact — all thanks to John Fetterman.” | What the left is saying. The left is critical of Fetterman, saying he has deceived his voters. Some suggest the party should ignore the senator. Others argue Fetterman leaving the Democratic Party would be a net positive. | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | **The Philadelphia Inquirer editorial board detailed** [**“what John Fetterman forgot about his U.S. Senate seat.”**](https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/editorials/john-fetterman-democratic-party-israel-trump-senate-20260724.html?ref=readtangle.com#loaded) “\[Fetterman’s\] supporters do deserve to be dismayed… at their increasingly right-leaning senior senator’s self-indulgent recent threats to leave the Democratic Party entirely. Fetterman won a competitive race as a Democrat thanks to voters who believed in him and his politics even after a stroke forced him off the campaign trail for months,” the board said. “Fetterman is making a very inside-the-Beltway mistake. Judging by his willingness to change his positions and party at a whim, he seems to think the Senate seat belongs to him rather than the people he represents.” “Despite Fetterman’s proclaimed ‘moral clarity’ on Israel, he often speaks of his grievances with his fellow partisans — and his appreciation for Trump — in political rather than policy terms. He has groused about the repercussions of left-leaning Democrats’ positions for swing-state politicians like him, enthused about Trump’s sheer political talent, and lamented the electoral fate of Democrat Bob Casey, his former Senate colleague,” the board wrote. “Maybe the senator’s red shift is motivated less by foreign policy than by an impulse to keep his job — even if it means betraying his voters.” **In USA Today, Chris Brennan wrote** [**“Democrats have a Fetterman problem. Or do they?”**](https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/columnist/2026/05/08/fetterman-reelection-democrat-challenge-trump-republicans/89966877007/?ref=readtangle.com) “For more than a decade, Fetterman mostly provoked anger among Republicans. But now, like a professional wrestler after a ‘heel turn,’ Fetterman has his own party frothing as he cozies up to President Donald Trump,” Brennan said. “Do Democrats have a Fetterman problem? And, if so, what if anything should the party do about it? Here's an idea: Let Fetterman be Fetterman. Don't bite his outrage bait. Focus on the midterms. Pay him no attention at all.” “Fetterman has a problem. His 2022 campaign was fueled by millions of dollars in small-donor campaign contributions from progressives who embraced his populism. That base has walked away. And those voters are not coming back. No wonder he feels a kinship with Trump, who has left parts of his MAGA base feeling infuriated and betrayed by the very actions Fetterman supports,” Brennan wrote. “Still, Fetterman works in Washington. And there are always other buckets of money. That might explain why Fetterman has broken with Democratic colleagues on developments in artificial intelligence and cryptocurrencies.” **In MS NOW, Zeeshan Aleem said** [**“good riddance”**](https://www.ms.now/opinion/john-fetterman-leave-democratic-party-israel-aid?ref=readtangle.com) **to Fetterman.** “Fetterman did not say whether he would become an independent or join the Republican Party if he were to leave. But his departure from the party in order to support Israel would still be a remarkable development for a politician who was once widely — and, in my opinion, misguidedly — hailed as an exciting exemplar of populist progressivism,” Aleem wrote. “His threat of an exit also reflects how quickly the Democratic Party is reorienting on Israel policy, and growing less hospitable to those who advocate for backing the country’s government unconditionally.” “Losing a lawmaker in a battleground state would deal a blow to Democrats, who already have to fight tooth and nail for razor-thin majorities in the Senate. Regardless, Fetterman’s warning foreshadows a tectonic shift on the electoral left — and a positive one,” Aleem said. “Ultimately it will be best for the left if Fetterman, who seems to spend more time on Fox News by the day, is replaced by a progressive in Pennsylvania. The Democratic Party cannot re-establish moral authority unless, at a minimum, it looks to put an end to backing Israeli domination of Gaza and observing human rights with consistency.” | My take. Isaac Saul Executive Editor ![Isaac Saul](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2025/05/Isaac.jpg) | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | I normally love stories of bipartisan cooperation, but something about what Fetterman’s doing seems off.Simple altruism doesn’t explain a person who ran as a progressive fully endorsing his Republican counterpart.The simplest explanation is that Fetterman is being negatively polarized against his party by progressives. | | **Reminder:** This is where we share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, leave a comment or reply to this email. | On paper, John Fetterman just delivered so much of what I dream of. A Democratic politician showed up at Republicans’ midterm convention with a simple message: My Republican counterpart is good at his job. He is worthy of office. I don’t hate him — in fact, we’re friends — and he delivers for his constituents. I’ll work with the Republican president because I love America and I want to get things done for my state, and it doesn’t matter that I have a D next to my name and they have Rs next to theirs. Is this the [return to decency I’ve predicted](https://www.readtangle.com/decency-is-about-to-make-a-comeback/)? A politician who can win widespread support from the other party? A senator in an *actually* competitive swing state not afraid to cross party lines? My heart! Well, not quite. In reality, everything about Fetterman’s actions is perplexing — if not frustrating — to me. What *really* happened, it seems, is a politician ran on one set of issues, and then, in one of the most peculiar turns I can remember, became singularly focused on something that has nothing to do with any of them. Fetterman, you’ll remember, campaigned in 2022 as a kind of working-class everyman. The hoodie-wearing, jean-short-rocking townie from Braddock, Pennsylvania, reminded me of so many friends I grew up with in Bucks County or went to college with in Pittsburgh. He *exuded* Pennsylvania. He *felt* authentic. His politics were progressive, yes, but he didn’t rely on academic jargon; instead, he connected his beliefs to his experience living in a Pennsylvania town that had been hollowed out and destroyed the way so many others had. It’s hard to remember now, but these were his [2022 campaign priorities](https://ballotpedia.org/United%5FStates%5FSenate%5Felection%5Fin%5FPennsylvania,%5F2022?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Pittsburgh%20and%20Braddock.-,KEY%20MESSAGES,-The%20following%20key): a minimum wage increase, marijuana legalization, healthcare access, criminal justice reform, voting access, and a compassionate immigration system. He built an entire identity around his proximity to union, working class jobs, and he repeatedly signaled that he would focus on what mattered to workers across Pennsylvania who felt like Washington, D.C. had left them behind. He was a new-age Pennsylvanian Bernie Bro. Of course, Fetterman’s campaign was upended by his stroke, which occurred just before the Democratic primary. And, honestly, nothing has quite felt the same since. As his speech and physical affect diminished, his health became the story. Could Fetterman still do the job? Then, as he slowly rehabilitated, another story took hold: his clinical depression. In February of 2023, he stepped away from the Senate to receive inpatient treatment for depression, leading to another round of questions about the senator’s fitness for office. And then October 7 happened. Since Hamas attacked Israel in 2023, Fetterman has made Israel policy one of his top issues. He talks about Israel constantly, and he’s said or implied on multiple occasions that [he would leave the Democratic Party](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jul/16/john-fetterman-democrats-israel?ref=readtangle.com) if it became “anti-Israel” — which he’s (at times) defined as the national party platform including funding cuts to military support for Israel. Fetterman is a genuine enigma these days. Interpreting his worldview became harder after his stroke, which damaged his ability to speak and navigate interviews and sometimes makes him difficult to decipher — especially when the conversations include quick back-and-forths. But he certainly *seemed* to articulate a worldview when Jon Stewart [pressed Fetterman](https://youtu.be/U3BMAkJIlnw?si=4jvu3bwIip-erAXI&t=2850&ref=readtangle.com) about his comments on Israel: Israel was his red line. He could agree with a politician on a whole host of economic issues, like increasing the social safety net or helping labor wrest capital back from corporations, but if they disagreed on Israel, then he didn’t want them in his party. Stewart — appropriately, in my view — expressed some shock at this. How could this guy who ran on such working-class, progressive bona fides now tell his constituents that he didn’t want people in his party who disagreed with him on one specific foreign policy question, one that didn’t even exist when he was on the campaign trail? It seems like a very bizarre line to draw. Then, of course, *The Wall Street Journal* ran its exposé. In a deeply sourced exclusive, The Journal reported that Fetterman has seemed uninterested in the work of being a senator, instead becoming preoccupied with cultivating media relationships and publicly advocating for Israel. They came with receipts: text messages between Fetterman and staffers, constituents recounting their experiences trying to meet with him, and a *lot* of off-the-record comments from people who worked for him or had been in his office. In just one of many jarring examples, Fetterman refused to meet with a state lawmaker who wanted to discuss programs for the homeless and working poor. Later that day, he met with former college basketball coach Bruce Pearl, an outspoken Israel advocate, to discuss college sports legislation. When the Senate ledger started logging his absences from hearings and votes, he adopted a new strategy to drop into Senate hearings or votes just long enough to be marked as present before slipping away. And it all led up to last night: In a heavily edited video address at the Republican National Committee gathering in Dallas, Texas, Fetterman appeared on screen to introduce — and endorse — his Republican counterpart, Sen. Dave McCormick. While Pennsylvania does not have a Senate race this year, it was still rather shocking in a midterm election where Democrats have a real chance to take back the Senate. Standing in front of an old U.S. Steel mill, he told the audience that McCormick “is the kind of senator that gets the job done” before promising to work with President Trump to revitalize manufacturing in Pennsylvania. Again: *It’s all just* *odd.* I’m not exactly sure what Fetterman’s end goal is, and I certainly don’t think his appearance can be reduced to a simple belief in bipartisanship or support of Trump’s (or McCormick’s) performance. After all, the Trump administration has leveled a full-on assault on nearly every priority of Fetterman’s party, including many of the ones he personally advocated for as a candidate. At the same time, manufacturing jobs in Pennsylvania — the very thing Fetterman appeared on screen to stump for — have [continued to decline](https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/6080435-fetterman-mccormick-trump-gop-midterm-convention-dallas/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Manufacturing%20jobs%20in%20the%20commonwealth%20have%20declined%20slightly%20during%20the%20president%E2%80%99s%20second%20term%2C%20according%20to%20Bureau%20of%20Labor%20Statistics%20data%20analyzed%20by%20the%20Federal%20Reserve%20Bank%20of%20St.%20Louis.) under Trump. The simplest theory is probably the most likely: Fetterman is being radicalized by negative polarization. He took a hardline pro-Israel stance immediately after October 7, which is understandable since Israel, our ally, had just suffered a 9/11-like event. That stance then drew the ire of the party’s left wing, which made him dig in. So the progressive left dug in, and a whole other war began. Three years later, the volley of negative polarization has run so many cycles that it seems to have reduced him to a single issue. He’s learned that the more he aligns himself with Republicans or reaches across the aisle, the angrier the left gets and the more attention he gets, so he just keeps pressing that button. If you want my theory, that’s it. Still, I’ll allow for the *possibility* that Fetterman is motivated by a desire to model and act on bipartisanship. After all, he still votes overwhelmingly with Democrats, and he continues to assure his party that he will never become a Republican (he released a statement making that assurance again shortly after his RNC appearance). Maybe he’s just reaching across the aisle to build bridges, not to poke the left in the eye. What’s the harm in praising his Republican counterpart? Why does it matter so much if he says “I support Israel unequivocally” and tries to pull his party toward him on that issue? Is any of this all that big a deal? But it’s a story so simple I don’t think I buy it. Paired with reporting about his obsession with media appearances and indifference to constituent services, he comes across less like a friendly bipartisan warrior and more like a guy who is simply uninterested in doing the job of being a senator; less like a Democrat willing to see the good in Republicans than a Democrat who is reveling in his own intraparty squabbling; and most of all like someone who has forgotten the promises he made to the Pennsylvanians who elected him. **Take the survey:** Will Fetterman leave the Democratic Party? [Let us know](https://interrobang.vercel.app/survey/49297be9-3068-449b-a541-230fffebdebd?ref=readtangle.com). *Disagree? That*’*s okay. Our opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we*’*ll consider publishing your feedback.* ### Your questions, answered. **Can you give an update on Russian oil sanctions? I’ve heard that they’ve been lifted to help with the oil squeeze in Iran/Hormuz.** **— Jonathan from Omaha, NE** **Tangle:** After the war began and Iran constricted traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, the U.S. [announced](https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/us-issues-new-russia-related-general-license-oil-treasury-website-2026-03-12/?ref=readtangle.com) that it would waive sanctions on Russian oil for a period of 30 days beginning on March 12\. This waiver allowed countries to purchase oil on Russian tankers already at sea, but it did not impact new oil shipments. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the move would provide temporary relief as the U.S. navigated the war with Iran. The initial waiver expired on April 11; however, on April 17, the U.S. [extended](https://apnews.com/article/russian-oil-sanctions-iran-war-95ae06ece63f4f8c1f72ac3c2dc4251f?ref=readtangle.com) the waiver for an additional 30 days. It then [issued](https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/us-treasury-extend-sanction-waiver-russian-seaborne-oil-source-says-2026-05-18/?ref=readtangle.com) another extension on May 18, reportedly following a request from “energy-vulnerable countries” most impacted by limited oil transport through the Middle East. However, no new extensions have been issued following the third waiver’s [expiration](https://www.spglobal.com/energy/en/news-research/latest-news/crude-oil/061726-us-lets-russian-oil-sanctions-waiver-expire-amid-iran-deal?ref=readtangle.com) on June 17, when the Trump administration was discussing a peace deal with Iran. In the aftermath of Sen. Lindsey Graham’s (R-SC) death in July, the Senate passed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, which is currently under consideration in the House. The bill [would impose](https://www.politico.com/news/2026/07/14/graham-russia-sanctions-00997329?ref=readtangle.com) new sanctions on Russia’s leadership and energy sector, as well as impose sanctions on the “shadow fleet” that Russia has used to circumvent existing international sanctions and grant the executive branch the authority to impose 100% tariffs on importers of Russian oil. **Want to have a question answered in the newsletter? You can reply to this email (it goes straight to our inbox) or** [**fill out this form**](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScQhqBSG%5F6%5FoBhwcTQMeS570n29XYbeQ9C9Bis7rjqI31g1tA/viewform?usp=header&ref=readtangle.com)**.** ### Under the radar. On Wednesday, the Treasury Department announced that it would buy back up to $6 billion of its own long-dated debt, part of Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s effort to at least double the department’s regular buyback program to bring down borrowing costs. The Treasury has about $30 trillion in outstanding debt held in Treasury notes, or T-notes, and it purchased back $2 billion of 10–20-year bonds last month. Yields on T-notes have been increasing in recent months, affecting borrowing rates for consumers and companies. However, the department’s announcement underwhelmed the bond market, as the yield on the 10-year T-note rose by 0.05 percentage points on the day to its highest level since October 2023\. [The New York Times has the story](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/09/business/economy/treasury-repurchase-bessent.html?ref=readtangle.com). Today’s partner ****Born Before 1980? Check These 10 Benefits** You probably know about senior discounts. But there are also lesser-known programs and financial perks that could help [lower insurance costs, cut monthly bills and stretch your retirement](https://financebuzz.com/money-moves-senior-benefits-yaez-1?utm%5Fsource=tangle&utm%5Fmedium=paid-newsletter-cpf&utm%5Fterm=Tangle&utm%5Fcampaign=BM-FBZ-Tangle-money-moves-senior-benefits-yaez-1-CPF&adgroupid=BM-Tangle-money-moves-senior-benefits-yaez-1-CPF-9102026) savings further. We rounded up 10 worth knowing about — because paying more than you have to is rarely a winning strategy. [Learn more ](https://financebuzz.com/money-moves-senior-benefits-yaez-1?utm%5Fsource=tangle&utm%5Fmedium=paid-newsletter-cpf&utm%5Fterm=Tangle&utm%5Fcampaign=BM-FBZ-Tangle-money-moves-senior-benefits-yaez-1-CPF&adgroupid=BM-Tangle-money-moves-senior-benefits-yaez-1-CPF-9102026) ### Numbers. - [**26%**](https://congressvotetracker.org/articles/fetterman-scorecard-march-2026.html?ref=readtangle.com)**.** The share of votes on which Sen. John Fetterman sided with Republicans in 2025, the highest share among Senate Democrats. - [**91%**](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/john-fetterman-senate-voting-record-democrats-trump/?utm%5Fsource=gemini#:~:text=%22I%20vote%20a%2091%25%20Democratic%20line%2C%20and,14%20times%20over%20the%20past%2042%20days.)**.** The share of votes on which Fetterman sided with Democrats in his Senate career, according to the senator’s office. - [**56**](https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/senate/4654513/fox-news-favorite-democrat-fetterman-56-appearances/?ref=readtangle.com)**.** The number of times Fetterman has appeared on Fox News in 2026, as of July. - [**11**](https://ballotpedia.org/How%5Fsenators%5Fvoted%5Fon%5FTrump%5FCabinet%5Fnominees,%5F2025?ref=readtangle.com)**.** The number of second Trump administration cabinet nominees, out of 22, Fetterman voted to approve. - [**4**](https://ballotpedia.org/How%5Fsenators%5Fvoted%5Fon%5FTrump%5FCabinet%5Fnominees,%5F2025?ref=readtangle.com)**.** The median number of Trump cabinet nominees that Democratic senators voted to confirm. ### The extras. - **One year ago today** we covered [the murder of Iryna Zarutska in Charlotte, North Carolina](https://www.readtangle.com/the-charlotte-stabbing/). - **The most clicked link in our last regular newsletter** was [our interview with Graeme Wood about al-Qaeda 25 years after 9/11](https://shows.acast.com/tangle/episodes/preview-special-edition-what-happened-to-al-qaeda-will-kabac?ref=readtangle.com). - **Nothing to do with politics:** Frances Tiafoe and Alex Michelsen [share an emotional moment after their epic five-set match at the US Open](https://x.com/usopen/status/2097462804772979001?s=20&ref=readtangle.com). - **Our last survey:** 1,946 readers responded to our survey on predictions about the U.S. economy, with 92% predicting President Trump will criticize Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh by the end of September. “\[Trump\] criticizes everyone, so why would Warsh be special?” one respondent asked. “If colleges fail, they have brought it on themselves… There are too many colleges and they all cost too much,” said another. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/09/data-src-image-d60cf8ff-8f20-4488-957c-b4d8d3aa80c0.png) ### Have a nice day. Katie Pumphrey, an ultra-marathon swimmer and lifelong Maryland resident, had always wanted to swim in the Baltimore Harbor, but pollution and sewage made it unsafe to do so. Over the last decade, however, nonprofit leaders and city officials worked to make the harbor swimmable. Members of the Waterfront Partnership pushed for sewage system upgrades and for more citywide trash cans to prevent added sewage, and an environmental scientist designed a solar- and water-powered machine to gather up 12 dumpsters of trash each day from the harbor. By 2023, the bacteria levels were low enough for a crew of scientists to test out the water, which proved safe. Since then, Pumphrey has swum in the Baltimore Harbor and become the first person to swim the 24 miles from the Chesapeake Bay to the Baltimore Harbor. Pumphrey said, “I felt so proud of Baltimore, and all of the organizations in the city that worked on and continue to work on our harbor.” [The Philadelphia Citizen has the story](https://thephiladelphiacitizen.org/ideas-we-should-steal-make-our-rivers-clean-swimmable/?ref=readtangle.com). ### What's Changed Since the 9/11 Attacks? URL: https://www.readtangle.com/whats-changed-since-the-9-11-attacks/ Last updated: 2026-09-10T16:07:19.000Z How does America look back at 9/11? ### The August economic reports. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/august-economic-report/ Last updated: 2026-09-09T15:52:59.000Z Happy Wednesday everyone. This is Tangle **Managing Editor Ari Weitzman**, tagging in for today’s edition with **an economic update** and adding some predictions of my own. This edition is bookended by **an interview about al-Qaeda** and **a noteworthy Appalachian Trail hiker**. But first, I have an announcement. The maples are bronzing and the morning chill is lingering — fall is here. I’ll let the redoubtable Rainer Maria Rilke (translated from German) make the call: > Lord: It is time. The summer was immense. > Now overlap the sundials with your shadows > And on the meadows let the winds run free. > > Allow the fruits on the vine to swell. > Grant them a few more warm, transparent days, then press > Their final sweetness into heavy wine. > > He who has no house now will never have one. > He who is alone will stay alone, > Will sit, read, write long letters through the night > And walk the boulevards up and down, restlessly, > While the dry leaves blow. ### What happened to al-Qaeda? This Friday marks 25 years since the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Ahead of the anniversary, The Atlantic’s Graeme Wood published a detailed report on the attack’s impact on the Middle East and the state of al-Qaeda. Senior Editor Will Kaback spoke with Wood about the surprising information we’ve learned about Osama bin Laden’s motivations, why al-Qaeda has faltered, and whether U.S. policy has addressed the threat of future attacks. You can listen to the interview [here](https://shows.acast.com/tangle/episodes/preview-special-edition-what-happened-to-al-qaeda-will-kabac?ref=readtangle.com). ### Quick hits. 1. Rep. Chris Pappas (D) and former Sen. John Sununu (R) advanced in their respective Senate primaries in New Hampshire in the race to replace retiring Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D). ([The result](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-election/chris-pappas-john-sununu-new-hampshire-senate-primary-winner-rcna596479?ref=readtangle.com)) 2. The United Kingdom banned trade with Israeli settlements in the West Bank in response to what the country described as ethnic cleansing of Palestinians by Israeli settlers; France and Canada announced they will implement similar policies. ([The ban](https://apnews.com/article/uk-west-bank-israel-settlement-sanctions-b4d7354221bfe0c48e4bfce7a3b7624b?ref=readtangle.com)) 3. Houthi rebels in Yemen struck energy and civilian sites in Saudi Arabia, wounding at least 73 people and halting operations at some energy facilities. ([The strikes](https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/saudi-led-coalition-yemen-says-73-injured-houthi-attacks-kingdom-2026-09-08/?ref=readtangle.com)) 4. The Trump administration filed an emergency application asking the Supreme Court to lift a block on a federal citizenship database ahead of the midterm elections. ([The request](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/08/us/politics/trump-supreme-court-dhs-citizenship.html?ref=readtangle.com)) 5. New York City released documents that appear to show that city officials were aware of air-quality health risks in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks but withheld the information from the public. 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On Friday, the Bureau of Labor Statistics [reported](https://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.nr0.htm?ref=readtangle.com) that the U.S. economy added 162,000 nonfarm jobs in August, significantly exceeding economists’ projections, and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.1%. Furthermore, the jobs numbers for June and July were revised upward by 11,000 and 44,000, respectively. Separately, in August, the bureau [released](https://www.bls.gov/news.release/cpi.nr0.htm?ref=readtangle.com) its latest inflation report, finding that the Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased 0.1% from June to July and 3.4% from the year prior. Energy prices, which surged earlier this year after the start of the Iran war, [fell](https://www.bls.gov/news.release/cpi.nr0.htm?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=3.4-,Energy,-%2D1.5) 1.5% on a monthly basis but have risen 14.7% over the past 12 months. The August CPI report will be released on Friday. Also in August, the University of Michigan’s survey of consumers [found](https://www.sca.isr.umich.edu/?ref=readtangle.com) that consumer sentiment fell 6.3% between July and August and 11.2% year-over-year. The next consumer sentiment report will also be released on Friday. President Donald Trump and other administration officials have [called on](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/09/05/trump-warsh-fed-september-rate-hike.html?ref=readtangle.com) the Fed to lower interest rates ahead of next week’s meeting. On Friday, Trump touted the latest jobs report and [said](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/117213056648777213?ref=readtangle.com) he would halt trade with countries with which the United States has a trade deficit if the FOMC does not cut rates. However, Chairman Warsh has recently suggested that the committee is weighing a rate increase if inflation does not begin to cool. Energy prices have been impacted by developments in the Strait of Hormuz, where Iran and the U.S. military have imposed restrictions preventing oil tankers and other commercial vessels from transiting the waterway. While the strait remains largely closed, Energy Secretary Chris Wright [said](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/09/02/energy-secretary-chris-wright-tells-cnbc-that-more-than-17-million-barrels-of-oil-transited-hormuz-on-monday.html?ref=readtangle.com) last Wednesday that over 17 million barrels of crude oil exited the Persian Gulf on Monday, August 31, reaching a high since the war disrupted the roughly 20-million-barrel daily [average](https://www.britannica.com/topic/How-Much-Oil-Passes-Through-the-Strait-of-Hormuz?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=The%20roughly%2020.3%20million%20barrels%20of%20petroleum%20and%20crude%20oil%20that%20pass%20through%20the%20strait%20per%20day%20account%20for%20roughly%2025%20percent%20of%20the%20world%E2%80%99s%20maritime%20oil%20trade.). Finally, on Tuesday, Canada [imposed](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/canada-retaliatory-tariffs-us-goods-milk-perfume-golf-clubs-trump/?ref=readtangle.com) tariffs on $20 billion in U.S. goods in retaliation for [U.S. tariffs](https://www.readtangle.com/us-canada-trade-war-2026/) on $20 billion in Canadian goods levied on August 22\. Both countries are now tariffing an array of goods, with Canada’s duties expected to have an outsized impact on manufacturers in Midwestern states. Below are views from the left and right on the state of the U.S. economy. After that, Managing Editor Ari Weitzman gives his take. | What the left is saying. The left is worried about the economy, especially the labor market.Some blame President Trump’s policies for market stagnation.Others think artificial intelligence is driving some economic uncertainty. | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | **On his Substack, Robert Reich discussed** [**“the biggest problem facing the U.S. economy.”**](https://robertreich.substack.com/p/the-biggest-problem-facing-the-us) “The Labor Department reported \[last Friday\] that the United States added 162,000 jobs in August. That’s more than expected, especially given how few jobs the country has added over the last few months,” Reich wrote. “But there are three real reasons to be concerned… Prices continue to rise faster than wages — which means most Americans are getting poorer. Average hourly earnings rose by just 10 cents, or 0.3%, for the month. That brings the year-to-year increase in hourly earnings to 3.1%. But prices have risen 3.4% over the year.” “Another concern I have is that while employers aren’t firing many workers, they’re also not hiring. A low-hire, low-fire labor market doesn’t create opportunities for advancement. It’s also difficult for young people to get into,” Reich said. “\[Trump is\] interfering in the jobs market and the economy in ways that will make things worse. Bad enough that he’s waging a costly war in Iran and imposing costly tariffs around the world — both of which are driving up prices… The biggest problem facing the U.S. economy right now is Trump.” **In MS NOW, Steve Benen said** [**“Trump trips over his economic illiteracy (again).”**](https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/trump-economy-interest-rates-trade-job-growth-bond-market-economic-illiteracy?ref=readtangle.com) “Donald Trump frequently makes comments about the economy, the vast majority of which are plainly wrong,” Benen wrote. “\[On Friday\], the president threatened to curtail all trade with a wide swath of U.S. trading partners unless the Federal Reserve agreed to slash interest rates… This was a mess for all sorts of reasons. The Fed functions as an independent entity, which is not supposed to raise or lower interest rates in response to White House extortion schemes. But Trump made things worse by arguing that economic growth is wholly unrelated to inflation, and that we’re entitled to lower interest rates, not because of economic conditions, but because he thinks we’re awesome. “In case this weren’t quite enough, the president later celebrated good monthly job growth in August by pointing to what he described as ‘the Trump Boom.’ That didn’t make sense, either,” Benen said. “So far in 2026, the U.S. economy is generating roughly 80,000 jobs per month. While that’s better than last year, it reflects a sharp decline from the final year of Joe Biden’s presidency, when the economy added over 120,000 jobs per month. In fact, excluding the 2020 pandemic from the equation, the first year of Trump’s current term was the worst for American job growth since the Great Recession, and the second year of Trump’s current term is on track to \[be\] the second worst. That’s the opposite of a ‘boom.’” **In Bloomberg, Jonathan Levin declared** [**“America’s labor market is paralyzed by policy.”**](https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2026-09-04/america-s-labor-market-is-paralyzed-by-policy-and-economic-uncertainty?ref=readtangle.com) “When you can’t predict next quarter’s bottom line, you’re better off retaining optionality, delaying staffing decisions that can involve steep up-front costs and are difficult to reverse. So if you want to know why America’s ‘no hire, no fire’ labor market has lasted as long as it has, blame the surfeit of uncertainty — much of it self-induced,” Levin wrote. “Layoffs remain mercifully low and unemployment is a respectable 4.1%, but new jobs are hard to come by… workers are hesitant to quit… and wage growth has softened.” “Weak wage growth (average hourly earnings rose 3.1% from a year earlier even as consumer prices rose more than that) and the widespread nature of the hiring lull (spanning both white- and blue-collar jobs) suggest this is primarily about weak labor demand, not supply,” Levin said. “One likely culprit I’ve alluded to is the White House’s endless barrage of shocks. Although some of them were foisted upon us or predate Trump 2.0… the latest have the White House as the instigator... Into this tempest emerges artificial intelligence, which challenges employers’ math in more complex ways… Aware of the wide distribution of outcomes, companies are sitting on their hands.” | What the right is saying. The right is mixed on the latest economic news, with some arguing that Trump’s economic policies are starting to bear fruit.Others criticize Canada’s management of trade disputes.Still others say the president’s call to lower interest rates is misguided. | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | **In The New York Post, Daniel McCarthy said** [**“Trumponomics triumphs in US jobs report — just in time for the midterms.”**](https://nypost.com/2026/09/08/opinion/trumponomics-triumphs-in-us-jobs-report-in-time-for-midterms/?ref=readtangle.com) “American manufacturing is on the rebound — and that good news could hardly come at a better time for President Donald Trump, as Republicans gird themselves for the midterm elections just two months from now,” McCarthy wrote. “Manufacturing isn’t the only sector that’s on a hiring spree; businesses across the board added 162,000 new jobs in August… The workforce participation rate rose as well — which matters, because people who drop out of the labor force are invisible in unemployment rates that only count those who are looking for work.” “This economy is pulling Americans who’d given up hope off the sidelines and putting them to work. That’s a success not only for Trump’s economic policy, but for his immigration crackdown, too: It’s no longer so easy for companies to abandon Americans by hiring foreign workers instead,” McCarthy said. “Establishment economists predicted none of this… Trump won’t be on the ballot Nov. 3, but jobs will be — especially those in manufacturing. They’ll be lost if a Democratic Congress adds its power to the campaign in the courts that’s trying to drag America back to the age of offshoring.” **In the Washington Examiner, Brandon Farris said** [**“Trump didn’t threaten Canada’s sovereignty. Carney just handed it to Beijing.”**](https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/op-eds/4714769/canada-us-steel-tariffs-sovereignty/?ref=readtangle.com) “Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney says the United States asked Canada to surrender its sovereignty during trade negotiations that his government recently abandoned in dramatic fashion. The reality is exactly the opposite: Washington was asking Canada to do more to protect its own steel industry,” Farris wrote. “Global steel excess capacity reached 640 million metric tons in 2025, according to the Global Forum on Steel Excess Capacity. China is directly responsible for nearly 57% of that excess.” “We’ve seen what happens when Beijing gains control of strategically important supply chains. China has demonstrated its willingness to restrict access to critical materials to advance its geopolitical interests. Allowing the same dependence to develop in steel would threaten economic and national security,” Farris said. “Since President Donald Trump first imposed the Section 232 steel tariffs in 2018, steelmakers have announced or begun roughly $47 billion in projects to expand and modernize domestic production… The European Union, for example, is pursuing parallel measures to strengthen its steel industry. Canada has taken a different path.” **In Blaze Media, Daniel Horowitz wrote** [**“Trump’s interest-rate fantasy runs into debt gravity.”**](https://www.theblaze.com/columns/opinion/trumps-interest-rate-fantasy-runs-into-debt-gravity?ref=readtangle.com) “You can have very low interest rates, and you can have debt-driven inflation. You just can’t have both at the same time. That is the reality President Trump refuses to recognize,” Horowitz said. “At the core of the president’s half-baked plan to resuscitate the economy is a return to the good old days of near-zero interest rates… He wants endless spending for his projects, he doesn’t want the inflation it causes, and he wants to pay near-zero interest on the resulting record debt. Don’t we all?” “There is a simple reason the Fed can no longer wave a magic wand, return rates to near zero, and service the debt on the cheap as it did from the post-9/11 recession through COVID,” Horowitz wrote. “On September 11, 2001, gross federal debt was about $5.77 trillion, roughly 55% of GDP. In April 2007, before the financial crisis, it was about $8.84 trillion, or 63% of GDP. Today it exceeds $40 trillion and is roughly 123% of GDP. The long-term trajectory is even worse, because faster debt growth creates a vicious cycle: Treasury needs more buyers, inflation and fiscal risk force yields higher, and more existing debt rolls over at those higher rates.” | My take. Ari Weitzman Managing Editor ![Ari Weitzman](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2025/05/Ari.jpg) | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Usually, Tangle focuses on how policy choices impact the economy, but today I want to make some predictions.The Fed will raise rates this year, not cut them, and draw President Trump’s ire.The national debt will keep rising, the AI bubble will burst, and higher education is facing a crisis. | | **Reminder:** This is where we share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, leave a comment or reply to this email. | Throughout the second Trump administration, every update on the economy Tangle has published has been focused on the impacts of tariffs, the persistence of inflation, rising gas prices, affordability, and employment. Today, instead of looking back, I want to look forward and undertake a fool’s errand: making predictions. I’m going to give you five predictions about the economy under the remainder of the Trump administration, starting with safe bets that will be proven correct or incorrect soon and increasing in both boldness and time horizon. **The Warsh–Trump honeymoon is ending.** *Heat rating: 🌶️* *Expiration: 10/01/2026* President Donald Trump’s thoughts on former Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell are no secret. The president excoriated Powell for resisting rate cuts as the Fed continued its Sisyphean toil to deliver on its dual mandate, keeping employment up and inflation down. With inflation still above the Fed’s 2% benchmark, justification for a rate cut has thus far eluded the new Fed chair. September will not be a happy month for Trump. First, with the easiest prediction possible, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) is going to either hold or raise rates on September 16, as Fed Governor Christopher Waller [recently signaled](https://www.ft.com/content/0a332e3c-e596-4f64-976a-d7746f91a9a9?syn-25a6b1a6=1&ref=readtangle.com). Waller’s comments caused bond yields to briefly dip but immediately continue their upward trajectory that [began in July](https://www.cnbc.com/quotes/US10Y?ref=readtangle.com) — and they [spiked again](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/09/04/treasurys-bonds-nonfarm-payrolls-unemployment-data.html?ref=readtangle.com) following last week’s rosy jobs report. On the flip side of the macroeconomic equation, September has historically been the stock market’s [worst month](https://www.wsj.com/finance/stocks/the-stock-markets-breezy-summer-is-over-investors-beware-fb110133?mod=hp%5Flead%5Fpos1&ref=readtangle.com) of the year, ending lower than it started about half the time since 1928\. Extend the current benchmark rate of 3.5% or higher, add in high bond yields and a lethargic Dow, and multiply by high gas prices and uncertainty about tariffs — what do you get? Frustrated consumers, negative press about the economy coming into the midterms, and a president unhappy with his new Fed chairman. I expect Trump to explicitly criticize Kevin Warsh at least once by the end of the month. **The Fed will raise the interest rate by 50 basis points this year.** *Heat rating: 🌶️🌶️* *Expiration: 12/09/2026* It’s almost too easy to predict a rate boost of 25 basis points (or a quarter of a percent) before the end of the year. All the signs point to it. If current projections hold, however, 50 basis points is just as likely. The FOMC has three more meetings left in the year, and all the sober economic [analyses](https://www.businessinsider.com/fed-rate-hike-three-economic-reports-this-week-to-watch-2026-9?ref=readtangle.com) you can find are [predicting](https://fortune.com/2026/09/07/wall-street-hike-expectations-kevin-warsh-fed-trump/?ref=readtangle.com) at least one rate hike between now and the year’s final meeting on December 9\. The [Fed watch tool](https://www.cmegroup.com/markets/interest-rates/cme-fedwatch-tool.html?redirect=/trading/interest-rates/countdown-to-fomc.html&ref=readtangle.com) puts the odds of two rate hikes by December almost even with the chances of one, and basically no one who lives outside the White House or Mar-a-Lago is predicting a rate cut. If energy prices remain high and unemployment low, the Fed has no reason to cut rates and every reason to raise them. Watch for these two signals coming out on Friday. First, the Bureau of Labor Statistics will release the Consumer Price Index, a barometer the Fed uses to watch inflation. Economists [expect](https://realeconomy.rsmus.com/market-minute-inflation-data-set-to-support-fed-rate-hike/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=On%20a%20year%2Dago%20basis%2C%20top%2Dline%20PPI%2C%20which%20will%20be%20released%20on%20Thursday%2C%20is%20expected%20to%20advance%20by%205.2%25%20and%204.6%25%20in%20the%20core.%20CPI%2C%20which%20will%20be%20released%20on%20Friday%2C%20is%20forecast%20to%20increase%20by%203.4%25%20from%20one%20year%20ago%20for%20headline%20inflation%20and%20by%202.5%25%20in%20the%20core.) a 3.4% year-over-year increase in headline inflation, which would keep the metric well off of the Fed’s 2% target. Their reasoning is simple: Gas prices remain high due to the war in Iran, and import prices are elevated due to tariffs. Second, the University of Michigan will release its consumer sentiment survey. I think I can predict the headline: Consumer sentiment is bad — [still](https://data.sca.isr.umich.edu/get-chart.php?y=2026&m=7&n=1ar&d=ylch&f=pdf&k=f3e68a928fd456c40c3510396459d08d0579e6802d499581eb4c8eb26bd25eef&ref=readtangle.com)! It’s not only bad right now, but it’s worse than it was [at any point](https://www.factcheck.org/2025/10/bidens-final-numbers/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=profits%20after%20taxes.-,Consumer%20Sentiment,-Consumer%20confidence%20experienced) in the Biden administration, when inflation was soaring and the vibecession was making headlines. Unless employment totally collapses, this equation equals more than one rate hike by the end of the year. **The national debt reaches $44 trillion by the end of 2027.** *Heat rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️* *Expiration: 12/31/2027* The national debt equation is only marginally more complex than predicting rate increases. Obviously, if the Fed’s borrowing rate is high, then the government’s debt becomes more expensive. And as we repeat in Tangle just about every week at this point, servicing our national debt is now the federal government’s third-largest expense; so if that line item gets larger, the projected deficit gets higher. Our current gross national debt is already [over $40 trillion](https://www.readtangle.com/us-national-debt-2026/). For the last fiscal year, the federal deficit was approximately [$1.8 trillion](https://fiscaldata.treasury.gov/americas-finance-guide/national-deficit/?ref=readtangle.com), and the Congressional Budget Office [projects](https://www.cato.org/blog/cbo-budget-economic-outlook-debt-projected-grow-record-highs?ref=readtangle.com) expenses to continue to outpace income for the current fiscal year. That adds about $2 trillion to the current figure; factoring in interest and inflation, and [forgetting the idea](https://www.readtangle.com/i-was-wrong-about-doge/) of any significant spending cuts, equals a *minimum* of $43 trillion in national debt by the end of next year. Taking the extra leap to get to $44 trillion isn’t difficult — it just requires a little bit of pessimism. Do you expect tariffs and oil disruption to continue? Do you think Congress will pass tax hikes and/or budget cuts? If you answered yes and no, respectively, then you’re probably looking at a national debt figure that is racing further and further away from us. **The AI bubble will burst, and it will be weird.** *Heat rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️* *Expiration: 9/9/2028* As blogger Rusty Foster [memorably put it](https://www.todayintabs.com/p/instant-expert-on-the-economy-2ae3?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=I%20know%2C%20so%20this%20is%20the%20point%20in%20your%20weekend%20BBQ%20chat%20where%20you%20need%20to%20be%20able%20to%20shift%20from%20data%20to%20%E2%9C%A8vibes%E2%9C%A8%20%20in%20order%20to%20keep%20the%20conversation%20flowing.%20Here%E2%80%99s%20Christopher%20Mims%20in%20the%20Wall%20St.%20Journal%20reporting%20that%20our%20economy%20might%20just%20be%20three%20AI%20data%20centers%20in%20a%20trench%20coat%3A) last year, the economy just might be three AI data centers in a trench coat. Some estimates [attribute](https://think.ing.com/opinions/how-much-is-ai-contributing-to-us-economic-growth/?ref=readtangle.com) as much as 30% of our GDP growth to investment in artificial intelligence and data center infrastructure. If you think AI is the future and that demand for the technology will continue to ride a line with a slope so steep you’ll need crampons and axes, then this is good news. But [if you believe](https://www.readtangle.com/data-center-pushback-grows/) that data center construction is based on projections that are too rosy to be believed, then that figure is concerning. Data centers are a political liability. CEOs are reporting that they’re investing in AI not as part of their business strategy but because [they’re afraid not to](https://pages.dataiku.com/global-ai-confessions-ceo-edition?ref=readtangle.com). Maybe a future approach to AI will be different, but LLM technology seems to be at its natural ceiling. If these models fail to meet their [unbelievable projections](https://www.forbes.com/sites/robtoews/2026/06/21/5-more-ai-predictions-for-the-year-2030/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=3.%20Telepathy%20will%20be%20a%20well%2Destablished%20way%20to%20communicate.), then we’re not looking at a technologically revolutionized society but instead a much older and more common tale: a bubble. Typically, when bubbles pop, they crater a part of the economy. The AI bubble, though, will be different because it will probably be bad for capital investors and [good for workers](https://www.newsweek.com/employment-is-americas-load-bearing-institution-ai-will-test-it-opinion-12404611?ref=readtangle.com). Already, blue-collar workers and those without college degrees are experiencing [a very good job market](https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/careers/americans-without-college-degrees-are-having-one-of-the-best-job-markets-in-years-5f37d00e?ref=readtangle.com) — if AI doesn’t automate out the lower rungs of the career ladder, then that job market is set up to withstand a bursting bubble. I’m more concerned about the interaction of those two conditions: investors facing losses and workers facing opportunities. When conditions get rough, the haves tend to always end up ahead of the have-nots, and lay-offs follow closely behind lagging corporate earnings. When companies can instead decide to cut down their AI investments, though, that equation could look different. I expect that in two years, AI advancement will have waned and the unemployment rate will remain somewhere in the 3.5%–4.5% range. **Colleges will close, and soon.** *Heat rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️* *Expiration: 12/31/2028* The federal government isn’t the only major institution facing annual budget shortfalls. All across the country, our institutions of higher learning are bleeding money. A recent [Wall Street Journal report](https://www.wsj.com/us-news/education/syracuse-student-application-enrollment-crisis-budget-ff142896?ref=readtangle.com) looked at Syracuse University to provide an example of the headwinds some schools are facing: Enrollment rates are lower, students increasingly only want to go to school in nicer climates, and the federal government is investing less in research grants that universities depend upon. That’s bad for schools like Syracuse in the university-dense Northeast. But take a step back: Colleges are simply struggling to deliver on their value proposition. If tuition continues to rise and the job market continues to improve for those without college degrees — while the biggest and most accessible product AI has delivered is the ability to churn out passable term papers — why would parents continue to shell out their life’s savings to send their kids to [“AI Cheaters Luxury Camp?”](https://www.joannejacobs.com/post/400k-for-ai-cheaters-luxury-camp-how-many-colleges-will-survive?ref=readtangle.com) They won’t. My favorite writer on the beat of issues in higher education is [former professor](https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/2026/09/elite-academia-leadership-hypocrisy/687969/?ref=readtangle.com) Tyler Austin Harper. Here’s [his take](https://x.com/Tyler%5FA%5FHarper/status/2094417969921012118?ref=readtangle.com) on the issue: “People are under-pricing the possibility of a black-swan-esque event where significant chunks of higher ed collapse suddenly. At some point parents will decide they will not pay $100–400k combined for their kids to cheat their way through college. I expect a bang, not a whimper.” I think he’s right. By the end of 2028, I wager not one but several major universities will announce they will be shutting their iron gates for good. **Take the survey:** What do you think of Ari’s predictions? [Let us know](https://interrobang.vercel.app/survey/f44e9fb1-af44-4d22-9784-045dee41f729?ref=readtangle.com). *Disagree? That*’*s okay. Our opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we*’*ll consider publishing your feedback.* ### This day in history. ![Official portrait of Mao Zedong taken in 1950 | Chen Zhengqing](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/09/data-src-image-fe883337-2481-43d4-9f97-d6360ab03f3f.png) Official portrait of Mao Zedong taken in 1950 | Chen Zhengqing On September 9, 1976, Mao Zedong, leader of China and one of the most infamous figures of the Cold War, died at 82\. In 1921, at 27 years old, Mao was a founding member of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). As various warlords in a fractured China failed to unify under one government, the CCP and the Kuomintang nationalist party (KMT) allied in an attempt to form a cohesive country. By 1927, KMT leader Chiang Kai-shek turned against the communists, removing them from powerful positions within the party, and eventually resulting in a nationwide [massacre](https://www.sinicapodcast.com/p/this-week-in-chinas-history-the-shanghai?ref=readtangle.com) of hundreds of thousands of communists. In 1934, the CCP marched 6,000 miles under threat of the nationalists to relocate to Northwestern China. Mao began the trek as a follower, but he became the undisputed leader of the party the next year. When the CCP won the Chinese Civil War in 1949, Chiang and the Kuomintang fled to Taiwan, and the communist People’s Republic of China was established with Mao as its leader. In the 1950s, China joined the Korean War on behalf of communist North Korea and began Mao’s attempt to shift China from an agrarian to an industrial society with the “[Great Leap Forward](https://academic.oup.com/reference/62338/reference-article-abstract/554184195?login=false&ref=readtangle.com).” That initiative resulted in one of the worst famines in recorded history, killing between 15 and 45 million people. In the 60s, Mao led the “Cultural Revolution,” an attempt to eliminate capitalist elements of Chinese society, in which an additional one to two million were killed. However, after a long period of hostility, Mao began to improve relations with the United States in the 70s, culminating in [President Richard Nixon’s trip to China](https://www.nixonlibrary.gov/nixons-trip-china?ref=readtangle.com) in 1972\. Following his death in 1976, Mao’s hand-picked successor Hua Guofeng briefly took control before being outmaneuvered by reformers, who took power and shifted China towards market socialism. Today’s Partner Democrats and Republicans can’t agree on much, but here’s some bipartisan consensus:[ strangers don’t need your home address](https://deal.incogni.io/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=6&aff%5Fid=1007&ref=readtangle.com). Incogni scrubs your personal info from data brokers and other sites, then keeps checking when it pops back up. Privacy: surprisingly nonpartisan. [****Use code TANGLE for 55% off unlimited removals**](https://deal.incogni.io/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=6&aff%5Fid=1007&ref=readtangle.com)****.** [Get 55% - Start Removing My Data ](https://deal.incogni.io/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=6&aff%5Fid=1007&ref=readtangle.com) ### The extras. - **One year ago today** we covered [the August 2025 jobs report](https://www.readtangle.com/september-jobs-numbers-tariffs-unemployment-stagflation/). - **The most clicked link in our last regular newsletter** was for the [free newsletter from Snopes](https://www.snopes.com/subscribe/?ref=readtangle.com), which fact-checks the top news stories of the day. - **Nothing to do with politics:** Aapo “The Angus” Rautio [defends his Air Guitar World Championship title](https://apnews.com/video/aapo-the-angus-rautio-wins-2026-air-guitar-world-championship-in-finland-for-second-time-in-a-row-461cd4690ef841a0b0b488978a0616aa?ref=readtangle.com). - **Our last survey:** 3,048 readers responded to our survey on the state of the U.S. military under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, with 80% saying they are highly concerned about the military’s preparedness. “Hegseth needs to go. He is a disaster for the US military,” one respondent said. “I am not concerned, because the military budget is so high. They can move resources around to where they are needed,” said another. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/09/data-src-image-951d197e-3a2a-43d8-8ef2-29933c68f137.png) ### Have a nice day. Living to 91 is a feat worth celebrating in itself, but Dale Sanders has upped the ante for all nonagenarians. On the final day of August, Sanders (trail name: Grey Beard) completed the 2,193-mile thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail, summiting Maine’s Mount Katahdin at the trail’s northern terminus. He is now the oldest hiker to complete a thru-hike, beating the record set by his then-83-year-old friend M.J. Eberhart (trail name: Nimblewill Nomad) in 2021\. Sanders estimated that he fell 71 times during the hike, including one that put him in the hospital and another just 200 yards from Katahdin’s summit. But he never lost sight of his goal. “I had to thank God, and I had to thank my support team and everybody that got me here,” he said. [The Associated Press has the story](https://apnews.com/article/appalachian-trail-oldest-hiker-grey-beard-fd7a9a735c2cc1d31412535a2d36f6d8?ref=readtangle.com). ### The Army secretary resigns. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/the-army-secretary-resigns/ Last updated: 2026-09-08T15:51:50.000Z Good Tuesday morning and welcome to Tangle. I’m Executive Editor **Isaac Saul**, currently packing up warm clothes and hiking shoes for our Tangle company retreat in Maine this week. Our team is spread out across the country, so I’m thrilled when we can get together as a group, especially in such a beautiful part of the country. In today’s edition, we’re diving into the **Army secretary’s resignation**,and I’m focusing on Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. Plus, we answer a reader question about **artificial intelligence affecting constituent letters** and discuss an **election headline in Germany**. It’s a **14-minute read**. ### Should billionaires exist? In Friday’s members-only post, Isaac explored the question of whether billionaires should exist — and dove into generalizations about them all being evil. The piece has already garnered over 600 comments, a strong indication that you have your own opinions. [You can read it (and join the conversation) here](https://www.readtangle.com/not-all-billionaires-are-bad/). ### Quick hits. 1. Five people were killed and five others hospitalized when an Amazon cargo plane crashed at Miami International Airport after it appeared to overrun the airport’s runway. The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the crash. ([The crash](https://thehill.com/policy/transportation/6074224-amazon-cargo-plane-overruns-mia-runway/?ref=readtangle.com)) 2. A man allegedly assaulted multiple people at a fair in Ohio while attempting to move toward Democratic gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton. Law enforcement stopped the man, who was carrying a taser and two pistols, before he reached Acton. ([The incident](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/amy-acton-campaign-says-armed-individual-lunged-ohio-governor-candidate-injuring-multiple-people?ref=readtangle.com)) 3. The Supreme Court temporarily paused a lower-court ruling that restricted preferential rates in political advertising to candidates, allowing political parties and joint fundraising committees to also receive favorable rates. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson dissented. ([The ruling](https://www.scotusblog.com/2026/09/court-grants-request-from-republican-groups-to-pause-ruling-for-now-on-political-broadcasting-ra/?ref=readtangle.com)) 4. Russia and North Korea opened the first road bridge across their border, which will allow up to 300 vehicles to cross between the countries per day. Russia said the connection highlights its deepening economic and cultural alliance with North Korea. ([The bridge](https://apnews.com/article/russia-north-korea-ties-bridge-cars-38e5c393aa8a41d27516f3fdb4496b26?ref=readtangle.com)) Separately, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that U.S. negotiators are exploring a plan to de-escalate Ukraine’s and Russia’s military operations this winter as a step toward peace. ([The plan](https://www.axios.com/2026/09/07/zelensky-ukraine-russia-war-witkoff-kushner-putin-trump?ref=readtangle.com)) 5. An Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer turned himself in to federal authorities; the officer was charged with lying to investigators about the shooting of a Venezuelan man in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in January. ([The update](https://apnews.com/article/ice-immigration-minnesota-5a429fee81fe85c09ca59ea9366c019d?ref=readtangle.com)) today’s Partner ****The Truth Is Usually More Complicated...** Isaac here! Today’s newsletter is brought to you by [****Snopes**](https://www.snopes.com/subscribe/?utm%5Fsource=tangle&utm%5Fcampaign=09082026), the internet’s ****oldest and most trusted fact-checking platform.** We’re partnering with them because we share a common goal: uncovering the real story when both sides push partisan agendas. Did Democrats actually shut down the government to [fund health care for “illegal aliens”](https://www.snopes.com/subscribe/?utm%5Fsource=tangle&utm%5Fcampaign=09082026)? Did Trump really [cut down dozens of cherry trees for golf course renovations](https://www.snopes.com/subscribe/?utm%5Fsource=tangle&utm%5Fcampaign=09082026)? These are a couple examples of rumors Snopes investigated to give the full story with the context and sources. NewsGuard awarded Snopes a 100/100 reliability rating for their rigorous editorial standards. Don’t be duped by political spin, the clickbait headlines, or the flat-out lies and misinformation spreading online. [Sign up for free Snopes newsletter ](https://www.snopes.com/subscribe/?utm%5Fsource=tangle&utm%5Fcampaign=09082026) ### Today’s topic. Dan Driscoll’s resignation. On Monday, August 31, The Wall Street Journal [reported](https://www.wsj.com/politics/national-security/army-secretary-resigns-after-months-of-friction-with-hegseth-9c124207?ref=readtangle.com) that Army Secretary Dan Driscoll had resigned amid protracted disagreements with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth; Driscoll’s last workday was September 2\. Several other military leaders have been fired or resigned under Hegseth, who has [sought](https://www.wsj.com/politics/national-security/hegseth-cuts-army-commanders-storied-career-short-as-part-of-broader-shake-up-686d952b?ref=readtangle.com) to reduce the size of military leadership. President Donald Trump [appointed](https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2026/09/04/adam-telle-former-senate-staffer-now-acting-army-secretary/?ref=readtangle.com) Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works Adam Telle to serve as acting secretary and did not give a timeline for nominating a replacement. **Back up:** Driscoll [served](https://www.legion.org/information-center/news/news/2024/december/trump-picks-former-soldier-and-iraq-war-veteran-to-serve-as-army-secretary?ref=readtangle.com) in the Army and deployed to Iraq in 2009 then attended Yale Law School, where he met Vice President JD Vance. Before his confirmation as Army secretary, Driscoll served as a senior adviser to Vance and worked as an investment banker. He led modernization initiatives for the Army during his 18-month tenure, including its drone development program. In April, The Hill [reported](https://thehill.com/policy/defense/5822193-hegseth-driscoll-influence-struggle-pentagon/?ref=readtangle.com) on clashes between Hegseth and Driscoll after President Trump tapped the latter to lead negotiations with Ukrainian officials over a peace plan to end the Russia–Ukraine war. Driscoll and Hegseth also [reportedly](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/27/us/hegseth-promotion-list.html?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Mr.%20Hegseth%20had%20been%20pressing%20senior%20Army%20leaders%2C%20including%20Army%20Secretary%20Daniel%20P.%20Driscoll%2C%20for%20months%20to%20remove%20the%20officers%E2%80%99%20names%2C%20military%20officials%20said.%20But%20Mr.%20Driscoll%2C%20citing%20the%20officers%E2%80%99%20decades%2Dlong%20records%20of%20exemplary%20service%2C%20had%20repeatedly%20refused) disagreed on Hegseth’s efforts to block a list of Army officers from being promoted to one-star generals. Several military and civilian leaders have [departed](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/military-leaders-fired-forced-out-resigned-hegseth-defense-secretary-trump-pentagon/?ref=readtangle.com) their roles or were fired under Secretary Hegseth, and with Driscoll’s resignation, both the Army and Navy’s top civilian leaders have [resigned](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce9ml02g5k7o?ref=readtangle.com) in the past five months. Additionally, the Army does not have a top Senate-confirmed civilian or military leader. Driscoll gave no official reason for his departure, but he [reportedly](https://apnews.com/article/driscoll-departure-army-secretary-hegseth-4853c46840a522911da5a510b01966d2?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=A%20U.S,Wall%20Street%20Journal.) spoke with President Trump about the state of the Army before submitting his resignation. In a post on X on September 1, Driscoll [said](https://x.com/SecArmy/status/2094949678475264439?ref=readtangle.com), “It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve as the Secretary of the Army under President Trump and Secretary Hegseth,” adding, “We could not have made the progress we did without the support of Secretary Hegseth.” Some Republicans and Democrats praised Driscoll’s performance as Army secretary. Rep. Steve Womack (R-AR) [wrote](https://x.com/rep%5Fstevewomack/status/2094582711809614125?ref=readtangle.com), “Dan Driscoll is a transformative leader who brought common sense and discipline to the Department of the Army,” and Rep. Jason Crow (D-CO) [said](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/army-secretary-dan-driscoll-is-stepping-down-after-18-months-on-the-job-white-house-says?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=%22It%20was%20actually%20nice%2C%20I%20will%20say%2C%20having%20somebody%20who%20was%20smart%2C%20that%20knew%20the%20policy%2C%20that%20wanted%20to%20do%20the%20work%2C%20that%20had%20a%20background%20in%20these%20issues%2C%22%20Crow%20said%2C%20adding%20that%20%22it%27s%20unfortunate%20that%20somebody%20like%20that%20can%27t%20last%20in%20this%20administration.%22), “It was actually nice, I will say, having somebody who was smart, that knew the policy, that wanted to do the work, that had a background in these issues.” Others, including [Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) ](https://x.com/SenThomTillis/status/2095175195648512020?s=20&ref=readtangle.com)and [Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI)](https://apnews.com/article/driscoll-departure-army-secretary-hegseth-4853c46840a522911da5a510b01966d2?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=%E2%80%9CSecretary%20Hegseth%20is%20cultivating%20a%20culture%20where%20dissent%20is%20punished%20and%20competence%20is%20secondary%20to%20personal%20allegiance%2C%E2%80%9D%20said%20Reed%2C%20a%20former%20Army%20officer%2C%20while%20noting%20that%20%E2%80%9Chundreds%20of%20thousands%20of%20soldiers%20are%20deployed%20around%20the%20world%2C%20many%20in%20combat%20zones.%E2%80%9D), criticized Hegseth for purportedly forcing Driscoll out. Today, we’ll share views from the right and left on Driscoll’s resignation, Hegseth and the latest at the Pentagon, followed by Executive Editor Isaac Saul’s take. | What the right is saying. Many on the right express concern about Driscoll’s departure, calling him a competent and valuable military leader.Some suggest the coming months could make or break Hegseth.Others say Hegseth is undermining key facets of military leadership. | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | **In The Free Press, Eli Lake wrote** [**“the Army needs good leaders. Why is Hegseth firing them?”**](https://www.thefp.com/p/the-army-needs-good-leaders-why-is?ref=readtangle.com) “Driscoll was perceived by many in Congress and the White House as a quiet check on the erratic moves of the secretary of defense. And at a moment when the U.S. is relaunching strikes against Iran, Driscoll’s role was as important as ever,” Lake said. “In recent months, Hegseth has conducted a purge of sorts. The highest-profile example was Hegseth’s sudden termination in April of General Randy George, the Army chief of staff. That same month, John Phelan, the secretary of the Navy, was pushed out of his post by Hegseth.” “As for the purges, they have been defended by Hegseth and his supporters as a necessary corrective to the woke radicalization of the military… In practice, however, this has meant that the traditional nonpolitical, merit-based process for evaluating promotions of senior officers has been overturned,” Lake wrote. “Driscoll’s departure and George’s firing \[have\] left the Army without a civilian and military leader at a time when the Army is doing the bulk of the fighting against Iran. Hegseth may wish to defend these moves as part of his strategy to drive wokeness out of the military, or to remove disloyal leakers from the Pentagon’s senior ranks. But these are just excuses.” **In The Spectator, Sarah Beth Spraggins asked** [**“is Pete Hegseth running for president? Or getting fired?”**](https://spectator.com/article/is-pete-hegseth-running-for-president-or-getting-fired/?edition=us&ref=readtangle.com) “Hegseth sought a serious restructuring of the US military. His allies praised his eagerness to cut ‘dead wood,’ but inside the American war apparatus, opinions of him differ. Younger GIs tend to like him because he’s plainspoken — a guy you’d talk to at a bar. Officers are less sure of Hegseth because of his casual approach to military operations and his sloganeering. Some believe he undermines military professionalism,” Spraggins said. “The top brass worry about Hegseth interfering in military discipline, for partisan or personal reasons. Or just because he wants to show off.” “When Trump proposed attacking Iran, many members of his cabinet cautioned against it, including former director of national intelligence Tulsi Gabbard. Hegseth did not. *Deus Vult*, after all,” Spraggins wrote. “There are rumors that Hegseth wants to get on board with Vance if he runs, but given Driscoll’s friendship with the Vice President and Vance’s views of the Iran war, it’s hard to imagine he would have much influence. Some sources suggest that Trump is planning to fire Hegseth. That seems unlikely at the moment, but the President may need a loyal scapegoat if Iran is seen as the cause of Republican failure in the midterms.” **In The New York Times, David French called Hegseth** [**“a wrecking ball.”**](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/06/opinion/hegseth-national-security-military-generals.html?ref=readtangle.com) “Our military is still highly capable, and we have watched it successfully execute some extraordinarily difficult missions during Trump’s second term. The capture of President Nicolás Maduro of Venezuela and the rescue of two downed American airmen from the heart of Iran were remarkable feats of skill and courage… It’s comforting — I guess — to know that Hegseth can’t undo the effects of a generations-long commitment to excellence in just 20 months,” French said. “That’s the end of the good news. From the top down, Trump is replacing the highly imperfect meritocracy of American public service with an idiocracy, and his corrupt idiocrats are creating profound short-, medium- and long-term harms to American national security.” “Trump’s critics aren’t the only ones alarmed, I’d refer you to the recent resignation of Army Secretary Dan Driscoll… Driscoll was reportedly worried that Hegseth’s purges were hampering the ability of the Army to transform itself. And this is just as the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East are demonstrating that the world is in the midst of another revolution in military affairs, and we are not prepared,” French wrote. “The combination of corruption, stupidity and sycophancy… that pervades the Trump administration is now infecting the Pentagon at the moment that our most powerful enemies are becoming more aggressive.” | What the left is saying. The left is also concerned by Driscoll’s resignation, and many believe Hegseth forced him out. Some say the military’s leadership gaps are becoming dangerous. Others suggest Hegseth could soon be fired. | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | **In MS NOW, Jeff McCausland said Driscoll is** [**“the first ‘Washington casualty’ of the Iran war.”**](https://www.ms.now/opinion/dan-driscoll-pete-hegseth-clashes-resignation?ref=readtangle.com) “Driscoll was highly respected by the Army’s uniformed leadership. He established strong working relationships with senior officers, and he was one of the few Trump Cabinet officials who showed himself to be willing to work with congressional leaders from both parties. But in his 18 months in the role, he repeatedly clashed with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and leaked reports indicate he, along with a number of senior officers, had cautioned against extending the Iran conflict,” McCausland wrote. “The war with Iran that Hegseth strongly advocated for looks more and more like a strategic disaster, and Driscoll’s departure is more evidence that the defense secretary is seeking to surround himself with loyalists.” “Trump frequently referred to Driscoll as his ‘drone guy’ because of his advocacy for the military to rapidly embrace emerging battlefield technologies. Many of these initiatives, however, were rebuffed by Hegseth,” McCausland said. “It’s telling that late last year, Trump sent Driscoll, not the defense secretary, to be his primary envoy for bilateral negotiations with the Russians and subsequent talks with the Ukrainians. Hegseth, at that time, was in Washington, negotiating an end to the Pentagon’s relationship with the Boy Scouts. That contrast between Driscoll and Hegseth, and the news that it’s Driscoll who’s gone, should give every American concern.” **In Bloomberg, James Stavridis argued** [**“Hegseth has turned the Army into a rudderless ship.”**](https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2026-09-04/hegseth-is-gutting-the-army-amid-war-with-iran?ref=readtangle.com) “Driscoll was widely admired and supported by the top Army leadership. He had taken a leading role in efforts to modernize the service using the lessons learned on the battlefields of Ukraine. He is a decorated combat veteran who led a cavalry platoon in Iraq and is also a graduate of Yale Law School,” Stavridis wrote. “Service secretaries are critical links in the basic functioning of the Pentagon. They are political appointees at the heart of the big decisions on personnel, budgets, new technology, training and the warfighting ethos. These are not simply ceremonial jobs.” “Hegseth may have individual reasons for the departures of so many senior leaders across the services… And he has sapped morale by denying the advancements of younger officers who had been selected for promotion to one-star admiral or general. But this latest damage to a major department in the middle of combat operations is stunning,” Stavridis said. “Clearly, Hegseth needs to nominate a stable team of new Army leaders, get them confirmed by Congress and give them steady support. He simply cannot try to run the massive department himself — that is too heavy a lift for a secretary of defense even in peacetime.” **In CNN, Aaron Blake suggested** [**“Hegseth’s problems are getting harder to ignore.”**](https://www.cnn.com/2026/09/03/politics/pete-hegseth-problem-trump?ref=readtangle.com) “It increasingly seems that Hegseth could be a political problem for the Trump administration… Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina, who was a crucial vote to confirm the defense secretary last year, said he had ‘never witnessed more inept management of the brave men and women who serve our country,’” Blake wrote. “Other Republicans didn’t call for Hegseth’s exit but did raise concerns about what’s happening at the Pentagon.” “Those concerns have often come from high places, including chairmen of both the Senate and House Armed Services Committees and other committees, the former chairman of the House Intelligence Committee and several senators who voted to confirm Hegseth,” Blake said. “That’s a lot. And it doesn’t even include Hegseth’s sharing of highly sensitive information about impending military strikes on the unclassified app, Signal… Amid a series of controversies and an unpopular Iran war that doesn’t look like it’s ending anytime soon, Hegseth is certainly trending toward embattled status.” | My take. Isaac Saul Executive Editor ![Isaac Saul](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2025/05/Isaac.jpg) | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Hegseth’s record as Secretary of Defense speaks for itself.In addition to Hegseth’s constant controversies, our military is now struggling with an ongoing conflict in Iran.With Driscoll gone, how long will it be before Hegseth is shown the door? | | **Reminder:** This is where we share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, leave a comment or reply to this email. | Dan Driscoll’s resignation is the latest in a long, winding series of concerning stories coming out of the Pentagon. And they all come back to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. I’ve been candid about my feelings on Hegseth. I don’t dismiss him as merely a “Fox News host” — he served two tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan, has a Bronze Star, and earned a Master of Public Policy from Harvard. Instead, I’ve argued that Hegseth is [simply unremarkable](https://www.readtangle.com/pete-hegseths-confirmation-hearing/#:~:text=While%20Hegseth%E2%80%99s%20service%20was%20certainly%20honorable%2C%20there%20is%20very%20little%20about%20his%20resume%20that%20is%20exceptional.). As I said during his nomination process, Hegseth represents the opposite of a meritocracy. He is *only* there because the president liked how he comported himself in front of cameras. Hegseth tried to play up the “dust on his boots” from serving in combat as unique, as if nearly all his predecessors weren’t also veterans (and far more experienced and decorated). His managerial record provides far more pertinent insights — after all, the DoD has 2.9 million employees and a trillion-dollar budget. That record was abysmal before, and it’s worse now. This man was never qualified to lead a department of this size or importance. If you don’t agree, just look at what has happened since he has taken the job — all leading up to Driscoll’s resignation: In February 2025, shortly after assuming office, Hegseth and Trump began cleaning house. The biggest early firing was Air Force General Charles “CQ” Brown Jr., the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, over what Hegseth [described](https://www.wsj.com/politics/national-security/trump-fires-the-chairman-of-the-joint-chiefs-fd4a4d07?ref=readtangle.com) as Brown’s support of DEI initiatives in the armed forces. Brown had been confirmed as the nation’s highest-ranking military officer and the principal military adviser to the president in an 83–11 Senate vote just a year and a half before. Hegseth then announced he would dismiss Admiral Lisa Franchetti, chief of U.S. naval operations, and General James Slife, the Air Force’s vice chief of staff, as well as the judge advocates general (the military’s top lawyers) for the Army, Navy, and Air Force. In March, shortly before four U.S. soldiers went missing on a training mission (all four were later found dead), the [Signal controversy](https://www.readtangle.com/the-signal-chat-controversy/) broke. National Security Adviser Mike Waltz had accidentally added The Atlantic’s editor-in-chief to a Signal chat where top military officials, including Hegseth, were discussing forthcoming strikes against the Houthis in Yemen. Roughly two hours later, the first strikes killed 53 people, [including civilians and children](https://www.readtangle.com/trump-strikes-houthi-rebels-in-red-sea/#:~:text=At%20least%2053%20people%2C%20including%20five%20children%2C%20have%20been%20killed%20by%20the%20strikes%2C%20according%20to%20a%20Houthi%20health%20ministry%20spokesperson.%20White%20House%20National%20Security%20Adviser%20Mike%20Waltz%20said%20%E2%80%9Cmultiple%20Houthi%20leaders%E2%80%9D%20were%20killed.%C2%A0). An inspector general report later [found](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/pentagon-watchdog-says-hegseths-use-of-signal-app-put-u-s-personnel-at-risk-ap-sources-say?ref=readtangle.com) that the Signal situation put soldiers at risk, though Hegseth insisted he hadn’t shared classified information. We’d [find out even later](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/20/us/politics/hegseth-yemen-attack-second-signal-chat.html?ref=readtangle.com) that Hegseth was also sharing sensitive military information in a *separate* Signal chat that included his wife, brother, and personal attorney. By April, three Pentagon aides — senior adviser Dan Caldwell, deputy chief of staff Darin Selnick, and Colin Carroll — had been fired amid investigations into unauthorized leaks from the department. The three issued a joint statement [accusing](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/axed-pentagon-aides-claim-character-slandered-little-details-were-shared-about-leak-investigation?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=%22Unnamed%20Pentagon%20officials,to%20protect%20it.%22) unnamed officials of slandering them. Hegseth conceded the investigation was ongoing when they were fired and admitted it may have exonerated them. Then, John Ullyot, a diehard Trump supporter and former top aide of Hegseth, argued in a [public op-ed](https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2025/04/20/pentagon-chaos-ullyot-hegseth-00205594?ref=readtangle.com) that the president needed to fire Hegseth, writing that the Pentagon was “in disarray under Hegseth’s leadership.” This was particularly notable given that Ullyot had once insisted Hegseth was the right man for the job. Then, Hegseth’s term hit the 100-day mark. By June of 2025, we had started dropping bombs on Iran — our first new conflict without all the leaders Hegseth had fired or forced out. Then in September, we started [striking](https://www.readtangle.com/venezuela-drug-cartel-boat-strike/) alleged Venezuelan drug boats in the Caribbean, and since then we’ve extrajudicially killed over 200 supposed drug traffickers (a recent [report](https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2026/07/27/operation-southern-spear-has-not-slowed-cocaine-entering-us/?ref=readtangle.com) from the Drug Enforcement Administration showed the supply of cocaine to the U.S. has not been impacted). Then we had the [Pentagon–Anthropic blow-up](https://www.readtangle.com/military-use-of-artifical-intelligence-anthropic-openai/), in which a leading AI company refused to give the DoD unfettered access to its systems. In response, Trump directed every federal agency to cease their use of Anthropic products and Hegseth designated Anthropic a supply chain risk, which could have destroyed the company had a federal judge not struck it down on First Amendment grounds. Speaking of the First Amendment, Hegseth has also imposed a series of escalating restrictions on Pentagon reporters. He’s [designated](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/01/us/politics/pentagon-reporters-hegseth.html?ref=readtangle.com) the Defense Department press office as a classified space off-limits to journalists, required reporters to sign a pledge not to report unauthorized information, and threatened to revoke the credentials of those who didn’t comply. Major media outlets refused to sign the pledge, but many sycophantic news “influencers” stayed on board. The New York Times sued, and a federal judge [ruled](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/federal-judge-finds-pentagon-in-violation-of-court-order-to-restore-reporters-access?ref=readtangle.com) parts of the policy unconstitutional (though the Pentagon is appealing). Just recently, the Pentagon [fired three journalists](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/04/us/politics/stars-and-stripes-journalists-fired.html?ref=readtangle.com) from the federally funded but historically independent military news outlet Stars and Stripes, after the journalists [spoke out](https://www.politico.com/news/2026/08/28/stars-and-stripes-journalists-facing-firing-get-one-week-reprieve-01055447?ref=readtangle.com) about the editorial independence of the paper being threatened. Hegseth has [reportedly](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/19/style/jennifer-hegseth.html?ref=readtangle.com) allowed his wife, a former Fox News producer, to sit in on sensitive meetings with foreign military officials. His brother was hired to a senior advisory position. Meanwhile, Hegseth has taken extraordinary effort to demote or pause the promotions of dozens of service members; at least 20 generals, admirals and civilian defense leaders have left their jobs, the most recent of whom was Driscoll. After Driscoll’s resignation, Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC), who previously chaired the Personnel and Readiness subcommittee of the Senate Armed Services, criticized Hegseth’s management. “I have never witnessed more inept management of the brave men and women who serve our country,” Tillis said. “He is intimidated by competence and retreats to ginning up culture wars instead of soberly attending to the vital work of our national defense and the health and well-being of our fighting force.” Tillis, by the way, voted to confirm Hegseth for the job in 2025. The trade-off for all of this chaos was *supposed* to be a new era for our military: a singular focus on lethality. A fighting force that *wins*. We were told that by getting rid of dusty old bureaucratic leaders, military lawyers, DEI and anything “woke,” we’d unleash the full force of America’s military might. And yet, the single most consequential military engagement the Trump administration has waded into hasn’t evoked might. Maybe it’s too much to say we are losing the war in Iran, but we are certainly not winning it. By June of this year, Trump had claimed the war with Iran was nearly over [at least 37 times](https://edition.cnn.com/2026/06/09/politics/times-trump-iran-deal-close?ref=readtangle.com). 18 service members have now died since the war started. Thousands of Iranians have been killed, and American airstrikes have now hit a girls’ school and a wedding. The old Iranian regime has been replaced, but the new one isn’t much better. The Pentagon eventually articulated its core four goals of the war — destroy Iran’s missile capabilities, annihilate its navy, prevent nuclear weapons, and stop regional proxies — all of which are incomplete. Gas prices hit a Labor Day record, traffic through the Strait of Hormuz continues to be restricted, and reporting from all across the media suggests our weapons stockpiles are depleting to concerning levels — so much so that we’d have trouble confronting China or Russia in the event of a sudden conflict. This is Hegseth’s high-testosterone, anti-woke military. And it’s the one Driscoll objected to. Driscoll, for his part, is leaving at a time that the U.S. Army is fending off some of the most serious missile attacks from Iran on its Middle East bases yet; meanwhile, both the Army and Navy are without a Senate-confirmed civilian leader, since Hegseth fired Naval Secretary John Phelan in April. In January 2025, when considering whether Hegseth could help fix what ails the Pentagon, I said this: “I don’t see any reason to believe Hegseth — who as a leader of several smaller, less complicated organizations has been followed by allegations of poor leadership, disorganization, sexual misconduct, poor financial management, and drunkenness — is the right person to solve these issues.” I didn’t want to be proven right, but I have been. And this isn’t an issue I only care about under Trump. During the Biden administration, I [called](https://www.readtangle.com/lloyd-austin-disappearance-hospitalization/) for Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to be fired after he underwent surgery for prostate cancer, hid the operation from the administration, and spent three days AWOL in the hospital. As I said then, this position is too important to accept deception or mediocrity. Driscoll’s resignation is only the latest warning shot about the issues facing our military. The only question now is how long it’ll take before the commander-in-chief does something about it. **Take the survey:** How do you feel about the United States’s overall military preparedness? [Let us know](https://interrobang.vercel.app/survey/b556c576-4b41-44ff-9a87-846014603737?ref=readtangle.com). *Disagree? That*’*s okay. Our opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we*’*ll consider publishing your feedback.* ### Your questions, answered. **I recently used AI to research prior legislation and draft a well informed letter to my MP about cage-free/enriched cage hen welfare standards. It let me sound like I actually knew the policy landscape and I received a response. But I can also see AI enabling mass-produced form letters that flood MPs’ (or members of Congress’s) inboxes with low-effort noise.** **Where do you land: Does AI raise the average quality of constituent engagement and lower the bar for writing a letter, or does it just increase volume until it drowns out signal?** **— Tyler from London, England** **Tangle:** Concern about technology obliterating a democratic process — including contacting Congressional representatives — is nothing new. In the late 90s, some senators were [concerned that email](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/unequally-wired/?ref=readtangle.com) would make it more difficult to connect with constituents. Sen. Phil Gramm’s (R-TX) press secretary lamented in 1998 that their office didn’t “have a mechanism for dealing with the potential volume” of email correspondence. Those concerns proved prescient, as email would radically change Senators’ communication with constituents. In 1995, congressional staffers reported their offices received 50 million pieces of correspondence a year. By 2004, that [exploded](https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna8544052?ref=readtangle.com) to 200 million (about 90% of which was email), and staffs adjusted by employing templates to respond to emails in bulk. AI is likely to change the way staff interact with constituents again, but that impact will likely be much smaller than the paradigm shift provided by the internet. So far, generative AI has [not measurably changed](https://www.popvox.org/blog/ai-constituent-engagement?ref=readtangle.com) how congressional staff corresponds with constituents — either quantitatively or qualitatively. They still receive a lot of correspondence (both high- and low-quality), batch it so members of Congress can understand the breadth of concern on a topic, then choose some missives that warrant a response. Maybe you’ll be more likely to garner a response if you use AI to help you draft a thoughtful letter. But writing better and more informed letters probably won’t transform constituent correspondence much. However, AI has already begun impacting Congress elsewhere — namely, the legislation-drafting process. As Gizmodo [recently reported](https://gizmodo.com/its-absolutely-terrifying-ai-is-reportedly-slopping-up-the-bills-in-congress-2000799734?ref=readtangle.com), the Office of Legislative Council (OLC), which helps draft legislation, received 72% more drafting requests over the first 60 days of this Congress than it had over the same period two years prior, citing AI as a driver of the increase. OLC staffers said requests were low quality and riddled with errors, making low-quality legislation drafting likely to have a larger impact on Congress than high-quality citizen lobbying. **Want to have a question answered in the newsletter? You can reply to this email (it goes straight to our inbox) or** [**fill out this form**](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScQhqBSG%5F6%5FoBhwcTQMeS570n29XYbeQ9C9Bis7rjqI31g1tA/viewform?usp=header&ref=readtangle.com)**.** ### Under the radar. On Sunday, the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party won 44% of the vote in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt’s elections, its highest vote share ever in a state election. AfD did not win enough parliamentary seats for a majority, but it could surpass the threshold through a coalition with another party. German politicians have widely condemned Ulrich Siegmund, AfD’s lead candidate for the state’s premiership, over his rhetoric about the Nazis and the Holocaust, while AfD as an organization has called for mass deportations and greater government control over educational and media institutions. [Axios has the story](https://www.axios.com/2026/09/06/afd-saxony-anhalt-germany-far-right-firewall?ref=readtangle.com). Today’s Partner: Snopes [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/09/snopes_square_logo.png)](https://www.snopes.com/subscribe/?utm%5Fsource=tangle&utm%5Fcampaign=09082026) ****Over 900,000 readers subscribe to the Snopes newsletter.** Their [free newsletter cuts through political spin](https://www.snopes.com/subscribe/?utm%5Fsource=tangle&utm%5Fcampaign=09082026) and clickbait headlines to bring you the unvarnished truth six days a week. Don’t get duped by what you see trending on social media before verifying the information. [Sign up for free Snopes newsletter ](https://www.snopes.com/subscribe/?utm%5Fsource=tangle&utm%5Fcampaign=09082026) ### The extras. - **One year ago today** we covered [Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Senate hearing](https://www.readtangle.com/rfk-jr-senate-testimony-hhs-firings-and-vaccines/). - **The most clicked link in our last regular newsletter** was [our latest episode of *Suspension of the Rules*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqNSKeZ%5FPuM&ref=readtangle.com). - **Nothing to do with politics:** Draw a life at random from a pool of [all the humans who have ever lived](https://anyhumanever.com/?ref=readtangle.com). - **Our last survey:** 2,807 readers responded to our survey on the construction of new data centers, with 34% saying the U.S. should temporarily pause new construction. “The pause should last until we’ve created some firm guardrails for use of AI,” one respondent said. “Whether we like it or not, if we want to keep using the internet, we need more data centers,” said another. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/09/data-src-image-752a5a99-7e98-40d6-b89e-ee0a422a3147.png) ### Have a nice day. In the early 2000s, vulture populations in South Asia dropped precipitously due to a then-unknown cause. Eventually, it was discovered that the culprit was a new drug that farmers were giving their cattle, and a vulture-safe alternative was created. Due to the new drug, as well as sustained effort from India, Pakistan and Nepal, the vulture population has stabilized. Going forward, organizations like Saving Asia’s Vultures from Extinction (SAVE) hope to continue the work and allow for the recovery of vulture populations. [The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds has the story](https://www.rspb.org.uk/whats-happening/news/spotlight-on-asias-vultures-twenty-years-after-game-changing-drug-ban?ref=readtangle.com). ### The Sunday — September 6 URL: https://www.readtangle.com/the-sunday-september-6-2026/ Last updated: 2026-09-06T11:52:13.000Z *This is the Tangle Sunday Edition, a brief roundup of our independent politics coverage plus some extra features for your Sunday morning reading.* ### What the right is doodling. ![Steve Kelley | Creators Syndicate](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/09/data-src-image-7c239930-7f6e-4f93-8cb3-10c55e98655c.jpeg) Steve Kelley | Creators Syndicate ### What the left is doodling. ![Mike Luckovich | Creators Syndicate](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/09/data-src-image-b65e3883-6c49-47e1-87ff-9f45248adde5.jpeg) Mike Luckovich | Creators Syndicate ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/09/data-src-image-4cd6b8ca-5cf0-4bf6-991a-a020af745f45.png) ### Suspension of the Rules. Isaac, Ari, and Kmele had a lot to talk about this week. Kmele “has a moment” on CNN, mail-in voting changes spark a robust discussion, and CBS’s coverage of Abdul El-Sayed comes under scrutiny — plus a good guy of the week from the Pacific Northwest and a brief check-in on the Iran war. Check it out here: ### Monday, August 31. [Ratcliffe’s Russia visit](https://www.readtangle.com/cia-director-ratcliffes-trip-to-russia/). On Tuesday, August 25, Central Intelligence Agency Director John Ratcliffe traveled to Moscow, Russia, for the first publicly disclosed time to meet with Russian intelligence officials. While the CIA has not shared the official purpose of the trip, Ratcliffe reportedly cautioned Russia against attacking North Atlantic Treaty Organization member states. The visit also comes after four and a half years of war between Russia and Ukraine with little progress in peace discussions. **Our take:** *“We don’t know why Ratcliffe visited Moscow, but we should know by now that the Western consensus on Putin is often accurate. Also, we should remember that Trump’s unpredictability in foreign affairs isn’t always an advantage. It’s easy to look back and see that the U.S. should have backed Ukraine earlier; it’s harder to see what happens next.”* **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/09/data-src-image-0d446814-d1cf-4233-a0ed-ad3af772756a.png) ### Tuesday, September 1. [The U.S.–Venezuela oil agreement](https://www.readtangle.com/us-oil-deal-with-venezuela/). On Friday, August 28, President Donald Trump announced an agreement to make the United States government an investor in the production of Venezuelan oil. Under the reported terms of the deal, the U.S. will take a stake in a private Venezuelan company that will be given the rights to develop 17 oil fields believed to contain 65 billion barrels of oil. President Trump said the deal will help build up U.S. oil reserves, bring down gas prices, and promote investment and production in Venezuela from other U.S. energy companies. Interim Venezuelan President Delcy Rodríguez said the deal will economically benefit her country and revitalize its energy industry. **Our take:** *“It’s clear eight months later that ousting Maduro was about oil all along. This deal has many potential benefits, but I’m concerned about the Trump administration’s increasing involvement in private industry. I’m not confident that the upside of our actions in Venezuela is worth the cost.”* **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/09/data-src-image-c449e998-1ab7-466f-9309-ed27cd7837c8.png) ### Wednesday, September 2. [The White House ballroom ruling](https://www.readtangle.com/scotus-and-the-white-house-ballroom/). On Monday, August 31, the Supreme Court decided 5–4 to allow President Trump to continue above-ground construction on his White House ballroom project. The unsigned order pauses a federal judge’s halt on above-ground construction, stating the plaintiff likely lacks legal standing. However, the majority did not decide whether Trump has the legal authority to build the ballroom without congressional approval, and litigation will continue in lower courts. **Our take:** *“Trump’s ‘outrun the courts’ strategy recalls another famous New York builder. This action looks blatantly illegal, but the standing issue actually seems rightly decided. I don’t know how overreaches like this can get challenged, which gives me deep concerns about the future powers of the executive.”* **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/09/data-src-image-23d871d0-179b-45fd-8e9e-1230d994f556.png) ### Thursday, September 3. [Pushback on data centers](https://www.readtangle.com/data-center-pushback-grows/). In recent months, opposition to data centers has increased across the United States, prompting both Republican and Democratic politicians to oppose the facilities and some states to pause new construction. While some political leaders, including President Donald Trump, remain supportive of data centers, the topic has become a major issue ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, often linked to concerns about societal disruptions brought on by artificial intelligence. **Our take:** *“I’m realizing that my previous position on data centers doesn’t hold up to scrutiny. At the same time, the environmentalist backlash against data centers also doesn’t make sense. That leaves me conflicted, but increasingly skeptical that new construction will be matched by consumer demand.”* **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/09/data-src-image-8fd068d5-6983-420b-b516-808e33d6eb78.png) ### Friday, September 4. In this week’s members-only Friday edition, Executive Editor Isaac Saul considers the question: Should billionaires exist? Read his piece diving into innovation, philanthropy, and wealth tax proposals [here](https://www.readtangle.com/not-all-billionaires-are-bad/). --- ### What just happened. Here’s a rundown of the major stories that have broken since our newsletter on Thursday. - On Thursday, the Internal Revenue Service and Treasury Department proposed a rule that would eliminate private schools’ tax-exempt status if it is found to discriminate “on the basis of race, color, or national or ethnic origin in administration of its educational, admissions, scholarship, athletic, or other policies.” ([The proposal](https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2026/09/03/trump-administration-aims-strip-schools-tax-exemption-if-they-consider-race/?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Thursday, Fox said that it had “parted ways” with longtime anchor Maria Bartiromo. The Status newsletter reported that Bartiromo was fired after sharing guidance about covering President Trump’s election fraud claims with the White House. Bartiromo’s lawyer denied that she was fired. ([The reports](https://www.nbcnews.com/business/media/maria-bartiromos-lawyer-says-was-not-fired-fox-news-rcna596127?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Thursday, The Associated Press reported that an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer turned himself in to federal authorities on charges of lying to investigators about a January shooting of a Venezuelan man in Minneapolis, Minnesota. ([The report](https://apnews.com/article/ice-immigration-minnesota-5a429fee81fe85c09ca59ea9366c019d?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Thursday, the Trump administration asked the Supreme Court to temporarily pause a lower-court order blocking the U.S. Postal Service from implementing parts of President Trump’s executive order on mail-in ballots. The Court instructed the challengers in the case to file a response to the administration’s request by this coming Tuesday at 10:00 AM ET. ([The request](https://www.scotusblog.com/2026/09/trump-administration-asks-supreme-court-to-clear-the-way-for-new-mail-in-voting-rule-to-be-imple/?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Thursday, the Missouri Supreme Court blocked the state from using new congressional maps designed to net Republicans an additional seat in the U.S. House for the 2026 midterm elections, finding that voters must first approve the measure. ([The ruling](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/missouri-high-court-blocks-gop-backed-congressional-maps-ahead-midterms-trump-blasts-ridiculous-ruling?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Friday, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the U.S. economy added 162,000 jobs in August, exceeding economists’ expectations, and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.1%. June’s employment report was revised upward by 11,000 jobs, and July’s was revised up by 44,000\. ([The outlook](https://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.nr0.htm?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Friday, the average daily price for a gallon of diesel fuel hit a record high of $5.85 in the United States amid disruptions caused by the Iran war. ([The numbers](https://apnews.com/article/gas-diesel-prices-us-iran-war-ebd01b9773365ee40550dcfd7d3ebf87?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Friday, the Supreme Court temporarily paused a lower-court ruling that restricted preferential rates in political advertising to only candidates. The pause will allow political parties and joint fundraising committees to also receive those favorable rates. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson dissented. ([The pause](https://www.scotusblog.com/2026/09/court-grants-request-from-republican-groups-to-pause-ruling-for-now-on-political-broadcasting-ra/?ref=readtangle.com)) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/09/data-src-image-67dc0bc1-13da-4a4f-b57a-a0aeb2249a84.png) ### Reader essay. ![The author’s dad on his police academy graduation day | Photo from Claudia Dimuro](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/09/data-src-image-72430096-529f-4ae2-ad7d-90c829f243f6.jpeg) The author’s dad on his police academy graduation day | Photo from Claudia Dimuro Tangle reader Claudia Dimuro and her dad liked to go on Rides: long drives where the two would just talk and bond over music like Linkin Park and My Chemical Romance. In this week’s reader essay, Claudia reflects on her dad’s life — the music he loved, the work he did, and the people who remembered him — in the wake of his death. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Was CBS Right to Resurface Tweets of El-Sayed? URL: https://www.readtangle.com/was-cbs-right-to-resurface-tweets-of-el-sayed/ Last updated: 2026-09-05T22:06:57.000Z Did CBS misrepresent a Senate candidate with a misleading tweet? In this clip from Suspension of the Rules, the hosts discuss a recent article and tweet put out by CBS News about deleted social media posts from Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed. The only problem: the post's language didn't seem to line up with the contents of the article. ### The Debate Over Capitalism Being Linked to Oppression URL: https://www.readtangle.com/the-debate-over-capitalism-being-linked-to-oppression/ Last updated: 2026-09-05T15:06:55.000Z Is capitalism linked to oppression and white supremacy? In this clip from Suspension of the Rules, the hosts discuss Kmele Foster's appearance on CNN with Jemele Hill, and the debate surrounding James Talarico's claims about capitalism. ### Hakeem Jeffries Threatened Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez. Why? URL: https://www.readtangle.com/hakeem-jeffries-threatened-rep-gluesenkamp-perez-why/ Last updated: 2026-09-05T07:06:40.000Z Did Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA) side with Republicans in a key vote this week? In this clip from Suspension of the Rules, the hosts discuss the congresswoman's vote that allowed Republicans to put more of their policies on the House floor, including a resolution condemning socialism. However, she said she only wanted to advance a lobstering bill put forward by her colleague. ### Judge officially declares mistrial in Lindsay Clancy case. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/judge-officially-declares-mistrial-in-lindsay-clancy-case/ Last updated: 2026-09-04T20:06:35.000Z The judge in the Lindsay Clancy case has officially declared a mistrial. The decision comes following the defense filing an emergency appeal to request a stay of his decision. ### Ride URL: https://www.readtangle.com/otherposts/ride/ Last updated: 2026-09-04T17:52:34.000Z *By Claudia Dimuro* --- When I was a kid, maybe around middle school, my dad and I started taking rides. We’d get in the car, drive around for hours and talk about everything and anything. Soon, rides became Rides, its own grown, recognized proper noun. Throughout high school and even for a period of time when I was home from college, my dad would poke his head into my room and ask: “Want to take a Ride?” These Rides had a soundtrack, basically whatever I was listening to at the time: My Chemical Romance, Fall Out Boy, Evanescence (make whatever assumptions you’d like about me based on that musical taste, and, honestly, you’d probably be right). But dad’s favorite — a band he’d start to ask me to play again and again — was Linkin Park. Dad was actually how I learned Chester Bennington had passed away. “Why didn’t you tell me our favorite singer died?” he asked as soon as I picked up his call. Chester’s death was something discussed on later Rides: At 41, he was the first older person I had heard of committing suicide (or at least the one that stuck the most). While tragic no matter the age, to me, there was something so much more potently sad about someone in their 40s taking their own life. “It’s, like, you *made* it,” I’d tell my dad. “You made it through all the bullshit and uncertainty of your 20s and 30s, you came out on the other side. You got to the solid half.” He, a former homicide detective, would talk about all the cops he knew that killed themselves: Just one bad night, too many drinks, a fight with your wife, and there it was — a readily available gun and an idea that looks good at the time. “Just remember: nothing is ever that bad,” he’d say. “There’s nothing in life that’s so bad for that to be an option.” On a sunny day in August 2025, my dad told my mom he was going to clean the pool. He put on his bathing suit, went into the shed, and shot himself through the heart. He would’ve been 72 in December, decades into that supposed “solid half” of his life. It’s still shocking, over a year later, to know that someone my dad’s age is a suicide statistic. What’s even more shocking is that he’s far from a rarity: I later learned that older adults have [the highest rates of suicide](https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2025/02/older-adults-at-highest-risk-for-suicide-yet-have-fewest-resources/?ref=readtangle.com) out of any demographic (and the fewest preventative resources available to them). According to [the CDC](https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db483.htm?ref=readtangle.com), between 2001 and 2021, suicide rates jumped the most of any demographic amongst men between 55 and 64; the leading method was use of a firearm. As for reasons, the CDC and others cite feelings that often plague the elderly: the loss of a longtime spouse, illness, loneliness, a feeling of uselessness and that the world has passed them by. It’s this latter reason that stuck with me. My dad never had a history of recorded mental illness, and, ironically, longevity runs on his side of the family. When people asked if, maybe, he had a diagnosis he had no desire to battle his way through, the answer was no way — he was healthy as a horse, practically a medical anomaly for doctors. But feeling useless? Like the world was changing too drastically, too fast? That’s something my dad, in so many words, would admit to in conversation. Still, I never thought he’d do what he did; no one did. The sentiment “he was the last person we’d think would do this” was repeated again and again at his funeral and wake, by multiple people. The idea that someone so lively, so loud, so God damn funny — who loved fully and ate food like it was running away from him — would die so violently, alone in a shed, all but confirms that life is chaos and rarely makes sense. And yet, I couldn’t help but wonder at how *beautiful* life was after his death. The way people showed up for our family in the days, weeks, months after he died was one of the most awesome things to behold. Complete and total strangers would stop me as I walked our family dog, Max (my dad’s buddy, whom we sadly had to put down a couple months after his suicide), to tell me how they’d shoot the shit with my dad as he strolled around the block, and how sorry they were to hear what happened. I picked up his cellphone to break the news to his heart doctor, who softly replied, “He was such a lovely man.” Heck, the mailman and the guy who did my dad’s taxes —– two things my dad was almost maniacally obsessed with, up to the point he’d ask, “You get your W2?” instead of saying “Happy New Year” every Jan. 1 — showed up to the wake. If that doesn’t fully encapsulate “[Each man’s life touches so many other lives](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gH1kKxNHGow&ref=readtangle.com),” then I don’t know what does. I’m not entirely sure what I’m trying to say with this article. Maybe it’s to say that you should make sure to check up on how people are feeling, even if you think they’d be “the last person” to kill themselves. Maybe it’s that, given the current political divide that’s strongly, in part, demographically driven, it might help to pause and realize that the old are just as unsure of the future as the young. Just as frightened by it. There is no “solid half” of life. Right now, from where I’m sitting in my 30s, it seems to generally be a road that’s sometimes smooth, sometimes riddled with massive potholes. The bumps every passing mile brings aren’t made any easier for the ones in the rearview. And in this world where the Battle of the Demographics rages on — where “ok, Boomer”s are flung with dismissive acerbity, where the word “Millennials” still invokes images of lazy hipsters that want their college loans forgiven but who pay exorbitant prices for avocado toast — we might do well to stop and take a moment and ignore all the headlines to recognize that fear is a universal experience. No matter the age. And blast some Linkin Park while you’re at it. --- *Claudia Dimuro is a trending reporter for Advance Local (which includes Al.com,* [*PennLive.com*](http://pennlive.com/?ref=readtangle.com)*,* [*MassLive.com*](http://masslive.com/?ref=readtangle.com)*, and others), and formerly the host of the now-defunct “Today in PA” podcast. You can find her on her couch, mindlessly eating trail mix while watching horror movies (and trying her best, but failing, not to fall asleep before 11 PM).* ### Not all billionaires are bad. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/not-all-billionaires-are-bad/ Last updated: 2026-09-04T15:51:41.000Z ****Note:** You are reading a preview of a members-only Friday edition. To read it in full, [you’ll be asked to subscribe](https://www.readtangle.com/membership/). Let me start by saying that *I get it.* A few years ago, I read a [fascinating piece](https://www.neverhungover.club/p/toward-a-unified-theory-of-uncool?ref=readtangle.com) about how professional basketball had lost its cool factor. The current stars of the NBA, like Jayson Tatum and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, just don’t have *it.* They aren’t charismatic in the same ways Kobe Bryant or Michael Jordan or Dr. J were. They aren’t eccentric, or captivating, or culture-defining. “No aura,” as the kids say. Spend a few minutes watching Elon Musk work a room or Mark Zuckerberg testify before Congress, and it’s hard not to get a similar feeling. These guys do not exude aura. They don’t present as classy or high-minded or suave, which — frankly — is how we prefer our rich people. They are awkward and make bad jokes and laugh in uncomfortable ways. It at least *feels* like it was different before. The elites we grew up reading about operated in a classy manner, offered timeless wisdom or expressed humility when reflecting on their station in life. Andrew Carnegie was known for reciting poetry from memory, holding dinners where he’d debate Shakespeare and the merits of socialism, and waking his entire household with a bagpiper every morning. He’s credited with saying, “As I grow older, I pay less attention to what men say. I just watch what they do.” J.P. Morgan was famous for locking bankers in his library during the panic of 1907 and not letting them leave until they solved the crisis. He once said, “A man always has two reasons for doing anything: a good reason and the real reason.” Elon Musk wielded a chainsaw while bragging about cuts to USAID, and once entered Twitter HQ during a hostile takeover while carrying a sink. He [tweeted](https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1585341984679469056?s=20&ref=readtangle.com): “Entering Twitter HQ — let that sink in!” These people are not the same. Recently, I was in Italy for a friend’s wedding. I visited the Great Synagogue of Florence, one of the largest synagogues in southern Europe — a true architectural masterpiece. I was struck by its history (the building survived the First and Second World Wars, and it even took a few direct hits to its roof) but also its origin: It was built after a wealthy Jew donated his entire estate to building a synagogue “worthy of Florence.” What a magnificent thing, I thought. In the old days, rich people would build great, big, beautiful synagogues — or schools or libraries or museums — and donate their entire life’s fortunes to build something meaningful in a city they love. Today, our billionaires spend their wealth on pissing contests — 400-foot yachts and sports teams and a private space race. I’ve realized that I hold *old* wealth in a certain esteem; I have a kind of base-level belief that money and wealth *used* to be accumulated with hard work and merit, earned by the best of us, all before they left behind some great thing — timeless wisdom, inventions, railroads, mausoleums, or other feats of ingenuity or philanthropy. Today, it’s all about extracting cheap labor, then buying everything you want and trying to live forever, society be damned. But it turns out that’s not really true — at least not anymore. Paul Graham, a billionaire himself, [wrote](https://paulgraham.com/richnow.html?ref=readtangle.com) a fascinating piece in 2021 about how America’s richest people in 1982 predominantly inherited their wealth. But things have changed. Today, as in the early 20th century, they are *making* it themselves. The number of heirs in the top-100 wealthiest Americans dropped from 60 to 27 between 1982 and 2020, and only about a quarter of new fortunes were made through investing smaller fortunes; the other three quarters were made by people starting companies. Before we get into the debate about the validity of an economic system that creates billionaires, one point seems fundamental: A lot of billionaires made their fortunes by creating something awesome in the truest sense of the word — something that causes mixed feelings of awe, reverence, and fear. Sergey Brin put search engines in everyone’s home, unlocking limitless knowledge. Jeff Bezos completely changed how consumer goods are bought and sold. Musk reshaped the auto industry and made satellite internet accessible to millions. Zuckerberg reshaped the cultural fabric and connected the world via social networks. This kind of fortune is not the same as a multi-million dollar basketball contract, and these billionaires are not the same as athletes famous for playing a sport that is unlikely to impact your daily life in any meaningful way. Put differently: If you were to create a scale for “how much did this person change the world” and “how much are they worth,” many billionaires’ wealth is closely proportional to the impact they’ve had — whether you are in awe of them, revere them, or fear them. And yet, the scale of this wealth is still hard to comprehend. --- While writing this piece, I was astounded to learn that I am probably in the top 1% of all Americans when measured by wealth. I had a [pretty humble and normal upbringing](https://www.readtangle.com/my-views-upbringing-class-politics/). But if Tangle were valued at more than $13 million, which I think it is, that would put me in the top 1% of all Americans in wealth. We’re big fish in the small pond of independent newsletters, but a small fish in the big ocean of major media. Still, I own 100% of it, and that’s probably enough to propel me into the 1%. Yet, the idea that Jeff Bezos and I are both in the “top 1% of Americans” feels as difficult to fathom as comparing myself to LeBron James because I might be in the top 1% of all living people as a three-point shooter. If I took every single dollar Tangle made from subscriptions last year — a little over $4 million — and pocketed it, without spending a single cent on my employees or the business, that’d still be just 1/250th of a billion dollars. The difference between $4 million and $1 billion is proportional to the difference between $4 million and $16,000\. If my net worth is $13 million, Jeff Bezos’s net worth — at [$267 billion](https://www.forbes.com/real-time-billionaires/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=3.-,Jeff%20Bezos,-Stats) — would be 20,530 times larger. This disparity in wealth among even the top 1% of Americans shifts the focus to the top 0.1% of Americans. “Every billionaire is a policy failure” has become a [common progressive slogan](https://www.commondreams.org/news/billionaires-policy-failure-oxfam?ref=readtangle.com), one that bemoans extreme wealth inequality, which, as the theory goes, is accomplished only by exploiting others — by underpaying workers, manipulating tax loopholes, and monopolizing power. “There’s a certain level of wealth and accumulation that is unearned,” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) once [said](https://finance.yahoo.com/economy/policy/articles/aoc-claims-extreme-wealth-america-120000902.html?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=%22When%20you%20have%20these%20systems%2C%20when%20you%20have%20corporations%2C%20when%20you%20have%20an%20economic%20elite%2C%20there%27s%20a%20certain%20level%20of%20wealth%20and%20accumulation%20that%20is%20unearned%2C%22%20Ocasio%2DCortez%20said%20%281%29.). “You can’t earn a billion dollars. You just can’t earn that. You can get market power, you can break rules, you can abuse labor laws, you can pay people less than what they’re worth, but you can’t earn that.” Many people who argue that billionaires represent an economic system’s failure argue that redistributing even a small share of their wealth would dramatically reduce suffering in America and globally. The logic isn’t hard to follow, and it’s probably true — in a vacuum. $10,000 means a lot more to someone in abject poverty than $10 million means to a billionaire. Thus, the utility of extracting $10 million from billionaires to give $10,000 to 1,000 people in abject poverty is self-evident. Proponents of legislating or taxing billionaires out of existence will also argue that the wealth generated by a company is unfairly apportioned. Hundreds or thousands of workers create that company’s value, they’ll argue, yet its revenue will disproportionately go to its executives, owners, and shareholders. Meanwhile, extreme wealth has exploded at the same time that median wages have stagnated. And once you have wealth, it’s easier to multiply it through real estate or investments. So people who are already rich have a much easier time getting richer. Even the most basic passive investments can turn $1,000,000 into an additional $50,000 in a year — and moderately successful investments can do much more than that. About 30% of all American households [make](https://www.statista.com/statistics/203183/percentage-distribution-of-household-income-in-the-us/?ref=readtangle.com) $50,000 or less per year. Then, of course, there are the policy implications. Extremely wealthy Americans have a vast and powerful system through which to influence our politics and legislation — they donate to and lobby for their preferred initiatives, and they can often cajole politicians toward their preferred decisions. Our current political landscape is littered with people who have funded their own campaigns to simply take office and attempt to change their district, state, or country for their benefit. All the while, they’re savvy enough to avoid taxes by offshoring wealth or hiring advisors to capitalize on loopholes, and then use the combination of their wealth, power, and access to monopolize and crush competition. The accumulation of these advantages has led to this: In the 1960s, the 400 richest Americans paid more than half their income in taxes. In 2018, America’s billionaires were paying just 23% of their income in taxes, [according to an analysis](https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/05/03/opinion/global-billionaires-tax.html?ref=readtangle.com) by Gabriel Zucman. As Zucman explained, billionaires now have a lower effective tax rate than working-class Americans, because America’s super-rich have started living off their wealth, which is much harder to tax, rather than their income. We’ve been levying much smaller taxes on wealth, corporations, and the rich; at the same time, the super wealthy have gotten even wealthier, and workers across the country are watching their wages stagnate and benefits deteriorate. Zucman’s solution is a global minimum wealth tax, which could be enforced by individual countries and would make tax dodging through international loopholes less attractive. I see some validity in all of these arguments. The question is: Are they persuasive enough to make the case that billionaires should not exist? Enough to take steps to prevent them from ever existing? Enough to focus public policy specifically on redistributing their wealth? --- My best argument for the existence of billionaires looks like this: _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### The data center pushback grows. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/data-center-pushback-grows/ Last updated: 2026-09-03T15:52:30.000Z Hello everyone. This is Tangle **Managing Editor Ari Weitzman**. It’s Thursday, and the winds of change are blowing. The morning air is retaining its biting crispness for a little longer each day before being beaten back by the afternoon heat. That’s September for you, which is why this month is divisive. Astronomical fall won’t start until the 22nd, but [*meteorological fall*](https://weather.com/2026/09/01/science/weather-explainers/when-does-fall-start-meteorological-vs-astronomical-autumnal?ref=readtangle.com)is already upon us. Regardless of how you (or *you*, [Isaac](https://www.readtangle.com/us-oil-deal-with-venezuela/#:~:text=Summer%20ends%20September%2022.%20Not%20a%20day%20earlier.%C2%A0)) view the end of summer, autumn is hardly in full swing. Watch this space, as I intend to be the Punxsutawney Phil of September, and you will know the season is upon us when this preamble is just me reciting Rainer Maria Rilke’s *Autumn Day.* The morning air isn’t the only thing that’s changing; a stiff breeze of **anti-AI backlash** is sweeping the country, too, and today it batters my position on data centers. We’ll dig into the latest arguments before looking back at **the Luddite movement**and unpacking **two stories we almost covered** this week. [*Lord: It is time*](https://allpoetry.com/Autumn-Day?ref=readtangle.com)*…* to read on. It’s **a 13-minute read**. P.S. ****Don’t forget we have a** [****20% off Labor Day offer**](https://www.readtangle.com/sept-26-labor-day-offer) running right now — if you want to snag a Tangle newsletter membership for less than $5/month, unlock all our ad-free content and get tomorrow’s Friday edition, [you can do that here](https://www.readtangle.com/sept-26-labor-day-offer). ### Suspension of the Rules. Isaac, Ari, and Kmele had a *lot* to talk about this week. From Kmele “having a moment” on CNN to mail-in voting changes to CBS’s coverage of Abdul El-Sayed — plus a good guy of the week from the Pacific Northwest and a brief check-in on the Iran war — this week’s *Suspension of the Rules* is jam-packed. [Check it out here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqNSKeZ%5FPuM&ref=readtangle.com)! ### Quick hits. 1. Three people were killed in a shooting in a Minneapolis apartment building, including the suspected shooter. Several others, including three police officers, were also injured. ([The shooting](https://www.foxnews.com/us/police-officers-shot-among-multiple-victims-downtown-minneapolis-shooting?ref=readtangle.com)) 2. The House voted 212–206 in favor of a constitutional amendment capping the Supreme Court at nine justices. However, the vote required a two-thirds majority to advance. ([The failed amendment](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/house-democrats-block-constitutional-amendment-supreme-court-justices-rcna595736?ref=readtangle.com)) 3. A plane carrying Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin made an emergency landing after experiencing engine failure. Officials have not announced what caused the engine failure. ([The landing](https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/6067121-dhs-secretary-plane-emergency-landing/?ref=readtangle.com)) 4. President Donald Trump signed a continuing resolution to extend the government’s current funding through December 11, averting a shutdown at the end of September. ([The funding bill](https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/trump-signs-bill-avert-government-shutdown-before-midterm-elections-2026-09-03/?ref=readtangle.com)) 5. A federal judge temporarily blocked an August executive order that would narrow eligibility for birthright citizenship for some children born in the United States. The order specifically targeted children born to “alien enemies” or parents that engaged in birth tourism. ([The ruling](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/judge-blocks-trump-executive-order-birthright-citizenship/?ref=readtangle.com)) Today's Partner ****The Best Sleep of Your Life** You’re exhausted… but as soon as your head hits the pillow, your brain won’t turn off. Or maybe you finally fall asleep… only to wake up at 2:37 AM staring at the ceiling. For millions of people over 35, the problem isn’t just stress, blue light, or bad luck — it’s a simple mineral deficiency. 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In recent months, opposition to data centers has [increased](https://apnews.com/article/data-centers-bipartisan-opposition-trump-democrats-a419be82fb6b32a8fc048ac7ffbd1de3?ref=readtangle.com) across the United States, prompting both Republican and Democratic politicians to oppose the facilities and some states to pause new construction. While some political leaders, including President Donald Trump, remain supportive of data centers, the topic has become a [major issue](https://www.readtangle.com/should-we-build-more-data-centers-pro-con/) ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, often linked to concerns about societal disruptions brought on by artificial intelligence (AI). **Back up:** Data centers house servers, storage systems, and networking equipment that process and store digital information. Data centers have existed since the mid-20th century, and Google built the first hyperscale iteration in 2006\. In concert with advancements in AI, demand for data centers has increased, and AI companies have sought to build new facilities to support the compute power needed to offer their services reliably. A March 2026 Gallup poll [found](https://news.gallup.com/poll/709772/americans-oppose-data-centers-area.aspx?ref=readtangle.com) that 71% of U.S. adults oppose new AI data centers in their areas, with many citing concerns about the facilities’ resource use, effects on quality of life, and environmental impact. Conversely, proponents [argue](https://x.com/GavinSBaker/status/2094081116164460995?ref=readtangle.com) that environmental concerns are overstated and highlight the benefits that data centers offer to local economies. However, as public opposition to the building projects has grown, states and localities have begun enacting moratoriums on new construction. In July, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) [ordered](https://www.readtangle.com/new-york-data-center-moratorium/) a one-year pause, and similar measures have been [proposed](https://www.ncsl.org/fiscal/which-states-are-banning-data-centers?ref=readtangle.com) in several other states. Heading into the midterms, candidates from both parties have [highlighted](https://www.cnn.com/2026/08/31/politics/data-centers-backlash-midterms-invs-vis?ref=readtangle.com) their opposition to data centers; according to AdImpact, 8% of all campaign spending on broadcast television in July went toward data center- or AI-related ads, and 99% of campaign spending on data center advertisements went to critical ads. In August, the National Republican Senatorial Committee [sent a memo](https://www.axios.com/2026/08/19/gop-data-center-memo-ai-election?ref=readtangle.com) to AI companies calling data centers “a sleeper issue for the entire election cycle” and noting that Democrats had effectively leveraged the issue in key races. President Trump has maintained his support for new construction of the facilities. On Monday, he [wrote](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/117190477440173795?ref=readtangle.com) on Truth Social, “The only reason that communities throughout the U.S.A. should not want Data Centers is if they want to end up being backwards and poor,” adding, “China could not be happier with this anti Data Center movement.” Relatedly, the social media company X [said](https://www.axios.com/2026/08/28/china-ai-data-center-backlash-bots?ref=readtangle.com) on Thursday that it had discovered and suspended approximately 200 accounts from a suspected bot farm in China that were posting critically about data centers “in a manner that could manipulate a legitimate debate about American AI and energy policy.” Today, we’ll get into the latest in the data centers debate, with views from the left and right, then Managing Editor Ari Weitzman’s take. | What the left is saying. The left opposes data center buildout, with some saying it’s a winnable issue for Democratic politicians. Many argue that messaging campaigns will not sway public opinion. Others compare data center resistance to past populist movements. | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | **In MS NOW, Zeeshan Aleem called Trump’s position on data centers a** [**“golden opportunity to win.”**](https://www.ms.now/opinion/data-centers-republicans-democrats-moratorium?ref=readtangle.com) “The president’s own party is in a panic about a growing national backlash against data centers and has been scrambling to create distance from them,” Aleem wrote. “Yet there’s a good chance that the GOP’s about-face will be overshadowed by the president, who has exponentially more power to define the party’s reputation. He also has the ability to pressure and criticize other Republicans for diverging from his pro-data center preferences.” “This in turn leaves a tremendous opportunity for Democrats to respond and win on the issue of data centers. And their best bet is to coalesce around moratoriums on building them,” Aleem said. “The good thing about moratoriums is that they are not grounded in an opposition to developing AI per se, nor are they entirely impractical about the need for technological development. What they do is ask for AI development to be subjected to the democratic process — and not imposed on the public and the world by purely profit-seeking businesses keen on eluding accountability.” **In Gizmodo, AJ Dellinger said** [**“Silicon Valley is losing the vibes war.”**](https://gizmodo.com/the-one-big-issue-that-connects-the-data-center-and-flock-backlash-2000801584?ref=readtangle.com) “Donald Trump, who has refused to back away from data centers, said this week that data centers ‘could use a little public relations help,’” Dellinger wrote. “To address the issue, OpenAI has put up job listings for community engagement leads in Ohio and Georgia tasked with trying to ‘reduce risk of opposition’ to data centers… The answer offered by Big Tech and its backers is not to back off but rather to find a better sales pitch. The idea is that these poor, uninformed citizens have had their heads clouded with misinformation (maybe from China), and if we just set the record straight, public opinion will turn around.” “Companies have tried sending representatives to communities… they’ve been greeted with heckles, boos, and guillotines. They have fed city councilmembers talking points only for those councilmembers to get voted out of office,” Dellinger said. “It’s not messaging that the tech industry is losing on so much as it is vibes. There’s no turning that ship around with a messaging blitz, because what people object to runs deeper. Something about the technologies they are being exposed to, that are invading their space and their privacy, feels off to them. They’ve heard the messages and seen the outcomes. You want to tell them they’re wrong?” **In The Nation, Chris Lehmann argued** [**“Trump can’t stop the populist uprising against data centers.”**](https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/trump-ai-data-centers-populism/?ref=readtangle.com) “The opposition to data centers in red states has grown so strident that President Donald Trump intervened on behalf of his benefactors in the AI industry. In a Truth Social post on Monday, Trump sought to browbeat his followers into submission,” Lehmann wrote. “It didn’t go over well. ‘This statement is insane,’ went one typical reply on the traditionally Trump-idolizing platform… No one wants the austerity represented by water rationing, spikes in electrical bills, and general resource plunder to wipe out the quality of life in the places where you live and work.” “When you squint a bit at the data-center uprising, its economic message is of a piece with the \[19th century\] Populists’ crusade to rein in the brutal takeover of the American countryside by the twinned forces of the railroad and oil industries… Now, as then, legislatures are the plaything of the monopolists remaking the country into their own image,” Lehmann said. “The Populists sought to break the stranglehold of plutocratic governance by founding their own independent party… It’s an indictment of our duopolistic status quo that neither party, as a principled matter of political economy, can afford to divorce itself from today’s tech oligarchy.” | What the right is saying. The right supports data center investment, with many arguing that the U.S. needs to keep up with foreign competitors. Some criticize politicians for agreeing with voters on misplaced concerns. Others sympathize with public concern while supporting the buildout. | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | **In City Journal, Shawn Regan wrote about** [**“what the data-center backlash could cost us.”**](https://www.city-journal.org/article/ai-benefits-data-centers-computing-power?ref=readtangle.com) “Halting or slowing down data-center construction would mean deliberately constraining the infrastructure behind one of the most important innovations of the twenty-first century,” Regan said. “If data centers become too hard to build here, American companies could grow dependent on foreign computing capacity to train proprietary models or conduct cutting-edge research. Government agencies could find themselves renting computing capacity from geopolitical adversaries. It’s easy to imagine Washington later spending enormous sums to ‘reshore’ that capacity, just as it is doing now with critical minerals.” “America must not make the computing power fueling these innovations artificially scarce. The challenge is to build enough of it while addressing legitimate local costs and making sure that host communities share the gains,” Regan wrote. “But the AI industry and its supporters need to do a better job explaining that data centers have much more to offer than just these local benefits. AI’s biggest promise lies in much broader, more universal applications — cancer treatments, personalized medicine, faster scientific discovery, better manufacturing and economy-wide productivity gains, to name a few. Chatbots and AI slop are just a distraction.” **In Reason, Tosin Akintola suggested** [**“candidates are backing voters’ bad arguments.”**](https://reason.com/2026/08/26/the-backlash-against-data-centers-is-bipartisan-nationwide-and-wrong/?ref=readtangle.com) “Americans *really* don’t like data centers,” Akintola wrote. “According to a recent poll from Heatmap Pro, 75 percent of Americans ‘would oppose a new data center being built near where they live.’ And as the responses from a March Gallup poll show, opponents of these facilities think data centers are noisy, bad for the environment, and bad for property values. Other commonly cited concerns include the data centers’ exorbitant water and electricity use. These would be valid reasons to oppose data centers if they weren’t unfounded. Yet, true to form, politicians are trying to capitalize on the misdirected public fury.” “After calling Texas the ‘epicenter of AI development’ last November, \[Gov. Greg Abbott\] recently mounted an about-face to slow data center buildout in his state… In August, Abbott escalated his campaign, directing \[two utilities organizations\] to audit all data centers in the process of connecting to the state’s electricity grid and pause all new construction until the audit is complete,” Akintola said. “Data centers are clearly unpopular. But accepting the flawed arguments of the industry’s critics and introducing harmful legislation to ban the technology is tantamount to accepting mob rule.” **In Townhall, Erick Erickson argued** [**“two things can be true at once.”**](https://townhall.com/columnists/erickerickson/2026/08/21/the-opposition-is-bipartisan-n2681588?ref=readtangle.com) “Foreign entities have seeded the opposition to data center growth in the United States. China, in particular, through its control of TikTok and other influence outlets, has relentlessly worked to stop the American AI advantage against China,” Erickson wrote. “Also, at this point, much of the opposition is organic, bipartisan, and growing. Americans are deeply opposed to data centers. They are wrong and shortsighted, but my view is the minority view. We should start by understanding the problem. Dario Amodei, the CEO of Anthropic and Sam Altman, the proprietor of OpenAI, are two of the worst spokesmen for AI and data centers to exist. “Dario Amodei has all but said AI is going to take your job, kill your family, destroy your future and the government needs to shut it all down, but AI is also a good thing… In the post-COVID world, American trust in institutions is low. The secrecy and feeling of powerlessness against giant corporations feed that distrust and amplify opposition,” Erickson said. “Americans need to get this right… But I am hard-pressed to blame skeptics when the loudest pro-AI voices are the CEOs who cannot help but scare you.” My take. Ari Weitzman Managing Editor ![Ari Weitzman](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2025/05/Ari.jpg) - I’m realizing that my previous position on data centers doesn’t hold up to scrutiny. - At the same time, the environmentalist backlash against data centers also doesn’t make sense. - That leaves me conflicted, but increasingly skeptical that new construction will be matched by consumer demand. **Reminder:** This is where we share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, leave a comment on the website or reply to this email. I’m starting to change my mind about data centers. This is the third time in six months I’m talking about this issue in Tangle. I’ve consistently been unconvinced of the arguments against data centers, which has put me on the side that says we should keep building more. However, I’ve also never been convinced by many of the arguments on *that* side. Consumer-facing companies like Microsoft, Meta, or [*Allbirds*](https://edenbradfieldresearch.substack.com/p/allbirds-did-the-funniest-thing-ever) building data centers will not help us out-compete China in any way, and building a new data center in your town will not turn it into the next [Loudoun County](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List%5Fof%5Fhighest-income%5Fcounties%5Fin%5Fthe%5FUnited%5FStates?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=1-,Loudoun%20County,Virginia,-%24147%2C111). Instead, I’ve argued that we need to level up capacity to meet consumer demand. But today, as I attempted to reconstruct that argument, I found each point collapsing like a sandcastle built on the incoming tide. Here’s what that looks like: The internet runs on remote data centers, and services that power the internet increasingly rely on AI; therefore, we need more data centers to provide that AI. “McKinsey’s 2025 global survey found that 88% of respondents said their organizations regularly used AI in at least one business function,” according to the digital marketing firm Big Red Jelly, in [a post](https://bigredjelly.com/blog/ai-adoption-statistics/?ref=readtangle.com) that Pangram found was 100% generated by AI. Alright, that’s a little uncomfortable. But still… The future isn’t always comfortable, and existing in a modern world means accepting modern tools. Companies use AI to help their businesses, and if they continue to do so, then we’re simply going to need more data centers. Roughly 78% of businesses have integrated conversational AI into their processes, and the chatbot industry is projected [to grow](https://masterofcode.com/blog/chatbot-statistics?ref=readtangle.com) by 19.6% every year until 2033\. According to [a recent study by Pew](https://www.pewresearch.org/data-labs/2026/08/20/how-much-of-the-internet-is-written-with-ai/?ref=readtangle.com), as of August 20, over a third of pages on the internet since the release of ChatGPT show signs of AI authorship. Okay, that actually feels pretty bad. Who looks at those numbers and says, *“Good, we’re increasingly exporting our lives to digital spaces, and we’re filling those places with slop — slop sloshing around our ankles, growing higher, reaching our chins in its warm thoughtless embrace. Let’s do more of that”*? Nobody that I know. But still… that’s the growth projection, so we should — that is, *industry investors* should — build out new data centers to meet consumer demand. Maybe you can’t possibly foresee yourself or your company using AI more than you currently do. But many of the companies you use as a consumer or a professional *are* projected to scale up. If you use the internet and exist in the interconnected world, you just need some place to process and house offsite data. Newer, more modern data centers will make the internet better overall. If you use Amazon, or store your photos on Google or watch Netflix, you’ll want better and faster data centers. And if you want those services to stay reliable and process faster, new hyperscale data centers are not being built to do that. Wait, is that right? New data centers are *not* being built to replace older ones? As it turns out, tech companies [aren’t planning](https://builtin.com/articles/future-of-data-centers-ai?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Currently%2C%20neoclouds%20are%20serving%20as%20a%20complement%20rather%20than%20a%20replacement%20for%20traditional%20hyperscalers%2C%20but%20are%20actively%20reshaping%20how%20AI%20infrastructure%20is%20built%20and%20deployed%20worldwide.) to take current centers offline, and data center capacity [is set to double](https://www.jll.com/en-us/insights/market-outlook/data-center-outlook?ref=readtangle.com) by 2030\. But still… Companies need these new data centers to power important, cutting-edge new tools. Meta, for example, is building out data centers so rapaciously that it can’t wait for the projects to complete and are putting server racks for its AI in [tents in Ohio and Tennessee](https://techcrunch.com/2026/06/04/meta-steals-a-tactic-from-tesla-and-builds-data-centers-in-tents/?ref=readtangle.com) — sorry, I mean, Meta is building out new data centers [staffed by robots](https://www.wired.com/story/inside-metas-experiments-with-data-center-robots/?ref=readtangle.com) — Ahem. Sorry, let me try that again. Meta is building out a new [five-gigawatt data center](https://www.reuters.com/business/meta-expands-louisiana-data-center-5-gigawatts-compute-capacity-2026-07-13/?ref=readtangle.com) to provide artificial intelligence services that their customers are demanding: [AI-generated ad campaigns](https://www.facebook.com/business/ai), [customer service chatbots](https://www.meta.com/account-recovery-support/ai-support-assistant/?srsltid=AfmBOoq%5FM0MXakUB0deSR9dSuKfghPJX4VTYWqy23hY%5FWqud8m5OtNhC&ref=readtangle.com), and tools to help create [AI-generated content](https://www.meta.com/help/artificial-intelligence/1337455336906126/?srsltid=AfmBOopQUmRRAnvji5VO0zOQ8F70vf8M2XaLSwNAudyiItiHeTe1-V3b&ref=readtangle.com). And look at the evidence that demonstrates consumer demand for these things. Gen Z empirically [hates AI ads](https://www.iab.com/insights/the-ai-gap-widens/?ref=readtangle.com), most consumers [prefer human customer service to AI bots](https://www.customerexperiencedive.com/news/consumers-prefer-human-led-customer-service/814226/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Two%2Dthirds%20of%20respondents%20say%20they%20prefer%20human%2Dled%20support%2C%20while%20just%20under%20half%20%E2%80%94%2048%25%20%E2%80%94%20of%20consumers%20say%20they%20don%E2%80%99t%20trust%20companies%20when%20they%20use%20AI%20to%20completely%20handle%20customer%20service%20queries%2C%20according%20to%20Pegasystems.%C2%A0), and only 7% say AI-generated marketing makes them [trust a brand more](https://www.emarketer.com/content/shoppers-aren-t-impressed-by-ai-generated-marketing?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Only%207%25%20of%20consumers%20say%20visible%20AI%2Dgenerated%20marketing%20content%20makes%20them%20trust%20a%20brand%20more%2C%20while%2031%25%20say%20it%20makes%20them%20trust%20the%20brand%20less%2C%20according%20to%20December%202025%20data%20from%20Klaviyo%20and%20Datalily.). So, to sum: The tech industry is justified in building more of these data centers to power new products that Americans are increasingly showing they do not want. Not exactly a compelling position. Even as I sheepishly admit that my previous line of argument doesn’t hold up, I don’t find the most popular argument against data centers to hold up, either. To put it bluntly, the environmental concerns about these facilities are way overstated. Data centers are about as loud [as a normal conversation](https://broadbandbreakfast.com/data-centers-are-not-that-loud-taxpayer-groups-finds/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=WASHINGTON%2C%20July%209%2C%202026%20%E2%80%93%20Hyperscale%20data%20centers%20are%20not%20much%20louder%20than%20ambient%20library%20sounds%20or%20a%20normal%20conversation%2C%20a%20recent%20brief%20from%20the%20Taxpayers%20Protection%20Alliance%20says.%C2%A0), they release only a [marginal amount](https://x.com/AndyMasley/status/1962196003521495256?ref=readtangle.com) of atmospheric carbon, and their water concerns are [grossly exaggerated](https://blog.andymasley.com/p/the-ai-water-issue-is-fake?ref=readtangle.com) to the point of total public misunderstanding. I’m less concerned about the impact data centers will have on the environment than the impact data centers are already having on *environmentalism.* Whereas our most pressing [environmental issues](https://earth.org/the-biggest-environmental-problems-of-our-lifetime/?ref=readtangle.com) are petroleum and coal power plants, loss of biodiversity, plastic pollution, deforestation and clean air, I find it almost impossible today to have a conversation about the environment that isn’t about data centers. They’re barely a blip on the radar for carbon dioxide emissions, yet they’re sucking up all the oxygen in modern environmentalism. That leaves me in a strange position. I don’t think the logic supporting data center expansion holds up, but I don’t think the argument against it holds up either. Instead, I think another, third argument is currently convincing me against building out more data centers. Let’s revisit Loudoun County, the richest county in the country and the one with the most data centers in America. Earlier this summer, one of its data centers suddenly [went offline](https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/northern-virginia/how-loudoun-county-data-centers-are-linked-to-power-flickering-across-half-the-u-s/4134124/?ref=readtangle.com) and [caused](https://www.tingfire.com/blog/what-happened-when-3-gigawatt-of-data-center-demand-disappeared-from-the-grid/?ref=readtangle.com) a temporary grid disturbance across the entire Eastern United States. There were no rolling blackouts and our grid stabilized just fine, but that disturbance felt like a warning shot to me. We’re building out systems, logistically and economically, that assume these data centers will be there. And if we keep building on that assumption more and more, if (and when) these facilities go away we’re going to be left overextended and overleveraged in a sector that doesn’t appear to be set to deliver on its astronomical promises. I’d normally say that the private sector is free to pursue its ventures, and if it fails, that’s its prerogative. But right now, there’s just too much riding on this issue to be laissez-faire about it. There will be no other Loudoun County — its largesse [is singular](https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/northern-virginia/how-loudoun-county-data-centers-are-linked-to-power-flickering-across-half-the-u-s/4134124/?ref=readtangle.com), owing not to AI data centers but to data centers that are 20+ years old. They’re currently reaping the returns on investments made at the dawn of the internet, when the county was the center of the government’s investment in fiberoptic technology in the late 1990s, not profiting from more recent ventures. Asking us to accept this rate of construction is asking us to accept that AI is going to be *more transformational* to our daily lives than the internet. I don’t think that’s a position I can accept. Most of you have used AI tools and seen the public relations initiatives from Anthropic and OpenAI, and you probably see what I see: This technology looks much closer to its ceiling than to a vertical acceleration. Yet, construction in this space is treating runaway future growth as a given. I’m not a Luddite. I think AI has already given us a lot of phenomenal applications. We have professional tools that can help parse through mountains of legal briefs, detect skin cancer, and unfold novel proteins. We should feel grateful for those innovations. But I’m not sure I still believe that building more and more data centers will help support a brighter future. Instead, I think they’re helping to prop up an ever-expanding bubble — and when it goes “pop,” it’ll take years of work and billions in invested capital with it. **Take the survey:** Do you think we should keep building data centers? [Let us know](https://interrobang.vercel.app/survey/6c91d688-220a-4729-82e2-92578a22b616?ref=readtangle.com). *Disagree? That*’*s okay. Our opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we'll consider publishing your feedback.* ### A deeper look. ![Solvay Process Co.’s works, Syracuse, circa 1890 | Library of Congress](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/09/data-src-image-0a968ca7-4478-4b5b-898f-56dcb13055fb.png) Solvay Process Co.’s works, Syracuse, circa 1890 | [Library of Congress](https://www.loc.gov/resource/det.4a07766/?ref=readtangle.com) For most of human history, goods were produced in homes and workshops by skilled craftsmen and women. But that all changed in the 1760s, when British inventor James Hargreaves [created](https://www.britannica.com/summary/Industrial-Revolution-Timeline?ref=readtangle.com) new machinery that sped up textile production and James Watt improved upon the steam engine. As more inventions made it possible for goods to be produced more quickly, entrepreneurs like Richard Arkwright set up the first factories that used these innovations en masse. This period of rapid technological change became known as the First Industrial Revolution. Mass production of textiles and other goods increased throughout the 19th century, but not all Britons supported the change. A group of textile craftsmen who [felt](https://www.britannica.com/event/Luddite?ref=readtangle.com) that the new machinery was taking their livelihoods rioted against the rise of factories and new technology. They banded together and would destroy machinery in cities across England by night. These craftsmen called themselves Luddites, after their mythical leader Ned Ludd. Their protests began in about 1811; in 1813, in an effort to quell the protests, many Luddites were put on trial and hanged for their crimes. Though Luddite protests would briefly revive in 1816 after the end of the Napoleonic Wars, industrialization would continue apace. The term Luddite has survived to describe anyone opposed to technological advancement — including advancements like artificial intelligence. Today's Partner ****Better Sleep Starts Here** Tired all day, wide awake at bedtime? [Organixx Magnesium 7 combines seven highly absorbable forms of magnesium](https://api.wellput.io/v1/cm?cmid=1103980&tid=278&s1=v2-r1007820-p1103980-c38026&s2=Tangle&s3=&s4=&ref=readtangle.com) designed to support relaxation, restful sleep and recovery. So you can spend less time staring at the ceiling at 2:37 AM and more time actually sleeping. [****Tangle readers: Buy 2, Get 1 Free**](https://api.wellput.io/v1/cm?cmid=1103980&tid=278&s1=v2-r1007820-p1103980-c38026&s2=Tangle&s3=&s4=&ref=readtangle.com)****.** [Get better sleep - guaranteed ](https://api.wellput.io/v1/cm?cmid=1103980&tid=278&s1=v2-r1007820-p1103980-c38026&s2=Tangle&s3=&s4=&ref=readtangle.com) ### The road not taken. Two topics nearly made the cut this week. First was the U.S. Postal Service whistleblower who [claimed](https://www.axios.com/2026/09/01/usps-whistleblower-mail-ballots-warning?ref=readtangle.com) that the agency is attempting to secretly implement parts of President Trump’s executive order on mail-in voting despite legal challenges, raising concerns about whether the new system will be in place for the November midterms. It’s an important story, but we [covered](https://www.readtangle.com/scotus-mail-in-ballots-august-2026/) Trump’s executive order last week and want to allow more time to learn about the veracity of the whistleblower’s allegations. Second, Army Secretary Dan Driscoll’s [resignation](https://www.wsj.com/politics/national-security/army-secretary-resigns-after-months-of-friction-with-hegseth-9c124207?ref=readtangle.com) over reported clashes with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Driscoll’s departure — and the [growing number](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/military-leaders-fired-forced-out-resigned-hegseth-defense-secretary-trump-pentagon/?ref=readtangle.com) of firings and resignations in the military — will likely be a main topic of ours soon, but we felt it was prudent to wait for more reporting on the circumstances of Driscoll’s departure before weighing in. ### The extras. - **One year ago today** we covered [the debate over physician-assisted suicide](https://www.readtangle.com/the-debate-over-physician-assisted-suicide/). - **The most clicked link in our last regular newsletter** was the story of [House Democrats defecting on a rule vote](https://www.axios.com/2026/09/01/golden-perez-jeffries-clark-house-democrats-vote?ref=readtangle.com). - **Nothing to do with politics:** Another banger from Neal.fun: Play as a [sketch artist drawing cartoon suspects](https://neal.fun/unusual-suspects/?ref=readtangle.com). - **Our last survey:** 2,404 readers responded to our survey on the Supreme Court’s ruling on the White House ballroom with 61% opposing both the legal decision and practical ramifications. “Better to ask forgiveness than permission, but I’m confident this president will do neither,” one respondent said. “I fully support the ballroom in all its glory — and think a secure underground compound is an excellent idea,” said another. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/09/data-src-image-870c9b03-d9ae-40f3-8529-1f183c31f448.png) ### Have a nice day. Carl Wilson spent years driving trucks past I-90 in Osburn, Idaho, watching elk get killed trying to cross the highway. He set out to turn an abandoned “bridge to nowhere” — half-demolished decades earlier by a mining company — into a wildlife overpass, rallying neighbors, businesses, and state agencies behind the idea. Wilson died in December 2022 before the project was completed. However, Kirsten Voorhees, a civil engineer who’d survived her own collision with a deer at 16, promised him she’d see it through. She did. With $645,000 in grants, the retrofit was completed in August 2025, and trail cameras have since recorded elk and deer using it safely. “I told him, ‘You have my word,’” Voorhees said. “It became a blood oath.” [Good Good Good has the story](https://www.goodgoodgood.co/articles/idaho-wildlife-crossing-osburn-bridge?ref=readtangle.com). ### The Argument Over Capitalism, Race, and America URL: https://www.readtangle.com/the-argument-over-capitalism-race-and-america/ Last updated: 2026-09-03T16:07:57.000Z Is mail-in voting under threat? ### SCOTUS and the White House ballroom. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/scotus-and-the-white-house-ballroom/ Last updated: 2026-09-02T15:49:43.000Z Hello, happy Hump Day, and welcome to Tangle. This is **Senior Editor Will Kaback**. President Trump’s **White House ballroom project** is back in the headlines this week, and the Supreme Court may have just written the final chapter in the construction saga (emphasis on “may have”). There’s a bit more than meets the eye here, so stick around as we parse the Court’s Monday decision. As a bonus: I finally get to connect Robert Moses to a contemporary news item, which I’ve been pining to do after spending the bulk of last year reading Robert A. Caro’s *The Power Broker*. We’ve also got some interesting numbers about **the scale of the planned ballroom construction**, plus a story about **an incredible rescue in an underwater cave**. It’s a **13-minute read**. ### Get texts from us. The news cycle is heating up as we head into the midterms, and you can follow along with us every step of the way. On our [**SMS messaging service**](https://joinsubtext.com/c/tanglenews?ref=readtangle.com), we give readers exclusive opportunities to weigh in on our daily topics, access to behind-the-scenes peeks at our editorial process, and staff analysis of breaking news that doesn’t go to the newsletter. Opt in to only the texts that you want, and cancel anytime. To join the conversation, [**sign up here**](https://joinsubtext.com/c/tanglenews?ref=readtangle.com)! ### Quick hits. 1. U.S. Central Command said the military carried out a new wave of airstrikes against Iranian targets in response to Iranian missile ​and drone attacks on U.S. bases in the Middle East. ([The latest](https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/us-iran-exchange-attacks-lull-war-appears-over-2026-09-02/?ref=readtangle.com)) 2. Sen. Ed Markey defeated Rep. Seth Moulton in Massachusetts’s Democratic Senate primary. Markey will face Republican attorney and veteran John Deaton in the general election. ([The result](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-primary-elections/massachusetts-senate-results?ref=readtangle.com)) 3. Germany said it believes Russia was behind an attempt to send explosive drones to a German airport in August. Germany’s interior minister said, “We do not consider ourselves at war but we are the daily target of hybrid warfare,” and pledged to seek new sanctions against Russia. ([The accusation](https://www.wsj.com/world/europe/germany-blames-russia-for-explosive-drones-sent-to-leipzig-airport-03599b93?ref=readtangle.com)) 4. The House voted 370–48 to pass a three-month spending bill in advance of a September 30 funding deadline. The Senate passed the bill in August, and it now goes to President Trump to sign. ([The bill](https://thehill.com/homenews/house/6063667-house-government-funding-cr-shutdown-midterms/?ref=readtangle.com)) 5. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) rebuked Reps. Jared Golden (D-ME) and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA) after they cast deciding votes to pass a Republican-led procedural measure advancing parameters for how a set of bills will be debated on the House floor. ([The criticism](https://www.axios.com/2026/09/01/golden-perez-jeffries-clark-house-democrats-vote?ref=readtangle.com)) Today’s partner ****Nosier Than Your Neighbors** Every website you visit leaves a trail. And between internet providers, public WiFi and various online snoops, more people can potentially see that trail than you might like. [Proton VPN helps shut the curtains](https://go.getproton.me/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=25&aff%5Fid=19661&ref=readtangle.com). It encrypts your connection and hides your IP address so your browsing stays more private. You can use it on up to 10 devices, take it traveling to keep streaming your usual shows, and run it without feeling like you’ve returned to dial-up speeds. [****Tangle readers can get 70% off Proton VPN**](https://go.getproton.me/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=25&aff%5Fid=19661&ref=readtangle.com) **for a limited time, with a 30-day money-back guarantee.** [Browse Without an Audience ](https://go.getproton.me/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=25&aff%5Fid=19661&ref=readtangle.com) ### Today’s topic. The White House ballroom ruling. On Monday, the Supreme Court [decided](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/08/31/supreme-court-white-house-ballroom.html?ref=readtangle.com) 5–4 to allow President Trump to continue above-ground construction on his White House ballroom project. The unsigned order [pauses](https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/26a203%5F2b8e.pdf?ref=readtangle.com) a federal judge’s halt on above-ground construction, stating the plaintiff likely lacks legal standing. However, the majority did not decide whether Trump has the legal authority to build the ballroom without congressional approval, and litigation will continue in lower courts. **Back up:** In July 2025, the Trump administration [released](https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/2025/07/the-white-house-announces-white-house-ballroom-construction-to-begin/?ref=readtangle.com) plans to construct a 90,000-square-foot addition to the White House, and in October construction crews [began](https://www.readtangle.com/trump-demolishes-east-wing-white-house-ballroom/) demolishing the White House’s East Wing. The project, originally estimated to cost $200 million, would feature a large ballroom and underground military compound. The National Trust for Historic Preservation in the United States (NTHP) [sued](https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72028010/1/national-trust-for-historic-preservation-in-the-united-states-v-national/?ref=readtangle.com) the National Park Service and Donald Trump, among other defendants, alleging that presidents cannot demolish parts of the White House without congressional authorization. In March, U.S. District Judge Richard Leon [ordered](https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.287645/gov.uscourts.dcd.287645.60.0%5F2.pdf?ref=readtangle.com) above-ground construction on the project to pause, saying the president is the steward of the property and not the owner. The Trump administration [asked](https://www.scotusblog.com/2026/08/supreme-court-allows-construction-on-white-house-ballroom-to-continue/?ref=readtangle.com) the Supreme Court to issue an immediate administrative stay on Leon’s order on August 13; Chief Justice John Roberts granted the request on August 21\. Roberts’s order temporarily allowed above-ground construction to continue while the Supreme Court considered the case. Ten days later, the Court ruled in favor of the administration. The five-justice majority cited national security concerns and [rejected](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/31/us/politics/supreme-court-trump-ballroom.html?ref=readtangle.com) the plaintiff’s asserted basis for legal challenge based on grounds of “aesthetic, cultural, and historical interests.” The unsigned opinion said, “Mere offense, disagreement, or distaste does not qualify as a concrete and particularized injury under Article III \[of the U.S. Constitution\].” Chief Justice John Roberts, joined by the Court’s three Democrat-appointed justices in dissent, [argued](https://www.wsj.com/us-news/law/supreme-court-allows-trump-to-keep-building-white-house-ballroom-d45a7c1c?ref=readtangle.com) that federal law requires congressional approval for any construction in federal parks in the District of Columbia. Roberts also cited Court precedent that environmentalists can have standing based on being “aesthetically injured” by the destruction of ecosystems, drawing the parallel that preservationists can have similar standing based on the destruction of historic buildings. The NTHP president and CEO, Brent Leggs, [criticized](https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/6061878-trump-wins-ballroom-construction-lawsuit/?ref=readtangle.com) the ruling. “We are deeply disappointed in the Supreme Court’s ruling today and respectfully disagree with the majority’s opinion on standing,” he said. “It is noteworthy that the majority did not weigh in on whether the ballroom project was in fact legal.” Donald Trump called the NTHP lawsuit “baseless” and [celebrated](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/white-house-ballroom-construction-lifeline-scotus-heated-legal-fight?ref=readtangle.com) the Court’s decision. “I am pleased to report that the United States Supreme Court has just ruled in favor of the Ballroom/Military Complex being built without any further contingency, doubt, or threat,” he said, predicting that construction will finish in summer of 2028\. Today, you’ll hear views from the right and left on the ruling. Then, a take from Senior Editor Will Kaback. | What the right is saying. The right supports the Court’s ruling, saying the plaintiff’s standing argument was weak. Some push back on claims that the Republican-appointed justices are rubber stamps for the president. Others note that many presidents have renovated the White House. | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | **In National Review, Dan McLaughlin suggested the ruling** [**“looks like the right decision.”**](https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/supreme-court-refuses-to-let-aesthetic-objections-stop-trumps-ballroom/?ref=readtangle.com) “\[Alison Hoagland, who serves on the NTHP board of trustees,\] hasn’t been personally harmed in any way; she just doesn’t like the way the place looks. That would be a flimsy basis for a property owner to complain of a neighboring building, short of meeting the common-law standard for a nuisance — let alone a person who just walks by a building now and then,” McLaughlin wrote. “As it happens, ‘aesthetic standing’ really is a thing in the law, however — if a dubious one. The doctrine, like so many silly things, comes out of a 1970s opinion, *Sierra Club v. Morton* (1972).” “It is, however, largely a creature of environmental law, in which courts tend to stretch the law of standing on the theory that the legal protection of nature is intended in good part to benefit people who use parks… This case, however, is quite different: If Trump is breaking the law in renovating the East Wing of the White House, the real victim is Congress,” McLaughlin said. “\[Chief Justice Roberts argued,\] ‘The White House is not just any building, and — when it comes to historic preservation — Hoagland is not just any person.’ But in a republic where all of us are created equal, maybe she is.” **The Washington Post editorial board wrote about** [**“what Trump’s ballroom win really says about the Supreme Court.”**](https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2026/08/31/trumps-supreme-court-ballroom-win-keeps-door-open-door-more-challenges/?ref=readtangle.com) “Those who want to portray the court as a puppet for President Donald Trump will point to Monday’s ruling on the White House ballroom as supposed proof… But look at the case’s details,” the board said. “The majority based its decision on standing. In general, a person needs to face a ‘concrete and particularized’ injury to bring a valid lawsuit… Millions of Americans are offended by Trump’s unilateral effort to change the White House, but that doesn’t give courts standing to enter a judgment on their behalf. “Saying so reflected venerable conservative priorities. In general, while liberals have been open to relaxing rules around standing, conservatives have resisted,” the board wrote. “This was a conservative decision, not a pro-Trump one… It’s a shame that the separation of powers didn’t work as intended, with Trump and Congress agreeing on what reasonable construction would look like. But the Supreme Court wouldn’t have strengthened the constitutional order by overstepping its own legal role.” **In PJ Media, Matt Margolis said** [**“being offended isn’t a legal injury.”**](https://unwall.app/pjmedia.com/matt-margolis/2026/08/31/cry-harder-lefties-supreme-court-clears-trumps-ballroom-project-n4956748?ref=readtangle.com) “Presidents from both parties have wanted a White House ballroom for years. State dinners have been hosted in a tent on the South Lawn, forcing foreign dignitaries to trudge outside to portable toilets. This was never about the ballroom itself; it was about the fact that Trump is finally the one building it, and the left can’t stand it,” Margolis wrote. “In his dissent, Roberts wrote that the construction was ‘likely unlawful’ and argued the majority was letting it proceed ‘not because that construction is legal,’ but because the Trust likely lacks standing to sue. “There’s no reason to justify the claim that the project was unlawful. In fact, presidents have been renovating and expanding the White House for more than a century, and nobody sued over it then,” Margolis said. “Franklin D. Roosevelt installed an indoor pool and expanded both wings. Harry Truman gutted and rebuilt the entire interior in 1948\. Richard Nixon added the press briefing room and a bowling alley. Barack Obama spent two years and $375 million turning the tennis court into a basketball court, and nobody on the left blinked. And you didn’t see that project get tied up in lawsuits either.” | What the left is saying. The left opposes the ruling, with many arguing the ballroom construction is illegal. Some accuse the Republican-appointed justices of favoring Trump.Others say Chief Justice Roberts’s previous opinions laid the groundwork for this outcome. | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | **In Vox, Ian Millhiser said the Court** [**“just gave Trump his illegal ballroom.”**](https://www.vox.com/politics/501428/supreme-court-ballroom-standing-national-park-service-trump?ref=readtangle.com#google%5Fvignette) “Notably, no member of the Court argued that Trump’s ballroom, an enormous structure that the president plans to build on the former site of the White House’s East Wing, is legal,” Millhiser wrote. “Because the majority opinion is so poorly explained, it is hard to tell what its implications will be. If the Court had explicitly overruled its past decisions holding that a plaintiff may often sue to challenge the destruction of something beautiful, that would be an existential threat to countless environmental, conservationist, and historical preservation laws that all exist to preserve natural or historic beauty.” “But the Court’s failure to explain why \[*Lujan v. Defenders of Wildlife*\] does not require them to rule against Trump leaves lawyers and judges to guess at what the Court just did to the rules governing standing,” Millhiser said. “Perhaps this is a one-off decision intended solely to do a favor for Trump. Or maybe it’s the harbinger of a future decision setting much of America’s environmental protection regime on fire. The five justices in the majority barely explain themselves, so we cannot yet know what *National Park Service* means. But one thing that is clear is that the decision makes no sense.” **In Balls and Strikes, Jay Willis suggested the ruling is** [**“everything Trump could have asked for.”**](https://ballsandstrikes.org/scotus/supreme-court-ballroom-decision/?ref=readtangle.com) “The upshot of *National Park Service v. National Trust for Historic Preservation* is that whether or not Trump’s already-in-progress ballroom is ‘legal’ — something that, in my view, the Supreme Court of the United States really ought to weigh, but whatever — no one has the power to stop its construction, even temporarily,” Willis wrote. “As a result, if a federal court eventually rules on the merits that, no, Trump can’t build the ballroom, that conclusion will be academic. The ballroom will already be complete.” “*National Trust for Historic Preservation* is yet another entry in the canon of cases in which the conservative justices… cobble together some half-assed gibberish to assert that The Law compels their preferred result. An abstract concept like standing doctrine is especially useful in this context, since its contours are flexible,” Willis said. “The fight over the ballroom lays bare the absurdity of the Court’s strategy of ‘resolving’ Trump-adjacent cases by pretending to do something (anything) else. For Trump and the Trust and everyone else watching this case, the only thing that matters here is whether the conservative supermajority’s favorite president gets to build what he wants.” **In Mother Jones, Pema Levy argued** [**“the president’s lawlessness is the chief justice’s fault.”**](https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2026/09/donald-trump-ballroom-supreme-court/?ref=readtangle.com) “While Roberts clearly doesn’t want to be blamed for the ballroom, he wrote many of the precedents that undergird the majority’s decision to let it go forward… In case after case, the majority presumed that the harm to Trump is greater than the harm to the targets of his actions — even when those are far more irreparable and concrete,” Levy wrote. “There is an irony in Roberts’ unwillingness to go along with this view of executive prerogative in the ballroom case, because he is largely responsible for it. “In decision after decision, Roberts has imbued the presidency with the powers of the so-called unitary executive, a king-like ruler with total control over the executive branch,” Levy wrote. “The country, he promised, would be better off with a decisive leader, rather than one who must ‘“answer for his conduct” in court.’ Just one year later, Trump decisively but illegally razed the East Wing and started building a giant ballroom… On Monday, the court once again told Trump to go ahead with an illegal scheme. The lesson is clear.” | My take. Will Kaback Senior Editor ![Will Kaback](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2025/05/Will-Square.jpg) | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Trump’s “outrun the courts” strategy recalls another famous New York builder.This action looks blatantly illegal, but the standing issue actually seems rightly decided.I don’t know how overreaches like this can get challenged, which gives me deep concerns about the future powers of the executive. | | **Reminder:** This is where we share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, leave a comment or reply to this email. | A brash New Yorker sets his sights on a legacy-defining construction project. He knows he’ll face staunch opposition, and the funds needed to complete the project are not guaranteed. But he has an ace up his sleeve (or, really, a willingness to exploit flaws in the system): just start building. That New Yorker was urban planner Robert Moses, and the project was his [incalculably large transformation](https://www.nytimes.com/1981/07/30/obituaries/robert-moses-master-builder-is-dead-at-92.html?ref=readtangle.com) of the city from 1924 to 1968, often at the expense of lower-class residents and, in his later years, with little regard for the law. Here in the 21st century, that description also applies to President Donald Trump and his White House ballroom. Moses’s challenge was securing public financing for his enormous public works projects. He realized that if he could obtain an initial sum to get his projects started, lawmakers and public officials would be more likely to relent and approve the rest of the funding later on. Once he’d put down stakes and spent the initial capital, city and state officials didn’t want to let construction sites sit half-complete, wasting both money already expended and the work already done. More often than not, Moses got the funds he needed. Trump’s challenge with the ballroom is a bit more complex: He has [ostensibly raised](https://abcnews.com/Politics/donors-funding-white-house-ballroom/story?id=126778550&ref=readtangle.com) necessary funding from private donors to start the project, but tearing down an entire wing of the White House and putting something new in its place isn’t the same as constructing a new highway. In theory, such an endeavor requires congressional authorization and multiple executive agency reviews. Trump has essentially sidestepped these hurdles by employing the Moses strategy — tearing down the East Wing without following normal procedures, and daring the courts or Congress (or anybody, really) to stop him after taking irreversible steps. To understand how we got to this point, we can contrast what *should* have happened to what *has* happened. In the normal process, the Trump administration would have begun by consulting Congress about its plans. Yes, [Section 107](https://uscode.ecfr.io/statutes/pl/89/665.pdf?ref=readtangle.com#page=3) of the National Historic Preservation Act exempts the White House and its grounds from requirements that constrict other prospective building projects on federal properties. That exemption, however, does not give the president boundless authority to alter the executive mansion. As the Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit [noted](https://media.cadc.uscourts.gov/opinions/docs/2026/08/26-5123-2187096.pdf?ref=readtangle.com#page=6) in its August decision, Congress has broad authority over federal property, which includes the White House. Next, assuming authorization and funding for the project were secured, the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) and the Commission of Fine Arts (CFA) would [each review](https://savingplaces.org/stories/construction-of-the-white-house-ballroom-frequently-asked-questions?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=What%20processes%20must%20be%20followed%20before%20new%20construction%20takes%20place%20at%20the%20White%20House%3F) the planned construction. After clearing final designs and ensuring permits were in place, demolition and construction would begin. Here’s what actually happened. Trump announced the project in July 2025, and within two months, site work began without congressional consultation or commission review. Between October 20 and 24, the entire East Wing was [demolished](https://www.readtangle.com/trump-demolishes-east-wing-white-house-ballroom/). Despite this progress, the CFA was still set to review the administration’s ballroom plans, and it could have still raised concerns. However, in late October, President Trump fired all six of the commission’s members before they could issue their report. In January of 2026, the president [appointed](https://www.cnn.com/2026/01/16/politics/ballroom-commission-fine-arts-trump?ref=readtangle.com) new CFA members widely viewed as administration allies; they joined the loyalists already on the NCPC, who had been [appointed](https://www.axios.com/local/washington-dc/2025/07/11/trump-deputies-take-over-powerful-dc-planning-commission?ref=readtangle.com) in July 2025\. The newly constituted CFA began its review in January, and it [approved](https://cfa.gov/records-research/project-search/cfa-19-feb-26-1?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Expressing%20enthusiastic%20support%20for%20the%20project%2C%20the%20Commission%20approved%20the%20submission%20as%20a%20final%20design%20with%20the%20following%20comments.) the plan in February. NCPC approval [followed](https://www.ncpc.gov/projects/8733/?ref=readtangle.com) in April. Of course, these assessments were largely pointless by then, as the East Wing was already gone. All that was left to do was rubber-stamp the ballroom construction that was (surprise, surprise) [well underway](https://cases.justia.com/federal/district-courts/district-of-columbia/dcdce/1:2025cv04316/287645/60/0.pdf?ts=1775058865&ref=readtangle.com#page=5). In sum: The Trump administration ignored proper procedure at key steps, disregarding Congress and taking irreversible action before the courts could catch up. Whatever you think of the merits of the ballroom itself, that underlying narrative is hard to dispute. Given the president’s disregard for proper procedure in tearing down the East Wing, you might assume that the courts would prevent any further action while challenges to the project proceeded. How, then, did the Supreme Court arrive at this week’s decision? The answer is technical and leaves me feeling unsatisfied. As a brief refresher, the National Trust for Historic Preservation (NTHP) [sued](https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72028010/1/national-trust-for-historic-preservation-in-the-united-states-v-national/?ref=readtangle.com) last December to pause ballroom construction, [claiming](https://www.scotusblog.com/2026/08/supreme-court-allows-construction-on-white-house-ballroom-to-continue/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=The%20trust%20had,government%E2%80%99s%20design%20distasteful.%E2%80%9D) that group member Alison K. Hoagland would suffer irreparable harm to her “aesthetic, cultural, and historical interests” if the ballroom were built. It also said in a later filing that the government’s national security interests wouldn’t be harmed in this instance, since a lower-court ruling allowed underground construction of a secure bunker to continue. But the majority disagreed, deferring to the government’s [broad claim](https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/26a203%5F2b8e.pdf?ref=readtangle.com#page=7) that “constructing *something* approximating the height and mass of the intended above-ground ballroom is ‘crucial’ to the security of the below-ground military installation.” Furthermore, it rejected the NTHP’s argument that Hoagland had standing to sue, writing, “Mere offense, disagreement, or distaste does not qualify as a concrete and particularized injury.” In his dissent, Chief Justice Roberts [noted](https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/26a203%5F2b8e.pdf?ref=readtangle.com#page=12) that the Court has held that aesthetic injury can qualify for standing in environmental cases, comparing Hoagland’s preservationist interest in a public historic site to a conservationist’s desire to observe an endangered species in the wild. On the narrow question of standing, I can understand both perspectives, but I’m more convinced by the majority. I also think the principle of standing is far from trivial — it prevents frivolous lawsuits and focuses the legal system on cases where courts can offer redress for alleged harms. Those on the left outraged by this ruling should remember all the times the Supreme Court ruled in their favor on issues of standing: *California v. Texas* (2021), which preserved the Affordable Care Act; *United States v. Texas* (2023), which upheld the Biden administration’s immigration policies; *Food and Drug Administration v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine* (2024), which upheld access to abortion medication; and many more. However, what frustrates me about this outcome is what it means for challenges to Trump’s “Moses strategy” in the future. If “aesthetic, cultural, and historical interests” don’t meet the threshold for standing in this case, who besides Congress itself could bring a valid suit? In effect, the Trump administration appears to have broken the law without leaving anyone with a sufficiently direct injury to challenge it, thus allowing it to proceed. That feels unacceptable — but I’m not sure what can be done. I fully acknowledge that, as Isaac [wrote](https://www.readtangle.com/trump-demolishes-east-wing-white-house-ballroom/#:~:text=it%E2%80%99s%20a%20hallmark.%E2%80%9D-,My%20take.,-Reminder%3A%20%E2%80%9CMy%20take) when we covered the demolition last October, this ballroom project is far down the list of pressing national issues; but at the same time, it’s really about more than the ballroom. Trump is currently [threatening](https://www.cnn.com/2026/08/25/politics/demolish-kennedy-center-renovations?ref=readtangle.com) to tear down the Kennedy Center if he can’t renovate it to his liking. I’m not confident that the demolition could be stopped if he decided to proceed. Beyond construction projects, consider the Iran war. The Constitution gives Congress, not the president, the power to declare war — though presidents have long sidestepped this by initiating “military actions” without congressional authorization. After six months of such actions, very few would dispute that we’re at war with Iran (Trump himself [calls the conflict](https://www.axios.com/2026/03/26/trump-iran-war-semantics-congress-approval?ref=readtangle.com) a war), but no congressional authorization has been given. It’s hard to imagine the Supreme Court (or many lower courts, really) accepting that an individual citizen or U.S. business has standing to challenge the president’s war powers, and with Congress declining to assert its own power, we’re left to accept a war that Congress never authorized continuing in perpetuity. If there’s one lesson to take from the second Trump administration so far, it’s that the president prefers to act fast and handle opposition later. In cases where standing is more easily established — tariffs, birthright citizenship, mistaken deportations, DOGE layoffs — he’s often lost in court. But the ballroom saga shows that sometimes this strategy works; the Iran war shows that sometimes it works in much more consequential situations. However you feel about the merits of either action, I don’t think we should be comfortable with this administration, or any subsequent one, having that kind of power. | Staff concurrence. Ari Weitzman Managing Editor ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2025/05/Ari.jpg) | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Like Will, I also am deeply concerned about the “standing gap” that prevents the courts from stepping in when the executive branch supersedes a willfully compliant Congress. But I’m preoccupied by the question: What constraints could possibly exist here? The key is that Congress is willfully compliant, which then raises the question: What will happen if, and when, Congress is no longer compliant? Reading the tea leaves, I think Democrats are likely to win at least the House back in November, and I wonder what they’ll prioritize once they do. By January, when the new Congress is sworn in, this ballroom construction could be Robert Moses levels of complete, so a stop order wouldn’t make sense. Would there be enough bipartisan, veto-proof momentum to pass a law curtailing executive power more sharply? Maybe, but I’m doubtful. If not, what would congressional Democrats do? One potential path would be particularly dramatic. Back in 2015, a federal judge allowed the House of Representatives [to sue](https://rollcall.com/2015/09/21/white-house-appeals-house-suit-over-health-spending/?ref=readtangle.com) President Barack Obama for allegedly superseding his authority with Affordable Care Act (ACA) payments, which the White House [appealed](https://rollcall.com/2015/09/21/white-house-appeals-house-suit-over-health-spending/?ref=readtangle.com) to the Supreme Court later that year. President Trump was inaugurated and stopped the ACA payments before that case was decided, but the legal question remains — if it wanted to, could the House of Representatives litigate a dispute with the president before the Supreme Court? In five months’ time, we might find out. | **Take the survey:** What do you think about the legal and practical implications of this case? [Let us know](https://interrobang.vercel.app/survey/fc8da7d7-b028-4c58-becc-23400f6c74b8?ref=readtangle.com). *Disagree? That*’*s okay. Our opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we*’*ll consider publishing your feedback.* ### Numbers. - [**90,000.**](https://www.thehotelwashington.com/washington-dc-travel-guide/white-house-ballroom-project-design-cost-timeline?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Plans%20call%20for%20a%2090%2C000%E2%80%91square%E2%80%91foot%20East%C2%A0Wing%20modernization%20with%20a%2022%2C000%E2%80%91square%E2%80%91foot%20ballroom%20capable%20of%20seating%20650%C2%A0to%20999%20guests%E2%80%94more%20than%20triple%20the%20200%E2%80%91person%20capacity%20of%20the%20East%C2%A0Room.)The square footage of the proposed building replacing the White House’s East Wing. - [**22,000.**](https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-ballroom-white-house-demolition-construction-east-wing-timeline?ref=readtangle.com#january-8-2026-architect-shalom-baranes-shared-the-construction-plans-with-the-national-capital-planning-commission-9:~:text=The%20presentation%20revealed%20that%20the%20ballroom%20itself%20will%20measure%2022%2C000%20square%20feet%2C%20with%2040%2Dfoot%20ceilings%20and%20enough%20space%20to%20seat%201%2C000%20people.)The projected square footage of the White House ballroom itself. - [**55,000.**](https://www.whitehousehistory.org/questions/how-big-is-the-white-house?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=What%20are%20the%20dimensions%20of%20the%20White%20House%3F) The square footage of the White House’s main building. - [**$200 million.**](https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/2025/07/the-white-house-announces-white-house-ballroom-construction-to-begin/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=President%20Trump%2C%20and%20other%20patriot%20donors%2C%20have%20generously%20committed%20to%20donating%20the%20funds%20necessary%20to%20build%20this%20approximately%20%24200%20million%20dollar%20structure.%20The%20United%20States%20Secret%20Service%20will%20provide%20the%20necessary%20security%20enhancements%20and%20modifications.%C2%A0)The initial projected cost of the new ballroom as of July 2025, according to the White House. - [**$600 million.**](https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/2026/06/16/records-reveal-600m-estimate-trumps-ballroom-project-with-half-taxpayers/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=But%20a%20detailed%20project%20summary%20prepared%20for%20the%20White%20House%20by%20the%20contractor%20more%20than%20three%20weeks%20before%20Trump%E2%80%99s%20comments%20estimated%20the%20total%20construction%20cost%20at%20%24600%20million)The projected cost of the new ballroom as of March 2026, according to invoices obtained by The Washington Post. 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On July 23, Erasto Crisanto Valdez disappeared while fishing in Mexico, prompting an urgent search. After two weeks, hope appeared to be lost; but on day 15 of the search, authorities found Valdez alive, trapped in an underwater cave. Valdez told rescuers that he ventured into the cave after going underwater in the area, adding that it was pitch-black inside. While trapped, he was able to breathe thanks to an air chamber in the cave, and he drank water from a spring running through the cave to survive. He remains under medical care but has been reunited with his family. [People has the story](https://people.com/man-rescued-after-being-trapped-in-underwater-cave-for-15-days-12061101?ref=readtangle.com). ### Is El-Sayed a good messenger for the Democratic Party? URL: https://www.readtangle.com/is-el-sayed-a-good-messenger-for-the-democratic-party/ Last updated: 2026-09-02T07:06:55.000Z Is Abdul El-Sayed a good messenger for the Democratic Party? ### The U.S. oil deal with Venezuela. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/us-oil-deal-with-venezuela/ Last updated: 2026-09-01T15:51:33.000Z Welcome to September. I’m **Isaac Saul**, Tangle’s executive editor. One upside of being an adult: September 1 no longer means the end of summer. I have no school to return to and no new realities to face. I’ve got three more weeks left of long nights, warm evenings, ice cream, beaches and laid-back Fridays, and I don’t care what anyone says (or if a fall chill has started to poke its head up here in New Jersey). Summer ends September 22\. Not a day earlier. Today, we’re diving into the **U.S.–Venezuela oil deal**, plus an opportunity to **submit questions for our reader mailbag,** and a reader question about the **flooding in Nepal.** It’s a **14-minute read.** ### Share your questions. Next Friday, September 11, we’ll publish a mailbag edition answering reader questions about the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, as well as broader questions about other timely news topics, under-the-radar issues, and anything else of interest. You can [submit a question here for consideration](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSddtrerePw3Do6wu646jnlMp4OKcnC5IoBMZdAuURmp6iyuOA/viewform?usp=publish-editor&ref=readtangle.com). ### Quick hits. 1. The Supreme Court ruled 5–4 that President Donald Trump can continue construction of a new White House ballroom while challenges to the project continue in lower courts. Chief Justice John Roberts and the Court’s three Democratic-appointed justices dissented. ([The ruling](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/white-house-ballroom-construction-lifeline-scotus-heated-legal-fight?ref=readtangle.com)) 2. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll has reportedly submitted his resignation and plans to depart the Pentagon in the coming days. Driscoll has reportedly clashed with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over his strategic vision and firings of key military leadership. ([The report](https://www.wsj.com/politics/national-security/army-secretary-resigns-after-months-of-friction-with-hegseth-9c124207?ref=readtangle.com)) 3. A U.S. Postal Service whistleblower alleged that the agency is secretly attempting to implement President Trump’s executive order on mail-in ballots despite a federal judge temporarily blocking the action. ([The allegations](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/01/us/politics/whistle-blower-voting-by-mail.html?ref=readtangle.com)) 4. The Federal Trade Commission and 22 states sued Amazon for allegedly not disclosing surcharges to its online search advertising auctions, creating deceptively higher prices to advertise on its platform. ([The suit](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ftc-22-states-sue-amazon-alleged-ad-scheme/?ref=readtangle.com)) 5. A federal judge granted a Justice Department request to delay a lawsuit seeking to revoke the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) approval of mifepristone, a drug used in medication abortions. The case will be paused until December 1 or until the FDA finishes its safety review of the drug. ([The pause](https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/6062042-judge-pauses-mifepristone-lawsuit/?ref=readtangle.com)) From Today’s partner ****The 8 Dumbest Things We Keep Spending Too Much Money On** You’re smart with your money. But even high earners fall into [****these traps**](https://partners.thepennyhoarder.com/spending-too-much-sdyn-prt/?aff%5Fid=409&utm%5Fsource=tangle&aff%5Fsub3=spending-too-much-sdyn-prt): quietly overspending on things that feel “normal” but add up fast. [****This quick list**](https://partners.thepennyhoarder.com/spending-too-much-sdyn-prt/?aff%5Fid=409&utm%5Fsource=tangle&aff%5Fsub3=spending-too-much-sdyn-prt) breaks down eight of the most common (and costly) habits and walks through how to fix them in under five minutes. [See the 8 Things ← ](https://partners.thepennyhoarder.com/spending-too-much-sdyn-prt/?aff%5Fid=409&utm%5Fsource=tangle&aff%5Fsub3=spending-too-much-sdyn-prt) ### Today’s topic. The U.S.–Venezuela oil agreement. On Friday, President Donald Trump announced an agreement to make the United States government an investor in the production of Venezuelan oil. Under the [reported terms](https://www.wsj.com/business/energy-oil/inside-trumps-plan-to-give-the-pentagon-a-stake-in-venezuelas-oil-riches-f054cdc2?ref=readtangle.com) of the deal, the U.S. will take a stake in a private Venezuelan company that will be given the rights to develop 17 oil fields believed to contain 65 billion barrels of oil. President Trump said the deal will help build up U.S. oil reserves, bring down gas prices, and promote investment and production in Venezuela from other U.S. energy companies. Interim Venezuelan President Delcy Rodríguez said the deal will economically benefit her country and revitalize its energy industry. **Back up:** In January 2026, the U.S. [conducted a military operation](https://www.readtangle.com/us-trump-captures-arrests-maduro/) to arrest then-Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and bring him to the United States to face drug trafficking charges. Rodríguez was Maduro’s vice president at the time, and she has since served as the country’s interim president with backing from the Trump administration. President Trump has said that he would work with President Rodríguez to open Venezuela to U.S. oil companies and rebuild its energy infrastructure, which has [suffered](https://oilprice.com/Energy/Crude-Oil/API-Reviving-Venezuelas-Oil-Sector-Will-Be-Long-Multi-Billion-Dollar-Process.html?ref=readtangle.com) from underinvestment and political instability. On Monday, the White House [shared](https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2026/08/fact-sheet-president-donald-j-trump-announces-historic-oil-agreement-to-secure-american-energy-dominance-and-drive-venezuelas-economic-recovery/?ref=readtangle.com) that the U.S. government will take a 35% equity stake in the parent company of North American Blue Energy Partners (NABEP) and will be able to purchase 20% of the company’s oil at production cost. The State Department will also have the right of first refusal to purchase the remaining 80% of its production. NABEP will have exclusive rights to develop the 17 oil fields for 100 years. President Trump [said](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/117175567133618952?ref=readtangle.com) the agreement will “substantially lower Gas Prices for all Americans, long into the future, while helping to continue to set Venezuela on a course toward Tremendous Success and Great Prosperity.” Secretary of State Marco Rubio [said](https://x.com/SecRubio/status/2093472965404860812?ref=readtangle.com) the deal will “bring nearly $100 billion in private investment, support thousands of high-paying jobs, and drive the reconstruction of Venezuela’s economy.” Some energy experts raised concerns about the deal, [citing](https://www.npr.org/2026/08/31/nx-s1-5949407/us-venezuelan-oil-deal?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=The%20U.S.%20doesn%27t%20have%20a%20national%20oil%20company%2C%20which%20raises%20questions%20about%20how%20this%20will%20work) uncertainty about what role the U.S. government will play in NABEP’s operations and the significant infrastructure upgrades needed to boost Venezuelan oil production. Others [questioned](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-venezuela-oil-deal-gas-prices/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=%22From%20a%20U,expropriated%20in%20Venezuela.%22) whether U.S. oil companies can trust that the deal will persist beyond a leadership change in both countries. Today, we’ll survey commentary from the left and right on the deal, followed by Executive Editor Isaac Saul’s take. | What the left is saying. The left mostly opposes the deal and questions its purported benefits.Some say the agreement creates negative incentives. Others suggest the deal could be positive for both countries. | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | **In The Daily Beast, David Rothkopf argued the agreement won’t** [**“benefit the U.S. in the near or medium term.”**](https://www.thedailybeast.com/theres-nothing-slick-about-trumps-venezuela-oil-grab/?ref=readtangle.com) “As with all such Trump announcements, upon closer scrutiny, his boasts are empty and misleading. They also mask or neglect to note a much darker side to what has happened, the president’s judgment, his intentions, and the likely consequences of the whole endeavor,” Rothkopf wrote. “The deal will not produce enough oil to restore our strategic reserves in the next several years, if ever. Venezuela’s oil infrastructure is damaged and insufficient and would require massive investment and work to ramp up sufficient production.” “It is not a ‘deal.’ This is the U.S. illegally seizing the assets of another country via force; an act of bald-faced aggression, akin to Russia’s seizure of Eastern Ukraine (with similar economic motives). As a consequence, it tacitly gives license to other nations, like Russia, to use force to attack and steal from weaker neighbors around the world,” Rothkopf said. “It is unlikely any future U.S. administration would support this relationship, thus cutting it short before the U.S. could derive any real benefit.” **The Economist called the agreement a** [**“murky deal.”**](https://www.economist.com/the-americas/2026/08/29/americas-murky-deal-to-secure-a-fifth-of-venezuelas-oil?ref=readtangle.com) “Mr. Trump claimed that the arrangement ‘more than doubles’ American oil reserves. That is misleading,” the writer said. “The United States, whose own reserves stand at around 44 billion barrels, will not own the 65 billion barrels of Venezuelan oil, much though Mr. Trump might wish it did. It appears it will instead become the majority owner of a new company that will have the right to develop and operate 17 Venezuelan oil fields spanning the Orinoco Belt and Lake Maracaibo.” “Any contracts signed will still ultimately be with the government of Ms. Rodríguez. She is not a leader chosen by Venezuelans but the heir to Nicolás Maduro, who flagrantly stole the last presidential election, in 2024… \[The deal\] raises the prospect that both the Trump administration and the Rodríguez regime might now share an incentive to prevent any elected government from taking office,” the writer said. “It was a Venezuelan energy minister who, in the 1970s, memorably described oil as ‘the devil’s excrement.’ Perhaps it was inevitable that any deal to exploit its potential was never going to be clean.” **In RealClearPolitics, Leopoldo Martínez Nucete suggested the deal** [**“could benefit all sides.”**](https://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2026/08/30/venezuela%5Foil%5Fdeal%5Fcould%5Fbenefit%5Fall%5Fsides%5F154459.html?ref=readtangle.com) “For too long, Venezuela has confused maintaining its sovereignty with keeping its oil in the ground even if its vast oil reserves produced neither investments nor collective well-being. But true sovereignty means establishing rules that turn those resources into prosperity for Venezuelans, including with international partners. That’s how to judge the oil deal announced by the governments of the U.S. and Venezuela,” Nucete wrote. “The agreement will outlast any occupant of the White House. The same will be true on the Venezuelan side. Obligations will not depend on Delcy Rodríguez’s political will, but on institutions, valid contracts, and rules capable of surviving changes in government. “The deal satisfies many needs of both countries. The U.S. wants to diversify and secure nearby oil supplies amid instability in the Middle East and pressure on its strategic petroleum reserves. Venezuela needs tax revenue and tens of billions of dollars to rehabilitate an industry weakened by years of underinvestment, corruption, mismanagement, sanctions, and loss of technical capacity,” Nucete said. “The dual country, public-private partnership is novel, ambitious and, potentially, a huge benefit to all participants.” | What the right is saying. The right is mixed, but many call the deal a win for Trump.Some criticize the structure of the deal. Others question the political effects and legality of the agreement. | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | **In PJ Media, Matt Margolis wrote** [**“this is the kind of deal Trump was elected to make.”**](https://pjmedia.com/matt-margolis/2026/08/29/is-trumps-oil-deal-with-venezuela-a-game-changer-for-the-midterms-n4956676?ref=readtangle.com) “This deal is a game changer on several levels. Venezuela holds the largest proven crude oil reserves on the planet, somewhere between 303 and 304 billion barrels, or roughly 19% of the entire global total. Locking down majority control of even a slice of that changes the math on America’s energy security in a way few deals could,” Margolis said. “Does this actually move the needle for voters? That’s the only question that matters nine weeks out from the midterms. “Trump and Rubio are promising gas prices will drop substantially over time, and there’s a real case for it: more supply, less reliance on hostile foreign partners, and a deal that reportedly costs American taxpayers nothing… But oil deals don’t lower prices at the pump overnight,” Margolis wrote. “Whether voters feel real relief at the gas station before November, or whether they simply hear about a deal they haven’t yet benefited from, will determine how much credit Republicans actually get before the midterms. If prices do fall in time, Democrats lose one of their most reliable midterm talking points.” **In his Substack, Erick-Woods Erickson called the agreement** [**“a good deal” with “a bad structure.”**](https://ewerickson.substack.com/p/a-good-deal-a-bad-structure) “Unfortunately, the structure of this deal is socialist, and I am not going to pretend otherwise because a Republican signed it,” Erickson wrote. “This is the same error the socialist left makes, arriving from the other direction. The left wants the state to own the means of production because it distrusts the market. The post-liberal right wants the state to own the means of production because it distrusts the market too, but it calls it national security.” “Notwithstanding all of that, on balance, this is a good deal. It is good for Venezuela, which needs capital, jobs, and an economy that is not a criminal enterprise. It is good for the United States, which needs crude that does not travel through a strait Iran keeps trying to mine. It is good for a hemisphere that spent twenty years watching what socialism does to a rich country,” Erickson said. “But the structure is rotten, and rot spreads. A future president should sell the warrants… and get the Treasury and the Pentagon out of the equity business.” **The Wall Street Journal editorial board said the details of the deal** [**“aren’t cause for enthusiasm.”**](https://www.wsj.com/opinion/trump-takes-the-oil-in-venezuela-f3e584f3?ref=readtangle.com) “The U.S. will take a 35% stake in a private company run by Alejandro Betancourt, a Venezuelan businessman close to Ms. Rodríguez,” the board wrote. “The U.S. investor here will be the Pentagon, of all agencies, which will structure the investment through penny warrants that will gain the equity stake without taxpayer cash. The legal authority for this is far from clear, since the Defense Department is investing in a foreign entity. Can the Pentagon Office of Strategic Capital take such equity stakes?” “The politics of all this are even more complicated, to put it mildly. The U.S. government is essentially getting in bed with a foreign dictator and her favored capitalist. Any foreign firm that invests will have all three as de facto partners, but Mr. Trump will be out of office in 2029 and the heavy-handed U.S. role might not play well over time in Caracas. The oil deal will prop up Ms. Rodríguez, at least in the short term, and that may be part of Mr. Trump’s motivation,” the board said. “Much still isn’t known, but this all looks like an example of the Trump Administration extending its creeping crony statism beyond U.S. shores.” | My take. Isaac Saul Executive Editor ![Isaac Saul](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2025/05/Isaac.jpg) | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | It’s clear eight months later that ousting Maduro was about oil all along.This deal has many potential benefits, but I’m concerned about the Trump administration’s increasing involvement in private industry.I’m not confident that the upside of our actions in Venezuela is worth the cost. | | **Reminder:** This is where we share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, leave a comment or reply to this email. | Maybe it was about the oil after all? It feels like a lifetime ago now, but in the days after the capture and extradition of Nicolás Maduro, there was a lively debate about why the Trump administration did what it did. The administration’s justification was that state-sponsored drug traffickers were bringing massive quantities of cocaine into the country from Venezuela, constituting a coordinated, narco-terrorist attack. Following the Maduro operation, the administration also told us that the Venezuelan leader was illegitimate, that he had stolen our oil, that we had to depose him to keep China and Russia out of the Western Hemisphere, and that doing so would be a warning shot to Cuba. [I argued at the time](https://www.readtangle.com/us-trump-captures-arrests-maduro/#:~:text=If%20I%20were,clearly%20or%20consistently) that I could see it as simply all of the above — that Maduro’s capture would serve each of these interests, even if the administration’s stated reason was preventing drug trafficking. Many writers on the left (and Venezuelan officials) [were adamant](https://www.commondreams.org/opinion/illegal-attack-venezuela?ref=readtangle.com) that Trump’s primary goal was to control Venezuela’s oil supply. I was keeping an open mind, but I was pretty compelled by this argument, too. Here was one of 14 points I made in my take: > If you made me bet all my personal belongings on the administration’s “true” motivations here, cynically, I’d bet the answer is oil. Venezuela is rich with the kind of oil we can refine in the U.S. Iran, Russia, and China were already making inroads (as one Venezuelan celebrating in the streets put it, “What do you think Russia and China wanted… the recipe for arepas?”). Trump has been talking more and more about the need to take back oil refineries he thinks Venezuela stole. This has, for what it’s worth, also been the allegation from Venezuela: That the Trump administration was coming for its natural resources. Of course, eight months later, many Americans have moved on. But this latest gambit puts any argument to bed, and the administration’s primary stated rationale of fighting narco-terrorism seems to have faded into the background. It’s easy to memory-hole this, but the justification for the initial boat strikes was to stop not just cocaine, but fentanyl. Marco Rubio [said](https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2025/09/02/trump-drug-strike-venezuela/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=He%20said%20the%20aggressive%20posture%20was%20a%20core%20policy%20of%20Trump%E2%80%99s%20presidency.%20%E2%80%9CAs%20long%20as%20the%20president%20is%20in%20the%20White%20House%2C%20he%E2%80%99s%20made%20very%20clear%20he%E2%80%99s%20not%20going%20to%20allow%20the%20United%20States%20to%20continue%20to%20be%20flooded%20with%20cocaine%20and%20fentanyl%20and%20other%20drugs%20coming%20from%20different%20places%2C%E2%80%9D%20Rubio%20said.) at the time that Trump wasn’t going to allow the U.S. “to be flooded with cocaine and fentanyl.” And Trump himself [said](https://www.britannica.com/event/2025-US-Strikes-on-Venezuelan-Vessels?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=%E2%80%9CAll%20you%20have%20to%20do%20is%20look%20at%20the%20cargo%20that%20was%E2%80%A6spattered%20all%20over%20the%20ocean.%20Big%20bags%20of%20cocaine%20and%20fentanyl%20all%20over%20the%20place%2C%E2%80%9D) “big bags of cocaine and fentanyl” were strewn in the ocean after the strikes on the alleged drug boats. Over time, the inclusion of fentanyl in these talking points disappeared (because it was [never part](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/military/drug-boats-venezuela-are-mainly-moving-cocaine-europe-not-fentanyl-us-rcna244583?ref=readtangle.com) of the problem). Targeting Maduro for his role in the cocaine trade didn’t make much sense either, since Venezuela does not produce crops used to make cocaine, and the drug is primarily trafficked through other countries. And now we know that blowing up boats in the Caribbean Sea and extrajudicially killing dozens of alleged drug traffickers has done nothing to solve these supposed problems. Data from the Drug Enforcement Administration [demonstrates](https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2026/07/27/operation-southern-spear-has-not-slowed-cocaine-entering-us/?ref=readtangle.com) this. As The Washington Post reported, drug traffickers have simply changed their boats and routes in response to U.S. strikes. Maybe drug-trafficking is still a priority of the U.S. relationship with Venezuela, but if it is, then the Trump administration seems to be unwilling to accept the reality that doing the same thing over and over will not produce different results. What *has* come of the Maduro extradition is this: The U.S. is now taking an ownership stake in the second-largest corporate holder of proven reserves in the world (behind only Saudi Aramco). Now, maybe the Trump administration didn’t initially have plans to unlock all this oil. Maybe this was an extemporaneous move following the Iran war, rising energy costs, and the now-choked-off Strait of Hormuz. Perhaps Trump really was serving many interests at once by extraditing Maduro, and the administration has ceded defeat on stopping drug trafficking to focus on the price and supply of oil. Yet, from the outside looking in, the simplest read is that it was about the oil all along. Not narco-terrorists. Not ousting a dictator. Not Russia, China, or Cuba. But oil. That all needed to be said up front in order for us to speak plainly about the net result of the boat-strike campaign. Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA), a senior Democrat on the Armed Services Committee, reviewed classified intelligence on the boat strikes and then [said](https://abcnews.com/Politics/kaine-us-boat-strikes-killed-people-involved-narcotrafficking/story?id=135314179&ref=readtangle.com) the strikes have likely “killed individuals who are not involved in narcotrafficking.” If that’s the case, then the U.S. government has been killing innocent people extrajudicially for alleged drug trafficking with (so far) no positive impact on our own drug crisis. Simultaneously, we captured a foreign leader — however despotic and awful — arrested him, extradited him, and then executed a kind of regime change/resource extraction under the same guise of fighting drug trafficking, when really we came for and stayed for the oil. As for the deal itself, to say final details are still fuzzy is charitable, given both sides have communicated some disparate facts, but it’s got potential. For Venezuelans, this has the upside of injecting capital into and stabilizing the market for their most crucial natural resource. After years of mismanagement, I can see the upside there. For Americans, the benefit is less straightforward: Trump needs to convince some U.S. oil firms to invest, then he needs those firms to help scale up production and build out the infrastructure to get that oil to the U.S. In the meantime, we’ll be propping up Venezuela’s newest dictator, with most of Maduro’s administration in place, and the Pentagon appears to be the agency taking all this on — at a time when the war in Iran rages, weapons supplies are depleted, and threats abound from Russia and China. That’s all to say nothing about the administration taking equity stakes in 31 private companies and thrusting itself into partial ownership of a foreign nation’s oil reserves. As Scott Lincicome, a Cato Institute director, [said](https://x.com/scottlincicome/status/2093681948547781031?ref=readtangle.com), “This isn’t even ‘creeping’ socialism anymore.” Still, this arrangement has a decent chance of creating a huge influx of oil into the U.S., which could mean cheaper fuel, cheaper energy, and more prosperous Americans. I imagine this arrangement will end up kind of like Trump’s first-term Title 42 immigration restriction policy: A Democratic presidential candidate for 2028 will hammer the Trump administration on it, but if that candidate ends up in office, they will not undo it. Yet the cost is substantial. I acknowledge that Maduro is a leader who [killed](https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2025/09/venezuela-only-hope-victims-find-justice-lies-international-community-says?ref=readtangle.com), tortured, and sexually abused his political opponents; repressed democracy; stole his country’s 2024 election ([actually](https://www.readtangle.com/venezuela-elections-explained-maduro/)); and destabilized our hemisphere. But consider what we gave up to depose him: We’ve undermined international law; set a new standard for how we act when diplomacy fails; and created the expectation (or reaffirmed the widely held belief) that our high-minded moral projection about spreading democracy or fighting terrorists was really just a cover for more, cheaper oil. Not only that, but moving forward, we’re now *in bed with the new Venezuelan regime,* which does not appear meaningfully different from the old one — save its pliancy to Trump. Just as we win the fruits of their natural resources, they now exert new economic leverage over us, especially in a future where we become more dependent on Venezuelan oil. As you might suspect, I’m not particularly keen on this trade-off. I’d much rather have cheap oil through the system that existed a year ago — [when gas was a dollar less a gallon](https://gasprices.aaa.com/?ref=readtangle.com). It was by no means perfect, but we didn’t have an ambient, unending war in Iran, we hadn’t struck and killed boaters in the Caribbean on scant or non-existent evidence, and we could still stake out some semblance of a moral high ground toward Venezuela. It’s hard to defend that moral high ground now — even if I’m glad to see Maduro gone, and even if this gambit might “work” to cheapen oil and line American government coffers. For some, that trade-off will be worth it. For me, not so much. **Take the survey:** How do you feel about the practical and moral implications of this deal? [Let us know](https://interrobang.vercel.app/survey/3af28bc5-0f04-44e5-a9b8-c12332b02a7b?ref=readtangle.com). *Disagree? That*’*s okay. Our opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we*’*ll consider publishing your feedback.* ### Your questions, answered. **How much of the flooding in Nepal is because of climate change? I see a lot of people saying this online but I’m not sure how true that is.** **— Reggie from Boston, MA** **Tangle:** For background: Authorities and scientists [believe](https://www.cnn.com/2026/08/26/weather/floods-nepal-cause-vis?ref=readtangle.com) a massive glacier caused the deadly flooding in Nepal and China last week when it broke off of a mountain along the countries’ border and fell thousands of feet into the river below, triggering a flood wave. The death toll from the disaster has now surpassed 1,000\. As with other natural disasters, the conditions that cause events like the glacier collapse are becoming more likely due to climate change — but we can’t attribute this event, specifically, to a warming planet. That’s what we learned from talking to climatologist Zeke Hausfather [about the Canadian wildfires](https://shows.acast.com/66510864c0852400122bc7be/6a708fd762888a82359dbea6?ref=readtangle.com), and that’s the broad takeaway here. Let’s start with this: The Himalayas are getting warmer, and the Langtang region (where this glacier collapsed) has been getting warmer even faster. The Langtang region has consistently been [losing ice mass](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0921818126002766?ref=readtangle.com) since the 1950s, and about half the mass it’s lost since then has come in the past 25 years. So, why can’t we just say “climate change caused this collapse” definitively? Because we don’t have a forensic analysis of this event yet and can’t say exactly what triggered it. Theoretically, a world that is richer in glaciers is also a world with more possibilities for glacial collapses; and to be sure, glaciers have been [collapsing for centuries](https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/worlds-deadliest-glacier-disasters-2026-08-27/?ref=readtangle.com) without any apparent linkage to climate change. In 1962, a glacier [broke](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0169555X18303350?ref=readtangle.com) from Peru’s tallest mountain with no apparent trigger. Then, during an earthquake in 1970, another ice wall broke off the same mountain and killed 25,000 people. Of course, the difference here is that this sudden glacial collapse wasn’t triggered by a seismic event, but it was so dramatic that *the collapse itself* triggered a seismic event instead. Maybe that was due to something specific with this glacier, but the contextual evidence is pretty clear. As Hausfather said, “The collapse happened on a mountain warming at around 0.29 Celsius per decade in summer, immediately after four consecutive summers that all rank among the five warmest in an 86-year record, during an August that was running warmer than any complete August on record, in a valley that has lost ice at an accelerating pace, and in a region where human influence is very likely the main driver of glacier retreat.” **Want to have a question answered in the newsletter? You can reply to this email (it goes straight to our inbox) or** [**fill out this form**](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScQhqBSG%5F6%5FoBhwcTQMeS570n29XYbeQ9C9Bis7rjqI31g1tA/viewform?usp=header&ref=readtangle.com)**.** ### This day in history. ![The bow of the Titanic](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/09/data-src-image-cc840776-2b18-441d-836d-a22da41c48a9.png) The bow of the Titanic | [Wikimedia Commons](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9c/Titanic%5Fwreck%5Fbow.jpg?ref=readtangle.com) Shortly before midnight on April 14, 1912, [the “unsinkable” RMS Titanic](https://www.britannica.com/story/did-anyone-really-think-the-titanic-was-unsinkable?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=While%20it%20is,to%20be%20unsinkable.) — then the largest ocean liner in service — struck an iceberg on her maiden voyage. A little under three hours later, she sank into the North Atlantic. Of the roughly 2,200 people aboard, 1,500 died; the survivors were rescued by the RMS Carpathia hours later. After the disaster, many immediately turned their attention to the possibility of finding the wreckage. Survivors and family members hoped to lay loved ones to rest; others wanted to recover the ship’s treasures. However, for decades, technological limitations — and poor understanding of the ship’s whereabouts at the time it sank — prevented serious searches. That changed in 1985, when two research institutions — Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) in Massachusetts and the French National Institute of Oceanography (IFREMER) — [tested](https://www.whoi.edu/ocean-learning-hub/ocean-topics/ocean-human-lives/underwater-archaeology/rms-titanic/1985-discovery-of-rms-titanic/?ref=readtangle.com) new underwater imaging technologies by searching for the Titanic’s wreckage. Led by Dr. Robert Ballard and oceanographer Jean-Louis Michel, the team set out to search a 100-square-mile field where the ship ultimately came to rest. Throughout July and August, the team searched most of the field with little luck. With 12 days left in the search, the team adjusted its strategy; rather than searching for the Titanic’s hull, they zeroed in on the debris trail they believed would lead them to the wreck. On September 1, 1985, their efforts paid off and they found one of the ship’s boilers, leading them to her wreckage. From Today’s partner [****8 Dumb Things Smart People Waste Money On**](https://partners.thepennyhoarder.com/spending-too-much-sdyn-prt/?aff%5Fid=409&utm%5Fsource=tangle&aff%5Fsub3=spending-too-much-sdyn-prt) You can be good with money and still **waste* a surprising amount of it. These [eight everyday expenses are easy to overlook](https://partners.thepennyhoarder.com/spending-too-much-sdyn-prt/?aff%5Fid=409&utm%5Fsource=tangle&aff%5Fsub3=spending-too-much-sdyn-prt) because they feel completely normal. See which ones are quietly costing you — and the simple ways to spend less. [Stop Overpaying ](https://partners.thepennyhoarder.com/spending-too-much-sdyn-prt/?aff%5Fid=409&utm%5Fsource=tangle&aff%5Fsub3=spending-too-much-sdyn-prt) ### The extras. - **One year ago today** we had just published a reader essay in the Sunday Edition [making the case for a U.S. Department of Senior Affairs](https://www.readtangle.com/otherposts/a-cabinet-post-for-the-64-million/). - **The most clicked link in our last regular newsletter** was the report on [the flash floods in the Grand Canyon](https://www.foxnews.com/us/deadly-grand-canyon-flooding-knocks-critical-water-line-race-find-missing-hikers?ref=readtangle.com). - **Nothing to do with politics:** A mystery island in Canada [appeared… then disappeared](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/floating-island-williston-lake-bc-9.7324586?ref=readtangle.com). - **Our last survey:** 2,010 readers responded to our survey on Western relations with Russia, with 38% saying they are somewhat concerned about Russian President Vladimir Putin attacking a NATO member state by 2028\. “Given Trump’s overtly friendly attitude towards Putin, it seems the next two years are a potential ‘window of opportunity’ for Russia to attempt inroads in Europe,” one respondent said. “While stubborn, Putin has all he can chew on right now. Hard to imagine him taking on more,” said another. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/09/data-src-image-c4c41fc5-8e70-4856-a214-24b5359d18a8.png) ### Have a nice day. When British Columbia residents heard distressed animal sounds from under a dock on Vancouver Island, they discovered three young otters caught in an abandoned fishing net. They freed two of the otters to reunite with their mother in the water, but the fishing net was wrapped around the third otter’s neck, restricting its breathing and leaving it unconscious. Gordon Mellish, a retired commercial fisher and carver, cut away the net and began CPR, and then mouth-to-mouth on the otter’s small snout; before long, he noticed the otter had started to regain consciousness. “It was so neat to have that moment,” Mellish said. “Then I just told her, ‘Get rest, get better, and make sure you make it back home.’” [The Vancouver Sun has the story](https://vancouversun.com/news/baby-otter-rescue-saga-bc-alert-bay?ref=readtangle.com). ### CIA Director Ratcliffe’s trip to Russia. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/cia-director-ratcliffes-trip-to-russia/ Last updated: 2026-08-31T15:58:15.000Z Good Monday morning. I’m **Isaac Saul**,and this is Tangle. Thanks to everyone who wrote in with camping tips for toddlers. We had a blast (my brave mother joined), even *after* the sound machine died at 2 AM, a full moon illuminated our entire tent, and my son’s tiny voice pierced the cool forest air: *“Snacky?”* Memories that’ll last a lifetime, for sure. ![A collage of camping photos](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/08/data-src-image-565b63de-c4bd-4742-967b-bea8eb1dc15f.jpeg) A collage of camping photos I’m back at my desk this morning to cover a different kind of trip — **CIA Director John Ratcliffe’s mysterious visit to Russia**.Plus, a reader question about **“defund the police”** and an under-the-radar story about **Trump’s deportation efforts**. It’s a **14-minute read**. ### Bring back shame? On Friday, Associate Editor Carina Pacheco explored the cultural shift toward “normalizing” behaviors once seen as weird or unacceptable. She wrote: > I shudder to think of the mud that so many good, necessary emotions have been dragged through to get to the altar of normalization, chief among them shame and embarrassment... They form the bedrock of the shared norms and values that keep society functional. Varying degrees of risk-taking and independent decision-making — and failure — are essential to establishing character and creating the foundation of self-trust and resilience that *everyone* needs to truly grow. Check out Carina’s full essay [here](https://www.readtangle.com/bring-back-shame/). ### Quick hits. 1. President Donald Trump announced Venezuela had agreed to allow the United States to take control of approximately 65 billion barrels of its oil reserves. Venezuelan interim President Delcy Rodríguez said the deal will generate an estimated $209 billion for Venezuela. ([The agreement](https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/venezuelas-interim-president-says-us-energy-deal-will-last-25-years-2026-08-30/?ref=readtangle.com)) 2. The U.S. and Iran exchanged strikes for the first time in one month, with the U.S. attacking Iranian rocket launchers in the Strait of Hormuz and Iran launching missiles at a Jordanian air base housing U.S. troops. ([The strikes](https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2026/08/30/us-strikes-iran-missile-sites-larak-island/?ref=readtangle.com)) 3. The death toll from flash floods in Nepal and China last week surpassed 950, with over 4,400 people still missing. ([The latest](https://apnews.com/article/nepal-tibet-china-flash-floods-744fe6e15ae7751e15efcd6dff70170c?ref=readtangle.com)) Separately, flash flooding in the Grand Canyon caused significant infrastructure damage and killed at least one person, with an estimated 15 people still missing. ([The floods](https://www.foxnews.com/us/deadly-grand-canyon-flooding-knocks-critical-water-line-race-find-missing-hikers?ref=readtangle.com)) 4. Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh suggested that the central bank could raise interest rates if inflation does not move toward the bank’s 2% target, though he expressed optimism about the health of the broader economy. ([The comments](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/08/28/kevin-warsh-jackson-hole-federal-reserve-inflation.html?ref=readtangle.com)) 5. Icelanders voted 52.8%–47.2% against a proposal to restart negotiations over the country joining the European Union. ([The vote](https://abcnews.com/International/wireStory/icelandic-voters-reject-proposal-restart-negotiations-join-european-136067682?ref=readtangle.com)) Today's Partner ****There’s Someone Watching Your Internet Activity** Every website you visit and every network you join leaves a trace. 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[****Get 70% off Proton VPN**](https://go.getproton.me/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=25&aff%5Fid=19661&ref=readtangle.com) — for a limited time, backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee. [Get 70% off ](https://go.getproton.me/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=25&aff%5Fid=19661&ref=readtangle.com) ### Today’s topic. Ratcliffe’s Russia visit. On Tuesday, August 25, Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director John Ratcliffe traveled to Moscow, Russia, for the first publicly disclosed time to meet with Russian intelligence officials. While the CIA has not shared the official purpose of the trip, Ratcliffe [reportedly](https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/cia-chiefs-surprise-moscow-trip-was-to-warn-russia-not-to-attack-nato-c2d997f3?ref=readtangle.com) cautioned Russia against attacking North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) member states. The visit also comes after four and a half years of war between Russia and Ukraine with little progress in peace discussions. **Back up:** In November 2021, then-CIA Director William Burns visited Moscow to [warn](https://www.cnn.com/2021/11/05/politics/bill-burns-moscow-ukraine?ref=readtangle.com) Russia not to attack Ukraine, the last known visit to the capital by a CIA director until last week. Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine three months later, in February 2022, and efforts by the Biden and Trump administrations (as well as other nations) to facilitate an end to the conflict have failed to produce a breakthrough. As peace talks have stalled, Putin has [issued new threats](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/24/world/europe/uk-andy-burnham-ukraine-russia.html?ref=readtangle.com) against NATO countries supporting Ukraine, and some U.S. officials have raised concerns that he would consider a limited attack on a member state to test the alliance’s unity. Politico [reported](https://www.politico.com/news/2026/08/26/cia-russia-nato-moscow-ratcliffe-01051848?ref=readtangle.com) that Ratcliffe specifically highlighted the Baltic states — Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania — as countries the United States sees as potential targets. Russia and Ukraine have also ramped up drone attacks in recent weeks, and Ukrainian officials have suggested that new Russian ground offensives are being planned. In addition to his warnings against a wider European conflict, Ratcliffe [reportedly](https://www.axios.com/2026/08/29/cia-director-ratcliffe-putin-zelensky-summit-war?ref=readtangle.com) proposed a meeting between President Donald Trump, Russian President Putin, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to revamp negotiations. Separately, a top Ukrainian official [told](https://www.kyivpost.com/post/83218?ref=readtangle.com) local reporters that new talks between Ukraine and Russia could begin in September. President Trump called Ratcliffe’s Moscow visit “semi-routine” and part of his administration’s efforts to facilitate a peace deal. The president also [said](https://www.axios.com/2026/08/27/trump-nato-russia-ukraine-war?ref=readtangle.com) he was “not concerned… at all” about Russia attacking a NATO country. Today, we’ll share views from the right, left, and writers abroad about Ratcliffe’s visit and the broader state of the Ukraine–Russia war. Then, Executive Editor Isaac Saul gives his take. | What the right is saying. Some on the right say Ratcliffe’s visit should be the start of more demonstrations of NATO’s resolve. Others suggest the true purpose of the meeting is still ambiguous. | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | **In the Washington Examiner, Ivana Stradner and Mark Montgomery argued** [**“Putin is testing NATO because he thinks the West will flinch.”**](https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/courage-strength-optimism/4704475/putin-testing-nato-thinks-west-will-flinch/?ref=readtangle.com) “CIA Director John Ratcliffe’s visit to Moscow this week comes as U.S. intelligence warned that Russian President Vladimir Putin may be prepared to escalate against NATO. Washington must use this moment to send a simple message to Moscow: Russia cannot attack the West from the shadows and expect the West to stay silent,” Stradner and Montgomery wrote. “Russia’s campaign against Western Europe is already visible. In Germany, multiple explosive-filled drones, resembling drones used by Russia in Ukraine, have been found around the Leipzig airport. In Britain, the U.K.’s National Cyber Security Centre has warned that Russian groups continue to target British organizations.” “Russia is testing NATO, and it is time to stop absorbing the blows and start imposing costs. The West needs to close the gaps Moscow is exploiting and make clear that every provocation carries a price,” Stradner and Montgomery said. “Washington is sending mixed signals. On one hand, the CIA director is warning Moscow not to test NATO. On the other hand, Elbridge Colby, undersecretary of war for policy, is pressing the alliance to take more responsibility as Washington considers reducing its military troops in Europe further. If we believe Putin may test NATO, this is no time for ambiguity.” **In The Telegraph, John Bolton called Ratcliffe’s visit** [**“classic Trumpian political theatre.”**](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/08/30/the-cia-trip-moscow-classic-trumpian-political-theatre/?ref=readtangle.com) “No one buys Donald Trump’s initial ploy that the trip was ‘semi-routine’, a palpably duplicitous effort to conceal something more substantive,” Bolton wrote. “Leaks then emerged that Ratcliffe sought to warn Russia against attacking NATO members. Increasingly hostile Kremlin behaviour has worried alliance leaders. What had seemed to be a Kremlin ‘hybrid war’ against NATO was looking decidedly less hybrid.” “Perhaps \[Ratcliffe\] wanted to urge the Kremlin not to continue sharing intelligence with Iran or military assistance that endangered U.S. and Israeli forces. Or perhaps Ratcliffe wanted to talk about Trump’s announcement of an ‘economic D-Day’ against Iranian trade and finance, and urge Russian cooperation with U.S. efforts,” Bolton said. “None of these publicly mooted rationales are satisfactory… Intelligence chiefs do talk to foreign counterparts, but almost always to allies or close partners, rarely hostile states. If sensitive matters of state are involved, countries have foreign ministers so they can talk to one another.” | What the left is saying. Many on the left say the U.S. must remain a staunch defender of NATO amid Putin’s latest threats.Others say the U.S. and Europe must make Russia’s escalatory tactics costlier. | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | **In The Atlantic, Thomas Wright asked** [**“why did John Ratcliffe go to Moscow?”**](https://www.theatlantic.com/international/2026/08/cia-director-ratcliffe-moscow/688424/?ref=readtangle.com) “Ratcliffe’s visit comes at one of the most difficult periods in the war for the Kremlin. Thanks to its drone systems, Ukraine has been able to strike military targets and oil infrastructure deep inside Russia while also hindering Moscow’s advance on the battlefield, turning the front into a kill box in which anything that moves is struck within minutes. Despite making little progress, Russia has continued to take heavy losses,” Wright wrote. “Russia’s weakness could be making Putin more reckless… But Putin may see attacking a NATO country as an unprecedented opportunity to break the alliance, by manufacturing a crisis in which the United States fails to act.” “On his way to Moscow, Ratcliffe stopped in Latvia. Today, the Latvian prime minister called the trip a ‘very good signal,’ which seemed to imply that Ratcliffe had been there seeking to bolster European security,” Wright said. “If the CIA director carried a warning with him, it should have been an unambiguous one: Any attack on NATO territory would bring in the United States. Trump might not want to make that type of commitment, but it may be necessary to ensure that Putin never concludes that he has an opportunity to start a war that breaks NATO.” **The Bloomberg editorial board said** [**“NATO and the EU must make Russia’s hybrid war costlier.”**](https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2026-08-28/nato-can-do-more-to-counter-russia-s-hybrid-attacks-in-europe?srnd=phx-opinion&ref=readtangle.com) “Government and intelligence officials in Germany and the UK, among others, say attacks from Russia now occur daily. Because they are small-scale, deniable and rarely lethal, they get filed under the anodyne label ‘hybrid warfare,’ which sounds like a problem to be managed. They’re far more serious than that — and they require a more concerted response,” the board wrote. “While panic would just serve the Kremlin’s goals, passivity isn’t the answer either. As with conventional deterrence, allies must demonstrate that attacks come with costs. “Europe needs faster, more layered counter-drone defenses — at airports, ports and logistics hubs — that combine detection, electronic warfare, network disruption and physical interception. Countering hybrid action also requires more seamless intelligence sharing. NATO and the European Union have moved too slowly, with too little coordination, for a threat that changes by the month,” the board said. “For its part, the US shouldn’t dismiss Russia's hybrid campaign as a mere European nuisance. Russian drones have probed bases housing US forces and sites associated with US nuclear weapons; the larger target is American credibility.” | What writers abroad are saying. Some writers abroad question whether Ratcliffe’s visit will have the desired effect.Others suggest the Trump administration is offering Putin an off-ramp. | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | **In the Kyiv Post, Timothy Ash wrote** [**“Putin tests NATO’s Article 5 defense.”**](https://www.kyivpost.com/opinion/83269?ref=readtangle.com) “Putin’s war in Ukraine is not going well, as Ukraine has stabilized the front lines and is now increasingly successful in taking the war to Russia via deep strike drone attacks on refineries and on line retailer warehouses in Russia. Putin is worried and is escalating to try and force NATO to pull support for Ukraine and force Ukraine into a peace on his terms,” Ash said. “What was the specific intel that the US received on Russia’s plans to attack NATO, or escalate in Ukraine, that prompted the Trump administration — that has typically given the Putin regime a pass/benefit of the doubt on all things Ukraine-related — to dispatch Ratcliffe to Moscow?” “Presumably Ratcliffe was sent to Moscow to read the riot act to the Kremlin and reassure that the U.S/ would still stand by its allies under NATO’s Article 5 defense. That message surely will have been dulled by the fact that President Trump seems to have gone overboard in recent years in questioning, challenging and undermining that very defense,” Ash wrote. “I think Ratcliffe flying into Russia via Latvia was meant to send a strong message and perhaps indicates that the specific threat was to the Baltic states. But the real question here is if Bill Burns’s trip to Moscow as CIA director in 2021 to deliver a similar warning to the Kremlin (not to invade Ukraine) was ignored — what’s to think that Putin will not just ignore Ratcliffe this time?” **In The Independent, Peter Frankopan explored** [**“the real reason the CIA boss John Ratcliffe made a secret trip to Moscow.”**](https://www.the-independent.com/voices/cia-john-ratcliffe-secret-visit-russia-moscow-putin-b3041478.html?ref=readtangle.com) “For some time, the US has been concerned that the circle around Vladimir Putin does what most tight-knit circles do around powerful autocrats: deliver news that the ruler wants to hear. Ratcliffe urged \[the head of Russia’s intelligence agency Aleksander\] Bortnikov to tell the Russian president what was really happening — not only on the front lines, nor even behind them where long-range strikes by Ukrainian missiles and drones have devastated Russia’s economy by targeting refineries, warehouses and more,” Frankopan said. “These are no paper cuts; they have done — and will do more — serious damage.” “If the US assessment is that the storm clouds that are forming are so bleak that nothing is off the table, then Ratcliffe’s shadowy visit makes more sense: by going to Moscow in person, Ratcliffe was able to make sure his message would be heard properly in a way that would have been harder to achieve otherwise,” Frankopan wrote. “By sitting Bortnikov down and explaining how the US sees things, offering to help, and warning that if Russia does not do a deal soon with Ukraine, the ramifications will be both unpredictable and seismic, Ratcliffe was offering an off-ramp.” | My take. Isaac Saul Executive Editor ![Isaac Saul](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2025/05/Isaac.jpg) | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | We don’t know why Ratcliffe visited Moscow, but we should know by now that the Western consensus on Putin is often accurate.Also, we should remember that Trump’s unpredictability in foreign affairs isn’t always an advantage.It’s easy to look back and see that the U.S. should have backed Ukraine earlier; it’s harder to see what happens next. | | **Reminder:** This is where we share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, leave a comment or reply to this email. | News of Ratcliffe’s visit has me reflecting on three lessons we should all collectively have learned about the Ukraine–Russia war by now. Remember, just months after the last time a CIA director made a trip like this to Moscow, with a similar goal of deterring Russian military action, Putin launched his full-scale invasion of Ukraine. At the time, members of the military establishment and legacy media [warned up and down](https://www.cnbc.com/2021/11/17/the-world-is-worried-putin-is-about-to-invade-ukraine-heres-why.html?ref=readtangle.com) that Putin would invade Ukraine. Yet [heterodox](https://www.mediaite.com/media/news/im-sorry-journalist-matt-taibbi-apologizes-for-repeatedly-telling-readers-russia-would-not-invade-ukraine/?ref=readtangle.com), independent [analysts](https://x.com/ggreenwald/status/1496568414269288459?s=20&t=fE0BwkAC12pg1BOlEWuuRA&ref=readtangle.com) and journalists [weren’t buying it](https://x.com/realcandaceo/status/1485687865765945344?ref=readtangle.com): They accused establishment writers of fear-mongering and insisted Putin wasn’t stupid enough to try something so self-destructive. The invasion provided a [good reminder](https://www.readtangle.com/russia-invades-ukraine-war/#:~:text=Sometimes%2C%20in%20fact%20more%20often%20than%20not%2C%20the%20mainstream%20narrative%20is%20the%20one%20most%20rooted%20in%20truth.%20That%27s%20why%20it%20is%20mainstream.) that the mainstream, consensus opinion is often the mainstream, consensus opinion because it reflects a shared reality that mature, sober people are living in. After this visit, there’s a lot more uncertainty about what the Russian autocrat is capable of. You’ll notice that, now, very few people are climbing out on the limb to say he’d “never attack NATO.” It seems like a genuine possibility, and it should. Perhaps everyone has come to terms with the man we are dealing with. That’s Lesson #1: The Western consensus about Putin is often accurate. On the other side of the coin, that consensus isn’t very confident that an attack on a NATO ally would guarantee a response from the United States. This uncertainty, too, is new and uncharted territory. Across both his terms, President Trump has distanced the United States from its commitment to defending NATO. He has successfully pushed European nations to contribute more resources to the alliance under threat of a U.S. withdrawal. In so doing, he’s been explicit that he wouldn’t automatically defend our NATO allies, even in the case of a Russian attack. You might remember February 2024, when then-candidate Trump recalled telling NATO allies that he “would encourage” Russia to “do whatever the hell they want” to NATO allies who haven’t spent enough on alliance defense. “No, I would not protect you,” he [told](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/trump-says-he-told-nato-ally-to-spend-more-on-defense-or-he-would-encourage-russia-to-do-whatever-the-hell-they-want?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=%22%27You%20didn%27t%20pay%3F%20You%27re%20delinquent%3F%27%22%20Trump%20recounted%20saying.%20%22%27No%20I%20would%20not%20protect%20you.%20In%20fact%2C%20I%20would%20encourage%20them%20to%20do%20whatever%20the%20hell%20they%20want.%20You%20gotta%20pay.%20You%20gotta%20pay%20your%20bills.%27%22) them. That posture [was effective](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/07/world/europe/nato-defense-spending-trump-rutte.html?ref=readtangle.com) at pushing NATO allies to contribute more to the alliance, which is good. It reduces our burden and increases the overall security of NATO. Generally speaking, unpredictability — that black hole of “what will he do?” — has always been a weapon in Trump’s foreign policy arsenal. The downside, though, is this tactic tempts Russia to test whether an attack on a NATO nation would provoke a full force response from the alliance. As NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg [said](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/nato-secretary-general-says-trump-puts-allies-at-risk-by-encouraging-russian-aggression?ref=readtangle.com) back in 2024, “Any suggestion that allies will not defend each other undermines all of our security, including that of the U.S., and puts American and European soldiers at increased risk.” Trump was insisting last week that Russia won’t attack, and maybe he’s right. But Ratcliffe’s visit, and reporting from across the globe, suggests a much different behind-the-scenes understanding of what Putin may actually try. And if Putin were sure about how we’d respond, he’d never consider it in the first place. And that’s Lesson #2: Being unpredictable isn’t always an advantage. All of this comes at a critical moment in the war. Roughly a year ago, Ukraine’s position on the battlefield [appeared to be slipping](https://x.com/TheStudyofWar/status/1965563704881078451?s=20&ref=readtangle.com). Now, Russia is facing heavy losses and constant incursions of Ukrainian drones in its airspace. Last month, Ratcliffe shared the [astounding statistic](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/30/us/politics/cia-reorganization-cyber-ai.html?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Mr.%20Ratcliffe%20noted%20that%20the%20life%20expectancy%20of%20a%20Russian%20soldier%20on%20the%20frontline%20in%20Ukraine%20was%20less%20than%2035%20minutes.%20%E2%80%9CMuch%20of%20the%20reason%20is%20technology%20and%20how%20drones%20have%20become%20super%2Defficient%2C%20low%2Dcost%20killing%20machines%2C%E2%80%9D%20Mr.%20Ratcliffe%20said.) that the average life expectancy of a Russian soldier once deployed to the Ukrainian front was less than 35 minutes. Surely, part of the message Ratcliffe was sent to deliver in private is that the war has turned against Putin — and now would be a wise time to come to the table and make a deal. These developments have me feeling a bit torn. Hindsight is 20/20, but it’s easy to envision a very different war if we had vigorously supported Ukraine from day 1\. What if the Biden administration had gone all-in on giving Ukraine everything they asked for right away, rather than [delaying and sputtering](https://www.readtangle.com/biden-approves-ukraine-to-use-long-distance-weapons/#:~:text=Ukraine%E2%80%99s%20military%20leaders,offensive%20in%20August.) at every turn? Would the war be over now? What if — 20 months ago — Trump had not entered office with animosity toward Zelensky and had ramped up U.S. support rather than cut it back? Would we have a peace deal by now? On the other hand, Ukraine’s gains have mostly come in the last few months — *after* the Trump administration began scaling down its support and Ukraine’s European allies began [scaling theirs up](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/why-the-eus-106-billion-wartime-loan-is-a-vital-lifeline-for-cash-strapped-ukraine?ref=readtangle.com). A reasonable lesson to learn from that *might be* that Ukraine didn’t need all the U.S. support they were asking for after all; they just needed Europe to do more. Maybe that’s just correlation, and all Ukraine needed was to develop its [slaughterbots](https://www.readtangle.com/ukraine-war-update-may-2026/#:~:text=Ukraine%20uses%20artificial%20intelligence%20systems%20to%20help%20pilot%20small%20quadcopter%20drones%2C%20turning%20cheap%20and%20easy%2Dto%2Dmake%20machines%20into%20tools%20sometimes%20referred%20to%20as%20%E2%80%9Cslaughterbots.%E2%80%9D), but it’s equally easy to envision (again) how much better off Ukraine would have been had *both* the United States and Europe thrown their full weight behind it from the jump. Of course, the hesitancy here and abroad in backing Ukraine was never about money or weapons. It was about the risk of *wasting* money and weapons, or escalating a war with a nuclear power that we couldn’t finish. That is, backing a country that everyone expected to fold in a matter of weeks. And then, when that country survived those weeks, backing a country that would fold at the first winter. And then, when they survived the first winter, backing a country that — at best — could only manage a stalemate. Rather than do the right thing and fund or fight a just war defending 40 million free people from an invading nation, the U.S. and Europe fretted over whether they were backing the winning horse. Which brings us to Lesson #3: Betting on the *winning* horse isn’t nearly as important as betting on the *right* horse. Obviously, I don’t know what will happen next. But I’m left wondering the same thing Timothy Ash wrote (under “What writers abroad are saying”): “What was the specific intel that the U.S. received on Russia’s plans to attack NATO, or escalate in Ukraine, that prompted the Trump administration — that has typically given the Putin regime a pass/benefit of the doubt on all things Ukraine-related — to dispatch Ratcliffe to Moscow?” I can’t imagine it’s good. With so much of our military capacity currently tied up or being expended in Iran, even a small tussle with Russia in Europe could be devastating — for our munitions and military, but also for global security and the global economy. Whatever the Trump administration’s message to Putin was, it was clearly intended to keep him from testing the United States. Let’s just hope it worked. | Staff dissent. Ari Weitzman Managing Editor ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2025/05/Ari.jpg) | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | I have a narrow disagreement with Isaac today: I don’t think Putin is going to attack a NATO country. And if you don’t want to take it from me, take it from Finnish President Alexander Stubb, who [said](https://www.bild.de/politik/ausland-und-internationales/finnen-praesident-stubb-widerspricht-deutschland-putin-wird-nato-nicht-angreifen-6a92ee10518a586e1855c84e?ref=readtangle.com) just last week (translated to English), “I don’t believe that Russia would ever want to attack the world’s most powerful military alliance, NATO.” Stubb is as close to this issue as it gets, and not just geographically. Finland, very notably, successfully lobbied to join the alliance after Putin’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, specifically because he believed Finland would be better protected from Russian attacks if it joined. [So did Sweden.](https://www.npr.org/2024/03/07/1236618583/sweden-officially-joins-nato-as-worries-grow-over-russian-aggression-in-europe?ref=readtangle.com) Furthermore, Trump isn’t the only leader in this saga who likes muddying the waters as a foreign policy tool. In just this current war, Putin has deliberately signalled uncertainty about whether he’d [use nuclear weapons](https://icds.ee/en/russias-nuclear-signalling-problem-too-much-left-to-chance/?ref=readtangle.com). Yes, I know that he actually could be willing to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine. And yes, Putin’s administration [has referred](https://www.stripes.com/theaters/europe/2023-05-18/medvedev-poland-baltics-nato-10155836.html?ref=readtangle.com) to the Baltic states as “provinces.” And, yes, I’m aware that the argument “Putin’s not that reckless or stupid” failed when it came to the Kyiv offensive. But truly — I don’t think he’s this reckless or stupid. Provoking the entire NATO alliance is a Hitler-invading-Russia kind of blunder that a student of Russian military history like Putin is not likely to make. Everyone has a line, and if “invading Latvia” isn’t Putin’s, then people like President Stubb — whose national security depends on reading the Russian leader — have grossly, grossly misread him. | **Take the survey:** Will Putin attack a NATO country in the next two years? [Let us know](https://interrobang.vercel.app/survey/66661eca-9032-408a-b405-03cea012ea3b?ref=readtangle.com). *Disagree? That*’*s okay. Our opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we*’*ll consider publishing your feedback.* ### Your questions, answered. **Q: There have been more discussions recently about democratic socialism. I resonate with many of their principles (such as expanding access to child care and other benefits), but the “defund the police” one seems very far off to the left, and I don’t think many people are actually in line with that thinking. After doing some research, I saw that people actually think of it more as reforming the police system rather than abolishing it.** **Which is it actually?** **— Manny from Washington, D.C.** **Tangle:** “Defunding” and “reforming” the police are two distinct camps, but the waters can be muddied. Reform is focused on changing how police are trained and holding them accountable when they make mistakes. Some who want to defund the police say their position is different than *abolishing* the institution, instead seeking to redirect funds from police to different public services. Conversely, other defund-the-police advocates take fault with the concept of law enforcement as a whole and want to eliminate and replace it with community-oriented public safety services — aligning them with police abolitionists. They see policing as a fundamentally unreformable and violent institution. “Defund the police” was a rallying cry for activists in the summer of 2020, but it’s since become [politically unpopular](https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2021/10/26/growing-share-of-americans-say-they-want-more-spending-on-police-in-their-area/?ref=readtangle.com), and many politicians who adopted the slogan have recently tried to distance themselves from it. As the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) gains prominence, its stance on policing is gaining attention. The DSA *does* advocate for abolishing the police in the long run. Its Abolition Working Group platform [reads](https://web.archive.org/web/20260731234232/https://www.dsausa.org/working-groups/abolition-working-group/), “For all of the working class to achieve collective liberation we must constrain, diminish, and abolish the carceral forces of the state — from prisons and police themselves, to their manifestations in all forms throughout society.” As for individual DSA or democratic socialist-aligned candidates, it’s a mixed bag. Politicians like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN), and Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) were [vocal supporters](https://www.newsweek.com/which-lawmakers-support-defunding-police-1510556?ref=readtangle.com) of defunding the police in 2020 but have stopped centering the issue in their platforms (though they haven’t explicitly renounced the slogan, either). Some, like [New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D)](https://www.cnn.com/2025/07/31/politics/mamdani-defund-police-shooting?ref=readtangle.com) and [Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed (D)](https://www.cnn.com/2026/07/07/politics/kfile-abdul-el-sayed-michigan-senate-defund-police-fact-check?ref=readtangle.com), have sought to distance themselves from past support. And others, like [Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT)](https://www.axios.com/2020/06/09/bernie-sanders-defund-police?ref=readtangle.com), have opposed the idea from the beginning. So we can’t cleanly describe the positions of democratic socialists as if they were a monolith — it’s better to evaluate each politician individually — but it’s true that DSA’s national platform advocates for fully defunding the police. **Want to have a question answered in the newsletter? You can reply to this email (it goes straight to our inbox) or** [**fill out this form**](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScQhqBSG%5F6%5FoBhwcTQMeS570n29XYbeQ9C9Bis7rjqI31g1tA/viewform?usp=header&ref=readtangle.com)**.** ### Under the radar. On Friday, a federal judge ruled that Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s attempts to deport noncitizens for political speech violated the First and Fifth Amendments. The Stanford Daily, the student-run newspaper of Stanford University, and a second, unnamed plaintiff brought the suit, alleging that the State Department’s policy caused noncitizens to refrain from writing opinion articles out of fear of deportation. In 2025, the Trump administration sought to revoke the immigration statuses of noncitizens involved in protests against the war in Gaza, including Columbia University activist Mahmoud Khalil and Tufts University graduate student Rümeysa Öztürk. Judge Noël Wise found that this effort violated constitutional free speech protections, but a State Department spokesperson said the U.S. is “under no obligation to admit or suffer the presence of individuals who subvert our laws and deny our citizens their Constitutional rights.” [Politico has the story](https://www.politico.com/news/2026/08/29/rubio-immigration-first-fifth-amendments-01056086?ref=readtangle.com). From Proton VPN ****Stop Letting the Internet Watch You** Your internet provider can see a lot of what you do online. Frankly, they [don’t need to know you Googled that](https://go.getproton.me/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=25&aff%5Fid=19661&ref=readtangle.com). Proton VPN encrypts your connection, [hides your IP](https://go.getproton.me/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=25&aff%5Fid=19661&ref=readtangle.com), and has an independently audited no-logs policy. Plus, it works on 10 devices. [****Tangle readers get 70% off Proton VPN today.** ](https://go.getproton.me/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=25&aff%5Fid=19661&ref=readtangle.com)[****Only $2.99/month**](https://go.getproton.me/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=25&aff%5Fid=19661&ref=readtangle.com)****.** ### The extras. - **One year ago today** we had just republished [Isaac’s essay on the Uvalde, Texas, school shooting](https://www.readtangle.com/we-are-still-broken-2025-minnesota-shooting/). - **The most clicked link in our last regular newsletter** was [our most recent episode of *Suspension of the Rules*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25U8Vsnfmbw&ref=readtangle.com)*.* - **Nothing to do with politics:** [Portland, Oregon, hosts a parallel parking competition](https://www.instagram.com/reels/Dcr8kiFB1bW/?ref=readtangle.com). - **Our last survey:** 1,613 readers responded to our survey on Meta’s planned social-media platform changes, with implementing daily usage time limits ranked as the most effective change. “These changes should be implemented across the board for all social media platforms,” one respondent said. “I believe it’s the parents’ responsibility to monitor their children’s time not only on the apps, but the internet as a whole,” said another. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/08/data-src-image-0518a713-38df-4419-860d-c3115a401710.png) ### Have a nice day. In 1998, Michael J. Fox revealed he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. 28 years later, he became the recipient of the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award at the Emmys. Fox founded The Michael J. Fox Foundation two years after he announced his diagnosis, and it’s since become the world’s largest nonprofit funder of Parkinson’s research, backing over $3 billion in studies toward better treatments and a cure. Best known for his roles in *Family Ties* and *Back to the Future*, Fox has become as renowned for his work with the disease as for his acting. “His dedication to helping others navigate the challenges of this disease serves as an inspiration to us all,” said Joseph Litzinger, co-chair of the Television Academy’s awards committee. [Television Academy has the story](https://www.televisionacademy.com/features/news/awards-news/270729-bob-hope-humanitarian-award?ref=readtangle.com). ### The Sunday — August 30 URL: https://www.readtangle.com/the-sunday-august-30/ Last updated: 2026-08-30T11:52:28.000Z *This is the Tangle Sunday Edition, a brief roundup of our independent politics coverage plus some extra features for your Sunday morning reading.* ****Editor’s Note:** Last week, we ran a reader essay critical of the Sydney chapter of Chabad (and the organization at large) that included several large claims we could not verify. After further inquiry into some of these claims, we discovered that a previous version of the article had already been published online without our knowledge. Due to these concerns, we've made the decision to pull the piece from our website and archives. We did not come to this decision lightly, and we apologize for the oversights in our process. ### What the left is doodling. ![Mike Luckovich | Creators Syndicate](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/08/data-src-image-476ecb93-3814-44b8-a4d8-48f901c64d28.jpeg) Mike Luckovich | Creators Syndicate ### What the right is doodling. ![Al Goodwyn | Creators Syndicate](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/08/data-src-image-1522be93-c362-4221-8901-b6a8909f5b75.jpeg) Al Goodwyn | Creators Syndicate ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/08/data-src-image-ec15f0a2-a468-4bf5-9a20-53ea8d88d598.png) ### Suspension of the Rules. Is decency back? In this week’s Suspension of the Rules, Isaac, Ari, and Kmele discuss a fascinating gubernatorial candidate in Iowa and an interesting couple of moments from a Fox News anchor before Ari gets canceled in a highly aggrieved grievances section. Check it out here: ### Monday, August 24. [New tariffs on Canada](https://www.readtangle.com/us-canada-trade-war-2026/). On Saturday, August 22, the United States imposed 50% tariffs on roughly $20 billion of Canadian goods, including lumber, dairy products, clothing, and alcohol. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said that Canada would match the U.S. tariffs “dollar for dollar,” with retaliatory duties set to begin on September 8\. Carney said the duties would target U.S. “steel, dairy, appliances, agricultural equipment, pulp and paper, and electronics.” On Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social that the U.S. would increase tariffs on “all Cars, Trucks, both large and small, Automotive Parts, and Steel” to 50% on January 1, 2027. **Our take:** *“President Trump is far from done with tariffs, or with Canada. Past administrations’ civil approach to trade negotiations hasn’t necessarily been more effective, but Trump’s bombastic approach is worse. I expect these tariffs to cause the U.S.–Canada relationship to sink lower.”* **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/08/data-src-image-1efd2532-3d01-4ec2-808a-8739fc42e1aa.png) ### Tuesday, August 25. [The national debt](https://www.readtangle.com/us-national-debt-2026/). On Tuesday, August 18, the Treasury Department announced that the debt held by the U.S. government surpassed $40 trillion, a record high. The national debt has more than doubled since 2017, and it increased from $39 trillion to $40 trillion in roughly the past five months. In response to the latest milestone, lawmakers from both parties called for new initiatives to reduce the debt. **Our take:** *“The national debt is driven by popular programs that politicians are unwilling to touch. Allocated spending is only part of the problem — revenue, emergency packages, and an aging population are all contributors. The $40 trillion number is scary, but we’re not past the point of no return — yet.”* **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/08/data-src-image-3b515cba-335f-4b60-b4f7-fbe699690d5e.png) ### Wednesday, August 26. [The Supreme Court’s latest mail-in voting decision](https://www.readtangle.com/scotus-mail-in-ballots-august-2026/). On Monday, August 24, the Supreme Court stayed a federal injunction on President Donald Trump’s executive order requiring the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) to change its rules for mail-in ballots. The Court’s unsigned opinion did not address the legality of the executive order; instead, the Court found that the states challenging it lacked standing to do so. The three Democratic-appointed justices dissented. In compliance with President Trump’s order, on August 21, USPS published a finalized rule specifying it would not deliver mail ballots in states that do not share voter data with it. **Our take:** *“Some parts of the order are benign, but the attempt to restrict USPS ballot delivery is alarming. This ruling doesn’t greenlight the executive order, but I disagree with the Court’s finding that the plaintiffs lacked standing. Whatever this order’s fate, President Trump is plainly trying to reduce mail-in voting to gain advantages in the election.”* **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/08/data-src-image-574f6723-58d5-4f57-b10f-5e55d11a3952.png) ### Thursday, August 27. [The Meta settlement](https://www.readtangle.com/the-meta-settlement/). On Wednesday, August 26, Meta Platforms, which owns Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Messenger and Threads, reached a settlement with a group of state attorneys general to pay up to $16.7 billion to resolve a case over alleged harms to children caused by its social media apps. The company also agreed to implement safeguards designed to mitigate excessive use of Facebook and Instagram by minors. **Our take:** *“I see this settlement as unambiguously good. Meta’s payout is much less important than its agreed-to platform changes. Furthermore, we achieved this result without trampling on open-internet principles.”* **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/08/data-src-image-098aae0b-ce7c-4c14-acae-a3c87570bb5b.png) ### Friday, August 28. In this week’s members-only Friday edition, Tangle’s Associate Editor Carina Pacheco makes her full-length debut with an essay arguing that we should bring back shame and resist “normalization” culture. [You can read Carina’s essay here](https://www.readtangle.com/bring-back-shame/). --- ### What just happened. Here’s a rundown of the major stories that have broken since our newsletter on Thursday. - On Thursday, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to rename Lake Ontario to “Lake America.” Canadian officials said they will not recognize the new name. ([The order](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/08/27/trump-canada-lake-america-ontario.html?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Thursday, The Wall Street Journal reported that the Federal Aviation Administration is moving to fire two air-traffic controllers after determining they left work one hour before their shift was scheduled to end on the day in March that an Air Canada regional jet crashed into a firetruck at LaGuardia Airport, killing the aircraft pilots. ([The report](https://www.wsj.com/business/airlines/faa-found-laguardia-air-traffic-controllers-left-work-early-before-deadly-collision-84668fa4?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Thursday, a federal judge ruled that the Trump administration illegally labeled artificial intelligence developer Anthropic a supply chain risk earlier this year, finding the move was a First Amendment violation. A second lawsuit challenging the designation in a Washington, D.C. court is still in progress. ([The ruling](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/08/28/judge-blocks-pentagon-blacklist--anthropic-.html?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Thursday, a federal judge issued a temporary restraining order blocking enforcement of President Trump’s executive order on mail-in ballots for 14 days while a challenge to the action proceeds. ([The block](https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/6056457-judge-temporarily-blocks-trump-mail-restrictions/?ref=readtangle.com)) - As of Saturday, 675 people have died from sudden flash flooding in Nepal, and another 2,400 are missing. Scientists have said that the flooding was caused by a sudden break in a glacial collapse. ([The latest](https://www.bbc.com/news/live/cwrk34rzx3z2t?ref=readtangle.com)) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/08/data-src-image-9251475f-921e-4361-ac7f-f6f45178dcdd.png) ### Reader essay. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/08/data-src-image-07f6a9b4-5767-445a-9393-0efb55787e80.png) The I-75/24 Split in Chattanooga, Tennessee, shortly after initial construction was completed | Tennessee State Library and Archives, [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/75/24%5FSplit?ref=readtangle.com#/media/File:I-75%5F24%5Fsplit%5Fearly%5F1960s.png) After reading an article inspired by America’s 250th birthday and Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey,” Tangle reader Rose Williams was on a journey — for stories of the quintessential American journey. In today’s reader essay, Rose sets out to answer the question of “who is America’s Homer” by inspecting one particularly surprising selection. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### In Search of Steinbeck’s America URL: https://www.readtangle.com/otherposts/in-search-of-steinbecks-america/ Last updated: 2026-09-09T14:21:29.000Z *By Rose Williams* --- This summer, to celebrate the United States of America turning 250, I decided to dedicate myself to better understanding the country I live in. For me, that means adjusting my personal syllabus. Every Fourth of July, I usually read something related to the Founding (and I still did read a few founding documents this year), but a strange series of cultural coincidences actually led me down quite a different path. The first coincidence actually happened long before this summer. When I was in eighth grade, I happened to read John Steinbeck’s *Of Mice and Men* for the first time on a whim. The book captivated me in a way few others had, and it quickly became a favorite — though I didn’t read much more of Steinbeck until I found a $5 used copy of *East of Eden* in college. I purchased it, also on a whim, and devoured it greedily the very next summer. And that was how I developed a love of Steinbeck. Because of that deep affinity, I bought his books whenever I could find used copies or pretty covers; then, they’d sit on my shelf, waiting to reach the top of my reading list. One such book was his 1962 travelogue, *Travels with Charley: In Search of America*, in which Steinbeck chronicles a cross-country road trip he took with his dog. I bought the book because it was small, it had a pretty pink cover, and I hadn’t read Steinbeck’s nonfiction before; but somehow, whenever I considered reading it, I picked something else up instead. Then, I happened upon another writer’s nod to America’s 250th anniversary. In the spirit of Christopher Nolan’s then-forthcoming *Odyssey* adaptation), Plough Quarterly [ran an article](https://www.plough.com/articles/who-is-americas-homer?ref=readtangle.com) titled “Who Is America’s Homer?” Various members of the literati submitted their nominations for the defining voice that told America’s story; nominees ran the gamut from children’s author Laura Ingalls Wilder to poet Walt Whitman to musical artist Tracy Chapman to the Homeric choice of “no one” (yet). It was like this article was made for me. I excitedly forwarded it to a group chat and shared my thoughts; I, personally, nominated Steinbeck, and I chose *East of Eden* as his defining epic. A friend agreed on Steinbeck but, instead, humbly submitted *Travels with Charley* as the epic. *What an odd choice*, I thought, knowing that it was far from his most popular. But, knowing that the book sat on my shelf unread, I resolved to read it this summer and draw my own conclusions. As an added plus, I would get to read about Steinbeck’s “search” for America in 1960, at the beginning of the most tumultuous part in the nation’s recent history — fitting, I thought, given where we are at the moment. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### A Democrat and Republican… get along? URL: https://www.readtangle.com/a-democrat-and-republican-get-along/ Last updated: 2026-08-29T23:07:15.000Z Abdul El-Sayed was interviewed by Jesse Waters earlier this week, and clips form the discussion have gone viral. The two seemed to be laughing and smiling, with Jesse saying afterwards that he "likes the guy" but doesn't want to like him. In this clip from Suspension of the Rules, the hosts discuss whether or not Jesse Waters is open-minded. ### Will Midterm Campaigns Return to Decency? URL: https://www.readtangle.com/will-midterm-campaigns-return-to-decency/ Last updated: 2026-08-29T14:06:51.000Z Is Iowa gubernatorial candidate Rob Sand (D) practicing a different kind of politics? The candidate recently said "keep in mind this is a debate between two human beings" when talking about his his opponent, Zach Lahn (R). ### How Flock Cameras Watch Americans URL: https://www.readtangle.com/how-flock-cameras-watch-americans/ Last updated: 2026-08-28T19:10:45.000Z Everyone is talking about Flock license plate readers and how dangerous they are, but what do they actually do? ### Have we no shame? URL: https://www.readtangle.com/bring-back-shame/ Last updated: 2026-08-28T15:52:21.000Z ****Note:** You are reading a preview of a members-only Friday edition. To read it in full, [you’ll be asked to subscribe](https://www.readtangle.com/membership/). *Dear readers,* *In* [*this week’s Press Pass*](https://www.readtangle.com/do-people-really-want-tangle/)*, I introduced our newest editor, Carina Pacheco. As I said in that newsletter, when Carina applied to work here, I was struck by her writing voice, the lens through which she sees the world, and her interest in the intersection of culture and politics. To me, she offered something distinct from the rest of the team. Today, I’m thrilled to share her debut Tangle essay, which is adapted from a piece she published in her newsletter.* *— Isaac* --- I recently read [a piece](https://substack.com/home/post/p-183858745?ref=readtangle.com) by the inimitable Kat Rosenfield examining the overuse of the word “normalize,” a largely online phenomenon that begs onlookers to validate or otherwise destigmatize things that would typically be considered unusual or unattractive or downright rude. For example: Normalize chewing with your mouth [open](https://defector.com/i-demand-we-normalize-chewing-with-your-mouth-open?ref=readtangle.com), normalize going [“no-contact”](https://theweek.com/culture-life/no-contact-family-estrangement?ref=readtangle.com) with family, normalize never [texting](https://www.theguardian.com/wellness/2026/apr/06/texting-back-relationships-anxiety-overwhelm-burnout?ref=readtangle.com) back. Asking others to normalize something actually implies that said thing is, in fact, weird. “Normalizing” is a pre-emptive hedge against judgment or rejection. By insisting people normalize, say, owning 10 dogs, you’re just acknowledging that owning that many animals *is weird*. Because if it *weren’t* weird, you wouldn’t be calling for a chorus of affirmation to feel secure in your decision. Are you with me? Rosenfield makes an excellent point: This phenomenon stunts individuality, because eccentricities stop being eccentric if they’re “normalized.” When stylistic oddities like mismatched clothes or patchworked furniture become routinely accepted, the result is a strange catch-22 — a monoculture of “eccentric” aesthetics, where everyone is independently trying to *look* eccentric and creative but ends up looking the same as the other guy. I remember one summer when every trendy girl in New York was wearing cowboy boots or ballet flats with athletic shorts and a button-down collared shirt. You just had to be there. It was *not normal,* but they tried to make it so. Once something is normalized, it’s socially and publicly validated, and can no longer be wrong or weird — instead, it becomes wrong or weird *to judge* the normalized phenomenon. So now, not only can weird things not be considered weird, but it’s morally wrong to pass judgment on something that was previously understood as bizarre or undesirable, for no other reason than someone’s need to feel validated in their peculiarities. Are you still with me? Calls to normalize have long been reasonable pushes for progress from tiny academic circles — like efforts to normalize breastfeeding in public in the 1990s and 2000s. But in the 2010s and 2020s, the idea exploded as an attempt to normalize just about everything — a trend I’m comfortable placing at the feet of millennials and Gen Z. What started as a silly fad to commiserate or bond over little quirks has quickly devolved into a compulsive need to overshare and overvalidate every experience, characteristic, or predilection — especially unconventional ones, and especially those tied to personal insecurity. My generation (the Zoomers) has long been inundated with demands to normalize everything from buying coffee every day to skipping class (and now, as adults, work) for “mental health reasons” and cutting someone off at the first sight of difficulty. Take dating, for example: When a friend tells you about a bad first date, rarely do you encourage them to consider whether they are really incompatible with the other person or whether they have room to improve their dating etiquette. Instead, you affirm the face-saving conclusion that the other person was a jerk — never that your friend may have talked with their mouth full or forgotten to ask a single question — and they should never see them again. At the first sign of discomfort or conflict, normalizing reactions by declaring them “self-care” allows a person to justify almost any action, immediately disengage, and refuse to accept any personal accountability. I shudder to think of the mud that so many good, necessary emotions have been dragged through to get to the altar of normalization, chief among them shame and embarrassment. They are, as Rosenfield says, “*essential ingredients to a functioning society.*” They form the bedrock of the shared norms and values that keep society functional. Varying degrees of risk-taking and independent decision-making — and failure — are essential to establishing character and creating the foundation of self-trust and resilience that *everyone* needs to truly grow. Because who wins at the end of the movie (or in real life)? Not the conformist. The hero can’t grow into his or her role without taking risks and learning hard lessons. Shame, embarrassment, humiliation, and stigma are all deeply entrenched in the human experience — but more importantly, they’re inevitable. We’ve all had some not-so-pleasant experiences with these feelings. I know I have. But we don’t have a God-given right to feel comfortable all the time. Trying to make ourselves feel better by avoiding, suppressing, ignoring, or altogether annihilating our discomforts does nothing but mask our insecurities and make us more miserable in the long run. I struggled with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in college, and I had phases where I was hard pressed to leave my house (much less get on a train or plane or sit in a car) because the obsessions and intrusive thoughts that played over and over in my mind brought on unbearable discomfort and tears and panic attacks. I’d visualize car crashes, plane hijackings, or train bombings on a loop. I’d foresee family or friends getting in horrible accidents. I’d picture any man sitting near me getting up to strangle, stab, or shoot me — or worse. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### How Dolly Parton Stayed Out of Politics URL: https://www.readtangle.com/how-dolly-parton-stayed-out-of-politics/ Last updated: 2026-08-28T13:11:20.000Z Was Dolly Parton that last universally loved celebrity across the political spectrum? In this clip from Suspension of the Rules, the hosts discuss the late artist's lasting impact on people around the world. ### Resurfaced TikTok of Democratic nominee for Oklahoma’s Senate seat goes viral. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/resurfaced-tiktok-of-democratic-nominee-for-oklahomas-senate-seat-goes-viral/ Last updated: 2026-08-28T00:07:22.000Z A TikTok that Oklahoma Democratic Senate nominee N’Kiyla Jasmine Thomas posted in September 2025 referencing the movie “Mean Girls” resurfaced on Wednesday after she secured the Democratic nomination. ### President Donald Trump signed an executive order changing the name of Lake Ontario to Lake America. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/president-donald-trump-signed-an-executive-order-changing-the-name-of-lake-ontario-to-lake-america/ Last updated: 2026-08-27T19:11:44.000Z The executive order directs the Department of the Interior to update the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) to change Lake Ontario to “Lake America.” The name change only applies to the federal government, and Congress uses Lake Ontario as the name for the lake in several laws. ### The Meta settlement. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/the-meta-settlement/ Last updated: 2026-08-27T20:19:42.000Z Happy Thursday. I’m **Isaac Saul**, writing on a rain-soaked and unusually cool August morning in northern New Jersey. I’m taking my 19-month-old son on his first-ever camping trip this weekend, and I’m bracing for some rough nights of sleep. But I’m also determined to make sure he gets to spend a lot of time outside in every phase of childhood; I’m confident these experiences will kindle a lasting love of nature, the outdoors, and (hopefully) time with dad. If you have tips and advice for camping with an under-two kid, I’m all ears. Speaking of *time outside* and *love of the outdoors,* today’s main topic is about the other side of the coin: harm caused by social media addiction. We’re breaking down the **Meta lawsuit and settlement** and what it means for screen time and our children going forward. Also, a reader question about **Flock cameras** and a feel-good story on how one shelter **helped a cat walk again**. It’s a **14-minute read**. ### The latest *Suspension of the Rules*. Is decency back? Isaac, Ari, and Kmele discuss a fascinating gubernatorial candidate in Iowa and an interesting couple of moments from a Fox News anchor before Ari gets canceled in a highly aggrieved grievances section. Check it out here: ### Quick hits. 1. Flash floods along the Nepal–China border killed at least 270 people, with over 1,450 still missing. A preliminary assessment suggested that the floods were caused by a glacier partially collapsing, with a large ice segment falling thousands of feet and crashing into the Bhotekoshi River. ([The floods](https://www.wsj.com/world/india/more-than-1-400-missing-in-nepal-and-china-in-floods-likely-sparked-by-glacier-break-39fb0cac?ref=readtangle.com)) 2. The federal judge who issued a nationwide injunction blocking part of President Donald Trump’s executive order on mail-in ballots lifted the decision, removing the last legal hold on the order. The judge cited the Supreme Court’s ruling that lawsuits challenging the order were brought prematurely. ([The decision](https://abcnews.com/Politics/federal-judge-lifts-blocks-trump-mail-ballots-executive/story?id=135981337&ref=readtangle.com)) 3. The Secret Service placed three officials on administrative leave amid an internal investigation into potential misconduct. The basis of the investigation is unknown, but the three officials do not work in law enforcement roles at the agency. ([The suspensions](https://www.foxnews.com/us/3-secret-service-officials-internal-investigation-potential-misconduct?ref=readtangle.com)) 4. A circuit court judge struck down a planned ballot question in Maryland that would have asked voters whether to approve changes to the state’s redistricting rules. Maryland Gov. Wes Moore’s (D) office said they are appealing the decision. ([The ruling](https://www.cbsnews.com/baltimore/news/maryland-redistricting-ballot-question-judge-ruling/?ref=readtangle.com)) 5. Russia is reportedly preparing to escalate its attacks on Ukraine as peace negotiations stall. ([The report](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-08-26/putin-moves-to-escalate-war-in-ukraine-with-talks-at-dead-end?ref=readtangle.com)) Today’s partner [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/08/1048-attz0o3RSdpuCk7NV.png)](https://api.wellput.io/v1/cm?cmid=1031887&tid=207&s1=v2-r778485-p1031887-c1048&s2=Tangle&s3=&s4=&ref=readtangle.com) Discover unparalleled speech clarity with this advanced, [state-of-the-art hearing aid](https://api.wellput.io/v1/cm?cmid=1031887&tid=207&s1=v2-r778485-p1031887-c1048&s2=Tangle&s3=&s4=&ref=readtangle.com). 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On Wednesday, Meta Platforms, which owns Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Messenger and Threads, [reached](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/08/26/meta-social-media-trial-settlement.html?ref=readtangle.com) a settlement with a group of state attorneys general to pay up to $16.7 billion to resolve a case over alleged harms to children caused by its social media apps. The company also agreed to implement safeguards designed to mitigate excessive use of Facebook and Instagram by minors. **Back up:** In 2023, 33 states [sued](https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/24080215-meta-lawsuit/?ref=readtangle.com) Meta, alleging that the company had “repeatedly misled the public about the substantial dangers of its Social Media Platforms” and concealed how its products were harming children. The suit claimed that Meta harvests young users’ data for targeted advertising; it also said that features like recommendation algorithms, visual filters, and disruptive audiovisual notifications “are harmful to young users’ mental and physical health.” Meta’s trial [began](https://apnews.com/article/meta-trial-oakland-states-instagram-safety-2b617764a8ddc4846f74f59d0c4516b8?ref=readtangle.com) on August 18 in Oakland, California, and the company said in a filing that it could pay up to $1.4 trillion in damages if it lost. California Deputy Attorney General Megan O’Neill said in her opening statement that Meta “knew a lot about kids’ brains” and would attempt to “hook the users, hold them for as long as they can, harvest their data, and then hide the truth from the public when making public statements.” Former Meta executive Arturo Béjar testified that the company had conducted research into safety issues related to young users but scrapped many of the subsequent recommendations. Lawyers for Meta highlighted the “meaningful” evidence that the company has prioritized young users’ safety and implemented a litany of features to address concerns about its platforms. In a separate statement, the company [said](https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/meta-trial-social-media-harms-children/4129018/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=We%E2%80%99ve%20listened%20to%20parents%2C%20worked%20with%20experts%20and%20law%20enforcement%2C%20and%20conducted%20in%2Ddepth%20research%20to%20understand%20the%20issues%20that%20matter%20most%2C), “We’ve listened to parents, worked with experts and law enforcement, and conducted in-depth research to understand the issues that matter most.” Wednesday’s settlement resolves various state-level litigations against Meta, though the company still faces lawsuits from individuals and school districts. Separately, it was [ordered](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/new-mexico-court-orders-meta-to-pay-567-million-over-mental-health-harms-to-kids-online?ref=readtangle.com) in a civil suit earlier this year to pay close to $1 billion in fines for failing to warn the public about dangers its platforms posed to children. In a statement, Meta [said](https://investor.atmeta.com/investor-news/press-release-details/2026/Metas-Agreement-With-Bipartisan-Attorneys-General-Calling-on-TikTok-and-YouTube-to-Join-Us-in-Supporting-Teens/default.aspx?ref=readtangle.com) that it will add new restrictions to minors’ use of its platforms as part of the settlement. Those include screen time limits, new parental controls blocking access between midnight and 6 AM, and muting notifications during school hours. The company also called on TikTok and YouTube to implement similar measures, saying, “These protections will only be truly effective if we work with our peers.” 30% of the settlement — approximately $5.3 billion — is contingent on TikTok and YouTube adding these restrictions and matching that total in payments to support youth online safety initiatives. California Attorney General Rob Bonta [said](https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-bonta-secures-transformative-17-billion-settlement-meta?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=%E2%80%9CToday%2C%20we%20have,no%20more%20waiting.%E2%80%9D) the settlement “addresses the concerns at the core of our lawsuit and institutes real change, real transparency, and real enforceable protections for children on Facebook and Instagram.” Views from the left and right on the settlement are below. After that, Executive Editor Isaac Saul gives his take. | What the left is saying. The left is mixed, with some saying the settlement will positively impact teens. Others suggest lawsuits are a sub-optimal strategy for regulating social media. Still others lament the relatively small financial penalty. | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | **In Bloomberg, Dave Lee said Meta** [**“finally \[did\] the right thing for teens.”**](https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2026-08-26/meta-settlement-facebook-and-instagram-parent-does-right-thing-for-teens?ref=readtangle.com) “Make no mistake, while the amount that the company agreed to pay to settle a lawsuit brought by several states — up to $18 billion — is large, it is dwarfed in significance by the long-tail positive effects this so-called Big Tobacco moment will have on the well-being of teens,” Lee wrote. “Daily time limits; no notifications during school hours; autoplay disabling; non-algorithmic feeds; a midnight to 6 AM lockout, to pick a few. Even better are age-gating measures to block underage users and further protect teens.” “Meta shouldn’t receive too much credit. After all, it was only after losing bellwether addiction cases, with several more still lingering, that executives suddenly found it within themselves to agree on settings for Meta’s apps that by all accounts should have been the default long ago,” Lee said. “This settlement is tangible progress and proof that a well-constructed case can bring accountability to technology companies… Meta, for all its faults, and under obvious duress, has produced an impactful and technically feasible list of ways to finally start to put things right.” **In The American Prospect, Ryan Cooper asked** [**“is this social media’s Big Tobacco moment?”**](https://prospect.org/2026/08/26/meta-facebook-social-medias-big-tobacco-moment/?ref=readtangle.com) “Over the years, I have become firmly convinced that social media, at least in its current Big Tech–dominated form, is a gravely toxic institution,” Cooper wrote. “Causing mental health problems among youth is not even close to the worst thing these companies have done. There is strong evidence that smartphones and social media are major drivers behind increased loneliness, the worldwide decline in coupling and birth rates, as well as the global surge in racism and fascism.” “In many ways a lawsuit is a highly suboptimal way to regulate anything, including social media companies,” Cooper said. “But with astronomical penalties being proposed and the possibility of structural remedies — in other words, Meta having to change design features in Facebook and Instagram that are known to addict people — the outcome might end up a fair bit better than a cost of doing business. And with our ever more paralyzed Congress and hypertrophied court system, lawsuits are often the only way to get anything like accountability.” **In Newsweek, Shane Croucher called the settlement** [**“a grim bargain.”**](https://www.newsweek.com/meta-child-safety-settlement-facebook-instagram-zuckerberg-12369693?ref=readtangle.com) “The tell came immediately from the stock market. Meta shares rose 4.4% in premarket trading Wednesday as the company agreed to a proposed settlement worth up to $16.68 billion over child-safety claims. It’s a reaction that captures the somewhat perverse economics of penalizing one of America’s richest companies,” Croucher wrote. “The social media giant’s latest financial numbers explain why investors could see relief where everyone else sees a punishing bill.” “In the second quarter alone, the company reported $60.801 billion in revenue and $15.848 billion in net income… Almost $17 billion amounts to only a little more than three months of Meta’s recent earnings. Pocket change, really,” Croucher said. “American corporate power has reached a scale at which $16.68 billion can sound historic and yet still entirely affordable. Profitable even, for shareholders who just enjoyed a 4.4% bounce in their Meta holding. All on the backs of our children.” | What the right is saying. The right is also mixed, with some advocating for personal responsibility over targeting tech companies. Others say Meta’s platform changes won’t adequately address social media addiction. Still others support the outcome of the settlement. | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | **In The American Spectator, Steven Greenhut wrote** [**“it’s time to stop viewing innovations as public nuisances and start taking responsibility for our own lives.”**](https://spectator.org/circling-like-vultures-california-leads-new-attack-on-facebook/?ref=readtangle.com) “That’s some moxie, to blame a single company for damaging the mental health of 73-million American minors,” Greenhut said. “This sounds like suing auto manufacturers for including features — heated seats, automatic transmissions, adaptive cruise control and satellite radio — that encourage people to drive. After all, nearly 37,000 Americans died in vehicle collisions in 2025, so the manufacturers must be to blame for designing cars in a way that makes them comfortable and enticing enough to spend hours at a time on the road.” “At some point Americans — and our court system — need to act like adults and recognize that every technological advancement offers costs and benefits,” Greenhut wrote. “Regarding social media and children, tech companies have provided endless tools for parents to control their kids’ usage. Our entire system of government is based on the idea that individuals and families are responsible for their own behavior, so it’s unclear why the latest media trends should cause us to abandon that sound principle.” **In Fox News, Jonathan Turley argued** [**“social media addiction will easily outlast Meta’s \[settlement\].”**](https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/jonathan-turley-social-media-addiction-outlast-metas-massive-multibillion-dollar-settlement?ref=readtangle.com) “It is doubtful that these ‘fixes’ will actually fix the problem. Social media is enormously popular with adults and children alike. It is also ubiquitous and accessible, particularly for tech-savvy kids. The burden will remain with parents regarding access to and use of social media, not the company,” Turley wrote. “The line between a popular and an ‘addictive’ product is fairly subjective. It was hard to see where the line would have been drawn in this litigation.” “Social media remains one of the most transformative inventions in history, including as a powerful tool for free speech and political discourse. That popularity comes at a price,” Turley said. “Meta did not create these social costs alone. We all did… This settlement will not erase those social costs any more than the tobacco settlement erased cancer or the opiate settlement erased addiction. The ultimate child-protection regulation will remain parents monitoring and educating their own children.” **The Wall Street Journal editorial board wrote about** [**“Meta’s sensible social-media settlement.”**](https://www.wsj.com/opinion/meta-18-billion-settlement-social-media-teens-state-attorneys-general-7d010e6a?ref=readtangle.com) “This summer, the four AGs suggested damages could run as high as $1.4 trillion, though they later walked back their demand to some $200 billion. That’s still more than three times Meta’s profit last year. Why did nearly all states agree to settle for so much less?” the board said. “One reason may be that even if the AGs had prevailed at trial, their theories were vulnerable on appeal. Litigation would have dragged on for years.” “An advantage of settling is states will get money pronto with few constraints on how it can be spent. The settlement also includes platform changes that go beyond what the AGs might have obtained by a court order,” the board wrote. “The ironic result is that teens in Florida and New Mexico won’t benefit from Meta’s platform changes. Meta’s settlement won’t cure teens’ mental ailments, but it will do more good than years of further litigation.” My take. Isaac Saul Executive Editor ![Isaac Saul](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2025/05/Isaac.jpg) - I see this settlement as unambiguously good. - Meta’s payout is much less important than its agreed-to platform changes. - Furthermore, we achieved this result without trampling on open-internet principles. **Reminder:** This is where we share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, leave a comment on the website or reply to this email. Finally, some good news. For years, Meta has been happy to go to the mat in defending its platform — rarely settling or admitting any wrongdoing. CEO Mark Zuckerberg has been willing to [answer tough questions](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/jan/31/tiktok-meta-x-congress-hearing-child-sexual-exploitation?ref=readtangle.com) before Congress, and he’s [postured as someone confident](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mark-zuckerberg-meta-x-child-exploitation/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=The%20Meta%20leader%20repeatedly%20refuted%20a%20link%20between%20Facebook%20and%20teen%20mental%20health%2C%20saying%20%22it%27s%20important%20to%20look%20at%20the%20science%2C%20and%20the%20bulk%20does%20not%20support%20that.%22%20Later%2C%20in%20speaking%20on%20the%20same%20topic%2C%20Zuckerberg%20said%20%22it%20doesn%27t%20mean%20individual%20people%20don%27t%20have%20issues.%22%C2%A0) that the bad things people have said about his company are wrong. At the same time, he cozied up to the White House in a manner that suggests he thought he’d earn his enterprise some political (and perhaps legal) cover. Meta has rabidly defended itself both in actual court and in the court of public opinion. It’s fought lawsuits at the state level for years, and while it has [lost some](https://nmdoj.gov/press-release/new-mexico-department-of-justice-wins-landmark-verdict-against-meta/?ref=readtangle.com), it has not backed down. Meanwhile, any changes to Facebook or Instagram inspired by those challenges have been [marginal](https://www.reuters.com/technology/instagram-rolls-out-teen-account-with-privacy-parental-controls-scrutiny-mounts-2024-09-17/?ref=readtangle.com). Hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of fines have not moved Meta to implement the overhauls it may implement now, and use of its platforms has continued to grow all the while, despite public outcry about what screen-time and social-media addictions are doing to our society (especially young people). Damaging news articles [showing](https://techoversight.org/2025/11/22/meta-unsealed-docs/?ref=readtangle.com) that Meta employees understood the harm caused by the company’s apps barely made a blip on either its stock price or its growth. The $16.7 billion settlement is the top-line number generating most of the headlines, and understandably so. That’s nearly one third of the social media giant’s entire profit from 2025\. It’s an incredible sum — one of the [largest](https://news.delaware.gov/2026/08/26/ag-jennings-announces-largest-big-tech-settlement-in-history/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=one%20of%20the%20largest%20state%20consumer%20protection%20settlements%20in%20history) state consumer protection settlements in U.S. history — but it’s hardly the most important consequence of this agreement. What really matters are the platform changes, which seem designed to actually address the problem — I’d call them “earnest,” even if Meta was dragged into this kicking and screaming. They constitute some of the most significant product restrictions the company has ever rolled out: A two-hour daily combined time limit for teens, a block on the app late at night, and muted notifications during school hours are all meaningful. Facebook and Instagram thrive on *engagement*. Time on screen. Scrolling. Dopamine hits. Without it, the market value of their product plummets. Meta is resolving this lawsuit by doing something that is likely to hurt its bottom line. Before writing today’s piece, I spoke to a former Meta software engineer who worked on developing some of the company’s safety tools. He said these features are genuinely good at predicting age signals that can identify under-18 users, but that teens are “so smart” and adept at avoiding restrictions (for instance, he noted, some kids would change the time zones on their phones to get around quiet-hour restrictions they tested). He added that Meta faced the possibility of these apps being all-out banned for under-18 users, and that these restrictions will only apply to U.S.-based users — so, for Meta, it could have been much worse. Still, even holding the view that all people (not just teens) should generally avoid apps like Instagram, he described the two-hour time limit as “huge,” and said he’d been “shocked” at how many hours teen users spent on apps like Instagram. Despite the possibility that teens will just go to other apps, he felt this settlement was a major step forward. Other apps do complicate things. At this point, few people would argue that less screen time is a bad thing, but the reality is that neither Facebook nor Instagram is the most popular social media app among teens. A [much larger percentage of teens](https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2025/12/09/teens-social-media-and-ai-chatbots-2025/?ref=readtangle.com) use YouTube and TikTok, and about as many use Snapchat; and once they’re there, teens tend to spend longer amounts of time on those platforms. This might be why, as part of its settlement, Meta has tried to blunt the force of the competitive disadvantage. I can’t recall ever seeing a settlement structure like this before: 30% ($5.3 billion) of the roughly $18 billion Meta is pledging is contingent on YouTube and TikTok — two companies which were not named in this suit — implementing their own time limits and night-time use restrictions for teens. Both companies would also have to match the $5.3 billion settlement. After announcing the settlement, Meta [took out full-page ads](https://x.com/MikeIsaac/status/2092638560591720860?s=20&ref=readtangle.com) in The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and Washington Post urging their competitors to follow its lead. Will this peer pressure work? I’m skeptical, but I appreciate the effort. Maybe this is Meta’s way of ensuring it won’t ever have to pay out the full cost of the fine. Maybe, the platform executives genuinely want to rein in screen time use for teenagers given everything we’ve learned over the last decade. Most likely, of course, the company recognizes that if YouTube and TikTok are available while Meta isn’t, teens will just use those platforms instead and leave Meta in the dust. In other words: The structure of the settlement [is Zuckerberg’s insurance policy](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/27/technology/meta-settlement-mark-zuckerberg-youtube-tiktok.html?ref=readtangle.com). Whatever happens next, Meta did this to itself. They’re settling because they faced damning evidence of willful negligence. A former top Meta safety engineer [testified](https://www.npr.org/2026/08/19/nx-s1-5936648/meta-trial-arturo-bejar-whistleblower-testimony?ref=readtangle.com) that he had warned executives about its algorithm showing graphic violence and content from sexual predators to teens, and those executives turned a blind eye. Numerous news reports, internal leaks, and previous court cases have established that Meta knew their product was harming kids, especially young girls who were developing eating disorders, and opted to leave them as-is. We aren’t just learning about this in the public, either — we’ve [known about it for five years](https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-facebook-files-11631713039?ref=readtangle.com). Perhaps most importantly, Meta is facing accountability within the legal limits of Section 230, a rule that shields tech companies from liability for content published by users on their platforms. A lot of people have long argued that Section 230 was an impediment to accountability. I’ve said the opposite: That it is an important guardrail that [protects an open and free internet](https://www.readtangle.com/supreme-court-section-230-ruling/#:~:text=by%20the%20ISPs.%22-,My%20take.,-Reminder%3A%20%22My%20take), and that attacking it is a shortsighted way to go after these platforms. Many of the previous legal attacks on social media companies either disregarded or aimed to dismantle it. This one, though, circumvented it: Rather than argue that users were causing harm on their platforms and Meta was doing nothing, the states argued that Meta’s platform’s features themselves were harmful, that it had information about those harms, and that it misled the public and legislators about them. This line of legal attack was appropriate and apparently effective. Not only did it just result in a massive settlement, but it put other platforms on notice without destroying a core concept of the free and open internet — which is separating accountability for platforms from the accountability for what users do on those platforms. Plus, plus, plus. I find the full scope of this picture actually encouraging, in almost every way. While the details of the case are hard to read, given the damage that’s been done, the upside now is real: Big changes are coming to Meta. Meaningful sums of money are being paid out. Increased pressure is coming for other platforms (like YouTube and TikTok). Awareness about the harms of screen time for kids is spreading. And we’re not sacrificing a bedrock principle of the internet to make these gains. The tech backlash is here, and I — for one — [am ready to embrace it](https://www.readtangle.com/its-time-to-embrace-the-tech-backlash/). | Staff dissent. Editor Audrey Moorehead and Associate Editor Carina Pacheco | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | We don’t share Isaac’s overly optimistic perspective on the settlement for several reasons. First, we worry that the financial penalty on Meta — roughly $17 billion — is a drop in the bucket relative to its $1.4 trillion market capitalization. We also aren’t sold on the efficacy of Meta’s new limitations. [Early studies](https://www.bmj.com/content/bmj/393/bmj-2026-363695.full.pdf?ref=readtangle.com) of age-verification requirements imposed in Australia show that they’re easily circumvented. Furthermore, the effect of Meta’s changes will be limited if the same measures aren’t taken by YouTube and TikTok — and even if the “big 3” companies align on platform restrictions, many teens will still find a way to get their social media fix. [The 1998 Big Tobacco settlement](https://www.naag.org/our-work/naag-center-for-tobacco-and-public-health/the-master-settlement-agreement/?ref=readtangle.com) may be a model for more effective consequences: State attorneys general secured over $200 billion from the four largest tobacco companies, imposed heavy restrictions on advertising, and forced the companies to raise the prices on their products. Trying to prevent young people from forming a social media habit, just as we did with smoking, may be far more effective in reducing its harms to teens and adults. Yes, social media giants are to blame for designing algorithms intended to distract, numb, and addict users. But we’re wary of the efficacy of any company, state or federal policy to impact screen-time use, and talk about imposing government consequences on social media companies just obscures the real problem: That we must accept more personal accountability. The only viable solution to the social media crisis is to stop using these platforms at their current scale. That leaves the major burden on the individual; adults must evaluate, as honestly as possible, what a reasonable relationship with screens looks like for their children and for themselves. | **Take the survey:** What new safety measures will be most effective? [Let us know](https://interrobang.vercel.app/survey/38f52eaf-93f9-43b8-98e5-d5df51e5600e?ref=readtangle.com). *Disagree? That*’*s okay. Our opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we*’*ll consider publishing your feedback.* ### Your questions, answered. **Q: Why is the turmoil about Flock cameras so different from the situation of the ubiquitous cameras in Great Britain?** **— Christine from Fort Wayne, IN** **Tangle:** As we wrote about [last week](https://www.readtangle.com/flock-surveillance-cameras-august-2026/), Flock Safety operates the largest network of Automated License Plate Readers (ALPRs) in the United States, with approximately 127,000 cameras across the country accessible to a network of law enforcement agencies. The situation in the United Kingdom is different. An estimated [4–6 million](https://www.clearway.co.uk/news/cctv-usage-in-the-uk/?ref=readtangle.com) closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras are operating in the UK, or roughly 700 cameras per 10,000 people. This figure contributes to the popular understanding that the UK has an anomalously vast surveillance state, or that it could even be the [most surveilled country](https://www.eufy.com/uk/blogs/security-camera/is-the-uk-heavily-surveilled?ref=readtangle.com) in the world. But its per capita figures put the country at 5th, behind Pakistan, India, the United States, and China (in that order). Really, the United Kingdom doesn’t have a unique CCTV presence, and neither does England — London does. Just shy of one million CCTV cameras [operate in London](https://www.clearway.co.uk/news/how-many-cctv-cameras-are-there-in-london/?ref=readtangle.com), making it the most surveilled city in the world [outside of China](https://www.securityinfowatch.com/video-surveillance/press-release/21159928/the-most-surveilled-cities-in-the-world?ref=readtangle.com). A major differentiator between London’s cameras and those in Chinese cities, however, is that they are private and decentralized. The vast majority of CCTV cameras are owned and operated by private businesses that do not share their data or provide a searchable database to police by default (although police can request footage from private cameras to assist in investigating a crime). This is similar to how private cameras operate in the U.S. — but it’s different from Flock cameras, which operate as part of a searchable nationwide network. About 600 of London’s cameras [are managed](https://www.met.police.uk/foi-ai/metropolitan-police/disclosure-2024/august-2024/number-plate-scans-august2023-june2024-anpr-cameras/?ref=readtangle.com) by various government entities, and the rules governing their data are quite different. These Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras exist not just in London but throughout the country, and, as their name suggests, they are similar to Flock’s ALPRs. The UK’s ANPRs record vehicle information and save their data to the [National ANPR Database](https://alprmaps.com/surveillance/united-kingdom?ref=readtangle.com), where it is saved for up to 12 months and accessible to police with few restrictions. In essence, then, the difference between the UK’s cameras and Flock cameras in the U.S. is a matter of size and scope. In the United Kingdom, London is home to a lot of private cameras, while a small but powerful network of government-operated cameras stores data in a database law enforcement can access relatively freely and for an extended period. In the United States, Flock cameras operate broadly across the country and preserve their data for 7–30 days, depending on the jurisdiction. To learn more about Flock cameras, check out [our latest YouTube video](https://youtu.be/rE19Op1s3-8?ref=readtangle.com). **Want to have a question answered in the newsletter? You can reply to this email (it goes straight to our inbox) or** [**fill out this form**](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScQhqBSG%5F6%5FoBhwcTQMeS570n29XYbeQ9C9Bis7rjqI31g1tA/viewform?usp=header&ref=readtangle.com)**.** ### Numbers. - [**4.8 hours.**](https://www.commonsensemedia.org/sites/default/files/research/report/8-18-census-integrated-report-final-web%5F0.pdf?ref=readtangle.com#page=24) The average number of hours that U.S. children aged 13–18 spent on screen media per day in 2021, according to a 2023 Gallup study. - [**5.3 hours.**](https://news.gallup.com/poll/512576/teens-spend-average-hours-social-media-per-day.aspx?ref=readtangle.com) The average number of hours teenage girls spent on social media apps. - [**4.4 hours.**](https://news.gallup.com/poll/512576/teens-spend-average-hours-social-media-per-day.aspx?ref=readtangle.com) The average number of hours teenage boys spent on social media apps. - [**41%.**](https://news.gallup.com/poll/513248/parenting-mitigates-social-media-linked-mental-health-issues.aspx?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=their%20teenage%20children-,.,-Gallup%20also%20collected) The percentage of teens with five or more hours of daily social media use who rate their mental health as “poor” or “very poor,” according to a 2023 Gallup poll. - [**32% and 9%.**](https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/04/24/teens-and-social-media-key-findings-from-pew-research-center-surveys/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=.%20About%20a%20third%20of%20teens%20%2832%25%29%20say%20social%20media%20has%20had%20a%20mostly%20positive%20effect%20on%20them%20personally%2C%20while%20roughly%20a%20quarter%20%2824%25%29%20say%20it%20has%20been%20positive%20for%20other%20people%20their%20age.) 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[Start your 45-day no risk trial today ](https://api.wellput.io/v1/cm?cmid=1031887&tid=207&s1=v2-r778485-p1031887-c1048&s2=Tangle&s3=&s4=&ref=readtangle.com) ### The extras. - **One year ago today** we covered [President Trump’s attempt to fire Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook](https://www.readtangle.com/lisa-cook-fed-governor-fired/). - **The most clicked link in our last regular newsletter** was our [new video on Flock cameras](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rE19Op1s3-8&ref=readtangle.com). - **Nothing to do with politics:** Roger Federer [turns back the clock at the US Open](https://x.com/usopen/status/2092411445522604468?s=20&ref=readtangle.com). - **Our last survey:** 3,261 readers responded to our survey on voting by mail in the 2026 elections, with 52% saying they are very likely to cast a mail-in ballot. “I’ve been voting by mail since I first joined the military almost 50 years ago. It wasn’t a problem for anyone then, why is it a problem now?” one respondent said. “I always vote in person and believe that everyone should. I also believe it should be a national holiday,” said another. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/08/data-src-image-058dfec1-66aa-4317-b43d-a972a2ffb931.png) ### Have a nice day. Gelato the kitten suffered a spinal injury, and his legs couldn’t support his weight. Fortunately for him, he arrived at the right place: Cincinnati Animal CARE. The shelter’s staff named him and noticed that he was motivated to stand up and play, but none of their existing mobility devices were small enough for Gelato. So shelter staff got creative, using everyday items to build him a mobility device. They used wooden rulers, zip ties, tape, and — most crucially — two Hot Wheels cars. According to veterinary assistant lead Mallory Smith, Gelato has gained strength in his legs and even begun to bear his own weight, thanks to his new custom set of wheels. [Local 12 News has the story](https://local12.com/news/local/cincinnati-animal-care-builds-tiny-wheelchair-everyday-items-kitten-kittens-cat-cats-animals-foster-fostering-adopt-adoption-gelato-mobility-injured-injury-vet-veterinarian-hot-wheels-innovation-donate-donations-hamilton-county?ref=readtangle.com). ### How Dolly Parton's Passing Brought the Left & Right Together URL: https://www.readtangle.com/how-dolly-partons-passing-brought-the-left-right-together/ Last updated: 2026-08-27T16:06:45.000Z Did Abdul El-Sayed just change Jesse Waters's mind? ### Rob Sand on if he wants Biden and Harris to campaign with him. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/rob-sand-on-if-he-wants-biden-and-harris-to-campaign-with-him/ Last updated: 2026-08-27T07:11:56.000Z Democratic nominee for Iowa Governor Rob Sand has gained attention as polls have consistently shown him holding a narrow lead over his Republican opponent, Zach Lahn. ### The Supreme Court’s latest mail-in ballot ruling. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/scotus-mail-in-ballots-august-2026/ Last updated: 2026-08-26T15:54:13.000Z Good Wednesday morning. I’m **Isaac Saul,** Tangle’s founder and executive editor, and I believe this is the first time in seven years that I haven’t written a “My take” until Wednesday morning (at least, that is, when I haven’t been on vacation or paternity leave). That’s a testament to my astute colleagues who wanted to step into the arena for our first two topics this week, and it’s left me with plenty of pent-up writing energy I’m excited to deploy today. The timing is good, because we have a complicated and consequential **Supreme Court ruling on mail-in ballots** to jump into. Separately, we have a new YouTube video about **Flock cameras**, plus an under-the-radar story on the **State Department potentially revoking 200,000 visas**.It’s a jam-packed **14-minute read**. ### All about Flock cameras. A few months ago, you may not have heard of them at all. Now, Flock cameras are everywhere — especially in Northern Virginia, where Associate Producer Aidan Gorman lives. In our latest YouTube video, Aidan takes a trip around his neighborhood and talks with law enforcement to investigate the reach and presence of Flock cameras. Check it out here: We look into Flock cameras for our latest video ### Quick hits. 1. Sen. Darline Graham (R) won the runoff in the special primary to select a Republican candidate for South Carolina’s Senate race. Graham was appointed to serve the remainder of her brother Lindsey Graham’s (R) term and is running for a full six-year term. ([The result](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-primary-special-elections/south-carolina-senate-runoff-results?ref=readtangle.com)) 2. Central Intelligence Agency Director John Ratcliffe traveled to Moscow, Russia, on Tuesday. The U.S. has not commented on the purpose of the visit, but a Kremlin spokesperson said Ratcliffe met with Russian intelligence officials. ([The visit](https://www.reuters.com/world/kremlin-says-us-spy-chief-held-talks-with-russian-counterparts-during-moscow-2026-08-26/?ref=readtangle.com)) 3. Pennsylvania health officials said two unvaccinated people who had been infected with measles have died, the first measles-related deaths in the United States this year. ([The deaths](https://apnews.com/article/measles-deaths-pennsylvania-16c6c527c13e88ac3cdea57ffdbd2e19?ref=readtangle.com)) 4. The Department of Homeland Security’s inspector general’s office found that a Federal Emergency Management Agency crew broke the law in 2024 when it skipped 11 homes with signs supporting then-candidate Donald Trump while taking part in Hurricane Milton recovery efforts. ([The report](https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/6050600-dhs-fema-florida-milton-trump-signs/?ref=readtangle.com)) 5. Meta agreed to a $16.7 billion settlement with a coalition of state attorneys general to resolve a case concerning harms to children and teens allegedly caused by the company’s social media platforms. Meta must also make several changes to its apps’ functions as part of the agreement. ([The settlement](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/08/26/meta-social-media-trial-settlement.html?ref=readtangle.com)) Today's Partner ![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/08/Screenshot-2026-08-25-at-6.04.57---PM.png) ****One Subscription Isaac Actually Uses** Hey, it’s Isaac. I love to cook, and I’m addicted to the grill and my crock pot — I’m always looking for fun new recipes to try. ****ButcherBox** makes it easy, [delivering high-quality meat right to your door](https://butcherbox.pxf.io/c/3250132/3824371/16419?ref=readtangle.com). There’s plenty of room to customize your box, switch things up month to month, or even let them surprise you with a few picks. The quality is excellent, the convenience is hard to beat, and having a freezer stocked with steaks, burgers, and chicken makes an impromptu summer barbecue considerably easier. It really is one of the few subscriptions I ****genuinely** value. 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In compliance with President Trump’s order, on August 21, USPS [published](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/21/us/politics/postal-service-rule-restrict-mail-ballots.html?ref=readtangle.com) a finalized rule specifying it would not deliver mail ballots in states that do not share voter data with it. **Back up:** On March 31, President Trump [issued](https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/03/ensuring-citizenship-verification-and-integrity-in-federal-elections/?ref=readtangle.com) Executive Order 14399, directing the Department of Homeland Security to maintain lists of eligible voters in each state. Separately, the order requires USPS to receive a list of eligible mail-in voters from each state before transmitting that state’s mail-in ballots. In June, following a challenge from 23 states and Washington, D.C., District Court Judge Indira Talwani [blocked](https://www.votebeat.org/national/2026/06/25/trump-election-overhaul-mail-voting-executive-order-blocked-talwani-usps-dhs/?ref=readtangle.com) the order’s implementation in those jurisdictions. The First Circuit Court voted 2–1 to uphold Talwani’s order in July; the Trump administration [then appealed](https://www.votebeat.org/national/2026/08/03/trump-supreme-court-mail-ballot-restrictions-executive-order-usps/?ref=readtangle.com) to the Supreme Court to stay the injunction. Judge Talwani issued a [second ruling](https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/6023907-judge-blocks-usps-trump-voter-order/?ref=readtangle.com) barring USPS from taking steps to implement the executive order on August 11. In Monday’s opinion, the majority [sided](https://www.scotusblog.com/2026/08/supreme-court-allows-trump-administration-to-move-forward-with-order-imposing-restrictions-on-ma/?ref=readtangle.com) with the Trump administration, writing that the injunction was premature because the states had challenged the order before USPS implemented it. The majority wrote that the states’ claims of harm relied upon an insufficient “chain of inferences.” However, the majority also said that “if the Postal Service’s final rule harms the States, they may challenge that rule,” and noted that its decision did not mean “that any measure taken by the Government to implement the Order will necessarily be lawful.” Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote a dissenting opinion, joined by Justice Elena Kagan; Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson issued a separate dissent. Justice Sotomayor argued that “the respondent States have standing based on the credible threat that the Government will initiate investigations and prosecutions because they refuse to use the lists.” Justice Jackson wrote that the majority’s decision conflicts with the Court’s [Purcell principle](https://ballotpedia.org/The%5FPurcell%5FPrinciple?ref=readtangle.com), a standard establishing that courts should not interfere with election law shortly before elections to avoid confusion. Judge Talwani’s second injunction against USPS remains in effect. On Tuesday, the judge [ruled](https://www.axios.com/2026/08/25/usps-mail-voting-rule-injunction?ref=readtangle.com) that USPS’s finalized rule issued last week violated that injunction. Below, you’ll hear from the right and left about the Supreme Court’s decision. Then, Executive Editor Isaac Saul gives his take. | What the right is saying. Many on the right support the decision, with some calling for a stronger crackdown on mail-in ballots. Some say the ruling sets the GOP up for failure in the midterms. Others suggest Trump’s executive actions on elections will continue to be challenged. | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | **In PJ Media, Stephen Kruiser said the ruling** [**“preserve\[s\] a modicum of sanity.”**](https://pjmedia.com/stephen-kruiser/2026/08/25/the-morning-briefing-scotus-helps-preserve-a-modicum-of-sanity-in-mail-in-ballot-madness-n4956492?ref=readtangle.com) “Anything to combat the fraud potential of vote-by-mail is helpful, and this is a good start,” Kruiser wrote. “I'm a tough sell on this issue because I would prefer that the pool of people who are eligible to vote via the mail be drastically reduced. None of the measures discussed or proposed in recent years go far enough, in my opinion. My baseline starts with state laws that allow all-mail elections being struck down.” “Ensuring that mail-in ballots are sent only to those who are eligible to vote isn't an ‘attempt to seize control,’” Kruiser said. “Vote-by-mail features the least amount of election transparency and therefore offers the greatest potential for fraud, especially in states like California where every voter gets sent a ballot whether it was requested or not… The Democrats have no coherent reason to be opposed to clean voter rolls. Their levels of hysteria when responding to common sense measures like this only make them seem even more guilty of all the things that we accuse them of.” **In National Review, Dan McLaughlin suggested the** [**“decision trades short-term chaos for a long-term setback for Trump.”**](https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/the-hard-part-of-the-mail-in-ballots-decision-trades-short-term-chaos-for-a-long-term-setback-for-trump/?ref=readtangle.com) “The Supreme Court was on fairly solid ground in throwing out of court the challenges to Section 2 of Donald Trump’s mail-in ballot executive order. But the challenge to Section 3(b) raises more serious issues,” McLaughlin wrote. “The key element of that section directs the Postal Service to refuse to deliver ballots for federal elections mailed by people not verified by DHS as citizens… \[State-printed\] envelopes need to comply with USPS rules. And the states can’t comply because the rules don’t exist yet.” “I’ve been critical for some time now — as have been some of the Court’s conservatives — of the Court ducking election-law disputes by constantly declaring them either premature to bring in advance, or too late or moot to bring later,” McLaughlin said. “There’s an air of that here, because the states are concerned that by the time they can bring a case against the USPS rules, it will be too late to print envelopes that comply with them… As with its disposition of Section 2, this is a short-term on-paper win for Trump, but may make it even harder for him to actually do anything that binds the states in the fall, when they can reasonably argue that a late-arriving USPS dictate cannot possibly be complied with.” **In Reason, Damon Root predicted** [**“the legal fighting will continue in the lower courts.”**](https://reason.com/2026/08/25/another-supreme-court-showdown-over-mail-in-ballots/?ref=readtangle.com) “\[*Watson v. Republican National Committee*\] was a clear rebuke to the Republican-led effort to eliminate a common form of voting by mail. But if you thought that far-reaching decision would be the Supreme Court's final word on mail-in ballots this year, you may want to think again,” Root wrote. “The legal fighting is about to get even fiercer in the lower courts now that the Trump administration has been freed up to begin implementing the executive order. It seems quite likely that the matter will be back before the justices sooner or later for a more definitive resolution.” “The Trump administration clearly wants greater control over federal elections,” Root said. “But the Constitution already gave that authority to the states, subject to additional regulation by Congress, not by the executive. Will those federalism principles now prevent Trump from wielding the executive branch to ‘guarantee the midterms’ for the GOP? As of this writing, the Supreme Court has yet to cast its final vote on that pressing constitutional question.” | What the left is saying. Many on the left worry the decision will interfere with the midterm elections.Some suspect the justices are preparing to rule in Trump’s favor later on.Others suggest that mail ballots for this fall’s elections will likely remain unaffected. | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | **In Vox, Ian Millhiser argued the ruling** [**“revived Trump’s attempt to sabotage the 2026 election.”**](https://www.vox.com/politics/500360/supreme-court-trump-executive-order-election-vote-by-mail?ref=readtangle.com) “While the Court’s new decision in *Trump v. California* is troubling, it’s not necessarily a sign that the justices will permit Trump’s illegal order to take full effect. The Court’s actual holding in *California* is that two lower federal courts moved too quickly when they blocked the executive order. But *California* does not opine on whether the order is actually legal,” Millhiser wrote. “Still, the Court’s decision to reinstate this order, even temporarily, is likely to confuse state election officials who are racing to prepare for an upcoming election.” “It would be one thing if Trump tried to impose new envelope design requirements that will take effect in future elections. But there’s simply no time for states to design compliant envelopes, get those designs approved by USPS, order dozens of pallets worth of these envelopes, and distribute them to voters in time for the 2026 midterm elections,” Millhiser said. “Trump has literally issued an executive order that, if implemented, might prevent many states from holding the midterm elections in the first place.” **In Balls and Strikes, Jay Willis wrote** [**“*Trump v. California* does not give Trump everything he wants.”**](https://ballsandstrikes.org/scotus/supreme-court-mail-in-voting-2026-midterms/?ref=readtangle.com) “A key component of President Donald Trump’s plan for preserving the Republican Party’s power and influence is making it as difficult as possible for Democrats to vote,” Willis wrote. “By simultaneously mandating the creation of Trump-approved eligibility lists and targeting state officials who allegedly issue ballots to ineligible voters, the White House is sending a clear message to its political enemies: Use its list, or else.” “*Trump v. California* does not guarantee that the Postal Service’s rule will take effect before November. Thanks to a separate injunction in the case brought by the voting rights groups, Trump’s executive order is still on ice,” Willis said. “The basic problem, though, is that by kicking the can down the road, the Court is reserving for itself the option to overrule lower court rulings that are not as deferential to Trump as the justices would like.” **In Election Law Blog, Justin Levitt said** [**“none of this will actually matter.”**](https://electionlawblog.org/2026/a-quick-prediction-on-the-usps-mail-ballot-nonsense/?ref=readtangle.com) “The answer to ‘what happens next’ is different for lawyers (and law professors) than for the public. For lawyers, it’s likely to be a bit of a roller coaster for a minute. For the public, the path is likely to look much (much) smoother,” Levitt wrote. “The USPS rule is likely to stay blocked, although by new orders responding to the final rule rather than by orders responding to the Executive Order. There may be a lag of a few hours or a day or two, but I don’t think there will be much of a gap. Then there’s going to be a flurry of applications for stays of those orders.” “The next 24–48 hours will be a mess of people filing things and courts reacting to people filing things. But the primary part that reaches the public is whether USPS will deliver ballots,” Levitt said. “And the upshot of all the lawyering to come over the next few days is that multiple courts will almost certainly stop USPS from claiming the authority to pick and choose which ballots to deliver. There’s an injunction in place right now, and even if that goes away for a hot second for technical legal reasons, there will be another in place before anyone has time to blink.” | My take. Isaac Saul Executive Editor ![Isaac Saul](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2025/05/Isaac.jpg) | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Some parts of the order are benign, but the attempt to restrict USPS ballot delivery is alarming.This ruling doesn’t greenlight the executive order, but I disagree with the Court’s finding that the plaintiffs lacked standing.Whatever this order’s fate, President Trump is plainly trying to reduce mail-in voting to gain advantages in the election. | | **Reminder:** This is where we share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, leave a comment or reply to this email. | From 2016 to 2019, before Covid upended nearly every facet of American life, Trump’s style was so over-the-top, his norm-breaking was so constant, that I (and many others) regularly overreacted to news stories about him or his administration. Those three years were anything but normal, but I remember my mindset sometimes veering into hysteria. I’ve [reflected on this](https://www.readtangle.com/trump-russia-what-really-happened/) before, and I’ve tried to learn from it. As we entered his second term, I tried to temper some of my more reactionary thoughts and deliberately analyze him more slowly and carefully. The result, I think, is that I’ve been making the opposite mistake: I’ve heard Big Scary Things he might do and thought *he won’t actually do that*… only for him to actually do that. I’m determined to be a quick study here, and I don’t want to make the same errors for the final two thirds of his second term. So I won’t downplay the stakes or underestimate his follow-through. Donald Trump is using every tool he can to limit or eliminate mail-in voting. For now, every American’s access to mail-in ballots is exactly the same today as it was last week. That’s the most important thing to come out of the recent decision: Nothing has changed. The Supreme Court basically just said, “There’s a rule, the rule hasn’t gone into effect, so you can’t challenge it before then.” And it only said that to *one* of the two parties (the state challengers) who are trying to stop Trump’s executive order. To me, and to anyone else who thinks Trump’s order went too far, that’s the good news. I didn’t find the Court’s rationale all that convincing, but I can live with it. The bad news is pretty much everything else. For starters, it’s important to reiterate what Trump’s order (and the USPS rule) may actually do. SCOTUSblog has an [instructive summary](https://www.scotusblog.com/2026/08/supreme-court-allows-trump-administration-to-move-forward-with-order-imposing-restrictions-on-ma/?ref=readtangle.com): > The focus of the case was on three different provisions of the order. The first instructs the Department of Homeland Security to create lists of the adult U.S. citizens in each state and to send those lists to states at least 60 days before a federal election. The second provision commands the U.S. attorney general to “prioritize the investigation and, as appropriate, the prosecution of State and local officials… who issue Federal ballots to individuals not eligible to vote in a Federal election.” And the third provision requires states to give the U.S. Postal Service a list of voters to whom the states intend to send mail ballots, and it prohibits the USPS from mailing ballots to voters who are not on the lists of “enrolled” voters that the USPS will create. This might sound benign, and in some ways it is. The president is well within his rights to tell the Department of Homeland Security to compile lists of citizens in each state. It’s not even unreasonable for him to direct investigations into state and local officials who issue federal ballots to people who shouldn’t be allowed to vote (though “prioritizing” those investigations is almost certainly a tactic to pressure or threaten election officials). But the third provision — directing the U.S. Postal Service to only send out pre-approved mail-in ballots and to maintain a list of voters who are eligible to vote — is alarming. Without even getting into the unconstitutionality of this action, it is simply impractical. The USPS is not designed to take on such work — especially not before the November elections. Nearly [one third](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/25/us/politics/mail-in-ballots-states-voting-trump.html?ref=readtangle.com) of all American voters vote by mail ([including President Trump](https://www.politico.com/news/2026/08/17/trump-vote-by-mail-primaries-florida-01039292?ref=readtangle.com)), and the majority of them are Democratic voters. USPS would need to build a mechanism to manage all those voters, put teams in place to manage the data and coordinate with states, and also ensure that states entered the required information for each eligible voter (after USPS approves envelope designs to use in these elections). Then they’d need systems set up to scan, sort and manage those ballots (about 50 million of them), *and* they’d have to tell voters how to receive a ballot, how to check if they’re eligible, how to challenge their eligibility, and how a post-election audit would work. All of this would have to be coordinated nationally — so rules would need to apply equally to Oregon, where [nearly every voter](https://www.newsweek.com/map-shows-states-most-mail-in-voting-supreme-court-backs-trump-admin-12362648?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Turnout%20by%20mail,by%2Dmail%20systems.) casts a ballot by mail, and Arkansas, [where just 2% do](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/25/us/politics/mail-in-ballots-states-voting-trump.html?ref=readtangle.com). Also, early voting begins next month. And the USPS is currently managing a [fiscal crisis](https://www.brookings.edu/articles/the-us-postal-services-fiscal-crisis/?ref=readtangle.com). Ironically, complying with Trump’s order would create the greatest election security threat we’ve ever had. Under our current system, manipulating votes requires changing both digital and paper ballots; infiltrating the new system would only require corrupting the database responsible for sending one third of all Americans their ballots. That means any foreign power, federal government worker, or random hacker who could get inside whatever system USPS builds could then upend our elections. With apologies to all my postal-worker readers, this is the same USPS that seems incapable of reliably forwarding me my mail when I change addresses. I want to remind everyone that the president *just* warned us that China had stolen U.S. voter data and that our elections were under threat. He greatly exaggerated that threat, and the documents he released [actually showed our elections are quite secure](https://www.readtangle.com/conspiracy-theories-are-getting-dumber/#:~:text=All%20that%20sounds,to%20support%20that) and have been safe from foreign influence. Yet now he wants to set up a system that is *more* vulnerable to hacking? Am I hearing that correctly? Looking ahead, I find it very unlikely that the Supreme Court lets such a rule go into effect. USPS has also said it will not take action to implement the rules *unless* the Supreme Court rules in its favor. The court’s decision on Monday was that the states did not yet have standing to sue, despite the rule having been finalized on Friday. Georgetown Law professor Steve Vladeck [called](https://www.stevevladeck.com/p/246-making-sense-of-the-mail-in-ballots?ref=readtangle.com) this “bollocks,” and I’m inclined to agree. The Court’s rationale was that the states could not demonstrate harm; the states (and the dissenting justices) argued that they would need to begin preparing now if they wanted to have a chance of implementing the rules, which is correct — and given that, the case was “ripe” and ready to be ruled on. I could see reasonable people disagreeing on the Court’s rationale, given that the rule had not been issued. But then, on Friday, the USPS issued its rule. It was exactly what the states feared and what Trump’s executive order called for, yet the Court’s order on Monday [bizarrely did not acknowledge](https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2026/08/trump-supreme-court-mail-voting-kbj-warning.html?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=The%20court%E2%80%99s%20opinion,time%20will%20tell.%E2%80%9D) that the final rule now existed. It’s one thing for the Court to say “this executive order only directs the development of future policy, and we want to see what that policy is.” But it feels decidedly different when such a ruling is released *after* that policy becomes public, validating the exact concerns the plaintiffs raised. Still, the Court clarified that it was not making a determination on the legality of the rule, and it didn’t even touch the other injunction preventing it from going into place. I find some solace in that, and in the mountain of impending litigation that will almost certainly ensure this rule never becomes law. I simply can’t wrap my head around the Court allowing November chaos by deferring to the administration, or the [blatant illegality](https://electionlawblog.org/wp-content/uploads/20260702-postal-rule-comment.pdf?ref=readtangle.com) of what the rules direct USPS to do, or the infringement on states’ rights to administer their own elections, and so forth. Even if this rule doesn’t go into effect, though, the effort has to be contextualized with the Trump administration’s broader actions. The president’s polling numbers are underwater. 33% of Americans approve of how he’s doing his job, and just [13% of Americans “strongly approve”](https://x.com/AaronBlake/status/2092210604270350459?ref=readtangle.com) (including only 35% of Republicans). These are the lowest numbers I can recall him having — in either term. Rather than respond to that unpopularity by resolving the war in Iran or tackling kitchen-table issues for Americans, he is turning his attention to something else: How he can use his existing power to gain advantages for his party in our elections. I normally give the benefit of the doubt, here — our elections can certainly be improved, and I’m open to some of Trump’s suggestions to improve them. I’ve become supportive of voter ID laws, and I even think the specific suggestions to make uniform how USPS handles mail-ballots would be a positive if states could enact them in an orderly and voluntary manner. Even the legal experts who think this rule is illegal [also think elements of it have merit](https://electionlawblog.org/wp-content/uploads/20260702-postal-rule-comment.pdf?ref=readtangle.com). But as I said earlier, I don’t want to underestimate Trump’s grander intentions. Look at the track record: Rather than win the votes of American citizens, the president launched a [nationwide gerrymandering war](https://www.readtangle.com/indiana-republicans-vote-against-gerrymander/) to keep his House majority. He’s been obsessively pushing [the SAVE America Act](https://www.readtangle.com/the-save-act-separating-truth-from-fiction/), a massive election-reform bill that would make it more difficult for thousands — [if not millions](https://www.readtangle.com/save-america-act-voter-id-law/#:~:text=Another%20upside%20of,from%20April%202025) — of eligible voters to cast ballots. He’s [declined to rule out](https://www.cnn.com/2026/08/11/politics/trump-national-emergency-election?ref=readtangle.com) declaring a national emergency before the 2026 election, sparking speculation he may deploy National Guard troops to polling places in the name of election security. Most recently, he used a national address to cast doubt on the legitimacy of the entire system, framing his preferred legislation as the only thing that could rescue it. This isn’t particularly subtle. All of it comes six years after the president refused to accept defeat in 2020, pushed federal and state officials to refuse to certify his loss, and then egged on rioters at the Capitol. So while I am still holding onto my confidence that *this particular gambit* will fail, I’m unabashedly alarmed at this administration’s broader strategy: a full-court press to gain any advantage it can in the upcoming election. That demands everyone’s attention — and a judicial branch that is proactive about protecting our sacred system. **Take the survey:** Do you plan to vote by mail in 2026? [Let us know](https://interrobang.vercel.app/survey/1b66776b-4609-4bdd-acb5-466b3847ca6c?ref=readtangle.com). *Disagree? That*’*s okay. Our opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we*’*ll consider publishing your feedback.* ### Under the radar. On Monday, the Associated Press reported that the State Department is planning to revoke the visas of up to 200,000 noncitizens who are in the United States on business and tourism visas and seeking asylum. If carried out, the action would be the largest single mass revocation of visas in U.S. history. A spokesperson said the State Department is coordinating with the Department of Homeland Security on the effort, adding that “the number of revocations remains dynamic and will be done on a rolling basis.” While the specifics of the plan are yet to be announced, those who have their visas revoked may not face immediate deportation and could instead be recategorized in the immigration system. [The Associated Press has the story](https://apnews.com/article/trump-rubio-visas-revoke-e9c14fdfd0ada439d2b9d8694e678a46?ref=readtangle.com). 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Delivered straight to your door. **Isaac approved.* Use code [TANGLE to get $60 off](https://butcherbox.pxf.io/c/3250132/3824371/16419?ref=readtangle.com) and choose ****one free protein for a year**. ### The extras. - **One year ago today** we covered an appeals court [throwing out the $527 million civil fraud penalty against President Trump](https://www.readtangle.com/trump-civil-fraud-case-thrown-out-letitia-james/). - **The most clicked link in our last regular newsletter** was [Ari’s explanation of the term “Tyrsday.”](https://www.readtangle.com/cyberattacks-water-systems-2026/#:~:text=This%20is%20Managing,of%20justice%2C%20T%C3%BDr.) - **Nothing to do with politics:** The late Dolly Parton’s family has asked fans to honor her legacy by donating to her [Imagination Library, a global book-gifting initiative](https://imaginationlibrary.com/?ref=readtangle.com). - **Our last survey:** 2,835 readers responded to our survey on the national debt, with 44% saying they would increase taxes on corporations as their first move to reduce the debt. “I would do ‘all the above’ except cut taxes to encourage growth,” one respondent said. “There is no tax increase that will solve the problem if we don't cut spending,” said another. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/08/data-src-image-465a90a5-db74-4fff-b1bb-171d16136816.png) ### Have a nice day. In 2010, complications from diabetes left Liu Peijin’s wife partially paralyzed, and repeated hospital stays failed to slow her decline. Liu, a 69-year-old former serviceman from Shandong province, decided he didn’t want her final years to be spent going in and out of a hospital. Instead, he set out with her to chase a dream they’d held since their newlywed days: touring the country together in an outfitted campervan. Over the past decade, they’ve visited 31 regions throughout China; Liu says the travel has kept his wife’s coordination and speech intact and made her “100 times” more spirited than she was in a hospital bed. “We would rather die on the road than in a hospital bed,” the couple agreed. Now home from their latest trip, they’re already planning the next one. [The South China Morning Post has the story](https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3364450/die-road-not-hospital-chinese-man-takes-paralysed-wife-epic-road-trip?ref=readtangle.com). ### I found the cameras tracking my car URL: https://www.readtangle.com/i-found-the-cameras-tracking-my-car/ Last updated: 2026-08-26T16:12:26.000Z Everyone is talking about Flock cameras and how dangerous they are, but what do they actually do? ### Dolly Parton dies at the age of 80. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/dolly-parton-dies-at-the-age-of-80/ Last updated: 2026-08-25T19:06:44.000Z Country Singer and national icon Dolly Parton has died at the age of 80, her nephew and head of security Bryan Seaver announced in a video statement. ### The national debt hits $40 trillion. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/us-national-debt-2026/ Last updated: 2026-08-25T15:54:02.000Z Good [Tyrsday](https://www.readtangle.com/cyberattacks-water-systems-2026/#:~:text=This%20is%20Managing,of%20justice%2C%20T%C3%BDr.) to you all. This is **Managing Editor Ari Weitzman**, here with my long sleeves on watching the mist roll back over the Adirondacks. I’m resisting the urge to get too autumnal too soon, but man — there’s nothing like a New England fall. The apple, it yearns for the picking; the cider press, it yearns for the apple; the managing editor, he yearns for the cider. I’m feeling very grateful today. *Indebted*, if you will. Perhaps, as our **national debt** reaches an auspicious milestone, we should all feel that way. In today’s edition, I’m going to talk about why our debt is high and why it’s not going anywhere, then we’ll give a look back at **debt in the early Republic**. It’s a **13-minute read** (25 minutes when adjusted for inflation). ### Applications are open. For the past three years, Tangle has run a college ambassador program, offering current college students the chance to serve as Tangle’s liaison on their campus, organizing speaking events, clubs, class talks, and more. Applications are now open for the fall semester program. If you (or someone you know) is interested in applying, [you can do so here](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScTAiYq9FTIXtzyiauuVHnUpesZJ5fu9i9vQ6f%5F7ymskORFcg/viewform?usp=publish-editor&ref=readtangle.com). We are accepting applications until **Wednesday, September 2 at 11:59 PM ET**. Please email Will Kaback at [will@readtangle.com](mailto:will@readtangle.com) with any questions. ### Quick hits. 1. BREAKING: The Canadian government announced tariffs ranging from 15%–50% on approximately $20 billion worth of U.S. imports in retaliation for U.S. duties imposed on Saturday. Canada's tariffs will take effect on September 8\. ([The tariffs](https://www.nbcnews.com/business/consumer/canada-retaliates-against-trump-tariffs-rcna594280?ref=readtangle.com)) 2. The Supreme Court issued an unsigned emergency order staying a lower court injunction on President Donald Trump’s executive order on mail-in ballots, which would direct the U.S. Postal Service to create lists of eligible voters in each state and possibly restrict delivery of mail-in ballots in states that do not cooperate. The majority found that a multi-state challenge to the action was premature because the order is yet to be implemented but allowed for subsequent challenges to possibly succeed. The Court’s three Democratic-appointed justices dissented. However, a separate federal injunction on the executive order remains in place. ([The ruling](https://www.votebeat.org/national/2026/08/24/supreme-court-lifts-stay-trump-executive-order-on-elections-mail-ballot-restrictions/?ref=readtangle.com)) 3. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced “Operation Economic Outcast” to sanction countries that do business with Iran in an effort to cut Iran off from the global economy. Bessent said these secondary sanctions would not immediately go into effect, calling the announcement a “warning shot.” ([The announcement](https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2026/08/24/bessent-unveil-economic-d-day-sanctions-against-iran/?ref=readtangle.com)) 4. U.S. Southern Command said the military struck a boat in the Pacific Ocean that was allegedly trafficking drugs, killing two people. ([The strike](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/us-military-destroys-alleged-drug-boat-pacific-deaths/?ref=readtangle.com)) 5. A significant wildfire near Reno, Nevada, is 27% contained as of Monday, according to local officials. The fire has injured seven people, destroyed over 30 homes, and forced approximately 63,000 people to evacuate the area. ([The fire](https://apnews.com/article/hawk-fire-reno-nevada-evacuations-b572e2a15fe6a263231e04ea932cf6c8?ref=readtangle.com)) 6. An independent arbitrator ruled that The Washington Post wrongfully terminated former opinion columnist Karen Attiah over social media posts related to the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, ordering the paper to reinstate her with back pay. ([The order](https://thehill.com/homenews/media/6046447-arbitrator-washington-post-karen-attiah-opinion-columnist-reenstatement-charlie-kirk-posts/?ref=readtangle.com)) Today's Partner ****Is Your Car Insurance Getting Expensive?** You could be wasting hundreds every year on expensive insurance. The experts at [****SmarterAuto**](https://www.yrxtrk.com/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=23262&aff%5Fid=2164&ref=readtangle.com) believe they can help. 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The national debt has more than doubled since 2017, and it increased from $39 trillion to $40 trillion in roughly the past five months. In response to the latest milestone, lawmakers from both parties called for new initiatives to reduce the debt. **Back up:** The [national debt](https://www.pgpf.org/article/debt-vs-deficits-whats-the-difference/?ref=readtangle.com) is the total amount of money the U.S. government owes, whereas the national deficit is the net annual difference between government expenditures and revenues. In other words, the debt represents the sum of past deficits (minus any annual surpluses, which the government has [run only four times](https://fiscaldata.treasury.gov/americas-finance-guide/national-deficit/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=The%20U.S.%20has%20experienced%20a%20fiscal%20year%2Dend%20budget%20surplus%20four%20times%20in%20the%20last%2050%20years%2C%20most%20recently%20in%202001.) in the past 50 years). Economists hold [differing views](https://www.readtangle.com/does-the-debt-matter-noah-smith-brian-riedl/) on the importance of the national debt, but in recent years, a growing consensus has held that both the debt and deficit will [create long-term challenges](https://www.readtangle.com/the-deficit-hits-2-trillion/) for the United States if fiscal trends continue. Most federal spending [goes toward](https://usafacts.org/answers/how-much-does-the-us-federal-government-spend/country/united-states/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=How%20is%20federal%20funding%20spent%3F) individual benefit programs like Social Security and Medicare, in addition to national defense spending and debt interest payments. Annual spending has remained high or increased in the past two decades, while Congress has also approved multi–trillion-dollar additional spending packages in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Simultaneously, Congress has cut individual and corporate tax rates. Beyond the $40 trillion debt milestone, economists have [raised concerns](https://www.wsj.com/economy/u-s-debt-just-topped-40-trillion-how-we-got-here-c1c6c9d2?ref=readtangle.com) about the amount of debt held by the U.S. public (which excludes debt government departments owe other departments, in particular the Social Security trust fund) and the ratio of debt to gross domestic product (GDP). In 2001, publicly held debt as a share of GDP was 31.5%; today, it is nearly 100%. In response to last week’s Treasury announcement, Republican fiscal hawks called for urgent action to curtail spending. “America’s national debt has officially crossed a line that should alarm every single American,” Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC) [wrote](https://x.com/RepRalphNorman/status/2090425336009773539?s=20&ref=readtangle.com) on X. “This is not just another number. It is a flashing warning sign that Washington’s reckless, unchecked spending is putting the future of our country, and generations of Americans, at risk.” Democrats also expressed alarm, with many blaming President Donald Trump’s policies for the worsening situation. “For a President and a Republican Party who have railed for years against the nation’s debt, it’s ironic that America is deeper than ever in the red under their leadership,” Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) [said](https://x.com/SenatorDurbin/status/2090458632890581337?ref=readtangle.com). “From Trump’s billionaire tax cuts to his war with Iran, it’s clear fiscal responsibility is the last thing on his mind.” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent suggested the $40 trillion figure was not a cause for unique concern. “There’s nothing magic about the 40-trillion number,” he [said](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/08/20/bessent-budget-deficit-trump.html?ref=readtangle.com). “We can grow our way out of that.” Bessent also said he thinks there is a “very good chance” the deficit under the second Trump administration has peaked. Today, we’ll hear views from the left and right about the national debt. Then, Managing Editor Ari Weitzman gives his take. | Agreed. Writers across the political spectrum agree that the rising national debt is a problem requiring action from elected officials. | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | What the left is saying. Many on the left call out Republican policies for exacerbating the debt. Some argue that the health of the U.S. economy is a bigger concern.Others criticize Treasury Secretary Bessent’s fiscal strategy. | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | **In MS NOW, Steve Benen wrote** [**“Trump has some explaining to do.”**](https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/debt-deficit-treasury-fiscal-budget-trump-republicans-democrats?ref=readtangle.com) “The problem is getting worse faster than anyone expected,” Benen said. “As a candidate in 2024, \[Trump\] repeated his earlier promises \[to reduce the deficit and start paying off the debt\], before again delivering the opposite results: Trump has added nearly $4 trillion in debt since returning to the White House a year and a half ago. Trump and congressional Republicans are to blame: There’s no great mystery here. The debt is growing quickly as a direct result of GOP policies, including last year’s tax breaks for the wealthy and the war in Iran.” “For decades, Republican officials have expressed hysterical concerns about ‘fiscal responsibility’ every time there’s been a Democratic president… The gap between what the government spends and what it takes in, GOP officials said, threatened to bankrupt the nation, crash the economy and ruin the lives of our children and grandchildren,” Benen wrote. “But as this year’s deficit approaches the $2 trillion mark, and the debt passes the $40 trillion mark, those same Republicans are suddenly silent on the issue.” **In Common Dreams, Dean Baker argued** [**“the more important issue is to have a healthy economy with solid growth.”**](https://www.commondreams.org/opinion/why-does-us-have-40-trillion-in-debt?ref=readtangle.com) “I have never been a deficit hawk, and I’m not about to change my religious affiliation now. But whatever we think of debt and deficits, there is one point that should be very clear: it has been run up almost entirely due to Republican tax cuts and their inept management of the economy,” Baker wrote. “Every Democratic president of the last half century has left with a deficit that was lower, measured as a share of GDP, than the one they came in with, except Obama, who left it unchanged. By contrast, every Republican president has left with a considerably higher deficit than what they inherited.” “Here is where the big failure is. Trump’s war is leading to shortages… His tariffs have led to higher prices for a wide range of products, as has his mass deportations. Perhaps most importantly, Trump’s open corruption and self-dealing undermine confidence in the U.S. financial markets and business system more generally,” Baker said. “In the past, investors could view the United States markets as relatively clean and stable. Unlike in some other countries, getting your investment back didn’t depend on staying in the good graces of the political leadership. Under Trump, this is no longer true… That is not a good recipe for a stable economy with solid growth.” **In MS NOW, Anthony Coley said** [**“the old Scott Bessent would be calling Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s bluff.”**](https://www.ms.now/opinion/scott-bessent-treasury-deficit-bond-trump?ref=readtangle.com) “\[Bessent\] is responsible for financing a government whose gross national debt just crossed $40 trillion,” Coley wrote. “He entered office promoting a ‘3-3-3’ plan: 3% economic growth, 3 million more barrels of oil a day, or the equivalent from other energy sources, and a federal budget deficit reduced to 3% of gross domestic product by 2028\. He is not on track to hit those goals. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office now estimates this year’s deficit at $2.1 trillion — about $200 billion worse than it projected in February and about twice as high as Bessent’s target of 3% of GDP.” “America’s debt problem was built over decades by both parties. But this administration’s policies and choices have added substantially to it. This week’s bond selloff had many causes. Inflation fears, geopolitical turmoil and a broader global bond selloff all played roles. But the underlying problem is that Washington is borrowing enormous sums at increasingly expensive rates,” Coley said. “The fiction is not that a reckoning is coming tomorrow. The fiction is the assumption that the country can indefinitely run enormous deficits, pile trillions onto its debt, inject uncertainty into institutions investors rely on — and still expect the world to lend to us on favorable terms.” | What the right is saying. The right is concerned about the debt, with many saying the only solution is to reduce spending.Some express cautious optimism about Bessent’s and Trump’s plan. Others question whether the rising debt is the crisis it’s made out to be. | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | **In Fox News, Les Rubin called the national debt a** [**“crisis we can’t ignore any longer.”**](https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/washington-driving-america-toward-debt-crisis-cant-ignore-longer?ref=readtangle.com) “Today we are governed largely by professional politicians, many of whom have never signed the front of a paycheck or run a business. Their careers are spent in government, and they are focused on re-election, promising voters increasingly more, but not paying for these programs,” Rubin wrote. “A new wave of voices demands ever more expensive programs without a realistic plan to pay for them. ‘Tax the rich,’ they say. Every serious economist who has examined the numbers knows that approach cannot even close today’s deficits, let alone fund the additional spending proposed.” “Reality requires growth-killing taxes on everyone if the spending continues to grow. Limited government and financial responsibility produced the richest and strongest nation the world has known, delivering a standard of living that outpaced other Western countries,” Rubin said. “Do we want to follow their path of lower growth and lower living standards? Of course not. We must control spending if we want to keep growing and avoid going over the fiscal cliff. At the moment, that is exactly where current policy is taking us.” **In Townhall, Dmitri Bolt said** [**“Scott Bessent and President Trump have a plan.”**](https://townhall.com/news/dmitri-bolt/2026/08/21/scott-bessent-has-a-plan-to-ensure-the-us-outgrows-its-national-debt-n2681634?ref=readtangle.com) “Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Thursday that the only way out is to grow our way out of debt,” Bolt wrote. “That is a seriously tall order, because to reduce our debt through growth alone, the economy would need to outpace its historical GDP growth rate by roughly two to three times, year after year, for decades, something that is close to impossible. However, Vice President JD Vance said Thursday night that Bessent and President Trump have a ‘discreet’ plan to begin growing America out of its debt.” “It remains unclear what the administration’s plan actually entails beyond pursuing stronger economic growth,” Bolt said. “That growth is certainly welcome, but it cannot do all the work. At some point, America will have to confront its unwillingness to restrain spending, or reform the entitlement programs pushing the debt ever higher. With the Democratic Socialists of America on the rise, however, that willingness appears to be at an all-time low.” **In the New York Post, Charles Gasparino suggested the** [**“debt load is unlikely to cause a fiscal Armageddon.”**](https://nypost.com/2026/08/21/business/why-americas-40t-debt-load-is-unlikely-to-cause-a-fiscal-armageddon/?ref=readtangle.com) “If you’re worrying about a pending fiscal Armageddon over the country’s debt, it’s time to waste your cortisol spikes on something else,” Gasparino wrote. “On its face, the debt situation appears pretty bad. The US can’t stop spending (neither side, Democrats or Republicans, seem interested in entitlement reform) and buyers of our debt want a higher interest or risk premium ‘yield’ to be compensated for government profligacy. The higher yields suggest inflation is about to spike as well.” “I’m no fan of deficits, particularly ones that run more than 100% of GDP. In theory, there’s only so much capital to go around. The people with the money — foreign investors (aka the Chinese), hedge funds, US pensions — can’t keep buying our debt forever,” Gasparino said. “The government needs to make smarter choices, that’s certain. In the meantime, though, don’t panic. A $40 trillion debt is nothing to crow about. But at the end of the day, it’s a figure, not a harbinger.” | My take. Ari Weitzman Managing Editor ![Ari Weitzman](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2025/05/Ari.jpg) | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | The national debt is driven by popular programs that politicians are unwilling to touch. Allocated spending is only part of the problem — revenue, emergency packages, and an aging population are all contributors. The $40 trillion number is scary, but we’re not past the point of no return — yet. | | **Reminder:** This is where we share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, leave a comment or reply to this email. | As a unit, the editorial team at Tangle is pretty savvy. Not to brag or anything, but we can look at charts and add numbers together. And as a unit, to the person, we look at the federal budget and say, “You cannot meaningfully reduce the federal deficit without reforming Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and defense spending.” In fact, we published that line — verbatim — in [Isaac’s Friday piece](https://www.readtangle.com/i-was-wrong-about-doge/) about the failure of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to meaningfully address our recurring deficits. I’m not setting up a sleight of hand in this piece. I have no surprising “one hidden fact” that will alchemize what I said above — it is just, plainly, true. For fiscal year 2025, [the federal budget](https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/information-resources/budget/historical-tables/?ref=readtangle.com) was just north of $7 trillion, or $7,011 billion to be precise. Of that budget, health spending (including Medicare and Medicaid) accounted for the largest share with $1,843 billion of appropriated spending (28%). Social Security was second with $1,581 billion (22.5%), and defense was fourth at $916 billion (13%). For a long time, defense spending was #3 — until 2024, when interest paid on our national debt passed it. In 2025, interest on the debt cost the American taxpayers $971 billion (13.8% of all federal spending). Together, these four categories comprise **77.3%** of the entire federal budget. This is a growing problem. As the debt increases, our interest payments increase, which limits the amount the government can spend on essential services for each dollar that it raises. It also creates a positive feedback cycle where any additional debt will be more costly, meaning our interest rates get higher, meaning our interest payments get larger, meaning debt becomes a larger part of our spending, meaning we need to borrow more, etc. This is not a problem that will just go away on its own. If we run the 2025 budget back for the next ten years, based on some back-of-the-napkin math, our national debt in 2036 will be nearly $55 trillion, and interest payments will comprise a full 20% of the federal budget. There’s no hidden ideological boondoggle to rip out of the budget to solve this problem in one fell swoop. Say we reduced the entire Department of Homeland Security’s [budget](https://www.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/2026-04/26%5F0422%5Focfo%5Ffy27-budget-dhs-budget-in-brief.pdf?ref=readtangle.com#page=7), with all its various immigration agencies, to $0: You’ve cut just over 1% of the federal budget. Axing all the acronymic programs threatened by DOGE or the Office of Management and Budget in the past 18 months brings you no closer — USAID, PBS, CFPB, USPS, and NASA all sum to well under 1%. To reduce our recurring deficits, cuts simply have to come from spending categories #1, #2, and #4: healthcare, Social Security, and defense. If anyone in government were to suggest cuts to category #3, our debt payments, they would be gently ushered out of whatever room the adults are speaking in. Not that any solutions will come from that room. For all they may bluster publicly, Democrats are unwilling to slash the military budget (“Sorry, Ukraine and Taiwan, we’ve decided to abdicate the global geopolitical stage entirely”) while Republicans aren’t going to swallow hard and take an axe to Medicare or Social Security (at least not this era’s Republicans). Instead, Democrats demand the Pentagon “pass an audit,” Republicans scour the byzantine bureaucratic bowels for “waste, fraud, and abuse,” and independents say “let’s do both!” Tangle editor, here: Let’s do both! But also: It’s not enough. This is not a winning political message, but we’re not going to break through this budgetary rock wall by grinding down the mortar between the bricks. We’ve got to make like Andy Dufresne, get out our rock hammers, and chisel through that wall — and it will take us about as long as it took him to tunnel to freedom (in case you need to brush up on your cinema, it took Andy 19 years to tunnel out of Shawshank Penitentiary in *The Shawshank Redemption*). With a functional budgetary process, that’s probably how long it will take us to get our debt under control. Decades. If you’ve been screaming at your screen about the obvious issue I’ve been missing for the past 700 words, I hear you. And I’ll grant your points one by one. Yes, spending is only one side of the coin; federal *revenue* is also a part of the problem. As liberals are wont to argue, tax revenue is simply too low to fund current expenditures. Just consider this: Since 2015, total [federal public debt](https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/FYGFDPUN?ref=readtangle.com) (which excludes debt that parts of the government owe to other parts) has increased from $13.1 trillion ([72% of GDP](https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/GDP?ref=readtangle.com)) to $32.3 trillion [this week](https://fiscaldata.treasury.gov/datasets/debt-to-the-penny/?ref=readtangle.com) (roughly 100%). During that same span, federal spending on those “big four” categories has increased from 74.1% of the budget to 77.7%. Meanwhile, the big four accounted for 84% of [federal revenue](https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/FGRECPT?ref=readtangle.com) in 2015 but 104% (!) in 2025\. That’s worth emphasizing, I think. Since 2023, these four categories alone have accounted for more than what the federal government has been able to raise! Yes, growth and interest rates are part of the problem. As conservatives are wont to argue, we don’t need to raise tax rates if the amount of money taxpayers are earning is going up. When President Bill Clinton ran four straight budget surpluses in the late 1990s, he did so with the proportions of the federal budget allocated to defense, healthcare, Social Security, and debt interest only marginally lower than they are today. In fact, for Clinton’s last year in office, spending on the military was actually *higher* as a proportion of the budget. But he also oversaw a period of [insane fiscal growth](https://www.factcheck.org/2007/12/clinton-and-economic-growth-in-the-90s/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=What%20we%20can,was%20sworn%20in.) — and basically no emergency spending. Yes (and relatedly), emergency spending is an enormous part of the problem. In Clinton’s second term, the largest allocation to occur outside the normal budgetary process was the [1998 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act](https://www.everycrsreport.com/reports/98-123F.html?ref=readtangle.com) (ESAA), which rolled international peacekeeping, United Nations payments, Y2K remediation, and census funding into one — and cost $17.9 billion. In 2025, the American Relief Act (ARA) that funded an emergency response to Hurricanes Milton and Helene cost [roughly $110 billion](https://appropriations.house.gov/news/press-releases/house-passes-critical-disaster-relief-americans?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Includes%20%24110%20billion%20in%20disaster%20assistance%20for%20relief%20efforts%20in%20North%20Carolina%2C%20South%20Carolina%2C%20Georgia%2C%20Florida%2C%20Oklahoma%2C%20and%20Western%20regions%2C%20among%20others.), about five times greater than the ESAA allocation, before adjusting for inflation. Speaking of, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) [allocated](https://www.crfb.org/blogs/whats-inflation-reduction-act?ref=readtangle.com) roughly four times the spending as the ARA. Covid relief, across Presidents Trump and Biden… roughly ten times the IRA. Yes to all of that. Yes, every administration since Clinton has fueled the budgetary fire by increasing spending, without raising enough to pay for it, and then poured gasoline on that fire with some giant emergency spending package. Yes, it’s everyone’s fault, and yes, President Trump is making it worse. But those factors only make it *harder*, not easier, to reduce the budget. We now have to underspend federal revenues, hoping that any emergency spending doesn’t break the bank, for years on end. We also have to *raise* revenues to cover spending, but not so high as to strangle growth — also for years on end. And we have to simultaneously grow the economy without stimulating it so much that we drive inflation or raise too little in taxes and allow deficits to soar. Meanwhile, our aging population means Social Security and healthcare costs will stay high, and international threats aren’t going to concern themselves with our accounting problems. That’s the bad news. The good news is that we still have time. We’re swimming in deep water, sure, but we’re not drowning just yet. In a meeting with our video team yesterday, I mentioned to our new producer Michele that we were covering the national debt today. He asked me what the current debt-to-GDP ratio is (remember, it’s 100% for public debt, 125% for all government debt). He heard those numbers and nodded — okay, not *that* bad. Michele is Italian. Italy’s been redlining its debt for decades, and its current ratio sits at 135%. In Japan, it’s over 235%. Italy and Japan have severe fiscal problems, but they are still functional countries. We can be functional while solving our problems, too. And we know what to do: Sustained years of compromise between cutting spending and raising taxes is our ticket back to a debt-to-GDP ratio under 100%. Of course, the *other* bad news is that if you think we have a political ecosystem functional enough to commit to that time, well… it must be your first day here. **Take the survey:** How would you address the national debt and deficit? [Let us know](https://interrobang.vercel.app/survey/377c8c2e-ee4e-4f1a-b0e8-22cd7c1ead75?ref=readtangle.com). *Disagree? That*’*s okay. Our opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we*’*ll consider publishing your feedback.* ### A deeper look. ![The First Bank of the United States in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/08/data-src-image-fd97a14f-c0db-40c3-972b-aadf61e77ce8.png) The First Bank of the United States in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:First%5FBank%5Fof%5Fthe%5FUnited%5FStates,%5FPhiladelphia,%5FPennsylvania%5FLCCN2011633532%5F%28edited%29.jpg?ref=readtangle.com) In the 1770s, as the Continental Congress struggled to support its military efforts in the American Revolution, it [turned](https://history.state.gov/milestones/1784-1800/loans?ref=readtangle.com) to France for military supplies and monetary loans. This aid was controversial even at the time — American diplomats weren’t sure whether the support was a gift or a loan, and disputes over French support led to one diplomat being congressionally recalled. As fighting between the Americans and the British continued, John Adams secured additional loans from Dutch bankers. When the U.S. secured its independence in 1783, the new federal government faced its mounting debt — but the Articles of Confederation didn’t give it the ability to raise the revenue needed to pay off its loans. This created a financial crisis in the 1780s, as the U.S. defaulted on its obligations to France and sought even more loans from the Dutch. This crisis partially catalyzed the ratification of the new Constitution in 1789, which finally gave the federal government the power to impose taxes to raise revenue. Even so, the government [had accrued](https://fiscaldata.treasury.gov/americas-finance-guide/national-debt/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=The%20U.S.%20has%20carried%20debt%20since%20its%20inception.%20Debts%20incurred%20during%20the%20American%20Revolutionary%20War%20amounted%20to%20%2475%20million%2C%20primarily%20borrowed%20from%20domestic%20investors%20and%20the%20French%20Government%20for%20war%20materials.) roughly $75 million in debt by January 1791. In December 1790, hoping to avoid the economic crises of the 1780s and put the U.S. on better financial footing, newly minted Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton [presented](https://www.federalreservehistory.org/essays/first-bank-of-the-us?ref=readtangle.com) Congress with a bold plan for a national bank modeled after the Bank of England. The new bank would be able to print money, hold public funds, collect taxes, and pay government debts. Despite Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson’s concerns, the plan passed both houses of Congress, and President George Washington signed it into law in February 1791\. Following the ratification of the Constitution and the creation of the bank, the U.S. was able to resume debt payments, though its debts with France wouldn’t be settled until 1795. Today's partner ****When Did Car Insurance Become a Luxury Item?** You could be overpaying by hundreds each year. [SmarterAuto’s free tool matches drivers with insurers offering lower rates](https://www.yrxtrk.com/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=23262&aff%5Fid=2164&ref=readtangle.com), with some reporting savings of $600+ annually. If your rate went up recently, answer a few quick questions to see how much you could save. No cost, no hassle. [Start saving on car insurance ](https://www.yrxtrk.com/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=23262&aff%5Fid=2164&ref=readtangle.com) ### The extras. - **One year ago today** we covered [the FBI’s raid of John Bolton’s home and office](https://www.readtangle.com/john-bolton-raided-fbi-trump/). - **The most clicked link in our last regular newsletter** was Isaac’s retrospective on [the impact of DOGE](https://www.readtangle.com/i-was-wrong-about-doge/). - **Nothing to do with politics:** An archive of [chiptunes from classic games](https://chiptune.app/browse?ref=readtangle.com). - **Our last survey:** 2,540 readers responded to our survey on the escalating U.S.–Canada trade war, with 65% saying they think the countries will reach a long-term trade agreement only after President Trump’s term ends. “You cannot negotiate in good faith with this administration,” one respondent said. “Canada has been ripping off the U.S. with their own tariffs for years. About time the U.S. pushes back,” said another. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/08/data-src-image-c9cb7f8b-25cb-4d0c-bdc5-7a51d2f692b4.png) ### Have a nice day. The Spokane, Washington, area was devastated by wildfires in August, with over 10,000 acres burned and tens of thousands of residents forced to evacuate. One local business, JK Boots, transformed its headquarters into a relief center for firefighters responding to the blazes. The bootmaker provided food, drinks, showers and space to rest and recharge, while also coordinating supply donations from other locals. Furthermore, the company gave away countless pairs of its boots — which normally sell for $575–$700 — allowing firefighters to trade in old or destroyed pairs for brand-new ones. “We just wanted to do anything that we could,” Tim Khadzhi, one of JK Boots’s owners, said. “With this disaster hitting our hometown, when it’s so close, it just feels a lot different.” [Good Good Good has the story](https://www.goodgoodgood.co/articles/spokane-fires-jk-boots-firefighters?ref=readtangle.com). ### Do people really want Tangle? URL: https://www.readtangle.com/do-people-really-want-tangle/ Last updated: 2026-08-25T12:33:32.000Z **This is a free preview of our* ***once-a-month, members-only** *newsletter called* ****"Press Pass"** **that pulls back the curtain on the inner workings of Tangle.* **To read the whole thing, you'll be asked to subscribe — but you can enjoy this preview for free.* --- One thing I’ve learned after seven years of writing Tangle is that our products appeal to different people for different reasons. When I’m trying to pitch Tangle to a general audience, I’ll say something like, “This is a way to get out of your bubble — to hear arguments from across the political spectrum. We’re a response to the broken, partisan media landscape.” When I’m pitching Tangle to a liberal, I might say something like, “This newsletter will help you understand how people can still back Trump. Conservatives have lots of good arguments, and they support him for reasons that have nothing to do with racism or hate — this project can help you understand those people better.” When I’m pitching Tangle to a conservative, I might say something like, “I’m a journalist who recognizes that our legacy media organizations are broken, so I left the mainstream media and started something new to try and fix it. I have friends and family from across the political spectrum, and I am trying to create a news organization they can all trust.” These pitches work for different people, and I’m fascinated by those implications: Everyone is here for a different reason. Sometimes, a reader will sign up for Tangle and immediately unsubscribe when they see “My take.” They’ll write in: “I thought this was a nonpartisan newsletter? I don’t want your opinion! I just want to see the facts and the arguments!” Other people will tell us: “To be honest, I usually skim the top part of the newsletter and just scroll down to your take. It’s my favorite part, and it’s what I’m interested in every day.” As Tangle continues to grow, this disparity is becoming one of our top challenges. We want to be a big-tent media organization, but that means trying to be many things at once — to appeal to many people at once — which is a good way for most businesses to fail. This is especially true in such a polarized environment, where people are offended so easily, and where liberals and conservatives might unsubscribe for totally opposite reasons after reading the same exact piece. Everything we’ve done so far has worked to get us to 500,000 readers, but will it work to get to five million? Are there even five million people who want to get out of their news bubbles and hear arguments from across the political spectrum? Do we even want that big of an audience? Some days it feels like *yes* — absolutely, to all of the above. Other days… I’m not so sure. These questions are top of mind for me after a busy six weeks capped by our annual summer recess, which provided a full week to slow down, sit on the beach, and reflect on our business (on that note: Sorry we missed our usual *Press Pass* release — it fell during our break, so we’ll be releasing them at a new monthly cadence starting now). This year, I escaped to Cape Cod, a place I grew up visiting and where, coincidentally, my wife and her family have vacationed every year of her life. This was the first time in a few years the family vacation fell on Tangle’s summer recess, which was a real blessing. My wife and I experienced the unmitigated joy of watching our 18-month-old son fall in love with this place that has meant so much to our families for so long: ![Isaac's son enjoying the ocean water in Cape Cod. Photo: Isaac Saul](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/08/data-src-image-5f5834bc-ed10-46af-bd77-bba376548db8.png) Isaac's son enjoying the ocean water in Cape Cod. Photo: Isaac Saul ![Isaac's son enjoying the fresh water at one of Cape Cod's famous kettle ponds. Photo: Isaac Saul](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/08/data-src-image-09342ebd-8ce7-4e06-9209-4339a33d9b68.jpeg) Isaac's son enjoying the fresh water at one of Cape Cod's famous kettle ponds. Photo: Isaac Saul While August was punctuated by a much-needed vacation, it was hardly restful. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Tangle–More in Common survey: July 2026 URL: https://www.readtangle.com/otherposts/tangle-more-in-common-survey-july-2026/ Last updated: 2026-08-25T11:32:01.000Z In June, [More in Common](https://www.moreincommon.com/?ref=readtangle.com), a non-profit, non-partisan organization that studies political polarization and societal divides, approached Tangle with an offer to conduct public polling on a set of questions we were interested in exploring in our work. We shared several questions about inter-party relationships and content consumption, and More in Common conducted a survey of 3,023 nationally representative U.S. adults on our behalf. Below are the results. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/07/Slide-1.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/07/Slide-2.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/07/Slide-3.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/07/Slide-4.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/07/Slide-5.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/07/Slide-6.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/07/Slide-7.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/07/Slide-8.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/07/Slide-9.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/07/Slide-10.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/07/Slide-11.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/07/Slide-12.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/07/Slide-13.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/07/Slide-14.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/07/Slide-15.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/07/Slide-16.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/07/Slide-17.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/07/Slide-18.jpg) ### Why has the reflecting pool been such a mess? URL: https://www.readtangle.com/why-has-the-reflecting-pool-been-such-a-mess/ Last updated: 2026-08-24T21:06:53.000Z For nearly a century, the reflecting pool has struggled with leaks, shifting ground, algae, and an increasingly complex system designed to keep its water clean. ### The U.S.–Canada trade war escalates. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/us-canada-trade-war-2026/ Last updated: 2026-08-24T21:09:09.000Z Happy Monday — hope the nascent week is off to a good start. This is **Senior Editor Will Kaback**. We’ve got a packed one today, so I’ll get right into it. Our main story is on the **breakdown of trade negotiations** between the U.S. and Canada, leading to a new round of tariffs over the weekend. Then, we’ve got a reader question about **the status of tariff refunds** and a great closing story about how NASA has extended the life of the **NASA Voyager 1 and 2 missions**. We also broke our three-month correction-free streak (see below), but here’s to starting anew in today’s **14-minute edition**. ### Correction. In Thursday’s edition on President Trump’s vaccine executive order, we [listed](https://www.readtangle.com/trump-vaccine-executive-order/#:~:text=In%20MS%20NOW%2C%20Michael%20Steele%20wrote%20%E2%80%9CTrump%20is%20undermining%20his%20biggest%20accomplishment.%E2%80%9D) Michael Steele under “What the left is saying.” While Steele is a frequent critic of the president (and endorsed Joe Biden (D) in 2020), he was the former chair of the Republican National Committee, served as lieutenant governor of Maryland as a Republican, and still considers himself a member of the GOP. Under our categorization standards, we should have listed him under “What the right is saying” and used a different piece for the left. *This is our 158th correction in Tangle’s 367-week history and our first correction since May 14\. We track corrections and place them at the top of the newsletter in an effort to maximize transparency with readers.* ### The verdict on DOGE. In Friday’s members-only edition, Executive Editor Isaac Saul published an in-depth retrospective on the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) roughly one month after it formally shut down. Isaac explored whether DOGE followed through on its core promises of reducing government spending and improving efficiency, while also documenting the ripple effects of its harder-to-quantify actions. [You can read the piece here](https://www.readtangle.com/i-was-wrong-about-doge/). ****Note:** Our Monday–Thursday newsletter is free, but you’ll be [asked to subscribe](https://www.readtangle.com/membership/) to read the full Friday edition. ### Quick hits. 1. President Donald Trump said the U.S. will exempt up to 300,000 metric tons of ground beef imports from tariffs for the next three months, claiming that the beef will be sold at 25% below current market prices. ([The announcement](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/08/21/trump-ground-beef-import-tariff.html?ref=readtangle.com)) 2. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts issued a ruling allowing above-ground construction of President Trump’s White House ballroom to continue while the Court considers the legal challenge to the project. ([The decision](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/supreme-court-allows-trumps-white-house-ballroom-construction-continue?ref=readtangle.com)) 3. The Iranian rial dropped to a record low of 2.02 million to the U.S. dollar. The Trump administration plans to announce new economic sanctions on Iran on Monday. ([The value](https://apnews.com/article/iran-rial-currency-bessent-trade-august-24-2026-e367634d8853c8fa4a341132cd577f31?ref=readtangle.com)) 4. A federal judge struck down the Trump administration’s planned ban on visas for immigrants from 75 countries, finding that Secretary of State Marco Rubio did not have the authority to impose the ban. ([The ruling](https://www.cnn.com/2026/08/22/politics/judge-voids-trumps-75-country-visa-ban-hnk?ref=readtangle.com)) 5. Gary, Indiana, Mayor Eddie Melton (D) said that approximately 9,000 residents remain without power nearly two weeks after a storm knocked out power to the area. Indiana Gov. Mike Braun (R) criticized the Northern Indiana Public Service Company for delays in their response. ([The latest](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2026/08/23/indiana-power-outages-storm/91435553007/?ref=readtangle.com)) In partnership with The Pour Over ****It**’****s Not Your Fault** There’s a reason the news leaves you overwhelmed and anxious. Your brain was never built to carry the weight of the world’s news. If you feel any shame about that, stop right there. The overwhelm isn’t a you problem, it’s a news problem. That’s why [****The Pour Over**](https://anxiety.thepourover.org/?utm%5Fsource=tangle&utm%5Fmedium=newsletter&utm%5Fcampaign=august) exists... the brain-friendly news source. It’s a free, 3x/week newsletter that delivers the biggest stories of the day to your inbox, paired with brief biblical reminders, all in five minutes. Because they’re in the peace business and not the outrage business, there’s no bias, no spin, no agenda. Just the news your brain can actually handle. [****Join 1.5 million Christians**](https://anxiety.thepourover.org/?utm%5Fsource=tangle&utm%5Fmedium=newsletter&utm%5Fcampaign=august) who switched to news that: - tells you what happened, not how to think about it - leaves you feeling peaceful, not overwhelmed - might even make you laugh **P.S. Did we mention it’s $0?* [Start reading ](https://anxiety.thepourover.org/?utm%5Fsource=tangle&utm%5Fmedium=newsletter&utm%5Fcampaign=august) ### Today’s topic. New tariffs on Canada. On Saturday, the United States [imposed](https://apnews.com/article/canada-us-trade-war-trump-carney-tariffs-4d18583fe52134ca8550652ad9772d2c?ref=readtangle.com) 50% tariffs on roughly $20 billion of Canadian goods, including lumber, dairy products, clothing, and alcohol. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said that Canada would match the U.S. tariffs “dollar for dollar,” with retaliatory duties set to begin on September 8\. Though Canada has not officially released information on its tariff plans, Carney [said](https://www.pm.gc.ca/en/news/speeches/2026/08/22/prime-minister-carney-delivers-remarks-canada-us-trade-negotiations?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=They%20will%20be%20concentrated%20in%20sectors%20such%20as%20steel%2C%20dairy%2C%20appliances%2C%20agricultural%20equipment%2C%20pulp%20and%20paper%2C%20and%20electronics.) the duties would target U.S. “steel, dairy, appliances, agricultural equipment, pulp and paper, and electronics.” On Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump [wrote](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/117150758113256193?ref=readtangle.com) on Truth Social that the U.S. would increase tariffs on “all Cars, Trucks, both large and small, Automotive Parts, and Steel” to 50% on January 1, 2027. **Back up:** The United States and Canada have been engaged in an intermittent trade war since February 2025, when President Donald Trump first [signed](https://www.readtangle.com/trump-tariffs-on-canada-mexico-and-china/) an executive order imposing 25% tariffs on most Canadian goods for the country’s alleged role in fentanyl trafficking and illegal immigration; Canada announced retaliatory tariffs before both countries agreed to a one-month pause. Throughout 2025, the U.S. [tariffed](https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-canada-carney-2051f2694810c5cb2b8210c9994c9e64?ref=readtangle.com) specific commodities — including steel, aluminum, and copper — and imposed 35% duties on an array of Canadian goods. Canada has imposed similar tariffs in retaliation. A Supreme Court ruling [invalidating](https://www.readtangle.com/scotus-strikes-down-reciprocal-trumps-tariffs/) President Trump’s “reciprocal tariffs” blocked the generalized import duties on Canadian goods, but it did not affect the more targeted tariffs on specific sectors. In March 2025, the U.S. and Canada agreed to tariff exemptions for certain goods covered by the U.S.–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA), a trade deal negotiated during President Trump’s first term. At a July 1 meeting, the U.S. [declined](https://ustr.gov/about/policy-offices/press-office/press-releases/2026/july/ambassador-greer-issues-statement-usmca-joint-review?ref=readtangle.com) to renew the USMCA for another 16 years, meaning that the agreement remains in effect but will be subject to more frequent reviews and renegotiations. In late July of this year, the White House [announced](https://www.wsj.com/economy/trade/trump-imposes-additional-50-tariffs-on-certain-canadian-goods-5ab06a45?ref=readtangle.com) 50% tariffs on Canadian goods, including goods previously exempted by the USMCA, that would go into effect in mid-August. President Trump claimed that Canada had unfairly discriminated against American producers, and he enacted the new tariffs under Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930\. Following the announcement, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney agreed to direct negotiations with the United States. On August 19, President Trump delayed the imposition of tariffs for three days, claiming a deal with Canada was imminent; however, Canada withdrew from negotiations on Friday, citing last-minute demands from the U.S. that Prime Minister Carney [called](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/21/world/canada/trump-tariffs-trade-no-deal-carney-canada.html?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Prime%20Minister%20Mark%20Carney%20of%20Canada%20said%20he%20had%20decided%20to%20suspend%20the%20talks%20because%20the%20American%20side%20had%20introduced%20last%2Dminute%20terms%20that%20were%20%E2%80%9Cunfair%2C%20uneconomic%2C%20and%20called%20into%20question%20the%20reliability%20of%20any%20deal.%E2%80%9D) “unfair, uneconomic, and called into question the reliability of any deal.” On Saturday, after U.S. tariffs went into effect, Carney claimed in a press conference that the U.S. had “attacked” Canada and the two countries were at war over trade. U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said in a Saturday interview that there are currently [no plans](https://www.foxnews.com/video/6403879147112?ref=readtangle.com) for the two countries to resume negotiations. Below, you’ll hear from the right, left, and Canadian writers on the latest round of tariffs. Then, Senior Editor Will Kaback gives his take. | What the right is saying. The right is mixed on the new tariffs, with some saying Trump is balancing the trade scales.Others suggest the president is pursuing tariffs to his (and the country’s) detriment. | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | **In PJ Media, Catherine Salgado said** [**“\[the\] Trump Administration corrects the record on Canadian tariffs.”**](https://pjmedia.com/catherinesalgado/2026/08/23/trump-admin-corrects-the-record-on-canadian-tariffs-n4956465?ref=readtangle.com) “Negotiations for a trade agreement collapsed between Canada and the United States as the former demanded a continuation of an agreement rigged in its favor, and the U.S. was not willing to continue providing all the favors while receiving none,” Salgado wrote. “The Canadians, like American leftist media and other foreign powers, are counting on Americans not knowing that foreign countries habitually impose extortionate tariffs on American goods, but lose their minds whenever America tries to impose any tariffs on foreign goods. “For decades, this completely lopsided and unjust system has been boosting the economies of other nations at Americans’ expense, even as foreign goods flood into our market and help undermine our industry… The Trump administration is trying to correct all this,” Salgado said. “Despite having the most favorable access to the United States market of any other country… and receiving the most friendly propositions from the Trump administration, including tariff reductions on goods such as steel and lumber, Canada keeps making the foolish decision to throw tantrums.” **The Wall Street Journal editorial board argued** [**“Trump’s decision to escalate a tariff brawl with Canada makes no economic or political sense.”**](https://www.wsj.com/opinion/the-dumbest-trade-war-revisited-57c9fe81?ref=readtangle.com) “\[Trump\] cited longstanding grievances over how Canada treats U.S. dairy. Press reports say the Trump team raised other issues during recent negotiations, including Canada’s treatment of U.S. tech companies and digital taxes. Most of these issues could have been addressed as part of a renegotiation of the U.S.–Mexico–Canada Agreement,” the board wrote. “But Mr. Trump doesn’t want to update the deal. He wants to rewrite it unilaterally.” “Mr. Trump’s latest round of border taxes will hit an array of consumer goods, construction materials and manufacturing components,” the board said. “Republicans are already getting pounded on the campaign trail over his tariffs and inflation. One reason for Mr. Trump’s frigid approval rating is that voters believe Mr. Trump is waging blunderbuss wars without a strategy, and on trade they’re right.” | What the left is saying. The left opposes the tariffs, and many say Trump is damaging America’s global standing.Others note Canada’s tenuous position in the negotiations. | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | **In his Substack, Robert Reich wrote** [**“Trump declares war on Canada.”**](https://robertreich.substack.com/p/trump-declares-war-on-canada) “The very idea of a trade war with Canada — our neighbor, our ally, our closest friend, a nation that’s peaceful and whose people have a reputation for kindness — is absurd. But Trump is doing it anyway,” Reich said. “The obvious effect will be to make it more expensive to build houses in the United States. Couple this with the rise in long-term interest rates… courtesy of Trump’s war spending, his tax cuts mainly for the rich and big corporations, and the giant corporate AI debt (encouraged by Trump) — and the result will be to make housing even less affordable than it already is. “This is another example of Trump’s perverse rage. I say ‘perverse’ because I’ve come to believe that his insanity is expressing itself in ways deliberately contrary to what’s expected of a president of the United States… which makes him want to do it all the more,” Reich wrote. “He’s lost his war in Iran, most Americans are struggling financially, his mass deportations are unpopular — so what does he do? He flips the finger at Canada because Canada is exactly the kind of nation that an American bully targets.” **The Economist suggested** [**“the costs of defying Donald Trump are mounting for Canada.”**](https://www.economist.com/the-americas/2026/08/23/the-costs-of-defying-donald-trump-are-mounting-for-canada?ref=readtangle.com) “Carney is governing through paradox. Canada’s largest trading partner, the United States, is led by an unreliable man who uses trade barriers as a weapon. For Canada, diversification of trade partners is wise, but takes time. Building infrastructure needed to serve new markets requires significant investment. And yet little would do more to get that investment flowing than a trade deal with the United States,” the author said. “The political risk that comes with signing a trade deal that Canadians cannot stomach is far higher than that from Mr. Trump’s tariffs. “But however bad Mr. Trump’s deal might have been for Canada in the long run, declining it and letting new tariffs come into force will hurt in the short term. The Canadian economy at last grew by 0.8% in the second quarter of this year, having contracted and stagnated in 2025 after the first round of tariffs. Unemployment hit a two-year low of 6.4% in July, but inflation was creeping up,” the author wrote. “Mr. Carney must hope that American politics, and its own cost-of-living issues exacerbated by higher prices on Canadian imports, push Mr. Trump back to the negotiating table with a mind, at last, to give Canada some stability.” | What Canadian writers are saying. Canadian writers strongly criticize the Trump administration, with many saying Carney was right to reject a lopsided deal. Others contend Trump’s posturing has made negotiating impossible. | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | **In The Globe and Mail, Tony Keller argued** [**“no deal was better than this deal.”**](https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/commentary/article-no-deal-was-better-than-this-deal-mark-carney-was-right-to-call-donald/?ref=readtangle.com) “The Carney government ultimately decided to call Mr. Trump’s bluff, in the hope that doing so can pave the way to a less-bad outcome. There will be short-term pain. There may be long-term pain. But there is no zero-pain, all-gain option on the table,” Keller said. “Mr. Trump has never offered a return to tariff-free trade between our two countries. That’s not what he’s after. The talks were about how much higher U.S. tariffs would go, relative to the pre-2025 status quo of near-zero tariffs, and what Canada would give and get in return.” “The past month of Canada-U.S. negotiations were about how much *more* unfavourable of a trade relationship we could be forced to accept. The White House was pushing to see how much higher a tariff barrier Canada would agree to, relative to pre-2025, and what we’d concede to avoid even worse,” Keller wrote. “Calling Mr. Trump’s bluff has pushed the matter onto the front page and the top of the news hour… Our best path of persuasion is at the back door of the White House — through pressure brought by American businesses, American politicians and American voters.” **In the Toronto Star, Jim Coyle said** [**“an honourable deal with Donald Trump is all but impossible.”**](https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/the-truth-for-canada-an-honourable-deal-with-donald-trump-is-all-but-impossible/article%5F4ff1ce88-75c7-4afb-b457-2253c39c22e5.html?ref=readtangle.com) “Trade agreements are excruciatingly complex documents. But values and principles are clear. The reality is that it was likely all but impossible to make an honourable pact with a U.S. administration that trades in dishonour, deceit, disrespect, bullying, abuse and irrational lurches in position from day to day and moment to moment,” Coyle wrote. “It was clear, the prime minister said, that under President Donald Trump America’s ‘signature was written in pencil.’ What sentient member of the human race paying attention over recent years would not agree?” “How does anyone deal sanely, after all, with a president who has at various times based his tariff truculence and hostility to Canada on cross-border fentanyl smuggling, or TV ads featuring former president Ronald Reagan, or smoke from wildfires, or provincial refusal to stock American alcohol or whatever other figment flickers across his consciousness on a given day?” Coyle asked. “What America wanted amounted to Canadian concessions on autonomy and the capacity to execute decisions on its own trade policy. As the prime minister said, the question was clear: Were we or were we not masters in our own house?” | My take. Will Kaback Senior Editor ![Will Kaback](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2025/05/Will-Square.jpg) | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | President Trump is far from done with tariffs, or with Canada.Past administrations’ civil approach to trade negotiations hasn’t necessarily been more effective, but Trump’s bombastic approach is worse.I expect these tariffs to cause the U.S.–Canada relationship to sink lower. | | **Reminder:** This is where we share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, leave a comment or reply to this email. | We’ve ridden the tariff rollercoaster for so long now — particularly with Canada — that it’s difficult to follow where, exactly, the latest twist sits on the broader track. The ride felt near the end after the Supreme Court’s ruling in February, but the past month has demonstrated that it’s far from over. At present, the U.S.–Canada trade relationship has degraded to what could be an all-time low, and it’s fair to wonder whether this latest round of hostilities can make anything worse. Unfortunately, I think it can. To start, two points of context are key for understanding why these negotiations appear to have broken down and opened a new front in the trade war with our northern neighbor. First, the justification for the tariffs — Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930 — is new. The law [permits](https://www.csis.org/analysis/understanding-president-trumps-new-tariffs-canadian-imports?ref=readtangle.com) the president to tax countries deemed to be engaging in “discriminatory” trade practices, though no president has invoked the power before now. This avoids the Supreme Court’s block on tariffs issued under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, while also applying to imports under the U.S.–Mexico–Canada Agreement that Trump had previously left untouched. The new duties are certain to face legal challenges. [Opinions](https://ustr.gov/about/policy-offices/press-office/press-releases/2026/july/ambassador-greer-issues-statement-president-trump-imposing-section-338-tariffs-canada?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Section%20338%20of%20the%20Tariff%20Act%20of%201930%20%2819,from%20Canada%2C%20which%20will%20take%20effect%20in%20thirty%20days.) [vary](https://reason.com/volokh/2026/08/23/trump-imposes-harmful-and-illegal-section-338-tariffs-against-many-canadian-imports/?ref=readtangle.com) on whether they’ll stand up in court, but the tariffs will likely be in effect during the months (or years) spent litigating them. Second, the Trump administration has consistently taken antagonistic stances toward our historical allies, particularly with Canada. Consider just a few of the most notable barbs: President Trump has made frequent remarks about making Canada “the 51st state” and [said](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clymd0d8zvyo?ref=readtangle.com), “Canada lives because of the United States.” He has [accused](https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/02/imposing-duties-to-address-the-flow-of-illicit-drugs-across-our-national-border/?query-11-page=2&ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Canada%20has%20played%20a%20central%20role%20in%20these%20challenges%2C%20including%20by%20failing%20to%20devote%20sufficient%20attention%20and%20resources%20or%20meaningfully%20coordinate%20with%20United%20States%20law%20enforcement%20partners%20to%20effectively%20stem%20the%20tide%20of%20illicit%20drugs.) Canada of playing a “central role” in trafficking fentanyl into the United States, despite [less than 1%](https://www.cfr.org/articles/how-does-fentanyl-reach-united-states?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=flow%20of%20precursors.-,CANADA,-Canada%20plays%20virtually) of fentanyl in the U.S. coming from Canada. And he has not hesitated to escalate his economic threats, [calling](https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/trump-says-us-does-not-need-usmca-trade-deal-2026-01-13/?ref=readtangle.com) the USMCA (which his first administration negotiated) “irrelevant” and deciding not to renew the agreement in July. As Jim Coyle wrote (under “What Canadian writers are saying”), these direct provocations to Canadians will impede, if not prevent, any good-faith negotiation. Against that backdrop, I’m not surprised that the prospective deal fell apart on Friday, despite reports earlier in the week that it was on track. We don’t know exactly what derailed the discussions; auto industry tariffs were reportedly a sticking point, but Carney also [alluded to](https://x.com/sarobertson%5F/status/2091203553775804444?ref=readtangle.com) “\[U.S.\] threats on the French language and Quebec culture and Canadian culture.” Whatever the reason, it’s almost beside the point — the past year-and-a-half of U.S. insults, gamesmanship, and posturing set the stage for the latest blowup. Where does that leave us? President Trump isn’t making up longstanding trade barriers with Canada; the country *has* put in place its own tariffs to protect select industries. Specifically, it uses a [tariff-rate quota (TRQ) system](https://www.trade.gov/country-commercial-guides/canada-trade-barriers?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Agricultural%20Supply%20Management) for its dairy, chicken, turkey and egg industries, imposing duties of up to nearly 300% on these products after an import quota is met. TRQs have been at the center of U.S.–Canada trade disputes going back decades, including negotiations over the USMCA and North American Free Trade Agreement. Separately, the U.S. International Trade Administration has identified trade barriers involving alcohol sales and raised technical concerns about how Canada regulates certain products. Trump isn’t the first president to object to Canada’s trade practices, either; Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama [each](https://ustr.gov/archive/Document%5FLibrary/Press%5FReleases/2006/April/US%2C%5FCanada%5FReach%5FAgreement%5Fon%5FLumber%5FDispute.html?ref=readtangle.com) [tussled](https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/obama-trudeau-behind-the-scenes-1.3660157?ref=readtangle.com) with the country over lumber. The obvious difference between those administrations and this one is the scope of the response. Where Bush and Obama raised targeted objections, Trump has indicted Canada’s entire approach to trade. Where past administrations worked through diplomatic channels, Trump has litigated the dispute in public. Where it was once unthinkable that trade disagreements could endanger the broader U.S.–Canada relationship, our president is now lobbing disparaging comments about annexation, and the Canadian prime minister is [giving speeches](https://www.readtangle.com/davos-trump-carney-europe-and-greenland/#:~:text=On%20Tuesday%2C%20Canadian,shouldn%E2%80%99t%20mourn%20it.%E2%80%9D) about the end of the U.S.-led world order. Now, I’m not saying past approaches were perfect — evidently, they didn’t resolve underlying trade issues, which indicates the challenge of addressing those root problems and navigating constantly shifting trade dynamics across administrations. Trump may have been directionally correct that a more aggressive, less diplomatic posture was necessary to shake things up. But in practice, this approach has taken the form of bullying, antagonism and coercion, and now we can see exactly where that’s led us. The path of mutually assured harm is now laid out before us. The specifics of Canada’s retaliatory tariffs are still to be announced, but the U.S. duties now in effect seem designed to hurt as many Canadian exports as we can. That includes everything from [houseplants, honey and hockey pads](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/07/23/2026-14997/imposing-additional-duties-to-offset-canadian-discrimination-against-the-commerce-of-the-united?ref=readtangle.com), to [milk and molasses](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/07/23/2026-14992/imposing-additional-duties-to-offset-canadian-discrimination-against-the-commerce-of-the-united?ref=readtangle.com), to [beer, brandy, and basketwork](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/07/23/2026-14991/imposing-additional-duties-to-offset-canadian-discrimination-against-the-commerce-of-the-united?ref=readtangle.com). Remember, these are all *in addition* to the existing mutual tariffs on aluminum, steel, automobiles, and more. And now, as of this morning, Trump is [threatening](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/117150758113256193?ref=readtangle.com) to increase many of those duties to 50% on January 1, 2027. So, yes, things can — and may very soon — get worse. Still, I retain some hope (call it fantasy, call it naivete) that each side will find a way to back down before the worst consequences begin. Even though these negotiations have become dominated by personal animus, the economic realities of an all-out trade war could have a sobering effect when that time comes. As The Economist noted (under “What the left is saying”), Canada struggled with growth, inflation and unemployment last year as a result of new U.S. tariffs, and cost-of-living issues remain prominent. Meanwhile, in the U.S., the Federal Reserve [estimated](https://www.federalreserve.gov/econres/notes/feds-notes/detecting-tariff-effects-on-consumer-prices-in-real-time-part-II-20260408.html#:~:text=We%20estimate%20that%20the%20tariffs,PCE%20prices%20as%20a%20whole.) in April that tariffs implemented through November 2025 raised personal consumption expenditure prices for core goods by 3.1% through February 2026\. That isn’t entirely due to goods subject to Canadian tariffs, but a separate [analysis](https://www.bankofcanada.ca/2026/05/sparks-at-bank-article-2026-13/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=We%20analyze%20a%20large%20dataset%20of%20online%20retail%20prices%20and%20find%20that%20prices%20for%20goods%20that%20were%20subject%20to%20counter%2Dtariffs%20increased%20by%20about%206%25%20more%20than%20those%20of%20non%2Dtariffed%20goods.%20These%20relative%20prices%20returned%20to%20their%20pre%2Dtariff%20level%20about%20three%20months%20after%20the%20counter%2Dtariffs%20were%20removed.) by the Bank of Canada found that the price of those goods outpaced that of non-tariffed goods by 6%. I’m holding out hope that the prospect of even more pain (ahead of the U.S. midterms, no less) is enough to bring Trump back to the table. Whether or not that happens, this entire saga has felt like an own goal. Explanations for these duties have been inconsistent, and often conflict with other actions. Case in point: In the same breath that Trump punishes Canada for protectionism in its agricultural sector, he announces a plan to exempt 300,000 metric tons of imported ground beef from tariffs to artificially lower beef prices — [*to the detriment of U.S. agriculture*](https://www.newsnationnow.com/business/your-money/farmers-oppose-trump-importing-beef-prices/?ref=readtangle.com)*.* All the while, his tariff regime has come at enormous cost to the country; monthly refunds from the ill fated “Liberation Day” duties have [outpaced](https://fortune.com/2026/08/21/100-billion-dollars-tariff-refunds-cancelled-out-tariff-revenue-since-may/?ref=readtangle.com) the revenue collected from tariffs since May. I don’t believe President Trump is interested in assessing these facts or considering a new course. In reality, tariff fights will probably play out through the remainder of his term. With Canada, the president’s frequent policy pivots mean an all-out trade war isn’t a done deal, but this moment is a new low in the relationship. And it could soon go lower. In the long run, everyday Americans andCanadians will bear the brunt of those consequences. | Staff concurrence. Ari Weitzman Managing Editor ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2025/05/Ari.jpg) | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | I agree with Will that the U.S.–Canada relationship can deteriorate further, and I share his hopes that these tariffs won’t last long. However, I’d contrast what he calls his “naive” hope with my cynical one. Last year, the standard playbook response to a Trump tariff threat was some small concession to make it go away. Canada’s running a different playbook now, which puts the ball in Trump’s court. If the negotiation with Iran provides any template, I’d expect him to look for a quick off-ramp he can use to claim victory while shifting attention back to something he’d rather talk about. (Immigration? University funding? He has no shortage of targets.) | **Take the survey:** When do you think the U.S. and Canada will reach a trade agreement? [Let us know](https://interrobang.vercel.app/survey/12649d85-9f43-45f2-b0a5-d72afef285f5?ref=readtangle.com). *Disagree? That*’*s okay. Our opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we*’*ll consider publishing your feedback.* ### Your questions, answered. **Q: What has happened to the money that the government has refunded companies since the tariffs were ruled unconstitutional? Has the government paid refunds?** **— Anonymous from Richland, WA** **Tangle:** Yes, the government has started paying refunds. In total, the Trump administration [said](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/tariff-refund-supreme-court-ruling/?ref=readtangle.com) it collected $168 billion from 330,000 importers through IEEPA tariffs before they were struck down in February. As of July 31, $100 billion of that money has been returned. Corporate giants have begun [reporting](https://www.forbes.com/sites/alisondurkee/2026/08/21/americans-top-retailers-are-getting-billions-in-tariff-refunds-including-walmart-target-but-many-consumers-still-arent/?ref=readtangle.com) that the government is sending money back — and that money is hitting their bank accounts. Walmart says it got $2.9 billion, and Apple got $2.2 billion, and Ford got $1.3 billion. Home Depot, Nike, Amazon and Target also received hundreds of millions of dollars in tariff refunds. Some small businesses have reported refunds, too. However, consumers who paid higher prices due to the tariffs shouldn’t expect direct refunds of their own. Some companies have made [vague promises](https://abc7.com/story/walmart-promises-price-cuts-29-billion-tariff-refund/19713516/?ref=readtangle.com) about using the refunds to keep prices down or getting the money back to consumers. But the hair-pulling reality is that many consumers paid higher prices to corporations to cover the tariffs, and now the government is paying that money back to the corporations who raised those prices. Consumers won’t see a dime unless corporations find a way to calculate what they owe (which is a complicated and potentially impossible [process](https://www.cnn.com/2026/08/22/business/tariffs-refunds-companies-consumers?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=%E2%80%9CWalmart%20has%20very%20advanced%20pricing%20algorithms%20that%20take%20a%20lot%20of%20these%20factors%20into%20consideration%2C%20and%20tariffs%20and%20tariff%20refunds%20are%20probably%20not%20even%20close%20to%20the%20top%20of%20the%20list%2C%E2%80%9D%20he%20said.)) and then deliver it. However, there *is* some hope for people who paid tariffs to shipping companies like UPS and FedEx. Those companies often explicitly noted how much the tariffs forced them to raise prices. So the calculation is done, and not returning the money could open them up to lawsuits. FedEx [announced](https://finance.yahoo.com/economy/policy/articles/ups-fedex-dhl-giving-back-123500871.html?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=FedEx%2C%20meanwhile%2C%20says,process%20%282%2C%203%29.) it will refund $800 million to customers, and both companies have opened online portals for refund requests. One woman who spoke to NPR [said](https://www.npr.org/2026/08/24/nx-s1-5939518/u-s-businesses-are-getting-tariff-refunds-will-customers-get-any-money-back?ref=readtangle.com) a UPS representative told her that it received a refund from the Trump administration and was working on a refund to pass on to her. For now, this is how things stand: The government is issuing refunds to companies. Very few have said if or how they plan to pass that money on to consumers, so it’s safe to assume that most of it will stay with those corporations and small businesses. **Want to have a question answered in the newsletter? You can reply to this email (it goes straight to our inbox) or** [**fill out this form**](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScQhqBSG%5F6%5FoBhwcTQMeS570n29XYbeQ9C9Bis7rjqI31g1tA/viewform?usp=header&ref=readtangle.com)**.** ### Numbers. - [**$872.3 billion.**](https://ustr.gov/countries-regions/americas/canada?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=U.S.%20goods%20and%20services%20%28exports%20plus%20imports%29%20trade%20with%20Canada%20totaled%20an%20estimated%20%24872.3%20billion%20in%202025%2C%20down%204.6%20percent%20%28%2442.1%20billion%29%20from%202024.) The total approximate U.S. goods and services trade with Canada in 2025, a 4.6% decrease from 2024, according to the U.S. Trade Representative. - [**$48.3 billion.**](https://ustr.gov/countries-regions/americas/canada?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=The%20U.S.%20goods%20trade%20deficit%20with%20Canada%20was%20%2448.3%20billion%20in%202025%2C%20a%2021%20percent%20decrease%20%28%2412.9%20billion%29%20over%202024.) The U.S. goods trade deficit with Canada in 2025, a 21% decrease from 2024\. - [**$16.1 billion.**](https://taxfoundation.org/research/federal-tax/trump-tariffs-trade-war/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Section%20338%20Canada,August%2022%2C%202026) The estimated annual value of the imports affected by President Trump’s new 50% tariffs on Canadian imports (before behavioral changes by either side), according to a Tax Foundation estimate. - [**56%.**](https://leger360.com/in-the-news-canada-us-trade-negotiations-august-2026/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=56%25%20of%20Canadians%20want%20the%20federal%20government%20to%20take%20a%20hard%20line%20and%20make%20no%20more%20concessions%2C%20compared%20with%2031%25%20who%20favour%20flexibility%20if%20needed.) The percentage of Canadians who say they want their federal government to take a hard line and make no additional concessions in trade negotiations with the United States, according to an August 2026 Léger poll. In Partnership with The Pour Over ****Headlines Weighing You Down? There’s a Better Way** ****The Pour Over** delivers politically neutral news for Christians — just enough to stay informed, with Biblical reminders that keep the Good News in focus. No anxiety spiral, [no rage bait](https://anxiety.thepourover.org/?utm%5Fsource=tangle&utm%5Fmedium=newsletter&utm%5Fcampaign=july). 1.5 million readers trust their approach. It’s free, it’s funny (sometimes), and the welcome email might actually make you smile. [****Join 1,502,231 already reading The Pour Over**](https://anxiety.thepourover.org/?utm%5Fsource=tangle&utm%5Fmedium=newsletter&utm%5Fcampaign=july)****.** [Start reading the Pour Over ](https://anxiety.thepourover.org/?utm%5Fsource=tangle&utm%5Fmedium=newsletter&utm%5Fcampaign=august) ### The extras. - **One year ago today** we had just published a mailbag edition on [our three days inside Congress with a U.S. representative](https://www.readtangle.com/behind-the-scenes-of-our-time-with-rep-auchincloss/). - **The most clicked link in our last regular newsletter** was [our latest episode of *Suspension of the Rules*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmeU0Qc7h3U&ref=readtangle.com). - **Nothing to do with politics:** A collection of [confessions about how people use AI](https://www.whatwetellai.com/?ref=readtangle.com). - **Our last survey:** 4,190 readers responded to our survey on President Trump’s executive order on the childhood vaccine schedule, with 90% saying they oppose the changes. “The policy should be made by doctors looking at evidence, not by politicians,” one respondent said. “Since the states mandate vaccine schedules, I don’t think this will have the impact most are concerned about in the long run,” said another. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/08/data-src-image-27c4f3de-2598-4cfe-8be4-ed388b8b85c3.png) ### Have a nice day. The NASA Voyager 1 and 2 missions, launched in 1977 to explore Jupiter and Saturn, were expected to last for five years. At 49 years old and counting, both spacecraft have greatly exceeded their original missions and are now the farthest man-made objects from Earth. However, NASA has gradually had to turn off instruments on each Voyager to conserve power as the plutonium that powers them slowly decays. Recently, NASA was preparing to shut down another instrument on Voyager 2, but engineers came up with a new approach — by reconfiguring where the power onboard goes, they were able to reduce demand, buying the spacecraft even more time. The engineers are now planning to perform the same reconfiguration on Voyager 1\. [Scientific American has the story](https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/nasas-voyager-2-survives-daring-big-bang-maneuver/?ref=readtangle.com). ### The Sunday — August 23 URL: https://www.readtangle.com/the-sunday-august-23-2026/ Last updated: 2026-08-25T12:11:04.000Z *This is the Tangle Sunday Edition, a brief roundup of our independent politics coverage plus some extra features for your Sunday morning reading.* **Editor's Note: We originally ran a reader essay this week critical of the Sydney chapter of Chabad (and the organization at large) that included several large claims we could not verify. After further inquiry into some of these claims, we discovered that a previous version of the article had already been published online without our knowledge.* **Due to these concerns, we've made the decision to pull the piece from our website and archives. We don't make this decision lightly, and we apologize for the oversights in our process.* ### What the right is doodling. ![Gary Varvel | Creators Syndicate](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/08/data-src-image-0a493036-4fc8-44aa-a6a7-bcc6a7e00a92.jpeg) Gary Varvel | Creators Syndicate ### What the left is doodling. ![Mike Luckovich | Creators Syndicate](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/08/data-src-image-0869bd3e-4496-4073-b28a-33be01bb9715.jpeg) Mike Luckovich | Creators Syndicate ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/08/data-src-image-da3be185-66eb-45f3-b400-8cec1521ecb5.png) ****Read it all!** Hello to all our subscribers on the free list! We wanted to take a moment to say thank you for being a Tangle reader, so we’ve dropped the paywall on today’s Sunday edition so you can read the whole thing. We also wanted to shoot a quick reminder about our Friday edition. On July 4, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) officially shut down. This past Friday, our Executive Editor Isaac Saul wrote a retrospective on Elon Musk and DOGE. He wasn’t exactly delicate. “It’s clear DOGE was a failure,” Isaac wrote. “And a pretty catastrophic one, at that.” You can check out [the piece here](https://www.readtangle.com/i-was-wrong-about-doge/), but you will be asked [to subscribe](https://readtangle.com/membership?ref=readtangle.com) to read the whole thing. ### Suspension of the Rules. This week, Isaac, Ari, and Kmele discuss the debate over what “Woke 1” means and what it says about shifts in the Democratic Party. They also dive into recent primary election results around the country, Senator Darline Graham’s (R-SC) debate response on foreign policy, and Senator Jon Ossoff’s (D-GA) recent remarks in Georgia. Check it out here: ### Monday, August 17. [The Wisconsin primaries](https://www.readtangle.com/wisconsin-gubernatorial-primaries-2026/). On Tuesday, August 11, Wisconsin held primary elections for the 2026 midterms, headlined by the gubernatorial race to replace outgoing Gov. Tony Evers (D). U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany won the Republican nomination with 95% of the vote, while on the Democratic side, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley narrowly defeated state Rep. Francesca Hong 39.8%–39.4%. Crowley’s victory was a significant upset, as pre-election polls showed Hong with a double-digit lead. **Our take:** *“Coverage of this race was all about Francesca Hong, but some other things are capturing my attention. The top-level polling was way off — and a lot of the low-level details were fascinating. As for the actual primary winners, both candidates are far from moderate.”* **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/08/data-src-image-c881859a-ed76-4b93-a686-436768d0b856.png) ### Tuesday, August 18. [Flock cameras](https://www.readtangle.com/flock-surveillance-cameras-august-2026/). In recent weeks, public opposition has grown toward vehicle-tracking cameras used by law enforcement in criminal investigations. Private manufacturer Flock Safety operates the largest network of Automated License Plate Readers (ALPRs) in the United States, with approximately 127,000 cameras across the country. The company has recently faced scrutiny for potential civil liberties violations and misuse by police officers, prompting some localities to review or cancel their contracts with the company. **Our take:** *“I can’t get past how dystopian these private surveillance networks feel. Even in a world where we sign so much of our privacy over to big tech, accepting a wide police dragnet that’s ripe for abuse is one step too far. We don’t have to accept these cameras as part of our society, but save for a few restrictions, I believe we probably will.”* **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/08/data-src-image-3a939e61-5a52-4099-8b79-ef68c3b13b58.png) ### Wednesday, August 19. [The USS Abraham Lincoln](https://www.readtangle.com/uss-abraham-lincoln-controversy/). On Friday, August 14, Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao announced that the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) is returning to the United States as part of a “planned rotation.” Cao’s announcement follows weeks of reporting on strained conditions aboard the ship, including food and supply shortages, mental health struggles among sailors, and multiple sailors reportedly attempting to jump overboard. Aside from brief stops in Guam in December and Oman in July, the carrier has been operating for 271 days at sea without its crew taking a port call. **Our take:** *“Anyone can read the USS Abraham Lincoln’s story to confirm their priors. Yes, conditions are tough — and yes, conditions on a carrier are always tough — but the deeper story here is a poorly prepared administration. I’m now beginning to wonder how much longer we’re prepared to keep up the war effort.”* **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/08/data-src-image-620a4c69-3aac-4fbd-9420-5773321360af.png) ### Thursday, August 20. [Trump’s vaccine executive order](https://www.readtangle.com/trump-vaccine-executive-order/). On Monday, August 10, President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing the federal government to make changes to its recommended childhood vaccine schedule. In remarks at the White House signing event, the president also suggested that a link may exist between the number of vaccines children receive and increased rates of autism. **Our take:** *“The order’s recommended changes signal to parents that they should give their children fewer vaccines. The administration’s justification for this move is lacking — both in the order’s text and leaders’ public statements. Trump and Kennedy aren’t making decisions based on science, but personal hunches.”* **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/08/data-src-image-836d513f-107a-4856-ad1a-d315dc3033ae.png) ### Friday, August 21. When the second Trump administration took office in January 2025, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) dominated headlines with its plans to radically rework the government in an effort to save money. But when the department officially closed without much fanfare in July 2026, Executive Editor Isaac Saul thought: What actually happened? [Read Isaac’s essay exploring how DOGE went wrong here](https://www.readtangle.com/i-was-wrong-about-doge/). --- ### What just happened. Here’s a rundown of the major stories that have broken since our newsletter on Thursday. - On Thursday, news outlets reported that the Federal Bureau of Investigation has seized electronic devices belonging to former Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) as part of an investigation into sexual misconduct allegations against him. ([The reports](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/fbi-searches-former-rep-eric-swalwells-home-seizes-electronic-devices-rcna593574?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Thursday, North Korea launched an estimated 10 short-range ballistic missiles toward the country’s eastern waters, days after President Donald Trump said the U.S. would scale back its military exercises with South Korea. ([The launches](https://apnews.com/article/south-north-korea-projectile-launch-military-exercises-b3af05067e4258f90f67023c7b2b3e9a?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Friday, the chief of staff of Iran’s Armed Forces said that the country is preparing “crushing, punishing and devastating responses” to President Trump’s new round of large-scale economic sanctions. ([The comments](https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/us-says-it-will-impose-toughest-sanctions-history-iran-2026-08-20/?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Friday, President Trump said the U.S. will exempt imports of up to 300,000 metric tons of product for ground beef from certain tariffs for the next three months. The president claimed the beef will be sold at 25% below current market prices. ([The statement](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/08/21/trump-ground-beef-import-tariff.html?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Friday, The Wall Street Journal reported that Army Secretary Dan Driscoll will step down from his position by the end of 2026, reportedly due to tension with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. ([The report](https://www.wsj.com/politics/national-security/army-secretary-expected-to-step-down-by-years-end-d7477efb?mod=hp%5Flead%5Fpos1&ref=readtangle.com)) - On Friday, Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts issued an administrative stay of a lower court ruling that had suspended construction of President Trump’s White House ballroom. The decision will allow above-ground construction to continue while the Court considers the legal challenge to the project. ([The stay](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/supreme-court-allows-trumps-white-house-ballroom-construction-continue?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Friday, a federal judge struck down the Trump administration’s planned ban on visas for immigrants from 75 countries, finding that Secretary of State Marco Rubio did not have the authority to impose the ban. ([The ruling](https://www.cnn.com/2026/08/22/politics/judge-voids-trumps-75-country-visa-ban-hnk?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Saturday, the United States imposed 50% tariffs on approximately $20 billion of Canadian imports after trade discussions between the countries broke down. Canada said it will match the U.S. tariffs with its own. ([The tariffs](https://apnews.com/article/canada-us-trade-tariffs-trump-857ef76b20a766e370d70176135b678e?ref=readtangle.com)) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/08/data-src-image-41f01ce0-c6be-4e86-937b-252e44db3165.png) ### Reader comments. In this section, we like to highlight reader comments that respond to our coverage from different perspectives. After our article on conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, two commenters offered diverging perspectives on the ship’s record-breaking deployment in the Middle East. **Vicki wrote that the conditions aboard the Lincoln are disrespectful toward American soldiers.** > *My brother is Retired Navy (20 years). We avoid talking politics, but I can say without a doubt that when he was at sea for months at a time, it was the leaves & weekend liberties that kept him sane. I'd be extremely worried about his state of mind if he were onboard the USS Lincoln, especially in his younger days.* > > *There are many men and women who like my brother, joined the armed service because they lacked the advantages that so many attempting to dismiss the situation take for granted. These are good people, strong people, but most importantly proud people. If my brother is any example the men and women who serve don’t ask for much — except respect, and the only thing I can imagine being more disrespectful than being forced to defend this unsustainable vanity war, is being thrown under the bus by their commander-in-chief and the sycophants trying to convince the world that the leader of the United States of America isn’t a “fucking moron.”* **James C Carrington remembered enduring difficult conditions during his own military service.** > *Let's set aside the issue of the Iran war and look at military service. I have served and I will say that most that served in my time would look at this as a non-issue. Combat zone deployments were and may still be 12-months. Living and working out of FOBS, oftentimes meant eating MREs or whatever other delicacy one was lucky to receive in the mail in the form of a care package. Mental health challenges in a combat zone, well, the reality is that there is little time for them which is why the after action mental health challenges are what they are in terms of suicide rates among veterans. I have never been at sea for 270-days, but can imagine it would suck. I have however lived in a tent city in the middle of the desert for an extended period of time and it sucked. We complained, but in the end, every one of us knew that was what we agreed to when we signed up to “serve.” I would venture a guess that most of the folks writing about the horrid conditions and “extended” service time of 270-days without a port of call, are making that value judgement from a very comfortable life, which is something the military does not promise.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/08/data-src-image-3cb16618-5cfd-4136-a1c0-663b1666ae33.png) ### On the channels. **VIDEO:** For nearly a century, the reflecting pool has struggled with leaks, shifting ground, algae, and an increasingly complex system designed to keep its water clean. We break down why maintenance of the pool has been such a challenge in a YouTube video [here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ItXHP47eVXo&ref=readtangle.com). **INSTAGRAM:** As the national debt crossed $40 trillion, Vice President JD Vance blamed former President Joe Biden. We covered the event in an Instagram reel [here](https://www.instagram.com/p/DcRxaMfvhO5/?ref=readtangle.com). **BONUS:** TMZ released footage of Rep. Randy Fine (R-FL) looking through a constituent’s mailbox while campaigning for reelection. We showed the clip in an Instagram reel [here](https://www.instagram.com/p/DcMaOy%5FvS6U/?ref=readtangle.com). --- ### Infotainment. ![Arthur Ashe Stadium | Wikimedia Commons/Davidwboswell](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/08/data-src-image-cf9c8546-3531-4a45-811a-31939fff538e.png) Arthur Ashe Stadium | [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Arthur%5Fashe%5Fstadium%5Finterior.jpg?ref=readtangle.com)/Davidwboswell The U.S. Open — tennis’s final Grand Slam event of the calendar year — kicks off its qualifying mixed doubles events tomorrow. While it has long been a closely watched competition, the tournament has exploded in popularity in recent years, drawing record crowds (and ticket prices). Now, the athletes are seeing that interest translate into bigger paydays, formalized in a new compensation agreement announced this past week. - [**$108 million.**](https://apnews.com/article/us-open-tennis-prize-money-e0eb66a82c94d6a67390955c78cd024d?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Overall%20compensation%20for%20the%20final%20major%20of%20the%20year%20is%20rising%20to%20a%20record%20%24108%20million%2C%20a%2020%25%20increase%20from%20last%20year%20and%20a%2044%25%20jump%20since%202024.) The total compensation pool for this year’s tournament, a 20% increase from 2025 and a 44% increase from 2024. - [**$5.5 million.**](https://apnews.com/article/us-open-tennis-prize-money-e0eb66a82c94d6a67390955c78cd024d?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=NEW%20YORK%20%28AP%29%20%E2%80%94%20The%20U.S.%20Open%20singles%20champions%20will%20earn%20%245.5%20million%2C%20the%20highest%20winnings%20in%20Grand%20Slam%20tennis%20history.) The prize money the men’s and women’s singles champions will each earn in this year’s tournament. - [**$140,000.**](https://apnews.com/article/us-open-tennis-prize-money-e0eb66a82c94d6a67390955c78cd024d?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Players%20will%20earn%20%24140%2C000%2C%20largest%20in%20tennis%20history%2C%20just%20for%20making%20it%20into%20the%20128%2Dplayer%20singles%20main%20draw.) The base amount earned by any player who makes the 128-player singles main draw. - [**$1 million.**](https://apnews.com/article/us-open-tennis-prize-money-e0eb66a82c94d6a67390955c78cd024d?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=The%20winning%20teams%20in%20men%E2%80%99s%2C%20women%E2%80%99s%20and%20mixed%20doubles%20will%20split%20%241%20million%2C%20with%20the%20runner%2Dup%20team%20to%20earn%20%24500%2C000.%20The%20wheelchair%20singles%20champions%20will%20earn%20%24104%2C000.) The prize money the men’s, women’s, and mixed doubles champions will split in this year’s tournament. --- ### Tangle’s favorites. 🌇 ****10,000:** How 10,000 American cities [got their names](https://www.wsj.com/us-news/how-10-000-american-cities-got-their-names-a67c625e?ref=readtangle.com). 🐈 ****10,003:** The Gettysburg Museum recreated the famous Civil War battle with [10,033 miniature… cats](https://www.popsci.com/technology/cats-civil-war-museum/?ref=readtangle.com). 📼 ****1999:** Find what to watch next on different streaming services in a way that feels like browsing a Blockbuster Video with [Binge Browse](https://bingebrowse.net/?ref=readtangle.com). --- ### Post of the week. Enjoy this carousel of a man hilariously trolling ChatGPT. #BatEggs [https://www.instagram.com/p/Db\_U5HeiKz4/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D](https://www.instagram.com/p/Db%5FU5HeiKz4/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&ref=readtangle.com) --- ### Ask the readers. Last week, Michael from Miami, FL asked readers when they knew that they loved their significant other. ****Tracey from Redwood City, CA:** Early in our dating days, my husband read a spiritual book I was reading — just because it mattered to me. He had no interest in the subject and would never have picked it up otherwise. We had deep discussions while reading it, including all the ways he found it clashed with what his scientist brain believed. Through that, I learned something important: we don't have to share the same beliefs to be exceptional life partners. We can disagree and still meet each other with curiosity instead of frustration. But what really moved me was this — he spent hours reading and discussing something he privately thought was hogwash, simply because he cared about me. That was the beginning of me falling deeply in love with this amazing man. ****Jayme from New Jersey:** The moment I realized she was more important to me than I was. ****Peter from New South Wales, Australia:** When she was completely oblivious to my attraction to her, when there was no understanding, no dating, not anything at all between us, yet there were times when, completely unpremeditated, I would catch myself about to reach out to hold her, and would have to stop myself. Ten years later, we have been together for seven years of unqualified bliss. And yes, I hung out for three LONG years before she had even an inkling that I wanted her — and she found out by me ringing her up out of the blue, from the other side of the world, not to ask her to go out with me, but to marry me. And just three days later, she said yes! ****Rich from Pittsburgh:** My mother and the mother of my “significant other” (SO) were college roommates and remained best friends. I first met SO when she was ten months old. She is five years younger and was mostly ignored by me. I went on to college, the Army, and a career. SO went on to college and a career of her own in another city before returning to grad school in Pittsburgh. The families got together for a holiday meal and SO was there. Like in “The Godfather,” I was struck by the lightning bolt. Little SO has grown into an intelligent woman who was as cute as can be. Ten days later I proposed. She agreed. We have been married for 44 years. She is still as intelligent and cute as ever with the best laugh in the world. ****Mary from Grafton, WI:** The first time I saw him. This week’s reader question comes from Judy from Savannah, who asks: ****What is your earliest childhood memory?** *You can let us know your thoughts by replying through* [*this form*](https://forms.gle/SZ1uohkrkfvkq6NJ9?ref=readtangle.com). --- *Want even more Tangle? Follow us on* [*X*](https://twitter.com/TangleNews?ref=readtangle.com)*,* [*Reddit*](https://www.reddit.com/r/tanglenews?ref=readtangle.com)*, or* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/tangle.news?ref=readtangle.com) *for up-to-the-minute updates.* ### AOC Is Already Planning What Comes Next URL: https://www.readtangle.com/aoc-is-already-planning-what-comes-next/ Last updated: 2026-08-22T17:06:37.000Z Will AOC's comments on 'Woke 1' help her become the Democratic frontrunner in the 2028 presidential race? ### Should Politicians Admit When They're Clueless? URL: https://www.readtangle.com/should-politicians-admit-when-theyre-clueless/ Last updated: 2026-08-21T22:06:15.000Z Should a Senator know about national security? That's a question the internet has been asking after Senator Darline Graham went viral for not knowing anything about Taiwan. ### Darline Graham on foreign policy? URL: https://www.readtangle.com/darline-graham-on-foreign-policy/ Last updated: 2026-08-21T20:06:56.000Z In response to a question on Taiwan, Senator Darline Graham (R-SC) responded, “I’m just going to be honest here, I’m not that informed on national security.” ### I was wrong about DOGE. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/i-was-wrong-about-doge/ Last updated: 2026-08-21T15:51:18.000Z ****Note:** You are reading a preview of a members-only Friday edition. To read it in full, [you’ll be asked to subscribe](https://www.readtangle.com/membership/). Back in 2024, when the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) was first proposed, its goals were clear. Elon Musk said he’d attempt to cut $2 trillion from the federal budget. Like many Americans (including me) who are concerned about our debt and deficit, Musk’s view was that if government spending didn’t meaningfully change, the U.S. was headed for a financial crisis that would leave the country in ruins. In a November 2024 op-ed in The Wall Street Journal, he and Vivek Ramaswamy said they’d operate the new agency as “entrepreneurs, not politicians.” They framed themselves as “volunteers” rather than “federal officials or employees,” and “unlike government commissions,” they would “cut costs,” not just “write reports or cut ribbons.” They would launch this project with a comprehensive audit of the federal government’s financial performance to find waste and fraud, then modernize the government to slim down the workforce. These were not vague assurances or goals. This was a specific plan, [in black and white print](https://www.wsj.com/opinion/musk-and-ramaswamy-the-doge-plan-to-reform-government-supreme-court-guidance-end-executive-power-grab-fa51c020?ref=readtangle.com). I remember getting a lot of questions about DOGE in those early days, and I answered all of them with the same [stroke of optimism](https://www.readtangle.com/bidens-mass-clemency/#:~:text=The%20same%20is,keeps%20doing%20it.): Government waste is real, and our debt is an ever-growing problem. However you feel about his politics, Musk is one of the great builders of our time, surrounded by an endless supply of talent and resources. It wasn’t inconceivable to me that he could modernize some systems or departments, save taxpayers some money, and push the government toward a more positive future. I did have reservations: The federal government is not a private company, and Musk would need to consult with actual budget and government experts. Also, a lot of people claim to care about debt and deficits, but their actions never back it up, and I was unsure if Musk was one of those people. Almost immediately, things went awry. First, Ramaswamy jumped ship (possibly for his political ambitions, but more likely because [Musk wanted him gone](https://www.politico.com/news/2025/01/20/doge-musk-helped-eject-ramaswamy-00199487?ref=readtangle.com)). Then President Trump officially created DOGE (officially the “U.S. DOGE Service Temporary Organization”) with an [executive order](https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/establishing-and-implementing-the-presidents-department-of-government-efficiency/?ref=readtangle.com), and — far from being outside advisers or “volunteers” — the group became part of the federal government itself. It joined the Offices of the Inspector General and the Government Accountability Office as another agency to monitor the government for fraud, waste, and (maddeningly) redundancy. Musk got a government email address, and DOGE itself gained access to enough government systems that it would soon draw a pile of lawsuits. And it immediately became a partisan circus. Musk’s showmanship invited enemies and criticism from [people](https://apnews.com/article/doge-musk-trump-budget-cuts-eb39b3bd737c5b75bd4eecf4ebf187f4?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Alex%20Nowrasteh%2C%20vice%20president%20for%20social%20and%20economic%20policies%2C%20Cato%20Institute) who otherwise would have supported the DOGE effort. Rather than maintain focus on the big government expenditures, the challenging stuff, he started targeting perceived DEI programs and federal employees they saw as hires who came through such initiatives or whose ideological positions were out of step with the administration’s. He framed anyone who questioned his methods as an enemy, and dismissed federal employees as bloat on the American taxpayer. By January 2025, the $2 trillion promise [became](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/elon-musk-says-doge-probably-wont-find-2-trillion-federal-budget-cuts-rcna186924?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=%E2%80%9CIf%20we%20can%20drop%20the%20budget%20deficit%20from%20%242%20trillion%20to%20%241%20trillion%20and%20free%20up%20the%20economy%20to%20have%20additional%20growth%2C%20such%20that%20the%20output%20of%20goods%20and%20services%20keeps%20pace%20with%20the%20increase%20in%20the%20money%20supply%2C%20then%20there%20will%20be%20no%20inflation.%20So%20that%2C%20I%20think%2C%20would%20be%20an%20epic%20outcome%2C%E2%80%9D%20he%20said.%C2%A0) $1 trillion. When Trump’s executive order created DOGE, the mission was pared down to “modernizing Federal technology and software to maximize governmental efficiency and productivity.” Shortly after that, DOGE began emailing federal employees to [insist](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/elon-musk-doge-federal-employees-document-work-resign/?ref=readtangle.com) that they report on their weekly activities or lose their jobs — an ask so insulting that [Trump’s own cabinet officials refused to respond](https://www.readtangle.com/the-what-did-you-do-this-week-email-to-federal-workers/#:~:text=Of%20course%2C%20nothing,stepped%20foot%20inside). By April 2025, Musk had [reduced](https://fortune.com/2025/04/11/elon-musk-drastically-drops-doge-savings-goal-2-trillion-150-billion-year/?ref=readtangle.com) his promise of savings to $150 billion, and was [spending a lot of his time](https://www.statswithsasa.com/2024/09/18/elon-musk-definitely-tweets-too-much/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Conclusion-,Daily%20Tweets,-%5Bjump%20to%20top) picking fights and trolling on X. My optimism faded, and my cynicism grew. But as the second Trump administration began to take more consequential actions, DOGE faded into the background. Global tariffs, the mass deportation efforts and the Iran war all drew our attention, and before I knew it, DOGE was some kind of distant fever dream. Then, last month, on July 4, I saw a news alert pop up in my feed: [“DOGE officially shuts down.”](https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5955468-doge-shuts-down-operations/?ref=readtangle.com) It hit me like a bit of nostalgia. And then I thought, “Okay, well, it’s time to take stock of how DOGE did.” My expectations weren’t high, as DOGE had left a bad taste in my mouth. But what I found, when I looked under the hood, was far worse than even I imagined. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### What Surprised Us from the 2026 Primaries URL: https://www.readtangle.com/what-surprised-us-from-the-2026-primaries/ Last updated: 2026-08-21T14:06:52.000Z What do the recent primaries mean for our midterms? ### Trump’s vaccine executive order. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/trump-vaccine-executive-order/ Last updated: 2026-08-20T18:07:12.000Z Happy Thursday everyone. This is **Managing Editor Ari Weitzman**, enjoying what is truly a wonderful Thursday for people with my exact music tastes. Noah Kahan dropped his second full-length album earlier this summer, Phoebe Bridgers just released her third last week, and the inimitable Killers frontman Brandon Flowers is out with *Thrasher*, his third solo effort, tomorrow. I believe Flowers is [my generation’s Bruce Springsteen](https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/bruce-springsteen-brandon-flowers-favourite-songs/?ref=readtangle.com), and I will not die on that hill but instead live immortally upon it. My expectations are already through the roof, and I cannot wait for tomorrow’s release. But wait, alas, we must. So let’s get through these remaining twelve hours by talking about politics! Just this past week, the Trump administration released new **vaccine recommendations**, and I’m less enthused but just as eager to talk about them. Then, an unbelievable story about **unbelievable polls**, and at the end of it you’re **13 minutes** closer to *Thrasher.* ### The new *Suspension of the Rules*. This week, Isaac, Ari, and Kmele discuss the debate over what “Woke 1” means and what it says about shifts in the Democratic Party. They also dive into recent primary election results around the country, Senator Darline Graham’s (R-SC) debate response on foreign policy, and Senator Jon Ossoff’s (D-GA) recent remarks in Georgia. Check it out here: ### Quick hits. 1. President Donald Trump announced new U.S. sanctions against Iran, calling the measures “Economic Warfare and Isolation on an unprecedented scale.” ([The comments](https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/6040249-trump-announces-economic-warfare-iran/?ref=readtangle.com)) Separately, the United Arab Emirates said it is suspending all trade with Iran in response to renewed Iranian missile attacks. ([The suspension](https://apnews.com/article/iran-united-arab-emirates-trade-august-19-2026-47c95fe382c49289ab0419310b6d8057?ref=readtangle.com)) 2. The Treasury Department said U.S. government debt surpassed $40 trillion, roughly two times the national debt one decade ago. ([The announcement](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/08/19/us-government-debt-passes-40-trillion-mark-for-the-first-time.html?ref=readtangle.com)) Separately, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the department will more than double its government debt buybacks in an effort to support the bond market. ([The move](https://www.reuters.com/world/us-treasury-double-sizes-some-debt-buyback-operations-least-4-billion-2026-08-19/?ref=readtangle.com)) 3. President Trump said he will nominate Heidi Overton, a physician and White House deputy assistant for domestic policy, to be the next Food and Drug Administration commissioner. ([The nomination](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-nominate-dr-heidi-overton-next-fda-commissioner?ref=readtangle.com)) 4. Moderna and Merck announced that trials of an experimental mRNA-based vaccine have shown signs that the vaccine can prevent melanoma from returning or spreading in high-risk patients. ([The results](https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/merck-moderna-say-melanoma-vaccine-promise-prevent-recurrence-cancer-rcna593316?ref=readtangle.com)) 5. A federal judge struck down a rule implemented by the Biden administration that regulated homemade firearms, or “ghost guns,” under the same guidelines as other firearms. The judge found that the rule conflicted with the United States’s “historical tradition” of personal gunsmithing. ([The decision](https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/6037757-biden-ghost-gun-rule-unconstitutional/?ref=readtangle.com)) SPONSORED by the penny hoarder ****The biggest savings aren’t in your coffee budget** Cutting small daily spending only goes so far. The bigger money is usually sitting in the bills you already pay every month and never think to question: car insurance, credit card interest, everyday online purchases. [****The Penny Hoarder**](https://partners.thepennyhoarder.com/save-money-on-bills-you-cant-escape-prt/?aff%5Fid=409&utm%5Fsource=tangle&aff%5Fsub3=save-money-on-bills) put together four ways to bring those down without changing how you live. Drivers who shop their insurance rate save up to $1,025 a year on that line alone. [See the four ](https://partners.thepennyhoarder.com/save-money-on-bills-you-cant-escape-prt/?aff%5Fid=409&utm%5Fsource=tangle&aff%5Fsub3=save-money-on-bills) ### Today’s topic. Trump’s vaccine executive order. On Monday, August 10, President Donald Trump [signed](https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/08/delivering-gold-standard-childhood-vaccine-recommendations-for-americans/?ref=readtangle.com) an executive order directing the federal government to make changes to its recommended childhood vaccine schedule. In remarks at the White House signing event, the president also [suggested](https://www.wsj.com/health/healthcare/trump-signs-order-to-reduce-childhood-vaccines-repeats-unfounded-autism-link-e9c9651d?ref=readtangle.com) that a link may exist between the number of vaccines children receive and increased rates of autism. **Back up:** President Trump and Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. have consistently [scrutinized](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj0z9nmzvdlo?ref=readtangle.com) factors they believe may be impacting autism rates. In September 2025, the two [announced](https://www.readtangle.com/rfk-and-trump-say-tylenol-causes-autism/) a series of Food and Drug Administration actions to address rising autism rates, including updating the warning labels for acetaminophen to note a potential (but unproven) association between the ingredient and neurological conditions. In broader moves, he [fired](https://www.readtangle.com/rfk-fires-vaccine-panel-cdc-acip/) all 17 members of the independent Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices and [appointed](https://www.npr.org/sections/shots-health-news/2025/09/15/nx-s1-5542390/cdc-vaccine-advisers-committee?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Kennedy%27s%20imprint%20on%20vaccine%20panel%20grows) several new members who have expressed skepticism about vaccines. In the lead-up to last week’s executive order, in December 2025, President Trump [issued](https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/12/aligning-united-states-core-childhood-vaccine-recommendations-with-best-practices-from-peer-developed-countries/?ref=readtangle.com) a memorandum instructing HHS to conduct a comparative assessment of international vaccine requirements; in May 2026, he [issued](https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/05/realigning-united-states-core-childhood-vaccine-recommendations-with-best-practices-from-peer-developed-countries/?ref=readtangle.com) an order for the CDC to review that HHS assessment and recommend changes to the vaccine schedule as appropriate. This month’s order formally establishes the administration’s preferred vaccine schedule and directs relevant federal agencies to implement it. Specifically, it [creates](https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/08/delivering-gold-standard-childhood-vaccine-recommendations-for-americans/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Sec.%202,as%20specified%20below%3A) three categories of vaccines, with some shots (such as measles, mumps, rubella \[MMR\]; diphtheria; tetanus; and polio) recommended for all children, others (such as hepatitis A and B) recommended for “certain high-risk groups or populations,” and others recommended based on “shared clinical decision-making” (such as influenza and Covid-19). It also calls for breaking up the MMR vaccine into three separate, single-disease shots and revives an HHS task force to develop plans for implementing future changes to childhood vaccination schedules. Those plans include creating new recommendations for vaccine sequencing and identifying alternative substances to aluminum, a common vaccine ingredient. The order sets a 90-day deadline for the HHS task force to deliver its plan, but no timeline is given for implementing its recommendations. At the signing ceremony, President Trump [said](https://time.com/article/2026/08/12/what-trump-executive-order-could-mean-for-childhood-vaccines/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Though%20the%20executive,did%20not%20exist.%E2%80%9D), “Decades ago, children received only a small fraction of the vaccines required today. In those times, people were much healthier, and of course, the high rates of autism now observed did not exist.” Scientists and doctors have mostly pushed back on this suggestion and the executive order. Neil Maniar, a public health professor at Northeastern University, [said](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/08/11/mmr-vaccine-trump-wants-to-split-childhood-shot-up.html?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=%E2%80%9CThey%E2%80%99re%20not%20solving%20a%20problem%20here.%20They%E2%80%99re%20creating%20a%20new%20one%2C%E2%80%9D%20Maniar%20said.%20%E2%80%9CBased%20on%20false%20scientific%20rationale%20and%20political%20ideology%2C%20they%E2%80%99re%20changing%20something%20that%20works%20into%20something%20that%20we%20have%20no%20idea%20what%20it%20will%20do.%E2%80%9D%C2%A0), “They’re not solving a problem here. They’re creating a new one… Based on false scientific rationale and political ideology, they’re changing something that works into something that we have no idea what it will do.” We’ll share views on the order from the left, right and health professionals below, followed by Managing Editor Ari Weitzman’s take. | What the left is saying. The left opposes the order, and many suggest Kennedy is behind it.Some say the order undermines a key accomplishment from Trump’s first term. | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | **In Bloomberg, Lisa Jarvis argued that changes to vaccine policy** [**“\[have\] RFK Jr.’s stamp all over it.”**](https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2026-08-19/rfk-jr-s-impact-on-kindergarten-vaccine-rates-seen-in-cdc-data?ref=readtangle.com) “In an early but damning gauge of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s impact since his ascent to US health secretary, a growing number of Americans are sending their kids off to kindergarten without crucial vaccines,” Jarvis wrote. “New data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that rates of childhood vaccinations fell across the board for kindergarteners during the 2025-2026 school year… Fewer American children are now protected from entirely preventable, life-altering and even life-threatening diseases like measles, polio and tetanus. “As we head into another school year, we should worry that the ongoing attacks on vaccines — now with the full-throated support of President Donald Trump, who last week called for the MMR shot to be broken into three separate vaccines — will mean even more kindergarteners walk through the front door vulnerable to highly-infectious diseases,” Jarvis said. “Once appointed health secretary, Kennedy immediately turned his focus to codifying his anti-vaccine ethos… This year’s kindergartners, and all the kids that come behind them, deserve so much better.” **In MS NOW, Michael Steele wrote** [**“Trump is undermining his biggest accomplishment.”**](https://www.ms.now/opinion/trump-is-undermining-his-biggest-accomplishment?ref=readtangle.com) “It’s a remarkable reversal for a president who once treated vaccine development as one of the signature achievements of his first term,” Steele said. “President Donald Trump’s handling of the Covid-19 pandemic was riddled with misinformation and chaos. But amid that dysfunction, his administration launched Operation Warp Speed, the public-private partnership that accelerated the development and distribution of Covid vaccines… Six years later, Trump is trashing that legacy as he courts the most conspiracy-minded factions of the coalition that put him back in office.” “Vaccine skepticism has become a core part of the MAGA-MAHA coalition, and Trump would rather validate the fears of that constituency than defend his own record or the science behind it,” Steele wrote. “There’s a real risk here. By giving the imprimatur of the White House to these outlandish theories, Trump elevates them in the political conversation and gives them new fuel to metastasize… That is bad enough. But with his latest sop on vaccination to the conspiracy-minded, Trump is repudiating his own record, hurting his own supporters and putting the lives of Americans at risk.” | What the right is saying. The right is mixed, with some praising the new policy. Others question Trump’s justifications for the executive order. | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | **In The American Mind, Kevin Roberts wrote about** [**“making Americans healthier again.”**](https://americanmind.org/salvo/making-americans-healthier-again/?ref=readtangle.com) “For years, Washington rightly worried about access to affordable care, especially in troubled federal programs like Medicare and Medicaid. \[Secretary\] Kennedy took on a bigger task: making Americans healthier,” Roberts said. “Vaccines can be part of the arsenal of weapons against disease. But studying the scope, necessity, and safety of these pharmaceutical products — many of which have been added in the last few decades — is long overdue. “This is why President Trump signed an executive order last week that reduced the number of vaccines children receive and spaced them out, aligning the United States with gold standard science. Critics often accuse Kennedy of undermining trust in vaccines. But as congressional investigators concluded, Biden’s own flawed COVID-19 policies did far more to erode public trust and stoke ‘vaccine hesitancy,’” Roberts wrote. “It will take courage and grit to win \[public health battles\]. Fortunately, Kennedy has plenty of both.” **The Washington Post editorial board argued** [**“the President is lying about the MMR vaccine.”**](https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2026/08/11/trump-childhood-vaccine-schedule-will-dissuade-parents/?ref=readtangle.com) “Trump’s order will probably not have immediate repercussions, given that it has already been blocked in court and that states control vaccine mandates. Nevertheless, the details are unnerving,” the board wrote. “Previously, the government recommended universal childhood vaccines for 18 illnesses. Trump’s schedule reduces that to 11 and recommends administering them at separate medical visits ‘to the maximum extent feasible,’ stressing ‘maximal parental choice.’” “In the Oval Office, Trump claimed that the combined measles, mumps and rubella vaccine might be ‘quite lethal,’ and that if the components were delivered separately, they would be ‘not at all lethal.’ The claim is irresponsible, possibly deadly. The MMR vaccine has been available in its combined form since the early 1970s, and research has repeatedly affirmed its safety,” the board said. “Yet Trump’s assertion might convince parents to forgo the vaccine at a time when measles is spreading at its highest levels in more than three decades… This is cherry-picking data to support a preferred outcome: fewer childhood vaccines. Americans may pay the ultimate price.” | What health professionals are saying. Most health professionals oppose the order, with some arguing that vaccine policy shouldn’t be a partisan matter.Others say the order undermines decades of medical advancements. | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | **In USA Today, Dr. David Margolius wrote** [**“our kids can’t afford for us to politicize vaccines.”**](https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2026/08/08/school-vaccines-health-congress-covid-ohio/91154801007/?ref=readtangle.com) “Health departments across the country work every day to increase vaccination rates. Yet we are waging an uphill battle without the clear, unwavering federal leadership on vaccine policy that our nation could once count on,” Margolius said. “When I trained as a physician, these diseases were largely confined to textbooks, rather than clinical practice. Today, they are reemerging — not because the science has changed, but because vaccination rates have declined. As memories of these diseases have faded and confidence in vaccines has eroded, communities worldwide are facing outbreaks of illnesses that were once under control.” “For generations, local health departments like mine and the families we serve never had to wonder whether America’s top health leaders supported vaccinations. Until recent years, it wasn’t a partisan issue, regardless of which party controlled the White House or Congress,” Margolius wrote. “When national health leaders speak consistently and clearly, they reinforce the work of pediatricians, local health departments and schools. When they don’t, every community is left to fight misinformation and rebuild confidence on its own… It’s time for leaders in Washington to do their part by restoring the clear, consistent leadership on vaccines that communities across America need.” **In the Washington Examiner, Dr. Eric Wargotz said** [**“Trump just reversed a century of medical progress.”**](https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/op-eds/4687148/trump-childhood-vaccine-schedule-executive-order-criticism/?ref=readtangle.com) “Public health is not built on executive decrees. It is forged through decades of clinical trial data, independent peer review, and trust between physicians and parents,” Wargotz wrote. “This \[executive order\] disrupts our entire medical framework. By compressing the childhood vaccine schedule from 18 preventable diseases down to 11, demanding the fragmentation of combination shots like the MMR vaccine, and threatening state-level school mandates, this administration is unspooling a century of hard-won victories over infectious disease.” “The order reclassifies standard, lifesaving immunizations against hepatitis B, influenza, rotavirus, and meningococcal disease into the conditional bucket of ‘shared clinical decision-making.’ This means optional… Moving these to shared decision-making will reduce pediatric coverage and leave millions of children vulnerable,” Wargotz said. “As physicians, our primary oath is to do no harm… While political reality suggests this administration is dug in and highly unlikely to rescind its directive, the medical community must remain equally unyielding.” My take. Ari Weitzman Managing Editor ![Ari Weitzman](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2025/05/Ari.jpg) - The order’s recommended changes signal to parents that they should give their children fewer vaccines. - The administration’s justification for this move is lacking — both in the order’s text and leaders’ public statements. - Trump and Kennedy aren’t making decisions based on science, but personal hunches. **Reminder:** This is where we share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, leave a comment on the website or reply to this email. My wife and I have a newborn at home. We’ve read a syllabus of baby health books, attended a litany of birth classes and doctor appointments, talked to the new parents in our area, and consulted doctors we know and trust on anything we’re unsure of. If I’m honest with myself (and with you), all that reading and informing was as much for my own benefit as it was for my child’s — to assuage the unfriendly giant of uncertainty and nervousness that began tenanting our house like an ominous shade. Don’t get me wrong, my child is happy and healthy, and our home is lovely and bright. I feel truly blessed. But parenthood is a trying time. A sixth consecutive night punctuated with the staccato of inconsolable crying will make scrambled egg of the toughest frontal lobe, and for most of us it occasionally does. Parents, and especially breastfeeding mothers, [lose a lot](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30649536/?ref=readtangle.com) of sleep in the first three months of a baby’s life, which doesn’t help with those extant stresses and anxieties. And if that’s not bad enough, other findings show that infants [can acquire](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10465674/?ref=readtangle.com) fear from their parents. How’s that for a double bind? You obviously want to be concerned for your newborn’s wellbeing — it’s almost impossible not to be — but if you’re *too* concerned, you can end up damaging yourself and even your own child. This delicate time period, perhaps more than any other, benefits from dispassionate guidance and clear discussion. We’re also in a larger climate of skepticism about vaccines at this moment, which I can empathize with. Covid shook a lot of latent trust in the experts who shape public health policy, and unless you have a PhD in biochemistry, it’s hard to gain a full appreciation of the medical procedures we’re told — and sometimes required — to subject our children to. Theoretically, President Trump, with his background of both criticizing *and* delivering these vaccines, is in an ideal position to oversee federal guidelines that take these concerns into account and deliver clarity. Instead, he is making it harder for parents to know whether they are making safe choices for their families. [Executive Order 14420](https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/08/delivering-gold-standard-childhood-vaccine-recommendations-for-americans/?ref=readtangle.com) functionally only does one thing: reclassifies the vaccines in the CDC’s recommended vaccine schedule. Since the federal government doesn’t mandate vaccines itself (states do this by requiring children to receive certain vaccinations to enroll in public school), the power of recommendation is really what is at stake here. And in a way, that shift isn’t actually too dramatic. The CDC’s recommended vaccine schedule before Trump took office classified its shots into three tiers — mandated by all states, mandated by some states, and recommended by the federal government. Trump’s order introduces new tiers that map decently well onto those existing ones — recommended universally, recommended for high-risk groups, and up to the family and medical team. The biggest difference is that several vaccines mandated by some states — Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, and Meningococcal ACWY — become recommended for high-risk groups and up to the family for all others. ![Comparison of new federal vaccine recommendations and state-level mandates](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/08/post-2026-2.0.png) Comparison of new federal vaccine recommendations and state-level mandates | Image by Aidan Gorman That doesn’t read like too big of a deal. But, of course, these aren’t analogous tiers. You can’t treat the way states mandate vaccines as equivalent to the federal government’s guidance. At the end of the day, the CDC recommended all of these shots before and (with the interesting exception of the dengue vaccine) is now softening many of them. When you consider that it’s also directing HHS to recommend alternatives to the current schedule, you get a giant signal from the government to its citizens saying to slow down and give children fewer vaccines. Why do this? Are there reasons why people shouldn’t take these vaccines, or reasons the government may want to alter its recommendations? The justification given within the executive order is that this policy aligns the U.S. with the policies of our peer nations. But that doesn’t carry water, either in practice or in theory. Practically speaking, the United States was already pretty aligned with its peer nations. The 20 countries the Health Department [identified](https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/assessment-of-the-us-childhood-and-adolescent-immunization-schedule-compared-to-other-countries.pdf?ref=readtangle.com) for comparison all, with scant exceptions, recommend the same 11 vaccines — measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, Hib, pneumococcal disease, HPV, and rotavirus. Denmark recommends only 10 of those, with no rotavirus recommendation, but the median number of vaccines recommended by these countries is 14\. Prior to this order, the U.S. also recommended hepatitis A, hepatitis B, meningococcal disease, rotavirus, influenza and Covid, bringing the total to 17 vaccines — more than any of those countries. If Trump wanted to bring us directly in line with our peers, he would only have to remove the recommendation for the Covid vaccine. Instead, the executive order takes us down to 11 universally recommended vaccines. You could argue it brings us up to 18 vaccines recommended in any way, but with added complexities and complications. Either way, we’re further from the peer consensus now than we were before. The order’s reasoning also falls flat philosophically. The administration sees requiring vaccines to attend public school as heavy-handed, and it favors a “trust” versus a “mandate” model for the shots. A voluntary model, it says, is the standard in other countries we ought to emulate — but in reality it’s not all that standard. 13 European countries [mandate](https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/12/11/1296?ref=readtangle.com) at least one vaccine, with France, Hungary, and Latvia mandating nearly the full schedule. Meanwhile, Belgium, Cyprus, Greece, Italy, and Malta all effectively mandate vaccination for polio (and by extension pertussis). What’s more, the federal government is *already* taking a light-touch approach to vaccines. States decide for themselves which vaccines to mandate; the CDC only issues recommendations. If the order’s justifications don’t hold up under scrutiny, the oral statements coming from our leaders right now make even less sense. President Trump said he’s seen bottles of vaccines the size of a soda bottle “poured into a little child’s body.” I can’t say what’s on his Truth Social feed, but that doesn’t sound like a baby getting vaccinated. Vaccine doses, of course, are much smaller than soda bottles — they’re about a milliliter, so 1,000 times smaller than a liter of soda. But describing vaccines as frightening and overwhelming is hardly new for Trump. He’s [expressed fear](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/trump-again-dispenses-unproven-medical-advice-reminiscent-of-his-covid-claims?ref=readtangle.com) at the size of vaccine doses many times before, and has on many occasions [alleged](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/sep/17/donald-trump-vaccines-autism-debate?ref=readtangle.com) that these vaccines cause autism. To me, these statements are bombastic, alarmist and frankly embarrassing, but maybe I’m too sensitive to this issue as a new parent to be able to interpret the president’s statements with maximum charitability. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., however, was up to the task: When asked about what Trump meant, Kennedy [attempted to rationalize](https://x.com/Acyn/status/2088488650548064489?ref=readtangle.com) the statements by saying the president wasn’t comparing a single dose to the size of a soda bottle but the cumulative doses of vaccines, all 57 of them — [or 72, or 84, or 94](https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/childhood-vaccines/cidrap-op-ed-what-vaccine-executive-order-gets-wrong-and-what-it-will-cost-us?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=The%20odd%20math%20behind%20%E2%80%9884%20doses%E2%80%99)… you know, whatever. When pressed that even a hundred shots is still far short of that volume, Kennedy pivoted to saying the real important point is that none of these vaccines have been tested in placebo-controlled trials. That would be a good point, except for the fact that [many have](https://publichealth.jhu.edu/ivac/vaccine-safety-trials-and-placebos-an-explainer?ref=readtangle.com), and the ones that haven’t can’t be ethically tested that way. For Kennedy, marshalling arguments that sound passable at first and totally collapse under modest scrutiny is nothing new. He’s done this before [with measles](https://www.readtangle.com/measles-outbreaks-in-the-united-states/) and [Tylenol](https://www.readtangle.com/rfk-and-trump-say-tylenol-causes-autism/), and he’s doing it again with children’s vaccine schedule. I prefer to be calm over being alarmed. I would prefer to conclude with a measured tone and note that this swath of changes is actually moderate, and to say I plan to approach further changes coming out of HHS with an open mind. But I don’t think I could survive being that naive. After the removal of the requirement for the Hepatitis B shot at birth, and the attempted changes to the vaccine schedule, and firing the sitting members of the ACIP vaccine board and allowing this country to bumble Magoo-like towards losing our measles eradication status, Trump and Kennedy don’t deserve the benefit of the doubt anymore. Again, I’ll ask: Why do this? Why roll back recommendations on vaccines that protect us from some of the worst communicable diseases we’ve ever seen? In the absence of rational reasons, we’re left with the irrational: they’re afraid. And it’s not a well-founded, reason-based fear but a personal and anecdotal one, riding a wave of retrospective anger at Covid-era vaccine mandates to dangerous new horizons. There’s no scientific reasoning to justify this — no new missing link found to connect vaccines and autism, no poisonous vat of vaccine spoiling in a hospital sub-basement, no smoking harpoon Kennedy used to slay his white whale. Just two of our highest-ranking government officials, in a hermetic bubble of sycophancy, vialing up their cumulative zero years of medical experience to inject into our popular discourse. **Take the survey:** What do you think about President Trump’s order? [Let us know](https://interrobang.vercel.app/survey/0f19c57c-e856-4636-a263-8db0000b2d6f?ref=readtangle.com). *Disagree? That*’*s okay. Our opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we’ll consider publishing your feedback.* ### Under the radar. On Monday, The Los Angeles Times reported that one organization’s polls for a handful of nationally watched races — including last week’s Wisconsin gubernatorial primary and the ongoing Los Angeles mayoral runoff — were fabricated. Median Strategies said that its polls were part of a “social experiment” to test how effectively unverified political information can spread. Ahead of Wisconsin’s August 11 primary, Median Strategies showed Francesca Hong ahead by over 20 points, only for her to be defeated by opponent David Crowley. Separately, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass (D) promoted a Median Strategies poll that demonstrated her supposed 12-point lead over Los Angeles Councilmember Nithya Raman (D). On August 17, Median Strategies confirmed the inauthenticity of their polling operation and said it had ceased operations. [The Los Angeles Times has the story](https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-08-17/poll-showing-bass-leading-raman-by-double-digits-was-bogus-company-says?ref=readtangle.com). SPONSORED by the penny hoarder ****Four bills worth a second look** Car insurance, credit card interest and routine online purchases quietly cost more than they need to, and most people never revisit them. [****The Penny Hoarder**](https://partners.thepennyhoarder.com/save-money-on-bills-you-cant-escape-prt/?aff%5Fid=409&utm%5Fsource=tangle&aff%5Fsub3=save-money-on-bills) laid out four fixes that take minutes and don’t require giving anything up. [See what they are ](https://partners.thepennyhoarder.com/save-money-on-bills-you-cant-escape-prt/?aff%5Fid=409&utm%5Fsource=tangle&aff%5Fsub3=save-money-on-bills) ### The road not taken. Coming out of last week’s break, we kept a close eye on Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s [plan](https://apnews.com/article/ice-electric-shock-gloves-85ff746d3e0ee5f39e7a9a3f1f576252?ref=readtangle.com) to buy specialized gloves that deliver electric shocks, which officers could use to subdue people being detained. The story generated lots of chatter online, but we were somewhat surprised to find limited opinion pieces in news outlets, and we opted to go with stories that generated more robust commentary for this week’s main topics. The “shock gloves” story is still on our radar, particularly if and when they are used in the field. ### The extras. - **One year ago today** we covered [E.J. Antoni’s nomination to lead the Bureau of Labor Statistics](https://www.readtangle.com/trump-nominates-antoni-to-head-labor-statistics/). - **The most clicked link in our last regular newsletter** was our new video on [the Reflecting Pool renovation](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ItXHP47eVXo&ref=readtangle.com). - **Nothing to do with politics:** An extremely low-budget animated film [has become a massive hit in China](https://apnews.com/article/china-movie-animation-niulai-80a25ad38005f5c6200715a37b704bea?ref=readtangle.com). - **Our last survey:** 3,129 readers responded to our survey on U.S. military readiness in light of challenges aboard the USS Lincoln, with 62% saying they are very concerned about the military’s current capability. “These problems start at the top, and we currently have very weak leaders,” one respondent said. “The U.S. has the most powerful and best equipped military forces in the world despite what the media would hope to influence people to believe,” said another. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/08/data-src-image-518d0d28-e43d-4ac6-9eda-6241177d6621.png) ### Have a nice day. Would you sort through the trash to find a winning lottery ticket? That’s exactly what a team of garbage collectors in the Puglia region of Italy did when one woman, who remains anonymous, realized that she’d accidentally thrown away a €1M (roughly $1.2 million) lottery winner. The lucky lady discarded the ticket after a misunderstanding with her local shop, but was alerted to the mistake by a family member who recognized her numbers. Nicola Toscano, the administrator of the SANB public waste management company in Bitonto, answered the call and worked with his team for over a day to sort through the waste to find the winning stub. The team emerged victorious from the search, with Toscano reporting that the stub was “miraculously still in one piece.” [The Guardian has the story](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/aug/04/refuse-collectors-help-italian-woman-recover-binned-lottery-ticket?ref=readtangle.com). ### What AOC's Admission Means for Democrats URL: https://www.readtangle.com/what-aocs-admission-means-for-democrats/ Last updated: 2026-08-20T16:06:59.000Z What does AOC's admission that 'Woke 1' was crazy mean for the Democratic Party? ### Challenges aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/uss-abraham-lincoln-controversy/ Last updated: 2026-08-20T12:07:54.000Z Happy Wednesday. This is **Senior Editor Will Kaback**, slightly bleary-eyed after another packed night of midterm primary results. Sometimes I feel a little *too* invested in the outcome of elections that hit my radar just 24 hours before, but I also enjoy getting to learn about the unique issues (and personalities) that animate races across the country. Last night, I was paying especially close attention to Alaska, where I traveled in May to report on [the state’s unique election system](https://youtu.be/dFPokFPWOCE?si=uUB5NVBoxAnnR%5FU2&ref=readtangle.com). Today, we’re sharing our latest video on **the Reflecting Pool** and digging into the reported challenges aboard the **USS Abraham Lincoln** during its record-setting deployment in the Middle East. It’s a story that, to me, serves as a microcosm of the Iran War. After my take, we answer a timely reader question on **cross-party voting**. It’s a **14-minute read**. ### The real story of the Reflecting Pool. By now, you’ve almost certainly heard about the controversy over President Trump’s renovations to the Reflecting Pool in Washington, D.C. But while most news reports have focused on alleged vandalism and administration infighting, questions remain about what, exactly, went wrong. In our latest video, Associate Producer Aidan Gorman reports from the National Mall: ### Quick hits. 1. Rep. Byron Donalds advanced in Florida’s Republican gubernatorial primary and will face former Rep. David Jolly in the general election. Incumbent Rep. Cory Mills (R) lost his primary, and democratic socialist Angie Nixon defeated former National Security Council aide Alex Vindman in the Democratic Senate primary. ([The results](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-primary-elections/florida-house-results?ref=readtangle.com)) Separately, former Rep. Mary Peltola (D) and Sen. Dan Sullivan (R) advanced in Alaska’s all-party Senate primary; the other two candidates who will advance in the top-four system are still to be determined. ([The results](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-primary-elections/alaska-senate-results?ref=readtangle.com)) In California, no winner has been declared in the special election to replace former Rep. Eric Swalwell (D), who resigned in April amid sexual misconduct allegations. ([The race](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-special-elections/california-us-house-district-14-runoff-results?ref=readtangle.com)) 2. A federal judge denied a request to delay the planned termination of Temporary Protected Status for Ethiopian nationals, allowing the Trump administration to proceed with ending the protections. ([The ruling](https://www.cnn.com/2026/08/18/politics/judge-allows-trump-administration-to-end-tps-ethiopians?ref=readtangle.com)) 3. Disney and ABC sued the Federal Communications Commission, alleging First Amendment violations in the agency’s decision to launch an investigation into the broadcaster related to concerns about its diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. ([The suit](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/08/18/disney-abc-first-amendment-lawsuit-fcc.html?ref=readtangle.com)) 4. The Department of Defense directed 30 U.S. universities to audit their connections and partnerships with foreign entities identified by the government as risky or hostile. ([The directive](https://defensescoop.com/2026/08/17/pentagon-probes-30-u-s-academic-institutions-for-potential-ties-to-adversaries/?ref=readtangle.com)) 5. President Donald Trump paused the implementation of 50% tariffs on Canadian goods for three days, saying that the countries had reached a deal to potentially avert the new duties. ([The pause](https://www.axios.com/2026/08/19/trump-canada-tariffs-50-percent-postponed?ref=readtangle.com)) In Partnership with Ground News [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/08/GroundNewsBlindSpot.png)](http://www.groundnews.com/tangle?ref=readtangle.com) Isaac here — one thing I’ve learned running Tangle is that two people can read the same news and walk away with completely different understandings of what happened. That’s why I like [****Ground News**](http://www.groundnews.com/tangle?ref=readtangle.com). It pulls together coverage from across the political spectrum and shows you how different outlets are framing the same story. My favorite feature is the [****Blindspot Report**](http://www.groundnews.com/tangle?ref=readtangle.com), which highlights stories getting significant attention from one side of the media ecosystem while receiving little coverage from the other. If you want a better sense of not just how stories are covered, but which stories are being emphasized or ignored, check out Ground News. We’ve partnered with Ground News to offer [****Tangle readers an exclusive 40% off their Ground News Vantage Subscription**](http://www.groundnews.com/tangle?ref=readtangle.com)****.** [Get 40% off Ground News ](http://www.groundnews.com/tangle?ref=readtangle.com) ### Today’s topic. The USS Abraham Lincoln. On Friday, Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao [announced](https://www.navy.mil/Press-Office/Statements/display-statement/Article/4574706/statement-from-acting-secretary-cao/?ref=readtangle.com) that the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) is returning to the United States as part of a “planned rotation.” Cao’s announcement follows weeks of [reporting](https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/iran-war-commander-visits-the-uss-abraham-lincoln-ece7a4da?ref=readtangle.com) on strained conditions aboard the ship, including food and supply shortages, mental health struggles among sailors, and multiple sailors reportedly attempting to jump overboard. Aside from [brief stops](https://www.navytimes.com/news/your-navy/2026/08/17/centcom-commander-visits-uss-abraham-lincoln-amid-mental-health-concerns/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=The%20Lincoln%20stopped%20in%20Guam%20in%20December%202025%20for%20a%20port%20call%20and%20then%20again%20for%20one%20in%20July%20in%20Oman.) in Guam in December and Oman in July, the carrier has been [operating](https://theweek.com/politics/record-deployment-uss-abraham-lincoln-problems?ref=readtangle.com) for 271 days at sea without its crew taking a port call. The Japan-based USS George Washington (CVN-73) is [set to relieve](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/uss-abraham-lincoln-replaced-poor-troop-conditions-rcna592141?ref=readtangle.com) the Lincoln. **Back up:** The USS Lincoln is a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier crewed by roughly 5,000 service members and based in San Diego. In November 2025, it left port on what was originally planned as a standard deployment in the Pacific. As tensions with Iran heightened in January, the carrier was [redirected](https://www.readtangle.com/iran-protests-and-possible-intervention/#:~:text=The%20aircraft%20carrier%20USS%20Abraham%20Lincoln%20and%20its%20strike%20group%20arrived%20in%20the%20Arabian%20Sea%20on%20January%2026%2C%20bringing%20an%20additional%205%2C700%20U.S.%20troops%20to%20the%20region.) to the Middle East to support efforts in the region. The Lincoln has remained deployed in the region to assist Operation Epic Fury, and the carrier’s strike group [has been supplied](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/14/us/politics/uss-abraham-lincoln-trump-supplies-diego-garcia.html?ref=readtangle.com) by the Diego Garcia base 2,200 miles away in the Indian Ocean throughout the conflict after a local Navy logistical base in Bahrain was damaged. Family members have [described](https://www.cnn.com/2026/08/13/politics/uss-abraham-lincoln-conditions-extended-deployment-hnk?ref=readtangle.com) food shortages and broken showers and toilets contributing to unsanitary conditions on the ship, and the Navy confirmed that one sailor assigned to the Lincoln’s air wing went overboard in early August. The sailor was recovered within roughly an hour, and the Navy considered the incident a “mental health episode.” Commander of the U.S. Central Command Admiral Brad Cooper [visited](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/military/top-admiral-praises-uss-lincoln-crew-reports-worsening-conditions-rcna592872?ref=readtangle.com) the Lincoln on Saturday, applauding the carrier’s officers for “stepping up and making mental health and crew resilience a leadership priority.” Several congressional Democrats have criticized the carrier’s prolonged deployment and the war with Iran in general. “These reports warrant immediate attention, but they also raise a broader question: whether the Navy can sustain the operational tempo now being demanded of its carrier force,” Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) [said](https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-to-defense-department-what-are-you-doing-to-support-sailors-on-the-uss-abraham-lincoln?ref=readtangle.com). U.S. Central Command pushed back on characterizations of poor conditions aboard the ship, saying in a [statement](https://x.com/CENTCOM/status/2088049195080880337?ref=readtangle.com) that the “Sailors and Marines of the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group remain resilient and resolved” after over 260 days at sea, 10,000 aircraft sorties, and 1.5 million pounds of ordnance expended. Acting Secretary Cao echoed that message in his [Friday statement](https://www.navy.mil/Press-Office/Statements/display-statement/Article/4574706/statement-from-acting-secretary-cao/?ref=readtangle.com), saying, “Unfortunately, the media are trying to paint our warriors as victims. Not only is that dishonest but it takes away the focus on the enemy.” Senior Editor Will Kaback will give his take below, after we explore what the right and left are saying about the USS Lincoln’s deployment. | What the right is saying. Many on the right say conditions aboard the USS Lincoln are not abnormal. Some say the story shows that the military needs more funding to improve readiness.Others criticize the Democratic response to reports about the ship. | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | **In The Free Press, Elliot Ackerman criticized** [**“the cynical coverage of conditions on the USS Abraham Lincoln.”**](https://www.thefp.com/p/uss-abraham-lincoln-navy-iran-war-strait-hormuz-sailor-suicide-elliot-ackerman?ref=readtangle.com) “\[The response to recent reports\] perhaps should be the level of concern this country always gives to the suffering and safety of the volunteers who make up its military, but usually is not,” Ackerman wrote. “In this case, however, the wall-to-wall coverage of the Lincoln and the reported suicide attempt seemed to serve a different purpose. Critics of President Donald Trump pointed to the incident as evidence of his mishandling of the war in Iran, a conflict he had said would last weeks but has extended into months with no clear end in sight. Now, the criticism goes, that mismanagement is placing the troops under intolerable levels of strain. “This is a tidy argument against Trump, but ultimately a cynical one. Sadly, a service member trying to kill himself on deployment is an all too regular occurrence. Each year, we lose 470 to 525 uniformed service members to suicide; that number jumps more than tenfold when you include America’s 18 million veterans,” Ackerman said. “This crisis has run straight through George W. Bush, Barack Obama, the first Trump term, and Joe Biden. It did not spike with this president…To use the personal crisis of a single sailor as political ammunition does nothing to help or to support our troops; it is vulgar, an adjective that Trump’s critics often apply to him.” **The Wall Street Journal editorial board said the situation reveals** [**“a crisis in U.S. naval readiness.”**](https://www.wsj.com/opinion/uss-abraham-lincoln-democrats-congress-us-navy-pete-hegseth-cc37e5b5?ref=readtangle.com) “Democrats this week are expressing outrage over press reports of low morale and tough conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, the aircraft carrier deployed for 250 days, much of it supporting President Trump’s military action in Iran,” the board wrote. “Some 200 consecutive days at sea is a physical and mental sacrifice. And if Democrats are so concerned, perhaps they could expedite passage of the $17 billion for U.S. military operational costs that the Administration requested?” “The underlying problem is that the U.S. burns naval power faster than it produces it,” the board said. “A stressed carrier force is a sign that the U.S. doesn’t have sufficient naval assets to cover U.S. interests around the globe. It will require sustained resources to expand the fleet, with a more diverse mix of ships, and to recruit the sailors needed to man them. If Democrats don’t want to help, and they probably don’t given their sharp move to the left, this is a worthy priority for Republicans in Congress.” **In RedState, Teri Christoph offered a** [**“reality check on Navy life.”**](https://redstate.com/terichristoph/2026/08/16/centcom-commander-visits-lincoln-n2205661?ref=readtangle.com) “Adm. Brad Cooper visited the much-talked-about USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) over the weekend, meeting with Sailors and Marines aboard the aircraft carrier as it comes to the end of what he called one of the most consequential deployments of the modern era,” Christoph wrote. “They’ve been kept busy, to be sure, which required its deployment to be extended. And that’s where all the ‘non-troversy’ about the Lincoln began… The carrier has been at sea for just under nine months and ports of call have been few of late because of the situation with Iran, so of course the Sailors and Marines get stir-crazy from time to time.” “Out of the 5,000 crew aboard, some are going to have more serious issues and some are going to complain to mom that the food isn't like her home cooking. That's life in the military,” Christoph said. “Cooper, however, didn't describe a crew in collapse. He described Sailors and Marines who have endured an exceptionally demanding deployment, carried out thousands of combat missions, and have every reason to be proud of what they’ve accomplished. This echoes what Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao said on Friday — the real story is that the crew of the Lincoln ‘crushed the mission.’” | What the left is saying. The left highlights the ongoing effects of the Iran war on U.S. soldiers and military families.Some argue that poor ship conditions could imperil effective military operations.Others say the Trump administration has exhibited poor military leadership throughout the war. | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | **In MS NOW, retired Lt. Col. Rachel E. VanLandingham wrote** [**“sailors and their families deserve compassion from Pete Hegseth, not denial.”**](https://www.ms.now/opinion/hegseth-uss-lincoln-trump-pattern-denial?ref=readtangle.com) “The more this administration denies and deflects, the more the American people should stand up and pay attention. Because the stakes are enormous,” VanLandingham said. “Of course, fighting wars is hard, and those in uniform always will shoulder the most direct impact, but good leaders consider the effect of their decisions on service members and do everything possible to ensure not only adequate defenses from threats such as missile and drone attacks but also appropriate logistical support to those in harm’s way.” “Significant logistical failures aboard the Lincoln and other warships deployed to the Persian Gulf have been reported since the start of this rushed conflict, and despite ample time to fix those failures, such reports continue,” VanLandingham wrote. “It seems reasonable to conclude that reports of our service members’ ongoing injuries not only stem from poor initial planning for a rushed war but also by the administration’s operating culture of denying and hiding problems. Gaslighting and blaming the media are hallmarks of Trump and Hegseth. But problems are only resolved when they are acknowledged and dealt with openly.” **In The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Rep. Derrick Jackson (D-GA) argued** [**“American sailors on USS Abraham Lincoln deserve leadership, not neglect.”**](https://www.ajc.com/opinion/2026/08/opinion-american-sailors-on-uss-abraham-lincoln-deserve-leadership-not-neglect/?ref=readtangle.com) “I have walked in the steel-toe boots of the young sailor working 12-hour shifts on steel decks, and I have stood four-hour watch as an officer making operational calls in high-stress, hostile waters. I know what it takes to maintain readiness under pressure,” Jackson wrote. “Our sailors are reported to be facing severe mistreatment, escalating burnout, and a toxic, unaddressed crisis of morale… In the military, we preach that ‘people are our greatest asset.’ But when leadership, especially in Washington, D.C., turns a blind eye to deteriorating morale, those words ring hollow. “Morale is not a luxury item — it is an absolute prerequisite for combat readiness. High operational stress paired with low morale leads directly to severe sleep deprivation, compromised decision-making, and operational errors that put lives and multi-billion-dollar assets at risk,” Jackson said. “Our young sailors do not expect luxury in a combat zone. They expect discipline, clear purpose, and hard work. But they also expect leadership that matches their sacrifice with accountability, dignity and care. Expecting service members to absorb endless strain without responsive action is not toughness — it is a failure of command.” **In The Nation, Jeet Heer said** [**“Trump’s loose grip on reality could sink the Navy’s ships.”**](https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/trump-uss-lincoln-crisis/?ref=readtangle.com) “The roots of the critical situation aboard the Lincoln go back to poor military planning by Donald Trump and Pete Hegseth in the run-up to the Iran disaster. They had assumed that overwhelming US airpower would lead to a quick victory, comparable to the coup the US was able to pull off in Venezuela in January. This scenario radically underestimated the resilience and capability of the Iranian government,” Heer wrote. “\[Iran’s attacks on military bases\] meant the sailors on the Lincoln had to receive food from farther away and had no easy access to shore leave. “While the supply chain issue has been slowly mended, for a time it meant a rapid deterioration in living conditions,” Heer said. “The crisis on the Lincoln is one of Trump’s own making. It’s a result of his deeply irresponsible handling of military affairs… Trump is alarmingly detached from reality. He has no concern for the flesh-and-blood sailors who serve in his Navy, much less the countless civilians killed in his imperialist wars. His main concern is visual display: having cool World War II–style aircraft carriers that can make aesthetically pleasing explosions.” My take. Will Kaback Senior Editor ![Will Kaback](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/size/w1600/2025/05/Will-Square.jpg) - Anyone can read the USS Abraham Lincoln’s story to confirm their priors. - Yes, conditions are tough — and yes, conditions on a carrier are always tough — but the deeper story here is a poorly prepared administration. - I’m now beginning to wonder how much longer we’re prepared to keep up the war effort. **Reminder:** This is where we share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, leave a comment on the website or reply to this email. I never served in the military, so I can’t claim to know the experience of the crew aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln (or, really, any service member). But the reports from friends and family of crew members in recent weeks suggest an environment strained by deteriorating morale amid a protracted, open-ended conflict. One Tangle reader (who asked to remain anonymous) shared pictures from their brother, who is currently aboard the ship, of the food that crew members have been eating in recent weeks: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/08/data-src-image-d91be754-c4ad-4365-a29d-b762c67595ec-1.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/08/data-src-image-e9fc6c3c-0b03-4fb0-8b9d-c62fe3b92c53-1.png) Rations aboard the USS Lincoln — Photo via anonymous Tangle reader I know I would struggle with this food alone, and the thought of sitting down for this meal after a long, high-stress day in an active combat zone is even more difficult. Obviously, military service isn’t supposed to be easy, and this is just one experience on a ship of 5,000 crew, but these stories are a reminder of the sacrifice that service members make. Zooming out, the reports of challenges aboard the USS Lincoln have (unsurprisingly) led commentators to amplify the aspects of the story that confirm their priors while brushing off the ones that don’t. The Wall Street Journal editorial board argues that the ship’s *real* problem is a lack of naval preparedness that predates the conflict and illustrates the need for more congressional funding. Others, like Elliot Ackerman in The Free Press, draw on their own service to note that mental health struggles, hygiene issues, food shortages and other discomforts are a fact of life during deployments, pushing back on the media’s framing of them as challenges somehow unique to the Iran War. On the war-critical side, writers like retired Lieutenant Colonel Rachel E. VanLandingham criticize the Trump administration’s dismissal of all reports about conditions on the ship as callous and say military leaders are failing the crew. The Nation’s Jeet Heer and others blame the ship’s issues on President Trump’s decision to wage a war that’s depleting military resources without a clear plan for success. Some conservative writers have [made similar points](https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/beltway-confidential/4690248/uss-george-washington-redeployment-china-pacific-ocean/?ref=readtangle.com). None of these perspectives is “wrong.” Extended aircraft carrier deployments *have* [become more common](https://news.usni.org/2026/04/15/uss-gerald-r-ford-breaks-post-cold-war-deployment-record?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Ford%E2%80%99s%20almost%20yearlong%20extension%20continues%20a%20trend%20of%20East%20Coast%20carrier%20deployments%20that%20consistently%20go%20beyond%20the%20seven%2Dmonth%20deployment%20phase%20of%20the%20Navy%E2%80%99s%20optimized%20fleet%20response%20plan.) in recent years, putting a strain on the normal ship rotation schedule and impacting naval readiness even before the Iran War began. Would more money fix that? I’d like to see the Pentagon pass an audit first to better understand why [roughly $1 trillion in annual military spending](https://www.macrotrends.net/global-metrics/countries/usa/united-states/military-spending-defense-budget?ref=readtangle.com) still isn’t enough, but regardless, the Navy clearly has issues that predate this current conflict. Similarly, rough conditions and mental health challenges are, unfortunately, part of life on these ships. As Ackerman wrote, “Suicide in the ranks and the strain deployments place on service members and their families have proven endemic for decades, under both Republican and Democratic administrations.” I asked my uncle, who served two six-month deployments on aircraft carriers as a naval flight officer during Operation Iraqi Freedom, about his experience, and he described the ship as “a floating prison” that can be “torturous” after months at sea. Of course, the war’s critics are also right that some aspects of the Lincoln’s deployment are unusual and reflect poorly on the Trump administration. While other carriers have deployed for longer, the Lincoln [set a record](https://www.stripes.com/theaters/middle%5Feast/2026-07-09/abraham-lincoln-middle-east-sailor-mental-health-22219830.html?ref=readtangle.com) for *consecutive* days at sea — it’s been sailing for over 270 days without a port call to disembark and recharge, which would typically occur every 30–45 days. And much of that time was spent in combat operations, adding stress and danger to the already grueling stretch (my uncle told me combat periods were “ten times more intense,” and he still has nightmares about his experiences). The challenges on the Lincoln may not have been acute if the U.S. military’s normal supply hub in Bahrain hadn’t been effectively neutralized by Iran early on. Since the only other proximate port, on the Gulf of Oman, is too close to Iran, the ship has been relying on resupplies from the distant island of Diego Garcia, making transport of goods like fresh fruit and vegetables untenable. Recalling all of the Trump administration’s talk of a rapid, dominant victory in the war’s early days, it’s easy to see conditions aboard the Lincoln as a casualty of hubris — the administration seemed unprepared for the possibility that Iran could execute such a damaging opening salvo. Even acknowledging the Navy’s preexisting issues and that many of the emotionally resonant elements of this story are endemic to any aircraft carrier deployment, I find the ship’s situation uniquely worrisome against the backdrop of our decisions in Iran. First, aircraft carrier rotation cycles are already out of sync, and this extended deployment will exacerbate the problem. Ideally, the Navy wants its 11 nuclear-powered carriers to operate on a [36-month cycle](https://www.usff.navy.mil/Press-Room/News-Stories/Features/?ref=readtangle.com) that includes an eight-month deployment. After its deployment, the ship returns home for maintenance, another takes its place, and the others progress through training and preparation phases. As I mentioned earlier, deployments that creep over that eight-month window are becoming more common, meaning more stress on sailors and supplies. But it also means ships will now overlap in their maintenance and reset periods. I talked with Retired Vice Admiral Robert B. Murrett, whose 34 years of service included multiple aircraft carrier deployments, and he told me, “Any time you deploy multiple carriers \[to the same region\], as we did in Operation Desert Storm, with three carriers in the Red Sea and three carriers in the Persian Gulf, it takes a couple of years to actually get back to the point where you'd like to be.” Second, and relatedly, the U.S. now has to pull the USS George Washington out of the Pacific to replace the Lincoln. A carrier strike group is the [centerpiece](https://defensefeeds.com/analysis/weapons/carrier-strike-group/?ref=readtangle.com) of any modern naval presence, and moving one is like moving an entire military base. [Former military leaders](https://www.newsweek.com/uss-george-washington-move-national-security-threat-to-us-retired-admiral-12335682?ref=readtangle.com) and [foreign policy analysts](https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/beltway-confidential/4690248/uss-george-washington-redeployment-china-pacific-ocean/?ref=readtangle.com) have both highlighted the costs of redirecting the Washington; after its time in the Middle East, the Washington will itself need to return home, potentially leaving the U.S. with a reduced presence in the Pacific for over a year. When a similar drop-off occurred during the Biden administration, China [mobilized](https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/beltway-confidential/3120314/china-underlines-navy-overstretch/?ref=readtangle.com) a carrier and other ships to the Philippine Sea in a show of force against Japan, the Philippines, and Taiwan. Now, China will have a similar opportunity — at a time when our interests in the Middle East are [in tension](https://www.reuters.com/world/china/china-us-agree-opposing-hormuz-tolls-state-department-says-2026-05-12/?ref=readtangle.com) with theirs, and when U.S. relationships with our allies in the Pacific [are being tested](https://www.brookings.edu/articles/can-america-and-south-korea-strengthen-ties-amid-economic-frictions/?ref=readtangle.com). Third, and most concerning to me, is the message this incident sends about the future of the Iran War. I haven’t held back my thoughts in [prior writing](https://www.readtangle.com/fighting-resumes-in-iran-july-2026/) about the conflict: I think starting the war was a massive blunder that has turned out worse than I expected. Our missile stockpiles are already [reportedly depleted](https://www.reuters.com/world/us-has-used-virtually-all-its-long-range-precision-missiles-during-iran-war-2026-08-04/?ref=readtangle.com), and now the war’s impact on troop morale is spilling out into the public. Recent attacks don’t seem to [have affected](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/08/19/us-iran-war-trump-hormuz.html?ref=readtangle.com) Iran’s posture, and I’m starting to wonder: Can we keep this up much longer? The 60-day deadline for a peace deal expired on Monday, and the prospect of any kind of negotiated resolution feels as remote as ever. We can keep up airstrikes and maintain a stalemate in the Strait of Hormuz, but again, for how long? And to what end? The administration is hardly attempting to define what “victory” looks like anymore. I’m grateful to the crew of the Lincoln who have served the country in trying conditions for these past five months, but is the military prepared — logistically, monetarily, or emotionally — to ask the crew of the Washington for five months more? I doubt it. **Take the survey:** Are you concerned about U.S. military readiness? [Let us know](https://interrobang.vercel.app/survey/28503785-ebe3-408b-b8b8-88ba32c26e3f?ref=readtangle.com). *Disagree? That*’*s okay. Our opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we*’*ll consider publishing your feedback.* ### Your questions, answered. **Q: I moved to Michigan from Connecticut three years ago and was shocked to discover that one need not be a registered party member to vote in the primary. All voters are eligible. One is given a ballot with two columns: Dems on the left and Reps on the right. One can only vote in one column, but the choice is theirs. Abdul El-Sayed’s victory \[in Michigan\] is framed as a referendum on the direction of the Dem party. But is that accurate? I’ve heard that many Republicans voted in the Dem primary because they felt that Mike Rogers could more easily prevail against El-Sayed.** **— Sue from Ann Arbor, MI** **Tangle:** Abdul El-Sayed defeated Haley Stevens in the Michigan Democratic Senate primary on August 4 by [15,713 votes](https://votes.decisiondeskhq.com/races/2026-08-04/michigan-us-senate-democratic-primary?ref=readtangle.com), or just over 1%. Michigan, along with [18 other states](https://ballotpedia.org/Open%5Fprimary?ref=readtangle.com), has some kind of open primary, meaning Democrats, Republicans, and unaffiliated voters can vote in the national party primary of their choice. However, voters aren’t required to list their party affiliation when they vote, so we don’t have official data on how many crossover voters (Republicans voting in Democratic primaries, or vice versa) actually participated in this Democratic primary. In theory, Republican voters *could* have significantly impacted Michigan’s Democratic primary, but they also had several reasons to vote in their own party’s elections instead. The state may not have had a competitive Republican Senate primary, but it did have a contested gubernatorial primary and several contested House primaries. In its [final poll](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/13YhmVt4C620l1fOQq-eTc19kQPeAt40m/edit?gid=27641068&ref=readtangle.com#gid=27641068) prior to the election, Emerson found that of 700 likely Democratic primary voters, 13 (1.8%) respondents said they were Republicans and 21 (3.1%) said they voted for President Donald Trump in the 2024 election. We can’t extrapolate too much from such a limited sample, but these numbers show that at least a small portion of crossover voters likely participated in the primary. We also don’t know how all these possible Republican participants voted. Some might have voted for El-Sayed thinking he’d be a weaker general election candidate, but others could have voted for Stevens to minimize the odds of a further left candidate like El-Sayed going to the Senate. While it is certainly possible enough Republicans voted for El-Sayed to tip the results, a lot of variables prevent us from knowing for sure. **Want to have a question answered in the newsletter? You can reply to this email (it goes straight to our inbox) or** [**fill out this form**](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScQhqBSG%5F6%5FoBhwcTQMeS570n29XYbeQ9C9Bis7rjqI31g1tA/viewform?usp=header&ref=readtangle.com)**.** in partnership with ground news [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/08/groundnews.png)](http://www.groundnews.com/tangle?ref=readtangle.com) ****FYI:** Today’s newsletter is sponsored by [Ground News](http://www.groundnews.com/tangle?ref=readtangle.com), one of our favorite tools for understanding how the media covers the news. Ground News lets you [compare reporting from outlets across the political spectrum](http://www.groundnews.com/tangle?ref=readtangle.com) and highlights stories that may be getting disproportionate attention — or being ignored altogether. Their flagship newsletter, The Blindspot Report, is a great way to broaden your perspective. ****Tangle readers can get** [****40% off a Ground News Vantage subscription here**](http://www.groundnews.com/tangle?ref=readtangle.com)****.** [Get 40% off Ground News ](http://www.groundnews.com/tangle?ref=readtangle.com) ### Numbers. - [**11.**](https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/where-are-americas-aircraft-carriers-now-ps010126?ref=readtangle.com) The number of aircraft carriers currently maintained by the U.S. Navy. - [**3.**](https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/where-are-americas-aircraft-carriers-now-ps010126?ref=readtangle.com) The number of carriers currently deployed. - [**200.**](https://www.wsj.com/politics/national-security/3-reasons-extended-carrier-deployments-take-such-a-heavy-toll-at-sea-dd77ba78?ref=readtangle.com)The number of days during its 271-day deployment that the USS Abraham Lincoln has been in a combat zone as of August 14. - [**326.**](https://time.com/article/2026/08/14/uss-abraham-lincoln-conditions-trump-iran-war/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=The%20USS%20Gerald%20R.%20Ford%2C%20used%20for%20the%20U.S.%E2%80%99s%20military%20operation%20in%20Venezuela%2C%20spent%20326%20days%20at%20sea%20before%20its%20return%20in%20May) The number of days the USS Gerald R. Ford was deployed following military operations in Venezuela in 2026, the longest deployment of a U.S. aircraft carrier in the last 50 years. - [**332.**](https://news.usni.org/2026/04/15/uss-gerald-r-ford-breaks-post-cold-war-deployment-record?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Since%201964%2C%20the%20longest%20deployment%20for%20national%20tasking%20was%20332%20days%2C%20a%20record%20held%20by%20the%20former%20USS%20Midway%20%28CVA%2D41%29%20operating%20in%20the%20Gulf%20of%20Tonkin%20from%201972%20through%201973%20in%20support%20of%20U.S.%20operations%20during%20the%20Vietnam%20War%2C%20according%20to%20the%20USNI%20News%20carrier%20database) The number of days the USS Midway was deployed in 1972-73, the longest-ever deployment of a U.S. aircraft carrier. ### The extras. - **One year ago today** we covered [President Trump’s federal takeover of the D.C. police](https://www.readtangle.com/trump-deploys-national-guard-to-washington-dc-police-takeover/). - **The most clicked link in our last regular newsletter** was the rundown of [peculiar historical pets](https://www.popsci.com/environment/weird-pets-history/?ref=readtangle.com). - **Nothing to do with politics (kind of):** A daily game that [challenges you to guess how senators voted on past legislation](https://playyeaornay.com/?ref=readtangle.com). - **Our last survey:** 3,247 readers responded to our survey on Flock cameras, with 49% supporting significant restrictions on law enforcement’s use of the cameras. “If a camera is going to make my community and driving safer, it should be a yes for all of us. But strong restrictions are definitely needed,” one respondent said. “We are losing a piece of what it means to be human if every action is recorded to be used against you at some point in time in the future,” said another. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/08/data-src-image-13dad7c1-38cb-4fcc-90f6-e42392b0a493.png) ### Have a nice day. Anoa, the world’s smallest buffalo species, is endangered, with fewer than 2,500 estimated to be alive in the wild. However, a conservation program in Europe is aiming to stabilize the population, and in July, that effort got a small but important boost when an anoa calf was born at Chester Zoo in England. The calf, Mentari, weighed approximately 15 pounds and stood about 20 inches tall at birth; she is expected to grow to weigh 330–660 pounds and stand approximately 35 inches at the shoulder as an adult. While the conservation program has a long way to go, the zoo said that each new birth is a key step in the process of “build\[ing\] a healthy, genetically diverse population and giving this remarkable species the best possible chance of survival.” [IFLScience has the story](https://www.iflscience.com/worlds-tiniest-buffalo-species-just-welcomed-a-new-baby-and-shes-already-a-total-heartbreaker-84269?ref=readtangle.com). ### Why Trump Can't Fix the Reflecting Pool URL: https://www.readtangle.com/why-trump-cant-fix-the-reflecting-pool/ Last updated: 2026-08-19T16:07:18.000Z The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool is one of the most recognizable landmarks in America. ### The Flock surveillance cameras debate. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/flock-surveillance-cameras-august-2026/ Last updated: 2026-08-18T16:58:32.000Z Good Tuesday morning. I’m Tangle’s Executive Editor Isaac Saul, currently juggling a slew of exciting Tangle-related work: This morning, I went on Breaking Points with Saager Enjeti and Krystal Ball to discuss Trump’s border wall coming to the Big Bend region in Texas, where I own property. On Thursday, I’m [doing a Reddit AMA](https://www.reddit.com/r/TangleNews/comments/1vr3fiu/im%5Ftangles%5Ffounder%5Fisaac%5Fsaul%5Fama/?ref=readtangle.com) while aboard a Greyhound bus to Buffalo, where you can drop in and ask any questions about me or Tangle or national politics. And this Friday, I’m publishing a piece I’ve been working on for weeks on the efficacy of DOGE and what the group actually accomplished (I’m still trying to talk to any former DOGE staffers, and if that’s you, shoot me an email at [isaac@readtangle.com](mailto:isaac@readtangle.com) or message me on Signal at isaacsaul.15). But now, I’m diving into the **Flock camera debate** — a classic case of security vs. privacy, with the added spice of public blowback. We’ve also got a quick look back on **what happened on this day, August 18, in 1920**. It’s a **14-minute read.** ### Quick hits. 1. The 60-day deadline for a U.S.–Iran peace agreement set in June expired on Monday. President Donald Trump said the United States is not seeking an extension to the deadline. ([The expiration](https://nypost.com/2026/08/17/us-news/trump-says-us-wont-extend-iran-mou-as-60-day-deadline-for-peace-talks-expires/?ref=readtangle.com)) 2. President Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss the U.S. peace plan for Gaza, which Israel has rejected. The sides expressed optimism after the talks but did not announce a breakthrough. ([The meeting](https://apnews.com/article/kushner-trump-netanyahu-board-of-peace-mladenov-18252d84c29658ca13ac3380743953be?ref=readtangle.com)) 3. The trial in a case brought against Meta by a coalition of 29 state attorneys general begins on Tuesday in California. The social media company is accused of illegal practices leading to addictive behavior in teens and children, and could face maximum penalties up to $1.4 trillion if found liable. ([The trial](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/08/17/meta-attorneys-general-california-federal-trial-astronomical-consequences.html?ref=readtangle.com)) 4. The House Ethics Committee announced an investigation into Rep. Jimmy Gomez (D-CA) over potential sexual misconduct related to his relationship with a House staffer. ([The investigation](https://thehill.com/homenews/house/6033925-house-ethics-investigates-jimmy-gomez/?ref=readtangle.com)) 5. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott said that construction work in Big Bend National Park has been paused while he conducts an in-person review of the building site. ([The pause](https://www.wsj.com/us-news/trump-administration-pauses-construction-in-texas-big-bend-national-park-04b4b24a?ref=readtangle.com)) In partnership with Incogni ****Keep Your SSN Off The Dark Web** Every day, data brokers profit from your sensitive info — ****phone number, DOB, SSN** — selling it to the highest bidder. What happens then? **Best case:* Companies target you with ads. **Worst case:* Scammers and identity thieves breach those brokers, leaving your data vulnerable or on the dark web. It’s time you check out [****Incogni**](https://deal.incogni.io/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=6&aff%5Fid=1007&ref=readtangle.com). It scrubs your personal data from the web, confronting the world’s data brokers on your behalf. And unlike other services, Incogni helps [****remove your sensitive information**](https://deal.incogni.io/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=6&aff%5Fid=1007&ref=readtangle.com) from all broker types, including those tricky People Search Sites. ****Use code TANGLE today to get an** [****exclusive 55% discount**](https://deal.incogni.io/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=6&aff%5Fid=1007&ref=readtangle.com) **on unlimited removals from anywhere that exposes your data.** ### Today’s topic. Flock cameras. In recent weeks, public opposition has [grown](https://www.axios.com/2026/08/17/flock-camera-local-opposition-surveillance?ref=readtangle.com) toward vehicle-tracking cameras used by law enforcement in criminal investigations. Private manufacturer Flock Safety operates the largest network of Automated License Plate Readers (ALPRs) in the United States, with approximately 127,000 cameras across the country. The company has recently faced scrutiny for potential civil liberties violations and misuse by police officers, prompting some localities to review or cancel their contracts with the company. **Back up:** Since 2017, Flock [has built](https://www.nytimes.com/article/flock-safety-camera-technology.html?ref=readtangle.com) camera systems that track vehicle license plates, and the company currently [partners](https://www.inc.com/lisa-bonos/how-flock-became-the-most-controversial-startup-in-america/91386340?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=About%2012%2C000%20customers%20now%20use%20its%20technology%2C%20including%207%2C000%20police%20departments%20and%205%2C000%20private%2Dsector%20clients) with roughly 7,000 police departments and 5,000 private entities. The cameras are placed along roads and in other public areas, using artificial intelligence and infrared technology to interpret license plates. Flock then stores the information (as well as vehicle makes, models, colors, times, and locations) in databases accessible by law enforcement across county and state lines. Law enforcement has credited the technology with aiding in high-profile cases, such as the [manhunt](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/17/us/politics/trump-assassination-suspect-technology.html?eafs%5Fenabled=false&ref=readtangle.com) for the suspect later convicted of attempting to assassinate President Donald Trump in September 2024\. It has also been used to catch drug traffickers, identify suspects in violent crimes, locate missing persons, and recover stolen vehicles. Critics of ALPRs have accused the networks of enabling police abuse and mass, warrantless surveillance, which has sometimes [led to](https://ij.org/dozens-of-innocent-motorists-have-been-pulled-over-detained-at-gunpoint-or-jailed-due-to-ai-license-plate-camera-errors/?ref=readtangle.com) mistaken arrests. Others have [objected](https://www.404media.co/ice-taps-into-nationwide-ai-enabled-camera-network-data-shows/?ref=readtangle.com) to state and local agencies that [share](https://jsis.washington.edu/humanrights/2025/10/21/leaving-the-door-wide-open/?ref=readtangle.com) ALPR data with federal immigration authorities. Investigative reports have also uncovered allegations of misuse by individual officers, such as one who [shared](https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/officer-accused-of-improperly-using-flock-cameras/275-96c07558-0516-4a3f-8e11-5f2a4fd4a7e3?ref=readtangle.com) an undercover agent’s license plate details with a suspected drug dealer and another who [tracked](https://people.com/fla-cop-allegedly-tracked-estranged-wife-using-flock-cameras-on-over-700-occasions-12059224?ref=readtangle.com) his estranged wife’s movements over 700 times. A Washington Post report published earlier this month [found](https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2026/08/02/how-police-officers-used-vast-network-cameras-spy-their-exes/?ref=readtangle.com) at least 50 officers have been charged with or accused of misusing ALPR systems. In response to the public backlash, on August 13, Flock [announced](https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/security/flock-safety-police-abuse-oversight-data-retention-rcna592217?ref=readtangle.com) a series of changes to its system, including limiting the default amount of time the company retains data from one month to one week and implementing a program to lock out law enforcement officers who perform “abnormal” searches. Civil liberties groups have argued these changes do not address underlying concerns about ALPRs and called on police departments to end their contracts with Flock and companies like it, which some have [done](https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/texas-hood-county-flock-cameras-privacy-concerns/?ref=readtangle.com). In recent months, individual cameras have also been [vandalized or destroyed](https://www.livenowfox.com/news/flock-cameras-targeted-vandals-us?ref=readtangle.com) across the country. Today, we’ll have perspectives from the left and right on Flock cameras, followed by Executive Editor Isaac Saul’s take. | What the left is saying. The left opposes the use of Flock cameras. Many suggest that bad actors will be able to circumvent the new guidelines.Others link the cameras to broader concerns about technology’s influence over public and private life. | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | **In USA Today, Sara Pequeño asked** [**“why are we just watching America become a surveillance state?”**](https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/columnist/2026/08/08/meta-glasses-flock-cameras-ice-ai-surveillance/91200640007/?ref=readtangle.com) “Since the AI boom, companies have begun selling their surveillance services to anyone who will buy. The most satisfied customer seems to be the U.S. government. Flock, a nationwide camera system for reading license plates powered by artificial intelligence, has recently been in the news for what happens when police officers misuse the technology,” Pequeño wrote. “Faceless corporations aren’t the only ones policing our behavior through mass surveillance. We are also creating the panopticon among ourselves.” “The government could do something, and the authorities are — sort of. There seems to be bipartisan support for ending the use of surveillance pricing in grocery stores. On the other hand, the U.S. government benefits from these surveillance tools. If the powers that be are not seeing the downsides to this issue, then it’s unlikely they’re going to ban surveillance technology. Companies also don’t have the internal motivation to curb these practices,” Pequeño said. “Privacy could soon be a luxury only afforded to the wealthy. To combat this, we must all reject the idea that surveillance is safety.” **In Gizmodo, AJ Dellinger said** [**“Flock is trying to find out how much of the surveillance state you’ll tolerate.”**](https://gizmodo.com/flock-is-trying-to-find-out-how-much-of-the-surveillance-state-youll-tolerate-2000798357?ref=readtangle.com) “After an immense amount of backlash against its cameras and automated license plate readers… Flock announced a slew of changes to how it handles and shares information with law enforcement,” Dellinger wrote. “The company is shortening its default data retention period from 30 days to seven… Flock will also start to proactively lock out a user flagged for potential abuses and will require administrative approval to regain access. That’s well and good in theory, though actually making good on that abuse prevention falls on law enforcement, which they have a pretty spotty track record on. “For instance, Flock previously implemented a tool that was supposed to automatically block impermissible data requests, like tracking a person seeking an abortion, as happened to a woman in Texas. But, in practice, it was wildly easy to circumvent. The Register-Guard reported that in one case, an officer entered a search reason of ‘hehehe’ and it was approved,” Dellinger said. “As for the actual communities affected by Flock, you’d be pretty hard-pressed to believe that a person ready to tear down a Flock camera is going to have their mind changed by shortening the recommended data retention window from 30 days to seven.” **In Salon, Amanda Marcotte wrote** [**“people are sick of tech billionaires trying to control our lives.”**](https://www.salon.com/2026/08/14/the-flock-uprising-is-just-the-beginning/?ref=readtangle.com) “Flock cameras have become a symbol of growing anger over the efforts by technology oligarchs to impose their dystopian fantasies on the country, replacing liberal democracy with a surveillance state,” Marcotte said. “Flock Safety embodies the dishonesty that has been the prevailing theme of tech corporate communications and marketing for at least the past decade. While the cameras are sold to the public as a banal traffic safety measure, they have prompted an outpouring of stories about how they’re being used to violate civil liberties and undermine democracy.” “Flock’s behavior represents a microcosm of a larger trend in tech that should alarm freedom-loving Americans, regardless of political affiliation. Silicon Valley enriched itself with promises that the cyber revolution would mean more freedom and democracy by enabling the flow of information and communication,” Marcotte wrote. “Still, it’s a promising sign that people are rebelling against Flock cameras. Along with protests against data centers, it’s a sign that the public is desperate for a way to fight back against not just AI, but also the anti-democratic forces fueling this latest tech wave.” | What the right is saying. The right is mixed, with many saying Flock cameras violate civil liberties. Others note that Flock is already changing in response to market and citizen pressures. Some argue that the systems improve public safety. | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | **In Cato at Liberty, Mike Fox argued** [**“automated surveillance threatens a free society.”**](https://www.cato.org/blog/digital-panopticon-why-automated-surveillance-threatens-free-society?ref=readtangle.com) “Taken to its logical extreme, the absolute prevention of crime would require proactive, universal confinement: If no individual enjoys freedom of movement, no crime can occur. A free society deliberately accepts a baseline of risk to prevent state-sanctioned oppression,” Fox wrote. “Proponents frame \[ALPR\] networks as objective, impartial alternatives to subjective traffic stops, promising to curtail crime while eliminating human bias. In doing so, they routinely dismiss public concern as populist paranoia or an implicit defense of lawlessness. “However, this pro-surveillance narrative relies on a fundamental misunderstanding of the role of government in a constitutional republic and ignores the reality that institutional power is inevitably abused. Far from an impartial equalizer, private surveillance grids construct an unconstitutional panopticon that automates police error, mimics authoritarian tracking, and invites systemic abuse,” Fox said. “Reclaiming constitutional privacy from private surveillance vendors requires bold, targeted action at the federal level… In a free society, companies that thrive on infringing upon constitutional rights should not be economically viable.” **In Townhall, Dmitri Bolt said** [**“Flock Cameras are controversial, but this is what accountability can look like.”**](https://townhall.com/news/dmitri-bolt/2026/08/13/flock-safety-camera-ceo-announcement-n2681189?ref=readtangle.com) “As a private company, susceptible to the forces of a free market, \[Flock\] must appeal to the broader public if it wants to turn a profit. It cannot do so if there is widespread opposition to its product,” Bolt wrote. “Flock is therefore incentivized to make changes that demonstrate it takes society’s concerns seriously. It is also important to remember that if residents were unaware these cameras were being installed, the failure lies less with Flock than with the lack of accountability local elected officials and law-enforcement agencies feel toward their constituents. “You may oppose Flock, and that is fair. But the company has been operating in communities for years,” Bolt said. “The more difficult question is this: why have voters continued to support the local officials who authorized its use without demanding transparency, limits, or public consent? None of this means we must support Flock. But it does challenge opponents to explain, with more than abstract appeals, why its well-documented public-safety benefits are not worth the surveillance risks involved.” **In The Atlantic, Charles Fain Lehman wrote** [**“in defense of Flock.”**](https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/08/flock-safety-cameras-ai-surevillance/688219/?utm%5Fsource=facebook&utm%5Fcampaign=the-atlantic&utm%5Fmedium=social&utm%5Fcontent=edit-promo) “The case for Flock is simple. Cameras help police catch criminals. That reduces crime through two channels: incapacitating offenders who are caught and convicted, and increasing the certainty of apprehension, which theoretically should deter criminals from offending in the first place,” Lehman said. “But is it true in practice? Although the research base is still developing, the answer is ‘probably.’… A 2017 study found ALPRs were correlated with a reduction in violent crime; a 2019 paper found suggestive but not conclusive evidence of a reduction in auto theft and robbery.” “The Fourth Amendment’s protections exist exactly because of the very real potential for abuse of police officers’ extraordinary powers. The question, though, is whether we need to forgo the crime-reducing benefits of ALPRs in order to minimize the risks to our privacy. Such absolutism is unwarranted,” Lehman wrote. “Intelligently regulated, ALPRs can be one among many tools in the toolbox of smarter — and therefore less severe — police forces. Dumping the cameras would just be foolish.” | My take. Isaac Saul Executive Editor ![Isaac Saul](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2025/05/Isaac.jpg) | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | I can’t get past how dystopian these private surveillance networks feel.Even in a world where we sign so much of our privacy over to big tech, accepting a wide police dragnet that’s ripe for abuse is one step too far.We don’t have to accept these cameras as part of our society, but save for a few restrictions, I believe we probably will. | | **Reminder:** This is where we share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, leave a comment or reply to this email. | When I was in college, one of my final assignments for a senior-year writing class was to pen the first part of a screenplay. I set my film in the 2030s, and the plot was that there was a small group of people — only hundreds in the United States — whose photos and videos had never been captured and put online. They were all living together and communicating through analog technology in a kind of antiquated underworld culture, desperately hoping to avoid The Man, an amorphous system that used public and social media data to manipulate individuals and society at large. The opening scene was a couple waking up in bed together and the woman slipping out of the window and down the fire escape into an urban setting, where she deftly made her way through the streets while avoiding getting caught in the background of selfies and tucked close to building walls to dodge surveillance cameras. I often think about that screenplay, and the message I was hoping to convey: the dystopian nature of all of our images digitized and uploaded *somewhere* up there in the cloud, how you can’t board a plane or walk down a city street without being “captured,” and how we all seem to have completely ceded any right to our privacy. And, maybe most importantly, how our willingness to take a small technological step can create a totally different world from even 20 years ago. Of course, I’ve been thinking about it even more as awareness about Flock cameras has been spreading like wildfire across the United States. Transparently, and as my screenplay idea might convey, I have a viscerally and often irrationally negative reaction to surveillance networks. It’s not that I don’t want crimes to be solved — of course I do. I’m sure that if my wife were kidnapped, I’d fight to use every single Flock camera in America to find her. It’s not that I assume the worst of police officers or even the companies making this technology; I don’t. It’s just that by accepting the premise that we are always being watched, that our behaviors are constantly recorded and stored and shared, we are giving away something deeply liberating — a powerful sense of autonomy and independence that we’re slowly, consistently, and passively allowing to be snuffed out. I feel this often. I felt it this last week, when I tried to fall off the grid in Cape Cod, yet everywhere I went I was in the frame of someone’s iPhone filming on the beach or within the audio sphere of their Spotify playlists on rural hiking trails. I feel it anytime I fly, especially with the new airport norm of having your photo taken and handing over your ID. A few years ago, I was sitting at an intersection in suburban Pennsylvania late at night, waiting to turn right at a no-right-turn-on-red intersection, and the light wouldn’t change. After 25 or 30 seconds, with no cars anywhere in sight, I lost my patience and just turned right. A couple weeks later the red light camera ticket showed up in the mail, and I felt a deep sense of injustice — this sense that a cop, a real person, should have had to be there and spoken to me before giving me a ticket. I know some of my reaction is more emotional than rational, especially as related to Flock cameras. Americans are recording and memorializing every minute of their day, posting every third thought that comes to their brains on social media, carrying around pocket-sized bits of technology that offer a much larger intrusion on our privacy than any perched camera ever would. We’re not just allowing this passively, but in many cases actively and voluntarily, out of mere convenience. Shoot, we have already turned our doorbells into security cameras, and now we’re supposed to get worked up about license plate readers? Yet, I’m thrilled about the attention, and the anger, and the distaste. Part of what makes Flock upsetting for so many people is that their proliferation is being pushed by the state and without the consent of the governed; the cameras are there, capturing and recording, whether we want them to be or not. Police departments are buying and installing them without any say from their communities, and sometimes in the face of widespread opposition. We sense, collectively, that something about this is wrong. That these cameras are a step in a direction we don’t want to go, even if their cause and purpose might be just. I’m glad for that. And now I think there are probably three paths forward: Path one is that we accept that Flock cameras are going to be a “thing,” but we do our best to limit their use and make them as sensitive to our privacy as possible. We tighten the rules significantly on where they can be placed, who can access their data, and when. We operate with a really simple north star: Misusing this network is a grave offense. In this world, a police officer accessing the cameras to stalk his ex-wife doesn’t just get suspended or fired, he also goes to prison. We deter bad law enforcement behavior with the same harsh punishment law enforcement defenders always tell us works, and we hope camera use is narrowed significantly to solving consequential, serious crimes. Path two is that we push to ban these kinds of cameras from being installed outright. This might be unrealistic, and the destination is almost less important than the direction, as the movement requires a political force centered on privacy. The thrust here is simple: Flock cameras are just a step too far toward a dystopian, privacy-free future. If we allow them to proliferate, what’s next? How long until every car is sold with a law-enforcement–designed sensor? Or every home security system can be accessed on an ad hoc basis to listen in on conversations or review footage? Or sidewalks and parks and light poles are equipped with listening devices, too? We can justify all manner of forfeited rights and privacy in the name of [fighting crime or terrorism](https://www.readtangle.com/otherposts/terrorphobia/) — we’ve been doing it for decades. Going forward, if police want to stick a Flock camera on a light pole in front of my house, easily watching all my comings and goings, I’d resist. It’s true that we get to record police, and that we get to put body cameras on them, but that’s because they are the state — accountable to us. Even so, I don’t get to access police body camera footage whenever I want, in a public database, the way police can now access Flock cameras. We re-frame the issue in simple terms: If law enforcement wants to access surveillance footage of any kind, they can get a warrant and collect it from privately available video devices that already exist across the country. If they want to solve crime, they can use traditional methods. Their problem, not ours. Path three is that we accept, as Mark Zuckerberg [once said](https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2010/jan/11/facebook-privacy?ref=readtangle.com), that privacy is no longer a social norm. You can’t fight Flock cameras while walking around with an iPhone. Every website you visit or app you use is capturing your data — locations you visit are tracked by Google or Apple while conversations in your home are recorded by Google or Amazon — and yet we’re fretting over crime-solving cameras. Privacy is, actually, already dead, and Flock isn’t any worse than the surveillance we already submit to. There’s no point in fighting technology that at least is doing some good by solving crime. Five years from now, Flock cameras will have proliferated exponentially, become normalized in our society, and the “regulations” to rein them in are more superficial than limiting. My strong preference is that we take path one or two, but my sense is that we are on path three. As a millennial, I’m now part of the last generation in America that will remember what it was like to go to high school or a concert or dinner without a smartphone. The generations behind me have no sense of that freedom, and no attachment to it, and no reason to think Flock cameras are any more of a threat than a Google search bar. Most Americans, even the ones my age and older, don’t bother to consider their privacy these days, let alone fight for it. Even I feel stuck: I take small measures to protect myself, whether it’s fancy privacy apps or leaving my phone out of my bedroom or occasionally rejecting terms of service. Yet any logical, rational approach to protecting your privacy in 2026, if you actually wanted to, would [all but exclude you](https://www.readtangle.com/otherposts/going-dumb-was-the-smartest-thing-ive-done/) from common society. It’d be impossible to engage in the modern economy while truly holding onto your digital or real-world privacy. It *is* impossible. The screenplay I started to write 15 years ago is no longer set in a fictional future — that present is here. Except, in this reality, there’s no underworld society holding on to what we used to have. | Staff dissent. Carina Pacheco Associate Editor ![Carina Pacheco](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/07/Carina_headshot.png) | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Much of the concern around Flock cameras and surveillance is anchored in privacy, including Isaac’s. But I’m far less concerned about my likeness — the most public thing about me — being captured in public spaces. Whenever a serious crime happens or is threatened, we rely on video footage to identify, track, and bring the perpetrators to justice. It’s hard for me to be outraged at the existence of a technology that we’re thankful to have the moment we need it. Of course, bad people do bad things — the officers who misused Flock cameras for their own nefarious purposes are reprehensible and, like anyone who commits a crime, should be held to account when they do so. But arguments that use Flock cameras to prove we’re quickly descending into fascism ignore the baked-in guardrails we enjoy in the United States — accountability, free speech, and the rule of law prevent the worst-case scenarios from coming to fruition. Flock cameras are still new, but I’m confident the law will catch up, just as it has with geofencing or cell phone terms of service or other technology-meets-privacy issues. I’d much rather any shady, criminal, or threatening activity be brought to light than watch as it’s hidden or obfuscated under the guise of privacy. | **Take the survey:** Do you support law enforcement’s use of Flock cameras? [Let us know](https://interrobang.vercel.app/survey/ab59f82b-78ac-4e4b-8f8d-cea884d987a3?ref=readtangle.com). *Disagree? That*’*s okay. Our opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we'll consider publishing your feedback.* ### This day in history. ![Suffragettes stand in front of a float declaring NAWSA support for the women’s suffrage amendment, 1914](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/08/data-src-image-167bd8d6-2634-429d-b9c3-708009e38522.jpeg) Suffragettes stand in front of a float declaring NAWSA support for the women’s suffrage amendment, 1914 | [Picryl](https://picryl.com/media/horse-drawn-float-declares-national-american-woman-suffrage-associations-support?ref=readtangle.com) The United States women’s rights movement began in earnest during the 19th century and picked up steam after the Civil War. While early feminists called for both economic and political equality, the movement quickly focused on suffrage. In 1878, California Sen. Aaron A. Sargent [introduced](https://www.senate.gov/senators/FeaturedBios/Featured%5FBio%5FSargent.htm?ref=readtangle.com) the Susan B. Anthony Amendment, which would grant women the right to vote, but Congress rejected it. Suffragists continued working to secure women’s right to vote, but the “Winning Plan” was not [concocted](https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/carrie-chapman-catt?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Catt%20developed%20the-,%E2%80%9CWinning%20Plan%2C%E2%80%9D,-which%20aligned%20state) until 1916 by National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA) President Carrie Chapman Catt. Catt’s proposal focused on gaining support for a federal amendment as well as state and local laws. As local support grew, and after several more rejections, Congress [passed](https://www.nps.gov/subjects/womenshistory/womens-suffrage-timeline.htm?ref=readtangle.com) the Anthony Amendment in 1919, sending it to the states for ratification. To become part of the Constitution, the amendment needed approval from 36 of 48 states. By August 1920, 35 states had voted “yes,” eight had said “no,” and four states didn’t plan to hold a vote. Suffragists pinned their hopes on Tennessee, which called a special legislative session to vote on the amendment. On August 18, 1920, after the amendment had passed the state senate, the Tennessee House held its votes on the 19th Amendment. The legislators first voted on a motion to table the amendment (which would have effectively killed it), but after a delegate deadlock, the Speaker called for a direct vote. During the final vote, Rep. Harry Burn — who had at first voted to table the amendment — surprised the chamber by voting “Aye.” Unbeknownst to everyone at the time, in Burn’s pocket was [a letter](https://cmdc.knoxlib.org/digital/collection/p265301coll8/id/697/?ref=readtangle.com) he’d received that morning from his mother, Phoebe “Febb” Burn, urging him to “be a good boy” and vote for suffrage. The amendment passed the Tennessee legislature by one vote, making Tennessee the final state needed for ratification. The 19th Amendment, prohibiting voting discrimination on the basis of sex, was officially enshrined in the Constitution eight days later. In Partnership With incogni Your phone number? **Eh*. Your birthday? **Maybe.* Your Social Security number? ****No.** Protect your sensitive information from being Google-searched with [****Incogni**](https://deal.incogni.io/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=6&aff%5Fid=1007&ref=readtangle.com). It ****removes** your ****personal information** from data brokers and people-search sites across the web. Use code ****TANGLE** for [****55% off unlimited removals**](https://deal.incogni.io/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=6&aff%5Fid=1007&ref=readtangle.com) ****today.** [Delete your sensitive info now. ](https://deal.incogni.io/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=6&aff%5Fid=1007&ref=readtangle.com) ### The extras. - **One year ago today** we wrote about [the Trump–Putin meeting in Alaska](https://www.readtangle.com/trump-putin-meet-in-alaska/). - **The most clicked link in our last regular newsletter** was [our ad for FinanceBuzz](https://financebuzz.com/money-moves-senior-benefits-yaez-1?adgroupid=BM-Tangle-money-moves-senior-benefits-yaez-1-CPF-8172026&ref=readtangle.com). - **Nothing to do with politics:** [Peculiar pets of history](https://www.popsci.com/environment/weird-pets-history/?ref=readtangle.com). - **Our last survey:** 1,478 readers responded to our survey on the Wisconsin gubernatorial primaries, with 75% saying they think David Crowley (D) will defeat Tom Tiffany (R) in the general election. “The common sense of Wisconsin voters will likely prevail in electing Crowley,” one respondent said. “Tiffany will make hay out of Crowley’s extremism, but it will be extremely close,” said another. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/08/data-src-image-2de39f99-4333-4723-98b6-47a294ac18b7.png) ### Have a nice day. Betty Bromage, 97, was hospitalized after a stroke in 2025 that affects her to this day. The incident created challenges for a hobby she picked up at age 87: wing walks, or walking on the wings of a biplane while it is in flight. A year after the stroke, Bromage set out to break her own Guinness World Record of being the oldest female to complete a wing walk — accomplishing her goal on August 4, all while raising money to support the stroke unit where she was treated. Bromage also hinted that she was not done yet. “I’ll have to think of something when I’m 100 — something special,” she said. [BBC has the story](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4g6pdem336o?ref=readtangle.com). ### The Wisconsin gubernatorial primaries. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/wisconsin-gubernatorial-primaries-2026/ Last updated: 2026-08-17T15:56:16.000Z Good Monday morning and welcome back to the Tangle newsletter. I’m **Executive Editor Isaac Saul,** in the perspective-shifting position of returning from a week-long vacation. That means I (and we) have seven days of news to catch up on. And that *also* means you get to drink in a regular 2026 week’s worth of news in one edition (deep breath). Here’s a rundown of what we missed: **Let’s start in the Middle East**. Iran is reportedly threatening to derail an Oman-brokered deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz; Iran also attacked a third UAE oil tanker in the strait last week. At a rally in Long Island, President Trump declared ([or joked?](https://x.com/schwartzbWSJ/status/2088390756901716206?s=20&ref=readtangle.com)) that he plans to make the Strait of Hormuz U.S. territory — an idea Iran predictably rejected. Oh, also, The Washington Post [reported](https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2026/08/10/trump-flew-secrecy-amid-iran-threat-air-force-one-became-decoy/?ref=readtangle.com) that Trump secretly left Air Force One in an airport catering truck to board a separate jet for his return flight from last month’s NATO summit after a credible Iranian **assassination threat**. **In domestic news,** President Trumpsigned an executive order recommending the childhood **vaccine schedule** be shrunk from 18 diseases to 11 and also called for splitting the measles, mumps, and rubella shot into three separate visits. His comments drew strong rebukes from the American Academy of Pediatrics and Louisiana Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy (a physician). Separately, Sens. Rand Paul (R-KY) and Ron Johnson (R-WI) released text messages showing **Dr. Anthony Fauci** privately discussed a theoretical miscarriage risk from Covid-19 vaccines back in 2021, sparking viral rumors that the vaccine caused an 82% miscarriage rate in the first or second trimester (spoiler: [it didn’t](https://www.wbaltv.com/article/covid-19-vaccines-miscarriage-rates/73439724?ref=readtangle.com)). President Trump also **expanded immigration enforcement** on multiple fronts: The administration terminated Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Myanmar and South Sudan nationals, and a federal judge in Boston lifted a stay blocking TPS termination for Somali nationals. DHS also published a notice that it was equipping ICE officers with gloves capable of delivering electric shocks to subdue subjects. Then, there are the things we *aren’t* doing: The administration said it won’t enforce reporting requirements under the 2021 **Corporate Transparency Act**, a law aimed at shell-company money laundering, while the DOJ has refused to challenge a ruling that struck down a pillar of the Prohibition-era **National Firearms Act**. Some other notables: Hunter Biden said that former **President Joe Biden’s cancer has metastasized** to his bones and other parts of his body. Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey (D) signed legislation **removing gestational age limits on abortion**, making her state the tenth state to do so. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit ruled 2–1 to block most of President Trump’s planned construction of the **White House ballroom**, finding that the project lacked necessary congressional authorization. **Luigi Mangione** pleaded guilty to federal stalking charges tied to the 2024 killing of Brian Thompson. And a **crypto company** partly owned by the Trump family got preliminary approval for a banking charter from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. That all happened since our last regular newsletter, which is why a lot of political journalists quit from burnout, and that’s why we just took our annual summer recess. Oh, and today, we’re going deep on the **results of last Tuesday’s primaries in Wisconsin,** the biggest election to happen while we were on summer recess. It’s a **13-minute read** (if you don’t count the work you just did). ### Quick hits. 1. Admiral Brad Cooper, the commander of U.S. Central Command, visited the USS Abraham Lincoln amid concerns about service members’ living conditions and mental health. The approximately 5,000 sailors and Marines on the ship have been deployed in the Middle East for over 260 days. ([The visit](https://thehill.com/policy/defense/6031712-adm-cooper-visits-uss-abraham-lincoln/?ref=readtangle.com)) 2. President Donald Trump directed the Pentagon to reduce the U.S. military’s joint exercises with South Korea, noting his “very good relationship” with North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un and calling the exercises “totally inappropriate and hostile.” ([The order](https://www.axios.com/2026/08/16/trump-us-south-korea-military-drills-cut?ref=readtangle.com)) 3. At least seven people have been killed in severe storms and flooding throughout Indiana over the weekend. ([The storms](https://apnews.com/article/flooding-indiana-severe-weather-aa3624a3ff1a0d241f62ec980a23e856?ref=readtangle.com)) 4. A gunman wounded five people in a shooting at Virginia State University. A suspect, identified as a 19-year-old man, was found hiding on campus and arrested. ([The shooting](https://abcnews.com/US/5-injured-shooting-virginia-state-university-arrests-made/story?id=135669705&ref=readtangle.com)) 5. A federal judge ruled that planned border wall construction in Arizona can proceed despite objections from the Tohono O’odham Nation, which argued that the wall would trespass on tribal lands. ([The ruling](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/federal-judge-clears-path-border-wall-construction-arizona?ref=readtangle.com)) SPONSORED by financebuzz ****Americans Born Between 1941 and 1979 Can Receive These 10 Benefits This Month.** You could be missing out on $1,000s, and you [might not even realize it](https://financebuzz.com/money-moves-senior-benefits-yaez-1?utm%5Fsource=tangle&utm%5Fmedium=paid-newsletter-cpf&utm%5Fterm=Tangle&utm%5Fcampaign=BM-FBZ-Tangle-money-moves-senior-benefits-yaez-1-CPF&adgroupid=BM-Tangle-money-moves-senior-benefits-yaez-1-CPF-8172026). Sure, you might know about some senior discounts at diners or retail stores. 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[See the list ](https://financebuzz.com/money-moves-senior-benefits-yaez-1?utm%5Fsource=tangle&utm%5Fmedium=paid-newsletter-cpf&utm%5Fterm=Tangle&utm%5Fcampaign=BM-FBZ-Tangle-money-moves-senior-benefits-yaez-1-CPF&adgroupid=BM-Tangle-money-moves-senior-benefits-yaez-1-CPF-8172026) ### Today’s topic. The Wisconsin primaries. On Tuesday, August 11, Wisconsin [held primary elections](https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/elections/2026/08/12/who-won-in-wisconsin-primary-election-governor-race-results/91270472007/?ref=readtangle.com) for the 2026 midterms, headlined by the gubernatorial race to replace outgoing Gov. Tony Evers (D). U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany won the Republican nomination with 95% of the vote, while on the Democratic side, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley narrowly defeated state Rep. Francesca Hong 39.8%–39.4%. Crowley’s victory was a significant upset, as pre-election polls [showed](https://fiftyplusone.news/polls/governor/democratic-primary/wisconsin?ref=readtangle.com) Hong with a double-digit lead. **Back up:** Hong, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), worked as a chef and community organizer before entering politics. Her campaign [highlighted](https://ballotpedia.org/Francesca%5FHong?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Hong%20was%20elected,businesses.%22%5B7%5D) healthcare reform and increased funding for public schools. Crowley is a longtime Democratic organizer in the state who positioned himself as a moderate, with housing affordability and public safety as key issues. Hong’s past [social media posts](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2026/08/10/francesca-hong-thanksgiving-wisconsin-primary/91205362007/?ref=readtangle.com) became a source of controversy in the primary’s final weeks, including a 2020 post in which she said Thanksgiving should be canceled because it “celebrat\[es\] colonialism.” She later walked back the comments and distanced herself from some elements of the national DSA platform, such as abolishing police and prisons, saying her focus was on “delivering for people the policies that improve the material conditions of their lives.” Crowley suspended his campaign in July but [re-entered](https://wtmj.com/news/2026/07/18/wisconsin-governor-race-shakeup-crowley-reenters/?ref=readtangle.com) the race later that month with Gov. Evers’s endorsement after Lt. Governor Sara Rodriguez, whom Crowley had supported, dropped out amid a campaign-finance scandal. Prominent democratic socialists Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) opted not to endorse Hong after backing other progressive Democratic candidates, such as Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan. Republican groups also [boosted](https://www.wpr.org/news/gop-ads-attack-hong-liberal?ref=readtangle.com) Hong in the primary, ostensibly to produce a more favorable matchup in the general election. Since winning the primary, Crowley has [focused his campaign](https://apnews.com/article/david-crowley-wisconsin-governor-democrat-socialist-b23fe75b1fb54f5c0c27379ed0693319?ref=readtangle.com) on Rep. Tiffany’s voting record and support of President Donald Trump, noting his votes against certifying the 2020 presidential election results in Arizona and Pennsylvania. Tiffany, meanwhile, has equated Crowley’s and Hong’s platforms, [saying](https://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/story/news/politics/elections/2026/08/12/tiffany-says-crowleys-primary-win-wont-change-wisconsin-governor-race/91272848007/?ref=readtangle.com), “There’s not a dime’s worth of difference between all the Democratic candidates.” Data centers have also [emerged](https://www.notus.org/wisconsin/data-center-governor-election-tom-tiffany-david-crowley?ref=readtangle.com) as a key issue in the race, with both candidates calling for limitations on new construction, though not an outright moratorium (which Hong had supported). Today, we’ll share views on the results from the right, left and Wisconsin writers, followed by Executive Editor Isaac Saul’s take. | What the right is saying. Many on the right say the DSA is still building power despite Hong’s loss.Others argue Hong’s candidacy was more hype than substance. | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | **In The Spectator, Freddy Gray wrote** [**“Francesca Hong’s defeat won’t stop the DSA.”**](https://spectator.com/article/francesca-hongs-defeat-wont-stop-the-dsa/?edition=us&ref=readtangle.com) “The long-view — and already ubiquitous — reaction to \[Hong’s loss\] is to mark it down as a major blow for the Democratic Socialists of America and their bid to take over the Democratic establishment,” Gray said. “But the real story should not be how Hong lost. It should be how on earth she came so close to being the Democratic choice for Wisconsin in a very high turnout primary in such an important swing state. Like many DSA members, Hong has said she wants to abolish the police because law enforcement agencies ‘uphold white supremacy.’ She’s also expressed discomfort at the fact her bi-racial son gives her a ‘proximity to whiteness.’” “\[This result\] suggests that successful Democratic candidates are now the ones who bridge the gap between the hard and soft left of their party — as \[Abdul\] El-Sayed just about did in Michigan, and as the Ojibwe Native American activist Peggy Flanagan did in her Minnesota senate primary last night. Flanagan is not a DSA member, but she was the progressive choice,” Gray wrote. “Just a couple of years ago, Republican strategists would have found it easy to cast Flanagan as a far-left lunatic. Their problem in 2026 is that, compared to Hong and the popular DSA fringe, she seems to many to be the reassuringly sensible choice.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​” **In The Wall Street Journal, Jack Butler suggested** [**“left-wing candidates are hype masters.”**](https://www.wsj.com/opinion/free-expression/left-wing-candidates-are-hype-masters-ae327332?ref=readtangle.com) “The polling and exciting vibes behind the campaigns of Abdul El-Sayed for Senate in Michigan and of Francesca Hong for governor in Wisconsin gave wildly misleading pictures of the actual races,” Butler said. “Neither result was expected. Mr. El-Sayed led by 10.2 points in the RealClearPolitics polling average before his 1-point victory. He was already talking about reshaping the party in his image by purging people like Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman. No recent poll in the RCP average had Ms. Hong winning by less than 10 points.” “DSA-type candidates have mastered the art of hype. It can cow moderate rivals and ‘establishment’ forces into submission even when it’s overblown. Yet the combination of circumstances that stopped her from within the Democratic coalition may be rare,” Butler wrote. “Those pushing our politics leftward have a confidence out of whack with their viability. But if history is any indication, without serious resistance they’ll keep trying to fake it till they make it.” | What the left is saying. The left is mixed, with some saying Hong’s campaign was still a win for the progressive movement. Others say Hong was a poor candidate who would have set Democrats back. | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | **In The Nation, John Nichols called Hong’s campaign** [**“\[a\] measure of the strength of a new kind of politics.”**](https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/francesca-hong-wisconsin-election-aftermath/?ref=readtangle.com) “Election analysis is often an exercise in managing expectations, and that is certainly the case in Wisconsin, where pre-primary polls put Hong in the lead. When she didn’t prevail, pundits and political insiders rushed to declare a definitional victory for the Democratic Party’s embattled centrist wing,” Nichols said. “Seriously? A little-known legislator with a scant campaign treasury, whose candidacy was actively opposed by the sitting governor and faced a hair-on-fire national media onslaught, finished in a virtual tie for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination in the ultimate swing state. And we’re supposed to believe that the result has defined the limits of the left?” “In the heat of an election season, results are measured in raw vote totals. But they should also be measured by the potential they reveal. That is what Hong did on election night,” Nichols wrote. “With an outsider campaign that defied expectations and conventional wisdom, she came within a whisker of winning one of the highest-profile contests of a volatile election year. And, despite a frenzied final debate about her ‘electability,’ public polls and internal Democratic surveys suggested that she could be a viable contender in November against the extremely right-wing Republican nominee, Tom Tiffany.” **In Salon, Jason Kyle Howard argued** [**“Hong’s loss in Wisconsin is a win for progressives.”**](https://www.salon.com/2026/08/13/francesca-hongs-loss-in-wisconsin-is-a-win-for-progressives/?ref=readtangle.com) “What the race revealed were the weaknesses and limitations of an ineffective candidate who would have almost certainly flamed out in the general election. Democrats across the political spectrum, and especially progressives, should all be breathing a sigh of relief at her defeat,” Howard said. “At nearly every turn, \[Hong\] allowed herself to be defined: as a well intentioned candidate with some wacky views (‘Abolish the Senate,’ anyone?); as a provocateur who, to quote one Wisconsin voter, was ‘sort of inviting some controversies’; as being, in the words of the Wisconsin Elections Commission’s Democratic chair, ‘willing to sell out the Jews of Wisconsin for a few bucks.’” “A more adept progressive, such as New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez or Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, Michigan’s Democratic Senate nominee, would have easily batted away the questions,” Howard wrote. “For the left to succeed, Ocasio-Cortez knows they must move beyond functioning as scolds. Dourness rarely plays well in politics, and it’s a particularly unbecoming quality in progressives, who can sometimes come off as humorless. The most electable progressives are instead happy warriors, a quality Ocasio-Cortez and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani have in spades.” | What Wisconsin writers are saying. Some Wisconsin writers believe the result underscores the state’s independent spirit.Others say the focus should be on Tiffany’s extremism, not Hong’s. | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | **In the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, James N. Fitzhenry wrote** [**“Wisconsin election results stun as humans wreck the machines.”**](https://www.jsonline.com/story/opinion/columnists/2026/08/15/david-crowley-wisconsin-primary-results-democrat-francesca-hong-polls/91288255007/?ref=readtangle.com) “Pollsters botched the Wisconsin race, just like had happened in Michigan a week before. This time, however, the progressive/socialist candidate, Francesca Hong, lost and Crowley, the ‘establishment’ Democrat, won an improbable victory after every single poll had him losing by double digits,” Fitzhenry said. “Prediction is power, the high-tech hucksters on Kalshi and Polymarket would have you believe. When their power to predict is tested, they invariably lash, or cash, out. Algorithms and AI seem sure they have mastered quantifying and ultimately controlling human nature. Sometimes humans have to wreck the machines, which they did Aug. 11.” “I was ecstatic the polls were ‘wrong’ not so much for who won or lost, but for what it told us about Wisconsin. Most of the critique of today’s politics is that people are easily classified into vicious tribes or voter blocks who are trapped in their own information bubbles. In this view, people are not capable of independent thought or doing something — gasp! — crazy like taking their time to decide or changing their mind,” Fitzhenry wrote. “But most seem to have missed in the Wisconsin Democratic primary that undecided was in the lead for most of the campaign.” **The Capital Times editorial board said** [**“the extremist in this race is Tom Tiffany.”**](https://captimes.com/opinion/editorials/editorial-the-extremist-in-this-race-is-tom-tiffany/article%5Fc314ed23-b792-49a8-9ec6-9b5f9b9a319a.html?ref=readtangle.com) “Tuesday’s primary election saw the nomination of the most extreme candidate ever to be submitted to the voters of Wisconsin by a major political party,” the board wrote. “Yet, with a campaign funded by out-of-state billionaires, Tom Tiffany has prevailed in a primary, and his cynical Republican allies now seek to confuse general election voters with messaging that seeks to suggest a moderation that simply does not exist. Make no mistake: There is nothing moderate, nothing mainstream and nothing acceptable about career politician Tom Tiffany. The Republican nominee for governor’s outlandish record is practically and ideologically extreme.” “He is running to serve the most anti-democratic president in American history: Donald Trump… Tiffany actively supported Trump’s drive to overturn results in Wisconsin and nationally. This, despite the fact that Tiffany enjoyed his own reelection win in the very election he now contests,” the board said. “The governor who is elected this year will serve when the 2028 presidential election takes place. Wisconsin cannot afford to have a governor who would actively seek to overturn the results of that election — or any other election. Our democracy is too precious to be sacrificed in the service of Tom Tiffany’s political extremism.” | My take. Isaac Saul Executive Editor ![Isaac Saul](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2025/05/Isaac.jpg) | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Coverage of this race was all about Francesca Hong, but some other things are capturing my attention.The top-level polling was way off — and a lot of the low-level details were fascinating.As for the actual primary winners, both candidates are far from moderate. | | **Reminder:** This is where we share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, leave a comment or reply to this email. | Nearly all the commentary I found about the race revolved around Francesca Hong. Almost unanimously, conservatives celebrated her loss while decrying how close she came to becoming the nominee. Virtually all writers on the right referenced her off-putting comments about hating Thanksgiving and having “proximity to whiteness” through her biracial son (to be fair to Hong, it was a ham-fisted attempt to discuss the difficulty she has identifying as a racial minority, but it was also a bizarre, distanced, and politically extreme way to talk about her own child). On the left, meanwhile, the commentary was essentially split — pragmatists, moderates and establishment Democrats celebrated her loss because they believe it will help their odds in November (it will), while idealists, progressives, and democratic socialists were disappointed in the loss but resolute that their movement remains ascendant. These various perspectives just added to the existing commentary on the DSA and progressive left that has been piling up for months. And very little of it struck me as in any way additive. I was, however, captivated by three things: The polls, the actual Democratic primary winner, and his Republican counterpart. First, the polls were very bad — *again*. We barely discussed this point when we covered [Abdul El-Sayed’s victory](https://www.readtangle.com/the-michigan-primaries-2026/) in Michigan’s Democratic Senate primary, but he had a double-digit lead in almost every one of the final polls only to win by a single percentage point. Hong, too, was crushing Crowley in the final days of the campaign. In late July, Marquette University (a leading pollster and also a Wisconsin institution) had her leading Crowley by [31 points](https://law.marquette.edu/assets/community/poll/MLSP89FollowUp/MLSP89FollowUpToplinesRV.html?ref=readtangle.com). State Navigate had her up [by 22 points](https://statenavigate.org/wi/final-poll-shows-francesca-hong-with-22-point-lead-in-wisconsins-democratic-governor-primary/?ref=readtangle.com). The Crowley campaign’s own poll had Hong ahead by 18 points. Just six weeks ago, Crowley was so far behind the two frontrunners in the polls that he [*suspended his campaign*](https://milwaukeecourier.com/news/2026/07/08/david-crowley-drops-out-of-race-for-wisconsin-governor?ref=readtangle.com). Candidates have dropped out of races then come back before, but I don’t know of a single example of it ending in victory — particularly in a race of this significance. How could this happen? And how could the polls be so wrong that Crowley — whom the pollsters had all but left for dead — ended up winning? For one, polling a race with this much turbulence is difficult. For another, the number of undecided voters created more uncertainty than polls’ toplines let on. [From The New York Times](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/12/us/politics/crowley-hong-wisconsin-governor-primary-polls.html?ref=readtangle.com): > In a survey taken by Marquette Law School just after Mr. Crowley re-entered the race in mid-July, 38 percent of respondents said they favored Ms. Hong. Mandela Barnes, the former lieutenant governor, was in second place at 16 percent, and Mr. Crowley had just 7 percent of the vote. But almost as large as Ms. Hong’s vote share was the percentage of undecided survey respondents: 34 percent. Most surveys estimated she would win about 40 percent of the vote, and she ended up winning 39 percent. > > What changed was Mr. Crowley’s support. In a ballot-counting marathon that stretched into the wee hours of Wednesday morning, he over-performed the Marquette poll’s estimate by more than 30 points. So the polls actually estimated Hong’s vote share remarkably well, but they had a hard time pegging Crowley’s eventual support. Is this polling problem an issue in the Midwest? In swing states? Across the country? Is it a polling problem at all, or is it simply a problem with how we report on and write about polls? In 2024, we [interviewed pollsters](https://www.readtangle.com/how-to-read-the-polls-like-a-pro/) about what they get right and wrong. One takeaway I had was that polls are good at predicting *how* people would vote but not very good at predicting *who* will vote. It seems we still aren’t adept at weighing our election predictions for who will actually turn up and cast a ballot. At the same time, Hong’s weaknesses were there all along. The polls showed us that the percentage of undecided voters was about equal to the percentage of Hong supporters, yet all the media coverage and election analysts focused on Hong’s support dwarfing Crowley’s — not how many potential Crowley voters were showing up in the polls. For the last 10 years, the inability of polls to capture the electorate accurately, or for us to interpret accurate polls with the correct context, has given the news media a lot of problems. I’ve also been fascinated by the blanket declarations that Crowley is a moderate. We’ve talked a lot about how Trump has moved the Overton window on what constitutes a scandal or how a president should behave. Now candidates like Hong are moving the Overton window on what constitutes “left” or “progressive.” As many conservative writers have [noted](https://thefederalist.com/2026/08/12/stop-calling-democrats-moderate-for-hiding-their-socialism-behind-a-bad-haircut/?ref=readtangle.com), Crowley supports raising the state’s minimum wage to $20 by 2030, wants to enshrine the right to abortion in Wisconsin’s constitution, and has expressed opposition to local law enforcement cooperating with ICE. On his campaign website, he calls for a “true” public healthcare option and to “guarantee every family with a child under five a subsidized childcare slot through a publicly funded network of existing providers.” On the campaign trail, he’s spoken a lot about experiencing evictions as a child and called for providing free legal fees to people facing eviction proceedings. Crowley has pretty pragmatic language to his governing approach (with a lot of “abundance” left talking points), and I think his [policy positions](https://www.crowleyforwi.com/badger-basics?ref=readtangle.com) often take on fresh, interesting angles. He’s certainly caught my attention. But calling someone with this platform a “moderate” was unimaginable even eight years ago. Which leads me, lastly, to Crowley’s opponent in the general election. With so much focus on Hong, her far-left views and her old social media posts, the Republican candidate for governor in Wisconsin has gotten vanishingly little attention. Rep. Tom Tiffany won with 95% of the vote, which killed any suspense, but he could reasonably be declared just as radical as Hong (as The Capital Times editorial board argued under “What Wisconsin writers are saying”). Tiffany has been [rated](https://wisconsinwatch.org/2023/05/is-tom-tiffany-rated-wisconsins-most-conservative-us-house-member/?ref=readtangle.com) the most conservative of all six Republican House members from Wisconsin by the American Conservative Union. Most notably, Tiffany is a 2020 election denier — not just a skeptic or someone trying to mince his words to appease President Trump, but a person who believes Joe Biden stole the election. He tried to overturn President Biden’s win in 2020 by signing onto a Texas lawsuit that would have invalidated the results, and he also voted in Congress to reject the results from Pennsylvania — *after* the January 6th riots. Tiffany’s *still* fighting the 2020 results, having [just announced his support](https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/2026/05/19/tiffany-backs-fbi-probe-into-2020-vote-wont-say-whether-biden-won/90141082007?ref=readtangle.com) for an FBI investigation into Wisconsin’s results this May and repeatedly saying he would have overturned Wisconsin’s results if given the opportunity. Are those views less radical than abolishing ICE or hating Thanksgiving? Reasonable people could disagree about that, but it’s inexcusable that Tiffany’s current positions didn’t get similar levels of attention as Hong’s past comments. Where Hong calls for taxing the rich, Tiffany promises to [freeze all property taxes](https://tomtiffany.com/tiffany-targets-400-year-veto-as-centerpiece-of-property-tax-plan/?ref=readtangle.com). And while Hong’s past social media posts became a source of controversy, Tiffany [quietly deleted pages](https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/2025/10/07/tiffany-erases-hot-button-issues-like-abortion-from-website-bice/86438816007/?ref=readtangle.com) from his website that outlined his extreme positions on abortion, gun rights, immigration, and crime just days before his September 2025 announcement that he was running for governor. It’s not a big mystery why. In 2022, Tiffany endorsed a federal bill that would have banned abortion after six weeks, with an exception for saving the life of the mother but no exception for rape or incest, a position that would be [very unpopular](https://wisconsinexaminer.com/2025/06/10/survey-finds-majority-of-wisconsinites-support-planned-parenthood-and-abortion-access/?ref=readtangle.com) in a state like Wisconsin. Tiffany’s opposition to universal background checks and red-flag laws would similarly have some trouble getting traction among Wisconsin voters, who [overwhelmingly support](https://waveedfund.org/latest-polls/?ref=readtangle.com) both measures. How will all this play out in November? With Hong out of the race, I expect the press to zero in on Tiffany’s past radical positions. Indeed, Crowley is already giving them a roadmap, [emphasizing Tiffany’s “MAGA extremism”](https://www.politico.com/news/2026/08/13/david-crowley-wisconsin-governor-election-strategy-01036209?ref=readtangle.com) in an effort to pull Wisconsin’s Democratic coalitions together. It’s too early to know if he’ll succeed, but he’ll certainly benefit from the “moderate vs. far-right” framing. **Take the survey:** Who do you think will win Wisconsin’s gubernatorial election? [Let us know](https://interrobang.vercel.app/survey/806f73c1-b5ff-4e1e-9280-512bd9dcdca9?ref=readtangle.com). *Disagree? That*’*s okay. Our opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we*’*ll consider publishing your feedback.* ### Under the radar. On Thursday, Flock Safety, which manufactures cameras that police departments use to capture vehicle data, announced new restrictions on how its products can be used. The changes include reducing the default amount of time the company retains data from one month to one week and implementing a program that locks out law enforcement officers who perform “abnormal” searches on their databases. The move comes amid growing objections about the technology among Americans and civil liberties groups, which have raised privacy concerns and highlighted instances of police officers using the cameras to stalk people. The company said the changes are intended to address those concerns, but the American Civil Liberties Union’s Chad Marlow said that the continued use of the cameras “undermine\[s\] the privacy and chill\[s\] the behavior of everyone in America.” [NBC News has the story](https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/security/flock-safety-police-abuse-oversight-data-retention-rcna592217?ref=readtangle.com). From Financebuzz Born between 1941 and 1979? You [could be leaving thousands of dollars on the table](https://financebuzz.com/money-moves-senior-benefits-yaez-1?utm%5Fsource=tangle&utm%5Fmedium=paid-newsletter-cpf&utm%5Fterm=Tangle&utm%5Fcampaign=BM-FBZ-Tangle-money-moves-senior-benefits-yaez-1-CPF&adgroupid=BM-Tangle-money-moves-senior-benefits-yaez-1-CPF-8172026). From overlooked discounts and insurance savings to programs that cut monthly bills and boost retirement funds, these [10 financial perks could make a real difference in 2026](https://financebuzz.com/money-moves-senior-benefits-yaez-1?utm%5Fsource=tangle&utm%5Fmedium=paid-newsletter-cpf&utm%5Fterm=Tangle&utm%5Fcampaign=BM-FBZ-Tangle-money-moves-senior-benefits-yaez-1-CPF&adgroupid=BM-Tangle-money-moves-senior-benefits-yaez-1-CPF-8172026). See [what you qualify for](https://financebuzz.com/money-moves-senior-benefits-yaez-1?utm%5Fsource=tangle&utm%5Fmedium=paid-newsletter-cpf&utm%5Fterm=Tangle&utm%5Fcampaign=BM-FBZ-Tangle-money-moves-senior-benefits-yaez-1-CPF&adgroupid=BM-Tangle-money-moves-senior-benefits-yaez-1-CPF-8172026) before they disappear. ### The extras. - **One year ago today** we had just published our video on [a day in the life of a U.S. representative](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NFHYAMFs50&ref=readtangle.com). - **The most clicked link in our last regular newsletter** was [the “Have a nice day” story on Karelian Bear Dogs](https://www.tahoedailytribune.com/news/tahoes-bears-can-get-too-comfortable-with-humans-these-dogs-help-bring-back-healthy-fear/?ref=readtangle.com). - **Nothing to do with politics:** A map of [castles and fortresses around the world](https://thecastlemap.com/?ref=readtangle.com). - **Our last survey:** 2,690 readers responded to our survey on the abuse allegations against Rep. Max Miller (R-OH), with 86% saying they find the allegations credible and Miller should drop out or resign. “This has not been proven in a court of law, but during the investigation and under the circumstances, Miller is not qualified to stand for election,” one respondent said. “The media remains under the delusion that ‘more allegations’ somehow equates to ‘better evidence,’” said another. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/08/data-src-image-efb7074e-3630-4c69-8fdc-88e08dd25258.png) ### Have a nice day. For Kylie Corbitt, an addiction treatment center helped break a cycle of unhealthy drug use. But when her 30 days at the facility ended, she struggled to maintain her sobriety. She tried attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings but wasn’t able to connect at the talk-based sessions. Then she discovered The Phoenix, a free gym that is part of a growing model of addiction recovery that emphasizes shared activities like fitness, music, and meditation. Through The Phoenix, Corbitt started rock climbing and eventually got into CrossFit. In July, she reached two years sober and now spends time volunteering at the gym. “We’re not sitting there talking about addiction all day,” Corbitt said. “We’re talking about getting healthy and getting better.” [The New York Times has the story](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/25/well/sober-clubs.html?ref=readtangle.com). ### A summer announcement. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/a-summer-announcement-2026/ Last updated: 2026-08-10T16:40:52.000Z *I’m Isaac Saul, and this is Tangle: an independent, nonpartisan, subscriber-supported politics newsletter that summarizes the best arguments from across the political spectrum on the news of the day — then “my take.”* --- Dear readers, As longtime Tangle subscribers know, one of my biggest fears about our company is that my employees or I will burn out. In the media industry, this is one of the most common ways journalists (and companies) fall apart. So I’ve taken a few precautionary steps to mitigate the risk. One of those precautions is giving my team a few breaks each year, including a week in the summer. Every August, we plan our break to coincide with Congress’s annual recess to limit the amount of news we miss. That means we’re taking this year’s summer break now. We’ll be off from the daily newsletter, the daily podcast, Suspension of the Rules and the Sunday edition for the entirety of the week, and we’ll be delaying *Press Pass* until next week. Personally, I’m shipping off to the beach to disconnect from the news for a few days and connect with my wife and son. As always, I encourage our readers to take a break when we do. Today, news fatigue is the #1 reason people unsubscribe from or cancel their membership with Tangle. It’s hard to consume so much content, especially when many stories are so polarizing or distressing. So: I invite you to take a little news break and return with us in a week. We’ll catch you up on everything you missed when we’re back. In the meantime, I want to leave you all with something before we go. You might remember that a few months ago we were promoting an event in Berkeley Springs, West Virginia. We ended up filling a theatre in one of America’s hidden-gem towns for a discussion on the future of artificial intelligence, how the technology is going to impact the country, and what the future might actually hold. I was on stage with Andy Mills, Kmele Foster and Kat Rosenfield, and we had a fascinating, funny, and — at times — scary conversation. We want to share that conversation with you now. I learned a lot, and I hope you will too. The video of our live event in West Virginia Best, Isaac & the Tangle team ### AGI: Are We Building Our Own Extinction? URL: https://www.readtangle.com/agi-are-we-building-our-own-extinction/ Last updated: 2026-08-10T16:07:19.000Z Everyone knows AI. ChatGPT. Claude. Gemini. ### The Sunday — August 9 URL: https://www.readtangle.com/the-sunday-august-9-2026/ Last updated: 2026-08-09T11:52:28.000Z *This is the Tangle Sunday Edition, a brief roundup of our independent politics coverage plus some extra features for your Sunday morning reading.* ### What the right is doodling. ![Al Goodwyn | Creators Syndicate](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/08/data-src-image-bcf41d16-8e2b-4e6e-b9f0-512d184b2c75.jpeg) Al Goodwyn | Creators Syndicate ### What the left is doodling. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/08/data-src-image-6b8b41df-b479-421e-8bbd-cca96703f428.jpeg) John Deering | Creators Syndicate ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/08/data-src-image-41ac9aa3-447b-48ee-8bdd-1f1d744a0a8f.png) ### Suspension of the Rules. This week, Audrey fills in for Editor-at-Large Kmele Foster to talk with Ari and Isaac about progressive Democrats’ rise, Truth Social’s new offering, the biggest political scandals in modern history, and more. Check it out! From our partner ****Tangle readers: here’s your shot at a real conversation with your fellow Americans.** It’s not enough to be informed. We have to know how to talk about it. Join[ AllSides](https://www.allsides.com/?utm%5Fcampaign=dialogue%5Fad-tangle&utm%5Fsource=share-link&utm%5Fmedium=referral) — the multipartisan platform that rates media bias — for a National Roundtable on the American Dream (August 11–15): small-group conversations with Americans across every background about opportunity and success, no shouting matches, no echo chambers. Join the conversation at[ AllSides.com/AmericanDream](http://allsides.com/AmericanDream?ref=readtangle.com). ### Monday, August 3. [The latest on the Gaza peace plan](https://www.readtangle.com/gaza-peace-process-august-2026/). On Thursday, July 30, President Donald Trump said that the Board of Peace, a U.S.-led international body aiming to achieve peace in the Gaza Strip, had reached an agreement for Hamas and other armed groups in Gaza to disarm. The next day, the board shared a 15-point “roadmap” for a multi-step peace plan, outlining actions that Hamas and Israel would take to eventually transfer control of the strip to the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG). Hamas officials said the group’s disarmament was contingent on Israel withdrawing from Gaza, while Israeli officials have expressed skepticism about Hamas’s commitment to disarming. **Our take:** *“Since October 7, most of my fears and few of my hopes have come true. While international attention has shifted, Gaza remains in disrepair while Israeli and Gazan leaders remain deeply mistrustful. It’s hard not to look at the latest developments as anything other than more of the same.”* **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/08/data-src-image-f5d135cb-88ae-47a2-9be0-58854e27464a.png) ### Tuesday, August 4. [Cyberattacks on U.S. water systems](https://www.readtangle.com/cyberattacks-water-systems-2026/). On Thursday, July 30, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) issued an alert about potential cyber threats to water systems after approximately 36 sites in Minnesota reported cyberattacks. Then, on August 1, Michigan reported cyberattacks on nine water systems; both states say their water supplies are not actively threatened. Separately, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) said that attacks have been reported in at least seven states. Federal authorities are investigating the source of the threat, which U.S. investigators believe bears the hallmarks of cyberterrorist groups linked to Iran. **Our take:** *“I think the alarm over this story is too high for the actual severity of the threats. We’ve known about these vulnerabilities for a long time, and we have the tools to counter them. Municipalities still need to plug these holes, but I don’t think our water supply is in danger.”* **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/08/data-src-image-1b77de53-c53a-4c1d-b4cb-119c05af2521.png) ### Wednesday, August 5. [The Michigan primaries](https://www.readtangle.com/the-michigan-primaries-2026/). On Tuesday, August 4, the Democratic and Republican parties held primary elections for several key seats in Michigan. The contests were headlined by the Democratic Senate primary, in which Rep. Haley Stevens (MI) faced off against former public health official Abdul El-Sayed to replace retiring Sen. Gary Peters. At 8:35 AM ET on Wednesday, Decision Desk HQ declared El-Sayed the winner, and Stevens conceded the race shortly after. El-Sayed will face former Rep. Mike Rogers (R) in the general election. **Our take:** *“Abdul El-Sayed is the latest example of the progressive movement’s rise within the Democratic Party. El-Sayed is not without baggage, but he’s a very clever and appealing politician who won for a reason. Progressive and DSA candidates have a real shot in November, and if they can’t win now they may never win.”* **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/08/data-src-image-ccfbeb69-e7fb-4290-9578-2b352fe3dce2.png) ### Thursday, August 6. [The Max Miller allegations](https://www.readtangle.com/max-miller-allegations/). Over the past week, Rep. Max Miller (R-OH) has faced growing calls to resign or drop his bid for reelection amid allegations of domestic abuse. Emily Moreno, Miller’s ex-wife and the daughter of Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-OH), accused Miller of verbally and physically abusing her and their two-year-old daughter; Miller denies the allegations. In recent days, Sen. Moreno has spoken out against Miller, saying the representative is unfit to serve in Congress. **Our take:** *“The allegations against Rep. Miller deserve every bit of the attention that Graham Platner’s scandals received. They haven’t drawn as much attention so far because the Morenos were trying to keep this private, and Platner was a more compelling political figure. While Miller’s self-defense has been unconvincing, I still don’t think this scandal will sink his campaign.”* **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/08/data-src-image-3197c00d-79fd-4807-a126-2bbed8bcdf68.png) ### Friday, August 7. In this week’s members-only Friday edition, Tangle’s Contributing Editor Isaac Wood shares a personal essay about why he doesn’t pledge allegiance to the flag — and how he still honors the country anyway. [You can read his essay here](https://www.readtangle.com/i-dont-pledge-allegiance-to-the-flag/). --- ### What just happened. Here’s a rundown of the major stories that have broken since our newsletter on Thursday. - On Thursday, President Donald Trump issued two executive orders seeking to restrict birthright citizenship. One order would deny automatic citizenship to certain categories of people, such as children born to adults with connections to foreign embassies, while the other attempts to curtail “birth tourism.” ([The orders](https://apnews.com/article/trump-border-immigration-birthright-citizenship-494add8239eb1c0c9f4ccb45db03f1f0?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Thursday, a judge in New Mexico ordered Meta to pay $942 million in damages and add restrictions on app usage for young people in the state as part of a civil lawsuit judgment. ([The damages](https://www.wsj.com/tech/meta-ordered-to-pay-942-million-to-address-harm-to-kids-from-social-media-8ba5aab7?mod=hp%5Flead%5Fpos2&ref=readtangle.com)) - On Thursday, the office of Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) announced the senator had been discharged from a rehabilitation center and is now at home to continue his recovery from a fall. The office did not specify when McConnell will be ready to return to the Senate. ([The update](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/mitch-mcconnell-discharged-from-rehab-after-fall-mid-june?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Thursday, the Federal Communications Commission voted 2–1 to rescind a rule that capped the share of U.S. television households a single company can reach. In place of the limit, the agency will now consider cases individually. ([The vote](https://www.nbcnews.com/business/rcna587641?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Friday, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the U.S. economy lost 23,000 jobs in July, while the unemployment rate dropped to 4.1% from 4.2%. Economists had projected an increase of 95,000 jobs for the month. ([The numbers](https://www.cnn.com/2026/08/07/economy/us-jobs-report-july?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Friday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit ruled 2–1 to block most of President Trump’s planned construction of the White House ballroom, finding that the project lacked necessary congressional authorization. ([The ruling](https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/6016709-donald-trump-white-house-ballroom-construction-appeals-court-block/?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Saturday, the Senate voted 50–49 to confirm Todd Blanche as attorney general. ([The vote](https://apnews.com/article/senate-blanche-attorney-general-justice-department-fcb4157d45d7b13a05de4d2b0f4f92e2?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Saturday, the Senate voted 90–6 to pass a continuing resolution to fund the federal government until December 11\. The bill now goes to the House. ([The resolution](https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/6018009-senate-government-funding-bill/?ref=readtangle.com)) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/08/data-src-image-eb66f608-cf74-4152-97d1-5a2603b1eb74.png) ### Reader essay. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/08/data-src-image-39976a47-5b5d-4887-b1ef-e16a480aebf9.jpeg) Photo from Keith Raynor The Australian children’s program Bluey is a smash hit around the world, and Tangle reader Keith Raynor enjoys watching it with his five-year-old son Miles. One episode in particular hit close to home, as it spoke to Keith’s experiences growing up with ADHD. In this week’s reader essay, Keith reflects on his childhood with the disorder and how the culture has changed for his son’s generation. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### I’m Afraid My Son is So Bright. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/otherposts/im-afraid-my-son-is-so-bright/ Last updated: 2026-08-31T18:01:12.000Z *By Keith Raynor* --- My son, Miles, is five years old, and despite many warnings of the dangers of screen time, putting on one of his favorite videos is one of the best ways to get him to sit in one place for an extended period of time. He’s currently fascinated by historical battles, so our rotation of programming includes Civil War reenactments and stage performances of *Les Miserables*, alongside *Phineas & Ferb*, *My Neighbor Totoro*, and of course, *Bluey*. One afternoon, I was watching an episode of *Bluey* with him, this one about some of the side characters that inhabit the titular blue heeler’s colorful world. While Miles crunched his way through a handful of veggie straws, curled up in his grandfather’s lounge chair, Jack (a young Jack Russell Terrier) struggled to keep it together in the back seat of his family’s car as they drove to school. “Jack, why can’t you just do what you’re told?” asked the pup’s younger sibling. Jack paused, scanning his innermost thoughts for some core reason as to why he forgot instructions in the middle of things and couldn’t control the movements of his body. Finally, with frustration, he replied, “I don’t know.” And that’s when my eyes started watering. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### I don’t pledge allegiance to the flag. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/i-dont-pledge-allegiance-to-the-flag/ Last updated: 2026-08-07T21:41:31.000Z ****Note:** You are reading a preview of a members-only Friday edition. To read it in full, [you’ll be asked to subscribe](https://www.readtangle.com/membership/). *Dear readers,* *One of the only Tangle products I don’t have my hand in editing is our Sunday newsletter, which I get the pleasure of enjoying as a consumer (and is a highly-recommended Tangle member perk!). Last year, I was perusing The Sunday when I came across the week’s* [*reader essay*](https://www.readtangle.com/otherposts/a-white-boy-telling-black-stories/)*, written by a young reporter from Appalachia named Isaac Wood.* [*The piece was about his experience*](https://www.readtangle.com/otherposts/a-white-boy-telling-black-stories/) *as a white journalist producing a podcast about the historical experiences of black Americans living in East Tennessee.* *It was an engaging, challenging piece that tackled uncomfortable questions about who should be “allowed” to tell what stories and why, and what the experience taught him about race.* *A few months later, Isaac applied for a job with Tangle as a part-time editor. I was excited about the opportunity to bring him on board — save having to share my name with someone on staff — and he’s quickly proven himself to be a sharp editor with unique, thoughtful perspectives on the divisive issues we cover every day. So, a few weeks ago, when he pitched an essay about why he doesn’t pledge allegiance to the flag, I was intrigued and enthusiastic about hearing him out.* *Today, I’m thrilled to share that piece as a members-only Friday edition, and glad to fully introduce Isaac Wood to the Tangle audience. Enjoy.* *— Isaac Saul, Executive Editor* --- I remember sweating a lot in grade school. Lots of pre-pubescent pit stains and perspiratory cafeteria conversations over chicken patties. But the sweat was always especially profuse at the annual Veterans Day program. Every year, all the elementary school students piled into buses and gathered in the junior high gym. The school choruses sang “America the Beautiful,” the school band played patriotic songs, and the smart students read poems and led the Pledge of Allegiance. And even now, as I think back to fifteen years ago, I can feel the faint onset of nerves. “Coerced” is too strong a word, but I definitely felt a lot of pressure. The expectation that everyone participate, wholeheartedly, in honoring our country and its symbols was unspoken, but its presence was heavy. It reminded me of walking into a new church for the first time and feeling scrutinizing eyes on your back as you fumble to find the right page in the hymnal. Singing hymns isn’t necessarily bad — I like singing hymns — but that sense of pressure and judgment feels terrible. My discomfort with flag-centered ceremonies, like processions and pledges, grew stronger with time. The traditions continued to feel forced, and I started feeling a disconnect. Are these bouncy songs and fervent flag wavings really the best way to raise good citizens? Does verbally pledging allegiance to my country actually make me a better American? Before I knew it, my sweaty, school-aged self was shifting my weight nervously at my desk and mouthing the words without conviction. Over a decade later, I now don’t say the pledge at all. But then something happened. This spring, at a cousin’s high school graduation, parents in the audience cheered for their graduating children during the posting of the colors, a violation of flag etiquette and ceremonial protocol (which [calls for](https://www.legion.org/advocacy/flag-advocacy/flag-code?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Highlights%3A-,Face%20the%20flag%20and%20stand%20at%20attention,-Place%20right%20hand) facing the flag and standing at attention). I found myself shaking my head, thinking, *Who are they to not respect the flag?* But then a moment of internal embarrassment: *Why do I expect others to honor the flag during the posting of the colors, but at the same time I refuse to pledge allegiance to the flag myself?* I attended three other graduations for friends and family this spring, so I’ve had plenty of opportunity during other pledges, anthems, and processions to mull this question over. Watching young graduates walk across the stage and hearing speeches about their futures began an internal dialogue about allegiance, citizenship, and patriotism. What does it actually mean to bring up a generation of good citizens? Is it just about teaching kids that they should vote, respect the flag, and honor the country? Or is it something else entirely? --- The shortest distance I travelled for a graduation was to a small school just across my city in East Tennessee. My wife teaches there, and a good friend’s daughter was graduating from the 8th grade. The teachers and students processed in, and an administrator led the Pledge of Allegiance. Rows of adults instinctively rose, turned to the flag, put their hands over their hearts, and declared their allegiance. Not everyone, though — my friend beside me kept his hand by his side. Then I noticed he wasn’t saying the words of the pledge, either. It was a nice moment of, “Hey, you too?” This reminded me why I resist pledging allegiance to the flag. In my middle school and high school years, in typical teenage fashion, I started listening to music and reading books that gave teeth to the resistance I felt during those Veterans Day programs. Pink Floyd and *1984* crystallized the feeling that I was being forced to think and act in certain ways. *Self-Reliance* by Ralph Waldo Emerson and Joe Pug’s “Nation of Heat” album convinced me — for better and worse — that I should listen to my own thoughts rather than following the herd. All of a sudden, those forced pledges really did feel coercive, and I’ve never been able to shake that feeling. Looking back, it’s bizarre to think about how, every morning at the buzz of an intercom, 25 children in each school room would robotically rise and recite a 15-second oath of devotion. Again, I was a teenager, so I thought I was the first person to discover these connections and resist them. But it turns out I come from a long line of people who resisted the pledge. A distant relative of mine began his high school teaching career during the tumultuous 1970s, and he would position his desk at the back of his classroom so that his students wouldn’t notice when he didn’t say the pledge. Another family member came up with a cheeky solution: If you don’t say the words “I pledge allegiance,” then the sentence magically becomes a nonsensical fragment, rendering the whole thing meaningless. This fix scratches my grammar nerd brain real nice. You may find this arbitrary, but for him it resolves a serious concern stemming from his Christian faith. His ultimate commitment, loyalty, and devotion are to Christ. He considers himself loyal to America, but if Christ and country ever collide, he will pick Christ without question. The pledge very explicitly expresses a devotion to the republic, and for him, that’s just not true. To pledge allegiance to the republic would make his word meaningless. So he doesn’t say it. My family members are not the first Christians to contend with this tension between loyalties. Early Christians were martyred for swearing fidelity to Christ instead of the Roman emperor. Some Christians in 17th-century Japan were executed for choosing not to step on an image of Jesus. Luckily, I’m not at the whims of the Romans or the Tokugawa Shogunate, but the principle stands. Since Christianity’s beginning, its adherents have made decisions about where their ultimate loyalty lies. In 1943, Walter Barnette, a Jehovah’s Witness, won a Supreme Court case defending the right to not say the Pledge of Allegiance on religious grounds. Jehovah’s Witnesses still [abstain](https://www.jw.org/en/jehovahs-witnesses/faq/why-abstain-nationalistic-ceremonies-flag/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=God%20alone%20deserves,in%20such%20ceremonies.) from saying the pledge because it contains “wording that promises devotion to a country above all else.” They, therefore, “cannot in good conscience participate in such ceremonies.” My feelings toward the pledge, at this point, are also pretty tied up with my relationship to religion. I was raised by a youth minister and worship minister, who were themselves raised in Christian households. In my George Orwell and Ralph Waldo Emerson years, I also doubted what all that “Jesus” stuff meant and interrogated why I should listen to a book from thousands of years ago. Those were tough years, as my whole worldview had been shaped by the stories and teachings of that old book. If I threw it all out, the world wouldn’t make much sense. As I navigated some choppy religious waters, an unknown journey was lurking around the corner: trying to sort through my understanding of civic duty and patriotism. --- For another graduation, my wife and I drove a few hours over the Appalachian range for my cousin’s commencement I mentioned earlier. He went to a huge high school near Winston-Salem, North Carolina — the school’s student enrollment is literally half the number of my hometown’s population — and the ceremony was held in the Wake Forest University basketball arena. We were all settled in with aunts, uncles, and cousins when the 533-graduate ceremony began. Then came the posting of the colors. As we watched three young military recruits process the flags, the room remained loud. Parents and grandparents all throughout the stadium were cheering, calling out the names of their graduates. I was immediately flummoxed, if not downright angry — which of course led to the question: *When I refuse to say the pledge, am I not being just as disrespectful?* I’m actually a big fan of ceremony and tradition. An old prayer, a holiday, a song, a sport — don’t get me started on processions. I like a ceremony that directs a group of people’s attention, binding us together for one shared purpose. If that purpose is shared with a long line of people who came before us, even better. I love that at every wedding I attend, I stand with everyone else at attention to honor and express support for the bride as the couple begins their life together. Anything that’s lasted hundreds or thousands of years immediately earns my respect and, on top of that, is plain old cool. The pledge isn’t thousands of years old, but it is 134 years old ([most](https://www.history.com/articles/pledge-allegiance-under-god-schools?ref=readtangle.com) of it, anyway). So when I make the decision not to say the pledge, I don’t make it lightly. But in a roundabout way, I refuse to say the pledge for the same reason I value silence during the posting of the colors. Traditions and ceremonies shape us. That’s *what* is happening. But the *how* is more interesting: shared actions and shared words. They’re present in the Pledge of Allegiance — hand over heart, recite the script — and during other rituals like singing hymns or belting team chants at soccer games. These activities express shared interests and values, but they also form them. Writers have considered the importance of shared activity for centuries — [David Brooks](https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2023/09/us-culture-moral-education-formation/674765/?ref=readtangle.com) thinks a lack of communal moral formation causes sadness and meanness in Americans; [Alasdair MacIntyre](https://ecommons.udayton.edu/rel%5Ffac%5Fpub/66/?ref=readtangle.com) believed people’s moral imaginations are shaped by the shared stories and practices of their communities; [Aristotle](https://dn790003.ca.archive.org/0/items/AristotlesNicomacheanEthics/Aristotles%20-%20Nicomachean%20Ethics.pdf?ref=readtangle.com) wrote about how habits, or stable active conditions, form virtue. Shared activities and traditions shape people, and patriotic ceremonies are no different. That’s really why the Pledge of Allegiance was written in the first place. In 1892, Francis Bellamy [wrote](https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-man-who-wrote-the-pledge-of-allegiance-93907224/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Assigned%20to%20the,Columbus%20Day%20holiday.) the pledge as a way to encourage patriotism in young people and bind them together under a shared commitment to the flag and the republic. But I think Bellamy took it too far: patriotism doesn’t necessitate allegiance. In the last year or so, political writers on both the [left](https://www.slowboring.com/p/they-should-teach-patriotism-in-schools?ref=readtangle.com) and the [right](https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/columnist/2026/06/24/gen-z-patriotism-america-250-birthday/90648122007/?ref=readtangle.com) have written about the decline of patriotism and its causes. I agree. On a practical level, increased loneliness and division call for a strengthened social fabric, and love of country can be helpful for that. But patriotism alone can’t hold together the social fabric; it should be only one thread among many other, far stronger threads. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Bill Cassidy announces he will provide Todd Blanche key confirmation vote. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/bill-cassidy-announces-he-will-provide-todd-blanche-key-confirmation-vote/ Last updated: 2026-08-07T16:06:47.000Z Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA) announced that he would vote for Todd Blanche's confirmation as Attorney General, meaning the nominee and acting AG will very likely be confirmed. ### Will Abdul El-Sayed be a good candidate? URL: https://www.readtangle.com/will-abdul-el-sayed-be-a-good-candidate/ Last updated: 2026-08-07T07:06:47.000Z Is Abdul El-Sayed a good candidate? ### The abuse allegations against Rep. Max Miller. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/max-miller-allegations/ Last updated: 2026-08-06T15:50:44.000Z Happy Thursday, Tangle readers. It’s **Editor Audrey Moorehead**, unfortunately back to talk about more abuse allegations against a politician. This time, we’re covering **accusations against Rep. Max Miller (R-OH)** and what they mean for his candidacy — and our politics. Then, we’ve got a reflection on the **atomic bombing of Hiroshima** 81 years later, followed by a **story we didn’t cover this week**. But we end with a palate cleanser for this otherwise somber edition: a nice story about **Karelian Bear Dogs** in Nevada. It’s a **14-minute read**. ### Audrey joins *Suspension of the Rules*. This week, Audrey fills in for Editor-at-Large Kmele Foster to talk with Ari and Isaac about progressive Democrats’ rise, Truth Social’s new offering, the biggest political scandals in modern history, and more. Check it out: ### Quick hits. 1. The Senate voted 51–44 to confirm Erica Schwartz as director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Schwartz will become the agency’s first Senate-confirmed director in approximately one year. ([The confirmation](https://www.newsnationnow.com/health/erica-schwartz-cdc-director/?ref=readtangle.com)) 2. The Maryland legislature approved a ballot measure for the November elections that, if passed, would allow state Democrats to redraw congressional districts. ([The measure](https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/6009593-maryland-redistricting-referendum-approved/?tbref=hp&ref=readtangle.com)) 3. The Senate Homeland Security Committee voted to hold Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress for invoking the Fifth Amendment throughout a Senate hearing last week. Committee Chairman Rand Paul (R-KY) said he will refer the resolution to the Justice Department. ([The vote](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/rand-paul-predicts-fauci-contempt-vote-pass-vows-swift-doj-referral?ref=readtangle.com)) 4. Federal aviation officials are reportedly investigating an air-traffic safety incident on Tuesday, in which the Marine One helicopter carrying President Donald Trump may have flown too close to a commercial airplane taking off from Ronald Reagan National Airport. ([The incident](https://www.wsj.com/politics/national-security/faa-investigates-marine-one-safety-incident-in-washington-e95d6ed2?ref=readtangle.com)) 5. A federal judge ruled that permit requirements for short-barreled guns and suppressors were unconstitutional, finding that Congress had no basis to impose the requirements after it removed a prior $200 tax for a permit. 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[Stop Wasting Money ](https://financebuzz.com/dumb-money-moves-yaez?utm%5Fsource=tangle&utm%5Fmedium=paid-newsletter-cpf&utm%5Fterm=Tangle&utm%5Fcampaign=BM-FBZ-Tangle-dumb-money-moves-yaez-CPF&adgroupid=BM-Tangle-dumb-money-moves-yaez-CPF-8062026) ### Today’s topic. The Max Miller allegations. Over the past week, Rep. Max Miller (R-OH) has faced growing calls to resign or drop his bid for reelection amid [allegations of domestic abuse](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/28/us/politics/domestic-abuse-allegations-ohio-house-race.html?eafs%5Fenabled=false&ref=readtangle.com). Emily Moreno, Miller’s ex-wife and the daughter of Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-OH), accused Miller of verbally and physically abusing her and their two-year-old daughter; Miller denies the allegations. In recent days, Sen. Moreno has spoken out against Miller, saying the representative is unfit to serve in Congress. **Back up:** Miller and Emily Moreno wed in 2022, shortly before Miller was elected to the House, and filed for divorce in 2024\. In July 2026, Mother Jones [obtained legal documents](https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2026/07/assault-misogyny-verbal-threats-records-detail-new-allegations-against-rep-max-miller-bernie-moreno/?ref=readtangle.com) detailing allegations that Miller used illegal drugs, verbally abused his wife, and acted violently toward multiple women. Moreno claimed that Miller had thrown hot water at her and held a gun to her head, among other aggressive acts; she also told police she suspected Miller may have been responsible for their daughter’s broken collarbone. Child services [determined](https://www.nbc4i.com/news/your-local-election-hq/max-miller-legal-dispute-what-police-and-court-records-indicate/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=According%20to%20a%20notice,custody%20of%20the%20child.) the allegations were “unsubstantiated,” and a prosecutor declined to pursue them, citing a lack of evidence. Miller was previously [accused](https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/10/05/stephanie-grisham-abusive-relationship-trump-white-house/?ref=readtangle.com) of physical abuse by former White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham, whom he dated while serving as a Trump administration staffer. On Sunday, Miller [issued](https://x.com/i/broadcasts/1AKEmmpyzvlKL?ref=readtangle.com) a statement denying the accusations against him and [released](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/982qz09aydzkaghwblxdv/AK0y99zxbIEDw1ioCF70Xhc/05%5FAdditional%5FEvidence/EX-503%5FAUDIO-First-Needle-Claim-Day-After-Money-Cutoff%5F2024-08-20.mp3?rlkey=3ezshqegsdsiabi6nv9v12u3q&e=1&dl=0&ref=readtangle.com) recordings of conversations between him and his ex-wife, which he claimed supported his version of events and showed Moreno to be mentally unwell. In the documents Miller released to exonerate himself, a family coordinator [described](https://www.nbc4i.com/news/your-local-election-hq/max-miller-legal-dispute-interviews-escalation-and-a-little-blue-bunny/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Miller%20posted%20a%20trove%20of%20files%20through%20Dropbox%20on%20Sunday%20that%20he%20said%20proved%20his%20innocence.%20The%20documents%20were%20largely%20in%20his%20favor%2C%20including%20a%20report%20from%20a%20family%20coordinator%20who%20called%20the%20abuse%20allegations%20%E2%80%9Cgreatly%20exaggerated.%E2%80%9D%20They%20also%20included%20a%20nude%20photo%20of%20his%202%2Dyear%2Dold%20daughter.) the abuse allegations as “greatly exaggerated.” The documents also included unredacted photos of Miller and Moreno’s two-year-old daughter naked, which Miller’s lawyer [apologized](https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2026/08/04/congress/max-miller-daughter-abuse-image-01023575?ref=readtangle.com) for. Miller has reaffirmed his intention to continue his reelection campaign. Separately, the congressman [requested](https://x.com/MaxMillerOH/status/2084665339799822436?s=20&ref=readtangle.com) an ethics investigation into himself in an attempt to clear his name. On Tuesday, the House Ethics Committee [said](https://ethics.house.gov/press-releases/statement-of-the-chairman-and-ranking-member-of-the-committee-on-ethics-regarding-representative-max-miller/?ref=readtangle.com) it will investigate. Following Miller’s statement on Sunday, Sen. Moreno [wrote](https://x.com/berniemoreno/status/2083936589424582942?ref=readtangle.com) on X, “As a father and husband, I can tell you the last two years have been pure hell for my wife Bridget, our daughter Emily, me, and our entire family in the aftermath of Emily’s divorce… Max Miller needs serious psychological help. He is a danger to my daughter, and I hold my breath every minute he has custody of my granddaughter.” President Donald Trump has remained publicly supportive of Miller but [reportedly](https://www.axios.com/2026/08/04/trump-max-miller-moreno-election-house?ref=readtangle.com) expressed doubts about his candidacy in private. On Monday, the president said, “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.” Today, we’ll share views from the left and right on the allegations against Miller. Then, Editor Audrey Moorehead gives her take. | Agreed. Writers across the political spectrum view the allegations against Miller as credible. Most think the congressman should not seek reelection. | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | What the left is saying. Many on the left question whether Republicans will demand Miller step down. Some argue that Trump has caused the GOP to doubt women’s allegations. Others contend Bernie Moreno should have spoken up for his daughter sooner. | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | **In The Hill, Laurie A. Watkins asked** [**“how will Republicans handle Max Miller?”**](https://thehill.com/opinion/campaign/6007938-max-miller-allegations-ohio/?ref=readtangle.com) “I \[criticized Graham Platner\] because if character is going to mean anything in our politics, it has to mean something even when the person under scrutiny is on your own side. I still believe that,” Watkins wrote. “On Sunday… Moreno said publicly that his former son-in-law should not serve in Congress. That is not a Democratic strategist’s opinion. That is a sitting Republican United States senator telling voters that a member of his own party, in his own state, is not fit for the office he holds, because of what that man allegedly did to the senator’s own daughter and granddaughter.” “These allegations have been public for months. The pattern behind them goes back two decades. And still Miller stayed in the race with the quiet cover of a party that spent the summer telling Democrats exactly how seriously character should be taken,” Watkins said. “Here is what I would say directly to the Republican Party. You have spent years telling the country you are the party that protects women and children, the party of family values, the party that will not look away from abuse. I believe many of you mean it. So mean it now, even when it costs you something.” **In The Atlantic, Ashley Parker said** [**“Republicans have been slow to call for an Ohio congressman to end his reelection campaign.”**](https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/2026/08/max-miller-moreno-domestic-abuse-allegations/688159/?ref=readtangle.com) “Once upon a time, it was practically de minimis for either political party to disavow a candidate facing allegations of domestic violence. But now is not that time. Which might help explain why… Republicans have been reluctant to say that an alleged domestic abuser (especially one facing allegations from two women) is probably a poor choice to represent their party this November,” Parker wrote. “I am referring, of course, to Miller, whom Emily Moreno has accused of scalding her with hot water, holding a gun to her head, and throwing her against a wall — all allegations he has denied.” “But this is now a party whose leader has been accused of sexual misconduct by more than two dozen women… Perhaps only in President Trump’s Republican Party does believing all women — or even some women, some of the time — become politically fraught,” Parker said. “I am not unsympathetic to Bernie Moreno. I am the stepmom in a blended family, and I understand a key tenet of Divorce 101, especially when there are kids, is to never speak ill of anyone involved. Moreno seemed to be trying to abide by that ideal.” **In Slate, Jill Filipovic described** [**“Sen. Bernie Moreno’s too-late attempt to stand up for his daughter.”**](https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2026/08/bernie-moreno-statement-max-miller-graham-platner-double-standard.html?ref=readtangle.com) “For weeks now, journalists, Democrats, and plenty of American voters have been pushing powerful Ohio Sen. Bernie Moreno to say something — anything — in defense of his daughter and granddaughter. For weeks, Bernie Moreno stayed silent, even as Miller went on a crusade of character assassination against Emily Moreno, saying she was mentally ill with untreated bipolar disorder,” Filipovic wrote. “It’s good that Moreno has finally come to the defense of his own daughter and granddaughter after weeks of silence and dithering.” “But it’s reasonable to ask: What took him so long? And given that the deadline for Miller to pull out of the race is Wednesday, where are all the other Republicans — especially those who called on Democrats to force Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner to resign — in demanding that Miller step aside?” Filipovic asked. “Traditionalist conservatives, those who push a nuclear-family model with a male head of household and a female carer for home and the children, make women a clear pledge: Acquiesce to your husband’s authority and you will be protected and provided for; your children will be as well. The Miller-Moreno saga is a textbook example of how this promise of patriarchal protection is a myth.” | What the right is saying. Many on the right say Republicans must disavow Miller. Some criticize Miller’s attempts to defend himself in the media. Others note the political implications of Miller staying in the race. | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | **In the New York Post, Bethany Mandel argued** [**“Republicans must draw a line.”**](https://nypost.com/2026/08/04/opinion/max-miller-is-the-gops-graham-platner-and-republicans-must-draw-a-line/?ref=readtangle.com) “Rumors have reverberated on Capitol Hill for years that domestic violence allegations against the two-term Ohio Republican would soon explode. Now they’ve hit the fan, in the ugliest imaginable way — and Republicans must choose between principles and party loyalties,” Mandel wrote. “In Sunday’s video statement, Miller… tried to brush off his ex-wife’s claims by saying that she’d offered to cook him dinner just days after one alleged physical altercation. Anyone familiar with domestic violence recognized that as a tell: It’s an unfortunate reality that victims often try to placate an abuser as a means of defusing tensions.” “Republicans know, and have known, that Miller is problematic, at best. Now they’re faced with the same calculation Democrats were forced to make just weeks ago, when their hopes for control of the Senate hung in the balance of their moral computations,” Mandel said. “A political party cannot credibly ask Americans to take its values seriously if it refuses to uphold those values when doing so is inconvenient. Republicans now have a chance to show that ‘family values’ describes a standard they’re willing to enforce, not merely a slogan they’re willing to campaign on.” **In The Bulwark, Andrew Egger wrote** [**“things are quickly going from terrible to unsustainable for Max Miller.”**](https://www.thebulwark.com/i/209920924/psycho-congressman-quest-ce-que-cest?ref=readtangle.com) “The congressman, who has long faced serious, troubling allegations of domestic abuse, became a national spectacle this week after he tried to refute the allegations in a bizarre livestream,” Egger said. “Incomprehensibly, he decided to take another bite of the apple yesterday afternoon, going on CNN for a lengthy interview with Jake Tapper. It couldn’t have gone worse… Miller was utterly unconvincing in his denials, strange and offputting in his tone and approach, and seemed unable to speak in complete sentences, stringing together semi-related fragments of talking points at random.” “Any half-sane person who found himself in this situation would go straight off the air and into monastic life or the Witness Protection Program. Miller, on the other hand, says he’s determined to stay in the race. And the only people who could perhaps change his mind — House Speaker Mike Johnson and President Donald Trump — seem determined not to force the issue,” Egger wrote. “The trajectory of the next few months thus seems basically set… He will run and lose and that will be the end of it — including the House Ethics Committee investigation. These obscene humiliations will last only a few more months at most. The stain on Trump and Johnson, however, will remain.” **In PJ Media, Scott Pinsker said the Republican Party should** [**“swap Miller with someone else.”**](https://pjmedia.com/scott-pinsker/2026/08/04/dcs-2-unsolved-mysteries-who-hid-a-chapter-of-the-dnc-autopsy-and-is-max-miller-a-serial-abuser-n4955789?ref=readtangle.com) “Some very nasty allegations of spousal abuse and breaking his daughter’s collarbone were made. (Miller vehemently denies all accusations of wrongdoing.) What’s muddying the political waters is where these allegations originated: The ex-wife who accused Miller of abuse is the daughter of Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio), a MAGA favorite. Unsurprisingly, Sen. Moreno is on his daughter’s side,” Pinsker wrote. “Had his accuser been a left-wing activist, it would’ve been easier for Miller to dismiss it as a political smear. Yet he still played that card.” “This is high-stakes, big league politics. With control of the House coming down to just a handful of districts, destroying Miller’s career raises the question of cui bono. (Be naïve of us to deny the possibility.) *But it’s also true that this is the second pro-Trump MAGA member who’s accused Miller of physical abuse*,” Pinsker said. “Is it possible that Rep. Miller was wrongfully accused not once, but twice? *You betcha*… But at this point, that’s an awful lot of smoke… Miller is also a junior player in D.C.; he’s not irreplaceable. And given the nastiness of the allegations — as well as the quantity — it’s in the best interest of the Republican Party to swap Miller with someone else.” | My take. Audrey Moorehead Editor ![Audrey Moorehead](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2025/05/Audrey.jpg) | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | The allegations against Rep. Miller deserve every bit of the attention that Graham Platner’s scandals received. They haven’t drawn as much attention so far because the Morenos were trying to keep this private, and Platner was a more compelling political figure. While Miller’s self-defense has been unconvincing, I still don’t think this scandal will sink his campaign. | | **Reminder:** This is where we share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, leave a comment or reply to this email. | It’s hard to really put into words just how horrific this all is. Just last month, I wrote about the [sexual assault allegations](https://www.readtangle.com/graham-platner-assault-allegations-july/) that ultimately sunk Maine Democrat Graham Platner’s Senate campaign. While Platner’s scandals were reaching a crescendo, the Tangle team was watching the Max Miller story build across the aisle. In May, The Daily Mail [published](https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-15796677/trump-congressman-max-miller-abuse-attack-letter.html?ref=readtangle.com) photos of Emily Moreno’s alleged injuries. Further updates came in a slow drip until Mother Jones’s [comprehensive reporting](https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2026/07/assault-misogyny-verbal-threats-records-detail-new-allegations-against-rep-max-miller-bernie-moreno/?ref=readtangle.com) on Moreno’s allegations in mid-July. But even then, media coverage of Miller has been nowhere near as ubiquitous as coverage of Platner was. I remember feeling indignation as the stories slowly came out: Why weren’t people talking about this? Why weren’t people taking this seriously? This is a *senator’s daughter* filing for a restraining order against a *congressman*, accusing him of slamming her into walls and pouring steaming water on her, fearing that he had broken their toddler daughter’s collarbone. Where was the coverage? In fact, we wanted to cover this topic on Tuesday, but we couldn’t even find sufficient commentary on the story to make it our main topic until *yesterday*. Of course, stepping back, I can see *why* the situations are different. For one thing, Miller’s situation is quite a bit more complicated. Platner’s accusers faced great personal risk in speaking up but were no longer attached to Platner. Emily Moreno, however, is permanently linked to Miller through their daughter, and she has to consider what’s best for their child as she navigates her legal battles with a national political figure. Graham Platner’s story got so much coverage because his accusers went directly to the media — the Moreno family has not, saying they wanted to keep the story out of the public eye for as long as possible. Even now, Emily Moreno hasn’t spoken to the media herself (instead releasing statements through her spokesperson and legal team), and most of the allegations have only come out through public records of their legal proceedings. Sen. Bernie Moreno, for his part, [affirmed](https://x.com/berniemoreno/status/2083936589424582942?ref=readtangle.com) that story when he broke his silence on Sunday, saying, “If there are any basic standards of character required to hold elected office, Max Miller fails them.” In a subsequent interview, Moreno [said](https://x.com/TMZ/status/2084668961505845517?s=20&ref=readtangle.com) his daughter had asked him to keep things private, to “lower the temperature,” because of Miller’s volatility. Sources close to the Morenos confirmed the story to The Atlantic’s Ashley Parker (under “What the left is saying”). If that is indeed the case, I don’t fault Emily Moreno for her silence, and I have a hard time faulting Sen. Moreno for his — that includes when he told reporters he “didn’t know” if Miller should continue running for Congress as the abuse allegations went public. At first, I thought Sen. Moreno cowardly; but now that he has spoken up, I really think he was just trying to do right by his daughter and granddaughter until his hand was forced, and I’m even somewhat ashamed that I didn’t give him the benefit of the doubt to begin with. With all that said, that context only explains why none of the Morenos have yet sat for a full media interview. It does not explain why it’s taken so long for the story to gain traction among the commentariat, and that slowness I’m much more cynical about. I don’t want to rank levels of trauma, but the accusations against Miller demand every bit as much scrutiny as the ones against Platner. They’ve also been building up publicly for much longer, as outlets began reporting on Moreno filing for a restraining order at the end of July. Why did public figures take so long to comment directly on the allegations and Miller’s House race? Unfortunately, I think they’ve been silent because the Miller allegations just weren’t as salacious. Platner was a charismatic, rising star gunning for a high-profile Senate seat; Miller has largely been a milquetoast MAGA representative from a (usually) safe Republican district. Disgusting though it may be to say, it makes sense that pundits would be more interested in sifting through the dirt on Platner. But now that the Miller allegations *are*, finally,being discussed publicly, they’re subject to all sorts of scrutiny — as they should be. Scrutiny is a vital part of public adjudication of claims like these against political figures. I’m perversely grateful for figures like [Michael Tracey](https://x.com/mtracey/status/2084063873229848770?ref=readtangle.com), who seem to *never* believe claims of abuse and impropriety, because they provide a good measuring stick to determine the veracity of these allegations. And, as Tracey notes, some of the evidence points to a more complicated situation than just “Max Miller is a bad guy.” Family psychologist Deborah Koricke *did* say in court that she thought the abuse allegations were “exaggerated” (but she also confirmed Emily Moreno’s story about hot water); Emily Moreno *did* swear that she had never seen definitive evidence that Miller had harmed their daughter (though this statement predated the collarbone incident); and investigations into Miller have never resulted in him losing custody of his daughter. Indeed, child services [said](https://www.nbc4i.com/news/your-local-election-hq/max-miller-legal-dispute-what-police-and-court-records-indicate/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=According%20to%20a%20notice,custody%20of%20the%20child.) the allegations he abused his daughter were “unsubstantiated,” and Moreno never formally brought charges. Miller himself has been trying to fight the allegations against him on social media and on the broadcast media circuit. Miller claims the hot water incident was just play. He also said that, in the time since, Moreno has offered to cook dinner for him and has invited him to playgrounds to spend time with their daughter. He denied that his daughter told Moreno “daddy kill you” and [told](https://x.com/atrupar/status/2084751454594601261?s=20&ref=readtangle.com) CNN’s Jake Tapper that their daughter was “scared” to go to her mother’s house (to Tapper’s credit, he, live on the air, asked how Miller could claim his daughter was too young to make this statement about her dad but somehow old enough to make the statement about her mom). And in a show of confidence, Miller [asked](https://x.com/MaxMillerOH/status/2084665339799822436?s=20&ref=readtangle.com) for a House Ethics Committee investigation into the claims against him, to prove his innocence. Tracey and Miller can build a strong argument that the congressman isn’t necessarily a significant threat to his ex-wife and child, but they can’t sufficiently *disprove* that Max Miller is abusive, either. Domestic abuse [experts](https://www.un.org/en/coronavirus/what-is-domestic-abuse?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Power%20and%20Control%20Wheel) and [survivors](https://azmag.gov/Programs/Community-Initiatives/Domestic-Violence/Awareness-Month/Stories?ref=readtangle.com) will tell you that abuse doesn’t always look like a deadly threat — it can come in the form of volatility or fear, of occasional violence followed by attempts to obfuscate and deny and paper over with love. Responses to abuse, too, can range wildly, from pretending nothing’s wrong to reconciliation attempts for the sake of the children caught in the middle. And, most of all, Miller’s own history and his conduct throughout this situation have only indicted his character further. Former White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham has [accused](https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/10/05/stephanie-grisham-abusive-relationship-trump-white-house/?ref=readtangle.com) Miller of abuse in their relationship during the first Trump administration and [filed](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2026/08/04/max-miller-stephaniem-grisham-lawsuit-restraining-order/91173485007/?ref=readtangle.com) for a restraining order. An unnamed high school girlfriend [claims](https://thehill.com/opinion/lindseys-lens/6011452-max-miller-violence-allegations/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=There%20are%20now%20three%20women%2C%C2%A0three%C2%A0women%20who%20have%20accused%20you%20of%20violent%20behavior) Miller pushed her out of a door and down stairs during their relationship. Miller has a history of drunk and disorderly behavior. Meanwhile, in interview after interview, he appears volatile and defensive. When interviewers push back on his claims — like Tapper did — he slips and slides, going from defending himself to levying counterclaims against his ex-wife to invoking due process. I don’t deny that he has a right to due process in the courts, but he should know that public scrutiny of a political figure is different. The courts may decide that he should keep partial custody over his daughter, but voters still have a right to decide whether a man accused of this sort of personal conduct (by multiple women) is really fit to serve in one of the highest offices in the country. All of this, then, leaves me with one more consideration: how Miller, and Republicans, will respond to these abuse allegations. So far, I have cause for despondency, as House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) has [indicated](https://www.politico.com/news/2026/08/05/mike-johnson-max-miller-domestic-abuse-01025050?ref=readtangle.com) that he won’t intervene. Sen. Moreno said Miller was unfit to serve in Congress, but most Congressional Republicans aren’t making strong statements on the matter, and President Trump appears content to stay on the sidelines, too. Miller himself has refused to back down, and if it weren’t so horrible, I’d find it laughably fitting that he did so by invoking President Trump’s electoral victory through a storm of scandal in 2016\. I think Miller is banking on something we all fear to be true: Character matters less and less to certain voters. Privately, at least, Republicans do seem worried about Miller’s candidacy: President Trump [reportedly](https://www.axios.com/2026/08/04/trump-max-miller-moreno-election-house?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Earlier%20Monday%2C,on%20the%20ballot.) called Miller to express doubts about the election. Prominent pollsters seem to think that the allegations will hurt Miller, as many of them have [downgraded](https://ballotpedia.org/Ohio%27s%5F7th%5FCongressional%5FDistrict%5Felection,%5F2026?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Voting%20in%20Ohio-,Race%20ratings,-Cook%20Political%20Report) the seat from “Solid R” to “Likely R” or even “Lean R” as more news has come out. And maybe, as Sen. Moreno takes a public stand, the House Ethics Committee begins its investigation and Miller himself continues digging holes in public appearances, Republicans will see reason to abandon and push Miller out — as Democrats eventually did with Platner. I admit I’m not very confident in the GOP. But, if Republican leadership won’t draw the line, I hope Ohio voters will. **Take the survey:** How do you view these allegations? [Let us know](https://interrobang.vercel.app/survey/8116b9a0-97b0-4f14-a0b0-675a7423e02a?ref=readtangle.com). *Disagree? That*’*s okay. Our opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we*’*ll consider publishing your feedback.* ### This day in history. ![Little Boy | Credit: Wikimedia Commons](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/08/data-src-image-b36aae34-7071-4bd0-bd38-a283a0a7bc3b.png) Little Boy | [Credit](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Little%5FBoy%5F-%5FAugust%5F1945%5F-%5FFlickr%5F-%5FThe%5FOfficial%5FCTBTO%5FPhotostream.jpg?ref=readtangle.com): Wikimedia Commons Months after Germany surrendered to Allied forces, fighting between the United States and Japan dragged on in the Second World War’s Pacific Theater. The [toll](http://pwencycl.kgbudge.com/C/a/Casualties.htm?ref=readtangle.com) was high: After Japan attacked Pearl Harbor in December 1941, roughly 416,000 American soldiers and 2.1 million Japanese would [die](https://www.nationalww2museum.org/students-teachers/student-resources/research-starters/research-starters-worldwide-deaths-world-war?ref=readtangle.com) in the war, with hundreds of thousands more wounded on both sides. At the [Potsdam Conference](https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/topics/end-world-war-ii-1945?ref=readtangle.com) in the summer of 1945, Allied heads of state called for Japan’s unconditional surrender, issuing a terse warning of “prompt and utter destruction” if the country failed to do so. Japan refused. On August 6, the Enola Gay B-29 Superfortress bomber dropped an atomic bomb, christened “Little Boy,” on the Japanese city of Hiroshima in the first use of a nuclear weapon in active combat. As many as 80,000 people [died](https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/education/presidential-inquiries/decision-drop-atomic-bomb?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Upon%20becoming%20president,was%20finally%20over.) instantly or within the first 24 hours of the blast, and the death toll rose to about 140,000 by the end of 1945\. The city’s population was roughly 300,000 people at the time of the attack. Three days later, on August 9, the United States used a nuclear weapon for the second time when the B-29 Bockscar dropped “Fat Man,” an atomic bomb with a [yield](https://www.atomicarchive.com/media/photographs/little-boy%5Ffat-man/little-boy-1.html?ref=readtangle.com) of 21 kilotons (6 more than “Little Boy”), on Nagasaki (population: 263,000). Japan surrendered on August 15\. By the end of 1945, the death toll in Nagasaki had [reached](https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/bombing-nagasaki-august-9-1945?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Although%20estimates%20vary%2C%20perhaps%2040%2C000%20people%20were%20killed%20by%20the%20initial%20detonation.%20By%20the%20beginning%20of%201946%2C%2030%2C000%20more%20people%20were%20dead.) about 70,000\. In years to come, thousands more would suffer and die from radiation exposure. A nuclear weapon has not been used in combat since. Debates on the merits, ethics, and legality of the bombings continue to present day. The bombings were undeniably devastating man-made humanitarian disasters, and many historians consider their usage to mark the beginning of the Cold War. Historians also credit the atomic bomb as a key contributor to the Long Peace and [weigh its usage](https://engagement.virginia.edu/learn/thoughts-from-the-lawn/20240806-Borch?ref=readtangle.com) against the lives that could have been lost through protracted conventional warfare. Today, museums and memorials stand in Hiroshima and Nagasaki for visitors to learn about and reflect on the bombings and fallout, carrying an ongoing warning against future nuclear warfare. ### The road not taken. Throughout the week, we considered covering Todd Blanche’s attorney general nomination as our main topic. The story evolved as the week went on — Blanche’s status was uncertain coming out of the weekend, but he appeared back on track after striking a deal with Republican senator holdouts and advancing through committee. We decided to hold on coverage to see how his nomination fares in the full Senate; with Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) saying she’ll vote no and Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) still unable to return to work, Blanche’s status is again uncertain. We’re planning to dedicate a full edition to the story when the confirmation vote is held. ### The extras. - **One year ago today** we covered [the EPA’s emissions rollback](https://www.readtangle.com/the-epa-emissions-rule-rollback/). - **The most clicked link in our last regular newsletter** was Ray Bradbury’s short story, [“There Will Come Soft Rains.”](https://www.btboces.org/Downloads/7%5FThere%20Will%20Come%20Soft%20Rains%20by%20Ray%20Bradbury.pdf?ref=readtangle.com) - **Nothing to do with politics:** A report from [the DARPA lift challenge](https://x.com/Hunter%5FWeiss/status/2085032813741347067?s=20&ref=readtangle.com). - **Our last survey:** 1,954 readers responded to our survey on the Michigan Senate primaries, with 42% saying they think Abdul El-Sayed (D) would defeat Mike Rogers (R) in the general election if it were held today. “El-Sayed is running on policies. Rogers is running as you should be afraid of the other guy,” one respondent said. “Unless Rogers blows it, it won’t be close,” said another. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/08/data-src-image-69d00394-8d02-4b3c-afd1-869019890123.png) ### Have a nice day. In the 1980s, Carl Lackey was a one-man team responsible for stewarding the black bear population for the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW). Black bears once lived throughout the state, but habitat loss reduced their total number to about 30 at the time Lackey took charge. As the bear population rebounded, Lackey realized he needed help preventing confrontations between humans and bears, particularly in the Tahoe area. That help came from Karelian Bear Dogs, a breed that specializes in confronting bears to teach them to avoid areas where people live. Today, Badger and Banjo are two of NDOW’s most valuable employees, keeping up to 700 bears across western Nevada away from humans. “They really add a level of comfort and safety for us,” NDOW employee Becca Carniello said. “This can be a really challenging job … and it’s really cool to have someone with you who adores you.” [Tahoe Daily Tribune has the story](https://www.tahoedailytribune.com/news/tahoes-bears-can-get-too-comfortable-with-humans-these-dogs-help-bring-back-healthy-fear/?ref=readtangle.com). ### Is the Democratic Party Moving Further Left? URL: https://www.readtangle.com/is-the-democratic-party-moving-further-left/ Last updated: 2026-08-06T16:06:57.000Z What does Abdul El-Sayed's primary victory tell us about the future of the Democratic Party? ### The Michigan primaries. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/the-michigan-primaries-2026/ Last updated: 2026-08-05T15:50:16.000Z Happy Wednesday and welcome to election season (I think). I stayed up late last night watching Michigan results roll in, then got up before the sun this morning to start processing their implications. It feels like November, despite being August, because we are in the midst of some very, very consequential primaries. Today, we’re covering **the results in Michigan** and what they mean for Democrats in November. Plus, a **reader question about our daily topic selection** and anewsy quick hits sectionwith **updates on the Iran war** and other **election results from across the country**. It’s a **14-minute read**. ### Coming soon: our West Virginia event. In June, Tangle hosted a live discussion about the future of artificial intelligence, featuring Executive Editor Isaac Saul, Editor-at-Large Kmele Foster, Longview’s Andy Mills, and The Free Press’s Kat Rosenfield. We’re excited to share the full recording of the event next week; in the meantime, here’s a teaser trailer: ### Quick hits. 1. President Donald Trump said the U.S. is close to an agreement with Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to commercial traffic, with a formal announcement expected Wednesday or Thursday. ([The update](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/08/05/us-iran-war-trump-hormuz-bessent-iran-deal-close.html?ref=readtangle.com)) 2. Rep. Wesley Bell defeated former Rep. Cori Bush in the Democratic primary for Missouri’s First Congressional District. ([The result](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/04/us/politics/bush-bell-missouri-democratic-primary.html?ref=readtangle.com)) 3. The Senate Judiciary Committee voted 12–10 to advance Todd Blanche’s nomination for attorney general to a full Senate vote. Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) announced that she will vote against Blanche’s nomination. ([The latest](https://abcnews.com/Politics/senate-judiciary-committee-advances-todd-blanches-nomination-attorney/story?id=135353842&ref=readtangle.com)) 4. Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-NC) announced he will not seek reelection after the House Ethics Committee recommended his censure for violating “the spirit” of House rules on sexual harassment. ([The announcement](https://www.axios.com/2026/08/05/chuck-edwards-reelection-censure-harassment?ref=readtangle.com)) Separately, Rep. Max Miller (R-OH) asked the House Ethics Committee to investigate domestic abuse allegations against him, saying that he has “absolutely nothing to hide.” ([The request](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/embattled-gop-rep-max-miller-requests-ethics-investigation-rcna590796?ref=readtangle.com)) 5. Law enforcement arrested an armed man who they said was documenting security operations at Trump National Golf Club Los Angeles ahead of President Trump’s visit to the course. ([The arrest](https://www.wsj.com/us-news/armed-man-arrested-at-trumps-l-a-golf-course-days-before-presidents-visit-6f3449c6?mod=us-news%5Flead%5Fpos3&ref=readtangle.com)) SPONSORED by groundfloor ****While You Wait, Earn 9.5% Fixed.** Markets move. Opportunities come and go. Your cash doesn’t have to sit on the sidelines. The [****Groundfloor Bond Note**](https://api.wellput.io/v1/cm?cmid=1039813msf3ncw0&tid=333&s1=v2-r768438-p1039813-c50334&s2=Tangle&s3=&s4=null&ref=readtangle.com) offers accredited investors a 9.5% fixed annualized return over six months, providing a predictable return while preserving the flexibility to redeploy capital later this year. Capped at $10M with a perfect repayment track record, this won’t stay open long. [Invest Now ](https://api.wellput.io/v1/cm?cmid=1039813msf3ncw0&tid=333&s1=v2-r768438-p1039813-c50334&s2=Tangle&s3=&s4=null&ref=readtangle.com) ### Today’s topic. The Michigan primaries. On Tuesday, the Democratic and Republican parties held primary elections for several key seats in Michigan. The contests were headlined by the Democratic Senate primary, in which Rep. Haley Stevens (MI) faced off against former public health official Abdul El-Sayed to replace retiring Sen. Gary Peters. At 8:35 AM ET on Wednesday, Decision Desk HQ [declared](https://x.com/DecisionDeskHQ/status/2084981832974545390?s=20&ref=readtangle.com) El-Sayed the winner, and Stevens conceded the race shortly after. El-Sayed will face former Rep. Mike Rogers (R) in the general election. Voters also decided on their party’s nominees to replace term-limited Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D). In the Democratic primary, Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson [defeated](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-primary-elections/michigan-governor-results?ref=readtangle.com) Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson 83.2%–16.8%, while Rep. John James beat businessman Perry Johnson for the Republican nomination 50.1%–35.2%. **Back up:** The contest between El-Sayed and Stevens garnered significant media attention as a test for the progressive movement, which [has been successful](https://www.readtangle.com/democratic-socialists-2026-elections/) in primaries in liberal metropolitan areas this summer. Stevens was endorsed by the outgoing Sen. Peters and Gov. Whitmer, as well as Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (NY). El-Sayed ran as an outsider with support from Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY). The former public health official [differentiated himself](https://www.cnn.com/2026/08/02/politics/michigan-senate-democrats-abdul-el-sayed-haley-stevens?ref=readtangle.com) from Stevens by supporting Medicare for All and criticizing her support from pro-Israel groups like the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). El-Sayed built a significant [polling lead](https://emersoncollegepolling.com/michigan-2026-poll-abdul-el-sayed-leads-haley-stevens-for-democratic-us-senate-nomination/?ref=readtangle.com) over Stevens in the race’s final weeks, but the primary proved much closer than expected, with Stevens winning in Detroit’s Wayne County and overperforming in some smaller counties. In remarks on Tuesday night, El-Sayed [said](https://www.c-span.org/program/campaign-2026/michigan-democratic-us-senate-candidate-abdul-el-sayed-primary-night-remarks/683700?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Government%20of%20the%20people%2C%20by%20the%20people%20and%20for%20the%20people%20instead%20of%20government%20of%20the%20corporations%2C%20by%20the%20special%20interests%20and%20for%20the%20billionaires.) his campaign was inspired by the idea of “government of the people, by the people and for the people, instead of government of the corporations, by the special interests and for the billionaires,” adding, “Tomorrow we begin to mend fences. Whatever happens tonight, we have a responsibility to assure that we unite to make sure that Mike Rogers never sees the inside of the U.S. Senate.” In a statement, Rogers [said](https://rogersforsenate.com/news/rogers-statement-on-michigan-primary?ref=readtangle.com), “Abdul doesn’t represent a vision for the future. He’s leading a movement grounded in ideological fanaticism. His agenda would make our communities less safe and our state less affordable.” We’ll get into what the right, left and Michigan writers are saying about the primaries below, before Executive Editor Isaac Saul gives his take. | What the right is saying. Many on the right suggest El-Sayed’s campaign could make or break the progressive left’s momentum.Others say the primary result could cost Democrats control of the Senate. | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | **In Fox News, Liz Peek said** [**“Michigan can stop the socialist fever rage — or watch it swallow the Senate.”**](https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/liz-peek-michigan-stop-socialist-fever-rage-watch-swallow-senate?ref=readtangle.com) “\[The race is\] a choice between normal and crazy. El-Sayed, who wants to abolish ICE, eliminate oil and gas, ban school choice, deny arms shipments to U.S. ally Israel, sharply raise taxes, provide tuition-free four-year college degrees and establish a wealth tax, will likely win the primary. Stevens, in contrast, is a normal liberal Democrat,” Peek wrote. “Why should you care? Because the critical Michigan contest could well determine whether Democrats take over the Senate in November and effectively shut down the Trump agenda.” “The Michigan race will also indicate whether the progressive left — the ideological home of the Democratic Socialists of America — has the support of mainstream voters in a Midwestern purple state,” Peek said. “If El-Sayed wins the primary but is defeated in the November election, the progressive left will lose steam and have less say in choosing the Democratic presidential nominee in 2028\. That would be good for Democrats and good for the United States.” **In USA Today, Ingrid Jacques wrote** [**“El-Sayed’s Michigan win could cost Democrats the midterms.”**](https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/columnist/2026/08/05/michigan-primary-election-results-democrats-midterms/91063682007/?ref=readtangle.com) “Winning the primary was the easy part. El-Sayed, like every far-left Democrat who's won a primary this election cycle, now has to sell his progressive message to voters statewide,” Jacques said. “Michigan is a swing state that’s gone for Trump twice, so the prevailing logic is that El-Sayed faces a tougher general election audience, and that this could help \[Republican candidate Mike Rogers\]… \[El-Sayed is\] walking a fine line, appealing to progressives while distancing himself from the Democratic Socialists of America, of which he’s not a member. He’s even said he believes in capitalism. “Who your friends are says a lot about you, and El-Sayed’s friends are about as radical as they come. He has the enthusiastic backing of avowed democratic socialists Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY). Self-described Marxist Hasan Piker… campaigned with El-Sayed several times,” Jacques said. “El-Sayed has also previously advocated for defunding the police and currently supports abolishing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement… He can win a Democratic primary with Sanders, AOC and Piker at his side. Whether he can win Michigan with them is the question he and Democrats have three months to answer.” | What the left is saying. Some on the left say El-Sayed has laid bare the weakness of the Democratic establishment.Others say El-Sayed and other progressive candidates have shown Democrats how to win. | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | **In MS NOW, Max Burns argued** [**“El-Sayed’s campaign in Michigan has forced a Democratic reckoning.”**](https://www.ms.now/opinion/michigan-senate-primary-haley-stevens-abdul-el-sayed-democrats-reckoning?ref=readtangle.com) “Democrats’ mess in Michigan, and El-Sayed’s ability to weather what should have been a debilitating coordinated effort by Democratic leaders to dislodge him from front-runner status, should be a wake-up call to the party’s Washington elite,” Burns wrote. “The fight between El-Sayed and a rotating cast of Democratic challengers first drew the party’s national leaders into a damaging public brawl that blanketed voters’ screens with almost $100 million in attack ads. Nearly all that money came from outside groups opposing El-Sayed or supporting Stevens, yet a tidal wave of negativity did not appear to dim voter enthusiasm for El-Sayed.” “Like \[Graham\] Platner, El-Sayed’s unapologetically leftist candidacy was incendiary from the start. His strong criticism of the Israeli government and the war in Gaza led centrist Democratic groups like Third Way to accuse El-Sayed of antisemitism, an attack Stevens adopted five days before Election Day,” Burns said. “If Democratic leaders want to mend the ideological rifts tearing apart Michigan, Maine and other key races nationwide, they’ll need to stop treating the party’s progressive wing as an unwelcome infection that must be eradicated at any cost.” **In The American Prospect, David Dayen suggested** [**“the Michigan revolution is about old-fashioned politics.”**](https://prospect.org/2026/08/04/michigan-revolution-old-fashioned-politics-el-sayed-lawrence-congress/?ref=readtangle.com) “Despite over $60 million in advertising — half of that from AIPAC’s super PAC United Democracy Project — outside groups can’t seem to make enough Michigan Democrats love El-Sayed’s opponent,” Dayen wrote. “The fearmongering over what may happen in these critical races three months from now has dwarfed any kind of introspection over what has already happened leading up to today. El-Sayed \[and other progressive candidates\]… have put themselves in this position through outworking their opponents, finding issues that resonate broadly, and energizing the party base of volunteers and donors.” “Both El-Sayed and \[Congressional candidate Will\] Lawrence have amassed significant grassroots organizational support in their campaigns, well beyond the ground games of their opponents. And they are rather generously running almost as a slate, not only with each other but with other candidates and organizations in the region,” Dayen said. “How this plays out in November will fuel weeks’ worth of factional arguments. But it’s at least a little surprising how the Democrats saying they are the most serious about winning in November aren’t willing to put in the time or learn any lessons about how to get to November.” | What Michigan writers are saying. Some Michigan writers question whether El-Sayed can appeal statewide.Others suggest El-Sayed’s message could play well in the general election. | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | **In The Detroit News, Nolan Finley asked** [**“is Abdul El-Sayed’s win a moment or a movement?”**](https://www.detroitnews.com/story/opinion/columnists/nolan-finley/2026/08/05/passion-prevails-in-el-sayeds-win-over-stevens-finley-michigan-democratic-senate-primary/91173601007/?ref=readtangle.com) “Tuesday’s nomination of the apparent socialist Abdul El-Sayed as the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate, and gains by far-left candidates in other races, are political lunacy on a scale to match anything Republicans have done over the past two decades,” Finley wrote. “It will do to Democrats what the GOP’s fascination with the fringes did to that party — make it unpalatable to a wide segment of the electorate. Just like with the Republicans, the blame for the corruption of the Democratic Party rests with its failure to deliver for its loyal base.” “But whether this becomes a movement, as MAGA did, or is simply a moment, depends on whether El-Sayed and other hard progressives on the ballot, including Garlin Gilchrist for secretary of state, Eli Savit for attorney general, and Will Lawrence the socialist who won the Democratic nomination in the 7th Congressional District, can broaden their appeal to the independents who decide most elections,” Finley said. “Just like Trump, El-Sayed defeated an opponent who outspent him by a margin of 13.5 to one. Rep. Haley Stevens ran on cash and competence; El-Sayed ran on charisma, proving again that passion can be a more valuable as political capital than money.” **In The Detroit Free Press, Nancy Kaffer wrote about** [**“what’s going to happen”**](https://www.freep.com/story/opinion/columnists/nancy-kaffer/2026/08/04/michigan-us-senate-primary-abdul-el-sayed-haley-stevens/91149832007/?ref=readtangle.com) **in the Senate race.** “Progressive or Democratic Socialists of America candidates’ wins have, largely, happened in deep blue states or districts. This primary is a test case for whether, by this logic, El-Sayed is too radical to win in Michigan. That’s where things get fuzzy,” Kaffer said. “Michigan voters believe the country is on the wrong track, and are more interested in unconventional policy ideas than past electorates. But the policy question is, in its way, a red herring. A lot of Michiganders debating policy in public are asking another question in private: Will Michiganders vote for an Arab American Muslim? “El-Sayed’s supporters argue that, actually, he’s the only electable candidate; with more than $50 million in outside spending, they note, Stevens is, at best, just neck-and-neck with El-Sayed, while El-Sayed has enthusiastic grassroots support and an energizing policy agenda,” Kaffer wrote. “Today’s outcome, of course, won’t settle this question. Electability among a small, dedicated group of primary voters is one thing, but the top vote-getter has to rally not just the party’s base, but the independents whose loyalty fluctuates from cycle to cycle.” | My take. Isaac Saul Executive Editor ![Isaac Saul](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2025/05/Isaac.jpg) | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Abdul El-Sayed is the latest example of the progressive movement’s rise within the Democratic Party.El-Sayed is not without baggage, but he’s a very clever and appealing politician who won for a reason.Progressive and DSA candidates have a real shot in November, and if they can’t win now they may never win. | | **Reminder:** This is where we share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, leave a comment or reply to this email. | Since 2016, the left wing of the Democratic Party has been demanding an opportunity to carry the party torch. 10 years later, it appears they are about to get their chance. Despite the dramatics in the final hours, Abdul El-Sayed hung on to win the Michigan Democratic primary Wednesday morning, making the Wolverine State the latest domino to fall to the leftist wing of the Democratic Party. Progressive and Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) candidates have been winning local, state and federal elections in blue strongholds across the country, and El-Sayed’s nomination gives November’s general election greater progressive ideology on the ballot than any in recent memory (of note: El-Sayed is not a DSA member and was not formally endorsed by them). Already, some of the left’s biggest stars are self-proclaimed democratic socialists: Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) is among the most recognizable political figures in the country. Zohran Mamdani, New York City’s mayor, is now one of the most well known politicians in the country, scoring White House visits and constant media attention (and now, he’s one of the country’s more popular mayors). Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) looks like a legitimate presidential contender in 2028\. And next week, another swing state is poised to tap another candidate for major office from the progressive, DSA left: Francesca Hong in Wisconsin. The rising DSA tide is truly starting to feel like a Democratic Party insurgency — and one that isn’t yielding to deep political funding and fear-mongering. If you want to know why El-Sayed prevailed, [watching his debate with Stevens](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdLnycpUUAc&ref=readtangle.com) from eight days ago is a good place to start. He’s a polished, clever politician with a good personal story: an Oxford-educated doctor who grew up in Michigan with immigrant parents, captained all his high school sports teams, and played club lacrosse in college. He’s young, at just 41 years old, and he’s an epidemiologist who worked as the director of Health, Human & Veterans Services in Wayne County, Michigan. When he speaks, El-Sayed naturally falls into eloquent storytelling about fighting for clean air and solving childhood ailments. He is, in short, a successful, smart, young politician with a demonstrated track record of leadership and a positive public persona. During his debate with Stevens, he insisted the focus should be on the people watching and not Democrats’ intraparty squabbles. He’s gifted at delivering the anti-establishment, populist lines. When asked how he’d address affordability issues, he told the viewing audience that it starts with this: “I don’t take money from the corporations jacking up your prices in the first place.” “When you’re bought off by DTE and Blue Cross and Big Pharma and Big Tech and AIPAC,” he continued, referencing the big money backing Stevens, “don’t be surprised that there’s a ‘pro quo’ that comes with that ‘quid.’ That money doesn’t just fall off trees. $60 million from outside organizations in this race… those exact organizations expect something on the other side. And that’s that they expect to own your next U.S. senator.” After explaining that he was outspent 12 to 1 in the race, he [said](https://youtu.be/RdLnycpUUAc?si=we-x5bbnlndzOJoP&t=776&ref=readtangle.com) to the audience, “You are going to see an ad, probably two of them, on behalf of AIPAC during the next commercial break, lying about me and my record.” Freedom from these donors, El-Sayed insists, will allow him to enforce antitrust policy, tax billionaires, and vote to keep money in Michigan — rather than sending that money “somewhere else to drop bombs on kids.” If you think this messaging has narrow appeal to just far-left progressives in Michigan, I think you need to spend more time talking to Americans. Putting aside the merits of any of these arguments, this is undeniably *very* good messaging. It’s why El-Sayed won. He’s also adept at defending himself. He’s [distanced himself](https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2025/11/15/abdul-el-sayed-distances-himself-from-past-defund-the-police-rhetoric/87276996007/?gnt-cfr=1&gca-cat=p&gca-uir=true&gca-epti=z1131xxe1131xxv003758d--41--b--41--&gca-ft=208&gca-ds=sophi&ref=readtangle.com) from 2020 rhetoric on defunding the police and staked out a much more center-left stance on social-justice issues. He’s also deftly defended himself from charges of anti-Israel sentiment veering into anti-semitism. He’s reframed the question of whether Israel has a right to exist as a call for *both* Israeli Jews and Palestinians to have a homeland and self-determination, and argued that the problem is not one to be solved with American tax dollars (he’s [said](https://www.newyorker.com/news/the-new-yorker-interview/abdul-el-sayeds-argument-for-america-and-against-his-own-party?ref=readtangle.com) he’d support any peaceful resolution). He’s defended calls to halt funding for Israeli weapons by arguing that he wants to spend that money here, adding that although his family is from Egypt, he would never suggest U.S. tax dollars should be spent solving Egypt’s problems. “I’m just saying that you can both say that ‘Israel exists,’ but it doesn’t have a right to my tax dollars,” he said on Pod Save America. These are, again, resonant answers from a clever politician. And they are why he’s been so successful. They’re also, of course, a little slippery. We’ve [given](https://www.statista.com/statistics/1625044/us-military-aid-to-israel/?srsltid=AfmBOoq2V4Dgzi7bfhe9kccMXrUHqL6%5FCPKfs5j77isu0smI1f9Sx15v&ref=readtangle.com) $4–5 billion to Israel annually over the last 15 years, and we spend about $180 billion on U.S. education in a year and around $2 trillion on health care. Arming Israel is not stopping us from having better education or health care systems. In a similar vein, politicians who are forthright about their views’ evolution don’t typically [scrub their social media accounts](https://www.mediaite.com/media/tv/democratic-senate-frontrunner-dodges-question-on-deleted-defund-the-police-posts-when-confronted-by-cnn/?ref=readtangle.com) of said views. El-Sayed has said unequivocally that he has never supported defunding the police, but in the height of 2020 mania he was [tweeting with the #defund hashtag](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/unearthed-clip-exposes-more-anti-police-rhetoric-el-sayed-gets-grilled-deleting-social-media-posts?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=%22Most%20major%20US,of%20George%20Floyd.) and explaining what the movement was “about.” These weren’t the musings of some college undergrad figuring out his worldview and attaching himself to a movement, either. He ran for governor in 2018, winning a [considerable 30%](https://ballotpedia.org/Michigan%5Fgubernatorial%5Fand%5Flieutenant%5Fgubernatorial%5Felection,%5F2018%5F%28August%5F7%5FDemocratic%5Fprimary%29?ref=readtangle.com) of the Democratic primary vote and establishing the foundation of his political career. He hasn’t really explained his evolution, except to say that “defund the police” was a slogan that lacked nuance (personally, I think El-Sayed’s view that we should give less money to police and more to public schools and health departments is totally defensible, and he’d be better off just owning it — but alas). His smooth, friendly demeanor on the debate stage also may belie a different personality behind closed doors. In a leaked Zoom meeting obtained by POLITICO, El-Sayed suggested he could use his first years in office to help primary people like Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA). “Ideally you put one ogre on a pike, and then everyone else gets the message,” he [said](https://www.politico.com/news/2026/07/27/el-sayed-backlash-leaked-comment-michigan-senate-01012659?ref=readtangle.com). Now, El-Sayed will have to navigate all this in a general election in a swing state. The writer Ken Klippenstein [recently argued](https://www.kenklippenstein.com/p/will-francesca-hong-and-abdul-el?ref=readtangle.com) that Democratic establishment fear-mongering against candidates like El-Sayed and Francesca Hong is detached from reality; that is, the establishment is exaggerating a classic “electability” issue with DSA candidates that just doesn’t exist. And he’s got a solid argument: Consultants for Hong’s Republican opponent in Wisconsin have [privately conceded](https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/2026/04/30/leaked-gop-memo-warns-about-francesca-hongs-candidacy-in-wisconsin/89840252007/?gnt-cfr=1&gca-cat=p&gca-uir=true&gca-epti=z11xx48p119650l117350c119650e1168xxv11xx48d--54--b--54--&gca-ft=233&gca-ds=sophi&ref=readtangle.com) that she is a massive electoral threat, with a platform that is “broadly popular and difficult to counter” and an agenda “built around kitchen-table issues that poll strongly with independents, working families, and even some rural voters.” But it’s not *all* vibes. In Michigan, El-Sayed polls [much more poorly](https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/6006366-michigan-senate-poll-rogers-stevens/?ref=readtangle.com) against the Republican candidate, former Rep. Mike Rogers, than Stevens did. Rogers even said outright that he’d prefer to run against El-Sayed. Plenty of Democrats say they don’t want to share the party with candidates from the DSA, and I think whether they’ll spoil a ballot for El-Sayed come November is still an open question. As of publication, Stevens only trails El-Sayed by 1%. El-Sayed himself was [part of the “Uncommitted Movement” in Michigan](https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2025/10/08/congress/abdul-el-sayed-oct-7-fundraising-00597671?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=El%2DSayed%20had%20been%20a%20backer%20of%20Michigan%E2%80%99s%20%E2%80%9Cuncommitted%E2%80%9D%20movement%20during%20the%202024%20election%2C%20though%20he%E2%80%99d%20said%20he%20would%20still%20support%20Democrats%20over%20Donald%20Trump.%20He%20ultimately%20endorsed%20Kamala%20Harris%E2%80%99%20presidential%20bid.), which mobilized voters not to cast ballots for Democrats in the 2024 presidential race unless they ceded to their policy demands. He ultimately backed the national ticket, but we all know how 2024 turned out. Is he going to be able to rally those same Democrats — and the 700,000 voters who punched a ballot for Stevens — to his side now? Zooming out, unapologetically progressive candidates won primary races this summer against other Democrats in places like New York City, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C. and Denver, but they have yet to prove that they can win state-level general elections in more purple places like Michigan and Wisconsin. This upcoming November election is their best opportunity in a generation — and they may not get a better opportunity for another generation after this. Consider the environment candidates like El-Sayed and Hong are running in: a wave of populism, amplified by anti-establishment sentiment, anti-corporate sentiment, anti-war sentiment, and anti-Israel sentiment. President Trump is a [historically unpopular](https://www.natesilver.net/p/trump-approval-ratings-nate-silver-bulletin?ref=readtangle.com) president who has overseen a destabilizing 18 months in office, all while the Democratic Party is [experiencing its own historic unpopularity](https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/5406294-democrats-lowest-favorability-in-decades-poll/?ref=readtangle.com). We are tangled in an unpopular war, experiencing state-backed violence in the streets, and economic sentiment is, in a word, bleak. It is also a midterm blowback year, in which turnout and enthusiasm are almost always higher for the minority party and lower for the sitting president’s party. Add the fact that most Americans left of center (and many independents) view Trump and Republicans as an existential threat to the country, and it’s pretty hard to imagine a better environment for anti-Trump, anti-Democratic establishment candidates to be running in general elections. In other words: If candidates like El-Sayed can’t win in *this* environment, they probably can’t win in any environment. The dog has caught the proverbial car, and now we’re waiting to see what he does with it. Staff dissent. Russell Nystrom Associate Editor ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2025/05/Russell-Square.jpg) While El-Sayed’s nomination is certainly notable, and you can find plenty of articles about the “socialist left taking over the Democratic Party,” I am by no means convinced that leftists are carrying the party torch going into the midterm elections, as Isaac says. There have been about 350 House primary races in this cycle; of these, five winners have been [endorsed](https://electoral.dsausa.org/our-campaigns/?ref=readtangle.com) by the national DSA (including sitting Rep. Rashida Tlaib (MI)). If you broaden your search to candidates endorsed by Bernie and AOC, the number only rises to 13\. Instead, I think these primaries closely parallel the 2018 primaries: Several far-left candidates won notable races, garnering heaps of media attention, but most victors were still members of the establishment. Candidates like Darializa Avila Chevalier will wield limited influence unless Democrats squeak out a slim majority, in which case they may be able to prevent Hakeem Jeffries from becoming Speaker (or win key concessions for their support). I don’t think the 2026 primaries have been the “leftward leap” many have described, but is more so a continuation of the leftward amble the Democratic Party has been on for decades. **Take the survey:** Who do you think will win Michigan’s Senate race? [Let us know](https://interrobang.vercel.app/survey/f53b2f1a-f221-4a69-958c-c59cc249c42d?ref=readtangle.com). *Disagree? That*’*s okay. Our opinions are just two of many. Write in and let us know why, and we*’*ll consider publishing your feedback.* ### Your questions, answered. **Q: You regularly ask your readership to vote on a topic for you to cover. How do you use this vote? Do you always cover what the majority asks for? Do you sometimes consider the vote but then cover something else? Is this just a ploy to make your readers feel they have a voice in the topical coverage of Tangle? You owe your readers full transparency if you want our trust.** **— Jerry from Columbus, OH** **Tangle:** Yes, we poll the readership (through our [text-messaging service](https://joinsubtext.com/c/tanglenews?ref=readtangle.com)) at the beginning of the week about which topics you think we should cover. It isn’t an empty ploy for engagement, but we aren’t completely beholden to the results, either. Instead, the results of those surveys are a valuable signal about what topics are more interesting to our most engaged readers. If we’re choosing from several good options without a clear frontrunner, reader responses to that informal survey can be decisive. That was the case just this week, when our readers gave us the very clear sign that they wanted to hear more about the cyberattacks on water systems. And since you asked for transparency, here’s a screenshot of those initial results: ![Results of our survey for August 3, with "Cyberattacks" as the top choice.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/08/data-src-image-4caaeac8-1bf4-46da-9216-288dba0b04ca.png) On the flip side, we have at times decided against covering the story that received the most votes in our survey. On June 22, readers wanted us to cover former UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s resignation or the Reflecting Pool. However, neither selection gained a majority, and we were not internally convinced of the relevance of those topics for the broader Tangle audience and eventually opted to cover events that we hadn’t been considering at the time we sent out the survey (we wrote about that decision [here](https://www.readtangle.com/supreme-court-dreadlocks-ruling/#:~:text=Washington%20Post.-,The%20road%20not%20taken.,-Our%20editorial%20team)). ![Results of our survey for June 22, with "Reflecting Pool" as the top choice.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/08/data-src-image-72555cc9-abf5-4cf7-8dfe-a75a9ede5534.png) Every week is a different story — sometimes readers reinforce our priors, sometimes we opt against the favorites, and other times the results are so decisive they end up setting our agenda. But we always consider these reader surveys when making our decisions. **Want to have a question answered in the newsletter? You can reply to this email (it goes straight to our inbox) or** [**fill out this form**](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScQhqBSG%5F6%5FoBhwcTQMeS570n29XYbeQ9C9Bis7rjqI31g1tA/viewform?usp=header&ref=readtangle.com)**.** ### Numbers. - [**$98.2 million.**](https://adimpact.com/blogs/michigan-senate-primary-ad-analysis-the-95m-contest?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Leading%20up%20to%20November%2C%20the%20Michigan%C2%A0%20Senate%20primary%20has%20seen%20%2498.2M%20in%20ad%20spending%20and%20reservations%2C%20making%20it%20the%20third%2Dmost%20expensive%20Senate%20primary%20on%20record%20and%20the%20second%2Dmost%20expensive%20in%20the%202025%2D2026%20cycle%2C%20only%20behind%20Texas%20Senate.) The approximate total spending on advertisements in the 2026 Michigan Senate primaries, according to AdImpact. - [**$80.8 million and $17.3 million.**](https://adimpact.com/blogs/michigan-senate-primary-ad-analysis-the-95m-contest?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Over%2020%20advertisers%20have%20spent%20a%20combined%20%2480.8M%20in%20support%20of%20Democratic%20candidates.%20Meanwhile%2C%20nine%20advertisers%20have%20spent%20%2417.1M%20supporting%20sole%20Republican%20candidate%20Mike%20Rogers.) The ad spending in Michigan’s Democratic and Republican Senate primaries, respectively. - [**$63.9 million and $7.5 million.**](https://adimpact.com/blogs/michigan-senate-primary-ad-analysis-the-95m-contest?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=On%20the%20Democratic,McMorrow%20saw%20%249.0M.) The ad spending in support of Rep. Haley Stevens and Abdul El-Sayed, respectively. - [**88%.**](https://adimpact.com/blogs/michigan-senate-primary-ad-analysis-the-95m-contest?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Spending%20by%20outside%20groups%20makes%20up%2088%25%20of%20all%20spending%20targeting%20the%20Democratic%20primary.) The percentage of ad spending in Michigan’s Democratic primary from non-campaign groups (or outside groups). SPONSORED by money.com ****Money.com compared 2026’s top-rated pet insurers.** One surprise vet bill can run into the thousands. A single surgery can hit $7,000, and cancer treatment can top $10,000\. The right plan reimburses up to 90% of that; the wrong one leaves you guessing. [****Money**](https://api.wellput.io/v1/cm?cmid=1030486msf7bgq8&tid=164&s1=v2-r768659-p1030486-c50147&s2=Tangle&s3=&s4=null&ref=readtangle.com) ranked this year’s top pet insurance providers side by side, so you can see who covers what, which plans are actually affordable (some start at $10 a month), and which fits your dog or cat. [****See Money’s ranked list of 2026’s best pet insurers**](https://api.wellput.io/v1/cm?cmid=1030486msf7bgq8&tid=164&s1=v2-r768659-p1030486-c50147&s2=Tangle&s3=&s4=null&ref=readtangle.com)****.** ### The extras. - **One year ago today** we covered [redistricting efforts in Texas and California](https://www.readtangle.com/texas-gerrymander-california-response/). - **The most clicked link in our last regular newsletter** was [our ad for The Penny Hoarder](https://partners.thepennyhoarder.com/spending-too-much-sdyn-prt/?aff%5Fid=409&aff%5Fsub3=spending-too-much-sdyn-prt&ref=readtangle.com). - **Nothing to do with politics:** A 1950 short story by Ray Bradbury [that you have to read today](https://www.btboces.org/Downloads/7%5FThere%20Will%20Come%20Soft%20Rains%20by%20Ray%20Bradbury.pdf?ref=readtangle.com) (read to the end to find out why). - **Our last survey:** 2,586 readers responded to our survey on the water infrastructure attacks in seven states, with 50% saying they are moderately concerned by the attacks. “Just because this attack did minimal damage doesn't mean these vulnerabilities can't be exploited at scale,” one respondent said. “I’m not at all worried if we take this opportunity to fix things and worried if we don’t,” said another. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/08/data-src-image-63d42e14-9ac5-4edd-b8ba-d59d456f1887.png) ### Have a nice day. In the last decade, the National Hockey League (NHL) recognized a need to prepare young athletes for their professional responsibilities. Their solution was surprising: improv class. They reached out to Second City Works, a business-to-business operation that uses the principles of improv to teach soft skills to corporate executives, sales teams, and (now) professional hockey players. On paper, the classes accomplish the goals of media training and teamwork. In practice, young athletes face the awkwardness of learning new skills through unexpected, comedic circumstances. “What we discovered when we first started working with the NHL is that these guys had to be introduced to the concept of applauding,” said Sandy Jobin-Bevans, a Second City comedian. “These are future superstars, so it’s not something they ever had to really do before.” [The New York Times has the story](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/22/style/second-city-improv-athletes-nhl.html?campaign%5Fid=319&emc=edit%5Fcol%5F20260723&instance%5Fid=179203&nl=in-short®i%5Fid=253175822&segment%5Fid=223568&user%5Fid=f31d5b3a817b0c1f78b36994c8e0e114&ref=readtangle.com). ### Is AI Taking Over? We Debate That. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/is-ai-taking-over-we-debate-that/ Last updated: 2026-09-06T21:07:09.000Z What happens when people with different viewpoints gather in the same room—not to score points, but to better understand each other? ### Laura Loomer Just Changed Her Mind on Ukraine URL: https://www.readtangle.com/laura-loomer-just-changed-her-mind-on-ukraine/ Last updated: 2026-08-05T07:06:33.000Z Can someone completely change their mind after seeing a war firsthand? ### Francesca Hong asked if she still thinks Americans should cancel Thanksgiving. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/francesca-hong-asked-if-she-still-thinks-americans-should-cancel-thanksgiving/ Last updated: 2026-08-04T20:06:27.000Z Wisconsin gubernatorial candidate Francesca Hong has picked up steam as the primary approaches. As she has, tweets she made in 2020 and 2021 have resurfaced where she called for the abolition of the police, the Senate, and Thanksgiving. ### The cyberattacks on U.S. water systems. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/cyberattacks-water-systems-2026/ Last updated: 2026-08-04T15:57:44.000Z This is **Managing Editor Ari Weitzman**. It’s Tuesday, which used to represent the best day for focused work. Now that I’ve gotten productive on other days, I don’t know what Tuesday *means* anymore — it’s neither weekend nor mid-week nor beginning of the week, it’s just kind of there. And you know what, days of the week are all weird when you think about it. We have 365 numbered days to track the solar cycle and Roman months to roughly track the lunar cycle. Why do we need another cycle of days named after Norse gods? I’ll have to stop there because I have a lot of takes about calendars, and we’ve got to get to these **water-system hacks**. We also give a look at the **history of municipal attacks** and a story about an **upstanding restaurateur**. It’s a **13-minute** read on this day of the one-handed god of justice, Týr. Too busy to read? Push play instead! ![Too busy to read? Push play instead!](https://tangle.obox.agency/snippet-creator/assets/podcast@2x.png) [Listen to the newsletter every Monday – Friday here](https://www.readtangle.com/tangle-podcast/). ### Quick hits. 1. The House Ethics Committee recommended that Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-NC) be censured after finding “substantial reason” to believe that he made inappropriate sexual advancements toward two female House staffers. ([The finding](https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/house-ethics-panel-recommends-censure-of-rep-chuck-edwards-0200a5fd?mod=us-news%5Flead%5Fpos2&ref=readtangle.com)) 2. President Donald Trump said U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro “choked” in deciding to drop charges against a man accused of vandalizing the Reflecting Pool in Washington, D.C. Pirro said contractors were responsible for damage to the pool. ([The comments](https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/6006383-trump-slams-pirro-reflecting-pool/?ref=readtangle.com)) 3. Police arrested a man in connection with the wildfires in Spokane County, Washington, which have destroyed over 700 structures and forced approximately 65,000 people to evacuate. ([The arrest](https://www.nbcnews.com/weather/wildfires/man-accused-arson-spokane-washington-fires-rcna590686?ref=readtangle.com)) 4. 25 Democratic-led states sued the Trump administration over its new tariffs on 60 U.S. trading partners, alleging the president did not have the authority to impose the duties. ([The suit](https://www.reuters.com/world/group-25-us-states-challenge-trumps-latest-tariffs-2026-08-03/?ref=readtangle.com)) 5. Michigan health officials reported two deaths linked to the ongoing cyclospora outbreak in the state, the first confirmed deaths in the U.S. related to the outbreak. 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Cyberattacks on U.S. water systems. On Thursday, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) [issued an alert](https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/alerts/2026/07/30/cisa-urges-water-and-wastewater-systems-sector-protect-ot-against-activity-targeting-plcs?ref=readtangle.com) about potential cyber threats to water systems after approximately 36 sites in Minnesota reported cyberattacks. Then, on Saturday, Michigan reported cyberattacks on nine water systems; both states say their water supplies are not actively threatened. Separately, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) [said](https://www.fbi.gov/investigate/cyber/alerts/2026/malicious-cyber-actors-targeting-water-and-wastewater-sector-internet--facing-programmable-logic-controllers-causing-operational-disruptions?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Since%2027%20July,other%20branded%20PLCs.) that attacks have been reported in at least seven states. Federal authorities are investigating the source of the threat, which U.S. investigators [believe](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/30/us/politics/minnesota-water-cyberattack-iran.html?eafs%5Fenabled=false&ref=readtangle.com) bears the hallmarks of cyberterrorist groups [linked](https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/cybersecurity-advisories/aa26-097a?ref=readtangle.com) to Iran. According to Minnesota IT Services, the attacks [primarily targeted](https://apnews.com/article/cyberattack-minnesota-water-systems-77d52a1d7356e608500a1ddb0ec373a6?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Minnesota%20IT%20Services,water%20service%20disrupted.) technology to remotely monitor and control water systems equipment. In one of the most serious cases, attackers shut down the operating controls for the well and water treatment plant in the city of Braham, prompting officials to ask residents to minimize water use; the request was lifted after a few hours. As of Thursday, the state had no active requests for communities to modify their water use. In Michigan, a spokesman for the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy [said](https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2026/08/01/michigan-water-systems-targeted-in-cyberattacks/91138694007/?ref=readtangle.com) that “a small number of reports from Michigan communities indicat\[ed\] activity consistent with what federal agencies described,” but all water systems were operating safely. The FBI has not disclosed the other five states where attacks were reported. In the wake of the attacks, U.S. officials said the source or sources of the threat are still under investigation, but the incidents [resemble](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/01/us/politics/iran-cyberattack-water-systems.html?ref=readtangle.com) past attacks by Iranian hackers. Furthermore, no financial motive has been uncovered, reducing the likelihood that criminal groups were behind the hacks. Braham Mayor Nate George told The New York Times that the state and FBI had relayed to him that they “are pretty sure it’s Iranian actors” but were not ready to say so publicly. However, President Donald Trump [suggested](https://abcnews.com/Politics/trump-blames-minnesota-governor-iran-cyberattacks-states-water/story?id=135266259&ref=readtangle.com) Minnesota was at fault for the attacks, telling reporters on Friday, “They blame it on Iran. I don’t think so. I think I blame it on Minnesota because they’re grossly incompetent.” Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz [responded](https://x.com/GovTimWalz/status/2083235434168021219?ref=readtangle.com), “Trump knows exactly who is responsible for this attack,” adding, “This is what modern warfare looks like, and it further illustrates there’s no plan to win a war with Iran.” Today, we’ll share views from the left and right on the cyberattacks, followed by Managing Editor Ari Weitzman’s take. | What the left is saying. Many on the left say the federal government is responsible for defending against these threats. Some criticize Trump’s response to the attacks. Others say the incidents should spark improvements in cyber safety. | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | **In The New York Times, Jen Easterly argued** [**“small towns shouldn’t have to defend America’s water supply from Iran.”**](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/02/opinion/iran-water-hack-trump.html?ref=readtangle.com) “The attacks, tentatively attributed to Iran, expose a dangerous mismatch at the heart of American cybersecurity: The threat is geopolitical, while the defense is municipal. We are asking small towns — many with no dedicated cybersecurity staff members and little money to spare — to protect essential infrastructure against hackers linked to other nations,” Easterly wrote. “Nation-state hackers do not respect the jurisdictional lines separating federal, state and local responsibility. They search for the most vulnerable way to disrupt American life, and too often they find it in small communities that lack the resources to defend themselves.” “\[Cuts to federal cyberdefense support are\] weakening America’s cyberdefenses, and Washington should reverse course… Congress should restore federal support for the multistate information sharing center and commit at least $3 billion in new multiyear funding to the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program,” Easterly said. “Cyberattacks will continue, and some will succeed. The task is to ensure that a digital intrusion does not become a public health disaster. In an era of nation-state cyberconflict, the ultimate measure of resilience is brutally simple: When attackers get in, clean water must still come out.” **In MS NOW, Steve Benen said** [**“the Democrats’ criticism is rooted in fact.”**](https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/cyberattacks-water-systems-iran-trump-minnesota-michigan?ref=readtangle.com) “Even for a president who increasingly treats Democratic-led states as undeserving of federal support and resources, Trump’s eagerness to blame Americans for cyberattacks that appear to have come from Iran was quite bonkers,” Benen wrote. “To hear the president tell it, Minnesota hacked itself, which is every bit as absurd as it sounds… Time will tell whether Trump continues to blame Americans for this, and again questions the existence of the cyberattacks, but as the story unfolds, several Democratic officials are increasingly raising difficult questions about the Republican administration and its record.” “For example, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, whom the president appeared desperate to condemn on Friday, responded to the president by noting the Trump administration’s cybersecurity cuts,” Benen said. “The president who blamed Americans for the cyberattacks is the same president who, just a few months into his second term, fired a series of national security officials… Ten months later, at least seven states are dealing with cyberattacks on domestic water systems. Is the president trying to deflect blame out of petty partisanship, or he is trying to deflect attention away from his own record?” **In Forbes, Steve Weisman asked if the cyberattacks will** [**“be a wakeup call.”**](https://www.forbes.com/sites/steveweisman/2026/08/01/will-the-cyberattacks-on-water-systems-in-7-states-be-a-wakeup-call/?streamIndex=0&ref=readtangle.com) “Water systems have long been particularly attractive targets for our adversaries as these utilities provide essential services but often use outdated industrial control systems with many water systems lacking even basic cybersecurity precautions,” Weisman wrote. “According to the EPA 70% of federally inspected water utilities failed to meet necessary cybersecurity standards… The attack against the Minnesota water facilities occurred only four days after the CISA issued a warning that Iranian backed hackers were targeting critical infrastructure including water systems through attacking Internet connected automated devices used to manage infrastructure systems.” “There are specific steps that can be taken to reduce the threat of similar attacks,” Weisman said. “Removing internet exposure of industrial control systems; Use of complex passwords… Requiring multi factor authentication for remote access; Continuous vulnerability scanning and monitoring; Replacement of out-of-date equipment and regular software updating of software programs with security patches; Cybersecurity training for personnel; Increased federal funding to small utilities that lack proper cybersecurity personnel. We have been warned for years about this problem and the fixes, many of which are easily achievable, are long overdue.” | What the right is saying. Many on the right argue that local leaders need to do a better job of defending against cyberattacks. Others say the incidents underscore the need for strengthened infrastructure. Some question Trump’s response to the attacks. | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | **In PJ Media, David Manney suggested that the attacks raise** [**“a hard question for every mayor.”**](https://pjmedia.com/david-manney/2026/08/03/the-fbis-water-warning-raises-a-hard-question-for-every-mayor-n4955764?ref=readtangle.com) “The FBI says hackers have already reached municipal water controls in at least seven states,” Manney wrote. “Federal inspectors have warned about weak municipal defenses for years. More than 70% of the water systems inspected since September 2023 violated basic federal risk and emergency planning requirements. Inspectors found default passwords, shared staff logins, and accounts that remained active after employees left.” “Mayors and city councils should demand a current inventory of every internet-connected control device, the date of the last independent assessment, proof that default passwords are gone, and a tested plan for manual operation,” Manney said. “We’re left with a binary choice that every mayor owns now: either the water system has been secured, or the town is waiting for a hacker to discover what local leaders failed to fix.” **The Washington Post editorial board said the breaches** [**“show the vulnerability of U.S. infrastructure.”**](https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2026/08/03/water-system-cyberattacks-are-wake-up-call/?ref=readtangle.com) “The episode is a frightening reminder of the urgent need to harden critical infrastructure,” the board wrote. “The United States has around 170,000 water and wastewater systems, which are increasingly automated and vulnerable to attack. Such dispersed infrastructure is a strength, in that no single attack can bring down the country’s water sector. But it’s also a weakness, as smaller utilities with aging operational and IT systems often have limited resources or technical capacity to protect themselves. “Hopefully, the recent attacks jolt utilities into taking their defenses more seriously. Even a little can go a long way,” the board said. “The \[Government Accountability Office\] found that many systems lack basic cyber hygiene, such as changing default passwords or updating operating systems. The federal government can also help streamline the overlapping government regulations that hinder utilities’ defenses. As artificial intelligence supercharges the cyber capabilities of nefarious actors, Americans cannot afford operators to be asleep at the pump.” **In National Review, Jim Geraghty wrote about** [**“the cyberattacks that President Trump doesn’t want to acknowledge.”**](https://www.nationalreview.com/the-morning-jolt/the-ceuta-migrant-wave-was-a-power-play-by-morocco-against-spain/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=The%20Cyberattacks%20That%20President%20Trump%20Doesn%E2%80%99t%20Want%20to%20Acknowledge) “Considering the importance of what it does, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) is surprisingly low-profile,” Geraghty said. “Efforts to hack into critical infrastructure are widespread: in 2024, Check Point Research documented 1,162 cyberattacks on U.S. utilities, a 75 percent year-over-year increase. Given those numbers, perhaps it’s good that we hear about CISA so rarely. But the agency regularly puts out new alerts about foreign cyber threats.” “Here’s our president on Friday: ‘Today, I just want to mention that we heard in Minnesota there was a cyberattack and they blame it on Iran. I don’t think so. I think — I blame it on Minnesota because they’re grossly incompetent.’... How about the attacks on water systems in those six other states, Mr. President? Do you think ‘the governor’s behind it’ for all of those, too?” Geraghty wrote. “Our critical systems are under attack, and our rambling, erratic, living-in-his-own-world president does not want to acknowledge it. If he did publicly recognize that Iran is trying to harm Americans through their water systems, the public might be rather upset by the latest cancellation of a massive military response against the Iranian regime.” My take. Ari Weitzman Managing Editor ![Ari Weitzman](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2025/05/Ari.jpg) - I think the alarm over this story is too high for the actual severity of the threats. - We’ve known about these vulnerabilities for a long time, and we have the tools to counter them. - Municipalities still need to plug these holes, but I don’t think our water supply is in danger. **Reminder:** This is where we share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, leave a comment on the website or reply to this email. This is one of those stories that starts out sounding scary, then starts to sound silly as you learn more, then ultimately feels like nothing at all. Earlier this year, I wrote about [Ukraine’s advancements](https://www.readtangle.com/ukraine-war-update-may-2026/) in its war against Russia, saying its quadcopter drones were “terrifying to behold” and provided a glimpse into a potential future of automated warfare that we’re simply not ready for. Reading headlines about these cyberattacks and questions of Iran’s involvement calls unsettling visions to mind: A country we’re currently in a war with half a world away, whose conventional military we are currently dominating, is still managing to hit us at home with a few well placed, low-cost attacks. If the future of war is coming to your kitchen sink, that’s a terrifying prospect. The actual story is a little less scary, and a lot more asinine. For years, hackers backed by Iran — with names like Pioneer Kitten, CyberAv3ngers, and Handala Hack Team — have been claiming credit for significant data breaches and performing scary-sounding hacks like this one. Before the U.S. attacked Iran, those efforts mainly focused on Israel, and at first they were mainly bluster. Starting in 2023, Handala Hack [began targeting](https://outpost24.com/blog/handala-hack-threat-profile/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Handala%20Hack%20Team%2C%20also,rather%20than%20financial%20gain.) Israeli infrastructure. In 2025, it [infiltrated](https://www.fdd.org/analysis/policy-briefs/2025/02/03/iran-conducts-cyberattacks-to-terrorize-israelis/?ref=readtangle.com) an Israeli alert system to sound emergency alarms in kindergartens and send threatening messages to civilians. It sent messages to 500,000 Israelis claiming to have breached the country’s Iron Dome missile defense system, warning, “You have only a few hours to fix the systems.” But [that was a lie](https://www.fdd.org/analysis/policy-briefs/2025/02/03/iran-conducts-cyberattacks-to-terrorize-israelis/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Yet%20the%20hackers%20never%20breached%20the%20Iron%20Dome.%20Rather%2C%20they%20merely%20hacked%20a%20text%20messaging%20system%20in%20an%20effort%20to%20stoke%20panic%20among%20Israelis.) designed to make Israelis feel vulnerable. During the same time period, CyberAv3ngers [hacked](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/iranian-cyberattacks-timeline-u-s-companies-water-systems-minnesota-hacked/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=2023%2D2024%3A%20CyberAv3ngers%27%20targeting%20of%20water%20systems) small digital components called PLCs (programmable logic controllers) made by the Israeli company Unitronics. These internet-connected devices are frequently used in manufacturing processes to automate mechanical tasks or monitor equipment; the Iran-backed group accessed them through vulnerabilities, like [not changing](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/iranian-cyberattacks-timeline-u-s-companies-water-systems-minnesota-hacked/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=2023%2D2024%3A%20CyberAv3ngers%27%20targeting%20of%20water%20systems) the default password, and displayed the message on monitors, “You have been hacked. Down with Israel.” This exact hack [hit](https://www.cbsnews.com/pittsburgh/news/municipal-water-authority-of-aliquippa-hacked-iranian-backed-cyber-group/?ref=readtangle.com) a water authority in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, in 2023, causing a monitoring system to be taken offline for a brief period. Over time, these groups have evolved in their scope of target and the impact of their hacks, but their approach has remained the same. Handala [hacked](https://www.reuters.com/world/us/iran-linked-hackers-claim-breach-of-fbi-directors-personal-email-doj-official-2026-03-27/?ref=readtangle.com) a Michigan medical technology company and FBI Director Kash Patel’s email account earlier this year, leaked a few hundred emails, and warned that they would release more private information. CyberAv3ngers [expanded](https://www.tenable.com/blog/what-to-know-about-cyberav3ngers-the-irgc-linked-group-targeting-critical-infrastructure?ref=readtangle.com) its reach to target PLCs produced not only by Unitronics but also by American, French, and German [suppliers](https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/cybersecurity-advisories/aa26-097a?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=including%20PLCs%20manufactured%20by%20Rockwell%20Automation/Allen%2DBradley%2C%20Schneider%20Electric%2C%20Siemens%2C%20and%20potentially%20other%20manufactured%20PLCs). Then, over the past week, a coordinated cyber attack [hit 36 municipalities](https://www.tenable.com/blog/coordinated-cyberattack-on-minnesota-water-utilities-what-you-need-to-know?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=What%20happened%20to%20water%20utilities%20in%20Minnesota%3F) in Minnesota, as well as towns in [six other states](https://www.newsnationnow.com/politics/7-states-water-cyberattacks-fbi/?ref=readtangle.com), causing temporary loss of service in some areas. Some vulnerabilities are as simple as [not changing](https://netsecgroup.io/guides/county-mayo-water-hack-unitronics?ref=readtangle.com) the device’s default password from “1111” ([seriously](https://www.govtech.com/security/bad-password-may-have-led-to-pennsylvania-water-system-hack?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=The%20Pennsylvania%20Criminal%20Intelligence%20Center%20shared%20CISA%27s%20advisory%20Wednesday%20and%20reminded%20security%20experts%20%22to%20ensure%20the%20default%20%271111%27%20password%20is%20not%20in%20use%22%20on%20their%20networks%2C%20according%20to%20an%20email%20obtained%20by%20TribLive.)). They’re also not a surprise; CISA has been aware of them (and [warning of them](https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/cybersecurity-advisories/aa20-259a?ref=readtangle.com)) since 2020\. CISA even issued a warning about this general vulnerability — unconfigured PLCs in municipal water systems — [in 2023](https://westoahu.hawaii.edu/cyber/ics-cybersecurity/ics-weekly-summaries/cyberav3ngers-compromise-unitronics-plcs/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=A%20strong%20password%20is%20highly%20recommended.%C2%A0%20Additionally%2C%20to%20strengthen%20the%20organization%E2%80%99s%20security%20posture%2C%20multifactor%20authentication%20for%20access%20to%20the%20operational%20technology%20%28OT%29%20network%20and%20the%20implementation%20of%20a%20firewall%20or%20virtual%20private%20network%20in%20front%20of%20the%20PLC%20are%20strongly%20recommended.). Then in April of this year, it issued [another warning](https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/cybersecurity-advisories/aa26-097a?ref=readtangle.com) about this *exact* vulnerability in these *exact* components. It’s not an exaggeration to say that the federal government has been aware of security vulnerabilities in municipal water components for quite some time. It is, however, an exaggeration to say this was some kind of huge danger to the public welfare. In Minnesota, none of the targeted municipalities [issued](https://www.tenable.com/blog/coordinated-cyberattack-on-minnesota-water-utilities-what-you-need-to-know?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=In%20all%20confirmed%20cases%2C%20officials%20said%20drinking%20water%20quality%20was%20not%20affected%20and%20no%20boil%2Dwater%20advisories%20were%20issued.%20The%20Minnesota%20Department%20of%20Health%20is%20working%20directly%20with%20targeted%20water%20systems%20to%20protect%20public%20health.) a boil-water advisory — no public contamination, no health hazards. As cybersecurity expert Pierluigi Paganini [wrote](https://securityaffairs.com/196453/ics-scada/cisa-urges-utilities-to-remove-internet-exposed-plcs-after-minnesota-attacks.html?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=The%20FBI%20confirmed,their%20own%20systems.) in Security Affairs, “The actors changed IP addresses and passwords, resulting in loss of monitoring and control functionality. That’s it. Default or weak credentials on internet-exposed hardware, and suddenly operators are locked out of their own systems.” Obviously, this wasn’t the most confidence-inspiring week for our national logistics. If these municipal systems are this easy to hack, what other vulnerabilities could exist in other systems? This should provide a wake-up call to local governments across the country. But let’s be honest: We’ve been at war with Iran for months, and we’ve been aware of their hacking groups for years; if this is the closest the American public has gotten to even *feeling* unsafe, then we’re in a pretty good spot. Some group that could be connected to Iran (and almost definitely is) took a crack at one of our largest national cybersecurity vulnerabilities, decentralized across an array of towns, and we pretty much took it in stride. One cybersecurity expert I spoke to said that a simple reboot was likely all that was needed to halt the attack — unless the hackers were extremely sophisticated, which they don’t appear to be, and assuming the systems themselves are even advanced enough for such a hack, which they probably aren’t. All told, I’m actually feeling *less* concerned about terrorist cyberattacks now than I felt last week. If I were the president of the United States, I’d take this moment to reassure the public and send back-slaps down the chain of command. My cybersecurity agency, despite its recent cuts, detected this threat well ahead of time and issued amply advanced notice (take that, Chicken Little!). Officials in Minnesota caught the concerted attack and communicated with the public honestly and transparently. Operators at water and wastewater authorities in towns across the country acted quickly and got their services back online with only minimal disruption. It’s not like our entire national infrastructure needs to be completely overhauled — all we have to do is reset some passwords or reassign some port numbers or put remote access [behind a VPN](https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/alerts/2026/07/30/cisa-urges-water-and-wastewater-systems-sector-protect-ot-against-activity-targeting-plcs?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Disconnect%20the%20PLC%20from%20the%20internet.%20Remote%20access%20for%20operational%20purposes%20should%20go%20through%20a%20VPN%20or%20gateway%20device%2C%20not%20directly%20to%20the%20PLC.) to patch this hole. Outwardly, in the midst of an international conflict, I’d project confidence and security. Behind the scenes, though, I’d be much more demanding. Why should any American town ever accept employees putting internet-connected devices onto water services without following even the most basic security protocols? In what world is having only [30% of our water systems](https://pjmedia.com/david-manney/2026/07/30/iran-may-be-testing-americas-water-defenses-in-minnesota-n4955638?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Federal%20inspectors%20found%20that%20more%20than%2070%25%20of%20water%20systems%20examined%20beginning%20in%20September%202023%20violated%20basic%20federal%20risk%20and%20emergency%2Dplanning%20requirements.) prepared to respond to an emergency even remotely acceptable? How are state governments not enforcing better guidance about this? And then (truly entering fantasy world here), I’d deny the Pentagon a modest 0.3% of [its latest budget](https://www.americanprogress.org/article/the-presidents-1-5-trillion-pentagon-budget-will-not-make-the-country-safer/?ref=readtangle.com) request and instead fund a $3 billion [information-sharing program](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/02/opinion/iran-water-hack-trump.html?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Congress%20should%20restore%20federal%20support%20for%20the%20multistate%20information%20sharing%20center%20and%20commit%20at%20least%20%243%20billion%20in%20new%20multiyear%20funding%20to%20the%20State%20and%20Local%20Cybersecurity%20Grant%20Program.%20Some) at CISA, a direct response to the actions from Iran most likely to impact American citizens at home. In the real world, where my office is much less ovoid, President Trump decided to take potshots at Minnesota and its governor, something of a favorite pastime for him. The state isn’t totally blameless here, but Minnesota was one of at least seven states hit, it was the first to report what it experienced, and CISA itself has been warning about a potential Iranian cyberattack exactly like this for years — this didn’t happen because of Gov. Walz’s “gross incompetence.” Slinging jabs at a state led by a guy who ran against him in the last election is technically — and perhaps expectedly — a way for the president to respond, but I can’t say Trump’s message makes me feel any more secure about our government’s ability to address and adapt to these threats moving forward. Luckily, though, I don’t have to base my feeling of security on messaging. Instead, if I look at how ultimately low-impact this insanely open exploit is turning out to be, I’m left feeling pretty secure. I’ll put it like this: A few months ago, I stopped at a Taco Bell in New Hampshire halfway through a road trip from Vermont to Massachusetts. I used the bathroom while waiting for my food, and when I went to wash my hands, I found the faucet dripping and spraying oddly. After taking a moment to pat myself a little bit drier, I gave the faucet a closer inspection and discovered that someone had fitted a perforated condom up and around the entire fixture. Personally, I feel more terrorized by the possibility of getting hydrologically assaulted by another fast-food-bathroom prophylactic ([among other relevant threats](https://www.foxnews.com/food-drink/what-order-instead-lettuce-free-meals-mcdonalds-burger-king-chick-fil-a-taco-bell-more?ref=readtangle.com)) than I do the prospect of my town’s water supply being made unsafe. I’m not going to be losing any sleep over CyberAv3ngers; but I am going to continue to keep a few gallons of distilled water handy. Staff dissent. Isaac Saul Executive Editor ![Will Kaback](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2025/05/Isaac.jpg) Unlike Ari, I find these cyberattacks quite worrisome. Hundreds if not thousands of local municipalities being vulnerable to hacks like this seems both obvious and alarming. Of course they don’t have security teams or the resources to respond, and of course that is a huge opportunity for a state actor who wants to sow chaos. If these were actually Iranian hackers, who’s to say this was the maximum damage they could do, and not just a shot across the bow? And what of China, Russia, or other state actors who might be more capable in cyber warfare? Nothing I’ve seen or read gives me confidence these vulnerabilities will be fixed, at scale, any time soon. Given how underfunded and under-resourced so many municipal governments in America are, I have a hard time imagining this becoming a Level 1 priority that gets addressed. The situation, to me, looks more like this: Iran just found an easily exploitable way to upend life for Americans thousands of miles away, and our president responded by blaming domestic political opponents while we lack any clear strategy on how to quickly fund or implement any long-term fixes. **Take the survey:** How worried are you by these attacks? [Let us know](https://interrobang.vercel.app/survey/460649fb-3feb-4b84-bf56-bd8fd9e2f117?ref=readtangle.com). *Disagree? That*’*s okay. Our opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we*’*ll consider publishing your feedback.* ### A deeper look. ![Photo by Ivan Bandura / Unsplash](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/08/data-src-image-e99e2876-674f-4a41-beab-f21393653e2f.jpeg) Photo by[ Ivan Bandura](https://unsplash.com/@unstable%5Faffliction?utm%5Fsource=unsplash&utm%5Fmedium=referral&utm%5Fcontent=creditCopyText) /[ Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/photos/top-view-of-concrete-structures-Ac97OqAWDvg?utm%5Fsource=unsplash&utm%5Fmedium=referral&utm%5Fcontent=creditCopyText) Among civilian infrastructure, water systems are [particularly vulnerable](https://www.epa.gov/enforcement/enforcement-alert-drinking-water-systems-address-cybersecurity-vulnerabilities?ref=readtangle.com) to cyberattacks because they are decentralized and often rely on older technology — and have been since the dawn of the 21st century. In early 2000, an Australian man [successfully hacked](https://www.stormshield.com/news/twenty-years-of-cyber-attacks-on-the-world-of-water/?ref=readtangle.com) into the wastewater system in Maroochy Shire, Queensland, and caused sewage to spill into nearby areas. This is thought to be the world’s first known hacking attack against civilian infrastructure to cause physical damage. There were several attempted attacks against U.S. water systems, but the first to cause physical damage occurred in 2007, when a California man was accused of [installing](https://www.computerworld.com/article/1594746/insider-charged-with-hacking-california-canal-system.html?ref=readtangle.com) unauthorized software on a canal system’s computer typically used to divert water from the Sacramento River. The man had been an employee of the canal system before carrying out the attack, which caused over $5,000 in damage to the computer. Since then, several more cyberattacks have been carried out, often in the form of either ransomware or remote access. In 2021, WSSC Water in Maryland [experienced](https://www.itpro.com/security/ransomware/360030/maryland-water-company-investigating-ransomware-attack?ref=readtangle.com) a ransomware attack in which cybercriminals gained access to internal files. In 2024, [a hack against](https://www.cnbc.com/2024/10/08/american-water-largest-us-water-utility-cyberattack.html?ref=readtangle.com) American Water — the largest publicly traded water utility in the U.S. — forced it to shut down key systems, including customer billing, until the exploit was under control. No group took responsibility for either attack, and water treatment was not affected. SPONSORED by the penny hoarder ****Where the Money Actually Goes** You brew coffee at home. You skip takeout. But your money still disappears. Most of us are losing hundreds — sometimes thousands — on the same few things without realizing it, and [****this 90-second read**](https://partners.thepennyhoarder.com/spending-too-much-sdyn-prt/?aff%5Fid=409&utm%5Fsource=tangle&aff%5Fsub3=spending-too-much-sdyn-prt) shows what to do instead. [See how to save ](https://partners.thepennyhoarder.com/spending-too-much-sdyn-prt/?aff%5Fid=409&utm%5Fsource=tangle&aff%5Fsub3=spending-too-much-sdyn-prt) ### The extras. - **One year ago today** we covered [President Trump firing the commissioner of labor statistics](https://www.readtangle.com/trump-fires-chief-bls-labor-statistician/). - **The most clicked link in our last regular newsletter** was [Ari’s interview with climate scientist Zeke Hausfather on the Canadian wildfires](https://shows.acast.com/tangle/episodes/preview-special-edition-ari-weitzman-interviews-climate-rese?ref=readtangle.com). - **Nothing to do with politics:** The Zac Brown Band had [an incredible surprise for fans at its Sunday show in Boston](https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/zac-brown-band-fenway-park-boston-concert-free-cruise-ship-vacations/?ref=readtangle.com). - **Our last survey:** 1,978 readers responded to our survey on the U.S.-brokered peace plan for Israel and Gaza, with 66% saying they approve of the board’s plan but are pessimistic about peace. “The hatred is too deeply ingrained for either side to commit to the peace plan,” one respondent said. “Just like the Iran deal, I will believe it when I see it,” said another. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/08/data-src-image-8bf89576-297d-43f7-9112-1ac8e25daa54.png) We asked a similar question in January 2026, and these were the results: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/08/data-src-image-93608cae-e53e-4cc9-aa9b-cf31f8173a7e.png) ### Have a nice day. Sak Yiengjuntuek bought a restaurant space in April 2025, and it was a bit of a fixer-upper. A fire at a business next door had knocked out power to the restaurant, forcing it to close for several months. While cleaning in preparation for the reopening, Yiengjuntuek came across an old cabinet containing $12,000, some of it hidden inside a sunglasses case. He realized the cabinet belonged to the previous owner and set off to track him down. After several tries to get in touch, he finally reached the man and returned the money. “I feel like this was the right thing to do,” Yiengjuntuek said. “Honesty, integrity, is very important in life.” [WLBT3 has the story](https://www.wlbt.com/2026/06/20/right-thing-do-restaurant-owner-returns-12k-found-cabinet-belonging-previous-owner/?ref=readtangle.com). ### A potential breakthrough in Gaza. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/gaza-peace-process-august-2026/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T15:51:33.000Z Happy August. I’m **Isaac Saul,** and this has to be the fastest summer on record. I know [we always say this](https://www.readtangle.com/a-little-something-different/), but I feel like I blinked in late May and woke up in August, suddenly calculating how much beach time, seafood, and ice cream I can fit into the next 30 days. I’m trying to remind myself that September is (mostly) summer. That should be a hashtag. #SeptemberIsSummer. Please join me in not letting summer die ’til the crisp fall air truly rolls in. Anyway, while I attempt to slow down time, today we are putting a milemarker down on the **war in Gaza**. On Thursday, Trump announced that the Board of Peace had reached an agreement for Hamas to disarm. We’ll break down exactly what happened and where things are headed. Also, a reader question about **the investigation into Gavin Newsom** and an under-the-radar story on **Trump’s boat strikes**.It’s a **14-minute read**. ### Following up on wildfires. Two weeks ago, Managing Editor Ari Weitzman wrote a take on the Canadian wildfires, arguing that climate change was the lead driver of the increased fires but that Canada could still do more to mitigate them. Some Tangle readers pushed back on both claims, so Ari put their questions to climate scientist (and author of the newsletter [The Climate Brink](https://www.theclimatebrink.com/?ref=readtangle.com)) Zeke Haufather. Zeke weighed in on the science and the policy, as well as the role data centers will play in climate change in the coming years. You can [listen here](https://shows.acast.com/tangle/episodes/preview-special-edition-ari-weitzman-interviews-climate-rese?ref=readtangle.com). ### Quick hits. 1. President Donald Trump said he postponed a major attack on Iran after several Gulf nations requested he allow more time for peace discussions. ([The pause](https://apnews.com/article/trump-iran-strait-hormuz-israel-gaza-mideast-f4c225f6667d9fd171616304701825a0?ref=readtangle.com)) 2. Rep. Max Miller (R-OH) denied allegations that he abused his ex-wife, Emily Moreno, and their daughter, saying that he will not drop his reelection bid. Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-OH), Emily’s father, said in a statement that Miller is a danger to his daughter and is not fit to serve in the House. ([The latest](https://www.axios.com/2026/08/02/max-miller-moreno-abuse-allegations?ref=readtangle.com)) 3. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche formally rescinded a planned “anti-weaponization” fund and narrowed the Trump family’s immunity from Internal Revenue Service audits. In response, Sens. John Cornyn (R-TX) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) said they would vote for Blanche’s confirmation in committee, allowing his nomination to advance to the full Senate. ([The moves](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/todd-blanche-anti-weaponization-fund?ref=readtangle.com)) 4. A gunman killed three people and wounded seven others in a shooting at an In-N-Out restaurant in Twin Falls, Idaho. The gunman later killed himself; authorities are investigating a potential motive. ([The shooting](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/dead-injured-shooting-twin-falls-idaho-rcna590420?ref=readtangle.com)) 5. Trump Media and Technology Group launched a paid service that provides subscribers with faster access to posts on Truth Social by President Trump and other top accounts. Democratic lawmakers have called on the Securities and Exchange Commission to investigate whether the service is legal. ([The launch](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/08/01/trump-medias-new-data-service-gives-faster-access-to-trumps-posts.html?ref=readtangle.com)) SPONSORED by incogni ****Your personal info is everywhere. Here’s how to erase it.** Your personal data is scattered across hundreds of websites right now. 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[Claim your discount ](https://deal.incogni.io/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=6&aff%5Fid=1007&ref=readtangle.com) ### Today’s topic. The latest on the Gaza peace plan. On Thursday, President Donald Trump [said](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/117011270507732212?ref=readtangle.com) that the Board of Peace, a U.S.-led international body aiming to achieve peace in the Gaza Strip, had reached an agreement for Hamas and other armed groups in Gaza to disarm. The next day, the board [shared](https://thehill.com/policy/international/6002266-hamas-disarmament-roadmap-unveiled/?ref=readtangle.com) a 15-point “roadmap” for a multi-step peace plan, outlining actions that Hamas and Israel would take to eventually transfer control of the strip to the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG). Hamas officials said the group’s disarmament was contingent on Israel withdrawing from Gaza, while Israeli officials have expressed skepticism about Hamas’s commitment to disarming. **Back up:** In January, President Trump [established](https://www.readtangle.com/the-gaza-board-of-peace-ceasefire-phase-two/) the Board of Peace to oversee Gaza’s reconstruction and post-war governance, as well as support peace globally. The board is backed by a United Nations mandate and is [composed](https://boardofpeace.org/heads-of-state?ref=readtangle.com) of over 20 member states, though several U.S. allies in Europe have opted not to join. The 15-point plan [requires](https://x.com/BoardOfPeace/status/2083156702250115118?ref=readtangle.com) Israel to cease military operations in Gaza while Hamas cedes control of civilian governance and security functions to the NCAG (which the Board of Peace oversees). Eventually, the plan says that Hamas will disarm completely, and Israel will begin a structured military withdrawal from the strip. Hamas official Basem Naim [confirmed](https://x.com/DrNaimbasem/status/2083152289385083299?s=20&ref=readtangle.com) that the group had agreed to the plan but said “the ball is now in the enemy’s court to fulfill its obligations according to the agreement, as well as for the mediators and guarantors to compel it to its duties.” Another Hamas official, Ghazi Hamad, [added](https://www.axios.com/2026/07/30/hamas-weapons-gaza-deal-israel-board-peace?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=%22We%20will%20not%20take%20any%20steps%20regarding%20disarmament%20before%20Israel%20withdraws%20from%20the%20Gaza%20Strip%2C%22%20Hamad%20said.%20He%20added%20that%20the%20NCAG%20would%20carry%20out%20disarmament%20without%20Israeli%20involvement.), “We will not take any steps regarding disarmament before Israel withdraws from the Gaza Strip,” a demand that appears to break from the Board of Peace’s plan. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not commented on the plan, but a spokesperson for the prime minister [said](https://apnews.com/article/gaza-trump-israel-hamas-palestinians-disarmament-deal-72b1493ca75bb9d4cf195f325d8dc425?ref=readtangle.com) that Hamas must disarm before Israel considers a military withdrawal. “Our assessment is that if we redeploy before Hamas is truly disarmed, it will quickly expand its presence throughout Gaza, rebuild its terrorist infrastructure, once again threaten Israeli communities, and seek to carry out another Oct. 7-style attack,” the spokesperson said. On Sunday, Israel [carried out](https://www.nbcnews.com/world/israel/israel-concerns-hamas-disarmament-deal-trump-gaza-strikes-rcna590539?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=The%20Palestinian%20Health%20Ministry%20said%20Monday%20that%2019%20people%20had%20been%20killed%20and%2035%20injured%20in%20Gaza%20in%20the%20past%2024%20hours.%20A%20day%20earlier%2C%20it%20said%20seven%20people%20had%20been%20killed%20in%20the%20previous%2024%20hours%2C%20taking%20the%20weekend%20total%20to%20at%20least%2026.) airstrikes in Gaza for a second consecutive day, reportedly killing 26 people over the weekend. In response, Hamas accused the Israeli government of attempting to derail the peace plan. “This escalation, coinciding with progress on ​the political track, clearly demonstrates that the occupation government is seeking to undermine efforts aimed at ending the war and to impose facts ‌on the ground by force,” Naim said. Today, we’ll share perspectives on these developments from the right, left, and writers in the Middle East. Then, Executive Editor Isaac Saul’s take. | What the right is saying. The right is skeptical of the peace plan, with many suggesting Hamas is unlikely to abide by the terms. Others say the plan remains aspirational at best. | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | **The New York Post editorial board offered** [**“a few questions about the new hopeful Gaza peace plan.”**](https://nypost.com/2026/07/31/opinion/a-few-questions-about-the-new-hopeful-gaza-peace-plan/?ref=readtangle.com) “Fine, Hamas has *said* it’s agreed to lay down its arms as per that 15-point plan from President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace, but color us skeptical. We absolutely *hope* it proves to be a genuine step toward bringing permanent peace to Gaza, but before we deem it a ‘historic agreement’ as the prez announced, we need some questions answered,” the board wrote. “For starters, who decides that Israel and Hamas and its allied terror groups have ceased ‘all military operations’? We guarantee that some terrorists will keep shooting at Israel forces.” “More generally, what parts of the Hamas-controlled government will transfer over to the new one under the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, and again who does the vetting of these ‘civil servants’ selected by various gangs of terrorists?” the board asked. “Hamas hasn’t surrendered, renounced its commitments to armed resistance and Israel’s destruction… The new 15-point plan doesn’t seem to come with actual mechanisms that can change *any* of that; the only force in the region able to *make* the terrorists do anything remains the IDF.” **In National Review, Noah Rothman wrote about** [**“the Gaza peace deal that isn’t.”**](https://www.nationalreview.com/2026/07/the-gaza-peace-deal-that-isnt/?ref=readtangle.com) “Somewhat inauspiciously, the Board of Peace revealed on Friday its ‘roadmap’ for peace in the Middle East (perhaps its authors were unaware of the context and provenance of that turn of phrase). Even more disconcertingly, the board described the terms that have supposedly been agreed to as mere ‘principles,’” Rothman said. “\[The deal outlines\] the financial rewards for Gaza that will follow the implementation of this agreement over the next three years. But there will be no progress unless Israel goes first.” “Hamas’s sources contend that the terrorist organization will not surrender any of its weapons until Israel ceases defensive operations in Gaza and withdraws to the ‘yellow line’ in the Strip,” Rothman wrote. “Point 2 of this deal notes that a variety of non-state observers must certify that all parties to this agreement will have met ‘their commitments under the Roadmap before proceeding to the implementation of Phase 2.’ That may be the most important line in this document. More often than not, ‘phase 2’ never comes.” | What the left is saying. Many on the left suggest the Israeli government is hindering the peace process. Others say Trump’s Board of Peace has been a failure. | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | **The Le Monde editorial board said** [**“any progress in \[Gaza\] depends entirely on Israeli authorities.”**](https://www.lemonde.fr/en/opinion/article/2026/08/03/breaking-the-gaza-deadlock-after-the-agreement-on-hamas-disarmament%5F6756108%5F23.html?ref=readtangle.com) “On July 30, US President Donald Trump announced what could be a major breakthrough in Gaza: Hamas's acceptance of disarmament. On August 2, health authorities in the enclave reported that 18 people had died in the preceding hours due to Israeli airstrikes, while a minister from the coalition led by Benjamin Netanyahu declared that Israel's objective was to take control of the entire Gaza Strip,” the board wrote. “This tragic contradiction between rhetoric and reality reflects the immense difficulty of restoring even a semblance of normalcy to Gaza, where more than two million people continue to survive in extremely precarious conditions amid ruins, garbage and rats.” “Trump’s announcement underscored a sense of understandable impatience. Since the ceasefire agreement that ended the war more than nine months ago, over 1,200 Palestinians have died in Israeli strikes. Meanwhile, the Israeli army has tightened its grip,” the board said. “At no point has the team of Palestinian technocrats selected to manage Gaza's day-to-day administration been authorized by Israel to enter the territory. The plan to deploy an international force to keep order and prevent the return of armed groups has also failed to materialize. Nothing has moved forward.” **In The New Arab, Olivia Hooper argued** [**“Trump’s Board of Peace for Gaza has delivered anything but.”**](https://www.newarab.com/opinion/trumps-board-peace-gaza-has-delivered-anything?ref=readtangle.com) “Despite Hamas’ recent disarmament agreement and compliance with the peace plan, Israel continues to violate the terms, showing no signs of military withdrawal and signalling that illegal Jewish settlements will soon reach Gaza,” Hooper said. “Donald Trump’s promise of ‘lasting peace’ is lying in tatters, just months after its launch; his peace board and initiative have withered into a delayed, small-scale pilot project near Rafah.” “When peace is authored by arms brokers, funded by foreign oligarchs, and overseen by an occupying power, it cannot deliver justice,” Hooper wrote. “What is meant by ‘building a better Gaza’ is not clear, nor is the role that Palestinians will be allowed to play in this alleged recovery effort. Considering that not a single Palestinian is on the founding or executive board, the future involving Palestinians seems bleak.” | What writers in the Middle East are saying. Some writers in the Middle East say the group’s openness to disarmament signals a new dynamic in the conflict. Others argue Hamas’s disarmament must come first in any peace process. | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | **In Arab News, Tarek Ali Ahmad asked** [**“does Hamas’ declaration change the equation in Gaza?”**](https://www.arabnews.com/node/2653074/middle-east?ref=readtangle.com) “For nearly four decades, Hamas has presented itself as an armed resistance movement whose military wing is inseparable from its political identity… That is why its recent declaration expressing a willingness to discuss disarmament as part of a broader political settlement has attracted global attention,” Ahmad said. “Although the proposal is heavily qualified and contingent on Israeli withdrawal, a permanent ceasefire and the establishment of a Palestinian state, it is the first time since the current war began that Hamas has publicly entertained the prospect of giving up the military capability that has defined it for decades. “Whether the statement represents a genuine strategic shift or simply another negotiating position remains fiercely debated. But it has nevertheless injected a new variable into a conflict that, until now, has largely revolved around military operations, hostage negotiations and humanitarian access,” Ahmad wrote. “Even previous ceasefire negotiations brokered by Egypt, Qatar and the US focused largely on temporary truces, prisoner exchanges and humanitarian arrangements. The future of Hamas’ weapons was generally considered a red line. That appears to be changing — at least in theory.” **The Jerusalem Post editorial board wrote** [**“Hamas disarmament cannot wait for the IDF’s withdrawal from Gaza.”**](https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-904275?ref=readtangle.com) “Hamas has spent the period since October 7 using every negotiation to gain time, preserve control, and push the most difficult questions into the next phase. Deals have produced real achievements — above all the return of hostages — and that matters. But Hamas’s military power has remained largely untouched by diplomacy,” the board said. “The negotiations show the same risk, with Hamas already presenting its obligations as conditional on Israeli steps that would come first in practice. It has repeatedly rejected disarmament, qualified it, or offered formulations that leave its weapons under a different name or authority. “The latest proposal may be more serious, but it still depends on sequencing. If Hamas is allowed to remain armed while a new Palestinian committee enters Gaza, while international bodies begin work, and while Israeli forces pull back, the result may be a civilian structure operating under the same threat that has shaped Gaza for years,” the board wrote. “The United States should be careful not to mistake a framework for implementation. Titles, ceremonies, international boards, and public declarations may help move negotiations forward, but they do not remove a single rocket, destroy a single tunnel, or prevent Hamas from rebuilding.” My take. Isaac Saul Executive Editor ![Isaac Saul](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2025/05/Isaac.jpg) - Since October 7, most of my fears and few of my hopes have come true. - While international attention has shifted, Gaza remains in disrepair while Israeli and Gazan leaders remain deeply mistrustful. - It’s hard not to look at the latest developments as anything other than more of the same. **Reminder:** This is where we share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, leave a comment on the website or reply to this email. In December 2023, as I called for Israel to show some restraint in its response to October 7, I [wrote](https://www.readtangle.com/israeli-hostages-killed-by-idf/#:~:text=The%20only%20option%20he%20appears%20open%20to%20is%20more%20killing%20in%20Gaza%2C%20the%20potential%20expulsion%20of%20Gazans%2C%20expanding%20settlements%20in%20the%20West%20Bank%2C%20and%20re%2Doccupying%20Gaza%20with%20Israeli%20forces%20when%20this%20ends.%20It%20is%20a%20strategy%20as%20unimaginative%20as%20it%20is%20dangerous.%C2%A0) that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu only seemed open to more killing, the expulsion of Gazans, expanding settlements in the West Bank, and re-occupying Gaza with Israeli forces when the war “ended.” I remember the blowback from that sentence specifically — how many Israelis or fellow Zionists and Jews wrote in to tell me that I was penning “blood libel” or how biased I was against Israel, a country I loved. I also remember how many people told me I was naive to believe the count of the dead and injured being shared by the Gaza Health Ministry, even though those numbers were confirmed by outside groups. Yet, nearly three years later, the reality on the ground is hard to dispute. The Gaza Health Ministry’s death toll — over 70,000 — is now officially [accepted by Israeli authorities](https://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-believes-70000-gazans-killed-in-war-as-claimed-by-hamas/?ref=readtangle.com). The Israeli military [has expanded](https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-902628?ref=readtangle.com) its physical control to cover roughly 70% of the Gaza Strip. Israeli settlers have continued to expand [in the West Bank](https://www.nbcnews.com/world/middle-east/surging-settler-violence-west-bank-hung-trump-netanyahu-white-house-me-rcna589401?ref=readtangle.com), where violence is the worst it has been in years, all while Israel’s security cabinet has [approved measures](https://arabcenterdc.org/resource/annexation-through-law-land-registration-and-palestinian-dispossession-in-the-west-bank/?ref=readtangle.com) to make it easier for Israelis to appropriate Palestinian property. Despite the purported October 2025 ceasefire, over [1,200 Palestinians](https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2026/08/01/palestinians-gaza-hamas-disarm-trump-israel/51618d70-8db5-11f1-8912-d71e69d679d7%5Fstory.html?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Since%20October%2C%20Israel%20has%20killed%20more%20than%201%2C200%20Palestinians%20in%20Gaza%20and%20expanded%20the%20amount%20of%20territory%20it%20controls.%20Five%20Israeli%20soldiers%20have%20also%20been%20killed%20in%20militant%20attacks.) have been killed since it was signed, including a couple and their 9-year-old son [this past weekend](https://www.nbcnews.com/world/gaza/israeli-strikes-kill-nine-gaza-israeli-minister-no-deal-rcna590436?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Attacks%20hit%20tents%2C%20apartment%20and%20house%2C%20medics%20say). It has also been more than two years since I wrote “[The Zionist case for a ceasefire](https://www.readtangle.com/zionist-case-for-ceasefire-gaza-israel-palestine/),” arguing for a stop to the war as someone who believes in the right of the Jewish people to self-determination and statehood. With each passing month, my hope for peace in the region has diminished more and more. In February, Israel threw itself into the Iran war with vigor, sensing a moment to topple a longtime threat to its security but destabilizing the entire region in the process. It is now fighting fronts in Iran, Lebanon, and Gaza. Simultaneously, global support for Israel has plummeted, and the American public is [turning further away](https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2026/07/09/americans-views-of-israelis-have-grown-increasingly-negative-but-views-of-palestinians-have-held-fairly-steady/?ref=readtangle.com) from its long-time ally with each passing day. For reasons related and unrelated, it’s a precarious time to be a Jew. And whether you are an Israeli, Jew, Zionist or all three, it’s a more dangerous time to say so now than it has been for decades. I feared all these things when I wrote my piece two years ago, and all have come to fruition. Meanwhile, it’s impossible to describe the living hell that is Gaza. Roughly 1.7 million displaced people are [taking shelter](https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/un-warns-of-dire-conditions-in-gaza-displacement-sites-as-17m-palestinians-face-shortages/3975966?ref=readtangle.com) across thousands of makeshift sites and camps. Piles of destroyed buildings dominate the landscape. Sanitation issues are ubiquitous and access to clean [drinking water](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/apr/27/israeli-attacks-gaza-clean-water-shortage-crisis-disease-palestine?ref=readtangle.com) is scarce. Dozens of [hospitals](https://www.aljazeera.com/video/newsfeed/2026/8/1/01-08-israel-strike-gaza-hospital-sv-mp4?ref=readtangle.com), which Israel identified as military targets housing Hamas fighters during the war, are destroyed or only partially functional. That means finding treatment for chronic illness or acute injuries from ongoing Israeli strikes can be difficult if not impossible. [Work](https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/menasource/employment-needs-to-take-center-stage-in-gaza-security-plans/?ref=readtangle.com) is scarce. Pregnant women and children under five are facing severe [malnutrition](https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/latest/devastating-impact-israels-manufactured-malnutrition-crisis-gaza?ref=readtangle.com). Writing these words gives you an idea, but the only real way to comprehend it is to see it — to [watch](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9ONnNFdNtQ&ref=readtangle.com) the [videos](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVhX0FZLl4s&ref=readtangle.com) and look at the [photographs](https://www.theguardian.com/world/gallery/2025/jan/20/devastation-aerial-views-gaza-ceasefire-in-pictures?ref=readtangle.com). My worst fears from October 8 [have long ago come true](https://www.readtangle.com/my-worst-fears-israel-palestine-gaza/), and I’m devastated that the situation has still not really improved even amid a supposed ceasefire. So, after the news broke that Hamas agreed to disarm, I read details of the plan with increasing skepticism. It just feels like more of the same promises and plans we’ve heard a million times before, and any time I allowed myself to feel hopeful, those hopes were quickly dashed by broken promises and more violence. As I [said](https://www.readtangle.com/what-we-got-right-and-wrong-in-2025-part-1/#:~:text=The%20Israel%E2%80%93Hamas%20ceasefire%20deal%20%28and%20the%20Israel%E2%80%93Hamas%20peace%20plan%29%20%E2%80%94%20January%2016%20and%20October%202) in our 2025 review, the “peace deal” has not actually produced any peace for Gazans and has only marginally improved the safety of Israelis. Any sliver of hope I could have had for this deal didn’t even make it through the weekend. On Saturday, two days after Trump’s announcement, Israel carried out new airstrikes in Gaza. After a second day of strikes on Sunday, Palestinian authorities [reported](https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israeli-strikes-kill-least-four-gaza-despite-trump-announcing-breakthrough-2026-08-01/?ref=readtangle.com) that 18 people had been killed. How could any person realistically believe in progress against that kind of backdrop? The U.S. says Hamas is agreeing to disarm; Hamas says it will do so when Israel withdraws from Gaza; Israel says it won’t withdraw until it sees proof of disarmament. Meanwhile, Israel continues shelling Gaza, leading Hamas to say Israel is violating peace terms and ensuring no such peace plan will ever be delivered. It actually reminds me a lot of what is happening in Iran, which Trump is accusing of violating ceasefire terms and where he is still proclaiming — now, in August 2026 — that we are pausing our strikes to allow for the opening of the Strait of Hormuz, months after his administration claimed the war was won. Still, with the announcement of Hamas disarming, the appeal of hope is hard to resist. Could Hamas really give up its weapons? Could Israel really withdraw? Could Gaza really be rebuilt? Could we take a baby step forward to two independent, self-determined states living side-by-side? It’s hard to imagine, and we only have tea leaves to read. But what we *can* see shows nothing but more of the same “no, you first” attitude from two sides deeply distrustful of one another. Hamas has now said Israel must meet the terms of the ceasefire deal and stop its attacks in Gaza for them to disarm. Israel believes any pause in fighting will allow Hamas to re-arm and re-group. One former Fatah official [said](https://www.nbcnews.com/world/gaza/israeli-strikes-kill-nine-gaza-israeli-minister-no-deal-rcna590436?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Former%20%E2%81%A0senior%20Fatah%20official%20Mohammed%20Dahlan%2C%20who%20is%20based%20in%20the%20United%20Arab%20Emirates%2C%20said%20in%20a%20Facebook%20post%20that%20Jared%20Kushner%2C%20Trump%E2%80%99s%20%E2%81%A0son%2Din%2Dlaw%20and%20a%20senior%20adviser%20involved%20in%20the%20U.S.%20initiative%2C%20had%20told%20him%20he%20was%20working%20with%20the%20Israeli%20side%20to%20stop%20attacks%20on%20Gaza.) in a Facebook post that Jared Kushner had told him he was trying to get Israel to stop its attacks on Gaza. Let’s just say I’m skeptical. Netanyahu is facing an election in October, and he is both [unpopular](https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog%5Fentry/poll-58-of-israelis-do-not-believe-netanyahu-should-be-pm-after-the-election/?ref=readtangle.com) and highly motivated to hold onto power. Having an enemy to fight has been good for his reelection campaign, but he now faces an incredible challenge to build the coalition he needs to survive. Any peace deal that does not end with Israel taking over the Gaza Strip and expelling Palestinians is going to infuriate his far-right base. Meanwhile, he’s alienating moderates by continuing to block an independent investigation into how October 7 happened and has [angered](https://www.timesofisrael.com/opposition-pans-netanyahu-spin-as-he-distances-himself-from-haredi-draft-evasion-law/?ref=readtangle.com) more secular Israelis by not forcing Orthodox Jews in Israel to enlist while the army struggles to meet its enlistment needs. Is this the kind of leader looking to strike a deal and bring peace to the region? Have we seen even an inkling of evidence that’s where Netanyahu’s focus is? When I went looking for my past writing on the Israel–Gaza war this morning, it shocked me to realize that we had not dedicated a full edition to the war [since January of this year](https://www.readtangle.com/the-gaza-board-of-peace-ceasefire-phase-two/#:~:text=Israeli%2Dexecuted%20genocide.%E2%80%9D-,My%20take.,-Reminder%3A%20%E2%80%9CMy%20take) — more than six months ago. In 2023, 2024 and 2025, it was one of our most covered stories, consistently getting attention from our editorial team. But after war broke out in Iran, and with so many stories popping up domestically, it’s fallen into the background. Looking back on that January piece, though, I had some optimism: I conceded that it would probably be dashed, but [insisted](https://www.readtangle.com/the-gaza-board-of-peace-ceasefire-phase-two/#:~:text=When%20this%20peace,completed%2C%20however%20tumultuously.) (again) that the 2025 peace plan the Trump administration had constructed was actually reasonable — that it gave both the Palestinians and the Israelis the right carrots and sticks. I didn’t expect things to stay on track, yet despite the escalating land grabs in the West Bank and the documented violations of the ceasefire by Israel, the peace plan held. Hamas returned all of the hostages, alive and dead, marking the first time since 2014 that Hamas held no Israeli captives. At the same time, 100% of Gazans’ basic food needs [were being met](https://news.un.org/en/story/2026/01/1166704?ref=readtangle.com) for the first time since the war started in 2023, and only four Israeli soldiers had been killed between October and December — a sign the fighting was really winding down. In July, the [UN reported](https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-902024?ref=readtangle.com) that the Gaza Strip’s humanitarian situation had remained stable throughout the ceasefire. I want to hold onto that optimism, even as I know it’s misplaced. So maybe, just maybe, there’s a path. Maybe Hamas really does feel boxed in and will put its weapons down. Maybe Israeli troops really will withdraw from Gaza and allow reconstruction to begin. Maybe an international coalition of actors can somehow manifest a political body that the Palestinian people will trust. Maybe, after October 7 and 70,000 dead in the Gaza War, Israelis and Palestinians find some way to inch toward generational healing. Maybe. But for now, my skepticism and sadness remain. **Take the survey:** Could this plan be a breakthrough for peace? [Let us know](https://interrobang.vercel.app/survey/77e97bfa-d343-4019-994e-d056cd1e9a8d?ref=readtangle.com). *Disagree? That*’*s okay. Our opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we*’*ll consider publishing your feedback.* ### Your questions, answered. **Q: The LA Times (and Newsom) claim Trump is going after Newsom’s wife for political reasons. Republicans say this is nonsense, the investigation began with a whistleblower complaint out of California during the Biden admin. Who is telling the truth?** **— Anonymous** **Tangle:** To catch up, in mid-June, California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) [announced](https://www.gov.ca.gov/2026/06/15/governor-gavin-newsom-statement-on-donald-trumps-weaponized-doj-investigation/?ref=readtangle.com) that the Justice Department (DOJ) had launched an investigation into him and his wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom. In a [video statement](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qDFy2j9TJU&ref=readtangle.com), Newsom claimed the DOJ had been politicized and was leading a partisan investigation. However, the timeline of the probe appeared unclear, and many commentators [claimed](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/newsom-blames-trump-doj-probe-reports-say-investigation-predates-administration?ref=readtangle.com) that it started under President Joe Biden. So, which is it: a Trump administration vendetta, or the continuation of a Biden-era investigation? It could actually be both. The DOJ has conducted at least two investigations — not into Newsom himself, but different people in the governor’s orbit. In 2022, the DOJ began [an investigation](https://www.justice.gov/usao-edca/pr/california-political-consultant-and-former-public-official-pleads-guilty-conspiracy?ref=readtangle.com) into Newsom’s former chief of staff, Dana Williamson, under the Biden administration. In May of 2026, Williamson [pleaded guilty](https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article316413298.html?ref=readtangle.com) to fraud charges related to a conspiracy to steal campaign money from former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra’s past campaign for California attorney general. Another probe — the one Newsom appears to be referencing in the video statement — appears to be investigating his wife’s tax returns. That case [reportedly](https://www.latimes.com/california/newsletter/2026-06-29/newsom-wife-trump-investigation?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=What%20sparked%20the%20investigation) began in the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Sacramento in 2025, following a whistleblower report. Despite Newsom’s statements, some [accounts](https://apnews.com/article/newsom-trump-justice-department-a9e5bd1f8c2906c23bd68f3e5b6b3f2f?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=That%20probe%20began%20last%20year%2C%20and%20political%20leadership%20in%20Washington%20was%20not%20involved%20in%20the%20decision%20to%20open%20it%2C%20said%20the%20person%2C%20who%20spoke%20on%20the%20condition%20of%20anonymity%20because%20they%20were%20not%20authorized%20to%20publicly%20discuss%20ongoing%20investigations.) maintain that senior political leaders were not involved in the decision to begin the investigation. The investigation into Siebel Newsom may have a legitimate basis. On the other hand, the Trump administration has [pursued](https://www.readtangle.com/the-comey-indictment/) investigations into the president’s political enemies for seemingly political reasons. With these two factors pulling against each other, we’re all better off waiting until more details of the case come out. **Want to have a question answered in the newsletter? You can reply to this email (it goes straight to our inbox) or** [**fill out this form**](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScQhqBSG%5F6%5FoBhwcTQMeS570n29XYbeQ9C9Bis7rjqI31g1tA/viewform?usp=header&ref=readtangle.com)**.** ### Under the radar. Last week, The Washington Post reported that an internal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) assessment found that the Trump administration’s strikes on boats allegedly trafficking cocaine have not impacted the supply or price of the drug in the United States. The assessment noted that traffickers have changed tactics in response to the strikes — altering routes and using different kinds of boats — but were still successfully transporting narcotics. The Pentagon maintains that the strikes have been effective. “Transnational criminal organizations have continually adapted their tactics for decades,” Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said. “It demonstrates that we are imposing systemic friction on their operations.” [The Washington Post has the story](https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2026/07/27/operation-southern-spear-has-not-slowed-cocaine-entering-us/?ref=readtangle.com). ### The extras. - **One year ago today** we had just published a report on what happened after scientists [predicted the Great Salt Lake’s imminent collapse](https://www.readtangle.com/what-happened-to-the-great-salt-lakes-collapse/). - **The most clicked link in our last regular newsletter** was [the latest episode of *Suspension of the Rules*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcXvrPSmJPc&ref=readtangle.com). - **Nothing to do with politics:** Highlights from [the World Dog Surfing Championships](https://abc7news.com/post/top-dogs-ride-waves-10th-annual-world-dog-surfing-championships-linda-mar-beach-pacifica/19613128/?ref=readtangle.com). - **Our last survey:** 6,359 readers responded to our survey on Anthony Fauci’s management of the Covid-19 pandemic, with 63% saying they “strongly” or “somewhat” approve of Fauci’s job performance. “Pretty much everyone in the medical and scientific community did the best they could with the information they had,” one respondent said. “The harm to children that Fauci caused will haunt this country for decades,” said another. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/08/data-src-image-8052cfe0-a0f3-414f-9ab7-a3e38e450d90.png) ### Have a nice day. You may love dogs, but do you love dogs as much as Nehemiah Turner? The 11-year-old from Jacksonville, Florida, made history last week when he became the first child to log 100 volunteer hours at the Jacksonville Humane Society, where he reads books aloud to shelter pups as part of the shelter’s Pawsitive Reading program. Turner said he likes to help keep the dogs comfortable as they wait to get adopted. Jacksonville Humane Society CEO Lawrence Nicolas added, “\[Turner\] has not only helped homeless pets but also inspired those around him to see the difference one person can make.” [ABC News has the story](https://abcnews.com/GMA/Living/11-year-read-100-hours-shelter-animals-shares/story?id=135012679&ref=readtangle.com). ### The Sunday — August 2 URL: https://www.readtangle.com/the-sunday-august-2-2026/ Last updated: 2026-08-02T11:52:15.000Z *This is the Tangle Sunday Edition, a brief roundup of our independent politics coverage plus some extra features for your Sunday morning reading.* ### What the left is doodling. ![John Deering | Creators Syndicate](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/08/data-src-image-3c0ace94-6cdc-481f-b236-e81cd7e33e3c.jpeg) John Deering | Creators Syndicate ### What the right is doodling. ![Gary Varvel | Creators Syndicate](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/08/data-src-image-2185b77d-e7d6-4037-94ba-8996ca8b2cd9.jpeg) Gary Varvel | Creators Syndicate ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/08/data-src-image-e31d03ce-813c-498b-9425-a999a6578634.png) ### Suspension of the Rules. In this week’s episode, Isaac, Ari, and Kmele discuss what we have and haven’t learned from the Covid-19 pandemic. Plus, a conversation about whether government-run grocery stores will help or hurt consumer prices, and Isaac heaps some praise onto an unlikely character. Check it out below! ### Monday, July 27. [Noncitizen voting in New Jersey](https://www.readtangle.com/new-jersey-voter-registration-scandal/). On Tuesday, July 21, New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill (D) announced that an error in the state’s motor-vehicles system software resulted in approximately 6,600 noncitizens being registered to vote, and a preliminary assessment showed roughly 400 of them cast a ballot in at least one election. Sherrill said the improper registrations occurred during former Gov. Phil Murphy’s (D) term and ordered an investigation into the error. **Our take:** *“This story didn’t look great for New Jersey when it broke, and it looks worse with more detail. The state’s contractor and the noncitizen voters aren’t totally blameless, but I think the state is primarily at fault. Using this episode as evidence for some massive voter fraud is a total overreach.”* **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/08/data-src-image-6f7558c2-0bda-4204-be3f-fba0fae27e95.png) ### Tuesday, July 28. [The U.S. nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia](https://www.readtangle.com/us-saudi-arabia-civil-nuclear-deal/). On Wednesday, July 22, the United States and Saudi Arabia signed a civil nuclear-cooperation agreement. The deal is a “123 Agreement,” named after Section 123 of the U.S. Atomic Energy Act, outlining a partnership between the two countries to establish a civilian nuclear program in Saudi Arabia. However, the status of the deal is now in question after President Donald Trump said on Thursday that it was conditional on Saudi Arabia normalizing relations with Israel. **Our take:** *“I’m more optimistic than many about the potential of this deal — except on one major provision. Critics raise reasonable concerns, but I think many risks can be mitigated. However, the potential for further corruption looms over the entire discussion.”* **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/08/data-src-image-4f951451-f21b-4785-a504-ea5ae21645f2.png) ### Wednesday, July 29. [The AI hack](https://www.readtangle.com/openai-huggingface-ai-hack/). On Friday, July 24, Reuters reported that an OpenAI autonomous artificial intelligence (AI) agent broke out of a contained environment and hacked a popular AI development website. The hack began on July 11 and lasted until July 13, when it was detected by an AI at the targeted company, Hugging Face. OpenAI remained unaware of the incident for days, and the two companies did not communicate directly until July 20, well after Hugging Face had alerted the FBI of an intrusion. **Our take:** *“The more we learn about this incident, the less frightening it appears. The media has done a poor job communicating what actually happened. Well founded concerns still exist, but all of this makes me increasingly skeptical of AI hysteria.”* **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/08/data-src-image-1d5300ce-9587-4433-a925-15259ae6d84c.png) ### Thursday, July 30. [Dr. Fauci’s diary and Senate hearing](https://www.readtangle.com/fauci-diary-senate-hearing/). On Wednesday, July 29, the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee questioned Dr. Anthony Fauci about his decision-making during the Covid-19 pandemic. Fauci invoked the Fifth Amendment throughout the roughly three-hour hearing, drawing rebuke from committee Republicans and a warning from Committee Chairman Rand Paul (R-KY) that he could be charged with contempt of Congress. The hearing followed the release of diary entries from Fauci between December 2019 and December 2022, which described how he approached key moments of the pandemic and processed his rising celebrity. **Our take:** *“In the court of public opinion, I think Fauci’s decision to plead the Fifth was a big mistake that makes him look guilty to anyone unsure how they feel about him. It’s remarkable that Fauci’s journal entries are public, and some are quite eye-catching. But many of his critics are exaggerating what the diary reveals.”* **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/08/data-src-image-20392458-7bae-476f-a589-fae361e1e4d4.png) ### Friday, July 31. Since the Supreme Court allowed sports betting to be legalized in 2018, the industry has exploded across American life. With it, concerns about gambling and gambling addiction have also been on the rise. Executive Editor Isaac Saul has been paying attention and is wondering if those concerns are actually overblown. [You can read his members-only essay here](https://www.readtangle.com/is-sports-betting-really-that-bad/). --- ### What just happened. Here’s a rundown of the major stories that have broken since our newsletter on Thursday. - On Thursday, President Donald Trump said Hamas had agreed to disarm as part of the next phase of a Gaza peace plan. Trump said that Israel will withdraw from the strip as the “disarmament is completed,” though no timetable has been announced, and Israel has not officially commented on the agreement. ([The update](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-hamas-next-phase-gaza-peace-deal-disarmament/?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Thursday, President Trump said he is considering withdrawing Todd Blanche’s nomination for attorney general until 2027 to circumvent opposition from Sens. John Cornyn (R-TX) and Thom Tillis (R-NC), whose terms end next January. ([The comments](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-threatens-pull-todd-blanches-ag-nomination-gop-holdouts-leave-of-rcna590054?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Thursday, Spain deployed its military to the Spanish exclave of Ceuta, where thousands of migrants have entered the country after entering from Morocco. Spain said that many of the migrants had returned to Morocco as of Friday. ([The deployment](https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2026/07/30/spain-and-morocco-agree-urgent-return-of-latest-ceuta-migrants?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Thursday, artificial intelligence (AI) developer Anthropic said that three of its AI models gained unauthorized access to systems belonging to three external companies during a testing exercise. ([The incidents](https://www.axios.com/2026/07/30/anthropic-mythos-security-testing?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Thursday, the Commerce Department reported that U.S. gross domestic product increased 1.5% in Q2 of 2026, lower than economists’ predicted 1.8% increase. ([The numbers](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/07/30/us-economy-slowed-to-1point5percent-growth-rate-in-q2-june-core-inflation-at-3point3percent.html?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Thursday, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency issued an alert about potential cyber threats to water systems after 30 water plants in Minnesota experienced cyberattacks. Federal agencies are investigating whether Iran was involved in the attacks. ([The alert](https://abcnews.com/US/investigators-iran-connection-minnesota-water-system-hacks-us/story?id=135237777&ref=readtangle.com)) - On Friday, the Trump administration appealed a Florida federal judge’s ruling that found the president colluded with the government to sue the IRS. ([The appeal](https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/6003015-trump-appeals-irs-lawsuit-ruling/?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Saturday, at least three people were killed and several others were injured in a shooting in Twin Falls, Idaho. The suspected shooter is deceased. ([The shooting](https://www.cnn.com/2026/08/01/us/idaho-shooter-twin-falls?ref=readtangle.com)) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/08/data-src-image-bb5d32c3-311c-43a6-bf2a-43fc6592b657.png) ### Reader essay. ![Photo from Rawpixel on Free Range Stock](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/08/data-src-image-2375f55b-d966-4aae-b0e8-e9cab2729cbc.png) Photo from Rawpixel on [Free Range Stock](https://freerangestock.com/photos/122037/two-business-people-shaking-hands.html?ref=readtangle.com) In a country that seems politically dominated by just two teams, Tangle reader Stu Strumwasser is a lifelong independent. But he doesn’t feel alone, or powerless: instead, he thinks the two-party system is ripe for change, and that independents are growing in power. In this week’s reader essay, he makes the case that change is coming — even if it’s slow. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### It’s Not Weird For Independents To Want Representation In Our Own Government URL: https://www.readtangle.com/otherposts/i-wrote-a-book-to-show-that-its-not-weird-for-independents-to-want-representation-in-our-own-government-when-we-are-half-the-country/ Last updated: 2026-08-31T18:02:13.000Z *By Stu Strumwasser, author of* [*A Real Collusion*](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0G5K3BJ1K?ref=readtangle.com) --- Throughout my entire adult life I have identified as a political Independent and always felt like an outsider—although it turns out that I am part of a silent majority. One experiences a strange combination of discordant emotions — a mixture of vindication and regret — when learning that an uncommon lifestyle choice wasn’t necessarily “weird,” or somehow evidence of a character flaw. Maybe I was just a bit ahead of my time during my formative years — but I certainly felt less precocious and more gaslighted, the victim of psychological gut-punches. I was five years old in 1971, when my family moved to a town called Lynbrook on Long Island. We were a Jewish family, and my parents were told by the real estate agent that Lynbrook had a diverse population, mostly Irish, Italian and Jewish — about a third of each. That was true. However, she failed to tell them that nearly every single Jewish family lived south of Sunrise Highway and their kids attended Lynbrook South Middle School. I went to Lynbrook North. Being one of only two Jewish kids in a grade of around a hundred throughout elementary and middle school never made me feel persecuted, but it always made me feel different. The acknowledgement of that difference was unspoken, but pervasive and constant. When I abandoned religion entirely, around the age of thirteen, it was even worse. Today in the United States, around 30% of us are non-religious, but when I was growing up I sometimes felt like the only nonbeliever in the world. In 1980, at the tender age of fourteen, I read, “Diet For A Small Planet,” freaked out, and around a week later announced to my parents that I had become a vegetarian. Their response was to threaten that if I didn’t see a psychiatrist, they would refuse to let me get a learner’s permit. From the time I was fourteen until well into my thirties, I could rarely eat a meal without a family member, or a friend, or a waiter pointing out my strangeness. The verbal barbs that were breaded and deep-fried and hidden beneath the veils of jokes seemed relentless. Was it so incredibly weird to be a vegetarian in the 1980s or 1990s? Not really. It was not unusual on Earth — just in Lynbrook. I turned eighteen in 1984\. At the time, most people turning eighteen didn’t give much thought as to which political party to join. One joined the party one’s parents belonged to. We identified with our neighbors and communities. My parents were Democrats… so, of course, I registered as an independent! It’s on the subject of politics and party affiliation that I have felt the most gaslighted and outraged because I am not even part of a large minority — I am a member of the *majority* — yet the special interests in power have got us believing their bullshit better than any other group of bullies anywhere else in society. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Did Fauci Make the Right Call? URL: https://www.readtangle.com/did-fauci-make-the-right-call/ Last updated: 2026-08-02T07:06:13.000Z Anthony Fauci pleaded the Fifth before Congress—but was it the right decision? ### Are the criticisms of Anthony Fauci fair? URL: https://www.readtangle.com/are-the-criticisms-of-anthony-fauci-fair/ Last updated: 2026-07-31T19:06:36.000Z Are the criticisms of Anthony Fauci’s diary entries fair? Tangle Executive Editor Isaac Saul weighs in on one criticism he isn’t buying. ### Is sports betting really that bad? URL: https://www.readtangle.com/is-sports-betting-really-that-bad/ Last updated: 2026-07-31T15:52:32.000Z ****Note:** You are reading a preview of a members-only Friday edition. To read it in full, [you’ll be asked to subscribe](https://www.readtangle.com/membership/). A few years ago, I accidentally won $2,000 on FanDuel. At the time, the gambling app was running a promotion that would gift you $1,000 to bet risk-free if you deposited $1,000 of real cash into your account. A group of my friends with whom I gamble recreationally (as I’d describe it) discovered that if you deposited the “real” $1,000 in your FanDuel account, bet the app’s “free” $1,000 and then withdrew your real cash, the app would still let your bet stand. “It’s a free $1,000” is how one friend described it. This was in the early days of legalized sports betting, in 2022, when gambling apps were competing for users and, generally speaking, the entire space was like the Wild West. I placed my $1,000 wager, but there was one problem: When you made the bet, you had to toggle an option to use the “free bonus bet” money. Nobody told me that, or it was so obvious nobody thought it needed explaining. In my haste to get my free $1,000 bet locked before the game started, I accidentally bet the $1,000 of *real* money I had deposited into my account. It was an alarming, stomach-dropping, and uncomfortable-to-lose amount of money that I never would have wagered intentionally. Realizing my mistake, I immediately put the free $1,000 on a different bet, hoping I could somehow hedge against the unintentionally large risk I had just taken. When I told my friends about the mistake, they responded with unanimous laughter and very little sympathy. My bets were placed, and there was no going back. The game was the AFC Divisional playoff matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Buffalo Bills. One of my bets was that the Chiefs would win. The other was that Travis Kelce, the Chiefs’ tight end, would score a touchdown. The game ended up being [one of the best in NFL history](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZyXnCPbK6NI&ref=readtangle.com): The Bills scored a go-ahead touchdown to take a three-point lead with 13 seconds left in regulation, which — in 99.9% of football games — would have been my death sentence. I remember sinking into the couch and my friends looking at me uncomfortably, trying to hold in laughter but maybe — also — starting to feel a little bad for me. Then the Chiefs, by the grace of quarterback Patrick Mahomes, managed to get into field goal range in just two plays and tie the game. Minutes into overtime, with the game tied 36–36, Mahomes threw Kelce a gorgeous back-shoulder fade. Draped by a linebacker, Kelce got both hands on the ball, tapped both feet in bounds, and tumbled out of the end zone for the game-winning touchdown as the stadium erupted. In other words: Both my $1,000 bets hit at the same time, on the same play, to end the game. I more than doubled my money, and my friends and I went absolutely ballistic. It was one of the most exhilarating explosions of football fandom I’ve ever experienced. I rushed home in a wave of excitement to tell my newly minted wife what just happened, rehashing the scene breathlessly: An accidental bet! $2,000! Diamond hands! I didn’t blink! Last play of the game! Travis Kelce touchdown! Chiefs win! *We just made $2,000!* Phoebe, in a moment of deep clarity, shot up off the couch and pierced my elation with a look like I’d just excitedly shared news of my infidelity. “You bet $2,000 on a fucking football game?!” was her approximate response. “What is wrong with you?” All I could think was, well, when you put it like that… it doesn’t sound so good. --- Four years later, the U.S. is in the throes of the legal sports betting experiment. And if you look around, we may be headed for a moral panic, too. Broadly speaking, moral panics are widespread, exaggerated fears that certain trends threaten a society’s core values and interests. In the U.S., we’ve had moral panics about comic books, marijuana use, stranger danger, satanic cults, violent video games and groomers, to name just a few. In this case, the widespread adoption of sports betting has led to a cottage industry of articles declaring everything from a new wave of youth addiction to the total breakdown and corruption of professional (and even collegiate) sports. “[Americans spend more on sports bets than movies, arts, museums and music combined](https://fortune.com/2026/07/26/gambling-america-pastime-spend-sports-bets-movies-arts-museums-music/?ref=readtangle.com),” blared FORTUNE. 11 year-olds are being sucked into online gambling sites, then selling their parents’ things to pay off debts, [NPR tells us](https://www.npr.org/2026/04/05/nx-s1-5762276/teens-getting-hooked-on-gambling-sports-betting?ref=readtangle.com). A New York Times opinion piece argues, “[We’re getting America’s children hooked on gambling](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/27/opinion/gambling-addiction-middle-school.html?ref=readtangle.com).” Axios described it as America “[scaling sin](https://www.axios.com/2026/05/12/america-gambling-weed-deepfakes?ref=readtangle.com).” STAT News called it a “[twofold public health crisis](https://www.statnews.com/2026/04/11/sports-betting-addiction-compulsive-behavior-mental-health-men/?ref=readtangle.com)” for young men. Meanwhile, NBA players and coaches have been [indicted](https://www.readtangle.com/the-nba-gambling-scandals/) for wagering on their own games, leading to a growing belief that professional athletes and referees are now rigging games. Or, put more broadly, that [gambling is ruining sports](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/29/learning/is-legalized-gambling-ruining-sports.html?ref=readtangle.com). Of course, perverse incentives for athletes are just one part of the puzzle; sports betting is also capturing the attention of sports’ young, male audience. One survey [found](https://www.commonsensemedia.org/press-releases/common-sense-media-releases-new-research-on-adolescent-boys-gambling-habits?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=The%20report%2C%20which,17%2Dyear%2Dolds.) 36% of boys aged 11 to 17 have gambled in the past year, and about 12% of boys have placed bets on sports. Those are astonishing stats that merit anxiety from any parent who reads them. And, obviously, many of us can’t turn on the television or scroll social media without being inundated with legal gambling ads, which is now [a quantifiable trend](https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/interactive/2026/05/19/post-ai-analysis-sports-tv-detected-an-excess-gambling-ads/?ref=readtangle.com). Today, any thinkpiece you [read about gambling](https://www.slowboring.com/p/legal-sports-gambling-has-gone-way?ref=readtangle.com) is likely [advancing the notion](https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/2026/04/online-sports-betting-app-addiction/686061/?ref=readtangle.com) that we are living in some kind of gambling dystopia, where teens are stealing their parents’ credit cards and gambling away their life savings while single men are too busy betting all their crypto on NFL parlays to start a family or build a career. At the same time, only 29% of U.S. adults [view](https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2026/03/16/americans-are-less-likely-than-people-in-many-other-countries-to-see-gambling-as-morally-wrong/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=In%20a%202025,61%25%20in%20Brazil.) gambling as morally wrong, while 43% view legal sports betting as bad for society. Those numbers actually paint a fairly nuanced picture of public perception (i.e., little judgment on gambling, but growing distaste for frictionless legal sports betting). I’ve been watching the coverage of this issue for several years now, and I feel pretty conflicted, too. I don’t want to downplay the risks: Legalized sports betting has added a new, culturally accepted addictive activity to our society. Along with alcohol, drugs and all manner of screentime, we now have another degenerate behavior with a risk of addiction to worry about. Worse yet, it fits neatly into the most pessimistic view of our lonely, socially isolated, internet-addicted society. It’s easy to read these articles and imagine an epidemic of 20-something males awake at 2 AM, bleary-eyed and overweight, with blue-lit faces staring down at a list of FanDuel parlays. And yet, very little that I see or experience resembles anything close to the panicky headlines I’m reading in the press. More importantly, the evidence of an actual spike in gambling addicts is far more sparse than you might think. Personally, almost everything I’ve experienced related to gambling — which has been a fair amount — paints a pretty different picture. And as a male in my mid-30s with some disposable income, I’m the target market here, the one supposedly most at risk. Consider this astounding fact about me that I’m somewhat ashamed, reticent, and embarrassed to share: _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Fauci Pleads the Fifth. Now what? URL: https://www.readtangle.com/fauci-pleads-the-fifth-now-what/ Last updated: 2026-07-30T21:06:33.000Z What can we take away from former Covid Czar Anthony Fauci’s testimony in front of the Senate yesterday? ### 16 thoughts on Anthony Fauci. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/otherposts/16-thoughts-on-anthony-fauci/ Last updated: 2026-07-30T16:09:30.000Z Covering the release of Fauci’s diaries and the debate over his testimony has thrown me squarely back into the peak-pandemic era. It reminded me of how stressful, uncertain and divisive that time period was, and how glad I am we are no longer in it. It also reminded me of how conflicted I felt about Fauci and our pandemic response. So here are 16 thoughts on Anthony Fauci, his diaries, and his testimony. 1. Whenever I think of Covid-19, I come from this framework: Hindsight is 20/20, but this was an impossibly difficult time. We were living through a terrifying spread of a novel virus, the global response was disjointed and broken, and no country succeeded in stopping the spread while preserving even a semblance of normal life. Fauci and President Trump (and later President Biden) made a lot of mistakes, but so did everyone else. In the United States, over one million people died of or with Covid. Many businesses were destroyed. Many children were scarred by school closures. Many people who questioned the government or mainstream scientific consensus were publicly ridiculed, ostracized, or lost their jobs. It feels like we got the worst of everything, and yet, given the success of the vaccine rollout and our economic recovery, it’s *also* a miracle it wasn’t worse. 2. In the court of public opinion, I think Fauci’s decision to plead the Fifth was a big mistake that makes him look guilty to anyone unsure how they feel about him. Practically, I understand it — everyone is constitutionally protected against self-incrimination, and it is a smart move legally in many scenarios. Fauci has testified before Congress hundreds of times, and Sen. Rand Paul [indicated](https://x.com/damintoell/status/2082473185014854052?ref=readtangle.com) that he expected Fauci to be dishonest, and that if Fauci perjured himself before the committee, he’d be open to new prosecution outside the bounds of the [sweeping pardon](https://www.readtangle.com/bidens-final-acts-as-president/) President Biden issued. If I were Fauci, I would believe Paul was on a hunt not for answers but more charges, and I’d also follow legal advice to keep my mouth shut, but that doesn’t mean it’s a good look. 3. Speaking of that pardon… I’m really unsure how to feel about it now. This is the latest in a laundry list of reminders about how excessive the presidential pardon power is. Biden gave sweeping pardons to his family members and people like Fauci, who are now protected from federal prosecution in a way that invites suspicion, and the whole thing stinks of political corruption. It could also backfire on Fauci, who now [may not be protected](https://www.readtangle.com/trump-mcmahon-dismantle-education-department/#:~:text=Your%20questions%2C%20answered) by the Fifth Amendment because he’s not at risk of federal prosecution. At the same time, Republicans have done exactly what Biden predicted they would — try to put Fauci in jail — which retroactively justifies his rationale for the pardon in the first place. It’s a lose-lose situation, and it makes the whole system look very ugly. 4. It’s remarkable that Fauci’s journal entries are public, and some are quite eye-catching. There’s debate about whether we should have access to these entries at all, but as a journalist, I am pro-leak, pro-transparency, and pro-information. I think they add a great deal to our understanding of the pandemic and the man Fauci is, so I’m glad to have them. Still, the black-and-white claim that Fauci’s diary confirms he covered up that the virus leaked from a lab is overstated. The frustrating thing is that the entries, like Fauci’s public comments and the virus itself, are a moving target. And some of them are damning. But many of his critics are exaggerating what the diary reveals. 5. For example: Fauci and the mainstream scientific community long labeled the lab-leak theory a conspiracy. Scientists who publicly argued that Covid was engineered were [isolated](https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/covid-origin-wuhan-lab-leak-alina-chan-mit-harvard/?ref=readtangle.com) from academia and [labeled](https://www.science.org/content/article/scientists-strongly-condemn-rumors-and-conspiracy-theories-about-origin-coronavirus?ref=readtangle.com) right-wing quacks. Politicians who explored the idea were [called conspiracy theorists](https://web.archive.org/web/20200217032808/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/02/16/tom-cotton-coronavirus-conspiracy/). For even considering the lab leak theory in Tangle, readers canceled their subscriptions and called *me* a conspiracy theorist, [even when I was deferring to Fauci’s expertise](https://www.readtangle.com/did-covid-19-start-in-a-chinese-lab/#:~:text=Like%20most%20Americans%2C%20I%20find%20Dr.%20Fauci%20as%20the%20most%20trustworthy%20voice%20in%20this%20whole%20mess.%20He%20seems%20ice%20cold%20on%20the%20laboratory%20theories%2C%20so%20I%E2%80%99m%20inclined%20to%20believe%20him.). People who talked about a potential lab leak [were also labeled racists](https://www.readtangle.com/origins-of-coronavirus-lab-leak-theory/#:~:text=Many%20people%2C%20indeed,it%20racist.). And yet, we now know that a very live debate about the virus’s origins was playing out behind the scenes, despite Fauci taking a long time to [acknowledge the possibility publicly](https://www.newsweek.com/timeline-what-dr-fauci-has-said-about-wuhan-lab-covids-origins-1594698?ref=readtangle.com). 6. In his diary, Fauci noted that he convened a call of leading virologists and evolutionary biologists after a respected scientist expressed concerns that Covid could have been engineered. Of the 11 scientists on the call, just two were convinced the virus emerged naturally. The others were not sure. Fauci did not state his view in that specific entry, but publicly, just months later, he and other officials were [insisting](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/anthony-fauci-wuhan-lab-coronavirus-source-dismissal/?ref=readtangle.com) the “engineered virus” idea was [implausible](https://www.businessinsider.com/fauci-throws-cold-water-conspiracy-theory-coronavirus-escaped-chinese-lab-2020-4?ref=readtangle.com). Behind closed doors, though, it seemed that many respected scientists thought it was possible. 7. Perhaps the most damning portrait these documents paint of Fauci is one where he was [manufacturing scientific consensus](https://www.wsj.com/opinion/free-expression/a-covid-conspiracy-in-plain-sight-34f05fd1?ref=readtangle.com) when none existed. With incredible fame and as head of NIAID, Fauci had the press wrapped around his finger and was operating a $6 billion research budget many scientists could only dream of. He used that power to brow-beat scientists into his view, or dismiss dissidents as quacks, all while working behind closed doors with sympathetic journalists to manufacture the “right” public messaging (i.e. amplifying his view). Dissent was [very rarely met with an open mind](https://tomselliott.substack.com/p/time-and-again-when-warned-about). Some emails even show him seeking nominations for cash prize awards from researchers [he had given money to](https://www.drvinayprasad.com/p/6-lessons-from-anthony-faucis-diary?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Fauci%20funded%20researchers%20with%20tax%20payer%20money%20and%20then%20asked%20them%20to%20nominate%20him%20for%20science%20awards%20with%20cash%20prizes%20that%20he%20could%20keep.%20This%20appears%20to%20be%20a%20loophole%20for%20legal%20bribery.). 8. At the same time, some commentators have offered poorly reasoned takeaways. Megyn Kelly zeroed in on a January 2020 entry where Fauci wrote, “Now we know the market was not the source, it was the amplifier.” Kelly told her audience this was proof Fauci knew as early as January that Covid-19 didn’t come from a market but had come from a lab. This is the same framing Sen. Rand Paul has used. However, Fauci says in the very next sentence, “Having said that, somewhere the virus jumped from animals to humans.” So he still believed the virus originated from an animal; he just thought it pre-dated the market. He [said this publicly](https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2020/02/17/new-coronavirus-what-dont-we-know-dr-anthony-fauci-q-a-opinion/4790996002/?ref=readtangle.com) to USA Today just a few weeks after that entry. And in a separate entry from the same period, he also called it a “conspiracy theory” to believe the virus came from gain-of-function research. 9. Some other Fauci entries caught my eye: He privately recalled pushing New York City and California to close their schools, despite [publicly saying](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/fauci-privately-took-credit-covid-19-lockdowns-despite-public-denial-newly-exposed-diary-entries-reveal?ref=readtangle.com) he had nothing to do with school closures. In another, he recounts telling former CDC Director Rochelle Walensky that “as good as some of the CDC people are, as an institution they have hubris and are often incorrect. She needs to follow her good instincts and question what they are doing in a friendly, non-threatening manner,” which seems like a remarkably dismissive view for the top scientist in the government to hold about the CDC. In another entry, Fauci recalled going on background with Politico to defend the Biden administration from a forthcoming article about how it was bungling the vaccine rollout. 10. In one startling, under-discussed example, Fauci recounts the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voting 9–6 *not* to extend eligibility for boosters to people at elevated risk through their jobs, like teachers and healthcare workers. ACIP had already approved boosters for people 65 and up and those with underlying conditions. Fauci considered the exclusion of at-risk workers illogical and, by his own account, the committee's decision “had nothing to do with safety.” He texted Walensky repeatedly that night, described it in his diary as having “literally begged her to override that decision,” and credited his own “very intensive persuasion” late into the night for her decision to reverse her committee the next morning and extend booster eligibility to that occupational risk group. 11. A lot of critics focused on Fauci’s seeming self-obsession. Even The New York Times [describes](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/27/us/politics/fauci-in-private-diary-reflected-on-covids-origins-and-his-own-fame.html?eafs%5Fenabled=false&ref=readtangle.com) “a portrait of Dr. Fauci as obsessed with himself, reveling in his own importance and the celebrities he knows.” I have mixed feelings here, too. On the one hand, Fauci went from being well known in the scientific community to one of the most famous people in America overnight. The coverage was [unbelievably fawning](https://x.com/tomselliott/status/2081488566706692393?ref=readtangle.com), and it’s hard to imagine what being called a “superhero” everywhere you go would do to your ego. It’s not surprising to me that he would recount these celebrity interactions and behind-the-scenes meets in his private journal entries, either, for personal posterity. I think most people criticizing him would probably do the same. Even with the world burning, if I met [Julia Roberts](https://fortune.com/2026/07/29/fauci-diary-trump-covid-oxygen-meadows-julia-roberts/?ref=readtangle.com) and she told me I was her personal hero, I might make note of it in my journal. 12. At the same time, those same entries are really hard to read. In his Substack, Tom Elliott [notes](https://tomselliott.substack.com/p/fauci-files-a-megalomaniacal-egomaniac) that the words “peer review,” “meta-analysis,” “learning loss,” and “mental health” appear *zero* times in his journal entries. Yet words like “award” (80), “hero” (49), “Instagram” (36), “bobblehead” (23), “selfie” (19), and “press” (514) are omnipresent. It’s reasonable to draw the conclusion that, in private, Fauci spent far too much time preoccupied with himself, his fame, and his public image and not enough time worrying about the on-the-ground experiences of Americans. 13. There’s quite a bit of hypocrisy going around. Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) grilled Fauci about the hundreds of billions of dollars in Covid relief that was stolen by fraudsters, and how he needs to answer for that… when that wasn’t Fauci’s job, and *she* was a sitting senator who voted to pass that relief. Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) proclaimed that “no honest person pleads the Fifth.” Is he sure that’s the line he wants to take? Here is President Donald Trump [in 2022](https://youtu.be/g9czHCb19As?si=8kalYMqgw09zN3V5&t=726&ref=readtangle.com): “Anyone in my position not taking the Fifth Amendment would be a fool, an absolute fool. One statement or answer that is ever so slightly off, just ever so slightly by accident, by mistake, such as it was a sunny beautiful day, when actually it was slightly overcast, would be met by law enforcement at a level seldom seen in this country, because I’ve experienced it.” 14. There are also some entries that make Fauci look sympathetic which his critics are conveniently ignoring. In July 2020, Andrew Cuomo pushed Fauci to resign and dangled a lucrative private sector consulting career if he did. Fauci responded curtly: “Sorry, not for me.” In March of 2020, Fauci described being embarrassed by all the attention he was getting, and being uncomfortable in moments where Trump asked people to clap for him. Throughout 2020–2022, he also describes the horror of nonstop death threats, people stalking him, showing up at his house or threatening his wife and kids, and through it all he hung tough. 15. Let’s not rewrite history, either. Trump [got mad at states](https://x.com/JonahDispatch/status/2082619785200709933?ref=readtangle.com) for reopening too early and ended his first term [by honoring](https://x.com/atrupar/status/2082466874973995325?ref=readtangle.com) Fauci, while simultaneously spreading actual conspiracies and brow-beating some places to open up earlier than they wanted to. States and counties that had voted for Trump had lower vaccination rates and far higher Covid death rates. A lot of Americans bought into shutdowns and social distancing to “flatten the curve,” but those efforts were incongruent across states. Just as it’s true that Fauci got a lot wrong, it’s also true that if every American had done everything he said in the first few months of the pandemic, many more people would probably be alive. 16. If we could go back and do this all again, I think we’d undeniably do things differently: We’d have reopened schools sooner and had many fewer restrictions on outdoor gatherings. Public health officials like Fauci would have been more honest about the necessity of masks in the early days of the virus’s outbreak. Mask recommendations would have been limited to N-95s and used in narrower circumstances. We’d have leaned into the advantages of natural immunity, knowing reinfections were less serious and less likely to seriously harm you. We’d have clearer communication about vaccine risk and vaccines not being 100% effective at stopping the spread, all while still making it clear you and those around you were much safer from death if you *were* vaccinated. We’d have been much more open-minded about the possibility of a lab leak or an engineered virus. We’d have built policy around the reality that the virus presented a much lower risk for people under the age of 40\. We wouldn’t shame others for the decisions they made for themselves and their families. We wouldn’t have accepted hypocritical, nonsensical guidance like outdoor gatherings being unsafe, but mass protests against police violence being perfectly acceptable. This is all much easier to say now, but even with that knowledge and 20/20 hindsight, wrangling a divided country of 330 million people to a public health cause in a time of emergency was never going to be easy (or, frankly, even possible). Fauci, Trump, Biden, the CDC and FDA all had an incredibly difficult job. Candidly, I have a hard time fully blaming any one of them when so many of us got so much wrong about the pandemic. It would have been nice, in my view, to hear Fauci testify along the lines of, “We got some things wrong, and for that I apologize” — to take ownership of some of the embarrassing diary entries, and to concede that he would have done some things differently. I don’t think that would have satiated those calling for him to be jailed — but I think it would have felt like closure for a lot of normal people who are still nursing scars from all manner of pandemic mistakes and injustices, both big and small. ### Fauci’s diary and Senate hearing. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/fauci-diary-senate-hearing/ Last updated: 2026-07-30T15:53:02.000Z Good **Thursday morning** and happy almost weekend. I’m **Isaac Saul** and today, we’re **covering Anthony Fauci’s Senate testimony and diary entries**. As a result, I’ve spent the past week revisiting the peak pandemic days, rereading old Tangle coverage about Covid-19, returning to my own journal entries, and fully dropping into a pandemic wormhole. My blood pressure and cortisol levels are all appropriately elevated. I still can’t believe this thing actually happened, how horrible and divisive it was, and how much is still unanswered. Today, we take a trip down memory lane. At the end of today’s newsletter, a **feel-good story about an aspiring commercial airline pilot** to wash it all down. It’s a **15-minute read**. Too busy to read? Push play instead! ![Too busy to read? Push play instead!](https://tangle.obox.agency/snippet-creator/assets/podcast@2x.png) [Listen to the newsletter every Monday – Friday here](https://www.readtangle.com/tangle-podcast/). ### We’re hiring! Tangle is hiring a sponsorship account manager to lead our advertising business and support the company’s continued growth. This is a full-time, remote position. To learn more about the role, what we’re looking for, pay and benefits, [check out the job posting here](https://www.readtangle.com/sponsorship-account-manager/). ### The latest *Suspension of the Rules*. In this week’s episode, Isaac, Ari, and Kmele discuss what we have and haven’t learned from the Covid-19 pandemic. Plus, a conversation about whether government-run grocery stores will help or hurt consumer prices, and Isaac heaps some praise onto an unlikely character. Check it out below! ### Quick hits. 1. The Federal Open Market Committee voted 9–3 to leave interest rates unchanged at 3.5%–3.75% for the second consecutive meeting under Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh. The three dissenting committee members voted to raise the interest rate by 0.25%. ([The vote](https://thehill.com/business/5995449-fed-holds-interest-rates-steady/?ref=readtangle.com)) 2. U.S. Central Command announced a new wave of airstrikes against Iran, the first since President Donald Trump paused attacks on Friday. ([The strikes](https://www.axios.com/2026/07/29/us-airstrikes-iran-trump-resume?ref=readtangle.com)) 3. Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Chuck Grassley (R-IA) postponed a vote on Todd Blanche’s nomination for attorney general after Sens. John Cornyn (R-TX) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) indicated that they would not vote to confirm Blanche. The senators are seeking explicit confirmation from the Justice Department that it will abandon plans for an “anti-weaponization” fund and immunity from Internal Revenue Service audits for President Trump, his family, and their affiliated companies. ([The postponement](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-ag-pick-blanche-stalled-key-republicans-refuse-budge?ref=readtangle.com)) 4. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that cyclosporiasis cases in the U.S. surpassed 18,000, with confirmed cases in 45 states. ([The update](https://abcnews.com/Health/18000-cyclosporiasis-cases-reported-45-states-cdc/story?id=135194065&ref=readtangle.com)) 5. President Trump announced a $22 billion renovation plan for Washington Dulles International Airport, which he said will be funded through municipal bonds. ([The announcement](https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-unveil-22-billion-plan-remake-washington-dulles-airport-2026-07-29/?ref=readtangle.com)) SPONSORED by mode mobile ![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/07/ChatGPT-Image-Jul-22--2026--01_29_02-PM.png) ****The Next Smartphone Disruptor Is Still Private** Apple changed how we use smartphones. [****Mode Mobile**](https://invest.modemobile.com/?utm%5Fsource=bd0198&utm%5Fcampaign=de0002&utm%5Fmedium=regahome&utm%5Fcontent=nasdaq%5Ftangle&tnames=bd0198-de0002) wants to change how they pay us. 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On Wednesday, the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee [questioned](https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/anthony-fauci-invokes-fifth-amendment-in-covid-19-hearing-5eeb2f3d?ref=readtangle.com) Dr. Anthony Fauci about his decision-making during the Covid-19 pandemic. Fauci invoked the Fifth Amendment throughout the roughly three-hour hearing, drawing rebuke from committee Republicans and a [warning](https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2026/07/29/congress/rand-paul-fauci-biden-pardon-fifth-amendment-01015150?ref=readtangle.com) from Committee Chairman Rand Paul (R-KY) that he could be charged with contempt of Congress. The hearing followed the release of diary entries from Fauci between December 2019 and December 2022, which described how he approached key moments of the pandemic and processed his rising celebrity. **Back up:** Fauci [served](https://www.niaid.nih.gov/about/anthony-s-fauci-md-bio?ref=readtangle.com) as director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases from 1984–2022, specializing in diagnosing and treating infectious diseases such as AIDS. At the outset of the Covid pandemic, President Donald Trump [named](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Anthony-Fauci?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Cornell%20Medical%20Center.-,AIDS%20and%20COVID%2D19,-Anthony%20FauciAmerican) Fauci to the White House task force coordinating the government’s response to the virus, and Fauci later became President Joe Biden’s chief medical adviser. During that time, he regularly advised the public about Covid testing, social distancing, and the vaccine rollout. Republican lawmakers have scrutinized Fauci for his recommendations during the pandemic, particularly related to masking, school closures, and the origins of the virus itself. Sen. Paul has been an outspoken critic of Fauci, [referring](https://www.hsgac.senate.gov/media/reps/senator-rand-paul-re-refers-dr-anthony-fauci-to-the-department-of-justice/?ref=readtangle.com) him to the Department of Justice for allegedly lying under oath to Congress in 2023 and again in 2025\. Paul also subpoenaed Fauci to appear for Wednesday’s hearing after he declined to testify voluntarily. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. [said](https://x.com/SecKennedy/status/2081937419020996779?ref=readtangle.com) his office was responsible for recovering the approximately 1,100 pages of [Fauci’s diary](https://www.paul.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/2026.07.24%5FTonys-Diary-Package.pdf?ref=readtangle.com), saying the entries were stored on and retrieved from 11 government servers that Fauci used. The entries [show](https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/5994836-fauci-diary-entries-covid/?ref=readtangle.com) him privately expressing more uncertainty about the origins of Covid than he conveyed in his public remarks and becoming increasingly frustrated with President Trump’s handling of the crisis. He also maintained detailed notes of his media appearances and conversations with high-profile figures, often remarking on his rising celebrity status. At Wednesday’s hearing, Fauci gave an [opening statement](https://apnews.com/article/fauci-covid19-pandemic-senate-rand-paul-a774a79e46824ebec9e8e270b9cb9825?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=In%20his%20opening,taking%20the%20Fifth.) accusing Sen. Paul of an “obvious obsession with calling for my prosecution,” and saying that Paul’s motivation was “to get me to say something, anything, that could vindicate his repeated public pledges that I end up, in his words, behind bars.” Paul and other Republican lawmakers then [questioned](https://www.axios.com/2026/07/29/anthony-fauci-fifth-amendment-covid-hearing-paul?ref=readtangle.com) Fauci about government-funded virus research in Wuhan, China, and his communication to the public during the pandemic, which Fauci declined to answer. The senator also said that the committee will vote on a contempt resolution against Fauci next week, suggesting that the doctor was unable to invoke the Fifth because President Biden had [preemptively pardoned](https://www.readtangle.com/bidens-final-acts-as-president/) him. Today, we’ll survey views from the left and right on the diary and hearing, followed by Executive Editor Isaac Saul’s take. | What the left is saying. The left is critical of Republicans’ treatment of Fauci, but many say the hearing is not the end of the saga. Some acknowledge that the diary entries are embarrassing, though not necessarily damning.Others argue that Fauci is the wrong target for litigating pandemic errors. | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | **In CNN, Aaron Blake said** [**“Fauci might not be safe after pleading the Fifth.”**](https://www.cnn.com/2026/07/29/politics/fauci-senate-fifth-amendment?ref=readtangle.com) “On his way out of office, Biden issued preemptive pardons for Fauci and others targeted by incoming President Trump… In other words, Fauci is already immune from prosecution for many of the potential alleged crimes Paul and the committee’s Republicans could try to link him to from the Covid era,” Blake wrote. “But Fauci indicated he was pleading the Fifth because he feared Republicans would try to lay a perjury trap… whether it’s enough for Fauci to plead the Fifth and be done with it is a major unanswered question. “There is a tension between Fifth Amendment protections and Congress’ investigative authority. And witnesses who claim they are protected from answering questions can be called upon to justify that in court and can be held in contempt,” Blake said. “\[However\], even if the panel votes to hold him in contempt, an actual referral to the Justice Department requires a majority of the full Senate, and that vote would have to clear a filibuster.” **In The Atlantic, Gal Beckerman wrote about** [**“the revelatory cringe of Anthony Fauci.”**](https://www.theatlantic.com/books/2026/07/anthony-faucis-embarrassing-revealing-diary/688107/?ref=readtangle.com) “The contents of Fauci’s diary, revealed this past weekend and published online by Senator Rand Paul, are — there is no other way to put it — embarrassing to an excruciating degree,” Beckerman said. “Eventually, we might read those notes differently, as a key text in the history of the coronavirus pandemic. But what we know right now is that during months when the country shut down, when panic and death dominated, Fauci was spending part of his time cataloging his own growing fame with the excitement of a child star who had been asked to sign an autograph for the first time.” “Those looking to discredit Fauci will surely make hay of these journal entries… Besides the self-regard, what Paul has picked on is Fauci’s openness in the early months of the pandemic to considering the lab-leak theory, which he disputed and delegitimized when talking with the press,” Beckerman wrote. “\[Sen. Paul\] seems to forget, however, that this is what a diary is *for*: private thoughts. Fauci’s mistake was not in recording what was going through his mind and lifting his ego, but in doing so on government servers, which are never, ever private. For this, the 85-year-old has only himself to blame.” **In The Intercept, Mychal Denzel Smith argued** [**“Fauci’s diary isn’t the key to why Covid ravaged the U.S.”**](https://theintercept.com/2026/07/29/covid-fauci-diary-rand-paul-healthcare-pandemic/?ref=readtangle.com) “We, the public, deserve answers about what went wrong during \[Covid\] and how our governments are preparing for similar outbreaks in the future such that they can prevent the loss of so much life… Instead, Paul sunk his libertarian teeth into a xenophobic conspiracy theory that reinforces his ideological priors: too many government agencies that spend too many public dollars,” Smith wrote. “It’s the same reason Paul avoids the real, persistent public health crisis underlying the huge spike in deaths in the U.S. from Covid — and a host of other diseases: the lack of universal healthcare.” “Some of the greatest successes of Covid policy arose not from private health insurers acting on their mandates for profit, but rather by mandates and funding from local, state, and federal government. Acts of Congress forced healthcare insurers and providers into covering certain services. When testing became a feasible method of helping to prevent the spread of Covid, federal funding made it far more widely available — even for the uninsured,” Smith said. “The fight for universal healthcare coverage remains a vital one, as the uncertainty of when we could face another pandemic looms over us all.” | What the right is saying. The right criticizes Fauci’s decision to invoke the Fifth at the hearing.Some question the media’s reporting on Fauci’s diary. Others praise Sen. Paul for pursuing accountability. | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | **In National Review, Jim Geraghty wrote** [**“today’s Senate appearance is not helping Dr. Anthony Fauci.”**](https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/why-todays-senate-appearance-is-not-helping-dr-anthony-fauci/?ref=readtangle.com) “It’s understandable that critics of Dr. Anthony Fauci are frustrated by his performance before the Senate today,” Geraghty said. “But I think today’s performance is strengthening the anti-Fauci argument and weakening the pro-Fauci argument; I think you find fewer Fauci superfans in the circles of Democratic elites today than you did in 2021, and no one is quite as eager to run to the ramparts to defend Fauci’s reputation as they were a few years ago.” “In his personal writings, Fauci mentions talking with then-\[New York City\] mayor Bill de Blasio and \[California political adviser\] Ann O’Leary… about closing schools, right before they announced decisions to close the schools. No, Fauci didn’t give the order to close the schools, he just advised a bunch of the people who gave the order to close the schools,” Geraghty wrote. “If you’re a Fauci fan, you probably figured there had to be some reasonable explanation as to why his assessments written in his diary seemed so different from his statements to the public during the pandemic. Today, Fauci didn’t give them to you.” **In The Federalist, Brianna Lyman argued** [**“the media aren’t reporting on \[Fauci’s diaries\] fairly.”**](https://thefederalist.com/2026/07/28/faucis-diaries-are-a-media-scandal-thats-why-the-media-arent-reporting-on-them-fairly/?ref=readtangle.com) “Anthony Fauci’s newly released diaries include explosive revelations about how he lied publicly about the Covid fatality rate, the lab leak theory, school closures, and vaccines,” Lyman wrote. “Yet according to the propaganda press, the biggest takeaways are that Fauci disliked President Donald Trump, worried about threats, and really liked being famous. But perhaps that framing is no surprise… Fauci’s entries show that prominent ‘journalists’ from Dana Bash to Jake Tapper to Chuck Todd all acted more as friends, advisers, admirers, and mouthpieces for his preferred narrative — all the while Fauci was deliberately misleading and lying to the public about the pandemic. “Journalists who were doing their job would’ve pressed Fauci on glaring inconsistencies, logical points, and common sense and would have been led to the same conclusion that readers of Fauci’s entries have now reached: Fauci was lying for his own personal ego at the expense of our livelihoods, lives, and national well-being,” Lyman said. “The very people who were supposed to scrutinize Fauci’s handling of the pandemic were privately trying to protect, impress, and maintain access to him. ” **The Free Press editors said** [**“Fauci got a lot wrong during the pandemic.”**](https://www.thefp.com/p/anthony-faucis-journal-of-hypocrisy?ref=readtangle.com) “Fauci led the call for lockdowns and school closures. Wrong. He said that it was ‘extremely unlikely’ that people who had been vaccinated could transmit the virus to others. Wrong. He said that children as young as 2 should wear masks. Wrong,” the editors wrote. “He argued that the virus had emerged from a ‘wet market’ in Wuhan, China, jumping from an animal to a human — and shut down any suggestion that it could have resulted from a leak in a laboratory that was engaged in ‘gain of function’ research. “As for those who disagreed, Fauci had an astonishingly arrogant response: ‘They are really criticizing science because I represent science.’ Back when both the public health establishment and the mainstream media hung on Fauci’s every word, Republican Senator Rand Paul was one of the few in a position of power willing to criticize him,” the editors said. “Paul has long been convinced that the virus did indeed result from a lab leak, a position that is no longer viewed as heresy but is taken seriously by a number of officials in the intelligence community. And he has never stopped trying to get to the bottom of it.” My take. Isaac Saul Executive Editor ![Isaac Saul](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2025/05/Isaac.jpg) Covering the release of Fauci’s diaries and the debate over his testimony has thrown me squarely back into the peak-pandemic era. It reminded me of how stressful, uncertain and divisive that time period was, and how glad I am we are no longer in it. It also reminded me of how conflicted I felt about Fauci and our pandemic response. So here are 16 thoughts on Anthony Fauci, his diaries, and his testimony. **Reminder:** This is where we share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, leave a comment or reply to this email. 1. Whenever I think of Covid-19, I come from this framework: Hindsight is 20/20, but this was an impossibly difficult time. We were living through a terrifying spread of a novel virus, the global response was disjointed and broken, and no country succeeded in stopping the spread while preserving even a semblance of normal life. Fauci and President Trump (and later President Biden) made a lot of mistakes, but so did everyone else. In the United States, over one million people died of or with Covid. Many businesses were destroyed. Many children were scarred by school closures. Many people who questioned the government or mainstream scientific consensus were publicly ridiculed, ostracized, or lost their jobs. It feels like we got the worst of everything, and yet, given the success of the vaccine rollout and our economic recovery, it’s *also* a miracle it wasn’t worse. 2. In the court of public opinion, I think Fauci’s decision to plead the Fifth was a big mistake that makes him look guilty to anyone unsure how they feel about him. Practically, I understand it — everyone is constitutionally protected against self-incrimination, and it is a smart move legally in many scenarios. Fauci has testified before Congress hundreds of times, and Sen. Rand Paul [indicated](https://x.com/damintoell/status/2082473185014854052?ref=readtangle.com) that he expected Fauci to be dishonest, and that if Fauci perjured himself before the committee, he’d be open to new prosecution outside the bounds of the [sweeping pardon](https://www.readtangle.com/bidens-final-acts-as-president/) President Biden issued. If I were Fauci, I would believe Paul was on a hunt not for answers but more charges, and I’d also follow legal advice to keep my mouth shut, but that doesn’t mean it’s a good look. 3. Speaking of that pardon… I’m really unsure how to feel about it now. This is the latest in a laundry list of reminders about how excessive the presidential pardon power is. Biden gave sweeping pardons to his family members and people like Fauci, who are now protected from federal prosecution in a way that invites suspicion, and the whole thing stinks of political corruption. It could also backfire on Fauci, who now [may not be protected](https://www.readtangle.com/trump-mcmahon-dismantle-education-department/#:~:text=Your%20questions%2C%20answered) by the Fifth Amendment because he’s not at risk of federal prosecution. At the same time, Republicans have done exactly what Biden predicted they would — try to put Fauci in jail — which retroactively justifies his rationale for the pardon in the first place. It’s a lose-lose situation, and it makes the whole system look very ugly. 4. It’s remarkable that Fauci’s journal entries are public, and some are quite eye-catching. There’s debate about whether we should have access to these entries at all, but as a journalist, I am pro-leak, pro-transparency, and pro-information. I think they add a great deal to our understanding of the pandemic and the man Fauci is, so I’m glad to have them. Still, the black-and-white claim that Fauci’s diary confirms he covered up that the virus leaked from a lab is overstated. The frustrating thing is that the entries, like Fauci’s public comments and the virus itself, are a moving target. And some of them are damning. But many of his critics are exaggerating what the diary reveals. 5. For example: Fauci and the mainstream scientific community long labeled the lab-leak theory a conspiracy. Scientists who publicly argued that Covid was engineered were [isolated](https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/covid-origin-wuhan-lab-leak-alina-chan-mit-harvard/?ref=readtangle.com) from academia and [labeled](https://www.science.org/content/article/scientists-strongly-condemn-rumors-and-conspiracy-theories-about-origin-coronavirus?ref=readtangle.com) right-wing quacks. Politicians who explored the idea were [called conspiracy theorists](https://web.archive.org/web/20200217032808/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/02/16/tom-cotton-coronavirus-conspiracy/). For even considering the lab leak theory in Tangle, readers canceled their subscriptions and called *me* a conspiracy theorist, [even when I was deferring to Fauci’s expertise](https://www.readtangle.com/did-covid-19-start-in-a-chinese-lab/#:~:text=Like%20most%20Americans%2C%20I%20find%20Dr.%20Fauci%20as%20the%20most%20trustworthy%20voice%20in%20this%20whole%20mess.%20He%20seems%20ice%20cold%20on%20the%20laboratory%20theories%2C%20so%20I%E2%80%99m%20inclined%20to%20believe%20him.). People who talked about a potential lab leak [were also labeled racists](https://www.readtangle.com/origins-of-coronavirus-lab-leak-theory/#:~:text=Many%20people%2C%20indeed,it%20racist.). And yet, we now know that a very live debate about the virus’s origins was playing out behind the scenes, despite Fauci taking a long time to [acknowledge the possibility publicly](https://www.newsweek.com/timeline-what-dr-fauci-has-said-about-wuhan-lab-covids-origins-1594698?ref=readtangle.com). 6. In his diary, Fauci noted that he convened a call of leading virologists and evolutionary biologists after a respected scientist expressed concerns that Covid could have been engineered. Of the 11 scientists on the call, just two were convinced the virus emerged naturally. The others were not sure. Fauci did not state his view in that specific entry, but publicly, just months later, he and other officials were [insisting](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/anthony-fauci-wuhan-lab-coronavirus-source-dismissal/?ref=readtangle.com) the “engineered virus” idea was [implausible](https://www.businessinsider.com/fauci-throws-cold-water-conspiracy-theory-coronavirus-escaped-chinese-lab-2020-4?ref=readtangle.com). Behind closed doors, though, it seemed that many respected scientists thought it was possible. 7. Perhaps the most damning portrait these documents paint of Fauci is one where he was [manufacturing scientific consensus](https://www.wsj.com/opinion/free-expression/a-covid-conspiracy-in-plain-sight-34f05fd1?ref=readtangle.com) when none existed. With incredible fame and as head of NIAID, Fauci had the press wrapped around his finger and was operating a $6 billion research budget many scientists could only dream of. He used that power to brow-beat scientists into his view, or dismiss dissidents as quacks, all while working behind closed doors with sympathetic journalists to manufacture the “right” public messaging (i.e. amplifying his view). Dissent was [very rarely met with an open mind](https://tomselliott.substack.com/p/time-and-again-when-warned-about). Some emails even show him seeking nominations for cash prize awards from researchers [he had given money to](https://www.drvinayprasad.com/p/6-lessons-from-anthony-faucis-diary?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Fauci%20funded%20researchers%20with%20tax%20payer%20money%20and%20then%20asked%20them%20to%20nominate%20him%20for%20science%20awards%20with%20cash%20prizes%20that%20he%20could%20keep.%20This%20appears%20to%20be%20a%20loophole%20for%20legal%20bribery.). 8. At the same time, some commentators have offered poorly reasoned takeaways. Megyn Kelly zeroed in on a January 2020 entry where Fauci wrote, “Now we know the market was not the source, it was the amplifier.” Kelly told her audience this was proof Fauci knew as early as January that Covid-19 didn’t come from a market but had come from a lab. This is the same framing Sen. Rand Paul has used. However, Fauci says in the very next sentence, “Having said that, somewhere the virus jumped from animals to humans.” So he still believed the virus originated from an animal; he just thought it pre-dated the market. He [said this publicly](https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2020/02/17/new-coronavirus-what-dont-we-know-dr-anthony-fauci-q-a-opinion/4790996002/?ref=readtangle.com) to USA Today just a few weeks after that entry. And in a separate entry from the same period, he also called it a “conspiracy theory” to believe the virus came from gain-of-function research. 9. Some other Fauci entries caught my eye: He privately recalled pushing New York City and California to close their schools, despite [publicly saying](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/fauci-privately-took-credit-covid-19-lockdowns-despite-public-denial-newly-exposed-diary-entries-reveal?ref=readtangle.com) he had nothing to do with school closures. In another, he recounts telling former CDC Director Rochelle Walensky that “as good as some of the CDC people are, as an institution they have hubris and are often incorrect. She needs to follow her good instincts and question what they are doing in a friendly, non-threatening manner,” which seems like a remarkably dismissive view for the top scientist in the government to hold about the CDC. In another entry, Fauci recalled going on background with Politico to defend the Biden administration from a forthcoming article about how it was bungling the vaccine rollout. 10. In one startling, under-discussed example, Fauci recounts the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voting 9–6 *not* to extend eligibility for boosters to people at elevated risk through their jobs, like teachers and healthcare workers. ACIP had already approved boosters for people 65 and up and those with underlying conditions. Fauci considered the exclusion of at-risk workers illogical and, by his own account, the committee's decision “had nothing to do with safety.” He texted Walensky repeatedly that night, described it in his diary as having “literally begged her to override that decision,” and credited his own “very intensive persuasion” late into the night for her decision to reverse her committee the next morning and extend booster eligibility to that occupational risk group. 11. A lot of critics focused on Fauci’s seeming self-obsession. Even The New York Times [describes](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/27/us/politics/fauci-in-private-diary-reflected-on-covids-origins-and-his-own-fame.html?eafs%5Fenabled=false&ref=readtangle.com) “a portrait of Dr. Fauci as obsessed with himself, reveling in his own importance and the celebrities he knows.” I have mixed feelings here, too. On the one hand, Fauci went from being well known in the scientific community to one of the most famous people in America overnight. The coverage was [unbelievably fawning](https://x.com/tomselliott/status/2081488566706692393?ref=readtangle.com), and it’s hard to imagine what being called a “superhero” everywhere you go would do to your ego. It’s not surprising to me that he would recount these celebrity interactions and behind-the-scenes meets in his private journal entries, either, for personal posterity. I think most people criticizing him would probably do the same. Even with the world burning, if I met [Julia Roberts](https://fortune.com/2026/07/29/fauci-diary-trump-covid-oxygen-meadows-julia-roberts/?ref=readtangle.com) and she told me I was her personal hero, I might make note of it in my journal. 12. At the same time, those same entries are really hard to read. In his Substack, Tom Elliott [notes](https://tomselliott.substack.com/p/fauci-files-a-megalomaniacal-egomaniac) that the words “peer review,” “meta-analysis,” “learning loss,” and “mental health” appear *zero* times in his journal entries. Yet words like “award” (80), “hero” (49), “Instagram” (36), “bobblehead” (23), “selfie” (19), and “press” (514) are omnipresent. It’s reasonable to draw the conclusion that, in private, Fauci spent far too much time preoccupied with himself, his fame, and his public image and not enough time worrying about the on-the-ground experiences of Americans. 13. There’s quite a bit of hypocrisy going around. Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) grilled Fauci about the hundreds of billions of dollars in Covid relief that was stolen by fraudsters, and how he needs to answer for that… when that wasn’t Fauci’s job, and *she* was a sitting senator who voted to pass that relief. Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) proclaimed that “no honest person pleads the Fifth.” Is he sure that’s the line he wants to take? Here is President Donald Trump [in 2022](https://youtu.be/g9czHCb19As?si=8kalYMqgw09zN3V5&t=726&ref=readtangle.com): “Anyone in my position not taking the Fifth Amendment would be a fool, an absolute fool. One statement or answer that is ever so slightly off, just ever so slightly by accident, by mistake, such as it was a sunny beautiful day, when actually it was slightly overcast, would be met by law enforcement at a level seldom seen in this country, because I’ve experienced it.” 14. There are also some entries that make Fauci look sympathetic which his critics are conveniently ignoring. In July 2020, Andrew Cuomo pushed Fauci to resign and dangled a lucrative private sector consulting career if he did. Fauci responded curtly: “Sorry, not for me.” In March of 2020, Fauci described being embarrassed by all the attention he was getting, and being uncomfortable in moments where Trump asked people to clap for him. Throughout 2020–2022, he also describes the horror of nonstop death threats, people stalking him, showing up at his house or threatening his wife and kids, and through it all he hung tough. 15. Let’s not rewrite history, either. Trump [got mad at states](https://x.com/JonahDispatch/status/2082619785200709933?ref=readtangle.com) for reopening too early and ended his first term [by honoring](https://x.com/atrupar/status/2082466874973995325?ref=readtangle.com) Fauci, while simultaneously spreading actual conspiracies and brow-beating some places to open up earlier than they wanted to. States and counties that had voted for Trump had lower vaccination rates and far higher Covid death rates. A lot of Americans bought into shutdowns and social distancing to “flatten the curve,” but those efforts were incongruent across states. Just as it’s true that Fauci got a lot wrong, it’s also true that if every American had done everything he said in the first few months of the pandemic, many more people would probably be alive. 16. If we could go back and do this all again, I think we’d undeniably do things differently: We’d have reopened schools sooner and had many fewer restrictions on outdoor gatherings. Public health officials like Fauci would have been more honest about the necessity of masks in the early days of the virus’s outbreak. Mask recommendations would have been limited to N-95s and used in narrower circumstances. We’d have leaned into the advantages of natural immunity, knowing reinfections were less serious and less likely to seriously harm you. We’d have clearer communication about vaccine risk and vaccines not being 100% effective at stopping the spread, all while still making it clear you and those around you were much safer from death if you *were* vaccinated. We’d have been much more open-minded about the possibility of a lab leak or an engineered virus. We’d have built policy around the reality that the virus presented a much lower risk for people under the age of 40\. We wouldn’t shame others for the decisions they made for themselves and their families. We wouldn’t have accepted hypocritical, nonsensical guidance like outdoor gatherings being unsafe, but mass protests against police violence being perfectly acceptable. This is all much easier to say now, but even with that knowledge and 20/20 hindsight, wrangling a divided country of 330 million people to a public health cause in a time of emergency was never going to be easy (or, frankly, even possible). Fauci, Trump, Biden, the CDC and FDA all had an incredibly difficult job. Candidly, I have a hard time fully blaming any one of them when so many of us got so much wrong about the pandemic. It would have been nice, in my view, to hear Fauci testify along the lines of, “We got some things wrong, and for that I apologize” — to take ownership of some of the embarrassing diary entries, and to concede that he would have done some things differently. I don’t think that would have satiated those calling for him to be jailed — but I think it would have felt like closure for a lot of normal people who are still nursing scars from all manner of pandemic mistakes and injustices, both big and small. **Take the survey:** What do you think of Fauci’s job performance during the pandemic? [Let us know](https://interrobang.vercel.app/survey/299ce224-0bac-47c7-840d-eafaaa08eaa7?ref=readtangle.com). *Disagree? That’s okay. Our opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we’ll consider publishing your feedback.* SPONSORED by mode mobile ****The Company Turning Phones Into Income** [****Mode Mobile**](https://invest.modemobile.com/?utm%5Fsource=bd0198&utm%5Fmedium=regahome&utm%5Fcontent=tangle%5Fsecondary&tnames=bd0198) is redefining smartphone economics with a platform that rewards users for everyday phone activity. With 490M+ users, 60,000+ investors, and recognition as Deloitte’s #1 fastest-growing software company in North America, the company is offering pre-IPO shares for a limited time. [****Read about this opportunity**](https://invest.modemobile.com/?utm%5Fsource=bd0198&utm%5Fmedium=regahome&utm%5Fcontent=tangle%5Fsecondary&tnames=bd0198). **\*Disclosure: Please read the offering circular and related risks at invest.modemobile.com. An intent to IPO is not a guarantee that an IPO will occur.* ### The extras. - **One year ago today** we covered [RFK Jr.’s campaign against food additives](https://www.readtangle.com/rfk-hhs-food-dye-removal/). - **The most clicked link in our last regular newsletter** was [the air-traffic controller game](https://airport.apunen.com/?ref=readtangle.com). - **Nothing to do with politics:** What’s the [world’s oldest weapon](https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/whats-the-oldest-weapon-in-the-world?ref=readtangle.com)? - **Our last survey:** 2,232 readers responded to our survey on the OpenAI–Hugging Face hacking incident, with 57% saying they are concerned by this incident and broader AI development. “I don’t think we have this under control. We are trying to build the plane while flying it,” one respondent said. “Isaac is spot-on: OpenAI turned a minor security breach into a publicity stunt,” said another. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/07/data-src-image-f6cdb19c-bde9-4abf-b5f1-9a2629e8a8ff.png) ### Have a nice day. 23-year-old Louisiana resident Daniel Cressy dreamed of becoming a commercial airline pilot, but his lifelong battle with sickle cell disease meant the Federal Aviation Administration wouldn’t consider him. When Manning Family Children’s Hospital began offering a gene editing therapy that could functionally cure the disease, Cressy was quick to sign up. After over two years of treatments, Cressy became the first person in Louisiana functionally cured of sickle cell disease on June 22, 2026\. [Manning Family Children’s has the story](https://www.manningchildrens.org/news-blog/2026/june/manning-family-children-s-makes-history-as-louis/?ref=readtangle.com). ### Why Did Anthony Fauci Plead the Fifth? URL: https://www.readtangle.com/why-did-anthony-fauci-plead-the-fifth/ Last updated: 2026-07-30T16:06:29.000Z Why did Dr. Anthony Fauci invoke the Fifth Amendment before Congress—and what does it actually mean? ### OpenAI’s autonomous agent hack. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/openai-huggingface-ai-hack/ Last updated: 2026-07-29T16:36:09.000Z Happy Wednesday. I’m **Isaac Saul** and today I’m headed down to Philadelphia to pack up the Tangle office with Associate Editor Audrey Moorehead and begin moving my stuff to the North Jersey studio I’m building near my house. Tangle HQ has now gone from my bedroom in Bushwick to a shared office space in Bushwick to an apartment in South Philly to an office space in South Philly and now to a newly built studio in North Jersey. Every time I pack up and move, I’m flooded with memories of the time I’ve spent in a space, and this Philly office bore witness to some of our biggest moments — including the historic 2024 election. I’ll miss it, and miss Philly, and miss sharing an office with Audrey every day. But the future we are building is bright. If you’re reading the news these days, though, the future may not seem so sunny. Today we’re jumping into the **OpenAI hack**. Plus, **a look back at the founding of NASA.** It’s a **14-minute read**. Too busy to read? Push play instead! ![Too busy to read? Push play instead!](https://tangle.obox.agency/snippet-creator/assets/podcast@2x.png) [Listen to the newsletter every Monday – Friday here](https://www.readtangle.com/tangle-podcast/). ### Quick hits. 1. U.S. Central Command said that Iran launched an “attempted surprise attack” against U.S. forces in the Middle East, but all missiles were intercepted. The U.S. and Saudi Arabia also conducted joint strikes against “Iran-aligned terrorists” in Iraq. ([The latest](https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/us-iran-war-trump-strait-of-hormuz-talks-oman/?ref=readtangle.com)) 2. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D) sent the office of Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) a letter requesting that the senator “directly and verbally address the people of Kentucky and provide proof of your capacity to serve, or resign.” ([The letter](https://www.kentucky.com/news/politics-government/article316684942.html?ref=readtangle.com)) 3. The Senate voted 86–12 to advance a major sanctions package against Russia that was spearheaded by the late Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC). ([The sanctions](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/putin-russia-notice-senate-takes-crucial-step-grind-down-kremlin-war-machine?ref=readtangle.com)) 4. The Senate voted 51–47 to confirm Jay Clayton as director of national intelligence. ([The confirmation](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/07/28/jay-clayton-bill-pulte-senate-vote-trump-spy-chief.html?ref=readtangle.com)) 5. Japan experienced a 7.1-magnitude earthquake, which killed at least three people. Rescue efforts are ongoing. ([The quake](https://apnews.com/article/japan-earthquake-tsunami-09e6f40acbcc96053946c9c104e7a242?ref=readtangle.com)) SPONSORED by simple ****Restrictive Diets Fail. Do This Instead.** Bored of the busy gyms? You’re not alone. When motivation is lacking, jumping into heavy routines is the fastest way to burn out. That’s why millions of people are turning to walking as the foundation of their fitness journey. Walking lets you enjoy the outdoors, clear your head, and even practice a little mindfulness. It’s simple, sustainable, and one of the few habits that actually sticks all year round. And the results speak for themselves: Walking can support lasting weight loss if you know how much you personally need. The old “10,000 steps a day” rule is outdated; everyone’s metabolism and lifestyle are different. With [****Simple**](https://simplelifeapp.sjv.io/c/6049581/3940572/15148?ref=readtangle.com), you’ll get access to habit-based coaching that’s helped users lose over 20 million pounds without restrictive routines or the gym chaos. Take the quiz to discover your personalized walking target for healthy weight loss, and click the link for a hefty discount. [Take the quiz ](https://simplelifeapp.sjv.io/c/6049581/3940572/15148?ref=readtangle.com) ### Today’s topic. The AI hack. On Friday, July 24, Reuters [reported](https://www.reuters.com/business/its-ai-agent-spent-days-hacking-company-sources-say-openai-did-not-notice-week-2026-07-24/?ref=readtangle.com) that an OpenAI autonomous artificial intelligence (AI) agent broke out of a contained environment and hacked a popular AI development website. The hack began on July 11 and lasted until July 13, when it was [detected](https://www.securityweek.com/openai-says-its-ai-models-broke-loose-and-hacked-hugging-face/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=The%20intrusion%20was%20detected%20by%20Hugging%20Face%E2%80%99s%20own%20AI.) by an AI at the targeted company, Hugging Face. OpenAI remained unaware of the incident for days, and the two companies did not communicate directly until July 20, well after Hugging Face had alerted the FBI of an intrusion. **Zoom in:** OpenAI said the incident occurred while it [was testing](https://www.securityweek.com/openai-says-its-ai-models-broke-loose-and-hacked-hugging-face/?ref=readtangle.com) two of its models — its latest publicly available version, GPT–5.6 Sol, and an unreleased model — on their offensive hacking capabilities. Both models had guardrails that protected against high-risk behavior [turned off](https://www.wired.com/story/openai-models-escaped-containment-and-hacked-huggingface/?ref=readtangle.com) during the test and were intended to be limited to a “sandbox” environment with tightly controlled access to the broader internet. However, the models were reportedly able to exploit a “zero-day vulnerability” (an unknown security flaw) in third-party software designed to allow them to install packages to gain internet access. From there, the AI agents inferred that Hugging Face may have information to help them pass their assessment and used stolen credentials to hack into the site, stealing information to allow them to pass their tests. On July 21, OpenAI released a [statement](https://openai.com/index/hugging-face-model-evaluation-security-incident/?ref=readtangle.com) saying it is working with the third-party software to resolve the issue and collaborating with Hugging Face to build stronger protections against AI hacking. Clément Delangue, the chief executive of Hugging Face, [said](https://x.com/ClementDelangue/status/2081056675558195657?s=20&ref=readtangle.com) he had met with OpenAI and requested that it release detailed logs of the incident and contribute $100 million toward computing power to help develop cybersecurity networks. “The first autonomous agent cyberattack is an unprecedented event,” Delangue said. “It deserves an unprecedented response!” Tech experts were divided in response to the scale and ramifications of the hack, with some stressing that AI agents are more capable than ever. “Today is the most important day in the history of information security thus far,” [said](https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7485436491439951874/?ref=readtangle.com) Sean Cassidy, chief information security officer at fintech solutions firm Plaid. “For the first time ever, an AI model escaped containment and hacked a real company’s real production infrastructure. This was unintentional and non-malicious, but that doesn’t matter.” Others blamed existing cybersecurity vulnerabilities for the hack. “This should not have happened,” veteran security engineer and researcher Niels Provos [said](https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:share:7485539209097662464/?ref=readtangle.com). “I wish the frontier labs spent as much time on teaching their models to write secure infrastructure as they are spending on them exploiting vulnerabilities.” Below, we’ll get into what the right, left, and tech writers are saying about the incident. Then, Executive Editor Isaac Saul gives his take. | What the right is saying. The right is mixed, with some calling for measured skepticism about AI. Others worry about bad actors using AI’s capabilities for ill. | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | **In the Washington Examiner, Sam Korkus said the** [**“hack shows why we shouldn’t trust AI.”**](https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/beltway-confidential/4662686/hugging-face-autonomous-hack-ai-distrust/?ref=readtangle.com) “The issue is not that a rogue AI model was used to attack an American company. Instead, the issue is that the AI was doing what it was told as efficiently as possible — and that led it to hack into a database it identified as a suitable target,” Korkus wrote. “AI is inevitable. It is becoming more integrated into our everyday lives, whether we want it to be or not. The question going forward is whether Americans want the government or AI companies to control it. “If the government imposes excessive red tape, companies will be less likely to innovate. If AI companies are allowed to regulate themselves, there may be nothing stopping them from exploiting as much public and private data as possible for their own benefit,” Korkus said. “The only way forward is to adopt a prudent yet skeptical approach to AI, the people who use it, and its architects. After all, behind every AI model are fallible human beings.” **In Hot Air, John Sexton wrote** [**“the latest OpenAI model hacked another company without being asked.”**](https://hotair.com/john-s-2/2026/07/22/the-latest-openai-model-hacked-another-company-without-being-asked-n3817220?ref=readtangle.com) “What this AI model did is pretty impressive but also a bit worrisome,” Sexton wrote. “So the spin here is that everything is fine and ‘We are strengthening the containment, monitoring, access controls, and evaluation practices used during model development.’ That sounds good. But the conclusion is that, ‘The incident also makes clear that advanced models can discover and exploit novel attack paths in real-world systems without source-code access.’ “And this model wasn’t even told to do any of this. It just seems to have known this would be an easier way to get answers. What could it do if directed to steal some information from a particular government or company? If it was told to cover its own tracks, could it do that?” Sexton asked. “There are two things to worry about here. One, that our own tools will be used to hack their way into information they aren’t supposed to have. Two, that China is developing the same tools about six months behind us and will have no compunction about using them in this way. Either way, the potential for a lot of disruptions seems to already be on the horizon.” | What the left is saying. Some on the left say the OpenAI model’s escape is a byproduct of AI training techniques. Others suggest the company’s story is a strategy for attracting investors. | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | **In The Atlantic, Matteo Wong called the incident** [**“a startling glimpse at AI’s ruthless efficiency.”**](https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/2026/07/openai-hugging-face-hack/688025/?utm%5Fsource=Sailthru&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fcampaign=Atlantic%20Intelligence%20%28V3%29) “This unwanted behavior is a predictable and alarming result of how the entire AI industry is developing its models. The past year’s advances in AI coding and agents… have been the result of an overriding emphasis in AI training through a process called ‘reinforcement learning,’” Wong wrote. “This involves giving AI models lots of hard problems — math proofs, coding challenges, what have you — and then providing positive feedback for correct answers and negative feedback for incorrect ones. In many reinforcement-learning paradigms, the ultimate aim is just for the AI to arrive at the solution — it doesn’t matter *how* it does so.” “To be clear, this sort of AI ‘reward hacking’ is a known problem that tech companies are putting lots of effort into addressing. But these incidents keep cropping up regardless; if anything, research suggests that they may become more common,” Wong said. “Meanwhile, OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google DeepMind are under tremendous economic pressure to make their models more and more capable, which means that the bloody-minded reinforcement learning is all but certain to accelerate.” **In The Guardian, John Thickstun said** [**“be skeptical of OpenAI’s rogue hacker agent story.”**](https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/jul/24/openai-rogue-hacker?ref=readtangle.com) “The rogue agent story is a page out of the media campaign that OpenAI has been running since it announced GPT-2 in 2019\. OpenAI remains hungry for ever larger investments, and the company increasingly seeks privileged regulatory status as defense against competition,” Thickstun wrote. “AI is so powerful that investors should buy OpenAI, even at a trillion-dollar valuation; AI is so dangerous that only trusted actors like OpenAI should be permitted to possess and operate this technology. Step back from these doomsday warnings and consider who might benefit from them.” “I urge readers to think critically when they read press releases like OpenAI’s rogue agent story, and avoid the manipulated reactions these stories are designed to elicit,” Thickstun said. “AI is becoming excellent at identifying security vulnerabilities, and it will become even better over time. These capabilities can be used to break into systems, but they can also be used to harden systems against attacks. If attackers and defenders have access to equally powerful AI, I see no reason to believe that cyber systems will become less secure over time. If anything, I expect them to become more secure, because AI is cheap and scalable compared with human cybersecurity analysis.” | What technology writers are saying. Some tech writers call for the industry to reassess the pace of AI development.Others argue that the OpenAI hack is not as alarming as it may seem. | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | **In his Substack, Gary Marcus said** [**“people aren’t wrong to be concerned.”**](https://garymarcus.substack.com/p/openais-disconcerting-hack-of-huggingface) “One never knows exactly how seriously to take these things. This was a training exercise, not a real-life incident. The actual system would have guardrails \[which in the blog they call ‘production classifiers’\] that were disabled here, and those guardrails may have prevented this,” Marcus wrote. “That said, this shows that Anthropic’s Mythos is no fluke; the pressure on cybersecurity given these models is serious… On the small comfort side, the current incident was NOT an attempt where system built a goal for itself or developed a motive; the system was following instructions, but not setting high level goals.” “On the less comforting side, OpenAI’s ‘production classifiers’ are likely to be permeable, just like all guardrails anybody has built to date,” Marcus said. “OpenAI’s zero-day exploit hack of HuggingFace \*should\* be a wake up call. Although there are lots of caveats around what happened, we are just going to see more and more of the same. We have no guarantees that such incidents can be prevented, and no idea how serious things might get. We should either (a) slow down, or (b) pause until we get our security/AI safety act together… In my opinion, the only way that the industry might actually slow down, though, is if we clearly and unambiguously hold the companies liable for the harms that they cause.” **In Modern CISO, Nathan Hamiel wrote** [**“this is more hysterics than reality.”**](https://kudelskisecurity.com/modern-ciso-blog/some-thoughts-on-the-openai-huggingface-incident?ref=readtangle.com) “As everyone in cybersecurity loses their minds over the OpenAI/Hugging Face incident, it’s important to take a step back and put things in perspective,” Hamiel said. “OpenAI’s write-up reads more like a marketing document promoting a feature than an incident summary, while the quote from HuggingFace sounds more like someone accepting an award than someone who just got hacked. It’s a bit surreal. I’m not claiming this was a stunt. I’m pointing out that the lack of detail and the way it was presented opens the door to skepticism and speculation. After all, OpenAI is hemorrhaging money and is facing steep competition.” “This incident would be a lot more interesting to analyze if we had more details, but as it stands, we know nothing about the environment, context, or scenarios,” Hamiel wrote. “In short, no, this isn’t the end of cybersecurity, nor do attackers hold all of the cards. The reality is far more nuanced. Yes, AI models are gaining capabilities in cybersecurity, specifically when paired with an appropriate harness. Security people should explore these capabilities and incorporate them into their workflows. The world is far more complex than we typically give it credit for, and there are a whole host of factors that can confound an attack.” My take. Isaac Saul Executive Editor ![Isaac Saul](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2025/05/Isaac.jpg) - The more we learn about this incident, the less frightening it appears. - The media has done a poor job communicating what actually happened. - Well founded concerns still exist, but all of this makes me increasingly skeptical of AI hysteria. **Reminder:** This is where we share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, leave a comment or reply to this email. How many times are we going to do this? As John Thickstun [recounted](https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/jul/24/openai-rogue-hacker?ref=readtangle.com) under “What the left is saying,” our tech overlords have been running this playbook for seven years now. In 2019, OpenAI announced a language model called GPT-2 that it said was too risky to release. That model was a precursor to the most basic LLMs on the market now, yet OpenAI’s statement created enough hype to help net the company a billion dollars in investments. In April of this year, we [covered](https://www.readtangle.com/anthropic-claude-mythos-cybersecurity/) Claude’s “Mythos Preview,” a new AI model the company said was too dangerous to be shared with the public. Instead, the company decided it would hand the model over to 50 organizations in an initiative titled “Project Glasswing” — a name straight out of a spy thriller. The goal was to give the public and private sector just enough time to build up protections against all the different holes in the digital ecosystem this model could exploit. And the impact was immediate: Columnist after columnist began speculating about this world-changing model’s capabilities without even seeing what it was or what it could do. The New York Times’s Thomas Friedman went as far as [hallucinating](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/07/opinion/anthropic-ai-claude-mythos.html?ref=readtangle.com) a future where a group of teenagers used this model to take down power grids before dinner time. Here is [what I wrote](https://www.readtangle.com/anthropic-claude-mythos-cybersecurity/#:~:text=of%20hackers%E2%80%A6%20yeah.%E2%80%9D-,My%20take.,-Reminder%3A%20%E2%80%9CMy%20take): > I really do think something about all this is obvious PR, and I think these artificial intelligence companies are extremely good at it. Not a little good at it — but extremely. After all, they have to pull off an incredible high-wire act: They’re creating a product that they’re telling the public is so good it’s going to steal your jobs, hand over cybercrime tools to bad actors, and potentially destroy all of humanity. But, also, you should be really excited about this stuff and invest in their companies. “A new product so good it’s dangerous to release to the public” feels like a magnum opus of publicity. Trying to check my blindspots, I spoke to tech journalist [Casey Newton](https://cnewton.org/?ref=readtangle.com), who argued that the reports were not hype and that Anthropic would not be doing this if they thought the model was safe for the public. I was skeptical, so I set some guardrails for myself: I’d wait and see what became of Mythos and how Project Glasswing evolved. Everyone else seems to have moved on with the presumption Mythos was what Anthropic said it was, but for the last three months I’ve been watching. And the results are… peculiar. As security expert Bruce Schneier [recently noted](https://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2026/06/anthropics-project-glasswing-update.html?ref=readtangle.com), Anthropic has since published a single [status report](https://www.anthropic.com/research/glasswing-initial-update?ref=readtangle.com) of the software vulnerabilities it’s found. Software having vulnerabilities isn’t exactly news — companies are hacked every day. But [almost none of those vulnerabilities](https://www.flyingpenguin.com/mythos-grading-mythos-got-patches-yet/?ref=readtangle.com) have been patched, and it’s unclear which ones are even dangerous. In the meantime, a Chinese firm has [unveiled its own AI model](https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/chinas-360-says-it-has-developed-tools-match-anthropics-mythos-2026-06-24/?ref=readtangle.com) that many reviewers say is as capable as Mythos. A few deep breaths and more information have seemed to produce a new conclusion: Mythos is [simply not that different](https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/may/08/how-dangerous-is-anthropics-mythos-ai?ref=readtangle.com) from existing models. And in the last three months, nothing has really happened. I don’t mean to simplify all this, but really: There have been zero major cybersecurity breaches related to these rapidly evolving AI systems (until now, but more on that in a second). It reminds me of a [piece of writing](https://x.com/CliffordSosin/status/2078594661359194500?ref=readtangle.com) by Clifford Sosin on how AI might be teaching us that intelligence really “ain’t all that.” Having encyclopedic knowledge and reasoning skills don’t actually make you (or an AI model) an earth-shattering entity — most real-world problems require novel thinking, so they can’t be solved by applying what we already know. This is why the “explosion” we were all waiting for with AI hasn’t come and why the major changes have all happened in rigidly defined spaces like software development. Progress will be incremental and, yes, often unexpected — but maybe, after all this time, it’s time to say the world-ending shoe isn’t going to drop. Here is my writing, again, from April: > For two years now, the AI industry has been saying that autonomous agents handling complex work with minimal supervision were about to upend the entire economy. Any day now. Two years after Claude Code was supposed to make software engineers irrelevant, the company is facing criticism that Claude’s abilities are actually degrading, perhaps because it’s hitting compute limits. Even the Mythos hype, less than a week in, is already being questioned — and the fine print in Anthropic’s own paper suggests it “can’t state with certainty” (yet) how serious some of the vulnerabilities Mythos found actually are, so we’re left waiting for more information about what, exactly, the model is actually capable of. So, what do I make of this latest story? I think it sounds pretty familiar. A major tech company releases a story about how dangerous and scary its yet-to-be-public model is. This time, the AI “escaped” testing and “autonomously hacked” a separate AI company. Alright then. That does sound pretty scary! The reality, however, was much less nightmarish. As John Herrman [wrote](https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/how-openai-hugging-face-hack-scrambles-the-ai-race.html?ref=readtangle.com) in New York Magazine, the mainstream press — not big tech — was responsible for the narrative of an “escape” and OpenAI losing control of its model. Truthfully, when I read [OpenAI’s press release](https://openai.com/index/hugging-face-model-evaluation-security-incident/?ref=readtangle.com), which describes how “the models identified and exploited a zero-day vulnerability… in the package registry cache proxy… \[and\] performed a series of privilege escalation and lateral movement actions in our research testing environment until the models reached a node with Internet access,” I have a hard time telling you how that’s different from an “escape.” But a lot of smart people do understand it, and their reactions don’t seem all too concerned. Heidy Khlaaf, a former safety evaluator at OpenAI who is now the chief AI scientist at the AI Now Institute, [said](https://x.com/HeidyKhlaaf/status/2079919090215313794?ref=readtangle.com) on X the media’s coverage of this incident was abysmal. “Use of the terms ‘rogue’/’loss of human control’ lead to groupthink as people lack critical skills to understand the difference between ‘autonomy’ and faulty reward functions in AI on a task it was directed and given access to do,” she wrote. As Herrman noted, OpenAI’s goal here seems to be to shift agency from themselves, the company *building the tech* and the environment to test it in,to the software itself for breaking out of said environment to harm a different AI company. “Sorry, it wasn't us, it was this dangerously effective AI tool we’re building! Also, it’s for sale and you can invest in us!” In reality, the engineers at OpenAI were testing its models’ hacking ability, and they failed to create an environment safe enough for that test. This is less “David Blaine escaping from handcuffs underwater” than it is “telling your kid to stay in the car but leaving one of the doors unlocked.” I’m not suggesting these updates aren’t meaningful in some ways. I am, genuinely, worried that engineers are building AI models that outsmart or surprise them. I’m also concerned that huge corporations with access to these models are, right now, processing reams of data to build future products for weapons, surveillance, cybersecurity, and social media in ways we can’t yet fathom. At the same time, though, these cycles of over-hype and minimal impact have us barreling toward a boy-who-cried-wolf situation, where it’s going to be hard to tell when a real existential threat has arrived because we’ve been told so many times it’s already here (it could be, for instance, that this story *is* the real threat, but I doubt it). The AI alarmists seem to be paralyzed by panic every time these companies drop a new press release — and then the companies lose control of the narrative much the way they claim to be losing control of their own models. That doesn’t mean we need the government to require companies like Anthropic or OpenAI to build some kind of “[kill switch](https://lieu.house.gov/sites/evo-subsites/lieu-evo.house.gov/files/evo-media-document/ai-kill-switch-act.pdf?ref=readtangle.com).” But I do think we need a little less hubris from all the brilliant people working at companies like Anthropic and OpenAI and a little more transparency. Here, OpenAI is quietly turning an event where it built malware that attacked another company [into a partnership](https://openai.com/index/hugging-face-model-evaluation-security-incident/?ref=readtangle.com) with that company. They’ll be sharing details on the vulnerabilities, incidents, and findings very soon — right when their investigation is complete. They promise. It’s all just very strange, and I’m skeptical of everyone involved. I don’t trust that OpenAI is being as forthcoming as they should be. I don’t trust the press is reporting on this accurately. And I don’t think this is nearly as big a deal as the public seems to believe. ****Staff dissent — Contributing Editor Isaac Wood:** I agree with Isaac that AI companies have a clear incentive to hype their products with stories of how “powerful” and “dangerous” they are. But I think his take on this specific incident misses the forest for the trees. The Hugging Face hack exposed a vulnerability that will now reportedly be addressed. This is part of technological advancement: testing new models, finding weaknesses, and fixing them. However, the assumption that the testing and patching process will adequately address broader AI concerns fails to account for what future threats might entail, and it fails to consider that the unquestioning pursuit of advancements may itself be the problem. I’m not sure what all the AI advancement is aiming toward. All I see is stronger and stronger models accomplishing more and more tasks, allowing humans to outsource many deeply human activities: creativity, communication, problem solving. Not to mention that each new AI capability comes without any matching government regulation or assurance that the Dr. Frankensteins are really in control of their monsters. Overall, I think Isaac sees the AI threat as one killing stroke that will never come, but I see it more like a snowball, slowly amassing more capabilities and rolling over parts of life that no one actually wants to lose. **Take the survey:** How concerned are you about AI development? [Let us know](https://interrobang.vercel.app/survey/8d566671-418f-4775-9a60-7ec88e2ae69b?ref=readtangle.com). *Disagree? That*’*s okay. Our opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we*’*ll consider publishing your feedback.* ### This day in history. ![T. Keith Glennan (second from right) and Hugh L. Dryden (left) are sworn in as the first administrator and deputy administrator, respectively, of NASA](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/07/data-src-image-2497e7b0-9c11-4d66-b99f-84899b015b50.png) T. Keith Glennan (second from right) and Hugh L. Dryden (left) are sworn in as the first administrator and deputy administrator, respectively, of NASA | [NASA](https://www.nasa.gov/history/president-eisenhower-signs-nasa-into-existence/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Dryden%20%28at%20left%29%20and%20Glennan%20%28second%20from%20right%29%20being%20sworn%20in%20as%20President%20Eisenhower%20%28second%20from%20left%29%20looks%20on.) In the summer of 1955, the U.S. and the Soviet Union (U.S.S.R.) pledged to launch artificial satellites in orbit around the Earth. Ostensibly part of the global scientific community’s efforts to better understand the natural world, the pledge also unofficially launched one of the defining conflicts of the Cold War: the Space Race. President Dwight D. Eisenhower publicly directed U.S. satellite resources toward the civilian-led Vanguard project, while the Soviet Union worked in secrecy and planned to beat the Americans into space. On October 4, 1957, the U.S.S.R. announced that it had officially launched the world’s first artificial satellite, Sputnik, and in November it launched the larger Sputnik 2, carrying a dog, Laika. The U.S.S.R.’s progress shocked the United States, and President Eisenhower reacted by forming the President’s Science Advisory Committee (PSAC) to strategize a response. Meanwhile, the failure of the Vanguard project’s public testing underscored that greater resources would be required for the U.S. to reach space. In February 1958, the committee recommended the creation of a new civilian space agency. Throughout 1958, Eisenhower lobbied Congress to create a new agency, and on July 29, he [signed](https://www.nasa.gov/history/65-years-ago-the-national-aeronautics-and-space-act-of-1958-creates-nasa/?ref=readtangle.com) the National Aeronautics and Space Act, officially creating the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Despite early setbacks, the U.S. would go on to win the Space Race just 11 years later, when NASA sent three astronauts to the moon. ### The extras. - **One year ago today** we covered [the U.S.–EU trade deal](https://www.readtangle.com/us-and-europe-trade-deal-tariffs-energy-military/). - **The most clicked link in our last regular newsletter** was the report on Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) [releasing Anthony Fauci’s diary](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/anthony-fauci-rand-paul-diary-release/?ref=readtangle.com). - **Nothing to do with politics:** Try your hand [as an air-traffic controller](https://airport.apunen.com/?ref=readtangle.com). - **Our last survey:** 1,829 readers responded to our survey on the prospective civil nuclear agreement between the United States and Saudi Arabia, with 32% saying they strongly oppose the deal. “The Saudis are not trustworthy,” one respondent said. “I’d be more likely to support it if any other administration were in charge,” said another. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/07/data-src-image-275fb890-8a56-4b30-aa7a-841deb5eb49a.png) ### Have a nice day. 40 years ago, commercial whaling in Brazilian waters had driven the local humpback whale population down to roughly 2,000\. But after the International Whaling Commission paused all commercial whaling in 1985, the population began to rebound. Today, the fruits of that decision are increasingly apparent, with the humpback whale population reaching approximately 35,000\. Perhaps best of all, the whales are increasingly visible off Rio de Janeiro’s coast, a rare sight just a few decades ago. “It shows that the whales are making a recovery, are healthy and thriving, and hopefully they’ll continue to do so,” Enrico Marcovaldi, co-founder of the Humpback Whale Project, said. [The Associated Press has the story](https://apnews.com/article/brazil-humpback-whales-rio-de-janeiro-guanabara-bay-e77bb9f47b1d57ccb4ede298f3fc06bf?ref=readtangle.com). ### Trump recalls leaking Lindsey Graham’s number during 2016 primary as the start of their friendship. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/trump-recalls-leaking-lindsey-grahams-number-during-2016-primary-as-the-start-of-their-friendship/ Last updated: 2026-07-28T23:07:02.000Z During Senator Lindsey Graham’s funeral today, President Donald Trump delivered a eulogy remembering the Senator and how they went from political rivals in the 2016 Republican Presidential primary election to friends. At one point, Trump recalled that their relationship did not start well — Graham said something “nasty” and Trump leaked his personal cell phone number in response. ### The U.S.–Saudi civil nuclear deal. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/us-saudi-arabia-civil-nuclear-deal/ Last updated: 2026-07-28T15:50:50.000Z This is Senior Editor **Will Kaback** — hope you’re having a great Tuesday. Today’s edition dives into the ***potential* nuclear agreement between the United States and Saudi Arabia**. This deal flew a bit under the radar last week, but it could be one of the most impactful non-Iran developments in the Middle East in some time. That is, if they can actually get it over the finish line. Stay tuned for my take, a concurrence, and a dissent — the Tangle trifecta. Later on, we’ve got another under-the-radar story about **a voter-registration controversy involving Motor Vehicle Departments in Alaska** that you might have missed while all the attention was on New Jersey’s own voting scandal. It’s a **13-minute** read. Too busy to read? Push play instead! ![Too busy to read? Push play instead!](https://tangle.obox.agency/snippet-creator/assets/podcast@2x.png) [Listen to the newsletter every Monday – Friday here](https://www.readtangle.com/tangle-podcast/). ### We won! A few weeks back, we asked Tangle readers to support our nomination for the inaugural Newsletter Awards. On Friday, we learned [we won the top prize](https://newsletters.club/live?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=WINNER-,Tangle,-by%20Isaac%20Saul) — the People’s Choice award — for receiving the most votes among over 100 nominees. Thanks so much for voting for us; every bit of recognition like this helps spread the word about our work. It’s a proud day for the entire Tangle community. ### Quick hits. 1. Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) said in a statement that he remains in rehabilitation care and is not yet able to return to in-person work. The senator’s office did not provide a timetable for his return to the Senate. ([The update](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/mcconnell-releases-health-update-not-ready-return-work-rcna589452?ref=readtangle.com)) 2. The Trump administration filed an emergency application with the Supreme Court, asking it to allow an executive order implementing new restrictions on mail-in voting to go into effect before the November midterms. A federal appeals court upheld a block on the order last week. ([The appeal](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/07/27/trump-administration-asks-supreme-court-allow-new-limits-mail-ballots/?ref=readtangle.com)) 3. Temporary Protected Status for Haitian and Syrian nationals expired on Monday at midnight. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is reportedly planning a large-scale operation to deport Haitians who no longer have legal status. ([The expiration](https://www.foxnews.com/us/ice-prepares-major-operation-targeting-haitians-losing-tps-after-supreme-court-ruling?ref=readtangle.com)) 4. President Donald Trump will meet separately with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House on Tuesday. ([The meetings](https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-host-netanyahu-zelenskiy-ukraine-iran-wars-reach-critical-stages-2026-07-28/?ref=readtangle.com)) 5. Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) released over 1,000 pages of diary entries from Dr. Anthony Fauci, covering Fauci’s thoughts during a three-year period overlapping with the Covid-19 pandemic. Fauci will testify before the Senate Homeland Security Committee on Wednesday. ([The release](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/anthony-fauci-rand-paul-diary-release/?ref=readtangle.com)) SPONSORED by financebuzz ****Americans Born Between 1941 and 1979 Can Receive These 10 Benefits This Month** You could be missing out on $1,000s, and you [might not even realize it](https://financebuzz.com/money-moves-senior-benefits-yaez-1?utm%5Fsource=tangle&utm%5Fmedium=paid-newsletter-cpf&utm%5Fterm=Tangle&utm%5Fcampaign=BM-FBZ-Tangle-money-moves-senior-benefits-yaez-1-CPF&adgroupid=BM-Tangle-money-moves-senior-benefits-yaez-1-CPF-7282026). Sure, you might know about some senior discounts at diners or retail stores. But what you might not know is there are a number of lesser-known programs that can help slash bills, reduce insurance costs, and [unlock powerful financial perks](https://financebuzz.com/money-moves-senior-benefits-yaez-1?utm%5Fsource=tangle&utm%5Fmedium=paid-newsletter-cpf&utm%5Fterm=Tangle&utm%5Fcampaign=BM-FBZ-Tangle-money-moves-senior-benefits-yaez-1-CPF&adgroupid=BM-Tangle-money-moves-senior-benefits-yaez-1-CPF-7282026) — right now. We pulled together some of the most valuable money moves for 2026\. Cut expenses, boost your retirement, and recession-proof your finances. But act fast — we don’t know how long these programs will last! [See the list ](https://financebuzz.com/money-moves-senior-benefits-yaez-1?utm%5Fsource=tangle&utm%5Fmedium=paid-newsletter-cpf&utm%5Fterm=Tangle&utm%5Fcampaign=BM-FBZ-Tangle-money-moves-senior-benefits-yaez-1-CPF&adgroupid=BM-Tangle-money-moves-senior-benefits-yaez-1-CPF-7282026) ### Today’s topic. The U.S. nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia. On Wednesday, July 22, the United States and Saudi Arabia [signed](https://www.energy.gov/articles/united-states-and-saudi-arabia-reach-historic-nuclear-cooperation-agreement?ref=readtangle.com) a civil nuclear-cooperation agreement. The deal is a “123 Agreement,” named after Section 123 of the U.S. Atomic Energy Act, outlining a partnership between the two countries to establish a civilian nuclear program in Saudi Arabia. However, the status of the deal is now in question after President Donald Trump said on Thursday that it was conditional on Saudi Arabia normalizing relations with Israel. Under the [reported terms](https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/trump-approves-landmark-nuclear-deal-with-saudi-arabia-in-big-win-for-kingdom-2ed77584?ref=readtangle.com) of the deal, the Saudi government can enter into contracts, potentially worth billions of dollars, with U.S. companies to develop nuclear energy programs over the course of the next 30 years. One such provisional development is a joint uranium-enrichment facility, conditional on the results of a two-year study. If the study finds that uranium enrichment would have significant energy benefits, the U.S. will construct a “black box” facility to allow enrichment while preventing Saudi officials from accessing the underlying technology. The U.S. and Saudi Arabia had previously discussed a civilian nuclear agreement during past presidential administrations, but the two countries haven’t been able to reach a deal. For years, Saudi Arabia has resisted adopting nuclear non-proliferation protocols that have characterized other nuclear agreements, including the“[gold standard](https://armscontrolcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Factsheet%5F123Agreements1.pdf?ref=readtangle.com)” provision of abstaining from domestic enrichment of reactor fuel. Additionally, Saudi Arabia has refused to adhere to the [Additional Protocol](https://www.iaea.org/topics/additional-protocol?ref=readtangle.com) (AP) from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which would strengthen the organization’s oversight authority. Though the text of the U.S.–Saudi deal is not public, it reportedly does not include either the gold standard or AP provision. Historically, Saudi Arabia’s refusal to normalize relations with Israel has also prevented a nuclear agreement with the U.S. The Trump administration’s initial agreement did not include a normalization provision; however, on Thursday, President Trump [posted](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116969149016233329?ref=readtangle.com) on Truth Social that the deal was “totally subject” to Saudi Arabia joining the Abraham Accords. Democratic lawmakers have been critical of the deal. Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) [said](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/democrats-blast-trump-saudi-nuclear-deal-gop-touts-regional-alliance?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=So%2C%20the%20Saudis%20enrich%20the%20Trumps%2C%20and%20the%20Trumps%20allow%20the%20Saudis%20to%20enrich%20uranium%20and%20then%20we%27re%20going%20to%20have%20more%20nuclear%20weapons%20in%20the%20Middle%20East%20to%20set%20off%20another%20nuclear%20arms%20race%20there.%22), “So, the Saudis enrich the Trumps, and the Trumps allow the Saudis to enrich uranium and then we're going to have more nuclear weapons in the Middle East to set off another nuclear arms race there.” Republican lawmakers have been mixed. Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN) [said](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/democrats-blast-trump-saudi-nuclear-deal-gop-touts-regional-alliance?ref=readtangle.com) developing allies is important as long as the U.S. could “verify” effective safeguards. Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) [said](https://time.com/article/2026/07/27/republican-senator-kennedy-breaks-ranks-trump-us-saudi-arabia-nuclear-deal/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=%E2%80%9CWe%27re%20bombing%20a%20country%20to%20keep%20them%20from%20getting%20a%20nuclear%20weapon%2C%20but%20we%27re%20signing%20a%20deal%20with%20another%20country%2C%E2%80%9D%20he%20said.%20%E2%80%9CI%20know%20it%27s%20a%20commercial%20agreement%2C%20but%20that%20the%20world%20perceives%2C%20as%20possibly%2C%20someday%2C%20leading%20to%20a%20nuclear%20weapon.%E2%80%9D) a deal is possible “maybe someday, but not right now” while the U.S. is at war with Iran. Below, you’ll hear from the left, right, and writers in the Middle East about the U.S.–Saudi deal. Then, Senior Editor Will Kaback gives his take. | What the left is saying. The left says the deal doesn’t effectively mitigate the risks of Saudi nuclear proliferation.Many argue that Trump’s pivot reflects the volatility of his broader foreign policy. | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | **In Bloomberg, Marc Champion argued** [**“in the world of security, such assurances can’t suffice.”**](https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2026-07-24/trump-s-saudi-nuclear-deal-is-too-important-to-lie-about?ref=readtangle.com) “The administration has some strong arguments for making such an agreement \[with Saudi Arabia\]. Top of the list is the concern that Riyadh will eventually go to Russia or China if Washington refuses to supply nuclear technology,” Champion wrote. “Moreover, like any other nation, the Kingdom has the right and the rationale to add nuclear power to its civilian energy mix. And let’s not forget the commercial gain that would result for U.S. companies. But all of this misses the forest for the trees, because two tests that override all other considerations must be applied here. “The first is that any nuclear deal with any country in the Middle East must assure its neighbors that it is not pursuing a nuclear arsenal,” Champion said. “This reported agreement by no means guarantees a Saudi enrichment let alone weapons program, but… \[other Middle Eastern countries\] can only read it as opening the door to one. The second test is whether the case for risking nuclear proliferation in this way is dependent on the current leadership in Riyadh. In other words, can the US feel confident that if the house of Saud were one day to be replaced or to change its ideological complexion, it would remain in US interests to have it enriching uranium? The answer to that question is an emphatic no.” **In Slate, Fred Kaplan said Trump’s** [**“deal reversal is right in line with the rest of his foreign policy.”**](https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2026/07/trump-saudi-nuclear-deal-foreign-policy-fail.html?ref=readtangle.com) “It’s becoming a standard feature of Donald Trump’s second presidency: He makes an announcement or sets in motion a new, significant policy — then he utters a remark or posts a caveat on social media, and the ship of state is cast into chaos,” Kaplan wrote. “\[The Saudi Arabia nuclear agreement\] was a very big deal. The Saudis have been seeking such a deal for many years. It could wean the kingdom away from its reliance on oil — but it could also lay the foundations for a Saudi nuclear weapon… Then, on Thursday, at 7:52 AM, Trump posted on social media that the deal ‘is totally subject to Saudi Arabia joining the very respected and successful Abraham Accords.’” “Trump’s new condition — which was not included in the deal negotiated earlier this week by Secretary of Energy Chris Wright and his Saudi counterpart — pretty much scuttles the deal,” Kaplan said. “It’s unclear why or how Trump changed his mind, if he did change his mind. Did he know, or just not notice, that the agreement signed by his energy secretary contained no Saudi concessions on Israel (or much else)?… If you’re an American ally (or adversary or something in between), it’s basically impossible to believe anything our president says at this point, or to view us as anything close to a reliable partner.” | What the right is saying. The right is mixed, with some saying Trump’s late provision on Israel was a masterstroke in negotiations. Others argue that Saudi Arabia is not a trustworthy ally. | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | **In Townhall, Kevin McCullough called the agreement** [**“diplomacy with teeth.”**](https://townhall.com/columnists/kevinmccullough/2026/07/26/since-this-is-the-issue-anyway-n2680136?ref=readtangle.com) “Saudi Arabia has spent the better part of a decade quietly signaling that it wants integration with the West — investment, technology, security guarantees, a seat at a table that used to exclude it,” McCullough wrote. “Trump has placed a single condition in front of the Saudis that costs Riyadh very little to accept in principle, since it was already the direction the kingdom was leaning, and that delivers an enormous strategic prize to Washington, Jerusalem, and every Gulf state watching how this plays out.” “Every additional country that joins the Abraham Accords framework — and Riyadh is by far the biggest remaining prize — knits the region tighter into a coalition organized around commerce, security cooperation, and mutual defense against exactly the kind of Iranian-backed disruption that's defined the last decade,” McCullough said. “Saudi Arabia gets a modern civilian nuclear program and deeper integration with the world's most advanced economies. Israel gets a security partner it has sought for years. The United States gets a more stable, more prosperous, more predictable Middle East.” **In National Review, Noah Rothman asked** [**“what do we get out of the Saudi Nuclear deal?”**](https://www.nationalreview.com/2026/07/what-do-we-get-out-of-the-saudi-nuclear-deal/?ref=readtangle.com) “The Trump administration has provided ample assurances that its nuclear deal with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is nothing to worry about. *Trust us*, they say. *All the necessary checks and safeguards are in place*. And yet, even those with faith in this presidency’s competence and forthrightness should be cautious about what the future will hold when the Trump administration is gone,” Rothman wrote. “Saudi strength has played a key role in the Trump administration’s efforts to reshape the geopolitical landscape in the Middle East. A Riyadh that is flush with cash and a model for regional development augments the regional Sunni bulwark against Iranian influence and aggression. That’s the pro side of the ledger. “The con side is, however, more voluminous and more compelling,” Rothman said. “The Kingdom is not like France, Britain, or even Israel — nations that nuclearized with America’s tacit acceptance — because its government does not enjoy the consent of the governed. It’s an authoritarian regime with plenty of ominous domestic challenges and a lively culture of Islamist radicalism. America should not make an enemy out of Riyadh, as the Biden administration foolishly attempted. But neither should U.S. policy take the House of Saud’s stability for granted and rule out the prospect of a profound change in Riyadh.” | What writers in the Middle East are saying. Some Middle Eastern writers criticize Trump for connecting Israel to the nuclear deal.Others say the agreement advances both Saudi and U.S. interests. | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | **In the Middle East Eye, Ahmed Altuwaijri argued** [**“tying a Saudi nuclear deal to Israel is a strategic mistake.”**](https://www.middleeasteye.net/opinion/why-tying-saudi-nuclear-deal-israel-strategic-mistake?ref=readtangle.com) “If the United States conditions a civilian nuclear agreement with Saudi Arabia on the kingdom's immediate accession to the Abraham Accords, it would be collapsing two fundamentally different policy objectives into a single diplomatic test. Such an approach may appear to increase American leverage. In practice, it is more likely to diminish US influence while accelerating the emergence of a more multipolar Middle East,” Altuwaijri wrote. “The question is whether Washington can realistically expect Riyadh to abandon a position it has articulated with remarkable consistency for more than two decades: that formal normalisation must follow — not precede — a credible pathway towards Palestinian statehood.” “A civilian nuclear agreement should be evaluated on its own merits: its contribution to energy security, technological cooperation, economic development and nuclear non-proliferation. Tying it to an issue on which Saudi Arabia has consistently articulated a non-negotiable position risks sacrificing practical cooperation for unattainable political leverage. Diplomacy succeeds when it recognises political realities rather than attempts to wish them away,” Altuwaijri said. “The task facing Washington is not to compel Saudi Arabia to abandon its stated principles, but to create conditions in which regional peace and strategic cooperation are both achievable. Conditioning one upon the immediate surrender of the other is unlikely to accomplish either objective.” **In Arab News, Abdulrahman Al-Rashed called the agreement a** [**“cornerstone of the strategic relationship between the two countries.”**](https://www.arabnews.jp/en/uncategorized/article%5F174831/?ref=readtangle.com) “Among the criticisms leveled against US President Donald Trump is that he favors Saudi Arabia at the expense of the supreme interests of the US. The facts, however, indicate otherwise. The deal itself is considered, from the perspective of US state institutions, part of those supreme interests, and has been negotiated by three US presidents and four successive administrations,” Al-Rashed wrote. “Ten years of technical, legal, and political negotiations represent a long history that leaves no room to claim the agreement was rushed due to the war with Iran, or that the Trump administration ignored supreme American interests.” “Washington realizes that Riyadh is moving forward with its nuclear project, and that refusing to cooperate would prompt Riyadh to search for an alternative partner, whether in Europe, China, or Russia. This would weaken American influence and potentially risk losing a strategic partner the US is keen to maintain over the next two decades… The same logic applies to the Saudi side. It is also in Riyadh’s interest to maintain its partnership with the major global power,” Al-Rashed said. “Regardless of differing assessments, this war has proven Washington’s readiness to activate the concept of defending its supreme interests, rather than retreating from them.” My Take Will Kaback Senior Editor ![Will Kaback](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2025/05/Will-Square.jpg) - I’m more optimistic than many about the potential of this deal — except on one major provision. - Critics raise reasonable concerns, but I think many risks can be mitigated. - However, the potential for further corruption looms over the entire discussion. **Reminder:** This is where we share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, leave a comment or reply to this email. The obvious caveat overshadowing this deal is that, well, it may already be dead. President Trump’s post-signing demand that Saudi Arabia normalize relations with Israel immediately imperils the chances of enacting any agreement. Perhaps the president tried to squeeze in the Israel provision based on advice from the last person he talked to (a trend that Isaac and other writers have highlighted), or perhaps it’s a negotiation tactic to extract last-minute concessions, as Kevin McCullough (under “What the right is saying”) proposed. No matter the motivation, Trump's after-the-whistle about-face casts the whole deal into doubt. Furthermore, the actual text isn’t public yet, so any discussion of what it does or doesn’t accomplish rests on the Trump administration’s statements, anonymous sources, or pure speculation. That creates a weak foundation for a levelheaded analysis, but one thing is certain: That discussions over a Saudi civilian nuclear program have even reached this point is a Big Deal, one that signals the country’s further embrace of the West. It wasn’t long ago that the U.S. relationship with Saudi Arabia was defined by anger over 9/11, criticism of military intervention in Yemen, and outrage about human-rights abuses. But the relationship has grown friendlier over time, with President Obama [visiting](https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/remarks-president-obama-and-king-abdullah-meeting?ref=readtangle.com) the kingdom in 2009, Trump [traveling](https://ballotpedia.org/Donald%5FTrump%27s%5Ffirst%5Fforeign%5Ftrip%5Fas%5Fpresident?ref=readtangle.com) to the country for the first international trip of his first term, and President Biden [proposing](https://foreignpolicy.com/2024/02/13/biden-israel-palestinian-statehood-grand-deal-middle-east-saudi-arabia-gaza-hamas/?ref=readtangle.com) a “grand bargain” with the country during the back half of his term — one that may have come to fruition had it not been for Hamas’s October 7 attack on Israel. That attack (and Israel’s response) still looms over U.S.–Saudi relations, but these nuclear discussions suggest it won’t be a permanent impediment. The risks of this agreement are easy to spot: nuclear enrichment for an authoritarian regime, a lack of political realism, and the potential for more presidential self-dealing. But the upside is also visible, if you’re willing to look. Deeper ties with Saudi Arabia create immediate economic opportunities, but the strategic offerings are even more important. I see deals like this — which link economic and security interests — as the most realistic path to stability in the Middle East. The United States already has a [nuclear agreement](https://2009-2017.state.gov/documents/organization/140162.pdf?ref=readtangle.com) with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and a similar deal with Saudi Arabia would further tie Gulf interests to our own while giving the U.S. singular influence in how the Saudis develop their civilian nuclear program. Saudi Arabia will likely [pursue](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/23/world/middleeast/saudi-arabia-nuclear.html?eafs%5Fenabled=false&ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=To%20forward%20a%20vision%20of%20modernization) such a program regardless of U.S. involvement, and we aren’t the only country that [could help them](https://www.investing.com/news/commodities-news/explainerwhy-does-saudi-arabia-want-a-civil-nuclear-deal-with-the-us-4033713?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Should%20the%20U.S.%2DSaudi%20talks%20fail%2C%20several%20countries%20with%20established%20nuclear%20industries%20have%20expressed%20interest%20or%20are%20seen%20as%20potential%20partners%20for%20Saudi%20Arabia%E2%80%99s%20nuclear%20programme.) do so. However you feel about our current government, I’d rather the United States be the country at the table than allow China or Russia to take our seat. Even bigger picture: Achieving a long-sought vision of a more stable, peaceful Middle East requires strong partnerships with its leading countries. That means dealing amicably with countries with non-democratic governments or divergent values, like Saudi Arabia. Optimistically, it could also mean tempering their worst impulses. Atrocities like Jamal Khashoggi’s killing could become less likely if Saudi Arabia’s nascent nuclear program (and broader economy) are more reliant on U.S. companies and technology. And the economic benefits of access to Western markets could guide the region away from constant conflict and toward a more prosperous peace. The U.S. benefits from all of that, too. In the near- and long-term, moving forward with this deal would bring economic opportunities to American companies and technological advancements to our economy. The contours of those advancements may not be evident now, but the potential for billions of dollars in contracts over a multi-decade timeline would, in theory, strengthen the U.S. nuclear industrial base, promote competition and innovation, and elevate the industry’s leading companies. Advancement in the nuclear sector might sound like a given whether or not we strike this deal, but it’s not. Nuclear technology development in the U.S. has been [stagnant](https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/R46820?ref=readtangle.com) in recent years, and the appetite for greater adoption of nuclear energy is uncertain. A motivated, deep-pocketed partner like Saudi Arabia would be a boon for the industry. Of course, the risks of this deal are still significant. As Matthew Kroenig and Henry Sokolski [said](https://www.wsj.com/opinion/the-saudi-nuclear-deal-invites-disaster-1d6cb5bf?ref=readtangle.com) in The Wall Street Journal, Saudi Arabia hasn’t agreed to the IAEA Additional Protocol for safeguards or to abstain from domestic uranium enrichment, key provisions in the UAE agreement. Without those provisions, assurances about what Saudi Arabia will or won’t do in the future are just words. Relatedly, an agreement with these terms will likely prompt other Middle East countries to seek out deals to develop their own nuclear programs on the assumption that the Saudis will eventually build up the capacity for domestic enrichment. That’s the exact kind of “arms race” that a deal like this is meant to avoid. Then there’s Iran. The Trump administration doesn’t seem currently capable of halting Iran’s nuclear ambitions through diplomacy *or* force, but any hope of an Iranian deal becomes even more distant if the U.S. sponsors Saudi Arabia on a path to its own nuclear program (with flimsy oversight). That kind of a deal would all but ensure Iran doubles down on its pursuit of a nuclear weapon, short of its complete surrender to the U.S. (unlikely). Lastly, the potential for self-dealing. The New York Times [reported](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/26/us/politics/trump-nuclear-energy-agenda-saudi-deal.html?ref=readtangle.com) that the Trump family and its associates (as well as political allies) could stand to benefit from the explosion of investment and business opportunities in Saudi Arabia. For example, one company that is expected to play a central role in designing a reactor for the Saudis just happens to be partially owned by a business partner of Brandon and Kyle Lutnick — Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick’s sons. Those links aren’t inherently corrupt, but the Trump administration [doesn’t deserve](https://www.readtangle.com/the-everything-everywhere-all-at-once-corruption-story/#:~:text=It%E2%80%99s%20not%20just%20cryptocurrency.) the benefit of the doubt on its motives, especially when it comes to deals with the Saudis. Separately, the potential for cronyism would also mean that the U.S. companies winning contracts to work on the program may not be the best equipped for the job. Taking all these concerns into account, I still think the core provisions of the deal are worth pursuing, but *only if* Saudi Arabia agrees to the same “gold standard” as the UAE — independent oversight and a commitment to permanently forgo domestic enrichment. With those guardrails in place, the agreement would have teeth, and its benefits would be more likely to be realized. Ultimately, the upsides of such a deal would outweigh the risks of another roadblock with Iran and another opportunity for self-dealing. To mitigate the risks of the latter, my best-case scenario would be that President Trump’s erratic posture in negotiations scuttles any agreement during his term, but allows a new, less opportunistic administration to finish the deal. For now, we can only wait for more details and watch how each side navigates Trump’s last-minute demands. It’ll be a while before any action is taken: Congress still has [90 days](https://time.com/article/2026/07/27/republican-senator-kennedy-breaks-ranks-trump-us-saudi-arabia-nuclear-deal/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Congress%20has%2090%20days%20to%20review%20and%2C%20if%20desired%2C%20raise%20votes%20to%20object%20to%20the%20deal.%20If%20Congress%20does%20not%20pass%20a%20resolution%20to%20block%20the%20deal%2C%20it%20goes%20into%20force.) to review the terms, and if the two sides do enact the agreement, then the first uranium-enrichment technology won’t be transferred for [at least two years](https://www.wsj.com/opinion/the-saudi-nuclear-deal-invites-disaster-1d6cb5bf?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Fortunately%2C%20the%20reported%20deal%20contains%20an%20escape%20clause.%20It%20doesn%E2%80%99t%20promise%20the%20immediate%20transfer%20of%20uranium%2Denrichment%20technology.%20Rather%2C%20it%20pledges%20a%20two%2Dyear%20study%20into%20the%20concept.%20But%20it%20doesn%E2%80%99t%20take%20two%20years%20to%20figure%20out%20that%20this%20is%20a%20bad%20idea.). If the past is prologue with this administration, expect more twists and turns before any kind of resolution is reached. ****Staff dissent — Associate Editor Audrey Moorehead:** I think Will’s take — focused on a hypothetical scenario wherein Saudi Arabia agrees to provisions it has consistently refused — still underrates the risks of nuclear proliferation as a result of this deal. I want the U.S. to invest in nuclear energy, but deals with Saudi Arabia have failed repeatedly because the Saudis have proven themselves untrustworthy actors who are fundamentally misaligned with Western ideals. I’m not sure I trust the Saudis to adhere to the safeguards of the deal as writ, much less the additional safeguards that Will caveats his support for an agreement on. Fundamentally, giving nuclear energy to anti-Western theocracies seems like a bad move that will encourage their more aggressive neighbors — like Iran — to accelerate the nuclear arms race. ****Staff concurrence — Managing Editor Ari Weitzman:** Like Will, I’m generally pro “nuclear deal with problematic country.” I have minor disagreements with some of what Will said, but I concur that getting an authoritarian regime to agree to nuclear development with strict guidelines — and having influence and control over those guidelines — is the best, most realistic path towards mutual prosperity. Consider this, too: A nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia looks to me like another instance of Trump’s “[Obama Derangement Syndrome](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/07/opinion/trump-obama-apes-post-video.html?ref=readtangle.com).” Under that theory, our current war with Iran is downstream of Trump’s fixation on President Obama’s Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) with Iran as a “bad deal.” After campaigning hard against the JCPOA in 2016, 2020 and 2024, Trump began the war in Iran as an effort to wipe the slate clean and strong-arm the Islamic Republic out of a nuclear program. Now that that’s going poorly, Trump is once again trying to outdo Obama’s Iran deal, but with Saudi Arabia. And if you think that the JCPOA was better than any compact with Iran that came before or since, then you should probably support a Saudi Arabian deal — with gold standards attached — for the same reason. **Take the survey:** What do you think of the deal? [Let us know](https://interrobang.vercel.app/survey/383e0077-dc51-4a08-a930-324d76bfbe2c?ref=readtangle.com). *Disagree? That*’*s okay. Our opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we*’*ll consider publishing your feedback.* ### Under the radar. Alaska’s Division of Elections recently removed 3,048 registered voters from the state’s active voter list on suspicion that they were noncitizens or incorrectly registered. However, on Wednesday, Director of Elections Carol Beecher said that many of those removed may have been citizens erroneously flagged by the Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Beecher suggested that the unusually large number of flagged voters could have come from “old data” in the DMV, but she added that her office is required to act on the information provided. Anyone affected by the review will now receive a letter asking them to confirm they are citizens by contacting the Division of Elections. [Alaska Beacon has the story](https://alaskabeacon.com/2026/07/23/alaska-removes-thousands-from-states-active-voter-list-erroneously-flagging-some-citizens/?ref=readtangle.com). ### The extras. - **One year ago today** we covered [the humanitarian situation in Gaza](https://www.readtangle.com/malnutrition-starvation-in-gaza-israel-and-un-aid/). - **The most clicked link in our last regular newsletter** was Megan Phelps-Roper’s [guest essay on leaving the Westboro Baptist Church](https://www.readtangle.com/come-read-with-me-megan-phelps-roper/). - **Nothing to do with politics:** How to catch [this week's large meteor showers](https://abcnews.com/US/southern-delta-aquariids-alpha-capricornids-meteor-showers-peak/story?id=135117533&ref=readtangle.com). - **Our last survey:** 3,180 readers responded to our survey on whether to prosecute the noncitizens who voted in New Jersey’s elections after being mistakenly registered, with 40% saying the noncitizen voters should face some consequence, but not criminal prosecution. “This was not a nefarious intention on the part of those who voted illegally, but a software glitch that falls on the state to fix,” one respondent said. “Ignorance of the law, in all of our history, has never excused a person from being held accountable for breaking it,” said another. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/07/data-src-image-4c3b63d5-788c-43fa-b043-8a48876821ef.png) ### Have a nice day. Cape Cod ponds are often full of trash — beer cans, wine bottles, cracked golf balls, cinder blocks, wooden pallets, and tires. Many years ago, Susan Baur started removing trash from the ponds while swimming. She recruited friends and eventually formed a nonprofit called “The Old Ladies Against Underwater Garbage.” Members must be at least 64, able to swim half a mile in 30 minutes, and able to free dive to eight feet. The group cleans about 20 ponds a year and has hauled out an estimated 6,000 pounds of trash from Cape Cod ponds. Lisa Weiss, 65, said, “You’re exhausted, you’re maybe a little sunburned, you’re filthy, and it’s the best feeling.” [The New York Times has the story](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/17/climate/old-ladies-diving-for-trash.html?ref=readtangle.com). ### Are We Sleepwalking Into Another Endless War? URL: https://www.readtangle.com/are-we-sleepwalking-into-another-endless-war/ Last updated: 2026-07-28T15:06:56.000Z Is the United States drifting into another endless conflict in the Middle East? ### Trump's Biggest Election Claims Put to the Test URL: https://www.readtangle.com/trumps-biggest-election-claims-put-to-the-test/ Last updated: 2026-07-28T07:09:50.000Z Did President Trump's latest election security speech actually support the conclusions he was asking Americans to draw? ### Mamdani says NYC government-run grocery stores will sell certain items 30% cheaper. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/mamdani-says-nyc-government-run-grocery-stores-will-sell-certain-items-30-cheaper/ Last updated: 2026-07-28T07:09:51.000Z New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced new details on the city's efforts to create public grocery stores. ### New Jersey’s voter registration scandal. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/new-jersey-voter-registration-scandal/ Last updated: 2026-07-27T15:56:33.000Z I’m **Isaac Saul** and it’s a news-packed Monday morning. A few months ago, I read a story about younger Americans rediscovering malls as a hangout spot, and I have to say I had a hard time imagining it. That was until I spent my Sunday afternoon at the local mall with my wife. It was the first time I'd been in a mall in decades, and I felt like I was instantly transported to my teenage years: high schoolers running around in gaggles, the elderly shopping with their grandchildren, families out for the day, 20-somethings on dates. It was oddly happening and retro and, even weirder, brought me some joy. Today, we’re diving into another pastime: **Election chicanery in New Jersey,** but the modern kind — with alleged “software errors” and public blame games instead of mafiosos and smoke-filled rooms. Also, a reader question about **cyclosporiasis** and a **feel-good** **wedding story**. It’s a **14-minute read**. Too busy to read? Push play instead! ![Too busy to read? Push play instead!](https://tangle.obox.agency/snippet-creator/assets/podcast@2x.png) [Listen to the newsletter every Monday – Friday here](https://www.readtangle.com/tangle-podcast/). ### A guest essay. Megan Phelps-Roper was raised in the Westboro Baptist Church, a group widely condemned by other Christian churches and organizations for its extreme, vulgar rhetoric. As an adult, Phelps-Roper left the congregation and became one of its chief critics, as well as a writer and activist. In a guest essay for Tangle, she wrote about what she lost when she left — and what aspects of her upbringing she’s now reclaiming. [You can read it here](https://www.readtangle.com/come-read-with-me-megan-phelps-roper/). ### Quick hits. 1. The U.S. and Iran paused strikes over the weekend, following roughly two weeks of attacks by each side. President Donald Trump has reportedly opted against escalating the U.S. campaign amid discussions of renewed peace talks and concerns over missile interceptor stockpiles, though the president has denied that munitions are a concern. ([The latest](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/26/world/middleeast/us-iran-war-pause.html?ref=readtangle.com)) 2. Three people were killed and four wounded in a mass shooting at the Seattle Center in Seattle, Washington. One suspect has been arrested, and police are searching for a second. ([The shooting](https://www.foxnews.com/us/multiple-people-wounded-mass-shooting-seattle-center-police-say?ref=readtangle.com)) 3. A federal appeals court rejected the Trump administration’s request to overturn a lower court decision and allow the administration to implement stricter mail-in voting rules ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. ([The ruling](https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/5990609-appeals-court-upholds-injunction-on-president-trumps-mail-in-voting-order/?ref=readtangle.com)) 4. Maine Democratic Party delegates selected former state Senate President Troy Jackson to replace Graham Platner as the party’s nominee in the Senate race against Sen. Susan Collins (R). ([The selection](https://www.newsnationnow.com/politics/ap-maine-democrats-are-meeting-to-pick-a-new-senate-nominee-to-face-republican-sen-susan-collins/?ref=readtangle.com)) 5. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that four additional states are experiencing a cyclosporiasis outbreak linked to shredded iceberg lettuce, bringing the total number of states in the outbreak to nine. ([The update](https://abcnews.com/Health/cdc-expands-cyclosporiasis-outbreak-linked-shredded-iceberg-lettuce/story?id=135052315&ref=readtangle.com)) SPONSORED by the penny hoarder ****11 ways to pocket an extra $2,648 — without a second job** Forty hours should be enough. But when costs keep climbing, picking up more shifts isn’t the only option. [****The Penny Hoarder**](https://partners.thepennyhoarder.com/second-job-sdyn-prt/?aff%5Fid=409&utm%5Fsource=tangle&aff%5Fsub3=second-job-sdyn-prt) rounded up eleven practical, legitimate ways people are bringing in extra money — smarter shopping, cash-back programs, and trimming what they already owe. Some will fit better than others — worth a look. [See the full list ](https://partners.thepennyhoarder.com/second-job-sdyn-prt/?aff%5Fid=409&utm%5Fsource=tangle&aff%5Fsub3=second-job-sdyn-prt) ### Today’s topic. Noncitizen voting in New Jersey. On Tuesday, July 21, New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill (D) [announced](https://www.nj.gov/governor/news/2026/20260721a.shtml?ref=readtangle.com) that an error in the state’s motor-vehicles system software resulted in approximately 6,600 noncitizens being registered to vote, and a preliminary assessment showed roughly 400 of them cast a ballot in at least one election. Sherrill said the improper registrations occurred during former Gov. Phil Murphy’s (D) term and ordered an investigation into the error. New Jersey’s Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) [allows](https://www.nj.gov/mvc/drivertopics/voterreg.htm?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=If%20you%20are%20eligible%20to%20vote%20in%20New%20Jersey%2C%20you%20may%20register%20to%20vote%20at%20a%20motor%20vehicle%20agency%20while%20applying%20for/renewing%20a%20driver%E2%80%99s%20license%20or%20non%2Ddriver%20identification%20%28ID%29%20card.%20The%20MVC%20will%20report%20the%20information%20to%20the%20New%20Jersey%20Division%20of%20Elections.%C2%A0) people applying for drivers’ licenses or identification cards to simultaneously register to vote if they certify that they are U.S. citizens and eligible to cast ballots. Gov. Sherrill [said](https://www.njspotlightnews.org/2026/07/thousands-of-non-citizens-registered-to-vote-in-nj-sherrill-says/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=are%20held%20accountable.%E2%80%9D-,Immediate%20inquiry,-New%20Jersey%20has) that between June 2023 and June 2024, an error in the state’s registration software mistakenly registered people who indicated they were not citizens. She added that the issue was eventually caught and corrected by the Murphy administration, but criticized the former governor for a “lack of transparency” in failing to disclose the discovery. IDEMIA, the contractor that operates the state system, refuted Sherrill’s claim that a software glitch caused the issue. Lisa Shoemaker, a company spokesperson, [said](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2026/07/24/new-jersey-voter-registration-contractor-denies-fault/91014396007/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=%22IDEMIA%20does%20not%20control%20or%20manage%20voter%20enrollment%3B%20our%20role%20is%20simply%20to%20collect%20self%2Dreported%20citizenship%20and%20interest%20data%2C%22%20Shoemaker%20said.%20%22The%20IDEMIA%20software%20is%20not%20now%20and%20has%20never%20been%20set%20up%20to%20send%20any%20data%20whatsoever%20to%20the%20NJ%20Division%20of%20Elections.%22) the company does not register voters on behalf of the state. Instead, it accurately collected and stored applicants’ responses to a series of questions about their interest in registering to vote, citizenship status, and (if eligible) party affiliation. According to Shoemaker, the state was responsible for how it used the information in the MVC’s database. In response to Sherrill’s announcement, the White House [reaffirmed](https://www.whitehouse.gov/releases/2026/07/democrat-glitch-registers-thousands-of-noncitizens-to-vote-another-reason-to-pass-the-save-america-act/?ref=readtangle.com) its call for Congress to pass the SAVE America Act, which would require states to use a federal system to confirm a prospective voter’s eligibility before they can be registered to vote in federal elections. Separately, Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ) and a group of Republican lawmakers [sent a letter](https://x.com/RepublicanStudy/status/2080706382530052410/photo/2?ref=readtangle.com) to Gov. Sherrill asking for a “complete accounting of how this failure occurred.” Sherrill and other Democrats have rejected claims that the incident validates broader concerns over election security and voter fraud. “Donald Trump has zero credibility on the issue of election integrity. For the past 10 years, he’s cried wolf and peddled bizarre conspiracy theories about fraud with no evidence,” Sherrill [said](https://www.youtube.com/live/aoYZ9B0ezpQ?si=Z9WLCzxNd1Yhn%5FHr&t=271&ref=readtangle.com). Today, we’ll share views from the right, left, and New Jersey writers on the incident. Then, Executive Editor Isaac Saul’s take. | What the right is saying. Many on the right say the incident validates concerns about election-system vulnerabilities. Some argue that the SAVE America Act would not have prevented this error. | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | **In the Washington Examiner, Zachary Faria said** [**“New Jersey admits that the voter fraud that doesn’t happen was happening.”**](https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/beltway-confidential/4659253/new-jersey-noncitizen-voting-democrats-voter-fraud/?ref=readtangle.com) “Democrats and liberal media have said that evidence of voter fraud, specifically fraud committed by noncitizens, is essentially nonexistent. Now, New Jersey’s Democratic governor has effectively killed that talking point,” Faria wrote. “We have gone from the *New York Times* saying just two weeks ago that ‘widespread noncitizen voting’ is ‘a problem that doesn’t exist’ to the Democratic governor of a state admitting that around 400 noncitizens illegally voted after the state gave over 6,000 of them the ability to do so.” “The Democratic Party, willfully or not, is only making this problem worse. Aside from giving noncitizens (including illegal immigrants) driver’s licenses while running an automatic voter registration program through the DMV, many Democrat-run cities want to (or do) allow noncitizens to vote in local elections. Democratic politicians also rabidly oppose any efforts to require voter identification,” Faria said. “When you combine that with the fact that Democrats are making it easier for noncitizens and illegal immigrants to vote (both unintentionally and intentionally) and oppose any safeguards under the guise of ‘voter suppression,’ you have a blooming voter fraud issue.” **In Cato at Liberty, Stephen Richer explored whether** [**“the SAVE America Act \[would\] have prevented the New Jersey noncitizen voter snafu.”**](https://www.cato.org/blog/would-save-america-act-have-prevented-new-jersey-noncitizen-voter-snafu-maybe-maybe-not?ref=readtangle.com) “Arizona was the first state to require documented proof of citizenship. The overwhelming majority of Arizona voters satisfy this requirement by showing a passport or birth certificate to the state’s Motor Vehicle Division when getting a driver’s license,” Richer wrote. “If New Jersey had the same system as Arizona, the 6,600 noncitizens in question still would have indicated that they are not citizens; accordingly, they wouldn’t have provided documented proof of citizenship. Nothing would have changed. The software error would have still indicated that they met the citizenship requirement. The registrar still would have relied on this inaccurate information.” “It’s possible that the final version of the SAVE America Act could be structured differently. It could require that even if the individual provides documented proof of citizenship to a motor vehicle division, he or she must also provide a birth certificate to the registrar for a new voter registration and every subsequent registration modification,” Richer said. “This would have made the New Jersey error less likely, but it would impose new burdens on hundreds of millions of voting Americans.” | What the left is saying. Some on the left say the incident is proof that noncitizen voting is rare and detectable.Others say that Democrats should adjust their approach to voter fraud concerns. | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | **In USA Today, Chris Brennan said** [**“New Jersey’s noncitizen voter disclosure shows the system works.”**](https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/columnist/2026/07/23/registered-voters-new-jersey-noncitizen-voting-sherrill/91011455007/?ref=readtangle.com) “The loudest view \[about election integrity and voter fraud\], shouted at every opportunity by President Donald Trump but not supported by evidence, is that voter fraud is rampant in our country, especially among noncitizens allegedly casting ballots,” Brennan wrote. “The more nuanced view, with a foundation in actual evidence, is that voter fraud and noncitizen voting are rare occurrences that our election infrastructure is designed to catch and eliminate, and to prosecute as necessary. The news out of New Jersey proves that second point of view.” “Trump has been banging away at Republicans in Congress to pass his so-called SAVE America Act, which he casts as crucial for election integrity, but which is really just an unconstitutional power grab,” Brennan said. “Any American who interacts with the government in any way knows mistakes happen. That applies to elections and how they’re run. Trump and his Republican allies in Congress would have you believe that those mistakes are intentional. But these kinds of problems crop up in red states, too.” **In New York Magazine, Ed Kilgore suggested** [**“New Jersey shows Democrats need a better voter-fraud strategy.”**](https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/new-jersey-shows-democrats-need-a-better-voter-fraud-policy.html?ref=readtangle.com) “To be clear, the 6,600 noncitizen voter registrations is well below the 35,152 DHS claimed for New Jersey in the recent report Trump cited, based on a database created for an entirely different purpose that is reported to be full of errors. But it’s like a camel’s nose under the tent, validating all sorts of MAGA suspicions that the real fraud is vast and underreported,” Kilgore wrote. “Sherrill has not yet offered a proactive proposal to prevent the sort of errors she detected and reversed… Sherrill and every other state-level Democrat should clarify their own views about election integrity and possible noncitizen voting. “At the federal level, Democrats should also modify their long-standing national voting-rights proposals to include a modest and reasonable system for verifying voter eligibility at the polls and for obtaining and casting mail ballots. It may need to be no more extensive than the signature-verification system California and other universal voting-by-mail states already use,” Kilgore said. “With their own approach (either state by state or nationally) to voter-eligibility verification, Democrats would be in a far stronger position on the topic and more in line with the large majority of Americans who support some form of voter ID.” | What New Jersey writers are saying. Some New Jersey writers say the error was a predictable result of flawed policy.Others criticize former Gov. Murphy for failing to shore up the issue during his term. | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | **In Save Jersey, Matt Rooney called the error** [**“fraud by design.”**](https://savejersey.com/2026/07/fraud-by-design-new-jersey-voter-rolls-illegal-non-citizen/?ref=readtangle.com) “For years, New Jersey’s political class dismissed election integrity concerns as paranoid fantasy. They insisted every safeguard was in place… This week, reality finally caught up,” Rooney wrote. “Software may have failed (the company is pushing back, for what it’s worth), but software merely executed the system politicians deliberately built… It was the predictable consequence of a policy architecture that prioritized making registration effortless over ensuring only eligible citizens were added to the rolls.” “The foundation was laid in 2018, when Democrats enacted automatic voter registration through the Motor Vehicle Commission. Registration became the default… One year later (2019), they expanded driver’s licenses to illegal aliens. Anyone paying attention could see the obvious question: What happens when those systems collide?” Rooney said. “When government intentionally dismantles safeguards, expands eligibility for driver’s licenses to people who cannot legally vote, automates voter registration, weakens accountability, and then expresses surprise when ineligible people wind up on the voter rolls, the real failure isn’t the software.” **In the New Jersey Monitor, Terrence T. McDonald said** [**“Phil Murphy gives NJ Democrats one more kick in the teeth.”**](https://newjerseymonitor.com/2026/07/24/phil-murphy-nj-democrats-non-citizens-voting/?ref=readtangle.com) “\[Former Gov.\] Murphy, who ended his two terms as governor in January, spent his final years in office stripping Democratic Party leaders of their chief ballot advantage, cozying up to Donald Trump as Trump sought reelection, and attempting to install his wife as a U.S. senator,” McDonald wrote. “And now Gov. Mikie Sherrill alleges that Murphy’s administration dropped the ball as the state Motor Vehicle Commission accidentally registered about 6,000 non-citizens to vote.” “If the claims she made on Tuesday are true, Murphy not only left Sherrill with a massive mess to clean up and New Jersey with a black eye; he also made it harder for New Jersey Democrats, and potentially Democrats nationwide, to argue that Trump’s allegations of widespread voter fraud are wrong,” McDonald said. “Trump’s push to convince Americans that non-citizens are flipping election results — which is really just a personal crusade to convince America that he did not lose reelection in 2020 — has been strengthened thanks to incompetence in our state government.” My Take Isaac Saul Managing Editor ![Isaac Saul](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2025/05/Isaac.jpg) - This story didn’t look great for New Jersey when it broke, and it looks worse with more detail. - The state’s contractor and the noncitizen voters aren’t totally blameless, but I think the state is primarily at fault. - Using this episode as evidence for some massive voter fraud is a total overreach. **Reminder:** This is where we share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, leave a comment or reply to this email. Compared to how straightforward this story seems on the surface (“6,600 noncitizens were erroneously registered to vote in New Jersey”), it’s actually pretty complicated. To recap: New Jersey allows people renewing their drivers’ licenses or government-issued ID cards to simultaneously register to vote if they certify that they are U.S. citizens. The state contracts part of that process to IDEMIA, a French company that sells software to help Departments of Motor Vehicles in the United States with everything from [testing](https://www.idemia.com/secure-dmv-online-driving-test-service?ref=readtangle.com) to [voter registration](https://www.idemia.com/dmv-web-enrollment?ref=readtangle.com). New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill said that software erroneously registered 6,600 noncitizens to vote despite marking themselves as ineligible, allowing roughly 400 to actually cast ballots. In her announcement last week, Sherrill said these 6,600 noncitizens committed no fault but had simply been registered to vote because of a software error. This turned the public gaze and criticism toward IDEMIA. IDEMIA’s [side of the story](https://www.politico.com/news/2026/07/23/contractor-disputes-mikie-sherrills-claims-of-nj-voter-registration-software-error-01010689?ref=readtangle.com) is meaningfully different. It said that all 6,600 of the individuals in question said “yes” to an initial question about wanting to register to vote, but “no” to a subsequent one about being a U.S. citizen. This is where details are unclear and disputed: IDEMIA says that the Motor Vehicles Commission (MVC) erroneously included these responses when it sent its registration to the state Division of Elections. In other words, it recorded the responses accurately and *the state* was atfault; the MVC didn’t have to send ineligible voter data to the state, and New Jersey’s elections office could have filtered those responses out. In June of 2024, MVC requested the software to automatically mark anyone who indicated they were a noncitizen as declining to register to vote, which solved the issue going forward. But the 6,600 erroneously added people from the year before were never removed or disclosed. When *that* side of the story broke on Friday, the narrative changed to something like this: The state of New Jersey incompetently used a system that resulted in 6,600 noncitizens being registered to vote, and the state was *so* incompetent (or trying to cover it up) that this was not fixed immediately or disclosed publicly for more than two years. If you wanted to be really cynical, you could also argue that the noncitizens — by virtue of selecting “yes” — were also expressing some intent to break the law (I would not argue that, but the Trump administration is [already pursuing prosecution](https://www.politico.com/news/2026/07/23/contractor-disputes-mikie-sherrills-claims-of-nj-voter-registration-software-error-01010689?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=The%20issue%20has,could%20face%20prosecution.)). Candidly, it’s impossible to know without complete records and (probably) a court case who was *really* at fault here. But if you’re asking me: IDEMIA’s story strikes me as far more plausible. MVC had the right data, the registration issue was fixed once they requested IDEMIA “[change its settings](https://www.politico.com/news/2026/07/23/contractor-disputes-mikie-sherrills-claims-of-nj-voter-registration-software-error-01010689?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=requested%20that%20IDEMIA-,change%20its%20settings,-so%20that%20those),” and the state is trying to pin blame on some vague “software error.” Given that IDEMIA can point to a specific moment in time when the problem was fixed, it really seems like the software was doing what it was told to initially — it was just being told the wrong thing. In an even worse look for the state, the elections office then failed to recognize that it had registered 6,600 noncitizens on its voting roll. Yet, even if this is the case, I wouldn’t count IDEMIA as blameless here. Presuming their version of events is accurate, how is it possible they didn’t give clear enough instructions for something this important with a client this big to avoid a mistake like this? Is there no auditing or oversight? Are we really just leaving government workers a few clicks or one malformed query away from meaningfully corrupting our election systems? None of that feels particularly exonerating for the private contractor in this case. Gov. Sherrill, for her part, continued lambasting IDEMIA publicly on Friday, saying the state had already begun the process to end its relationship with the vendor because this company was the heart of the issues with New Jersey’s MVC: “long wait times, bureaucracy, red tape.” Maybe Sherrill is overreaching there, but ending the relationship is probably for the best. And it’s a tough break for Sherrill, who had nothing to do with any of this (thank you, Gov. Phil Murphy), yet is now left to clean it all up. Meanwhile, the Trump administration has signaled it’s going to prosecute the noncitizen voters, which doesn’t feel like a just solution to me. In most cases, I’d support any noncitizen voting illegally facing criminal charges — but this situation seems unique. A noncitizen lying about their citizenship to register to vote is illegal, but a noncitizen indicating on a form that they want to participate in elections while also making it clear that they are not a citizen, and then being told they can vote, does not strike me as the sort of thing that is worth a prosecutor’s time. If I walk into a bar and the bartender asks me if I want a drink and I say “yes, but I’m only 20 years old,” and then the bartender says “that’s okay, you can drink here,” then hands me a beer and I take a sip, who do we think is the person worthy of prosecution? This story is also a reminder of the reality of voter fraud. Noncitizen voting is vanishingly rare. A quick look around the country shows that most states have [mere hundreds](https://docs.google.com/document/d/10wTdAvtB8TZ-UpirSxqo3JM-AdPMMVc62yb4A-%5FOE6w/edit?tab=t.0&ref=readtangle.com), if not single-digit numbers, of noncitizens who cast ballots among millions of registered voters. Even here, in an incident where 6,600 noncitizens were erroneously added to the voter rolls, 94% didn’t actually cast a ballot. Of the 6% who did, it’s much more difficult to suss out intent when the state seems to have given them a green light to vote in the first place. To draw on my previous analogy, if I told you that 94% of 20-year-olds offered a beer inside a bar then turned the beer down, you’d probably be more worried about the socialization of 20-year-olds than you were about their capacity to commit a crime. And not for nothing, but this story seems directly related to the [Trump administration effectively killing the Election Assistance Commission](https://www.readtangle.com/trump-fires-election-commissioners/) (EAC). IDEMIA, after all, says its systems functioned perfectly well and, as proof, noted that the state of New Jersey tested and approved the systems before they were implemented. The EAC was a federal agency that helped states standardize this kind of election-related software, and this is just the kind of thing that supporters of the EAC worry we’ll see more of with it taken off the table. All things said and done, I’m glad this mistake is finally coming to light and that both the federal and state governments are giving it some attention. What’s critical, to me, is that this all reinforces the single most important element of election security: a paper trail. In this case, we got lucky. The mistake was caught using the digital tools at hand. But what if the software system *itself* hadbeen compromised? What if the error was smaller and less noticeable, or larger and more difficult to unwind? As with vote tabulators, having a paper record is our best last defense for audits and record-keeping, and as we become more and more reliant on software tools and computerized systems, we need to stay diligent about preserving the primary documents those tools are processing. ****Staff dissent — Associate Editor Carina Pacheco:** New Jersey’s voter-registration scandal is messy, chiefly because each side is trying hard to twist it to fit their own narratives. But however you slice it, the state’s voter registration system resulted in hundreds of illegally cast ballots, which is a serious failure. It’s virtually impossible to accurately judge the intention or culpability of each noncitizen who actually cast a ballot, but in most cases, I ascribe as much agency to an individual as possible, even if I’m sympathetic to their situation. If you live in a foreign country and receive notice that you are registered to vote, you have several ways to understand whether you can legally vote in state or federal elections. Google is probably the easiest. Separately, if the state **mistakenly* registered you to vote via a software glitch or other mishap, and you disclosed you are a non-citizen, then **you are not to blame*. But I also believe if you **actually cast a ballot* just because you were registered to vote, you’re breaking the law, even if you didn’t know it. Saying “these people couldn’t know better” assumes a very low bar of critical reasoning and denies these noncitizens of any agency. And what precedent does it set if we let voter fraud, at any scale, go unpunished, especially if we definitely know it happened? I can’t get behind the idea that New Jersey should just let this one slide. If we want to send a serious message about election security, all parties — the software company, the MVC, and the individuals who cast votes — should be held to account. **Take the survey:** Should the noncitizens who voted be prosecuted? [Let us know](https://interrobang.vercel.app/survey/92049ee2-cb50-4ca9-a1c3-a347d82b31c2?ref=readtangle.com). *Disagree? That*’*s okay. Our opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we*’*ll consider publishing your feedback.* ### Your questions, answered. **Q: In the past, the sources (both the pathogens and foods carrying them) of deadly and sickening food-borne illnesses have been reasonably quickly identified, the foods recalled, and people are instructed about what to avoid, or how to clean, etc., the possible sources, when safe. But none of those normal procedures seems to apply to the recent outbreak of cyclosporiasis. Why?** **I understand that it’s a parasite and not bacteria, but why do we have so little information about the sources of it, what to avoid eating or handling, etc.?** **– Katheryn from Clinton, NY** **Tangle:** While Managing Editor Ari Weitzman was out on paternity leave, a rotation of guests came onto *Suspension of the Rules* to fill out the roster and offer their opinions on pertinent topics. [Two weeks ago](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4rGutuB5s8&ref=readtangle.com), author of the newsletter *Your Local Epidemiologist* Dr. Katelyn Jetelina joined the show to talk about cyclosporiasis (and has discussed it in depth in [her newsletter](https://yourlocalepidemiologist.substack.com/p/explosive-foodborne-outbreak)). First, what it is. Cyclospora is a microscopic parasite that spreads through food or water contaminated with human feces. An infection of Cyclospora is called cyclosporiasis; it can cause explosive diarrhea for weeks, and its symptoms tend to set in more gradually than what you might experience with other illnesses or food poisoning. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) may have struggled to detect the outbreak for a few reasons. First, tracing the source [is slow work](https://yourlocalepidemiologist.substack.com/p/explosive-foodborne-outbreak#:~:text=Why%20is%20it%20taking%20so%20long%20to%20find%20a%20source%3F). Since the parasite is not part of [standard parasite panels](https://www.cdc.gov/han/php/notices/han00531.html?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Check%20that%20stool%20testing%20protocols%20include%20specific%20diagnostic%20methods%20for%20Cyclospora%20detection%20%28e.g.%2C%20modified%20acid%2Dfast%20staining%20or%20PCR%29%2C%20rather%20than%20relying%20solely%20on%20routine%20ova%20and%20parasite%20%28O%26P%29%20exams.), detecting it requires an infected person to report their condition, public health experts to find and interview that person, and then for the infected person to recount all the food they’ve eaten in the past 10 days. Second, reported cyclosporiasis cases have been [trending up](https://wonder.cdc.gov/controller/saved/D130/D513F661?ref=readtangle.com) for years, making it harder to detect spikes that indicate an imminent outbreak. Third, the infection is not centralized and is actually [clustered](https://advocacy.consumerreports.org/research/cyclospora-outbreak-2026-what-consumers-need-to-know/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Is%20this%20a%20single%2C%20widespread%2C%20national%20outbreak%3F) around four separate outbreaks, with the largest spike in Michigan [linked](https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/investigation-9-state-outbreak-cyclospora-illnesses-iceberg-lettuce-july-2026?ref=readtangle.com) to iceberg lettuce from a supplier in Mexico distributed to Taco Bell restaurants. Lastly, federal funding. Many [outlets](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/state/georgia/atlanta/2026/07/14/parasite-behind-explosive-outbreak-not-part-of-required-monitoring/90912239007/?ref=readtangle.com) have [reported](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/how-trump-admin-cuts-have-compromised-food-safety/?ref=readtangle.com) on funding cuts to FoodNet — a federal program managed jointly by the CDC, the Food and Drug Administration, and the Department of Agriculture to analyze trends in foodborne illnesses — [linking](https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/cdc-quietly-scaled-back-surveillance-program-foodborne-illnesses-rcna227089?ref=readtangle.com) those cuts to this current outbreak. The government’s food-surveillance program may not be perfect, but those cuts probably [did not contribute](https://www.factcheck.org/2026/07/democrats-overstate-role-of-monitoring-program-change-in-parasitic-outbreak/?ref=readtangle.com) to the CDC’s delayed communications because FoodNet was not designed to prevent and respond to outbreaks. As Jetelina [said](https://yourlocalepidemiologist.substack.com/p/explosive-foodborne-outbreak#:~:text=Public%20health%20cuts%20have%20played%20a%20role%20here%2C%20but%20not%20the%20one%20getting%20the%20headlines.) in her newsletter, “FoodNet was never designed for real-time outbreak detection or response… The more accurate culprits are the lack of centralized coordination by the federal government, our siloed health systems, and insufficient capacity at state and local health departments.” **Want to have a question answered in the newsletter? You can reply to this email (it goes straight to our inbox) or** [**fill out this form**](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScQhqBSG%5F6%5FoBhwcTQMeS570n29XYbeQ9C9Bis7rjqI31g1tA/viewform?usp=header&ref=readtangle.com)**.** ### Numbers. - [**24.**](https://ballotpedia.org/Automatic%5Fvoter%5Fregistration?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=HIGHLIGHTS-,As%20of%20November%202025%2C%2024%20states%20and%20the%20District%20of%20Columbia%20had%20enacted%20automatic%20voter%20registration%20policies.,-In%202015%2C%20California) The number of states with automatic voter registration policies as of November 2025, according to Ballotpedia. - [**18.**](https://ballotpedia.org/Automatic%5Fvoter%5Fregistration?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=At%20the%20time%20of%20adopting%20automatic%20voter%20registration%2C%20governors%20in%2018%20of%20the%2024%20states%20with%20these%20policies%20were%20Democrats%2C%20five%20were%20Republicans%2C%20and%20one%20was%20independent.) Of those states, the number with Democratic governors when the automatic voter registration policy was enacted. - [**53%.**](https://mapresearch.org/democracy-map/automatic-voter-registration/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Breakdown%20by%20Population) The percentage of eligible U.S. voters who live in a state with some form of automatic voter registration, according to Movement Advancement Project. - [**2.5 million.**](https://www.nj.gov/mvc/pdf/about/2025%20Annual%20Report%5F1-16-26%20Final%20for%20website.pdf?ref=readtangle.com#page=12) The approximate number of people in New Jersey who registered to vote through the state’s Motor Vehicle Commission between fiscal years 2023 and 2025\. - [**3.4 million.**](https://www.njspotlightnews.org/2026/07/by-the-numbers-voter-registration-at-njs-mvc/?ref=readtangle.com) The approximate number of ballots cast in New Jersey’s 2025 general election. - [**15,783.**](https://www.njspotlightnews.org/2026/07/by-the-numbers-voter-registration-at-njs-mvc/?ref=readtangle.com) Of those ballots, the number that were rejected. SPONSORED by the penny hoarder ****More income, same 40 hours** Covering the bills shouldn’t mean working longer. There’s plenty of bad advice in this category, so [****The Penny Hoarder**](https://partners.thepennyhoarder.com/second-job-sdyn-prt/?aff%5Fid=409&utm%5Fsource=tangle&aff%5Fsub3=second-job-sdyn-prt) filtered it down to eleven options that actually hold up. Most take an afternoon to set up, and none of them require a second job. [See what fits ](https://partners.thepennyhoarder.com/second-job-sdyn-prt/?aff%5Fid=409&utm%5Fsource=tangle&aff%5Fsub3=second-job-sdyn-prt) ### The extras. - **One year ago today** we had just published Isaac’s essay on [five things he’d gotten right about President Trump](https://www.readtangle.com/five-things-i-got-right-about-trump/). - **The most clicked link in our last regular newsletter** was [our newest episode of *Suspension of the Rules*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AnHgmdDhsqE&ref=readtangle.com). - **Nothing to do with politics:** A game that tests [how fast you can identify a random song](https://soundofsliver.com/?ref=readtangle.com). - **Our last survey:** 2,530 readers responded to our survey on the Canadian wildfires, with 85% saying climate change is one of the factors contributing to the ongoing fires. “It’s a mix of things, but climate change is definitely the primary factor,” one respondent said. “Better management and mitigation priorities — especially budgets and resources,” said another. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/07/data-src-image-35ca1d00-468f-4ceb-9671-826fc8cb1463.png) ### Have a nice day. Many little girls dream about what their wedding day will look like, so for their daughter Jordan Rosenberg’s wedding to her now-husband Max Creamer in May, Rosenberg’s parents unearthed an old video of their four-year-old daughter talking about her future wedding. She told them the celebration would have a range of attractions you may expect a four-year-old to list off: clowns, face paint, dancing, and a moon bounce among them. When asked who her groom would be, Jordan exclaimed, “Max!” The kicker: Rosenberg and Creamer did not meet until college. The audio was put together as a surprise and played during the father–daughter dance, much to the guests’ delight and Creamer’s surprise. “He couldn’t believe it!” Rosenberg said of her husband’s reaction to her serendipitous, sentimental prediction. [People has the story.](https://people.com/groom-shocked-as-bride-childhood-recording-reveals-she-named-him-as-her-future-husband-exclusive-11976291?ref=readtangle.com) ### The Sunday — July 26 URL: https://www.readtangle.com/the-sunday-2/ Last updated: 2026-07-26T11:52:53.000Z *This is the Tangle Sunday Edition, a brief roundup of our independent politics coverage plus some extra features for your Sunday morning reading.* ### What the right is doodling. ![Steve Kelley | Creators Syndicate](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/07/data-src-image-8617fdf3-f9b7-45fc-93e1-acfbcf54895a.jpeg) Steve Kelley | Creators Syndicate ### What the left is doodling. ![John Deering | Creators Syndicate](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/07/data-src-image-9f9fffda-e0cd-473b-9f06-59fb11a1c2f0.jpeg) John Deering | Creators Syndicate ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/07/data-src-image-1d7e8a85-59bb-47ac-b6cd-03f206b06778.png) ### Suspension of the Rules. This week, Isaac, Kmele, and a fresh-faced Ari reunite to talk election integrity, Bill O’Reilly, a twist in an old Hunter Biden story, and the challenge of separating political rhetoric from reality. Check it out: ### Monday, July 20. [The Election Assistance Commission](https://www.readtangle.com/trump-fires-election-commissioners/). On Thursday, July 9, President Donald Trump fired the two Democratic commissioners of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC), and the agency’s final commissioner, a Republican, resigned. Without commissioners, the agency can still distribute election funding to states, but some of its functions will be impacted, such as establishing new programs or carrying out the appeals process for decertified voting systems. President Trump has not indicated whether he plans to nominate replacements. The White House said the Supreme Court’s recent ruling affirming the president’s power to remove leaders of independent agencies established precedent for the firings. **Our take:** *“Ousting the EAC commissioners probably won’t disrupt elections in the near term. However, the move represents Trump’s latest attempt to exert influence over elections. If the president is concerned about election security, dismantling this agency is a strange response.”* **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/07/data-src-image-bf1d23fb-ede4-4b7c-86c9-e0ac328d3d5a.png) ### Tuesday, July 21. [New York’s data center moratorium](https://www.readtangle.com/new-york-data-center-moratorium/). On Tuesday, July 14, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) signed an executive order pausing construction of new large-scale data centers in the state for up to one year. Hochul said the moratorium is intended to allow policymakers to study the economic and environmental effects of new data centers and consider regulatory action. The governor’s order went into effect immediately, making New York the first state to halt data center construction. **Our take:** *“Most people — myself included — are imposing their existing positions onto this order before engaging with it. I think data centers are unfairly maligned and are beaten up as a proxy for artificial intelligence. New York’s one-year moratorium won’t do anything about AI development, and it’s likely to have a net negative effect.”* **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/07/data-src-image-4b65aebf-0f8f-41f4-9e41-e943e836e133.png) ### Wednesday, July 22. [Darline Graham’s candidacy](https://www.readtangle.com/darline-graham-announces-senate-run/). On Monday, July 20, Sen. Darline Graham (R-SC) said she will run for a full, six-year term to succeed her brother, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R), who passed away suddenly on July 11 after suffering an aortic dissection. Republicans will hold a special primary on August 11 to select a new candidate to run against physician Annie Andrews (D) in the general election. Several other Republican candidates are expected to run in the August primary; if no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote, a runoff will be held on August 25. **Our take:** *“Open seats should be filled as democratically as possible, not by anointing a family member of the deceased. Darline Graham’s media exposure from her appointment — plus Trump’s public support — gives her an unfair edge over other primary contenders. There should be a new process for appointments that doesn’t rely on outdated precedents.”* **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/07/data-src-image-cc16a990-2261-454b-b3d8-b62a380d35e1.png) ### Thursday, July 23. [The Canadian wildfires](https://www.readtangle.com/canada-wildfires-smoke-2026/). Last week, smoke from wildfires in Canada (as well as northern Minnesota) has affected air quality and visibility across the Midwest and East Coast of the United States. Air-quality alerts remained in place for a large portion of the country throughout the week, and experts expect wildfire smoke to remain prevalent through August. The fires have raised concerns about climate-related catalysts of extreme environmental events, as well as scrutiny of Canada’s forest management. **Our take:** *“Climate change is directly contributing to the prevalence and intensity of these fires, but it’s not the primary cause. That said, Trump is completely off-base in accusing Canada of mismanaging its forests. Even in a best-case scenario, the best Canada (or the U.S.) can do is mitigate the fires’ impacts.”* **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/07/data-src-image-10f84eaa-b382-4380-a26b-f0bc4d81935a.png) ### Friday, July 24. As Tangle continues to grow, we want to feature interesting perspectives from across the political spectrum. In this week’s Friday essay, Megan Phelps-Roper — best known for growing up in the Westboro Baptist Church, widely regarded as a hate group, before leaving and becoming one of its foremost critics — revisits her childhood upbringing, and what she’s still returning to. [You can read her essay here](https://www.readtangle.com/come-read-with-me-megan-phelps-roper/). --- ### What just happened. Here’s a rundown of the major stories that have broken since our newsletter on Thursday. - On Thursday, the House voted 214–208 to pass a war powers resolution to limit President Donald Trump’s military actions in Iran. Later in the day, the Senate voted down a similar resolution 47–49\. ([The votes](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/07/23/congress-pushes-war-powers-resolutions-tells-trump-to-abandon-iran-war.html?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Thursday, the man who killed Minnesota state Rep. Melissa Hortman (D) and her husband was sentenced to life in prison. ([The sentence](https://www.foxnews.com/us/vance-boelter-sentenced-shootings-minnesota-lawmakers-spouses?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Thursday, President Trump said the U.S.–Saudi Arabia nuclear deal he approved on Wednesday is contingent on Saudi Arabia normalizing relations with Israel. ([The update](https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5987273-trump-saudi-nuclear-deal-abraham-accords/?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Thursday, the Secret Service confirmed that an agent assigned to Vice President JD Vance has been put on administrative leave and is under internal review on suspicion of “compromising operational and information security.” The agent reportedly leaked information about the vice president’s travel schedule. ([The review](https://www.cnn.com/2026/07/22/politics/secret-service-agent-vance-suspected-leak-internal-review?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Friday, the Trump administration imposed tariffs ranging from 10–12.5% on over 80 countries. The White House alleged that the countries had failed to pass or enforce laws against importing goods made with forced labor, making them eligible for tariffs under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974\. ([The tariffs](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/23/business/economy/trump-tariffs.html?ref=readtangle.com)) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/07/data-src-image-2d354755-9f43-4aaf-8ab6-46567e5a3d5d.png) ### Reader essay. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/07/data-src-image-110ffd4b-c5e9-4705-83b2-ee335e32951e.jpeg) Photo from Kaitlyn Rubertone Kaitlyn Rubertone knows what career she’d choose if money were no object: run an independent music venue. But money *is* an object, and most venue owners choose their work as a passion project, not because it makes them money. In this week’s reader essay, Kaitlyn explores the value independent venues bring to their communities, and why we shouldn’t take them for granted. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### The one question every reporter should be asking Trump. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/the-one-question-every-reporter-should-be-asking-trump/ Last updated: 2026-07-24T20:06:26.000Z Listen to our full podcast at the link above! ### For The Music URL: https://www.readtangle.com/otherposts/for-the-music/ Last updated: 2026-08-31T18:02:57.000Z *By Kaitlyn Rubertone* --- Think about this for a second: if you could do something for the rest of your life and make enough money to financially sustain yourself, what would it be? When my colleague asked this question to us this summer, the answers varied from running flower shops and bakeries to being stay-at-home parents, or any job that provides fulfillment without financial reward. After thinking about what truly brings me joy, my response was that I’d want to run a small music venue. Something is quite beautiful about an empty venue being filled with people gathering under a shared purpose. It’s magical to think about an hour or two dedicated to being in the moment, enjoying something as a whole. I dreamed about building the place where the next big artist was able to make their big break. I thought about how I could create a venue that both new and existing artists would want to play at. I got excited about all the new genres of music I would discover by giving musicians a home to do what they love. I wanted to become the community staple that both residents and tourists looked forward to frequenting. Unpacking this question now, as I’ve had the opportunity to dedicate the last four months into understanding the policies behind local live music venues and the problems they face, this answer is somewhat facetious. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Come read with me. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/come-read-with-me-megan-phelps-roper/ Last updated: 2026-07-24T15:52:17.000Z ****Note:** You are reading a preview of a members-only Friday edition. To read it in full, [you’ll be asked to subscribe](https://www.readtangle.com/membership/). *Dear readers,* *As Tangle continues to grow, one of my goals is to expand our stable of writers. We want more people writing under the Tangle banner who can represent the center, center-left, center-right, the progressive left, the MAGA right, and those of us (like me) who just find ourselves complicated, confused, and mixed up in today’s political alignment.* *One such fascinating person is Megan Phelps-Roper, the political activist and writer who is best known for leaving the Westboro Baptist Church. The church, founded by Phelps-Roper’s grandfather, is widely regarded as a hate group. Her departure from the church — and then role as one of its chief critics — became a national news story. A few weeks ago, Phelps-Roper and podcast producer Andy Mills reached out to me about* [*a new show*](https://www.longview.report/bookkeeper?ref=readtangle.com) *they were working on — one in which she revisits her childhood upbringing and reflects on what she’s lost by leaving the church. I was fascinated by the pitch, and excited to learn that Phelps-Roper was interested in writing about it for Tangle.* *So, today, I’m thrilled to share her essay reflecting on her departure from the Westboro Baptist Church, but also the ways in which she feels like her religious upbringing has never left her — and how she’s trying, in some ways, to return to it. I hope you enjoy.* *Best,* *Isaac* --- When I was a kid, my mom would convene our family to do some “reading” in the living room. That was always what we called it — never “Bible study,” which is what we were actually doing. We had these gatherings almost every night for as far back as my memory goes. Those of us who were old enough to read would bring our Bibles — or later our laptops or phones — and take our places in our rectangle of couches. We had enough seats to accommodate what would eventually be 11 kids: Sam, Josh, Megan (me), Bekah, Isaiah, Zach, Grace, Gabe, Jonah, Noah, and Luke. My mom would sit at one end and lead us on a never-ending quest through the pages of the Old and New Testaments. Our dad would join us whenever he could, but he had to first navigate a 90-minute commute from Kansas City, where he supported our family as a human resources professional — and those long drives got in the way more often than he would have liked. Regardless of whether my dad was there, my *mom’s* fervor is what propelled our study of the scriptures. To her, the Bible was *the* place to go for answers — all of them. It contained a solution to every question or problem that life might throw at a person. And so, year after year after year, we’d revisit the same stories again and again. That may seem like a tedious undertaking, but with each retelling we kids would come back with more life in us. More experience. More understanding of the stories being told, more curiosity about the people in them and their motivations. And, maybe most importantly, we’d come back every year with more of a desire to understand the God who was presented to us as a kind of cosmic puppet master — the one pulling every string behind the scenes along the way, ensuring the stories unfolded exactly as He desired. Sometimes, my mom would read aloud to us. Sometimes the kids would take turns. But always, she was the one interpreting. She would take the abstruse language of the 1611 King James Bible and try to make it real for us, often in very dramatic fashion. She would speak emphatically, with such urgency and such conviction that these ancient stories began to feel immediate, almost as though they were happening in the present, *right now*. As though the power in them — the God they were describing — was among us in that very room. Take Noah and the flood, a story often found in the pages of a modern children’s Bible with sweet little cartoon animals ambling up the gangplank two-by-two. My mom would remind us that once all those animals and exactly eight humans were safely aboard, the fountains of the great deep erupted, the windows of heaven opened, and the rain began. For forty days and forty nights, it rained. I remember how she tried to convey to us what the reality might have been for all of the humans who were *not* on the ark. With her Bible in hand, she leaned forward in her seat, eyes wide, her voice rising precipitously as she described mothers scrambling for higher ground to save their families. And then she narrated the eventual moment when those women would have to make a choice: drown with their children — their toddlers, their newborn babies — or abandon them to try to save themselves. In the end, she told us, those mothers would drown, too. No matter how high they climbed, “the waters prevailed.” She would have us pull up images of famous paintings that depicted the violence and chaos of that scene: people clawing their way up trees and mountainsides, lashing together boats, hoping for some way to escape the wrath of God that was raining down upon them for their sins. And then having the breath of life snuffed out of them anyway. --- I was 26 when I left the Westboro Baptist Church. You may know it by its colorful protest signs and its most infamous slogan: “God Hates Fags.” The church my grandfather founded became best known for picketing funerals — of American soldiers, of children, of strangers — with placards announcing that God hates the mourners and killed their loved ones as vengeance for their sins. I held those signs from the time I was five, and I became a committed and zealous defender of our message. But when I took the church’s message to Twitter in my twenties, I encountered kind strangers who compelled me to see things differently. When I left Westboro, I lost almost everything and everyone that mattered to me: my parents, most of my 10 siblings, and the rest of my family who were still as intimately tied to the church as I had been all my life. I lost the only home I’d ever known, and nearly every person I’d been close to or loved by. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Leavitt: Trump’s patience is running thin with Thune. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/leavitt-trumps-patience-is-running-thin-with-thune/ Last updated: 2026-07-24T00:06:41.000Z Karoline Leavitt confirmed during a press briefing today that President Donald Trump’s patience is running out on Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) as the senate has not passed the SAVE America Act. ### AOC asked if the “slippery slope” to socialism will lead to communism: “I think that’s very silly.” URL: https://www.readtangle.com/aoc-asked-if-the-slippery-slope-to-socialism-will-lead-to-communism-i-think-thats-very-silly/ Last updated: 2026-07-23T21:06:22.000Z Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was asked whether she thought the “slippery slope of socialism” would lead to “full-blown” communism. ### The Canadian wildfires. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/canada-wildfires-smoke-2026/ Last updated: 2026-07-23T16:05:03.000Z Don’t say I didn’t warn you. It’s me again, Managing Editor **Ari Weitzman**, keeping the post-paternity leave momentum going and feeling refreshed after several three-hour blocks of sleep last night. But that’s not why you’re here. No, you’re here to read about politics — so we’re going to talk about science! Today’s edition tackles the **Canadian wildfires** and what, if anything, governments can do about them. We also have a meaty reader question about **suing the military** and our roundup of **stories we chose not to cover this week**, so we’re spanning many categories in today’s **14-minute edition**. Get the facts, get the opinions, then I’ll catch you down in my take. Too busy to read? Push play instead! ![Too busy to read? Push play instead!](https://tangle.obox.agency/snippet-creator/assets/podcast@2x.png) [Listen to the newsletter every Monday - Friday here](https://www.readtangle.com/tangle-podcast/). ### A new *Suspension of the Rules*. This week, Isaac, Kmele, and a fresh-faced Ari reunite to talk election integrity, Bill O’Reilly, a twist in an old Hunter Biden story, and the challenge of separating political rhetoric from reality. Check it out: ### Quick hits. 1. President Donald Trump said the U.S. will strike Iranian power plants or bridges as retaliation for any future attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz. ([The threat](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/07/22/us-iran-war-trump-hormuz-.html?ref=readtangle.com)) 2. The House voted 216–214 to approve a budget plan that included $73 billion in Iran war funding, $12 billion to support farmers, and $10 billion to enforce potential voting restrictions. The plan now heads to the Senate. ([The vote](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/22/us/politics/house-republicans-iran-budget-pentagon.html?ref=readtangle.com)) Separately, the House voted 232–198 to pass a bill limiting some Congressional stock trading and adopting photo identification requirements for voting. ([The vote](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/congress-stock-trading-limits-house-vote/?ref=readtangle.com)) 3. President Trump said he will impose a 100% tariff on imported generic drugs in 2028 unless manufacturers of the drugs move their operations to the United States. Trump said the tariffs will increase to 200% in 2029\. ([The comments](https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/5983150-trump-tariffs-generic-drugs/?ref=readtangle.com)) 4. The Trump administration announced it will spend approximately $5 billion to support the Energy Department’s Genesis Mission, which plans to leverage artificial intelligence to address long-standing scientific challenges. ([The announcement](https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/us-spend-5-billion-health-construction-research-powered-by-ai-2026-07-22/?ref=readtangle.com)) 5. Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) referred former special counsel Jack Smith to the Justice Department for prosecution, accusing him of making false statements to Congress about subpoenaing lawmakers’ text messages during his investigations into President Trump. ([The referral](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/jack-smith-hit-criminal-referral-gop-moves-testimony-fight-toward-prosecution?ref=readtangle.com)) SPONSORED by coveron ****Hackers don’t guess. They buy your data.** In 2025, the FTC received over 3 million fraud reports, with consumers losing $15.9 billion — much of it tied to identity theft from dark web data. Criminals can use stolen details to claim benefits, take loans, rent apartments or cars, rack up medical bills, and trigger warrants in your name. When you finally find out, the debts and legal nightmares are already piling up. [****Coveron**](https://go.coveron.net/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=1026&aff%5Fid=147990&url%5Fid=33901&ref=readtangle.com) scans the dark web 24/7, sends instant alerts, provides up to $2 million in identity theft recovery coverage with expert recovery support and offers further protection from online threats. Use code ****TANGLE** for 71% off. [Get the deal ](https://go.coveron.net/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=1026&aff%5Fid=147990&url%5Fid=33901&ref=readtangle.com) ### Today’s topic. The Canadian wildfires. Over the past week, smoke from wildfires in Canada (as well as northern Minnesota) has [affected](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/20/weather/canadian-wildfire-smoke-air-quality-us.html?ref=readtangle.com) air quality and visibility across the Midwest and East Coast of the United States. As of Monday, air-quality alerts remained in place for a large portion of the country, and experts expect wildfire smoke to remain prevalent through August. The fires have raised concerns about climate-related catalysts of extreme environmental events, as well as scrutiny of Canada’s forest management. **Back up:** Wildfires are a normal yearly occurrence in Canada, which contains [approximately one tenth](https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/why-is-canadas-wildfire-smoke-blanketing-parts-north-america-2026-07-17/?ref=readtangle.com) of the world’s total forest area. However, the scale of the blazes has increased in recent years; the country had its biggest wildfire season (by area burned) in 2023, and currently has more active wildfires than at this point in the past two years. Fires in Ontario are primarily responsible for the smoke enveloping the United States over the past week, temporarily [causing](https://www.foxweather.com/extreme-weather/3-us-cities-rank-worst-air-quality-world-canadian-wildfire-smoke?ref=readtangle.com) the air quality in Detroit, Chicago, and Minneapolis to be among the worst in the world. 897 fires are [active](https://cwfis.cfs.nrcan.gc.ca/en/?ref=readtangle.com) in Canada as of Thursday. Meteorologists expect windy and dry conditions will likely cause wildfire smoke to continue blowing across Canada and the U.S. for several weeks. “There will be a couple chances of meaningful rain… this weekend,” AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Reneé Duff [said](https://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-forecasts/canada-wildfire-smoke-to-be-a-periodic-problem-into-august-across-midwest-northeast/1913395?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=%22Some%20sporadic%20rain,mostly%20by%20thunderstorms.) on Monday. Scientists in Canada and the United States say that climate change is contributing to the more extreme fires. “Warmer conditions lead to drier fuels,” Stanford climate scientist Chris Field [said](https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/5981743-trump-canada-wildfires-tariffs/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=%E2%80%9CWarmer%20conditions%20lead%20to%20drier%20fuels%2C%E2%80%9D%20Field%20said.%20%E2%80%9CThe%20warmer%20it%20is%2C%20the%20faster%20things%20dry%2C%20and%20the%20drier%20they%20are%2C%20the%20faster%20they%20burn.%E2%80%9D). “The warmer it is, the faster things dry, and the drier they are, the faster they burn.” Others contend that increased forest management in the remote areas where many fires originate is not feasible. President Donald Trump has blamed Canada’s forest management for exacerbating the wildfires. “We are holding Canada responsible for the fact that they are not properly maintaining their Forests, and Brush therein,” Trump [wrote](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116936952365066409?ref=readtangle.com) on Truth Social on Friday. “This is Willful Negligence, and becoming a yearly occurrence, costing the United States Billions of Dollars, which cost of this pollution must of necessity be added to the TARIFFS Canada is currently paying.” Separately, Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-OH) [announced](https://www.moreno.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/new-moreno-bill-to-sanction-canada-for-wildfire-pollution-emergency/?ref=readtangle.com) a bill to sanction Canada and Canadian officials over the wildfire smoke. Today, we’ll explore perspectives from the left, right, and Canadian writers on the wildfires. Then, Managing Editor Ari Weitzman’s take. | What the left is saying. Many on the left blame climate change for the wildfires. Some say that Trump’s criticism of Canada rings hollow. | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | **In the New York Daily News, Daniel Zarin wrote** [**“global climate change is causing NYC’s smokey air.”**](https://www.nydailynews.com/2026/07/21/global-climate-change-is-causing-nycs-smokey-air/?ref=readtangle.com) “Before 2023, the only comparable smoke events in NYC history were more than 100 years ago, during the Adirondack fires of 1903 and 1908\. It’s worth asking why we were blessed with such a long smoke-free interval, and why we now are entering a ‘new normal’ with negative impacts on public health and mortality,” Zarin said. “Our carbon emissions have heated the planet nearly 1.5 degrees Celsius. In Canada, temperature increases have been about twice that global average, and nearly three times as high in northern Canada. “The smoke-filled air… \[is\] a symptom of a global problem,” Zarin wrote. “Although the 2026 Canadian wildfires will likely be linked to the ‘super’ El-Niño we are entering, we are a large part of the problem. American carbon emissions per capita are nearly three times the global average and are increasing following a brief decline. If we continue to burn billions of tons of fossil carbon each year, we shouldn’t expect a different result. Plants took millions of years to remove that carbon from the Earth’s ancient atmosphere. We’re reversing that geological process in the blink of an eye.” **In MS NOW, Jarvis Deberry said** [**“Trump demands Canada show more concern for American air quality than he does.”**](https://www.ms.now/opinion/trump-canada-wildfire-smoke-air-pollution?ref=readtangle.com) “Republicans’ concerns about ‘filthy, polluted and unhealthy air’ must come as a surprise to Americans whose health concerns have been utterly disregarded by Trump’s Environmental Protection Agency,” Deberry wrote. “In January, for instance, the EPA updated decades of policy that assigned a rough value per human life for cost-benefit analyses of pollution restrictions. The previous number was just under $12 million; Trump’s EPA zeroed it out… Now, all of a sudden, when smoke is wafting in from Canada, Trump says the pollution is costing the U.S. billions of dollars. “It is inconceivable that if the situation were reversed, and U.S.-created smoke was blanketing southern parts of Canada, Trump would consider the U.S. culpable,” Deberry said. “If a major fire breaks out during Trump’s term that could have been prevented or mitigated with better forest management, don’t expect Trump or any of the Republicans accusing Canada of mismanagement to feel convicted by their own words. Why would they? They’re not interested in forest management or even in making it easier for Americans to breathe. They’re only interested in saying something outrageous to fire up the base.” | What the right is saying. The right says better forest management would mitigate the effects of wildfires. Some say Canada has been negligent in managing their forests. | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | **In City Journal, Shawn Regan and Sean Speer described** [**“why America keeps choking on wildfire smoke.”**](https://www.city-journal.org/article/wildfire-smoke-us-air-quality?ref=readtangle.com) “When wildfire smoke blankets America’s largest cities, as it has several times in recent years, people look for scapegoats,” Regan and Speer wrote. “Climate change is the reflexive answer. President Trump has a different culprit. In a Truth Social post on Friday, he blamed Canada’s ‘Willful Negligence’ in failing to manage its forests and threatened to add the smoke’s ‘incalculable’ costs to the tariffs Canada already pays. Both diagnoses are incomplete… Climate change certainly plays a role by lengthening fire seasons and drying fuels, but the severity of fires ultimately depends on how landscapes are managed.” “Targeted fuels treatment — including forest thinning, brush clearance, and prescribed burning — removes the dense vegetation that causes wildfires to spread and intensify. These treatments don’t necessarily keep fires from starting, but they reduce their intensity, restore more natural forest conditions, and give firefighters a better chance to contain blazes once they break out. Canada does far too little of this,” Regan and Speer said. “Both countries know how to make fires smaller and less severe. The question is how many more suffocating summers it will take before their governments figure out that managing forests is better and cheaper than watching them burn.” **In the Daily Signal, Jason Hayes wrote** [**“Canadian wildfires prove that proper forest management beats ‘green’ plans.”**](https://www.dailysignal.com/2026/07/20/canadian-wildfires-forest-management/?ref=readtangle.com) “Blaming wildfires on climate change is a handy distraction from real solutions that could actually help manage the wildfire issue,” Hayes said. “Rather than admitting that their green plans exacerbate wildfire risks by stopping people from using and managing forested areas, environmental activists double down, pretending that if they can ban gasoline and natural gas, wildfires will simply disappear… More reasonable voices must correct the narrative by repeatedly explaining how wildfires have been around for as long as the world has had forests, and that, while warm air can make fires more intense, it does not cause them.” “And while wildfires are a normal part of living in and around forests, the reality is that poor forest management practices can make them worse by allowing forests to become dense, overgrown, and overmature. Unmanaged forests are ripe for massive fires, especially when a disease or insect infestation kills portions of them,” Hayes wrote. “The policy takeaway is clear: If we refuse to manage our forests, Mother Nature will do it for us, and we often won’t like the results. Where possible, we should manage forests actively to reduce fuel buildup and wildfire risk. Allowing active harvesting, spacing, thinning, and prescribed fires can reduce these fuels under controlled conditions and lessen the likelihood of wildfires and the intensity of those that do occur.” | What Canadian writers are saying. Some Canadian writers say government reporting on climate change’s effect on wildfires is exaggerated.Others argue that the government has a responsibility to address the environmental concerns underlying the wildfires. | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | **In the National Post, Matthew Lau argued** [**“government-funded wildfire ‘facts’ contradict reality.”**](https://nationalpost.com/opinion/matthew-lau-government-funded-wildfire-facts-contradict-reality?ref=readtangle.com) “The Canadian Climate Institute, an organization funded to the tune of $34.9 million by the federal government over the past four years, recently published a series of ‘fact sheets’ about how climate change is making heat waves, flooding, droughts and wildfires worse,” Lau wrote. “According to the institute, climate change threatens the safety, wellbeing and prosperity of Canadians, and governments must take drastic action to curtail its effects including by ‘accelerating the transition away from fossil fuels to limit climate heating.’ However, while wildfire smoke, floods and other disasters are real, these fact sheets (again, paid for by the federal government) are much more alarmist than informative.” “The institute highlights the horrific blaze in Jasper in 2024 and suggests that reduced fossil fuel usage could mitigate the harms of such fires. But in reality, the evidence shows government mismanagement — not man-made climate change — was largely to blame… The federal government is responsible for Jasper National Park’s forest management, which includes managing the stock of timber especially in high-risk zones... \[but it\] simply did not manage this effectively,” Lau said. “Wildfires and wildfire smoke are real problems that should be understood and mitigated. But the reality about climate change is not nearly as alarming as what the government-funded Canadian Climate Institute reports.” **In the Toronto Star, Doris Grinspun and Sue LeBeau said government officials** [**“must help prevent the next wildfire.”**](https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/to-truly-protect-people-premier-ford-must-help-prevent-the-next-wildfire/article%5F292b832f-710f-4f21-b6eb-700d31e2ed4f.html?ref=readtangle.com) “When communities are threatened by catastrophic fires, governments have a moral obligation to spare no effort or expense to protect lives, provide shelter, support evacuees and help communities recover. That is exactly what governments should do,” Grinspun and LeBeau wrote. “Wildfires have always been part of Ontario’s landscape. But climate change is making them larger, more frequent and more destructive… The tragedy is that this crisis did not emerge in a policy vacuum. It is part of a pattern that has defined the \[Premier Doug\] Ford government’s approach to environmental policy — one that has consistently moved Ontario backward on responsibility for emissions reduction and climate accountability as climate impacts become more severe.” “Climate change is not simply an environmental issue. It is a public health emergency,” Grinspun and LeBeau said. “After years of weakening Ontario’s climate response, \[Ford\] now has an opportunity to match his words with policies that genuinely protect people. That commitment cannot begin only when forests burn. It must start earlier — by tackling the causes of climate change, preparing communities for unavoidable impacts, and putting health at the heart of public policy.” My Take Ari Weitzman Managing Editor ![Ari Weitzman](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2025/05/Ari.jpg) - Climate change is directly contributing to the prevalence and intensity of these fires, but they’re not the primary cause. - That said, Trump is completely off-base in accusing Canada of mismanaging its forests. - Even in a best-case scenario, the best Canada (or the U.S.) can do is mitigate the fires’ impacts. **Reminder:** This is where we share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, leave a comment on the website or reply to this email. I’ll do something abnormal and tell you my conclusion up front: Climate change is creating a higher risk of wildfires, and Canada should undertake policy changes to mitigate that risk. That’s it, that’s the take. Hotter temperatures don’t increase the risk of fire on their own — the weather has to be not only hot but also dry and windy to qualify as “fire weather,” according to the [National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration](https://www.noaa.gov/stories/ask-scientist-how-can-weather-spark-and-spread-wildfires?ref=readtangle.com), the [Western Fire Chiefs Association](https://wfca.com/wildfire-articles/how-does-humidity-affect-wildfire/?ref=readtangle.com), the [National Park Service](https://www.nps.gov/articles/understanding-fire-danger.htm?ref=readtangle.com), and any climatologist or park ranger you could speak to. Hot and dry air draws moisture out of things in the forest that can burn — trees, grasses, leaves, twigs — turning all that organic material into potential fuel. In those conditions, any spark, like lightning or power lines downed by high winds, can ignite an inferno. High winds then stoke the flames by sending oxygen into the path of fires, and they can expand the area of the burn by blowing embers miles away from the heart of the blaze. In the summer months, the weather gets hotter and drier — and this summer’s El Niño will likely bring a lot of high-wind days. This isn’t exactly news, and people expect that seasonal change in weather. However, North American summers have been getting hotter and drier over time (and El Niños stronger). The shift in weather patterns over time has a name: climate change. Berkeley Earth physicist Robert Rohde released a [compelling visualization](https://x.com/RARohde/status/1061932205327429632?ref=readtangle.com) in 2018 (I can’t believe that was already *eight years ago*) that showed how the hottest and driest years in California had all been the most recent ones. ![Image: Dr. Robert Rohde](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/07/data-src-image-af2d278b-9001-4918-94fc-194fea43aba2.png) Image: Dr. Robert Rohde One of the best climate communicators out there right now is Zeke Hausfather. Recently, Hausfather compiled a similar visualization for mean temperature and precipitation over burnable land in Canada, which isn’t quite as dramatic but paints a very similar and [pretty clear picture](https://www.theclimatebrink.com/i/207384969/hot-and-dry-years-burn?ref=readtangle.com): ![Image: Zeke Hausfather](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/07/data-src-image-b9874178-34eb-4e27-9dda-6b8c38867130.png) Image: Zeke Hausfather Weather conditions in Canada have been getting hotter and drier. You don’t even have to believe that humans are causing this — I [explained the theory](https://www.readtangle.com/explaining-climate-change-politics/) of how humans are causing climate change in great detail in Tangle in 2021 (I can’t believe that was already *five years ago*) — but for now you just have to acknowledge the trend. On the flip side, that doesn’t mean that climate change is *the* sole cause of these wildfires, either. These are multifactor occurrences, and flattening the dynamic into “climate change continues to make these disasters worse,” as Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) [did](https://www.democrats.senate.gov/news/press-releases/majority-leader-schumer-floor-remarks-on-climate-change-and-the-hazardous-wildfire-smoke-endangering-vulnerable-communities-across-the-northeastern-united-states?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=These%20Canadian%20wildfires,this%20%E2%80%93%20is%20coincidence.), misrepresents the dynamic and isn’t convincing anyone who wasn’t already concerned about climate change. Again: climate change will make fire weather more likely and heighten the risk of fires; it is not specifically causing worse wildfires. Ultimately, statements like Schumer’s are minor misrepresentations, but the tendency for politicians and the news media to only talk about climate during extreme environmental events and not, say, when [the output of climate models changes](https://www.readtangle.com/future-of-climate-change/) is a constant frustration of mine. To take [again from Hausfather](https://www.theclimatebrink.com/p/hot-days-cold-thermometers?ref=readtangle.com), records aren’t the best measure of trends — you can misrepresent a lot of trends by focusing only on extremes. But I get it, extreme weather events drive the news, and the news drives conversation. It just distorts the way we discuss and understand climate change. It also distorts the way we understand the causes of wildfires. Last year, in the United States, California experienced some of the most destructive fires in the state’s history, and those fires have imparted critical lessons about the wildland-urban interface and forest management: larger breaks between dense residential areas and forests, more prescribed burns, and even intentional logging. As humans, we want to pull from our mental file of solutions indexed under “WILDFIRES” and apply them here, but it isn’t that simple. First, the recent Canadian wildfires have burned in very remote areas, where there is no urban interface with wildlands and the concerns aren’t about burned structures but smoke swept into the jet stream and blown across thousands of miles. Second, Canada’s boreal forests are different from the coniferous forests in the American West. Not only are they less dry, but they’ve also never been used in any significant way for human development. It’s hard to blame “poor forest management” for fires in areas that were never managed in the first place. Imagine you live in West Texas. Imagine the gentle sun-baked desert hills around you aren’t dotted by cactus and the occasional desert willow, but covered by pine, spruce, poplar, and birch. Imagine this forest stretches across the entire state, that the state is now almost totally unpopulated and that much of it hasn’t been so much as visited by humans in decades, if not longer. Now imagine you and a crew the size of your high school class are responsible for responding to wildfires across the whole state — oh, and if you let a fire get too big and the wind is just right, it’ll cause a geopolitical crisis. That’s basically what it’s like to be managing Canada’s wildfires right now. Simply put: Canadian forests are just not the same as ours, so the lessons learned from our fires can’t be easily mapped to theirs. I’ll turn to Hausfather again to [bring the point home](https://www.theclimatebrink.com/p/canadas-boreal-wildfires-arent-just?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=First%2C%20the%20forest,stop%20the%20megafires.): > The forest-mismanagement explanation is borrowed from the wrong forest. It’s a real problem in the frequent-fire dry forests of the western U.S., but the Canadian boreal is a rare-crown-fire system, mostly unmanaged and unsuppressed, where only about a fifth of the burned area is even on managed land and where the fire scientists themselves say landscape-scale fuel treatments can’t scale or stop the megafires. And let’s not mince words: If Schumer is out of the strike zone with his rhetoric, President Donald Trump is throwing over the backstop. [Accusing Canada](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116936952365066409?ref=readtangle.com) of “willful negligence” for “not properly maintaining their forests” betrays a misunderstanding of the problem, and tariffing Canada for smoke that drifted over the United States (when it also ravaged [Canada’s largest city](https://toronto.citynews.ca/2026/07/15/toronto-heat-air-quality-ranking-weather-forecast/?ref=readtangle.com)) misdiagnoses the solution. Canada is not suffering from a lack of motivation to mitigate these fires, so I don’t think tariffs and online posturing will help. I think we’d do better cooperating with Canada to manage the root causes of our shared air-quality problem, as the Department of the Interior [announced](https://www.doi.gov/wildlandfire/canada-and-united-states-commit-enhanced-wildland-fire-cooperation?ref=readtangle.com) it would do in 2023 and as we [still do](https://www.nifc.gov/fire-information/news-releases/us-firefighters-continue-support-canada-during-record-breaking?ref=readtangle.com) by sharing firefighting equipment; but that’s not the way this administration handles its relationships with our allies. But I’d be wrong to say Canada has exhausted all its options, and I *could* be wrong about President Trump’s tack if he catalyzes more funding and better organization for Canada’s existing mitigation efforts. In 2022, Canada [launched](https://natural-resources.canada.ca/forests-forestry/wildland-fires/fighting-managing-wildfires-changing-climate-program?ref=readtangle.com) the Fighting and Managing Wildfires in a Changing Climate program, devoting $346 million to increasing wildfire preparedness. Then, in 2024, it launched the Wildfire Resilient Futures Initiative to continue and expand this work. The problems with these programs are that they focus more on preventing property damage and localized loss of life, not wildfire smoke, and the efforts they funded [aren’t well organized](https://www.city-journal.org/article/wildfire-smoke-us-air-quality?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=The%20Canadian%20Senate%20report%20found%20that%20no%20single%20authority%20is%20responsible%20for%20national%20wildfire%20preparedness%E2%80%94everyone%20owns%20a%20piece%20of%20the%20problem%2C%20so%20no%20one%20owns%20the%20outcome%E2%80%94and%20that%20the%20system%20tends%20to%20mobilize%20only%20after%20a%20disaster%20is%20underway.) or centralized. Also, from an American perspective, you’d probably expect the funding to be larger by a factor of ten. To better mitigate these air-quality events, Canada will need larger, landscape-scale, prescribed burns to reduce fuel load before fire season, and they’ll need much more than the current level of funding to do that. I don’t feel confident saying that approach will definitely help, but I do feel confident saying that the scale of response has not gotten within spitting distance of its theoretical maximum. Maybe Trump’s kick-in-the-pants approach will light a *productive* fire under the Canadian parliament — that’s the best-case scenario outcome. Though I need to stress that the best Canada can do, even with a massive, multinational, preventative effort far past a scale they’ve ever considered before, is mitigate the risk. The conditions for wildfires aren’t getting better anytime soon — because Canadian summers aren’t going to get cooler and wetter anytime soon. Climate change isn’t a process that we can easily reverse, even if our government tackles it head on, which [it isn’t](https://www.readtangle.com/tracking-trump-presidency-part-two/#:~:text=into%20the%20source.-,Issue%3A%20Climate,-What%E2%80%99s%20been%20said). I’ll repeat: Climate change is creating a higher risk of wildfires, and Canada should undertake policy changes to mitigate that risk. That’s it, that’s the take. **Take the survey:** What’s responsible for Canada’s wildfires? [Let us know](https://interrobang.vercel.app/survey/5e6f9814-dcf1-44ab-b5a4-24591208328c?ref=readtangle.com). *Disagree? That's okay. Our opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we'll consider publishing your feedback.* ### Your questions, answered. **Q: With the recent deaths of U.S. soldiers related to the Iran conflict, is it plausible that family members of the deceased might choose to sue the U.S. government for wrongful death, using the rationale that the president did not receive congressional approval for this war, and that their deaths resulted from illegal involvement? This seems like it might be a way for citizens to challenge the way in which the U.S. has become involved and stayed involved in this conflict.** **— David from Atlanta, GA** **Tangle:** Based on current Supreme Court precedent, no, military family members cannot sue the government for wrongful deaths caused in the act of military service. However, that could *theoretically* change. At the base level, the legal principle of [sovereign immunity](https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/sovereign%5Fimmunity?ref=readtangle.com) states that private citizens cannot sue the government without its consent. That principle was explicitly limited in 1946, when Congress passed the [Federal Tort Claims Act](https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/R45732?ref=readtangle.com) (FTCA) authorizing plaintiffs to obtain compensation from the United States for harms suffered — or torts — due to negligence by government employees. However, [Section 2680](https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/28/2680?ref=readtangle.com) of the FTCA carved out several broad exceptions, granting the government immunity against lawsuits for “any claim arising in a foreign country” and “any claim arising out of the combatant activities of the military or naval forces, or the Coast Guard, during time of war.” While that language *could* permit a lawsuit against the military for torts outside of an official war, that’s not how the Supreme Court has interpreted the statute. In 1950, several plaintiffs attempted to sue the military for negligence or wrongful death in [*Feres v. United States*](https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/340/135/?ref=readtangle.com), including one servicemember who said a surgeon left an 18x30-inch towel in his abdomen. The Court dismissed the claims, establishing the *Feres* doctrine — basically, that the military cannot be sued for *any* tort suffered during active duty. A diverse array of justices have rebuked this precedent, including Antonin Scalia, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Clarence Thomas, but the Court has [affirmed it](https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/service/ll/usrep/usrep481/usrep481681/usrep481681.pdf?ref=readtangle.com) repeatedly, and as recently as [2018](https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/18pdf/18-460%5F1b7d.pdf?ref=readtangle.com) it denied a request to hear a challenge to the doctrine. In his dissent to that 2018 denial, Justice Thomas wrote that he thought the *Feres* doctrine was wrongfully established and urged Congress to limit it. Then, as hard as it is to imagine, Congress passed the [Stayskal Act](https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/2422/text?ref=readtangle.com) in 2019 to do exactly that: allow claims against the military for malpractice or wrongful death at military medical facilities. Obviously, that doesn’t say anything about military actions that are found to be taken outside the president’s authority, but it does show that the *Feres* standard is not set in stone. Theoretically, a Supreme Court open to revisiting shaky precedents *could* revisit *Feres —* but realistically, that would be highly unlikely. Given how hard even these moderate carveouts have been to achieve, it’s borderline fanciful to imagine either Congress or the Court expanding military torts broadly enough to allow for this kind of legal action. **Want to have a question answered in the newsletter? You can reply to this email (it goes straight to our inbox) or** [**fill out this form**](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScQhqBSG%5F6%5FoBhwcTQMeS570n29XYbeQ9C9Bis7rjqI31g1tA/viewform?usp=header&ref=readtangle.com)**.** ### The road not taken. The biggest story that we wanted to cover this week — but didn’t — was New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill’s (D) announcement that the state had discovered roughly 6,600 noncitizens who were registered to vote in 2023 and 2024 due to a Motor Vehicle Commission system error. After a deep dive turned up insufficient commentary on the story from the left and right on Wednesday afternoon, we put the issue on hold for next week. We also considered a piece on the U.S. servicemember casualties in Iran, but opted to answer a reader question about war in today’s edition instead, with a mind toward a broader Iran edition in the coming weeks. Finally, we discussed covering New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s (D) comments about arresting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu; ultimately, we felt the story was A) less relevant after Mamdani acknowledged he didn’t have the authority to do so, and B) would have created a New York-heavy week after we had already covered the state’s one-year pause on data center construction. SPONSORED by coveron ****$15.9 billion lost to fraud in 2025.** Many victims only realized it when benefits were drained, fake medical debts appeared, or arrest warrants showed up in their name — all from their identity sold on the dark web. [****Coveron**](https://go.coveron.net/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=1026&aff%5Fid=147990&url%5Fid=33901&ref=readtangle.com) helps catch identity theft early with nonstop dark web scans and credit alerts, then helps you recover with expert support and up to $2 million in identity theft coverage. ****Use code TANGLE and get 71% off.** [Get the deal ](https://go.coveron.net/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=1026&aff%5Fid=147990&url%5Fid=33901&ref=readtangle.com) ### The extras. - **One year ago today** we covered [Tulsi Gabbard’s report on “Russiagate.”](https://www.readtangle.com/tulsi-gabbard-reignites-russiagate/) - **The most clicked link in our last regular newsletter** was again [our new video on the fight over Alaska’s election system](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFPokFPWOCE&ref=readtangle.com). - **Nothing to do with politics:** This “train influencer” captures [the experience of witnessing “Big Boy.”](https://www.instagram.com/reels/DadUqe6NOLk/?ref=readtangle.com) - **Our last survey:** 2,418 readers responded to our survey on familial appointments to Congress, with 46% saying they strongly oppose the practice. “Just another tradition in government that is long overdue for an overhaul,” one respondent said. “The onus rests on the electorate to make better choices,” said another. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/07/data-src-image-16dedd0a-2b0b-4ffa-8d2a-b0e5d7fd727d.png) ### Have a nice day. Even the best radiologists regularly miss CT scan abnormalities that can be the difference between life and death for patients. Complicating matters, researchers have found that radiologists subconsciously detect abnormalities that their conscious brains don’t always process. Gregory DiGirolamo decided to explore how to patch those gaps in detection. His team turned to pigeons. DiGirolamo and researchers at the College of the Holy Cross trained six pigeons to watch CT scan videos and indicate whether they showed lung nodules that could signal cancer. With a little motivation (food) for accurate detections, the birds became remarkably successful, even applying their visual powers to other kinds of scans. Now, DiGirolamo is working on translating his findings to new medical technology to assist radiologists. [Popular Science has the story](https://www.popsci.com/environment/pigeons-detect-cancer/?ref=readtangle.com). ### Is China to blame? | Trump's Election Claims, Explained. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/is-china-to-blame-trumps-election-claims-explained/ Last updated: 2026-07-23T16:06:29.000Z Can Americans still trust the integrity of our elections? ### Darline Graham announces Senate run. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/darline-graham-announces-senate-run/ Last updated: 2026-07-22T16:08:17.000Z Happy Wednesday. I’m **Isaac Saul** and all I can think about while I sit at my desk is how to find an excuse to drive my newly purchased (and previously used) Chevy Colorado pickup truck. If you have any errands you need to run — Groceries? Moving? Laundry? Friend stuck atop a muddy trail? — just drop me a line. I would treat any excuse to climb in, roll the windows down, and bumble down the street as a blessing. Thank you. While I’m stuck here writing, though, I suppose it’s time to discuss **Darline Graham’s decision to run for her brother’s Senate seat,** a story that I think should be way more controversial than it seems to be. We also have our **new video on Alaska’s ranked-choice voting system** and a deeper look at the **history of family members replacing elected officials**. It’s a **15-minute read**,and I’m a little fired up. ### ICYMI. Yesterday, we released our report on the fight over Alaska’s novel election system, which uses a top-four primary and ranked-choice voting in the general election. Senior Editor Will Kaback traveled to the state to talk with proponents and opponents of the system — and how it’s already changed Alaskan politics. What he found might surprise you. Check out the video here: ### Quick hits. 1. New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill (D) said that an error in the state’s Motor Vehicle Commission system between June 2023 and June 2024 led to approximately 6,600 noncitizens being registered to vote. Sherrill claimed that fewer than 400 of those erroneously registered had subsequently voted and did not impact any election outcomes, but ordered an investigation into the error. ([The announcement](https://www.axios.com/2026/07/21/new-jersey-glitch-registered-noncitizens-elections?ref=readtangle.com)) 2. President Donald Trump approved a civilian nuclear-development agreement with Saudi Arabia; American companies are expected to play a leading role in establishing the program. ([The agreement](https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/trump-approves-landmark-nuclear-deal-with-saudi-arabia-in-big-win-for-kingdom-2ed77584?ref=readtangle.com)) 3. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D) said the city does not have the “independent legal authority” to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, days after saying his administration was exploring the possibility of executing an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court for the Israeli leader if he visited the city. ([The comments](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/21/nyregion/mamdani-netanyahu-arrest-warrant.html?ref=readtangle.com)) 4. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair Dan Caine testified before the Senate Appropriations Committee, requesting a roughly $80 billion emergency funding package to support military operations in Iran. Hegseth said the estimated cost of the conflict is $37.5 billion to date. ([The testimony](https://thehill.com/policy/defense/5982033-emergency-funding-military-leaders-iran-war-senate-hearing/?ref=readtangle.com)) 5. French lawmakers passed a ban on social media access for children under 15, the first such ban in the European Union. ([The ban](https://apnews.com/article/france-social-media-ban-macron-94abd981ccea85138af314cfb1ea62cf?ref=readtangle.com)) SPONSORED by coveron ****Hackers don’t guess. They buy your data.** In 2025, the FTC received over 3 million fraud reports, with consumers losing $15.9 billion — much of it tied to identity theft from dark web data. 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Lindsey Graham (R), who [passed away](https://www.readtangle.com/lindsey-graham-death/) suddenly on July 11 after suffering an aortic dissection. Republicans will hold a special primary on August 11 to select a new candidate to run against physician Annie Andrews (D) in the general election. **Back up:** South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster (R) [appointed](https://governor.sc.gov/news/2026-07/gov-mcmaster-appoints-darline-graham-us-senate?ref=readtangle.com) Graham to serve out the final months of her brother’s term shortly after his passing. President Donald Trump [recommended](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116913198631392475?ref=readtangle.com) the appointment and has [expressed support](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116936914779266256?ref=readtangle.com) for Graham’s full-term candidacy. Several other Republican candidates are [expected to run](https://www.wjcl.com/article/south-carolina-gop-primary-lindsey-graham-seat/73194182?ref=readtangle.com) in the August primary; if no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote, a runoff will be held on August 25\. Graham has not previously held elected office. In her career, she has [worked](https://governor.sc.gov/news/2026-07/gov-mcmaster-appoints-darline-graham-us-senate?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Prior%20to%20her,for%20the%20Blind.) in roles with Clemson University, the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce, and the South Carolina Department of Vocational Rehabilitation. Currently, she is serving on the state’s Workforce Development Board and is president-elect of the National Council of State Agencies for the Blind. In her announcement of her full-term Senate bid, Graham [said](https://www.foxnews.com/media/darline-graham-focuses-kitchen-table-issues-announces-full-term-senate-bid?ref=readtangle.com) that she wants to “step in and carry on \[my brother’s\] legacy,” adding that she feels an “inner peace” about the decision. She said she plans to focus her platform on domestic issues in contrast to her brother, who was an influential voice on foreign policy throughout his career. However, Graham said that she also views national security and border control as important issues. Rep. Russell Fry, Rep. Ralph Norman and businessman Mark Lynch are among the Republicans who have [announced they will run](https://www.southcarolinapublicradio.org/sc-news/2026-07-21/candidate-filing-begins-to-replace-lindsey-graham-on-the-november-ballot-for-u-s-senate?ref=readtangle.com) for the nomination, while former Gov. Mark Sanford and Lt. Gov. Pam Evette have also signaled interest. Most candidates have sought to align themselves with the president despite his endorsement of Graham, with Rep. Norman [saying](https://www.politico.com/news/2026/07/21/south-carolina-trump-graham-test-01005834?ref=readtangle.com) the endorsement “helps a great deal” but the nomination is “up to the people.” Today, we’ll have perspectives from the right and left on Graham’s candidacy, followed by Executive Editor Isaac Saul’s take. | What the right is saying. Many on the right say Graham is an unknown quantity but advise against rushing to judgment.Some wonder why Trump is backing Graham.Others criticize members of the media for their response to her appointment. | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | **In the Washington Examiner, Byron York described** [**“the unknown Darline Graham.”**](https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/daily-memo/4658078/the-unknown-darline-graham/?ref=readtangle.com) “\[Graham’s campaign announcement\] was all very exciting, but then people began to ask: What do we really know about Darline Graham? Yes, she was Lindsey Graham’s beloved sister, but what are her positions on the zillions of issues and questions she would face as a U.S. senator?” York wrote. “Graham gave an initial hint when she discussed her brother in an interview with Fox News’s Sean Hannity… \[saying\] ‘Protecting our borders, national security, \[is\] absolutely \[important\]. But talk about also what matters to the average person.’” “With that brief statement, interim Sen. Darline Graham made clear she would be a much different lawmaker from Sen. Lindsey Graham,” York said. “The important part here is that Darline Graham’s views on so many issues, as well as her qualifications to serve in the Senate, are just not known… An adversarial campaign is still the best way for voters to learn about a candidate. It seems unlikely that will happen this summer in South Carolina. So if that is the case, how will voters learn enough to make the best possible decision?” **In The Dispatch, Nick Catoggio asked** [**“why are the president and his party lining up behind Lindsey’s sister?”**](https://thedispatch.com/newsletter/boilingfrogs/darline-graham-south-carolina-senate-trump/?ref=readtangle.com) “It’s strange that Donald Trump and his party are so keen to have her in the seat, it’s strange that Graham is eager to compete for it, and it’s strange that Republican voters… will likely end up rubber-stamping the Beltway-approved sister of a politician whom many of them long disdained as a ‘RINO,’” Catoggio wrote. “If Darline Graham governs as a centrist, she’ll be more vilified by South Carolina’s Republican base than Lindsey was… If, on the other hand, she intends to be a rubber stamp for the president on legislation — which would be in keeping with her brother’s legacy — then how is she planning to do some good with her new power?” “As for the rubber-stamp effect, literally any Republican who’s elected to the seat will be a dutiful stooge who follows the president’s lead unless he or she is willing to be ousted after one term,” Catoggio said. “So if Darline Graham ends up winning a six-year term, it won’t bother me. In a legislature that’s about to make one of the president’s most sinister henchmen attorney general and to fund a war that it was never asked to authorize, all because he says so, who cares who the members are anymore? A Congress of horses couldn’t do any worse.” **In Daily Wire, Nicholas Fondacaro criticized The View for** [**“\[going\] all in against Lindsey Graham’s sister.”**](https://www.dailywire.com/news/the-view-goes-all-in-against-lindsey-grahams-sister?ref=readtangle.com) “When your goal is to keep your audience whipped up into a perpetual state of outrage and fear, you treat the mundane and the routine as an egregious breach of norms with questionable legality,” Fondacaro wrote. “That’s exactly what happened on ABC’s ‘bona fide news program’ *The View* this week when Joy Behar and Sunny Hostin clutched their pearls over Darline Graham getting appointed as a South Carolina senator following the death of her brother, Lindsey Graham.” “Ignoring how it’s been common practice by both parties for decades to have relatives appointed to their loved one’s seat upon their death, Behar and Hostin suggested Republicans were being hypocritical and equated Graham to a DEI hire benefitting from nepotism,” Fondacaro said. “Ultimately… Behar and Hostin were more interested in stoking fear and outrage among their audience than in ensuring that the citizens of South Carolina were properly represented.” | What the left is saying. Many on the left say that the GOP primary could quickly get messy.Some note that whoever wins the nomination will be a staunch Trump ally.Others say Graham could be an effective advocate for certain issues. | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | **In New York Magazine, Ed Kilgore argued** [**“Darline Graham isn’t scaring off rivals as Trump hoped.”**](https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/darline-graham-isnt-scaring-off-rivals-as-trump-hoped.html?ref=readtangle.com) “One of the crosses Donald Trump has had to bear recently is a less-than-perfect record in endorsing Republican primary candidates. His choices in high-profile gubernatorial nominating contests in Iowa and Georgia both lost to rivals who claimed to adore the 47th president despite their manifest willingness to rebel against his wishes,” Kilgore wrote. “And now, Trump is having fresh endorsement-obedience problems in the Palmetto State, where absolutely every Republican pledges allegiance to him incessantly.” “It turned out \[Graham’s\] Trump-blessed march to nearly seven years in the U.S. Senate (pretty good for someone who had never run for office) wasn’t a cakewalk after all. It was perhaps not so surprising that lame-duck congressman Ralph Norman… jumped into the race before Trump’s endorsement and then didn’t jump out,” Kilgore said. “The contest could easily extend to an August 25 runoff if nobody wins a majority on August 11\. The days and weeks ahead may be painful for White House political advisers, whose lives could take a turn for the worse if Trump flubs another endorsement.” **In Bloomberg, Jonathan Tamari said Graham’s possible election gives Trump** [**“another chance to shape \[the\] Senate.”**](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2026-07-21/darline-graham-running-for-senate-as-trump-seeks-to-put-mark-on-congress?ref=readtangle.com) “Donald Trump is getting another chance to put his imprint on the Senate. Darline Graham, appointed last week to replace her brother and close Trump ally, the late Senator Lindsey Graham, announced Monday she’ll run for a full six-year term in South Carolina — after the president encouraged her to do so,” Tamari wrote. “She has competition. Representatives Russell Fry and Ralph Norman also plan to seek the Republican nomination… Fry — who arrived in Congress by defeating a Republican who voted to impeach Trump in 2021 — hammered that point home in announcing his Senate run. “‘South Carolina doesn’t need just another senator. It needs President Trump’s strongest ally,’ Fry posted on X. Norman, meanwhile, enters with endorsements from two of the Senate’s most Trump-aligned figures, Rick Scott and Mike Lee,” Tamari said. “No matter who wins, one result is certain: the Senate GOP is going to get even more Trumpy… The near-certain outcome is that the president, and GOP voters, will keep chipping away at the one piece of the party that arguably has the most remaining ties to old guard Republican ideology.” **In The 19th, Sara Luterman wrote** [**“Graham’s career centered disability. Now she could help shape national policy.”**](https://19thnews.org/2026/07/darline-graham-disability-career-senate/?ref=readtangle.com) “\[Darline Graham\] has worked in vocational rehabilitation, publicly funded programs that help people with disabilities overcome barriers to employment,” Luterman said. “To former colleagues and the disability advocates who have worked with her, there is little doubt in Darline Graham’s capabilities. They describe the 62-year-old as a dedicated civil servant who is uninterested in the spotlight and deeply knowledgeable about issues facing the disability community. And they are optimistic she will bring that experience to Capitol Hill.” “This is a very political moment for disability rights advocates. Massive cuts to Medicaid from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which Lindsey Graham supported, threaten disability services in many states. The Trump administration has also moved to dismantle the Department of Education and transfer oversight of special education services to the Department of Health and Human Services, a shift that many experts believe will put students with disabilities at risk,” Luterman wrote. “\[David Houck, who has worked closely with South Carolina’s Commission for the Blind,\] has nothing but praise for Graham’s career, which, from Houck’s perspective, gives her knowledge and connections that will serve his community well.” My take. Isaac Saul Executive Editor ![Isaac Saul](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2025/05/Isaac.jpg) - Open seats should be filled as democratically as possible, not by anointing a family member of the deceased. - Darline Graham’s media exposure from her appointment — plus Trump’s public support — gives her an unfair edge over other primary contenders. - There should be a new process for appointments that doesn’t rely on outdated precedents. **Reminder:** This is where we share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, leave a comment on the website or reply to this email. I am genuinely shocked at how normally everyone seems to be treating this very abnormal thing. Darline Graham is the first person to ever succeed their deceased sibling in the Senate, and now she’s using that temporary appointment’s momentum to campaign for a six-year Senate term — fully backed by the president of the United States. Of course, spouses have been temporarily appointed to their deceased partners’ seats before. But as I [argued](https://youtu.be/q7SF1xzqf7s?si=QxUe-mVc9jxAANuF&t=475&ref=readtangle.com) last week, that should be viewed as an equally absurd and outdated practice, even without the novelty of the seat going to a sibling. The most popularly accepted example of this outside of politics is probably a family member taking over businesses from a deceased relative, but in those examples the story almost always involves some kind of planned succession. A son is being raised to take over his dad’s firm, or a wife knows the wish of her deceased husband was for her to take his position when he died. If I were to die, I suppose my wife would immediately inherit *ownership* of Tangle, but my wishes wouldn’t be to task her with *running* Tangle, and (no offense, Phoebe) she probably wouldn’t be very good at it because it’s not her line of work. None of that applies here Graham’s death was a shock, his sister was never prepared in any way to fill his seat, and we have no idea if that is even what he would have wanted. Somehow, I feel like this perspective has put me on an island. Nearly all the commentators above are arguing about her qualifications, whether someone else should have the seat, or whether she’ll be a fair representative of her brother’s views. But what about the fundamental practice of a system that allows a state governor to pick any person they want to replace a U.S. senator, and how often that system produces a family member? That, to me, feels like the actual paradigm we need to discuss and shift. Imagine how *genuinely crazy* you’d feel if you showed up for surgery and found out your doctor had died, but don’t worry, their sister replaced him. Or, alternatively, you dropped your kid off at school only to learn that their teacher had passed away, but the principal subbed in the teacher’s sister, who had no experience teaching. Or, to reverse my previous example, imagine if you showed up for court as a client of my wife’s and were then told I was going to be your lawyer for the day. Maybe Darline Graham’s appointment isn’t quite as extreme as those examples, but — to me — it’s not far off. It’s not as if we don’t have alternatives. An obvious one is that Graham’s seat just stays vacant until a special election takes place. Politically, this would be a bad break for Republicans, but there is plenty of precedent: Supreme Court justices are not simply anointed when one dies, they have to go through the normal process of a Senate confirmation. In this case, the analogous process is an election. Alternatively, if we want to hold onto gubernatorial appointments, we could institute rules. Perhaps the appointee has to be an elected official in the state where they are taking the Senate seat. In this case, a member of the House of Representatives in South Carolina or a sitting state representative would do just fine. At least then we’d have an elected official — chosen by the people — replacing an elected official. Or, maybe, accepting an appointment means you don’t get to run in the special or upcoming election, thus ensuring the appointed official doesn’t gain an unfair advantage over the field. On last week’s *Suspension of the Rules* podcast, Editor-at-Large Kmele Foster and Senior Editor Will Kaback both, essentially, [shrugged at the idea Graham was tapped](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7SF1xzqf7s&ref=readtangle.com) to take her brother’s spot in the Senate. I expressed shock that nobody was shocked. I may have even cursed a bit, or suggested it was “insane.” In a team discussion about this topic, Associate Editor Audrey Moorehead empathized with my discomfort but said she couldn’t find a solid principle guiding her to oppose Graham’s run. My principle: anti-nepotism. Nepotism is, in simple terms, the practice of using influence to elevate family or friends to positions of power, often unfairly and regardless of their qualifications. I have a hard time imagining a better example than helping shoehorn in the sister of a deceased senator to the most powerful deliberative body in the country. We could even take a more recent example: When President Biden dropped out, I begrudgingly acknowledged that tapping Harris was the democratic thing to do, but only because she was already first in line to the presidency and had won the 2020 election as the vice presidential candidate on the ticket. Yet even then, I [called for an open convention](https://www.readtangle.com/biden-drops-out-kamala-harris/#:~:text=I%20am%20fully,fight%20it%20out.) to replace him. In this case, Darline Graham wasn’t democratically in line for anything, nor has she ever won a public election. We simply have the will of the president and a governor getting to pick who takes a Senate seat — and then doing the most nepotistic thing possible. The best argument I can think of, which Will made on our show last week, is that Lindsey Graham was tapped by the voters, and the most democratic outcome in response to his death would be to replace someone who is effectively a proxy for his vote. It’s what justified widow succession all those years. From that angle, Darline Graham would seem like a safe bet. I think that is a good argument, and I understand it. But the fundamentals have changed since last week. First, that was an argument for a temporary, monthslong appointment. Graham is now going to get a massive leg up in earned media as a sitting senator as she campaigns for a full term. She’ll have access to the president, Senate briefings, chances to vote on legislation to bolster her campaign, party fundraisers, and many of the insider advantages that come with even brief incumbency. Second, Darline may not be much like her brother after all. Lindsey prioritized foreign policy and American strength abroad, and from the [limited statements](https://www.foxnews.com/media/darline-graham-focuses-kitchen-table-issues-announces-full-term-senate-bid?ref=readtangle.com) Darline has made about her views, she would *not*. And third — an argument that was just as true last week as it is this week — Darline Graham is not the only person who could function as a proxy for her brother’s vote. There are doubtless dozens of other South Carolina Republicans who would be aligned with Lindsey Graham 99% of the time. The difference, at least, is those Republicans would have actual experience working in the government. In the next few months, the Senate will likely vote on wartime issues, hundreds of billions of dollars of Pentagon funding, a massive reconciliation bill, and maybe even an immigration bill. If two weeks ago I had suggested that *Lindsey Graham’s sister should get a vote* on those issues, you would have looked at me like I had seven heads. Sen. Graham’s death is not a great reason to view that prospect as any less absurd. Last week, I myself made some arguments in *favor* of Graham’s appointment that I now view in a different light. I said it was a “green flag” that she didn’t seem to want the job and was having a [totally normal response](https://x.com/Ike%5FSaul/status/2076708126586278082?s=20&ref=readtangle.com) to her brother’s death. I described her as a seemingly nice person who did amazing work (helping people with disabilities get jobs) and even acknowledged the argument that members of Congress *used* to be more “normie” Americans. Given that the job has become over-represented by highly educated lawyer-types in the modern era, maybe Graham would be a nice respite. But now she *does* want the job, making the prospect of her getting it much more alarming given how little we know about her views and qualifications, and how *un*\-democratic it is for her to have such a huge advantage over the other people throwing their hat into the ring for her brother’s seat. But, despite my instinct that she’d have a cakewalk to the Senate, plenty of people believe things are about to get messy. She’ll have to defeat several staunch Trump and Graham allies in the primary, people with actual governing experience for voters to look at and consider. While all of them are running as MAGA-aligned candidates, none are just accepting Graham as the foregone successor to her brother, despite the fact she has the president’s backing. In POLITICO’s words: [There is a power struggle brewing, and Trump may not win](https://www.politico.com/news/2026/07/21/south-carolina-trump-graham-test-01005834?ref=readtangle.com). Still, Darline Graham now looks like the odds-on favorite in the South Carolina primary. I’m not 100% sure if she’ll win — perhaps she’ll falter under the limelight — but I am sure of this: I hope she doesn’t prevail. It’s a bizarre, unfortunate, and wholly unfair institutional practice to allow governors to appoint the husbands, wives, or siblings of deceased or otherwise incapacitated senators to take their jobs, a practice we should uniformly recognize as archaic and off-putting. If Darline Graham had spent her life apprenticing under her brother to become a senator, or working in the South Carolina House or even aspiring to understand how the government works, maybe I’d feel differently. Yet until a few days ago, it seemed she had never even conceived of doing this job. This entire situation strikes me as an odd societal quirk — some relic of the past — that we should view as more akin to mafia behavior than some righteous adoption of civic duty. Hopefully, South Carolina voters will agree. Staff dissent. Managing Editor Ari Weitzman and Associate Editor Audrey Moorehead ![Will Kaback](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2025/05/Ari.jpg) To distill Isaac’s argument down to what we see as its essence: A politician’s sibling running for election is not an issue, a random person being appointed to finish a term isn’t an issue, but the intersection of both is an archaic practice that allows for nepotism that we’d reject anywhere else. We think that’s a cogent position, but we also think Isaac wrongfoots himself several times trying to take those issues on separately. In leveling criticisms of inexperience and unpreparedness, we believe Isaac is unevenly applying a principle to this situation in an era when a lot of inexperienced people are winning elections for the House, Senate, and even the presidency. Yes, Isaac has consistently weighted experience when reviewing candidates, but not with nearly the level of vigor with which he’s treating Darline Graham’s apolitical career. It seems like the added fact that Darline was Lindsey’s sister matters here a great deal, but familial proxies in temporary assignments actually don’t seem like an enormous issue to us — next-of-kin inheritance is already a standard for sole proprietorships and estates, areas where a person’s judgment is expected to be exercised by the appointee. Applying that to elected positions is not as bizarre as Isaac is treating it. Second, a lot of Isaac’s vitriol was directed at the fact that Darline decided to run after being appointed. His grievance about people who seek power being ones who are worthy of the most scrutiny is well founded, but that’s a principle inherent with any person running for office. Again, using that as a line of argument specific to this case creates some cognitive dissonance. Ultimately, we actually favor the solutions Isaac proposed in his take: We can limit the pool of candidates for gubernatorial appointments or the way those appointments can carry out their terms. But we oppose the way he constructed his argument on principle. **Take the survey:** What do you think of family members filling deceased relatives’ seats? [Let us know](https://interrobang.vercel.app/survey/73874a68-5cf9-4f8b-8cab-5af27b51507f?ref=readtangle.com). *Disagree? That's okay. Our opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we'll consider publishing your feedback.* ### A deeper look. ![Arkansas Sen. Hattie Wyatt Caraway | Picryl](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/07/data-src-image-7ec904b2-5a86-4bee-83a9-80422f311a44.jpeg) Arkansas Sen. Hattie Wyatt Caraway | [Picryl](https://picryl.com/media/arkansas-senator-hattie-w-caraway-1?ref=readtangle.com) Family members have replaced deceased elected officials many times in U.S. history. In fact, in the early 20th century, [“widow’s succession”](https://capitolhistory.org/capitol-history-blog/widows-succession-how-women-first-gained-a-foothold-in-congress/?ref=readtangle.com) was the practice by which many women entered Congress. The first widow to succeed her husband in the federal government was Mae Ella Nolan, who ran for her late husband’s House seat representing California’s 5th district in 1923. The first woman to win a Senate election was also a widow successor. In late 1931, Arkansas Sen. Thaddeus Horatius Caraway died, and his wife [Hattie Wyatt Caraway](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Hattie-Caraway?ref=readtangle.com) was appointed to fill his seat until a special election for the remainder of his term could be held. In January 1932, Caraway won that special election, becoming the first woman elected to the Senate. Later that year, Wyatt Caraway surprised many by running for a full term in the Senate. She secured victory with the help of Louisiana Sen. Huey Long on the campaign trail; Caraway would go on to win two more terms before losing her party’s nomination in 1944. In total, [48 women](https://cawp.rutgers.edu/sites/default/files/resources/widows.pdf?ref=readtangle.com) — 8 senators and 40 representatives — have succeeded their husbands in Congress. While the practice has become rarer in recent years, for much of the 20th century it was the [easiest way](https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/history-wives-replacing-their-dead-husbands-in-congress-180974092/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=This%20custom%20has,congressional%20wives%20first.%E2%80%9D) for women to gain footholds in politics. 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The stagnation this produces drives people out,” said another. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/07/data-src-image-a4848734-207b-4b91-a6c2-b9f7515bc1f8.png) ### Have a nice day. After 15-year-old Delhi resident Parth’s parents were in a motorcycle accident caused by an unseen pothole, he knew he had to do something about his city’s poor road conditions. Parth used his budding skills in computer science and artificial intelligence to build an app that allows citizens to report potholes to the government, using AI to flag legitimate submissions for quicker review, cutting down on the tedious processes used by current systems. At first, Parth used grant money to hire workers to fix the reported potholes; but as the app has gained traction, the government has stepped in to do some repairs. Parth hopes to expand access to the app across India, then into other Asian and African countries. [The Better India has the story](https://thebetterindia.com/changemakers/project-sadak-delhi-teen-ai-pothole-repair-platform-12109719?ref=readtangle.com). ### Mamdani says NYC LACKS the authority to arrest Netanyahu. Calls on federal government to do so. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/mamdani-says-nyc-lacks-the-authority-to-arrest-netanyahu-calls-on-federal-government-to-do-so/ Last updated: 2026-07-22T07:06:27.000Z New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said that his administration reviewed applicable laws and determined New York City lacked legal avenues to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He called on the federal government to arrest Netanyahu, and said that Netanyahu “is not welcome in New York City.” ### Alaska’s Election Experiment Has Reached a Breaking Point URL: https://www.readtangle.com/alaskas-election-experiment-has-reached-a-breaking-point-2/ Last updated: 2026-07-21T20:06:18.000Z For years, Alaska has been home to one of the biggest election reform experiments in America. ### New York’s data center moratorium. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/new-york-data-center-moratorium/ Last updated: 2026-07-21T15:56:25.000Z Hello again! This is Managing Editor **Ari Weitzman**, back from paternity leave, and I hope you built up an appetite for my writing over the last three weeks because you’re about to hear a lot more from me. Canadian wildfires, tropical storms over the Gulf, and budding tech issues are lining up a bunch of topics that are squarely in my wheelhouse. Today, we’re covering **New York’s data center moratorium**. In April, I wrote the argument in favor of more data centers, so… yeah. Let’s see if any of today’s arguments, or 25 days of looking into a miniature and sometimes wailing face, have changed my mind. That’s not all we’re covering today. We also take a look at **a new rule for granting federal funding to colleges**, a story about **a grassroots food pantry**, and I cede the last word on the data center issue to a colleague who disagrees with me. Bring it on, chump. If you’ve got **14 minutes**, you’ve got another great edition coming at you. ### What happened to Alaska’s election reform? In 2020, Alaskans voted to adopt a first-of-its-kind election system — top-four open primaries with ranked-choice voting in the general election — which advocates said would expand voter choice and boost consensus-minded candidates. In 2024, an initiative to repeal that system narrowly failed, but a new repeal measure is on the ballot this year. Ahead of that critical vote, Senior Editor Will Kaback traveled to Alaska to speak with the leading voices on each side of the issue about the impact of the state’s election reform — and whether it will survive another challenge. ### Quick hits. 1. Sen. Darline Graham (R-SC), who was appointed to serve out the remainder of her late brother Sen. Lindsey Graham’s (R) term, said she will run for the Republican nomination for the seat in the state’s special primary election in August. ([The announcement](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-election/sen-darline-graham-says-running-full-6-year-term-trump-urged-jump-race-rcna588415?ref=readtangle.com)) 2. The Pentagon disclosed that close to 100 servicemembers have been injured in the Iran war in the past two weeks, adding that 96% of those injured have since returned to duty. ([The update](https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2026/07/20/iran-retaliates-against-us-strikes-gas-returns-4-gallon/?ref=readtangle.com)) Separately, the Houthis, an Iran-backed militia group in Yemen, declared a maritime blockade on Saudi Arabia in response to a “continued Saudi siege” on Yemen. ([The declaration](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/20/world/middleeast/yemen-houthis-saudi-arabia-red-sea-blockade.html?ref=readtangle.com)) 3. President Donald Trump imposed a 50% tariff on select Canadian imports under Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930\. The White House said the duties were retaliation for “discriminatory” trade measures by Canada. ([The tariffs](https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5979288-trump-imposes-canadian-tariffs/?ref=readtangle.com)) 4. Authorities arrested a man they said started a fire and set off fireworks outside a federal building in New York City, injuring three people. The suspect, an Army veteran, was described as an “anti-ICE activist.” ([The incident](https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/incendiary-device-federal-building-nyc-manhattan/?ref=readtangle.com)) 5. Andy Burnham officially became Britain’s new prime minister, replacing Keir Starmer. President Trump said he and Burnham had a “very good” call and plan to meet in the “not too distant future.” ([The call](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-says-first-call-new-uk-pm-burnham-very-well-pledges-us-support?ref=readtangle.com)) SPONSORED By belay ****Make tax season simple** Tax season doesn’t have to mean wondering if you have the right forms, second-guessing your deductions, or scrambling to pull everything together before the deadline. With [BELAY’s tax prep support](https://api.wellput.io/v1/cm?cmid=1014307mr2l3w81&tid=353&s1=v2-r744638-p1014307-c49552&s2=Tangle&s3=&s4=null&ref=readtangle.com), you can approach tax season with confidence. Stay organized with one centralized place to gather and check off your documents, keep track of valuable deductions like HSA contributions, education expenses and childcare credits, and lean on experienced professionals who make tax preparation accurate, efficient, and completely hands-off. [****Download BELAY’s free Personal Tax Checklist and start preparing with confidence, today**](https://api.wellput.io/v1/cm?cmid=1014307mr2l3w81&tid=353&s1=v2-r744638-p1014307-c49552&s2=Tangle&s3=&s4=null&ref=readtangle.com)****.** ### Today’s topic. New York’s data center moratorium. On Tuesday, July 14, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) signed an [executive order](https://www.governor.ny.gov/executive-order/no-62-establishing-temporary-moratorium-data-centers-new-york-while-state-develops?ref=readtangle.com) pausing construction of new large-scale data centers in the state for up to one year. Hochul said the moratorium is intended to allow policymakers to study the economic and environmental effects of new data centers and consider regulatory action. The governor’s order went into effect immediately, making New York the first state to halt data center construction. **Back up:** Data centers are servers, storage systems, and networking equipment that process and store digital information. Demand for new hubs has increased alongside advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), and technology companies have begun building new data centers to support the compute power needed to reliably provide AI services. However, new construction of the facilities has provoked public backlash and [raised concerns](https://www.readtangle.com/should-we-build-more-data-centers-pro-con/) about energy and water use and environmental harms. Gov. Hochul’s order [defines](https://www.governor.ny.gov/executive-order/no-62-establishing-temporary-moratorium-data-centers-new-york-while-state-develops?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=%283%29%20consume%20or%20can%20consume%2050%20megawatts%20of%20energy%20or%20more.) large-scale (or “hyperscale”) data centers as those consuming 50 megawatts or more of energy and providing “data storage, cloud computing, and/or content delivery to customers, internal operations, and/or affiliated business operations.” It exempts facilities that are primarily used to support manufacturing, research, education, and medical care. During the moratorium, the state will complete an environmental review studying data centers’ impacts on electricity demand, the power grid, water consumption, water quality, and air quality. It will also create a “Community Investment Framework” to help municipalities negotiate with prospective data center developers. In a press release, Hochul said uncertainty about data centers’ resource use and cost to taxpayers required a temporary pause to allow for a proper assessment of their impact. “New York State is experiencing unprecedented growth in demand for data center development driven by artificial intelligence and other computing operations… that could require massive amounts of energy and water to run and cool thousands of computer servers,” the release [read](https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/first-statewide-moratorium-new-hyperscale-data-centers-launched-governor-kathy-hochul?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=New%20York%20State%20is,thousands%20of%20computer%20servers.). However, Hochul also affirmed her support for AI in the long run, [saying](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/14/nyregion/new-york-data-center-moratorium-hochul.html?eafs%5Fenabled=false&ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=On%20Tuesday%2C%20Ms,and%20our%20communities.%E2%80%9D), “The businesses that build technology capable of changing civilization with AI are also capable of working with us to protect our power grid, to protect our water supplies and our communities.” Many environmental groups praised the order. “This one-year moratorium is a huge step forward for New York communities fighting against an onslaught of massive data center proposals,” Laura Shindell, Food & Water Watch’s New York State director, [said](https://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/2026/07/14/gov-hochuls-data-center-moratorium-is-huge-step-forward-in-protecting-new-york-communities/?ms=some%5Ftw%5F07142026%5FNAT-FWW-c3-ny-data-center-win-pr&oms=some%5Ftw%5F07142026%5FNAT-FWW-c3-ny-data-center-win-pr&ref=readtangle.com). However, some New York lawmakers oppose data center construction moratoriums, saying that they will put the state at an economic disadvantage. “A statewide moratorium is the wrong answer to the right questions. It freezes investment \[and\] takes decisions away from the communities that should be making them… The responsible path is to set clear, firm standards and let willing communities decide for themselves,” Assemblyman Scott Gray (R) [wrote](https://www.assembly.state.ny.us/mem/Scott-Gray/story/118612?ref=readtangle.com) in June. Today, we’ll survey arguments from the left and right about the executive order. Then, Managing Editor Ari Weitzman gives his take. | What the left is saying. Many on the left support New York’s moratorium, calling it a model for other states. Some contend that the pause could help the AI industry in the long run.Others say Democrats will benefit from Trump’s support of data centers. | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | **In USA Today, Sara Pequeño wrote** [**“New York just showed the country how to stop data centers.”**](https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/columnist/2026/07/16/new-york-ai-data-center-moratorium-hochul/90918402007/?ref=readtangle.com) “\[The moratorium\] was the right move — and a politically savvy one,” Pequeño said. “Hating data centers might be the only thing that Democrats and Republicans can agree on right now, and politicians would be smart to take advantage of this rare moment of bipartisanship. Politicians need to get it together, get on the same page, and follow New York’s lead in implementing a moratorium and, eventually, stronger regulation on data centers.” “While I see the benefits that data centers could bring… lawmakers are beholden to the people they serve — not lobbyists or businesses,” Pequeño wrote. “This is an opportunity for politicians at all levels to listen to their constituents and remember who they work for — not the corporations funding their campaigns, but the people… New York’s moratorium is a great first step — next comes the regulation that’s needed to ensure data centers do not further harm the environment and affect quality of life in these communities. I hope to see other states follow suit.” **In Bloomberg, Joe Weisenthal gave an** [**“optimistic case”**](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2026-07-15/the-optimistic-case-for-the-hochul-data-center-pause?ref=readtangle.com) **for the moratorium.** “\[Hochul\] insists that the moratorium is not a Trojan horse for a long-term ban or a de-facto ban, by doing one-year pause after one-year pause. Instead she wants to take a year so that communities can figure out the best arrangements with data center companies, so that the entrance of a new facility brings economic benefits to the area,” Weisenthal wrote. “If you’re generally liberal on questions of economic development… I think what you should hope to see is that we get a series of developments where (for fiscal reasons) communities see a tangible benefit.” “Without that, we’re likely to see a ratchet of more and more restrictions on data center development all around the country in red and blue states,” Weisenthal said. “It’s pretty understandable to be skeptical about the motives of any elected official. And I suppose we’ll only know if this pause achieved anything productive in a year. Maybe the politics will just end up much worse. But there is a version where the growth of the industry continues in a manner that creates less public hostility.” **In MS NOW, Paul Waldman said** [**“Trump’s data center boosterism is a gift to Democrats.”**](https://www.ms.now/opinion/trump-data-centers-elon-musk-democrats?ref=readtangle.com) “When New York Gov. Kathy Hochul signed \[the\] executive order… President Donald Trump was not happy,” Waldman wrote. “‘New York should change its Policy, IMMEDIATELY,’ he posted to Truth Social. ‘The Radical Left Dumocrats must not be allowed to cause us to lose Data Centers, AI, and all of this incredible new Technology, to China, and other countries!’ The New York moratorium is the first such statewide ban in the country, though it may not be the last. The frenzy of data center construction is rapidly becoming one of the most important issues on the political landscape, and unlike most issues, it doesn’t fall cleanly across partisan lines — at least not yet.” “Given how unpopular data centers are — and how they have become a stand-in for people’s feelings about a rapacious tech industry, greedy billionaires and the threats posed by artificial intelligence — nothing could be better for Democrats than to have voters associate data centers with Republicans,” Waldman said. “\[Trump\] seems to have decided to become the face of an issue on which he’s on the wrong side of two-thirds of the public. That makes the data center issue an enormous gift to Democrats. It doesn’t take a political genius to see they ought to exploit it for everything it’s worth.” | What the right is saying. The right criticizes the moratorium, with some predicting it will set back U.S. AI development. Many compare the ban to past moratoriums that stunted economic growth.Others say anti-progress activists are showing their influence. | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | **The New York Post editorial board called the ban a** [**“loss for New York — and a win for China.”**](https://nypost.com/2026/07/15/opinion/hochuls-data-center-ban-is-a-loss-for-new-york-and-a-win-for-china/?ref=readtangle.com) “Hochul may tell herself (and pro-business allies) that her executive order banning data centers is merely a ‘pause’ to appease the greens until she wins re-election, but the pressure to extend it will only grow stronger — and she won’t need the business community after November,” the board wrote. “Worse, she’s kneeling not just to fearmongering by the likes of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Bernie Sanders, who see every innovation as a threat, but by Chinese propagandists who want to strangle American AI development in the cradle.” “To justify her moratorium, Hochul trotted out Beijing’s talking points that data centers will ‘hike up utility bills, deplete our natural resources, and create uncertainty,’” the board said. “Data centers are crucial to AI; without them, New York has no hope of leading in the next major US growth sector — and little hope of retaining its remaining leadership in older sectors that will increasingly rely on AI, including finance… New York desperately needs a forward-thinking chief executive who’ll stand up to the superstition and enemy propaganda, one who’ll ensure we embrace innovation and economic growth. Instead, we’re stuck with Kathy Hochul.” **In The Daily Caller, David Blackmon said the** [**“moratorium feels all too familiar.”**](https://dailycaller.com/2026/07/15/why-new-yorks-data-center-moratorium-feels-all-too-familiar/?ref=readtangle.com) “The parallel to \[Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s\] 2014 fracking decision is striking, and the likely outcomes for New Yorkers are equally concerning… Though presented as temporary amid ongoing study, the policy effectively ended high-volume hydraulic fracturing in the state,” Blackmon wrote. “By freezing \[data center\] permitting for a year (or longer if the legislative bill advances), New York signals uncertainty to developers with project plans under development or ready to go… Projects that might have brought big benefits to upstate or other regions could simply locate elsewhere.” “In fairness to Gov. Hochul, there is no question that legitimate concerns exist,” Blackmon said. “But a one-year (or indefinite) moratorium is a blunt instrument. The fracking experience shows that once development is paused on precautionary grounds, political momentum often locks the restriction in place, even as neighboring jurisdictions capture the benefits. New Yorkers should not have to choose between affordable energy and economic opportunity. A far more productive solution would be for Hochul and other state officials to suck it up and do the hard work of ensuring efficient development instead of hiding behind a moratorium.” **For the American Enterprise Institute, James Pethokoukis argued that the policy reveals the** [**“continuing power of America’s stagnationist activist groups.”**](https://www.aei.org/economics/new-yorks-data-center-moratorium-shows-the-continuing-power-of-americas-stagnationist-activist-groups/?ref=readtangle.com) “We are unable, as we have been for a half century, to sufficiently overcome the forces of Down Wing anti-progress and stagnation — NIMBYs, radical environmentalists, or simply ideological degrowthers — to solve big problems, such as the scarcity of clean energy,” Pethokoukis wrote. “It’s quite plausible New York Governor Kathy Hochul’s decision to effectively ban construction of large data centers for up to a year will give considerable encouragement to those wishing to replicate the action elsewhere… Clearly the anti-data center movement is gaining ground, and that was true even before the New York permitting pause.” “Despite all the talk about the escalating power needs of AI infrastructure, it’s now obvious that AI optimists have been underpricing the social license issue. Specifically, how hard those aforementioned Down Wing forces will fight to keep their dominant position by exaggerating issues of electricity prices and water usage as their vectors,” Pethokoukis said. “For these activists, the real issue is their dislike of techno-capitalism, as much as it is disdain for nuclear-powered AI data centers. Even if these data centers are all powered by small modular nuclear reactors and recycle all their water, the activist opposition will continue.” My take. Ari Weitzman Managing Editor ![Air Weitzman](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2025/05/Ari.jpg) - Most people — myself included — are imposing their existing positions onto this order before engaging with it. - I think data centers are unfairly maligned and are beaten up as a proxy for artificial intelligence. - New York’s one-year moratorium won’t do anything about AI development, and it’s likely to have a net negative effect. **Reminder:** This is where we share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, leave a comment on the website or reply to this email. I don’t know a single person who wants data centers in their backyard. They are loud, unsightly, energy-hungry facilities that *can* also put [demands on water](https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/2026/07/how-much-water-data-centers-use/687934/?ref=readtangle.com) services and roads. It’s very easy to extrapolate a basic stance on Gov. Hochul’s executive order from there: *data center bad, law against data center good.* The actual opinions aren’t nearly so primitive, but that [truly is the shape](https://newrepublic.com/article/213202/anti-data-center-movement-maga-marjorie-taylor-greene?ref=readtangle.com) of many of the [arguments in support](https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/columnist/2026/07/16/new-york-ai-data-center-moratorium-hochul/90918402007/?ref=readtangle.com) of New York’s one-year moratorium. Examine your own response here for a second — if you support this policy, did you soberly arrive at that position after reading the executive order and weighing the pros and cons, or did you cheer as soon as you read the headline and find that everything you learned since has somehow fit with your original stance? I’ll flip the question on myself. Did I already come to my conclusion on this before I read about the story? Before she graduated from Tangle, Associate Editor Lindsey Knuth and I [debated](https://www.readtangle.com/should-we-build-more-data-centers-pro-con/) this exact question, and I took the position that we should *not* be slowing down data center construction. I’m coming into this issue with my own biases against the executive order — I believe that the environmental and water-use impacts of data centers are largely exaggerated; that most people who oppose data centers rely daily on the digital services they provide; and that we will all benefit from new, more efficient facilities. I’m nervous about any energy-intensive megaprojects in the *Southwest* (where water is scarce and cooling is expensive), but in general, I’m in favor of building more advanced — and more efficient — data centers. I articulated my position in April like this: > The same logic that goes into running and maintaining landfills goes into building and leveraging giant data centers: They’re unsightly and you definitely wouldn’t want to live next to one, but their environmental impacts are frequently overstated — and you also wouldn’t want to live without them. My initial, gut-level reaction to Hochul’s order was only slightly more evolved than the response I mocked above: *data center more good than bad, law against data center more bad than good.* But could that be wrong? Broadly speaking, the actual text of [Executive Order 62](https://www.governor.ny.gov/executive-order/no-62-establishing-temporary-moratorium-data-centers-new-york-while-state-develops?ref=readtangle.com) dictates two things: 1) The Department of Public Service will complete a review on the environmental impacts of constructing large data centers, “including energy demand, water use and quality, air quality, disproportionate impacts on disadvantaged communities, and noise levels.” 2) The Department of Environmental Conservation will pause for one year “any discretionary permit, approval, license, or similar form of permission for the construction or expansion of a data center.” The order also directs state agencies to publish recommendations for construction, but that’s the gist — a halt, and a review. Right away, I can’t help but notice the similarities between this and the hated [*environmental impact report*](https://www.housingaffordabilityinstitute.org/policy-center/environmental-nimbyism/?ref=readtangle.com), a well intended tool weaponized by NIMBYs to slow, delay, and eventually block new developments (often housing) in their neighborhoods. Obviously, building to provide shelter for human beings is not the same as building to provide shelter for server racks, but apartment buildings and data centers are both resources that people — even those who aren’t talking to Claude or ChatGPT daily — use. Despite Gov. Hochul’s insistence to the contrary, I have a hard time believing that this is more than a delay tactic that will beget more delay tactics. What directives in this order are actually novel? New York’s [State Environmental Quality Review Act](https://dec.ny.gov/regulatory/permits-licenses/seqr?ref=readtangle.com) already requires an environmental impact report for any project that could have potentially significant adverse impacts to localities. Municipalities [already require](https://www.noccog.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Reference-Guide-for-Municipal-Boards-final-with-PB.pdf?ref=readtangle.com) major infrastructure projects to go through their planning boards for approval. The state’s [Water Resource Law](https://dec.ny.gov/environmental-protection/water/water-quantity/water-withdrawal-permits-reporting?ref=readtangle.com) already requires “all non-agricultural water withdrawal systems with the capacity to withdraw 100,000 gallons per day or more” to apply to the state for permits. The New York Independent System Operator [already mandates](https://www.nyiso.com/interconnections?ref=readtangle.com) an interconnection study for any project with a large electricity draw. And what more will the New York Department of Public Service tell us after a year of studying the impacts of data centers that [university](https://hsph.harvard.edu/news/analyzing-air-pollution-health-economic-risks-from-ai-data-centers/?ref=readtangle.com) [studies](https://stpp.fordschool.umich.edu/sites/stpp/files/2025-07/stpp-data-centers-2025.pdf?ref=readtangle.com), [tech companies](https://www.nlyte.com/microsite/sustainability-fundamental-measures/?ref=readtangle.com), [think tanks](https://www.brookings.edu/articles/turning-the-data-center-boom-into-long-term-local-prosperity/?ref=readtangle.com), [environmental lobbies](https://www.ncelenviro.org/issue/data-centers/?ref=readtangle.com), and [congressional reports](https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/R48646?ref=readtangle.com) haven’t already discovered? The thing that should really get a developmental pause and broad review — the thing data centers are a proxy for — is artificial intelligence. Data centers have existed since the dawn of the internet, but most of us only started to talk about them [in the past year](https://trends.google.com/explore?q=data%20centers&date=all&geo=US&ref=readtangle.com) as they’ve grown to service a technology scaling [well ahead](https://action.deloitte.com/insight/4982/as-ai-rewires-tech-will-consumer-demand-match-growth?ref=readtangle.com) of consumer demand and far past its creators’ ability to [prepare for its safe usage](https://www.cfr.org/articles/artificial-intelligence-is-facing-a-crisis-of-control-and-the-industry-knows-it?ref=readtangle.com). It can sometimes feel like we’re being asked to shut up and let the slop wash over us — just download the app, just use the AI-integrated service chatbot, just let Skynet move in next door, just dumbly smile and let the bot do all the thinking. But the governor of New York doesn’t have the authority to issue a moratorium on AI development. What she can do instead is signal opposition to the physical proxy for it. And since that proxy also happens to be [broadly unpopular](https://pluribusnews.com/news-and-events/data-centers-plunge-in-popularity-as-energy-costs-rise/?ref=readtangle.com) (one wonders how “municipal dump” polls in popularity contests), passing a redundant executive order signaling opposition to it is politically advantageous. Conveniently, I’ve wound up with the same opinion I had when I first read this executive order, which gives me pause. Maybe I’m wrong here. I’m no AI [accelerationist](https://www.readtangle.com/the-ai-debate-accelerationists-vs-doomers-with-andy-mills/), and I won’t [weep for the delays](https://nypost.com/2026/07/15/opinion/hochuls-data-center-ban-is-a-loss-for-new-york-and-a-win-for-china/?ref=readtangle.com) in advancement this executive order may (but probably won’t) usher in. What’s the most likely way this order could benefit the state of New York in ways that existing laws and studies can’t? In theory, the one-year moratorium could allow the tech industry time to review whether public demand is actually going to merit the massive scale it’s currently building out. Then, if (and when) the AI fervor dies down, some poor town won’t be left supporting a massive unused boondoggle. But that isn’t likely to happen — if AI demand dies, older data centers will probably go offline before new ones — and it wasn’t the rationale behind Gov. Hochul’s order. I don’t think this is effective policy. If anything, Hochul’s order will likely push companies that were considering building in New York into other, much more [resource-strained regions](https://www.wsj.com/business/energy-oil/phoenix-is-a-data-center-meccaand-test-case-for-how-to-pay-for-ais-power-needs-c671056f?ref=readtangle.com) of the country. I’d probably be singing a different tune if Arizona or Nevada had passed a similar law, but I struggle to see a way New York pausing development of data centers for a year is a net good. ****Staff dissent — Senior Editor Will Kaback:** I’ll start by ceding a few points to Ari. He’s right that this executive order resembles a NIMBY-style “environmental impact report” that could prove hollow and fruitless. Separately, many aspects of data centers this review will explore have already been studied at length, and Gov. Hochul is almost certainly issuing this order as much for political expedience as prudent policy. Lastly, the order **could* push new construction out of New York and into states navigating far more severe resource challenges. Still, I disagree that this move will be a net negative. For one, New York’s State Environmental Quality Review Act doesn’t bar approval for projects found to have a negative environmental impact, so under pre-existing law, new data centers [could still be built](https://extapps.dec.ny.gov/docs/permits%5Fej%5Foperations%5Fpdf/seqrhandbook.pdf?ref=readtangle.com#page=152) even if the review flagged significant concerns. A one-year moratorium allows for a true pause. Second, the benefit of the environmental study isn’t uncovering new findings about data centers’ impacts, but informing a framework that state agencies can rely on in future permitting. Questions about acceptable levels of water use, energy use, indirect emissions, and other considerations won’t be left to individual agencies to squabble over; instead, a common standard can be established, perhaps making construction **more* efficient in the long run. Finally, even accepting that data center opposition is mostly a proxy for anti-AI sentiment, I think the order’s provision for a [“Community Investment Framework”](https://www.governor.ny.gov/executive-order/no-62-establishing-temporary-moratorium-data-centers-new-york-while-state-develops?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Developing%20a%20Community%20Investment%20Framework) to aid municipalities in negotiations with developers addresses valid concerns about data centers’ potential to trample on small communities that often lack the power or resources to push back on unwanted building. All that said, I’m taking Hochul at her word that this will only be a one-year pause. If the moratorium is extended — or key provisions of the order aren’t enacted — I’ll stop seeing the trade-offs of this move as worthwhile. **Take the survey:** What do you think of Hochul’s order? [Let us know](https://interrobang.vercel.app/survey/b8d911dc-2184-441a-8089-3e805d1cbd23?ref=readtangle.com). *Disagree? That’s okay. Our opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we’ll consider publishing your feedback.* ### Under the radar. The Department of Education recently finalized a new metric to determine the effectiveness of college programs, which it will begin testing in 2027\. The metric, called the “do no harm” test, will compare the earnings of college students four years after graduation with the earnings of adults holding only high school diplomas. If a bachelor’s program’s median graduate does not earn more than a median high school graduate, it will fail the test and the Department of Education could revoke access to federal loans and, in rare cases, the Pell Grant. The first round of penalties under the new test could begin as early as 2028\. [Inside Higher Ed has the story](https://www.insidehighered.com/news/government/student-aid-policy/2026/07/20/how-soon-could-colleges-lose-loan-access?ref=readtangle.com). 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[****Get a personalized pet insurance quote today and save thousands on costly vet bills**](https://api.wellput.io/v1/cm?cmid=981146mr2lzevr&tid=164&s1=v2-r756810-p981146-c45863&s2=Tangle&s3=&s4=null&ref=readtangle.com)****.** ### Numbers. - [**4,556.**](https://www.datacentermap.com/usa/?ref=readtangle.com)The number of data centers in the United States as of July 2026\. - [**134.**](https://www.datacentermap.com/usa/new-york/?ref=readtangle.com)The number of data centers in New York. - [**$7 trillion.**](https://programs.com/resources/data-center-statistics/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Between%20now%20and%202030%2C%20companies%20worldwide%20are%20expected%20to%20invest%20nearly%20%247%20trillion%20in%20building%20and%20upgrading%20data%20centers.) The projected worldwide investment in building and upgrading data centers between 2026 and 2030\. - [**100,000.**](https://irei.com/publications/article/cities-regions-highest-concentration-data-centers/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=The%20average%20full%2Dscale%20data%20center%20is%20100%2C000%20square%20feet%20in%20size%20and%20runs%20around%20100%2C000%20servers%2C%20which%20are%20essentially%20powerful%20computers.%20Servers%20are%20often%20stored%20in%20racks%2C%20which%20is%20like%20a%20cabinet%20for%20multiple%20servers.)The approximate size, in square feet, of the average data center, as of 2023\. - [**37.**](https://www.cnbc.com/2025/06/20/tax-breaks-for-tech-giants-data-centers-mean-less-income-for-states.html?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Of%20those%2C%2037%20have%20passed%20legislation%20specifically%20granting%20sales%20tax%20exemptions%20for%20data%20centers)The number of states with sales tax exemptions specifically for data centers. - [**67%.**](https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2026/04/13/most-new-data-centers-in-the-us-are-coming-to-rural-areas/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=67%25%20of%20planned%20data%20centers%20are%20in%20rural%20areas%2C%20while%2087%25%20of%20existing%20data%20centers%20are%20in%20urban%20ones.)The percentage of new data centers planned for rural areas, according to Pew Research. - [**87%.**](https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2026/04/13/most-new-data-centers-in-the-us-are-coming-to-rural-areas/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=67%25%20of%20planned%20data%20centers%20are%20in%20rural%20areas%2C%20while%2087%25%20of%20existing%20data%20centers%20are%20in%20urban%20ones.) The percentage of existing data centers that are located in urban areas. ### The extras. - **One year ago today** we covered The Wall Street Journal’s [report on Trump and Epstein](https://www.readtangle.com/trump-epstein-2003-birthday-card-wsj/). - **The most clicked link in our last regular newsletter** was Zohran Mamdani’s [comments about arresting Benjamin Netanyahu in New York City](https://www.newsnationnow.com/politics/mamdani-arresting-netanyahu-visits-nyc-un-general-assembly/?ref=readtangle.com). - **Nothing to do with politics:** Three women’s world records were just set at [the Lumberjack World Championships in Wisconsin](https://apnews.com/article/lumberjack-world-championships-women-4d9ae78914f02edb8162b16b853088ba?ref=readtangle.com). - **Our last survey:** 2,615 readers responded to our survey on President Trump firing two commissioners of the Election Assistance Commission, with 46% saying they are highly concerned by the firings. “Some things should remain non-partisan and safe from money influence,” one respondent said. “Whatever it takes to make sure elections are secure,” said another. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/07/data-src-image-073d5dc7-e986-4ba6-81b0-751de2ef381a.png) ### Have a nice day. Alyssa Curtis grew up in a family that relied on weekly trips to food pantries. As a kid, Curtis noticed a lack of quality in the items given out for free, and as an adult decided to come up with a fix. She and her husband, a carpenter, set up their first food pantry last fall. Curtis posted a video of the building process on social media, and after months of supportive messages, they started building more. In May, “Shame Free Collective” was approved as a nonprofit and has since built over 20 pantries to supply residents in and around Lowell, Michigan, with medicine, dog food, cereal, diapers, rice, and mac-and-cheese. “I’ve heard of a lot of moms skipping dinner so that their kids can have food in their bellies,” Curtis said. “That’s what really moved my spirit to do something about creating access.” [TODAY has the story](https://www.today.com/food/people/michigan-shame-free-pantries-families-need-groceries-rcna353333?ref=readtangle.com). ### Why Alaska May Undo Its Biggest Election Experiment URL: https://www.readtangle.com/why-alaska-may-undo-its-biggest-election-experiment/ Last updated: 2026-07-21T16:06:23.000Z For years, Alaska has been home to one of the biggest election reform experiments in America. ### Will Senator Darline Graham Nordine surprise us? URL: https://www.readtangle.com/will-senator-darline-graham-nordine-surprise-us/ Last updated: 2026-07-20T20:06:12.000Z When Senator Lindsey Graham passed away, South Carolina's governor appointed his sister to fill his Senate seat until the next election. ### Trump fires election commissioners. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/trump-fires-election-commissioners/ Last updated: 2026-07-20T15:55:15.000Z Good Monday morning. I’m **Isaac Saul**, living through apocalyptic times in the greater New York City area: mass floods, toxic air, and hordes of strangers overwhelming the streets and public services. Okay, that last one is just soccer fans descending on North Jersey for the World Cup final, but you get the idea. It’s been a wild, funky few days here — and this morning, I was grateful to wake up to clear skies, breathable air, and a cool (dry) summer morning. I may even get my son outside today. You really don’t know what you’ve got til it’s gone. While a new dawn rises here, we’re jumping into **Trump’s firing of two Democratic election commissioners**, a reader question about **your political influence**, and a reminder to go [**read my piece on conspiracy theories**](https://www.readtangle.com/conspiracy-theories-are-getting-dumber/) (and the fact that they’re getting dumber). It’s a packed morning after a big weekend of news, but just a **13-minute read** if you’ve got things to do. Let’s jump in. ### Quick hits. 1. U.S. Central Command announced that two U.S. servicemembers were killed and another is missing following Iranian strikes on two military bases in Jordan on Friday. Four other service members were medically evacuated and have since been discharged. ([The deaths)](https://thehill.com/policy/defense/5976260-us-military-2-killed-jordan-iran-war?ref=readtangle.com) Separately, another service member was killed in Iraq during a “controlled detonation” of unexploded ordnance from an Iranian drone. ([The death](https://thehill.com/homenews/5977053-us-service-member-killed-iraq/?ref=readtangle.com)) 2. The New York Times reported that the Federal Bureau of Investigation announced internally that it will no longer investigate confrontations with federal immigration agents. However, the Justice Department and the Department of Homeland Security denied the report. ([The report](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/19/us/politics/fbi-ice-agents-investigations-shootings.html?ref=readtangle.com)) Separately, border czar Tom Homan said that Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers will be required to record vehicle stops with at least one body camera, adding that Homeland Security is in the process of distributing the cameras. ([The policy](https://www.newsnationnow.com/us-news/immigration/border-coverage/ice-officers-wear-body-cameras-during-vehicle-stops/?ref=readtangle.com)) 3. Former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson (D) appears to have secured enough delegates to replace Graham Platner as the Democratic nominee in Maine’s Senate race. ([The latest](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/platner-ally-troy-jackson-locks-down-delegates-top-rivals-democratic-senate-nomination-drop-out?ref=readtangle.com)) 4. Russia launched a major ballistic missile attack targeting Kyiv, Ukraine, killing at least one person and wounding 16\. ([The attack](https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russian-ballistic-missiles-rock-kyiv-one-killed-officials-say-2026-07-19/?ref=readtangle.com)) 5. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D) said he is exploring options to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he attends the upcoming United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York City, citing a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court. ([The comments](https://www.newsnationnow.com/politics/mamdani-arresting-netanyahu-visits-nyc-un-general-assembly/?ref=readtangle.com)) SPONSORED by the pour over ****It**’****s Not Your Fault** There's a reason the news leaves you overwhelmed and anxious. Your brain was never built to carry the weight of the world’s news. If you feel any shame about that, stop right there. The overwhelm isn’t a you problem, it’s a news problem. That’s why [The Pour Over](https://anxiety.thepourover.org/?utm%5Fsource=tangle&utm%5Fmedium=newsletter&utm%5Fcampaign=july) exists... the brain-friendly news source. It’s a free, 3x/week newsletter that delivers the biggest stories of the day to your inbox, paired with brief biblical reminders, all in five minutes. Because they’re in the peace business not the outrage business, there’s no bias, no spin, no agenda. Just the news your brain can actually handle. [Join 1.5 million Christians](https://anxiety.thepourover.org/?utm%5Fsource=tangle&utm%5Fmedium=newsletter&utm%5Fcampaign=july) who switched to news that: - Tells you what happened, not how to think about it - Reminds you of God’s bigger story - Leaves you feeling peaceful, not overwhelmed - Might even make you laugh **P.S. Did we mention it*’**s $0?* ### Today’s topic. The Election Assistance Commission. On Thursday, July 9, President Donald Trump [fired](https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5962237-donald-trump-fires-election-commission-members/?ref=readtangle.com) the two Democratic commissioners of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC), and the agency’s final commissioner, a Republican, resigned. Without commissioners, the agency can still distribute election funding to states, but some of its functions will be impacted, [such as](https://www.justsecurity.org/146430/election-assistance-commission/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=What%20CANNOT%20Happen%20Now%3F) establishing new programs or carrying out the appeals process for decertified voting systems. President Trump has not indicated whether he plans to nominate replacements. The White House said the Supreme Court’s [recent ruling](https://www.readtangle.com/cook-slaughter-supreme-court-rulings/) affirming the president’s power to remove leaders of independent agencies established precedent for the firings. **Back up:** In 2002, the Help America Vote Act [created](https://www.eac.gov/about/help%5Famerica%5Fvote%5Fact.aspx?ref=readtangle.com) the EAC to support the administration of federal elections. The agency’s four commissioners are [nominated](https://www.eac.gov/about/commissioners?ref=readtangle.com) by the president and confirmed by the Senate, and no more than two can belong to the same political party. In addition to distributing funds, the EAC provides election-administration information, certifies voting equipment, and maintains the National Mail Voter Registration Form. In April, former EAC Commissioner Donald Palmer (R) [left](https://www.eac.gov/about/commissioner-donald-palmer?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=He%20served%20in%20this%20role%20until%20April%2030%2C%202026.) the agency to take a position at the Heritage Foundation, leaving the four-member board with three commissioners. Christy McCormick, the other Republican commissioner, resigned on July 9 in conjunction with the president firing Democratic commissioners Thomas Hicks and Benjamin Hovland. McCormick has [declined](https://www.votebeat.org/national/2026/07/09/trump-fires-election-assistance-commission-members-hicks-hovland-mccormick/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=McCormick%20declined%20to%20comment%20when%20reached%20by%20phone.) to comment on her decision to step down. While President Trump did not offer a specific rationale for firing the Democratic commissioners, the EAC had previously [resisted](https://apnews.com/article/trump-fires-election-commission-members-0dc1f37c3990398b3085f22a14ea239a?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=While%20the%20White,citizenship%20to%20vote.) the president’s directive to change the national voter registration form to require applicants to provide proof of citizenship. “The President, and head of the Executive Branch, reserves the right to remove individuals that may not be totally aligned with the important task of securing America’s elections and ensuring every legal vote is counted,” the White House [said](https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5962237-donald-trump-fires-election-commission-members/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=%E2%80%9CThe%20President%2C%20and%20head%20of%20the%20Executive%20Branch%2C%20reserves%20the%20right%20to%20remove%20individuals%20that%20may%20not%20be%20totally%20aligned%20with%20the%20important%20task%20of%20securing%20America%E2%80%99s%20elections%20and%20ensuring%20every%20legal%20vote%20is%20counted%2C%E2%80%9D%20said%20a%20White%20House%20official%20in%20a%20statement.). Many Democrats criticized the firings, tying them to Trump’s broader efforts to influence election administration and advance claims of election fraud. “Purging commissioners just months before the midterm elections and further gutting support for our state and local elections officials is a blatant part of his plan to politicize our elections and enable more unlawful and dangerous election interference,” Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA) and Rep. Joe Morelle (D-NY) [said](https://apnews.com/article/trump-fires-election-commission-members-0dc1f37c3990398b3085f22a14ea239a?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=%E2%80%9CPresident%20Trump%20is,dangerous%20election%20interference.%E2%80%9D) in a joint statement. Republican lawmakers have mostly refrained from commenting on the firings, though Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) [said](https://www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-press/video/-i-would-not-have-done-it-gop-rep-mike-lawler-reacts-to-trump-firing-election-board-democrats-266511941929?ref=readtangle.com) he “would not have done it” this close to the 2026 midterm elections. Today, we’ll share views from the right and left on the shakeup at the EAC, followed by Executive Editor Isaac Saul’s take. | What the right is saying. The right mostly supports the firings, and many say the EAC’s importance is overstated. Some argue Trump is empowering states to administer their own elections.Others suggest the Supreme Court’s Slaughter decision will enable more firings. | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | **The Wall Street Journal editorial board wrote** [**“Trump fires a federal election board, panic ensues.”**](https://www.wsj.com/opinion/trump-fires-federal-election-assistance-board-thomas-hicks-benjamin-hovland-174b4c36?ref=readtangle.com) “President Trump on Thursday forced out the entire bipartisan leadership of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC), which is his latest flexing of the principle… that executive agencies aren’t constitutionally independent. On the practical implications, however, the partisan rhetoric is ahead of reality,” the board said. “While some of the EAC’s functions are useful, the November elections would go on even if the agency were hit by an asteroid and vaporized.” “Democrats have sought for years to nationalize election rules in their favor. H.R.1, the bill they pushed under President Biden, would have let the EAC dole out money for recruiting poll workers and running state redistricting commissions. Mr. Trump’s move to assert control of the EAC is a chance for Democrats to repent and embrace the wisdom of decentralized elections,” the board wrote. “Mr. Trump’s cleanout of the EAC is probably the first of many such firings after *Slaughter*. That makes this a ripe moment for lawmakers to reconsider all of the authority they spent decades handing to Washington’s alphabet soup of ‘independent’ agencies.” **In Texas Scorecard, Trey Trainor praised** [**“Trump’s decisive action on the Election Assistance Commission.”**](https://texasscorecard.com/opinion/trainor-president-trumps-decisive-action-on-the-election-assistance-commission-restores-constitutional-order-to-our-elections/?ref=readtangle.com) “While well-intentioned on paper, \[the EAC\] has evolved into an unnecessary federal intrusion into an area the Framers deliberately reserved for the states,” Trainor said. “Article I, Section 4 of the U.S. Constitution grants Congress limited authority to regulate the ‘Times, Places and Manner’ of federal elections, but this power has always been understood as secondary to the states’ primary role. The EAC has blurred those lines, inserting itself as a de facto national election overseer through guidelines, certifications, and grants that influence how states conduct their most fundamental duty.” “President Trump’s action recognizes a hard truth: federal agencies like the EAC, often captured by special interests and insulated from accountability, have contributed to the very problems they were meant to solve,” Trainor wrote. “Electronic systems, pushed in part through federal incentives and standards, have fueled skepticism — particularly among conservatives who have witnessed irregularities, delayed results, and a lack of transparency in recent cycles. By clearing out the commissioners, the President is signaling that it is time to return power to the states and the people, where it belongs.” **In his blog, Jonathan Turley said** [**“*Slaughter* leaves zombie commission.”**](https://jonathanturley.org/2026/07/11/slaughter-leaves-zombie-commission-trump-fires-election-assistance-commissioners-after-supreme-court-ruling/?ref=readtangle.com) “President Donald Trump took out the newly recognized power \[to remove agency leaders\] for a spin by removing the members of the \[EAC\],” Turley wrote. “The Administration made clear that it wanted to expedite policies to ‘safeguard elections from fraud and abuse’ ahead of November’s midterm elections. The tensions with the Administration have been building over the failure to move forward with a proof-of-citizenship requirement for national elections, updated guidelines on voting machines, and other election policies.” “The absence of active members creates an obvious power vacuum, as the Commission rules require an affirmative vote by at least three commissioners to conduct official business. Notably, the Commission has previously had no active members or a working quorum,” Turley said. “Moreover, it is the states that continue to administer elections for the most part under our constitutional system. Congress does have concurrent jurisdiction for federal elections and this move is likely to refocus attention on the pending legislative reforms being pushed by the Trump Administration.” | What the left is saying. The left is critical of the firings, calling them Trump’s latest attempt at election meddling.Some suggest the move illustrates the consequences of the Slaughter ruling.Others say Trump is angling to disrupt elections beyond his term. | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | **For the Election Reformers Network, Kevin Johnson and Heather Balas said the firings** [**“illustrat\[e\] America’s crisis of election governance.”**](https://www.electionreformers.org/articles/trumps-firing-of-election-commissioners-illustrates-americas-crisis-of-election-governance?ref=readtangle.com) “Democracy depends on governance being protected from partisan pressures and from politicians with a stake in the outcome. In many other areas of public life, we recognize the importance of independent governance… Elections deserve no less,” Johnson and Balas wrote. “The President’s hobbling of the EAC is an aggressive escalation in his ongoing campaign to sow doubt and distrust in our elections. And his actions lay bare a worrisome truth: our election system is not fully protected against partisan abuse.” “Most democracies establish clear guardrails to insulate election governance entities from partisan influence. Some have created whole fourth branches of government for this function. For example, India’s constitutionally established national Election Commission played an essential role in building a new democracy among hundreds of disparate communities,” Johnson and Balas said. “While we reckon with the immediate fallout of the President’s assault on the EAC, we must also commit to the urgent effort of insulating election governance from continued partisan control.” **In MS NOW, Steve Benen argued** [**“you should care about Trump gutting the Election Assistance Commission.”**](https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/trump-election-assistance-commission-firings?ref=readtangle.com) “In the wake of the 2000 elections, there was one thing Democrats and Republicans could agree on: The entire election cycle was a mess that exposed structural and institutional flaws that required reforms. It wasn’t easy, but Congress ultimately passed the Help America Vote Act… which included a variety of constructive changes and created a new entity called the Election Assistance Commission,” Benen wrote. “The point of the commission, as its name implies, is to assist state and local election administrators with training, security grants, voluntary election management guidelines and detailed information on best practices… There was no reason to gut the commission. Donald Trump did it anyway.” “Until very recently, such a move wouldn’t have just been seen as a power grab, it also would have been recognized as legally dubious,” Benen said. “But after Republican-appointed justices on the Supreme Court issued their ruling in *Trump v. Slaughter* early last week, the executive branch suddenly had vast new powers to remove independent government regulators and officials at independent federal agencies.” **In Salon, Chauncey DeVega explored** [**“Trump’s slow-motion dismantling of elections.”**](https://www.salon.com/2026/07/14/trumps-slow-motion-dismantling-of-elections/?ref=readtangle.com) “There is a growing sense among many pro-democracy Americans and the public at large that Trumpism and the MAGA are not forever… In reality, Trump’s MAGA coalition is continuing to attack and wear down American democracy and society,” DeVega wrote. “On Thursday, the president removed the remaining members of the bipartisan federal Election Assistance Commission… The administration justified this unprecedented move by citing the Supreme Court’s recent decision in *Trump v. Slaughter*, which handed the president new power to fire the heads of ‘independent agencies’ without cause. “So why now? The EAC refused to support Trump’s push to include a citizenship question on voter registration forms. This is part of a much larger campaign to manipulate and take control of the country’s elections in the name of security and stopping fraud to guarantee wins for Trump and MAGA Republicans in the November midterms, the 2028 presidential contest and beyond,” DeVega said. “Trump’s moves against the EAC and the larger campaign against multiracial pluralistic democracy are pushing the country ever further towards a state of competitive authoritarianism where elections take place but the outcome is essentially pre-determined in favor of the ruling party.” My take. Isaac Saul Executive Editor ![Isaac Saul](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2025/05/Isaac.jpg) - Ousting the EAC commissioners probably won’t disrupt elections in the near term. - However, the move represents Trump’s latest attempt to exert influence over elections. - If the president is concerned about election security, dismantling this agency is a strange response. **Reminder:** This is where we share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, leave a comment on the website or reply to this email. One difficult part of our work at Tangle is analyzing stories like this in a vacuum — through a narrow, specific lens — while also trying to fit them into a larger picture. Here, I think articulating each as distinctly as possible is valuable. In a vacuum, the firings are *probably* not a huge deal. The EAC is primarily a voluntary federal certification program for voting equipment. It also hands out [millions in grants](https://www.eac.gov/sites/default/files/2026-01/EAC%5F2025%5FAnnual%5FReport%5F508.pdf?ref=readtangle.com#page=8) to help states replace old equipment, improve accessibility, or navigate unexpected challenges like Covid-19\. Lastly, it helps states share data, provides best practices, and maintains a national mail voter registration form. Most of the EAC’s work for the upcoming election was already done, and its remaining staff will allow it to carry on as a kind of zombie agency. The EAC has long struggled with commissioner vacancies (it didn’t have a quorum from 2010–2014, spanning two federal elections) and lacks regulatory or enforcement power. Many states don’t even use EAC-certified equipment. Its budget is also [relatively small](https://www.eac.gov/sites/default/files/2026-04/EAC%5FFY%5F2027%5FCongressional%5FBudget%5FJustification%5FReport%5FFINAL.pdf?ref=readtangle.com#page=3), so even if the agency went away altogether, it wouldn’t disrupt the actual administration of elections all that much. For years, Republicans have viewed the agency as an example of government bloat and have proposed legislation to dismantle it. Now, after [*Slaughter*](https://www.readtangle.com/cook-slaughter-supreme-court-rulings/), Trump can effectively kill the agency without Congress. In this narrow lens, the firings will probably have very little impact on the 2026 or even the 2028 elections, and I doubt we’ll hear much more about it between now and then. However, the larger context makes this move much more worrisome. President Trump has, for the last 18 months, significantly expanded the reach and power of the presidency. The Supreme Court’s ruling in *Slaughter* has allowed the executive to exert more power over agencies and legislators, and one of the first things Trump did with that power was attack a group of bipartisan, [unanimously confirmed](https://www.eac.gov/about/commissioners?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Thomas%20Hicks%C2%A0and%C2%A0Christy%20McCormick%C2%A0were%20sworn%20in%20January,Trump%20and%20unanimous%20confirmation%20by%20the%20U.S.%20Senate.) commissioners overseeing an election-security agency. At the same time, there is a lot of evidence that Trump is injecting chaos, uncertainty, and doubt into the 2026 midterms. On Thursday night, Trump gave a national address with the goal of advancing the SAVE America Act, the bill that would require citizens to present documentation confirming their citizenship when registering to vote, require photo identification to vote in federal elections, and restrict mail-in voting. The president insisted that passing this bill is essential, because China has allegedly interfered in our elections and our electoral system is vulnerable to hacking, and he would release never-before-seen classified documents that proved it. Instead, [as I wrote on Friday](https://www.readtangle.com/conspiracy-theories-are-getting-dumber/#:~:text=And%20then%2C%20on%20Thursday%20night%2C%20we%20got%20a%20reheated%20version%20of%20the%20granddaddy%20of%20them%20all%3A%20Trump%E2%80%99s%20stolen%20election%20theories.), the documents did almost the opposite. I actually read them, and they mostly consisted of existing intelligence reports detailing how state actors like China and Russia have at times tried to influence public opinion, accessed data on American voters, and considered (though never attempted) causing chaos in our elections via actual hacking. Ironically, these documents reinforced what we already knew: Russia has tried to help Trump win elections, but our voting machines have neither been infiltrated nor compromised. On the whole, the document dump detailed legitimate vulnerabilities in our election systems that election experts have long understood, while also reinforcing the reality that our elections are secure and have not been hacked — *and* that the 2020 presidential election was *not* rigged. But a huge unveiling of historical election interference was *not* what Thursday night was about. Trump was never going to prove that the 2020 election was stolen or that our elections have been compromised, because it wasn’t and he can’t. Thursday night was about casting as much uncertainty and doubt on the election as possible so Trump can capitalize on that doubt to push through the SAVE Act. The Washington Post [reported](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/02/26/trump-elections-executive-order-activists/?ref=readtangle.com) in February that right-wing activists are lobbying the White House to declare an Election Day national emergency. Trump has denied those allegations, but [insisted](https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/5759186-trump-midterm-elections-national-emergency/?ref=readtangle.com) there will be voter ID for the midterm elections, with or without Congress. Ty Cobb, the former White House attorney, has [suggested](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/trump-setting-stage-to-declare-emergency-around-midterms-former-white-house-attorney-says?ref=readtangle.com) that Trump is preparing to declare a national emergency before the midterms and even deploy federal agents to polling places across the country. Todd Blanche, the acting attorney general, [declined](https://www.axios.com/2026/07/15/todd-blanche-federal-agents-polling-places-voters-ice?ref=readtangle.com) last week to explicitly rule out deploying federal agents to polling places. Postmaster General David Steiner, a Trump ally, said that USPS will [not deliver mail-in ballots](https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/5976171-appeals-court-trump-administration-usps-mail-in-ballots/?ref=readtangle.com) in states that don’t hand over sensitive voter data to the federal government. Trump himself is already [making it abundantly clear](https://www.alreporter.com/2026/07/17/trump-pushes-save-america-act-with-election-fraud-claims/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=%E2%80%9CBut%20most%20importantly,any%20other%20way.%E2%80%9D) that he thinks no election result could possibly be legitimate unless his preferred election reform bill is passed. In this larger context, the EAC is just one small piece of the president’s continued insistence that our elections — specifically the one he lost — are corrupted. Without the EAC in action, one fewer bipartisan group will be able to tell voters, “No, actually, that claim of election fraud is false, and we know because we certified the technical specs on these voting machines.” Or, “Yes, actually, this election in Michigan *was* fraudulent, because we — a group of agency heads including Democrats — helped coordinate an audit of those results.” Dismantling the EAC is not a specific attempt by the Trump administration to rig or otherwise tilt the 2026 and 2028 elections in its favor. Compared to the potential for federal agents to be deployed at polling places across the country, or Trump ruminating on some kind of election-oriented national emergency, it’s a nothingburger. But it's hard to wave off. Even in the best of times, the quality and impact of the agency’s work is hard to assess, and what could break in its absence is genuinely unclear. At a moment when the administration keeps generating reasons for the public to want assurances, decapitating the EAC feels more than directionally wrong. If I wanted to take an optimistic view, I’d offer this: If Trump were trying to rig the 2026 elections in his favor (as some Democrats allege), gutting the EAC is a pretty bad way to do that. Instead, the president seems to be [preparing](https://www.mediaite.com/media/tv/trump-prepares-republicans-for-wipeout-in-2026-the-president-always-loses-the-midterm-even-if-theyve-done-well/?ref=readtangle.com) his caucus to cope with midterm blowback from the electorate. That’s a good signal, because even if Trump is preparing an argument to use *after* the election, he isn’t preparing a means to shape the results *before* it. Still, even that optimistic tea-leaf reading is cold comfort. The irony of Trump effectively shutting down the EAC, in case it isn’t clear, is that the EAC is actually helpful for election security — the very thing Trump claims to worry about. In the mishmash of exaggerations and lies from Thursday night, Trump is correct that our election systems are constantly under threat, that our security can be improved, and that we need coordinated action. A bipartisan agency doing basic things like creating standards for election security and helping fund states’ security efforts is exactly what we need more of; yet Trump just took that group off the board because he won’t admit that he lost an election fairly. That, more than anything else, is a dark and disappointing sign of the times. **Take the survey:** How concerned are you about these firings? [Let us know](https://interrobang.vercel.app/survey/e1c31fff-a945-494d-aa20-386e87669892?ref=readtangle.com). *Disagree? That*’*s okay. Our opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we*’*ll consider publishing your feedback.* ### Your questions, answered. **Q: It seems to me that we \[as citizens\] have some minimal influence, but ultimately not much. Does it actually make sense to be spending all this time and effort figuring out what we think of the policy proposals that are being considered, or figuring out what we would want to propose if we had the power, since ultimately we don’t?** **— Jared from West Hartford, CT** **Executive Editor Isaac Saul:** Definitively: Yes. For starters, I would not underestimate the influence we have as citizens. Elected officials are very sensitive to public pressure at all levels of government. Even if you believe that all legislation is controlled by an influential group of the rich and powerful, then all you need to do to elicit major change is convince a handful of people. That feels like a hopeful thought to me, not necessarily a discouraging one. Knowing how you want to influence them is only an option if you are well informed. Well informed, motivated individuals can catalyze huge political change from the ground up, too. LeeAnne Walters was a stay-at-home mom in Flint, Michigan, and she [made](https://abcnews.com/US/epa-worker-details-discovery-flints-contaminated-water/story?id=36448812&ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=%22If%20it%20weren%27t%20for%20Lee%20Anne%2C%20this%20may%20have%20gone%20on%20a%20lot%20longer%20than%20it%20did%2C%22%20del%20Toral%20told%20ABC%20News%20today.) the water crisis a national story. Katie Fahey was an unknown nonprofit worker who used a single Facebook post to [launch](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/apr/02/katie-fahey-slay-the-dragon-gerrymandering?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=But%20in%202016,in%20Michigan.) a successful campaign to end gerrymandering in her state, replacing it with a bipartisan citizens’ redistricting committee. After the murder of their daughter, Richard and Maureen Kanka successfully [lobbied](https://www.aetv.com/articles/megans-law-story?ref=readtangle.com) for the federal adoption of “Megan’s Law,” requiring communities to be notified when registered sex offenders were nearby. Honestly, I think we *underestimate* our power as citizens. I haven’t quite had the influence of the people above, but I was just one person [with some passion for a good idea](https://www.readtangle.com/tangle-five-year-anniversary/#:~:text=Over%20the%20summer,reaching%2010%2C000%20readers.), and now I have half a million people on a mailing list and a 15-person company doing a little bit of good. Also, having influence is no longer unique to people with a platform or an audience. “Normie” Americans have more influence than ever, thanks to the megaphone that is social media and the potential for anything you say or write to go viral. All of this is to say that, even if Congress or the president can sometimes feel distant or immovable, I actually think both individual and collective Americans still wield far more influence than we appreciate. **Want to have a question answered in the newsletter? You can reply to this email (it goes straight to our inbox) or** [**fill out this form**](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScQhqBSG%5F6%5FoBhwcTQMeS570n29XYbeQ9C9Bis7rjqI31g1tA/viewform?usp=header&ref=readtangle.com)**.** ### Under the radar. On Friday, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller said that the Trump administration is pursuing a policy to deny banking services to people in the United States illegally in an effort to compel them to self-deport. “Illegal aliens have credit cards, they have bank accounts and they’re paid with direct deposit,” Miller said. “Shutting that down is a massive engine for deportation.” Outside of this effort, the Trump administration has taken other actions to restrict noncitizens’ access to financial services, issuing guidance to allow lenders to consider applicants’ immigration and work-authorization status when determining whether to issue a loan. [Fox News has the story](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/stephen-miller-trump-administration-pursuing-policy-debank-illegal-immigrants?ref=readtangle.com). SPONSORED by the pour over ****Headlines Weighing You Down? There’s a Better Way** ****The Pour Over** delivers politically neutral news for Christians — just enough to stay informed, with Biblical reminders that keep the Good News in focus. No anxiety spiral, [no rage bait](https://anxiety.thepourover.org/?utm%5Fsource=tangle&utm%5Fmedium=newsletter&utm%5Fcampaign=july). 1.5 million readers trust their approach. It’s free, it’s funny (sometimes), and the welcome email might actually make you smile. [****Join 1,502,231 already reading The Pour Over**](https://anxiety.thepourover.org/?utm%5Fsource=tangle&utm%5Fmedium=newsletter&utm%5Fcampaign=july). ### Numbers. - [**13.**](https://www.eac.gov/about/former-commissioners?ref=readtangle.com) The number of commissioners in the Election Assistance Commission’s (EAC) history, including the three commissioners who were fired or resigned on July 9\. - [**10.**](https://www.eac.gov/news/2019/02/06/commissioners-hovland-palmer-sworn-restore-quorum-eac?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=marking%20the%20first%20time%20in%20a%20decade%20that%20the%20commission%20has%20had%20a%20full%20quorum%20of%20Commissioners) The approximate number of years the EAC went without its full number of commissioners prior to the confirmation of Commissioners Benjamin Hovland and Donald Palmer in 2019\. - [**$4.35 billion.**](https://www.eac.gov/grants/hava-grant-programs?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Since%202003%2C%20the%20EAC%20has%20administered%20more%20than%20%244.35%20billion%20in%20HAVA%20formula%20funding%20to%20the%20states%20and%20territories%2C%20including%20Election%20Security%20and%20CARES%20funding%20totaling%20%241.4%20billion%20from%202018%20to%202024.) The approximate amount of election-related funding distributed to states by the EAC since 2003\. - [**$175.9 million.**](https://bipartisanpolicy.org/report/impact-recent-grants-help-america-vote-act/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=the%20voting%20experience-,.,-We%20find%20that) The approximate amount of election-security funding disbursed by the EAC from 2020–2023 that states spent on cybersecurity. - [**$112.7 million.**](https://bipartisanpolicy.org/report/impact-recent-grants-help-america-vote-act/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=the%20voting%20experience-,.,-We%20find%20that) The approximate amount of election-security funding disbursed by the EAC from 2020–2023 that states spent on voting equipment. ### The extras. - **One year ago today** we had just published a Friday edition on [the surprising developments in the latest climate science](https://www.readtangle.com/future-of-climate-change/). - **The most clicked link in our last regular newsletter** was [our ad for The Penny Hoarder](https://partners.thepennyhoarder.com/frugal-people-sdyn/?aff%5Fid=409&aff%5Fsub3=frugal-people&ref=readtangle.com). - **Nothing to do with politics:** Watch Josh Kerr run [the fastest mile in history](https://youtu.be/eYi2f4ONEDg?si=xY5v3Es6XwofT2PU&ref=readtangle.com). - **Our last survey:** 3,890 readers responded to our survey on the proposal to move the U.S. to permanent Daylight Savings Time, with 46% saying they would rather move to permanent Standard Time. “Permanent standard time would put us in sync with how most of the planet does time,” one respondent said. “I don’t care whether it is standard or daylight savings time, I just prefer no time change each year,” said another. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/07/data-src-image-d7cf2de5-b53f-440f-8699-cb61a792c87c.png) ### Have a nice day. Hannah Bruner and Wilder McGraw, two eight-year-old New Yorkers, recently set out to achieve one of the coolest world records imaginable: visiting the most New York City playgrounds in one day. As fun as it sounds, the pursuit required preparation and perseverance, too. With help from their parents, the two mapped out a route spanning the Upper West Side and Midtown West, then kicked off the record-setting day at 8 AM. Hitting all of the planned stops took roughly nine hours — with requisite time for slides, monkey bars, and other activities at each one — but by the time they finished, Bruner and McGraw had visited 41 playgrounds, shattering the previous record of 26\. “The kids are getting older and we only have a little bit of playground time left with them,” Jesenia Ruiz de la Torre, Bruner’s mother, said. “It almost felt like a way to say goodbye to the playground.” [The New York Post has the story](https://nypost.com/2026/07/15/lifestyle/upper-west-side-kids-set-world-record-by-visiting-41-playgrounds-in-one-day/?ref=readtangle.com). ### The Sunday — July 19 URL: https://www.readtangle.com/the-sunday-july-19/ Last updated: 2026-07-19T11:52:07.000Z *This is the Tangle Sunday Edition, a brief roundup of our independent politics coverage plus some extra features for your Sunday morning reading.* ### **Correction.** In the July 12 Sunday edition, we included a quick hit on Sen. Lindsey Graham’s passing that said he was first elected to the Senate in 2003\. While Graham *took office* in 2003, he was elected in November 2002\. The senator’s passing was announced early Sunday morning, and in our haste to add this news item to the edition, we misstated this detail. *This is our 7th correction in The Sunday's 135-week history and our first since June 14\. We track corrections and place them at the top of the newsletter in an effort to maximize transparency with readers.* ### What the left is doodling. ![Mike Luckovich | Creators Syndicate](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/07/data-src-image-996e6e18-4f7f-4b06-b767-a69bcf758d1c.jpeg) Mike Luckovich | Creators Syndicate ### What the right is doodling. ![Gary Varvel | Creators Syndicate](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/07/data-src-image-92401bbc-5d44-4ce9-b3cd-81a1b3d7c14f.jpeg) Gary Varvel | Creators Syndicate ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/07/data-src-image-568054fc-4e3d-4546-b891-adbaed77e9c0.png) ### Suspension of the Rules. In this week’s episode, Isaac, Kmele and Senior Editor Will Kaback (filling in for Ari) break down the arguments for and against appointing family members to fill the seats of deceased lawmakers, a viral video of Nevada’s governor, and President Trump’s latest election-administration moves. Plus, epidemiologist Katelyn Jetelina fills you in on what you need to know about the cyclosporiasis outbreak. Check it out: In Partnership with semafor ****The world is moving fast. This is how you keep up.** [Semafor Flagship](https://www.semafor.com/newsletters/flagship?utm%5Fmedium=swap&utm%5Fsource=swaps&utm%5Fcampaign=tangle726) identifies the key forces shaping an increasingly interconnected world, giving you the ten most important stories happening around the world each day. In just five minutes, each edition gives you the context and insight required to stay informed and ahead of the curve. [Subscribe today](https://www.semafor.com/newsletters/flagship?utm%5Fmedium=swap&utm%5Fsource=swaps&utm%5Fcampaign=tangle726). [Learn more ](https://www.semafor.com/newsletters/flagship?utm%5Fmedium=swap&utm%5Fsource=swaps&utm%5Fcampaign=tangle726) ### Monday, July 13. [Lindsey Graham’s death](https://www.readtangle.com/lindsey-graham-death/). On Saturday, July 11, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) passed away at age 71 after what his office called a “brief and sudden illness.” The nature of the illness was initially unknown, though news outlets reported that emergency services were dispatched to a Washington, D.C. home owned by Graham and administered treatment to a man suffering from cardiac arrest. On Sunday, July 12, Graham’s office said a preliminary examination found he died of “aortic dissection due to arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease.” **Our take:** *“Graham’s career offers plenty for his supporters and detractors to highlight. The senator’s principles constantly shifted for political expedience, which I found deeply frustrating. Graham’s absence will immediately be felt in U.S. policy on Ukraine, Iran, and election security legislation.”* **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/07/data-src-image-f7f144ce-8846-4706-a7aa-bc4d3218241b.png) ### Tuesday, July 14. [The latest developments in Iran](https://www.readtangle.com/fighting-resumes-in-iran-july-2026/). On Monday, July 13, the U.S. carried out its third straight day of strikes against Iran, the latest in a series of military engagements that began last week. On Friday, President Donald Trump notified Congress that the U.S. had resumed military activities against Iran as of July 7, when U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) reported engaging in “retaliatory strikes” following Iran’s strikes on vessels attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz. The resumption of military engagement follows weeks of increasing tensions as peace negotiations stalled. **Our take:** *“The resumption of fighting is frustrating but not surprising. With the MOU seemingly dead, it’s hard to see a way out of this conflict. Even after nearly five months of war, the fundamentals on each side remain about the same.”* **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/07/data-src-image-9dbaaf14-eedc-4dc1-87e1-393bf5fab302.png) ### Wednesday, July 15. [The recent ICE-involved shootings](https://www.readtangle.com/ice-shootings-maine-and-texas/). In the past week, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers were involved in deadly shootings in Texas and Maine. On Monday, July 13, in Biddeford, Maine, an officer shot and killed a man who allegedly disregarded orders to stop his vehicle and attempted to flee. Separately, on Tuesday, July 7, in Houston, ICE agents shot and killed a man whom they accused of “weaponizing his vehicle” during a traffic stop. State and local officials have called for investigations into both incidents. **Our take:** *“The similarities between the Maine and Texas shootings are uncanny and unnerving. I’m increasingly skeptical of the government’s version of events. It’s clear that immigration enforcement needs changes — and fast.”* **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/07/data-src-image-b60207dc-95cd-49b0-9e19-ea96a2ca08b8.png) ### Thursday, July 16. [The Sunshine Protection Act](https://www.readtangle.com/permanent-daylight-savings-bill/). On Tuesday, July 14, the House voted 308–117 to pass the Sunshine Protection Act of 2025, a bill that would make Daylight Savings Time (DST) permanent in the United States. The legislation passed with 114 Democrats, 193 Republicans, and one independent in support and now heads to the Senate. If enacted, the Sunshine Protection Act would apply to all states except those that exempt themselves before the law takes effect. Currently, Hawaii and parts of Arizona do not observe DST (nor do Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Northern Mariana Islands). **Our take:** *“Twice-yearly clock changes don’t have to be a fact of life, but I think this bill creates new problems. Permanent DST sounds nice until it’s dark at 9 AM in the middle of winter. A better solution would be to let states decide for themselves.”* **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/07/data-src-image-7e4a3bfd-c522-4b76-9f00-d18b78c09ea0.png) ### Friday, July 17. Are conspiracy theories getting dumber? In just the past month, conspiracy theories surrounding a host of issues — Sen. Mitch McConnell’s (R-KY) health, Sen. Lindsey Graham’s (R-SC) sudden death, the assassination of Charlie Kirk — have caught fire, while old theories about election interference have surged back into prominence. In this week’s members-only Friday edition, Executive Editor Isaac Saul looks into the source of these theories, how they can be disproven, and what might be making them gain traction. [You can read his piece here](https://www.readtangle.com/conspiracy-theories-are-getting-dumber/). --- ### What just happened. Here’s a rundown of the major stories that have broken since our newsletter on Thursday. - On Thursday, news outlets reported that a teleprompter operator for President Trump is under investigation for placing bets related to the president’s speeches on a prediction market, allegedly winning over $100,000\. The White House said the operator has been placed on unpaid leave. ([The report](https://abcnews.com/US/white-house-teleprompter-operator-made-100k-betting-trumps/story?id=134764573&ref=readtangle.com)) - On Thursday, President Trump delivered an address to the nation, suggesting the 2020 election was compromised by fraud and Chinese interference and repeating past allegations about vulnerabilities in U.S. election systems. ([The address](https://www.wsj.com/politics/elections/trump-address-speech-midterm-elections-ce2f117e?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Thursday, the Trump administration issued a final rule that will allow immigration officers to consider use of public benefits, age, education, skills and health, among other metrics, when considering Green Card applications. The policy reverses a Biden-era rule that only allowed authorities to consider an applicant’s use of cash benefits. ([The rule](https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/5973044-trump-revives-public-charge-rule/?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Friday, Iran said it launched strikes against U.S. forces in Syria and Bahrain, following the sixth consecutive day of U.S. strikes on Iranian targets. ([The attacks](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/07/17/iran-war-us-trump-syria-bahrain.html?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Friday, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin suggested that election officials who do not utilize federal government resources to “secure their elections” could face criminal penalties. ([The comments](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/elections/homeland-security-secretary-markwayne-mullin-threatens-states-election-rcna588002?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Friday, the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals struck down New Jersey’s ban on semiautomatic rifles and certain firearm magazines, ruling that the law was unconstitutional. ([The ruling](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/major-appeals-court-declares-new-jersey-ar-15-ban-unconstitutional-landmark-second-amendment-ruling?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Friday, Taco Bell said it had removed lettuce from its restaurants that were linked to a nationwide cyclosporiasis outbreak. ([The statement](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/07/17/cyclosporiasis-outbreak-linked-to-taco-bell-may-not-have-major-impact.html?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Saturday, U.S. Central Command announced that two U.S. service members were killed and another is missing following Iranian strikes on two military bases in Jordan on Friday. Four other service members were medically evacuated and have since been discharged. ([The announcement](https://thehill.com/policy/defense/5976260-us-military-2-killed-jordan-iran-war/?ref=readtangle.com)) Separately, Iran said it had suspended all implementation of its memorandum of understanding with the U.S., accusing the U.S. of violating its commitments. ([The statement](https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog%5Fentry/iran-says-it-suspended-implementation-of-deal-with-us-amid-escalating-clashes/?ref=readtangle.com)) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/07/data-src-image-35d357a5-753e-4f95-a374-f9ef57e9c53b.png) ### Reader essay. ![Biking to class on the first day of sophomore year | Photo from Dorothy Swanson Blaker](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/07/data-src-image-42d1e9ec-fab3-4676-8e0c-2d6981c8e818.jpeg) Biking to class on the first day of sophomore year | Photo from Dorothy Swanson Blaker Dorothy Swanson Blaker spent her high school career with a scholarship at Phillips Academy Andover, one of the most prestigious boarding schools in the country. Soon, she found herself caught up in the college admissions status game, defining herself by whether she would be accepted by the best colleges in the country. But as the time to go to college drew nearer, Dorothy found herself questioning what was really worthwhile. In this week’s reader essay, she shares how her values changed — and how she ended up right where she was meant to be. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### The Strange Way America Replaces Senators URL: https://www.readtangle.com/the-strange-way-america-replaces-senators/ Last updated: 2026-07-17T21:06:41.000Z When Senator Lindsey Graham passed away, South Carolina's governor appointed his sister to fill his Senate seat until the next election. ### How to Lose the Game URL: https://www.readtangle.com/otherposts/how-to-lose-the-game/ Last updated: 2026-08-31T18:04:00.000Z *By Dorothy Swanson Blaker* --- When I got into the University of Oregon, I called my parents to “celebrate” my first acceptance letter. “Huge shocker… guess where I got in… UO!” I said, my voice laden with sarcasm. “Toootally my dream school!” Whenever I say “I never expected I’d end up here,” I always wince a little. It makes me sound like I think I’m above being here, like I deserved something “better” but didn’t get it. The truth is, though, I *did* think that. I started high school on a full-ride scholarship at Phillips Academy Andover in Andover, Massachusetts. It was wonderful: great teachers, high quality education, countless opportunities, rich with diversity (and rich people). It was also an elite, status-obsessed boarding school where, in 2023, nobody could stop talking about how we made “#1 High School in the Nation” on Niche, a popular school-ranking site. (The year after that, we fell to #4, becoming the laughingstock of our rival boarding school). I didn’t pay the $75,000 price tag, but over 50% of my classmates did. AP scores, grades, test results, number of leadership positions… numbers were everything. We all wanted to win: at school, at college, at life. When college application season finally rolled around — not that we hadn’t been thinking about it since freshman year — numbers still prevailed. Top-20 lists (shortened to T20 for those in the know), acceptance rates, SAT ranges. One number it seemed like nobody else had on their mind, though, was tuition. But my family, and our income, were in what one [New York Magazine article](https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/college-acceptance-rates-ivy-league-schools-wealth.html?ref=readtangle.com) called the “dead zone” for elite college admissions: far too rich for financial aid, yet millions away from being able to pay the typical sticker price of $75,000 a year. Graphs for relative acceptance rates by income at Ivy and Ivy-adjacent colleges dip exactly where my family lies. At every other point in my life, I understood the incredible privilege of our income bracket. Now, though, I was devastated. I didn’t trust that I could afford to attend the colleges I wanted to, even if I got in. I had to admit that I’d floated with the rising tide of expectations, and now mine were sky-high. Honestly, I’d been brainwashed. And it would take a lot to get me out of it. At Andover, the college-elitism firehose was all-consuming. Whether it was comforting a friend after another impossible-expectation-filled call with her parents, or commiserating about the word count of the University of Chicago’s admissions essays, the culture was ubiquitous, persistent, and full of assumptions: we were all on equal merit-based footing; we all wanted the same thing; and we would make any financial, ethical, or spiritual sacrifice to attend a top-tier school. For me, college application season was a bubble of private, highly-privileged hell, as I tried to settle for a list of schools that felt “good enough” but that would want me badly enough to give me merit aid. I never stopped to wonder what went into my qualifications for “good enough.” _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### “THE FLYOVERS WILL CONTINUE UNTIL MORALE APPROVES” HEGSETH SAYS FOLLOWING LOW BLUE ANGEL FLYOVER. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/the-flyovers-will-continue-until-morale-approves-hegseth-says-following-low-blue-angel-flyover/ Last updated: 2026-07-17T16:07:00.000Z Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth wrote that “The flyovers will continue until morale improves.” ### Conspiracy theories are getting dumber. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/conspiracy-theories-are-getting-dumber/ Last updated: 2026-07-17T15:50:58.000Z ****Note:** You are reading a preview of a members-only Friday edition. To read it in full, [you’ll be asked to subscribe](https://www.readtangle.com/membership/). Generally speaking, I hate the expression “conspiracy theory.” It’s an overused and unhelpful descriptor for what often amounts to a minority or controversial view. I’ve [begged writers](https://www.readtangle.com/stop-calling-everything-a-conspiracy-theory/) to stop calling everything they don’t like a conspiracy theory, and I’ve written regularly about my open-mindedness to all manner of ideas that have at some point been called conspiracy theories. But it’s also an expression with a definition. The Merriam-Webster dictionary [offers](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/conspiracy%20theory?ref=readtangle.com) two: “A theory that explains an event or set of circumstances as the result of a secret plot by usually powerful conspirators,” or “a theory asserting that a secret of great importance is being kept from the public.” These are both good, workable definitions. They both aptly describe a lot of the ideas I encounter on social media on a regular basis. And neither suggests judgment on whether the theory itself is true, which I think is important. Conspiracy theories, obviously, are not new. Examples go back *centuries*, not decades, to the [Illuminati panic of the 1700s](https://theconversation.com/philadelphias-founding-years-were-rife-with-conspiracy-fears-about-godless-freemasons-and-the-illuminati-275192?ref=readtangle.com), or the Salem Witch trials, or [blood libels](https://www.adl.org/resources/backgrounder/blood-libel-false-incendiary-claim-against-jews?ref=readtangle.com) targeting Jews in medieval Europe. I assume there were prehistoric conspiracy theories, too. Contemporary ideas, like “Covid came from a lab,” were once labeled conspiracy theories, but have become more mainstream and gained credibility with new evidence — though they’re still unproven. What has changed recently, though, is that these theories spread more easily, society seems more gullible, and the theories themselves are just getting — well — a whole lot dumber. The end result is that a lot of people seem to believe easily disprovable things (or, conversely, they latch onto ideas for which there is almost zero evidence, and insist others subscribe to those ideas, too). Just this week, we got fresh examples of all of the above: _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Should We Be Worried About the Next Disease Outbreak? | Dr. Katelyn Jetelina URL: https://www.readtangle.com/should-we-be-worried-about-the-next-disease-outbreak-dr-katelyn-jetelina/ Last updated: 2026-07-17T07:06:59.000Z Every new disease outbreak seems to trigger the same question: Should we actually be worried? ### The House passes permanent daylight savings bill. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/permanent-daylight-savings-bill/ Last updated: 2026-07-17T13:29:11.000Z This is Associate Editor **Audrey Moorehead**, and today I enjoyed the early light of the morning sun, which rose at 5:45 AM. I love summer. Speaking of the morning sun, in today’s newsletter I’ll be tackling the **bill to make daylight savings permanent**, which passed the House with bipartisan support and now heads to the Senate, where it’ll meet slightly more entrenched opposition. Then, **I’ll respond to some criticism of my dissent yesterday**,and we’ll tell you more about what happened in **the last attempt to pass year-round DST** in 1974. It’s a **14-minute read**. Too busy to read? Push play instead! ![Too busy to read? Push play instead!](https://tangle.obox.agency/snippet-creator/assets/podcast@2x.png) [Listen to the newsletter every Monday - Friday here](https://www.readtangle.com/tangle-podcast/). ### The latest *Suspension of the Rules*. This week, Isaac, Kmele and Senior Editor Will Kaback (filling in for Ari) break down the arguments for and against appointing family members to fill the seats of deceased lawmakers, a viral video of Nevada’s governor, and President Trump’s latest election-administration moves. Plus, an interview with epidemiologist Katelyn Jetelina on the cyclosporiasis outbreak. Check it out here: ### Quick hits. 1. The Senate Judiciary Committee held a confirmation hearing for Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. Blanche defended some aspects of the Justice Department’s recent settlement with President Donald Trump while saying that the $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund initially created in the settlement has been scrapped. He also apologized to victims of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein for mistakes made in document releases earlier this year. ([The testimony](https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/todd-blanche-confirmation-hearing-senate-attorney-general/?ref=readtangle.com)) Separately, President Trump’s nominee for director of national intelligence, Jay Clayton, testified before the Senate Intelligence Committee, answering questions about election security and recently issued subpoenas to New York Times journalists. ([The testimony](https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2026/07/15/trump-intel-pick-jay-clayton-set-face-tough-confirmation-hearing/?ref=readtangle.com)) 2. House Republicans released a framework for a $95 billion reconciliation package that includes funding for defense, food security programs, and state-level voter identification mandates. ([The package](https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5969201-house-republicans-reconciliation-budget-resolution/?ref=readtangle.com)) Separately, the House rejected a proposal to cut off U.S. aid to Israel in a 104–314 vote, with 10 other lawmakers voting present. 103 Democrats voted in favor of the measure. ([The vote](https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5970608-pelosi-clark-massie-israel-amendment/?ref=readtangle.com)) 3. Smoke from wildfires in Canada covered large portions of the Midwest and Northeast, prompting air-quality advisories. ([The smoke](https://apnews.com/article/wildfires-smoke-canada-minnesota-08d3fb58a434a5d42803ab1c2bbda0b3?ref=readtangle.com)) 4. Wholesale prices — as measured by the producer price index — declined 0.3% in June, lower than economists’ expectations. Prices rose 5.5% on an annual basis. ([The numbers](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/07/15/wholesale-inflation-june-2026-.html?ref=readtangle.com)) 5. President Trump will deliver a primetime address at 9 PM ET tonight. The speech is expected to focus on election security and claims of fraud related to the 2020 election. ([The speech](https://abcnews.com/Politics/trump-give-primetime-speech-2020-election-sources/story?id=134791893&ref=readtangle.com)) SPONSORED by the penny hoarder ****6 Things Frugal People Never Spend Money On** You’ve already cut the obvious stuff. You make coffee at home. You bring lunch instead of buying it. You’ve survived years of financial advice that basically boils down to “have you tried not enjoying anything?” And yet, the monthly bills keep showing up undeterred. ****The Penny Hoarder** pulled together a list of [six specific things](https://partners.thepennyhoarder.com/frugal-people-sdyn/?aff%5Fid=409&utm%5Fsource=tangle&aff%5Fsub3=frugal-people) frugal people skip entirely — concrete habits, not vague willpower advice. Worth five minutes if you want a little more room in your budget. [Read the Guide ](https://partners.thepennyhoarder.com/frugal-people-sdyn/?aff%5Fid=409&utm%5Fsource=tangle&aff%5Fsub3=frugal-people) ### Today’s topic. The Sunshine Protection Act. On Tuesday, the House voted 308–117 to pass the [Sunshine Protection Act of 2025](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/139?ref=readtangle.com), a bill that would make Daylight Savings Time (DST) permanent in the United States. The legislation [passed](https://www.congress.gov/votes/house/119-2/238?ref=readtangle.com) with 114 Democrats, 193 Republicans, and one independent in support and now heads to the Senate. President Donald Trump has endorsed the bill, [writing](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116615022975327653?ref=readtangle.com) in May, “It’s time that people can stop worrying about the ‘Clock,’ not to mention all of the work and money that is spent on this ridiculous, twice yearly production.” *Note: While the technically correct term for DST is “Daylight Saving Time,” Tangle has opted to use the more colloquial “Daylight Savings Time,” a decision we explained* [*here*](https://www.readtangle.com/your-questions-answered-reader-mailbag-march-14/#:~:text=Q%3A%20Insufferable%20pedant,East%20Lansing%2C%20MI)*.* **Back up:** [Roughly 40%](https://www.timeanddate.com/time/dst/statistics.html?ref=readtangle.com) of countries use DST, a period [beginning in the spring](https://www.timeanddate.com/time/dst/transition.html?ref=readtangle.com) when clocks are set forward one hour, offering more evening sunlight during the summer months. In the fall, DST ends and clocks are set back by one hour (reverting to “standard time”), leading to more sunlight in the morning but less in the evening. The utility of the practice is [contested](https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/05/health/daylight-saving-time-explainer-wellness?ref=readtangle.com): Some studies have shown that the clock change disrupts the body’s rhythms and can lead to negative effects like increased car accidents and heart attacks, while others have found that robberies decline and mental health improves when DST is observed. If enacted, the Sunshine Protection Act would [apply](https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/5969260-what-permanent-daylight-saving-time-would-look-like-in-your-state/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=The%20Sunshine%20Protection%20Act%20would,should%20Congress%20allow%20the%20move.) to all states except those that exempt themselves before the law takes effect. Currently, Hawaii and parts of Arizona do not observe DST (nor do Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Northern Mariana Islands). Florida’s Congressional delegation has been among the most vocal proponents of the legislation, arguing that the twice-yearly clock changes are unnecessary — and that more daylight in the evenings would benefit the country. “Floridians and Americans across the country are tired of the biannual time change,” Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL) [said](https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5968255-house-sunshine-protection-act-daylight-saving-time/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=%E2%80%9CFloridians%20and%20Americans,in%20a%20statement). “Ending the clock change is a commonsense reform that will improve everyday life for millions of Americans.” Other lawmakers oppose ending DST because it would extend morning darkness in the winter, potentially endangering schoolchildren and impacting many early-morning occupations. In October 2025, Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) [said](https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/speeches/floor-speech-on-opposing-the-sunshine-protection-act?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=By%20moving%20the%20clock%20back%20an%20hour%20in%20winter%2C%20permanent%20Daylight%20Savings%20Time%20would%20push%20winter%20sunrises%20to%20an%20absurdly%20late%20hour%2C%20depriving%20Americans%20of%20morning%20sunshine%20that%E2%80%99s%20essential%20for%20our%20safety%20and%20well%2Dbeing.) observing DST year-round would “push winter sunrises to an absurdly late hour, depriving Americans of morning sunshine that’s essential for our safety and well-being.” Some have proposed permanent standard time instead, which would offer more light in the mornings and align with humans’ circadian rhythms. “If we’re going to make a permanent change that affects every American, we should follow the science and prioritize Americans’ health,” Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA) [said](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/house-passes-major-daylight-saving-time-reform-trump-signals-support-ending-clock-change?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=%22If%20we%E2%80%99re%20going%20to%20make%20a%20permanent%20change%20that%20affects%20every%20American%2C%20we%20should%20follow%20the%20science%20and%20prioritize%20Americans%E2%80%99%20health%2C%20particularly%20that%20of%20the%20children%2C%22%20Rep.%20Mary%20Gay%20Scanlon%2C%20D%2DPa.%2C%20who%20favors%20permanent%20standard%20time%2C%20said%20during%20debate%20Monday.). Today, we’ll break down the DST debate, with views from the left and right. Then, Associate Editor Audrey Moorehead gives her take. | What the left is saying. The left is mixed, with some saying permanent DST attempts to fix an unfixable problem.Others advocate for a permanent return to Standard Time. Still others suggest that states should choose for themselves. | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | **In CNN, Aaron Blake described** [**“the downside of making Daylight Saving Time permanent.”**](https://www.cnn.com/2026/07/15/politics/daylight-saving-time-permanent-history?ref=readtangle.com) “The move \[to permanent DST in 1973\] didn’t actually save much energy, according to a later study from the Department of Transportation. But it did produce a series of other changes that, it turned out, were problematic,” Blake wrote. “It put clocks out of sync with Europe, made religious rituals related to sunrises more difficult, and, contrary to popular opinion, wasn’t popular with farmers… The biggest downside of adopting this permanently meant putting children at the bus stop in the cold and dark — which some feared was deadly.” “Too often, proposals to stop changing clocks are treated like a simple fix for an annoying thing,” Blake said. “\[Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR)\] has warned his colleagues to learn the lessons of 1974… ‘Not every human problem has a legislative solution,’ Cotton said last year. ‘Sometimes we have to live with an uneasy compromise between competing priorities and interests. That’s doubly true when considering how the movement of the stars and the planets affects the lives of 350 million souls spread across our vast continental nation.’ That doesn’t exactly fit on \[a\] bumper sticker. But it’s a good point.” **The Economist said** [**“Daylight Saving Time needs to go.”**](https://www.economist.com/leaders/2025/04/03/donald-trump-was-right-daylight-saving-time-needs-to-go?ref=readtangle.com) “The origin of daylight saving lies in efforts to use less energy in wartime… But the evidence suggests that the costs are surprisingly large, not just because of the immediate disruption to people’s daily lives, but also because of the longer-term biological consequences of moving out of sync with the Sun,” the writer wrote. “The disruption it causes to people’s lives adds up. Immediately after the clock change, the sleep deprivation that follows is associated with a spike in the number of heart attacks, strokes and fatal car accidents. Overdoses and medical errors rise. Even stock market performance suffers.” “Humans have evolved over millennia to be in sync with the Sun. Light regulates human rhythms. Body clocks rely on bright light in the morning and an absence of it in the evening. Daylight Saving Time… takes people further away from the natural cycle,” the writer said. “Evenings get longer anyway, regardless of whether the clocks change, thanks to Earth’s axial tilt and its orbit around the Sun. Those who really want an extra hour of light in their day could get up earlier rather than imposing costs on everyone else.” **In The Washington Post, Jon Lovett argued for** [**“send\[ing\] the sun back to the states.”**](https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2025/03/07/permanent-daylight-saving-time-states-trump/?ref=readtangle.com) “I now think this one-time-fits-all policy would be a mistake,” Lovett wrote. “Look at Michigan vs. Maine. Sunrise and sunset in Detroit are almost an hour later than sunrise and sunset in Portland, which means permanent daylight saving time in Maine would be a lot like permanent standard time in Michigan. This is why a national mandate of permanent daylight saving time isn’t the answer. It would force the same policy on states regardless of their latitude or attitude (sorry), and it might cause a backlash that could jeopardize the policy altogether.” “But there’s a solution that could give the heroic, bipartisan and universally beloved sponsors of the Sunshine Protection Act what they want (and what I want!) without forcing their preference on other states,” Lovett said. “Right now, according to the Uniform Time Act of 1966, states can choose permanent standard time or they can spring forward and fall back. But states can’t choose permanent daylight saving time. All Congress has to do is revise this law to provide for this third option. That’s it… Everybody wins! A few states continuing to switch their clocks while most don’t would be no more complicated than our current system.” | What the right is saying. Many on the right criticize the bill, advocating for a return to standard time instead. Some say time changes have problems that permanent DST does not fix.Others note the health problems caused by annual time changes. | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | **In The Daily Signal, Jennifer Galardi said** [**“it’s time to save standard time.”**](https://www.dailysignal.com/2026/05/21/time-save-standard-time/?ref=readtangle.com) “This \[issue\] is a fundamental tradeoff between public health and commercial interests,” Galardi wrote. “These decisions were not based on human health, grassroots demand, or even policy to save energy… Both major extensions of daylight-saving time were driven by targeted lobbying. In the mid‑1980s, a coalition of commercial interests — retail and Chamber of Commerce groups, outdoor recreation industries, and tourism businesses — pushed Congress to extend DST beginning earlier in April to make more money during the evening hours.” “Misalignment of clocks from the sun’s natural position in the sky has been estimated to decrease sleep duration by an average of 19 minutes every night throughout the duration of the DST observation,” Galardi said. “Despite the testimony of experts, many in Congress have unabashedly claimed it is great for communities’ bottom line with ‘more business’ to ‘boost the economy.’... The push to standardize what is not standard — or healthy — is a mistake, particularly for certain geographic areas that will suffer the most. Public policy should reflect the natural order — not manipulate it for profit.” **In National Review, Michael Brendan Dougherty argued** [**“against a legislative noonday.”**](https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/against-a-legislative-noonday/?ref=readtangle.com) “First, I hate the insane pretense of the name of the bill itself. As if 435 legislators could, by fiat, do anything about the duration of sunshine, or that they somehow exercise guardianship over Mother Nature,” Dougherty wrote. “Second, I hate the substance of the bill, which is meant to pressure the whole country into permanent daylight saving, under which solar noon would happen in most of the country around 1:00 p.m. and in some places closer to 2 PM.” “Third, the best argument will be used in the wrong direction. The biannual changing of the clocks really does mess with humans’ circadian rhythm, and there is a documented increase in motor accidents and other problems caused by the law-driven shift in timekeeping,” Dougherty said. “This is a great argument for not changing the clocks twice a year — but it’s not an argument for permanent daylight saving, which would push sunrise to as late as 8:45 AM in some places. Unfortunately, I expect people to demagogue this the other way.” **In Townhall, Jeff Crouere wrote** [**“stop the harmful time-changing ritual.”**](https://townhall.com/columnists/jeffcrouere/2026/03/09/stop-the-harmful-time-change-ritual-n2672498?ref=readtangle.com) “This practice… gives Americans more time in the evening to enjoy sunlight. This helps owners of golf courses, tennis courts, and other outdoor entertainment venues,” Crouere said. “Conversely, it also forces parents to drive their children to school in the dark. With the time change, accidents increase, as do health-related issues. Losing an hour of sleep disrupts our ‘body clocks.’... Along with heart attacks, accidents and workplace injuries, there is undoubtedly a loss of work productivity.” “Even without daylight saving time, days will lengthen in the spring and summer, giving Americans more time for outdoor activities. The deaths, injuries and lack of productivity are totally unnecessary,” Crouere wrote. “It may have been a promising idea when it was implemented in 1918; however, not in 2026\. For most Americans, changing clocks twice a year is both inconvenient and pointless. The answer is to make standard time year-round and end this clock-changing ritual.” My Take Audrey Moorehead Associate Editor ![Audrey Moorehead](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2025/05/Audrey.jpg) - Twice-yearly clock changes don’t have to be a fact of life, but I think this bill creates new problems. - Permanent DST sounds nice until it’s dark at 9 AM in the middle of winter. - A better solution would be to let states decide for themselves. **Reminder:** This is where we share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, leave a comment on the website or reply to this email. Changing the clocks twice a year is one of those events that seemed monumentally important when I was a kid — like quicksand or Mount Everest, I assumed biannual time changes would loom over my adulthood. I remember preparing to “spring forward” or “fall back” with my parents by changing all the clocks in the house to make sure we’d still show up at church on time in the morning. As I grew older, I noticed how the outside world changed when the clocks did — in fall, I would go from getting home from school with the evening sun shining to near darkness. Somewhere along the way, I stopped believing that I’d get stuck waist-deep in quicksand (I don’t live in marshes) or climb the tallest mountain in the world (I have bad ankles), and I also stopped believing that changing clocks was an immutable reality. I learned, instead, that Daylight Savings Time (DST) was largely a product of wartime in the United States, [first used](https://www.colorado.edu/coloradan/2022/11/07/history-daylight-saving-time?ref=readtangle.com) during World War I and reinstituted during World War II. (Some people [claim](https://fi.edu/en/science-and-education/benjamin-franklin/daylight-savings-time?ref=readtangle.com) that Ben Franklin came up with the idea, but I don’t really think his saying people should get up earlier is the same as saying *the time on clocks should literally be altered*.) As a kid, I remember thinking, *This is stupid*. I didn’t really understand the wartime logic that changing the clock times could preserve energy and resources for military benefit, and even if the logic were true, we weren’t at war anymore. I thought we should stop switching the clocks entirely — we should just fall back one more time, to Standard Time, and never spring forward again. After all, it was *standard time*; “normal” was basically in the name. But eventually, around the time I got a cell phone that automatically updated the clock change, I mostly stopped caring. However, now that legislation to make DST permanent is advancing through Congress ([again](https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/623?ref=readtangle.com)), the issue is back on my mind. And I think lawmakers are making a mistake by choosing permanent daylight savings — should Congress actually choose one over the other at all? For what it’s worth, Americans are far from a consensus. A February YouGov poll [found](https://yougov.com/en-us/articles/54237-the-times-they-are-a-changin-but-most-americans-would-rather-they-not?ref=readtangle.com) that 64% of U.S. adult citizens want to end the biannual time change, and neither partisan affiliation nor typical waking times has a major effect on opinion. From there, though, things break down: more Americans (43%) want permanent DST than want permanent standard time (28%). Interestingly, the YouGov poll also shows that a majority of Americans want the sun to set later in the evenings, but we’re split on daylight in the mornings. Wake-up times play a major role here: Early risers want earlier light, while late risers would prefer the sun to rise later. Now, I’m no populist, but I’m solidly with the American people on the topic of late evening hours — and that’s what makes daylight savings so great in the summer. I love the sunlight lasting past 8 PM — I enjoy going on evening walks or sitting outside as the sun sets. And during these months, the sun still rises early enough (5:45 AM today) that I get the full benefits of a bright morning while I’m making breakfast and coffee, but not so early that the light wakes me up before I want it to. But, as many of the writers above mentioned — and as history [has taught us](https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/what-happened-the-last-time-the-us-tried-to-make-daylight-saving-time-permanent-180979742/?ref=readtangle.com) — daylight savings during winter is a very different animal. With year-round daylight savings, the sun [would rise](https://savestandardtime.com/maps/?ref=readtangle.com) after 8 AM (or even 9 AM) in large swaths of the country. Adults would go to work, and kids would go to school, in total darkness for several hours, raising obvious safety concerns for kids and adults alike. Traffic accidents are [more likely](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2564438/?ref=readtangle.com) in darkness, and those risks are compounded by cold and ice. Not to mention, I don’t imagine most parents like the idea of sending their kids off to school in full darkness for weeks on end. While Americans right now are split on the merits of early daylight, public opinion is likely to shift rapidly when faced with the severe depths of a permanent DST winter. After all, that’s exactly what happened when President Richard Nixon started a perma-DST experiment in 1974: public backlash during winter was so strong that the experiment was abandoned early. Beyond the court of public opinion, though, is science: Sleep and circadian rhythm experts [nearly](https://sleepeducation.org/resources/daylight-saving-time/?ref=readtangle.com) [unanimously](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1087079225001145?ref=readtangle.com) [agree](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4513265/?ref=readtangle.com) that permanent DST will scramble a person’s biological clock — correlated effects include worse physical health, obesity, and a decline in mental health. This is also true of our routine process of switching the clocks twice a year, and it’s why experts are more likely to support choosing permanent standard time over permanent DST. Even the purported benefits of daylight savings — that it might help us save energy costs by maximizing sunlight hours — don’t really bear out. A [2018 meta-analysis](https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.5547/01956574.39.2.thav?ref=readtangle.com) found that on net, electricity savings were just 0.34% when DST applied; it saved more energy in northern latitudes, but locations nearer the equator actually used *more* energy during daylight savings. So why did Congress end up choosing permanent DST for its bill to end the clock changes? I think it’s a mix of populism, business practices, and state-level differences. Retail industries [believe](https://news.vt.edu/articles/2024/11/daylight-saving-time-risks-benefits.html?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Do%20any%20industries%20benefit%20from%20daylight%20saving%20time%3F) that evening daylight hours encourage consumer spending and drive up revenues — critical during the already slower winter months. Notably, the Florida delegation is pushing hardest for the change, and it’s hard to blame them when the benefits for their state — more daylight hours for tourist attractions and outdoor recreation — are clear. Honestly, through all of this, I’ve become more and more convinced that the solution shouldn’t come at the federal level. Like Jon Lovett (under “What the left is saying”), I wonder whether an issue like timing the sunrise and sunset is better left to each state. There’s no reason North Dakotans should deal with 9 AM sunrises during daylight savings so that Floridians can have later evening sun, just as there’s no reason Mainers should deal with 3 AM sunrises on standard time. We have a federalist system for a reason: so that, when appropriate, states solve their own problems. That doesn’t have to mean that Congress lets every state set its time willy-nilly; instead, it should change the laws already in place. Right now, Congress lets states opt into permanent Standard Time (which Hawaii and part of Arizona have already done), but not permanent daylight savings. A prudent path forward would be for Congress to change *that* law to allow permanent use of one or the other — while also allowing states that want to have time changes to keep doing so. Until then, I’m crossing my fingers that the Sunshine Protection Act will fail in the Senate, and that we can keep falling back and springing forward — at least for now. **Take the survey:** Should we move to permanent DST, or something else? [Let us know](https://interrobang.vercel.app/survey/cb563a40-fdae-4ef0-a182-5a88b1394d54?ref=readtangle.com). *Disagree? That*’*s okay. Our opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we*’*ll consider publishing your feedback.* ### Responding to your criticism. **Our audience had an impassioned response to Audrey Moorehead’s dissent in yesterday’s edition. Some of the criticism was in bounds — people sharing their firsthand experiences with law enforcement or ICE and their view that complying doesn’t guarantee safety. Some of the responses were gross: Attacks on Audrey for being too young, too white, too privileged, too Christian, or the wrong sex to have an informed opinion on this issue. Or, worse, allegations that she didn’t care about innocent people being murdered.* **I was, frankly, a little disgusted by the overall tenor of the response from this community I cherish so much and that is so often elevating good-faith dialogue — the ratio of good-faith arguments to ugly, personal attacks was discouraging. I told Audrey I wanted to write something in response from the perspective of someone who disagreed with her, but she offered some wisdom of her own: My trying to defend her would only reinforce the idea that she was too young or helpless to articulate her own positions. So, I asked her to write a brief follow-up and response.* **Before you read it, I’ll just offer this: Writing dissents is incredibly hard. You are forced to put hours of conversation and closed-door editorial debate into a few brief sentences. It’s a new feature in the newsletter, and one lesson I’m taking from this experience is that we should (maybe) give them more space when it’s appropriate.* **— Executive Editor Isaac Saul* **Associate Editor Audrey Moorehead:** First and foremost, I regret that I did not make it much more clear how truly narrow my dissent was. While I did not argue that ICE agents were not at fault in these killings, it’s clear now I should have explicitly stated my position. The use of deadly force is acceptable in only the most dangerous and threatening situations, and I have thus far seen no evidence that the incidents we covered yesterday rose to that standard. I hope these DHS agents are taken off the force while a full investigation takes place, and in the meantime, I’m praying for the families of the victims. However, I also want to be clear that I stand by my stated position. I absolutely would not fight or attempt to flee if law enforcement sought to detain me. There are four common responses to perceived threats: Fight, flight, freeze, or fawn. I have developed my natural response of fawning, freezing, or de-escalation as a woman who has faced real threats of physical violence from men. As a general rule, women understand that most men are stronger than we are; that men with ill intent abound; and that even though we deserve complete and total safety, we still must take precautions in the event that safety is compromised. My precautions include not walking alone at night; texting friends and family when going on dates; and, when faced with a situation in which I sense danger, remaining calm and attempting to defuse the situation before seeking outside help. While this is my natural response developed from my own experiences, it is also legal experts’ recommended response for individuals facing ICE detainment. The American Civil Liberties Union [advises](https://www.aclu.org/know-your-rights/immigrants-rights?ref=readtangle.com), “Stay calm. Don’t run, argue, resist, or obstruct the officer, even if you believe your rights are being violated. Keep your hands where police can see them… Stay calm and do not resist or obstruct the agents or officers. Do not lie or give false documents. Prepare yourself and your family in case you are arrested. Memorize the phone numbers of your family and your lawyer. Make emergency plans if you have children or take medication.” The National Immigration Law Center [recommends](https://www.nilc.org/resources/know-your-rights-what-to-do-if-arrested-detained-immigration/?ref=readtangle.com): “Stay calm. Do not run away or try to stop the agents.” Failing to react in the expert-recommended manner is *not the same* as culpability for what happens to you; obviously, in the heat of the moment, people can react very differently, which was both the point of Isaac’s hypothetical *and* the point of my dissenting response. Furthermore, reacting in the recommended manner does not guarantee one’s safety, which I explicitly acknowledged. These truths can co-exist with the fact that sometimes, in order to preserve one’s life, one must endure temporary injustice; and acknowledging the advantage of preserving life by enduring that injustice is not the same as saying the injustice should continue. ### A deeper look. ![Cars wait in long lines during the gas shortage | Warren K. Leffler, Library of Congress](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/07/data-src-image-0b8b1978-f933-4257-8ddf-33e72c6b3426.png) Cars wait in long lines during the gas shortage | Warren K. Leffler, [Library of Congress](https://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2003677600/?ref=readtangle.com) Since 1966, Americans’ clocks have sprung forward and fallen back on schedule — except for one year. In 1973, the Yom Kippur War prompted the Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC) to [impose](https://www.energy.gov/lm/timeline-events-1971-1980?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=October%206%2C%201973-,The%20Yom%20Kippur%20War%20breaks%20out%20in%20the%20Middle%20East.%20October%2017%2C%201973%2C%20the%20Organization%20of%20Arab%20Petroleum%20Exporting%20Countries%20declares%20an%20oil%20embargo%2C%20sparking%20the%20first%20%22energy%20crisis.%22,-November%207%2C%201973) an oil embargo on the United States. As oil prices climbed, the U.S. looked for ways to limit its usage. On January 6, 1974, Americans [moved](https://www.newspapers.com/article/hartford-courant/175750542/?ref=readtangle.com) their clocks ahead by one hour to Daylight Savings Time, where it was set to remain for two years. The adjustment was initially [popular](https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/america-daylight-saving-history?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Congress%20passed%20a%20bill%20instituting%20such%20a%20measure%20in%20December%201973%2C%20and%20President%20Nixon%20signed%20it%20into%20law%20the%20next%20day.%20The%20move%20was%20meant%20to%20last%20nearly%20two%20years%20and%2C%20at%20first%2C%20Americans%20embraced%20it%3A%20a%20national%20survey%20that%20month%20found%2079%20percent%20supported%20the%20change.). However, during the first winter under the new law, Americans’ opinions soured: The sun was coming up later, causing children to have to walk to school in the dark, and several schoolchildren were hit by cars. Ultimately, President Gerald Ford signed a law ending the two-year DST experiment, reverting the U.S. to the previous schedule. SPONSORED by the penny hoarder ****6 Things Frugal People Never Spend Money On** You brew coffee at home. You’ve canceled three streaming services and made peace with canceling more. You’ve heard every lecture about lattes and "small habits." And somehow your bills still look like they’ve unionized against you. ****The Penny Hoarder** built a [practical guide](https://partners.thepennyhoarder.com/frugal-people-sdyn/?aff%5Fid=409&utm%5Fsource=tangle&aff%5Fsub3=frugal-people) to cutting recurring costs — no misery required. [Check out the Guide ](https://partners.thepennyhoarder.com/frugal-people-sdyn/?aff%5Fid=409&utm%5Fsource=tangle&aff%5Fsub3=frugal-people) ### The extras. - **One year ago today** we covered [President Trump’s criticisms of then-Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell](https://www.readtangle.com/fed-rate-cut-tariffs-inflation-and-renovation/). - **The most clicked link in our last regular newsletter** was the trailer for [our forthcoming video on Alaska’s voting experiment](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6-e%5FQa5l9E&ref=readtangle.com). - **Nothing to do with politics:** A site that lets you [open windows all over the world](https://www.window-swap.com/?ref=readtangle.com). - **Our last survey:** 3,968 readers responded to our survey on the ICE shootings in Maine and Texas, with 65% saying immigration enforcement needs a complete overhaul. “As a retired \[law enforcement officer\], ICE has become a complete embarrassment and disgrace,” one respondent said. “I’m all for my rights, but I’m not foolish enough to not comply with an officer’s request,” said another. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/07/data-src-image-956323d4-6c52-4baa-a0c6-6cf522d7e9ce.png) ### Have a nice day. Aida Kelly was jolted awake just before 1 AM by her poodle, Squilliam, barking insistently. The dog kept running to her bed and back to her owner, refusing to settle. When Kelly finally got up, the smoke detectors were screaming and flames were already spreading through her West Milford, New Jersey, home. Kelly escaped safely with Squilliam while the fire engulfed the structure behind them. The house was lost, but they made it out alive. “He’s my hero, my angel,” Kelly said of the dog who saved her life by seeing something and saying something — loudly and persistently. [CBS News has the story](https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/west-milford-house-fire-dog-squilliam/?ref=readtangle.com). ### The ICE shootings in Maine and Texas. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/ice-shootings-maine-and-texas/ Last updated: 2026-07-15T15:56:16.000Z I’m **Isaac Saul,** and it’s a somber Wednesday morning. In the wake of Lindsey Graham’s death, the renewed fighting in Iran, and today’s topic — a **pair of DHS-involved shootings in Maine and Texas** — I can’t say I’m feeling particularly chipper. Covering our country can sometimes be a sad, ruthless and unrelenting pursuit, but it’s critical we don’t look away when the stories get hard. Today, we’ll do our best to untangle these events and offer some clarity. Separately, we have **the history of the Rosetta Stone’s discovery,** a **feel-good story about World War II veterans**, and a jam-packed quick hits section**.** It’s a **15-minute read.** Let’s get into it. Too busy to read? Push play instead! ![Too busy to read? Push play instead!](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/07/podcast@2x.png) Listen to the newsletter every Monday - Friday [here](https://www.readtangle.com/tangle-podcast/). Or checkout the ad-free [members only podcast here](https://buy.stripe.com/8x228qgXU6hG38U9wk1VK02?ref=readtangle.com). ### Is ranked-choice voting in trouble? In 2020, Alaska voted to overhaul its election system, adopting top-four open primaries and ranked-choice voting in the general election. Opponents tried — and failed — to repeal the new system in 2024, but another repeal effort is on the ballot in 2026\. Earlier this year, Senior Editor Will Kaback traveled to Alaska to talk with advocates on each side and investigate what Alaskans really think of their new system. We’ll publish the full report next week, but for a sneak preview, you can watch the trailer here: ### Quick hits. 1. Justices Elena Kagan and Amy Coney Barrett testified before House and Senate committees on the Supreme Court’s budget for fiscal year 2027, telling lawmakers that increases in the budget were “almost entirely for security expenses.” It was the first appearance before Congress by Supreme Court justices in seven years. ([The testimony](https://www.scotusblog.com/2026/07/justices-kagan-and-barrett-testify-before-congress/?ref=readtangle.com)) 2. President Donald Trump held a Situation Room meeting to discuss ongoing U.S. strikes against Iran, reportedly focused on expanding the scale of the attacks. ([The meeting](https://www.axios.com/2026/07/15/trump-situation-room-iran-bombing?%5Fbhlid=6442ac72ae32b814a548c4f165ae2fba3f6e5481&ref=readtangle.com)) 3. The House voted 308–117 to pass legislation that would make Daylight Savings Time permanent in the United States. The bill now heads to the Senate. ([The bill](https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5968255-house-sunshine-protection-act-daylight-saving-time/?ref=readtangle.com)) 4. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) signed an executive order banning the construction of new large-scale data centers for one year, citing the strain these facilities cause on the state’s electric grid. ([The order](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/07/14/new-york-ai-data-center-ban.html?ref=readtangle.com)) 5. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that there are at least 7,000 cases of cyclosporiasis in the U.S., with the highest concentration in Michigan. The foodborne intestinal infection causes severe diarrhea, and the agency is looking into several potential sources of the outbreak. ([The latest](https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/cyclosporiasis-7000-cases-us-cdc-parasite-explosive-diarrhea-rcna587445?ref=readtangle.com)) SPONSORED t-Mobile ****Free Samsung Galaxy A17 5G** You can currently get the new [Samsung Galaxy A17 5G for FREE](https://api.wellput.io/v1/cm?cmid=1003845mr0z37jp&tid=337&s1=v2-r743788-p1003845-c45472&s2=Tangle&s3=&s4=null&ref=readtangle.com) at ****Metro** by T-Mobile when you bring your number and sign up for a qualifying unlimited plan. This deal includes ****no activation fees** AND a ****5-year price guarantee** on your service. Taxes and Fees are included. The Galaxy A17 5G is built for longevity and smart performance. It is the first in its class to offer six years of guaranteed OS and security updates. Helpful AI tools like Circle to Search and Gemini bring flagship-level convenience to an accessible price point. Switching to ****Metro** has never been easier, just bring your number and [****get the Latest Samsung Galaxy A17 5G for FREE**](https://api.wellput.io/v1/cm?cmid=1003845mr0z37jp&tid=337&s1=v2-r743788-p1003845-c45472&s2=Tangle&s3=&s4=null&ref=readtangle.com). \* *Terms & Conditions apply. Not available if with Metro in the last 180 days. If using >35GB/mo. May notice reduced speeds.* ### Today’s topic. The recent ICE-involved shootings. In the past week, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers were involved in deadly shootings in Texas and Maine. On Monday, in Biddeford, Maine, an officer [shot and killed](https://www.newsnationnow.com/top-headlines/ap-top-headlines/ap-many-questions-remain-after-an-ice-officers-fatal-shooting-of-a-maine-driver/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=DHS%20said%20Monday,the%20officer%20fired.) a man who allegedly disregarded orders to stop his vehicle and attempted to flee. Separately, on Tuesday, July 7 in Houston, ICE agents [shot and killed](https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/5963550-fatal-shooting-lorenzo-salgado/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=He%20allegedly%20ignored%20verbal%20commands%2C%20rammed%20the%20officers%E2%80%99%20SUV%20and%20%E2%80%9Cweaponized%20his%20vehicle%E2%80%9D%20in%20an%20attempt%20to%20run%20over%20an%20ICE%20officer%2C%20who%20fired%20his%20weapon%20%E2%80%9Cin%20self%20defense%2C%E2%80%9D%20according%20to%20the%20spokesperson.%20Salgado%20Araujo%20was%20shot%20in%20the%20stomach%20and%20later%20died%20at%20the%20hospital.) a man whom they accused of “weaponizing his vehicle” during a traffic stop. State and local officials have called for investigations into both incidents. **In Maine:** The victim was identified as Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero, 25, a Colombian national. According to Sen. Angus King (I-ME), Durán Guerrero was [not the subject](https://abcnews.com/US/ice-agent-involved-shooting-maine-authorities/story?id=134714502&ref=readtangle.com) of officers’ deportation operations. King [said](https://www.newsnationnow.com/top-headlines/ap-top-headlines/ap-many-questions-remain-after-an-ice-officers-fatal-shooting-of-a-maine-driver/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=That%20was%20a,who%20was%20shot.) that Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Markwayne Mullin initially told lawmakers that the man tried to use his vehicle as a weapon, though the department later released a [statement](https://x.com/DHSgov/status/2076798878595342620?s=20&ref=readtangle.com) that described the victim as “trying to flee the scene” and that the officers “fear\[ed\] for public safety.” Two Maine-based immigration advocacy groups [claimed](https://maineimmigrantrights.org/maines-immigrant-community-responds-to-ice-shooting-in-biddeford/?ref=readtangle.com) that Durán Guerrero was legally in the United States, with work authorization and a Social Security number. Agents were not wearing body cameras when the shooting occurred, and eyewitnesses have disputed DHS’s version of events. On Tuesday, Maine’s Congressional delegation [wrote](https://www.pressherald.com/2026/07/14/maine-delegation-calls-for-expedited-review-of-biddeford-ice-involved-shooting/?ref=readtangle.com) to DHS to request an independent review of the incident, including a timeline of the encounter and an assessment of whether use-of-force procedures were followed. The Colombian Embassy also [requested](https://x.com/ColombiaEmbUSA/status/2076829963559333925/photo/1?ref=readtangle.com) “information and clarification” from DHS. **In Texas:** On July 7, Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, a 52-year-old Mexican national said to be in the U.S. illegally, was killed by ICE officers during a traffic stop. DHS [said](https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/5963550-fatal-shooting-lorenzo-salgado/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=A%20Department%20of%20Homeland%20Security%20spokesperson%20told%20The%20Hill%C2%A0that%20the%20traffic%20stop%20was%20%E2%80%9Cpart%20of%20a%20targeted%20enforcement%20operation%20to%20arrest%20and%20illegal%20alien%E2%80%9D%20and%20accused%20Salgado%20Araujo%20of%20attempting%20to%20evade%20authorities.) that agents were conducting “a targeted enforcement operation to arrest \[an\] illegal alien” and attempted to stop Salgado Araujo, after which he ignored verbal commands, rammed the officers’ SUV and “weaponized his vehicle,” prompting an officer to shoot Salgado Araujo in the stomach. He later died at the hospital. Rep. Sylvia Garcia (D-TX), whose district includes the neighborhood where the shooting occurred, [said](https://apnews.com/article/ice-shooting-houston-lorenzo-salgado-0617ba03542531e793ca1b78151d8af9?ref=readtangle.com) that an ICE official told her Salgado Araujo was not a target in agents’ deportation operation. As in Monday’s shooting in Maine, ICE officers in Houston were not wearing body cameras during the incident, and no footage of the shooting has emerged. A group of Democratic Texas lawmakers [wrote](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jmoUhkBvRuwljrGW2C032S%5FaeLbbYQoj/view?ref=readtangle.com) to Secretary Mullin asking for a “complete and transparent account” of the encounter, while Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum [announced](https://thehill.com/policy/international/5961787-lorenzo-salgado-araujo-ice-shooting-houston-mexico/?ref=readtangle.com) she will file criminal complaints in the United States related to Mexican citizens who have died in the custody of U.S. immigration officials, including Salgado Araujo. In response to the shootings, DHS has [instructed](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ice-agents-halt-vehicle-stops-after-shootings-maine-texas/?ref=readtangle.com) ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations agents to temporarily pause most vehicle stops during enforcement operations, except in cases involving serious criminal targets. However, on Wednesday, President Donald Trump [reversed](https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/trump-reverses-ices-decision-to-suspend-traffic-stops-85228584?mod=us-news%5Flead%5Fstory&ref=readtangle.com) that order. Today, we’ll share perspectives from the right and left on the shootings, followed by Executive Editor Isaac Saul’s take. | What the right is saying. The right is mixed, with some saying the media has minimized Salgado Araujo’s allegedly aggressive actions. Some say people are judging ICE’s actions without the full facts.Others suggest that body cameras could address concerns on both sides. | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | **In The Federalist, Brianna Lyman said the media buried Lorenzo Salgado Araujo’s** [**“attempt to run over \[an\] ICE agent.”**](https://thefederalist.com/2026/07/10/propaganda-press-buries-illegal-aliens-alleged-attempt-to-run-over-ice-agent-before-fatal-shooting/?ref=readtangle.com) “An illegal alien from Mexico was fatally shot Tuesday after he allegedly tried to run over an ICE agent with his vehicle during an enforcement operation, according to the Department of Homeland Security. But you wouldn’t necessarily glean that if you read some of the headlines from members of the propaganda press,” Lyman wrote. “\[In a CNN story\] instead of leading with the details DHS says led to the shooting, \[Dalia\] Faheid and \[Chris\] Boyette begin their story emphasizing \[Salgado Araujo’s\] family and profession.” “CNN did not tell readers that \[Salgado Araujo\] allegedly tried to run the officer over, instead simply saying that \[Salgado Araujo\] ‘attempted to evade arrest as agents tried to conduct a traffic stop as part of a ‘targeted operation.’ He rammed into a law enforcement vehicle and refused to follow several verbal commands before an ICE agent fired his weapon in self-defense, the agency told CNN in a statement Tuesday,’” Lyman said. “The allegation that \[Salgado Araujo\] used his car as a deadly weapon prior to being fatally shot is central to the entire story — yet the propaganda press sidestepped or obfuscated it.” **In the Houston Chronicle, Kenny Webster wrote** [**“stop rushing to judgment on ICE.”**](https://www.houstonchronicle.com/opinion/outlook/article/webster-ice-shooting-whitmire-lorenzo-salgado-22339258.php?ref=readtangle.com) “You do not get results by pretending the law only applies to some people,” Webster said. “From what we’ve been told, \[Salgado Araujo\] was in the country illegally. ICE had every right, and every reason, to pick him up. According to the agents on scene, he ignored commands and used his vehicle in a way that put them in danger. It is possible \[Salgado Araujo\] did not fully grasp how fast things can go bad when you are behind the wheel and law enforcement is telling you to stop. But cars are weapons too. When someone chooses to use one aggressively instead of complying, the odds of a bad outcome go way up.” “The second this story broke in Houston, the left’s script started writing itself again: ICE lies. ICE is out of control. This is just like Renée Good and Alex Pretti. It is not that simple… They chose to interfere and resist. And when you do that while a vehicle is involved or while fighting with officers, the risk goes way up. If you comply with law enforcement, your chances of walking away in one piece go way up,” Webster wrote. “His family is grieving now, and they deserve the facts, not people turning his death into a political weapon before anyone knows what actually happened… Figure out what actually went down in Houston. \[Salgado Araujo’s\] family deserves that much, and so does everyone else.” **In the Washington Examiner, Zachary Faria argued** [**“body cameras can flip the ICE debate.”**](https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/beltway-confidential/4647858/body-camera-ice-debate-houston-maine-shootings/?ref=readtangle.com) “The widespread use of body cameras neutered anti-police sentiment and the Black Lives Matter movement. It should be a top priority of the Trump administration to fit all Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers with body cameras quickly, so as to do the same to the ‘Abolish ICE’ movement,” Faria wrote. “Since public sentiment is against ICE, it is clear that body cameras are the best tool at the agency’s disposal. The widespread adoption of body cameras among police officers proved that the trained professionals tasked with keeping people safe more often than not handle their job exceptionally well.” “ICE officers need the same thing. Activists can spin whatever tale they want, but it makes a difference when the public can see video of Renee Good being told to get out of her car before she attempts to run over an ICE officer, or when video shows Alex Pretti, with a gun in his waistband, physically fighting with Border Patrol agents,” Faria said. “Both of those videos, courtesy of cellphone recordings, came out late in the narratives. ICE officers equipped with body cameras would have been able to neuter those narratives before they got rolling, and likely would have done the same in Houston and Maine as these latest incidents (with no concrete details) catch fire in liberal media.” | What the left is saying. The left views the shootings critically, with many saying ICE has not earned the benefit of the doubt.Some argue that ICE needs higher standards for using lethal force.Others criticize the lack of visibility and accountability around the officers’ identities and actions. | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | **In MS NOW, John Pfaff argued** [**“ICE deserves skepticism.”**](https://www.ms.now/opinion/ice-shooting-lorenzo-salgado-araujo-houston-red-flags?ref=readtangle.com) “This swift wariness of ICE’s account is well-earned, given the agency’s increasingly documented acts of seeming deception and dishonesty, certainly when it comes to claims of ‘vehicle weaponization’ in particular, but more broadly as well,” Pfaff wrote. “Perhaps most famously, ICE’s claim in Minneapolis that Renee Good attempted to run down ICE agent Jonathan Ross was carefully debunked by the \[New York Times\].” “Unfortunately, it is not clear if this growing mainstream distrust of ICE’s defense of violence will translate into any more accountability for ICE, at least in this case. The FBI has already announced that it is investigating the shooting, but framed it \[as\] looking into an assault *on the officers*, not by them,” Pfaff said. “But the shifting media tone is important. It both reflects the increasingly low popularity of Trump’s aggressive immigration tactics and will likely push that support lower still. And even if ICE officers face little risk of formal legal accountability, their commanders may not be able to ignore growing political backlash.” **In the Portland Press Herald, John F. Cox III said** [**“law enforcement does not have a carte blanche to kill.”**](https://www.pressherald.com/2026/07/13/its-past-time-to-hold-federal-law-enforcement-accountable-opinion/?ref=readtangle.com) “Renee Goode’s life mattered. As did Alex Pretti’s. Lorenzo Salgado Araujo’s life mattered too. The life of the person killed by ICE in Biddeford Monday morning mattered,” Cox wrote. “In 1985, the Supreme Court… ruled that the use of deadly force was constitutionality permissible only when, under the totality of circumstances, its use was necessary to prevent the felon’s escape and the officer had probable cause to believe that the suspect posed a significant threat of death or serious physical injury to the officer or others, and where feasible, some warning that the officer was going to shoot was given. “This last requirement was important, because it afforded a person the chance to choose life — to submit to law enforcement so as to avoid being killed. Applying this standard, the Court ruled that a Tennessee law that allowed police to shoot any fleeing felon, regardless of circumstance, was unconstitutional,” Cox said. “History has shown that the judicial solution simply comes too late for a citizen staring down the barrel of an officer’s gun. It is time to hold federal law enforcement accountable.” **In The Guardian, Jamil Smith asked** [**“how long will ICE be allowed to hide its face?”**](https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/jul/14/lorenzo-salgado-araujo-ice?ref=readtangle.com) “At least two of the surviving passengers dispute \[the DHS\] account, saying no agent stood in front of the van and that the shots came through its passenger side. No released footage supports the government’s version. Whatever investigators establish about every disputed second, the encounter has exposed something larger,” Smith wrote. “For years, the laziest response to police violence has been that the dead would still be alive had they simply obeyed. That argument was always inadequate. Here, it nearly collapses altogether, because obedience requires recognition.” “\[Salgado Araujo’s\] son believes that when armed men in unmarked vehicles pursued him, his father feared they were criminals trying to steal the tools with which he earned his living,” Smith said. “Uniforms, visible names, marked vehicles and cameras are not cosmetic. They are how democratic governments distinguish lawful authority from armed strangers exercising force. A government that conceals its identity cannot demand perfect recognition from frightened civilians. ICE mistook Lorenzo Salgado Araujo for another man. He was expected to identify ICE instantly. Only one side was allowed to make an error.” My Take Isaac Saul Executive Editor ![Isaac Saul](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2025/05/Isaac.jpg) - The similarities between the Maine and Texas shootings are uncanny and unnerving. - I’m increasingly skeptical of the government’s version of events. - It’s clear that immigration enforcement needs changes — and fast. **Reminder:** This is where we share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, leave a comment on the website or reply to this email. Sometimes, in order to see the truth of a situation, it can be helpful to shift the lens you are viewing it through. So I’m going to ask you, the reader, to imagine a hypothetical for me: Let’s imagine you’ve immigrated to another country — whether for work or retirement or family — and you’re trying to start a new life. This country could be Mexico or Italy or China or Japan; it doesn’t really matter. After you’ve been there for a few years, news breaks that the government is going to begin a massive deportation effort of people from a set of countries, including the one you emigrated from. You’re living there legally, but many other Americans are there illegally, and you’re being warned by friends and family that your legal status may not protect you from discrimination or — worse — detention and violence. As the deportation efforts ramp up, you see news clips of masked men in unmarked SUVs stopping cars driven by people who look like you, and you’re reading news reports of those people having their rights violated, and in some cases you’re even seeing viral videos of those people — those who look like you — being shot and killed by officers. Then, one day, an unmarked SUV tries to pull you over. Or, maybe, it just cuts you off on the road before masked agents jump out with their guns drawn. What is your first instinct? Is it to freeze? Is it to comply? Is it to flee? What if your kids are in the car? What if the men are screaming threats at you? Passing judgment on the victims in these videos feels impossible to me. I’ve spent a lot of time around guns, and I’ve even had one pointed at me twice in my life — once in Israel, by an Israeli soldier (for trespassing), and a second time by a very stupid friend who thought it was funny to shamelessly ignore gun etiquette. It’s hard to describe the clarity and incomprehensibility in those moments — the sharpness of the world around you, the panic in your chest, the evaporation of rational thinking, and the complete takeover by your lizard brain. Just a simple lens shift like this has a profound effect on me, in a way that I find terribly discomforting. Now, let’s abandon the hypothetical and look at what is before us: 11 [people](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jul/09/ice-immigration-shooting-deaths-trump?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Salgado%E2%80%99s%20death%20marks%20the%2010th%20fatal%20shooting%20by%20federal%20immigration%20officials%20nationwide%20since%20the%20second%20Trump%20administration%20took%20office%2C%20a%20review%20of%20public%20reports%20by%20the%20Guardian%20shows%2C%20as%20the%20Trump%20administration%20continues%20with%20its%20anti%2Dimmigrant%20crackdown), including three U.S. citizens, have now been killed by federal agents involved in Trump’s deportation effort since he took office. 22 people have been shot at. Hundreds more have been violently beaten, dragged from cars, or otherwise unjustly detained despite being U.S. citizens or having proper paperwork. In the past week’s ICE shootings in Houston and Maine, the similarities are almost uncanny: - Neither victim appears to have been the target of immigration enforcement operations when the shootings occurred (Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Houston was [definitively not](https://abc7.com/post/lorenzo-salgado-araujo-mexican-builder-fatally-shot-ice-officer-is-mourned-making-life-us/19486586/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Salgado%20Araujo%20was%20not%20the%20target%20of%20ICE%27s%20operation), while DHS was unclear about whether Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero in Maine was — though Sen. Angus King (I-ME) [said](https://www.foxnews.com/us/maine-ice-shooting-victim-not-target-arrest-warrant-sen-kings-office-says-earlier-dhs-account?ref=readtangle.com) Durán Guerrero was not the target). - Body cameras were not being worn or were not recording in either case, despite the federal government ramping up funding for such cameras a few months ago after previous immigration enforcement efforts led to people dying. - In both cases, the federal government has claimed the men used their cars to either try to flee or try to harm a law enforcement agent. - In both cases, some eyewitness accounts directly contradict the accounts of the federal agents who were conducting the attempted arrest. - In both cases, there is no clear video or up-close angle that corroborates either account. The Washington Examiner’s Zachary Faria (under “What the right is saying”), a writer whom I respect, suggested that while “few details are clear” about these most recent cases, it is “more likely that ICE is telling the truth about these incidents” than the “rabidly anti-ICE activists and Democratic politicians.” I have no idea why this would be so. Since 2025, in nearly every high-profile example of federal agents committing violence against citizens or illegal immigrants that we’ve had video evidence for, the eyewitness and video accounts have been much more reliable than the federal government’s. This was true of [Renee Good](https://www.readtangle.com/ice-shooting-in-minneapolis/#:~:text=state%20them%20clearly.%E2%80%9D-,My%20take.,-Reminder%3A%20%E2%80%9CMy%20take) (whom the feds accused of being a domestic terrorist trying to kill ICE agents with her car) and [Alex Pretti](https://www.readtangle.com/another-minneapolis-protester-killed-dhs-ice-cbp/#:~:text=on%20this%20issue.%E2%80%9D-,My%20take.,-Reminder%3A%20%E2%80%9CMy%20take) (whom the feds claimed was “brandishing” a weapon, a “domestic terrorist,” and tried to “murder federal agents”). In those killings, prosecutors only *just* [got evidence](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/minnesota-prosecutors-obtain-long-withheld-evidence-in-probe-into-fatal-shootings-of-good-pretti?ref=readtangle.com) like statements and body camera footage from the federal government, and only after a judge forced them to hand over that evidence. This was true of the “three violent illegal aliens who violently beat a law enforcement officer”: a still-live [DHS statement](https://www.dhs.gov/news/2026/01/15/dhs-releases-more-details-about-three-violent-criminal-illegal-aliens-who-violently?ref=readtangle.com) claims the men ambushed the officers before those officers shot them, only for video evidence to show the entire assault allegation was a fabrication. The DHS agent who pulled the trigger is now the [subject of criminal charges](https://courthousenews.com/ice-agent-charged-with-assault-in-minnesota-shooting-of-venezuelan-man/?ref=readtangle.com). We’ve seen this pattern again and again and again. As I [wrote](https://www.readtangle.com/ice-shooting-in-minneapolis/#:~:text=Also%2C%20officers%20are%20never%20supposed%20to%20position%20themselves%20in%20front%20of%20a%20vehicle%20or%20approach%20it%20from%20the%20front%20for%20precisely%20this%20reason.%20DHS%20officers%20are%20generally%20prohibited%20from%20discharging%20a%20firearm%20at%20a%20moving%20vehicle%2C) after Good’s death, ICE agents are never supposed to position themselves in front of a vehicle or approach it from the front for precisely this reason. DHS officers are generally prohibited from discharging a firearm at a moving vehicle, unless someone is using their car as a deadly weapon and “no other objectively reasonable means of defense is available.” DHS also has use-of-force rules, which are relatively straightforward and include a baseline “respect for human life” and “the communities we serve,” emphasizing de-escalation tactics as a core component. In other words: It’s not just on the subjects of these stops to “comply” and do exactly as they’re told; federal agents have agency and rules they must follow, too. And they work for us. In the cases of Salgado Araujo and Durán Guerrero, there isn’t enough evidence to directly undermine or contradict the DHS statements — at least not yet. It is, literally, eyewitness accounts and grainy video footage versus the word of federal agents and the government. But the information we have is pretty alarming: Neither man had a criminal record. It does not appear either man was the actual target of an enforcement effort. One was here legally on a work permit. Both were parents, raising families here, and by all accounts were upstanding residents of our country, working hard, providing for their families. The idea that either would be compelled to try to kill federal agents with their vehicles one random summer day in July strikes me as absurd. As I have been saying since Trump took office: Confrontations with immigration officials are only going to get *more* dangerous. This is America — distrusting government force is in our national DNA. You cannot send armed, masked, unidentifiable men into the streets with minimal training and little oversight and give them carte blanche to stop and detain anyone who “[looks like](https://www.scotusblog.com/cases/noem-v-perdomo/?ref=readtangle.com)” an illegal immigrant. Not only will some people resist, but some officers will make mistakes. This is not a responsible way to carry out immigration enforcement in the United States. If it were happening in another country, we’d be enraged and call it an authoritarian overreach. [Look at how ICE agents](https://abc7chicago.com/post/maria-santay-livestreams-detainment-federal-immigration-agents-smash-car-window-el-monte-california/18515280/?ref=readtangle.com) approach a woman — an American citizen — with guns drawn, demanding she comply when there is no crime being committed. [Look at an ICE agent](https://x.com/Vorloe/status/2077103790868848711?ref=readtangle.com), just yesterday, stop their vehicle in front of a car on the highway and then walk up and pepper spray the car’s vents. These incidents are now a daily occurrence. Excessive force, incompetence, unnecessary violence and genuinely authoritarian-looking actions have been happening since 2025, so regularly that I can usually [find dozens of clips in minutes](https://x.com/Ike%5FSaul/status/2010767734708031811?ref=readtangle.com) on any given day. As I’ve written [again](https://www.readtangle.com/solution-to-border-crisis-tangle-isaac-saul/) and [again](https://www.readtangle.com/yes-biden-really-did-make-a-mess-of-immigration/), the best way to solve our immigration crisis would be comprehensive reform that pairs a crackdown on illegal border crossings with the expansion of work permits and legal status. We should welcome immigrants here, but do it in an organized and controlled manner. Republicans generally focus on the crackdown without the expansion of legal status, while Democrats generally focus on expanding legal status without the crackdown; Trump, alternatively, has opted for a maximally confrontational mass deportation effort, paired with political rhetoric designed to drum up fear and demonization of anyone who is here illegally. So as we solve for the future, we also have to solve for the present. The reality now is that millions of immigrants *are* here illegally and thatour current solution to that problem is leading to the [violation of basic rights](https://www.readtangle.com/why-due-process-still-matters/) and state-sponsored violence against citizens and non-citizens alike. The only way to stop this madness is genuine accountability. Neither agent in the recent shootings was wearing or using the body cameras that we were assured were being deployed — or if they were, the evidence from those cameras is being suppressed. In either case, that alone should be cause for corrective action. Agents involved in violent encounters — be it with people here illegally, legally, or U.S. citizens — should be taken off duty while investigations play out. Those investigations need to happen independently. States should be doing what [Minnesota has tried to do](https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/minneapolis-ice-surge-shootings-update-mary-moriarty-keith-ellison-renee-good-alex-pretti-julio-cesar-sosa-celis/?ref=readtangle.com) and ensure these federal agents face actual inquiries from outside their own agencies. All of this needs to start happening *now,* lest these encounters tear the fabric of our society apart. It is not an exaggeration to say that the tension between U.S. citizens and federal law enforcement agents feels like a ticking time bomb, and it is the *federal government’s job* to ensure that time bomb doesn’t go off. That means taking active measures to increase trust and decrease the rates of these incidents. Halting all vehicle encounters was a good and sensible start, but President Trump has already reversed that order. Either way, it would have only been a start. The only way forward is more accountability and more rules to ensure American citizens (and residents) are protected. ****Staff dissent — Associate Editor Audrey Moorehead:** While I’m disturbed by this latest instance of ICE-involved violence, I also still struggle to envision a situation in which I resist government attempts to detain me like so many victims in these cases have. Isaac appeals to the “lizard brain” instinctual reaction to argue that it’s hard to criticize the victims, but from personal experience, my instinctive reaction to implicit threats of violence is not to fight — it’s to fawn or comply. And I think, in encounters with law enforcement officers, there’s a good reason for that — when I’m opposite someone carrying a deadly weapon, the outcome of any other reaction is likely to be much worse. It’s hard for me to imagine myself attempting to drive away from an armed agent telling me to pull over or step out of my car, however unjust it might be. Obviously, some people who comply with law enforcement end up being victims anyway, but incidents like these only reinforce my view that complying with demands from law enforcement is the most important ingredient in avoiding deadly encounters. **Take the survey:** Does U.S. immigration enforcement need reform? [Let us know.](https://interrobang.vercel.app/survey/04f6dd64-a869-435f-9e87-0f54f345cd80?ref=readtangle.com) *Disagree? That*’*s okay. Our opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we*’*ll consider publishing your feedback.* ### This day in history. ![The Rosetta Stone | Hans Hillewaert, Wikimedia Commons](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/07/data-src-image-68015457-2f72-41a1-9394-2b40cd13a349.png) The Rosetta Stone | Hans Hillewaert, [Wikimedia Commons](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/23/Rosetta%5FStone.JPG?ref=readtangle.com) On July 15, 1799, during Napoleon Bonaparte’s campaigns in Egypt, French soldiers [were digging](https://arce.org/resource/rosetta-stone-unlocking-ancient-egyptian-language/?ref=readtangle.com) for the foundation of a fort in the port city of Rosetta — modern-day Rashid — when they found a strange stone in an old wall. Commanding officer Pierre-François Bouchard realized that the stone bore inscriptions in three different scripts; believing it to be of immense importance, he alerted Napoleon to his discovery. Bouchard’s instincts were correct — he had found the Rosetta Stone, which would be the key to deciphering Egyptian hieroglyphics. In 1801, when the French surrendered, the British received the Rosetta Stone alongside other important artifacts as part of the terms of the Treaty of Alexandria. They transported the stone back to England, where it has been displayed in the British Museum since 1802. Egyptian hieroglyphics [passed out](https://www.britishmuseum.org/blog/everything-you-ever-wanted-know-about-rosetta-stone?ref=readtangle.com) of regular use sometime in the 4th century AD, and the ability to read them faded soon afterward. But the Rosetta Stone’s inscriptions were in Ancient Greek, Egyptian demotic script (a simplified form of writing common in daily life), and hieroglyphs. Because the stone’s text was the same in each language, 19th-century scholars were able to read the Greek inscription on the Rosetta Stone. They used the Greek message to decode the meaning of the hieroglyphic inscriptions, first by identifying hieroglyphs that corresponded to the name “Ptolemy.” The stone’s decree is a priestly message, dating back to about 196 BC, declaring that the Macedonian Ptolemy V was the rightful, divine ruler of Egypt. SPONSORED by Insurify ****Are you paying too much for your car insurance?** Insurance rates have climbed, and if you haven’t compared recently, there’s a good chance you're overpaying. ****Insurify** lets you [see real quotes](https://api.wellput.io/v1/cm?cmid=1023880mrl5anwx&tid=369&s1=v2-r754396-p1023880-c48872&s2=Tangle&s3=&s4=null&ref=readtangle.com) from top carriers in minutes, so you know exactly where you stand. Just enter your car make and ZIP code to instantly pull up rates side by side. No phone calls, no agents, no fees — just a fast, clear look at what’s available in your area. Drivers are finding rates starting as low as $39/month. [****The only way to know is to look**](https://api.wellput.io/v1/cm?cmid=1023880mrl5anwx&tid=369&s1=v2-r754396-p1023880-c48872&s2=Tangle&s3=&s4=null&ref=readtangle.com)****.** \* *Average potential savings based on initial quotes received by 151,494 customers seeking insurance through Insurify. Actual savings may vary depending on state of residence, individual circumstances, coverage selections, and insurance provider. Savings and lowest rates do not reflect typical results.* ### The extras. - **One year ago today** we covered [President Trump’s pivot on the Ukraine war](https://www.readtangle.com/trump-ukraine-russia-pivot-on-putin/). - **The most clicked link in our last regular newsletter** was [our advertisement for FinanceBuzz](https://financebuzz.com/money-moves-senior-benefits-yaez-1?adgroupid=BM-Tangle-money-moves-senior-benefits-yaez-1-CPF-7142026&ref=readtangle.com). - **Nothing to do with politics:** Ranking [the 30 best boy band songs of all time](https://www.complex.com/music/a/kathy-iandoli/best-boy-band-songs?ref=readtangle.com). - **Our last survey:** 2,560 readers responded to our survey on the latest in the Iran war with 63% saying the war will last at least until a new presidential administration. “ It may last for a couple more administrations,” one respondent said. “It's difficult if not impossible to win a war of ideology,” said another. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/07/data-src-image-c9bbd339-9582-4046-80ee-bb6d830ea3ca.png) ### Have a nice day. Roughly 16.4 million Americans served in World War II, but as of 2025, [just 45,418](https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/wwii-veteran-statistics?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=according%20to%20US%20Department%20of%20Veterans%20Affairs%20statistics%2C%2045%2C418%20of%20the%2016.4%20million%20Americans%20who%20served%20in%20World%20War%20II%20are%20alive%20as%20of%202025.) were still alive. Rishi Sharma is on a mission to document their stories. For the past decade, Sharma (now 28 years old) has interviewed over 3,000 World War II combat veterans, and he plans to talk to as many of them as he can. The project, called Remember WWII, aims to preserve the memories of the people who took part in one of the most consequential events in human history. “There are real superhero World War II vets out there, and I want to meet them,” Sharma said. [CBS Evening News has the story](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2npPRM3rNrk&ref=readtangle.com). ### Alaska's Election Experiment Has Reached a Breaking Point URL: https://www.readtangle.com/alaskas-election-experiment-has-reached-a-breaking-point/ Last updated: 2026-07-15T16:06:55.000Z Alaska became one of the first states to overhaul its entire election system—adopting ranked choice voting, open primaries, and new campaign finance rules. ### “I’m Joe Lombardo” Nevada Governor says after he is pulled over. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/im-joe-lombardo-nevada-governor-says-after-he-is-pulled-over/ Last updated: 2026-07-15T00:06:57.000Z Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo (R) told an officer his name after being pulled over for allegedly not stopping at a red light before making a right turn. ### Fighting resumes in Iran. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/fighting-resumes-in-iran-july-2026/ Last updated: 2026-07-14T16:23:29.000Z Hello, and happy Tuesday. This is Senior Editor **Will Kaback**, settling in for our 13th edition on the war in Iran since February 28\. Three weeks ago, the prospect of a peace deal felt tangible, albeit tenuous. Today, a resolution seems as distant as it did on day one. We’ll explore **where the Iran conflict could be headed** — and for how long — as well as what variables could alter each side’s calculations. Then, an under-the-radar story on **a defamation lawsuit brought by Hunter Biden**, and a palate-cleansing report on **an escaped giraffe**. It’s a **13-minute read**. Too busy to read? Push play instead! ![Too busy to read? Push play instead!](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/07/podcast@2x.png) Listen to the newsletter every Monday - Friday [here](https://www.readtangle.com/tangle-podcast/). Or checkout the ad-free [members only podcast here](https://buy.stripe.com/8x228qgXU6hG38U9wk1VK02?ref=readtangle.com). ### Quick hits. 1. The Department of Homeland Security claimed that the man killed by a federal immigration agent in Biddeford, Maine, on Monday was attempting to evade authorities and “weaponized his vehicle toward law enforcement,” causing the agent to fear for his safety. Eyewitnesses have offered conflicting accounts, and clear video evidence has yet to surface. Maine officials have demanded a full investigation into the shooting. ([The latest](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/13/us/biddeford-maine-ice-shooting.html?ref=readtangle.com)) 2. South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster (R) appointed Darline Graham Nordone to serve the remainder of her late brother Sen. Lindsey Graham’s (R) term. ([The appointment](https://www.axios.com/2026/07/13/lindsey-graham-senate-replacement-darline-nordone?ref=readtangle.com)) 3. A federal judge rebuked the Trump administration for its $10 billion lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service, saying the suit was brought to “manipulate the judicial process.” The judge voided the settlement and referred some of President Trump’s attorneys for possible disciplinary action. ([The ruling](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/judge-says-trump-administration-attempted-manipulate-judicial-process-rcna587321?ref=readtangle.com)) 4. The consumer price index rose 3.5% in June compared to the year prior, down from 4.2% in May. Prices dropped 0.4% month-over-month, the largest drop since April 2020\. ([The numbers](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/07/14/consumer-price-index-inflation-report-june-2026.html?ref=readtangle.com)) 5. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced a joint task force with the Justice Department to identify and prosecute information leaks to the media. 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On Monday night, the U.S. [carried out](https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-hormuz-strait-war-july-14-2026-abd060c55feea216625689e57d8f76be?ref=readtangle.com) its third straight day of strikes against Iran, the latest in a series of military engagements that began last week. On Friday, President Donald Trump [notified](https://www.politico.com/news/2026/07/13/trump-notifies-congress-of-new-war-against-iran-00995170?ref=readtangle.com) Congress that the U.S. had resumed military activities against Iran as of July 7, when U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) [reported](https://www.centcom.mil/MEDIA/PUBLIC-RELEASES/Article/4535772/us-forces-complete-new-round-of-retaliatory-strikes-against-iran/?ref=readtangle.com) engaging in “retaliatory strikes” following Iran’s strikes on vessels attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz. The resumption of military engagement follows weeks of increasing tensions as peace negotiations stalled. **Back up:** The U.S. and Iran reached a ceasefire agreement in April and [signed](https://www.readtangle.com/iran-deal-signed/) a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in June, outlining the terms of a permanent peace deal. In recent weeks, the two sides had been discussing control of the Strait of Hormuz and Iran’s nuclear program, though no breakthroughs were reported. Throughout the ceasefire, both sides have exchanged strikes, but claimed that the ceasefire was still in effect. However, in recent weeks, tensions have risen, with President Trump [threatening](https://nypost.com/2026/07/10/us-news/trump-tells-the-post-hes-left-instructions-should-iran-succeed-in-assassinating-its-no-1-target/?ref=readtangle.com) Iran over rumored plans to assassinate him. On Friday, President Trump [posted](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/116896167446779964?ref=readtangle.com) on Truth Social that the ceasefire with Iran was “over,” though negotiations would continue. Over the course of three days last week, U.S. strikes [targeted](https://www.centcom.mil/MEDIA/PUBLIC-RELEASES/Article/4540919/us-forces-finish-latest-round-of-strikes-against-iran/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=more%20than%20300%20targets) over 300 Iranian military sites in an attempt to reduce the country’s ability to threaten ships in the Strait of Hormuz. Following U.S. strikes, Iran carried out [strikes](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/07/13/us-iran-war-hormuz-oil-trump.html?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Iran%E2%80%99s%20strikes%20targeted%20U.S.%20bases%20in%20Kuwait%2C%20Bahrain%2C%20Jordan%2C%20Oman%20and%20Qatar%2C%20according%20to%20the%20country%E2%80%99s%20state%20media%20outlets%2C%20describing%20them%20as%20retaliatory%20measures%20to%20renewed%20U.S.%20bombings.) against U.S. bases in other Gulf countries, including Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, and Qatar, as well as ships crossing the strait. On Saturday, Iran [claimed](https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/iran-declares-strait-hormuz-closed-unauthorised-vessel-hit-2026-07-11/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=It%20said%20late%20on%20Saturday%20it%20had%20closed%20the%20waterway%20%E2%80%8Cafter%20firing%20%E2%81%A0a%20warning%20shot%20that%20struck%20a%20vessel%20travelling%20on%20an%20unauthorised%20route.%20On%20Sunday%2C%20it%20said%20it%20had%20disabled%20a%20second%20vessel) it would close the strait to further trade in retaliation for U.S. strikes. President Trump has disputed Iranian control of the Strait of Hormuz. In a Truth Social post, he [claimed](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/116913091653271692?ref=readtangle.com) the U.S. would become the “guardian” of the strait and that the waterway would remain open. He initially announced plans to charge a 20% fee on cargo passing through the strait; however, in another Truth Social post on Tuesday, Trump [said](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/116918941071241802?ref=readtangle.com) the U.S. would instead negotiate trade and investment deals with other Gulf states. Following the resumption of hostilities, Brent crude oil prices [rose](https://www.cnbc.com/quotes/@LCO.1/?ref=readtangle.com) to $84.62 a barrel as of 11 AM ET. Additionally, CENTCOM said U.S. forces [plan](https://www.centcom.mil/MEDIA/PUBLIC-RELEASES/Article/4542098/us-forces-to-resume-naval-blockade-against-iran/?ref=readtangle.com) to resume their blockade of Iranian ports — which had been lifted in June — on Tuesday. Below, you’ll hear from the left, right, and writers in the Middle East about the latest military actions. Then, Senior Editor Will Kaback gives his take. ### What the left is saying. - **Many on the left say Trump’s posturing makes negotiations difficult and has trapped the U.S. in the conflict.** - **Others suggest Iran’s position is not as strong as it thinks.** **In MS NOW, Nicholas Grossman argued** [**“Trump lost his war with Iran — now he’s trapped in it.”**](https://www.ms.now/opinion/trump-iran-strikes-mou-strait-hormuz?ref=readtangle.com) “The U.S. lost the war Trump started, failing to achieve the president’s declared goals of regime change and unconditional surrender, or his fallback aim of forcing Iran to accept tight nuclear restrictions,” Grossman wrote. “Whatever the reason Trump pretends an obvious loss is a win, the fact that he keeps doing it perpetuates the conflict… Reaching a real peace agreement is even harder when the president of the United States keeps lying about the reality of the situation, and demanding that others do as well.” “The U.S. is bombing Iran again. But the original, larger aerial campaign failed to collapse the Iranian government or stop Iran from blocking Hormuz, so there’s no reason to expect a smaller bombing effort to succeed,” Grossman said. “The situation in the Gulf is bad for the U.S., with Iran in a stronger position. The U.S. president’s response is to pretend it’s the opposite. As long as that persists, the conflict will remain unresolved.” **In Vox, Joshua Keating said** [**“the US was overconfident before the war. Iran may be overconfident now.”**](https://www.vox.com/politics/494968/iran-us-strait-hormuz?ref=readtangle.com) “Iran’s new leaders now view de facto control of the Strait as their primary deterrent against future attacks by their enemies — an arguably more effective and flexible deterrent than their nuclear program ever was,” Keating wrote. “\[But\] the ability to close Hormuz may… not be as powerful a weapon of mass disruption as many thought it would be. Crude oil prices went as high as $126 per barrel during the war, but usually hovered closer to $100 — well short of the $200 many experts were predicting at the outset of the war.” “While continued flare-ups in the fighting have driven spikes in oil prices throughout the crisis — including this week — markets have also been quick to settle in the periods of calm that followed,” Keating said. “The US and Israel launched this war with what proved to be massive overconfidence in their ability to force a weaker country to bend to their will through sheer dominance in firepower. In this new lower-intensity phase of the conflict, Iran may have similar overconfidence in its ability to coerce its rivals through an advantage in geography.” ### What the right is saying. - **The right is mixed, with some arguing Trump must return to hostile engagement after diplomacy failed.** - **Others praise the president, saying the U.S. retains a strong position in the conflict.** **The Washington Post editorial board described** [**“Trump’s Iran choice.”**](https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2026/07/08/trump-iran-appeasement-collapsed-can-he-stick-better-strategy/?ref=readtangle.com) “The best thing that can be said about President Donald Trump’s experiment with appeasing the Islamic Republic of Iran is that it didn’t last long,” the board wrote. “It might seem like unfortunate miscalculations killed the memorandum of understanding between the White House and the hardliners running Tehran. The reality is that diplomacy was doomed from the start. The Iranian regime perceived the White House’s decision to end the fighting under political pressure and offer multibillion-dollar sanctions relief not as a sign of goodwill but proof of weakness.” “None of \[Trump’s\] objectives is fully complete, but the memorandum of understanding struck last month offered Iran financial relief if it opened the Strait of Hormuz. Releasing tens of billions of dollars to a regime that won’t honor its end of the bargain will embolden it to ask for more,” the board said. “That doesn’t mean the U.S. needs to go back to full-on war. But the administration can ratchet up sanctions pressure, impose an embargo on Iranian oil and take limited kinetic action when necessary… There will be pressure to go back to the tired playbook of bribing the regime into good behavior, but that hasn’t worked recently and it won’t work again.” **In American Greatness, Fred Fleitz wrote** [**“Trump’s patience with the Iranian regime runs out.”**](https://amgreatness.com/2026/07/10/trumps-patience-with-the-iranian-regime-runs-out/?ref=readtangle.com) “Iran’s leaders badly miscalculated. They assumed Trump’s desire to end foreign conflicts quickly — particularly with midterm elections approaching — gave them room to cheat and defy the U.S. They violated ceasefire terms,” Fleitz said. “In doing so, Iran’s leaders repeated the same mistakes: underestimating American resolve when core interests are at stake. This is classic Trump. His public willingness to float bold and unorthodox ideas keeps America’s adversaries off balance.” “Beneath \[Trump’s\] rhetoric is a clear America First calculus: peace through strength, not weakness. Trump entered these talks seeking a sustainable end to hostilities — having already achieved his core objective of destroying Iran’s nuclear weapons program,” Fleitz wrote. “The goal remains ending the war as rapidly as possible, but on terms that protect U.S. and regional security interests, secure freedom of navigation, and deter future Iranian aggression… President Trump’s decisive action this week reaffirms that the United States will not subsidize aggression through endless patience.” ### What writers in the Middle East are saying. - **Some writers criticize both the U.S. and Iran for the failed negotiations.** - **Others see last week’s developments as a historic shift in the relationship between Iran and the United States.** **In The Hill, Peiman Salehi said** [**“both sides signed the Iran deal, but neither could deliver.”**](https://thehill.com/opinion/international/5941282-both-sides-signed-the-iran-deal-but-neither-could-deliver/?ref=readtangle.com) “As it turned out, the deal was less a diplomatic breakthrough and more a mechanism for ending a war that neither side could afford to continue. And even for that purpose, it wasn’t suited to the task,” Salehi wrote. “The memorandum of understanding mattered less as a peace treaty than as a signal about the limits of American coercive power… The U.S. launched a full military campaign against Iran and could not, at least initially, break its strategic posture.” “The Iranian side faced a public and a Supreme Leader that had already signaled that uranium transfers and unconditional Persian Gulf access are politically impossible. The American side faced a skeptical Senate that may not ratify any final agreement, and an administration that kept contradicting its own negotiators. Is it any surprise, then, that the memorandum failed to end the war?” Salehi asked. “Whether the memorandum is formally alive or dead changes little on the ground. The conduct of both sides since its first days made clear they were never moving toward a final agreement.” **In The Jerusalem Post, Erfan Fard suggested** [**“Trump signals new era in Iran policy.”**](https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-902215?ref=readtangle.com) “\[Trump’s NATO Summit remarks\] may represent one of the most consequential shifts in America’s strategic language toward the Islamic Shiite regime since 1979,” Fard wrote. “By warning that any new Iranian attack would trigger an even more devastating response — and by describing the regime as a ‘cancer’ that must be removed — Trump signaled something far more significant than political theater. In the language of national security, such terminology is rarely accidental. It often reflects a deeper redefinition of the threat itself. “For more than four decades, US policy toward the Islamic Republic has revolved around containment and deterrence. The assumption was that Tehran’s behavior could be managed, constrained, or made more costly,” Fard said. “If Trump’s words evolve into policy, the region may be entering a new strategic era. Not one of endless management, but one of surgical disruption of the machinery that has sustained one of the most destabilizing ideological systems of the modern age.” My Take Will Kaback Senior Editor ![Will Kaback](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2025/05/Will-Square.jpg) - The resumption of fighting is frustrating but not surprising. - With the MOU seemingly dead, it’s hard to see a way out of this conflict. - Even after nearly five months of war, the fundamentals on each side remain about the same. **Reminder:** “My take” is a section where we give ourselves space to share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, don't unsubscribe. Write in by replying to this email, or leave a comment on the website. *The more things change, the more they stay the same.* This proverb has rattled about in my head since the early days of the war, when I thought the fighting would change little about the underlying dynamics between the U.S. and Iran. I was skeptical that the Trump administration could achieve its [objectives](https://x.com/WhiteHouse/status/2032070214553096490?s=20&ref=readtangle.com); I doubted that military force would fundamentally change the disposition of the Iranian government, which has shown itself undeterred by decapitation strikes, economic pressure, or its people’s suffering. In other words, I didn’t think the Trump administration understood its adversary. Sure, we could overwhelm Iran’s air defenses, strike it endlessly and even take out its top leaders en masse, but as long as Iran’s theocratic ruling structure remained in place, could we bend it to our will? So far, the answer is no. For all the twists and turns over the past five months of this conflict, neither side’s posture has meaningfully changed. One month ago, Vice President JD Vance [told](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/06/15/cnbc-transcript-us-vice-president-jd-vance-speaks-with-cnbcs-squawk-box-today.html?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=VICE%20PRESIDENT%20VANCE%3A%20Well%2C%20one,we%E2%80%99re%20aiming%20to%20negotiate%20towards.) CNBC that “our relationship with Iran has fundamentally transformed. You hear the President talk about the fact that we’re dealing with a totally different group of people. That’s absolutely true.” Today, that comment looks naive at best. As peace discussions break down *again*, hostilities resume *again* and the Strait of Hormuz takes center stage *again*, Iran’s thinking clearly hasn't changed, and the war appears increasingly intractable. I’ll be the first to acknowledge that pessimism colors my view. When we covered the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in June, I [wrote](https://www.readtangle.com/iran-deal-signed/#:~:text=Of%20course%2C%20the,just%20boxed%20in), “The war is not necessarily over… Without the ability to control movement through the strait, we’ll just be back in the same place we are today, no matter how many Iranian leaders we kill or how many military sites we destroy.” The developments in the past three weeks have mostly reinforced that position: After peace talks broke down last week, Iran shut down the waterway (attacking commercial ships in the process), the U.S. called off the ceasefire and imposed its own blockade, and both sides signaled they were digging in for a new fight. The last time around, President Trump [said](https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/5928618-iran-deal-oil-reserves-g7/?ref=readtangle.com) oil reserves were “four weeks” from running out prior to the MOU’s signing. Meanwhile, the Central Intelligence Agency [reportedly](https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2026/05/07/cia-intelligence-iran-trump-blockade-missiles/?ref=readtangle.com) assessed earlier in the conflict that Iran could withstand a U.S. blockade of the waterway for 3–4 months before an acute economic crisis. We haven’t reached either side’s breaking point yet, but as things stand, I think Iran’s pain tolerance is still greater. And yet, its position is also tenuous. Vox’s Joshua Keating (under “What the left is saying”) made the strongest case that Iran’s leadership is overplaying its hand. As he noted, oil prices did not rise as much as some experts predicted when the strait first closed, partially due to non-Mideast producers increasing their output and partially due to China cutting oil imports. Furthermore, the impact of the closure is [prompting](https://www.reuters.com/commentary/reuters-open-interest/gulf-exporters-quest-bypass-hormuz-will-reshape-region-2026-06-18/?ref=readtangle.com) Gulf nations to establish alternate routes to transport oil and gas. That infrastructure won’t be built overnight, but [change is coming](https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/the-hormuz-squeeze-is-redrawing-the-oil-map-for-good-cf33d8c0?eafs%5Fenabled=false&ref=readtangle.com), and Iran could come to regret a protracted strait closure that permanently drives away Gulf customers. I still think the U.S. lacks leverage in the current standoff, but Iran’s position has never been risk-free. What’s more, Iran fumbled a peace deal that was tilted heavily in its favor. The Trump administration — led in negotiations by Vice President Vance — seemed eager to pull out of the conflict as gas prices soared and voters soured ahead of the midterms, making it willing to offer major victories to the Iranian regime. [The MOU](https://www.axios.com/2026/06/17/read-full-us-iran-deal-memorandum-understanding?ref=readtangle.com) unlocked billions in sanctions relief for Iran, lifted export restrictions and outlined a $300 billion reconstruction plan, all while keeping the Iranian regime intact. Those are consequential terms for a country whose economy had been crippled by sanctions and whose leadership was largely wiped out at the start of the war. Three weeks ago, Iran was on the cusp of a strategic and moral victory against a hated adversary. Now, the conflict has returned to square one. Of course, Iran’s leaders aren’t rational actors — at least in the terms that Americans understand. The hardliners in the government [*want*](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/12/world/middleeast/iran-united-states-hard-liners.html?eafs%5Fenabled=false&ref=readtangle.com)a protracted fight with the United States, and they’re happy to sacrifice their own people (or even die themselves) to see that fight out. I disagree with pro-war interventionists like The Wall Street Journal editorial board about the necessity of this conflict, but [they’re right](https://www.wsj.com/opinion/donald-trump-iran-blockade-strait-of-hormuz-4a3e2a3a?mod=hp%5Fopin%5Fpos%5F1&ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=With%20the%20MOU,source%20dries%20up.) that Iran likely saw the MOU as a sign of U.S. weakness that emboldened them to press further. I also think The Washington Post editorial board (under “What the right is saying”) is correct that last month’s attempt at diplomacy was doomed; as Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iran’s top negotiator, [said](https://x.com/mb%5Fghalibaf/status/2074681304625369519?ref=readtangle.com) last week, “The era of bullying and extortion is over. It leads nowhere. We don’t fold.” Ghalibaf is posturing, but Iran’s track record makes me think those aren’t the words of an adversary looking for an off ramp. So… here we are. Iran’s position may be weaker than it was three weeks ago, but that doesn’t mean it’s any closer to folding. The Trump administration may be more clear-eyed about the negotiators on the other side, but that realization doesn’t mean a lasting resolution is coming. On the home front, the costs of the war may [reach new levels](https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/oil-jumps-more-than-3-after-us-iran-launch-strikes-mideast-2026-07-12/?ref=readtangle.com), and the political pressure will ramp up ahead of November’s elections. The latest inflation report [showed](https://www.bls.gov/news.release/cpi.nr0.htm?ref=readtangle.com) energy prices cooling after heating up for several months, but with the conflict resuming and the strait disrupted, I expect they’ll start to tick back up. Even if President Trump — notably [sensitive to market pressures](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/09/us/politics/trump-tariff-pause-be-cool.html?eafs%5Fenabled=false&ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Asked%20to%20explain%20the%20decision%2C%20Mr.%20Trump%20told%20reporters%3A%20%E2%80%9CWell%2C%20I%20thought%20that%20people%20were%20jumping%20a%20little%20bit%20out%20of%20line.%20They%20were%20getting%20yippy%2C%20you%20know%2C%20they%20were%20getting%20a%20little%20bit%20yippy%2C%20a%20little%20bit%20afraid.%E2%80%9D) — wants to head off these pressures and adopts a more conciliatory tone, he still can’t control the flow of traffic in the Strait of Hormuz. The U.S. can help [guide some ships to safety](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-iran-war-us-guardian-strait-of-hormuz-get-paid/?ref=readtangle.com), sure, but that’s not a lasting solution, and Iran only needs to maintain a credible threat of disrupting the entire waterway to retain its economic leverage. We are in a quagmire, with no straightforward path to victory. This was avoidable, of course, if we had not initiated this war without a plan for countering the enemy’s trump card (the strait). Regardless, we’re here now, and the past week’s developments lead me to think that we’re in it for the long haul — needless to say, a much longer conflict than the Trump administration [promised](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/01/us/politics/trump-iran-war-interview.html?ref=readtangle.com) at the outset. I don’t know exactly how the coming days, weeks and months will play out in Iran, but I’m confident that they will bring more bombs, more threats, more obstruction, and more disruption. The underlying motivations on each side are the same as when the war started, and this latest breakdown in peace talks has sent both back to their corners, as motivated as ever to see the other’s destruction. Will more strikes change the calculus? A new MOU? New negotiators? New targets? The more things change, the more they stay the same. **Take the survey:** How long could the war last? [Let us know](https://interrobang.vercel.app/survey/09f34622-f433-4979-a63b-9f63d1d09e8d?ref=readtangle.com). *Disagree? That*’*s okay. Our opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we*’*ll consider publishing your feedback.* ### Your questions, answered. **Q: Given the numerous data/security breaches, why won’t / can’t the USA government reissue Social Security Numbers? While I’m sure more data breaches will still happen, it feels like there have been so many breaches, including folks’ SSNs, that a nationwide reset would be helpful. I feel like a reset would at least even the playing field a bit.** **— Karen from Seattle, WA** **Tangle:** In the U.S., both the private and public sectors use Social Security numbers (SSNs); the federal government uses them to track earnings and pay benefits, and employers use them as universal identity verification tools. Essentially, a person’s SSN is connected to every single major life event or financial benchmark, including credit histories, tax filings, insurance accounts, bank accounts, employment — and more. Right now, new SSNs are issued only in a few narrow cases, such as cases involving ongoing, unresolved fraud, domestic violence or safety, and other serious life disruptions. Having your number exposed or stolen in a breach does not qualify as a reason for a new number, and the [Social Security Administration](https://www.ssa.gov/number-card?ref=readtangle.com) requires proof that you’ve exhausted other remedies first before considering assigning you a new number. In theory, Congress could pass legislation mandating a national reset of SSNs. But there’s a near-zero chance that ever happens — not least because of the absolute scale of the upheaval to the Social Security system it would entail. Imagine the most basic administrative obstacles: If every single driving-age American needed a new license overnight, local DMVs simply couldn’t manage the logistics, and there are thousands of those across the country. Every single institution that uses SSNs to prove someone’s identity would need to update its records and potentially issue new documents. It’s an unfathomable volume of highly sensitive work. The Social Security Administration is just one entity, already [riddled with](https://fortune.com/2026/06/02/social-security-ssa-disability-claims-drop-trump-performance-dispute/?ref=readtangle.com) staffing shortages and extensive wait times just to fulfill basic day-to-day operations. Though it sounds straightforward enough, updating everyone’s SSNs would result in a workflow paralysis that would take years (or decades) to wade through. Perhaps most importantly, changing the numbers won’t actually solve fraud: The old number would need to be connected to the new number to keep track of a person’s history, and simply changing numbers wouldn’t reduce the risk of future leaks. If anything, it could actually *increase* the risk, given all the opportunities fraudsters would have to infiltrate the transition to and delivery of new SSNs. **Want to have a question answered in the newsletter? You can reply to this email (it goes straight to our inbox) or** [**fill out this form**](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScQhqBSG%5F6%5FoBhwcTQMeS570n29XYbeQ9C9Bis7rjqI31g1tA/viewform?usp=header&ref=readtangle.com)**.** ### Numbers. - [**136.**](https://www.britannica.com/event/2026-Iran-war?ref=readtangle.com)The number of days since the U.S.–Iran war began. - [**$84.62.**](https://www.cnbc.com/quotes/@LCO.1/?ref=readtangle.com) The price, in U.S. dollars, per barrel of Brent crude oil as of 11 AM ET on July 14, 2026\. - [**14.**](https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/us-iran-war-trump-ceasefire-attacks-strait-of-hormuz/?ref=readtangle.com#post-update-73f95fbd) The number of vessels that crossed the Strait of Hormuz on July 12\. - [**5.**](https://understandingwar.org/research/middle-east/iran-update-special-report-july-12-2026/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=that%20disrupt%20shipping.-,Iran%20is%20likely%20attacking%20Persian%20Gulf%20littoral%20states%20to%20deter%20them,in%20retaliation%20for%20the%20US%20strikes%20in%20Iran%20on%20July%2011.,-Toplines)The number of countries (Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan, Qatar, and Oman) in which U.S. bases were targeted by Iran on July 12\. - [**$34–42 billion.**](https://www.csis.org/analysis/war-may-be-ending-what-did-epic-fury-cost?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=CSIS%20estimates%20war%20costs%20to%20be%20around%20%2440%20billion%20%28%2434%20billion%20to%20%2442%20billion%29.)The estimated range of the cost, in dollars, of the United States’s military conflict with Iran, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies. ### Under the radar. On Friday, a California district judge ruled in favor of Hunter Biden in a defamation lawsuit, awarding former President Joe Biden’s son $1.7 million in damages. Biden sued former Overstock.com CEO Patrick Byrne in November 2023 for falsely stating in an interview that Biden sought an $800 million bribe from Iran. In response to Biden’s lawsuit, Byrne argued that he had not made the statements with “actual malice,” asserting that an Iranian official had informed him of the alleged bribery and that he believed them to be true. The court found evidence supporting the finding “that \[Byrne\] knew the story to be false” and that much of his narrative about his meeting with the Iranian official “was fabricated.” U.S. District Judge Stephen Wilson ordered Byrne to pay nearly $35,000 in court sanctions and awarded Biden $1 in nominal damages and $1.7 million in punitive damages. [The Hill has the story](https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/5963916-hunter-biden-awarded-over-1-million-overstock-defamation-case/?ref=readtangle.com). SPONSORED by truage ****Take the TruAge™ Test and Get Your Personalized Blueprint for Health** What if a single test could unlock everything you need to know about your health? With [TruDiagnostic](https://api.wellput.io/v1/cm?cmid=987700mrjishqe&tid=271&s1=v2-r753580-p987700-c1826&s2=Tangle&s3=&s4=null&ref=readtangle.com), it can. From identifying your biological age to tracking key markers like inflammation, vitamins and metabolic health, their reports are fully customized to you. You’ll receive actionable steps based on your results, giving you the clarity and confidence to make impactful changes. One finger prick of blood, one life-changing report. [Tangle readers can save 20% today with code ****NEWSLETTERS20**](https://api.wellput.io/v1/cm?cmid=987700mrjishqe&tid=271&s1=v2-r753580-p987700-c1826&s2=Tangle&s3=&s4=null&ref=readtangle.com)! ### The extras. - **One year ago today** we covered [the immigration raids in California](https://www.readtangle.com/ice-raids-cannabis-farm-california-court-rulings/). - **The most clicked link in our last regular newsletter** was [the report on the ICE shooting in Maine](https://www.pressherald.com/2026/07/13/shooting-reported-in-biddeford-2/?ref=readtangle.com). - **Nothing to do with politics:** DNA cracks [a Revolutionary War-era cold case](https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/dna-reveals-the-identity-of-a-teenager-who-died-in-the-revolutionary-war-cracking-a-nearly-250-year-old-cold-case-180989095/?ref=readtangle.com). - **Our last survey:** 3,195 readers responded to our survey on Sen. Lindsey Graham’s legacy, with 36% saying his legacy is mostly negative. “Ukraine aside, this man was the worst type of politician — someone who chases power at all costs,” one respondent said. “I fear a lot of legislation he championed will fail. His passing will be felt throughout America and many parts of the world,” said another. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/07/data-src-image-008581cd-2886-43ac-859e-c5e24be77994.png) ### Have a nice day. Of all the creatures to go missing in Texas, a giraffe would probably be your last guess. You may also guess that the animal’s exotic look and sheer size would make it easy to spot. And yet, Gracie the giraffe undercut all assumptions, going on the run from Cedar Hollow Ranch and evading her rescuers for two weeks. Estimated to be three to four years old, Gracie appears to have gotten lost on a hillside after feeding in a new spot. In late June, she was seen on a trail camera, and handlers from the ranch were able to bring her home. According to Real Country Sheriff Nathan Johnson, Gracie had a bit of a “catch me if you can” attitude, but was found “fat and happy.” [News 4 San Antonio has the story](https://news4sanantonio.com/news/local/gracie-the-giraffe-found-fat-and-happy-real-county-sheriff-johnson-says?ref=readtangle.com). ### Change is God. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/press-pass-july-change-is-god/ Last updated: 2026-07-14T13:30:20.000Z **I’m Isaac Saul, and this is Press Pass: Our once-a-month, members-only newsletter that pulls back the curtain on the inner workings of Tangle.* --- In her *Parable* series, Octavia Butler develops a fictional theology for the characters in her book that rests on a fascinating idea: *Change is God.* The concept is that God isn’t good or benevolent by nature, and doesn’t have a plan or will. Instead, God is simply change itself — the constant underpinning of everything, since creation, indifferent to human wishes and unstoppable in every way. Change happens always and forever, to everything, whether we want it or not, and the change itself isn’t up to us. All we can do is shape it. The book’s fictional theology is built out from there. When I first read Butler’s books, I was captivated by this story device, and I haven’t been able to shake it since. I see change everywhere now, in everything, and I experience it differently each time. Here at Tangle, it’s safe to say we’re in a season of change. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Lindsey Graham’s passing. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/lindsey-graham-death/ Last updated: 2026-07-13T15:52:13.000Z Good Monday morning, this is **Isaac Saul**. Flags across the country are flying at half-staff today to **honor the late Sen. Lindsey Graham**, a sentence that was inconceivable when my work day ended on Friday. Today, we’re diving into Graham’s legacy, his shocking death, and the difficulty of capturing the full picture of a public figure after they’ve died. Also in today’s edition, we cover the **Prairieland incident** and an under-the-radar story about the **January 6 case against members of the Proud Boys**. Don’t forget to[**check out Friday’s reader mailbag**](https://www.readtangle.com/reader-mailbag-july-2026/), too, if you missed it. Today’s email is a **13-minute read**. ### Quick hits. 1. BREAKING: Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents were reportedly involved in a shooting in Biddeford, Maine, that left one person dead. The Department of Homeland Security has not commented on the incident as of 11:30 AM ET. ([The report](https://www.pressherald.com/2026/07/13/shooting-reported-in-biddeford-2/?ref=readtangle.com)) 2. The U.S. launched new airstrikes against Iran near the Strait of Hormuz, following an Iranian attack on a cargo ship in the waterway. Iran declared over the weekend that the strait is now closed. ([The latest](https://www.axios.com/2026/07/11/iran-strikes-cargo-ship-in-strait-of-hormuz-defying-us-ultimatum?ref=readtangle.com)) 3. Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) released a statement saying that his multi-week hospitalization was the result of a fall that rendered him “briefly unconscious” but said he did not break any bones, suffer a concussion, have a heart attack, or have a stroke. The senator said he has been moved to a rehabilitation facility and is not yet ready to return to the Senate. ([The update](https://apnews.com/article/mitch-mcconnell-hospitalized-fall-health-senate-d708e9a1f18763fbb961fd3879227ce3?ref=readtangle.com)) 4. Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) said he was detained by Israeli settlers while visiting the West Bank, adding that Israeli soldiers later arrived and sided with the settlers. The Israeli military disputed the claim and said the soldiers had been dispatched to help reopen the road for Khanna and his group. ([The incident](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/11/us/politics/ro-khanna-west-bank.html?ref=readtangle.com)) 5. President Trump fired two Democratic members of the Election Assistance Commission, which assists election administration officials nationwide. The commission’s final member, a Republican, resigned. ([The firings](https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/trump-terminates-election-assistance-commission-members-2026-07-10/?ref=readtangle.com)) 6. The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, a housing affordability bill passed last month, became law on Saturday without President Trump’s signature. Trump said he did not sign the bill in protest of Congress’s failure to pass the SAVE America Act. ([The bill](https://www.cnn.com/2026/07/11/economy/new-housing-affordability-law-heres-what-it-means?ref=readtangle.com)) SPONSORED by butcherbox ****No Guesswork at the Grill** Grocery store meat asks you to take a lot on faith — vague labels, murky sourcing, no real way to know what you’re buying. If you’ve ever stood in the aisle second-guessing, you know the feeling. [****ButcherBox**](https://butcherbox.pxf.io/c/3250132/3967051/16419?ref=readtangle.com) takes that off your plate. They work with farms and fisheries held to some of the strictest third-party standards in the business: 100% grass-fed beef, wild-caught seafood, no antibiotics or added hormones. It shows up at your door, ready for whenever you fire up the grill. One less thing to second-guess this summer. Use code ****TANGLE** to get $60 off your subscription plus free meat of your choice. [Try ButcherBox today! ](https://butcherbox.pxf.io/c/3250132/3967051/16419?ref=readtangle.com) ### Today’s topic. Lindsey Graham’s death. On Saturday evening, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) [passed away](https://x.com/LindseyGrahamSC/status/2076185414721847673?s=20&ref=readtangle.com) at age 71 after what his office called a “brief and sudden illness.” The nature of the illness was initially unknown, though news outlets [reported](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/07/12/lindsey-graham-longtime-south-carolina-senator-dies-71/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Emergency%20medical%20responders,from%20cardiac%20arrest.) that emergency services were dispatched to a Washington, D.C. home owned by Graham and administered treatment to a man suffering from cardiac arrest. On Sunday, Graham’s office [said](https://x.com/JakeSherman/status/2076410061648187518?ref=readtangle.com) a preliminary examination found he died of “aortic dissection due to arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease.” **Back up:** Graham, an Air Force veteran, was [elected](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Lindsey-Graham?ref=readtangle.com) to the U.S. House in 1994, then to the Senate in 2002\. During his Senate career, he was known as a foreign policy hawk and a key ally of President Donald Trump, becoming one of the president’s closest advisers after initially opposing him during the 2016 election. He was also a staunch supporter of Ukraine and Israel, helping secure military aid for both countries in their conflicts with Russia and Hamas, respectively. Beyond foreign policy, Graham chaired the [Senate Budget Committee](https://www.lgraham.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/committee-assignments?ref=readtangle.com) and [Judiciary Committee](https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/press/rep/releases/graham-elected-chairman-of-the-senate-judiciary-committee?ref=readtangle.com) over the course of his career. In a Truth Social post on Sunday, President Trump [called](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116905798341654664?ref=readtangle.com) Graham “one of the greatest people and Senators I have ever known.” Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) [remembered](https://x.com/LeaderJohnThune/status/2076204028053045750?s=20&ref=readtangle.com) the senator as “a trusted adviser and colleague to me and many others,” whose “influence on the federal judiciary, our national defense, and his beloved South Carolina will be felt for generations.” Separately, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu [wrote](https://x.com/netanyahu/status/2076209061897334872?ref=readtangle.com), “Israel has lost one of its greatest friends. America has lost a great patriot. I have lost a beloved friend.” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, with whom Graham met last week during a visit to Ukraine, [said](https://x.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/2076230750748148175?ref=readtangle.com) the senator “was a true defender of freedom and the values that make our world safer,” noting his ten trips to Ukraine since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster (R) will name a replacement to serve out the remainder of the senator’s term. Graham, who was running for reelection in 2026, had [won](https://ballotpedia.org/United%5FStates%5FSenate%5Felection%5Fin%5FSouth%5FCarolina,%5F2026?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Giracello%20%28D%29-,Republican%20primary%20election,-Republican%20primary%20for) the Republican nomination in June, and now the state party [must](https://www.newsnationnow.com/us-news/southeast/what-happens-next-after-lindsey-grahams-death-south-carolina-law-lays-out-the-process/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Because%20Graham%20secured,the%20general%20election.) hold a new primary this summer to choose a replacement candidate for the November midterms. Several Republican candidates, including Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC), are [reportedly](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/07/12/nancy-mace-lindsey-graham-senate-seat-south-carolina-election.html?ref=readtangle.com) interested in running. On Monday, Trump [recommended](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116913198631392475?ref=readtangle.com) that McMaster appoint Graham’s sister, Darline Graham Nordone, to serve out the term. Today, we’ll share reactions to Graham’s passing from the right and left. Then, Executive Editor Isaac Saul’s take. ### What the right is saying. - **The right mostly praises Graham as an effective and charismatic politician.** - **Some say the senator’s greatest strength was finding areas of consensus.** - **Others note Graham’s prudent alliance with President Trump and MAGA.** **National Review’s editors said Graham was** [**“a fierce advocate for what he believed.”**](https://www.nationalreview.com/2026/07/lindsey-graham-rip/?ref=readtangle.com) “We had our disagreements with him over the years, particularly over his persistent support for ‘comprehensive immigration reform,’ but there was never any doubt about his intelligence or energy,” the editors wrote. “He was famously an interventionist, sometimes to a fault. The bedrock of his foreign policy was an abiding and correct belief in the goodness and efficacy of American power. He supported the U.S. alliance system and promoted democracy abroad. He was a steadfast friend of embattled allies Ukraine and Israel, and an unremitting enemy of tyrants of every coloration.” “\[Graham\] knew the importance of staying on Trump’s good side for sheer electoral reasons. On top of everything else, he was a sure-footed pol, who trod an independent path on issues while never losing touch with his South Carolina voters. They sent him to Washington repeatedly over the course of three decades, first to the House in 1994 and then to the Senate beginning in 2002,” the editors said. “His death is a loss to the Senate and to those conservative causes to which he was devoted. Graham forged a political career that mattered, and he did it with great verve.” **In Townhall, Kevin McCullough called Graham** [**“the consensus senator.”**](https://townhall.com/columnists/kevinmccullough/2026/07/12/the-consensus-senator-n2679267?ref=readtangle.com) “\[Graham\] earned the trust of people who agreed on almost nothing else. In today’s Washington, where relationships rarely survive disagreement and loyalty often lasts only until the next news cycle, that is an accomplishment worth remembering all by itself,” McCullough wrote. “He knew exactly what people were saying about him. He knew the political winds weren’t blowing his direction. And yet he walked into the next hearing and calmly made the case again. Whether you agreed with him or not, you never had to wonder where he stood.” “What struck me wasn’t that everyone agreed with him. They didn’t. What struck me was that he never changed his message to fit the audience. He believed America needed a stronger military. He believed weakness invited aggression. He believed our alliances mattered. He believed American leadership was indispensable,” McCullough said. “Those weren’t talking points he dusted off for one audience and shelved for another. They were convictions, and they remained his convictions whether he was speaking to 12 people in a living room or 12 million people on television.” **In The Washington Examiner, W. James Antle III wrote that Graham was** [**“one of the most influential, if unlikely, leaders in Trump’s Washington.”**](https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/4645354/lindsey-graham-death-trump-influence/?ref=readtangle.com) “It looked like Graham and his brand of hawkish foreign policy was going to be completely marginalized within Trump’s GOP. McCain was sidelined before his death in 2018\. So eventually were similarly inclined Republicans who had served in Trump’s first administration,” Antle said. “Instead, Graham forged a close personal relationship with Trump and arguably managed it better than any Republican lawmaker over the past decade. This kept Graham at the forefront of the party and movement even as populism, nationalism, and ‘America First’ swept the GOP.” “Graham’s influence can be seen in the war in Iran and Trump’s off-and-on support for Ukraine in its war with Russia, which the president had vowed to end in his second term… When it counted, Graham held more sway with Trump than pundit Tucker Carlson or former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene,” Antle wrote. “Long before Trump, Graham was a quotable and media-savvy Capitol Hill player with friends across the political spectrum who was nevertheless maddening to those who rejected his expansive views on immigration and foreign policy.” ### What the left is saying. - **Most on the left are critical of Graham’s political legacy, though some acknowledge his positive contributions to the Senate.** - **Some argue the senator’s fealty to Trump cancels out any positive traits.** - **Others acknowledge how Graham deftly navigated the Trump era to secure policy wins.** **In his Substack, Robert Reich remembered** [**“the best things”**](https://robertreich.substack.com/p/lindsey-graham-rip) **about Graham.** “One of the best things I can say about Graham is that he counseled Trump to remain supportive of Ukraine, even when Trump wanted to abandon the nation. Graham had been one of Ukraine’s staunchest backers in Washington. He died just hours after returning from Ukraine, where he met with President Volodymyr Zelensky,” Reich said. “He told reporters in Kyiv on Friday that a bipartisan group of senators had reached an agreement with the White House to impose new sanctions on Russia in an effort to end that country’s long-running war with Ukraine. “I’ve criticized Graham as an opportunist and worse. I remember being impressed with the position he took in \[2016\], when he was one of the few Republicans to say publicly that Trump was unfit to serve as president… Yet Graham emerged as one of Trump’s key Senate supporters, defending Trump’s conduct and policies,” Reich wrote. “Where is the line between opportunism and pragmatism? After January 6, 2021, Graham appeared to break with Trump, saying on the Senate floor, ‘Count me out. Enough is enough.’ A few months later, he acknowledged Trump’s continued hold over the Republican Party. ‘Can we move forward without President Trump? The answer is no,’ he said. ‘I’ve determined we can’t grow without him.’” **In The Daily Beast, David Rothkopf called Graham** [**“evil’s shape-shifting enabler.”**](https://www.thedailybeast.com/lets-remember-the-real-lindsey-graham-evils-shape-shifting-enabler/?ref=readtangle.com) “Donald Trump, a man whose name is now synonymous with corruption and hatred, called Graham ‘a true American patriot.’ Meanwhile Democrats in Washington, praised his warmth or recounted aspects of their friendship with him, calling him a ‘good man.’ The disconnect reveals more about what is wrong with Washington, D.C., than it does about Graham,” Rothkopf said. “The acceptance of those in the D.C. club of evil, because its proponents were pleasant to them at cocktail parties, is one of the greatest problems America faces.” “They have lost sight of the fact that an evil man who would laugh at their jokes or send them a note on the occasion of a child’s wedding or graduation is still evil. Graham was a man who understood this and thrived in that environment. Few prominent figures in Washington have managed to be so public and yet such masters of personal opacity,” Rothkopf wrote. “‘Good guys’ do not advocate for evil, for the destruction of U.S. institutions, for stripping away the rights of Americans, for the most corrupt government in U.S. history, for allies of our enemies. You can’t be a ‘good guy’ and enable Trump as he brings our democracy to its knees.” **In Vox, Benjy Sarlin wrote** [**“Lindsey Graham sacrificed his reputation to Donald Trump. He got plenty in return.”**](https://www.vox.com/politics/495146/lindsey-graham-dead-donald-trump-legacy-senate-ukraine?ref=readtangle.com) “More than perhaps any senator — even the currently ailing Mitch McConnell — Graham embodied the transition from an older era of the Republican Party and Washington politics to the Trump era we live in now,” Sarlin said. “Graham’s career arc also showed why so many Republicans of so many different stripes were tempted to embrace Trump. The senator ultimately succeeded in steering an inexperienced, ideologically malleable, and easily flattered president toward many of his own lifelong priorities.” “Graham died with a budget, a judiciary, and an entire world order that were all shaped in part by his influence over Trump. But he also leaves behind a deeply unsettled party as Trump enters his lame-duck period,” Sarlin wrote. “On foreign policy, the Iran war failed to achieve its goals, and many hawks have been disappointed in Trump’s efforts (currently imperiled) to negotiate a ceasefire and potential peace agreement with the regime they hoped to permanently remove. The war’s unpopularity and its close association with Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu have also helped fuel an ongoing bipartisan backlash to America’s close relationship with Israel — another cause Graham championed.” ### My take. **Reminder: “My take” is a section where we give ourselves space to share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, don't unsubscribe. Write in by replying to this email, or** [**leave a comment**](https://www.readtangle.com/lindsey-graham-death/#ghost-comments-root)**.** - **Graham’s career offers plenty for his supporters and detractors to highlight.** - **The senator’s principles constantly shifted for political expedience, which I found deeply frustrating.** - **Graham’s absence will immediately be felt in U.S. policy on Ukraine, Iran, and election security legislation.** **Executive Editor Isaac Saul:** As it was for many Americans, the news of Lindsey Graham’s sudden death was shocking for me — especially just a few days after I [published](https://www.readtangle.com/mcconnell-health-concerns-july-2026/) an entire piece on our aging Congress, how many members have died in recent years, and the overdue need for Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) to step down. At age 71, the South Carolina Senator presumably had many more years of public service to offer. Like any politician of consequence, Graham’s legacy is complicated. If I wanted to, I could focus solely on the admirable parts of Graham’s life. He came from working-class roots, [growing up](https://www.politico.com/story/2015/06/lindsey-graham-memoir-119045?ref=readtangle.com) in the back room of a bar and restaurant his parents ran when he was a child. He adopted his younger sister when both his parents died in the span of 15 months, put himself through law school, and then dedicated his life to public service; he served in the Air Force, then in the South Carolina Air National Guard, and finally as a reservist until 2015, while simultaneously building his career in Congress. He was, famously, in love with being a senator: He was always adept at finding ways to reinvent himself and capture influence throughout his Senate career — be it the “Three Amigos,” the “Gang of Eight,” as a Trump opponent, or as a Trump loyalist. On policy, he had a reputation for working across the aisle. When President Trump called into *Meet the Press* on Sunday upon news of Graham’s death, he [noted](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/trump-phone-call-lindsey-graham-death-save-act-rcna552732?ref=readtangle.com) how Graham “had a unique ability” to “deal with Democrats.” Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) [remembered](https://x.com/CoryBooker/status/2076303529182978526?s=20&ref=readtangle.com) Graham as someone who could “get things done that other people couldn’t” when he was on your side. Graham, [like](https://x.com/JoeBiden/status/2076330621287137332?ref=readtangle.com) former President Joe Biden, was an institutionalist who understood how the Senate worked and how to get things done even with politicians who were, publicly, your sworn enemies. His willingness to make concessions [drew the ire](https://www.mediaite.com/online/limbaugh-hits-mccain-and-graham-for-opposing-rand-paul-dining-with-obama-who-are-they-siding-with/?ref=readtangle.com) of right-wing figures like Rush Limbaugh, particularly during the Obama era. If I wanted to, I could focus on the negative consequences of his closely held views. Most of his critics will emphasize the enormous amount of death and destruction that can be attributed to his hawkish wishes — and canned lines about him never seeing a war he didn’t love will abound. There’s some truth here. Graham was an unapologetic interventionist, and when America was gearing up to drop bombs, he rarely seemed interested in considering, let alone acknowledging, the downsides. Yet this trait sometimes served him well: He was on the right side of the Russia–Ukraine war from the jump and has nudged the current administration toward a more robust defense of a country that deserves it. He was well known for actually visiting the war zones and countries where the U.S. had a big impact, evidenced by his tenth trip to Ukraine in the final week of his life. He also staunchly defended the vital NATO alliance, even in the face of Trump’s criticism. Or, if I wanted to, I could just judge Graham by his enemies, noting that Iranian and Russian state TV [celebrated](https://www.firstpost.com/world/sent-to-hell-iran-state-tv-clip-celebrating-lindsey-grahams-death-goes-viral-14030869.html?ref=readtangle.com) the [news](https://www.thedailybeast.com/putins-goons-celebrate-lindsey-grahams-sudden-death/?ref=readtangle.com) of his death. This is all to say, if you want to remember the senator as a consensus-builder, a warmonger, a conservative hero or a craven opportunist, his career offers plenty to latch on to. What some liberal critics [call](https://www.thedailybeast.com/lets-remember-the-real-lindsey-graham-evils-shape-shifting-enabler/?ref=readtangle.com) “evil shape-shifting” could easily be relitigated as brilliant politicking, and what conservative pundits [describe](https://townhall.com/columnists/kevinmccullough/2026/07/12/the-consensus-senator-n2679267?ref=readtangle.com) as smartly managing his relationship with the president could easily be relitigated as soulless self-advancement. For me, it’s hard to eulogize Graham in black-and-white terms. He was, candidly, one of the most frustrating politicians I have ever observed. I’ve spent most of the last six years loathing nearly everything he’s done. Often caricatured by his opponents as some kind of spineless hick (or, worse, subjected to [crass smears about his sexuality](https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2020/06/10/ladygraham-went-viral-not-just-because-lindsey-grahams-politics/?ref=readtangle.com)), what really made Graham so frustrating was that he clearly *wasn’t* spineless*.* He was craven.He was a smart, calculated, unrepentant seeker of power. He *was* a warmonger who spoke about our troops like they were dispensable cattle. More than anything, he was duplicitous. Before Trump was first elected, Graham [described](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bkDykGhM8c&t=23s&ref=readtangle.com) him as a kind of bigoted, corrupt, xenophobic monster who would lead to [Republicans’ destruction](https://x.com/LindseyGrahamSC/status/727604522156228608?ref=readtangle.com). He likened Trump’s nomination to “[being shot in the head](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/from-disgrace-family-trumps-remarkable-journey-lindsey-graham?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Graham%20had%20run%20on%20the%20same%20ticket%20as%20Trump%2C%20and%20like%20many%20other%20Republicans%20on%20the%20debate%20stage%2C%20challenged%20Trump%E2%80%99s%20candidacy%20as%20preposterous%20%E2%80%94%20he%20once%20likened%20his%20candidacy%20to%20%22being%20shot%20in%20the%20head.%22)” and [refused to vote for him](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2016/live-updates/general-election/real-time-updates-on-the-2016-election-voting-and-race-results/sen-lindsey-graham-i-voted-evan-mcmullin-for-president/?itid=lk%5Finline%5Fmanual%5F21&ref=readtangle.com). After Trump won the election in 2016, Graham slowly but surely began to cozy up to him, eventually becoming one of the biggest sycophants in Trump’s orbit, which is no small feat (just last month, Graham [joked](https://x.com/HotSpotHotSpot/status/2064550562834563475?s=20&ref=readtangle.com) that Trump wasn’t “far behind God” among those he was grateful to). Graham, of course, knew exactly what he was doing. He told The New York Times Magazine in 2019 that his goal in cozying up to Trump [was](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/12/us/politics/lindsey-graham-dead.html?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=What%20he%20sought%20from%20cozying%20up%20to%20the%20president%2C%20Mr.%20Graham%20told%20Mark%20Leibovich%20of%20The%20Times%20Magazine%20in%202019%2C%20was%20%E2%80%9Cto%20try%20to%20be%20relevant.%E2%80%9D) “to try to be relevant.” In 2020, Graham was a willing participant in Trump’s efforts to subvert the 2020 election results, calling Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and [appearing to suggest](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/brad-raffensperger-georgia-vote/2020/11/16/6b6cb2f4-283e-11eb-8fa2-06e7cbb145c0%5Fstory.html?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=In%20their%20conversation,elections%20in%20Georgia.) to him that he throw out legally cast mail-in ballots. Graham denied allegations of this attempt to throw the election for his preferred candidate by saying he was only asking how Georgia’s signature verification process worked as part of his official capacity on the Judiciary Committee, a defense I never believed. And then, when January 6 happened, Graham jumped ship. He said he was “done” with Trump, implicitly blamed him for the violence at the Capitol (despite his own role in casting doubt on the results), and pleaded with the country to move on. “Enough is enough,” he [said](https://www.wbtv.com/2021/01/06/lindsey-graham-count-me-out-enough-is-enough/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=%E2%80%9CAll%20I%20can%20say%20is%20count%20me%20out.%20Enough%20is%20enough.%E2%80%9D). Four months later, Graham [decided](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/from-staunch-critic-to-fierce-ally-grahams-long-strange-and-consequential-friendship-with-trump?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=%22Can%20we%20move%20forward%20without%20President%20Trump%3F%20The%20answer%20is%20no%2C%22%20Graham%20said%20in%20May%202021%2C%20just%20four%20months%20after%20the%20Jan.%206%20attack.%20%22I%27ve%20determined%20we%20can%27t%20grow%20without%20him.%22) the party could not move forward without Trump, and reverted to courting the president’s favor. After Trump won his second term, Graham was under serious pressure to reject some of the more unqualified and disreputable Cabinet nominees Trump put forward. Graham actually had the gall to [tell](https://x.com/LindseyGrahamSC/status/1857104342106395109?ref=readtangle.com) voters that “the best indication of what I will do in the future is what I have done in the past,” which is one of the more ironic statements he could have offered. Nothing about his principles, aside from his view that American intervention was just and necessary, was consistent. After his death, Trump [mused](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/trump-phone-call-lindsey-graham-death-save-act-rcna552732?ref=readtangle.com) that Graham loved being a politician so much that he never could have done anything else. If Graham ever lost an election, Trump remembered joking to the senator, he didn’t know if Graham would live very long. Trump meant the joke as a compliment about Graham’s dedication to his job, but I think it’s a true account of what mattered most to the man: He sought power and influence at nearly any cost, and he usually got it. Given the scope of his influence, I’ll be interested to see how Graham’s death changes the trajectory of the country. He was, after all, one of the few interventionists close to Trump who had his ear. He was capable of crossing the aisle in our deeply divided Congress. And he was, according to the president, preparing to help the Senate move on the SAVE America Act, [a consequential and controversial voting bill](https://www.readtangle.com/save-america-act-voter-id-law/) that would require citizens to present documentation confirming their citizenship when registering to vote and photo identification to vote in federal elections. Without his influence, how will the president treat Ukraine? What new direction could the war in Iran take? How capable will Senate Republicans be of advancing their agenda? What happens to the SAVE America Act? As we consider Graham’s life and legacy, these are the areas where his absence could be felt most acutely. **Take the survey:** How will you remember Sen. Graham’s legacy? [Let us know](https://interrobang.vercel.app/survey/d11f41ae-3c9c-4281-9cf3-85a357360d0b?ref=readtangle.com). *Disagree? That's okay. Our opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we'll consider publishing your feedback.* ### Your questions, answered. **Q: Can you comment on the Prairieland incident? What I’ve heard makes the government’s response seem so extreme. It makes me wonder if I’m missing some nuance.** **— Risa from Chicago, IL** **Tangle:** The [Prairieland incident](https://apnews.com/article/texas-immigration-detention-center-shooting-officer-ambush-f3782b689659270b10bd9b33bb48169b?ref=readtangle.com) was a shooting on July 4, 2025 that left one police officer injured outside of Prairieland Detention Center in Alvarado, Texas. U.S. District Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Nancy Larson [said](https://abcnews.com/US/10-arrested-after-ambush-texas-ice-detention-facility/story?id=123555164&ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=At%20approximately%2010%3A37%20p.m.%2C%2010%20to%2012%20individuals%20dressed%20in%20black%2C%20military%2Dstyle%20clothing%20began%20shooting%20fireworks%20and%20engaging%20in%20acts%20of%20vandalism%20at%20the%20facility%2C%20Larson%20said%20during%20a%20press%20conference.) that “10 to 12 individuals dressed in black, military-style clothing began shooting fireworks and engaging in acts of vandalism at the facility,” intending to draw immigration authorities into an ambush. When officers [arrived](https://www.wfaa.com/video/news/crime/body-cam-video-shows-north-texas-ice-facility-incident-led-first-of-its-kind-conviction/287-85a66152-0b3f-4002-bafc-bcd06d2b1a02?ref=readtangle.com), Larson said, one individual [fired](https://www.keranews.org/criminal-justice/2026-06-30/prairieland-ice-detention-center-shooting-trial-defendants-file-notices-of-appeal-fifth-circuit?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=lone%2Dshooter%20Benjamin%20Song%20opened%20fire%20and%20Gross%20was%20hit%20in%20the%20shoulder%20area) 20 to 30 rounds at police and correctional officers, hitting one officer. The individuals fled the scene but were later apprehended. In July 2025, 10 people [were arrested](https://abcnews.com/US/10-arrested-after-ambush-texas-ice-detention-facility/story?id=123555164&ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=State%20and%20federal%20officials%20announced,officer%2C%20according%20to%20court%20records.) in connection with the incident and charged with attempted murder of a federal officer; in November that year, prosecutors [added](https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndtx/pr/antifa-cell-members-indicted-prairieland-shooting?ref=readtangle.com) terrorism-related charges. Nine of these defendants went to trial, maintaining that they only intended to stage a peaceful protest; all nine were [found guilty](https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndtx/pr/antifa-cell-members-convicted-prairieland-ice-detention-center-shooting?ref=readtangle.com) of terrorism-related charges, among others. [One defendant](https://www.keranews.org/criminal-justice/2026-03-06/prairieland-ice-detention-center-shooting-defendant-testimony-plea-deal-seth-sikes-texas-antifa?ref=readtangle.com), charged with providing material support to terrorists, entered a plea deal and testified that he only intended to attend a noise demonstration using fireworks, saying he became uneasy with the protest once correctional officers and police officers arrived on the scene. Six additional defendants pleaded guilty to providing material support for terrorists. The shooter, who was convicted of attempted murder of a police officer, [received](https://www.keranews.org/criminal-justice/2026-07-06/final-prairieland-ice-detention-center-shooting-federal-defendant-sentenced-antifa-texas-terrorism?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Song%20was%20sentenced%20to%20100%20years%20in%20prison%20for%20attempted%20murder%2C%20providing%20material%20support%20to%20terrorism%20and%20other%20lesser%20charges.%20Other%20defendants%20who%20went%20to%20Prairieland%20and%20were%20convicted%20during%20trial%20face%20up%20to%2070%20years%20in%20prison.) a 100-year prison sentence, while others convicted of terrorism charges faced sentences of 30 to 70 years. There are layers of nuance to consider in both the protesters’ activities and the government’s response. For one thing, while several of the protesters may have intended to stage a peaceful demonstration, the use of fireworks as a “noise protest” and the damage done to a government building seem counterproductive to that goal. Given that both fireworks and weapons were on the scene, it’s not hard to imagine things could have been much more tragic. The shooter’s sentence is harsh but defensible for a crime of this nature. However, the heavy sentences handed down to individuals who were present, but did not themselves use fireworks or fire on law enforcement officers, appear excessive. These defendants’ 30- to 70-year sentences were well above the [average sentence](https://www.ussc.gov/research/quick-facts/national-defense?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=The%20average%20sentence%20for%20individuals%20who%20received%20a%20terrorism%20adjustment%20under%20USSG%20%C2%A73A1.4%20was%20228%20months.) of about 19 years for similar convictions. **Want to have a question answered in the newsletter? You can reply to this email (it goes straight to our inbox) or** [**fill out this form**](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScQhqBSG%5F6%5FoBhwcTQMeS570n29XYbeQ9C9Bis7rjqI31g1tA/viewform?usp=header&ref=readtangle.com)**.** ### Numbers. - [**1992.**](https://history.house.gov/People/Listing/G/GRAHAM,-Lindsey-O--%28G000359%29/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=member%20of%20the%20South%20Carolina%20state%20house%20of%20representatives%201992%2D1994) The year Lindsey Graham first won elected office, winning a seat in the South Carolina House of Representatives. - [**23.**](https://ballotpedia.org/Lindsey%5FGraham?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Years%20in%20office%3A%202003%20%2D%202026) The approximate number of years Graham served in the U.S. Senate. - [**4.**](https://ballotpedia.org/Lindsey%5FGraham?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=2003.%5B2%5D-,Committee%20assignments,-U.S.%20Senate) The number of committees Graham served on in the Senate at the time of his passing. - [**54.4%–44.2%.**](https://ballotpedia.org/Lindsey%5FGraham?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=9%20Democratic%20primary%29-,General%20election,-General%20election%20for) The margin of Graham’s victory over Jaime Harrison (D) in South Carolina’s 2020 Senate election. - [**56.8%.**](https://ballotpedia.org/United%5FStates%5FSenate%5Felection%5Fin%5FSouth%5FCarolina,%5F2026?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Giracello%20%28D%29-,Republican%20primary%20election,-Republican%20primary%20for) The percentage of votes Graham received in the South Carolina Republican Senate primary in June 2026\. - [**+3.**](https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/polls/south-carolina-us-senate-election-polls-2026.html?eafs%5Fenabled=false&ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Link%20to%20poll%C2%A0%E2%80%BA-,Graham%20%2B3,-Results%3A) Graham’s polling lead over Democratic candidate Annie Andrews in the South Carolina Senate race in a June 2026 Impact Research poll. ### Under the radar. On Friday, a federal judge permanently ended the cases against four members of the Proud Boys, a far-right militant group, for their actions at the Capitol on January 6, 2021\. Dominic Pezzola was convicted of assaulting police, robbery and destroying government property, while Ethan Nordean, Joseph Biggs, and Zachary Rehl were convicted of seditious conspiracy, conspiracy to obstruct certification of the 2020 presidential election, and other crimes. The Trump Justice Department moved to vacate these convictions and dismiss the cases in April following President Trump’s mass clemency for January 6 rioters. District Judge Timothy Kelly, a Trump appointee, granted the motion on Friday, though he noted his reluctance to do so. “Because the decisions to issue the Executive Order and to abandon this prosecution… are solely the Executive’s, no one should mistake the Court’s granting of the Government’s motion for its agreement with those decisions,” Kelly said. [Fox News has the story](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-appointed-judge-permanently-ends-proud-boys-jan-6-case-says-constitution-left-him-no-choice?ref=readtangle.com). SPONSORED by butcherbox ****Isaac’s Go-To for Summer BBQ** Isaac swears by [****ButcherBox**](https://butcherbox.pxf.io/c/3250132/3967051/16419?ref=readtangle.com) for summer — high-quality meat and seafood, delivered straight to your door. No last-minute store runs, no compromises. “It’s easier and better quality than running to the store every time.” — Isaac Saul, Tangle founder Less hassle, better grilling. Get started today. [****Code TANGLE gets you $60 off plus free meat of your choice**](https://butcherbox.pxf.io/c/3250132/3967051/16419?ref=readtangle.com)****!** ### The extras. - **One year ago today** we had just published Isaac’s essay on [five things he got wrong about President Trump](https://www.readtangle.com/five-things-i-got-wrong-about-trump/). - **The most clicked link in our last regular newsletter** was the report on [President Trump leaving the NATO summit on the old Air Force One](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/08/us/politics/trump-air-force-one-security.html?ref=readtangle.com). - **Nothing to do with politics:** Take this quiz to see [how well you know regional American dishes](https://www.wsj.com/arts-culture/food-cooking/quiz-how-well-do-you-know-these-regional-american-dishes-f9c9feed?ref=readtangle.com). - **Our last survey:** 4,516 readers responded to our survey on age limits for Congress with 37% saying they would support an age limit for candidates over 80\. “Term limits are more important than age and would solve both problems,” one respondent said. “Let the voters decide if a candidate is too old or feeble or feeble-minded for the job,” said another. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/07/data-src-image-120f3732-429b-4e76-b12b-b4e15d613253.png) ### Have a nice day. On July 3, Kelsey Pfendler, 32, rowed into the Ala Wai Boat Harbor, completing a record-breaking feat of endurance and perseverance. On May 21, she began her journey in Monterey, California, then spent 43 days rowing across the Pacific Ocean by herself. Not only did she become the first American woman to row solo from California to Hawaii, she was also the youngest woman. Not only was she the youngest woman, she was also the fastest woman. Not only was she the fastest woman, she was also the fastest *ever*, beating the men’s record of 52 days. Along the way, Pfendler raised money for the Whale Foundation, a nonprofit supporting the Grand Canyon river guiding community (her occupation when she’s not breaking rowing records). [Hawaii News Now has the story](https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2026/07/04/record-breaking-solo-rower-kelsey-pfendler-arrives-hawaii/?ref=readtangle.com). ### The Sunday — July 12 URL: https://www.readtangle.com/the-sunday-july-12-2026/ Last updated: 2026-07-12T12:33:37.000Z *This is the Tangle Sunday Edition, a brief roundup of our independent politics coverage plus some extra features for your Sunday morning reading.* ### What the right is doodling. ![Al Goodwyn | Creators Syndicate](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/07/data-src-image-2d84d970-bc2f-4b22-9e88-bae4310995b9.jpeg) Al Goodwyn | Creators Syndicate ### What the left is doodling. ![Mike Luckovich | Creators Syndicate](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/07/data-src-image-48be719c-32f4-4f55-8501-a2277ed6ab51.jpeg) Mike Luckovich | Creators Syndicate ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/07/data-src-image-cdc4220e-bb99-484f-9932-49d8773a74f6.png) ### Suspension of the Rules. In this week’s episode, Associate Editor Audrey Moorehead dropped into Managing Editor Ari Weitzman’s chair while he enjoys paternity leave. Audrey, Isaac, and Kmele discussed the Graham Platner scandal, whether the Maine Senate candidate would actually drop out (we got our answer on Wednesday night), and why they think the allegations are credible. Then, they talked about Mitch McConnell’s mysterious health issues. ### Monday, July 6. [America’s 250th anniversary](https://www.readtangle.com/america-250th-anniversary/). On Saturday, July 4, the United States marked 250 years since the Second Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence in 1776, establishing the original 13 American colonies as a new, independent nation. In addition to the traditional fireworks and parades, cities and states held special celebrations reflecting on the country’s history for its semiquincentennial. In Washington, D.C., large crowds gathered to celebrate across the capital. While some of President Donald Trump’s “Salute to America” event was canceled or delayed due to extreme weather — including a temporary evacuation of the National Mall — the president delivered an address on the Mall, followed by a massive fireworks display. **Our take:** *“America remains a unique and exciting country, and taking in this year’s World Cup reminds me of that. The weekend also offered speeches that I appreciated from political leaders on both sides. We can hold both pride and cynicism at once while honoring our founding story.”* **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/07/data-src-image-86656e45-5359-4120-8f51-b0915a08cb22.png) ### Tuesday, July 7. [*National Republican Senatorial Committee v. Federal Election Commission*](https://www.readtangle.com/scotus-campaign-finance-2026/). Last Tuesday, the Supreme Court held that a federal law limiting the amount of money political parties could spend in coordination with campaigns violated the First Amendment. The Court’s vote was 6–3 along ideological lines. **Our take:** *“On the merits, the dissenters make a stronger case that limits on coordinated spending are necessary to head off potential corruption. Practically, this decision will likely empower parties and reduce the influence of super PACs. Still, I don’t think that outcome will change the kinds of candidates that are winning.”* **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/07/data-src-image-5df68a9f-669e-48b9-8884-1145125696d0.png) ### Wednesday, July 8. [New misconduct allegations against Graham Platner](https://www.readtangle.com/graham-platner-assault-allegations-july/). On Monday, July 6, Jenny Racicot, a former girlfriend of Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner (D), accused him of raping her in 2021\. Politico, which first published the report, corroborated aspects of Racicot’s account after speaking with a man whom Racicot dated after Platner, as well as reviewing messages between her and her therapist and an acquaintance. Platner denied the accusation but said he is “taking the time to reflect on the best path forward.” A significant number of Congressional Democrats, including many lawmakers who previously endorsed Platner, have called on him to drop out of the race. Platner formally withdrew from the race on Friday, July 10. **Our take:** *“I’m heartened by Fifield’s and Racicot’s bravery in coming forward to share their stories. I can understand why Platner’s supporters stuck it out until now, but it still makes me feel deeply cynical about our politics. Platner may not even drop out, and I’m unsure where Maine Democrats go from here.”* **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/07/data-src-image-18f75ac9-48fc-4376-bbe2-a5d2239be942.png) ### Thursday, July 9. [Mitch McConnell’s health](https://www.readtangle.com/mcconnell-health-concerns-july-2026/). Over the past week, lawmakers have expressed increasing concern about Sen. Mitch McConnell’s (R-KY) health, roughly three weeks after the senator was hospitalized for still-unknown reasons. The hospitalization is the latest in a string of health-related incidents for McConnell, which have raised questions about his fitness for office. On Wednesday, July 8, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D) asked McConnell’s office to provide a “\[full\] update” on the senator’s status, citing increasing concern “about the current state of your health and wellbeing.” **Our take:** *“I hope McConnell is okay, but he should resign. Congress’s age-related issues are only getting worse. I don’t see a clear resolution to this problem unless lawmakers like McConnell lead by example and step down when they can no longer do the job.”* **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/07/data-src-image-7143a9e1-a611-40cc-bf5f-5270fd524502.png) ### Friday, July 10. Every few months, the Tangle team likes to dedicate a Friday edition to opening our vault of reader questions. This week, we tackle your questions about Rep. Tom Kean’s (R-NJ) absence, the cost of the war in Iran, Texas putting the Bible in public schools, and more. [Read our answers here](https://www.readtangle.com/reader-mailbag-july-2026/). --- ### What just happened. Here’s a rundown of the major stories that have broken since our newsletter on Thursday. - On Thursday, The New York Times, New York Daily News and other media outlets asked a judge to sanction OpenAI, alleging that the artificial intelligence developer is withholding evidence relevant to a legal fight over its use of news articles to train AI chatbots. ([The request](https://apnews.com/article/openai-new-york-times-ai-copyright-lawsuit-7ce19c7a25aad60d4c94556d36e96cc9?ref=readtangle.com)) Separately, on Friday, Apple sued OpenAI, alleging that OpenAI compelled prospective employees who previously worked at Apple to disclose trade secrets. ([The suit](https://techcrunch.com/2026/07/10/apple-sues-openai-over-alleged-trade-secret-theft/?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Thursday, President Trump fired two of the last three members of the Election Assistance Commission, which assists election administration officials nationwide. The final member, a Republican, resigned. The White House said the president “reserves the right to remove individuals that may not be totally aligned with the important task of securing America’s elections and ensuring ​every legal vote is counted.” ([The terminations](https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/trump-terminates-election-assistance-commission-members-2026-07-10/?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Friday, the Justice Department subpoenaed four New York Times journalists, reportedly in relation to a story they published about the new Air Force One aircraft lacking the same security measures as the previous model. ([The subpoenas](https://thehill.com/homenews/media/5963811-the-new-york-times-journalists-subpoena-air-force-one-iran-threat-report/?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Friday, President Trump said he will not sign the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act — a housing affordability bill passed last month — in protest of Congress’s failure to pass the SAVE America Act, an election security bill. The housing bill automatically became law on Saturday, as the president did not veto it. ([The latest](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/07/10/trump-housing-bill-save-act-law.html?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Friday, Graham Platner (D) formally withdrew from the Maine Senate race. ([The withdrawal](https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2026/07/10/congress/graham-platner-officially-withdraws-senate-campaign-00993646?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Friday, President Trump said he has left instructions to bomb Iran “at levels that they’ve never seen before” if he is assassinated. The comments come amid reports of new Iranian plots against the president’s life as hostilities between the U.S. and Iran resume. ([The comments](https://nypost.com/2026/07/10/us-news/trump-tells-the-post-hes-left-instructions-should-iran-succeed-in-assassinating-its-no-1-target/?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Saturday, Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) died “from a brief and sudden illness,” his office announced. Graham was first elected to the senate in 2002\. ([The passing](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/sen-lindsey-graham-dies-71-brief-sudden-illness-rcna552722?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Saturday and Sunday, the U.S. and Iran exchanged heavy fire. The flare-up comes as ⁠the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRCG) said it struck a vessel passing through the Strait of Hormuz, and announced that it was closing the strait “until further notice.” ([The developments](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jul/12/us-and-iran-exchange-strikes-as-tehran-again-says-strait-of-hormuz-is-closed?ref=readtangle.com)) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/07/data-src-image-30d98e11-d216-4d7f-bb3f-4bdef14a8617.png) ### Reader essay. ![Photo by ThisisEngineering on Unsplash ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/07/data-src-image-e6e70cae-6045-41a7-827b-2ba473a8eea5.jpeg) Photo by [ThisisEngineering](https://unsplash.com/@thisisengineering?utm%5Fsource=unsplash&utm%5Fmedium=referral&utm%5Fcontent=creditCopyText) on [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/photos/woman-in-black-long-sleeve-shirt-GzDrm7SYQ0g?utm%5Fsource=unsplash&utm%5Fmedium=referral&utm%5Fcontent=creditCopyText) Mathematics professor Dr. Courtney Smith-Nelson is well aware that the general American public is not very interested in math. Not only that, but Americans aren’t good at math, which has massive impacts on the country’s civic health. Inspired by Tangle’s recent coverage of rising illiteracy, she makes the case that public innumeracy is a major problem — and offers some thoughts on how we can fix it. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### The American numeracy crisis. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/otherposts/the-math-literacy-crisis/ Last updated: 2026-07-19T00:11:29.000Z *By Courtney Smith-Nelson* --- Surprise! Pop quiz time. Can you solve the following problems without using Google or AI? (Don’t worry — calculators are allowed.) 1. If the price of a box of cereal increases from $4 to $5, what is the percent change in the price? If the price is reduced from $5 back to $4, what is the percent change in the price? 1. A math class takes an exam. The results are as follows: 75, 77, 80, 82, 85, 85, 85, 85, 88, 90, 90, 90, 91, 94 A student missed the exam and made it up at a later date, earning a score of 60\. Which statistics — mean, median, mode, or range — change when the new score is added to the dataset? The mathematics of the first question [made](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/fact-checking-rfk-jr-s-claim-theres-more-than-one-way-to-calculate-a-percentage-decrease?ref=readtangle.com) [headlines](https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/rfk-trump-drug-price-math/?ref=readtangle.com) [recently](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/22/us/politics/rfk-jr-trump-impossible-drug-discounts.html?searchResultPosition=1&ref=readtangle.com). As a community college math teacher,\* I was torn: on the one hand, this particular math topic — percent change — is typically taught in 7th grade math classes. Our nation’s leaders were publicly arguing about calculations that the average 13-year-old is expected to know. How embarrassing. On the other hand, though, for a brief moment in time, the American news cycle cared about math! We all saw in real time how *numeracy* (the mathematical version of literacy, the ability to understand and apply mathematical concepts) is inextricably connected to politics and civic engagement. Conversations around American civics education routinely focus on literacy, and for good reason; a functioning democracy requires a populace who can read. The skills associated with an engaged, civics-minded citizenry — understanding the Constitution, framing our current political debates and problems in historical context, grappling with exposure to new ideas, participating in well-informed, good-faith political discourse — are all predicated on reading comprehension. What is often missing from these conversations, though, is the role mathematics plays in both daily life and civic engagement, and the consequences of an innumerate populace. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### GOP nominee for CO Gov. asked how many people he has killed, refuses to answer. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/gop-nominee-for-co-gov-asked-how-many-people-he-has-killed-refuses-to-answer/ Last updated: 2026-07-12T02:06:51.000Z Victor Marx clinched the Colorado Republican gubernatorial nomination last night after over a week of counting votes. ### Graham Platner Allegations: What do they mean for Democrats? URL: https://www.readtangle.com/graham-platner-allegations-what-do-they-mean-for-democrats/ Last updated: 2026-07-11T00:06:56.000Z How should we evaluate serious allegations against public figures? ### Palm Beach Airport officially renamed to President Donald J. Trump International Airport URL: https://www.readtangle.com/palm-beach-airport-officially-renamed-to-president-donald-j-trump-international-airport/ Last updated: 2026-07-11T00:06:57.000Z The airport in West Palm Beach, Florida has officially been renamed after President Donald Trump. ### Mitch McConnell's Silence Is Raising Questions URL: https://www.readtangle.com/mitch-mcconnells-silence-is-raising-questions/ Last updated: 2026-07-11T00:06:57.000Z How much do elected officials owe the public when it comes to their health? ### Is it time for age limits in Congress? URL: https://www.readtangle.com/is-it-time-for-age-limits-in-congress/ Last updated: 2026-07-11T00:06:58.000Z Is it time for age limits in Congress? ### Your questions, answered. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/reader-mailbag-july-2026/ Last updated: 2026-07-10T15:52:23.000Z At Tangle, we want to be a source of trustworthy news, thought-provoking analysis, *and* robust community engagement. As part of that commitment, we interact with the community in several forums — the [website comment section](https://www.readtangle.com/), our [Subtext texting service](https://joinsubtext.com/c/tanglenews?ref=readtangle.com), our [Reddit page](https://www.reddit.com/r/TangleNews/?ref=readtangle.com), our staff email, and at live events. We also answer reader and listener questions throughout the week in our newsletter and podcast. Every few months, after we’ve built up a queue of queries from readers and listeners, we dedicate a Friday edition to answering some of your questions and feedback en masse. Today, we’re opening up the mailbag to tackle a range of topics, from press accountability, to the true cost of the Iran war, to the Hurricane Helene recovery, to a Texas law mandating Biblical teachings, and much more. We’ve pulled our whole editorial team together for this one, and identified which member of the staff was responsible for answering each question, though the whole team participated in editing every reply. In the spirit of this edition, let us know your thoughts (and other questions) in the comments. Enjoy! ****Note:** You are reading a preview of a members-only Friday edition. To read it in full, [you’ll be asked to subscribe](https://www.readtangle.com/membership/). --- **Q: As I recall, it seems like y’all were fairly optimistic about Rubio as Secretary of State. I also seem to remember you’ve been disappointed in how completely he has seemed to “lose his backbone” and succumb to Trump’s whims, even when they fly in the face of diplomacy.** **So just in general, how do y’all feel about Rubio’s performance as SoS so far?** **— Paul from Tampere, Finland** **Executive Editor Isaac Saul:** To judge his performance, I think you first have to define the role and decide what metrics you’re using. The secretary of State (SoS) is the government’s chief foreign affairs official — fourth in line to the presidency — and basically acts as the #1 adviser on treaties, international agreements, alliances, foreign aid, and all manner of international crises (like war). To that end, I think assessing the strength of our alliances, the status of our foreign entanglements, and the nature of trade deals and treaties we’ve joined or left is a good way to evaluate Rubio’s tenure. Through that lens, I could pretty easily frame Rubio’s first 18 months as SoS as a disaster. We’ve somehow stumbled into another war we can’t seem to get out of, and the ceasefire negotiations have been embarrassingly predictable and [unsustainable](https://www.nbcnews.com/world/iran/us-iran-new-attacks-trump-ceasefire-over-gulf-hormuz-rcna353615?ref=readtangle.com). The war in Gaza has ended in name [but not in reality](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/gazas-future-remains-uncertain-as-palestinians-and-israelis-mark-1000-days-of-war?ref=readtangle.com), and our relationship with Israel [seems](https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/06/18/world/iran-war-trump-us-deal?ref=readtangle.com) to be [deteriorating](https://thehill.com/policy/international/5925354-trump-netanyahu-tensions-reach-new-high-complicating-iran-deal/?ref=readtangle.com). The war in Ukraine rages on. At the same time, Rubio advocated for USAID cuts that have credibly contributed to [many thousands of deaths](https://hsph.harvard.edu/news/usaid-shutdown-has-led-to-hundreds-of-thousands-of-deaths/?ref=readtangle.com), all to save the kind of money that constitutes a rounding error in our federal budget. And while plenty of people wanted us to leave the Paris Climate Accords, I personally think [that decision](https://www.readtangle.com/trump-withdraws-from-the-paris-agreement-and-who-2/) was a mistake. A simple question: Is the world safer and more stable since Rubio took over? It seems… definitively not. Amid all this, Rubio has also led a reorganization of the State Department, [cutting](https://www.govexec.com/management/2025/04/state-slash-15-domestic-staff-eliminate-132-offices/404735/?ref=readtangle.com) its Washington staff by 15%. Reporting since then [depicts](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/02/us/politics/state-department-morale-survey.html?eafs%5Fenabled=false&ref=readtangle.com) a department with low morale, marred by overtime hours and an overwhelming plate of work (with several diplomatic crises abroad). When we had to evacuate Americans from the Middle East ahead of the Iran war, for instance, many stranded Americans were [confronted with chaos](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/diplomacy-decline-rcna347563?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=In%20the%20Middle,former%20diplomats%20say.) — or a recording telling them: “Please do not rely on the U.S. government for assisted departure or evacuation at this time. There are currently no United States evacuation points.” Those stories [were genuinely harrowing](https://youtu.be/9SrvBBYhcJM?si=eycLQoZvfrRxB3%5FE&ref=readtangle.com). Now, it’s not *all* bad. Rubio has done plenty of subjectively (and objectively) good things. He led talks that produced billions of dollars of [new trade deals](https://www.firstpost.com/world/rubio-india-purchase-500-bn-us-goods-in-next-5-years-ties-sergio-gor-new-delhi-visit-trump-14014543.html?ref=readtangle.com), secured [critical mineral supply chains](https://www.eenews.net/articles/us-and-allies-launch-20b-minerals-framework/?ref=readtangle.com), and helped facilitate trillions of dollars of investments from Gulf allies into the U.S. (though those [are now at risk](https://www.wsj.com/business/the-trillions-of-dollars-of-u-s-investment-at-stake-in-the-gulf-f66f7883?ref=readtangle.com)). With his push, five NATO allies are [projected](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/07/world/europe/nato-defense-spending-trump-rutte.html?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Five%20countries%20are%20already%20projected%20to%20meet%20the%205%20percent%20G.D.P.%20benchmark%20this%20year%2C%20according%20to%20NATO%20data%20released%20on%20Tuesday.) to increase their defense spending to 5% of their GDP by the end of the year. The [military operation to capture Maduro](https://www.readtangle.com/us-trump-captures-arrests-maduro/) in Venezuela, which he was a proponent of, was executed to near-perfection. He [helped](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-designates-afghanistan-state-sponsor-wrongful-detention/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=At%20the%20event%2C%20Special%20Envoy%20for%20Hostage%20Response%20Adam%20Boehler%20said%20that%20the%20administration%20has%20helped%20to%20bring%20home%20175%20individuals%2C%20including%20100%20Americans%2C%20wrongfully%20detained%20abroad%20since%20the%20start%20of%20President%20Trump%27s%20second%20term.) bring home over 175 hostages from abroad, including more than 100 Americans. He’s pushing AI policy that could turn into a global AI governance approach, and is widely credited for helping [negotiate an end](https://www.firstpost.com/world/we-ended-that-war-marco-rubio-credits-trump-diplomacy-for-india-pakistan-ceasefire-14018194.html?ref=readtangle.com) to the India–Pakistan conflict. I also think — in Rubio’s defense — he’s been dealt a pretty tough hand. There is [a literal meme](https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/marco-rubio-couch-memes?ref=readtangle.com) now about him having seemingly every job in the administration, and behind-the-scenes [reporting](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/07/us/politics/trump-iran-war.html?ref=readtangle.com) has shown he tried to warn Trump about the consequences of the Iran war. How much are these negative outcomes the product of his own failures vs. the nature of the White House he’s working for — and of navigating a war he didn’t seem keen to take on? It’s hard to say. So, overall, my assessment leans more negative than positive. But I still believe he is a competent appointee who understands the role he was tapped for, and there’s plenty of time left for him to notch some more achievements. **Q: How has the recovery been from Hurricane Helene? Almost two years later, I’m wondering whether the region that was impacted is still feeling the effects.** **— Robert from Montana** **Contributing Editor Isaac Wood:** Thank you for this question! I started as a Tangle editor a few months ago, and I live in Johnson City, Tennessee. Hurricane Helene was the closest I’ve been to a natural disaster. I wasn’t directly harmed, but I have connections with several of the communities that were most heavily impacted. Over the last two years, I’ve felt a tension: I’m frustrated by how quickly the rest of the nation moved on, and yet I completely understand that the whole country can’t be locked into a regional tragedy forever. At the end of the day, a region’s got to climb (or in this case, muck out) its own mountains. Still, it means a lot when someone from across the country asks about how things are going. The first few months were devastating and miraculous. I’m sure you’ve seen [stories](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cw94FyAmzVc&ref=readtangle.com) of people helping each other out in surprising ways, but it really was unbelievable to watch people come together to [donate](https://www.christianitytoday.com/2025/03/donated-clothes-hurricane-helene-second-disaster/?ref=readtangle.com), [organize](https://www.100daysinappalachia.com/2024/10/a-church-channels-rush-of-volunteers-and-donations-in-roan-mountain-flooding-aftermath/?ref=readtangle.com), and [distribute](https://www.christianitytoday.com/2025/09/how-can-i-help-ask-the-church-hurricane-helene/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=That%20Saturday%2C-,Sue%20Ford,-clocked%20out%20from) supplies. [Mucking out](https://thedispatch.com/article/hurricane-helene-north-carolina-churches/?ref=readtangle.com) flooded basements is hard work that neighbors did diligently for each other, and countless families in the region are grateful for the volunteers, construction workers, plumbers, and electricians who donated their time and expertise to rebuild homes. But, nearly two years later, the work is far from over. Disaster response falls into [three categories](https://www.pnwumc.org/emergency-response/?ref=readtangle.com): response (or [“rescue”](https://www.wnccumc.org/newsdetail/a-marathon-of-relief-and-recovery-understanding-the-three-phases-of-disaster-response-18683080?ref=readtangle.com)), relief, and recovery. Response includes search operations and other emergency services to get people to safety; relief is distributing supplies and getting people back to a livable situation; and recovery is the rebuilding process. I interviewed a nonprofit leader for a story I reported about the relief efforts, and he told me about the 1–10–100 rule, a general rule of thumb that estimates that for every one day of response, relief takes 10 days and recovery takes 100 days. It’s not an exact science, but the response stage for Hurricane Helene, in the worst parts of East Tennessee and Western North Carolina, took about two weeks. 14 days for response, 140 days for relief, and 1,400 days for recovery. That’s almost four years. And in this case, that rule bears out. On a day-to-day basis, most people are not heavily affected by lasting damage, but that’s not true for everyone. As of March this year, Blue Ridge Public Radio [reported](https://www.bpr.org/helene-recovery/2026-03-27/helenes-lasting-damage-more-than-100-people-in-buncombe-county-are-still-homeless-following-the-storm?ref=readtangle.com) that over 100 people in the Asheville area are still enduring homelessness caused by the storm. In April, Tennessee [announced](https://www.tn.gov/agriculture/news/2026/4/17/tennessee-launches--34-million-hurricane-helene-relief-program-for-farmers-and-forest-landowners.html?ref=readtangle.com) a $34 million program for farmers and forest land owners to rehabilitate damaged land, and North Carolina is putting $18 million in [grants](https://wlos.com/news/local/helene-debris-cleanup-western-north-carolina-department-environmental-quality-waste-management-protection-agency-relief-act-applications-federal-emergency-management-agency-fema-disaster-counties-government-floodplains-farmland-parks-infrastructure?ref=readtangle.com) toward cleaning up debris left over from the cleanup process. The scenic Blue Ridge Parkway is still [not completely open](https://wlos.com/news/local/blue-ridge-parkway-wnc-western-north-carolina-fully-reopen-2026-officials-national-park-service-debris-removal-hurricane-helene-trail-repairs-linville-gorge-mount-mitchell?ref=readtangle.com). Just last week, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) [announced](https://www.fema.gov/press-release/20260702/fema-announces-additional-197-million-north-carolina-recovery?ref=readtangle.com) $197 million in public assistance grants for Hurricane Helene and other disasters. North Carolina’s proposed [budget](https://www.thecentersquare.com/north%5Fcarolina/article%5Ff2fe290b-5fd0-47ec-876a-7af36a65280c.html?ref=readtangle.com), awaiting the governor’s approval, includes $700 million toward disaster recovery programs. All that money will be going toward more recovery efforts; there’s still a lot of work to do. **Q: I’d appreciate a piece on this frightening new law in Texas forcing Texas school children to read the Bible (which one?) as part of the 2030 elementary school curriculum!** **— Rachel from Nyack, NY** **Senior Editor Will Kaback:** In June, the Texas State Board of Education — an elected executive agency currently [controlled](https://ballotpedia.org/Texas%5FState%5FBoard%5Fof%5FEducation?ref=readtangle.com) 10–5 by Republicans — [approved](https://apnews.com/article/texas-curriculum-bible-board-vote-06530403ff91c10462382422003e109f?ref=readtangle.com) a new mandatory reading list for public school students, which will take effect in the 2030–31 school year. The Bible-oriented additions are fairly substantive: In elementary school, students will read passages about Jesus in the New Testament; in middle school, they will read several of Jesus’s sermons; and in high school, they will read portions of the Book of Job, among other Bible passages. Parents will be able to opt their children out of any instruction on the Bible, but the students may still be tested on the material. Beyond the new reading list, Texas has made [several moves](https://apnews.com/article/texas-curriculum-bible-board-vote-06530403ff91c10462382422003e109f?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=In%202023%2C%20Texas,federal%20appeals%20court.) to incorporate Biblical teachings into public schools, including adopting (optional) curriculum for elementary school students that incorporates Biblical instruction and mandating that public schools display the 10 Commandments in classrooms (something Louisiana has [also done](https://www.readtangle.com/the-ten-commandments-law-in-louisiana/)). I wouldn’t go so far as to call these moves “frightening.” Texas is, of course, a deeply religious state, and [67% of Texans](https://www.pewresearch.org/religious-landscape-study/state/texas/?ref=readtangle.com) identify as Christian. Am I surprised that a state with that makeup would choose representatives who support measures like this? Not at all. Do I think kids will be indoctrinated against their will as a result of this reading list? Probably not, at least not more than *any* required school reading can indoctrinate. That said, I understand the opposition, and I feel it myself. “Church and state shall be completely separate” isn’t written explicitly in the First Amendment, but a government mandating that one specific religion be taught to public school students certainly gives the appearance of establishing a favored religion —a clear [constitutional affront](https://constitution.congress.gov/constitution/amendment-1/?ref=readtangle.com). In the context of the other moves that Texas has made to incorporate religious materials primarily tied to Christianity into public school education, it’s hard for me to avoid the conclusion that the state is attempting a form of proselytization. Still, it’s probably good for students to have some biblical education in order to better understand the United States, its founders, and the history of the West. If Texas had instead required religious texts explicitly chosen to educate about America’s origins and ideals, it would have been more defensible — and valuable. As someone who didn’t grow up religious, I think I would have benefited from learning more about the key figures, teachings and materials from Christianity, Judaism, Islam, and others. Defenders of the new curriculum [argue](https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/columnist/2026/06/29/texas-schools-bible-education/90701253007/?ref=readtangle.com) it shouldn’t be controversial to teach kids about the Bible — I agree, but it *should* be controversial to teach kids *only* about the Bible. **Associate Editor Audrey Moorehead:** I have a different view from Will’s. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Mitch McConnell’s health concerns. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/mcconnell-health-concerns-july-2026/ Last updated: 2026-07-09T15:52:28.000Z Good Thursday morning. The weekend is nigh. I’m **Isaac Saul** and I can’t stop thinking about this line from a recent [article](https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/2026/08/reading-crisis-postliterate-age/687618/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Nearly%2030%20percent%20of%20American%20adults%20cannot%20paraphrase%20or%20make%20inferences%20from%20a%20multipage%20text.%20In%202017%2C%20that%20number%20was%20less%20than%2020%20percent.) in The Atlantic about the decline of literacy: “Nearly 30 percent of American adults cannot paraphrase or make inferences from a multipage text.” Should I quit writing this weekend or wait a few years? If anyone is reading this, today we’re exploring questions about **Mitch McConnell’s health** and Congress’s broader problem with age. Plus, **the stories we almost covered** this week and some major **updates from the Graham Platner campaign**.It’s a **13-minute read,** or if you’re done with reading, you can [check out our podcast](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tangle/id1538788132?ref=readtangle.com). ### Audrey joins the pod. In this week’s episode of *Suspension of the Rules,* Associate Editor Audrey Moorehead dropped into Managing Editor Ari Weitzman’s chair while he enjoys paternity leave. We discussed the Graham Platner scandal, whether he would actually drop out (we got our answer last night), and why we think the allegations are credible. Then, we talked about Mitch McConnell’s mysterious health issues (a topic we dive into today). It’s worth your time: ### Quick hits. 1. Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner (D) announced he will end his campaign, two days after a former girlfriend accused him of raping her in 2021\. Platner said the allegation was untrue and claimed the Democratic establishment had undermined his candidacy. The Maine Democratic Party must now select a new nominee by July 27\. ([The announcement](https://www.bangordailynews.com/2026/07/08/politics/elections/graham-platner-ends-senate-campaign/?ref=readtangle.com)) 2. The U.S. military launched a new round of strikes against Iran following President Donald Trump’s declaration that the U.S.–Iran ceasefire is over. ([The strikes](https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/u-s-launches-new-strikes-on-iran-after-trump-declares-ceasefire-over-2c0738fe?mod=hp%5Flead%5Fpos1&ref=readtangle.com)) 3. President Trump said he will permit Ukraine to co-manufacture Patriot missile interceptors, a key resource to defend against Russian ballistic missile strikes. ([The permission](https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5958742-us-ukraine-co-produce-patriots/?ref=readtangle.com)) 4. Apple announced it will invest approximately $30 billion in chip manufacturing in the United States as part of a partnership with chipmaker Broadcom. ([The investment](https://www.foxbusiness.com/media/apple-invest-30-billion-us-chip-manufacturing?ref=readtangle.com)) 5. President Trump reportedly flew back to the United States from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization summit in Turkey on the old Air Force One aircraft after the Secret Service advised him not to use the new Air Force One, which was gifted by Qatar, as a security precaution. ([The report](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/08/us/politics/trump-air-force-one-security.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&ref=readtangle.com)) SPONSORED by Organixx ****The Best Sleep of Your Life — Guaranteed** You’re exhausted… but as soon as your head hits the pillow, your brain won’t turn off. Or maybe you finally fall asleep… only to wake up at 2:37 AM staring at the ceiling. For millions of people over 35, the problem isn’t just stress, blue light, or bad luck — it’s a simple mineral deficiency. [****Organixx Magnesium 7**](https://api.wellput.io/v1/cm?cmid=983801mr2h90o6&tid=278&s1=v2-r744621-p983801-c48481&s2=Tangle&s3=&s4=null&ref=readtangle.com) is the complete magnesium solution, with seven **highly absorbable* forms that target every pathway your body uses for relaxation and recovery. The result? - Fall asleep in minutes - Stay asleep for hours - Wake up feeling like you’re 20 again [Flash Sale - Buy 2 Get 1 Free ](https://api.wellput.io/v1/cm?cmid=983801mr2h90o6&tid=278&s1=v2-r744621-p983801-c48481&s2=Tangle&s3=&s4=null&ref=readtangle.com) ### Today’s topic. Mitch McConnell’s health. Over the past week, lawmakers have expressed increasing concern about Sen. Mitch McConnell’s (R-KY) health, roughly three weeks after the senator was [hospitalized](https://apnews.com/article/mitch-mcconnell-hospital-health-senate-kentucky-bf3d75527d77002c430f4270afbfc0af?ref=readtangle.com) for still-unknown reasons. The hospitalization is the latest in a string of health-related incidents for McConnell, which have raised questions about his fitness for office. On Wednesday, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D) [asked](https://governor.ky.gov/attachments/20260708%5FMcConnell-Letter.pdf?ref=readtangle.com) McConnell’s office to provide a “\[full\] update” on the senator’s status, citing increasing concern “about the current state of your health and wellbeing.” **Back up:** McConnell, 84, is the longest-serving senator in Kentucky history and the [9th-longest-serving](https://www.senate.gov/senators/longest%5Fserving%5Fsenators.htm?ref=readtangle.com) senator in United States history, first winning election to the chamber in 1984\. He was the Senate’s majority leader from 2015 to 2021 and led the Senate GOP Conference from 2007 to 2025\. His current term ends in January 2027, and he is not seeking reelection. Major questions about McConnell’s health first arose in July 2023, when the senator [abruptly stopped speaking](https://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2023/07/26/mitch-mcconnell-unable-to-speak-video-vpx.cnn?ref=readtangle.com) while answering a reporter’s question and remained frozen for an extended period; he had a [similar incident](https://www.readtangle.com/mitch-mcconnell-freezing-episode-term-limits/) later that summer. Since then, McConnell has had [multiple falls](https://www.newsweek.com/full-timeline-of-mitch-mcconnell-health-issues-as-senator-hospitalized-12074128?ref=readtangle.com) — some in public — resulting in serious injuries (he has said a childhood bout of polio has hindered his movements in adulthood). In February, he was [hospitalized](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/mitch-mcconnell-hospitalized-experiencing-flu-symptoms-office-says-rcna257342?ref=readtangle.com) for over a week with what his staff called “flu-like symptoms.” On June 14, McConnell was again hospitalized; earlier in the day, emergency responders [reported](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/06/us/politics/mitch-mcconell-health-hospitalization.html?eafs%5Fenabled=false&ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Emergency%20responders%20the,as%20the%20individual.) performing CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) on an individual experiencing cardiac arrest at the senator’s Washington residence, though they did not confirm that it was McConnell. His staff has yet to specify the nature of his hospitalization or his prognosis, but on July 2, they [said](https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5955865-mitch-mcconnell-senate-health-status/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=His%C2%A0office%20on%C2%A0Thursday%C2%A0also%20said%C2%A0the%2084%2Dyear%2Dold%20senator%C2%A0%E2%80%9Ccontinues%20to%20improve%2C%20and%20is%20working%20closely%20with%20his%20staff%20on%20Kentucky%20and%20Senate%20matters%20while%20the%20Senate%20is%20out%20of%20session.%E2%80%9D) he “continues to improve, and is working closely with his staff on Kentucky and Senate matters while the Senate is out of session.” Separately, on Monday, right-wing activist Laura Loomer [claimed](https://x.com/LauraLoomer/status/2074210061447307773?ref=readtangle.com) that a source close to the Trump administration had told her that McConnell was “officially brain dead… \[and\] not coming back.” However, on Tuesday, spokespeople for Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) and Majority Whip John Barrasso (R-WY) [said](https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2026/07/07/congress/mitch-mcconnell-health-thune-barrasso-00988874?ref=readtangle.com) both lawmakers had spoken with McConnell this week and had substantive conversations. Former McConnell adviser and conservative political commentator Scott Jennings also [said](https://x.com/ScottJenningsKY/status/2074537046752845872?ref=readtangle.com) he had spoken by phone with McConnell for roughly 20 minutes on Tuesday. If McConnell were to die or resign before the end of his term, a [complex vacancy process](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/07/08/mcconnell-health-update-beshear-hospitalization-kentucky.html?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=How%20Kentucky%E2%80%99s%20vacancy%20law%20works) would begin, potentially depriving Senate Republicans of a voting member until the November elections. The senator’s office has not indicated that he is in grave health or considering resigning at this time. Today, we’ll share perspectives from the left and right on McConnell’s health, followed by Executive Editor Isaac Saul’s take. ### What the left is saying. - **Many on the left view the mystery about McConnell’s well-being as a sign of an unhealthy democracy.** - **Some suggest that concerns over the senator’s absence are overblown.** - **Others say McConnell’s lack of transparency is unacceptable.** **In The Daily Beast, Michael Ian Black argued McConnell’s situation is** [**“even worse than we think.”**](https://www.thedailybeast.com/why-the-mitch-mcconnell-mystery-is-even-worse-than-we-think/?ref=readtangle.com) “Imagine if you just disappeared from your job for a month. Would you still expect to retain it? Would it be an insult for your employers to ask where the hell you are, or to ask for some proof that you’re recovering in the hospital from some ailment?” Black asked. “There are three options on the table here: either McConnell is alive and recuperating, in which case it ought to be easy enough for him to send a freaking Snapchat; he’s dead and not recuperating, in which case the law demands a special election; he’s in a vegetative state and unable to fulfill his duties, in which case the law demands a special election. So why don’t we know which it is?” “Like everything with McConnell, the reason for this is as obvious as it is infuriating. Kentucky Republicans are almost certainly trying to drag out McConnell’s proof-of-life as long as possible in order to deny Kentucky voters the opportunity to hold an election to replace him,” Black said. “In a functioning republic, the first question citizens ought to be able to answer for themselves is the simplest one imaginable: are they alive? The fact that we can’t says less about the health of one Mitch McConnell, and much more about our own.” **In the Louisville Courier Journal, Joseph Gerth said the** [**“specifics on Mitch McConnell’s health don’t matter.”**](https://www.courier-journal.com/story/opinion/columnists/gerth/2026/07/08/mitch-mcconnell-health-status-condition-should-not-be-democrats-focus-opinion/90823512007/?gnt-cfr=1&gca-cat=p&gca-uir=false&gca-epti=z11xx86p118650c118650e1109xxv11xx86&gca-ft=27&gca-ds=sophi&ref=readtangle.com) “If McConnell’s family and staff want to say exactly what is going on with him… they can do that if they want,” Gerth wrote. “I don’t know if they necessarily need to, though. I say this because McConnell is not the president of the United States. Whether or not a president can carry out his duties is of utmost importance. A senator? Not so much. He’s one of 100\. The Senate will be fine while McConnell’s gone. It will be fine if he never returns. Just like it’s been fine when every other aging senator has fallen ill and spent time away from the Senate.” “If \[McConnell resigns,\] we really don’t know what that means. It used to be that the governor would appoint a replacement who would serve until after the November election. But then the Republicans in the General Assembly, worried that McConnell would die in office, started to muck around with the law in an effort to keep Andy Beshear from appointing a Democrat,” Gerth said. “I suspect if McConnell dies or retires because he can’t do the job, this whole thing will end up in court. Even if Beshear succeeds in appointing a replacement, the victory will be short-lived… Until then, I don’t really care if McConnell’s office tells us exactly how he’s doing or what he’s up to.” **In his Substack, Ken Klippenstein wrote** [**“Mitch McConnell nears dead-line.”**](https://www.kenklippenstein.com/p/mitch-mcconnells-dead-line?ref=readtangle.com) “In a political system run by the sage leaders that people like McConnell imagine themselves to be, he would have stepped down so voters could have an orderly election and decide for themselves. Instead, we have a mad dash for partisan power,” Klippenstein said. “Lawmakers \[have\] stayed almost completely silent about McConnell’s unexplained absence for more than two weeks. During that stretch he missed more than 20 votes, including a knife-edge resolution to curb Trump’s war powers over Iran. The reason is simple: nobody wants to invite scrutiny of health and fitness in a gerontocracy, especially when members on both sides of the aisle have something to hide.” “Whatever the truth of his condition, McConnell — or his aides — have decided the public doesn’t deserve to know what’s going on. Yet by their own account, a handful of officials do deserve to know, as well as one insider who worked for McConnell,” Klippenstein wrote. “Scott Jennings, a former McConnell staffer turned political commentator and one of the few non-government figures who claims to have spoken with him, was asked about the silence on CNN and said: ‘Ultimately, these officeholders — you know, they’re in charge of their own operations.’ They’re in charge. Not the four million Kentuckians who have no idea if half their Senate representation is even conscious. Not the 300 million Americans who have to live under the decisions he and his colleagues make.” ### What the right is saying. - **Many on the right say McConnell’s health challenges are serious but not yet grave.** - **Some say McConnell dying or stepping down before August 3 could upend the GOP caucus.** - **Others suggest that Congress needs stronger requirements for lawmakers’ continued participation.** **In RedState, Jennifer Oliver O’Connell suggested that speculations about McConnell’s health** [**“have been greatly exaggerated.”**](https://redstate.com/jenniferoo/2026/07/07/the-rumors-on-mitch-mcconnells-condition-have-been-greatly-exaggerated-n2204075?ref=readtangle.com) “Like or dislike McConnell, this stuff about his health condition is not only crazy town, but downright ghoulish,” O’Connell wrote. “Occam’s Razor, folks: The simplest and most reasonable explanation is probably the right one. McConnell is 84-years old and has had major health challenges and scary falls of late. Hence, part of the reason why he will be retiring once his term is done… So this unexpected hospital visit and stay could well be for extensive testing and monitoring out of an abundance of caution. At his age, it is not uncommon or unsurprising.” “In terms of his Senate seat, unless it is vacated — whether because of incapacity or death — McConnell is the sitting senator from Kentucky. Full stop,” O’Connell said. “What all this disbelief, speculation, conspiracy theories, and prognostication indicate is that it doesn’t matter whether it’s the Democrat or Republican side of things; few have faith in the ability of their elected officials to be honest about the state of affairs in their party. Even when party leaders attempt to respect privacy and maintain decorum (e.g., in the case of Republican Rep. Thomas Kean, Jr. (NJ-07) and his months-long battle with depression), we assume the worst because it usually is.” **In Reason, Robby Soave said the Republican establishment** [**“needs McConnell to hold out until August 3.”**](https://reason.com/video/2026/07/07/mitch-mcconnells-absence-sparks-thomas-massie-senate-speculation/?ref=readtangle.com) “McConnell is retiring, and the standard election to replace him will happen in November,” Soave wrote. “But that’s November. What if, God forbid, McConnell doesn’t make it until then? Well, in that case, Kentucky would have to hold a special election to fill the seat. Kentucky is one of a handful of states in which the governor can’t just appoint a temporary replacement: It would need to schedule a special election. And anybody could file to run as an independent in that election.” “This only applies if it became clear that McConnell needed to be replaced before the cutoff date of August 3… At that point, the seat would simply be empty, and McConnell’s replacement would be determined via the normal November election. And it’s too late for \[Rep. Thomas\] Massie or anyone else to run as an independent in that one,” Soave said. “It may very well be the case that McConnell’s final political gambit is to try to deny Massie the opportunity to channel grassroots outrage into a successful Senate run. And if that’s what’s going on, foes of the establishment have just under a month to unmask this conspiracy.” **In The Federalist, Chris Bray wrote** [**“Congress can’t require members to show up or quit.”**](https://thefederalist.com/2026/07/07/congress-cant-require-members-to-show-up-or-quit/?ref=readtangle.com) “A member of Congress who wins a seat holds the seat, and gets the paycheck, until he loses an election or decides to give it up. He doesn’t have to come to work to have the job,” Bray said. “Members of Congress have medical privacy rights, but their constituents have a right to be represented. The conflict between those competing rights keeps coming up… In the most recent examples, Rep. Tom Kean, a New Jersey Republican, stopped coming to work for four months, offering no explanation for his absence.” “Not participating in deliberation while serving in deliberative bodies, and not providing representation while holding office in a representative government, members of Congress who wander away from the job face no immediate consequences,” Bray wrote. “They hold the seat long after they lose their ability to do the work. To change that, we would have to get Congress to act. You can see how likely that is.” ### My take. **Reminder: “My take” is a section where we give ourselves space to share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, don't unsubscribe. Write in by replying to this email, or** [**leave a comment**](https://www.readtangle.com/mcconnell-health-concerns-july-2026/#ghost-comments-root)**.** - **I hope McConnell is okay, but he should resign.** - **Congress’s age-related issues are only getting worse.** - **I don’t see a clear resolution to this problem unless lawmakers like McConnell lead by example and step down when they can no longer do the job.** **Executive Editor Isaac Saul:** Sen. Mitch McConnell is a human being, so every piece of writing about his health should start with some well-wishes: I sincerely hope rumors about him being brain dead or *actually* dead are false, and I wish him a speedy and full recovery. That said, McConnell should obviously resign. Knowing this is a sensitive subject, and having fielded repeated accusations of “ageism” for my [early warnings about President Biden’s declining mental acuity](https://www.readtangle.com/is-president-biden-okay/) in 2021, I want to state clearly: I’m not advocating for age limits in Congress, nor am I sure how much good they would even do. Not all octogenarians or nonagenarians are created equal: My grandmother lived to be 97, and she was mentally fit enough in her final days to do just about any task (a real blessing). Yet the halls of Congress are replete with members in their 70s, 80s or 90s who simply aren’t up for the job anymore, and lawmakers seem to have such a desperate need to hang onto power that it’s genuinely rare for any of them to give it up voluntarily. My grandmother had the capacity to work and the grace to know her limits. Congress today too often has neither. Consider the recent examples: Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) spent the last few years of her life in Congress avoiding members of the press while her staff [covered up](https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/dianne-feinstein-health-crisis-senate-resign-1234734590/?ref=readtangle.com) her inability to do the job. Her memory was so bad that she regularly expressed confusion about basic Senate functions, once [asking](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/28/us/politics/feinstein-senate-staff.html?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=At%20times%20she,votes%20to%20come.) why Vice President Kamala Harris was presiding over the chamber for a tiebreaking vote. Staff members would [whisper in her ear and hand her notes](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/28/us/politics/feinstein-senate-staff.html?ref=readtangle.com) the moment before votes, seemingly guiding her through the decision-making process. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D), the non-voting D.C. delegate, is now 89 years old. She has seemed hardly capable of [interacting with reporters](https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2025/07/07/capitol-hill-gerontocracy-eleanor-holmes-norton-dianne-feinstein-joe-biden-00437318?ref=readtangle.com) for several years now — yet refuses to resign. Last year, she was [scammed](https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/del-eleanor-holmes-norton-scammed-at-home-by-group-claiming-to-be-cleaning-crew/4006388/?ref=readtangle.com) out of several thousand dollars by con men posing as house cleaners, and a police report on the incident said she was in the “early stages of dementia.” Former Rep. Kay Granger (R-TX), 83, missed months of votes in 2024 before we found out [she’d been suffering from dementia and living in an assisted-living facility](https://www.politico.com/news/2024/12/22/kay-granger-assisted-living-facility-texas-00195837?ref=readtangle.com). Just this spring, Rep. Frederica Wilson (D-FL), 83, [missed](https://people.com/83-year-old-congresswoman-misses-full-month-of-votes-11976092?ref=readtangle.com) almost a month of votes, did zero press, and gave no updates on her health; when she re-emerged in Congress, she said a left-eye surgery had prevented her from flying. A couple weeks later, she [said](https://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article315914072.html?ref=readtangle.com) she wouldn’t run for reelection — but would still serve out her term. Five members of the 119th Congress have died in office since January 2025: Rep. Sylvester Turner (D-TX) [died](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/rep-sylvester-turner-texas-democrat-houston-mayor-dies-70-rcna194875?ref=readtangle.com) after a medical emergency at the age of 70, Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ) [died](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/arizona-rep-raul-grijalva-dies-of-complications-from-cancer-treatment-at-77?ref=readtangle.com) of complications from lung cancer treatment at the age of 77, Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA) [died](https://virginiamercury.com/2025/05/21/after-over-30-years-of-public-service-virginia-congressman-gerry-connolly-dies-at-75/?ref=readtangle.com) of esophageal cancer at the age of 75, Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-CA) [died](https://www.chicoer.com/2026/02/13/doug-lamalfas-cause-of-death-released/?ref=readtangle.com) of an aortic dissection at the age of 65, and Rep. David Scott (D-GA) [died](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2026/04/22/david-scott-death-georgia-congressman/89734479007/?ref=readtangle.com) at 80 of undisclosed causes following years of speculation about his health. Also, Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) [died](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/rep-sheila-jackson-lee-dies-battle-cancer-rcna162819?ref=readtangle.com) of pancreatic cancer at the age of 74 in July 2024, right as the 118th Congress was wrapping up; the next month, Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-NJ) [died](https://newjerseymonitor.com/2024/08/21/rep-bill-pascrell-dies-after-prolonged-hospital-stays/?ref=readtangle.com) at the age of 87 following a prolonged hospitalization. This Congress is [on pace](https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5856029-aging-congress-rising-deaths/?ref=readtangle.com) to surpass the number of deaths in each of the past five congressional sessions. The overall death numbers from the past decade or so have also ticked up compared to the decade prior. All this serves as context for the recent Mitch McConnell episode, and all available evidence [suggests](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/paramedics-responded-cardiac-arrest-mcconnells-home-day-hospitalizatio-rcna352660?ref=readtangle.com) the senator had some kind of major cardiac incident at his home, collapsed, had to be revived by emergency responders, and has spent the last three weeks in a hospital bed. We know virtually nothing about his current status, which presents its own transparency problem. With that said, I do not trust the “journalist” Laura Loomer, who reported that McConnell is brain-dead. Loomer is more of a right-wing activist than a reporter, whose own brain is so addled by conspiracies that she has accused sitting senators of affairs based on selfies [they took *with their wives*](https://x.com/GabbyGiffords/status/2074298124944675311?ref=readtangle.com). I certainly trust her less than conservative commentator Scott Jennings and Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD), both of whom have said they’ve spoken to McConnell in recent days; obviously, holding conversations with colleagues or friends is not something “brain-dead” people typically do. Yet this is not some one-off incident. If McConnell were in his 40s, 50s, or 60s — or were in his 80s but with a totally clean health record and the acuity of someone like, say, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) — I might advocate giving him the time and space to recover. But that is not the situation we have. For all the talk of President Biden’s fitness throughout his term, much of which I participated in, the former president never froze in public without speaking or moving for over 20 seconds. Just go watch the [videos](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ing%5FIbuw6s&ref=readtangle.com) of that happening to McConnell [twice in the span of a month](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIUG8couUC0&ref=readtangle.com) in 2023 and let me know if you think he’s up for the job (that was three years ago, and I was [calling](https://www.readtangle.com/mitch-mcconnell-freezing-episode-term-limits/#:~:text=about%20their%20health.%E2%80%9D-,My%20take.,-We%20need%20to) for him to step down then, or for Congress to institute term limits). Those “freezing episodes,” which were always an oddly euphemistic name for what looked like back-to-back medical emergencies, are the sort of incidents that would prompt you to rush a parent, friend, or colleague to the hospital — and then take their car keys. McConnell has also had several falls recently and is regularly seen on camera (much like the late Sen. Feinstein) receiving [direct instructions](https://x.com/Cheering4Change/status/2074251331422847259?ref=readtangle.com) from his staff on his movements, actions, and statements. Anyone who has spent time with the elderly recognizes these signs as indications that a person needs extra care at home — the kind of care I think it’s fair to say a member of Congress should not need to receive while serving. Pointing this out is so taboo that the few reporters [who do](https://www.kenklippenstein.com/p/the-gerontocracy-is-dead?ref=readtangle.com) typically get an onslaught of angry emails from Congressional staff and even other reporters. So, let me repeat: This is not about age; it’s about the capacity to do the job. While age limits aren’t a terrible solution to this problem, they’re also not particularly democratic. I think allowing voters to elect elder statesmen they trust is fine, or putting term limits on everyone (regardless of age) is also workable, but I don’t necessarily think an age limit targeting the elderly is the best option. I can also empathize with someone like McConnell — whose career was mostly defined by being in control — not wanting to accept that his time has come, or resisting calls to step down. One day, God-willing, I’ll be in my 80s or 90s and maybe still writing publicly about politics; if it looks like I’m slipping, or incapable of doing the work without serious assistance, I hope there will be someone with enough wisdom around me to rip this keyboard from my cold, dead hands (and good luck to you). But that’s just it: The fact that nobody around McConnell has guided him to the exit at any point in the last few years is a genuine travesty — and it appears he nearly died in office just months before his long-delayed retirement. There is a fine line between respecting your elders, or respecting institutions like Congress, and ignoring natural issues that come with aging, and the press — and many political operatives — regularly seem to be on the wrong side of this one. McConnell is just one of many members of Congress who are holding onto their jobs too long, motivated either by their own clinging to power or the insistence of those around them that retiring will hurt their party politically (in this case, given McConnell’s history of procedural manipulation, I think it’s fair to wonder if he’s trying to avoid a special-election selected replacement for the last months of his term). Whatever has led up to this point, the senator has an opportunity to lead by example, and he should. Rather than leave Republicans with an incapacitated member for the next month, or several months, he should resign now and let whatever process is supposed to play out play out. Anything less than that is just more ugly precedent for a very ugly and uncomfortable trend that has been ailing Congress for years. **Take the survey:** Should we have age limits for Congress? [Let us know](https://interrobang.vercel.app/survey/af43d5d5-cf5a-4892-b36e-1c541f46fd1c?ref=readtangle.com). *Disagree? That's okay. Our opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we'll consider publishing your feedback.* ### Numbers. - [**21.**](https://www.whas11.com/article/news/politics/mitch-mcconnell-separating-rumor-from-fact/417-67978cfb-3f46-4e60-86c9-5505d08e8aea?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=He%20has%20been%20absent%20for%20multiple%20votes%20on%20the%20Senate%20floor%20in%20those%20three%20weeks%2C%20including%20a%20vote%20on%20the%20War%20Powers%20Resolution.%20He%20has%20missed%20a%20total%20of%2021%20votes.%20%C2%A0) The total number of votes Sen. Mitch McConnell has missed since his hospitalization in June. - [**239 of 14,403.**](https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/mitch%5Fmcconnell/300072?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=From%20Jan%201985%20to%20Jun%202026%2C%20McConnell%20missed%20239%20of%2014%2C403%20roll%20call%20votes%2C%20which%20is%201.7%25.%20This%20is%20better%20than%20the%20median%20of%202.8%25%20among%20the%20lifetime%20records%20of%20senators%20currently%20serving.%20The%20chart%20below%20reports%20missed%20votes%20over%20time.)The proportion of roll call votes McConnell missed between January 1985 and June 2026. - [**1.7% and 2.8%.**](https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/mitch%5Fmcconnell/300072?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=From%20Jan%201985%20to%20Jun%202026%2C%20McConnell%20missed%20239%20of%2014%2C403%20roll%20call%20votes%2C%20which%20is%201.7%25.%20This%20is%20better%20than%20the%20median%20of%202.8%25%20among%20the%20lifetime%20records%20of%20senators%20currently%20serving.%20The%20chart%20below%20reports%20missed%20votes%20over%20time.) The percentage of roll call votes missed by McConnell during that period and the median percentage of votes missed by currently serving U.S. senators, respectively. - [**11.2.**](https://www.everycrsreport.com/files/2025-01-22%5FR41545%5Fc611518b3dc84e4b33a6f66d891f3ad30cee9686.html?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=most%20recent%20Congress.-,The%20average%20years%20of%20service%20for%20Members%20elected%20to%20the%20119th%20Congress%2C%20as%20of%20January%203%2C%202025%2C%20when%20the%20Congress%20convened%2C%20was%208.6%20years%20for%20the%20House%20and%2011.2%20years%20for%20the%20Senate.,-In%20comparison%2C%20the)The average number of years of service for senators elected to the 119th Congress. - [**63.9.**](https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/R48535?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=The%20average%20age%20of%20Members%20of%20the%20House%20at%20the%20beginning%20of%20the%20119th%20Congress%20was%2057.9%20years%3B%20of%20Senators%2C%2063.9%20years.)The average age of senators at the beginning of the 119th Congress. - [**80%.**](https://maristpoll.marist.edu/polls/president-trump-while-at-war-may-2026/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=About%20Eight%20in%20Ten%20Americans%20Support%20Age%20%26%20Term%20Limits%20for%20Congress)The percentage of U.S. adults who support imposing a maximum age limit for candidates running for the Senate or House, according to an April 2026 NPR/PBS News/Marist poll. SPONSORED by Point.me ****Your secret to (almost) free travel** Points travel is not magic, but when you use your points the right way, it can feel pretty close. ****point.me** helps total points beginners travel like pros. Their flight search tool finds the deals hiding inside airline loyalty programs, not just the obvious ones in your credit card portal. Search where you want to go, and ****point.me** shows you how to book better flights with up to 90% fewer points, step by step. [Get 4 months free on an annual membership with code ****4MONTHSFREE**](https://api.wellput.io/v1/cm?cmid=974082mrcf3ym2&tid=360&s1=v2-r750010-p974082-c48039&s2=Tangle&s3=&s4=null&ref=readtangle.com). ### The road not taken. We started the week debating whether to cover President Trump’s appeal to the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) to lift the red-card suspension of U.S. soccer player Folarin Balogun to allow him to play in the team’s World Cup match against Belgium on Monday. FIFA did just that, and it sparked a global controversy, pushing this sports-centric story into the political realm. We held off on covering to see how the match went (and what Balogun’s impact would be); after the U.S. was handily beaten, the furor died down considerably, and we didn’t think the topic merited a full edition. Otherwise, our coverage choices this week were fairly straightforward and dictated by the stories driving the most commentary on the right and left. Next week, we’ve got our eye on an Iran war update, President Trump’s NATO summit appearance, and the Michigan Senate primary as potential main topics on Monday or Tuesday. Another dark horse: Tucker Carlson’s [announcement](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/02/us/politics/tucker-carlson-third-party.html?eafs%5Fenabled=false&ref=readtangle.com) that he plans to help establish a new political party. ### The extras. - **One year ago today** we covered the Trump administration’s [updates on investigations into Jeffrey Epstein](https://www.readtangle.com/the-epstein-files-stay-sealed-doj-fbi/). - **The most clicked link in our last regular newsletter** was, once more, [the link to vote for Tangle in the 2026 People’s Choice Newsletter Awards](https://newsletters.club/peoples-choice?vote=58efb036-abcf-4de3-8ceb-090a9af275a5&ref=readtangle.com) (thanks for your support!). - **Nothing to do with politics:** A site that lets you [surf television channels from past decades](https://www.myretrotvs.com/?ref=readtangle.com). - **Our last survey:** 2,679 readers responded to our survey on the accusations against Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner (D), with 61% saying Platner should — and will — drop out. “Platner is finished and he should be,” one respondent said. “So everyone but Trump has to drop out \[based\] on allegations?” said another. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/07/data-src-image-d656b68b-853d-4bd9-8983-8ea8737e7996.png) ### Have a nice day. Among the provisions at Ethan, Seth and Jonathan Mielke’s lemonade stand at a farmer’s market in Rogers City, Michigan, were hand-painted rocks, fresh produce and, of course, homemade lemonade. The three brothers could count on between $100 and $200 each summer from their stand, but last season, they had to stop: The market’s new management told them that they would need a temporary food license to continue selling (costing nearly $400). Early this year, the boys delivered handwritten letters to state Rep. Cam Cavitt (R), who vowed to work on the issue. He introduced HB 6007, a bipartisan bill that would allow minors to run lemonade stands that made $5,000 or less a year. On June 25 — two weeks after the brothers testified at a committee hearing — the state House unanimously passed the bill. [The Washington Post has the story](https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2026/07/01/kids-be-charged-400-fee-lemonade-stand-are-fighting-back/?ref=readtangle.com). ### We Need to Talk About the Graham Platner Story URL: https://www.readtangle.com/we-need-to-talk-about-the-graham-platner-story/ Last updated: 2026-07-10T04:06:24.000Z The Graham Platner controversy has quickly become one of the most debated political stories of the week—but it also raises much bigger questions about evidence, credibility, accountability, and how we evaluate allegations in an increasingly polarized environment. ### Graham Platner faces new sexual assault allegations. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/graham-platner-assault-allegations-july/ Last updated: 2026-07-08T15:51:14.000Z Happy Wednesday — this is Associate Editor **Audrey Moorehead**, still coming down from the patriotic high of spending the Fourth of July in Philadelphia, America’s founding city. If you had told seven-year-old Audrey she’d be here for the 250th, she wouldn’t have believed you. The semiquincentennial celebrations aren’t over yet — the Declaration of Independence was originally read to the public in Philly on July 8, 1776, so today the city’s holding a public reading exactly 250 years later. Even writing that sentence gives me full-body chills. As much as I’ve enjoyed celebrating America’s history, I can’t help but feel unsettled and distraught about our present. Today, I’ll be writing about the **sexual assault allegations against Graham Platner** and what the ongoing saga says about our political culture. Read on for an under-the-radar story about **a drop in the U.S. death rate**, a look back at **the opening of Japan to trade**, and some **newly discovered historical documents**. It’s a **14-minute read**. ### Voting ends soon. Tangle is up for the first-ever Newsletter People’s Choice Award, and [voting ends on Saturday](https://newsletters.club/peoples-choice?vote=58efb036-abcf-4de3-8ceb-090a9af275a5&&ref=readtangle.com). We’re currently in the lead (out of 112 nominated newsletters), but we need your help to bring it home. If you haven’t already, we’d appreciate it if you could [cast a vote for us](https://newsletters.club/peoples-choice?vote=58efb036-abcf-4de3-8ceb-090a9af275a5&&ref=readtangle.com)! Note: Be sure to confirm your vote in your email after you submit the form. ### Quick hits. 1. President Donald Trump suggested that the U.S.–Iran ceasefire is over amid resumed attacks by each side, saying, “I don’t want to deal with them anymore… as far as I’m concerned, it’s over.” ([The comments](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/07/08/trump-says-iran-ceasefire-is-over-after-latest-round-of-strikes.html?ref=readtangle.com)) 2. President Trump criticized member states of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization at the alliance’s summit in Turkey, specifically questioning Europe’s energy and immigration policies while resuming calls for the United States to control Greenland. ([The criticisms](https://www.politico.com/news/2026/07/07/trump-rips-nato-allies-dashing-european-hopes-for-a-kumbaya-summit-00988547?ref=readtangle.com)) 3. The Department of Homeland Security said an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer fatally shot a Mexican immigrant during a traffic stop in Texas. The department claimed the man was in the country illegally and attempted to evade arrest. ([The incident](https://www.wsj.com/us-news/ice-officer-fatally-shoots-mexican-immigrant-in-texas-dhs-says-66032691?mod=us-news%5Flead%5Fpos3&ref=readtangle.com)) 4. A federal judge nullified a Justice Department subpoena that sought personal information about thousands of Georgia election workers related to the department’s investigation into the 2020 election. The judge said the statute of limitations for bringing potential charges had “long expired.” ([The ruling](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/07/us/politics/2020-election-inquiry-trump-georgia.html?ref=readtangle.com)) 5. Right-wing French politician Marine Le Pen said she will run for president in France after a court shortened the length of her ban on seeking elected office, part of her sentence for misusing European Union funds. ([The announcement](https://www.nbcnews.com/world/europe/france-far-right-marine-le-pen-presidential-election-macron-rcna353271?ref=readtangle.com)) SPONSORED by hear.com ****Brain-Boosting Hearing Innovation** When your hearing struggles, your brain works overtime to fill in the gaps, which can affect memory, focus, and energy over time. 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On Monday, Jenny Racicot, a former girlfriend of Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner (D), [accused](https://www.politico.com/news/2026/07/06/graham-platner-sexual-assault-allegation-00987737?ref=readtangle.com) him of raping her in 2021\. Politico, which first published the report, corroborated aspects of Racicot’s account after speaking with a man whom Racicot dated after Platner, as well as reviewing messages between her and her therapist and an acquaintance. Platner denied the accusation but said he is “taking the time to reflect on the best path forward.” A significant number of Congressional Democrats, including many lawmakers who previously endorsed Platner, have called on him to drop out of the race. **Back up:** Platner, 41, is a progressive Democrat and military veteran who most recently worked as an oyster farmer in Maine. In June, he [won](https://ballotpedia.org/Democratic%5FParty%5Fprimaries%5Fin%5FMaine,%5F2026?ref=readtangle.com) the Democratic Senate primary with 72% of the vote after Gov. Janet Mills suspended her campaign in April. Platner has [until Monday, July 13](https://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/21-a/title21-Asec374-A.html?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=1.%C2%A0%20Vacancy%20and,342%2C%20%C2%A712%20%28AMD%29.%5D) to have his name removed from the general election ballot if he chooses to drop out; in that event, the Maine Democratic Party will have until July 27 to choose a candidate to replace him on the party line. Since entering the Senate race in August 2025, Platner’s campaign has been marred by a series of significant controversies. He had a tattoo on his chest of a skull symbol associated with the Nazi police, which he [claimed](https://apnews.com/article/maine-platner-senate-trump-mills-tattoo-collins-fa8328a3c8aa5d5e0f34adb379e977b8?ref=readtangle.com) not to know the meaning of when he had it done in 2007\. Separately, his [past activity](https://themainemonitor.org/platner-reddit-comments/?ref=readtangle.com) on the social media platform Reddit has drawn scrutiny for his repeated use of slurs and disparaging comments made about various groups. In May, The Wall Street Journal [reported](https://www.wsj.com/politics/elections/graham-platners-wife-flagged-sexually-explicit-texts-to-his-senate-campaign-628ec832?ref=readtangle.com) that Platner’s wife had discovered sexually explicit texts between him and multiple women last spring; The Journal also discovered that Platner has an active account on Kik, a private-messaging app often used to arrange sexual encounters. Finally, in June, The New York Times [published](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/04/us/politics/platner-maine-senate-girlfriends-relationships.html?ref=readtangle.com) testimonies from three women who were romantically involved with Platner — including Racicot — accusing him of volatile and “toxic” behavior in their relationships, which Platner has denied. *We covered Platner’s past controversies* [*here*](https://www.readtangle.com/the-graham-platner-controversies/) *and* [*here*](https://www.readtangle.com/platner-maine-new-controversy/)*.* Racicot did not accuse Platner of rape in her comments to The New York Times, but she [told Politico](https://www.politico.com/news/2026/07/06/graham-platner-sexual-assault-allegation-00987737?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Racicot%20said%20she%20later,declined%20to%20comment%20further.%29) that she decided to come forward after seeing that another accuser quoted in the Times’s story, Lyndsey Fifield, was dismissed by some commentators as being politically motivated. According to Racicot, on a night in 2021, Platner let himself into her home after she had told him not to come over. She said he appeared heavily inebriated and forced himself on her despite her explicit rejection of his advances; he then allegedly had sex with her against her will. Separately, on Tuesday, the Washington Post published a new [account](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/07/07/ex-girlfriend-graham-platner-says-he-removed-condoms-without-consent/?ref=readtangle.com) from Fifield, in which she claimed that Platner had removed condoms during sex without her consent on multiple occasions, adding to her previous claims of physical abuse. In a statement on Monday, Platner [called](https://x.com/grahamformaine/status/2074214272628916296?ref=readtangle.com) Racicot’s accusation “troubling, serious, and false” but said his campaign is “reflect\[ing\] on the best path forward.” Since the story broke, as of Wednesday morning, 38 Democratic senators have [called on](https://www.politico.com/news/2026/07/07/platner-senate-democrats-drop-out-tracker-00988633?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=WHERE%20THE%20CAUCUS%20STANDS%20ON%20PLATNER) Platner to drop out, including several former endorsers, such as Sens. Ruben Gallego (AZ), Sheldon Whitehouse (RI), Elizabeth Warren (MA), and Bernie Sanders (I-VT). The Maine Democratic Party also [said](https://mainedems.org/statement-from-maine-democratic-party-leadership-on-allegations-against-graham-platner/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Maine%20Democratic%20Party%20leadership%20is%20calling%20on%20Graham%20Platner%20to%20withdraw%20as%20the%20Democratic%20nominee%20for%20U.S.%20Senate.) he should withdraw. Neither Platner nor his campaign has made a public comment since his statement on Monday. Today, we’ll cover the latest controversy and the potential end of Platner’s campaign, with views from the right and left. Then, Associate Editor Audrey Moorehead gives her take. ### What the right is saying. - **The right criticizes Democrats for their response to Platner’s controversies.** - **Some see Platner’s success so far as a sign of an immoral political climate.** - **Others say Platner’s lack of fitness for office has been obvious for some time.** **In National Review, Philip Klein argued** [**“Democrats have less leverage over Graham Platner than they think.”**](https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/democrats-have-less-leverage-over-graham-platner-than-they-think/?ref=readtangle.com) “If \[Platner drops out\] before next Tuesday, Democrats will be able to replace him by the end of the month. But it isn’t that simple,” Klein wrote. “It’s quite possible that he will decide to stick it out. In reality, he holds all the cards. He won the Democratic primary, and there is no mechanism for replacing him unless he decides to give up. The guy wouldn’t have gotten as far as he did were he not a narcissist who ignored the advice of the party’s power brokers.” “He knows that if he steps aside, he will be remembered forever as the guy who had to drop out after being credibly accused of rape, which will convince everybody that the accusations about him are true,” Klein said. “If he holds on, however, Democrats will be stuck with him after next week. Given how negative partisanship works, the left-wing tilt of the state, and the control of the Senate at stake, it’s easy to see Democratic voters talking themselves into the idea that they have to suck it up and support Platner.” **In UnHerd, Emily Jashinsky called the allegations** [**“a test of Democrats’ moral limits.”**](https://unherd.com/newsroom/new-platner-allegations-are-a-test-of-democrats-moral-limits/?edition=us&ref=readtangle.com) “Even after the tattoo scandal, the Reddit scandal and the adultery scandal, Platner is leading in *RealClearPolitics*’s average,” Jashinsky wrote. “Platner’s persistence remains a symbol of our political climate. Character concerns are a luxury that can now be overcome by energetic anti-establishment politics and a weak opponent. A big chunk of the electorate has accepted that their vote is ultimately just a choice between the lesser of two evils. “At this point, the calculation is really just when character concerns become too much of a risk if other options are available, even when those other options might lack Platner’s populist flair,” Jashinsky said. “The lesson of \[Trump’s\] arc is that Americans are now much more likely to be persuaded by arguments about their material interests, not abstract appeals to integrity and decency. Nobody believes politicians are qualified to make that case, so they might as well talk about healthcare, gas prices, and rent.” **In Hot Air, David Strom said** [**“who could have guessed that Graham Platner was a bad guy?”**](https://hotair.com/david-strom/2026/07/07/who-could-have-guessed-that-graham-platner-was-a-bad-guy-n3816671?ref=readtangle.com) “What makes \[this controversy\] of interest is what it says about the Democratic Party today, and how far off the rails it has gone,” Strom wrote. “Graham Platner wore a Nazi tattoo for 18 years. His hobby, before getting into the race, was training transgender people at the Socialist Rifle Club of Maine on how to storm buildings with assault rifles. He derided women, blamed them for their own rapes, and declared himself a communist.” “It would be one thing if the Democrats didn’t already know that Platner was profoundly flawed, but they all did. Perhaps they didn’t know all the specifics, but then again, all the specifics they did know would and should have been disqualifying,” Strom said. “Democrats are campaigning with Hasan Piker. Kamala Harris is reaching out to Zohran Mamdani. Full-blown communists who openly say that they want to destroy America and Western Civilization are winning Democratic primaries. Where are the Democratic Party leaders willing to stand up and say ‘No?’” ### What the left is saying. - **Most on the left condemn Platner and call for him to withdraw.** - **Some predict that a new Democratic candidate can still win the seat.** - **Others say bad judgment caused Platner’s supporters to ignore red flags.** **In The Nation, Steve Phillips said** [**“Maine Democrats must replace Graham Platner now.”**](https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/graham-platner-sexual-assault-maine/?ref=readtangle.com) “We appear to be left with an impossible choice: betray the survivors, or sacrifice the seat… But it doesn’t have to be that way. We have another option,” Phillips wrote. “The task before us is clear and achievable. Platner should take responsibility, recognize the larger good, and withdraw before July 13\. And everyone who lifted him up… should now publicly call on him to step aside, withdraw their endorsements, and rally around a new nominee. Pressure, applied with clarity and conviction over a matter of days, will make the difference as to whether Democrats lose this seat. “If Platner does step aside, the next decision matters just as much,” Phillips said. “The energy Platner tapped — the willingness to challenge a sclerotic status quo, the championing of working people, the demand for transformative change — is real, and it is why the surveys showed him running stronger against \[Susan\] Collins than \[Janet\] Mills did. Strip away the disqualifying conduct and that appeal remains. The way forward is to find a nominee who carries the energy without the abuse.” **In Bloomberg, Ronald Brownstein suggested** [**“Platner’s fall could save Democrats from themselves.”**](https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2026-07-07/if-platner-quits-maine-senate-race-here-s-who-should-replace-him?ref=readtangle.com) “That it has come to this is a story of panoramic failure within the Democratic Party,” Brownstein wrote. “Most surveys agree that Trump is more unpopular in Maine than he was in 2020\. For that matter, the share of voters with a favorable view of Collins is also lower now. And yet, in this must-win race, Democrats were relying on a candidate who had never sought public office and whose mounting vulnerabilities had left them with no more than a coin-flip’s chance of success.” “To beat Collins, the job for Maine Democrats was not to find an exceptional candidate, but really just an acceptable one,” Brownstein said. “Instead, the Maine Democratic Senate nomination became entangled in the proxy war between left and center over the party’s direction… The political consequence \[of Platner’s fall\] is that, very much despite themselves, Democrats will likely get a much better chance to oust Collins — and a much clearer path toward recapturing a Senate majority.” **In The Argument, Jerusalem Demsas described** [**“what Graham Platner’s defenders refused to see.”**](https://www.theargumentmag.com/p/what-graham-platners-defenders-refused?ref=readtangle.com) “People sometimes treat moral failures as separable from errors of cognition. This is wrong. Moral failures sprout directly from bad practical reasoning,” Demsas wrote. “The problem, of course, is that Platner’s defenders have done some bad practical reasoning. They have decided that the world is sorted cleanly into friends and enemies, which means evaluating claims is a matter of figuring out which team you’re on, not whether the argument has merit. That’s why every time people raised concerns with Platner’s behavior, it was shot down as an attack on a friend by an obvious enemy.” “This is how bad judgment accumulates. It calls itself loyalty, forgiveness, realism, nuance, an anti-establishment revolt, or refusing to play by the enemy’s rules. All of those things can be virtues, but sometimes they’re just rationalizations,” Demsas said. “Platner himself is likely finished in Democratic politics, but the habits of mind that put him a hair’s breadth from power are what really need to be defeated… There will be other Graham Platners, other people who seem like they are on your team but for some pesky red flags. The point of good judgment and all that annoying virtue is that it prevents you from making the mistake of trusting them.” ### My take. **Reminder: “My take” is a section where we give ourselves space to share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, don't unsubscribe. Write in by replying to this email, or** [**leave a comment**](https://www.readtangle.com/graham-platner-assault-allegations-july/#ghost-comments-root)**.** - **I’m heartened by Fifield’s and Racicot’s bravery in coming forward to share their stories.** - **I can understand why Platner’s supporters stuck it out until now, but it still makes me feel deeply cynical about our politics.** - **Platner may not even drop out, and I’m unsure where Maine Democrats go from here.** **Associate Editor Audrey Moorehead:** I’ve never had a rosy view of politics and its practitioners, but man, things seem especially gloomy these days. With that said, I want to start with the only possible positive spin to take from this story: the courage of Lyndsey Fifield and Jenny Racicot, two of the women who have accused Graham Platner of a range of misconduct in recent months. These women spoke up about some of the worst things that had ever happened to them — while knowing they were certain to face backlash and scrutiny. I imagine that Fifield knew the truth of her account would be questioned since she’s a right-wing staffer; sure enough, [many](https://x.com/matthewstoller/status/2062639458973823405?s=20&ref=readtangle.com) pundits [accused](https://x.com/WajahatAli/status/2063733351815446983?ref=readtangle.com) her of [exaggerating](https://x.com/ryangrim/status/2062655655308378590?ref=readtangle.com) or even [fabricating](https://x.com/krystalball/status/2062670966044467550?s=20&ref=readtangle.com) her claims in a “hit job” attempt. Never mind that if she *really* wanted to execute a hit job, she would have come forward after the July 13 dropout deadline, when Democrats would be stuck with Platner. But she didn’t, and instead of going silent or hiding in the face of the subsequent attacks, Fifield convincingly [defended herself](https://x.com/lyndseyfifield/status/2062808677451481364?s=20&ref=readtangle.com), criticizing The New York Times for misleading her about the direction of their story and for misrepresenting the claims she made to them. Fifield claimed that she thought her story would just be one of several, rather than the focal point of the article; instead, others (aside from Racicot) remained anonymous, their accusations presented as less serious. Fifield bore the brunt of the skepticism and anger that always follows serious sexual misconduct allegations against popular public figures. Enter Jenny Racicot, one of the other women quoted in the Times piece. According to Politico, Racicot said she initially didn’t want to accuse Platner of sexual assault because she shared his politics and didn’t want to be seen as a “rape victim.” But after watching the fallout from the Times story, and watching Fifield’s name get dragged through the mud, Racicot decided to put her qualms aside and come forward again. Though Racicot continues to face [some disbelief](https://x.com/mtracey/status/2074257010434953391?s=20&ref=readtangle.com), it seems like most people are taking the picture she painted of Platner seriously. I’m glad to see that, even if I remain frustrated about how Fifield was treated. My initial reaction to basically all of Platner’s scandals has been anger, slowly building as they stacked on top of each other. In my perfect world, each scandal would have been more than enough to sink his candidacy. Instead, each was waved off, justified or absorbed by many in the commentariat, even as his polling numbers [seemed to slip](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/fox-news-poll-maine-senate-race-tight-concerns-about-both-candidates?ref=readtangle.com) in recent weeks. Nothing seemed to truly imperil his campaign until Racicot’s rape allegations this week — after, of course, he had already clinched the Democratic nomination. But, after taking two days to cool off, I can admit that it’s not really fair of me to be so angry with people who supported Platner up to this point. Forming my political consciousness in an exclusively post-Trump world has given me no illusions about the kinds of people who seek and gain power. It also made me understand that perfectly decent people can vote for perfectly indecent candidates if they see politics as a zero-sum game. If I step back, it’s easy for me to see how each successive allegation against Platner could be waved off. The Nazi tattoo and Reddit comments, presented together as mistakes from the past, create a picture of a man whose military service fundamentally changed him and who’s now trying to get better; who am I to deny him a chance at redemption? Apparent infidelity is a line I would draw personally, but his wife spoke out to support him, saying that they were working through things and she wouldn’t want to marry anyone else; that honesty and forgiveness earned my grudging respect. His profile on the messaging app Kik, known as a gathering place for young people, rings alarm bells; but no evidence of predatory behavior has surfaced beyond the existence of the account. Candidly, I have never been a “believe all women” type when it comes to allegations of abuse and violence. I’m too cynical to think that allegations would never be embellished and weaponized for political or personal reasons. And, however it might reflect on me, I remember reading Lyndsey Fifield’s accusations and thinking, *well, that’s not as serious as I was expecting*, especially since the other women didn’t allege anything worse. It was only after Fifield defended herself online, and other writers I trusted spoke up to corroborate her claims and support her, that I became convinced that her accusations were true and that they might even be more serious than I initially perceived. Knowing all of that, I have to ask myself: If I thought Graham Platner was critical to my political goals in some way — if I thought he was key to controlling the Senate or passing crucial legislation or even just shaking things up by unseating an establishment senator who’d been in office for 30 years — would I, too, have waved things off until I couldn’t anymore? I like to think that I wouldn’t have, that the moral standards I hold myself to are genuine and unwavering, but the truth is, when the chips are down, I’m as human as anyone else. My opinion on Platner’s diehard supporters — and on the party that, ultimately, enabled him — is more complicated. While a handful of Democrats [spoke out](https://x.com/PollTracker2024/status/2059079165324734522?s=20&ref=readtangle.com) against Platner and warned voters about his character, Maine voters had a different opinion. Of course, the moment Platner became the odds-on favorite, party opposition all but disappeared — with [very few elected Democrats still opposing him](https://x.com/PollTracker2024/status/2059079165324734522?s=20&ref=readtangle.com). And while the party can more credibly claim that they actually oust accused sex abusers, in this case they were forced to, far later than the Nazi tattoo and domestic abuse warranted. That delay doesn’t sit well with me. Those problems obviously aren’t unique to Democrats, either. Republicans have had their own fair share of [candidates with sordid pasts](https://www.cleveland.com/news/2026/05/emily-moreno-says-ex-husband-us-rep-max-miller-threw-hot-water-on-her-in-motion-to-dismiss-defamation-lawsuit.html?ref=readtangle.com) — some of whom resigned or were voted down, but one of whom currently holds the highest office in the land. And the allegations of sexual misconduct against the president are just as bad as, and more numerous than, those against Platner. Yes, Republican Party leaders once upon a time tried to stop Trump, but they’ve shown little but fealty since his 2016 rise to power, so I’m not exactly interested in hearing from former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) about how the GOP “[walks away](https://www.mediaite.com/politics/kevin-mccarthy-insists-republicans-always-walked-away-from-their-very-bad-candidates/?ref=readtangle.com)” from bad candidates. The uncomfortable truth is that, for all the attempts to create [more decent politics](https://www.readtangle.com/decency-is-about-to-make-a-comeback/), we still live in an era where political expediency comes before virtue. On some level, there’s clearly an [electoral appetite](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/02/opinion/graham-platner-morality-sexting.html?ref=readtangle.com) for the Donald Trumps, Graham Platners and Ken Paxtons of the world — perhaps because, in a political system full of establishment fakers or rigid ideologues, voting for the amoral jerk feels like a middle finger to the status quo or a safe bet to protect oneself from being on the other end of an ideologue’s accusation of immorality. I’m just not sure how we come back from this. I’m also not entirely sure where Maine Democrats go from here. For one thing, as of this writing, Graham Platner hasn’t yet dropped out. He’s facing immense pressure from all wings of the party to do so, and I sincerely hope that he caves to that pressure — but he may not. He’s [reportedly](https://www.wmtw.com/article/maine-democratic-official-says-platner-campaign-tried-to-influence-replacement-process/71859706?ref=readtangle.com) attempting to exercise influence over the state party’s choice of replacement, and while the party is making a big show of calling his bluff, Platner holds the cards. If he doesn’t drop out by July 13, his name will be on the ballot whether Democrats want it there or not. And while I hope he has more character than I give him credit for, I think he’s exactly the type to do a disservice like that to the people of Maine. If Platner *does* stay in, I have to wonder what happens next. Does the national party abandon Maine and pour their money into other races? Or do they do what Republicans did not so long ago and begrudgingly fall back in line because of sheer political math? If that happens, what will the people of Maine do? Will they reject Platner, or will they, too, make the same political calculus that countless other voters have made? I doubt Platner would actually win with all of this baggage, but if the race is even *close*, it’s just another bad omen for the direction of our politics. Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that. **Take the survey:** Should Platner drop out? Will he? [Let us know](https://interrobang.vercel.app/survey/d1a80556-9645-4528-aef8-931cecddd446?ref=readtangle.com). *Disagree? That's okay. Our opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we'll consider publishing your feedback.* ### Under the radar. On Thursday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shared provisional data that showed the death rate in the United States decreased to a record low — 689.2 per 100,000 people — in 2025\. The rate dropped 4.6% from 2024 and decreased for all demographic groups “except American Indian and Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, and Asian people,” according to the report. The top causes of death remained heart disease and cancer, with influenza, pneumonia, and kidney disease entering the top 10 after being absent in 2024\. The report identified some vulnerabilities in the data — such as varying timeliness in death certificate submissions — but said it offers an “early signal about shifts in mortality trends.” [The Hill has the story](https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/5952060-us-death-rate-2025-record-low/?ref=readtangle.com). SPONSORED by Pendulum ****Halle Berry loved this product so much she joined the company** With 16K+ medical professional recommendations, discover why Halle Berry calls [****Pendulum Metabolic Daily**](https://pendulumlife.com/pages/pmd-obsession-newsletter-mb?utm%5Fsource=newsletter&utm%5Fmedium=paid.tangle&utm%5Fcampaign=Acquisition-&utm%5Fcontent=PMD) her life-changing gut health secret. Tangle readers can take up to [48% off their first order](https://pendulumlife.com/pages/pmd-obsession-newsletter-mb?utm%5Fsource=newsletter&utm%5Fmedium=paid.tangle&utm%5Fcampaign=Acquisition-&utm%5Fcontent=PMD) (HSA/FSA eligible). Discount applied automatically at checkout. ### This day in history. ![Commodore Matthew C. Perry | Wikimedia Commons](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/07/data-src-image-54073b69-7a25-41f0-99f1-8be9590493d1.png) Commodore Matthew C. Perry | [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:-Commodore%5FMatthew%5FCalbraith%5FPerry-%5FMET%5FDP261079.jpg?ref=readtangle.com) By the mid-1800s, the United States had doubled down on its “manifest destiny” ideology after establishing a foothold in the West and expanding into territory won in the Mexican–American War. Seeking additional routes for economic opportunity amid rapid globalization, President Millard Fillmore became interested in establishing new spheres of influence in Asia. Portuguese explorers were the first Europeans to discover Japan in 1543, and in the century that followed, missionaries from Portugal, Spain, and other Western countries attempted to engage in trade and convert the population to Christianity. By the mid-1600s, the ruling Tokugawa shogunate decided the risk of foreign meddling was too high, and effectively sealed Japan from most foreign visitors and external trade, save for the trade-oriented Chinese and non-proselytizing Dutch. On July 8, 1853, U.S. Commodore Matthew C. Perry [sailed](https://history.state.gov/milestones/1830-1860/opening-to-japan?ref=readtangle.com) into modern-day Tokyo Bay with a fleet of warships with the charge to put an end to 200 years of Japanese isolationism. Under orders from President Fillmore, Perry arrived in peace, though his four American warships were as much of a showing of military might as they were a coercive tactic. After the initial contact, Perry returned the following year to present Japanese leaders with gifts that represented Western industrialization, including a telegraph, a model locomotive train, and barrels of whiskey. For the Japanese, these new relations with the outside world sparked rapid globalization, and the introduction of new technologies from the West created a deep divide between the proponents of modernization and protectors of the past. The tension sparked a sociopolitical transformation, fully restoring and centralizing imperial power with Emperor Meiji and ending the centuries-long feudal military power held by the Tokugawa shogunate. Several monuments to Perry still stand across Japan, the first of which was erected in 1901 at the site where Perry and his men first landed in Kurihama, Yokosuka. The monuments generally refer to Perry’s role in “opening Japan’s doors to the world,” and remember him as a catalyst for modernization and introduction to the world economy in 19th-century Japan. ### The extras. - **One year ago today** we covered the [Supreme Court decision on age verification for pornography websites](https://www.readtangle.com/porn-age-verification-law-upheld-by-supreme-court/). - **The most clicked link in our last regular newsletter** was (again) [the voting page for the 2026 People’s Choice Newsletter Awards](https://newsletters.club/peoples-choice?vote=58efb036-abcf-4de3-8ceb-090a9af275a5&ref=readtangle.com). - **Nothing to do with politics:** Meet Neil, [“a 1-ton seal who respects nothing.”](https://apnews.com/article/neil-elephant-seal-tasmania-australia-dd46ef42400dc85b92c103d5f10718ef?ref=readtangle.com) - **Our last survey:** 1,201 readers responded to our survey on the Supreme Court striking down limits on coordinated campaign spending, with 45% saying they oppose the legal reasoning and the outcome. “We need to get big money out of our elections altogether,” one respondent said. “Does money really influence votes anymore?” asked another. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/07/data-src-image-e4b2b4bd-8de4-4a7b-ad9c-63027badb821.png) ### Have a nice day. One day in 2024, Professor Christian Tornau received a telephone call with a request for help translating a 12th-century manuscript of six Latin sermons by the scholar Augustine of Hippo. The work led Tornau to an unexpected surprise: Two of the sermons appeared to have been previously undiscovered. To verify their authenticity, Tornau worked closely with fellow scholar Clemens Weidmann, then convened a summer school in 2025 with 20 other Latin scholars. Ultimately, the group concluded that the texts were genuine. Tornau is now working on a critical edition of the new sermons, coming in late 2026\. [The University of Würzburg has the story](https://www.uni-wuerzburg.de/en/news-and-events/einblick/single/news/two-new-sermons-augustine-discovered/?ref=readtangle.com). ### Zohran Mamdani, Bernie Sanders call on Graham Platner to drop out of Maine Senate race. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/zohran-mamdani-bernie-sanders-call-on-graham-platner-to-drop-out-of-maine-senate-race/ Last updated: 2026-07-08T11:06:34.000Z New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D) and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders (I) have both called on Democrat Graham Platner to drop out of the Maine Senate race after he was accused of sexual assault. ### The Supreme Court’s campaign finance ruling. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/scotus-campaign-finance-2026/ Last updated: 2026-07-07T15:52:12.000Z Happy Tuesday — this is Senior Editor **Will Kaback**. Yesterday was one of those days that felt like the news cycle was tripping over itself amid a deluge of major stories. Democrat Graham Platner’s Senate campaign in Maine appears to be over after a woman [came forward](https://www.politico.com/news/2026/07/06/graham-platner-sexual-assault-allegation-00987737?ref=readtangle.com) to accuse him of raping her five years ago. Sen. Mitch McConnell’s (R-KY) health is once more [under the microscope](https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5955865-mitch-mcconnell-senate-health-status/?ref=readtangle.com). President Trump [intervened](https://www.cnn.com/2026/07/06/sport/the-beautiful-game-july-6?ref=readtangle.com) to help overturn a U.S. soccer player’s World Cup suspension, only for the team to lose decisively to Belgium last night. We’ll have more on these stories — particularly Platner’s campaign and McConnell’s health — later in the week. Today, we’re covering a Supreme Court case that’s not as flashy but just as important: last week’s decision to **strike down restrictions on coordinated spending between parties and candidates**. We’ll get into the legal arguments and practical implications below, then answer a reader’s question on **what it means to define yourself as “left” or “right.”** Plus, an uplifting story on **how one bookstore is supporting local artists**. It’s a **14-minute read**. ### Quick hits. 1. A woman who dated Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner (D) accused him of raping her in 2021, prompting Democratic lawmakers to pull their endorsements and call on him to drop out of the race. In a video statement, Platner denied the accusation but said he is “taking the time to reflect on the best path forward.” ([The latest](https://apnews.com/article/graham-platner-maine-assault-senate-061e18bdd180928bbcd94b18a52f4ec9?ref=readtangle.com)) 2. President Donald Trump traveled to Turkey for a North Atlantic Treaty Organization summit. Leaders are expected to discuss the latest on the wars in Ukraine and Iran, as well as Trump’s calls for member states to increase their defense spending. ([The summit](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/07/07/trump-nato-turkey-russia-ukraine-spending.html?ref=readtangle.com)) 3. U.S. officials claimed that Iran fired missiles at three commercial ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz on Monday night and Tuesday morning, likely violating the memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran. ([The incident](https://www.axios.com/2026/07/07/iran-resumes-hormuz-attacks-us-officials?ref=readtangle.com)) 4. Hamas said it will dissolve its government in Gaza and transfer power to the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza in accordance with the U.S.-brokered peace deal. However, the group did not indicate whether it intends to disarm, another key provision of the agreement. ([The announcement](https://edition.cnn.com/2026/07/06/middleeast/hamas-dissolves-gaza-government-intl?ref=readtangle.com)) 5. A five-day preliminary hearing in the case against the man accused of murdering conservative activist Charlie Kirk began in Utah. ([The hearing](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/tyler-robinson-preliminary-hearing-charlie-kirk-case/?ref=readtangle.com)) SPONSORED by top provider ****Find The Right Business Health Insurance Provider. ​In Minutes, Not Months.​** Benefits season shouldn’t take all year. ****Top Provider** helps businesses skip the endless broker calls, carrier quotes, and weeks of back-and-forth that usually come with [comparing health insurance](https://api.wellput.io/v1/cm?cmid=977756mr9jt5y9&tid=365&s1=v2-r748514-p977756-c47903&s2=Tangle&s3=urgency&s4=null&ref=readtangle.com) options. Tell us about your business, your team size, your industry, and what matters most to your employees. ****Top Provider** matches you with benefit providers, including PEOs that can [unlock group rates](https://api.wellput.io/v1/cm?cmid=977756mr9jt5y9&tid=365&s1=v2-r748514-p977756-c47903&s2=Tangle&s3=urgency&s4=null&ref=readtangle.com) and coverage options many small businesses can’t access on their own. No broker middlemen. No endless waiting. Just the right options, faster. [****Get matched with Top Provider today**](https://api.wellput.io/v1/cm?cmid=977756mr9jt5y9&tid=365&s1=v2-r748514-p977756-c47903&s2=Tangle&s3=urgency&s4=null&ref=readtangle.com)****.** ### Today’s topic. *National Republican Senatorial Committee v. Federal Election Commission*. Last Tuesday, the Supreme Court [held](https://www.scotusblog.com/2026/06/justices-strike-down-campaign-finance-law/?ref=readtangle.com) that a federal law limiting the amount of money political parties could spend in coordination with campaigns violated the First Amendment. The Court’s vote was 6–3 along ideological lines. **Back up:** In 1971, Congress passed the [Federal Election Campaign Act](https://www.congress.gov/bill/92nd-congress/senate-bill/382/text?ref=readtangle.com) (FECA) to set limits on spending in federal elections. A 1974 amendment to FECA introduced limits on [coordinated expenditures](https://www.fec.gov/help-candidates-and-committees/making-disbursements-political-party/coordinated-party-expenditures/?ref=readtangle.com), or political party committees’ spending in direct collaboration with campaigns. In a 5–4 decision, the Supreme Court previously upheld the law’s coordinated-expenditure limits in [*Federal Election Commission (FEC) v. Colorado Republican Federal Campaign Committee*](https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/service/ll/usrep/usrep533/usrep533431/usrep533431.pdf?ref=readtangle.com) (2001). In 2022, then-Senate candidate JD Vance (R-OH), then-Rep. Steve Chabot (R-OH), the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) and the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) challenged the law in federal court, arguing that the 2001 decision should be overturned and that FECA inappropriately prevented national committees from coordinating messaging with party candidates. The Supreme Court heard [oral arguments](https://www.scotusblog.com/2025/12/supreme-court-difficult-to-read-in-case-on-campaign-finance-limitations/?ref=readtangle.com) in the case in December. Justice Brett Kavanaugh authored the majority opinion, [writing](https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/24-621%5Fh315.pdf?ref=readtangle.com#page=11) that “modern congressional limits” on coordinated spending violate parties’ free speech rights under the First Amendment because they “impair the party’s traditional forms of communication such as advertisements; preclude parties from amplifying the voice of their adherents; impose additional monetary costs and burdens on political parties; and inflict a ‘stifling effect on the ability of the party to do what it exists to do.’” Justice Elena Kagan authored a dissenting opinion [arguing](https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/24-621%5Fh315.pdf?ref=readtangle.com#page=33) that coordinated-expenditure limits were meant to supplement candidate-contribution limits introduced by FECA to curb corruption; the majority’s decision “ushers back in the same opportunities for *quid pro quo* corruption that the contribution limits were meant to check.” Republicans have broadly expressed support for the ruling as a win for First Amendment rights. Sen. Tim Scott (SC) and Rep. Richard Hudson (NC) [wrote](https://www.nrsc.org/press-releases/nrsc-and-nrcc-applaud-supreme-court-victory-for-first-amendment-in-nrsc-v-fec-2026-06-30/?ref=readtangle.com), “By striking down these unconstitutional caps on coordinated spending, the Court has restored core political speech and ensured parties can compete on a level playing field.” Some Democrats criticized the ruling as opening paths for wealthy donors to exert undue influence on politics. In a joint statement, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (NY), Rep. Suzan DelBene (WA), and Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin [said](https://www.dscc.org/article/dscc-dccc-and-dnc-statement-on-supreme-court-ruling-in-campaign-finance-case/?ref=readtangle.com), “Today’s ruling is a win for billionaire donors and special interests who want more influence over the GOP agenda and an invitation for corruption.” Below, we’ll hear from the left and the right about the ruling. Then, Senior Editor Will Kaback gives his take. ### What the left is saying. - **The left is mixed, with some saying the ruling will enable unchecked corruption.** - **Some suggest that the ruling won’t change much about money in politics.** - **Others argue the decision could have positive downstream effects.** **For the Brennan Center, Daniel I. Weiner and Joanna Zdanys said the** [**“Supreme Court continues to dismantle anticorruption laws.”**](https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/supreme-court-continues-dismantle-anticorruption-laws?ref=readtangle.com) “On Tuesday, the Supreme Court struck down yet another federal campaign finance law, continuing its nearly two-decade drive to destroy anticorruption guardrails,” Weiner and Zdanys wrote. “Since its infamous 2010 *Citizens United* decision, the conservative majority has reinforced the unprecedented fusion of private wealth and political power that now shapes our government. But the Court is not the only branch of government at fault. “For decades, Congress has ceded its authority to presidents and the judiciary and failed to pass long-overdue reforms to repair our warped campaign finance system. Amid growing public outrage at corruption, this ruling must be a wake-up call for lawmakers. Congress must pass a robust anticorruption agenda that would help end the era of massive money in politics that the Court ushered in,” Weiner and Zdanys said. “Congress should take the *NRSC* ruling as a sign to start reasserting its constitutional role to better deliver for the American people.” **In Slate, Richard L. Hasen called the ruling** [**“not nearly as bad as expected.”**](https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2026/06/supreme-court-kavanaugh-nrsc-bad.html?ref=readtangle.com) “It’s possible that the \[*NRSC v. FEC\]* decision makes our campaign finance system a bit less distorted in bringing candidates and parties closer together,” Hasen wrote. “All of these \[super PACs\] are unaccountable, spreading negative messages. Parties help preserve democracy in the court majority’s view, and it was only fair to free the parties of limits on them… It’s not clear that the court is wrong. Super PACs in many ways are worse than parties in campaign spending, and maybe funneling money through the parties could strengthen them.” “But I suspect that *NRSC* will hardly make a dent in either the weakness of political parties… or the current, deregulated campaign environment,” Hasen said. “The ultrarich will still use super PACs and other means of spending big bucks on campaigns. In the 2016 campaign, there were no individuals spending at least $100 million in a campaign season. In 2024 there were nine individuals or couples doing so, with all supporting Republican candidates. The plutocracy is real.” **In The Atlantic, David A. Graham suggested the decision** [**“might improve politics.”**](https://www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/2026/07/supreme-court-campaign-finance-decision/687774/?ref=readtangle.com) “The idea that political parties should be stronger may be counterintuitive to most Americans, who hold both the Democratic and Republican Parties in low esteem,” Graham wrote. “But many political scientists have argued that one reason American politics is such a mess is that the party organizations have been weakened for decades… Weak parties are less able to squash candidates whose positions come from the fringes of their coalitions, or massively wealthy candidates.” “Lifting the ban on coordination won’t eliminate super PACs, which raised $5 billion in the 2024 election, but it will make them less alluring to donors,” Graham said. “Money can be used more efficiently if it’s going directly to a party and candidate, rather than to a super PAC that is legally barred from coordinating with a candidate. One reason Democrats reacted angrily to the ruling is that, in the immediate term, the GOP will likely benefit… In the long run, though, both parties will benefit.” ### What the right is saying. - **The right supports the decision, with some arguing it will improve election transparency.** - **Others frame the ruling as a clear win for Republicans.** - **Some say the outcome upholds free speech principles.** **In The Daily Wire, Trey Trainor argued the decision restored** [**“common sense to campaign finance.”**](https://www.dailywire.com/news/the-supreme-court-restores-some-common-sense-to-campaign-finance?ref=readtangle.com) “The Supreme Court got this one right,” Trainor wrote. “For decades, these restrictions rested on a bizarre fiction, that a political party could somehow corrupt the very candidate it nominates. Nobody who has ever worked in politics believes that. Parties exist to elect candidates. The court has now said what practitioners have known all along: the government cannot punish them for doing so.” “\[Coordination limits\] did not reduce the amount of money spent on politics. They just pushed spending away from political parties and toward outside groups,” Trainor said. “It is important to remember: parties disclose their donors. Their leadership is public. They file detailed reports with the FEC… If you care about transparency in elections, you should want more money flowing through parties, not less.” **In the Washington Examiner, Alexandra Kingston said the ruling** [**“helps Republicans.”**](https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/op-eds/4634948/supreme-court-nrsc-v-fec-helps-republicans/?ref=readtangle.com) “Having spent more than a decade raising money for Republican Senate campaigns, I can tell you plainly what this \[ruling\] means in practice,” Kingston wrote. “The single most frustrating conversation in political fundraising has been explaining to donors why their money could not be used where it was needed most. The ruling fixes it… Campaigns and their party committees can now work together directly, pooling strategy, data, and resources without the legal firewall previously required. “The practical effect is immediate; every dollar now goes further, and the party best positioned to act on this advantage comes out ahead,” Kingston said. “For Republicans fighting to hold and expand a narrow majority across a map with genuine opportunity, the ruling clears away a hindrance on performance at exactly the right moment. Money will still matter. Candidates will still matter. Turnout will still matter. But the wall between party and candidate spending was costing Republicans real votes in close races, and it no longer will.” **The Washington Post editorial board wrote** [**“political speech wins again at the Supreme Court.”**](https://www.wsj.com/opinion/supreme-court-campaign-finance-brett-kavanaugh-nrsc-a90a2936?ref=readtangle.com) “One laudable project of the current Supreme Court has been incrementally restoring the First Amendment right of Americans to spend on political campaigns,” the board said. “Political parties are weaker than ever, and one reason is a 1974 campaign finance law that limits how much parties can spend in coordination with candidates… Congress limited coordinated expenditures to reduce ‘what it saw as wasteful and excessive campaign spending,’ Justice Kavanaugh writes.” “\[Such limits\] run headlong into the Court’s First Amendment precedents, which have repeatedly held that ‘Congress may not dictate how much political speech is too much or how much spending on speech is too much,’ Justice Kavanaugh writes,” the board wrote. “The root cause of such political distortions is the Court’s blunder in *Buckley v. Valeo* (1976), which upheld donor contribution limits under a lower level of First Amendment scrutiny than campaign spending limits. A First Amendment distinction between political spending and contributions is dubious… Sooner or later the Court has to wrestle with its *Buckley* mistake.” ### My take. **Reminder: “My take” is a section where we give ourselves space to share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, don't unsubscribe. Write in by replying to this email, or** [**leave a comment**](https://www.readtangle.com/scotus-campaign-finance-2026/#ghost-comments-root)**.** - **On the merits, the dissenters make a stronger case that limits on coordinated spending are necessary to head off potential corruption.** - **Practically, this decision will likely empower parties and reduce the influence of super PACs.** - **Still, I don’t think that outcome will change the kinds of candidates that are winning.** **Senior Editor Will Kaback:** In 2020, immediately after graduating from college, I started working on a House race in the district where my school was located — New York’s 22nd Congressional District. My candidate, Anthony Brindisi, was a moderate Democrat who flipped the seat in 2018 and was in a rematch against the former congresswoman he had beaten, Claudia Tenney. It ended up being a fairly consequential race decided by the slimmest of margins: We went through months of audits, recounts and legal challenges, and eventually, Tenney was certified as the winner by [109 votes](https://ballotpedia.org/New%5FYork%27s%5F22nd%5FCongressional%5FDistrict%5Felection,%5F2020?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=156%2C098-,Tenney%2B109%5B1%5D,-Timeline%20of%20events) (out of more than 300,000 cast), a key Republican pickup in the closely divided 117th Congress. As competitive and unpredictable as the race was, one aspect of it stands out in my memory more than anything else: money. Rep. Brindisi had to carve out huge chunks of time every day for fundraising calls. As a field organizer, I knew that any time he could allocate to speaking with volunteers or participating in phone-banking sessions was precious and limited — every call to a prospective *voter* was a call that could have been made to a prospective *donor*. The importance of fundraising was even greater than I had imagined going in. The campaign finance rules that controlled how money was deployed made an even greater impression on me. Believe it or not, candidates (at least mine) play by the rules when it comes to campaign finance regulations. The national Democratic Party supported us indirectly, but we could do relatively little side by side, and we had to be extremely careful in how we communicated with anyone outside the campaign. We knew which advertisements were “ours” and which the party ran on our behalf, but we had no advance knowledge of their timing or content. We knew that the party was investing in getting out the vote, but it had no strategic coordination with our own GOTV efforts. The dynamic was like an awkward dance in which the party knew the song and steps, but the campaign had to dance with blindfolds on and earplugs in. After *NRSC v. FEC*, the blindfolds are off and the earplugs are out. A lot of the commentary on this case has suggested that the decision will open the floodgates to more money in politics. In reality, it won’t affect the *amount* of money in politics, just the way it’s directed. And the legal question was narrow: As Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Elena Kagan explain in their majority and dissenting opinions, respectively, the question before the Court centered on whether limits on coordinated campaign spending were necessary to guard against “actual and apparent *quid pro quo* corruption” despite restricting political speech. Kavanaugh [writes](https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/24-621%5Fh315.pdf?ref=readtangle.com#page=12) that restricting speech for this purpose can be permissible, but the government “bears the burden of proving the constitutionality of its actions.” He convincingly dismisses three of four potential justifications: First, he [notes](https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/24-621%5Fh315.pdf?ref=readtangle.com#page=13) that the Court has previously held that establishing coordinated spending limits for the “purpose of reducing what \[Congress\] saw as wasteful and excessive campaign spending” was a clear First Amendment violation. Second, he finds that the government does not have a compelling interest in preventing parties from exerting influence over candidates because the relationship between the two is so “thoroughly intertwined.” Third, he addresses the potential influence of donors, highlighting [two](https://www.oyez.org/cases/2021/21-12?ref=readtangle.com) recent Court [rulings](https://www.oyez.org/cases/2013/12-536?ref=readtangle.com) that barred Congress from restricting spending because of “the possibility” that political parties, individuals, or outside groups may spend to impact elected officials’ decision making. With that said, one “legitimate” basis for capping coordinated expenditures remains: preventing *quid pro quo* arrangements via political parties. Imagine you’re a wealthy donor who wants to boost a specific candidate in a key Senate race in return for political favors. You’re limited in how much you can give directly to the candidate, but you can [give much more](https://www.fec.gov/updates/contribution-limits-for-2025-2026/?ref=readtangle.com) to their party. Still, [restrictions](https://www.fec.gov/help-candidates-and-committees/making-disbursements-political-party/coordinated-party-expenditures/coordinated-party-expenditure-limits/?ref=readtangle.com) on party spending in coordination with campaigns makes this an inefficient vehicle for a *quid pro quo* arrangement. In theory, then, these restrictions prevent donors from using parties to work around the individual contribution limits that hinder money-for-favors schemes. Kavanaugh asserts that these limits don’t actually prevent corruption, as the party is not obligated to use a donor’s funds for their desired purpose. Donors can “earmark” their money for specific candidates, but the law already [regulates](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-11/chapter-I/subchapter-A/part-110/section-110.6?ref=readtangle.com) and limits these funds. Separately, campaign finance disclosure rules offer transparency into how donations to parties are received and spent, creating a public record that acts as a strong “anti-circumvention tool.” And of course, caps on individual donations to campaigns and parties are still in place, so this decision doesn’t allow for new spending that wasn’t possible before. Thus, the majority holds, coordinated spending limits aren’t necessary to shield against corrupt donor arrangements — at least, not enough to overpower the First Amendment concerns. This all sounds nice, but I’m not sold. As Justice Kagan [lays out](https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/24-621%5Fh315.pdf?ref=readtangle.com#page=34) in her dissent, the practical effect of this ruling will be to turn parties into candidates’ “checking accounts,” covering all manner of expenses that have nothing to do with political speech. “A candidate, for example, might forward the bill from his pollster; or the rent or electricity bill for campaign headquarters; or the catering bill for a campaign,” she writes. To me, this dynamic creates a clear pathway for “apparent” *quid pro quo* schemes, which even Justice Kavanaugh acknowledges is a constitutional basis for imposing restrictions of this kind. The majority suggests that rules on earmarking and campaign finance disclosures are sufficient to prevent corruption, but I think donors, parties, and candidates are too savvy for that. As Kagan [notes](https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/24-621%5Fh315.pdf?ref=readtangle.com#page=40), candidates can form joint fundraising committees that allow a single donor to give over $550,000 in one fell swoop. Before this decision, most of that money could only be spent on indirect support — such as bolstering get-out-the-vote operations or producing independent advertisements. Now, that money can be spent without restriction. I don’t know whether this ruling will *actually* result in *quid pro quo* agreements that weren’t possible before, but the potential for *apparent* corruption is immediate and obvious. Donors’ direct impact on candidates was previously measured in thousands of dollars; now, it’ll be hundreds of thousands. I agree with Kavanaugh that the bar should be high for imposing restrictions on speech through political spending, but in this case, Kagan is right that the bar has been met. So where does this ruling leave us? I’m biased, but I thought the best discussion of the practical effects of this case came in last week’s [*Suspension of the Rules* episode](https://youtu.be/FsB-a544pjw?si=cvAFBkMBwju8ntug&t=337&ref=readtangle.com) with legal analyst Sarah Isgur. Isgur said the decision will empower parties in positive ways, allowing them to exert greater influence over the kinds of candidates that are elevated while reducing the power of super PACs. “Parties were the things that bridged election cycles, had policy platforms, and had carrots and sticks to hold candidates to those policies and those platforms,” she said. But today, we have “reality TV politics, where it’s all personality-driven and candidate-driven.” In that sense, rather than opening the floodgates to corruption, this decision could actually shift us away from insurgent, polarizing campaigns and toward candidates who better represent a party’s voters writ large. It’s another nice thought, but — again — I’m not convinced. I think Isgur is spot on that super PACs will have less power in the post-*NRSC* world. Before last week, both parties and super PACs were restricted in how they could work with candidates, but the latter could take in and spend unlimited funds on candidates’ behalf, making them a more strategic funnel for donors. Now, parties’ ability to work directly with campaigns gives them a distinct edge. But is shifting that money toward parties any better, particularly when the pathways for wealthy individuals to exert disproportionate influence over candidates and elections remain? If parties could actually act as a moderating force, perhaps. But I think the degradation of party power over the past decade is much deeper than money, and rooted more in a loss of voter trust. Take one particularly top-of-mind example: Graham Platner. His rapidly unraveling Senate campaign perfectly represents the consequences of powerless parties — poorly vetted candidates who create problems for the party at the local and national levels. But let’s say the national Democratic Party had more sway in the race; what’s the result, Janet Mills? Democratic voters chose Platner over Mills in overwhelming fashion even after some of his baggage was made public, a clear repudiation of the party’s power center. Simply put, I don’t think we’re going back to the days when the GOP and Democrats were elevating distinguished candidates that voters placidly accepted; I think it’s an even tougher sell to voters when the reason we might return there is more coordinated political spending and centralized party control. In a funny way, then, I disagree with this decision on the merits while doubting it will upend the political landscape. The vast pool of donor money is essentially unchanged; it’s just likely to concentrate in a new area. Will parties benefit from this new dynamic? Yes. But I don’t think that influence will do much to slow the insurgency of the Platners, the Paxtons, the democratic socialists, or the populist right. More likely, those kinds of candidates will keep winning primaries, and as a result, coordinated spending will eventually benefit — not hinder — their campaigns. **Take the survey:** What do you think of the Court’s ruling? [Let us know](https://interrobang.vercel.app/survey/71a70a05-0304-4da5-9443-f7482cc16214?ref=readtangle.com). *Disagree? That's okay. Our opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we'll consider publishing your feedback.* ### Your questions, answered. **Q: What does it mean today to define yourself as “left-leaning” vs “right-leaning”? I’m not a political buff, but I sense that the terms used to be connected to values — e.g., government programs vs. free markets. Now it seems that people define them more by the people or party they support. I can’t help but wonder if that helps explain why readers perceive your criticism of a person/party as a political leaning, even if your values remain consistent.** **— Akhi from Providence, RI** **Tangle:** Traditionally, the American political left believes the government should play an active role in addressing social inequalities and pursue government regulation of the economy, specifically when that regulation involves protecting workers or the environment. Americans on the right typically coalesce around individual liberty, tradition and limited government intervention in the economy, with an eye toward advancing the growth of the business sector. Of course, these are general principles, [not rules](https://www.readtangle.com/what-is-a-liberal/), and we feel the ground constantly shifting beneath our feet. President Trump has influenced many on the political right to favor large-scale government economic intervention like tariffs or public stakes in private companies. Democratic voters have become wealthier and more highly educated, while Democratic politicians have become increasingly critical and skeptical of Israel and American intervention in the Middle East. Things that are true today about Democrats, Republicans, the left or the right won’t necessarily be true in a decade — they’re not fixed poles. These days, Americans experience politics as a part of their social identity, so leaning left or right can be less about principles and more about belonging to a specific coalition of people, media sources, value sets, cultural attitudes, and/or political loyalties. While the left and the right may sometimes feel miles apart, they’re not opposites, and it muddies the waters to watch big names defect from their parties of record; think Tucker Carlson and Marjorie Taylor Greene pivoting away from the GOP and Tulsi Gabbard and RFK Jr. severing ties with Democrats. And while the traditional lines may have blurred and grown more complicated over the years, political parties have always involved some degree of loyalty and tribalism — that’s why George Washington offered a [warning](https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/resources/pdf/Washingtons%5FFarewell%5FAddress.pdf?utm%5Fsource=substack&utm%5Fmedium=email) against a two-party system as a parting gift in his farewell address. As you noted, our politics are largely defined by who we identify with, and can carry an undeniable, tense underbelly of “if you’re not with me, you’re against me.” In a charged and polarized political environment, it’s understandable that criticism or praise may be interpreted through the lens of partisan conflict, even if that’s not the intention. We encounter that challenge in our work every day, but our hope is we can be part of the push toward more curiosity, open-mindedness and independence, not loyalty to one side or the other. **Want to have a question answered in the newsletter? You can reply to this email (it goes straight to our inbox) or** [**fill out this form**](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScQhqBSG%5F6%5FoBhwcTQMeS570n29XYbeQ9C9Bis7rjqI31g1tA/viewform?usp=header&ref=readtangle.com)**.** ### Numbers. - [**$130,600–$4,071,800.**](https://www.fec.gov/help-candidates-and-committees/making-disbursements-political-party/coordinated-party-expenditures/coordinated-party-expenditure-limits/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=For%20Senate%20nominees%2C%20the%202026%20limits%20range%20from%20%24130%2C600%20to%20%244%2C071%2C800%2C%20depending%20on%20each%20state%E2%80%99s%20voting%20age%20population%20%28VAP%29%3B) The range of state limits on coordinated party expenditures for 2026 Senate nominees. - [**$65,300–$130,600.**](https://www.fec.gov/help-candidates-and-committees/making-disbursements-political-party/coordinated-party-expenditures/coordinated-party-expenditure-limits/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=For%20House%20nominees,limit%20is%20%2465%2C300.) The range of state limits on coordinated party expenditures for 2026 House nominees. - [**72% and 5%.**](https://www.politico.com/news/2026/05/09/poll-americans-say-too-much-money-in-politics-00912455?ref=readtangle.com) The percentage of U.S. adults who believe and don’t believe, respectively, that there is too much money in politics, according to an April 2026 Public First–POLITICO poll. - [**15% and 50%.**](https://www.ipsos.com/en-us/few-see-unlimited-campaign-spending-form-free-speech?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Just%2015%25%20of%20Americans%20say%20they%20consider%20spending%20unlimited%20amounts%20of%20money%20on%20political%20campaigns%20an%20example%20of%20free%20speech%20protected%20by%20the%20First%20Amendment.%20Half%20do%20not%20%2850%25%29%2C%20and%20about%20a%20third%20%2832%25%29%20are%20unsure.) The percentage of U.S. adults who view and don’t view, respectively, unlimited campaign spending as protected free speech, according to a January 2026 American Promise–Ipsos poll. - [**$11.6 billion.**](https://adimpact.com/hubfs/Reports/updated%20projections%202026/AdImpact%20Updated%20Political%20Projection%20Report%5F2025-2026.pdf?ref=readtangle.com) The projected national spending on political ads in the 2025–26 election cycle, according to AdImpact. SPONSORED by top provider ****Find The Right Payment Processing Providers For Your Business. ​In Minutes, Not Months.** Finding the right payment processor shouldn’t take weeks of wrong vendors and inbox spam. There’s a faster way with ****Top Provider**. Answer a few questions about your business: your industry, your volume, and how you take payments. 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[Get started with ****Top Provider** today](https://api.wellput.io/v1/cm?cmid=978641mr9kn1m9&tid=366&s1=v2-r748531-p978641-c47954&s2=Tangle&s3=urgency&s4=null&ref=readtangle.com). ### The extras. - **One year ago today** we covered [the flash floods in Texas](https://www.readtangle.com/tragedy-in-texas-floods/). - **The most clicked link in our last regular newsletter** was the link to vote for Tangle in the 2026 Newsletter Awards [(you still have three days to vote!)](https://newsletters.club/peoples-choice?vote=58efb036-abcf-4de3-8ceb-090a9af275a5&ref=readtangle.com). - **Nothing to do with politics:** Ever wondered what it would be like to be an operating system? [Now you can find out](https://plbrault.github.io/youre-the-os/?ref=readtangle.com). - **Our last survey:** 2,714 readers responded to our survey on America’s 250th anniversary, with 52% saying they feel a mix of optimism and pessimism about the country. “I don’t expect the U.S. to be a world power for much longer,” one respondent said. “It is still the greatest country in the world,” said another. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/07/data-src-image-8219bf0d-4cba-4954-9e4c-c135cc80234b.png) ### Have a nice day. Lilyan Lauzon, an artist and bookstore community engagement manager in Minneapolis, Minnesota, wanted to give exposure to new artists in the area but was finding it challenging. Then, she had an idea: set up a vending machine in the bookstore, solicit submissions from local artists, and create the $1 Mini Art Vending Machine. Selected artists pay no fee, and buyers’ money goes directly to the artist. In eight months, the machine has featured nearly 3,000 pieces by over 80 local artists. “Artists have told me that people have come to their art fairs to buy more of their artwork because of what they got in this snapshot of their portfolio,” Lauzon said. [CBS News has the story](https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/minneapolis-mini-art-vending-machine-inkwell-booksellers/?ref=readtangle.com). ### America’s 250th anniversary. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/america-250th-anniversary/ Last updated: 2026-07-06T17:58:19.000Z Happy Monday. I’m **Isaac Saul** and today, I’m feeling the American pride. On Friday, I wrote about the history of press freedom in the U.S. On Saturday, I had an old-fashioned, Americana Fourth of July, complete with barbecue and a small-town fireworks show. Today, I’m contemplating the significance of **America’s 250th anniversary.** And tonight, we get another chapter in the USA World Cup journey. Huzzah! We’ve also got a reader question about the **United States Triumphal Arch**, a story you may have missed about **gun regulations being rolled back**, and a **request for you to vote** in a very special election. It’s a **14-minute read**. ### Vote for Tangle! We’re nominated for the 2026 People’s Choice Newsletter Awards, and we’d appreciate it if you could take a moment and cast a vote for us. It’s quick and easy (just be sure to confirm your vote in your email after you submit the form) — [the link to vote is here](https://newsletters.club/peoples-choice?vote=58efb036-abcf-4de3-8ceb-090a9af275a5&ref=readtangle.com). ### Quick hits. 1. Iran held a public funeral for Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in U.S.–Israeli airstrikes on February 28\. Khamenei’s son and Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, was not seen, adding to speculation about his health. ([The funeral](https://www.nbcnews.com/world/iran/iran-funeral-procession-tehran-supreme-leader-khamenei-rcna353101?ref=readtangle.com)) 2. FIFA, soccer’s global governing body, lifted the red-card suspension of United States men’s national team player Folarin Balogun after President Donald Trump intervened on his behalf. The decision allows Balogun to play in the team’s World Cup match against Belgium on Monday. ([The intervention](https://apnews.com/article/falorin-balogun-suspension-world-cup-e5a5cab5731a916808601be93cb36832?ref=readtangle.com)) 3. Venezuelan authorities said that the death toll from two earthquakes that hit the country on June 24 has risen to 3,342 as of Sunday. ([The update](https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/death-toll-venezuela-quakes-rises-3342-2026-07-05/?ref=readtangle.com)) 4. President Trump spoke separately with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky amid heightened attacks by each side in recent weeks. ([The calls](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-putin-zelenskyy-war-ukraine-russia-call/?ref=readtangle.com)) 5. State Sen. Mallory McMorrow (D) suspended her campaign for Michigan’s Senate seat. The decision leaves U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens and epidemiologist Abdul El-Sayed as the top candidates for the Democratic nomination in the key Senate race. ([The announcement](https://www.axios.com/2026/07/05/mallory-mcmorrow-michigan-senate-stevens-el-sayed?ref=readtangle.com)) SPONSORED by financebuzz ****22 Things To Cut When Living On Retirement (Many People Ignore #11)** Whether you’re already enjoying retirement or just eyeing the exit ramp, the math of a fixed income can feel like a daunting puzzle. The rising cost of living often turns "relaxing" into "calculating," but your [golden years](https://financebuzz.com/money-moves-cut-on-retirement-yaez?utm%5Fsource=tangle&utm%5Fmedium=paid-newsletter-cpf&utm%5Fterm=Tangle&utm%5Fcampaign=BM-FBZ-Tangle-money-moves-cut-on-retirement-yaez-CPF&adgroupid=BM-Tangle-money-moves-cut-on-retirement-yaez-CPF-07062026) shouldn’t be defined by what you **can’t* do. The good news? You don’t need a radical lifestyle overhaul to find breathing room. Often, it isn't the big-ticket items that drain a nest egg; it’s the steady drip of outdated services and [inefficient accounts](https://financebuzz.com/money-moves-cut-on-retirement-yaez?utm%5Fsource=tangle&utm%5Fmedium=paid-newsletter-cpf&utm%5Fterm=Tangle&utm%5Fcampaign=BM-FBZ-Tangle-money-moves-cut-on-retirement-yaez-CPF&adgroupid=BM-Tangle-money-moves-cut-on-retirement-yaez-CPF-07062026). Efficiency isn't about deprivation — it's about intentionality. Our partner FinanceBuzz curated a list of simple cutbacks and financial tools to help you reclaim your budget for what actually matters. [Check out the list](https://financebuzz.com/money-moves-cut-on-retirement-yaez?utm%5Fsource=tangle&utm%5Fmedium=paid-newsletter-cpf&utm%5Fterm=Tangle&utm%5Fcampaign=BM-FBZ-Tangle-money-moves-cut-on-retirement-yaez-CPF&adgroupid=BM-Tangle-money-moves-cut-on-retirement-yaez-CPF-07062026). ### Today’s topic. America’s 250th anniversary. On Saturday, the United States marked 250 years since the Second Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, establishing the original 13 American colonies as a new, independent nation. In addition to the traditional fireworks and parades, cities and states [held special celebrations](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/usa250/2026/07/04/how-us-celebrated-america-250/90770696007/?ref=readtangle.com) reflecting on the country’s history for its semiquincentennial. In Washington, D.C., large crowds gathered to celebrate across the capital. While some of President Donald Trump’s “Salute to America” event was canceled or delayed due to extreme weather — including a [temporary evacuation](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/07/04/trump-to-mark-us-250th-anniversary-with-campaign-style-rally.html?ref=readtangle.com) of the National Mall — the president delivered an address on the Mall, followed by a [massive](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/usa250/2026/07/04/america-250-july-4th-celebrations-updates--live/90736882007/?ref=readtangle.com) fireworks display. In his address, President Trump [highlighted](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/top-highlights-trumps-late-night-july-4-address-no-dream-history-bigger?ref=readtangle.com) the United States’s achievements through its first 250 years, painting an optimistic picture of its future as well as attacking some of his political enemies. “This country has been the greatest force for peace and justice on earth in the last century. We defeated tyrants, demolished evil, and saved freedom again and again and again,” Trump said. The address also [focused](https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-mark-us-250th-anniversary-with-campaign-style-rally-national-mall-2026-07-04/?ref=readtangle.com) on political topics, with the president renewing his call to pass the SAVE America Act, touting his military actions in Iran, and decrying the purported rise of communism in the United States. The celebrations in Washington, D.C. were also marked by controversy after a large group identified as members of the white nationalist organization Patriot Front [marched](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/04/us/white-nationalists-march-in-washington-amid-250th-anniversary-celebrations.html?ref=readtangle.com) through neighborhoods around the Capitol, chanting “reclaim America.” Separately, the anniversary prompted reflections on political polarization and national unity. Some criticized President Trump for creating a [separate group](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/trump-freedom-250-concert-america-250-difference-artists-cancel-rcna347573?ref=readtangle.com) — Freedom 250 — to arrange celebrations for the anniversary instead of working through the nonpartisan America250 organization established by Congress in 2016\. Others expressed concern about whether the country is capable of overcoming internal divisions in the years ahead. Today, we’ll share perspectives from the right and left on America’s semiquincentennial, followed by Executive Editor Isaac Saul’s take. ### What the right is saying. - **The right celebrates the anniversary, reflecting on the symbolic importance of the United States to the world.** - **Some contrast President Trump’s vision for the country with that of the democratic socialist movement.** - **Others argue America remains the greatest country in the world despite its flaws.** **In his Substack, Erick-Woods Erickson praised** [**“the greatness and uniqueness of the United States at 250.”**](https://ewerickson.substack.com/p/the-greatness-and-uniqueness-of-the) “The only people who don’t seem to want to be Americans anymore are progressives in the Ivy League madrasas and, increasingly, a slice of the online right that has convinced itself we’d all be better off apart. They’re both wrong, and history proves it,” Erickson wrote. “Read the Declaration of Independence for yourself. What strikes you is that these were not bloodthirsty radicals. They didn’t want something new… They thought they already had these rights, and Great Britain, in its arrogance, told them they were second-class colonists who didn’t deserve them. So they fought for what they believed was already theirs.” “We are the only nation founded on an ideal. Not blood, not soil, not a king’s bloodline — an idea. That all men are created equal, endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, among them life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,” Erickson said. “The shot heard round the world really was heard round the world. Go read the monument at the entrance to the parliament of Trinidad and Tobago — it echoes our Declaration almost word for word. Nations you’ve never thought about built their own foundings on ours.” **In American Greatness, Roger Kimball wrote** [**“America’s story is cast as either triumphant inheritance or unfinished grievance.”**](https://amgreatness.com/2026/07/05/a-tale-of-two-countries-2/?ref=readtangle.com) “All across the world, spectacular light shows, fireworks, and other red, white, and blue extravaganzas have rung out their grateful and congratulatory chorus. And quite right, too. For the Declaration marked the opening foray of what would become the greatest country the world had ever seen,” Kimball said. “Others were more astringent in their reaction. On Friday, July 3, Zohran Mamdani, New York City’s smiling Uganda-born mayor, sat in front of George Washington’s desk in the mayor’s office at City Hall and delivered a dark admonition.” “The irony is, Mamdani said, ‘that the story of America has so often been written by those who were told by others with power and influence and wealth that they were anything but exceptional.’… It’s Us versus Them, Comrade, and class warfare must go on forever,” Kimball wrote. “Donald Trump, speaking that same day at Mt. Rushmore, provided another, very different vision… He \[noted\] what a magnificent anniversary this was: imagine 250 years of extraordinary prosperity, martial vigor, and unparalleled generosity to others.” **In Townhall, Rep. Abe Hamadeh (R-AZ) said** [**“America is worth fighting for.”**](https://townhall.com/columnists/congressman-abraham-hamadeh/2026/07/04/america-is-worth-fighting-for-n2678759?ref=readtangle.com) “America is not perfect. It never has been. But perfection has never been our promise. Opportunity has. Only in America could a first-generation son of Syrian immigrants, born right here in the United States, grow up with nothing more than his parents’ faith in the future, serve as a U.S. Army Intelligence Officer, and one day stand on the floor of the House of Representatives to take the oath as a Member of Congress,” Hamadeh wrote. “My story is proof that the American Dream is not a slogan. It is a living promise.” “Too often today, the media and those who hate our country ask us only to dwell on its perceived shortcomings. We are told to apologize for our history rather than celebrate it. We are taught to focus on what divides us instead of what unites us. But gratitude and patriotism are not signs of ignorance,” Hamadeh said. “Travel the world, as I have, and you quickly realize just how extraordinary the United States truly is. Billions of people do not dream of coming here by accident. They come because America remains the greatest engine of freedom, opportunity, and human flourishing ever created.” ### What the left is saying. - **The left also celebrates America’s 250th, with many sharing an optimistic view for the future despite the present challenges.** - **Some argue the patriotism represented by Trump deviates from the nation’s founding ideals.** - **Others explore key questions for the country in its next 50 years.** **In The Washington Post, David Ignatius offered** [**“a toast to America at 250.”**](https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2026/07/02/250th-anniversary-declaration-america-glows-decays/?ref=readtangle.com) “If we’re honest on this July Fourth, we must admit that the sturdy American men and women who made the revolution are a distant historical memory. Today, we resemble the imperial Britain of 1776 more than the scruffy patriots who rebelled against it,” Ignatius wrote. “At 250, America is a nation in late middle age showing unmistakable signs of decline. Our political system is broken, and our politicians seem unable to solve big social or economic problems… Our social cohesion has unraveled so much we often feel like two nations rather than one.” “And yet, as \[the poet Robinson\] Jeffers wrote, America retains ‘a mortal splendor.’ Beyond the Washington tar pit, Americans remain willing to take risks and fail, and know how to fall and get up again. We’re a muscular nation that weirdly seems to grow tougher as it ages. We still invent the best technology, make the best movies, record the best music. We may elect dreadful leaders, but we survive them,” Ignatius said. “We’ve had good leaders and terrible ones, but each year, whatever the adversity, we remember what this story is about. And we think how lucky we are, still, to be part of the American story.” **In his Substack, Robert Reich explored** [**“the real meaning of July 4, 2026.”**](https://robertreich.substack.com/p/the-real-meaning-of-july-4th-2026) “On this July 4 — the 250th anniversary of the start of this country — many people, including the current occupant of the Oval Office, believe that celebrating America means waving the flag or standing for the national anthem or shouting, ‘America First.’ That’s not what real patriotism is,” Reich wrote. “It means paying taxes proportional to your wealth… It means paying your workers a living wage so they can thrive… It means fully reckoning with how racial oppression and white supremacy have shaped this nation, not whitewashing our history and ignoring racism’s continuing legacy.” “Real patriotism means protecting American democracy and our form of government, not trying to overturn an election that was upheld by 60 federal courts and the Supreme Court, or lying about election fraud when it barely exists,” Reich said. “Real patriotism means not flooding our politics with big money, so the voices of the people can be heard… And it means putting the interests of our country over partisanship.” **The New York Times editorial board wrote about** [**“five questions that will determine America’s next 50 years.”**](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/04/opinion/america-at-250.html?ref=readtangle.com) “Asked what kind of government the framers had produced, \[Benjamin Franklin\] is said to have replied, ‘A republic, if you can keep it.’ The conditional part of that sentence — the *if* — comes fresh to every generation, and it is now the work in front of us,” the board said. “The work will most likely come down to a handful of questions whose answers are genuinely uncertain. The first question is whether self-governing people still share a common reality… The second is whether we can still bear to lose. Self-government is, in part, a system for handling disagreement without bloodshed, and its indispensable habit is the willingness of the defeated to accept defeat.” “The third is whether the country can still keep its central material promise that those who work can rise and that their children can rise further… The fourth is the oldest American question in its newest form: whether the most pluralist nation in history can remain one people,” the board wrote. “The fifth question is about the future, about whether we can pass tests that unfold slowly and yet ask for sacrifice now. A dangerously changing climate presents one of those tests. Another involves debts handed to people who never voted on them.” ### My take. **Reminder: “My take” is a section where we give ourselves space to share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, don't unsubscribe. Write in by replying to this email, or** [**leave a comment**](https://www.readtangle.com/america-250th-anniversary/#ghost-comments-root)**.** - **America remains a unique and exciting country, and taking in this year’s World Cup reminds me of that.** - **The weekend also offered speeches that I appreciated from political leaders on both sides.** - **We can hold both pride and cynicism at once while honoring our founding story.** **Executive Editor Isaac Saul:** On this great anniversary, it is hard not to be of two minds. The positive case is almost always easy for me to see. Anyone with even a rudimentary understanding of world and U.S. history knows that our country is uniquely significant, awesome, and aspirational. We talk about being the richest nation on earth, but that wealth is really a byproduct of centuries of innovation, labor, and resilience. We talk about being the most powerful nation on earth, but that power comes from balancing might with diplomacy. We talk about being the most free, but those freedoms don’t just come from a document — they really are held, and have been earned, by the people themselves. I don’t want to overindex on my sports devotion, but I have to say the timing of the World Cup has created a serendipitous tie-in for this 250th anniversary. Sports don’t always have to have some great meaning, and despite being a sports junkie, I often roll my eyes at attempts to inflate competition for entertainment into something much deeper. Yet it’s difficult to be tuned in to the World Cup and not feel a sense of pride in America. In all likelihood, *at least* dozens, if not hundreds, of people from every single country in the world reside in the United States, something that is probably true of only a handful of countries on Earth. Or, as The New York Times put it, “[In the United States, Every World Cup Team Is a Home Team](https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2026/06/30/us/world-cup-fans.html?ref=readtangle.com).” Bosnians rejoice at a watch party in St. Louis, Missouri. Moroccans gather in the Little Morocco neighborhood in Queens. Japanese fans come together in San Diego. Iranians (in complicated fashion) watch, rejoice, or protest their team from Los Angeles. In Provo, Utah, Messi-mania took over as fans gathered to cheer on Argentina. My social media feed during the tournament has been a never-ending tour of “things that make me proud”: The University of Kansas band [learned the Algerian national anthem](https://bleacherreport.com/articles/25439887-kansas-band-learns-algerian-national-anthem-welcome-countrys-world-cup-squad-trending-video?ref=readtangle.com) to welcome the team for training. The Spanish national team released a beautiful [tribute](https://x.com/SEFutbol/status/2072067277113954649?ref=readtangle.com) to Chattanooga, Tennessee. A Japanese tourist tried [Dallas barbecue](https://www.tiktok.com/@kamxsoto/video/7652147818550824222?ref=readtangle.com) for the first time and had his mind blown. Perhaps the coolest, most imposing, most gifted striker in all of soccer is [embracing his Texas spirit](https://x.com/ErlingHaaland/status/2072103862006079793?ref=readtangle.com). A German man [broke down on local TV](https://x.com/mattvanswol/status/2073382535266976165?ref=readtangle.com) describing how incredible America has been. Even the controversy — an apparent [behind-the-scenes pressure campaign](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7424432/2026/07/06/folarin-balogun-donald-trump-gianni-infantino/?ref=readtangle.com) led by President Trump to overturn a U.S. player’s controversial red card — gives me a wry smile. What is America but a blunt-force instrument to reverse injustice? The world, soccer tourists, and American citizens themselves are learning that behind the big scary headlines and partisan warfare, America is more welcoming than almost any place on earth. We’re used to *different* — different languages, different colors, different attitudes, different faiths, different people. And the truth is that with a little bit of cash, you can show up here from anywhere on earth, rent a car, tour the country, meet tons of strangers who become fast friends and have a delightful, carefree time. Even our politics had a relatively normal — if not inspirational — weekend. President Donald Trump and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, two of the most influential elected officials on the right and left, each delivered remarks on the anniversary. It was a remarkable thing, as an American, to read both of their July 4 speeches and feel pangs of pride at each. Some moments made me wince, of course: Trump warned of communism in the water, [misquoted](https://x.com/Acyn/status/2073609728752754806?ref=readtangle.com) the Declaration of Independence, and couldn’t help but riff about a stolen election and his political opponents. Mamdani needlessly [stoked](https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/nyc-mayor-zohran-mamdani-america-250-speech-city-hall/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=%22And%20yet%20the,sent%20its%20best.%22) the embers of class warfare, invoked warnings of an authoritarian regime, and centered ethnic and religious minorities as the Americans to celebrate. Yet, both emphasized the “exceptional” nature of our country — and the need for us to keep striving to improve. Both retold the revolutionary “underdog” story of the founders. Both centered George Washington in their visions of America at its best. Both ruminated on the idea that all men are created equal. Both spoke to the need for a triumph over tyranny and for liberty to defeat oppression. I took comfort in that shared rhetoric, even if I cringed at times. The addresses offered welcome surprises, like Trump celebrating the first African-American to win a Medal of Honor and Mamdani proudly retelling the tales of military battles won. I hold all this and feel a sense of pride, and gratitude, for the sheer luck and good fortune of being born into such a place. Yet it’s hard not to be cynical, too. The same president celebrating our break from kings and lords is gathering obscene amounts of power — the kind that would give our founders a heart attack — [bringing in](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/30/us/politics/trump-financial-disclosure-crypto-windfall.html?eafs%5Fenabled=false&ref=readtangle.com) $2.2 billion in the first 18 months of his second term, much of which came from an [extraordinary level of self-dealing and corruption](https://www.readtangle.com/the-everything-everywhere-all-at-once-corruption-story/). The left (including Mamdani) is [backing](https://www.cnn.com/2026/06/01/politics/kfile-ny-13-darializa-avila-chevalier-deleted-tweets-defund-abolish-police-prisons-deportations?ref=readtangle.com) a soon-to-be member of Congress who has opposed borders, police, [interracial relationships](https://edition.cnn.com/2026/06/29/politics/darializa-avila-chevalier-communism-tweets?ref=readtangle.com), and has called America a “fucking disgrace.” Postliberal right-wingers are responding to a Supreme Court case by [pondering](https://x.com/seanmdav/status/2071983931998494799?s=20&ref=readtangle.com) banning pregnant women from traveling here or sterilizing foreign visitors. The richest man in the world is using his self-purchased social media platform to insist that he’s “[wised up](https://x.com/Ike%5FSaul/status/2073923561173995921?ref=readtangle.com)” about universal suffrage and the threat of classical liberalism, a system of thought valuing individual liberty, free markets, and the natural rights of man. Pardons are [for sale](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/07/04/trump-pardons-major-donor-violators-clean-air-act/?ref=readtangle.com), and so — seemingly — [are elections](https://www.citizen.org/article/corporate-supremacist-super-pacs-500-million-midterm-crypto-ai-sports-betting/?ref=readtangle.com). Literal white supremacists are [marching](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/04/us/white-nationalists-march-in-washington-amid-250th-anniversary-celebrations.html?ref=readtangle.com) through neighborhoods in Washington, D.C. Even the World Cup tales are more complicated than my feel-good narrative suggests. Ordinary fans from Haiti, Iran, and Senegal couldn’t attend matches in the U.S. due to a [travel ban](https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/12/restricting-and-limiting-the-entry-of-foreign-nationals-to-protect-the-security-of-the-united-states/?ref=readtangle.com) on their countries. A top referee from Africa was [denied entry](https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/cnv9drg0qzgo?ref=readtangle.com) in Miami despite a valid passport and visa, and some African fans avoided the U.S. altogether for fear of being detained — instead [opting](https://www.npr.org/2026/06/09/nx-s1-5851634/immigration-policies-affect-fifa?ref=readtangle.com) to only attend games in Mexico and Canada. I consume all this news and wonder if I’m holding onto an illusion about some great thing that *was* but no longer *is.* There are moments, frankly, when it’s easy to submit to the cynicism. But then I remember how much of that feeling is rooted in some twisted human desire to be experiencing something historic, even — or especially — *historically bad*. We talk about today’s political violence as if nothing in America has ever come close, as if the 1960s — or the 1860s — just didn’t happen. Brains go haywire over a 6–3 Republican-appointed Supreme Court, as if we haven’t survived the post-Truman and Roosevelt Court (9–0 Democratic-appointed) or the 8–1 Republican-appointed Court that existed as recently as 1992\. Is confidence in elections plummeting, especially among Americans? Yes. But go back to Bush vs. Gore in 2000, or transport yourself to 19th-century America (when elections were *actually* [being tampered with](https://millercenter.org/the-presidency/educational-resources/disputed-election-1876?ref=readtangle.com) at scale), and you’ll realize this seemingly novel period is not entirely so. The truth, whether it’s comfort or caution, is that in our relatively brief 250 years as a nation, we have always faced challenging bursts of tumult, controversy, corruption, war, and division. These features might just be natural byproducts of a free, pluralistic society, because they exist in every chapter of our American story. Yet that story remains one of extraordinary triumph, success, and bittersweet change. So long as we cling to the principles we celebrate this week, and keep a level head going forward, I suspect the next 250 years will bring much more of the same. And, honestly, thank goodness for that. ****Staff dissent — Associate Editor Audrey Moorehead:** In roughly 30 BC, Roman emperor Augustus [commissioned](https://www.canterbury.ac.nz/about-uc/what-we-do/uc-in-the-community/exhibitions-and-collections/virgil-poetry-collection/the-aeneid?ref=readtangle.com) the poet Virgil to write an epic tale about the founding of Rome; some scholars theorize that Augustus wanted Virgil’s poem to promote certain values, like piety, as well as legitimize his rule as emperor by analogizing him to Aeneas. I bring this history up only to say that politicians have been using their countries’ founding myths for their own gain since ancient times, and I think Trump’s and Mamdani’s semiquincentennial speeches are no different. Both cherry-pick the values of the American founding that they appreciate while conveniently ignoring those that conflict with their political projects, a sleight of hand so easily performed that it alarms me — especially when both their projects have the potential to seriously harm our free-market democratic republic. To that end, I don’t find their appeals to the American founding comforting, as Isaac does; I find them troubling — and a reminder that we should stay on guard against the propagandization of the past. **Take the survey:** How do you feel about America on its 250th birthday? [Let us know](https://interrobang.vercel.app/survey/8c8bab5b-5f03-4623-b34e-d9925cf21eff?ref=readtangle.com). *Disagree? That's okay. Our opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we'll consider publishing your feedback.* ### Your questions, answered. **Q: Can Tangle provide a balanced report on the proposed Arc de Trump? The project has raised questions about historic preservation, environmental review, legal authority and public safety, and I’d appreciate an objective overview of the competing arguments and where the proposal currently stands.** **— Michael from Pasco, WA** **Tangle:** In October 2025, President Trump [unveiled](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-white-house-ballroom-tech-business-dinner/?ref=readtangle.com) models for a monument in the neoclassical style to be built in celebration of the United States’s 250th birthday, called the United States Triumphal Arch (and nicknamed the Arc de Trump). The 250-foot structure would be located inside a currently empty [traffic circle](https://wcti12.com/news/nation-world/gallery/triumphal-arch-washington-dc-construction-controversy-memorial-bridge-circle-national-cemetery-timeline-details-project-observation-deck-america-250-donald-trump?photo=1&ref=readtangle.com) at the end of the Arlington Memorial Bridge, just south of the Potomac River. A National Park Service (NPS) assessment [says](https://parkplanning.nps.gov/projectHome.cfm?projectId=136973&ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=The%20purpose%20of,and%20American%20heritage.) the arch will be installed “in a manner consistent with the avenue’s established role as a ceremonial gateway and ‘Avenue of Heroes’ celebrating valor, sacrifice, and American heritage.” However, according to the most recent polling, Americans [disapprove](https://abcnews.com/Politics/americans-oppose-trump-ballroom-2-1-oppose-signature/story?id=132503095&ref=readtangle.com) of the administration’s plan by a roughly two-to-one margin. In February, a group of Vietnam War veterans [sued](https://www.npr.org/2026/02/21/nx-s1-5721786/vietnam-veterans-sue-trump-arch?ref=readtangle.com) to stop the construction, arguing that placing a structure more than twice as tall as the Lincoln Memorial near the Arlington National Cemetery would “dishonor their military and foreign service.” In June, protesters [gathered](https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/stop-the-arch-protesters-object-to-trumps-plan-for-huge-arch-in-arlington/4112860/?ref=readtangle.com) outside the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) to express concerns over the monument’s design and placement near Ronald Reagan National Airport (the Federal Aviation Administration recently [found](https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5931473-faa-duckworth-trump-arch/?ref=readtangle.com) no adverse impacts in an initial review). House Democrats have also [introduced](https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5899245-donald-trump-arch-bill-introduced/?ref=readtangle.com) a bill to stop construction. The NPS assessment drove other concerns over potential [traffic delays](https://www.politico.com/news/2026/06/12/trumps-massive-arch-could-snarl-traffic-years-00960554?ref=readtangle.com) and an intense [construction period](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-arch-construction-20-hours-a-day-2-3-years/?ref=readtangle.com). In May, the Commission of Fine Arts, a seven-member panel appointed by President Trump, gave the arch’s design [final approval](https://www.politico.com/news/2026/05/21/arts-commission-trump-arch-00932002?ref=readtangle.com). In June, the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) reviewed the NPS assessment and requested more information on the arch’s specs and potential impacts. The NCPC is scheduled to hear comments and potentially vote at its [meeting](https://www.ncpc.gov/review/agenda/?ref=readtangle.com) on Thursday, July 9; public comment is open until Wednesday. To proceed with construction, the plan must receive the NCPC’s approval and overcome the legal challenges against it. **Want to have a question answered in the newsletter? You can reply to this email (it goes straight to our inbox) or** [**fill out this form**](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScQhqBSG%5F6%5FoBhwcTQMeS570n29XYbeQ9C9Bis7rjqI31g1tA/viewform?usp=header&ref=readtangle.com)**.** ### Under the radar. On Sunday, The New York Times reported that the Trump administration is rolling back over three dozen firearms regulations implemented during the Biden administration. The rescinded regulations include rules that had lowered the legal threshold for revoking a firearms dealer’s license, restricted access to would-be buyers with a history of mental illness or inability to manage their own finances, and barred certain accessories that have been used in mass shootings. The president of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence said the rollbacks will “decimat\[e\] \[the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’s\] ability to regulate this industry,” while the Trump administration said the moves are part of the president’s commitment to upholding Second Amendment rights. [The New York Times has the story](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/05/us/politics/trump-gun-rights-laws.html?ref=readtangle.com). SPONSORED by tourlane ****Travel Europe, Your Way, With Tourlane** At ****Tourlane**, we believe life’s too short for standard travel. Our local experts design custom European trips tailored to your preferences, with no generic packages. Start with a free 30-minute call to get your [personalized travel plan](https://api.wellput.io/v1/cm?cmid=1009864mr3shps6&tid=347&s1=v2-r745709-p1009864-c46628&s2=Tangle&s3=&s4=null&ref=readtangle.com), with flexible booking options and transparent pricing every step of the way. Tangle readers [get 3% off bookings using code ****TRAVEL2026W**](https://api.wellput.io/v1/cm?cmid=1009864mr3shps6&tid=347&s1=v2-r745709-p1009864-c46628&s2=Tangle&s3=&s4=null&ref=readtangle.com). ### Numbers. - [**38.**](https://www.c-span.org/clip/america-250/president-trump-gives-250th-anniversary-speech-at-salute-to-america/5202246?ref=readtangle.com) The approximate length, in minutes, of President Trump’s speech on the National Mall on Saturday. - [**12.**](https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Trump-July-4-2026-speech.pdf?ref=readtangle.com) The number of times Trump mentioned “freedom” in the speech. - [**10.**](https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Trump-July-4-2026-speech.pdf?ref=readtangle.com) The number of times Trump mentioned “communist,” “communists” or “communism” in the speech. - [**30%.**](https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-nears-250th-birthday-reutersipsos-poll-shows-many-americans-doubt-it-will-2026-06-16/?ref=readtangle.com) The percentage of U.S. adults who think America is the greatest country in the world, according to a June 2026 Reuters–Ipsos poll. - [**40% and 26%.**](https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-nears-250th-birthday-reutersipsos-poll-shows-many-americans-doubt-it-will-2026-06-16/?ref=readtangle.com) The percentage of Democrats and Republicans, respectively, who think the United States will not exist as a single country 250 years from now. - [**40% and 59%.**](https://www.pewresearch.org/2026/06/12/on-the-countrys-250th-anniversary-the-american-people-are-in-a-sour-mood/?ref=readtangle.com) The percentage of U.S. adults who think America’s best years are ahead of it and behind it, respectively, according to a January 2026 Pew Research poll. ### The extras. - **One year ago today** we had just published [Isaac’s essay on why he loves America](https://www.readtangle.com/do-i-love-america/). - **The most clicked link in our last regular newsletter** was the report on [heightened immigration enforcement activity](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/ice-surges-enforcement-makes-10000-arrests-five-days-amid-supreme-court-birthright-citizenship-decision?ref=readtangle.com). - **Nothing to do with politics:** Check out [the tall ships parade to celebrate America’s 250th](https://abc7ny.com/post/nyc-spectators-delighted-parade-tall-ships-sails-hudson-river-celebrate-america-250/19447866/?ref=readtangle.com). - **Our last survey:** 1,436 readers responded to our survey on the Supreme Court’s rulings on executive power in *Trump v. Slaughter* and *Trump v. Cook*, with 66% saying they support the decision in *Cook*, but not in *Slaughter*. “This Court is consistently inconsistent,” one respondent said. “This is an open and shut case. A president… has the complete right to fire someone that doesn’t follow their policy,” said another. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/07/data-src-image-3722caa8-296e-4f9c-b774-42ab04dba662.png) ### Have a nice day. In April, the Josey family’s 13-year-old Shih Tzu, Apollo, disappeared after slipping through a gate at their property. The family searched for weeks to no avail, but they never gave up hope. In June, they got the call they were waiting for: A Long Island animal shelter said it had found Apollo after identifying him by his microchip. While some mystery remains — the dog arrived at the shelter wearing a name tag that read “Yuri” — the family has now been reunited with its beloved pet. “We definitely kept the faith, held out hope,” Vera Josey said. “We knew Apollo was gonna come home. It was just a matter of when.” [FOX 35 Orlando has the story.](https://www.fox13news.com/news/florida-family-reunites-missing-dog-found-months-later-new-york?ref=readtangle.com) ### The Sunday — July 5 URL: https://www.readtangle.com/the-sunday-july-5-2026/ Last updated: 2026-07-05T11:52:30.000Z *This is the Tangle Sunday Edition, a brief roundup of our independent politics coverage plus some extra features for your Sunday morning reading.* ### What the left is doodling. ![John Deering | Creators Syndicate](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/07/data-src-image-4afb9bd9-9dd2-48a6-8568-6d03e9179d62.jpeg) John Deering | Creators Syndicate ### What the right is doodling. ![Gary Varvel | Creators Syndicate](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/07/data-src-image-6621a0c4-829d-4ef5-aa95-34a5366c1939.jpeg) Gary Varvel | Creators Syndicate ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/07/data-src-image-6c324173-ff08-42ff-b1e6-ddfd0882382e.png) ### Suspension of the Rules. This week, Kmele and Isaac sat down with Sarah Isgur — the attorney, political commentator, author and Supreme Court expert — to talk about the latest Supreme Court term and the long-term implications of its recent decisions. You can watch the episode here: The latest Suspension of the Rules ### Monday, June 29. [Two Supreme Court rulings on immigration](https://www.readtangle.com/supreme-court-asylum-tps-rulings/). On Thursday, June 25, the Supreme Court issued two decisions on U.S. immigration policy. In the first case, *Mullin v. Al Otro Lado*, the Court ruled 6–3 that the federal government can turn back asylum seekers before they cross into the United States. In the second, *Mullin v. Doe*, the Court also ruled 6–3 that courts cannot review Department of Homeland Security (DHS) determinations on groups’ eligibility for Temporary Protected Status (TPS), clearing the way for the Trump administration to remove Haitian and Syrian TPS holders from the U.S. **Our take:** *“The majority has a strong legal argument on asylum. The Court’s TPS ruling is reasonable but raises practical concerns. Without congressional intervention, I worry the rulings will create more chaos in the immigration system.”* **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/07/data-src-image-7bb0c592-bd93-4ec5-8f80-21e80c74a30e.png) ### Tuesday, June 30. [*Watson v. Republican National Committee*](https://www.readtangle.com/scotus-mail-in-ballots-ruling-2026/). On Monday, June 29, the Supreme Court ruled 5–4 to uphold a Mississippi law allowing election officials to count ballots postmarked by Election Day but received up to five days afterward. In its ruling, the Court rejected the challengers’ argument that federal statutes setting a national Election Day required ballot receipt by that day. Instead, the Court held that Election Day refers to voters choosing a candidate, which is fulfilled when voting is completed, not when ballots are received. The ruling comes four months before the 2026 midterm elections and ensures that Mississippi’s law will remain in place for the state’s elections. **Our take:** *“This outcome surprised a lot of people, and it’s a reminder that the Court doesn’t always rule predictably. Barrett’s opinion nails its conclusion that federal law only requires that votes be cast by Election Day. Alito’s dissent mostly rests on hypotheticals, and I’m glad the Court didn’t upend the midterms over concerns that weren’t salient to this case.”* **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/07/data-src-image-f6cc693c-c7ff-479d-b583-bc4219e30100.png) ### Wednesday, July 1. [The birthright citizenship ruling](https://www.readtangle.com/scotus-birthright-citizenship-decision-2026/). On Tuesday, June 30, the Supreme Court struck down President Donald Trump’s executive order attempting to end birthright citizenship, ruling 6–3 in *Trump v. Barbara* that the order is unlawful. Three Republican-appointed and three Democratic-appointed justices comprised the majority, though Justice Brett Kavanaugh dissented in part. Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, and Neil Gorsuch each authored dissents. **Our take:** *“This outcome was reasonable and expected, but some of the reactions from the right have been shocking. The plain text of the 14th Amendment and its historical context support striking down Trump’s order. However, I found Gorsuch’s dissent compelling as a way to address the excesses of birthright citizenship.”* **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/07/data-src-image-47ecfb5f-e2f6-4e38-b604-0120e0034a0b.png) ### Thursday, July 2. [Two Supreme Court rulings on federal agency independence](https://www.readtangle.com/cook-slaughter-supreme-court-rulings/). On Monday, June 29, the Supreme Court issued two decisions on the president’s power to remove leaders of federal agencies. In the first case, *Trump v. Slaughter*, the Court voted 6–3 to strike down a federal law that limited the president’s power to fire Federal Trade Commission (FTC) members. In the second, *Trump v. Cook*, the Court voted 5–4 that Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook can remain in her role while her legal challenge to President Trump’s attempt to fire her plays out. **Our take:** *“These cases underscore the tension between originalism in theory and practice. I tentatively side with the majority in Slaughter, but the Court isn’t consistent with its logic in Cook. I think the practical effects of these decisions will be relatively limited — though long-term concerns remain.”* **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/07/data-src-image-e004e9f7-7863-49d8-a7e8-03bd109037dd.png) ### Friday, July 3. In celebration of the 250th anniversary of American independence, Executive Editor Isaac Saul penned an essay reflecting on one of the most important American institutions — the free press. [You can read his essay here](https://www.readtangle.com/america-250-what-ill-be-celebrating-this-weekend/). --- ### What just happened. Here’s a rundown of the major stories that have broken since our newsletter on Thursday. - On Thursday, Kyiv’s mayor said that Russia struck the Ukrainian capital with its biggest attack since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, launching 74 missiles and 496 drones and killing at least 21 people. ([The attack](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ukraine-russia-war-heavy-attack-kyiv-deaths-injuries/?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Thursday, a grand jury indicted former U.S. Olympian David Hearn on one felony count of destruction of property for allegedly damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. Hearn denies the charge. ([The indictment](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/us-olympian-david-hearn-charged-reflecting-pool-vandalism-rcna352788?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Friday, Acting Venezuelan President Delcy Rodríguez said that the death toll from two earthquakes that hit the country on June 24 rose to 2,595, with approximately 38,500 people still unaccounted for. ([The update](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/07/03/venezuela-earthquakes-death-toll-rises-rescue-efforts-continue.html?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Saturday, nearly one million homes were without power amid a heatwave affecting the Midwest and Northeast. The heat is expected to continue through the weekend. ([The weather](https://abcnews.com/US/1-million-power-country-us-blanketed-heatwave/story?id=134467508&ref=readtangle.com)) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/07/data-src-image-70033d64-c9d4-4e2c-9290-3360acea933f.png) ### Reader essay. ![Photo from Leah Nairn](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/07/data-src-image-722a9956-4cab-4a52-bd28-9282f6c1f928.jpeg) Photo from Leah Nairn Tangle reader Leah Nairn’s father died as he lived — slow and measured. In this week’s reader essay, Leah recounts the story of the end of his life in stark, captivating detail, narrating how she balanced the care of her dying father with her care for her mother, who suffers from Alzheimer’s disease. It’s a beautiful, haunting account of the difficulties of caring for aging parents. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### He’s in Transition URL: https://www.readtangle.com/otherposts/hes-in-transition/ Last updated: 2026-07-12T01:47:17.000Z *By Leah Nairn* --- Everyone loved my Dad. Lying there unable to speak, peeking through his eyelids, he was still everyone’s favorite. “Gotta say goodnight to grandpa,” one aide would say before she ended her shift — even though he’d never been a grandpa. I’ve never married nor had kids, and I’ve been the only child of two parents aging in completely different ways for some time now. So yeah, it’s just me. His passing was like his life, slow and measured. He married my mother in his mid- 30s and didn’t become a father until he was 40\. At age 45, he had a nervous breakdown from teaching math to middle schoolers. I remember him throwing up each morning before he went to work. After mom discovered he was suicidal with a plan, she insisted he see a doctor. That doctor concluded he could work any profession of his choosing, except education. Then suddenly, he was home all the time. He worked at the neighbor’s lawn mower repair shop for a summer, at some retail shops, and a few other places I don’t quite remember. He also spent about six years in therapy. We moved from Columbus to his hometown of Newark, Ohio, in 1986\. He took a job with the county aging program as the activities coordinator for disabled individuals caught up in the deinstitutionalization of mental asylums. I remember him stating no one wanted the job because they were all too afraid they’d have to change a diaper. He didn’t care. With a county-owned van and a cast of characters, they went all over. Fishing at Buckeye Lake, to the mall, out for lunch. A few participants had our home phone number. “Dad, Orville’s on the phone. He wants to know where you’re going for lunch tomorrow.” He never had to change a diaper. This led him to his best work: court-appointed guardian for the Licking County Probate Court. Ever the politician who was just too good of a man to get mixed up in politics, this was a perfect fit for him. He loved going to court and attending treatment meetings. This also put to use his incredible ability to bullshit for hours on end. He was a publican, which lent him a lot of time and opportunity to hone this skill. The Eastern Bar and Grill on the east side of Newark was his watering hole of choice and the proverbial “Hub of the Universe.” It was the backdrop for his only actual stint in politics. Many locals with clout stopped in to share a pint and a chat. One guest in particular often stayed too long and eventually stepped down from the city council after he showed up drunk for a meeting. Dad was appointed to his seat. He only served one term. His re-election campaign lacked luster, and I remember his opponent having billboards along the highway. Dad didn’t have the energy or the money to compete with that. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### What I'll be celebrating this weekend. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/america-250-what-ill-be-celebrating-this-weekend/ Last updated: 2026-07-03T15:52:46.000Z ### Today’s read: 7 minutes. Dear readers, As we celebrate America’s 250th anniversary, much ink will be spilled about where we are as a nation: what we’ve overcome, what’s broken, what works, and where we’re going. Like many Americans (and American writers), I’ve been ruminating on this anniversary from many angles. But today, my mind is stuck on one specific part of our country’s story: The freedom of the press, and the power of the “publish” button. I don’t take it for granted that I have the ability to immediately reach half a million readers directly, and millions more indirectly, at any moment, with a few clacks on the keyboard and a couple clicks of the mouse. Despite the ease of that feat, it was never guaranteed — not technologically, culturally, or legally — until very recently. Few of us have taken time to reflect on how we got here, why we’re here, and how important it is to spend the next 250 years keeping the spirit of the American press and press freedom alive. Tangle, like all daily news publications, descends from [*Acta Diurna*](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Acta?ref=readtangle.com) (“daily acts”), the posted announcements of political and social events in Rome. Starting in 59 BC, these notices were often carved into stone or metal and alerted the citizenry to the happenings of the government. Despite serving as an act of transparency — and functioning as a new democratic norm — *Acta Diurna* were distinct from today’s news outlets in an important way: They were *authorized narratives* of the government, first ordered by Julius Caesar. Still, every newspaper and form of mass media can trace its origins back to this practice, though the posted notices would evolve over millennia into myriad new formats and media. By the 17th century, the Dutch had [“corantos”](https://www.britannica.com/topic/coranto?ref=readtangle.com) (currents of news), which pulled together foreign journals and translated them for the country’s citizens. Rudimentary newspapers were popping up across European countries and Japan at this time, too. In 1621, the first English corantos appeared in London, and by 1702, *The Daily Courant* was publishing, well, daily. But it was never easy. For decades, England maintained a stranglehold on the press through a [licensing system](https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/history/englands-licensing-acts?ref=readtangle.com), which prohibited any new publication from popping up without a government license. The idea that an American newspaper today would have to apply to the United States government to publish is, of course, abhorrent and offensive for most people. But it was the norm until 1695\. John Milton, widely credited with developing the concept of the “marketplace of ideas,” (though the phrase would not be coined until much later) was a key challenger to the practice of licensing. He [argued](https://milton.host.dartmouth.edu/reading%5Froom/areopagitica/text.shtml?ref=readtangle.com), forcefully, that individuals were capable of using reason to assess right and wrong, and that having unfettered access to the ideas of others was central to a well-ordered society. The system in which the government could choose who could publish and criminalize criticism of itself was self-evidently broken in Milton’s eyes. Across England, journalists spent most of the 18th century fighting for the right to put pen to paper — without oversight — about their leaders. Parliament treated the publication of its debates as a [breach of privilege](https://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/evolutionofparliament/parliamentwork/communicating/overview/breachofprivilege/?ref=readtangle.com), arguing that its members should be able to speak freely behind closed doors without fear of their words being reported or distorted outside the chamber. When printers published those proceedings, they’d often get fined, imprisoned, or hauled before the chamber to be reprimanded publicly. Some printers got creative, publishing “fictionalized” accounts of what was happening behind closed doors to avoid the bans, while making it clear they would not so easily put their pens down. In 1771, John Wilkes, an alderman of the city of London, a former and future member of Parliament and a British radical, [sparked](https://www.historyhome.co.uk/people/wilkes.htm?ref=readtangle.com) a legal standoff by protecting printers inside London’s own jurisdiction. He refused to hand over the printers to Parliament for punishment while encouraging them to continue publishing, and the House of Commons responded by imprisoning city officials. This, predictably, only intensified public furor and ignited more support for press freedom. As that support exploded, and in the midst of the legal obstruction organized in London, Parliament folded. Rather than repeal a legal ban on publishing accounts of parliamentary proceedings, Parliament simply stopped enforcing it. The printers (and public) had won, and press freedom advanced, sparking a crop of new newspapers across Europe. Today, we might expect and accept that certain government meetings will happen behind closed doors, but we demand (and receive) access to the happenings of Congress and regularly have reporters fleshing out the back-door deals with leaks, recordings, and deeply sourced reporting. This precedent can be traced back to the era of the Parliament printers. It was nearly a century earlier when the first American newspaper, [Publick Occurrences Both Forreign and Domestick](https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/history/publick-occurrences-newspaper?ref=readtangle.com), published its first edition in 1690\. Publick Occurrences lasted exactly one issue before colonial authorities shut it down for printing unlicensed content. A few decades later, James Franklin, the brother of Benjamin Franklin, helped launch both The Boston Gazette and The New-England Courant, setting off a kind of news frenzy in the colonies. In 1734, a convoluted political battle ended with seditious libel charges against John Peter Zenger, the publisher of The New York Weekly Journal, which was regularly critical of then–New York Gov. William Cosby. That crime was different from modern-day libel; it was [defined](https://history.nycourts.gov/case/crown-v-zenger/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Seditious%20libel%20was%20defined%20as%20the%20intentional%20publication%2C%20without%20lawful%20excuse%20or%20justification%2C%20of%20written%20blame%20of%20any%20public%20man%20or%20of%20the%20law%2C%20or%20any%20institution%20established%20by%20the%20law.) as the “intentional publication, without lawful excuse or justification, of written blame of any public man or of the law, or any institution established by the law.” Imagine a world where blaming a public official for wrongdoing in print was a crime, regardless of whether your accusations were true. Though two grand juries were summoned, both refused to indict Zenger, forcing Gov. Cosby to turn to more extreme measures. Initially, he ordered a ceremonial burning of the publication's papers, an order the popularly elected assemblymen refused. The governor then demanded a sheriff burn the papers; upon receiving his orders, the sheriff sought authorization from a court of aldermen. The court adjourned without granting an authorization. The sheriff ended up handing the papers to a servant, who burnt them without an official sanction, making the episode a [public embarrassment](https://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/t/text/text-idx?cc=evans;c=evans;idno=n03372.0001.001;node=N03372.0001.001:1;seq=5;view=text;rgn=div1&ref=readtangle.com) for Cosby. Since his initial plan failed, Cosby resorted to an unusual and highly unpopular legal [procedure](https://history.nycourts.gov/case/crown-v-zenger/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=The%20Cosby%20administration%20then,York%E2%80%99s%20Old%20City%20Jail.) to move forward in prosecuting Zenger without a grand jury indictment. Zenger pleaded not guilty and, while awaiting trial, spent months in prison. The jury’s sole task was to determine if Zenger was responsible for the libelous statement. His lawyers tried to get the case thrown out by challenging the appointment of the judges overseeing it, and instead were themselves barred from practicing law in the court. John Chambers, a Cosby loyalist, was appointed to represent Zenger, but Chambers defied expectations by doing the work honorably. The case eventually drew the attention and the help of a preeminent colonial attorney named Andrew Hamilton. In the final days of the trial, a remarkable moment unfolded: Chambers argued that the prosecution could not prove who was responsible for the libel and that the attorney general would not present evidence to prove it was Zenger. Then Andrew Hamilton rose on behalf of Zenger and pre-empted the attorney general’s case: He admitted that Zenger published the journals as alleged, but told the jury they must consider the fact that the statements Zenger published were the truth. Famously, Hamilton [addressed the jury](https://history.nycourts.gov/case/crown-v-zenger/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=The%20question%20before,cause%20of%20liberty.): > The question before the Court and you, Gentlemen of the jury, is not of small or private concern. It is not the cause of one poor printer, nor of New York alone, which you are now trying. No! It may in its consequence affect every free man that lives under a British government on the main of America. It is the best cause. It is the cause of liberty. The chief justice tried to insist to the jury that it only consider whether Zenger had published the offending issues of The New York Weekly Journal, but Hamilton’s words were impossible to unhear. The jury found Zenger not guilty, and the idea that truthful statements could be exempt from charges of “libel” was officially a seed planted in American soil. It would grow like wildflowers. But it was the 19th century that truly formed the media ecosystem we are operating in — or departing from — today. In the early 1800s, most newspapers had circulations in the low thousands and were primarily read by wealthy, educated Americans. When Benjamin Day launched the “penny paper” in New York City in the 1830s, thousands more Americans could suddenly access the news. Then some names you might still recognize began to pop up: The Associated Press arrived in 1846\. An independent paper calledThe New York Timeslaunched in 1851, and was widely known for being less flamboyant and sensational than its peers. Paul J. Reuter began serving newspapers in 1858 from London. By mid-century, [400 dailies and 3,000 weekly newspapers](https://www.britannica.com/topic/newspaper?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=By%20the%20mid%2D19th%20century%2C%20there%20were%20400%20dailies%20and%203%2C000%20weekly%20papers%20in%20the%20United%20States.) were smattered across the United States, each protected by the First Amendment’s promise that the government could not infringe upon the freedom of the press — and each descendants of Hamilton’s promise that protecting a free press was inseparable from the cause of liberty. It wasn’t until the late 19th century that Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearstwere also competing for readers, and by then the first newspapers were circulating 500,000 copies (roughly the audience of this newsletter), all nearly 2,000 years after the *Acta Diurna* were being passed around on slabs of stone. So it’s not lost on me that I get to write this essay, press send, and reach as many (or more) people than some of the most prolific names of journalism ever did. It’s also not lost on me that I get to do this job in an era where my work, and the work of my colleagues, is better protected than ever. In other countries, and [sometimes here in the U.S.](https://pressfreedomtracker.us/blog/journalists-arrested-in-the-us-2017-present/?ref=readtangle.com), journalists still go to prison for their writing or get killed in war zones while reporting. President Trump is [notoriously](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/trump-refiles-15b-defamation-lawsuit-new-york-rcna238170?ref=readtangle.com) [litigious](https://www.cnn.com/2026/05/28/politics/trump-refiles-lawsuit-wall-street-journal-epstein?ref=readtangle.com) with the media. But these events are front-page news when they happen because, contextually, they are now quite unusual. Many Americans I’ve spoken to have adopted a notion that we are in the most dreadful days of the American media. On the one hand, I get that impulse. As we ring in 250 years of these United States, the press is facing historically low trust, it is fractured and segmented, and it’s facing challenges from every direction: the rise of influencers, attacks from the president, the advent of artificial intelligence, and financial struggles. But on the other hand, the press is rising to the moment. More people than ever in world history have access to and are consuming the news. New models of journalism — from independent newsletters to gonzo YouTube journalism to hedge funds as news outlets — are succeeding. The “fractured” media is also an accessible one; we’re less prone to being silenced or censored than we’ve ever been. You can no longer just burn the paper my words were printed on to shut me up. Take away my TV show and I’ll take it to X. Ban my X account and I’ll go to YouTube. Throttle my YouTube channel and I’ll start a newsletter. Bury my newsletter and I’ll launch a texting service. Despite so many people pining for the days of trusted legends like Walter Cronkite, every era of the American press has been marred by threats of censorship, sensationalism, misinformation, partisan hackery, and error. All one needs to do is observe a brief moment in the [16th-](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William%5FCarter%5F%28martyr%29?ref=readtangle.com), [17th-](https://www.grubstreetproject.net/people/41768/?ref=readtangle.com), [18th-](https://www.britannica.com/biography/John-Peter-Zenger?ref=readtangle.com), [19th-](https://www.zinnedproject.org/news/tdih/elijah-parish-lovejoy-murdered/?ref=readtangle.com), and [20th](https://firstamendment.mtsu.edu/article/espionage-act-of-1917/?ref=readtangle.com)\-century experience to choose the 21st century as the most ideal time to be producing or consuming the news — without hesitation. The institution isn’t just still strong with robust freedoms, it’s the *strongest* and *most protected* it has ever been, even if the very real threats to the press today are different than those of recent memory. Of course, the downside of all these options is that it’s also very easy for people to just hunt down the outlet that confirms their priors. This is, of course, part of why I started Tangle: To get people *out* of their echo chambers and information silos. But the upside is far greater: No one newspaper tycoon, television network, or radio station is in control. Nor is a single, or even a group of, social media platforms. Governors can’t and won’t order the mass burning of newspapers when they face harsh criticism, then imprison publishers when all else fails. We are free to speak, report, write, criticize, and be as loud-mouthed and bloviating as we want — sometimes to our own detriment. Conspiratorial, partisan hackery is easy to see as a cancerous tumor on our society, but it’s harder to recognize as the byproduct of a free and open ecosystem. The liars and snake-oil salesmen with massive platforms frustrate but also comfort me. They are a callback to the days of yellow journalism *and* a reminder that there is no parliament or king or lord coming to knock down my door and drag me to jail, whether I’m speaking truth plainly or sensationally. So as we carry the torch of our professional ancestors into the future, and as we celebrate our 250th birthday, I’m thinking today about the men and women who came before me whose wisdom and sacrifice I want to draw on. Here at Tangle, we are striving to be a news outlet as [affordable and accessible as the Penny Papers](https://buy.stripe.com/6oU7sKdLI0Xm6l66k81VK00?prefilled%5Fpromo%5Fcode=250thcelebrationoffernews&ref=readtangle.com), with a Miltonian devotion to the marketplace of ideas, a Hamiltonian promise of free speech guaranteeing liberty, and a Wilkesian commitment to the notion that our government owes us transparency. These virtues aren’t just timeless but wise — and perhaps more relevant now than ever. So, a happy Fourth of July to you all, a happy 250th to this great country, and a toast to 250 more years of a fearless, free, and informative press. Best, Isaac Saul, Executive Editor ****P.S. As part of our 250th celebrations, we are (right now!)** [****offering 25% off our yearly newsletter membership**](https://buy.stripe.com/6oU7sKdLI0Xm6l66k81VK00?prefilled%5Fpromo%5Fcode=250thcelebrationoffernews&ref=readtangle.com)****. If you want to unlock all our content, support this work and help us continue to fight for a free press into the future,** [****take advantage**](https://buy.stripe.com/6oU7sKdLI0Xm6l66k81VK00?prefilled%5Fpromo%5Fcode=250thcelebrationoffernews&ref=readtangle.com)****!** ### Supreme conversation. On Thursday, Kmele Foster and I got to sit down with Sarah Isgur — the attorney, political commentator, author and Supreme Court expert — to talk about the latest Supreme Court term and its long-term implications. You can watch the episode here: Our interview with Sarah Isgur ### The Supreme Court Just Changed Presidential Power URL: https://www.readtangle.com/the-supreme-court-just-changed-presidential-power/ Last updated: 2026-07-04T10:10:01.000Z The Supreme Court just handed down a series of major decisions that could shape American government for years to come. ### The Supreme Court’s rulings on executive power. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/cook-slaughter-supreme-court-rulings/ Last updated: 2026-07-02T15:56:00.000Z Happy Thursday! It’s Associate Editor **Audrey Moorehead**, here to round out our week of SCOTUS coverage with a look at **two major decisions on executive power**. Before we get into the issue of the day, though, a lighter note: I’ve been in my home state of Tennessee for the past two weeks to visit family and (as our [**Subtext subscribers**](https://joinsubtext.com/c/tanglenews?ref=readtangle.com) know) attend a college friend’s wedding. It was a great opportunity to catch up with people, as most weddings are, but this one was particularly special because guests with wildly different political views ate, drank and were merry together, forming surprising friendships and even lightheartedly teasing each other on politics *without* things getting ugly. The night was a reminder of the ways that our humanity unites us even when politics divides us. I like to think that we accomplish something similar here at Tangle. Alright, enough mushiness! Aside from our main topic, we have a look back at **the vote for independence** that happened 250 years ago today, as well as **the stories we didn’t cover this week**. It’s a **14-minute read** — enjoy! ### How we’re celebrating. Do you want to read more original opinion pieces from the Tangle staff? Do you want to hear exclusive interviews with leading voices in politics? Ad-free newsletters? Access to the comments section? Full Sunday editions, including round-ups, recipes, reader essays, our favorite stuff from the internet, and more? To celebrate America’s 250th, [****we’re offering a 25% discount**](https://buy.stripe.com/6oU7sKdLI0Xm6l66k81VK00?prefilled%5Fpromo%5Fcode=250thcelebrationoffernews&ref=readtangle.com) on our yearly newsletter membership — bringing the price to [**less than $4/month*](https://buy.stripe.com/6oU7sKdLI0Xm6l66k81VK00?prefilled%5Fpromo%5Fcode=250thcelebrationoffernews&ref=readtangle.com). On top of unlocking all these great features, you **also* support independent journalism. It takes 30 seconds (literally), and 90% of our revenue comes from members. [****Join the Tangle club here**](https://buy.stripe.com/6oU7sKdLI0Xm6l66k81VK00?prefilled%5Fpromo%5Fcode=250thcelebrationoffernews&ref=readtangle.com). ### Quick hits. 1. The Trump administration announced it will not renew the U.S.–Mexico–Canada trade agreement, saying it will instead seek to renegotiate key pillars of the deal. ([The announcement](https://www.nbcnews.com/business/economy/trump-usmca-renewal-tariffs-trade-rcna352594?ref=readtangle.com)) 2. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the U.S. economy added 57,000 jobs in June, lower than economists’ expectations. The unemployment rate decreased slightly to 4.2%. ([The report](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/07/02/jobs-report-june-2026-.html?ref=readtangle.com)) 3. Former Central Intelligence Agency Director John Brennan sued the Justice Department and Trump administration officials, requesting a court order to preserve records of ongoing federal investigations into him. ([The suit](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/former-cia-director-john-brennan-sues-justice-dept-trump-officials/?ref=readtangle.com)) 4. Ukraine struck a major Russian oil refinery for the second time in a week, as well as a Russian plant that produces missile components. ([The strikes](https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-ufa-refinery-oil-8f85eea709f58365c42ec3b29e5d1d6d?ref=readtangle.com)) 5. Immigration officials reportedly made approximately 10,000 arrests in the past five days amid an increase in enforcement activity. ([The arrests](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/ice-surges-enforcement-makes-10000-arrests-five-days-amid-supreme-court-birthright-citizenship-decision?ref=readtangle.com)) SPONSORED by groundfloor ****This 8.5% Fixed-Rate Investment Has a Perfect Track Record** When markets get unpredictable, investors start looking for two things: liquidity and yield. [Groundfloor’s Signature Note](https://api.wellput.io/v1/cm?cmid=1000472mqr4j9vc&tid=333&s1=v2-r738382-p1000472-c49127&s2=Tangle&s3=&s4=null&ref=readtangle.com) offers both, with up to 8.5% fixed returns backed by a diversified pool of residential real estate loans. Since launching Notes in 2018, every investor has been paid their full principal and interest on time. 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Slaughter*, the Court [voted](https://www.scotusblog.com/2026/06/court-allows-trump-to-fire-ftc-commissioner-and-overturns-major-restraint-on-presidential-power/?ref=readtangle.com) 6–3 to strike down a federal law that limited the president’s power to fire Federal Trade Commission (FTC) members. In the second, *Trump v. Cook*, the Court [voted](https://www.scotusblog.com/2026/06/court-prevents-trump-from-firing-fed-governor/?ref=readtangle.com) 5–4 that Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook can remain in her role while her legal challenge to President Trump’s attempt to fire her plays out. **The *Slaughter* case:** In March 2025, President Trump [fired](https://news.ballotpedia.org/2025/03/21/president-trump-fires-the-two-democratic-ftc-commissioners/?ref=readtangle.com) FTC Commissioner Rebecca Slaughter, stating her continued presence would be “inconsistent with my Administration’s priorities.” Slaughter, one of two Democratic commissioners on the bipartisan consumer-protection board at the time, was nominated by Trump in 2018 and renominated by President Joe Biden in 2023\. Slaughter [challenged](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/supreme-court-trump-ftc-slaughter-humphreys-executor/?ref=readtangle.com) her firing, citing a law that [states](https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/15/41?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Any%20Commissioner%20may%20be%20removed%20by%20the%20President%20for%20inefficiency%2C%20neglect%20of%20duty%2C%20or%20malfeasance%20in%20office.) commissioners can only be removed for “inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office.” A district court ruled in her favor and ordered her reinstated; a panel of the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals declined to block the reinstatement. In September, the Supreme Court allowed Trump to remove Slaughter while considering the case. The majority’s decision struck down the statute that Slaughter cited, overruling the Court’s previous finding in *Humphrey’s Executor v. United States* (1935) that upheld the law. “Although it is up to the Senate to decide whether to confirm those with whom the President would *prefer* to work, neither Congress nor the courts may saddle him with those with whom he *cannot* work,” Chief Justice John Roberts [wrote](https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/25-332%5Fqn12.pdf?ref=readtangle.com). The Court’s three Democratic-appointed justices dissented. Justice Sonia Sotomayor [wrote](https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/25-332%5Fqn12.pdf?ref=readtangle.com) that the case “should have begun and ended with” *Humphrey’s Executor*, adding, “Today, the majority places accountability to the President above all else.” **The *Cook* case:** In August 2025, Trump [ordered](https://www.readtangle.com/lisa-cook-fed-governor-fired/) the removal of Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, who was originally appointed by Biden in 2022 to serve on the Federal Reserve’s seven-person board of governors. Trump stated he was firing Cook “for cause” due to alleged mortgage fraud; Cook denied wrongdoing and challenged her firing in court. In September, U.S. District Judge Jia Cobb [found](https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/supreme-court-lisa-cook-hearing/card/how-cook-s-case-got-to-the-supreme-court-NYny1NlQoqeoUIPFtr32?ref=readtangle.com) that while the Federal Reserve Act contains the “for cause” provision, it only covers a governor’s behavior in office. Judge Cobb issued an order allowing Cook to remain in office while litigation continued, and a panel of the D.C. Circuit upheld the order. The Trump administration then asked the Supreme Court to intervene, and the justices heard oral arguments in January. The majority decision, penned by Chief Justice Roberts and joined by Justices Elena Kagan, Brett Kavanaugh, Sonia Sotomayor, and Ketanji Brown Jackson, [read](https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/25a312%5F5468.pdf?ref=readtangle.com), “Congress limited the President’s power to remove Governors for good reason — ‘\[t\]o preserve the independence of the Federal Reserve’ and to continue the ‘long tradition’ of ‘monetary policy… exercised independent of… executive influence.’” Justices Clarence Thomas and Amy Coney Barrett dissented alone, and Justice Samuel Alito’s dissent was joined by Justice Neil Gorsuch. Barrett argued that the majority was erroneously carving out a special exception for the Federal Reserve. “The Court’s holding is in serious tension with *Trump v. Slaughter*, which we also decide today,” she [wrote](https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/25a312%5F5468.pdf?ref=readtangle.com). Below, we’ll get into what the left and right are saying about these two agency rulings. Then, Associate Editor Audrey Moorehead’s take. ### What the left is saying. - **The left opposes the *Slaughter* decision, and many say its rationale is inconsistent with its decision in *Cook*.** - **Some suggest the Court actually did little to protect Fed officials.** - **Others argue the majority erred in overturning *Humphrey’s Executor*.** **In The American Prospect, David Dayen called *Slaughter* and *Cook*** [**“impossible to reconcile.”**](https://prospect.org/2026/06/29/supreme-court-two-rulings-impossible-to-reconcile/?ref=readtangle.com) “Much of what you need to know about who rules America can be found in two Supreme Court opinions released today. They reinforce how the law as interpreted by this Court is malleable depending on whom it’s applied to,” Dayen wrote. “If you work in the executive branch, you can now be fired by the president for whatever reason or no reason at all… even if the law creating the agency said you needed a reason. This new standard overturns 91 years of precedent and is now the law, in every case — except if the agency you work for is the Federal Reserve.” “None of these independent agencies will ever operate the same way again… If presidents can fire any member of the executive branch at will, why would anyone from the opposite party willing to criticize executive branch decisions be allowed to stay in the government?” Dayen asked. “You can make at least a colorable argument that a president should be allowed to have control over their subordinates… But when you add in the carve-out for the Federal Reserve, it quickly becomes totally ridiculous. There is no way to hold the two rulings together at once.” **In MS NOW, Ray Brescia suggested the Court** [**“essentially authorized future harassment of Federal Reserve officials.”**](https://www.ms.now/opinion/supreme-court-lisa-cook-trump-firing-officials?ref=readtangle.com) “The Court has handed the administration yet another tool for applying pressure on \[the Fed’s\] members: the punishment of procedure,” Brescia wrote. “The Court did not look at the language of the two statutes at issue in \[*Cook* and *Slaughter*\]. Instead, it turned to the history of federal banking entities, like the existence of the First and Second Banks of the United States in the early days of the republic, to claim that monetary policy has been treated differently from other functions of the government over the years.” “While the Court’s majority opinion in Cook’s case did technically reject the Trump administration’s efforts to terminate her from her position, it laid out a clear path for the administration to do so in the future,” Brescia said. “It must provide her notice of the ground or grounds upon which she is being terminated and she must be given an opportunity to challenge those allegations. Once a final decision is made by the executive branch, she can go to court to challenge that determination. But there is nothing stopping the administration from commencing such a process, on any basis it wants, or no basis at all.” **In The Atlantic, George Thomas wrote** [**“an ‘originalist’ Court overturns an originalist decision.”**](https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/06/scotus-humphreys-originalism/687744/?ref=readtangle.com) “\[*Humphrey’s Executor*\] offered a better understanding of the separation of powers — one consistent with constitutional history, originalist understandings, and earlier Court precedent — than what Roberts offers in *Slaughter*,” Thomas said. “In *Humphrey’s*, the Court saw a distinction between an administrative function (something the executive branch stewards) and true ‘executive power’ in the constitutional sense… By contrast, Roberts’s opinion in *Slaughter* collapses this distinction. For Roberts, to faithfully execute the law, the president must have the power to remove officers of independent commissions.” “The Roberts Court is solidifying a formalistic version of the separation of powers that narrows congressional power while expanding presidential power. Its logic points to the idea that all administration functions… are an inherent part of the executive power and must be brought under the control of the president,” Thomas wrote. “Yet even Roberts cannot swallow the direction of his reasoning. That is why he exempted the Federal Reserve Board from the implications of his decision… Roberts notes that monetary policy at the core of the national bank’s mission is not subject ‘to plenary Presidential control.’ True. But this is just as true of the regulation of commerce or trade, so why doesn’t this logic apply to the Federal Trade Commission?” ### What the right is saying. - **The right supports the decisions, particularly the overturning of *Humphrey’s Executor*.** - **Some say *Slaughter* will allow presidents to more efficiently pursue their agenda.** - **Others suggest the tension between *Slaughter* and *Cook* is difficult to reconcile.** **In City Journal, Ilya Shapiro said** [**“*Humphrey’s Executor* has been slaughtered.”**](https://www.city-journal.org/article/supreme-court-trump-v-slaughter-humphreys-executor?ref=readtangle.com) “The Supreme Court today restored an old-fashioned constitutional idea: if a principal federal officer exercises executive power, the president must be able to remove him,” Shapiro wrote. “Chief Justice John Roberts wrote that ‘*Humphrey’s* framework, in short, has not withstood the test of time.’ Then came the sentence that will launch a thousand administrative-law articles: ‘If anything more is left of *Humphrey’s*, we overrule it.’ The New Deal compromise that invented quasi-legislative agencies has finally met Article II of the U.S. Constitution.” “This ruling isn’t a gift to Donald Trump or his successors. It’s a restoration of constitutional accountability. Congress can create executive-branch agencies and specify what they may do, but it cannot create a fourth branch of government and then pretend its officers are independent of the only person the Constitution makes responsible for executing federal law,” Shapiro said. “Taken together, *Slaughter* and *Cook* draw the right constitutional map. The FTC and similar agencies sit within the executive branch and must answer to the president. The Federal Reserve remains a narrow historical exception.” **The Washington Post editorial board wrote about** [**“Lisa Cook’s close Supreme Court call.”**](https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2026/06/29/lisa-cooks-close-supreme-court-call/?ref=readtangle.com) “Roberts explained that the Fed would effectively come under the president’s thumb if the firing stood, as ‘any perceived or alleged misstep (past or present) could provide a ready pretext for a Governor’s removal,’” the board said. “If the \[Federal Reserve Act of 1913’s\] ‘for cause’ provision is going to have teeth, Fed governors need to be insulated from arbitrary firing. The justices sidestepped what threshold the president needs to meet. That means Trump could still prevail in his effort to remove Cook, but the administration will need to at least devise a process that looks more legitimate than \[Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill\] Pulte’s search-and-destroy mission against Democrats.” “There’s definitely a tension between \[*Cook* and *Slaughter*\]. The Fed, after all, acts more like a regulator than the country’s early central banks, such as by imposing fines on financial institutions. But the best way to lessen the tension isn’t to extinguish the Fed’s independence,” the board wrote. “The better solution is for Congress to reform the Fed so it focuses on its core monetary mission. Some of its regulatory functions could be eliminated or transferred to the Treasury Department.” **In The Washington Examiner, Jay Powers praised the Court for ending** [**“\[the\] myth of ‘independent’ agencies.”**](https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/op-eds/4629854/trump-v-slaughter-independent-agencies-myth/?ref=readtangle.com) “\[*Humphrey’s Executor*\] was always a historical anomaly. It emerged from FDR’s war with the Supreme Court over New Deal agencies… The theory was that some agencies were quasi-legislative, quasi-judicial in nature, and therefore somehow outside normal executive authority,” Powers said. “That logic was always strained. The FTC administers roughly 80 statutes covering nearly every facet of the economy. It makes rules. It enforces law. It adjudicates disputes. That is executive work.” “Congress can still require bipartisan composition. It can still structure agencies with staggered terms and Senate confirmation. What it cannot do is exempt those officers from removal when the president concludes they’re working against his administration’s policies. That’s the difference between a president who governs and a president who presides over a bureaucracy he can’t direct,” Powers wrote. “The electorate voted for a candidate with specific views on how these agencies should operate. Monday’s ruling means those views can actually be implemented.” ### My take. **Reminder: “My take” is a section where we give ourselves space to share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, don't unsubscribe. Write in by replying to this email, or** [**leave a comment**](https://www.readtangle.com/cook-slaughter-supreme-court-rulings/#ghost-comments-root)**.** - **These cases underscore the tension between originalism in theory and practice.** - **I tentatively side with the majority in *Slaughter*, but the Court isn’t consistent with its logic in *Cook*.** - **I think the practical effects of these decisions will be relatively limited — though long-term concerns remain.** **Associate Editor Audrey Moorehead:** *Slaughter* and *Cook* are possibly the most fascinating set of decisions I’ve seen in my relatively brief time as a Court-watcher. It’s rare for the same justice to write two majority opinions in two very similar cases and come to two different conclusions joined by two different majorities — but that’s exactly what Chief Justice Roberts did here. *Slaughter* is the further-reaching case, granting the president the power to fire employees from any federal agency, even those established by Congress as independent (except, as *Cook* holds, the Federal Reserve). Reading the opinions in *Slaughter*, I found Roberts’s originalist understanding of the Constitution — and subsequent reasoning for overturning the *Humphrey’s Executor* precedent — more convincing than Justice Sotomayor’s dissent arguing for maintaining that precedent. But, like many Court-watchers, I ultimately struggle to reconcile *Slaughter* with *Cook* — and I find myself wondering whether the correct legal reasoning may lead to a bad outcome. Many of the Supreme Court’s Republican-appointed justices are self-described originalists, meaning they prioritize the original intent of the Constitution and federal law (where it doesn’t conflict with the Constitution). The legal theory has outsized sway on this Court, but it comes with trade-offs, and one of the Court’s originalists once offered a fascinating and complicated analysis of this approach. In 2017, when she was still a professor at Notre Dame Law School, Justice Amy Coney Barrett published an [essay](https://scholarship.law.nd.edu/ndlr/vol92/iss5/2/?ref=readtangle.com) called *Originalism and Stare Decisis*, grappling with the question of how originalist justices ought to handle longstanding precedent. She acknowledged that originalism can conflict with the precedent that forms the basis for our constitutional order. She points to the New Deal–era expansions and changes in federal power (like those in the now-defunct decision *Humphrey’s Executor*) as an example of precedent that is in tension with an originalist understanding of the Constitution, but is so entrenched in modern governmental functions that rolling back those changes could prove deeply destabilizing. Interestingly, Barrett concedes that originalist judges can sometimes choose not to follow their principles to their absolute ends when they know doing so would risk overturning load-bearing precedent. Instead, she argues that the important thing is that their jurisprudence draws consistent lines in applying originalist readings or deferring to precedent. This article has much to bear on *Slaughter*, which overturned the 90-year-old precedent set by *Humphrey’s Executor* by declaring that the president can fire federal officials, even those purported to belong to independent agencies where Congress initially attached “for cause” firing provisions. Barrett’s article put into words my misgivings about *Slaughter*, a case where sheer adherence to principle (which I usually admire) could potentially have cascading negative effects. I’d say Roberts and Kavanaugh agree with me, given that they ruled to preserve precedent in *Cook* — but here, I fear that their inconsistency only creates confusion. I find the majority’s reasoning — laid out by Chief Justice John Roberts — fairly airtight as a constitutional matter. Roberts is an attentive student of history, and his retelling of the first 150 years of the debate over executive power, before *Humphrey’s Executor*, was thorough and convincing. Then, he [asserts](https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/25-332%5Fqn12.pdf?ref=readtangle.com#page=28) that the Supreme Court had “long ago retreated from” applying *Humphrey’s Executor* to other agencies and even “undermined \[its\] premises at every turn.” In fact, Roberts argues, *Humphrey’s* is so difficult to apply that various lower courts have differed on its requirements — meaning that it doesn’t even create the stability that longstanding precedent often affords. I’m aligned with all of these points, but Roberts’s argument begins to slip when he discusses Congress’s reliance upon *Humphrey’s*. The Chief Justice claims that Congress has relied upon this precedent to expand its own power, and that that expansion of power is “hardly one of the ‘legitimate’ reliance interests that our precedents contemplate.” Fair enough. But he fails to fully grapple with Justice Sonia Sotomayor’s [counter](https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/25-332%5Fqn12.pdf?ref=readtangle.com#page=98) that “ordinary Americans and regulated firms alike have organized their affairs understanding that some Government decisions will depend not on political favoritism or partisan advantage (or at least not only on those considerations), but on expertise, adherence to law, judgment, and the public good.” Sotomayor is right that much of the country trusts these agencies *more* because they believe them to be nonpartisan and unaffected by the shifting tides of politics. Even if you think it shouldn’t be so — or if you think that the nonpartisan nature of these agencies is a sham — you’re still fighting against years of an established public understanding. Roberts maintains that the American people’s interest in their constitutional guarantees is more important than their trust in nonpartisan agencies, but his high-minded appeal rings hollow. Whatever Roberts believes about the Constitution, functionally overturning the precedent of independent federal agencies seriously undermines the average American’s understanding of the way the government works or ought to work. The fundamental tension of the Court’s decision in *Slaughter* is illustrated by its opinion in *Cook*, where Roberts (again writing for the majority) hardly seems to grapple at all with why the Fed might be exempt from the rules he lays out in *Slaughter*. Indeed, that’s the very argument Justice Barrett makes in her *Cook* dissent — that the Court is inconsistent in its application of principle. Barrett was convinced by Roberts’s reasoning that the time had come to overturn *Humphrey’s* erroneous precedent, but if that’s the case, why stop one agency short? Justice Kavanaugh’s *Cook* concurrence attempts to establish that the Fed should be treated completely separately under historical precedent, but it’s not a consistently originalist argument. I’d say instead that Roberts and Kavanaugh are aware that pure originalism toward the Fed would invite the governmental chaos that Barrett once acknowledged as a major risk. Roberts and Kavanaugh come off as if they’re caught between two worlds. The three Democratic-appointed justices wanted to uphold *Humphrey’s* because of the precedent on their side. Justice Barrett decided that the application of principle was worth the risk of upending order (as did, presumably, Justices Gorsuch, Alito, and Thomas). But Roberts and Kavanaugh want to have their cake and eat it, too — they want to see a return to the pre-*Humphrey’s* principle, but they’re worried about the negative consequences of an overwhelming change. In the end, I think it fosters confused legal reasoning that will hurt, rather than help, the Court in future cases. With that said, I’m optimistic that the partisan concerns about the effect of overturning *Humphrey’s Executor* are relatively overblown. Yes, this grants Trump more power over the federal government, but it also grants future presidents the same power, and I think on the whole that that *could* be a moderating force. After all, presidents ousting prior appointees isn’t anything new — President Biden [spent](https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/06/politics/biden-removing-trump-board-appointments?ref=readtangle.com) the first part of 2021 cleaning house of various Trump appointees, in some cases [breaking presidential precedent](https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/biden-had-power-fire-us-labor-board-official-court-rules-2023-01-27/?ref=readtangle.com) around agency appointees to do so. Even if I’m less afraid of the long-term impacts of partisan staffing of these agencies, I’m still broadly worried about what this decision will do in the immediate future. The Roberts Court may have gotten the constitutional question right in *Slaughter*, but I’m left wondering if there might have been some other way to restore the constitutional order, without such a seismic shift in established precedent. If there’s anything I’ve learned from Trump II, it’s that a “move fast, break things” approach can have disastrous and unintended consequences. ****Staff dissent — Senior Editor Will Kaback:** I disagree with Audrey that the majority’s legal reasoning in **Slaughter* was sound. I understand the right’s concerns about insulating agencies that do executive office work from executive office accountability, but the law establishing the Federal Trade Commission [already has](https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/15/41?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Any%20Commissioner%20may%20be%20removed%20by%20the%20President%20for%20inefficiency%2C%20neglect%20of%20duty%2C%20or%20malfeasance%20in%20office.) “for cause” provisions added — “inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office” offers a wide range of acceptable reasons to remove an independent agency leader. Chief Justice Roberts framed the decision as historically aligned with the Constitution’s intent that the president be solely in charge of the executive branch. But I don’t think the precedent established in **Humphrey’s* meaningfully strips that power (again, the “for cause” provisions are broad). What’s more, we accept other constraints on executive authority over independent agencies — only three of five FTC commissioners [can be from the same party](https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/15/41?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Not%20more%20than%20three%20of%20the%20Commissioners%20shall%20be%20members%20of%20the%20same%20political%20party), for instance. I agree with the dissenting justices that **stare decisis* should have won the day, and the majority’s decision to eliminate long-standing precedent in such blunt terms (Roberts: “If anything more is left of **Humphrey’s*, we overrule it”) resembles the kind of judicial activism I’m opposed to, regardless of which side it comes from. And on pure outcome, I’m concerned that this ruling will gradually make independent agencies more partisan and less meritocratic. **Take the survey:** What do you think of the *Slaughter* and *Cook* decisions? [Let us know](https://interrobang.vercel.app/survey/c439b767-2dc4-4763-930c-e4b47fb4fbe9?ref=readtangle.com). *Disagree? That's okay. Our opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we'll consider publishing your feedback.* ### This day in history. ![Declaration of Independence (1819) | John Trumbull](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/07/data-src-image-c4f7d64e-c122-489b-87bf-1cebd386ebc9.png) [Declaration of Independence](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Declaration%5Fof%5FIndependence%5F%281819%29,%5Fby%5FJohn%5FTrumbull.jpg?uselang=en&ref=readtangle.com#Licensing) (1819) | John Trumbull 250 years ago today, the Continental Congress declared independence from Great Britain. The provisional government, meeting in Philadelphia, voted in favor of a resolution proposed by Delegate Richard Henry Lee. It read: “These United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States, that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved.” John Adams, a Massachusetts delegate who would go on to become the second U.S. president, [initially believed](https://www.masshist.org/digitaladams/archive/doc?id=L17760703jasecond&ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=I%20am%20apt,forward%20forever%20more.) that July 2 would be the date celebrated for generations to come, featuring “Pomp and Parade with shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.” Instead, Americans (including Adams himself) have typically celebrated the Fourth, the day Congress approved the final text of the Declaration of Independence. SPONSORED by money ****Protect against rising vet costs with pet insurance** The cost of veterinary services has been rising recently, with some common surgical procedures costing up to $7,000\. Pet insurance can help cover accidents, illnesses, and even routine care, with some plans reimbursing up to 90% of costs. [Money.com's Best Pet Insurance list](https://api.wellput.io/v1/cm?cmid=981146mr2lzevr&tid=164&s1=v2-r744689-p981146-c45863&s2=Tangle&s3=&s4=null&ref=readtangle.com) can help you find affordable coverage starting at just $10 a month so you can focus on what matters most — your furry friend's well-being. Get a personalized pet insurance quote today and [save thousands on costly vet bills](https://api.wellput.io/v1/cm?cmid=981146mr2lzevr&tid=164&s1=v2-r744689-p981146-c45863&s2=Tangle&s3=&s4=null&ref=readtangle.com). ### The road not taken. Our attention turned fully to the Supreme Court this week. And for good reason — the decisions released since last Thursday are some of the most consequential of this term. We considered covering a few non-Court stories — Rep. Tom Kean’s (R-NJ) return to Congress and John Bolton’s guilty plea — as well as the semi-Court-related story of NPR mistakenly reporting Justice Samuel Alito’s retirement. Ultimately, the six cases we covered between Monday and today all felt timely, and we didn’t want to choose an alternate topic just for the sake of mixing it up. While six cases in four days is a lot, we still had to pass on several other major SCOTUS decisions handed down this week. The rulings on Hawaii’s [concealed-carry restrictions](https://www.scotusblog.com/2026/06/supreme-court-strikes-hawaii-gun-restriction/?ref=readtangle.com), rolling back rules on [coordinated campaign spending](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/06/30/supreme-court-campaign-finance-republican.html?ref=readtangle.com), and bans on [transgender athletes in women’s and girls’ sports](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/supreme-court/supreme-court-upholds-state-transgender-sports-bans-rcna261384?ref=readtangle.com) were three that just missed the cut. ### The extras. - **One year ago today** we covered [the Senate passing the One Big Beautiful Bill Act](https://www.readtangle.com/the-big-beautiful-bill-gets-through-the-senate/). - **The most clicked link in our last regular newsletter** was our new video on [why Britain keeps replacing its prime ministers](https://youtu.be/YBkCMePHIyk?si=Bmv5V2P77R%5F5RAH8&ref=readtangle.com). - **Nothing to do with politics:** [Predicting the song of the summer](https://apnews.com/article/what-is-song-of-summer-2026-0d2c000ccce4ea35a74baa3e6cc34090?ref=readtangle.com). - **Our last survey:** 2,526 readers responded to our survey on the Supreme Court’s birthright citizenship ruling, with 79% saying they supported the decision’s legal reasoning and its practical outcome. “It’s stunning to me that the outcome wasn’t 9–0,” one respondent said. “I think this was the right call legally, but feel that there is significant abuse of birthright citizenship,” said another. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/07/data-src-image-00d54650-d0a9-4afc-82c1-2d3ea940814d.png) ### Have a nice day. Locals of Ealing, West London, were at their wits’ end with the consistent flooding around the Greenford Tube station brought on by regular heavy rainstorms. One group of conservationists suggested a nature-based solution: beavers. In 2023, a family of five wild beavers moved into Ealing to tackle the flooding problem, officially commencing the Ealing Beaver Project. The animals built dams, natural reservoirs and canals, and the residents have enjoyed their new neighbors. According to project leader Sean McCormack, by the beavers’ second winter at the site, the area went without flooding for the first time in a decade. [CNN Climate has the story](https://www.cnn.com/2026/06/18/climate/beaver-rewilding-ealing-london-flooding?ref=readtangle.com). ### Why Britain Keeps Firing Its Prime Ministers URL: https://www.readtangle.com/why-britain-keeps-firing-its-prime-ministers/ Last updated: 2026-07-01T18:07:31.000Z Britain has had six Prime Ministers in just ten years. ### The Supreme Court’s ruling on birthright citizenship. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/scotus-birthright-citizenship-decision-2026/ Last updated: 2026-07-03T00:57:05.000Z Happy Wednesday. I’m **Isaac Saul** and I’m feeling like an Ivy League–educated law student in the midst of SCOTUS Week (speaking of: departing associate editor and soon-to-be law student Lindsey Knuth is doing a [Reddit AMA tomorrow](https://www.reddit.com/r/TangleNews/comments/1ujzd0h/its%5Fmy%5Flast%5Fweek%5Fat%5Ftangle%5Fama/?ref=readtangle.com)!). Today, we’re diving into the **birthright citizenship ruling** that has lit the commentariat on fire. Tonight, I’ll be turning my brain off for a couple hours to chant “USA!” at my TV while pretending I understand how soccer works. I expect all patriots to join me. Also in today’s newsletter: an under-the-radar story on **people lying when they answer political polls**, and a remarkable story about **technology allowing a man to communicate** despite his motor neuron disease. It’s a worthwhile **14-minute read**.Let’s go. ### What’s up with Britain? Last week, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced his resignation. If it feels like the country’s leaders are always coming and going, that’s because… they are. With Starmer’s departure, Britain will have had six prime ministers in 10 years. Each entered office promising stability; each left amid deep public dissatisfaction. In our newest YouTube video, Associate Producer Aidan Gorman explores what’s going on across the pond. Watch it below: Our latest YouTube video ### Quick hits. 1. NPR mistakenly published and broadcast a report that Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito was retiring, then retracted the story minutes after publication. The outlet’s leadership said in a statement that the error resulted from legal affairs correspondent Nina Totenberg mishearing an announcement about retirements on the Court and assuming it referred to Alito. ([The statement](https://www.npr.org/sections/npr-public-editor/2026/06/30/g-s1-131107/npr-retracts-story-about-alito-retirement?ref=readtangle.com)) 2. Rep. Tom Kean Jr. (R-NJ) made his first public appearance in four months, delivering a speech on the House floor in which he said he had been diagnosed with depression and hospitalized on his doctors’ recommendation. ([The return](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/tom-kean-missing-illness-returns-congress/?ref=readtangle.com)) 3. Democratic socialist candidate Melat Kiros defeated 15-time incumbent Rep. Diana DeGette in the Democratic primary for Colorado’s 1st Congressional District. ([The result](https://www.axios.com/local/denver/2026/07/01/colorado-primary-results-melat-kiros-beats-diana-degette?ref=readtangle.com)) 4. In a financial filing, President Trump disclosed earning $2.2 billion in 2025, including approximately $1.4 billion from his family’s cryptocurrency businesses. ([The filing](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/30/us/politics/trump-financial-disclosure-crypto-windfall.html?ref=readtangle.com)) 5. Anthropic said the Commerce Department has lifted export controls on its Fable 5 and Mythos 5 artificial intelligence models, roughly three weeks after the government imposed the controls over national security concerns. ([The update](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/06/30/anthropic-says-trump-admin-has-lifted-export-controls-on-claude-fable-5-and-mythos-5.html?ref=readtangle.com)) From Today's Partner ****Avoid high interest and pay no interest until 2028 with this card** Stop letting high-interest credit card payments eat into your budget. Paying those steep rates every month? It’s like throwing money away! If you’re ready to break free, now might be the perfect time to switch to a card that allows you to pay [****no interest on balance transfers**](https://financebuzz.com/landing-credit-card-take-a-break-from-high-interest-bofa-americard?utm%5Fsource=tangle&utm%5Fmedium=paid-newsletter-cpf&utm%5Fterm=Tangle&utm%5Fcampaign=BM-FBZ-Tangle-landing-credit-card-take-a-break-from-high-interest-bofa-americard-CPF&adgroupid=BM-landing-credit-card-take-a-break-from-high-interest-bofa-americard-CPF-07012026) into 2028. The ****FinanceBuzz** editors have highlighted a card offering exactly that! 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[Take advantage of this card and learn how to apply now](https://financebuzz.com/landing-credit-card-take-a-break-from-high-interest-bofa-americard?utm%5Fsource=tangle&utm%5Fmedium=paid-newsletter-cpf&utm%5Fterm=Tangle&utm%5Fcampaign=BM-FBZ-Tangle-landing-credit-card-take-a-break-from-high-interest-bofa-americard-CPF&adgroupid=BM-landing-credit-card-take-a-break-from-high-interest-bofa-americard-CPF-07012026https://financebuzz.com/landing-credit-card-take-a-break-from-high-interest-bofa-americard?utm%5Fsource=tangle&utm%5Fmedium=paid-newsletter-cpf&utm%5Fterm=Tangle&utm%5Fcampaign=BM-FBZ-Tangle-landing-credit-card-take-a-break-from-high-interest-bofa-americard-CPF&adgroupid=BM-landing-credit-card-take-a-break-from-high-interest-bofa-americard-CPF-07012026). ### Today’s topic. The birthright citizenship ruling. On Tuesday, the Supreme Court [struck down](https://www.wsj.com/us-news/law/supreme-court-rejects-trumps-bid-to-curtail-birthright-citizenship-bf386c17?ref=readtangle.com) President Donald Trump’s executive order attempting to end birthright citizenship, ruling 6–3 in *Trump v. Barbara* that the order is unlawful. Three Republican-appointed and three Democratic-appointed justices comprised the majority, though Justice Brett Kavanaugh dissented in part. Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, and Neil Gorsuch each authored dissents. **Back up:** On the first day of his second term, President Trump signed an [order](https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/protecting-the-meaning-and-value-of-american-citizenship/?ref=readtangle.com) declaring that a child born in the U.S. is not a citizen if their father is not a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, and their mother is either in the country illegally or only there temporarily. The order was immediately challenged on the grounds that it violated the 14th Amendment’s Citizenship Clause. The Supreme Court [heard](https://www.readtangle.com/scotus-considers-birthright-citizenship/) oral arguments in April. Writing for the majority, Chief Justice John Roberts held that the 14th Amendment was clear in its intent that children born in the United States to parents illegally or temporarily present in the country should still be U.S. citizens. The amendment’s Citizenship Clause, he [wrote](https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/25-365%5F4hdj.pdf?ref=readtangle.com#page=17), excluded “the children of foreign ministers and members of 19th-century Indian tribes,” but “no such intersovereign concerns apply to children born of parents unlawfully or temporarily present in the United States.” Justice Kavanaugh filed an opinion dissenting from the majority’s view that the executive order violates the 14th Amendment, instead arguing that it was illegal under a federal law enacted in 1940 that [mirrored](https://fam.state.gov/fam/08fam/08fam030106.html?ref=readtangle.com) the Citizenship Clause’s language. However, Kavanaugh [suggested](https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/25-365%5F4hdj.pdf?ref=readtangle.com#page=61) that Congress could amend that law and change the definition of birthright citizenship. Justices Alito and Thomas strongly disagreed with the decision; Alito [called](https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/25-365%5F4hdj.pdf?ref=readtangle.com#page=153) it “a serious mistake,” while Thomas [said](https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/25-365%5F4hdj.pdf?ref=readtangle.com#page=66) the ruling “adds to the sad history of the Fourteenth Amendment, which was designed and understood to secure equal rights for the freed blacks but has instead been repurposed for political projects that the Reconstruction Congress did not support.” Finally, Gorsuch (who also joined Thomas’s dissent) wrote that the Citizenship Clause does not apply to children born to parents who are temporarily in the United States — legally or illegally. However, he suggested that children of noncitizens who intend to remain in the country should be considered citizens, writing, “Is a child born here to parents who have long chosen to make this Nation their permanent home not a citizen under the Fourteenth Amendment solely because his parents’ presence violates statutory law? If those parents are not domiciled here, then where *are* they domiciled?” Today, we’ll explore perspectives on the ruling from the right and left, followed by Executive Editor Isaac Saul’s take. ### What the right is saying. - **The right mostly opposes the practical outcome of the ruling, though many acknowledge the majority’s sound legal reasoning.** - **Some say the decision could be a political boon for Republicans.** - **Others argue Congress should try to amend the 14th Amendment.** **National Review’s editors wrote about** [**“birthright citizenship after *Barbara*.”**](https://www.nationalreview.com/2026/06/birthright-citizenship-after-barbara/?ref=readtangle.com) “The Court took the traditional view of this broad language \[in the Citizenship Clause\] that most people in the country are ‘subject to the jurisdiction’ of American law unless they are members of a sovereign Native American tribe or represent a foreign government,” the editors said. “The *Wong Kim Ark* rule has the advantage of ease and clarity, and that plainly gave the Court pause in unsettling it. In the specific case of parents traveling through the country, how long do they have to be here to be considered legally domiciled in the United States, and what other factors would weigh in such a decision? The majority was not persuaded that an alternative test could easily be located in the Constitution.” “It might have been wiser if the framers of the 14th Amendment had left the outer limits of birthright citizenship to Congress. Congress can adjust to new and changing situations and can write detailed rules to address distinctions that the courts are ill-equipped to draw based solely on general language,” the editors wrote. “Still, Congress and the president are not powerless even after *Trump v. Barbara*. Stricter rules could be applied to discourage and deter birth tourism… Illegal immigration, of course, can be stemmed with the border security and enforcement tools the president already has and is actively using.” **In PJ Media, Scott Pinsker explored** [**“the political upside of losing the birthright citizenship case.”**](https://pjmedia.com/scott-pinsker/2026/06/30/the-political-upside-of-losing-the-birthright-citizenship-case-n4954530?ref=readtangle.com) “Weirdly, today’s Supreme Court loss was a net-positive for the Republican Party — at least for the 2026 midterms, and probably for 2028 as well… Traditionally, immigration has been President Donald Trump’s top-polling issue, although he occasionally faced pushback for ‘going too far.’ Because he lost, the immigration issue is still on the table,” Pinsker said. “It’s counterintuitive, but there’s a cost to solving a political problem: It removes the issue from the public sphere. Because we lost today, the immigration issue is still relevant. And we can still use it to drive voters to the polls.” “If the Supreme Court hadn’t demonstrated its independence, the Democrats’ pledge to pack the court — and contort the Constitution — would no longer look like an insane overreach,” Pinsker wrote. “It also opens an opportunity for the GOP to tackle the immigration problem by other means… Now, we can have a national debate over what it means to be an American: Is it in our national interest for pregnant immigrants to illegally enter our country, deliver an anchor baby, and then claim lifelong citizenship? Or is that a recipe for abuse, fraud, and government waste?” **In Fox News, Jonathan Turley said the ruling** [**“leaves conservatives with only one path.”**](https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/jonathan-turley-birthright-citizenship-ruling-leaves-conservatives-one-path?ref=readtangle.com) “\[The majority\] found the language and history of the amendment to be clear and, relying on prior rulings dating back decades, concluded that birth alone in this country is enough to confer citizenship — even if born to a tourist or someone briefly on our soil,” Turley wrote. “It is a view that is rejected by the vast majority of countries, which rightfully view birthright citizenship as bonkers, including some which followed the practice and then rescinded it. The United States remains one of the outliers in maintaining this ill-considered practice.” “The matter now rests not with the court, but the country. We have never truly had a national debate over the practice. The basis and future of birthright citizenship have remained matters almost exclusively for the courts. We must now decide whether to pursue such a debate as a constitutional amendment,” Turley said. “While Congress can pass legislation cracking down on birth tourism, there is only so much that such laws can do in questioning why particular births occurred in the United States.” ### What the left is saying. - **The left supports the outcome, expressing relief that the majority upheld the established understanding of the Citizenship Clause.** - **Some criticize the Republican-appointed justices’ dissents.** - **Others worry that future birthright citizenship challenges could still succeed.** **The New York Times editorial board wrote** [**“the Supreme Court remembers its principles.”**](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/30/opinion/supreme-court-birthright-citizenship-trump.html?ref=readtangle.com) “The Supreme Court’s decision on Tuesday to preserve birthright citizenship comes as a relief. President Trump’s unilateral effort to prevent the children of undocumented immigrants from automatically becoming citizens was plainly unconstitutional,” the board said. “As the majority opinion by Chief Justice John Roberts shows, the history of the citizenship clause of the 14th Amendment, ratified in 1868, makes clear that ‘subject to the jurisdiction’ refers to the power of the United States to govern people within its territory. Federal and state laws do, of course, apply to the children of migrants.” “The majority’s decision is a relief because this Supreme Court is not always willing to apply the law equally to Mr. Trump. Yes, it rightly rejected his tariffs as a usurpation of Congress’s authority to tax. But the court’s six Republican-appointed justices have been inappropriately deferential in a string of other cases,” the board wrote. “The birthright citizenship ruling is a reminder of what a principled, Constitution-bound court should look like.” **In Bloomberg, Noah Feldman asked** [**“how was the birthright citizenship decision this close?”**](https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2026-06-30/supreme-court-birthright-citizenship-decision-was-too-close?ref=readtangle.com) “The bad news — and it is very bad — is that the vote in support of this position was 5 to 4, not 9–0… You read that right. The highest court in the United States came within a single vote of casting aside the text and history of the 14th Amendment and joining the anti-immigrant frenzy that accompanied Donald Trump to the White House nine years ago and has not yet fully abated,” Feldman said. “Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh… ride roughshod over the language of the Constitution, not to mention precedent. Their path is determined by their ideological preferences, even as they insist it is based on their constitutional respect.” “According to the four conservative dissenters, Congress could redefine the words ‘subject to the jurisdiction thereof’ so that people not lawfully in the U.S. are excluded. Yet everyone in the United States, lawfully or otherwise, is plainly subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. All of us here are obligated to follow U.S. laws and can be punished criminally if we don’t do so,” Feldman wrote. “\[These justices\] are supposed to take the text of the Constitution seriously. So how could they vote the way they did, ignoring the words of the 14th Amendment and rejecting the straightforward majority opinion that also relied on both history and precedent?” **In Common Dreams, Jordan Liz said** [**“the battle is far from over.”**](https://www.commondreams.org/opinion/scotus-birthright-safe-for-now?ref=readtangle.com) “After several disastrous Supreme Court rulings on Temporary Protected Status (TPS), asylum entries, transgender athletes, campaign finance restrictions, and presidential firing power, it may be tempting to see this decision on birthright as a glimmer of hope. Unfortunately, there are reasons to be concerned,” Liz wrote. “Kavanaugh believes that Congress could limit birthright citizenship themselves. A constitutional amendment would not be needed. The same is arguably true for Gorsuch, Thomas, and Alito. If Congress were to pass legislation that codifies Trump’s Executive Order and formally defines ‘domicile’ status in a way that excludes undocumented immigrants and temporary visitors, then those four justices would likely uphold it.” “What we needed was a clear 7–2 decision (Thomas and Alito were always going to dissent). One that acknowledged what the Constitution plainly says and what it obviously grants,” Liz said. “As things stand, however, the Supreme Court is effectively one vote away from fundamentally changing who is entitled to U.S. citizenship and what it means to be an American. While birthright citizenship survived today, this ruling exposes how fragile its guarantee has become.” ### My take. **Reminder: “My take” is a section where we give ourselves space to share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, don’t unsubscribe. Write in by replying to this email, or** [**leave a comment**](https://www.readtangle.com/scotus-birthright-citizenship-decision-2026/#ghost-comments-root)**.** - **This outcome was reasonable and expected, but some of the reactions from the right have been shocking.** - **The plain text of the 14th Amendment and its historical context support striking down Trump’s order.** - **However, I found Gorsuch’s dissent compelling as a way to address the excesses of birthright citizenship.** **Executive Editor Isaac Saul:** Amid all the noise, let me just remind people: The 14th Amendment’s Citizenship Clause [reads](https://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/amendmentxiv?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=All%20persons%20born,of%20the%20laws.), in full, “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.” I [didn’t think this was particularly complicated](https://www.readtangle.com/scotus-considers-birthright-citizenship/#:~:text=rubber%2Dstamp%20citizenship.%E2%80%9D-,My%20take.,-Reminder%3A%20%E2%80%9CMy%20take) after oral arguments, and I don’t think so now. Again, the amendment is not vague: “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.” Maybe you think that amendment is a bad amendment. Maybe you think it is poorly written. Maybe you think “subject to the jurisdiction thereof” has such force and importance that all the words around it don’t mean what they say. Maybe you think Congress should pass a law, or states should amend the Constitution, to end birthright citizenship. But the language is right there. Yesterday, Senior Editor Will Kaback graciously gave me some credit for rightly predicting the result of the late-arriving-ballots case while [noting](https://www.readtangle.com/scotus-mail-in-ballots-ruling-2026/#:~:text=After%20oral%20arguments%2C%20court%20watchers%20thought%20the%20Court%20would%20strike%20down%20Mississippi%E2%80%99s%20law%2C%20and%20commentators%20on%20the%20left%20preemptively%20bemoaned%20that%20the%20conservative%2C%20%E2%80%9Cconspiracy%2Dbrained%2C%E2%80%9D%20misinformed%20justices%20were%20about%20to%20upend%20the%20midterms%20%28though%20Isaac%20nailed%20his%20analysis%29.) that many courtwatchers and left-wing writers were preemptively freaking out about the outcome, suggesting the “conspiracy-brained,” “misinformed” Court was about to outlaw late-arriving ballots. Then many of those people went silent when the ruling went the other way. Well, today, I think it’s only fair to note the reactions from many of the ascendant, postliberal, reactionary, right-wing pundits, who are absolutely unraveling after the majority Republican-appointed Court upheld birthright citizenship. Sean Davis, the CEO and co-founder of the influential conservative website The Federalist, is [suggesting](https://x.com/seanmdav/status/2071983931998494799?ref=readtangle.com) “sterilization of all foreign visitors” and “dissolution of the Union.” Matt Walsh [called](https://x.com/MattWalshBlog/status/2071985092784718085?ref=readtangle.com) the ruling “evil,” [accused](https://x.com/MattWalshBlog/status/2071977731126894719?ref=readtangle.com) Justice Amy Coney Barrett of being a DEI hire, and [argued](https://x.com/MattWalshBlog/status/2071981863036432685?ref=readtangle.com) that “the worst Supreme Court justices of all time have been women, that’s just a fact.” Steven Crowder, the popular YouTube host (whose mom is French Canadian and who grew up in Quebec), [said](https://x.com/scrowder/status/2071977201994502632?ref=readtangle.com), “Amy Coney Barrett and John Roberts just decided that little Josue born to illegal Haitians in Springfield, Ohio is just as American as you and me.” Jeremy Carl, a senior fellow at the Claremont Institute, [wrote](https://x.com/realJeremyCarl/status/2071979882230464518?ref=readtangle.com): “If you think it’s a coincidence that the ‘conservative’ justice \[Roberts\] with no biological children and the justice \[Barrett\] with two Haitian adoptees are fundamentally libs when the chips are down, you have a lot to learn about politics.” These reactions aren’t just confined to formerly fringe, now mainstream punditry, either. Fox News’s Brian Kilmeade [suggested](https://x.com/atrupar/status/2072288090882752574/video/1?s=46&ref=readtangle.com) to an agreeable Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin that we might start banning pregnant women from traveling to the U.S. Stephen Miller, the White House senior adviser, [said](https://x.com/factpostnews/status/2072143992708337956?s=20&ref=readtangle.com) they were taking a serious look at this idea. This was a totally predictable and completely rational ruling from a 6–3 Republican-appointed Court; to call these responses from the right abnormal or unhealthy would be the understatement of the week. Frankly, I’m surprised the ruling wasn’t more lopsided. When we covered [oral arguments](https://www.readtangle.com/supreme-court-asylum-tps-rulings/#:~:text=and%20self%2Dgovernance.%E2%80%9D-,My%20take.,-Reminder%3A%20%E2%80%9CMy%20take), I predicted this decision would come down 7–2 or 8–1, and I’m having a hard time accepting that it was much closer than it should have been. For instance: On Monday, I [wrote](https://www.readtangle.com/supreme-court-asylum-tps-rulings/) about the Court’s decision on two immigration cases. In one of them, Justice Alito used much of his opinion to describe the “plain English” meaning of “arrives in,” arguing that when someone “arrives in” the United States, it means they are *in* the United States, not at a port of entry standing in Mexico. Therefore, he said, the Trump administration did not have to grant asylum to migrants until they arrived *in* the United States, because that’s what the language said, and thus they could block them from entering. I [agreed](https://www.readtangle.com/supreme-court-asylum-tps-rulings/#:~:text=On%20the%20merits%2C%20Justice%20Alito%E2%80%99s%20legal%20rationale%20mostly%20makes%20sense%20to%20me.%20His%20argument%20about%20the%20%E2%80%9Cplain%20English%E2%80%9D%20meaning%20of%20%E2%80%9Carrives%20in%E2%80%9D%20resonates%20with%20me%2C%20and%20his%20interpretation%20is%20reasonably%20applied%20here.) with this rationale, because it makes sense. Yesterday, Associate Editor Carina Pacheco [noted](https://www.readtangle.com/scotus-mail-in-ballots-ruling-2026/#:~:text=Staff%20dissent%20%E2%80%94%20Associate,and%20obvious%20window.) her support for Justice Alito’s plain English interpretation of Election *Day* — not week, fortnight, or month, but *day*. Therefore, she and Alito concluded, elections should not go on for weeks or months. Well, what does Justice Alito think it means when the 14th Amendment says anyone “born or naturalized in” the United States is a citizen? What is the “plain English meaning” of that phrase? One might consider this answer a layup for such a staunch textualist. Yet, instead, Alito focuses on “careful analysis of the text of the Fourteenth Amendment and the process that led to its adoption,” and argues that the “Fourteenth Amendment confers citizenship on only those children who, at birth, owe allegiance solely to this country.” These are words, language, and reasoning that appear nowhere in the text. It’s hard not to notice the glaring inconsistency. The fact that he somehow arrives in a place *other* than the 14th Amendment’s very plain language is both frustrating and alarming — and makes it harder to defend him from accusations of motivated reasoning. Further, Alito and Thomas’s insistence that we focus on the historical context of the 14th Amendment does not — to me — help their cause. I went over a lot of this [historical precedent](https://www.readtangle.com/scotus-considers-birthright-citizenship/#:~:text=%E2%80%9CAll%20persons%E2%80%9D%20is,here%20is%20moot.) the first time we wrote about this case, and it is fascinating. The upshot is that the plain language of the 14th Amendment fits cleanly with the historical record. When Congress was voting on the 14th Amendment, it had also just drafted the Civil Rights Act of 1866, which gave citizenship to “all persons born in the United States and not subject to any foreign power.” Amid debate about the amendment, Pennsylvania Sen. Edgar Cowan objected to the Citizenship Clause, fearful it might let Chinese immigrants “overrun” California. Sen. John Conness (CA) responded that “the children begotten of Chinese parents in California… shall be citizens” and that the Civil Rights Act had already established “that the children of all parentage whatever… should be regarded and treated as citizens of the United States.” Congress simply thought it was putting the idea of birthright citizenship out of reach of legislative undermining, and largely intended it to do just that. Or, as Chief Justice Roberts [put it](https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/25-365%5F4hdj.pdf?ref=readtangle.com#page=14), the Amendment’s framers wanted to “permanently enshrine” the idea that “a child born on American soil and subject to American law was made an American citizen.” Roberts rightly described the “scant evidence” for any revisionist reading of this history. Again: Maybe you don’t like this amendment, or its language, but I think it’s pretty clear the framers of the Amendment understood the ramifications of its wording. Still, “the Court rules 6–3 to uphold birthright citizenship” does not really capture the nuance of what just happened. In reality, Justices Roberts, Sotomayor, Kagan, Barrett, and Jackson all joined the critical majority opinion. Justice Kavanaugh concurred that Trump’s executive order was illegal but did not concur in the reasoning. He argued that the order did not violate the 14th Amendment but *did* violate federal law, and suggested Congress could amend that law or enact new legislation to make exceptions for children born in the U.S. to temporary visitors or foreign citizens. Meanwhile, Justices Gorsuch, Thomas and Alito all dissented, but for different reasons. Gorsuch’s was most interesting to me — he argued for distinguishing between temporary visitors and immigrants here illegally. He would deny birthright citizenship to the children of temporary visitors but allow it for the children of noncitizens illegally in the country but with intent to stay. Gorsuch focused on the Court precedent and historical understanding of “domicile,” arguing that an unauthorized immigrant could be domiciled here and thus their children would be conferred citizenship. As Reason’s Robby Soave [noted](https://x.com/robbysoave/status/2071981695725711591/photo/3?ref=readtangle.com), that makes it more like a 7–2 decision on the issue of whether the children of immigrants here illegally are citizens, which is the core political lens through which a lot of people are viewing this case. And in reality, it was probably 8–1 or 9–0 on that question. Both Alito and Thomas [left open the idea](https://www.nationalreview.com/bench-memos/on-todays-ruling-on-birthright-citizenship/?ref=readtangle.com) that the children of (at least some) unauthorized immigrants who lived here would qualify as citizens because their parents were domiciled. In other words, there really *was* consensus on one of the core political questions downstream of the narrow legal question. As a matter of pure outcome, not legal debate, I actually find Gorsuch’s view the most aligned with my own. The children of someone intentionally and obviously domiciled here — even illegally — should be citizens, while the children of someone who travels here temporarily and happens to give birth on U.S. soil (or only stays long enough to give birth) should not. Not so long ago, even stricter restrictions on birthright citizenship [were mainstream](https://x.com/BillMelugin%5F/status/2072010087682510905?ref=readtangle.com) among Democrats. I don’t believe this is what the 14th Amendment says, but I do think it would be the best-case scenario to address some of our modern-day immigration issues. Whether Congress or the courts can get there at a future date is an open question, but it’s not the question the Court resolved on Tuesday. **Take the survey:** What do you think of the Court’s decision? [Let us know](https://interrobang.vercel.app/survey/f784e1e6-f295-4b07-a9c7-0013d8a10888?ref=readtangle.com). *Disagree? That*’*s okay. Our opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we'll consider publishing your feedback.* ### Your questions, answered. **Q: I just read about “ghost students” defrauding colleges, universities, the government, and taxpayers out of millions of dollars. I don’t understand how people can make money off of this scheme. I thought that when people were awarded scholarships, grants and/or financial aid, the amount they were awarded was deducted from what they had to pay. Can you explain this?** **— Jennifer from Toledo, OH** **Tangle:** A recent Department of Education analysis found that the government has [disbursed](https://www.ed.gov/about/news/press-release/us-department-of-education-prevents-more-1-billion-federal-student-aid-fraud-year-additional-crackdowns-expected-2026?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Earlier%20this%20year%2C%20the%20Trump%20Administration%20uncovered%20that%20nearly%20%2490%20million%20in%20federal%20student%20aid%20was%20fraudulently%20disbursed%2C%20including%20more%20than%20%2430%20million%20disbursed%20to%20deceased%20individuals%20and%20more%20than%20%2440%20million%20disbursed%20to%20companies%20using%20bots%20disguised%20as%20fake%20students.) nearly $90 million of fraudulent student aid, including $30 million to people who were dead. In 2023, three California women were indicted for using the identities of prisoners to falsely enroll in community college and obtain student loans, [defrauding](https://www.justice.gov/usao-cdca/pr/three-women-indicted-alleged-scheme-used-prison-inmates-identities-fraudulently-obtain?ref=readtangle.com) the government of roughly $1 million. These fraudsters are called “ghost students.” Receiving federal student loans is basically a [three-step process](https://www.edvisors.com/blog/financial-aid-disbursement/?ref=readtangle.com): First, prospective college students apply for aid through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (or FAFSA). Future students input their financial information and their prospective schools so the government can consider their level of need. Second, after a student is accepted into a school and opts in to the available federal funds, the government disburses a personalized aid package into the student’s account with that school. This is true even for [tuition-free community colleges](https://ctstate.edu/free-tuition?ref=readtangle.com), since many students receive aid packages to help with books, travel, or cost-of-living while enrolled. Third, the schools disburse the aid. For any package that disburses more in aid than the student’s tuition costs, the school will send the aid costs to the student (after a 30-day period, which is meant to prevent fraud). “Ghost students” [exploit vulnerabilities](https://itif.org/publications/2026/03/02/higher-ed-has-a-ghost-problem-time-to-bust-it-with-digital-ids/?ref=readtangle.com) at each stage of the process. First, they steal Social Security numbers (SSNs) from other people in order to apply for aid under false identities. Then, they enroll in colleges with low or no tuition. Most colleges verify enrollment in classes after disbursing aid, and some do not require students to provide SSNs when they register for classes. That means fraudsters can even register and attend some classes themselves under fake identities until the schools pay them out — then, they “ghost” them. In California, where community colleges are free and are forbidden by law from requesting SSNs of students, the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office [estimated](https://calmatters.org/education/2026/05/financial-aid-fraud-california/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=The%20estimate%20was%20higher%20in%20January%202024%2C%20around%2025%25.%20Last%20spring%2C%20it%20was%2034%25%2C%20though%20some%20schools%20saw%20much%20higher%20rates.) last spring that over one third of all applicants were fraudulent. **Want to have a question answered in the newsletter? You can reply to this email (it goes straight to our inbox) or** [**fill out this form**](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScQhqBSG%5F6%5FoBhwcTQMeS570n29XYbeQ9C9Bis7rjqI31g1tA/viewform?usp=header&ref=readtangle.com)**.** ### Under the radar. Two-thirds of Americans believe people lie in political polling. Does that mean most polling is flawed, because it relies on self-censored responses to politically sensitive questions? What do Americans *really* believe? In a recent series of polls divided along political, ideological, racial, and economic lines, a new initiative called the Honesty Project asked respondents for their “public” and “private” opinions on contentious issues. The polling found that Americans are privately more patriotic than they express publicly, Gen Z shows higher private support for political violence, and a majority of polled Americans privately believe other Americans are the country’s greatest threat. The overall data appears to coalesce around one common truth: Americans may be performing a certain flavor of politics in public while harboring much more complicated — and sometimes completely different — beliefs in private. [The Free Press has the story](https://www.thefp.com/p/honesty-project-part-two?utm%5Fsource=substack&utm%5Fmedium=email). From Today's Partner ****Headlines Weighing You Down? There’s a Better Way** ****The Pour Over** delivers politically neutral news for Christians — just enough to stay informed, with Biblical reminders that keep the Good News in focus. No anxiety spiral, [no rage bait](https://chaos.thepourover.org/?utm%5Fsource=tangle&utm%5Fmedium=newsletter&utm%5Fcampaign=june23). 1.5 million readers trust their approach. It’s free, it’s funny (sometimes), and the welcome email might actually make you smile. [****Join 1,502,231 already reading The Pour Over**](https://chaos.thepourover.org/?utm%5Fsource=tangle&utm%5Fmedium=newsletter&utm%5Fcampaign=june23). ### The extras. - **One year ago today** we covered the Supreme Court ruling on [parents opting their children out of LGBTQ classroom material](https://www.readtangle.com/parents-can-now-opt-kids-out-of-lgbtq-classroom-material/). - **The most clicked link in our last regular newsletter** was the Supreme Court [striking down limits on coordinated spending between candidates and political parties](https://www.politico.com/news/2026/06/30/campaign-spending-supreme-court-ruling-00980450?ref=readtangle.com). - **Nothing to do with politics:** A site that [maps real-world journeys from classic books](https://readingmaps.com/maps?ref=readtangle.com). - **Our last survey:** 2,216 readers responded to our survey on the Supreme Court’s late-arriving-ballots decision, with 76% saying they support the legal reasoning and its practical effects. “What a happy surprise,” one respondent said. “We need to know who won the election on the night of the election. Stretching things out is ridiculous,” said another. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/07/data-src-image-4d9141a0-108c-4105-9f35-508d094d6b7c.png) ### Have a nice day. Six years ago, 48-year-old Casey Harrell was diagnosed with a motor neuron disease that left him paralyzed. But through his brain–computer interface, a device that operates through microelectrodes in his brain’s speech motor cortex, Harrell can send texts and emails, operate a computer, and keep working in his climate-advocacy position. A recent study analyzing nearly two years of Harrell’s home use of the device found that he had communicated 183,060 sentences, 92% of which he labeled at least mostly accurate. “This has allowed me to keep working and earn money and insurance for my family,” Harrell said. “This is reconnecting me with friends and family who are too shy or too afraid to come over and not be able to understand me.” [Nature has the story](https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-026-01863-4?ref=readtangle.com). ### SCOTUS upholds Mississippi’s late-arriving ballot law. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/scotus-mail-in-ballots-ruling-2026/ Last updated: 2026-06-30T15:54:59.000Z Hey everyone, happy Tuesday. It’s Senior Editor **Will Kaback**. Today is the last day of June, and it’s felt like a long month to me (not complaining, especially not in summer). I wonder how it’s felt for the Supreme Court, which seems to be releasing a new slate of front-page rulings every day. This time of year has become a de facto “SCOTUS Week” for us at Tangle, and 2026 is no different: Today, we’re covering Monday’s decision on **Mississippi’s mail-in ballot law**, with rulings on birthright citizenship and more expected to drop this morning. An additional piece of breaking news: Tangle’s newly minted associate editor, **Carina Pacheco**, is making her debut with a dissent to today’s take. We’re excited to get Carina in the mix, and you can expect to begin seeing her writing more regularly. Later in the edition, we have a look back at the only person to ever serve as **both president and Supreme Court chief justice** — and, I assume, the first person to check those two boxes *and* be rumored to have gotten stuck in a bathtub. Nevertheless. It’s a **14-minute read**, and we’re off. ### Quick hits. 1. In a 6–3 ruling, the Supreme Court overturned President Donald Trump’s executive order revoking birthright citizenship for children born to noncitizens, finding that the order violated the 14th Amendment. ([The first ruling](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-suffers-major-supreme-court-defeat-justices-uphold-birthright-citizenship?ref=readtangle.com)) Separately, the Supreme Court ruled 9–0 that Title IX allows states to establish separate men’s and women’s sports teams based on biological sex, and 6–3 that West Virginia’s law banning transgender women athletes from competing on women’s teams is consistent with the law. ([The second ruling](https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/us-supreme-court-decide-legality-state-transgender-sports-bans-2026-06-30/?ref=readtangle.com)) Finally, in another 6–3 ruling, the Supreme Court struck down coordinated campaign spending limits. ([The final ruling](https://www.politico.com/news/2026/06/30/campaign-spending-supreme-court-ruling-00980450?ref=readtangle.com)) 2. President Donald Trump nominated acting Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling to serve permanently in the role. ([The nomination](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-nominates-keith-sonderling-as-labor-secretary/?ref=readtangle.com)) Separately, President Trump nominated Oklahoma law enforcement official Lance Schroyer to serve as director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. ([The nomination](https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/trump-taps-lance-schroyer-as-ice-director-35ec052d?ref=readtangle.com)) 3. The Supreme Court rejected President Trump’s appeal of a $5 million civil judgment against him in the defamation case brought by writer E. Jean Carroll. ([The rejection](https://abcnews.com/US/supreme-court-rejects-trumps-appeal-2022-jean-carroll/story?id=134308966&ref=readtangle.com)) 4. President Trump downplayed the significance of the federal housing affordability bill passed by Congress last week, saying it is “so unimportant compared to the SAVE America Act.” The president has not indicated if or when he might sign the bill. ([The comments](https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5946313-trump-housing-bill-save-america-act/?ref=readtangle.com)) 5. Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) is reportedly under federal investigation for campaign finance violations linked to a whistleblower complaint that he used campaign funds to pay for vacations. ([The report](https://www.axios.com/2026/06/29/gallego-doj-investigation-campaign-finance?ref=readtangle.com)) From Today's Partner ****Keep Your SSN Off The Dark Web** Every day, data brokers profit from your sensitive info — ****phone number, DOB, SSN** — selling it to the highest bidder. 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On Monday, the Supreme Court [ruled](https://www.scotusblog.com/2026/06/justices-uphold-state-law-allowing-for-late-arriving-mail-in-ballots/?ref=readtangle.com) 5–4 to uphold a Mississippi law allowing election officials to count ballots postmarked by Election Day but received up to five days afterward. In its ruling, the Court rejected the challengers’ argument that federal statutes setting a national Election Day required ballot receipt by that day. Instead, the Court held that Election Day refers to voters choosing a candidate, which is fulfilled when voting is completed, not when ballots are received. The ruling comes four months before the 2026 midterm elections and ensures that Mississippi’s law will remain in place for the state’s elections. **Back up:** In 2020,during the Covid-19 pandemic, Mississippi changed its election laws to allow officials to count mail-in ballots received up to five business days after Election Day, provided they were postmarked by Election Day. The Republican National Committee led a group challenging the ballot deadline in 2024; a district judge upheld Mississippi’s law, but a panel of the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed the ruling. Mississippi challenged the Fifth Circuit ruling to the Supreme Court, and the Supreme Court [heard oral arguments](https://www.readtangle.com/scotus-mail-in-ballot-law-mississippi/) in the case in March. Justice Amy Coney Barrett delivered the Court’s opinion, joined by Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, and Ketanji Brown Jackson. Barrett [wrote](https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/24-1260%5Fg3cn.pdf?ref=readtangle.com#page=9), “The defining element of an ‘election’ — the term used in all three federal statutes — has always been the electorate’s choice of candidate… while federal law dictates when ballots must be cast, state law dictates when they must be received.” She also referred to the 1986 Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act as proof that congressional election legislation has “presuppose\[d\]” that states have the power to set ballot-receipt deadlines. Justice Samuel Alito dissented, joined by Justices Clarence Thomas and Neil Gorsuch; Justice Brett Kavanaugh joined most of the dissent. Alito [argued](https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/24-1260%5Fg3cn.pdf?ref=readtangle.com#page=34) that “from this Nation’s founding until the last few decades of the 20th century — a period that spans the enactment of all three election-day statutes — having an ‘election’ on a particular day meant completing ballot collection on that day.” To illustrate his point, Alito focused on the rise of absentee voting for soldiers during the Civil War, noting that states’ strict adherence to federal Election Day guidelines likely followed from their understanding that elections included both ballot casting and ballot receipt. On Monday, President Donald Trump criticized the Supreme Court’s decision. “In light of the tremendous loss in the Supreme Court today concerning Voter’s Rights, and the fact that ‘people’s’ votes are allowed to be counted LONG AFTER an Election is over, it is more important than ever to pass THE SAVE AMERICA ACT,” he [wrote](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116834002761429397?ref=readtangle.com) on Truth Social. Below, you’ll hear from the left and the right about the Court’s ruling. Then, Senior Editor Will Kaback gives his take. ### What the left is saying. - **The left broadly supports the decision, viewing it as a common-sense outcome.** - **Some say the dissent will further fuel claims of election fraud.** - **Others claim the ruling will turn Republicans’ attention back to passing the SAVE America Act.** **In Vox, Ian Millhiser called the dissent** [**“a fringe attack on voting rights.”**](https://www.vox.com/politics/493589/supreme-court-watson-rnc-absentee-ballots-barrett-alito?ref=readtangle.com) “It should go without saying that, when Congress set the Election Day in 1845, it did not intend for literally everything involving an election to occur on that day. Prior to an election, states must determine which candidates shall appear on the ballot, print those ballots, distribute them to polling places and individual voters, register voters, and perform numerous other tasks. Many states also allow for early voting,” Millhiser said. “The premise of the Republican Party’s lawsuit is that the task of gathering the ballots that have already been cast is somehow special, and it must happen on Election Day. “But there’s no legal support for this position. As Justice Amy Coney Barrett writes for herself, her three Democratic colleagues, and Chief Justice John Roberts, when federal law set the date for the ‘election,’ it ‘set the day when the electorate must make its choice,’” Millhiser wrote. “Voters must actually cast their ballots by the deadline, but the same deadline does not apply to the ministerial task of gathering all those ballots into a state office where they will be counted.” **In Slate, Richard L. Hasen wrote** [**“the Supreme Court rejected a bonkers idea about voting by a 5–4 margin.”**](https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2026/06/supreme-court-roberts-barrett-bonkers-voting-case.html?ref=readtangle.com) “The Supreme Court oral argument in *Watson* revealed that some of the more MAGA-friendly justices, including Justice Samuel Alito, were buying into a fever dream of voter fraud that could somehow justify limiting mail-in balloting opportunities,” Hasen said. “And in his dissenting opinion in *Watson*, joined by Justices Neil Gorsuch, Clarence Thomas, and Brett Kavanaugh (in part), Alito pumped up fears of ballot harvesters, fraud, and loss of voter confidence to justify his stingy reading of the election statute.” “*Watson* is a small victory for voters — small because not many voters cast these late-arriving ballots and voters eventually would adjust to earlier ballot deadlines,” Hasen wrote. “The greatest significance of *Watson* is that a court majority (barely) rejected a bonkers reading of a federal statute on the basis of voter-fraud fantasies; had the court agreed with the RNC, it would have signaled that the court would avoid text, history, and precedent to further constrict voting. The scary part is that four justices were willing to do just that.” **In New York Magazine, Ed Kilgore said** [**“Supreme Court deals Trump surprise loss on election law.”**](https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/supreme-court-trump-election-law-save-america-act.html?ref=readtangle.com) “\[Justice Alito\] also warns that continuing to allow post-election mail ballot receipt will contribute to an appearance (if not the reality) of voter fraud,” Kilgore wrote. “Without question, *Watson* will intensify Trump’s already powerful obsession with the SAVE America Act. To be clear, the original House-passed version of the legislation does not address voting by mail at all. But what Trump is calling the ‘final version,’ which is stalled in the Senate, does ban post-election day receipt of mail ballots along with no-excuse voting by mail generally.” “It should also be noted that the furor over post-election ballot receipt is a bit of a red herring,” Kilgore said. “In California, so often cited (without evidence) as the locus of post-election voting shenanigans, 2.5% of ballots arrived after Election Day. So the idea that states are massively stuffing ballot boxes with votes received after Election Day is just made up. But the war over election rules will continue without a direct intervention from SCOTUS — for now, anyway.” ### What the right is saying. - **The right largely opposes the ruling, arguing the decision muddies ballot-counting rules.** - **Some call on Congress to enact stricter election laws.** - **Others express disappointment that Justice Barrett authored the majority’s opinion.** **The Wall Street Journal editorial board called the decision one of three** [**“liberal wins”**](https://www.wsj.com/opinion/supreme-court-watson-v-rnc-chatrie-v-u-s-dae15b3b?mod=opinion%5Flead%5Fpos3&ref=readtangle.com) **from Monday.** “Election Day is when ‘the electorate must make its choice,’ Justice Barrett writes in *Watson v. Republican National Committee…* She says states accepted tardy mail ballots amid World War I, while seven authorized the practice during the 1940s,” the board wrote. “Dissenting for four conservatives, Justice Alito argues those were ‘short-lived outlier rules’ that ‘shed little light on the original meaning of “election.”’ He focuses on voting during the Civil War and says states then didn’t accept late ballots: ‘When Congress enacted the three election-day statutes, having the “election” on a particular date meant that ballots would be collected by that date.’ “Also, what about late ballots without postmarks? If a handwritten date says Election Day is that fine? How about votes delivered to officials a week later by partisan ballot harvesters?” the board asked. “‘The majority’s decision opens Pandora’s box,’ Justice Alito says. The good news is Congress can override it by revising the Election Day laws. This would be a better push for Republicans than the doomed SAVE America Act.” **In The New York Post, Joel Pollak argued the ruling** [**“underlines \[the\] need for voter ID.”**](https://nypost.com/2026/06/29/opinion/scotus-decision-on-late-ballots-underlines-need-for-voter-id/?ref=readtangle.com) “The Supreme Court surprised observers Monday in *Watson v. Republican National Committee* by allowing states to count ballots that arrive after Election Day. But just because something is constitutional doesn’t make it right, or smart,” Pollak wrote. “The very idea that ballots can be counted if they arrive after Election Day creates suspicion. Why wouldn’t political campaigns just wait to see how many votes they need to make up after Election Night, then slip through as many ballots as they needed to make up the difference?” “The dissent, by Justice Samuel Alito, states: ‘Allowing absentee ballots to pour in over the days and weeks after election day, by which point preliminary election returns are being publicly reported, creates greater opportunity for fraud and risks further undermining the public’s confidence in election integrity.’ Justice Barrett acknowledges that problem, but says that ‘policy arguments are properly directed to legislatures, not courts,’” Pollak said. “So — it’s up to the legislatures, and the voters, to restore trust in the American voting system.” **In Townhall, Matt Vespa said** [**“the Amy Coney Barrett problem reared its ugly head again.”**](https://townhall.com/tipsheet/mattvespa/2026/06/29/amy-coney-barrett-and-john-roberts-betrayed-us-on-mail-in-ballot-ruling-n2678496?ref=readtangle.com) “Six years \[into her term\], Barrett’s record has been mixed at best, although some have called it a total disaster. She’s not alone: Chief Justice John Roberts also joined the liberal wing, though his record of disappointment is a bit longer than Barrett’s. It’s the first time Roberts and Barrett have joined the three stooges on the Left here,” Vespa wrote. “The *Watson v. RNC* ruling was the latest example, where the Court ruled in a 5–4 decision that Mississippi’s law on mail-in ballots… does not violate federal standards on what constitutes Election Day.” “In 2025, there were rumblings that we might have an ACB problem… On immigration, she again sided with the liberal wing on whether the Trump administration had the right to deport illegal aliens under the Alien Enemies Act,” Vespa said. “It’s a gut punch that *Watson* was handed down this way, and especially disappointing that ACB would betray us like this before our 250th birthday. If you can’t get your act together to mail in your ballot before Election Day, it shouldn’t count. There’s plenty of time.” ### My take. **Reminder: “My take” is a section where we give ourselves space to share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, don't unsubscribe. Write in by replying to this email, or** [**leave a comment**](https://www.readtangle.com/scotus-mail-in-ballots-ruling-2026/#ghost-comments-root)**.** - **This outcome surprised a lot of people, and it’s a reminder that the Court doesn’t always rule predictably.** - **Barrett’s opinion nails its conclusion that federal law only requires that votes be cast by Election Day.** - **Alito’s dissent mostly rests on hypotheticals, and I’m glad the Court didn’t upend the midterms over concerns that weren’t salient to this case.** **Senior Editor Will Kaback:** Reasonable people can ask why we need allowances for late-arriving ballots at all — with so many voting options and so much available information about how to cast a ballot, at what point do we put the onus on individual voters to ensure they cast their ballot in a timely manner? I’ve personally made it a point to vote in person during early voting in every election since I turned 18\. When this Supreme Court case surfaced, I caught myself questioning why everyone couldn’t just be a bit more organized and make this issue moot. Of course, that sentiment feels like common sense until *your* vote is in jeopardy through no fault of your own. I’ve been lucky: I’ve never had a major life event conflict with casting a ballot. But I’ll probably have to vote by mail at some point — who’s to say when I’ll come down with a poorly timed illness, or experience a natural disaster, or stare down a family emergency, or face some other unexpected challenge that causes me to mail my ballot back with little time to spare before Election Day? States ultimately have to decide whether they want to give voters leeway when these confounding obstacles arise. The plaintiffs in *Watson v. Republican National Committee* questioned states’ power to make that decision, and many people thought the Court was poised to hand President Trump and Republicans another major victory. After oral arguments, court watchers [thought](https://www.scotusblog.com/2026/03/court-appears-ready-to-overturn-state-law-allowing-for-late-arriving-mail-in-ballots/?ref=readtangle.com) the Court would strike down Mississippi’s law, and commentators on the left preemptively [bemoaned](https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2026/03/trump-mailing-in-voting-mississippi-supreme-court-midterms/?ref=readtangle.com) that the conservative, “[conspiracy-brained](https://ballsandstrikes.org/scotus/watson-v-rnc-oral-argument-recap/?ref=readtangle.com),” [misinformed](https://newrepublic.com/article/208150/conservative-supreme-court-justices-media?ref=readtangle.com) justices were [about to](https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/editorials/supreme-court-should-consider-chaos-confusion-cost-in-election-day-case/?ref=readtangle.com) upend the midterms (though Isaac [nailed his analysis](https://www.readtangle.com/scotus-mail-in-ballot-law-mississippi/#:~:text=In%20my%20final,trust%20the%20most)). Many of these writers haven’t commented on this decision, and in our research for today’s edition, we struggled to find even three opinion pieces from the left on this ruling. Yes, it’s a busy week of SCOTUS decisions, but the dearth of commentary about this unexpected outcome is still striking. Some lawmakers aren’t even trying to hide their inconsistencies. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) recently called the Court “[illegitimate](https://jeffries.house.gov/2026/04/29/leader-jeffries-we-will-not-let-their-scheme-to-rig-the-midterm-election-be-successful/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=this%20illegitimate%20Supreme%20Court)” and last week [castigated](https://x.com/RepJeffries/status/2070231505373139000?s=20&ref=readtangle.com) its “far-right” majority for its TPS decision, but on Monday, he [welcomed](https://x.com/RepJeffries/status/2071613631469322365?s=20&ref=readtangle.com) the “big blow” it delivered to “Trump’s effort to rig the midterm elections.” Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) went further, [writing](https://x.com/RepJasmine/status/2070591506017394845?s=20&ref=readtangle.com) on Thursday, “Let’s stop pretending \[the TPS decision\] is about the law. We’ve seen the pattern. Time and time again, this Trump-influenced Court has handed this administration exactly what it wants.” Then, [yesterday](https://x.com/RepJasmine/status/2071623847149805768?s=20&ref=readtangle.com): “Well… would you look at that. After all those made-up lies about mail-in ballots, the Supreme Court just rejected this administration’s latest attempt to silence voters.” It’s fine (and expected) to disagree with some Supreme Court decisions and agree with others, but it’s another thing to imply the Court’s majority is little more than a political arm of the Trump administration, then go silent (or even cheer) when the Court behaves like an independent body. Beyond its impact on mail-in voting, this case serves as a reminder that such black-and-white thinking doesn’t always comport with reality. So what did the Court actually decide here? The core question in *Watson* was whether states can set grace periods for late-arriving ballots. And I think the majority was right to find that Mississippi’s mail-in ballot law doesn’t clash with Congress’s definition of Election Day. Oral arguments in the casefocused in part on historical understandings of the meaning of Election Day because, as Justice Amy Coney Barrett [noted](https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/24-1260%5Fg3cn.pdf?ref=readtangle.com#page=13) in the majority opinion, federal [statutes](https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/2/7?ref=readtangle.com) do not set a deadline for ballot receipt — only that voters must make their decision by Election Day. The challengers tried to show that states have historically abided by a strict Election Day deadline for receiving absentee ballots because election law was *so* commonly understood to prohibit any such grace period. In their view, [the Civil War](https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral%5Farguments/argument%5Ftranscripts/2025/24-1260%5F3d9g.pdf?ref=readtangle.com#page=75) provided a perfect example — in the plaintiffs’ retelling, states still rejected late-arriving ballots from soldiers, even in a uniquely tenuous time when some grace period would have otherwise been obvious and desirable. Just one problem: While some states did require soldiers’ ballots to reach election offices by Election Day, others did not, such as those that permitted [unit-level voting](https://www.theusconstitution.org/blog/myths-around-election-day-deadlines-what-the-civil-war-teaches-us-about-absentee-voting/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Third%2C%20a%20number,the%20military%20camps.). Furthermore, the challengers’ argument that states’ absentee voting rules reflected their deference to federal law was lacking. Barrett [writes](https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/24-1260%5Fg3cn.pdf?ref=readtangle.com#page=16), “Plaintiffs’ theory is that if the relevant States could have changed the rules, they would have changed the rules. Yet despite a deep dive into the historical record, plaintiffs have found no evidence that any of these States wanted to extend ballot-receipt deadlines, much less that they thought federal law prevented them from doing so.” As a kicker, she lists an array of historical reasons *other than* compliance with federal law that states might have set an Election Day deadline for absentee ballots, like a desire “to open soldier ballots in the public’s presence, which was possible only if ballots arrived by the day the community gathered for in-person voting” to promote public trust in the results. In other words: Historical precedent for ballots arriving by Election Day isn’t necessarily a story of legal tradition, but of practical rules that states worked out for themselves. Barrett then addresses a second key point. The federal Election Day [laws](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/STATUTE-5/pdf/STATUTE-5-Pg721.pdf?ref=readtangle.com) at the [center](https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/2/7?ref=readtangle.com) of the case were enacted when the U.S. had no mail-in voting (excluding the Civil War absentee systems, which operated much differently than how we vote by mail today). Wouldn’t it follow that 19th-century lawmakers inherently meant for only votes received by Election Day to count? Again, the justice delivers a strong rebuttal. “Plaintiffs’ theory is that because we are governed by 19th-century election-day laws, we are also governed by 19th-century voting practices,” Barrett [wrote](https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/24-1260%5Fg3cn.pdf?ref=readtangle.com#page=17). “Carried to its logical conclusion, this theory would call into question the way modern elections work,” highlighting early voting — which also did not exist in 19th-century America — as another practice imperiled by the challengers’ logic. “Statutes do not ‘tra\[p\] in amber’ every contemporary practice on the same subject matter,” she concluded. Hear, hear. Consider, for instance, maritime, railroad, and communication laws from the 1800s that are still operative today but have been reinterpreted to account for modern developments — despite Congress never enacting substantial updates. The [Submarine Cable Act of 1888](https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/47/21?ref=readtangle.com), originally passed to protect submarine telegraph cables, is still part of the legal framework that governs modern submarine communications cables. The law criminalizes intentionally damaging submarine telegraph cables connecting the United States to other countries. Should someone who destroys a fiber-optic cable be exempt from punishment because those cables didn’t exist in 1888? Should Congress have to update the law to account for every development in cable technology since 1888 and beyond? Or can we just apply the principle of the law to today’s technology? Justice Samuel Alito’s dissent had echoes of his majority opinions in last week’s Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and asylum rulings, homing in on a strict definition of a key word or phrase. Last week, he focused on when asylum seekers have “arrived *in*” the United States and the meaning of “temporary” in TPS; here, the key phrase is “Election Day.” Under [his interpretation](https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/24-1260%5Fg3cn.pdf?ref=readtangle.com#page=30), early voting and mail-in ballots (when received by Election Day) are lawful because they are cast before or on the day of the election, but counting mail-in ballots received *after* that day interferes with “the critical act \[that\] occurs on election day: the completion of the collection of the ballots that embody the electorate’s collective choice.” Like much of Alito’s jurisprudence, that argument has a kind of common-sense appeal, but I think it misses a key point: The federal statute is much broader than the definition of Election Day that Alito advances. It does not say the election must be *completed* on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November; it [just says](https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/2/7?ref=readtangle.com) that that day *is* Election Day. The justice goes on to [list](https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/24-1260%5Fg3cn.pdf?ref=readtangle.com#page=43) some practical consequences of counting these late-arriving votes, asking whether states should be able to create any grace period, allow couriers to deliver mail-in ballots, or permit something other than a postmark to show when someone voted. The first case isn’t hypothetical — Washington state [accepts](https://www.ncsl.org/elections-and-campaigns/table-11-receipt-and-postmark-deadlines-for-absentee-mail-ballots?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=after%20the%20election.-,Washington,-Wash.%20Rev.%20Code) Election Day–marked ballots up to 21 days after the election — but the others are, and they amount to slippery slope arguments that aren’t salient to the narrow question of timing that Barrett emphasizes in her opinion. Perhaps these issues arise in the future, but they weren’t before the Court in this case. Speaking of practical consequences, this decision — while enormously important — would have had a much larger impact if the Court had struck down Mississippi’s law. Rather than upend mail-in voting nationwide, the ruling leaves each state’s mail-in voting rules as they are. Other widely adopted voting practices, like early voting, are also safe. Of course, in the future, state lawmakers can revise their election rules as they see fit; Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves (R) has [called on](https://x.com/tatereeves/status/2071634304346788062?s=20&ref=readtangle.com) the legislature to repeal the current mail-in ballot law, and it’s well within its rights to do so if it wishes. But that will all happen within the normal legislative process — not through a sweeping high court ruling — which, to me, properly upholds [states’ constitutional power](https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/artI-S4-C1-2/ALDE%5F00013577/?ref=readtangle.com) to determine the times, places, and manner of holding elections. ****Staff dissent — Associate Editor Carina Pacheco:** Usually, I roll my eyes at Alito’s strict definition of a key phrase, homing in on minutiae while averting the bigger picture. But here, he’s right: it’s Election **Day*, not Election Week, or Election Fortnight, or Election Month. The point of Election Day is to **elect* the candidates, and Alito’s textual instincts here provide structure to our voting processes while Barrett invites disorder. Just because the statute doesn’t explicitly forbid post-election counting, calling it “Election Day” implies — nay, **provides* — a clear and obvious window. While I have faith in the sanctity of American elections and don’t believe rampant election fraud is a real problem, [deteriorating public trust](https://www.pew.org/en/trend/archive/fall-2024/americans-deepening-mistrust-of-institutions?ref=readtangle.com) certainly is, and confusing, drawn out voting practices invite even more distrust and scrutiny, as Alito rightly notes. Extending ballot counting by days and even weeks — and sometimes not knowing results for just as long — should not be the norm in a functioning democracy. Just look at the [United Kingdom](https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/voting-and-elections/ways-vote/postal-voting?ref=readtangle.com), [Taiwan](https://web.cec.gov.tw/english/article/23550?ref=readtangle.com), [France](https://apnews.com/article/covid-health-france-elections-europe-96859198666d51b2c4482c3cdb0eb6aa?ref=readtangle.com), and others: they require a range of centralized in-person and electronic voting, and their strict deadlines ensure election results don’t stretch into weeks. While I’m open to the argument that this is an issue for Congress, the justices should have given more weight to the “day” in Election Day. **Take the survey:** What do you think of the decision in *Watson v. Republican National Committee*? [Let us know](https://interrobang.vercel.app/survey/9df8882d-df32-4046-8a1c-1aa03f7cd77c?ref=readtangle.com). *Disagree? That's okay. Our opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we'll consider publishing your feedback.* ### This day in history. ![William Howard Taft in 1908 | Pach Brothers, restored by Adam Cuerden, Wikimedia Commons](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/06/data-src-image-76c62307-8a5d-467b-b8f5-1865d5f594aa.png) William Howard Taft in 1908 | Pach Brothers, restored by Adam Cuerden, [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cabinet%5Fcard%5Fof%5FWilliam%5FHoward%5FTaft%5Fby%5FPach%5FBrothers%5F-%5FCropped%5Fto%5Fimage.jpg?ref=readtangle.com) On June 30, 1921, William Howard Taft was [nominated](https://supremecourthistory.org/chief-justices/william-howard-taft-1921-1930/?ref=readtangle.com) by President Warren G. Harding to be the 10th chief justice of the United States Supreme Court, and was confirmed the same day in a 60–4 Senate vote. When he was sworn in two weeks later, he became the first, and only, person to serve as both president and chief justice. Just one other person has led two separate branches of the federal government — James K. Polk, who was both president and speaker of the House. In his time as chief justice, Taft issued several landmark rulings on presidential power. In *Myers v. United States*, Taft ruled that firing appointed executive branch officials is a power only given to the presidency, a precedent that largely remains in place [today](https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/25-332%5Fqn12.pdf?ref=readtangle.com). Taft additionally [authored](https://www.oyez.org/court/15277/taft9?ref=readtangle.com) opinions expanding the pardon power and finding that Congress can delegate some authority on certain topics, such as tariffs, to executive agencies. 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If using >35GB/mo, may notice reduced speeds.* ### The extras. - **One year ago today** we covered [the Supreme Court’s ruling on universal injunctions](https://www.readtangle.com/supreme-court-trump-v-casa-universal-injunctions/). - **The most clicked link in our last regular newsletter** was [the report on a false allegation targeting Pete Buttigieg](https://apnews.com/article/buttigieg-police-false-report-anonymous-0e0a586db4efcb63e70344f2b1f8fe98?ref=readtangle.com). - **Nothing to do with politics:** Watch the thrilling shoot-outs in yesterday’s [Germany–Paraguay](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0cZwiZl6Ro&pp=ygUacGFyYWd1YXkgZ2VybWFueSBzaG9vdG91dHM%3D&ref=readtangle.com) and [Netherlands–Morocco](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InKJO%5FRj3IU&pp=ygUdbW9yb2NvbyBuZXRoZXJsYW5kcyBzaG9vdG91dHM%3D&ref=readtangle.com) World Cup matches. - **Our last survey:** 1,921 readers responded to our survey on the Supreme Court’s decisions on asylum and Temporary Protected Status, with 58% saying they oppose both rulings. “To deny the racial animosity of both Mr. Trump and his administration’s policies beggars belief,” one respondent said. “The Roberts Court continues to push back on poorly written legislation that puts the onus on the judiciary to define,” said another. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/06/data-src-image-26a66602-da69-4af5-94fb-33d065cc683c.png) ### Have a nice day. Having some fun in the sun isn’t something that only children can do, as a group of senior citizens in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, proved. In June, the city’s fire department joined with football players from Middle Tennessee State University to provide a slip-and-slide to give elders in the community a chance to slip, slide, splash, and laugh like kids again. “I haven’t done anything like this in fifty years. My grandkids are going to be so jealous,” one senior slip-and-slider said. [102.9 The Buzz has the story](https://www.1029thebuzz.com/2026/06/26/murfreesboro-seniors-ride-a-slip-n-slide-video/?ref=readtangle.com). ### The scandals of Darializa Avila Chevalier URL: https://www.readtangle.com/the-scandals-of-darializa-avila-chevalier/ Last updated: 2026-06-30T03:06:15.000Z Democratic Socialists of America-backed candidate Darializa Avila Chevalier won the Democratic nomination for Congress in a New York City district. Since then, many have criticized her for her past scandals. ### Two major Supreme Court rulings on immigration. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/supreme-court-asylum-tps-rulings/ Last updated: 2026-06-29T15:53:57.000Z Good Monday morning. I’m **Isaac Saul**,and I’m trying to untangle my brain after spending the last 72 hours parsing some consequential **Supreme Court decisions on immigration**,our main topic today. I did take enough time off this weekend to hit up my local pool, and I can safely report that public pool culture is alive and well: High-dive belly-flops, tasty french fries, and parades of screaming children abound. That should come in handy later this week, when temperatures across the East Coast, Midwest, and South are forecasted to break 100 degrees. I’ll have to figure out [what to do with my walk-obsessed 18-month-old](https://www.readtangle.com/reflecting-on-18-months-of-fatherhood/) boy. Woof. Also today: An under-the-radar story on **student loans**,some updates on the **Iran war**,and a feel-good tale of some **local heroics involving a crow**.It’s a **15-minute read**. Time to dive in. ### Quick hits. 1. The Supreme Court ruled 5–4 to uphold a Mississippi state law allowing late-arriving mail-in ballots to be counted if they were postmarked by Election Day. ([The first ruling](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/supreme-court-mail-ballots-mississippi-law-watson-v-rnc/?ref=readtangle.com)) Next, the Court ruled 6–3 that President Donald Trump could remove Rebecca Kelly Slaughter from her position as a Federal Trade commissioner. ([The second ruling](https://nypost.com/2026/06/29/us-news/supreme-court-upholds-firing-of-ftc-commissioner-rebecca-slaughter/?ref=readtangle.com)) Finally, in a 5–4 decision, it ruled that Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, whom President Trump tried to fire last year, may remain in her position as litigation continues. ([The third ruling](https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/5935213-supreme-court-federal-reserve-lisa-cook-trump/?ref=readtangle.com)) 2. U.S. officials and mediators from the Middle East said the United States and Iran had agreed to pause hostilities in the Strait of Hormuz after several days of attacks. The sides are now reportedly discussing terms for a new round of peace talks. ([The latest](https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/iran-asserts-sole-control-of-hormuz-warns-challenges-will-bring-more-violence-5abea3c7?ref=readtangle.com)) 3. The death toll from two earthquakes that impacted Venezuela last week rose to 1,450, with tens of thousands of people still missing. ([The update](https://www.nbcnews.com/world/venezuela/venezuela-earthquake-latest-death-toll-missing-rescues-la-guaira-rcna352179?ref=readtangle.com)) 4. Former national security adviser John Bolton pleaded guilty to one count of unauthorized retention of national defense information. He will be sentenced on October 28 and faces a maximum of 60 months in prison. ([The plea](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/ex-trump-adviser-john-bolton-expected-plead-guilty-retaining-national-rcna351897?ref=readtangle.com)) 5. Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg shared that he and his husband were separated from their four-year-old twins for 24 hours last week after an anonymous report alleged that he posed a danger to the children. Authorities later determined the allegations were fabricated. ([The incident](https://apnews.com/article/buttigieg-police-false-report-anonymous-0e0a586db4efcb63e70344f2b1f8fe98?ref=readtangle.com)) From Today's Partner ![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/06/Pendulum.jpg) ****What if your cravings aren't a willpower problem?** A growing body of research points somewhere unexpected: your gut. 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Doe*, the Court also [ruled](https://www.scotusblog.com/2026/06/supreme-court-allows-trump-administration-to-end-removal-protections-for-syrian-and-haitian-nati/?ref=readtangle.com) 6–3 that courts cannot review Department of Homeland Security (DHS) determinations on groups’ eligibility for Temporary Protected Status (TPS), clearing the way for the Trump administration to remove Haitian and Syrian TPS holders from the U.S. **The asylum case:** Roughly 10 years ago, under President Barack Obama, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers adopted a policy called “[metering](https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/LSB10295?ref=readtangle.com),” in which they turned back noncitizens — including asylum seekers — at the U.S.–Mexico border before they could physically cross into the United States. The plaintiffs alleged this policy violated federal law allowing any person “who arrives in the United States” to access the asylum process, arguing arrival at U.S. ports of entry falls under that provision. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit sided with the plaintiffs, ruling that asylum seekers who arrived at ports of entry had functionally “arrived in” the country. The majority struck down that decision. Justice Samuel Alito [wrote](https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/25-5%5F86qd.pdf?ref=readtangle.com), “In ordinary speech, no one would say that a person ‘arrives in’ a place — for example, a house, a city, or a country — before the person enters that place,” later adding, “A running back does not arrive in the end zone when he reaches the 1-yard line.” He also noted that Congress could have specified that asylum seekers arriving at the border should have their claims heard, but it did not. The Court’s three Democratic-appointed justices dissented, and Justice Sonia Sotomayor responded directly to several of Alito’s conclusions. “It \[would not\] be premature to say someone ‘arrives in’ San Francisco while she is still driving on the Golden Gate Bridge… The meanings of the phrases ‘arrives in’ and ‘arriving in’ depend on context,” she [wrote](https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/25-5%5F86qd.pdf?ref=readtangle.com#page=42). Separately, Sotomayor argued that the decision creates a “perverse incentive” because asylum seekers will now seek to enter the U.S. illegally in order to have their claims heard. **The TPS case:** Congress [established](https://www.cfr.org/backgrounders/what-temporary-protected-status?ref=readtangle.com) the Temporary Protected Status program for citizens of countries impacted by natural disaster, armed conflict, or other “extraordinary and temporary” situations. Obama administration DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano gave the designation to Haiti in 2010 following a devastating earthquake and gave the designation to Syria in 2012 amid then-President Bashar al-Assad’s violent crackdown on dissent. Those designations, which last up to 18 months at a time, were repeatedly extended until 2025, when then-DHS Secretary Kristi Noem moved to end both. Groups of Haitian and Syrian nationals challenged the decision and asked the Court to block their removal from the country while those challenges played out in lower courts. Justice Alito, again writing for the majority, held that the law creating TPS does not permit judicial review of a DHS secretary’s decision to terminate TPS for a group. “The term ‘determination’ can be used to describe either an individual decision or the whole process leading to a final decision,” he wrote. Alito also [rejected](https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/25-1083%5Ff204.pdf?ref=readtangle.com#page=24) the plaintiffs’ claim that the Trump administration’s decision to end the designation was motivated by racial animus, acknowledging “heated language” used by President Donald Trump about Haitian migrants but finding that Noem could have plausibly made her decision for a litany of policy-related reasons. The Court’s three Democratic-appointed justices again dissented. Justice Elena Kagan [argued](https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/25-1083%5Ff204.pdf?ref=readtangle.com#page=39) that federal law does allow judicial review of certain aspects of the TPS determination, like “the procedural steps the Secretary must undertake prior to making any determination about country conditions.” She also [suggested](https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/25-1083%5Ff204.pdf?ref=readtangle.com#page=45) that the Haitian plaintiffs were likely to succeed in their argument that racism was a motivating factor in the determination, violating equal protection under the Constitution. Today, we’ll share views from the right and left on these immigration rulings. Then, Executive Editor Isaac Saul gives his take. ### What the right is saying. - **The right mostly supports the rulings, with many arguing that the Court upheld the intent of the law.** - **Some say the decisions rectify judicial intrusions into executive authority.** - **Others say the majority erred by discounting racial animus in the TPS case.** **The Washington Examiner editorial board wrote** [**“the Supreme Court just made securing the border easier.”**](https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/editorials/4626291/supreme-court-secure-border-easier/?ref=readtangle.com) “The court held that Temporary Protected Status is indeed ‘temporary,’ and that an alien is not in the United States till they are ‘in’ the United States. These simple declarations, that words mean what they say and that statutory limits must be enforced as written, will make it easier for future presidents to preserve the border security Trump has achieved,” the board said. “Open-borders activists claimed that as soon as an alien intending to enter the U.S. encounters a U.S. official at the border, even if that alien is still in Mexico, that should qualify under the statute as ‘arriving in’ the U.S. Writing for the 6–3 majority, Justice Samuel Alito was having none of it.” “For too long, lower federal courts have treated immigration statutes not as law to be enforced, but as invitations to impose open-borders policies that Congress refused to enact… Presidents cannot secure the border if judges are free to redefine ‘in’ to mean ‘outside’ or ‘temporary’ to mean ‘permanent,’” the board wrote. “The Supreme Court restored the ordinary meaning of those words and, with it, a principle of self-government: Immigration law is written by Congress and enforced by the president, not rewritten by district court judges at the behest of activist groups.” **In The New York Post, Ilya Shapiro said** [**“presidential power trumps leftist lawfare.”**](https://nypost.com/2026/06/25/opinion/supremes-to-lower-courts-a-presidents-power-trumps-leftist-lawfare/?ref=readtangle.com) “President Donald Trump has pushed the envelope of his authority, and the court has generally let him do so — except, as in the tariffs case, when he treads on clear congressional prerogatives,” Shapiro wrote. “The court in *Mullin v. Al Otro Lado* found that an alien standing in Mexico does not ‘arrive in the United States’ by attempting, and failing, to set foot in this country… That’s important, because the \[Immigration and Nationality Act\] gives the right to apply for asylum only to aliens who are in the country — a requirement that lower-court judges were looking to thwart.” “The Democratic-appointed justices proved unwilling to defer to executive determinations, even those made under the discretion outlined in the INA’s text. Each time, they supported legal challenges that are actually policy disagreements,” Shapiro said. “But it’s not up to courts to make immigration determinations. Whether you like what this or any other administration does in the immigration space, Congress has legislated, for good or ill, in a way that gives expansive power to the executive branch here.” **In The Washington Post, George F. Will argued** [**“the Supreme Court errs in this immigration ruling.”**](https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2026/06/26/supreme-court-ruling-haitian-syrian-immigrants-mistaken/?ref=readtangle.com) “\[DHS Secretary Kristi Noem’s\] behavior egregiously violated the pertinent law, but was shielded from judicial rebuke by the court majority’s too-mechanical textualism about the secretary’s ‘determination,’ meaning decision. And by a blinkered nonrecognition of the animus behind Noem’s action,” Will wrote. “The law required Noem to review conditions in Haiti *after* consulting with appropriate government agencies (note the plural). Instead, she made her decision, *then* conducted a make-believe ‘consultation.’” “Noem was implementing the president’s proclaimed animus even against immigrants who are in America legally, but whom he considers icky. Kagan says prior court rulings establish that the Haitians needed to show only that ‘a racially discriminatory purpose’ was ‘*a* motivating factor’ (emphasis added) in the termination of Haiti’s TPS designation,” Will said. “Well. Noem’s former employer has said Haitians were eating Ohio pets… Was race on the president’s mind? Donald Trump has clarified this: ‘Why is it we only take people from shithole countries’ like Haiti and Somalia? ‘Why can’t we have some people from Norway \[and\] Sweden?’” ### What the left is saying. - **The left strongly opposes both rulings, with many saying the TPS decision was legally and morally wrong.** - **Others question Alito’s textualist analysis in the asylum case.** - **Still others say the laws at the root of the decisions must be changed.** **In The New York Times, Elora Mukherjee called the TPS decision** [**“a slap in the face to immigrants who followed the law.”**](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/25/opinion/supreme-court-tps-haiti-syria.html?ref=readtangle.com) “Lawyers for the plaintiffs had argued in April that courts have an obligation to ensure that the TPS termination decision is not based on whims or racist ideology. In considering the challenge to the termination of TPS for Syria, on Nov. 18, 2025, Federal District Court judge Katherine Polk Failla noted that all the Trump administration terminations ‘have involved non-European, majority nonwhite populations,’” Mukherjee wrote. “Justice Elena Kagan pointed out in her dissent that Donald Trump had repeatedly used ‘repellent and racially inflected’ statements regarding immigrants — notoriously insisting Haitians are eating dogs, and baselessly commenting that Haitians in America could have AIDS.” “The dissent further warned of the devastation that will result as TPS holders are ‘put on the next plane’ back to Haiti or Syria. TPS holders nationwide have been bracing for the worst, and now it’s here: family separations, loss of employment and deportations. In both Syria and Haiti, there is a risk of terrorism, kidnapping and armed conflict,” Mukherjee said. “As far-off as it may seem, congressional action is now the only way forward. Any new TPS statute should explicitly provide for judicial review of termination decisions, effectively overruling Thursday’s devastating Supreme Court decision.” **In Slate, Robyn Nicole Sanders said** [**“Alito’s textualism has entered the realm of the absurd.”**](https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2026/06/supreme-court-analysis-sam-alito-textualism-absurd.html?ref=readtangle.com) “The question before the court \[in the asylum case\] was whether someone standing at an official port of entry on the Mexican side of the border has already ‘arrived,’ or whether arrival occurs only after physically crossing onto American soil. The court chose the latter. Under that reading, until an asylum-seeker takes that final step, the government’s statutory obligation to inspect the person and begin the asylum process never arises,” Sanders wrote. “The majority acknowledges that its reading creates some overlap in the statute but concludes that a modest amount of redundancy is preferable to giving words an unnatural meaning.” “Justice Sonia Sotomayor’s dissent points toward \[an\] alternative reading. Rather than treating ‘arrives in the United States’ as a freestanding phrase, she reads it alongside the statute’s repeated mandatory commands. Congress provided that immigration officers ‘shall’ inspect arriving noncitizens and ‘shall’ refer those expressing a fear of persecution into the asylum process,” Sanders said. “Congress did not establish a system in which executive officials could decide, through physical positioning alone, whether those mandatory duties would ever arise. It established a process designed to ensure that people presenting themselves for admission at designated ports of entry would first be inspected before the government decided whether they could enter, should be removed, or allowed to pursue asylum. That reading is no less textualist.” **America Magazine’s editors suggested the rulings** [**“reveal a profound moral failure.”**](https://www.americamagazine.org/editorials/2026/06/26/supreme-court-immigration-tps-asylum/?ref=readtangle.com) “Regarding Haitian TPS holders, in particular, \[the court’s ruling\] would mean returning more than 300,000 people to a country dominated by gang violence, largely without a functioning government, to which Americans are warned against traveling and to whose capital city American commercial airlines are forbidden to fly,” the editors said. “In the second case, the court allowed the administration to close the country to asylum seekers. Effectively, the court decided that the administration can refuse to allow immigrants to ‘arrive’ in the legally relevant sense at ports of entry, thus turning them away before they can even present a case for asylum under U.S. law.” “The results of these decisions, whether or not they are legal and constitutional, are profoundly immoral and unjust. They betray the United States’ history as a country of immigrants and are a wound on the American conscience,” the editors wrote. “If the law requires allowing an administration to deport hundreds of thousands of people into mortal peril, after it has attacked them with vile and racist lies, then justice demands that the law be reformed. If the Constitution is to be interpreted to allow the president to determine in advance that effectively no one is eligible for asylum, no matter what laws Congress has passed, then the Constitution needs to be amended to strengthen the separation of powers that safeguards American liberty and self-governance.” ### My take. **Reminder: “My take” is a section where we give ourselves space to share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, don't unsubscribe. Write in by replying to this email, or** [**leave a comment**](https://www.readtangle.com/supreme-court-asylum-tps-rulings/#ghost-comments-root)**.** - **The majority has a strong legal argument on asylum.** - **The Court’s TPS ruling is reasonable but raises practical concerns.** - **Without congressional intervention, I worry the rulings will create more chaos in the immigration system.** **Executive Editor Isaac Saul:** Whenever I write about Supreme Court rulings, I try to separate my thoughts into two buckets: the logic of the legal arguments and the practical outcomes of the ruling. I’ll do that again today for both of these cases. Let’s start with the asylum case. On the merits, Justice Alito’s legal rationale *mostly* makes sense to me. His argument about the “plain English” meaning of “arrives in” resonates with me, and his interpretation is reasonably applied here. As he [noted](https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/25-5%5F86qd.pdf?ref=readtangle.com#page=13) in his opinion, immigration law frequently distinguishes between *actual* entrance into the U.S. and *attempted* entrance, so it’s fair to conclude that if Congress had wanted every asylum seeker who reached a port of entry to be able to apply for asylum, it would have said so expressly. But Alito’s several analogies for this distinction — such as a running back reaching the one-yard line of the end zone vs. actually stepping into the end zone — didn’t sit quite right with me. I’d put it more like this: If I were invited over to a friend’s house for dinner, pulled up onto the street in front of their house and parked, then called them to say “I’ve arrived,” I would find it *supremely* odd if that friend said, “No, you didn’t. You’re on the street. Call me when you’re at the front door.” But if I said “I’ve arrived *in* your house,” then that would be odd, given that I was on the street. I might quibble with Alito’s analogies, but I think the gist of his point is sound. On the other hand, civil rights attorney Robyn Nicole Sanders, writing in Slate (under “What the left is saying”), [made a great argument](https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2026/06/supreme-court-analysis-sam-alito-textualism-absurd.html?ref=readtangle.com) that Alito’s analysis missed the full context of Congress’s intent for the asylum system. As she noted, Congress laid out clear instructions for immigration officers when someone arrives “in” the U.S., and the context of those instructions was obviously for ports of entry. The broader statute that contains this precise wording does seem to imply that Congress was making rules for what to do when someone shows up at a port of entry, not just when someone crosses into U.S. territory at a port of entry. These semantic hairsplitting debates underscore the Court’s important role in resolving legal questions that can hinge on a word or two. Nothing about the majority’s decision feels egregiously out-of-bounds to me — in fact, on the strict interpretation of the law, I think it’s how I would have ended up voting myself. This is the law — I want it to be technical, tight, and straightforward. And in that sense, I think it’s very fair to hold the line that “arrives in” means, literally, arriving *in* the United States, as Alito defines it. However, the *impact* of this ruling worries me. Our asylum system is broken, and [metering](https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/LSB10295?ref=readtangle.com) is an effective way to slow things down. In 2024, when I laid out my bipartisan solution to fixing the immigration system, [I put tightening the asylum system atop the list](https://www.readtangle.com/solution-to-border-crisis-tangle-isaac-saul/#:~:text=Tighten%20the%20asylum%20process) of Republican-led ideas I’d support. Any noncitizen (including economic migrants) can currently cross the border illegally and immediately turn themself in for processing as asylum seekers, and we have to enter them into the asylum process. Most end up not qualifying once their claims are actually heard, yet this system acts as a gigantic loophole for migrants who want to come here illegally and spend years inside the U.S. before their claims are heard (sometimes disappearing within the country once they’re inside). I want to fix that problem, but this ruling may well make it worse. Now, rather than show up at legal ports of entry, how many more migrants will attempt to cross illegally? And how much disorganization and instability will that inject into the system? Unless Congress rewrites or amends the law, we’re likely to see more chaos — and more wild swings in policy across different administrations. My feelings about the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) case were even more mixed. At the base level, it would be odd if one Department of Homeland Security secretary could create and repeatedly extend TPS designations, but another couldn’t end them. TPS designations for Haitian and Syrian migrants were first made in 2010 and 2012, respectively. They were supposed to last for 18 months, but were repeatedly extended until last year, which makes a mockery of the word “temporary.” Ultimately, if former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem has determined that these TPS designations are no longer necessary or no longer serve the interests of the United States, she seems well within her legal authority to end them. Making determinations about these programs is *literally* the DHS secretary’s job. But this case raises a few core legal questions, and they created a mess for the Court. One question is whether courts can actually review the determination of the DHS secretary. This *seems* straightforward. The TPS [statute](https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/8/1254a?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=There%20is%20no%20judicial%20review%20of%20any%20determination%20of%20the%20Attorney%20General%20with%20respect%20to%20the%20designation%2C%20or%20termination%20or%20extension%20of%20a%20designation%2C%20of%20a%20foreign%20state%20under%20this%20subsection.) bars “judicial review of any determination of the \[Secretary of Homeland Security\] with respect to the designation, or termination or extension of a designation, of a foreign state.” I’m not sure how much clearer it can get, even if I find it absurd that we created a non-court-reviewable law (this should be [changed immediately](https://www.cato.org/blog/repeal-all-immigration-laws-stripping-court-review?ref=readtangle.com), lest it be further abused by this administration and future ones). But the challengers’ claim was slightly different: They argued that while they cannot challenge the *substance* of Noem’s decision, they can challenge the *procedure* she took to get there. It’s sort of akin to saying, “Yes, I had the drugs on me, but I was illegally searched, so the charges should be thrown out.” It turns out that Noem, whose incompetence [I warned about](https://www.readtangle.com/trump-cabinet-picks-white-house-staff/#:~:text=The%20only%20pick,no%20political%20novice.) the moment she was nominated, took a quintessentially incompetent path to get to her decision. She did not adequately consult the “appropriate agencies” (the State Department) about conditions in Syria or Haiti to make her determination, as required by law. Rather than dispute whether Noem’s two email exchanges — one for each country — with a State Department official constituted a legal review, Alito simply said that the “TPS judicial-review bar expressly restricts review.” He seems right — though (again) the law’s language seems absurd — *and* it [appears](https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2026/06/26/supreme-court-ruling-haitian-syrian-immigrants-mistaken/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=In%20February%2C,the%20Haiti%20decision.%E2%80%9D) that Noem genuinely violated procedural rules to get to her predetermined conclusion. It’s a beautiful concoction of incompetence, bad law, and inelastic jurisprudence. Alito also concluded that a constitutional challenge to the termination of Haiti’s designation on the grounds that termination was racially motivated would likely fail. To his credit, he notes that “poverty and deprivation are no reflection on character, and there is no justification for denigrating the character of Haitians who suffer from and bear no responsibility for their country’s ills.” Still, I think the challengers had their best argument on this point. Most of us know the comments by heart now, though Justice Kagan helpfully listed them in her dissent: Trump has suggested Haitians and other immigrants were “poisoning the blood” of America, that Haitians “probably have AIDS,” that they’re “eating the dogs” and cats, that allowing them in is “like a death wish for our country.” He has also mused about why “we only take people from shithole countries” like Haiti and Somalia and not more from Norway and Sweden. Alito’s suggestion that none of these statements was overtly racial or that they could rest on reasons that have nothing to do with race is, to me, farcical. I’m not particularly sensitive about these things in an era where far too much is chalked up to racism, sexism, antisemitism, ableism, etc. But… c’mon. Trump has used dehumanizing language specifically and repeatedly about Haiti and black-majority countries, while other majority-white countries with genuine (if lesser) instability and corruption get diplomatic courtship, [business deals](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/a-look-at-the-albanian-island-where-a-kushner-trump-resort-plan-has-sparked-protests?ref=readtangle.com), and silence. We don’t have to be 100% certain that Trump is racist to make an evidentiary argument that he has racial animosity towards Haitians, and the law doesn’t require race to be the sole or dominant cause of action — only a motivating factor. Short of Trump standing up and saying, “I don’t want Haitians here because they are black,” I’m not sure what would qualify. And, frankly, “they’re poisoning the blood of our country” to describe illegal immigrants is pretty damn close. So… now what? The practical implication is that hundreds of thousands of Haitians and thousands of Syrians who have been living here [are likely to be forced](https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/5944668-tps-program-faces-termination/?ref=readtangle.com) to go back to their countries, or forced into hiding to avoid deportation. Meanwhile, a future Democratic administration could, say, issue a 50-year TPS for any country of its liking, and that is apparently not something any court can review, no matter how incompetently it is done. Even on the heels of an admittedly complex set of legal questions, this outcome seems quite bad, and — without congressional intervention — the downstream effects of it will be felt long past the Trump administration. ****Staff dissent — Associate Editor Lindsey Knuth:** Like Isaac, I want the law to be technical, tight, and straightforward — but for me, that compass pointed away from the majority’s decision in the asylum case. The parenthetical in the [relevant statute](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title8-section1225&num=0&edition=prelim&ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=An%20alien%20present,applicant%20for%20admission.) — “an alien… who arrives in the United States (whether or not at a designated port of arrival…) shall be deemed for purposes of this chapter an applicant for admission” — seems to clearly designate ports of entry as a form of arriving in the country, and therefore, as places where agents must screen for asylum claims. So, in reading “arrives in the U.S.” to mean “present in the U.S.” (the phrase that already comes immediately before the “arrives in” clause), I agree with Justice Sonia Sotomayor that the majority **created* redundancy where there was clarity. **Take the survey:** What do you think of each ruling? [Let us know](https://interrobang.vercel.app/survey/d36b502e-df79-4279-8d1d-bb478cb9e3cc?ref=readtangle.com). *Disagree? That's okay. Our opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we'll consider publishing your feedback.* ### Under the radar. On Wednesday, July 1, several changes to the federal student loan system passed under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act will take effect, including a reduction in the number of loan repayment program options and the end of the Biden administration’s Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) plan. New borrowers will have two repayment options — a tiered or an income-based plan — and borrowing limits for certain graduate students will be lowered. Meanwhile, people on the SAVE plan, which offered more affordable income-based repayment options, will have 90 days to apply for a new plan. [Axios has a breakdown of the changes](https://www.axios.com/2026/06/29/student-loan-changes-july-1-what-to-know?ref=readtangle.com). From Today's Partner ****Spoil your pet this summer** Your pet gives you their whole heart, now give them the summer of a lifetime! The [****Nibbles Credit Card**](https://api.wellput.io/v1/cm?cmid=926111mqx73vlc&tid=320&s1=v2-r741017-p926111-c48209&s2=Tangle&s3=&s4=null&ref=readtangle.com) makes it easier than ever to give them the best. Earn 3x rewards on everything they need: pet stores for extra treats, pet services for boarding and grooming, and even vet visits. Plus, [****the Nibbles card**](https://api.wellput.io/v1/cm?cmid=926111mqx73vlc&tid=320&s1=v2-r741017-p926111-c48209&s2=Tangle&s3=&s4=null&ref=readtangle.com) comes with pet insurance included! Combine this all with no annual fee, it’s the ultimate way to [pamper and protect your pet](https://api.wellput.io/v1/cm?cmid=926111mqx73vlc&tid=320&s1=v2-r741017-p926111-c48209&s2=Tangle&s3=&s4=null&ref=readtangle.com). \* *Nibbles is not a bank. The Nibbles Card is issued by Lead Bank. Other fees and T&Cs apply. Rewards & pet insurance offered by Nibbles, not Lead Bank. Base pet insurance policy paid for one eligible pet by Nibbles. See nibbles.com for details. Nibbles does not operate in CT, NY, KY, MN, WA, CO, HI, MA, or ME.* ### Numbers. - [**1.3 million.**](https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/fact-sheet/temporary-protected-status-tps-overview/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=As%20of%20March,in%20court.5) The approximate number of people with Temporary Protected Status (TPS) living in the United States as of March 2025\. - [**330,735.**](https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/RS20844?ref=readtangle.com#%5FToc207985226:~:text=As%20of%20March%2031%2C%202025%2C%20there%20were%20330%2C735%20nationals%20of%20Haiti%20with%20TPS%20according%20to%20USCIS) The number of Haitians with TPS living in the U.S. as of March 2025\. - [**3,860.**](https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/RS20844?ref=readtangle.com#%5FToc207985226) The number of Syrians with TPS living in the U.S. as of March 2025\. - [**54,400.**](https://www.migrationpolicy.org/article/refugees-and-asylees-united-states?ref=readtangle.com#asylees:~:text=In%20FY%202023%20%28the%20most%20recent%20data%20provided%20by%20the%20government%29%2C%20close%20to%2054%2C400%20people%20were%20granted%20asylum%2C%20the%20most%20in%20at%20least%20decade.) The approximate number of people granted asylum in the United States in fiscal year 2023\. - [**7,500.**](https://www.migrationpolicy.org/article/refugees-and-asylees-united-states?ref=readtangle.com#asylees:~:text=The%20administration%20then%20set%20the%20refugee%20admissions%20ceiling%20at%207%2C500%20for%20fiscal%20year%20%28FY%29%202026%2C%20the%20lowest%20in%20the%20program%27s%2045%2Dyear%20history.) The refugee admission cap set by the Trump administration for fiscal year 2026, the lowest in the U.S. refugee resettlement program’s 45-year history. ### The extras. - **One year ago today** we had just published Editor-at-Large Kmele Foster’s essay on [having an authentic racial reckoning](https://www.readtangle.com/lets-have-an-authentic-racial-reckoning/). - **The most clicked link in our last regular newsletter** was an article on [why mosquitoes bite some people more than others](https://www.rd.com/article/why-mosquitoes-bite-some-people-more/?ref=readtangle.com). - **Nothing to do with politics:** If you’re one of those unlucky mosquito magnets, here’s [why you should avoid scratching those bites](https://apnews.com/article/scratch-itch-mosquito-rash-antihistamine-23f9217afac22f78ebd43c9aa4efa90a?ref=readtangle.com). - **Our last survey:** 2,563 readers responded to our survey on the Supreme Court’s religious liberties ruling, with 72% saying the decision was legally incorrect and will have a negative effect. “Once again, SCOTUS demonstrates that it has become a political body, and not an independent arena for decisions based on law,” one respondent said. “The Court gave Congress a roadmap on how to fix this,” said another. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/06/data-src-image-c600e63f-5014-4ee3-b183-2ae82f2975cb.png) ### Have a nice day. Initially, Leah Wilson had no idea why the sky above her house was full of crows. Then, she and her neighbors discovered that a crow had become stuck in her home’s gutter. She enlisted the help of the local fire department to save the bird, then drove it to a wild animal rehabilitation center. A few days later, the center told her that the crow had been released back into the wild. But that wasn’t the end of the story. When walking her dog around the neighborhood, Wilson says a crow swooped down and dropped a feathered bundle at her feet. Since then, crows have left her more than half a dozen items — and they often join her on her walks with her dog. [CP24 has the story](https://www.cp24.com/news/canada/2026/05/28/woman-who-rescued-injured-crow-keeps-getting-thank-you-gifts-from-other-birds/?ref=readtangle.com). ### The Sunday — June 28 URL: https://www.readtangle.com/sunday-june-28-2026/ Last updated: 2026-06-28T14:12:03.000Z *This is the Tangle Sunday Edition, a brief roundup of our independent politics coverage plus some extra features for your Sunday morning reading.* ### What the right is doodling. ![Al Goodwyn | Creators Syndicate](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/06/data-src-image-84dce19d-aec5-41ea-881a-9a34eb2a6df2.jpeg) Al Goodwyn | Creators Syndicate ### What the left is doodling. ![John Deering | Creators Syndicate](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/06/data-src-image-063a9bf9-92ba-4f19-9fb8-71065b1e38a1.jpeg) John Deering | Creators Syndicate ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/06/data-src-image-9d25c7f0-1f28-42eb-b904-74cffcd668a5.png) ### Suspension of the Rules. On this week’s episode of *Suspension of the Rules,* the team wades into the wider implications of Mamdani’s kingmaking in NYC, the controversy surrounding Tulsi Gabbard’s supposed association with a “cult leader,” and a debate about whether Tara Palmeri should have published an interview excerpt a congresswoman asked her to remove. It’s a lively episode worth your time: From our partner ****The 5-Minute Health Habit You’ll Actually Keep.** Start your mornings with [****All Healthy**](https://www.clkmg.com/O-Platform/Tangle062926?ref=readtangle.com), the [****5-minute daily wellness briefing trusted by over 1 million readers**](https://www.clkmg.com/O-Platform/Tangle062926?ref=readtangle.com)****.** They break down the latest in nutrition, fitness, longevity, and health news into clear, actionable insights you can actually use. No noise, no overwhelm, just what matters most for feeling and living better. Whether you’re just starting your health journey or looking to go deeper, All Healthy makes it easier to take action every day. [****Subscribe here. It’s free**](https://www.clkmg.com/O-Platform/Tangle062926?ref=readtangle.com)****.** ### Monday, June 22. [Vance and Iran](https://www.readtangle.com/vance-peace-negotiations-iran/). On Sunday, June 21, Vice President JD Vance and a team of U.S. negotiators met with Iranian officials in Switzerland to begin peace negotiations. The vice president took a leading role in finalizing the memorandum of understanding (MOU) that Iran and the U.S. signed last week, and on June 21, Vance called for a broad reset of relations after nearly four months of war. He also rebuked Israeli politicians for their criticism of the recent MOU, drawing scrutiny from some conservatives and raising broader questions about his prospects as a future party standard-bearer. **Our take:** *“After his boasts a year ago, Vance finds himself in an uncomfortable position. The vice president has to sell the public on a war he doesn’t want and is betting his political future on Trump’s whims. I understand the criticisms, but feel for one of the only guys who was right about the war from the start.”* **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/06/data-src-image-52597ef3-a8df-417e-b220-c43b33303eb0.png) ### Tuesday, June 23. [Democratic socialists’ surge](https://www.readtangle.com/democratic-socialists-2026-elections/). Ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, candidates aligned with the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) have broken through in primary races for local and national seats. Headlined by figures like Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), democratic-socialist candidates have challenged incumbents in strongly Democratic areas, seeking to pull the party toward more progressive positions on key issues. **Our take:** *“I understand why this new crop of candidates promising radical change is exciting voters. The rise of democratic socialism is both a product of and a response to the MAGA movement. I’m unsure whether DSA can keep building its influence, but we’ll find out soon.”* **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/06/data-src-image-53ff0e7e-8743-4e1b-8b65-4b39a9dae4ef.png) ### Wednesday, June 24. [Congress’s housing bill](https://www.readtangle.com/congress-bipartisan-housing-bill/). On Tuesday, June 23, the House passed a comprehensive housing affordability bill 358–32, sending the measure to President Donald Trump to sign into law. The bill, titled the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, seeks to increase housing supply by rolling back construction regulations, expanding financing options, and restricting institutional investors from purchasing single-family homes in most circumstances. The Senate voted 85–5 to pass the bill on June 22\. After originally scheduling a signing ceremony on June 24, Trump announced he would cancel the signing until Congress passes the SAVE America Act. He has not indicated that he would veto the bill. **Our take:** *“I’m not sure this bill is really necessary, and its provisions are a mixed bag. I don’t think federal legislation is going to solve the housing affordability problems in most of the country, and banning institutional investors will actually be counterproductive. Still, it’s remarkable that this bill passed with bipartisan support — especially under a Republican president.”* **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/06/data-src-image-05035e15-4916-4f32-bea1-04847594562d.png) ### Thursday, June 25. [*Landor v. Louisiana Department of Corrections*](https://www.readtangle.com/supreme-court-dreadlocks-ruling/). On Tuesday, June 23, the Supreme Court ruled 6–3 that federal law protecting prisoners’ religious exercise does not extend to a lawsuit brought by an incarcerated Rastafarian man who sought damages after prison officials forcibly shaved his head. The man, Damon Landor, sued both the Louisiana Department of Corrections and several of its officers individually under the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act, which defines the religious rights of people held in institutions that receive federal funding. However, the Court’s majority found that the law does not apply to the prison officials named in the suit, as they had not entered into a formal agreement with the federal government. **Our take:** *“Landor’s religious rights were clearly violated, which no one involved with this case disputes. Redressing his harm nonetheless sets up a surprising paradox between the extent of Congress’s authority and individual rights. I’m truly torn between the majority and minority opinions on this case, and I sincerely hope Congress will act to settle any future issues.”* **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/06/data-src-image-f183e589-e79f-476b-9893-e765d83e9b5e.png) ### Friday, June 26. This week, in honor of Father’s Day in June, Executive Editor Isaac Saul reflects on his experiences after 18 months of parenting and the myriad ways his son has transformed his life. Read the piece [here](https://www.readtangle.com/reflecting-on-18-months-of-fatherhood/)! --- ### What just happened. Here’s a rundown of the major stories that have broken since our newsletter on Thursday. - On Thursday, U.S. officials said Iran attacked a cargo ship attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, potentially violating the memorandum of understanding between the countries as they seek to negotiate an end to hostilities. ([The attack](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/06/25/iran-ghalibaf-trump-us-farm-products-assets.html?utm%5Fplacement=newsletter&user%5Fid=69089da3df3c6f305d117422&ref=readtangle.com)) On Friday, the U.S. military struck Iranian targets near the strait in response to the attack. ([The response](https://www.cnn.com/2026/06/26/politics/trump-iran-strike-agreement?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Thursday, the Supreme Court ruled 7–2 that federal pesticide law blocks many lawsuits alleging that pesticide companies failed to warn users about health risks. The ruling limits individuals’ ability to sue pesticide manufacturers over alleged health harms. ([The ruling](https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/5940264-supreme-pesticides-roundup-bayer-maha/?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Thursday, the Bureau of Economic Analysis reported that the U.S. economy grew 2.1% in Q1 2026, revising an earlier estimate of 1.6% growth. ([The report](https://www.foxbusiness.com/economy/us-economy-q1-2026-final?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Friday, former national security adviser John Bolton pleaded guilty to one count of unauthorized retention of national defense information. He will be sentenced on October 28 and faces a maximum of 60 months in prison. ([The plea](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/ex-trump-adviser-john-bolton-expected-plead-guilty-retaining-national-rcna351897?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Friday, a judge declared a mistrial in the case of a man accused of starting the fire that became the Palisades Fire in Southern California in January 2025\. The jury deadlocked 10–2 in favor of acquittal and said it could not come to a resolution. Prosecutors said they will retry the case. ([The mistrial](https://abc7.com/post/jonathan-rinderknecht-judge-declares-mistrial-arson-trial-palisades-fire-suspect/19388660/?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Saturday, the death toll from two earthquakes that impacted Venezuela on Wednesday rose to 1,430, with tens of thousands of people still reported missing. ([The update](https://apnews.com/article/earthquakes-venezuela-rescues-survivors-92a3d6c13c0f9af9c1bfb4ff6d041254?ref=readtangle.com)) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/06/data-src-image-a603592d-7356-4c2c-a550-a243ff3e8bfc.png) ### Reader essay. ![ The author’s child in the woods | Photo from Rachael Hagerstrom](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/06/data-src-image-9642d2e6-c158-4dcb-b0f4-cf734b02efcc.jpeg) The author’s child in the woods | Photo from Rachael Hagerstrom, edited by Russell Nystrom In 2023, Rachael Hagerstrom was dumped — by the pharmaceutical company Pfizer, from a Lyme vaccine trial. Lyme is a serious illness spread through the bites of tiny ticks, and according to the Global Lyme Alliance, 476,000 new cases of Lyme disease arise in the U.S. every year. In this week’s reader essay, Rachael details the exasperation with ticks that brought her to the trial, and the complicated way the study evolved (and devolved). _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Tick, Tick, Lyme URL: https://www.readtangle.com/otherposts/tick-tick-lyme/ Last updated: 2026-07-06T12:14:48.000Z *By Rachael Hagerstrom* --- In February 2023, three months into our relationship, Pfizer decided to break up with me. The company did this by way of two, no-nonsense letters. Pfizer tried to let me down gently. We are “temporarily paus\[ing\] all participant visits” they said initially. But we both could tell the end was near. “Unfortunately,” said the second letter, sent on the heels of the first, “your participation in the study will need to end early.” And that was it. After two shots, some 3,000 participants and I — a number described as[ half the original cohort](https://www.biopharmadive.com/news/pfizer-valneva-lyme-disease-vaccine-trial-recruitment/643026/?ref=readtangle.com) — had been booted from our Phase 3 trial. We had been in the final stage of testing before a new treatment headed to the Federal Drug Administration for approval. And what we all wanted was a vaccination to prevent Lyme disease. Earlier this spring, Pfizer announced that the vaccine, called VLA15, was up for[ FDA review](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/03/23/pfizer-lyme-disease-vaccine-trial-fda-approval.html?ref=readtangle.com), the final stage before a new product can go to market. If approved, it will be the first publicly available Lyme vaccine in over two decades. I remembered getting those shots in the trial — or at least, I think I did. Did I receive the Lyme vaccine or a placebo? And what was the real reason participants in my group were so unceremoniously discontinued? I pulled out the old participant paperwork I had saved. It listed Dr. Glenn Freed as my principal investigator, or study doctor. “Ask me offline about that experience,” said his LinkedIn bio. So I sent him a message to do just that. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Reflecting on 18 months of fatherhood. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/reflecting-on-18-months-of-fatherhood/ Last updated: 2026-06-26T18:43:47.000Z **Dear readers,* **Before we get into today’s very personal Friday edition, I wanted to remind you that we paywall our Friday editions. We fundamentally believe reliable news and great writing should be accessible — so we’ve made a habit of giving roughly 80% of our content away for free. But we are also primarily* [**supported by Tangle members*](https://www.readtangle.com/membership/) *(who provide 90% of our revenue) to keep this project running.* **Members get very specific benefits:* - **Access to Friday editions, our most original content* - **Access to the comments section* - **Ad-free newsletters* - **The full Sunday edition, including reader essays* - **Access to our entire archive of exclusive content* **It costs just* [**$59/year to become a newsletter member*](https://www.readtangle.com/membership/)**, or less than $5 per month. If you bundle that with our podcast membership, it’s* [**$99/year, or about $8 per month*](https://www.readtangle.com/membership/)**.* **So, when you run into the paywall in today’s edition, please consider pushing through it with a* [**membership*](https://www.readtangle.com/membership/)**.* **It unlocks a tremendous amount of value for you, and it keeps us 100% independent as a media organization!** **Best,* **Isaac* When my son was around six months old, I realized everything had changed. I don’t mean the day-to-day life changes; those were immediate and unavoidable after he was born. Sleep comes less frequently, travel is a little more complicated, a million little tasks abound, and on and on and on. Your slice of the pie is just way smaller, my cousin once told me about having kids, which is a really nice way to put it. I’d add that the pie tastes better and is much bigger, even if your piece is still smaller. That part, too, is immediate. At around six months, though, my son went from being (essentially) a fetus outside the womb to a little tiny person who seemed to respond to input, who could smile, laugh, eat, and show signs of independence. Some writers have described the first few months of parenthood as the “fourth trimester,” which, in my experience, is the right framework. When my wife was six weeks pregnant and I was looking at my child on an ultrasound and the little burst of light that was his beating heart, I really already felt like a dad — was already projecting personality and consciousness onto that image — and so it feels odd to say that my son was anything other than a baby when he was born. But the difference between a two-week-old baby and a six-month-old baby is almost as large as the difference between a two-year-old and a teenager. The gap really is that wide, proportionally, in terms of what they are capable of and how much you feel like they are observing and noticing you. Now my son is one and a half years old, and I’ve decided that I’m going to start using Father’s Day every year to reflect on him and my life as a parent. I know this is a politics newsletter, but 1) We can always use the occasional break from the news, 2) You have all (graciously) seemed to appreciate these personal posts in the past, and 3) I actually think the experience of raising children is a pretty big piece of any society, and understanding what it’s like can help inform understandings of policy and politics. Also, while most of my personal life may be boring to readers, I think this part is actually pretty interesting. I’ll also admit to a selfish reason. When I go back and [read my first post](https://www.readtangle.com/my-thoughts-on-parenting-and-politics-isaac-saul/) reflecting on six weeks of fatherhood and my wife giving birth, I am flooded with a bunch of memories that are already fading, which makes me want to write more about what’s happening now, so I always have some reference point to return to. With some good fortune and the grace of God, when my son is 20, maybe I’ll be able to read one of the 20 or so Father’s Day posts and remember what all of this was *really* like. So here is this year’s mile marker: _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Markwayne Mullin senate hearing turns heated. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/markwayne-mullin-senate-hearing-turns-heated/ Last updated: 2026-06-26T10:07:06.000Z An exchange during Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin’s hearing became heated as he was asked about child separation. ### The Supreme Court’s religious liberties ruling. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/supreme-court-dreadlocks-ruling/ Last updated: 2026-06-25T15:58:05.000Z Happy Thursday. This is Associate Editor **Audrey Moorehead**, and it’s my favorite time of the political year: the end of the Supreme Court’s term, when the Court releases its final (and often most consequential) opinions in batches. Today, I’ll be writing about an under-the-radar case the Tangle team has been watching closely — a decision on whether a Louisiana Rastafarian man could **sue prison guards for violating his religious liberties** by cutting off his dreadlocks. Then, read on for a deeper dive into a 1990 Supreme Court decision on **whether states can regulate religious conduct**, an investigation into **AI chatbot ideological bias**,and our **roundup of the stories we didn’t cover**. It’s a **15-minute read**, so settle in. ### Mamdani, Gabbard, and some media controversy. On this week’s episode of *Suspension of the Rules,* the team wades into the wider implications of Mamdani’s kingmaking in NYC, the controversy surrounding Tulsi Gabbard’s supposed association with a “cult leader,” and a debate about whether Tara Palmeri should have published an interview excerpt a congresswoman asked her to remove. It’s a lively episode worth your time: ### Quick hits. 1. BREAKING: The Supreme Court ruled 6–3 that the Trump administration can remove temporary protected status (TPS) for Haitian and Syrian ​immigrants, allowing them to be deported. ([The decision](https://www.reuters.com/world/supreme-court-lets-trump-end-deportation-protections-syrians-haitians-2026-06-25/?ref=readtangle.com)) In a separate 6–3 decision, the Court ruled that the administration can turn away asylum-seekers before they cross the southern border into the United States. ([The ruling](https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/5939967-asylum-seekers-supreme-court-trump-immigration-policy/?ref=readtangle.com)) 2. 7.2-magnitude and 7.5-magnitude earthquakes struck Caracas, Venezuela, killing at least 164 people and injuring 971 as of Thursday morning; the death toll is expected to rise as the emergency response continues. ([The earthquakes](https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2026/06/24/back-to-back-earthquakes-topple-buildings-venezuelas-capital/?ref=readtangle.com)) 3. The Commerce Department reported that the personal consumption expenditures price index rose 4.1% on an annual basis in May, the highest rate of increase since April 2023, while core inflation (excluding food and energy prices) rose 3.4%. Inflation rose 0.4% on a monthly basis. ([The numbers](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/06/25/pce-inflation-report-may-2026-.html?ref=readtangle.com)) 4. The Trump administration requested $87.6 billion in supplemental funding from Congress, primarily for costs related to the Iran war. ([The request](https://www.axios.com/2026/06/25/trump-white-house-congress-request-iran-war-us-farmers-ebola?ref=readtangle.com)) 5. A federal judge blocked most provisions in President Donald Trump’s executive order on elections issued in March 2025 — including one measure that would have created a proof-of-citizenship requirement for voter registration — for violating state and congressional election authority. ([The ruling](https://apnews.com/article/trump-elections-judge-358912bcb6c7223b3d2d36465156fde9?ref=readtangle.com)) 6. Postmaster General David Steiner testified at a Senate committee hearing that, under a proposed Trump administration rule, the Postal Service will not deliver mail-in ballots in states that do not share voter data with the federal government. 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[Start your 45-day no-risk trial today ](https://api.wellput.io/v1/cm?cmid=910775mq86ru0g&tid=207&s1=v2-r737277-p910775-c1048&s2=Tangle&s3=&s4=null&ref=readtangle.com) ### Today’s topic. *Landor v. Louisiana Department of Corrections*. On Tuesday, the Supreme Court [ruled](https://www.scotusblog.com/2026/06/court-rules-former-louisiana-inmate-cannot-sue-prison-officials-in-religious-dispute-over-long-h/?ref=readtangle.com) 6–3 that federal law protecting prisoners’ religious exercise does not extend to a lawsuit brought by an incarcerated Rastafarian man who sought damages after prison officials forcibly shaved his head. The man, Damon Landor, sued both the Louisiana Department of Corrections and several of its officers individually under the [Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act](https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/42/2000cc-1?ref=readtangle.com) (RLUIPA), which defines the religious rights of people held in institutions that receive federal funding. However, the Court’s majority found that the law does not apply to the prison officials named in the suit, as they had not entered into a formal agreement with the federal government. **Back up:** In 2020, Landor was transferred to Raymond Laborde Correctional Center in Louisiana while [serving](https://www.scotusblog.com/2025/11/court-to-consider-prison-inmates-religious-liberty-claims/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Landor%20is%20a%20devout,heart%20of%20his%20identity.%E2%80%9D) a five-month sentence for drug possession. As a member of Rastafari, a religion originating in Jamaica in which maintaining dreadlocks [fulfills](https://religionmediacentre.org.uk/news/explainer-rastafarianism/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Dreadlocks,closer%20to%20Jah.) a religious vow, Landor determined never to cut his hair. However, prison guards attempted to shave his head upon arrival at the new facility. He protested and showed a prison guard a copy of an appellate court decision holding that RLUIPA prohibited the prison from removing his dreadlocks. He was eventually handcuffed and shaved after officials dismissed his complaints. Afterward, he filed a suit seeking monetary damages from the department of corrections and prison officials. A district court and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit dismissed the claims against the department itself and ruled against Landor, but the Supreme Court agreed to hear the case in June 2025\. Oral arguments were held in November. Writing for the majority, Justice Neil Gorsuch said that RLUIPA does not apply to individual prison officials, as they had not “entered any agreement with the federal government” and “knowingly consented to answer private suits under RLUIPA.” Gorsuch [suggested](https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/23-1197%5Fh3ci.pdf?ref=readtangle.com#page=12) that allowing Landor’s claim to proceed would give Congress “effectively unbridled police power,” as it could regulate a private individual’s conduct if they received pay from a recipient of federal funds. “Mr. Landor’s case cannot proceed against them any more than a breach of contract action might proceed against a defendant who never formed a contract,” Gorsuch said. The Court’s three Democratic-appointed justices dissented. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson [wrote](https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/23-1197%5Fh3ci.pdf?ref=readtangle.com#page=23), “Neither respondents nor the Court contests Congress’s power to impose RLUIPA’s substantive directive accommodating religious freedom… \[but the majority\] adopts the peculiar position that Congress is powerless to create, and a State is powerless to accept, the natural next step: a damages remedy against officials who violate that directive.” By insulating individuals from lawsuits even if they violate the law, she continued, the ruling ensures that “prisoners like Landor who suffer violations of their religious freedom in state prisons — no matter how blatant — will often be left remediless.” Today, we’ll share perspectives from the left and right on the decision, followed by Associate Editor Audrey Moorehead’s take. ### Agreed. - **Commentators on both sides agree that Landor’s rights were violated and question whether existing law adequately protects religious liberties.** ### What the left is saying. - **The left criticizes the decision for undercutting religious liberty.** - **Some suggest the current court only supports religious freedom for certain groups.** - **Others say prisoners now have no pathway for recourse if their religious rights are violated.** **In Slate, Alexis Romero and Mark Joseph Stern called the decision** [**“a wrecking ball to a major religious liberty law.”**](https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2026/06/supreme-court-analysis-neil-gorsuch-religion-fail.html?ref=readtangle.com) “Throughout the opinion, the court analogized Congress’ spending power to a ‘contract’ between the federal government and the states. To the majority, every detail of that contract must be knowingly consented to by all parties who might be affected,” Romero and Stern wrote. “But RLUIPA is legislation, not a contract. So, as Jackson wrote, it’s doubtful that the Constitution actually requires this unrealistic level of contractual clarity. Moreover, the state officials in this case arguably did agree to be bound by federal law. After all, they signed an employment contract with a prison that receives federal funding by virtue of RLUIPA. “State officials are trained on their inmates’ rights, and prison litigation has been around for centuries, under RLUIPA and other statutes. There’s no serious argument that these state officials were blind to the consequences that might come from violating the rights of the prisoners they’re in charge of,” Romero and Stern said. “When \[Landor\] tried to vindicate his rights, the Supreme Court didn’t just refuse to recognize them, but took the opportunity to issue a sweeping change in constitutional law that risks hobbling a host of important federal protections.” **In The Nation, Elie Mystal argued** [**“the Supreme Court loves religious freedom — just not for Rastafarians.”**](https://www.thenation.com/article/society/supreme-court-landor-religious-freedom/?ref=readtangle.com) “Usually, the Supreme Court treats the Free Exercise Clause as if it was written on a dead sea scroll… But this case raises the question of whether their religious tolerance extends only to the right kinds of Christians,” Mystal wrote. “Indeed, the way the court squared its normally robust protection of religious freedom with its decision to allow Landor’s rights to be flagrantly violated was to pretend the case wasn’t about religion at all… Gorsuch devotes all of one paragraph to the First Amendment violation at the heart of the case. “Instead, he casts the whole thing as an examination of Congress’s power under the Spending Clause… Gorsuch argues that employees of institutions that accept federal funds have to agree to be sued under the RLUIPA before such lawsuits can proceed,” Mystal said. “The *entire structure* of civil rights laws is based on the premise that receiving federal dollars makes you subject to federal rules and consequences. Gorsuch would throw that entire premise into the trash. In his world, you are only subject to federal civil rights laws if you personally agree to follow them.” **In Religion News Service, Elizabeth Reiner Platt said** [**“religious freedom depends on who you are.”**](https://religionnews.com/2026/06/23/a-rastafarians-supreme-court-loss-shows-religious-freedom-depends-on-who-you-are/?ref=readtangle.com) “The opinion, authored by Justice Neil Gorsuch, held that in order to be subject to suit, prison employees must ‘voluntarily and knowingly consent to answer lawsuits under’ RLUIPA — something employees are unlikely to agree to,” Platt wrote. “Without any threat of financial punishment, employees of state jails and prisons can trample inmates’ religious rights with impunity. And while courts may still order prisons to accommodate incarcerated people’s religious beliefs — such as by providing halal meals — this means little in cases like Landor’s, when the damage has already been done.” “Even this nonfinancial relief can be avoided, as prisons frequently move incarcerated people between facilities to evade liability for rights violations. Landor himself was transferred between three different facilities in the course of six months,” Platt said. “Rather than being a deviation from the Supreme Court’s broad view of religious liberty rights, Tuesday’s Landor decision is part of a long-standing pattern. While religious liberty claims have been brought and won by people from many different backgrounds and walks of life — including people in prison — the path is often far harder for those who face obstacles within our larger judicial system.” ### What the right is saying. - **The right is mixed, with some saying this is an issue for Congress.** - **Many say the case’s result shows prisoners do not have adequate legal remedies for religious freedom violations.** - **Others argue that Landor’s religious rights were violated.** **The Wall Street Journal editorial board argued** [**“religious prisoners need Congress’s help.”**](https://www.wsj.com/opinion/supreme-court-damon-landor-rastafarian-religious-liberty-louisiana-41616229?ref=readtangle.com) “Mr. Landor should have been protected by the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA). But what recourse does he have now? No court can restore his hair. He can’t sue Louisiana for damages because of sovereign immunity. So he wanted to sue the prison officials personally,” the board wrote. “Unfortunately for him, that lawsuit has a federalism problem… Under RLUIPA, Justice Neil Gorsuch writes, state prison systems that take federal money must agree not to substantially burden religious exercise. Individual prison guards, however, aren’t a party to that bargain.” “That’s if Congress doesn’t act. ‘To be sure,’ Justice Gorsuch says, ‘Mr. Landor and the dissent identify ways in which Congress *could have* lawfully imposed personal liability,’” the board said. “Is it possible for lawmakers to find that kind of agreement? RLUIPA passed in 2000 by unanimous consent. But in these polarized days, Democrats often treat ‘religious liberty’ as if it’s code for right-wing agenda. Mr. Landor’s case is evidence it isn’t, and Congress can act for religious prisoners of all faiths.” **In The Daily Signal, Cully Stimson and Helen Nguyen suggested the case was decided by a** [**“narrow legal question.”**](https://www.dailysignal.com/2026/06/23/free-exercise-scotus/?ref=readtangle.com) “The issue in the case that made its way to the Supreme Court wasn’t whether the officers’ conduct was outrageous — it was,” Stimson and Nguyen wrote. “The narrow legal question presented to the Supreme Court was whether ‘appropriate relief’ under the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act may include money damages in suits against government officials in their individual capacities… In this case, the Louisiana’s Department of Corrections accepted federal funding and agreed to comply with RLUIPA’s requirements, but the individual correctional officers employed by LDOC did not.” “Because Congress lacks a general power to regulate individuals through the spending clause, the court concluded that personal liability may be imposed only on parties who knowingly and voluntarily consent to the conditions attached to federal funds,” Stimson and Nguyen said. “\[The dissent said\] the majority ‘magically transforms a federal statute into an invitation to be accepted or declined, deemed binding only if each particular defendant has explicitly agreed to be penalized.’ As a result, prison officials will have little incentive to accommodate the free exercise rights of prisoners, knowing full well that if they violate the law, they won’t be held personally liable.” **In the National Catholic Register, Andrea Picciotti-Bayer said the prison officials shouldn’t be able to** [**“walk away with no consequences.”**](https://www.ncregister.com/commentaries/scotus-6-3-damon-landor-religious-freedom?ref=readtangle.com) “It is worth setting aside at the outset a concern that opening the courthouse doors to prisoners on religious liberty claims would flood federal courts with frivolous lawsuits. It would not,” Picciotti-Bayer wrote. “\[RLUIPA\] does not give prisoners the right to ignore prison rules. Officials may restrict or burden religious practice when they can show a compelling reason and when they use the least intrusive means to achieve it… Under the Prison Litigation Reform Act, any prisoner who wants to sue in federal court must first exhaust every available grievance procedure within the prison system. That requirement alone screens out a large share of potential claims before a judge ever sees them. “So the court was never asked to give prisoners a blank check. It was being asked something narrower: When an official disregards the law, can he be held personally responsible? Under today’s ruling, the answer is No,” Picciotti-Bayer said. “Congress responded \[to a 1990 decision that weakened the Free Exercise Clause\] by passing RLUIPA to provide a shield to the religious liberties of prisoners. Today’s opinion confirms that that shield lacks a corresponding sword when it comes to holding individual officials accountable.” ### My take. **Reminder: “My take” is a section where we give ourselves space to share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, don't unsubscribe. Write in by replying to this email, or** [**leave a comment**](https://www.readtangle.com/supreme-court-dreadlocks-ruling/#ghost-comments-root)**.** - **Landor’s religious rights were clearly violated, which no one involved with this case disputes.** - **Redressing his harm nonetheless sets up a surprising paradox between the extent of Congress’s authority and individual rights.** - **I’m truly torn between the majority and minority opinions on this case, and I sincerely hope Congress will act to settle any future issues.** **Associate Editor Audrey Moorehead:** This case has been a genuine head-scratcher for me since I first started following it in October. At first glance, it seemed like a typical religious liberties case: a citizen’s rights were most likely violated, but a lack of clarity in the law brought him before the Supreme Court to litigate the minutiae. But the issues at play go far deeper. I want to lay out the one indisputable fact here: Damon Landor suffered an unconscionable and — more importantly, in matters of law — unconstitutional violation of his religious liberties. For months, Landor had been serving prison time for his crimes, which restricted most of his personal freedoms while protecting his rights, including the right to religious observance. Two government facilities honored those rights without incident before his final prison transfer, with only three weeks left on his sentence — close enough to freedom to taste it. Then, despite his best efforts to invoke his constitutional (and as he argued, statutory) rights, he was forcibly restrained and those rights were violated. And that violation was fundamentally irremediable: No matter how much the law is on Landor’s side, the state of Louisiana could not grow Landor’s hair back. I’m disturbed by basically every detail of his story, but for some reason I’ve been especially stuck on the fact that his hair was cut very near the end of his prison sentence. The timing doesn’t make the act any more or less wrong, of course, but I can’t help but imagine how being so close to the end of his sentence would sharpen the sting. I don’t think anyone who hears that story could honestly say that Landor didn’t suffer a grievous injury under the law. I also don’t think anyone could say that Landor’s case is a one-off — this sort of discrimination could happen to anyone with sincerely held religious beliefs, though the danger is certainly greater for people like Landor: The Rastafari movement in the U.S. is small and ethnically concentrated, leaving people more prone to misunderstanding or disregarding their beliefs. I think most people would say that the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA) was practically designed for people like Landor to have some recourse, and at first, I assumed the Court would decide unanimously (or nearly so) in his favor. RLUIPA is supposed to give citizens who have their religious liberties violated the ability to sue for redress, but on Tuesday, the Supreme Court ruled that Landor could not sue the prison guards who personally cut off his hair. In Justice Neil Gorsuch’s view, the [Spending Clause](https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/artI-S8-C1-2-1/ALDE%5F00013356/?ref=readtangle.com) of the Constitution limits the law’s application: When Congress attaches strings to federal funding — like telling states they must recognize religious rights and agree to answer lawsuits from individuals in order to receive it — it creates a contract between the federal government and the states. But Congress doesn’t create a contract with each individual state employee, meaning those employees have not given their “voluntary and knowing consent” to the law’s requirement that they answer lawsuits. In this case, Gorsuch argues, RLUIPA doesn’t provide Landor with a method to seek redress from state employees. On first reading, Gorsuch’s constitutional logic basically made sense to me, even if it grates against my religious-freedom principles. But Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson’s emphatic dissent threw a wrench in the gears. Jackson argues that the majority’s reasoning, and particularly Gorsuch’s contract analogy, doesn’t hold up — instead, it separates “rights and remedies” through a “sleight of hand.” Jackson [argues](https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/23-1197%5Fh3ci.pdf?ref=readtangle.com#page=24) that RLUIPA gives Landor the ability to sue the guards for monetary damages (a question that Gorsuch said the Court didn’t need to answer directly yet) simply because the Court has already interpreted the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA), which it has long read as a “sister law,” to allow for them. Furthermore, Landor [should](https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/23-1197%5Fh3ci.pdf?ref=readtangle.com#page=46) be able to sue the guards because Congress intended for his “cause of action” (the facts or events on which he can sue) to be valid under the law; and anyway, the law “is no secret,” so prison guards should be expected to abide by it even if they don’t formally enter into a contract. Thus, in this apparent “religious freedom” case, the difference between Gorsuch and Jackson isn’t over Landor’s religious rights and guarantees — it’s over federalism and congressional power. Gorsuch [argues](https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/23-1197%5Fh3ci.pdf?ref=readtangle.com#page=17) that allowing lawsuits against state employees without formal contracts under the Spending Clause would massively expand Congress’s regulatory power over individual behavior; Jackson [retorts](https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/23-1197%5Fh3ci.pdf?ref=readtangle.com#page=47) that Congress already has that power. The fundamental split here is between their vastly different views of the limits of Congress’s authority under the Constitution, a difference consistent with the rest of their jurisprudence. I thought SCOTUS expert Sarah Isgur [put it well](https://thedispatch.com/podcast/advisoryopinions/enforcing-international-law-in-u-s-courts/?ref=readtangle.com): Gorsuch and the majority are typically more concerned with limiting federal power, while Jackson and the dissenters are typically more concerned with enhancing citizens’ power to seek redress against the government. Having said *all* that, I’ll deliver my honest take: I am not sure who’s right. I’m a sucker for generalizable principles of law, so Gorsuch’s argument for unilaterally treating Spending Clause power as an affair of contracts and consent is appealing. It’s a broad principle that could apply to more laws than just RLUIPA, and it could protect state employees from being made to behave in discordance with their personal beliefs by an act of Congress. (I imagine that’s why Gorsuch reached for culture-war examples as potential threats of overreach.) On the other hand, I’m solidly with Jackson that citizens like Landor should be able to seek some sort of recourse for their rights violations, and she certainly made a strong case for Court precedent being on her side. Being evenly split between their arguments has given me a strange detachment from the case; I find myself in the position of accepting the result basically neutrally, and thinking instead about how redress for religious liberties violations can move forward. It truly frustrates me that Damon Landor himself remains without recourse. But, to its credit, the Court did give Congress a roadmap to ensure that future citizens in Landor’s position *can* get justice for the violations of their rights. Congress could require individual agents to enter into contracts with the federal government, or it could require states to enact their own laws guaranteeing the ability to seek redress. In either case, the Roberts Court seems to be continuing its established trend of asking Congress to do a better job of making laws. I sincerely hope that Congress takes it up on the challenge. ****Staff dissent — Executive Editor Isaac Saul:** To draw an imperfect analogy: Imagine Tangle were to receive federal funds from the government, and a condition of those funds was that we follow federal copyright laws. If an editor on my team was caught violating a copyright infringement law, it strikes me as rather absurd to say “that employee has not consented to answering suits over copyright law, only Tangle Media LLC has.” If the person whose intellectual property we stole was trying to sue my employee, but somehow the outcome across these court rulings produced a situation where they can’t sue the employee, me or Tangle, we’d all feel something broke along the way. The idea that prison guards have not issued “voluntary and knowing” consent to be sued if they violate the rights of prisoners feels even more fraught; what would constitute such consent more than signing an employment contract to work as a guard in a federally funded prison? One almost has to believe the inverse: That the guards **didn’t know violating the rights of the prisoner in their care could lead to them being sued.* This is fanciful stuff, and I find the Court’s conclusion both enraging and to be an intentional distortion of the Constitution in order to further limit congressional spending power, the religious freedoms of Landor be damned. **Take the survey:** What do you think of the Supreme Court’s ruling? [Let us know](https://interrobang.vercel.app/survey/18ee8e42-7342-4451-a432-689d6f8cf73d?ref=readtangle.com). *Disagree? That's okay. Our opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we'll consider publishing your feedback.* ### A deeper look. ![President Bill Clinton signing the Religious Freedom Restoration Act on the South Lawn at the White House | Ralph Alswang/U.S. National Archives](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/06/data-src-image-4faafa2a-07bc-4e48-8f50-b8505cb8303d.jpeg) President Bill Clinton signing the Religious Freedom Restoration Act on the South Lawn at the White House | Ralph Alswang/[U.S. National Archives](https://nara.getarchive.net/media/photograph-of-president-william-j-clinton-signing-the-religious-freedom-restoration-e84304?ref=readtangle.com) In 1990, the Supreme Court [sided](https://www.oyez.org/cases/1989/88-1213?ref=readtangle.com) with the state of Oregon after it denied unemployment benefits to two men who were fired for ingesting peyote, a hallucinogen they said was part of Native American religious ceremonies. The decision in *Employment Division, Department of Human Resources of Oregon v. Smith* — which held that laws could burden religious expression without violating the First Amendment so long as they were “neutral” and “generally applicable” — was widely considered one of the most severe blows to religious liberties in modern U.S. history. In response, and with broad, bipartisan support, Congress passed the [Religious Freedom Restoration Act](https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/IF11490?ref=readtangle.com) (RFRA) three years later, restoring stronger protections for religious exercise across all levels of government. However, this restoration of the “pre-*Smith*” standard didn’t last long. In 1997, four years after the RFRA’s passage, the Supreme Court significantly weakened the law; in [*City of Boerne v. Flores*](https://www.oyez.org/cases/1996/95-2074?ref=readtangle.com), SCOTUS ruled that the RFRA could not be applied to state and local governments, which make decisions concerning common sites of religious expression, like state prisons and public schools. The Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA), the statute at the heart of *Landor*, was born out of this second setback, using Congress’s power of the purse to forbid states that receive federal funds from “substantially burdening” religious exercise in land-use disputes and institutional settings. Rounding out a turbulent decade for religious liberty protections, RLUIPA unanimously passed the House and Senate by voice vote in 2000, and on [September 22](https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/statement-signing-the-religious-land-use-and-institutionalized-persons-act-2000?ref=readtangle.com), President Bill Clinton signed it into law. ### Under the radar. On Wednesday, The Washington Post published results from an experiment it ran to test the biases of popular artificial intelligence chatbots, finding that most models appear to be biased towards the left. Researchers tested the bots — such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Anthropic’s Claude, xAI’s Grok, and Google’s Gemini — with a series of political questions and with personalization settings turned off. Then, a Washington Post reporter analyzed their responses for pronouncing left- and right-leaning views (or both). Researchers determined 80% of ChatGPT’s responses were exclusively left-leaning, with just 3% biased to the right. Claude’s responses were 43% left-leaning, with 0% rated as solely right-leaning; Grok was 40% left and 33% right, and Gemini scored as the most balanced, with 93% of responses considering both sides. You can read more about the results (and specific questions chatbots were asked) in [The Washington Post](https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/interactive/2026/06/24/are-ai-chatbots-like-chatgpt-politically-biased-we-tested-them/?ref=readtangle.com). from today's partner ****Travel Europe, Your Way, With Tourlane** At ****Tourlane**, we believe life’s too short for standard travel. Our local experts design custom European trips [tailored to your preferences](https://api.wellput.io/v1/cm?cmid=937847mqjzr6ls&tid=347&s1=v2-r739198-p937847-c46628&s2=Tangle&s3=&s4=null&ref=readtangle.com), with no generic packages. Start with a free 30-minute call to get your [personalized travel plan](https://api.wellput.io/v1/cm?cmid=937847mqjzr6ls&tid=347&s1=v2-r739198-p937847-c46628&s2=Tangle&s3=&s4=null&ref=readtangle.com), with flexible booking options and transparent pricing every step of the way. Tangle readers get [3% off bookings using code ****TRAVEL2026W**](https://api.wellput.io/v1/cm?cmid=937847mqjzr6ls&tid=347&s1=v2-r739198-p937847-c46628&s2=Tangle&s3=&s4=null&ref=readtangle.com). ### The road not taken. Our editorial team had close to unanimous decisions on what to cover this week: The democratic-socialist candidates on Tuesday, the housing bill on Wednesday, and today’s Supreme Court dreadlocks case were all decisions that we arrived at naturally based on the robust commentary we found for each topic. The Court’s ruling in an Immigration and Nationality Act case and Keir Starmer’s resignation came close behind our top picks (keep an eye out for a YouTube video about Starmer in the coming weeks!). That brings us to Monday, which was a choice between two topics we were reluctant to cover: the Iran war and the Reflecting Pool. While updates on U.S.–Iran negotiations are obviously important, we had already covered the conflict twice the week before, leading us to focus our commentary on Vice President JD Vance’s role in peace talks. As for the Reflecting Pool, which dominated commentary over the weekend, we balked at providing in-depth commentary to an issue so shallow (excuse the pun). Our compromise was a short segment to lead off our latest *Suspension of the Rules* (which you can watch [here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzktlnjSvyA&ref=readtangle.com)). ### The extras. - **One year ago today** we covered [Zohran Mamdani winning New York City’s Democratic mayoral primary](https://www.readtangle.com/a-political-shockwave-in-new-york-city/). - **The most clicked link in our last regular newsletter** was [the drownings in France](https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2026/06/23/record-heat-france-leads-least-40-drowning-deaths-officials-say/?ref=readtangle.com). - **Nothing to do with politics:** Why mosquitoes [bite some people more than others](https://www.rd.com/article/why-mosquitoes-bite-some-people-more/?ref=readtangle.com). - **Our last survey:** 1,697 readers responded to our survey asking about the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act with 39% saying they support the legislation. “This bill should assist my state, California, to address its housing crisis that my Democratic Party has done little to mitigate over the last decade,” one respondent said. “No housing shortage but certainly need to eliminate bureaucratic regulations for construction,” said another. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/06/data-src-image-01c0bfec-a4a2-4fa5-a1bb-90c5418e41c4.png) ### Have a nice day. The Galápagos Islands have no post office. Instead, they have a wooden barrel on the island of Floreana, where visitors leave mail and strangers carry it home to hand-deliver — a system 18th-century whalers invented and nobody ever stopped using. In May, a man named Hugh knocked on Peter Clist’s door in Petersfield, England, handed him a postcard written in Spanish, and left. It turned out to be from a former student of Clist’s, sent from the barrel to her old class. One traveler so moved by the tradition returned to Floreana the following year, collected 55 pieces of mail, and delivered every one. “Usually, people were initially confused,” he wrote, “but that would turn to complete joy as they read their letter.” [Upworthy has the story](https://www.upworthy.com/u-k-man-got-a-hand-delivered-mystery-postcard-from-the-galapagos-it-has-a-233-yr-old-history-behind-it/?ref=readtangle.com). ### The DSA’s Big Win Could Change Democrats Forever URL: https://www.readtangle.com/the-dsas-big-win-could-change-democrats-forever/ Last updated: 2026-06-26T10:07:07.000Z In this episode of Suspension of the Rules, we break down a surprising week in national politics. ### Congress’s bipartisan housing bill. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/congress-bipartisan-housing-bill/ Last updated: 2026-06-25T16:03:02.000Z Happy Wednesday. I’m **Isaac Saul** and today, I am thrilled to be writing about some policy. Not reflecting pools. Not culture wars. Not real wars. Just a good old-fashioned piece of bipartisan legislation with pros and cons and policy implications to explore. We’re deconstructing **Congress’s housing bill,** which President Trump could be signing any moment — [or maybe not](https://x.com/JakeSherman/status/2069789920986550546?s=20&ref=readtangle.com)! Also: A reader question about **Tulsi Gabbard and Anthony Fauci** and a look back ata **medieval dancing epidemic**. It’s a **14-minute read.** ### A quick reminder. It’s come to our attention that many Tangle readers don’t know that we also have a podcast. Every day, we publish a conversational read-down of our newsletter, and we also publish a weekly talk show and interviews with people in the political space. If you ever find yourself on the go or simply prefer to listen, we encourage you to take two minutes to follow our podcast so you can get every new episode in your feed. - [Apple podcast feed](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tangle/id1538788132?ref=readtangle.com) - [Spotify podcast feed](https://open.spotify.com/show/1V7PO7UQFkc47ZoAmYGpdu?ref=readtangle.com) - [Our YouTube channel](https://www.youtube.com/@tanglenews?ref=readtangle.com) - [Acast feed](https://shows.acast.com/tangle?ref=readtangle.com) ### Quick hits. 1. The Supreme Court ruled 6–3 that a man incarcerated in Louisiana cannot sue prison officials who forcibly shaved his head despite his religious exemption claim. ([The ruling](https://www.scotusblog.com/2026/06/court-rules-former-louisiana-inmate-cannot-sue-prison-officials-in-religious-dispute-over-long-h/?ref=readtangle.com)) In a separate 6–3 ruling, the Court limited noncitizens’ ability to bring lawsuits in U.S. courts over alleged violations of international law. ([The ruling](https://www.scotusblog.com/2026/06/supreme-court-limits-ability-of-foreigners-to-bring-lawsuits-for-violations-of-international-law/?ref=readtangle.com)) 2. Democratic Socialists of America-backed candidates Claire Valdez and Darializa Avila Chevalier won Democratic nominations for Congress in two New York City districts. Additionally, former New York City Comptroller Brad Lander defeated incumbent Rep. Dan Goldman, and state Assemblyman Micah Lasher won the Democratic primary in the race to replace retiring Rep. Jerry Nadler (D). ([The results](https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2026/us/elections/results-new-york-primary.html?ref=readtangle.com)) In Maryland, state Del. Adrian Boafo won the Democratic primary to replace retiring Rep. Steny Hoyer (D). ([The result](https://apnews.com/article/maryland-election-2026-primary-0d395815af01cd04731f03e56a738106?ref=readtangle.com)) In Utah, former Rep. Ben McAdams won the Democratic primary for a newly drawn House seat. ([The result](https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/5936094-mcadams-utah-house-primary/?ref=readtangle.com)) 3. The Senate voted 50–48 to approve a war powers resolution, which passed the House earlier in June, directing President Donald Trump to withdraw the U.S. armed forces from Iran. Four Republican senators voted with Democrats to pass the resolution, which does not have the force of law. ([The vote](https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5936650-iran-war-powers-senate/?ref=readtangle.com)) 4. The Justice Department announced charges against approximately 450 people, including 90 medical professionals and roughly 300 Medicaid recipients, for alleged healthcare fraud. ([The charges](https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/justice-department-unveils-6-5-billion-healthcare-fraud-crackdown-e3827ece?ref=readtangle.com)) 5. At least 45 people in France have died, including 40 by drowning, amid a record-breaking heat wave. ([The heat](https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2026/06/23/record-heat-france-leads-least-40-drowning-deaths-officials-say/?ref=readtangle.com)) In partnership with Ground News [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/06/Ground-News.png)](http://groundnews.com/tangle?ref=readtangle.com) Media bias doesn’t just slant a story. It changes the takeaway. Two people can read about the same event and come away understanding it completely differently. That’s the problem [****Ground News**](http://groundnews.com/tangle?ref=readtangle.com) is built to solve. It lines up reporting on a single story from outlets across the political spectrum, so the framing differences are visible side by side. Its [Blindspot Report](http://groundnews.com/tangle?ref=readtangle.com) highlights stories getting heavy attention from one side of the media while the other barely covers them. For a clearer sense of not just how stories are covered, but which ones get emphasized or ignored, it’s worth a look. Tangle readers get an [exclusive 40% off the ****Ground News** Vantage subscription](http://groundnews.com/tangle?ref=readtangle.com). [Get 40% off Ground News ](http://groundnews.com/tangle?ref=readtangle.com) ### Today’s topic. Congress’s housing bill. On Tuesday, the House [passed](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/house-gives-final-approval-to-landmark-housing-bill-aimed-at-lowering-costs?ref=readtangle.com) a comprehensive housing affordability bill 358–32, sending the measure to President Donald Trump to sign into law. The bill, titled the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, seeks to [increase housing supply](https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5932776-housing-bill-regulations-reform/?ref=readtangle.com) by rolling back construction regulations, expanding financing options, and restricting institutional investors from purchasing single-family homes in most circumstances. The Senate voted 85–5 to [pass](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/senate-passes-bill-lower-housing-costs-restrict-wall-street-buying-hom-rcna350753?ref=readtangle.com) the bill on Monday. After originally scheduling a signing ceremony today, Trump announced he would [cancel](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116805545512296111?ref=readtangle.com) the signing until Congress passes the SAVE America Act. He has not indicated that he would veto the bill. **Back up:** The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act combines elements of housing packages passed separately by the House and Senate. On May 20, the House [approved](https://nlihc.org/resource/house-passes-amended-bipartisan-21st-century-road-housing-act?ref=readtangle.com) a prior version of the bill in a 396–13 vote. Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee Chairman Tim Scott (R-SC), Ranking Member Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), House Financial Services Committee Chair French Hill (R-AR), and Ranking Member Maxine Waters (D-CA) led the negotiations and worked to reconcile the two versions. In total, the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act [encompasses](https://www.banking.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/bill%5Ftext%5Fof%5Fthe%5F21st%5Fcentury%5Froad%5Fto%5Fhousing%5Fact.pdf?ref=readtangle.com) nearly 60 provisions related to housing supply, manufactured housing, mortgage financing, rural housing, veteran housing, and community banking. Notably, the bill bars institutional investors from buying more than 350 single-family homes. Institutional investors — defined as those with at least 350 homes — own roughly 3% of single-family rentals nationwide, according to a [2024 Government Accountability Office analysis](https://www.gao.gov/assets/gao-24-106643.pdf?ref=readtangle.com). Sen. Warren emphasized the bill’s restrictions on corporate real estate investors. “It will make sure families own those homes — not giant corporate landlords looking to jack up the rent and squeeze out every nickel of profit they can,” Warren [said](https://www.banking.senate.gov/newsroom/minority/warren-speaks-on-senate-floor-following-passage-of-the-biggest-housing-bill-in-over-30-years?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=We%20need%20to,profit%20they%20can.) on the Senate floor. On the Republican side, Sen. Scott touted the incentives to increase supply as drivers to lower costs. “This bill is the result of years of work to lower costs, expand housing supply, cut red tape, protect taxpayers, and help more Americans achieve the dream of homeownership,” Scott [said](https://www.banking.senate.gov/newsroom/majority/scott-warren-hill-waters-release-updated-bill-text-on-senate-consideration-of-the-21st-century-road-to-housing-act?ref=readtangle.com) in a statement. Below, we’ll take a look at what the right and left are saying about the housing bill. Then, Executive Editor Isaac Saul gives his take. ### What the right is saying. - **The right is mixed on the bill, with some arguing it unwisely targets institutional investors.** - **Others praise Congress for taking action on home prices.** - **Still others say the U.S. doesn’t actually have a housing crisis.** **In City Journal, Shawn Regan wrote about** [**“the big problem with Congress’s housing bill.”**](https://www.city-journal.org/article/bipartisan-housing-bill-investors-single-family-homes?ref=readtangle.com) “The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act aims to cut red tape and encourage construction, with broad support from both parties. Unfortunately, lawmakers also appear to agree on an unhelpful idea: that large institutional investors are to blame for the housing shortage. This misdiagnosis will, if acted upon, discourage the construction of new rental homes and make the housing shortage worse,” Regan said. “The target of the policy is the growing build-to-rent sector — essentially the single-family equivalent of apartment complexes. In build-to-rent, a single investor owns a large number of single-family homes, all built with the explicit purpose of renting.” “Institutional investors — pension funds, real-estate investment trusts, and large asset managers — play a central role in financing these projects. Restricting their ability to own rental homes therefore risks choking off investment in a segment of the market that is actually adding supply,” Regan wrote. “Whereas smaller landlords tend to acquire existing properties to rent out, large investors frequently finance projects that add housing inventory. Many build-to-rent developments simply wouldn’t exist without institutional financing.” **In Blaze Media, Christopher Bedford suggested** [**“corporate America hates this housing bill for one reason.”**](https://www.theblaze.com/columns/opinion/corporate-america-hates-this-housing-bill-for-one-reason?ref=readtangle.com) “Private equity has targeted entry-level homes in fast-growing markets, paying cash and converting starter neighborhoods into permanent rental pools. The D.C. commentariat loves to point out that institutional ownership is ‘small’ nationally. That argument obscures the real numbers. The harm is local, concentrated, and immediate — exactly where young families are trying to buy,” Bedford said. “\[The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act is\] the first tiny step Congress has taken in years to confront inflated home prices and the corporate churn making starter homes harder to buy. It’s exactly the kind of policy populist conservatives have wanted for years.” “Corporate ownership of single-family homes isn’t a passing blip. It’s a growing problem — and one Congress can start clipping now,” Bedford wrote. “‘My administration,’ Trump declared in February, ‘will take decisive action to stop Wall Street from treating America’s neighborhoods like a trading floor and empower American families to own their homes.’ One bill won’t fix the housing market problem. But Congress can take a first step — and prove it still knows the difference between market orthodoxy and the American dream.” **In Cato, Norbert J. Michel and Jerome Famularo argued** [**“there’s no national housing affordability crisis.”**](https://www.cato.org/blog/dont-be-fooled-sticker-shock-theres-no-national-housing-affordability-crisis?ref=readtangle.com) “\[The ROAD to Housing Act\] is built around the assumption that the United States is experiencing a historically unprecedented housing affordability crisis… The evidence for that claim is far weaker than commonly suggested,” Michel and Famularo said. “Many Americans understandably look at rapidly rising home prices and conclude that housing has become dramatically less affordable. Some conventional metrics appear to reinforce this view. In particular, house price-to-income ratios have risen substantially over the past several decades. “But these measures often provide a misleading picture of affordability. For instance, simple price-to-income ratios ignore important changes in housing quality and size over time, as the typical American home has become substantially larger and more amenity-rich than in previous decades,” Michel and Famularo wrote. “High home prices may create sticker shock, but… measures tied to actual payment burdens and household balance sheets show no indication of a crisis.” ### What the left is saying. - **Many on the left view the bill as a win for progressive housing policy.** - **Some question a provision barring private equity from buying homes.** - **Others say the bill is a starting point, but future legislation must go further.** **In The American Prospect, Robert Kuttner praised** [**“Elizabeth Warren’s amazingly progressive housing bill.”**](https://prospect.org/2026/03/13/elizabeth-warrens-amazingly-progressive-housing-bill/?ref=readtangle.com) “The 303-page legislation creates new programs and federal money for housing construction, promotes manufactured housing, while streamlining zoning and permitting obstacles and improving access to mortgages. A key measure aimed at private equity prevents Wall Street from buying large numbers of single-family homes,” Kuttner said. “The substantive strategy of one part regulatory constraints on predatory landlords, one part new federal housing money, and one part eased zoning and other bureaucratic restrictions also perfectly chimed with the ‘Mamdani moment.’ As a fellow progressive, New York’s new mayor has embraced a very similar formula. This is leading from the left at its best.” “The value of this legislation is not just on the merits. It’s a reminder that a progressive form of bipartisanship is still possible, given leadership on the Democratic side, and it moves the public agenda in a progressive direction,” Kuttner wrote. “Developer and private equity groups have been frantically working key House leaders to water it down. But given broad Republican support for the Senate version, most key provisions are likely to survive intact.” **In Vox, Eric Levitz suggested** [**“the crackdown on corporate landlords just got more counterproductive.”**](https://www.vox.com/politics/482868/elizabeth-warren-corporate-landlord-wall-street-ban-housing-bill?ref=readtangle.com) “\[The bill\] would, among other things, erode regulatory obstacles to homebuilding and encourage investment in affordable housing. The bill’s Democratic co-sponsor, Elizabeth Warren, deserves credit for advancing these worthy causes,” Levitz said. “And yet, this legislation also includes a provision that would actually reduce the supply of housing, increase residential segregation, and mandate mass displacement — all to prevent ‘private equity’ from building too many houses. Put differently, the policy would make housing in the United States less affordable for working-class Americans — and less profitable for large corporations.” “Corporations do not buy houses to burn them down, but rather, to rent them out. Thus, whenever institutional investment subtracts a home from the buyers’ market, it generally adds one to the rental market. Partly for this reason, corporate investment in single-family homes tends to reduce rents,” Levitz wrote. “In this way, institutional investment in existing homes presents a trade-off: It makes rental housing marginally more affordable, while pushing home prices marginally higher. If one’s primary concern is minimizing the number of Americans who cannot afford housing, this is a decent swap: Americans who can’t qualify for a mortgage are more likely to be cost-burdened than prospective homebuyers.” **In The Los Angeles Times, Carlos Fernando Avenancio-León said** [**“expanding \[housing\] access isn’t enough.”**](https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2026-05-28/americas-affordable-housing-crisis?ref=readtangle.com) “\[The bill is\] one of the most ambitious housing packages in decades. Much of the conversation has centered, understandably, on supply: how to build more homes, reduce shortages and expand access to ownership. That matters. But supply is only part of the problem,” Avenancio-León wrote. “Take California: In a state defined by severe housing shortages, extreme home prices and persistent racial gaps in homeownership, the challenge is not just helping families buy homes, but ensuring they can keep up with rising costs. Sustaining homeownership deserves the same attention as expanding access to it.” “The questions policymakers need to confront are not only about how to help people buy homes, but how to ensure those people can keep them without falling into financial distress. Too often, policymakers are laser-focused on the first half of the equation: expanding access. Our findings point to the other half, when ownership’s fixed costs, repair risks and cash-flow pressures begin to take their toll,” Avenancio-León said. “The bill gets some things right… But the larger risk is that a housing agenda focused mainly on supply and access will only address one facet of the problem.” ### My take. **Reminder: “My take” is a section where we give ourselves space to share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, don't unsubscribe. Write in by replying to this email, or** [**leave a comment**](https://www.readtangle.com/congress-bipartisan-housing-bill/#ghost-comments-root)**.** - **I’m not sure this bill is really necessary, and its provisions are a mixed bag.** - **I don’t think federal legislation is going to solve the housing affordability problems in most of the country, and banning institutional investors will actually be counterproductive.** - **Still, it’s remarkable that this bill passed with bipartisan support — especially under a Republican president.** **Executive Editor Isaac Saul:** I’ll be honest: I’m still trying to figure out if this bill should exist at all. Housing affordability is an undeniable issue, and a salient one for voters. Home prices went [up 60% between 2019 and 2025](https://privatebank.jpmorgan.com/nam/en/insights/markets-and-investing/tmt/a-shortage-of-supply-the-housing-market-explained?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=As%20of%20early%202025%2C%20prices%20are%20up%2060%25%20nationwide%20since%202019%2C%20and%20are%20still%20rising%20at%20a%20rate%20of%203.9%25%20year%2Dover%2Dyear%2C%20according%20to%20the%20S%26P%20CoreLogic%20Case%2DShiller%20U.S.%20National%20Home%20Price%20Index.) and are still rising, while renters across the country are feeling squeezed by throwing an increasingly large share of their income towards housing. This bill combines aspects of roughly 60 measures from across the political spectrum to try to tackle this issue. Yet the fundamental purpose of this bill is to solve a *national housing shortage*,which I’m not sure actually exists. What we have, more precisely, is an *affordable housing* shortage in *select regions of the country,* and *metropolitan areas* in particular. There is no housing shortage in [Decatur, Illinois](https://realestate.usnews.com/real-estate/articles/best-affordable-places-to-live-in-the-us?ref=readtangle.com#decatur:~:text=Decatur%20earned%20the%20top%20distinction%20thanks%20to%20its%20mixture%20of%20low%20cost%20of%20living%20and%20affordable%20housing%20costs.%20The%20city%E2%80%99s%20median%20rent%20is%20just%20%24570%2C%20and%20its%20median%20home%20value%20of%20%2489%2C855%20is%20the%20second%20lowest%20on%20this%20list%20%E2%80%93%20about%20a%20fourth%20of%20the%20national%20average%20of%20%24370%2C489.), even if there is one in Brooklyn, New York. If you want to live on $432/month, [you can](https://shagbark.substack.com/p/how-to-live-on-432-a-month-in-america). It just might mean living somewhere you don’t want to live, with fewer in-person career opportunities. That’s obviously not an attractive prospect for many people, but I think it should narrow our focus on defining *where* and *what kind* of new housing we want. In addition to the nuances of what a “housing shortage” actually means, some things Congress just can’t change. One reason homes are expensive right now is that interest rates were at or near 0% for the better part of the last 20 years, meaning that a lot of people are unwilling to sell their homes and lose their favorable mortgages, constricting supply. This seller’s constraint is just as big a problem as restrictions on home construction, if not larger. Also, the homes modern Americans want are increasingly large and feature-rich, making new builds more expensive than the homes our parents and grandparents sought out. And when you get into the details of this bill, I have a hard time sussing out whether or not it is a net win. I’m bullish on parts of it, skeptical of others, and I’m confident a few of its provisions are a net negative or distracting. I’m bullish on the proposals that make manufactured housing easier to build, speed up environmental reviews, and generally push to reward localities for fewer regulations. Federal law currently [defines](https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/42/5402?ref=readtangle.com) manufactured homes as not just manufactured offsite, but “transportable” and “built on a permanent chassis.” They currently cost about half as much per square foot as site-built homes, and this bill removes the chassis requirement, which could meaningfully expand where they are permitted. This is a genuine, clear-cut win. The bill would also make investing in public-welfare projects that provide affordable housing easier for banks, another win. Each of these lives at the intersection between the [Abundance left](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/28/what-is-abundance-liberalism?ref=readtangle.com) and the supply-side right, and we should all be encouraged when Congress shows us it can still do big, bold things with a bipartisan consensus. I’m far more skeptical of the [carrot-and-stick approach](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/6644/text/eas?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=%285%29%20HOUSING%20GROWTH%20IMPROVEMENT%20RATE.%E2%80%94The%20term%20%E2%80%9Chousing%20growth%20improvement%20rate%E2%80%9D%2C%20with%20respect%20to%20an%20eligible%20recipient%20and%20a%20fiscal%20year%2C%20means%20the%20quotient%20of%E2%80%94) of federal dollars going to local municipalities to build more and being cut for those that don’t. Supporters of this approach could point to a [2025 Goldman Sachs report](https://www.goldmansachs.com/insights/articles/the-outlook-for-us-housing-supply-and-affordability?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=The%20economists%20simulated,the%20researchers%20find.), which found that relaxing land-use regulations could add 2.5 million housing units over the next decade. But again: Where those houses are built, and at what price, matters far more than whether they are built at all. Congress has tried to address this by tying the entitlements in Section 106 to Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) recipients, which are cities with 50,000 or more people. This is a good way to target the bill, and other provisions — like the [$200 million innovation fund](https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/R48732?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=For%20this%20purpose%2C%20the%20section%20would%20authorize%20%24200%20million%20for%20each%20of%20FY2027%20through%20FY2031%2C%20to%20be%20adjusted%20for%20inflation.) — are competitive grant programs that probably won’t apply to places (particularly rural areas) without shortages. Yet the risk here is that the pork-barrel approach is going to encourage local leaders to act in ways that their constituents may not want and that may not be necessary. To put it differently: We need more density in urban and metropolitan areas with jobs, public transit, and office buildings; but what about places like Austin, Texas, which have already addressed their housing shortage and now [have too much supply](https://www.statesman.com/business/real-estate/article/austin-apartments-rent-concessions-22194209.php?ref=readtangle.com)? Should they be able to collect federal dollars to keep building even when [they don’t need to](https://www.pew.org/en/research-and-analysis/articles/2026/03/18/austins-surge-of-new-housing-construction-drove-down-rents?ref=readtangle.com)? A very possible outcome, to me, is that these federal dollars end up supporting housing where it isn’t needed, or that the kind of housing built in response isn’t the kind that’s in demand. The part of the bill I’m confident is a net negative is perhaps the one that’s driven most commentary: The ban on institutional investors. Managing Editor Ari Weitzman already [broke this down](https://www.readtangle.com/trumps-housing-affordability-proposals/#:~:text=Anytime%20I%20want,push%20up%20wages.%E2%80%9D) a few months ago, but the “corporations buying up housing” narrative is mostly a boogeyman. Institutional investors own just roughly 0.65% of single-family homes, according to most estimates, and the institutional investors who buy up build-to-rent developments are actually *easing* the housing crunch by converting unlivable properties into rentals. I get why blaming big corporations for everything is easy, especially if you see them buying up homes in your neighborhood or building massive developments next door. Yet, if they get pushed out of this market, our affordability problem probably gets worse, not better. The policy is popular politically, which is why Trump supports it, but it’s among the worst provisions here. One remarkable angle on this legislation is what it *doesn’t* do. The federal government is spending a lot of money, but it’s not sending any new funding towards affordable housing projects or to address higher construction and material costs. That’s largely due to *how* the bill was passed: Initially, it was an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). That means it had to be budget neutral, which could be read as a bit of Congressional spending restraint or a sign the bill has fewer teeth than it needs, depending on your lens. Perhaps the most remarkable thing about this housing bill is that it passed at all. Housing policy is a bit dry, so this is unlikely to dominate the X feeds of culture warriors who are busy posting about the Reflecting Pool. But in 10 years, we may look back on this as the most significant piece of legislation passed by Trump in his second term, and yet it *never* could have passed under a Democratic president, despite the fact it contains so many things Democrats have long sought. In fact, more Republicans than Democrats voted to oppose this bill, even though President Trump previously voiced his support for it. Some conservatives are already expressing their sense of betrayal about that — Blaze TV host Daniel Horowitz gave a [nearly hour-long monologue](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/conservative-review-with-daniel-horowitz/id1065050908?i=1000773922100&ref=readtangle.com) about how this bill represents the death knell of a bygone conservative movement, putting the blame squarely on the president (who is now promising not to sign the bill, even though it will become law with or without his signature). We won’t see the downstream impacts of this bill for years, but I’ll be watching for a few things: Where new housing will be built, what that housing actually costs, and what localities will do with the money they get from the honey pot. I’m excited to see a bipartisan, bicameral bill that will have real impact get across the finish line, but I’m still unsure what that impact will actually be. ****Staff dissent — Managing Editor Ari Weitzman:** To borrow Isaac’s bullish/skeptical framing, I’m bullish on this bill — all of it. Even though I share the skepticism (that he shares with me) about the impact of institutional investors, I think the bill is crafted rather well to incentivize the localities that receive housing funding to do what they said they would without over-applying to areas that don’t receive or need funding. I also think avoiding any action on “affordable housing” is smart, since legislating on a definitionally relativistic term is troublesome. It’s the wonkish Warren at her best, and I’m optimistic that ten years or so after the law takes effect, it will have contributed to improved affordability in the desired areas. **Take the survey:** What do you think of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act? [Let us know](https://interrobang.vercel.app/survey/ecb75e1a-6463-4cf7-a87c-907624c78379?ref=readtangle.com). *Disagree? That's okay. Our opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we'll consider publishing your feedback.* ### Your questions, answered. **Q: Can you please explain Tulsi Gabbard’s released documents and claims about the Covid-19 origin? And what is the relationship to the report on this guru? I’m pretty confused about this and my partner is supporting the claims but I haven’t seen any good credible sources back this up.** **— Anonymous from Alexandria, VA** **Tangle:** Tulsi Gabbard [announced her resignation](https://www.readtangle.com/tulsi-gabbard-dni-resigns/) as director of national intelligence in May, saying that she needed to spend more time supporting her husband as he battled a rare form of cancer. These two unrelated stories broke on her way out the door. Gabbard has [long supported](https://www.politico.com/news/2025/05/01/gabbard-00322598?ref=readtangle.com) the “lab-leak theory” of Covid’s origins. On June 18, she [declassified](https://www.newsweek.com/tulsi-gabbard-drops-documents-she-says-relate-to-covid-fauci-view-in-full-12094073?ref=readtangle.com) documents supporting the claim that Dr. Anthony Fauci oversaw funding that supported coronavirus research involving bat viruses at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, then lied to Congress about his role. The documents show intelligence officials debating Fauci’s suggestions on which virologists to consult while investigating the lab-leak theory before deferring to his recommendations. This supports the claim that Fauci guided intelligence officials toward experts more skeptical of the lab-leak theory, but it doesn’t support Gabbard’s claims of a cover-up. Fauci has not commented on the allegations, but he has [previously denied](https://wgme.com/news/nation-world/gabbard-drops-trove-of-files-before-leaving-office-covid-19-fauci-alleged-involvement-congress-taxpayer-dollars?ref=readtangle.com) claims that he misrepresented the government’s relationship with the Wuhan lab or covered anything up. Fauci did, however, say under oath in 2024 testimony to Congress that he did not, “to my knowledge,” speak to intelligence officials about viral research; the documents Gabbard declassified [directly contradict](https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/national-security/4616199/gabbard-accuses-fauci-of-steering-spy-agencies-away-from-lab-leak-theory/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=During%20his%20testimony%2C%20Fauci%20was%20repeatedly%20asked%20whether%20he%20had%20spoken%20to%20the%20FBI%2C%20CIA%2C%20or%20other%20intelligence%20agencies%20concerning%20viral%20research.%20He%20consistently%20replied%2C%20%E2%80%9Cnot%20to%20my%20knowledge%20about%20COVID%2C%E2%80%9D%20which%20is%20contrary%20to%20the%20evidence%20released%20by%20both%20Gabbard%20and%20Paul.) that testimony. As for the “guru” story, on Sunday, The Washington Post [published](https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/2026/06/21/tulsi-gabbard-her-guru-mysterious-messages-that-helped-shape-her-political-career/?ref=readtangle.com) a story about Gabbard’s relationship with Chris Butler, an eccentric religious leader described as her guru and the leader of a breakaway Hare Krishna group (the Science of Identity Foundation) that some ex-members have described as a “cult.” According to the report, Butler closely managed Gabbard’s public statements while she was a member of Congress, and she at times quoted his talking points to reporters nearly verbatim. Gabbard has not commented on the story, but her spokesperson has [denied](https://newrepublic.com/post/212148/team-trump-explosive-tulsi-gabbard-cult-revelations-washington-post-chris-butler?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=On%20her%20last%20days%20in%20office%2C%20a%20spokesperson%20gave%20a%20statement%3A%20%E2%80%9CThe%20attacks%20on%20Director%20Gabbard%E2%80%99s%20faith%20and%20loyalty%20are%20not%20only%20false%E2%80%94they%20are%20a%20blatant%20example%20of%20anti%2DHindu%20bigotry.%E2%80%9D) the reports, claiming they were an example of “anti-Hindu bigotry.” **Want to have a question answered in the newsletter? You can reply to this email (it goes straight to our inbox) or** [**fill out this form**](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScQhqBSG%5F6%5FoBhwcTQMeS570n29XYbeQ9C9Bis7rjqI31g1tA/viewform?usp=header&ref=readtangle.com)**.** ### This day in history. ![Saint John’s Dancers in Molenbeeck, by Pieter Brueghel II | Wikimedia Commons](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/06/data-src-image-85aa099f-8e49-4136-bc82-037f0bee858d.png) **Saint John’s Dancers in Molenbeeck*, by Pieter Brueghel II | [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Saint%5FJohn%E2%80%99s%5FDancers%5Fin%5FMolenbeeck%E2%80%99%5F%281592%29%5Fby%5FPieter%5FBrueghel%5FII.jpg?ref=readtangle.com) On June 24, 1374, the townsfolk of Aachen, in modern-day Germany, [gathered](https://www.britannica.com/today-in-history/June-24-1374-Dancing-Plague-of-Aachen?ref=readtangle.com) in the streets, joined hands, and began to dance — and dance, and dance, and dance, and dance. They danced for days on end, twirling, whirling, screaming and shouting, even as their bodies showed signs of injury, until finally the participants collapsed from exhaustion. The outbreak of dancing soon spread up the Rhine River, into France and the Netherlands, frightening priests, merchants, and neighbors who hadn’t succumbed to the dancing mania. The outbreak became known as “St. John’s Dance” because it began on the Feast of St. John. Though the 1374 outbreak subsided after a few months, it was neither the first nor last episode of “choreomania” in medieval Europe. Choreomania outbreaks are well documented by medieval authors and public records, and many theories have been advanced to explain the phenomenon. In the Middle Ages, some believed the dancers to be victims of demonic possession; others thought spider bites caused the frenzy. More recently, some scientists have theorized that [ergotism](https://asm.org/articles/2018/november/from-poisoning-to-pharmacy-a-tale-of-two-ergots?src=longreads&ref=readtangle.com) — a poisoning known to cause hallucinations, brought on by eating rye infected with a certain fungus — was the culprit. However, those theories don’t account for the spread, timing, or full symptoms of the afflicted. Some historians and psychologists believe instead that the dancing contagion was a psychological phenomenon, a sort of [mass hysteria](https://www.bps.org.uk/psychologist/dancing-plagues-and-mass-hysteria?ref=readtangle.com) brought on by depression and fear in the aftermath of the bubonic plague, but choreomania’s cause (or causes) remain a mystery. In partnership with Ground News ****FYI**: Today’s newsletter is sponsored by ****Ground News**, one of my go-to tools for [seeing the whole media picture](http://groundnews.com/tangle?ref=readtangle.com) instead of one slice of it. It lines up reporting from across the spectrum on a single story and surfaces what’s getting outsized attention, or no attention at all. Their Blindspot Report is an easy way to widen your view. Tangle readers [get 40% off a ****Ground News**](http://groundnews.com/tangle?ref=readtangle.com) Vantage subscription. [Get 40% off Ground News ](http://groundnews.com/tangle?ref=readtangle.com) ### Numbers. - [**42 and 41.**](https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll%5Fcall%5Fvotes/vote1192/vote%5F119%5F2%5F00182.htm?ref=readtangle.com#top:~:text=Grouped%20By%20Vote%20Position%C2%A0) The number of Republican and Democratic senators, respectively, who voted in favor of the housing bill. - [**$275,300.**](https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/ASPUS?ref=readtangle.com) The average price of houses sold in the United States in the first quarter of 2010\. - [**$514,600.**](https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/ASPUS?ref=readtangle.com) The average price of houses sold in the United States in the first quarter of 2026. - [**29% and 43%.**](https://www.atlantafed.org/research-and-data/data/home-ownership-affordability-monitor?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=current%20interest%20rate.-,National%20View,-The%20National%20View) The percent share of median income that went toward homeownership costs in April of 2010 and 2026, respectively. - [**21,000,000.**](https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2024/renter-households-cost-burdened-race.html?ref=readtangle.com) The approximate number of renter households that spent more than 30% of their income on housing in 2023\. - [**3,000,000.**](https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2026/02/04/us-housing-shortage-millions/?ref=readtangle.com) The estimated number of homes needed to resolve the housing shortage, according to Goldman Sachs. - [**8,000,000.**](https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2026/02/04/us-housing-shortage-millions/?ref=readtangle.com) The estimated number of homes needed to resolve the housing shortage, according to McKinsey. ### The extras. - **One year ago today** we wrote about [transgender healthcare before the Supreme Court](https://www.readtangle.com/trans-teens-sb1-tennessee-and-the-supreme-court/). - **The most clicked link in our last regular newsletter** was [the housing affordability bill](https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5935003-housing-affordability-bill-senate/?ref=readtangle.com). - **Nothing to do with politics:** [What is “burrowcore,”](https://www.housebeautiful.com/design-inspiration/a71486387/burrowcore-home-trend/?ref=readtangle.com) and why is it taking off? - **Our last survey:** 3,010 readers responded to our survey asking how far a democratic socialist is likely to advance in the 2028 presidential race with 50% saying one will be a top Democratic contender. “I think the U.S.A. is more than ready for a major change… the DSA could just be the answer,” one respondent said. “I’m a lifelong Democrat, but I would vote Republican before a Democratic Socialist as long as that party is married to antisemitism,” said another. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/06/data-src-image-0a4d2c8e-aac2-401c-a14a-c9dfb031283a.png) ### Have a nice day. It took one Sumatran Orangutan exactly 60 seconds to make history. Orangutans are a highly endangered species, and when a road through their habitat in North Sumatra, Indonesia, made survival even more difficult, conservationists installed a special bridge for wildlife in 2024\. Members of the Sumatran Orangutan Society (SOS) have been monitoring the area ever since, hoping an orangutan would use their forest-canopy crossing. In the first video ever recorded of the species crossing a wildlife bridge, a young male orangutan puts one foot after another on a human-made, woven structure, using the rope handrail above him. “You should have heard the cries of delight from the team,” Helen Buckland, SOS chief executive, said. “After two long years, it’s finally happened.” [The Guardian has the story](https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/apr/25/first-footage-endangered-sumatran-orangutan-using-canopy-bridge-cross-road-hope-species-aoe?ref=readtangle.com) (and video). ### Democratic socialists headline races across the country. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/democratic-socialists-2026-elections/ Last updated: 2026-06-23T15:46:56.000Z Happy Tuesday — glad you’re here. This is Senior Editor **Will Kaback**, gearing up to discuss a topic that’s more personal than I typically write about. If you’ve been reading the news closely over the past few weeks, you might have seen the phrase “democratic socialist candidate” more than usual. It’s not just Bernie, AOC or Zohran Mamdani, either. Political hopefuls associated with the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) have been rising in the polls — or winning primaries outright — generating a flurry of commentary about **whether the Democratic Party is in the midst of a leftward swing**. Today, we’re going to look at some of those recent races and what they tell us about the political ecosystem heading into the midterms. I also write a bit about my own political evolution and how it influences my thoughts on DSA. With an under-the-radar story on **fentanyl in New Mexico** that shocked the Tangle editors, it’s a **13-minute read**. ### A conversation with Tim Urban. Why are otherwise intelligent people unable to resist falling into echo chambers, and how do some get out? That’s what Executive Editor Isaac Saul recently discussed with Tim Urban, the creator of [Wait But Why](https://waitbutwhy.com/?ref=readtangle.com) and author of the book *What’s Our Problem? A Self-Help Book for Societies.* The conversation flows from there, covering the information ecosystem, artificial intelligence, and the future of journalism. Check it out [here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=%5F4So-9KHpi0&ref=readtangle.com)! ### Quick hits. 1. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced that the Trump administration will lift sanctions on Iranian oil exports for 60 days, citing progress in peace discussions. Vice President JD Vance also said that Iran had agreed to allow United Nations inspectors to visit its nuclear facilities, but Iran said “no new commitments” had been made. ([The updates](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/22/world/middleeast/us-iran-oil-sanctions.html?ref=readtangle.com)) 2. The Senate voted 85–5 to pass a bill targeting housing affordability. The bill now heads to the House, where it is expected to pass. ([The bill](https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5935003-housing-affordability-bill-senate/?ref=readtangle.com)) 3. Former Federal Reserve Chair Alan Greenspan passed away at 100\. Greenspan served five terms as chair under four presidents. ([The passing](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/obituaries/alan-greenspan-economist-longtime-head-federal-reserve-dies-100-rcna42286?ref=readtangle.com)) 4. A federal judge blocked the Trump administration from creating a federal database of voter information — including Social Security numbers and citizenship status — as part of a crackdown on alleged noncitizen voting. ([The ruling](https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/5934681-trump-database-blocked-judge/?ref=readtangle.com)) 5. Florida’s Emergency Management director reportedly instructed contractors in the state to begin a “full demobilization” of the immigration detention facility known as Alligator Alcatraz, formally shutting down operations at the center. ([The shutdown](https://www.cbsnews.com/miami/news/florida-alligator-alcatraz-closing/?ref=readtangle.com)) Today's Partner: The Pour over ****News without the Chaos** The news has been extra chaotic lately. If headlines have been overwhelming more than usual, you’re not alone — but it doesn’t have to be that way. There’s a better way. [****The Pour Over**](https://chaos.thepourover.org/?utm%5Fsource=tangle&utm%5Fmedium=newsletter&utm%5Fcampaign=june23) delivers the biggest news stories in under 5 minutes, with brief biblical reminders to keep you grounded in what matters most: the Good News. Because staying informed shouldn’t cost you your peace. [Join 1.5M Christians](https://chaos.thepourover.org/?utm%5Fsource=tangle&utm%5Fmedium=newsletter&utm%5Fcampaign=june23) already reclaiming their peace with ****The Pour Over**. It’s free. P.S. ****The Pour Over’s** not just hopeful, it’s also funny… sometimes. Get their welcome email, and if you don’t smile, they’ll send you a full refund (which is $0, because TPO’s always free). ### Today’s topic. Democratic socialists’ surge. Ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, candidates aligned with the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) have [broken through](https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/5932183-democratic-socialists-dsa-political-change/?ref=readtangle.com) in primary races for local and national seats. Headlined by figures like Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), democratic-socialist candidates have challenged incumbents in strongly Democratic areas, seeking to pull the party toward more progressive positions on key issues. **Back up:** Democratic socialists believe in the political philosophy of socialism, which holds that the state should redistribute wealth and take an active role in societal issues. Unlike socialists or communists, democratic socialists advocate for these goals through the democratic process rather than revolution. DSA [traces](https://www.dsausa.org/about-us/history/?ref=readtangle.com) its origins to the early 1970s, when its leaders organized in opposition to the Vietnam War and, later, the rise of Ronald Reagan. Today, DSA [describes](https://www.dsausa.org/about-us/what-is-democratic-socialism/?ref=readtangle.com) its mission as replacing capitalism with a democratic socialist system, exemplified by policies such as single-payer Medicare for All, defunding the police, and [the Green New Deal](https://ecosocialists.dsausa.org/the-gnd-now-theory-and-praxis/?ref=readtangle.com). In addition to Ocasio-Cortez, Tlaib and Sanders, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D) has emerged as one of the faces of DSA in the United States. Mamdani [defeated](https://www.readtangle.com/a-political-shockwave-in-new-york-city/) former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo in the city’s mayoral primary last year, then defeated him again (when Cuomo ran as an independent) in the general election. Since then, Mamdani has [endorsed](https://www.politico.com/news/2026/06/17/the-democratic-socialists-of-america-are-leaving-it-all-on-the-field-in-nyc-00961200?ref=readtangle.com) DSA candidates in local and federal elections in New York City, including Claire Valdez and Darializa Avila Chevalier, who is challenging a five-term incumbent Democrat in New York’s 13th congressional district primary this Tuesday. Separately, last Thursday, DSA-endorsed Janeese Lewis George [won](https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2026/06/18/kenyan-mcduffie-concedes-janeese-lewis-george-dc-mayoral-primary/?ref=readtangle.com) the Democratic primary for mayor of Washington, D.C., making her the presumptive favorite to win the general election in the heavily Democratic city. Lewis George won the primary by over 18 points, with particularly strong results at polling sites where over 60% of the population is under 35 years old. The week prior, President Donald Trump [said](https://www.nbcwashington.com/decision-2026/attack-on-democracy-trump-threatens-dc-home-rule-pending-mayoral-election/4115665/?ref=readtangle.com) the federal government may intervene in Washington, D.C.’s operations if Lewis George becomes mayor. Elsewhere, in the Los Angeles mayoral election, DSA City Councilmember Nithya Raman [advanced](https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2026/us/elections/results-california-mayor-los-angeles.html?ref=readtangle.com) to a runoff against Mayor Karen Bass, setting up a general election race between the progressive challenger and the incumbent Democrat. In Maine, Graham Platner, a progressive Democrat who previously aligned himself with DSA, recently won the state’s Democratic Senate primary. Today, we’ll explore the rise of DSA and DSA-aligned candidates in the United States, with views from the left and right. Then, Senior Editor Will Kaback gives his take. ### What the left is saying. - **Many on the left suggest Democrats should embrace new candidates.** - **Some argue that socialist policies will continue to be popular among urban constituencies.** - **Others warn that far-left candidates can’t successfully run in competitive races.** **In The New York Times, Matthew Yglesias argued** [**“the Democrats need a candidate shake-up.”**](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/17/opinion/democrats-platner-osborn-daniel-moraff.html?ref=readtangle.com) “The 2024 elections showed that the party is simply not large enough to command a majority of the country,” Yglesias wrote. “Building a newer and hopefully larger tent requires a different set of skills, more willingness to jeopardize parts of the existing coalition, more outsider personnel and ultimately someone willing to run the kind of risky underdog campaigns that put Donald Trump and Barack Obama in the White House.” “Rebuilding the party and bringing in new people, with less investment in things as they are, will help the party decide what it is about — which policy commitments are genuinely central and which merit flexibility or abandonment,” Yglesias said. “Moving in the direction of fresher faces is going to necessarily mean more ideological conflict rather than less. The process will be contentious and will make existing party leaders uncomfortable.” **In The American Prospect, Harold Meyerson described** [**“why cities go socialist.”**](https://prospect.org/2026/06/19/why-cities-go-socialist-zohran-mamdani-janeese-lewis-george-nithya-raman/?ref=readtangle.com) “Mamdani’s, Lewis George’s, and Raman’s political base isn’t confined to DSA members,” Meyerson wrote. “The two issues that both Mamdani and Lewis George most stressed were making child care and homes affordable: issues that all but define the politics of young city residents, issues that highlight the market failures of current American capitalism and the need for higher taxes on the wealthy to provide badly needed social necessities. “Which is why the future of most American big cities — most certainly, those that attract younger residents — is likely to be social democratic and often run by avowed socialists,” Meyerson said. “The Bernies, Mamdanis, and AOCs won’t be the Democratic Party’s lonesome ends; they’ll be the party’s urban wing. The sooner the Democrats understand that — and the sooner they embrace many of that wing’s policies, however they choose to label them (and themselves) — the better.” **In CNN, Ronald Brownstein said this year’s primaries** [**“are reshaping the Democratic party.”**](https://www.cnn.com/2026/06/21/politics/democratic-primary-election-new-york-mamdani-platner-analysis?ref=readtangle.com) “The struggle over control of the Democratic Party’s direction has roared to new heights this year… These confrontations have not produced a knockout victory for either side,” Brownstein wrote. “On balance, though, the left so far has outpointed the center in these contests — an advantage it could widen if several Mamdani-endorsed congressional candidates win in New York, as is expected… But Democratic centrists correctly point out that a significant majority of the successful progressive primary candidates are winning in safely Democratic areas.” “In the competitive seats that will decide control of the House and Senate, the party still largely relies on moderate nominees. And for those candidates, the left’s rise even in safe seats could prove an unwelcome complication,” Brownstein said. “In reliably blue places, Democratic primary voters can support the most liberal candidates without worrying if they will win the general election… In the races that count most, electability remains likely to trump ideology.” ### What the right is saying. - **Many on the right are concerned about DSA candidates’ growing influence.** - **Some predict that support for progressive politicians will wane once they start governing.** - **Others say socialist policies don’t work without force.** **In The Daily Signal, Jarrett Stepman suggested the Democratic base wants** [**“full-throated leftism.”**](https://www.dailysignal.com/2026/06/21/socialist-wave-crashing-america-big-blue-cities-socialist/?ref=readtangle.com) “Democrats are quickly moving away from denying their socialist connections to openly embracing them. That’s a lesson to be learned from a clear trend taking hold in America’s most populous, blue bastions,” Stepman wrote. “The Democratic Party has lurched so far to the Left that in its most secure bastions it’s being taken over by open socialists and Marxists. And there seems to be little resistance… They are using the enthusiasm and organization of groups like the Democratic Socialists of America to outhustle and replace the old party establishment. “And so far, it’s working, at least in places that Democrats already comfortably control. They are now going to lean into ideas like wealth and property confiscation, into the concept of borderless society that rejects any kind of immigration law enforcement, into many of the radical ideas that the party may have wished for but shrewdly kept quiet about,” Stepman said. “If this trend continues, they soon won’t be the insurgents anymore. They’ll be the establishment. They’ll have the control of a national party with a very clear goal of finally bringing socialism to every corner of the country.” **In The Washington Post, Megan McArdle said** [**“wait for reality to set in.”**](https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2026/06/21/americas-new-socialist-mayors-face-grim-fiscal-reality/?ref=readtangle.com) “It is a heady moment for the left, because socialism’s tainted brand has recovered from the vivid failures of the Soviet Union,” McArdle wrote. “The challenge is that socialism’s rise is spiky, concentrated in blue cities where affluent (but often downwardly mobile) college graduates cluster. That’s a problem for the Democratic Party, where the excesses of progressive governance are helping to make the party’s brand toxic in the less true-blue areas. “But it’s also a challenge for the socialists, because cities are the hardest place to execute big plans for new taxing and spending,” McArdle said. “Socialists may wax lyrical about a Nordic-style welfare state, but those states are paid for by heavily taxing the middle class, an idea that is unlikely to gain much purchase with the educated base of the Democratic Socialists of America; today’s college-educated elite is voting for more public services, not less disposable income.” **In The Hill, Emzari Gelashvili argued** [**“most Democrats are frighteningly wrong about \[socialism\].”**](https://thehill.com/opinion/international/5925944-socialism-deportation-soviet-tragedy/?ref=readtangle.com) “At protests across American cities, demonstrators have carried Soviet flags, the hammer and sickle on red cloth, as symbols of resistance,” Gelashvili wrote. “I am not going to answer them with statistics or economic theory. I will instead tell them my family’s story. In February 1951, \[my grandfather’s\] family was loaded onto a cattle car with hundreds of others. Many people were beaten with rifle butts… A young man, maddened by thirst, at one point jumped from his wagon to reach water from a stream — soldiers shot him on the spot.” “Most Americans associate the word ‘socialism’ with equality and government services — not with deportation lists, sealed cattle wagons, or children hauling earth until they die of heat,” Gelashvili said. “But socialism, in practice, does not work without force and brutality, even if you give it nice adjectives like ‘democratic.’ Socialism is not really a policy or an economic system. It is not Scandinavia. It is a machine whose only function is to destroy anyone sufficiently capable, principled or stubborn enough to threaten those who operate it. It does this legally, bureaucratically and, when necessary, with bullets.” ### My take. **Reminder: “My take” is a section where we give ourselves space to share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, don**’**t unsubscribe. Write in by replying to this email, or** [**leave a comment**](https://www.readtangle.com/democratic-socialists-2026-elections/#ghost-comments-root)**.** - **I understand why this new crop of candidates promising radical change is exciting voters.** - **The rise of democratic socialism is both a product of and a response to the MAGA movement.** - **I’m unsure whether DSA can keep building its influence, but we’ll find out soon.** **Senior Editor Will Kaback:** Ten years ago, I would have proudly told anyone who would listen that I was a democratic socialist. Allow me to take you back: One wintry Midwestern afternoon in January 2016, when I was a senior in high school, I was riding in the back of a coach bus rumbling along I-35 from Minneapolis to Des Moines, chattering away with my politically inclined classmates. We were participating in a school program that brought interested students to the Iowa caucuses in presidential election years. For three days, we canvassed for a candidate of our choice, attended rallies for Democratic and Republican candidates, and observed the proceedings on caucus night. I chose to spend my time with the Bernie Sanders campaign. By happenstance, reporter Ruth Marcus chose to follow my group for a story while we door-knocked, and [a picture of my classmates and me](https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/at-ground-level-in-iowa-the-holes-in-the-caucus-system-stand-out/2016/01/31/369d358c-c833-11e5-88ff-e2d1b4289c2f%5Fstory.html?ref=readtangle.com) lived above the fold of The Washington Post’s homepage when her article published. It was all very cool. Coolest of all for me was the chance to get out the vote for Bernie. For months leading up to the trip, I had become enamored with the Vermont senator and his calls for reducing wealth inequality, reforming the healthcare system, and pursuing more aggressive strategies to combat climate change. I also liked that he unapologetically called himself a democratic socialist, and I thought people who viewed that label negatively just didn’t understand what it really meant. *It doesn’t mean, like, “socialism” socialism,* I’d say. *It’s just about electing people who want things to be fairer for everyone.* On caucus night, I was in the front row at Sanders’s rally and shook his hand after he spoke, full of hope that this moment was the start of bigger things to come. ![Will with Sen. Bernie Sanders at a rally on February 1, 2016 | Credit: Will Kaback](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/06/data-src-image-f1ab89bf-1ec5-4b7b-b5ff-97b839dbc0b8.jpeg) Will with Sen. Bernie Sanders at a rally on February 1, 2016 | Credit: Will Kaback Today, I no longer see myself as part of the movement, and I’m a lot less assured in my political views than I was back in high school. Still, I understand the draw of democratic socialists popping up across the U.S. For many voters, particularly younger ones, “socialism” isn’t the boogeyman it used to be — in fact, many [prefer it](https://www.axios.com/2025/11/01/socialism-capitalism-college-voters?ref=readtangle.com) to capitalism. Plus, the past year offers plenty for them to be excited about. Aside from Bernie’s enduring influence, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is [a likely 2028 presidential contender](https://www.axios.com/2026/05/24/aoc-takes-more-steps-toward-2028-run-for-president?ref=readtangle.com), Zohran Mamdani is confidently leading New York City, and, in just the past few weeks, democratic-socialist candidates have excelled in primaries in Los Angeles and D.C. In contemporary U.S. politics, once “disqualifying” labels matter less than ever. Branding President Trump a felon did nothing to stop him from winning reelection. Graham Platner (D) and Ken Paxton (R) just won high-profile Senate primaries despite well publicized and wide-ranging controversies. This dynamic, paired with contempt for the second Trump administration and dissatisfaction (or outright disgust) with mainstream Democrats’ response to it, has created fertile ground for democratic socialists to gain a foothold. Is DSA a response to the MAGA movement? Yes and no. The two movements have undeniable similarities. Both are, at root, economic populist movements. Both seize on an anti-establishment framing — “the swamp” and “globalists” on one side, “the billionaire class” and “corporate elites” on the other. Both have effectively leveraged simple, repeatable phrases to galvanize their bases — “Build the wall,” “America first,” “Medicare for All,” “tax the rich,” and so on. Both frame their movements in binary terms — patriots vs. traitors, or workers vs. billionaires. And both enjoy a certain zeal in taking on institutions once viewed as political power brokers — the media, the experts, the national party leadership. The differences, of course, are stark. MAGA sees most issues through a national identity lens, while democratic socialists filter their worldview through class and equity. Additionally, while the movement may have borrowed some of MAGA’s playbook (or vice versa), it is ultimately working toward very different goals. And perhaps most saliently, democratic socialism is not defined by a single political leader but rather a nationwide network of candidates at all levels of government. All of this leaves me conflicted when assessing DSA’s trajectory in this political moment. On one hand, we need to be careful not to extrapolate our sense of the national mood from the results of local elections in deep-blue areas. Candidates like Darializa Avila Chevalier and Claire Valdez in New York City haven’t even secured nominations yet, while Nithya Raman is still an underdog against Karen Bass in Los Angeles. New York City and Seattle have democratic socialist mayors (with Washington, D.C. almost certainly soon to follow), but these are places where more progressive candidates already succeed. And as Megan McArdle noted (under “What the right is saying”), politicians are often forced to trade idealism for pragmatism once they have power, which can lead to disillusionment and infighting within movements that prize ideological purity. On the other hand, these urban centers are the most populous places in the country, and millions of people rallying around these politicians could represent the early signs of an earnest political shift. The Democratic Party appears ripe for a shakeup, and DSA candidates’ messaging seems to be resonating with the party’s most engaged voters, particularly on immigration, Israel, and healthcare. Here, again, the MAGA movement is instructive. How many Republican politicians felt a false sense of security headed into 2016, thinking GOP voters would never roll the dice on someone as risky as Trump? I get the sense that Democratic voters are equally dissatisfied with their party leadership as Republicans were in 2016, and they’re happy to look elsewhere, “electability” be damned. Take Graham Platner, who isn’t DSA but whose messaging is similar. I’ve spoken with several friends in Maine who said they happily cast a Democratic primary ballot for the embattled oyster farmer because they think he can provide a necessary jolt to a system they feel is increasingly [overrun with corruption](https://www.readtangle.com/the-everything-everywhere-all-at-once-corruption-story/) and controlled by elderly lawmakers [clinging to power](https://www.nbcnews.com/data-graphics/congress-age-2025-third-oldest-us-history-rcna185742?ref=readtangle.com). I can understand that position. But like I said, I’m conflicted. A part of me — that 18-year-old self — hungers for something, anything new on the left. Another part — call it my Tangle brain — thinks that the democratic-socialist movement isn’t representing something new, but a continuation of a form of ideologically rigid politics that has contributed to our current divisions and won’t help us get back on track. Those dueling feelings also suggest two potential pathways for DSA candidates in the coming months. In the first, the movement continues gaining momentum, with bold ideas on housing, in particular, bringing broader attention and support. In New York City, Mamdani has [released a plan](https://www.nyc.gov/mayors-office/news/2026/05/mayor-mamdani-releases--block-by-block--the-housing-plan-for-a-n?ref=readtangle.com) to build 200,000 new homes in the next decade, and Valdez, his potential ally in Congress, has [put forward proposals](https://clairevaldezforcongress.com/issues/memo/housing?ref=readtangle.com) to create a federal housing developer and a national housing construction fund. These aren’t overnight solutions, but they strike me as the kind of bold thinking that could garner attention and support. If DSA becomes associated with housing policy reform in the way that MAGA became associated with stronger immigration enforcement, its candidates could gain traction beyond blue cities. Again, labels matter less than ever, and voters might not care about the democratic socialist tag if they think a candidate has good ideas on housing affordability. In 2016, Trump’s huge rally turnouts and polling strength in early primary states were harbingers of his eventual success. Right now, Sanders and AOC are drawing large crowds of their own in their “Fighting Oligarchy” tour — [and](https://www.fox13now.com/news/politics/sanders-ocasio-cortez-speak-to-sold-out-huntsman-center?ref=readtangle.com) not [just](https://sourcenm.com/2025/02/23/overflow-omaha-crowd-launches-u-s-sen-bernie-sanders-fighting-oligarchy-tour/?ref=readtangle.com) in big Democratic cities. The turnout for these large-scale gatherings is another signal to pay attention to. Pathway two is what I might call the “woke” trap. DSA and its candidates unabashedly embrace progressive social policies like transgender rights, police reform, and abolishing ICE. At the national level, voters [appeared to reject](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/13/us/politics/democrats-transgender-rights.html?eafs%5Fenabled=false&ref=readtangle.com) those policies in 2024, and I don’t think much has changed since then. Even with the unpopularity of the Trump administration, I don’t see evidence of a national appetite for this kind of social progressivism. Just look at how James Talarico is [trying to distance himself](https://abcnews.com/Politics/talarico-walks-back-comments-religion-gender-after-paxtons/story?id=133361405&ref=readtangle.com) from 2020-era comments about religion and gender in the Texas Senate race. These candidates won’t be able to sell their economic vision if they’re constantly having to account for their social views. Furthermore, the organization is constantly preoccupied with internal disputes and ideological purity tests. Just look at how AOC — the most promising DSA politician in the country — has been forced to [fend off attacks](https://www.dsausa.org/blog/ocasio-cortez-is-committed-to-the-democratic-party-not-dsa/?ref=readtangle.com) from some within the organization who see her as “selling out” for the mainstream. Ultimately, the DSA movement has to win elections to remain relevant, and I’m not convinced they’re serious enough about making strategic compromises to succeed at the national level. The 2026 midterms haven’t happened yet, but they’re fast approaching, and we’ll soon have a clearer picture of where DSA stands. Republicans unlocked their populist moment 10 years ago, and the conditions today are ripe for an equal and opposite reaction from the other side of the aisle. Over the next few months, we’ll better understand whether the Mamdanis and Ramans were canaries in the coal mine, or deep-blue outliers. **Take the survey:** Do you think a democratic socialist could be a viable presidential candidate in 2028? [Let us know](https://interrobang.vercel.app/survey/f23d9012-09ca-4143-b9e6-a09e4c79249c?ref=readtangle.com). *Disagree? That's okay. Our opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we'll consider publishing your feedback.* ### Under the radar. Between 2023 and 2025, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) allowed hundreds of thousands of fentanyl pills to enter New Mexico despite surveilling the shipments, according to a recent investigation by The Associated Press. Current and former agents said the lack of seizure was part of a tactic to bring bigger criminal cases against fentanyl traffickers in the state. The DEA responded to the allegations in a statement, saying, “the investigative decisions at issue were lawful, reasonable under the circumstances and consistent with Department guidance.” The investigation also unearthed changes made to the DEA’s fentanyl policy in 2024 that gave agents more discretion in deciding whether to seize pills or preserve an investigation. That same year, the Justice Department’s Office of Professional Responsibility found that the DEA and the U.S. attorney’s office’s inaction regarding unseized drugs posed no “specific danger to public health.” While overdose deaths dropped roughly 14% nationwide last year, they [rose](https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/vsrr/drug-overdose-data.htm?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Figure%201b.%20Percent%20Change%20in%20Reported%2012%20Month%2Dending%20Count%20of%20Drug%20Overdose%20Deaths%2C%20by%20Jurisdiction%3A%20January%202025%20to%20January%202026) by nearly 23% in New Mexico. [The Associated Press has the story](https://apnews.com/article/dea-fentanyl-unseized-drugs-new-mexico-8f5b546e668e5007c64078da74b90903?ref=readtangle.com). ### Numbers. - [**145.**](https://2026.electoral.dsausa.org/?ref=readtangle.com) The total number of DSA-endorsed candidates who are running or have run for election in 2026, according to DSA. - [**16.**](https://2026.electoral.dsausa.org/?ref=readtangle.com) The number of DSA-endorsed candidates who have won their elections. - [**29.**](https://2026.electoral.dsausa.org/?ref=readtangle.com) The number who have lost their elections. - [**54%.**](https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2026/06/18/kenyan-mcduffie-concedes-janeese-lewis-george-dc-mayoral-primary/?ref=readtangle.com) The percentage of Washington, D.C. mayoral primary votes won by Janeese Lewis George. - [**7.**](https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2026/06/18/kenyan-mcduffie-concedes-janeese-lewis-george-dc-mayoral-primary/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=As%20of%20Thursday%2C%20Lewis%20George%20was%20leading%20in%20seven%20of%20the%20city%E2%80%99s%20eight%20wards%20%E2%80%94%20all%20except%20Ward%203%2C%20the%20city%E2%80%99s%20Whitest%20and%20wealthiest%20one.) The number of Washington, D.C.’s 8 districts where Lewis George led over other candidates as of Thursday, June 18. - [**29%.**](https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2026/us/elections/results-california-mayor-los-angeles.html?ref=readtangle.com) The percentage of primary votes won by Los Angeles mayoral candidate Nithya Raman. ### The extras. - **One year ago today** we covered [the U.S. bombing Iran](https://www.readtangle.com/the-united-states-bombs-iran/). - **The most clicked link in our last regular newsletter** was [the new Air Force One jet gifted by Qatar](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2026/06/19/trump-unveils-air-force-one-qatar-gift/90622588007/?ref=readtangle.com). - **Nothing to do with politics:** The full list of [the 2026 James Beard Award winners](https://www.eater.com/restaurant-news/967899/james-beard-awards-2026-restaurant-chef-winners?ref=readtangle.com). - **Our last survey:** 2,420 readers responded to our survey asking who will be the 2028 Republican presidential nominee with 48% saying Secretary of State Marco Rubio. “Rubio has a more favorable reputation than Vance,” one respondent said. “Vance is too smart for his own good — he’s still trying to figure out what his core values are. Everything he does feels like a stunt,” said another. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/06/data-src-image-81c7b314-500f-46dd-a1ff-6bec463627b4.png) ### Have a nice day. It had been over twenty years since the Arsenal men’s soccer team won a Premier League title. This year, they won. A hundred miles down the road, over a thousand equines who know nothing about soccer recently started repping Arsenal gear. The team donated footless socks from their old kits to Redwings Horse Sanctuary, which cares for horses, mules and donkeys, to protect them from insects, keep bandages in place, and hold back their hair while their hooves are trimmed. “This was one of the more unusual donations we’ve been offered,” Nicola Knight, Redwings’s head of communications and campaigns, said. “But professional football socks, which these days are often footless by design, can be invaluable.” [Nice News has the story](https://nicenews.com/sports/arsenal-soccer-socks-redwings-horses-donkeys/?ref=readtangle.com). ### Tim Urban On How The Left-Right Divide Is Breaking Our Brains URL: https://www.readtangle.com/tim-urban-on-how-the-left-right-divide-is-breaking-our-brains/ Last updated: 2026-06-24T04:06:03.000Z In this episode, Isaac Saul sits down with Tim Urban, the creator of Wait But Why and author of What's Our Problem?, for a wide-ranging conversation about politics, tribalism, media, AI, and the challenge of thinking clearly in a polarized world. ### Tucker Carlson says he will no longer support Republican Party over “immoral” support for Israel. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/tucker-carlson-says-he-will-no-longer-support-republican-party-over-immoral-support-for-israel/ Last updated: 2026-06-23T03:06:40.000Z Tucker Carlson, a prominent commentator on the right, suggested the Republican Party has become “immoral” in its support of Israel and said that he would no longer support it. ### Vance leads peace talks with Iran. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/vance-peace-negotiations-iran/ Last updated: 2026-06-22T18:36:42.000Z Good Monday morning. I’m **Isaac Saul**, fresh off celebrating my fifth wedding anniversary and Father’s Day (in case you missed our special Father’s Day podcast, which featured my dad, [listen here](https://shows.acast.com/tangle/episodes/suspension-of-the-rules-fathers-day-special?ref=readtangle.com) or [watch it on YouTube here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKegVKw2eDQ&&ref=readtangle.com)). Yesterday also marked another (less joyous) anniversary — one year since the U.S. bombed Iran’s nuclear facilities and Vice President JD Vance went on national television to assure Americans that we weren’t about to enter a major conflict. Fast forward to this past weekend, and Vance is leading negotiations to try to end a major conflict. More on that in a bit. Outside of **Vance and Iran**, we’re also answering a reader question about a new **Hawaii law and *Citizens United***, and we have a rather shocking “Under the radar” story about the Trump administration potentially quashing an investigation into a **pay-for-clemency scheme**. It’s a **13-minute read**; let’s get the week started. ### Quick hits. 1. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced he will resign as leader of the Labour Party and as prime minister. ([The resignation](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/keir-starmer-resigns-uk-prime-minister-labour-party-andy-burnham/?ref=readtangle.com)) 2. U.S. Park Police officers arrested former U.S. Olympian David Hearn for allegedly vandalizing the refurbished Reflecting Pool in the capital. Hearn denied wrongdoing and said he was inspecting a piece of the pool’s liner that had already detached. ([The arrest](https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2026/06/20/cyclist-arrested-reflecting-pool-denies-trump-vandalism-claims/?ref=readtangle.com)) 3. President Donald Trump unveiled the aircraft gifted to the U.S. by Qatar that will serve as the new Air Force One. ([The unveiling](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2026/06/19/trump-unveils-air-force-one-qatar-gift/90622588007/?ref=readtangle.com)) 4. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani canceled his planned trip to the United States in response to President Trump’s claim that Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni had “begged” for a photo with him at the G7 Summit in France last week. Meloni called the comments “completely fabricated.” ([The response](https://apnews.com/article/trump-meloni-italy-us-36d6452879d0d61983802c036cdb7835?ref=readtangle.com)) 5. Right-wing candidate Abelardo De La Espriella is projected to win Colombia’s presidential election, defeating left-wing Sen. Iván Cepeda by a narrow margin. President Trump endorsed De La Espriella in June. ([The result](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/21/world/americas/colombia-election-de-la-espriella.html?ref=readtangle.com)) from Today's Partner ****Protect against rising vet costs with pet insurance.** The cost of veterinary services has been rising recently, with some common surgical procedures costing up to $7,000\. [Pet insurance can help](https://api.wellput.io/v1/cm?cmid=909477mqjzy824&tid=164&s1=v2-r734710-p909477-c45863&s2=Tangle&s3=&s4=null&ref=readtangle.com) cover accidents, illnesses, and even routine care, with some plans reimbursing up to 90% of costs. ****Money.com's** Best Pet Insurance list can help you [find affordable coverage](https://api.wellput.io/v1/cm?cmid=909477mqjzy824&tid=164&s1=v2-r734710-p909477-c45863&s2=Tangle&s3=&s4=null&ref=readtangle.com) starting at just $10 a month so you can focus on what matters most — your furry friend's wellbeing. [Get a personalized pet insurance quote today and save thousands on costly vet bills](https://api.wellput.io/v1/cm?cmid=909477mqjzy824&tid=164&s1=v2-r734710-p909477-c45863&s2=Tangle&s3=&s4=null&ref=readtangle.com). ### Today’s topic. Vance and Iran. On Sunday, Vice President JD Vance and a team of U.S. negotiators met with Iranian officials in Switzerland to [begin peace negotiations](https://www.axios.com/2026/06/20/vance-iran-talks-switzerland?ref=readtangle.com). The vice president took a leading role in finalizing the memorandum of understanding (MOU) that Iran and the U.S. signed last week, and on Sunday, Vance [called for](https://nypost.com/2026/06/21/us-news/vance-says-us-willing-to-fundamentally-transform-iran-relationship/?ref=readtangle.com) a broad reset of relations after nearly four months of war. He also [rebuked](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jun/19/jd-vance-israel-iran-deal-critics?ref=readtangle.com) Israeli politicians for their criticism of the recent MOU, drawing scrutiny from some conservatives and raising broader questions about his prospects as a future party standard-bearer. The MOU that the U.S. and Iran [signed on Wednesday](https://www.readtangle.com/iran-deal-signed/) extended a ceasefire that began on April 7 and outlined the terms of a permanent peace deal. The current round of discussions centers on Iran’s nuclear program, along with reopening the Strait of Hormuz and removing U.S. sanctions on Iran. Vance and U.S. officials [met](https://apnews.com/article/iran-vance-trump-nuclear-negotiations-2edf9268aae550883252080014013963?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Vance%20and%20U.S.%20negotiators%20including%20Steve%20Witkoff%20and%20Jared%20Kushner%2C%20Trump%E2%80%99s%20son%2Din%2Dlaw%2C%20met%20with%20Qalibaf%20and%20Araghchi%20for%20what%20Iranian%20state%20media%20said%20was%20about%2080%20minutes.) with Iran’s Parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi for approximately 80 minutes on Sunday in a discussion mediated by Pakistani and Qatari officials. Beforehand, Vice President Vance suggested the talks were an opportunity to “turn over a new leaf” in U.S.–Iran relations, adding, “If \[Iran’s\] leadership is willing to give up being a driver of regional instability, if they are willing to give up nuclear weapons ambitions in the long term, then the United States is willing to fundamentally transform our relationship.” On Saturday, Iran [claimed](https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2026/06/20/iran-says-it-is-closing-strait-hormuz-testing-fragile-agreement-with-us/?ref=readtangle.com) that Israeli strikes in Lebanon violated the MOU and said it would again block the Strait of Hormuz in retaliation. President Donald Trump then threatened to resume airstrikes in Iran if the waterway remained closed, also calling on Iran to restrain Hezbollah’s attacks on Israel. “If they don’t, we’ll hit Iran very hard again, just like we did last week, only harder,” Trump [wrote](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116788337995785578?ref=readtangle.com) on Truth Social. Iranian officials reportedly [suspended](https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/war-in-lebanon-casts-shadow-over-renewed-iran-u-s-nuclear-talks-f457c7e9?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=The%20Iranian%20delegation%20suspended%20the%20talks%20because%20of%20Trump%E2%80%99s%20threats%2C%20according%20to%20Nour%20News%2C%20which%20is%20affiliated%20with%20Iran%E2%80%99s%20Supreme%20National%20Security%20Council.) peace talks in Switzerland in response to Trump’s comments, but talks [resumed](https://www.foxnews.com/live-news/us-iran-peace-deal-nuclear-talks-switzerland-06-21-26?ref=readtangle.com) through intermediaries and are expected to continue throughout the week. Separately, Vance has [criticized](https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5930696-vance-warns-israel-trump-iran/?ref=readtangle.com) Israeli leaders for questioning the U.S.’s strategy with Iran. On Thursday, responding to questions about Israeli cabinet officials’ objections to the MOU, Vance said, “If I was in the Cabinet of the Israeli government, I might not be attacking the only powerful ally that I have anywhere left in the entire world.” Some Republican lawmakers objected to the comments. “I thought JD’s comments yesterday were absolutely inappropriate and frankly disgusting,” Rep. Randy Fine (FL) [said](https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5931984-vance-israel-iran-randy-fine/?ref=readtangle.com) on Friday. Other Republicans have questioned the MOU’s terms without naming Vance explicitly. Sen. Ted Cruz (TX) [said](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/iran-deal-reaction-trump-republicans-democrats/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Trump%20ally%20Sen,to%20sponsor%20terrorism.) he thinks President Trump is “\[getting\] some really bad advice on this deal,” calling out provisions for a $300 billion Iranian reconstruction fund and sanctions relief. Today, we’ll explore Vance’s role in peace discussions and his evolving position within the Trump administration, with views from the right and left. Then, Executive Editor Isaac Saul gives his take. ### What the right is saying. - **Some on the right question Vance’s motives on the Iran deal.** - **Others suggest pro-Israel conservatives should view him favorably but cautiously.** - **Still others say Vance must draw a clear contrast between Trump and himself.** **In The Free Press, Eli Lake said** [**“Vance tries to have it both ways on the Iran deal.”**](https://www.thefp.com/p/vance-tries-to-have-it-both-ways?ref=readtangle.com) “For many mainstream Republicans, the new memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the U.S. and Iran is nothing more than American surrender,” Lake wrote. “To Vance, though, the doubters have it all wrong. The vice president argued that America wins either way with the agreement. ‘Either they get nothing, we’ve destroyed their nuclear program, and the Strait of Hormuz is open… Or they fundamentally transform themselves, and that’s a big win, too.’ That is one interpretation. But details emerging about the MOU that was announced on Sunday show that Iran has already won concessions even before the official negotiations begin.” “The vice president remains Trump’s heir apparent and the likely Republican presidential nominee for 2028\. In order to win that election, Vance will need the kind of broad coalition that propelled Trump to the White House in 2024\. As Vance explained in an interview with Megyn Kelly on Tuesday, the coalition that elected Trump the second time included Tucker Carlson, Joe Rogan, and Kelly,” Lake said. “All of that sounds fine. The problem is that the tenor of Kelly’s and Carlson’s attacks on Trump and his pro-Israel supporters has been outrageous… If the populist right believes that pro-Israel Americans are more loyal to a foreign power than to the U.S., then what does that say about Vance’s own support for the war that they opposed?” **In PJ Media, Scott Pinsker asked** [**“should pro-Israel conservatives trust JD Vance?”**](https://pjmedia.com/scott-pinsker/2026/06/20/should-pro-israel-conservatives-trust-jd-vance-n4954179?ref=readtangle.com) “On one side, pro-Israel Republicans — a vast majority of the MAGA base — are up in arms over Vice President JD Vance’s rhetorical smackdown of Israel’s opposition to the MOU. The VP’s words were biting, harsh, and uncomfortable to hear,” Pinsker said. “On the other side, plenty of Republicans nodded in enthusiastic agreement. Without question, Groypers, bigots, and Jew-haters exist — and plenty of podcasters make a living by catering to that demo. But there are also millions of fair-minded Republicans who view America’s relationship with Israel as an investment that’s in the red.” “There are pro-Israel Republicans who’ve placed Vance’s pattern of behavior within the Groyper/antisemite paradigm: *He must be one of them*… On the other side, there are fair-minded Republican isolationists who view the anti-Vance pushback as a grotesque overreach — and eerily similar to leftists who cry ‘Racism!’ at every turn,” Pinsker wrote. “Pro-Israel Republicans SHOULD trust Vance, because his boss has been the most pro-Israel president in U.S. history. That alone earns him the benefit of the doubt: If political decisions reflect personal values, Trump’s decision to select Vance as his running mate speaks volumes.” **In The American Conservative, Andrew Day explored** [**“Vance’s next move.”**](https://www.theamericanconservative.com/whose-man-is-j-d-vance/?ref=readtangle.com) “What had seemed predetermined — Vance 2028 — can no longer be taken for granted. Perhaps that’s for the best, both for Vance and the republic. American voters have a habit of defying expectations and ruining coronations,” Day said. “Vance, to come out on top \[in the 2028 Republican primary\], will first need to define himself. In recent years, he’s been dogged by the suspicion that he’s a cynical power seeker who doesn’t believe in much of anything. Because Vance has presented himself as a principled restrainer… the Iran War only magnifies the perception, hobbling the vice president and reviving the question: Whose man is J.D. Vance?” “Vance is number two in an administration that has launched a catastrophic conflict at Israel’s urging and on its behalf. While he has found ways to signal that he never fully supported the war, Vance has been obliged to defend it publicly, and America First conservatives, while still preferring him to Rubio, can’t be sure where he really stands,” Day wrote. “As 2028 approaches and voters ponder whether he deserves to be their president, Vance would do very well to become his own man again. At the very least, that sounds less exhausting than trying to please irreconcilable factions on the unruly American right.” ### What the left is saying. - **Many on the left see Vance as the fall guy for the administration’s failure in Iran.** - **Some suggest he could lead a broader GOP split with Israel.** - **Others say the vice president is caught between his loyalty to Trump and his 2028 presidential aspirations.** **In The Atlantic, Jonathan Chait wrote about the GOP strategy behind** [**“making the vice president own an obvious defeat.”**](https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/06/vance-surrender-iran-trump/687597/?ref=readtangle.com) “Judging by the messaging emanating from across the Republican Party, letting the president claim victory while making the vice president own an obvious defeat is the GOP strategy,” Chait said. “If the logic here is contorted, it does make political sense to Republican hawks who want to elevate Secretary of State Marco Rubio as Trump’s successor. The war they supported has ended in failure, but they don’t want the party’s anti-interventionist wing to benefit. Therefore their plan is to blame Vance, who opposed the Iran war all along, for the defeat, while insulating Rubio.” “Vance is clearly betting that most Republicans will prefer his version of the story, which presents the Iran war as the latest Trump win in a line of unbroken victories,” Chait wrote. “A healthy conservative movement would be able to concede error, rather than resorting to a choose-your-own-adventure ruse in which the war is Trump’s if we won and Vance’s if we lost. But the movement has decayed to the point that honest analysis is impossible, and prominent Republicans hardly bother to pretend otherwise.” **In CNN, Aaron Blake said** [**“Vance’s threat is the latest sign \[the\] U.S. could be breaking with Israel.”**](https://www.cnn.com/2026/06/19/politics/vances-israel-trump-break-iran?ref=readtangle.com) “The United States joining with Israel to launch a war in the Middle East was always a fraught situation for the longstanding U.S.–Israeli alliance. But things seemed to come to a head Thursday, when Vice President JD Vance had some blunt and harsh words for Israel — words that sounded a whole lot like a threat,” Blake wrote. “Vance’s remarks, in which he pointed to Israel’s worldwide unpopularity, were the most striking… He cited how reliant Israel is on American weapons, as well as the need for some Israeli leaders ‘to wake up and smell the reality of the situation that country is in.’” “It’s true that Trump often treats allies poorly and in very transactional ways. (Look at what’s happening right now with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.) But the alliance with Israel has been different. Trump has seemed to view it as more beneficial and almost sacred, even when Netanyahu was personally frustrating him,” Blake said. “Yet the way Vance spoke about Israel on Thursday sounded a lot like his and Trump’s browbeating of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky — remember ‘Have you said “thank you” once?’ — in the Oval Office last year.” **In Bloomberg, Nia-Malika Henderson suggested** [**“Trump’s Iran deal comes with great risk — for JD Vance.”**](https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2026-06-18/vance-s-political-future-is-tied-to-trump-s-risky-iran-deal?ref=readtangle.com) “\[Vance\] largely owes his political career to Trump, and his political future largely depends on his defense of him and his policies. That now includes the conflict with Iran, a geopolitical blunder of historic proportions. America lost a war that Trump didn’t need to start,” Henderson wrote. “The irony is that Vance privately argued against striking Iran but has since become the face of the conflict and now the deal. His glib and condescending podcast conversation with New York Times columnist Ross Douthat, which goes for an hour, is an illustration of one of the iron rules of politics: If you’re explaining, you’re losing.” “In October 2024, when asked what she would have done differently than former President Joe Biden, Kamala Harris (in)famously said that ‘not a thing comes to mind.’ She later explained that she was only trying to be loyal to the president,” Henderson said. “Vance, who has to be looking over his shoulder at Rubio’s rising status, now has that same problem. He also has the added complication of a vengeful president, who sees MAGA as his own and is reluctant to bequeath it.” ### My take. **Reminder: “My take” is a section where we give ourselves space to share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, don't unsubscribe. Write in by replying to this email, or** [**leave a comment**](https://www.readtangle.com/vance-peace-negotiations-iran/#ghost-comments-root)**.** - **After his boasts a year ago, Vance finds himself in an uncomfortable position.** - **The vice president has to sell the public on a war he doesn’t want and is betting his political future on Trump’s whims.** - **I understand the criticisms, but feel for one of the only guys who was right about the war from the start.** **Executive Editor Isaac Saul:** Exactly one year ago today, just after the United States announced it had “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear enrichment sites, Vice President JD Vance [appeared](https://x.com/kenklippenstein/status/1936820119734202515?ref=readtangle.com) on *Meet the Press* with a message to Americans: “I empathize with Americans who are exhausted after 25 years of foreign entanglements in the Middle East,” he said. “I understand the concern, but the difference is that back then we had dumb presidents.” Vance insisted that we were not at war with Iran but instead at war *with its nuclear program*, that we’d set that program back without getting into “some long, drawn-out thing.” Some of us [were very skeptical](https://www.readtangle.com/the-united-states-bombs-iran/#:~:text=they%20are%20meaningless.%E2%80%9D-,My%20take.,-Reminder%3A%20%E2%80%9CMy%20take) about these claims at the time. A year later, Vance is in Switzerland trying to negotiate an end to an actual war that has destabilized the Middle East, spiked energy prices, cost America billions of dollars and 13 servicemembers their lives, killed thousands of Iranians and damaged Iran so much it is now seeking a $300 billion fund to rebuild the country. I don’t say all this to remind you, after I wrote about [all the times I’ve been wrong](https://www.readtangle.com/my-worst-takes-isaac-2026/), that I’m sometimes correct. I say it because Vance is now a presumptive 2028 Republican nominee for president, if not the odds-on favorite, and it’s important to hold him to account for his statements. Vance has spent the better part of the last year trying to defend a war that he clearly did not support. He’s now trying to defend a deal that looks every bit the spiritual successor to Obama’s Iran deal (the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action), which he and every Republican have spent the better part of a decade lambasting, all to get us back to a pre-war status quo — except our threat of military force is now less credible, Iran has much greater control over one of the most important shipping lanes in the world, and we’re apparently on the hook to find a way to rebuild Iran after the destruction we just wrought. The bad news for Vance is that I’m not the only one ready to hold him to account. The president “[joked](https://x.com/Osinttechnical/status/2067294052370809311?ref=readtangle.com)” last week that if the deal works out, he’ll take credit for it; but if it doesn’t, he’ll blame Vance. I’m no body language expert, but I noticed that Secretary of State Marco Rubio, another 2028 contender who is [widely reported](https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/foreign-policy/4615073/rubio-iran-deal-silent-treatment/?ref=readtangle.com) to oppose this deal, didn’t so much as crack a smile. I don’t think the president was kidding, and I don’t think Rubio finds any of this funny. Many of Vance’s supporters who cheered when Trump picked him as his running mate are now [aghast at the scale of his failure](https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2026/03/02/vance-trump-iran-war-00806812?ref=readtangle.com) to keep us out of another Middle East quagmire. It was a core promise of President Trump’s 2024 campaign, and one of the core talking points Vance repeated throughout the race. A prominent conservative pundit who supported all three Trump campaigns and Vance’s rise to vice president described Vance to me as one of the most disingenuous, ideologically flexible politicians he’d ever encountered. Once a diehard supporter of the vice president’s, he now feels spurned and disgusted by what he’s morphed into. In order to pull off this high-wire act of working for the president while leaving his own future candidacy open, Vance has quite the task: He must never criticize Trump, or his decision to start a war with Iran, and simultaneously sell a deal to the public that effectively cements an American loss — all while trying to prevent Iran, the U.S., Israel, Hezbollah, and Gulf states from continuing to fire rockets at each other. And *then* he’ll have to convince everyone that whatever post-war order this deal creates is better than our situation a year ago. How are things going so far? Well, [according to Axios](https://www.axios.com/newsletters/axios-am-f6f61adb-b650-4724-861a-73dec8143701.html?ref=readtangle.com), since the MOU was signed on Wednesday, “Iran said it was closing the Strait of Hormuz again (though it didn’t in practice, per U.S. officials), Israel intermittently bombed Lebanon, and President Trump threatened to seize and toll the strait, kill Iran’s peace negotiators, and send Syria in to fight Hezbollah.” I’d say not great. At the same time, even though Vance’s position is precarious, he’s the one who stepped onto the high wire in the first place. And I can understand why. As Nick Catoggio [argued](https://thedispatch.com/newsletter/boilingfrogs/vance-trump-iran-war-peace-deal-2028/?ref=readtangle.com) in The Dispatch, Vance wasn’t forced against his will to be the fall guy; instead, he likely believes that being the face of *ending* the war will be better than being the face of *starting* it. I actually think that’s a smarter bet than sidelining himself on the issue completely. He’s also positioning Israel as a scapegoat, which is both cynical and politically astute. Both Democrats and Republicans [are souring on Israel](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-election/poll-israels-standing-plummets-democrats-fueling-primaries-left-rcna262995?ref=readtangle.com), a reality most U.S. politicians have been slow to respond to. I can hardly blame Americans for this pivot: Three years of watching the destruction of Gaza, the expansion of settlements in the West Bank, and the continued [bombing of Lebanon](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c23ymz1n9rmo?ref=readtangle.com) left me [questioning my own Zionism](https://www.readtangle.com/leaving-zionism-israel-gaza-hamas-isaac-saul/). Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is a violence-prone leader [credibly accused](https://www.brookings.edu/articles/the-corruption-and-autocracy-nexus-the-case-of-king-bibi/?ref=readtangle.com) of corruption who [sold Trump](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/07/us/politics/trump-iran-war.html?ref=readtangle.com) on the Iran war, which has now backfired spectacularly for the United States. For Americans with much looser attachments to Israel than I have, questions about why we continue to tie our fate to the decision-makers in its government, especially as some of them make [obscene, genocidal threats](https://www.timesofisrael.com/iran-cites-ben-gvirs-call-to-burn-all-of-lebanon-as-proof-of-israels-genocidal-intent/?ref=readtangle.com), are bound to pop up more often. After Trump’s administration reaped mountains of frustration for giving Israel most of what it wanted in the last 18 months, Vance is now passing that frustration on. Even if distancing himself from Israel is politically prudent, I’m fairly confident whatever comes next for Vance won’t be good for his political future. This war is an albatross around the administration’s collective neck. Iran is clearly — and rightfully — feeling empowered. Long before he got involved in negotiations, Vance chose to leave the Senate and tie his fate to Trump’s, and now all his future political aspirations rest on the hope that the president doesn’t torch him publicly for the deal we end up getting. Is that a bet you’d want to make, if you were Vance? Remember how Trump’s last vice president, Mike Pence, ended his tenure: [hiding in his office](https://abcnews.com/Politics/photo-shows-vice-president-mike-pence-family-hiding/story?id=85419691&ref=readtangle.com) while a bunch of now-Trump-pardoned radicals stalked the Capitol, chanting [to hang him](https://www.politico.com/news/2022/05/25/trump-expressed-support-hanging-pence-capitol-riot-jan-6-00035117?ref=readtangle.com). However you may feel about Vance (and I personally do not appreciate his chameleon style), it’s a tragic circumstance for one of the few people who was [actually right](https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/2432355/jd-vance-says-he-would-absolutely-not-authorize-the-use-of-force-against-iran/?ref=readtangle.com) about the damage a war with Iran would cause. Despite being *right*, his high-wire act is about to turn him into a center-stage fall guy. That’s the price of doing business with a president who rarely takes accountability for his own actions, but it seems to be a gamble Vance is willing and able to make. ****Staff dissent — Associate Editor Audrey Moorehead:** I disagree with Isaac’s assertion that Vance’s Israel-critical positioning is a politically smart move, at least for 2028\. Yes, anti-Israel sentiment is growing on both sides of the political spectrum, especially among young people, and that trend will probably continue for the foreseeable future. In that sense, Vance is running ahead of the game. But most Republican voters still view Israel favorably, especially older voters and one of the largest segments of the GOP voter base: [white evangelicals](https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2026/04/07/negative-views-of-israel-netanyahu-continue-to-rise-among-americans-especially-young-people/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Views%20of%20Israel%20also%20differ%20substantially%20among%20U.S.%20religious%20groups%20that%20are%20large%20enough%20to%20analyze.%20Jewish%20Americans%20and%20White%20evangelical%20Protestants%20have%20mostly%20positive%20views%20of%20Israel%2C%20at%2064%25%20and%2065%25%2C%20respectively.). I’m skeptical that that will change much by the time the 2028 primaries roll around. If Vance wants to make it to a general election, he’ll **need* to win those voters over, and I don’t think attacking one of our few allies in the Middle East will help in the short run. **Take the survey:** Who do you think will be the 2028 Republican presidential nominee? [Let us know](https://interrobang.vercel.app/survey/217879a0-0eb3-4ae5-bb31-bc2da2b5a25e?ref=readtangle.com). *Disagree? That's okay. Our opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we'll consider publishing your feedback.* ### Your questions, answered. **Q: Can y’all please explain what’s happening with \[Hawaii’s law that undermines *Citizens United*\]?** **— Kim from Chattanooga, TN** **Tangle:** In May, Hawaii Gov. Josh Green (D) signed [S.B. 2471](https://legiscan.com/HI/bill/SB2471/2026?ref=readtangle.com). The new law asserts that “artificial persons created under state law” (or corporations) only have the power to act in ways that carry out their purposes, specifically excluding “the power to spend money or contribute anything of value to influence elections or ballot measures.” The law appears to directly undermine the landmark 2010 Supreme Court case [*Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission*](https://www.oyez.org/cases/2008/08-205?ref=readtangle.com), which found that corporate spending in elections is protected under the First Amendment. Hawaii’s new law attempts to restrict a corporation’s power to spend on elections in a way that directly contradicts *Citizens United* in practice, but not on paper. Instead of limiting a corporation’s power to spend on political campaigns, Hawaii [is denying](https://www.americanprogress.org/article/addressing-questions-surrounding-hawaiis-bold-move-to-undo-citizens-united/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Every%20Supreme%20Court,United%C2%A0operates.) corporations operating in the state that power in the first place. “\[The bill\] tries to get around *Citizens United* by arguing that corporations only have the powers the state chooses to grant them, and that Hawaii can decline to grant the power to spend money on elections,” [said](https://civilbeat.org/2026/04/can-hawaii-deliver-all-of-america-from-citizens-united/?ref=readtangle.com) Colin Moore, a political analyst at the University of Hawaii Manoa. As a state law, Hawaii’s S.B. 2471 would only apply to Hawaiian elections, meaning it will not impact campaign spending in other states or at the federal level — if it stands. Hawaii Attorney General Anne Lopez (a Democrat) [expressed doubts](https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/Testimony/SB2471%5FTESTIMONY%5FCPN%5F02-03-26%5F.PDF?ref=readtangle.com#page=4) about the law’s constitutionality. *Citizens United* did not by itself confer First Amendment rights onto corporations, Lopez said; it merely interpreted political spending as a First Amendment right that a corporation — as a collection of citizens — already has. S.B. 2471 will take effect on July 1, 2027\. After that day, and unless it is overturned in court, no corporation will legally be allowed to spend money on Hawaiian elections. **Want to have a question answered in the newsletter? You can reply to this email (it goes straight to our inbox) or** [**fill out this form**](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScQhqBSG%5F6%5FoBhwcTQMeS570n29XYbeQ9C9Bis7rjqI31g1tA/viewform?usp=header&ref=readtangle.com)**.** ### Under the radar. On Sunday, The New York Times reported that Trump administration appointees may have pressured federal prosecutors to drop an investigation into President Trump’s commutation of David Gentile, who served roughly two weeks of a seven-year prison sentence for participating in a $1.6 billion fraud scheme. Prosecutors with the U.S. attorney’s office in the Eastern District of New York had begun exploring whether Gentile had discussed making $2.5 million in payments to those close to the president to facilitate his commutation. However, according to The Times’s report, the Eastern District dropped its investigation shortly after U.S. Associate Deputy Attorney General Aakash Singh expressed concern about the probe to prosecutors. [The New York Times has the story](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/21/us/politics/trump-fraudster-priest-investigation-brooklyn.html?ref=readtangle.com). from Today's Partner ****Start where you are.** ****Interlochen Online** is an online arts school designed for adults who want to [reconnect with creativity](https://api.wellput.io/v1/cm?cmid=932778mqk19v4u&tid=339&s1=v2-r734727-p932778-c45387&s2=Tangle&s3=&s4=null&ref=readtangle.com) — without pressure or perfectionism. Explore music, creative writing, visual arts, theatre, or film through short courses, private lessons, and certificate programs [led by experienced artists](https://api.wellput.io/v1/cm?cmid=932778mqk19v4u&tid=339&s1=v2-r734727-p932778-c45387&s2=Tangle&s3=&s4=null&ref=readtangle.com) who meet you where you are. If you’re curious about returning to the arts, you can start by [sampling a course for free](https://api.wellput.io/v1/cm?cmid=932778mqk19v4u&tid=339&s1=v2-r734727-p932778-c45387&s2=Tangle&s3=&s4=null&ref=readtangle.com). ### The extras. - **One year ago today** we had just published a Friday edition [about genetic testing](https://www.readtangle.com/the-genetic-optimization-of-life-and-the-lives-it-may-leave-behind/). - **The most clicked link in our last regular newsletter** was our [video about Juneteenth](https://youtu.be/h3qQVYocQuw?si=gnUh-QV7xDJYGvWx&ref=readtangle.com). - **Nothing to do with politics:** The [Wes Anderson–esque exploration into Australian cacti](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYE9OwUzzeI&ref=readtangle.com) you didn’t know you needed. - **Our last survey:** 4,502 readers responded to our survey on the memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran with 93% calling it a bad deal for the U.S. and a good deal for Iran. “Iran is getting hundreds of billions just for saying they won’t make nukes. They’ve been saying that for free for decades,” one respondent said. “It’s also a bad deal for the Iranian people,” said another. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/06/data-src-image-ae335cbb-1e6c-4dbf-9fb5-35af21d041fd.png) ### Have a nice day. A puppy in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was near the end of its rope — malnourished, buried under garbage, and stuck in a trash bin heading for the garbage truck. However, he had one stroke of luck: The trash bin fell off Naz Nalls’s truck before it could reach the compactor. When Nalls and his partner looked inside, they found the puppy and contacted their supervisor, Alex Halverson, who happened to already be driving their way. Halverson pulled the puppy out, fed him his lunch, and drove him to the Milwaukee Area Domestic Animal Control Commission. Then, after the puppy returned to health, Halverson decided to adopt him. “God knows what he went through,” Halverson said. “He was buried under garbage, and… was still super friendly.” Now, Halverson has given the puppy a new home and a new name: PJ, after the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches he fed the puppy on the day he found him. [TMJ4 Milwaukee has the story](https://www.tmj4.com/news/milwaukee-tonight/milwaukee-garbage-truck-crew-saves-puppy-from-trash-can-and-adopts-him?ref=readtangle.com). ### The Sunday — June 21 URL: https://www.readtangle.com/the-sunday-june-21-2026/ Last updated: 2026-06-21T11:52:53.000Z *This is the Tangle Sunday Edition, a brief roundup of our independent politics coverage plus some extra features for your Sunday morning reading.* ### What the left is doodling. ![Mike Luckovich | Creators Syndicate](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/06/data-src-image-84cc4f9b-96b3-41f2-ab50-e2d5240ff70f.jpeg) Mike Luckovich | Creators Syndicate ### What the right is doodling. ![Gary Varvel | Creators Syndicate](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/06/data-src-image-df6af270-61fb-459e-b1f0-488f14da3424.jpeg) Gary Varvel | Creators Syndicate ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/06/data-src-image-863eb8a4-1c9d-4a49-93da-1223bfb9612b.png) ### Suspension of the Rules. In a special Father’s Day edition of Suspension of the Rules, Isaac, Ari, and Kmele are joined on the podcast by two guests: Executive Producer Jon Lall and Isaac’s father (and Tangle editor) Bailey Saul. The five of them represent different phases of fatherhood — from soon-to-be father to dad of two school-aged children to three-kid veteran (and grandfather) — and discuss what they’ve learned through their separate experiences. You can listen to the special edition [here](https://youtu.be/nKegVKw2eDQ?ref=readtangle.com). ### Monday, June 15. [A tentative deal with Iran](https://www.readtangle.com/iran-peace-deal-june-2026/). On Sunday, June 14, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who has served as a mediator in peace discussions between the United States and Iran, announced that the two countries reached a deal to end their conflict. The Pakistani leader said that both countries would immediately cease military operations and formally sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on Friday, June 19\. The text of the memorandum was not released as of June 15, but the MOU would be signed on Wednesday, June 17\. **Our take:** *“Why would we expect this latest agreement to bring about lasting peace? Negotiations and ceasefires have repeatedly failed throughout this war, and an artificial timeline won’t make them succeed. Cynically, I don’t expect the conditions for real peace to even exist until after the midterms.”* **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/06/data-src-image-fe0ba8be-5c5c-4501-bdc3-9f0405bb331d.png) ### Tuesday, June 16. [UFC Freedom 250](https://www.readtangle.com/white-house-freedom-250-ufc-trump/). On Sunday, June 14, the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) hosted a mixed martial arts fighting event on the South Lawn of the White House, billed as a celebration of the United States’s 250th anniversary this summer. The event, which coincided with President Donald Trump’s 80th birthday, was held in front of approximately 4,000 spectators, including top Trump administration officials, active military members, and high-profile business executives. Some lawmakers criticized the cost and aesthetics of the event. **Our take:** *“Americans have been arguing about what is ‘real America’ for almost as long as humans have been fighting. Some aspects of the event were bothersome, but I don’t really care that the White House hosted a UFC fight. The real story to me — again and still — is the grift and corruption.”* **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/06/data-src-image-47b4f7d7-3fa9-4b46-96d1-7b84e20c6cd0.png) ### Wednesday, June 17. [Social media bans](https://www.readtangle.com/uk-youth-social-media-bans-starmer/). On Monday, June 15, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced that in 2027, the United Kingdom will ban children under 16 from accessing major social media platforms, including TikTok, Instagram, X, and YouTube (but not YouTube Kids). Several other countries have passed similar bans, but the UK’s measure will go further, blocking features like live-streaming and communicating with strangers while gaming. Furthermore, Starmer said the regulations will restrict access to artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots designed to simulate romantic or sexual relationships for users under 18 and may also impose curfews on social media use for under-18s. **Our take:** *“Kids’ social media use is a demonstrable problem. Total bans and age restrictions have failed to mitigate similar harms — but total policy abdication has failed, too. My ideal solution is for the government to mandate more parental tools and for a gradual and thorough cultural shift.”* **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/06/data-src-image-e2613c15-8ae7-4f4a-88ed-ab7743c71ec0.png) ### Thursday, June 18. [The Iran deal](https://www.readtangle.com/iran-deal-signed/). On Wednesday, June 17, both the United States and Iran remotely signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to end the war between the two countries after more than 100 days of conflict. The White House also announced the details of the 14-point plan, which included calls for the U.S. and Iran to allow passage through the Strait of Hormuz and commits the United States to facilitating a $300 billion reconstruction fund for Iran. **Our take:** *“If the MOU holds, the U.S. will have achieved none of its core objectives in this war. Trump appears to be backing down in a way he hasn’t before. Iran is poised to emerge from this war emboldened and more powerful.”* **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/06/data-src-image-e3df68bc-deb4-4045-afb2-975840a0ac69.png) ### Friday, June 19. *Tangle did not release a Friday edition in observance of Juneteenth.* --- ### What just happened. Here’s a rundown of the major stories that have broken since our newsletter on Thursday. - On Thursday, Vice President JD Vance suggested that Israeli lawmakers should refrain from criticizing the Trump administration’s peace deal with Iran, saying, “If I was in the Cabinet of the Israeli government, I might not be attacking the only powerful ally that I have anywhere left in the entire world.” ([The comments](https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5930696-vance-warns-israel-trump-iran/?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Thursday, Ukraine launched what is believed to be its largest airstrikes on Moscow since Russia’s all-out invasion in 2022\. Ukrainian officials said drones struck some Russian oil refineries, and all four of Moscow’s airports were closed down. ([The strikes](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/18/world/europe/moscow-ukraine-drone-attack-fire.html?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Friday, Israel and Hezbollah agreed to a ceasefire, following days of intensified strikes between the sides that imperilled the memorandum of understanding to end the U.S.–Iran war. ([The ceasefire](https://www.nbcnews.com/world/iran/us-iran-talks-postponed-vance-cancels-trip-israel-strikes-lebanon-rcna350830?ref=readtangle.com)) However, on Saturday, Iranian officials said they had re-closed the Strait of Hormuz, citing new clashes between Israel and Hezbollah after the ceasefire was agreed to. ([The latest](https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/fighting-flares-again-in-lebanon-despite-israel-hezbollah-ceasefire-4d0ffae8?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Friday, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani canceled his planned trip to the United States in response to President Donald Trump’s claim that Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni had “begged” for a photo with him at the G7 Summit in France last week. Meloni called the comments “completely fabricated” and questioned Trump’s treatment of U.S. allies. ([The response](https://apnews.com/article/trump-meloni-italy-us-36d6452879d0d61983802c036cdb7835?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Friday, President Trump unveiled the aircraft that was gifted to the U.S. government by Qatar and will serve as the new Air Force One for presidential transport. ([The aircraft](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/air-force-one-new-plane-trump-qatar/?ref=readtangle.com)) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/06/data-src-image-da0aea7c-c6b5-4d99-a90a-7c028a027ab4.png) ### Reader essay. ![Photo from Jac Cochran](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/06/data-src-image-69b06091-80b7-4e1e-a42f-c226d7bc4241.jpeg) Photo from Jac Cochran Studies show that 57% of college students report feelings of loneliness. In this essay, recent college grad Jac Cochran explores what he thinks is one of the top reasons why: the decline of third spaces, or places where people can gather that aren’t home or work. Jac draws from personal experience and sociological evidence to make the case for combating the loneliness epidemic by reviving third spaces. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### The Third Space: A Cure For America’s Loneliness Epidemic? URL: https://www.readtangle.com/otherposts/the-third-space-a-cure-for-americas-loneliness-epidemic/ Last updated: 2026-07-06T12:15:41.000Z *By Jac Cochran* --- A recent study found that 57% of college students report feeling lonely. Almost everyone is aware of the mental health crisis among teenagers. Thousands of articles and TV segments have proposed causes ranging from smart phones to vaccines. But among all those theories, few have focused on the physical spaces that shape our everyday lives. Third spaces are social environments — separate from the home and the school- or work-place — where people can gather to socialize, relax, and engage in activities distinct from their daily routines. They are crucial for creating community, fostering connection, and developing social skills. They could also play a key role in improving mental health and belonging among America’s teenagers. When I arrived at the University of Virginia, I felt excited and hopeful. While incredibly nervous about leaving home, my family and my friends, I was ready to seize everything that UVA has to offer. I wanted to have a rich social life and a successful academic career, to find an intramural soccer team and a go-to late night hangout spot; I wanted to be happy. But college is a big change. Adjusting to an entirely new place with so many new faces and routines can be overwhelming, and finding a place, or group of people, to fit in with can be daunting. My first year at UVA was lonely. Within a couple weeks, it seemed like everyone around me had found their friends and their place within the university — and that it was already set in stone. While the vast majority of new people I met were very friendly, it just didn’t click. I had a hard time finding my people, I had a hard time even finding a place to look. In high school, soccer was a big part of my social life. The fields were my third space, where I would spend afternoons after school kicking the ball with my friends. Yet as a first-year without a car, getting to any field was difficult. At UVA, there are no soccer fields near first-year dorms. Whether through bad planning, financial restrictions or city boundaries, the space just didn’t exist. I often needed 45 minutes to walk from my dorm to the nearest field, with no guarantee that a club sports or fraternity wouldn’t be using it when I arrived. Intramural sports suffered from similar problems. Games were held at night, off grounds (UVA speak for “off campus”), at the facility for graduate students. Making the journey by bicycle felt borderline unsafe. My route to these fields was poorly lit and parts of it were without sidewalks or bike lanes. My roommate and I would pedal as fast as possible while also trying to avoid the often reckless, college drivers. Then, during a somewhat gentler ride to a campus event, I was hit by a car. My bike was ruined, but outside of a few cuts and bruises, I escaped physically unscathed. The real damage was done to my psyche. If I had been hit on grounds in the middle of the afternoon, then think of how likely was I to be hit at night on the dark, windy roads to my soccer games? Biking to faraway activities seemed like less of an option, and I began to feel increasingly stranded. Soccer had been my outlet and main way of meeting new people; without it, I wasn’t totally sure what to do. On grounds, I couldn’t find places to socialize or relax away from the stresses of school. Libraries were quiet and stressful, my dorm was divided into suites with their doors always closed, and dining halls were filled with students on their phones instead of in conversation. After my first year, I wasn’t totally sure I wanted to come back. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### U.S. signs deal with Iran. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/iran-deal-signed/ Last updated: 2026-06-18T15:53:02.000Z Hey everyone, this is Senior Editor **Will Kaback**, wishing you a happy Thursday. It’s a short week for us at Tangle: We observe all bank holidays, and tomorrow is Juneteenth, so we won’t be sending a Friday edition. But if you’re interested in getting an on-the-ground perspective of people’s thoughts about the holiday — or how it came to be — [**check out this video**](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3qQVYocQuw&ref=readtangle.com) we produced for our YouTube channel in 2024, featuring Isaac in his element on the streets of Philadelphia. We’ve certainly got a ways to go until the long weekend, though. The past few days have been dominated by news of a **preliminary agreement to end the Iran war**, and yesterday brought the release of the full memorandum of understanding signed by the U.S. and Iran. Today, we’ll break down what’s in the agreement, and I’ll share my thoughts on why it’s caused a furor on both sides of the political spectrum. Stick around for **an update on aviation safety** and our now-regular feature on **the stories we *didn’t* cover** this week. It’ll be a **14-minute edition**; let’s get into it. ### The Father’s Day episode. In a special Father’s Day edition of *Suspension of the Rules,* Isaac, Ari, and Kmele are joined on the podcast by two guests: Executive Producer Jon Lall and Isaac’s father (and Tangle editor) Bailey Saul. The five of them represent different phases of fatherhood — from soon-to-be father to dad of two school-aged children to three-kid veteran (and grandfather) — and discuss what they’ve learned through their separate experiences. You can listen to the special edition [here](https://youtu.be/nKegVKw2eDQ?ref=readtangle.com). ### Quick hits. 1. The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) voted unanimously to keep interest rates unchanged at 3.5%–3.75% in Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh’s first FOMC meeting as chair. Nine policymakers signaled that they expect at least one interest rate increase in 2026\. ([The vote](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-06-17/fed-holds-rates-steady-officials-split-over-hikes-this-year?ref=readtangle.com)) 2. The Supreme Court ruled unanimously that the government cannot prosecute individuals for illegal gun possession solely because they are recreational cannabis users. ([The ruling](https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/5929977-second-amendment-firearm-ruling/?ref=readtangle.com)) 3. Republican lawmakers in Georgia opted not to pursue redrawing the state’s Congressional map for the 2028 elections, though they said they may revisit the plan at a later date. ([The decision](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/elections/georgia-republicans-backtrack-redistricting-plans-rcna350566?ref=readtangle.com)) 4. The U.S. Southern ​Command said that it struck a boat allegedly operated by “designated terrorist organizations” in the Eastern Pacific, killing one but leaving two survivors. The Coast Guard was notified for search-and-rescue operations. ([The strike](https://www.reuters.com/world/us-military-says-one-killed-two-survive-its-strike-vessel-eastern-pacific-2026-06-17/?ref=readtangle.com)) 5. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the Pentagon will review the U.S. military’s presence in Europe and could reduce its contributions to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization if other member states do not meet their defense-spending obligations. ([The remarks](https://www.wsj.com/politics/national-security/hegseth-announces-review-of-u-s-forces-in-europe-threatens-nato-cuts-d455bee3?ref=readtangle.com)) from today's partner ****Supercharge Your Productivity With 1,000+ ChatGPT Prompts from Superhuman AI** ChatGPT is insanely powerful. But most people waste 90% of its potential by using it like Google. Master AI and work [10X faster](https://api.wellput.io/v1/cm?cmid=931037mqilzeb1&tid=334&s1=v2-r733860-p931037-c45319&s2=Tangle&s3=&s4=null&ref=readtangle.com) with 1,000+ proven ChatGPT prompts. [Sign up for Superhuman AI](https://api.wellput.io/v1/cm?cmid=931037mqilzeb1&tid=334&s1=v2-r733860-p931037-c45319&s2=Tangle&s3=&s4=null&ref=readtangle.com) to get: - 1,000+ ready-to-use prompts to solve problems in minutes instead of hours — tested & used by 1M+ professionals - ****Superhuman AI** newsletter (3 min daily) so you keep learning new AI tools & tutorials to stay ahead in your career — the prompts are just the beginning [****Claim your free prompts from Superhuman AI**](https://api.wellput.io/v1/cm?cmid=931037mqilzeb1&tid=334&s1=v2-r733860-p931037-c45319&s2=Tangle&s3=&s4=null&ref=readtangle.com)****!** ### Today’s topic. The Iran deal. On Wednesday, both the United States and Iran [remotely signed](https://www.axios.com/2026/06/17/iran-deal-signing-text-release?ref=readtangle.com) a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to end the war between the two countries after more than 100 days of conflict. The White House also [announced](https://www.axios.com/2026/06/17/read-full-us-iran-deal-memorandum-understanding?ref=readtangle.com) the details of the 14-point plan, which included calls for the U.S. and Iran to allow passage through the Strait of Hormuz and commits the United States to facilitating a $300 billion reconstruction fund for Iran. **Back up:** The U.S. and Israel launched a [coordinated military campaign](https://www.readtangle.com/war-with-iran-trump-middle-east/) against Iran on February 28, 2026\. After more than five weeks of fighting, the two sides agreed to a ceasefire on April 7\. In the months since, the U.S. and Iran have each conducted sporadic military operations, including exchanging airstrikes last week after an Iranian drone hit a U.S. helicopter. President Donald Trump had previously [announced](https://www.readtangle.com/iran-peace-deal-june-2026/) the agreement on Sunday, calling it a “great deal” before heading to the G7 Summit in Évian-les-Bains, France. **What’s in it:** The deal [includes](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/text-iran-us-memorandum-understanding-rcna350582?ref=readtangle.com) 14 individual items. For trade, Iran will immediately open the Strait of Hormuz without tolls for 60 days, with shipping volumes returning to pre-war levels within 30 days, and the U.S. will lift its naval blockade in parallel. On Iran’s nuclear program, Iran reaffirms it will not pursue a nuclear weapon while the U.S. agrees not to impose new sanctions or deploy additional forces in the region pending a final deal. For oil production, the U.S. agrees to allow Iran to resume exports of crude oil and petroleum products and unfreeze Iran’s assets. The U.S. will also develop a $300 billion reconstruction project in cooperation with unspecified regional partners in the Middle East. Separately, the MOU states that the ceasefire will extend to Lebanon, although Israel [has said](https://abcnews.com/International/live-updates/iran-live-updates-israel-withdraw-lebanon-katz-after/?id=133879236&entryId=133879336&ref=readtangle.com) that the deal will not obligate it to pull its forces out of the country. Israel conducted [air strikes](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/6/18/israeli-attacks-on-southern-lebanon-kill-three-despite-us-iran-deal?ref=readtangle.com) on Lebanon yesterday, killing at least three people. President Trump [has described](https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5927787-trump-iran-agreement-details/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Trump%20has%20said%20this%20provision%20achieves%20%E2%80%9C99.9%20percent%E2%80%9D%20of%20his%20goal%20of%20preventing%20Iran%20from%20obtaining%20a%20nuclear%20weapon.%C2%A0) the deal as achieving “99.9 percent” of his goal of preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, pointing to Iran’s reaffirmation in the MOU that it will not produce one. Iran has confirmed the details of the plan, but Iranian spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei [emphasized](https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/iran-says-lebanon-is-integral-part-peace-deal-with-us-2026-06-15/?ref=readtangle.com) Lebanon’s “sovereignty and territorial integrity” were integral to the deal. After the details were released, many U.S. legislators were critical. “We get a deal that just reopens the strait that was already open before he started the war? How is that a win?” [said](https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5923043-iran-deal-criticized-moulton/?ref=readtangle.com) Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA). “History teaches that giving billions of dollars to theocratic lunatics who want to murder us is a bad idea,” Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) [said](https://www.dailywire.com/news/instant-reaction-ted-cruz-blasts-plan-to-send-billions-to-ayatollah?ref=readtangle.com). Today, we’ll share arguments from the left and right, followed by Senior Editor Will Kaback’s take. ### What the left is saying. - **The left calls the deal a failure, with many saying it will define Trump’s legacy.** - **Some criticize Trump for forsaking his promise to the Iranian people.** - **Others argue the deal heralds a shift in the world order.** **In The Nation, David Faris called the deal** [**“total humiliation for Trump.”**](https://www.thenation.com/article/world/iran-peace-deal-trump/?ref=readtangle.com) “\[The deal\] represents a humiliating strategic defeat and immediately ends the Islamic Republic’s long international isolation with virtually no concessions from Tehran whatsoever,” Faris wrote. “While U.S. officials failed to broker any serious linkage between Iran’s nuclear program and aid resumption, Tehran achieved a linkage breakthrough of its own: Iranian negotiators tied the negotiating window to stopping Israel’s reckless bombing attacks in Lebanon.” “Once Iran succeeded in keeping the Strait of Hormuz closed with minimal effort, and once the US gave up on any attempt to force it open with history’s most powerful navy, Tehran realized it held all the cards,” Faris said. “Shielded from military reprisals and with a promise from the United States to ‘respect each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and to refrain from interfering in each other’s internal affairs,’ Iran is now well on the road to regional hegemony… \[Trump will\] now have to live with the reality that, for all of the horrific, long-term damage he has inflicted on the United States and its political system, the debacle in Iran may be the humiliating foundation of his legacy.” **In MS NOW, Holly Dagres said Trump** [**“abandoned \[the Iranian\] cause.”**](https://www.ms.now/opinion/trump-iran-war-regime-protesters-abandoned?ref=readtangle.com) “Anti-regime Iranians have been on an emotional roller coaster for months. Protests that began in late December turned into a bloody January uprising in which security forces killed thousands of civilians. President Donald Trump urged the Iranian people on Jan. 13 to keep protesting, promising that ‘help is on its way,’” Dagres wrote. “Meanwhile, they watched as U.S. officials negotiated with the regime that had slaughtered fellow Iranians, including children, and even said they would be honored to meet those leaders.” “As the conflict continued, Iran’s civilian infrastructure has been increasingly damaged — not just the accidental U.S. strike on an elementary school in Minab, but also, more recently, drinking-water structures… The economic consequences for Iranians have also been severe. The conflict is estimated to have cost at least one million Iranian jobs,” Dagres said. “The war and the broader U.S. treatment of Iran issues have left many in and outside Iran wondering whether the U.S. remains committed to supporting the Iranian people at all.” **In Bloomberg, Andreas Kluth said** [**“America’s loss to Iran will unravel geopolitics.”**](https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2026-06-17/america-s-loss-to-iran-will-unravel-geopolitics?srnd=phx-opinion&ref=readtangle.com) “For the world as a whole, the ramifications of this stalemate will be just as large,” Kluth wrote. “America’s war against Iran differs from Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, but the two conflicts have this in common: In each case, the president of an erstwhile superpower attacked a second-rate power and failed to defeat it… One result is that America and Russia, in different ways, will come out of their wars of choice exhausted and diminished.” “A third power, China, has of course been watching this slow but accelerating self-sabotage by America and Russia. And its leader, Xi Jinping, is seeing his assumptions confirmed,” Kluth said. “One is that Moscow will be no more than a junior partner to Beijing, useful in balancing against the US but no match in any non-nuclear arena of power — economic, technological, political. Another is that America is in a secular decline, which will leave China stronger as long as it conserves its own resources.” ### What the right is saying. - **The right is mixed, though many suggest Trump lost out in the deal.** - **Some say the deal allows the U.S. to adjust its Middle East strategy.** - **Others predict Vice President Vance will take the fall if the deal falls through.** **The New York Post editorial board said the deal** [**“gives the Islamic Republic big wins up front — and America nothing.”**](https://nypost.com/2026/06/16/opinion/trumps-iran-deal-gives-the-islamic-republic-big-wins-upfront-and-america-nothing/?ref=readtangle.com) “As best we can tell, the deal does nothing to achieve the aims America started the war with — but does hand Tehran a whole series of gains,” the board wrote. “Iran gets at least a few billion in immediate funds and can start selling oil right away, with at least some other sanctions dropped as well. Moreover, Tehran wins unprecedented authority over the Strait of Hormuz and likely locks in Hezbollah’s dominance of Lebanon. Recall our goals: The prez opened combat seeking to permanently end Iran’s nuclear threat, and also eliminate its missiles and other offensive capabilities, and we also hoped for regime change.” “The bombing set back \[Iran’s\] nuke programs, took out a lot of missiles and missile factories and decapitated most of the regime’s top leadership. All the talks since the start of April have done nothing more — indeed, have only let new Iranian leaders rebuild and regroup, even as the populace suffers,” the board said. “It seems to us that Team Trump doesn’t want to use force to open the strait, it’s panicking over oil prices and the midterms and just wants to forget its promises to help the Iranian people.” **In The American Conservative, Eldar Mamedov suggested the deal** [**“could help transform America’s mideast strategy.”**](https://www.theamericanconservative.com/the-u-s-iran-deal-could-help-transform-americas-mideast-strategy/?ref=readtangle.com) “The deal… has far wider geopolitical ramifications than a transactional ceasefire. That is because it reveals the limits of American power and opens a path to a long-overdue U.S. strategic recalibration in the Middle East,” Mamedov wrote. “This outcome need not be seen as catastrophic. It can instead produce a realistic reassessment of American presence and partnerships in the Middle East.” “The strategic opportunity is now visible. The deal allows the United States to do what it should have done a decade ago: recalibrate its regional posture downward while ensuring that no single power — Iranian, Saudi, Turkish, or Israeli — dominates the Gulf,” Mamedov said. “The primary responsibility for regional security would likely shift to an alignment of regional powers... These states have the economic weight, military capacity, and diplomatic relationships with Tehran to manage the regional frameworks without direct American combat involvement.” **In The Spectator, Freddy Gray asked** [**“will the Iran deal destroy J.D. Vance?”**](https://spectator.com/article/will-the-iran-deal-destroy-j-d-vance/?edition=us&ref=readtangle.com) “Both Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, though keen to show their commitment to Trump’s agenda, have tried to distance themselves from his unpopular war and its ramifications on their presidential ambitions,” Gray wrote. “The difference is that Rubio has privately expressed reservations about negotiating with the Iranians, whereas Vance has become the frontman of the ongoing peace process. This week, he has appeared on almost every American news channel, selling the MOU as Iran’s last chance to come in from the diplomatic cold.” “If the deal collapses, or is widely seen as a humiliation for America, Vance will be dismissed as a foreign-policy dunce. It’s notable that the odds on him becoming the next Republican presidential nominee are lengthening, while Rubio’s have shortened. Sources close to Vance have let it be known he is now considering not running in 2028,” Gray said. “\[Trump’s\] war seems destined to force a painful reckoning over America’s relationship with its closest ally in the Middle East. And Vance or Rubio may well have to deal with that.” ### My take. **Reminder: “My take” is a section where we give ourselves space to share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, don't unsubscribe. Write in by replying to this email, or** [**leave a comment**](https://www.readtangle.com/iran-deal-signed/#ghost-comments-root)**.** - **If the MOU holds, the U.S. will have achieved none of its core objectives in this war.** - **Trump appears to be backing down in a way he hasn’t before.** - **Iran is poised to emerge from this war emboldened and more powerful.** **Senior Editor Will Kaback:** I don’t know about you, but my head is spinning after the past week. Trying to parse the tonal shifts, contradictory messaging, and lack of transparency from the Trump administration about peace negotiations with Iran has felt like solving 10 jigsaw puzzles whose pieces are mixed up together in a single box. Now, finally, we have access to the text of a memorandum of understanding (MOU), which is not actually a deal but a starting point for negotiations on a lasting deal that could still fall apart if those future discussions stall. Okay, my head is still spinning. For some time now, the administration has clearly been drifting away from its goals in Iran. They communicated those goals in contradictory and uncertain terms at the beginning of the conflict, but they eventually landed on [a core set of objectives](https://x.com/WhiteHouse/status/2032070214553096490?ref=readtangle.com): destroy Iran’s missile arsenal, destroy its navy, ensure it can never obtain a nuclear weapon, and end the threat posed by its proxies in the Middle East. On the first count, the United States credibly degraded a significant portion of Iran’s missile arsenal, especially early on. However, based on [reporting](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/12/us/politics/iran-missiles-us-intelligence.html?ref=readtangle.com) from several [outlets](https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2026/05/07/cia-intelligence-iran-trump-blockade-missiles/?ref=readtangle.com) in the past month, Iran’s stockpile is currently about 70% of its pre-war level. The U.S. government denied these reports, but it hasn’t publicly issued its own assessment. The MOU says nothing about the arsenal, either, and Trump himself [suggested](https://x.com/atrupar/status/2067325059820122560?s=20&ref=readtangle.com) on Wednesday that it would be “unfair” for Iran notto have *some* missiles. On the second count, the administration met its goal in technical terms, as Iran’s navy was [severely hampered](https://www.csis.org/analysis/how-lose-navy-10-days?ref=readtangle.com) within two weeks of the war’s start. Tactically, however, this achievement hasn’t been meaningful; Iran was able to leverage the Strait of Hormuz by mining the waterway, a move that could [continue to disrupt](https://www.timesofisrael.com/operation-to-remove-iranian-mines-from-strait-of-hormuz-could-take-weeks-experts-say/?ref=readtangle.com) shipping even after the war formally ends. Despite the naval losses, Iran’s “mosquito fleets” — small, unconventional military flotillas — have continued to [wreak havoc](https://www.cnn.com/2026/05/08/middleeast/iran-mosquito-fleet-small-boats-hormuz-intl?ref=readtangle.com) in the strait, using a kind of marine guerrilla warfare to disrupt traffic as they please. Third, the fate of Iran’s nuclear program — ostensibly *the* core issue of this war — is uncertain, but we are a long way off from the [complete “obliteration”](https://www.whitehouse.gov/releases/2025/06/irans-nuclear-facilities-have-been-obliterated-and-suggestions-otherwise-are-fake-news/?ref=readtangle.com) President Trump claimed last year’s U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities already achieved. After the war began in February, the administration told us [time and again](https://www.whitehouse.gov/releases/2026/04/president-trumps-clear-and-unchanging-objectives-drive-decisive-success-against-iranian-regime/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Since%20the%20launch%20of%20Operation%20Epic%20Fury%2C%20the%20Trump%20Administration%20has%20repeatedly%20and%20unambiguously%20reaffirmed%20these%20core%20objectives%3A) that eliminating Iran’s nuclear threat was an absolute priority. But has the war brought that goal any closer? The MOU amounts to a promise that Iran will not “procure or develop” nuclear weapons, hardly binding and hardly reassuring. The president even undermined this position on Wednesday, [implying](https://x.com/atrupar/status/2067289874030276702?ref=readtangle.com) it isn’t fair that Iran’s neighbors can possess enriched uranium when Iran can’t. Finally, Iran-backed groups — particularly Hamas and Hezbollah — remain active in the region. While fighting in Gaza has declined, Hamas has not disarmed, and [reporting from this week](https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog%5Fentry/hamas-gave-effective-no-in-latest-disarmament-talks-us-backed-gaza-plan-to-advance-regardless-source/?ref=readtangle.com) indicates that it doesn’t plan to. Separately, the MOU explicitly states that military activity will cease on all fronts, including Lebanon, where Israel has continued carrying out airstrikes targeting Hezbollah. The text of the agreement notably highlights the “territorial integrity and sovereignty of Lebanon,” which feels like a clear warning to Israel to stand down, especially when paired with Trump’s recent comments [criticizing](https://x.com/Acyn/status/2067281506951922121?s=20&ref=readtangle.com) Israel’s airstrikes. Meanwhile, the Houthis, another armed group backed by Iran, [threatened](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/08/world/middleeast/houthis-yemen-red-sea-israel-shipping.html?ref=readtangle.com) last week to attack Israeli ships in the Red Sea. Considering the U.S. position at the start of the war, these developments boggle the mind. It’s not hyperbole to say that President Trump has backed off from or completely reversed his position on all of the core issues he used to justify attacking Iran. But that’s not all. The MOU confirms reports that the U.S. will help develop a $300 billion reconstruction fund for Iran, unfreeze its assets, and allow it to immediately resume exporting oil — despite the State Department reportedly [telling Congress *on Tuesday*](https://x.com/AndrewDesiderio/status/2067380033300140376?s=20&ref=readtangle.com)that Iran uses these oil exports to fund terrorism. *And* the deal will eventually roll back *all* U.S.sanctions against Iran. In return, Iran will employ its “best efforts” to allow ships to transit the Strait of Hormuz without a toll for 60 days — in other words, the pre-war status quo, except the strait is now full of mines and Iran could start charging a fee later. These lopsided terms have triggered a remarkable deluge of criticism from the president’s hawkish supporters in the media and Congress. Fox News’s Trey Gowdy [said](https://x.com/Acyn/status/2067306134332146158?s=20&ref=readtangle.com), “We had total control over that country… When you’re in that position, you negotiate from strength. You don’t give people money.” The Daily Wire’s Ben Shapiro [called](https://x.com/atrupar/status/2067331463096201241?s=20&ref=readtangle.com) it a “disaster.” And commentator Batya Ungar-Sargon [wrote](https://x.com/bungarsargon/status/2067255107272507618?s=20&ref=readtangle.com), “The greatest superpower to ever exist brought to its knees by a few mines. Just a disaster for America.” These criticisms underscore a larger point: Throughout President Trump’s second term, his core agenda items have all stalled. The Supreme Court struck the “reciprocal tariffs” down. The deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis forced leadership changes in immigration enforcement, and deportation numbers [continue to lag behind](https://www.nbcnews.com/data-graphics/us-immigration-tracker-follow-arrests-detentions-border-crossings-rcna189148?ref=readtangle.com) the president’s lofty goal. Now, the Iran war has derailed his foreign policy. Trump has still found avenues through which to enact tariffs and carry out deportations — the administration has pursued alternate legal routes to impose duties and recently locked in $70 billion in funding for ICE and CBP through Congress’s reconciliation bill — but in this war, he’s waving the white flag and backing off rather meekly. Consider just a few of his comments at the G7 Summit in France yesterday. “The alternative \[to this deal\] would be a worldwide depression,” he [said](https://x.com/clashreport/status/2067198524555497737?s=20&ref=readtangle.com). “We have taken a lot of \[Iran’s\] money… It’s not our money, it’s their money, and we froze it. At a certain point in time, I guess we’re going to have to give it back,” he [said](https://x.com/clashreport/status/2067287934856839373?ref=readtangle.com). “\[Without this deal,\] we run out of \[oil\] reserves at about 4 weeks,” he [said](https://x.com/MeidasTouch/status/2067363382597238968?s=20&ref=readtangle.com). “The one thing I didn’t want to see is… economic catastrophe. If you kept this going, that could have happened,” he [said](https://x.com/ProfessorPape/status/2067319591185907770?s=20&ref=readtangle.com). At the start of the war, pointing out the economic risks was a common talking point from the left. Now, the president himself has adopted that talking point — about a war he started. These admissions suggest Iran will carry substantial leverage into the next stage of negotiations, and they lay bare the administration’s lack of a coherent war strategy. Make no mistake: Iran’s restriction of the Strait of Hormuz was the decisive move of this conflict, one we did not appear prepared for or capable of countering (despite the administration [insisting otherwise](https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-israel-uae-iron-dome-f3d5738853111cfc80985c157edab7c3?ref=readtangle.com)). Of course, the war is not necessarily over. Future negotiations could fall apart, and the U.S. could resume its attacks in some form. As our own Managing Editor Ari Weitzman [noted](https://www.readtangle.com/iran-peace-deal-june-2026/) on Monday, the MOU doesn’t resolve the conditions of the conflict, which implies the conflict may persist. But without the ability to control movement through the strait, we’ll just be back in the same place we are today, no matter how many Iranian leaders we kill or how many military sites we destroy. No masterstroke is coming; the Trump administration is just boxed in. As someone who doubted the justifications for this war from the start and felt its execution has been haphazard, I admit to feeling some schadenfreude at this outcome, particularly after the degree of bluster about our path to overwhelming victory in the first few weeks (and Trump’s [confidence](https://abcnews.com/Politics/read-president-trumps-remarks-iran-nuclear-deal-transcript/story?id=55021089&ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=A%20constructive%20deal%20could%20easily%20have%20been%20struck%20at%20the%20time%2C%20but%20it%20wasn%27t.%20At%20the%20heart%20of%20the%20Iran%20deal%20was%20a%20giant%20fiction%20that%20a%20murderous%20regime%20desired%20only%20a%20peaceful%20nuclear%20energy%20program.) that he could easily negotiate an Iran deal superior to the Obama administration’s). But then I remember the U.S. servicemembers killed in the conflict and the many others wounded. I remember the Iranian civilians killed, including more than 100 schoolchildren in what was almost certainly an errant U.S. missile strike. I remember that the Iranian regime — a repressive and violent government that murders its own people and thirsts for the destruction of the United States — is on the verge of emerging from this war richer and more influential in the Middle East. If the war is indeed over, I’ll be relieved, but I find little to take solace in beyond that. What was this all for? Cynicism aside, we should be clear on one thing: If this MOU is indeed the beginning of the end of this war, then the war was a failure for the United States. We have not achieved our goals, and our adversary is likely to emerge from the conflict stronger than before. The costs — in lives and dollars — have been high, and we haven’t even begun the now-planned reconstruction. The world is a more dangerous, unstable place than it was before February 28\. And in all likelihood, the U.S. taxpayer will be left picking up the pieces and footing the bill for this administration’s mistakes long after President Trump’s term is over. **Take the survey:** What do you think of the memorandum of understanding? [Let us know](https://interrobang.vercel.app/survey/72581e5a-6a71-408c-b4e7-96270b070140?ref=readtangle.com). *Disagree? That's okay. Our opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we'll consider publishing your feedback.* ### Note to self. 📝 ****February 2025: Check back on updates to aviation safety.** **Update:** On January 29, 2025, the deadliest air crash in the United States since November 2001 occurred when an Army Black Hawk helicopter carrying three soldiers collided with an American Airlines plane carrying 60 passengers and four crew members over the Potomac River. Senior Editor Will Kaback wrote a [Friday edition](https://www.readtangle.com/making-sense-of-the-washington-dc-plane-crash/) looking into the state of aviation safety at the time, and our team set a calendar reminder for this week to look back on any major industry changes since then. First, the January crash was not the last of negative headlines for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in 2025\. Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) cuts [created concerns](https://www.reuters.com/world/us/faa-fires-fewer-than-400-workers-transportation-chief-says-2025-02-18/?ref=readtangle.com) about short-staffing across departments starting in February, and reports of chaos at Newark Liberty International Airport’s ATC [first went public](https://onemileatatime.com/news/newark-atc-radar-radio-outages-chaos/?ref=readtangle.com) in May. Then, the government responded. The One Big Beautiful Bill passed by Congress in July [put more than $12 billion](https://federalnewsnetwork.com/it-modernization/2025/12/faa-ramps-up-billions-in-spending-as-down-payment-for-air-traffic-overhaul/?ref=readtangle.com) toward ATC modernization, and the FAA expected to obligate about half of that by the end of fiscal year 2026\. In February of this year, Congress [passed legislation](https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2026/february/05/congress-passes-faa-funding-bill?ref=readtangle.com) to fund the hiring of 2,500 new air traffic controllers, 54 additional aviation safety inspectors, and $4 billion to maintain and upgrade ATC infrastructure nationwide. It also blocked any effort to privatize the ATC system. In April, the House passed the [ALERT Act](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/7613?ref=readtangle.com) to improve the country’s Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast; the bill passed after a rival piece of legislation, [the ROTOR Act](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/2503?ref=readtangle.com), was voted down in the House (despite passing the Senate unanimously with more industry support). The differences between these acts are complicated, and you can read more about them [here](https://www.dlapiper.com/en-us/insights/publications/2026/02/the-rotor-act-and-the-alert-act?ref=readtangle.com). The bottom line changes are this: The FAA has so far hired above its goal, but years of training [still remain](https://www.globalair.com/articles/faa-releases-new-air-traffic-controller-hiring-plan-for-improved-efficiency/12338?ref=readtangle.com) before the industry can be considered fully staffed. All in all, the latest investments in the airline industry have not yet resulted in any noticeable improvement in [the safety data](https://www.airlineratings.com/articles/us-aviation-safety-under-scrutiny--what-the-data-really-shows?ref=readtangle.com). ### Under the radar. On Monday, Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ordered Angela Perryman, one of the American passengers linked to a cruise-ship outbreak of hantavirus last month, to remain in quarantine at a Nebraska facility despite her requests to leave. Kennedy’s decision also conflicted with a recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) review that said Perryman should be allowed to quarantine at home in Florida, where she lives part time. An HHS spokesperson called Kennedy’s order “necessary,” citing “the absence of proper home monitoring” by Florida, which has reportedly refused to meet the Trump administration’s requested 24/7 surveillance requirements. “I’m in a room 23, 24 hours a day,” Perryman said. “It does not serve public health.” [The Wall Street Journal has the story](https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/rfk-jr-orders-american-exposed-to-hantavirus-to-stay-quarantined-against-medical-advice-a6f5b5f2?mod=politics%5Ffeat2%5Fpolicy%5Fpos3&ref=readtangle.com). ### The road not taken. We briefly considered a few stories that are still developing to cover this week: California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s (D) claim that he is being investigated by the DOJ, the G7 meeting in France, the FISA and SAVE America Act negotiations in Congress, and the hold placed on Anthropic’s release of its latest AI models. However, as those topics are unfolding, we felt covering them now would be premature. We wouldn’t normally cover the same topic twice in one week, but the flurry of updates on Iran pushed us to cover both the events leading up to the announcement of a coming MOU as well as the MOU itself. The biggest upside of that choice is that we get to go deep on the topic, but another is that we have a menu of items we’re keeping tabs on as we head into the three-day weekend. ### The extras. - **One year ago today** we wrote about [political violence in Minnesota](https://www.readtangle.com/political-violence-minnesota-hortman-shooting/). - **The most clicked link in our last regular newsletter** was the article about [Phoebe Bridgers banning phones from her concerts](https://www.theargumentmag.com/p/sometimes-you-have-to-hurt-people?ref=readtangle.com). - **Nothing to do with politics:** Announcing [the world’s longest tiramisu](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DXoVZfjDEuC/?ref=readtangle.com). - **Our last survey:** 1,675 readers responded to our survey on the effect of social media bans on teens with 50% saying bans will make teens moderately happier and healthier. “It’s already happening in Australia... kids are finding their ways around the ban,” one respondent said. “Don’t let perfect be the enemy of good. Sure, kids *can* access alcohol, but fewer do with a ban in place,” said another. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/06/data-src-image-4ecc9683-f71d-4c1d-8b9f-f3fc7b3e4199.png) ### Have a nice day. After discovering he had a hereditary condition affecting his lungs and liver, Pete McKee received a liver transplant in 2017 that saved his life. This year McKee, an artist in Sheffield, England, designed new organ-donor cards for a limited-edition run to help encourage people to register. The designs include symbols connected to Sheffield, like a steelworker pouring molten metal into a heart-shaped cask. Mark Piotr was the man who donated his liver to McKee, and his wife, Karen Piotr, [recalled](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy0gx04dn49o?ref=readtangle.com) the moment he decided to become a donor. They were donating blood, and Mark said, “They’ve had a pint of my Yorkshire finest, if anything ever happens, they can just have the lot!” [BBC has the story](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0e2vpl1rwlo?ref=readtangle.com). ### What Our Fathers Got Right URL: https://www.readtangle.com/what-our-fathers-got-right/ Last updated: 2026-06-18T18:07:21.000Z In this special Father's Day episode of Suspension of the Rules, we step away from politics and current events to talk about something even more important: fatherhood. ### The UK’s social media ban for minors. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/uk-youth-social-media-bans-starmer/ Last updated: 2026-06-17T15:54:02.000Z This is Managing Editor **Ari Weitzman**, it’s Wednesday, June 17, and I have a question for you: Where were you on the night of June 16, 2026? No need to ask for a lawyer, you aren’t compelled by law to answer me — but if you weren’t watching Argentina play Algeria in the World Cup, you will have to answer to yourself. Soccer is the biggest sport in the history of the world, this year’s World Cup is the biggest tournament in the history of the sport, and one of the game’s all-time greats just turned in a performance for the record books. Lionel Messi recorded a hat trick in Argentina’s 3–0 win over Algeria (and had another goal called back for offside), [giving Patrick Mahomes a show](https://x.com/espn/status/2067069910232997947?s=20&ref=readtangle.com) in his own house. Messi will turn 39 next week, making him exactly one month older than old creaky-bones McGee here, your humble author of today’s edition on **social media bans**. We’re also turning back the clock with features on **one of the wonders of the world** and the **return of supersonic planes**. Defy Father Time with us for **14 minutes** for another brain-wrinkling edition of Tangle. ### Quick hits. 1. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that the agreement to end the U.S.–Iran war requires Israel to withdraw from Lebanon. Israel has said it will not accept that condition. ([The comments](https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-war-israel-lebanon-oil-june-16-2026-d79458506c46e3f4a78aef0f9d8b9250?ref=readtangle.com)) Separately, The Wall Street Journal reported that the deal will allow Iran to immediately begin selling oil and fuel. U.S. officials have also indicated that Iran will have access to a $300 billion fund to help rebuild the country if it meets certain provisions in the deal. ([The report](https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/the-trump-iran-deal-allows-tehran-to-immediately-sell-oil-37a1ebe5?ref=readtangle.com)) 2. President Donald Trump said he will delay the confirmation hearing of Jay Clayton as director of national intelligence (DNI) to prioritize confirming Clayton’s replacement for U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York. The delay could impact the Senate’s efforts to reauthorize Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which Democrats have refused to support until Acting DNI Bill Pulte is replaced. ([The update](https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/trump-delays-jay-claytons-nomination-for-intelligence-director-130020ad?mod=hp%5Flead%5Fpos1&ref=readtangle.com)) 3. Rep. Mike Collins (R-GA), endorsed by President Trump, advanced in the Republican runoff for Georgia Senate and will face Sen. Jon Ossoff (D) in the general election. Businessman Rick Jackson defeated Trump-backed Lt. Gov. Burt Jones in the state’s Republican gubernatorial runoff; Jackson will face former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms (D) in the general election. ([The runoffs](https://www.cnn.com/2026/06/16/politics/live-news/elections-georgia-alabama-oklahoma-dc?ref=readtangle.com)) Separately, Trump-backed Rep. Barry Moore (R) won Alabama’s Republican Senate primary runoff in the race to succeed Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R). ([The runoff](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-election/alabama-midterms-senate-primary-winner-moore-trump-backed-rcna350027?ref=readtangle.com)) 4. The Education Department announced that it will move offices overseeing special-education services and civil rights out of its purview, transferring their work to the Department of Health and Human Services and the Justice Department, respectively. ([The announcement](https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2026/06/16/education-dept-plans-move-special-ed-civil-rights-out-agency/?ref=readtangle.com)) 5. A federal judge temporarily blocked an Idaho law that bars transgender people from using bathrooms that do not correspond with their sex, finding that the law is likely unconstitutional. Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador (R) said he will appeal the ruling. 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On Monday, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer [announced](https://x.com/Keir%5FStarmer/status/2066421329859936656?ref=readtangle.com) that in 2027, the United Kingdom will ban children under 16 from accessing major social media platforms, including TikTok, Instagram, X, and YouTube (but not YouTube Kids). Several other countries have passed similar bans, but the UK’s measure will go further, [blocking](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/social-media-to-be-banned-for-under-16s-in-landmark-government-move-to-givekids-their-childhood-back?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=In%20a%20move,on%20gaming%20sites) features like live-streaming and communicating with strangers while gaming. Furthermore, Starmer said the regulations will restrict access to artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots designed to simulate romantic or sexual relationships for users under 18 and may also impose curfews on social media use for under-18s. **Back up:** In December 2025, Australia [implemented](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/09/world/asia/australia-social-media-ban-under-16.html?ref=readtangle.com) a social media ban for children under 16, becoming the first country to impose restrictions for minors. Malaysia, Spain, France, Austria, Greece, Denmark, and Indonesia have also [announced or implemented](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/15/world/europe/social-media-bans-worldwide.html?ref=readtangle.com#link-1c92a503) social media bans for select platforms. In the United States, Congress has not taken up legislation to enact similar restrictions, though in 2025, a bipartisan group of senators introduced the [Kids Off Social Media Act](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/278?ref=readtangle.com), which would prevent American children under 13 from making social media accounts. The bill has not been voted on. As of late 2025, several U.S. states had [enacted](https://www.multistate.us/insider/2025/10/8/eight-states-enact-minor-social-media-bans-despite-court-fights?ref=readtangle.com) social media bans for minors or laws requiring parental consent for minors to operate social media accounts, though many of those laws were later blocked by courts. Several other states are currently considering bans. In a Substack post on Monday, Starmer [wrote](https://keirstarmer.substack.com/p/giving-children-their-childhoods), “I am simply not prepared to be a bystander when the safety and happiness of our children are at stake… Of course, some children will find a technological work-around. But that doesn’t mean we should not take this step or that it won’t make a difference.” The UK Parliament passed the [Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act](https://educationhub.blog.gov.uk/2026/05/the-childrens-wellbeing-bill-what-parents-need-to-know/?ref=readtangle.com) in April, which [allows](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/social-media-to-be-banned-for-under-16s-in-landmark-government-move-to-givekids-their-childhood-back?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Parents%20rightly%20expect,effect%20in%E2%80%AFSpring%202027) it to create targeted rules — like this social media ban — without needing to pass further legislation. To enforce the restrictions, the UK [plans](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/uk-social-media-ban-under-16-children-starmer-announcement/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=The%20legislation%20would%20put%20the%20onus%20on%20tech%20companies%20to%20ensure%20children%20aren%27t%20using%20their%20platforms%2C%20and%20they%20could%20face%20huge%20fines%20for%20failing%20to%20comply.%20Starmer%20said%20he%20hoped%20to%20have%20the%20regulations%20passed%20by%20lawmakers%20by%20late%20December%20so%20the%20ban%20can%20come%20into%20force%20by%20the%20spring%20of%202027.) to impose fines on companies that fail to comply with the law, and Starmer hopes to put those regulations into effect by the spring of 2027\. Some experts have questioned the efficacy of such bans. Jon Crowcroft, a communications systems professor at the University of Cambridge, [said](https://apnews.com/article/uk-teen-social-media-ban-starmer-55de428636b586ff5553b604783f6fb3?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Jon%20Crowcroft%2C%20a,technically%2C%E2%80%9D%20Crowcroft%20said.), “There is a real risk this will drive some users to worse sites, and policing devices is close to impossible technically.” Others have noted the limited initial impacts of Australia’s ban; in March, Australia’s internet regulator [published a poll](https://www.esafety.gov.au/sites/default/files/2026-03/SocialMediaMinimumAgeComplianceUpdateMarch2026.pdf?ref=readtangle.com) that showed 70% of parents said their children still accessed social media platforms. The United States Embassy in the UK also [published](https://uk.usembassy.gov/u-s-government-response-to-the-uk-consultation-growing-up-in-the-online-world/?ref=readtangle.com) a notice on June 5 opposing the UK’s ban. Today, we’ll explore perspectives on social media bans from the right, left, and British writers. Then, Managing Editor Ari Weitzman gives his take. ### What the right is saying. - **The right is mixed on the ban, with some suggesting it will be ineffective.** - **Others say Britain is taking necessary action.** **In Reason, Reem Ibrahim wrote** [**“the evidence suggests \[bans\] won’t work.”**](https://reason.com/2026/06/15/britain-wants-to-ban-teens-from-social-media-the-evidence-suggests-it-wont-work/?ref=readtangle.com) “Regardless of how the ban will be enforced, one thing is certain: It will come at the expense of the privacy of all British internet users. The government cannot ban children from social media without asking everyone else to prove they are not children,” Ibrahim said. “Ofcom, Britain’s communications regulator, says in its own guidance under the Online Safety Act that age checks can include facial age estimation, open banking, digital identity services, credit card checks, email-based age estimation, mobile network checks, and photo-ID matching.” “The government’s plan appears to have been designed by people with very little understanding of how teenagers actually use the internet. As one survey of Europeans aged 13 to 18 found, 74 percent of teenagers on average said they watched videos on YouTube to learn something new for school, and 71 percent on average watched videos on YouTube to learn something new for fun or outside of school,” Ibrahim wrote. “Social media is also used to stay in touch with friends and family… A majority of both girls (71%) and boys (60%) see being online as good for helping to build and maintain friendships.” **In The Daily Caller, John Loftus said Britain** [**“\[made\] a good call for once.”**](https://dailycaller.com/2026/06/15/united-kingdom-uk-social-media-ban-under-16-keir-starmer-henry-nowak-elon-musk/?ref=readtangle.com) “Britain is famous for its nanny state rules, which include extremely strict anti-smoking rules, and high ‘sin taxes’ and a ‘sugar levy’ to curb alcohol consumption and lower obesity rates. The current government is also pro-censorship, and more generally, Britain does not have an enshrined First Amendment as we do in the States. But Starmer’s decision to ban social media for children is nevertheless the right move,” Loftus wrote. “No one in their right mind believes it’s healthy for a 10-year-old girl to be doomscrolling on TikTok every minute of the day. It’s almost like giving a child cigarettes. “A study published in 2025 found that social media and smartphone addiction among kids is linked to a higher risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Another study found that nearly half of kids aged 13–17 said social media made them feel worse about their bodies,” Loftus said. “Yet there is certainly a political calculation. The policy appears popular in Britain, and Starmer could desperately use a win. It could also be a middle finger to American CEOs and Big Tech companies.” ### What the left is saying. - **The left is also mixed on the bans, with some saying regulation is a better option.** - **Others note that restrictions on different addictive products have been effective.** **In The Los Angeles Times, Jessica L. Schleider argued** [**“if social platforms are harmful, don’t just ban kids. Regulate the harms.”**](https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2026-02-25/social-media-youth-addictive-regulation?ref=readtangle.com) “These \[bans\] are politically attractive. They are simple, signal action and promise protection without requiring the nuanced, slow and logistically complex work of regulating trillion-dollar companies,” Schleider wrote. “But blunt-force bans are the wrong response to this moment… Bans without systemic oversight are worse than ineffective; they are a form of policy abdication. They kick the can down the road, shift responsibility away from technology companies and give up on the far harder task of making online spaces genuinely safer for the millions of young people who already use them every day and will likely continue to do so.” “Across large studies, the association between overall time spent on social media and mental health outcomes is often small or inconsistent. What matters far more than screen time alone is what young people encounter online, how content is delivered, and whether platforms are structured to support or undermine users’ well-being,” Schleider said. “Responding to that reality with bans aimed at youth access rather than regulation of platform design is a profound misalignment of responsibility. It places the burden of safety on adolescents and families while leaving the systems that generate harm intact.” **In The Atlantic, Keith Humphreys and Jonathan Caulkins suggested** [**“a social-media ban really could do a lot of good.”**](https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/02/australia-social-media-ban-effects/685853/?ref=readtangle.com) “The long experience of governments trying to restrict young people’s access to temptation goods of other kinds — drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, pornography — justifies cautious optimism,” Humphreys and Caulkins wrote. “The ban might deliver some truly valuable benefits, letting youthful missteps remain local and ephemeral, rather than searing permanent brands onto developing psyches, and giving young people more time to develop the in-person social skills and connections that make life meaningful.” “Positive outcomes from raising the minimum legal age for addictive substances do not guarantee success for imposing minimum legal ages on social-media accounts. Consuming alcohol, tobacco, or cannabis requires the acquisition of a physical object. This creates regulatory checkpoints… that are hard to replicate online,” Humphreys and Caulkins said. “However, in other respects, banning access to social media may be easier. Many teens appear to *want* to be off social media; they see it as detrimental to their own well-being but nevertheless feel they have to be on it to keep up with their peers… A ban might solve this collective-action problem.” ### What UK writers are saying. - **Some British writers see the ban as government overkill.** - **Others say Starmer was right to pursue bold action to address a pressing issue.** **In The Spectator, Andrew Tettenborn called Britain’s ban** [**“stupid and unenforceable.”**](https://spectator.com/article/the-social-media-ban-is-a-stupid-but-unenforceable-idea/?edition=us&ref=readtangle.com) “The responsibility for supervising what children read and see should lie squarely with parents, who after all can dictate the internet setup in their homes and choose which, if any, smartphones to give their offspring,” Tettenborn wrote. “The government could have subtly reinforced this idea, for instance by requiring that all phones and routers sold have parental controls set to ‘on’ by default, only changeable by the account holder. The idea that this is something for the state and its none-too-subtle mega-agency Ofcom sends an unfortunate message.” “There is much wholesome educational content on Youtube, ranging from maths to history to current affairs: schools indeed increasingly encourage the young to draw on it for the purposes of homework and further study. Again, teenagers often have a keen interest in computing, and for this Reddit is one of the best sources. But no dice,” Tettenborn said. “Whatever Keir Starmer says, there are big questions over whether any of this is actually enforceable, something the Australians, who brought in a similar ban a short time ago, have already found out. Children can, and undoubtedly will, importune friends or elder siblings over 16 to lend them their phones or tablets, which at a stroke defeats the object.” **The Guardian editorial board praised** [**“the UK’s new, tougher approach to child safety.”**](https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/jun/15/the-guardian-view-on-regulating-big-tech-the-uks-new-tougher-approach-to-child-safety-is-overdue?ref=readtangle.com) “How people feel about this depends to some extent on their attitude to big tech. Age verification is controversial because it could carry implications for adults as well, depending on how it is implemented,” the board wrote. “Last week, Sir Keir \[Starmer\] committed to compulsory nudity-detection on all devices if Apple and Google do not come up with a software fix to protect children by September. There are legitimate fears that data protection laws may not be sufficient to protect privacy if users are required to upload documents to prove who they are.” “But if much remains unclear, this week’s gear shift is still welcome. For too long, tech companies have used their market power to dictate terms,” the board said. “Sir Keir’s move represents a belated recognition that while these businesses have changed the world in ways that many people appreciate, their overarching goal of maximising engagement with their products is not aligned with human flourishing — and too frequently undermines it.” ### My take. **Reminder: “My take” is a section where we give ourselves space to share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, don’t unsubscribe. Write in by replying to this email, or** [**leave a comment**](https://www.readtangle.com/uk-youth-social-media-bans-starmer/#ghost-comments-root)**.** - **Kids’ social media use is a demonstrable problem.** - **Total bans and age restrictions have failed to mitigate similar harms — but total policy abdication has failed, too.** - **My ideal solution is for the government to mandate more parental tools and for a gradual and thorough cultural shift.** **Managing Editor Ari Weitzman:** A natural reaction, when learning about a substance or behavior that is shown to be harmful, is to want the government to ban it. I understand the impulse; if studies show that something is bad for you, then why should it be legal? But I also think jumping straight to outright bans is an unimaginative solution that’s prone to failure, sometimes backfires, and can create bigger problems than were associated with the thing the government just made illegal. Policy is hard. Social media use has been very convincingly demonstrated to have negative impacts on minors. A 2025 review of 57 studies across 21 countries [found](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41283962/?ref=readtangle.com) that daily social media use is associated with increased stress, anxiety, depression, loneliness, and poor sleep quality. As much as 40% of depressed youth [reported](https://www.utsouthwestern.edu/newsroom/articles/year-2025/march-social-media-youth-depression.html?ref=readtangle.com) high levels of social media use, and spending three or more hours on social media per day [has been associated](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10625526/?ref=readtangle.com) with elevated risk of self harm. Smartphone usage even negatively affects the [cervical spine](https://biologyinsights.com/how-does-social-media-affect-your-physical-health/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Physical%20Strain%20and%20Posture), [eyes](https://worldhealth.net/news/digital-eye-strain-how-protect-your-eyes-screens/?ref=readtangle.com), and [sleep quality](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41283962/?ref=readtangle.com). Any reasonable person would want to limit those harms, but it doesn’t follow that the best solution is banning every social media app for minors. I’d like to try an exercise with you. Below, I’m going to give you the stats for three different risk factors. Without knowing what these specific risk factors are (and without clicking the links that back up these claims until later), what do you think the appropriate government response to these factors would be? Should they be banned for everyone, made unavailable or illegal for minors only, or just be left up to every individual to self-manage? Factor A: As of 2024, 228 million Americans age 12 and older [have engaged](https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohols-effects-health/alcohol-topics-z/alcohol-facts-and-statistics/alcohol-use-united-states-age-groups-and-demographic-characteristics?ref=readtangle.com) in behavior associated with Factor A, and 27 million adults have a [disordered relationship](https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohols-effects-health/alcohol-topics/alcohol-facts-and-statistics/alcohol-use-disorder-aud-united-states-age-groups-and-demographic-characteristics?ref=readtangle.com) with it. 50–70% of people with a disordered relationship to Factor A also have a [psychiatric disorder](https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40429-015-0076-5?ref=readtangle.com) at some point in their lives (like depression, anxiety, or suicidality) and 83% have a [physical disorder](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8783789/?ref=readtangle.com) (like hypertension, asthma, or high cholesterol). In a given month, 48% of young adults 18–25 [will have engaged](https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohols-effects-health/alcohol-topics-z/alcohol-facts-and-statistics/alcohol-and-young-adults-ages-18-25?ref=readtangle.com) in this behavior, which [is associated](https://deconstructingstigma.org/guides/drinking-teen-brain?ref=readtangle.com) with the deaths of 4,300 individuals under the age of 21 each year. Even limited exposure to Factor A can [severely impact](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7183385/?ref=readtangle.com) an adolescent’s development. Factor B: Based on a 2024 study, 61% of North American adults [engaged](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12365529/?ref=readtangle.com) in this behavior, and 13.8% did so to a risky degree often associated with a disorder. If a person [develops a disorder](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12646120/?ref=readtangle.com) with Factor B, they have an 82% chance of a co-occurring mental disorder (like substance abuse, mood, or personality disorders) and a 27% chance of a [physical disorder](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12242520/?ref=readtangle.com) (such as respiratory or endocrine disorders). Among minors, between 4% and 8% [participated](https://effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov/sites/default/files/nt%5Fdocs/1078-gambling-interventions-topic-dispoisition.pdf?ref=readtangle.com) in this behavior in 2024, and 15% of those who did have a risky usage rate. 68% of youth with a disordered relationship to Factor B also have a psychiatric disorder, and 20% have attempted suicide. Since 2024, access to and usage of Factor B [has increased](https://sri.siena.edu/2026/04/13/more-than-a-quarter-of-americans-27-have-an-active-online-sports-betting-account-a-third-have-opened-an-account-at-least-once/?ref=readtangle.com). Factor C: Roughly one third of all U.S. adults [participate in behavior](https://www.myshortlister.com/insights/sleep-statistics?ref=readtangle.com) associated with Factor C, which has an associated [6%–15% increase](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12116485/?ref=readtangle.com) in mortality. 46% of people engaged in this behavior [report](https://www.sleepfoundation.org/sleep-news/sleep-quality-and-mental-health-connection?ref=readtangle.com) lower than average mental health scores, and the behavior has a 48% [increased risk](https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/the-effects-of-sleep-deprivation?ref=readtangle.com) of heart disease and 50% increased risk of obesity. In 2024, 60%–70% of teenagers [engaged in](https://assets.cureus.com/uploads/original%5Farticle/pdf/432746/20260102-123175-8djhg9.pdf?ref=readtangle.com) disordered behavior with Factor C, which has been causally linked to poor brain development and heightened anxiety, stress, and depression (and has a [higher associated risk](https://www.cdc.gov/physical-activity-education/staying-healthy/sleep.html?ref=readtangle.com) of diabetes). A 2025 study has [also implicated](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2352721824002353?ref=readtangle.com) Factor C in 21% of all fatal car crashes, while another from the same year [has linked](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667005425000651?ref=readtangle.com) Factor C to an elevated risk of cancer. I’ll ask again: What should the government’s policies be towards these risk factors? Really take a minute to consider it. Maybe you think that the best policy is just to make them totally illegal. For a long time, that was the U.S. policy regarding [online gambling](https://www.bettingusa.com/laws/?ref=readtangle.com) (Factor B). The Federal Wire Act of 1961 prohibited interstate transmission of bets and wagers by wire, and in 2006, Congress made it illegal for companies to knowingly process funds won through online gambling with the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act. However, that same act also created a specific carveout for fantasy sports that “reflect the relative knowledge and skill of the participants,” [which led](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/daily-fantasy-sports-operators-draftkings-fanduel-agree-to-merger/?ref=readtangle.com) to a boom in “one-day fantasy” leagues, which led to the proliferation of online sports betting, which (along with a [major](https://www.oyez.org/cases/2017/16-476?ref=readtangle.com) Supreme Court ruling) led to its legalization in many states. In essence, the sensible attempt to create carveouts for what at the time were pretty benign and friendly use cases ended up inviting companies to explore loopholes, which became so common that much of the regulation was reduced to a farce. I know the rebuttal: *That’s a problem we should fix with sports betting, not one we’re doomed to recreate with social media*. But social media restrictions still face the same problem online gambling faced: How do you define the problem? Australia’s ban on social media also extends to YouTube, which means that kids can’t have accounts — but it doesn’t mean they can’t go to the website. Now, kids are [watching videos](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jun/15/how-australia-social-media-ban-has-affected-families-six-months-on?ref=readtangle.com) without signing in, making it *harder* for parents to control their child’s usage. Sites like Reddit don’t require a login to view posts, either. How can these sites be made 100% inaccessible, by law, without state censorship? Maybe you think the best policy is to try to age-gate social media. That’s essentially our country’s stance with alcohol (Factor A) — and yet, kids still access and consume alcohol. And that’s a physical substance. Think of how much harder it is to create a law to age-gate a web application. Even without creating accounts, kids with access to smartphones will still find websites where they can scroll mindlessly (like [they’re doing in Australia](https://www.reddit.com/r/AskAnAustralian/comments/1u6p4yp/how%5Fhas%5Fthe%5Funder%5F16%5Fsocial%5Fmedia%5Fban%5Fbeen%5Fgoing/?ref=readtangle.com)). Solving this problem isn’t as easy as individual states banning porn websites for everyone; as Reem Ibrahim wrote in Reason (under “What the right is saying”), it’s hard to imagine an effective age restriction that doesn’t effectively apply to everyone. Without age-gating, maybe you think that the best policy is no policy, that the government shouldn’t be involved at all and social media use should be left up entirely to the individual. That’s the approach to sleep deprivation (Factor C) — and that makes sense, intuitively. You wouldn’t want the government to mandate a bed time and then be faced with the unseemly question of how to enforce it, even if this is the most prevalent of all the problems I talked about today. But here, the government’s *lack* of any stance or policy at all actually exacerbates this issue. Schools that push their start times back show increased sleep for students, better [academic performance](https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.aau6200?ref=readtangle.com), and [improved wellbeing](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/03/260311004725.htm?ref=readtangle.com#google%5Fvignette). And yet, most public schools still start between 7:30 and 8:30 AM. So no policy isn’t necessarily a good policy, either. That principle applies to the other examples, too. States where online sports betting is legal have [25%–30% more bankruptcies](https://anderson-review.ucla.edu/as-states-permitted-online-sports-gambling-citizens-personal-financial-health-suffered/?ref=readtangle.com), and binge drinking [is *higher*](https://madd.org/statistic/myth-europeans-let-their-kid-drink-at-an-early-age-yet-they-do-not-have-the-alcohol-realted-problems-we-do/?ref=readtangle.com) in countries where the drinking age is *lower*. Clearly some level of government control can make a difference. Policy is hard. In an ideal world, I’d like to see families be better equipped to manage social media usage on their own — a federal law requiring age restrictions and parental controls, for instance, which Congress has already [tried and failed to pass](https://fpf.org/blog/contextualizing-the-kids-online-safety-and-privacy-act-a-deep-dive-into-the-federal-kids-bill/?ref=readtangle.com). I’d also like to see our cultural norms regarding public phone usage change; some people, like [my favorite modern singer-songwriter](https://www.theargumentmag.com/p/sometimes-you-have-to-hurt-people?ref=readtangle.com), are already banning phones from their concerts. Describing how I think that cultural shift should unfold would take another 4,000 words at minimum — but for today, I’m very skeptical that government bans will help us get there. ****Staff dissent — Associate Editor Audrey Moorehead:** By and large, I agree with Ari that a government ban of social media is not ideal. However, I have to ask: How can we expect the mass cultural change that Ari and I want to see without some external pressure? The natural human impulse is to chase pleasure and convenience and avoid pain, so much so that [philosophers](https://iep.utm.edu/republic/?ref=readtangle.com) have long [theorized](https://basilica.ca/documents/2016/10/Thomas%20More-Utopia.pdf?ref=readtangle.com) about how to use external institutions — often [religious ones](https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/15071.htm?ref=readtangle.com) — to curb certain pleasurable impulses in order to create a well ordered society. But in a pluralistic society like the U.S., religious pressures don’t carry cultural weight, leaving us with government intervention as the most plausible path. This can work both ways, creating both greater acceptance and greater restriction of behaviors. Meaningful adoption of seatbelts and reduction in inebriated driving only occurred after states instituted laws mandating safer driving practices; meaningful social acceptance of integration and gay marriage only occurred after federal intervention. As much as I am resistant to government intervention, I can’t help but wonder if social media bans are a rare case where that intervention does more good than harm. **Take the survey:** Will social media bans be effective? [Let us know](https://interrobang.vercel.app/survey/07c8821b-7364-4556-a243-06580a961d05?ref=readtangle.com). *Disagree? That's okay. Our opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we'll consider publishing your feedback.* ### This day in history. ![Taj Mahal in Agra | © Yann Forget / Wikimedia Commons](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/06/data-src-image-a085e437-ee4b-4e2e-b901-4d35b58793bb.png) Taj Mahal in Agra | © [Yann Forget](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Yann?ref=readtangle.com) / [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/?ref=readtangle.com) Arjumand Banu Begum was the fifth Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan’s third and favorite wife. She was so beloved that her husband gave her the name Mumtaz Mahal, meaning “Exalted One of the Palace.” Mumtaz was his trusted companion and confidant during military campaigns for the 19 years they were married. Tragedy struck, however, during the birth of her fourteenth child: She died of postpartum hemorrhage on June 17, 1631, after prolonged labor. According to legend, Shah Jahan was so grieved that he went into secluded mourning for a year, and his hair turned white. During her life, Mumtaz Mahal supposedly made Shah Jahan promise her to build a palace tomb, and to visit it each year on her death anniversary. As a monument of his love for his wife, Shah Jahan built the Taj Mahal, one of the wonders of the modern world, in modern-day Agra, India. The palace, made of ivory marble, took 22 years to complete, but once it was done, Mumtaz Mahal’s body was interred there. According to legend, Shah Jahan intended to build a “Black Taj” across the river to hold his own body, but war with his sons interrupted his plans. After his death, the new ruler — his son Aurangzeb — interred Shah Jahan in the Taj Mahal, alongside his wife. ### Under the radar. On June 6, President Trump issued an executive order directing the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to lift restrictions on “overland” supersonic flights. The rules, which have been in place for over five decades, prevented civil aircraft from flying at supersonic speeds over U.S. landmasses largely due to the loud, supersonic boom these flights produce. The order calls on the FAA to “establish an interim noise-based-certification standard” and would benefit supersonic flight companies such as Boom Supersonic, whose aircraft have already been ordered or preordered by United, American, and Japan Airlines. [Forbes has the story](https://www.forbes.com/sites/marisagarcia/2025/06/09/trump-clears-us-for-supersonic-flights-ending-50-year-ban/?ref=readtangle.com). from TODAY'S PARTNER ****NordProtect is now Coveron** — with the same goal of helping you catch fraud and suspicious activity before it turns into serious financial damage. The difference between catching fraud early and finding it weeks later can be thousands in losses, destroyed credit, and days spent proving you are the victim. ****Coveron** helps you spot suspicious activity sooner with dark web scanning, credit monitoring, and actionable alerts — so you can [respond before the mess gets bigger](https://go.coveron.net/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=1026&aff%5Fid=147990&url%5Fid=33901&ref=readtangle.com). Use code [****TANGLE** and get ****76% off**](https://go.coveron.net/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=1026&aff%5Fid=147990&url%5Fid=33901&ref=readtangle.com)****.** [Get the Deal ](https://go.coveron.net/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=1026&aff%5Fid=147990&url%5Fid=33901&ref=readtangle.com) ### The extras. - **One year ago today** we covered [changes to the Trump administration’s deportation priorities](https://www.readtangle.com/trump-immigration-industry-carveouts/). - **The most clicked link in our last regular newsletter** was [the report on the B-52 bomber crash in California](https://www.wsj.com/us-news/b-52-bomber-crashes-shortly-after-take-off-at-california-air-base-25365cc0?ref=readtangle.com). - **Nothing to do with politics:** Amid talk of social media bans, a new way to waste hours online as [StumbleUpon re-launches](https://stumbleupon.cc/?ref=readtangle.com). - **Our last survey:** 4,294 readers responded to our survey on the UFC event at the White House with 72% saying they are not UFC fans and dislike that the White House hosted fights. “I agree that the real issue is the corruption and grift associated with anything Trump does,” one respondent said. “The left melted down as expected and they wonder why they can’t connect with young men,” said another. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/06/data-src-image-a16e18e7-58ba-43f4-8a7c-aa60593f2d85.png) ### Have a nice day. One day while riding the New York subway with AirPods in, Molly Selin noticed that the woman beside her was asking her a question. That question sparked a conversation that blossomed into a friendship; Molly went from a stranger next to Maria on the train to visiting her apartment for dinner once a week. One day, Molly made a TikTok video about their friendship, and about her commitment to helping Maria fulfill her lifelong dream of traveling back to Puerto Rico, the island home that she’d left seven decades earlier. Molly’s video quickly went viral, and Molly and Maria will visit Puerto Rico in July. [TODAY has the story](https://www.today.com/life/woman-befriends-stranger-subway-promises-puerto-rico-trip-maria-rcna348695?ref=readtangle.com). ### UFC fight night at the White House. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/white-house-freedom-250-ufc-trump/ Last updated: 2026-06-19T19:10:45.000Z Hello and happy Tuesday — I’m **Isaac Saul** and I’m still over the moon about an email I got from a 17-year-old reader yesterday. With his permission, I’m publishing it in full here: ![An email from a young Tangle reader thanking us for our work](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/06/data-src-image-4281af1e-c9e1-4fcd-92d3-9b00fc295647.png) How’s that for an uplifting way to start your week? Today, we’re taking a swing at **UFC fight night on the White House** **lawn,** a reader question about the **Israel–Lebanon fighting**, and a deeper look at **another White House fight** from the early 1900s. It’ll take roughly **14 minutes to read** this heater. Lock in. ### Help us reach more people like Grahm! Don’t forget, if you want to support this work (and help create more people like Grahm!), you [can do that here](https://www.readtangle.com/membership/). ### Quick hits. 1. A U.S. Air Force B-52 bomber crashed shortly after takeoff from Edwards Air Force Base in California. Authorities believe all eight people on board were killed, and the cause of the crash is under investigation. ([The crash](https://www.wsj.com/us-news/b-52-bomber-crashes-shortly-after-take-off-at-california-air-base-25365cc0?ref=readtangle.com)) 2. California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) said the Justice Department is investigating him and his wife, claiming that the investigation is politically motivated. Neither the White House nor the Justice Department has commented on the existence of the probe. ([The statement](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/gavin-newsom-says-trumps-justice-department-investigating-wife-rcna350167?ref=readtangle.com)) 3. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced the United Kingdom will ban children under 16 from accessing major social media platforms beginning in 2027\. ([The announcement](https://www.axios.com/2026/06/15/uk-minors-social-media-bans?ref=readtangle.com)) 4. Voters will cast ballots today in Georgia’s Republican runoff elections for Senate and governor and Alabama’s Senate runoff. Oklahoma and the District of Columbia are also holding primary elections. ([The elections](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trumps-endorsement-power-faces-crucial-tests-closely-watched-georgia-alabama-republican-runoff-elections?ref=readtangle.com)) 5. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) said the chamber will attempt to reauthorize Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act without including the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act in the measure. President Donald Trump had called on Republicans to pass the bills in tandem, but Thune called that idea “unrealistic.” ([The plan](https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5925177-thune-fisa-save-act/?ref=readtangle.com)) in partnership with incogni ****Your personal info is everywhere. Here’s how to erase it.** Your personal data is scattered across hundreds of websites right now. Home addresses, phone numbers, emails, even your family members’ details — all sitting online for anyone who knows where to look. And it doesn’t stop with data brokers. It’s on public records sites, obscure forums, and random people search engines you’ve never heard of. The internet never forgets. But you don’t have to leave your personal info out there. [****With Incogni**](https://deal.incogni.io/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=6&aff%5Fid=1007&ref=readtangle.com), you can remove your private data from hundreds of sites and keep it from showing up again. Take back control today with: • Automated removals from data brokers • Custom removal requests for any site • Continuous protection as new sites pop up Use code ****TANGLE** today to get an [exclusive 55% discount](https://deal.incogni.io/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=6&aff%5Fid=1007&ref=readtangle.com) on unlimited removals from anywhere that exposes your data. [Claim your 55% discount ](https://deal.incogni.io/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=6&aff%5Fid=1007&ref=readtangle.com) ### Today’s topic. UFC Freedom 250\. On Sunday, the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) [hosted](https://www.nbcnews.com/sports/mixed-martial-arts/live-blog/ufc-freedom-250-white-house-fight-trump-live-updates-rcna349986?ref=readtangle.com) a mixed martial arts fighting event on the South Lawn of the White House, billed as a celebration of the United States’s 250th anniversary this summer. The event, which coincided with President Donald Trump’s 80th birthday, was held in front of approximately 4,000 spectators, including top Trump administration officials, active military members, and high-profile business executives. Some lawmakers criticized the cost and aesthetics of the event. **Back up:** President Trump, a longtime UFC fan and friend of UFC CEO Dana White, [reportedly](https://www.cnn.com/2026/06/12/politics/ufc-trump-white-house?ref=readtangle.com) devised the event shortly after he won the 2024 election. In preparation for the fights, the UFC set up a temporary octagon surrounded by a 92-foot-tall lighting apparatus on the South Lawn and held promotional events at the nearby Lincoln Memorial. Two Virginia residents [sued](https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/5922032-trump-ufc-white-house-fight/?ref=readtangle.com) to stop the event, alleging that it violated environmental and National Park Service permitting requirements, but a federal judge found that the plaintiffs lacked standing to sue. The UFC [covered](https://huddleup.substack.com/p/how-the-ufc-built-a-stadium-on-the) $60 million in expenses required to host the function, though multiple federal agencies were involved in its planning and staffing. Additionally, the federal government spent an estimated $10–$12 million in supplemental security costs, which were appropriated from a fund approved by Congress. Many prominent Republican lawmakers and cabinet members [attended](https://www.wsj.com/politics/see-who-attended-trumps-white-house-cage-fight-8d5a2d0b?ref=readtangle.com) the fights, including Vice President JD Vance, House Speaker Mike Johnson (LA), Sen. Lindsey Graham (SC), Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Several tech executives were also in attendance, such as Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Crypto.com CEO Kris Marszalek, as well as Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison and podcaster and UFC commentator Joe Rogan. All seven fights [ended](https://heavy.com/sports/ufc/ufc-white-house-sets-record-all-knockouts/?ref=readtangle.com) in a knockout or technical knockout, the first time that has occurred in UFC history. Fighter Josh Hokit also [sparked backlash](https://thehill.com/policy/sports-gaming/5924536-michelle-obama-josh-hokit-ufc-freedom-250/?ref=readtangle.com) for saying “Michelle Obama is a man” in his post-fight interview. Some lawmakers criticized the president for hosting fights at the White House, suggesting it was an inappropriate location and a waste of government resources. “Trump is building a golden ballroom and for his birthday party — arranging a UFC fight on the White House grounds — while you’re fighting to pay this month’s bills,” Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA) [wrote](https://x.com/SenAdamSchiff/status/2059354070922506640?ref=readtangle.com) on X. Separately, former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) [said](https://thehill.com/policy/sports-gaming/5922633-mtg-trump-ufc-white-house/?ref=readtangle.com) she didn’t think UFC fights “belong on the White House lawn.” On Tuesday, several outlets [reported](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/fbi-disrupts-alleged-explosive-drone-plot-targeting-white-house-ufc-event-officials-say?ref=readtangle.com) that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has arrested five people connected to a plot to attack the event. In total, the bureau identified 23 people allegedly involved in planning to use explosive-laden drones to trigger a mass evacuation that would direct crowds towards a sniper team. Today, we’ll survey reactions to the event from the left and right. Then, Executive Editor Isaac Saul shares his take. ### What the left is saying. - **The left criticizes the fight, with many calling it indulgent and vulgar.** - **Some suggest Trump and his associates financially benefited from the event.** - **Others argue that the celebration degrades America’s national symbols.** **In The Guardian, Moira Donegan said** [**“\[Trump\] presides over spectacles of violence carried out for his entertainment.”**](https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/jun/15/donald-trump-spectacle-violence-dysfunctional-roman-emperor-ufc-white-house?ref=readtangle.com) “\[Trump\] wants to see his name and his portrait everywhere. He wants to feel like a big man, to see those he feels have wronged him be penitent and upset. Maybe most of all, he wants to indulge in his own bad taste,” Donegan wrote. “He loves the gaudy, clownish tokens of masculinity that appeal to very small children: big trucks, big muscles, and demonstrations of physical strength.” “Hosting a UFC fight on the White House lawn likely affirmed many of his own most base and childlike fantasies of narcissistic gratification,” Donegan said. “The use of government property and national landmarks for a birthday celebration for him — one that was a profit-making enterprise for many of his friends in the private sector — helped further his own efforts to symbolically fuse the federal government with his person, to insist that he is America and is the state.” **In Salon, Sophia Tesfaye called the event** [**“a gift to \[Trump’s\] billionaire friends.”**](https://www.salon.com/2026/06/15/trumps-ufc-birthday-bash-is-a-gift-to-his-billionaire-friends/?ref=readtangle.com) “The weekend was a case study in how the modern right-wing ecosystem transforms public institutions into branding opportunities while portraying anyone who notices as an enemy of the nation,” Tesfaye wrote. “It was a gathering of people… on public land, at public expense, to watch a private company’s product, sponsored by the president’s own businesses… The billionaire class was hosted to a weekend of high-rolling access, buying policy influence on Saturday and sitting cageside at the executive mansion on Sunday. “Freedom 250 isn’t free — and millions of Americans are being forced to foot the bill, whether they realize it or not,” Tesfaye said. “Trump threw himself a private, for-profit birthday party at a time when working-class Americans are profoundly struggling. The only reason the administration and its media echo chamber are frantically calling it a ‘patriotic celebration’ is to artificially tie it to the nation’s upcoming semiquincentennial. They are maliciously conflating the official, congressionally mandated ‘America 250’ with a corporate, trademarked money-making scheme called ‘Freedom 250.’” **The New York Daily News editorial board argued that the event** [**“debases the White House.”**](https://www.nydailynews.com/2026/06/14/trumps-birthday-ufc-bout-debases-the-white-house/?ref=readtangle.com) “Though it’s easy to laugh at this, we shouldn’t forget what underlies it,” the board wrote. “Trump is intentionally desecrating many of our nation’s most hallowed symbols, tossing out the celebration of national unity and progress that has been envisioned to create yet another rally for himself and his political movement, because he thinks (and has long thought) that he is synonymous with the state itself.” “In some ways, though, this is the most apt and most honest celebration of our current moment in American history. A staid celebration of our democratic norms and freedoms would be nothing but a farce, even a mockery. This spectacle is much more reflective of what Trump intends for the country,” the board said. “This low moment will go down in the history books, but we hope that it will go down as a mere warning of what can happen when we allow a con man to get so far in subverting everything our country is supposed to represent.” ### What the right is saying. - **Many on the right say the event was exciting and question the left’s outrage.** - **Some praise the event for its patriotic themes.** - **Others say the fight mirrors the current political landscape.** **In the Daily Caller, Mary Rooke argued that Trump is winning over** [**“red-blooded Americans everywhere.”**](https://dailycaller.com/2026/06/15/rooke-trump-rodeo-250-ufc-freedom-motocross-white-house-patriotism/?ref=readtangle.com) “President Donald Trump is delivering exactly the kind of 250th anniversary celebration that millions of Americans wanted: bold and unapologetic events rooted in the traditions and values that built this country,” Rooke wrote. “Americans have already seen motocross stunts performed in front of the White House, and the UFC 250 fight card produced on the White House lawn, complete with military flyovers, country music, and massive fireworks.” “The reality is that the left was always going to boycott or criticize anything built under Trump’s leadership. Predictable outrage and performer withdrawals were going to happen no matter what the events looked like,” Rooke said. “By leaning hard into red-state patriotism instead of chasing leftist approval, the administration ensures that everyday Americans have something real to be proud of supporting… The administration should keep doubling down on the heartland values and traditional American strengths that actually unite the majority of citizens who love this country.” **In Power Line, John Hinderaker said the event was** [**“spectacular and went off without a hitch.”**](https://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2026/06/ufc-freedom-250.php?ref=readtangle.com) “I will admit that, despite my reservations about MMA, I enjoyed last night’s event greatly, as did my family members who watched it,” Hinderaker wrote. “The real point of the event, of course, was patriotic. There was a flyover, the Marine band played frequently, and the fighters often made patriotic and religious comments after their bouts. The fighters walked out of the White House and were accompanied to the octagon, in each case, by a Medal of Honor winner and a local law enforcement officer or a first responder.” “It was, in some ways, rude and crude. Apart from the violence of the fights themselves, there was bad language, and one fighter yelled ‘Michelle Obama is a man!’ during his post-fight interview,” Hinderaker said. “Democrats denounced UFC Freedom 250 as a ‘desecration’ of the sacred White House grounds… That complaint does reflect the fact that for Democrats, government is religion. The Democrats counter-programmed with a lame show that featured (I am told) washed-up singers and elderly white ladies dancing badly. Happily for the Democrats, hardly anyone saw it.” **In Reason, Billy Binion said the fight is** [**“the perfect event for the present, not the past.”**](https://reason.com/2026/06/14/the-white-house-ufc-fight-is-the-perfect-event-for-the-present-not-the-past/?ref=readtangle.com) “A series of cage matches is an unusual choice to celebrate the history of the Founding. But it is arguably the perfect event to capture this moment in history. The story of mixed martial arts is itself a microcosm of the progression,” Binion wrote. “It would have been difficult to believe the sport would have a substantial audience just a few decades ago when it was banned in 36 states… Yet now it will have an audience at the White House. Its inclusion is a snapshot not just of the sport’s surprising trajectory but of how political sport has evolved in parallel.” “\[The South Lawn\] is no longer a place where outsiders are unwelcome by the establishment. It is a place where outsiders have become the establishment,” Binion said. “A celebration that transgressed partisan lines to venerate the Founding principles and the freedoms that make America unique would have been ideal. It also would have been an act, as politicians talk out of both sides of their mouths about the need to come together while seizing virtually every opportunity to trash their opponents.” ### My take. **Reminder: “My take” is a section where we give ourselves space to share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, don't unsubscribe. Write in by replying to this email, or** [**leave a comment**](https://www.readtangle.com/white-house-freedom-250-ufc-trump/#ghost-comments-root)**.** - **Americans have been arguing about what is “real America” for almost as long as humans have been fighting.** - **Some aspects of the event were bothersome, but I don’t really care that the White House hosted a UFC fight.** - **The real story to me — again and still — is the grift and corruption.** **Executive Editor Isaac Saul:** Something very funny happened in the wake of the UFC fight night at the White House on Sunday. Some writers on the left couldn’t help but [invoke 20th century French theorists](https://www.theatlantic.com/books/2026/06/trump-ufc-250-and-barthes-spectacle-excess/687549/?ref=readtangle.com) to try to explain why human beings like a violent spectacle, showing themselves to be so detached from the appeal of a UFC fight night they have to reach into academia for a framework to understand it. At the very same time, writers on the right try to [say “real America”](https://dailycaller.com/2026/06/15/rooke-trump-rodeo-250-ufc-freedom-motocross-white-house-patriotism/?ref=readtangle.com) is entirely made up of caricatured cowboys and energy-drink guzzlers, then insist that an event like this (with a [16% approval rating](https://thehill.com/policy/sports-gaming/5919856-white-house-ufc-event-approval-survey/?ref=readtangle.com)) is somehow the purest form of our country’s being. And *then* other writers on the left themselves [insist](https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/trump-birthday-white-house-ufc-fights-embarrassing-distraction.html?ref=readtangle.com) that, actually, this — a violent, stupid, and conspiratorial spectacle — truly *is* the “real America,” while writers on the right [insist](https://dailycaller.com/2026/06/15/ufc-freedom-250-americas-birthday-michelle-obama-man-josh-hokit-justin-gaethje/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Well%2C%20we%E2%80%99d%20undoubtedly,White%20House%2C%20didnyaknow%3F) this *isn’t* the real America anymore because we’ve become so emasculated, over-educated, and hyper-sensitive. It’s all such trodden ground that it’s equally amusing and stupid to me at the same time. Some people enjoy combat sports like UFC or boxing because our species is prone to violence, and we’ve spent millennia beheading each other for everything from petty crime to territorial conquest. Natural selection has both favored people who can cooperate as well as individuals who could compete for food and territory and mates, with violence an efficient way to win those resources. I don’t think this is all that complicated: Violent sports — UFC, boxing, hockey, football, rugby, wrestling — are healthy outlets for base-level, reptile-brained drives in a civilized society. One can hold the idea that resolving disputes with violence is bad while also understanding the appeal of controlled violence as a form of entertainment in the year 2026. Some people, obviously, don’t like watching human beings having their faces smashed in and bloodied. This is okay, too! America! Pluralism! If our country (or species) consisted *only* of brutish, aggro dudes who love breaking faces and resolving their issues with violence, it would be a hellish place to live. Are cultural elements of the UFC and its fanbase indelibly American? Of course. Is the UFC *America*, fundamentally? Obviously not. It’s a slice of our culture, part of what makes up the whole. I don’t know why it has to be any more grandiose than that. I’m probably a good example of these two sides of the American psyche: I personally enjoy the UFC. The controlled violence has an appeal that works for me, and it’s fun to watch a fight and try to guess which fighter’s particular style will prevail. It is the unpredictability and competition that make sports great and fun. But there is also a particular kind of knockout or leg-snap that makes my knees weak and requires me to look away or bite a hard object to endure it; it’s fun and crazy and unpredictable, and it’s also a little too gnarly sometimes. That’s part of the attraction, and part of the revulsion. It’s entertaining but I’m also glad when it’s over. I carried those feelings into Sunday night, when I missed the live event because I was driving home with the Tangle team from our own live event in West Virginia (which featured no head-smashing or cage matches, for whatever it’s worth). But over the last couple days, I did [catch every knockout](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBqj3cPhYOc&ref=readtangle.com) from the night and all manner of social clips from the post-fight interviews and pre-show pomp, with the patriotic celebration of America infusing most of the evening. And my feelings about that, like my philosophy on controlled violence, are decidedly mixed. On the one hand, I’m skeptical of the degree to which hosting a UFC fight is somehow a “desecration” of the White House. My strong suspicion is many of the people who feel that way wouldn’t have much minded a boxing match a few decades ago at the White House featuring a character like Muhammad Ali, who despite holding some pretty socially conservative views became a liberal cultural icon for his anti-Vietnam War stance. I’m even more allergic to the idea that any musical or sporting event is some new low in White House culture and integrity. Conservatives might make the case that hosting Pride events with scantily clad ([or nude](https://nypost.com/2023/06/13/rose-montoya-exposes-breasts-during-white-house-pride-party-after-meeting-biden/?ref=readtangle.com)) celebrations are equally degrading; I’d argue events like this are hardly the issue. One shouldn’t have to invoke President Bill Clinton getting oral sex from an intern in the Oval Office to make a point, but our memories really do seem that short. On the other hand, those on the right pretending an aversion to this spectacle is “proof” of how sensitive and pearl-clutchy the American left is are also deluding themselves. This wasn’t a unifying event and wasn’t intended to be. This wasn’t a celebration of American history — it was a birthday party for the president dressed up as a birthday party for us. I watched a fighter stand on the South Lawn of the White House and declare that Michelle Obama, the former first lady, “is a man” on a broadcast streamed to millions of viewers. This was a disgusting and embarrassing moment, even for a political movement that relishes pushing the boundaries and “triggering” the left. As reporter Sam Youngman [put it](https://x.com/samyoungman/status/2066510124697759929?ref=readtangle.com), it’d be hard to imagine the coverage if Obama hosted a “pay-per-view NBA event at the White House where LeBron called Melania a hooker.” The hypocrisy really knows no limits here. Glenn Beck — who once called it “truly obscene” and beneath “the dignity of the office” for President Obama to do interviews with YouTubers — is now defending this spectacle as a [“remarkable” homage to America](https://x.com/rightwingwatch/status/2066595894766543163?s=46&ref=readtangle.com) and praising Trump as the ultimate “showman.” Of course, some principled right-wing figures, even the most diehard MAGA defenders (like Fox News’s David Marcus), were [capable of saying “I was wrong”](https://x.com/BlueBoxDave/status/2066524831902797972?s=20&ref=readtangle.com) and the event crossed a line. In the end, the whole back-and-forth over what is really American or appropriate is another distraction from the biggest story, which [once again is corruption and grift](https://www.readtangle.com/the-everything-everywhere-all-at-once-corruption-story/). The UFC announced before the fights that the Trump Organization’s cryptocurrency platform, World Liberty Financial, would [pay out](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jun/14/white-house-ufc-fighters-crypto?ref=readtangle.com) Sunday’s winners in part using a cryptocurrency traded on the platform, effectively leveraging the event into a [giant commercial](https://x.com/factpostnews/status/2066327163859562577?s=20&ref=readtangle.com) for the president’s cryptocurrency venture. Trump also used the fight to promote and sell *actual* [Trump-branded gold coins](https://www.cnn.com/2026/06/09/politics/ufc-trump-organization-coins?ref=readtangle.com), which he profits from selling, for as much as $12,000\. Trump owns tens of thousands of dollars of stock in TKO Group Holdings, [the parent company of UFC](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-ufc-stock-white-house-fight%5Fn%5F6a19b50be4b0dade602f5c5c?xe&ref=readtangle.com), a fact he disclosed in a May 12 financial filing while promoting the event. Oh, and the entire thing was streamed on Paramount+, which last year [signed](https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/society-equity/paramount-wins-exclusive-us-rights-ufc-77-billion-deal-2025-08-11/?ref=readtangle.com) a $7.7 billion media rights deal with the UFC (again, a company Trump is invested in), all after the president strong-armed Paramount during its merger-and-acquisition gambits to shake up its coverage at its news networks like CBS. To spell that out: Trump applied pressure on Paramount’s potential merger, Paramount then settled a lawsuit to pay Trump off, then canceled Stephen Colbert’s show, the merger got approved, and *then* Paramount broadcasted an event hosted by a company Trump holds stock in and has publicly boosted. The whole thing stinks to high heaven, and if you’re looking for an *actual* story from the UFC spectacle, I think you’ll find it there. The UFC is popular. The White House is not some unblemished historical artifact. Our republic can survive a night of pomp and violence. The biggest story, with wider implications, is our continued normalization of the president’s obscene profiting and grifting, and our curious ability to be distracted from it so easily. **Take the survey:** What do you think of the White House hosting a UFC fight? [Let us know](https://interrobang.vercel.app/survey/73fb33aa-e439-4244-bf8f-230a0c8ca531?ref=readtangle.com). *Disagree? That's okay. Our opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we'll consider publishing your feedback.* ### Your questions, answered. **Q: I thought that Israel was part of our attacks on Iran. But since the war started, it seems like Israel has been more focused on Lebanon. I also heard Israel was not part of the negotiations between Iran and the U.S. How does Israel fit into the war with Iran?** **— CBW from Wisconsin** **Tangle:** It’s probably more accurate to think of the current war in Iran as two conflicts at the same time: the war against Iran itself, and the war against Iran’s proxies, particularly Hezbollah in Lebanon. In fact, as we [discussed yesterday](https://www.readtangle.com/iran-peace-deal-june-2026/), whether or not the current memorandum of understanding between the U.S. and Iran includes Israel or Hezbollah is a point of contention and controversy. As Abdulrahman Al-Rashed [wrote in Arab News](https://www.arabnews.com/node/2647138?ref=readtangle.com), having a peace plan apply to Hezbollah could “make Hezbollah a recognized and protected actor,” noting the same could apply to the Houthi militant group in Yemen. The U.S. and Israel share a desire to block Iran from having a nuclear weapon, but Israel’s fight against Hezbollah isn’t one that the U.S. has joined. In fact, Israel has been [fighting an all-out war](https://www.timesofisrael.com/repeated-blows-to-iranian-power-and-its-proxies-set-the-stage-for-us-israeli-attacks/?ref=readtangle.com) against Iran’s proxies going back to its response to Hamas’s attack on October 7, 2023\. Hamas and Hezbollah have been Israel’s targets since day one, and the Yemeni Houthis [have been involved](https://www.readtangle.com/united-states-houthi-strikes-red-sea/) for nearly as long. For that reason, Israel does not want a ceasefire with Iran to constrain its efforts against Hezbollah, which it says is threatening its citizens in northern Israel (and which, we should add, it is fighting in part by [targeting residential neighborhoods](https://www.nbcnews.com/world/lebanon/israel-continues-strikes-beiruts-southern-suburbs-rcna349995?ref=readtangle.com) outside Beirut). With respect to Iran, other than a [retaliatory strike](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/exchange-of-missile-strikes-between-israel-and-iran-threatens-fragile-ceasefire?ref=readtangle.com) on June 7 after an Iranian attack, Israel has been adhering to the April 7 ceasefire and not engaging in direct action. That [doesn’t mean](https://www.euronews.com/2026/04/08/israel-ready-to-return-to-battle-at-any-moment-against-iran-netanyahu-says?ref=readtangle.com) that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu considers Israel’s conflict with Iran to be a mission accomplished, but it does mean that he’s treating that front separately from Israel’s full-scale fight against Iranian proxy groups. **Want to have a question answered in the newsletter? You can reply to this email (it goes straight to our inbox) or** [**fill out this form**](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScQhqBSG%5F6%5FoBhwcTQMeS570n29XYbeQ9C9Bis7rjqI31g1tA/viewform?usp=header&ref=readtangle.com)**.** ### Numbers. - [**$30 million.**](https://huddleup.substack.com/p/how-the-ufc-built-a-stadium-on-the#:~:text=The%20UFC%20has%20signed%20corporate%20sponsorship%20deals%20with%20companies%20such%20as%20Ram%20Trucks%2C%20Crypto.com%2C%20Polymarket%2C%20and%20Bud%20Light%2C%20collectively%20worth%20%2430%20million) The approximate total value of the sponsorship deals the UFC signed with companies such as Ram Trucks, Crypto.com, Polymarket, and Bud Light for Sunday’s White House UFC event. - [**85,000.**](https://huddleup.substack.com/p/how-the-ufc-built-a-stadium-on-the#:~:text=Roughly%2085%2C000%20tickets%20have%20been%20distributed%20for%20free%2C%20with%20a%20temporary%20%241%20card%20authorization%20used%20for%20identity%20verification.) The approximate number of free tickets distributed for a watch party at the Ellipse near the White House during the event. - [**$700,000–$1 million.**](https://huddleup.substack.com/p/how-the-ufc-built-a-stadium-on-the#:~:text=The%20UFC%20has%20budgeted%20%24700%2C000%20to%20%241%20million%20for%20repairs%20to%20the%20South%20Lawn%20after%20the%20event.) The amount the UFC has budgeted for repairs to the South Lawn after the event. - [**16% and 46%.**](https://www.reuters.com/world/us/few-americans-back-trumps-white-house-cage-match-plan-reutersipsos-poll-finds-2026-06-11/?ref=readtangle.com) The percentage of U.S. adults who said it was appropriate and inappropriate, respectively, for President Trump to hold the UFC fights at the White House, according to a June 2026 Reuters/Ipsos poll. - [**31%, 11%, and 5%.**](https://www.reuters.com/world/us/few-americans-back-trumps-white-house-cage-match-plan-reutersipsos-poll-finds-2026-06-11/?ref=readtangle.com) The percentage of Republicans, independents and Democrats, respectively, who said holding the fights at the White House was appropriate. ### A deeper look. ![President Roosevelt and his “Tennis Cabinet” on the White House Lawn — March 1, 1909 | Clinedinst, Library of Congress 2013650863](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/06/data-src-image-76e41837-6647-4d51-9417-faf21d75a5c8.jpeg) President Roosevelt and his “Tennis Cabinet” on the White House Lawn — March 1, 1909 | Clinedinst, [Library of Congress 2013650863](https://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2013650863/?ref=readtangle.com) While annual, family-friendly favorites like the Easter Egg Roll and Presidential Turkey Pardoning might be the most well known happenings on the White House’s historic South Lawn, “America’s backyard” has been home to several sports-related events throughout its history. President Dwight D. Eisenhower installed a [putting green](https://www.usga.org/articles/2016/03/dwight-d--eisenhower--golf-s-ultimate-ambassador.html?ref=readtangle.com) on the lawn in 1954 on the site of what had been President Harry Truman’s [horseshoe pit](http://www.tysto.com/grounds/horseshoe-pitch.htm?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Harry%20Truman%20created%20a%20horsehoe%20pitch%20just%20off%20the%20Oval%20Office%2C%20but%20it%20was%20removed%20later%20%28probably%20for%20Eisenhower%27s%20putting%20green%29.). In 1989, President George H.W. Bush [built](https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/washington-dc-4-1-1989-president-george-h-w-bush-plays-news-photo/526600234?ref=readtangle.com) a new horseshoe pit, where he played against celebrities and world leaders; he even [demonstrated](http://www.tysto.com/grounds/horseshoe-pitch.htm?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=George%20HW%20Bush%20introducing%20Queen%20Elizabeth%20II%20of%20England%20to%20horseshoes%20in%201991%20%28Getty%20Images%20%2D%20Tim%20Graham%20%29) throws for Queen Elizabeth II. The White House Tee Ball Initiative, led by President George W. Bush, [began](https://www.littleleague.org/news/tee-ball-south-lawn/?ref=readtangle.com) in 2001, bringing youth teams together to compete and celebrate the sport on the South Lawn. But the White House’s most consequential sporting event didn’t take place on its lawn. In 1904, in a “gymnasium” somewhere *inside* the White House — the precise location is still unknown — President Theodore Roosevelt was [punched](https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2026/06/09/president-held-fight-white-house-before-he-was-partially-blinded/?ref=readtangle.com) in the left eye by his cousin-in-law Colonel Dan T. Moore during a boxing match. The president, whose pastimes also included tennis, fencing, jiu-jitsu and a sport called “singlestick,” revealed only after he left office that he had been partially blind in that eye ever since. He broke the news while speaking to reporters outside of a health camp, where he had just completed a weight-loss program. When they pressed him for details on the fight and subsequent injury, Roosevelt [responded](https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2026/06/09/president-held-fight-white-house-before-he-was-partially-blinded/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=When%20pressed%20for%20more%20details%20by%20reporters%2C%20Roosevelt%20refused.%20%E2%80%9CThere%20is%20to%20be%20nothing%20more%20to%20say%20about%20the%20matter%2C%E2%80%9D%20he%20said.), “There is to be nothing more to say about the matter.” ### The extras. - **One year ago today** we covered [the No Kings protests and the Army’s 250th anniversary parade](https://www.readtangle.com/no-kings-protests-and-military-parade/). - **The most clicked link in our last regular newsletter** was the report that the U.S. [killed the Tren de Aragua gang leader in an airstrike](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-says-u-s-killed-tren-de-aragua-leader-airstrike-nino-guerrero/?ref=readtangle.com). - **Nothing to do with politics:** The [sounds of love](https://thesoundof.love/?ref=readtangle.com). - **Our last survey:** 2,784 readers responded to our survey on the negotiations between the U.S. and Iran with 65% saying the two sides are not making any progress. “It sounds like the situation will be less beneficial than the agreement that Trump scrapped during his first term... it’s hard to argue this is progress,” one respondent said. “If we don’t know what is actually in the ‘agreement,’ we can’t know what it will lead to,” said another. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/06/data-src-image-8bff54c7-2264-435a-add5-6d3d03ac6904.png) *3,120 readers responded when we asked the same question on May 12 — those responses are below.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/06/data-src-image-40a61f6f-97f6-4cd0-a8ad-283d14e6394e.png) ### Have a nice day. Karl-Anthony Towns just won his first NBA championship with the New York Knicks. But throughout the series, his mind was on more than basketball. This April marked six years since his mother passed away from Covid-19 complications; Towns also lost seven other family members to the virus. The Minnesota Timberwolves, his team at the time, described his mother, Jacqueline Cruz-Towns, as “a fiery, caring, and extremely loving person, who touched everyone she met.” During the second game in the best-of-seven series, Towns looked to the sky and blew a kiss; he says he feels her support while playing. “I just felt a calm and a peace that… had to be coming from the woman above,” he said. “I do it for all my family in New Jersey that… allowed me to love this game of basketball and allowed me to be a kid with my mother.” [TODAY has the story](https://www.today.com/parents/karl-anthony-towns-rmom-tributes-knicks-tribute-rcna349809?ref=readtangle.com). ### A possible peace deal in Iran. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/iran-peace-deal-june-2026/ Last updated: 2026-06-15T15:53:21.000Z Hope you all had a good weekend. This is **Managing Editor** **Ari Weitzman**, writing today’s take while the rest of the Tangle team settles in at home after their travel from West Virginia. The team Slack has been eerily quiet since last Friday, giving me a specific flashback to this one time in elementary school when I was feeling sick in the morning and came in late, after the rest of my class had left for a field trip. So while everyone was enjoying the Carnegie Science Center, I was in an empty room next to the principal’s office catching up on homework. Has that ever happened to you? Just me? It sounds like the live event in West Virginia was a blast, and the team is buzzing about the warm welcome they got in Berkeley Springs. I was sad to miss the roundtable discussion on artificial intelligence, which I have *plenty* of opinions on and was eager to tussle with Editor-at-Large Kmele Foster about. Like you all, I’ll be keeping an eye out for the video when it drops. Today, though, we’re talking about **the war in Iran** and **oil in Venezuela**. It’s a geopolitical edition, it’s a **14-minute read**, and we cover a lot of ground. ### Quick hits. 1. President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. military killed the alleged leader of the Tren de Aragua gang in an airstrike in Venezuela conducted in coordination with the Venezuelan government. ([The strike](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-says-u-s-killed-tren-de-aragua-leader-airstrike-nino-guerrero/?ref=readtangle.com)) 2. Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) was hospitalized for an unspecified reason on Sunday. His team said he is “receiving excellent care” but has not shared further details. ([The hospitalization](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2026/06/14/mitch-mcconnell-admitted-to-hospital/90549806007/?ref=readtangle.com)) 3. Anthropic announced it had disabled its Fable 5 and Mythos 5 artificial intelligence models in response to a U.S. government directive to restrict access to the models for all foreign nationals. The company said it blocked access for all users to ensure compliance. ([The directive](https://www.cnn.com/2026/06/13/business/anthropic-mythos-model-national-security?ref=readtangle.com)) 4. Elon Musk became the world’s first trillionaire after SpaceX, the company he founded and leads as CEO, began trading as a public company on Friday. ([The debut](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/06/12/elon-musk-trillionaire-spacex.html?ref=readtangle.com)) 5. The annual G7 Summit, which brings together leaders from the United States, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United Kingdom, begins today in France. Countries are expected to discuss topics including the wars in Iran and Ukraine, online safety, and artificial intelligence. ([The summit](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/06/14/trump-g7-iran-deal-france-ukraine.html?ref=readtangle.com)) today's Partner ![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/06/unnamed--8-.png) ****The Subscription Isaac Didn’t Expect to Keep** Anyone that knows me, knows I love good food — but with my busy schedule and having a baby at home, I started defaulting to a lot of takeout. Searching for something that was equally convenient, I genuinely started using ButcherBox, before they were a partner of Tangle. What is it? [****Butcherbox delivers high-quality meat straight to my door**](https://butcherbox.pxf.io/c/3250132/3930998/16419?ref=readtangle.com) from farms that raise animals in healthier, lower-stress environments. The convenience alone is worth it — a box shows up once a month and then I’m the guy grilling impressive steaks instead of dialing for pizza. The quality also has genuinely surprised me. This isn’t the kind of mystery protein that’s been sitting on a shelf for months. It’s ****meat with higher levels of omega-3s**, and no antibiotics, growth hormones, or unnecessary additives. So yes, I’m proud to have ButcherBox as a Tangle partner. And right now, Tangle readers can get ****$60 off across their first three boxes** and have quality meat delivered to their door as soon as next week. [****Use code TANGLE to get $60 off plus free meat in every box for a year**](https://butcherbox.pxf.io/c/3250132/3930998/16419?ref=readtangle.com)****.** ### Today’s topic. A tentative deal with Iran. On Sunday, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who has served as a mediator in peace discussions between the United States and Iran, [announced](https://x.com/CMShehbaz/status/2066268332832194810?s=20&ref=readtangle.com) that the two countries reached a deal to end their conflict. The Pakistani leader said that both countries would immediately cease military operations and formally sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on Friday, though the text of the memorandum has not been released. **Back up:** The U.S. and Israel launched a [coordinated military campaign](https://www.readtangle.com/war-with-iran-trump-middle-east/) against Iran on February 28, 2026\. After more than five weeks of fighting, the two sides agreed to a ceasefire on April 7\. In the months since, the U.S. and Iran have each conducted sporadic military operations, including exchanging airstrikes last week after a U.S. helicopter collided with an Iranian drone. Tensions heightened on Sunday before the deal was announced after Israel carried out a [strike](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/14/world/middleeast/israel-strikes-beirut-hezbollah.html?ref=readtangle.com) against Hezbollah near Beirut, the capital of Lebanon. President Donald Trump [confirmed](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116750587569914985?ref=readtangle.com) the deal shortly after Sharif’s post, adding that the Strait of Hormuz would immediately be reopened and the United States’s blockade would end. However, he later [clarified](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/116750814874397998?ref=readtangle.com) that the strait would not be reopened until the signing of the deal on Friday. The deal’s details remain unclear, as Iran and the United States publicly disagree about the requirements. The deal [reportedly](https://www.axios.com/2026/06/14/us-iran-ceasefire-extended-hormuz-reopen-trump?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Breaking%20it%20down%3A%20The%20agreement%20calls%20for%20the%20U.S.%20and%20Iran%20to%20negotiate%20over%20Iran%27s%20nuclear%20enrichment%20and%20the%20disposal%20of%20its%20highly%20enriched%20uranium%20during%20the%2060%2Dday%20window.) does not include a long-term agreement on the future of Iran’s nuclear program, with negotiations towards a nuclear accord planned to begin after the deal is signed on Friday. However, Iran has said that these talks will not commence until the U.S. meets a series of demands, [including](https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/iran-says-draft-us-deal-includes-oil-sanctions-waiver-nuclear-limits-asset-2026-06-14/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=%2A%20The%20%E2%80%8CU.S.%20%E2%81%A0agrees%20to%20release%20%2425%20billion%20of%20Iran%E2%80%99s%20frozen%20assets%2C%20including%20via%20direct%20cash%20transfers%2C%20cooperation%20among%20regional%20countries%2C%20and%20financial%20credit%20lines.) releasing billions of dollars in frozen Iranian funds. “This is completely not true,” a U.S. official [told](https://www.cnn.com/2026/06/14/world/live-news/iran-war-trump-israel?post-id=cmqeklgyv000n3b68x753qlce&ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=%E2%80%9CThis%20is%20completely%20not%20true.%20This%20is%20a%20pay%20for%20performance%20deal%20and%20no%20frozen%20funds%20will%20be%20released%20without%20the%20Iranians%20implementing%20their%20commitments%2C%E2%80%9D%20the%20official%20told%20CNN%20on%20Sunday.) CNN regarding Iran’s claim. “This is a pay for performance deal and no frozen funds will be released without the Iranians implementing their commitments.” The agreement also calls for the cessation of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon. Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said in a [statement](https://abcnews.com/International/live-updates/iran-live-updates-israel-withdraw-lebanon-katz-after/?id=133879236&entryId=133879336&ref=readtangle.com) that Israel will not pull troops out of areas it has seized within Lebanon. “Israel is not subordinate to the United States, and we are an independent and sovereign state,” Ben-Gvir said. Today, we’ll share arguments from the right, left and writers in the Middle East on the potential peace deal, followed by Managing Editor Ari Weitzman’s take. ### What the right is saying. - **The right is mixed on the agreement, with some saying the terms appear favorable for the U.S.** - **Others suggest the president is trying to save face with a lackluster deal.** **In The New York Sun, Conrad Black argued the deal** [**“looks like an unambiguous success for America and Israel.”**](https://www.nysun.com/article/trumps-peace-deal-with-iran-looks-like-an-unambiguous-success-for-america-and-israel?ref=readtangle.com) “If the end of the Iran War, just announced, brings the removal or destruction of the enriched uranium and permanent and verifiable guarantees that Iran will not seek to become a nuclear military power, as announced, and if it also contains verifiable promises not to subsidize international terrorism, which has been hinted at, then it has unambiguously been a successful war for America and Israel,” Black wrote. “The more than $1 trillion damage done to Iran and the complete destruction of its air defenses and navy and most of its offensive missile and drone capacity only cost eight American combat fatalities.” “Mr. Trump never explained the war properly and fluctuated in his enunciation of his war objectives and strained both credulity and public patience as he oscillated between draconian threats and confident predictions of imminent peace,” Black said. “Yet any version of the outcome of this war that is now believable is a major strategic victory in denying Iran nuclear weapons, driving a number of Arab states into the arms of the Israelis, and curtailing Iran’s ability to generate terrorism, all at minimal cost in American lives. It is an undoubted Trump victory, and no one will remember recent gas prices on midterm election day.” **In The Free Press, Eli Lake wrote** [**“Trump gives Iran a lifeline and calls it peace.”**](https://www.thefp.com/p/trump-gives-iran-a-lifeline-and-calls?ref=readtangle.com) “This is not a treaty, not a deal, and not a peace agreement. It’s a memorandum of understanding to negotiate the terms of a broader peace over the next 60 days. Put another way, it is yet another ceasefire,” Lake said. “Iran has not agreed to anything with regard to its nuclear material, ballistic missiles, or support for terrorist proxies throughout the Middle East. As for Trump’s statements early on in the war encouraging the Iranian people to seize their institutions and rise up against their oppressors, that objective has been placed inside a memory hole.” “Trump has bent to Iran’s positions through the haphazard negotiations that led to the memorandum of understanding. For example, the president has now acceded to Iran’s demand to link Israel’s war against Hezbollah, its proxy in Lebanon, to the broader U.S.-Iran deal, something Trump initially resisted,” Lake wrote. “When he launched the war in February, Trump was on a roll… Now a battered and impoverished Iranian regime can see a light at the end of the tunnel. The conflict has now moved from the battlefield to the negotiating table.” ### What the left is saying. - **Many on the left argue the U.S. failed to achieve its military objectives in Iran.** - **Others say Iran emerges from the conflict stronger than before.** **In Zeteo, Andrew Perez and Asawin Suebsaeng called the deal** [**“a humiliation for Trump and Netanyahu.”**](https://zeteo.com/p/the-new-iran-peace-deal-is-a-humiliation?ref=readtangle.com) “The initial goal of the U.S.-Israeli war in Iran was to topple the Iranian regime. That didn’t happen. The administration claimed the war would only last a few weeks. It stretched well beyond three months. The conflict only created more leverage for Iran, which successfully closed the Strait of Hormuz — stopping the flow of oil, causing energy prices to spike, and throttling the global economy,” Perez and Suebsaeng said. “Israel appeared to try to torpedo the deal on Sunday by launching a new round of attacks on civilians in Beirut… This time, however, the U.S. and Iran apparently managed to forge an agreement. As of Sunday, this peace deal would purportedly extend to Lebanon, where Israel has been leveling towns and villages.” “If this latest agreement is serious, Netanyahu and Israel could easily try to blow it up. And Netanyahu has made clear with the supposed ‘ceasefire’ in Gaza that he may not feel bound to abide by any such deal negotiated by Trump. On the other hand, Netanyahu’s attacks on Lebanon appeared to help pave the way for Sunday’s agreement, rather than scuttle it,” Perez and Suebsaeng wrote. “And Trump and administration officials do seem eager to end this disastrous war, and there is a good reason to do so. If the Strait of Hormuz remains closed, oil reserves in the U.S. and elsewhere could soon reach crisis levels, with vast economic consequences.” **In The New Yorker, Robin Wright suggested** [**“Iran can hold America hostage in either war or peace.”**](https://www.newyorker.com/news/the-lede/iran-can-hold-america-hostage-in-either-war-or-peace?ref=readtangle.com) “Iran has demonstrated its ability to hold out, sometimes for years, for what it wants, while the U.S., with its two- and four-year election cycles, has limited patience. Washington countered Tehran’s seizure of the Strait with its own blockade of any ship coming from or going to Iran — but the conflict is costing U.S. taxpayers an estimated two billion dollars a day,” Wright said. “Late on Friday night, Iran announced that Tehran and Washington were in the final stages of an agreement that would temporarily end conflicts in both Iran and Lebanon… That basically means that the U.S. will not engage in any actions to undermine or topple the Islamic Republic — in other words, there will be no attempt at ‘regime change.’” “The agreement also establishes that, in the future, the Strait will remain under Iranian control and never revert to its prewar status. All commercial traffic will have safe passage, but Iran will eventually impose a ‘service fee’ for transiting vessels. Both of these stipulations… would be momentous, long-term gains for Tehran,” Wright wrote. “Trump also appears — again and again — to want to craft a victory narrative for his constituency. But a memorandum of understanding, despite its diplomatic title, is only a broad set of principles that still need to be laboriously negotiated, especially the nuclear program, which was the main reason that the U.S. and Israel originally went to war on February 28th.” ### What Middle East writers are saying. - **Some in the Middle East say the deal would have wide-ranging consequences for the region.** - **Others worry that Netanyahu could still derail the ceasefire.** **In Arab News, Abdulrahman Al-Rashed described** [**“the US–Iran agreement’s most alarming clause.”**](https://www.arabnews.com/node/2647138?ref=readtangle.com) “One of these provisions, according to leaked information, is a mutual regional nonaggression agreement. It divides the region into two camps and forces the countries of each camp not to attack those of the other,” Al-Rashed said. “It stipulates that Iran and its allies will refrain from attacking the US and its allies, while the US and its allies will likewise refrain from attacking Iran and its allies. This is an ambiguous provision that requires analysis. First: who exactly are the allies?” “Israel, the Gulf states and Jordan are considered US allies. The first conclusion is that if Iran signs such an agreement — whether in the framework agreement or in a final accord — it would effectively be signing a deal that ends its 40-year war against Israel. This is not the only surprise or shock,” Al-Rashed wrote. “The second conclusion is that this hypothetical clause would make Hezbollah a recognized and protected actor, undermining the unprecedented efforts being exerted by the Lebanese state. The same applies to the Houthis, which Yemen’s legitimate government and other Yemeni forces seek to remove from Sanaa and eliminate.” **In Haaretz, Esther Solomon said** [**“Netanyahu may set the Middle East ablaze.”**](https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2026-06-14/ty-article-magazine/.highlight/humiliated-by-trump-on-the-iran-front-netanyahu-may-set-the-middle-east-ablaze/0000019e-c654-d7bd-addf-ee56f7c60000?ref=readtangle.com) “One doesn’t need to be a grizzled diplomat or cynical pundit to see that this deal-in-the-making has the ingredients to be a disaster for Israel’s national security — you just need eyes and a pulse. It appears that the details of Iran’s nuclear program have been kicked down the road to be dealt with in the next negotiating period of 60 days,” Solomon wrote. “For Netanyahu, this is a failure on multiple fronts. The last year of U.S.-Israeli attacks were supposed to be a culmination of his decades-long obsession to comprehensively defang Iran’s capacity to threaten Israel.” “Instead, it seems more likely that Iran will emerge from its sanctions-laden financial deep freeze with the capacity to pump far more cash and munitions into developing its missiles and proxies,” Solomon said. “Sadly, what’s bad for Netanyahu’s election chances ends up being bad for the Middle East, because he will only seek more extreme methods to win… In election season, everything — from the independence of the judiciary and the media, to West Bank settlement expansion, to the lives of Palestinians and Lebanese — is for sale to his ragtag coalition.” ### My take. **Reminder: “My take” is a section where we give ourselves space to share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, don't unsubscribe. Write in by replying to this email, or** [**leave a comment**](https://www.readtangle.com/iran-peace-deal-june-2026/#ghost-comments-root)**.** - **Why would we expect this latest agreement to bring about lasting peace?** - **Negotiations and ceasefires have repeatedly failed throughout this war, and an artificial timeline won’t make them succeed.** - **Cynically, I don’t expect the conditions for real peace to even exist until after the midterms.** **Managing Editor Ari Weitzman:** I’ll be direct: I highly doubt that this current round of talks will bring a lasting peace between Iran and the United States. In order to reach a long-term peace, Iran, Israel and the United States all have to agree on the Iranian nuclear program, Iranian sanctions, Iranian control of the Strait of Hormuz, and Iranian support of its proxies in the Middle East. In order to negotiate on those issues, each side is motivated to see different points in time as the original status quo. The U.S. may want to define the status quo as the period after the U.S. [struck Iranian nuclear sites](https://www.readtangle.com/the-united-states-bombs-iran/) in June 2025 when Iran’s nuclear program was vastly depleted — for the purposes of nuclear discussions, at least. Iran may want to define it as when the U.S. and Iran agreed to a ceasefire in April — at least with regard to control over the Strait of Hormuz. And Israel seems to be saying the status quo is intolerable — Iran cannot be allowed to have materials to build a nuclear weapon or to continue to support its proxy networks in Lebanon, Gaza, or Yemen. Each topic under discussion is thorny on its own; the nuclear deal alone will take a long time to hammer out. Neither President Trump nor Israel will want to agree to any nuclear deal that’s softer (or perceived as softer) than President Obama’s Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), and the Iranian regime is clearly willing to accept economic pain on behalf of its citizenry to maintain its leverage in the strait. However, the U.S. and Iran don’t need to solve the “nuclear question” right now, they just need to agree to halt hostilities. And as much as I’d like to see this war come to a close, I doubt they’ll be able to agree to that much, for a few reasons. First, there doesn’t seem to be a lot of mutual understanding in this memorandum of understanding (MOU). The U.S. and Iran have each said that the signing of the MOU will kick off a 60-day negotiating window, during which Iran and the U.S. will lift their dueling naval blockades. They [also agree](https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/what-us-iran-say-they-have-agreed-memorandum-end-war-2026-06-15/?ref=readtangle.com#selection-1357.0-1365.181) that the ceasefire will commit the two sides to discussing a nuclear deal and sanctions relief. From there, though, the stories diverge. The [U.S. says](https://www.axios.com/2026/05/28/iran-peace-deal-trump-approval?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=The%20MOU%20will%20include%20an%20Iranian%20commitment%20not%20to%20pursue%20a%20nuclear%20weapon%2C%20the%20officials%20said.%20It%20will%20also%20state%20that%20the%20first%20issues%20to%20be%20negotiated%20during%20the%2060%2Dday%20window%20will%20be%20how%20to%20dispose%20of%20Iran%27s%20highly%20enriched%20uranium%20and%20how%20to%20address%20Iranian%20enrichment.) that in simply signing the MOU, Iran is committing to dropping its pursuit of a nuclear weapon. Iran [insists](https://en.apa.az/asia/mehr-draft-iran-us-memorandum-includes-14-points-excludes-missile-program-talks-511154?ref=readtangle.com) it is only committing to *discussing* its nuclear program, along with sanctions relief. Also, Iran says the U.S. [will pay $300 billion](https://en.mehrnews.com/news/245332/Final-decision-on-MoU-btw-Iran-US-under-discussion-in-Iran?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Mohammadi%20also%20referred%20to%20a%20proposed%20%24300%20billion%20development%20and%20reconstruction%20fund.%20The%20text%20uses%20the%20term%20%E2%80%98reconstruction%2C%E2%80%99%20which%20means%20rebuilding%20damages%20caused%20by%20war%2C%20he%20said.) to help with reconstruction… oh, and [the U.S. will accept](https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202606/1363603.shtml?ref=readtangle.com) Iranian sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz and future imposition of fees. Even on the preconditions for peace talks, Iran and the U.S. seem far apart. Second, let’s bear in mind that the United States has some pressing reasons to want to communicate that an agreement has been reached. The G7 summit starts today, with Iran and Russia on the agenda, and President Trump’s history at global summits indicates he’ll want to have some achievement in hand to show enemies and allies alike. Zooming out, Trump also has domestic concerns to worry about. Inflated gas prices at home are increasing economic anxiety, which is [hurting](https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/5923907-democrats-hold-5-point-edge-over-gop-ahead-of-midterms-poll/?ref=readtangle.com) his party’s polling coming into the midterms. All this gives me reason to doubt that Trump’s motivation is really to set the groundwork for a lasting peace, rather than achieve a short-term win that can bring gas prices down and boost Republicans’ midterm prospects. Third, whether the MOU applies to Israel is unclear. Iran [is saying](https://www.iranintl.com/en/202606147961?ref=readtangle.com) that the agreement will suspend all fighting, including exchanges between Hezbollah and the Israel Defense Forces. The United States [says](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/what-the-u-s-and-iran-are-demanding-in-the-latest-peace-proposal?ref=readtangle.com) the ceasefire applies to Hezbollah, but that Israel has the right to respond if Hezbollah initiates an attack. Israel says it isn’t bound at all, [pledging](https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-vows-to-stay-in-south-lebanon-if-iran-strikes-well-hit-it-with-full-force/?ref=readtangle.com) to maintain a presence in Southern Lebanon. You’d think that for even a basic ceasefire to hold, each side would agree on who exactly it applies to. Otherwise, the ceasefire will likely proceed in name only, with constant violations throughout. Which brings me to my last point: The agreement that was in place between April and June was hardly fruitful. [Since the beginning](https://www.readtangle.com/hormuz-standoff-us-iran-ceasefire-update/#:~:text=we%E2%80%99re%20technically%20in%20a%20%E2%80%9Cceasefire%E2%80%9D%20right%20now%2C%20it%20just%20includes%20multiple%20exchanges%20of%20fire%2C%20constant%20barrages%2C%20and%20very%20little%20negotiating%29) of the ceasefire, the U.S. and Iran never really seemed to be ceasing their fire. The UAE, Kuwait, and Israel all [reported](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/04/08/iran-missile-attacks-after-us-ceasefire-gulf-air-defenses.html?ref=readtangle.com) missile and drone attacks on their territories the day the ceasefire was signed. Kuwait [accused](https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog%5Fentry/kuwait-accuses-iran-and-its-proxies-of-attacking-despite-ceasefire-saudi-arabia-acknowledges-pipeline-struck/?ref=readtangle.com) Iran of further drone strikes on April 10\. Iran [called](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/4/15/iran-warns-us-naval-blockade-threatens-ceasefire?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=%E2%80%9CIf%20the%20aggressor,Guard%20Corps%20%28IRGC%29.) the April 13 U.S. naval blockade a “prelude to a violation of the ceasefire.” On May 5, Iran also [called](https://thehill.com/policy/international/5863524-iran-us-shaky-ceasefire-strait-of-hormuz-violations/?ref=readtangle.com) the U.S. announcement of operation “Project Freedom” — to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz — a violation (Trump walked back the announcement shortly after). Iranian forces [launched](https://www.nbcnews.com/world/iran/us-iran-strikes-rcna344144?ref=readtangle.com) missiles, drones and small-boat attacks on three U.S. warships on May 7, and the U.S. then struck Iranian military sites in Southern Iran and Tehran in response. On May 25, the U.S. [performed](https://www.nbcnews.com/world/iran/us-military-says-conducted-self-defense-strikes-targets-iran-rcna346839?ref=readtangle.com) “defensive strikes” on missile-launch sites in Southern Iran and boats in the Strait of Hormuz. On June 7, Iran [launched](https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/06/07/world/iran-israel-missiles?ref=readtangle.com) ballistic missiles at Israel, and Israel retaliated with strikes in Southern Beirut, Lebanon. Most recently, tensions flared when the U.S. and Iran [exchanged fire](https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/iran-war-trump-us-strikes-apache/?ref=readtangle.com) on June 10. If all of that happened during a *ceasefire*, then it’s clear that the sides involved in the war don’t have the requisite trust in a mutual agreement to even temporarily suspend fighting. Iran’s definition of a ceasefire seems to allow for drone strikes on U.S. regional allies and unfettered attacks from its proxies. Trump’s definition [seems to be](https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/trump-offers-unusual-definition-ceasefire-223143981.html?ref=readtangle.com) “shooting in a more moderate manner.” Either definition accepts a lot of exchanging of fire. When you add in all the reasons to doubt this current MOU, why would anyone expect it to be any different? You wouldn’t. But what *would* you expect? Iran understands the political leverage this year’s elections give it in negotiations, and the U.S. and Israel have obvious military superiority, creating a strange kind of stalemate that can’t be resolved by talking our way out of it. Obviously, that reflects poorly on the decision to enter this conflict in the first place, but now President Trump is well and truly on the horns of a dilemma: either accept a peace plan that leaves us in a worse position than we were in before the war, or commit more time, energy, and resources to get us to a better one. If there’s one thing we can all agree on with Trump, it’s that he won’t be eager to accept a deal that he can’t sell as a win. That really only leaves one option. This may be cynical, but I expect we’ll do the short-term ceasefire dance until at least after the midterms, when Iran will lose its electoral leverage and a less restrained Trump will be able to follow through with Project Freedom to ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz. Regardless of how we got into this conflict, any real end to it will be hard won — and short-term declarations of peace are going to keep coming and going. **Take the survey:** How would you characterize the progress in negotiations between the U.S. and Iran? [Let us know](https://interrobang.vercel.app/survey/cfe28521-b68a-4d88-a319-622555e2bb37?ref=readtangle.com). *Disagree? That's okay. Our opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we'll consider publishing your feedback.* ### Your questions, answered. **Q: With the U.S. controlling Venezuela’s oil, why haven’t we been able to increase production and reduce oil prices regardless of the Mideast situation?** **— Gerard (submitted through** [**Subtext**](https://joinsubtext.com/c/tanglenews?ref=readtangle.com)**)** **Tangle:** To start, the premise is correct. In January, after a successful military operation [to capture](https://www.readtangle.com/us-trump-captures-arrests-maduro/) Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and bring him to the United States to stand trial, the U.S. took control of Venezuelan oil exports. At the same time, the average price of a gallon of regular gasoline has increased from [$2.83](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1CPA55WjGpYZvKiSZqUXtDc-Q18jsPsllXr8NhtJ7ihk/edit?gid=0&ref=readtangle.com#gid=0) per gallon in January to [$4.07](https://gasprices.aaa.com/?ref=readtangle.com) per gallon today. After Maduro’s arrest, the Department of Energy [said](https://www.energy.gov/articles/fact-sheet-president-trump-restoring-prosperity-safety-and-security-united-states-and?ref=readtangle.com) that it had “begun marketing” Venezuelan oil on the global marketplace for the benefit of the U.S. and Venezuela, that it had selectively rolled back sanctions to allow for easier disbursement, and that it would begin to modernize and expand production for near-term growth. At the time, Venezuela [was exporting](https://www.energypolicy.columbia.edu/qa-on-us-actions-in-venezuela/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=For%20decades%2C%20Venezuela%20was%20a%20reliable%20oil%20exporter%20to%20the%20United%20States%2C%20supplying%20more%20than%20800%2C000%20b/d%20when%20Maduro%20took%20office%20in%202013.%20Venezuela%E2%80%99s%20oil%20exports%20to%20the%20United%20States%20currently%20stand%20at%20120%2C000%20b/d.) an average of 120,000 barrels of oil to the United States per day, down from the pre-Maduro daily average of 800,000 in 2013. As things stand now, the U.S. [controls](https://www.cfr.org/articles/the-u-s-took-over-venezuelas-oil-industry-where-has-all-the-money-gone?ref=readtangle.com) the sale and exports of Venezuelan oil. The Council on Foreign Relations estimated the value of these exports at nearly $8 billion as of April, and crude oil exports from Venezuela to the United States have increased to a daily average of 407,000 barrels. So, to answer your first question, the United States *has* been able to significantly increase oil production from Venezuela. However, these increases are small relative to the national daily demand of [over 20 million barrels](https://www.eia.gov/tools/faqs/faq.php?id=33&t=6&ref=readtangle.com). Furthermore, since heavy Venezuelan crude [requires more processing](https://www.wlrn.org/americas/2026-01-15/why-unlocking-venezuelan-oil-wont-mean-much-for-us-energy-prices?ref=readtangle.com) than the approximately [400,000 barrels](https://www.eia.gov/international/analysis/special-topics/world%5Foil%5Ftransit%5FChokepoints?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=In%201H25%2C%20the%20United%20States%20imported%20about%200.4%20million%20b/d%20of%20crude%20oil%20and%20condensate%20from%20Persian%20Gulf%20countries%20through%20the%20Strait%20of%20Hormuz%2C) that came to the U.S. through the Strait of Hormuz, a larger increase in production from Venezuela would be needed to offset the Middle East oil. The Trump administration plans to invest in Venezuelan oil production to stabilize gasoline prices in the long term, but that investment will likely require years to pay off. **Want to have a question answered in the newsletter? You can reply to this email (it goes straight to our inbox) or** [**fill out this form**](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScQhqBSG%5F6%5FoBhwcTQMeS570n29XYbeQ9C9Bis7rjqI31g1tA/viewform?usp=header&ref=readtangle.com)**.** ### Under the radar. The Supreme Court is expected to issue rulings in 20 cases before the end of June, including decisions on a slew of high-profile issues. Among other ongoing cases, the Court has yet to rule on President Trump’s executive order limiting birthright citizenship, the president’s move to terminate temporary protected status for people from several countries, states’ attempts to restrict transgender athletes’ participation in sports, and mail-in ballot counting rules. The next slate of opinions is expected on Thursday, and some decisions could have an immediate impact on the 2026 midterms. [The Hill has a preview of the biggest remaining decisions](https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/5922350-supreme-court-final-opinions-trump-agenda/?ref=readtangle.com). today's Partner ****Why Isaac Stopped Buying Most of His Meat at the Grocery Store** It’s always past 6:00 PM before I think about dinner. That’s where [****ButcherBox**](https://butcherbox.pxf.io/c/3250132/3930998/16419?ref=readtangle.com) comes in. ****High-quality meat shows up at my door**, lives in the freezer, and saves me dialing for takeout each day and going to the grocery store. I’m proud to offer ****Tangle readers $60 off their first three boxes.** [****Use code TANGLE to get $60 off plus free meat in every box for a year**](https://butcherbox.pxf.io/c/3250132/3930998/16419?ref=readtangle.com)****.** ### This day in history. ![Washington, appointed Commander in Chief | Currier & Ives, Library of Congress](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/06/data-src-image-901045d1-e0ed-49e7-bff1-b15878599ad1.png) Washington, appointed Commander in Chief | Currier & Ives, [Library of Congress 2002698163](https://www.loc.gov/resource/cph.3b51028/?ref=readtangle.com) In the aftermath of the battles of Lexington and Concord in April 1775, the Continental Congress deliberated over whether to send out a call for more militia formation or finally raise a standing army to combat the hostile incursions of British troops. Massachusetts delegate John Adams urged Congress to raise a full army, hoping to unify the northern and southern colonies in the cause of resistance. One Virginia delegate — an officer who had served as a colonel in the Virginia regiment during the French and Indian War just 17 years earlier — arrived at deliberations in full military dress, conspicuously signaling his support for such a plan. On June 14, 1775, the Continental Congress issued an order to raise a standing army from Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia to aid Massachusetts colonists in the siege of Boston; their next objective was to choose a man to lead that army. Attention turned to that same Virginian veteran delegate. On June 15, 1775 — 251 years ago today — the Continental Congress [appointed](https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/washingtoncommission.htm?ref=readtangle.com) George Washington to lead the first colonial army in Boston. Despite his initial reluctance to lead, Washington would accept the job and assume command on July 3 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. ### The extras. - **One year ago today** we had just published a special edition on [Israel striking Iran](https://www.readtangle.com/special-edition-14-thoughts-on-israel-striking-iran/). - **The most clicked link in our last regular newsletter** was [our latest episode of *Suspension of the Rules*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szG3UEuydMI&ref=readtangle.com). - **Nothing to do with politics:** Every [World Cup goal so far — ranked](https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/2026-world-cup-goals-every-score-ranked?ref=readtangle.com). - **Our last survey:** 2,882 readers responded to our survey on California’s electoral system with 53% saying it doesn’t easily allow for fraud but should still be reformed. “Nothing that takes that long to count ballots should continue,” one respondent said. “California is doing the right thing. They are working hard to ensure that people’s votes count… Could it be faster? Maybe? Does it need to be faster? Not to appease you or the other people complaining about it,” said another. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/06/data-src-image-dc60dd1c-b31b-44df-b182-d41cf44654fa.png) ### Have a nice day. Since 1973, every freshman at St. Benedict’s Preparatory School in Newark, New Jersey, has had to check off the same grueling requirement before becoming a sophomore: a five-day, 55-mile hike along the Appalachian Trail. Many of the school’s kids come from urban environments and have never hiked or camped before. But in the spring, they train together, learning different skills that will allow them to collaborate and succeed on their journey. Then in May, they head into the mountains with only each other to rely on. At the end, they cross a wooden bridge to meet their teachers on the other side. “When life gets difficult, it’s something you can refer back to,” administrator Glenn Cassidy said. “There’s a lot of rainy days in life.” [Upworthy has the story](https://www.upworthy.com/new-jersey-high-school-has-mandatory-rite-of-passage-a-55-mile-hike-through-the-appalachian-trail/?ref=readtangle.com). ### The Sunday — June 14 URL: https://www.readtangle.com/the-sunday-june-14-2026/ Last updated: 2026-06-17T17:14:28.000Z *This is the Tangle Sunday Edition, a brief roundup of our independent politics coverage plus some extra features for your Sunday morning reading.* ### Correction. Last week, in our summarization of our Thursday coverage of the California primaries, we included the date and take from Thursday prior. This is an error we should have caught on review, but the root issue was in our drafting process. We’ve changed that process moving forward and don’t expect the issue to recur. Thank you to everyone who caught the error early! *This is our 6th correction in The Sunday's 130-week history and our first since July 27, 2025\. We track corrections and place them at the top of the newsletter in an effort to maximize transparency with readers.* ### What the right is doodling. ![Steve Kelley | Creators Syndicate](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/06/data-src-image-5aa846e7-7508-420d-b788-c8057ed3ac30.jpeg) Steve Kelley | Creators Syndicate ### What the left is doodling. ![Mike Luckovich | Creators Syndicate](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/06/data-src-image-a040c21a-d16e-4743-8058-b3e6a34b41a1.jpeg) Mike Luckovich | Creators Syndicate ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/06/data-src-image-0e1c4e24-d2d7-4c17-b8b3-4975424251f7.png) ### Suspension of the Rules. This week’s episode is a “review of all the things we said last week” special, with updates on the mayoral race in Los Angeles, the screwworm cases in Texas, and the NBA Finals in New York. Plus, Isaac and Kmele debate whether AI slop should be banned for political ads. Check it out [here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szG3UEuydMI&ref=readtangle.com)! ### Monday, June 8. [Scott Pelley’s firing](https://www.readtangle.com/scott-pelley-fired-cbs-60-minutes/). On Tuesday, June 2, *60 Minutes*’s executive producer, Nick Bilton, announced the firing of the show’s longtime correspondent Scott Pelley following a confrontation during a staff meeting in which Pelley criticized Bilton and CBS News Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss. Pelley’s firing is the latest shakeup at the show and network since Weiss took the head role in October 2025; Pelley and other former correspondents have accused Weiss of interfering in editorial decisions in an attempt to cover the Trump administration in a more positive light. **Our take:** *“I came into Pelley’s interview with some biases against him. After listening to the interview and reflecting, I’m starting to think that maybe Pelley is just right.* 60 Minutes *has been succeeding, Bilton doesn’t seem qualified, and the whole saga is another knock on Weiss’s managerial record.”* **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/06/data-src-image-3f477c9a-89d6-44db-93d4-b685be04119d.png) ### Tuesday, June 9. [Protests at Delaney Hall](https://www.readtangle.com/anti-ice-protests-newark-new-jersey-delaney-hall/). In recent weeks, federal and state law enforcement officials have clashed with protesters gathering outside Delaney Hall, a federal immigration detention center in Newark, New Jersey. At least 90 people have been arrested over the course of the protests, including 61 on the night of Sunday, May 31, on charges including assaulting federal officers, disorderly conduct, rioting, and resisting arrest. The demonstrators allege poor treatment of detainees, which federal immigration officials deny. **Our take:** *“Conditions at the New Jersey facility — and across detention centers — should be closely examined. The violent clashes are both driving attention and interfering with on-the-ground aid. The real story here is that our immigration system is still in need of serious reform.”* **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/06/data-src-image-809eef63-ba18-4b2d-8b1d-ac90c708ba85.png) ### Wednesday, June 10. [Public ownership of artificial intelligence companies](https://www.readtangle.com/government-ownership-ai-companies-bernie-sanders-trump/). On Monday, June 1, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) published an op-ed in The New York Times proposing the American AI Sovereign Wealth Fund Act, a law that would transfer a 50% ownership stake in artificial intelligence (AI) companies into a federal sovereign wealth fund through a one-time tax. “The creative work of millions of people… has essentially been stolen by some of the wealthiest people in the world,” Sanders said. “It’s time for us to reclaim it.” Simultaneously, President Donald Trump has been in discussions with Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI (the maker of ChatGPT), about transferring equity of the company into a government-run “public wealth fund.” Trump has also suggested the government could take equity stakes in other leading AI developers. **Our take:** *“Sanders and Trump make a strong case that AI necessitates a serious government response. These proposals are incredibly bold and come with significant risks. Ultimately, I don’t think the trade-offs of these proposals are worth it.”* **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/06/data-src-image-e29eddeb-d507-4063-9963-5b29c7f303d5.png) ### Thursday, June 11. [The California election fraud claims](https://www.readtangle.com/california-election-fraud-claims/). On Tuesday, June 2, California held its primary elections, including closely watched races for governor and Los Angeles mayor. In the mayoral primary, Mayor Karen Bass (D) and City Councilmember Nithya Raman (D) advanced to the general election, while first-time candidate Spencer Pratt (I) finished third. Pratt had been in second place the day after the primary, but Raman overtook him as mail-in ballots came in after Election Day, leading some Republicans to claim the results were fraudulent. **Our take:** *“I’ve learned that election fraud claims tend to take certain shapes. The accusations in California fit those types, but they are also somehow totally undefined. This all injects more doubt into California’s frustrating system, which does need to be reformed.”* **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/06/data-src-image-d2998ce4-793c-4f40-b676-856c974b602e.png) ### Friday, June 12. This week, Executive Editor Isaac Saul looks back on six of his takes from the past five years that have aged poorly — from saying Afghanistan would benefit from President Biden’s withdrawal of U.S. troops to claiming Spencer Pratt would give Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass a run for her money. Along the way, he reflects on what he can learn from revisiting where he went wrong. [You can read the piece here](https://www.readtangle.com/my-worst-takes-isaac-2026/). --- ### What just happened. Here’s a rundown of the major stories that have broken since our newsletter on Thursday. - On Thursday, President Donald Trump said he will nominate Jay Clayton, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, to be director of national intelligence (DNI). Clayton also served as the chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission during Trump’s first term. Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte will serve as acting DNI until the Senate confirms his nominee. ([The nomination](https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2026/06/11/trump-picks-jay-clayton-manhattan-us-attorney-be-director-national-intelligence/?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Thursday, President Trump said he had canceled strikes against Iran after claiming that the country’s leadership had agreed to a deal that would extend the ceasefire, reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and initiate negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program. ([The updates](https://www.axios.com/2026/06/11/trump-cancel-iran-strikes-deal-strait?ref=readtangle.com)) Then, on Saturday, Trump said he plans to sign a framework for the peace deal, saying, “Hopefully, this process will all work out quickly, easily, and smoothly.” ([The announcement](https://thehill.com/policy/international/5922946-donald-trump-us-iran-peace-deal/?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Thursday, the man charged with murdering Minnesota state Rep. Melissa Hortman (D) and her husband, as well as attempting to murder state Sen. John Hoffman (D) and his wife and daughter, pleaded guilty in federal court. His guilty plea proposes two life sentences plus 40 years in prison in lieu of the government seeking the death penalty. ([The plea](https://www.foxnews.com/us/vance-boelter-changes-plea-guilty-minn-lawmaker-shootings-killed-rep-melissa-hortman-husband?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Friday, a federal judge denied a request to block the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) event on Sunday at the White House, finding that the plaintiffs lacked standing to bring the suit. ([The ruling](https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/5922032-trump-ufc-white-house-fight/?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Friday, Anthropic said it had disabled its Fable 5 and Mythos 5 artificial intelligence models in response to a U.S. government directive to restrict access to the models for all foreign nationals. The company said it blocked access for all users to ensure compliance. ([The directive](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/06/12/anthropic-disables-access-to-fable-5-and-mythos-5-to-comply-with-government-directive.html?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Friday, the Justice Department approved Paramount Skydance’s agreement to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery, clearing a key regulatory requirement for the merger. ([The approval](https://www.politico.com/news/2026/06/12/paramount-acquisition-warner-bros-approved-00960300?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Friday, President Trump announced that the U.S. military killed the alleged leader of the Tren de Aragua gang in an airstrike in Venezuela. ([The strike](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-says-u-s-killed-tren-de-aragua-leader-airstrike-nino-guerrero/?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Friday, SpaceX held its initial public offering, opening on the Nasdaq at $150 a share. Elon Musk, the company’s CEO and founder, became the world’s first trillionaire after the first day of trading. ([The debut](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/06/12/elon-musk-trillionaire-spacex.html?ref=readtangle.com)) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/06/data-src-image-a93d7707-f405-4ebf-9f6c-c5b5e07db656.png) ### Reader essay. ![A baseball umpire | Image from Pxhere](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/06/data-src-image-661b5cef-383f-4170-b7f7-22ed258c6405.png) A baseball umpire | Image from Pxhere Tangle reader Alden Blodget received a memorable card for his 60th birthday, telling him “You’re old! You’re out!” But Alden thinks older people still have a lot to contribute to society — even if it might require some compromises across generational gaps. In this week’s reader essay, Alden explores the ways he’s seen older people leverage their life experiences to make their organizations better. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### You’re Old! You’re Out! URL: https://www.readtangle.com/otherposts/youre-old-youre-out/ Last updated: 2026-07-06T12:16:21.000Z *By Alden S. Blodget* --- When I turned 60, I received a great birthday card. On the front was a referee blowing a whistle and shouting, “You’re old!” Inside was the same ref, thumb pointed over his shoulder, yelling, “You’re out!” And that’s pretty much the fate of old people: ejected from the game. Just when they finally have enough experience and knowledge to understand the game and to improve a team’s performance, they are expected to become irrelevant and invisible — preferably neither seen nor heard. Several factors contribute to this sense that old people are finished. The young want their turn, so the old face societal expectations to step aside. Older workers are often more expensive, so they’re economically nudged to the side, too. And old people themselves often contribute to attitudes about them. Many are tired of work, ready to pursue other interests; many others *need* to retire because they are no longer productive. Several of my older colleagues remained so anchored to the past that they became unwilling to understand the present or imagine a future that isn’t the past. Too often, these are the ones who refuse to retire and become the source of the impatience with which the young respond to the old. Lost in the morass of expectation and stereotype are those old people whose understanding and vision could produce transformative changes in their professions, if anyone were to recognize their potential. Typically, that potential is lost in an assumption that old people have nothing worthwhile to say. Perception shapes reality. The same creative idea will be received differently depending on whether it was delivered from the lips of a 45-year-old or a 70-year-old. Of course, because transformative ideas often require the experience and perspective of age, they are less likely ever to be spoken by the 45-year-old. This need for more seasoned insights may well be one of the reasons that truly meaningful progress is so slow in so many human endeavors. Conversely, the lack of these insights within organizations may be the reason that humans are more likely to repeat past mistakes and to constantly reinvent the wheel. For the past few years, I have been watching one old, retired man attempt to change the culture of youth hockey so that fewer players will be hurt in that sport. His ideas are not merely new; given the history and culture of hockey, they are revolutionary. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### My worst takes from the last five years. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/my-worst-takes-isaac-2026/ Last updated: 2026-06-13T18:57:33.000Z Friday is upon us. Mazel tov for surviving another week. I’m **Isaac Saul**, and before we jump into a very fun (and humbling) Friday edition, I wanted to let you know that the Tangle team has arrived in Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, and… well… it’s as advertised. Gorgeous, rolling hills and woods, a quaint downtown, and great restaurants and spas peppering the area — you can feel the town’s embrace of its history of relaxation and recuperation. We’ve got 48 hours until our matinee live show on Sunday afternoon, and [**it’s not too late to get tickets**](https://www.tickettailor.com/events/tanglenews/2210692?ref=readtangle.com). I am fully confident in saying you won’t regret it. Special shoutouts to our sponsors for the event, [The Dignity Index](http://www.dignity.us/?ref=readtangle.com) and [Incogni](https://www.readtangle.com/press-pass-june-ari-weitzman-lifes-work/#:~:text=VIP%20experience%20sponsor-,Incogni,-.), who helped make all of this possible! I’ll have more to say about these awesome organizations and products this weekend. Now, on to a **9-minute read** where I take a good, hard, long look in the mirror. ****Note:** You are reading a preview of a members-only Friday edition. To read it in full, [you'll be asked to subscribe](https://www.readtangle.com/membership/). --- A few weeks ago, a friend of mine sent me a screenshot of a tweet I had posted in 2022: ![Screenshot from X of Isaac's post](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/06/data-src-image-e6b0f944-917f-4b69-8cc3-7623ff0b26b1.png) Screenshot from X He didn’t have to add any context — I knew his point was *wow, look how wrong you were.* We had a laugh and talked about why the take was so bad (more on that below). And then it got me thinking: What other things have I whiffed on in the last few years? Here at Tangle, we regularly revisit our past writing and reporting to see how it’s aged and note when we’ve changed our minds. I’ve also written before about things I’ve gotten [wrong](https://www.readtangle.com/what-we-got-right-and-wrong-in-2025-part-1/) (and [right](https://www.readtangle.com/everything-we-got-right-wrong-2024-part-1/)) as a way of both holding myself accountable and growing as a thinker. But those exercises are usually an annual recounting of our own analysis, opinion writing, or predictions. Having a *bad take* is a very specific kind of thing, different from missing something in a piece of analysis or stating an opinion that doesn’t *quite* pan out or match up with reality. For example, it might be my *opinion* that Los Angeles’s electorate was ripe for an insurgent candidate, but my *take* was that Spencer Pratt would give Karen Bass a run for her money. A *take,* I’d say, is about formulating a view in real time — reacting to the news with some kind of novel or distinguishing angle. In the case above, everyone was freaking out about Elon taking over Twitter, and my take was that he actually wouldn’t change the platform all that much. I was wrong. Very wrong. And it made me think about other takes of mine that have aged poorly over the years. So I asked my team to help me compile a list of some of my worst takes from the last five years, and together we came up with today’s piece. I’ll share some reflections after each take, then at the end, try to identify patterns in where I erred. ### Elon won’t meaningfully change Twitter. [**What I said**](https://x.com/Ike%5FSaul/status/1577387966237790208?s=20&ref=readtangle.com) **(October 4, 2022):** “I honestly don’t think Twitter is going to change that much under Elon. In 5 years, I suspect we’ll view it as one of the great overreactions of 2022.” **What actually happened:** Twitter, now X, has changed *a lot*. Perhaps most notably, Musk completely upended the platform’s verification policy, and any account willing to cough up a few dollars per month can now get the coveted “blue checkmark” that used to be reserved for significant public figures. This has made discerning the authentic accounts from the fakes — and the people with real-life followings from the random keyboard warriors — much harder. At the same time, bot activity, engagement farming, and spam all seem to have [gotten much worse](https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2023/sep/09/x-twitter-bots-republican-primary-debate-tweets-increase?ref=readtangle.com). And no discussion about bots on X is complete without talking about Grok, the Musk-owned chatbot, which is all over the platform responding to people and “fact-checking” posts (the responses to many posts are choked with users asking Grok to explain it to them). The algorithmic “For you” page seems like a mirror of Musk’s politics, something that has been fleshed out in [reporting](https://x.com/mahajansi/status/1636852855381295105?ref=readtangle.com) alleging he [thumbs](https://www.fastcompany.com/91507338/x-algorithm-for-you-radicalize-users?ref=readtangle.com) the [scales](https://www.businessinsider.com/musk-changed-twitter-algorithm-tweets-didnt-get-attention-book-2024-2?ref=readtangle.com). Graphic violence and pornography are also harder to avoid than they were before, and while more previously banned accounts are back, Musk’s X is hardly a bastion of free speech; plenty of accounts, especially those that draw Musk’s ire, [have been banned](https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/social-media/twitter-suspends-journalists-covering-elon-musk-company-rcna62032?ref=readtangle.com) or [throttled](https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/04/23/business/elon-musk-x-suppression-laura-loomer.html?ref=readtangle.com). Some changes were not directly tied to Musk’s actions, and others have been good. For instance, many people on the left fled the platform for Twitter copycats like Threads or Bluesky, making the platform less ideologically diverse. Musk didn't decide they should leave; they did it themselves — though of course plenty of people blame him for the exodus. The new feature that shows a user’s geolocation is a big boon to transparency on the site. And helpful tools like Community Notes (which Musk rebranded) were scaled up substantially, becoming genuinely valuable features of X. I think Community Notes can still be improved, especially for timeliness, but some of those improvements are already coming: Musk [said last week](https://x.com/elonmusk/status/2062905215125233995?s=20&ref=readtangle.com) that a new feature will notify people who interacted with a post that now has a Community Note, which is a great update. But undeniably, nearly four years after sending this tweet, the platform has changed in big and small ways. ### Biden won’t pardon Hunter. [**What I said**](https://www.readtangle.com/hunter-biden-trial/#:~:text=I%20really%20don%27t%20know%20what%20will%20happen%20if%20Hunter%20gets%20convicted.%20I%20have%20a%20hard%20time%20imagining%20him%20going%20to%20jail%20as%20part%20of%20his%20sentence%2C%20and%20I%20also%20think%20it%20is%20incredibly%20unlikely%20%28and%20would%20be%20very%20unwise%29%20for%20President%20Biden%20to%20get%20involved%20in%20any%20way%20%28like%20by%20trying%20to%20pardon%20him%29.) **(June 10, 2024):** “I really don’t know what will happen if Hunter gets convicted. I have a hard time imagining him going to jail as part of his sentence, and I also think it is incredibly unlikely (and would be very unwise) for President Biden to get involved in any way (like by trying to pardon him).” ****What actually happened:** _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Election fraud claims in California. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/california-election-fraud-claims/ Last updated: 2026-06-12T15:56:19.000Z Good Thursday morning. I’m **Isaac Saul**, your resident sleep-deprived NBA fan still buzzing from the New York Knicks’ historic, miraculous, unfathomable comeback in the NBA Finals last night. I tried hard to tune into my *Suspension of the Rules* co-host Kmele Foster’s CNN appearance, but the game kept dragging me back in until the Knicks completed the greatest comeback in Finals history, overcoming a 29-point deficit. I was still buzzing this morning until my haircut, when a barber asked me if I wanted to “clean up” my eyebrows — the second time that’s happened. Consider my buzz killed. They sure know how to poke a guy’s insecurities. Speaking of insecurity, questioning the results of an election has apparently become an American pastime. Today we’re covering the **claims of fraud in California**, a **new State Department program** for visa interviews, and **the story we chose *not* to cover** this week. It’s a rambunctious, **fact-filled, 15-minute read**. Once this newsletter goes out, I’m off to West Virginia with the Tangle team for our live event on Sunday. Tickets are still [available here](https://www.tickettailor.com/events/tanglenews/2210692?ref=readtangle.com) — join us! ### The latest Suspension of the Rules. This week’s episode is a “review of all the things we said last week” special, with updates on the mayoral race in Los Angeles, the screwworm cases in Texas, and the NBA Finals in New York. Plus, Isaac and Kmele debate whether AI slop should be banned for political ads. Check it out [here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szG3UEuydMI&ref=readtangle.com)! ### Quick hits. 1. BREAKING: Multiple floors and corridors at the Pentagon have been locked down and some staff have been evacuated after officials detected an air quality issue that is under investigation. ([The lockdown](https://www.cnn.com/2026/06/11/politics/pentagon-lockdown-evacuation?ref=readtangle.com)) 2. President Donald Trump said the U.S. military will continue attacking Iran after an initial round of strikes on Wednesday. The president also shared that the military has been covertly assisting ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz, claiming it had facilitated 100 million barrels of oil through the strait. ([The latest](https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/trump-warns-of-ramping-up-attacks-on-iran-after-exchange-of-strikes-ae2f7a67?ref=readtangle.com)) Separately, U.S. Central Command said the military struck a Palau-flagged oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman that it said failed to comply with orders. Three Indian sailors from the ship were killed. ([The incident](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy73dr081p8o?ref=readtangle.com)) 3. In a 198–218 vote, the House voted down a short-term extension of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which is set to expire on Friday. Democrats opposed the extension in protest of President Trump naming Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte as acting director of national intelligence. ([The vote](https://abcnews.com/Politics/house-fails-pass-short-term-extension-fisa-ahead/story?id=133784588&ref=readtangle.com)) 4. The Florida Supreme Court voted 6–1 to decline to grant a temporary injunction that would have prevented the state from using a new congressional map designed to net Republicans four additional seats in the U.S. House. ([The ruling](https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/5919055-florida-gop-house-map-approved/?ref=readtangle.com)) 5. President Trump said he is not planning to reauthorize the United States–Mexico–Canada trade agreement ahead of a July 1 deadline to extend the deal. ([The comments](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-06-10/trump-says-us-won-t-renew-usmca-setting-up-months-of-talks?ref=readtangle.com)) 6. Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates testified before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee about his relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, telling lawmakers that he made a “grave error in judgement” meeting Epstein but was not involved in any criminal activity. 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In the mayoral primary, Mayor Karen Bass (D) and City Councilmember Nithya Raman (D) [advanced](https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/5905647-bass-raman-faceoff-november/?ref=readtangle.com) to the general election, while first-time candidate Spencer Pratt (I) finished third. Pratt had been in second place the day after the primary, but Raman overtook him as mail-in ballots came in after Election Day, leading some Republicans to claim the results were fraudulent. **Back up:** Los Angeles has a [nonpartisan primary](https://www.uscannenbergmedia.com/2026/06/01/heres-how-the-california-primary-works/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=City%20of%20Los%20Angeles%20non%2Dpartisan%20primary) in which all mayoral candidates are listed on a single primary ballot, regardless of party, and if no candidate receives 50% of the primary vote, then the top two vote-getters advance to the general election. California allows all voters to participate in its elections by mail, and all mail-in ballots are valid if postmarked by Election Day and delivered to county election offices within seven days of the election. Due to this system, some races can [take weeks](https://calmatters.org/politics/2026/06/primary-election-california-counting/?ref=readtangle.com) to determine a winner. Roughly 48 hours after polls closed, Pratt still led Raman, but the city councilmember began gradually gaining as mail-in ballots were counted. On Sunday, Raman [surpassed](https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/news/california-governor-la-mayor-results-hilton-steyer-pratt-raman/?ref=readtangle.com) Pratt, and major news outlets called the race for her the next day. Her lead over the former reality television star has since [grown](https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2026/us/elections/results-california-mayor-los-angeles.html?eafs%5Fenabled=false&ref=readtangle.com) to approximately 3.5% with over 95% of the votes counted. Prominent Republicans in California and nationally have cast doubt on the result, alleging election fraud or dysfunction within the state’s vote-counting system. President Donald Trump has been among the most vocal critics, [posting](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116715381418144428?ref=readtangle.com) on Truth Social, “Not possible for Spencer Pratt to have lost the L.A. runoffs after the big lead he had. 3rd World Nation. Rigged Elections!” House Speaker Mike Johnson (R) [told reporters](https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5915168-speaker-mike-johnson-california/?ref=readtangle.com) that the result “stinks to high heaven,” though he clarified he was not claiming the election was “rigged.” Bill Essayli, the first assistant U.S. attorney for the Central District of California, [appealed](https://x.com/USAttyEssayli/status/2063419378675356063?s=20&ref=readtangle.com) to Californians to share evidence of potential election fraud with his office, later [suggesting](https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/5917041-california-voter-fraud-allegations-essayli-trump/?ref=readtangle.com) that “people will be charged.” Pratt, meanwhile, has not explicitly rejected the result, but he [implied](https://x.com/spencerpratt/status/2063784193688056310?ref=readtangle.com) in a post on X that there may have been foul play linked to the city’s homeless population. California Attorney General Rob Bonta and other officials have pushed back on the fraud claims, saying the state’s tabulation process is transparent and the state’s primaries were conducted legally. “\[Trump’s claims are\] truly embarrassing, unhinged, wild-eyed, dangerous, reckless, desperate,” Bonta [said](https://www.npr.org/2026/06/09/nx-s1-5850269/californias-attorney-general-on-trumps-baseless-claim-of-election-fraud?ref=readtangle.com). Other state lawmakers [acknowledged](https://abc7news.com/post/california-election-delays-draw-scrutiny-republicans-leaders-stress-system-is-working/19259625/?ref=readtangle.com) frustration with the election system, but said the counting delays were not evidence of fraud. Today, we’ll explore views from the left, right and California writers on these fraud claims, followed by Executive Editor Isaac Saul’s take. ### What the left is saying. - **Many on the left say Pratt’s supporters were duped and are now seeking out conspiracies for answers.** - **Others suggest California’s delayed results damage trust in elections.** **In Slate, Alex Kirshner said Pratt is** [**“careening headlong into conspiracy land.”**](https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2026/06/spencer-pratt-la-election-results-conspiracy-theories-rigged-election.html?ref=readtangle.com) “If you spent time on Elon Musk’s algorithmic For You feed on X in recent weeks, you may have gotten the impression that Pratt was riding a tidal wave of support to the mayorship… Though things looked good for him as the count got going on Tuesday night and on Wednesday, Pratt always had a long way to go,” Kirshner wrote. “It wasn’t even a bad showing for a MAGA-coded conservative in a deep-blue city in what looks like a blue wave year nationally. Pratt could’ve hung his hat on that. Pratt and his supporters have chosen a different path. Instead of resolving to build on a decent performance, they’ve ridden a collective delusion… to declare the election was stolen.” “Because it is hard to come to grips with getting duped by one’s own ideological bubble, these election deniers have shifted to criticizing California’s lengthy vote-counting process. The common claim is that voting by mail allows Democrats to ‘find the votes’ until they’ve achieved their desired result,” Kirshner said. “The vote-counting process that governs California elections is transparent to anyone who wants to understand it. It’s also born from a desire on the state’s part to collect as many people’s lawful votes as possible… I don’t enjoy waiting for important information, but I like that California wants people to vote.” **The New York Times editorial board argued** [**“California’s excuses are damaging faith in government.”**](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/10/opinion/california-slow-vote-primary.html?ref=readtangle.com) “There is no good reason that California takes so long to count votes. Most democracies around the world count votes quickly. So do most other large U.S. states, including Texas, Florida, Michigan and Virginia. Until the past decade, California itself counted votes quickly,” the board wrote. “It makes the state government look incompetent. It fails to increase voter turnout. It creates needless uncertainty about results (as has been the case with several races this year). It confuses ordinary voters and serves the interest of conspiracists, including President Trump, who spread lies about election fraud that is in fact virtually nonexistent.” “In November, Americans may spend days waiting to know who has won control of Congress while California and possibly Arizona, Nevada and Washington State take their time,” the board said. “The solution can start with Congress establishing a national deadline of Election Day for the arrival of mail-in ballots, as 35 states already require. If that sounds strict, remember that a deadline is unavoidable.” ### What the right is saying. - **Most on the right acknowledge the lack of evidence of fraud but argue California’s voting system is ripe for abuse.** - **Others say the flaws in the system seem designed to fuel conspiracies.** **The Washington Examiner editorial board said** [**“California elections have no integrity.”**](https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/editorials/4599392/california-elections-have-no-integrity/?ref=readtangle.com) “What was a 40,000-vote Pratt lead on Wednesday morning turned into a 3,000 Raman advantage by Sunday night. And by Monday night, Raman’s lead expanded to over 20,000 votes, ending Pratt’s campaign,” the board wrote. “It is not normal… California is a unique global outlier in its inability to deliver fast and fair election results, and it is not a matter of incompetence. The state has specifically designed its voting system to both take nearly forever to count votes and make it easier at every step of the way for bad actors to influence vote totals.” “California Democrats argue with a straight face that their permissive voting system of no photo identification, mass ballot mailings, partisan ballot collection, weak signature verification, and endless ballot reception are needed to maximize voter ‘access’ to the ballot box. But all their system really does is enable bad actors and sow chaos and commit fraud,” the board said. “Elections must not merely produce winners. They must also engender public confidence that the result reflects lawful votes cast by eligible voters on time.” **In National Review, Jeffrey Blehar suggested** [**“the real scandal is what’s legal.”**](https://www.nationalreview.com/carnival-of-fools/in-california-the-real-scandal-is-whats-legal/?ref=readtangle.com) “The fact that mail-in ballots have shifted the outcome — Pratt was in second place early on Election Day — has led inevitably to charges of voter fraud. How could this ever happen absent cheating? Very easily,” Blehar wrote. “Pratt didn’t lose because of fraud, and he didn’t lose because there was a ‘conspiracy’ to exclude him from the November ballot in favor of Left and Lefter… The vast majority of primary voters in L.A. were never even *considering* Pratt as an option; they were vacillating between different shades of deep blue.” “In California, the real scandal is what’s legal: with a universal mail-in ballot option, a seemingly endless window for ballot-counting, and legal mechanisms for unions and organizers to harvest (and later ‘cure’) ballots, California’s system is a black box to everyone except well-informed organizers and jaded electoral analysts — almost as if it were intentionally designed to fuel paranoia,” Blehar said. “People are right to be angry about California’s election system. It is rotten to its core and has reduced California politics to a mere test of activist strength between warring factions of the Democratic Party.” ### What California writers are saying. - **Some California writers argue Pratt lost because he was a bad candidate, not due to fraud.** - **Others say reports of illegal election practices must be investigated.** **The Los Angeles Daily News editorial board wrote** [**“Raman v. Bass sends MAGA into Conspiracy Land.”**](https://www.dailynews.com/2026/06/09/editorial-raman-v-bass-sends-maga-into-conspiracy-land/?ref=readtangle.com) “How can American democracy remain healthy if conservatives and Republicans won’t accept the results when their candidates lose — even candidates who never had a realistic chance of winning?” the board asked. “We can walk through the rebuttal, not that it will matter to these folks. His popularity on X aside, Pratt was never a serious candidate in the real world… He touted Trumpian rhetoric in a city that voted overwhelmingly against Trump.” “Yes, California officials helped create this mess by creating a vote-by-mail system with lax deadlines that allow ballots that were mailed on Election Day to be counted a full week later… We like mail-in voting, but there’s no reason state officials can’t re-jigger the deadlines so votes are counted in a timely manner,” the board wrote. “The Los Angeles election and reaction to it actually spotlights the failure of Republicans. Instead of grooming a knowledgeable, reform-minded candidate who had a real chance, they opted for a TV villain who imitated an unpopular president.” **In The California Post, Joel Pollak said** [**“\[the\] DOJ must protect right to vote in LA against alleged Skid Row tricks.”**](https://nypost.com/2026/06/09/opinion/doj-must-protect-right-to-vote-in-la-compromised-by-tricks/?ref=readtangle.com) “Videos of homeless people on LA’s Skid Row who appear to say that they were paid to vote are the latest reason for the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division to intervene immediately to protect the right to vote in LA,” Pollak wrote. “\[The right to vote\] belongs to everyone — homeless people, too. But if homeless people are exploited by party operatives who — in theory — register them to vote just to get ahold of \[and\] ‘harvest’ their mail-in ballots; or if the homeless are exploited by organizers who pay them to register, and possibly to vote, then everyone’s vote is being diluted by unfair, and possibly illegal, tricks.” “It is illegal to pay people to vote — and illegal to pay them to register. One paid signature collector was convicted earlier this year of paying homeless people to register to vote, using her own home address,” Pollak said. “The videos, many of which were shared widely on social media, need to be investigated by federal authorities. And the Voting Section of the Civil Rights Division needs to intervene — to protect the homeless from being abused, and to protect the rights of other voters.” ### My take. **Reminder: “My take” is a section where we give ourselves space to share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, don't unsubscribe. Write in by replying to this email, or** [**leave a comment**](https://www.readtangle.com/california-election-fraud-claims/#ghost-comments-root)**.** - **I’ve learned that election fraud claims tend to take certain shapes.** - **The accusations in California fit those types, but they are also somehow totally undefined.** - **This all injects more doubt into California’s frustrating system, which does need to be reformed.** **Executive Editor Isaac Saul:** In my (now [vast](https://www.readtangle.com/election-fraud-claims-debunked-donald-trump/)) experience [reporting](https://www.readtangle.com/election-fraud-explanations-debunked-2024/) on and [investigating](https://www.readtangle.com/2000-mules-fact-check-stolen-election/) all [manner](https://www.readtangle.com/elon-musk-illegal-immigrant-lies/) of [election fraud claims](https://www.businessinsider.com/voter-fraud-debunked-isaac-saul-viral-election-thread-conspiracy-theories-2020-11?ref=readtangle.com), I’ve learned that the allegations often take a few shapes: 1) The “statistical analysis” that alleges some observed vote tallies should be impossible without fraud, though they are actually explainable or totally concocted. 2) Misleading claims drawn from misinterpretations. And 3) An assumed sophistication of the people committing the alleged fraud, even though they don’t do very obvious things to advance their own interests that sophisticated people would do. In 2020, the explanation of how the election was stolen shifted constantly. First it was machines flipping votes, then it was Georgia election workers changing them, then it was “illegal immigrants” voting, then it was a network of ballot harvesting, then it was social media collusion, then it was foreign actors, and on and on and on. That was annoying because the goalposts moved constantly, but at least the claims were tangible and I could look into them. The California allegations are frustrating because there is no central story — nothing specific is being alleged. I’ve mostly read a lot of angst from people upset that “their guy” was winning and then lost. Nobody has really said exactly *what* fraud had occurred, just that it had. And yet, paradoxically, the claims have hit on all three of the classic election fraud types. First, I’ve seen a number of “statistical” claims of impossibility about what happened in California. One of the worst offenders was a Washington Times [opinion piece](https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/jun/8/statistical-impossibility-las-mayor-race/?ref=readtangle.com) by columnist Kelly Sadler, which opens by claiming “ChatGPT could not find one example in American history of a third-place candidate surging days after an election to overtake second place.” Despite ChatGPT’s authoritative response, candidates running in second and third place have, in fact, swapped positions after mail-in counting began, just in California. In one recent example, during the 2018 midterms, Republican incumbent David Valadao looked like he would win before Democratic challenger TJ Cox prevailed as mail-in ballots came in. Predominantly Republican in-person votes coming in first and being overtaken by predominantly Democratic mail-in votes happens so frequently it even has a name: “the red mirage.” Accusing Democrats of mail-in ballot fraud because they have electoral advantages as counting goes on is akin to accusing Republicans of Election Day fraud because they have electoral advantages early on; the pattern’s existence is proof of exactly nothing. Sadler’s piece goes on: “The left is telling us that Democrats vote late by mail, which is certainly true, but it does not explain why Ms. Raman — who is relatively unknown — received a disproportionate share of the late mail-in votes while Ms. Bass’ numbers remained relatively unchanged.” By itself, the red mirage “doesn’t explain” why one Democrat’s share of mail-in votes would be larger than another’s, but that doesn’t mean it’s inexplicable — or even novel. Since Raman is more popular among progressive voters than Bass, the incumbent mayor herself was also a victim of “the blue shift” toward a candidate to her left. This, too, has happened before. In 2024, for example, California Democrats Evan Low and Joe Simitian were effectively tied for second place before Low advanced as late ballots came in. Low and Simitian are both Democrats, but the late-arriving ballots favored the more progressive Low. The truly anomalous aspect of the Los Angeles primary is that a Republican-aligned candidate was as relevant as Pratt became, which made the disparity between how and when voters cast their ballots far more noticeable. Nothing about this is a “statistical impossibility” — all these ingredients are common in California’s elections, even if seeing them at the same time is rare (Republicans didn’t seem to think the 2022 House races they won in California were fraudulent, even though those ballots also took forever to count). I’ve also seen a slew of misleading claims of the second type: misinterpreted or misreported events. The claim that Pratt received zero of 24,000 votes in a batch of ballots [went viral](https://x.com/WellsJorda89710/status/2063142570457235621?s=20&ref=readtangle.com) online, and I heard it repeated by many bad-faith or ill-informed actors. Sadler repeated it, too: “In one of the ballot drops late on election night, Mr. Pratt received zero of 24,000 votes,” she wrote. “SuperGrok estimates place those odds at less than 1 in trillions.” Sadler’s absorption of an untrue, viral claim is shaking hands with her AI-assisted claims of statistical impossibility. There’s one big problem, though: The claim is a willfully ignorant interpretation of an [online update](https://x.com/JBBlackClover/status/2062762984846336238/photo/1?ref=readtangle.com) from The Associated Press’s election tracker. The vote tracker initially showed zero votes for Pratt in an update but roughly 24,000 votes going to Bass, Raman, and other candidates. Then, one minute later, it updated Pratt’s votes from the same batch, and in *that* update, Bass and Raman received zero votes. The AP later [explained](https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2026-06-05/how-simple-mix-up-fueled-false-conspiracies-about-la-vote-count?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=%E2%80%9CSpecifically%2C%20an%20electronic,for%20other%20candidates.%E2%80%9D) that when the entire batch was taken together, it showed 21,870 votes for Pratt, 12,850 for Bass, and 9,521 for Raman — so, a particularly *good* update for him. This incongruent data update also wasn’t unique. Sometimes, the AP election tracker lags as it pulls up numbers for the public; it is not simultaneously revealing every vote in a batch but updating results it gets from actual polling places. Similar discrepancies in reporting (not issues with vote counting) were [central to fraud claims in 2020](https://www.factcheck.org/2020/11/bogus-theory-claims-supercomputer-switched-votes-in-election/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Edison%20Research%2C%20which,votes%20for%20Trump.). They were bunk then and they’re bunk now. In this case, Trump’s handpicked U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli, whom Sadler quotes in her piece as saying California’s election system “sucks,” [said himself](https://x.com/USAttyEssayli/status/2063108426461270199?ref=readtangle.com) that claims of Pratt receiving zero votes were bunk. “We reviewed official county records. The claim is false. Each candidate received votes in every update,” Essayli said. “My office will continue monitoring the election-counting process and will follow the evidence wherever it leads.” Sadler somehow managed to quote Essayli criticizing California’s elections but neglected to mention him debunking her own claims of fraud. Third, and finally, I’ve seen an assumed sophistication of the people committing fraud, even though they aren’t pursuing the most advantageous outcomes they’d pursue if they were sophisticated. At root, California’s establishment Democrats are being accused of defrauding a right-leaning threat to protect their incumbent mayor. Yet, they are now under a much greater threat from a progressive member of the Democratic Socialists of America. As CNN’s Harry Enten [explained](https://x.com/ForecasterEnten/status/2064004493696512344?ref=readtangle.com), the Democratic establishment *wanted* Pratt to win — Bass leads him by 18 points in polling, while in some polls she currently trails Raman by as many as four points. Bass backers [even ran ads *boosting Pratt*](https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-05-12/union-funded-attack-ad-against-pratt-seems-aimed-at-helping-him-make-runoff-analysts-say?ref=readtangle.com), a kind of election chicanery I hate but that totally undermines claims she rigged the election to hurt him. Also, is the theory that California Democrats managed to rig the Los Angeles primary but allowed Steve Hilton to advance in the gubernatorial race? Is it that Karen Bass, the same mayor supposedly too incompetent to manage America’s second largest city, is *also* competent enough to rig an election involving millions of voters without getting caught, even while the entire process is being livestreamed? And of all the races the national Democratic machine would theoretically spend its time and money trying to rig, do you *really* think it’d be the *mayoral* race in *Los Angeles*? Trump has a net [–55 point rating](https://x.com/ForecasterEnten/status/2064004493696512344?ref=readtangle.com) among Angelenos. The real threat to the Democratic establishment there is from the left, not the right (despite my very badly aged take that Pratt had tapped into something with this electorate). The most frustrating thing about all of this is that voter fraud is real, and California’s elections do need reforms. Just last month, a woman [agreed to plead guilty to paying people](https://abc7.com/post/la-county-woman-plead-guilty-paying-people-skid-row-vote/19131061/?ref=readtangle.com) (including the homeless in Skid Row) to register to vote. For nearly 20 years, she was paid by coordinators to collect voter signatures on official petitions that qualify initiatives, which she did by paying homeless people to provide those signatures. While this isn’t proof that any fraudulent votes were cast in this election, it is an example of what election fraud looks like when it actually happens. Additionally, California’s elections take so long to tally they seem practically designed to breed mistrust. California is massive — the most populous state by far — which means it has the most votes to count. Los Angeles County alone has more residents than *40 different states*. That size is then paired with expansive ballot-access laws. Roughly [23 million](https://www.sos.ca.gov/administration/news-releases-and-advisories/2026-news-releases-and-advisories/california-secretary-state-shirley-n-weber-phd-releases-60-day-report-registration?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Today%2C%20California%20Secretary%20of%20State%20Shirley%20N.%20Weber%2C%20Ph.D.%2C%20released%20the%20latest%2060%2DDay%20Report%20of%20Registration%20which%20reflects%20data%20as%20of%20April%203%2C%202026.%20A%20record%20total%20of%2023%2C112%2C854%20eligible%20Californians%20are%20registered%20to%20vote.) ballots were sent out to [all registered voters](https://ballotpedia.org/All-mail%5Fvoting?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Eight%20states%20%E2%80%93%20California%2C%20Colorado%2C%20Hawaii%2C%20Nevada%2C%20Oregon%2C%20Utah%2C%20Vermont%2C%20and%20Washington%20%E2%80%93%20conduct%20what%20is%20commonly%20referred%20to%20as%20an%20all%2Dmail%20election%2C%20or%20universal%20mail%2Din%20voting.%5B1%5D%20In%20these%20states%2C%20voting%20is%20conducted%20primarily%20by%20mail%2C%20and%20all%20eligible%20voters%20receive%20a%20ballot%20by%20default.) via mail this primary, and most voters use those ballots instead of voting in person. The state also counts ballots postmarked by Election Day that arrive *up to a week* later, and *then* it ensures voters have the opportunity to cure their ballots. All of this slows the process to a glacial pace. California Democrats now seem to be [awakening](https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/2026/06/california-election-2026-governor/687494/?ref=readtangle.com) to the reality that this isn’t sustainable, and they should follow through on increasing election resources to speed things up. That’s not about rewarding bad actors baselessly alleging rigged elections, it’s about addressing a genuine mistrust that has bubbled over across the state. Of course, while President Trump has the biggest megaphone here spreading claims of fraud, he’s now being joined by Vice President JD Vance (who [called](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/jd-vance-thinks-pretty-shady-spencer-pratt-lost-in-the-la-mayoral-election%5Fn%5F6a28221ae4b0d7105b0d665a/amp?ref=readtangle.com) the elections “shady”) and Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson (who [said](https://x.com/mkraju/status/2064058526775812199?ref=readtangle.com) the efforts are “so diabolical and so far upstream it is impossible to prove,” which is convenient). These leaders are casting doubt on California’s results without providing an iota of proof or even a central theory as to how this fraud happened. This is new and dangerous territory. Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence, and the people claiming Pratt got robbed haven’t put forward so much as a hogwash, theoretical, thinly supported hypothesis — they’ve just said “fraud” or “shady” or “stinks to high heaven” and then carried on with no regard for the mistrust in our system they’re breeding. Everyone who knows better should call these lies out, but debunking these claims is no longer enough. California needs to take more tangible steps to speed up its process. Doubt and mistrust, however poisonous or ill founded, aren’t going anywhere; and, unfortunately, reality is no longer enough to quell those concerns. **Take the survey:** Do you think California’s system allows for fraud or should be reformed? [Let us know](https://interrobang.vercel.app/survey/1a43b432-373a-4c5b-9f04-4298640abe6b?ref=readtangle.com). *Disagree? That's okay. Our opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we'll consider publishing your feedback.* ### Under the radar. On July 1, the State Department will reportedly begin offering an expedited service for visa interviews at designated U.S. embassies and consulates. Under the pilot program, which will run through the end of 2026, applicants will pay $750 (in addition to an initial $185 fee) to schedule an interview appointment for a business or tourist visa within 10 days of payment. The department has not shared the list of embassies and consulates where this service will be available, but it says it will do so before the program launches. The initiative is designed to ease delays in visa processing across the world linked to heightened reviews and stricter scrutiny of applicants, particularly in African countries. [The Associated Press has the story](https://apnews.com/article/state-department-visas-travel-charge-38a7143ba665f87fc1bb416e05e45a7d?ref=readtangle.com). from TODAY'S PARTNER ****Free Live Training: How the Wealthy Pick Stocks.** Most traders react to the market. The best investors spot opportunities before the crowd. In this [free live training](https://api.wellput.io/v1/cm?cmid=926925mq9m4p6b&tid=321&s1=v2-r727876-p926925-c43109&s2=Tangle&s3=&s4=null&ref=readtangle.com), see how AI helps identify high-probability stocks, sectors, and trends days in advance. Less guessing. More confidence. [Reserve your spot today ](https://api.wellput.io/v1/cm?cmid=926925mq9m4p6b&tid=321&s1=v2-r727876-p926925-c43109&s2=Tangle&s3=&s4=null&ref=readtangle.com) ### The road not taken. Our number-two topic choice each day this week was providing an update on the war in Iran. Each day, some notable event took place that could have been our lede: On Monday, it would have been Israel exchanging strikes with Lebanon. On Tuesday, it would have been Trump pushing for fighting to stop and negotiators to come to the table. On Wednesday, it would have been the downing of a U.S. helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz. And today, it would have been the exchange of fire between the U.S. and Iran. Sometimes, we are *less* likely to cover a continually evolving situation as a main topic precisely because it is evolving. We are generally slower to provide major updates on stories to allow for developments and to give our analysis the benefit of some distance from the immediate news hook. Also, the topics we decided to cover this week allowed us to get into subject matter we hadn’t looked at in depth in a while: immigration, artificial intelligence, and the media itself. As we start thinking about next week, Iran is one of the topics at the top of our board. ### The extras. - **One year ago today** we covered RFK Jr. [firing all the members of a vaccine panel](https://www.readtangle.com/rfk-fires-vaccine-panel-cdc-acip/). - **The most clicked link in our last regular newsletter** was [our latest video about World Cup ticket prices](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4m5bY2M5vN0&ref=readtangle.com). - **Nothing to do with politics:** Brewing [a recipe for beer created by George Washington](https://www.untappedcities.com/george-washington-1757-beer/?ref=readtangle.com). - **Our last survey:** 1,676 readers responded to our survey on partial government control of AI companies with 29% saying they oppose the idea. “Government needs to do its job and properly regulate AI companies, not turn them into state-operated businesses,” one respondent said. “I would rather have corrupt government politicians who are subject to public oversight making these decisions than continuing to rely on the good will of billionaire oligarchs,” said another. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/06/data-src-image-eef8a425-f165-4fdd-bc28-da2edfc34596.png) ### Have a nice day. “Daraxonrasib” may be a killer word to pronounce, but as a drug, it has shown striking promise to extend the lives of pancreatic cancer patients in a new late-stage clinical trial. The therapy targets KRAS proteins present in these cancer patients, an objective that has eluded scientists for decades. Following the clinical trial — led by the drugmaker Revolution Medicines — the FDA fast-tracked daraxonrasib for review. “I’m pretty sure I would not be alive still but for this drug,” 67-year-old Rhea Caras said. “I’m living a pretty good life, and I did not expect that.” [The New York Times has the story](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/12/health/pancreatic-cancer-daraxonrasib-kras.html?ref=readtangle.com). ### AI Is About to Change Politics Forever URL: https://www.readtangle.com/ai-is-about-to-change-politics-forever/ Last updated: 2026-06-14T00:02:35.000Z In this episode of Suspension of the Rules, we cover a wide range of stories at the intersection of politics, technology, public policy, and culture. ### An AI sovereign wealth fund. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/government-ownership-ai-companies-bernie-sanders-trump/ Last updated: 2026-06-10T17:18:51.000Z Hi everyone. It’s Wednesday, and this is **Senior Editor Will Kaback**. I’ve spent the past month or so flying all over the country (a mix of work and personal travel), and it’s given me time to dig into a beast of a book that’s been sitting on my shelf since the start of the year: *Shantaram* by Gregory David Roberts. The semi-autobiographical, nearly 1,000-page novel is set in India and follows an escaped prisoner who finds his way to then-Bombay and is quickly swept up in the city’s current. It’s full of captivating characters, but the most riveting of all might be India itself. The country has never been high on my list of places to visit, but *Shantaram* has made it feel like an urgent mission to get there. It’s got me thinking — what other books use their setting to the same effect? I’d love to hear about the ones that have affected you similarly in the comments or over email. I’ve also been reflecting on how our relationship to stories like these might change as artificial intelligence becomes a fixture in our lives. Today, we’re covering a couple of related proposals that would **transform the public’s relationship with leading AI companies**. Then, an **exclusive interview with Sen. Andy Kim (D-NJ)** about our story yesterday and a look at why today is a **big day in Barcelona**. It’s a **13-minute read**. Let’s dive in. ### Why are World Cup tickets so expensive? After much anticipation, the first games of the World Cup jointly hosted by Canada, the United States, and Mexico will begin on Thursday at the historic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. Associate Producer, longtime soccer/football fan, and Portsmouth supporter Aidan Gorman started looking for tickets — but what he found was a story. Today, Aidan explores the high cost of World Cup tickets and FIFA’s embrace of dynamic pricing. Check out [our latest video here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4m5bY2M5vN0&ref=readtangle.com)! ### Quick hits. 1. The U.S. military launched airstrikes against Iran in retaliation for a downed American helicopter that collided with an Iranian drone. U.S. Central Command said the strikes targeted Iranian air defenses and radar sites near the Strait of Hormuz. ([The strikes](https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/apache-helicopter-crash-coast-oman-4de26c6d?ref=readtangle.com)) 2. The House of Representatives voted 214–212 to pass a roughly $70 billion reconciliation bill that funds Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Patrol through 2029\. President Donald Trump is expected to sign the bill today. ([The bill](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/06/09/ice-funding-bill-is-up-house-vote-after-weeks-republican-delays/?ref=readtangle.com)) 3. The Consumer Price Index for May showed a 0.5% month-over-month increase and 4.2% annual increase in prices, driven largely by increases in energy costs. ([The increase](https://www.wsj.com/economy/cpi-inflation-report-may-2026-60db25fe?ref=readtangle.com)) 4. Graham Platner won Maine’s Democratic Senate primary and will face Sen. Susan Collins (R) in the general election. In South Carolina’s Republican gubernatorial primary, Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette and state Attorney General Alan Wilson advanced to a runoff, while Rep. Nancy Mace finished fifth and endorsed Wilson. ([The primaries](https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/5917340-platner-collins-maine-south-carolina-takeaways/?ref=readtangle.com)) Separately, major news desks projected that Steve Hilton (R) will advance to the general election in California’s gubernatorial race to face Xavier Becerra (D). ([The call](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2026/06/09/xavier-becerra-steve-hilton-california-governor-general-election/90389503007/?ref=readtangle.com)) 5. The National Association of Realtors announced that existing home sales increased by 3.2% on a monthly and annual basis in May, the fastest pace since December 2025\. ([The numbers](https://abcnews.com/Business/wireStory/us-home-sales-surge-fastest-pace-year-despite-133713775?ref=readtangle.com)) from Today's Partner ****Have we found the holy grail of hearing aids?** There’s a reason experts are calling [hear.com](http://hear.com/?ref=readtangle.com)’s new ****IX hearing aids “the ultimate conversation starter**.****”** Because they’re the world’s first designed with clarity in conversation in mind. That means state-of-the-art noise suppression. Lightning-fast dual processing technology. They ****help you hear speech more naturally** ****— even in noisy environments**. The most natural listening experience ever. In your day-to-day life, that means effortless conversation, wherever you go. [****Tangle readers can test drive hear.com’s IX hearing aids for 45-days risk free**](https://api.wellput.io/v1/cm?cmid=910775mq86ru0g&tid=207&s1=v2-r727145-p910775-c37353&s2=Tangle&s3=&s4=null&ref=readtangle.com)****.** [Start your no-risk 45 day trial today. ](https://api.wellput.io/v1/cm?cmid=910775mq86ru0g&tid=207&s1=v2-r727145-p910775-c37353&s2=Tangle&s3=&s4=null&ref=readtangle.com) ### Today’s topic. Public ownership of artificial intelligence companies. On Monday, June 1, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) [published](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/01/opinion/artificial-intelligence-bernie-sanders.html?ref=readtangle.com) an op-ed in The New York Times proposing the [American AI Sovereign Wealth Fund Act](https://www.congress.gov/congressional-record/volume-172/issue-92/senate-section/article/S2467-1?ref=readtangle.com), a law that would transfer a 50% ownership stake in artificial intelligence (AI) companies into a federal sovereign wealth fund through a one-time tax. “The creative work of millions of people… has essentially been stolen by some of the wealthiest people in the world,” Sanders said. “It’s time for us to reclaim it.” Simultaneously, President Donald Trump has [been in discussions](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/06/05/trump-open-ai-altman-stake.html?ref=readtangle.com) with Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI (the maker of ChatGPT), about transferring equity of the company into a government-run “public wealth fund.” Trump has also suggested the government could take equity stakes in other leading AI developers. **Back up:** In February 2025, President Trump signed an [executive order](https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/02/a-plan-for-establishing-a-united-states-sovereign-wealth-fund/?ref=readtangle.com) directing the secretaries of the Treasury and Commerce Departments to plan the creation of a sovereign wealth fund. A sovereign wealth fund (SWF) is [an investment vehicle](https://www.ifswf.org/what-is-a-sovereign-wealth-fund?ref=readtangle.com) managed by the government and created to generate long-term returns for the public. China, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and other countries [all manage SWFs](https://www.swfinstitute.org/fund-rankings/sovereign-wealth-fund?ref=readtangle.com); Norway’s fund is the largest in the world, valued at over $2 trillion. Alaska manages an $89 billion [sovereign wealth fund](https://apfc.org/?ref=readtangle.com). In April, OpenAI published [a proposal](https://cdn.openai.com/pdf/561e7512-253e-424b-9734-ef4098440601/Industrial%20Policy%20for%20the%20Intelligence%20Age.pdf?ref=readtangle.com) for the government to cooperate with AI companies to help create and manage artificial superintelligence. The plan argued the government should invest in updating the energy grid, developing guardrails and workers’ rights, and owning equity of AI companies through SWFs, among other things. Currently, large private tech companies OpenAI, Anthropic and SpaceX are preparing for potential initial public offerings (IPO), which would allow public investors to purchase stock in the companies. OpenAI [filed for an IPO](https://www.tradingview.com/news/gurufocus:e34ca704d094b:0-openai-files-for-ipo-after-raising-122-billion-at-852-billion-valuation/?ref=readtangle.com) on Monday, seeking an $852 billion valuation following a $122 billion funding round backed by the UAE’s sovereign wealth fund. Anthropic, the company behind Claude, [recently completed](https://www.anthropic.com/news/series-h?ref=readtangle.com) a $65 billion funding round and is seeking a $965 billion valuation. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has proposed that his company would create [orbital data centers](https://www.investors.com/news/spacex-ipo-tesla-elon-musk-ai-data-centers-chips-semiconductors/?ref=readtangle.com) and is reportedly seeking [a $1.8 trillion valuation](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-05-29/spacex-lowers-ipo-valuation-target-to-at-least-1-8-trillion?ref=readtangle.com); the company is expected to go public on Friday, June 12. On Friday, President Trump appeared to endorse a version of Sanders’s idea. “There’s something very interesting about it, where it almost becomes a partnership with the American public,” Trump [said](https://apnews.com/article/sam-altman-ai-bernie-sanders-trump-public-ownership-772224f9cd138eb79d3ef3336858a5d5?ref=readtangle.com), adding that he and Sanders “aren’t that far apart” on their economic views. A sovereign wealth fund managing stakes in tech companies has generated some interest and skepticism from industry experts. “Even if taking partial ownership of frontier AI companies can make sense on paper, in practice it’s a recipe for political favoritism and corruption,” [said](https://www.ft.com/content/8559a3f9-86de-4a1c-8a75-6623e83e6a00?ref=readtangle.com) Samuel Hammond, director of AI policy at the Foundation for American Innovation. Below, we’ll cover some reactions to the idea from the right and left. Then, Senior Editor Will Kaback gives his take. ### What the right is saying. - **The right criticizes Sanders’s proposal, calling it a socialist policy.** - **Some say that public ownership would allow the government to control information.** - **Others express concern about the proposal’s support from young people.** **The Wall Street Journal editorial board called the proposal a** [**“road to AI state socialism.”**](https://www.wsj.com/opinion/bernie-sanders-sovereign-wealth-fund-ai-defense-national-security-392fdf1e?ref=readtangle.com) “Mr. Sanders wants to force companies to hand over half of their equity to the government. He calls this a ‘one-time 50% tax’ on company shares, but it isn’t a tax as most economists would define the term, and certainly not how America’s founders did,” the board wrote. “For all intents and purposes, this would be a government expropriation. It would violate the Fifth Amendment’s prohibition on government taking property without just compensation.” “Mr. Sanders doesn’t conceal his aim for the government to use its ownership stake to boss around AI companies and redistribute the ‘investment’ gains (if there are any) to voters. Progressives call this ‘universal basic capital’ since citizens would supposedly get an indirect stake in companies, but it’s socialism with a capitalist false front,” the board said. “The U.S. leads the world in AI because entrepreneurs and investors have combined to innovate and compete. Political control would stifle that growth and cede leadership to China. It would be a tragedy for the ages if AI became the road to American socialism.” **In the Washington Examiner, Mark Whittington argued** [**“Sanders wants to seize the means of information.”**](https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/op-eds/4591383/bernie-sanders-seize-means-of-information-artificial-intelligence/?ref=readtangle.com) “\[Sanders’s proposal\] would give the government veto power over decisions by AI companies that, in Sanders’s judgment, would be harmful to the working class,” Whittington wrote. “Do we really trust the government to have control over information, which is what feeds AI systems and makes them run? One of the features of tyrannies has been control of information, whether traditional news sources such as newspapers, TV, and radio, or the newer sources, such as social media. “Democracy thrives on access to accurate information. Tyrannies, whether they be Nazi Germany, Soviet Russia, Islamic Iran, or Sanders’s collectivist utopia, thrive on the control and stifling of information,” Whittington said. “We should no more favor government control of AI than we should favor control of the media, traditional or internet. It can only lead to abuse and a lack of transparency. The free market assures that AI will be free of dishonesty and deceit.” **In the New York Post, Betsy McCaughey said youth support is a** [**“red flag.”**](https://nypost.com/2026/06/06/opinion/dont-laugh-off-bernie-sanders-communist-ai-heist-attempt/?ref=readtangle.com) “Sanders’ bill is going nowhere while there’s a Republican majority in Congress — but ignore it at your peril. It’s a warning: Outright confiscation is the left’s latest scheme to remedy inequality and pay for ever-expanding public benefits,” McCaughey wrote. “Who likes these ideas? Young voters. Members of Generation Z in particular have a rose-colored view of socialism, communism and collectivism. According to a recent Heartland Institute/Rasmussen Reports poll, nearly 60% of likely voters age 18 to 24 want a Democratic Socialist in the White House in 2028.” “Some states are wisely pushing back. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a new law last year requiring his state’s public schools to teach ‘the brutal realities of life under communism.’ Texas has passed a similar law,” McCaughey said. “Confiscating capital is the fastest way to kill an economy, as history has proven again and again. Sanders’ AI-theft scheme is just the beginning… The best defense — the only defense — is an educated electorate. Considering the misguided attitudes of many Gen Z voters, there’s no time to waste.” ### What the left is saying. - **The left is open to the idea, with some praising Sanders’s proposal.** - **Others say Trump and Sanders are taking a similar stance for different reasons.** - **Still others question Trump’s views on government intervention in industry.** **In Gizmodo, AJ Dellinger called Bernie Sanders** [**“the only Democrat(ish) lawmaker willing to govern on AI.”**](https://gizmodo.com/bernie-sanders-continues-to-be-only-democrat-willing-to-govern-on-ai-proposes-public-ownership-2000765960?ref=readtangle.com) “Bernie Sanders might be 84 years old, but he sure acts more in touch with the general public’s views on AI than most other lawmakers,” Dellinger wrote. “On one hand, it’d be better if Bernie didn’t pull his punches on this and just called for straight-up nationalization of the frontier labs. It’s already clear the technology is a potential danger for all sorts of reasons, and the idea that it should be held by a handful of guys who are heavily invested in making themselves rich means public interest will never be their first consideration.” “On the other hand, Sanders’ proposal does a nice job of calling the bluff of the AI industry,” Dellinger said. “It’s unlikely the American AI Sovereign Wealth Fund Act goes anywhere, because basically no legislation goes anywhere these days, but it’s another indicator that Sanders is actually taking this moment seriously. He’s one of the few Democratic-aligned politicians actively trying to regulate AI at a federal level and considering the possible consequences of this technology being operated by ungovernable billionaires.” **In New York Magazine, Bess Levin suggested that Sanders and Trump are interested in AI stakes** [**“for very different reasons.”**](https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/sanders-trump-ai-companies-stake.html?ref=readtangle.com) “Trump’s enthusiasm for giving the government equity in these companies seemingly shares little in common with Sanders’s vision, which is about, among other things, protecting workers and using the money to ensure people can afford their blood-pressure medication,” Levin wrote. “Trump, on the other hand, seems most excited about the idea of picking a winning stock, telling reporters on Friday that he ‘should be a stockbroker.’” “Also likely at play here is that… the notion that AI is deeply unpopular has broken through. And the president — who was previously content to basically let AI rip — would like to capitalize on that,” Levin said. “Sanders says he will introduce the American AI Sovereign Wealth Fund Act in the coming weeks. On Friday… SpaceX will go public, at which point millions of Americans will automatically own a piece of Elon Musk’s firm, though obviously not in a way that will give them any kind of say whatsoever.” **In MS NOW, Steve Benen said that Trump’s considering the proposal adds to** [**“an unexpected pattern.”**](https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/trump-eyes-a-government-stake-in-ai-companies-adding-to-an-unexpected-pattern?ref=readtangle.com) “As last week got underway, Donald Trump used his social media platform to take a swipe at, of all people, communists,” Benen wrote. “He \[said\], ‘Has anyone ever seen a Happy Communist?’ With this rhetorical question still rattling around the algorithm, it was rather ironic to see the Republican end the week calling for a government stake in yet another private industry… He also told reporters that there was some overlap between his economic vision and the Vermont socialist’s.” “The debate can and should continue about the merits of such a policy, but it’s hard not to notice the familiarity of the circumstances… Trump seems to like condemning those who disagree with him as communists,” Benen said. “He also seems oddly interested in having the government taking ownership of parts of a variety of private industries… The president, by his own admission, isn’t eyeing stakes only in AI companies.” ### My take. **Reminder: “My take” is a section where we give ourselves space to share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, don't unsubscribe. Write in by replying to this email, or** [**leave a comment**](https://www.readtangle.com/government-ownership-ai-companies-bernie-sanders-trump/#ghost-comments-root)**.** - **Sanders and Trump make a strong case that AI necessitates a serious government response.** - **These proposals are incredibly bold and come with significant risks.** - **Ultimately, I don’t think the trade-offs of these proposals are worth it.** **Senior Editor Will Kaback:** Instinctively, it feels strange to see Sanders and Trump on the same side of any issue, but they both have an economic populist appeal and a willingness to involve the government in private affairs. While Trump’s ideas on government involvement in AI companies are less defined than Sanders’s AI Sovereign Wealth Fund Act, they’re both following the same instinct on the government’s role in technological development. As the president himself [said](https://x.com/BulwarkOnline/status/2062958422467772913?ref=readtangle.com), the two “aren’t that far apart” on many economic issues. Descending from this 30,000-foot view, though, some differences become apparent at the ground level. For Sanders, AI is a public resource, since it was trained on data drawn from collective human knowledge. Trump appears to see AI as an appreciating investment that a strong president can leverage for the public’s gain. You can see these different starting points in where their ideas end up. Sen. Sanders would use a one-time, 50% tax to transfer private stock and board seats from the companies to the public. President Trump has suggested that the government should maximize profits from an ownership stake in these companies without any decision-making power. Both ideas would take a huge chunk of potential earnings from these companies that are seeking to go public with valuations the size of small countries. You might expect the companies to be opposed — but, interestingly, they seem to be on board. [OpenAI](https://cdn.openai.com/pdf/561e7512-253e-424b-9734-ef4098440601/Industrial%20Policy%20for%20the%20Intelligence%20Age.pdf?ref=readtangle.com#page=7) and [Anthropic](https://www.anthropic.com/research/economic-policy-responses?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=7.%20Create%20national%20sovereign%20wealth%20funds%20with%20stakes%20in%20AI) have each thrown their weight behind putting some of their value into sovereign wealth funds. Elon Musk [supports](https://x.com/elonmusk/status/2044990537145753894?s=20&ref=readtangle.com) universal basic income for Americans funded by AI profits. When a Republican president, a democratic-socialist senator and CEOs of leading AI firms agree, we should consider their idea. But is it a good one? I don’t think so. I agree with Sanders that AI was built on human writing, art, code, knowledge, and more. I also agree that AI models have [been trained](https://hbr.org/2023/04/generative-ai-has-an-intellectual-property-problem?ref=readtangle.com) on this knowledge without permission or compensation. Those points don’t necessitate a government takeover; they necessitate better regulation and oversight. If Sanders’s bill was enacted, the use of that power would vary widely depending on who is in charge of the federal government at a given time. Sanders has been an [outspoken critic](https://www.commondreams.org/news/sander-slams-trump-corruption?ref=readtangle.com) of the Trump family’s alleged self-dealing through the presidency — does he really support giving this administration powerful voting shares in companies that could soon be worth trillions of dollars? His plan doesn’t specify how the government’s voting shares would be exercised, but it’s hard to imagine the executive branch not having a say. Even in a post-Trump world, a future president could use that power to push for policies that produce an immediate political benefit — like a stock-market boost before a midterm — that don’t serve the public in the long run. It sounds nice to frame these voting shares as “the public’s,” but in reality, politicians (or their appointees) would be wielding this power. We’re seeing firsthand [how that power can be abused](https://www.readtangle.com/the-everything-everywhere-all-at-once-corruption-story/). Separately, I’m wary of the idea that governments are entitled to dividends or board seats if public knowledge contributed to a technology’s development. It’s downstream of an argument that lawmakers like Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) have long made about raising taxes on corporations. “You built a factory out there? Good for you,” Warren [said](https://taxjustice.net/2014/05/14/quote-day-elizabeth-warren/?ref=readtangle.com) back in 2011\. “But I want to be clear. You moved your goods to market on the roads the rest of us paid for. You hired workers the rest of us paid to educate. You were safe in your factory because of police-forces and fire-forces that the rest of us paid for.” This sentiment appeals to a sense of fairness and rightfully notes that all companies benefit from public contributions in some way. But this rationale for increasing taxes would combine with the government holding equity in private companies in a dangerous way. Should the government receive a stake in every private company that uses public roads or hires workers who went to public schools? AI might feel like an extreme case that warrants this level of government involvement, but if we crack that door open, it will legitimize other cases, too. Sanders also suggests that the government can’t change AI companies’ behavior without a seat on their board. But as policy experts like Cato’s Tad DeHaven have [noted](https://www.cato.org/blog/trump-opened-door-sanderss-sovereign-wealth-fund?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Gee%2C%20what%20could%20go%20wrong%3F%C2%A0), the government can exert influence through regulations, taxes, contracts, and lawsuits. The senator doesn’t explain why these existing mechanisms are insufficient to address AI risks, and it feels like an admission that Congress isn’t capable of doing its job. That very well may be, but Congress’s inaction or ineptitude doesn’t justify a hugely expanded federal presence in AI. President Trump comes at this issue from another angle: His vision of federal investments in AI tracks closely with his view of the government’s role in important private industries. His administration has followed up on its [10% stake in Intel](https://www.readtangle.com/government-equity-intel-trump-chipmaking/) last August with stakes in [quantum-computing firms](https://www.reuters.com/business/us-award-2-billion-quantum-computing-firms-take-equity-stakes-wsj-reports-2026-05-21/?ref=readtangle.com) and [rare-earth mineral companies](https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/trump-administrations-investment-push-rare-earth-companies-chipmakers-2026-05-21/?ref=readtangle.com) this year. He’s touted the Intel deal as proof of that strategy’s success, and in financial terms, it has been; the government’s stake was [up 300%](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-04-24/us-government-stake-in-intel-has-jumped-300-to-36-billion?ref=readtangle.com) and worth roughly $36 billion in late April. With several major AI firms planning to go public soon, not only is the Intel stock poised to rise further, but the president likely sees an even bigger money-making opportunity to work with AI companies directly. Still, I don’t think the revenue potential is worth further transgressing the boundary between government and private businesses. The risks — insider self-dealing, abuse of public funds, inserting political considerations into company decisions, or a catastrophic failure of an invested company — are real. Even if the Intel deal hasn’t yet manifested the downsides, those risks would only deepen with AI companies in the federal portfolio. The more government money is spread around high-stakes sectors, the greater the liability becomes. AI is still a relatively nascent industry, so what Trump and Sanders are proposing here is difficult to compare to what other countries have done. But we have seen sovereign wealth funds take huge losses — or fail outright — after risky investments or global economic downturns. In 2010, Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund [took a roughly 70% loss](https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSSGE61A0CJ20100211/?ref=readtangle.com) on its $10.3 billion stake in the Swiss bank UBS amid the global financial crisis. Brazil established a national fund in 2008 to support critical domestic industries, like the country’s majority state-owned oil company. After that company’s share price cratered, Brazil [shuttered its fund](https://corporatefinanceinstitute.com/resources/fixed-income/sovereign-fund-of-brazil/?ref=readtangle.com) just 11 years after it launched. Malaysia’s fund [lost over $4.5 billion](https://www.britannica.com/event/1Malaysia-Development-Berhad-scandal?ref=readtangle.com) through vast corruption that enriched public officials and their associates, including the prime minister. You could also look at the mortgage industry before the 2008 financial crisis, when the United States economy became dependent on a few banks that were “too big to fail,” for a lesson on what happens when the government doesn’t properly play its oversight role. None of these parallels are perfect for assessing a prospective AI wealth fund, but they show the risk of outsized investment, particularly in turbulent economic times. Both Sanders’s and Trump’s cases for government involvement in AI companies rest on the belief that this technology will be so disruptive, so unlike anything that has come before it, that the government needs to take unprecedented steps to give the public a safety net as the technology takes off. Even if you believe that, I still think these proposals are ill advised. This merging of government and business would create massive conflicts of interest for the politicians in charge of managing the public’s stake, but the public alone would shoulder the risk of bad investments and oversight. I think AI will cause economic and societal disruptions necessitating a government response. It already has. But the tools to address this disruption already exist and — properly utilized — can be effective without this kind of risky government involvement. The uncomfortable reality is that we’re staring down an uncertain — and often scary — future with AI. I don’t think throwing away the principles that have long grounded our government gets us closer to meeting that challenge. **Take the survey:** What do you think of partial government ownership of AI companies? [Let us know](https://interrobang.vercel.app/survey/1bc085ce-127a-43f2-bfcc-4aaae175d9fa?ref=readtangle.com). *Disagree? That's okay. Our opinion is just one of many. 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[Start your 45 day no-risk trial today. ](https://api.wellput.io/v1/cm?cmid=910775mq86ru0g&tid=207&s1=v2-r727145-p910775-c37353&s2=Tangle&s3=&s4=null&ref=readtangle.com) ### A senator’s view. Yesterday, we covered [the protests at Delaney Hall detention center](https://www.readtangle.com/anti-ice-protests-newark-new-jersey-delaney-hall/), where Sen. Andy Kim (D-NJ) was pepper sprayed just a few weeks ago. We reached out to Sen. Kim’s office for that edition, but we weren’t able to get him on the phone until this morning. Kim’s view was that we do not have to hold people in these detention centers who are not a threat to the public, and that as we push for their release, we should simultaneously ramp up funding for judges to adjudicate more immigration cases more quickly. Our conversation came after Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin [criticized](https://x.com/SecMullinDHS/status/2059734209023902054?s=20&ref=readtangle.com) Kim, saying the two had a good relationship but he was disappointed that the senator was spreading falsehoods and engaging in “political theater.” Mullin added that Delaney Hall “isn’t a Holiday Inn” and “illegal aliens are at this detention facility because they broke our nation’s laws.” We asked Sen. Kim about Mullin’s comments, too. “I’m continuing to share with him what I see and what I hear at Delaney Hall,” Kim said. “My job is to govern. His job is to govern. And I hope that the two of us recognize that we need to push forward. The people at Delaney Hall — they need remedy now. They can’t wait for some new Congress; they can’t wait for some new president… I obviously disagree with his characterization of what’s happening at Delaney Hall. I think everyone in there, all the detainees, recognize that they are not going to get four-star treatment, but it’s just a matter of a baseline of dignity and decency in this country and how people — human beings — should be treated.” You can listen [to the full interview on today’s podcast](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tangle/id1538788132?ref=readtangle.com) (which will be live after 2:30 PM ET). ### This day in history. ![Inside La Sagrada Família in 2021 — Trey Ratcliffe, Flickr](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/06/data-src-image-9a21c9e7-a2d6-4c52-a27f-f8e4fe8b9b6b.png) Inside La Sagrada Família in 2021 — Trey Ratcliffe, Flickr On June 10, 1926, Spanish architect Antoni Gaudí [passed away](https://www.lapedrera.com/en/architect-antoni-gaudi/?ref=readtangle.com) at age 73\. Gaudí left an enormous impact on the field, and specifically the city of Barcelona, which is home to many of his distinctive buildings that eschew straight lines and feature organic shapes and surprising symmetries. Upon his death, however, his greatest work was left unfinished: La Sagrada Família. Work continued on the church for over a century, due to its intricate details and [complexity](https://blog.sagradafamilia.org/en/columns-sagrada-familia-geometry-mechanics-materials-stone-forest/?ref=readtangle.com). Gaudí designed its internal pillars to resemble a stone forest and its exterior to feature 18 spires, symbolizing the Apostles, Evangelists, the Virgin Mary and Jesus Christ. Today — June 10, 2026, 100 years after Gaudí’s death — will be remembered as the day the Sagrada Família reached its final height of 566 feet, making it the tallest church in the world. The final four-armed cross was placed atop its central spire, representing Jesus Christ, in February, and Pope Leo XIV will [bless the completion](https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2026/06/04/gaudis-sagrada-familia-finally-shakes-off-its-incompletable-tag-as-pope-prepares-to-inaugurate-tallest-and-final-tower?ref=readtangle.com) of the Sagrada Família later today. Although interior work is expected to continue, the cranes that surrounded the Sagrada Família are no longer a feature of the Barcelona skyline. Even though Gaudí, who is buried at the church, did not live to see it, his dream has finally become reality. ### The extras. - **One year ago today** we wrote about [Kilmar Abrego Garcia returning to the U.S. to face charges](https://www.readtangle.com/kilmar-abrego-garcia-returned-charged-indicted-tennessee/). - **The most clicked link in our last regular newsletter** was a list of [the oldest bars in every state](https://www.thekitchn.com/oldest-bar-in-every-state-23783472?ref=readtangle.com). - **Nothing to do with politics:** If that list interests you, check out [the most misspelled word in every state](https://www.mentalfloss.com/language/spelling/most-misspelled-word-every-state?ref=readtangle.com). - **Our last survey:** 2,427 readers responded to our survey on the conditions inside Delaney Hall with 57% saying conditions are insufficient across immigrant-detention centers. “As ICE and DHS have been so willing to lie about so much else, why should we believe any federal reports on conditions?” one respondent said. “Government agencies have a long history of being overwhelmed when a crisis hits. And our current immigration system certainly qualifies as a crisis,” said another. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/06/data-src-image-7395ce4a-9893-423c-8377-ce145d9cf3b7.png) ### Have a nice day. The ancient Croatian city of Dubrovnik has garnered social media fame and drawn visitors from all over the world for its robust stray cat population. Cats have been a staple in the city since its founding over 1,400 years ago, and they have long played an important role in controlling the rat population. Now, residents go out of their way to care for their feline compatriots, and an organization called SOS Dubrovnik Cats collects donations, coordinates medical care, and arranges foster homes for cats. The organization has also set up a social media campaign to capture images of the cats for a charity postcard collection. [Nice News has the story (and pictures of the cats)](https://nicenews.com/culture/cats-dubrovnik-croatia-middle-ages/?ref=readtangle.com). ### Why World Cup Tickets are so Expensive. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/why-world-cup-tickets-are-so-expensive/ Last updated: 2026-06-11T00:02:51.000Z Why is the World Cup so expensive? ### Can Normal Fans Still Afford the World Cup? URL: https://www.readtangle.com/can-normal-fans-still-afford-the-world-cup/ Last updated: 2026-06-11T00:02:52.000Z Why is the World Cup so expensive? ### Anti-ICE protests in New Jersey. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/anti-ice-protests-newark-new-jersey-delaney-hall/ Last updated: 2026-06-10T16:24:02.000Z Happy Tuesday. I’m **Isaac Saul** and I’m resisting the urge to talk about the officiating in the Spurs vs. Knicks game last night. Worse than bad NBA finals officiating, though, is professional sports teams betting against themselves on prediction markets. [Which is now a thing we have to deal with](https://x.com/tanayj/status/2063797483268964815?s=20&ref=readtangle.com). A Spanish La Liga soccer club reportedly placed a multi-million dollar bet *against* itself in a game where, if it had lost, it would have been knocked down to a lower-tier league, which would mean millions of lost revenue. They created an insurance policy for themselves, then ended up squeaking by 1–0 to stay in La Liga. That’s a reminder of why you should never bet against yourself, or something. At least that’s my positive take on it. Speaking of betting on yourself: You can read about my latest decision to bet on myself in the brand new *Press Pass* that’s currently [sitting in your inbox](https://www.readtangle.com/press-pass-june-ari-weitzman-lifes-work/). In this edition, we’re diving into a local-gone-national story: The **Delaney Hall** immigration detention center, which is not a far drive from my new home in New Jersey. Plus, a reader asks about voting. It’s a **14-minute read**. Let’s do it. ### Quick hits. 1. Iran and Israel said they had ceased attacks on one another after several rounds of airstrikes. However, Iran said it could resume attacks if Israel continues strikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon. ([The pause](https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/trump-says-new-israel-iran-strikes-wont-affect-peace-deal-2026-06-08/?ref=readtangle.com)) Separately, U.S. Central Command said that a U.S. helicopter crashed near the Strait of Hormuz. Both crew members were rescued, and the cause of the crash is under investigation. ([The crash](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/pilots-fine-us-military-helicopter-goes-down-strait-hormuz-rcna349137?ref=readtangle.com)) 2. The Justice Department filed cases seeking to denaturalize 17 people who immigrated to the United States and became naturalized citizens, alleging that they concealed criminal records or committed fraud when applying for citizenship. ([The cases](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/08/us/politics/trump-denaturalization.html?ref=readtangle.com)) 3. A federal judge struck down President Donald Trump’s $100,000 fee for H-1B visa recipients, finding the fee amounted to an illegal tax that bypassed Congress. Previously, the H-1B visa fee rarely exceeded $5,000\. ([The ruling](https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2026/06/08/court-strike-down-trumps-h-1b-100000-fee/?ref=readtangle.com)) 4. The Agriculture Department announced that three new cases of New World screwworm have been confirmed in animals in the U.S., including the first case outside of Texas. The total number of confirmed cases in the U.S. is now five. ([The cases](https://apnews.com/article/screwworm-flesh-eating-parasite-cattle-texas-a7459200cef00d658d877755ad761f41?ref=readtangle.com)) 5. Vice President JD Vance referred allegations against Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) and state Attorney General Keith Ellison (D) to the Justice Department’s fraud division, seeking a criminal investigation into their handling of alleged social services fraud in the state. ([The referral](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/vance-refers-tim-walz-minnesota-attorney-general-doj-criminal-investigation-over-states-alleged-fraud?ref=readtangle.com)) from Today's Partner ****The Gift Dad Will Actually Use** Why is everyone talking about this new tiny gadget? Because after years of carrying a ****portable speaker and wireless charger** separately, the solution is finally here. Meet the [****Sound Charge**](https://theaquavault.com/products/soundcharge-portable-speaker-and-power-bank?ref=readtangle.com) — the highly anticipated portable speaker and wireless phone charger that packs incredible sound into a device ****barely bigger than a hockey puck**. Small enough to fit in your pocket, yet powerful enough to fill a beach, golf course, backyard BBQ, or workout with crystal-clear music that resonates. And when your phone needs power, it has that covered too. Just ****stick it to the back of your phone magnetically and charge**. Why carry a speaker and a charger when you can carry one device that does both? ****The Sound Charge** isn't just another gadget — it's the gadget every dad wishes he had for Father's Day. [Tangle readers get a special 45% off today only with code 45TANGLE](https://theaquavault.com/products/soundcharge-portable-speaker-and-power-bank?ref=readtangle.com). [Claim 45% Off ](https://theaquavault.com/products/soundcharge-portable-speaker-and-power-bank?ref=readtangle.com) ### Today’s topic. Protests at Delaney Hall. In recent weeks, federal and state law enforcement officials have clashed with protesters gathering outside Delaney Hall, a federal immigration detention center in Newark, New Jersey. At least 90 people have been [arrested](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/04/nyregion/delaney-hall-protests-charges.html?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=At%20least%2090%20protesters%20have%20been%20arrested%20since%20last%20Tuesday%2C%20with%2061%20being%20arrested%20on%20Sunday%20night%20after%20curfew.%20Newark%E2%80%99s%20mayor%2C%20Ras%20Baraka%2C%20lifted%20the%20curfew%20on%20Tuesday.) over the course of the protests, including 61 on the night of Sunday, May 31, on charges including assaulting federal officers, disorderly conduct, rioting and resisting arrest. The demonstrators allege poor treatment of detainees, which federal immigration officials deny. **Back up:** In February 2025, the federal government [entered](https://abc7ny.com/post/ice-reopening-immigration-detention-center-newark-new-jersey-spring/15960113/?ref=readtangle.com) a 15-year, $1 billion contract with The GEO Group, Inc., a private prison and mental health facility operator, to reopen Delaney Hall as an immigration center; it [had been operating as a halfway house](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/27/nyregion/trump-deportation-facility-newark.html?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=The%20facility%2C%20in%20an%20industrial%20stretch%20of%20the%20city%20near%20Newark%20Liberty%20International%20Airport%2C%20had%20operated%20as%20an%20immigration%20detention%20center%20until%202017%2C%20when%20it%20closed%20and%20was%20converted%20into%20a%20halfway%20house.) since 2017\. The facility has [a permitted capacity](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/06/nyregion/delaney-hall-ice-detainees.html?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=The%20two%2Dstory%20center%20has%201%2C000%20beds%2C%20according%20to%20a%20GEO%20Group%20news%20release%20from%20last%20year%2C%20and%20a%20permitted%20capacity%20of%20just%20under%201%2C200%20beds%2C%20according%20to%20filings%20in%20a%20company%20lawsuit%20against%20New%20Jersey%20officials) of nearly 1,200 beds for detainees, making it one of the largest detention centers on the East Coast, and it has [housed](https://tracreports.org/immigration/detentionstats/facilities.html?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=DELANEY%20HALL%20DETENTION,04/02/2026) a daily average of 891 detainees as of April 2, 2026\. Since its reopening, Delaney Hall has faced several public controversies, including ongoing accusations of poor living conditions, the [high-profile arrest](https://www.readtangle.com/newark-mayor-ras-baraka-ice-arrest/) of Newark Mayor Ras Baraka (D) outside the facility in May 2025, the [escape](https://www.justice.gov/usao-nj/pr/four-ice-detainees-charged-escaping-detention-facility-delaney-hall-newark?ref=readtangle.com) of four detainees in June 2025, and the [death](https://www.ice.gov/news/releases/criminal-illegal-alien-passes-away-university-hospital-following-medical-emergency?ref=readtangle.com) of one detainee in December 2025\. On May 22, Delaney Hall detainees reportedly [began](https://newjerseymonitor.com/2026/05/22/delaney-hall-hunger-strike/?ref=readtangle.com) a hunger and labor strike to protest poor living conditions. Shortly afterward, immigration-advocacy groups began organizing demonstrations outside the facility. Tensions between demonstrators and federal officials escalated on May 25, when protesters [attempted to block](https://www.cnn.com/2026/05/25/us/new-jersey-ice-facility-protests?ref=readtangle.com) the rumored transfer of one detainee to another facility. Sen. Andy Kim (D-NJ), who was in attendance and had publicly criticized Delaney Hall’s conditions, was caught in pepper spray at one point during the encounter. Democratic state officials have sharply criticized Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) oversight of Delaney Hall, including its alleged lack of transparency on the conditions for detainees. On June 2, New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport (D) [filed](https://www.nj.gov/governor/news/2026/20260602.shtml?ref=readtangle.com) a lawsuit against GEO Group, requesting that the company allow the New Jersey Department of Health to inspect the facility. New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill (D) visited Delaney Hall on Monday, though she criticized the “limited” tour she received. “I was not allowed to meet or speak directly with the detainees, which continues to raise serious questions about the real conditions of the facility and the treatment of those held there,” Sherrill [said](https://nj.gov/governor/news/2026/approved/20260608a.shtml?ref=readtangle.com). The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has denied that Delaney Hall detainees are facing poor living conditions or conducting a hunger strike and criticized politicians and activists for spreading false claims and endangering ICE officers at the facility. “These types of smears are inciting violent riots outside the ICE facility in New Jersey,” DHS Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis [said](https://www.dhs.gov/news/2026/05/29/correct-record-dhs-debunks-sanctuary-politicians-smears-about-ices-delaney-hall?ref=readtangle.com) in a statement. “\[Detainees\] are provided 3 meals a day, medical care, and receive full due process.” Today, we’ll get into what the left, right, and New Jersey writers are saying about the ongoing protests at Delaney Hall. Then, Executive Editor Isaac Saul gives his take. ### What the left is saying. - **The left criticizes Delaney Hall’s detainment practices, arguing they violate detainees’ rights.** - **Some say that recent protests mark a shift in strategy against deportations.** **In Balls and Strikes, Madiba K. Dennie said the strike exposes** [**“a massive Thirteenth Amendment crisis.”**](https://ballsandstrikes.org/law-politics/delaney-hall-strike-thirteenth-amendment/?ref=readtangle.com) “Forcing immigrant detainees to work for their captors isn’t just exploitative. It’s unconstitutional,” Dennie wrote. “The Thirteenth Amendment explicitly prohibits slavery and indentured servitude, except ‘as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted.’ But immigration detention is a form of civil confinement. People held in detention centers are simply waiting — behind bars — for the resolution of their immigration cases. This is punitive in practice, but not in law, as they are incarcerated, but not in prison.” “The strike at Delaney Hall is not an isolated incident. In recent weeks, hundreds of other immigration detainees across the country have participated in similar strikes,” Dennie said. “Since reentering the White House, Trump has waged an aggressive campaign to detain and deport people of color — building more detention infrastructure, arresting more people, and releasing fewer. And as the immigration detention population grows, so too does the nation’s Thirteenth Amendment crisis.” **In The Guardian, Moira Donegan argued the protests are** [**“different in kind.”**](https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/jun/02/ice-detention-camp-delaney-hall?ref=readtangle.com) “The protests outside Delaney Hall in New Jersey evoke the street clashes in Minneapolis earlier this year,” Donegan said. “But the Delaney Hall uprising is different in kind, because it represents an escalation of organizing and resistance by imprisoned immigrants themselves… They are not relying on risks taken by citizens and permanent residents who have more freedom because they are less easy to deport. They are instead taking their cause upon themselves.” “In this sense, they represent a maturation of the movement to resist the federal government’s mass deportation machine: the activation and radicalization of the most vulnerable,” Donegan said. “Will it work? That might be up to those of us on the outside. Violence is already allegedly ongoing inside Delaney Hall, where the organized strikers, after all, have nowhere to run… The immigrants’ courage is matched only by the severity of their limited options. Ultimately, the pressure for change will have to come from the outside.” ### What the right is saying. - **The right says protesters have sparked violence and threatened public safety.** - **Some accuse the left of spreading misleading information about Delaney Hall.** **The Washington Times editorial board called the protests a** [**“siege.”**](https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/jun/2/editorial-siege-delaney-hall/?ref=readtangle.com) “Clearly, the agitators want another Minneapolis, where riots against Immigration and Customs Enforcement led to two accidental deaths,” the board wrote. “Democrats and their media allies had a field day with those tragedies, indicting what they called a ‘rogue agency.’ For the left, enforcing federal immigration law is a provocation. In Newark, agitators went out of their way to provoke an ICE response. Night after night, they have clashed with agents and police sent to enforce a curfew.” “Lately, they have upped the ante. One ICE officer was bitten on the arm. Others were punched and kicked. Another protester screamed at an agent that he would kill him, his wife and his family. The man was identified by facial recognition and arrested by the FBI,” the board said. “Those being held at Delaney Hall include murderers, rapists and pedophiles — or, to Democratic politicians, ‘our neighbors’... At times, the public has been skeptical of ICE tactics, but anarchy in the streets is changing things.” **In Fox News, David Marcus said Democrats are spreading** [**“blatant lies.”**](https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/david-marcus-5-blatant-lies-democrats-spreading-delaney-hall-ice?ref=readtangle.com) “Democratic elected officials and far-left agitators have teamed up in the past week to manufacture a chaotic crisis at Delaney Hall… and it is a conflagration fueled almost entirely by blatant lies,” Marcus wrote. “Perhaps the worst of these lies, because it is a direct smear against law enforcement, is the absurd idea, floated by Gov. Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ) that ICE and its agents actually want to be attacked by agitators to use it as a pretext for a larger presence in Newark… Does Sherrill think these agents want to be bitten?” “Ultimately, the purpose of all these lies above is to support this one: More and more Democrats insist that ICE must be shut down, and just as in Minnesota, are building a case to simply not enforce our immigration laws at all,” Marcus said. “Notice that these Democrats never offer a supposedly more humane way to enforce the democratically enacted federal laws on immigration, and it is increasingly clear that their desire is simply not to enforce them at all.” ### What New Jersey writers are saying. - **Some in New Jersey compare the detention center to past mechanisms of forced labor.** - **Others criticize protesters for ineffective strategy.** **In the New Jersey Herald, Michael Gottesman said** [**“Delaney Hall is a moral stain on NJ.”**](https://www.njherald.com/story/opinion/2026/06/04/delaney-hall-geo-group-profits/90371726007/?gnt-cfr=1&gca-cat=p&gca-uir=true&gca-epti=z114110e004000v114110d--41--b--41--&gca-ft=182&gca-ds=sophi&ref=readtangle.com) “People who have not been convicted of crimes, people who are often being held for civil immigration proceedings — not criminal sentences — are allegedly cleaning facilities, performing kitchen work, and maintaining operations for pennies an hour while a private corporation profits from keeping labor costs near zero,” Gottesman wrote. “That may satisfy the technical definitions buried inside detention contracts and federal loopholes. But morally, what exactly should we call it?” “America has a long and ugly history of exploiting captive labor. We should be extremely cautious whenever incarcerated or detained populations become a source of cheap labor benefiting private entities. That concern becomes even more urgent when many detainees are still awaiting hearings, seeking asylum or fighting deportation cases,” Gottesman said. “These are human beings with constitutional rights and human dignity — not inventory on a balance sheet… And history teaches us that systems built on dehumanization rarely stop where they begin.” **In NorthJersey.com, Alex Nussbaum asked** [**“was the Delaney Hall chaos fueled by cops or outside agitators?”**](https://www.northjersey.com/story/opinion/columnists/2026/06/04/delaney-hall-newark-nj-protest-opinion/90389195007/?gnt-cfr=1&gca-cat=p&gca-uir=true&gca-epti=z11xx24p117450l003850c117450e1159xxv11xx24d--85--b--85--&gca-ft=202&gca-ds=sophi&ref=readtangle.com) “On news sites and social media accounts, the public saw protesters clad in black, faces masked, screaming and cursing at law enforcement, shouting through bullhorns inches from officers' faces,” Nussbaum wrote. “\[Gov. Mikie\] Sherrill has called for Delaney Hall's closure but also warned of ‘people coming from out of state to create chaos and dangerous situations.’ Progressive activists seethed over the reference. They wondered why clashes outside the facility were suddenly getting media attention when they'd spent over a year trying to call attention to callous conditions inside its walls.” “So which Delaney Hall narrative is the right one? Eyewitness accounts from demonstrators, as well as from two NorthJersey.com journalists… paint a picture of a crowd that yes, was angry, but which was mainly fleeing from or reacting to heavy-handed measures deployed by state police,” Nussbaum said. “But clearly, some protesters came ready for a fight, if not looking for one… Images tell a powerful story, one that could overwhelm the one that immigration advocates have about Delaney. It is a mistake that the movement will keep repeating if it can't focus its anger with discipline.” ### My take. **Reminder: “My take” is a section where we give ourselves space to share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, don't unsubscribe. Write in by replying to this email, or** [**leave a comment**](https://www.readtangle.com/anti-ice-protests-newark-new-jersey-delaney-hall/#ghost-comments-root)**.** - **Conditions at the New Jersey facility — and across detention centers — should be closely examined.** - **The violent clashes are both driving attention and interfering with on-the-ground aid.** - **The real story here is that our immigration system is still in need of serious reform.** **Executive Editor Isaac Saul:** One of the most frustrating things about these “protest vs. cop” stories is how quickly the central issue gets swallowed up by the national press. To remind everyone: The story at Delaney Hall did not start in late May with a hunger strike, or when protesters first clashed with police, or when a New Jersey senator was caught in a mist of pepper spray while trying to mediate a dispute. This story has been bubbling for more than a year, and even years before that. Delaney Hall was an immigration detention center from 2011 to 2017, then became a drug rehabilitation center. It only became a private detention center again in 2025, after a New Jersey law prohibiting local jails and private facilities from signing new or renewed contracts to operate federal immigration detention centers was struck down in 2023. Many in northern New Jersey consider Delaney Hall a blemish on the state. Voters and residents don’t want immigrants being held in detention centers in their backyard, and the concrete lots in a snarl of highways outside the Newark Airport where the detention center is located is a poster child for failed government promises. Partisan bickering has distracted from the fundamental question here: Are the immigrants at these centers being treated well? Or, even more baseline, is this what we want to do with immigrants who are allegedly here illegally? Remember: Delaney Hall is not a prison. [Over 10,000 people](https://gothamist.com/news/who-is-ice-detaining-at-njs-delaney-hall-not-as-many-criminals-as-dhs-suggests?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=More%20than%2010%2C300,Deportation%20Data%20Project.) were detained at the facility between May of 2025 and March of 2026\. A large share are accused of being in the country without authorization — either coming to the U.S. illegally or overstaying visas, which would obviously be deportable offenses. Many are legal residents or visa holders; some are asylum seekers. More than 70% [have no criminal record](https://gothamist.com/news/who-is-ice-detaining-at-njs-delaney-hall-not-as-many-criminals-as-dhs-suggests?ref=readtangle.com), and only 12% have criminal convictions (the rest are accused of crimes that have yet to be adjudicated). The allegations about what’s happening inside the detention center are pretty straightforward: The facility is overcrowded, detainees are being fed spoiled food, illnesses are breaking out and not being treated adequately, and some detainees are being denied prescribed medication. Many of these detainees are likely legal residents or longtime residents of the U.S., and some said they feel “kidnapped.” Hunger-striking detainees also said they’ve been retaliated against, and small slights like officers [restricting TV access](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/new-jersey-political-news-roundup-delaney-hall-updates/id73331636?i=1000770607488&ref=readtangle.com) because the news was showing protesters or larger punishments like halting visitation hours have all been reported. In defense against the allegations of poor living conditions, the federal government and conservative pundits have said that the facilities are up to snuff. As legal commentator Jonathan Turley [wrote](https://jonathanturley.org/2026/06/03/federal-inspection-reportedly-finds-delaney-hall-in-compliance-on-virtually-all-standards/?ref=readtangle.com), “The problem \[with these allegations\] is an actual federal inspection that found the facility to be in compliance with virtually every standard.” Turley was [referencing a Fox News story](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/inspection-delaney-hall-ice-facility-contradicts-claims-new-jersey-attorney-generals-lawsuit?ref=readtangle.com) about an unclassified investigation into the facility that the outlet exclusively obtained (and which is [now public](https://www.ice.gov/doclib/foia/odo-compliance-inspections/DelaneyHallDetFac%5FNewarkNJ%5F08262025.pdf?ref=readtangle.com), but redacted). Fox reported that in August 2025, the DHS Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) found the facility in compliance with 17 of 22 standards, and the violations were for issues like ice buildup in freezers or not recording suicide checks for a sufficient amount of time. Turley and Fox are saying that New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill (D) and Democratic protesters are turning this molehill into a mountain. This *sounds* like a reasonable defense, but it’s actually a smokescreen. First, the inspection happened last August — nearly a year ago. The report makes no mention of the “hunger strikes” that are now central to this story, because there were no hunger strikes lasting over two days last August. It *does* cite infractions for environmental health and safety and food service, two claims that are still central to the protests. More to the point, reports about the worsened conditions really ramped up over the last few months, starting when the detention center’s average daily population [peaked](https://detentionreports.com/facility/DHDFNJ.html?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=This%20is%20a%20backward%20moving%20average%20calculation%20of%20facility%20populations%20based%20on%20ICE%20data.%20For%20more%20information%2C%20see%20the%20background%20paper%20here) in December. Second, federal inspections rarely find anything *but* “acceptable” conditions. The Office of Detention Oversight (ODO) rated facilities acceptable or above in [238 out of 241 inspections](https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-25-107580?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=ODO%20rated%20facilities%20as%20acceptable%20or%20above%20in%20238%20of%20241%20inspections%20during%20this%20period.%20But%20it%20found%20deficiencies%20related%20to%2C%20for%20example%2C%20environmental%20health%20and%20safety%2C%20such%20as%20water%20quality%3B%20and%20food%20service%2C%20such%20as%20sanitary%20conditions.), despite also finding issues with water quality or food safety. One El Paso center had 49 deficiencies citing excessive use of force, disease and other unsafe conditions, yet the ODO still gave the camp an [“acceptable/adequate” rating](https://www.texastribune.org/2026/04/03/texas-el-paso-camp-east-montana-immigration-inspection-violations/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Despite%20the%20problems%2C%20the%20report%20gave%20the%20camp%20an%20%E2%80%9Cacceptable/adequate%E2%80%9D%20rating%20and%20recommended%20ICE%20work%20with%20the%20new%20contractor%20%E2%80%9Cto%20resolve%20the%20deficiencies%20that%20remain%20outstanding.%E2%80%9D) and recommended ICE work with the new contractor to resolve outstanding deficiencies. This pattern drew a critical [report](https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-25-107580?ref=readtangle.com) from the Government Accountability Office last year, which suggested the inspection programs were unhelpful and that DHS and ICE needed to reform them. Detention centers are often given advanced notice of a coming inspection, which makes violations like those found at Delaney Hall actually quite rare. For example: One of ICE’s private inspection contractors, Nakamoto, has a 40-standard framework per inspection; yet only 18 ICE facilities have ever failed to meet even a single standard, and 17 of the 18 failed just one. One ICE official [said](https://www.aclu.org/sites/default/files/field%5Fdocument/detention%5Finspection%5Faccountability%5Fwhite%5Fpaper%5F0.pdf?ref=readtangle.com) the inspections are “very, very, very difficult to fail” and “useless.” So, that the facility is meeting some federal standards could just as easily be an indictment of those standards as proof of its humane conditions. Again: These facilities are not prisons. They are not supposed to be punitive — they are supposed to serve an administrative function to house people while immigration cases play out. All of this brings me back to my overarching position on immigration in our country: Allowing unchecked illegal immigration is a humanitarian disaster of its own. Many of these migrants are sitting in what is effectively a prison because our system is so backlogged that we cannot adjudicate and process their immigration claims in anything close to a timely fashion. This is why [I credit Trump](https://www.readtangle.com/trump-presidency-doing-some-good/) for reducing illegal immigration at the border, and it’s why I criticize him and Congress for not taking advantage of this moment with actual systemic reform to solve crises like this one. Another interesting and under-discussed angle on this story is the peculiar alignment between some of the on-the-ground protesters and the conservative pundits above. Having spoken to a handful of people who were involved in the protests over the last year (including a few neighbors of mine in North Jersey), a lot of people are asking, “Who are these agitators?” From my conversations, I’ve observed that the typical Delaney Hall protesters are not some rioters in gas masks and clad in all black. They’re church members, community organizers, teachers, parents — people in Newark and from the surrounding communities who have been demonstrating for more than a year. I spoke to one family friend who got involved through a group he went to Nicaragua with a few years ago. He said they started out by donating clothes to family members of the detainees so they could meet the visitation guidelines of the facility (some visitors were being turned away for showing up in torn jeans), and that turned into donating diapers, food, full sets of clothes, and medical supplies to detainees’ families. Now that the facility has been upended by police clashes, these well intentioned, on-the-ground volunteers — people looking out for families without their husbands or fathers who provided a primary source of income — are actually being shut out by confrontational protests and the overwhelming police presence. The sick irony of the whole thing is that while the clashes with police have raised national awareness about Delaney Hall, it’s also hampered the local efforts to actually deliver aid. It’s no coincidence that Sherrill has accused outside protesters of coming in and causing a mess, comments that upset some liberal commentators but echoed what volunteers have said to me. Ultimately, the Delaney Hall story is not about law enforcement banging heads with protesters, and it’s not about a senator getting pepper sprayed. It’s about the reality that we’re putting people in what are effectively prisons who have not been accused of or convicted of crimes that require incarceration; it’s about government accountability that’s hard to trust, a broken immigration system we refuse to fix, and our desperate need to find the balance between enforcing the law and treating people — whether they’re here legally or illegally — with some basic humanity. **Take the survey:** Are you concerned about conditions at immigration detention centers? [Let us know](https://interrobang.vercel.app/survey/f249c3ee-9749-488b-b632-a85219c5adc6?ref=readtangle.com). *Disagree? That's okay. Our opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we'll consider publishing your feedback.* ### Your questions, answered. **Q: I have a question for you all. I will be a first-time voter this fall and I don’t even know where to begin. What are we voting for, how do we know where to vote, and so on? The process feels overwhelming and no one seems to want to talk about it when I ask.** **Please let me know what you think!** **— Isabell from Milo, Iowa** **Tangle:** First off, congratulations on taking the steps towards casting your first ballot! [We are big proponents of voting](https://www.readtangle.com/yes-you-should-vote-2024/); even though the process can be confusing, if you can mentally categorize the elections — and what you have to do to participate in them — it becomes a lot clearer. In broad strokes, our government is broken down into three levels: federal, state, and local (which includes county, city, and municipal governments). Then *almost* every election has two phases: the primary election, when voters decide on the eventual candidates, and the general election, when those candidates compete against each other. There are some exceptions and complications to that: each state [runs](https://informationstation.org/kitchen%5Ftable%5Fecon/what-are-primary-elections/?ref=readtangle.com) its primary process differently, some races don’t have primaries, and ballot initiatives happen outside the primary system entirely — letting voters decide on issues themselves, like recent measures to allow for mid-decade redistricting that [California](https://www.readtangle.com/the-2025-election-results-democrats-win-big/#:~:text=In%20California%2C%20voters,new%20census%20data.) and [Virginia](https://www.readtangle.com/virginia-redistricting-vote-midterms/) put to public votes. But if you have this in your head, you’ve got 99% of it: three levels of election, and two steps to the process. So, how do you make sure you can vote? In most states, you can register to vote and choose your political affiliation when you get a driver’s license. You can also [go online](https://www.usvotefoundation.org/vote/voter-registration-absentee-voting.htm?ref=readtangle.com) to register to vote in your state. Iowa, like most states, runs a site where you can [check your voter registration and sign up](https://voterready.iowa.gov/registertovote/?ref=readtangle.com). Whether or not you participated in [Iowa’s primaries](https://www.iowapublicradio.org/political-news/2026-06-02/2026-iowa-primary-election-results?ref=readtangle.com), you’ll still be able to vote in the general election. You should also consider registering to participate in the presidential primaries — Iowa has [a special role](https://www.dmpl.org/research/local-history-genealogy/iowa-caucuses?ref=readtangle.com) in that process. Federal elections, and *most* state elections, fall on the first Tuesday in November in every even-numbered year (again, with [some exceptions](https://www.ncsl.org/state-legislatures-news/details/odd-ones-out-just-4-states-hold-off-year-elections?ref=readtangle.com)), with the presidential election coming every four years. Local and special elections may vary. You can see what’s on your ballot this year on websites like [Vote411](https://www.vote411.org/?ref=readtangle.com) or [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php?title=Sample%5FBallot%5FLookup&Source=sidebar&ref=readtangle.com), and your state’s and municipality’s websites usually make this information accessible, too. We hope you learn about the candidates and punch your ballot this November! **Want to have a question answered in the newsletter? You can reply to this email (it goes straight to our inbox) or** [**fill out this form**](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScQhqBSG%5F6%5FoBhwcTQMeS570n29XYbeQ9C9Bis7rjqI31g1tA/viewform?usp=header&ref=readtangle.com)**.** ### A deeper look. ![Credit: Photo by Anne-Marie Caruso/New Jersey Monitor, republished with New Jersey Monitor’s permission](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/06/data-src-image-1ab316c8-9176-4e97-a4a1-b54c1a5e2ef8.jpeg) Credit: Photo by Anne-Marie Caruso/New Jersey Monitor, republished with New Jersey Monitor’s permission Delaney Hall, originally named after prominent addiction expert and nutritionist [Geraldine O. Delaney](https://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/19/nyregion/at-a-new-jersey-halfway-house-a-volatile-mix-fuels-a-murder.html?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=The%20institution%2C%20named%20after%20Geraldine%20O.%20Delaney%2C%20a%20prominent%20expert%20in%20drug%20treatment%2C%20had%20only%20250%20beds.%20They%20were%20to%20be%20reserved%20for%20inmates%20convicted%20of%20minor%20crimes%20and%20sentenced%20to%20less%20than%20a%20year%20in%20county%20jail.), has shifted owners and purposes several times since its opening in 2000\. In its early years, the facility was a “halfway house” for individuals transitioning back into society from stays in other facilities for minor offenses. From 2011–17, private corrections company [Community Education Centers](https://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/19/nyregion/at-a-new-jersey-halfway-house-a-volatile-mix-fuels-a-murder.html?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=The%20county%20spends%20%2473%20per%20day%20for%20a%20bed%20at%20Delaney%20Hall%2C%20which%20is%20run%20by%20a%20company%2C%20Community%20Education%20Centers%2C%20with%20close%20ties%20to%20Gov.%20Chris%20Christie%20and%20the%20county%20executive%2C%20Joseph%20N.%20DiVincenzo%20Jr.) (CEC) [ran](https://newjerseymonitor.com/briefs/new-migrant-jail-in-newark-begins-housing-detainees-despite-legal-challenge/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Delaney%20Hall%20previously%20held%20immigrant%20detainees%20from%202011%20to%202017.) Delaney Hall as a halfway house and immigration detention center for unauthorized immigrants with and without criminal convictions; CEC was [acquired](https://investors.geogroup.com/news-releases/news-release-details/geo-group-closes-360-million-acquisition-community-education?ref=readtangle.com) by the private prison company the GEO Group in 2017. Nearly four decades after GEO Group was [awarded](https://www.geogroup.com/about-us/history-timeline/?ref=readtangle.com) its first detention center contract, it has [become](https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/private-prison-companies-enormous-windfall-who-stands-gain-ice-expands?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=The%20two%20biggest%20private%20prison%20companies%20in%20the%20United%20States%20are%20CoreCivic%20and%20GEO%20Group.) one of the country’s two largest private prison operators, [overseeing](https://www.geogroup.com/geo-secure-services/?ref=readtangle.com) 51 facilities and processing centers with a roughly 62,000-bed capacity. Private prisons house [over 90%](https://www.aclu.org/news/immigrants-rights/unchecked-growth-private-prison-corporations-and-immigration-detention-three-years-into-the-biden-administration?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=In%20the%20last%20two%20years%2C%20however%2C%20this%20number%20has%20markedly%20increased%3A%20as%20of%20July%202023%2C%2090.8%20percent%20of%20people%20detained%20in%20ICE%20custody%20each%20day%20are%20held%20in%20detention%20facilities%20owned%20or%20operated%20by%20private%20prison%20corporations.) of the United States’s detained immigrant population, according to the most recent ICE data from August 2023, up from roughly [79% in 2021](https://www.aclu.org/news/immigrants-rights/unchecked-growth-private-prison-corporations-and-immigration-detention-three-years-into-the-biden-administration?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=In%20the%20first%20two%20years%20of%20the%20Biden%20administration%2C%20this%20number%20remained%20relatively%20unchanged.%20In%20September%202021%2C%2079%20percent%20of%20people%20detained%20each%20day%20in%20ICE%20custody%20were%20held%20in%20private%20detention%20facilities.). In 2023, President Joe Biden’s Department of Homeland Security sent out a [request for information](https://www.booker.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/6624cblettericedetentionnewark1.pdf?ref=readtangle.com) on possible detention sites in the Newark area, and GEO Group proposed Delaney Hall, which had [returned](https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/newark-nj-migrant-detention-delaney-hall-ice/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Delaney%20Hall%20had%20been%20operating%20as%20a%20halfway%20house%20for%20the%20last%20few%20years%2C%20before%20U.S.%20Immigration%20and%20Customs%20Enforcement%20%28ICE%29%20announced%20plans%20to%20turn%20it%20into%20a%20detention%20facility%20for%20immigrants%20in%20February.%C2%A0) to being a halfway house after the company lost its contract for the facility in 2017\. After a protracted legal battle, ICE signed a 15-year [contract](https://www.ice.gov/doclib/foia/detFacContracts/70CDCR25D00000007-BASEDelaney%20HallCDF-NewarkNJ.pdf?ref=readtangle.com) with GEO Group on February 26, 2025\. The contract is set to expire in February of 2040. from TODAY'S PARTNER ****One Gadget. Two Jobs.** A portable speaker and wireless charger in one. The ****Sound Charge** is small enough for your pocket, powerful enough for the beach, golf course, or backyard BBQ, and snaps magnetically to your phone when it’s time to recharge. [****Use code 45TANGLE for 45% off. Today only**](https://theaquavault.com/products/soundcharge-portable-speaker-and-power-bank?ref=readtangle.com)****.** [Save 45% Today ](https://theaquavault.com/products/soundcharge-portable-speaker-and-power-bank?ref=readtangle.com) ### The extras. - **One year ago today** we covered [the Los Angeles protests](https://www.readtangle.com/the-los-angeles-immigration-ice-protests/). - **The most clicked link in our last regular newsletter** was a look into [why human eyes are so white](https://www.popsci.com/science/why-humans-have-white-part-eyes/?ref=readtangle.com). - **Nothing to do with politics:** [The oldest bar in every state](https://www.thekitchn.com/oldest-bar-in-every-state-23783472?ref=readtangle.com), including one even older than its home state itself. - **Our last survey:** 3,541 readers responded to our survey on Scott Pelley’s firing with 42% saying Pelley did not give cause to be fired and opposing his dismissal. “It was unthinkable to him that even sharp, biting questions in a staff meeting would lead to his firing. That kind of exchange was a part of the culture (emphasis on was),” one respondent said. “Pelley has valid grievances but he was gunning for a public dismissal that lands him a new job,” said another. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/06/data-src-image-6aa979d8-ce2b-49e1-b9d3-d595a09359cb.png) ### Have a nice day. For more than 300 years, New Zealand sea lions were gone from the mainland — hunted to extinction on the coast and pushed to remote Subantarctic islands so far south that the species barely survived. Then, in 1994, a single female wandered back to Dunedin, a town on New Zealand’s Otago coast, to give birth to a pup. Researchers called her “Mum.” She returned for two decades, raising 11 pups and founding a matriline of roughly 20 Dunedin females who now give birth under campground cribs, herd surfers, and occasionally push through café doors to investigate indoor pools. “I just want to see them thrive,” Jordana Whyte of the New Zealand Sea Lion Trust said. “I want to see them be our neighbours for the long term.” A statue of Mum now stands at St. Clair Beach. [New Zealand Geographic has the story](https://www.nzgeo.com/stories/the-sea-lions-next-door/?ref=readtangle.com). ### "Is this your life’s work?" URL: https://www.readtangle.com/press-pass-june-ari-weitzman-lifes-work/ Last updated: 2026-06-09T18:37:50.000Z ****Note:** This is a free preview of our members-only edition of **Press Pass*, our once-a-month behind-the-scenes look at Tangle. To unlock the full edition, [you'll be asked to subscribe](https://www.readtangle.com/membership/). --- *“Is this your life’s work?”* That’s a question a friend and mentor asked me recently as we discussed a larger media organization’s offer to buy Tangle. “You have to decide,” he told me. “Is this a business you are running? Or is this your life’s work?” The question’s simplicity and profundity stopped me in my tracks. I thought about it all day, then for a few more days, and after a week I’m still thinking about it. *This is my life’s work* is the obvious answer. I have my dream job serving a mission I care deeply about, and I’m on this great big beautiful crazy ride with a bunch of people I love, an audience I respect, and for a country I’m obsessed with (in all the good and bad ways obsessions manifest). I write, and people read what I write, and I make a good living doing it. Bonus points: I get to build a team and employ a crew of some of the best people in the business. What could be better than that? But I’m also running a business. And practically speaking, the business keeps my life’s work alive. If the business doesn’t work, the life’s work dies. So I have an answer to my friend’s question, but also a tough calculation to make about how to endure. Will the business do better under my stewardship or someone else’s? And if I’m unsure, how much financial security would actually make me bet on someone else over myself? One of the primary reasons I haven’t sold Tangle — and don’t plan to anytime soon — is that we just have so much left to do, and I like betting on myself. I don’t feel *finished*; I feel energized. Despite how well the business is operating, I also don’t feel like we’ve come close to fulfilling our potential. 500,000 people read our newsletter, but three million people watch Fox News every night. Our audience could — and should — be much bigger, and I know that if we continue to produce great coverage, that will happen. It’s a *build it and they will come* attitude, except many of them (you) already have, and I believe many more of you are out there. In that spirit, we’re building. This month, we’ll be onboarding a new salesperson, a new associate editor, and a new video editor. We’re also bringing in some fractional help on the growth side to scale up the audience of our newsletters and videos. And down the road, we’re thinking about bringing in more contributing writers to further diversify the ideological views of our editorial staff. After going through the interview process for all these roles, I was reminded of how many unbelievably talented people live in our country — how many smart, gifted, likable, hard-working people are ready to commit to a company like ours. It’s amazing and rewarding to just go through the process, even if the decision-making itself is fraught and difficult. This month, we are also, for the first time, bringing our live show to a very small American town. We’re headed to Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, *this weekend* for a VIP dinner on Saturday night and a matinee live recording of our podcast on Sunday afternoon. Most of the Tangle team will be there, and we’re excited to prove that we don’t just have to hit major U.S. metropolitan areas like New York, Philadelphia, or Los Angeles to fill a room with Tangle fans. The VIP event is sold out, but general admission tickets [are still on sale](https://www.tickettailor.com/events/tanglenews/2210692?ref=readtangle.com). *Special shoutout to our title sponsor* [*Dignity Index*](https://thedaily.dignity.us/?ref=readtangle.com) *and our VIP experience sponsor* [*Incogni*](https://incogni.com/deal/special?transaction%5Fid=1024d5a274179e37cd972dd6ec64d8&offer%5Fid=6&affiliate%5Fid=1007&source=&aff%5Fsub=&utm%5Fsource=Affiliates&utm%5Fmedium=1007icg&utm%5Fcampaign=affiliate&utm%5Fcontent=6)*.* As a reminder: Berkeley Springs is a gem of an American town, and if you’re looking for some last-minute weekend plans, you should [come down to spend time with the Tangle team](https://www.tickettailor.com/events/tanglenews/2210692?ref=readtangle.com). It’s a short drive from D.C., Philly, and Pittsburgh. Speaking of Pittsburgh, this week we’re putting everyone’s favorite Yinzer in the staff hot seat: Managing Editor Ari Weitzman. --- ### Meet Ari. ![Katie, Ari, and Callie's first summer in their new home. Image: Ari Weitzman](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/06/data-src-image-102a2faa-ad4c-49f9-9801-bcb6c20623ac.png) Katie, Ari, and Callie's first summer in their new home. Image: Ari Weitzman I regularly invoke an expression from an old coach of mine: The meaning of life is doing hard things with the people you love. That outlook has served me well for a decade now, and with each year that passes I believe it more and more. Difficult things are often meaningful; meaningful things are meant to be shared; sharing meaningful things with people you love is the best. I first met Ari my freshman year of college. We were teammates on the University of Pittsburgh’s ascendant ultimate Frisbee team. Ari, four years my senior, had just transferred to Pitt from the University of Chicago to use his fifth year of college eligibility to play in his hometown. We were both new to the team but on different ends of our college experience, and the squad itself had made it to the quarterfinals of college nationals for the first time the year before. Opportunities abounded. At tryouts, one of the first things I noticed about Ari was his incredible catching skills. We were all athletes, and all good at catching Frisbees, but he was *different*; he’d snatch a Frisbee in the most precarious and difficult scenarios that exist in the sport, sometimes by launching himself fully sideways while running full speed in a forward direction, often at a full extension and about shoulder height, before grabbing a disc with a finger or two by its rim and then gracefully rolling to the ground and back to his feet ([video proof](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBADw27tBAM&t=23m01s&ref=readtangle.com), for the haters). Over the course of our now 16-year-long friendship (wow), Ari’s catching abilities have been a central theme. For many years, I took to randomly throwing all manner of objects at him at unexpected times just to see how he’d do: Ketchup bottles, knives, balls, keys, pieces of food, and, yes, Frisbees. He’d rarely disappoint. He was especially good at beer die, a favorite drinking game of ours, which (in part) requires snatching a die as it bounces off a table and before it hits the ground. The second thing I noticed about Ari was that he wore the number 19, which inconveniently was *my* number and meant I’d have to find a way to ensure he wasn’t wearing it at the season’s start. I’m not sure how to say this tactfully, but I didn’t think I’d have much trouble. Ari was a fifth-year transfer from an ultimate program that had never really won much of anything, and I was a hotshot blue-chip recruit from the best high school team in the country who was part of a longer-term plan to turn Pitt’s team into a national champion. Despite his seniority, I figured I’d get what I wanted. Ari had different plans. I can’t quite remember the deliberations, or how we arrived at our particular solution, but the team ultimately landed on a battle of oratory persuasion (the irony of what Ari and I now do for work is not lost on me). We’d both get to make our case to everyone about our number, and then the team would vote on who got to wear 19\. I went first, explaining that the number was a dedication to the loud-mouthed, swaggy, always-dominant former NFL wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson, and that I’d never worn another number in my career. Also, I was Isaac Saul and I wanted the number. Ari went second, explaining to the team that when he was a teenager he’d had a surgery to remove a tumor from his small intestine, a procedure which came with a one in 10 chance of death, and as he went under anesthesia the doctor asked him to count down from 20\. The last number he said aloud before losing consciousness was “19,” and before he woke up a few hours later it could have been the last word he ever uttered. He said the number was both a reminder of how fragile and precious life was, but also of how resilient he could be. Needless to say, I wore the number 91 that year. And Ari and I have been best friends pretty much ever since. We went on to win two college national championships together (Ari coached for both of them, after we lost in the semifinals during our one year playing together), and throughout my time in college we grew closer and closer. Among other things, we started a bridge club, had a writer’s group, devoted inordinate time to all manner of sports, and once spontaneously jumped on a moving train in downtown Pittsburgh and rode it out of town together. Ari moved west for a bit, and I ended up in Israel after college, but we never lost touch; in fact, we’d keep in touch through lengthy, multi-thousand-word email updates on each other’s lives, always written with the intent to inform, debate, converse, and entertain. Occasionally, I’ll go back and read those emails now, blown away at what our lives used to be like and how much of it we documented. When I started Tangle, Ari made a regular habit of writing in and replying to emails. Sometimes he’d offer edits to my writing, or pushback on my political views, or just a compliment about how helpful an edition was. He was so persistent that eventually I asked if he’d want to make it formal, start editing the newsletter part-time, and see where it went. We were in a writing group with his friend Craig (shoutout Craig!) at the time, so he was already familiarizing himself with my tone, style, and voice. It quickly became a delight, having someone who knew me so well and my writing so closely who could also communicate to me on a personal and honest level about what was working and what wasn’t. In the early years, we were still more friends than colleagues. Somewhere in there, Ari married a wonderful woman and fellow Frisbee player (whom I actually knew *before* I knew Ari), and I got to serve as de facto best man at their wedding and sign their marriage certificate as a witness. I got married, too; we survived Covid; and then ended up living relatively close to each other again in the Northeast. The editing started and never really stopped, and eventually Ari’s edits became so invaluable we laid out a plan for him to leave his job and come work for Tangle. Now, Ari is our managing editor. I guess to this day, I still rely on him to catch everything. There’s a whole subset of entrepreneurs who insist that you should or shouldn’t “hire your friends” to build great companies. I always had mixed feelings about the practice before hiring Ari, and I wish I could tell you something unambiguously good or bad about it now. But the truth is… it’s complicated. I love Ari, and our closeness is almost always an asset. It makes communicating with each other easier and understanding each other close to seamless. There’s institutional knowledge of each other’s person that saves time in a way I can’t quite articulate. Yet the proximity can breed frustration, we butt heads a lot, and we communicate with each other in ways that other team members probably never would. So it’s a dynamic — mostly good, but sometimes hard — and I’d be lying if I told you we hadn’t exchanged some sharp Slack messages with each other over the years. Still — and maybe this is what the Ben & Jerry’s of the world have learned — I wouldn’t trade it for anything. *The meaning of life is doing difficult things with people you love*. Ari feels like a brother I’ve been to war with, a friend who’d eulogize me, and now a partner in a business we’re both betting our livelihoods on. It’s hard. It’s meaningful. And it’s full of love. It doesn’t hurt that he’s got an encyclopedic knowledge of just about every topic under the sun, he’s the best editor I’ve ever had, and he’s allergic to people who think in black and white terms. All of that has made him one of the most important and valuable hires in Tangle history. So, this month, I’m proud to introduce my dear friend Ari Weitzman. **Q: Can you start by telling us a bit about your hometown and upbringing?** I grew up in Plum, Pennsylvania — a small town in the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh — the middle child between an older sister and younger brother. My parents’ parents were close friends growing up, so my extended family kind of always felt like one family. They were classic Pittsburgh Jews; my dad went to Taylor Allderdice High School (where Wiz Khalifa and Mac Miller would eventually go) and my mom went to Baldwin in the South Hills. My family and I were practicing Jews — technically. Us kids were bar and bat mitzvahed, but we were the kinds of Jews who only went to temple on the holidays, when they removed the temporary walls in the synagogue for the people like us to make our pilgrimages to Murrysville. Both my parents were extremely left-coded, in a kind of 1980s workers’ rights way. My mom worked out of a trailer next to the city’s last steel mill, overseeing a program to teach mill workers new skills as U.S. Steel downsized. My dad worked for the Department of Labor, first out of the Pittsburgh office, then Philadelphia’s, then D.C.’s, which meant he was traveling constantly. Growing up, the person who had the biggest impact on me was my best friend Ryan. He was unbelievably cool (to me), and I eventually gave up my lame hobbies (playing soccer and running track) for his much cooler ones (musical theater and cutting gym). A strict nonconformist, he clearly didn’t care at all what people thought about him; and he loved to argue. Ryan grew up in a Mormon (the preferred term at the time) home, but like me he wasn’t religious. Unlike me, he was *aggressively* not religious. He used to share all the pamphlets the church handed out with me so we could laugh at them, like the ones that said Mormons should be nice to the Jews because they were basically God’s pets. Still, family influences seeped through; his family was red team, and mine was blue team. He and I used to argue all the time about anything and everything: the Iraq War, Democratic tax policy, and things like moral relativism or which Ben Folds album was the best. If you were to open up my skull, you’d find Ryan’s thumbprint pressed upon my brain. **Q: Why did you decide to work at Tangle?** I have reasons: I believe in Tangle’s mission. I’ve always been a writer at heart, and I think I’m naturally suited to be an editor. I like being able to shape public discourse. I like working with one of my best friends, even on the days when we can’t stop arguing — maybe especially on those days, because I feel like it’s my job sometimes to keep you uncomfortable. I think this company is going to be successful, and I believe I can be a big part of what helps it to succeed. But, listen: I believe every major decision we make in life is one we make on intuition, and then we come up with credible post-hoc reasons for why we made them to tell ourselves later, to tell other people later — the friends who want to know, the people we want to impress at parties, the readers who want answers in the newsletters that we edit. The real reason I decided to work at Tangle was that I knew I was supposed to. Before joining Tangle full time in 2023, I had spent about a year helping out by volunteering time in the mornings to edit the newsletter, even drafting some responses to readers in the inbox. It was work I was supposed to do, and I think we both knew it. We just had to keep going until the economics made it justifiable for both us. **Q: What’s the hardest part of your job? What’s the part you enjoy most?** The hardest part is just the hours, man. Every day at lunch, I finish a full day of work. I’m online between 6:00 and 6:30 AM to start reading the news and catching up on my email. Then, I’m drafting portions of the newsletter and editing others basically constantly until noon. After that, it’s a million little things for the rest of the day, which sometimes goes late into the evening. Some days, you can feel how the pace is not sustainable; for over a year I’ve been working to try to make sure I’m not the only one who knows how to do anything, trying to plan for a future where I can commit fewer daily hours to Tangle without the quality dropping. That’s selfish, yes — after all, we’ve got a kid on the way and I just need more time away from the screen. But I also think Tangle will be better if I have more time to think, write, and help the business grow. Relatedly, the best part is being a small, contributing factor in the growth of my colleagues. Will, Audrey, Lindsey, and you, Isaac, have all grown as people and as writers since I’ve been here. Russell is finding an impressively mature and well rounded voice, Candida published a massively informative Friday edition this past week, and Aidan’s YouTube videos are becoming appointment viewing. It’s been deeply rewarding to be a part of that development. **Q: What’s your favorite story (fit for the public) about our friendship?** There are many answers, but there’s really only one answer. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Another major firing at CBS. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/scott-pelley-fired-cbs-60-minutes/ Last updated: 2026-06-08T15:56:44.000Z Good Monday morning. I’m **Isaac Saul**,and here’s a remarkable story to start your week: Last Monday, I wrote about traveling to North Carolina to celebrate a “miraculous” run of nine family birthdays in a four-week span. I used the word “family” loosely to include a non-blood-related family I grew up across the street from, whom I consider family, and I still think the birthday coincidences are pretty crazy. Well, a friend told me over the phone on Saturday that a family in Pakistan boasts *nine people all born on August 1st* —a husband and wife and all seven of their children, none of whom were purposely delivered early. They hold the Guinness World Record for most family members born on the same day. *And* August 1st is the couple’s wedding anniversary. [I’m not kidding](https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2023/7/meet-the-family-of-nine-who-all-share-the-same-birthday-754983?ref=readtangle.com). As you ponder that *genuinely* miraculous birthday math, today we’re covering **the *60 Minutes* controversy** at CBS — plus, an under-the-radar story about a **new Trump pardon**. Oh, and before you go: Don’t forget that we’re coming to Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, this weekend. I’ll be on stage with Kmele Foster, Andy Mills, and The Free Press’s Kat Rosenfield to talk about the future of artificial intelligence. Plus, we’ll discuss the day’s news and take live audience questions. VIP tickets are sold out, but a few general admission tickets are still available! [More details here](https://www.tickettailor.com/events/tanglenews/2210692?ref=readtangle.com). ### Quick hits. 1. Iran and Israel exchanged air strikes for the first time since a ceasefire went into effect in April. After Israel struck a target in Beirut, Iran launched multiple missile attacks, then Israel struck multiple targets in Iran. President Donald Trump had reportedly asked Israel not to retaliate against Iran amid peace negotiations. ([The attacks](https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/iran-fires-missiles-at-israel-after-israeli-airstrike-on-beirut-a93b4da7?ref=readtangle.com)) 2. On Monday morning, disrupted commodities markets and stock exchanges rebounded after Iran announced the “end of military operations” against Israel. Brent crude prices are now up 1.75% to $94.58 per barrel, after reaching a high of $98, and the S&P 500 and Nasdaq indices opened the morning up after a Friday slump. ([The markets](https://www.theguardian.com/business/live/2026/jun/08/stock-markets-fall-oil-jumps-middle-east-conflict-ai-boom-falters-live-news-updates?ref=readtangle.com)) 3. Former California Attorney General and U.S. Health Secretary Xavier Becerra (D) is projected to advance to the general election in California’s gubernatorial race. He is expected to face either fellow Democrat Tom Steyer or Republican candidate Steve Hilton. ([The race](https://calmatters.org/politics/2026/06/california-primary-governor-becerra/?ref=readtangle.com)) Separately, Los Angeles City Councilmember Nithya Raman (D) is projected to advance past reality TV star Spencer Pratt (I) in the city’s mayoral primary; she will face Mayor Karen Bass (D) in the general election. ([The race](https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/5905647-bass-raman-faceoff-november/?ref=readtangle.com)) 4. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that nonfarm payrolls increased by 172,000 jobs in May, exceeding economists’ estimates of 80,000 jobs added. The unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.3%. ([The numbers](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/06/05/jobs-report-may-2026.html?ref=readtangle.com)) 5. Gunmen opened fire at a street festival in Toledo, Ohio, wounding 12 people. Police believe there were at least two shooters and are still searching for suspects. ([The shooting](https://apnews.com/article/toledo-ohio-shooting-6fdbf9e7033b3eab21052070c9598e27?ref=readtangle.com)) from Today's Partner ****That scam call wasn’t random.** Scammers don’t just guess your number. They buy personal information from data brokers — companies selling your phone number, home address, relatives’ info, and more online. That’s how a random scam call can turn into phishing, impersonation, identity theft — or someone knowing more about you than they should. That’s why we recommend [****Incogni**](https://deal.incogni.io/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=6&aff%5Fid=1007&url%5Fid=1&ref=readtangle.com). It removes your personal information from these databases and keeps removing it automatically. [****Get 55% off with code TANGLE**](https://deal.incogni.io/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=6&aff%5Fid=1007&url%5Fid=1&ref=readtangle.com)****.** [Remove my data ](https://deal.incogni.io/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=6&aff%5Fid=1007&url%5Fid=1&ref=readtangle.com) ### Today’s topic. Scott Pelley’s firing. On Tuesday, *60 Minutes* executive producer, Nick Bilton, [fired](https://www.wsj.com/business/media/60-minutes-correspondent-scott-pelley-out-at-cbs-news-8c1ee2ea?eafs%5Fenabled=false&ref=readtangle.com) the show’s longtime correspondent Scott Pelley following a confrontation during a staff meeting in which Pelley criticized Bilton and CBS News Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss. Pelley’s firing is the latest shakeup at the show and network since Weiss took the head role in October 2025; Pelley and other former correspondents have accused Weiss of interfering in editorial decisions in an attempt to cover the Trump administration in a more positive light. **Back up:** In December, in one of her first major decisions at CBS News, Weiss [pulled](https://www.readtangle.com/bari-weisss-60-minutes-decision-pull-cecot-story/) a *60 Minutes* segment on Venezuelan men deported to the Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT) in El Salvador hours before the episode was scheduled to air. The editor-in-chief said the segment lacked original reporting and the Trump administration’s perspective, but correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi claimed that the story had been pulled for political reasons. The piece eventually ran in January 2026, and CBS News declined to renew Alfonsi’s contract when it ended in May. [Four of *60 Minutes*’s seven correspondents](https://www.businessinsider.com/60-minutes-correspondent-staying-read-memo-bari-weiss-cbs-news-2026-6?ref=readtangle.com), as well as an [executive editor and producer](https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/may/28/cbs-news-60-minutes-ousts-executive-producer?ref=readtangle.com), have now left the show or been fired during Weiss’s tenure. On Monday, June 1, Bilton held a *60 Minutes* staff meeting to introduce himself after Weiss hired him to run the program in May. Early in the meeting, Pelley [reportedly](https://www.axios.com/2026/06/03/60-minutes-scott-pelley-cbs-fired-bari-weiss-nick-bilton?ref=readtangle.com) began questioning Bilton’s qualifications and making pointed remarks about Weiss’s management of the show, suggesting she was “murdering” it. The next day, Bilton, Pelley, Weiss, and CBS News President Tom Cibrowski discussed the altercation in a closed-door meeting. Weiss later [said](https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/cbs-60-minutes-scott-pelley-fired-1235571685/?ref=readtangle.com) to staff, “Despite our attempts to engage with Scott Pelley and to find a way back, unfortunately we weren’t able to do so, and so we had to part ways.” Pelley rejected Weiss’s characterization of the meeting, saying he was “stonewalled” by the executives. Following the closed-door meeting, Bilton [sent a letter](https://static01.nyt.com/newsgraphics/documenttools/bb744b828c885269/9642cb98-full.pdf?ref=readtangle.com) to Pelley informing him of his firing, writing, “Yesterday, you hijacked my first meeting with staff to disparage me, my qualifications, and my intentions with remarkable incivility and contempt… \[the\] performative display of hostility enacted in front of the staff instead of in a civil, private conversation demonstrated that you have no interest in contributing to the future success of the show.” Pelley [responded](https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2026/06/03/read-letter-firing-scott-pelley-60-minutes-his-response/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=You%20can%20read%20it%20in%20full%20here%3A) later that day, reiterating his claim that CBS’s new ownership under David Ellison’s Paramount Skydance was seeking to “curry favor” with the Trump administration. “The collapse of values at the top has become untenable. The leadership of *60 Minutes* is no longer recognizable,” he wrote. Pelley [also told](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/07/magazine/scott-pelley-interview.html?ref=readtangle.com) The New York Times that Weiss was attempting to put her “thumb on the scale for the president’s version of events.” He noted a segment on the two Minneapolis residents killed by federal immigration agents in January, claiming that Weiss asked the producers to portray protesters as more violent and to characterize Renee Good as driving towards the officer who shot her. Today, we’ll share views from the right and left on Pelley’s firing and the changes at CBS News. Then, Executive Editor Isaac Saul gives his take. ### What the right is saying. - **The right says Pelley’s firing was justified, arguing he violated professional boundaries.** - **Some say Pelley is positioning himself as a martyr for the anti-Trump cause.** - **Others suggest the correspondent and his defenders don’t understand why 60 Minutesneeds to change.** **In The Washington Examiner, Joe Concha wrote** [**“sanctimonious Scott Pelley finds out no one is indispensable.”**](https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/in%5Ffocus/4595006/sanctimonious-scott-pelley-no-one-indispensable/?ref=readtangle.com) “Pelley made the miscalculation that so many in this business have in recent years: He thought he was indispensable. His contract made him rich. Likes and reposts from his social media posts made him feel powerful. He felt he could challenge his bosses during staff meetings or even publicly,” Concha said. “Good for Bilton. Because if he had allowed Pelley to stay after such a condescending, disrespectful tirade, the entire network would see him as a pushover.” “But the real tell was Pelley’s commencement speech at Wake Forest University in 2025 after Trump won the presidency for a second time. ‘This moment, this morning, our sacred rule of law is under attack. Journalism is under attack, universities are under attack, freedom of speech is under attack,’ Pelley declared dramatically,” Concha wrote. “It’s this kind of cheesy, theatrical performance by a *60 Minutes* correspondent and former anchor of the *CBS Evening News*… that helped turn the longtime news magazine into just another program with an agenda.” **The New York Post editorial board suggested** [**“Pelley got himself fired to set up his next career move.”**](https://nypost.com/2026/06/05/opinion/scott-pelley-got-himself-fired-to-set-up-his-next-career-move/?ref=readtangle.com) “CBS’s owners brought in Bari Weiss (a left-leaning centrist!) as news chief to restore balance; she brought in award-winning journalist Nick Bilton (also no righty) to helm ‘60 Minutes’ for the same reason,” the board said. “But Pelley spent his career scoring cheap lefty points; he had no interest in changing his ways, so he defied management with a pose of standing on neutral principle against a supposed right-wing agenda, then followed his firing with a letter claiming Weiss wanted him to ‘inject falsehoods and bias’ into his work at ‘60 Minutes.’ “Not that he cited any specifics, because he couldn’t: Being told you need to get quotes from the other side before a new story is finalized, after all, is the *reverse* of bias,” the board wrote. “His ‘principles’ involved lazy, biased reporting that he wasn’t going to be able to keep doing; he staged his exit to maximize his chances of getting a new gig doing the same old hack work, and will probably succeed.” **In National Review, Becket Adams called Pelley’s response to his firing** [**“revealing.”**](https://www.nationalreview.com/2026/06/the-scott-pelley-meltdown-is-revealing/?ref=readtangle.com) “Notable about the tantrum thrown by journalists and a considerable number of elected Democrats was that it was part of a larger conniption that has run uninterrupted since Bari Weiss took over as the network’s editor in chief in October 2025,” Adams said. “What this long-running ‘outrage’ reveals, what with its boilerplate rhetoric about oligarchies and its vague, specifics-free allegations of wrongdoing by Weiss and *60 Minutes* executive producer Nick Bilton, is that a lot of people in the news business think of their profession as something akin to a public university.” “Weiss is obviously trying to run CBS as a business, one with broad appeal and plump profit margins… Running a successful newsroom today also means accounting for the credibility crisis, which makes sense given that it is the most pressing issue,” Adams wrote. “The resistance is rarely any deeper than professional self-preservation, fighting for perks and good salaries, and for the freedom to indulge their partisan preferences… We see this in the Pelleys and the NPRs of the world and their supporters in media — those who’d like to enjoy all the benefits and prestige of major league journalism with none of the market pressures or business concerns.” ### What the left is saying. - **The left says Pelley stood up for journalistic values and was punished for it.** - **Some suggest the firing confirms CBS’s shift toward appeasing the Trump administration.** - **Others say 60 Minutesis slowly being hollowed out.** **In The Guardian, Margaret Sullivan said** [**“\[Pelley\] stood up for his principles and lost his job.”**](https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/jun/04/scott-pelley-60-minutes-firing?ref=readtangle.com) “Rather than hearing the truth that Pelley spoke in a staff meeting on Monday, rather than taking it seriously and vowing reform, the bosses treated his remarks as grounds for dismissal… Pelley plainly believes that the destruction of a storied institution is the result, and perhaps the point, of what his bosses are doing. It started when the chief executive of CBS’s parent company, tech scion David Ellison, named Bari Weiss the top editor of CBS News last fall,” Sullivan wrote. “Weiss has been a one-woman wrecking ball at CBS News, and particularly at *60 Minutes*. She meddled with cherished editorial independence, prompting the departures of deeply respected reporters and producers.” “Something Weiss apparently doesn’t understand is that a newsroom… is a living organism with a culture all its own. That culture doesn’t function based only on commands from above. Strict hierarchical control hurts (yes, it can even kill) the journalism,” Sullivan said. “Creative people want to do their work — which many of them consider a mission, not just a job — in an atmosphere of respect, cooperation, and a certain amount of autonomy. They understand that they take direction from above and that their preferences may be overruled, but their most closely felt ideals cannot be trampled on.” **In The New Republic, Perry Bacon argued** [**“Pelley knew exactly what he was doing in trashing Bari Weiss.”**](https://newrepublic.com/article/211313/scott-pelley-fired-bari-weiss-trashing?ref=readtangle.com) “I am not sure if Pelley meant to be fired. But I’m quite sure he meant to create a firestorm and focus the nation on what’s happening: Bari Weiss, a center-right activist more concerned by Donald Trump’s critics than the authoritarian president himself, has now consolidated power at one of America’s three broadcast networks and taken control of perhaps the nation’s most reputable and prestigious news program,” Bacon wrote. “*60 Minutes* isn’t one of the nightly news programs that’s declining in ratings and relevance, or a morning show that alternates between hard news and cooking segments. Its ratings are strong. Its reporting is compelling.” “What Pelley and \[former correspondent Cecilia\] Vega are experiencing isn’t unique. A common tactic of authoritarians is to use government power to steer the ownership of news organizations to companies or leaders who are favorable to that leader,” Bacon said. “That’s what Trump has done. He’s not telling *60 Minutes* what to air, but he has ensured the network is run by someone who will do his bidding. And it’s likely that CNN will also soon be owned by David Ellison’s Skydance Media and run by Weiss or someone like her.” **In Slate, Nitish Pahwa wrote** [**“the clock is ticking for 60 Minutes.”**](https://slate.com/business/2026/06/cbs-scott-pelley-60-minutes-bari-weiss.html?ref=readtangle.com) “The past year… has been one of the rockiest in *60 Minutes*’ decadeslong history. The fact that any of its correspondents can even raise the prospect of the newsmagazine ‘dying’ is itself a dire indicator for the future of American journalism,” Pahwa said. “No doubt, the show had made mistakes and errors of judgment over time, while some of its leaders had faced credible accusations of heinous misdeeds and staff mistreatment. And the careful, steadily reported, once-a-week format may seem like a dinosaur in this hyper-paced timeline where deluges of information accost us every ticking second. “But even from a business-minded standpoint, by any hard-minded accounting of costs and time and reach and relevance and adaptability and return on investment, *60 Minutes* was working,” Pahwa wrote. “*60 Minutes* staffers have fretted that there are simply not enough people left — forget about people with experience — to properly get the fall season produced… It all sounds less like a good-faith effort to invigorate a vital newsmagazine for modern times — and more like an effort to have it fall apart, piece by piece. No one remaining on *60 Minutes* wants the show to die. But that may not matter if the people in power do." ### My take. **Reminder: “My take” is a section where we give ourselves space to share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, don't unsubscribe. Write in by replying to this email, or** [**leave a comment**](https://www.readtangle.com/scott-pelley-fired-cbs-60-minutes/#ghost-comments-root)**.** - **I came into Pelley’s interview with some biases against him.** - **After listening to the interview and reflecting, I’m starting to think that maybe Pelley is just right.** - **60 Minutes has been succeeding, Bilton doesn’t seem qualified, and the whole saga is another knock on Weiss’s managerial record.** **Executive Editor Isaac Saul:** Yesterday, I spent an hour [listening to Scott Pelley’s interview](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/07/magazine/scott-pelley-interview.html?ref=readtangle.com) with The New York Times. I came in with a few biases: First, I find Pelley’s affect to be a bit pompous and sometimes overwrought. When I’ve heard him talk about journalism or CBS in the past, I sometimes feel embarrassed — like he mythologizes the importance of journalism in a way that makes all media people seem self-important. Second, as I’ve discussed before, I’ve interacted with Bari Weiss in a professional capacity and do not believe she is afraid to criticize the Trump administration. Indeed, much of her (and [her wife’s](https://www.thefp.com/p/tgif-i-have-a-thing-called-iran?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=The%20IRS%20can%20never%20audit%20a%20Trump%3A%20It%E2%80%99s%20been%20a%20doozy%20of%20a%20week%20in%20President%20Trump%20Corruption%20Watch.)) work at The Free Press does just that. And finally, like Weiss, I am of course part of the independent media ecosystem trying to challenge the traditional, mainstream giants like CBS, so I figured my view of the situation might more closely align with hers than Pelley’s. In the Times interview, he was, as I expected, a bit pompous and overwrought. He repeatedly likened the changes at CBS to “your spouse being murdered,” which caused me to groan aloud as I listened. He defended himself against accusations that he did not love this country with [an uncomfortable valorization](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/07/magazine/scott-pelley-interview.html?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=But%20I%E2%80%99ve%20been%20in%20combat%20for%20this%20country%2C%20in%20Afghanistan%20and%20Iraq%2C%20Kuwait.) of his time as a war correspondent, suggesting he’d been “in combat” much like those in uniform had. And the way he talks about CBS, as if it has been insulated from ideological bias up until now, strikes me as farcical. CBS, like many major news outlets, has a [center-left bias](https://www.allsides.com/news-source/cbs-news-online-media-bias?ref=readtangle.com) throughout its newsroom that is apparent to most honest brokers. Yet, I have to say, I found much of Pelley’s version of events credible. That Pelley confronted new *60 Minutes* Executive Producer Nick Bilton with the allegation Weiss was “murdering” CBS during a team meeting seems undisputed, but the closed-door meeting he had with Weiss and Bilton is a he-said, she-said tale with both sides claiming they were the ones really trying to reconcile. Some people might think Pelley’s open criticism of Weiss is so professionally inappropriate it was cause for firing, but after hearing him out I actually think he had reasons to stand up and make his case — and Weiss and Bilton should have been better prepared to navigate his objections. He accused Weiss of trying to inject falsehoods into the show, and he came with a specific, credible example. He claimed Weiss attempted to fundamentally change the *60 Minutes* piece on Renee Good at the last minute by including an allegation that Good was “driving toward the officer.” Like Pelley, I believe this framing is false. [As I wrote at the time](https://www.readtangle.com/ice-shooting-in-minneapolis/#:~:text=So%20here%20is%20what%20I%20can%20see%20and%20hear%3A%C2%A0), the video clearly shows Good turned her wheels to try to drive around the officer before he shot her in the head. Pelley is now the third prominent journalist at *60 Minutes,* along with correspondents Sharyn Alfonsi and Cecilia Vega*,* to allege Weiss attempted to inject political bias into their stories. When it was just Alfonsi, I [said](https://www.readtangle.com/bari-weisss-60-minutes-decision-pull-cecot-story/#:~:text=but%20I%20didn%E2%80%99t%20think%20one%20reporter%E2%80%99s%20account%20of%20her%20story%20getting%20spiked%20was%20undeniable%20proof%20of%20CBS%20currying%20favor%20with%20the%20Trump%20administration.) “I didn’t think one reporter’s account of her story getting spiked was undeniable proof of CBS currying favor with the Trump administration,” but three reporters alleging the same thing is a more damning portrait of CBS’s new leadership. Claims of bias aside, one of Pelley’s arguments that moved me most was one of his simplest: What’s the meritocratic case for what is happening now? As Pelley put it, Executive Producer Tanya Simon oversaw an unheard-of 9% ratings increase for the program last year, as well as good social media numbers: [2.5 billion video views, up 185%](https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/cbs-news-and-stations/shows/60-minutes/releases/?view=112909-60-minutes-makes-television-history-by-marking-52-straight-seasons-as-americas-1-news-program&ref=readtangle.com). Simon was a CBS lifer whose dad also worked for the show, and despite clearly succeeding just a year into the position, she got canned. On the merits, letting her go is pretty much indefensible; and, indeed, Weiss and company have not really mounted a credible defense for it. For Pelley, Simon’s dismissal was even harder to swallow when she was replaced by a tech journalist with zero broadcast experience. Put differently: Weiss was brought in to be the editor-in-chief of CBS News, and her first order of business seems to be shaking up the organization’s most successful and recognizable program. It’s hard to justify that as a strictly profit-motivated decision. Pelley further [defended the network](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/07/magazine/scott-pelley-interview.html?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Please.%20What%20happened%20a%20couple%20of%20days%20before%20the%20meeting%20was%20so%20critical.) from allegations it has somehow been “frozen in amber” since the 1960s and is not adapting to the new age of journalism, noting that *60 Minutes* has had a significant online presence since 2010 and he’s shooting TikTok videos on every assignment. Their YouTube presence is massive, with 4.1 million subscribers, and the program is already going after a younger audience. “It’s almost as if Bari Weiss and Nick Bilton were sealed in a time capsule in 1990, and it just cracked open,” Pelley said. “They’ve just discovered the internet, and they’re running around telling everybody how important it is.” As I ruminated on Pelley’s interview, something occurred to me: The cool, independent, heterodox thing would be to trash *60 Minutes* as stuck in the stone age and drag Pelley as a pompous, self-important “stiff” (as President Trump [called](https://thehill.com/homenews/media/5907848-trump-scott-pelleys-60-minutes-cbs-news/?ref=readtangle.com) him). But what if it’s simpler than that. What if he’s just… right? Pelley is not some Joe Schmoe faker who failed his way to the top. He is a real journalist. He really *has* gone to war zones and risked his life for a story. He really *has* been a face of one of the most successful television news programs of all-time. Doesn’t he deserve some benefit of the doubt, given that after 37 years, many leadership changes and much disruption, nothing like this has ever happened at CBS *60 Minutes* before? And is it really so bad that he cares so much about his job that it feels over the top to other people? I thought about how I’d feel if 30 years from now something like this happened to Tangle, and I imagine I’d be pretty upset, too. Even the defense from Weiss and Bilton that Pelley somehow “crossed a boundary” in confronting the new leadership of CBS is hard to swallow. Isn’t this the anti-cancel culture crew? Weiss is supposed to be a champion of dissent and confrontation — her editorial ethos revolves around our country being too sensitive and too divorced from meritocracy. How does that coexist with an outcome where successful producers and correspondents are fired for semi-public dissent? In the end, Pelley said something that is worth the rest of us considering, too: He said the [bigger problem than any political influence](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/07/magazine/scott-pelley-interview.html?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Well%2C%20it%20was%20the%20interference%20that%E2%80%99s%20a%20problem%2C%20especially%20in%20a%20story%20that%E2%80%99s%20been%20approved%20by%20the%20top%20editors.%20And%20the%20bigger%20problem%2C%20Lulu%2C%20frankly%2C%20is%20not%20any%20kind%20of%20political%20influence.%20The%20problem%20was%20the%20incompetence.) is incompetence. Pelley actually supported the Ellisons’ buying CBS, and said he was “walking on air” after meeting David Ellison and hearing him address the newsroom. That might come as a surprise to many liberals who are now in his corner. Yet Weiss running the network, Pelley said, was akin to someone handing him the keys to a Boeing 747 with 400 people on board and asking him to fly to Paris: “I’m going to decline because I don’t have a clue.” While describing Weiss as a “lovely person,” he also said she had no business running an organization this size in a space she didn’t understand. Again: Maybe Pelley is just right. Frankly, the view that Weiss is a great person but not a great manager is not far off from what I’ve heard about her in the industry — and that’s in the context of a much smaller company at The Free Press and in her native space (digital news). Of course, *60 Minutes*’*s* ratings haven’t suffered under Weiss’s management to this point, and as someone who actually watches the show I haven’t detected any meaningful shifts in the programming. Even Weiss’s much maligned decision to delay a CECOT story in December ended up being a nothingburger of sorts; the new, revised program ended up running almost exactly as the original, just with additional statements from the Trump administration. But if I’m looking at this story objectively and trying to decide whose story makes more sense — that Pelley is an impossible-to-wrangle, disobedient employee who cares more about refusing to work for Weiss and Bilton than helping CBS, or that Pelley is a legitimately concerned TV veteran trying to raise the flag that his new managers are in over their heads — I have to say I find the latter explanation a lot more credible. ****Staff dissent — Managing Editor Ari Weitzman:** I’m aligned on nearly all of Isaac’s take, but his critique of Weiss and Bilton’s handling of Pelley’s dissent rings false to me. There are many ways to voice dissent; Pelley is a media vet, he knows that. If I were a longtime pro at an organization like CBS News and my goal was to actually change Bilton’s behavior or oust him from his role, I’d back-channel my concerns or go over his head with them. The fact that Pelley chose to air his grievances in an all-hands meeting indicates that he doesn’t trust he can work with leadership to get to a workable solution. As Isaac said, he probably has good reason **not* to! But that doesn’t mean his dismissal was unjustified — it looks like Pelley forced Weiss’s hand here. When he’s making public statements about his former employer and sitting for interviews to trash them, it’s fair to question whether Pelley really wanted to hang on to his job at the organization rather than make **60 Minutes* itself the story. **Take the survey:** What do you think of Scott Pelley’s dismissal? [Let us know](https://interrobang.vercel.app/survey/788de6d5-9c11-4b51-a388-2fd3bfb69ef5?ref=readtangle.com). *Disagree? That's okay. Our opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we'll consider publishing your feedback.* ### Under the radar. On Thursday, President Trump announced he had pardoned former Rep. Steve Buyer (R-IN) of his 2023 conviction for insider trading. A jury found that Buyer used nonpublic information gained from his job as a corporate consultant to make investment decisions, and he was sentenced to 22 months in prison. However, several current and former Republican lawmakers have appealed to the president on Buyer’s behalf, arguing that he was the target of a politically motivated prosecution by the Biden administration. Trump cited these appeals in his statement, though he did not offer further detail on his rationale for the pardon. [The Washington Post has the story](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/06/06/trump-pardons-former-gop-congressman-convicted-insider-trading/?ref=readtangle.com). from Today's partner Ever get a scam call and think, “How do they even have my number?” Simple: Someone sold it. Data brokers collect and sell your personal information to anyone willing to pay. Incogni helps scrub your data from the internet and keeps monitoring for new exposures. [****Get 55% off with code TANGLE**](https://deal.incogni.io/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=6&aff%5Fid=1007&url%5Fid=1&ref=readtangle.com)****.** [Remove my data ](https://deal.incogni.io/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=6&aff%5Fid=1007&url%5Fid=1&ref=readtangle.com) ### Numbers. - [**37.**](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/scott-pelley-cbs-new-york-times-interview-rcna348850?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Pelley%2C%20who%20spent%2037%20years%20at%20CBS%20News%20as%20a%20White%20House%20correspondent%2C%20%E2%80%9CCBS%20Evening%20News%E2%80%9D%20anchor%20and%20%E2%80%9C60%20Minutes%E2%80%9D%20correspondent%2C%20described%20the%20network%E2%80%99s%20leadership%20as%20lacking%20experience.%20He%20believes%20the%20network%20can%20recover%20but%20warned%20trust%20inside%20the%20newsroom%20has%20eroded.)The number of years Scott Pelley worked at CBS News. - [**22.**](https://www.cbsnews.com/team/scott-pelley/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=The%202024%2D25%20season%20is%20his%2021st%20on%20the%20broadcast) The number of seasons Pelley served as a *60 Minutes* correspondent. - [**3.**](https://www.nbcnews.com/business/media/60-minutes-lesley-stahl-bill-whitaker-jon-wertheim-stay-rcna348676?ref=readtangle.com) The remaining number of *60 Minutes* correspondents after Pelley’s firing. - [**9.1 million.**](https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/cbs-news-and-stations/shows/60-minutes/releases/?view=112909-60-minutes-makes-television-history-by-marking-52-straight-seasons-as-americas-1-news-program&ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=60%20MINUTES%20averaged%209.1%20million%20viewers%20in%20its%2058th%20season%2C%20according%20to%20Nielsen%20most%20current%20ratings%2C%20up%20%2B9%25%20from%20its%20season%2057%20average.%20The%20CBS%20newsmagazine%20is%20also%20up%20%2B5%25%20in%20the%20key%20A25%2D54%20demo) *60 Minutes’s* average viewership for its 2025–26 season, according to Nielsen. - [**52.**](https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/cbs-news-and-stations/shows/60-minutes/releases/?view=112909-60-minutes-makes-television-history-by-marking-52-straight-seasons-as-americas-1-news-program&ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=60%20MINUTES%20closed%20out%20the%2058th%20season%20as%20America%E2%80%99s%20%231%20news%20program%2C%20for%20the%2052nd%20straight%20season%20%E2%80%93%20extending%20its%20record%2Dsetting%20performance.) The number of consecutive seasons that *60 Minutes* has been rated as the number one news program in the United States. ### The extras. - **One year ago today** we had just published [reader responses to Isaac’s piece about Zionism](https://www.readtangle.com/my-response-to-your-criticisms-zionism-piece/). - **The most clicked link in our last regular newsletter** was the Sacramento Bee’s [list of former Rep. Katie Porter’s (D-CA) controversies](https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article312762875.html?ref=readtangle.com). - **Nothing to do with politics:** Why human eyes [are weirdly white](https://www.popsci.com/science/why-humans-have-white-part-eyes/?ref=readtangle.com). - **Our last survey:** 1,453 readers responded to our survey on the Los Angeles mayoral primary with 59% saying Spencer Pratt will advance to the general election and lose. “Bass and Raman have a combined nearly 59% so far. It’s hard to imagine many progressives switching to Pratt in the general,” one respondent said. “They can’t even get their votes counted. California is a joke,” said another. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/06/data-src-image-f51458a2-a412-483d-a4ef-4f667a0acab9.png) ### Have a nice day. Wendy House had a passion for baking — but as a full-time pharmacist with a husband and four kids, she didn’t have the time. That changed as her kids started leaving the house. One day, as she and her husband were walking through Costco and processing their transitional stage of life, Wendy saw a small, premade greenhouse and thought, “What if I actually sell \[bread\] out of that?” House bought the greenhouse and started making and selling baked goods — like caramelized-onion Gruyère sourdough and freshly baked cinnamon rolls — out of it. There’s no checkout line or cash register. People walk in, pick out their treats, and pay on an honor system. “I started that way because I was just having friends and neighbors come, so I didn’t really think much of it,” House said. “Eventually, total strangers started to come… Everybody has been so incredibly honest.” [NBC News Today has the story](https://www.today.com/food/people/honor-system-bakery-driveway-rcna343724?ref=readtangle.com). ### The Sunday — June 7 URL: https://www.readtangle.com/the-sunday-june-7-2026/ Last updated: 2026-06-08T13:02:45.000Z *This is the Tangle Sunday Edition, a brief roundup of our independent politics coverage plus some extra features for your Sunday morning reading.* ### What the left is doodling. ![Mike Luckovich | Creators Syndicate](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/06/data-src-image-04e36592-1a8c-4612-b3d2-8a0f32481919.jpeg) Mike Luckovich | Creators Syndicate ### What the right is doodling. ![Al Goodwyn | Creators Syndicate](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/06/data-src-image-0363a9ea-f63c-4a08-8ba8-0716bfee92f2.jpeg) Al Goodwyn | Creators Syndicate ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/06/data-src-image-12ee3628-7510-4505-8765-784c21ed3c89.png) ### Suspension of the Rules. This week, Isaac, Ari, and Kmele take on whether Senate Republicans are signalling a sea change by putting up a fight over President Trump’s anti-weaponization fund. Also, the California primaries, the new world screwworm, and a lot of grievances that get us from the national political scene to the hyper-local. [Check it out here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kHirS9LBWQ&ref=readtangle.com)! ### Monday, June 1. [The latest Graham Platner controversies](https://www.readtangle.com/platner-maine-new-controversy/). On Saturday, May 30, The Wall Street Journal published an exposé on the behavior of Graham Platner, the presumptive Democratic nominee in the Maine Senate race. According to The Journal, Platner’s wife, Amy Gertner, disclosed to his campaign last August that she had discovered sexually explicit texts between Platner and multiple women on his phone last spring. Furthermore, The Journal found that Platner has an active account on Kik, a private-messaging app often used to arrange sexual encounters. Also on May 30, The New York Times revealed that Gertner had disclosed this information to a senior aide who later left the campaign, and Platner had been sending explicit messages to up to 12 women. The reports represent the latest controversies in Platner’s campaign to defeat Sen. Susan Collins (R) in November’s election. **Our take:** *“Platner’s scandals are multiplying and dragging on his broad populist appeal. Still, I can’t help but wonder how much these scandals even matter anymore. This is all very bad for my optimistic take on the imminent return of decency.”* **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/06/data-src-image-e725a6ec-ec1f-4659-b251-59be1464e121.png) ### Tuesday, June 2. [The Trump Accounts launch](https://www.readtangle.com/trump-accounts-child-savings/). On Thursday, May 28, the Trump administration launched its app for Trump Accounts, tax-advantaged investment accounts for children born between 2025 and 2028 the government will seed with $1,000 in an effort to support long-term financial stability for future U.S. adults. While the accounts won’t be funded until at least July 4, when the program officially launches, parents of eligible children can now open accounts through the Internal Revenue Service. **Our take:** *“Trump Accounts are as close to a straightforward win as government programs can get. They address a bipartisan interest, are being rolled out cleanly, and could provide tremendous upside. Accessibility for lower-income families will be a concern, but I’m glad the government is taking a big swing at a big problem.”* **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/06/data-src-image-b3e4f90d-6057-4342-aad1-b0edd7b92b13.png) ### Wednesday, June 3. [Bill Pulte as acting DNI](https://www.readtangle.com/bill-pulte-trump-dni/). On Tuesday, May 26, President Donald Trump announced that he is naming housing official Bill Pulte to serve as acting Director of National Intelligence (DNI) once Tulsi Gabbard steps down as director at the end of the month. Pulte is currently the director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), an independent agency regulating federal mortgages, where he oversees Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the Federal Home Loan Banks. Gabbard is resigning to support her husband during his battle with a rare form of bone cancer, and the White House has not advanced a nominee to serve as Gabbard’s permanent replacement. **Our take:** *“President Trump has done away with any pretense that he weighs merit over loyalty. Pulte’s qualifications are nonexistent, and he’s obviously being elevated to advance the president’s grievances. His impending tenure as DNI brings both national security and institutional risks.”* **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/06/data-src-image-762ce0d7-aee2-405f-8f97-317455b50f39.png) ### Thursday, June 4. [The California primaries](https://www.readtangle.com/califorinia-primaries-2026-pratt-bass-becerra/). On Tuesday, June 2, California held its primary elections, headlined by the gubernatorial and Los Angeles mayoral races. With 70% of the votes counted in the gubernatorial primary, former Health Secretary Xavier Becerra (D) will advance to the general election with 27.0% of the vote; conservative commentator Steve Hilton (R) is currently in second with 26.1%. Businessman Tom Steyer (D) is third with 21.3%. Separately, with 78% of the votes counted in the Los Angeles mayoral primary, Mayor Karen Bass (D) leads all candidates with 34.8% and will advance to the general election. Former reality television star Spencer Pratt (I) has earned 27.3%, and City Councilmember Nithya Raman (D) is third with 26.2%; the race for the second spot in the runoff is still too close to call. **Our take:** *“The report is about as bad as it’s being portrayed. Its greatest failure is an unwillingness to draw firm, actionable conclusions. Democrats want to move on from 2024, but this saga shows their organizational challenges remain prevalent.”* **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/06/data-src-image-e9ff0fb7-da8d-4c8f-8c1d-c07a764b490a.png) ### Friday, June 5. This week, Tangle’s very own Head of Product Candida Hall makes her full-length editorial debut. Drawing on her real-life experiences in Appalachian cities and pulling a wealth of data from around the country, Candida examines how cities that suffered economic or popular downturns can bounce back and revitalize. [You can read her piece here](https://www.readtangle.com/how-does-revitalization-work/). --- ### Some good news. College graduate unemployment has been on the rise. In 2025, the unemployment rate for workers under 29 rose to 3.7%, up from 3.1% in 2019\. While AI may be reducing the need for some entry level tasks, the rise of remote work may also be making employers less willing to hire and train younger workers. The Federal Reserve puts less emphasis on the bots and more on workplace shifts, saying younger employees are missing out on impromptu in-person conversations and opportunities for spontaneous learning. Lurking in that theory is also ****some good news**: Employers are looking to hire more young employees for in-person work. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, job openings jumped by 731,000 in April, reaching their highest level in nearly two years. So while landing that first job may still require dozens of applications and at least one awkward networking event, there’s growing evidence that graduates may be able to find their next career — in person. [The Daily Upside has the story](https://www.thedailyupside.com/economics/indicators/dont-blame-ai-for-youth-unemployment-as-low-hire-low-fire-job-market-continues/?ref=readtangle.com). **This story was brought to us by our at The Daily Upside. For more surprising stories from the worlds of business and finance, check them out* [**here*](https://www.thedailyupside.com/?ref=readtangle.com)**.* **Just like Tangle, sign-up is free.* --- ### What just happened. Here’s a rundown of the major stories that have broken since our newsletter on Thursday. - On Thursday, the militant group Hezbollah rejected a ceasefire agreement between Israel and the Lebanese government, saying it refused to comply with a provision that the group’s fighters leave southern Lebanon. ([The rejection](https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-war-israel-lebanon-hezbollah-ceasefire-06ea585ce43fd28e26c4d21d46a4df83?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Thursday, the Labor Department reported that applications for unemployment benefits hit a four-month high in the final week of May, increasing by 13,000 to 225,000\. ([The report](https://thehill.com/business/jobless-aid-filings-highest-level-since-february/?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Thursday, the Supreme Court ruled unanimously that the Securities and Exchange Commission can recover profits from people and firms found to have violated federal securities laws without needing to prove investor harm. ([The ruling](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-06-04/supreme-court-bolsters-sec-s-power-to-recoup-illegal-gains?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Friday, the Senate voted 52–47 to advance a measure providing approximately $70 billion for immigration enforcement agencies through the end of President Trump’s term. The bill includes $38.6 billion for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, $22.6 billion for Customs and Border Patrol, and $5 billion for the Department of Homeland Security. The bill now moves to the House. ([The vote](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/senate-votes-immigration-enforcement-trump-anti-weaponization-fund-rcna348611?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Friday, the Pentagon reportedly raised the counterintelligence threat level from Israel to the highest level, following growing tensions between the U.S. and Israel regarding the ongoing war in Iran. ([The threat level](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/pentagon-raised-threat-israeli-spying-us-highest-level-sources-say-rcna348565?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Saturday, the U.S. and Iran exchanged fire, with the U.S. intercepting six Iranian missiles and striking two radar sites. ([The strikes](https://www.foxnews.com/live-news/iran-war-news-trump-latest-oil-prices-kuwait-bahrain-hormuz-june-6?ref=readtangle.com)) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/06/data-src-image-e4dd534f-0cdc-4438-a15d-791c24599ecf.png) ### Reader essay. ![“I’m speaking — but is anyone listening?” | Photo from Meagan Fischer](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/06/data-src-image-b040c739-ea7b-438f-b5f1-aa45f5877789.jpeg) “I’m speaking — but is anyone listening?” | Photo from Meagan Fischer Tangle reader Meagan Fischer remembers what it was like to be involved in local activism at the height of “cancel culture.” In this week’s reader essay, she reflects on her experiences navigating environments where ideological purity and real-world needs clashed, and she discusses her path toward building bridges. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Re-finding My Voice & Nuance After Cancel Culture URL: https://www.readtangle.com/otherposts/re-finding-my-voice-nuance-after-cancel-culture/ Last updated: 2026-07-06T12:16:43.000Z *By Meagan Fischer* --- I was honored to be invited to write a reader essay for Tangle a number of months ago, but I’ve been stuck on it for months. It normally wouldn’t be ‘good writing’ to start by sharing that, but in this case my trouble finding my voice for this audience connects to what I find it necessary to write about. My voice has been stuck in part because I haven’t felt safe to use it in so many situations. Some of those situations were personal and not directly connected to political discourse (though I could easily digress here about the personal being political), but a significant contributing factor to how I lost my voice was both personal and political: cancel culture. My own personal experience with cancel culture not only led me to be afraid of speaking my mind and heart; it has also created a backlog of things I wanted to say but didn’t know how, or where I could express them with any expectation of being heard or respected by the people around me. Many moments when my words stuck in my throat have become crystallized memories, frozen in my psyche. One of them was knocked loose recently while reading Isaac’s comment in his March 18th [take on Cuba](https://www.readtangle.com/cuba-energy-crisis-oil-trump/): “It is the peak of American-obsessive criticism, often proffered by non-interventionists and progressives, to look at Cuba and think we are responsible for all its struggles.” This brought me back to circa 2017, when I had returned to the California State University, Chico campus after an absence of four years from higher education to finish a bachelor’s degree in a new major, Latin American Studies. After a year surrounded by public policy up-and-comers while interning with the Friends Committee On National Legislation, I decided any degree at all would help me be taken more seriously. I already had all my general education requirements and a few Spanish classes under my belt, plus I had traveled in Latin America, so Latin American Studies would be an easy major to complete. Little did I know how much the insights from my classes would dovetail with my observations of the activist networks I had embedded myself in. The rise of algorithmic clicktivism over the previous few years had strained my sometimes deep, loving relationship with nuance and complexity. I noticed the changing times bringing out the most self-righteous version of my advocacy — the same passion and surety of my correctness that led me to berate my mom in my teen years for not taking the full step from vegetarianism to veganism, backed up by many a disturbing PETA pamphlet. (Self-disclosure: I spent only a small percentage of my life eating vegan, though I continue to be deeply concerned for animal welfare and will happily shell out extra dollars, even on a limited budget, for a Certified Humane label.) But despite the supposed leftist-brainwashing of the university, studying Latin America was actually pushing me the other way — possibly because where I was at the time left me little room further to the left to go. My takeaway from studying Salvador Allende’s Chilean presidency was that when people push too fast and hard to the left without sufficient popular buy-in, worse outcomes may result from the inevitable pendulum swing I’ve seen this reflected in contemporary times with the Trump administrations. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### How does revitalization work? URL: https://www.readtangle.com/how-does-revitalization-work/ Last updated: 2026-06-05T15:56:44.000Z *At Tangle, we don’t discriminate against good ideas based on where they come from. A person on our sales team can have a fantastic pitch for an editorial change we should make, and just because it came from the sales side and not a senior editor doesn’t mean we’re going to ignore it.* *I’ve learned over the years that I have the great privilege of working with a lot of brilliant people, with smart ideas, who have interesting things to say, who can also write even though they aren’t on our editorial team.* *So when Candida Hall, our head of product (and featured employee in the* [*October 2025 edition of* Press Pass](https://www.readtangle.com/introducing-press-pass-october-behind-the-scenes/#:~:text=of%20our%20team%E2%80%A6-,Meet%20Candida.,-One%20thing%20I)*), pitched the idea for a story about small-town revitalization and her experiences in Appalachia, I was immediately intrigued. Over the last few months, Candida has been working on this story with our Managing Editor Ari Weitzman, and today, I’m thrilled to share it with our audience. I hope you all enjoy.* *— Isaac* **Reminder: You are reading a preview of a members-only Friday edition. To read it in full,* [**you'll be asked to subscribe*](https://www.readtangle.com/membership/)**.* ****Did someone forward you this email?** [****Sign up here**](https://www.readtangle.com/)****.** --- In mid-July, 1997, I was a carefree ten-year-old sitting between my granny and my aunt in our little Ford Ranger, waiting to drop off the week’s paychecks to the couple of drivers employed by our modest trucking company. Roughly [428 million tons of coal](https://research.fs.usda.gov/download/treesearch/62623.pdf?ref=readtangle.com) were being produced every year in Appalachia in the 1990s, and we were in the midst of a boom. During a particularly good month, my aunt leaned over and said, every word covered with a hint of pride and elbow grease, “Remember, if you work hard, you can get big checks like this too.” Coal was, and I guess still is, in our DNA. My family owned a couple of trucks to transport coal from the mines to processing plants. My dad drove one of them until he opened his own garage repairing coal trucks from all over the county. My papaws, uncles, and neighbors joined the nearly [13,000 other coal mine employees](https://eec.ky.gov/Energy/Coal%20Facts%20%20Annual%20Editions/Kentucky%20Coal%20Facts%20-%2017th%20Edition%20%282017%29.pdf?ref=readtangle.com#page=32) in the area in the early aughts. Downtown Whitesburg, Kentucky, where we lived, was not only beautiful; it was full of places to gather, eat, and shop. But as I got a little older, things started to change. The explosion of natural gas and increased automation [made other areas a lot more attractive](https://siepr.stanford.edu/publications/policy-brief/what-killing-us-coal-industry?ref=readtangle.com) than Southeastern Kentucky for energy companies. The checks became less a source of pride and more a reason for an apology as the number of coal loads decreased. Whispers in hushed tones about another mine closing, about our neighbor being out of work, and the “did you hear that Johnny’s dad went to jail for selling dope?” followed by the obligatory “it’s a shame,” started replacing the laughter at backyard gatherings. Our neighbors started moving. Mines kept closing. In 2016, [Letcher County’s unemployment rate](https://datacommons.org/place/geoId/21133?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=API%20code-,Letcher%20County%3A%20Unemployment%20rate,-Explore%20other%20facets) sat at 10.7%, and the population had decreased by about 26% from its high in 1981. During that 2016 election cycle, it was impossible to escape talk of the rural/urban divide and how people in rural areas were being “left behind.” But Americans had been “left behind” long before 2016\. By 1981, the Rust Belt had lost [nearly 30%](https://www.minneapolisfed.org/article/2014/competition-and-the-decline-of-the-rust-belt?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Figure%201%C2%A0shows%20that%20the%20Rust%20Belt%E2%80%99s%20share%20of%20economywide%20jobs%20declined%20by%20about%2028%20percent%20between%201950%20and%201980%20and%20that%20its%20share%20of%20manufacturing%20jobs%20fell%20by%20roughly%2034%20percent.) of total jobs over three decades and was suffering from higher unemployment rates than the rest of the country amidst a nationwide recession. That year, Ronald Reagan stood before the nation to deliver his inaugural address, where he vowed to get the government out of the way so that our economy could begin recovering from a period of high inflation and unemployment. In one of the more memorable lines, he [declared](https://www.reaganlibrary.gov/archives/speech/inaugural-address-1981?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Idle%20industries%20have%20cast%20workers%20into%20unemployment%2C%20human%20misery%2C%20and%20personal%20indignity.), “Idle industries have cast workers into unemployment, human misery, and personal indignity.” The people left behind in today’s economy live [in areas all over the country](https://eig.org/left-behind-places/?ref=readtangle.com), not just rural counties. More than 79 million Americans, or roughly one in four, [reside](https://www.brookings.edu/articles/small-and-midsized-downtown-recovery-overcoming-obstacles-and-uplifting-innovative-solutions-in-four-regions/?ref=readtangle.com) in a small- to mid-sized city (SMC). These SMCs include cities with up to 150,000 people, like Dayton, Ohio, and towns of about 50,000, like Hickory, North Carolina. Many of those cities have endured multiple periods of hardship: the Rust Belt decline, the manufacturing shock caused by open trade with [China](https://www.cato.org/publications/china-shock?ref=readtangle.com#introduction), and [general urban decay](https://ecommons.udayton.edu/soc%5Ffac%5Fpub/27/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Urban%20decline%20refers%20to%20a,of%20housing%20and%20public%20infrastructure.) — defined as a lack of investment in infrastructure, a loss of population, high unemployment rates, and a slide into poverty. These days, walking downtown in my new home of Johnson City, Tennessee — an Appalachian SMC in the midst of revitalization efforts — and thinking about Reagan’s speech, I wonder how revitalization happens at all. What motivates private industries — or any company, for that matter — to set up shop in areas that have lost a chunk of their workforce or population? And beyond that, where does the money for those efforts come from? _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Spencer Pratt for mayor? URL: https://www.readtangle.com/spencer-pratt-for-mayor/ Last updated: 2026-06-05T00:04:31.000Z On this week’s Suspension of the Rules, Isaac, Kmele, and Ari discuss the LA Mayoral race, and Spencer Pratt's rise in the polls. ### The California primary elections. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/califorinia-primaries-2026-pratt-bass-becerra/ Last updated: 2026-06-04T16:02:27.000Z Happy Thursday. One more work day, then it’s Friday, which is basically Saturday, which makes this pretty much the weekend. Right? I’m **Isaac Saul** and today I’ll be your guide to **California’s set of unusual elections**. Yesterday, I spent the afternoon recording our weekly podcast *Suspension of the Rules*, in which I got to warn the world about **flesh-eating livestock parasite screwworm**. Unlike hantavirus and monkeypox, I think this *actually* has a good chance of becoming a major problem. We also talked about Republicans in the Senate standing up to Trump and dove into today’s main topic, which is the (potentially?) **ascendant political right in California**. Go watch the episode [here](https://youtu.be/8kHirS9LBWQ?ref=readtangle.com), then subscribe to our YouTube channel to show how much you like us. We’ve also got a reader question about **tax refunds** todayand a breakdown of **the stories** **we decided not to cover** this week**.** Finally, a very special happy birthday to Tangle Associate Editor Lindsey Knuth, who decided to celebrate by avoiding all her colleagues and taking the day off work. My feelings aren’t hurt, I promise. It’s a **13-minute read**, let’s jump in. ### We’re coming to the stage! In 10 days, Isaac and a panel of sharp thinkers are [coming to West Virginia](https://www.tickettailor.com/events/tanglenews/2210692?ref=readtangle.com) to discuss the societal effects of artificial intelligence. They’ll tackle questions like, *What would happen if AI disappeared today vs. five years from now? Who makes a stronger case between the cynics and the optimists? Could we ban AI even if we wanted to?* It’ll be a scintillating chat, and you can be in the room where it’s happening if you [get your tickets now](https://www.tickettailor.com/events/tanglenews/2210692?ref=readtangle.com). ### Quick hits. 1. BREAKING: John Bolton, who served as national security adviser during the first Trump administration, has reportedly agreed to plead guilty to mishandling classified information. Bolton could receive a sentence of up to 60 months in jail and a fine of up to $2.25 million as part of his plea deal. ([The plea](https://www.cnn.com/2026/06/04/politics/john-bolton-guilty-plea-agreement-trump-critic?ref=readtangle.com)) 2. Iran carried out airstrikes in Kuwait, killing at least one person and injuring 63, in addition to striking the country’s international airport. The attacks could further strain U.S.–Iran peace negotiations. ([The strikes](https://www.nbcnews.com/world/iran/iran-attacks-kuwait-strikes-us-ceasefire-peace-talks-trump-rcna348213?ref=readtangle.com)) Separately, the House voted 215–208 to pass a war powers resolution aimed at limiting the Trump administration’s ability to carry out further unilateral military action against Iran. Four Republicans joined all Democrats in supporting the measure. ([The resolution](https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5908560-iran-war-resolution-house/?ref=readtangle.com)) 3. The House voted 218–204 to advance a security package with over $1 billion in new military aid for Ukraine and new sanctions on Russia, among other provisions. Six Republicans, one independent, and all Democrats voted to pass the measure. ([The package](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/republicans-defy-johnson-advance-democrat-backed-ukraine-aid?ref=readtangle.com)) 4. President Donald Trump said he will nominate Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche to succeed Pam Bondi as attorney general. ([The announcement](https://www.cnn.com/2026/06/03/politics/trump-expected-nominate-todd-blanche-attorney-general?ref=readtangle.com)) 5. The Trump administration proposed 10%–12.5% tariffs on 60 economies that it claimed have failed to ban goods produced with forced labor, justifying the duties under Section 301 of the Trade Act’s provisions against foreign trade practices harming U.S. commerce. ([The proposal](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/06/03/us-tariffs-60-economies-dection-301-forced-labor-trade-practices-.html?ref=readtangle.com)) 6. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said that a case of New World screwworm was detected in a 3-week-old calf in Texas, raising concerns about a potential outbreak among U.S. livestock. ([The case](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/new-world-screwworm-case-detected-texas-calf-cattle-food-supply-usda-rcna348414?ref=readtangle.com)) FROM today's partner ****Most people don’t know they’ve been hacked until it’s too late.** Not because someone emptied their bank account overnight. Because identity theft often starts quietly — a credit card opened in your name, a loan application you never submitted, a change to your credit report you didn’t authorize. ****Coveron (formerly NordProtect)** helps you catch those warning signs early by [monitoring your credit and alerting you to suspicious activity](https://go.coveron.net/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=1026&aff%5Fid=147990&url%5Fid=33901&ref=readtangle.com). And if things go sideways, ****Coveron** includes financial protection benefits designed to help eligible victims recover from: - Identity theft - Online fraud - Cyberattacks and cyber extortion. Use code[ ****TANGLE**](https://go.coveron.net/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=1026&aff%5Fid=147990&url%5Fid=33901&ref=readtangle.com) to get [****76% off**](https://go.coveron.net/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=1026&aff%5Fid=147990&url%5Fid=33901&ref=readtangle.com). [Get 76% off credit monitoring ](https://go.coveron.net/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=1026&aff%5Fid=147990&url%5Fid=33901&ref=readtangle.com) ### Today’s topic. The California primaries. On Tuesday, California [held](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-election/california-governor-key-races-house-unsettled-vote-count-continues-rcna348210?ref=readtangle.com) its primary elections, headlined by the gubernatorial and Los Angeles mayoral races. With 56% of the votes counted in the gubernatorial primary, conservative commentator Steve Hilton (R) [leads](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-primary-elections/california-governor-results?ref=readtangle.com) former Health Secretary Xavier Becerra (D) with 27.6% and 25.6% of the vote, respectively. Businessman Tom Steyer (D) is third with 19.8%. Separately, with 62% of the votes counted in the Los Angeles mayoral primary, Mayor Karen Bass (D) [leads](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-primary-elections/los-angeles-mayor-results?ref=readtangle.com) all candidates with 35% and will advance to the general election. Former reality television star Spencer Pratt (I) has earned 29.9%, and City Councilmember Nithya Raman (D) is third with 22.8%; the race for the second spot in the runoff is still too close to call. *California allows all elections to be conducted by mail, and all ballots are valid if postmarked by Election Day and delivered to county elections offices within seven days of the election; because of this system, some races* [*may take weeks*](https://calmatters.org/politics/2026/06/primary-election-california-counting/?ref=readtangle.com) *to determine a winner.* **Back up:** In 2011, California [implemented](https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/primary-elections-california?ref=readtangle.com) a top-two primary system for state constitutional offices, state legislative offices, and U.S. congressional offices (presidential elections use party primaries). Under the system, all candidates for an office are listed on a single primary ballot, and the two candidates receiving the most votes — regardless of party — advance to the general election. In the Los Angeles mayoral primary, if any candidate receives 50% or more of the primary vote, they [win the election outright](https://ballotpedia.org/Mayoral%5Felection%5Fin%5FLos%5FAngeles,%5FCalifornia%5F%282026%29?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=In%20Los%20Angeles%2C%20a%20candidate%20who%20wins%2050%25%20or%20more%20of%20the%20vote%20in%20a%20primary%20wins%20the%20election%20outright.%20If%20no%20candidate%20does%20so%2C%20the%20top%20two%20vote%2Dgetters%20advance%20to%20the%20general%20election.%5B); if not, the top two vote-getters progress to a runoff in the general election. California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) is term-limited, and several candidates are [vying](https://calmatters.org/california-voter-guide-2026/governor/?ref=readtangle.com) to fill his office. In the months preceding the primary, state Democrats worried that the significant number of prominent party members in the race would splinter the vote and allow two Republicans to advance. However, President Donald Trump’s endorsement of Hilton, a former Fox News anchor and conservative political strategist, boosted his candidacy, while former Rep. Eric Swalwell’s (D) exit from the race amid [sexual misconduct allegations](https://www.readtangle.com/eric-swalwell-resigns-sexual-misconduct/) cleared a key portion of the Democratic field. While the race is still too close to call, Becerra and Hilton are favored to advance. Mayor Bass, who served in Congress from 2011–2022, is running for a second four-year term as Los Angeles’s mayor. She has faced scrutiny for her handling of the [Southern California wildfires](https://www.readtangle.com/los-angeles-wildfires/), which devastated large areas of the Los Angeles metropolitan area over more than three weeks in January 2025, killing [at least 31 people](https://me.lacounty.gov/2025/press-releases/wildfires-update-31st-death-related-to-the-january-wildfires-confirmed/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=The%20death%20toll%20related%20to%20the%20wildfires%20is%20now%2031%20%E2%80%93%2019%20in%20the%20Eaton%20Fire%20and%2012%20in%20the%20Palisades.) and destroying thousands of homes and other structures. Pratt, a first-time candidate known for starring on the reality television show *The Hills*, lost his home in the fires and focused his campaign on criticism of Bass’s response and her perceived shortcomings on crime and homelessness issues. Raman [presented](https://ballotpedia.org/Nithya%5FRaman?ref=readtangle.com) herself as a progressive alternative to Bass, highlighting housing affordability challenges and lackluster city services. Major news desks have [projected](https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/5907283-bass-los-angeles-mayor-election/?ref=readtangle.com) Bass will advance to the general election, while Pratt and Raman are in a close contest for the second spot. Today, we’ll share what the left, right, and California writers are saying about the races. Then, Executive Editor Isaac Saul gives his take. ### What the left is saying. - **The left sees the governor’s race as a crucial decision for California Democrats.** - **Others criticize the state party for lacking the energy of its past.** **In The Guardian, Norman Solomon said Democrats face a** [**“huge crossroads in \[the\] California Governor’s race.”**](https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/jun/02/democrats-tom-steyer-california-governor-race?ref=readtangle.com) “The next governor of deep-blue California will almost certainly be a Democrat. But what kind of Democrat?” Solomon asked, “\[Tom\] Steyer promises to upend corporate power and give California a sustained progressive jolt. If he wins, the country’s largest state party will probably go through a major ideological challenge… \[Xavier Becerra\] is central casting for the kind of political sensibilities that have dominated the state party, which internally boosts identity politics above (rhetoric aside) such considerations as economic justice, labor rights, public health, environmental protection, or peace.” “The rivalry between Becerra and Steyer can also be understood as a skirmish in a nascent conflict between \[Gov. Gavin\] Newsom and \[Rep. Ro\] Khanna, whose evident presidential ambitions have more than a little riding on this election,” Solomon said. “If Steyer becomes governor, presumably allied with Khanna, that could boost the congressman’s uphill quest to overtake Newsom for the Democratic nomination.” **In The American Prospect, Harold Meyerson asked how California politics** [**“\[became\] so lackluster.”**](https://prospect.org/2026/06/02/how-california-politics-became-so-blah/?ref=readtangle.com) “At least as far back as 1910, when Progressives swept to power and remade the state, California politics have been movement politics and oppositional politics,” Meyerson wrote. “The kind of intensity of belief and support that powered \[the rise of AOC and Zohran Mamdani\], and has historically powered the movements that once fed into and shaped California’s Democratic Party, has been absent from California politics this year, save in a number of hyperlocal races. “If such a movement can cohere around the wealth tax proposal that will be on November’s ballot, that might provide the kind of boost it needs to begin to grapple with the state’s dysfunctional two-tier economy,” Meyerson said. “Absent that, California Democrats will have politics without passion (save when repelling ICE’s marauders) and without plausibly passionate candidates.” ### What the right is saying. - **Many on the right say Californians rejected progressive candidates in key races.** - **Others suggest Spencer Pratt offers a model for a post-Trump GOP.** **The Wall Street Journal editorial board wrote about** [**“November portents from the primaries.”**](https://www.wsj.com/opinion/primary-elections-california-iowa-spencer-pratt-karen-bass-xavier-becerra-bc66ac71?ref=readtangle.com) “While the mail ballots in California are still coming in, it’s not too soon to detect a modest backlash against bad progressive governance… Mr. Hilton would have an uphill battle given California’s Democratic tilt. Yet he’ll have plenty of material, starting with how the state’s high taxes and burdensome regulations drive away businesses and people,” the board said. “Billionaire Tom Steyer was a more distant third… Mr. Steyer backs the California wealth tax that’s on the November ballot, while Mr. Becerra says he’s opposed. “In the Los Angeles mayor’s race, incumbent Karen Bass was at roughly a third of the vote, no show of strength. Spencer Pratt, running on a reform agenda, was several points ahead of socialist councilwoman Nithya Raman,” the board wrote. “The surprising enthusiasm for Mr. Pratt’s campaign is about more than AI videos showing him as Batman. It reflects how many residents are angry over the city government’s many failures. Mr. Pratt might get five months to make the case that he can fix it.” **In The American Conservative, Scott Greer described** [**“Spencer Pratt’s GOP.”**](https://www.theamericanconservative.com/spencer-pratts-gop/?ref=readtangle.com) “While \[Spencer\] Pratt has his own style, he’s made his name in a similar way Trump did back in the 2016 campaign. In contrast to his opponents, Pratt knows how to entertain,” Greer said. “One of Pratt’s core issues is LA’s homeless problem. In stark contrast to his opponents, he’s not a fan of the homeless. He lashes out at the city’s leaders for allowing drugged-out ‘zombies’ to wander the city streets uninhibited… None of his opponents would ever dare talk about the issue in these terms. But Pratt does, and that’s why he’s getting so much support in deep-blue LA.” “There’s a lot of discussion over what the GOP will look like when Trump leaves office. It’s commonly thought that it may replace the persona of Trump with a more coherent ideology of ‘Trumpism,’” Greer wrote. “Pratt shows a different path. It will retain Trump’s entertaining combativeness, but in a style that’s not a direct copy of the president. It won’t be particularly ideological, besides opposing leftists, criminals, illegal aliens, and the homeless. It will be pragmatic and at peace with most cultural trends… In this scenario, Trumpism will be more of a style than a cohesive ideology.” ### What California writers are saying. - **Some say the election will result in more of the same for California.** - **Others advocate for Hilton and Pratt as changemakers.** **In the Los Angeles Times, Mark Z. Barabak said the governor’s race will end in** [**“the most consistent and predictable of ways.”**](https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2026-06-03/primary-election-2026-california-governor-takeaways?ref=readtangle.com) “California has never elected a female governor. That won’t change in November. Voters have never much cared for rich people trying to buy the state’s highest elected office. They still don’t. The California electorate has typically favored experience over youth, and favored bland and boring over razzle and dazzle. It continues to do so,” Barabak wrote. “For all the speculation about one political party or the other being shut out in Tuesday’s primary, the November runoff may very well turn out to be a thoroughly conventional Democrat vs. Republican matchup.” “\[Xavier\] Becerra has a political persona that could be marketed as a sleep aid… But Becerra’s even-keeled demeanor seemed the perfect prescription following the overnight implosion of Eric Swalwell’s scandal-scarred campaign,” Barabak said. “It was not likely. But the mere prospect of Democrats being shut out of the November runoff was enough to guarantee such a scenario would never happen in this reliably blue state.” **The California Post editorial board called Steve Hilton and Spencer Pratt** [**“the change California needs.”**](https://nypost.com/2026/06/02/opinion/vote-for-steve-hilton-and-spencer-pratt-the-change-we-need/?ref=readtangle.com) “\[The primaries are\] a judgment day for politicians who failed to defend our communities from wildfires, homelessness, crime, and drugs,” the board wrote. “Steve Hilton has been working on solutions for California — for many years. He’s not just a critic who complains about the state and predicts doom. He looks for practical answers, and policies that we could adopt today, if we had the political will… Ideas like suspending the gas tax; ending income taxes under $100,000; and investigating fraud in state government.” “Spencer Pratt wasn’t looking to run for mayor. He was thrust into it, when his community went up in flames… And what should have been a minor disaster, at worst, became the costliest natural disaster in American history,” the board said. “\[Pratt\] decided to do something about it, so that no one in LA would ever have to face that kind of unnecessary loss again… Pratt’s campaign represents a chance for voters to tell Mayor Bass and other elected officials that there is a political price for failure.” ### My take. **Reminder: “My take” is a section where we give ourselves space to share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, don't unsubscribe. Write in by replying to this email, or** [**leave a comment**](https://www.readtangle.com/califorinia-primaries-2026-pratt-bass-becerra/#ghost-comments-root)**.** - **California’s political scene is far more interesting than most people believe.** - **Establishment candidates are sinking everywhere, and the chances of a California upset are real.** - **Even if the leading Democrats win the governor and Los Angeles mayoral races, anti-establishment candidates are still leaving their marks.** **Executive Editor Isaac Saul:** At a moment when a deeply unpopular Republican president is in the White House, one might think that elections in California’s midnight-blue political scene would be uneventful. But that couldn’t be further from the truth. Counterintuitively, California has [more registered Republicans](https://usafacts.org/articles/how-many-voters-have-a-party-affiliation/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=The%20largest%20numbers%20of%20registered%20Republicans%20are%20in%20California%20%285.8%20million%2C%20or%2025.1%25%20of%20the%20state%E2%80%99s%20registered%20voters%29%20and%20Florida%20%285.5%20million%2C%20or%2041.3%25%29.%20Wyoming%20has%20the%20highest%20percentage%20of%20registered%20Republicans%20%2877.3%25%29.) than any state in America (Texas may have [more Republican *voters*](https://ivn.us/are-there-more-democrats-texas-republicans-2025-08-08/?ref=readtangle.com), but due to differences in the electoral systems, California has more registered Republicans with 5.8 million). This number, of course, is due to the state’s size (Republicans still make up just 25.1% of its registered voters), but it means conservatives in the state always have a chance to make some noise, particularly with a “top-two” primary system. This year, California’s gubernatorial race and Los Angeles’ mayoral race are both drawing national interest, thanks to some attention-grabbing Republican candidates. In the gubernatorial election, Steve Hilton is framing his candidacy as a last chance to “save” California, insisting to voters that it’s time to make a change after 16 years of Democratic leadership. I [interviewed](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHHADjuyUBQ&ref=readtangle.com) Hilton on the Tangle podcast a month ago, and I can see why he’s got a foothold. He’s a likable guy who can speak deftly about his love for America, why he immigrated here from England, and what California “used to be like” when he arrived. His platform focuses on over-regulation, cost of living, homelessness, and unemployment in the state — all areas where Gov. Gavin Newsom is ripe for criticism. I think Hilton grossly exaggerates the negative impacts of policies designed to mitigate environmental harm, and I think his decision to downplay climate change as a legitimate issue will likely turn off most California voters. But he’s grounded his campaign in real, tangible policy issues instead of the culture war stuff that dominates so much of U.S. politics, a smart move that bucks the trend of dark-horse candidates focusing on culture-war issues. He’s also got the benefit of a discombobulated opposition. Newsom is [a deeply polarizing figure](https://votes.decisiondeskhq.com/polls/candidate-favorability/gavin-newsom-9233/national/lv-rv-adults?ref=readtangle.com). Rep. Eric Swalwell was leading in most polls until he dropped out amid allegations of sexual harassment. Former Rep. Katie Porter, once considered a frontrunner, never re-found her footing after a [pair of embarrassing videos](https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article312762875.html?ref=readtangle.com) went viral. That left Tom Steyer and Xavier Becerra as the likely frontrunners. Steyer is known for his stilted personality, which doesn’t compare favorably to Hilton’s effusive style. He also had an impractical and bizarre presidential bid in 2020, which cost him $340 million and earned him just 270,000 votes. The self-funded billionaire has already dumped more than $200 million of his own money into this race, positioning himself as a kind of “class traitor” to voters — the anti-billionaire’s billionaire. His website calls for higher taxes on corporations and billionaires like him, and he’s generally running to the left of Newsom — who in recent years has [become a check](https://www.nationalreview.com/2026/06/worse-than-the-devil-you-know/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Newsom%20vetoed%20a,advance%20racial%20reparations.) on the state’s progressive bent — at least on most of the big issues. Becerra, meanwhile, has by far the most experience of the bunch, but he’s also the most establishment-approved and politically moderate — in today’s climate, that’s more a liability than a strength. He was a California representative for more than two decades, then served as the state’s attorney general, and then served as Health secretary during Biden’s presidency. Neither Hilton nor Steyer is really close in terms of qualifications, though experience also means baggage — and Becerra will have the distinct disadvantage of having to defend Biden’s record, Newsom’s record, and his own record as attorney general throughout the campaign. Do I think Hilton has a chance in this environment? Not really. Becerra, even with his political baggage, will point to the over one hundred lawsuits he’s filed against President Trump and the expansion of healthcare under Biden as evidence he’s ready to fight for California Democrats. He oozes competence on the campaign trail, and though he has fewer sweeping plans for government expansion than Steyer, that might be a leg up in this environment. It’s hard to think of anyone better equipped to navigate California’s governing structure. For most of the state’s registered voters who *aren’t* Republicans, I imagine that’ll be a more compelling package than being a Trump-endorsed former Fox News host banging on about how awful California is and how much climate change policy is to blame. A few hundred miles south of Sacramento, another race defined by dissatisfaction is capturing a lot of people’s attention. In Los Angeles, Mayor Karen Bass (D) may end up in a head-to-head with Spencer Pratt, who is running as an independent and stumping *hard* against Bass’s record on homelessness, drug use, government spending, and wildfire accountability. Pratt is currently second in the runoff election, though votes are still being tallied and City Councilmember Nithya Raman (D) is still very much in the running. Running as an incumbent used to be a strength, but these days it often feels like an albatross. Grievance politics are ascendant, and coming off as anti-establishment can mean more than the identifier next to your name. While [Bass was in Ghana](https://abc7.com/post/mayor-karen-bass-admits-ghana-trip-before-wildfires-was-mistake/15929179/?ref=readtangle.com) during the Palisades Fire (despite promising not to travel internationally as mayor) and had overseen cuts to the Los Angeles Fire Department, Pratt and his family lost their home in the fire and have since taken up the fight for some government accountability for what happened. Pratt’s similarities to Trump extend beyond their shared background on reality TV. He simplifies big issues with flashy ideas, like insisting homelessness can be solved by forcing addicts into treatment. He uses incendiary rhetoric, like claiming housing NGOs in Los Angeles are literally killing the homeless. He even reaches into the bag for nicknames, like calling Bass “Mayor Basura,” using the Spanish word for trash. If Pratt advances, Bass will have a hard time weathering his attacks about Los Angeles’s $1 billion budget gap, its persistent homelessness problem, and the hard-to-deny failures of the response to the Palisades fire. But Pratt has his own red flags. His sister [warned](https://people.com/spencer-pratt-s-sister-stephanie-pratt-urges-people-not-to-vote-for-him-la-mayor-11907029?ref=readtangle.com) Angelenos that he’s running in pursuit of fame and to sell a forthcoming memoir, and she alleged that he beat her and used to be a member of a cult. He’s a [former 9/11 conspiracy theorist](https://www.cnn.com/2026/05/28/politics/kfile-spencer-pratt-alex-jones-9-11-conspiracy-theory?ref=readtangle.com) who appeared on Alex Jones’s radio show in 2009 to claim the attacks were an inside job. His residency requirements [have been called into question](https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-04-06/spencer-pratts-move-to-santa-barbara-county-after-palisades-fire-raises-eligibility-questions-in-la-mayors-race?ref=readtangle.com) after he moved to Santa Barbara. And, as we discussed on the Tangle podcast this week, he has built his entire campaign to address homelessness by flattening this complex crisis that combines housing costs, addiction, mental health, and the justice system into only a drug-addiction problem. The sum of all this has been rather remarkable. Campaign strategist Luis Alvarado [told](https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/news/los-angeles-mayoral-race-bass-raman-pratt-2026/?ref=readtangle.com) CBS, “I haven’t seen a race this close in decades, especially in the city of Los Angeles.” Anecdotally, I’ve heard from a surprising number of longtime Democratic voters in Los Angeles — even some *progressive* voters — who are legitimately considering punching a ballot for Pratt. He raised more money than any candidate in the race, and the way media attention works, I suspect he’ll get tens of millions of dollars worth of free press if he advances. Is Pratt the favorite? Of course not. He may not even make it to the general election. But, unlike Hilton, I can’t shake the feeling that if he ends up in a head-to-head race with Bass, he’s got an actual shot at upending decades of political assumptions in America’s second-largest metropolis. Even in a loss against Bass, a competitive race could serve as a shot across the bow of the Democratic establishment. I’ll be watching *very* closely. **Take the survey:** Do you think Spencer Pratt could win the Los Angeles mayoral election? [Let us know](https://interrobang.vercel.app/survey/e517d141-5c8b-41e0-a10e-9562ce9275a7?ref=readtangle.com). *Disagree? That's okay. Our opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we'll consider publishing your feedback.* ### Your questions, answered. **Q: Democrats said that the big beautiful bill was gonna raise taxes on everybody but the rich. But I just saw \[Treasury\] Secretary Bessent on a White House briefing on CNN say that most Americans got a bigger tax refund for 2025\. Which is true?** **— Carrie from Castle Rock, CO (submitted through** [**Subtext**](https://joinsubtext.com/c/tanglenews?ref=readtangle.com)**)** **Tangle:** First off, we should clarify that Democrats weren’t claiming that the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) would raise taxes on everyone except the rich; they [argued](https://democrats-budget.house.gov/resources/fact-sheet/trumps-big-ugly-law-steals-poor-give-ultra-rich?ref=readtangle.com) the bill’s tax cuts would disproportionately benefit the wealthy. But the underlying question of whether this claim can coexist with Bessent’s is a good one — it is actually possible for them both to be true. Yes, many Americans received larger tax refunds in 2025 than in 2024\. According to [IRS filing data](https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/filing-season-statistics-for-week-ending-may-8-2026?ref=readtangle.com), as of May 8, the average tax refund amount was $3,276 in 2026, while the average tax refund at this time last year was $2,939\. The OBBBA’s tax cuts for 2025 are [partially responsible](https://taxfoundation.org/blog/why-is-my-tax-refund-larger-this-year/?ref=readtangle.com) for these larger-than-usual refunds because the IRS did not update its withholding tables to reflect those tax cuts. This meant that many Americans ended up having too much money withheld from their paychecks, which meant larger refunds. That won’t happen again in 2027 because the IRS is using [new withholding tables](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p15t.pdf?ref=readtangle.com) that factor in the OBBBA’s tax changes. However, looking at refunds alone isn’t the best way to measure tax impacts on Americans. Instead, many economists and tax experts look at the overall [tax burden](https://wallethub.com/edu/states-with-highest-lowest-tax-burden/20494?ref=readtangle.com), which is usually defined as the total amount that Americans pay through national, state, local, and sales taxes. Here, the true impact of the OBBBA is contested. Some analysts at the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy [argue](https://itep.org/trump-obbba-taxes-lower-for-the-rich-tariffs/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=For%20a%20large,in%20Figure%203.) that for a majority of Americans, the OBBBA’s tax cuts were more than offset by the end of the enhanced Obamacare tax credits at the end of 2025 and the impact of tariffs — while the richest Americans still mostly benefited from the tax cuts. In contrast, experts at the Tax Foundation have argued that the OBBBA [results](https://taxfoundation.org/blog/what-obbba-tax-changes-mean-for-you/?ref=readtangle.com) in more money in the average taxpayer’s pockets. **Want to have a question answered in the newsletter? You can reply to this email (it goes straight to our inbox) or** [**fill out this form**](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScQhqBSG%5F6%5FoBhwcTQMeS570n29XYbeQ9C9Bis7rjqI31g1tA/viewform?usp=header&ref=readtangle.com)**.** FROM Today's partner ****Your Social Security number may already be exposed.** Between data breaches, leaks, and information brokers, millions of Americans have had personal information compromised online. ****Coveron (formerly NordProtect)** helps you [stay ahead of identity theft with credit monitoring](https://go.coveron.net/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=1026&aff%5Fid=147990&url%5Fid=33901&ref=readtangle.com) and alerts for suspicious activity. Use code [****TANGLE**](https://go.coveron.net/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=1026&aff%5Fid=147990&url%5Fid=33901&ref=readtangle.com) for [****76% off**](https://go.coveron.net/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=1026&aff%5Fid=147990&url%5Fid=33901&ref=readtangle.com). [Claim your 76% off discount ](https://go.coveron.net/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=1026&aff%5Fid=147990&url%5Fid=33901&ref=readtangle.com) ### The road not taken. This week, we strongly considered covering the Trump administration’s plans for America’s 250th anniversary celebration, the scrapping of the $1.776 billion anti-weaponization fund, and Scott Pelley’s firing at *60 Minutes*. Monday’s edition on the newest Graham Platner controversies seemed fixed, so most of our debate happened on Monday afternoon. We decided to cover the Trump Accounts over the anti-weaponization fund updates and anniversary celebration because we believed those stories are ongoing, so we agreed to wait before giving them full coverage. Then, our Wednesday and Thursday decisions were basically made for us, despite the rapid developments in the *60 Minutes* story on Wednesday afternoon. The Bill Pulte nomination and Spencer Pratt’s competitive performance in the Los Angeles mayoral primary were simply too immediate, multi-dimensional, and impactful for us to skip. ### Numbers. - [**61.**](https://ballotpedia.org/California%5Fgubernatorial%5Felection,%5F2026?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Sixty%2Done%20candidates%20ran%20in%20the%20top%2Dtwo%20primary%20for%20governor%20of%20California%20on%20June%202%2C%202026)The number of candidates on the primary ballot for the top two spots in the California gubernatorial race. - [**24 and 12.**](https://ballotpedia.org/California%5Fgubernatorial%5Felection,%5F2026?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=There%20were%2024%20Democratic%20candidates%2C%2012%20Republican%20candidates%2C%20one%20Libertarian%20candidate%2C%20one%20Peace%20and%20Freedom%20candidate%2C%20and%2023%20no%20party%20preference%20candidates%20on%20the%20ballot.) The number of those candidates registered as Democrats and Republicans, respectively. - [**$316 million.**](https://adimpact.com/blogs/ca-gov-ad-analysis-the-most-expensive-gubernatorial-race-on-record?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=With%20%24315.8M%20in%20ad%20spending%20and%20reservations%2C%20the%20California%20gubernatorial%20primary%20has%20become%20the%20most%20expensive%20governor%27s%20race%20on%20record%20and%20the%20fifth%2Dmost%20expensive%20non%2Dpresidential%20race%20on%20record.)The approximate amount of total ad spending and reservations in the race, making it the most expensive governor’s race in history, according to a May 29 analysis by AdImpact. - [**64%.**](https://adimpact.com/blogs/ca-gov-ad-analysis-the-most-expensive-gubernatorial-race-on-record?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Tom%20Steyer%20is%20the%20chief%20driver%20of%20spending%20in%20the%20California%20gubernatorial%20primary.%20His%20campaign%20has%20spent%20%24201.2M%2C%20accounting%20for%2064%25%20of%20every%20dollar%20spent%20in%20the%20race.) Of that spending, the percentage accounted for by Tom Steyer’s (D) campaign. - [**$3.26 million.**](https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-05-22/spencer-pratt-leads-field-in-mayoral-campaign-contributions?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Pratt%2C%20the%20former%20reality%20TV%20star%2C%20reported%20a%20total%20of%20%243.26%20million%20in%20contributions%2C%20edging%20him%20ahead%20of%20Bass%20with%20%243.13%20million.)The total amount of money raised by Los Angeles mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt (I) as of May 22, according to The Los Angeles Times. - [**$3.13 million.**](https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-05-22/spencer-pratt-leads-field-in-mayoral-campaign-contributions?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Pratt%2C%20the%20former%20reality%20TV%20star%2C%20reported%20a%20total%20of%20%243.26%20million%20in%20contributions%2C%20edging%20him%20ahead%20of%20Bass%20with%20%243.13%20million.)The total amount raised by Mayor Karen Bass (D). ### The extras. - **One year ago today** we covered [Ukraine’s surprise attack in Russia](https://www.readtangle.com/ukraine-drone-attack-strikes-russia/). - **The most clicked link in our last regular newsletter** was the [partnered message with Ground News in our free edition](https://ground.news/landingV8/tangle-newsletter?utm%5Fsource=tangle-newsletter&utm%5Fmedium=Newsletter&utm%5Fcampaign=tangle-newsletter). - **Nothing to do with politics:** Bartenders opine on [what will be the drink of the summer](https://vinepair.com/articles/wa-bartenders-drink-of-summer-2026/?ref=readtangle.com). - **Our last survey:** 2,672 readers responded to our survey on President Trump picking Bill Pulte as acting director of national intelligence with 89% strongly disapproving. “DNI needs someone with experience!,” one respondent said. “Another choice putting loyalty over competence,” said another. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/06/data-src-image-74cec8d2-4b92-4415-a7ad-57d8a819278a.png) ### Have a nice day. Dogs have become near-perfect partners for search-and-rescue operations, but they have one key limitation: working underwater. For Michael Hadsell, the president of Peace River K9 Search and Rescue in Florida, the solution to this problem came in the form of an otter. After observing similarities in how otters and dogs are trained, he brought on Splash, an Asian small-clawed otter, and began training him in Peace River’s work. The animal’s natural intelligence, fine-tuned sensory organs, and ability to hold its breath for up to five minutes make it well suited for recovery missions underwater. Over more than 20 missions, Splash has helped find a weapon used in a 25-year-old murder case and located human DNA on a clay brick at the bottom of a lake in a separate murder case. As a reward, he receives pieces of salmon, preferring farm-raised to wild-caught. [Good Good Good has the story](https://www.goodgoodgood.co/articles/splash-search-and-rescue-otter?ref=readtangle.com). ### Spencer Pratt for Mayor?! (And People Are Taking It Seriously) URL: https://www.readtangle.com/spencer-pratt-for-mayor-and-people-are-taking-it-seriously/ Last updated: 2026-06-05T00:04:32.000Z In this episode of Suspension of the Rules, we break down a surprising week in politics, public health, and local government. ### Trump’s polarizing pick for acting DNI. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/bill-pulte-trump-dni/ Last updated: 2026-06-05T15:59:23.000Z Hi everyone, this is **Senior Editor Will Kaback**. It’s the first Wednesday of June, and a great day to be a basketball fan. The San Antonio Spurs host the New York Knicks in game one of the NBA Finals tonight, and somehow, a New York sports team contending for a championship isn’t the biggest story. No, the *biggest* topic (literally and metaphorically) is the Spurs’ [seven-foot-something](https://bleacherreport.com/articles/25261252-how-tall-victor-wembanyama-we-zoomed-most-revealing-photos?ref=readtangle.com), 22-year-old French phenom Victor Wembanyama, who is unlike any athlete I’ve ever seen. In addition to his surreal grace on the court, he’s made me a fan with his unabashed [emotional vulnerability](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7244267/2026/05/01/victor-wembanyama-spurs-cry-playoffs-spotlight-vulnerability/?ref=readtangle.com) and [passion for his craft](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zwljh1cNUYg&t=12s&ref=readtangle.com). It should be a fantastic series. Okay, back to politics. We’re wading into **Bill Pulte’s appointment** as acting director of national intelligence, which has raised eyebrows (and then some) across the political spectrum. Then, we’ll round out this **14-minute read** with an **update on Gaza** and some history on the **U.S. intelligence community**. ### Forgiveness. Over the last few weeks, we’ve been writing a lot about the indiscretion of politicians, from Graham Platner to Ken Paxton to Donald Trump. I was reminded this week of a piece I wrote in 2022, pondering the question of [whether we should forgive then-Senate candidate Herschel Walker for his sins](https://www.readtangle.com/forgiving-herschel-walker-violent-past/). It was fascinating to read this time capsule from four years ago, and to consider how my approach to Walker could or should apply to the present scandals — do we need more forgiveness, or does forgiveness become a crutch that encourages more bad behavior? You can [read it here](https://www.readtangle.com/forgiving-herschel-walker-violent-past/) and let us know what you think. — Executive Editor Isaac Saul ### Quick hits. 1. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that the Iran war is “over,” though he acknowledged that a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and curtail Iran’s nuclear program may not be reached. ([The testimony](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2026/06/02/iran-war-trump-netanyahu-rubio--live/90368296007/?ref=readtangle.com)) 2. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche told the House Appropriations Committee that the Justice Department is ending its plan to create an “anti-weaponization” fund, saying he still believes the idea is important but will no longer pursue it. ([The testimony](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/acting-ag-blanche-reveals-fate-trumps-anti-weaponization-fund-under-pressure-from-house-lawmakers?ref=readtangle.com)) 3. With 57.5% of votes counted, conservative commentator Steve Hilton (R) and former Health Secretary Xavier Becerra (D) lead the California gubernatorial primary, with businessman Tom Steyer (D) in third. ([The results](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-primary-elections/california-governor-results?ref=readtangle.com)) Separately, Mayor Karen Bass (D) is projected to advance to the general election for Los Angeles mayor, while former reality television star Spencer Pratt (R) is in second place with 63.1% of the votes counted. ([The results](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-primary-elections/los-angeles-mayor-results?ref=readtangle.com)) 4. The Supreme Court issued an unsigned order allowing Alabama to use a congressional map designed to net Republicans one seat in the U.S. House in the 2026 midterms. The Court found that a lower court had erred in ruling that the map was racially discriminatory. ([The order](https://www.al.com/news/2026/06/supreme-court-allows-alabama-to-use-new-gop-friendly-voting-map-cuts-second-seat-held-by-black-democrat.html?ref=readtangle.com)) 5. CBS News fired *60 Minutes* correspondent Scott Pelley following a tense meeting with Nick Bilton, the program’s new executive producer, and staff, in which he sharply criticized CBS News Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss’s decision-making and Bilton’s qualifications. ([The firing](https://www.cnn.com/2026/06/02/media/scott-pelley-60-minutes-cbs-meeting-bari-weiss-cibrowski-bilton?ref=readtangle.com)) in partnership with Ground News [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/06/Screenshot-2026-06-03-at-8.08.00---AM.png)](https://ground.news/landingV8/tangle-newsletter?utm%5Fsource=tangle-newsletter&utm%5Fmedium=Newsletter&utm%5Fcampaign=tangle-newsletter) One thing I’ve learned running Tangle is that two people can read about the same event and walk away with completely different understandings of what happened. That’s why I like [Ground News](https://ground.news/landingV8/tangle-newsletter?utm%5Fsource=tangle-newsletter&utm%5Fmedium=Newsletter&utm%5Fcampaign=tangle-newsletter). It pulls together coverage from across the political spectrum and shows you how different outlets are framing the same story. My favorite feature is the [Blindspot Report](https://ground.news/landingV8/tangle-newsletter?utm%5Fsource=tangle-newsletter&utm%5Fmedium=Newsletter&utm%5Fcampaign=tangle-newsletter), which highlights stories getting significant attention from one side of the media ecosystem while receiving little coverage from the other. If you want a better sense of not just how stories are covered, but which stories are being emphasized or ignored, check out Ground News. We've partnered with Ground News to offer [****Tangle readers an exclusive 40% off their Ground News Vantage Subscription**](https://ground.news/landingV8/tangle-newsletter?utm%5Fsource=tangle-newsletter&utm%5Fmedium=Newsletter&utm%5Fcampaign=tangle-newsletter)****.** [Get 40% off Ground News ](https://ground.news/landingV8/tangle-newsletter?utm%5Fsource=tangle-newsletter&utm%5Fmedium=Newsletter&utm%5Fcampaign=tangle-newsletter) ### Today’s topic. Bill Pulte as acting DNI. On Tuesday, President Donald Trump [announced](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/bill-pulte-acting-director-national-intelligence-trump/?ref=readtangle.com) that he is naming housing official Bill Pulte to serve as acting Director of National Intelligence (DNI) once Tulsi Gabbard steps down as director at the end of the month. Pulte is [currently the director](https://www.fhfa.gov/about/leadership/william-j-pulte?ref=readtangle.com) of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), an independent agency regulating federal mortgages, where he oversees Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the Federal Home Loan Banks. Gabbard [is resigning](https://www.readtangle.com/tulsi-gabbard-dni-resigns/) to support her husband during his battle with a rare form of bone cancer, and the White House has not advanced a nominee to serve as Gabbard’s permanent replacement. Pulte [reportedly earned](https://www.politico.com/news/2026/06/02/national-intelligence-chief-bill-pulte-00946847?ref=readtangle.com) President Trump’s favor with a willingness to go after the administration’s political opponents. The FHFA director spearheaded the effort to oust former Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell and [was instrumental in](https://www.axios.com/2026/01/12/bill-pulte-housing-regulator-jerome-powell-doj?ref=readtangle.com) initiating investigations into New York Attorney General Letitia James, Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA), former Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA), and Federal Reserve Board Governor Lisa Cook for alleged mortgage fraud. Pulte has also floated the idea of a [50-year mortgage](https://www.politico.com/news/2026/01/09/pulte-backs-away-from-50-year-mortgage-00720309?ref=readtangle.com) and drawn attention for a [reported spat](https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2025/09/08/scott-bessent-bill-pulte-blowup-00549956?ref=readtangle.com) with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. “William \[Pulte\] has deep experience managing the most sensitive matters in America, the safety and soundness of the Markets, and over 10 Trillion Dollars at Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac, a substantial increase from where it was just 12 months ago,” President Trump said in [a Truth Social post](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116680659724813616?ref=readtangle.com). “During this period, he will remain Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, and Chairman of Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac.” The nomination drew a mixed response from Republicans, including outright criticism from Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD). “We don’t need a weaponized DNI, we need professionals there,” Thune [said](https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5906007-republican-bewilderment-trump-dni/?ref=readtangle.com). Rep. Claudia Tenney (R-NY) defended Pulte’s appointment, [saying](https://x.com/RepTenney/status/2061886053867466772?ref=readtangle.com), “Director Pulte has managed some of the most sensitive issues in our economy and has a proven record of leadership.” Democrats were uniformly critical of the selection. “\[Pulte\] has no relevant experience and his sole qualification is unconditional devotion to Donald Trump,” [said](https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5905542-donald-trump-bill-pulte-odni-democratic-reaction/?ref=readtangle.com) Rep. Jim Himes (D-CT), ranking member on the House Intelligence Committee. Additionally, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) called Pulte a “partisan thug with no experience in intelligence.” We’ll get into what the right and left are saying about Pulte’s appointment, then Senior Editor Will Kaback gives his take. ### What the right is saying. - **The right is mixed on the pick, with many questioning Pulte’s intelligence credentials.** - **Some argue Pulte’s atypical background will serve him well.** - **Others say Trump’s choice confronts recent resistance from the Senate.** **In National Review, Andrew C. McCarthy called Pulte’s appointment** [**“astounding.”**](https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/trump-names-pulte-to-replace-gabbard-as-acting-national-intelligence-director/?ref=readtangle.com) “The \[Office of the Director of National Intelligence\] should never have been established in the first place (an overcorrection in the 9/11 aftermath). Its short history has featured too many episodes of politicizing intelligence… That said, President Trump’s naming of Bill Pulte to replace the recently departed Gabbard is astounding,” McCarthy wrote. “As director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, Pulte has demonstrated himself to be a loyalist whose main task has been to peruse the database in search of contradictory statements in filings that the Trump Justice Department has tried to inflate into fraud cases against Trump political enemies.” “It seems obvious that Pulte’s main credential to serve as acting national intelligence director is a willingness to pore over government files — and now, highly classified government files — and fit them into the political narrative that Trump’s rivals must be charged with crimes,” McCarthy said. “There is already howling on Capitol Hill — Democrats say the sky is falling, and Republicans seem less than eager to rally behind the Pulte pick. Still, I don’t see how Pulte’s appointment as acting DNI can be blocked. I’d scrap the ODNI altogether, but I’d have done that regardless of Pulte — it’s not the way Washington works.” **The Washington Reporter editorial board praised Pulte as an** [**“inspired pick.”**](https://washingtonreporter.news/editorial-bill-pulte-is-an-inspired-pick-by-president-trump-to-run-odni/?ref=readtangle.com) “Pulte, one longtime Hill staffer told the Washington Reporter, ‘is deeply-respected among conservative policy staffers for his business acumen and his ability to handle tough intelligence issues.’ That skillset will be critical as Pulte steps into the front lines of America’s conflicts with China, Russia, Iran, and their proxies in our own hemisphere,” the board wrote. “\[He\] is no doubt an unorthodox choice for the role. However, picking someone with a non-typical background who is immensely talented and respected has been the approach that has allowed President Trump to succeed so well. “Pulte brings the management skills, the integrity, and the relationships needed to be an enormously effective Director of National Intelligence. He is fully aligned with Trump on issues like the maximum pressure campaign against Iran and peace through strength,” the board said. “He is an inspired pick by an inspired president. Every American who is concerned about our safety and security can rest a little easier tonight knowing that Pulte is overseeing our intelligence agencies.” **In The Dispatch, Nick Catoggio said Trump’s decision responds to** [**“a Senate that’s begun to resist his most loathsome impulses.”**](https://thedispatch.com/newsletter/boilingfrogs/bill-pulte-director-national-intelligence-trump-acting/?ref=readtangle.com) “Pulte was confirmed by the Senate to lead the FHFA. That’s important. It’s important because, under the Federal Vacancies Reform Act, the default choice to fill a vacant position in an acting capacity is the ‘first assistant,’” Catoggio wrote. “But there’s an exception: Any Senate-confirmed officer serving anywhere in the government can fill the position temporarily instead if the president desires. You can understand why Congress wrote the law that way. “Naively, lawmakers assumed that anyone nominated for a powerful position and confirmed by the Senate would necessarily have the competence and integrity to serve in another powerful position briefly, while a permanent appointee is chosen. That the president might nominate henchmen and that a compliant Senate might rubber-stamp them seems not to have occurred to them,” Catoggio said. “On top of everything else, naming Pulte to a position this sensitive is Trump’s way of extending a middle finger to a Senate that’s begun to resist his most loathsome impulses.” ### What the left is saying. - **The left strongly opposes the selection, calling Pulte an unserious choice in serious times.** - **Some view the appointment as yet another unwise pick from Trump.** - **Others say Pulte’s only mandate is pursuing Trump’s enemies.** **In Bloomberg, Andreas Kluth said** [**“Pulte will drag U.S. intelligence from bad to worse.”**](https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2026-06-02/pulte-will-drag-us-intelligence-from-bad-to-worse?ref=readtangle.com) “Veterans of the \[intelligence community\] worried that blind loyalty to Trump, rather than expertise, was the new standard, and that America’s spies were losing the ability and willingness to speak truth to power, at a potential cost of American lives. Pulte, though, appears to be worse. He seems even less qualified for the job than Gabbard (who at least had military experience),” Kluth wrote. “Pulte was just another MAGA crony, notorious among those in the know but obscure to the wider public. That will change if he becomes DNI and wields real power — by whispering into Trump’s ear which domestic politician to investigate or which foreign country to bomb.” “Nobody can plausibly argue that Pulte was chosen for any competence in the immensely sensitive and important functions of a DNI… At a time when America is fighting, on-again-off-again, in the Middle East, contemplating strikes in Cuba and elsewhere and hoping to deter the real adversaries in places like Beijing, decisions to nominate lackeys such as Bill Pulte are worse than irresponsible,” Kluth said. “They show a president who has lost the plot, a leader who cares not a whit for America but always and only puts POTUS First.” **In MS NOW, Steve Benen called Pulte’s appointment Trump’s** [**“latest radical personnel move.”**](https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/trump-appoints-fhfa-bill-pulte-acting-director-national-intelligence?ref=readtangle.com) “While previous directors of the FHFA were obscure figures who were unknown to the public, Pulte has blazed a rather unusual trail by contrast. To an almost cartoonish degree, the Trump sycophant has taken it upon himself to target one White House foe after another, weaponizing mortgage fraud allegations against the president’s perceived political enemies,” Benen wrote. “What does this work have to do with serving as the acting director of national intelligence? By any reasonable measure, nothing, though for Trump, who clearly wants unflinching loyalists in as many key positions as possible, Pulte’s antics are a key selling point.” “The Government Accountability Office… opened an investigation into Pulte’s alleged abuses in the fall, and around the same time, MS NOW reported that a federal grand jury in Maryland was investigating whether Pulte and Justice Department official Ed Martin illegally shared sensitive grand jury information with unauthorized people,” Benen said. “With a background like this, common sense suggests it would be wise to keep Pulte as far away from the ODNI as possible. Alas, in this White House, common sense is apparently in short supply.” **In The Atlantic, Shane Harris explored** [**“what Trump wants from Bill Pulte.”**](https://www.theatlantic.com/national-security/2026/06/director-national-vengeance/687408/?ref=readtangle.com) “The president has shown no sign that he wants a DNI who can coordinate the work of 18 intelligence agencies and harness the power of a multibillion-dollar global-espionage network to provide senior government leaders the best up-to-the-minute information about threats to U.S. national security,” Harris wrote. “No, what Trump has made very clear is that he wants a DNI who will selectively declassify government documents that help fuel conspiracy theories, use the authorities of the state to enact political retribution against his enemies, and try to persuade Americans that Venezuela and maybe the Democratic Party are rigging elections by fiddling with voting machines. “From that perspective, Bill Pulte is even better suited for the job than the woman he’s replacing… Never mind that none of Pulte’s targets has gone to prison, and that some insist he is attempting to criminalize paperwork errors. Pulte has been a tireless fighter for the president,” Harris said. “Gabbard was widely regarded as an unserious leader and political loyalist. No one imagined that Trump would replace her with someone better qualified. But Pulte managed to defy even those low expectations.” ### My take. **Reminder: “My take” is a section where we give ourselves space to share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, don't unsubscribe. Write in by replying to this email, or** [**leave a comment**](https://www.readtangle.com/bill-pulte-trump-dni/#ghost-comments-root)**.** - **President Trump has done away with any pretense that he weighs merit over loyalty.** - **Pulte’s qualifications are nonexistent, and he’s obviously being elevated to advance the president’s grievances.** - **His impending tenure as DNI brings both national security and institutional risks.** **Senior Editor Will Kaback:** Growing up, you’d hear the phrase “just keep swimming” a lot in my house. It originated from Dory the Regal Blue Tang in *Finding Nemo*, but over time, it evolved away from Dory’s cheerful encouragement to push through when times get tough and into another way for my parents to say “don’t take the bait when your sibling is antagonizing you.” As I’ve gotten older, I come back to this maxim all the time, particularly as trollish behavior becomes ever more common in U.S. culture and politics. It’s pretty difficult to get me riled up about a tweet, inflammatory remark or insult, and I like to think this trait makes me well suited for the work we do here at Tangle. No one has put that to the test more than President Trump, though. Whether you like or dislike him, I think we can all agree that he revels in trolling and effectively uses incendiary language to shift attention away from political challenges when things aren’t going his way. That tactic (from any political figure) relies on all of us taking the bait. But this is also the president, and the impact of Trump’s words and actions is different than a sibling’s pestering. Nominating Bill Pulte as acting director of national intelligence (DNI) is more than just a troll or a middle finger to the establishment. For one, the DNI is not a cushy ambassadorship or a seat on a presidential advisory board, but a Senate-confirmed position with significant responsibilities. Second, and perhaps more concerning, Pulte’s nomination shows that the highest levels of our intelligence community are being further impacted by Trump's penchant for prioritizing loyalty over experience. Trump is not the first or last politician to put a premium on loyalty, but he’s taking it to new levels — apparently without concern for bipartisan blowback. I should say, I’m not surprised that Pulte won himself a high-profile appointment. It’s clear why the president likes him. Their backgrounds are remarkably similar: members of wealthy families with real estate and construction backgrounds who rose to prominence in part on their ability to create spectacle. Pulte is not an *Apprentice*\-level star, but I remember him well for his viral “[Twitter philanthropy](https://www.freep.com/story/money/business/2019/08/29/bill-pulte-twitter-philanthropy-inheritance/1934756001/?gnt-cfr=1&gca-cat=p&gca-uir=false&gca-epti=z1112xxu116855e1112xxv005156&gca-ft=34&gca-ds=sophi&ref=readtangle.com),” in which he would give away expensive gifts and cash prizes (earning Trump’s [attention and praise](https://x.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1156696858183589889?s=20&ref=readtangle.com) back in 2019). Pulte is also, in my opinion, the member of the second Trump administration who has most doggedly pursued the president’s personal interests (or grievances). As the director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency — a relatively obscure federal agency — he has been a catalyst in criminal investigations into former [Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-01-12/bill-pulte-seen-as-key-instigator-behind-powell-subpoena?ref=readtangle.com), [New York Attorney General Letitia James](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/bill-pulte-criminal-referrals-doj-letitia-james-ny-attorney-general-rcna265216?ref=readtangle.com), [Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA)](https://apnews.com/article/justice-department-mortgage-fraud-ed-martin-8b29a802d74b90576e0332d610ea99ce?ref=readtangle.com) and [Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/17/nyregion/lisa-cook-fed-trump-pulte.html?ref=readtangle.com), as well as the [ouster](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/19/us/politics/erik-siebert-comey-letitia-james.html?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Attorney%20General%20Pam,law%20enforcement%20official.) of former U.S. Attorney Erik Siebert over his objection to charging James and former FBI Director James Comey. There’s punching above your weight, and then there’s Pulte. The Federal Vacancies Reform Act [limits](https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/R44997?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=consent%20process.132-,For%20How%20Long%3F,-The%20Vacancies%20Act) Pulte’s time as acting DNI to 210 days (though he could [potentially stay on longer](https://x.com/TomBevanRCP/status/2061815181919838712?s=20&ref=readtangle.com)), and I think there’s close to zero chance that the Senate would confirm him. In fact, I doubt President Trump is even considering the idea. But 210 days is a long time, and Pulte will have expansive power to push investigations into Trump’s political enemies. Outgoing DNI Tulsi Gabbard got the ball rolling, making a litany of moves aligned with the president’s revenge streak. She declassified materials related to [allegations](https://www.readtangle.com/tulsi-gabbard-dni-resigns/#:~:text=That%E2%80%99s%20also%20to,knew%20was%20false.%E2%80%9D) of an Obama administration conspiracy to subvert Trump’s 2016 campaign and other documents related to [allegations](https://www.dni.gov/index.php/newsroom/press-releases/press-releases-2026/4154-pr-06-26?ref=readtangle.com) of a conspiracy to impeach Trump during his first term. She also [revoked](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/aug/20/trump-revokes-security-clearances-gabbard?ref=readtangle.com) security clearances for dozens of former intelligence and national security officials who ostensibly weaponized information against the president. And she [fired](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/gabbard-fires-2-top-intelligence-officials-changes-who-preps-trumps-daily-brief?ref=readtangle.com) top intelligence officials believed to oppose the president and his agenda. No doubt Pulte is there to do more of the same. This motive, more than his lack of qualifications, concerns me most about the appointment. Best-case scenario: Pulte’s strategy of politicized investigations has run its course, as all the aforementioned cases have fizzled out. A more plausible, good-case scenario is that Pulte becomes mired in the complex web of the U.S. intelligence apparatus and is unable to accomplish anything. But hoping for “too incompetent to be damaging” is ominous in itself. And in reality, I think Pulte will make an impact. Gabbard was relatively unqualified to serve as DNI and still engineered her office to root out perceived disloyalty and advance the president’s claims of grand conspiracies against him. As acting director, Pulte will have the same statutory powers Gabbard had but without first being subject to Senate scrutiny. And while the investigations into Powell, James and others may be dead, it would be foolish to think that President Trump’s retribution campaigns will stop there. Will Pulte face some institutional barriers and resistance? Absolutely. But he comes off as tenacious and unafraid to [butt heads](https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2025/09/08/scott-bessent-bill-pulte-blowup-00549956?nid=0000015a-dd3e-d536-a37b-dd7fd8af0000&nname=playbook-pm&nrid=d9682ad8-d78d-49e8-b464-ee3c7df7a8b7&ref=readtangle.com) with powerful figures. Again, his profile makes him an ideal ally of the president but troubling for the rest of us. That’s to say nothing of his lack of qualifications, which [Republicans](https://x.com/LisaDNews/status/2061852256060719602?s=20&ref=readtangle.com) and [Democrats](https://x.com/AndrewSolender/status/2061887663116816662?s=20&ref=readtangle.com) alike have been quick to point out. Now, I don’t think that on-paper qualifications are all that matter in an appointee, but *some* relevant experience is necessary for important positions. Pulte has none. There’s no good time for bad national intelligence leadership, but this moment is particularly fraught. National security risks are everywhere — the Iran war, the Ukraine war, rising tensions with Cuba, crackdowns on cartels, and more — and the person leading the 18 Intelligence Community agencies, managing the national intelligence budget, and serving as principal national security advisor to the president will be someone without a single line on their resume that suggests they’re prepared for this responsibility. Pulte is apparently keeping his current job as Federal Housing Finance Agency director, too, making these weighty responsibilities a side gig. Everything I’ve just said comes with one big caveat: Trump could still reverse his decision. Punchbowl News [reported](https://punchbowl.news/archive/6326-am/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=THE%20SENATE-,Dems%20threaten%20FISA%20over%20Pulte,-News%3A%20Senate) this morning that Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) is threatening that Democrats could withhold their votes for reauthorizing Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act if the president doesn’t withdraw Pulte’s appointment. If Democrats follow through on this threat — or the bipartisan objection to the pick just becomes too loud — Trump may decide it’s not worth the fight. I’ve ended many of my recent takes with a tone of discouragement, and today is unfortunately no different. I’m worried about the path these decisions are sending us down. I’m worried about the toll of more politicized investigations and prosecutions to come. I’m worried that, if we face a real national security crisis, we’ll have an inept leader in a critical role. I’m worried about unchecked executive power, as the president uses “acting” appointments to sidestep Senate oversight. Above all, I’m worried that as President Trump stares down sinking approval ratings, rising dissent in the Senate, a costly conflict in Iran and ongoing legal setbacks, he’ll look to consolidate his inner circle with more Bill Pultes. **Take the survey:** What do you think of Bill Pulte becoming acting DNI? [Let us know](https://interrobang.vercel.app/survey/3c3d2045-dace-4e61-8c24-e4c2a53758b2?ref=readtangle.com). *Disagree? That's okay. Our opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we'll consider publishing your feedback.* ### Your questions, answered. **Q: What is happening in Gaza? We haven’t heard anything lately. Is there reconstruction occurring? How are the Palestinian people? Who is running that area of the world right now?** **— Kyra from Omaha, NE** **Tangle:** It’s not *totally* accurate to say Israel is in control — but Israel is in control. The ceasefire that ended the war went into effect on October 10, 2025, and it significantly reduced the violence in Gaza; 738 Palestinians were killed between then and this past April, [according to](https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2026/04/palestinians-across-gaza-unsafe-six-months-ceasefire-announcement-says-turk?ref=readtangle.com) the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry, compared to the roughly [22,000 killed](https://www.mpg.de/25778228/gaza-study-reveals-unprecedented-losses-of-life-and-life-expectancy?ref=readtangle.com) in 2025 before the ceasefire took effect. Meanwhile, Israel’s footprint in Gaza has only grown since the ceasefire left the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) in control of approximately half the strip. The IDF has issued new maps showing it controls significantly more territory beyond what was agreed to, with the restricted zone now making up roughly [two thirds of Gaza](https://www.democracynow.org/2026/5/1/headlines/israeli%5Fmilitary%5Fclaims%5Fcontrol%5Fof%5Ftwo%5Fthirds%5Fof%5Fgaza%5Fin%5Fnew%5Fmaps?ref=readtangle.com). And this past week, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu [ordered the army](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/may/28/netanyahu-orders-israeli-army-seize-70-gaza-strip-violating-ceasefire-deal?ref=readtangle.com) to seize 70% of the territory or more. As for Hamas, it continues to [refuse to disarm](https://jstreet.org/six-months-in-assessing-the-status-of-the-gaza-ceasefire/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Israel%20completely%20withdraws.-,Hamas%E2%80%99%20Reasoning,-While%20Hamas%20rejected) in accordance with the terms of the ceasefire and is attempting to [reassert control](https://www.foxnews.com/world/hamas-reasserts-control-gaza-iran-war-dominates-regional-attention-global-focus?ref=readtangle.com) over parts of the strip. Meanwhile, President Trump’s Board of Peace — which is responsible for ushering in reconstruction — has [not been active](https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2026/06/01/trumps-board-peace-stalls-out-gaza-reconstruction/?ref=readtangle.com) in enforcing the ceasefire’s terms. In May, U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee [said](https://www.jns.org/news/israel-news/huckabee-israel-may-have-to-disarm-hamas-on-its-own?ref=readtangle.com) the IDF may end up being the only entity willing to actually disarm Hamas. Additionally, the reconstruction process hasn’t started in any meaningful way. A joint UN–EU assessment [released in April](https://www.eeas.europa.eu/delegations/palestine-occupied-palestinian-territory-west-bank-and-gaza-strip/local-press-release-joint-statement-european-union-%E2%80%93-united-nations-final-gaza-rapid-damage-and%5Fen?s=206&ref=readtangle.com) found that Gazan reconstruction will require $71.4 billion over the next decade. That means rebuilding over 371,888 housing units, over half of Gaza’s hospitals, and nearly all its schools. The Gaza Board of Peace [has received](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/may/20/donald-trump-gaza-reconstruction-promises-stall?ref=readtangle.com) $17 billion in pledges, but it has collected just $23 million to fund its operations so far (or about 0.03% of the UN’s estimated costs). The bottom line is that violence has decreased, both the reconstruction process and the peace process have stalled, and Israel has been asserting greater military control of the Gaza Strip. **Want to have a question answered in the newsletter? You can reply to this email (it goes straight to our inbox) or** [**fill out this form**](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScQhqBSG%5F6%5FoBhwcTQMeS570n29XYbeQ9C9Bis7rjqI31g1tA/viewform?usp=header&ref=readtangle.com)**.** ### Under the radar. On Tuesday, President Donald Trump signed an executive order requesting that technology companies allow government oversight of new artificial intelligence models before releasing them publicly. The president reportedly planned to sign an executive order on AI oversight last month, but it was scrapped at the last minute due to concerns that a planned 90-day window for the government to review new models before their release would lead to overregulation. The new executive order includes a 30-day voluntary review window, as well as plans for the Treasury secretary to review security weaknesses discovered by AI models. [The New York Times has the story](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/02/technology/trump-executive-order-ai.html?ref=readtangle.com). in partnership with Ground News ****FYI:** Today’s newsletter is sponsored by Ground News, [one of my favorite tools for understanding how the media covers the news](https://ground.news/landingV8/tangle-newsletter?utm%5Fsource=tangle-newsletter&utm%5Fmedium=Newsletter&utm%5Fcampaign=tangle-newsletter). Ground News lets you compare reporting from outlets across the political spectrum and highlights stories that may be getting disproportionate attention — or being ignored altogether. Their flagship newsletter, The Blindspot Report, is a great way to broaden your perspective. [Tangle readers can get 40%](https://ground.news/landingV8/tangle-newsletter?utm%5Fsource=tangle-newsletter&utm%5Fmedium=Newsletter&utm%5Fcampaign=tangle-newsletter) off a Ground News Vantage subscription here. [Get 40% off Ground News ](https://ground.news/landingV8/tangle-newsletter?utm%5Fsource=tangle-newsletter&utm%5Fmedium=Newsletter&utm%5Fcampaign=tangle-newsletter) ### A deeper look. ![President Harry S. Truman | Frank Gatteri/U.S. Army, Harry S. Truman Library and Museum](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/06/data-src-image-914580cb-0826-438d-b2a7-8ec253617bb2-1.png) President Harry S. Truman | Frank Gatteri/U.S. Army, [Harry S. Truman Library and Museum](https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/photograph-records/63-782?ref=readtangle.com) In 1946, in the aftermath of World War II, President Harry Truman [created](https://www.cia.gov/resources/csi/static/directors-of-central-intel.pdf?ref=readtangle.com) the post of director of central intelligence (DCI) in order to better organize the burgeoning national intelligence community. The role was formalized by the National Security Act of 1947, which created the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and offered a concrete definition of the DCI’s role: The DCI would personally oversee the CIA and coordinate the intelligence groups in the U.S. government, including the various intelligence branches of the military. Following the September 11 terrorist attacks, Congress created the 9/11 Commission to investigate the United States’ preparedness and its ability to prevent future attacks. The commission’s report, released in July 2004, [identified](https://govinfo.library.unt.edu/911/report/911Report.pdf?ref=readtangle.com#page=424) significant U.S. intelligence failures and recommended a restructuring of government intelligence offices, including splitting the DCI’s responsibilities into two roles: one overseeing the CIA, and another coordinating intelligence efforts across the government. In response, Congress passed the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004, officially establishing the position of director of national intelligence (DNI) as part of the executive branch. President George W. Bush [nominated](https://www.dni.gov/index.php/who-we-are/history?ref=readtangle.com) John D. Negroponte to be the first DNI in February 2005; after Negroponte’s confirmation, the office began operations in April 2005\. ### The extras. - **One year ago today** we wrote about [the attack in Boulder, Colorado](https://www.readtangle.com/attack-on-jewish-community-boulder-colorado/). - **The most clicked link in our last regular newsletter** was [the Trump–Netanyahu conversation](https://www.axios.com/2026/06/01/trump-netanyahu-israel-lebanon-call?ref=readtangle.com). - **Nothing to do with politics:** The [best breakfast food in every state](https://www.rd.com/article/best-breakfast-food-every-state/?ref=readtangle.com). - **Our last survey:** 1,754 readers responded to our survey on Trump Accounts with 39% saying they would include it as a minor part of their child’s saving plan. “Probably just leave the $1,000 in it but certainly not put any more in. Better to have more control over money we invest for the child,” one respondent said. “Even if you do nothing but take the $1,000 and leave it in the account, assuming an average rate of return of only 8%, the account will have $128K in it by the time your child is 65!” said another. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/06/data-src-image-aaca3502-b423-42d9-afe7-0542306eb7b0.png) ### Have a nice day. When farmer Rudy Neish started taking care of his wife, who has dementia and has had both hips replaced, he realized he didn’t know how to cook and wanted to “give her better meals.” Neish’s neighbor of ten years, police officer Tyler Butterworth, stepped in to help: After Neish told Butterworth about his problem, Butterworth offered to teach Neish to cook. The police officer taught the farmer to make dishes like marinated pork tenderloin, kale salad, and peri-peri chicken. “As I learned to cook better meals, more nutritious ones, my wife is doing better as a result,” Neish said. “It was just as simple as Tyler says, ‘Well I love to cook, won’t you let me teach you to cook.’” [NBC News Today has the story](https://www.today.com/food/people/cooking-with-rudy-tyler-butterworth-rudy-neish-rcna344932?ref=readtangle.com). ### The Trump savings accounts. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/trump-accounts-child-savings/ Last updated: 2026-06-03T15:55:55.000Z Happy Tuesday. I’m **Isaac Saul** and I’m thinking about how much money I’d pay to have been a fly on the wall for the Trump–Netanyahu phone call this week. Trump [reportedly](https://www.axios.com/2026/06/01/trump-netanyahu-israel-lebanon-call?ref=readtangle.com) called Netanyahu “fucking crazy” and said he’d be in jail if it weren’t for him, while Netanyahu’s team [claims](https://x.com/AmitSegal/status/2061757230278492542?ref=readtangle.com) that report is inaccurate and that the disagreement was based on conflicting social media posts about the existence of a ceasefire. There’s only one way to find out: Release the tapes! Back stateside, we’re jumping into the **Trump Accounts** today (formerly known as Money Accounts for Growth and Advancement, which definitely sounds worse). We’ve also got a reader question about **whether America’s military is propping up the European social safety net** and an under-the-radar story on a **new “ghost guns” law**. It’s a **13-minute read**. Strap in. ### Less than two weeks. Our in-person gathering in Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, is rapidly approaching, and we’re building out a great program for [the main event](https://www.tickettailor.com/events/tanglenews/2210692?ref=readtangle.com) on Sunday, June 14\. Come join Executive Editor Isaac Saul, Editor-at-Large Kmele Foster, *The Daily* co-creator Andy Mills and The Free Press’s Kat Rosenfield for a lively discussion on AI and national politics, with additional opportunities to hang out with the full Tangle team. A limited number of tickets are still available — [get yours before they’re gone](https://www.tickettailor.com/events/tanglenews/2210692?ref=readtangle.com)! ### Quick hits. 1. The Trump administration reportedly indicated that it will end its effort to create a $1.776 billion “anti-weaponization” fund for individuals and entities who claim to have suffered from politically motivated prosecutions. The Justice Department also said it will abide by a federal judge’s ruling that temporarily barred the fund from making payouts, though it has not taken formal steps to end the effort. ([The update](https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5904594-trump-administration-scraps-anti-weaponization-fund/?ref=readtangle.com)) 2. President Donald Trump held a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Israel’s military action in Lebanon and reportedly berated the prime minister, calling him “fucking crazy” and saying “everybody hates Israel because of this.” In a statement, Netanyahu said Israel will conduct further airstrikes in Beirut if Hezbollah attacks continue, and an Israeli senior official [claimed](https://x.com/AmitSegal/status/2061757230278492542?ref=readtangle.com) the report is inaccurate. ([The call](https://www.axios.com/2026/06/01/trump-netanyahu-israel-lebanon-call?ref=readtangle.com)) 3. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth blocked promotions for nine Navy officers who were set to become one-star admirals after being selected by a board of senior Navy admirals, including three women and two black men. The Pentagon has not explained the decision, and the new one-star list includes two non-white officers and no female officers. ([The blocks](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/01/us/politics/hegseth-navy-promotion-list.html?ref=readtangle.com)) 4. A panel of a U.S. appeals court ruled 2–1 that the Trump administration cannot expel current U.S. service members who are transgender while a lawsuit challenging the policy plays out. However, the court found that the administration can block transgender people from enlisting in the military. ([The ruling](https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/us-court-blocks-pentagon-removing-transgender-troops-now-2026-06-01/?ref=readtangle.com)) 5. 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[****Tangle readers get 20% off with code NEWSLETTERS20**](https://api.wellput.io/v1/cm?cmid=916725mpwr6ui8&tid=271&s1=v2-r719070-p916725-c1825&s2=Tangle&s3=&s4=null&ref=readtangle.com)****.** [Learn how fast you’re aging → ](https://api.wellput.io/v1/cm?cmid=916725mpwr6ui8&tid=271&s1=v2-r719070-p916725-c1825&s2=Tangle&s3=&s4=null&ref=readtangle.com) ### Today’s topic. The Trump Accounts launch. On Thursday, the Trump administration [launched](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/05/28/trump-accounts-app-launches-heres-how-to-get-started.html?ref=readtangle.com) its app for Trump Accounts, which will seed tax-advantaged investment accounts for children born between 2025 and 2028 with $1,000 in an effort to support long-term financial stability for future U.S. adults. While the accounts won’t be funded until at least July 4, the program’s official launch date, parents of eligible children can now open accounts through the Internal Revenue Service. **Back up:** The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, enacted last summer, [created](https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/one-big-beautiful-bill-provisions?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Beautiful%20Bill.-,Families%20and%20dependents,-Expand%20all) Money Accounts for Growth and Advancement — now Trump Accounts — as a type of traditional individual retirement account (IRA) for tax-deferred investments in index funds. Only American children born between 2025 and 2028 qualify for the one-time $1,000 contribution, but parents and guardians can open Trump Accounts for any child with a valid Social Security number who is under the age of 18 before the end of the calendar year in which the account is established. Once beneficiaries turn 18, they will have full control of their accounts, and withdrawals are taxed until retirement age (with exceptions for education, first-time home purchases, birth or adoption costs, or medical expenses). Parents, guardians and other adults can contribute up to $5,000 per account annually, including up to $2,500 from an employer. Separately, children who don’t qualify for the $1,000 contribution, but are under 10 and born before January 1, 2025, are [eligible](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/05/28/trump-accounts-app-launches-heres-how-to-get-started.html?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Children%2010%20or%20under%20and%20born%20before%20Jan.%201%2C%202025%20%E2%80%94%20who%20wouldn%E2%80%99t%20qualify%20for%20the%20%241%2C000%20contribution%20%E2%80%94%20could%20get%20%24250%20if%20they%20live%20in%20a%20ZIP%20code%20where%20the%20median%20income%20is%20%24150%2C000%20or%20less%2C%20courtesy%20of%20a%20%246.25%20billion%20pledge%20from%20tech%20CEO%20Michael%20Dell%20and%20his%20wife%2C%20Susan.%C2%A0) to receive $250 in their account if they live in a ZIP code where the median income is $150,000 or less. Additionally, some charitable organizations and state and local governments can also contribute funds that do not count toward the annual cap. Dell CEO Michael Dell and his wife pledged $6.25 billion to support this offering, and other corporations have pledged financial support for their employees’ accounts. President Trump has [said](https://trumpaccounts.gov/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=This%20is%20a,on%20life.%E2%80%9D) the initiative “will help millions of Americans harness the strength of our economy to lift up the next generation.” According to the White House, approximately six million children have been [enrolled in](https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2026/05/28/trump-accounts-app-launches-manage-1000-federal-investment-per-child/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Nearly%206%20million%20children%20have%20been%20signed%20up%20for%20the%20accounts%2C%20officially%20dubbed%20%E2%80%9CTrump%20accounts%2C%E2%80%9D%20which%20were%20created%20through%20the%20Republican%20tax%2Dand%2Dspending%20law%20last%20summer.) accounts, and the new mobile app will allow parents and guardians to manage their children’s funds. Some Democrats have questioned the purpose of the initiative, pointing to comments from Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent last July in which he [said](https://thehill.com/business/5429831-democrats-backlash-bessent-privatization/?ref=readtangle.com), “In a way, \[Trump Accounts are\] a backdoor for privatizing Social Security.” Bessent later said the administration views the accounts as a way to support Social Security, accusing Democrats of opposing the program because it “brings capitalism and markets to every American.” Today, we’ll share views from the left and right on the upcoming launch of Trump Accounts, followed by Executive Editor Isaac Saul’s take. ### What the left is saying. - **Many on the left say the program has promise but also structural flaws.** - **Some argue the administration’s other policies undercut its claims about helping kids.** - **Others argue that Trump Accounts will mostly benefit the wealthy.** **In The Atlantic, Will Gottsegen described** [**“what’s behind the new Trump child-savings accounts.”**](https://www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/2026/05/trump-child-savings-accounts/687261/?ref=readtangle.com) “From a financial-planning perspective, taking free money from the government is a no-brainer,” Gottsegen wrote. “But the way the account is set up could hinder its success. One challenge is that not every child eligible for a Trump Account will get one, because parents have to opt into it on their tax forms. Research has shown that it’s much harder to get people to opt into a policy than to opt out.” “Trump came to power in 2016 by selling Americans a faux-populist economic platform. The broad coalition of voters that spurred both of his elections included portions of the working class and some of his fancy friends,” Gottsegen said. “Trump has always purported to support American families… Trump Accounts theoretically represent the kind of pro-child policy that both parties could unite around, but the branding may be a liability. At a time when a majority of the country disapproves of — or actively reviles — the president, his name alone could end up limiting the program’s success.” **In CounterPunch, Dean Baker suggested** [**“Trump accounts are a sick joke.”**](https://www.counterpunch.org/2026/05/12/trump-accounts-are-a-sick-joke-not-a-threat-to-social-security/?ref=readtangle.com) “Many of the Trump crew seem to be delusional about Trump accounts. They claim to believe that they will replace Social Security,” Baker wrote. “Even if they wanted to put money in a tax-advantaged account, why would they choose a Trump account rather than an education savings account or an IRA? Money in existing tax-advantaged accounts can be withdrawn, albeit with a penalty. Money in a Trump account can only be accessed by the kid when they turn 18.” “Trump and Congressional Republicans have been gleefully cutting Food Stamps, housing assistance, Medicaid, and the subsidies in the Obamacare exchanges. As a result, tens of millions of people will be denied benefits that they previously depended upon,” Baker said. “This means two or three years from now, there are likely to be tens, or even hundreds, of thousands of kids with $1,000 in their Trump accounts who are living on the streets, going hungry, or unable to get necessary medical care because Trump has cut the programs their families depend upon.” **In The Lever, Mary Sherman asked** [**“who benefits”**](https://www.levernews.com/trump-accounts-who-benefits-likely-not-your-kids/?ref=readtangle.com) **from the program.** “In truth, like everything else Trump has emblazoned with his name, Trump Accounts are far from an act of unqualified benevolence,” Sherman wrote. “Keeping money invested over decades helps weather the market’s highs and lows, which will likely be so for Trump Accounts that are eventually transferred to other types of retirement accounts… But few struggling families can afford this luxury. Only those who are financially stable can afford to leave money untouched for decades.” “Although the Trump administration has pitched Trump Accounts as a way to help close the wealth inequality gap, claiming they will ‘lift up the next generation’ and ‘jump start the American Dream,’ the inherent inequality built into the program belies such aims,” Sherman said. “Parents or guardians can deposit up to $5,000 annually into Trump accounts. But that means children from wealthier families will see far larger gains than those who cannot afford such expenditures.” ### What the right is saying. - **Many on the right support Trump Accounts, viewing them as a vehicle for equal opportunity wealth building.** - **Some say the program will fuel appreciation for America’s free-market economy.** - **Others argue the accounts are an unnecessary entitlement program.** **In American Thinker, Julio Rivera said** [**“Trump looks on to the next generation.”**](https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2026/02/trump%5Flooks%5Fon%5Fto%5Fthe%5Fnext%5Fgeneration.html?ref=readtangle.com) “President Trump has always understood a truth that much of Washington either ignores or refuses to confront. Nations do not endure on rhetoric alone. They endure because they raise strong families, cultivate capable citizens, and think beyond the next election cycle,” Rivera wrote. “The launch of Trump Accounts is a striking example of this thinking… It is a foundation. It is a clear signal that the nation has a vested interest in the financial literacy, long-term security, and upward mobility of its youngest citizens. “At a time when many young Americans feel economically boxed out before they even reach adulthood, Trump Accounts are a declaration that the system should reward those willing to build, save, and contribute,” Rivera said. “This is not a European-style welfare promise. It is American capitalization in its purest form, empowering individuals early, encouraging ownership, and reinforcing the idea that prosperity is something cultivated over time rather than redistributed after the fact… \[President Trump\] is placing American families back at the center of national policy, not as symbols, but as stakeholders.” **In The Hill, Jonathan Turley predicted** [**“Trump Accounts will help reverse the tide of socialism.”**](https://thehill.com/opinion/finance/5726696-trump-accounts-will-help-reverse-the-tide-of-socialism/?ref=readtangle.com) “According to polls, a rising segment of the population is calling for socialism or even communism as young people embrace a radical chic in the country,” Turley wrote. “With an anticipated 25 million participants, the \[Trump Accounts\] initiative is one of the most ambitious and potentially impactful in U.S. history. But its true impact may be far greater than the wealth that it could generate for families. It may just be the determinative factor in preserving this Republic in this century.” “Millions of young people will be able to experience the benefits of investments, savings and, most importantly, economic independence. It has the benefit of being a tangible lesson about capitalism,” Turley said. “As socialist experiments replicate the failures of past eras, these accounts will offer a stark contrast for a rising generation… For young Americans, there has been a continual barrage of anti-capitalist sentiments. However, there is still muscle memory in this country of the gifts that free markets brought to a free people.” **National Review’s editors argued** [**“most American families don’t need yet another entitlement program.”**](https://www.nationalreview.com/2026/01/the-government-can-do-better-than-trump-accounts/?ref=readtangle.com) “As for the merits of the policy, Trump Accounts are bound to disappoint,” the editors wrote. “If the federal government wanted to help \[American families\] more efficiently, it could give them the money it’s spending on Trump Accounts directly, such as through an expanded child tax credit. Parents could decide to use those funds to invest in their child’s name for the future without restriction, or instead spend on more immediate expenses like child care or education.” “As for tax-advantaged savings accounts, the government should consolidate the existing options, not add complexity by creating new ones,” the editors said. “After the Trump Accounts program expires in 2029, the government should shift focus to enabling families to spend and invest their own money as they see fit — not sending them taxpayer checks and micromanaging how they use the money.” ### My take. **Reminder: “My take” is a section where we give ourselves space to share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, don't unsubscribe. Write in by replying to this email, or** [**leave a comment**](https://www.readtangle.com/trump-accounts-child-savings/#ghost-comments-root)**.** - **Trump Accounts are as close to a straightforward win as government programs can get.** - **They address a bipartisan interest, are being rolled out cleanly, and could provide tremendous upside.** - **Accessibility for lower-income families will be a concern, but I’m glad the government is taking a big swing at a big problem.** **Executive Editor Isaac Saul:** I rarely view a policy as an unambiguous win, but this one comes pretty close. Here are a few operating assumptions I work from about government and money: - The government is not very efficient at running programs, but it is very good at cutting checks. - Government-built apps and websites are usually bad. - We have a lot of untapped bipartisan agreement on policies that could significantly improve our country. - Wealth disparity is one of the defining issues of our times, and it causes significant fraying of the social order. - We are a rich, innovative country, and our government should act like it by taking big swings and experimenting more. The Trump Accounts check a lot of these boxes. The government is good at cutting checks, and this program effectively allows it to cut $1,000 checks to any person who wants one for their child to let their money work for them in the U.S. economy (which remains the envy of the world). The operating cost is going to be pretty small, and since all the government has to do here is confirm applicants’ eligibility and disburse the money, I’m less worried than normal about program inefficiency. As for the usually clunky government-built apps and websites, that’s not the case here. The app was built in partnership with Robinhood, and the [design](https://robinhood.com/us/en/newsroom/introducing-the-trump-accounts-app/?ref=readtangle.com) reflects the company’s recognizable interface — simple and easy to use. My son was born on January 20, 2025, just in time to qualify, and I signed him up this morning. I haven’t completed the identity-verification step yet, but it looks like a simple tax form that should take about 10 to 15 minutes to complete. Getting him into the system took all of two minutes; the app itself demonstrates how you can grow the account to $112,000 over 18 years with regular contributions, and there’s something accessible about the user experience and the pathway to savings that makes me want to commit to the program. I’m now on the Trump Accounts list to get updates about the program launch, and I’ll be notified when the $1,000 is ready for transfer — at which point I can fill out the tax form and finish the process. On the bipartisan policy point, it’s hard to imagine something that gets as close to broad appeal as this. The program is, effectively, a Republican president branding a [Democratic idea](https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/booker-pressley-reintroduce-bicameral-baby-bonds-legislation-to-tackle-wealth-inequality?ref=readtangle.com) as his own and addressing issues raised by both parties. Conservatives are making boosting fertility a [central political issue](https://www.readtangle.com/baby-bonus-boost-the-birth-rate/) while liberals have long decried the economic challenges of raising families. This program isn’t going to make having kids affordable by itself, but incentivizing a simple long-term investment option for children with a no-strings-attached $1,000 deposit is a good way to lessen the burden of building your children’s long-term wealth. And it has a good enough chance of working that it's worth trying. As for the two, semi-related points about wealth disparity becoming a major issue and us being a rich, innovative country that should take big swings: This program checks both boxes. Not only does it provide an easy first step on a pathway for some families to genuinely improve their children’s circumstances, it actually is a fresh government program. Obviously, other child savings accounts already exist, but this is the first federally funded children’s savings program implemented at a national scale — with nearly six million sign-ups already. For context: The first Affordable Care Act enrollment period brought in about 11.7 million people, which was one of the largest and fastest adoptions of any government program ever. And this program doesn’t officially launch for another month. The program also highlights one of the upsides of Trump’s trademark flair — his ability to raise interest among wealthy donors and draw in private sector support for his initiatives. Michael and Susan Dell threw in over $6 billion for kids who are too old to qualify for the $1,000, and they aren’t alone: Other wealthy Americans [have promised](https://ctmirror.org/2025/12/18/ray-dalio-75-million-connecticut-kids-trump/?ref=readtangle.com) to step up in [similar ways](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/06/business/dealbook/stocks-trump-accounts.html?ref=readtangle.com) across the country. These are all positive developments, but the biggest (and most obvious) question is *will it work*? Will this actually increase the wealth of a generation of kids? The Atlantic’s Will Gottsegen (under “What the left is saying”) rightly identified some downsides of the program, like the fact you have to opt in rather than be automatically enrolled, meaning adoption may be a struggle. Enrolling nearly six million children is a lot, but [73 million are eligible](https://www.morningstar.com/news/marketwatch/20260530152/67-million-kids-havent-signed-up-for-trump-accounts-heres-what-they-could-be-missing-out-on?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Bessent%20said%20nearly%206%20million%20children%20have%20been%20signed%20up%20for%20Trump%20accounts%20so%20far.%20There%20were%2073%20million%20children%20under%20age%2018%20in%20the%20U.S.%20in%202024%2C%20according%20to%20the%20Census%20Bureau.). While my experience with the program has been pretty much seamless, downloading an app and completing a few tax forms introduces some friction, particularly for families without phone or internet access. Also, while the $1,000 government check is a unique incentive, parents still have to learn about these accounts and choose them over other investment options. These kinds of hurdles may seem small, but they’ll probably loom larger for low-income families who are exempt from filing taxes and thus less likely to learn about the program or enroll. That’s a genuine weakness of this government program, but it’s also a weakness of many others — and, obviously, enrolling 73 million children automatically would incur a massive cost. Some of the Trumpian elements that make this unique are also somewhat risky. These accounts only allow investment in U.S. stocks, meaning that if the U.S. economy tanks, parents who go all in on this option won’t have an insurance policy. The upside, though, is that U.S. companies are going to benefit directly from wide-scale adoption of the program, which seems like a second-order benefit to me. Ultimately, I see the potential upside outweighing the potential downsides by a long shot. Even if you think this program will benefit wealthy families more than poor ones, it’s still true that a low-income family could take a no-brainer $1,000 from the government for free, then let it appreciate, all with 20 minutes of work. Some people have raised cost concerns, but the $1,000 pilot for eligible children is expected to run about $3.6 billion for the first year. For context, the Iran war has [cost us $29 billion](https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/us-war-iran-has-cost-29-billion-pentagon-says-2026-05-12/?ref=readtangle.com) so far, without even accounting for the spike in energy costs. All told: Our very wealthy nation is taking a very big swing at a very big problem, and doing it with the kind of public–private partnership that often yields results. It’s simple, with limited administrative overhead, and it’s a bipartisan idea, with broad appeal. The program occupied [all of a single clause](https://www.readtangle.com/trump-presidency-doing-some-good/#:~:text=The%20bill%20introduced%20a%20pilot%20program%20of%20%241%2C000%20grants%20for%20any%20American%20born%20between%202025%20and%202028) in my piece on the good President Trump has done in his second term so far, but it’s probably one of the most unambiguously positive policy programs of his second administration. ****Staff dissent — Managing Editor Ari Weitzman:** My wife and I are expecting a child soon, and I don’t expect a Trump Account to comprise a large part of our savings portfolio. It has one distinguishing characteristic: the free $1,000 deposit, which is certainly captivating. Otherwise, IRAs already have tax-free interest and the same qualifying withdrawals, while 529 plans have tax-free interest and allow tax-free education withdrawals, too. Why would I leverage my child’s future savings with an account that has more restricted offerings than other options? Don’t get me wrong, I’ll take the $1,000, and I’ll probably include this in my future savings strategy. But I would have preferred if Trump had gone the private-sector route, like providing government funds to jumpstart a new class of custodial savings account with fewer withdrawal restrictions than what the market currently offers. That way, companies like Vanguard and Fidelity could compete with each other to provide the best product; instead, this is a more limited government program that Trump can put his name on. **Take the survey:** How would you use a Trump Account? [Let us know](https://interrobang.vercel.app/survey/30b1deb3-da01-4c20-bed2-ec4992e1661b?ref=readtangle.com). *Disagree? That's okay. Our opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we'll consider publishing your feedback.* ### Your questions, answered. **Q: How much truth is there to the argument that European social safety nets are propped up by American military spending?** **— Lauren from London, England** **Tangle:** Leaders across the political spectrum have criticized countries for being “free riders” on U.S. aid, including former President [Obama](https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2016/04/the-obama-doctrine/471525/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=If%20Obama%20ever,2%20percent%20threshold.) and President [Trump](https://www.newsmax.com/politics/donald-trump-trade-war-weapons/2025/07/14/id/1218661/?ref=readtangle.com). That kind of consensus usually suggests the underlying complaint is well founded. The U.S. is, in fact, providing a huge chunk of military funding to mutual defense agreements that benefit European countries. When it comes to North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) defense spending — that is, money going toward defense specifically for NATO allies, which are largely in Europe — the U.S. leads the way. The U.S. [spent](https://www.visualcapitalist.com/charted-the-u-s-dominates-nato-defense-spending/?ref=readtangle.com) $980 billion in 2025, accounting for 62% of NATO’s defense spending. The next two highest spenders were Germany and the United Kingdom at roughly $94 and $91 billion, respectively. Even as a percent of GDP, [the U.S.’s 3.2%](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clyz4nq91wpo?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=US%20defence%20spending%20has%20come%20down%20from%203.6%25%20of%20GDP%20in%202020%20to%20an%20estimated%203.2%25%20in%202025.) spent on defense outpaces the [non–U.S. NATO average of 2.3%](https://www.nato.int/en/what-we-do/introduction-to-nato/defence-expenditures-and-natos-5-commitment?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=In%202025%2C%20all,prices%29%20in%20defence.) (although defense spending by European countries is [increasing](https://www.flightglobal.com/defence/2026/03/nato-spending-tops-1-4-trillion-with-non-us-contributions-soaring-by-20/?ref=readtangle.com)). On the other side of the equation, Europe is also spending more on social services. [According](https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/products-eurostat-news/w/ddn-20251107-2?ref=readtangle.com) to a European Union (EU) report, EU countries spent 27.3% of their collective GDP on social protection benefits in 2024, compared to the U.S. spending [19.8% of its GDP](https://data-explorer.oecd.org/vis?fs[0]=Topic%2C1%7CSociety%23SOC%23%7CSocial%20policy%23SOC%5FPRO%23&pg=0&fc=Topic&bp=true&snb=12&df[ds]=dsDisseminateFinalDMZ&df[id]=DSD%5FSOCX%5FAGG%40DF%5FSOCX%5FAGG&df[ag]=OECD.ELS.SPD&df[vs]=1.0&dq=.A..PT%5FB1GQ.ES10.%5FT.%5FT.&pd=2010%2C&to[TIME%5FPERIOD]=false&vw=tb&ref=readtangle.com) on social services. Of course, not every European nation is the same — Germany and France [spend](https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=Social%5Fprotection%5Fstatistics%5F-%5Foverview&ref=readtangle.com) over 30% of GDP on social services, while the Baltic states spend under 19% (and Ireland spends just 11.4%) — but average social spending in Europe is proportionally higher than it is in the U.S. So yes, the United States spends much more on defense than European nations, and European nations, on average and proportionally, spend much more proportionally on social services than the United States. Although we can’t link those two trends directly, U.S. military spending does implicitly offer European nations some budgetary flexibility. **Want to have a question answered in the newsletter? You can reply to this email (it goes straight to our inbox) or** [**fill out this form**](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScQhqBSG%5F6%5FoBhwcTQMeS570n29XYbeQ9C9Bis7rjqI31g1tA/viewform?usp=header&ref=readtangle.com)**.** ### Under the radar. On May 27, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) signed the state’s budget for fiscal year 2027, which included landmark new provisions designed to prohibit the creation of “ghost guns,” or untraceable guns built using 3D printers. Under the law, all 3D printers sold in New York must include technology that prevents users from printing guns; violating the law carries a $5,000 fine per product sold. The New York Police Department has recovered an increasing number of 3D-printed ghost guns in recent years, and government officials said the law represents a new step forward in public safety. However, critics of the law say it endangers First Amendment rights. [USA Today has the story](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2026/05/28/new-york-ban-3d-printed-guns-first-amendment/90258011007/?ref=readtangle.com). Today's Partner ****How old are you, really?** You might feel 25, but your cells may have a different opinion. TruAge™ uses a simple finger-prick test to [measure your biological age](https://api.wellput.io/v1/cm?cmid=916725mpwr6ui8&tid=271&s1=v2-r719070-p916725-c1825&s2=Tangle&s3=&s4=null&ref=readtangle.com), rate of aging, and the health of key organ systems. Get personalized insights and recommendations delivered right to your door. [****Tangle readers get 20% off**](https://api.wellput.io/v1/cm?cmid=916725mpwr6ui8&tid=271&s1=v2-r719070-p916725-c1825&s2=Tangle&s3=&s4=null&ref=readtangle.com) **with code NEWSLETTERS20.** [Learn how fast you’re aging → ](https://api.wellput.io/v1/cm?cmid=916725mpwr6ui8&tid=271&s1=v2-r719070-p916725-c1825&s2=Tangle&s3=&s4=null&ref=readtangle.com) ### Numbers. - [**3,606,400.**](https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/vsrr/vsrr043.pdf?ref=readtangle.com#page=2)The number of U.S. births in 2025, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate. - [**121.**](https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/R48554?ref=readtangle.com#%5FToc199916120:~:text=The%20nonprofit%20Prosperity,savings%20accounts.8) The estimated number of child savings account programs operated in 38 states in 2023, according to Prosperity Now. - [**5.8 million.**](https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/R48554?ref=readtangle.com#%5FToc199916120:~:text=The%20nonprofit%20Prosperity,savings%20accounts.8)The estimated number of American children who had child savings accounts in 2023. - [**26%.**](https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/R48554?ref=readtangle.com#%5FToc199916120:~:text=The%20nonprofit%20Prosperity,savings%20accounts.8) The percentage of child savings accounts programs operated through state and local government agencies. - [**91%.**](https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/R48554?ref=readtangle.com#%5FToc199916120:~:text=The%20nonprofit%20Prosperity,savings%20accounts.8) The percentage of children whose savings accounts come from government programs. - [**59%.**](https://news.gallup.com/poll/691202/percentage-americans-retirement-savings-account.aspx?ref=readtangle.com)The percentage of American adults who say they have money invested in a retirement savings account, such as a 401(k), 403(b) or IRA, according to an April 2025 Gallup News poll. ### The extras. - **One year ago today** we covered a [court ruling on Trump’s tariffs](https://www.readtangle.com/trumps-tariffs-legal-challenges-trade-court/). - **The most clicked link in our last regular newsletter** was the musical artists who [pulled out of the national 250th anniversary event](https://abcnews.com/Politics/growing-number-artists-pull-250th-anniversary-celebration-national/story?id=133417043&ref=readtangle.com). - **Nothing to do with politics:** Samuel floors his school’s talent show by performing [his vast collection of bird calls](https://x.com/osheajacksonjr/status/2061560755376541893?s=46&t=7wfYUO2rNbHlrYyBDmVjCA&ref=readtangle.com). - **Our last survey:** 2,007 readers responded to our survey on the Maine Senate election with 41% saying they believe Sen. Susan Collins (R) will win. “The Democratic vote will be split, so the Republican candidate will win,” one respondent said. “These scandals just seem to not matter anymore. A return to ‘decency’ would be great, but bigger issues currently exist for voters,” said another. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/06/data-src-image-2d5f4397-3f2f-46c7-a63d-63c18f3ee5b4.png) ### Have a nice day. Six years ago, graduates of the University of Virginia started a new tradition: They would carry fun, themed balloons to Final Exercises on the lawn. Then, instead of throwing the balloons away, graduates hand them off to waiting volunteers to carry to children at UVA Children’s Hospital. The 2026 graduation ceremony was no different — it featured a record-breaking number of both balloons and volunteers to bring them to the hospital. UVA staff member Matt Weber said, “To me, this is the best of UVA. It’s people who care about the traditions, but care about what the traditions mean and what the traditions can do beyond just the sort of aesthetics of a balloon, but about the societal good that so many UVA students will be there.” [CBS 19 has the story](https://www.cbs19news.com/news/balloons-from-uvas-graduation-donated-to-uva-childrens/article%5F8ed6fa5b-176f-4d3f-86de-7d5922215df8.html?ref=readtangle.com). ### The latest Platner controversies. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/platner-maine-new-controversy/ Last updated: 2026-06-01T16:00:13.000Z I’m **Isaac Saul**, it’s Monday, and I have the distinct feeling this is going to be one of those weeks that feels like a month. I just got back from a family weekend in the little beach town of Oak Island, North Carolina, which I imagine is what the Outer Banks was like a few decades ago. This is our now-annual tradition to celebrate the miraculous nine family birthdays (including my own) that fall in a four-week span, which must be some kind of record. Now, it’s back to New Jersey and the real world. Today, we’re diving into the **latest Graham Platner controversy**, and probably not for the last time. Plus, a look at **how Kentucky and Tennessee became states**. It’s a jam-packed **14-minute read**. P.S. My family friend Val asked me to say hi to her in the newsletter, thinking I wouldn’t do it. So: Hi, Val. P.P.S. A happy sixth Tangle anniversary to COO Magdalena Bokowa, our first-ever hire. *Are you new here?* [*Get free emails*](https://www.readtangle.com/) *to your inbox daily. Would you rather listen? You can find our podcast* [*here*](https://shows.acast.com/66510864c0852400122bc7be?ref=readtangle.com)*.* ### New and improved comments. In case you missed our announcement in Friday’s edition on [our favorite reader essays](https://www.readtangle.com/best-reader-essays-tangle-favorites/), our publishing platform Ghost has rolled out several new commenting features! Comment replies now nest more easily, helping you keep track of conversations, and you can now dislike comments that you think violate our [commenting guidelines](https://www.readtangle.com/its-time-for-some-change/#:~:text=laid%20out%20above.-,Guidelines.,-If%20your%20comment). To read more about these changes, you can check out our [FAQ page](https://www.readtangle.com/faq/#:~:text=How%20does%20comment%20nesting%20work%3F). And to experience them yourself, comment below! ### Quick hits. 1. The United States said it bombed Iranian radar and drone sites in response to Iran shooting down a U.S. drone over the weekend. Iran accused the U.S. of ceasefire violations and said it will cut off discussions on a peace deal for now. ([The latest](https://thehill.com/policy/defense/5903844-iran-accuses-trump-ceasefire-violations/?ref=readtangle.com)) 2. A federal judge blocked a plan to rename the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts to include President Trump’s name. The judge also ruled that the center’s board improperly voted to approve a two-year closure and renovation set to begin this summer. ([The rulings](https://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/5901706-kennedy-center-closure-renamin-halted/?ref=readtangle.com)) Separately, a federal judge temporarily halted the Trump administration’s $1.776 billion “anti-weaponization” fund while challenges play out in court. ([The order](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/judge-halts-trump-anti-weaponization-fund-jan-6-prosecutor-files-suit-rcna347539?ref=readtangle.com)) 3. The organizers of the Great American State Fair, part of the planned celebrations for the United States’s semiquincentennial this summer, said President Trump will headline the start of the event on June 24 after several scheduled musical artists dropped out of performing. ([The update](https://abcnews.com/Politics/growing-number-artists-pull-250th-anniversary-celebration-national/story?id=133417043&ref=readtangle.com)) 4. Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the weekend as part of a push for a renewed ceasefire between the countries. ([The meetings](https://www.axios.com/2026/06/01/lebanon-ceasefire-rubio-beirut-attacks?ref=readtangle.com)) 5. No candidate reached the 50% threshold to win Colombia’s presidential election to replace term-limited President Gustavo Petro, sending the race to a runoff between right-wing candidate Abelardo de la Espriella and left-wing candidate Iván Cepeda, whom Petro endorsed. On Sunday, the Colombian president cast doubt on the initial result, alleging flaws in the vote-counting process. ([The election](https://www.nbcnews.com/world/latin-america/colombia-presidential-election-petro-doubt-rcna347785?ref=readtangle.com)) from Today's PArtner ****When Money Is Tight, These** [****7 Resources**](https://partners.thepennyhoarder.com/when-money-is-tight-sdyn-prt/?aff%5Fid=409&utm%5Fsource=tangle&aff%5Fsub3=when-money-is-tight-sdyn-prt) **Will Help Nearly Everyone** When you log into your bank account, how do your savings look? Probably not as good as you’d like. It always seems like an uphill battle to build (and keep) a decent amount in savings. So when money is tight, these [seven resources will help](https://partners.thepennyhoarder.com/when-money-is-tight-sdyn-prt/?aff%5Fid=409&utm%5Fsource=tangle&aff%5Fsub3=when-money-is-tight-sdyn-prt) nearly everyone. ### Today’s topic. The latest Graham Platner controversies. On Saturday, The Wall Street Journal [published](https://www.wsj.com/politics/elections/graham-platners-wife-flagged-sexually-explicit-texts-to-his-senate-campaign-628ec832?ref=readtangle.com) an exposé on the behavior of Graham Platner, the presumptive Democratic nominee in the Maine Senate race. According to The Journal, Platner’s wife, Amy Gertner, disclosed to his campaign last August that she had discovered sexually explicit texts between Platner and multiple women on his phone last spring. Furthermore, The Journal found that Platner has an active account on Kik, a private-messaging app often used to arrange sexual encounters. Also on Saturday, The New York Times [revealed](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/30/us/politics/graham-platner-maine-senate-texts.html?ref=readtangle.com) that Gertner had disclosed this information to a senior aide who later left the campaign, and Platner had been sending explicit messages to up to 12 women. The reports represent the latest controversies in Platner’s campaign to defeat Sen. Susan Collins (R) in November’s election. *We covered Platner’s* [*early campaign controversies in October*](https://www.readtangle.com/the-graham-platner-controversies/)*.* **Back up:** Platner, 41, is a progressive Democrat and military veteran who deployed to Iraq with the Marine Corps three times and served in Afghanistan with the Maryland Army National Guard. After his service, he returned to Maine to seek treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder and later worked as an oyster farmer. His campaign [highlights](https://www.grahamforsenate.com/platform?ref=readtangle.com) his support for Medicare for All, campaign-finance reform, addressing income inequality, and antitrust enforcement. Platner has no political experience beyond serving as harbormaster and chair of the planning board for the town of Sullivan, Maine, but his campaign has risen to national prominence since he declared his candidacy in August 2025\. He was expected to face Maine Gov. Janet Mills in the Democratic primary on June 9, but Mills dropped out of the race in April, citing insufficient campaign finances. Polling at the time [showed](https://emersoncollegepolling.com/maine-2026-poll-platner-leads-gov-mills-democrats-lead-sen-collins-in-maine/?ref=readtangle.com) Platner with a sizable lead, and he is heavily favored to beat the remaining Democratic candidate, environmental policy consultant David Costello. From the early days of his campaign, Platner has [faced controversy](https://www.readtangle.com/the-graham-platner-controversies/) for past statements and actions. Most notably, he had a tattoo on his chest of a skull symbol associated with the Nazi police, which he claims he did not know the meaning of when he had the tattoo done while on leave from the military in 2007\. He had the symbol covered up once it was publicly revealed. Separately, his past [activity](https://themainemonitor.org/platner-reddit-comments/?ref=readtangle.com) on the social media platform Reddit has drawn scrutiny for his repeated use of slurs and disparaging comments made about various groups. Platner has apologized for many of the comments and said he made them while struggling with his mental health after his time in the military. In response to Saturday’s reporting on her husband’s sexually explicit texts, Gertner [released a statement](https://www.pressherald.com/2026/05/30/read-the-statement-from-graham-platners-wife-about-his-texts-with-other-women/?ref=readtangle.com) accusing the campaign aide with whom she shared information about the messages of “spread\[ing\] malicious gossip,” adding, “I am deeply hurt by her betrayal and the invasion of our privacy.” She acknowledged challenges in their marriage from that time period, but said they have sought counseling that has strengthened their relationship. In his own [statement](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-election/graham-platner-wife-amy-gertner-disclosed-extramarital-sexting-rcna347737?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=%E2%80%9CAmy%20and%20I,movement%20is%20about.%E2%80%9D), Platner said, “Amy and I went through something hard — because of me… We did the work, and I’m grateful for her every hour of every day.” Recent polling [shows](https://scholars.unh.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1959&context=survey%5Fcenter%5Fpolls&ref=readtangle.com) Platner with a lead over Sen. Collins in a race that could decide control of the Senate, but some elected Democrats have expressed unease about his candidacy. Last week, Rep. Jake Auchincloss (D-MA) [said](https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5894805-jake-auchincloss-graham-platner-senate-race-tattoo-criticism/?ref=readtangle.com) he found Platner’s tattoo “personally disqualifying,” adding, “I hope Maine voters agree with me.” On Sunday, Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) [said](https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/5903266-platner-booker-maine-senate/?ref=readtangle.com) he has “concerns” about Platner and thinks he “has questions to answer.” Other Democrats have continued to back Platner. Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) [said](https://www.cnn.com/2026/05/31/politics/graham-platner-democrats-campaign-revelations?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=%E2%80%9CHe%20certainly%20admitted%20that%20he%20has%20made%20mistakes%2C%20but%20I%20think%20this%20is%20going%20to%20be%20a%20pretty%20clear%20contrast%20in%20Maine%20between%20somebody%20who%20has%20spent%20his%20life%20protecting%20us%20versus%20somebody%20who%20seems%20to%20be%20protecting%20Donald%20Trump%E2%80%99s%20corruption%2C%E2%80%9D%20the%20Connecticut%20Democrat%20said.), “He certainly admitted that he has made mistakes, but I think this is going to be a pretty clear contrast in Maine between somebody who has spent his life protecting us versus somebody who seems to be protecting Donald Trump’s corruption.” Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) have also endorsed Platner. Today, we’ll share views from the right and left on Platner’s campaign and the latest controversy. Then, Executive Editor Isaac Saul shares his take. ### What the right is saying. - **Many on the right say controversy is defining Platner’s campaign — and more could be on the way.** - **Some argue Democrats won’t be able to distance themselves from Platner if they want to.** - **Others suggest Trump’s rise has made scandals like these survivable.** **In National Review, Jeffrey Blehar asked** [**“what other skeletons are lurking in Graham Platner’s closet?”**](https://www.nationalreview.com/2026/05/what-other-skeletons-are-lurking-in-graham-platners-closet/?ref=readtangle.com) “Mainers — and the national media — were certainly sold one story about Platner: that of an antiwar Marine during the Iraq War, a hardscrabble oysterman, and a working-class straight talker,” Blehar wrote. “And then, one by one, we discovered that each of these biographical points was, when not outright false, distorted beyond all recognition. It turns out that Platner, who frequently accuses Senator Collins of ‘voting to send him to Iraq,’ actively volunteered two years after the United States declared war because — in his own words, later hastily erased from Reddit — ‘I wanted to have an adventure and kill some people.’” “Now, the latest scandal emerges, and it’s quite the doozy. It turns out that earlier in the spring of 2025, mere months before he declared his candidacy, Graham Platner was caught by his wife juggling as many as six separate sexting relationships with other people,” Blehar said. “Democrats were already concerned enough about having to back a man who proudly tattooed a Nazi death’s head across his chest and kept it even *after* the moment he decided he wanted to run for Senate as a progressive leftist. But what will they do if they find themselves politically committed to an actual moral monster?” **In Fox News, David Marcus wrote** [**“establishment Dems turn on Graham Platner, but it’s way too late.”**](https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/david-marcus-establishment-dems-turn-graham-platner-way-late?ref=readtangle.com) “What was most telling about these sordid new sexting revelations wasn’t that it exposed Platner as a creep. We already knew that. It was that the leak came from a fellow Democrat. The party may be starting to realize they have created a Marxist monster they can’t control,” Marcus said. “Over the past several days, there has started to be what looks like an effort by establishment Democrats to tank socialist Platner’s campaign… We have known for some time now that Platner is not exactly the poster child for impulse control, so why now?” “Platner’s backers in the party, many of them the same people who propelled Zohran \[Mamdani\] to success, are circling the wagons around their guy. They say the leaking aide committed a terrible act of betrayal, and with a straight face, suggest Platner is the victim in all this,” Marcus wrote. “There are two problems with this. One is that voters don’t care about internal campaign disputes. Nobody watches that much C-SPAN. The second is that, this time, after Democratic Socialists have swallowed so much of the party, the Establishment seems set to strike back.” **In The Los Angeles Times, Matt K. Lewis suggested** [**“in politics after Trump, nothing is disqualifying.”**](https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2026-05-29/character-politics-ken-paxton-texas-graham-platner-maine?ref=readtangle.com) “Under old ‘pre-Trump’ rules, Platner’s campaign would have withered instantly after revelations that he once had a Totenkopf SS tattoo, previously identified himself as a communist, said Black people were poor tippers, and wrote that white people ‘actually are’ as racist and stupid as Trump thinks they are,” Lewis said. “Instead, after all this surfaced, Platner actually rose in the polls. Considering the circumstances, there are several reasonable explanations for this. Maybe Maine Dems have concluded that moral purity tests are politically suicidal after years of watching heterodox figures like Joe Rogan and Elon Musk drift away from the party.” “Or maybe Maine Democrats have absorbed the same lesson Republicans adopted in 2016: Once voters stop treating scandal as disqualifying, policing your own side for off-the-field behavior starts to look like unilateral disarmament,” Lewis wrote. “I mean, who could blame them for thinking you’ve got to fight fire with fire? America, after all, reelected Trump after 34 felony convictions. At a certain point, continuing to insist that ‘character matters’ starts sounding like advice Ward Cleaver might have offered Wally on ‘Leave It to Beaver.’” ### What the left is saying. - **The left is unnerved by Platner’s ongoing controversies, but many still believe he can win.** - **Some say he’s a superior option to Susan Collins despite his baggage.** - **Others suggest his past mistakes, while serious, don’t define his candidacy.** **In Slow Boring, Matthew Yglesias asked** [**“can \[Platner\] make the case for himself?”**](https://www.slowboring.com/p/seventeen-thoughts-on-graham-platner?ref=readtangle.com) “I find the meta-narratives around this race annoying. If Democrats want to do better, they need to win in places that Trump won. If you pay attention to Josh Shapiro, John Fetterman, Ruben Gallego, Mark Kelly, Katie Hobbs, Tony Evers, Tammy Baldwin, Whitmer, Elissa Slotkin, Raphael Warnock, and John Ossoff you won’t necessarily answer all the questions, but you’re looking in the right places,” Yglesias said. “It’s also probably helpful to look at how Mary Peltola and Roy Cooper became favorites in their senate races. But Maine is a blue state. The only ‘lesson’ to be learned from Maine is that Susan Collins overperforms because she’s moderate. “If Platner were the world’s greatest husband and had impeccable taste in body art, there would still be no lessons from any political success he might or might not achieve, because beating Collins in Maine doesn’t generalize to anywhere,” Yglesias wrote. “Platner needs partisan Democrats to win. Platner needs Democrats who don’t hate Chuck Schumer and aren’t enraged by ‘the establishment’ to take a generous view of his personal life. This should not be that hard for him to do. But he does have to try.” **In USA Today, Sara Pequeño argued** [**“Graham Platner isn’t perfect, but he’s better than Susan Collins.”**](https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/columnist/2026/05/07/platner-collins-maine-senate-election-democrats/89944707007/?ref=readtangle.com) “\[Platner\] made a series of concerning comments on social media years ago. He, until very recently, had a questionable tattoo. He is unpolished and casual, nothing like the polished candidates we have come to expect from the Democratic Party. That’s exactly why people like him,” Pequeño said. “Platner comes with a lot of baggage, and that baggage presents risks to the Democratic Party. But it doesn’t seem to be phasing Mainers who see themselves in his campaign and candor. “Politics may look different in each state, but strong progressive messaging and vigorous organizing efforts are paying off across the country. It’s unwise of Democrats to consider Platner a lost cause because of things he’s said and done in the past,” Pequeño wrote. “Platner is a lesson to national Democrats that it’s not about having a polished, pristine image and minimal skeletons in the closet. I’d go so far as to argue that these things can be forgiven, so long as the candidate appears genuine and homegrown.” **In The Portland Press Herald, Rev. Stephen Edington suggested** [**“Robert C. Byrd might help us better understand Platner.”**](https://www.pressherald.com/2026/05/31/robert-c-byrd-might-help-us-better-understand-platner-opinion/?ref=readtangle.com) “Mr. Byrd began his Senate career as a right-wing Democrat. He opposed the 1964 Civil Rights Act. While he didn’t remake himself into a leftist, he made his way along the political spectrum to become one of the more distinguished, and longest serving, members of the Senate,” Edington said. “Byrd began his political career in the 1940s as the organizer, and as an ‘Exalted Cyclops,’ of a West Virginia chapter of the Ku Klux Klan… Sen. Byrd characterized his KKK involvement as ‘The greatest mistake of my life.’ But it was a mistake (putting it mildly) that he moved well beyond. I’ve thought of Sen. Byrd while following the Senate campaign of Graham Platner.” “As reprehensible as Mr. Platner’s baggage may be — and for which, as noted, he has apologized and looks to move beyond — his baggage does not, as I see it, rise to the level (or sink to the depths) of Robert Byrd’s one-time leadership in the Ku Klux Klan,” Edington wrote. “I am not touting Graham Platner as the next Sen. Robert Byrd. I am saying I don’t feel that Mr. Platner’s previous indiscretions, serious as they are, should define him politically any more than Robert Byrd’s Klan membership, in the end, defined him.” ### My take. **Reminder: “My take” is a section where we give ourselves space to share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, don't unsubscribe. Write in by replying to this email, or** [**leave a comment**](https://www.readtangle.com/platner-maine-new-controversy/#ghost-comments-root)**.** - **Platner’s scandals are multiplying and dragging on his broad populist appeal.** - **Still, I can’t help but wonder how much these scandals even matter anymore.** - **This is all very bad for my optimistic take on the imminent return of decency.** **Executive Editor Isaac Saul:** A few weeks ago, I listened to Graham Platner’s lengthy [interview](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/16/magazine/graham-platner-interview.html?ref=readtangle.com) with The New York Times. I had been following Platner’s rise for a while, of course, but the conversation offered a good look into what has made him a successful candidate. A former Marine, he offers a specific and powerful antiwar perspective on politics. He has adopted the economic populism currently succeeding on the left and the right, and he conveys an earnestness that is hard to find among more buttoned-up and experienced politicians. But Platner’s problem has never been a reticence to stake out antiwar positions or project authenticity. His vulnerability has always been questions about his character. The former Marine’s most notorious issue was a tattoo on his chest of a symbol that was [used by the Nazis](https://www.adl.org/resources/hate-symbol/totenkopf?ref=readtangle.com). Platner says he got the tattoo while drunk in Croatia, didn’t know about its Nazi association, and has Jewish family members whom he loves and respects. From a purely political view, that defense seems to have satisfied Democratic primary voters — even though his responses haven’t fully put that issue to bed. Yet this now-infamous scandal isn’t the only worrisome incident from Platner’s past. He posted on Reddit regularly for over a decade, denigrating various groups, minimizing concerns about rape in the military, and praising the military tactics of Hamas. Platner has apologized for these posts and suggested they were a byproduct of his PTSD, but they present another political problem for him in the general election. Platner’s defense worked insofar as the controversy didn’t appear to hurt him with primary voters, and I’m sympathetic to his explanation, as friends of mine who have come home from war acted out in similar ways as they processed what they saw. But the latest revelations about his texting with women and presence on a messaging app known for [its young user base and focus on anonymity](https://www.webwise.ie/parents/explainer-what-is-kik/?ref=readtangle.com) bring those questions from behind the keyboard into the real world. This shows a real-world deviancy and dishonesty, one that is distinct from and worse than typical online shitposting. The most pressing question about Platner, to me, is a political one: Does any of this matter anymore? Last week, I excoriated Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who [has Bob Menendez-levels of corruption](https://www.readtangle.com/senator-bob-menendez-d-nj-guilty-on-all-counts/#:~:text=us%20in%20government.%E2%80%9D-,My%20take.,-Reminder%3A%20%22My%20take) on his record along with the same kind of questions about infidelity and treatment of women that are on Platner’s resume. I view Paxton’s record as far worse than Platner’s, given the decades of public service and corruption paired with the infidelity, but the comparison invites itself and is top of mind. If Platner were a Republican Senate candidate who had a Nazi-associated tattoo, said he went to Iraq because he wanted to kill people, downplayed rape, disparaged black people as cheap and rural white people as racist and stupid and then got caught sexting several women while married, Democrats would be having a field day about the racist, fascist womanizer heading to the Senate to do Trump’s bidding. But he has a (D) next to his name, so it becomes necessary for his party (and some pundits) to justify all of the above — especially when the Senate majority and stopping Trump hangs in the balance. In the post-2016 political realm, after President Trump survived the “grab them by the pussy” Access Hollywood tapes, it’s hard to know when a scandal is going to actually harm a politician. Democrats in Maine now know all about Platner’s controversies and are pretty much set to rubber-stamp him through the primary anyway. Texas Republicans just sent Paxton to the general election. Yet there are counterexamples, too: Cal Cunningham (D-NC) lost a Senate race he was leading in 2020 to Thom Tillis after news broke of a sexting relationship with a campaign aide. Herschel Walker (R-GA) failed in his 2022 bid for a Georgia Senate seat, and one of the primary attacks against him was a history of abusing women. I don’t actually know what distinguishes the politicians who survive these scandals from the ones who don’t; it’s a sort of political intangible that is not easy to identify or describe. Is it how earnest the apologies feel? Is it particularly unlikable opponents? Is it just a matter of when a race could flip the Senate or stop a widely disliked president’s agenda? Or is it something closer to random? My suspicion is that, in this environment, Democratic voters are not going to be guilted into abandoning their support for Platner. But he’ll need to win independents and moderate Republicans if he wants to flip Maine’s Senate seat. Whether he can do that is a different question. The Platner communications team has done its best to manage a candidate dealing them bad hand after bad hand, and they have landed a few solid talking points while also offering up some embarrassing attacks. On the upside, Platner’s wife has said they are in marriage counseling to work through their issues, saying she loves her husband and knows who he is. That’ll land for a lot of people, especially anyone who has endured struggles in their marriage. She also attacked the former campaign official who leaked the story, saying she confided in her as a friend and had her trust broken. This, too, is a sympathetic talking point. On the other hand, the campaign [threatened](https://www.bangordailynews.com/2026/05/31/politics/top-graham-platner-adviser-threatened-former-aide-over-sexting-stories/https://www.bangordailynews.com/2026/05/31/politics/top-graham-platner-adviser-threatened-former-aide-over-sexting-stories/?ref=readtangle.com) the former aide if she went public — those messages then (predictably) leaked to the press right away. Platner, in a very Trumpian move, has also attacked the media for reporting on the facts of his bad behavior. “It’s no surprise to me that the establishment media outlets are just gonna run gossip instead of wanting to talk about the things that actually matter in this race which are the material realities that Mainers are working with. These people are gonna try to make this race about anything but what it’s supposed to be about, which is policy,” he [said](https://x.com/rachaelmbade/status/2061216775187124313?ref=readtangle.com). “Amy and I have a very loving and very happy marriage. They would very much like to try to rip that apart.” Sorry, but no. Platner screwed up, and the public has a right to know; the media is just doing its job. Platner is new to this life, with zero time in the public eye before running for one of the most contested Senate seats of this cycle, but this is the kind of dirty laundry that gets appropriately aired when you run for office. Character still matters to *some* voters, and it’s not the media’s fault for getting answers to relevant questions about Platner’s behavior. Once that happens, actually, it’s the press’s responsibility to inform the public, not protect the candidate. For now, the appeal of fresh blood and new faces in the Senate continues to float his campaign: A poll [released](https://scholars.unh.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1959&context=survey%5Fcenter%5Fpolls&ref=readtangle.com#page=2) last week from the University of New Hampshire showed Platner leading Collins by nine points, and up 19 points [among women](https://spectrumlocalnews.com/me/maine/politics/2026/05/20/platner-leads-collins-in-new-poll-of-maine-senate-race?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Among%20women%2C%2053%25%20support%20Platner%2C%20with%2034%25%20choosing%20Collins.%20Men%20favored%20Collins%20over%20Platner%2C%2047%25%20to%2044%25.%20When%20it%20comes%20to%20those%20with%20less%20than%20a%20four%2Dyear%20degree%2C%20the%20two%20essentially%20tied%2C%20with%2044%25%20choosing%20Collins%20and%2043%25%20Platner.). I’ll be curious to see if or how those numbers shift as this latest story trickles down to the public, but I’m skeptical it’s the last time Democrats are going to have some explaining to do on Platner’s behalf. Like Paxton’s victory in Texas last week, none of this is good for my [prediction](https://www.readtangle.com/decency-is-about-to-make-a-comeback/) of a return to decency in politics. In fact, that Platner is an odds-on favorite to win this Senate seat despite the Nazi tattoo, marital indiscretion, and ugly internet posts is a reminder that indecency desensitizes and compounds over time. What once would have easily been a disqualifying rap sheet for a Democratic candidate is now compared to the “bad guys” on the other side and excused, diminished, or ignored. All the indecent characters in politics benefit from this environment, and until partisan voters are willing to risk an important Senate seat for a moral high ground, we’re sure to be stuck in the mud trying to climb out. **Take the survey:** Who do you think will win the Maine Senate election? [Let us know](https://interrobang.vercel.app/survey/ce3ce1f1-b943-46a4-b5c8-d1ae122825e9?ref=readtangle.com). *Disagree? That's okay. Our opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we'll consider publishing your feedback.* ### This day in history. ![1854 map of Kentucky and Tennessee | Cartographer J.H. Colton, Tennessee Virtual Archive](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/06/data-src-image-68c50a0f-001f-40f3-9869-1074a7d43d37.jpeg) 1854 map of Kentucky and Tennessee | Cartographer J.H. Colton, [Tennessee Virtual Archive](https://teva.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15138coll23/id/9218/?ref=readtangle.com) Two states — Kentucky and Tennessee — were admitted to the Union on this day in 1792 and 1796, respectively. In 1775, the Transylvania Company signed the Treaty of Sycamore Shoals with Cherokee leaders, purchasing land that comprised much of modern-day Kentucky and Tennessee. Many Cherokee and other Native tribes fiercely resisted the treaty, and existing colonial law voided it, but its signing sped up settlement of the region west of the Appalachian mountains. At first, the settlements were governed by Virginia; but settlers clamored for independent statehood as their population grew, culminating in Kentucky’s [official admission](https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/history/kentucky-admitted-union?ref=readtangle.com) to the Union as the 15th state in 1792. Modern-day Tennessee had to take its own meandering path to statehood. Much of Tennessee was initially considered part of North Carolina, but a growing population, difficult journeys, and conflicts with Native peoples made the governing relationship tenuous. In 1784, East Tennesseans unsuccessfully tried to establish the state of Franklin. After North Carolina ratified the Constitution in 1789, it ceded control of the land to the United States government and became known as the Southwest Territory. The Southwest Territory presented itself to Congress for statehood in 1795, and Tennessee [became](https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/history/tennessee-admitted-union?ref=readtangle.com) the 16th state in 1796. ### Numbers. - [**2,014.**](https://themainemonitor.org/platner-reddit-comments/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=%E2%80%99s%20methodology-,.,-Reporter%20Taylor%20Nichols) The number of comments Graham Platner made on Reddit between July 2009 and November 2021\. - [**24–37.**](https://themainemonitor.org/platner-reddit-comments/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=The%20collection%20spans%20more%20than%20a%20decade%20%E2%80%94%20from%20when%20Platner%20was%20ages%2024%20to%2037%20%E2%80%94%20and%20provides%20a%20rare%20glimpse%20into%20the%20thinking%20of%20a%20candidate%20at%20a%20time%20when%20he%20betrayed%20no%20political%20ambitions%20and%20could%20not%20have%20known%20how%20future%20voters%20might%20have%20viewed%20his%20online%20commentary.%C2%A0) Platner’s age when he made the comments. - [**55% and 28%.**](https://emersoncollegepolling.com/maine-2026-poll-platner-leads-gov-mills-democrats-lead-sen-collins-in-maine/?ref=readtangle.com) The percentage of likely Democratic primary voters in Maine who said they supported Platner and Gov. Janet Mills, respectively, in a March 2026 Emerson College poll conducted before Mills ended her campaign. - [**+4%.**](https://emersoncollegepolling.com/maine-2026-poll-platner-leads-gov-mills-democrats-lead-sen-collins-in-maine/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Platner%E2%80%99s%20favorability%20is%20split%3A%2042%25%20have%20a%20favorable%20view%20of%20him%20and%2038%25%20negative.) Platner’s net favorability rating in a March 2026 Emerson College poll of likely primary voters in Maine. - [**51%–42%.**](https://scholars.unh.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1959&context=survey%5Fcenter%5Fpolls&ref=readtangle.com#page=2) Platner’s lead over Sen. Susan Collins (R) in a head-to-head matchup, according to a May 2026 University of New Hampshire poll of likely general election voters in Maine. - [**49%–38%.**](https://scholars.unh.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1959&context=survey%5Fcenter%5Fpolls&ref=readtangle.com#page=2) Platner’s polling lead over Collins in February. ### The extras. - **One year ago today** we had just published a Friday edition from Isaac on [his relationship with Zionism](https://www.readtangle.com/leaving-zionism-israel-gaza-hamas-isaac-saul/). - **The most clicked link in our last regular newsletter** was [Google search, without the AI overview](https://udm14.com/?ref=readtangle.com). - **Nothing to do with politics:** Where to find [an empty movie screening near you](https://walzr.com/empty-screenings?ref=readtangle.com). - **Our last survey:** 1,885 readers responded to our survey on the 2024 Democratic National Convention with 48% saying they would prefer a thorough analysis over a timely one. “There is no reason it couldn’t be thorough and timely,” one respondent said. “Although, what’s really the point? I’m more interested in what they do now,” said another. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/06/data-src-image-6524e83d-68df-4a65-90c8-30949281910b.png) ### Have a nice day. Rustom Basumatary spent his childhood as a poacher hunting small game inside Manas National Park as part of his upbringing in the Indigenous Bodo community; now, he’s one of Northeast India’s most celebrated environmentalists. Basumatary grew up to become a park guide, help rediscover the critically endangered white-bellied heron, and found a youth conservation initiative to pass that work to the next generation. “For every tree I plant, there are many people ready to cut it down,” he said. “Conservation is not easy; it’s a tough task. Still, we are doing it, and we will continue our efforts.” In 2023, he received the Assam Gaurav Award for his conservation efforts, one of the region’s top civilian honors. [Good Good Good has the story](https://www.goodgoodgood.co/articles/poacher-turned-conservationist-national-park?ref=readtangle.com). ### The Sunday — May 31 URL: https://www.readtangle.com/the-sunday-may-31-2026/ Last updated: 2026-05-31T13:10:12.000Z *This is the Tangle Sunday Edition, a brief roundup of our independent politics coverage plus some extra features for your Sunday morning reading.* ### What the right is doodling. ![Gary Varvel | Creators Syndicate](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/05/data-src-image-5e44b94f-5a8c-4b74-a066-bfeae8dbc172.jpeg) Gary Varvel | Creators Syndicate ### What the left is doodling. ![Mike Luckovich| Creators Syndicate](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/05/data-src-image-c8d90924-f48a-4236-9246-bb5c5ff4b5cc.jpeg) Mike Luckovich| Creators Syndicate ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/05/data-src-image-c806c5d7-0e26-4640-85a7-1308e8e250a5.png) ### Suspension of the Rules. After some discussion of aliens last week, Isaac, Ari, and Kmele move on to the next big thing: athletes using steroids! After some discussion of cheating in sports, they dive deep into the electoral ramifications of Tuesday’s primary runoffs. Plus, Isaac addresses some criticisms, the guys speculate on Rep. Thomas Kean’s (R-NJ) absence, and Kmele tries to defend the indefensible. [Check it out here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ChKaCrVWyTU&ref=readtangle.com)! ### Monday, May 25. *Tangle did not release a newsletter in observance of Memorial Day.* ### Tuesday, May 26. [Tulsi Gabbard’s resignation](https://www.readtangle.com/tulsi-gabbard-dni-resigns/). On Friday, May 22, Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard announced her resignation, effective June 30, to support her husband as he fights a rare form of bone cancer. Gabbard will become the fourth cabinet secretary to leave the second Trump administration, following former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and former Attorney General Pam Bondi, who were fired, and former Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer, who resigned in April. President Donald Trump said that Principal Deputy DNI Aaron Lukas will serve as acting director when Gabbard officially departs. **Our take:** *“Gabbard is doing the admirable thing by supporting her husband, and I wish them the best. Her political career up to becoming DNI was confounding to watch. It’s hard to view her tenure in Trump’s administration as anything but a failure.”* **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/05/data-src-image-586fdb49-5b86-4ae6-ac06-a5f4f9278463.png) ### Wednesday, May 27. [The 2026 Texas primary runoffs](https://www.readtangle.com/texas-primary-runoff-paxton-cornyn/). On Tuesday, May 26, Texas voters participated in a slate of primary runoff elections, including a highly publicized Republican Senate primary between state Attorney General Ken Paxton and incumbent Sen. John Cornyn. Paxton defeated Cornyn by a 27.6-point margin and will go on to face state Rep. James Talarico (D) in the general election. In other races, state Sen. Mayes Middleton beat U.S. Rep. Chip Roy for the Republican nomination for attorney general, and state Sen. Nathan Johnson defeated former Galveston Mayor Joe Jaworski in the Democratic attorney general contest. In the race for lieutenant governor, the second-highest executive office in the state, state Rep. Vikki Goodwin won the Democratic runoff. **Our take:** *“Paxton’s victory over Cornyn means that, however the Texas Senate race turns out, more heat and division is sure to follow. Trump’s endorsement probably helped Paxton as much as Cornyn’s misalignment with primary voters hurt him. I worry that voters tolerating Paxton’s long list of scandals is a sign our political cynicism is running deeper and deeper.”* **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/05/data-src-image-9c1aa9d8-5f96-497b-8175-60d497f4eb72.png) ### Thursday, May 28. [The DNC’s 2024 election retrospective](https://www.readtangle.com/dnc-2024-election-postmortem/). On Thursday, May 21, the Democratic National Committee (DNC) released a report examining the party’s performance in the 2024 elections. The 192-page postmortem argued that Democrats must “organize everywhere to Win Anywhere” and particularly advocated for a “renewed focus on the voters of Middle America and the South.” However, the organization distanced itself from the document’s findings. In a Substack post accompanying the report’s release, DNC Chair Ken Martin said, “I don’t endorse what’s in this report, or what’s left out of it.” **Our take:** *“The report is about as bad as it’s being portrayed. Its greatest failure is an unwillingness to draw firm, actionable conclusions. Democrats want to move on from 2024, but this saga shows their organizational challenges remain prevalent.”* **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/05/data-src-image-2c7793a8-7fe8-4d66-9f35-d5a5ac0a66b8.png) ### Friday, May 29. Tangle has been featuring reader essays in the Sunday edition for nearly three years, and we’ve built up quite the archive. To celebrate our readers’ fantastic contributions, this week’s Friday edition featured ten of our favorite reader essays, covering topics like smartphones, hot dogs, student protests, and airport security. Our list of selections is free to all readers, but the essays themselves are for paid members only. [Check them out here](https://www.readtangle.com/best-reader-essays-tangle-favorites/). --- ### What just happened. Here’s a rundown of the major stories that have broken since our newsletter on Thursday. - On Thursday, the Trump Accounts app launched, allowing parents or guardians to establish and manage the tax-preferred investment accounts on their children’s behalf. The federal government plans to make a one-time $1,000 deposit into eligible accounts beginning July 4\. ([The launch](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-accounts-app-launch-today-savings/?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Thursday, the Commerce Department announced that the personal consumption expenditures (PCE) index, the Federal Reserve’s preferred measure of inflation, increased 3.8% on an annual basis in April, up from 3.5% in March and the highest rate since May 2023\. The PCE rose 0.4% on a monthly basis, down from 0.7% in March. ([The numbers](https://apnews.com/article/economy-inflation-tariffs-gasoline-consumer-spending-4f59d739153d66682b6fbc2b457f5df6?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Thursday, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said his department is preparing to print $250 bills bearing President Donald Trump’s face, though he acknowledged that doing so would require Congressional authorization to create an exception to prohibitions on putting a living person on U.S. currency. ([The comments](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/trump-administration-prepares-proposed-250-bill-presidents-face-rcna347414?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Friday, Louisiana lawmakers approved a new congressional map that will eliminate one of the state’s two majority-black districts and likely net Republicans an additional seat in the U.S. House. In April, the Supreme Court cleared the way for the new map with a ruling that narrowed the application of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. ([The approval](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/29/us/politics/louisiana-redistricting-map-majority-black-district.html?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Friday, a federal judge blocked a plan to rename the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts to include President Trump’s name. The judge also ruled that the center’s board improperly voted to approve a two-year closure and renovation, which was set to begin this summer. ([The rulings](https://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/5901706-kennedy-center-closure-renamin-halted/?ref=readtangle.com)) Separately, on Friday, a federal judge temporarily halted the Trump administration’s $1.776 billion “anti-weaponization” fund, ruling that the administration cannot take further action to establish the fund while challenges play out in court. ([The order](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/judge-halts-trump-anti-weaponization-fund-jan-6-prosecutor-files-suit-rcna347539?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Friday, law enforcement officials arrested an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent in Texas. The agent is charged with four counts of second-degree assault and filing a false police report in connection with the shooting of a Venezuelan immigrant in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in January. ([The arrest](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/29/us/ice-agent-arrested-minnesota-shooting-immigrant.html?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Friday, President Trump met with top advisers at the White House to discuss a potential deal to extend the U.S.–Iran ceasefire and reopen the Strait of Hormuz to commercial traffic. However, the president reportedly did not decide on whether to accept the deal. ([The meeting](https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-war-ceasefire-nuclear-talks-cac5206df0f0c7b79fe9321c08d63096?ref=readtangle.com)) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/05/data-src-image-ba298576-a929-446d-9d98-3ed97ea93190.png) ### Reader essay. ![Image by https://www.magnific.com](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/05/data-src-image-78f69228-35ec-4662-b104-b019053099ab.png) Image by [https://www.magnific.com](https://www.magnific.com/?ref=readtangle.com) A regular game of chess — played in a public park or casually among friends — may seem simple, quiet, and even relaxing. But the world of competitive chess is much more intense, bringing with it high-stakes environments and stringent practice regimens. This week, an anonymous competitive chess player reader takes us into that world, explaining what they’ve learned about how the best of the best compete. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### What It Really Takes to Be a Competitive Chess Player URL: https://www.readtangle.com/otherposts/what-it-really-takes-to-be-a-competitive-chess-player/ Last updated: 2026-07-06T12:17:23.000Z *By Anonymous* --- A game of chess played in the open might appear to be a simple, quiet game, but most of the winning is actually done away from the board. Everything from training to recovery, sleeping, and travelling can affect a player’s performance. This holds regardless of whether the player is taking part in an over-the-board tournament or playing online in preparation for live events. For a number of years now, I have been tracking and observing the world of competitive chess and how it is increasingly becoming intertwined in the realm of strategy games and modern chess culture. I'd like to remain anonymous to protect my standing in the community, but I participate in a few online chess tournaments and follow the progress of international chess and e-sports games. Having gone through more than a dozen sites for chess and games, I have found that enjoying a game of chess is a very different experience than preparing for, or participating in, for real games. ## What Competitive Chess Players Do Behind the Scenes ![Image by https://www.magnific.com ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/05/data-src-image-16e12234-623e-4662-adc5-491ad07f90d4.png) **Image by* [**https://www.magnific.com*](https://www.magnific.com/?ref=readtangle.com) It’s not hard to get a sense of a chess player’s life during a tournament — news reports, interviews, and the players’ own accounts paint a fairly accurate picture. But once the tournament ends, we return to our usual routines, which are less familiar even to those who follow chess news. *Every professional chess player spends far less time on “just the game” than most people think.* The game itself is only the visible part. Most of the real work happens before and after the game. What you usually do not see includes: - Building and updating opening files - Checking pairings and likely opponents - Preparing specific lines before the round - Managing nerves and conserving mental energy - Recovering quickly after a bad result From my experience, even one weekend chess tournament demands early travel, a cramped schedule, and long breaks that still feel draining. On top of that, I also need to switch from calculation mode to recovery mode fast. That is why strong players that I’ve competed with often look more disciplined than dramatic. A good tournament run usually comes from simple habits done well: _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### The best of your best. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/best-reader-essays-tangle-favorites/ Last updated: 2026-05-29T15:52:46.000Z **I’m Isaac Saul, and this is Tangle. You are reading a post that contains links to previewed versions of members-only reader essays. To read them in full,* [**you'll be asked to subscribe*](https://www.readtangle.com/membership/)**.* ****Did someone forward you this email?** [****Sign up here**](https://www.readtangle.com/)****.** --- One of my favorite things about Tangle is our audience. During the first few years of writing this newsletter, it became apparent to me that our readers were a resource. They had such different life experiences, knowledge, and insights that we could tap into. From the start, I’ve made a habit of regularly publishing reader feedback, dedicating newsletters to criticism, or just engaging in lengthy email exchanges with readers who would push back on my writing and then teach me about their understandings of the world or experiences they had. But over time, I wanted to formalize the relationship a bit, and we came up with the idea of publishing reader essays. These are stories written by our readers, edited by the Tangle team, and published as part of our members-only Sunday newsletter (which also includes comics, recaps, recommendations, reader feedback, and other assorted goods from the internet). We just have one requirement: To be considered for publication, the essay must be grounded in a personal experience. We’ve built the Tangle collection of reader essays slowly, one reader essay a week. But as The Sunday approaches its third birthday, they’ve added up. We now have a robust archive of reader writing, spanning all manner of stories and topics. And over the years, we’ve published *a lot* of great essays. We realized recently that we probably haven’t given all these essays the exposure they deserve (since we rarely promote them outside the Sunday newsletter), so today we decided to do that. Our editorial team wrestled over our 10 favorite essays, put the list together, offered some brief descriptions, and linked out to them for your reading pleasure. I hope you enjoy and — of course — if you want to *contribute* a reader essay to our Sunday edition, please know that you can always pitch a piece by filling out [this form](https://forms.gle/aigkWGv5QQbwerCX8?ref=readtangle.com). **Note: If you are already a paid member, you’ll need to be logged into the website to read the essays in full. If you are not yet a paid member, you’ll** [**need to subscribe to unlock them**](https://www.readtangle.com/membership/)**.** --- ## The essays. ### [Going dumb was the smartest thing I’ve done](https://www.readtangle.com/otherposts/going-dumb-was-the-smartest-thing-ive-done/). ![The author's family in Buttersville, Michigan | Photo from Cristin Marker](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/05/image-15.png) The author's family in Buttersville, Michigan | Photo from Cristin Marker If you wanted to go “dumb,” could you? Kansas Citian Cristin Marker confronted that question in 2023 after noticing that she couldn’t peel herself away from her phone, even on vacation to a place with minimal cell service. Her subsequent decision to move from a smartphone to a “dumb” one brought several challenges, but also some valuable life lessons and an improved relationship with technology. She writes about the key takeaways she learned and advises how to navigate the challenges of going dumb. ### [All the pretty hot dogs](https://www.readtangle.com/otherposts/all-the-pretty-hot-dogs/). ![New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner eating hot dog during spring training game, FL 3/20/1994 | Getty Images](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/05/image-16.png) New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner eating hot dog during spring training game, FL 3/20/1994 | Getty Images Hot Dog Hysteria at Centennial Field in Burlington, Vermont, may be just one of a number of gimmicky ballpark promotions in America; but it’s the gimmicky promotion for Carl Crawford’s local team, the Vermont Lake Monsters, and he argues that 25-cent dog days are special. Carl peppers in some local baseball lore and throws salt on other cheap giveaway days in this well seasoned summer classic about baseball, hot dogs, and the beauty of community spaces. ### [Witness](https://www.readtangle.com/otherposts/witness-malibu-fire/). ![Pages from books, blown by the furnace and caught in tree branches | Photo from Alyson Dutch](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/05/image-17.png) Pages from books, blown by the furnace and caught in tree branches | Photo from Alyson Dutch Alyson Dutch lost her home in the Palisades Fire at the start of 2025\. While processing the devastation, she also witnessed firsthand the efforts of rescue and recovery workers tasked with the grueling work of clearing the disaster area. Here, she offers an ode to civil services and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers crew that helped her begin her personal rebuilding process. ### [From the border of identity, politics, and medicine](https://www.readtangle.com/otherposts/from-the-border-of-identity-politics-and-medicine/). ![The Lytle Community Health Center | USDA](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/05/image-18.png) The Lytle Community Health Center | USDA In this seminal Tangle reader essay, a physician, writing anonymously, discusses the challenging topic of gender dysphoria and transgender care, detailing how both sides of the political spectrum sidestep scientific findings when debating the issue. The piece is grounded in the author’s own complicated identity, which subverts expectations in ways that will surprise you. ### [Terrorphobia](https://www.readtangle.com/otherposts/terrorphobia/). ![Neil Moralee | Flickr](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/05/image-19.png) Neil Moralee | Flickr What do Orb-weaver spiders and the Transportation Security Administration have in common? You’ll have to read software engineer John Randolph’s essay to find out. His piece makes the case for a bold public policy change that might catch you off guard at first, but it gradually takes hold as John weaves his argumentative web. ### [Protests and purity tests at Pomona](https://www.readtangle.com/otherposts/protests-and-purity-tests-at-pomona/). ### ![Protesters obstruct staircase, denying professor access to his office | Photo from Kendall White](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/05/image-20.png) Protesters obstruct staircase, denying professor access to his office | Photo from Kendall White The 2023 and 2024 academic years were periods of upheaval, as students on campuses across the United States protested the war in Gaza, sometimes taking extreme measures to express their displeasure with their school’s response. At Pomona College in Southern California, hundreds of student protesters took over one of the school’s main academic buildings on the first anniversary of Hamas’s October 7 attacks, vandalizing the building and keeping at least one professor from accessing their office. Kendall White, a sophomore student-journalist, was in the building chronicling the incident. What she couldn’t know then was that her reporting would kick off a campus controversy of its own. ### [An American abroad, and in Japan — 50 years](https://www.readtangle.com/otherposts/an-american-abroad-and-in-japan-50-years/). ### ![Karen, Billy, and daughter Nanao, a week before leaving the U.S., Summer 1974 | Photo from Karen Hill Anton](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/05/image-21.png) Karen, Billy, and daughter Nanao, a week before leaving the U.S., Summer 1974 | Photo from Karen Hill Anton Writer and Tangle reader Karen Hill Anton was born in New York — but for the past 50 years, she’s lived in rural Japan with her husband and children. Karen chronicles her life abroad in anecdotal snippets, from her husband’s time in a strict dojo, to the fox that nibbled on a pie on her windowsill, to John Denver’s visit to her isolated farmhouse. Along the way, she observes how Japan went from being a mysterious but beautiful country to becoming her home. ### [Seattle Public Schools is making a huge mistake](https://www.readtangle.com/otherposts/seattle-public-schools-is-making-a-huge-mistake/). ![Digital art by OpenAI. Prompt: Child sitting with book in hallway by himself, beige lighting, digital art.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/05/image-22.png) Digital art by OpenAI. Prompt: Child sitting with book in hallway by himself, beige lighting, digital art. In 2023, the Seattle Public Schools system announced it was making a “change” to its advanced learning programs — in reality, it was doing away with them completely. An anonymous middle school teacher wrote in to criticize the district’s decision, saying it was taking the easy way out of solving an equity concern. Rather than help the most struggling students rise up, she argued the district was opting instead to try to create equitable outcomes by removing options for its highest achievers. ### [The forgotten unforgotten](https://www.readtangle.com/otherposts/the-forgotten-unforgotten/). ### ![Photo from Amy Liu Longacre](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/05/image-23.png) Photo from Amy Liu Longacre When Amy Liu Longacre learned that her unborn child had anencephaly, a universally fatal condition, she faced an excruciating choice: abort the baby, the medical recommendation, or carry her child to term, at which point it would die within a few days. Amy, now a mother of three, wrestled with that choice, her longstanding pro-life convictions, and her faith. The piece offers up many questions to grapple with, while giving readers a look into one couple’s harrowing — and often, beautiful — experience expecting their first child. ### [I am free, you are wage-slaves](https://www.readtangle.com/otherposts/i-am-free-you-are-wage-slaves/). ![Art by Veronica Post ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/05/IMG_6067--1-.jpeg) Art by Veronica Post In this illustrated essay, award-winning comic artist Veronica Post shares her response to a Friday edition we [published](https://www.readtangle.com/the-drifters-lament-i-miss-being-homeless/) in December 2025 by guest author A.M. Hickman, who recounted his years as a homeless “drifter.” Post’s piece reflects on her own time as a drifter, blending humor, introspection, and philosophy to scrutinize Hickman’s ideas. It’s one of the most distinctive pieces we’ve ever published. **We’re always interested to hear about the interesting stories from the lives of our readers. Do you have a personal story, or some local issue, that you want to write about? Pitch us! Fill out* [**this form*](https://forms.gle/aigkWGv5QQbwerCX8?ref=readtangle.com) *or reply to this email, and we’ll get back to you if we’re hooked.* --- ## Finally, an update. If this list excluded your personal favorite reader essay, we hope you’ll share that piece in the comments. And once you’re in the comments section, you may notice some changes. After a lot of demand from our readers, and after a lot of work with (and mostly by) our publication platform, Ghost, we’re thrilled to announce several new commenting features! Comment replies now nest more easily, helping you keep track of conversations. You can also now *downvote* comments that you think violate our [commenting guidelines](https://www.readtangle.com/its-time-for-some-change/#:~:text=laid%20out%20above.-,Guidelines.,-If%20your%20comment). To read more about these changes, you can check out our [FAQ page](https://www.readtangle.com/faq/#:~:text=How%20does%20comment%20nesting%20work%3F). And to join the conversation, [subscribe](https://www.readtangle.com/membership/)! ### This Texas Showdown Says Everything About Politics URL: https://www.readtangle.com/this-texas-showdown-says-everything-about-politics/ Last updated: 2026-05-29T00:03:09.000Z Is the Paxton vs. Talarico race the clearest snapshot of American politics right now? ### The DNC’s 2024 election postmortem. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/dnc-2024-election-postmortem/ Last updated: 2026-05-28T15:53:50.000Z *I'm Isaac Saul, and this is Tangle: an independent, nonpartisan, subscriber-supported politics newsletter that summarizes the best arguments from across the political spectrum on the news of the day — then “my take.”* *Are you new here?* [*Get free emails*](https://www.readtangle.com/) *to your inbox daily. Would you rather listen? You can find our podcast* [*here*](https://shows.acast.com/66510864c0852400122bc7be?ref=readtangle.com)*.* ### Today’s read: 14 minutes. 🟦 Following months of delays, the Democratic National Committee released its 2024 election postmortem — but its contents have drawn criticism. Plus, will the Department of Energy strike a deal to build nuclear power plants? ### Announcing our fourth guest for West Virginia! We’re excited to announce that Free Press columnist Kat Rosenfield will join our on-stage lineup at Tangle’s [next in-person event](https://www.tickettailor.com/events/tanglenews/2210692?ref=readtangle.com) in Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, on June 14\. Kat will share the stage with Tangle Executive Editor Isaac Saul, Editor-at-Large Kmele Foster, and Longview Editor Andy Mills for a conversation about artificial intelligence and national politics. We’re excited to bring the Tangle community together for the latest installment of our live event series, and we’d love to see you there. Tickets are moving fast, and [you can get yours here](https://www.tickettailor.com/events/tanglenews/2210692?ref=readtangle.com)! ### Our latest episode of Suspension of the Rules. After some discussion of aliens last week, Isaac, Ari, and Kmele move on to the next big thing: athletes using steroids! After some discussion of cheating in sports, they dive deep into the electoral ramifications of Tuesday’s primary runoffs. Plus, Isaac addresses some criticisms, the guys speculate on Rep. Thomas Kean’s (R-NJ) absence, and Kmele tries to defend the indefensible. Watch the most recent episode [here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ChKaCrVWyTU&ref=readtangle.com)! ### Quick hits. 1. U.S. Central Command said it shot down Iranian drones directed towards a commercial ship in the Strait of Hormuz, the latest military engagement between the sides amid ongoing peace discussions. ([The incident](https://www.axios.com/2026/05/28/iran-war-us-military-strikes-peace-talks?ref=readtangle.com)) 2. Former President Joe Biden sued the Justice Department, seeking to block the release of audio related to a prior investigation into his handling of classified documents. The lawsuit alleges the potential release is politically motivated. ([The suit](https://www.politico.com/news/2026/05/27/joe-biden-sue-department-of-justice-records-00937987?ref=readtangle.com)) 3. Former Attorney General Pam Bondi shared that she has been diagnosed with thyroid cancer and is undergoing treatment. Bondi said she is “doing well.” ([The diagnosis](https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5897274-former-ag-pam-bondi-says-she-was-diagnosed-with-cancer/?ref=readtangle.com)) 4. Ugandan authorities announced the closure of the country’s border with the Democratic Republic of Congo due to the Ebola outbreak. ([The closure](https://www.dw.com/en/ebola-uganda-closes-border-with-dr-congo-as-virus-spreads/a-77320417?ref=readtangle.com)) Separately, the Trump administration said it will establish a quarantine and treatment facility in Kenya for Americans exposed to Ebola in the region. ([The facility](https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/5898290-trump-administration-ebola-kenya/?ref=readtangle.com)) 5. The Justice Department has reportedly launched an investigation into E. Jean Carroll, the writer who successfully sued President Donald Trump for sexual assault, related to statements she made in a 2022 deposition that she did not receive outside financial support for her two civil lawsuits against the president. ([The report](https://www.cnn.com/2026/05/27/politics/exclusive-justice-department-launched-e-jean-carroll-investigation?ref=readtangle.com)) In Partnership with incogni ****Your personal info is everywhere. Here’s how to erase it.** Your personal data is scattered across hundreds of websites right now. Home addresses, phone numbers, emails, even your family members’ details — all sitting online for anyone who knows where to look. And it doesn’t stop with data brokers. It’s on public records sites, obscure forums, and random people search engines you’ve never heard of. The internet never forgets. But you don’t have to leave your personal info out there. [****With Incogni**](https://deal.incogni.io/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=6&aff%5Fid=1007&ref=readtangle.com), you can remove your private data from hundreds of sites and keep it from showing up again. Take back control today with: - Automated removals from data brokers - Custom removal requests for any site - Continuous protection as new sites pop up. Use code ****TANGLE** today to get an [exclusive 55% discount](https://deal.incogni.io/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=6&aff%5Fid=1007&ref=readtangle.com) on unlimited removals from anywhere that exposes your data. [Claim your 55% discount ](https://deal.incogni.io/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=6&aff%5Fid=1007&ref=readtangle.com) ### Today’s topic. The DNC’s 2024 election retrospective. On Thursday, May 21, the Democratic National Committee (DNC) [released](https://democrats.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/May-20-2026.pdf?ref=readtangle.com) a report examining the party’s performance in the 2024 elections. The 192-page postmortem argued that Democrats must “organize everywhere to Win Anywhere” and particularly advocated for a “renewed focus on the voters of Middle America and the South.” However, the organization distanced itself from the document’s findings. In a Substack post accompanying the report’s release, DNC Chair Ken Martin [said](https://blueprint.democrats.org/p/a-message-from-dnc-chair-ken-martin?ref=readtangle.com), “I don’t endorse what’s in this report, or what’s left out of it.” **Back up:** Martin made a 2024 postmortem [a central part of his campaign](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/dnc-chair-candidates-2024-post-mortem-rcna180688?ref=readtangle.com) for DNC chair. Upon his election, he [asked](https://www.cnn.com/2026/05/21/politics/dnc-autopsy-inside-story?ref=readtangle.com) Democratic consultant Paul Rivera to compile the report, initially slated for a spring 2025 release. However, the retrospective was still in progress in July 2025, though the DNC had reportedly [begun privately circulating](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/19/us/politics/democrats-2024-autopsy-harris-biden.html?ref=readtangle.com) some of its findings. Additionally, reports emerged that the DNC had decided to forgo analyzing key elements of the 2024 presidential election, such as President Joe Biden’s decision to run for reelection before dropping out in July 2024\. In December 2025, Martin [announced](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/%C3%A9lections/dnc-will-not-release-report-went-wrong-d%C3%A9mocrats-2024-rcna249925?ref=readtangle.com) that the DNC would not publicly release the report as expected, instead choosing to focus on its recent victories in off-cycle elections. This decision drew significant criticism, particularly after Martin’s [appearance](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8IwrO-03WU&ref=readtangle.com) defending the decision on the podcast *Pod Save America* in April 2026\. In a Substack post accompanying the release, Martin [apologized](https://blueprint.democrats.org/p/a-message-from-dnc-chair-ken-martin?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=In%20short%2C%20I%20didn%E2%80%99t%20want%20to%20create%20a%20distraction.%20Ironically%2C%20in%20doing%20so%2C%20I%20ended%20up%20creating%20an%20even%20bigger%20distraction.%20And%20for%20that%2C%20I%20sincerely%20apologize.) for his handling of the issue, writing, “I didn’t want to create a distraction. Ironically, in doing so, I ended up creating an even bigger distraction.” CNN was the first outlet [to release](https://www.cnn.com/2026/05/21/politics/dnc-autopsy-inside-story?ref=readtangle.com) the DNC autopsy in full, although it is still missing several sections, including analyses of Democratic performance in House of Representatives races, lists of sources for major claims, an executive summary, and a conclusion. Additionally, much of the report’s provided analyses are unsupported or contradict publicly available information. The DNC later [issued](https://democrats.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/May-20-2026.pdf?ref=readtangle.com) an annotated copy of the report highlighting its errors. The report’s delay and release have drawn significant criticism of Martin and the DNC. Democratic-aligned organizations have criticized the report’s failure to address concerns over Biden’s age and his administration’s handling of the Israel–Hamas war. Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) [told](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/aoc-ro-khanna-dnc-autopsy-gaza-israel%5Fn%5F6a110a61e4b084c012e70061?ref=readtangle.com) reporters, “I mean, you don’t have to be a rocket scientist to know Gaza was one of the big issues in the 2024 election.” In the wake of the release, some Democrats have [called](https://www.axios.com/2026/05/22/dnc-autopsy-ken-martin-2024-resign-democrats?ref=readtangle.com) for Martin to step down. Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA) told Axios “he should resign,” while Dan Pfeiffer, a former Obama adviser and *Pod Save America* cohost, said Martin “could not repair the trust.” Below, we’ll share perspectives on the report from the left and right. Then, Senior Editor Will Kaback gives his take. ### What the left is saying. - **The left says DNC Chair Martin mishandled the report.** - **Some say Democratic leaders are changing strategy regardless of the report’s shortcomings.** - **Others critique the postmortem for omitting substantive policy analysis.** **In MS NOW, Zeeshan Aleem called the DNC report** [**“the worst of all worlds.”**](https://www.ms.now/opinion/dnc-autopsy-report-2024-ken-martin-kamala-gaza?ref=readtangle.com) “If \[Ken Martin\] had followed through on his original promise, this report wouldn’t be shrouded in a fraction of the controversy it is now,” Aleem wrote. “It was initially supposed to come out in spring 2025, but then he delayed and delayed until he ultimately said he refused to release it at all. He had ample time to either clearly lay out expectations for the report’s quality or work to fix what was submitted. And when he torpedoed the report, he did not explain why other than to say the party ought to look forward. The result is a failure on his part: He made a pledge, and he did not fulfill it.” “One can’t help but wonder, too, if Martin has preemptively derided the report as so bad it needed to be shelved because he sought a way to avoid tussling with activists who would’ve assailed the report’s assessment of issues like Gaza,” Aleem said. “If \[the DNC\] had released a report similar to this when it initially was expected to, it would likely have caused a few days of debate between moderate and progressive Democrats… But Martin’s process of delaying it, quashing it and then releasing a sloppy, incomplete report has attracted far more scrutiny than it would’ve gotten otherwise, and made the party look cowardly and incompetent in the process.” **In Vox, Andrew Prokop said** [**“Democrats don’t need an autopsy to know what they did wrong.”**](https://www.vox.com/politics/489493/dnc-autopsy-democrats-2026-strategy?ref=readtangle.com) “If you’re looking for insights into why Democrats lost in 2024, you won’t find many in the DNC’s disavowed ‘autopsy,’” Prokop wrote. “There haven’t really been any dramatic attempts by Democrats to change their party brand going forward… But behind closed doors, among Democratic elites, a reckoning has indeed taken place — and a quiet consensus about at least part of the path forward has emerged. “The most obvious midterm plan is a laser focus on affordability and on criticizing President Donald Trump, evident in campaigns across the country… Democrats have also recalibrated on various other issues where many in the party believe they’d gotten too far out of sync with mainstream voters over the past decade — most notably, border security, crime, climate change, and identity issues,” Prokop said. “This more restrained approach to changing the party’s image may well pay off in the midterms.” **In The New Republic, Alex Shephard argued** [**“Gaza wasn’t the biggest omission”**](https://newrepublic.com/article/210865/democrats-2024-autopsy-gaza-omission-inflation-biden-age?ref=readtangle.com) **in the report.** “If you’ve read anything about the Democrats’ ‘autopsy’ of its 2024 election loss… it probably highlighted what the report doesn’t include: any mention of Gaza,” Shephard wrote. “But the overriding focus on this one omission misses a more important point. The problem with the DNC autopsy isn’t just that it doesn’t mention Gaza. It’s that it ignores policy and, for that matter, politics — how policies are messaged, and what role they play in coalition building — altogether.” “A report that reckoned with aspects of Democratic messaging and voter targeting, while also examining political and policy issues like Gaza, inflation, and Biden’s stubborn refusal to hold onto power, could be useful,” Shephard said. “But that would have been too obvious a path for Ken Martin, it seems… The document itself may be useless, but it has yielded one important lesson nonetheless: The DNC needs new leadership.” ### What the right is saying. - **The right critiques the DNC report for avoiding the party’s biggest problems.** - **Some argue that retrospective reports are mostly irrelevant.** - **Others say the postmortem proves Democrats don’t know what voters want.** **In The Washington Times, Kelly Sadler argued** [**“the Democratic party is in total disarray.”**](https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/may/25/leaderless-rudderless-democrats/?ref=readtangle.com) “To call \[the report\] an embarrassment is an understatement. It was a humiliating exercise that exposed the party’s inability to self-reflect. Nowhere in the document is it critical of the party’s cover-up of former President Joe Biden’s clear cognitive decline, no mention of his disastrous debate with President Trump, and no blame on Mr. Biden for dropping out of the race early,” Sadler wrote. “There was no mention of inflation, boys competing against girls in sports, gas prices, pronouns, Gaza, or religion of any kind.” “Realigning their party before the midterms and the 2028 presidential election also seems far off,” Sadler said. “Democrats haven’t shifted on any of their losing 2024 policy stances, which include a weakened border, support for illegal aliens, transgenders competing in women’s sports, and being soft on crime. The only economic policy they rally around is ‘Tax the rich’ as they point to raising taxes as a policy achievement… Indeed, the only good thing going for Republicans is that Democrats are a complete mess.” **In the New York Post, Rich Lowry said** [**“Democrats should be grateful that the stakes of their autopsy are so low.”**](https://nypost.com/2026/05/21/opinion/why-dncs-belated-2024-election-autopsy-term-paper-warrants-a-d-grade/?ref=readtangle.com) “The report acknowledges that Democrats are out of touch and too dependent on the Republicans making poor candidate choices… It fails to grapple with the issues of inflation and immigration,” Lowry wrote. “The history of such party appraisals isn’t a good one. Donald Trump won the presidency in 2016 by taking the recommendations of the GOP autopsy after its 2012 election defeat and basically doing the opposite. Democrats may be rudderless and increasingly extreme, but that doesn’t mean they won’t have a good election night this coming November. “Usually, a party that has just lost the White House rises or falls in the midterms based on the incumbent president’s job approval, rather than its own political creativity or inherent appeal,” Lowry said. “As for winning the White House, that typically depends on nominating someone who is charismatic and fresh, who has an unexpected approach to politics, and who develops a new coalition — think Barack Obama in 2008, or Donald Trump in 2016\. None of this comes about by having a political strategist talk to a bunch of people about the immediate past election and write a long report about it.” **In Los Angeles Times, Jonah Goldberg compared Democrats to a business executive asking** [**“‘why aren’t we selling more dog food?’”**](https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2026-05-26/democratic-party-autopsy-somehow-disappointed-everyone?ref=readtangle.com) “\[In an apocryphal story, a dog food exec asked\], ‘Why aren’t we selling more dog food?’ After a long silence, a small voice from the back ventures a guess: ‘Maybe the dogs don’t like it’... Simply put, the ideological activist base can’t accept that the dogs don’t actually like what they’re being served. This denial has a long history,” Goldberg wrote. “Ever since FDR’s administration, both parties have organized around an enduring myth of American politics: If everyone voted, Democrats would win. This idea more than any other explains why Republicans favor tighter controls around voting and Democrats want looser ones.” “Another related assumption by Democrats: We’re obviously right, so we just have to do better at getting our message out,” Goldberg said. “The autopsy offers more of the same, arguing that Democrats need to copy the ‘always on’ media and activist infrastructure of the right… Now, as tradecraft, none of this is indefensible. But in context, it’s the same argument that has hobbled Democrats for decades: There’s nothing wrong with our dog food, we just need a better ad campaign.” ### My take. **Reminder: “My take” is a section where we give ourselves space to share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, don't unsubscribe. Write in by replying to this email, or** [**leave a comment**](https://www.readtangle.com/dnc-2024-election-postmortem/#ghost-comments-root)**.** - **The report is about as bad as it’s being portrayed.** - **Its greatest failure is an unwillingness to draw firm, actionable conclusions.** - **Democrats want to move on from 2024, but this saga shows their organizational challenges remain prevalent.** **Senior Editor Will Kaback:** I’ll admit, I read all of the negative articles about the Democratic National Committee’s 2024 election report before I read a word of the report itself. If you’ve read any of those articles over the past week, you know they’re brutal — whether they’re coming from the left or right. Case in point: We reviewed 32 pieces of commentary for today’s edition (15 from the left and 17 from the right), and not a single one had a positive slant on the report or its takeaways. My contrarian instincts pushed me to seek out redeeming qualities in the report when I finally read it. I was confident that I could unearth the overlooked, valuable, thought-provoking insights buried in the lengthy document that others had ignored, either for lack of interest or fear of deviating from the emerging consensus. But… yeah. This is about as bad as advertised. The report lacks a clear, consistent theory of the election or any grounding argument that connects the disparate pieces of evidence presented across its many sections. In fact, the sections where that theory *should* go were literally omitted (see below). The postmortem’s only throughline is the DNC’s apparent incompetence at every stage of compiling, presenting, and releasing it. ![Page 21 of the annotated DNC autopsy report, “What Happened (Electoral Review)”](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/05/data-src-image-d79d65ab-c0af-41f3-b939-22537d19d481.png) Page 21 of the annotated DNC autopsy report, “What Happened (Electoral Review)” The DNC destroyed its own report’s credibility before anyone else had a chance to. Take a look for yourself — all 192 pages are [tagged with a bright-red header](https://democrats.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/May-20-2026.pdf?ref=readtangle.com) that states, “This document reflects the views of the author, not the DNC,” effectively turning its author — a consultant [handpicked](https://www.axios.com/2026/05/21/democrats-2024-autopsy-released?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Martin%20made%20the%20autopsy%20a%20centerpiece%20of%20his%20run%20for%20DNC%20chair%2C%20and%20then%20hired%20a%20close%20ally%20to%20write%20it%20%E2%80%94%20Paul%20Rivera%2C%20a%20veteran%20Democratic%20strategist%20who%20hadn%27t%20worked%20on%20a%20presidential%20campaign%20in%20more%20than%20two%20decades.) by DNC Chair Martin — into a whipping boy for the DNC to excise from their political body and castigate. That disclaimer also says “the DNC was not provided with the underlying sourcing, interviews, or supporting data” for a report that *the DNC commissioned*. As if that weren’t enough, the DNC thoroughly annotated the autopsy to highlight factual errors, mystery sourcing, and tenuous conclusions. It’s like a tennis coach trotting out a woefully unprepared player and loudly proclaiming how weak and ineffective they are before a single point has been played. Is that more of a reflection on the player or the coach? With that said, preemptive self-reproach was probably the best option available. The report isn’t close to finished, almost comically so. The executive summary is [blank](https://democrats.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/May-20-2026.pdf?ref=readtangle.com#page=7). Large portions of the “What happened” section, which you’d think would be one of the most important parts of a postmortem analysis, are [blank](https://democrats.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/May-20-2026.pdf?ref=readtangle.com#page=21). Most sections lack any sourcing for their core claims. And to cap it off, the conclusion is also [blank](https://democrats.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/May-20-2026.pdf?ref=readtangle.com#page=189). Equally perplexing, the content that *is* there contains huge factual errors beyond what you’d expect in a first draft, like the [claim](https://democrats.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/May-20-2026.pdf?ref=readtangle.com#page=16) that a Capitol Police officer was “beaten to death by the insurrectionists” on January 6, or the [suggestion](https://democrats.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/May-20-2026.pdf?ref=readtangle.com#page=18) that 2022 Republican Senate candidate Herschel Walker would have done “little more than rubber \[stamp\] the president’s agenda” (the president in 2022 was, of course, Joe Biden). Even a year after its initial due date, the report was still nowhere near ready for primetime. But given its length and the time already sunk into it, you’d expect it to contain some concrete analysis. It is dense with charts, polling and numbers (albeit unsourced), including findings on how different campaigns deployed capital and what kinds of media placements they prioritized. Frustratingly, though, it avoids drawing direct conclusions. The report spends dozens of pages making painstaking comparisons between Democratic and Republican strategies, building to five empty corporate-speak [recommendations](https://democrats.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/May-20-2026.pdf?ref=readtangle.com#page=173), such as “define lanes for communications ecosystem” and “upskill organizing staff to meet the moment.” Ironically, these takeaways embody the exact kind of wooden, HR-approved rhetoric that a better report would have identified as part of the reason Democrats failed to connect with voters in 2024. The media section [contains](https://democrats.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/May-20-2026.pdf?ref=readtangle.com#page=40) a bit more meat, breaking down ad spending by party and medium and showing that Republicans spent less across virtually all categories and got more bang for their buck. Some tangible analysis follows: how Democrats may have overinvested in media at the end of the election cycle instead of creating a more balanced spread at all times, and how media could have been targeted differently for a phone vs. a tablet vs. a television, and so on. Salient stuff, sure. But again, the document rarely moves from modes of messaging to the message itself. Instead, it’s more corporate speak — Democrats need to meet voters “wherever they are,” they need to be “always on,” they need to “inhabit the habits of voters,” they need to “[LISTEN](https://democrats.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/May-20-2026.pdf?ref=readtangle.com#page=60).” That should do it. A deathly allergy to potentially controversial stances pervades the document. One section compares Kamala Harris’s performance in North Carolina (which she lost) to then-state Attorney General Josh Stein’s performance in the state’s gubernatorial election (which he won). It [tees up](https://democrats.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/May-20-2026.pdf?ref=readtangle.com#page=28) some thorny topics — like “The Male Voter Problem” — but the takeaways are threadbare. “Harris saw dramatic drops in support among young Latino men and young Black men compared to Biden’s 2020 performance,” it reads. “However, Stein recovered significant ground with both groups, suggesting his campaign found effective ways to reach these voters.” What were those strategies? The report doesn’t say, moving swiftly onto “Educational Polarization,” with more unexplored allusions to Stein’s comparatively better performance among white non-college voters. The closest thing to a conclusion it [offers](https://democrats.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/May-20-2026.pdf?ref=readtangle.com#page=31) is that Harris focused too much on women, which still doesn’t explore what made Stein’s approach effective or how those differences explain an 11-point gap with male voters. Finally, as most commentators noted, the absence of any discussion on the war in Gaza or of President Biden’s fitness for office is conspicuous. Obviously, any statement would have become a lightning rod for criticism — or more likely, as Zeeshan Aleem wrote (under “What the left is saying”), “a few days of debate between moderate and progressive Democrats.” Instead, they chose to say nothing about two of the campaign’s biggest issues, and the absence became the story. Once again, the failure (or unwillingness) to wade into choppy waters renders the entire exercise pointless. The report isn’t completely bereft of value. Certain passages are strikingly lucid on the party’s ongoing challenges. “Since the high point of the 2008 Obama landslide… the Democratic Party has vacillated between stagnation and retrogression,” one early section [reads](https://democrats.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/May-20-2026.pdf?ref=readtangle.com#page=10). “These hair-splitting margins of defeat \[in 2024\] may lead some to argue Democrat leadership and candidates may need less changing of their message and approach and more massaging of their ideas for widespread adoption… This kind of thinking — denialist at its core — prevents the Party from seeking real accountability,” reads another. As someone who felt national Democrats badly misread the electorate in 2024, these lines feel spot on. It’s strange, then, that the ensuing pages embody that same denialist attitude, avoiding discussing solutions to broad directional problems in favor of more arcane issues about ad placements and managing campaign funds. I honestly feel for DNC Chair Martin, but he has no one to blame but himself for his situation. This entire fiasco flowed from his promise to conduct this audit while campaigning for chair; that commitment eventually left him with no good choices, stuck between the escalating speculation about what he was “hiding” in the report and his knowledge that the document would only serve to embarrass the party. He should have ripped the bandage off earlier, yes, but given the no-win situation he was in, releasing the report — as shoddy as it is — was ultimately the right decision. Before he relented, Martin argued that it was pointless to release the report now, with the midterms months away. I suspect many Tangle readers had a similar response when they saw today’s topic. I’ll be the first to say that this document — even if it had been completed on time — won’t greatly impact the midterms or the 2028 presidential election. The campaigns the parties run and the political conditions during the elections will matter far more. However, I think this line of thought misses the entire point of why voters wanted this audit in the first place. Everyone knows Democrats failed in 2024\. Many people have their theories about why, and they all want to see what the DNC learned: Did the party err in how it handled Biden’s age and fitness issues? What were Harris’s weaknesses as a candidate? How impactful was the war in Gaza? And how do Democrats change voters’ perception that they’re inauthentic? The DNC’s ongoing inability to grapple with these critical issues raises another set of uncomfortable questions. Have Democrats actually learned any hard lessons from 2024, or are they simply banking on being “anti-Trump”? Are they organized and competent enough to capitalize on the current political environment, or might they squander a potential blue wave? What happens when President Trump is gone? I don’t think these questions are going away, even with this report now (mercifully) in the rearview mirror. ****Staff concurrence — Managing Editor Ari Weitzman:** For all the disclaimers the DNC ran in its annotated document, the report’s main issue does not seem to stem from its author but from the project’s management. Why hire one person — a shifty, [unpaid](https://youtu.be/h8IwrO-03WU?si=WHxXod4k0fl4tRjs&t=431&ref=readtangle.com) politico [described](https://www.politico.com/news/2026/05/22/dnc-autopsy-author-was-previously-part-of-another-democratic-humiliation-00934115?ref=readtangle.com) as someone “who didn’t know what the fuck he was talking about” — to publish a report if you actually cared about what it said? The root decision to exclude any 2024 campaign stakeholder from contributing to this postmortem — to outsource a self-reflection — was Ken Martin’s biggest error. **Take the survey:** What would you want to see from a 2024 DNC postmortem? [Let us know](https://interrobang.vercel.app/survey/a2cb8399-ef32-48dd-8f8d-53f5deedf710?ref=readtangle.com). *Disagree? That's okay. Our opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we'll consider publishing your feedback.* In Partnership with Incogni Your personal info is basically floating around the internet like a cursed Craigslist couch. Addresses, phone numbers, relatives — it’s all out there. [Incogni helps scrub your data](https://deal.incogni.io/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=6&aff%5Fid=1007&ref=readtangle.com) from hundreds of sketchy people-search sites automatically. [****Use code TANGLE for 55% off**](https://deal.incogni.io/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=6&aff%5Fid=1007&ref=readtangle.com) before some random website knows more about you than your mom does. ### Under the radar. On Tuesday, the Energy Department identified five companies for “advanced negotiations” on a potential plan to repurpose Cold War–era weapons-grade plutonium as fuel for nuclear power plants. The plan could address a key hurdle to building out nuclear power infrastructure: a dearth of enriched uranium for fuel. However, some nuclear nonproliferation advocates and lawmakers have questioned the plan, noting the technical and financial challenges encountered by similar efforts in the past. [The New York Times has the story](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/26/climate/plutonium-nuclear-weapons-fuel.html?ref=readtangle.com). ### A deeper look. ![Presidential candidate Bill Clinton at a rally in 1992 | Wikimedia Commons](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/05/data-src-image-501ce923-b3a4-475d-89a9-50e815e546b3.png) Presidential candidate Bill Clinton at a rally in 1992 | [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bill%5FClinton%5F1992.jpg?ref=readtangle.com) Parties responding to defeat with election postmortems and reorganization isn’t new, though the methods of analysis have certainly evolved. After President Jimmy Carter’s loss to Ronald Reagan in 1980, Rep. Gillis Long (D-LA) created the Committee on Party Effectiveness (CPE) in 1981 to [spearhead a reorganization](https://www.jstor.org/stable/2152360?seq=4&ref=readtangle.com) of the party. The CPE’s recommendations did not prevent crushing Democratic defeats in 1984, and centrist Democrats created the Democratic Leadership Council (DLC) in 1985 in an effort to moderate the party. While Republicans won the White House again in 1988, the council’s efforts eventually paid off with former DLC Chair Bill Clinton’s 1992 victory. The modern “election autopsy” is more recent. Following Mitt Romney’s 2012 defeat, Republican National Committee (RNC) Chair Reince Priebus announced the Growth and Opportunity Project to better understand recent GOP messaging failures. The report was [released](https://abcnews.com/Politics/OTUS/rnc-completes-autopsy-2012-loss-calls-inclusion-policy/story?id=18755809&ref=readtangle.com) in March 2013, and it called for the GOP to become more inclusive toward minority groups and suggested that the party had “sound” policies but needed to communicate them more effectively; however, the eventual 2016 Republican candidate Donald Trump did not incorporate the report’s recommendations into his campaign. ### The road not taken. It took a long time to get to exactly where we started. At the beginning of the week, we wanted to discuss Tulsi Gabbard’s resignation, the Cornyn–Paxton primary, and the DNC retrospective — by the end of the week, that’s exactly what we discussed. But the path to making our final decision for today’s topic was far from straightforward. We spent a good deal of time debating whether to provide an update on Iran negotiations or the new guidance from President Trump for green-card applicants to apply from their home countries. We opted against an Iran update, since peace negotiations remain in flux, and the administration’s characterizations of negotiations have proven unreliable so far. And while the green-card changes are set to have a large impact on our immigration system, until they are actually implemented and begin to affect on-the-ground processes — and drive more commentary — we want to hold off on covering the topic. As always, we may not be the first to cover a story, but we will always be thorough when we do. ### The extras. - **One year ago today** we wrote about [Trump resuming collections on federal student loans](https://www.readtangle.com/trump-resumes-student-loan-payments-credit-scores-raise/). - **The most clicked link in our last regular newsletter** was the [ad in the free version for FinanceBuzz](https://financebuzz.com/dumb-money-moves-yaez?adgroupid=BM-Tangle-dumb-money-moves-yaez-CPF-05282026&ref=readtangle.com). - **Nothing to do with politics:** [Google search, without the AI overview](https://udm14.com/?ref=readtangle.com). - **Our last survey:** 2,224 readers responded to our survey on the upcoming Senate election in Texas with 46% saying they believe state Rep. James Talarico (D) will win. “Texans will be loath to vote for a Democrat, even if Paxton is the Republican choice. But who knows?” one respondent said. “Talarico is too liberal for most Texans to stomach. Paxton will have a MAGA base; Talarico will have the ‘anyone but Trump’-ers base. Hard to tell where the middle will go,” said another. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/05/data-src-image-6b0f88d4-831f-4e44-b714-d2c79e70e84d.png) ### Have a nice day. The pandemic reshuffled daily life in many ways, not all of them negative. One example: American dads started spending a lot more time at home. Research from the American Institute for Boys and Men (AIBM) found that between 2019 and 2024, college-educated fathers cut paid work hours by six per week while adding more than four hours to cooking, cleaning, and childcare. Millennial dads now spend as much time with their kids as moms did in 1985\. And the shift appears to be voluntary: The most financially secure fathers — those with the most flexibility to choose — increased their homemaking hours the most. “This is the biggest increase in the amount of hands-on fathering in half a century,” AIBM President Richard Reeves said. [The Progress Network has the story](https://theprogressnetwork.substack.com/p/dads-quiet-revolution?publication%5Fid=4159491&post%5Fid=198373627). ### The hidden power of monopolies URL: https://www.readtangle.com/the-hidden-power-of-monopolies/ Last updated: 2026-05-28T00:03:00.000Z Love what you see? More Tangle here: NEWSLETTER - https://www.readtangle.com/ PODCAST - https://www.readtangle.com/tangle-podcast/ TWITTER - https://twitter.com/TangleNews INSTAGRAM - https://www.instagram.com/tangle.news/ FACEBOOK - https://www.facebook.com/TangleNews/ COOL MERCH - https://cottonbureau.com/people/isaac-saul DONATE - https://givebutter.com/khshEi GIFT A TANGLE NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIPTION - https://tangle.outpost.pub/gift\_subscription?ref=readtangle.com#/ ### Paxton defeats Cornyn. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/texas-primary-runoff-paxton-cornyn/ Last updated: 2026-05-27T15:53:57.000Z *I'm Isaac Saul, and this is Tangle: an independent, nonpartisan, subscriber-supported politics newsletter that summarizes the best arguments from across the political spectrum on the news of the day — then “my take.”* *Are you new here?* [*Get free emails*](https://www.readtangle.com/) *to your inbox daily. Would you rather listen? You can find our podcast* [*here*](https://shows.acast.com/66510864c0852400122bc7be?ref=readtangle.com)*.* ### Today’s read: 15 minutes. ✅ Trump-backed candidate Ken Paxton won the Republican nomination for Texas's Senate seat and will now face James Talarico in November. Today, we break down results from that election and other key races in Texas. ### What are monopolies? Recently, Executive Editor Isaac Saul sat down for a conversation with political commentator and author of the BIG newsletter Matt Stoller to discuss monopoly and antitrust law. The two discussed the reach of corporations, the power of billionaires, the prevalence of wealth inequality, the collapse of Spirit Airlines, and more. You can listen to the interview in [our podcast feed](https://shows.acast.com/tangle/episodes/preview-special-edition-isaac-interviews-author-of-the-newsl?ref=readtangle.com) or watch it on [our YouTube channel](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lQdRV2l4M8&ref=readtangle.com)! ### Quick hits. 1. President Donald Trump will hold a Cabinet meeting at the White House on Wednesday to discuss the latest in the Iran war and peace negotiations. ([The meeting](https://www.cnn.com/2026/05/27/world/live-news/iran-war-us-news?post-id=cmpnno2vy00003b6reek36kgl&ref=readtangle.com)) 2. The South Carolina state Senate voted down a measure to adopt a new congressional map that would have eliminated the state’s single majority-black district, which is represented by Rep. James Clyburn (D). ([The vote](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-election/south-carolinas-redistricting-effort-fails-state-senate-gop-opposition-rcna346962?ref=readtangle.com)) Separately, a circuit court judge blocked a request to temporarily pause the use of a new Florida congressional map designed to increase the state’s Republican representation in the House. Opponents of the new map said they will appeal the decision. ([The ruling](https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/5896089-redistricting-florida-house-map/?ref=readtangle.com)) 3. A chemical tank at a paper mill in Washington state imploded, killing at least one person, injuring nine, and leaving nine others unaccounted for. ([The implosion](https://apnews.com/article/washington-pulp-paper-mill-implosion-nippon-af71c2cbf329336d84a3fd77fa251669?ref=readtangle.com)) 4. President Donald Trump appointed former Attorney General Pam Bondi to the Presidential Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, an advisory committee on artificial intelligence policy that includes several White House advisers and high-profile technology executives. ([The appointment](https://www.axios.com/2026/05/27/pam-bondi-white-house-ai?ref=readtangle.com)) 5. U.S. Southern Command announced that a strike on a boat allegedly trafficking drugs in the eastern Pacific Ocean killed one person and left two survivors, whom the U.S. Coast Guard is searching for. ([The strike](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/1-killed-2-survive-us-strike-on-boat-in-eastern-pacific-southcom-says/?ref=readtangle.com)) In Partnership with financebuzz [****1**](https://financebuzz.com/dumb-money-moves-yaez?utm%5Fsource=tangle&utm%5Fmedium=paid-newsletter-cpf&utm%5Fterm=Tangle&utm%5Fcampaign=BM-FBZ-Tangle-dumb-money-moves-yaez-CPF&adgroupid=BM-Tangle-dumb-money-moves-yaez-CPF-05282026)[****2 Dumbest Things Americans Waste Money**](https://financebuzz.com/dumb-money-moves-yaez?utm%5Fsource=tangle&utm%5Fmedium=paid-newsletter-cpf&utm%5Fterm=Tangle&utm%5Fcampaign=BM-FBZ-Tangle-dumb-money-moves-yaez-CPF&adgroupid=BM-Tangle-dumb-money-moves-yaez-CPF-05282026)[ **On**](https://financebuzz.com/dumb-money-moves-yaez?utm%5Fsource=tangle&utm%5Fmedium=paid-newsletter-cpf&utm%5Fterm=Tangle&utm%5Fcampaign=BM-FBZ-Tangle-dumb-money-moves-yaez-CPF&adgroupid=BM-Tangle-dumb-money-moves-yaez-CPF-05282026) You’re clearly smart about your finances, whether it’s scouring the clearance racks for a deal, limiting your restaurant visits, or opting for the most affordable streaming services available. While your discipline is impressive and puts you ahead of the curve, many people still find themselves treading water despite their best efforts. The reality is that even the most frugal-minded individuals often overlook subtle, everyday habits that slowly drain their bank accounts without them even noticing. To help you plug those leaks, FinanceBuzz has pinpointed the [****12 dumbest things Americans waste money on**](https://financebuzz.com/dumb-money-moves-yaez?utm%5Fsource=tangle&utm%5Fmedium=paid-newsletter-cpf&utm%5Fterm=Tangle&utm%5Fcampaign=BM-FBZ-Tangle-dumb-money-moves-yaez-CPF&adgroupid=BM-Tangle-dumb-money-moves-yaez-CPF-05282026) that could be sabotaging your financial goals. Once you discover these common pitfalls and learn how to sidestep them, you’ll likely find a surprising amount of extra cash in your pocket every single month. By shifting your perspective on these specific expenses, you can stop the unnecessary drain on your resources and ensure your hard-earned money is actually working for you. [Stop Wasting Money ](https://financebuzz.com/dumb-money-moves-yaez?utm%5Fsource=tangle&utm%5Fmedium=paid-newsletter-cpf&utm%5Fterm=Tangle&utm%5Fcampaign=BM-FBZ-Tangle-dumb-money-moves-yaez-CPF&adgroupid=BM-Tangle-dumb-money-moves-yaez-CPF-05282026) ### Today’s topic. The 2026 Texas primary runoffs. On Tuesday, Texas voters participated in a slate of [primary runoff elections](https://apps.texastribune.org/features/2026/texas-primary-runoff-results-2026/?ref=readtangle.com), including a highly publicized Republican Senate primary between state Attorney General Ken Paxton and incumbent Sen. John Cornyn. Paxton defeated Cornyn by a 27.6-point margin and will go on to face state Rep. James Talarico (D) in the general election. **Back up:** President Donald Trump did not initially endorse a candidate in the Republican Senate primary. After neither Paxton nor Cornyn secured 50% of the vote in the [March primary](https://www.readtangle.com/primaries-texas-north-carolina-arkansas-talarico-paxton-cornyn/), the race moved to a runoff. Trump officially endorsed Paxton last Tuesday, drawing criticism from Republican senators across the country, several of whom warned the endorsement put a reliably red seat in jeopardy. In other races, state Sen. Mayes Middleton [beat](https://apps.texastribune.org/features/2026/texas-primary-runoff-results-2026/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Become%20one.-,Attorney%20General,-FOUR%2DYEAR%20TERM) U.S. Rep. Chip Roy for the Republican nomination for attorney general, and state Sen. Nathan Johnson defeated former Galveston Mayor Joe Jaworski in the Democratic attorney general contest. In the race for lieutenant governor, the second-highest executive office in the state, state Rep. Vikki Goodwin [won](https://apps.texastribune.org/features/2026/texas-primary-runoff-results-2026/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Become%20one.-,Lieutenant%20Governor,-FOUR%2DYEAR%20TERM) the Democratic runoff. Runoff Tuesday also featured other notable House races, including former Rep. Colin Allred’s [victory](https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/colin-allred-julie-johnson-democrat-33-congressional-district-dallas-county-runoff-winner/?ref=readtangle.com) over Rep. Julie Johnson for the Democratic nomination in TX-33\. Johnson currently represents TX-32, and Allred formerly represented that district. Both ran for the new seat after the Texas legislature redrew its congressional maps to benefit Republicans. Rep. Christian Menefee [won](https://www.texastribune.org/2026/05/26/texas-18th-congressional-district-democratic-runoff-al-green-christian-menefee/?ref=readtangle.com) the Democratic nomination over Rep. Al Green in another race involving redrawn districts. Finally, in TX-35, Carlos De La Cruz (backed by President Trump) [beat](https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2026/us/elections/results-texas-us-house-35-runoff.html?ref=readtangle.com) John Lujan (backed by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott) for the Republican nomination. On the Democratic side, Bexar County Deputy Sheriff Johnny Garcia advanced in a race that drew national attention after his opponent, marriage and family therapist Maureen Galindo, made [remarks](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/05/22/texas-democrat-maureen-galindos-call-imprison-zionists-sparks-uproar/?ref=readtangle.com) widely denounced as antisemitic. President Trump [congratulated](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116646308242618920?ref=readtangle.com) Paxton on his victory and commended Cornyn on his career in the Senate. “John will remain my friend for a long time to come, as we both watch Ken become a fantastic, common sense Senator, one who is respected by all,” the president wrote on Truth Social. Speaking to supporters on Tuesday night, Cornyn indicated he will support Paxton in the general election, [saying](https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5896456-cornyn-pledges-support-republican-ticket/?ref=readtangle.com), “I’ve always supported the Republican ticket, and I intend to do so again in this general election.” In his victory speech, Paxton [said](https://www.texastribune.org/2026/05/26/texas-john-cornyn-ken-paxton-us-senate-republican-primary-runoff/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=%E2%80%9CTonight%2C%20we%20just%20sent%20a%20Texas%2Dsized%20message%20to%20Washington%2C%E2%80%9D%20Paxton%20said.), “We just sent a Texas-sized message to Washington.” Separately, Talarico [released](https://x.com/jamestalarico/status/2059442627393597577?s=20&ref=readtangle.com) a statement calling Paxton “the most corrupt politician in America” and emblematic of “the broken system we’re running against.” Today, we’ll get into what the right, left, and Texas writers are saying about the runoff results. Then, Executive Editor Isaac Saul gives his take. ### What the right is saying. - **The right is mixed on the result, with some arguing Cornyn’s time had come.** - **Others suggest Paxton is aligned with the GOP base but presents significant risks as a general election candidate.** **In PJ Media, Catherine Salgado explored** [**Paxton’s win**](https://pjmedia.com/catherinesalgado/2026/05/26/ken-paxton-wins-texas-senate-gop-run-off-n4953264?ref=readtangle.com#google%5Fvignette)**.** “Some of the squishier members of the Republican Party in his state — Cornyn included — find Paxton too hardcore, but Texas voters see him as a strong candidate for the same reasons,” Salgado wrote. “In contrast, Cornyn has long been a RINO and has more than once back-stabbed Trump, which probably lost him the latter’s endorsement. For instance, Cornyn promised to support Trump’s recess appointments and then blocked the nominees the very next day. Outrageously, Cornyn made the argument that Trump could face indictment for insurrection after the events of Jan. 6, 2021.” “Paxton went on Real America’s Voice to accuse Cornyn of trying to incentivize Democrats to vote for him in the run-off. The Texas AG argued this is precisely why he opposes open primaries, where one doesn’t have to be registered with the party in question for a primary to cast a vote, while Cornyn supports them,” Salgado said. “Paxton has a high chance of becoming Texas’s senator now, as his Democrat opponent is likely to lose big in largely conservative Texas.” **In National Review, Jeffrey Blehar said** [**“Texas Republicans roll the dice with Paxton.”**](https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/texas-republicans-roll-the-dice-with-paxton/?ref=readtangle.com) “There are many reasons why Texas Republican primary voters — a self-selectingly small subset of the voters who typically pull the lever for Republicans in general elections — have decided to jettison Senator Cornyn for a man who has countless scandals and public disgraces to his name,” Blehar wrote. “Most of the ones Paxton’s supporters will offer — wild claims that Cornyn is a secret amnesty-pushing gun grabber — are transparently farcical. Really it is about something more elemental and subrational: the fact that he represents the ‘old’ in a primary environment where MAGA demands the new and the different.” “The fact that the race wasn’t terribly close suggests that it wasn’t Trump’s endorsement that nudged Paxton over the line… But even if Ken Paxton didn’t win this primary because of Trump’s intervention, Trump has every right and reason to claim him as one of his own: Paxton’s sordid and disgraceful career would have collapsed in any other era,” Blehar said. “Truly, \[Trump\] can ‘pick ’em’ in the primary, wielding the powers of the presidency as he does. But can he pick winners in the general election? That record is decidedly more mixed.” ### What the left is saying. - **The left says Paxton’s win creates an opening for Talarico.** - **Others suggest that Paxton’s alleged corruption could become the defining issue of the race.** **In The New York Times, Jack Herrera explored** [**“what Ken Paxton’s win means for James Talarico.”**](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/26/opinion/paxton-talarico-texas-senate.html?ref=readtangle.com) “Over the past decade, the Texas Republican Party deftly navigated the rise of MAGA. It retained the backing of wealthy business interests in the state while expanding its support with middle- and working-class voters… But the party is weaker than it seems,” Herrera wrote. “Because Republican primaries, not general elections, frequently decide who is in power in Texas, politicians like Mr. Paxton often need only the votes of about 3% of the population to ultimately win office. That’s made it a lot easier for Republican politicians to drift to the right of Texas’ broader electorate.” “This leaves an opening for a candidate like Mr. Talarico — a member of the Texas House of Representatives who blends progressive ideas with an overt embrace of his Christian faith,” Herrera said. “His most direct path to victory runs through college-educated voters, who are more likely to vote than those without college degrees. If Democrats can turn out these voters, particularly in places like Dallas and Austin, destinations for many prosperous transplants, they’ll increase the chances that he’ll prove recent polling right and eke out a narrow victory.” **In MS NOW, Paul Waldman said** [**“Paxton’s win gifts Democrats their 2026 midterms strategy.”**](https://www.ms.now/opinion/ken-paxton-senate-primary-talarico-corruption?ref=readtangle.com) “Though for years Democrats have hoped that the right combination of circumstances could turn Texas blue, the state remains consistently red… Paxton’s record, however, gives Democrats new hope. Much like Trump, it’s hard to list the Texas attorney general’s scandals because there are so many of them,” Waldman wrote. “Talarico recognized the importance of this issue early in the campaign. He held a press conference in January outside Paxton’s office to tout his own anti-corruption agenda. And after media outlets called the race for Paxton on Tuesday night, Talarico put out a video calling his opponent ‘the most corrupt politician in America.’” “Corruption can help Democrats bridge the gap between policy and persuasion because while it absolutely implicates policy choices, it also transcends individual issues. It speaks to the profound dissatisfaction Americans are feeling about a system in which the rich keep getting richer and democracy keeps eroding further,” Waldman said. “Thanks to Trump, political corruption is already more visible than ever. Paxton’s nomination could make it the issue of the midterms.” ### What Texas writers are saying. - **Some Texas writers are alarmed by the message sent by GOP primary voters.** - **Others say Cornyn’s defeat marks the end of Bush-era politics in the state.** **In The Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Ryan J. Rusak called Paxton’s victory** [**“bad news for Texas, America and conservatism.”**](https://www.star-telegram.com/opinion/ryanjrusak/article315899430.html?ref=readtangle.com) “Paxton’s ascension resonates because it is a blow for all the wrong things in politics: populism unmoored from principle, the elevation of combative personality over effectiveness, and the devaluing of character in our leaders — and, ultimately, ourselves,” Rusak wrote. “I’m struck by something a voter told Star-Telegram reporter Rachel Royster at a Keller polling place: Paxton is a crook, she said, but at least he’s not a ‘Republican in Name Only.’ Every voter gets to choose his or her own criteria for casting a ballot. But if some small deviation from a perfect voting record or perceived slight to President Donald Trump’s ego is enough to make corruption acceptable, the republic is at risk.” “The idea that Cornyn lost because he wasn’t conservative enough is an excuse, a distortion of what conservatism actually means. Worst of all, it feeds a vicious cycle that will prevent actual conservative governing victories,” Rusak said. “The discounting of Cornyn’s steady but, yes, sometimes incremental achievements on behalf of conservative values and priorities reinforces a damaging fantasy view of politics: If our side only fights hard enough and never, ever compromises, we can crush the opposition and have 100% of what we want forever and ever.” **In The Texas Observer, Justin Miller wrote** [**“Judgement Day comes for John Cornyn.”**](https://www.texasobserver.org/paxton-trounces-cornyn-senate-runoff/?ref=readtangle.com) “The well-over-$100 million that \[Cornyn\] and his allied GOP groups pumped into ads blasting out Paxton’s numerous and varied scandals — from letting a charged child sex offender off with a sweetheart deal to his alleged self-dealing while in office, to his sordid extramarital affairs and on and on — did nothing but line the pockets of local Texas TV affiliates,” Miller said. “Cornyn had repeatedly stated that Judgement Day would come for Paxton on runoff night. And the judgement that came was that the base of the party wants more Ken Paxton.” “National politics observers are already handicapping the race to benefit Democrats because of Paxton’s unique weaknesses as a candidate. And there may be some truth to that. Surely Talarico has a much better chance of pulling off a generational upset in Texas against Paxton rather than the staid Cornyn,” Miller wrote. “But those who bet against Paxton do so at their own peril. As he’s proven time and time again, his perceived weaknesses have repeatedly morphed into political strengths. His victory Tuesday marks the final, if somewhat superfluous, nail in the coffin of the so-called Bush era of Republican politics in Texas.” ### My take. **Reminder: “My take” is a section where we give ourselves space to share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, don't unsubscribe. Write in by replying to this email, or** [**leave a comment**](https://www.readtangle.com/texas-primary-runoff-paxton-cornyn/#ghost-comments-root)**.** - **Paxton’s victory over Cornyn puts us all in a lose–lose situation going forward.** - **Trump’s endorsement probably helped Paxton as much as Cornyn’s misalignment with primary voters hurt him.** - **I worry that voters tolerating Paxton’s long list of scandals is a sign our political cynicism is running deeper and deeper.** **Executive Editor Isaac Saul:** There’s a lot to dislike about Tuesday’s results in Texas. The result that overshadows all the others is the Republican Senate runoff, which will now officially pit a comically corrupt Republican against a progressive Democrat [far to the left of most Texas voters](https://www.texastribune.org/2026/03/12/james-talarico-texas-senate-republicans-attacks-god-is-nonbinary/?ref=readtangle.com) in the general election. Each national party will spend hundreds of millions of dollars on the contest, likely making it one of the most expensive Senate battles ever, while we all ruminate on the other things that money could have been spent on. If James Talarico wins, he’ll become a symbol of lefty politics and a lightning rod for Republican attacks about Democrats insisting on “[transgender for everybody](https://www.whitehouse.gov/releases/2026/03/president-trump-ended-democrats-transgender-for-everybody-insanity/?ref=readtangle.com).” If Paxton wins, Republicans will have traded a longtime GOP senator with a basic respect for the rule of law for a lawless Trump loyalist. Are we all excited? As [I said last week](https://www.readtangle.com/primary-election-results-2026/), I’m very curious to see how the five months between now and Election Day play out in the U.S. Senate. Republicans’ majority in the upper chamber now depends on two senators with independent streaks (Alaska’s Lisa Murkowski and Maine’s Susan Collins), one retiring senator who seems to loathe Trump (North Carolina’s Thom Tillis), one senator whom President Trump was instrumental in unseating (Louisiana’s Bill Cassidy), and now Sen. Cornyn. As a bloc, four out of the five of them could sink any Republican legislation if Democrats hold the party line. Republicans were having enough trouble passing legislation when they were relatively united, but now they’ll have to deal with the reality that Trump isn’t the only politician with a petty or vindictive streak. While all this is interesting, the most important part of Tuesday’s result is not the vote counts, or the money that was (and will be) spent, but the radical cynicism about our political system that it will invite. A small piece of good news from the primary runoffs came from [Democrats defeating](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/26/us/politics/texas-democratic-primary-garcia-galindo.html?ref=readtangle.com) an unhinged sex therapist who called for putting Zionists in detention centers and castrating pedophiles (a group which, she insisted, would also include a lot of Zionists). Yet this minor victory of political maturity over the extremism and absurdity gripping our politics is overshadowed by Paxton’s trouncing of Cornyn. It’s an odd dynamic to try to describe. Ken Paxton’s victory is both a symptom of the cynicism and a justification for it. I’ve blamed Trump for egging on primary voters to crush any Republicans who step out of line, but the truth is the voters themselves are the ones pulling the levers. Scott McKay at The American Spectator made this point, and a few others, in a piece [criticizing my framing](https://spectator.org/trump-is-blowing-up-the-majority-what-majority/?ref=readtangle.com) of Republicans’ Senate majority. Paxton is what Republican primary voters want right now just as much as Cornyn’s scalp was one of many intraparty trophies Trump is claiming for disloyalty. Paxton has supported the SAVE America Act, an election bill with two wildly popular provisions among Republicans: requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote and implementing voter ID requirements. Cornyn backs the bill, too, but he refused to support blowing up the filibuster to pass it ([until too late](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/elections/john-cornyn-save-america-act-filibuster-trump-texas-senate-rcna262927?ref=readtangle.com)); Paxton went as far as offering to drop out of the race if Republicans got it across the finish line. Voters in Texas, apparently, much prefer Paxton’s seppuku-style support for the bill over Cornyn’s reticent abdication of the norms of the Senate, an institution whose value is not clear to them anymore. The prevailing mood of the country right now is dead set against the establishment, and Trump and his cohort have understood that mood better than anyone for more than a decade. My concern is that if someone like Paxton continues to gather power, that political cynicism will compound. Paxton is a poster boy for unethical and corrupt political behavior. He is a walking embodiment of everything a cynic would wrongfully assume is true for all politicians, when really he is a farcical outlier. Juliana Lightsey at the Texan news outlet The Barbed Wire [skillfully summarized](https://thebarbedwire.com/2026/02/17/ken-paxton-scandal-timeline/?ref=readtangle.com) the arc of his political career, which I’ll give an incomplete retelling of here: Early on in his time in Texas politics, as a state House representative, Paxton profited from helping to approve government contracts awarded to companies he was invested in. He did not disclose his investments and claimed to have no knowledge of the state contracts. In 2015, he moved his investments into a blind trust, and then — in the kind of story that breeds the cynicism I’m talking about — [got caught texting the trustee](https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/texas-ken-paxton-attorney-general-millionaire-a3be9c94??ref=readtangle.com) (a friend of his) to manage his stock trades in 2020. Paxton has been indicted for defrauding investors, starting as [far back as 2015](https://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/26/ken-paxton-plea-deal-securities-fraud-felony/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=The%20legal%20saga%20dates%20back%20to%20July%202015%2C%20when%20Paxton%20was%20indicted%20on%20three%20felony%20securities%20fraud%20charges%20just%20months%20into%20his%20first%20term%20as%20the%20state%E2%80%99s%20top%20lawyer.). At one point he told other state legislators to invest in a company based in the town he was representing, without telling them that he’d make a commission on their investments. He misrepresented himself to the legislators as an investor in the company, which itself was [later charged](https://www.sec.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2016-65?ref=readtangle.com) with securities fraud for misleading investors about its technology. Paxton was state attorney general by the time this went to court, and he managed to delay the case for nine years before striking a deal with prosecutors in 2024 to pay $300,000 in restitution and complete 100 hours of community service in exchange for the charges being dropped. In 2020, a group of conservative attorneys *in Paxton’s own office* reported him to the FBI for bribery and abuse of office, accusing Paxton of misusing the office to aid Nate Paul, his friend and political donor, during an FBI investigation. Paul was later hit with felony wire fraud charges; the resulting investigation into Paxton led to his impeachment by the Texas state House, though the Texas state Senate voted not to convict him. Texas federal prosecutors handed the investigation off to U.S. Justice Department officials in late 2024, who [quietly declined](https://www.ap.org/news-highlights/spotlights/2025/justice-department-declined-to-prosecute-texas-ag-paxton-in-final-weeks-of-bidens-term-ap-sources/?ref=readtangle.com) to prosecute him in the final weeks of Biden’s term. Meanwhile, four of the attorneys who reported Paxton were fired, and they then sued the attorney general for violating the Texas Whistleblower Act. The Texas Supreme Court ultimately ordered Paxton to pay $3.3 million to the attorneys and issue an apology, but the money had to come from state funds. The case bounced around the legal system until a separate judge ruled the office of the attorney general had to pay $6.6 million in April 2025, leaving Texas taxpayers [on the hook for the settlement](https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/03/ken-paxton-attorney-general-whistleblowers-appeal/?ref=readtangle.com). Paxton’s list of scandals goes on and on like this. It includes mortgage fraud investigations, publicly reported infidelity, backroom deals with donors and secret Uber accounts ([shared with Nate Paul](https://www.fox4news.com/news/ken-paxton-nate-paul-new-allegations?ref=readtangle.com)) so he could move his mistress to Austin and then transport her around Texas without being caught, lawsuit after lawsuit against organizations in his own state, and even the State Bar of Texas suing Paxton for professional misconduct after he brought forward unproven allegations that the 2020 election was stolen (Paxton, you might remember, [tried to sue](https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/news/releases/ag-paxton-sues-battleground-states-unconstitutional-changes-2020-election-laws?ref=readtangle.com) Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin in 2020; the Supreme Court threw out his case). Now this man is one step away — and likely the odds-on favorite — to become one of 100 people in the “greatest deliberative body in the world.” Again: Paxton is both a symptom of political cynicism, and he justifies it. He is both an extraordinarily corrupt politician and also what the most cynical Americans view every politician to be. He’s an exception among politicians and proof of political corruption, all at once. In the end, I’m not sure how we break out of this cycle. I’m under no illusions that Washington, D.C. was once some sacred space that’s now being sullied; Paxton is a breed of politician that has always walked the halls of Congress. But, as of late, they seem to be spawning in bipartisan fashion: Bob Menendez, Henry Cuellar, Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, Eric Adams, Matt Gaetz, George Santos, Cory Mills and, of course, [the sitting president](https://www.readtangle.com/the-everything-everywhere-all-at-once-corruption-story/). This is bad for [my prediction of a return to decency](https://www.readtangle.com/decency-is-about-to-make-a-comeback/), but it supports [my theory of our new dividing lines](https://www.readtangle.com/heres-my-message-to-americas-college-students/), which include nihilists vs. existentialists and sycophants vs. dissenters. Paxton’s victory is a win for those nihilists and sycophants, and if he ends up as a U.S. senator then I’m certain his behavior will breed more of both. I just hope that whenever we realize that rolling a grenade into the room isn’t the best way to renovate it, it won’t be too late to reverse course. We better see the light soon, though. **Take the survey:** Who do you think will win the Texas Senate election in November? [Let us know](https://interrobang.vercel.app/survey/c0cbf8bd-7e84-46b8-8dc0-1521aa0c4baf?ref=readtangle.com). *Disagree? That's okay. Our opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we'll consider publishing your feedback.* ### Your questions, answered. **Q: Given you have such a small team and include staff dissents in your articles, does this create tension between team members? How do you manage the potential or reality of this tension in an industry that deals in such heated topics?** **— Mark from St. Petersburg, FL** **Tangle:** The short answer is: We disagree internally every day, and that does create a degree of tension among the editorial staff. The longer answer is: We welcome ideological differences, and we’ve gotten used to navigating the tension that comes with that commitment. [Hiring bias](https://www.readtangle.com/why-the-media-is-broken/#:~:text=you%20may%20expect.-,Hiring%20bias.,-One%20of%20the) is one of the practices that foments media bias as a whole, and since Tangle began building out its editorial team beyond Isaac three years ago, we’ve put a premium on bringing editors into the fold who have a range of political views. How do we handle the ideological clashes that naturally follow? We adhere to a few guiding principles. One, we debate ideas, not the other person. Almost never does a disagreement devolve into personally directed statements. If it does, it’s quickly called out. Two, we think of disagreements as a sign of respect; that is, a willingness to raise a conflicting viewpoint directly shows that we value each other’s ability to handle disagreement. Three, iron sharpens iron — by challenging one another’s arguments, we make them better. Lastly, we spend time together to get to know each other as our whole selves, not just coworkers. When you understand someone’s background and interests (and have fun together) it’s easier to argue in good faith. As you note, certain topics are more heated than others, and we don’t always reach a clean resolution by the time we publish a given piece. In those instances, we’ll clear the air in an internal chat (often by acknowledging what disputes remain and how we might resolve them when the issue comes up in the future) or by checking in individually. Of course, we also use the staff dissent feature to highlight different views. A final note: Earlier this year, we “[leaked](https://www.readtangle.com/leaking-tangle-internal-communications/)” our internal messages to show how we handled challenging topics in four separate editions. If you want to see how we try to model constructive disagreement in real time, it’s a great peek behind the curtain. **Want to have a question answered in the newsletter? You can reply to this email (it goes straight to our inbox) or** [**fill out this form**](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScQhqBSG%5F6%5FoBhwcTQMeS570n29XYbeQ9C9Bis7rjqI31g1tA/viewform?usp=header&ref=readtangle.com)**.** ### This day in history. ![The San Francisco Chronicle covers the opening of the Golden Gate Bridge on May 27, 1937 | Sonoma State University](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/05/data-src-image-bc23d7ff-df69-46de-8068-83a0e2bd5d2a-1.png) The San Francisco Chronicle covers the opening of the Golden Gate Bridge on May 27, 1937 | [Sonoma State University](https://northbaydigital.sonoma.edu/digital/collection/justi/id/0?ref=readtangle.com) On May 27, 1937, a new steel cable suspension bridge painted in bright, international orange officially [opened to the public](https://abc7news.com/post/golden-gate-bridge-opened-82-years-ago-today/1355575/?userab=kabc%5Fcontent%5Frecs-577%2Avariant%5Fa%5Fcontrol-2480%2Cotv%5Fweb%5Fcontent%5Frec-539%2Avariant%5Fc%5Ftrending-2268%2Cotv%5Fsearch%5Fpage%5Fdesign%5Funification-546%2Avariant%5Fb%5Fsearch%5Fredesign-2300%2Cabcn%5Fpopular%5Freads%5Fexp-542%2Avariant%5Fb%5F7days%5Ffilter-2288&ref=readtangle.com). It broke the record for longest suspension bridge in the world at the time, spanning 4,200 feet and rising 220 feet over the Golden Gate waterway to connect San Francisco to Marin County. The bridge’s chief engineer, Joseph Strauss, commemorated the occasion. “The Golden Gate Bridge — the bridge which could not and should not be built — stands before you in all its majestic splendor, in complete refutation of every attack made upon it,” Strauss said. Today, the Golden Gate Bridge is a vital piece of Bay Area infrastructure, a main economic artery for the state of California, and a global icon exemplifying the harmony between human achievement and nature. It [carries](https://www.bayareacouncil.org/transportation/council-applauds-federal-grant-for-critical-golden-gate-bridge-seismic-work/?ref=readtangle.com) an estimated 40 million cars, 2.3 million bikers and pedestrians, 2.2 million transit riders, and 800,000 freight vehicles annually — through the coastal fog, over choppy waters, despite occasional earthquakes, and set against stunning sunsets. You can learn more about the bridge’s four-year construction in this incredibly detailed [90-minute video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjbJwnUd3Pw&ref=readtangle.com) — or share it with an engineering nerd you know and love. In Partnership with financebuzz You budget carefully — skipping overpriced coffee runs and resisting impulse buys — but some sneaky expenses still quietly drain your bank account. FinanceBuzz uncovered the [****12 dumbest things Americans waste money on**](https://financebuzz.com/dumb-money-moves-yaez?utm%5Fsource=tangle&utm%5Fmedium=paid-newsletter-cpf&utm%5Fterm=Tangle&utm%5Fcampaign=BM-FBZ-Tangle-dumb-money-moves-yaez-CPF&adgroupid=BM-Tangle-dumb-money-moves-yaez-CPF-05282026) and how to avoid them. Cutting these overlooked costs could free up far more cash each month than you’d expect. [Stop Wasting Money ](https://financebuzz.com/dumb-money-moves-yaez?utm%5Fsource=tangle&utm%5Fmedium=paid-newsletter-cpf&utm%5Fterm=Tangle&utm%5Fcampaign=BM-FBZ-Tangle-dumb-money-moves-yaez-CPF&adgroupid=BM-Tangle-dumb-money-moves-yaez-CPF-05282026) ### Numbers. - [**$19.9 million.**](https://x.com/AdImpact%5FPol/status/2056790588255617284?s=20&ref=readtangle.com) The amount of advertisement spending and reservations on behalf of John Cornyn in the Texas Senate runoff, according to AdImpact. - [**$5.1 million.**](https://x.com/AdImpact%5FPol/status/2056790588255617284?s=20&ref=readtangle.com) The amount of advertisement spending and reservations on behalf of Ken Paxton in the Texas Senate runoff. - [**$7.4 million.**](https://x.com/AdImpact%5FPol/status/2029221000865300587?s=20&ref=readtangle.com) The amount of advertisement spending and reservations in the 2022 Texas Congressional District 28 primary runoff, the most expensive primary runoff on record prior to the Texas Senate runoff. - [**55%.**](https://data.ddhq.io/polls/2026/02/09/University-of-Houston-Hobby-School-of-Public-Affairs/YouGov-Texas?ref=readtangle.com#page=3) The percentage of GOP primary voters who said they would be more likely to vote for a candidate in the Texas Republican Senate primary if the candidate was endorsed by President Trump, according to a January 2026 University of Houston/YouGov poll. - [**9%.**](https://data.ddhq.io/polls/2026/02/09/University-of-Houston-Hobby-School-of-Public-Affairs/YouGov-Texas?ref=readtangle.com#page=3) The percentage of GOP primary voters who said they’d be less likely to vote for the Trump-endorsed candidate in the Texas Senate primary. ### The extras. - **One year ago today** we covered [Trump criticizing Putin for an escalation in Ukraine](https://www.readtangle.com/trump-blasts-putin-for-escalation-in-ukraine/). - **The most clicked link in our last regular newsletter** was the [list of money-saving habits sponsored by The Penny Hoarder](https://partners.thepennyhoarder.com/frugal-people-sdyn/?aff%5Fid=409&aff%5Fsub3=frugal-people&ref=readtangle.com) that appeared for free readers. - **Nothing to do with politics:** [The Cosmic Odometer](https://cosmicodometer.space/?ref=readtangle.com). - **Our last survey:** 2,274 readers responded to our survey on Tulsi Gabbard’s tenure as director of national intelligence with 56% strongly disapproving. “She failed as DNI. It was her job to inform the president to make an intelligent decision based on intelligence assessments,” one respondent said. “She was a somewhat intriguing wildcard who ultimately toed the party line once the chips were down,” said another. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/05/data-src-image-939b82ae-6215-4713-ad87-afc327391ae0.png) ### Have a nice day. At the Orphaned Wildlife Rehabilitation Society in Delta, British Columbia, a foster mother is teaching four owlets important skills to use in the wild — like fearing humans, flying, and catching prey. This caregiver is a great-horned owl named Casper, and she has been taking fledglings under her wing since 1999\. Casper’s missing talons prevent her from returning to the wild, but her hands-on instruction has allowed volunteers to limit contact with the babies, which should help them survive when they are released. “She’s our trusted mom for the last 26 years, and hopefully she gets another 26 years,” Rob Hope, the manager of the society, said. [CBC has the story](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/casper-owl-foster-mom-9.7190120?ueid=0a8fc575ea8aa3bc65c36a47caebc5a7&ref=readtangle.com). ### Tulsi Gabbard resigns. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/tulsi-gabbard-dni-resigns/ Last updated: 2026-05-26T15:53:23.000Z *I'm Isaac Saul, and this is Tangle: an independent, nonpartisan, subscriber-supported politics newsletter that summarizes the best arguments from across the political spectrum on the news of the day — then “my take.”* *Are you new here?* [*Get free emails*](https://www.readtangle.com/) *to your inbox daily. Would you rather listen? You can find our podcast* [*here*](https://shows.acast.com/66510864c0852400122bc7be?ref=readtangle.com)*.* ### Today’s read: 14 minutes. 📄 Following her husband's cancer diagnosis, Gabbard announced her resignation as director of national intelligence. Plus, we examine the impact of new vehicle safety features on automobile deaths. ### A special day. For the next 24 hours, we’re offering 25% off the first year of a new membership — which unlocks ad-free newsletters, original writing and interviews, Friday editions, Sunday editions, and commenting privileges. [****You can grab that deal here**](https://www.readtangle.com/2026-memorial-day-offer). ### Quick hits. 1. BREAKING: A panel of federal judges ruled that Alabama cannot use a new congressional map in the 2026 midterms, finding that the map discriminated against black voters and was implemented too close to the election. Alabama is expected to appeal. ([The ruling](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/26/us/politics/alabama-congress-map-redistricting.html?ref=readtangle.com)) 2. U.S. Central Command confirmed it had carried out “defensive strikes” in southern Iran, targeting missile-launch sites and boats attempting to lay mines. The incident comes as the United States and Iran negotiate a potential peace deal. ([The strikes](https://thehill.com/policy/defense/5894404-us-strikes-iran-centcom/?ref=readtangle.com)) 3. Secret Service agents exchanged gunfire with a shooter who allegedly shot at officers outside the White House. The suspect was killed, and a bystander was struck by gunfire and hospitalized. An investigation into the incident is underway. ([The shooting](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/05/23/gunshots-fired-near-white-house-fbi-director-says/?ref=readtangle.com)) 4. The Orange County Fire Authority said that the risk of a catastrophic leak or explosion of a storage tank containing a toxic chemical had been avoided. The tank, located at an aerospace plastics facility, overheated and began leaking vapors last week, prompting the evacuation of thousands of people in the area. ([The update](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/crack-california-toxic-chemical-tank-easing-pressure-explosion-rcna346750?ref=readtangle.com)) 5. Pope Leo XIV released an encyclical warning about the risks of artificial intelligence, writing that the technology could reduce humans to “mere cogs in a system driven toward ever greater efficiency.” ([The encyclical](https://www.wsj.com/world/pope-leo-ai-encyclical-c5e1af6c?ref=readtangle.com)) 6. Texans will vote today in the Republican Senate runoff between Sen. John Cornyn and state Attorney General Ken Paxton. The winner will face Democratic nominee James Talarico in the general election. ([The runoff](https://www.texastribune.org/2026/05/23/texas-us-senate-gop-runoff-john-cornyn-ken-paxton-final-week-closing-arguments-trump/?ref=readtangle.com)) in partnership with the penny hoarder **Things Frugal People Never Spend Money On** You’ve already cut the obvious stuff. You make coffee at home. You avoid Target “just to browse.” You’ve survived years of financial advice that basically boils down to **“have you tried not enjoying anything?”* And yet, the monthly bills keep showing up with tremendous confidence. [The Penny Hoarder put together a practical guide](https://partners.thepennyhoarder.com/frugal-people-sdyn/?aff%5Fid=409&utm%5Fsource=tangle&aff%5Fsub3=frugal-people) to lowering recurring expenses and finding a little more breathing room in your budget. [Read the guide here](https://partners.thepennyhoarder.com/frugal-people-sdyn/?aff%5Fid=409&utm%5Fsource=tangle&aff%5Fsub3=frugal-people). ### Today’s topic. Tulsi Gabbard’s resignation. On Friday, Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard [announced](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/exclusive-tulsi-gabbard-resigns-from-trump-cabinet?ref=readtangle.com) her resignation, effective June 30, to support her husband as he fights a rare form of bone cancer. Gabbard will become the [fourth](https://www.axios.com/2026/05/22/tulsi-gabbard-removed-trump-administration?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=State%20of%20play,as%20labor%20secretary.) cabinet secretary to leave the second Trump administration, following former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and former Attorney General Pam Bondi, who were fired, and former Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer, who resigned in April. President Donald Trump said that Principal Deputy DNI Aaron Lukas will serve as acting director when Gabbard officially departs. **Back up:** Gabbard is a military veteran and former Democratic congresswoman from Hawaii who is known for her anti-interventionist views. In 2022, she [left](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/tulsi-gabbard-announces-leaving-democratic-party-rcna51659?ref=readtangle.com) the Democratic Party and registered as an independent before [joining](https://nypost.com/2024/10/22/us-news/former-dem-rep-tulsi-gabbard-announces-shes-joined-republican-party-at-trump-rally/?ref=readtangle.com) the Republican Party and endorsing Trump in October 2024\. The Senate [voted](https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll%5Fcall%5Fvotes/vote1191/vote%5F119%5F1%5F00050.htm?ref=readtangle.com) 52–48 to confirm her as DNI in February 2025\. In the role, she [led](https://www.dni.gov/index.php/what-we-do?ref=readtangle.com) the U.S. intelligence community, a coalition of 18 agencies and organizations, and served as primary adviser to the president on intelligence impacting national security. In a post on Truth Social, President Trump [praised](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116619437706453945?ref=readtangle.com) Gabbard, writing, “\[She\] has done an incredible job, and we will miss her.” He also shared a copy of her resignation letter, which read, “I must step away from public service to be by \[my husband’s\] side and fully support him through this battle,” adding that she will stay on until the end of June to ensure “no disruption in leadership or momentum.” Gabbard maintained a tenuous relationship with the president and his key advisers during her time as DNI. She was [reportedly](https://www.wsj.com/politics/tulsi-gabbard-is-preparing-to-resign-as-u-s-intelligence-chief-2d6b2951?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Gabbard%20wasn%E2%80%99t%20a,sites%20last%20year.) at odds with the administration over its decision to attack Iran in February and was not included in pre-war deliberations. After the war began, she at times appeared to question the U.S. and Israel’s relationship, [telling](https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/iran-us-israel-war-news-2026/card/u-s-and-israel-goals-for-iran-war-different-gabbard-says-wKj4b3SN68geLMh8tqE6?ref=readtangle.com) lawmakers in March that the countries had “different” objectives in the conflict. She was similarly [sidelined](https://www.wsj.com/politics/national-security/tulsi-gabbard-venezuela-trump-7506e52e?ref=readtangle.com) from discussions and planning for the operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in January. Several outlets [reported](https://www.reuters.com/world/us/gabbard-resigns-trumps-national-intelligence-director-fox-news-digital-reports-2026-05-22/?ref=readtangle.com) that President Trump was likely to fire Gabbard before her resignation. The president was reportedly [displeased](https://www.politico.com/news/2025/06/17/gabbard-trump-00411685?ref=readtangle.com) with Gabbard’s refusal to publicly support attacks on Iran, dating back to [a video](https://x.com/TulsiGabbard/status/1932368919039459348?ref=readtangle.com) she posted in June 2025 — prior to the U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities — warning that “political elite and warmongers are carelessly fomenting fear and tensions between nuclear powers.” Central Intelligence Agency Deputy Director Michael Ellis is [among](https://www.wsj.com/politics/tulsi-gabbard-is-preparing-to-resign-as-u-s-intelligence-chief-2d6b2951?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=The%20deputy%20director,R.%2C%20N.Y.%29.) the top candidates to replace Gabbard, along with Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY). President Trump has not given a timeline for nominating a replacement. Today, we’ll share views from the left and right on Gabbard’s resignation and tenure, followed by Executive Editor Isaac Saul’s take. ### What the left is saying. - **The left says Gabbard’s resistance to foreign intervention conflicted with Trump’s initiatives.** - **Some criticize the outgoing director for not standing up to Trump.** - **Others say Gabbard’s resignation could benefit her politically.** **In The Guardian, Mohamad Bazzi said** [**“Gabbard was undone by her resistance to US foreign interventions and regime-change wars.”**](https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/may/24/tulsi-gabbard-foreign-wars-trump?ref=readtangle.com) “She repeatedly drew Trump’s anger for her handling of intelligence around Iran’s nuclear program and capabilities,” Bazzi wrote. “When Trump launched a new US–Israeli war against Iran, Gabbard was still largely sidelined from the most senior levels of American policymaking that would normally include someone in her role. She was kept out of White House planning meetings and absent from most of the administration briefings to Congress on the conflict because of her past opposition to US operations aimed at regime change.” “In March 2025, Gabbard testified to Congress that US intelligence agencies continued ‘to assess that Iran is not building a nuclear weapon’... But she also noted that Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium was ‘at its highest levels’ and ‘unprecedented for a state without nuclear weapons,’” Bazzi said. “Under pressure from Trump, Gabbard changed her tune and declared that Iran could develop a nuclear weapon ‘within weeks to months.’ By that point, she had seemingly lost Trump’s confidence and within months, he began musing about replacing her. In the end, Gabbard could not overcome working for a boss who demands absolute loyalty, but offers little of it in return.” **In Bloomberg, Andreas Kluth said** [**“Gabbard leaves without having spoken truth to power.”**](https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2026-05-23/tulsi-gabbard-leaves-without-having-spoken-truth-to-power?ref=readtangle.com) “Gabbard is leaving for a good and noble reason: to stand by her husband, who has been diagnosed with an ‘extremely rare form of bone cancer.’ I wish them both the best,” Kluth wrote. “And yet, Gabbard’s departure must also be the occasion to take stock of so much that has gone wrong in the intelligence community that she was tasked to oversee, and by extension in the second administration of President Donald Trump generally. After all, she is leaving just a few months into an unnecessary American war against Iran that both the old Gabbard and the honest current Gabbard would have opposed.” “Trump was especially irked, it seems, that Gabbard, when under oath in Congress, had the nerve to restate the intelligence community’s assessment that Iran was not actively planning to build a nuclear weapon,” Kluth said. “And yet Gabbard never took the next obvious step and advised the president against attacking Iran. When pressed in Congress, she tried to dodge her responsibility, claiming that the president is ‘responsible for determining what is and is not an imminent threat’... On that occasion as on others, Gabbard betrayed herself. As a veteran of the Iraq war, she has long been against entanglements and wars of choice in the Middle East, or anywhere. In that she is not alone in the administration.” **In The Atlantic, Shane Harris suggested resigning might be** [**“the best thing that ever happened to Gabbard’s career.”**](https://www.theatlantic.com/national-security/2026/05/tulsi-gabbard-resigns-odni-trump/687280/?gift=SCYx-5scVta3-cr%5FIlgTyb2vacmqJIzmLaHPbymuR5w&ref=readtangle.com) “Because the president was not interested in Gabbard’s views on intelligence, she tried to get his attention in other ways. Gabbard accused former U.S. officials of mounting a ‘yearslong coup’ against Trump,” Harris wrote. “And she took revenge on Trump’s perceived political enemies by revoking the security clearances of current and former intelligence officials. None of this won the president’s public admiration, and it did lasting damage to the intelligence community.” “Toward the end of her tenure, the most salient question to ask about Gabbard was: Why does she stay?… When I’ve posed the question to people who have worked with Gabbard in the legislative and executive branch, they tend to offer a simple explanation: She wants power,” Harris said. “Gabbard ran for president once, as a Democrat. If she decides to give it another shot, she has an opening among Trump supporters. The president’s decision to attack Iran is polling poorly among voters… Because Gabbard wasn’t involved in some of the president’s most unpopular decisions, she can’t easily be blamed for them. That gives her a strange credibility in an administration that prizes loyalty over candor.” ### What the right is saying. - **The right views Gabbard’s exit as a turning point for the America First movement.** - **Some say losing Gabbard represents a fracturing of Trump’s coalition.** - **Others criticize the left’s response to the resignation.** **In UnHerd, Michael Cuenco said the** [**“resignation marks the end of America First foreign policy.”**](https://unherd.com/newsroom/tulsi-gabbard-resignation-marks-the-end-of-america-first-foreign-policy/?edition=us&ref=readtangle.com) “As \[Gabbard\] exits the administration, it’s clear that the White House has moved in favor of interventionism,” Cuenco wrote. “Gabbard’s warnings of nuclear disaster before the 12-Day War earned a rebuke from Trump. Recently, her refusal to support claims of Tehran’s nuclear capability in the lead-up to the American strikes on Iran in March struck a chord of disloyalty in the White House. These events no doubt helped ease the way for her decision to leave. These stances showed her actions were indeed born of conviction rather than mere political expediency.” “Though she never ended up publicly disagreeing with Trump in the same outspoken way as fellow anti-war tribunes Joe Kent and Thomas Massie, she said enough to earn his ire. Just as the public — including Trump 2024 voters — is souring on an out-of-control foreign war and as the specter of another in Cuba looms on the horizon, Tulsi has headed for the exit,” Cuenco said. “The question now is who will lead the charge for peace and America First in an administration seduced by the thrill of war. After Gabbard’s failure in preventing Venezuela and Iran, the answer seems to be: nobody.” **In The Times, Katy Balls called the departure** [**“a blow to the coalition of Trump 2.0.”**](https://www.thetimes.com/us/american-politics/article/tulsi-gabbard-resignation-husband-trump-jmmpftrbj?ref=readtangle.com) “Ever since Trump launched strikes on Iran, it has been Gabbard’s absence rather than her influence that has been the talk of Washington. There have been whispers — sometimes shouts — that she was on a collision course with the president,” Balls wrote. “Gabbard’s value to Trump was never just administrative. She embodied the strange breadth of his second-term coalition: a former Democrat, Iraq veteran and anti-war critic who had concluded that Trump, of all people, was the safest bet against conflict. Her appointment signalled to sceptical converts that there was room for them inside the tent. Her departure tells them something else.” “Maga isolationists are nervous about what could come next if negotiations for a further ceasefire extension stall,” Balls said. “But while uncertainty reigns over the Iran war, Gabbard’s exit is seen as a sign of… the fracturing of the 2024 coalition,” Balls said. “The voters that took Trump to victory in the election were brought over the line by a promise of an end to political corruption (aka ‘drain the swamp’), an end to foreign wars (‘America First’), and a focus on the cost of living. Fast forward to now and Republicans are wondering what they have left to say to appeal to these voters come the midterms.” **In PJ Media, Matt Margolis criticized Democrats’** [**“hatred and attacks”**](https://pjmedia.com/matt-margolis/2026/05/23/why-are-democrats-horrible-people-n4953189?ref=readtangle.com) **in response to Gabbard’s announcement.** “\[Gabbard is\] leaving on her own terms, to be at her husband’s side as he battles bone cancer. I have no doubt it was a difficult decision, but she should be commended for making it,” Margolis wrote. “Yet rather than allow her a graceful exit, some Democrats couldn’t resist the opportunity to remind everyone exactly who they are. What does it say about a political party when a woman announces she’s leaving public service to care for her husband fighting cancer, and its first instinct is to pile on?” “\[Sen. Adam Schiff\] couldn’t even get through a well-wish without turning it into an attack. He falsely accused Gabbard of politicizing intelligence, dismantling agencies, and weaponizing the intelligence community to pursue what he called ‘baseless election fraud claims,’” Margolis said. “Democrats spent years positioning themselves as the party of empathy, of basic human decency, of caring. What we’re watching in real time is something very different: a party so consumed by its hatred of Trump and anyone associated with him that it has lost the capacity for a moment of simple humanity.” ### My take. **Reminder: “My take” is a section where we give ourselves space to share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, don't unsubscribe. Write in by replying to this email, or** [**leave a comment**](https://www.readtangle.com/tulsi-gabbard-dni-resigns/#ghost-comments-root)**.** - **Gabbard is doing the admirable thing by supporting her husband, and I wish them the best.** - **Her political career up to becoming DNI was confounding to watch.** - **It’s hard to view her tenure in Trump’s administration as anything but a failure.** **Executive Editor Isaac Saul:** First and foremost, I’m wishing Tulsi Gabbard and her family well. It’s a well worn cliche in D.C. for a politician to “resign” when they are about to get fired, citing “family time” as their reason for stepping away, only for the *real* details to come out later. But this story doesn’t really feel like that. Yes, Gabbard was reportedly wearing thin with President Trump, and she was boxed out of meetings you’d expect the director of national intelligence (DNI) to attend. Yet this alone isn’t proof she was on her way out, and [leaks about her potential firing](https://www.axios.com/2026/04/10/trump-tulsi-gabbard-roger-stone?ref=readtangle.com) could just as easily have been people inside the administration trying to hurt her as proof positive that Trump wanted her gone. Aside from [one offhand comment](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-tulsi-gabbard-wrong-iran-nuclear-program/?ref=readtangle.com), Trump never really seemed to have anything but nice things to say about Gabbard. He was even [conciliatory about their differences on Iran](https://time.com/article/2026/03/30/trump-tulsi-gabbard-differ-on-iran-war-nuclear-capabilities/?ref=readtangle.com). Plus, the family story actually adds up here: Gabbard and her husband [have maintained](https://www.theatlantic.com/national-security/2026/05/tulsi-gabbard-resigns-odni-trump/687280/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=People%20who%20know,an%20easier%20choice.) a particularly close relationship throughout her political ascent, and he’s even filmed her on state visits (he’s a professional cinematographer). His diagnosis sounds serious and urgent, and her decision to leave her role to support him is admirable. As for her actual tenure in office, well, my judgment there is a bit different. Gabbard is one of the most confounding politicians I’ve ever covered. It’s difficult to imagine now, but she was the vice chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee from 2013 to 2016\. She dramatically, and understandably (given her worldview), resigned from that position to endorse Bernie Sanders over Hillary Clinton. She ran for president as a Democrat in 2020, even selling “No War With Iran” T-shirts, describing her anti-interventionist policy as *the* defining issue of her presidential campaign. Her staunch anti-interventionism, informed by her service in the Iraq War, became too much for her to reconcile with the party establishment. Gabbard quit the Democratic Party altogether in 2022, and she quickly became a fixture of right-wing media. She was a regular speaker at conservative conferences, where she typically focused on how certain Democratic politicians had drawn us into conflicts abroad. In 2024, when [Gabbard finally endorsed Trump](https://www.rev.com/transcripts/trump-speaks-at-national-guard-conference-in-detroit?ref=readtangle.com), she delivered these remarks at a rally in Detroit, Michigan: > This \[Biden\] administration has us facing multiple wars on multiple fronts in regions around the world and closer to the brink of nuclear war than we ever have been before. This is one of the main reasons why I’m committed to doing all that I can to send President Trump back to the White House, where he can once again serve us as our commander-in-chief. Because I am confident that his first task will be to do the work to walk us back from the brink of war. For good measure, she added that she was joining Trump’s ranks to stop Kamala Harris, who she claimed had retaliated against political opponents and undermined civil liberties as vice president. “We as Americans must stand together to reject this anti-freedom culture of political retaliation and abuse of power,” she said. I’ve always been drawn to public figures who are willing to change their minds, and I often say there is nothing wrong with someone evolving politically. It’s easy to admire the consistent philosophical bent of politicians like Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) or Rand Paul (R-KY), but it’s harder to support someone you trust when they suddenly diverge from a view you previously shared. I’m sure Gabbard has faced some unfair criticism simply for going from an establishment Democrat to an official in a Republican-led White House. At the same time, Gabbard’s career arc feels less like an earnest political evolution than a story of duplicitousness or hypocrisy. She torched her relationships in the Democratic Party, citing her anti-war stance, and then the moment she became powerful enough to do something about U.S. interventionism — as DNI for the Trump administration — she suddenly abandoned her defining beliefs. Since Trump came into office, he’s been saber-rattling and starting new military engagements abroad. During the Venezuela invasion and the brouhaha with Greenland, Gabbard was M.I.A. On the heels of those conflicts, and as rumors swirled about a potential invasion of Cuba or Iran, Gabbard hardly let out a peep — and few (if any) reports indicated she was working to slow the administration down. Admittedly, she was in a delicate political position. She would probably have lost her job if she had stepped too far out of line and criticized Trump directly, and I think the smart long-game play for her anti-war agenda was staying in the administration. Yet, if she was playing the long game, she failed. After all, Trump launched the war in Iran — the very war Gabbard spent years fearmongering about Democrats pursuing — and she seems to not only have been unable to persuade him against starting it but [failed to even be part of the deliberations](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/tulsi-gabbard-sidelined-trump-administration-discussions-israel-iran-rcna212702?ref=readtangle.com). If she was indeed boxed out of the decision-making process, why then abandon her central issue to hold onto a role where she had no power anyway? Then, to make matters worse, once Trump launched the war, Gabbard dutifully started serving the public the same [robotic pro-war talking points](https://x.com/DNIGabbard/status/2033989780116033948?ref=readtangle.com) that were central to her criticisms of past administrations. In other words: Her time as DNI looks bad, no matter how you look at it. That’s also to say nothing of other low points of Gabbard’s tenure, like in July of last year, when she held a press conference [announcing](https://www.readtangle.com/tulsi-gabbard-reignites-russiagate/) “new evidence” of an Obama administration conspiracy to subvert Trump’s 2016 victory. She alleged Obama laid the groundwork for a “years-long coup” and sent the evidence to the DOJ for a criminal referral; she then doubled down, saying “there is irrefutable evidence that details how President Obama and his national security team directed the creation of an intelligence community assessment that they knew was false.” Trump followed up the press conference by [posting](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114887992924632896?ref=readtangle.com) images of Obama in handcuffs, claiming he got caught “absolutely cold.” Investigative reporter Matt Taibbi [wrote](https://www.racket.news/p/barack-obama-now-squarely-in-russiagate?ref=readtangle.com) [several](https://www.racket.news/p/explaining-russiagate-why-the-december?ref=readtangle.com) [pieces](https://www.racket.news/p/note-on-new-trump-russia-disclosures?ref=readtangle.com) about the “new evidence” that overtly implied Obama could be in the crosshairs of an investigation and senior members of his team may actually face charges. We then endured a brief news cycle of Trump’s supporters and administration officials claiming Obama was going to end up in prison. In reality, [as I wrote in Tangle at the time](https://www.readtangle.com/tulsi-gabbard-reignites-russiagate/#:~:text=was%20utterly%20inconsequential.%E2%80%9D-,My%20take.,-Reminder%3A%20%E2%80%9CMy%20take), the “new evidence” was really a miniscule detail in a story we’d been over a million times before. Almost a year has passed since that press conference, and you may not be shocked to learn that nothing has come of it. No criminal charges have been advanced, no damning new evidence produced. President Obama and his other senior aides are all still walking free. Instead, the DOJ simply [tried](https://noticias.foxnews.com/politics/doj-launching-grand-jury-investigation-russiagate-conspiracy-allegations-source?ref=readtangle.com) and [failed](https://www.cnn.com/2025/11/24/politics/james-comey-letitia-james-indictments-dismissed?ref=readtangle.com) to go after Comey, so it concocted a new reason to indict him. It was just a big invented piece of political theater — the kind of thing you might call “political retaliation and abuse of power.” All in all, it’s hard to view Gabbard’s time as DNI as anything other than a failure. She failed to stop the administration from doing the very thing she devoted her entire political career to preventing (a large-scale war with Iran), and then she [participated in exactly the kind of political retribution](https://www.politico.com/news/2025/08/19/gabbard-security-clearance-00515195?ref=readtangle.com) she said she endorsed Trump to stop. You don’t have to feel negatively about Trump or Gabbard to see those contradictions. So while I don’t think her resignation was another secret political ejection disguised as a family issue, I do think her tenure had run its course — and she has very little to show for it. **Take the survey:** What do you think of DNI Tulsi Gabbard’s job performance? [Let us know](https://interrobang.vercel.app/survey/65e0da2e-7444-4f24-8628-0ea0dbbd0b57?ref=readtangle.com). *Disagree? That's okay. Our opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we'll consider publishing your feedback.* in partnership with the penny hoarder You brew coffee at home. You’ve already canceled three streaming services and emotionally prepared to cancel three more. You’ve heard every lecture about avocado toast, lattes, and “small daily habits.” And somehow your monthly bills still look like they’ve unionized against you. [Today's partner put together a practical guide](https://partners.thepennyhoarder.com/frugal-people-sdyn/?aff%5Fid=409&utm%5Fsource=tangle&aff%5Fsub3=frugal-people) to cutting recurring expenses without misery. [Start saving now ](https://partners.thepennyhoarder.com/frugal-people-sdyn/?aff%5Fid=409&utm%5Fsource=tangle&aff%5Fsub3=frugal-people) ### Your questions, answered. **Q: We just bought a 2025 new-to-us car. The owner’s manual is only available online and the options/safety features are mind boggling. All these features must have added new manufacturing and long-term maintenance cost to car ownership. Is there any empirical evidence that the number of car accidents and/or deaths has decreased as the safety features have been added?** **— Lynne from West Chester, OH** **Tangle:** Yes, evidence shows that fewer people per capita have died from motor vehicle crashes in the past 20 years — though that evidence is still new, should be qualified, and isn’t necessarily proof of causation. According to the [National Safety Council](https://injuryfacts.nsc.org/motor-vehicle/historical-fatality-trends/deaths-and-rates/?gad%5Fsource=1&gad%5Fcampaignid=244859199&gbraid=0AAAAADvjPsGrV46ilV13clw7PZp1xyH9H&ref=readtangle.com), motor-vehicle deaths have declined since 2006 from about 15.2 deaths per 100,000 people to 13.4 in 2023 (despite a bump during the pandemic). A few things stand out from a closer inspection of [that data](https://injuryfacts.nsc.org/motor-vehicle/historical-fatality-trends/deaths-by-type-of-incident/?gbraid=0AAAAADvjPsGrV46ilV13clw7PZp1xyH9H&ref=readtangle.com): First, deaths from collisions with fixed objects have declined, but vehicular collisions declined and then rebounded, while pedestrian deaths have risen over that time period. Second, almost the entirety of the decline came between 2006 and 2010, well before the most advanced safety features (like lane assist) became standard. The U.S. Department of Transportation [credits](https://www.transportation.gov/NRSS/SafetyProblem?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Over%20many%20decades,traffic%20operation%20practices.) the decline in motor-vehicle deaths prior to 2006, which can be traced all the way back to the 1980s, to airbag prevalence, seat-belt usage, and a reduction in drunk driving. The department also [identifies](https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/5bc0894a99ea4259aea2d9a2d2c92a65?ref=readtangle.com) unsafe roadways and pedestrian crossings as the factors that contribute most to motor-vehicle deaths. For comparison, the United States has [far greater](https://www.wardsauto.com/news/what-europe-can-teach-america-on-road-safety-killing-by-design-part-1/798798/?ref=readtangle.com) traffic deaths compared to European countries, which many experts [attribute](https://www.indieauto.org/2025/07/16/why-does-the-u-s-have-a-far-higher-traffic-death-rate-than-france/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Why%20are%20French%20roads%20less%20deadly%3F) to differences in roadway designs. Overall, the factor that appears to have had the *greatest* impact on road fatalities over the past twenty years is [the economy](https://injuryfacts.nsc.org/motor-vehicle/overview/impact-of-recessions/?ref=readtangle.com) — specifically, the impact of recessions on driver behavior. Decreased driving during the Great Recession [caused](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5302216/?ref=readtangle.com) fewer vehicles, and fewer heavy trucks in particular, to be on the roads, leading to what is still the lowest period of motor-vehicle deaths since World War II (2010–2014, when elevated unemployment rates [correlated strongly](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5302216/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Results-,Descriptive%20Trends,-I%20first%20show) with decreased deaths). Conversely, the Covid pandemic correlated with a spike in impaired driving, which then caused increased roadway fatalities. Looking at all the evidence, the big takeaway is that safety featuresalmost certainly contribute to fewer traffic deaths, even as the impact of the newest safety features is difficult to ascertain. Driver behavior and roadway designs have had larger measurable impacts in the last 25 years. Although, just as airbags and seatbelts required time to become cultural standards, backup cameras and lane assist may also require several years for their impacts to become measurable. **Want to have a question answered in the newsletter? You can reply to this email (it goes straight to our inbox) or** [**fill out this form**](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScQhqBSG%5F6%5FoBhwcTQMeS570n29XYbeQ9C9Bis7rjqI31g1tA/viewform?usp=header&ref=readtangle.com)**.** ### Under the radar. On Thursday, Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao told lawmakers that the Pentagon paused a $14 billion U.S. arms sale to Taiwan due to a review of munitions stockpiles, diverging from President Trump’s claim that he was delaying the sale as a “negotiating chip” with China. Following his trip to China earlier this month, Trump said he discussed the arms deal in “great detail” with Chinese President Xi Jinping, suggesting that he was still deciding on whether to approve the sale. However, Cao’s testimony implied that the Pentagon review was the source of the holdup. “We’re just making sure we have everything, but then the foreign military sales will continue when the administration deems necessary,” he said. [The Hill has the story](https://thehill.com/policy/defense/5892374-navy-secretary-taiwan-arms-sale-pause-iran/?ref=readtangle.com). ### Numbers. - [**2004.**](https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2004/12/20041217-1.html?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=A%20key%20lesson,of%20the%20Senate.) The year Congress created the director of national intelligence (DNI) position. - [**8.**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Director%5Fof%5FNational%5FIntelligence?ref=readtangle.com#List%5Fof%5Fdirectors:~:text=%5Bedit%5D-,List%20of%20directors,-%5Bedit%5D) The number of Senate-confirmed DNIs in the position’s history. - [**2.**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Director%5Fof%5FNational%5FIntelligence?ref=readtangle.com#List%5Fof%5Fdirectors:~:text=55%C2%A0days-,Donald%20Trump,-%282017%E2%80%932021%29) The number of Senate-confirmed DNIs appointed by President Donald Trump during his first term. - [**33% and 39%.**](https://d3nkl3psvxxpe9.cloudfront.net/documents/Approval%5Fof%5FTrump%5Fs%5FAppointments%5Fpoll%5Fresults.pdf?ref=readtangle.com#page=9) The percentage of U.S. adults who approved and disapproved, respectively, of Tulsi Gabbard’s performance as DNI in a September 2025 YouGov poll. - [**45% and 13%.**](https://yougov.com/en-us/daily-results/20260523-8a060-2?ref=readtangle.com) The percentage of U.S. adults who approved and disapproved, respectively, of Gabbard’s decision to resign as DNI, according to a YouGov poll conducted on May 22\. ### The extras. - **One year ago today** we published an [interview with parenting expert Emily Oster](https://www.readtangle.com/isaac-saul-emily-oster-interview/). - **The most clicked link in our last regular newsletter** was the Ukrainian [drone footage from the front lines](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCGpVp8BQu8&ref=readtangle.com) (warning: graphic content). - **Nothing to do with politics:** Test your airplane etiquette with [this flight behavior quiz](https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/travel/do-you-know-how-to-behave-on-a-flight-take-our-quiz-5259f3e7?ref=readtangle.com). - **Our last survey:** 1,972 readers responded to our survey on the Ukraine–Russia war with 47% saying they expect it to end within the next five years. “Sustained fighting might end, but low level conflict will likely continue,” one respondent said. “It will end when Putin dies,” said another. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/05/data-src-image-889d5124-9a99-492d-a948-01731d2359da.png) ### Have a nice day. Over Memorial Day weekend, an estimated 135,000 people visited Arlington National Cemetery to honor fallen U.S. service members. Among the weekend traditions is a 78-year-old ceremony carried on by the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, also known as “The Old Guard.” Each year, the regiment’s roughly 1,500 soldiers place American flags at every headstone in the cemetery — over 260,000 gravesites. The tradition began in 1948, when the Army named The Old Guard as Arlington’s ceremonial unit and began the flag-planting practice on Memorial Day. “For those who gave everything in service to our country, this is our way of showing that they will never be forgotten,” Staff Sgt. Jacob Holmes, a former Old Guard public affairs official, said. [USA Today has the story](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2026/05/23/arlington-national-cemetery-memorial-day-2026/90184416007/?ref=readtangle.com). ### The Sunday — May 24 URL: https://www.readtangle.com/the-sunday-may-24-2026/ Last updated: 2026-05-24T15:14:47.000Z *This is the Tangle Sunday Edition, a brief roundup of our independent politics coverage plus some extra features for your Sunday morning reading.* ### What the left is doodling. ![Mike Luckovich | Creators Syndicate](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/05/data-src-image-d550ad46-16ae-4977-abe6-7861c23a5f9c.jpeg) Mike Luckovich | Creators Syndicate ### What the right is doodling. ![Steve Kelley | Creators Syndicate](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/05/data-src-image-4c52a624-e3e2-4957-86c5-3d5c090b1b26.jpeg) Steve Kelley | Creators Syndicate ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/05/data-src-image-92396e6f-c833-4531-b218-aa0aa9a26872.png) ### Suspension of the Rules. Aliens, antisemitism, GOP infighting, and some scorn for nature: This week, Isaac, Ari, and Kmele chopped it up about the latest primary results, the UAP disclosures (proof of aliens), a scary Democrat in Texas, and Trump’s new anti-weaponization fund — plus, wild deer, noisy birds, and aggressive turkeys. This one’s got something for everyone to love (or hate). [Check it out here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIOVsALXWlc&t=49s&ref=readtangle.com)! ### Monday, May 18. [The Trump–Xi summit](https://www.readtangle.com/us-china-summit-trump-xi/). On Friday, May 15, President Donald Trump departed China after a two-day summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, in which the leaders discussed trade deals, diplomatic relations, the Iran war, and other issues. Trump and Xi each spoke favorably about the other and emphasized their interest in a mutually beneficial relationship between the countries, though the two sides did not mutually announce any major commitments. Trump’s state trip to China was the first U.S. presidential visit to the country since Trump’s 2017 visit during his first term. **Our take:** *“Taiwan, mutual espionage, trade, and even China’s domestic practices are all fraught elements of the U.S.–China relationship. With the war in Iran, Trump doesn’t have a lot of leverage to change the relationship’s dynamic. Considering that, it’s not too surprising that nothing really happened at the summit.”* **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/05/data-src-image-85745b29-5425-4fe6-bba2-d03cc1bba4b0.png) ### Tuesday, May 19. [The Department of Justice’s anti-weaponization fund](https://www.readtangle.com/trump-doj-settlement-fund/). On Monday, May 18, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that, as part of the settlement agreement in *President Donald J. Trump v. Internal Revenue Service*, it would create a new fund that could “issue formal apologies and monetary relief” to individuals and entities who claim to have suffered from lawfare and DOJ weaponization. The anti-weaponization fund will receive $1.776 billion from the federal government’s judgment fund used to settle and pay other cases. Five people, appointed by the Attorney General, will oversee the new fund; one of the five must be chosen in consultation with congressional leadership. **Our take:** *“This fund is another overt example of corrupt self-dealing by the Trump White House. Yes, Democrats have been using settlement payouts to advance their agenda for years, but this is different in several key ways. All of this could be legal, but Congress should step in and stop it.”* **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/05/data-src-image-adb988a3-d908-483e-89f7-6e0fe6222143.png) ### Wednesday, May 20. [The 2026 midterm primary races](https://www.readtangle.com/primary-election-results-2026/). The midterm primaries officially began on March 3, and on Tuesday, May 19, primaries were held in states across the country. - In Kentucky, Trump-backed candidate and former Navy SEAL Ed Gallrein decisively defeated incumbent Rep. Thomas Massie in the primary for the state’s 4th congressional district by 9.8 percentage points. - In Georgia, Rep. Mike Collins finished first in the Republican Senate primary but did not secure 50% of the vote. Collins will now advance to a runoff with former football coach Derek Dooley. Elsewhere in Georgia, Lt. Gov. Burt Jones and healthcare executive Rick Jackson are also headed to a runoff in the Republican gubernatorial primary. - In Alabama, Rep. Barry Moore (R) — who was endorsed by Trump — placed first in a crowded primary race for Senate, which is now headed to a runoff with Moore and former Navy SEAL Jared Hudson. - In Texas, President Trump officially endorsed state Attorney General Ken Paxton in the Republican Senate primary against Sen. John Cornyn ahead of their runoff on May 26\. **Our take:** *“This was another cycle putting to bed questions of whether Trump has lost control of the party. I’m curious to see what the outgoing Republicans will do now. For Democrats, I wonder who will emerge as the presidential candidate to wrangle their broadening coalition.”* **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/05/data-src-image-065a9b62-c985-4196-834e-eee51c84766e.png) ### Thursday, May 21. [The latest on the Russia–Ukraine war](https://www.readtangle.com/ukraine-war-update-may-2026/). On May 8, President Donald Trump announced Russia and Ukraine agreed to a three-day ceasefire. Both sides accused the other of violating the truce, and heightened strikes resumed when it ended on May 11\. Over the weekend of May 15, Ukraine conducted an overnight drone attack on Russia, including strikes in Moscow, killing at least four and injuring 12, according to local officials. The Ukrainian military launched over 1,300 drones in the attack, which Russian state media called the worst in a year. The offensive followed last week’s large-scale Russian bombardment that killed at least 24 Ukrainians and injured dozens more. **Our take:** *“The war in Ukraine has been deadlier than most people can comprehend, and it won’t end any time soon. Ukraine has been forced to adapt its tactics in order to survive. Their adaptation towards small and AI-assisted drone warfare is simply stunning, and I shudder to think of its effect on future conflicts.”* **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/05/data-src-image-a97756ec-d0b4-47d6-83b5-833ed6e9c26d.png) ### Friday, May 22. Executive Editor Isaac Saul has been open about his criticisms of the second Trump administration — but that doesn’t mean the president hasn’t had some accomplishments. In this week’s Friday piece, Isaac explores the things President Trump has gotten right. [You can read the piece here](https://www.readtangle.com/trump-presidency-doing-some-good/). --- ### What just happened. Here’s a rundown of the major stories that have broken since our newsletter on Thursday. - On Thursday, the Democratic National Committee (DNC) released an incomplete report on the 2024 election, which explores the party’s mistakes in the presidential and down-ballot races. DNC Chairman Ken Martin had previously opposed releasing the report, calling it a distraction ahead of the midterms, but said withholding it created an even larger distraction. ([The release](https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/dnc-reverses-course-and-releases-report-critical-of-2024-campaign-failures-ef628ae3?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Thursday, the Commission of Fine Arts approved President Donald Trump’s plan for a 250-foot triumphal arch in Washington, D.C., clearing a preliminary hurdle in the project. The Federal Aviation Administration is still reviewing the plan, and the National Capital Planning Commission will next take up its own review. ([The approval](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/21/us/politics/trump-arch-approved.html?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Thursday, President Trump announced that the Environmental Protection Agency will roll back two regulations imposed under the Biden administration that aimed to phase out the use of hydrofluorocarbons in refrigeration and cooling, which are potent greenhouse gases. Trump said the deregulatory move will lower costs, but some industry groups contested his claim. ([The announcement](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2026/05/21/trump-grocery-costs-refrigerant-rules-epa-biden/90186446007/?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Thursday, Republican leadership delayed until June planned votes in the House and Senate on a war powers resolution that would limit President Trump’s ability to continue military action in Iran. The Congressional GOP leaders reportedly lacked confidence that they had sufficient votes to defeat the measure, particularly after four Republican senators voted to advance it to a final vote earlier this week. ([The delay](https://apnews.com/article/iran-war-donald-trump-congress-vote-8038c7f9552186716d01f910d6a0d356?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Thursday, a judge sentenced Aimee Bock to 41.5 years in prison for her role in a scheme to steal approximately $240 million from a pandemic-era federal meals program for children. The case drew national attention and scrutiny of Minnesota’s handling of fraud cases. ([The sentence](https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2026/05/21/aimee-bock-feeding-our-future-fraud-jail-time?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Friday, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard resigned, saying that she would step away from public service to support her husband, who was recently diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer. Her last day will be June 30\. ([The resignation](https://thehill.com/homenews/5891647-intelligence-chief-gabbard-resigns/?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Friday, Kevin Warsh was sworn in as the new chair of the Federal Reserve. ([The swearing in](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/05/22/trump-kevin-warsh-fed-chair-interest-rates.html?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Saturday, President Trump said that the framework of a deal to end the war in Iran and reopen the Strait of Hormuz is close to agreement, writing on Truth Social, “An agreement has been largely negotiated, subject to finalization between the United States of America, the Islamic Republic of Iran.” Details of the potential deal have not been released. ([The announcement](https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/trump-announces-near-finalization-of-deal-to-end-iran-war-8244e2f6?mod=hp%5Flead%5Fpos1&ref=readtangle.com)) - On Saturday, the Secret Service cleared the White House’s North Lawn in response to apparent gunshots. Reporters outside the White House were told to evacuate to the White House Press Briefing Room. ([The incident](https://abcnews.com/US/white-house-lawn-cleared-after-apparent-gunshots/story?id=133257965&ref=readtangle.com)) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/05/data-src-image-709281a8-5fe1-4bfa-b491-369157f9ff57.png) ### Reader essay. ![Custom art by Veronica Post](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/05/data-src-image-160340c5-966b-4343-a757-ddc7ab08c502.jpeg) Custom art by Veronica Post Late last December, we [published](https://www.readtangle.com/the-drifters-lament-i-miss-being-homeless/) a post by guest writer A.M. Hickman about his experiences with homelessness. The post sparked a lot of discussion and reactions, including from Canadian comic artist Veronica Post, who was reminded of her own experiences with drifting. Today, Veronica shares her experience in a first of its kind post for Tangle: a custom digital graphic novel. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### I am free, you are wage-slaves. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/otherposts/i-am-free-you-are-wage-slaves/ Last updated: 2026-05-29T12:32:26.000Z A response to "[The Drifter's Lament](https://www.readtangle.com/the-drifters-lament-i-miss-being-homeless/)," by A.M. Hickman. *By Veronica Post* --- ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/05/image-3.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/05/image-4.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/05/image-5.png) _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Of course, Trump is doing some good. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/trump-presidency-doing-some-good/ Last updated: 2026-05-22T15:56:48.000Z **I’m Isaac Saul, and this is Tangle. You are reading a preview of a members-only Friday edition. To read it in full,* [**you'll be asked to subscribe*](https://www.readtangle.com/membership/)**.* ****Did someone forward you this email?** [****Sign up here**](https://www.readtangle.com/)****.** --- **A quick programming note before we get into today’s piece. Tangle will be off this Monday in observance of Memorial Day, but we’ll be back in your inbox with our next regular newsletter on Tuesday, May 26\. Enjoy the three-day weekend!* I have not been very happy with the president. And I haven’t been shy about that. Like most independents, with whom Trump currently has a [net –33 approval rating](https://yougov.com/en-us/trackers/donald-trump-approval?crossBreak=independent&ref=readtangle.com), I’ve found the first 16 months of his presidency alarming, frustrating, and disappointing. Less than a year into his new term, I was already writing about how [things had gotten pretty bad](https://www.readtangle.com/yes-things-are-pretty-bad-right-now/). I’ve since written about the [self-dealing and corruption](https://www.readtangle.com/the-everything-everywhere-all-at-once-corruption-story/), which came *before* [the Justice Department slush fund](https://www.readtangle.com/trump-doj-settlement-fund/) and the IRS deal promising to never [investigate or audit his business or his family for any past tax returns](https://www.politico.com/news/2026/05/19/trump-irs-settlement-tax-returns-00927911?ref=readtangle.com). After his “Praise be to Allah” social media post, which included the open threat of a war crime, I [said](https://www.readtangle.com/trump-iran-ultimatum/#:~:text=I%E2%80%99d%20say%20the%20president%20appears%20unwell.%20I%20feel%20the%20same%20way%20I%20did%20after%20the%202024%20presidential%20debate%2C%20when%20my%20long%2Dheld%20fears%20that%20President%20Biden%20was%20not%20fit%20to%20serve%20were%20confirmed.%20Trump%20looks%20to%20me%20like%20he%E2%80%99s%20truly%20unraveling.%20He%20does%20not%20seem%20fit%20for%20the%20job.%C2%A0) the president seemed unwell and unfit for the job. It seems as if he innovates a new norm-breaking indignity every day, and I think being “honest,” “independent,” and “nonpartisan” necessitates calling those things out. I’ve harbored more personal grievances, too: The president is, for example, wreaking havoc in the area where I chose to build a home. He’s bulldozing legal obstacles and ignoring public outcry to force a multi-billion-dollar border wall project that will [needlessly destroy my favorite town in America](https://www.readtangle.com/trump-border-wall-big-bend-region/), which happens to sit on the border of Texas and Mexico (and next to one of our great national parks). Given these dynamics, and my overt unhappiness with these first 16 months of Trump’s second term, a lot of readers and listeners have written in saying either “it’d be nice if you ever talked about the good Trump is doing” *or* “is there anything good Trump has been doing?” Interestingly, these requests and questions don’t just come from his most ardent supporters, but also from curious folks in the middle and open-minded readers on the left. My knee-jerk reaction to this question is, well, my job is not to share all the good things Trump is doing. I’m not his press secretary; I am a part of the press. I believe journalists and opinion columnists should have an adversarial relationship with people in power, so we should not spend time doing their work for them. When President Biden was in office, I very rarely (if ever) showered him in overt, uncomplicated praise. I never wrote a piece about all the things I liked about his administration. It’s just not my style as a writer or thinker, and it’s why so many on the right loved Tangle when Biden was president but grew frustrated with us once Trump reentered office. My other reaction is that tackling this question is not the nature of Tangle. We are wading into *controversy* each day; controversy necessitates multiple viewpoints, tension, argument, and debate. And typically, the stories we cover don’t have clean answers where one side or the other is the obvious hero. Our most overt praise of political leaders or their decisions will typically come through broader retrospectives, like our reviews of a presidency or a president’s first year in office (we reviewed [Biden’s presidency](https://www.readtangle.com/reviewing-joe-bidens-presidency-part-1-2/) and [Trump’s first year](https://www.readtangle.com/tracking-trump-presidency-part-one/), for example). Yet, I also recognize these readers are asking something simple: Do I think Trump has done any good? And to this, I think it’s important to say that, well, *of course*. Not just accomplishments that look good in my eyes, but ones that are broadly popular across the political spectrum. Just because I have been lobbing harsh criticisms at him does not mean his presidency is *all* rotten or *all* bad; it just means I’ve had a lot to criticize. To that end, I figured I could write up my thoughts about what’s been good so far, both through a broad political lens (i.e. things I believe are widely popular) and through more traditional metrics around presidencies. A few notes on how I’m thinking about this list: First, a “good” listed here doesn’t mean I personally think it is good, but *does* mean it’s the kind of thing I think a plurality or majority of Americans support. Of course, in many cases, that includes me. Second, many of these accomplishments will have some caveats, because the world is gray — not black and white — and every upside has a little downside, too. Plus, most accomplishments in an administration’s first year or two (along with many of their problems) are the product of inherited situations. With all that throat-clearing out of the way, some thoughts: _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Don’t forget about the war in Ukraine. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/ukraine-war-update-may-2026/ Last updated: 2026-05-21T15:53:20.000Z *I'm Isaac Saul, and this is Tangle: an independent, nonpartisan, subscriber-supported politics newsletter that summarizes the best arguments from across the political spectrum on the news of the day — then “my take.”* *Are you new here?* [*Get free emails*](https://www.readtangle.com/) *to your inbox daily. Would you rather listen? You can find our podcast* [*here*](https://shows.acast.com/66510864c0852400122bc7be?ref=readtangle.com)*.* ### Today’s read: 13 minutes. 💣 More than one million troops have reportedly been killed or wounded since the war began, and no end is in sight. Plus, we answer a question about the White House's East Wing. ### A new Suspension of the Rules. Aliens, antisemitism, GOP infighting, and some scorn for nature: This week, Isaac, Ari, and Kmele chopped it up about the latest primary results, the UAP disclosures (proof of aliens), a scary Democrat in Texas, and Trump’s new anti-weaponization fund — plus, wild deer, noisy birds, and aggressive turkeys. This one’s got something for everyone to love (or hate). [Check it out here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIOVsALXWlc&t=49s&ref=readtangle.com)! Today's Partner: The Pour over ****Peaceful News is Possible** Reading the news these days can feel like eating one big plate of anxiety, with a side dish of information. Here's the thing: you already know what to do when something consistently makes you feel bad. You stop eating the food that bloats you. You cut back on the drink that keeps you up at night. Yet many of us keep going back to the headlines even when it costs us our peace. But why? [****The Pour Over**](https://signuphere.thepourover.org/?utm%5Fsource=tangle&utm%5Fmedium=newsletter&utm%5Fcampaign=may21) is a free Christian news newsletter built on the idea that staying informed doesn't have to come with that helping of anxiety. Three times a week, they cover the biggest headlines — clearly, neutrally, briefly — and pair them with biblical reminders that keep your eyes on what matters most. [****Join 1,500,000 Christians**](https://signuphere.thepourover.org/?utm%5Fsource=tangle&utm%5Fmedium=newsletter&utm%5Fcampaign=may21) who decided a healthier news diet was worth trying. ****P.S.** They're also funnyish. Get their welcome email — if you don't at least smirk, they'll issue a full refund. (It's always free, so that's $0\. But still.) ### Quick hits. 1. The Department of Justice unsealed a grand jury indictment against Raúl Castro, the former president of Cuba. Castro was indicted on murder charges related to a 1996 aircraft shootdown that killed four people, including three Americans. ([The indictment](https://apnews.com/article/raul-castro-indictment-trump-cuba-c04030a07c1b72442e61e72ad6d78604?ref=readtangle.com)) Separately, the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz arrived in the Caribbean this week. ([The arrival](https://thehill.com/policy/defense/5888335-uss-nimitz-caribbean-cuba-trump/?ref=readtangle.com)) 2. James Murdoch’s Lupa Systems announced it will acquire New York Magazine, the Vox Media podcast network, and Vox.com in a deal valued at over $300 million. ([The acquisition](https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/james-murdoch-acquire-three-major-units-vox-media-2026-05-20/?ref=readtangle.com)) 3. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that the U.S. and Iran were in the “final stages” of negotiations and that he would wait a few days for an Iranian response to the latest U.S. proposal. ([The update](https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/iran-war-trump-us-latest-peace-proposal/?ref=readtangle.com)) 4. On Wednesday, SpaceX filed papers to move forward with an initial public offering; it is expected to become the first U.S. company to go public with an estimated market value of $1 trillion. ([The move](https://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/spacex-moves-launch-highly-anticipated-ipo?ref=readtangle.com)) 5. The Department of Justice charged a former federal prosecutor with stealing sealed documents related to special counsel Jack Smith’s investigation into President Donald Trump’s classified documents case. ([The charges](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/05/20/trump-documents-doj-charges-prosecutor-theft-jack-smith-report.html?ref=readtangle.com)) ### Today’s topic. The latest on the Russia–Ukraine war. On May 8, President Donald Trump announced Russia and Ukraine agreed to a three-day ceasefire. Both sides [accused](https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-reports-battlefield-clashes-drone-strikes-despite-ceasefire-2026-05-10/?utm%5Fsource=chatgpt.com) the other of violating the truce, and heightened strikes resumed when it ended on May 11\. Over the weekend, Ukraine [conducted](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ukrainian-drone-strikes-russia-deaths/?ref=readtangle.com) an overnight drone attack on Russia, including strikes in Moscow, killing at least four and injuring 12, according to local officials. The Ukrainian military [launched](https://www.politico.eu/article/ukraine-breaches-russia-strongest-air-defenses-drone-attack-hits-moscow/?ref=readtangle.com) over 1,300 drones in the attack, which Russian state media [called](https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/world/595504/ukraine-attack-largest-in-over-a-year-on-moscow-russian-state-media-reports?ref=readtangle.com) the worst in a year. The offensive followed last week’s large-scale Russian bombardment that [killed](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5y049w8nqwo?ref=readtangle.com) at least 24 Ukrainians and injured dozens more. In recent weeks, Ukraine has ramped up its long-range drone attacks against Russia, striking deeper into the country and specifically targeting its energy infrastructure. Additionally, Ukraine’s military has invested heavily in “[middle strikes](https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/ukrainian-mid-range-strikes-deal-double-blow-russias-war-effort-2026-05-19/?ref=readtangle.com)” (targeting sites 30–180km behind front lines) and is outfitted with advanced technological weaponry, including a homemade [precision glide bomb](https://nypost.com/2026/05/19/world-news/ukraine-debuts-home-grown-guided-bomb-capable-of-deep-strikes-in-russia/?ref=readtangle.com). These tools have enabled Ukraine to strike oil, gas, and electricity targets across Russia. Roughly 20 Russian oil export terminals and refineries [have been damaged](https://foreignpolicy.com/2026/05/18/ukraine-russia-war-strategy-attack/?ref=readtangle.com) by Ukrainian strikes between April and mid-May. As a result, Russia’s crude-processing rate [fell](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-04-30/ukraine-strikes-on-russian-oil-assets-climb-to-four-month-high?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=That%20cut%20Russia%E2%80%99s%20average%20refinery%20runs%20to%204.69%20million%20barrels%20a%20day%2C%20the%20lowest%20since%20December%202009%2C%20according%20to%20estimates%20from%20analytics%20firm%20OilX.) to its lowest since December 2009. These developments have raised questions about Russia’s dominance in the war it escalated over four years ago. Russian forces suffered a net loss of [45 square miles](https://understandingwar.org/newsroom/dispatch-ukraines-quiet-comeback-against-russia/?ref=readtangle.com) in April, the country’s first net loss since August 2024, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). On May 9, the Russian Victory Day holiday commemorating the surrender of Nazi Germany, Russian President Vladimir Putin held a significantly scaled-back parade in Moscow. Reports [indicated](https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/russia-holds-scaled-back-ww2-victory-parade-worries-over-war-ukraine-deepen-2026-05-08/?ref=readtangle.com) the Kremlin was concerned about security amid heavy Ukrainian strikes. However, some analysts [push back](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/10/world/europe/russia-ukraine-putin-war.html?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=The%20slowdown%20may%20be%20temporary%2C%20and%20it%20is%20due%20at%20least%20in%20part%20to%20seasonal%20factors.%20Russian%20troops%20tend%20to%20pick%20up%20speed%20over%20the%20summer%2C%20aided%20by%20better%20weather%20and%20foliage%20that%20provides%20more%20cover%20from%20drones.) on the narrative that the tides of the war have turned against Russia. Russian forces maintain control over [key parts](https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/36a7f6a6f5a9448496de641cf64bd375?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Assessed%20Control%20of,Expand) of Ukraine, and the ISW [estimates](https://www.russiamatters.org/news/russia-ukraine-war-report-card/russia-ukraine-war-report-card-may-20-2026?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Russia%3A%20%2B29%2C083%20square%20miles.%2012%25%20of%20Ukraine.%20%28Area%20roughly%20equivalent%20to%20half%20the%20U.S.%20state%20of%20Illinois%29.) Russia has gained nearly 30,000 square miles, or 12%, of Ukrainian territory, since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022\. Additionally, Western military officials [estimated](https://www.thetimes.com/world/russia-ukraine-war/article/putin-accept-us-security-guarantees-ukraine-t28s0zn5w?gaa%5Fat=eafs&gaa%5Fn=AWEtsqeYi148vfOTliJtkqBVt5EtyLB-kSoAavWC%5FZYiF1ZIbP4GO4xDkkDTcQmtInA%3D&gaa%5Fts=69a7114f&gaa%5Fsig=y9HWD1GGfsw5yM4LXA4sj9it8UUt59ft9Mzy13kPDewrJ%5F3n5Hd5kZ8hk8M6w9YghLWcP8CGVYiiPE-cN3bRvA%3D%3D&ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Western%20military%20officials%20believe%20that%20at%20least%20two%2Dthirds%20of%20Ukraine%E2%80%99s%20energy%20production%20capacity%20has%20been%20destroyed%2C%20damaged%20or%20occupied%20by%20Russia%20since%20the%20Autumn.) in February that roughly two-thirds of Ukraine’s energy production capacity has been destroyed, damaged, or occupied by Russia since late 2025\. Since fighting began, Ukrainian and Russian [troops](https://www.russiamatters.org/news/russia-ukraine-war-report-card/russia-ukraine-war-report-card-april-8-2026?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Military%20casualties%20%28see%20footnotes%20for%20detailed%20source%20estimates%29) have suffered over one million combined casualties, while thousands of [civilians](https://www.russiamatters.org/news/russia-ukraine-war-report-card/russia-ukraine-war-report-card-april-8-2026?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Civilian%20fatalities6) have reportedly been killed — and the outlook of the war remains uncertain. President Putin, who [traveled](https://www.reuters.com/world/putin-china-live-russian-leader-meets-xi-beijing-days-after-trump-2026-05-20/?ref=readtangle.com) to China this week for discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping, [said](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn8p4j2jzwwo?ref=readtangle.com) shortly after the victory parade that he thinks the war in Ukraine “is coming to an end.” In an evening address on Tuesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky [said](https://www.dailysignal.com/2026/05/14/ukraine-is-an-opportunity/?ref=readtangle.com), “This month has brought a shift in the dynamics in our favor — in Ukraine’s favor,” adding the country is “holding more positions and inflicting more damage.” Below, we’ll share some perspectives from the right, left, and writers abroad on the state of the war and the most recent strikes. Then, Managing Editor Ari Weitzman offers his take. ### What the right is saying. - **Many on the right praise Ukraine’s use of drone warfare.** - **Others say Ukraine’s war efforts offer grim lessons for its allies.** **In The Wall Street Journal, Tom Tugendhat described** [**“the economics of victory in Ukraine.”**](https://www.wsj.com/opinion/the-economics-of-victory-in-ukraine-and-defeat-in-iran-3d2403e1?ref=readtangle.com#selection-567.0-567.35) “The war in Iran teaches an old lesson about military spending,” Tugendhat said. “More than 1,000 interceptor drones roll off Ukrainian production lines every day, at $1,000 to $3,000 apiece. The bodies of Kyiv-built attack drones are redesigned within months, not years, their engines even more quickly, and their guidance software within a matter of days. By keeping costs down and rapidly iterating simple technology, at scale, Ukraine is delivering a devastating effect.” “Ukraine produced four million drones last year and plans to produce seven million this year, 10 times its output three years ago,” Tugendhat wrote. “For Ukraine, that’s the economics of victory: billions of dollars of weapons destroyed by drones that cost around $2,000 each… The goal is no longer the perfect weapon. You build the best you can. Then build it again, 90% as good, at 80% of the cost, in 50% of the time. Then do it again and again, a thousand times more. That not only fills the armory; it creates a system to keep it full.” **In The American Prospect, Gil Barndollar said** [**“drone dominance isn’t the vital lesson of Ukraine.”**](https://prospect.org/2026/05/05/drone-dominance-isnt-vital-lesson-of-ukraine/?ref=readtangle.com) “Finding enough men to man the 1,200-kilometer front line is a ceaseless struggle for Ukraine. The country has more than ten million military-aged men but is struggling to keep an army of one million in the field,” Barndollar wrote. “Many soldiers are exhausted after years of war without rest… Policy decisions also contribute to the manpower crisis. Fearing postwar demographic collapse, Ukraine still refuses to draft men under 25\. Many others have exemptions for critical civilian work, family circumstances, or health issues.” “The reality is that manpower is still the critical ingredient in war… Absent true machine autonomy, drone tactics don’t remove the need for troops; they simply move manpower around,” Barndollar said. “All the attention now being paid to drones and munitions production suggests that war can be undertaken without sacrifice. Ukraine’s messy partial mobilization bears witness to the cost of failing to prepare the public for war: a broad loss of trust in the army, widespread draft evasion, an army forced into a war of attrition by its lack of manpower for assault and maneuver. NATO nations, most still wedded to a brittle all-volunteer force model, need to honestly grapple with what a protracted war would demand of their armies and societies.” ### What the left is saying. - **Some on the left say Ukraine has all but eliminated its reliance on the United States and other countries.** - **Others contend that Europe must now step up to help ensure Ukraine’s long-term security.** **The Newsweek editors argued** [**“Ukraine is increasingly able to go it alone.”**](https://www.newsweek.com/ukraine-war-russia-trump-putin-zelensky-11967248?ref=readtangle.com) “Ukraine’s need for Western capability has given Washington an effective veto over many of the most politically sensitive strike options. And it’s not just Washington. Germany has also shown reluctance to give Ukraine its long-range Taurus missiles for similar reasons,” the editors said. “Kyiv, however, is gaining strike options that can be launched without a fresh American transfer of materiel. Ukraine’s liberating push for self-sufficiency in long-range drones and missiles is beginning to pay off.” “The military damage from drone strikes near Moscow will vary by target and interception rate, but the political effect is harder for the Kremlin to quarantine because the war is becoming increasingly immediate for Russian civilians,” the editors wrote. “The political question is no longer whether Ukraine may someday acquire a U.S.-approved weapon capable of reaching symbolic Russian targets. Kyiv is already demonstrating that Moscow’s defenses can be stressed by Ukrainian-made systems.” **In Bloomberg, Marc Champion argued** [**“Ukraine is doing better, now it’s Europe’s turn.”**](https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2026-05-19/the-ukraine-war-is-changing-european-allies-strategy-must-change-too?ref=readtangle.com) “After a brutal winter, Ukraine has managed to stabilize the front over the last few months, on occasion even making net territorial gains. Overall, the nature of the battlefield has changed in ways that blunt Russia’s overwhelming advantages in manpower, artillery and armor,” Champion said. “Now the bloc must agree to a new non-US framework for peace talks, and give Ukrainians hope by creating a bespoke path to their integration into the European Union and Western security arrangements.” “The good news is that most of Europe’s leaders by now recognize that integrating Ukraine’s large military and drone industry offers their own best security guarantee against a revisionist Kremlin, absent a reliable US partner,” Champion wrote. “Less encouraging is that this war has become a contest of narratives and confidence, as much as a fight over land, so Ukraine’s allies must regroup and respond accordingly. They cannot fall for Putin’s nuclear threats, which are more a sign of desperation than of strength. For their own sakes, they need to find a new mediator to replace the US and ensure that Kyiv survives what feels very much like Moscow’s last throw of the military dice this summer.” ### What writers abroad are saying. - **Many writers abroad say recent Ukrainian attacks have threatened Russian control.** - **Others argue that European countries should prepare to rebuild Ukraine on several fronts once the war ends.** **In the Washington Examiner, Igor Bondar said Ukraine has** [**“broken the myth of an untouchable Moscow.”**](https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/op-eds/4574488/ukraine-broken-myth-of-untouchable-moscow/?ref=readtangle.com) “Long-range Ukrainian drone strikes against Moscow and the Moscow region have exposed something the Kremlin desperately tried to hide for years: Russia can no longer fully defend its own capital,” Bondar wrote. “The Ukrainian drone campaign is also exposing a deeper strategic problem for Russia. Modern drone warfare favors cheaper, mass-produced systems over traditional, expensive air defense missiles. Russia is now forced to spend millions of rubles attempting to intercept relatively inexpensive drones. In a long war of attrition, that imbalance matters.” “The broader point is that Ukraine is steadily scaling up a new model of warfare. The next phase will likely involve coordinated swarms, autonomous medium-range drones and artificial intelligence systems designed to overwhelm Russian air defenses. Russian authorities already appear deeply concerned about this shift. Panic inside Russia’s drone industry has led to investigations, raids and corruption cases connected to failed procurement programs,” Bondar said. “\[Ukraine\] is dismantling the central myth sustaining Russian President Vladimir Putin’s system — the belief that the Russian state remains strong, untouchable, and capable of protecting its own people while waging war against its neighbors.” **In National Review, Oleksandr Kraiev and Andreas Umland argued that a coalition** [**“must prepare for numerous new challenges once the war ends.”**](https://www.nationalreview.com/2026/05/when-the-guns-fall-silent-ukraine-after-the-war/?ref=readtangle.com) “War, not peace, remains the most likely scenario. Yet history rarely ends as expected,” Kraiev and Umland said. “Europe cannot afford to be unprepared for the consequences of a sudden cease-fire. Should the fighting cease, Ukraine would not face a simple recovery period, but rather the beginning of a new, multidimensional struggle — one that would simultaneously test its security, economy, institutions, demographics, and political cohesion. Winning peace, especially under an imperfect cease-fire agreement, will be just as demanding as surviving the war.” “Once security is established, economic recovery will be the decisive test,” Kraiev and Umland wrote. “Ukraine’s decline during or after the war… would grant Russia a belated victory and spur authoritarian revisionism far beyond Eastern Europe. The end of fighting — whenever it comes — will be celebrated by Ukrainians, yet will neither reduce Russian imperialism nor resolve many of Ukraine’s accumulated domestic problems. It will merely mean the transition to a new phase of intense political developments whose outcome will continue to significantly impact the future of Europe.” ### My take. **Reminder: “My take” is a section where we give ourselves space to share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, don't unsubscribe. Write in by replying to this email, or** [**leave a comment**](https://www.readtangle.com/ukraine-war-update-may-2026/#ghost-comments-root)**.** - **The war in Ukraine has been deadlier than most people can comprehend, and it won’t end any time soon.** - **Ukraine has been forced to adapt its tactics in order to survive.** - **Their adaptation towards small and AI-assisted drone warfare is simply stunning, and I shudder to think of its effect on future conflicts.** **Managing Editor Ari Weitzman:** The war in Ukraine is horrifying. Start with the numbers alone. Accurately reporting on these figures is difficult, since both sides inflate the other’s losses, but here’s a [good estimate](https://www.russiamatters.org/news/russia-ukraine-war-report-card/russia-ukraine-war-report-card-may-13-2026?ref=readtangle.com): Since Vladimir Putin decided to launch an all-out assault to conquer Ukraine by force in 2022, the war has claimed 250,000–300,000 Ukrainian military casualties and roughly 1,000,000 Russian military casualties (killed and wounded). Ukraine has killed 8,000 Russian civilians, according to Russia, while Russia has killed 15,000 Ukrainian civilians, according to the UN. Just for comparison, Israel’s war in Gaza [has killed](https://www.newarab.com/news/israeli-attacks-surge-across-gaza-death-toll-tops-72700?ref=readtangle.com) over 72,000 people. That’s not to say one war is more horrific or more important than the other, or to minimize what’s happening in Gaza — that conflict is massively asymmetric, and the *majority* of those killed in that war have been civilians. It’s just to try to give some perspective on the number of lives still being lost in this conflict as it enters its fifth year. The war’s territorial changes are also rather astonishing. Russia occupies over 45,000 square miles of Ukraine, roughly 20% of the country. Recently, the tide of this war has turned, yes; but it’s not a dramatic reversal of fortune. Instead, it is more like a high tide no longer advancing but starting to slowly recede from shore. With the help of foreign aid and some [foreign volunteers](https://censor.net/en/news/3606423/around-20-000-foreigners-are-fighting-in-the-ukrainian-armed-forces-dw?ref=readtangle.com), Ukraine has offered fierce resistance mostly with its own forces against the slow, inexorable, steady Russian advance through Eastern Ukraine, losing small amounts of territory every month since November 2023\. In March, Ukraine pushed the lines back for the first time in years, then they did so again in April. Not far back, but enough that you could see the past six weeks as marking the beginning of Ukraine’s own inexorable march to pushing Russian forces out of its country. No peace is coming. Yes, the two sides [mutually agreed](https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-ceasefire-trump-talks-462cb4414a7222e27a7075e8ddbcf0d9?ref=readtangle.com) to a U.S.-brokered three-day ceasefire and a prisoner exchange during the Russian Victory Day celebration, but that peace was tenuous at best. Each side [accused the other](https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/2026/05/10/russia-ukraine-war-ceasefire/46a79150-4c5f-11f1-97e7-22c6c29ff0d8%5Fstory.html?ref=readtangle.com) of breaking the ceasefire’s terms throughout, and the key disagreement remains: Russia [won’t accept](https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-proposes-long-term-ceasefire-after-putin-floats-victory-day-truce/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Ukraine%20says%20freezing%20the%20current%20front%20line%20is%20the%20most%20realistic%20basis%20for%20a%20ceasefire%2C%20while%20Moscow%20continues%20to%20insist%20that%20Ukrainian%20forces%20withdraw%20from%20parts%20of%20Donbas%20as%20a%20condition%20for%20any%20settlement%20%E2%80%94%20a%20demand%20Kyiv%20has%20rejected.) any peace that doesn’t include Ukraine ceding control over parts of the Donbas region it’s currently still defending. Instead of hoping for productive negotiations with Russia — which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky [famously told](https://www.readtangle.com/trump-zelensky-oval-office-meeting/) President Trump, Vice President Vance, and the entire world would be a fool’s errand — Ukraine has adopted a different strategy: Remove Russian soldiers from the battlefield faster than they can be replaced by new recruits. Doing so requires the Ukrainian military to inflict 30,000 enemy casualties a month. And they’re succeeding. I consider myself a realistic person. I understand that Russia is relentless, that they’ve been barraging Ukrainian cities and vital infrastructure for years, unleashing combined missile and drone attacks to deadly effect, and all the while [flooding the zone](https://www.voanews.com/a/russian-propaganda-portrays-zelenskyy-as-supervillain-/7808285.html?ref=readtangle.com) with propaganda. I get that the support the U.S. and NATO countries have given Ukraine has been [self-interested and wanting](https://www.politico.eu/article/war-ukraine-nato-membership-nuclear-war-fight-russia-defense-75-anniversary/?ref=readtangle.com), providing just enough to keep Russia engaged without being decisive enough to drive Russian troops out of the country. And I know that, given the situation — the existential threat, the relentlessness of the enemy, and the solitary nature of its fight — Ukraine has been forced to adapt or die. That adaptation is simply frightening to behold. Ukraine has created a “kill zone” along the front with a few innovations to existing drone technology. To understand it, you need to know three acronyms. First, FPV. Ukrainian [first-person view](https://www.rferl.org/a/anti-drone-technology-russia-invasion-ukraine-elka-fpv-threat/33737266.html?ref=readtangle.com) (FPV) drones are small, cheap aircraft that relay real-time video back to their remote operators. These are different from the [long-range drones](https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/ukrainealert/ukrainian-long-range-drones-are-turning-russias-size-into-a-weakness/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Ukrainian%20attacks%20on,the%20ongoing%20invasion.) that Ukraine has been using to attack sites in Russia and terrorize its vast countryside — the ones Russia is now [diverting](https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/dispatches/how-russia-exploits-drone-incursions-in-the-baltics-and-how-to-respond/?ref=readtangle.com) into Baltic countries. These FPV[ drones](https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2026/03/05/novel-interceptor-drones-bend-air-defense-economics-in-ukraines-favor/?ref=readtangle.com) are small, fast, and [cheap](https://www.militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2026/03/11/these-are-ukraines-1000-interceptor-drones-the-pentagon-wants-to-buy/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Interceptor%20drones%20are%20small%2C%20fast%2C%20semi%2Dautonomous%20unmanned%20aircraft%20%E2%80%94%20often%20costing%20between%20%241%2C000%20and%20%242%2C500%20each%20%E2%80%94%20designed%20to%20hunt%20and%20destroy%20incoming%20drones%20by%20ramming%20into%20them%20or%20detonating%20alongside%20them%20at%20altitude.). Ukraine is sending thousands to the front every day, at about $1,000 per drone. Second, EFP. FPV drones can be armed with [explosively formed projectiles](https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidhambling/2026/05/19/slaughterbots-now-ukraines-head-hunting-drones-terrify-russians/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Kill%20Mechanism%3A%20Explosively%20Formed%20Projectile) (EFP), which are superheated concave metal plates that, when detonated, transform into solid, fast-moving slugs that can pierce armor. EFPs can easily penetrate netting or wire that troops on the front lines use to protect themselves from other FPV drones, and they can even punch through tanks. Third, AI. Ukraine uses artificial intelligence systems to help pilot small quadcopter drones, turning cheap and easy-to-make machines into tools sometimes referred to as “[slaughterbots](https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidhambling/2026/05/19/slaughterbots-now-ukraines-head-hunting-drones-terrify-russians/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Fast%20forward%20to%202026%20and%20similar%20quadcopters%20are%20everywhere%20in%20Ukraine.%20Many%20now%20have%20AI%20capability%2C%20thanks%20to%20companies%20like%20Auterion%20and%20The%20Fourth%20Law%2C).” [These machines](https://thefourthlaw.ai/?ref=readtangle.com#about) allow FPV operators to identify a target, then cede control to an AI-piloting system, breaking the requirement of remote human control. On-board AI makes drones impervious to jamming and allows them to complete the last leg of their killing journeys without human control. Videos from FPV drones killing soldiers are easy to find, and frankly, they may be the most disturbing videos I’ve ever seen. Watching a human being die is always disturbing, and many other videos of human death are far more gruesome or nauseating. But every video death evokes a feeling of uncanny distance through the screen. It’s a facsimile, an experience less like what it is and more like watching a video game, creating a terribly alienating feeling of removal. That feeling is grotesquely acute in [these videos](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCGpVp8BQu8&ref=readtangle.com) (warning: graphic content): an unsuspecting soldier. The drone approaches. He notices it and begins to panic. It accelerates towards him. He helplessly tries to evade, turns to face it at the last second. Freeze frame, AI-enhanced image, a face. 45 years old. Deep lines of hard years engrained into a startled face, not comprehending its encroaching death. Another face, 35 years old. 21 years old. Zoom out, a small explosion. Next video. Let me be as clear as I can: I am not blaming Ukraine for finding the path it needs to take to win a war it did not choose. We should [never forget that Vladimir Putin started this war](https://www.readtangle.com/otherposts/please-dont-lose-the-plot/), he did it because he believes the free nation of Ukraine belongs to Russia, and he can stop the war at any time by leaving the territories he invaded. Ukraine is doing what countless nations and armies and tribes have done throughout history, which is innovate the cold and bloody machinery of war. Here’s how one Ukrainian FPV brigade commander put it to [The New York Times](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/31/magazine/ukraine-ai-drones-war-russia.html?ref=readtangle.com): “Any large-scale war, it delivers demons… It unleashes something powerful and it accelerates developments which otherwise would have taken decades.” Or, if you prefer: “If the international community is concerned about this, then they should have stopped the war early on.” The United States, Europe, and NATO should all be gladdened to see Ukraine assert control — again, it would be good for Ukraine to prevail here. But if indeed the tide of this war is turning, then it’s a red tide coming in. It’s very unsettling to be cheering Ukraine’s advances in this moment. I unequivocally hope that they can push Russia out, that they can rack up steady gains on the front lines, and then leverage their success into a strong negotiating position to bring an end to the war. But I also fear the future of war that the end of this one would bring. “Slaughterbots” would have seemed like science fiction a year ago. Today, they’re actually Ukraine’s battlefield strategy. And while Ukraine is making concerted efforts to ensure oversight of their AI-powered FPV drones, would every army do the same? A future where Iranian forces remotely crack open a container in the port of Los Angeles to unleash flying autonomous killing machines is no longer a scenario that seems far-fetched. Ukraine is giving us a glimpse of that potential future. And I don’t think we’re prepared for it. **Take the survey:** When do you think the Ukraine–Russia war will end? [Let us know](https://interrobang.vercel.app/survey/efdc98b1-1063-4130-b696-f317321dcbde?ref=readtangle.com). *Disagree? That's okay. Our opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we'll consider publishing your feedback.* Today's Partner: The pour over The news can leave you informed — and completely drained. [The Pour Over is a free Christian newsletter](https://signuphere.thepourover.org/?utm%5Fsource=tangle&utm%5Fmedium=newsletter&utm%5Fcampaign=may21) delivering the biggest stories briefly, neutrally, and with biblical perspective that keeps the focus on what matters most. Join 1.5 million readers choosing a healthier way to stay informed. [****It's free!**](https://signuphere.thepourover.org/?utm%5Fsource=tangle&utm%5Fmedium=newsletter&utm%5Fcampaign=may21) ### Your questions, answered. **Q: What was the East Wing of the White House used for before it was demolished? What are we losing from not having it there?** **— Diane from Kansas** **Tangle:** The White House can be broken down into [three distinct parts](https://www.info-america-usa.com/the-white-house/?ref=readtangle.com): the East Wing, the West Wing, and the residence. The residence is, obviously, where the presidential family lives; it takes up a large part of the central portion of the building (the section that is most easily identifiable from the exterior). Also known as “the Main House,” this portion is home to reception rooms that are frequently opened to public tours — the green, blue, and red rooms; the diplomatic reception room; and the state dining room. The West Wing is home to the administrative offices of the president, as referenced by the famous television drama of the same name. The [East Wing of the White House](https://www.whitehousehistory.org/press-room/press-backgrounders/east-wing-fact-sheet?ref=readtangle.com) is the section of the building least used by the president for daily tasks. It’s also the newest section, with the current structure added by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1942\. Before President Trump demolished it late last year, the East Wing housed some of the building’s ceremonial spaces, its guest entrance, and the offices for the first lady’s staff. It also contained a movie theater and sat above a bunker. Although those original spaces have been lost, the functional losses won’t be permanent. A renovated bunker is part of [President Trump’s planned ballroom construction](https://www.ncpc.gov/files/projects/2026/8733%5FEast%5FWing%5FModernization%5FProject%5FProject%5FNarrative%5FMar2026.pdf?ref=readtangle.com), as is a new visitor’s entrance, new offices for the first lady, and even a new movie theater. The ballroom’s architect also [said](https://abcnews.com/Politics/white-house-expected-present-ballroom-construction-plans-1st/story?id=128999044&ref=readtangle.com) he is considering additions to the building’s West Wing in order to retain the White House’s symmetry. **Want to have a question answered in the newsletter? You can reply to this email (it goes straight to our inbox) or** [**fill out this form**](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScQhqBSG%5F6%5FoBhwcTQMeS570n29XYbeQ9C9Bis7rjqI31g1tA/viewform?usp=header&ref=readtangle.com)**.** ### The road not taken. Our editorial team had a long discussion over what topic to cover today. We knew we would be covering the Trump–Xi summit on Monday and the primary results on Wednesday. Initially, we anticipated covering the White House ballroom on Tuesday, but pivoted after the anti-weaponization fund was announced. Today’s choice gave us the most to consider. Ballroom funding was the obvious early frontrunner since we bumped it on Tuesday, but we decided that waiting to see how legislation advanced would be prudent. So, what else was timely and relevant? Musk v. Altman? The Senate housing bill? The Ebola outbreak? None seemed to be generating enough commentary to make them obvious choices. Minnesota banning prediction markets felt too niche, and the Raúl Castro indictment felt premature. Ultimately, we agreed that it was time for the long overdue Ukraine update. ### Numbers. - [**29,083.**](https://www.russiamatters.org/news/russia-ukraine-war-report-card/russia-ukraine-war-report-card-may-20-2026?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Russia%3A%20%2B29%2C083%20square%20miles.%2012%25%20of%20Ukraine.%20%28Area%20roughly%20equivalent%20to%20half%20the%20U.S.%20state%20of%20Illinois%29.) The area, in square miles, of Ukrainian territory that Russia has gained since its full-scale invasion in February 2022, according to the Belfer Center. - [**1,585.**](https://www.russiamatters.org/news/russia-ukraine-war-report-card/russia-ukraine-war-report-card-may-20-2026?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=According%20to%20RM%E2%80%99s%20measurements%20using%20ISW%20data%2C%20from%20May%2020%2C%202025%2C%20to%20May%2019%2C%202026%2C%20Russia%20made%20a%20net%20total%20gain%20of%C2%A01%2C585%20square%20miles%C2%A0%28slightly%20bigger%20than%20the%20state%20of%20Rhode%20Island%29%E2%80%94about%200.7%25%20of%20Ukraine%E2%80%99s%20total%20territory%20of%20233%2C062%20square%20miles%20at%20the%20time%20of%20its%20independence%20in%201991.)The area, in square miles, of Ukrainian territory that Russia has gained between May 2025 and May 2026. - [**9.6 million.**](https://www.unrefugees.org/emergencies/ukraine/?ref=readtangle.com) The approximate number of Ukrainian citizens displaced by the war as of February 2026, according to United Nations estimates. - [**3.7 million.**](https://www.unrefugees.org/emergencies/ukraine/?ref=readtangle.com)The approximate number of internally displaced Ukrainians. - [**5.9 million.**](https://www.unrefugees.org/emergencies/ukraine/?ref=readtangle.com)The approximate number of Ukrainian refugees. ### The extras. - **One year ago today** we published our first piece on [Trump’s big, beautiful bill](https://www.readtangle.com/one-big-beautiful-bill-house-republicans/). - **The most clicked link in our last regular newsletter** was the announcement of [our upcoming live event in West Virginia](https://www.readtangle.com/west-virginia-event-announcement/). - **Nothing to do with politics:** Nine things the pros would [never have in their outdoor spaces](https://www.businessinsider.com/backyard-design-mistakes-outdoor-space-interior-designers-2026-5?ref=readtangle.com). - **Our last survey:** 2,725 readers responded to our survey on the midterm primary races with 53% saying they show President Donald Trump has total control of the Republican Party. “I can’t believe it. They have all caved, to the detriment of all of us and to our country,” one respondent said. “I think primaries are different from general elections and there are a lot of unhappy people out there,” said another. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/05/data-src-image-ec634433-7274-4ca3-8349-a71613b1ffa3.png) ### Have a nice day. For a male kea parrot, being born without an upper beak is a disability that typically amounts to a death sentence for birds. For Bruce, it was only a challenge on his way to becoming the alpha male of his flock. Researchers studying Bruce at Willowbank Wildlife Reserve in New Zealand found he had developed a novel jousting technique, thrusting his lower beak at opponents across 36 recorded combative interactions, winning every one. He also had the lowest stress hormone levels in the group and was the only male groomed by other males. “Behavioral innovation can help bypass physical disability,” lead researcher Alexander Grabham said. [Good Good Good has the story](https://www.goodgoodgood.co/articles/disabled-parrot-alpha-male-of-flock?ref=readtangle.com). ### What the DOJ's anti-weaponization fund means for the future... URL: https://www.readtangle.com/what-the-dojs-anti-weaponization-fund-means-for-the-future/ Last updated: 2026-05-22T00:03:28.000Z In this episode of Suspension of the Rules, we break down the ongoing power struggle in the GOP, and what impact the DOJ's anti-weaponization fund has on the future. ### Tuesday's election results. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/primary-election-results-2026/ Last updated: 2026-05-21T15:55:38.000Z *I'm Isaac Saul, and this is Tangle: an independent, nonpartisan, subscriber-supported politics newsletter that summarizes the best arguments from across the political spectrum on the news of the day — then “my take.”* *Are you new here?* [*Get free emails*](https://www.readtangle.com/) *to your inbox daily. Would you rather listen? You can find our podcast* [*here*](https://shows.acast.com/66510864c0852400122bc7be?ref=readtangle.com)*.* ### Today’s read: 15 minutes. 🗳️ Primaries were held across the country on Tuesday, with key races in Kentucky, Georgia, Alabama, and more. Plus, some background on unsolicited political text messages. ### Our next event! Today, I’m pleased to announce that we are [**coming to Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, on June 13 and 14**](https://www.tickettailor.com/events/tanglenews/2210692?ref=readtangle.com)for a special VIP dinner and a live taping of our weekly podcast, *Suspension of the Rules*.[**Tickets are on sale now**](https://www.tickettailor.com/events/tanglenews/2210692?ref=readtangle.com)**!**Why Berkeley Springs? 1. It’s an American gem. Incorporated in 1776, history abounds — George Washington used to visit with his ill brother, who believed the springs could improve his health. Now, it’s known for its greenery, spas, and resorts. 2. Speaking of history, we’ll be recording live inside the [historic](https://startheatrewv.com/history?ref=readtangle.com) Star Theatre. 3. Berkeley Springs is just a few hours from Washington, D.C.; Pittsburgh; Philly; Maryland; New Jersey; Ohio; and even parts of Virginia and North Carolina. If you’re looking for a summer weekend getaway, [this is it](https://www.tickettailor.com/events/tanglenews/2210692?ref=readtangle.com)! 4. Right now, this is the only live event on our schedule. We’re hoping to hold a few more this year — but for now, it’s the only one we can guarantee! 5. Most of the Tangle team will be in attendance, which is unique. Unlike past events where it’s been just me and a few others, this is shaping up to be an opportunity to meet and interact with the full team. We have already sold over half of our VIP tickets, and general admission tickets are going fast. This is a small theater, so to [secure your tickets before a sellout](https://www.tickettailor.com/events/tanglenews/2210692?ref=readtangle.com), you should hop on it now! ### Quick hits. 1. The Justice Department expanded its settlement of President Trump’s lawsuit to include provisions preventing the government from pursuing existing tax audits for previously filed returns against Trump, his businesses, and his family members. ([The agreement](https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/government-deal-with-trump-expands-to-end-tax-audits-aad8f2bc?ref=readtangle.com)) Separately, President Trump disclosed more than 3,600 stock trades in the first quarter of this year, including several companies whose business have been impacted by his decisions as head of the federal government. The president said the trades were handled by third parties. ([The trades](https://apnews.com/article/stock-trading-trump-nvidia-apple-defense-1bd6e661929430892ae8f1eced3e0df8?ref=readtangle.com)) 2. The Senate voted 50–47 to advance a resolution to limit President Trump’s war powers in Iran. Republican Sens. Susan Collins (ME), Lisa Murkowski (AK), Rand Paul (KY), and Bill Cassidy (LA) joined 46 Democrats in favor of the resolution, while Sen. John Fetterman (PA) was the lone Democrat in opposition. The resolution has now been discharged from committee and will face further votes on the Senate floor. ([The resolution](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/senate-iran-war-powers-eighth-vote-trump/?ref=readtangle.com)). 3. Late Tuesday, the Pentagon announced that it would be pausing a planned deployment of 4,000 troops to Poland. Vice President JD Vance said the pause was only a temporary delay, not a permanent reduction. ([The deployment](https://apnews.com/article/poland-nato-united-states-military-troops-fd8a082ca2c17c9e2fbf22038040e439?ref=readtangle.com)) 4. Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing, where the two leaders expressed a desire for deepening ties between the nations and, according to Chinese state media, an end to hostilities in Iran. ([The visit](https://apnews.com/article/china-russia-putin-xi-5b7304bc1604cbb7135cb96f217b8b3e?ref=readtangle.com)) 5. According to the Congolese Health Ministry, the current Ebola outbreak in Central Africa has killed at least 131 people and infected 531\. The U.S. State Department strongly urges against travel to the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan or Uganda, and it has announced it will fund up to 50 Ebola response clinics. ([The outbreak](https://www.nbcnews.com/world/africa/ebola-outbreak-deaths-rise-scale-speed-concerns-who-congo-uganda-rcna345833?ref=readtangle.com)) sponsored by financebuzz ****22 Things To Cut When Living On Retirement (Many People Ignore #11)** Whether you’re already enjoying retirement or just eyeing the exit ramp, the math of a fixed income can feel like a daunting puzzle. The rising cost of living often turns "relaxing" into "calculating," but your golden years shouldn’t be defined by what you **can’t* do. The good news? You don’t need a radical lifestyle overhaul to find breathing room. Often, it isn't the big-ticket items that drain a nest egg; it’s the steady drip of outdated services and inefficient accounts. Efficiency isn't about deprivation — it's about intentionality. Our partner, [****FinanceBuzz**](https://financebuzz.com/money-moves-cut-on-retirement-yaez?utm%5Fsource=tangle&utm%5Fmedium=paid-newsletter-cpf&utm%5Fterm=Tangle&utm%5Fcampaign=BM-FBZ-Tangle-money-moves-cut-on-retirement-yaez-CPF&adgroupid=BM-Tangle-money-moves-cut-on-retirement-yaez-CPF-05202026) curated a list of simple cutbacks and financial tools to help you reclaim your budget for what actually matters. [****Check out their full list here**](https://www.readtangle.com/west-virginia-event-announcement/). ### Today’s topic. The 2026 midterm primary races. The [midterm primaries](https://www.270towin.com/content/2026-primary-results-by-state?ref=readtangle.com) officially began on March 3, and on Tuesday, primaries were held in states across the country. Elections in Kentucky, Georgia and Alabama drew particular focus, where Republican candidates were facing challenges from President Trump or crowded fields for the party’s nomination. In Kentucky, Trump-backed candidate and former Navy SEAL Ed Gallrein decisively [defeated](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-primary-elections/kentucky-us-house-district-4-results?ref=readtangle.com) incumbent Rep. Thomas Massie in the primary for the state’s 4th congressional district by 9.8 percentage points. The president was frequently at odds with Massie, whom [he called](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-backed-navy-seal-vet-delivers-major-blow-massie-fiery-gop-primary?ref=readtangle.com) “the worst Republican Congressman in history.” Massie’s defeat comes days after a contentious race in Louisiana, where Rep. Julia Letlow and state Treasurer John Fleming [defeated](https://abcnews.com/Politics/gop-sen-bill-cassidy-faces-trump-backed-challenger/story?id=132977846&ref=readtangle.com) incumbent Sen. Bill Cassidy, advancing to a June runoff. Cassidy had also drawn the ire of President Trump for voting to convict him in his January 6 impeachment trial. Trump ultimately endorsed Letlow. In Georgia on Tuesday, Rep. Mike Collins [finished first](https://www.politico.com/news/2026/05/19/collins-dooley-georgia-senate-runoff-00929116?ref=readtangle.com) in the Republican Senate primary but did not secure 50% of the vote. Collins will now advance to a runoff with former football coach Derek Dooley; the winner will face Sen. Jon Ossoff (D) in the general election. Elsewhere in Georgia, Lt. Gov. Burt Jones and healthcare executive Rick Jackson are also [headed](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-election/georgia-governor-primary-election-runoff-burt-jones-rick-jackson-rcna345004?ref=readtangle.com) to a runoff in the Republican gubernatorial primary. The winner will face former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms (D), who prevailed in her Democratic primary. In Alabama, Rep. Barry Moore (R) — who was endorsed by Trump — placed first in a crowded primary race for Senate, which is now [headed to a runoff](https://alabamareflector.com/2026/05/20/democratic-republican-candidates-will-go-to-runoff-for-u-s-senate-nominations/?ref=readtangle.com) with either state Attorney General Steve Marshall or former Navy SEAL Jared Hudson. The three are competing for the Senate seat vacated by Sen. Tommy Tuberville, who opted to run for governor. Tuberville [won his primary](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-election/alabama-governor-primary-election-winners-tommy-tuberville-rcna345002?ref=readtangle.com) easily and will face former Sen. Doug Jones (D) in November’s election. In Texas, President Trump did not initially endorse a candidate in the Republican Senate primary, where state Attorney General Ken Paxton is challenging Sen. John Cornyn. After [neither candidate secured](https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/politics/election-2026/2026/03/03/544883/texas-senate-republican-primary-election-results-cornyn-paxton-hunt/?ref=readtangle.com) 50% of the vote in March, the race moved to a runoff to be held on May 26\. President Trump [officially endorsed](https://time.com/article/2026/05/19/trump-endorses-ken-paxton-texas-senate-republican-primary-john-cornyn/?ref=readtangle.com) Paxton on Tuesday. The winner will face state Rep. James Talarico in the general election. Below, writers from the left and right react to the performance of Trump-backed challengers in Republican primaries. Then, Executive Editor Isaac Saul gives his take. ### What the left is saying. - **The left sees the primaries as a demonstration of Trump’s total control over the GOP.** - **Some argue the extent of the president’s influence won’t be clear until November.** - **Others say Trump is destroying the Republican Party.** **In Common Dreams, Robert Reich suggested that** [**“the GOP is now Trump’s.”**](https://www.commondreams.org/opinion/donald-trump-bill-cassidy?ref=readtangle.com) “Trump’s purge of Cassidy comes in the wake of Trump’s purges of House Republicans who stood up to him, such as Wyoming’s Liz Cheney,” Reich said. “Today’s Republican Party no longer has any purpose other than achieving whatever Trump wants, which is making Trump richer and more powerful. The GOP is now Trump’s; it is no longer America’s. Today’s Republican *voters*, by contrast, are showing increasing frustration with Trump.” “Yet for *elected* Republicans, survival now depends on personal loyalty to Trump,” Reich wrote. “For Trump, the first and most basic sign of loyalty to him — and therefore survival as a politician in Trump’s Republican Party — is a willingness to publicly proclaim as *truth* what we know to be two big lies: that Trump won the 2020 election, and that he did not seek to overturn its results by illegal means. As a result, almost all congressional Republicans are now election deniers.” **In New York Magazine, Ed Kilgore said** [**“after purging Cassidy, Trump sets his sights on Massie.”**](https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/after-purging-cassidy-trump-sets-his-sights-on-massie.html?ref=readtangle.com) “Donald Trump’s efforts to assert total control over his party despite his sinking overall popularity achieved a landmark victory on Saturday with the resounding defeat of two-term Republican senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana,” Kilgore wrote. “Massie is the next presidential intraparty target… This is a heavily Republican district in a heavily Republican state, so the primary will be the final word for this particular House seat. But its national resonance is unmistakable. If Massie goes down, it will continue Trump’s successful May vengeance tour.” “More generally, we won’t know until November whether the political capital Trump has expended this year to enforce discipline in his own party ranks would have been better spent on the general election,” Kilgore said. “Perhaps he’s as focused on the power of his MAGA movement within the GOP as on the GOP’s power over the country. Or maybe he’d just prefer not to think about November — which, if polls are to be believed, will make a mockery of all the post-2024 talk of Trump bestriding the country like a colossus.” **In The New York Times, Michelle Cottle argued that** [**“Mr. Trump’s petty project has been bad for the G.O.P.”**](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/19/opinion/massie-primary-trump-republicans.html?ref=readtangle.com) “\[Massie’s\] loss to Mr. Gallrein, an unknown, undistinguished challenger expected to be a much more reliable presidential boot licker, is the latest warning to other Republicans about the dangers of crossing Mr. Trump even now, as his popularity is on the slide,” Cottle wrote. “It should also serve as a vivid and very expensive reminder, especially to Republicans, of how little Mr. Trump cares about the current or future well-being of his chosen party. Destroying the G.O.P. might suit his purposes even better.” “Mr. Trump’s petty project has been bad for the G.O.P., a spectacular waste of resources that could have been put to better use in any number of races and places,” Cottle said. “Mr. Trump has clearly thrilled to the idea that the Republican Party cannot survive without him — that there can be no such thing as a post-Trump G.O.P. The suggestion that he will ever cede the stage gracefully is laughable. Everything we’ve seen in the past decade suggests that, until the bitter end of his presidency — maybe even beyond — he will work to ensure that the Republican Party remains entirely his creature. The more pathetic the better.” ### What the right is saying. - **Many on the right say the primary results show that Republican politicians need to fall in line with the party.** - **Some believe the money spent on the primary races is a bigger loss than the defeated incumbents.** - **Others see the primary results as a tragedy for the GOP and the country.** **In The Washington Times, Kelly Sadler said** [**“Republican voters want team players.”**](https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/may/18/republican-voters-want-team-players/?ref=readtangle.com) “\[Bill Cassidy’s\] disloyal vote to impeach Mr. Trump in his first term compounded Republican voters’ frustrations,” Sadler wrote. “Rank-and-file Republicans understand that the Democratic Party will do anything to seize and hold power, and they also understand the need to fight fire with fire… They want a party unified around policy goals, with the ruthlessness to accomplish them. This includes ending the filibuster, redistricting and passing bills that align with the president’s agenda. “Still, many elected Republicans do not seem to get it,” Sadler said. “Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky is one of them. Mr. Massie’s base of anti-war leftists, anti-Israel activists, libertarians, online activists and Epstein-file conspiracists is not made up of rank-and-file Republicans. Mr. Massie voted against Mr. Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which delivered tax cuts to working-class families… Many observers of these party expulsions assume it is Mr. Trump’s control over the base. They are wrong. It is Republican voters controlling their elected officials.” **In National Review, Jeffrey Blehar said** [**“Donald Trump still commands the loyalty of his troops.”**](https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/the-axe-finally-falls-upon-thomas-massie/?ref=readtangle.com#selection-707.543-707.596) “Although my many libertarian friends have found nice things to say about Massie over the years, I will miss him significantly less. Many of my colleagues are convinced he is a barely veiled antisemite; I merely think him crazy, and have grown tired of crazy people in Congress. What Massie called ‘principle’ ended up expressing itself in little more than mindless oppositionalism,” Blehar wrote. “I never thought Massie would survive direct presidential intervention, especially not after having genuinely enraged many of his own constituents by conspiring with Democrats to force a release of the so-called ‘Epstein files.’ It was one step too far.” “Don’t weep too hard for Thomas Massie. He has long promised that, if he ever lost, he would be happy to idle away his days on his hand-built home on his secluded estate, appreciating the beauties of life off the grid and away from the hugger-mugger of it all, and now he will get his chance,” Blehar said. “Instead, weep for the tens of millions of dollars squandered in internecine warfare, and all to prove a point nobody disputes: Even amidst his national political ruin — November is now shaping up to be a butchering of World War I–level proportions — Donald Trump still commands the loyalty of his troops.” **In The Dispatch, Nick Catoggio described** [**“the real lesson of the Cassidy disaster.”**](https://thedispatch.com/newsletter/boilingfrogs/bill-cassidy-defeat-lessons-trump/?ref=readtangle.com) “\[‘Don’t cross Trump’\] is not the lesson of Bill Cassidy’s defeat. Lots of Republicans have ‘crossed’ Trump since 2016 and lived to tell the tale,” Catoggio wrote. “What Cassidy was naive about was his faith that Republican voters *could not possibly be so morally wretched* that they would still be worshiping that blob five years later, still seeking revenge on the senator in 2026 for having cast what was obviously a brave, correct, and honorable vote.” “In Donald Trump’s party, conscience kills. That’s the real lesson of the Cassidy disaster. And the senator tried to learn it, albeit too late. The easiest way to understand his vote to confirm \[Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Health Secretary\] is as a formal repudiation of his own conscience,” Catoggio said. “Having failed the supreme loyalty test five years ago, though, he couldn’t un-fail it… Cassidy chose the Constitution over Trump. He would never be forgiven for it. There is no hope for America as long as the right remains what it’s become. Bill Cassidy didn’t know that in 2021\. He knows now.” ### My take. **Reminder: “My take” is a section where we give ourselves space to share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, don't unsubscribe. Write in by replying to this email, or** [**leave a comment**](https://www.readtangle.com/primary-election-results-2026/#ghost-comments-root)**.** **Executive Editor Isaac Saul:** President Trump’s level of control over the Republican Party has become one of the most tired talking points in American media. A new wave of questioning whether *this* is the moment Trump’s grip will loosen seems to pop up every few months. Then, when the moment inevitably passes, we all talk about how the GOP is still his party, and the cycle repeats a few months later. Starting about a month ago, much hype has been made about whether Trump could oust some Indiana state legislators, send Sen. Bill Cassidy packing, and raise enough money to beat Rep. Thomas Massie in a primary. He did all three, and his endorsed candidates in Georgia and Alabama performed well, too. It’s Trump’s party, and you cross him at your own peril. Whether this is a good or bad thing is a matter of time and perspective, but it’s silly to spend any time examining the question of whose party it is, as that has now been answered over and over and over. So, with that, here are eight *other* thoughts on the last week of midterm politics: 1. Speaking of worn-out talking points: Could Texas actually be up for grabs this time? President Trump’s endorsement of Ken Paxton [has Republicans reeling](https://x.com/burgessev/status/2056815006482640994?ref=readtangle.com), and rightfully so. Trump just sent one of the most [openly corrupt and politically vulnerable](https://thebarbedwire.com/2026/02/17/ken-paxton-scandal-timeline/?ref=readtangle.com) candidates that I can remember to a Senate primary. Sen. Jerry Moran (KS) said Trump’s endorsement “saddened” him and he was unsure “what you can complain about on John Cornyn.” Sen. Susan Collins (ME) said she didn’t understand it. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (AK) said the seat is now in jeopardy. Sen. Lindsey Graham (SC) [said](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/05/19/trump-primary-election-ken-paxton-john-cornyn-texas-senate.html?ref=readtangle.com) it will cost three times more to defend Texas than it would have otherwise. James Talarico, of course, is *probably* too left for the state — but he’s certainly got a better chance against Paxton than he would have had against Cornyn, which everyone but Trump seems to understand. 2. While Trump’s grip on Republican voters remains strong, his grip on Republican senators is a different story. Well ahead of November, we may be in for a dynamic sea change. Just yesterday, the Senate [advanced legislation](https://apnews.com/article/trump-iran-war-senate-bill-cassidy-fe89d2df981a79ac816722d0115d3080?taid=6a0cdd302ec63a0001679ef2&ref=readtangle.com) to block President Trump from further military action in Iran. The deciding vote was Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA), who notably flipped sides on the vote after Trump ousted him in a primary just last week. Sen. Cornyn, meanwhile, now has little reason to [post pictures of himself reading Trump’s book](https://x.com/JohnCornyn/status/1902811136762028118?ref=readtangle.com) and pretending to be interested. Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) has been a [thorn in the administration’s side](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/thom-tillis-drops-blockade-fed-chair-nominee-kevin-warsh-jerome-powell-rcna342163?ref=readtangle.com) since announcing his plans to retire. And with the independent streaks Sens. Murkowski and Collins already had, the supposed 53–47 Senate majority feels much more like a split with a number of live swing votes. Or, as one senior Republican aide [put it to NOTUS](https://www.notus.org/campaigns/trump-paxton-endorsement-cornyn-senate-2026-republican-majority?ref=readtangle.com), “now \[Trump\] doesn’t have a governing majority.” Trump could be headed for an oddly premature “lame duck” presidency a few months ahead of the *midterm* elections. 3. Speaking of pre-general-election-weirdness, what do you think Thomas Massie is going to do now? He was already unafraid to buck the party line, but I imagine the last few months of his 14-year congressional career are going to be totally unrestrained. Here is one quote from his [concession speech](https://www.c-span.org/program/campaign-2026/rep-thomas-massie-r-ky-primary-night-concession-remarks/679470?ref=readtangle.com): “By the way, while gas is almost $5 and diesel is almost $6, they’re talking about this big ballroom they’re going to build. And it looks like the Roman Empire, architecture from the Roman Empire. I see a few analogies there, and people are just trying to make ends meet.” Massie is representative of an [ascendant faction on the right](https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2026/05/thomas-massie-primary-loss-kentucky-trump.html?ref=readtangle.com) — an anti-Israel, anti-war, libertarian group of former Trump-voters who seem to be voiceless at the national level right now. I’ll be watching how this ascendant right movement operates with or without Massie. 4. While all the focus was on Republicans in the South on Tuesday, one of the most interesting races was in Northeastern Pennsylvania, where progressive Democrat Bob Brooks [won a primary race](https://keystonenewsroom.com/news/elections/bob-brooks-chris-rabb-lead-progressives-to-victory-in-pennsylvanias-primary-elections/?ref=readtangle.com) in one of the most divided districts in America. He will now face first-term Republican Ryan Mackenzie in the general election. Why did this Pennsylvania House race catch my eye? Because Brooks, a retired firefighter and union leader who now runs a lawn-care business, would become one of the few House Democrats *without* a college degree in Congress if he prevails in November. He also pulled together a fascinating coalition: He was endorsed by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and spent the last few weeks campaigning with Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) and former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. Brooks shares a lot of similarities with Graham Platner: A gruff-looking, masculine candidate with working-class appeal who seems a little out of place in stuffy D.C. circles. He’s even complete with “controversial old social media posts,” where he expressed conservative views and called Colin Kaepernick a “douchebag.” Yet none of that stopped him from winning. Is this a new Democratic faction in the making? 5. Meanwhile, a Yale-educated college professor and Democratic Socialist named Chris Rabb [won his primary](https://www.nationalreview.com/news/democratic-socialist-chris-rabb-wins-primary-in-deep-blue-pennsylvania-district/?ref=readtangle.com) in a deep-blue Philadelphia district and seems locked in for a congressional seat. Republicans have already fought their internal battle and know they will be sailing under the Trump banner to 2028\. But rounding up a coalition within a party that runs the gamut from Bob Brooks to Chris Rabb is a lot for a future Democratic leader to have to wrangle. 6. If working-class non-college educated vs. Ivy League socialists doesn’t interest you, there’s also another primary runoff next Tuesday in Texas, where a Democrat named Maureen Galindo will be fighting for the nomination in the state’s 35th District. Last week, Galindo [promised](https://www.instagram.com/p/DYRyMXOFQCN/?img%5Findex=6&ref=readtangle.com) to convert ICE detention centers into internment camps for “American Zionists,” adding that “it will also be a castration processing center for pedophiles, which will probably be most of the Zionists.” She’s headed to a runoff after finishing first in the crowded Democratic primary race in Marc with 29.2% of the vote. That’s fine, right? 7. It kind of fell under the radar, but a lot of votes were cast on Tuesday that *literally* won’t count for a variety of reasons. In Georgia, Rep. David Scott (D) appeared on the ballot posthumously. He died at the age of 80 while seeking a 13th term, becoming the fourth Democrat *in just this term* to die while in office. This devotion to staying in office as long as possible has genuinely hurt Democrats’ ability to function as a minority party. Meanwhile, over 100,000 people cast ballots in four of Alabama's seven congressional districts that may not count after Republican Gov. Kay Ivey moved to postpone the election. Ivey is [hoping to redraw](https://alabamareflector.com/2026/05/01/alabama-wants-u-s-supreme-court-to-end-injunction-allow-new-congressional-map/?ref=readtangle.com) Alabama’s maps on the backs of a Supreme Court ruling, and if successful, instituting a redraw will mean voiding the ballots cast on Tuesday. 8. Finally: Bon voyage to Brad Raffensperger, who deserves a tip of the cap and whom history should remember favorably. Raffensperger, you might recall, was the Georgia secretary of state Trump pushed to “find” 11,000 votes to flip the state in his favor in 2020\. Raffensperger declined, then spent the last six years dutifully trying to prove that the Georgia election was fair and legal. Three recounts and many hearings later, a lot of voters still believe something was amiss. But Raffensperger never wavered in his resistance to election denialism, and he never stopped trying to prove the legitimacy of his state’s election. His attempt to become governor failed on Tuesday, likely ending his political career, but I can almost guarantee he will publish a book about the insanity of the last six years — and it’s going to be awfully good. **Take the survey:** How much control do you think President Trump has over the Republican Party? [Let us know](https://interrobang.vercel.app/survey/267ae9e6-89ea-4715-965c-8f8a365bc04b?ref=readtangle.com). *Disagree? That's okay. Our opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we'll consider publishing your feedback.* ### Your questions, answered. **Q: The amount of unsolicited texts I have gotten from PACs asking for donations/contributions to random state- or local-level elections on the other side of the country has absolutely SKY-ROCKETED in the last few months. Is that something y’all would ever report on somewhere?** **— Peter (submitted through** [**Subtext**](https://joinsubtext.com/c/tanglenews?ref=readtangle.com)**)** **Tangle:** We’re happy to expound on this. Simply put, you’re getting these texts because it’s primary season. Political messaging ramps up when elections are underway, and perhaps the most cost-effective way for candidates to communicate with you is through text messages. One SMS text [costs senders](https://textus.com/blog/sms-marketing-pricing?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=The%20price%20per%20SMS%20message%20in%202026%20generally%20falls%20between%20%240.01%20and%20%240.05%20per%20SMS%2C%20depending%20on%20message%20length%2C%20country%2C%20and%20platform.%20MMS%2C%20which%20includes%20images%2C%20videos%2C%20or%20long%20text%2C%20costs%20a%20bit%20more%2C%20usually%20between%20%240.03%20and%20%240.30%20each.) between one and five cents, making it much cheaper than mailers or TV ads. You’re getting more texts now because, as Alex Quilici, CEO of call-blocking company YouMail, [put it](https://time.com/6994868/political-campaign-texts-what-to-do/?ref=readtangle.com), “If you see more of something, that means it’s working.” That low cost of distribution allows political action groups (PACs) more overhead to pay for the really expensive part: getting your data. Political groups paid 37 data brokers [over $23 million](https://abc7news.com/post/political-text-messages-flood-california-voters-phones-campaign-surge-election-season/19010033/?ref=readtangle.com) to access voter data during the 2020 election. That number [excludes](https://www.opensecrets.org/news/2022/04/the-third-party-brokers-who-make-millions-selling-your-data-to-political-groups/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Our%20methodology%20excluded%20powerhouses%20such%20as%C2%A0Meta%2C%20the%20rebranded%20parent%20company%20of%20Facebook%2C%20and%C2%A0Google%C2%A0that%20are%20not%20required%20to%20register%20in%20Vermont%20or%20California%20because%20they%20sell%20data%20from%20users%20signed%20up%20to%20access%20services.) major players like Meta and Google, meaning it’s only a fraction of what PACs are paying in total. PACs can also get a lot of data cheaply through voter rolls, or from national fundraising platforms like ActBlue or WinRed. The Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) forbids campaigns from contacting you with auto-dialers and requires services to allow you to opt out. However, [the TCPA allows](https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/verify/verify-can-political-campaigns-legally-text-you-without-permission-texting-campaigns-how-do-campaigns-get-my-number/65-f1d46338-49f8-43b5-a807-dd84ff10a16d?ref=readtangle.com) campaigns to text potential voters without their permission — provided an actual person sends the message. That means that after you opt out from one campaign, PACs can just sign you up for different (but very similar) campaigns through peer-to-peer services, as long as an actual person runs them. To make matters worse, a 2021 Supreme Court ruling [exempted](https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-commentary/election-political-spam-texts-1235154418/?ref=readtangle.com) campaigns from the TCPA if they simply manually feed numbers into an automated system. Worse still, political calls [are exempt](https://callhub.io/blog/compliance/political-calls/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=5.%20National%20Do%20Not%20Call%20Registry%20exemption) from the Do Not Call Registry, meaning campaigns can legally contact registered voters even if they’ve opted out of commercial calls. The upshot is that as long as people keep clicking these messages to donate, we’re all going to keep getting them. But since Peter asked this question through [*our* messaging service](https://joinsubtext.com/c/tanglenews?ref=readtangle.com), now is a good time to remind you that Tangle never shares your information with anyone, and if you opt out we will never re-enroll you without your consent. **Want to have a question answered in the newsletter? You can reply to this email (it goes straight to our inbox) or** [**fill out this form**](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScQhqBSG%5F6%5FoBhwcTQMeS570n29XYbeQ9C9Bis7rjqI31g1tA/viewform?usp=header&ref=readtangle.com)**.** ### Under the radar. Last Tuesday, May 12, officials at the recently opened immigration detention center in the Florida Everglades told vendors it would shut down. The center, known as “Alligator Alcatraz,” was opened in July 2025 and held 1,383 detainees as of the most recent report in April. Florida’s Division of Emergency Management projected last year that the facility would cost $1.1 billion to operate and expected a $608 million reimbursement from the federal government, which has not come. “We’ve saved taxpayers money,” Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) said. “We’ve saved taxpayers from medical care and schooling \[of unauthorized immigrants\] and all these different things” (a [report](https://ahca.myflorida.com/content/download/28608/file/2025%5FImmigration%5FReport.pdf?version=2&ref=readtangle.com) found that unauthorized immigrants had cost the state roughly $660 million in healthcare costs in 2024). DeSantis has not confirmed where the facility’s detainees will be sent once it closes. [The New York Times](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/12/us/florida-alligator-alcatraz-detention-closure.html?ref=readtangle.com) and [WLRN Florida](https://www.wlrn.org/2026-05-14/desantis-on-alligator-alcatraz-weve-saved-taxpayers-money?ref=readtangle.com) have the story. ### A deeper look. ![Edward Giddins, Anti Masonic Almanac, For the Year 1832 (Utica: William Williams, 1831) | Image from Common Place](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/05/data-src-image-b6c5815e-d85a-4cd3-968c-bcf974985264-1.png) Edward Giddins, **Anti Masonic Almanac, For the Year 1832* (Utica: William Williams, 1831) | Image from [Common Place](https://commonplace.online/article/fighting-words/?ref=readtangle.com) Political candidates for a general election weren’t always decided by primaries. In the early days of the United States, elections weren’t even decided by parties at all. Initially, those seeking office didn’t announce their own candidacies but were customarily [nominated for office by others](https://www.gilderlehrman.org/history-resources/spotlight-primary-source/george-washingtons-reluctance-become-president-1789?ref=readtangle.com). For higher offices (like the Senate, governor, president), party caucuses of sitting legislators often chose nominees. As national [parties formed](https://www.battlefields.org/learn/articles/election-1804?ref=readtangle.com), congressional caucuses [nominated](https://constitutioncenter.org/blog/a-brief-history-of-presidential-primaries?ref=readtangle.com) candidates for the presidency. This changed with Andrew Jackson’s populist mass-appeal movements of 1824 and 1828, which shifted the power center toward the masses. In 1831, shortly before the 1832 Democratic Convention (which nominated Jackson for president), the Anti-Masonic Party held [the first national nominating convention](https://www.history.com/articles/third-party-politics-anti-masonic?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=In%201831%2C%20the%20Anti%2DMasonic%20Party%20held%20the%20first%20national%20presidential%20nominating%20convention%2C%20a%20practice%20that%20the%20other%20parties%20soon%20adopted.%20The%20Anti%2DMasonic%20Party%20also%20helped%20spread%20its%20message%20through%20the%20use%20of%20party%20newspapers%E2%80%94a%20tactic%20that%20the%20main%20parties%20began%20to%20use%20as%20well.) (which, ironically, [nominated a freemason](https://constitutingamerica.org/1832-the-anti-masonic-controversy-guest-essayist-daniel-cotter/?ref=readtangle.com)). Shortly thereafter, Crawford County, Pennsylvania, [held the first](https://www.goerie.com/story/news/politics/elections/county/2025/04/03/crawford-county-primary-elections-1842-voting-county-offices-pennsylvania-democrats-republicans/82366135007/?ref=readtangle.com) direct primary election for a local office in 1842\. The “[Crawford County System](https://www.goerie.com/story/news/politics/elections/county/2025/04/03/crawford-county-primary-elections-1842-voting-county-offices-pennsylvania-democrats-republicans/82366135007/?ref=readtangle.com)” went on to become the norm, replacing the smoke-filled backroom nomination process with one that was out in the open for any party member to participate in. Today's Partner: FinanceBuzz Many retirees assume financial stress comes from major expenses, but often it’s the smaller recurring costs quietly draining savings month after month. [****FinanceBuzz**](https://financebuzz.com/money-moves-cut-on-retirement-yaez?utm%5Fsource=tangle&utm%5Fmedium=paid-newsletter-cpf&utm%5Fterm=Tangle&utm%5Fcampaign=BM-FBZ-Tangle-money-moves-cut-on-retirement-yaez-CPF&adgroupid=BM-Tangle-money-moves-cut-on-retirement-yaez-CPF-05202026) put together a list of overlooked subscriptions, outdated services, and unnecessary spending habits that can add up fast — along with practical ways to keep more money in your pocket. [****See the full list here**](https://financebuzz.com/money-moves-cut-on-retirement-yaez?utm%5Fsource=tangle&utm%5Fmedium=paid-newsletter-cpf&utm%5Fterm=Tangle&utm%5Fcampaign=BM-FBZ-Tangle-money-moves-cut-on-retirement-yaez-CPF&adgroupid=BM-Tangle-money-moves-cut-on-retirement-yaez-CPF-05202026)****.** ### The extras. - **One year ago today** we wrote about [birthright citizenship before the Supreme Court](https://www.readtangle.com/supreme-court-birthright-citizenship-nationwide-injunctions/). - **The most clicked link in our last regular newsletter** was the tips for [digital spring cleaning](https://apnews.com/article/tech-tip-digital-spring-cleaning-5ee6f323089be2d55f4ce5594d751b54?ref=readtangle.com). - **Nothing to do with politics:** Empty Waymos are [herding in one particular Atlanta cul-de-sac](https://abcnews.com/GMA/News/empty-waymo-vehicles-passengers-swarm-atlanta-neighborhood/story?id=133015093&ref=readtangle.com). - **Our last survey:** 3,619 readers responded to our survey on the Department of Justice’s anti-weaponization fund with 92% opposing it in principle and in practice. “Stories like this make me lose trust in the American government,” one respondent said. “Congress should act before the next admin does worse,” said another. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/05/data-src-image-1fa01bbc-50cf-4f15-82a7-0de3da851cad.png) ### Have a nice day. For decades, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) was notoriously long and difficult to fill out, creating a barrier for many American high school students — especially first-generation or low-income students — to afford college. In 2020, the Department of Education began overhauling the FAFSA system in an effort to simplify the form, but the new system’s rollout was plagued with difficulties. However, and despite issues with the rollout, the simplified system resulted in about 570,000 additional students gaining eligibility for federal aid in 2024–25, according to a recent Government Accountability Office report. The most substantial increase occurred for students in households with incomes ranging from $40,001 to $80,000\. [EdSource has the story](https://edsource.org/updates/simplified-fafsa-form-leads-to-more-awards-after-botched-rollout?ref=readtangle.com). ### Let’s get together in person. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/west-virginia-event-announcement/ Last updated: 2026-06-17T16:40:07.000Z *I'm Isaac Saul and this is Tangle. Today: A special event announcement.* Friends, When I started Tangle, I had a simple goal: I wanted to create a trusted, big-tent media organization that brought conservatives, liberals, and independents all under one roof. As our organization and audience has grown, I’ve gotten to see firsthand the power of our product — the way it arms our audience with knowledge, teaches them to be more open-minded, changes their views, and even bridges the gap between political adversaries. One thing I didn’t anticipate, though, was how odd it would be to build relationships with my audience *just* on the internet, and how much I’d want to actually interact with them in real life. So, a few years ago, we hosted our first Tangle live event in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Since then, we’ve hit New York City, Philadelphia (again), and Irvine, California. And each time, the event has been one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve ever had. It’s just *different* to see, hear, interact, and engage with each other offline and in person. So we’re trying to do more of it. Today, I’m pleased to announce that we are [**coming to Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, on June 13 and 14**](https://www.tickettailor.com/events/tanglenews/2210692?ref=readtangle.com)for a special VIP dinner and a live taping of our weekly podcast, *Suspension of the Rules*.[**Tickets are on sale now**](https://www.tickettailor.com/events/tanglenews/2210692?ref=readtangle.com)**!** If you’ve never heard of Berkeley Springs, or you aren’t convinced to buy tickets yet, here’s our pitch: 1. It’s an American gem. Incorporated in 1776, history abounds — George Washington used to visit with his ill brother, thinking the springs could improve his health. Now, it’s known for its verdant nature, spas, and resorts. 2. Speaking of history, we’ll be recording live inside the [historic](https://startheatrewv.com/history?ref=readtangle.com) Star Theatre. 3. Berkeley Springs is just a few hours from Washington, D.C.; Pittsburgh; Philly; Maryland; New Jersey; Ohio; and even parts of Virginia and North Carolina. If you’re looking for a summer weekend getaway, [this is it](https://www.tickettailor.com/events/tanglenews/2210692?ref=readtangle.com)! 4. Right now, this is the only live event on our schedule. We’re hoping to hold a few more this year — but for now, it’s the only one we can guarantee! 5. Most of the Tangle team will be in attendance, which is unique. Unlike past events where it’s been just me and a few others, this is shaping up like an opportunity to meet and interact with the full team. Also, a special shoutout to our Tangle readers in the area who made this event possible by inviting us to come, and to our title sponsor [The Dignity Index](https://www.dignity.us/?ref=readtangle.com) for backing the event. The Dignity Index is trying to ease divisions in the country by developing an eight-point scale for measuring how we talk to each other when we disagree (you can read more about their work [here](https://www.dignity.us/?ref=readtangle.com)). Also to **Incogni,** our VIP experience sponsor. [Incogni helps people take back control of their privacy](https://incogni.com/?ref=readtangle.com) by automatically removing personal information from data brokers that collect, sell, and share it across the internet. So: Come hang out with us in Berkeley Springs. Enjoy the historic little town, and cap off your weekend with [an engaging live show](https://www.tickettailor.com/events/tanglenews/2210692?ref=readtangle.com). Not convinced? Just look at this place! ![Berkeley Castle, backed by a vibrant display of multi-colored fall leaves, stands elegantly imposing above the Berkeley Springs. Photo: Picryl](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/05/data-src-image-0a97b772-333b-4b4a-8c84-579d0f5bdd0a.png) Berkeley Castle, backed by a vibrant display of multi-colored fall leaves, stands elegantly imposing above the Berkeley Springs. [Photo: Picryl](https://picryl.com/media/washington-heritage-trail-berkeley-castle-and-fall-colors-9a27ba?ref=readtangle.com) ![A natural spring in Berkeley Springs. Photo: Glindsay / Flickr](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/05/data-src-image-a0d3aa77-5692-4512-8178-5140c31ded31.jpeg) A natural spring in Berkeley Springs. [Photo: Glindsay / Flickr](https://www.flickr.com/photos/glindsay65/156921137/in/photostream/?ref=readtangle.com) ![The Star Theatre. Photo: West Virginia Collection within the Carol M. Highsmith Archive, Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/05/data-src-image-4367ec05-3be7-4e71-98eb-d0cfa794f57c.png) The Star Theatre. Photo: West Virginia Collection within the Carol M. Highsmith Archive, Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division. We have already sold over half of our VIP tickets, and general admission tickets are going fast. This is a small theater, so to [secure your tickets before a sellout](https://www.tickettailor.com/events/tanglenews/2210692?ref=readtangle.com), you should hop on it now! We hope to see you in West Virginia! Best, Isaac & the Tangle team ### The DOJ's anti-weaponization fund. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/trump-doj-settlement-fund/ Last updated: 2026-05-19T15:58:35.000Z *I'm Isaac Saul, and this is Tangle: an independent, nonpartisan, subscriber-supported politics newsletter that summarizes the best arguments from across the political spectrum on the news of the day — then “my take.”* *Are you new here?* [*Get free emails*](https://www.readtangle.com/) *to your inbox daily. Would you rather listen? You can find our podcast* [*here*](https://shows.acast.com/66510864c0852400122bc7be?ref=readtangle.com)*.* ### Today’s read: 13 minutes. 💰 The DOJ sets up an "anti-weaponization" fund as part of a settlement with President Trump, but is it just a slush fund for MAGA allies? Plus, Isaac discusses Nicholas Kristof's controversial claims about Israeli abuse of Palestinian prisoners. ### We want to see you in person soon! We are finalizing details for our fourth-ever live event, and we want to see you there. We will be holding a live episode of our flagship podcast **Suspension of the Rules*, as well as hosting a VIP dinner. Make sure to check your inbox at 10 AM ET tomorrow to find out where the event is, and how to buy tickets! ### Quick hits. 1. BREAKING: A brush fire dubbed the Sandy Fire broke out in Simi Valley, California, on Monday. The fire has spread to more than 1,300 acres, prompting evacuation orders across Los Angeles and Ventura counties. ([The fire](https://abc7.com/live-updates/sandy-fire-simi-valley-several-structures-burned-184-acres-scorched/19125501/?ref=readtangle.com)) Ventura County fire officials say the fire has not expanded much over night and that they have dug precautionary fire lines to protect nearby residential areas. ([The update](https://www.foxla.com/video/fmc-3va30vpzf6jvltjy?ref=readtangle.com)) 2. On Monday, three people were killed at a mosque in San Diego, California, by two shooters who fled the scene before killing themselves. Law enforcement officials are investigating the shooting as a hate crime. ([The shooting](https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/san-diego-police-responding-to-reports-of-an-active-shooter-at-the-islamic-center-of-san-diego/4025204/?ref=readtangle.com)) 3. President Donald Trump said there was a “very good chance” that the U.S. and Iran could come to a deal to end the current war and prevent Iran from gaining a nuclear weapon. The comments came hours after the president reportedly postponed planned strikes on Iran following pressure from other Middle East leaders. ([The comments](https://www.reuters.com/world/donald-trump-says-good-chance-iran-nuclear-deal-after-delaying-strike-2026-05-18/?ref=readtangle.com)) 4. Russian President Vladimir Putin will travel to China on Tuesday and Wednesday to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping, just a week after President Trump’s visit to China. Putin and Xi will reportedly discuss trade and other international issues. ([The meeting](https://www.newsnationnow.com/world/ap-putin-visits-china-to-reaffirm-russia-ties-as-xi-also-seeks-stable-us-relations-after-trump-summit/?ref=readtangle.com)) Separately, Russia’s nuclear chief said the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant is “near the point of no return” following Russian claims of Ukrainian strikes near the plant. ([The situation](https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/russian-nuclear-head-situation-ukraines-zaporizhzhia-nuclear-plant-reaching-2026-05-18/?ref=readtangle.com)) 5. The U.S. State Department announced new sanctions against 11 Cuban officials and government entities it described as “Cuban regime-aligned actors” as tensions rise between the two countries. ([The sanctions](https://thehill.com/policy/international/5884126-us-sanctions-cuban-officials/?ref=readtangle.com)) 6. President Trump announced that TrumpRx, the government program offering lower pricing on certain medications, would expand to include 600 new generic drugs. ([The announcement](https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/5884064-trump-adds-600-generic-drugs/?ref=readtangle.com)) In Partnership with nordprotect [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/05/NordProtect-banner-newsletter-1600x800px-v1.png)](https://go.nordprotect.net/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=988&aff%5Fid=147990&url%5Fid=33808&ref=readtangle.com) ****A single scam can undo all that you’ve worked for.** Imagine answering the phone to learn a criminal just took out a $200,000 loan in your name. Your credit score plummets overnight. Banks chase you for payments you never authorized. This is happening with alarming frequency — in 2025, [the FTC received 3 million fraud reports](https://go.nordprotect.net/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=988&aff%5Fid=147990&url%5Fid=33808&ref=readtangle.com) from consumers, who reported $15.9B in losses. [NordProtect scans the dark web 24/7](https://go.nordprotect.net/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=988&aff%5Fid=147990&url%5Fid=33808&ref=readtangle.com) for your exposed information, monitors your credit reports, and alerts you the second something suspicious appears. If identity theft strikes, you can access expert restoration support and may be reimbursed for eligible recovery expenses, up to $1 million. Don’t discover the fraud after the damage is done. Protect your financial life now. Use code [****TANGLE** ](https://go.nordprotect.net/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=988&aff%5Fid=147990&url%5Fid=33808&ref=readtangle.com)and get [79% off](https://go.nordprotect.net/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=988&aff%5Fid=147990&url%5Fid=33808&ref=readtangle.com)! [Get the deal ](https://go.nordprotect.net/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=988&aff%5Fid=147990&url%5Fid=33808&ref=readtangle.com) ### Today’s topic. The Department of Justice’s anti-weaponization fund. On Monday, the Department of Justice (DOJ) [announced](https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-announces-anti-weaponization-fund?ref=readtangle.com) that, as part of the settlement agreement in *President Donald J. Trump v. Internal Revenue Service*, it would create a new fund that could “issue formal apologies and monetary relief” to individuals and entities who claim to have suffered from lawfare and DOJ weaponization. The anti-weaponization fund will receive $1.776 billion from the federal government’s judgment fund used to settle and pay other cases. Five people, appointed by the Attorney General, will oversee the new fund; one of the five must be chosen in consultation with congressional leadership. **Back up:** In January 2026, President Trump, his sons Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr., and the Trump Organization [sued](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/29/trump-sues-irs-and-treasury-for-10-billion-over-leak-of-tax-records.html?ref=readtangle.com) the Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service for $10 billion over alleged leaks of confidential tax information in 2019 and 2020\. On Monday, Trump [settled](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/05/18/trump-dismiss-irs-lawsuit.html?ref=readtangle.com) that lawsuit in exchange for the creation of the anti-weaponization fund and a formal apology from the government. Additionally, the president is withdrawing two other complaints he previously filed against the government — administrative claims over the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s search of Mar-a-Lago in 2022 and the investigation into Russian collusion during his 2016 presidential campaign. The new fund will provide monetary relief to claimants who allege they were politically targeted by the Justice Department under previous presidential administrations, and the settlement creating the fund did not contain any language specifying congressional or judicial review. Instead, it will be required to report the sum of its disbursements and its recipients to the Attorney General on a quarterly basis. Applicants can choose to file claims, and there is no partisan requirement to file. The fund [will process claims](https://www.justice.gov/opa/media/1441201/dl?inline=&ref=readtangle.com#page=4) until December 1, 2028, just before the end of President Trump’s term. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche [cited](https://www.justice.gov/opa/media/1441086/dl?ref=readtangle.com) past litigation, such as the [*Keepseagle* settlement](https://www.cohenmilstein.com/case-study/keepseagle/?ref=readtangle.com), as precedent for the creation of the anti-weaponization fund. In *Keepseagle*, the DOJ — under the direction of President Obama — transferred $680 million from the judgment fund into a class-action settlement fund to compensate Native Americans who were unfairly denied access to Department of Agriculture credit and loan services. In the DOJ press release announcing the fund, Blanche [said](https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-announces-anti-weaponization-fund?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=%E2%80%9CThe%20machinery%20of,and%20seek%20redress.%E2%80%9D), “The machinery of government should never be weaponized against any American, and it is this Department’s intention to make right the wrongs that were previously done while ensuring this never happens again.” Democrats have criticized the settlement, claiming the anti-weaponization fund is nothing more than a “slush fund” for the Trump administration’s political allies. In a statement, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) [said](https://www.democrats.senate.gov/news/press-releases/leader-schumer-floor-remarks-trump-is-shaking-hands-with-himself-in-order-to-fund-his-insurrectionist-army-to-the-tune-of-2-billion?ref=readtangle.com) the fund was made “to reward his own allies, loyalists, and insurrectionists.” Some Republican lawmakers, such as Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA), have [also criticized](https://thehill.com/homenews/5884237-cassidy-calls-out-trump-fund/?ref=readtangle.com) the fund. Below, we’ll get into what the right and left are saying about the anti-weaponization fund. Then, Executive Editor Isaac Saul shares his take. ### What the right is saying. - **The right critiques the fund, with some describing it as a more brazen version of the left’s past dealings.** - **Some say it takes executive authority too far.** - **Others support the fund as an avenue for redress.** **In National Review, Dan McLaughlin said the fund** [**“takes a page from the left’s playbook.”**](https://www.nationalreview.com/2026/05/trumps-collusive-anti-weaponization-fund-takes-a-page-from-the-lefts-playbook/?ref=readtangle.com) “While \[the fund\] doesn’t stink on ice *quite* as visibly as Trump getting the taxpayers to pay him, it nonetheless looks a lot like a collusive operation to create a slush fund to pay off friends and political allies. And in doing so, it expends nearly $2 billion in taxpayer money that Congress never appropriated,” McLaughlin wrote. “The classic Trump modus operandi is to look at something crooked that is done smoothly and quietly through sophisticated lawyering on the left — and then imitate it while saying all the quiet parts out loud. This is another instance.” “Using legislative appropriations and programs to line the pockets of allied groups is an old standby of Democrats, but so is laundering aid to friends and allies through the judicial system — often, with the knowledge that a part of it gets kicked back,” McLaughlin said. “Congress should reclaim its authority over large payments made by the executive branch. And our system should also reject collusive uses of the court system when they don’t involve Trump.” **The Washington Post editorial board argued that** [**“the Trump administration is stretching executive authority to a breaking point.”**](https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2026/05/18/trump-irs-settlement-with-doj-creates-slush-fund-bad-precedent/?ref=readtangle.com) “If this stands, it will become a template for all future American presidents to shower financial benefits on friends and allies without accountability,” the board wrote. “The fund will be under the control of five people appointed by the attorney general. They can be fired at will by Trump, meaning the money can only go to people the president sympathizes with… The money will presumably flow to conservative figures investigated or prosecuted during the Biden years. But people who are victims of malicious prosecution can seek recompense through the normal legal process. If that process is too onerous, Congress can change the law. “The new model of ‘compensation’ the Trump administration just invented lacks normal legislative and judicial checks,” the board said. “Conservatives rightly blasted the use of sue-and-settle tactics employed by progressive groups during the Obama administration… Trump is exploiting the legal system in the same way, but the conflict is far more overt because the lawsuit being ‘settled’ was filed by Trump himself.” **In PJ Media, Catherine Salgado said President Trump** [**“prioritized Americans’ search for justice.”**](https://pjmedia.com/catherinesalgado/2026/05/18/justice-department-announces-anti-weaponization-fund-n4952991?ref=readtangle.com) “It will be interesting to see how many people take advantage of this fund in the coming months. The Biden administration targeted thousands of people unfairly, from the Jan. 6ers to pro-lifers to traditional Catholics to Trump allies,” Salgado wrote. “To give just one example, former FBI Director Chris Wray admitted to the House Judiciary Committee in July 2023 that the Biden-era spying on and targeting of concerned parents at school board meetings was not based on evidence. “Rep. Kevin Kiley asked Wray if there had been ‘an increase in harassment and threats of violence’ spurring the investigation into dissatisfied parents who objected to radically woke and sexualized curricula. Wray confessed, ‘I’m not aware of any such evidence,’” Salgado said. “In other words, that weaponization was purely based on Democrats’ ideological opposition to parental rights, not on evidence of violence. Now victims of such injustice have a way of seeking redress.” ### What the left is saying. - **The left rebukes the fund, with many saying President Trump’s actions violate the separation of powers.** - **Some see the fund as an important example of how Trump maintains his base.** - **Others say it makes upcoming elections difficult for Republican candidates.** **In The Daily Beast, David Gardner asked** [**“If we cannot rely on America’s rule of law, what do we have left?”**](https://www.thedailybeast.com/how-trump-turned-the-law-upside-down-in-17-billion-heist/?ref=readtangle.com) “By forcing through a self-serving settlement in his $10 billion case against the Internal Revenue Service, Trump has dangerously blurred the separation of powers that has governed the United States through 46 presidencies, including his own first term,” Gardner said. “The blatancy leaves you breathless, because in Trump’s IRS lawsuit, he was effectively both the plaintiff and the defendant. And by manipulating the proceedings, he ended up being the judge.” “Judge Kathleen M. Williams… was reportedly considering dismissing Trump’s lawsuit for the simple reason that his personal lawyers were bringing the case, and his government lawyers were responding to it,” Gardner wrote. “But the judge was rendered helpless on Monday when Trump announced he was withdrawing his lawsuit… Trump has already shown his disdain for elections he doesn’t win and Supreme Court decisions he doesn’t agree with. Now he is running roughshod through the legal system.” **In The New Republic, Greg Sargent suggested the fund might** [**“serve as a form of coalition management.”**](https://newrepublic.com/article/210521/trump-settlement-irs-slush-fund?ref=readtangle.com) “This saga captures something essential about how the political economy of Trumpism really functions. It helps explain why his supporters stick by him through one episode after another of the most corrupt self-dealing we’ve seen from any U.S. president in modern history,” Sargent said. “For Trump, there’s no such thing as justice or injustice. Outcomes reflect power and nothing more — who is winning and who is losing, who is dominant and who is supplicant.” “\[The fund is\] overseen by people who can hand out the loot with no transparency, people whom Trump can fire for any reason — say, for not giving money to whoever Trump wants them to give it to. Including his army of insurrectionists,” Sargent wrote. “\[Payments will\] keep large swaths of his coalition persuaded that a win for Trump, no matter how illicit or ill-gotten, is a win for them. That his corruption isn’t just in his own interests, but in theirs, too. Because, after all, they’re getting a cut of the spoils.” **In USA Today, Chris Brennan said** [**“Republicans are stuck with Trump’s billion-dollar scams.”**](https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/columnist/2026/05/19/trump-drops-irs-lawsuit-doj-lawfare-fund/90143660007/?ref=readtangle.com) “Imagine being a Republican in Congress right now, seeking another term in November's midterm elections as President Donald Trump drops like a stone in public opinion polling, dragging his party down with him,” Brennan said. “Those Republicans were already going to face questions from voters about Trump’s weird obsession with building a $1 billion ballroom at the White House. “And now they will have to also justify Trump creating a $1,776,000,000 slush fund to enrich his allies, who had to face the indignity of being held accountable by law,” Brennan wrote. “The war in Iran is at an expensive standstill. The price of gasoline is above $4.50\. Inflation is surging again. But Trump is focused only on what really matters to him — retribution and building monuments to himself… Republicans in Congress are handcuffed to Trump and his troubles.” ### My take. **Reminder: “My take” is a section where we give ourselves space to share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, don't unsubscribe. Write in by replying to this email, or** [**leave a comment**](https://www.readtangle.com/trump-doj-settlement-fund/#ghost-comments-root)**.** - **This fund is another overt example of corrupt self-dealing by the Trump White House.** - **Yes, Democrats have been using settlement payouts to advance their agenda for years, but this is different in several key ways.** - **All of this *could* be legal, but Congress *should* step in and stop it.** **Executive Editor Isaac Saul:** A little more than two weeks ago, I published a 6,000-word piece exploring all the self-dealing and potential corruption from the first 15 months of President Donald Trump’s administration. Had the piece been scheduled for this week, the Trump–DOJ fund certainly would have made the cut — it may have even headlined The arc of how the Justice Department ended up with a cheekily priced $1.776 billion fund for the Trump administration to dole out is remarkable in the worst possible way. In October, the president [sought $230 million in damages](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/21/us/politics/trump-justice-department-compensation.html?ref=readtangle.com) against the Justice Department for alleged abuses of his civil rights in pursuing partisan investigations into him. Trump actually had a leg to stand on with those initial claims. He was not president when he filed the complaints, and the foundation of at least one of those investigations (the Russia collusion story) was itself the subject of great scrutiny for all manner of violations. There’s no need to re-litigate it here, but the FBI’s investigation into the 2016 Trump campaign [was seriously flawed](https://www.readtangle.com/durham-report-fbi-trump-russia/); suing the federal government is one path towards resolution for the aggrieved party. Of course, the problem is that Trump then *became president* and continued to not just pursue those damages but inflate them. A year into his second term, he filed a federal lawsuit seeking $10 billion in damages for his leaked tax returns. Again, this was a response to a real harm, maybe even a crime. Those returns *were* leaked — but a government contractor did the leaking and even went to prison for it. Trump sued the IRS itself, claiming the agency didn’t do enough to prevent the leaks. The president, obviously, is not the first person to have his tax returns leaked. But here is where things get corrupt and self-enriching. He *is* the first person to seek $10 *billion* in damages for that, and he’s definitely the first person to seek recompense while also overseeing the Justice Department responsible for doling out that money. Then, when he was staring down the likely prospect of his lawsuit being thrown out of court — because our court system recognized the absurdity of a president effectively suing his own government and then paying himself billions of dollars of taxpayer money — Trump’s legal team pivoted: They withdrew their own lawsuit, settled with themselves indirectly, and created the fund to pay out cash to other “victims” of government weaponization. Now, rather than giving himself $10 billion, Trump has granted himself nearly $2 billion to pay out to anyone who claims the government was weaponized against them. We’re all numb to numbers like this now, but I’m still wrapping my head around two *billion dollars.* That’s enough money to fund the entire annual budget of a mid-sized city like [St. Louis](https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/services/topic.cfm?id=215&name=annual-budget-and-operating-plan&ref=readtangle.com) or [Indianapolis](https://mirrorindy.org/indianapolis-marion-county-2026-adopted-budget-joe-hogsett/?ref=readtangle.com); you could use it to pay over 23,000 school teachers for a full year, or provide Medicaid coverage for well over 200,000 people for a year. Instead, the roughly $2 billion fund will be disbursed according to the judgment of a board of five Attorney-General-picked people whom the president can fire anytime. So the president is in full control of where and to whom the money goes, and he’s made it clear it will go to his aggrieved supporters. It feels like a millennium ago when we were debating whether Trump would pardon January 6 rioters; he did, and now he’s positioned to give them cash. Some writers on the right have argued that the left has given money to political allies for years. Dan McLaughlin (under “What the right is saying”) put it like this: “The classic Trump modus operandi is to look at something crooked that is done smoothly and quietly by the left through sophisticated lawyering on the left — and then imitate it while saying all the quiet parts out loud.” There’s wisdom here, and this is a *flavor* of something we’ve seen before. Perhaps most egregiously, under President Barack Obama, the EPA would [invite lawsuits against regulations it couldn’t change](https://www.heritage.org/environment/commentary/scott-pruitt-ends-obama-administration-abuse-power?ref=readtangle.com) then immediately choose to settle those lawsuits, doling out cash and favorable regulatory changes to get what it wanted while bypassing Congress. Yet *the same flavor* does not mean *the same.* A single To’ak Chocolate bar can cost as much as $500, but it isn’t the same as a $4 box of Cocoa Puffs cereal just because both taste like chocolate. The EPA settled lawsuits for tens of thousands of dollars and altered obscure environmental rules about, say, endangered birds. It’s unlikely President Obama was directly overseeing these settlements but rather turning a blind eye to what his agency heads were doing. Trump, on the other hand, is creating a $1.776 billion slush fund of taxpayer money that he directly oversees and controls, and which he can use to cover “administrative services, funds, facilities, staff, travel and other support services” for whatever the anti-weaponization fund ends up going to. The administration (and McLaughlin) have been using their own counter-example to claim precedent here: [the *Keepseagle* case](https://www.cohenmilstein.com/case-study/keepseagle/?ref=readtangle.com), which is a class settlement the Obama administration reached with Native American farmers for $760 million. This is *not* the same flavor, though. That lawsuit was brought over systematic discrimination by the USDA, the plaintiffs went to court, and the settlement was approved by a judge. After all eligible parties received their payments, the remaining amount was then [dispersed through grants](https://www.wkow.com/what-to-know-about-trump-s-1-8-billion-taxpayer-fueled-fund-for-his-allies/article%5F36060f96-f12f-5584-871c-01a32c390404.html?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Is%20this%20similar%20to%20the%20Keepseagle%20case%3F) to the same affected community (Native Americans being denied loans they were eligible for). By contrast, Trump is completely bypassing the judicial and court system by withdrawing the case and creating this fund, ensuring that none of the claimants or harm is reviewed by a judge. This might be the part where you ask, “Is this legal?” And the answer is, actually, maybe? Trump is accessing the federal government’s judgment fund, an uncapped fund Congress created to allow the Justice Department to settle lawsuits against the U.S. At the same time, Congress has the power to step in and say “the president doesn’t get to use $2 billion dollars for a slush fund for his political allies.” Will Congress do that? The answer is *probably not* — since Congress is currently controlled by Republicans who [understandably](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/16/us/politics/cassidy-louisiana-race-trump.html?ref=readtangle.com) live in fear of crossing Trump and do not seem to care much at all about controlling the purse, reining in wasteful spending, or preventing new presidential absurdities from becoming precedent. *Should* Congress step in and stop this? The answer is definitively yes. Standing up to [Trump’s obvious self-dealing](https://www.readtangle.com/the-everything-everywhere-all-at-once-corruption-story/) is not only a necessity in principle, but failure for Congress to act now will mean Trump just wrote the blueprint for future presidents to do the exact same thing and point back to this administration as the precedent. **Take the survey:** What do you think about the anti-weaponization fund? [Let us know](https://interrobang.vercel.app/survey/6f6ed215-a1cb-4506-9c0a-6588ec715421?ref=readtangle.com). *Disagree? That's okay. Our opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we'll consider publishing your feedback.* In Partnership with NordProtect Don’t let stolen data become someone else’s profit. [****NordProtect**](https://go.nordprotect.net/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=988&aff%5Fid=147990&url%5Fid=33808&ref=readtangle.com) proactively scans the dark web 24/7, monitors your credit, and sends instant alerts in case of suspicious activity. You also get up to $1M in identity theft recovery coverage. [Use code ****TANGLE** and get 79% off](https://go.nordprotect.net/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=988&aff%5Fid=147990&url%5Fid=33808&ref=readtangle.com). [Get the deal ](https://go.nordprotect.net/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=988&aff%5Fid=147990&url%5Fid=33808&ref=readtangle.com) ### Your questions, answered. **Q: What do you make of** [**this NYT piece**](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/11/opinion/israel-palestinians-sexual-violence.html?ref=readtangle.com) **by Nick Kristof about rape in Israeli prisons, and namely the extraordinary claim with far from extraordinary evidence that dogs were used to rape prisoners? Do you think this is due to a flawed editorial process, and if so, do you think it applies to the news desk as well?** **— Erez from Mountain Lakes, NJ** **Executive Editor Isaac Saul:** Upfront: I’m very skeptical of the story about the dogs raping Palestinian prisoners. The [chain of custody for that story](https://www.timesofisrael.com/from-rutgers-speaker-to-kristof-column-bogus-anti-israel-dog-rape-claim-goes-mainstream/?ref=readtangle.com) is long and winding, but built on numerous anonymous and unverified claims. Its most viral moment came when the Israeli writer Shaiel Ben-Ephraim [alleged](https://www.timesofisrael.com/from-rutgers-speaker-to-kristof-column-bogus-anti-israel-dog-rape-claim-goes-mainstream/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Just%20days%20later,any%20additional%20evidence.) to have confirmed the story with an Israeli source — though he later [said](https://x.com/elikowaz/status/2050974317710659864?ref=readtangle.com) that his claims were still unverified. A [post from Ben-Ephraim on X](https://x.com/academic%5Fla/status/2045273713017569421?ref=readtangle.com) was one of the citations Kristof used in his piece. To say I was surprised the Times allowed Kristof to use Ben-Ephraim as a source would be a massive understatement. I vividly remember when Ben-Ephraim first seemed to be transitioning from analyst to activist; I thought about inviting him on the Tangle podcast, looked into his background, and decided he wasn’t reliable after (in a dark irony) finding a [series of sexual assault allegations](https://dailybruin.com/2020/08/03/postdoctoral-fellow-left-ucla-following-tweeted-allegations-of-sexual-harassment?ref=readtangle.com) against him (which he’s [admitted](https://x.com/academic%5Fla/status/1558153639419449345?ref=readtangle.com) to). He now raises money on his X account that he claims goes to “Gaza genocide survivors,” though I have no idea if that’s true. Both Ben-Ephraim and Kristof cite other sources in their claims of dogs being used to abuse prisoners, including reports from Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor, the BBC, and Al Jazeera. On one hand, each relies on anonymous allegations, and some [rather crude anatomical questions](https://www.thefp.com/p/nick-kristof-dog-torture-claim-israel-palestine?ref=readtangle.com) cast doubt on the story. On the other hand, the most solid evidence they point to came from prisoners at an Israeli detention camp. Israel [blocked at least one UN investigation](https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2025-01-08/ty-article/.premium/israel-blocks-un-hamas-sexual-crimes-probe-to-avoid-inquiry-into-abuse-of-palestinians/00000194-44e0-d087-a9bd-7de1d5f20000?ref=readtangle.com) from examining claims of sexual violence against Palestinians in that prison, which should (obviously) invite more scrutiny. The New York Times is still trustworthy, and they — along with other stalwart publications like The Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, TIME Magazine — are still miles ahead of what you’d find from online influencers. I once freelanced for TIME Magazine and the fact-checking was unbelievably arduous; single paragraphs took weeks to get approval. Not every story or outlet operates that way, but the big ones with many layers of editorial guidelines do. So… how did *this* claim get through? I presume, in part, because it was under the opinion section and Kristof was transparent about his source. It’s telling that The New York Times news desk has never reported these claims as verified facts. I doubt allowing Ben-Ephraim to be used as a source was a “fact-check” error as much as an editorial decision to let Kristof’s linked source stand on its own, which would be a manifestation of some latent anti-Israel bias among the decision-makers in the editorial section. Putting all this aside, I do think Kristof’s story highlighted mostly well sourced and horrifying examples of prisoner abuse, and it’s a worthwhile story to discuss. I appreciated the perspective [offered by](https://x.com/havivrettiggur/status/2054113308215550017?ref=readtangle.com) Israeli writer and former [Tangle podcast guest](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WvBm4Ua1dmI&&ref=readtangle.com) Haviv Rettig Gur, who urged his audience to acknowledge abuses by Israeli soldiers but not to elevate unverified claims. Abuse in Israeli prisons is real, as it is in prisons all over the world, and it’s something Israeli citizens have [themselves been incensed about](https://www.timesofisrael.com/from-rutgers-speaker-to-kristof-column-bogus-anti-israel-dog-rape-claim-goes-mainstream/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Then%20in%20March,cover%20up%20abuse.). I don’t think Kristof is a bad guy for writing the piece; I just think he has very strong feelings about the issue which blinded him (and his editors) to the unlikely aspects of his story. **Want to have a question answered in the newsletter? You can reply to this email (it goes straight to our inbox) or** [**fill out this form**](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScQhqBSG%5F6%5FoBhwcTQMeS570n29XYbeQ9C9Bis7rjqI31g1tA/viewform?usp=header&ref=readtangle.com)**.** ### Under the radar. On Wednesday, May 13, the Mobile Area Water and Sewer System (MAWSS) announced that divers conducting a routine maintenance survey of the Converse Reservoir Dam in Mobile County, Alabama, had discovered a “grenade-type” improvised explosive device (IED) in the reservoir, which supplies drinking water to the city of Mobile and the surrounding area. Law enforcement, including local officials and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, responded to the discovery and were able to safely detonate the device. The dam and reservoir are federally designated critical infrastructure, and the IED’s origin is currently unknown. MAWSS alerted the Department of Homeland Security and is cooperating with the ongoing investigation. [CNN has the story](https://www.cnn.com/2026/05/15/us/mobile-alabama-explosive-detonated-reservoir-hnk?ref=readtangle.com). ### The extras. - **One year ago today** we covered [former President Biden’s cancer diagnosis](https://www.readtangle.com/reports-joe-biden-health-prostate-cancer/). - **The most clicked link in our last regular newsletter** was the prediction for [what travel will look like in 20 years](https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/travel/travel-tech-predictions-ai-space-hotels-4946aca4?st=Ewsuki&ref=readtangle.com). - **Nothing to do with politics:** Why your digital devices [need their own spring cleaning](https://apnews.com/article/tech-tip-digital-spring-cleaning-5ee6f323089be2d55f4ce5594d751b54?ref=readtangle.com). - **Our last survey:** 1,910 readers responded to our survey on the Trump–Xi summit with 30% saying national security should be the top priority of any president negotiating with China. “U.S.–China cooperation on AI development and usage is a critically important issue for the future of the world, and should be a top priority,” one respondent said. Another respondent said “long-term ongoing stability based on economical (money drives all elements) and geo-political stability” should be a president’s top negotiation priority. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/05/data-src-image-3724e777-2415-4bc3-bf6a-6eab3e03a0db.png) ### Have a nice day. Three months ago, Ernesto Gael Hernandez saved up $500 in chore money to buy his first 3D printer. Today, the 10-year-old from Brownsville, Texas, runs Prestige 3D Labs — three printers, a retail partnership with a local clothing store, and $1,500 in profit. He prints keychains, fidget toys, and custom designs for customers across the Rio Grande Valley, fitting in jobs between school and football practice. “I just like doing it because I want to invest in a house for my mom and me when I grow older,” Ernesto said. [KRGV Rio Grande Valley has the story](https://www.krgv.com/news/brownsville-10-year-old-boy-launches-3d-printing-business?ref=readtangle.com). ### The Trump–Xi summit. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/us-china-summit-trump-xi/ Last updated: 2026-05-18T15:53:36.000Z *I'm Isaac Saul, and this is Tangle: an independent, nonpartisan, subscriber-supported politics newsletter that summarizes the best arguments from across the political spectrum on the news of the day — then “my take.”* *Are you new here?* [*Get free emails*](https://www.readtangle.com/) *to your inbox daily. Would you rather listen? You can find our podcast* [*here*](https://shows.acast.com/66510864c0852400122bc7be?ref=readtangle.com)*.* ### Today’s read: 15 minutes. 🇨🇳 As tensions between the countries rise, U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping held a meeting in Beijing last week. Plus, a reader proposes a solution to prevent gerrymandering. ### Isaac’s message to college students. On the last stop of his whirlwind college speaking tour, Executive Editor Isaac Saul implored students at St. Olaf College to “choose decency.” In this divided country, Isaac said, “be one of the fair ones. Be curious. Be open-minded. Be willing to say you’re wrong. Don’t treat politics like a team sport but as an opportunity to explore your own views, challenge your beliefs, and adopt new principles and ideas if you find them compelling.” To share what he’s been saying to America’s college students over the past five weeks, we published Isaac’s whole speech on Friday. [You can read it here](https://www.readtangle.com/heres-my-message-to-americas-college-students/). If you want to read Isaac’s speech in full — and access all future Friday editions, Sunday editions, and ad-free daily newsletters — [become a Tangle member](https://www.readtangle.com/membership) today for just $6/month! SPONSORED by incogni ****Don’t wait to become a victim. Take control of your identity.** Over 422 million people had their personal data exposed last year alone. And the easiest targets? People whose info is still floating around online. [****Incogni**](https://deal.incogni.io/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=6&aff%5Fid=1007&ref=readtangle.com) tracks down and removes your personal details from over 420+ data broker sites, people-search pages, public records, and more — automatically. They periodically check if your information appears on the data broker sites and remove it, so you get total peace of mind. With their [unlimited plan](https://deal.incogni.io/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=6&aff%5Fid=1007&ref=readtangle.com), you can go even further. Google yourself and send them any link you find with your info on it. Their privacy team will assist you in getting it wiped. Stop making it easy for identity thieves. Lock down your personal data before criminals take advantage of it. Remove your data now — [55% off with code TANGLE](https://deal.incogni.io/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=6&aff%5Fid=1007&ref=readtangle.com)! [Get the deal! ](https://deal.incogni.io/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=6&aff%5Fid=1007&ref=readtangle.com) ### Quick hits. 1. President Trump warned that Iran would “get hit much harder” if the country’s leaders do not offer a more favorable deal to end the war. ([The negotiations](https://www.axios.com/2026/05/17/trump-iran-warning-harder-strikes?ref=readtangle.com)) Separately, on Sunday, a drone strike sparked a fire on the edge of a nuclear power plant in the United Arab Emirates in what authorities are calling an “unprovoked terrorist attack.” ([The strike](https://www.france24.com/en/middle-east/20260517-drone-strike-sparks-a-fire-on-the-edge-of-uae-nuclear-facility?ref=readtangle.com)) 2. The U.S. Supreme Court rejected a request by Democratic officials in Virginia to use a new congressional map recently approved by voters but struck down by the Supreme Court of Virginia. ([The rejection](https://www.scotusblog.com/2026/05/court-denies-virginias-request-to-reinstate-congressional-map-that-would-benefit-democrats/?ref=readtangle.com)) 3. Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough rejected $1 billion of Secret Service security for a new White House ballroom from being included in a recent $72 billion Republican funding package. MacDonough ruled the ballroom security funding violated the Byrd rule for including non-budgetary items during reconciliation. ([The removal](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/senate-parliamentarian-rejects-1-billion-reconciliation-bill-white-house-security-trump-ballroom?ref=readtangle.com)) 4. The World Health Organization has declared a public health emergency after an Ebola outbreak caused 350 reported cases and 88 deaths in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. ([The outbreak](https://apnews.com/article/congo-ebola-uganda-who-africa-emergency-6f93a87ff28107bdda8990599bbcd52d?ref=readtangle.com)) 5. Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) failed to advance to a runoff in the Republican primary for his Senate seat; instead, Louisiana Treasurer John Fleming and Trump-endorsed U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow will face off on June 27\. Cassidy’s loss follows a Trump-backed effort to oust him over public breaks from the president. ([The primary](https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5882068-graham-republicans-against-trump-agenda/?ref=readtangle.com)) ### Today’s topic. The Trump–Xi summit. On Friday, President Donald Trump [departed](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clypj01189lo?ref=readtangle.com) China after a two-day summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, in which the leaders discussed trade deals, diplomatic relations, the Iran war, and other issues. Trump and Xi each spoke favorably about the other and emphasized their interest in a mutually beneficial relationship between the countries, though the two sides did not mutually announce any major commitments. Trump’s state [trip](https://www.wsj.com/world/china/five-takeaways-from-the-trump-xi-summit-73a21236?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=BEIJING%E2%80%94President%20Trump%20met%20with%20Chinese%20leader%20Xi%20Jinping%20in%20Beijing%20this%20week%2C%20his%20second%20state%20visit%20to%20China%20and%20the%20first%20U.S.%20presidential%20visit%20to%20the%20country%20in%20nearly%20nine%20years.) to China was the first U.S. presidential visit to the country since Trump’s 2017 visit during his first term. The summit was held against the backdrop of rising U.S.–China tensions during Trump’s second term. In April 2025, Trump levied significant tariffs on Chinese imports, prompting China to impose export controls on rare earth materials; Trump and Xi later [agreed](https://www.cnbc.com/2025/10/30/trump-xi-south-korea-rare-earth-tariff-trade-war-nvidia.html?ref=readtangle.com) to a trade truce in October. The Trump administration also [placed](https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/16/tech/nvidia-plunge-h20-chip-china-export-intl-hnk?ref=readtangle.com) strict export controls on the sale of advanced artificial intelligence chips to China. Separately, the Trump administration has begun sanctioning Chinese actors for allegedly aiding Iran in its war with the United States. On April 24, the Treasury Department [announced](https://x.com/USTreasury/status/2047745071039029425?ref=readtangle.com) sanctions against a Chinese oil refinery for buying billions of dollars of Iranian oil. On May 8, the State Department [sanctioned](https://www.state.gov/releases/office-of-the-spokesperson/2026/05/disrupting-irans-overseas-military-procurement-networks?ref=readtangle.com) three “China-based entities” for “providing satellite imagery that enables Iran’s military strikes against U.S. forces in the Middle East.” President Trump was accompanied on the trip by senior administration officials as well as [business executives](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/05/15/the-tech-download-trump-xi-talks-chips-rare-earths.html?ref=readtangle.com), including Nvidia’s Jensen Huang, Tesla’s Elon Musk, and Apple’s Tim Cook. According to U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, the executives had an opportunity to talk with President Xi regarding their businesses, though Greer said AI chip exports were not discussed. Xi reportedly indicated that China would increasingly open up to U.S. businesses. Following the meeting, China [agreed](https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3353826/china-confirms-deal-buy-us-aircraft-and-engines-after-donald-trumps-visit?ref=readtangle.com) to buy 200 Boeing planes from the United States and President Trump [said](https://www.wsj.com/world/china/five-takeaways-from-the-trump-xi-summit-73a21236?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Promises%20for%20trade%20and%20investment) the countries had agreed to “fantastic trade deals.” The White House also [announced](https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2026/05/fact-sheet-president-donald-j-trump-secures-historic-deals-with-china-delivering-for-american-workers-farmers-and-industry/?ref=readtangle.com) that China has agreed to buy more American oil and agricultural products, but China has not confirmed its plans. Trump said that he and Xi agreed that the war in Iran should end and the Strait of Hormuz should reopen to commercial traffic; however, China did not address Iran in its post-summit comments, and the country’s foreign ministry released a statement during the summit that said the United States should not have started the war. U.S. policy on Taiwan was also a notable point of discussion. After a closed-door meeting with President Xi and President Trump, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson [summarized Xi’s position](https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/eng/xw/zyxw/202605/t20260514%5F11910330.html?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=President%20Xi%20stressed%20that%20the,in%20handling%20the%20Taiwan%20question), saying, “If \[the Taiwan question\] is handled properly, the bilateral relationship will enjoy overall stability. Otherwise, the two countries will have clashes and even conflicts, putting the entire relationship in great jeopardy.” Trump told reporters that Xi asked him if the U.S. would intervene if China invaded Taiwan, to which Trump [said](https://www.wsj.com/world/china/five-takeaways-from-the-trump-xi-summit-73a21236?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Trump%20said%20Xi%20asked%20if%20the%20U.S.%20would%20defend%20Taiwan) he responded, “There’s only one person that knows that — you know who it is? Me.” President Trump praised the Chinese president at several points during the summit. “You’re a great leader. Sometimes people don’t like me saying it, but I say it anyway, because it’s true,” he [told him](https://apnews.com/article/trump-xi-china-iran-trade-a1d63a711a037472f5c1c330c2120bd5?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=That%20comment%20followed,than%20ever%20before.%E2%80%9D). “It’s an honor to be your friend.” Before departing, Trump [invited](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clypj01189lo?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=The%20US%20president,in%20the%20autumn.) Xi to the White House in September, and Chinese officials confirmed the president will visit the United States in the fall. Today, we’ll share views from the left, right and foreign policy experts on the summit, followed by Executive Editor Isaac Saul’s take. ### What the left is saying. - **The left says Trump has weakened the U.S.’s standing with China.** - **Others called Trump’s position on Taiwan risky.** **In Slate, Fred Kaplan said** [**“Trump just gave Xi Jinping exactly what he wanted.”**](https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2026/05/trump-china-xi-jinping-summit-taiwan-what-happened.html?ref=readtangle.com) “The best thing to say about the U.S.–China summit in Beijing on Thursday and Friday is that our allies’ worst fears didn’t come true. Aside from that, President Donald Trump failed to fulfill his fondest hopes for the meeting, while his host, President Xi Jinping, accomplished his own bedrock goals, though not much more,” Kaplan wrote. “Trump boasted to reporters after the summit that he and Xi had made ‘fantastic’ deals, but the only example he cited — Xi’s agreement to buy 200 jet planes from Boeing — was less than impressive. Boeing stock plunged by 4% because shareholders had anticipated that China would buy 500 planes.” “Xi sees the United States as a declining empire… Trump’s praise of Xi — in the social media post and many more times during the summit itself, lauding the Chinese dictator as a ‘great leader’ and ‘really a friend’ — only reaffirmed Xi’s main goal in this summit: to solidify China’s standing as a peer power of the United States,” Kaplan said. “Xi, who cares little about friendship, was interested only in preserving his power, reinforcing China’s growing stature, and… ensuring that it can rise and flourish in a somewhat stable world. In that context of competitions, Trump flew home with little; Xi walked back to the palace, reassured.” **In Brookings, Ryan Hass wrote about** [**“Trump’s dangerous Taiwan gamble.”**](https://www.brookings.edu/articles/trumps-dangerous-taiwan-gamble/?ref=readtangle.com) “During the run-up to U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit to Beijing, he remained ambiguous about his views on Taiwan. When asked in interviews, he regularly lamented that Taiwan ‘stole’ America’s semiconductor industry while adding a note of reassurance that there would not be a war in the Taiwan Strait under his watch. He would recount that he and Chinese President Xi Jinping shared an understanding about avoiding conflict over Taiwan,” Hass said. “The net effect of his comments was to suggest that his views on Taiwan independence were closer to Beijing’s preferences, that Taiwan had a greater responsibility to avoid provoking conflict, and that America’s security support for Taiwan was negotiable with China.” “Beijing will seize on Trump’s recent comments to signal to Taiwan’s 23 million people that Trump cares more about his relationship with Xi than he does about them,” Hass wrote. “Trump is giving up credibility without extracting benefits from Beijing. This is not just a policy shift. It is a shift from deterrence to dealmaking in a domain where there is no deal to be made, beyond offering unilateral concessions that undermine deterrence. If Trump acts on his musings about treating Taiwan arms sales as a source of leverage, he would crater the confidence of America’s security commitments, not just in Taiwan but among America’s allies globally.” ### What the right is saying. - **The right is mixed on the summit, with some glad that the U.S. did not concede to Chinese interests.** - **Others think the summit is proof that American power is declining.** **The Wall Street Journal editorial board wrote about** [**“The good-news-is-no-news summit.”**](https://www.wsj.com/opinion/donald-trump-xi-jinping-summit-china-ai-taiwan-a7d49e18?ref=readtangle.com) “The main rule of presidential summitry with an adversary is first do no harm. By that standard President Trump’s Beijing parley with Chinese leader Xi Jinping this week was a success. It didn’t achieve much, but it also didn’t appear to give away anything notable to the wily dictator,” the board said. “Mr. Trump boasted about ‘fantastic’ Chinese purchases to come of U.S. soybeans and aircraft. But China didn’t confirm the sales… Mr. Trump also said the two now agree on Iran and the Strait of Hormuz, but there was no overt agreement from Mr. Xi.” “The good news is that the President doesn’t seem to have granted Mr. Xi’s wish that the U.S. allow the sale of advanced computer chips to China. This is a Communist Party priority as it seeks to catch up with the U.S. on AI,” the board wrote. “But Mr. Xi promised Barack Obama that China would stop its cyber raids on U.S. companies and agencies, and China kept on stealing American secrets and embedding malware in U.S. systems. This attempt at AI arms control won’t amount to much unless the Trump team is as naive as Mr. Obama.” **In The American Conservative, Jude Russo argued** [**“Trump’s visit to China emphasizes American strategic weakness.”**](https://www.theamericanconservative.com/trumps-visit-to-china-emphasizes-american-strategic-weakness/?ref=readtangle.com) “Few would say that the first Trump administration was a total success, but at the level of theory there was a certain coherence to it. On the China side of things, Elbridge Colby articulated the line of thought in the 2018 National Defense Strategy… The U.S., Colby wrote, should boost its partnerships in the Indo-Pacific to prevent China from establishing hegemony in the region,” Russo wrote. “Corollaries were a deemphasis on the Middle Eastern theater, which is not enormously important for American interests, and a real defense buildup, particularly a naval buildup… We have spent the past decade twiddling our thumbs and have little to show for it.” “So it’s difficult not to look at President Donald Trump’s visit to Beijing this week and feel kind of bummed out. Xi Jinping said that he doesn’t want an Iranian tollbooth in the Hormuz, which is good, I guess, but it’s embarrassing that the administration is treating China getting on board with our position as manna from heaven,” Russo said. “When the gang gets home and sleeps off the jetlag, well, we’re still going to be at war in a peripheral theater (one that looks like it hurts us more than it hurts China, by the way, whatever the big brains on Twitter are saying), a subpar navy, and a largely compromised economy. It’s hard not to feel that China is very serious, and we are not.” ### What foreign policy experts are saying. - **Foreign policy experts observe how Trump’s visit differed from previous state visits to China.** - **Some argue that Trump’s novel attitude toward China won’t get the results he wants.** **In Foreign Policy, James Palmer said** [**“The Trump–Xi summit was remarkably banal.”**](https://foreignpolicy.com/2026/05/15/trump-xi-summit-china-us-presidential-visit/?ref=readtangle.com#selection-3555.0-3560.0) “You could be forgiven, reading and watching the Chinese press this week, for entirely missing U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit to Beijing,” Palmer wrote. “As it turned out, the lack of dramatics on the Chinese side was appropriate. Trump’s visit was a snoozefest. Xi stuck to political banalities, speaking about familiar red lines: Taiwan, democracy and human rights, China’s ‘path and system,’ and China’s ‘development right,’ referring to its ability to move up the global economic ladder without being pushed down by Washington.” “Yet previous U.S. presidential visits were met with far more fanfare in China’s tightly controlled media, even when little of consequence emerged. Why was Beijing so muted this time around? One reason is unpredictability. Other U.S. presidents visiting China have stuck to an agreed-on agenda and have been controlled and careful in their speech. No one expects this from Trump,” Palmer said. “Chinese leaders also sought validation through recognition from Washington. The United States was recognized as the global superpower, and China gained status in the eyes of its own citizens by portraying itself as a peer and a gracious host… China no longer needs that validation from the United States. Its global primacy is more than sufficiently established — not just as a manufacturing superpower but also as a technological and scientific giant.” **In Responsible Statecraft, Michael D. Swaine wrote** [**“On China, Trump wants to be Mr. Nice Guy now.”**](https://responsiblestatecraft.org/trump-xi-jinping-summit/?ref=readtangle.com) “It appears that the president does not look at China as a conventional security threat, and certainly not an existential one. Yes, Beijing poses an economic problem, perhaps even an economic threat, but a very manageable one that can produce a great outcome for both countries,” Swaine said. “He believes this can be achieved by working with his ‘great friend’ XJP in a kind of personalized G-2 relationship… He apparently thinks that if he can make some great deals with Xi on Taiwan, on trade, and technology, etc., the great power problem will be resolved, and he can take another step toward his long-coveted Nobel Peace Prize.” “The problem with Trump’s novel treatment of the China–U.S. relationship is rather obvious, however. Great power relations are not real estate deals. Enduring, positive changes in those relations can only occur if leaders’ decisions reflect compromises involving deep-seated structural and political interests across their respective societies and polities,” Swaine wrote. “Given Trump’s general unpredictability and impulsiveness and Xi’s apparent unwillingness to rule on the basis of a genuine collective leadership structure, Trump’s desired personalized G-2 is unlikely to prove sustainable, or even achievable.” ### My take. **Reminder: “My take” is a section where we give ourselves space to share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, don't unsubscribe. Write in by replying to this email, or** [**leave a comment**](https://www.readtangle.com/us-china-summit-trump-xi/#ghost-comments-root)**.** - **Taiwan, mutual espionage, trade, and even China’s domestic practices are all fraught elements of the U.S.–China relationship.** - **With the war in Iran, Trump doesn’t have a lot of leverage to change the relationship’s dynamic.** - **Considering that, it’s not too surprising that nothing really happened at the summit.** **Executive Editor Isaac Saul:** Few topics leave me feeling as conflicted as the U.S.–China relationship. Those conflicts appear, in broad strokes, in every element of the relationship. China is a country run by an authoritarian leader who is serving indefinitely, destroying any political opposition (sometimes [disappearing them](https://www.cfr.org/backgrounders/china-xinjiang-uyghurs-muslims-repression-genocide-human-rights?ref=readtangle.com)), and using a vast state-sponsored [spy network](https://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/china-censors-10172023143811.html?ref=readtangle.com) to crush dissent. Yet there’s nothing wrong with the *Chinese people*,who are [living under the thumb of that rule](https://www.readtangle.com/why-im-running-from-china/). China is an economic powerhouse whose relationship with us creates a great deal of prosperity and wealth. Yet that relationship also creates a dependency that makes our economy vulnerable. China has an advanced, modern military that could make us pay for any direct confrontation; yet that threat has mutually deterred both superpowers from an open conflict in places like the South China Sea. Every facet of our relationship to China is a double-edged sword, a handshake between two sides holding weapons behind their backs. Take Taiwan, a topic that dominated the summit. Xi has made it clear that addressing Taiwan is his top priority with U.S. policy, and his remarks once again left a lot of people worrying about an imminent Chinese takeover. During his administration, President Joe Biden made waves for saying unequivocally that we’d defend Taiwan with our military. I [argued](https://www.readtangle.com/taiwan-biden-comments-strategic-ambiguity/#:~:text=of%20strategic%20ambiguity.%22-,My%20take.,-One%20thing%20is) that we’d have little choice; Biden’s faux pas, rather, was making the subtext explicit. Of course, the U.S. would want to defend Taiwan — it’s too important as a supplier of U.S. semiconductors, in its position in [the first-island chain](https://blog.csewhy.com/p/99-island-chain-strategy?ref=readtangle.com), and as a democracy in defiance of Xi’s totalitarian regime. But there’s a reason you don’t say that kind of thing out loud. Open war with China would be catastrophic, for both China and the U.S., and promising it is chilling. Our conflict with Iran, which is orders of magnitude weaker in almost every imaginable way, is already dragging the U.S. and global economy. Imagine the impacts of a conflict between the world’s two economic superpowers — to say nothing of the potential death toll. And Taiwan is far from the only sticking point. China has a longstanding policy of deploying hackers to come after American government and private entities. Xi [once promised](https://www.cnbc.com/2015/09/25/us-china-agree-to-not-conduct-cybertheft-of-intellectual-property-white-house.html?ref=readtangle.com) President Barack Obama the cyber incursions would stop, but they never did. If anything, the espionage is getting more audacious. We just found out the mayor of a Los Angeles suburb was [actually a Chinese spy](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/mayor-southern-california-city-plead-guilty-acting-agent-china-feds-sa-rcna344647?ref=readtangle.com); former Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) was infamously embroiled in controversy [for his ties to a woman](https://www.axios.com/2020/12/08/china-spy-california-politicians?ref=readtangle.com) who ended up being a Chinese spy. Yet what do we expect? Our hackers are constantly going after China. Our spies are all throughout the country. Our espionage efforts are robust. It’s hard to blame a global power for returning the favor. What about our trade relationships? On the one hand, China supplies the U.S. with cheap goods in abundance. From consumer electronics to kids’ toys to complex medical devices, our supply chain depends on cheaply manufactured Chinese goods. Today, we take this arrangement for granted and frequently overlook its benefits. On the other hand, China’s manufacturing behemoth has significantly contributed to the decline of our own industrial economy. We’ve become reliant on a global adversary to supply us with things our consumers want and need, creating an obvious vulnerability. And of course there are tariffs, another vital element of trade. When President Biden slapped tariffs on Chinese automakers to try to keep their electric vehicles out of the U.S., [I was deeply conflicted](https://www.readtangle.com/biden-tariffs-china-trump-electric-cars/#:~:text=Tariff%20imposition%20is%20a%20policy%20question%20that%20I%20really%20struggle%20with%2C%20in%20part%20because%20I%20both%20want%20to%20see%20the%20U.S.%20manufacturing%20industry%20win%20and%20because%2C%20as%20a%20consumer%2C%20I%20want%20cheaper%2C%20high%2Dquality%20products.%C2%A0) about the approach. Then President Trump significantly upped the ante, launching a full-on trade war to try to limit China’s economic influence and reinvigorate U.S. manufacturing. Imports from China have since fallen — in 2025, they totaled $308.4 billion, [down nearly 30% from 2024](https://ustr.gov/countries-regions/china-mongolia-taiwan/peoples-republic-china?ref=readtangle.com). The spirit of both administrations’ approach is appealing: Let’s protect our workers and our factories and our American-made goods. Let’s not welcome competition from a country that is overly subsidized and totally reliant on unethical labor practices to make those cheap goods. But what has the approach brought us? Are U.S.-made electric vehicles improving? Have our automakers caught up? What about the rest of the manufacturing sector? Are tariffs improving life for Americans? Are production costs staying controlled? Even if these outcomes are coming, they will take time and patience — but the signals for many of them are not particularly strong. With all those elements to consider, I’m left wondering what, exactly, is set to change after the latest Trump–Xi summit. Trump claims we scored some groundbreaking trade deals and the relationship has never been better, but China is confirming exactly nothing. Much-hyped “soybean sales” have been hyped before, as the Wall Street Journal editorial board noted (under “What the right is saying”). The board also celebrated the “no-news summit,” which it framed as a good thing, and I suppose I can see the rationale. After all, Trump is not negotiating from a place of strength. The U.S. economic sentiment is terrible; the war in Iran is deeply unpopular; and Trump’s tariffs have been on-again-off-again, with exceptions carved out in nearly every industry, and most global leaders have learned by now that they can fix their Trump-related issues with a phone call and some well timed flattery. With that backdrop, what could Trump have reasonably accomplished? In short: I don’t think the president “gave Xi everything he wanted,” nor do I think we got much of anything. Trump the China hawk seems to [have evolved yet again](https://foreignpolicy.com/2026/05/12/trump-china-hawk-xi-jinping-covid/?ref=readtangle.com), and it’s not at all clear to me what his position really is on issues like Taiwan or tariffs. The administration will say that’s the point, but it wasn’t so long ago that a tough-on-China posture was the centerpiece of Trump’s foreign policy. For now, the story seems to be that not much really happened at all — despite much hype, and despite the president’s envoy asserting some wins it’s hard to ascertain the veracity of. ****Staff dissent — Managing Editor Ari Weitzman:** I disagree with the interpretation that Isaac (and the punditry class in general) gave of Trump’s summit with Xi as unproductive. Yes, the complicated U.S.–China relationship has a lot of open questions that this summit didn’t shed any light on. And yes, summits like these often come with expectations of some larger redefinition. But given the dominance of the Iran war on the geopolitical scene at the moment, I think it’s actually quite significant that President Xi [agreed](https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog%5Fentry/trump-xi-agreed-strait-of-hormuz-must-remain-open-says-white-house/?ref=readtangle.com) that the Strait of Hormuz must remain open and Iran can’t develop a nuclear weapon. Given that China has been [ambiguously encouraging](https://www.readtangle.com/inflation-rises-warsh-confirmed/#:~:text=China%20is%20playing%20a%20behind%2Dthe%2Dscenes%2C%20but%20pivotal%2C%20role%20in%20the%20conflict%20right%20now.%20It%E2%80%99s%20reportedly%20planning%20to%20provide%20Iran%20with%20weapons%20and%20could%20benefit%20from%20selective%20exceptions%20to%20Iran%E2%80%99s%20shutdown%20of%20the%20strait.) the Iranians in the conflict, and that they’ve been hurt less than the Americans by the Hormuz blockade, Xi could easily have chosen to play hardball with Trump. Instead, he’s showing a desire to cooperate and [avoid conflict](https://theconversation.com/xi-warned-trump-against-the-thucydides-trap-heres-what-ancient-greece-can-tell-us-about-us-china-relations-283106?ref=readtangle.com) between the superpowers. Trump gets the blame for instigating the war that stands in the way of progress in these other areas, but he should also get some credit for getting Xi to publicly commit to a cooperative posture. **Take the survey:** What do you think should be a president’s top priority in managing the U.S.–China relationship? [Let us know](https://interrobang.vercel.app/survey/8d7ab6c3-7f4c-458a-a59f-04945f090c14?ref=readtangle.com). *Disagree? That's okay. Our opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we'll consider publishing your feedback.* ### Your questions, answered. **Q: I’m just curious: Is there any movement to end gerrymandering nationwide with an interstate compact? There’s that National Popular Vote thing that’s supposed to be triggered when enough states adopt it to make it decisive in elections. Why not an agreement between states that, when all of the states adopt it, commits each state to promptly enacting an independent redistricting commission? And if any state thereafter opted out, the others would be free to opt out as well (but its terms would be triggered again if the threshold adoption requirements were again met).** **— Julian from New York, NY** **Tangle:** That’s an interesting idea. For context, the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact is a bill any state can pass for itself that would pledge all of its electoral votes in a presidential election to the winner of the national popular vote, rather than the winner of its statewide vote. If a total number of states whose electoral votes reach 270 pass the same statewide bill, that would mean the winner of the popular vote would automatically win the Electoral College — effectively making that system obsolete. *You can read more about that initiative* [*here*](https://www.nationalpopularvote.com/?ref=readtangle.com)*, and you can also check out a Friday edition where we interviewed Democratic and Republican strategists about the idea* [*here*](https://www.readtangle.com/will-the-2028-presidential-race-be-a-popular-vote-election/)*.* Your proposal is almost the opposite of that compact. Instead of asking states to join an agreement to trigger a de facto national change, you’re proposing something close to a kill switch, or mutually assured destruction. Essentially, a group of states all agree to pass laws that require only decadal, census-based redistricting managed by independent commissions, and if any state abdicates, then all states are free to. Maybe that would work, but there are a couple reasons why it might not. First, any state that thinks its majority political party would gain an advantage if all states openly gerrymandered could simply break the pact whenever they felt the field was tilted in their favor. Second, it would be very difficult to get enough states to agree to such a pact. Passing a federal law would be much more straightforward. And that initiative is having enough trouble as it is. Democrats have repeatedly introduced the [Redistricting Reform Act](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/5449?ref=readtangle.com), most recently in 2025, which would ban mid-decade redistricting and require every state to establish independent redistricting commissions. Currently, Senate Republicans have no incentive to pass such a bill — but the problem goes back much further. Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) introduced a version of the bill in [eight consecutive Congresses](https://thefulcrum.us/electoral-reforms/independent-state-legislature-doctrine?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=For%20example%2C%20Democratic,advance.%20Eight%20sessions!), but it failed to advance out of committee because it lacked support from Democratic leaders. It’s possible the political calculation changes after the midterms, but until then, gerrymandering reform isn’t likely to grow past a patchwork of specific state-by-state regulations. **Want to have a question answered in the newsletter? You can reply to this email (it goes straight to our inbox) or** [**fill out this form**](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScQhqBSG%5F6%5FoBhwcTQMeS570n29XYbeQ9C9Bis7rjqI31g1tA/viewform?usp=header&ref=readtangle.com)**.** ### Numbers. - [**9**](https://history.state.gov/departmenthistory/travels/president/china?ref=readtangle.com)**.** The approximate number of years since the last U.S. presidential visit to China. - [**1, 4, and 3**](https://history.state.gov/departmenthistory/travels/president/china?ref=readtangle.com)**.** The number of times, respectively, that Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama traveled to China on official duties over the course of their presidencies. - [**2**](https://history.state.gov/departmenthistory/travels/president/china?ref=readtangle.com)**.** The number of times President Donald Trump has visited China as president. - [**129**](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clypj01189lo?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=The%20US%20president,in%20the%20autumn.)**.** The number of days until the next planned meeting between President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. - [**27%**](https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2026/04/14/americans-views-of-china-have-grown-somewhat-more-positive-in-recent-years/?ref=readtangle.com)**.** The percentage of Americans who have a positive view of China, according to a Pew Research Center survey conducted in March. ### The extras. - **One year ago today** we had just published [a reader mailbag edition](https://www.readtangle.com/reader-mailbag-may-16-2025/). - **The most clicked link in our last regular newsletter** was our most recent [episode of *Suspension of the Rules*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-E9i%5Fh8adLI&ref=readtangle.com)*.* - **Nothing to do with politics:** What will travel [look like in 20 years](https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/travel/travel-tech-predictions-ai-space-hotels-4946aca4?st=Ewsuki&ref=readtangle.com)? - **Our last survey:** 2,433 readers responded to our survey on inflation with 66% saying they are very concerned. “I am concerned that gas prices will not fall back to prewar levels after Iran hostilities,” one respondent said. “With Iran, the tariffs, and the impacts of inflation during Biden’s term, I hope inflation improves soon but am not optimistic,” said another. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/05/data-src-image-4271eddf-6a62-424e-8fac-9785a1df383e.png) ### Have a nice day. When Ahmed, Nasir and Preston — ages six and seven — were each hospitalized at the same time in need of a new heart, they each experienced the anxiety and uncertainty of not knowing what was ahead for them. But over the course of nearly a year in the hospital together, they became best friends, leaning on one another for support as they waited for heart transplants. Then, in a rarity, all three received transplants within 10 days of one another. They’re now recovering well, and their friendships are as strong as ever. “I think these children teach us how to be grateful for what we have,” Dr. Joseph Spinner, a doctor on the boys’ care team, said. “It’s amazing that they can be so sick yet have such a positive attitude.” [KHOU11 has the story](https://www.khou.com/article/life/heartwarming/texas-childrens-hospital-patients-heart-transplants/285-9a9b57d3-b44a-477e-9aef-a277f65efce2?ref=readtangle.com). ### The Sunday — May 17 URL: https://www.readtangle.com/the-sunday-may-17-2026/ Last updated: 2026-05-17T11:53:26.000Z *This is the Tangle Sunday Edition, a brief roundup of our independent politics coverage plus some extra features for your Sunday morning reading.* ### What the right is doodling. ![Gary Varvel | Creators Syndicate](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/05/data-src-image-fd663f36-c870-456e-8133-bb66fc83951f.jpeg) Gary Varvel | Creators Syndicate ### What the left is doodling. ![John Deering | Creators Syndicate](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/05/data-src-image-af6b04eb-87bc-40b9-921d-65c4b874da21.jpeg) John Deering | Creators Syndicate ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/05/data-src-image-fcabb748-3525-42fa-8375-03f615ec174a.png) ### Suspension of the Rules Isaac, Ari and Kmele let loose a bit in this week’s episode, discussing Sen. Rand Paul’s son hurling antisemitic remarks at Rep. Mike Lawler and Rep. Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez’s possible political ambitions. Plus, what were some lessons the media should have learned from the Covid-19 pandemic? Check out [the latest here](https://youtu.be/-E9i%5Fh8adLI?ref=readtangle.com)! ### Monday, May 11. [The Supreme Court of Virginia’s redistricting ruling](https://www.readtangle.com/virginia-supreme-court-gerrymandering/). On Friday, May 8, the Supreme Court of Virginia struck down a redistricting measure recently passed by voters that would have allowed the legislature to adopt a new congressional map designed to give Virginia Democrats a 10–1 advantage in the U.S. House. In a 4–3 decision, the court found that the process of putting the measure on the ballot violated the state constitution, affirming a county judge’s ruling. The decision will keep the current map — under which Democrats have a 6–5 advantage — in place for the 2026 midterms. **Our take:** *“This ruling is obviously a big win for Republicans and a huge blow to Democrats. On one hand I’m glad for that, because I cheer anytime a gerrymandering attempt fails. On the other hand I’m discouraged, because Trump and Republicans instigated this war and now they’re being rewarded for it.”* **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/05/data-src-image-6f0e31e0-bdba-4ae0-b2a7-49554bc2550c.png) ### Tuesday, May 12. [The latest in Iran](https://www.readtangle.com/us-iran-ceasefire-strait-of-hormuz/). Over the past week, the United States and Iran have exchanged communications over plans to end the war between the countries, though talks have yet to produce a breakthrough. On Monday, May 11, President Donald Trump said the pause in fighting is on “life support,” calling Iran’s most recent response to a U.S. peace proposal unacceptable. Separately, the Strait of Hormuz remains mostly closed to commercial traffic, with the U.S. and Iran exchanging fire in the waterway over the past two weeks. **Our take:** *“A timeline of events shows how unreliable the U.S. and Iran are as narrators. It also shows that, despite our military successes, Iran’s control over the Strait of Hormuz is a disaster. I don’t know how we proceed from here, but I don’t like our options.”* **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/05/data-src-image-a4c3fc37-c8b2-43da-be4a-b193cc386994.png) ### Wednesday, May 13. [The hantavirus outbreak](https://www.readtangle.com/hantavirus-disease-outbreak/). On Monday, May 11, 18 Americans returned to the United States from a cruise ship where passengers had contracted a rare strain of hantavirus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) transported the passengers to specialized quarantine facilities in Nebraska and Georgia; one American tested positive for the virus. As of Saturday, May 16, three deaths — a Dutch couple and a German woman — ten confirmed cases have been linked to the cruise ship outbreak. Health officials say the risk to the general public remains low. **Our take:** *“It’s tempting to compare this outbreak to the onset of Covid-19, but the situations are very different. Hantavirus is deadly and scary, but its transmissibility is low and the cases are being closely tracked. We should all be careful not to overreact and to closely vet any information we learn before sharing it.”* **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/05/data-src-image-46d5dd77-2055-4c9d-a0ad-15209032fcb7.png) ### Thursday, May 14. [The latest economic news](https://www.readtangle.com/inflation-rises-warsh-confirmed/). On Tuesday, May 12, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released its Consumer Price Index (CPI) report for April, which showed an increase of 3.8% from a year earlier, slightly higher than economists’ expectations. The latest inflation figures represent the highest annual increase since May 2023, up from 3.3% in March. On a month-to-month basis, prices rose a seasonally adjusted 0.6% after rising 0.9% in March. Core inflation, which excludes volatile food and energy prices, rose 0.4% for the month, its highest pace since January 2025\. Separately, on Wednesday, May 13, the Senate confirmed Kevin Warsh to be the next Federal Reserve chair by a 54–45 vote. **Our take:** *“The economic shocks of the Iran war have fully arrived. Inflation could now persist long after the immediate conflict ends. Warsh has a tall task ahead of him, and his independence from the White House is a key test.”* **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/05/data-src-image-44a3363f-7741-4e49-b76b-a4d40a01d26d.png) ### Friday, May 15. Over the past month, Executive Editor Isaac Saul has been on a speaking tour, visiting colleges around the country. He concluded his tour with closing remarks at a journalism conference at St. Olaf College in Minnesota, where he theorized about the real dividing lines between Americans today. [You can read Isaac’s address here](https://www.readtangle.com/heres-my-message-to-americas-college-students/). --- ### What just happened. Here’s a rundown of the major stories that have broken since our newsletter on Thursday. - On Thursday, Central Intelligence Agency Director John Ratcliffe met with Cuban intelligence officials and security official Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro in Cuba to discuss the country’s ongoing energy crisis. Ratcliffe reportedly told the officials that cooperation between the United States and Cuba is possible if Cuba makes “fundamental changes” to its government. ([The meeting](https://www.axios.com/2026/05/14/cia-ratcliffe-cuba-talks-raulito?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Thursday, the Supreme Court extended its stay of a federal appeals court’s ruling that blocked mail-order distribution of mifepristone, a medication abortion drug. The Court’s order will permit mifepristone to continue to be available via the mail while a lawsuit challenging its distribution plays out in lower courts. Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito dissented. ([The order](https://www.scotusblog.com/2026/05/court-allows-for-access-to-abortion-pill-by-mail-for-now/?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Thursday, Border Patrol Chief Mike Banks resigned, saying he wanted to spend more time with his family. Banks is the third high-level Department of Homeland Security (DHS) official to depart in the past two months, following DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director Todd Lyons. ([The resignation](https://www.cnn.com/2026/05/14/politics/michael-banks-border-patrol-resigns?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Thursday, Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough ruled that some provisions of Republicans’ plan to provide approximately $70 billion in immigration enforcement funding in a budget reconciliation package did not comply with the chamber’s Byrd Rule and must be struck from the bill in order to pass it via reconciliation. ([The ruling](https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5879721-immigration-bill-parliamentarian-ruling/?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Friday, President Trump concluded his visit to China, telling reporters that he has not decided whether to proceed with an arms package deal with Taiwan, which Chinese President Xi Jinping opposes. Trump also said that he and Xi discussed a nuclear deal between the countries, and including Russia, that would limit the nuclear warheads in their arsenals. ([The debrief](https://apnews.com/article/trump-xi-taiwan-iran-trade-e7a3cdf161c608de152ac1c6e5755452?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Friday, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) commuted the sentence of Tina Peters, a former county clerk who was convicted in a scheme to illegally examine voting machines in an attempt to prove the results in the 2020 presidential election were fraudulent. Polis said he believed Peters, 70, received an overly harsh sentence. ([The commutation](https://coloradosun.com/2026/05/15/tina-peters-sentence-reduced-by-colorado-governor-jared-polis/?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Friday, the Supreme Court rejected a request by Democratic officials in Virginia to use a new congressional map recently approved by voters but struck down by the Supreme Court of Virginia. ([The rejection](https://www.scotusblog.com/2026/05/court-denies-virginias-request-to-reinstate-congressional-map-that-would-benefit-democrats/?ref=readtangle.com)) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/05/data-src-image-4283ffe4-4658-4e89-a056-18bcf1823be6.png) ### Reader essay. ![The author’s 10-year reunion | Photo from James Breen](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/05/data-src-image-bfa50d21-4724-4864-a31f-322193b4fdfe.jpeg) The author’s 10-year reunion | Photo from James Breen This week, Tangle reader James Breen writes in defense of the high school reunion. Even though “high school felt more like a random sampling of four years of my life,” he writes, the value of the reunion lies in the ability to reflect and reconnect both with old friends and near strangers. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### In defense of high school reunions. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/otherposts/in-defense-of-high-school-reunions/ Last updated: 2026-05-24T00:27:51.000Z *By James Breen* --- This year marks the 20th anniversary of my graduation from high school. That still seems weird to me, but what I think is weirder is the growing apathy about attending high school reunions. I graduated from one of the big high schools in the Northwest suburbs of Houston, in a class of roughly 640 from a school of roughly 3000, and less than 10% of my graduating class showed up to our 10-year reunion. Not everyone stayed for the photo, but you can see it’s not a great turnout, particularly considering some of those people are spouses. Comparing notes with friends from different parts of the country, this appears to be fairly typical now. But it wasn’t always. Let’s back up though — what is the point of a high school reunion? High school tends to be cliquey to begin with, and in this modern age of social media, you’ve probably done a reasonable job of keeping up with the people you spent the most time with. Moreover, your HS class probably has a Facebook page, Discord forum, or something for the people who want to stay in touch to use regularly. But I’ll bet that whatever it is doesn’t get a lot of activity any random week. I would actually argue that this makes sense and is okay, as the primary purpose of such an alumni group is to broadcast and organize things relevant to that specific community — like a charity fundraiser, or a class reunion. I get the impression that, because people can use social media, they don't feel like HS reunions matter anymore. “I can and do keep up with the handful of people I cared about staying in touch with, so I don't need or want to spend an evening with the rest of you.” The general inactivity of these online spaces serves as evidence to this point, but as of yet there is no widespread digital activity that can replicate a large group of people all getting in a room and interacting with each other as they prefer. Despite Zuckerberg’s best efforts, to really get that feeling, you’ll need to find a local bar, ballroom, or even the school gym. Which is to say, the point of a high school reunion is to preserve and foster our sense of community, specifically the community of our youth. “COMMUNITY?!” I hear you shouting into your depression generator, “I don’t even like most of these people, that was the worst four years of my life!” First off, I’m sorry; high school often isn’t the best four years some describe it as (I’m also sorry if it was for you), but people and communities change and grow over time and you never know who you were to someone. We are often noticed more than we assume, but contrary to our expectations we are generally perceived more positively than we expect. Researchers have dubbed this [the Liking Gap](https://clarkrelationshiplab.yale.edu/sites/default/files/files/BoothbyCooneySandstromClark2018.pdf?ref=readtangle.com). _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Here’s my message to America’s college students. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/heres-my-message-to-americas-college-students/ Last updated: 2026-05-15T15:52:31.000Z **I’m Isaac Saul, and this is Tangle. You are reading a preview of a members-only Friday edition. To read it in full,* [**you'll be asked to subscribe*](https://www.readtangle.com/membership/)**.* ****Did someone forward you this email?** [****Sign up here**](https://www.readtangle.com/)****.** --- Over the last five weeks, I’ve been criss-crossing the country, hitting college campuses to talk about Tangle, political polarization, and the state of the media. I’ve spoken at Rowan University in New Jersey, Davidson College in North Carolina, Brigham Young University in Utah, Harvard University in Massachusetts, and St. Olaf College in Minnesota. Five very different campuses with very different student bodies in very different parts of the country. There’s so much to say about each of these places and these visits, but the top-line takeaway is [what I said](https://www.readtangle.com/press-pass-the-kids-are-alright-actually/) last month: The kids are alright — smart, kind, thoughtful, inquisitive, skeptical, and desperate to find reliable sources of information. On every campus, the concept of Tangle was welcome; the most pushback I faced was probably at Harvard, speaking to a group of Nieman Fellows who weren’t really students but mid-career journalists, many of whom seemed more skeptical about the idea Tangle could bridge a trust gap in America. On the whole, though, it’s been an uplifting and fulfilling few weeks. And as I’ve traveled the country, I’ve been thinking even more deeply about our state of affairs, the real factors driving our divisions, and where we go from here. These thoughts culminated in the last talk I gave on the last stop on my de facto campus tour at St. Olaf, outside Minneapolis. I wrote the talk the morning of May 2, at a coffee shop around the corner from campus, and then delivered it that afternoon. Today, I’m sharing that talk — which I’ve amended, edited, and rewritten in parts — as our members-only Friday edition. I hope you enjoy. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### A new Fed chair stares down inflation. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/inflation-rises-warsh-confirmed/ Last updated: 2026-05-14T15:53:06.000Z *I'm Isaac Saul, and this is Tangle: an independent, nonpartisan, subscriber-supported politics newsletter that summarizes the best arguments from across the political spectrum on the news of the day — then “my take.”* *Are you new here?* [*Get free emails*](https://www.readtangle.com/) *to your inbox daily. Would you rather listen? You can find our podcast* [*here*](https://shows.acast.com/66510864c0852400122bc7be?ref=readtangle.com)*.* ### Today’s read: 15 minutes. 📈 April's inflation figures show surging costs. Meanwhile, the Senate confirmed Kevin Warsh to be the next chairman of the Federal Reserve. Plus, are journalists properly covering the hantavirus outbreak? ### Correction. In Monday’s “Have a nice day” section, we cited a [Science Daily story](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/05/260504154028.htm?ref=readtangle.com) about a retired Australian farmer who accidentally “mortared” a 240-million-year-old fossil into his garden wall. In fact, Mihail Mihailidis did not accidentally mortar the fossil. Mihailidis [discovered](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-08-10/fossil-identified-as-240m-year-old-giant-amphibian/102707400?ref=readtangle.com) it in a slab of sandstone he’d bought for a retaining wall, then donated it to science before using it in his construction. While the rest of the story — that scientists had recently formally identified the fossil as *Arenaerpeton supinatus* — was correct, we unfortunately repeated Science Daily’s misstatement of the facts of the discovery. Thanks to the thorough reader who brought this discrepancy to our attention. *This is our 157th correction in Tangle’s 353-week history and our first correction since April 23\. We track corrections and place them at the top of the newsletter in an effort to maximize transparency with readers. (Note: We incorrectly tallied the length of Tangle’s history in our past few corrections, and have corrected that today as well.)* ### Our latest Suspension of the Rules. Isaac, Ari and Kmele let loose a bit in today’s episode, discussing Sen. Rand Paul’s son hurling antisemitic remarks at Rep. Mike Lawler and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s possible political ambitions. Plus, what were some lessons the media should have learned from the Covid-19 pandemic? Check out [the latest here](https://youtu.be/-E9i%5Fh8adLI?ref=readtangle.com)! ### Quick hits. 1. A Democrat-led resolution to pause the conflict in Iran unless Congress authorizes further military action failed by a vote of 49–50 in the Senate. Republican Sens. Lisa Murkowski (AK), Susan Collins (ME), and Rand Paul (KY) voted with Democrats to pass the resolution, while Sen. John Fetterman (PA) was the lone Democrat to vote against it. ([The vote](https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5876248-senate-vote-war-powers-iran/?ref=readtangle.com)) 2. President Donald Trump arrived in China for a two-day summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Xi told Trump that discussions between U.S. and Chinese economic and trade teams had been “⁠balanced and positive” but said relations between the countries could be imperiled if the U.S. interferes with China’s policy on Taiwan. ([The talks](https://www.reuters.com/world/china/trump-xi-set-beijing-talks-with-trade-truce-iran-war-stake-2026-05-13/?ref=readtangle.com)) 3. The South Carolina Supreme Court overturned Alex Murdaugh’s conviction for murdering his wife and son, finding that the county clerk of the court where Murdaugh was tried improperly influenced jurors during the trial. Prosecutors intend to re-try Murdaugh, and he will remain in prison while serving a separate sentence for financial crimes. ([The latest](https://apnews.com/article/murdaugh-killings-appeal-overturned-65a2ea0610bdb80763b39838ab4fcdb6?ref=readtangle.com)) 4. Vice President JD Vance announced the Trump administration is deferring $1.3 billion in Medicaid payments to California, saying the state has not taken sufficient measures to combat fraud. The vice president warned that other states could also lose funding if they do not address Medicaid fraud. ([The announcement](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/vance-turns-up-heat-states-federal-cash-threat-over-medicaid-fraud-crackdown?ref=readtangle.com)) 5. The number of surveillance flights conducted near Cuba by U.S. military and intelligence agencies has reportedly increased in recent weeks, which U.S. officials said was part of a planned military buildup in the Caribbean in the near future. ([The report](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/13/world/americas/us-cuba-spy-planes.html?ref=readtangle.com)) SPONSORED BY THE PENNY HOARDER ![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-13-at-4.29.02---PM.png) ****6 Companies That Send People Money** Most Americans don’t feel financially secure right now. Prices are up. Savings are down. And one unexpected expense can throw everything off balance. What if your car breaks down, or you have a sudden medical bill? [****Ask one of these companies to help….**](https://partners.thepennyhoarder.com/nice-companies-prt/?aff%5Fid=409&utm%5Fsource=tangle&aff%5Fsub3=nice-companies-prt) ### Today’s topic. The latest economic news. On Tuesday, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) [released](https://www.bls.gov/news.release/cpi.htm?ref=readtangle.com) its Consumer Price Index (CPI) report for April, which showed an increase of 3.8% from a year earlier, slightly higher than economists’ expectations. The latest inflation figures represent the highest annual increase since May 2023, up from 3.3% in March. On a month-to-month basis, prices rose a seasonally adjusted 0.6% after rising 0.9% in March. Core inflation, which excludes volatile food and energy prices, rose 0.4% for the month, its highest pace since January 2025. **Reminder:** *The CPI tracks price fluctuations for 80,000 items in a fixed basket of goods and services, representing everything from gasoline to apples to the cost of a doctor's visit. You can read our coverage of past inflation reports* [*here*](https://www.readtangle.com/tag/inflation/)*.* A 3.8% surge in energy prices [accounted](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/05/12/cpi-inflation-april-2026-.html?ref=readtangle.com) for over 40% of the monthly increase for all items, while food prices climbed 0.5% and the shelter index rose 0.6%. Airline fares, household furnishings, education and apparel prices all increased in April, while medical care, new vehicles, and communication service prices declined. Separately, the [producer price index](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/05/13/ppi-inflation-report-april-2026-.html?ref=readtangle.com), which measures the average change in selling prices received by domestic producers, rose a seasonally adjusted 1.4% for the month — its largest monthly gain since March 2022 — and was up 6% on an annual basis. Lastly, on Wednesday, the Senate [confirmed](https://www.c-span.org/clip/us-senate/senate-confirms-kevin-warsh-as-fed-chair-54-45/5200274?ref=readtangle.com) Kevin Warsh to be the next Federal Reserve chair by a 54–45 vote. Warsh, 56, served on the Fed’s Board of Governors from 2006–2011 as its youngest-ever governor, acting as a key liaison to Wall Street during the 2008–09 financial crisis. Warsh is set to take over from current Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, whose term ends on May 15\. President Donald Trump [announced](https://www.readtangle.com/kevin-warsh-tapped-for-fed-chair/) his nomination of Warsh in January, but Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) [blocked](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/04/26/thom-tillis-kevin-warsh-federal-reserve.html?ref=readtangle.com) the nomination from advancing until after the Department of Justice dropped its probe into Powell for the cost of the renovation to the Federal Reserve’s headquarters. During his confirmation hearing, Warsh faced [intense scrutiny](https://www.reuters.com/world/live-trumps-fed-chair-nominee-kevin-warsh-faces-senate-nomination-hearing-2026-04-21/?ref=readtangle.com) from the Senate Banking Committee over whether he would maintain the Federal Reserve’s independence from President Trump, who has publicly pushed for aggressive interest rate cuts and criticized Chairman Powell for opting to keep rates unchanged amid inflation concerns. The Federal Reserve Open Market Committee will [next meet](https://www.federalreserve.gov/monetarypolicy/fomccalendars.htm) to decide on interest rates on June 16. We’ll get into what the right and left are saying about the latest economic news below, then Senior Editor Will Kaback gives his take. ### What the right is saying. - **The right is largely mixed on the economic figures, with some criticizing Powell and hoping Warsh can take a different path.** - **Some fault Bidenomics for the bad inflation numbers.** - **Others point out that voters are beginning to blame Trump for high prices.** **The Wall Street Journal editorial board wrote about** [**“Jerome Powell’s inflation legacy for Kevin Warsh.”**](https://www.wsj.com/opinion/federal-reserve-kevin-warsh-jerome-powell-inflation-donald-trump-c58679fc?ref=readtangle.com) “\[Warsh\] may be wondering why he ever signed up for this duty. Tuesday’s consumer inflation data for April show he is inheriting one of the most difficult monetary tasks since Paul Volcker took over from G. William Miller in 1979,” the board said. “Some 40% of the \[consumer price\] increase was related to the Iran war’s energy shock. But that’s little consolation since so-called core prices, sans food and energy, rose 0.4% in April, an acceleration from 0.2% in March, and 2.8% for 12 months.” “The latest inflation report marks a dispiriting end to Jerome Powell’s eight-year tenure as Fed Chair. The press focuses mainly on President Trump’s relentless attacks on Mr. Powell and praises him as a stalwart of Fed independence. We’ve supported him against those unfair assaults. But Fed chiefs are measured above all by their stewardship of the economy, especially price stability. On those grounds, Mr. Powell’s tenure has been a notable failure,” the board wrote. “The real challenge for Mr. Warsh will be navigating the economic reality he inherits of renewed inflation, an oil shock affecting consumer confidence, and a President who always wants lower interest rates but higher tariffs.” **In The New York Sun, Stephen Moore said** [**“blame Bidenomics and big government for today’s stubbornly high inflation.”**](https://www.nysun.com/article/blame-bidenomics-and-big-government-for-todays-stubbornly-high-inflation?ref=readtangle.com) “The new consumer prices report showing a 3.8% price rise in April confirms what Americans have been complaining about for months: Inflation is squeezing family budgets,” Moore wrote. “Oil and fertilizer supply disruptions in the Middle East are driving up prices here at home. Yet that’s only part of the inflation story. Consumer prices overall are up nearly 30% since Covid-19 derailed the American economy six years ago… It’s important to remember why this spurt of rising prices has hit consumers right in the nose — er, wallet — if we are going to solve the affordability crisis.” “If you’re angry about the high price of nearly everything, Bidenomics is the primary villain… During Covid-19 and its aftermath, Uncle Sam spent more than $4 trillion. Remember the Build Back Better Act, CHIPS and Science Act, Inflation Reduction Act, and other ‘stimulus’ bills? Every penny of that spending blitz was borrowed and essentially printed,” Moore said. “Here’s the impending political and economic danger for Republicans. The solution isn’t just to get the oil flowing through the Persian Gulf. We also have to reduce government spending right now… If Republicans don’t start watching their Ps and Qs, as the old saying goes, we could see another Biden-type inflation surge with voters mad as hell.” **In Cato, Ryan Bourne, Jai Kedia, and Nathan Miller wrote** [**“President Trump’s approval on inflation is now worse than President Biden’s ever was.”**](https://www.cato.org/blog/trumps-approval-inflation-now-worse-bidens-ever-was?ref=readtangle.com) “The Economist/YouGov’s May 1–4 poll shows 25% of Americans approve of the way Donald Trump is handling inflation/​prices while 69% disapprove — a net of –44%, lower than any point in either Biden or Trump’s presidencies,” the authors said. “That’s a remarkable development. Biden oversaw an inflation peak of 9%, which Trump hasn’t approached, yet Trump’s disapproval has surpassed Biden’s worst… Voters didn’t just want lower inflation, though; they wanted prices to fall.” “More recently, inflation has accelerated again. The consumer price index increased 0.6% in April after rising 0.9% in March, meaning prices are up 3.8% in the past year… Some of those price rises were to be expected. War in Iran has driven gasoline prices 28.4% above year-ago levels, and that mostly explains the 20.7% surge in the highly salient airline fares. But the concern with oil shocks is that they can pass through into virtually all other prices,” the authors wrote. “These numbers are particularly problematic for Trump given that this is an election year where affordability will be at the forefront of voters’ minds.” ### What the left is saying. - **Many on the left argue that the latest inflation numbers are directly caused by the war in Iran.** - **Some argue that the economy is worse for consumers than for large companies.** - **Others say the Fed’s power to affect the economy is diminishing, and new Fed Chair Kevin Warsh can’t change that.** **In Bloomberg, John Authers said** [**“Warsh could find inflation too hot to handle.”**](https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/newsletters/2026-05-13/warsh-could-find-inflation-too-hot-to-handle?ref=readtangle.com) “US inflation is too hot for comfort. The numbers for April reveal that the headline rise in consumer prices reached 3.8%, continuing an upward trend that started before the Iran war,” Authers wrote. “The greatest problem is, of course, the spike in energy prices driven by the blockage of the Strait of Hormuz. Energy prices are always erratic and there is little monetary policy can do to control them, which is why central banks tend to look at core inflation... However, inflation excluding energy is still rising, while an array of other statistical measures of core price increases are also turning upward.” “Fittingly, the inflation data dropped just as the Senate confirmed Kevin Warsh as a governor of the Fed, to replace the ultra-Trumpy Stephen Miran,” Authers said. “He arrives just in time for two-year Treasury yields to touch 4%, their highest since June last year, buoyed by the strong market expectation that the fed funds rate cannot move far from where it is now… There are worse inheritances for Warsh. The AI shock is strong enough to help the stock market withstand interest rates where they are, while the combination of rising inflation and stable employment should be enough to convince even the current administration that lower interest rates are not called for just now.” **In MS NOW, Ali Velshi argued that** [**“for many Americans, the recession is already here.”**](https://www.ms.now/ali-velshi/recession-worries-american-economy-inflation?ref=readtangle.com) “The old-fashioned way of thinking about a recession is that it’s two consecutive quarters of negative growth in gross domestic product, GDP being the broadest measure of all economic activity in the country. Not only is that view of a recession outdated, it also may not fit an economy that, for a whole lot of Americans, is already feeling like one that’s in a recession,” Velshi said. “In May, consumer sentiment was the worst it has ever been…So what’s going on? The simplest way to understand it is this: There isn’t one American economy right now, there are two.” “Economists call this a K-shaped economy, because if you draw it on a chart, the line for wealthier households invested in the stock market is going up (the top of the K), and the line for everyone else is flat or going down (that’s the bottom),” Velshi wrote. “Across every income group, real spending has actually turned slightly negative in recent months. So what’s holding the number up? Two things. The first is the government. Defense spending crossed $1 trillion this year, roughly a 15% jump from the year before, driven in large part by the war with Iran… The second is a major economic boom in a single narrow sector: companies pouring money into building data centers for artificial intelligence.” **In Semafor, Liz Hoffman wrote** [**“the Fed’s most powerful economic lever is losing its edge.”**](https://www.semafor.com/article/05/12/2026/the-feds-most-powerful-economic-lever-is-loosing-its-edge?ref=readtangle.com) “\[Kevin Warsh is\] signalling a willingness to lower interest rates — either because the president wants him to, or because he thinks current conditions justify it. It’s not entirely up to him, and the market is losing faith in that outcome anyway, but the bigger question is whether it would matter,” Hoffman said. “The US economy is less sensitive to interest rates than it used to be. The long shift from manufacturing — which responds to higher borrowing costs (factories are expensive) in a way that services don’t — has blunted one of the Fed’s most powerful economic levers. The ultrarich, whose spending has ballooned, don’t care what money costs. Neither do the tech companies fueling the AI boom.” “Another kink in that policy-transmission hose is that the Fed only controls overnight interest rates, not the longer-term levels that determine what money costs in the real economy. Expectations of inflation (if you’re a pessimist) or growth (if you’re an optimist) have kept longer-term borrowing costs higher than you’d expect after six rate cuts,” Hoffman wrote. “The economy is being tossed around by supply shocks, which central bankers can’t control, rather than the demand shocks they can. The Iran war is a shock to the supply of oil. AI is a shock to the supply of knowledge. The Trump administration is a shock to the supply of certainty. Put it together and central bankers are pushing on a string, and getting less bang for their buck on interest rates.” ### My take. **Reminder: “My take” is a section where we give ourselves space to share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, don't unsubscribe. Write in by replying to this email, or** [**leave a comment**](https://www.readtangle.com/inflation-rises-warsh-confirmed/#ghost-comments-root)**.** - **The economic shocks of the Iran war have fully arrived.** - **Inflation could now persist long after the immediate conflict ends.** - **Warsh has a tall task ahead of him, and his independence from the White House is a key test.** **Senior Editor Will Kaback:** Economic policymaking is hard, and it has a tendency to make even the smartest decision-makers look out of their depth when predictions don’t pan out. Tangle has always covered debates about the health of the economy, and I can honestly say — whether I’ve been a reader, researcher, editor, or writer for those editions — that I typically come away struggling to figure out which competing theories I find most persuasive. But every so often, the data from moments like this one tell a clear, simple story. The war in Iran has disrupted global energy markets, driven up prices, and led to rising inflation here in the United States. Unlike, say, the debate over [Bidenomics](https://www.readtangle.com/bidenomics-state-of-the-economy/) or the tax policy put forward in the [One Big Beautiful Bill](https://www.readtangle.com/one-big-beautiful-bill-house-republicans/), this interpretation doesn’t seem to be a source of disagreement. Opinions vary on whether the potential benefits of attacking Iran justify this disruption, but there’s no longer much debate that this war is directly responsible for heightened economic pain. The question now is how bad it will get — and for how long. To state the obvious, the longer the war lasts — and the Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed — the longer inflation will remain a problem. Unfortunately, that may not be on the immediate horizon. As Isaac [documented](https://www.readtangle.com/us-iran-ceasefire-strait-of-hormuz/) on Tuesday, the productivity of peace talks (and length of the conflict) is difficult to gauge, but President Trump’s [recent comments](https://www.axios.com/2026/05/11/trump-iran-ceasefile-military-action?ref=readtangle.com) suggest the fighting could soon ramp back up. Additionally, [new reports](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/12/us/politics/iran-missiles-us-intelligence.html?ref=readtangle.com) about Iran’s regained missile capabilities suggest they aren't ready to fold anytime soon. Alternatively, the U.S. and Iran could soon reach a deal that reopens the Strait of Hormuz and restores some degree of stability to global markets. President Trump is currently meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping at a high-stakes summit in China, where the two are expected to discuss the war. China is playing a behind-the-scenes, but pivotal, role in the conflict right now. It’s reportedly [planning](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/13/us/politics/china-iran-weapons-trump-xi.html?ref=readtangle.com) to provide Iran with weapons and could benefit from selective exceptions to Iran’s shutdown of the strait. A Chinese supertanker [sailed out](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-05-13/chinese-oil-supertanker-seen-attempting-strait-of-hormuz-exit?embedded-checkout=true&ref=readtangle.com) of the Persian Gulf yesterday — now, [it’s testing](https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/chinese-supertanker-attempts-hormuz-passage-data-show-2026-05-13/?ref=readtangle.com) the U.S. Navy’s blockade. The drama on the high seas raises the stakes of a rare face-to-face standoff between the two superpowers. Secretary of State Marco Rubio [said](https://www.foxnews.com/media/marco-rubio-says-us-push-china-take-more-active-role-iran-negotiations-ahead-trump-xi-summit?ref=readtangle.com) Trump will push Xi to take a more active role in mediating an end to the conflict, saying, “It’s in their interest to resolve this.” Rubio is alluding to the economic pain China will continue to experience if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed, but that’s only one input China is weighing. The longer the U.S. remains engaged in Iran, the more the U.S. military’s resources will be depleted. Plus, with each passing day, Trump’s domestic political challenges become more acute. Xi and China are ultimately [balancing](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/13/world/asia/xi-trump-china-us-taiwan-iran.html?ref=readtangle.com) their own economic challenges against the strategic benefit of a weakened United States. Even in the best-case scenario where the Trump–Xi summit produces a deal to pressure Iran to reopen the strait, inflation will get worse before it gets better. Energy markets have suffered massive shocks, the kind that don’t immediately rebound as soon as Trump declares the war over — or even after the strait reopens. An analysis from Oxford Economics published in April [found](https://www.investopedia.com/iran-war-inflation-could-take-years-to-fade-after-conflict-ends-11956198?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=That%27s%20the%20upshot,was%20typically%20gone.) that inflated oil costs caused by conflicts persisted for two to three years. In the Ukraine war, fuel prices in the U.S. remained [elevated](https://fredblog.stlouisfed.org/2023/10/the-ukraine-wars-effects-on-us-commodity-prices/?ref=readtangle.com) for roughly a year after Russia’s full-scale invasion before moderating to pre-war levels. That’s encouraging because it suggests energy markets can absorb the effects of upheaval over time. But it’s also deeply discouraging because a year of rising gas prices is a long time, and we still don’t know how bad the Hormuz crisis will get. Many Americans cannot, or will not, tolerate [$4.50 gas](https://gasprices.aaa.com/?ref=readtangle.com) (or worse) for an extended period, which creates an obvious political problem for the president and his party as we approach the midterms. Trump recently [commented](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-iran-americans-finances-nuclear-weapons/?ref=readtangle.com) that he doesn’t “think about Americans’ financial situation” in relation to the Iran war. That makes for easy fodder for attack ads, but I’m also not sure how true it is behind the scenes. More likely, the White House hasn’t figured out how to reconcile the president’s insistence on continuing the war with a coherent strategy for our mounting economic challenges. But if inflation runs hot for another month (or two, or three), there will be no hiding from political reality in November. In fact, that reality is already here. As Zachary Basu [wrote](https://www.axios.com/2026/05/13/trump-inflation-economy-polls-biden?ref=readtangle.com) in Axios this week, Trump is facing a “five-alarm economy” — surging prices, shrinking paychecks, mounting debt, cratering consumer confidence, and increasing pessimism among small businesses. Despite their redistricting gains, Republicans will [probably lose](https://www.natesilver.net/p/generic-ballot-average-2026-nate-silver-bulletin-congress-polls?ref=readtangle.com) the House, and you can draw a straight line from rising prices to that forecast. What’s more, the president seems to have learned little from his predecessor, whose administration suffered politically for downplaying inflation and [casting](https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2021/06/05/yellen-3-percent-inflation/?ref=readtangle.com) it as “transitory.” Again, the connection between the Iran war and inflation is obvious (to say nothing of the [impact of Trump’s tariffs](https://budgetlab.yale.edu/research/tracking-economic-effects-tariffs?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Pass%2Dthrough%20to,see%20Table%201%29.)), and publicly, the president seems deeply indifferent to the pain the conflict is causing. Forget the politics of it all; that posture is just plain aggravating to me as a citizen. Personally, the most unnerving aspect of our economic outlook is how clearly it demonstrates the fragility of the systems that make life “normal” — an understanding that was laid bare during Covid and now feels like a wound being reopened. Consider these stories from the past week: A massive Japanese snack company is [switching](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c78k405j8pdo?ref=readtangle.com) to black-and-white packaging because the Iran war has disrupted supplies of an ingredient used in its typical packaging ink. The cost of food staples like tomatoes has [risen up to 30%](https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2026/05/12/prices-these-grocery-items-have-spiked-highest-since-war-began/?ref=readtangle.com) from pre-war levels, largely because of diesel prices. Healthcare supply chains have been [similarly impacted](https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/beyond-the-pump-the-iran-war-s-adverse-8978507/?ref=readtangle.com). Auto industry insiders are [warning](https://x.com/CostaKapo/status/2053948679485009990?s=20&ref=readtangle.com) that we’re weeks away from mass shortages of motor oil. Virtually all forms of transport — not just cars — are getting significantly [more expensive](https://x.com/TheStalwart/status/2054549412261613973?s=20&ref=readtangle.com). And a U.S. airline just [shut down](https://www.readtangle.com/spirit-airlines-shuts-down/), unable to weather rising jet-fuel costs. My three years at Tangle have instilled a kind of reflex to check myself when I start to default to worst-case scenario thinking. But when I try to find optimistic outlooks here, I’m not seeing many compelling arguments. In our research for today’s edition, the most pointed defenses of the economy boiled down to [blaming President Biden](https://www.nysun.com/article/blame-bidenomics-and-big-government-for-todays-stubbornly-high-inflation?ref=readtangle.com) and arguing that Trump can bring down inflation by [going after grocery price gouging](https://townhall.com/columnists/paul-teller/2026/05/13/trump-is-addressing-grocery-gouging-the-right-way-democrats-arent-n2675988?ref=readtangle.com). One is an admission of the situation, while the other is a potential solution to only one element of the problem, one that’s pretty far down the priority list at the moment. Wherever we’re headed, the big new variable in the mix is Kevin Warsh. When we covered his nomination back in February, I [wrote](https://www.readtangle.com/kevin-warsh-tapped-for-fed-chair/#ghost-comments-root) that his singular focus on containing inflation as a Fed governor made him an intriguing candidate to lead the central bank at a time when the president was pushing aggressively for interest rate cuts. That was before we attacked Iran, and before the March and April inflation reports. Warsh’s inflation-curbing instincts could be well suited for this moment, but they could quickly bring him into conflict with President Trump. Will he buck the president if inflation continues to spiral? Or will he turn around and push for rate cuts? It feels odd to ask these questions about someone assuming a position that’s supposed to be fully independent of the president, but after the way [Jerome Powell’s term ended](https://www.readtangle.com/trump-doj-investigates-jerome-powell/), it’s necessary to consider his replacement’s fealty to the White House. Ultimately, President Trump’s anti-inflation strategy hasn’t arrived yet, and the new Fed chair will have an important role to play in whether Trump can execute it. **Take the survey:** How concerned are you about inflation? [Let us know](https://interrobang.vercel.app/survey/d6127347-d4ae-482f-9fdb-edb04226d22c?ref=readtangle.com). *Disagree? That's okay. Our opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we'll consider publishing your feedback.* ### Your questions, answered. **Q: For a few weeks, it has seemed to me that the press is repeating what officials tell them \[about hantavirus\], with very little questioning, which is concerning. Your take doesn’t seem to shift much from that: listed as a fact is “It transmits through what every medical source I’ve read describes as ‘close contact’ with an infected person.”** **So we the public hear that, but then see an increasing number of positive cases being identified. These two “facts” seem at odds... how did such a range of passengers get this if “close contact” was required?** **— Eric from Elkridge, MD** **Managing Editor Ari Weitzman:** Maybe a quibble, but I would say the press has done a lot of questioning — the writers we summarized from the right and left, along with the epidemiologists we quoted, all brought a critical lens to this story yesterday. They just haven’t *challenged* the scientific consensus. And honestly, I think the data we’re seeing confirms that consensus. The Andes strain of the hantavirus seems to spread through bodily fluids, and in some cases “[aerosolized saliva](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2857298/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=The%20virus%20is%20shed%20in%20the%20saliva%2C%20urine%2C%20and%20feces%20of%20the%20host%2C%20and%20transmission%20to%20humans%20is%20thought%20to%20result%20primarily%20from%20inhaling%20infectious%2C%20aerosolized%20saliva%20or%20excreta%2C%20especially%20when%20entering%20or%20cleaning%20rodent%2Dinfested%20structures%20%282%2C3%29.).” That requires heavy exhalations from the mouth, typically through [a cough or sneeze](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7293495/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=The%20findings%20corroborated%20that%20breathing%20and%20exhalation%20originated%20from%20the%20nose%20have%20shed%20up%20to%20a%20few%20hundreds%20of%20droplets%20of%20which%20some%20were%20aerosols.%20In%20contrast%2C%20talking%2C%20coughing%2C%20and%20sneezing%20have%20produced%20more%20aerosols%20than%20droplets%20%28Table%201%29.), and is very different from other respiratory infections (like the flu), which can be transmitted simply through [shared breath](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2442192/?ref=readtangle.com). Confirmed cases are going up because these people are on a very unusual cruise ship — [it’s small](https://www.antarcticacruises.com/ships/hondius?ref=readtangle.com), carrying a maximum of 170 passengers and crewed by about 70, and they’ve been at sea [for a while](https://english.elpais.com/international/2026-05-06/logbook-of-the-mv-hondius-from-ushuaia-to-the-canary-islands-chronology-of-a-hantavirus-outbreak.html?ref=readtangle.com) following a tour of the Antarctic that was disrupted by the confirmed hantavirus infection. They’ve shared close quarters and would have had lots of opportunity for close contact — which can simply mean sitting near someone for a prolonged time while eating. Considering the virus’s long incubation period, some of them were likely infected before they knew what was going on. Hantavirus is still a contagious disease, so it’s not a surprise that cases are increasing — nor is it surprising that they’re going up slowly. We’ll see what we learn in the coming weeks. Maybe something about this Andes strain is very different from previously studied ones, and the facts will bear that out. I’m not saying that won’t happen; it just seems unlikely based on what we know so far. **Want to have a question answered in the newsletter? You can reply to this email (it goes straight to our inbox) or** [**fill out this form**](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScQhqBSG%5F6%5FoBhwcTQMeS570n29XYbeQ9C9Bis7rjqI31g1tA/viewform?usp=header&ref=readtangle.com)**.** ### The road not taken. Our decisions for the main topics to cover this week were all fairly non-controversial among our editorial staff. The Virginia redistricting decision was the clear story coming out of the weekend, we knew we were due for an Iran update, and the spike in inflation pushed us to cover the new data today. The only thing close to a judgment call we made was to hold our coverage of the Trump–Xi summit until after it occurred (which is standard practice for us) — that decision opened us up to discuss hantavirus on Wednesday, which coincided with the Americans on the infected Dutch cruise ship returning home. Several readers criticized us for adding to hysteria by choosing to give attention to the story at all (see today’s Extras section), but the concern from other readers about the outbreak (see today’s reader question) does seem to justify our decision. SPONSORED BY THE PENNY HOARDER Your savings account looking a little… theatrical lately? Like every time you open your banking app it whispers, “good luck.” Turns out adulthood is mostly just moving money around and pretending you understand APRs. Here are 6 companies that can help you save money, spend smarter, and panic slightly less. [Learn more ](https://partners.thepennyhoarder.com/nice-companies-prt/?aff%5Fid=409&utm%5Fsource=tangle&aff%5Fsub3=nice-companies-prt) ### The extras. - **One year ago today** we wrote about President Trump’s [executive order to reduce drug prices](https://www.readtangle.com/donald-trump-favored-nation-drug-pricing-order/). - **The most clicked link in our last regular newsletter** was our recent video about [the new era of moon exploration](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-6etWMgNv0&ref=readtangle.com). - **Nothing to do with politics:** NASA releases [thousands of Artemis II photos](https://petapixel.com/2026/05/04/nasa-releases-thousands-of-unseen-artemis-ii-photos/?ref=readtangle.com). - **Our last survey:** 2,222 readers responded to our survey on hantavirus with 77% saying their social circle was aware of the latest outbreak and not very worried. “Staying abreast and educated, but not panicking is probably the right framework,” one respondent said. “Nothing burger… wasted newsletter,” said another. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/05/data-src-image-13a5198c-8644-4431-92e8-d0ef70401571.png) ### Have a nice day. The Taylor’s checkerspot butterfly has lost 97% of its native Pacific Northwest prairie habitat, and without human intervention, it might have disappeared completely. The intervention is happening inside a prison greenhouse, where incarcerated women tend to the endangered species as trained butterfly technicians — tracking egg clusters, monitoring larvae, and logging data. The program has helped raise and release 80,000 caterpillars into restored prairie habitats since 2011\. For Margaret Taggart, who is set for release from prison in 11 months and is now considering pursuing environmental work, the work has meant something harder to quantify. “It gave me a belief in myself that I can learn and grow,” Taggart said. [Reasons to be Cheerful has the story](https://reasonstobecheerful.world/prison-conservation-butterflies/?ref=readtangle.com). ### Why is everyone suddenly racing back to the Moon? URL: https://www.readtangle.com/why-is-everyone-suddenly-racing-back-to-the-moon/ Last updated: 2026-05-14T00:03:42.000Z Why is everyone suddenly racing back to the Moon? ### The hantavirus outbreak. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/hantavirus-disease-outbreak/ Last updated: 2026-05-13T15:54:40.000Z *I'm Isaac Saul, and this is Tangle: an independent, nonpartisan, subscriber-supported politics newsletter that summarizes the best arguments from across the political spectrum on the news of the day — then “my take.”* *Are you new here?* [*Get free emails*](https://www.readtangle.com/) *to your inbox daily. Would you rather listen? You can find our podcast* [*here*](https://shows.acast.com/66510864c0852400122bc7be?ref=readtangle.com)*.* ### Today’s read: 13 minutes. 🦠 An outbreak of the Andes strain of the virus spurred a global response, but public health officials say the risk remains low. Plus, a deeper look at hantavirus's origins. ### The modern moon race. For more than 50 years, no human has set foot on the lunar surface. But now, the United States, China, Russia, and others are all planning to return — not just to visit, but to stay. In our latest video, Associate Producer Aidan Gorman explores why the world’s great powers are suddenly dead set on getting back to the moon, and how the race could shape the future beyond Earth. Check it out below. ### Quick hits. 1. A senior Pentagon official told Congress that the estimated cost to date of the Iran war is $29 billion, up from a $25 billion estimate given at the end of April. ([The update](https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/us-war-iran-has-cost-29-billion-pentagon-says-2026-05-12/?ref=readtangle.com)) Separately, U.S. intelligence agencies have reportedly assessed that Iran has regained access to 30 of the 33 missile sites along the Strait of Hormuz, in addition to most of its other missile sites, launchers, and underground facilities. ([The report](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/12/us/politics/iran-missiles-us-intelligence.html?ref=readtangle.com)) 2. Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Marty Makary resigned, reportedly over the agency’s decision to authorize fruit-flavored e-cigarettes, which he opposed. President Donald Trump was reportedly preparing to fire Makary before his resignation. ([The resignation](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/12/us/politics/trump-fires-fda-commissioner-makary.html?ref=readtangle.com)) 3. The Senate voted 51–45 to confirm Kevin Warsh to the Federal Reserve’s Board of Governors. The chamber is expected to vote on Wednesday on confirming Warsh to be chair of the central bank. ([The vote](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/05/12/senate-confirms-kevin-warsh-as-fed-governor-clears-way-for-chair-vote.html?ref=readtangle.com)) 4. President Trump arrives in China this morning for a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The two are expected to discuss trade relations, energy, and the Iran war. ([The summit](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-heads-to-china-for-high-stakes-meeting-with-xi/?ref=readtangle.com)) 5. Russia launched an estimated 200 drones at Ukraine, attacking locations across the country. At least five people were injured, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that over 100 Russian drones remain in Ukrainian airspace. ([The attack](https://kyivindependent.com/breaking-russia-launches-over-200-shahed-drones-towards-central-ukraine/?ref=readtangle.com)) in partnership with butcherbox [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-13-at-7.58.56---AM-3.png)](https://butcherbox.pxf.io/c/3250132/3882509/16419?ref=readtangle.com) ****Why Isaac Uses ButcherBox at Home** How livestock is raised affects more than ethics — it shapes the nutrition and quality of the meat we eat. 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As of Tuesday afternoon, three deaths — a Dutch couple and a German woman — nine [confirmed cases](https://x.com/WHO/status/2054207705452020119?ref=readtangle.com) and two more [suspected cases](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/hantavirus-cases-deadly-cruise-ship-outbreak/?ref=readtangle.com) have been linked to the cruise ship outbreak. Health officials say the risk to the general public remains low. **Back up:** [Hantaviruses](https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/hantavirus?ref=readtangle.com) are a family of viruses typically transmitted between rodents, which can then infect humans who touch or breathe in rodent urine or droppings. [The Andes strain](https://www.cdc.gov/hantavirus/about/andesvirus.html?ref=readtangle.com), which the World Health Organization (WHO) identified in the cruise ship outbreak, is the only known subtype that allows for person-to-person transmission. Symptoms of the Andes strain include fatigue, fever and chills, and in severe cases, can cause a respiratory disease called Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome, which [has](https://www.cdc.gov/hantavirus/faq/index.html?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=of%20Andes%20virus%3F-,Is,-Andes%20virus%20deadly) a case-fatality rate of 38%. Approximately 150 people were [aboard](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cjep78l5835o?ref=readtangle.com) the *MV Hondius*, a Dutch polar-expedition cruise ship which set sail from Argentina on April 1, when a 70-year-old Dutch man fell ill with respiratory symptoms and [died](https://apnews.com/article/hantavirus-cruise-ship-timeline-events-b9eb3985b547758b1e42dbab6ceb3887?ref=readtangle.com) on board of a then-undetermined cause. Thirteen days after his death, on April 24, the man’s wife and over two dozen other passengers [disembarked](https://www.medpagetoday.com/special-reports/exclusives/121146?ref=readtangle.com) from the vessel on the remote island of St. Helena in the Southern Atlantic. The Dutch woman then flew to South Africa, where she died from the virus. On May 2, a German woman still on board also died from the virus. That same day, the WHO identified the incidents as a hantavirus outbreak; shortly after, health organizations began isolation and evacuation efforts. Most passengers have now [returned](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/10/us/americans-hantavirus-ship-quarantine-nebraska.html?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Most%20of%20the%20roughly%20150%20passengers%20and%20crew%20members%20had%20returned%20to%20their%20home%20countries%20on%20Monday%20or%20were%20doing%20so.%20Thirty%2Dtwo%20crew%20members%20will%20remain%20on%20the%20ship%20as%20it%20sails%20for%20the%20Netherlands%2C%20where%20it%20will%20dock%2C%20Spain%E2%80%99s%20health%20minister%2C%20M%C3%B3nica%20Garc%C3%ADa%2C%20said%20on%20Monday.) to their home countries, and the ship is expected to [dock](https://oceanwide-expeditions.com/press/press-update-m-v-hondius-12-may-18-15-hrs-cet?srsltid=AfmBOoo0yP4Tuivr1BUHBQ1zT9viPlwp3GiryE8YFdqPcaLL6JqgkWCv&ref=readtangle.com) in the Netherlands on Sunday or Monday. Health officials acknowledge the novel, multi-country nature of the spread but say a larger outbreak is unlikely. On Tuesday, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus [said](https://www.who.int/news-room/speeches/item/who-director-general-s-opening-remarks-at-the-media-briefing-on-hantavirus---12-may-2026?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=All%20suspected%20and%20confirmed%20cases%20have%20been%20isolated%20and%20managed%20under%20strict%20medical%20supervision%2C%20minimizing%20any%20risk%20of%20further%20transmission.%C2%A0) that “all suspected and confirmed cases have been isolated and managed under strict medical supervision, minimizing any risk of further transmission.” Late last week, the CDC [activated](https://www.cbsnews.com/atlanta/news/cdc-activates-level-3-emergency-response-hantavirus-outbreak-mv-hondius/?ref=readtangle.com) its Level 3 response, the agency’s lowest level of emergency activation. In a press conference on Monday, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. [said](https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/5872730-kennedy-hantavirus-situation-update/?ref=readtangle.com) the CDC has the outbreak “under control,” and that “we’re not worried about it.” President Donald Trump added that the CDC “acted very, very quickly” and called the disease “very hard to catch.” Below, we’ll explore what the left, right, and epidemiologists are saying about the hantavirus outbreak. Then, Managing Editor Ari Weitzman shares his take. ### What the left is saying. - **The left is concerned about the outbreak, particularly as the Trump administration has divested from global health systems.** - **Some say health officials are overconfident in declaring what they know.** **In The Bulwark, Jonathan Cohn asked** [**“seriously, how nervous should we be about hantavirus?”**](https://www.thebulwark.com/p/hantavirus-outbreak-trump-biothreat-readiness?ref=readtangle.com) “Donald Trump has spent much of his second presidency waging an all-out assault on America’s global health infrastructure — by downsizing or eliminating existing agencies and programs, and transforming them in ways that make them instruments of other goals like extracting mineral rights or ending DEI. This assault has also included withdrawing from the World Health Organization, and from global health cooperation more generally,” Cohn wrote. “That has left the federal government without some of the tools, systems, and personnel it has deployed in the past. The result is a federal response to outbreaks that is weaker overall, and could falter in the face of a more serious threat.” “The ability to assess this hantavirus outbreak so quickly is testimony to the sophisticated international infrastructure now in place for disease surveillance and response. And that infrastructure didn’t appear out of thin air. It was constructed over time, with much of the essential money, leadership, and expertise coming from the United States,” Cohn said. “The worry now… is that the infrastructure is losing American support, thanks to Trump.” **In The New York Times, Zeynep Tufekci wrote** [**“a new viral outbreak. The same mistakes all over again.”**](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/12/opinion/hantavirus-complacency.html?ref=readtangle.com) “During a press conference last week, a W.H.O. official addressed people who had disembarked, asking them to present themselves to health care authorities *if* they were developing symptoms. W.H.O. officials also kept defining transmission as happening through close prolonged contact,” Tufekci said. “But even these definitions still suffer from a lack of learning from the Covid experience, such as limiting exposure to being within about six feet for a cumulative period of more than 15 minutes. We know from the study of airborne transmission that that guidance may be too rigid and fail to capture the full risk profile of the virus.” “Public health officials… would be more helpful if they stopped constantly reassuring people about the likelihood of future events they can’t accurately calculate — like the odds of a pandemic occurring or how long this outbreak could last — and just told us more details about the things that matter: mode of transmission, lengthy period of incubation and the inevitable uncertainty of something for which there is little actual knowledge,” Tufekci wrote. “If we’re lucky, this hantavirus outbreak will peter out… If we are unlucky? It should be unthinkable, but here we are.” ### What the right is saying. - **Many on the right say the risk of a global health crisis currently appears low.** - **Others note how the outbreak has fueled doomerism on the left.** **In The Spectator, John Power suggested** [**“hantavirus doesn’t look like the next Covid.”**](https://spectator.com/article/hantavirus-doesnt-look-like-the-next-covid/?edition=us&ref=readtangle.com) “There is only one strain of hantavirus which we know can spread from person to person, the Andes strain of the illness. The Andes strain can only be spread through ‘very close contact.’ That generally means things like sharing drinks, hugging and other things we would not *normally* do with strangers,” Power said. “That means that the non-pharmaceutical interventions we saw during Covid, such as lockdown or ‘hands, face and space’ measures would have little impact on the transmission of the virus. And because the disease is so difficult to spread it is unlikely to develop into a full pandemic. “The need for ‘very close contact’ for human-to-human transmission is a characteristic that hantavirus shares with monkeypox… Monkeypox has indeed been a challenge, particularly in parts of Africa, but most people and indeed most dogs have been able to avoid the worst of it,” Power wrote. “From what we know at this stage hantavirus is, in some ways, more like monkeypox than coronavirus. A problem, but a manageable one, one that the vast majority of people will be able to avoid by keeping calm and carrying on.” **In National Review, Noah Rothman wrote about** [**“the market for a new pandemic.”**](https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/the-market-for-a-new-pandemic/?ref=readtangle.com) “There isn’t a cable news producer on earth who could resist the temptations presented by the outbreak of a rare and deadly communicable disease — and on a cruise ship, no less,” Rothman said. “There is a species of news consumer who has little interest in relative risk. They seek out stronger stuff in their media diet. For those who want the press to stimulate their already hyperactive amygdala, there is no shortage of irresponsible communicators who are willing to trigger their readers’ fight-or-flight response by evaluating the outbreak through the prism of their contempt for the Trump administration.” “More perverse still is the unstated wish fathering the thought that this virus could bloom into the next global pandemic. Maybe if it did, and if many more people died, the ‘abundance of caution’ that typified the public health apparatus’s draconian response to Covid-19 would be retroactively vindicated?” Rothman wrote. “Fortunately for the rest of us, this hantavirus outbreak is unlikely to relieve this unhappy cohort of their bitterness. The mainstream news outlets that are covering this outbreak like a tragedy rather than a disaster are getting the story right. But there will always be a market for doomerism.” ### What epidemiologists are saying. - **Epidemiologists say the risk level is still low, but some say the CDC can better communicate with the public.** - **Others highlight the importance of international cooperation in limiting the disease’s spread.** **In Your Local Epidemiologist, Dr. Katelyn Jetelina shared a** [**“hantavirus update.”**](https://yourlocalepidemiologist.substack.com/p/hantavirus-update) “This virus has a long incubation period, up to 45 days (median 18 days), during which it can enter the body, latch on, and wreak havoc. Unfortunately, we are at the mercy of time and biology,” Jetelina said. “The international response has been fantastic so far. I continue to be impressed by WHO’s coordination across multiple countries, their public briefings, the swiftness of contact tracing and testing, and their success in negotiating with Spain to allow the boat to dock.” “Public health scientists are on it. CDC scientists are actively involved behind the scenes, including standing up an Emergency Operations Center and coordinating with the WHO,” Jetelina wrote. “That said, I do have some major questions for CDC leadership and the administration. I want to know: Why haven’t they deployed a team to help with the international response? Why haven’t physicians been alerted through the Health Alert Network (HAN) as they typically would? Why is there zero communication with the public or updates to the website? This is abnormal. The muffling of scientists and the lack of transparency are unacceptable for Americans’ safety and security.” **In RTI, Claire Quiner and Lauren Courtney wrote about** [**“what you should know about the Andes virus​​​​.”**](https://www.rti.org/insights/hantavirus-cruise-ship-outbreak?ref=readtangle.com) “This scenario demonstrates, in real time, our vulnerability to infectious diseases. It shows how quickly infectious diseases that were previously isolated to a single location can reach distant corners of the globe. It underscores just how small our world has become,” Quiner and Courtney said. “It also highlights the important role of multi-country health agreements — such as the International Health Regulations (IHR) — that are put in place to handle these types of international events. Because of the IHR, ships like the *MV Hondius* have a responsibility to report to local authorities if people on board are sick and to follow stringent protocols to contain it.” “Should we be concerned about another global pandemic? Many of our friends and family have been asking us this question, and our response has generally been, ‘probably not,’” Quiner and Courtney wrote. “Right now, the risk to the global population remains quite low, largely because *the pathogen was detected and identified early*. Cases are being contained and managed to prevent further spread and escalation. The type of international coordination that we are seeing for this outbreak, guided through the IHR, is what helps protect us from known infectious threats.” ### My take. **Reminder: “My take” is a section where we give ourselves space to share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, don't unsubscribe. Write in by replying to this email, or** [**leave a comment**](https://www.readtangle.com/hantavirus-disease-outbreak/#ghost-comments-root)**.** - **It’s tempting to compare this outbreak to the onset of Covid-19, but the situations are very different.** - **Hantavirus is deadly and scary, but its transmissibility is low and the cases are being closely tracked.** - **We should all be careful not to overreact and to closely vet any information we learn before sharing it.** **Managing Editor Ari Weitzman:** I remember my moment clearly. After a few months of applications and interviews, I had just started working at my second-ever software engineering job for a health insurance company in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. My wife — well, then-fiancée — and I had just moved back east from California, where we had spent the previous four years, and were settling into our new home and new life. A higher-up in the company was holding an informal corporate-style roundtable with all the new hires, the kind of “rap session” where an exec flips her chair around to jam about what it’s like working for COMPANY, and COMPANY’s values, and all of that good stuff. I don’t remember really much of anything specific about that meeting, except for a question she asked us towards the end. “Is anyone feeling nervous about this coronavirus?” It was mid-February of 2020, and reports were just starting to circulate online. Some new viral respiratory infection was taking hold in China. People were calling it different things — coronavirus, Covid-19… SARS-CoV-2, if you worked at a healthcare company (or with very pedantic people). Apparently, it was like the flu, but like a really bad flu. Cases were being reported in Australia and Europe. Some people said it had hit California. I raised my hand to respond with the wrongest, least informed answer I may have ever given in my life. “No, I’m not nervous. It’s like the flu, right? I don’t know, I’m not too worried about it.” That was my moment of reacting to news of Covid-19 for the first time. And I wasn’t an aberration; most people in the room nodded along, and even the healthcare executive leading our discussion didn’t correct me (remember, this was February 2020; we simply didn’t know yet). Most people I knew were as unconcerned as I was, or they were following along with case reports as an idle curiosity — an explainer about airplane circulation here, a report about a Wuhan lab there. Two weeks later, and my entire team started working remotely, downloading Zoom, and learning how to use new terms like “hybrid office.” My fiancée and I had to scramble to make our planned August wedding “Covid-safe” (no one contracted a case from our wedding, more because it came rather fortunately in the middle of a blissful trough in the pandemic and less because of our attempted precautions, which quickly evaporated once the celebration began). The entire world was plunged into confusion, division, sickness and all manner of major disruption over the next two years, and the Covid-19 pandemic would prove to be the most impactful global event since 9/11. Now, when I hear about the hantavirus cases across the globe, I find myself thinking similar thoughts as the ones I expressed in that first-floor conference room six and a half years ago: *It doesn’t seem that bad… I don’t know, I’m not too worried about it.* That symmetry, more than anything else, concerns me. Those three years at the beginning of the decade were like a giant hole in the middle of my life (okay, not the whole time — that span [certainly offered its beautiful moments](https://imgur.com/a/csijRRg?ref=readtangle.com)). Pretty much every public health expert is saying the same thing: This is *not* like last time, this is a *very different* disease, the chance that this becomes a global pandemic is *not* likely — which translates from scientific language into plain English as, “No, you’re right not to be too worried about it.” But that unanimity feels oddly discomforting — and once more, I’m not an aberration. A lot of people I talk to are expressing a similar concern, which feels like a collective trauma response. That feeling is perhaps best articulated by a text a friend shared with me earlier this week: *Everyone I know who has a PhD thinks it’s going to be nothing, so I think it’s going to be a huge deal.* But let’s pause there. Our personal reactions to Covid-19 — when public experts *were* sounding the alarm — have absolutely no bearing on what will happen now. Whether you were wrong before and over-correcting now, or you were so impacted by the pandemic that you’re in denial that this could happen again, basing your beliefs on personal narratives is not a logical chain of reasoning. This is magical thinking, not rational thinking. Only the facts of what’s happening now will have any impact on what happens later. So let’s break down the facts. Hantavirus is a rare, but often severe, disease that causes heavy flu-like symptoms like fever, fatigue, and muscle aches. The virus [spreads](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7101103/?ref=readtangle.com) through rodent feces and urine, and the Andes strain is the only hantavirus known to spread from human to human. The Andes strain (or ANDV, if you work in healthcare or with pedantic people) has been a known entity for long enough for scientists to understand some key aspects of the virus. It transmits through what [every](https://www.cdc.gov/hantavirus/about/andesvirus.html?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Through%20close%20contact%20with%20a%20person%20who%20is%20sick%20with%20Andes%20virus) [medical source](https://www.nationalnursesunited.org/andes-virus-what-nurses-need-to-know?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=The%20Andes%20virus%20is%20the%20only%20hantavirus%20strain,aerosolized%20particles%20was%20likely%20the%20route%20of%20infection.) I’ve read [describes](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1201971226004133?ref=readtangle.com#bbib0012:~:text=However%2C%20ANDV%20exhibits%20a%20distinctive%20characteristic%20amongst%20hantaviruses%2C%20that%20its%20transmission%20is%20known%20to%20be%20limited%20to%20close%20and%20prolonged%20contact%20among%20individuals) as “close contact” with an infected person. Its incubation period (the time between exposure and onset of symptoms) is [typically about 1–6 weeks](https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/16079?ref=readtangle.com) but can be longer. A person who contracts a hantavirus can [develop either](https://www.maricopa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/98717/Hantaviruses-Public-Fact-Sheet-English?ref=readtangle.com) Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS), which comes with breathing difficulty, or hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS), which impacts the kidneys. The Andes virus [is associated](https://www.cdc.gov/hantavirus/about/andesvirus.html?ref=readtangle.com) with HPS, not HFRS. Much of our recent knowledge about the disease comes from studying a [2018–2019 event](https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2009040?ref=readtangle.com) in Argentina, in which 34 people contracted the virus and 11 people died. We also don’t know a lot about the disease. For example, transmission rates aren’t fully understood, nor is the specific way the Andes virus spreads (although we do know that it tends to spread through prolonged contact within households, likely transmitted through [inhaling saliva](https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2009040?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=On%20the%20basis%20of%20evidence%20from%20five%20reconstructed%20person%2Dto%2Dperson%20transmission%20events%2C%20the%20route%20of%20infection%20in%20secondary%20cases%20was%20possibly%20through%20inhalation%20of%20droplets%20or%20aerosolized%20virions%20%28Table%201%20and%20Table%20S7%29.)). And while vaccines [exist](https://www.uottawa.ca/faculty-health-sciences/news-all/explainer-lets-talk-about-hantavirus?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=you%20get%20it.-,Is%20There%20a%20Vaccine%3F,-Why%2C%20yes%2C%20there) for one variation of hantavirus, they’re only approved in South Korea and China and offer limited long-term protection. There is no current treatment specifically for the disease variation represented by the Andes strain, only for its symptoms. Some of that is very scary. The disease has high mortality, its incubation period is long, transmission isn’t fully understood, and we don’t currently have a treatment for it. Some of it is reassuring. This is not a novel virus, it can only be transmitted through close contact, and the current outbreak was detected early and is being closely monitored. But one other frightening aspect of this current outbreak is a little harder to define: fear-based spread of misinformation. As facts come out, it will be tempting to jump to conclusions [based on unsubstantiated reports](https://www.today.com/news/flight-attendant-tests-negative-hantavirus-rcna344197?ref=readtangle.com). Politicized echo chambers will have incentives to peddle you specific narratives based on ideology. Misinformation can travel fast in our media ecosystem, as it did during Covid. But we know how to treat the virality of misinformation, even if that treatment is often painful: Be fast to learn, but [be slow](https://yourlocalepidemiologist.substack.com/p/hantavirus-update) to know. As Noah Rothman wrote (under “What the right is saying”), “There is no shortage of irresponsible communicators who are willing to trigger their readers’ fight-or-flight response.” Be careful about stories that play to your emotions (Trump slashing the CDC is [making *you* vulnerable](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/07/health/hantavirus-americans-cdc.html?ref=readtangle.com), or people are [trying to scare *you*](https://pjmedia.com/tim-o-brien/2026/05/08/hantavirus-i-think-we-know-where-this-is-about-to-go-n4952653?ref=readtangle.com) with twisted pandemic fantasies so they can control you) — stories like those usually contain some truth, but are designed to elicit a certain response. Look outside editorial pages for news and check for multiple sources to confirm new information. Don’t repeat things you aren’t sure of. Be skeptical, but be curious. Remain informed about areas with confirmed reports of infected individuals and avoid those areas, and if you find reports about infected areas to be credible and reliable, share *that* information with others. We can’t know what is going to happen next, but I feel confident about one thing: This will *not* be like last time. This is a different disease and a different situation, with a much different virality and a very different initial response from public health officials. Looking for irrelevant patterns is a trap, and magical thinking isn’t helpful — only the current facts of the current situation will determine where we go from here. Block out the fear, be fast to learn, and be slow to know. **Take the survey**: How much is your social circle discussing the current hantavirus outbreak? [Let us know](https://interrobang.vercel.app/survey/deee8669-34a2-405d-9aaa-092633a0e03a?ref=readtangle.com). *Disagree? That's okay. Our opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we'll consider publishing your feedback.* ### Your questions, answered. *We're skipping the reader question today to give our main story some extra space. Want to have a question answered in the newsletter? You can reply to this email (it goes straight to our inbox) or* [*fill out this form*](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScQhqBSG%5F6%5FoBhwcTQMeS570n29XYbeQ9C9Bis7rjqI31g1tA/viewform?usp=header&ref=readtangle.com)*.* ### Under the radar. On Monday, the Justice Department announced that Eileen Wang, the mayor of Arcadia, California, had been charged with acting as an illegal agent of the Chinese government. In 2022, Wang was elected to Arcadia’s city council, which selects a mayor on a rotating basis. According to her plea agreement, she worked at the behest of the Chinese government from 2020–2022, promoting pro-China content via a website that targeted the Chinese-American community. After agreeing to a guilty plea, Wang faces up to 10 years in prison. [NewsNation has the story](https://www.newsnationnow.com/world/china/california-mayor-admits-chinese-agent-fbi/?ref=readtangle.com). ### A deeper look. ![Hantan River nearby Goseokjeong | Wikimedia Commons](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/05/data-src-image-a14570ca-3405-4f5d-a9a7-99c4d30d30d2.png) Hantan River nearby Goseokjeong | [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hantan%5FRiver%5Fnearby%5FGoseokjeong.jpg?ref=readtangle.com) From 1951–53, during the Korean War, more than 3,000 United Nations troops [became sick](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2880890/?ref=readtangle.com) with what was then known as Korean hemorrhagic fever. In the late 1970s, researchers in South Korea began testing trapped field mice and discovered the virus that had caused the fever. They named it the hantavirus, after the nearby Hantan River. As research into the new virus continued into the 1990s, scientists eventually realized that hantaviruses were not isolated to Korea, as they first thought; instead, different strains of hantavirus exist all over the world. For a long time, hantaviruses were thought to only occur in rodents; however, strains have been discovered in bats in Sierra Leone and in saltwater and freshwater fish in Europe and the South China Sea. Thus far, only rodent-borne hantavirus strains have been known to infect humans. Hantavirus outbreaks have [popped up](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10047430/?ref=readtangle.com) throughout recorded history. The earliest likely outbreak occurred in Imperial China during the Warring States period and is recorded in the Chinese medical text the Inner Canon of the Yellow Emperor. Researchers now also believe that British soldiers in Flanders during World War I experienced hantavirus symptoms. And in 1993, a [hantavirus outbreak](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6199996/?ref=readtangle.com) in the Four Corners region of the southwestern United States prompted scientists to identify and research a new side effect of hantavirus, the hantavirus pulmonary disease. ### The extras. - **One year ago today** we covered [the plane Qatar gifted to President Trump](https://www.readtangle.com/qatar-trump-air-force-one-gift/). - **The most clicked link in our last regular newsletter** was [the link to our Instagram page](https://www.instagram.com/tangle.news/?ref=readtangle.com). - **Nothing to do with politics:** A Spotify Wrapped, but for [your *entire* listening history](https://partyoftheyears.withspotify.com/en?ref=readtangle.com). - **Our last survey:** 2,773 readers responded to our survey on the negotiations between the United States and Iran with 60% saying the two sides are not making any progress. “Iran is stalling until the midterms,” one respondent said. “Each time the U.S. is in peace negotiations, it attacks, and frequently kills the negotiators. This makes Iran justifiably concerned about peace negotiations,” said another. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/05/data-src-image-dfba991c-890c-4ca8-8657-a58eda11fffe.png) 3,143 readers responded to the same question on April 13; those responses are below. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/05/data-src-image-ad762d4c-aba9-469e-9ba4-ac6ff80b2158.png) ### Have a nice day. Last week, a tornado injured 12 people and flattened homes in a rural Mississippi neighborhood. Ashton Lemley, a storm chaser who is allergic to cats, was walking through the rubble when he heard a meow. After several minutes of looking and five minutes of paused meowing, Lemley dug under insulation to find the wet, scared kitten with his flashlight. Lemley held the seemingly-uninjured kitten for a few minutes, and a volunteer dried it off. People have expressed interest in adopting the kitten, and some have suggested naming it Tornado. In a video of the rescue, Lemley says, “It’s okay, we’ll get you cleaned up, baby. Don’t you worry.” [The Associated Press has the story](https://apnews.com/article/kitten-rescue-tornado-mississippi-video-cat-dfd6e4f8fd9a000778495b2ce582028c?ref=readtangle.com). ### Why Everyone Is RACING BACK to the Moon URL: https://www.readtangle.com/why-everyone-is-racing-back-to-the-moon/ Last updated: 2026-05-14T00:03:43.000Z Why is everyone suddenly racing back to the Moon? ### What's next in Iran? URL: https://www.readtangle.com/us-iran-ceasefire-strait-of-hormuz/ Last updated: 2026-05-12T15:56:03.000Z *I'm Isaac Saul, and this is Tangle: an independent, nonpartisan, subscriber-supported politics newsletter that summarizes the best arguments from across the political spectrum on the news of the day — then “my take.”* *Are you new here?* [*Get free emails*](https://www.readtangle.com/) *to your inbox daily. Would you rather listen? You can find our podcast* [*here*](https://shows.acast.com/66510864c0852400122bc7be?ref=readtangle.com)*.* ### Today’s read: 14 minutes. 💥 Negotiations to end the war in Iran have become precarious after the U.S. and Iran exchanged fire over the past week. Plus, why haven't we moved to online voting? ### Help us reach 100,000. The [Tangle Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/tangle.news/?ref=readtangle.com) has grown into a valuable source for breaking news and political analysis that tens of thousands of followers rely on. Soon, that number will tip into six figures (shoutout Russell Nystrom, our social media editor!). Unlike many other news organizations or influencers, we don’t buy followers. We grow the channel organically — and we’re currently sitting at approximately 91,000 followers, with an internal goal of reaching 100,000 by the start of summer. So… if you haven’t already — and are looking for a dependable breaking-news source to complement the newsletter’s in-depth analysis — please [consider giving us a follow](https://www.instagram.com/tangle.news/?ref=readtangle.com)! ### Quick hits. 1. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the consumer price index rose 0.6% on a monthly basis and 3.8% from the year prior. The annual rate increase is the highest since May 2023, with energy prices as a significant driver. ([The numbers](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/05/12/cpi-inflation-april-2026-.html?ref=readtangle.com)) 2. The Supreme Court overturned a lower court order that had blocked Alabama from using a congressional map adopted in 2023 because it violated Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. The Court did not explain its ruling, which follows an April 29 decision that narrowed the application of Section 2\. The Court’s three Democrat-appointed justices dissented. ([The ruling](https://www.scotusblog.com/2026/05/court-clears-way-for-alabama-to-use-congressional-map-blocked-by-lower-court-as-racially-discrim/?ref=readtangle.com)) 3. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito extended the administrative stay on a federal appeals court’s ruling barring mail-order distribution of mifepristone, a drug used in medication abortions. The pause will now remain in place until May 14\. ([The extension](https://www.scotusblog.com/2026/05/court-extends-temporary-order-allowing-access-to-abortion-pill-by-mail/?ref=readtangle.com)) 4. 18 Americans who were on board a cruise ship that experienced a hantavirus outbreak arrived back in the United States, and 16 were taken to a facility in Nebraska for observation and treatment. Two other passengers were taken to a facility in Atlanta, Georgia, where one is receiving care in a biocontainment unit for mild symptoms. ([The return](https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/american-passengers-hantavirus-cruise-ship-arrive-back-us-hondius-rcna344489?ref=readtangle.com)) 5. The family of a man killed in a shooting at Florida State University in 2025 sued OpenAI, alleging the company’s artificial intelligence chatbot ChatGPT provided “input and information” to the suspected shooter and acted as a “co-conspirator.” OpenAI denied the charges. ([The suit](https://thehill.com/policy/technology/5872867-openai-chatgpt-florida-shooting-lawsuit/?ref=readtangle.com)) ### Today’s topic. The latest in Iran. Over the past week, the United States and Iran have exchanged communications over plans to end the war between the countries, though talks have yet to produce a breakthrough. On Monday, President Donald Trump [said](https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/iran-trump-war-news/card/trump-says-iran-cease-fire-is-on-massive-life-support--qbEy8vhthPTdv78AZjUA?ref=readtangle.com) the pause in fighting is on “life support,” calling Iran’s most recent response to a U.S. peace proposal unacceptable. Separately, the Strait of Hormuz remains mostly closed to commercial traffic, with the U.S. and Iran [exchanging fire](https://www.nbcnews.com/world/iran/us-iran-strikes-rcna344144?ref=readtangle.com) in the waterway last week. **Back up:** In April, President Trump [announced](https://www.readtangle.com/us-iran-ceasefire-april/) a two-week ceasefire, which both sides say is still in effect. During that time, however, attacks have continued, primarily concentrated in the strait, where the U.S. Navy has imposed a blockade against Iranian ports. Furthermore, on Sunday, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and Qatar [reported](https://www.timesofisrael.com/uae-kuwait-and-qatar-all-report-drone-attacks-as-iran-ramps-up-its-threats/?ref=readtangle.com) drone attacks believed to be from Iran. Last week, the U.S. and Iran [reportedly](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/07/world/middleeast/iran-us-deal-proposal.html?ref=readtangle.com) discussed a one-page plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and continue the ceasefire for at least 30 days; however, the future of Iran’s nuclear program remains a sticking point. Iranian officials claim the U.S. wants the country to give up its stockpile of highly enriched uranium, close three nuclear facilities, and suspend enrichment for 20 years. The officials said Iran has countered with a proposal to dilute some of the uranium, transfer the rest to a third country, and suspend enrichment for 10–15 years. Iran formally responded to the one-page plan on Sunday. The text of the communication has not been made public, but Iranian state media [reported](https://www.axios.com/2026/05/10/trump-iran-war-us-peace-plan-tehran-response-inappropriate?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Driving%20the%20news,window%2C%20Tasnim%20reported.) that the country demanded an end to the U.S. blockade of the Persian Gulf, an end to U.S. sanctions, and an end to the fighting. President Trump responded critically, [posting](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116552102914488206?ref=readtangle.com) on Truth Social, “I have just read the response from Iran’s so-called ‘Representatives.’ I don’t like it — TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE!” On Monday, he again [criticized](https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/iran-trump-war-news/card/trump-says-iran-cease-fire-is-on-massive-life-support--qbEy8vhthPTdv78AZjUA?ref=readtangle.com) the Iranian response as “a piece of garbage.” As discussions have stalled, gas prices have risen, with the national average for a regular gallon of gas [reaching](https://gasprices.aaa.com/?ref=readtangle.com) $4.52 on Monday — an increase of over 50% since the war began. President Trump [told](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-interview-suspending-gas-tax-iran-war/?ref=readtangle.com) CBS News that he supports suspending the federal gas tax “for a period of time” to lessen the cost burden on Americans. “We’re going to take off the gas tax for a period of time, and when gas goes down, we’ll let it phase back in,” Trump said on Monday. Pausing the tax would likely require an act of Congress. Today, we’ll share views from the right, left and Middle East writers on the latest in the conflict, followed by Executive Editor Isaac Saul’s take. ### What the right is saying. - **The right is mixed on the war’s trajectory, with some urging Trump to wind down operations.** - **Others say it’s time for Congress to authorize the war.** **In American Greatness, Fred Fleitz argued** [**“Trump should end the Iran war now with an ultimatum.”**](https://amgreatness.com/2026/05/08/trump-should-end-the-iran-war-now-with-an-ultimatum-to-tehran-not-negotiations/?ref=readtangle.com) “President Trump delivered on his promise of a short, decisive action without US boots on the ground rather than another endless quagmire. Now is the time to declare victory, exit on our terms, and lock in the gains,” Fleitz wrote. “US and Iranian representatives are \[reportedly\] trying to negotiate a one-page memorandum aimed at ending hostilities and launching yet another round of negotiations. I am deeply skeptical that this is the right approach. I believe the best way forward is not another round of negotiations with a shattered regime but a clear and uncompromising American ultimatum.” “In his ultimatum, President Trump should declare that Iran must immediately cease all threats to the Strait of Hormuz and guarantee safe passage for commercial shipping. In exchange, the US will halt military operations against Iran. Any failure by Iran to comply will result in the immediate resumption of the war,” Fleitz said. “This ultimatum must also state unequivocally that the United States will never tolerate Iran restarting its nuclear weapons program — nor will America ever allow Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon. Any attempt to do so will be met with overwhelming military force.” **In National Review, Andrew C. McCarthy said** [**“Congress should authorize military force against Iran.”**](https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/congress-should-authorize-military-force-against-iran/?ref=readtangle.com) “It’s past time for Congress to assert its constitutional power and authorize force, at least to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. No matter what one thinks of how we got here, Iran cannot be allowed to annex a vital global trade route whose closure is hurting Americans,” McCarthy wrote. “This should not be hard for the Republican majority, which wants to be seen as backing the president and being tough on Iran. Democrats should support it because it is essential to national security and economic stability. “The partisan political temptation, of course, is to let Trump keep flailing away with inconsistent, incoherent justifications for an unpopular war. Yet, no matter how we got to this point, the nation cannot afford to allow Iran, an implacable American enemy, to control a vital international waterway as if it were sovereign Iranian territory,” McCarthy said. “The public has already made up its mind about the president’s performance, but it might reward congressional statesmanship in dealing with what, undeniably, is a security challenge from a committed American enemy.” ### What the left is saying. - **The left views the war as a disaster, arguing the U.S. is achieving none of its objectives.** - **Some worry about how Trump will respond as the conflict continues to spiral.** **In The American Prospect, David Dayen wrote** [**“there is no end to the war with Iran.”**](https://prospect.org/2026/05/08/aftermath-no-end-to-war-with-iran/?ref=readtangle.com) “Every day we wake up to talk of a peace deal, and every day an oil trader makes money off it. There’s so much peace breaking out that the U.S. initiated military strikes on Thursday aimed at Iran’s Qeshm Port, a round of fire that was somehow deemed too ‘low level’ to break the cease-fire. But sure, we’ll get to peace someday soon,” Dayen said. “The Iranian leadership is biding its time before making its next move. And why wouldn’t they? It’s become public that President Trump desperately wants a deal completed before his summit in China on May 14–15\. Every day closer to that gives the Iranians more leverage to set terms.” “The U.S. and Israel said they wanted to eradicate Iran’s nuclear program and change its regime. The regime is now composed of more hard-liners than before, and Iran’s nuclear capability has not budged since last summer. Now the two sides are negotiating the opening of the Strait of Hormuz, which was open before the conflict, and the terms of Iran’s nuclear program, which they were negotiating before the conflict,” Dayen wrote. “All this war has done is killed thousands of people, opened a new front for Israel in Lebanon, \[and\] damaged most U.S. military sites and most energy production facilities in the region.” **In The Guardian, Robert Reich suggested** [**“Trump’s looming defeat in Iran is a personal and political crisis.”**](https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/may/08/trump-iran-defeat-personal-political-crisis?ref=readtangle.com) “Iran is unlikely to give in. It can withstand the economic pressure of a blockade better than Donald Trump can withstand the political pressure that comes with rising gas prices (now nearly $4.50 a gallon, on average), soon followed by rising food prices,” Reich said. “\[Trump’s\] ego cannot accept a humiliating loss, as we saw after the 2020 election. His need to bully, dominate and gain submission is so hardwired inside his insecure head that the defeats he’s now facing — to Iran and to Democrats — are already setting off explosions.” “Regardless of what happens in Iran, he’ll claim victory. That will be difficult to do convincingly when gas prices remain more than $4 a gallon, but he’ll undoubtedly try. What if Democrats win control of one or both chambers of Congress in the midterms and he claims they lost or cheated? The nation barely survived the last time Trump’s fragile ego faced a major loss,” Reich wrote. “We’ll also have to cope with Trump as a lame-duck president who can no longer dominate and gain submission as he did before. Will he try to remain president beyond his second term to avoid this?” ### What writers in the Middle East are saying. - **Some writers in the Middle East suggest Iran’s internal challenges loom large as the war persists.** - **Others say the U.S. must consult Gulf allies to achieve a lasting peace deal.** **In Ynet, Raz Zimmt said** [**“the war may end, but Iran’s internal crisis is just beginning.”**](https://www.ynetnews.com/opinions-analysis/article/b1h7xjnrzg?ref=readtangle.com) “Whether the talks between Iran and the United States lead to a permanent ceasefire and the end of the war or collapse into renewed fighting, it is clear that the Islamic Republic will not emerge from the current conflict unchanged,” Zimmt wrote. “The regime faces a deep and ongoing legitimacy crisis stemming from a widening gap between the authorities and the public, particularly younger generations, alongside a worsening economic crisis and growing shortages of water and electricity.” “For now, the leadership in Tehran is focused primarily on survival, preparing for the possibility of renewed war and efforts to bring the conflict to a definitive end. Once the war ends, however, it will have to direct most of its efforts toward rebuilding the country,” Zimmt said. “Even if regime change does not currently appear likely, the end of the war could force Iran’s new leadership to confront the realities of daily life, and it remains doubtful whether it has solutions to the country’s deepening crises.” **In Arab News, Osama Al-Sharif argued** [**“only a win-win formula can break \[the\] US–Iran gridlock.”**](https://www.arabnews.com/node/2642412?ref=readtangle.com) “Trump has rejected all Iranian overtures, dismissing them as unacceptable. While the full details remain undisclosed, it is understood that Tehran is using the Strait of Hormuz card as a bargaining chip for a comprehensive settlement,” Al-Sharif wrote. “Washington’s conditions, by contrast, remain as maximalist as they were on the eve of the war… These are not American conditions alone — they are, in substance, Benjamin Netanyahu’s conditions. The Israeli prime minister is the only foreign leader who has been treated as a full and equal partner in this war. And it is here that Washington is committing a grave strategic error. “America’s Gulf allies were neither consulted nor informed before the war on Iran was launched. Yet they are the ones who have absorbed multibillion-dollar losses to their energy and civilian infrastructure… Washington would do well to consult its Gulf partners before deciding its next move,” Al-Sharif said. “Short of a return to full-scale military confrontation, the two sides must come to terms with a simple reality: only a formula in which both sides can claim a measure of victory will end this crisis.” ### My take. **Reminder: “My take” is a section where we give ourselves space to share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, don't unsubscribe. Write in by replying to this email, or** [**leave a comment**](https://www.readtangle.com/us-iran-ceasefire-strait-of-hormuz/#ghost-comments-root)**.** - **A timeline of events shows how unreliable the U.S. and Iran are as narrators.** - **It also shows that, despite our military successes, Iran’s control over the Strait of Hormuz is a disaster.** - **I don’t know how we proceed from here, but I don’t like our options.** **Executive Editor Isaac Saul:** On [April 1](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/a-timeline-of-trumps-shifting-statements-about-how-long-the-iran-war-will-last?ref=readtangle.com), President Trump gave a national address announcing that the war in Iran was nearing completion “shortly, very shortly” and we were “on track to complete” our military objectives. [On April 3](https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/us-fighter-jet-shot-down-over-iran-search-underway-crew-us-official-says-2026-04-03/?ref=readtangle.com), Iran shot down two U.S. military aircraft, setting off a search-and-rescue operation for the pilots on board. [April 5](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvg0q6wdzp1o?ref=readtangle.com): Trump threatened the “crazy bastards” in Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz before his deadline. [April 7](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116363336033995961?ref=readtangle.com): Trump posted on Truth Social that “A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back.” That same evening, he [announced](https://www.readtangle.com/us-iran-ceasefire-april/) a ceasefire with Iran, saying he’d received a 10-point plan he believed to be “workable” towards a peace agreement. [April 8](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116367088879643074?ref=readtangle.com): The president said it was a “big day for world peace” and that the U.S. Navy would safeguard traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. Later that day, Trump [threatened](https://www.barrons.com/news/trump-says-us-military-to-stay-deployed-near-iran-until-real-agreement-reached-246a36cc?eafs%5Fenabled=false&ref=readtangle.com) that U.S. military forces would stay in place around Iran until the two sides reached a “real agreement.” [April 12](https://www.npr.org/2026/04/12/nx-s1-5782538/u-s-iran-peace-talks-islamabad-collapse?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Early%20on%20Sunday%2C%20in%20a%20post%20on%20his%20social%20media%20platform%20Truth%20Social%2C%20Trump%20wrote%3A%20%22the%20meeting%20went%20well%2C%20most%20points%20were%20agreed%20to%2C%20but%20the%20only%20point%20that%20really%20mattered%2C%20NUCLEAR%2C%20was%20not.%22): He said “most points were agreed to” for a potential deal, but added that any Iranian who fires at the U.S. will be “blown to hell,” and [then announced a Naval blockade](https://time.com/article/2026/04/12/trump-blockade-strait-of-hormuz-iran/?ref=readtangle.com). [April 17](https://www.politico.com/news/2026/04/17/iran-war-strait-of-hormuz-open-00878387?ref=readtangle.com): An Iranian official [declared](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/04/17/iran-war-hormuz-strait-israel-lebanon-ceasefire.html?ref=readtangle.com) the Strait of Hormuz “completely open for the remaining period of ceasefire,” and Trump said the Strait was “completely open and ready for business” but said the U.S. blockade would remain. [April 18](https://www.nbcnews.com/world/iran/iran-reimposes-strict-control-strait-hormuz-citing-continued-us-naval-rcna340765?ref=readtangle.com): Iran resumed its blockade of the waterway. [April 19](https://apnews.com/article/us-iran-war-israel-hormuz-19-april-2026-0a637f98d588930f195f61cffe07d4f3?ref=readtangle.com): The U.S. attacked an Iranian cargo ship that tried to avoid its blockade of the Iranian coast. [April 21](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/04/21/trump-iran-war-ceasefire.html?ref=readtangle.com): Trump announced an extension of the ceasefire while keeping the blockade in place. [April 22](https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/iran-war-us-ceasefire-2026/card/trump-to-give-iran-days-to-make-peace-offer-kvNrIzRH1ORRqGwdP7CT?eafs%5Fenabled=false&ref=readtangle.com): Trump gave Iran three to five days to offer a peace deal before resuming attacks; that day, Iran [seized](https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/iran-takes-seized-ships-port-countries-seek-info-seafarers-safety-2026-04-23/?ref=readtangle.com) two commercial vessels. [April 25](https://www.axios.com/2026/04/25/trump-iran-pakistan-talks?ref=readtangle.com): Trump canceled a planned envoy to Islamabad. [May 1](https://www.politico.com/news/2026/05/01/trump-congress-war-terminated-00902681?ref=readtangle.com): Trump, in a letter to Congress, claimed hostilities with Iran had terminated. On the same day, Trump rejected Iran’s latest proposal to end the war. [May 3](https://www.cnn.com/2026/05/04/middleeast/project-freedom-hormuz-guide-ships-intl-hnk-ml?ref=readtangle.com): The administration announced “Project Freedom” to force the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. [May 5](https://thehill.com/policy/defense/5865012-trump-pauses-project-freedom/?ref=readtangle.com): Trump announced Project Freedom “will be paused for a short period of time.” [May 6](https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/iran-war-trump-progress-peace-deal-strait-of-hormuz/?ref=readtangle.com#post-update-c4ca7a80): He said Iran wanted to “make a deal badly,” citing “very good talks over the past 24 hours.” He also called Iran “difficult” to negotiate with, but [said](https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/trump-iran-war-peace-deal-strait-of-hormuz/?ref=readtangle.com#post-update-c501715b) that we were “doing unbelievably well” in the “skirmish.” [May 7](https://www.axios.com/2026/05/07/us-iran-hormuz-strait-fire-exchange?ref=readtangle.com): Iran attacked three U.S. destroyers transiting the strait. The president said they “trifled” with us and “we blew them away”; he also claimed the ceasefire was still in effect. [May 10](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116552102914488206?ref=readtangle.com): Trump announced on Truth Social that he had received Iran’s counterproposal to end the war but called it “TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE.” [May 11](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/05/11/trump-iran-war-ceasefire-life-support.html?ref=readtangle.com): Five days after saying “very good” talks were happening, Trump said the ceasefire was “the weakest right now after reading that piece of garbage they sent us.” When you zoom out and look at even just the last six weeks together, a few things become pretty obvious: First, the messaging and characterization of the war changes so much day to day that it isn’t valuable to follow every little update, tea-leaf reading, and Truth Social post about the war. The president is not a reliable narrator. Iranian representatives are even less reliable narrators (and [increasingly prone to trolling](https://www.barrons.com/news/with-legos-trolling-and-twain-iran-pushes-war-narrative-on-social-media-a6ee2a88?ref=readtangle.com)). The [leaks](https://www.axios.com/2026/05/06/iran-us-deal-one-page-memo?ref=readtangle.com) about some breakthrough in negotiations never seem to precede actual breakthroughs. The conflict has reportedly neared its conclusion and resumed, or the Strait of Hormuz has been opened for transit and then closed, at least a half dozen times. Reality is determined by on-the-ground reports of strikes, traffic in the strait and the state of regional stability, not the president’s social media posts. Second, we don’t have a genuine negotiating partner. Warring factions inside the Iranian government have made talks incredibly complicated and fraught, which is one of the downsides of killing several of the people you were negotiating with (as the U.S. and Israel have done [throughout the conflict](https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/which-key-iranian-figures-have-been-killed-us-israeli-strikes-2026-04-06/?ref=readtangle.com)). Trump’s decisions demonstrate this; in late April, he [extended peace talks](https://www.axios.com/2026/04/22/trump-iran-war-power-struggle-ceasefire?ref=readtangle.com) to give Iran time to resolve its infighting and unify behind a counterproposal. That has not seemed to happen, and it might even seem like we are talking to one group about an agreement while another group actively undermines that progress… because [we are](https://www.readtangle.com/hormuz-standoff-us-iran-ceasefire-update/#:~:text=Iran%E2%80%99s%20new%20leadership%20is%20more%20extreme%20and%20more%20willing%20to%20use%20its%20force%20than%20the%20leaders%20the%20U.S.%20killed%2C%20and%20the%20situation%20is%20much%20more%20tenuous.). Third, and finally: The U.S. might be winning a conventional military battle, but it’s losing the geopolitical war. Killing Iran’s leaders and destroying much of their military infrastructure does not, by itself, constitute a victory. I was struck by Robert Kagan’s piece in The Atlantic this week, titled “[Checkmate in Iran](https://www.theatlantic.com/international/2026/05/iran-war-trump-losing/687094/?taid=6a008bdd999f620001574063&ref=readtangle.com),” in which he essentially argues that the United States has suffered a devastating loss whose consequences will not be easily undone. This was a gobsmacking message, considering the messenger. Kagan is the neocon of neocons — one of the most influential proponents of U.S. interventionism in American history. To read *Robert Kagan* declare the loss of the war and the disappearance of American dominance in the Gulf was a genuine stop-me-in-my-tracks moment. Kagan defined “losing” as Iran maintaining control of the Strait of Hormuz, which it can now use to threaten global energy flows anytime its interests are challenged and assert leverage over Israel, Gulf adversaries, and the United States. Iran could, for example, respond to threats against its proxies like Hezbollah by simply shutting down the strait, thus exerting new pressure on the U.S. and Israel to leave Iran’s allies alone. Under these conditions, Kagan argues, Iran will become a more important global power as more nations need to appease its leadership to keep their own access to fuel. All of this seems pretty conceivable if not totally straightforward and obvious to me. Trump is already trying to convince the American public that the war is over and we’ve moved on to Project Freedom, which is a mission to undo a problem we didn’t have before the war started. But is Operation Epic Fury over? Did we do it? If we’re being generous and accepting the idea that the administration’s goals have always been clear, I *think* [those objectives are](https://www.cnn.com/2026/03/31/politics/war-iran-end-trump-plan?ref=readtangle.com): obliterate Iran’s ballistic missile arsenal and production capability, annihilate its navy, sever its support for terrorist proxies, and ensure Iran never acquires a nuclear weapon (Rubio also once added destroying their air force). All four of these goals are incomplete, though we’ve made significant progress on destroying Iran’s navy and degrading its ballistic missile arsenal. Now, we’ve moved on to a new unrelated goal: reopening the strait in Project Freedom, solving a problem we didn’t have before Epic Fury. I continue to worry about the prospect of an “ambient war” that goes on in the background, costing us billions of dollars, shedding American and Iranian blood alike, and disrupting the U.S. economy for months or years on end. But what do we do next? I truly don’t know. If the war is over, then I don’t know exactly what we’re doing right now. If the war *isn’t* over, then I don’t know exactly what will end it. I also don’t know how we get out of Iran without them admitting defeat (which they won’t) or it becoming a quagmire; all I know is that I won’t be relying on this administration, the Iranians, or anonymous leaks to figure it out. **Take the survey:** How do you think negotiations between the U.S. and Iran are going? [Let us know](https://interrobang.vercel.app/survey/50864ef3-dd30-4a43-9b7f-32285972146d?ref=readtangle.com). *Disagree? That's okay. Our opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we'll consider publishing your feedback.* ### Your questions, answered. **Q: With all these voting-related cases before the Supreme Court (mail-in ballots, deadlines, voter registration, etc.), I keep wondering why we can’t just use online voting. In a world where we can use ID verification and photos on our phone to verify identity, use encrypted passkeys and sign-ins to access bank accounts and other financially sensitive information — why can’t every American vote online?** **What am I missing? Can you explain why we aren’t moving toward paperless voting practices?** **— Laura from Gurnee, IL** **Tangle:** The answer, in a nutshell, is security. Voting with paper ballots has fewer vulnerabilities than internet-returned ballots *and* comes with an easy-to-follow paper trail that makes auditing possible. Unlike most other online activities, voting requires your identity to be verified and your ballot to be kept secret. Additionally, the tolerance for error is zero. Our current system does pretty well at preventing [voter fraud and errors](https://electioninnovation.org/update/how-common-is-voter-fraud/?ref=readtangle.com). That’s due in large part to the paper-ballot system that has built-in redundancies in every step from the time the ballot is assigned to the voter to the time that it is counted. To cite just one example, only one ballot can be printed per person. Any additional ballots printed (if you made a mistake before casting it and want a new one) must be signed off by election officials and documented, and the original ballot must be marked as invalid so that it cannot be counted. Of course, it’s not a perfect system, but it’s [at least traceable](https://verifiedvoting.org/publication/paper-ballots-and-audits-the-bedrock-of-secure-elections/?ref=readtangle.com). Replicating the same kind of [audit trail](https://scholars.unh.edu/unh%5Flr/vol21/iss2/9/?ref=readtangle.com) online is difficult, if not impossible, because of the layers of security that would need to be implemented to keep the ballot secret. The internet also introduces vulnerabilities that are unique to the digital environment, like the susceptibility to cyberattacks. The American Association for the Advancement of Science [declared that](https://www.aaas.org/programs/epi-center/internet-voting-letter?ref=readtangle.com) “Internet voting is not a secure solution in the United States, nor will it be in the foreseeable future.” Additionally, according to an interdepartmental government [risk assessment](https://www.politico.com/f/?id=00000172-9406-dd0c-ab73-fe6e10070001]&ref=readtangle.com) from 2020, “Electronic ballot return, the digital return of a voted ballot by the voter, creates significant security risks to the confidentiality of ballot and voter data (e.g., voter privacy and ballot secrecy), integrity of the voted ballot, and availability of the system. We view electronic ballot return as high risk.” With all of this said, [34 states and U.S. territories currently allow](https://www.npr.org/2023/09/07/1192723913/internet-voting-explainer?ref=readtangle.com) internet voting in limited, specific instances *—* usually for military personnel and, less often, for people living with disabilities. That does not mean that it’s a secure best practice. In the end, there must be a balance between voting access and security, and as of now, paper ballots, whether cast in person or by mail, are our best option. **Want to have a question answered in the newsletter? You can reply to this email (it goes straight to our inbox) or** [**fill out this form**](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScQhqBSG%5F6%5FoBhwcTQMeS570n29XYbeQ9C9Bis7rjqI31g1tA/viewform?usp=header&ref=readtangle.com)**.** ### Numbers. - [**73.**](https://www.nytimes.com/article/iran-war-trump-us-oil-hormuz-key-dates-events.html?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Feb.%2028%3A%20The%20United%20States%20and%20Israel%20launched%20strikes%20across%20Iran%2C%20hitting%20a%20government%20compound%20in%20Tehran%20and%20military%20targets.%20The%20blasts%20killed%20Ayatollah%20Ali%20Khamenei%2C%20the%20nation%E2%80%99s%20supreme%20leader%20for%20almost%2037%20years%2C%20as%20well%20as%20other%20high%2Dlevel%20military%20and%20intelligence%20leaders.) The number of days since the U.S. and Israel launched their initial strikes against Iran. - [**250.**](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/23/briefing/the-iran-war-in-numbers.html?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=The%20number%20of%20senior%20Iranian%20officials%20Israel%20says%20it%20has%20killed%3A%20more%20than%20250.) The approximate number of senior Iranian officials Israel says it has killed as of April 23\. - [**13,000.**](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/23/briefing/the-iran-war-in-numbers.html?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=The%20number%20of%20targets%20the%20U.S.%20military%20says%20it%20has%20struck%3A%20more%20than%2013%2C000.) The number of targets the U.S. military says it has struck as of April 23\. - [**29.**](https://insights.windward.ai/?ref=readtangle.com) The number of days the U.S. military’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has been in effect. - [**17.**](https://hormuzstraitmonitor.com/?ref=readtangle.com) The number of ships that transited the Strait of Hormuz over the past 24 hours, according to the Hormuz Strait Monitor. - [**10%.**](https://hormuzstraitmonitor.com/?ref=readtangle.com) The number of ships that transited the strait over the past 24 hours as a percentage of normal daily transit before the Iran war. ### The extras. - **One year ago today** we wrote about the [arrest of the mayor of Newark, New Jersey](https://www.readtangle.com/newark-mayor-ras-baraka-ice-arrest/). - **The most clicked link in our last regular newsletter** was Isaac’s recent Friday edition [responding to criticism of his Trump–corruption piece](https://www.readtangle.com/responses-to-my-trump-corruption-piece-reader-feedback/). - **Nothing to do with politics:** Why some of the best athletes in the world [pretend to be someone else](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7240581/2026/04/30/kobe-bryant-alter-ego-shai-gilgeous-alexander/?unlocked%5Farticle%5Fcode=1.fVA.dliu.ZSGqlPX3bqPw&source=athletic%5Fuser%5Fshared%5Fgift%5Farticle%5Fcopylink&smid=url-share-ta). - **Our last survey:** 2,045 readers responded to our survey on the Supreme Court of Virginia ruling a temporary gerrymandering effort unconstitutional with 35% saying the ruling is unsound and will have a mostly negative effect. “It sucks both ways,” one respondent said. “As a Virginian, I am so frustrated by this entire situation. I very reluctantly voted in favor of the question, only because it was temporary and because Texas did it first, and for what? What a waste of Virginians’ time and money this whole situation has been. I’m fed up with both parties, honestly,” said another. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/05/data-src-image-bb62c6b3-9fe3-4688-99db-1e4ce5365b67.png) ### Have a nice day. Four decades after the nuclear disaster at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, much of the land surrounding the site remains unsafe for human habitation. The lack of human pressure in this “exclusion zone” has caused it to explode with other residents: wolves, moose, deer, and lynx are just some of the species whose populations have rebounded. Wild Przewalski’s horses introduced in 1998 are also adapting to the area, which has not been associated with widespread animal die-offs despite persistent radiation. “For those of us in conservation and ecology, it’s kind of a wonder,” Denys Vyshnevskyi, the zone’s lead nature scientist, said. “This land was once heavily used — agriculture, cities, infrastructure. But nature has effectively performed a factory reset.” [The Associated Press has the story](https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-russia-chernobyl-nature-rebounds-a0b252dc78a539947835acec8540b9fe?ref=readtangle.com). ### Saying goodbye, and saying hello. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/saying-goodbye-hello-press-pass-may/ Last updated: 2026-06-17T16:36:38.000Z *I’m Isaac Saul, and this is* Press Pass*: Our once-a-month, members-only newsletter that pulls back the curtain on the inner workings of Tangle.* --- In the seven years I’ve been running Tangle, we’ve never lost a full-time employee. That changed last month. Over just a couple of weeks, we found out we’d be losing Associate Editor Lindsey Knuth (featured in [February’s *Press Pass*](https://www.readtangle.com/in-the-foxhole-february-press-pass/#:~:text=feature%3A%20Lindsey%20Knuth.-,Meet%20Lindsey.,-Lindsey%20and%20her)) and our Head of Business Development Alex Starr (featured in [March’s *Press Pass*](https://www.readtangle.com/the-winds-change/#:~:text=of%20the%20month.-,Meet%20Alex.,-Isaac%20%28left%29%20and)). Lindsey is leaving for law school next fall, and we’re currently trying to hire her replacement. Alex departed the first week of May after getting an offer he couldn’t turn down to work at the intersection of his skills in writing, sales, and “vibe coding.” Losing employees is an odd thing. It comes with both a sense of sadness and pride — like seeing a band you listened to before they had any fans become famous. “Oh, I was right, *they were good!”* you think to yourself. But also, you’re sad because you know everything is about to change and you can’t do anything to stop it. I’ll miss both Alex and Lindsey because they were not just great employees but great people, too. And while the downsides of losing great people like that are real, hiring is also one of my favorite parts of the job. I started Tangle after failing to get seven different jobs — all of which I had gotten final interviews for — and then finally throwing my hands up and saying, “I can’t do this anymore; I’m just going to create something on my own.” I was defeated, depressed and losing confidence, but not getting those jobs ended up being one of the best things that ever happened to me. I reflect on those days a lot — some of the darkest of my life — as I lead a team of 12 full-time employees and have the budget to hire more. I try to never lose sight of where I was and maintain gratitude for where I am. In that spirit, I’m already having a ton of fun meeting potential new hires and looking around for folks to poach who can make Tangle an even better operation than it already is. Amid the chaos of employee turnover, I also just wrapped up a mini “speaking tour” that took me to five colleges in five weeks. I tried to capture how much of a whirlwind those five weeks were (for posterity) by listing all the flights, train rides, and car trips I’ve taken since my wife and I closed on our first home. Here’s the list: _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Democrats are dealt a blow in Virginia. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/virginia-supreme-court-gerrymandering/ Last updated: 2026-05-11T15:53:52.000Z *I'm Isaac Saul, and this is Tangle: an independent, nonpartisan, subscriber-supported politics newsletter that summarizes the best arguments from across the political spectrum on the news of the day — then “my take.”* *Are you new here?* [*Get free emails*](https://www.readtangle.com/) *to your inbox daily. Would you rather listen? You can find our podcast* [*here*](https://shows.acast.com/66510864c0852400122bc7be?ref=readtangle.com)*.* ### Today’s read: 15 minutes. 🏛️ The Supreme Court of Virginia struck down a redistricting measure designed to give Virginia Democrats a 10–1 delegation in the U.S. House. Where do the gerrymandering wars stand now? ### Your criticism, Isaac’s response. > “*When an article takes off, I write a follow-up piece addressing those criticisms and questions. I do this because I think engaging with our audience is an important way to gain trust and an important exercise in humility and intellectual honesty.”* — Tangle Executive Editor Isaac Saul On Friday, we published a roundup of feedback to Isaac’s recent report exploring potential corruption in the second Trump administration. Isaac offered his response to some of the most common criticisms he received and answered a few questions his piece prompted. [You can read it here](https://www.readtangle.com/responses-to-my-trump-corruption-piece-reader-feedback/). ### Quick hits. 1. President Donald Trump rejected Iran’s response to a U.S. proposal to end the war between the countries, calling it “TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE!” ([The rejection](https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-war-attack-may-10-2026-f8812db41837336d816efaea7bc1c44a?ref=readtangle.com)) 2. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) activated its Level 3 response — the agency’s lowest level of emergency activation — following the hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship. During a Level 3 response, CDC experts on the virus lead the effort to monitor the outbreak with their staff and potential assistance from the Emergency Activation Center. ([The latest](https://www.cbsnews.com/atlanta/news/cdc-activates-level-3-emergency-response-hantavirus-outbreak-mv-hondius/?ref=readtangle.com)) 3. The Labor Department announced that the U.S. economy added 115,000 jobs in April while the unemployment rate remained at 4.3%. The monthly jobs total was lower than March’s but higher than the 55,000 jobs predicted by analysts polled by The Wall Street Journal. ([The numbers](https://www.wsj.com/economy/jobs/april-jobs-report-unemployment-35aead9a?ref=readtangle.com)) 4. Russian President Vladimir Putin told reporters that he thinks the Ukraine war is “coming to an end,” adding that he was open to discussing new security deals for Europe. The comments followed Russia’s annual Victory Day parade celebrating the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany. ([The comments](https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/putin-says-he-thinks-ukraine-conflict-is-coming-an-end-2026-05-09/?ref=readtangle.com)) 5. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in an interview that he wants to “draw down to zero” U.S. financial support over the next ten years. ([The remarks](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/netanyahu-us-israel-iran-60-minutes-transcript/?ref=readtangle.com)) ### Today’s topic. The Supreme Court of Virginia’s redistricting ruling. On Friday, the Supreme Court of Virginia [struck down](https://virginiamercury.com/2026/05/08/supreme-court-of-virginia-strikes-down-redistricting-amendment-keeps-current-maps-in-place/?ref=readtangle.com) a redistricting measure recently passed by voters that would have allowed the legislature to adopt a new congressional map designed to give Virginia Democrats a 10–1 advantage in the U.S. House. In a 4–3 decision, the court found that the process of putting the measure on the ballot violated the state constitution, affirming a county judge’s ruling. The decision will keep the current map — under which Democrats have a 6–5 advantage — in place for the 2026 midterms, though state Democrats said they will appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. **Back up:** On April 21, Virginians [voted](https://www.readtangle.com/virginia-redistricting-vote-midterms/) 51.7%–48.3% to approve a constitutional amendment creating a one-time exception to the state’s redistricting system to allow it to redraw its congressional map. The new map would have been in place for the 2026 and 2028 elections, but the amendment stipulated that the state would revert to its standard process of redistricting via a bipartisan commission and court review at the start of the 2030s. In the Supreme Court of Virginia’s ruling, the majority [wrote](https://www.vacourts.gov/static/opinions/opnscvwp/1260127.pdf?ref=readtangle.com#page=10) that the amendment violated Article XII Section 1 of the state constitution, which requires the state’s General Assembly to “twice vote in favor of a proposed amendment at two separate legislative sessions with an intervening election of the House of Delegates.” In this case, the General Assembly [first voted](https://www.vpm.org/generalassembly/2025-10-31/ga-hj6007-gerrymandering-senate-favola-stanley-vanvalkenburg-obenshain?ref=readtangle.com) to propose the amendment on October 31, 2025, roughly five weeks after early voting had begun for Virginia’s House of Delegates. Therefore, the court held, the amendment did not meet the “intervening general election” requirement, as roughly 1.3 million voters had cast their ballots without having an opportunity to evaluate lawmakers’ stance on the amendment. The dissenting justices [argued](https://www.vacourts.gov/static/opinions/opnscvwp/1260127.pdf?ref=readtangle.com#page=30) that the state constitution defines an “election” as a single day — Election Day — and since the General Assembly voted to propose the redistricting amendment before that day, Article XII Section 1 was not violated. After the ruling on Friday, House Speaker Don Scott (D) and Attorney General Jay Jones (D) [filed](https://ewscripps.brightspotcdn.com/2b/71/3e1c39da41d8b6d5e601f3e77280/2026-05-08-joint-motion-to-delay-issuing-mandate.pdf?ref=readtangle.com) a motion asking the state supreme court to pause implementation of its ruling while they appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court. If Democrats’ appeal fails, the party would be [positioned](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-election/virginia-supreme-court-blocks-democratic-drawn-congressional-map-voter-rcna342687?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Republicans%20could%20gain,that%20drew%20them.) to only gain up to six House seats in the midterms from mid-cycle redistricting in California and a state court ruling in Utah; Republicans could gain up to 14 seats from mid-cycle redistricting in six states, most recently Florida and Tennessee. Today, we’ll share views from the left and right on the ruling. Then, Executive Editor Isaac Saul gives his take. ### What the left is saying. - **The left strongly opposes the ruling, arguing the amendment process didn’t violate Virginia’s constitution.** - **Some say the majority’s rationale fails under scrutiny.** - **Others call on Democrats to fight the decision.** **In Vox, Ian Millhiser described** [**“the glaring error in the Virginia Supreme Court’s gerrymandering decision.”**](https://www.vox.com/politics/488176/virginia-supreme-court-gerrymandering-decision-republicans-win?ref=readtangle.com) “In essence, the majority argues that Virginia voters who opposed the amendment were disenfranchised because they were denied an opportunity to vote for lawmakers who oppose it in the 2025 state legislative elections,” Millhiser said. “But there’s a pretty glaring problem with this disenfranchisement argument: The amendment was submitted to the voters in a referendum. Virginia voters were, in fact, given an opportunity to cast an up or down vote on the redistricting amendment. And a majority of them voted to approve it. “If Virginia’s constitution called for a simpler amendments process, where two subsequent votes of the state legislature were alone sufficient to amend the constitution, then the majority’s argument would make more sense. In that case, the election held between those two legislature votes would be state voters’ only opportunity to weigh in on the amendment,” Millhiser wrote. “But under Virginia’s actual constitution, voters are given a direct opportunity to vote on a constitutional amendment. So it makes no sense to say that they were denied an opportunity to express their view on the amendment by the timing of a legislative vote.” **In Above the Law, Joe Patrice wrote** [**“Republicans spend 30 pages trying to explain why ‘election’ doesn’t mean ‘election.’”**](https://abovethelaw.com/2026/05/virginia-supreme-court-overturns-election-because-redistricting-isnt-legal-unless-it-disenfranchises-black-voters/?ref=readtangle.com) “Mere days after the United States Supreme Court declared that the Voting Rights Act cannot be invoked to bar racially discriminatory gerrymandering as long as state legislators make a halfway plausible claim that the new districts were drawn for purely political purposes, the Virginia Supreme Court overturned a statewide election to approve purely political maps,” Patrice said. “Tennessee, Alabama, South Carolina… all actively redrawing their maps behind closed doors to strip Black voters of meaningful suffrage. Virginia sent their maps to the electorate, and after it passed, the state supreme court scrambled to rewrite the rules to erase the whole election.” “Virginia’s robed GOP activists embraced the Opposite Day role, jettisoning several years worth of Republican messaging that ‘early voting is fake’ and ‘elections mean election day!’ to pronounce with a smirk that as soon as early voting begins, nothing a legislature does can be ‘before the election,’” Patrice wrote. “The majority grasps at historical hearsay that the purpose of the rule is to allow voters to make a single-issue vote for their next representative based on the possibility of a ballot measure.” **In The New York Times, Jamelle Bouie argued** [**“Democrats who are soft on Republicans have got to go.”**](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/09/opinion/virginia-supreme-court-ruling.html?ref=readtangle.com) “Key Virginia Democrats quickly acquiesced to the decision. Don Scott, the speaker of the House of Delegates, said, ‘We respect the decision of the Supreme Court,’ while Gov. Abigail Spanberger said that she was ‘disappointed’ but didn’t challenge the ruling or the court’s authority. This is a mistake,” Bouie said. “To start, the ruling is absurd… The effect of this new definition of ‘election’ would be to vastly complicate the state’s judicial system, as the Constitution forbids courts from pulling voters into the judicial process ‘during the time of holding any election at which he is entitled to vote.’” “There is also the fact that the court had a chance to halt the process earlier this year. It didn’t. To then invalidate the referendum when it won is to suggest that the law here was less important than the politics,” Bouie wrote. “But more than the absurdity of the ruling is the basic principle. The referendum wasn’t just an election; it was the people of Virginia exercising their right to amend their Constitution as they see fit. On what basis can the State Supreme Court, a creature of that Constitution, invalidate a sovereign decision of the whole people?… The correct response is to fight back in the name of the people, who made their choice in a free and fair contest.” ### What the right is saying. - **The right supports the court’s ruling, saying Democrats gambled on a flawed process and lost.** - **Some frame the decision as a win for constitutional law.** - **Others warn Democrats could respond by embracing more radical proposals.** **The Washington Post editorial board argued the court was** [**“right to strike down \[the\] unconstitutional gerrymander.”**](https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2026/05/08/virginia-supreme-court-correct-strike-down-gerrymander/?ref=readtangle.com) “Friday’s 4–3 decision may be technical and procedural, but the reasoning is solid. The Virginia Constitution includes clear requirements for any amendments, which were intended to make changes difficult,” the board wrote. “The justices concluded that \[the constitutional\] requirement wasn’t met because the state’s General Assembly voted for the first time on Oct. 31, four days before Election Day, to put the constitutional amendment to voters. By that time, more than 1.3 million people had already cast ballots, about 40 percent of the total vote. The election was well underway.” “Prominent Virginia Democrats reacted disingenuously to the high court’s ruling by focusing on its timing… Attorney General Jay Jones complained that the decision ‘overturns’ election results and ‘silences the voices of the millions of Virginians who cast their ballots,’” the board said. “\[Jones\] is the one who insisted the court wait until after the election to judge the merits of the challenge… He believed a usually friendly court wouldn’t dare defy his party’s interests, and the case would be moot anyway if the measure failed. The result of Jones’s imprudent legal strategy is that national Democratic groups wasted $64 million to narrowly pass a referendum that the court was going to strike down all along.” **In The Daily Wire, Ken Cuccinelli wrote** [**“Virginia’s constitution held — and Democrats’ power grab failed.”**](https://www.dailywire.com/news/virginias-constitution-held-and-democrats-power-grab-failed?ref=readtangle.com) “\[Democrats’\] scheme was as cynical as it was procedurally reckless. During a disputed Special Session, they rammed through a proposed constitutional amendment on a party-line vote — one that would temporarily suspend the bipartisan redistricting commission and let the General Assembly redraw congressional districts to their liking,” Cuccinelli said. “The Court rejected the Commonwealth’s tortured argument that ‘election’ means only Election Day — a single 24-hour period, rather than the entire 45 days of voting that Virginia allows (also thanks to the Democrats).” “So where does this leave Virginia? The Court’s 2021 nonpartisan maps — the ones that earned an ‘A’ from independent analysts — remain in full effect for the 2026 congressional elections. Virginia will continue to have a 6–5 congressional delegation split, with districts drawn fairly and without a partisan thumb on the scale,” Cuccinelli wrote. “Today’s ruling is a reminder that constitutions matter, that process matters, and that no political party — no matter how large its legislative majority or campaign war chest — is above the law.” **In The New York Post, Jonathan Turley said** [**“Virginia’s gerrymander flop leaves Democrats frustrated — and dangerous.”**](https://nypost.com/2026/05/08/opinion/virginias-gerrymander-flop-makes-democrats-more-dangerous/?ref=readtangle.com) “\[Democrats are\] facing a potentially catastrophic reversal of fortune… Once \[Virginia Gov.\] Spanberger sought to eradicate Republican representation, total war broke out — and now red states like Florida and Tennessee have moved forward with their own redistricting. On top of the fact that GOP states have more room for partisan gerrymandering, the Virginia Supreme Court decision comes on the heels of the US Supreme Court’s ban on racial gerrymandering,” Turley wrote. “To make matters worse for the Democratic Party, a new census in 2030 will correct the mistakes that erroneously awarded them multiple districts after the 2020 census.” “That prospect of a political apocalypse has Democratic strategists pushing for radical changes in Washington before it’s too late. Top priority: packing the Supreme Court as soon as they retake power. As Virginia has shown, an independent court can unravel the best-laid plans,” Turley said. “Last week, \[Minority Leader Hakeem\] Jeffries declared the Supreme Court ‘illegitimate’ as he blasted its ban on racial gerrymandering. After the Virginia court’s ruling, the frustrated Democratic establishment is ever more likely to echo him — and to go beyond.” ### My take. **Reminder: “My take” is a section where we give ourselves space to share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, don't unsubscribe. Write in by replying to this email, or** [**leave a comment**](https://www.readtangle.com/virginia-supreme-court-gerrymanding/#ghost-comments-root)**.** - **This ruling is obviously a big win for Republicans and a huge blow to Democrats.** - **On one hand I’m glad for that, because I cheer anytime a gerrymandering attempt fails.** - **On the other hand I’m discouraged, because Trump and Republicans instigated this war and now they’re being rewarded for it.** **Executive Editor Isaac Saul:** I’ve written and spoken a lot about gerrymandering in the last few months, and it’s fair to say I feel quite conflicted. I have a visceral, intense loathing for all manner of gerrymandering across the country — a process that allows politicians to pick their voters rather than the other way around. I blame President Donald Trump for opening up a new front in this war through mid-decade redistricting, then escalating it further by forcing state leaders to play ball or face the consequences. And as I look for an off-ramp, I’m left thinking the only way any of this ends is if the gerrymandering gets so bad both sides realize it’s in their best interest to back off. In Virginia specifically, that means I’m in the uncomfortable position of rooting for gerrymandering, as a response to previous gerrymandering, to create an even national map. This ruling leaves me deeply conflicted. It is an obvious electoral victory for Republicans, and it’s bad news for Democrats. Yet it’s *also* a good outcome for democracy and a bad outcome for my long-term hope, which is that both parties see clearly that gerrymandering is a bottomless pit and start to back away. For Republicans, the electoral victory is clear. Democrats tried to gerrymander a purple state from a 6–5 congressional make-up to 10–1 in their favor, and the court’s rejection of the ballot measure to create that map gives Republicans either an edge or a shot at winning at least four competitive House seats they otherwise would have been very likely to lose. Paired with new maps in [Florida](https://baynews9.com/fl/tampa/political-connections/2026/05/04/governor-signs-florida-s-new-congressional-map-into-law--and-latest-on-iran?ref=readtangle.com) and [Tennessee](https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/tennessee-republicans-pass-new-map-erasing-majority-black-us-house-district-2026-05-07/?ref=readtangle.com), the last few weeks have very much tilted the gerrymandering wars in Republicans’ favor. I had been hoping for a draw so that Trump’s escalation would blow up in his face. That looked likely a week ago, but it’s ancient history now. Barring another dramatic twist in this saga, the president’s plan is working. The court’s decision is obviously a bad outcome for Democrats — not just because of the national map advantage Republicans just fell into, but also because Democrats sunk a lot of time, effort, money, and political capital into trying to get their amendment through. It looks like they [aren’t giving up](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/10/us/politics/democrats-virginia-plans-gerrymandering.html?ref=readtangle.com), either; some members of the party are now considering a truly radical plan to lower the age limit for state supreme court justices, remove every justice currently on the court, replace them, and re-try the map. That would mean dumping more money, more time, and more political capital into an effort to disenfranchise their own voters, with the added spice of breaking every possible norm along the way. As for democracy, this is still a good outcome for Virginia. Gerrymandering is a scourge, and a 10–1 map in a purple state is a genuine absurdity. The court’s reasoning for striking down the map was technical and understandable. To me, it was also beside the point. As Ian Millhiser wrote (under “What the left is saying”), both sides had textual evidence in their corner, so the court could have justifiably ruled either way. It seems to me the court applied the technical rule the way it was supposed to here, specifically for this kind of moment, yet the rule itself feels almost unworkable. Are we really saying we don’t want voters to have *any* fast-moving power, even referenda, as a tool on their belt? Ultimately, Democrats tried to rush this through, effectively deny millions of Republicans competitive elections, violate a 2020 voter-led effort to ensure independent map-making, and they failed. Plenty of people suspected they might fail, too, yet they barrelled ahead anyway. A court checking that kind of indulgence means other state parties should think twice about sinking tens of millions of dollars into efforts to undermine our representational democracy. Yes, this ruling helped a national party that is currently gallivanting across the country gerrymandering — and yes, unlike other gerrymanders, voters approved Virginia’s measure in a very narrow statewide referendum. But it was still a play to rob voters of fair representation. Even acknowledging the will of a slim majority of Virginia voters, gerrymandering is still a cancer on democracy — in that sense, I’m glad this effort failed. Writers like Jamelle Bouie (under “What the left is saying”) criticized Democrats for “acquiescing” to a state supreme court ruling. Sorry, but no: If the left wants to criticize Trump and Republicans for attacking or ignoring the courts (which they should!), they can’t then publicly bemoan that Democrats aren’t doing the same thing anytime they get a really big ruling they don’t like. Bouie also complained that the court didn’t stop all this earlier, yet it was Democrats who [insisted](https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2026/05/08/virginia-supreme-court-correct-strike-down-gerrymander/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=What%20Jones%20didn%E2%80%99t,the%20measure%20failed.) the court wait until *after* the referendum election to rule on the legal challenge. And, finally, this is a terrible outcome in the effort to make President Trump pay for his mid-decade redistricting push. As I wrote in my deep dive on gerrymandering [back in 2022](https://www.readtangle.com/2022-gerrymandering-deep-dive/), while both sides gerrymander, the practice more often produces advantages for Republicans. If Alabama, Louisiana and South Carolina re-draw their maps (which they likely will), Democrats will have to [win the combined national popular vote by roughly four points](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/08/upshot/redistricting-midterms-republicans-house.html?ref=readtangle.com) in the midterms just to flip the House of Representatives. To be clear: Trump did not invent gerrymandering, and he isn’t the root cause of it. But *right now*, we are in the midst of one of the most egregious, unjustifiable, extralegal gerrymandering binges in American history. And [Trump started it](https://www.readtangle.com/texas-gerrymander-california-response/). He launched this war with pure cynicism, and for a moment it looked like it was all going to blow up in his face. Now, it looks like it may actually work out for him the way he wanted it to. To call this frustrating or upsetting is an understatement. The Supreme Court has effectively said that it can’t do anything about partisan gerrymandering, only that it would overturn racial gerrymandering, even though it’s often impossible to tell one from the other. This means our only hope under the current circumstances is that state-level politicians do the right thing. Yet when Indiana Republicans stood up to Trump and refused to gerrymander, they ended up [being ousted](https://www.readtangle.com/2026-indiana-primaries/) by their own national party’s money and attacks. I’m not rooting for Democrats to get an electoral advantage, but I *was* hoping that Democrats’ response would be successful enough that President Trump might back down. Yet, in their effort to punch the proverbial bully in the mouth, Democrats had to undo the progress of independent commissions in California and Virginia, which led to one of their maps being thrown out. Meanwhile, the new Florida map Republicans just drew is [an obvious violation](https://www.politico.com/news/2026/05/04/florida-desantis-map-sign-redistricting-00905256?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=And%20a%20top%20aide%20for%20the%20GOP%20governor%20acknowledged%20last%20week%20that%20he%20relied%20on%20political%20data%20as%20part%20of%20his%20map%20drawing%20effort%20%E2%80%94%20a%20potential%20violation%20of%20%E2%80%9CFair%20Districts%E2%80%9D%20standards) of the state’s anti-gerrymandering law. Now, it’s Florida’s turn: Will its state supreme court do the right thing? Six of the seven justices were appointed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, who just approved the map, so I’m skeptical. The result is that both sides wade deeper and deeper into this grotesque practice, wherein one side seemingly always ends up getting an advantage, our state- and local-level representation only matters as a rubber stamp for national political interests, our national and presidential races swallow up everything, and the legitimacy of the entire system that is supposed to make our country so special is strained further and further. All the while, a president who has shown a reckless disregard for the law, the courts, and the decorum of our system ends up “winning,” or forces his opponents to meet him in the mud to just further degrade our national polity. I wish I had some good news, but I really don’t. A few weeks ago, our best-case scenario was that millions of voters in California, Texas and Virginia would have their voting power diluted, and that both parties would back off. Now, we’re going to bull ahead on this unrighteous path with no bottom in sight. ****Staff concurrence — Managing Editor Ari Weitzman:** I agree with Isaac that both sides arguing before the Supreme Court of Virginia had valid arguments that could have won, and I want to explore that further. The entire case hinges on the Virginia constitution’s stipulation that a voter referendum to approve a constitutional amendment has to come after two consecutive general assemblies vote to approve it with a legislative election in between. In this case, it all boils down to whether a session ending four days before Election Day counts as preceding the election. A partisan on either side will be backed into a contradiction one way or the other. Either “an election” is defined as Election Day, presenting a problem for Democrats who have argued that ballots that arrive after that day still count for that election; or early mail-in votes are a legitimate aspect of an election, presenting a problem for Republicans suspicious of mail-in votes. How does one resolve this apparent dilemma? Personally, I’d try to separate out the distinct issues: First, at the Virginia level, voters who wanted to see how the legislative session proceeded before voting weren’t deprived of that opportunity simply because early voting was available (meaning, definitional issues aside, I disagree with the practical element of the state Supreme Court’s decision). Second, at the national level, the temporal parameters that define “the election” are in dire need of definition. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if the Supreme Court believes it is their place to step in to provide those parameters, either by hearing a challenge to this decision or by issuing a broad ruling in the upcoming decision in [**Watson v. Republican National Committee*](https://www.scotusblog.com/cases/watson-v-republican-national-committee/?ref=readtangle.com). ****Staff dissent — Associate Editor Audrey Moorehead:** I disagree with Isaac’s position that successful gerrymandering in Virginia could solve the problem of national gerrymandering rather than worsen it. Partisan gerrymandering is so pernicious and so wrong because it asks state voters to bear the burdens of the national parties’ woes when the system should be the other way around — with state-level interests fairly represented at the national level. As such, allowing Virginia’s gerrymandering to go through would not have solved the larger problem. Also, hoping the current cycle would stop with Virginia fails to recognize that it could have stopped with Texas and California — but now, because Virginia acted (and its proposed map was so egregious), the cycle continues in Florida. Arguing gerrymandering was okay in Virginia means believing it could be okay in Florida, too; really, gerrymandering is wrong in all scenarios. **Take the survey:** What do you think of the Supreme Court of Virginia’s ruling? [Let us know](https://interrobang.vercel.app/survey/7466cf6c-8d98-4002-bae0-ea4e93144626?ref=readtangle.com). *Disagree? That's okay. Our opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we'll consider publishing your feedback.* ### Your questions, answered. *We're skipping the reader question today to give our main story some extra space. Want to have a question answered in the newsletter? You can reply to this email (it goes straight to our inbox) or* [*fill out this form*](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScQhqBSG%5F6%5FoBhwcTQMeS570n29XYbeQ9C9Bis7rjqI31g1tA/viewform?usp=header&ref=readtangle.com)*.* ### Under the radar. According to preliminary data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Affordable Care Act (ACA) enrollment for 2026 decreased to approximately 23 million, roughly one million fewer enrollees from the year prior. A separate analysis by the consulting firm Oliver Wyman found that enrollment in HealthCare.gov dropped by approximately 8% from 2025, while enrollment in state-based exchanges increased 2%. The drop follows the end of the pandemic-era enhanced ACA credits, which Democrats unsuccessfully sought to extend last year during a 43-day government shutdown. Experts and state officials suggested the enrollment decline will continue through 2026 and beyond. [The Hill has the story](https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/5870619-obamacare-enrollment-decline-gop-cuts/?ref=readtangle.com). ### Numbers. - [**6.**](https://statecourtreport.org/state/virginia?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Virginia%20has%20had%20six%20state%20constitutions%20adopted%20between%201776%20and%201970.) The number of state constitutions Virginia adopted between 1776 and 1970. - [**54.**](https://statecourtreport.org/state/virginia?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=As%20of%20January%201%2C%202026%2C%20it%20had%2054%20amendments.%20%28Data%20on%20file%20with%20John%20Dinan%2C%20Wake%20Forest%20University.%29) The number of amendments to the state’s constitution as of January 1, 2026\. - [**12.**](https://statecourtreport.org/state/virginia?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=The%20legislature%20votes%20to%20appoint%20justices%20to%2012%2Dyear%20terms%20on%20the%20Supreme%20Court%20of%20Virginia.) The length, in years, of a justice’s term on the Supreme Court of Virginia. - [**3.**](https://www.wtvr.com/news/virginia-politics/state-supreme-court-justices-explainer-may-8-2026?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Of%20the%20four%20justices,Democrats%20controlled%20both%20chambers.)The number of justices on the Supreme Court of Virginia who were elected when Republicans controlled both chambers of the state’s General Assembly. - [**3.**](https://www.wtvr.com/news/virginia-politics/state-supreme-court-justices-explainer-may-8-2026?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Of%20the%20four%20justices,Democrats%20controlled%20both%20chambers.) The number of justices who were elected when control of the General Assembly was split. - [**1.**](https://www.wtvr.com/news/virginia-politics/state-supreme-court-justices-explainer-may-8-2026?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Of%20the%20four%20justices,Democrats%20controlled%20both%20chambers.) The number of justices who were elected when Democrats controlled both chambers. ### The extras. - **One year ago today** we had just published a Friday edition asking [whatever happened to the baby formula shortage](https://www.readtangle.com/whatever-happened-to-the-baby-formula-shortage/)? - **The most clicked link in our last regular newsletter** was the [recently released note purportedly written by Jeffrey Epstein shortly before his death](https://abcnews.com/US/time-goodbye-epstein-allegedly-wrote-newly-released-purported/story?id=132725841&ref=readtangle.com). - **Nothing to do with politics:** Exploring [the myth of photographic memory](https://theconversation.com/photographic-memory-is-a-myth-heres-what-research-really-says-about-remembering-278160?ref=readtangle.com). - **Our last survey:** 2,150 readers responded to our survey on Trump-backed challengers winning in the Republican Indiana state Senate primary with 46% saying that gerrymandering will only increase. “My hope is it decreases from here, reality will more likely see it grow then reverse,” one respondent said. “I feel like political temper is like a pendulum, it’s swinging pretty far, but our descendants will swing it back — maybe too far, too,” said another. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/05/data-src-image-9fceddb7-0b3b-42fc-a615-5d5b7f1bb6f1.png) ### Have a nice day. A retired chicken farmer in Australia gathered rocks from a nearby quarry for a garden wall — and unknowingly mortared a 240-million-year-old fossil into it. Researchers from UNSW Sydney and the Australian Museum have now formally identified the specimen as *Arenaerpeton supinatus*, a four-foot-long salamander-like river predator from the Triassic period. The fossil was remarkably well preserved, with faint traces of skin still present in the stone. “We don’t often find skeletons with the head and body still attached, and the soft tissue preservation is an even rarer occurrence,” PhD candidate Lachlan Hart said. Scientists say the fossil is one of the most significant finds in the state in decades. [Science Daily has the story](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/05/260504154028.htm?ref=readtangle.com). ### The Sunday — May 10 URL: https://www.readtangle.com/the-sunday-may-10-2026/ Last updated: 2026-05-10T14:57:54.000Z *This is the Tangle Sunday Edition, a brief roundup of our independent politics coverage plus some extra features for your Sunday morning reading.* ### What the left is doodling. ![John Deering | Creators Syndicate](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/05/data-src-image-8fb9c218-ccf9-492c-ad05-6c50779ede7c.jpeg) John Deering | Creators Syndicate ### What the right is doodling. ![Gary Varvel | Creators Syndicate](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/05/data-src-image-c3c28a69-f824-4624-9410-59aff7e9b686.jpeg) Gary Varvel | Creators Syndicate ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/05/data-src-image-67b988dc-516d-4ec6-b907-9d59055dbb96.png) ### Suspension of the Rules Isaac, Ari, and Kmele discuss the Indiana primaries and the relative morality of billionaires in this week’s *Suspension of the Rules*. Plus, Isaac tells an interesting tale about ChatGPT responding to his recent Friday edition on Trump’s corruption — and Kmele attempts a new look. You can [take in the conversation here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OA2W%5FCB4qZw&ref=readtangle.com)! ### Monday, May 4. [The Spirit Airlines closure](https://www.readtangle.com/spirit-airlines-shuts-down/). On Saturday, May 2, Spirit Airlines canceled all flights and began an “orderly wind-down” of its operations. The budget airline had been struggling since the Covid-19 pandemic, and it hasn’t posted a profitable year since 2019\. President Donald Trump had sought a deal to bail out the company before its shutdown but failed to reach an agreement with bondholders. About 17,000 Spirit employees and contractors are expected to lose their jobs; union representatives are negotiating with the airline to grant compensation packages to affected workers. **Our take:** *“This story brings a sad end to a unique company. More than anything else, the pandemic killed Spirit Airlines. The blocked merger and lack of a bailout didn’t help, but Spirit was headed for failure one way or another.”* **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/05/data-src-image-00753236-0bd0-4b23-a2d1-f44ab8674e44.png) ### Tuesday, May 5. [The end of the Homeland Security shutdown](https://www.readtangle.com/dhs-shutdown-ends/). On Thursday, April 30, the House of Representatives passed legislation to fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and end the department’s 76-day shutdown, the longest shutdown in U.S. government history. The House of Representatives and the Senate each had passed separate bills to end the shutdown; on Thursday, the House approved the Senate’s legislation in a voice vote under suspension of the rules, and President Donald Trump signed the bill into law the same day. **Our take:** *“The shutdown may have felt pointless, but the long-term ramifications could be grave. The saga weakened both agencies and constitutional norms. Republicans may have ‘won’ in the short term, but at what cost?”* **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/05/data-src-image-82a76e7b-b910-425f-9a5d-1e45f62183c7.png) ### Wednesday, May 6. [The Supreme Court and mifepristone](https://www.readtangle.com/scotus-considers-mifepristone/). On Monday, May 4, the Supreme Court issued a temporary stay on a lower court’s order that mifepristone, a drug commonly used in early-term abortions, can only be prescribed and dispensed in person. The order pauses the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals’s decision to prevent the drug from being accessed by mail. In a brief order, Justice Samuel Alito, who oversees appeals from the 5th Circuit, paused that court’s order until May 11, restoring telehealth access to the drug and giving challengers until May 7 to respond. **Our take:** *“I don’t think the FDA ever presented significant evidence to justify remote mifepristone prescriptions. At the same time, I doubt the Supreme Court is going to unilaterally overturn the agency’s rules. Trump won’t change those rules, either, and the pro-life movement needs to adjust to this administration.”* **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/05/data-src-image-11d15d67-6ab8-4c26-940d-2a60bb76b94e.png) ### Thursday, May 7. [Indiana’s primary results](https://www.readtangle.com/2026-indiana-primaries/). On Tuesday, May 5, Indiana held primary elections for the 2026 midterms. The state Senate primaries were closely watched after President Donald Trump supported challenges against incumbent Republican state senators in response to their opposition to a mid-decade redistricting plan last December. Six Trump-backed candidates defeated incumbent lawmakers, while another won an open-seat primary. Only one incumbent opposed by the president has won their election. **Our take:** *“This primary result isn’t actually about Trump’s dominance over the GOP; it’s about spending and messaging. Still, it’s incredibly stark that ‘opposing gerrymandering’ garners such intense primary opposition. I believe an anti-gerrymandering backlash is coming, sooner or later.”* **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/05/data-src-image-72980297-34b6-43fe-a01a-bbd09878edf4.png) ### Friday, May 8. Our May 1 edition on Trump’s corruption garnered extensive reader feedback, positive and critical, from all sides of the spectrum. In this week’s piece, Executive Editor Isaac Saul addresses the most common criticisms head-on. [You can read it here](https://www.readtangle.com/responses-to-my-trump-corruption-piece-reader-feedback/). --- ### What just happened. Here’s a rundown of the major stories that have broken since our newsletter on Thursday. - On Thursday, the State Department said it will begin revoking the passports of parents who owe $100,000 or more in child support, with plans to eventually revoke passports for any parents owing $2,500 or more. ([The plan](https://apnews.com/article/passports-unpaid-child-support-penalty-state-department-42d90cfa8a06ee349bb9145f668919b6?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Thursday, the U.S. Court of International Trade ruled 2–1 that President Trump’s 10% global tariffs are illegal but only blocked them from taking effect for two private importers and Washington state. The tariffs were left in place for all other importers while the Trump administration appeals and are scheduled to expire in July. ([The ruling](https://www.reuters.com/world/us-trade-court-rules-against-trumps-10-global-tariff-2026-05-07/?ref=readtangle.com)) - As of Thursday, health authorities on four continents said they were tracking dozens of passengers from a cruise ship that experienced a hantavirus outbreak, which is believed to have originated in Argentina. Over two dozen people from at least 12 countries left the ship without contact tracing. ([The update](https://apnews.com/article/hantavirus-cruise-ship-st-helena-9c70878b2ff59d187f1e34c12627cea7?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Thursday, Tennessee’s state legislature passed a new congressional map designed to net Republicans an additional seat in the U.S. House by dividing the Memphis area into three districts. ([The map](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-election/tennessee-republicans-pass-map-splitting-states-lone-majority-black-di-rcna343934?ref=readtangle.com)) Separately, on Friday, the Supreme Court of Virginia struck down a redistricting amendment passed by voters, which adopted a new congressional map designed to give Democrats a 10–1 advantage. The ruling will leave the original map — with a 6–5 Democratic advantage — in place for the 2026 midterms. ([The ruling](https://virginiamercury.com/2026/05/08/supreme-court-of-virginia-strikes-down-redistricting-amendment-keeps-current-maps-in-place/?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Thursday, the U.S. and Iran exchanged fire near the Strait of Hormuz, with the U.S. striking two Iranian ports after Iran fired on U.S. destroyers. Despite the strikes, both the U.S. and Iran say the ceasefire remains in place as peace talks continue. ([The latest](https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/05/09/world/iran-strikes-trump-ceasefire-hormuz?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Friday, the Pentagon released documents on unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAPs) that it said have never been shared publicly. The department said it will continue releasing declassified UAP files over the coming weeks. ([The release](https://www.cnn.com/2026/05/08/politics/ufo-files-pentagon-release-aliens?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Friday, the Labor Department announced that the U.S. economy added 115,000 jobs in April while the unemployment rate remained at 4.3%. The monthly jobs total was lower than March’s but higher than the 55,000 jobs predicted by analysts polled by The Wall Street Journal. ([The report](https://www.wsj.com/economy/jobs/april-jobs-report-unemployment-35aead9a?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Saturday, Israel struck Lebanon, killing 39, amid clashes with the militant group Hezbollah. ([The strikes](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn4pjegk358o?ref=readtangle.com)) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/05/data-src-image-edf6ddb8-dc0f-49b9-96ea-b20616c842ee.png) ### Reader essay. ![Image from PicrylHanna Rönnberg Mother and Child, image from Picryl](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/05/data-src-image-4163d8ef-4fea-4e22-bd9a-c46501ff5020.png) [Hanna Rönnberg Mother and Child](https://itoldya420.getarchive.net/amp/media/hanna-ronnberg-mother-and-child-00737b?ref=readtangle.com), image from Picryl This week, Tangle reader Rebecca Durfee shares what it’s like to live a day in her life as a polio survivor, 65 years after she contracted the disease. By sharing her story, Rebecca hopes to show just how important it is to stay vigilant against these diseases, including through vaccination. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### I didn’t get the polio vaccine — instead, I got polio. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/otherposts/i-didnt-get-the-polio-vaccine-instead-i-got-polio/ Last updated: 2026-05-15T20:40:58.000Z *By Rebecca Durfee* --- I remember being so scared — terrified, really. The indoor pool was noisy. Inside the pool, wooden tables lined the sides. At one end of each table was a semicircular piece of wood designed to keep a person’s head above water. Kids lying on the tables were undergoing physical therapy. The whimpers of scared children and the screams from those who were having painful muscle stretches filled the air. Just a few days ago, I was a happy toddler of two and a half. Today, I could only move my neck and left wrist. I thought that if my head turned sideways, it would be in the water and I wouldn’t be able to move it and something bad would happen. That is all I remember of the weeks and months of therapy following my diagnosis of polio. The virus ravaged my little body for several days, and I have been dealing with the consequences every day of my life since. *I’m not sure exactly when, where or how I contracted polio. What I understand is that we were visiting the United States and were unable to get the polio vaccine because we (my three siblings and I) were sick. We were going to get the vaccine as soon as we arrived home to Mexico, where my parents were missionaries. My parents weren’t too worried because Mexico had done a good job vaccinating. On our way home, we stayed at a motel with a swimming pool in Arizona, I think. We didn’t know at the time that there was an outbreak going on in the Southwest. I most likely caught the virus from the pool. Polio has a two-to-three–week incubation period, and counting back from when I first got sick after we got home, the pool is the most probable source.* Due to successful vaccinations, very few people now know or have seen a person who has had polio. So I invite you to accompany me as I describe a day in the life of someone coping with the effects of this disease 65 years later. I don’t mean to sound alarmist, but these effects might soon be felt by your children, or grandchildren, or maybe the children down the street from your home. Pain wakes me. Weakness in my right hip and shoulder, pain across my left chest as muscles struggle to support the side of my upper body that has been doing the work of two. Breathe. Breathe, I remind myself. Again, breathe, as I slowly move stiff joints before getting up. Time to start my day. Carefully standing up, I check my balance before taking a step. Hanging onto shelves, doorways — anything to keep me steady — I crab-walk the 12 steps to the toilet. It will be easier to walk after I put on braces and shoes. My left leg does most of the work since the virus left my right side very weak. My right foot drops and I have to swing my hip high to clear it off the ground. My back and hips strain from the effort, and tears form in my eyes as I fight back the pain. I angrily brush them away. I haven’t even gotten started with my day. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### I'm responding to criticisms of my Trump corruption piece. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/responses-to-my-trump-corruption-piece-reader-feedback/ Last updated: 2026-05-08T16:04:52.000Z **I’m Isaac Saul, and this is Tangle. You are reading a preview of a members-only Friday edition. To read it in full,* [**you'll be asked to subscribe*](https://www.readtangle.com/membership/)**.* ****Did someone forward you this email?** [****Sign up here**](https://www.readtangle.com/)****.** --- Last week, I [published](https://www.readtangle.com/the-everything-everywhere-all-at-once-corruption-story/) an exhaustive 6,000-word essay on the self-dealing and potential corruption of President Donald Trump’s second administration. I shared clips of the article on X, and it went viral. The initial feedback from readers within and outside the Tangle community overwhelmingly asked us to drop the paywall on the piece. After a few hours, we did. Since then, we’ve been inundated with comments, criticism, and questions. Usually, when an article takes off like this, I write a follow-up piece addressing those criticisms and questions. I do this because I think engaging with our audience is an important way to gain trust and an important exercise in humility and intellectual honesty. I often engage with feedback by quoting specific readers and then responding directly to what they said in a Q&A format. That’s exactly what I’m doing today. Of course, as is typical, the responses came from across the political spectrum. To give just one illustrative example: One reader wrote in to say that I’ve “skewered Biden’s son over and over again” and used this article to “pour more venom” into that story. She also expressed her frustration that I was only “slightly less biased than the rest of the major media who report Trump corruption on page 3 or not at all on TV.” Simultaneously, a reader named John said, “I’m one of the readers who stopped reading about half way \[through\]. Just couldn’t stand \[Isaac’s\] obvious distaste, if not revulsion of President Trump. It’s obvious in all his ‘My Take’ comments. I think he’s doing a disservice to the multiple employees of all those watchdogs he’s trying to hang. Not ONE of them can speak up? Even ‘off the record?’ By the way, I can’t stand Trump but I’d like to see some verified facts, not some ‘wanna be editor’ alleging such.” This is the environment we live in now, and I’m trying to navigate it as honestly as I can. You write a piece like this, and one side says “where the hell have you been?” while the other side thinks you’re a hack editor making baseless allegations. Alternatively, some readers actually wrote in questioning the facts that provide the basis of the piece. One Tangle reader told me her friend had used ChatGPT to “fact-check” me and found that “there are multiple claims in that article that are either unverified, misleading, or very likely false as written.” In one telling example, ChatGPT said “there is no confirmed ‘Iran war’ being negotiated” by Jared Kushner, and that Kushner is a “private citizen” with no record of being involved in negotiating the war’s end, despite the fact there obviously *is* an Iran war and Kushner is a chief negotiator in ending that war. ChatGPT also claimed “there is no widely confirmed reporting from The New York Times” about Syrian billionaires lobbying Trump for sanctions relief, despite that very [New York Times article obviously existing](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/19/us/politics/trump-syria-khayyat.html?ref=readtangle.com). What explains the enormous discrepancy here? It turns out the critic was copying and pasting the text of my piece into ChatGPT, without the linked primary sources. Once they sent ChatGPT the actual article, it conceded that the facts of the piece were accurate, apologized for getting it wrong, and suggested only that I was injecting strong language that included my own feelings (guilty as charged!). On the *Suspension of the Rules* podcast this week, I talked [more about this ChatGPT “fact-check” story](https://youtu.be/OA2W%5FCB4qZw?si=uuZOLRdd3ZL5YjFb&t=2756&ref=readtangle.com), the other things ChatGPT [got wrong](https://x.com/Ike%5FSaul/status/2052714692703826428?ref=readtangle.com), and the frightening new reality where people regularly export their critical thinking to artificial intelligence, even as they prompt the LLM in ways that produce inaccurate results. This is a new playing field where someone thinks I’m lying because an AI chatbot tells them things that are absolutely untrue. Now, onto some specific feedback. --- One of the most common responses we got — and one I should have thought to preempt — was about the Obamas. Many, many readers said something along the lines of, “Obama came into office with ‘X’ amount of dollars and left with many more, yet you ignore that story.” This feedback was maybe best articulated by a reader named Kelly, who commented, **“From community organizer making $35,000 at most, to state and U.S. senator, Obama entered the White House with $1.3 million — where did that come from? He left the White House with close to $40 million. By no means does this condone Trump ‘corruption,’ but what has been newly corrupted that already wasn’t?”** I think the big difference here is that [we understand pretty clearly how President Obama accumulated his wealth](https://finance.yahoo.com/news/barack-obama-net-worth-2025-122033759.html?ref=readtangle.com). Obama released his tax returns throughout his career, so the way he accumulated his estimated net worth of $70 million is documented — and you can go find [those tax returns](https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/blog/2016/04/15/president-obama-and-vice-president-bidens-2015-tax-returns?ref=readtangle.com) and follow the paper trail. The vast majority of his wealth came from publishing books and speaking tours. He netted [just under $5 million](https://www.gobankingrates.com/net-worth/politicians/barack-obama-net-worth/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Obama%20earned%20almost%20%243.3%20million%20from%20Random%20House%20book%20royalties%20and%20almost%20%24816%2C000%20from%20Dystel%20%26%20Goderich%20for%20%E2%80%9CDreams%20From%20My%20Father.%E2%80%9D) in royalties from his first two books by the first year of his presidency. Then, as his second term expired, he and Michelle got [$65 million](https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2017/03/barack-michelle-obama-land-book-deal?srsltid=AfmBOorEvEAaM5vL-zKU%5FasKqPKHU1Wu%5FKGLV342lLVPu8ivBs68L5nD&ref=readtangle.com) for two additional books (one from each). After that, Obama signed a TV deal with Netflix worth [a reported $50 million](https://nypost.com/2018/11/17/the-obamas-are-becoming-a-billion-dollar-brand/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=In%20addition%20to%20a%20%2465%20million%20book%20advance%20and%20an%20estimated%20%2450%20million%20deal%20with%20Netflix%2C%20both%20of%20which%20she%20shares%20with%20husband%20Barack%20Obama%2C). He also gets paid [as much as $400,000](https://www.foxbusiness.com/features/obamas-400000-cantor-speech-makes-him-wall-streets-newest-fat-cat?ref=readtangle.com) for a single speaking engagement. I really don’t know what to say except that Obama’s opportunism is, self-evidently, very different from Trump’s. The closest comparison is that Obama’s Netflix deal was negotiated by Ted Sarandos, an Obama donor whose wife [got an ambassadorship](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/obamas-netflix-deal-inked-with-help-from-bundler-buddy?ref=readtangle.com) in the Bahamas. But, crucially, that appointment actually preceded the Netflix deal by roughly a decade. What’s more, it’s actually another example of a scandalous behavior Trump has engaged in to an even higher degree. In my entire 6,000-word piece, I didn’t even get into the Trump donors receiving ambassadorships because there was so much other stuff going on (more on that below). Also, Obama got his TV deal *after* he was in office, not during. On top of that, the Trump family isn’t *just* getting money through TV deals while he’s president (see: Melania and Amazon); he is *using the presidency* to become wealthier. He is regulating businesses that make him money, or taking investments from foreign leaders while striking arms deals with them, or launching Trump-themed cryptocurrencies whose values evaporate for investors while he makes a profit. Further, because Trump does not release his tax returns and is not transparent about his finances, we are left putting two and two together through investigative journalism and leaks. Conversely, the way the Obamas accrued their wealth is well documented — we know how they made the money and when. You can think those deals were too cushy, or his speaking fee is outlandish, and even that such a fee opens doors to palm-greasing. But the fact remains that these income streams were not as directly linked to his decisions as president in the way that Trump’s have been. --- Separately, quite a few readers wrote in about this sentence: “By the time Trump ran for office in 2016, under the ‘drain the swamp’ mantra of rooting out corruption by other politicians, he excoriated the Clintons for… taking money from Saudi Arabia and other Middle East monarchies. That money, which Trump criticized her for accepting, was going to the Clinton Foundation — a philanthropic fund run by the Clintons.” Many people countered that the Clinton Foundation was actually just a front for the Clintons to get rich by leveraging their fame. One representative comment came from Gettaway Gal, who said, **“You state, without qualification, that the Clinton Foundation was a philanthropic organization when it is well established it was simply a funnel to get what was then huge amounts of money to the Clinton family and associates (noting the Clintons are now personally worth hundreds of millions of dollars — where do you think that came from?)”** I’m going to start with a confession — something many Tangle readers may not know — an act of transparency that I hope will earn me some trust here. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### An anti-incumbent wave in Indiana. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/2026-indiana-primaries/ Last updated: 2026-05-07T15:53:18.000Z *I'm Isaac Saul, and this is Tangle: an independent, nonpartisan, subscriber-supported politics newsletter that summarizes the best arguments from across the political spectrum on the news of the day — then “my take.”* *Are you new here?* [*Get free emails*](https://www.readtangle.com/) *to your inbox daily. Would you rather listen? You can find our podcast* [*here*](https://shows.acast.com/66510864c0852400122bc7be?ref=readtangle.com)*.* ### Today’s read: 13 minutes. 🗳️ Several Trump-backed Indiana state senators defeated incumbents who had opposed mid-decade redistricting. Plus, why does America have so many troops in Germany? ### Our latest Suspension of the Rules. This week, Isaac, Ari, and Kmele discuss today’s newsletter topic: party primaries, Indiana, and gerrymandering. Things also get heady as they discuss whether billionaires should exist and unpack a ChatGPT criticism of last Friday’s edition on [corruption in the Trump administration](https://www.readtangle.com/the-everything-everywhere-all-at-once-corruption-story/) (which you’ll read more about tomorrow). To go deep on today’s story, preview tomorrow’s or just hear a debate over the wealth disparity, check out [the latest *Suspension of the Rules*](https://youtu.be/OA2W%5FCB4qZw?ref=readtangle.com)! ### Quick hits. 1. The United States and Iran are reportedly nearing an agreement to end the war between the countries and set a framework for future discussions over Iran’s nuclear program. The agreement reportedly includes a moratorium on Iran’s nuclear enrichment, an end to U.S. sanctions, and unrestricted transit through the Strait of Hormuz. ([The report](https://www.axios.com/2026/05/06/iran-us-deal-one-page-memo?ref=readtangle.com)) 2. Federal Bureau of Investigation agents searched the office of Virginia state Senate President Pro Tempore L. Louise Lucas (D) pursuant to a public corruption investigation. Another search warrant was executed at a cannabis store that Lucas co-owns. Lucas, who has not been arrested or charged, said the search was in retaliation for her recent support of a new congressional map in Virginia designed to boost Democratic representation in the U.S. House. ([The search](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/fbi-searches-office-virginia-lawmaker-helped-lead-redistricting-push-rcna343879?ref=readtangle.com)) 3. Republican state lawmakers in Tennessee proposed a new congressional map designed to flip the state’s sole Democratic seat in the U.S. House. ([The map](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/06/us/gop-memphis-tennessee-house-map.html?ref=readtangle.com)) 4. A federal judge rejected a request by Fulton County, Georgia, to order the Justice Department to return ballots and digital ballot copies related to the 2020 election that were seized in January. The judge found that the county did not show the federal government lacked probable cause or conducted the search illegally. ([The ruling](https://www.reuters.com/world/trump-administration-can-keep-2020-election-ballots-seized-georgia-election-2026-05-06/?ref=readtangle.com)) 5. A suicide note allegedly written by convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein was released on the order of a judge. ([The note](https://abcnews.com/US/time-goodbye-epstein-allegedly-wrote-newly-released-purported/story?id=132725841&ref=readtangle.com)) In Partnership with incogni ****Don’t wait to become a victim. Take control of your identity.** Over 422 million people had their personal data exposed last year alone. And the easiest targets? People whose info is still floating around online. 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[****Remove your data now**](https://deal.incogni.io/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=6&aff%5Fid=1007&ref=readtangle.com) **—** [****55% off with code TANGLE**](https://deal.incogni.io/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=6&aff%5Fid=1007&ref=readtangle.com)****.** [Get 55% off — Remove your data now ](https://deal.incogni.io/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=6&aff%5Fid=1007&ref=readtangle.com) ### Today’s topic. Indiana’s primary results. On Tuesday, Indiana held primary elections for the 2026 midterms. The state Senate primaries were closely watched after President Donald Trump supported challenges against incumbent Republican state senators in response to their opposition to a mid-decade [redistricting plan](https://ballotpedia.org/Redistricting%5Fin%5FIndiana%5Fahead%5Fof%5Fthe%5F2026%5Felections?ref=readtangle.com) last December. Six Trump-backed candidates [defeated](https://indianacapitalchronicle.com/2026/05/05/trump-backed-candidates-romp-to-wins-in-indiana-senate-races/?ref=readtangle.com) incumbent lawmakers, while another won an open-seat primary. Only one incumbent opposed by the president, Greg Goode of Terre Haute, has won their election. **Back up:** In December 2025, following [similar efforts](https://www.readtangle.com/texas-gerrymander-california-response/) in other states, President Trump publicly pushed Indiana Republicans to adopt a new congressional map designed to net the GOP additional seats in the U.S. House. The state Senate, which has a 40–10 Republican majority, [rejected](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/11/us/indiana-senate-redistricting-republicans.html?ref=readtangle.com) the plan. Afterward, President Trump said he would support primary challenges to anti-redistricting state senators, and outside groups such as Club for Growth Action and Turning Point Action [invested](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/03/us/indiana-senate-republican-primaries-trump.html?ref=readtangle.com) significant resources in recruiting and supporting challengers. On Tuesday, President Trump affirmed his support for the primary challengers, [writing](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116523502202612088?ref=readtangle.com) on Truth Social, “Good luck to those Great Indiana Senate Candidates who are running against people who couldn’t care less about our Country, or about keeping the Majority in Congress. There are eight Great Patriots running against long seated RINOS.” State Sen. Travis Holdman (R), the highest-ranking Republican that opposed the redistricting effort, was among the incumbents [defeated](https://indianacapitalchronicle.com/briefs/high-ranking-indiana-sen-holdman-knocked-off-by-trump-endorsed-challenger/?ref=readtangle.com) by a Trump-backed challenger. Furthermore, the results could imperil state Senate President Pro Tempore Rodric Bray’s (R) leadership position, as the challengers are expected to vote to oust him if they win their general election races. Indiana has a large Republican voting majority, and most (if not all) of the Republican candidates are expected to win in November. President Trump’s allies in Indiana touted the outcome as a signal to the party about the president’s enduring popularity. “Everyone in Indiana politics should have learned an important lesson today: President Trump is the single most popular Republican among Hoosier voters,” Sen. Jim Banks (R-IN) [said](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-strikes-back-gop-lawmakers-opposed-president-redistricting-pay-price?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=%22Everyone%20in%20Indiana,on%20Republican%20voters.%22). “Indiana is a conservative state, and we deserve conservatives in our State Senate who have a pulse on Republican voters.” State Sen. Bray, an opponent of redistricting, [noted](https://indianacapitalchronicle.com/2026/05/05/trump-backed-candidates-romp-to-wins-in-indiana-senate-races/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Bray%20said%20Tuesday,days%20and%20months.%E2%80%9D) the significant outside spending on the primaries, saying, “The amount of money that was spent in Indiana is material, it matters, and that was very, very difficult to overcome… We worked really hard. Our candidates worked really hard to get their message out, but the voters spoke.” State Sen. Holdman [told](https://www.indystar.com/videos/news/politics/2026/05/05/indiana-state-sen-travis-holdman-speaks-after-losing-primary-to-blake-fiechter/89955183007/?ref=readtangle.com) The Indianapolis Star, “Revenge and retribution is not a Christian value, and that’s what this was all about.” Today, we’ll share commentary on the results from the right, left, and Indiana writers. Then, Executive Editor Isaac Saul gives his take. ### What the right is saying. - **Some on the right say the result hammers home what GOP voters really want from their representatives.** - **Others suggest it could be a short-lived victory for Trump and the party.** **In The Daily Caller, Mary Rooke said** [**“voters taught GOP leadership \[a\] valuable lesson.”**](https://dailycaller.com/2026/05/06/rooke-indiana-republican-primary-redistricting-trump/?ref=readtangle.com) “Indiana has nine House districts. As a deep-red state, allowing two Democratic Party–controlled districts didn’t align with the state’s actual voters. Voters wanted the Indiana state legislature to redistrict the state from a 7–2 Republican advantage to a 9–0 GOP sweep,” Rooke wrote. “There were eight state Senators, part of a larger group of 21 Republicans, who voted against the redistricting bill and were up for re-election on Tuesday… Millions were reportedly spent on these races to unseat the defectors. Ultimately, six of the eight lost their races.” “\[Defeated incumbents are\] not wrong to claim that his and the other’s losses were about ‘revenge and retribution.’ That’s exactly what happened here, and the broader GOP should take heed. Either use the power the voters gave you to enact their will and mandate, or sit back and watch the voters take you out one election at a time,” Rooke said. “The era for so-called ‘principled conservatism’ is over. Voters want elected officials to be fighting tooth and nail to get their wishes across the line.” **The Wall Street Journal editorial board wrote about** [**“Trump’s hollow Indiana victory.”**](https://www.wsj.com/opinion/donald-trump-gop-indiana-senators-redistricting-c3649902?ref=readtangle.com) “The media scorekeepers have declared that President Trump remains the king of the Republican Party… The more important question is whether his kingdom will shrink after November,” the board said. “The MAGA machine went all-in… And for what? Indiana’s current U.S. House districts are split 7–2, giving 78% of the seats to the GOP. Mr. Trump carried only 59% of the state’s vote in 2024\. The map proposed last year aimed to turn Indiana into a 9–0 state, but that wouldn’t reflect Indiana, and a gain of two seats might get swamped by a blue wave.” “When the state Senate rejected redistricting, 19–31, more Republicans voted against than in favor. ‘I was contacted by many, many, many constituents,’ Senate President Pro Tem Rodric Bray later said. ‘I would say 10 were against it to every one that was for it.’ He also raised doubts about trying to stretch the GOP’s finite voters to win all nine seats,” the board wrote. “‘We’re after you Bray,’ Mr. Trump wrote online in January, ‘like no one has ever come after you before!’ Mr. Bray isn’t up for re-election until 2028, but why is this GOP infighting a useful focus six months before November?” ### What the left is saying. - **The left frames the results as evidence of the GOP’s subservience to Trump.** - **Others say Trump reasserting his power could hurt the GOP in the midterms.** **In MS NOW, Paul Waldman said the primary highlighted** [**“the rot within the GOP.”**](https://www.ms.now/opinion/indiana-primary-results-trump-republicans-cost?ref=readtangle.com) “While Trump largely ‘won’ these contests, did replacing conservative Republicans with other conservative Republicans really help him or the GOP? How these elections played out was evidence of the rot within the party — and the lengths it will go to in satisfying every one of Trump’s whims, no matter how self-destructive,” Waldman wrote. “All of those targeted were, to be clear, Republicans who support a conservative agenda. But Trump wanted their heads, so his will had to be done, whatever the cost.” “One might argue that investing millions of dollars in taking vengeance on the Indiana Republicans will have a deterrent effect. Like a mob boss, perhaps Trump wanted to punish those who stepped out of line so no one in his party would get any ideas about showing independence,” Waldman said. “The problem, though, is that Trump will only be president for 2 1/2 more years. He is almost certain to lose the House this November, and perhaps the Senate as well, for the remainder of his presidency. Furthermore, the redistricting wars may be petering out: There are only so many seats even the most nakedly partisan state legislature can squeeze out of their maps.” **In The New Republic, Perry Bacon explored the** [**“silver lining”**](https://newrepublic.com/article/210002/indiana-primary-results-gerrymandering-gop-trump-cult?ref=readtangle.com) **in the results.** “The good news is that the results of Indiana show that the Republican Party is really a cult of Trump — so Republican candidates will be reluctant to distance themselves from an increasingly unpopular president and therefore might lose winnable races this November and in two years,” Bacon wrote. “The bad news, though, is that the results in Indiana show that the Republican Party is a cult of Trump — so Supreme Court justices, governors, state legislatures, congresspeople, and even rank-and-file GOP voters will keep falling in line with the whims of our wannabe dictator.” “Trump just ended the careers of five politicians he probably hadn’t heard of a year ago. I don’t like the idea of party bosses. But what makes me really discouraged is being on the side of a party that doesn’t have effective bosses against one that does,” Bacon said. “There is a silver lining though. Trump will be emboldened by the results in Indiana. He will keep making Republicans defend whatever he does, such as stuffing funding for the White House ballroom into a budget bill moving through Congress this week. And Trump’s approval rating continues to sink, potentially plunging to post-Katrina lows of George W. Bush at the end of his second term.” ### What Indiana writers are saying. - **Some Indiana writers expect both new state Senate leadership and a new congressional map.** - **Others bemoan the outcome but acknowledge Trump’s electoral sway.** **In The Indianapolis Star, Jacob Stewart said** [**“Trump’s Senate wins mean redistricting is back in, Bray is out.”**](https://www.indystar.com/story/opinion/columnists/jacob-stewart/2026/05/05/trump-allies-spent-millions-buy-indiana-senate-republicans/89956115007/?ref=readtangle.com) “While it’s difficult to guess which senators would support Bray in a caucus, the 19 votes in favor of redistricting in December can serve as a decent proxy,” Stewart wrote. “If senators vote to oust Bray from his leadership position, they will likely replace him with Sen. Chris Garten… Garten, unlike his colleague Sen. Liz Brown, did not publicly criticize his colleagues for their votes against redistricting and has remained mostly behind the scenes during the primary campaign season. As a result, he maintained his leadership position and stands to gain support from both pro-redistricting and anti-redistricting senators.” “U.S. Rep. Marlin Stutzman suggested the General Assembly would likely revisit the issue of redistricting at some point after the primaries were over. This would likely have to come after Bray is ousted, as Bray has significant control over what bills even get a hearing,” Stewart said. “If senators vote the same way as they did in December, with the extra votes in favor, redistricting would just barely pass. If the vote is tied, Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith could still cast a tie-breaking vote in favor of redistricting.” **Also in The Indianapolis Star, James Briggs wrote** [**“sometimes you gotta hand it to Trump.”**](https://www.indystar.com/story/opinion/columnists/james-briggs/2026/05/05/indiana-primary-trump-maga-redistricting-results/89956433007?ref=readtangle.com) “Donald Trump is the most corrupt president in history. Every gas station sign you pass attests to the wreckage of his second term. But sometimes you gotta hand it to him: Trump is very, very good at politics,” Briggs said. “Indiana's primaries were a referendum on Trumpism. Trumpism prevailed. Simple as that. Even if you want to discount the results by attributing them to the unfathomable $13.5 million ad blitz that hit state Senate primaries, you have to acknowledge Trump is a singular figure who can make it rain on obscure state legislative elections because they happen to be important to him personally. “Trump's endorsement in Indiana GOP primaries once again carried tremendous weight, backed by millions in outside spending from political action committees tied to allies, including Banks,” Briggs wrote. “On top of that, Indiana Republicans might wind up redistricting Democrats into oblivion sooner or later. The U.S. Supreme Court's weakening of the Voting Rights Act is sparking another round of race-to-the-bottom gerrymandering that will compel red and blue states to extend their partisan advantages further than ever.” ### My take. **Reminder: “My take” is a section where we give ourselves space to share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, don't unsubscribe. Write in by replying to this email, or** [**leave a comment**](https://www.readtangle.com/2026-indiana-primaries/#ghost-comments-root)**.** - **This primary result isn’t actually about Trump’s dominance over the GOP; it’s about spending and messaging.** - **Still, it’s incredibly stark that ‘opposing gerrymandering’ garners such intense primary opposition.** - **I believe an anti-gerrymandering backlash is coming, sooner or later.** **Executive Editor Isaac Saul:** The lesson the right seems to have learned this week is that Trump understands what voters want; the Indiana GOP didn’t, and so they paid the price. In Hot Air, Ed Morrissey [said](https://hotair.com/ed-morrissey/2026/05/06/indiana-want-him-so-much-for-the-medias-maga-split-narrative-n3814657?ref=readtangle.com) the incumbents lost because “they didn’t bother to ask voters what *they* want.” In PJ Media, Matt Margolis [said](https://pjmedia.com/matt-margolis/2026/05/06/trump-is-purging-rinos-and-the-left-is-panicking-n4952553?ref=readtangle.com), “There was nothing subtle about the message from MAGA voters. They want strong Republicans who will fight the Democrats, not be weak, useful idiots for the left.” Mary Rooke, in the Daily Caller (under “What the right is saying”), threatened the GOP: “Either use the power the voters gave you to enact their will and mandate, or sit back and watch the voters take you out one election at a time.” There is plenty more where that came from, and each writer seems to be insisting that Indiana’s GOP leaders were ousted because they wouldn’t be “team players” and redraw the state’s map to help Trump win the national gerrymandering war he started in Texas. This theory has one problem, though: That isn’t what the Trump-backed candidates actually ran on. The MAGA-aligned state legislators who just won their elections weren’t running ads about how voters should elect them so they can redraw districts to maximize as many Republican seats as possible. Shocking, I know. Instead, the campaigns [focused](https://www.politico.com/news/2026/05/05/trump-revenge-indiana-election-results-00907629?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=The%20Indiana%20campaign%20against%20the%20eight%20lawmakers%20focused%20less%20on%20their%20redistricting%20votes%20and%20more%20on%20a%20broader%20set%20of%20conservative%20priorities%2C%20including%20opposition%20to%20gas%20tax%20increases%20and%20transgender%20participation%20in%20women%E2%80%99s%20sports.) more on a broader set of conservative principles, like opposing gas taxes and transgender participation in sports. Let me put it in plain terms: Trump wanted Indiana Republicans to further gerrymander the state. State Senate President Pro Tempore Rodric Bray understood this was bad, and — early on in these gerrymander wars — he refused, hoping some other states would follow him. Unfortunately, few did. Trump and his allies were infuriated by the perceived betrayal, so they dumped millions into otherwise small races to crush Bray’s allies and oust him from his leadership role. $13.5 million was spent on Indiana Senate primaries overall, a roughly 5,000% increase in spending from 2024, when a total of $250,000 was spent. In state Sen. Jim Buck’s race alone, $1.3 million was spent on ads opposing him, while his own campaign spent just $150,000\. How did they attack Buck? Did they go after him for not gerrymandering? Not quite. In just one example, the ads framed Buck as “[Old. Pathetic. Liberal](https://indianacapitalchronicle.com/2026/05/05/trump-backed-candidates-romp-to-wins-in-indiana-senate-races/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=One%20of%20those%20ads%20called%20Buck%2C%20who%E2%80%99s%20been%20in%20the%20Legislature%20since%201994%2C%20%E2%80%9COld.%20Pathetic.%20Liberal.%E2%80%9D%20and%20touted%20Trump%E2%80%99s%20endorsement%20of%20challenger%20Tracey%20Powell%2C%20a%20Tipton%20County%20commissioner.).” Across the board, Trump’s allies used the money to boost candidates’ opposition to trans participation in sports or taxes on gas. They won. And now Trump’s supporters are celebrating as if this is proof voters want more ferocious partisan loyalty, even more gerrymandering. Sorry, but I’m not buying it. Does this show Trump still has influence in the Republican Party? Of course. I never really doubted he did. Does it mean the national GOP could increase spending in tiny state races by 5,000% and get the results it wants by attacking its own party members? Yes, it probably does. But did Indiana voters have some organic desire to oust their representatives for not backing Trump on his gerrymandering push? No. The worst effect of this outcome goes well beyond Indiana. Several states, including Alabama, Louisiana and South Carolina, have upcoming primaries and are still considering gerrymanders. The message was sent to those state-level legislators: Do as we say, or face the consequences. And down the road, what’s to stop Democratic leadership from trying this model out themselves? Infighting in the party is already common, and I wouldn’t be surprised if a future Democratic president or House leader adopts this strategy to keep state-level representatives in line or force more gerrymandering in their favor. So what do we get for the attention and millions of dollars spent on this race? According to [political analyst Ryan Girdusky](https://natpop.substack.com/p/after-gerrymander-maxing-how-many#:~:text=But%20according%20to%20the%20most%20recent%20map%2C%20it%20looks%20like%20just%2022%20seats%20would%20be%20truly%20competitive%20if%20all%20other%20partisan%20states%20began%20heavily%20drawing%20out%20swing%20seats.), as few as 22 House seats in the entire country could be competitive when this wave of redistricting is over. According to Girdusky, if we take the numbers from 2024 as a starting point, that would mean about 7.6 million voters out of 149.5 million ballots cast are going to decide the composition of Congress — just five percent of all American voters. This is the world [decades of bipartisan gerrymandering](https://www.readtangle.com/2022-gerrymandering-deep-dive/) have wrought, and it’s the one President Trump is making worse right now. Voters no longer choose their politicians; politicians choose their voters. I only maintain a few hopes for how to get out of this mess. One is that some charismatic, honorable, politically savvy leaders from both parties come together and mount a national campaign to treat the nationwide fever of gerrymandering. That seems, sadly, unlikely. Another is that a wave of grassroots, bipartisan organizations start campaigning heavily against gerrymandering, standing up voter referendums for independent commissions, and tee us up for a sea change in 2030\. This is possible, but would require putting partisan point-scoring aside. The third, and perhaps most likely hope, is that enough members of Congress watch as their seats get dissolved into these nationwide battles, then everyone realizes this is a horrible way to run a country and a piss-poor example of a functioning democracy. Basically: The self-interested and self-preserving strategy among politicians becomes *not* to gerrymander, and we go back to a world where reasonable, natural districts encompass a diverse set of voters whom Republicans and Democrats have to actually campaign to win over. I am, obviously, dispirited by all these developments. But I’m not hopeless. Our country has gone through all manner of political movements, and the future is often less predictable than we think. Just because we’re headed this way now doesn’t mean it’s the only path forward, and the lesson from Indiana isn’t that gerrymandering is inevitable. What it *does* mean is that we are reaching an inflection point; and what we *can* learn from the Indiana primaries is that enough people need to keep repeating the same points until it gets through to the population at large. And here is that point: We are no longer choosing our politicians, they are choosing us. Until we make that an unacceptable arrangement, they’ll keep choosing us in perpetuity. ****Staff concurrence — Senior Editor Will Kaback:** On the point of “lessons learned” from these primary results, I would highlight another potential lesson for November. As GOP strategist Karl Rove has [noted](https://www.wsj.com/opinion/the-gop-defeats-itself-in-indiana-1927c4cd?ref=readtangle.com), the money spent on these races is money that Republicans won’t have to help vulnerable candidates in difficult House races. $13.5 million is a minor sum compared to the total funds that will flow into national races this year, but the spending is representative of a president who often struggles to keep his eye on the ball (and, by proxy, a disorganized party). Trump achieved his goals in Indiana, but I suspect Democrats have no problem with Republicans spending their time and money on state-level intra-party disputes. **Take the survey:** What do you think will be the future of gerrymandering in the United States? [Let us know](https://interrobang.vercel.app/survey/84f3488f-e8bf-4ee0-b750-354a6ad7d096?ref=readtangle.com). *Disagree? That's okay. Our opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we'll consider publishing your feedback.* ### Your questions, answered. **Q: With the news that the U.S. is withdrawing 5,000 troops from Germany, I’m curious: Why do we have 5,000 troops in Germany to begin with? How many troops are in allied countries, and why? And how much does this contribute to our military budget?** **— Kelly from Park Ridge, IL** **Tangle:** In total, roughly 170,000 active-duty United States military personnel are [stationed](https://usafacts.org/articles/where-are-us-military-members-stationed-and-why/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Where%20are%20US%20troops%20based%20overseas%3F) on military bases in allied countries across the world — from Germany to South Korea to Australia to Peru. These bases serve an array of functions through their distance from the U.S. mainland. For instance, the U.S. Space Force says [Pituffik Space Force Base](https://www.petersonschriever.spaceforce.mil/pituffik-sb-greenland/?ref=readtangle.com) in Greenland “supports Missile Warning, Missile Defense and Space Surveillance missions from the solid-state phased-array radar.” [In Germany](https://files.visualbases.org/pdf/2024-09%5FWBW-US-Bases-Europe%5Fnotes.pdf?ref=readtangle.com), U.S. bases provide operational support for the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines. Somewhat ironically, considering the history, Germany is [second only to Japan](https://usafacts.org/articles/where-are-us-military-members-stationed-and-why/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=The%20top%20five%20countries%20with%20the%20highest%20number%20of%20active%2Dduty%20US%20troops%20are%3A) in hosting U.S. troops and military bases. Germany is a NATO ally, located in the middle of Europe with accessibility to much of the continent — as well as an aerial reach to Northern Africa and Eastern Asia — and waterways that can reach the North, Baltic, and Black Seas. Originally, the United States set up bases in West Germany after World War II to help with postwar reconstruction and observe and check the Soviet Union’s operations. Today, the U.S. [maintains 58 bases](https://www.aacvr-germany.org/us-military-bases-in-germany?ref=readtangle.com) across the now-unified country. All told, these bases host approximately 36,000 American troops (not including their families and civilian support) and include some of the largest and most important foreign bases the military operates. [Stuttgart](https://home.army.mil/stuttgart/about?ref=readtangle.com) hosts over 20,000 Americans in total (troops, families, and support) and has been the headquarters of the U.S. European Command since 1967; Ramstein Air Base, which is home to 54,000 Americans, is the Air Force’s base of operations for all of Europe and Africa. Estimates for the cost of foreign bases vary. According to the Cato Institute, a single U.S. military base [costs](https://www.cato.org/policy-analysis/withdrawing-overseas-bases-why-forward-deployed-military-posture-unnecessary?ref=readtangle.com#cost:~:text=The%20annual%20recurring%20fixed%20costs%20for%20a%20single%20overseas%20base%E2%80%94before%20any%20personnel%2C%20transport%2C%20equipment%2C%20or%20operational%20costs%20are%20factored%20in%E2%80%94range%20from%20%2450%20million%20to%20%24200%20million%20per%20year.) $50 to $200 million a year to operate — or around $60–120 billion in total. David Vine, a professor at American University and one of the most vocal critics of these bases, [estimates](https://www.mintpressnews.com/214492-2/214492/?ref=readtangle.com) they cost more than $150 billion to operate annually. **Want to have a question answered in the newsletter? You can reply to this email (it goes straight to our inbox) or** [**fill out this form**](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScQhqBSG%5F6%5FoBhwcTQMeS570n29XYbeQ9C9Bis7rjqI31g1tA/viewform?usp=header&ref=readtangle.com)**.** ### The road not taken. The option that continued to fall off the board for us this week was the war in Iran. Over the weekend, we strongly considered running an edition focused on the U.S. policy of assuring passage for ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz, but opted for the Spirit Airlines closure because we believed it had interesting nuances to unpack. On Tuesday, the status of the war was in flux amid reports of renewed peace talks, so we chose to cover the end of the Department of Homeland Security shutdown. The lack of developments in negotiations by Wednesday left the mail-order mifepristone pause as our next option. For today, we were between peace talks in Iran (and a larger update on the war) and the Indiana state Senate primaries. We went with the latter for the electoral impact. We can sometimes be slow to larger, important stories as we give them time to develop. For the Iran war, we also wanted to make sure we did not overly focus on one narrative, as we covered the story [four separate times](https://www.readtangle.com/tag/iran-war/) in April. Now that plenty of threads have developed in the war, we are expecting that it will receive a full newsletter edition early next week. ### Numbers. - [**$490,000, $530,000, and $280,000.**](https://x.com/AdImpact%5FPol/status/2051733435274694964?ref=readtangle.com) The approximate amount of advertisement spending on Indiana state Senate primaries in 2019–20, 2021–22 and 2023–24, respectively, according to AdImpact. - [**$13.5 million.**](https://x.com/AdImpact%5FPol/status/2051733435274694964?ref=readtangle.com) The approximate amount of advertisement spending on Indiana state Senate primaries in 2025–26. - [**$5.2 million and $3.8 million.**](https://indianacapitalchronicle.com/2026/05/05/trump-backed-candidates-romp-to-wins-in-indiana-senate-races/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=The%20Banks%2Daligned%20groups%20were%20the%20state%E2%80%99s%20top%20political%20advertisers%2C%20with%20Hoosier%20Leadership%20for%20America%20spending%20%245.2%20million%20and%20American%20Leadership%20PAC%20spending%20%243.8M%2C%20according%20to%20AdImpact.) The approximate amount of ad spending on Indiana state Senate primaries by Hoosier Leadership for America and American Leadership PAC, respectively, which supported challenges to anti-redistricting Republicans. - [**$3.5 million.**](https://indianacapitalchronicle.com/2026/05/05/trump-backed-candidates-romp-to-wins-in-indiana-senate-races/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Bray%20led%20the%20defense%20of%20his%20fellow%20senators%20with%20at%20least%20%243.5%20million%20from%20campaign%20funds%20he%20controls.%C2%A0) The approximate amount spent in support of incumbent Republican state senators by Indiana Senate President Pro Tem Rodric Bray (R). ### The extras. - **One year ago today** we covered [Trump’s proposed film tariffs](https://www.readtangle.com/trump-tariff-on-foreign-films/). - **The most clicked link in our last regular newsletter** was the video of the [rescue of an Australian border collie](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8eBELva998&ref=readtangle.com). - **Nothing to do with politics:** A passenger flight that’s [as long as some runways](https://brilliantmaps.com/shortest-passenger-flight-in-the-world/?ref=readtangle.com). - **Our last survey:** 2,431 readers responded to our survey on the Supreme Court’s consideration of mifepristone with 69% saying the Court should affirm the federal rule allowing remote prescription. “If it is made illegal or difficult to obtain, we will be creating a black market for all the wrong people,” one respondent said. “One can be pro-life and against government involvement beyond health and safety as defined by FDA approval,” said another. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/05/data-src-image-7609632f-f949-4b03-a134-6cfd9cc5eb6e.png) ### Have a nice day. Amid growing concerns over water insecurity in the American West, a productive development from the San Diego County Water Authority could be providing a roadmap for the future: the Carlsbad Desalination Plant. The plant is North America’s largest desalination facility, and its output has been so successful that San Diego County dropped its reliance on outside water imports from 95% to just 10%. That drop in demand allowed Arizona and Nevada to meet their own needs, purchasing the county’s Colorado River allocation in exchange for funds to help maintain the facility. “This agreement could be a gamechanger for San Diego County and the entire Southwest because it creates the possibility of a new, collaborative path for moving water where it’s needed most,” Water Authority Board Chair Nick Serrano said. [Good News Network has the story](https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/thanks-to-desalination-plant-san-diego-has-so-much-water-its-helping-other-states-suffering-drought/?ref=readtangle.com). ### What happens when you cross Donald Trump? URL: https://www.readtangle.com/what-happens-when-you-cross-donald-trump/ Last updated: 2026-05-08T00:03:19.000Z What happens when you go against Donald Trump? ### Can abortion pills be prescribed online? URL: https://www.readtangle.com/scotus-considers-mifepristone/ Last updated: 2026-05-06T15:50:42.000Z *I'm Isaac Saul, and this is Tangle: an independent, nonpartisan, subscriber-supported politics newsletter that summarizes the best arguments from across the political spectrum on the news of the day — then “my take.”* *Are you new here?* [*Get free emails*](https://www.readtangle.com/) *to your inbox daily. Would you rather listen? You can find our podcast* [*here*](https://shows.acast.com/66510864c0852400122bc7be?ref=readtangle.com)*.* ### Today’s read: 15 minutes. 💊 The Supreme Court temporarily paused a lower court's ruling that mifepristone can only be given after an in-person visit. Plus, Meta will begin scanning users’ profiles using AI to estimate their age. ### Do Americans see each other as immoral? Back in March, the headline was everywhere: “Americans Especially Likely To View Fellow Citizens as Morally Bad,” the title of a [25-country study](https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2026/03/05/in-25-country-survey-americans-especially-likely-to-view-fellow-citizens-as-morally-bad/?ref=readtangle.com) from the Pew Research Center. Associate Editor Lindsey Knuth interviewed one of the study’s coauthors, Jonathan Evans, and Pew’s associate director of global attitudes research, Laura Silver, to talk about Americans’ national pride, partisan differences, and the state of professional polling. You can [listen to the interview here](https://shows.acast.com/tangle/episodes/preview-special-edition-associate-editor-lindsey-knuth-inter?ref=readtangle.com). ### Quick hits. 1. Indiana held primary elections for the 2026 midterms, and at least five of seven Republican state senators who opposed an effort to redraw the state’s congressional map were defeated by challengers backed by President Donald Trump. One other race is too close to call. ([The primary](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/05/us/trump-candidates-win-indiana-republican-primary.html?ref=readtangle.com)) Separately, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy won the Republican nomination for Ohio’s gubernatorial election. He will face former Ohio Department of Health Director Amy Acton in the general election. ([The results](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-primary-elections/ohio-governor-results?ref=readtangle.com)) 2. President Trump announced he is suspending a U.S. military operation to assist ships in their passage through the Strait of Hormuz, saying the pause will allow for renewed discussions over a potential peace agreement with Iran. ([The announcement](https://www.axios.com/2026/05/05/iran-war-trump-hormuz-ships-peace-talks?ref=readtangle.com)) 3. The Spanish government said it will accept a cruise ship experiencing a hantavirus outbreak, which has killed three people on board and infected at least three others. The ship was previously denied entry by the African island nation of Cabo Verde but will now travel to the Canary Islands, a Spanish archipelago, to receive assistance. ([The latest](https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/hantavirus-cruise-ship-stranded-crew-evacuation-human-transmission-rcna343606?ref=readtangle.com)) 4. Russia carried out strikes across eastern Ukraine, killing at least 27 people. The attacks came hours before the deadline expired for a Ukraine-proposed ceasefire. ([The strikes](https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russian-attack-kills-two-ukraines-zaporizhzhia-governor-says-2026-05-05/?ref=readtangle.com)) 5. Officials at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reportedly blocked the publication of studies conducted by agency scientists that supported the safety of vaccines for Covid-19 and shingles. An FDA spokesperson said the scientists drew overly broad conclusions that were not supported by data. ([The report](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/05/us/politics/fda-covid-vaccine-studies.html?ref=readtangle.com)) In partnership with Butcherbox ****What Isaac’s Throwing on the Grill** Isaac loves to grill — and when summer hits, that means friends over, something sizzling, and zero guesswork. [****ButcherBox**](https://butcherbox.pxf.io/c/3250132/3882509/16419?ref=readtangle.com) makes it easy with [high-quality meat and seafood delivered straight to your door](https://butcherbox.pxf.io/c/3250132/3882509/16419?ref=readtangle.com) — no last-minute store runs, no tradeoffs on quality. Think grass-fed beef, humanely raised chicken, and wild-caught seafood you can feel good about serving. ***“ButcherBox has made cooking for the summer easier than ever. Every month, I get a fresh box of delicious meats — all with ideas on how to cook them up and new recipes to try. The convenience beats going to a store every time, and the quality is better than other delivery services I could turn to.”** — Isaac Saul, Tangle Founder. Less time shopping, more time grilling — and enjoying it. [****Code TANGLE gets you $60 off plus free protein for life**](https://butcherbox.pxf.io/c/3250132/3882509/16419?ref=readtangle.com)****!** [Get free protein for life! ](https://butcherbox.pxf.io/c/3250132/3882509/16419?ref=readtangle.com) ### Today’s topic. The Supreme Court and mifepristone. On Monday, May 4, the Supreme Court issued a [temporary stay](https://www.supremecourt.gov/orders/courtorders/050426zr1%5Ff2bh.pdf?ref=readtangle.com) on a lower court’s order that mifepristone, a drug commonly used in early-term abortions, can only be prescribed and dispensed in person. The order pauses the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals’s [decision](https://dredf.org/fifth-circuit-la-v-fda/?ref=readtangle.com) to prevent the drug from being accessed by mail. In a brief order, Justice Samuel Alito, who oversees appeals from the 5th Circuit, paused that court’s order until May 11, restoring telehealth access to the drug and giving challengers until May 7 to respond. Mifepristone is a drug taken to treat hormone disorders, manage miscarriages, and chemically induce abortions (in combination with misoprostol). From 2000 to 2022, more than [6 million patients](https://www.nbcnews.com/health/womens-health/know-mifepristone-access-supreme-court-ruling-rcna157013?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=As%20of%20December%202022%2C%20the%20FDA%20estimated%20that%20nearly%206%20million%20women%20in%20the%20U.S.%20had%20used%20mifepristone.%20In%2022%20years%20of%20use%2C%20the%20agency%20recorded%2032%20deaths%20related%20to%20it%2C%20including%20its%20use%20in%20two%20ectopic%20pregnancies%20and%20several%20cases%20of%20sepsis.%C2%A0) in the U.S. used mifepristone, and [63% of U.S. abortions](https://www.guttmacher.org/2024/03/medication-abortion-accounted-63-all-us-abortions-2023-increase-53-2020?ref=readtangle.com) in 2023 were medication abortions. Today, [roughly a quarter](https://www.guttmacher.org/news-release/2026/fifth-circuit-decision-directs-fda-restrict-mifepristone-access?ref=readtangle.com) of abortions are provided through telehealth prescriptions. As of 2024, the FDA [reported 36 deaths](https://www.fda.gov/drugs/postmarket-drug-safety-information-patients-and-providers/questions-and-answers-mifepristone-medical-termination-pregnancy-through-ten-weeks-gestation?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=As%20of%20December%2031%2C%202024%2C%20there%20were%2036%20reports%20of%20deaths%20in%20patients%20associated%20with%20mifepristone%20since%20the%20product%20was%20approved%20in%20September%202000%2C) of patients using the drug since 2000. **Back up:** The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has relaxed restrictions on mifepristone several times since its approval. In 2016, the FDA deemed mifepristone safe to use to terminate pregnancies up to ten weeks and in 2021 removed a requirement that it be prescribed in person. Finally, in 2023, the agency finalized rules allowing for drugs used in abortions to be accessed by mail. Pro-life medical groups and doctors challenged the 2016 and 2021 rulings, and the Supreme Court unanimously [rejected](https://www.readtangle.com/mifepristone-ruling-scotus/) that challenge in *Food and Drug Administration v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine* in June 2024, saying they did not have standing to sue. **Then what?** In October 2025, Louisiana [sued](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/04/us/politics/supreme-court-abortion-pill.html?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=The%20state%20of%20Louisiana%20sued%20the%20Food%20and%20Drug%20Administration%20to%20restrict%20access%20to%20mifepristone%2C%20saying%20the%20availability%20of%20the%20medication%20by%20mail%20has%20allowed%20abortions%20to%20continue%20in%20the%20state%20despite%20its%20near%2Dtotal%20ban.) the FDA, arguing its policy of allowing mifepristone to be delivered by mail was unsafe for women and allowed abortion to continue in Louisiana despite a statewide ban. On May 1, the 5th Circuit [sided](https://dredf.org/fifth-circuit-la-v-fda/?ref=readtangle.com) with Louisiana. Danco Laboratories and GenBioPro, two manufacturers of the drug, [challenged](https://www.scotusblog.com/2026/05/abortion-pill-dispute-returns-to-supreme-court/?ref=readtangle.com) that decision on May 2, arguing that Louisiana did not have standing to sue; Justice Alito issued the temporary pause two days later. The Supreme Court’s order is not a final decision in the case. After the challengers respond, the Court will decide whether to let the circuit court’s decision stand, take up the case itself, or extend the stay while it considers the arguments. The Supreme Court will decide how to proceed before the stay is lifted on May 11. We’ll get into what the left and right are saying about this case. Then, Associate Editor Audrey Moorehead gives her take. ### What the left is saying. - **Many on the left suggest mifepristone could create a political crisis for Trump.** - **Some believe the case is part of a national effort to restrict abortion access.** - **Others say the Supreme Court is to blame for the uncertainty over mifepristone.** **In MS NOW, Mary Ziegler suggested** [**“the mifepristone ruling could bring Trump’s high-wire act on abortion crashing down.”**](https://www.ms.now/opinion/mifepristone-trump-abortion-pill-ruling-mail?ref=readtangle.com) “In the 2024 presidential election, Donald Trump largely neutralized the abortion issue by simultaneously claiming credit for the end of Roe and suggesting that if he was returned to the presidency, each state could continue to set its own abortion policy,” Ziegler said. “After he was elected, anti-abortion groups rolled out a ‘Make America Pro-Life Again’ wish list, much of it focused on eliminating access to mifepristone. The Trump White House mostly ignored these demands, acutely aware of polls showing that most Americans opposed sweeping criminal laws and favored access to mifepristone.” “This equilibrium has worked for the president and the GOP, but changes to the broader landscape made it increasingly untenable in the long term. While Trump has continued picking judges with strong anti-abortion credentials, social conservatives have grown tired of waiting for the president,” Ziegler wrote. “The 5th Circuit ruling could bring Republicans’ high-wire act crashing down… \[Trump\] is trapped between increasingly angry social conservatives and an electorate broadly approving of abortion rights and access. The 5th Circuit’s ruling could harm an already wounded Republican Party.” **In The Hill, Nikki Sapiro Vinckier said** [**“an abortion ban won’t happen all at once — mifepristone is just the next phase.”**](https://thehill.com/opinion/healthcare/5862812-access-abortion-care-under-attack/?ref=readtangle.com) “In *Trump v. CASA, Inc.*, the Supreme Court signaled that even when courts step in, they may not be able to block these kinds of restrictions nationwide. That means access may increasingly depend on where you live and whether a specific challenge has been brought in your state. So even when access is restored, it is fragile, temporary and inconsistent,” Vinckier wrote. “At the same time, pressure is building from every direction. Federal lawmakers are introducing legislation aimed at revoking the FDA’s approval of mifepristone entirely. Advocacy groups are pushing agencies to revisit decades of settled science.” “The result is not one clear moment where abortion becomes illegal everywhere, but a series of decisions that slowly reshape access. The care is still technically available, but the path to get it becomes more difficult, more confusing and less reliable,” Vinckier said. “Banning medication abortion outright is deeply unpopular… Anti-abortion extremists think they can change access quietly without people noticing, without having to own it.” **In Slate, Jill Filipovic wrote** [**“abortion access is in chaos. Blame the Supreme Court.”**](https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2026/05/supreme-court-abortion-pill-access.html?ref=readtangle.com) “Overturning *Roe* didn’t resolve a contentious national argument and bring about an era of considered debate followed by a democratic process to set abortion laws that reflect public opinion; it just made abortion rights far more fragile, including in the liberal states that seek to protect them,” Filipovic said. “Instead of turning the issue back to the states, abortion opponents are now focused on ending abortion access nationwide. Instead of providing clarity, the courts have created chaos.” “The provision of mifepristone via telemedicine is… at the core of this most recent legal about-face that led the Supreme Court to temporarily allow telemedicine abortion to continue. But the court… did not say that telemedicine abortion is legal, case closed. It has just acquiesced to the status quo until it can decide,” Filipovic wrote. “In the meantime, the anti-abortion movement has pressured the Trump administration into forcing an FDA review of mifepristone, the results of which are supposed to come late this year. The movement’s great hope is that the FDA will revoke the drug’s approval entirely. And so women and their doctors remain in limbo.” ### What the right is saying. - **The right supports restricting mifepristone because of its medical risks.** - **Some expect the 5th Circuit’s ruling to eventually win out.** - **Others say the FDA must complete a thorough review of mifepristone.** **In The Wall Street Journal, Sierra Dawn McClain called mifepristone** [**“a tool of coercion.”**](https://www.wsj.com/opinion/mifepristone-as-a-tool-of-coercion-a00edf87?ref=readtangle.com) “The Fifth Circuit’s order has a sound basis. Mifepristone… poses clinical risks and is a potential tool of coercion and abuse. Its distribution without safeguards heightens these dangers,” McClain said. “An in-person doctor’s visit is the only reliable way to diagnose an ectopic pregnancy — a life-threatening condition in which an embryo implants outside the uterus. Because the symptoms of a chemical abortion (abdominal pain and uterine bleeding) can be similar to those of a ruptured ectopic pregnancy, a woman who doesn’t get an ultrasound or physical exam may mistake an emergency for a normal drug side effect.” “Pro-abortion groups say they champion women’s rights, yet they promote a policy that endangers women,” McClain wrote. “The Fifth Circuit’s order is a necessary corrective to the FDA’s failures. The agency should use this pause as an opportunity to reinstate permanently in-person dispensing and physician-led follow-up visits, which are necessary to protect women’s health and freedom.” **In Hot Air, Ed Morrissey explored** [**the Supreme Court’s “stay”**](https://hotair.com/ed-morrissey/2026/05/04/hmmm-scotus-stays-mail-order-abortion-pill-block-n3814576?ref=readtangle.com) **in the case.** “The Fifth Circuit shut \[the requirement for medical supervision\] down three years ago, but the Supreme Court overruled it on the basis of standing. The panel attempted to address that challenge in anticipation of another appeal,” Morrissey said. “This puts the new ruling on solid ground for standing, not to mention the FDA's acknowledgment of the use of incomplete data for its 2021 \[Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS)\]. Since the 2023 reversal, the state of Louisiana can also point to specific financial losses due to the 2021 REMS and the likelihood that those costs will increase in the future as more misuses occur.” “It makes sense to suspend the impact of the Fifth Circuit ruling for a brief period while hashing this out, but if Alito thought the court would just follow suit from their earlier ruling, he would have referred the case to the full court for cert, along with a more substantive injunction against the ruling,” Morrissey wrote. “This looks more like a quick way to reverse the previous ruling on standing, allowing the ruling to take full effect while Danco and GenBioPro pursue an appeal the hard way.” **In National Review, Dan McLaughlin made** [**“the case for staying the FDA rule on the abortion pill.”**](https://www.nationalreview.com/2026/05/the-case-for-staying-the-fda-rule-on-the-abortion-pill/amp/?ref=readtangle.com) “The stay request that has advanced through the Fifth Circuit to the Supreme Court doesn’t ask those courts to ban the pill entirely from the market but simply to restore the pre-2023 rules for dispensing it, which required a single, in-person doctor visit,” McLaughlin said. “The case isn’t brought by doctors, so it doesn’t have the same standing-to-sue issues that doomed a similar challenge in *FDA v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine* (2024). Louisiana has laws against using the pill to commit homicide against an unborn child, and allowing the pill to be mailed into the state without the participation of a Louisiana-licensed doctor undermines its ability to enforce that unquestionably constitutional law.” “\[The 5th Circuit\] found — unsurprisingly, given the lack of studies and the fact that the current FDA isn’t even defending the rule — that Louisiana is likely to win its suit on the merits. That’s always the most important factor, in practice, to granting an injunction, stay, temporary restraining order, or other emergency relief,” McLaughlin wrote. “Louisiana isn’t asking to stop the FDA from asking the right questions, or from answering them. It’s just asking the courts to tell the agency to stop acting as if it has the answers before it even starts asking the questions.” ### My take. **Reminder: “My take” is a section where we give ourselves space to share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, don't unsubscribe. Write in by replying to this email, or** [**leave a comment**](https://www.readtangle.com/scotus-considers-mifepristone/#ghost-comments-root)**.** - **I don’t think the FDA ever presented significant evidence to justify remote mifepristone prescriptions.** - **At the same time, I doubt the Supreme Court is going to unilaterally overturn the agency’s rules.** - **Trump won’t change those rules, either, and the pro-life movement needs to adjust to this administration.** **Associate Editor Audrey Moorehead:** Let’s rip the bias band-aid off: My most strongly held political conviction is my commitment to a [pro-life ethic](https://www.readtangle.com/consistent-life-ethic-sophie-trist/). Most of my political convictions are downstream of my belief that the preservation of human life is the single greatest goal of a secular government, and chief among those convictions is my view that abortion and physician-assisted suicide are the most pressing moral injustices in the United States today. The only non-Tangle political work I’ve ever done is pro-life volunteering. With that said, I celebrated the *Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization* decision for two reasons: First, and most pressingly, the Court acknowledged that abortion is not a federal constitutional right. Second, it asserted that states had the right to regulate abortion. Opinions on abortion [vary across the country](https://news.gallup.com/poll/321143/americans-stand-abortion.aspx?ref=readtangle.com) because the interest in preserving children’s lives and the interest in women’s autonomy and security are in tension, and our constitutional system was designed to allow the states to represent that variance in how they govern themselves. Therefore, the state-by-state variance in the [current map](https://reproductiverights.org/maps/abortion-laws-by-state/?ref=readtangle.com) of abortion access across the country is constitutionally necessary. Mail-order access to mifepristone and misoprostol, however, throws a wrench into the state-level gears — a wrench that staunchly pro-life states are trying to remove through legal appeals. In 2023, the FDA changed its Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies (REMS) policy to remove the in-person visit requirement to access abortion drugs. That meant, in practice, that people in pro-life states gained the ability to order the drugs online from pro-choice states, where doctors aren’t subject to restrictions on providing abortions. Additionally, several pro-choice states have enacted [“shield laws”](https://reproductiverights.org/resources/what-are-shield-laws/?ref=readtangle.com) that protect in-state medical providers from out-of-state civil and criminal enforcement. Pro-life states have [challenged](https://statecourtreport.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/new-yorks-abortion-shield-law-survives-first-challenge-texas?ref=readtangle.com) those shield laws by attempting to charge doctors in pro-choice states, but so far those challenges have failed. I have a few concerns with the FDA’s REMS revision regarding mifepristone and misoprostol. For one, the FDA ordered the change [without](https://publichealth.jhu.edu/2026/study-fda-regulation-of-abortion-drug-mifepristone-from-2011-to-2023-shaped-by-evidence-and-caution?ref=readtangle.com) significant new evidence suggesting further assurance of the drugs’ safety. The last significant review of mifepristone occurred in the early 2010s, and it resulted in no change to the in-person visit protocol out of an abundance of caution. The FDA temporarily allowed practitioners to bypass that requirement during the pandemic, but when it completely removed the in-person rule following the *Dobbs* decision in 2023, it didn’t seem to conduct a completely independent review. The agency only began a totally new internal review of the drug in 2025, and that review is ongoing. The FDA [cited](https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda%5Fdocs/summary%5Freview/2023/020687Orig1s025SumR.pdf?ref=readtangle.com) international evidence as part of its reasoning for relaxing the REMS. But I think the FDA was motivated more by changing state policies in the wake of *Dobbs*, and I’m alarmed that it made this decision without conducting further review on its own. No matter which direction it comes from, that sort of federal agency politicization is not good for a few reasons — it reduces trust in the agencies themselves, and in this case, it undermines the states’ ability to enforce their laws. Answering whether mifepristone and misoprostol legitimately deserve the relaxed REMS is complicated by the researchers’ biased proclivities or by the data itself. For example, the most significant studies on the topic include a [2013 review](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23262942/?ref=readtangle.com) of Planned Parenthood’s agency-reported data on adverse events following mifepristone use; that data found a 0.65% rate of significant adverse events, which would support relaxation of the FDA rules. But one of the authors of the paper was Planned Parenthood’s medical director, the study defined “significant adverse events” without including things like incomplete abortions, and some pro-life scholars [have issued a study challenging](https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/23333928211068919?ref=readtangle.com) Planned Parenthood’s numbers using FDA data obtained via Freedom of Information Act requests (pro-choice organizations [disputed](https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/23/23-235/284910/20231012165311306%5FAmicus%20Brief%20of%20American%20College%20of%20Obstetricians%20and%20Gynecologists%20et%20al..pdf?ref=readtangle.com) the results of this study). On the other side, pro-life think tanks have funded their own controversial research into the topic. The most [recent such review](https://media.eppc.org/2025/04/25-04-The-Abortion-Pill-Harms-Women.pdf?ref=readtangle.com), conducted by the Ethics and Public Policy Center, found that the FDA underestimates the dangers of the drugs; however, their research was not peer-reviewed. In a prominent controversy, a series of papers published by pro-life researchers purporting to show increased health risks of mifepristone [was retracted](https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/23333928231216699?ref=readtangle.com) by the publishing journal in 2024 following concerns about methodology and conflict of interest (which the pro-life authors [disputed](https://assaultonscience.org/?ref=readtangle.com)). Some studies carried out overseas indicate that mifepristone is generally safe, though it might need to be treated with caution. One [UK study](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8360126/?ref=readtangle.com) of telemedicine access to mifepristone and misoprostol found no significant safety issues from the drug. But a 2009 Finnish study [found](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19888037/?ref=readtangle.com) that medication abortions had a higher incidence of adverse events than surgical abortion, using a wider definition of adverse events than the 2013 Planned Parenthood study. Much of the differences between various reports on mifepristone come from using different definitions of serious adverse events. Not only will different people reporting their issues define adverse effects differently, but those effects may not necessarily be caused by the drug itself (that is, a causal connection between the drug and adverse symptoms is difficult to establish). And what’s more, the FDA [changed](https://www.gao.gov/assets/gao-18-292.pdf?ref=readtangle.com#page=12) its practice of collecting adverse-event data in 2016 so that prescribers only needed to report deaths after use of the drug, not other serious events, limiting our understanding of the complexity of the issue. While I acknowledge that some research supports the safety of this medication, I think that competing findings should at least have necessitated an in-house FDA review before the in-person restrictions were lifted. It’s possible that that review would have turned up similar results as seen in the UK, and the restrictions could have been lifted anyway — but instead, it seems like the rules were changed based on pressure from drug manufacturers and the apparent political climate. That said, even if the medication is reviewed and deemed safe for at-home use, that practice still creates issues — problems of autonomy that should disturb pro-choice and pro-life people alike. There has been [case](https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna22032450?ref=readtangle.com) after [case](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/john-welden-fla-man-tricked-girlfriend-with-abortion-drug-that-killed-unborn-child-feds-allege/?ref=readtangle.com) after [case](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/man-accused-of-killing-fetus-with-abortion-pancake/?ref=readtangle.com) after [case](https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2022/11/14/texas-husband-abortion-drug-wife/?ref=readtangle.com) after [case](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/louisiana-seeks-arrest-of-california-doctor-accused-of-mailing-abortion-pills/?ref=readtangle.com) after [case](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cjr8jv2yjz9o?ref=readtangle.com) after [case](https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/abortion-pill-misoprostol-boyfriend-arrested-pregnant-girlfriend/?ref=readtangle.com) after [case](https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/tarrant-county/north-texas-man-arrested-murder-accused-secretly-giving-pregnant-girlfriend-abortion-inducing-drug/287-78e3ff6d-826c-41ff-925b-b558b8f69d03?ref=readtangle.com) of people, usually men but sometimes families, ordering the abortion pill regimen online, then tricking, coercing, or forcing their partners or children into taking them. Often, these cases can involve the improper administration of the medicine — some partners force-fed the pills beyond the 10-week gestational limit, which carries higher risk of complications. In some of those cases, the women lost their babies. In at least one case, a baby was born prematurely and [has experienced](https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/court/2024/02/08/476976/houston-attorney-accused-of-slipping-abortion-drugs-into-pregnant-wifes-drinks-pleads-guilty-sentenced-to-jail/?ref=readtangle.com) developmental delays. In nearly all cases, the women experienced the many negative symptoms of taking abortion pills — nausea, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and heavy bleeding. While some of these instances occurred while the FDA’s in-person requirement was still in place, they can occur more easily absent any in-person requirement — and they’re made especially easy by mail-order access across state lines, into states where these pills are ostensibly banned in the first place. Ultimately, though, I’m genuinely unsure how the Supreme Court will rule on the 5th Circuit Court’s order pausing the 2023 standards update. I found Dan McLaughlin’s argument in National Review (under “What the right is saying”) somewhat convincing, that the Court *could* legitimately decide to ban remote access to mifepristone. Such a ruling would be consistent with the Court’s recent limitations on agency power. Even so, I think stepping in to restrict the use of a drug with agency approval is a bridge too far for this Court — especially when the president and new agency director have had ample opportunity to reverse the rule and just… haven’t. That point actually brings me to what I think is probably the most interesting aspect of the pro-life movement at the moment: its apparent standoff with President Trump. The Wall Street Journal recently [ran a piece](https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/trump-anti-abortion-movement-76393c1c?ref=readtangle.com) reporting that major pro-life organizations and leaders are beginning to break with Trump over his refusal to do anything related to abortion at the national level. Before Trump was elected, [Project 2025](https://www.readtangle.com/project-2025-explained/#:~:text=Perhaps%20more%20notably,of%20abortion%20pills.) raised the prospect of enforcing the Comstock Act, an 1873 law banning the mailing of abortion-producing substances. But Trump has neither done that nor restored the in-person requirement on mifepristone access. If you ask me, though, pro-life movement leaders fundamentally misunderstand the president — and they misunderstand how pro-life activism needs to adapt to the post-*Dobbs* world. I’d say President Trump is actually pretty pro-choice — he [softened](https://abcnews.com/Politics/2024-rnc-platform-alter-gops-abortion-position-time/story?ref=readtangle.com) the abortion language in the 2024 GOP platform, which had been a party cornerstone since 1976\. As a Florida voter in 2024, he [only said](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy547v72nd4o?ref=readtangle.com) he’d vote no on an abortion-rights ballot measure *after* he received backlash for appearing to support it in an interview. I don’t think President Trump was ever committed to pro-life ideals; he was willing to bring in justices who might overturn *Roe*, sure, but I honestly think that had more to do with politics than principles. But once *Roe* was gone and abortion returned to the states, that calculus changed. National abortion bans have never been popular, and support for abortion rights (and the [number of abortions](https://www.kff.org/womens-health-policy/abortion-trends-before-and-after-dobbs/?ref=readtangle.com)) only [increased](https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2024/05/13/broad-public-support-for-legal-abortion-persists-2-years-after-dobbs/?ref=readtangle.com) after *Dobbs*. Trump is a savvy politician who’s tapped into populist instincts, and since he was never thoroughly committed to a pro-life ethic to begin with, he sees the writing on the wall. He’d much rather spend his political capital pursuing the agenda items he always cared about — immigration, tariffs, and his theory of foreign policy — than pursuing national pro-life legislation. The pro-life movement has been rudderless post-*Dobbs* — it was designed as a national movement, not a state-level one. But now, when pro-life legislation in states like Tennessee and Texas can be compared against pro-choice laws in California and Massachusetts, the pro-life movement needs to focus on making sure that [maternal outcomes in pro-life states](https://ptbwrites.substack.com/p/is-the-post-dobbs-moment-over) are competitive with — or even better than — pro-choice states. As I said earlier, the interest of fetal life is often in direct tension with the interest of the mother’s autonomy and financial stability. As long as those interests are in tension, and as long as fetal life and consciousness are debated, the pro-life movement will never be able to impose federal, top-down, anti-abortion legislation. Likewise, the Supreme Court isn’t likely to step in and provide those rules itself. Instead, pro-life advocates should turn their focus to setting up pro-family policies that address the *demand* for abortion, not rigidly prohibiting the supply. ****Staff dissent — Executive Editor Isaac Saul:** I find Audrey’s arguments about the threats of mifepristone unconvincing. She, and many other conservative writers, engage in the “misuse fallacy” — the idea that because a product is misused by some people it needs to be more heavily regulated. I can find cases [here](https://www.bostonglobe.com/2026/04/02/metro/massachusetts-antifreeze-murder/?ref=readtangle.com), [here](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stacey%5FCastor?ref=readtangle.com), and [here](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Staudte%5Ffamily%5Fmurders?ref=readtangle.com) of antifreeze being used to murder spouses or family members. Similarly, I can find cases [here](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/natalie-cochran-sentenced-pharmacist-poisoning-death-husband-west-virginia/?ref=readtangle.com), [here](https://www.khou.com/article/news/local/sarah-hartsfield-murder-conviction-fifth-husband-dies-insulin-poisoning/285-3dbf2004-a66c-4afe-853e-f463d72d454d?ref=readtangle.com), and [here](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/michael-natalie-cochran-insulin-murder-rcna202685?ref=readtangle.com) of over-the-counter insulin being used in murder or manslaughter, typically against spouses. Should either of these substances require stricter access because of potential misuse? Mifepristone is a well studied drug and the FDA has real-world data from thousands and thousands of patients over more than 20 years to analyze in its decisionmaking process. I trust trained regulators are taking a more evenhanded approach than pro-life legal challenges, which have often been [farcical concoctions](https://www.readtangle.com/mifepristone-ruling-scotus/#:~:text=than%20mass%20opinion.%E2%80%9D-,My%20take.,-Reminder%3A%20%22My%20take) downstream of the movement’s success in striking down **Roe.* Ultimately, where Audrey sees a regulatory agency under political pressure, I see an agency that acted cautiously over more than two decades before making a justifiable safety decision that made a popular drug more accessible. **Take the survey:** How do you think the Supreme Court should rule on the challenge to remote mifepristone prescriptions? [Let us know](https://interrobang.vercel.app/survey/0a3ca42c-b3f9-423c-b867-7e16a719612b?ref=readtangle.com). *Disagree? That's okay. Our opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we'll consider publishing your feedback.* ### Your questions, answered. *We're skipping the reader question today to give our main story some extra space. Want to have a question answered in the newsletter? You can reply to this email (it goes straight to our inbox) or* [*fill out this form*](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScQhqBSG%5F6%5FoBhwcTQMeS570n29XYbeQ9C9Bis7rjqI31g1tA/viewform?usp=header&ref=readtangle.com)*.* ### Under the radar. On Tuesday, Meta, which owns social media platforms Instagram and Facebook, said it will begin using artificial intelligence to scan users’ photos and videos to determine if they are underage. People 13 years old and younger are not allowed on the platforms, and Meta said the AI will look for “general themes and visual cues,” such as height and bone structure, to flag potential underage users. The system is currently operating in select countries, but Meta plans to expand its use in the near future. The announcement comes after a jury ordered Meta to pay $375 million for violating New Mexico’s consumer protection law and putting children at risk. [TechCrunch has the story](https://techcrunch.com/2026/05/05/meta-will-use-ai-to-analyze-height-and-bone-structure-to-identify-if-users-are-underage/?ref=readtangle.com). In Partnership with Butcherbox ****Isaac’s Go-To for Summer BBQ** Isaac swears by ButcherBox for summer — high-quality meat and seafood, delivered straight to your door. No last-minute store runs, no compromises. **“It’s easier and better quality than running to the store every time.”* — Isaac Saul, Founder. Less hassle, better grilling. **Get started today.** [****Code TANGLE gets you $60 off plus free protein for life**](https://butcherbox.pxf.io/c/3250132/3882509/16419?ref=readtangle.com)****!** [Get free protein for life! ](https://butcherbox.pxf.io/c/3250132/3882509/16419?ref=readtangle.com) ### Numbers. - [**42% and 18%.**](https://www.kff.org/public-opinion/kff-health-tracking-poll-knowledge-and-views-of-medication-abortion/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Four%20in%20Ten%20Are%20Unsure%20About%20the%20Safety%20of%20Abortion%20Pills%2C%C2%A0Including%20Nearly%20Four%20in%20Ten%20Women%20of%20Reproductive%20Age) The percentage of U.S. adults who consider abortion pills to be safe and unsafe, respectively, according to an October–November 2025 KFF poll. - [**55% and 9%.**](https://www.kff.org/public-opinion/kff-health-tracking-poll-knowledge-and-views-of-medication-abortion/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Compared%20to%20Two%20Years%20Ago%2C%20Fewer%20U.S.%20Adults%20Say%20Abortion%20Pills%20Are%20Safe%20When%20Taken%20as%20Directed%2C%20Including%20Women%20of%20Reproductive%20Age) The percentage of U.S. adults who said they consider abortion pills to be safe and unsafe, respectively, in May 2023\. - [**31% and 68%.**](https://www.kff.org/public-opinion/kff-health-tracking-poll-knowledge-and-views-of-medication-abortion/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=...ban%20the%20use%20of%20mifepristone%20or%20medication%20abortion%20nationwide) The percentage of U.S. adults who say they support and oppose, respectively, laws that would ban the use of mifepristone or medication abortion nationwide. - [**33% and 65%.**](https://www.kff.org/public-opinion/kff-health-tracking-poll-knowledge-and-views-of-medication-abortion/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=...-,make%20it%20a%20crime%20for%20health%20care%20providers%20to%20mail%20abortion%20pills%20to%20patients%20in%20states%20where%20abortion%20is%20banned,-Support) The percentage of U.S. adults who say they support and oppose, respectively, laws that would ban health care providers from mailing abortion pills to patients in states where abortion is banned. ### The extras. - **One year ago today** we wrote about [defunding NPR and PBS](https://www.readtangle.com/trump-defunds-npr-pbs-executive-order/). - **The most clicked link in our last regular newsletter** was once again our Friday edition about [corruption in the Trump administration](https://www.readtangle.com/the-everything-everywhere-all-at-once-corruption-story/). - **Nothing to do with politics:** [Ranking American light lagers](https://www.foodandwine.com/american-light-beers-ranked-11959364?ref=readtangle.com). - **Our last survey:** 1,618 readers responded to our ranked survey on Department of Homeland Security shutdown with 42% saying the shutdown will have significant political and operational consequences. “It will be much worse than predicted,” one respondent said. “The operational degradation will go unnoticed unless some tragic incident happens that could have been caught by an agency that had not been legislatively abused and diminished,” said another. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/05/data-src-image-7ab61be6-930d-4354-bcf3-d5aeb04f11ce.png) ### Have a nice day. In March, a New Zealander became separated from her dog, Molly, after the two fell down a waterfall during a hike. The owner was rescued, but Molly remained missing. A helicopter crew equipped with thermal imaging technology located Molly a week later, lying down at the base of a waterfall. A rescuer — accompanied by support dog Bingo — was able to reach Molly and airlift her to safety. Dog and owner have since been reunited. [Stuff has the story (with video of the rescue)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8eBELva998&ref=readtangle.com). ### Video of Marco Rubio DJing goes viral. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/video-of-marco-rubio-djing-goes-viral/ Last updated: 2026-05-06T00:03:56.000Z A video has gone viral of Secretary of State Marco Rubio DJing a family wedding. ### The DHS shutdown ends. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/dhs-shutdown-ends/ Last updated: 2026-05-05T15:53:47.000Z *I'm Isaac Saul, and this is Tangle: an independent, nonpartisan, subscriber-supported politics newsletter that summarizes the best arguments from across the political spectrum on the news of the day.* *Are you new here?* [*Get free emails*](https://www.readtangle.com/) *to your inbox daily. Would you rather listen? You can find our podcast* [*here*](https://shows.acast.com/66510864c0852400122bc7be?ref=readtangle.com)*.* ### Today’s read: 13 minutes. 💵 The longest government shutdown in history ended after 76 days. Plus, a reader asks about the Senate's new ban on prediction market trading. ### Isaac on Breaking Points. Executive Editor Isaac Saul’s Friday [report on allegations of corruption](https://www.readtangle.com/the-everything-everywhere-all-at-once-corruption-story/) in the second Trump administration has driven a massive response across the Tangle community — and among those who are newly discovering his work. This morning, Isaac went on Breaking Points with Krystal Ball and Saagar Enjeti to discuss the piece. You can check out the interview on their [YouTube channel](https://www.youtube.com/c/breakingpoints?ref=readtangle.com) at **3:00 PM ET**. ### Quick hits. 1. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) said that multiple missiles were launched toward its territory from Iran; the missiles were intercepted or fell into the sea. The country also blamed Iran for a series of fires at UAE fuel facilities and on ships off its coast. Separately, the United States said it sank several Iranian military boats after Iran fired missiles at commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. The incidents potentially imperil the U.S.–Iran ceasefire. ([The latest](https://www.axios.com/2026/05/04/iran-attack-uae-missiles-ceasefire-hormuz?ref=readtangle.com)) 2. The Secret Service said its agents exchanged gunfire with a suspect near the White House, causing the building to briefly lock down. The suspect was shot and is currently hospitalized, but further details have not been released. A 15-year-old bystander was also shot and sustained non-life-threatening injuries. ([The shooting](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/05/04/capitol-hill-shooting-white-house-lockdown/?ref=readtangle.com)) 3. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) signed into law a new Congressional map that could net Republicans four additional seats in the U.S. House. The map is expected to face legal challenges. ([The map](https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/5855827-florida-redistricting-desantis-law/?ref=readtangle.com)) 4. The Supreme Court issued an unsigned order granting a request to immediately finalize its opinion in *Louisiana v. Callais*, which found that one of Louisiana’s majority-black Congressional districts was unconstitutionally gerrymandered based on race. The decision will allow the state to adopt a new map before the 2026 midterms. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson dissented. ([The order](https://www.scotusblog.com/2026/05/court-gives-immediate-effect-to-voting-rights-act-decision/?ref=readtangle.com)) 5. The Justice Department officially ended its investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell over the cost of the central bank’s renovation project in Washington, D.C. U.S. Attorney for D.C. Jeanine Pirro said the inspector general for the Federal Reserve is launching an inquiry into the project. ([The update](https://www.nbcnews.com/business/economy/justice-dept-drops-probe-federal-reserve-powell-rcna341876?ref=readtangle.com)) In Partnership with AquaVault ****Small gift, essential for life on the go (perfect for Mom)** Ever had your phone die right when you needed to make a phone call, take a photo or call an Uber? Unfortunately, it happens all the time. Meet the [ULTRA SLIM Wireless ChargeCard](https://theaquavault.com/products/wireless-magnetic-chargecard?ref=readtangle.com) — a portable charger that’s thin enough to slip right into your pocket or wallet (unlike those big, bulky chargers with long messy cables). Since it charges your phone magnetically, there are no cables needed. Just stick it to the back of your phone and instantly start charging. It’s sleek, powerful, and ridiculously THIN. [Innovated by a SHARK TANK company](https://theaquavault.com/products/wireless-magnetic-chargecard?ref=readtangle.com) and featured in Forbes and Fox for a reason, the ChargeCard is arguably the most convenient charger around. ****Use code 30TANGLE to** [****get 30% OFF**](https://theaquavault.com/products/wireless-magnetic-chargecard?ref=readtangle.com) **your order today.** [Get 30% Off ChargeCard ](https://theaquavault.com/products/wireless-magnetic-chargecard?ref=readtangle.com) ### Today’s topic. The end of the Homeland Security shutdown. On Thursday, April 30, the House of Representatives [passed](https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/house-republicans-undecided-dhs-funding-secret-service-tsa-pressure-action-2026-04-30/?ref=readtangle.com) legislation to fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and end the department’s 76-day shutdown, the longest shutdown in U.S. government history. The House of Representatives and the Senate each had passed separate bills to end the shutdown; on Thursday, the House approved the Senate’s legislation in a voice vote under suspension of the rules, and President Donald Trump signed the bill into law the same day. **Back up:** The shutdown [began](https://www.readtangle.com/dhs-shutdown-and-agent-withdrawal/) on February 14 amid tensions over the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement efforts, with Democrats refusing to fund the department without significant reform to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Patrol (CBP). DHS oversees ICE and CBP, as well as a host of other agencies, including the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the U.S. Coast Guard, and the Secret Service. While the shutdown paused funding for most DHS departments, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act provided advance funding for ICE and CBP, allowing them to continue full operations. *We previously covered the shutdown* [*here*](https://www.readtangle.com/dhs-shutdown-and-agent-withdrawal/) *and* [*here*](https://www.readtangle.com/dhs-partial-shutdown-ice-cbp-tsa/)*.* The end of the shutdown comes after a weekslong standoff between House and Senate Republicans. The House of Representatives would not consider a unanimous Senate bill to fund all of DHS except its immigration enforcement agencies. Then, on April 29, the House voted to [adopt](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/house-vote-senate-approved-budget-resolution-ice-funding/?ref=readtangle.com) a Senate resolution to increase ICE and CBP budgets by about $70 billion. Following the approval of the Senate’s budget proposal, the White House [reportedly sent](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/28/us/politics/congress-dhs-funding.html?ref=readtangle.com) a memo urging the House to approve the DHS funding bill and end the shutdown. On May 4, Republicans in the House and Senate [released](https://punchbowl.news/article/senate/72b-recon/?ref=readtangle.com) the text of their plan, with $72 billion in total funding. The bill contains $38.2 billion for ICE; $26 billion for CBP; and smaller amounts for DHS, the Justice Department, and the Secret Service. GOP leaders are aiming to pass the bill by June 1. Representatives of both parties welcomed the end of the shutdown and blamed the opposition for its length. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) [said](https://democraticleader.house.gov/media/press-releases/leader-jeffries-statement-dhs-funding?ref=readtangle.com), “For more than two months, Donald Trump and House Republicans have kept the Department of Homeland Security shut down because of their toxic demand to spend billions of taxpayer dollars on ICE brutality. Today, the extremists backed down.” Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-NY), chair of the House Committee on Homeland Security, [said](https://homeland.house.gov/2026/05/01/homeland-republicans-applaud-end-of-democrat-dhs-shutdown-move-to-fully-fund-the-department/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=House%20Committee%20on%20Homeland%20Security%C2%A0Chairman%C2%A0Andrew%20R.%20Garbarino%20%28R%2DNY%29%20said), “For 76 days, Congressional Democrats forced a shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security… While the majority of the Department has now been funded, I remain committed to ensuring every component of DHS, including those tasked with border security, has the resources and oversight needed to succeed.” Roughly 1,100 CISA staff [reportedly](https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5861258-mullin-cisa-dhs-shutdown/?ref=readtangle.com) left the agency during the shutdown. TSA staffing had a turnover of 8%, nearly double its usual rate of 4.6%, according to DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin. Below, we’ll get into what writers from the left and right are saying about the end of the shutdown. Then, Senior Editor Will Kaback gives his take. ### What the right is saying. - **The right expresses urgency around funding DHS — and its defense activities.** - **Some say the extended funding lapse has degraded DHS operations beyond border security.** - **Others criticize congressional Democrats for long refusing to end the shutdown.** **In The Daily Wire, Tod Lindberg wrote** [**“America can’t afford the high cost of a reactive defense.”**](https://www.dailywire.com/news/fund-dhs-america-cant-afford-the-high-cost-of-a-reactive-defense?ref=readtangle.com) “A security camera captured video of the alleged would-be assassin charging through a magnetometer at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner Saturday night… The partial government shutdown affecting the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) didn’t have any direct impact on the effectiveness of the response on Saturday. But with the shutdown now in its 11th week, Congress is playing with fire,” Lindberg said. “Much of the activity of prevention consists of informed speculation about what might happen. The idea is to map out plausible sequences of events leading to a bad outcome, then to derail the sequence.” “A lot of planning and war-gaming is essential to getting ahead of potential threats. Yet the partial shutdown at DHS has forced much of this activity to close shop as ‘non-essential,’” Lindberg wrote. “The Secret Service and the Transportation Security Administration were both on the scene Saturday to perform essential functions, and they did their jobs. Because Democrats loathe the Trump administration’s immigration policies, it falls to the GOP to find a way to fund DHS. Never has ‘non-essential’ been so essential.” **In Times-Republican, Rep. Randy Feenstra (R-IA) argued** [**“the DHS funding lapse has strained homeland security.”**](https://www.timesrepublican.com/opinion/columnists/2026/05/how-the-dhs-funding-lapse-has-strained-homeland-security/?ref=readtangle.com) “Operationally, agencies are struggling to pay vendors, maintain facilities, and support critical travel. These are not just abstract problems; they have direct consequences. At our ports of entry, CBP facilities risk losing essential services, including utilities and communications, if payments lapse,” Feenstra said. “Law enforcement officers incurred travel expenses they may not be reimbursed for, adding further strain on their families. Training programs across multiple agencies have also been canceled, and critical cybersecurity efforts have been scaled back, increasing vulnerabilities to foreign adversaries. The impacts extend far beyond just border enforcement. “FEMA announced that it is nearing depletion of its Disaster Relief Fund, which has been a lifeline for communities like Rock Valley when responding to emergencies and natural disasters. TSA staffing shortages contributed to longer airport wait times, delayed flights, and even flights being canceled,” Feenstra wrote. “Let’s be clear: this is not about partisanship. It is about ensuring that the men and women who defend our country have the support they need to do their jobs. It is about maintaining the operational integrity of the agencies that safeguard our borders, respond to disasters, and prevent attacks.” **In Townhall, Jenny Beth Martin said** [**“now” is the time to “fund the Department of Homeland Security.”**](https://townhall.com/columnists/jennybethmartin/2026/04/28/fund-the-department-of-homeland-security-now-n2675139?ref=readtangle.com) “Democrats are determined not to fund ICE and CBP, lest they offend the radical base that demands defunding all law enforcement authorities and lose the base’s engagement and turnout in the upcoming midterm elections,” Martin wrote. “When many of us advocated for a shutdown in 2013 rather than provide funding to implement Obamacare, we knew that Republicans would bring the shutdown to an end if the Democrats were unwilling to negotiate, and we knew we would have to make our case to the American people in elections, working to persuade more people to our side. “By contrast, the Democrats who now refuse to vote to fund DHS, or even to allow the bill to come to the floor of the Senate so that it can be funded by the votes of others, do not care about making their case against DHS funding electorally,” Martin said. “They are not denying the agency funding to draw attention to a political issue, they are denying funding to the agency because they want to eliminate it. They want what they want, and they want it right now, and the consequences be damned.” ### What the left is saying. - **Many on the left argue Republicans caved on the DHS shutdown.** - **Some suggest the shutdown’s ending was historically unique.** - **Others frame the lack of ICE and CBP funding as a win for Democrats.** **In New York Magazine, Ed Kilgore said** [**“the shutdown finally ends.”**](https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/dhs-shutdown-finally-ends-with-an-exhausted-whimper.html?ref=readtangle.com) “The surrender occurred as part of an extremely complicated series of developments in the House Republican Caucus this week that involved deals over FISA (foreign-intelligence gathering) reauthorization, a farm bill, and a budget resolution setting up a budget-reconciliation measure to pre-fund the immigration enforcement functions left out of the DHS bill to secure Democratic votes,” Kilgore wrote. “With this assurance that unencumbered money for ICE and the Border Patrol was on its way, House Republicans apparently decided to stop taking hostage the rest of DHS, including TSA, FEMA, the U.S. Coast Guard, the Secret Service, and various anti-terrorism programs.” “Members of both parties probably have mixed feelings about the DHS shutdown now that it’s finally over. Democrats got the opportunity to talk for weeks about abuses by ICE and CBP agents and to display to restive elements of the party base their ability to stay unified while ‘fighting Trump,’” Kilgore said. “Republicans got the opportunity to find a way to stuff ICE and CBP full of even more funding than they had before without having to consider or adopt any of the ‘guardrails’ on their conduct that Democrats were demanding. And in the end, nobody in the House in either party had to go on record supporting or opposing the measure that ended the shutdown thanks to the voice-vote device.” **In MS NOW, James Downie argued** [**“House Republicans caved — and changed the politics of government shutdowns.”**](https://www.ms.now/news/house-republicans-dhs-ice-funding?ref=readtangle.com) “For the first time, the side precipitating a government shutdown neither had to cave in the end nor suffer a backlash for holding out. It seems that, at least for now, the politics of shutdowns have fundamentally changed. It should be acknowledged at this point that unlike last year’s shutdown showdowns, this one was over one department and not the whole government,” Downie wrote. “The shift in shutdown politics may be a function of two circumstances, but neither is changing soon. It certainly helps Democrats that congressional Republicans can barely keep their ship afloat. “The relationship between Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune is frosty at best, and while Republicans’ narrow House majority would challenge any speaker, Johnson’s tenure has consisted largely of disorganization punctuated by last-minute scrambles to push through must-pass bills,” Downie said. “With midterms looming, Congress could punt the next round of funding bills until after votes are cast, as it did in 2024\. But with even some Republicans expecting Democrats to flip the House and perhaps the Senate, a postponement could hurt the GOP’s leverage. Regardless of the date for the next funding fight, though, Democrats should reprise and even deepen the resolve they showed in this one.” **In The New Republic, Hafiz Rashid wrote** [**“Republicans cave\[d\]” on the shutdown “without funding ICE.”**](https://newrepublic.com/post/209814/republicans-congress-cave-end-dhs-shutdown-no-funding-ice?ref=readtangle.com) “The bill, passed by a voice vote in the House, is a win for Democrats, as it still includes no money for ICE or Border Patrol, and is now headed to President Trump’s desk to be signed into law. House Speaker Mike Johnson reportedly decided to finally support the bill after a private meeting with his fellow Republican leaders earlier in the day, where they agreed that the situation couldn’t continue,” Rashid said. “Previously, House Republicans had criticized their counterparts in the Senate for passing the measure with a voice vote, which doesn’t record individual members’ votes, only to adopt the same method on Thursday. “DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin complained last week that the department was almost out of money and soon wouldn’t be able to pay its employees. Now, assuming Trump doesn’t veto the bill, employees will still be paid,” Rashid wrote. “But the question of ICE’s future is still unanswered, as Democrats want the agency reformed at a minimum, with some calling for its abolition, and Republicans seem to be fine with the violence it visits on American cities. For now, at least, ICE won’t get any more money.” ### My take. **Reminder: “My take” is a section where we give ourselves space to share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, don't unsubscribe. Write in by replying to this email, or** [**leave a comment**](https://www.readtangle.com/dhs-shutdown-ends/#ghost-comments-root)**.** - **The shutdown may have felt pointless, but the long-term ramifications could be grave.** - **The saga weakened both agencies and constitutional norms.** - **Republicans may have “won” in the short term, but at what cost?** **Senior Editor Will Kaback:** So this is the way the shutdown ends — not with a bang but a whimper. Maybe it’s just me, but I expected a record-shattering shutdown (of a purportedly critical federal department, no less) to feel like it meant something. Instead, very little has changed — except that our government dysfunction has deepened. DHS is responsible for ensuring homeland security, and while 76 days with a partially operational department likely weakened our security apparatus in many invisible ways, the department’s partial shutdown didn’t upend the federal government. Instead, it was more like a rash, flaring up on occasion (airport wait lines) but mostly melting into the background as a low-grade annoyance. Now that the Department of Homeland Security’s external problems are over, however, its internal problems are just beginning. During the shutdown, critical DHS agencies were forced to scale back important functions: The Federal Emergency Management Agency [restricted](https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2026/02/18/fema-travel-pause-dhs-funding/?ref=readtangle.com) disaster-related travel, and the Coast Guard [withstood](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/coast-guard-crisis-dhs-shutdown-halts-pay-in-may-cuts-power-strains-missions/?ref=readtangle.com) energy shortages at duty stations as it racked up millions in unpaid utility bills. Then, the staffing. Roughly 1,100 Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) workers have left since mid-February, a massive reduction for an agency that was [already struggling](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/22/us/politics/cyber-agency-dhs-security-setbacks.html?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=In%20January%202025%2C%20CISA%20employed%20about%203%2C400%20people.%20That%20number%20has%20dropped%20to%20below%202%2C400.%20The%20shutdown%20means%20employees%20are%20now%20furloughed%2C%20leaving%20fewer%20than%201%2C000%20of%20them%20to%20continue%20working.) with low headcount. Last week, DHS [shared](https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/over-1000-us-tsa-officers-have-left-since-start-shutdown-dhs-says-2026-04-28/?ref=readtangle.com) that over 1,000 Transportation Security Administration officers left the agency during the shutdown. While it’s a relief that TSA workers will again have a reliable paycheck, replacing 1,000 employees lost in 2.5 months (even at a 50,000-person agency) will take time — time the TSA doesn’t have. As DHS [stressed](https://x.com/DHSgov/status/2048893541665947965?s=20&ref=readtangle.com) before the shutdown ended last week, “Ahead of the FIFA World Cup and summer travel, this \[employee\] loss has SIGNIFICANTLY decreased TSA’s ability to meet passenger demand and left critical gaps in staffing.” The issues at CISA are similar. The agency’s operations were already floundering pre-shutdown due to a lack of a Senate-confirmed agency head. Now, with the Iran war causing [elevated cybersecurity threats](https://www.cybersecuritydive.com/news/iran-hackers-threat-level-us-allies/813494/?ref=readtangle.com), the agency tasked with cybersecurity and infrastructure protection across all levels of government is operating with a skeleton crew. In April, Acting Director Nick Andersen [testified](https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/defense/4553281/markwayne-mullin-dhs-restart-thousands-quit-during-shutdown/?ref=readtangle.com) that CISA’s capacity to counter cyber threats was “more limited than I would like,” saying many of its core functions were “simply not possible or legally allowed during the period of a shutdown.” As with the TSA, those challenges won’t be resolved overnight by the shutdown ending. It’s difficult to assess the full scope of these less tangible costs, but we know from past shutdowns that they can be pervasive. A study of the 2018–19 government shutdown [found](https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/puar.70032?ref=readtangle.com) it correlated with a 17% increase in quit rates among federal workers, with more experienced workers most likely to depart. Another report on the 2013 shutdown [found](https://ideas.darden.virginia.edu/impact-of-a-government-shutdown?ref=readtangle.com) “employees exposed to furloughs were 31% more likely to leave their jobs within one year.” I know the Trump administration and others might see a long-term headcount reduction as a positive, but I’m not so sure. For one, these agencies all strike me as critical — I don’t think most people, Trump included, are arguing that a hollowed-out TSA would be a good thing. And while the president has [railed against](https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/04/addressing-risks-from-chris-krebs-and-government-censorship/?ref=readtangle.com) CISA for undermining his claim that the 2020 election was fraudulent, the rest of us don’t have to accept that framing. We’re fighting a war against a country known for perpetrating cyber attacks, and tech companies are sounding the alarms about [powerful AI models](https://www.readtangle.com/anthropic-claude-mythos-cybersecurity/) that can be leveraged for cyber warfare. Given all that, I want a cybersecurity agency that’s beefing up its staffing, not hemorrhaging it. I’m also worried about how this shutdown contributed to an observable erosion of constitutional norms. When we covered the shutdown at the end of March, I [wrote](https://www.readtangle.com/dhs-partial-shutdown-ice-cbp-tsa/#:~:text=I%20think%20most,have%20our%20answer.) that President Trump’s [memorandum](https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/03/memorandum-for-the-secretary-of-homeland-security-and-the-director-of-the-office-of-management-and-budget/?ref=readtangle.com) to reshuffle federal funds to pay TSA workers was “a significant expansion of Trump’s claimed power to use federal funds for purposes that Congress hasn’t approved” — a quiet pilfering of the legislative branch’s power of the purse. Well, Trump’s order was executed without resistance from Republican leaders, TSA agents got paid, and the long airport lines mostly dissipated. What’s to stop the president (or a future one) from deploying the same tactic to resolve the next inconvenient budget fight? The coming reconciliation battle looms large. Remember: The recently signed funding package doesn’t fund ICE or Border Patrol, but Republicans are [moving ahead](https://punchbowl.news/article/senate/72b-recon/?ref=readtangle.com) with a plan to pass $72 billion in new funds for immigration enforcement through reconciliation, which they can pass with a simple majority in the Senate. This was the same tool Congress used to pass the One Big Beautiful Bill Act last year, which allowed immigration agencies to operate unaffected during the DHS shutdown. Republicans can’t just wave reconciliation like a magic wand to do this; key roadblocks remain. They’ll have to survive the Byrd Rule, which bars provisions that do not primarily affect federal spending or revenue, as well as other rulings from Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough, who previously [blocked *Democrats*](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/read-the-senate-rules-decision-that-blocks-democrats-from-putting-immigration-reform-in-budget?ref=readtangle.com)from putting immigration-related measures in their 2021 reconciliation bill. And of course, swing-vote Republican senators like Lisa Murkowski (AK) and Susan Collins (ME) are not guaranteed yeses. But if Republicans can pass CBP and ICE funding through reconciliation, any leverage to reform these agencies will be effectively killed for years to come. While less constitutionally alarming than Trump’s memorandum, this new norm still undermines the traditional appropriations process, which provided an annual check on agency policies. I’m left not only distressed, but perplexed. Democrats bet that ICE’s sagging popularity gave them leverage to demand sweeping reforms, but now they’ll probably get nothing. Republicans may not have come to the negotiating table in good faith, but at least for a brief period, the White House [floated](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/03/17/white-house-dhs-partial-shutdown-tsa-airports/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=White%20House%20negotiators,DHS%20inspector%20general.) moderate reforms like body cameras for agents and identification requirements. Perhaps Democrats are content to settle for any electoral boost that appearing to “fight” on DHS reform will offer, but now they’re staring down the distinct possibility that they’ll get zero reforms *and* ICE will be fully funded for years to come. I can’t help but shake my head when I see Democratic leaders [framing](https://democrats-homeland.house.gov/news/press-releases/thompson-statement-after-republicans-cave-and-join-democrats-in-passing-bipartisan-dhs-funding-bill?ref=readtangle.com) last week’s funding package as the GOP “caving” — what did Republicans lose here? Republicans, meanwhile, are teed up to achieve their short-term goal of passing advance funding for immigration enforcement, but at what long-term cost? I’m reminded of the gerrymandering fight playing out across the country — a race to the bottom to accomplish short-term political goals to the detriment of functioning democratic governance. Democrats are guilty of abusing reconciliation, too (the Inflation Reduction Act is just one recent example), and this saga will only embolden both sides. I worry that we’re entering the age of unaccountable, preemptively funded agencies carrying out a president’s agenda without fear of oversight. So maybe the DHS shutdown isn’t ending with a whimper but a subtle crack, a tap of a hammer to a fragile foundation. We may not feel the effects immediately, or even in the weeks and months ahead; but the foundation is weaker nonetheless, and there’s no telling how many more blows it can sustain. **Take the survey:** What do you think will be the impact of the DHS shutdown? [Let us know](https://interrobang.vercel.app/survey/7b96be3d-83de-425f-9e33-aeeefee06b70?ref=readtangle.com). *Disagree? That's okay. Our opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we'll consider publishing your feedback.* ### Your questions, answered. **Q: In your Sunday edition you wrote: “On Thursday, the Senate voted unanimously to pass a ban on senators trading on prediction markets, such as Kalshi and Polymarket, amid rising concern over insider trading.” What are the penalties if a Senator ignores the ban? Does the ban also cover family members and business associates? Is there a similar ban in the House, the Executive Branch, and the Judicial Branch?** **— Ben from Norfolk, VA** **Tangle:** Last week, the U.S. Senate [unanimously passed](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/04/30/senate-prediction-markets-trading-ban-kalshi-polymarket.html?ref=readtangle.com) a rule preventing senators, officers and staff from betting on prediction markets, effective immediately. The ban is not a law, but rather [an amendment](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-resolution/708/text?ref=readtangle.com) to [Rule 37](https://www.ethics.senate.gov/public/%5Fcache/files/7af3e69e-b916-4b9c-bf5a-ccc8749eb0c8/37-3.pdf?ref=readtangle.com) of the Standing Rules of the Senate, and it applies only to senators and their staff — not their family, business associates, or members of the House of Representatives. Although the text of the amendment is not yet publicly available, the rule it amends prohibits senators and their staff from profiting off of the office in any way that conflicts with their duties, so adding text to apply to prediction markets is straightforward to imagine. The Standing Rules of the Senate are enforced by the Senate Select Committee on Ethics, a bipartisan commission that hears and investigates reports of violations of this code. [Repercussions](https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/RL30650?ref=readtangle.com) for violations can range from reprimand to censure to suspension from office up to expulsion. Currently, the House’s Code of Ethics does not have any specific regulations preventing its members from placing bets on prediction markets. At the federal level, the judicial branch does not have a similar ban, nor does the executive branch (although the White House has [issued a formal warning](https://time.com/article/2026/04/10/white-house-oil-prediction-markets-polymarket-bets-insider-trading-war/?ref=readtangle.com) to its staff against placing trades or bets using private information). At the state level, New York, California, Illinois, and Maryland [have included](https://www.hr-brew.com/stories/2026/05/01/new-york-and-maryland-become-latest-states-to-ban-public-workers-from-using-prediction-markets?ref=readtangle.com) such ethics provisions in their official codes of conduct. **Want to have a question answered in the newsletter? You can reply to this email (it goes straight to our inbox) or** [**fill out this form**](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScQhqBSG%5F6%5FoBhwcTQMeS570n29XYbeQ9C9Bis7rjqI31g1tA/viewform?usp=header&ref=readtangle.com)**.** ### This day in history. ![A monument of Mexican General Ignacio Zaragoza | Wikimedia Commons](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/05/data-src-image-8f531879-e11a-47f9-a9a3-f77e499e8a97.png) A monument of Mexican General Ignacio Zaragoza | [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Monumento%5FIgnacio%5FZaragoza.jpg?ref=readtangle.com) After several decades of instability, the Mexican government [announced](https://www.napoleon.org/en/history-of-the-two-empires/timelines/the-mexican-campaign-1862-1867/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=17%20July%201861%3A%20With%20his%20country%20crippled%20by%20debt%20and%20caught%20up%20in%20a%20bloody%20civil%20war%2C%20Mexican%20president%20Ju%C3%A1rez%20announced%20a%20law%20suspending%20payment%20plans%20agreed%20with%20the%20European%20powers.) in 1861 that it would suspend all payments to its European creditors for two years. Spain and the United Kingdom would cut deals with Mexico, but French Emperor Napoleon III had designs on taking Mexico by force. Napoleon III wanted to [establish a colony](https://www.history.com/articles/cinco-de-mayo-battle-puebla-civil-war?ref=readtangle.com) to the south of the United States, then embroiled in civil war, and use that position to trade with the Confederacy for cotton — a resource made scarce in Europe by the Union’s blockade. In 1862, well trained French troops marched from Veracruz to take the capital of Mexico City. However, they were dealt a startling defeat by a mix of volunteers and conscripts under the command of General Ignacio Zaragoza outside Puebla on May 5\. Although France would eventually go on to control much of Mexico from 1863–1867, the surprise victory [delayed](https://www.history.com/articles/cinco-de-mayo-history?ref=readtangle.com) France’s advance, arguably giving Union forces time to establish control in the American Civil War. The upset was heralded as a moment of national pride in Mexico, and May 5 — Cinco de Mayo — would eventually become a celebration of Mexican heritage internationally, especially among Mexican Americans. “By 1863, Mexican Americans in California were already commemorating the date, treating it as a political and cultural moment tied to resistance and democracy,” Sehila Mota Casper, the executive director of Latinos in Heritage Conservation, said. in partnership with Aquavault ****The perfect gift for mom.** Dead phone? Worst timing, every time. Bulky chargers? Nobody wants to carry them around. The [ultra slim wireless ChargeCard](https://theaquavault.com/products/wireless-magnetic-chargecard?ref=readtangle.com) lives in your wallet or pocket, snaps to your phone magnetically and powers it up instantly — no cables needed. Always with you, always ready, it [keeps your phone powered all the time](https://theaquavault.com/products/wireless-magnetic-chargecard?ref=readtangle.com). [Get 30% off ChargeCard ](https://theaquavault.com/products/wireless-magnetic-chargecard?ref=readtangle.com) ### The extras. - **One year ago today** we wrote about [President Trump’s 2026 budget proposal](https://www.readtangle.com/trumps-skinny-budget-proposal/). - **The most clicked link in our last regular newsletter** was our Friday edition about [corruption in the Trump administration](https://www.readtangle.com/the-everything-everywhere-all-at-once-corruption-story/). - **Nothing to do with politics:** A 17th-century [Indian “supercomputer” heads to auction](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8x7kw9lp8do?ref=readtangle.com). - **Our last survey:** 1,631 readers responded to our ranked survey on reasons for the Spirit Airlines shutdown with respondents mostly blaming the Iran war. “The final nail in Spirit’s coffin was the price of fuel. JetBlue is having the same issue and a merger would have only delayed the inevitable,” one respondent said. “The most obvious reason is that it was a terrible airline to fly on,” said another. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/05/data-src-image-286ea663-a821-4488-932c-c1203a424059.png) ### Have a nice day. Polish YouTuber Piotr Hancke has built an online following for rapping under the name “Latwogang.” Now, he has a different claim to fame: setting the marathon livestreaming record for fundraising, netting $76 million for children battling cancer. In a nine-day session from his Warsaw apartment, Hancke brought on celebrity guests including Coldplay’s Chris Martin and tennis star Iga Swiatek, drawing 1.5 million viewers to the finale. All told, Hancke netted over 276 million Polish zloty in donations to the Cancer Fighters Foundation, a Polish organization supporting children with cancer. “This simply isn’t about us — it’s about children and everyone who has no choice but to fight this injustice," Hancke said. “Let’s change the way we think about cancer forever. It’s not a death sentence — we will overcome it and fight it.” [People has the story](https://people.com/polish-influencer-raises-over-usd76-million-for-cancer-charity-during-9-day-livestream-11959583?ref=readtangle.com). ### Marjorie Taylor Greene alleges Trump blamed her for death threats against her and her son. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/marjorie-taylor-greene-alleges-trump-blamed-her-for-death-threats-against-her-and-her-son/ Last updated: 2026-05-05T00:04:54.000Z Former Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) claimed that she told President Donald Trump that she and her son were getting death threats after he called her a traitor. She said Trump responded by blaming her for the threats, and that he suggested that if her son were killed, it would be her fault. ### How do we fix gerrymandering? URL: https://www.readtangle.com/how-do-we-fix-gerrymandering/ Last updated: 2026-05-05T00:04:55.000Z How do we fix gerrymandering? ### Spirit Airlines shuts down. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/spirit-airlines-shuts-down/ Last updated: 2026-05-04T15:53:39.000Z *I'm Isaac Saul, and this is Tangle: an independent, nonpartisan, subscriber-supported politics newsletter that summarizes the best arguments from across the political spectrum on the news of the day — then “my take.”* *Are you new here?* [*Get free emails*](https://www.readtangle.com/) *to your inbox daily. Would you rather listen? You can find our podcast* [*here*](https://shows.acast.com/66510864c0852400122bc7be?ref=readtangle.com)*.* ### Today’s read: 14 minutes. 🛬 The budget carrier abruptly ceased operations after a government bailout fell through. Plus, an explanation of how we calculate newsletter read times. ### Corruption in the Trump administration? *“After reviewing the evidence of the first 15 months of President Trump’s second term, I believe the president is profiting off the office and making foreign policy decisions based on business interests to a level we’ve never seen or even conceived of before, and apparently nothing is being done to stop it.”* Gold phones, Qatari planes, Syrian golf courses, cryptocurrency schemes, ballroom donations. Market moves, board seats, lawsuits dropped, lawsuits threatened. Pardons, prosecutions, profits, profits, profits… This past Friday, Executive Editor Isaac Saul waded through all of it in a thorough exploration of the charges of corruption against President Donald Trump. We’ve decided to drop the paywall and make this Friday edition open to all readers, so you can [read the full piece here](https://www.readtangle.com/the-everything-everywhere-all-at-once-corruption-story/). And as always, if you’d like to support our work, please consider upgrading to a [paid subscription](http://readtangle.com/membership?ref=readtangle.com)! ### Quick hits. 1. Iran said that it sent a 14-point peace proposal to the United States and that it had received a response, though President Donald Trump said he has not reviewed the plan in detail. ([The proposal](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/05/03/trump-iran-war-peace-proposal.html?ref=readtangle.com)) Separately, President Trump announced that the U.S. military will assist ships attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz by offering information on the best routes to avoid mines. ([The announcement](https://www.axios.com/2026/05/03/trump-us-navy-iran-ships-strait-hormuz?ref=readtangle.com)) 2. The Pentagon announced that the U.S. would withdraw about 5,000 troops from Germany over the next 12 months. The move follows President Trump’s threats of withdrawal after German Chancellor Friedrich Merz criticized the Iran war. ([The withdrawal](https://apnews.com/article/trump-merz-germany-troops-withdrawal-nato-d37af7bcd1a97e265f3b3afd8aa65142?ref=readtangle.com)) 3. The Supreme Court issued an administrative stay on an appeals court ruling that had temporarily blocked mail-order distribution of mifepristone, a drug used to induce abortions. The order puts the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals decision on hold until May 11\. ([The ruling](https://www.cnn.com/2026/05/04/politics/supreme-court-abortion-mifepristone?ref=readtangle.com)) 4. On Monday, a trial will begin to adjudicate the second phase of a lawsuit brought by New Mexico’s attorney general against Meta. The social media company is accused of harming young users’ mental health and failing to protect them from sexual exploitation. In March, a jury found Meta guilty of violating New Mexico’s consumer protection law and ordered it to pay $375 million in damages. ([The trial](https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/new-mexico-seeks-changes-meta-platforms-youth-harm-trial-2026-05-04/?ref=readtangle.com)) 5. Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R) was hospitalized in “critical but stable” condition. The cause of his hospitalization has not been shared. ([The latest](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/rudy-giuliani-hospitalized-critical-stable-condition-hes-fighting?ref=readtangle.com)) In Partnership with Hear.com ****Have we found the** [****holy grail of hearing aids**](https://api.wellput.io/v1/cm?cmid=853914moqtlbg6&tid=207&s1=v2-r700897-p853914-c37353&s2=Tangle&s3=&s4=null&ref=readtangle.com)****?** There’s a reason experts are calling hear.com’s new IX hearing aids “the ultimate conversation starter.” Because they’re the [world’s first designed hearing aid with clarity](https://api.wellput.io/v1/cm?cmid=853914moqtlbg6&tid=207&s1=v2-r700897-p853914-c37353&s2=Tangle&s3=&s4=null&ref=readtangle.com) in conversation in mind. That means state-of-the-art noise suppression. Lightning-fast dual processing technology. The most natural listening experience ever. In your day-to-day life, that means effortless conversation, wherever you go. ****Tangle readers:** Test drive [hear.com's IX hearing aids](https://api.wellput.io/v1/cm?cmid=853914moqtlbg6&tid=207&s1=v2-r700897-p853914-c37353&s2=Tangle&s3=&s4=null&ref=readtangle.com) today with a 45-day risk-free trial. [Start your no-risk trial today ](https://api.wellput.io/v1/cm?cmid=853914moqtlbg6&tid=207&s1=v2-r700897-p853914-c37353&s2=Tangle&s3=&s4=null&ref=readtangle.com) ### Today’s topic. The Spirit Airlines closure. On Saturday, Spirit Airlines [announced](https://www.reuters.com/business/spirit-airlines-prepares-cease-operations-after-rescue-deal-stalls-wsj-reports-2026-05-01/?ref=readtangle.com) that it was canceling all flights and beginning an “orderly wind-down” of its operations. The budget airline had been struggling since the Covid-19 pandemic, and it [hasn’t posted](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/01/business/spirit-airlines-shutting-down.html?ref=readtangle.com) a profitable year since 2019\. President Donald Trump had sought a deal to bail out the company before its shutdown but failed to reach an agreement with bondholders. About 17,000 Spirit employees and contractors are expected to lose their jobs; union representatives [are negotiating](https://www.nbcnews.com/business/consumer/spirit-airlines-shuts-down-rcna343155?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Unions%20representing%20about%202%2C000%20pilots%2C%205%2C500%20flight%20attendants%2C%20mechanics%20and%20other%20employees%20laid%20off%20by%20Spirit%20called%20on%20its%20leadership%20and%20the%20government%20to%20ensure%20workers%20receive%20the%20compensation%20and%20benefits%20they%20are%20owed.) with the airline to grant compensation packages to affected workers. **Back up:** Spirit Airlines was known for having lower base fares than competitors but many additional fees. The airline [lost](https://apnews.com/article/spirit-airlines-trump-bailout-bankruptcy-37a4818e1b71c0905d022f669d85948c?ref=readtangle.com) $2.5 billion between 2020 and 2024 and had [struggled recently](https://www.flightglobal.com/strategy/2025/09/engine-issues-and-lease-terminations-among-forces-driving-spirits-latest-bankruptcy-filing/?ref=readtangle.com) with engine defects, expiring leases on its jets, and high fuel prices. These difficulties resulted in the airline [declaring](https://www.cnn.com/2025/08/29/business/spirit-airlines-bankruptcy?ref=readtangle.com) bankruptcy in 2024 and again in 2025\. Spirit attempted to merge with JetBlue in 2022; however, the Biden Justice Department sued to stop the deal, and a federal judge [blocked](https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/16/investing/spirit-airlines-jetblue-deal-stock?ref=readtangle.com) the move in 2024 over concerns that it could raise ticket prices and lead to significant debt for JetBlue. On Saturday, the Department of Transportation [announced](https://www.transportation.gov/briefing-room/trumps-transportation-secretary-sean-p-duffy-secures-relief-spirit-airlines-flyers?ref=readtangle.com) that several airlines — United, Delta, JetBlue, and Southwest — have agreed to cap or reduce ticket prices for Spirit customers looking to rebook their upcoming flights. Meanwhile, American Airlines, Delta, and Allegiant have announced temporarily reduced prices on routes they shared with Spirit, while Frontier will discount prices across its network. Spirit said it would automatically process refunds for customers who booked directly with the airline, telling customers who booked through an intermediary to contact their agent. “Unfortunately, despite the Company’s efforts, the recent material increase in oil prices and other pressures on the business have significantly impacted Spirit’s financial outlook,” Spirit [said](https://www.spiritrestructuring.com/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=LEARN%20MORE-,Announcement,-It%20is%20with) in a statement. “With no additional funding available to the Company, Spirit had no choice but to begin this wind-down.” As Spirit’s financial outlook worsened in the past month, the Trump administration [offered](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/05/01/spirit-airlines-trump-bailout.html?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Airlines%20is%20struggling-,%E2%80%98A%20tough%20deal%E2%80%99,-Last%20month%2C%20the) a $500 million bailout that would have given the U.S. government up to a 90% stake in the company. However, the administration could not reach an agreement with Spirit bondholders. The Trump administration blamed the Biden administration for Spirit’s shutdown, arguing it should not have blocked the Spirit–JetBlue merger. “Yet another mess the traveling public has to inherit thanks to the radical policies of Joe Biden and Pete Buttigieg,” Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy [said](https://www.transportation.gov/briefing-room/trumps-transportation-secretary-sean-p-duffy-secures-relief-spirit-airlines-flyers?ref=readtangle.com). “In blocking the JetBlue/Spirit merger in 2024, they turned their backs on the American consumer and our great aviation workforce.” Democrats have argued that the Trump administration brought on the economic conditions that led to Spirit closing its doors. “Spiking fuel prices from Trump’s war was the nail in the coffin for twice-bankrupted Spirit airline,” Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) [said](https://x.com/SenWarren/status/2050604996811501571?ref=readtangle.com). “\[For what it’s worth\], JetBlue merger failed because a judge, appointed by Ronald Reagan, said the deal was illegal.” Today, we’ll share views from the left, right, and airline insiders on Spirit’s shutdown. Then, Executive Editor Isaac Saul gives his take. ### What the left is saying. - **Many on the left worry about the ripple effects of Spirit’s closure.** - **Others point to flawed regulation and anti-competitive tactics as drivers of Spirit’s demise.** **In The Atlantic, Saahil Desai wrote** [**“the only thing worse than Spirit Airlines… is a world without Spirit Airlines.”**](https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/2026/05/spirit-airlines-cancellation-closure/687047/?ref=readtangle.com) “The end of Spirit was sudden and dramatic, but not unexpected. The budget airline had long been going through it: one failed merger after the next, two bankruptcies within the span of a year, and finally, rising fuel costs from the Iran war that turned a bad situation into a dire one,” Desai said. “Spirit was the airline of the masses — the kind of people who pack their own sandwiches instead of paying $21 for a turkey wrap at Hudson News. Because Spirit was so focused on budget travelers, the airline operated in many smaller cities that otherwise had few other options.” “The paradox of Spirit is this: It was a horrible airline to fly. But it also allowed more people to fly than ever before. When you’re forced to squeeze inside of a middle seat in row 27, it’s not hard to feel nostalgic about a time when flying was glamorous and comfortable. In the 1950s, Pan Am passengers in coach were served stuffed guinea hen. Flying round-trip from Los Angeles to New York cost $208 in 1958; in today’s dollars that’s $2,377,” Desai wrote. “Since just 1995, average air fare in the U.S. decreased by 41 percent. Now cheap flights are becoming harder and harder to come by. Spirit is gone, and other budget airlines — Jet Blue and Frontier — are also struggling.” **In his BIG newsletter, Matt Stoller explored** [**“who killed Spirit Airlines.”**](https://www.thebignewsletter.com/p/who-killed-spirit-airlines?ref=readtangle.com) “The most obvious reason is Donald Trump, who launched a war with Iran that caused jet fuel prices to double. Jet fuel takes up 20-30% of the operating cost of an airline, and all airlines globally are canceling flights and hiking prices,” Stoller said. “\[The big airlines\] are also acting to prevent the low cost carriers from bleeding off the cream from their fixed costs. We have to start asking why the same tactics keep recurring for forty five years, along with routine government bailouts. And the cause is deregulation. Airlines are public utility systems, but are regulated like they aren’t.” “So who killed Spirit Airlines? Well, there’s a bit of a Murder on the Orient Express dynamic to it. Yes, it was Trump’s Iran war spiking costs, but it was also JetBlue sabotaging Spirit’s Frontier deal, and the big four legacy airlines, and Bush and Obama enforcers/regulators blessing a roll-up of power to the big four,” Stoller wrote. “Spirit won’t be the last to go. And until we decide as a country we want an airline system that serves all of us, and put the rules in place to make that happen, it’s going to get worse.” ### What the right is saying. - **Many on the right say the blocked merger led to Spirit’s downfall, highlighting the failures of anti-trust advocacy.** - **Some argue the Trump administration was right not to bail out the airline.** **The Wall Street Journal editorial board wrote about** [**“Spirit Airlines and the antitrust left.”**](https://www.wsj.com/opinion/spirit-airlines-and-the-antitrust-left-f3f42d56?ref=readtangle.com) “Recall how Timothy Wu, Jonathan Kanter, Lina Khan and others on the left sought to revive long discredited theories of antitrust that view nearly all mergers as anti-competitive. Mr. Kanter tested that view on the airline industry, with disastrous results,” the board said. “Federal Judge William Young admitted Spirit’s financial troubles… He still ruled the merger an antitrust violation because it would eliminate one low-fare option on some routes. JetBlue ended its merger bid soon thereafter, and Spirit declared bankruptcy in November 2024, long before the Iran war fuel spike.” “Congratulations Judge Young. With Spirit’s demise, that low-fare option is gone. The big boys are likely to snap up Spirit’s planes, airport gates and other assets, and there will be less competition than if the merger had been allowed. JetBlue is also struggling these days,” the board wrote. “The Spirit Airlines fiasco shows that when lawyers and politicians indulge in theories untethered to business reality, the results can be tragic for the lives and livelihoods of thousands of people.” **The Washington Post editorial board said** [**“Sean Duffy stands up for taxpayers.”**](https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2026/05/03/sean-duffy-stands-up-taxpayers-by-blocking-spirit-bailout/?ref=readtangle.com) “Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy opposed bailing out Spirit Airlines and went one step further on Saturday to say that there is no need for a federal bailout of any low-cost airline. While limited-government instincts seem to have atrophied for many Republicans, Duffy has retained the good sense of opposing government bailouts for private companies,” the board wrote. “Duffy reportedly opposed Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, who pushed for the bailout with the possibility of an up to 90 percent stake in Spirit for the federal government.” “If the government is going to help Spirit deal with high fuel prices, the trade group for low-cost airlines said, why not set up a $2.5 billion fund to help all of them? That would have been five times larger than the proposed Spirit bailout, showing how quickly government interventions in the economy spiral,” the board said. “Duffy has poured cold water on that idea as well… It’s better for them, and it’s better for taxpayers. They have bailed out airlines enough times in the past. If people who work in the industry can’t figure out how to turn Spirit around, there’s no reason to believe Cabinet secretaries could do any better.” ### What airline insiders are saying. - **Many aviation writers say Spirit’s business model was risky, but the airline provided significant value to travelers.** - **Some argue the government should have bailed Spirit out.** **In The Points Guy, David Slotnick called the shutdown** [**“a sad ending for the storied budget carrier.”**](https://thepointsguy.com/news/spirit-airlines-shuts-down/?ref=readtangle.com) “Spirit has spent the last year trying to reposition itself as a dynamic airline with both its famous low-cost base fares with a la carte pricing for add-ons, as well as things like packaged fares that include things like on-board snacks and even first-class seats, trying to take advantage of the post-pandemic finding that premium revenue is increasingly crucial for U.S. airlines. However, it appears to have been too little, too late,” Slotnick wrote. “The death of Spirit represents an end to a storied budget airline that, for whatever complaints people may have had, offered cut-rate fares that made travel more accessible for more people. “Unbundled fares, with add-ons for everything from bags to seat selection, proved to be so competitive that it forced the legacy airlines to introduce basic economy. Spirit, for instance, was the first airline to begin charging for carry-on baggage,” Slotnick said. “And as recently as 2019, the model worked, with Spirit turning a profit going into the pandemic. But the competition from bigger airlines’ basic economy fares, with more flights on the same routes, better reputations and tempting loyalty programs bolstering the bare-bones offering, turned out to be another blow to Spirit.” **In Live and Let’s Fly, Kyle Stewart said** [**“saving Spirit was cheap, letting it fail, expensive.”**](https://liveandletsfly.com/rant-saving-spirit-was-cheap-letting-it-fail-expensive/?ref=readtangle.com) “The Spirit effect was real. It kept pricing within the lowest tier of the market, and it pulled the middle tier down with it. On routes like Pittsburgh to South Florida, American Airlines can charge close to $500 round trip nonstop into Miami whenever it wants to. JetBlue might run $250 into Fort Lauderdale on a good day. Spirit was $100,” Stewart wrote. “Spirit set the floor. JetBlue priced against it. American had to acknowledge it existed. That floor is gone. JetBlue is not going to keep Fort Lauderdale fares at $250 round trip when the only other competitor charges $500.” “The Trump administration offered Spirit a $500 million loan, structured so the government would take a 90% equity stake and sit at the front of the line ahead of existing bondholders in any repayment… Was $500 million good money after bad? Maybe. But consider the alternative framing. The US population is roughly 335 million people. Split that bailout evenly across every American, and it costs about $1.49 per person,” Stewart said. “US airlines carry close to a billion passengers a year… A $30 average fare increase across even a fraction of those passengers adds up to multiples of the bailout cost, and unlike the loan, that money goes straight to American, Delta, and United rather than coming back to the government with interest.” ### My take. **Reminder: “My take” is a section where we give ourselves space to share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, don't unsubscribe. Write in by replying to this email, or** [**leave a comment**](https://www.readtangle.com/spirit-airlines-shuts-down/#ghost-comments-root)**.** - **This story brings a sad end to a unique company.** - **More than anything else, the pandemic killed Spirit Airlines.** - **The blocked merger and lack of a bailout didn’t help, but Spirit was headed for failure one way or another.** **Executive Editor Isaac Saul:** Spirit Airlines was always exactly what it said it was: A budget airline that’d get you from Point A to Point B as cheaply as possible. Like many people, I’ve had a love–hate relationship with the airline for most of my life. In my early 20s, when I was too broke to fly on other airlines, Spirit got me all over the country on the cheap. If you could pack light and get past the ticket checker without them detecting a second carry-on bag, $90 to $150 could get you to most cities in the country. Yes, it often felt like you were riding a public sky bus to get there, but that was part of the charm. “Selling cheap flights” isn’t a business model that engenders deep, personal brand loyalty, but I’m especially grateful to Spirit Airlines because they made it possible for me to regularly see my grandmother in Fort Lauderdale before she died at the age of 97\. For millions of Americans, budget airlines like Spirit are a lifeline — a connector to family, friends, and experiences that otherwise would not be possible. I’m sad for the loss of this service, I’m especially sad for the roughly 17,000 workers who just lost their jobs, and I suspect ticket prices are about to go up without a competitor pulling everyone to the bottom (which would be a loss for anyone who flies). Yet, it has to be said, the airline *also* almost always provided a miserable experience. Canceled flights, rolling delays, unconscionably cramped seating, hidden fees, bad on-plane service, malfunctioning air conditioning — pretty much anything that could go wrong on an airplane did go wrong anytime I chose to fly Spirit. The company seemed strangely proud of its patchy operations, offering the customary PA message of “welcome back to all our customers who swore they’d never fly with us again.” That sort of low-cost audacity exemplified the love–hate relationship I had with them. Which is all just to say I felt a pang of nostalgia when I heard the news, combined with the immediate reaction of, “Well… yeah.” The partisans have gotten on their sides (look at us, we can even fight about an airline closure!) and as usual are selling their audiences only part of the story. Anyone narrowly blaming the Biden administration or Trump’s war in Iran isn’t interested in an honest post-mortem. The *real* culprit, if you absolutely had to pick only one, is neither Iran nor some failed merger. It’s the pandemic. Spirit was quite profitable before Covid-19, and it was actually one of the better performing airlines in the U.S. by some metrics. In 2019, it was operating at a [12.9% margin](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1498710/000149871020000082/earningsrelease4q19.htm?ref=readtangle.com) and had $1.1 billion in cash. In 2018, it had a [15.8% margin](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1498710/000149871019000011/earningsrelease4q18.htm?ref=readtangle.com). Then the pandemic came and [broke the model](https://fortune.com/2026/04/23/spirit-airlines-stock-bailout-risks/?ref=readtangle.com). Demand cratered, and by the end of 2021, Spirit [posted](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1498710/000149871022000088/save-20211231.htm?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=In%202021%2C%20we%20generated%20operating%20revenues%20of%20%243%2C230.8%20million%20and%20had%20an%20operating%20loss%20of%20%2456.9%20million%20resulting%20in%20a%20negative%20operating%20margin%20of%201.8%25%20and%20a%20net%20loss%20of%20%24472.6%20million) a $472 million loss. Post-Covid inflation continued to crush the business, and it hasn’t had a profitable year since. It simply never recovered. Other challenges didn’t kill Spirit, but they did throw dirt on the coffin. Jet-fuel prices have skyrocketed since the beginning of the Iran war, and unlike other airlines, Spirit was not well positioned to withstand an oil shock. While some airlines hedge against fuel-price increases by buying futures contracts on jet fuel derivatives, Spirit explicitly [noted](https://www.santiagocompany.com/insights/spirit-airlines-and-the-anatomy-of-an-optionality-failure?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=By%20late%20April,ultimately%20killed%20it.) that it didn’t have enough capital to make those purchases and thus had no such protection. So it was much more vulnerable to increasing fuel prices than other airlines. The failed merger is even more complicated. While it’s true that the Biden administration challenged the JetBlue–Spirit merger, it’s also true that a Reagan-appointed judge blocked the merger after it went to trial and that JetBlue’s own internal documents showed prices could go up by as much as 40% on overlapping routes. “This merger was going to eliminate too much competition to get approved by a Republican-appointed judge” is much less punchy than “Biden killed Spirit Airlines,” but it’s true. Of course, the merger may not have been blocked if the Biden administration hadn’t challenged it, but that’s no guarantee either. Some state attorneys general were co-plaintiffs in the case, private parties sue under antitrust law all the time and — again — the case actually went to trial before the ruling came down, indicating the evidence was strong. Had the merger gone through, the possibility that it would have helped consumers feels like a coin toss. On the one hand, a Spirit–JetBlue merger could have maintained some low-cost routes and kept some downward pressure on prices. That would have been a win for consumers and upwards of 17,000 workers. On the other hand, such a merger would also have been an end to the airline but by a different means. If you’ve flown both, you know JetBlue and Spirit are pretty different; and JetBlue’s entire bid was based on the premise that it would take over Spirit’s routes, raise the prices, and start flying people on JetBlue planes. It’s also plausible that thousands of Spirit employees still would have been laid off as a result of the merger. Before the JetBlue deal was accepted, Spirit’s CEO [urged shareholders](https://www.thebignewsletter.com/p/who-killed-spirit-airlines?ref=readtangle.com) to reject it over concerns about antitrust regulations. The entire Spirit–JetBlue merger was actually part of a larger effort to stop Spirit from merging with Frontier, another low-cost budget airline, that likely would have forced some of the larger airlines to bring down their prices even further. *That* was the merger that would have really benefitted consumers the most. Ultimately, Spirit merging with JetBlue would have been worse than its merger with Frontier, but Spirit shutting down is the worst outcome of all. And, of course, there’s been a lot of chatter about whether the Trump administration should have bailed the airline out. Broadly speaking, I’m [against](https://www.readtangle.com/us-steel-nippon-sale-biden-trump/) the government picking winners and losers in the private sector. I don’t hand over my tax dollars so failing private businesses can pay lobbyists to convince the government to give them my money. I’d say this is a *principle* I believe in, though not an absolute red line. I can imagine some scenarios where a government bailout of a major corporation might be necessary because the consequences of not doing so would be so grave, but this situation really doesn’t come close to qualifying as one of them. Ultimately, I think the Trump administration made the right decision by not granting Spirit a cushy bailout. The bar for this kind of rescue should be extremely high. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy put it in simple terms: “There’s been a lot of money thrown at Spirit, and they haven’t found their way into profitability,” he [said](https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2026/05/03/sean-duffy-stands-up-taxpayers-by-blocking-spirit-bailout/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=When%20President%20Donald,we%20buy%20them%3F%E2%80%9D). “If no one else wants to buy them, why would we buy them?” In the end, this is a sad story about a genuinely helpful service not being able to survive a once-in-a-lifetime economic shock. That’s the main ingredient, even though plenty of others give this episode its flavor — corporate greed, government regulation, partisan fighting. Every business in today’s economy has to cook with those ingredients, and no matter how important you think each one is or isn’t, the hard reality is that Spirit just couldn’t get the recipe right. ****Staff dissent — Associate Editor Audrey Moorehead:** Even if blocking the Spirit–JetBlue merger was legally defensible, that’s only proof that existing antitrust laws end up **hurting* the overall market rather than helping it. Yes, a merger would have raised prices along Spirit’s routes. But the resulting company still could have mounted genuine competition against the Big Four that kept prices lower across the board. Now, Spirit’s ultra-low fares for consumers are gone, just two years after the federal government supposedly acted to preserve them. Meanwhile, JetBlue may be on the way out, too, leaving consumers with dwindling low-cost options and a market that continues to be dominated by the “big four” airlines. **Take the survey:** What do you think caused the closure of Spirit Airlines? [Let us know](https://interrobang.vercel.app/survey/1fbee6d9-623b-420d-9a6f-85d7c39de1cf?ref=readtangle.com). *Disagree? That's okay. Our opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we'll consider publishing your feedback.* ### Your questions, answered. **Q: I am a native speaker of the English language and as someone active in literature, I am a fairly robust reader. I don’t understand how you think any person reading with more depth than a simple scan could cover today’s material in 14 minutes or less. Or do you assume that your readers only scan the enormous amounts of material that you put out?** **— Linda in Saxony, Germany** **Tangle:** This is a bit of a sliding scale for us, and something that we’ve experimented with over time, but we’ve generally fallen into this rubric: Assume a reading speed of 300 words per minute, which is [in line](https://scholarwithin.com/average-reading-speed?srsltid=AfmBOooHvLV97z9ei5rnGsLAyBFxzaColsy-RZXtLkiR-bJF4vg0lveu&ref=readtangle.com#average-reading-speed-by-age-and-grade:~:text=College%0A18%2D23,220%20%E2%80%93%20350%20wpm) with the average pace for high school- to college-aged readers. Aim for 4,000–4,500 words in the newsletter. Approximate the reading speed to these guidelines: Under 4,200 means 13 minutes, between 4,200 and 4,450 is 14 minutes, between 4,450 and 4,650 is 15 minutes, and the rare cases where we exceed that would be 16 minutes. As you can see, those cut-offs don’t line up exactly to 300 words per minute, but we tend to most often fall around 4,300–4,500 and want to use extra specificity for that range. A few notes on this rubric. One, we know a lot of readers take the time to follow our links and check our citations, a great practice but also one that inflates one’s reading time. Second, those calculations don’t include ads that can add to the total length of our emails — not a lot, but enough to make a bit of a difference. Lastly, reading times are usually [a little slower](https://users.soe.ucsc.edu/~srikur/files/HCII%5Freading.pdf?ref=readtangle.com) on screens than on print media, so that difference may be affecting even the fastest readers. Generally, though, those read times are estimates. Averages are just averages, and plenty of people will fall above or below them. **Want to have a question answered in the newsletter? You can reply to this email (it goes straight to our inbox) or** [**fill out this form**](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScQhqBSG%5F6%5FoBhwcTQMeS570n29XYbeQ9C9Bis7rjqI31g1tA/viewform?usp=header&ref=readtangle.com)**.** ### Numbers. - [**3.4%.**](https://www.transtats.bts.gov/?ref=readtangle.com) Spirit Airlines’s share of the domestic airline market between February 2025 and January 2026, the eighth-highest among U.S. airlines. - [**#8.**](https://www.transtats.bts.gov/Carriers.asp?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Rank%2A%2A-,Departure,8,-Arrival) Spirit’s rank for on-time departures among domestic airlines between February 2025 and January 2026\. - [**–17.9%.**](https://www.transtats.bts.gov/Carriers.asp?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=4%2C161-,%2D17.85%25,-Operating%20Cost%20%28millions) The percent change in Spirit’s operating revenue between FY2024 and FY2025. - [**–12.1%.**](https://www.transtats.bts.gov/Carriers.asp?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=5%2C218-,%2D12.10%25,-Operating%20Profit/Loss) The percent change in Spirit’s operating costs between FY2024 and FY2025. - [**–29.8%.**](https://www.transtats.bts.gov/Carriers.asp?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=27%2C704k-,%2D29.79%25,-9) The percent change in the number of passengers transported by Spirit between February 2025 and January 2026\. - [**3.4 million.**](https://www.transtats.bts.gov/Carriers.asp?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Fort%20Lauderdale%2C%20FL-,3.38m,-26.60%25) The approximate number of passengers served by Spirit in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, between February 2025 and January 2026, making it the company’s largest domestic market. In Partnership with hear.com The most natural listening experience ever. Are these the [holy grail of hearing aids](https://api.wellput.io/v1/cm?cmid=853914moqtlbg6&tid=207&s1=v2-r700897-p853914-c37353&s2=Tangle&s3=&s4=null&ref=readtangle.com)? Get a 45-day risk-free trial to find out. [Learn more ](https://api.wellput.io/v1/cm?cmid=853914moqtlbg6&tid=207&s1=v2-r700897-p853914-c37353&s2=Tangle&s3=&s4=null&ref=readtangle.com) ### The extras. - **One year ago today** we had just released a Friday edition [covering President Trump’s first 100 days](https://www.readtangle.com/trumps-first-100-days-part-one/). - **The most clicked link in our last regular newsletter** was our latest [episode of *Suspension of the Rules*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYdjjoDh9OA&ref=readtangle.com)*.* - **Nothing to do with politics:** Read the events of Bram Stoker’s *Dracula* on the day they occurred in the book with [Dracula Daily](https://draculadaily.com/?ref=readtangle.com). - **Our last survey:** 2,823 readers responded to our survey on the Supreme Court’s recent decision to weaken Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act with 54% saying the legal reasoning is unsound and the effects will be harmful. “Racism is alive and well, and it will only get worse now,” one respondent said. “The only people keeping racism alive are the Democrats. Jim Crow is dead to everyone else,” said another. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/05/data-src-image-c0e1920a-7c97-4e95-8f84-20c7697632f9.png) ### Have a nice day. Last month, a routine bus ride to Hancock Middle School in Kiln, Mississippi, turned extremely dangerous. After bus driver Leah Taylor passed out behind the wheel, five students leapt into action. Jackson Casnave grabbed the steering wheel as the bus veered off course while Darrius Clark hit the air brakes — so forcefully it nearly threw him through the windshield. Kayleigh Clark called 911, and Destiny Cornelius spotted the driver’s medication in her hand and administered it as McKenzy Finch helped keep everyone calm. “I’m very proud of them,” Taylor said afterward. “I couldn’t ask for any other students than my students on my bus. I'm gonna think of how they saved my life.” [WLOX in Biloxi, Mississippi, has the story](https://www.wlox.com/2026/04/23/hancock-middle-school-students-stop-runaway-bus-after-driver-passes-out/?ref=readtangle.com). ### The Sunday — May 3 URL: https://www.readtangle.com/the-sunday-may-3-2026/ Last updated: 2026-05-03T13:36:10.000Z *This is the Tangle Sunday Edition, a brief roundup of our independent politics coverage plus some extra features for your Sunday morning reading.* ### What the right is doodling. ![Steve Kelley | Creators Syndicate](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/05/data-src-image-df001a71-d177-470f-b0ba-cd0fec5658f1.jpeg) Steve Kelley | Creators Syndicate ### What the left is doodling. ![Mike Luckovich | Creators Syndicate](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/05/data-src-image-42570cfe-4934-4677-9594-8d4c16ceb32e.jpeg) Mike Luckovich | Creators Syndicate ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/05/data-src-image-7abfb1b4-54e3-4918-b8c4-5c491c6666a5.png) ****An overwhelming response.** Our Friday edition detailing the way President Donald Trump has been profiting off the presidency has garnered hundreds of reader requests to drop the paywall. We make over 80% of what we write available for free, and gating our most in-depth reporting is the only way we can successfully operate as a business. Still, when the demand is this large, we feel the need to supply. ****We’ve dropped the paywall to our Friday edition**, and it can now be read by — and shared with — anyone. You can find that Friday edition [here](https://www.readtangle.com/the-everything-everywhere-all-at-once-corruption-story/). ### Suspension of the Rules Isaac, Ari, and Kmele take on partisan gerrymandering and the Supreme Court’s decision on the Voting Rights Act in the latest episode of Suspension of the Rules. After you finish reading today’s edition diving deep on the topic, check out the latest video for more discussion — plus an exploration on the recent assassination attempt against President Trump, the White House ballroom, and a dramatic “fight me, bro” challenge issued by a former Tangle interview guest. [Watch the new episode here](https://youtu.be/VYdjjoDh9OA?ref=readtangle.com)! ### Monday, April 27. [The White House correspondents’ dinner shooting](https://www.readtangle.com/white-house-correspondents-dinner-shooting/). On Saturday, April 25, a gunman fired shots at the Washington Hilton Hotel, which was hosting the White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) dinner. The Secret Service evacuated President Donald Trump and other senior leaders, and none of the guests were injured. One Secret Service officer was shot while engaging the suspect outside the ballroom, but he was wearing a bulletproof vest and was not seriously wounded. The gunman allegedly sent a manifesto to his family before the attack, suggesting that he intended to kill the president and other administration officials. He was charged with attempting to assassinate the president, transportation of a firearm and ammunition in interstate commerce with intent to commit a felony, and discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence. **Our take:** *“Unfortunately, we’ve had many opportunities to explore aspects of political violence in past coverage. Something that stands out to me this time is how many Americans dismiss these events as fake. Tackling these theories head-on is crucial, and we need a holistic effort.”* **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/05/data-src-image-02a527d4-8571-487a-9518-57343d640929.png) ### Tuesday, April 28. [The Southern Poverty Law Center indictment](https://www.readtangle.com/southern-poverty-law-center-indictment/). On Tuesday, April 21, the Justice Department announced an 11-count indictment charging the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) with financial crimes, including wire fraud and making false statements to a federally insured bank. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said the nonprofit organization secretly sent over $3 million to informants inside extremist groups without telling donors what their money was being used for. The SPLC denies any wrongdoing and plans to fight the charges. **Our take:** *“The SPLC almost certainly paid informants, and an indictment to determine criminal wrongdoing seems justified. Some of the SPLC’s recent actions, and its evolution over time, invite uncomfortable questions. The DOJ certainly has a political motive here, but that doesn’t discount the possibility of wrongdoing.”* **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/05/data-src-image-93a24633-53ce-4039-95ff-79c492c9a073.png) ### Wednesday, April 29. [Geofencing before the Supreme Court](https://www.readtangle.com/supreme-court-geofence-data/). On Monday, April 27, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Chatrie v. United States, a case exploring whether the practice of scanning cell phone data of individuals based on proximity to a crime is constitutional. The case is the first time the Supreme Court has considered the use of “geofence warrants,” which enable the police to cast wide digital dragnets to investigate a suspected crime. The justices appeared split on the decision after two hours of arguments; the Court is expected to issue a decision before the end of the summer. **Our take:** *“The general concept of geofencing seems constitutional to me. Whether the government can get data from a third party, and what data they can get, complicates the issue considerably. I hope the Court provides some guidelines on what data the government isn’t allowed to access.”* **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/05/data-src-image-ddf317c2-9f83-4fd1-bb0f-b311d8e3dc29.png) ### Thursday, April 30. [*Louisiana v. Callais*](https://www.readtangle.com/scotus-weakens-voting-rights-act/). On Wednesday, April 29, the Supreme Court ruled 6–3 that Louisiana must redraw its congressional map, finding that one of the state’s majority-black districts was unconstitutionally gerrymandered based on race. The decision weakens — but does not strike down — Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, which prohibits voting practices that discriminate on the basis of race or color. In the wake of the decision, several states could move to redraw their congressional maps based on the Court’s guidance, an effort that is expected to benefit Republicans. **Our take:** *“We should understand the systems in place before we try to change them. The VRA was originally a necessary protection against racial discrimination, but more recently, it has mostly protected us from partisan gerrymandering. If we want to solve the gerrymandering problem, Congress needs to act, not the courts.”* **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/05/data-src-image-988c10d4-0e5d-4d43-a2c1-42098007d4d6.png) ### Friday, May 1. In this week’s Friday edition, Executive Editor Isaac Saul dives deep into the biggest story of this presidential administration: The allegations of corruption, ranging from shady business deals, foreign policy influences, and an apparent presidential pardon economy. [You can read Isaac’s piece here](https://www.readtangle.com/the-everything-everywhere-all-at-once-corruption-story/) — now available to everyone. ### Further reading. We’ve covered political violence, grand jury indictments, Fourth Amendment rights, and the Voting Rights Act before. Plus, read some of Tangle’s early reporting on the Hunter Biden stories — before the mainstream media was willing to cover it. Take a look at our past coverage below: - In November 2022, we covered [the attack on Paul Pelosi](https://www.readtangle.com/paul-pelosi-attack-republicans/). - In April 2023, we covered [the first indictment against Donald Trump](https://www.readtangle.com/trump-indicted-manhattan-grand-jury/). - In February 2026, we wrote about [Fourth Amendment rights and ICE](https://www.readtangle.com/your-questions-about-ice-answered/) in a paywalled Friday edition. - In June 2023, we covered [the Supreme Court's voting rights ruling in *Allen v. Milligan*](https://www.readtangle.com/supreme-court-alabama-voting-rights/). - In October 2020, Isaac issued the first of many Tangle dives into the [Hunter Biden laptop story](https://www.readtangle.com/the-new-york-post-story/). --- ### What just happened. Here’s a rundown of the major stories that have broken since our newsletter on Thursday. - On Thursday, the House passed (by a voice vote) a package to fund the Department of Homeland Security — excluding Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol — through September. President Trump then signed it into law, ending the department’s partial shutdown after 76 days. ([The funding](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/house-passes-senate-dhs-funding-bill-after-johnson-reverses-course-76-day-shutdown-standoff?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Thursday, President Trump announced Dr. Nicole B. Saphier as his new pick for surgeon general. Saphier is the director of breast imaging at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Monmouth and a former Fox News medical contributor. The president withdrew his previous nominee, Dr. Casey Means, after she had garnered insufficient support in the Senate. ([The announcement](https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/trump-withdraws-maha-champion-casey-means-as-surgeon-general-nominee-a3784d52?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Thursday, the Commerce Department reported that the personal consumption expenditures price index rose 0.7% from February to March and 3.5% on a 12-month basis. The department also reported that U.S. gross domestic product grew 2% in Q1 2026, up from 0.5% in Q4 2025\. ([The reports](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/04/30/pce-inflation-rate-march-2026.html?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Thursday, Maine Gov. Janet Mills (D) suspended her Senate campaign, effectively ensuring that Graham Platner, who has built a substantial fundraising and polling advantage, will win the Democratic primary. Mills said that her campaign did not have the financial resources to continue. Platner will face Sen. Susan Collins (R) in the general election. ([The suspension](https://www.politico.com/news/2026/04/30/janet-mills-maine-senate-dropout-00899664?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Thursday, the Senate voted unanimously to pass a ban on senators trading on prediction markets, such as Kalshi and Polymarket, amid rising concern over insider trading. ([The vote](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/04/30/senate-prediction-markets-trading-ban-kalshi-polymarket.html?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Friday, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals temporarily blocked mail-order distribution of mifepristone, a drug used to induce abortions. On Saturday, Danco Laboratories, a company that produces the drug, asked the Supreme Court to pause the circuit court’s order. ([The order](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/supreme-court-appeal-ruling-telehealth-mail-access-mifepristone-rcna343224?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Friday, President Trump said he would increase tariffs on automobiles from the European Union to 25%, writing in a social media post that the EU was “not complying” with the trade deal reached last summer. ([The tariffs](https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-eu-autos-trade-800e6ed469b73cd4c144edb65e40ba72?ref=readtangle.com)) Separately, President Trump announced he would remove tariffs on some whiskey imported from the United Kingdom, following King Charles III’s visit to the United States. ([The removal](https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2026/04/30/trump-whiskey-tariffs-king-charles/?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Friday, the Pentagon announced that the U.S. would withdraw about 5,000 troops from Germany, following President Trump’s threats of withdrawal earlier this week after German Chancellor Friedrich Merz criticized the Iran war. ([The withdrawal](https://apnews.com/article/trump-merz-germany-troops-withdrawal-nato-d37af7bcd1a97e265f3b3afd8aa65142?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Saturday, Spirit Airlines announced it is going out of business and ceasing operations, citing the impact of high oil prices amid ongoing financial challenges. ([The shutdown](https://www.newsnationnow.com/business/ap-spirit-airlines-appears-closer-to-a-shutdown-as-time-dwindles-for-a-government-bailout/?ref=readtangle.com)) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/05/data-src-image-bb574a46-3319-48a6-af5e-d661e110e6d3.png) ### Reader essay. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/05/data-src-image-3675f2ac-09d7-45b2-8b54-8fdf83a00559.png) Photo from Beth Malow Tangle reader Beth Malow has noticed something: It’s super easy to be pulled into echo chambers and tribes, to stop believing in reaching across the aisle, and to convince ourselves that exposure to different points of view is dangerous. But Beth thinks otherwise — instead, our political differences prove the importance of bridge-building… if you can call it that. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### The Arc of Outrage. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/otherposts/the-arc-of-outrage/ Last updated: 2026-05-08T17:34:50.000Z *By Beth Malow* --- Reader, what might you suggest as an alternative term to bridge-building? Do you ever feel conflicted about doing the hard work of opening yourself up to hear different political viewpoints? Is it easier to be an activist than a bridge- builder? Are you pulled to news sources that create outrage and raise your stress level, rather than those that value nuance? I’m a sleep doctor, science communicator, and a co-author of [*Beyond the Politics of Contempt*.](https://beyondthepoliticsofcontempt.com/?ref=readtangle.com) As a paid subscriber, I read Tangle to get both sides of the news. That helps me from falling into the outrage cycle. I’m inspired by Tangle essays such as [Decency is about to make a comeback,](https://www.readtangle.com/decency-is-about-to-make-a-comeback/) which speak to Americans having grown tired of cruelty in our politics and wanting to see more kindness. When I talk with friends socially, or audiences at our book events, I’m struck by how easy it is to be pulled into our echo-chambers, bubbles, silos, and tribes (you choose the word that most resonates with you) and how challenging it is to leave these spaces. A common type of question we’re asked is “How can I talk with others, or read news sources, that have a differing view on FILL IN THE BLANK?” The BLANK can be abortion, climate change, gun rights, immigration — to name a few. Aren’t I compromising my integrity and giving weight to immoral positions by listening to others? Isn’t reading about different points of view dangerous? Will I be sucked into a conspiracy theory at worst? Or at best, compromise my values and morals? I’ve been admonished by well-meaning friends. “Beth, it’s great that you are so nice and want to be a kind person. But there is a higher moral issue at play here in what Trump and his team is doing. How can you do anything but FIGHT?” Or “We will talk with the other side once we are victorious and they are out of power.” Or “This isn’t the time to bridge-build; the world is on fire! I need to save my limited energy for activism.” Outrage does have its place in our culture and our history. Look at the American Revolution and the bravery of the colonists who rebelled against the Crown. I think of outrage as having an arc. It’s helpful in the short-term — motivating action in the face of injustice. But too much outrage can work against us. It can contribute to sleepless nights as we doomscroll on our phones. Outrage increases our stress level and harms our physical and mental health. We may withdraw and stop being engaged in whatever cause motivates us because it’s *all too much*. We may stop reading Tangle! _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### What have we learned about the WHCD shooter? URL: https://www.readtangle.com/what-have-we-learned-about-the-whcd-shooter/ Last updated: 2026-05-02T00:04:05.000Z On this week’s Suspension of the Rules, Isaac, Kmele, and Ari take a look at the White House Correspondents Dinner shooting. ### The everything, everywhere, all at once corruption story. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/the-everything-everywhere-all-at-once-corruption-story/ Last updated: 2026-09-16T14:52:25.000Z **I’m Isaac Saul, and this is Tangle. You are reading a preview of a members-only Friday edition. To read it in full,* [**you'll be asked to subscribe*](https://www.readtangle.com/membership/)**.* --- My oldest brother has an incredible gift: He’s capable of saying the most incendiary, inappropriate things at the perfect moment and somehow getting a laugh regardless of who he’s in front of. I’m not quite sure how he does it. But I’ve watched him perfect this art since I was a kid. It used to be most apparent with my parents, who’d sometimes have trouble disciplining him because he could essentially shit-talk his way out of any situation and earn a laugh. As we got older, it felt like this talent elevated to a new tier, like he’d beaten the “mom is mad” boss and moved onto “can I get the priest to crack a smile in the middle of the funeral?” I’ve been thinking about this skill a lot recently. This innate ability some people have to do something in a particular way that disarms everyone around them, and then the way some people try to replicate that behavior in the exact same context, with the exact same approach, and get disastrous results (I think, often, about trying some of the jokes I’ve heard my brother make to my mom, knowing full well they would never quite land, though I can’t say exactly why). Anyway, in April, The New York Times broke the story that President Donald Trump’s daughter and son-in-law are negotiating a luxury hotel with Syrian billionaires who are [simultaneously lobbying the president](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/19/us/politics/trump-syria-khayyat.html?ref=readtangle.com) to lift economic sanctions on their country. I’ll write that sentence again just in case it didn’t land the first time: President Donald Trump’s children are negotiating a luxury hotel with Syrian billionaires who are simultaneously lobbying the president to lift economic sanctions on their country. I can’t explain why that story doesn’t have quite the same punch as, “According to The New York Times, Hunter Biden is negotiating a Biden-branded luxury hotel with Syrian billionaires; those Syrian billionaires are also lobbying President Joe Biden to lift economic sanctions on their country.” Yet I know that, for some reason, the real story we’re living through right now — the one where Trump’s kids are funneling money directly to their family fortune while the U.S. government hands out favors in return — just doesn’t seem to get any traction with the public. I consider myself a pretty fair-minded guy whose politics are quite moderate. And I still believe the Hunter Biden story deserved as much attention as it got. I spent years following the laptop and gun charges story, and I found the details both alarming and unsavory. If you click the “Hunter Biden” tag on our website, you’ll see [more than 20 stories](https://www.readtangle.com/tag/hunter-biden/) that involve the president’s son from the four years of the Biden administration. We wrote about everything from the suppression of the laptop story to the Twitter files to the [business deals](https://oversight.house.gov/the-bidens-influence-peddling-timeline/?ref=readtangle.com) Hunter tried to loop his dad into to his prosecution for gun possession, and I spent most of those four years demanding more answers than we were getting. I don’t regret pursuing or publishing any of those stories. There was plenty of smoke, and Biden wrapped his time in office by [abusing the power of the pardon](https://thehill.com/opinion/white-house/5096041-biden-pardons-family-corruption/?ref=readtangle.com) to ensure there would never be real accountability if there was criminality. But I’m disheartened and frustrated now to see that right-wing writers, Trump voters, and Republican politicians who cheered me on when I was investigating potential Biden corruption are now just ignoring the comparably gargantuan scandals of (alleged) corruption we’re witnessing now. On some level, I can understand the discrepancy: There’s *so* much news, and *so many allegations* about Trump that it becomes easy to tune it all out (both for his supporters and critics). News fatigue is real, and when we consume the news we are often fed content from organizations and individuals that share our politics. But, to state it plainly: After reviewing the evidence of the first 15 months of President Trump’s second term, I believe the president is profiting off the office and making foreign policy decisions based on business interests to a level we’ve never seen or even conceived of before, and apparently nothing is being done to stop it. I can’t level that claim directly and unambiguously because we haven’t *really* had the basic facts adjudicated, since Republicans in Congress have opted for complete and utter fealty to Trump in every manner imaginable. There is no oversight, or accountability, or even the slightest inclination to ask about these actions in the majority party. The Trump administration has also dismantled many of the federal watchdogs responsible for prosecuting fraud, grift and corruption, so few of its actions have been probed in any meaningful way. Instead of indictments, congressional investigations, or public hearings, the best we are left with is great reporting from journalists, the occasional leak from the administration, a right-wing writer here or there [willing to say the real thing out loud](https://www.nationalreview.com/2026/02/the-sordid-story-of-trump-the-trump-witkoff-family-business-and-the-uae/?ref=readtangle.com), and then a whole lot of “Occam’s razor” questions like, “Which is likelier, that the person who made a massive financial bet on oil prices 20 minutes before Trump announced a ceasefire knew about it or just got extraordinarily lucky?” During President Joe Biden’s term, the Department of Justice could say, at least, that it had investigated the president’s son. Republicans in Congress also conducted a yearslong investigation into the Hunter Biden business ties and how they might link back to the president. Here, though, we have nothing; every story I’m about to point to has not produced even a unified statement of concern from, say, a half dozen Republican senators worried about government corruption. Remember, Hunter’s story was about drawing a $50,000/month salary while his dad was vice president and then *allegedly* trying to arrange some business ventures he might cut Joe Biden in on once he was out of office. Republicans’ yearslong investigation never turned up any hard evidence of the latter, though there was enough smoke I still think the story was plausible. Today, we’re talking about the president’s children launching multi-*billion* dollar business ventures — several of them — *while* the president is in office, and then *explicitly* exchanging all manner of domestic policy victories, foreign policy concessions, and literal pardons in the construction of those deals. Trump himself has all but admitted this is happening. He [told](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/08/us/politics/trump-family-foreign-business-deals.html?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=%E2%80%9CI%20prohibited%20them,I%E2%80%99m%20allowed%20to.%E2%80%9D) The New York Times that “nobody cared” when he tried to separate his family business from his administration during his first term, so he isn’t even trying now. I have tracked these stories with one of my senior editors for the last year and a half. The list of things that have happened is so long and shocking when you see it all together that I’m not entirely sure how to present it. I’ve gone back and forth; maybe I should build a flow chart? What about a spreadsheet? Should this be a YouTube video, instead of a written piece? Will anyone actually read the entire thing? Can anyone actually process this level of self-dealing, corruption, and shadiness at once? Ultimately, I decided that the best I can do is try to write all these instances down in an engaging way that might grab your attention and wake us all up from whatever stupor we’re in. So… here goes. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### A major SCOTUS ruling on voting rights. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/scotus-weakens-voting-rights-act/ Last updated: 2026-04-30T15:54:48.000Z *I'm Isaac Saul, and this is Tangle: an independent, nonpartisan, subscriber-supported politics newsletter that summarizes the best arguments from across the political spectrum on the news of the day — then “my take.”* *Are you new here?* [*Get free emails*](https://www.readtangle.com/) *to your inbox daily. Would you rather listen? You can find our podcast* [*here*](https://shows.acast.com/66510864c0852400122bc7be?ref=readtangle.com)*.* ### Today’s read: 14 minutes. 🗳️ The Supreme Court significantly weakened Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, but stopped short of entirely striking it down. Did the Court get it right, and what effects will the ruling have? ### Suspension of the Rules. Isaac, Ari, and Kmele take on partisan gerrymandering and the Supreme Court’s decision on the Voting Rights Act in the latest episode of *Suspension of the Rules*. After you finish reading today’s edition diving deep on the topic, check out the latest video for more discussion — plus an exploration on the recent assassination attempt against President Trump, the White House ballroom, and a dramatic “fight me, bro” challenge issued by a former Tangle interview guest. [Watch the new episode here](https://youtu.be/VYdjjoDh9OA?ref=readtangle.com)! ### Quick hits. 1. The Federal Open Market Committee voted to keep interest rates unchanged at a range of 3.50%–3.75%, with four members dissenting from the decision. Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell also said he will stay on as a board member after his term as chair expires in May, citing concern over political pressure from the Trump administration. ([The updates](https://www.wsj.com/economy/central-banking/fed-closes-powell-era-with-rates-on-hold-and-divide-over-what-comes-next-0aec10c2?ref=readtangle.com)) Separately, the Senate Banking Committee voted 13–11 along party lines to advance Kevin Warsh’s nomination to be the next Federal Reserve chairman. His nomination now heads to a confirmation vote in the full Senate. ([The vote](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/04/29/trump-fed-nominee-kevin-warsh-senate-approval.html?ref=readtangle.com)) 2. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth testified before the House Armed Services Committee, facing questions about the cost of the Iran war, the ongoing threat to U.S. service members, and his firing of former Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George. ([The testimony](https://thehill.com/policy/defense/5855477-hegseth-house-hearing-iran-war-dod-pentagon-firings/?ref=readtangle.com)) Separately, Acting Pentagon Comptroller Jules Hurst III told the committee that the cost of Operation Epic Fury has been approximately $25 billion, with munitions making up a majority of those costs. ([The figure](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/iran-war-cost-25-billion-dollars-us-munitions-hegseth-armed-services-rcna342714?ref=readtangle.com)) 3. The Florida legislature approved a new congressional map that is expected to net Republicans four additional seats in the U.S. House. The new map is expected to draw several legal challenges. ([The map](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/29/us/florida-house-gop-map.html?ref=readtangle.com)) 4. The House voted 235–191 to reauthorize Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act for three years, sending the measure to the Senate ahead of a Thursday renewal deadline. ([The vote](https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5856102-warrantless-spy-powers-fisa-702/?ref=readtangle.com)) 5. The House voted 215–211 to advance a budget framework that would allow the Senate to use the reconciliation process to fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection. ([The vote](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/house-republicans-unlock-reconciliation-process-fund-ice-border-patrol-without-democrats?ref=readtangle.com)) SPONSORED by Incogni ****Keep Your SSN Off The Dark Web** Every day, data brokers profit from your sensitive info — ****phone number, DOB, SSN** — selling it to the highest bidder. What happens then? **Best case:* companies target you with ads. **Worst case:* scammers and identity thieves breach those brokers, leaving your data vulnerable or on the dark web. 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On Wednesday, the Supreme Court [ruled](https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/5854770-supreme-court-voting-rights-act/?ref=readtangle.com) 6–3 that Louisiana must redraw its congressional map, finding that one of the state’s majority-black districts was unconstitutionally gerrymandered based on race. The decision weakens — but does not strike down — Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act (VRA), which [prohibits](https://www.justice.gov/crt/section-2-voting-rights-act?ref=readtangle.com) voting practices that discriminate on the basis of race or color. In the wake of the decision, several states could move to redraw their congressional maps based on the Court’s guidance, an effort that is expected to benefit Republicans. *We covered* [*oral arguments*](https://www.readtangle.com/supreme-court-voting-rights-act-section-2-louisiana-map/) *in this case in October.* **Back up:** Louisiana’s original congressional map (drawn after the 2020 census) included only one majority-black district. After a group of black Louisiana voters [challenged](https://www.scotusblog.com/2025/10/supreme-court-to-hear-arguments-in-pivotal-case-on-the-voting-rights-act/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=How%20did%20this%20dispute%20start%3F) the map for violating the VRA, a lower court ordered the state to draw a second majority-black district. A different group of voters then challenged the revised map, claiming it relied too heavily on race; a lower court blocked the map as an illegal racial gerrymander, although the Supreme Court allowed it to remain for the 2024 election. The Supreme Court heard [oral arguments](https://www.readtangle.com/supreme-court-voting-rights-act-section-2-louisiana-map/) for the case in October 2025, and the Republican-appointed justices signaled that they were likely to curtail or strike down Section 2. Writing for the majority, Justice Samuel Alito [said](https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/24-109%5F21o3.pdf?ref=readtangle.com#page=7) unresolved legal questions required the Court to determine “whether compliance with the Voting Rights Act should be added to our very short list of compelling interests that can justify racial discrimination.” Alito wrote that Section 2 only dictates that minority voters have the “opportunity to elect their preferred candidate,” not that the candidate should be given advantages to increase their chances of representing that voter base. Section 2 is violated, Alito wrote, “only when the circumstances give rise to a strong inference that intentional discrimination occurred.” As an example, he described a situation in which a state’s redistricting algorithm created several different options for majority-minority districts, and the state was unable to justify its decision not to select any of them. “By contrast,” he said, “interpreting \[Section\] 2 of the Voting Rights Act to outlaw a map solely because it fails to provide a sufficient number of majority-minority districts would create a right that the Amendment does not protect.” Justice Clarence Thomas [authored](https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/24-109%5F21o3.pdf?ref=readtangle.com#page=44) a concurrence joined by Justice Neil Gorsuch, writing that he would go further than Alito and hold that Section 2 “does not regulate districting at all.” Justice Elena Kagan dissented in an opinion joined by Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson. Kagan [wrote](https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/24-109%5F21o3.pdf?ref=readtangle.com#page=50) that the Court had “completed \[a\] demolition of the Voting Rights Act,” as the decision “will effectively insulate any practice, including any districting scheme, said by a State to have any race-neutral justification. That justification can sound in traditional districting criteria, or else can sound in politics and partisanship.” Signaling her strong disagreement with the decision, she [signed](https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/24-109%5F21o3.pdf?ref=readtangle.com#page=92) her opinion, “I dissent,” eschewing the traditional, “I respectfully dissent.” In light of the Court’s ruling, Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry (R) [reportedly](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/04/29/louisiana-house-primaries-suspend-jeff-landry/?ref=readtangle.com) plans to suspend the state’s primary elections in May in order to allow state lawmakers to pass a new congressional map. Today, we’ll share perspectives from the right and left on the decision, followed by Associate Editor Audrey Moorehead’s take. ### What the right is saying. - **The right celebrates the ruling, arguing race-based gerrymandering is clearly unconstitutional.** - **Some praise Alito’s opinion for establishing strong new precedent.** - **Others say the Court should have struck down Section 2 entirely.** **The New York Post editorial board wrote** [**“\[the\] Supreme Court signals the end of legalized race-games — hooray!”**](https://nypost.com/2026/04/29/opinion/supreme-court-signals-the-end-of-legalized-race-games-hooray/?ref=readtangle.com) “Sixty years ago, Congress imposed intrusive racial concerns in districting as a remedy to once-pervasive and systemic ‘state-sponsored’ discrimination that long thwarted meaningful political participation by black citizens in violation of the 14th Amendment’s equal-protection guarantees,” the board said. “But the civil-rights laws, and America’s social progress, have produced a very different country today, even in the deepest South. All the way back in 2003, in a ruling allowing some continued affirmative action, Justice Sandra Day O’Connor warned that ‘25 years from now, the use of racial preferences will no longer be necessary’ to achieve justice.” “Note that the high court didn’t completely strike down the Voting Rights Act; it only limited obsessive government use of race when no one can point to any actual wrong to be righted: Some statistical incongruity isn’t evidence of discrimination, period,” the board wrote. “No one is pretending that racism no longer exists, nor that some official recognition of race can still be appropriate: Louisiana still can’t adopt a map that draws bizarre shapes to avoid any natural majority-minority district, for example.” **In The Wall Street Journal, Edward Blum called the decision** [**“a blow against racial gerrymandering.”**](https://www.wsj.com/opinion/the-high-court-strikes-a-blow-against-racial-gerrymandering-555d64e3?ref=readtangle.com) “For decades, voting-rights litigation drifted toward a dangerous assumption: that if election outcomes didn’t roughly mirror racial census percentages, something must be legally wrong. Courts and advocacy groups increasingly treated proportional representation as a requirement. States were pressured to sort citizens by race and draw majority-minority districts to hit demographic targets,” Blum said. “The result was predictable and divisive. Gerrymandered maps split cities, counties and neighborhoods, sometimes stretching hundreds of miles to connect distant populations linked primarily by race.” “Justice Samuel Alito’s majority opinion recognizes that the Constitution ‘almost never permits a State to discriminate on the basis of race’ and reaffirms that ‘strict scrutiny’ applies whenever governments intentionally classify citizens by race,” Blum wrote. “Equally important, the court recognized what has been obvious in modern American politics for years. In many states, race and political affiliation are heavily correlated. The court noted that litigants increasingly attempt to ‘repackage a partisan-gerrymandering claim as a racial-gerrymandering claim.’ To address this problem, the justices imposed significant new evidentiary burdens on Section 2 plaintiffs.” **In PJ Media, Matt Margolis asked** [**“did the Supreme Court’s VRA ruling go far enough?”**](https://pjmedia.com/matt-margolis/2026/04/29/was-the-supreme-courts-vra-ruling-enough-n4952341?ref=readtangle.com) “One might think that we could all agree that drawing congressional maps based solely on skin color is racist. But apparently not. The entire premise of race-based redistricting is that black voters must be grouped together to have political power — an assumption that is, at its core, deeply patronizing and racially deterministic,” Margolis said. “\[Justice Clarence\] Thomas didn’t mince words about the court’s prior adventures in this territory. He writes that ‘today’s decision should largely put an end to this “disastrous misadventure” in voting-rights jurisprudence.’” “The liberal dissenters, led by Justice Elena Kagan, warned the ruling ‘renders Section 2 all but dead letter’ and accused the majority of stripping away protections for minority voters,” Margolis wrote. “What Kagan frames as a catastrophe, Thomas frames as a correction. One man’s ‘gutting of the VRA’ is another man’s return to what the law actually says. Clarence Thomas has been the most consistent, principled voice on this court when it comes to colorblind constitutionalism, and history keeps catching up to him. He’s not just a national treasure. He’s a man who has been right for decades while everyone else was still figuring it out.” ### What the left is saying. - **The left strongly opposes the ruling, suggesting the majority acted as policymakers.** - **Some say the decision effectively destroys the Voting Rights Act.** - **Others argue the ruling will have catastrophic consequences for minority voters.** **The New York Times editorial board wrote** [**“the justices acted as partisans in the voting rights ruling.”**](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/29/opinion/supreme-court-voting-rights-act-2026.html?ref=readtangle.com) “The Supreme Court’s decision on Wednesday on the Voting Rights Act is a mind-boggling piece of judicial overreach. Six conservative justices voted to weaken the act, in that way substituting their own judgment for that of Congress, which reauthorized the law 20 years ago with overwhelming bipartisan support,” the board said. “The effects will be significant… The officials who make the maps no longer need to worry much about whether they are sprinkling Black voters across many districts and eliminating majority Black districts.” “It is impossible not to notice the partisan nature of the ruling. The six justices in the majority are the six nominated by Republican presidents, and they have likely made it easier for the party that chose them to hold power in Congress,” the board wrote. “The decision has eviscerated the old standard \[of Section 2\] because proving intent is extremely difficult. As a result, states will now be able to slice minority voters into small and powerless slivers, as long as they can claim to do so for partisan rather than racial reasons.” **In Mother Jones, Ari Berman called the ruling** [**“a death blow to the Voting Rights Act.”**](https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2026/04/supreme-court-louisiana-vra-callais/?ref=readtangle.com) “The hypocrisy of the Roberts Court is simply astounding… In December, the Court allowed a mid-decade redistricting plan in Texas that was designed to give Republicans five more seats on Trump’s orders to go into effect despite a lower court, with the majority opinion written by a Trump appointee, finding that there was overwhelming evidence of the use of race to draw district lines and disempower people based on the color of their skin,” Berman said. “In *Callais*, by contrast, the court held that race could not be a factor in drawing district lines because it violated the 14th and 15th Amendments.” “The *Callais* opinion is the latest in a long line of cases attacking the VRA — which has been an obsession for Chief Justice John Roberts for more than four decades,” Berman wrote. “\[The\] decision is much bigger than just partisan politics. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 made America a multiracial democracy. It ended an authoritarian regime in the Jim Crow South that prevented millions of people from enjoying the fundamental promise of equal citizenship under the law. With an authoritarian president now in the White House and the Voting Rights Act a dead letter, America may become a democracy in name only once again.” **In Slate, Richard L. Hasen argued** [**“the Supreme Court’s conservatives just issued the worst ruling in a century.”**](https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2026/04/scotus-voting-rights-section-two-ruling-history-worst-century.html?ref=readtangle.com) “Alito’s opinion eviscerates Section 2 as applied to redistricting. He throws out the *Gingles* test — while denying he is doing so — and has restored a requirement that plaintiffs prove discriminatory intent when challenging district lines. Only if a computer algorithm would protect minority voters by chance do they have a chance to win such a case. What’s worse, the state can defend their maps by claiming that they were merely engaging in partisan gerrymandering,” Hasen said. “So when, say, Louisiana goes back and eliminates many Black opportunity districts in its state, it can claim it is doing so to help Republicans, not whites. That’s an outrageous proposition given the considerable overlap between those two groups in Louisiana.” “Alito knows *exactly* what he’s doing: make it seem like he’s not gutting the Voting Rights Act through technical language, turning both the statute and the Constitution on its head,” Hasen wrote. “The Supreme Court itself has shown itself to be the enemy of democracy. If and when Democrats retake control of the political branches, it will be incumbent on them not only to write new voting legislation protecting minority voters and all voters in the ability to participate fairly in elections that reflect the will of all the people. They will also have to consider reform of the Supreme Court itself.” ### My take. **Reminder: “My take” is a section where we give ourselves space to share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, don't unsubscribe. Write in by replying to this email, or** [**leave a comment**](https://www.readtangle.com/scotus-weakens-voting-rights-act/#ghost-comments-root)**.** - **We should understand the systems in place before we try to change them.** - **The VRA was originally a necessary protection against racial discrimination, but more recently, it has mostly protected us from partisan gerrymandering.** - **If we want to solve the gerrymandering problem, Congress needs to act, not the courts.** **Associate Editor Audrey Moorehead:** One of the central principles I use to think about politics and change over time is called *Chesterton’s Fence*. The premise, popularized by Catholic writer G.K. Chesterton in the 20th century, is this: Two people happen upon an unexpected fence as they’re walking along a public path. The first person wants to remove the fence as soon as possible because it blocks their ability to continue walking. The second person disagrees, saying they should investigate *why* the fence is there before they take it down. For instance, what if the fence is the only thing keeping out a dangerous animal? What if that animal has reproduced? To take down the fence would allow those animals access to the whole countryside, and restoring the fence later would be much harder than exercising patience today. Of course, the fence might have been put up for a bad reason, too. Maybe someone was trying to lay an illegitimate claim to public property. Or maybe the fence’s original purpose has been served — maybe the dangerous animal died, so now the fence just blocks an empty field. In each of these cases, taking down the fence would be acceptable. But any action would still require *understanding why the fence was there*. As a general rule, I exercise this principle when I think about how to go about societal change. I believe that the people who came before me usually had their reasons to structure society in specific ways, and I need to understand those reasons before I try to change society. Justice Elena Kagan, [writing in dissent](https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/24-109%5F21o3.pdf?ref=readtangle.com#page=45) yesterday, put forward an excellent explanation of the historical necessity of the particular fence we call the Voting Rights Act (VRA). In the years following the Civil War and the failure of Reconstruction, white Americans in power (particularly in the South) systematically crushed the rights of black Americans. These white Americans put up invidious fences around voting — poll taxes, literacy tests and so on, all principles that they could claim were “race-neutral” — just so they could keep their black neighbors out. Congress, responding to the dire need for change, mandated that those fences be torn down. But the tear-down wasn’t enough. As Justice Kagan noted, “there seemed an endless number” of new, facially race-neutral principles that in practice barred black Americans from exercising their rights. Thus, the VRA was built: a fence that ensured Congress and the courts could have a legal remedy for any and all such obstacles to black enfranchisement. Justice Kagan’s dissent is harsh, fiery; she writes that way because she believes the Roberts Court is tearing down a fence that is still necessary. For years, Congress and the courts have interpreted Section 2 of the VRA as requiring the examination and elimination of *disparate effects* against racial groups, not *discriminatory intent*. And they did this because, as Kagan points out, “It is the rare legislature… that cannot camouflage racial targeting with race-neutral justifications.” But the Roberts Court in *Callais* reverses that long-understood test, instead requiring that plaintiffs must prove discriminatory intent in order to overturn a racial gerrymander. Justice Samuel Alito, who wrote the majority opinion, argued that the Court isn’t tearing down the VRA fence; rather, it’s “updating” long-held standards to more accurately reflect modern realities and the VRA’s original mandate. Essentially, under Alito’s framework, the wild animal of American racism is very, very weak, and therefore a strong fence is no longer necessary to keep it out. Furthermore, Alito sees the ultimate goal as a totally equal, race-blind society. Under his view, the VRA is an example of race-based thinking that was temporarily necessary to combat more dangerous discrimination — but, as discrimination lessens and the VRA gets less necessary, it should be made weaker and ultimately removed entirely. He cited four central historical shifts: “vast social change… throughout the country and particularly in the South” that had eliminated 1960s-era racial differences in voter registration and turnout; the rise of a legitimately competitive two-party system in the South; the [*Rucho* decision](https://www.oyez.org/cases/2018/18-422?ref=readtangle.com), which declared courts couldn’t make rulings on partisan gerrymandering; and the use of computers to draw maps. All of these developments, Alito held, were proof of enough change that the previous understanding of the VRA and the [*Gingles* racial discrimination test](https://ballotpedia.org/Thornburg%5Fv.%5FGingles?ref=readtangle.com) (which assesses whether electoral districts violate Section 2) were now unfairly burdensome on states. Alito doesn’t argue that racial discrimination never happens; instead, he argues that discrimination explicitly banned by Section 2 must be provably based on race, not merely partisan preference. Partisan gerrymandering is a *political* question, so courts can’t interfere — plaintiffs need to “disentangle” race from politics in order to successfully challenge gerrymandered maps. This is Alito’s most significant update to the *Gingles* framework. Now, *Gingles* can only be satisfied if plaintiffs can prove that lawmakers are intentionally eroding racial interests, not just preserving partisan interests. At first glance, this seems logical and fair: The Supreme Court won’t interfere in partisan gerrymandering. State legislatures, unless otherwise told by Congress or a Constitutional amendment, have the (unfortunate) right to try to preserve specific partisan outcomes. This might mean that racial groups will be divided in strange ways, but it doesn’t actually reduce their *opportunity* to elect a representative of their choice relative to the opportunity of other voters. A black Democrat in a Republican state, for example, is required to have a fair opportunity to elect a candidate of their choice — but only the opportunity of black voters is protected, not the opportunity of Democrats. Reality is not so easy to disentangle. The Louisiana map at the heart of the case — and maps in much of the South — are proof of just how complicated it can be. In the Deep South, voting is often [racially polarized](https://cces.gov.harvard.edu/sites/g/files/omnuum8901/files/Kuriwaki-et-al%5Fracially-polarized-voting-MRP.pdf?ref=readtangle.com#page=9). White voters are overwhelmingly Republican while black voters are overwhelmingly Democrat. I want to believe Justice Alito’s conjecture, that any racial discrimination evident in a partisan gerrymander in Louisiana is pure happenstance, and Louisiana’s original map would have looked the same had those voters been white. But, as Justice Kagan writes, the racial and the partisan factors are impossible to extricate in the Deep South. For a lot of complicated, messy historical reasons, Southern black voters have a demonstrably sharp partisan divide from their white neighbors. To be totally fair to the *Callais* majority, it is still possible for plaintiffs to mount successful Section 2 challenges. Some [electoral-map experts](https://x.com/MappingFL/status/2049550685901889664?s=20&ref=readtangle.com) are already pointing out that mostly nonpartisan local races could be used to show white voters differing from the preferences of black voters for no reason [other than race](https://mcimaps.substack.com/p/issue-258-racially-polarized-voting). We don’t know yet how courts will resolve those questions, but they still could be a viable path for suits. As such, while Kagan is right that it’s *much harder* to mount these challenges, I think she goes too far when she claims that the *Callais* opinion destroyed the VRA. Honestly, if you ask me, the racial problems at the heart of this case are mostly a proxy for the deeper, more pernicious problem of partisan gerrymandering. And the actions of the states after *Callais* came down are sheer proof of that: In my home state of Tennessee, Sen. Marsha Blackburn (now running to become the Republican gubernatorial nominee) [called for](https://x.com/VoteMarsha/status/2049515547910381782?s=20&ref=readtangle.com) a legislative special session to eliminate Tennessee’s lone Democratic district at the heart of majority-black Memphis. The Georgia state GOP [began calling](https://www.cbsnews.com/atlanta/news/warnock-dickens-slam-supreme-court-voting-rights-act-decision-as-georgia-gop-calls-for-redistricting-session/?ref=readtangle.com) for similar redistricting. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) [declared](https://x.com/RonDeSantis/status/2049510607108358651?s=20&ref=readtangle.com) that *Callais* invalidated a part of the state constitution that might have blocked the harshly gerrymandered map that just passed Florida’s legislature. And while Republican states are making the moves right now ahead of the midterms, *Callais* also cleared the way for Democratic states to [eliminate Republican districts](https://x.com/zacharydonnini/status/2049496683361292385?s=46&t=7wfYUO2rNbHlrYyBDmVjCA&ref=readtangle.com). I’m no SCOTUS cynic — I genuinely believe that all of the justices, even the ones whose reasoning I tend to disagree with, are working from intelligently formed, long-held principles of interpreting the law. I’m also consistently skeptical that SCOTUS times its opinions for political reasons, and neither do I think that SCOTUS *should* consider politics in its decision timing. But I must admit, the timing of *Callais* feels particularly inopportune — it’s guaranteed to heat up the redistricting fight that’s already swept the nation ahead of this fall’s midterms, and it helps Republican states more than Democratic states at the moment (though that’s not necessarily true long-term). The VRA was originally an electric fence that protected against racial discrimination. As partisanship has increased over time and strongly correlated with race, it’s become a barbed-wire fence against totally unrestricted partisan gerrymandering. After *Callais*, essentially only the fenceposts remain — but the deadly animal has reproduced, and its progeny is unrestrained. Now, either Congress builds a new fence, or we all suffer the consequences. ****Staff concurrence — Executive Editor Isaac Saul:** As much as I appreciate Audrey’s thoughtful, well reasoned analysis above, if Section 2 was the fence stopping all-out partisan gerrymandering, then that should tell us all about the value and importance of keeping Section 2 alive — and about its effectiveness (as Congress intended!) in preserving the constitutional right to equal representation. However you land on the constitutionality of the law, which I of course concede is the Court’s only responsibility here, the **reality* of what is about to happen is a shameful outcome for our democracy and our country, and we should say that in clear, unambiguous terms. Until gerrymandering of all kinds is restricted, outlawed, or overcome, we will continue moving further and further into a future where our politicians pick their voters, and not the other way around. **Take the survey:** What do you think of the Supreme Court’s decision? [Let us know](https://interrobang.vercel.app/survey/2dbef993-a640-4e8a-84d6-9b2bea79452b?ref=readtangle.com). *Disagree? That's okay. Our opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we'll consider publishing your feedback.* ### Your questions, answered. *We're skipping the reader question today to give our main story some extra space. Want to have a question answered in the newsletter? You can reply to this email (it goes straight to our inbox) or* [*fill out this form*](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScQhqBSG%5F6%5FoBhwcTQMeS570n29XYbeQ9C9Bis7rjqI31g1tA/viewform?usp=header&ref=readtangle.com)*.* ### Under the radar. The Trump administration is reportedly developing guidance for federal agencies to onboard Anthropic’s new artificial intelligence models despite labeling the company a supply chain risk. In February, President Trump ordered federal agencies to cease all use of the company’s technology after it refused to allow the Pentagon unrestricted access to its models, leading to the supply chain risk designation. However, the White House now appears to be changing course as agencies request access to Claude Mythos, the company’s powerful new model. “Any policy announcement will come directly from the President and anything else is pure speculation,” an administration spokesperson said. [Axios has the story](https://www.axios.com/2026/04/29/trump-anthropic-pentagon-ai-executive-order-gov?ref=readtangle.com). SPONSORED by Incogni ****Your Data Gets Sold Before You Even Know It's Gone** Brokers trade your phone number, birthdate, and SSN to whoever pays — advertisers, or worse, identity thieves [waiting for the next breach](https://deal.incogni.io/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=6&aff%5Fid=1007&ref=readtangle.com). Incogni removes your info from all broker types, including People Search Sites, and keeps scrubbing as new exposures appear. [****Use code TANGLE for 55% off**](https://deal.incogni.io/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=6&aff%5Fid=1007&ref=readtangle.com)****.** ### The road not taken. Our editorial team reached consensus on what stories to cover this week pretty easily — the attempted assassination against President Trump and the two Supreme Court cases in particular were no-brainer selections. Our Tuesday newsletter on the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) indictment was our only difficult choice. We also considered covering the DOJ dropping its investigation into Jerome Powell, cannabis reclassification, and an update on the death penalty that drove a robust internal discussion. The nuances of the SPLC case made it the most compelling choice to unpack, but we now feel more motivated to publish a discussion over some differing opinions on the death penalty sometime soon, too. In a different world, where the Supreme Court didn’t rule on the Voting Rights Act yesterday, that likely would have been the topic of today’s edition. ### The extras. - **One year ago today** we covered [the Canadian election](https://www.readtangle.com/canada-historic-election-2025-carney/). - **The most clicked link in our last regular newsletter** was [the ad in the free version for FinanceBuzz](https://financebuzz.com/money-moves-cut-on-retirement-yaez?adgroupid=BM-Tangle-money-moves-cut-on-retirement-yaez-CPF-04222026&ref=readtangle.com). - **Nothing to do with politics:** Japan is preparing for summer by [announcing a new name for particularly hot days](https://www.euronews.com/2026/04/20/japan-announces-new-name-for-days-over-40c-after-hottest-summer-ever?ref=readtangle.com). - **Our last survey:** 1,770 readers responded to our survey on geofence warrants with 37% saying the practice seems unconstitutional and they are uncomfortable with it. “It seems that if the police or FBI have video of the suspect, they have probable cause,” one respondent said. “A search warrant should still be required so that a judge can determine what limits need to be put on for an area to be searched and records which may be seized,” said another. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/04/data-src-image-a45f2016-8b25-4206-8cf7-88151ab9144a.png) ### Have a nice day. Isambard Kitten Brunel is a regular at Oxford University’s Lady Margaret Hall library. “Issy,” as library regulars affectionately call him, commutes by bus each day with librarian Jamie Fishwick-Ford to provide a much needed service: comforting stressed students. Issy has specific qualities that tailor him to the task; he’s a calm, attentive, hypoallergenic, Siberian forest cat. “He’s had several people come to him in tears,” Fishwick-Ford, Issy’s owner, said. “It can be really tough being away from home for the first time and away from pets you’ve known all your life.” Issy’s comforting services are so in demand that Oxford students now request visits from the famous library cat; his calendar is booked solid through next term. [Nice News has the story](https://nicenews.com/culture/oxford-university-library-cat-comforts-students/?ref=readtangle.com). ### The Voting Rights Act Just Took a Hit — Now What? URL: https://www.readtangle.com/the-voting-rights-act-just-took-a-hit-now-what/ Last updated: 2026-05-01T00:05:00.000Z Is political violence on the rise in the United States? ### SCOTUS hears a novel Fourth Amendment challenge. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/supreme-court-geofence-data/ Last updated: 2026-04-29T15:54:46.000Z *I'm Isaac Saul, and this is Tangle: an independent, nonpartisan, subscriber-supported politics newsletter that summarizes the best arguments from across the political spectrum on the news of the day — then “my take.”* *Are you new here?* [*Get free emails*](https://www.readtangle.com/) *to your inbox daily. Would you rather listen? You can find our podcast* [*here*](https://shows.acast.com/66510864c0852400122bc7be?ref=readtangle.com)*.* ### Today’s read: 13 minutes. 📍 The Court considers whether police can use cell phone location data in the area surrounding a crime. Plus, does Tangle rely too much on coastal news outlets? ### Calling all Minnesotans! This Saturday, May 2, Isaac will be speaking at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota, about 45 minutes outside of Minneapolis. First, he’ll be moderating a panel on innovations in journalism at 10:30 AM CT; then, he’ll deliver a closing address at 2:30 PM CT. If you’re in the Twin Cities area on Saturday, consider coming out! **It’s free and open to the public (no tickets required).** [More information is here](https://institute.stolaf.edu/fall25-2/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Conference%3A%20Polarization%20and%20the%20Changing%20Media%20Landscape). ### Quick hits. 1. BREAKING: The Supreme Court ruled 6–3 that Louisiana must redraw its congressional map, finding that the state improperly used race to draw districts that helped minority communities elect their preferred candidates. The decision weakens Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, which prohibits districting practices that give members of a racial group less opportunity than others to elect candidates of their choice. ([The ruling](https://www.wsj.com/us-news/law/supreme-court-curbs-states-use-of-race-to-draw-congressional-maps-7a42ebfc?ref=readtangle.com)) 2. A grand jury in North Carolina indicted former Federal Bureau of Investigation Director James Comey on charges of making a threat against the president and transmitting it through interstate commerce. The case is related to a picture Comey posted on his Instagram account in May 2025 that showed seashells arranged to read “86 47,” which some interpreted as a call to violence against President Trump. Comey said he is innocent and will fight the charges. ([The indictment](https://www.cnn.com/2026/04/28/politics/justice-department-indicts-ex-fbi-director-james-comey-again?ref=readtangle.com)) 3. The United Arab Emirates announced it will leave the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) on May 1, citing the country’s “long-term strategic and economic vision and evolving energy profile.” ([The departure](https://apnews.com/article/opec-united-arab-emirates-leaving-cartel-4966108c3fafacb67181152216deda14?ref=readtangle.com)) 4. King Charles III delivered an address to a joint meeting of Congress, highlighting the historic relationship between the United States and Britain and calling for a continued alliance. ([The speech](https://thehill.com/policy/international/5853910-king-charles-address-congress/?ref=readtangle.com)) 5. The Federal Communications Commission announced in a filing that it is reviewing ABC’s broadcast licenses, saying that Disney (ABC’s parent company) may have corporate diversity policies that violate anti-discrimination rules. The network’s licenses were not due to be reviewed until 2028 at the earliest, and the announcement follows President Donald Trump’s criticism of ABC late-night host Jimmy Kimmel. ([The review](https://www.semafor.com/article/04/28/2026/fcc-prepares-review-of-disneys-tv-licenses?ref=readtangle.com)) 6. The Supreme Court will hear arguments on Wednesday in a challenge to the Trump administration’s attempt to revoke Temporary Protected Status for Haitian and Syrian nationals. ([The case](https://www.scotusblog.com/2026/04/court-will-consider-whether-trump-administration-properly-revoked-protected-status-for-syrians-a/?ref=readtangle.com)) SPONSORED by financebuzz ****22 Things To Cut When Living On Retirement (Many People Ignore #11)** Whether you’re already enjoying retirement or just eyeing the exit ramp, the math of a fixed income can feel like a daunting puzzle. The rising cost of living often turns "relaxing" into "calculating," but your [golden years](https://financebuzz.com/money-moves-cut-on-retirement-yaez?utm%5Fsource=tangle&utm%5Fmedium=paid-newsletter-cpf&utm%5Fterm=Tangle&utm%5Fcampaign=BM-FBZ-Tangle-money-moves-cut-on-retirement-yaez-CPF&adgroupid=BM-Tangle-money-moves-cut-on-retirement-yaez-CPF-04222026) shouldn’t be defined by what you **can’t* do. The good news? You don’t need a radical lifestyle overhaul to find breathing room. Often, it isn't the big-ticket items that drain a nest egg; it’s the steady drip of outdated services and [inefficient accounts](https://financebuzz.com/money-moves-cut-on-retirement-yaez?utm%5Fsource=tangle&utm%5Fmedium=paid-newsletter-cpf&utm%5Fterm=Tangle&utm%5Fcampaign=BM-FBZ-Tangle-money-moves-cut-on-retirement-yaez-CPF&adgroupid=BM-Tangle-money-moves-cut-on-retirement-yaez-CPF-04222026). Efficiency isn't about deprivation — it's about intentionality. Our partner, FinanceBuzz curated a list of simple cutbacks and financial tools to help you reclaim your budget for what actually matters. [****Check out the list**](https://financebuzz.com/money-moves-cut-on-retirement-yaez?utm%5Fsource=tangle&utm%5Fmedium=paid-newsletter-cpf&utm%5Fterm=Tangle&utm%5Fcampaign=BM-FBZ-Tangle-money-moves-cut-on-retirement-yaez-CPF&adgroupid=BM-Tangle-money-moves-cut-on-retirement-yaez-CPF-04222026)****.** ### Today’s topic. Geofencing before the Supreme Court. On Monday, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in [*Chatrie v. United States*](https://www.scotusblog.com/2026/04/justices-appear-mixed-on-whether-geofence-warrant-violated-the-fourth-amendment-/?ref=readtangle.com), a case exploring whether the practice of scanning cell phone data of individuals based on proximity to a crime is constitutional. The case is the first time the Supreme Court has considered the use of “geofence warrants,” which enable the police to cast wide digital dragnets to investigate a suspected crime. The justices appeared split on the decision after two hours of arguments; the Court [is expected](https://www.npr.org/2026/04/27/nx-s1-5777656/supreme-court-geofence-warrants?ref=readtangle.com) to issue a decision before the end of the summer. **Back up:** The man at the center of the case, Okello Chatrie, [was indicted](https://www.wtvr.com/2019/09/18/okello-chatrie-indicted?ref=readtangle.com) on charges of armed bank robbery in Midlothian, Virginia, in 2019\. According to the indictment, Chatrie ordered the manager to empty the safe at gunpoint then fled with approximately $195,000\. Police reviewed the bank’s surveillance footage and observed a man who appeared to be the thief talking on his cell phone, then applied for a geofence warrant directed at Google to search its collected cell phone location information. Investigators used the data to narrow their search perimeter to a 17.5-acre area around the bank, eventually leading to Chatrie’s identification and prosecution. Chatrie [conditionally pleaded guilty](https://www.msba.org/site/site/content/News-and-Publications/News/General-News/Fourth%5FAmendment%5FShowdown%5FThe%5FUS%5FSupreme%5FCourt%5FTakes%5FOn%5FGeofence%5FWarrants.aspx?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=nuances%20and%20implications.-,Procedural%20History%C2%A0,-The%20case%20under) to armed robbery in 2022 and was sentenced to nearly 12 years in prison. Chatrie appealed the decision to the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, [which affirmed](https://courthousenews.com/fourth-circuit-kicks-can-on-constitutionality-of-geofence-warrants/?ref=readtangle.com) the use of geofence data in his conviction in 2025\. The Supreme Court agreed to hear the case in January 2026. Challengers say the practice is a violation of the Fourth Amendment’s [protection](https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/amdt4-3-1/ALDE%5F00013715/?ref=readtangle.com) against unreasonable searches while the government argues that customers forfeited the expectation of privacy by sharing their data with large private data providers. The justices appeared split during [oral arguments](https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral%5Farguments/audio/2025/25-112?ref=readtangle.com) between deference to the government’s use of geofence data and concern that the use of this data is unconstitutional. Justice Samuel Alito emphasized that Chatrie voluntarily shared cell data with a third party and questioned whether geofence warrants against data companies were categorically different from search warrants against individuals. Conversely, Justice Sonia Sotomayor compared the government’s acquisition of cell phone data to an illegal police search. Justices Amy Coney Barrett and Elena Kagan both appeared ambivalent during questioning. Justice Barrett focused her questions on when a cell phone user could have a reasonable expectation of privacy with their data, suggesting geofence warrants applied to public spaces may be treated differently from usage in private spaces. Justice Kagan asked repeatedly about situations where warrants expose more than just a person’s location data. We’ll get into what the left, right, and legal experts are saying about the arguments in *Chatrie* below. Then, Executive Editor Isaac Saul gives his take. ### What the left is saying. - **Many on the left suggest the Court will issue a narrow ruling reining in the use of geofence searches.** - **Some say a ruling against Chatrie would be a blow to all Americans’ rights.** **In Vox, Ian Millhiser said** [**“the Supreme Court seems a bit nervous about letting the police track you with your phone.”**](https://www.vox.com/politics/487078/supreme-court-us-chatrie-geofence-warrant-cellphone?ref=readtangle.com) “Most of the justices’ questions to Adam Unikowsky, the lawyer for a criminal defendant who was convicted of robbing a bank, appeared skeptical of Unikowsky’s claims that the Constitution places strict limits on the government’s ability to track people through their cellphones,” Millhiser wrote. “But in the second half of the argument, after Justice Department lawyer Eric Feigin took the podium, most of the justices appeared even more concerned about some of the implications of Feigin’s arguments. “As Chief Justice John Roberts noted shortly after Feigin began his argument, if the government has too much ability to track people using their cellphones, it could potentially learn the identity of everyone who attended a particular religious service, or everyone who attended a particular political meeting. Meanwhile, several other justices appeared worried that the government lawyer’s arguments would permit police to comb through many people’s emails, or their personal calendar and photos, without first obtaining a warrant,” Millhiser said. “It appears likely that the Court will hand down a cautious decision in *Chatrie* — one that reads *Carpenter* to require police to always obtain a warrant before they attempt to track someone using their cellphone.” **In Balls and Strikes, Madiba K. Dennie asked** [**“does your use of Google Maps \[give\] cops permission to track your location?”**](https://ballsandstrikes.org/scotus/chatrie-supreme-court-geofence-warrants/?ref=readtangle.com) “The Fourth Amendment prohibits ‘unreasonable searches and seizures.’ And to that end, it explicitly requires that warrants be based ‘upon probable cause,’ and that they ‘particularly’ describe ‘the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized,’” Dennie wrote. “This means that police aren’t supposed to go on fishing expeditions willy-nilly… But here, Hylton \[the detective on the case\] indiscriminately searched the phones of people inside a circle with a diameter spanning three football fields, and developed his suspicion along the way.” “The question now before the Supreme Court is whether the execution of this specific geofence warrant violated the Fourth Amendment, but the answer will affect many more people than just Chatrie,” Dennie said. “Google received its first geofence warrant in 2016\. Today, Google receives over 11,000 geofence requests a year, representing over a quarter of all warrants it receives in the United States. And hundreds of millions of Google users have location history enabled on their devices. *Chatrie v. United States* will determine if, when people switch these features on, they unknowingly relinquish their constitutional rights.” ### What the right is saying. - **The right is mixed on the case, with some saying geofence searches only apply to those who have willingly given up their location data.** - **Others say a ruling for the government would be a blow to the Fourth Amendment.** **The Wall Street Journal editorial board wrote about** [**“a Fourth Amendment tech showdown at the Supreme Court.”**](https://www.wsj.com/opinion/a-fourth-amendment-tech-showdown-at-the-supreme-court-521b725e?ref=readtangle.com) “Applying old principles to new technologies can be tricky, but *Chatrie v. U.S.* shouldn’t be. The data that led police to Mr. Chatrie came from an optional Google feature he enabled, recording his location every few minutes. At the time, this information was stored on Google’s servers, accessible to the company,” the board said. “The robber was on surveillance tape using a cellphone, so police sent Google a warrant for anonymous data on any devices within 150 meters of the crime… Solid work, detective. Yet the convict argues this was an illegal search.” “Mr. Chatrie and his allies on the legal left want the Court to say the Fourth Amendment effectively bars all geofence warrants. No more asking a phone company which devices pinged a tower by the murder. Would detectives be limited to inquiring about specific customers?” the board asked. “It’s difficult to see this as the right constitutional balance between privacy and public safety. Police can dust a crime scene for fingerprints and get surveillance footage or nearby tollbooth records without identifying the suspect in advance.” **In The Washington Times, Cheryl K. Chumley called geofence warrants** [**“\[a\] Fourth Amendment nightmare.”**](https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/apr/27/geofence-warrants-fourth-amendment-nightmare-fit-police-state/?ref=readtangle.com) “This is how crime-fighting always goes: Police want more power, government demands more authority, law enforcement insists on broader interpretation of the Constitution, and the justification always, always, always is for safety and security, with those opposing the encroachment on their liberties and privacies being peppered with the somewhat hostile and always condescending, ‘Well, if you’re not doing anything wrong, you have nothing to worry about,’” Chumley said. “How about the worry of the government’s ever-intruding expansion into the lives of innocent American citizens?” “This is the type of warrant used to identify hundreds of attendees of the Jan. 6, 2021, protests on Capitol Hill — the type of warrant that allowed law enforcement to arrest and prosecute more than 1,500… These are people who — at the time of the issuance of the warrant — haven’t committed any crime; haven’t indicated any intent to commit a crime,” Chumley wrote. “Just because an American carries a cellphone does not mean the government has the right to track and surveil, using data from that phone, without going the normal Fourth Amendment warrant route.” ### What legal experts are saying. - **Many legal experts frame the case as a key test for the Fourth Amendment.** - **Some expect the justices to send the case back to the lower courts with new guidance.** **For The New York Law Journal, Paul R. Townsend called the case** [**“a fork in the road for the Fourth Amendment.”**](https://www.law.com/newyorklawjournal/2026/04/28/a-fork-in-the-road-for-the-fourth-amendment/?ref=readtangle.com) “When this warrant was issued, the government had no identified suspect, no particular device in mind, and no individualized probable cause. Rather than developing suspicion directed at a specific person, it compelled Google to disclose data concerning every individual within the designated area and worked backward to identify a target,” Townsend said. “The government argues that this is akin to a more modern large-scale canvassing effort, where law enforcement talks to strangers to inquire whether they might have any relevant information to share which may aid in the investigation… Denying the government the ability to utilize contemporary technology to solve crimes makes society less safe.” “The implications of this case are profound. The Framers rejected general warrants because they conferred unchecked discretion upon the government while offering insufficient protection to the individual,” Townsend wrote. “The Supreme Court will now decide whether geofence warrants present the same danger in modern form. The majority opinion in this case will shape future investigative techniques in an increasingly digital era.” **In Reason, Orin S. Kerr offered** [**“a few thoughts on the *Chatrie* oral argument.”**](https://reason.com/volokh/2026/04/27/a-few-thoughts-on-the-chatrie-oral-argument/?ref=readtangle.com) “The Justices seem likely to reject the broader arguments Chatrie made that geofence warrants are categorically unconstitutional or cannot be drafted in ways that could identify suspects. They seem likely to rule that geofence warrants can be drafted constitutionally, rejecting the 5th Circuit’s view in *Smith*. I suspect they will likely hold that geofence warrants have to be limited in time and space, and leave the details to lower courts,” Kerr said. “There were some Justices who wanted to address the multi-step process of Google’s warrant procedure and say new warrants were needed for those steps… but I don’t know if the majority will get that far.” “Late in the argument, the government seemed in a conciliatory mindset, perhaps sensing a victory on the warrant issue that it didn’t want to place at risk. But *Smith v. Maryland* expressly holds that voluntary disclosure from the home that reveals presence in the home is still not a search,” Kerr wrote. “And more broadly, there’s no practical problem with getting warrants for Location History because the technology doesn’t exist anymore, and probable cause was not challenged back when there was. In any event, what matters going forward is all the other online records that exist online: IP logins, etc.” ### My take. **Reminder: “My take” is a section where we give ourselves space to share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, don't unsubscribe. Write in by replying to this email, or** [**leave a comment**](https://www.readtangle.com/supreme-court-geofence-data/#ghost-comments-root)**.** - **The general concept of geofencing seems constitutional to me.** - **Whether the government can get data from a third party, and what data they can get, complicates the issue considerably.** - **I hope the Court provides some guidelines on what data the government isn’t allowed to access.** **Executive Editor Isaac Saul:** Imagine if a similar scenario occurred 75 years ago — before “geofencing” and location data were even a concept. Okello Chatrie walks into a bank. He hands them a note demanding money. Someone presses one of those silent alarm buttons they have in heist movies that I assume also existed in the 1950s, and the bank’s block gets swarmed by police. Imagine, now, that the cops show up in time to make a perimeter around 100 or so individuals who were in or around the bank at the time of the robbery. Would they then be able to search those 100 individuals — their person, their bags, maybe even their vehicles — to check for the stolen cash? It seems to me that the answer is yes; police could reasonably suspect anyone around the bank, and that would be a reasonable search. Here is Chatrie’s lawyer, in real life, [during oral arguments](https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral%5Farguments/argument%5Ftranscripts/2025/25-112%5F7k47.pdf?ref=readtangle.com#page=5): “Even if the search materialized only when the data was found and exposed to the police, the warrant would still be unconstitutional because there was not probable cause to search the virtual private papers of every single person within the geofence merely because of their proximity to the crime.” I’m not *quite* convinced. How much more protected is a virtual geofence than, say, just looking at a crime scene and learning who was in the vicinity of a crime, and then searching those people? This situation contains some novel elements, of course. For instance, people in the 1950s weren’t walking around with their entire location history, contact list, and every picture they’d ever taken in their bags. Then there’s the central legal question at play: accessing and searching people in a geofence requires law enforcement to acquire and process data held by a private company. They aren’t walking up to a crime scene and stopping people nearby; they are going to a private company, long after a crime occurred, and asking them to hand over information about everyone who might have been there. Even for someone like me, who holds quite strong libertarian views on issues like privacy, speech and police conduct, the facts of this case make me pretty sympathetic to law enforcement. They first tried to solve the robbery in a traditional manner. Then, while reviewing the bank’s security footage, they noticed the thief was on his phone during the robbery, sought an anonymized list of nearby users from Google, narrowed that anonymized list, then compiled identifying information only for a small subset (in this case, just three) of people they believed to be suspects. And it worked: They got the robber. On top of that, the government only accessed data that users had to opt into sharing with Google; roughly two-thirds of Google users don’t actually hand over the location data history that was used to crack this case, according to the government’s argument. As Chief Justice Roberts said, “If you don’t want the government to have your location history, you just flip that off.” He compared this to not wanting someone to peer into your window, and how “you can close your window or the shades.” But that, actually, was an analogy that turned me *against* the government’s argument. What immediately came to mind for me was that if I choose to leave my window shades open at night sometimes, that *does* mean people who walk by could peer into my home. I understand that trade-off. But does it mean those same people could set up a camera outside my house, record footage of my family in my home, then be compelled to turn it over to law enforcement if they ask for it? On that part, I’m not so sure. When I write about Supreme Court rulings, I typically use a two-pronged analysis: What do I think about the legal arguments, and what are the practical implications here? The Court hasn’t issued its ruling yet, but in this particular case the legal arguments were genuinely some of the most fascinating I’ve read or listened to, and I’m not at all sure how the Court will land. This is one of those cases where both sides made such compelling points — about the privacy we should be granted, or can expect, and the downstream implications of this case going either way — that I felt twisted into knots at the end of oral arguments. Yet a few moments ultimately moved me in favor of Chatrie and against the government. First, Justice Gorsuch emphasized genuine concerns about the implications of any broad ruling in favor of the government. Gorsuch asked directly what it would mean if Chatrie had no reasonable expectation of privacy with his location data since he voluntarily shared it with Google: Does this logic extend to your Gmail? Your Google Photos? Your Google Calendar? Your Google Docs? Is all of that suddenly accessible without a specific warrant because you “consented” by using Google’s services? That line of questioning (as a Google user!) stopped me in my tracks. Deputy Solicitor General Eric Feigin was prepared for this question, and claimed the court has always treated “the contents of one’s personal thoughts as recorded differently from one’s exposed public location, which is all that’s at issue here.” I couldn’t exactly say why, but I didn’t find that a particularly satisfying answer. And then the justices illuminated why through additional questions. Gorsuch, Kagan, and Barrett together pressed Feigin: What if the location data were precise enough to track someone’s movements *inside* their home? Would the government’s position be that this data was accessible without a warrant? Feigin clearly gets uncomfortable, arguing that *maybe* the government would argue that, but it doesn’t matter because in this case those GPS intervals weren’t precise enough. Barrett then trapped him: Okay, so, if the location data could tell us when someone went to the bathroom, or their bedroom, are you saying accessing that data without an individual warrant wouldn’t be a search and thus a Fourth Amendment violation? Feigin conceded, eventually, that under the government’s theory, that level of specificity would still probably not constitute a search, but he understood this was a “very difficult argument to sustain.” To which Gorsuch quipped, yes, because it is “totally inconsistent with your theory,” which drew audible laughs in the courtroom. When I’m in doubt, my inclinations are always toward privacy; so here, even while believing geofence warrants in general seem constitutional, I hope the Court clearly defines a very high bar for accessing data from a private company. The arguments themselves made me think a narrow ruling might be coming, though I’m unsure exactly how or in which direction. Ultimately, this is the very first Supreme Court case taking on the Fourth Amendment implications of geofencing, and the Court’s past rulings are colliding head-on with the new world we live in now — one where technological questions like this need to be processed through centuries-old laws, precedent, and legal theory. The implications of how the Court takes its first steps into this new terrain are huge, but how they will do that is (for now) still unclear. **Take the survey:** What do you think about geofence warrants? [Let us know](https://interrobang.vercel.app/survey/f525c172-8d7f-49fb-a0bf-714622896bc3?ref=readtangle.com). *Disagree? That's okay. Our opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we'll consider publishing your feedback.* ### Your questions, answered. **Q: Why does Tangle rely on East and West Coast news sources, to the exclusion of resources in “flyover country”?** **— Robert from Minneapolis, MN** **Tangle:** Thanks for the question, Robert. We’ve seen you offer a more detailed version of this question in the comments on past articles, and we’re happy to address this head-on. You suggest that Tangle is perpetuating an insidious geographical bias in our reporting by primarily relying on outlets and reporters based on the coasts. Under this theory, we’ve created our own kind of “Tangle bubble” that misses nuances in reporting that might emerge if we reviewed more sources from regions like the Midwest and South. This is a fair point. Politics coverage tends to concentrate among a few powerful outlets, and those outlets tend to gravitate towards geographical sectors — most notably New York City and Washington, D.C. That’s understandable because people seeking a particular career will tend to gravitate towards areas with a concentration of opportunities, the way big tech is centered in the Bay Area and many logistics companies have hubs in Chicago. However, that can create a subtle bias over time, leading to viewpoints that are naturally colored by living in New York instead of places like St. Louis or Phoenix. However, we’d offer two counterarguments. First, be careful not to conflate a news organization’s name with its geographical footholds — just because an organization is called *The Washington Examiner* doesn’t mean everyone who works there is based in Washington. Just as the people who work at Tangle, an organization headquartered in Philadelphia, work and live all across the country, so too do these outlets have reporters and news desks representing the entire United States. Axios is a national news organization with reporters [across the country and in smaller cities](https://www.axios.com/newsletters/local?ref=readtangle.com) and states. The New York Times has a Chicago bureau, and if a major story breaks in, say, Minnesota, they typically have reporters who live and work in that area take the lead on covering the story. Second, we often look for coverage [from local outlets](https://www.readtangle.com/ice-shooting-in-minneapolis/#:~:text=In%20The%20Minnesota%20Star%20Tribune%2C%20Phil%20Morris%20called%20the%20incident%20%E2%80%9Ca%20death%20that%20did%20not%20have%20to%20happen.%E2%80%9D) to represent different sides of the debate when we pull sources to quote from. We’d love to quote these smaller outlets more regularly on bigger, national issues and not just ones local to them — however, the regional outlets don’t always issue editorials on things like Supreme Court rulings. We often find the arguments that represent the whole political spectrum come from outlets that specialize in national politics, but that doesn’t mean we’ll stop looking. **Want to have a question answered in the newsletter? You can reply to this email (it goes straight to our inbox) or** [**fill out this form**](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScQhqBSG%5F6%5FoBhwcTQMeS570n29XYbeQ9C9Bis7rjqI31g1tA/viewform?usp=header&ref=readtangle.com)**.** ### A deeper look. ![Public pay phone | Ken Kistler, PublicDomainPictures.net](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/04/data-src-image-76e96497-61dc-4fa4-a432-099cd3303db4.png) Public pay phone | Ken Kistler, PublicDomainPictures.net In the centuries since the Fourth Amendment was ratified, the Supreme Court has ruled on key issues related to the amendment on several occasions. One case with particular relevance to Monday’s arguments in *Chatrie v. United States* was [*Katz v. United States*](https://constitutioncenter.org/the-constitution/supreme-court-case-library/katz-v-united-states?ref=readtangle.com)(1967). Charles Katz, a prolific gambler, was known to use a public telephone booth to communicate “handicaps” (used to level the playing field for betting on matchups between a favorite and underdog) to bookmakers in other states. The FBI attached a listening device to the outside of the phone booth and recorded Katz’s conversations, then used the recordings to arrest and convict him for illegal gambling activity. Katz appealed his conviction on the grounds that the recordings were made without a warrant, violating his Fourth Amendment rights. In a 7–1 decision, the Court sided with the gambler, finding that Fourth Amendment protections extended to people’s reasonable expectations of privacy, regardless of the physical space they are in. “The Fourth Amendment protects people, not places,” Justice Potter Stewart [wrote](https://www.oyez.org/cases/1967/35?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Yes.%20The%20Court,Fourth%20Amendment%20protection.). 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[****See the Full List**](https://financebuzz.com/money-moves-cut-on-retirement-yaez?utm%5Fsource=tangle&utm%5Fmedium=paid-newsletter-cpf&utm%5Fterm=Tangle&utm%5Fcampaign=BM-FBZ-Tangle-money-moves-cut-on-retirement-yaez-CPF&adgroupid=BM-Tangle-money-moves-cut-on-retirement-yaez-CPF-04222026)****.** ### The extras. - **One year ago today** we wrote about [baby bonuses](https://www.readtangle.com/baby-bonus-boost-the-birth-rate/). - **The most clicked link in our last regular newsletter** was [the prep-school punk music video by Gener8ion](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6%5Fmbnsh6VU&ref=readtangle.com). - **Nothing to do with politics:** The GOAT of nerdy sports videos is back — Jon Bois releases [episode one of a ten-part series on rushing the mound in baseball](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZs5M-D2eNc&ref=readtangle.com). - **Our last survey:** 2,474 readers responded to our survey on the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) indictment with 34% saying they didn’t think the SPLC broke the law or acted immorally. “Using ‘plants’ in opposing groups is necessary sometimes, but always messy,” one respondent said. “The SPLC is a political activist slandering all opposing it for vulgar motives SPLC embraces. It has discredited itself,” said another. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/04/data-src-image-cd8f6058-6419-4882-9ff8-c3c10242a7cd.png) ### Have a nice day. KRAS gene mutations are among the most common genetic drivers of cancer, occurring in approximately 90% of pancreatic cancers and about 40% of colorectal cancers. For years, scientists have struggled to find a way to target the mutations with drugs. Now, a different approach is showing promise: a one-size-fits-all vaccine. The vaccine teaches immune cells to recognize and target cells with KRAS mutations, and unlike other cancer vaccines, it does not need to be personalized to the patient. Results of phase 1 of a trial showed that 85% of participants who received the vaccine had an immune response to KRAS mutations, while nearly 70% had an immune response triggered to other tumor cells that were not in the vaccine. [NBC News has the story](https://www.nbcnews.com/health/cancer/pancreatic-cancer-vaccine-prevents-recurrence-phase-1-clinical-trial-rcna223980?ref=readtangle.com). ### The Southern Poverty Law Center gets indicted. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/southern-poverty-law-center-indictment/ Last updated: 2026-05-01T13:49:49.000Z *I'm Isaac Saul, and this is Tangle: an independent, nonpartisan, subscriber-supported politics newsletter that summarizes the best arguments from across the political spectrum on the news of the day — then “my take.”* *Are you new here?* [*Get free emails*](https://www.readtangle.com/) *to your inbox daily. Would you rather listen? You can find our podcast* [*here*](https://shows.acast.com/66510864c0852400122bc7be?ref=readtangle.com)*.* ### Today’s read: 15 minutes. 💲 A grand jury in Alabama indicted the Southern Poverty Law Center on 11 counts, but are the charges legitimate? Plus, a reader asks about the president's speechwriters. ### California’s Republican candidate for governor. As the midterms approach, we’ll interview some candidates from across the political spectrum who are in high-profile, fascinating races. In California, Republican Steve Hilton — a former Fox News host and British politico — is on track to become a general election nominee. Hilton knows he’s an underdog, but he sat down with Tangle Executive Editor Isaac Saul to share why he’s focusing on deregulation, the climate agenda, and housing in his campaign to turn California red: ### Quick hits. 1. The suspect in the shooting at Saturday’s White House correspondents’ dinner was formally charged with attempting to assassinate President Donald Trump. ([The charge](https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2026/04/27/cole-allen-assassination-charge-trump/?ref=readtangle.com)) Separately, President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump called on ABC to take action against late-night host Jimmy Kimmel over a joke he made two days before the dinner, referring to the first lady as having “a glow like an expectant widow.” ([The comments](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/27/us/politics/trump-jimmy-kimmel-abc-widow-joke.html?ref=readtangle.com)) 2. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) shared a redrawn map of the state’s congressional districts that aims to net Republicans four additional seats in the U.S. House. The state legislature begins a special session on Tuesday and will consider whether to take up the proposal. ([The map](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/ron-desantis-unveils-new-florida-congressional-map-would-give-gop-extra-four-seats?ref=readtangle.com)) 3. Four Senate Democrats sent a letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth about the Iranian strike on a U.S. base in Kuwait, which killed six service members at the start of the Iran war, raising questions about whether the base had adequate defenses for a potential attack. ([The letter](https://thehill.com/policy/defense/5851740-senate-democrats-investigate-kuwait-attack/?ref=readtangle.com)) 4. Organizers in California say they have enough signatures to secure a ballot measure on an initiative to pass a one-time 5% wealth tax on state residents with net worths of $1 billion or more. If confirmed, the measure would be on the ballot in November. ([The initiative](https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/californias-billionaire-tax-has-the-signatures-to-make-the-ballot-backers-say-1c2da7bb?ref=readtangle.com)) 5. Mexican authorities arrested a top leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, one of the country’s most powerful organized crime groups. The arrestee, Audias Flores, was considered a potential successor to Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera, who was killed in an operation in February. ([The arrest](https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/top-jalisco-cartel-leader-el-jardinero-arrested-mexico-minister-says-2026-04-27/?ref=readtangle.com)) SPONSORED by the penny hoarder ****If some extra money wouldn't hurt — you're not alone.** Between inflation, gas prices, and life happening, a lot of people are scrambling for ways to [fatten their bank account](https://partners.thepennyhoarder.com/second-job-sdyn-prt/?aff%5Fid=409&utm%5Fsource=tangle&aff%5Fsub3=second-job-sdyn-prt) without taking on a second job. The thing is, most of us are leaving money on the table. We're talking $300 from shopping smarter at Amazon, ****$225/month watching movie previews**, even getting companies to forgive [chunks of credit card debt](https://partners.thepennyhoarder.com/second-job-sdyn-prt/?aff%5Fid=409&utm%5Fsource=tangle&aff%5Fsub3=second-job-sdyn-prt). Some of this sounds like internet nonsense, honestly. But millions of people are already doing it. The Penny Hoarder compiled the most practical ways to pocket extra cash this month. [****Check out which ones make sense for your situation**](https://partners.thepennyhoarder.com/second-job-sdyn-prt/?aff%5Fid=409&utm%5Fsource=tangle&aff%5Fsub3=second-job-sdyn-prt)****.** ### Today’s topic. The Southern Poverty Law Center indictment. On Tuesday, April 21, the Justice Department [announced](https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/federal-grand-jury-charges-southern-poverty-law-center-wire-fraud-false-statements-and?ref=readtangle.com) an 11-count indictment charging the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) with financial crimes, including wire fraud and making false statements to a federally insured bank. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said the nonprofit organization secretly sent over $3 million to informants inside extremist groups without telling donors what their money was being used for. The SPLC denies any wrongdoing and plans to fight the charges. **Back up:** The SPLC [rose](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Southern-Poverty-Law-Center?ref=readtangle.com) to prominence in the 1970s for its legal work in civil rights cases, as well as in countering extremist groups like the Ku Klux Klan (KKK). Over time, it has expanded its work to include education programs and reports on alleged hate groups. However, many on the right have grown skeptical of its judgment in labeling some groups and beliefs as extremist, saying that it unfairly equates traditional conservative or religious views with hate. According to the [indictment](https://www.justice.gov/opa/media/1437146/dl?ref=readtangle.com), between 2014 and 2023, the SPLC maintained a network of informants who were part of groups like the KKK and the Aryan Nations. These informants relayed information that was used in the center’s reports and databases. In one instance, the center allegedly paid a member of an online group that was part of the planning of the 2017 “Unite the Right” event in Charlottesville, Virginia; the individual “made racist postings under the supervision of the SPLC and helped coordinate transportation to the event for several attendees.” Acting Attorney General Blanche [described](https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/federal-grand-jury-charges-southern-poverty-law-center-wire-fraud-false-statements-and?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=%E2%80%9CThe%20SPLC%20is,above%20the%20law.%E2%80%9D) the alleged practices as “manufacturing racism to justify \[the SPLC’s\] existence.” The Justice Department argues that these informant payments misled donors based on statements on the SPLC’s website that described its mission as seeking to dismantle extremist groups. Separately, it [says](https://www.justice.gov/opa/media/1437146/dl?ref=readtangle.com#page=6) that SPLC employees used “fictitious entities” to open bank accounts to pay informants without revealing the source and nature of the funds, which entailed making illegal false statements to banks. If convicted on some or all of the counts, the center could face a significant financial penalty. SPLC Interim President and CEO Bryan Fair [rejected](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25dlBorkAy4&t=2s&ref=readtangle.com) the charges, suggesting the Trump administration was targeting the group for political reasons. “They have made no secret of who they want to protect, and who they want to destroy,” he said. He acknowledged the existence of the informant program but said it was a crucial initiative to gather intelligence on extremist groups and did not run afoul of the law. Some legal experts have [questioned](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/southern-poverty-law-center-justice-department-indictment-legal-flaws/?ref=readtangle.com) the strength of the charges, noting that public statements about its mission may be too broad to prove that the SPLC deceived donors. Others suggest the bank fraud charges are more compelling but could require a second grand jury to correct technical errors in statutes used to bring the initial case. Today, we’ll share views from the right and left on the indictment. Then, Managing Editor Ari Weitzman gives his take. ### What the right is saying. - **The right says the indictment reveals the hypocrisy of the SPLC’s work.** - **Some argue the center’s credibility should be permanently tarnished.** - **Others criticize the media’s reporting on the indictment.** **The Washington Examiner editorial board wrote** [**“the Left’s hate fraud factory \[is\] exposed.”**](https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/4538955/the-lefts-hate-fraud-factory-exposed-doj-splc-indictment/?ref=readtangle.com) “The motive for the SPLC’s funding of hate groups is simple: Without high-profile hate incidents in the news, the SPLC cannot raise the donations it needs to remain relevant. It has a deeply corrupting vested interest in continued social division and appears to have fomented it. It is why the group has been so eager to expand its definition of hate,” the board said. “The SPLC now claims it was paying these violent extremist groups only to protect staff and inform the public, but it also says it stopped all such payments in 2023\. That raises an obvious question: If the payments were necessary to protect staff in 2023, why are they no longer needed today? “Or is the real problem that the SPLC got caught promoting the very hate it claimed to oppose and is now saying whatever it can think of to cover up its role as an agent provocateur and fraudster? The SPLC built its brand by selling fear, and now the mask is off,” the board wrote. “If the indictment’s allegations are true, and that would certainly be in keeping with the loathsome character that the SPLC has displayed for several decades, this was not civil rights work. It was a racket: inflame extremism, exploit the fallout, cash the checks, and smear opponents.” **In The New York Post, Maud Maron said the SPLC** [**“weaponized hate — and hurt the innocent.”**](https://nypost.com/2026/04/22/opinion/how-southern-poverty-law-centers-smears-hurt-blameless-targets/?ref=readtangle.com) “In 2023, the Southern Poverty Law Center slapped a target on ordinary parents’ backs. That’s when it added Moms for Liberty, Defending Education, and 10 other parents’ rights groups to its list of ‘anti-government extremists’ — feeding them directly into the SPLC’s widely circulated ‘Hate Map,’ alongside neo-Nazi organizations and the Ku Klux Klan. Those designations deserve another look in light of Tuesday’s bombshell Department of Justice announcement,” Maron wrote. “I know from experience that left-wing protesters were emboldened to harass and even physically attack the parents who were associated with the SPLC-smeared groups. Its dishonest label was a powerfully effective tool to damage reputations and sow discord.” “It’s perfectly reasonable for an organization like the SPLC to pay a member’s fee or to buy an event ticket to access a questionable group’s online material, track its activities or record a speaker. Directing and supervising the very racism you claim to be combating is not so easy to excuse,” Maron said. “By both paying old-school racists to stir up enmity and expanding the pool of targets they could sully as ‘hateful,’ the SPLC was engaged in a two-pronged effort to keep hate alive.” **In National Review, Becket Adams criticized** [**“the media’s Herculean effort to obscure the details of the SPLC indictment.”**](https://www.nationalreview.com/2026/04/the-medias-herculean-effort-to-obscure-the-details-of-the-splc-indictment/?ref=readtangle.com) “It is possible to hold these two seemingly opposing positions at the same time: that the Justice Department’s case against the Southern Poverty Law Center may be legally questionable, and that the underlying charges are eminently scandalous and newsworthy,” Adams wrote. “It’s all deeply embarrassing for the SPLC, if not outright criminal. Yet you’d hardly know this from following mainstream press coverage. You’d know mostly that a supposedly noble and esteemed anti-racist group is tied up somehow in Trump administration chicanery.” “‘The Southern Poverty Law Center was indicted for paying sources to infiltrate hate groups, a tactic federal agencies have used for decades,’ reported USA Today. Not even close. ‘Justice Dept. Charges Prominent Civil Rights Group With Financial Crimes,’ reported the New York Times, experimenting with the idea of a headline that says nothing at all,” Adams said. “The DOJ’s case against the SPLC may or may not be too thin to survive… \[but\] it shouldn’t prevent newsrooms from simply reporting the news, but it has been like pulling teeth trying to find the facts of this story.” ### What the left is saying. - **The left is skeptical of the charges, with many calling the Justice Department’s case fundamentally flawed.** - **Some say the case is a distraction designed to appease Trump’s base.** - **Others suggest the SPLC’s work is needed now more than ever.** **In Just Security, Andrew Weissmann wrote about** [**“the poverty of the DOJ indictment.”**](https://www.justsecurity.org/137171/indictment-southern-poverty-law-center-splc/?ref=readtangle.com) “\[The charges\] may sound superficially plausible in a press release against an organization dissimilar to the SPLC, but nothing in the speaking indictment against the Center appears to meet the legal standard required of the two sets of legal charges,” Weissmann said. “Suppose the U.S. repeatedly paid a member of ISIS to disclose information about upcoming ISIS terrorist plans concerning American people and places. The U.S. obtains such information and uses it to thwart these attacks. Would it be correct to say the U.S. is trying to promote ISIS and its attacks? Of course not. But that is the precise theory of the DOJ indictment against the Center.” “The indictment speaks about millions of dollars being used to pay informants for information, and suggests a scheme awash with donor money for almost a decade, from ‘2014 to 2023.’ But when you get to the actual wire fraud charges, the amounts dwindle to a combined total of a paltry $13,905 on a single day in 2023,” Weissmann wrote. “No explanation has been given by Blanche, Patel, or others for the huge discrepancy between the introductory language (which is not the gravamen of the criminal charges) and what is actually charged… On its own terms, the indictment is frail and deficient. Time will tell if this is not worth the paper it is written on, and is serving a very different extra-legal purpose.” **In MS NOW, Michael Edison Hayden explored** [**“what the DOJ’s Southern Poverty Law Center indictment is really about.”**](https://www.ms.now/opinion/southern-poverty-law-center-doj-blanche-charges?ref=readtangle.com) “Imagine, for a moment, believing the SPLC — or any other civil rights organization — needed to fraudulently manufacture racism to sell it in today’s America. Just two months ago, the president shared an artificial intelligence-generated video depicting his Black predecessor and his predecessor’s Black wife as primates,” Hayden said. “In early 2025, the Trump administration suspended refugee admissions from majority non-white countries while investing in a special program to fast-track white South African Afrikaners into the United States. Racism is not a rare commodity in this country to be manufactured.” “These charges look like a piece of political theater to shore up a wayward MAGA base beleaguered by the scandal around Jeffrey Epstein and an increasingly unwieldy debacle in Iran. It’s a MAGA base that understands the SPLC as one of the primary villains in its propaganda stories and enjoys seeing it suffer,” Hayden wrote. “If the DOJ argues that paying informants furthers hate, and that this makes the use of paid informants fraudulent, won’t the SPLC’s lawyers simply demonstrate how those efforts contributed to these groups no longer being around? If the SPLC propped up the National Alliance to defraud donors, why is it essentially defunct?” **In Salon, Austin Sarat argued** [**“\[the\] SPLC indictment lends support to hate groups.”**](https://www.salon.com/2026/04/22/splc-indictment-lends-support-to-hate-groups/?ref=readtangle.com) “Conservatives have charged the organization with abandoning its mission. In their view, the SPLC crossed a red line when it labeled some right-wing organizations, including the Family Research Council, Center for Immigration Studies and Alliance Defending Freedom, as hate or anti-government extremist groups,” Sarat said. “The ideologies being monitored — which include, according to Axios, views that are ‘anti-immigrant, anti-LGBTQ, sexist, racist or bigoted against religions’ — make up an important part of Donald Trump’s political base.” “Blanche’s attack on the SPLC is politics masquerading as law. It is reprisal and revenge against a group that had the temerity to oppose hate wherever it originates,” Sarat wrote. “And don’t be fooled: If the SPLC can be brought to heel, the hate it opposes will have one less roadblock before it reaches Black and brown Americans, immigrants, women, the LGBTQ community, people with disabilities and others. Today, as in the past, they need the kind of champion the SPLC has been.” ### My take. **Reminder: “My take” is a section where we give ourselves space to share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, don't unsubscribe. Write in by replying to this email, or** [**leave a comment**](https://www.readtangle.com/southern-poverty-law-center-indictment/#ghost-comments-root)**.** - **The SPLC almost certainly paid informants, and an indictment to determine criminal wrongdoing seems justified.** - **Some of the SPLC’s recent actions, and its evolution over time, invite uncomfortable questions.** - **The DOJ certainly has a political motive here, but that doesn’t discount the possibility of wrongdoing.** **Managing Editor Ari Weitzman:** The indictment against the SPLC lists several different counts of wire fraud, money laundering, and conspiracy to conceal money laundering. Behind those allegations are three core claims: First, the organization sent roughly $3 million over a decade to members of the KKK and other extremist groups for the purposes of informing on their organizations, including $270,000 (over eight years) to a person who helped organize the 2017 Unite the Right event in Charlottesville, Virginia. Second, the SPLC criminally deceived donors by fundraising with the goal of “\[dismantling\] violent extremist groups” but instead using funds “to pay high-level leaders of violent extremist groups.” Third, the SPLC broke the law in disbursing these payments, using fictitious companies with generic names like “North West Technologies” or “Rare Books Warehouse” to fund bank accounts paying out informants who at times themselves broke the law. Whether or not the SPLC did those things, and whether those actions constitute fraud, is for the courts to decide. But we can look at those core claims and draw some reasonable inferences about them based on what we know. To begin to understand this situation, we have to understand the SPLC’s history. In 1971, lawyers Morris Dees and Joe Levin [founded](https://www.splcenter.org/about/our-history/?ref=readtangle.com) the SPLC as a civil rights legal defense organization, taking pro bono cases in Alabama representing those with civil rights grievances who had difficulty paying for legal representation. Over time, the SPLC grew from a small legal defense nonprofit to an organization that strategically crushed the KKK and other white supremacist groups through lawsuits. After nearly a decade of litigation, the SPLC won a consent decree in [*Brown v. Invisible Empire, Knights of the Ku Klux Klan*](https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/FSupp/250/330/2341226/?ref=readtangle.com) in 1989, requiring Klansmen to pay damages, perform community service, and refrain from white supremacist activity. As the SPLC grew more successful, it broadened its targets, but “monitoring” the Klan was always a supporting part of this mission. In 1981, it started a tracking system called “Klanwatch,” with a defined scope and direct tie-in to the nonprofit’s mission of prosecuting civil rights cases. Then in 1998, Klanwatch was [rebranded](https://www.splcenter.org/resources/reports/hate-southern-states/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=In%201981%2C%20the,of%20white%20nationalism.) as The Intelligence Project, reflecting the organization’s shift from tracking the KKK to gathering information about an array of extremist and white supremacist organizations. And the SPLC continued to win cases. In 2000, Dees secured a [$6.3 million judgment](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/war-on-aryan-nations-far-from-over/?ref=readtangle.com) against the Aryan Nations after some of its members shot at and attacked a couple who had stopped to look for a lost wallet outside its headquarters in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Most people don’t know that the SPLC’s use of informants is a decades-old technique — and one used by other civil rights groups. For example, the American Jewish Committee [infiltrated](https://www.jta.org/2026/04/24/united-states/dojs-indictment-of-southern-poverty-law-center-recalls-jewish-groups-use-of-informants-to-fight-extremism?ref=readtangle.com) neo-Nazi groups to better understand how they operate and communicate with each other. But while that information might not be common knowledge to the average person, SPLC donors may have [had a better idea](https://theintercept.com/2026/04/24/splc-donors-fraud-doj-kash-patel/?ref=readtangle.com) of what was going on. In that regard, the second of the indictment’s core allegations — that the SPLC was defrauding its donors with a bait and switch — is flimsy. But the indictment’s first claim — that the SPLC was paying members of the KKK — appears rock solid. The Justice Department gathered specific codenames of informants, identified the accounts used to pay them, and even found details of the transactions themselves. The SPLC isn’t even denying that they did this. And the third claim, the one that transitions these facts into criminal allegations of fraud, appears to have some legs to stand on. The SPLC seems to have lied to banks in creating these accounts; the obfuscated payments could have [been tax violations](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/splc-indictment-builds-momentum-bessents-treasury-probe-partisan-nonprofits?ref=readtangle.com); and one of the informants the SPLC funded allegedly stole 25 boxes of documents from the neo-Nazi group National Alliance. All of that will be worked out by the courts over time. But right now, in the court of public opinion, we can discuss two larger questions today. First, did the SPLC “funnel money” to the extremist groups? And second, is the DOJ right to bring this case? On the first question, the answer seems to be an uncomfortable “sort of.” Paying informants is very far from funding the KKK itself; but if the facts of the indictment are correct, then the SPLC materially supported an informant while they were helping organize the 2017 Charlottesville rally. A person was killed at that event. It drove a wedge into the country that we’re still recovering from. If the SPLC had any role in supporting people who planned that event, no matter their intention, it’s a serious betrayal of their core mission. To answer the question of whether the DOJ is right to bring this case, let’s dive into some of the more recent history to explore the different biases at play. In 2007, the SPLC founded its blog “Hatewatch,” which in [2015 described](https://web.archive.org/web/20150828235053/https://www.splcenter.org/hatewatch) itself as a blog that “monitors and exposes the activities of the American radical right.” The new branding reflected an increase in the scope of the SPLC’s purview, which broadened to include prisoners’ rights, immigrant/worker protections, and LGBTQ rights. In support of this mission, the SPLC began identifying political activist organizations that supported anti-gay agendas. That led them to designate the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) as an anti-LGBT hate group in 2016, and — now infamously — to put Turning Point USA (TPUSA) on its “Hate Map” in May of 2025, four months before Charlie Kirk’s assassination. Over time, the SPLC shifted its focus from defending the civil rights of poor Alabamians to pushing back against a broader definition of right-wing extremism. This change can actually be traced as far back as 1986, when the entire legal staff of the SPLC [resigned](https://books.google.com/books?id=5SOAAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA21&ref=readtangle.com#v=onepage&q&f=false) over the organization’s shift in focus to a broader political fight. At the same time the SPLC altered its internal focus, it continued to exaggerate the threat of the KKK in order to raise money externally. The Montgomery Advertiser was named a [Pulitzer finalist](https://www.pulitzer.org/finalists/staff-73?ref=readtangle.com) for documenting that shift in 1995, along with revealing reports of the SPLC discriminating against black employees. And in a stunning twist, SPLC’s co-founder Morris Dees [was fired in 2019](https://nypost.com/2019/03/14/southern-poverty-law-center-co-founder-fired-amid-gender-race-complaints/?ref=readtangle.com) amid sex- and race-discrimination complaints. On one hand, the organization’s evolution is understandable. The SPLC understands its mission as protecting civil rights and has a history of directly confronting groups who infringe on those civil rights. As such, it makes sense that it would see LGBTQ legal protections as within its purview and groups that question the extent of those legal rights as its new enemies. However, that stance has taken the SPLC to a new modus operandi that is almost unrecognizable from its original mission. No longer a legal tool for fighting extremist hate groups, the SPLC now puts itself into political fights by promoting its Hate Map and applying the “hate” label to conservative groups like TPUSA and the ADF. To put my cards on the table, I’m more often than not on the other side of the things TPUSA and the ADF push for — I want less religion in public spaces and I’m staunchly in favor of protecting LGBTQ rights. But it goes too far to lump TPUSA and the ADF into the same category as the KKK and neo-Nazis. Obviously so. But the SPLC decided to label them as hate groups, which opened itself up to counter-attacks. It should be clear to everyone that this indictment is, at least in part, a counter-attack — and that the recent history the SPLC has had with conservative groups like TPUSA and the ADF put it on the Trump administration’s radar. As we’ve written about before, any auspices of DOJ independence under President Trump are long gone, and so far in his second term the department has shown a willing eagerness to go after political enemies. The SPLC is a clear candidate. For that reason, the indictment against it makes me uncomfortable. Still, this indictment is a lot more substantial than other straightforward political hits, like the [James Comey indictment](https://www.readtangle.com/the-comey-indictment/) and the [Jerome Powell investigation](https://www.readtangle.com/trump-doj-investigates-jerome-powell/). And the overall contours of the case against the SPLC look incredibly dark: An organization with a history of paying informants, of internal tensions over its direction, and of using questionable practices to drum up support for its causes is accused of sending millions to members of the very organization it became popular fighting against. That seems to me to be enough to justify a prosecution by an independent DOJ — but that’s not the DOJ we have. That’s frustrating. The SPLC is responsible for some bedrock civil rights litigations, and a high-profile lawsuit that targets what is ultimately a pretty small amount of money could provide the perfect course correction for an organization that needs it. Instead, the SPLC can dismiss the entire case as a political witch hunt and preserve its reputation. A sane world would invite some accountability; instead, I expect they’ll be using the DOJ indictment as fundraising tomorrow. ****Staff dissent — Associate Editor Lindsey Knuth:** “An organization with a history of paying informants, of internal tensions over its direction, and using questionable practices drumming up support for its causes is accused of sending millions to members of the very organization it became popular by fighting against,” Ari writes, saying that these facts justify a DOJ investigation into the group. But I think that framing obscures an important distinction: The SPLC’s alleged payment of $3 million over ten years to informants — whose information the organization says was used in litigation that destabilized hate groups and in intelligence reports provided to the FBI — is vastly different from paying KKK members and looking the other way. That practice is longstanding and distinct from funding the groups themselves. Ari also doesn’t address the SPLC’s response to the charges and the mechanism by which they came about. Blanche [said](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/southern-poverty-law-center-seeks-disclosure-of-grand-jury-transcripts-in-criminal-case/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=The%20group%20argued%20that%20comments,in%20Charlottesville%2C%20Virginia%2C%20in%202017.) on Fox News that the SPLC never shared information with federal law enforcement ahead of the “Unite the Right” rally; the SPLC called that false. And because grand juries deliberate in secret with prosecutors (and return indictments in nearly every case), it is impossible to know exactly how the DOJ presented the facts that led us here. **Take the survey:** What do you think of the indictment against the Southern Poverty Law Center? [Let us know](https://interrobang.vercel.app/survey/fba9b4cc-ab0f-4c74-82f5-3692406f4320?ref=readtangle.com). *Disagree? That's okay. Our opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we'll consider publishing your feedback.* ### Your questions, answered. **Q: I’m curious. Who writes Trump’s speeches?** **— Toni from San Diego, CA** **Tangle:** The president has a large speechwriting and communications team, but we’ll focus on a few individuals who have been the architects of many of Trump’s highest profile speeches. Ross Worthington is Trump’s [top speechwriter](https://www.legistorm.com/person/bio/225413/Ross%5FPhilip%5FWorthington.html?ref=readtangle.com), serving as the White House director of speechwriting. He became a speechwriter for Trump in 2016, working with Stephen Miller and others to shape the president’s message. Worthington also helped [draft](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GPO-J6-TRANSCRIPT-CTRL0000050582/pdf/GPO-J6-TRANSCRIPT-CTRL0000050582.pdf?ref=readtangle.com#page=106) Trump’s speech on January 6, 2021 and was subsequently subpoenaed by the House committee appointed to investigate the January 6 Capitol riots. Worthington would later rejoin Trump’s team in the lead-up to the 2024 election, assisting not only with speeches but policy platform development and debate preparation. Trump has also had several former speechwriters who still play a role in crafting the administration’s messaging. Vince Haley, who is now the director of the Domestic Policy Council, previously co-led the speechwriting department with Worthington towards the end of Trump’s first term. During the 2024 campaign, he [worked](https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/statement-president-elect-donald-j-trump-announcing-the-appointment-vince-haley-director?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=I%20am%20proud%20to%20announce,our%20message%20to%20the%20Public.) as Trump’s director of policy and speechwriting. While Haley is no longer officially a speechwriter, he is known to have a strong grasp of policy, and the president notably [relied](https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2026/02/24/trump-state-of-the-union-address-2026/tonights-wordsmiths-00796950?ref=readtangle.com) on him for sections of the 2026 State of the Union. When Worthington and Haley co-led the speechwriting team in the first term, the entire team fell [under the supervision](https://www.politico.com/newsletters/west-wing-playbook/2025/01/21/its-stephen-millers-moment-00199774?ref=readtangle.com) of Stephen Miller. In the second Trump administration, Miller seems to play a less active role in speechwriting but still advises on major speeches such as the State of the Union address. Finally, Trump’s most prolific speechwriter is himself. If you’ve watched Trump speeches, you will know that he has a tendency to stray off script — or “[weave](https://www.c-span.org/clip/campaign-2024/user-clip-the-weave/5139797?ref=readtangle.com),” as he likes to call it. Any list of individuals who write Trump’s speeches would be incomplete without the president. **Want to have a question answered in the newsletter? You can reply to this email (it goes straight to our inbox) or** [**fill out this form**](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScQhqBSG%5F6%5FoBhwcTQMeS570n29XYbeQ9C9Bis7rjqI31g1tA/viewform?usp=header&ref=readtangle.com)**.** ### Numbers. - [**1971.**](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Southern-Poverty-Law-Center?ref=readtangle.com) The year the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) was formally incorporated. - [**$786.8 million.**](https://www.splcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/splc-2023-irs-990.pdf?ref=readtangle.com#page=2) The SPLC’s approximate net assets in fiscal year 2024\. - [**$129.1 million.**](https://www.splcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/splc-2023-irs-990.pdf?ref=readtangle.com) The SPLC’s approximate revenue in fiscal year 2024\. - [**$270,000.**](https://www.justice.gov/opa/media/1437146/dl?ref=readtangle.com#page=4) The approximate amount an SPLC informant was allegedly paid between 2015 and 2023 for sharing information on an online right-wing organizing group, according to the Justice Department. - [**$1 million.**](https://www.justice.gov/opa/media/1437146/dl?ref=readtangle.com#page=4) The approximate amount a different SPLC informant was allegedly paid between 2014 and 2023 for sharing information on the National Alliance neo-Nazi organization. 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[****See which ones apply to you**](https://partners.thepennyhoarder.com/second-job-sdyn-prt/?aff%5Fid=409&utm%5Fsource=tangle&aff%5Fsub3=second-job-sdyn-prt). ### The extras. - **One year ago today** we covered [the arrest of a Wisconsin judge](https://www.readtangle.com/the-arrest-of-a-wisconsin-judge/). - **The most clicked link in our last regular newsletter** was [our Friday edition about Christian nationalism](https://www.readtangle.com/not-everything-is-christian-nationalism/). - **Nothing to do with politics:** Some of the [most captivating choreography in a music video we’ve seen in a long time](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6%5Fmbnsh6VU&ref=readtangle.com). - **Our last survey:** 3,366 readers responded to our survey on theories that the shooting at the White House correspondents’ dinner was staged with 42% saying they were aware of the theories but did not, or now do not, believe them. “I’m open to them, but there’s not really any evidence beyond the weird pivot to ‘and this is why I need a ballroom,’” one respondent said. “I considered that it might’ve been staged, but before long was convinced it wasn’t,” said another. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/04/data-src-image-402d11fe-d03e-4d8e-869a-9bcca1c5f9bd.png) ### Have a nice day. In July 2022, the 988 suicide prevention hotline rolled out nationwide. Since then, suicide rates among people aged 15–34 have dropped 11% below historical projections, preventing an estimated 4,372 deaths. A Harvard Medical School study in JAMA found the effect strongest in states with the highest volume of hotline usage. The hotline, which replaced a 10-digit number, has fielded over 25 million contacts since launching — and it comes with $1.5 billion in crisis center funding. “The implication of that is that sustained funding for this program matters,” Dr. Vishal Patel, an author on the Harvard study, said. [The New York Times has the story](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/22/science/988-youth-suicides-decline.html?ref=readtangle.com). ### The White House correspondents’ dinner shooting. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/white-house-correspondents-dinner-shooting/ Last updated: 2026-04-27T16:06:17.000Z *I'm Isaac Saul, and this is Tangle: an independent, nonpartisan, subscriber-supported politics newsletter that summarizes the best arguments from across the political spectrum on the news of the day — then “my take.”* *Are you new here?* [*Get free emails*](https://www.readtangle.com/) *to your inbox daily. Would you rather listen? You can find our podcast* [*here*](https://shows.acast.com/66510864c0852400122bc7be?ref=readtangle.com)*.* ### Today’s read: 14 minutes. ❗ A suspect is in custody after allegedly targeting the president at the annual event. Plus, how do we evaluate potentially AI-generated videos? ### How Christians think about their politics. > *I think Americans of various political and religious stripes often forget that we do live in a pluralistic society — one where Christians, or Jews, or Muslims, or atheists inevitably bring their theology to the ballot box or to the policy debate. And when that happens, those religious beliefs do inform our national identity — but that is not necessarily a bad thing.* In last Friday’s edition, Associate Editor Audrey Moorehead explored some Americans’ concerns about the rising influence of “Christian nationalism” in the U.S. government, breaking down what this term means, the influence of Christian beliefs on both sides of the aisle, and how we should think about that influence. [You can read it here](https://www.readtangle.com/not-everything-is-christian-nationalism/). ### Quick hits. 1. Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) said he will no longer block Kevin Warsh’s nomination to be the next Federal Reserve chair after the Justice Department said it is dropping its investigation into current Chairman Jerome Powell. With Tillis’s support, Warsh’s nomination is expected to advance out of the Senate Banking Committee to a confirmation vote. ([The latest](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/04/26/thom-tillis-kevin-warsh-federal-reserve.html?ref=readtangle.com)) 2. President Donald Trump canceled plans for Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to travel to Pakistan for peace talks with Iran, saying discussions could be held over the phone. ([The cancellation](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/25/world/middleeast/trump-witkoff-kushner-pakistan-trip-canceled.html?ref=readtangle.com)) Separately, Iran reportedly sent the United States a new peace proposal, offering to immediately reopen the Strait of Hormuz but delay negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program until a future date. ([The offer](https://www.axios.com/2026/04/27/iran-us-hormuz-strait-nuclear-talks-proposal-pakistan?ref=readtangle.com)) 3. The U.S. Southern Command struck a boat allegedly operated by drug traffickers in the Eastern Pacific, killing three on board. The operation was the 55th confirmed strike on an alleged drug boat since the U.S. military began targeting vessels in the Caribbean and the Eastern Pacific in September 2025\. ([The strike](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/us-military-conducts-strike-another-boat-carrying-alleged-narco-traffickers-killing-3?ref=readtangle.com)) 4. The Supreme Court will hear arguments on Monday in a case about whether law enforcement’s use of geofence searches — which collect cell phone location data from an area in which a crime occurred — violates the Fourth Amendment’s protections against unreasonable searches and seizures. ([The case](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/27/us/politics/supreme-court-cell-data-geofence.html?ref=readtangle.com)) 5. King Charles III arrives in the United States today for his first state visit as king. The king will meet with President Trump at the White House in addition to delivering a joint address to Congress and visiting other locations in Washington, D.C., New York City, and Virginia. ([The visit](https://abcnews.com/GMA/News/live-updates/live-updates-king-charles-state-visit-2026/?id=132358438&ref=readtangle.com)) SPONSORED by the penny hoarder ****If some extra money wouldn't hurt — you're not alone.** Between inflation, gas prices, and life happening, a lot of people are scrambling for ways to [fatten their bank account](https://partners.thepennyhoarder.com/second-job-sdyn-prt/?aff%5Fid=409&utm%5Fsource=tangle&aff%5Fsub3=second-job-sdyn-prt) without taking on a second job. The thing is, most of us are leaving money on the table. We're talking $300 from shopping Amazon smarter, ****$225/month watching movie previews**, even getting companies to forgive chunks of credit card debt. Some of this sounds like internet nonsense, honestly. But millions of people are already doing it. The Penny Hoarder compiled the most practical ways to pocket extra cash this month. [****Check out which ones make sense for your situation**](https://partners.thepennyhoarder.com/second-job-sdyn-prt/?aff%5Fid=409&utm%5Fsource=tangle&aff%5Fsub3=second-job-sdyn-prt)****.** ### Today’s topic. The White House correspondents’ dinner shooting. On Saturday, a gunman [fired shots](https://www.axios.com/2026/04/26/trump-evacuated-whcd-secret-service?ref=readtangle.com) at the Washington Hilton Hotel, which was hosting the White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) dinner. The Secret Service evacuated President Donald Trump and other senior leaders, and none of the guests were injured. One Secret Service officer was shot while engaging the suspect outside the ballroom, but he was wearing a bulletproof vest and was not seriously wounded. The gunman allegedly [sent a manifesto](https://nypost.com/2026/04/26/us-news/whcd-gunman-cole-allen-sent-anti-trump-manifesto-to-family-just-before-opening/?ref=readtangle.com) to his family before the attack, suggesting that he intended to kill the president and other administration officials. He was charged with using a firearm during a crime of violence and assault on federal officers using a dangerous weapon. *Note: Due to the well documented* [*contagion effect*](https://www.center4research.org/copy-cats-kill/?ref=readtangle.com)*, Tangle does not name shooters or suspects in high-profile attacks. For similar reasons, we also try to share limited information about the shooter and their alleged motives where possible.* **Back up:** The WHCA hosts an [annual dinner](https://whca.press/news/annual-dinner/dinner-archive/?ref=readtangle.com) that brings together journalists covering the White House, top government officials, celebrities, and often the president and first lady. The event is billed as a “celebration of the First Amendment,” with comedians roasting guests through humorous speeches. Traditionally, the president is treated as the guest of honor at the event and gives a comedic keynote address; this year’s dinner is the first one President Trump has attended as president. According to law enforcement, the suspect was [armed](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/shooting-suspect-white-house-correspondents-dinner-cole-thomas-allen-rcna342146?ref=readtangle.com) with a shotgun, a handgun and knives, and he rushed past a security checkpoint while exchanging fire with authorities. He was then tackled and subdued. Videos taken from inside the event show the Secret Service rapidly evacuating President Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Cabinet secretaries, and White House advisers as other attendees sheltered in place. The suspect was identified as a graduate of the California Institute of Technology and a tutor living in Torrance, California. In his alleged manifesto, he wrote that he was attempting to target high-ranking administration officials and was surprised by how easy it was to bring weapons into the hotel, where he had checked in as a guest the day prior. Later on Saturday night, President Trump [delivered](https://www.c-span.org/clip/white-house-event/president-trump-statement-after-correspondents-dinner-shooting/5199550?ref=readtangle.com) a statement from the White House, praising law enforcement’s response and describing the reaction inside the room as “totally unified.” He also said the incident underscored the need for the planned White House ballroom, which is being designed to hold secure events with high-profile figures. Lawmakers in attendance [expressed](https://www.axios.com/2026/04/26/white-house-correspondents-dinner-whcd-shooting?ref=readtangle.com) shock at the incident. “It’s a horrible, horrible moment for our country to see somebody want to attack or disrupt the event,” Rep. Brian Jack (R-GA) said. “It’s insane… that this is happening at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. Security is supposed to be top notch,” Rep. Nanette Barragán (D-CA) said. Today, we’ll share responses to the shooting from the left and right, followed by Executive Editor Isaac Saul’s take. ### What the left is saying. - **The left condemns the attack, and many connect it to persistent gun violence in the U.S.** - **Some push back on conspiracy theories about the incident.** - **Others say the suspect’s manifesto highlighted real security vulnerabilities.** **The Philadelphia Inquirer editorial board wrote** [**“after a third attempt on his life, Trump could work to make America safer again.”**](https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/editorials/trump-shooting-attempt-correspondents-dinner-gun-reform-20260426.html?ref=readtangle.com) “President Donald Trump has now been involved in what appears to be an unprecedented three attempts on his life… Sadly, the attack at the White House correspondents’ dinner on Saturday will likely come and go with little consequence or reflection,” the board said. “But just imagine if Trump said enough is enough and used his immense charisma to turn those searing acts of horror into something positive by demanding commonsense gun reform… What if Trump told Congress he would like a package of commonsense gun reform bills on his desk before Election Day.” “We — like others of goodwill — condemn this attempt on his life and all acts of political violence. By using the power of the presidency to take steps that could have a meaningful impact on firearm deaths, Trump has a chance to be a hero,” the board wrote. “Regrettably, that opportunity grows more unlikely by the minute. Instead of seeking unity, the president will soon be back to posting insults, lies, threats, hate, vitriol and late-night diatribes aimed at his perceived enemies — and giving no thought to how his anger and hate over the past decade has fueled the political divide.” **In Slate, Molly Olmstead explored the** [**“conspiracy theorist bonanza”**](https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2026/04/white-house-correspondents-dinner-attack-cole-allen.html?ref=readtangle.com) **after the shooting.** “We do not yet fully understand the suspect’s motivations, but we have strong indications. He had donated to Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign, he had attended an anti-Donald Trump protest, and he had sent messages to family members before the attack denouncing the Trump administration,” Olmstead said. “Those signposts seemingly paint a straightforward picture of this attack as a politically motivated assassination attempt against the president and members of his administration. But if you ask observers — and particularly observers on the left — there’s something even more sinister going on here. “It’s true that the attack will help Trump change the subject at a time when his myriad policy failures — particularly the war in Iran — have been front-and-center… But none of that comes close to proving that the shooting was intentional. Additionally, the Trump officials may have not appeared as visibly shaken as people expected simply because the shooter wasn’t actually anywhere near them,” Olmstead wrote. “The rapid impulse to insist the shooting was staged is further proof of just how deep we’ve ventured into a post-truth era, where anything that happens will be immediately engulfed in conspiracy theories.” **In The Atlantic, Graeme Wood said** [**“the most frightening shooters are the smart ones.”**](https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/04/most-frightening-shooters-are-smart-ones/686963/?ref=readtangle.com) “The line ‘I experience rage thinking about everything this administration has done’ could probably have been written in an email to friends by any number of the attendees at last night’s White House Correspondents’ Association dinner. But the line was apparently written by a man who showed up with a shotgun and pistol and was ready to kill ‘most everyone’ there to get to Donald Trump and assassinate him and his Cabinet,” Wood wrote. “Random acts of violence by unstable individuals are unfortunately a feature of modern life. The most frightening shooters are not these yahoos, but the smart ones — those who carefully plan, train, and choose their settings to inflict maximum damage.” “The email attributed to \[the suspect\] as well as the scant biographical details known about him suggest that he had the capacity to do much more harm than he did… \[excerpts from the email\] do not sound at all like the mad ranting that characterizes many of the encyclicals sent out by attempted assassins before their act. And \[the suspect’s\] complaints, though too vague to assess individually, are indeed the sorts of things one might reasonably get worked up about,” Wood said. “\[The suspect\] is right to note that a competent assassination squad would find the job easier than one might hope. He was, thankfully, wrong to think that he was such a squad all by himself.” ### What the right is saying. - **The right also condemns the attack, and many connect it to increasingly dehumanizing political rhetoric.** - **Some criticize the Secret Service after another apparent close call.** - **Others praise Trump’s demeanor and remarks after the shooting.** **The Free Press’s editors argued** [**“the American way is under fire.”**](https://www.thefp.com/p/the-american-way-is-under-fire?ref=readtangle.com) “It’s impossible to ignore the fiery pitch of the current political climate. Just outside the hotel, protesters held placards that read ‘Death to Tyrants’ and ‘Death to All of Them.’ They waved these signs in the faces of shaken attendees even after the thwarted attack. Hatred toward public officials and ideological opponents abounds in American politics today, and has too often turned violent,” the editors said. “It struck us, as they waved these placards in the event’s aftermath, that it was the perfect emblem of our present moment. One in which calls for violence against people ‘on the other side’ can be stated flagrantly in public.” “One can find examples of ugly, violent rhetoric being used across the political spectrum in America today, but the animosity aimed at Trump is on a level of its own. That fixation is the symptom of a broken politics,” the editors wrote. “The shooting is a reminder that the First Amendment alone cannot uphold free speech. Its legal protections for private individuals are essential, but the entire American system of expression, elections, and debate is also built on a shared culture — on the assumption that the elected representatives of the people will never lack the power to speak freely. Today, that can no longer be taken for granted.” **In The Federalist, Brianna Lyman said** [**“the Secret Service failed Trump — again.”**](https://thefederalist.com/2026/04/26/the-secret-service-failed-trump-again/?ref=readtangle.com) “The question everyone should be asking is: *How did an armed suspect get that far in the first place?* It’s a question that should sound familiar. Less than two years ago, Americans watched in horror as a would-be assassin climbed onto an open rooftop overlooking Trump’s rally in Butler, Pennsylvania,” Lyman wrote. “Here we are at the Washington Hilton Hotel left asking the same question: How did another armed man get this close to the president at what should be a secure location?” “How is it that there was no meaningful vetting of guests of the hotel in the days leading up to the event? How is it that a man was able to rent a room in the hotel and allegedly bring weapons with him? Why wasn’t there a hardened perimeter, blocks long, checking bags and persons before they made it near the hotel?” Lyman asked. “Sure, the suspect was ultimately stopped. But that isn’t proof that the system worked; in fact, it’s evidence that every decision made leading up to the moment *didn’t*.” **In The Wall Street Journal, Faith Bottum wrote** [**“Trump stands tall under fire.”**](https://www.wsj.com/opinion/trump-stands-tall-under-fire-045bb330?mod=opinion%5Flead%5Fpos5&ref=readtangle.com) “Donald Trump looked presidential on Saturday night… He proved again that he is at his best when faced with physical danger,” Bottum said. “We can talk — we should talk — about political violence in America, especially against conservatives, who are still shaken by the murder of Charlie Kirk. Political violence has become too common and too normalized. But a word should be said about the bravery of Mr. Trump and those who protected him. Whether or not one likes him or supports his policies, courage is one of the virtues we want and need in our leaders.” “When asked why assassins keep targeting him, he answered, ‘I studied assassinations,’ and suggested that ‘the people that make the biggest impact,’ such as Abraham Lincoln, tend to be the targets. ‘They don’t go after the ones that don’t do much… I hate to say I’m honored by that, but I’ve done a lot — we’ve done a lot,’” Bottum wrote. “The comparison to Lincoln may seem immodest, but Mr. Trump stood with presidential stature on Saturday. We should all be relieved he survived the attack.” ### My take. **Reminder: “My take” is a section where we give ourselves space to share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, don't unsubscribe. Write in by replying to this email, or** [**leave a comment**](https://www.readtangle.com/white-house-correspondents-dinner-shooting/#ghost-comments-root)**.** - **Unfortunately, we’ve had many opportunities to explore aspects of political violence in past coverage.** - **Something that stands out to me this time is how many Americans dismiss these events as fake.** - **Tackling these theories head-on is crucial, and we need a holistic effort.** **Executive Editor Isaac Saul:** Charlie Kirk, Brian Thompson, Melissa Hortman, John Hoffman, Josh Shapiro, Yaron Lischinsky, Sarah Lynn Milgrim, Brett Kavanaugh, and Sonia Sotomayor. A conservative activist. A healthcare CEO. Two Democratic state lawmakers. A Democratic governor. Two Israeli embassy officials. A Republican- and a Democrat-appointed Supreme Court justice. Each of these people, just in the last several years, has been killed, targeted, or the subject of a credible assassination plot. They’re just a small subset of politically relevant people whose lives have been at risk or actually taken. And now, for the third time since 2024, that list includes President Donald Trump. This story has many potential angles; unfortunately, we’ve been able to explore a lot of them already. How does moving on so quickly from assassination attempts against Trump show that we’ve almost normalized political violence as a society? [We’ve discussed](https://www.readtangle.com/second-trump-assassination-attempt/#:~:text=leadership%20that%20agrees.%E2%80%9D-,My%20take.,-Reminder%3A%20%22My%20take). How should we talk about the president, who is both the victim of another plot but also someone who regularly employs violent rhetoric? [We’ve discussed](https://www.readtangle.com/trump-survives-an-assassination-attempt/#:~:text=And%20then%20there,but%20partisan%20war.). How should we weigh someone’s rhetoric after they’ve been the victim of a violent crime? [We’ve discussed](https://www.readtangle.com/charlie-kirk-criticism-and-our-response-reader-feedback/). How do we relate the accessibility of guns to other relevant issues? [We’ve discussed](https://www.readtangle.com/the-georgia-school-shooting/#:~:text=matter%20the%20politics.%E2%80%9D-,My%20take.,-Reminder%3A%20%22My%20take). Who is more extreme between Democrats and Republicans? [We’ve discussed](https://www.readtangle.com/which-party-is-more-extreme/). Here’s something we haven’t touched on, though: The increasing belief among the American public that these events are staged, manufactured, or otherwise unfolding in coordinated ways. Trust in the media [continues](https://news.gallup.com/poll/695762/trust-media-new-low.aspx?ref=readtangle.com) to fall, and in some cases that distrust is well earned. I built an entire media business based on my view that news consumers were living in bubbles, and that major media organizations and social media platforms were part of the problem. Journalists too often inject their own bias into stories sold as neutral reporting, advertising-first models incentivize sensational headlines, and Americans are desperate for a more diverse set of views when they open their phones or computers. I think those criticisms are valid; in many ways, I bet my career that they are. Yet I don’t believe — and have never believed — that these stories are all performances, which would require all reporters down to the last one to ignore the most incredible stories of our lifetimes*.* There’s a difference between thinking The New York Times has a left-leaning bias and thinking reporters at The New York Times are so bad at their jobs they can’t accurately report on an event they were all in the room for. Legacy news outlets, with reporters who are often doing the real work of bearing witness to these events, now have every sentence of their work scrutinized, challenged, and sometimes outright manipulated by people who mistrust the official narrative. A chorus of internet sleuths who watch people like Candace Owens think that Charlie Kirk’s murder was an inside job — maybe even a set-up by Israel, or his own wife. 15% of Democrats don’t think Trump [was actually shot in the ear](https://yougov.com/en-us/articles/50154-what-americans-believe-about-attempted-assassination-donald-trump-poll?ref=readtangle.com) when a shooter tried to kill him in Butler, Pennsylvania. And last night, the term “staged” [immediately skyrocketed](https://www.wired.com/story/staged-conspiracy-theories-are-everywhere-following-white-house-correspondents-dinner-shooting/?ref=readtangle.com) in use on social media, according to WIRED. As the theory goes, the shooter was some kind of government plant who was paid or otherwise coerced into making an attempt on Trump’s life so Trump could push forward on his bunker ballroom or enjoy some kind of bounce back in the polls. The many reporters in the room reporting on what they saw were apparently all deceived or merely parroting the “official” government story. Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX), who (mercifully) just lost her Senate primary race, joined the chorus: “[Maybe it’s fake… who knows…](https://www.threads.com/@jasmineforus/post/DXleHDJDqJc?ref=readtangle.com)” *Who knows.* Well, for one, the room full of journalists who heard the gunshots and saw the shooter apprehended on the ground are incentivized to find and share the truth. If you don’t believe their reporting, you can always watch the security camera footage of the shooter running through a group of very clearly unsuspecting federal agents yourself. Or you can read [characterizations about the shooter](https://www.kenklippenstein.com/p/assassin-wasnt-on-fbis-radar-sources?ref=readtangle.com) from people who went to school with him. It really stretches the imagination to believe the government concocted all these things, and that a complicit press reported the details without confirming them, with no exceptions. But this kind of witness testimony and corroborating evidence is no longer enough. It doesn’t matter how many people in the crowd in Butler, Pennsylvania, heard the gunshots ring out, or saw a man get killed directly behind Trump. It only matters that Trump could have activated some kind of fake-blood packet in one moment on the ground to make it look like he’d been hit. Some people are just out here creating all manner of confusion, consequences be damned. For instance: One random account on X has gone viral for posting the alleged shooter’s name in December of 2023 with zero context. It’s the only post the account has ever made, and it immediately sparked rampant speculation. Was this shooting planned for three years? Was someone powerful behind it? Who *was* this account and *how did they see into the future*? The likely explanation is more boring and simple. As journalist and fact-checker David Puente [explained](https://x.com/DavidPuente/status/2048431732450324988?ref=readtangle.com), a spam poster probably created a private account to tweet out all manner of names and places that might become relevant in the future, then deleted all but one of the posts and made the account public. The alleged shooter has a very common name, one he shares with an actor who has an IMDb page. That account could have rolled through a portion of common names or the movie database trying to hit on something. This kind of conspiracy bait is everywhere now. And in an environment designed for conspiracism to thrive, it’s thriving. No silver bullet will solve this problem. It requires a holistic approach: teaching anyone with internet access about cons like this, holding liars and snake-oil salesmen accountable when their misdeeds become obvious, and figuring out ways for newsrooms with journalists who are tethered to reality to win in an attention economy stacked against them. Truth may sometimes be stranger than fiction, but the usual, everyday truth *is* often less interesting than made-up fantasies — especially when professional conspiracy-mongers are thinking up new, attention-grabbing fantasies every day. The situation is now dire. Despite desperate attempts to limit their growth, theories like QAnon have grown [*more* popular](https://prri.org/spotlight/the-rise-and-impact-of-q-the-2024-election-from-the-view-of-qanon-believers/?ref=readtangle.com), not less. Quarantining or silencing these movements doesn’t work, but neither does totally unregulated speech on social media platforms. Real, historical statements like “the CIA has killed foreign leaders” get chalked up as “conspiracy theories,” effectively [diminishing the meaning of the term](https://www.readtangle.com/stop-calling-everything-a-conspiracy-theory/) so that fewer people are dissuaded by the label when it’s used to describe belief in a Satan-worshipping sex cult directing the highest reaches of power. And our leaders aren’t helping. I genuinely hate to say it just 36 hours after another person tried to take his life, but no understanding of this issue is complete without this admission: Trump himself is a purveyor of a huge amount of absolute nonsense. Don’t take my word for it; one look at [his Truth Social account](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump?ref=readtangle.com) will send you down all manner of fringe, easily debunkable absurdities. But while Trump gets a lot of blame, he is far from the root cause of the problem; his core delusions (that the election was stolen or President Obama was born in Kenya) can only germinate in a broader culture that fertilizes them. The most popular YouTube channels, podcasts, and social media accounts on the planet will spend hours on end wondering aloud whether President Emmanuel Macron’s wife has a penis or if the Artemis II mission was faked because you can’t see stars in pictures of Earth — two theories, by the way, that have thrived despite the president himself contradicting them. As a society, we’ve adopted a “believe nothing” mentality — unless the story already has a sprinkle of collusion, deceit, and conspiracy. Then, we’ll believe anything. Saturday night’s events were no exception, and in myriad important debates about political violence, guns, our president, and mental health, the incredible gravitational force of a conspiracy claiming the whole thing was staged is just as important. **Take the survey:** Had you heard of the theories that Saturday’s incident was staged? [Let us know](https://interrobang.vercel.app/survey/fa3b8d3e-95a7-4ee4-8793-8b6331b12ca8?ref=readtangle.com). *Disagree? That's okay. Our opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we'll consider publishing your feedback.* ### Your questions, answered. **Q: The first time I saw the video of Alex Pretti’s previous encounter with ICE was on social media and the folks in the comments were discussing whether it was AI-generated. I think enough reputable organizations (AP, NYT, Tangle) have credulously reported the video that it is likely genuine. However, it got me wondering: what is Tangle’s policy/process for vetting whether a piece of media is AI-generated?** **— Micah from Chandler, AZ** **Tangle:** We collaborate to try to identify AI-generated content, but also rely on other experts with more resources to confirm genuine video. [Here’s a link](https://www.instagram.com/p/DUEwybKD8th/?ref=readtangle.com) to the video you mentioned (that we posted on our Instagram) of Alex Pretti, the man killed by Department of Homeland Security agents in Minneapolis in January. It shows Pretti — 11 days before his death — in an altercation with immigration agents after he kicked their vehicle. As we noted in our caption accompanying the post, the video sparked significant debate about whether part or all of it was AI-generated. It was later confirmed to be authentic. Behind the scenes, we had an extended discussion about posting the video. Executive Editor Isaac Saul flagged it on Slack and noted that it was being widely shared on social media, suggesting we also post it if we could verify its legitimacy. Social Media Manager Russell Nystrom began scouring different news sites and flagged other outlets that had run the video. COO Magdalena Bokowa and Head of Product Candida Hall highlighted a few frames that appeared strange, and we collectively zeroed in on them. While we were looking at the clips, the BBC [confirmed](https://www.mediaite.com/politics/breaking-bbc-confirms-authenticity-of-viral-video-appearing-to-show-alex-pretti-kicking-agents-car-11-days-before-shooting/?ref=readtangle.com) earlier reports that it had verified the video was real, and the man was almost certainly Pretti. At that point, we were comfortable posting it. This example is emblematic of our editorial approach: We collaborate to screen videos that obviously appear to be fake, which are often easier to spot than AI-generated text. Body parts move in unnatural ways, features change from shot to shot, and background images are oddly defined. However, we need to rely on other outlets to validate real videos, as we don’t have the tools in-house to do so. Instead, we use a similar process to how we authenticate breaking stories: doing a deep search to confirm its original source and looking for verification from multiple trusted professionals. We’re not a breaking-news service, so we prioritize taking our time over rushing to get something out. And if we’re really unsure, we just won’t publish it. This process has served us well: In Tangle’s nearly seven-year history, we’ve never (to our knowledge) published a fabricated image, video, or news story as genuine. **Want to have a question answered in the newsletter? You can reply to this email (it goes straight to our inbox) or** [**fill out this form**](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScQhqBSG%5F6%5FoBhwcTQMeS570n29XYbeQ9C9Bis7rjqI31g1tA/viewform?usp=header&ref=readtangle.com)**.** ### Under the radar. On Monday, jury selection will begin in a civil trial pitting Tesla CEO Elon Musk against OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. Musk is suing Altman over OpenAI’s recent restructuring from a nonprofit research organization to a for-profit entity, which he claims violated the terms of his investment in OpenAI in its early days. Altman says that Musk failed to invest the amount he committed to and was frustrated by OpenAI’s refusal to fold itself into Tesla. In addition to requesting a large financial penalty, Musk has asked the judge to order Altman and co-founder Greg Brockman to be fired. [NBC News has the story](https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/elon-musk-sam-altman-oakland-trial-rcna341919?ref=readtangle.com). SPONSORED by the penny hoarder ****You're probably overpaying for half the things you buy.** Your car insurance, credit cards, Amazon purchases — companies are banking on you not noticing. We found a list of ways to stop getting ripped off and [start pocketing that money instead](https://partners.thepennyhoarder.com/second-job-sdyn-prt/?aff%5Fid=409&utm%5Fsource=tangle&aff%5Fsub3=second-job-sdyn-prt). Some could save you thousands. See which ones apply to you. ### The extras. - **One year ago today** we had just published a Friday edition from Isaac arguing [President Biden really did make a mess of immigration](https://www.readtangle.com/yes-biden-really-did-make-a-mess-of-immigration/). - **The most clicked link in our last regular newsletter** was our [latest episode of *Suspension of the Rules*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKLxHfdbfPk&ref=readtangle.com). - **Nothing to do with politics:** A dizzying 3D map of [every known satellite transmitting data in Earth’s orbit](https://azmth.space/?ref=readtangle.com). - **Our last survey:** 2,333 readers responded to our survey on mid-decade redistricting with 51% saying they don’t want their state to redistrict. “I would like NO partisan gerrymandering. Big money out of politics,” one respondent said. “I don’t want my state to redistrict because, if they did, it would not favor my party,” said another. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/04/data-src-image-a93264d9-74da-4617-84bd-005ff771b918.png) ### Have a nice day. On April 14, after five years of scanning the sky with 5,000 fiber-optic “eyes,” the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) completed its planned survey goals. The Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory has already used DESI to map more than 47 million galaxies and quasars, producing the largest ever high-resolution 3D map of the universe, and it will continue to collect data through 2028\. “We’ve built a remarkable piece of equipment that met all our expectations and then some,” DESI Director Michael Levi said. “Now we’re pushing beyond our original plan. We don’t know what we’ll find, but we think it’ll be pretty exciting.” [Berkeley Lab has the story](https://newscenter.lbl.gov/2026/04/15/desi-completes-planned-3d-map-of-the-universe-and-continues-exploring/?ref=readtangle.com). ### Security camera footage shows suspected WH Correspondents’ dinner shooter charging through security. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/security-camera-footage-shows-suspected-wh-correspondents-dinner-shooter-charging-through-security/ Last updated: 2026-04-27T00:03:46.000Z President Donald Trump posted footage that appears to show the suspected White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooter charging through security, surprising Secret Service and law enforcement officers working the event. ### The Sunday — April 26 URL: https://www.readtangle.com/the-sunday-april-26-2026/ Last updated: 2026-04-27T13:38:53.000Z *This is the Tangle Sunday Edition, a brief roundup of our independent politics coverage plus some extra features for your Sunday morning reading.* ### What the left is doodling. ![Mike Luckovich | Creators Syndicate](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/04/data-src-image-5e131237-1fdf-45ea-988d-7129a8d31a4f.jpeg) Mike Luckovich | Creators Syndicate ### What the right is doodling. ![Gary Varvel | Creators Syndicate](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/04/data-src-image-1238f6c3-07d2-48f3-9ae8-34242fd66bc1.jpeg) Gary Varvel | Creators Syndicate ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/04/data-src-image-66d8df4b-8fd8-4059-a983-a370e5fff636.png) ### Suspension of the Rules On this week’s episode, Isaac, Ari, and Kmele discuss the Virginia redistricting vote — and the gerrymandering war that surrounds it. Plus, is Trump pivoting for the midterms? How are voters responding to the war and the economy? Are any cabinet members on the way out? Will Kmele finally have something to complain about? [Find out here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKLxHfdbfPk&ref=readtangle.com)! ### Monday, April 20. [The latest from Iran](https://www.readtangle.com/hormuz-standoff-us-iran-ceasefire-update/). On Sunday, April 19, President Donald Trump said that the U.S. fired on and seized an Iranian-flagged cargo ship attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz from the Gulf of Oman. The vessel is the first ship seized by the U.S. Navy since it began blockading the gulf on April 13\. Iran said on April 17 it would remove all restrictions on commercial ships passing through the strait, then closed the waterway again on April 18 in response to the ongoing U.S. military blockade. That day, gunboats linked to Iran reportedly opened fire on two ships attempting to transit the strait. **Our take:** *“Instability within Iran’s government is contributing to instability of peace talks. Iran’s new leadership is more extreme and more willing to use its force than the leaders the U.S. killed, and the situation is much more tenuous. All told, I don’t see a way this war ends any time soon.”* **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/04/data-src-image-61aa6ff9-6580-4844-8ddc-270fa1414513.png) ### Tuesday, April 21. [Congress’s temporary FISA reauthorization](https://www.readtangle.com/congress-temporarily-extends-fisa-section-702/). On Friday, April 17, the House and Senate passed a short-term renewal of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), reauthorizing the law until April 30\. Republican leadership pivoted to the stopgap measure after a group of 20 House Republicans voted against an 18-month extension that President Donald Trump had endorsed. Congress is now expected to debate adding new privacy measures to the law before the April 30 deadline. **Our take:** *“I opposed Section 702 authorization under Biden, and I still oppose it today. Fear of bad actors should not justify a blanket authority to violate our rights as Americans. Even if Congress reauthorizes Section 702, I believe our intelligence agencies should learn to operate within these constraints.”* **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/04/data-src-image-91664f3d-02ae-4748-a0c1-806da74988eb.png) ### Wednesday, April 22. [A wealth tax proposal in New York City](https://www.readtangle.com/nyc-wealth-tax-proposal/). On Wednesday, April 15, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D) and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) proposed a pied-à-terre tax, an annual surcharge on New York City residences valued above $5 million owned by those who primarily live outside the city. Mamdani and Hochul claim the measure would raise $500 million in annual revenue to help address the city’s budget shortfall; if enacted, it would be the first pied-à-terre tax in New York’s history. **Our take:** *“I support the idea of taxing out-of-state residents, but New York should be careful to avoid easy pitfalls. Local tax codes are complicated, and many wealthy property owners already pay a lot in taxes. If done well, this proposal could end up raising revenues while targeting only those who can afford to pay.”* **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/04/data-src-image-1fbdd639-fcd9-4259-bc27-a514a6bac9e7.png) ### Thursday, April 23. [The redistricting referendum in Virginia](https://www.readtangle.com/virginia-redistricting-vote-midterms/). On Tuesday, April 21, Virginians voted 51.5%–48.5% to approve a constitutional amendment allowing the state to redraw its congressional map ahead of the 2026 midterms. The new map will shift several districts in Democrats’ favor, potentially turning the current 6–5 split to a 10–1 advantage. The referendum comes amid a broader mid-decade redistricting push by Democratic- and Republican-controlled states that began last summer in Texas, and it is facing a challenge in the Virginia Supreme Court. **Our take:** *“Virginia Republicans have valid grievances — as do national Democrats. State votes were never intended to be pass-through elections on national politics, and gerrymandering is degrading the whole political system. The edge so far seems to favor Democrats, and Republicans may want to reconsider another round in Florida.”* **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/04/data-src-image-375d4cd5-21e6-40f8-bcab-152158cb7463.png) ### Friday, April 24. In this week’s Friday edition, Associate Editor Audrey Moorehead explores Christian nationalism, looking back at the arguments that inspired the separation of church and state and parsing out the various strains of American Christianity. Audrey explores the difference between Christians in government and Christian governance, answering the question of what is — and isn’t — Christian nationalism. You can [read Audrey’s piece here](https://www.readtangle.com/not-everything-is-christian-nationalism/). ### Further reading. We’ve covered relations with Iran, government surveillance, New York City revenue policies, and redistricting before. Plus, read a previous Tangle editor’s take on the role of faith in American society. Take a look at our past coverage below: - In May 2024, we covered [the death of Iran’s president](https://www.readtangle.com/death-of-iran-president-ebrahim-raisi/). - In September 2025, we wrote about [what the government knows about you](https://www.readtangle.com/what-does-the-government-actually-know-about-you/) in a paywalled Friday edition. - In June 2024, we covered the [NYC congestion pricing plan](https://www.readtangle.com/nyc-congestion-pricing-plan/). - In December 2022, we covered [Supreme Court oral arguments over a North Carolina gerrymandering plan](https://www.readtangle.com/scotus-independent-state-legislature/). - In February 2025, Tangle’s then-Associate Editor Sophia Downs wrote about [community, government, and American society](https://www.readtangle.com/toward-more-perfect-unions/) in a paywalled Friday edition. --- ### What just happened. Here’s a rundown of the major stories that have broken since our newsletter on Thursday. - On Thursday, President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that he has ordered the U.S. Navy to “shoot and kill” any Iranian vessels believed to be deploying mines in the Strait of Hormuz. He also said that U.S. minesweepers were in the process of clearing the waterway of mines and directed them to triple their level of activity. ([The post](https://apnews.com/article/us-iran-war-hormuz-israel-pakistan-ceasefire-april-23-2026-368b922ae2f4c874df8a133491eeffe8?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Thursday, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche signed an order directing the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to change the classification of medical cannabis from a Schedule I to a Schedule III drug. The Biden administration initially launched a review of cannabis’s classification, and President Trump signed an executive order in December 2025 directing the DEA to expedite the rescheduling process for the substance. ([The order](https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5845131-medical-marijuana-reclassified/?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Thursday, Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders approved the company’s merger with Paramount Skydance, a key step in completing the deal. ([The approval](https://www.axios.com/2026/04/23/warner-bros-discovery-approve-paramount-skydance-deal?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Thursday, the Justice Department announced that a U.S. Army Special Forces master sergeant had been arrested for allegedly using confidential government information for personal gain (among other charges) linked to bets placed on a prediction market related to the operation to capture Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro in January. The Justice Department says the sergeant was involved in the planning of the operation and placed approximately 13 bets totalling $33,000 the week prior to Maduro’s capture. ([The arrest](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/04/23/doj-soldier-polymarket-bets-venezuela-maduro.html?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Thursday, the U.S. hosted peace talks between Israel and Lebanon, with the sides agreeing to a three-week extension of their ceasefire, which was set to expire this Sunday, April 26\. ([The extension](https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2026/04/23/us-israel-lebanon-ceasefire-talks/?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Friday, the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals lifted an injunction on a 2023 Texas law that allows state and local law enforcement to arrest unauthorized migrants who cross the Mexico border. The injunction had been in place since 2024\. ([The order](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/25/us/texas-mexico-border-arrest-deport-immigration.html?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Friday, U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro announced the Justice Department is ending its probe into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell over the renovation of two Federal Reserve buildings. Pirro said Powell has asked the central bank’s inspector general to look into the cost of the projects. ([The announcement](https://www.wsj.com/economy/central-banking/justice-department-will-end-probe-of-powell-clearing-path-for-kevin-warsh-e6774dfa?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Saturday, President Trump canceled plans for son-in-law Jared Kushner and U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff to visit Islamabad for peace talks with Tehran. ([The cancellation](https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/04/25/world/iran-war-us-talks-pakistan?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Saturday, President Trump was rushed from the stage after shots were fired at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington, D.C. No public official, journalist or other guest was injured, though a Secret Service agent was reportedly shot but protected by a bulletproof vest. The FBI says it has a suspect in custody. ([The incident](https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/04/25/us/trump-correspondents-dinner-shooting?ref=readtangle.com)) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/04/data-src-image-fbc26941-dddf-484f-825e-15038f2b0282.png) ### Reader essay. ![Soldiers help each other during the 1980 Iran–Iraq War | Bhavya Mathur, Wikimedia Commons](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/04/data-src-image-72bff798-f42d-4761-bc5c-0f4dc9f8bb52.png) Soldiers help each other during the 1980 Iran–Iraq War | Bhavya Mathur, [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Iran%5Firaq%5Fwar.jpg?ref=readtangle.com) Twenty years ago, after the United States launched the war in Iraq, Tangle reader Brian Gilette wanted to understand what made a war just or unjust. He developed a five-part rubric for this evaluation and applied it to the war at the time, concluding that the war was unjust. Today, Brian applies his five-part rubric to the war in Iran. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Trump evacuated from White House Correspondents’ Dinner after shots fired. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/trump-evacuated-from-white-house-correspondents-dinner-after-shots-fired/ Last updated: 2026-04-27T00:03:47.000Z President Donald Trump was evacuated from the White House Correspondents’ Dinner after gunshots were fired. ### Bad War. Again. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/otherposts/bad-war-again/ Last updated: 2026-05-08T17:35:19.000Z *By Brian Gilette* --- In March of 2003, as the United States launched its invasion of Iraq, a [Gallup poll](https://news.gallup.com/poll/8038/seventytwo-percent-americans-support-war-against-iraq.aspx?ref=readtangle.com) found that 72% of Americans supported military action. I was not among them. At the time, I wrote an essay called *Bad War*. I didn’t write it for publication. Instead, I wrote it for myself — to help myself understand how a country like ours decides to go to war, and whether this one met the standard such a decision demands. I’ve spent my career in leadership — building organizations, making decisions that affect people’s livelihoods, and living with the consequences of those decisions. That experience shaped how I think about responsibility, accountability, and the weight of choice. I believe in America. In our best moments, we have demonstrated how a nation should operate. In those times, America has been a force for good, using its power to make the world more stable, more just, and more humane. For these reasons, questions of war matter deeply to me, and they should matter to all of us. In 2003, writing this essay led me to a simple yet difficult conclusion: No matter how it went militarily, the war was morally unjustified. I didn’t come to my belief through ideology or the benefit of hindsight. Instead, I applied a basic set of questions. Questions that should be difficult to answer. Questions that force us to confront what war actually is, not the language often used to make it sound controlled, precise, and necessary. More than two decades later, as the United States is once again engaged in conflict in the Middle East, I find myself returning to those same questions to see if that same reasoning I used then can help me understand this new situation today. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### 👉 Why Hundreds of Chinese Ships Are Off Argentina’s Coast URL: https://www.readtangle.com/why-hundreds-of-chinese-ships-are-off-argentinas-coast-2/ Last updated: 2026-04-26T00:02:47.000Z Hundreds of ships light up the ocean off Argentina every night — visible from space. But they’re not local. ### Not everything is Christian nationalism. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/not-everything-is-christian-nationalism/ Last updated: 2026-04-24T15:52:45.000Z **I’m Isaac Saul, and this is Tangle. You are reading a preview of a members-only Friday edition. To read it in full,* [**you'll be asked to subscribe*](https://www.readtangle.com/membership/)**.* ****Did someone forward you this email?** [****Sign up here**](https://www.readtangle.com/)****.** --- Earlier this week, President Donald Trump [participated](https://www.americareadsthebible.com/?ref=readtangle.com) in an event called “America Reads the Bible,” [designed](https://www.americareadsthebible.com/about?ref=readtangle.com) in honor of America’s 250th anniversary as “a spiritual celebration of our nation’s founding ideals and a call to rediscover the truth that still anchors us today.” The president read 12 verses from 2 Chronicles 7 in the Oval Office. Trump’s participation in the event is another chapter in his long, complicated relationship with American Christianity — and it’s part of an ongoing movement within the Trump administration. In February this year, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth sparked a minor controversy when he invited pastor Doug Wilson to lead a worship service at the Pentagon. Hegseth’s open faith as Defense Secretary was already a source of controversy — particularly as he called for restoring Christianity as a central building block of U.S. military life and began [taking action accordingly](https://wng.org/sift/hegseth-hosts-christian-service-in-pentagon-1747931792?ref=readtangle.com). But the invitation of Wilson to speak drew criticism for a new reason: Wilson is a self-described “Christian nationalist”; as he [puts it](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/09/opinion/doug-wilson-america-religion-theocracy.html?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Wilson%3A%20Christian%20nationalism%20is%20the%20conviction%20that%20secularism%20is%20a%20failed%20experiment%2C%20that%20societies%20require%20a%20transcendent%20grounding%20in%20order%20to%20be%20able%20to%20function%20at%20all.%20And%20as%20a%20Christian%2C%20I%20believe%20that%20that%20transcendent%20ground%20should%20be%20the%20living%20God%20and%20not%20an%20idol.), Wilson wants the American government to be explicitly founded on the “transcendent ground” of Christianity. The specter of Christian nationalism, and discussion of American Christianity more broadly, has risen to the cultural forefront in recent months. Hegseth and Wilson advocate for a Protestant vision of America in the halls of the military. The [majority-Catholic Supreme Court](https://news.gallup.com/opinion/polling-matters/391649/religion-supreme-court-justices.aspx?ref=readtangle.com) receives both praise and criticism for its handling of religious freedom and gay rights cases. The Trump administration (which has [several prominent Catholic members](https://www.ncregister.com/commentaries/trump-administration-catholic-christian-faith?ref=readtangle.com), including the vice president) and the Vatican’s rocky relations famously came to a head just weeks ago when the president criticized the pope for opposing the war in Iran. And the rising star of Presbyterian seminarian and staunch progressive James Talarico in Texas has opened new conversations about Christian politics, including [debates](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/08/opinion/james-talarico-christian-democrat-texas-primary.html?ref=readtangle.com) and [divisions](https://www.nationalreview.com/2026/03/james-talaricos-convenient-faith/?ref=readtangle.com) among other prominent Christians about how to receive him. In the background of all these recent examples is the [ongoing](https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2026/04/10/catholic-converts-young-tiktok-instagram/?ref=readtangle.com) [debate](https://www.graphsaboutreligion.com/p/when-are-half-your-members-going?ref=readtangle.com) about whether American Christianity is undergoing a [revival](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/28/opinion/religious-revival-america.html?ref=readtangle.com) — that is, whether a country that has long been on a decades-long shift away from Christianity is suddenly re-embracing faith. Our nation has a long tradition with Christianity. However, it also has a long tradition of keeping Christianity (or any religion) outside of our government. For a lot of Americans who believe in the principled separation of church and state, *Christian nationalism* has become a primary concern — particularly among secular or non-Christian Americans. The prominence of Christianity in U.S. politics, and in right-wing politics in particular, is intimidating. That’s especially true when the precepts that underlie Christian political activity aren’t well understood, and when a wide variety of people claim to be working from the same religious principles but disagree on fundamental issues like abortion and welfare and marriage and immigration. But not all Christian political activity is, in fact, Christian nationalism. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Virginia joins gerrymander war. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/virginia-redistricting-vote-midterms/ Last updated: 2026-04-23T16:02:05.000Z *I'm Isaac Saul, and this is Tangle: an independent, nonpartisan, subscriber-supported politics newsletter that summarizes the best arguments from across the political spectrum on the news of the day — then “my take.”* *Are you new here?* [*Get free emails*](https://www.readtangle.com/) *to your inbox daily. Would you rather listen? You can find our podcast* [*here*](https://shows.acast.com/66510864c0852400122bc7be?ref=readtangle.com)*.* ### Today’s read: 14 minutes. 🗺️ Voters in Virginia approve congressional redistricting ahead of the midterms. Plus, what's the latest on Ukraine–Russia peace negotiations? ### Corrections. In yesterday’s “On this day in history” section, we had two unfortunate errors. First, we referred to Rachel Carson’s *Silent Spring* as a novel when it is in fact a nonfiction science narrative. Second, we misidentified Pete McCloskey as a U.S. *senator* from California, when he was in fact a U.S. *representative*. These errors were missed during our fact-checking process, and we will be paying extra attention to our newer sections in the future. *These are our 155th and 156th corrections in Tangle’s 360-week history and our first corrections since April 15\. We track corrections and place them at the top of the newsletter in an effort to maximize transparency with readers.* ### Our latest Suspension of the Rules. On our most recent episode, Isaac, Ari, and Kmele discuss the Virginia redistricting vote — and the gerrymandering war that surrounds it. Plus, a 30,000-foot view of the political landscape: Is Trump pivoting for the midterms? How are voters responding to the war and the economy? Are any cabinet members on the way out? Will Kmele finally have something to complain about? All will be answered in [today’s episode](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKLxHfdbfPk&ref=readtangle.com)! ### Quick hits. 1. Navy Secretary John Phelan has left his position. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reportedly fired Phelan due to tension between the former secretary and Pentagon leadership. Navy Under Secretary Hung Cao will now serve as acting Navy secretary. ([The departure](https://www.axios.com/2026/04/22/navy-secretary-john-phelan-hung-cao?ref=readtangle.com)) 2. The Trump administration is reportedly nearing a deal to loan Spirit Airlines up to $500 million in exchange for a potential stake in the company. Spirit is in the midst of its second bankruptcy process since 2024 and facing heightened financial pressure due to elevated jet-fuel prices. ([The report](https://www.wsj.com/business/airlines/trump-administration-nearing-rescue-deal-for-spirit-airlines-2f6a5556?ref=readtangle.com)) 3. Rep. David Scott (D-GA) passed away at 80\. He was elected to the House in 2002 and was running for a 13th term in 2026\. ([The passing](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/georgia-rep-david-scott-dies-80-rcna341463?ref=readtangle.com)) 4. Jay Bhattacharya, the acting head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, canceled the release of a study that reportedly showed Covid-19 vaccines significantly reduced the likelihood of emergency room visits and hospitalizations from Covid. Bhattacharya objected to the study’s methodology, suggesting it misrepresented the vaccine’s effectiveness. ([The cancellation](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/22/us/politics/cdc-covid-vaccine-study.html?ref=readtangle.com)) 5. The Senate voted 50–48 to adopt a budget resolution, setting up a vote on a budget reconciliation package next month. Republicans plan to use the process to fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol through 2029, which will require a simple majority to pass. ([The vote](https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5844515-senate-republicans-budget-resolution/?ref=readtangle.com)) SPONSORED by money.com ****Protect against rising vet costs with pet insurance** The cost of veterinary services has been rising recently, with some common surgical procedures [costing up to $7,000](https://api.wellput.io/v1/cm?cmid=799664mo0vd4yd&tid=164&s1=v2-r694964-p799664-c45863&s2=Tangle&s3=&s4=null&ref=readtangle.com). Pet insurance can help cover accidents, illnesses and even routine care, with some plans reimbursing up to 90% of costs. Money.com's [Best Pet Insurance list](https://api.wellput.io/v1/cm?cmid=799664mo0vd4yd&tid=164&s1=v2-r694964-p799664-c45863&s2=Tangle&s3=&s4=null&ref=readtangle.com) can help you find affordable coverage starting at just $10 a month so you can focus on what matters most — your furry friend's well-being. [****Get a personalized pet insurance quote today and save thousands on costly vet bills**](https://api.wellput.io/v1/cm?cmid=799664mo0vd4yd&tid=164&s1=v2-r694964-p799664-c45863&s2=Tangle&s3=&s4=null&ref=readtangle.com)****.** ### Today’s topic. ***One more hour:** **Yesterday, we launched our first-ever 25 for 25 — 25% off our yearly bundle subscription for 25 hours. The offer expires at 1:00 PM ET today. It gets you unlimited, ad-free access to our podcast, newsletter, and website.* [****Grab it here**](https://www.readtangle.com/25-for-25)***.** The redistricting referendum in Virginia. On Tuesday, Virginians [voted](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-special-elections/virginia-ballot-measures?ref=readtangle.com) 51.5%–48.5% to approve a constitutional amendment allowing the state to redraw its congressional map ahead of the 2026 midterms. The new map will shift several districts in Democrats’ favor, [potentially turning](https://www.cookpolitical.com/redistricting/2025-26-mid-decade-map?ref=readtangle.com) the current 6–5 split to a 10–1 advantage. The referendum comes amid a broader mid-decade redistricting push by Democratic- and Republican-controlled states that began last summer in Texas, and it is facing a challenge in the Virginia Supreme Court. **Back up:** In late July, President Donald Trump [called on](https://www.readtangle.com/texas-gerrymander-california-response/) Texas lawmakers to redraw their congressional map ahead of the typical decennial redistricting cycle in an effort to gain additional Republican seats in the House. The state legislature approved the plan, prompting California to pursue its own redistricting to boost Democratic representation. Six states (including Virginia) have now [implemented](https://ballotpedia.org/Redistricting%5Fahead%5Fof%5Fthe%5F2026%5Felections?ref=readtangle.com) new maps as a result of mid-decade redistricting, and several others are considering doing so. The Virginia referendum [asked voters](https://virginiamercury.com/2026/04/20/10-questions-and-answers-about-virginias-redistricting-referendum/?ref=readtangle.com) to vote yes or no on a constitutional amendment creating a one-time exception to the state’s redistricting system, which uses a bipartisan commission and court review to redraw congressional district lines at the start of each decade. The change is designed to be temporary — and pegged as a response to mid-decade redistricting actions in other states — and Virginia would revert to its normal process at the end of the decade. However, the new map will be in effect for both the 2026 and 2028 House elections. Democrats significantly [outspent](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/25/us/politics/virginia-redistricting-referendum-house-seats.html?ref=readtangle.com) Republicans in support of the measure, with prominent figures like former President Barack Obama endorsing the effort. Critics, such as former Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R), have [said](https://virginiamercury.com/2026/04/11/youngkin-returns-to-campaign-trail-calls-for-court-to-strike-redistricting-vote/?ref=readtangle.com) the process of getting the amendment on the ballot was unconstitutional and called on the state supreme court to strike it down. Despite Tuesday’s results, several [challenges](https://wset.com/news/local/lawsuits-pending-at-virginia-supreme-court-over-redistricting-referendum-general-assembly-tazewell-county-ballot-wording-amendment-legislature-redistricting-congressional-maps-vote-april-2026?ref=readtangle.com) to the redistricting effort remain. In particular, two lawsuits allege that the wording of the ballot question was misleading, and the plaintiffs have appealed their case to the Virginia Supreme Court. The court allowed the question to remain as written for the referendum but has yet to issue a final decision; if it rules in favor of the plaintiffs, it is unknown how the decision would impact the redistricting outcome. Separately, on Wednesday, a circuit court judge [blocked](https://www.cnn.com/2026/04/22/politics/virginia-redistricting-tazewell-county-certification?ref=readtangle.com) the referendum results from being certified, finding that the amendment process and ballot language were handled improperly. State Attorney General Jay Jones (D) said his office will immediately appeal. Virginia Democrats celebrated the result. “Virginia voters have spoken, and tonight they approved a temporary measure to push back against a President who claims he is ‘entitled’ to more Republican seats in Congress,” Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) [said](https://www.cbs19news.com/news/officials-and-leaders-react-to-virginia-redistricting-vote/article%5F868c2212-b428-41f0-aac5-7006f0e2a16d.html?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Governor%20Abigail%20Spanberger,voted%20to%20create.%E2%80%9D). Republicans expressed disappointment but recommitted to push forward with legal challenges. “The ballot box was never the final word here,” Delegate Terry Kilgore (R) [said](https://www.cbs19news.com/news/officials-and-leaders-react-to-virginia-redistricting-vote/article%5F868c2212-b428-41f0-aac5-7006f0e2a16d.html?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Delegate%20Terry%20Kilgore,for%20every%20Virginian.%E2%80%9D). “Serious legal questions remain about both the wording of this referendum and the process used to put it before voters.” Today, we’ll share views from the right, left, and Virginian writers about the referendum. Then, Associate Editor and Virginia resident Russell Nystrom gives his take. ### What the right is saying. - **The right is disappointed by the results, with many calling out Democratic hypocrisy on gerrymandering.** - **Others say Republicans must fight fire with fire.** **The Washington Post editorial board wrote** [**“Virginia plunges America deeper into the gerrymandering abyss.”**](https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2026/04/22/virginia-gerrymandering-referendum-passes-it-will-take-toll/?ref=readtangle.com) “Democratic leaders have long fancied themselves as champions of democracy and fair elections. But many of these politicians, including former president Barack Obama, made a more cynical calculation in Virginia,” the board said. “For them, disenfranchising Republican voters is the only way to counterbalance the desperate attempts by Republicans in other states to save their congressional majority. They’re right that the GOP started this fight by trying to pick up five House seats in Texas through gerrymandering, but they can spare us the false sanctimony about democratic norms going forward.” “None of this was necessary. Democrats in Maryland ended their legislative session this month without passing new maps to eliminate the sole Republican in the state’s eight-member House delegation. Bill Ferguson, the Democratic president of the state Senate, withstood a nasty pressure campaign led by Gov. Wes Moore (D),” the board wrote. “Republican legislators in Indiana similarly defeated a gerrymandering scheme despite threats of retribution from Trump. If only more legislators were willing to stand on principle.” **In The Daily Caller, Mary Rooke said the result reveals a** [**“hard truth”**](https://dailycaller.com/2026/04/22/virginia-redistricting-indiana-new-york-republicans-play-rules-democrats-midterms-claudia-tenney-twitter/?ref=readtangle.com) **for the GOP.** “For decades, Republican populists have been handicapped by the so-called ‘principled conservative’ wing of the GOP. The Democratic success with Virginia’s redistricting teaches a lesson that the old hats can no longer ignore,” Rooke wrote. “Either use the power the voters gave you to enact their will and mandate, or sit back like the impotent fool you are and watch Democrats erase any chance for you ever to govern again.” “There can be no room for pretending that norms and principles play a role in a discussion where the other side has zero intent to play fair,” Rooke said. “The lesson for the so-called ‘principled conservatives’ is actually quite simple. They can either willingly fall in line with the populist movement and help save America from the modern-day Bolsheviks in the Democratic Party, or they can cling to their norms like a life raft as the greatest country ever formed sinks into the ocean.” ### What the left is saying. - **The left sees the result as a rebuke of Trump, even as many worry about the long-term impacts of gerrymandering.** - **Others say the redistricting fight is far from over.** **In The Atlantic, Russell Berman described** [**“Trump’s enormous gerrymandering blunder.”** ](https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/2026/04/virginia-gerrymandering-redistricting-election-trump/686888/?ref=readtangle.com) “When President Trump last summer implored Republicans to launch a nationwide gerrymandering blitz to pad their narrow House majority, the fight he started did not seem fair,” Berman wrote. “This morning the landscape looks a lot different, after Virginia voters yesterday approved a lopsided new House map that could hand Democrats an additional four seats that Republicans currently hold… Democrats have now succeeded in drawing districts that will likely yield them nine more seats this fall, at least matching what Republicans have been able to achieve in states that they control.” “Trump’s move to open this new front in a centuries-old gerrymandering war between the parties looks like an enormous tactical blunder. Republicans have appeared taken aback by the ferocity with which Democrats have responded — and the speed with which they’ve set aside their drive to ban gerrymandering in the name of good government,” Berman said. “In both California and Virginia, Democrats swamped the opposition in campaign spending, using the redistricting referenda to rile up a party base seeking any opportunity to push back against an unpopular administration.” **In MS NOW, Paul Waldman suggested** [**“this was the easy part.”**](https://www.ms.now/opinion/virginia-redistricting-democrats-referendum-house-congress?ref=readtangle.com) “The theory of the successful initiatives in California and Virginia is that only by *punishing* Republicans for their mid-decade redistricting can the GOP be persuaded to pull back from the unfair system it has constructed,” Waldman wrote. “In other words, this is a step toward some kind of grand bargain in which the parties will agree on a future with more competitive elections. Unfortunately, that will still be a tough sell for the GOP, which might reasonably conclude that if the point where we have arrived for this year’s midterm election is its worst-case scenario, gerrymandering will continue to work to its advantage. “That raises the practical problem at the end of this tit-for-tat. If Democrats’ goal is to force Republicans to come to the table to negotiate a post-gerrymandering future, Republicans will have to conclude that the current system is costing them a chance at power,” Waldman said. “And if Republicans simply refuse to change their ways, what then? Will Democrats in California and Virginia keep their word to revert back to independent redistricting commissions, which would be unilateral disarmament if the redistricting wars are still going on?” ### What Virginia writers are saying. - **Some Virginian writers argue the amendment is an affront to the state’s prior embrace of bipartisan redistricting.** - **Others say the decision is rightfully being left to voters.** **In The Richmond Times-Dispatch, Jason Miyares (R) and Eric Cantor (R) wrote** [**“Virginia voters already chose fair maps. Now Washington money wants a do-over.”**](https://richmond.com/opinion/column/article%5F8107b44f-a248-4a64-8c82-6c79705ad414.html?ref=readtangle.com) “In 2020, Virginians did something rare in politics. We changed the rules on ourselves. By a two-to-one margin, more than 2.8 million Virginians amended our Constitution to end partisan gerrymandering and create a bipartisan redistricting commission, which became a national model. The maps the commission drew, and the courts approved, included the preservation of historic minority-majority districts and served as a source of pride,” Miyares and Cantor said. “Republicans and Democrats alike said the same thing: voters should choose their politicians, not the other way around.” “Now, just a few years later, the political class is asking for a do-over — because they don’t like the outcome. The April 21 referendum would scrap the spirit of that 2020 reform and pave the way for a congressional map designed to produce 10 Democratic-leaning seats and just one Republican-leaning seat. That’s not ‘fair maps.’ That’s a mid-decade power grab dressed up in the language of reform,” Miyares and Cantor wrote. “Sixty-six percent of Virginians voted for a bipartisan commission, transparency and an end to back-room map drawing. They did not vote for a six-year partisan detour that hands the pen back to politicians and their national funders.” **Before the vote, The Virginian-Pilot and Daily Press Editorial Board explored voters’ decision on the** [**“fate” of the amendment.**](https://www.pilotonline.com/2026/04/20/editorial-voters-will-decide-fate-of-constitutional-amendment-about-redistricting/?ref=readtangle.com) “Whatever one thinks about the issue, the important thing is that this will be decided by the people — not by elected officials in Richmond or Washington, and not by those who have poured tens of millions into the campaigns. Virginians will decide what’s best for Virginia,” the board said. “Contrary to how advocates on both sides of the debate over Virginia’s proposed constitutional amendment frame it, neither party can claim the moral high ground when it comes to drawing district lines.” “Typically decisions about the maps governing elections are made well out of public view. Redistricting has long been a process defined by opacity, with lawmakers drawing lines that protect incumbents and, for the party in power, seek to preserve the status quo,” the board wrote. “President Donald Trump ordered Republican states to draw new lines in advance of November’s election in an attempt to retain power in the U.S. House; Democratic-led states, including Virginia, have moved to counter that effort and offset any potential GOP advantage… Now that decision is in the hands of voters.” ### My take. **Reminder: “My take” is a section where we give ourselves space to share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, don't unsubscribe. Write in by replying to this email, or** [**leave a comment**](https://www.readtangle.com/virginia-redistricting-vote-midterms/#ghost-comments-root)**.** - **Virginia Republicans have valid grievances — as do national Democrats.** - **State votes were never intended to be pass-through elections on national politics, and gerrymandering is degrading the whole political system.** - **The edge so far seems to favor Democrats, and Republicans may want to reconsider another round in Florida.** **Associate Editor Russell Nystrom:** Last summer, as President Donald Trump urged Texas to become the first domino to fall in the mid-cycle redistricting arms race, Democrats [warned](https://jeffries.house.gov/2025/08/04/leader-jeffries-democrats-are-going-to-respond-from-coast-to-coast-and-at-all-points-in-between-to-this-effort-to-steal-the-midterm-elections/?ref=readtangle.com) him that they would respond in kind and that he may come to regret it. In my home state of Virginia, where I’ve lived my entire life, the response was loud and immediate. And to be honest, I’m not sure how I feel about that response. Despite every other ad on TV being about the race, [spending on this issue](https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2026/04/21/virginia-redistricting-referendum-cost-record?ref=readtangle.com) eclipsing the GDP of [at least one country](https://www.worldometers.info/gdp/gdp-by-country/?ref=readtangle.com), and being elbow-deep in coverage of the event, I wasn’t 100% sure of the choice I made when I voted — and I still feel that way, about 36 hours later. Middle and high schools across the country have what they describe as a “zero tolerance” policy with respect to fighting. That means that if one student punches another student in self-defense, or in response to bullying, that student would be punished equally to the aggressor. That policy, rightfully, has drawn significant criticism; there are times when standing up for yourself is necessary and the right thing to do. By the same logic, I’m fine with Democrats standing up to Trump on redistricting and gerrymandering in response. I think if they didn’t fight fire with fire, Republicans would see it as an opportunity to push gerrymandering even further, knowing they wouldn’t face any resistance. But at the same time, the situation in Virginia just feels gratuitous, and both parties nationally have been in a race to the bottom on this issue (which Virginia Senate President Pro Tempore Louise Lucas (D) has been [explicit](https://x.com/SenLouiseLucas/status/1986964497186079007?ref=readtangle.com) about wanting to win). Virginia Republicans have plenty of fair grievances, a couple of which resonate with me. First, they are absolutely right to complain that the referendum language is needlessly slanted. There have been lots of articles about this, but many don’t include the [text](https://www.elections.virginia.gov/election-law/proposed-amendment-for-april-2026-special-election/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Question%3A%20Should%20the%20Constitution%20of%20Virginia%20be%20amended%20to%20allow%20the%20General%20Assembly%20to%20temporarily%20adopt%20new%20congressional%20districts%20to%20restore%20fairness%20in%20the%20upcoming%20elections%2C%20while%20ensuring%20Virginia%27s%20standard%20redistricting%20process%20resumes%20for%20all%20future%20redistricting%20after%20the%202030%20census%3F) of the referendum itself (emphasis added): “Should the Constitution of Virginia be amended to allow the General Assembly to temporarily adopt new congressional districts to **restore fairness** in the upcoming elections, while ensuring Virginia’s standard redistricting process resumes for all future redistricting after the 2030 census?” Anecdotally, I even had a friend — who is a Democrat but not very politically active — tell me after voting that she was surprised at how biased the question was, asking how it could even be legal. The language certainly seems like an attempt to influence voters. “Fairness” aside, Democrats may have committed a grievous tactical error by including it. I doubt the text actually swayed many opinions, and now that language is facing [legal challenges](https://wset.com/news/local/lawsuits-pending-at-virginia-supreme-court-over-redistricting-referendum-general-assembly-tazewell-county-ballot-wording-amendment-legislature-redistricting-congressional-maps-vote-april-2026?ref=readtangle.com) that could imperil Democrats’ new map. I think the Virginia Supreme Court will uphold the new map against legal challenges (and I don't think the challenge on wording is even the most [threatening](https://www.wdbj7.com/2026/04/21/polls-close-redistricting-referendum-election/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Circuit%20Court%20Judge,required%20by%20law.) legal challenge this referendum faces), but regardless, Democrats have needlessly dragged this out and given Republicans extra legal and political attack angles. Second, it’s hard to swallow the reality that a vote of 51.5% was able to effectively strip Virginians in four of our 11 congressional districts from fair representation in Congress. Our founders [feared](https://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th%5Fcentury/fed10.asp?ref=readtangle.com) an outcome like this and tried to design our system against it. And as Virginia writer Matt Glassman pointed out in his [blog](https://blog.mattglassman.net/virginias-proposed-constitutional-amendment/?ref=readtangle.com), another negative byproduct of the gerrymandering wars is that we are increasingly treating state legislatures — the people responsible for making congressional maps — as a pass-through for national politics. We should be electing our state legislatures based on the policies they will set for the state, not as a proxy election for what a state’s congressional delegation will look like. A grievance that doesn’t resonate with me is [President Trump’s recycled claim](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116449559745815736?ref=readtangle.com) that this election was stolen with fraudulent mail-in ballots. This pattern is so predictable that it almost feels redundant to even notice it. But we should notice. When an election goes Trump’s way, he finds no reason to bring the results into question (unless it is to say that it was rigged in a blue state). Meanwhile, if it goes against Trump, the election is *always* rigged in some form. The deep irony of this messaging is that both parties are objectively trying to rig the 2026 election in certain states. That’s the whole point of the gerrymandering wars, and President Trump kicked it all off himself nine months ago in Texas. When Democrats warned Trump they would respond in kind to Texas’s redistricting, I thought they were bluffing. I didn’t think it was plausible that Democrats could match Republicans in a redistricting tit-for-tat. The number of states where Republicans could mobilize was simply too much to match, *right?* Now, I think the Democrats might have been right all along. One lesson we can learn from that is both Democrats and Republicans actually *hadn’t* gerrymandered as much as they could have, meaning plenty of them — until now — had opted for a more ethical, honest route. Yet the main events of the last few months paint a picture of a rapidly deteriorating situation: Since Texas’s measure last summer, Republicans have also redistricted in Missouri and North Carolina, likely gaining a seat in each. Ohio rejected calls for a more extreme gerrymander, and instead their redistricting commission agreed in October to a [change](https://centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/2026-rating-changes/?ref=readtangle.com) that moved two Democratic-held seats towards Republicans, making one a lean Republican district and the other a toss-up. At the same time, they also moved a Democratic seat from toss-up to lean Democratic. Meanwhile, Republicans in Indiana rejected Trump’s call to redistrict altogether, while it became clear Republicans in Kansas would not be able to override a veto from their Democratic governor. On the Democratic side, California and Virginia approved maps designed to pick Democrats up five and four seats, respectively. Additionally, Democrats gained a surprise seat in Utah, after a state judge ruled that the map Utah approved in 2021 violated a voter approved state law aimed at reducing partisan gerrymandering. That may all sound like a wash: Republicans purposely gerrymandered to gain nine seats, and Democrats did the same. That's how a lot of headlines were written as it was happening. But the headlines don’t tell the whole story. In [Texas](https://www.the-downballot.com/p/texas-republicans-pass-new-gerrymander?ref=readtangle.com), Republicans took three seats that were safely Democratic and made Republicans heavily favored in two and moderately favored in another. They then took a couple of seats Trump won by single digits but were represented by Democrats and moved them a shade redder. Democrats could win up to three of these seats, and they are even favored in one of them. In North Carolina, Rep. Don Davis’s (D) district is once again being [changed](https://centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/2026-rating-changes/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=New%20Rating-,Don%20Davis%20%28D%2C%20NC%2D1%29,-Leans%20Democratic) to favor Republicans, but it is still by no means out of reach for the battle-tested Democrat. Ohio sent two seats in the Republican direction, but they are still winnable for Democrats and one seat was even tilted blue. Missouri is the one state where the effect is obvious, taking a safe Democratic seat and making it a safe Republican seat. While too many seats were affected in California to break it [all](https://centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/2026-rating-changes/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Safe%20Democratic-,Nov.%205%2C%202025,-District) down here, of the five Republican-held seats that were shifted towards Democrats, Republicans probably only have a chance in two of them — and are favored in none. In Virginia, all four Republican seats targeted are now lean or likely Democratic seats. Putting all this together, with a national environment in 2026 that is likely going to [work against Republicans](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/fox-news-poll-economic-gloom-trump-ratings-signal-tough-gop-midterm-path?ref=readtangle.com), the results of the gerrymander war so far seem to favor Democrats. I think they’ll win each of these nine seats, plus a couple of the seats that Republicans tried to gerrymander in their own favor. I can only hope that after all this, both sides take stock of where we are, realize this was not worth it for anyone, and pick a different path. Florida is the next state to watch — with the [state legislature holding](https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/5842969-desantis-florida-republican-redistricting-risk/?ref=readtangle.com) a special session to consider redistricting next week. Maybe they will realize that nine months after Texas started this redistricting war, the total electoral balance isn’t that different from where we started, but the entire country is worse off for it. **Take the survey:** Would you support a redistricting effort in your state? [Let us know](https://interrobang.vercel.app/survey/83f4d21e-f48d-47b5-b7bf-502907e7f9fb?ref=readtangle.com). *Disagree? That's okay. Our opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we'll consider publishing your feedback.* ### Your questions, answered. **Q: I had a thought this morning, what’s going on with Ukraine–Russia peace negotiations? Seems like that went by the wayside when Trump hit the Iran war button?** **— Katherine (submitted through** [**Subtext**](https://joinsubtext.com/c/tanglenews?ref=readtangle.com)**)** **Tangle:** The U.S. has been involved in facilitating peace talks between the two countries, but the start of the war in Iran at the end of February caused the U.S. to put planned March talks [on hold](https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-zelenskyy-talks-da43331a99bfcfd80b14e64159c26d8f?ref=readtangle.com). Last week, Russia [carried out](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cm29plylqnvo?ref=readtangle.com) its deadliest attack in Ukraine in 2026, killing 18 people in a series of drone strikes across the country. A few days later, Ukraine [struck](https://www.cnn.com/2026/04/18/europe/ukraine-strikes-russian-oil-refineries-us-waiver-intl?ref=readtangle.com) oil refineries and other facilities in Russia following a U.S. waiver on sanctions against Russian oil. Also over the weekend, a Moscow-born man [opened fire](https://www.cnn.com/2026/04/18/europe/mass-shooting-kyiv-intl?ref=readtangle.com) on civilians in Kyiv, killing seven before he was killed by police on the scene; the incident is being investigated as an act of terrorism. The European Union [finalized](https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2026/04/23/council-finalises-90-billion-support-loan-to-ukraine/?ref=readtangle.com) a €90 billion (roughly $105.4 billion) loan package to Ukraine on Thursday, and it is expected to impose additional sanctions against Russia. The loan had been proposed last year, but had been tied up by objections from Hungary and Slovakia, partly relating to concerns over the Druzhba oil pipeline, which ceased operation for months due to damage caused by Russia. However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Ukraine [completed repairs](https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-druzhba-pipeline-7dfc9574bf95a69eda13b1440171e402?ref=readtangle.com) on the pipeline on April 21, allowing it to resume operation and clearing the way for the final approval of the loan package. Zelensky [has asked](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/ukraine-russia-war-live-putin-zelensky-eu-trump-updates-b2962389.html?ref=readtangle.com) Turkey to host further peace talks, reportedly pushing for direct talks between Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The two sides have yet to agree to another round of scheduled talks, though we are keeping an eye on the story and plan to give it some full newsletter attention soon. **Want to have a question answered in the newsletter? You can reply to this email (it goes straight to our inbox) or** [**fill out this form**](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScQhqBSG%5F6%5FoBhwcTQMeS570n29XYbeQ9C9Bis7rjqI31g1tA/viewform?usp=header&ref=readtangle.com)**.** ### The road not taken. Most of our discussion over the topics to cover this week focused on one issue: Ukraine. We’re cognizant of the fact that we haven’t provided an in-depth update on the war since [last fall](https://www.readtangle.com/trump-speech-united-nations-ukraine/), favoring frequent updates on the current U.S. war in Iran, explorations of domestic issues, and occasional “flex topics” (less immediate stories that feature interesting policy debates). One flex topic in particular came close for us this week: moving the U.S. Department of Agriculture headquarters out of D.C. However, we couldn’t justify choosing that topic over Ukraine — and while we think an update on the war is overdue, we ultimately found the issues of the wealth tax in New York City and the gerrymandering referendum in Virginia to be far more politically salient. The war in Ukraine has fallen off our list week after week, which gives us a great deal of pause. We don’t want to treat Ukraine as the kind of “ambient war” Isaac fears the Iran conflict may turn into. To help provide some coverage, we gave an update in response to a reader question today; we will continue to revisit the latest happenings in the war as candidates for a full feature. SPONSORED by money.com ****Which type of pet insurance do you need?** Accident & illness policies, accident coverage, and wellness riders all offer varying degrees of protection. View Money's list of [****best pet insurance providers of 2026**](https://api.wellput.io/v1/cm?cmid=799664mo0vd4yd&tid=164&s1=v2-r694964-p799664-c1588&s2=Tangle&s3=&s4=null&ref=readtangle.com) to find the best fit for you. ### The extras. - **One year ago today** we wrote about [Pete Hegseth’s uncertain future](https://www.readtangle.com/pete-hegseths-uncertain-future/). - **The most clicked link in our last regular newsletter** was the list in the free version sponsored by FinanceBuzz for [things to cut in retirement](https://financebuzz.com/money-moves-cut-on-retirement-yaez?adgroupid=BM-Tangle-money-moves-cut-on-retirement-yaez-CPF-04222026&ref=readtangle.com). - **Nothing to do with politics:** More complicated than the web of high school romances is [this chart of the relationships between penguins at the Kyoto Aquarium](https://www.kyoto-aquarium.com/special/sokanzu/en/2026/?ref=readtangle.com). - **Our last survey:** 2,490 readers responded to our survey on the New York City pied-à-terre tax with 50% supporting the specific proposal and new taxes on the wealthy more broadly. “Refine the existing property tax classification system to reach this end goal,” one respondent said. “Long-term consequences will be negative for the city, it sets a bad precedent,” said another. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/04/data-src-image-a5b16359-37f1-49d3-8e64-b58a6378a936.png) ### Have a nice day. The number of American pedestrians who died in the first half of 2025 declined 11%, the largest annual drop since the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) began tracking these deaths 15 years ago. Pedestrian deaths from January to June of 2025 totaled 3,024 incidents, still above pre-pandemic levels but below the totals for the first six months of any year since 2020\. “Now is the time to double down on what works — more and better infrastructure, enforcement to deter dangerous driving behaviors, engaged and informed communities, and vehicles designed to protect people on foot,” said Jonathan Adkins, CEO of GHSA. “An all-in strategy to address pedestrian safety will help us build on this recent momentum and save even more lives.” [GHSA has the story](https://www.ghsa.org/news/us-pedestrian-deaths-fall-second-straight-year?ref=readtangle.com). ### Trump’s Numbers Are Crashing… Now What? URL: https://www.readtangle.com/trumps-numbers-are-crashing-now-what/ Last updated: 2026-04-24T00:02:29.000Z Is Donald Trump’s political standing starting to slip? ### Mamdani's "tax the rich" proposal. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/nyc-wealth-tax-proposal/ Last updated: 2026-04-23T14:24:10.000Z *I'm Isaac Saul, and this is Tangle: an independent, nonpartisan, subscriber-supported politics newsletter that summarizes the best arguments from across the political spectrum on the news of the day — then “my take.”* *Are you new here?* [*Get free emails*](https://www.readtangle.com/) *to your inbox daily. Would you rather listen? You can find our podcast* [*here*](https://shows.acast.com/66510864c0852400122bc7be?ref=readtangle.com)*.* ### Today’s read: 14 minutes. 🏙️ The new tax would apply to residences valued at over $5 million owned by people who do not primarily live in New York City. Plus, what are the origins of Earth Day? ### Get more from Tangle! We try to make opening every newsletter exciting, and today we’re adding a little extra excitement with a special membership offer: A 25-hour window to get [25% off our yearly subscription bundle](https://www.readtangle.com/25-for-25). We’re calling it our “25 for 25” sale. That’s ad-free newsletters, ad-free podcasts, and every single piece of members-only content we’ve ever published in the past and will publish in the future — Friday editions, Sunday editions, special interviews, podcasts, transcripts, **Press Pass,* and more. You unlock **everything*, all for just $6.25/month for the first year. But it all expires at 1 PM ET tomorrow. [Grab it here](https://www.readtangle.com/25-for-25). ### Quick hits. 1. President Donald Trump said he is extending the ceasefire with Iran “until such time as their leaders and representatives can come up with a unified proposal,” adding that the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports will also continue. Earlier on Tuesday, the president had suggested he opposed extending the ceasefire. ([The announcement](https://thehill.com/policy/international/5841910-trump-extends-iran-ceasefire/?ref=readtangle.com)) Separately, Iranian state media reported that Iran seized two container ships in the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, claiming the ships were operating without required permits. ([The seizures](https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2026/04/22/hormuz-strait-us-iran-talks-war/?ref=readtangle.com)) 2. Virginia voters approved an amendment to the state constitution allowing legislators to proceed with redrawing the state’s congressional map for the remainder of the decade. The change, which passed with 51.6% support, is expected to result in 10 Democratic districts out of 11\. ([The results](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-special-elections/virginia-ballot-measures?ref=readtangle.com)) 3. Kevin Warsh, President Trump’s nominee for Federal Reserve chair, testified before the Senate Banking Committee, telling lawmakers that he viewed the central bank’s independence as “essential” and that the president had not pressured him to push for lower interest rates. ([The hearing](https://finance.yahoo.com/economy/policy/live/fed-confirmation-hearing-live-kevin-warsh-faces-senate-lawmakers-214813901.html?ref=readtangle.com)) 4. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL) resigned from the House shortly before the chamber’s Ethics Committee gathered to discuss sanctions for multiple campaign finance violations. Cherfilus-McCormick is also charged with stealing $5 million in Covid-19 disaster relief funds. She is the third House member to resign since April 13\. ([The resignation](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/04/21/sheila-cherfilus-mccormick-resigns-congress.html?ref=readtangle.com)) 5. The Justice Department indicted the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), a civil rights organization, on 11 counts, including defrauding donors. The organization allegedly paid members of neo-Nazi groups millions of dollars to act as informants for a now-defunct program to monitor threats from extremist groups, an effort the Justice Department said was concealed from donors. The SPLC denied any wrongdoing and said it was being targeted for political reasons. ([The indictment](https://www.wsj.com/us-news/southern-poverty-law-center-charged-with-financial-crimes-70e84c13?eafs%5Fenabled=false&ref=readtangle.com)) SPONSORED by FinanceBuzz ****22 Things To Cut When Living On Retirement (Many People Ignore #11)** Whether you’re already enjoying retirement or just eyeing the exit ramp, the math of a fixed income can feel like a daunting puzzle. The rising cost of living often turns "relaxing" into "calculating," but your [golden years](https://financebuzz.com/money-moves-cut-on-retirement-yaez?utm%5Fsource=tangle&utm%5Fmedium=paid-newsletter-cpf&utm%5Fterm=Tangle&utm%5Fcampaign=BM-FBZ-Tangle-money-moves-cut-on-retirement-yaez-CPF&adgroupid=BM-Tangle-money-moves-cut-on-retirement-yaez-CPF-04222026) shouldn’t be defined by what you **can’t* do. The good news? You don’t need a radical lifestyle overhaul to find breathing room. Often, it isn't the big-ticket items that drain a nest egg; it’s the steady drip of outdated services and [inefficient accounts](https://financebuzz.com/money-moves-cut-on-retirement-yaez?utm%5Fsource=tangle&utm%5Fmedium=paid-newsletter-cpf&utm%5Fterm=Tangle&utm%5Fcampaign=BM-FBZ-Tangle-money-moves-cut-on-retirement-yaez-CPF&adgroupid=BM-Tangle-money-moves-cut-on-retirement-yaez-CPF-04222026). Efficiency isn't about deprivation — it's about intentionality. Our partner, FinanceBuzz curated a list of simple cutbacks and financial tools to help you reclaim your budget for what actually matters. [****Check out the list**](https://financebuzz.com/money-moves-cut-on-retirement-yaez?utm%5Fsource=tangle&utm%5Fmedium=paid-newsletter-cpf&utm%5Fterm=Tangle&utm%5Fcampaign=BM-FBZ-Tangle-money-moves-cut-on-retirement-yaez-CPF&adgroupid=BM-Tangle-money-moves-cut-on-retirement-yaez-CPF-04222026)****.** ### Today’s topic. A wealth tax proposal in New York City. On Wednesday, April 15, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D) and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) [proposed](https://www.nyc.gov/mayors-office/news/2026/04/mayor-mamdani--governor-hochul-announce-state-s-first-pied-a-ter?ref=readtangle.com) a pied-à-terre tax, an annual surcharge on New York City residences valued above $5 million owned by those who primarily live outside the city. Mamdani and Hochul claim the measure would raise $500 million in annual revenue to help address the city’s budget shortfall; if enacted, it would be the first pied-à-terre tax in New York’s history. **Back up:** Mamdani was elected mayor in 2025 on a platform featuring [several proposals](https://drive.google.com/file/d/14-aM9DKG337SDMilmfQtLRR-pDwyWSTc/view?ref=readtangle.com) to increase taxes on the city’s wealthy residents to help pay for improved public services, including an increase in the state corporate tax rate and a two-percentage-point rate hike on residents making over $1 million per year. However, he has not proposed a tax on pied-à-terres (a term for luxury vacation homes) until now. Several countries have [imposed](https://fiscalpolicy.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Pied-a-Terre-FPI.pdf?ref=readtangle.com#page=4) versions of this tax. The press release from the mayor’s office said, “The measure targets ultrawealthy out-of-city residents and global elites who use New York City real estate as a vehicle for wealth storage rather than as homes.” The release and a [video](https://x.com/NYCMayor/status/2044508902809628760?s=20&ref=readtangle.com) from Mamdani promoting the idea both singled out hedge fund manager Ken Griffin’s $238 million pied-à-terre in Manhattan as an example of the tax’s targets. Later that day, Mamdani [said](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/nyc-mayor-zohran-mamdani-relationship-trump-rcna340810?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=%E2%80%9CA%20pied%2Da%2Dterre%20tax%20has%20been%20something%20that%20has%20long%20been%20fought%20for%20in%20the%20city%20but%20hasn%E2%80%99t%20been%20possible%20to%20get%20over%20the%20finish%20line.%20It%E2%80%99s%20been%20really%20exciting%20to%20work%20with%20the%20governor%20to%20win%20something%20that%20many%20thought%20would%20never%20have%20a%20chance%2C%E2%80%9D%20Mamdani%20added.) the plan is a step toward a key campaign promise to raise taxes on the wealthy. “I always said that I believed in the importance of taxing the rich. This is taxing the rich,” he said. “A pied-à-terre tax has been something that has long been fought for in the city but hasn’t been possible to get over the finish line.” By law, the mayor is [obligated](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/25/nyregion/mamdani-budget-cuts.html?ref=readtangle.com) to address the city’s budget deficit, which totals approximately $5.4 billion. While the tax would only address a portion of that shortfall, Mamdani and Hochul say it would help the city move toward that goal without having to enact large-scale cuts to social services. The Democratic-majority state legislature must pass the tax as part of the state budget currently being negotiated, but Democratic leaders in the state House and Senate [responded favorably](https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/new-york-governors-proposed-pied-a-terre-tax-gains-momentum-e8953641?eafs%5Fenabled=false&ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=When%20asked%20about,New%20York%20City.) to the announcement. Critics of the plan — and wealth taxes more generally — [say](https://x.com/BillAckman/status/2044793786178449696?ref=readtangle.com) the measure would impose undue burdens on wealthy New Yorkers who already pay high taxes and whose presence in the city contributes to its economy in myriad ways. Others warned that the plan could drive wealthy residents out of the city, while luxury real estate groups [claimed](https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/new-york-governors-proposed-pied-a-terre-tax-gains-momentum-e8953641?eafs%5Fenabled=false&ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=The%20city%E2%80%99s%20real,Real%20Estate%20Association.) it would hurt the industry. Today, we’ll share views from the left and right on the pied-à-terre tax proposal and the “tax the rich” movement. Then, Managing Editor Ari Weitzman gives his take. ### What the left is saying. - **Most on the left support the tax, calling it a prudent way to raise government revenue.** - **Some say the measure rightfully targets the ultra-wealthy’s excess.** - **Others frame the tax as a win for Mamdani and the democratic socialist movement.** **The New York Daily News editorial board called the measure** [**“the right tax.”**](https://www.nydailynews.com/2026/04/16/the-right-tax-mamdani-and-hochul-meet-in-middle-with-pied-a-terre-tax/?ref=readtangle.com) “Mayor Mamdani wanted the state to impose higher income taxes and corporate taxes and Gov. Hochul is wisely offering him a pied-à-terre tax. He is smart to take it. He should now also drop his calls for the other tax hikes,” the board wrote. “If a perennial concern with progressive taxation is the potential of driving well-off New Yorkers out of the city, this policy threads that needle by targeting people who are, by definition, not full-time New Yorkers. The people who have bought second homes or investment properties in New York City have done so precisely because it is the city that it is — a global hub of business and culture — meaning that an extra tax bump is something they’ll eat happily.” “Wealthy people with homes they own that they don’t use a majority of the time, from Trump to Russian oligarchs to Gulf royals to more ordinary folks, enjoy and benefit from the enormous services and amenities that the city offers, and their properties are only worth what they’re worth as a result of the vibrancy created by the community around these properties, a community that needs the investment taxes can allow,” the board said. “Plus, it’s only fair that if they’re spending a significant chunk of their time not contributing to local economic activity and avoiding state and local taxes, then they can pay a little bit more on their assets to even things out.” **In USA Today, Sara Pequeño argued** [**“Mamdani’s pied-à-terre tax proves you really can tax the rich.”**](https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/columnist/2026/04/18/mamdani-tax-second-homes-new-york-housing/89658792007/?ref=readtangle.com) “While progressives are celebrating the implementation of ‘tax the rich’ policies, others are losing their minds over the possibility of people paying a tax on their multimillion dollar vacation homes and investment properties,” Pequeño wrote. “It’s hilarious that some netizens are so willing to go to bat for the wealthiest people in the world who are driving up the cost of housing in New York City — especially those who don’t live here… why shouldn’t the ultrawealthy people who can afford a vacation home here have to pay for it?” “It doesn’t seem to be the rich who can afford second homes being priced out of New York City — it’s the people who were raised here who can no longer afford to call the city home,” Pequeño said. “More than 125,000 non-Hispanic Black residents have left the city over the past 20 years, according to a 2023 analysis from Gothamist, due in part to the city’s affordability crisis. Meanwhile, the number of millionaires in the city has grown by 45% over the past decade to nearly 385,000.” **In Jacobin, Liza Featherstone said the tax is** [**“a victory for Zohran Mamdani and the socialist movement.”**](https://jacobin.com/2026/04/zohran-tax-rich-hochul-nyc?ref=readtangle.com) “The announcement is a real victory for the socialist left and would never have happened without its tireless organizing to elect Mamdani, nor would it have happened without the campaign to ‘tax the rich,’ which has continued since he’s been in office, as New Yorkers have rallied, lobbied, and relentlessly dogged the governor at public events,” Featherstone wrote. “At the same time, the socialist movement is rightly viewing the new tax as a beginning rather than an end of a longer project of redistributing the city’s staggeringly unequal wealth and of building a New York where everyone can thrive.” “It’s not too late to tax the rich more this year. Budget negotiations in Albany are not over; at present lawmakers are mired in discussion on climate policy, which Hochul wants to ignore, and car insurance, her favorite topic. So there’s a long way to go before settling big questions of revenue,” Featherstone said. “The Left will continue to demand more redistribution and revenue — income and corporate taxes.” ### What the right is saying. - **The right strongly opposes the measure, with many arguing it is economically unsound.** - **Some criticize Mamdani’s “tax the rich” rhetoric.** - **Others say the tax will drive away wealthy residents.** **The Wall Street Journal editorial board explored** [**“a New York tax on out-of-towners.”**](https://www.wsj.com/opinion/kathy-hochul-pied-a-terre-tax-new-york-city-zohran-mamdani-7808a650?ref=readtangle.com) “The details are still being worked out, but the Hochul administration says the goal would be to raise $500 million a year by taxing 13,000 homes. That’s a big bite taken from a small number of people, who might easily decide that keeping a place in New York isn’t worth the cost,” the board said. “‘They’re part of our skyline, but those people are not part of our city,’ \[Hochul\] said Wednesday. Got that, longtime Manhattan banker or law partner who now has a primary residence elsewhere? New York’s Governor says you are not part of her city. Ms. Hochul’s focus is supposed to be on improving the state so that they want to come back.” “Albany debated the pied-à-terre idea in 2019, and there was concern it might crash the market for luxury properties. The tax rates in that proposal ranged from 0.5% on value above $5 million to 4% above $25 million. According to a Journal analysis, something like half of the revenue would have come from only 280 homes above the top threshold, with an average tax bill of $846,000\. Their property values might have fallen by 46%,” the board wrote. “Class warfare is ugly as politics, but it’s terrible as economics, and if New York drives away more wealth, voters won’t like the result of living in a city that’s downwardly mobile.” **The Free Press’s editors argued** [**“scapegoating the rich won’t fill a $5.4 billion budget hole.”**](https://www.thefp.com/p/mamdani-scapegoating-the-rich-wont?ref=readtangle.com) “Economies stagnate when they’re layered with policies that slowly sap their productivity and orderliness — some red tape on business here, budget cuts to policing there. That’s what New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is risking with his latest tax proposal,” the editors said. “Mamdani singles out billionaire financier Ken Griffin in the video, exclaiming the $238 million price tag of his penthouse and putting the building on camera. It’s as if to say, *There’s the enemy, New Yorkers, looking down on you from his spare palace*.” “The heckling is akin to the current wave of ‘eat the rich’ progressivism, which is pushing Democrats everywhere to embrace wealth taxes, and has even turned deadly on the movement’s fanatical fringe. Luigi Mangione’s alleged murder of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO appears to have been motivated by a similar kind of two-dimensional view of how the rich relate to the masses,” the editors wrote. “The purpose of the tax may not be to pay for anything at all. By pushing it forward, Mamdani is keeping a promise to supporters via signaling. It’s politically savvy, but economically risky.” **In City & State New York, New York City Councilmember Joann Ariola (R) wrote** [**“I’m not a millionaire, but I am against more taxes on the rich.”**](https://www.cityandstateny.com/opinion/2026/04/opinion-im-not-millionaire-i-am-against-more-taxes-rich/412831/?ref=readtangle.com) “The highest tax bracket in New York is already shouldering nearly half of the income tax burden in the state. This is an enormous share and provides us with much-needed funding for an array of programs and public works,” Ariola said. “But when the members of this tax bracket change their address and stop paying their income taxes to the Empire State, the government will be left with no other option than to push that burden down to the middle and working classes.” “If we want to actually expand the tax base and bring more money into the city, we need to provide incentives for the wealthy to return. Because, as the numbers show, many of those with the means to do so will and are simply packing up and moving just across state lines, and this leaves the working classes and the middle-class civil servants who are too invested in the city to just up and leave shouldering the burden,” Ariola wrote. “Eventually, if we keep adding more taxes, we will eventually run out of rich people’s money.” ### My take. **Reminder: “My take” is a section where we give ourselves space to share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, don't unsubscribe. Write in by replying to this email, or** [**leave a comment**](https://www.readtangle.com/nyc-wealth-tax-proposal/#ghost-comments-root)**.** - **I support the idea of taxing out-of-state residents, but New York should be careful to avoid easy pitfalls.** - **Local tax codes are complicated, and many wealthy property owners already pay a lot in taxes.** - **If done well, this proposal could end up raising revenues while targeting only those who can afford to pay.** **Managing Editor Ari Weitzman:** Tax policy is complicated, and Gov. Hochul and Mayor Mamdani’s joint proposal is no exception. But by and large, I think this is a great idea in theory. Now, execution will be everything. I’m a fan of progressive tax policies — taxing people who have more to pay feels very fair to me. I don’t know if this policy will raise $500 million, and it doesn’t solve the city’s budget problems on its own, but I also don’t think it will have the large problems a lot of the critics say it will. Remember, these are part-time residents who already demonstrated they will pay at least $5 million once and $60,000 in taxes every year to take advantage of what New York City has to offer; I doubt an additional $30,000 annually will meaningfully change the behaviors of people in that category. In fact, I [called for](https://www.readtangle.com/trumps-housing-affordability-proposals/#:~:text=Ultimately%2C%20I%20think,owning%20second%20homes.) almost this exact policy in January when responding to President Trump’s proposal to raise the tax rate on corporate investors, saying we should instead increase the tax rate on second homes — specifically at local levels. I argued that targets of such a policy should be “very wealthy people who already own and live in a primary residence but also own vacation properties that are often vacant in areas with housing shortages,” adding that doing so would increase both revenue and supply (by acting as a disincentive to owning investment properties). I’d been harboring this idea for a while, and after writing about it in Tangle, I got a lot of well reasoned pushback. Now that Mamdani and Hochul are considering doing this in the real world, I want to test the proposal against the pushback that I received. First, this should only be considered a revenue-raising proposal to raise revenue, not one that will impact housing availability. When I pitched my idea to tax second homes, I optimistically stated that I could see people who buy up rental properties getting dissuaded from doing so or being motivated to rent them out. Counterarguments have convinced me that likely isn’t the case. Second homes [make up only 4%](https://eyeonhousing.org/2024/10/second-homes-by-congressional-districts/?ref=readtangle.com) of U.S. housing stock, a figure that is decreasing, and many of these properties are already rented out. Increasing taxes on them could have a marginal effect on encouraging more local home ownership, but it’d likely contribute to raising rents (let’s put a pin in that for now). Mamdani and Hochul are pitching this as a revenue-raising policy, so they’re already ahead of me. Which brings me to the next point: Additional taxes on expensive second homes already exist to some degree. In Vermont, where I live, the state offers a homestead tax exemption for people who live in their primary residence. This means my home state already taxes second homes at a higher rate, they just frame it as a discount to residents of their primary homes. Vermont is not alone; [37 other states](https://www.assetprotectionplanners.com/planning/homestead-exemptions-by-state/?ref=readtangle.com) offer similar exemptions, including [New York](https://www.tax.ny.gov/pdf/publications/orpts/homestead.pdf?ref=readtangle.com). However, it is a marginal policy in the Empire State, only offering annual tax savings of [$293](https://access.nyc.gov/programs/school-tax-relief-program-star/?ref=readtangle.com#how-it-works) for most home owners. So while a similar policy in other states effectively is an extra tax on second-home owners, that’s not true of New York. But that doesn’t mean that New York doesn’t already tax these properties to a high degree. New York City divides its properties into [four categories](https://www.lincolninst.edu/app/uploads/legacy-files/gwipp/upload/sources/New%20York/2014/NY%5F2014%5FResidential%5FProperty%5FTax%5FGuide%5FClass%5F1%5FNYC%5FDepart%5FFinance%5FJune%5F9%5F2015.pdf?ref=readtangle.com#page=4) — one-to-three unit residences, properties with more than three units, utilities, and all others. These properties are then taxed at different rates, complicating the existing tax policy. Class 1 properties ([basically single-family homes or small apartments](https://www.thetownhousespecialist.com/taxes?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Class%201%3A%20Includes%20most%20residential%20property%20of%20up%20to%20three%20units%20%28one%2D%2C%20two%2D%2C%20and%20three%2Dfamily%20homes%20and%20small%20stores%20or%20offices%20with%20one%20or%20two%20apartments%20attached%29%2C%20vacant%20land%20that%20is%20zoned%20for%20residential%20use%2C%20and%20most%20condominiums%20that%20are%20not%20more%20than%20three%20stories.)) are [taxed](https://www.nyc.gov/site/finance/property/property-tax-rates.page?ref=readtangle.com) at 19.84%, while Class 2 properties (large rental buildings and investment condos) are taxed at 12.44%. However, Class 1 homes are taxed on only 6% of their value while Class 2 properties are taxed on *45%* of their value, making the *effective* tax rate of these Class 1 properties much, much lower: \~1.2% of market value compared to \~5.6% of market value. That’s a lot of numbers, so let’s take an example. Say I own a $5 million, four-story brownstone in New York City. If I am the owner and occupant of that property, I am only assessed taxes on 6% of its value, or $300,000\. My tax rate of 19.84% means I pay about $60,000 in taxes, an effective rate of \~1.2%. If I break that property into four units and rent them out, I am assessed taxes on 45% of the building’s value, or $2.25 million. My tax rate of 12.44% means I pay about $280,000 in taxes, an effective rate of \~5.6%. That’s a difference of well over $200,000\. But would the pied-à-terre tax apply to properties that are identified as Class 1, or Class 2? As it stands today, that would depend a lot on the individual property. If it’s the former, then great — a surcharge on these properties can help raise revenues on a set of people that can afford it and who already aren’t paying as much in taxes as a landlord of an average small building in New York City (a cost that gets distributed among the residents). But if it’s the latter, then the surcharge essentially becomes a double tax on people who are already paying a great deal for their properties. So far, the pied-à-terre proposal isn’t very specific on its application. I can understand that — it’s early, and the proposal that eventually gets introduced to the legislature will have to fall somewhere between the catchy “tax on $5 million homes owned by people who don’t live here” and the complicated reality of the existing tax code. But I hope is that the actual policy Hochul and Mamdani end up pitching looks something like this: Clarify the classification. Pied-à-terres owned by out-of-state millionaires and real-estate investors don’t make sense as Class 1 properties, because these owners shouldn’t receive the benefits intended for most home owners. However, pied-à-terres aren’t a great fit as Class 2 properties, either, which is meant to encompass larger residences and apartment buildings. If a $10 million brownstone is in the same category as a 200-unit apartment building, then future changes to the tax code will either raise rents for the working class or keep taxes down for the rich. Instead, investment properties, pied-à-terres, and luxury apartments would be better suited in their own category. Tweak the rates, don’t apply new charges. If these properties are simply put into their own bucket where the assessment rate is about as high as Class 2’s and the tax rate is about as high as Class 1’s, then I think Hochul and Mamdani accomplish the revenue target they want while keeping the code (relatively) simple, avoiding unintended regressive consequences, and without applying targeted thresholds. A “$5 million pied-à-terre tax” sounds catchy, but creating sharp cliffs like that both leaves money on the table (what about $4 million?) and creates a line for investors to avoid. Instead, using stepwise increases within this new classification will generate more revenue and be more progressive. Cut the personal attacks.This is more of a messaging note, but the way the policy is messaged is a central part of it. As The Free Press editors wrote (under “What the right is saying”), filming marketing material outside one person’s house makes them the single target for class resentment and creates a genuinely dangerous environment. Mamdani is playing up class resentment in a way that we’ve seen fail, to deadly effect, with political extremism. People like Ken Griffin shouldn’t be treated as enemies while you’re asking for more money out of them. Ultimately, the devil is in the details. New York has a potentially great idea on its hands — one that could increase its tax revenue with a minimal impact on full-time New York City residents — and I’ll be very interested to see how this idea evolves. ****Staff dissent — Executive Editor Isaac Saul:** I [disagreed with Ari](https://www.readtangle.com/trumps-housing-affordability-proposals/#:~:text=Staff%20dissent%20%E2%80%94%20Executive,from%20regular%20Americans.) on a policy proposal like this in January (when he proposed it to make housing more affordable) and I disagree with it now (as a scheme to find more revenue). The best tax schemes are the ones that are fair, simple, and enforceable. This is none of the above. Fairness: The top 1% of New Yorkers [already pay](https://comptroller.nyc.gov/wp-content/uploads/documents/Spotlight%5FPIT%5FTaxpayers.pdf?ref=readtangle.com#page=9) roughly 40% of city income taxes, and they’re already taxed at a higher rate than middle-class New Yorkers. Simplicity: NYC’s property tax regime is deeply dysfunctional as-is, and a new surtax would add **another* layer of complexity and volatility to the city’s tax code. If you want to raise property taxes on expensive homes, just raise taxes on the top 1% or 2% of homes (New York’s effective property tax rate is, actually, [higher for working-class people](https://taxequitynow.nyc/maps%5Fcharts/issue-2-new-york-city-property-tax-taxes-valuable-property-lower-rates-less-valuable-properties/?ref=readtangle.com) than the rich). Enforceability: “Primary residence” in New York is already a multi-factor domicile test that is too elaborate and hard to enforce. It is also already a huge source of litigation. This is sure to invite more primary residence fights and lawsuits, and that’s without even considering that many of these luxury properties are owned by LLCs or family trusts, which will require **even more* tax registry categories and other enforcement mechanisms. Without even touching the mayor’s reckless, creepy, joker-esque video framing Ken Griffin — who’s committed no crime and is accused of no wrongdoing — as a Bad Guy, the policy is less a straightforward scheme to make the wealthy pay their fair share than it is a complicated, unenforceable tax mess that sounds good on paper but will not work in practice. **Take the survey:** What do you think about the proposed pied-à-terre tax? [Let us know](https://interrobang.vercel.app/survey/73f100c7-d4b2-45f7-95f3-3d37dea37e39?ref=readtangle.com). *Disagree? That's okay. Our opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we'll consider publishing your feedback.* ### Your questions, answered. *We're skipping the reader question today to give our main story some extra space. Want to have a question answered in the newsletter? You can reply to this email (it goes straight to our inbox) or* [*fill out this form*](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScQhqBSG%5F6%5FoBhwcTQMeS570n29XYbeQ9C9Bis7rjqI31g1tA/viewform?usp=header&ref=readtangle.com)*.* ### On this day in history. ![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/04/Earth_Day_-_Enact_1970.jpg) **An environmental "teach in" in Michigan in 1970 | Wikimedia Commons* ****Today is Earth Day — let’s take a look back to see how that designation began.** On April 22, 1970, thousands of college campuses nationwide [held](https://www.earthday.org/history/?ref=readtangle.com) classes, demonstrations, and protests to raise awareness of industrial air and water pollution, a concern popularized in part by Rachel Carson’s 1962 book **Silent Spring*. 20 million Americans, roughly 10% of the U.S. population at the time, took part in the event. Behind the effort was Wisconsin Sen. Gaylord Nelson (D), who recruited California Rep. Pete McCloskey (R) to serve as his co-chair and activist Denis Hayes to organize the campus rallies. Sen. Nelson originally proposed calling the event “Environmental Teach-In,” but by the time April 22, 1970, rolled around, organizers and national media had widely adopted “Earth Day,” a name coined by legendary advertising writer [Julian Koenig](https://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/18/business/julian-koenig-who-sold-americans-on-beetles-and-earth-day-dies-at-93.html?ref=readtangle.com). “Our goal is a new American ethic that sets new standards for progress, emphasizing human dignity and well being rather than an endless parade of technology that produces more gadgets, more waste, more pollution,” Sen. Nelson [said](https://doorcountypulse.com/sen-gaylord-nelsons-earth-day-speech/?ref=readtangle.com) in an address to a crowd in Denver, Colorado, on the first Earth Day. 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[****See the Full List**](https://financebuzz.com/money-moves-cut-on-retirement-yaez?utm%5Fsource=tangle&utm%5Fmedium=paid-newsletter-cpf&utm%5Fterm=Tangle&utm%5Fcampaign=BM-FBZ-Tangle-money-moves-cut-on-retirement-yaez-CPF&adgroupid=BM-Tangle-money-moves-cut-on-retirement-yaez-CPF-04222026)****.** ### The extras. - **One year ago today** we wrote about [the death of Pope Francis](https://www.readtangle.com/death-of-pope-francis/). - **The most clicked link in our last regular newsletter** was our [video about Chinese fishing vessels](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpfKcN2qY%5FE&ref=readtangle.com). - **Nothing to do with politics:** An [injured turtle gets its own wheels](https://www.popsci.com/environment/tortoise-with-wheels/?ref=readtangle.com). - **Our last survey:** 1,572 readers responded to our survey on renewing Section 702 of FISA with 70% saying Congress should not reauthorize it. “A warrant is a minimum reform. How hard is it to get a warrant from a FISA court anyway? That needs reform too,” one respondent said. “If you’re not talking with foreign criminals then you have nothing to worry about,” said another. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/04/data-src-image-eaa192c1-7501-479a-acdb-fd13b824b30f.png) ### Have a nice day. With 18,000 land mine-related deaths in Cambodia in the past half-century, one nonprofit, Apopo, has turned to using African giant pouched rats, whose small size and powerful sense of smell allow them to locate hidden mines quickly and safely. One of these rats, Magawa, stood above the rest, locating over 100 mines in his five-year career. He died in 2022, and Cambodia unveiled a seven-foot statue earlier this month to honor his work. “Magawa was one of the best rats we’ve ever had. Magawa was calm and focused … he was gentle and friendly with his handlers. He just had the perfect temperament,” Michael Raine, a program manager at Apopo, said. [The Washington Post has the story](https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2026/04/08/rat-cambodia-statue-land-mines-magawa/?ueid=0a8fc575ea8aa3bc65c36a47caebc5a7&ref=readtangle.com). ### Will Congress extend a controversial surveillance program? URL: https://www.readtangle.com/congress-temporarily-extends-fisa-section-702/ Last updated: 2026-04-21T15:56:20.000Z *I'm Isaac Saul, and this is Tangle: an independent, nonpartisan, subscriber-supported politics newsletter that summarizes the best arguments from across the political spectrum on the news of the day — then “my take.”* *Are you new here?* [*Get free emails*](https://www.readtangle.com/) *to your inbox daily. Would you rather listen? You can find our podcast* [*here*](https://shows.acast.com/66510864c0852400122bc7be?ref=readtangle.com)*.* ### Today’s read: 13 minutes. 🕵️ Congress approves a 10-day extension to FISA Section 702, but debate continues over long-term reauthorization. Plus, a reader asks about an Idaho bill that would make it easier to prosecute public officials. ### Our latest video. Maritime issues have been a constant in the news this year — from drug boat strikes in the Caribbean to blockades in the Strait of Hormuz. At Tangle, we tend to focus on the issues that involve American vessels or the U.S. military. But Associate Producer Aidan Gorman wanted to dig into a story about what could be the largest fleet on the open oceans: Chinese fishing vessels. Aidan goes deep on the issue, talking to experts and surfacing the context, in the latest video on the Tangle YouTube channel. [Check it out here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpfKcN2qY%5FE&ref=readtangle.com)! ### Quick hits. 1. The White House announced that Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer will leave her position for a role in the private sector. In recent months, Chavez-DeRemer was accused of misusing federal funds for personal expenses and having an affair with a member of her security team, prompting an inspector general probe. Deputy Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling will serve as acting secretary until a replacement is confirmed. ([The departure](https://www.notus.org/trump-white-house/lori-chavez-deremer-ousted?ref=readtangle.com)) 2. President Donald Trump set an informal deadline of Wednesday evening for U.S. and Iranian negotiators to reach a peace deal, saying it is “highly unlikely” he would support extending the current ceasefire if no deal is reached by then. ([The comments](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-04-20/trump-says-iran-truce-extension-unlikely-hormuz-to-stay-blocked?ref=readtangle.com)) 3. Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Kash Patel filed a $250 million lawsuit against The Atlantic, alleging that the magazine defamed him in a report claiming the director has engaged in excessive drinking and erratic behavior. ([The suit](https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/5839363-kash-patel-the-atlantic-lawsuit/?ref=readtangle.com)) 4. The Supreme Court agreed to take up a case challenging Colorado’s restrictions on funding for Catholic preschools due to the schools’ refusal to admit students based on their or their parents’ sexual orientation or gender identity. ([The case](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/supreme-court/supreme-court-takes-catholic-objection-colorados-preschool-program-rcna331596?ref=readtangle.com)) 5. Virginians are voting on a referendum on whether to temporarily approve a new Congressional map expected to give Democrats a 10–1 advantage in the U.S. House, part of a broader mid-decade redistricting push by Democratic- and Republican-controlled states. ([The referendum](https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/5839270-virginia-redistricting-referendum/?ref=readtangle.com)) SPONSORED by incogni ****Keep Your SSN Off The Dark Web** Every day, data brokers profit from your sensitive info — ****phone number, DOB, SSN** — selling it to the highest bidder. What happens then? **Best case:* companies target you with ads. **Worst case:* scammers and identity thieves breach those brokers, leaving your data vulnerable or on the dark web. It's time you check out [****Incogni**](https://deal.incogni.io/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=6&aff%5Fid=1007&ref=readtangle.com)****.** It scrubs your personal data from the web, confronting the world’s data brokers on your behalf. And unlike other services, Incogni helps [****remove your sensitive information**](https://deal.incogni.io/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=6&aff%5Fid=1007&ref=readtangle.com) from all broker types, including those tricky People Search Sites. ****Use code TANGLE today to get an** [****exclusive 55% discount**](https://deal.incogni.io/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=6&aff%5Fid=1007&ref=readtangle.com) **on unlimited removals from anywhere that exposes your data.** ### Today’s topic. Congress’s temporary FISA reauthorization. On Friday, the House and Senate [passed](https://apnews.com/article/congress-foreign-surveillance-fisa-spy-agencies-3dc3e84c3b9b03f52b84dfb3b01fc770?ref=readtangle.com) a short-term renewal of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), reauthorizing the law until April 30\. Republican leadership pivoted to the stopgap measure after a group of 20 House Republicans [voted against](https://clerk.house.gov/evs/2026/roll124.xml?ref=readtangle.com) an 18-month extension that President Donald Trump had endorsed. Congress is now expected to debate adding new privacy measures to the law before next Thursday’s deadline. **Back up:** FISA was originally [enacted](https://bja.ojp.gov/program/it/privacy-civil-liberties/authorities/statutes/1286?ref=readtangle.com) in 1978 as a framework for gathering physical and electronic foreign intelligence. In 2008, Congress added several amendments to the law, including Section 702, which [enables](https://www.intel.gov/foreign-intelligence-surveillance-act/fisa-section-702?ref=readtangle.com) U.S. intelligence agencies to collect and analyze information on non-citizens abroad for foreign intelligence purposes without a warrant. While U.S. citizens cannot be directly surveilled, their data may still be collected when they interact with a foreign surveillance target. U.S. officials have credited the program with aiding operations against terrorist leaders, but critics argue it has allowed for warrantless surveillance of Americans. Congress [reauthorized](https://www.readtangle.com/congress-reauthorizes-fisa-section-702/) the program for two years in April 2024\. On Wednesday, President Trump endorsed a “clean extension” of Section 702, [writing](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116409146419851362?ref=readtangle.com), “While parts of FISA were illegally and unfortunately used against me in the Democrats’ disgraceful Witch Hunt and Attack in the RUSSIA, RUSSIA, RUSSIA Hoax, and perhaps would be used against me in the future, I am willing to risk the giving up of my Rights and Privileges as a Citizen for our Great Military and Country!” On Thursday, GOP leadership put forward a five-year extension with new provisions specifying that only Federal Bureau of Investigation attorneys could allow intelligence queries on U.S. citizens and requiring the Office of the Director of National Intelligence to review such cases. That proposal failed, prompting the 18-month and 10-day extension votes. Lawmakers from both parties have sought more meaningful reform to the program. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) [called for](https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-urges-senators-to-reject-handing-donald-trump-unchecked-surveillance-authority-insist-on-reforms-to-fisa-section-702?ref=readtangle.com) “clos\[ing\] a loophole in federal law that allows the government to buy Americans’ location data without a warrant” and adding protections against using artificial intelligence to conduct mass surveillance. Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) [offered](https://x.com/RepThomasMassie/status/2044430206249664664?ref=readtangle.com) three amendments that would create new warrant requirements, bar “reverse targeting” (surveilling a non-American as a means to gather intelligence on their American associate), and restrict access to information held in private data centers and other electronic communications systems. If Congress fails to pass an extension by April 30, the program can continue operating through March 2027, since an intelligence court recertified it last month. However, GOP leaders have [indicated](https://www.axios.com/2026/04/17/house-republicans-pass-fisa-extension?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=What%27s%20next%3A%20The,out%20a%20deal.) they will try to reach a deal on a long-term extension in the next week. Today, we’ll break down the debate over extending Section 702, with views from the right and left, followed by Executive Editor Isaac Saul’s take. ### What the right is saying. - **Many on the right support extending Section 702, saying it is a critical intelligence tool.** - **Some argue the program has been abused and should be repealed.** - **Others note that prior reforms to the program have been working as intended.** **National Review’s editors argued** [**“reauthorize FISA Section 702 — again.”**](https://www.nationalreview.com/2026/04/reauthorize-fisa-section-702-again/?ref=readtangle.com) “The threat of international terrorism may not be as visible and visceral to the public as it was 25 years ago, but with the United States currently at war with the leading state sponsor of terrorism, this would be an especially inopportune time to let the legal authority for this crucial function lapse,” the editors wrote. “Where Section 702 and its predecessors become controversial is that surveillance of the communications of foreigners abroad may sweep in their conversations with Americans. Of course, this has a parallel in domestic law enforcement, where even searches or surveillance with a proper warrant can sweep in communications with people other than the target of the warrant.” “If Section 702 is not reauthorized, the executive branch will be back in the legal no-man’s-land it inhabited before 2008… the legal safeguards would lapse, and rank-and-file members of the intelligence and law enforcement community could face uncertainty about whether they would face legal jeopardy for doing their jobs,” the editors said. “It’s a curious situation that Congress has to keep revisiting this issue on increasingly compressed timelines… when so many other laws, programs, and powers of the executive branch are authorized in perpetuity no matter how unpopular or obsolete they grow.” **In The Dispatch, Patrick G. Eddington made** [**“the case for letting FISA’s Section 702 expire.”**](https://thedispatch.com/article/fisa-section-702-surveillance-intelligence/?ref=readtangle.com) “No person on U.S. soil should be the subject of intelligence collection under FISA in the first place unless they are in direct contact with a known or suspected terrorist or foreign spy. And if they are, that itself is probable cause to get a warrant for investigative purposes under the Fourth Amendment,” Eddington wrote. “Yet it’s known that information on millions of innocent Americans is swept up and stored for years via Section 702’s digital dragnet.” “If FISA were to revert to its pre-9/11 legal form, the Justice Department and U.S. intelligence community could still collect foreign intelligence information on foreign entities, including terrorist organizations. The attorney general would still be authorized to conduct warrantless surveillance on an emergency basis but would be required to report such surveillance to the FISA Court… within 24 hours,” Eddington said. “In other words, if Section 702 expires for a time, it wouldn’t be the end of FISA. But it would force a badly needed reckoning with its abuses — and provide Congress with time to agree on a bill that would preclude such abuses in the future.” **On the Senate floor, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) called for** [**“reauthoriz\[ing\] FISA Section 702.”**](https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/press/rep/releases/grassley-on-senate-floor-lets-reauthorize-fisa-section-702?ref=readtangle.com) “Section 702 is an essential national security tool. That law is responsible for over 60% of the intelligence in the president’s daily brief. Section 702 enables our intelligence and law enforcement communities to thwart attacks before they occur,” Grassley said. “It gives our military a strategic edge, allows us to hunt down foreign terrorists and rescue hostages and helps us defend critical infrastructure from cyberattacks. More recently, Section 702 has enabled more than 90% of CIA-driven synthetic drug disruptions abroad and prevented a mass casualty terrorist attack at a Taylor Swift concert overseas. “So, there’s no doubt that this is a powerful, critical tool to protect Americans. But there’s also no doubt that powerful tools like this require strong oversight and accountability,” Grassley continued. “Two years ago, the *Reforming Intelligence and Securing America Act*, RISAA for short, added critical and successful reforms to Section 702 in response to some abuse and overreach… In the last public audit, the FBI achieved a 99% compliance rate with its U.S. person queries, which have also decreased sharply overall in recent years. The reforms that we imposed in RISAA are working. If it expires, so do its civil liberties protections and many of its oversight mechanisms." ### What the left is saying. - **Most on the left oppose Section 702’s “back door” surveillance of Americans.** - **Some say Congress has a small window to pass bipartisan reforms.** - **Others reject claims that intelligence agencies use the program responsibly.** **In Just Security, Ryan Goodman explored** [**“guarding FISA Section 702’s ‘back door.’”**](https://www.justsecurity.org/136232/antifa-fisa-section-702-back-door/?ref=readtangle.com) “Section 702 allows U.S. intelligence agencies to collect the email, text, and phone communications of foreign nationals located outside the United States. As a byproduct, Americans’ communications are caught in the net as well. Subject to limitations that Congress introduced in 2024, the FBI can dip into that vast database to look for derogatory information on Americans,” Goodman said. “That ‘back door,’ allowing access to Americans’ communications, is ripe for abuse especially in the context of the administration’s campaign to paint ‘antifa’ as an international and domestic terrorist threat.” “Failure to maintain Section 702 would be a tragic outcome. Specifically, the loss of the core surveillance program — the interception of communications of foreign actors abroad who pose real threats — would amount to ‘the worst intelligence failures of our time,’ as the President’s Intelligence Advisory Board (PIAB) explained in 2023,” Goodman wrote. “A solution that fits the problem is to require the Justice Department to obtain a judge’s approval for the FBI to read Americans’ communications. That may be good policy regardless of presidential administrations and whatever one thinks the Fourth Amendment demands.” **In Bloomberg, Noah Feldman wrote** [**“Congress has a rare chance to stop warrantless searches.”**](https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2026-04-16/fisa-debate-congress-has-rare-chance-to-stop-warrantless-searches?ref=readtangle.com) “\[Section 702\] effectively permits the government to collect the private information of Americans indirectly. And it doesn’t bar the government from buying data that would be unlawful for the government to collect itself or get directly from phone and internet providers,” Feldman said. “A bipartisan bill, the Government Surveillance Reform Act, that would close the most important loopholes in the current law.” “The bill proposes to close \[the ‘back door’\] loophole by specifically requiring the government to get a warrant before querying and searching the names of Americans… The bill would also close the so-called data-broker loophole. Longstanding federal law says phone and internet service providers can’t sell customer data directly to government agencies… But no law prohibits the government from buying the same exact information from data brokers,” Feldman wrote. “Congress should pass the Government Surveillance Reform Act, and the president should sign it. This moment of bipartisan agreement might not last.” **In The Hill, Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) argued** [**“FISA 702 endangers your privacy.”**](https://thehill.com/opinion/congress-blog/5824261-congress-must-reform-fisa-702/?ref=readtangle.com) “Protecting Americans’ constitutional rights while operating this surveillance program is only possible when key oversight and auditors within executive branch agencies are able to operate independently from the federal government and the president,” Jayapal said. “While this Department of Justice’s actions have been particularly egregious, administrations on both sides of the aisle have routinely violated Americans’ privacy rights and conducted surveillance on millions of people without any warrant or justification.” “The FBI has a long and troubling history of spying on Americans. From the inception of the agency, we have seen disturbing surveillance of Martin Luther King Jr., anti-Vietnam War protestors, environmental groups, and regular U.S. persons. And we’ve seen how quickly surveillance abuse can spiral out of control when oversight and safeguards are torn down,” Jayapal wrote. “Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act has been misused by administrations on both sides for too long to collect the private, sensitive communications of Americans. Congress must not reauthorize it without real reforms and protections.” ### My take. **Reminder: “My take” is a section where we give ourselves space to share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, don't unsubscribe. Write in by replying to this email, or** [**leave a comment**](https://www.readtangle.com/congress-temporarily-extends-fisa-section-702//#ghost-comments-root)**.** - **I opposed Section 702 authorization under Biden, and I still oppose it today.** - **Fear of bad actors should not justify a blanket authority to violate our rights as Americans.** - **Even if Congress reauthorizes Section 702, I believe our intelligence agencies should learn to operate within these constraints.** **Executive Editor Isaac Saul:** When President Biden signed legislation to reauthorize Section 702 in 2024, I [criticized](https://www.readtangle.com/congress-reauthorizes-fisa-section-702/#:~:text=FBI%2C%20of%20course.%E2%80%9D-,My%20take.,-Reminder%3A%20%22My%20take) the extension. My message then was simple: If intelligence agencies want access to the communications of American citizens, they can get a warrant. Two years later, my opinion remains as straightforward as that. Believing that warrantless access to American communications is illegal doesn’t mean there are no good arguments for it. Yes, the United States faces a multitude of threats from abroad, and giving our intelligence agencies more latitude to do their jobs is one way to try to keep the country safe. In that vein, some of the writers advocating for this extension have compelling points and unconvincing points. National Review’s editors argued (under “What the right is saying”) that, given the threat posed by Iran, “this would be an especially inopportune time to let the legal authority for this crucial function lapse.” I find this argument entirely unconvincing. It is *always* an inopportune time, in the eyes of Section 702 supporters, to remove this tool. Fear of foreign threats created this framework in the first place, so of course that same fear can be used to require keeping Section 702 in place. And if letting it expire is never an option, then we’ll never really know whether we can live without it (and law enforcement will never learn to operate without it). Holding the line on civil liberties requires some level of bravery, bravery we exercise all the time while defending our own rights. A dozen witnesses might watch someone commit a crime, but that doesn’t mean the state gets to imprison that person without a trial. The accused are innocent until proven guilty. Staying committed to this ideal means that some innocent citizens will face harm when some criminals go free — living with that requires bravery. Similarly, we all understand that bad people will try to do bad things, and that Americans’ right to privacy provides secondary protections against surveilling those bad actors. It takes a level of bravery, then, to say that the right to privacy is more important than constantly looking out for bad guys. Just as we live with the consequences of the right to a fair trial, we live with the consequences that the government can’t just listen to an American’s phone call because that person is talking to a non-American target of their surveillance. And just as a judge may keep someone incarcerated while they await trial if they deem that person a public safety threat, a judge may also approve a warrant to monitor an American citizen — if someone shows reasonable evidence they are a threat. The same National Review editors make a much more convincing argument later in their piece, though, which is that reforms to Section 702 are already having a positive impact. More stringent reporting requirements and a higher standard for recording communications that include Americans have dramatically reduced such incidents. Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH), who previously opposed a Section 702 extension under Biden and now supports it, said there were 278,000 improper queries of the database in 2023\. Yet, post-reform, he [pointed out](https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5789874-jim-jordan-fisa-702-spy-powers/?ref=readtangle.com) the total number of searches on U.S. persons dropped from 2.9 million in 2022 to 9,000 in the past year. And that’s despite the targeting of foreign surveillance going *up* from 2022 (246,000) to 2025 (349,823). Notably, these numbers have produced a lot of skepticism. In March, the Brennan Center [published](https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/truth-behind-section-702-query-statistics?ref=readtangle.com) a report claiming the FBI improperly tracked and audited search queries involving U.S. citizens; if true, the numbers from 2024 and 2025 are likely a significant undercount. So while I’m glad to see some reforms implemented, those changes seem like they aren’t enough (or at least warrant further scrutiny). I also worry about how easily these reforms can be undone. Put another way, “Until we pass a warrant requirement, the government’s powerful surveillance authorities will always be subject to abuse” — that’s what Jim Jordan [said](https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2025/04/16/congress-constitution-surveillance-jim-jordan/?ref=readtangle.com) in April of last year. Right now, the most straightforward way to prosecute FISA violations is through the U.S. attorney general. But let’s state the obvious: The Justice Department is becoming totally captured by President Trump, and that’s setting the stage for a more politicized DOJ under future Democratic presidents, too. A presidentially dominated DOJ would never actually prosecute FBI Section 702 abuses. Just as easily as I could believe these reforms are having a positive impact, I could believe the FBI has been on its best behavior to get a long-term extension — or adjusted its behavior to prepare for a repeal — and will go right back to its old ways. This is just one of a dizzying number of ways the president’s demands for loyalty directly and negatively impact American citizens. The president himself is an interesting case here. After all, he was the victim of maybe the most notorious abuse of FISA in American history, when Carter Page’s contacts with Russia were used as a pretext to target someone in Trump’s orbit. [Trump came out against Section 702](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/112245329328818599?ref=readtangle.com) in 2024, urging supporters to “KILL FISA, IT WAS ILLEGALLY USED AGAINST ME, AND MANY OTHERS. THEY SPIED ON MY CAMPAIGN!!!” Now that he’s in office, though, the president’s tune has changed. “I am willing to risk the giving up of my Rights and Privileges as a Citizen for our Great Military and Country!” he said in a Truth Social post last Wednesday. It’s a somewhat amusing and also jarring pivot. It’s amusing because it really is the most straightforward argument, said out loud in a way a president probably shouldn’t: In order to back Section 702, you genuinely have to believe in giving up your rights and trust our military and intelligence communities to Do The Right Thing. It’s jarring because the president was so adamantly on the other side of this issue just two years ago. A charitable read is that he is now receiving daily briefs with information gathered using FISA (60% of the briefs contain intel from Section 702, according to Sen. Chuck Grassley), and the people around him understand the importance of this information, so he wants it. The less charitable read is just as likely: He is the one who has the power now, and when presidents acquire power they very rarely give it up. Either way, Trump and Rep. Jordan were right the first time, and [I agreed with them then](https://www.readtangle.com/congress-reauthorizes-fisa-section-702/#:~:text=If%20you%20broaden%20the%20criticism%20to%20FISA%20as%20a%20whole%2C%20you%20can%20add%20January%206%20protesters%20and%20Donald%20Trump%27s%20campaign%20to%20that%20list%2C%20too.%20One%20federal%20judge%20described%20the%20FBI%27s%20abuses%20of%20Section%20702%20as%20%22persistent%20and%20widespread.%22). Their position has changed, but mine hasn’t. One judge, in 2023, described the FBI’s abuses of Section 702 as “[persistent and widespread](https://www.intelligence.gov/assets/documents/702-documents/declassified/21/2021%5FFISC%5FCertification%5FOpinion.pdf?ref=readtangle.com).” If you broaden the abuses of this warrantless surveillance beyond just Section 702, to FISA as a whole, everyone should have a bone to pick: January 6 protesters, Trump’s campaign, Black Lives Matter protesters, pro-Palestine activists who may have faced government surveillance, and [even members of Congress](https://www.intel.gov/assets/documents/702-documents/declassified/2023/FISC%5F2023%5FFISA%5F702%5FCertifications%5FOpinion%5FApril11%5F2023.pdf?ref=readtangle.com#page=86). Letting Section 702 expire won’t stop our law enforcement agencies from monitoring and pursuing active threats to Americans, but it will reduce how often they access Americans’ communications without a warrant. Again: I’m heartened Congress has implemented some strong reforms, even if questions remain about how effective they’ve been. Given that it looks like we’re barreling toward another long-term reauthorization (hopefully with those reforms), I’ll probably have to settle for that win and hope it holds. Yet I’m disheartened that those reforms didn’t go all the way. All the improvements in the world can’t move me off my core position that my communications should never be monitored without a warrant. That’s the kind of fundamental right that should be guaranteed to me in a free country, it’s one Section 702 rules undermine, and it’s one that our intelligence agencies should learn to operate within. **Take the survey:** Do you think Section 702 should be reauthorized? [Let us know](https://interrobang.vercel.app/survey/33387187-1882-470e-ab70-af672ef495f6?ref=readtangle.com). *Disagree? That's okay. Our opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we'll consider publishing your feedback.* ### Your questions, answered. **Q: I live in Idaho and I just read an** [**article by the Idaho Capital Sun**](https://idahocapitalsun.com/2026/03/30/idaho-senate-to-consider-letting-ag-seek-to-bar-local-officials-from-office-for-violating-state-law/?ref=readtangle.com) **about House Bill 896\. On the surface it seems like a good thing to me: “The Attorney General can seek to bar local officials from office for violating states’ rights” seems like accountability for being a bad official and going against your state’s rights.** **So now I’m confused, isn’t there already some kind of way that people are held accountable for violating states’ rights? What would this be changing? Why should anyone be exempt from this?** **— Sophie from Smelterville, ID** **Tangle:** All people, including public officials, are subject to local, state, and federal laws. The bill wouldn’t have changed that. However, it would have added a new mechanism for punishing officials who break the law. [House Bill 896](https://legislature.idaho.gov/sessioninfo/billbookmark/?yr=2026&bn=H0896&ref=readtangle.com) would have given the Idaho attorney general the direct authority to sue government agencies, officials, or employees without going through the typical channels of law enforcement and the court system. For context, Idaho House Bill 896 was [drafted in response to](https://idahocapitalsun.com/2026/03/31/boise-removes-lgbtq-pride-flag-as-idaho-governor-signs-bill-to-fine-city-for-its-display/?ref=readtangle.com) the city of Boise’s attempt to sidestep a 2025 [state law that prohibits](https://idahocapitalsun.com/briefs/idaho-senate-passes-bill-to-prevent-local-state-governments-from-displaying-some-flags/?ref=readtangle.com) flying any unofficial government flag on public property by making the Progress Pride flag the city’s official flag. Several Idaho House members wanted the state to be able to punish government officials who “willfully” violated the law, and the lower chamber passed the measure in March — however, the Idaho Senate [rejected the bill](https://idahocapitalsun.com/2026/04/02/idaho-senate-rejects-house-speakers-bill-to-bar-local-officials-from-office-for-violating-laws/?ref=readtangle.com) in April over concerns that it would give the state attorney general too much power. **Want to have a question answered in the newsletter? You can reply to this email (it goes straight to our inbox) or** [**fill out this form**](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScQhqBSG%5F6%5FoBhwcTQMeS570n29XYbeQ9C9Bis7rjqI31g1tA/viewform?usp=header&ref=readtangle.com)**.** ### Numbers. - [**2018.**](https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll%5Fcall%5Fvotes/vote1152/vote%5F115%5F2%5F00012.htm?ref=readtangle.com#top) The year Congress passed a full reauthorization of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act for the first time, extending the law for approximately six years. - [**65–34.**](https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll%5Fcall%5Fvotes/vote1152/vote%5F115%5F2%5F00012.htm?ref=readtangle.com#top) The vote in the Senate’s passage of the 2018 full reauthorization. - [**2024.**](https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll%5Fcall%5Fvotes/vote1182/vote%5F118%5F2%5F00150.htm?ref=readtangle.com) The year Congress passed a full reauthorization of Section 702 for the second time, extending the law for approximately two years. - [**60–34.**](https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll%5Fcall%5Fvotes/vote1182/vote%5F118%5F2%5F00150.htm?ref=readtangle.com) The vote in the Senate’s passage of the 2024 full reauthorization. - [**35%.**](https://www.nextgov.com/cybersecurity/2026/03/fbi-queries-americans-data-under-fisa-702-rose-35-2025/412103/?ref=readtangle.com) The percent increase in Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) searches of U.S. person data collected under Section 702 between December 2024 and November 2025, according to an FBI letter to Congress. 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[****Use code TANGLE for 55% off**](https://deal.incogni.io/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=6&aff%5Fid=1007&ref=readtangle.com)****.** ### The extras. - **One year ago today** we had just published [a Friday edition on the SAVE Act](https://www.readtangle.com/the-save-act-separating-truth-from-fiction/). - **The most clicked link in our last regular newsletter** was the [mass shooting in Shreveport, Louisiana](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/19/us/shreveport-mass-shooting-dead-children.html?ref=readtangle.com). - **Nothing to do with politics:** An unbelievable view of [the Earth setting behind the moon](https://x.com/astro%5Freid/status/2046009031613907029?s=20&ref=readtangle.com). - **Our last survey:** 2,321 readers responded to our survey on the war in Iran with 51% saying it will last until at least the end of the Trump administration. “The two sides work on very different time perspectives, and the Iranians know it,” one respondent said. “Not until after the mid-terms, but I’m uncertain whether it will be done this year,” said another. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/04/data-src-image-9ab37aca-8efa-49e9-948e-befe35408ffb.png) We originally asked this question on April 9, and the results of that survey are included below. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/04/data-src-image-ae7541dd-7bb1-4cbc-b906-e46385067f50.png) ### Have a nice day. The eastern migratory monarch butterfly population has plummeted in recent decades, but two reports published in March show signs of hope from the past year. In one report, scientists found that nine colonies of monarch butterflies in Mexico occupied 7.24 acres of forest during the 2025–26 winter, a roughly 64% increase from the 2024–25 winter. In the second, researchers found that 6.3 acres of the butterflies’ winter habitat were degraded between February 2024 and February 2025, approximately 2.9 acres fewer than the same period from the previous 12 months. While environmental challenges remain, World Wildlife Fund-Mexico Director General Maria Jose Villanueva said the studies offered “promising signs of recovery” for the monarch butterfly population. [The World Wildlife Fund has the story](https://www.worldwildlife.org/news/stories/monarch-butterfly-population-increases-64-percent/?ref=readtangle.com). ### Why Hundreds of Chinese Ships Are Off Argentina’s Coast URL: https://www.readtangle.com/why-hundreds-of-chinese-ships-are-off-argentinas-coast/ Last updated: 2026-04-22T00:02:31.000Z Off the coast of Argentina, hundreds of fishing vessels gather every night — so brightly lit that they can be seen from space. ### Steve Hilton: How to Fix California URL: https://www.readtangle.com/steve-hilton-how-to-fix-california/ Last updated: 2026-04-21T00:02:40.000Z In this interview, Isaac Saul sits down with Steve Hilton (R) to discuss his campaign for governor of California — and his argument that the state has lost its way. ### A standoff in the Strait. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/hormuz-standoff-us-iran-ceasefire-update/ Last updated: 2026-04-20T15:57:49.000Z *I'm Isaac Saul, and this is Tangle: an independent, nonpartisan, subscriber-supported politics newsletter that summarizes the best arguments from across the political spectrum on the news of the day — then “my take.”* *Are you new here?* [*Get free emails*](https://www.readtangle.com/) *to your inbox daily. Would you rather listen? You can find our podcast* [*here*](https://shows.acast.com/66510864c0852400122bc7be?ref=readtangle.com)*.* ### Today’s read: 14 minutes. ⚓ The U.S. seized an Iranian-flagged cargo ship attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz as the outlook for peace talks remains uncertain. Plus, we explore the implications of a hypothetical nuclear strike against Iran. ### Data center development: Yes or no? Data center construction is quickly becoming a hot-button issue in the United States. Tech companies seek sufficient computing power for their artificial intelligence products, but local communities push back on the projects’ footprints. On Friday, Managing Editor Ari Weitzman and Associate Editor Lindsey Knuth took part in the [first-ever Tangle debate edition](https://www.readtangle.com/should-we-build-more-data-centers-pro-con/), arguing for and against building more data centers. We polled the Tangle audience on their opinion before and after reading the arguments. Before: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/04/data-src-image-490f2f26-2f5d-4795-b354-6bde1a23c4f6.png) After: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/04/data-src-image-ff58fcad-d705-44f6-85db-351a16c54f72.png) You can read the arguments that changed people’s minds [here](https://www.readtangle.com/should-we-build-more-data-centers-pro-con/). ### Quick hits. 1. Louisiana authorities said a man killed eight children, including seven of his own, and wounded two other people in a shooting spree spanning at least three locations in Shreveport. The shooter died while attempting to evade police by car. ([The shooting](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/19/us/shreveport-mass-shooting-dead-children.html?ref=readtangle.com)) 2. Congress approved an extension of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act until April 30\. The act allows some federal agencies to collect and analyze communications outside of the United States without a warrant. ([The extension](https://apnews.com/article/congress-foreign-surveillance-fisa-spy-agencies-3dc3e84c3b9b03f52b84dfb3b01fc770?ref=readtangle.com)) 3. Customs and Border Protection’s tariff refund system, called Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries, launched on Monday, allowing companies to submit refund claims for duties deemed unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. ([The launch](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/how-to-file-for-tariff-refund/?ref=readtangle.com)) 4. President Donald Trump signed an executive order to expedite research into certain psychedelic drugs as potential treatments for mental health disorders. The president also directed the Food and Drug Administration to accelerate its review of new treatments. ([The order](https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5837641-joe-rogan-donald-trump-executive-order-psychadelic-drug-research-mental-health/?ref=readtangle.com)) 5. A gunman killed seven people and wounded at least 14 others in a mass shooting in Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital. Ukrainian security forces killed the suspect, who was reportedly born in Russia and had lived in the Donbas region for an extended period. ([The shooting](https://www.reuters.com/world/kyiv-shooting-death-toll-rises-seven-mayor-says-2026-04-20/?ref=readtangle.com)) SPONSORED by the pour over ****Peaceful News is Possible** In case you missed it, the news has been extra heavy recently. If headlines have been weighing you down more than usual, you’re not alone… but it doesn’t have to feel that way. Meet [The Pour Over](https://signuphere.thepourover.org/?utm%5Fsource=tangle&utm%5Fmedium=newsletter&utm%5Fcampaign=mar16): a Christian news company that believes staying informed doesn’t have to mean sacrificing your peace. They deliver unbiased news that hits just what you need to be caught up on current events, plus brief Biblical reminders that keep you focused on what matters most: the Good News. [Join 1.6M Christians](https://signuphere.thepourover.org/?utm%5Fsource=tangle&utm%5Fmedium=newsletter&utm%5Fcampaign=mar16) reclaiming their peace with The Pour Over. ****P.S.** The Pour Over’s not just hopeful, it’s also funny… sometimes. Get their welcome email, and if you don’t smile, they’ll send you a [full refund](https://signuphere.thepourover.org/?utm%5Fsource=tangle&utm%5Fmedium=newsletter&utm%5Fcampaign=mar16) (which is $0, because TPO’s always free). ### Today’s topic. The latest from Iran. On Sunday, President Donald Trump [said](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/04/19/trump-navy-iran-ship-gulf-of-oman.html?ref=readtangle.com) that the U.S. fired on and seized an Iranian-flagged cargo ship attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz from the Gulf of Oman. The vessel is the first ship seized by the U.S. Navy since it began blockading the gulf on April 13\. Iran said on Friday it would remove all restrictions on commercial ships passing through the strait, then [closed](https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2026/04/18/iran-strait-hormuz-us-oil/?ref=readtangle.com) the waterway again on Saturday in response to the ongoing U.S. military blockade. That day, gunboats linked to Iran reportedly opened fire on two ships attempting to transit the strait. **Back up:** The sides agreed to a [ceasefire](https://www.readtangle.com/us-iran-ceasefire-april/) on April 7, but the status of the Strait of Hormuz has remained unclear. On April 12, President Trump [announced](https://www.readtangle.com/iran-negotiations-no-deal/) a naval blockade of Iran’s ports to prevent countries friendly with Iran from circumventing restrictions imposed on other ships. Although leaders from both nations communicated that the strait would be open for transit on April 17, several ships [reportedly](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/04/17/iran-trump-strait-hormuz-oil-tanker-traffic.html?ref=readtangle.com) turned back over confusion about the requirements for safe passage. In one incident on Saturday, a crew member on an Indian-flagged tanker radioed Iran’s military saying the ship was under attack and asking for permission to turn the vessel around. In a second incident, an Indian-flagged container ship was hit by “an unknown projectile,” damaging some containers. Both incidents are under investigation, and India’s External Affairs Ministry [called on](https://x.com/meaindia/status/2045511519648252198?s=46&ref=readtangle.com) Iran to “resume at the earliest the process of facilitating India-bound ships across the Strait.” The U.S. had turned back over 20 Iranian vessels attempting to cross the strait prior to Sunday’s incident. In a Truth Social [post](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116433000897070863?ref=readtangle.com), Trump said the Iranian-linked ship “refused to listen” to warnings to stop, after which USS Spruance “\[blew\] a hole in the engineroom.” U.S. Central Command [added](https://x.com/CENTCOM/status/2045969284690788615?ref=readtangle.com) that the ship was attempting to travel to an Iranian port and failed to comply with repeated warnings over a six-hour period. In a statement, Iran [called](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c239500dx8ro?ref=readtangle.com) the incident an “act of armed piracy” and said it would retaliate. The seizure comes ahead of scheduled peace talks this week. Vice President JD Vance, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, the president’s son-in-law, will [travel](https://www.axios.com/2026/04/19/iran-talks-pakistan-witkoff-kushner-ceasfire?ref=readtangle.com) to Pakistan on Monday in anticipation of a second round of negotiations with Iran. However, Iran’s participation is uncertain, and it [threatened](https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/iran-war-us-talks-2026/card/iran-threatens-not-to-attend-u-s-backed-talks-in-pakistan-state-media-BdAyf3UPnG6KBEun8Xc7?ref=readtangle.com) not to attend the meeting over “excessive demands, unrealistic expectations, constant shifts in stance, repeated contradictions, and the ongoing naval blockade.” Today, we’ll cover these developments, with views from the left, right, and Middle East writers. Then, Executive Editor Isaac Saul shares his take. ### What the left is saying. - **Many on the left see Trump’s maneuvers in the strait as risky and counterproductive.** - **Others say the U.S. continues to act unlawfully in the conflict.** **In CNN, Stephen Collinson wrote about** [**“the gamble in Trump’s Iran blockade that could decide the war.”**](https://www.cnn.com/2026/04/16/politics/trump-iran-war-strait-of-hormuz-blockade-analysis?ref=readtangle.com) “\[The\] growing hopes of US officials, conservative editorial pages and analysts that the blockade could bring Iran to its knees rest on an assumption that has repeatedly led the US astray in the Middle East,” Collinson said. “The hope is that Iran’s leaders offer concessions to alleviate the blockade’s eventual extreme repercussions. The plan also hints at an unspoken hope that deteriorating economic conditions could set off new internal political dissent and test the regime’s grip… But the idea that Iranian leaders will view the stakes in this way may be a leap.” “The blockade presents Iran with a new strategic puzzle. Its options for escalation are risky since they could trigger a resumption of fighting and a rupture of the ceasefire with the US and Israel. Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces could respond to the blockading of their ports by renewing attacks on US Gulf allies,” Collinson wrote. “Another option would be for Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen to shut down an alternative oil trafficking route through the Red Sea. Such a move would be a hammer blow to the world economy and would surely heap political pressure on Trump as the war would threaten to careen out of control.” **In The Nation, Maryam Jamshidi argued** [**“only one side has clearly broken the law in the Strait of Hormuz.”**](https://www.thenation.com/article/world/iran-strait-of-hormuz-international-law/?ref=readtangle.com) “The Trump administration has made half-hearted attempts to justify its joint attack against Iran as defensive. Hardly anyone — including America’s Western allies — has bought into these legal justifications, even though many still support the US/Israeli war politically and militarily,” Jamshidi said. “Blockades are prototypical examples of illegal uses of force and acts of aggression, where not justified by the right of self-defense or a Security Council resolution. In the case of Iran, the US blockade is both unlawful… and effectively ends the ceasefire between the United States and Iran.” “The US blockade also violates the laws of naval warfare, which prohibit blockades if ‘damage to the civilian population is, or may be expected to be, excessive in relation to the concrete and direct military advantage anticipated from’ the action,” Jamshidi wrote. “The purpose of the US blockade is not to pursue any military advantage against Iran but rather to achieve the political objective of increasing US leverage in ongoing negotiations with the Iranian government… Even if that objective was somehow a valid, military one, the blockade would still be illegal because it is designed to do significant damage to the civilian population by collapsing the Iranian economy.” ### What the right is saying. - **Many on the right encourage Trump to keep up pressure in the strait.** - **Some contend the U.S. Navy is well equipped to achieve its goals.** **In Fox News, Lisa Daftari said** [**“Hormuz whiplash proves Tehran can’t honor any deal it signs.”**](https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/lisa-daftari-hormuz-whiplash-proves-tehran-cant-honor-deal-signs?ref=readtangle.com) “Within days, Tehran went from signaling that the Strait of Hormuz would remain open to threatening to close it. That reversal is a reminder that the regime cannot be trusted to uphold any deal it signs because its strategy depends on constant threats and keeping the world off balance,” Daftari wrote. “For years, U.S. and European officials have negotiated as if Iran’s commitments on paper would translate into predictable behavior. But the regime’s most powerful actors are not invested in keeping those commitments. This regime was not designed to be constrained, reformed or tamed.” “Washington cannot afford to treat diplomacy as an end in itself. An agreement that is not backed by real enforcement, credible military deterrence and a clear understanding of who holds power in Tehran will not hold. It will be tested, stretched and eventually broken when the regime decides it can get away with it,” Daftari said. “A regime that turns a vital energy choke point into a pressure tool is not a responsible partner. It is the opposite. The back‑and‑forth over Hormuz is a hard reminder that Tehran’s core strategy is leverage through threat, not cooperation.” **In The Washington Examiner, Ali Holcomb and Joel Griffith suggested** [**“our Navy was built for this moment.”**](https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/courage-strength-optimism/4534007/us-navy-built-for-moment-strait-hormuz/?ref=readtangle.com) “President Donald Trump must not forget that the U.S. Navy was created with one thing in mind: securing the freedom of navigation for Americans. And that is exactly what it needs to do in the Strait of Hormuz,” Holcomb and Griffith wrote. “Amid the hand-wringing over this conflict, one crucial fact goes unacknowledged: The U.S. still holds overwhelming military superiority. The U.S. made a serious mistake in negotiations by even entertaining the possibility of Iran profiting from the strait. Thankfully, we have since corrected course.” “‘Innocent Passage’ is the right of vessels of all nations to traverse through territorial seas, even through a different nation’s exclusive economic zone. ‘Strait Passage’ is even more permissive,” Holcomb and Griffith said. “The U.S. is the world’s leading enforcer of these laws and norms of the sea. When Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi declared the entire Gulf of Sidra to be Libyan territorial waters, the U.S. responded by deploying a carrier strike group straight into the gulf and shot down Libyan fighter jets attempting to enforce Gaddafi’s claims. We even have a formalized term for such operations, ‘Freedom of Navigation Operations,’ and we back up our declarations with action.” ### What Middle East writers are saying. - **Many writers in the Middle East note the wide-ranging consequences stemming from the strait’s closure.** - **Others say the war is already reshuffling our understanding of the global order.** **In Arab News, Abdulrahman Al-Rashed wrote about** [**threats against “Gulf ports.”**](https://www.arabnews.com/node/2640489?ref=readtangle.com) “The fighting has not stopped since negotiations in Islamabad came to a halt. US President Donald Trump’s dangerous decision to impose a blockade on Iran’s maritime trade has disrupted the entire landscape, as Iran is now threatening to target Gulf ports,” Al-Rashed said. “The blockade is the most dangerous weapon that can be used against Iran. Impeding Iran’s maritime trade could bring down the regime if it is sustained long enough and enforced strictly. Of course, choking Iran at sea has consequences and could potentially reignite a broader war.” “The US has shown a willingness to continue fighting. It could be argued that more strikes that force Iran into surrender would be Trump’s best option, as they would allow him to emerge victorious in the eyes of the world,” Al-Rashed wrote. “Iran’s new leadership may appear fanatical, but this same leadership has expressed a desire to return to negotiations. It has a strong interest in avoiding destruction that risks the very existence of the regime. A blockade and devastation would be less likely if the American and Iranian delegations were to return to the negotiating table.” **In Al Jazeera, Khalid Al-Jaber said** [**“the Iran war has exposed the limits of neutrality.”**](https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2026/4/17/the-iran-war-has-exposed-the-limits-of-neutrality?ref=readtangle.com) “The course of the war demonstrated that the concept of ‘neutrality’ is no longer viable in contemporary regional contexts, particularly in the Middle East,” Al-Jaber wrote. “Neutrality is easier to declare than to maintain. Iranian strikes on energy infrastructure across Gulf states forced several producers to declare force majeure and suspend their operations. In Qatar, Qatar Energy halted LNG production, and the effects were felt almost immediately in Europe through a surge in gas prices of almost 50 percent in the Netherlands and the UK.” “Calling for a cessation of hostilities without addressing the root causes of the crisis may amount to nothing more than postponing the inevitable explosion, while pursuing radical change without a clear vision for the day after may open the door to even wider chaos,” Al-Jaber said. “Between these two options, the world confronts a fundamental question: How can it deal with a regime widely viewed by many states as part of the problem, without allowing the pursuit of its transformation to create an even greater one? What appears evident is that the coming phase will leave little room for the grey zone within which states have long been accustomed to manoeuvring.” ### My take. **Reminder: “My take” is a section where we give ourselves space to share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, don't unsubscribe. Write in by replying to this email, or** [**leave a comment**](https://www.readtangle.com/hormuz-standoff-us-iran-ceasefire-update/#ghost-comments-root)**.** - **Instability within Iran’s government is contributing to instability of peace talks.** - **Iran’s new leadership is more extreme and more willing to use its force than the leaders the U.S. killed, and the situation is much more tenuous.** - **All told, I don’t see a way this war ends any time soon.** **Executive Editor Isaac Saul:** I think a good deal of the chaos we’ve seen in the last few weeks can be attributed to a fractured and chaotic Iranian government.To grasp why, let’s start by revisiting the Iranian government’s pre-war makeup: ![Iran's leadership structure | Generated using Claude.ai, edited by Russell Nystrom](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/04/data-src-image-45b55106-d955-4f1b-8579-86e8e30e7f55.png) Iran's leadership structure | Generated using Claude.ai, edited by Russell Nystrom The theocratic side of the government (on top) held most of the power. The supreme leader commanded all of the military (the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, or IRGC), while the Guardian Council approved all of the “elected” legislators. The ayatollah’s vetted parliament mostly fell in line, but at times it split from him. In one notable recent example, President Masoud Pezeshkian, who ran as a reformer and was almost certainly allowed to win because Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei [wanted to relieve some tension](https://www.timesofisrael.com/how-irans-khamenei-fearing-for-regime-orchestrated-pezeshkians-rise-to-power/?ref=readtangle.com), was much more permissive than Khamenei during the January protests. Pezeshkian even went as far as [to say](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/04/world/middleeast/iran-protests.html?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=%E2%80%9CAny%20policy%20in%20the%20society%20that%20is%20unjust%20is%20doomed%20to%20fail%2C%E2%80%9D%20Mr.%20Pezeshkian%20said%20in%20a%20speech%20on%20Thursday%2C%20his%20first%20public%20address%20since%20the%20protests%20began.%20%E2%80%9CAccept%20that%20we%20must%20listen%20to%20the%20people.%E2%80%9D) the regime must “listen to the people.” Now, the Supreme Leader is dead — as [are a long list of senior officials](https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/which-key-iranian-figures-have-been-killed-us-israeli-strikes-2026-04-06/?ref=readtangle.com), including the secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, the intelligence minister, a top nuclear advisor, the commander-in-chief of the IRGC, the defense minister, the chief of staff of Iran’s armed forces, and the IRGC’s navy intelligence chief, just to name a few. The U.S. was hoping that, in the vacuum created by the deaths of these leaders, reformers like Pezeshkian would rise up — and some have, to a degree. Iran’s foreign minister, who serves under Pezeshkian, has been at the center of negotiations to end the war. Yet, by and large, a reform-minded Iranian government has not emerged; in fact, the opposite has happened. Iran’s new, younger supreme leader is [reportedly](https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/iran-radical-regime-change-a42d96ea?eafs%5Fenabled=false&ref=readtangle.com) more “extreme” (read: theocratic and anti-Western) than his predecessor, and the new state and IRGC leadership is also more radical. Iran’s new national security chief is Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, who is so radical that Qassim Soleimani — the general Trump assassinated in 2020 — once reportedly quit his role in the military in protest over Zolghadr’s views. Anti-Western hardliners are dominating military decision-making in Iran, and they’ve expressed their ideology and their power by holding the global economy hostage in the Strait of Hormuz (something Ali Khamenei opted not to do when Israel and the U.S. struck Iran’s nuclear facilities last June). The disparity between Iran’s negotiating team and its military leadership played out in real time over the weekend: Iran’s foreign minister announced the Strait of Hormuz was fully open after negotiations with the United States. Less than 24 hours later, the IRGC said the waterway was still closed (and they’re [keeping it closed](https://www.nationalreview.com/2026/04/the-illusive-iran-deal/?ref=readtangle.com)) while the U.S. attacked an Iranian-flagged cargo vessel. Power vacuums aren’t usually filled in an orderly manner, and right now Iran’s leadership is unstable. That instability is upstream of miscommunications, inconsistencies, and the inability to land a genuine “ceasefire” — a word that has been so misapplied as to be made totally meaningless (we’re technically in a “ceasefire” *right now,* it just includes multiple exchanges of fire, constant barrages, and very little negotiating). It is also upstream of intensified crackdowns on dissent and the deployment of regime supporters to the streets of Iran. They recognize their leadership is fragile, and they only have one way to keep it: hard power. We’re now on Day 52 of the war, and it contains all the ingredients for a prolonged conflict. The men across from us at the negotiating table represent a government that is somehow more radical than the one we thought was too radical to negotiate with originally. Iran [reportedly](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/18/us/politics/iran-hormuz-strait-trump.html?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=U.S.%20intelligence,its%20prewar%20level.) still has about 40% of its prewar stock of drones, and it’s using the reduction in fighting to dig out missile launchers it's been hiding underground. Its missile supply could soon return to 70% of what it was prewar. These estimates, like all intelligence, are inexact; but at the very least they imply that Iran is capable of keeping up the fight, and the new regime seems happy to do so. A week ago, I [wrote](https://www.readtangle.com/iran-negotiations-no-deal/#:~:text=And%20we%20really%20need%20to%20avoid%20being%20drawn%20into%20a%20kind%20of%20ambient%20war%2C%20lest%20we%20accept%20our%20soldiers%20being%20at%20daily%20risk%20and%20our%20coffers%20being%20regularly%20emptied%20to%20the%20tune%20of%20billions%20of%20dollars%2C%20all%20while%20the%20needle%20never%20really%20moves.%C2%A0) about the risk of Iran becoming a kind of “ambient war” — a conflict that fades into background noise we in the U.S. all become accustomed to. That scenario looks something like this: The U.S. and Iran work into an uneasy stalemate, with few major breakthroughs and the occasional blip. Perhaps Iran kills a U.S. sailor in a drone attack, or the U.S. seizes a cargo ship and oil prices temporarily spike, or the Iranian regime engages in a particularly horrific crackdown on protesters, or an Israeli rocket hits a civilian center in Beirut, or maybe a Hezbollah missile breaks through and lands in downtown Tel Aviv. This becomes the new normal — relative quiet punctuated by big, newsy events. Meanwhile, Iran remains under the control of a radical regime, the Middle East remains unstable, and our regional allies remain unsafe, all while stalled negotiations start and stop and an energy crisis continues to spread across the Eastern Hemisphere. Eventually, some New Thing will demand our attention. Maybe China invades Taiwan, or Russia tests the borders of Poland, or the U.S. reconsiders an incursion into Greenland, or we all simply turn to the midterms and other domestic matters instead. In time, we come to accept the war that did not exist two months ago as a fact of life, and the untold money, blood, and even financial sacrifices at home fade into background static. This is my fear. I’ve made a habit of steelmanning alternative views to check this perspective, but that sunny alternative seems less and less likely to me each day. I could make the case, sure: Though committing to dominating the strait would be costly, our navy is capable of achieving it. By confiscating Iranian cargo ships that account for so much of the regime’s revenues, we could put Iran in a vice grip that requires them to back off their current demands. Maybe the Gulf states turn against the new leadership to create a kind of unified front that totally isolates Iran, fully bringing its theocratic leadership to heel. In a clearly positive development, we have greatly diminished Iran’s nuclear program, taking a live Iranian threat off the table. Yet expecting those upsides to lead to long-term peace anytime soon (within months, or even years) feels pollyannish to me. Iran is already [angling for a cash deal from the U.S.](https://www.axios.com/2026/04/17/iran-us-deal-20-billion-frozen-funds-uranium?ref=readtangle.com), one much larger than the kind they received from previous administrations. If they don’t get it, they will likely use their grip on the Strait of Hormuz to squeeze more money from the West. Remember, Iran’s current regime is more radical than the last, and the window for decisive regime change has likely closed. How other impacted nations respond now will be crucial to determining the length of the conflict. Gulf states and some European and Asian nations are surely infuriated by and scared of the new Iranian regime, but those same countries also *need* Iran’s oil — and the energy pinch they find themselves in is not domestically sustainable. The UAE is already [asking the United States for a financial lifeline](https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/u-a-e-asks-u-s-for-a-wartime-financial-lifeline-3f9ea3a0?ref=readtangle.com). I could bet on a future where America’s Eastern allies stand strong with the U.S. while Western allies join in its war with Iran, or I could bet on Eastern countries desperately meeting whatever conditions are asked of them to get their oil from Iran while Western allies criticize the U.S from the sidelines. The smart money is to bet on the latter. Again: We’re 52 days into the conflict. We are cheering the opening of a shipping lane that was open pre-war and still isn’t really open; we’re facing a new, more radical regime; we’re still grasping for a long-term peace plan; and we’re staring down the barrel of a [prolonged global energy crisis](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/20/world/asia/asia-pacific-iran-war-oil.html?ref=readtangle.com). I want to be wrong, but every analytical bone in my body believes this is not a better recipe for a peaceful tomorrow than the one we had just a few months ago. **Take the survey:** For how long do you believe the war in Iran will last? [Let us know](https://interrobang.vercel.app/survey/7a5a97f6-277a-4c03-a632-0de67b643a94?ref=readtangle.com). *Disagree? That's okay. Our opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we'll consider publishing your feedback.* ### Your questions, answered. **Q: Both the Americans and Israel are bombing the heck out of Iran. What is stopping them from using an atomic bomb?** **— Gerry from Quebec** **Tangle:** Several important factors make this possibility highly unlikely. Two small things off the bat: First, atomic bombs use a nuclear fission process — the United States today [maintains](https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/behind-the-scenes-at-a-u-s-factory-building-new-nuclear-bombs/?ref=readtangle.com) a thermonuclear arsenal that uses fission to ignite a hydrogen *fusion* process, creating a much more destructive explosion. Second, Israel [is widely believed](https://www.nti.org/countries/israel/?ref=readtangle.com) to have about 90 nuclear warheads (compared to the U.S.’s [roughly 5,000](https://www.armscontrol.org/factsheets/nuclear-weapons-who-has-what-glance?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=On%20July%2019,of%20retired%20warheads)), but they have never officially confirmed that they have any. Physically, nothing is preventing either the U.S. or Israel from using a nuclear weapon against Iran, but several factors work against it — the largest of which is the immediate moral implications. An estimated 204,000 people died when the U.S. dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and today’s weapons are many times more destructive. No country has been able to justify the indiscriminate killing of that many people with just one weapon since the end of World War II. But even putting those considerations aside for a moment, several other factors make the option extremely undesirable. For one, [dated reports](https://web.archive.org/web/20090927153018/https://www.wired.com/politics/security/magazine/17-10/mf%5Fdeadhand?currentPage=all) [indicate](https://web.archive.org/web/20170405190840/http://www.nytimes.com/1993/10/08/world/russia-has-doomsday-machine-us-expert-says.html) that Russia has a “deadhand” nuclear deployment system, which would detect incoming ballistic nuclear missiles and deploy its own defensively. The potential for such a system being operational and active in Russia deters any country from using intercontinental ballistic missiles (launched from land) or submarine-launched ballistic missiles (from submarines), especially if their trajectory goes towards Russia. However, the United States and Israel have air superiority in Iran, so they could feasibly drop a nuclear bomb from an airplane. Of course, the fear of reprisal from Russia or China still remains a deterrent, and support and recruitment for Iranian proxies in the region, like Hezbollah and the Houthis, would likely intensify. That could lead to terrorist attacks in Israel, against ships in the Persian Gulf and Red Sea, against our other Middle East allies, and potentially in the United States. Even more assured are the diplomatic ramifications. One of the stated reasons for the war was to aid the Iranian people, and deploying even a small nuclear weapon would be devastating to Iran’s civilian population, which would severely diminish the U.S. diplomatic standing globally. Even a targeted strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities would cause incredible damage by detonating an unknown amount of fissile material. Even one thermonuclear bomb [could severely damage](https://www.atomicarchive.com/science/effects/index.html?ref=readtangle.com) a region hundreds of miles in diameter, contaminating groundwater and dispersing irradiated fallout that has [been linked](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4165831/?ref=readtangle.com) to increased incidence of thyroid cancer across an unknown area. Such an attack would fracture — if not destroy — standing U.S. alliances, cause global economic turmoil, destroy the credibility of disarmament pacts, and potentially even trigger impeachment proceedings against the president. Simply put, nuclear weapons damage the target country physically, but the sheer cost of human life, the possibility of reprisal, and the potential political damage against the aggressor remain massive deterrents against their usage. **Want to have a question answered in the newsletter? You can reply to this email (it goes straight to our inbox) or** [**fill out this form**](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScQhqBSG%5F6%5FoBhwcTQMeS570n29XYbeQ9C9Bis7rjqI31g1tA/viewform?usp=header&ref=readtangle.com)**.** ### Will California’s next governor be a Republican? California’s all-party primary is on June 2, with the top two vote getters — regardless of party — advancing to the general election. Former Rep. Eric Swalwell’s exit from the race has upended the Democratic field, but on the Republican side, Steve Hilton appears likely to advance. Last week, Isaac spoke with the former political adviser and Fox News host about his upset bid in deep blue California. You can listen [here](https://shows.acast.com/tangle/episodes/preview-special-edition-isaac-saul-interviews-the-front-runn?ref=readtangle.com) or watch it [here](https://youtu.be/pHHADjuyUBQ?ref=readtangle.com). ### Under the radar. On Thursday, the United States signed an agreement with the Philippines to create a U.S. industrial hub on a 4,000-acre site on the island of Luzon. The land is a gift from the Philippines, and it will function as a special economic zone with diplomatic immunity under U.S. common law. Furthermore, the hub will create access to critical minerals — such as nickel, copper, chromite, and cobalt — independent of Chinese supply chains, giving U.S. companies reliable access to key inputs for high-tech manufacturing. Details on the development’s timeline have not been announced, but the Trump administration will reportedly ask U.S. companies to submit bids to take part in the construction, with investment from private-sector companies. [The Wall Street Journal has the story](https://www.wsj.com/world/asia/u-s-to-create-high-tech-manufacturing-zone-in-philippines-017c1668?ref=readtangle.com). SPONSORED by the pour over ****Headlines Weighing You Down? There's a Better Way** The Pour Over delivers politically neutral news for Christians — just enough to stay informed, with Biblical reminders that keep the Good News in focus. No anxiety spiral, [no rage bait](https://signuphere.thepourover.org/?utm%5Fsource=tangle&utm%5Fmedium=newsletter&utm%5Fcampaign=mar16). 1.6 million readers trust their approach. It's free, it's funny (sometimes), and the welcome email might actually make you smile. [****Join The Pour Over**](https://signuphere.thepourover.org/?utm%5Fsource=tangle&utm%5Fmedium=newsletter&utm%5Fcampaign=mar16)****.** ### The extras. - **One year ago today** we had just published [a Friday edition on the SAVE Act](https://www.readtangle.com/the-save-act-separating-truth-from-fiction/). - **The most clicked link in our last regular newsletter** was the Senate [rejecting a war powers resolution](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/senate-war-powers-vote-iran-tammy-duckworth/?ref=readtangle.com). - **Nothing to do with politics:** A young wrestler in Ohio [gives an unforgettable interview](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0J5QJGsi%5Fdg&ref=readtangle.com). - **Our last survey:** 1,747 readers responded to our survey on Anthropic’s Mythos model with 45% saying it will have a major effect on cybersecurity and the internet. “As a software engineer, I find the hype believable. I also think this is just the beginning,” one respondent said. “This seems like a topic that is being thrust into the headlines to escape the AI bubble that seems to be forming,” said another. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/04/data-src-image-bffee179-d093-48ae-9c23-f163cd0db36f.png) ### Have a nice day. When a former student entered Pauls Valley High School in Oklahoma armed with two semi-automatic handguns, Principal Kirk Moore acted instinctively and courageously, charging and tackling the assailant. Moore took a bullet to the leg before he disarmed the shooter, but no students were harmed in the incident. To show their appreciation, the students voted Moore prom king at the school’s dance this weekend. “He would do anything to save those kids,” Madison Knighten, a former Pauls Valley student, said. [WBAL News Radio has the story](https://www.wbal.com/oklahoma-principal-crowned-prom-king-after-stopping-potential-school-shooting?ref=readtangle.com). ### The Sunday — April 19 URL: https://www.readtangle.com/the-sunday-april-19-2026/ Last updated: 2026-04-19T11:54:02.000Z *This is the Tangle Sunday Edition, a brief roundup of our independent politics coverage plus some extra features for your Sunday morning reading.* ### What the right is doodling. ![Gary Varvel | Creators Syndicate](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/04/data-src-image-8b0a6098-4bf9-41e6-8f2b-7d43dc01060a.jpeg) Gary Varvel | Creators Syndicate ### What the left is doodling. ![John Deering | Creators Syndicate](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/04/data-src-image-89db3039-4e19-4ade-b0e3-76c74c94b032.jpeg) John Deering | Creators Syndicate ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/04/data-src-image-628b1cd4-81e2-4176-b0d7-60847370e406.png) ### Suspension of the Rules On this week’s episode, Isaac, Ari, and Kmele talk about growing divides on the right and the Eric Swalwell scandal. Plus, some discussion about demons? You can check that out [here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6SHKJa9wsA&ref=readtangle.com)! ### Monday, April 13. [Negotiations with Iran](https://www.readtangle.com/iran-negotiations-no-deal/). On Sunday, April 12, President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. Navy will impose a blockade on the Strait of Hormuz after peace negotiations with Iranian officials failed to produce a breakthrough. While Iran has largely restricted transit through the strait over the past month, it has allowed some ships to pass through by paying a toll; in other cases, vessels linked to friendly nations like China have been granted passage. President Trump suggested the U.S. blockade will shut down the waterway entirely, though U.S. Central Command later said the blockade would not apply to ships passing through the strait to or from non-Iranian ports. *Note: Ceasefire negotiations are expected to resume in the coming days.* **Our take:** *“Negotiations so far seem unproductive. Trump instituting a blockade in the Strait of Hormuz invites more questions, and makes global shipping more tenuous. I worry economic disruptions are on the horizon if talks don’t produce agreements, and soon.”* **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/04/data-src-image-0b1cd3b3-c879-41ac-a345-55732818a1d5.png) ### Tuesday, April 14. [The elections in Hungary](https://www.readtangle.com/viktor-orban-loses-in-hungary/). On Sunday, April 12, Péter Magyar’s Tisza Party defeated Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz Party in Hungary’s parliamentary elections, unseating the 16-year incumbent. With 98% of the vote counted, Orbán and Fidesz had won 56 parliamentary seats, while Magyar and Tisza Party won 137 seats, giving it a two-thirds supermajority. Orbán had been supported by the Trump administration, which viewed him as a key ally in the European Union. After the majority of votes were tallied, Orbán conceded the race but said he will remain active as an opposition leader. **Our take:** *“Hungary’s election can teach us about modern conservatism in the West — especially in the United States. JD Vance shares Orbán’s postliberal beliefs that only a strong government can deliver needed cultural and economic change. Magyar’s victory shows how Western conservatism can evolve to avoid postliberalism.”* **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/04/data-src-image-07c604ea-35e6-4e0c-9907-82cf0b82229e.png) ### Wednesday, April 15. [The Swalwell accusations](https://www.readtangle.com/eric-swalwell-resigns-sexual-misconduct/). On April 10, a former staffer for California gubernatorial candidate Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) accused the Congressman of making unwanted advances, sexual assault, and rape. Three other women also came forward to accuse Swalwell of sexual misconduct, describing a pattern of sending explicit messages through Snapchat. On Tuesday, April 14, a fifth woman, Lonna Drewes, came forward to accuse Swalwell of drugging and raping her in a hotel room in 2018\. Swalwell denies the allegations, but apologized for “mistakes in judgment” and dropped out of the gubernatorial race after losing prominent endorsements. On April 14, Swalwell officially resigned from Congress. Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX), who was embroiled in a separate sexual misconduct scandal, resigned later on the same day. **Our take:** *“Resignation is the right step for both Gonzales and Swalwell — the legal ramifications can come in time. The fact that these consequences took so long to arrive reflects poorly on both parties and the media. That said, serious stories take time, and these outlets rightly solidified their reports before releasing them.”* **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/04/data-src-image-16911501-116b-4f68-9089-0463c423d9a3.png) ### Thursday, April 16. [Anthropic’s latest artificial intelligence model](https://www.readtangle.com/anthropic-claude-mythos-cybersecurity/). On April 7, artificial intelligence (AI) company Anthropic announced that it would not release its newest AI model, called Claude Mythos Preview, to the general public, citing potential security risks. Instead, Anthropic released the model to a select group of about 50 companies that will test its capabilities in a defensive security initiative known as Project Glasswing. According to the company, Mythos’s capabilities represent a “step change” in AI performance. During early testing, Mythos demonstrated advanced capabilities to identify and exploit previously undetected cybersecurity weaknesses across a wide range of servers and operating systems. **Our take:** *“I’m skeptical about a lot of AI hype, and this story is no exception. After talking with an expert, though, I can see how Anthropic could be trying to responsibly prepare for the release of a powerful tool. Lots of people are jumping to conclusions based on press releases, but I’ll wait to judge until I see the evidence myself.”* **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/04/data-src-image-86214128-87da-4006-a05f-93b1cbbd1b7c.png) ### Friday, April 17. In this week’s Friday edition, two Tangle editors debate the issue of data centers. Managing Editor Ari Weitzman argued that more data centers should be built, while Associate Editor Lindsey Knuth wrote that data center construction should slow down. This is a brand-new format in Tangle, and [you can check it out here](https://www.readtangle.com/should-we-build-more-data-centers-pro-con/). ### Further reading. We’ve covered relations with Iran, international elections, misconduct allegations, and tech industry developments before. Plus, since we tried out a new debate format in this week’s Friday edition, we’re looking at what makes arguments good or bad. Take a look at our past coverage below: - In April 2025 — roughly a year ago — we covered [nuclear talks between the U.S. and Iran](https://www.readtangle.com/iran-nuclear-talks-trump-oman/). - In July 2024, we covered [election results in France](https://www.readtangle.com/the-surprise-french-election-results/). - In September 2019, Isaac wrote about the sexual assault allegations against [then-nominee to the Supreme Court Brett Kavanaugh](https://www.readtangle.com/is-brett-kavanaugh-guilty-of-sexual-cac/). - In March 2023, we covered [the failure of Silicon Valley Bank](https://www.readtangle.com/svb-bank-failure-explained/). - In June 2023, Isaac wrote about [what makes a bad argument](https://www.readtangle.com/easy-to-argue-basically-anything/) in a paywalled Friday edition. --- ### What just happened. Here’s a rundown of the major stories that have broken since our newsletter on Thursday. - On Thursday, a federal judge issued an order blocking above-ground construction of President Donald Trump’s planned White House ballroom. On Friday, a federal appeals court overturned the order, allowing all construction to continue. ([The order](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/appeals-court-construction-trump-white-house-ballroom-rcna340814?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Thursday, President Trump nominated Dr. Erica Schwartz, who served in the military and as deputy surgeon general during the first Trump administration, as director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. ([The nomination](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-taps-former-deputy-surgeon-general-helm-cdc?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Thursday, President Trump announced a 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon following U.S.-brokered talks. The ceasefire went into effect on Friday at midnight. ([The ceasefire](https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2026/04/16/trump-iran-israel-lebanon-ceasefire-talks/?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Thursday, Russia carried out its deadliest attack in Ukraine this year, killing at least 17 people in a series of drone and missile strikes on the Ukrainian capital Kyiv. ([The strikes](https://www.reuters.com/world/russian-missiles-hit-ukraines-kyiv-officials-report-injuries-fires-2026-04-16/?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Thursday, authorities announced that former Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax (D) allegedly shot and killed his wife then himself following a domestic dispute. Fairfax’s wife had filed for divorce last year, and a judge had ordered him to move out of their home. ([The shooting](https://apnews.com/article/virginia-justin-fairfax-death-e10bd0f6327852933e15c8d9af559cd3?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Thursday, Analilia Mejia (D) defeated Joe Hathaway (R) in a special election to fill New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill’s (D) House seat. Mejia’s victory narrows House Republicans’ majority to 218–214\. ([The election](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-election/democrat-analilia-mejia-wins-new-jersey-special-house-election-rcna267426?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Friday, Congress approved an extension of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act until April 30\. The act allows some federal agencies to collect and analyze communications outside of the United States without a warrant. ([The extension](https://apnews.com/article/congress-foreign-surveillance-fisa-spy-agencies-3dc3e84c3b9b03f52b84dfb3b01fc770?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Friday, Iran announced the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to all commercial traffic, saying the waterway would remain open for the duration of the U.S.–Iran ceasefire. ([The reopening](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-04-17/iran-says-hormuz-strait-now-completely-open-for-commercial-ships?ref=readtangle.com)) However, on Saturday, Iran said it was closing the strait again and reportedly fired on tankers in the waterway. Iranian officials said they will keep the strait closed as long as the U.S. blockade continues. ([The update](https://www.axios.com/2026/04/18/iran-closes-strait-of-hormuz-once-again-fires-on-tankers?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Saturday, U.S. officials announced plans to begin boarding Iran-linked oil tankers and commercial ships in international waters. ([The plans](https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/u-s-military-prepares-to-board-iran-linked-ships-in-coming-days-officials-say-4dc0a718?mod=hp%5Flead%5Fpos2&ref=readtangle.com)) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/04/data-src-image-824d0371-43ff-411b-a6ae-162fc2c318d1.png) ### Reader essay. ![The author in an archway | Image from Jo Madnani](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/04/data-src-image-7ebb9ab9-f93f-463d-a988-4b9c6b523b8e.png) The author in an archway | Image from Jo Madnani This week, Tangle reader Jo Madnani shares her experiences as a first-generation immigrant daughter of a first-generation immigrant — and how those experiences taught her about the power and pain of resilience. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### The Shadow Side of Resilience URL: https://www.readtangle.com/otherposts/the-shadow-side-of-resilience/ Last updated: 2026-05-08T17:35:45.000Z *By Jo Madnani* --- If resilience was a tarot card, the Nine of Wands would fit nicely. In an upright position it means grit done right; reversed it means exhaustion and fatigue. It also reflects my lived reality as a first-generation immigrant. I have built a career across continents, straddling the corporate, entrepreneurial, and agency worlds (I am currently consulting and living the author life). Twenty years of living between worlds will teach you a thing or two about being resilient. Let’s explore the imagery of the card from a classic deck: A traveler holding a staff, slightly leaning on it, with a bandage around his head indicating hurt after a fight. Research showed me that the background — eight widely spaced wands standing against a mountain range before a cautiously happy blue sky — symbolize challenges that have been overcome. Let me take you on a journey as the weary but hopeful traveler would in this card. Unlike my father, I migrated voluntarily. It was shaped by the post-colonial 1947 Partition granted independence to the subcontinent known as India, but only after cleaving it in two. His family left Sindh, now Pakistan, to resettle in India; but they stayed true to their beliefs. He grew up in post-colonialism’s shadow, watching his parents rebuild from nothing. He barely finished high school and never had the opportunity to go to college. By his twenties, he had started his own business, holding tradition and innovation simultaneously without ever calling it a skill. He saw people for who they were and who they could become. He died when I was fourteen. I didn’t understand what I was losing. He carried more than anyone knew. The weight of a displaced family, a business built from nothing, a life held together by quiet will. It took my own displacement to understand what I had inherited from him. I moved countries in my early twenties, trailing my spouse’s career. When life led us from India to Florida, I arrived with no map, no network, and no blueprint of my own— just a blank page and the belief that I would figure it out. The move demanded resilience in its highest form, a fiery, gritty energy that helped me find work, build a semblance of community, and find the courage to start a family. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Let's debate: Data centers. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/should-we-build-more-data-centers-pro-con/ Last updated: 2026-04-17T16:05:16.000Z **I’m Isaac Saul, and this is Tangle. You are reading a preview of a members-only Friday edition. To read it in full,* [**you'll be asked to subscribe*](https://www.readtangle.com/membership/)**.* ****Did someone forward you this email?** [****Sign up here**](https://www.readtangle.com/)****.** --- ### The data center debate. You’ve probably heard the saying that all politics is local, even as you observe national political issues increasingly trickling down to the local level. However, when it comes to data centers, the old adage is coming true again: local issues are driving debate in the halls of Congress. Data centers are facilities that house critical information technology (IT) infrastructure, such as servers, storage systems, and networking equipment. They aren’t a new invention — they’ve provided the backbone for cloud services and internet applications for decades — but the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) has created massive demand for new hubs. AI companies [use](https://www.ibm.com/think/topics/ai-data-center?ref=readtangle.com) the IT infrastructure within data centers to train and deploy their models, which require huge amounts of compute power to run reliably (and a lot of electricity to operate and cool). Today, many new data centers are being built expressly to support AI. That push has generated blowback from residents of the towns and rural communities where new facilities are being constructed. Water use, land use, and electricity use are among the most prominent concerns. Some reports have [found](https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/data-centers-and-water-consumption?ref=readtangle.com) that large data centers use five million gallons of water per day, equivalent to the water use of a town of 10,000 to 50,000 people. And U.S. data centers [consumed](https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2025/10/24/what-we-know-about-energy-use-at-us-data-centers-amid-the-ai-boom/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=U.S.%20data%20centers%20consumed,by%20133%25%20to%20426%20TWh.) 183 terawatt-hours of electricity in 2024, roughly 4% of the country’s total electricity consumption and approximately equal to the annual electricity demand of Pakistan. By 2030, that consumption is expected to more than double. Concern about data centers’ impact has begun to translate into local action. Last week in Festus, Missouri, voters [ousted](https://www.politico.com/news/2026/04/13/missouri-city-council-data-center-00867259?ref=readtangle.com) all four incumbent city council members running for reelection after the council approved construction of a $6 billion data center. That same day, voters in Port Washington, Wisconsin, [passed](https://www.politico.com/news/2026/04/08/wisconsin-city-passes-nations-first-anti-data-center-referendum-00863432?ref=readtangle.com) a referendum by a two-to-one margin restricting incentives for future data center projects. And on Tuesday, Maine lawmakers [passed](https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/boards-policy-regulation/maine-legislature-approves-first-us-moratorium-big-data-centers-2026-04-14/?ref=readtangle.com) a bill that would freeze approvals for data centers requiring more than 20 megawatts ​of power until October 2027 to allow for review of the facilities’ effect on the local grid, electric bills, air quality, and water. Some efforts to restrict construction have turned violent; last week, an Indianapolis council member [said](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/indianapolis-councilman-says-shots-fired-house-no-data-centers-note-rcna267023?ref=readtangle.com) over a dozen shots were fired at his house, and a handwritten note was left on his doorstep reading “No Data Centers.” The suspect is still at large. Even as citizens turn against these projects, states continue to compete to house them. Lawmakers at all levels of government argue that data centers will be an economic boon, creating new jobs, tax revenue, and future business opportunities. Lawmakers and AI leaders also say data centers are critical to ensuring AI models have sufficient compute power to keep the U.S. on the cutting edge of the technology and able to address national security risks. The Trump administration has designated data center development as a national priority, [issuing](https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/07/accelerating-federal-permitting-of-data-center-infrastructure/?ref=readtangle.com) an executive order in July 2025 to speed up permitting for new projects, allocate federal land for construction, and provide loans, grants, and tax incentives for new facilities. Many states have [created](https://www.naiop.org/research-and-publications/magazine/2024/Winter-2024-2025/development-ownership/an-overview-of-state-data-center-related-tax-incentives/?ref=readtangle.com) similar incentive structures. The data center debate has been a fixture of conversation among Tangle staff in recent weeks. As AI becomes an increasingly salient topic in U.S. politics, we thought now was a good time to bring those conversations to the page — in a brand-new format. Today, Managing Editor Ari Weitzman and Associate Editor Lindsey Knuth debate their positions on the future of data centers. Each will share an “opening argument” covering the tenets of their perspective, then they’ll respond to each other’s points. Their primary arguments were developed in isolation, then shared simultaneously on Thursday. After reviewing the other’s piece, they developed their rebuttals. We hope this format models constructive disagreement. Most importantly, we hope it is thought-provoking and encourages you to discuss these issues among friends and family, in our comment section, or over email. As always, we welcome your thoughts and feedback. Let’s dive into the debate. Ari, the floor is yours. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Is AI officially a national security threat? URL: https://www.readtangle.com/anthropic-claude-mythos-cybersecurity/ Last updated: 2026-04-16T15:52:55.000Z *I'm Isaac Saul, and this is Tangle: an independent, nonpartisan, subscriber-supported politics newsletter that summarizes the best arguments from across the political spectrum on the news of the day — then “my take.”* *Are you new here?* [*Get free emails*](https://www.readtangle.com/) *to your inbox daily. Would you rather listen? You can find our podcast* [*here*](https://shows.acast.com/66510864c0852400122bc7be?ref=readtangle.com)*.* ### Today’s read: 14 minutes. 🤖 Anthropic claims its latest model is too dangerous for public release — is it an imminent threat, a marketing tactic, or something else? Plus, a reader asks whether the Pentagon really threatened the pope. ### A Tangle data centers debate. Tomorrow, we’re doing something different: Two Tangle editors will debate the issue of data centers. Managing Editor Ari Weitzman will argue in favor of building more data centers: > *The choice is between a future that continues to allow for more automation and connectivity and one that requires more manual processes, more travel for work, more highways, and more greenhouse-gas emissions due to vehicular travel (as well as traffic deaths).* On the other side, Associate Editor Lindsey Knuth will argue against: > *At a time when laws regulating data centers’ water and electricity use are just beginning to be rolled out in some states, we’re not at a place to responsibly keep building — and I understand why communities around the country are feeling such resentment and frustration.* This will be the first time we’ve tried a format like this, and we’re excited to hear what you think. To read how the arguments compare to one another, and to chime in yourself, [make sure you’re subscribed](https://readtangle.com/membership?ref=readtangle.com)! ### Quick hits. 1. The Pentagon said that American warships turned back 13 vessels attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz since Monday. ([The update](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/04/16/trump-iran-war-hormuz-strait-blockade.html?ref=readtangle.com)) Separately, Iran’s top joint military command said it would disrupt seafaring trade in the region if the U.S. blockade continues. ([The warning](https://www.iranintl.com/en/202604159307?ref=readtangle.com)) 2. President Donald Trump said he would fire Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell if Powell does not step down from his position when his term expires in May. Powell may remain in place as chair “pro tempore” if President Trump’s nominee to succeed him, Kevin Warsh, is not confirmed when Powell’s term ends. Warsh’s nomination is currently before the Senate Banking Committee. ([The comments](https://www.cnn.com/2026/04/15/economy/powell-trump-fire-fed-chair?ref=readtangle.com)) 3. A federal jury in New York found that Live Nation, the owner of Ticketmaster, acted as a monopoly and violated federal and state antitrust laws, determining that Ticketmaster had overcharged consumers by $1.72 for each ticket. A judge will determine the penalty for Live Nation, which could include a breakup of Live Nation and Ticketmaster. ([The verdict](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/15/arts/music/live-nation-antitrust-trial-verdict-monopoly.html?ref=readtangle.com)) 4. In a 52–47 vote, the Senate rejected a war powers resolution that sought to curb President Trump’s ability to continue the Iran war without Congressional authorization. This was the fourth such vote since Operation Epic Fury began on February 28\. ([The vote](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/senate-war-powers-vote-iran-tammy-duckworth/?ref=readtangle.com)) 5. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will testify before the House Ways and Means Committee on Thursday to discuss proposed budget cuts for the Department of Health and Human Services, as well as personnel changes at top health agencies. ([The hearing](https://www.newsnationnow.com/politics/rfk-jr-testify-congress-hhs-budget-cuts/?ref=readtangle.com)) SPONSORED by money.com ****Protect against rising vet costs with pet insurance** The cost of veterinary services has been rising recently, with some common surgical procedures costing up to $7,000\. Pet insurance can help cover accidents, illnesses, and even routine care, with some plans reimbursing up to [90% of costs](https://api.wellput.io/v1/cm?cmid=799664mo0vd4yd&tid=164&s1=v2-r689949-p799664-c45863&s2=Tangle&s3=&s4=null&ref=readtangle.com). Money.com's Best Pet Insurance list can help you find affordable coverage starting at just $10 a month so you can focus on what matters most — your furry friend's well-being. [****Get a personalized pet insurance quote today and save thousands on costly vet bills**](https://api.wellput.io/v1/cm?cmid=799664mo0vd4yd&tid=164&s1=v2-r689949-p799664-c45863&s2=Tangle&s3=&s4=null&ref=readtangle.com)****.** ### Today’s topic. Anthropic’s latest artificial intelligence model. On April 7, artificial intelligence (AI) company Anthropic [announced](https://www.axios.com/2026/04/07/anthropic-mythos-preview-cybersecurity-risks?ref=readtangle.com) that it would not release its newest AI model, called Claude Mythos Preview, to the general public, citing potential security risks. Instead, Anthropic released the model to a select group of about 50 companies that will test its capabilities in a defensive security initiative known as [Project Glasswing](https://www.anthropic.com/glasswing?ref=readtangle.com). **Back up:** In early March, President Donald Trump [ordered](https://www.readtangle.com/military-use-of-artifical-intelligence-anthropic-openai/) federal agencies to stop using Anthropic AI products after the company refused to grant the Pentagon unrestricted access to its models; the government also labeled Anthropic a supply chain risk, and the company sued the administration in response. The legal dispute between Anthropic and the Trump administration is ongoing. On March 26, Fortune [reported](https://fortune.com/2026/03/26/anthropic-leaked-unreleased-model-exclusive-event-security-issues-cybersecurity-unsecured-data-store/?ref=readtangle.com) that it had accessed some of Anthropic’s sensitive internal data in an unsecured data trove. The data contained unreleased information discussing a new AI model, which internal documents called “the most capable model it had yet trained.” Following Fortune’s report, Anthropic [acknowledged](https://fortune.com/2026/03/26/anthropic-says-testing-mythos-powerful-new-ai-model-after-data-leak-reveals-its-existence-step-change-in-capabilities/?stream=top&ref=readtangle.com#%5Fga=2.52923368.112420138.1776275318-1638838311.1760973958) the existence of the model — Mythos — and said that it had begun testing with select early access customers. According to the company, Mythos’s capabilities represent a “step change” in AI performance. During early testing, Mythos [demonstrated](https://red.anthropic.com/2026/mythos-preview/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=FINDING%20ZERO%2DDAY%20VULNERABILITIES) advanced capabilities to identify and exploit previously undetected cybersecurity weaknesses across a wide range of servers and operating systems. It also [reportedly acted](https://www.axios.com/2026/04/08/mythos-system-card?ref=readtangle.com) autonomously, in one instance breaking out of internet search restrictions and [emailing](https://x.com/sleepinyourhat/status/2041584808514744742?s=20&ref=readtangle.com) an Anthropic worker unprompted. While Anthropic believes Mythos to be the most advanced AI model currently available, Anthropic security researcher Logan Graham [said](https://www.axios.com/2026/04/07/anthropic-mythos-preview-cybersecurity-risks?ref=readtangle.com) other AI companies could release similarly advanced models within 6–18 months. Anthropic [briefed](https://techcrunch.com/2026/04/14/anthropic-co-founder-confirms-the-company-briefed-the-trump-administration-on-mythos/?ref=readtangle.com) the Trump administration on Mythos last week, with co-founder Jack Clark [saying](https://www.reuters.com/world/anthropic-talking-trump-administration-about-its-next-ai-model-co-founder-says-2026-04-13/?ref=readtangle.com) that Anthropic did not want a “narrow contracting dispute” to overshadow the company’s concern for national security matters. Following the briefing, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent [met with](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/10/business/anthropic-claude-mythos-preview-banks.html?ref=readtangle.com) leaders of the nation’s largest banks to discuss Mythos’s security risk. Meanwhile, staff from at least two federal agencies [have reached out](https://www.politico.com/news/2026/04/14/anthropic-mythos-federal-agency-testing-00872439?ref=readtangle.com) to Anthropic expressing interest in integrating Mythos into their cyber defense systems, despite the federal government’s ban on working with Anthropic. Additionally, several Congressional committees asked to independently evaluate the model’s capabilities. Below, we’ll get into what writers from the right, the left, and the tech industry are saying about Claude Mythos. Then, Executive Editor Isaac Saul gives his take. ### What the right is saying. - **The right is mixed on Mythos, with some saying the product requires urgent discussions among world leaders.** - **Others suggest Mythos and further AI advances are a boon to society.** **In The Washington Post, Megan McArdle explored** [**“what Anthropic’s new nightmare means.”**](https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2026/04/10/claude-mythos-artificial-intelligence-anthropic-china/?ref=readtangle.com) “In plain English, Anthropic says its newest AI model has found security holes in the major systems that power … well, almost everything. Amateurs with modest coding expertise could conceivably exploit these holes to hack and crack a frightening chunk of the nation’s digital infrastructure,” McArdle wrote. “Instead of releasing Claude Mythos Preview to the public, Anthropic is working with a consortium of key players such as Apple, Google and Microsoft to patch these holes as soon as possible. That’s a strong signal that the problem is real.” “Some will see this as more reason to ban AI before it steals our passwords and our jobs. Unfortunately, that won’t work, as this week’s events demonstrate, because the technology is out there, and if the United States doesn’t develop it, someone else will,” McArdle said. “The obvious rejoinder is bilateral talks are needed to enforce a worldwide pause. That’s an appealing but unworkable solution. It would amount to a major arms control negotiation, which can take years, if not decades, while AI develops new capabilities practically every month.” **In The Wall Street Journal, Holman W. Jenkins, Jr. argued** [**“Anthropic’s new product isn’t a cyber threat but a solution to cyber threats.”**](https://www.wsj.com/opinion/with-mythos-ai-pays-for-itself-b4d29d5a?ref=readtangle.com) “Mythos has already paid for itself as far as society is concerned. What if Anthropic were a Chinese company, reporting its discovery to the Communist Party? Think other hostile governments and criminal gangs aren’t also hunting for the same vulnerabilities?” Jenkins asked. “Anthropic doesn’t consider being for-profit inconsistent with its founders’ safety mission. Now you can expect it to create a billion-dollar business fixing the software flaws discovered by Mythos. Hooray. Let’s have more of this.” “So much official communication, from government, politicians, business or the news media, traffics in shortcuts, stereotypes and fallacies (the hindsight fallacy being a stanchion of news coverage). The reason is partly economic. Thinking is costly. Information search is costly. Asking people to learn something new that goes against prior belief or intuition is costly. AI makes better thinking cheaper. It may have its biggest effect in those large swaths of decision-making where people most often avoid the investment,” Jenkins wrote. “This is the real AI opportunity — the opportunity to improve all forms of public and private decision-making.” ### What the left is saying. - **The left is deeply concerned about Mythos’s reported capabilities and its risks to global security.** - **Some say governments must act now to respond to these potential threats.** **In The Atlantic, Matteo Wong wrote** [**“Claude Mythos is everyone’s problem.”**](https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/2026/04/claude-mythos-hacking/686746/?ref=readtangle.com) “Mythos Preview appears to represent not an incremental change but the beginning of a paradigm shift. Until recently, the biggest advantage of AI-assisted hacking was not ingenuity, per se, so much as speed and scale. These bots could be as good as many human cybersecurity experts, but not necessarily better,” Wong said. “According to Anthropic, the bot has been able to find thousands of software bugs that had gone undetected, sometimes for decades… The model has found a nearly 30-year-old vulnerability in one of the world’s most secure operating systems.” “Perhaps more concerning than the reported capabilities of Mythos Preview is that other companies are not far behind. OpenAI is reportedly set to release its own similarly powerful model to a select group of companies. It’s very possible, even likely, that Google DeepMind, xAI, and AI firms in China are next,” Wong wrote. “These companies can or could soon have the capability to launch major cyberattacks, conduct mass surveillance, influence military operations, cause huge swings in financial and labor markets, and reorient global supply chains. In theory, nothing governs these companies other than their own morals and their investors.” **In The New York Times, Thomas L. Friedman said** [**“Anthropic’s restraint is a terrifying warning sign.”**](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/07/opinion/anthropic-ai-claude-mythos.html?ref=readtangle.com) “Superintelligent A.I. is arriving faster than anticipated, at least in this area. We knew it was getting amazingly good at enabling anyone, no matter how computer literate, to write software code. But even Anthropic reportedly did not anticipate that it would get this good, this fast,” Friedman wrote. “I’m really not being hyperbolic when I say that kids could deploy this by accident. Mom and Dad, get ready for: ‘Honey, what did you do after school today?’ ‘Well, Mom, my friends and I took down the power grid. What’s for dinner?’” “No country in the world can solve this problem alone. The solution — this may shock people — must begin with the two A.I. superpowers, the U.S. and China. It is now urgent that they learn to collaborate to prevent bad actors from gaining access to this next level of cyber capability,” Friedman said. “Such a powerful tool would threaten them both, leaving them exposed to criminal actors inside their countries and terrorist groups and other adversaries outside. It could easily become a greater threat to each country than the two countries are to each other.” ### What technology writers are saying. - **Technology writers are concerned about Mythos’s capabilities, saying it will change how we view cybersecurity threats.** - **Others worry this technology will inevitably benefit bad actors.** **In Understanding AI, Kai Williams described** [**“why Anthropic believes its latest model is too dangerous to release.”**](https://www.understandingai.org/p/why-anthropic-believes-its-latest?ref=readtangle.com) “The idea that LLMs might be used for hacking is not new. OpenAI has long published a Frontier Safety Framework, which tracks how good its models are at hacking. Until recently, the answer was ‘not very’… But that started to change last fall, when LLMs — especially Anthropic’s Claude — started becoming useful for cyberoffense,” Williams wrote. “Bloomberg reported in February that a hacker used Claude to steal millions of taxpayer and voter records from the Mexican government. The same month, Amazon announced that Russian hackers had used AI tools to breach over 600 firewalls around the world. But the examples given in Anthropic’s blog post are more impressive — and scary — than that.” “For the past 20 years or so, a sufficiently motivated and well-funded hacking organization could probably break into most systems, outside of the most hardened in the world. But it often wasn’t worth the effort. Human cyber talent is expensive, and multi-layered security protections made it so tedious (and therefore expensive) to complete an attack that potential hackers didn’t bother,” Williams said. “Mythos-class models could slash the cost of hacking, bringing this equilibrium to an end. Systems everywhere might start to get compromised.” **In Spyglass, M.G. Siegler wrote about** [**“the casual catastrophe of AI.”** ](https://spyglass.org/claude-mythos-quandry/?ref=readtangle.com) “You can’t help but read all of these stories about all the bugs, vulnerabilities, and exploits that Anthropic’s model is finding across basically all computing systems out there in the real world and think ‘holy shit, we’re cooked.’ While ‘Project Glasswing’ seems like a valiant effort to get ahead of the issues, come on, we know how this movie ends,” Siegler said. “But my main takeaway is that it has less to do with the genius of these AI models… but it’s more about the breadth. Both of knowledge and time.” “No one creates systems to have obvious vulnerabilities for others to fix. They’re the byproduct of a million little variables — a scale a human isn’t suited to deal with. But AI is. Issues that might take a human years to find and fix can be found and solved almost instantly by such systems,” Siegler wrote. “Historically, many vulnerabilities have been fixed only after someone exploited them in some way. Again, that’s because the incentives are in favor of the attacker versus the defender. If and when Mythos-caliber tools are put in the hands of hackers… yeah.” ### My take. **Reminder: “My take” is a section where we give ourselves space to share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, don't unsubscribe. Write in by replying to this email, or** [**leave a comment**](https://www.readtangle.com/anthropic-claude-mythos-cybersecurity/#ghost-comments-root)**.** - **I’m skeptical about a lot of AI hype, and this story is no exception.** - **After talking with an expert, though, I can see how Anthropic could be trying to responsibly prepare for the release of a powerful tool.** - **Lots of people are jumping to conclusions based on press releases, but I’ll wait to judge until I see the evidence myself.** **Executive Editor Isaac Saul:** When the Mythos story first broke, I had a hard time not rolling my eyes. My initial instinct was to [post on X](https://x.com/Ike%5FSaul/status/2041918120852394281?ref=readtangle.com) about a newsletter product we were rolling out at Tangle that was so good we didn’t think the public could handle it. But, you know, if you wanted to play with a preview of it, you could just [become a paying member](https://www.readtangle.com/membership/) and we’d send you a special version of it to see if it melts your brain. I really do think something about all this is obvious PR, and I think these artificial intelligence companies are extremelygood at it. Not a little good at it — but *extremely*. After all, they have to pull off an incredible high-wire act: They’re creating a product that they’re telling the public is so good it’s going to steal your jobs, hand over cybercrime tools to bad actors, and potentially destroy all of humanity. But, also, you should be really excited about this stuff and invest in their companies. “A new product so good it’s dangerous to release to the public” feels like a magnum opus of publicity. Despite my snark, I have to concede that I don’t totally understand or *really* know what’s going on here. If we’re taking Anthropic’s word, it’s easy to be skeptical: Imagine the digital security infrastructure of an important institution like a bank as if it’s your house. Anthropic is claiming Mythos can examine the house and quickly find every lock that can be picked, or every window that was left open, or maybe even a sewer pipe that runs up to your basement. These “zero-day vulnerabilities” are often unknown to you, the person living inside the house, so you can’t defend against them. Anthropic, then, is telling you your home is vulnerable to intrusion, and also offering to sell you a security system that can identify those vulnerabilities before it makes the system available to a bunch of cat burglars. Now, this isn’t my industry. I don’t have a tech background, and I’ve never worked or reported deeply on the AI space — I’m basically a common fella trying to figure out what the heck is going on like everyone else. But my immediate thoughts are: If this is true, it’s pretty unsettling. If it’s a sales pitch, it’s damn good. And if Mythos is really as good as Anthropic says, why ever release it to anyone? What are the odds that there are zero bad actors with access to this tool working at these big companies with Mythos access? Wouldn’t the *actually* safe thing to do be to take this model out behind the barn and put it to bed? In pursuit of understanding this stuff, I spoke to [tech journalist Casey Newton](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKEkjIDkt2Q&&ref=readtangle.com) last week. Newton is one of the best-known tech journalists in the game, with strong relationships in the industry. Unlike me, this is his beat. His fiancé also works at Anthropic, the company behind Claude Mythos, so he has to disclose that every time he writes or talks about what it’s doing (I’ll note that he’s faced criticism, [even from our own audience](https://www.reddit.com/r/TangleNews/comments/1smmvne/i%5Fappreciate%5Fthe%5Finterview%5Fwith%5Fcasey%5Fnewton/?ref=readtangle.com), for being too Anthropic-friendly in some of his reporting). Still, whatever his potential biases, Newton is an honest, fair reporter, so I brought my skepticism about the Mythos hype to him. He argued that the reports can’t possibly be only hype, because Anthropic would obviously release this technology if it thought it was safe. After all, this is the first time the company has held back a model, and there is clearly demand for more of its product. He insisted Anthropic’s position was logical: If this product really is dangerous, releasing it publicly would create a massive legal liability, and federal agencies would kick down Anthropic’s door if people started using Mythos to hack all manner of websites, government services, or banking systems. Newton, in what he described as an effort to “unbias” himself, spoke to Alex Stamos, the former chief security officer at Facebook. Stamos [told him](https://www.platformer.news/anthropic-mythos-cybersecurity-risk-experts/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=%E2%80%9CWe%20only%20have,with%20minimal%20cost%29.%E2%80%9D) that Mythos and Project Glasswing were, in fact, a huge deal, adding that “we only have something like six months” before other models catch up, at which point “every ransomware actor will be able to find and weaponize bugs without leaving traces for law enforcement to find.” Therefore, Anthropic must help our government and all these tech companies prepare. I’m not convinced that future is inevitable, and for what it’s worth, I don’t know whether Stamos actually got a look at Mythos or is relying on reports or interviews to form his view. But I think allowing companies and the government time to get ahead of worst-case scenarios is reasonable. Newton also suggested that Anthropic [may not have the server capacity](https://stratechery.com/2026/mythos-muse-and-the-opportunity-cost-of-compute/?ref=readtangle.com) to power this new model at scale, and leadership could be holding the model back to give themselves time to build it. That could give more credence to the “PR theory” I described earlier. Without experiencing the model myself or hearing from people who have, I still have a hard time not scoffing at folks like Thomas Friedman (under “What the left is saying”) imagining a group of teenagers taking down the power grid before dinner. Again, everyone is making these dire predictions based solely on Anthropic’s [*own research*](https://red.anthropic.com/2026/mythos-preview/?ref=readtangle.com)about its *own model,* and limited (often anonymous leaks) that all seem to originate within the company. We haven’t even heard from the 50 or so tech companies who are testing the model against their digital infrastructures. Which, actually, brings me to the canary in the coal mine I’ll be looking for: How the companies in Glasswing react. If, over the next few months, everyone from Amazon to Chase to Meta starts scrambling to prepare for a new security threat, that will confirm to me that this threat is real. If these guys all play with the model and nothing really changes, I’ll assume that the threat was overhyped. For now, I think it’s important to remind everyone that we’ve been here a few times already: For two years now, the AI industry has been saying that autonomous agents handling complex work with minimal supervision were about to upend the entire economy. Any day now. Two years after Claude Code was supposed to make software engineers irrelevant, the company is facing criticism that Claude’s [abilities are actually degrading](https://venturebeat.com/technology/is-anthropic-nerfing-claude-users-increasingly-report-performance?ref=readtangle.com), perhaps because it’s hitting compute limits. Even the Mythos hype, less than a week in, is already being questioned — and the fine print in Anthropic’s own paper suggests it “[can’t state with certainty](https://red.anthropic.com/2026/mythos-preview/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=While%20we%20are,of%20doing%20so.)” (yet) how serious some of the vulnerabilities Mythos found actually are, so we’re left waiting for more information about what, exactly, the model is actually capable of. I don’t want to fall victim to the “boy who cried wolf” dynamic here, but again: I’m just urging *some* skepticism. Every news outlet and influencer is eating this “too dangerous for normal people” stuff up without any outside testing of the model, and we really should wait to see the evidence ourselves. There is a cost to overreacting: stifling innovation, distorting priorities, and contributing to the kind of hysteria that has already led to an [attempt on Sam Altman’s life](https://open.spotify.com/episode/6itFhM81eMlrRQJrMT620Q?si=886f9acfd7274bae&nd=1&dlsi=4e44e8eb8bb64c69&ref=readtangle.com) Maybe I’ll end up with egg on my face, but I’d rather be a little slow to declare a problem than panic before I get all the information. Most people seem to think that on a linear scale of 1 to 10, we’re at about a “2” in the evolution of AI. I think we may be closer to a 7\. And while the abilities of these models continue to impress, that doesn’t mean they’re going to end up being the world-changing (or ending) products the companies themselves are claiming. **Take the survey:** How impactful do you think Anthropic’s Mythos will be? [Let us know](https://interrobang.vercel.app/survey/b282b7ef-60cd-4f79-b375-54ea035899e1?ref=readtangle.com). *Disagree? That's okay. Our opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we'll consider publishing your feedback.* ### Your questions, answered. **Q: If you are collecting suggestions for another topic, any chance you can write about the Pentagon threatening the Pope? It’s not clear from what I read whether that’s fake news or exaggerated news. Thank you!** **— Peg (submitted through** [**Subtext**](https://joinsubtext.com/c/tanglenews?ref=readtangle.com)**)** **Tangle:** In case you missed it, Peg is referring to a story first published in The Free Press by writer Mattia Ferraresi titled “[Why the Vatican and the White House Are on the Outs](https://www.thefp.com/p/why-the-vatican-and-the-white-house?ref=readtangle.com).” Ferraresi explains the apparent strained relations between the Trump administration and the Vatican as centered on the pope’s objections to U.S. military intervention abroad. On January 9, Pope Leo XIV gave his first [“state of the world” address](https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/en/speeches/2026/january/documents/20260109-corpo-diplomatico.html?ref=readtangle.com) in which he criticized the use of “diplomacy based on force.” Shortly after this address, Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby met with Cardinal Christophe Pierre, then the pope’s ambassador to the U.S., at the Pentagon to discuss apparent differences regarding U.S. foreign policy. According to Ferraresi, during the meeting, “one U.S. official went so far as to invoke the Avignon papacy, the period in the 1300s when the French Crown leveraged its military power to dominate the papal authority.” The invocation of the Avignon papacy struck some as a not-so-thinly veiled threat of military force. For more context: From 1309–1377, [seven popes](https://www.britannica.com/event/Avignon-papacy?ref=readtangle.com) took up official residence in Avignon, France, amid instability in Europe and in response to prolonged military and political pressure against the papacy from King Philip IV of France. The Avignon popes were known to make some (though not all) of their decisions to appease the French Crown. After Ferraresi’s report was published, both U.S. and Vatican officials confirmed that the meeting took place. However, they disputed Ferraresi’s characterization of the conversation. The Department of Defense [called](https://x.com/DOWResponse/status/2042300020494418303?ref=readtangle.com) the meeting “substantive, professional and respectful,” adding that some reporting on the meeting was “highly exaggerated and distorted.” U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See Brian Burch also [wrote](https://x.com/BrianBurchUSA/status/2042307511504519366?s=20&ref=readtangle.com) that Cardinal Pierre said no reference had been made to the Avignon papacy during the meeting. Holy See Press Office director Matteo Bruni [said](https://thehill.com/policy/international/5825811-vatican-pentagon-elbridge-colby-meeting/?ref=readtangle.com), “The account offered by certain media outlets regarding this meeting does not correspond to the truth in any way.” Vatican officials also [told](https://www.pillarcatholic.com/p/nuncios-pentagon-meeting-was-frank?ref=readtangle.com) Catholic news outlet The Pillar that “no threats were implied or made by U.S. officials.” However, Vatican officials characterized the meeting as “tense.” In short, it seems like some details of the Free Press’s report were inaccurate, or — at least — neither side is willing to confirm the claims. However, relations between the U.S. and the Vatican are strained, and that strain increased in the past week after Pope Leo spoke out against the war in Iran, and President Trump issued a social media post criticizing Pope Leo. **Want to have a question answered in the newsletter? You can reply to this email (it goes straight to our inbox) or** [**fill out this form**](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScQhqBSG%5F6%5FoBhwcTQMeS570n29XYbeQ9C9Bis7rjqI31g1tA/viewform?usp=header&ref=readtangle.com)**.** ### Numbers. - [**$380 billion.**](https://www.anthropic.com/news/anthropic-raises-30-billion-series-g-funding-380-billion-post-money-valuation?ref=readtangle.com) Anthropic’s valuation as of February, following a $30 billion raise in its Series G funding round. - [**99%.**](https://red.anthropic.com/2026/mythos-preview/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=As%20we%20discuss%20below%2C%20we%E2%80%99re%20limited%20in%20what%20we%20can%20report%20here.%20Over%2099%25%20of%20the%20vulnerabilities%20we%E2%80%99ve%20found%20have%20not%20yet%20been%20patched%2C%20so%20it%20would%20be%20irresponsible%20for%20us%20to%20disclose%20details%20about%20them%20%28per%20our%20coordinated%20vulnerability%20disclosure%C2%A0process%29.) The approximate percentage of software vulnerabilities identified by Claude Mythos that have not been patched, according to Anthropic. - [**$100 million.**](https://www.anthropic.com/glasswing?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Anthropic%20is%20committing%20up%20to%20%24100M%20in%20usage%20credits%20for%20Mythos%20Preview%20across%20these%20efforts%2C%20as%20well%20as%20%244M%20in%20direct%20donations%20to%20open%2Dsource%20security%20organizations.) The amount that Anthropic says it is committing in Mythos Preview usage credits to support defensive cybersecurity work. - [**80% and 18%.**](https://poll.qu.edu/poll-release?releaseid=3955&ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Eighty%20percent%20are%20either%20very%20concerned%20%2838%20percent%29%20or%20somewhat%20concerned%20%2842%20percent%29%20about%20AI%2C%20while%2018%20percent%20are%20either%20not%20so%20concerned%20%2810%20percent%29%20or%20not%20concerned%20at%20all%20%288%20percent%29.) The percentage of U.S. adults who say they are concerned and not concerned, respectively, about AI, according to a March 2026 Quinnipiac University poll. - [**51%.**](https://poll.qu.edu/poll-release?releaseid=3955&ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Fifty%2Done%20percent%20of%20Americans%20say%20the%20pace%20of%20AI%20development%20is%20moving%20faster%20than%20they%20expected%2C%2038%20percent%20say%20it%20is%20moving%20about%20as%20fast%20as%20they%20expected%2C%20and%208%20percent%20say%20it%20is%20moving%20not%20as%20fast%20as%20they%20expected.) The percentage of U.S. adults who say the pace of AI development is moving faster than they expected. - [**34% and 55%.**](https://poll.qu.edu/poll-release?releaseid=3955&ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Fifty%2Dfive%20percent%20of%20Americans%20think%20AI%20will%20do%20more%20harm%20than%20good%20in%20their%20day%2Dto%2Dday%20lives%2C%20while%2034%20percent%20think%20AI%20will%20do%20more%20good%20than%20harm%2C%20with%2011%20percent%20not%20offering%20an%20opinion.) The percentage of U.S. adults who think AI will do more good than harm and more harm than good, respectively. SPONSORED by money.com ****Which type of pet insurance do you need?** Accident & illness policies, accident coverage, and wellness riders all offer varying degrees of protection. Which one do you need? View Money's list of [****best pet insurance providers of 2026**](https://api.wellput.io/v1/cm?cmid=799664mo0vd4yd&tid=164&s1=v2-r689949-p799664-c1588&s2=Tangle&s3=&s4=null&ref=readtangle.com) to find the best fit for you. [See The List ](https://api.wellput.io/v1/cm?cmid=799664mo0vd4yd&tid=164&s1=v2-r689949-p799664-c1588&s2=Tangle&s3=&s4=null&ref=readtangle.com) ### The road not taken. **In this section, we offer a peek behind the curtains at Tangle’s editorial process, highlighting at least one story from the week that we almost covered as a main topic — and an explanation for why we ultimately chose not to.* For Wednesday’s and Thursday’s editions, we contemplated three topics that we ultimately opted not to cover immediately: President Trump’s feud with Pope Leo XIV, the Justice Department’s move to dismiss seditious conspiracy charges for Jan. 6 rioters, and the peace talks between Israel and Lebanon. We briefly addressed the Trump–Pope story today through a reader question, and may cover it as a main story in the future. The Jan. 6 charges dismissal is also a candidate for next week, but we didn’t find sufficient commentary for the right and left by Thursday. We’re also planning to dedicate full coverage to Israel–Lebanon negotiations and the ongoing conflict as the situation progresses. ### The extras. - **One year ago today** we wrote about [the Harvard–Trump standoff](https://www.readtangle.com/harvard-v-donald-trump/). - **The most clicked link in our last regular newsletter** was [the standoff between Trump, Vance, and Pope Leo XIV](https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5830041-jd-vance-donald-trump-pope-leo-feud/?ref=readtangle.com). - **Something to do with politics:** Isaac, Ari, and Kmele discussed that standoff, Trump’s “Jesus” post, whether there are “demons” among us, and the fractures among MAGA on [the latest *Suspension of the Rules*](https://youtu.be/B6SHKJa9wsA?ref=readtangle.com)*.* - **Nothing to do with politics:** Hershey’s announces it will [return to its original recipes](https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/food/2026/04/02/reeses-founders-grandson-slams-hersheys-classic-recipe-change/89435285007/?ref=readtangle.com). - **Our last survey:** 2,164 readers responded to our survey on Eric Swalwell, with 73% saying the evidence supports a criminal investigation into the former lawmaker. “He should have been ousted long ago,” one respondent said. “Innocent until proven guilty. But there seems to be good evidence,” said another. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/04/data-src-image-9646e4a6-629a-4b9e-afef-18224ede43fb.png) ### Have a nice day. When fear strikes, knowing where to find help matters. A group of boys riding their bikes through their Akron, Ohio, neighborhood spotted someone they didn’t know and felt unsafe. Instead of panicking, they rode their bikes to the home of their local pastor, Crystal Varner, and asked her to pray for them. Varner, who leads EQUIP Church with her husband, answered the door and did exactly that. The doorbell footage went viral after being picked up by CBS News, reaching viewers across Germany, Spain, Australia, Nigeria, South Africa, and beyond. “That’s why I love pastor,” one of the boys said. Varner, a former single mother who relied on food stamps, now focuses her ministry on feeding families in need and creating spaces of support. [Sunny Skyz has the story](https://www.sunnyskyz.com/good-news/6154/Frightened-Kids-Ride-To-Pastor-s-Home-For-Comfort-And-Find-Exactly-What-They-Needed?ref=readtangle.com). ### Swalwell, Gonzales, and the Politics of Consequences URL: https://www.readtangle.com/swalwell-gonzales-and-the-politics-of-consequences/ Last updated: 2026-04-17T00:04:01.000Z In this episode of Suspension of the Rules, Isaac Saul, Ari Weitzman, and Kmele Foster dig into a surprising shift in American politics: growing tensions inside the MAGA coalition — and what it could mean for Donald Trump's and the GOP's future. ### Swalwell, Gonzales resign after sexual misconduct allegations. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/eric-swalwell-resigns-sexual-misconduct/ Last updated: 2026-04-15T15:54:06.000Z *I'm Isaac Saul, and this is Tangle: an independent, nonpartisan, subscriber-supported politics newsletter that summarizes the best arguments from across the political spectrum on the news of the day — then “my take.”* *Are you new here?* [*Get free emails*](https://www.readtangle.com/) *to your inbox daily. Would you rather listen? You can find our podcast* [*here*](https://shows.acast.com/66510864c0852400122bc7be?ref=readtangle.com)*.* ### Today’s read: 15 minutes. 🗣️ Five women allege sexual misconduct against former Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA); he and Tony Gonzales (R-TX) both resigned on the same day. Did they need to, or did they resign too late? ### Correction. In Tuesday’s edition on Hungary’s elections, we [wrote](https://www.readtangle.com/viktor-orban-loses-in-hungary/#:~:text=Neither%20President%20Trump%20nor%20Vice%20President%20Vance%20has%20commented%20on%20the%20result.%C2%A0), “Neither President Trump nor Vice President Vance has commented on the result.” On Monday evening, however, Vice President Vance [spoke](https://www.politico.com/news/2026/04/13/vance-after-rallying-hungarians-to-back-orban-says-he-wasnt-surprised-by-the-autocrats-defeat-00870227?ref=readtangle.com) on the election in a Fox News interview, saying he was “sad” about Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s loss but not surprised by the outcome. We typically write the introduction to each edition the day before it publishes, and in this case, Vance’s comments came after it was drafted. While we have processes in place to make sure we don’t overlook updates to stories on the morning of, we missed Vance’s Fox News interview during our fact-checking process. *This is our 154th correction in Tangle’s 359-week history and our first correction since March 31\. We track corrections and place them at the top of the newsletter in an effort to maximize transparency with readers.* ### Isaac interviews Casey Newton. Recently, Isaac Saul sat down with journalist and *Hard Fork* cohost Casey Newton to unpack a major shift happening in tech: the growing legal and political push to hold social media companies accountable for how their platforms are designed. You can [check it out here](https://youtu.be/oKEkjIDkt2Q?ref=readtangle.com)! ### Quick hits. 1. The United States and Iran are reportedly close to an “in principle agreement” to extend the current two-week ceasefire to support ongoing peace talks. A second round of direct negotiations between the sides is expected to be held in the coming days. ([The report](https://apnews.com/article/us-iran-war-lebanon-israel-talks-hormuz-15-april-2026-f1b02d16f81d6fdcf68c0ed16d7a719d?ref=readtangle.com)) Separately, diplomats from Lebanon and Israel met in Washington, D.C. for discussions hosted by Secretary of State Marco Rubio on a potential ceasefire. Both sides said the discussions were productive but did not announce any immediate agreements. ([The meeting](https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2026/04/14/iran-israel-lebanon-talks-washington/?ref=readtangle.com)) 2. The Justice Department requested a federal court dismiss the convictions of 12 members of the right-wing extremist groups Proud Boys and Oath Keepers for crimes related to the January 6 Capitol riots. President Donald Trump previously commuted their sentences, which included convictions of seditious conspiracy. ([The request](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/doj-moves-dismiss-jan-6-convictions-proud-boys-oath-keepers-seditious-conspiracy/?ref=readtangle.com)) 3. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the producer price index, which measures the costs to businesses to produce items before they reach retailers, rose 0.5% in March, below economists’ expectations of a 1.1% increase. ([The numbers](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/04/14/wholesale-prices-rose-0point5percent-in-march-much-less-than-expected-despite-war-impact.html?ref=readtangle.com)) 4. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed that Ukrainian forces had captured a Russian position using only drones and an armed robotic defense system, a first in the war. ([The announcement](https://www.foxnews.com/world/zelenskyy-announces-the-future-here-after-wars-first-all-robot-capture?ref=readtangle.com)) 5. Vice President JD Vance said he did not think President Trump’s recent criticism of Pope Leo XIV was newsworthy but suggested “in some cases it would be best for the Vatican to stick to matters of morality.” Vance also defended Trump’s now-deleted Truth Social post appearing to depict the president as a Jesus-like figure, calling it a misunderstood joke. ([The comments](https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5830041-jd-vance-donald-trump-pope-leo-feud/?ref=readtangle.com)) SPONSORED by hear.com ****Have we found the holy grail of hearing aids?** There’s a reason experts are calling hear.com’s new IX hearing aids “the ultimate conversation starter.” Because they’re the world’s first designed with clarity in conversation in mind. That means [state-of-the-art noise suppression](https://api.wellput.io/v1/cm?cmid=800870mng3xsn1&tid=207&s1=v2-r689269-p800870-c1050&s2=Tangle&s3=&s4=null&ref=readtangle.com). Lightning-fast dual processing technology. The most natural listening experience ever. In your day-to-day life, that means effortless conversation, wherever you go. [****Test drive hear.com’s IX hearing aids today**](https://api.wellput.io/v1/cm?cmid=800870mng3xsn1&tid=207&s1=v2-r689269-p800870-c1050&s2=Tangle&s3=&s4=null&ref=readtangle.com). ### Today’s topic. The Swalwell accusations. Last Friday, a former staffer for California gubernatorial candidate Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) [accused](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/12/us/eric-swalwell-sexual-misconduct.html?ref=readtangle.com) the Congressman of making unwanted advances, sexual assault, and rape. Three other women also came forward to accuse Swalwell of sexual misconduct, describing a pattern of sending explicit messages through Snapchat. Swalwell [denies](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/swalwell-campaign-rejects-outrageous-allegations-sexual-misconduct-dem-activists-issue-viral-warning?ref=readtangle.com) the allegations, but apologized for “mistakes in judgment” and dropped out of the gubernatorial race after losing prominent endorsements. The [Los Angeles](https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/5831390-los-angeles-investigates-swalwell/?ref=readtangle.com) and [Manhattan](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/eric-swalwell-new-york-sexual-assault-allegations-investigation/?ref=readtangle.com) District Attorneys are investigating Swalwell over the alleged misconduct. On Tuesday, Swalwell officially resigned from Congress. Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX), who was embroiled in a separate sexual misconduct scandal, [resigned later](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/reps-tony-gonzales-eric-swalwell-officially-resign-misconduct-claims-rcna331765?ref=readtangle.com) on the same day. The two lawmakers were subjects of House Ethics probes and were reportedly facing expulsion votes if they did not resign. According to The San Francisco Chronicle, which [broke the story](https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/eric-swalwell-allegations-22198271.php?ref=readtangle.com), the former staffer said Swalwell first began sending her unsolicited graphic pictures over Snapchat in 2019, when she was 21 years old and working in the Democrat’s district office in the Bay Area. She said Swalwell also tried to kiss her in his car on one occasion and asked her to perform oral sex on him in a parking lot on another. The former staffer further alleged Swalwell raped her after a charity gala in 2024; she said she became heavily intoxicated but recalled trying to stop him from unwanted advances and waking up naked with the Congressman the next day. Afterwards, she messaged friends to say she had been sexually assaulted and described experiencing vaginal bleeding. Hours after the Chronicle published its report, CNN released a [separate exposé](https://www.cnn.com/2026/04/10/us/eric-swalwell-sexual-misconduct-allegations-invs?ref=readtangle.com) that included allegations from three additional women. One said she connected with Swalwell online and ended up drunk in his hotel room with little memory of what had occurred. Two others, Ally Sammarco and Annika Albrecht, [came forward publicly](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/annika-albrecht-ally-sammarco-cheyenne-hunt-eric-swalwell-interview/?ref=readtangle.com) to accuse Swalwell of sexual misconduct, including sending unsolicited nude photos. Sammarco said she believed he was attempting “to save face” by withdrawing from the gubernatorial race. “But I also felt very vindicated that he realized it was over for him,” Sammarco told CBS News. On Tuesday, a fifth woman, Lonna Drewes, [came forward](https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5831049-fifth-woman-accuses-swalwell/?ref=readtangle.com) to accuse Swalwell of drugging and raping her in a hotel room in 2018\. Drewes said she and the former representative were friends but believes he spiked her drink at an event and had nonconsensual sex with her. Swalwell — who is 45 years old, married, and has three children — has denied all of the allegations. “I will fight the serious, false allegations that have been made — but that’s my fight, not a campaign’s,” Swalwell said in a [post on X](https://x.com/ericswalwell/status/2043488502327972096?ref=readtangle.com) suspending his gubernatorial campaign on Sunday. California has a “top-two” open primary for governor, where every voter can participate in the primary, and the two leading candidates proceed to the general election in November, regardless of party. Swalwell had been the leading Democratic primary field; with his campaign suspended, several candidates are [vying](https://www.surveyusa.com/client/PollReport.aspx?g=ee26505b-573e-4077-bf28-3596b3dd8245&ref=readtangle.com) for nominations, with Republican Steve Hilton as another leading candidate. Gonzales admitted to [sending](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/texts-show-rep-tony-gonzales-sent-sexually-explicit-messages-staffer-rcna260256?ref=readtangle.com) sexually explicit text messages to Regina Santos-Aviles, a then-33-year-old staffer with whom he had allegedly had an affair, in May 2024\. Santos-Aviles killed herself in 2025\. Gonzales, 45, is married with six children; he was first elected to Congress in 2020. Below, we’ll dive into what the left, right, and California writers are saying about the accusations against Swalwell and the congressmen’s resignations. Then, Senior Editor Will Kaback gives his take. ### What the left is saying. - **The left says concerns about Swalwell’s behavior have long existed, and that he should have been stopped sooner.** - **Some argue Swalwell’s rapid fall shows the Democratic Party can still wield power — but only when it wants to.** **In The American Prospect, David Dayen explored** [**“Eric Swalwell and the death of accountability.”**](https://prospect.org/2026/04/12/eric-swalwell-death-of-accountability-sexual-misconduct/?ref=readtangle.com) “The truth, which will be available for all to see before long, is that Swalwell’s conduct with interns, young staff, and female fans was an open secret for a long time, and yet the party, if not Pelosi in this case specifically, had been supporting him and raising money for him. That speaks to a larger problem,” Dayen said. “There are public claims on social media going back to 2020; this more recent one is from an aide to one of his opponents in the governor’s race, Antonio Villaraigosa. There are more private claims that go back all the way to when Swalwell entered Congress in 2013.” “This information was suppressed by the congressman and a community of supporters in ways that make victims uncomfortable with emerging,” Dayen wrote. “If you are a politician who is aware of a serial harasser or even assaulter in your midst, there are steps you can take to encourage victims to speak out, warn your colleague about what he is doing, and so on. The very least you can do is not endorse his attempts for higher office. That was an available path not taken in a Democratic Party that has a real problem with accountability, the same way the rest of our country does.” **In Bloomberg, Erika D. Smith wrote** [**“ousting Swalwell was easy. Now comes the hard part.”**](https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2026-04-13/swalwell-s-exit-shows-california-democrats-still-have-power?ref=readtangle.com) “\[Swalwell’s\] decision not only upends the race for Democrats ahead of the June primary, given that Swalwell had recently emerged as the party’s frontrunner to succeed a termed-out Governor Gavin Newsom,” Smith said. “It also could upend Congress, given that Swalwell announced on Monday that he was resigning from the House ahead of a likely expulsion vote this week. However, the real takeaway of Swalwell’s swift fall is what it says about the Democratic Party, and how and when the establishment chooses to wield power.” “This flex by the Democratic establishment represents a marked departure from what preceded it. For months, while a crowded field of Democratic candidates increased the risk of a Republican candidate getting elected governor in November, the California Democratic Party largely feigned helplessness over shaping the race,” Smith wrote. “Flexing power in this way is righteous and just, but it’s also easy. It’s just another example of what Democrats do best in the Trump era, which is showing what they are against. Still, far less clear to voters is what the party stands for.” ### What the right is saying. - **Many on the right argue Swalwell’s fall was coordinated by the Democratic Party after years of protecting him.** - **Others highlight the lack of an investigation into Swalwell — and question the criminality of some of the allegations against him.** **In Fox News, Jonathan Turley said** [**“Eric Swalwell’s enablers knew the truth — and protected him anyway.”**](https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/jonathan-turley-eric-swalwells-enablers-knew-truth-protected-anyway?ref=readtangle.com) “Swalwell has spent his entire career protected by an enabling establishment and liberal media machine. He was a made man in Washington, and those who made him protected him despite years of rumors and allegations of misconduct,” Turley wrote. “His greatest patron was former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., who single-handedly saved Swalwell’s career when he was found to have had an affair with an alleged Chinese spy. She told the media, ‘I don’t have any concern about Mr. Swalwell.’ For most of the media, that was enough, and they slinked away.” “The congressman’s alleged victims have lashed out not only at Swalwell but also at many in the establishment. They allege that they were rebuffed when they tried to bring their allegations to reporters,” Turley said. “If even half of these allegations against him are true, it shows the sense of license that Swalwell developed for years in Washington. He lost that political immunity this week and now faces real legal liability. That does not mean that Democrats will not try to control the damage. They want Swalwell to take a deal to avoid any investigations that will pull other Democrats into the vortex of the scandal.” **In The New York Post, Batya Ungar-Sargon suggested** [**“Democrats hurt all women by covering up for Swalwell until now.”**](https://nypost.com/2026/04/12/opinion/by-covering-up-for-swalwell-until-now-democrats-hurt-women/?ref=readtangle.com) “What happened to Eric Swalwell… was not a reckoning over gross behavior. It was a #metoo witchhunt, organized and motivated by the Democrats’ desire not to lose the governor’s race to either of the two leading candidates, both of whom happen to be Republicans,” Ungar-Sargon wrote. “Let me state clearly that I’m no fan of Eric Swalwell. I find his political persona to be gross and divisive. Moreover, if he actually raped any of these women or assaulted them, he should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.” “But it’s also undeniable that the allegations described by CNN and other outlets include a lot of what seems like grey area. The women engaged in mutual, reciprocal, consensual flirtation in the DMs, followed by consensual heavy drinking. They may not have wanted to do it, but they did not relay those feelings to Swalwell ‘because of his position of power,’” Ungar-Sargon said. “Beyond politics, it seems like we have lost the ability to distinguish between immoral behavior — like being a married man hitting on a young woman — and criminal behavior, like assault and rape. And that doesn’t just hurt men; it hurts women.” ### What California writers are saying. - **Some writers in California note the timing of Swalwell’s fall during a crowded race for governor.** - **Others contend that the burden of shame has shifted from the accusers to the accused.** **In The Spectator, Laura Powell said** [**“Swalwell’s fall was electoral math not morality.”**](https://spectator.com/article/swalwells-fall-was-electoral-math-not-morality/?ref=readtangle.com) “California’s June 2 primary uses the ‘jungle’ system so that all candidates appear on one ballot, and the top two — regardless of party — advance. Usually, that benefits Democrats. This year, it may not. That’s because Democrats crowded the field, with roughly eight candidates splitting the vote, while Republicans consolidated around two: Steve Hilton and Chad Bianco,” Powell wrote. “Before the scandal broke, Swalwell was polling in the mid-teens, alongside Hilton and Bianco, with the other Democrats clustered just behind. That distribution created a real (though still slim) risk of two Republicans advancing to November, shutting Democrats out entirely.” “Complicating matters, it is too late for Swalwell’s name to be removed from the ballot. He will continue to draw votes from low-information voters, loyalists or those casting protest ballots. His exit reshuffles the field, but it does not necessarily resolve Democrats’ core concern about a split vote that could hand the governorship to a Republican,” Powell said. “If this were purely about misconduct, there would have been immediate calls for him to resign from Congress. There were not — at least not from his former allies. The urgency was tied to the governor’s race.” **In The Los Angeles Times, Katy Butler argued** [**“Swalwell\[’s\] resignation shows that the default is no longer to shame accusers.”**](https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2026-04-14/swalwell-resignation-shame-accusers?ref=readtangle.com) “Swalwell could not erase what had been said or avoid consequences of those accusations. And, without prejudging the particulars of his case, that’s a good thing,” Butler wrote. “Until a decade ago, shame was a weapon wielded widely against female accusers to shut them up. Rich and powerful men largely dictated the public narrative. When accused of acquaintance rape or harassment, they followed a simple playbook: declare innocence or argue consent. In an era when ‘the news’ was largely defined by (male) top editors at a few gatekeeper media like the New York Times and the television networks, the tactics often worked.” “To be sure, shame can be counterproductive… That is why we have courts, due process and sober systems of fact-finding — none of which have yet rendered any verdict about Swalwell,” Butler said. “For centuries, a small proportion of men — men we now call serial offenders — have sexually exploited and assaulted women because they knew society would usually let them get away with it. Many of them simultaneously sought public adulation. If the threat of humiliation discourages only a few of the next generation of Weinsteins and Epsteins — and they are out there already, operating in the shadows — shame will have proved its value.” ### My take. **Reminder: “My take” is a section where we give ourselves space to share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, don't unsubscribe. Write in by replying to this email, or** [**leave a comment**](https://www.readtangle.com/eric-swalwell-resigns-sexual-misconduct/#ghost-comments-root)**.** - **Resignation is the right step for both Gonzales and Swalwell — the legal ramifications can come in time.** - **The fact that these consequences took so long to arrive reflects poorly on both parties and the media.** - **That said, serious stories take time, and these outlets rightly solidified their reports before releasing them.** **Senior Editor Will Kaback:** Like anyone, now-former Rep. Eric Swalwell retains the presumption of innocence, and we should wait to see the outcome of the investigations and any trial that may arise from them before rendering final judgment. But these accusations are detailed and numerous — and demanding that a representative facing these claims resign doesn’t require a legal burden of proof. The details of former Rep. Tony Gonzales’s accusations are different but disturbing in their own way. He admitted to an affair with a staffer who later killed herself; he was also [accused](https://www.texastribune.org/2026/04/13/texas-tony-gonzales-resigning-congress-sexual-misconduct-affair-staffer-eric-swalwell/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=A%20former%20Gonzales%20campaign%20staffer%20came%20forward%20last%20week%20saying%20Gonzales%20had%20been%20sexually%20inappropriate%20with%20her%20as%20well%2C%20including%20sharing%20text%20messages%20in%20which%20the%20then%2Dcandidate%20had%20asked%20her%20for%20nude%20photos%20and%20for%20sex.) by another former staffer of making unwanted sexual advances over text. He’s not under criminal investigation, but after admitting to the affair, he too has no place in Congress. I imagine it's difficult to give a satisfactory explanation or apology in a moment like this (even if you are innocent of the most serious charges), but in this instance, both men offered wholly unsatisfactory explanations and apologies. When he admitted to the affair, Gonzales barely acknowledged his behavior, alluding to a “lapse in judgment.” Instead, he [focused](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/04/us/politics/luna-censure-gonzales.html?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=In%20a%20radio,after%20her%20money.) his comments on claiming the story’s public release made him the victim of a “very coordinated attack.” Hardly contrite. Swalwell, for his part, has engaged in a kind of doublespeak that feels insulting to our collective intelligence. In [announcing](https://x.com/ericswalwell/status/2043488502327972096?s=20&ref=readtangle.com) the end of his gubernatorial campaign, he apologized for “mistakes in judgment I’ve made in my past” but vowed to fight the “false” accusations against him. In [announcing](https://x.com/RepSwalwell/status/2043802702971359521?s=20&ref=readtangle.com) his Congressional resignation, he again apologized for unnamed mistakes in judgment but again called the specific allegations false. I’ve seen enough PR speak to know a carefully crafted statement when I see one, but this is just incoherent. To be honest, these feeble statements and half-assed apologies aren’t worth any more attention than I’ve given them. What’s been seared into my mind since the Swalwell story broke last week are the stories of the women who came forward. The details are upsetting, but if you can, you should read the original [San Francisco Chronicle](https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/eric-swalwell-allegations-22198271.php?ref=readtangle.com) and [CNN](https://www.cnn.com/2026/04/10/us/eric-swalwell-sexual-misconduct-allegations-invs?ref=readtangle.com) reports and [watch](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/annika-albrecht-ally-sammarco-cheyenne-hunt-eric-swalwell-interview/?ref=readtangle.com) the [videos](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jt5-smkPILA&ref=readtangle.com) of three of the women speaking about their experiences. Clearly, Swalwell’s alleged actions have caused years of anguish. Going public with their stories [comes with risks](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1705531/?ref=readtangle.com) to their personal and professional relationships and will invite scrutiny into their credibility. That scrutiny is inevitable — some of it will be in good faith, but much of it won’t be. I find their accounts credible, regardless of whether the women opted to identify themselves publicly, especially after reading about how the Chronicle and CNN corroborated their specific claims. It can be difficult to balance the desire for consequences with the patience justice often requires, but as with Gonzales, the breadth and consistency of these stories should disqualify Swalwell from any position of power. In fact, depending on what the investigations uncover, that could be just the beginning of his extended reckoning. Now, both political parties have questions to answer. Why did it take so long for these accusations to come to light? Swalwell’s Democratic colleagues spent years supporting his career and elevating him to powerful positions — even as his alleged misconduct reportedly became an open secret. Who knew about this, what did they know, and why didn’t they speak up? The same questions can be asked of Republicans about Gonzales, whose relationship with his staffer was [reportedly](https://www.texasstandard.org/stories/calls-grow-for-rep-tony-gonzales-to-step-down-amid-allegations-of-affair-with-staffer/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Bayliss%20Wagner:%20How%20this%20came,of%20other%20evidence%20about%20this.) also regarded as an open secret. The timing of Swalwell and Gonzales’s resignations also invites questions. It seems blatantly like a backroom handshake deal between Democratic and Republican leaders to avoid messy expulsion votes: *We’ll sacrifice one of ours if you sacrifice one of yours*. Are we really supposed to believe Gonzales’s colleagues, particularly on the Republican side, all became convinced he should resign at the exact same time the accusations against Swalwell became public? Again, it feels like an insult to our intelligence. Then there’s the media. Over the weekend, a [handful](https://x.com/eastbaycitizen/status/2043119729599287690?ref=readtangle.com) of [posts](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/HFyZT0KbYAAw3VF?format=jpg&name=medium&ref=readtangle.com) from reporters previously in Swalwell’s orbit suggested his alleged sexual misconduct was also [widely known](https://x.com/yashar/status/2042988930891731051?s=20&ref=readtangle.com) for years. A CNN article from 2017 [described](https://t.co/rWYBAA1Fce?ref=readtangle.com) “more than half a dozen interviewees independently named one California congressman for pursuing female staffers.” Politico also ran a [lengthy story](https://www.politico.com/news/2026/04/13/influencers-allegations-eric-swalwell-00869517?ref=readtangle.com) about the “whisper network” surrounding Swalwell, writing, “Warnings about the lawmaker had long circulated privately.” My immediate reaction to these posts was anger. What exactly is a reporter’s job if not to investigate this kind of story immediately? Why let them fester until enough accusations pile up that the dam breaks? Many writers on the right (and a few on the left) picked up on this dynamic and published forceful criticisms of Swalwell’s media “enablers.” A couple of theories from conservative writers caught my attention. National Review’s Jeffrey Blehar [said](https://www.nationalreview.com/carnival-of-fools/everybody-knew-about-eric-swalwell-except-you-and-me/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Why%3F%20I%20have,to%20make%20friends.), “Anyone who had the power to push it as a story had no incentive to make it into one. As long as Swalwell was content to play ‘replacement-level representative,’ it apparently didn’t matter whom he might victimize; he was *useful*.” Jonathan Turley wrote (under “What the right is saying”), “The media will cover a scandal involving a leading Democrat if there is no real alternative.” I think each of these perspectives contains some truth. To Blehar’s point, Swalwell [emerged](https://www.politico.com/story/2017/04/eric-swalwell-donald-trump-susan-rice-declassify-236927?ref=readtangle.com) as a TV-savvy critic of President Trump during the president’s first term; as the congressman’s star rose, some insiders may have been more interested in building rapport than digging into uncomfortable rumors. To Turley’s point, we’ve seen prominent Democrats receive fawning coverage, only for the public to later discover years of misbehavior that seemed like an open secret among insiders. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) was one such media darling at the start of Covid, only to be brought down by widespread claims of sexual misconduct; independent investigators later [reported](https://ag.ny.gov/press-release/2021/independent-investigators-find-governor-cuomo-sexually-harassed-multiple-women?ref=readtangle.com) a pattern of this behavior dating back to 2013\. Turley’s condemnation of media silence, however, risks brushing over the complicated reality of reporting on rumors. A select few journalists [discussed](https://x.com/mikehtrujillo/status/2043319840434425998?s=20&ref=readtangle.com) these rumors openly when they knew about them. Others may have known but were unable to run with the story. The American Prospect’s David Dayen [wrote](https://prospect.org/2026/04/12/eric-swalwell-death-of-accountability-sexual-misconduct/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=I%20HAVE%20BEEN,Congress%20in%202013.) that he chased down some leads about Swalwell’s misconduct after Swalwell entered the governor’s race, but Dayen found that alleged victims were already working with other reporters. “Victims decide when the story breaks, and it would actually be monumentally harmful and disrespectful to jump out in front of them without the hard evidence,” he wrote. I think he’s right. Turley claims in his piece that the media will *only* cover these stories if their hand is forced, but I don’t think any reporter would ignore a story like this if they had the opportunity to be the one to break it. As for TV networks — to be blunt, a Democratic congressman willing to go on TV to trash the president isn’t some rare commodity. The media wasn’t “protecting” Swalwell because he was uniquely valuable to them; the standard to publish the story wasn’t met until the accusers came forward. Remember: These stories have to go through rigorous scrutiny before they can be published, and having at least one victim willing to submit their story to media scrutiny and the discomfort of public attention is key, even if they remain anonymous. That can take years of building trust, conducting interviews, and going through multiple layers of review. Serious stories require serious process. That doesn’t mean the media should get a free pass, or that the journalists who knew about Swalwell’s rumored behavior acted completely ethically. It just means that scrutiny is better applied to political leaders who worked and bonded with Swalwell over the years. Journalists have standards for what they publish and when, but virtually no one is in a better position to identify and call out misbehavior in their ranks than lawmakers themselves. ****Staff concurrence — Associate Editor Lindsey Knuth:** More than anything, my heart goes out to the women who have leveled accusations against Swalwell. I’m also frustrated by the same aspects of this story that Will is — both that people seemed to know about Swalwell’s allegedly inappropriate (and potentially, criminal) behavior long before news broke and that Gonzales’s resignation was delayed until the same day as Swalwell’s. As I look out at the media and pundits scrambling to cover “What’s next” for the governor’s race and congressional vacancy, I urge people not to gloss over what happened to these so-far five women, and which systems allowed it to continue. ****Staff concurrence — Associate Editor Audrey Moorehead:** By and large, I agree that Swalwell and Gonzales should have resigned, and I hope our court systems will bring justice in Swalwell’s cases (whatever that justice may be). However, that Swalwell only resigned after public accusations of rape — and that Gonzales appeared to resign only as part of some backdoor deal — reinforces my long-held belief that our society’s increasingly relaxed standards of sexual morality only create opportunities for bad behavior to go unchecked. Swalwell was long known for his licentiousness — but non-consent is the only widely accepted standard for which sexual behavior is punished. When Americans at large agreed that loose sexual behavior was a sign of greater moral failings, Swalwell’s behavior — and that of several other prominent politicians — may have disqualified him earlier. Perhaps those standards could have prevented further harms, and maybe we should give them another look. **Take the survey:** What do you think of Swalwell’s resignation? [Let us know](https://interrobang.vercel.app/survey/a8a14f18-1a42-44cd-9e4f-66007c84842e?ref=readtangle.com). *Disagree? That's okay. Our opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we'll consider publishing your feedback.* ### Your questions, answered. *We're skipping the reader question today to give our main story some extra space. Want to have a question answered in the newsletter? You can reply to this email (it goes straight to our inbox) or* [*fill out this form*](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScQhqBSG%5F6%5FoBhwcTQMeS570n29XYbeQ9C9Bis7rjqI31g1tA/viewform?usp=header&ref=readtangle.com)*.* ### Under the radar. Recent studies and reports indicate that AI chatbots exhibit political biases that may be influencing users’ perception of events. A new report from the America First Policy Institute (AFPI) recently found that various artificial intelligence systems show center-left political bias that influences the way their users think. Separately, a March study by Yale researchers found that chatbots exhibited liberal bias and that chatbots’ biases were persuasive to users. [Fox News](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/ai-you-use-every-day-biased-its-quietly-shaping-your-worldview-new-report-says?ref=readtangle.com) and [YaleNews](https://news.yale.edu/2026/03/03/ais-hidden-bias-chatbots-can-influence-opinions-without-trying?ref=readtangle.com) have the story. SPONSORED by hear.com ****Meet the device ushering in a new era of hearing clarity.** Discover unparalleled speech clarity with this advanced, state-of-the-art hearing aid. With crystal-clear sound delivered to your ears and a sleek, discreet design powered by German technology, you can now enjoy [clear speech](https://api.wellput.io/v1/cm?cmid=800870mng3xsn1&tid=207&s1=v2-r689269-p800870-c1050&s2=Tangle&s3=&s4=null&ref=readtangle.com) with minimum background distractions, even in the noisiest environments. Take comfort in our commitment to your hearing and try our [45-day no-risk trial today](https://api.wellput.io/v1/cm?cmid=800870mng3xsn1&tid=207&s1=v2-r689269-p800870-c1050&s2=Tangle&s3=&s4=null&ref=readtangle.com). ### The extras. - **One year ago today** we covered [the U.S.–Iran nuclear talks](https://www.readtangle.com/iran-nuclear-talks-trump-oman/). - **The most clicked link in our last regular newsletter** was a link to Jason Manning’s Substack [describing honor culture](https://jasonmanning.substack.com/p/moral-cultures-1-honor-and-dignity?open=false#%C2%A7honor-culture). - **Nothing to do with politics:** One man’s treasure trove of over 10,000 concert recordings is [getting digitized](https://apnews.com/article/aadam-jacobs-collection-concerts-internet-archive-chicago-b1c9c4466a2db409a83523ad84b79d62?ref=readtangle.com). - **Our last survey:** 2,232 readers responded to our survey on Hungary’s elections with 72% encouraged that Orbán lost and that Magyar won. “Too early to tell, but this might be just a reset for a postliberal way forward,” one respondent said. “I’m happy that Magyar won, but I have a bad feeling he has some aces up his sleeve,” said another. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/04/data-src-image-9eb1c93e-6ec2-42bf-bfde-32dc79159948.png) ### Have a nice day. The Portal Bridge over the Hackensack River in New Jersey entered rail service in 1910, serving as a key link in the journey between Newark, New Jersey, and New York City’s Penn Station. As the bridge aged, it became a source of congestion and delays on the railway; in particular, its low clearance over the Hackensack River required it to open to allow maritime traffic to pass through. In March, NJ Transit and Amtrak placed the first track on the new Portal North Bridge, which rises more than 50 feet over the river and will not have to shut down for river traffic. A second track will go into service in the fall, completing the broader program to double rail capacity between Newark and New York. [Amtrak has the story](https://amtraknewera.com/gateway/pnb/?ref=readtangle.com). ### Are Social Media Companies Finally Being Held Accountable? URL: https://www.readtangle.com/are-social-media-companies-finally-being-held-accountable/ Last updated: 2026-04-16T00:02:46.000Z •In this interview, Isaac Saul sits down with journalist Casey Newton to unpack a major shift happening in tech: the growing legal and political push to hold social media companies accountable for how their platforms are designed. ### Orbán loses in Hungary. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/viktor-orban-loses-in-hungary/ Last updated: 2026-04-14T15:53:35.000Z *I'm Isaac Saul, and this is Tangle: an independent, nonpartisan, subscriber-supported politics newsletter that summarizes the best arguments from across the political spectrum on the news of the day — then “my take.”* *Are you new here?* [*Get free emails*](https://www.readtangle.com/) *to your inbox daily. Would you rather listen? You can find our podcast* [*here*](https://shows.acast.com/66510864c0852400122bc7be?ref=readtangle.com)*.* ### Today’s read: 14 minutes. 🇭🇺 Hungarian opposition leader Péter Magyar defeated Prime Minister Viktor Orbán in the country's parliamentary elections — what are the global implications? Plus, if the post office shut down, how would that impact mail-in voting? ### Behind the scenes. Once a month, we release a members-only newsletter called *Press Pass* that pulls back the curtain on our work, shares insider updates on our business, and lets you in on the big debates and events taking place behind the scenes. Each edition also includes a profile of a team member. This month, Isaac wrote about his experience engaging with Gen Z on college campuses, and we profiled Senior Editor Will Kaback. [You can check it out here](https://www.readtangle.com/press-pass-the-kids-are-alright-actually/). ### Quick hits. 1. Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) announced his resignation from Congress as he faces multiple sexual misconduct allegations. Swalwell continues to deny the accusations, but also said he “must take responsibility and ownership for the mistakes I did make.” ([The resignation](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/04/13/eric-swalwell-resigns-congress.html?ref=readtangle.com)) Separately, Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX) announced his intention to resign from Congress after acknowledging an affair with his former staffer. ([The resignation](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/embattled-rep-tony-gonzales-announces-plans-resign-sexual-misconduct-allegations?ref=readtangle.com)) 2. U.S. and Iranian officials may return to Pakistan later this week to resume negotiations over the war. ([The report](https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/us-begins-iran-port-blockade-oil-prices-ease-hopes-dialogue-2026-04-14/?ref=readtangle.com)) 3. A federal judge dismissed President Donald Trump’s defamation lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal, which the president brought in response to the outlet publishing a letter allegedly sent by Trump to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein for his 50th birthday. The judge found that Trump’s suit did not claim “actual malice” to meet the requirement to pursue defamation claims. However, the judge said the president can amend his lawsuit and re-file it. ([The ruling](https://thehill.com/homenews/media/5828714-judge-dismisses-trump-wall-street-journal-lawsuit/?ref=readtangle.com)) 4. Authorities charged a 20-year-old man with attempted murder and other charges for allegedly throwing a Molotov cocktail at OpenAI CEO Sam Altman’s house. Prosecutors said the man was also carrying a list of artificial intelligence company leaders when he was arrested. ([The charges](https://abcnews.com/US/man-charged-after-allegedly-throwing-molotov-cocktail-openai/story?id=131999461&ref=readtangle.com)) 5. Liberal Party victories in Canada’s special elections on Monday secured a majority government for Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, allowing him to pass legislation without opposition party support. ([The results](https://apnews.com/article/carney-canada-special-elections-trump-304cca23cd562e911002aa2c83f19fb2?ref=readtangle.com)) SPONSORED by Blue Circle Foods ****This Earth Month, a little fish food goes a longgggg way.** Blue Circle Foods uses [microalgae](https://www.bluecirclefoods.com/pages/about?ref=readtangle.com "https://sponsor.nicenews.com/41026NN") in the diet of its farmed Atlantic Salmon to seriously reduce pressure on wild fish stocks. In this shortened food chain, the protein and Omega-3s from microalgae go straight to the salmon, reducing the need for smaller feed fish. For every pound of Atlantic Salmon raised, [Blue Circle](https://www.bluecirclefoods.com/pages/about?ref=readtangle.com) takes less than half a pound of fish out of the ocean. Plenty of fish in the sea? [****Let’s keep it that way**](https://www.bluecirclefoods.com/pages/about?ref=readtangle.com). ### Today’s topic. The elections in Hungary. On Sunday, Péter Magyar’s Tisza Party [defeated](https://www.wsj.com/world/europe/hungary-election-results-orban-b2dbd42a?ref=readtangle.com) Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz Party in Hungary’s parliamentary elections, unseating the 16-year incumbent. With 98% of the vote [counted](https://vtr.valasztas.hu/ogy2026?ref=readtangle.com), Orbán and Fidesz had won 56 parliamentary seats, while Magyar and Tisza Party won 137 seats, giving it a two-thirds supermajority. Orbán had been supported by the Trump administration, which viewed him as a key ally in the European Union (EU). **Back up:** Hungary [holds](https://politicalcapital.hu/news.php?article%5Fread=1&article%5Fid=3655&ref=readtangle.com) parliamentary elections every four years, allowing citizens with a Hungarian address to vote for both a local representative and a national political party (citizens living abroad can only vote for a party). The 199 seats in the country’s National Assembly are divided between local district winners and proportionally among national party members based on vote totals. If a party achieves a two-thirds supermajority, it can enact changes to Hungary’s electoral system and some parts of its constitution. Orbán, 62, [served](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/12/world/europe/who-is-viktor-orban.html?ref=readtangle.com) as prime minister for one term from 1998–2002, returned to power in 2010, and has served in that role since. During his time in office, Orbán championed conservative policies, including crackdowns on immigration and rollbacks of progressive social initiatives. He also opposed many EU policies and developed a friendly relationship with Russia and President Vladimir Putin, speaking out against European aid for Ukraine. Many critics accused him of weakening Hungary’s democratic institutions by [expanding](https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/12/world/europe/hungary-courts.html?ref=readtangle.com) executive control over the judiciary and [suppressing](https://www.ap.org/news-highlights/spotlights/2024/how-hungarys-orban-uses-control-of-the-media-to-escape-scrutiny-and-keep-the-public-in-the-dark/?ref=readtangle.com) independent media, among other actions. Orbán himself explicitly rejected the principles of liberal governance, [saying](https://www.almendron.com/tribuna/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/discurso-viktor-orban.pdf?ref=readtangle.com#page=7) in 2014 that he was building “an illiberal state, a non-liberal state.” Orbán has developed a strong relationship with President Donald Trump, who [pledged](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116382335330123013?ref=readtangle.com) on Friday to “use the full Economic Might of the United States to strengthen Hungary’s Economy” if Orbán’s Fidesz Party maintained its majority. Vice President JD Vance [campaigned](https://apnews.com/article/jd-vance-hungary-orban-election-campaign-08e0929e9c8b3ae4302ae4e8c0393d5e?ref=readtangle.com) for Orbán last week, telling a crowd at a rally, “I admire what you’re fighting for… I am here because President Trump and I wish for your success, and we are fighting right here with you.” After the majority of votes were tallied on Sunday, Orbán conceded the race but said he will remain active as an opposition leader. Magyar, 45, is set to [become](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/peter-magyar-replacing-viktor-orban-hungary-prime-minister/?ref=readtangle.com) the new prime minister just two years after leaving the Fidesz Party to revive the Tisza Party over what he said was widespread corruption under Orbán. Tisza is viewed as a center-right party, but it supports stronger ties with the EU and rejects Russian influence. In a victory speech on Sunday, Magyar [said](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/12/world/europe/hungary-election-orban-magyar.html?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=%E2%80%9CWe%20have%20done%20it%2C%E2%80%9D%20Mr.%20Magyar%20told%20a%20cheering%20crowd%20gathered%20with%20flags%20on%20the%20bank%20of%20the%20River%20Danube.%20%E2%80%9CWe%20have%20liberated%20Hungary%20and%20have%20taken%20back%20our%20country.%E2%80%9D), “We have liberated Hungary and have taken back our country.” Also on Sunday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen congratulated Magyar, [writing](https://x.com/vonderleyen/status/2043416848666906954?ref=readtangle.com), “Hungary has chosen Europe. Europe has always chosen Hungary. A country reclaims its European path.” Neither President Trump nor Vice President Vance has commented on the result. Today, we’ll break down the results of Hungary’s elections, with views from the right, left, and writers in Hungary. Then, Associate Editor Audrey Moorehead gives her take. ### What the right is saying. - **Some on the right see warning signs for Trump in Orbán’s loss.** - **Others say Orbán’s political ideas will survive beyond his time in power.** **In National Review, Henry Olsen said** [**“Orbán’s total defeat.”**](https://www.nationalreview.com/2026/04/orbans-total-defeat/?ref=readtangle.com) “It’s not hard to figure out why Orbán was decisively rejected. His government had allowed cronyism — the opposition calls it corruption — to flourish. That was made worse by the fact that the economy has been stagnant for four years, registering almost no real GDP growth,” Olsen wrote. “Magyar proved to be politically talented, rallying disaffected Fidesz voters and the old opposition to his side. He ran on a platform that borrowed elements from Fidesz — anti-Ukraine war, opposition to migration — with criticisms about corruption, the slow economy, and problematic relations with the European Union.” “The result should alarm President Trump and Vice President Vance. They committed American prestige to support Orbán and got annihilated. Their intervention did not help Orbán, but it certainly hurt Trump even more with the European leaders whose support he needs in the Middle East,” Olsen said. “The Hungary results should also impel Trump and Vance to look at the state of their own electoral prospects. Orbán kept trying to change the subject rather than deal with the issues voters actually cared about, like growth and inflation. Similarly, the economy consistently ranks as the most important issues among voters stateside.” **In Rod Dreher’s Diary on Substack, Rod Dreher wrote about** [**“Orban going, but Orbanism coming to Europe.”**](https://roddreher.substack.com/p/orban-going-but-orbanism-coming-to) “Magyar is not a figure of the political Left, which remains unpopular in Hungary. What he basically offered voters is ‘Orban, but without the corruption.’ On the key issues that infuriate Brussels about Orban’s Hungary — his hardline on migrants and asylum seekers, and his adamant desire to keep Hungary out of the Ukraine war — there’s no difference between Orban and Magyar, except that Magyar might even be tougher than Orban on migration,” Dreher said. “When he takes power, Magyar is going to have to either disappoint his allies in the EU establishment, or disappoint millions of his voters. Personally, I expect him to be the cat’s paw of Brussels.” “It is undoubtedly true that populist, sovereigntists, and national conservatives have lost their most visible champion. But again, this result does not discredit the cause. Orban lost because the economy is poor and his party was far too tolerant of corruption. Hungarians are no more in favor of mass migration and European involvement in the Ukraine war today than they were yesterday,” Dreher wrote. “In fact, Orban’s tragedy is that European voters are finally coming around to his point of view on the importance of strong borders… Orban may be going, but Orbanism is coming to western Europe.” ### What the left is saying. - **The left celebrates Orbán’s loss, and many see it as an embarrassment for Trump.** - **Some see Magyar’s victory as a blow against illiberal forces globally.** **In Salon, Andrew O’Hehir said** [**“MAGA and Putin bet big on Hungary’s election — it backfired.”**](https://www.salon.com/2026/04/12/maga-and-putin-bet-big-on-hungarys-election-will-it-pay-off/?ref=readtangle.com) “As Hungarian journalist Ivan L. Nagy puts it, Orbán survived for so long through an ingenious pattern of ‘shadowboxing’ against an ever-shifting cast of ‘make-believe enemies,’ telling the conservative and nationalistic elements of the Hungarian public that only he can save them from dark-skinned immigrants, European bureaucrats, meddling American liberals, the globalist plots of Hungarian-born George Soros, LGBTQ activists, ‘gender ideology’ and wokeness,” O’Hehir wrote. “This time around, it seems that Hungarian voters were more concerned about their stagnant economy.” “Orbán’s downfall… will feel like a major setback to various strands of the transatlantic right, especially to leading figures of the ‘national conservative’ movement like Vance, Stephen Miller, Peter Thiel and Tucker Carlson,” O’Hehir said. “If Vance’s trip to Budapest shifted the campaign at all, it only amplified the scale of Orbán’s defeat. Whatever happens in Hungary from here on out, the story is familiar: The left is powerless and almost invisible, but the far right once again turned out to be its own worst enemy.” **In The Atlantic, Anne Applebaum wrote** [**“illiberalism is not inevitable.”**](https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/04/illiberalism-not-inevitable/686778/?ref=readtangle.com) “Orbán’s loss brings to an end the assumption of inevitability that has pervaded the MAGA movement, as well as the belief — also present in Russian President Vladimir Putin’s rhetoric — that illiberal parties are somehow destined not just to win but to hold power forever, because they have the support of the ‘real’ people,” Applebaum said. “As it turns out, history doesn’t work like that. ‘Real’ people grow tired of their rulers. Old ideas become stale. Younger people question orthodoxy. Illiberalism leads to corruption.” “Nobody is pretending this will be easy. Fidesz still dominates many Hungarian institutions and businesses, and the party’s friends and supporters will do their best to undermine a Tisza government. Orbán also leaves behind a fiscal mess,” Applebaum wrote. “But whatever happens next, this election represents a real turning point. For most European governments, this result is a relief: We can’t know yet what kind of government Tisza will create, but it won’t be one that functions as Russia’s puppet in Europe, blocking EU funding for Ukraine or European sanctions on Russia.” ### What writers in Hungary are saying. - **Some writers worry that Magyar is arrogant and out of touch.** - **Others say Magyar has an opportunity to reassert democratic norms in Hungary.** **In Hungary Today, Dániel Deme criticized** [**“Péter Magyar’s victory speech.”**](https://hungarytoday.hu/peter-magyars-victory-speech-a-rambling-of-an-angry-narcissist-drunk-on-power/?ref=readtangle.com) “\[Magyar\] characterized his win as no less than the ‘victory of truth against lies,’ saying that the election is a reflection of Hungarians’ decision to reject deceit and betrayal. With hubris bordering the obscene, he even compared his electoral success to the Anti-Habsburg revolution of 1848-49 and, in a manner that will be taken as an insult to the memory of our anti-communist freedom-fighters, to the Hungarian uprising of 1956,” Deme said. “With his trademark pomposity he called his party’s success a golden date in Hungarian freedom, a victory over those who have allegedly oppressed and betrayed them.” “One of the biggest genuine failures of the Orbán government was its inability to bring people guilty of corruption, sexual violence, or fraud to justice, both from the left and from the right of the political spectrum,” Deme wrote. “\[But\] the bullying tone that we have heard on election night is only an innocent taster to what is to come. And albeit Tisza’s voters might feel that this is ok, or even desirable as long as it solely affects the Orbán crowd, it requires a generous amount of naivety to think that with time, and a very short one for that, they themselves will feel the consequences of this shift towards the politics of envy and retribution.” **In The New York Times, Stefano Bottoni called Orbán’s defeat** [**“an astounding achievement.”**](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/13/opinion/orban-hungary-election-magyar.html?ref=readtangle.com) “For the past 16 years, Mr. Orban has built a complex system of institutional traps designed to hard-wire his power and paralyze any successor. At the heart of this system is the 2011 fundamental law, which replaced the Constitution and can be amended only by a two-thirds majority in Parliament,” Bottoni said. “Mr. Orban didn’t stop there. He and his party appropriated large sectors of the economy, allocating public resources, including both national and European funds, to supporters… Taken together, it adds up to a tightly bound clientelist system. “But the economy has been stagnating since the pandemic, with few remedies in sight. The trade deficit with China has quadrupled in the past decade, increasing to over $10 billion from $2.6 billion; inflation skyrocketed to 25 percent during the pandemic and household consumption levels remain low… That has laid the ground for Mr. Orban’s defeat,” Bottoni wrote. “Hungary now has a golden opportunity. The Tisza party’s success shows that democracy can be peacefully restored by the people, even against entrenched incumbents and when great powers intervene to help their protégés… Rather than a laboratory of autocracy, Hungary could become a lighthouse of democracy.” ### My take. **Reminder: “My take” is a section where we give ourselves space to share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, don't unsubscribe. Write in by replying to this email, or** [**leave a comment**](https://www.readtangle.com/viktor-orban-loses-in-hungary/#ghost-comments-root)**.** - **Hungary’s election can teach us about modern conservatism in the West — especially in the United States.** - **JD Vance shares Orbán’s postliberal beliefs that only a strong government can deliver needed cultural and economic change.** - **Magyar’s victory shows how Western conservatism can evolve to avoid postliberalism.** **Associate Editor Audrey Moorehead:** Viktor Orbán’s loss has local implications for Hungary, of course. But it also has global implications — and particularly acute lessons for the United States — while representing the next chapter in the Western world’s relationship with liberal democracy. First, though, a slight detour. As I’ve written about [in Tangle before](https://www.readtangle.com/from-lynchburg-to-harvard/), I grew up in the conservative small town of Lynchburg, Tennessee. Basically every adult I knew growing up was a conservative; I don’t think I even knew it was possible to be anything else until I got social media in middle school. To me, conservatism was just the way of life. I developed an interest in American history as I grew up, particularly through reading about Abraham Lincoln and George Washington, and the values that motivated my family and neighbors began to resonate with me. I was always a bit nerdy about this stuff compared to others in the community, but I still understood our political convictions to be cut from the same cloth. The people in my town genuinely loved our country and loved its political project. My dad or granddad might not quote Thomas Jefferson at you, but they’d speak highly of the importance of a small federal government, expansive personal freedoms, and high public order. That was as true for my family as it was for any other in Lynchburg. When I went to college, I was exposed to a very different environment — the overwhelmingly liberal Harvard University. I wasn’t super politically involved at first, but I soon wanted to join some of the conservative organizations on campus to meet more people who had the values I’d been raised with. I also hoped that maybe they were a little nerdy about it, like me. Soon enough, though, I began encountering a peculiar problem. In one club meeting, I mentioned that some policy proposal seemed too expansive of government power; a club leader replied that small government had never been a conservative priority. In another club, I was mocked for declaring the greatest achievement of the Western world to be the Enlightenment. The more time I spent around these Harvard conservatives, the more I came to understand that many of them were operating within a different kind of “conservative” framework — a set of ideas that I now would describe as *postliberalism*. Postliberalism is the idea that the liberal project of the West, exemplified by the Enlightenment-era values I cherish of personal freedoms and free exchange, is fundamentally flawed — that late-stage liberalism produces a fragmented and stratified society, and that those late stages are upon us. Postliberals argue that liberal democracies like the U.S. system eventually produce great economic inequality, and the insistence on freedom of religion leaves citizens without a clear purpose for life. Instead, in order to create a more equal, more virtuous society, we need to return to older systems of government that can express more power over a nation’s moral agenda — such as a more explicit promotion of Christian values — while emphasizing the government’s duty to provide economically for its citizens. Vice President JD Vance is probably the [most prominent](https://www.ncregister.com/news/j-d-vance-is-a-catholic-post-liberal?ref=readtangle.com) postliberal in American politics. I read his 2016 memoir *Hillbilly Elegy* to better understand his meteoric political rise after his VP nod in the summer of 2024\. In the book, Vance eloquently and hauntingly describes the economic and personal destitution of his Rust Belt hometown and its residents. He attributes these dire straits to a fundamental cultural problem with the people themselves — they were stuck in a dependent, victim mindset, unwilling to abandon the [honor culture](https://jasonmanning.substack.com/i/66133761/honor-culture) that so badly harmed them. But somewhere along the line, Vance changed his tune. By the time he ran for Senate in 2022 and on the Trump ticket in 2024, he started attributing white working-class Americans’ problems to wider society. He argued that the American government had failed them, and that Americans ought to vote for a government that would A) offer more economic assistance and B) promote strong cultural values. That is the same message that Viktor Orbán spent his sixteen years in power in Hungary advancing. He proclaimed the importance of a government that would promote Hungarian pride and defend Western Christian morals. That message made Orbán so attractive to American right-wing intellectuals, like Vance or Rod Dreher, because it expressed the same postliberal vision they thought would revitalize the West. And their shared messaging prompted Vance’s enthusiastic endorsement and campaign support in the leadup to this year’s Hungarian elections. Of course, Viktor Orbán wasn’t elected on some promise to create a postliberal society. Instead, he was elected — and consistently reelected — because he struck a chord with the populist anxieties of the people of Hungary. After a single term as prime minister at the turn of the century, Orbán returned to power in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis, when he and his Fidesz Party promised economic revitalization. Over the years, he continued to win by appealing to Hungarian anxieties over illegal immigration during Europe’s migrant crisis. He didn’t make his illiberal actions, like packing the Supreme Court or amassing media control, the centerpiece of his political campaigns; instead, he focused on the real anxieties of the citizenry. But the illiberalism was a fixed, load-bearing plank in his platform. That focus on citizen anxieties, more than any other feature of the philosophy, is what makes postliberal populism so compelling. Viktor Orbán and JD Vance speak to real anxieties among the people they represent. My postliberal college classmates were responding to the real-world issues they saw: family members and communities in poverty, politically voiceless, in mental and spiritual crisis. Even the members of my community who aren’t political junkies or self-identified postliberals feel a genuine discontent with modern life — and for them, Trump and Vance’s campaign message, which promised a revival of their social values as well as their economic status, resonated more deeply than Kamala Harris’s message. I, for one, still believe in the liberal democratic project of America. But if we want to preserve that project, we have to be able to understand people’s real anxieties and concerns about cultural fragmentation while defending liberal democracy as the best way to address them. I think Péter Magyar, as a right-leaning politician himself, provides a roadmap for Western conservatism that avoids postliberal ideology. Magyar shares some of Orbán’s more restrictive immigration policies, and he promised voters that his party would seek a solution to their economic woes. But Magyar also emphasized in his campaign and his victory speech the importance of allying with the rest of Europe, of resisting the influence of the definitively autocratic Russia, and of rooting out the corrupt and anti-democratic dealings that had flourished under Orbán. In short, Magyar was successful because he both understood the anxieties that had led to Orbán’s rise as well as the anxieties about Orbán’s governance itself. Magyar’s victory, and Orbán’s defeat, shows that postliberalism isn’t the inevitable evolution of conservatism. Indeed, it provides a roadmap for American conservatives who still believe in the Enlightenment principles the United States was founded on and oppose the slide into authoritarianism that popular discontent makes possible. Any Republican who wants to challenge JD Vance for party leadership in 2028 can use Magyar’s methods: sympathize with discontent, criticize the excess, and provide a vision of a path forward that emphasizes American ideals and the heritage of liberal democracy itself. Orbán’s graceful concession contains lessons for Americans, too. Despite much worry and hand-wringing over democratic erosion in Hungary, Orbán was still voted out of power through the democratic process. He’s leaving quietly and respectfully, with well wishes to Magyar’s party. I think that, too, is a lesson for the United States. Respectful political disagreement [is still possible](https://www.readtangle.com/decency-is-about-to-make-a-comeback/), Western democratic values can withstand criticism and assault, and postliberalism cannot overwhelm the marketplace of ideas. ****Staff concurrence — Managing Editor Ari Weitzman:** I really want to dig in on one of Audrey’s last points, that Orbán’s removal from power and his voluntary concession show that the rumors of democracy’s demise have been greatly exaggerated. In general, the way we buy into the power of ascendant political movements is always exaggerated. The fall of the Soviet Union, the consolidation of Europe, the rise of Obama, the rise of the Tea Party, Brexit, Orbán, Trump — they’re all responses to their predecessors just as much as the beginnings of new movements. And when new movements falter, they struggle to defeat the counter-movements they themselves engender. The ascendant right won’t ascend forever; the only immutable rule in politics is that a change is gonna come. **Take the survey:** What do you think are the implications of Hungary’s election? [Let us know](https://interrobang.vercel.app/survey/38694b00-1fc1-4d9f-9958-3ff571898c06?ref=readtangle.com). *Disagree? That's okay. Our opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we'll consider publishing your feedback.* ### Your questions, answered. **Q: If mail-in voting continues, how will that be affected if USPS shuts down? Also, if private delivery companies (UPS for example) replace USPS what guarantees would there be to ensure steps to avoid fraud?** **— Roxanne** **Tangle:** It’s impossible to say exactly how mail-in voting would be impacted if the United States Postal Service (USPS) is no longer operational. A lot would still need to happen for that to become a reality, but the agency is facing a [protracted financial crisis](https://www.brookings.edu/articles/the-us-postal-services-fiscal-crisis/?ref=readtangle.com) that could come to a head in the next year. At this time, [FedEx and UPS](https://www.reuters.com/article/business/exclusive-ups-fedex-warn-they-cannot-carry-ballots-like-us-postal-service-idUSKCN25B00D/?ref=readtangle.com) say they are not able to consistently reach remote areas to ensure ballots are delivered and picked up. On the flip side, the USPS has a “universal service obligation" requiring it to offer affordable service to everyone. While Amazon has been floated as a potential candidate to add delivery coverage, they do not accept packages from residential mailboxes — and as of now, Amazon relies on the USPS to deliver [millions of packages a year](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/08/business/amazon-usps-agreement.html?ref=readtangle.com). [Oversight from public entities](https://www.uspsoig.gov/sites/default/files/reports/2024-08/RISC-WP-24-006.pdf?ref=readtangle.com) gives USPS an added layer of assurance to handle the extremely high stakes of mail-in voting. If it were to shut down, other private carriers likely wouldn’t be able to deliver to many remote customers and would likely face more oversight in order to be able to deliver mail-in ballots. However, this is all still hypothetical. Although the USPS is reportedly [considering service cuts](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/11/us/politics/postal-service-finances-mail.html?ref=readtangle.com) to manage an ongoing funding crisis, it is currently staffed to pick up and distribute mail from all residential mailboxes six days a week. The USPS may raise some of its prices or ask Congress [to remove some restrictions](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/11/us/politics/postal-service-finances-mail.html?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Removing%20financial%20limits) on its retirement funds to remain solvent, rather than cut its service. **Want to have a question answered in the newsletter? You can reply to this email (it goes straight to our inbox) or** [**fill out this form**](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScQhqBSG%5F6%5FoBhwcTQMeS570n29XYbeQ9C9Bis7rjqI31g1tA/viewform?usp=header&ref=readtangle.com)**.** ### Numbers. - [**9.6 million.**](https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.POP.TOTL?locations=HU&ref=readtangle.com) Hungary’s approximate population as of 2024, according to the United Nations. - [**7.5 million.**](https://vtr.valasztas.hu/ogy2026/reszveteli-adatok?tab=vegso-adatok&filter=orszagos&ref=readtangle.com) The approximate number of registered voters in Hungary. - [**79.6%.**](https://vtr.valasztas.hu/ogy2026/reszveteli-adatok?tab=vegso-adatok&filter=orszagos&ref=readtangle.com) The percentage of registered voters who participated in Sunday’s election. - [**69.7% and 69.6%.**](https://data.ipu.org/parliament/HU/HU-LC01/election/HU-LC01-E20220403/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Voter%20turnout-,69.6%25,-Results) Voter turnout in Hungary’s 2018 and 2022 parliamentary elections, respectively. SPONSORED by Blue Circle Foods ****A Shorter Food Chain, A Fuller Ocean** Traditional salmon farming requires pounds of wild fish just to grow one pound of salmon. [Blue Circle](https://www.bluecirclefoods.com/pages/about?ref=readtangle.com) flips that ratio by feeding their Atlantic Salmon microalgae —delivering protein and Omega-3s without raiding the ocean's food chain. The result: less than half a pound of fish taken per pound raised. [****Keep plenty of fish in the sea**](https://www.bluecirclefoods.com/pages/about?ref=readtangle.com)****.** ### This day in history. ![Assassination of President Lincoln, Ford’s Theatre, Washington — April 14, 1865 | Wikimedia Commons](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/04/data-src-image-8cf23807-b8bb-40a6-8c60-7b1f0604ecd5.png) Assassination of President Lincoln, Ford’s Theatre, Washington — April 14, 1865 | Wikimedia Commons On April 14, 1865, while watching a play with his wife at Ford’s Theatre, President Abraham Lincoln was shot in the back of the head by Southern actor and Confederate sympathizer John Wilkes Booth. After a brief scuffle with Major Henry Rathbone, who was attending the performance with the president, Booth leapt from the president’s box onto the stage and shouted the Virginia state motto: “Sic semper tyrannis” (a line credited to Marcus Brutus during the assassination of Julius Caesar, meaning “Thus always to tyrants”). Booth fled the scene amid the resulting confusion. Meanwhile, the wounded president was carried from the theater to a house across the street. Despite attempts to save his life, the president died there in the early morning of April 15\. Lincoln’s death, just a month into his second term and two days after the formal surrender of the Confederacy, ultimately changed the course of the planned Reconstruction of the nation. ### The extras. - **One year ago today** we wrote about [Kilmar Abrego Garcia and Mahmoud Khalil](https://www.readtangle.com/kilmar-abrego-garcia-and-mahmoud-khalils-deportation-rulings/). - **The most clicked link in our last regular newsletter** was [our Friday mailbag edition](https://www.readtangle.com/some-answers-to-your-questions-april-2026/). - **Nothing to do with politics:** In honor of National Gardening Day, explore [the Global Seed Vault in the Arctic Circle](https://www.seedvault.no/?ref=readtangle.com). - **Our last survey:** 2,920 readers responded to our survey on negotiations between the U.S. and Iran with 57% saying the two sides are not making progress. “It is nearly impossible to negotiate in good faith with a totalitarian regime,” one respondent said. “Peace requires negotiation and right now both sides don’t believe they need to compromise on anything,” said another. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/04/data-src-image-090c1217-0ed1-4649-86ee-0e975b8bfc8d.png) ### Have a nice day. For years, in some Philadelphia schools, children were not getting recess or breaks during their day; the problem was so bad that children in some schools reportedly wore diapers. Two years of advocacy from the parent group Lift Every Voice Philly has changed things for the better. The Philadelphia school board has agreed to reforms, including guaranteed daily recess and unrestricted bathroom access for students. For parent Carrera Wilson, the win was transformative. “I just was a parent that cared and didn't like what was going on in my kids’ school,” Wilson said. “And now I can actually go home and tell my kids, look on the news, Mommy did this. We won this.” [Chalkbeat has the story](https://www.chalkbeat.org/philadelphia/2026/03/27/parents-group-celebrates-after-district-alters-bathroom-break-recess-policy/?ref=readtangle.com). ### The kids are alright (actually) URL: https://www.readtangle.com/press-pass-the-kids-are-alright-actually/ Last updated: 2026-04-15T12:41:43.000Z *I’m Isaac Saul, and this is* Press Pass*: Our once-a-month, members-only newsletter that pulls back the curtain on the inner workings of Tangle.* --- One seemingly never-ending genre of writing is the kind where people above the age of 30 fret constantly over everyone under the age of 30. Having grown up myself now, I’ve felt the allure of writing to this genre. *What is wrong with these kids?* I catch myself thinking, and sometimes saying. They’re stuck online all day. They’ve got robot friends. They don’t take any risks, party, socialize, drink, or have fun. Do they make memories? Or fall in love? Do any of them read? Will any of them have kids? They’re so screwed! *We’re* screwed! I’m not sure exactly what happens, or why, but you want to eat this stuff up like kibble right around the time you turn 30\. I can’t even remember precisely when or how I came to this concrete view, but one day I just *believed* that *there was something wrong with them*, and that it was irreparable and terrifying. I vividly remember the first time this belief was really punctured: We were hiring an associate editor in 2024 to join the team, and roughly a third of the applicants were Gen Z. I was surprised that so many of them could maintain eye contact, carry on conversations, and make quippy comments. Genuinely, 90% of the applicants in this age bracket were people I wanted to work with, or would have been happy doing so. Then I found myself surprised at being so surprised. And after we hired one of them, Lindsey Knuth, I had to admit that she was… normal. I find some of Lindsey's habits and how she views the world inherently peculiar (and I occasionally need her to translate Gen Z trends and knowledge), but she’s undeniably smart, well adjusted, and capable. The same goes for Audrey Moorehead, another Gen Z associate editor on our team. And Russell Nystrom, who manages our social media channels. And Aidan Gorman, one of our video editors. And then I thought, “Hey, wait a second — how’d they all end up so good? I thought these kids were inherently broken!” I’d already been disabused of my Old Man routine by the time I began regularly hitting college campuses to give talks last year, but those experiences have killed the notion altogether. And yeah, I’m getting a biased sample of kids who share my values — after all, they’re attending my lectures or applying for jobs at Tangle. But through family, friends, the younger siblings of my peers or the young kids of my own older friends, I know *a lot* of the Gen Z cohort. So I’ve replaced the lost generation trope with another: The kids are alright. This past month, I spoke at Rowan University in central New Jersey; Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah; and tonight I’ll be at Davidson College in Davidson, North Carolina. The Rowan and BYU talks were a blast. At Rowan, I got to meet with four separate classes and had a private lunch with some faculty. The kids asked smart, thoughtful questions, and were highly engaged in every setting. All of them seemed hungry for information they could trust, and were open about where they might find it. Their cynicism about the corporate media was ubiquitous. At BYU, which was inarguably one of the most beautiful campuses I’ve ever seen, most of the students I heard from described a clear sense that they aren’t being told the full truth when consuming the news. They recognize the mainstream media has its flaws, but they don’t trust influencers or social media stars, either. They embraced calls for decency and were enthusiastic about calls to examine their biases and think about how to be better media consumers. ![Tangle Founder Isaac Saul speaking to college students at BYU | Image: Madison Robinette](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/04/data-src-image-6994eb64-e4fe-47da-bd10-a2ab75521bea.jpeg) Tangle Founder Isaac Saul speaking to college students at BYU | Image: Madison Robinette On both campuses, I asked students questions like “when was the last time you changed your mind about a political view you hold,” “where do you get your news,” and “what comes to mind when you think about the news.” What I gathered is that these students aren’t generally in the habit of changing their minds; they get their news mostly from Instagram and YouTube (podcasts and TikTok are popular, but newsletters are nearly non-existent), and all of them feel depressed, anxious, overwhelmed, or tired when they think of the news. Inevitably, when I leave these speaking gigs, I find myself thinking a few things: _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Trump on photo he posted appearing to depict him as Jesus: “I thought it was me as a doctor.” URL: https://www.readtangle.com/trump-on-photo-he-posted-appearing-to-depict-him-as-jesus-i-thought-it-was-me-as-a-doctor/ Last updated: 2026-04-14T00:02:17.000Z President Donald Trump was asked about a post he made on Truth Social showing what appeared to be an AI-generated photo depicting himself as Jesus. Trump responded by saying that he thought the photo showed him as a doctor, and blamed it on the “fake news.” ### No deal in Iran negotiations. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/iran-negotiations-no-deal/ Last updated: 2026-04-13T15:52:20.000Z *I'm Isaac Saul, and this is Tangle: an independent, nonpartisan, subscriber-supported politics newsletter that summarizes the best arguments from across the political spectrum on the news of the day — then “my take.”* *Are you new here?* [*Get free emails*](https://www.readtangle.com/) *to your inbox daily. Would you rather listen? You can find our podcast* [*here*](https://shows.acast.com/66510864c0852400122bc7be?ref=readtangle.com)*.* ### Today’s read: 14 minutes. 🗣️ 21 hours of U.S.–Iran negotiations failed to produce a breakthrough, and President Trump ordered a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Plus, what is the petrodollar, and how does it relate to the conflict with Iran? ### Our latest edition. Senior Editor Will Kaback’s answer to a question about Tangle being too left-leaning in our [mailbag edition on Friday](https://www.readtangle.com/some-answers-to-your-questions-april-2026/) drove a lot of discussion in our comments. So did Editor-at-Large Kmele Foster’s answer to a question about the Artemis II mission. However, if you’re on our free list, you missed out on Kmele’s answer — as well as a slew of answers to questions about AI, the Supreme Court, Trump’s management of the Covid pandemic, and more. To get access to the whole Friday edition, and join the conversation in our comments section, [subscribe today](https://readtangle.com/membership?ref=readtangle.com)! ### Quick hits. 1. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán conceded to opposition leader Péter Magyar in the country’s parliamentary election, ending Orbán’s 16-year rule. Magyar’s party won 53.6% of the vote compared to 37.8% won by Orbán’s party. ([The results](https://www.wsj.com/world/europe/hungary-election-results-orban-b2dbd42a?mod=hp%5Flead%5Fpos3&ref=readtangle.com)) 2. Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) suspended his campaign for California governor after multiple women came forward accusing him of rape, sexual assault, and sexual misconduct. Swalwell said he denies the accusations but apologized to his friends, family, and supporters for “mistakes in judgment I’ve made in my past.” Swalwell has not indicated that he plans to resign from his House seat. ([The suspension](https://www.axios.com/2026/04/13/eric-swalwell-california-governor-campaign?ref=readtangle.com)) 3. President Donald Trump criticized Pope Leo XIV in a social media post, calling the pope “weak on crime” and “terrible” on foreign policy. Pope Leo has repeatedly called for an end to ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, writing on Friday, “God does not bless any conflict.” ([The comments](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-accuses-pope-leo-being-terrible-foreign-policy-over-pontiffs-anti-war-comments?ref=readtangle.com)) 4. On Friday, the Labor Department reported that the consumer price index rose 3.3% on an annual basis in March, an increase from February’s gain of 2.4%. Energy prices rose 12.5% from a year earlier. ([The report](https://www.wsj.com/economy/cpi-inflation-report-march-2026-bb353007?ref=readtangle.com)) 5. The United Kingdom paused its transfer of the Chagos Islands — a group of seven atolls in the Indian Ocean — to Mauritius after President Trump withdrew his support for the plan. The UK and the United States share a military base on the largest island in the Chagos, and while both countries would have continued use of the base after the transfer, the UK said it cannot proceed without U.S. support. ([The pause](https://thehill.com/policy/international/5827249-uk-chagos-islands-transfer-paused/?ref=readtangle.com)) SPONSORED by incogni ****Keep Your SSN Off The Dark Web** Every day, data brokers profit from your sensitive info — ****phone number, DOB, SSN** — selling it to the highest bidder. What happens then? **Best case:* companies target you with ads. **Worst case:* scammers and identity thieves breach those brokers, leaving your data vulnerable or on the dark web. It's time you check out [****Incogni**](https://deal.incogni.io/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=6&aff%5Fid=1007&ref=readtangle.com)****.** It scrubs your personal data from the web, confronting the world’s data brokers on your behalf. And unlike other services, Incogni helps [****remove your sensitive information**](https://deal.incogni.io/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=6&aff%5Fid=1007&ref=readtangle.com) from all broker types, including those tricky People Search Sites. ****Use code TANGLE today to get an** [****exclusive 55% discount**](https://deal.incogni.io/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=6&aff%5Fid=1007&ref=readtangle.com) **on unlimited removals from anywhere that exposes your data.** ### Today’s topic. Negotiations with Iran. On Sunday, President Donald Trump [announced](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/timeline-trumps-escalating-threats-iran-strait-hormuz?ref=readtangle.com) that the U.S. Navy will impose a blockade on the Strait of Hormuz after peace negotiations with Iranian officials failed to produce a breakthrough. While Iran has largely restricted transit through the strait over the past month, it has allowed some ships to pass through by paying a toll; in other cases, vessels linked to friendly nations like China have been granted passage. President Trump suggested the U.S. blockade will shut down the waterway entirely, though U.S. Central Command later [said](https://x.com/CENTCOM/status/2043432050921718194?ref=readtangle.com) the blockade would not apply to ships passing through the strait to or from non-Iranian ports. **Back up:** On Tuesday, Trump [announced](https://www.readtangle.com/us-iran-ceasefire-april/) a two-week ceasefire with Iran, saying that a 10-point Iranian peace plan offered “a workable basis on which to negotiate.” Iran has accused the United States of violating the terms of the ceasefire over the past week, while President Trump has criticized Iran for refusing to reopen the strait. Furthermore, ongoing Israeli strikes in Lebanon have created an additional point of tension; the U.S. and Israel claim the ceasefire does not apply in Lebanon, and Iran says it does. Over the weekend, Vice President JD Vance, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner met with an Iranian delegation for peace talks mediated by Pakistan. After 21 hours of discussions, Vance [told reporters](https://thehill.com/policy/international/5827501-vance-no-deal-with-iran/?ref=readtangle.com) on Saturday that the sides had not reached an agreement, calling it “bad news for Iran much more than it’s bad news for the United States of America.” Later that day, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei [said](https://x.com/IRIMFA%5FSPOX/status/2043124194561417611?s=20&ref=readtangle.com) in an auto-translated X post that the negotiations had focused on “the Strait of Hormuz, the nuclear issue, war reparations, lifting of sanctions, and the complete end to the war against Iran and in the region” but did not specify where the talks had failed. In a Truth Social post on Sunday morning, President Trump suggested that the future of Iran’s nuclear program was the sticking point, [writing](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116392449978703637?ref=readtangle.com), “In many ways, the points that were agreed to are better than us continuing our Military Operations to conclusion, but all of those points don’t matter compared to allowing Nuclear Power to be in the hands of such volatile, difficult, unpredictable people.” In announcing the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, he [called](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116392448970133700?ref=readtangle.com) Iran’s restriction of the waterway “WORLD EXTORTION,” adding that the Navy would seek to interdict any ship that had paid a toll to transit the strait. On Sunday, Iranian state media [reported](https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/iran-war-latest-news-israel-us-lebanon-2026/card/iran-says-it-has-deployed-navy-special-forces-to-its-southern-coast-n8mrMjpan5SLPL5cTsb9?ref=readtangle.com) that the country’s military has deployed navy special forces to its southern coastline in anticipation of a potential invasion by U.S. forces. Since the start of the two-week ceasefire, the U.S. military has [deployed](https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/iran-war-latest-news-israel-us-lebanon-2026/card/more-u-s-forces-deploy-to-middle-east-aCya5kNVTR0CsBVX0Z3v??ref=readtangle.com) additional troops to the Middle East, including thousands of sailors and Marines. On Sunday, President Trump alluded to resuming military operations against Iran if the stalemate persists. Today, we’ll share perspectives from the left and right on the breakdown in negotiations and the blockade. Then, Executive Editor Isaac Saul gives his take. ### What the left is saying. - **Many on the left worry that the war is headed for a re-escalation.** - **Some note the political tightrope Vance has to walk as lead negotiator.** - **Others suggest Trump is still looking for an off-ramp from the war.** **In CNN, Nic Robertson called the failed talks** [**“a blow to hopes of finding an off-ramp to crisis.”**](https://www.cnn.com/2026/04/11/middleeast/us-iran-talks-failure-analysis-intl-hnk?ref=readtangle.com) “The two sides were simply too far apart, not just in substance, but in style and temperament. The respective delegations went into these talks with vastly different approaches: US Vice President JD Vance appeared to be after a relatively quick solution after the implementation of a two-week ceasefire, but Tehran typically moves much slower, negotiating over the long term,” Robertson wrote. “If there are going to be more talks, Iran will have to change its position somehow. Iran believes the talks failed because of ‘excessive’ US demands, and it’s clear from both sides that nuclear enrichment is a key sticking point.” “The two-week ceasefire itself was struck against the backdrop of a maximalist threat from US President Donald Trump to annihilate a civilization and blow up Iran’s power plants and key infrastructure. Whether that threat comes into play again is now a key question,” Robertson said. “Two other fundamental questions hang in the air: How will Iran respond to the US walking away? And how much longer will the global economy be stuck in limbo?” **In MS NOW, James Downie said** [**“JD Vance may regret leading peace talks with Iran.”**](https://www.ms.now/opinion/jd-vance-iran-pakistan-peace-talks?ref=readtangle.com) “The vice president was reportedly Iran’s preferred negotiating partner, but his elevation looks less like a boon to his standing as a diplomatic force in the administration and more like a poisoned chalice,” Downie wrote. “In the nearly six weeks after the United States and Israel first attacked Iran, Vance has sought to balance his fealty to President Donald Trump with his image as a skeptic of interventions… That development has threatened his standing as the GOP’s 2028 front-runner: Skepticism of foreign interventions may be a key feature of Vance’s political identity, but most Republicans have supported the war with Iran.” “Meanwhile, the U.S. has less leverage than it did before the conflict began… Trump’s attempted ‘madman’ gambits have hit a dead end; while the U.S. can threaten military action if talks break down, everyone knows the political will for war does not exist,” Downie said. “All these factors, and more besides, have hampered the chances of a deal. But while Trump loves to declare victory out of nothing, Vance is facing intense pressure to secure something other than the status quo.” **In The Washington Post, David Ignatius explored** [**“what really happened in Islamabad — and what Trump is trying now.”**](https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2026/04/12/us-iran-talks-islamabad-what-happened-what-happens-next/?ref=readtangle.com) “Some commentators speculated that with the failure to reach a deal in Islamabad, the United States might be marching deeper into another ‘forever’ war — that the talks could have been a prelude to a new and perhaps more dangerous phase of conflict,” Ignatius wrote. “After talking Sunday with people close to the negotiations, my sense is that the Islamabad impasse won’t necessarily mean a return to war. The blockade is a pressure tactic, to be sure, but not primarily a military one… \[Trump’s\] aim instead is to put a severely battered Iran into an economic vice to see if its leaders will set a different course in a big, comprehensive deal.” “If a still-emboldened Iran tries to press what it sees as its advantages, through military or terrorist attacks, Trump could be forced into the escalating military confrontation he hopes to avoid. That’s the risk of the strategy the Trump team adopted in Islamabad — they showed how much the U.S. is willing to offer to get a peace deal,” Ignatius said. “But Trump doesn’t negotiate by increments. He thinks small deals produce small results. That’s the logic here. Make the cake bigger, even as you tighten economic pressure on Tehran to accept U.S. terms.” ### What the right is saying. - **The right sees the naval blockade as an effective counter to Iran’s selective shutdown of the strait.** - **Some say negotiations were unlikely to succeed — and the war’s future is murky.** - **Others suggest Iran has lost any leverage it had before the talks.** **The Wall Street Journal editorial board wrote** [**“Trump blockades the blockaders in Iran.”**](https://www.wsj.com/opinion/trump-blockades-the-blockaders-in-iran-93c8c8bd?ref=readtangle.com) “Iran’s failure to come to terms was predictable. Tehran took Mr. Trump’s eagerness for a cease-fire as a sign of desperation and confirmation that its energy strategy is a winner. The regime won’t even open the Strait amid the cease-fire,” the board said. “As Vice President JD Vance explained after marathon talks failed, ‘We need to see an affirmative commitment that they will not seek a nuclear weapon and they will not seek the tools that would enable them to quickly achieve a nuclear weapon.’ The latter half is the key. No matter what Iran’s regime says, the only reason it needs domestic uranium enrichment capability is to pursue a bomb.” “‘Iran will not be allowed to profit off this Illegal Act of EXTORTION,’ the President wrote Sunday. Why should Iran alone be exempt from the costs of its illegal actions in Hormuz, raking in revenue while it starves the rest of the world? Even as the U.S. sought to pressure the regime, it was undercutting itself by encouraging Iranian oil exports,” the board wrote. “Iran now has an incentive to restore traffic in the Strait. As does China, whose tankers had been given priority. Rather than smuggle new air defenses to Iran, as U.S. intelligence suspects it is doing, let Beijing pressure the regime to resume oil shipments.” **In Fox News, Robert Maginnis argued** [**“\[the\] Islamabad talks were always doomed to fail.”**](https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/robert-maginnis-islamabad-talks-always-doomed-fail?ref=readtangle.com) “Clausewitz wrote that war is the continuation of policy by other means. The corollary — which Washington perpetually forgets — is that diplomacy without strategic clarity is just theater. This weekend in Islamabad, we got the theater,” Maginnis said. “Tehran’s delegation… presented four non-negotiable conditions before the session even began: full Iranian sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz, complete war reparations, unconditional release of frozen assets and a durable ceasefire across the entire West Asia region. Those are not opening bids. They are a declaration of intent.” “If the ceasefire collapses without a diplomatic track to replace it, pressure to resume strikes will build fast. But more bombs will not force Iran to surrender. The logic of sustained escalation leads to one place: a large-scale ground war,” Maginnis wrote. “Iran is not Iraq. Iraq favored maneuver warfare across open terrain. Iran is mountainous, with limited mobility corridors. Naval power is largely irrelevant. Ground forces would have to grind through prepared defenses at enormous cost in lives and treasure — and the American people are not prepared for that war.” **In The Free Press, Eli Lake said** [**“Iran wasted the ceasefire.”**](https://www.thefp.com/p/how-iran-wasted-the-ceasefire?ref=readtangle.com) “Despite coming into the talks demanding everything from war reparations to military control of the Strait of Hormuz, the Iranian delegation left Islamabad with nothing,” Lake wrote. “The Iranians also insisted before the talks that the initial two-week ceasefire applied to Israel’s war against Iran’s proxy in Lebanon, Hezbollah. Threats to scuttle the talks last week over the Lebanon issue seem to have been a bluff… Iran suffered another setback when Lebanon’s elected government agreed to talks in Washington with Israeli envoys.” “For Iran, the clock is ticking. It seems to have lost its ability to play for time in dazzling feats of negotiation with American counterparts who want a deal more than any particular nonnegotiable outcome from a deal. And, if the U.S. Navy succeeds in neutralizing the threat to commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, Iran will have lost its only piece of real leverage,” Lake said. “This may force the regime to accept a new reality. Its military is defanged. Its nuclear program is severely degraded. Its economy is in ruins.” ### My take. **Reminder: “My take” is a section where we give ourselves space to share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, don't unsubscribe. Write in by replying to this email, or** [**leave a comment**](https://www.readtangle.com/iran-negotiations-no-deal/#ghost-comments-root)**.** - **Negotiations so far seem unproductive.** - **Trump instituting a blockade in the Strait of Hormuz invites more questions, and makes global shipping more tenuous.** - **I worry economic disruptions are on the horizon if talks don’t produce agreements, and soon.** **Executive Editor Isaac Saul:** I want this war to be *for* something — I want Iran denuclearized, proxies defeated, regime gone, and an opportunity for a new Iranian government, somehow paired with a stable Middle East. But my fear since the start has been that the Trump administration lacked a clear plan, clear goals or a clear off-ramp, even if it correctly views Iran as a global threat. Even if we’ve killed Iran’s top leaders and seriously damaged its military capabilities, the plan we had going in clearly seems to be running into snags (or wasn’t that well thought out to begin with). On Thursday, I [expressed](https://www.readtangle.com/us-iran-ceasefire-april/#:~:text=down%20their%20throats.%E2%80%9D-,My%20take.,-Reminder%3A%20%E2%80%9CMy%20take) my skepticism about the ceasefire: > Worse yet, I think \[President Trump\] is *still* trapped and *still* feeling the walls as he walks through the darkness, guessing on his next moves. I think this war is *not* over, Iran’s control over this economic lever has *not* been removed, and we have *not* found our way out. If you can even call this situation a ceasefire at all, I’m skeptical it will survive the time between me writing this sentence and it being published. Pretty much everything that has happened in the last five days has affirmed this view for me. Vice President JD Vance represented the United States at the marathon talks with Tehran over the weekend. While he was there, President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio attended a UFC event in Miami, Florida. A lot of political junkies tend to overestimate the importance of these optics — the president could still care a great deal about the war while relying on his team to help him manage negotiations. But Trump told reporters on his way to the event that it did not matter to him if a deal was reached or not. “Whether we make a deal or not makes no difference to me,” he said. “We win regardless.” Yet the negotiation does matter. With talks failing, the administration has decided to blockade the Strait of Hormuz. This means a prolonged naval presence in the region, with no timeline and no particulars. Our navy is perfectly capable of executing such a blockade, and analysts believe we’ll use the time to sweep the strait for mines and establish a protected passage for commercial ships. Military insiders I’ve spoken to doubt the U.S. Navy will be seriously threatened by Iran, given how much we overpower other countries at sea. Still, uncertainty remains. What will the U.S. do to ships that try to break the blockade in the meantime? How will it affect our allies in the Persian Gulf, like Kuwait, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE)? If Iran attempts to attack our navy, how will we respond? Who will help the U.S. clear the Strait of Hormuz? Who will help us enforce that it stays open? We don’t have answers to those questions, but the information we have isn’t particularly encouraging. Trump promised other countries would help un-block the Strait of Hormuz, but so far: [no takers](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/13/world/middleeast/trump-iran-blockade-strait-of-hormuz.html?ref=readtangle.com). It’s true that many of our allies purport to share our interests yet aren’t answering the call, but at the same time, the president should have accounted for that outcome by planning the operation in conjunction with our allies. Iran, for its part, has called any potential blockade an “act of piracy” and said no port in the Persian Gulf or the Sea of Oman will be safe if Iran’s ports are threatened. It promised to protect its territorial waters and said no U.S. vessel will pass through the Strait of Hormuz (although the U.S. [said](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/11/us/politics/us-navy-warships-strait-of-hormuz-iran-mines.html?ref=readtangle.com) that two American Navy destroyers entered the strait and destroyed an Iranian surveillance drone on Saturday before exiting safely). That all sounds less like progress on a negotiated peace and more like reasons to continue fighting. Meanwhile, it’s unclear how long our allies will be able to tolerate a global economic disruption — and how long until the pain hits home in a serious way. And Iran still has some cards to play. Saudi Arabia and the UAE have both completed “bypass pipelines” to move oil from the Persian Gulf across the Arabian Peninsula to the Red Sea, avoiding the Strait of Hormuz. Those pipelines are vulnerable targets for Iranian sabotage. The Red Sea also has its own choke points: the Suez Canal, which demonstrated its value during the pandemic, and the Bab al-Mandeb, which you may [hear more about soon](https://www.foxnews.com/world/gate-tears-risk-iran-threatens-major-new-global-chokepoint-us-moves-hormuz?ref=readtangle.com). That 20-mile waterway separates Djibouti and Yemen, where the Iran-backed Houthis — who have already [wreaked havoc](https://www.readtangle.com/united-states-houthi-strikes-red-sea/) in the Red Sea — operate. Oil from the gulf mostly [goes to Asia](https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=61002&ref=readtangle.com), while transit through the Red Sea [affects](https://www.hillebrandgori.com/media/publication/red-sea-shipping-update?ref=readtangle.com) the whole global supply chain. That means we can get a sense of the impact of a potential Bab al-Mandeb disruption by looking at how the current situation is affecting Asia. As this excerpt [from a new Wall Street Journal report](https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/u-s-threat-to-blockade-hormuz-sets-up-risky-new-showdown-2e9bdb03?mod=WSJ%5Fhome%5Fmediumtopper%5Fpos%5F2&ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=The%20oil%20shock,Arabia%E2%80%99s%20by%206.6%25.) shows, the current economic damage for some Asian nations is being described as *worse than the pandemic*: > The oil shock of Iran paralyzing the strait is already rippling through Asia, where factories are curbing production to save energy and some gas stations are rationing fuel. Some airports across Asia and Europe are beginning to run out of jet fuel, and it could take months for inventories to recover. For countries in the Gulf, the economic damage is shaping up to be the worst in decades, eclipsing the pandemic. Researchers at Capital Economics forecast Qatar’s gross domestic product to shrink by 13% this year, the United Arab Emirates’s by 8% and Saudi Arabia’s by 6.6%. That kind of economic damage hasn’t reached our shores yet, but that doesn’t mean it won’t. Jet fuel shortages, supply chain disruptions and energy price spikes ripple out from the source in today’s global economy, and we will probably feel them in ways we may not totally understand or expect right now. If you don’t share my opinion that our economic situation is tenuous, listen to the president. On Sunday, Trump was asked in a Fox News interview if oil and gas prices will be lower in November — that’s seven months from now — when voters hit the polls. “I hope so,” he [said](https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/iran-war-latest-news-israel-us-lebanon-2026/card/trump-says-oil-prices-may-be-a-little-bit-higher--3uqgwvvSTKT0IdaoOsyR?ref=readtangle.com). “I mean, I think so. It could be…or maybe a little bit higher. It should be around the same. I think this won’t be that much longer.” Confidence, this is not. Not to beat a dead horse, but in key moments like this, we need to constantly remind ourselves what the administration has said and then what has actually happened. When these strikes began, Trump said they would last four weeks or less. Around the four-week mark, the White House began considering a ground operation to take Kharg Island or capture Iran’s enriched uranium. Trump then held a national address on April 1, telling Americans the conflict would be over in two to three weeks. It’s now been two weeks since that address, and — on the back of failed negotiations — we just announced a seemingly indefinite blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, with the added risk of escalation if anyone tries to stop us. And while we’re cajoling our allies into helping, news just broke that China is [preparing a weapons shipment to Iran](https://www.cnn.com/2026/04/11/politics/us-intelligence-iran-china-weapons?cid=ios%5Fapp&ref=readtangle.com). That kind of escalation is a concerning reminder of the global alliances we’re facing in this power struggle. Nobody really expected these negotiations to solve anything substantial in a single day. The Obama-era Iran nuclear deal took two *years* to hammer out, and we’re in wartime now, which always complicates things. But the expectation here is necessarily different because the circumstances are dire. The strait needs to reopen soon, unless we want the global energy crisis to metastasize. And we really need to avoid being drawn into a kind of ambient war, lest we accept our soldiers being at daily risk and our coffers being regularly emptied to the tune of billions of dollars, all while the needle never really moves. **Take the survey:** How do you think negotiations between the U.S. and Iran are proceeding? [Let us know](https://interrobang.vercel.app/survey/6b635cdf-20aa-4cb5-be2e-566a5ec1cc03?ref=readtangle.com). *Disagree? That's okay. Our opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we'll consider publishing your feedback.* ### Your questions, answered. **Q: I keep hearing about the ‘petrodollar’ system. I had no idea this existed — what is this system and what is its relevance in our current conflict?** **— Alex from Huntsville, AL** **Tangle:** This goes back to the post-WWII economy. In 1944, delegates from 44 countries gathered in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, to lay out a new economic system that incorporated lessons from the Great Depression and the recent global wars. They created [the Bretton Woods system](https://www.federalreservehistory.org/essays/bretton-woods-created?ref=readtangle.com), launching the International Monetary Fund and establishing standards for currency convertibility. Perhaps the system’s defining feature was the definition of the U.S. dollar as the global reserve currency, pegging its value at $35 to one ounce of gold. That system came to an end in 1971, when President Richard Nixon [officially declared](https://history.state.gov/milestones/1969-1976/nixon-shock?ref=readtangle.com) that the dollar would no longer be based on the gold standard. A few years of uncertainty followed, culminating in the 1973 oil crisis. Out of that tumult emerged the [petrodollar](https://chaipredict.com/resources/expiration-saudi-us-petrodollar-agreement?ref=readtangle.com): an informal arrangement in which Saudi Arabia would price its oil in U.S. dollars and invest in U.S. treasuries, in exchange for U.S. military aid and protection. Over time, the calculus has shifted. The United States has been producing more of its own oil, China has become Saudi Arabia’s largest customer, and various writers [speculated about](https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/econographics/is-the-end-of-the-petrodollar-near/?ref=readtangle.com) the [end of the petrodollar](https://www.usfunds.com/resource/is-this-the-end-of-the-petrodollar/?ref=readtangle.com) as Donald Trump campaigned for a second term on U.S. energy independence. Now, with the war in Iran, the U.S. is also no longer a guarantor of regional security. Industry experts have said Iran is letting ships that [pay in Chinese yuan](https://fortune.com/2026/04/07/what-is-petrodollar-petroyuan-saudi-china-dollar-strength/?ref=readtangle.com) through the Strait of Hormuz as the dollar’s share of global foreign exchanges falls to a 25-year low, from 71% in 1999 to roughly 57% today. Neither the Trump administration nor Iran has made the petrodollar a centerpiece of the war, but removing the standard would benefit Iran far more than the U.S. Yes, U.S. oil would become more valuable — but the dollar would [become less stable](https://medium.com/@swpearce.mba/if-the-petrodollar-ends-what-comes-next-scenarios-for-u-s-adaptation-in-a-de-dollarizing-world-4434c47c297f?ref=readtangle.com), U.S. bonds would face higher yields, the debt would become more expensive, and deficits would loom larger and larger. So in the coming weeks, and after the recent release of the White House’s proposed 2027 budget, the petrodollar’s relevance in the current conflict will likely become more and more central. **Want to have a question answered in the newsletter? You can reply to this email (it goes straight to our inbox) or** [**fill out this form**](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScQhqBSG%5F6%5FoBhwcTQMeS570n29XYbeQ9C9Bis7rjqI31g1tA/viewform?usp=header&ref=readtangle.com)**.** ### Under the radar. On Thursday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released provisional data showing that the U.S. general fertility rate hit a record low in 2025, continuing a multi-year downward trend. A significant driver of the decline is lower birth rates among women in their teens and 20s; in 2025, the birth rate for women aged 35–39 exceeded the rate for women aged 20–24 for the first time. Birth rates have been declining across the world, particularly in countries with advanced economies, raising concerns about long-term population stability. “People are waiting longer to enter parenthood and probably want to make sure that things are set in their lives before they do so,” Wendy Manning, a demographer at Bowling Green State University, said. “There might be a lot of uncertainty, and that might not be good for a society in general.” [The Wall Street Journal has the story](https://www.wsj.com/us-news/why-the-u-s-fertility-rate-has-hit-a-record-low-13e7c2f8?ref=readtangle.com). SPONSORED by incogni ****Brokers Are Selling Your SSN Right Now** Your phone number, birthdate, and Social Security number get traded daily— best case, you get more ads; worst case, that data ends up breached or on the dark web. [Incogni](https://deal.incogni.io/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=6&aff%5Fid=1007&ref=readtangle.com) scrubs your info from all broker types, including People Search Sites, automatically. [****Use code TANGLE for 55% off**](https://deal.incogni.io/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=6&aff%5Fid=1007&ref=readtangle.com). ### The extras. - **One year ago today** we had just published a conversation [between Isaac and Richard Hanania](https://www.readtangle.com/interview-with-richard-hanania/). - **The most clicked link in our last regular edition** was the [DOJ investigation into Cassidy Hutchinson](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/07/us/doj-cassidy-hutchinson-investigation-trump.html?ref=readtangle.com). - **Nothing to do with politics:** Some [tips for sufferers of seasonal allergies](https://news.yale.edu/2026/04/01/suffer-seasonal-allergies-these-tips-will-help-you-find-relief?ref=readtangle.com). - **Our last survey:** 3,163 readers responded to our survey on the war in Iran with 39% saying the conflict will last until the next presidential administration. “The war will continue as long as Iran and Israel exist. And America will continue to pay the price for Israeli expansion,” one respondent said. “I expect Iran to Capitulate very quickly to Trump. Let’s see if I am right,” said another. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/04/data-src-image-a27b4ef6-ab9f-4d7b-8def-6fb5893ce727.png) ### Have a nice day. A St. Paul, Minnesota, restaurant is offering a unique solution to the partisan political divide. In a personal email to all Minnesota lawmakers, Sweeney’s Saloon owner Will Rolf offered free meals to state politicians who sit down to eat with a member of the opposing political party. “I think people are sick of the fighting,” Rolf said. “They’d like to see people get along and get things done.” So far, four lawmakers have taken Rolf up on the deal. [Fox 9 Minneapolis–St. Paul has the story](https://www.fox9.com/news/mn-restaurant-free-meals-lawmakers-colleagues-opposing-party-march-19.amp?ref=readtangle.com). ### The Sunday — April 12 URL: https://www.readtangle.com/the-sunday-april-12-2026/ Last updated: 2026-04-12T11:53:20.000Z *This is the Tangle Sunday Edition, a brief roundup of our independent politics coverage plus some extra features for your Sunday morning reading.* ### What the left is doodling. ![John Deering | Creators Syndicate](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/04/data-src-image-37816457-0333-4106-b997-49522e23bfc1.jpeg) John Deering | Creators Syndicate ### What the right is doodling. ![Steve Kelley | Creators Syndicate](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/04/data-src-image-d5655e6b-7646-4800-9d5b-b54ea93131d1.jpeg) Steve Kelley | Creators Syndicate ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/04/data-src-image-d95d601e-02af-45e9-a9e5-d2c33852ec2a.png) ### Suspension of the Rules. On this week’s episode, Isaac, Ari, and Kmele talked about the recent Iran ceasefire — and whether it’s really a ceasefire at all — before nerding out over the Artemis II mission. Plus, when are abandoned plants yours? You can check that out [here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMihf6%5FCsKU&ref=readtangle.com)! ### Monday, April 6. *Tangle did not release a newsletter in observance of Easter Monday.* ### Tuesday, April 7. [Trump’s Strait of Hormuz deadline](https://www.readtangle.com/trump-iran-ultimatum/). In a post on Truth Social on Sunday, April 5, President Donald Trump appeared to set a deadline of 8:00 PM ET on Tuesday, April 7, for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to commercial traffic. In a preceding post, the president suggested that he will authorize strikes on civilian energy and transportation infrastructure if the demand is not met, writing, “Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran. There will be nothing like it!!! Open the Fuckin’ Strait, you crazy bastards, or you’ll be living in Hell - JUST WATCH! Praise be to Allah.” In a Wall Street Journal interview later on April 5, Trump said Iran would “lose every power plant and every other plant they have in the whole country” if they block the strait beyond April 7\. **Our take:** *“Trump seems to have backed himself into a corner, and I worry for what comes next in Iran. His rhetoric has gotten noticeably more unhinged this past week. Polling doesn’t seem to matter, the president is surrounded by sycophants, and the recent developments are extremely concerning.”* **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/04/data-src-image-573c85ce-b7bc-4bee-966c-396923fb4924.png) ### Wednesday, April 8. [Trump’s 2027 budget](https://www.readtangle.com/trump-2027-budget-proposal-defense/). Two weeks ago, the White House released its budget proposal for fiscal year 2027, featuring an increase of 42% in defense spending to $1.5 trillion and a 10% decrease in non-defense spending to $660 billion. Specifically, the White House requested the budget to increase the capacity of the Navy, give pay raises to troops, resupply munitions, invest in critical resources, and build a “Golden Dome” missile defense system. The administration characterized the non-defense spending it had identified to cut as part of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and “woke programs” that drive government waste. **Our take:** *“The White House is trying to frame this as fiscal responsibility, but it’s really a massive spending increase. Our current situation justifies some kind of increase in certain military spending. The specifics for the request are unknown, but the source of funding is wishful thinking and it would continue our runaway federal deficits.”* **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/04/data-src-image-ae1afebf-b131-4499-9827-da9327e3ea48.png) ### Thursday, April 9. [The two-week ceasefire in Iran](https://www.readtangle.com/us-iran-ceasefire-april/). On Tuesday, April 7, President Donald Trump announced the U.S. had agreed to a two-week ceasefire with Iran, conditional on the Strait of Hormuz fully reopening to commercial shipping. President Trump announced the deal less than two hours before his 8:00 PM ET deadline for Iran to lift its restrictions on the strait or face strikes on civilian infrastructure. Trump also said that the U.S. received a 10-point peace plan from Iran he believed to be “a workable basis on which to negotiate.” **Our take:** *“When you sort through the confusion, the messaging over the ceasefire differs greatly from the reality. Iran’s 10-point plan is no basis for negotiations — I don’t even think we really have a ceasefire. Trump has painted himself into a corner, and there’s no end to this war in sight.”* **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/04/data-src-image-099ce9ea-99ff-441d-b350-eb39f394983b.png) ### Friday, April 10. We opened up the reader mailbag in this week’s Friday edition, as Tte editorial team answered your questions on topics ranging from the Supreme Court to artificial intelligence. [You can read our answers here](https://www.readtangle.com/some-answers-to-your-questions-april-2026/). ### Further reading. We’ve covered relations with Iran, presidential budget proposals, and the global oil supply before. Plus, check out our last reader mailbag from November. Take a look at our past coverage below: - In September 2023, we wrote about [President Biden’s prisoner swap and oil deal with Iran](https://www.readtangle.com/iran-hostage-prisoner-swap-biden/). - In March 2022, we covered [Biden’s 2023 budget proposal](https://www.readtangle.com/bidens-new-budget/). - In April 2020, Isaac wrote about [oil wars rocking the economy](https://www.readtangle.com/the-oil-wars-rocking-the-economy/). - In November 2025, our editorial team [answered your questions](https://www.readtangle.com/answering-your-questions-mailbag-november-2025/) on topics like the effect of *Dobbs*, immigrant labor, and how Tangle might operate in Nazi Germany in a paywalled Friday edition. --- ### What just happened. Here’s a rundown of the major stories that have broken since our newsletter on Thursday. - On Thursday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu authorized direct negotiations with Lebanon amid Israel’s large-scale bombing campaign. However, Netanyahu also said that Israel would continue strikes against Hezbollah targets in Lebanon. ([The update](https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2026/04/09/lebanon-beirut-attack-israel-hezbollah-ceasefire/?ref=readtangle.com)) On Friday, the speaker of Iran’s Parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, said Iran will not take part in ceasefire negotiations with the United States unless Israel’s bombing campaign in Lebanon ceases. ([The demand](https://thehill.com/policy/international/5825614-iran-lebanon-israel-us-ceasefire-talks/?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Thursday, First Lady Melania Trump gave a statement to reporters pushing back on what she called false claims about her connections to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. “I have never had any knowledge of Epstein’s abuse of his victims,” First Lady Trump said. It was not immediately clear what prompted the remarks. ([The comments](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/04/09/jeffrey-epstein-melania-trump.html?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Thursday, President Donald Trump called on Iran to cease charging tolls for passage through the Strait of Hormuz. On Saturday, U.S. Navy ships crossed the strait to begin efforts to locate and remove mines that Iran had placed in the waterway. ([The latest](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/11/us/politics/us-navy-warships-strait-of-hormuz-iran-mines.html?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Thursday, the Commerce Department revised its previous estimate of U.S. gross domestic product in Q4 2025, finding that the economy grew 0.5% in the quarter, slower than the previous estimate of 0.7% growth. ([The revision](https://apnews.com/article/economy-gdp-jobs-iran-dcb9dbdea745ddf15bea9b8f79ee308c?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Friday, the Labor Department reported that the consumer-price index rose 3.3% on an annual basis in March, an increase from February’s gain of 2.4%. Energy prices rose 12.5% from a year earlier, potentially highlighting the initial impact of disruptions to global energy markets from the war in Iran. ([The report](https://www.wsj.com/economy/cpi-inflation-report-march-2026-bb353007?mod=WSJ%5Fhome%5Fmediumtopper%5Fpos%5F1&ref=readtangle.com)) - On Friday, The San Francisco Chronicle and CNN published allegations of sexual misconduct and assault against U.S. representative and California gubernatorial candidate Eric Swalwell. Swalwell has denied the accusations, which came from four different women. ([The allegations](https://www.cnn.com/2026/04/10/us/eric-swalwell-sexual-misconduct-allegations-invs?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Friday, the four Artemis II astronauts returned to earth, splashing down in the Pacific Ocean at 5:07 PM PT. The astronauts were extracted from the Orion spacecraft and flown by helicopter to a waiting Navy ship, concluding their 10-day journey around the Moon. ([The splashdown](https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-welcomes-record-setting-artemis-ii-moonfarers-back-to-earth/?ref=readtangle.com)) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/04/data-src-image-260078bf-0da0-4aa1-9bb7-bcb7b840ded2.png) ### Reader essay. ![Singer-songwriter Sufjan Stevens | Image from The Trail](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/04/data-src-image-fc294675-c3c8-4bea-9147-77bf9a5d7ad5.png) Singer-songwriter Sufjan Stevens | Image from [The Trail](https://trail.pugetsound.edu/?p=604&ref=readtangle.com) The Pixies, Sleater Kinney, Radiohead, Belle and Sebastien, Sufjan Stevens, The Strokes, Spoon, Foster the People, Fleet Foxes, Animal Collective… the indie era arguably spanned a long time, arguably peaked in different years, and is inarguably dead. That’s what indie scene vet and pseudonymous essayist, Jay Edgar, argues. And while the argument “what was peak indie” has been had, Jay is asking a different question: *Who is the indie antichrist?* Using some home-rolled quantitative measures and vibing with Claude, Jay believes he has a definitive answer. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Who was the indie antichrist? URL: https://www.readtangle.com/otherposts/who-was-the-indie-antichrist/ Last updated: 2026-05-08T17:36:07.000Z *By Jay Edgar* --- ## It happened to me — it’ll happen to you. *Man, those were the days.* I never thought I’d be the kinda guy to write something like that. As a gig drummer in the 2000s, I always thought that the day you first complained about “music these days” was just the day your soul started aging. Yet I heard that very statement from so many people my age, and especially my parents, saying that pop music on the radio was trash and that kids these days just didn’t know how to write great music anymore. *Have you gone down the street?* I’d think. *Have you even looked in the indie charts? Have you looked anywhere at all?* Underneath the Justin Biebers and the Katy Perrys was some of the most interesting pop-adjacent, experimental alt-rock we’ve ever had — truly. You didn’t even have to go that far afield, and many people didn’t. Another gig-drummer buddy of mine who filled in as the drummer of The Smashing Pumpkins, something of a semi-permanently open position, was playing arenas full of people even in the 2010s. Modest Mouse, Death Cab, The Strokes… they got so big that the alt-rock vein was basically just as strong as all-out pop. Bon Iver was winning Grammys; The Killers and The White Stripes made songs that survive today as fan chants at stadiums across the world. *That* was the music of those decades, and you’d have to have been living under a rock to miss it. But now I must be living under my own rock, because I just don’t see that kind of beneath-the-mainstream vibrance anymore. *Those* were the days. Things change, music evolves, and interesting bands churn out interesting new music that just isn’t for old guys like me anymore. I’m an old guy, now. Like Grandpa Simpson warns: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/04/data-src-image-98210798-61ee-4630-b5ae-179bf159598a.png) Look: I’m not gonna write *the* piece about indie rock, here. Many better writers than I have tried to define the genre, rank the best indie albums, and pin down the day indie rock peaked. I don’t think it’s really that interesting to do. What I haven’t seen anybody ask, though, is: When could we call the era officially dead? Because make no mistake, the indie rock era is dead. It’s over, gone, kaput. Sure, you’ve got interesting new rockers like boygenius and Wet Leg doing their thing, but it’s a different thing now. And maybe future writers better than I can define what that is, rank the best new alt-rock albums, and try to pin down *its* peak. But first, let’s solve the mysteries of the past. The indie rock era came to an end, and someone brought that end with them when they lumbered up out of the sea. With [apologies to Yeats](https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/43290/the-second-coming?ref=readtangle.com), *Vexed to nightmare by a rocking age, some rough beast, its hour come round at last, slouched towards Chelsea to be born*. And with it, killed the era. Who was the indie rock antichrist? I have an answer. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Some answers to your questions. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/some-answers-to-your-questions-april-2026/ Last updated: 2026-04-10T16:47:32.000Z An essential part of Tangle is engaging with readers — through live events, email exchanges, and now in social channels like Reddit and our new texting platform, Subtext. One of the things we’ve done since the beginning is answer a reader question in our main newsletter. Over time, we’ve gotten more questions than we can answer — but many of the questions that haven’t made it into the daily newsletter or podcast are still worth answering. So every now and then, we devote a members-only Friday edition to getting to our backlog of reader questions. A lot of these allow us to get into more detail and cover ground we might not cover in the daily newsletter, so we love the opportunity to dig in and go deep. Today, the entire Tangle editorial team is answering questions on everything from whether we’ve started to lean more left, to how we spot AI-produced content, to what has actually happened to DOGE. It’s a wide-ranging, jam-packed, fun edition. Enjoy! --- **Q: As a politically divided household, we gladly joined Tangle and encouraged other couples like ourselves to join. My spouse and others in our group are no longer reading “our take” as they feel your organization has become significantly more left-leaning in this evaluation section. When we started, that was not as evident. Why are you becoming so much more left-leaning in your “our take” comments? I assume your right-leaning readership has dwindled as a result. Has it?** **Those of us who love our right-leaning spouses have connected and encouraged the use of Tangle but we are bummed that our spouses feel their side is no longer considered fairly and supported. I know that no organization can meet all needs but your offering was so exciting, and a hope for divided couples at one point in time. Why can’t “our take” be two responses — one more left-leaning and one more right-leaning...? Maybe never but wouldn’t it be amazing if we found some issues that we actually could not tell the difference?** **— Jacques from Edina, MN** **Senior Editor Will Kaback:** We take this feedback very seriously; in fact, it’s probably the issue we discuss most frequently as a staff. Not specifically that we’ve swung to the left, but comments from readers on both sides of the political spectrum that we’ve strayed from our mission and become more overtly biased than they remember. We haven’t seen evidence of a significant loss of conservative and independent readers, but a qualitative assessment of audience members’ reasons for unsubscribing shows a tilt towards the complaint that we lean left. A more powerful trend is that we have been adding a disproportionate number of left-leaning readers as we’ve grown. [As we’ve written about before](https://www.readtangle.com/trump-cabinet-picks-white-house-staff/#:~:text=Your%20questions%2C%20answered.), we attribute this in large part to [our 2024 feature](https://www.thisamericanlife.org/845/a-small-thing?ref=readtangle.com) in *This American Life*, which attracts more of a left-leaning audience. We probably are accused of left-leaning bias because our editorials often take a critical stance on President Trump’s actions. These criticisms are often much more moderate than those you’d find in outlets like MS NOW or The Atlantic, but they’re criticisms nonetheless. One change we’ve implemented with this in mind — and to highlight the ideological diversity within our staff — is the addition of staff dissents, which allow us to model constructive disagreement and offer more than one perspective in the “My take” section. As we [wrote](https://www.readtangle.com/its-time-for-some-change/#:~:text=Staff%20dissents/concurrences.%C2%A0) in March, we’ll continue leaning into this new feature. With that said, I would push back on a few suggestions in your question. First, the context of the political moment definitely matters — and criticism isn’t the same as ideology. Criticisms of the president don’t inherently come from a left or liberal point of view. As we show almost daily in “What the right is saying,” plenty of conservative commentators take issue with a variety of Trump’s policies. Separately, when President Biden was in office, we were often accused of being “too right” because, like most good political writers, we were taking a critical eye to the people in power. Now the reverse is true with a Republican in office. At the risk of speaking for him, I think our Executive Editor Isaac Saul (who still writes the “My take” section more frequently than any writer on staff) has been feeling increasingly frustrated with President Trump, so that feeling might be impacting your impression of Tangle as a whole. Second, the notion that Tangle has moved left is not backed up by independent media-bias evaluators. [AdFontes](https://adfontesmedia.com/tangle-bias-and-reliability/?ref=readtangle.com) still rates us as “middle,” with high marks for reliable analysis; [AllSides](https://www.allsides.com/news-source/tangle-media-bias?ref=readtangle.com) rates us as “center”; and [Media Bias/Fact Check](https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/tangle-bias-and-credibility/?ref=readtangle.com) rates us as “least biased.” In fact, in AllSides’s most recent [review](https://www.allsides.com/news-source/tangle-media-bias?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Tangle%20News%20Rated%20Center%20in%20July%202025%20Blind%20Bias%20Survey) of our content in July 2025, they shifted us slightly *to the right*. These evaluations aren’t the be-all and end-all, but I think they offer a buffer against the idea that we’ve become “significantly more left leaning.” Third, I’d encourage you (and all readers) not to think of the “My take” as the final word on a story. Remember: We offer three arguments each from the left and right before our own, and our perspective is meant to be just one of seven for you to consider. While it is the longest section of the newsletter, Tangle’s take is intended to be a conversation starter and, hopefully, a model of how to consider complex topics in an intellectually curious manner. That’s why we end every “My take” with a note of encouragement to write in with criticism, feedback, and competing ideas if you disagree. We’ve carved out the “My take” section as a space to be completely transparent about how that day’s writer is feeling and thinking about the issues we cover, and we wouldn’t soften or alter our analysis in the name of balance or nonpartisanship. So while we take this feedback seriously — and have developed some creative solutions to address it, like the staff dissent — our priority is still sharing our honest opinions. **Q: Your** [**article on Friday**](https://www.readtangle.com/decency-is-about-to-make-a-comeback/) **talks about how politics is on track to become less outwardly volatile and toxic, and more kind and honest. Also, as hard as it is to imagine, we will have a post-Trump era where things have (hopefully) calmed down quite a bit.** **If/when this comes to pass, are you concerned that Tangle, thriving under the current political turbulence and tension, will have a subscriber and viewership plateau or slump as the political atmosphere shifts toward calm stability and decency?** **— D. A. K. from Providence, RI** **Executive Editor Isaac Saul:** I don’t worry about it, no. And I’ll tell you why. First, I have no idea how that hypothetical future world would impact us. Right now, we lose a lot of readers because the world is *so* divided that it’s hard for a mission like ours to reach people who believe people who disagree with them are their literal enemies. The two top reasons readers unsubscribe every day are because 1) they are offended by something we wrote, or 2) they are fatigued by the news. I could see a world where a more decent, less partisan era of politics helps *improve* those problems, not worsen them. A decency wave in politics could be good for Tangle’s bottom line — maybe it would mean more people participating in the dialogue and more people reading Tangle. Second, I generally operate under the view that Tangle’s business model will survive all manner of political trends. The largest threats to us are technological (like AI summarizing your entire inbox), not political. We have a good product that people use and learn from; we’re affordable, we’re unique, and we’re adding value to people’s lives. With that as our formula, I think a less partisan, more decent political takeover wouldn’t be the kind of thing that hurt us — even if it did reduce some engagement and attention toward national politics. **Q: After reading this line of yours, *“One of the obvious hallmarks of AI-generated text is its formulaic nature. It’s not X, it’s Y. And it isn’t just A, it’s B,”* I started noticing that formula on multiple Substack articles by different authors.** **Then, the other hallmarks of LLM writing started appearing that I can’t quite put my finger on. When you suspect an article is written by an LLM, what are the telltale signs you look for?** **— David from Milwaukee, WI** _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### The Ceasefire Deal That Solves Nothing URL: https://www.readtangle.com/the-ceasefire-deal-that-solves-nothing/ Last updated: 2026-04-11T00:03:17.000Z In this episode of Suspension of the Rules, Isaac Saul and the team unpack the ceasefire deal and opinions surrounding it. ### Melania Trump gives surprise address denying alleged ties to Jeffrey Epstein. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/melania-trump-gives-surprise-address-denying-alleged-ties-to-jeffrey-epstein/ Last updated: 2026-04-10T00:03:51.000Z Melania Trump gave a statement from the White House denying claims that she had ties to Jeffrey Epstein or his associate Ghislaine Maxwell. ### A tenuous ceasefire in Iran. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/us-iran-ceasefire-april/ Last updated: 2026-04-09T15:53:45.000Z *I'm Isaac Saul, and this is Tangle: an independent, nonpartisan, subscriber-supported politics newsletter that summarizes the best arguments from across the political spectrum on the news of the day — then “my take.”* *Are you new here?* [*Get free emails*](https://www.readtangle.com/) *to your inbox daily. Would you rather listen? You can find our podcast* [*here*](https://shows.acast.com/66510864c0852400122bc7be?ref=readtangle.com)*.* ### Today’s read: 15 minutes. ⚠️ On Tuesday evening, President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire between the United States and Iran. 48 hours later, the deal has already shown signs of cracking. ### We’re hiring. Tangle is hiring for two full-time positions: an in-person role as [an associate editor and executive assistant](https://www.readtangle.com/associate-editor/) to our founder, Isaac Saul, and a [fully remote position as a video editor](https://www.readtangle.com/video-editor/). The deadline to apply for both positions is May 1. ### Quick hits. 1. President Donald Trump and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Secretary General Mark Rutte met on Wednesday to discuss the Iran war. After the meeting, Trump posted on Truth Social, “NATO WASN’T THERE WHEN WE NEEDED THEM, AND THEY WON’T BE THERE IF WE NEED THEM AGAIN.” ([The meeting](https://www.newsnationnow.com/politics/trump-nato-iran-war-support-mark-rutte-ceasefire/?ref=readtangle.com)) 2. President Trump said he will impose 50% tariffs on any country that supplies military weapons to Iran. ([The threat](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/04/08/trump-threatens-tariffs-countries-supplying-weapons-iran-ceasefire.html?ref=readtangle.com)) 3. The Justice Department’s civil rights division is reportedly investigating Cassidy Hutchinson, a former White House aide who served in the first Trump administration. In 2022, Hutchinson testified before the House committee investigating the January 6 Capitol riots, and the Justice Department investigation appears to center on allegations that she lied in her testimony. ([The report](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/07/us/doj-cassidy-hutchinson-investigation-trump.html?ref=readtangle.com)) 4. The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee announced that former Attorney General Pam Bondi will no longer appear before the committee to answer questions about the investigation into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, saying that the original subpoena did not apply now that she is no longer attorney general. ([The update](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/bondi-deposition-subpoena-house-oversight-committee-epstein/?ref=readtangle.com)) 5. An accused serial killer pleaded guilty to the murders of eight women over 17 years in Long Island’s Gilgo Beach area. He is expected to be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole in June. ([The plea](https://abcnews.com/US/gilgo-beach-serial-killer-suspect-rex-heuermann-returning/story?id=131759998&ref=readtangle.com)) SPONSORED by cleanweb Ever tried tackling a quick recipe for dinner, only to be ambushed by 37 ads (that clearly know your search history), 12 autoplay videos, and a partridge in a pear tree? Most websites today are packed with third-party code that [tracks your every click and scroll](https://get.surfshark.net/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=1566&aff%5Fid=35716&ref=readtangle.com) — often without your knowledge or consent. [CleanWeb](https://get.surfshark.net/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=1566&aff%5Fid=35716&ref=readtangle.com) by Surfshark fixes that. It blocks ads, trackers, and malware before they load — so you can browse faster, safer, and with less digital side-eye. No more frantic closing of popups while your mixer whirls. CleanWeb is easy to install, and just $1.99/month (plus 3 free months)! Try it today and enjoy a cleaner, faster interwebs experience right away. [****Get CleanWeb for $1.99/month**](https://get.surfshark.net/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=1566&aff%5Fid=35716&ref=readtangle.com)****.** ### Today’s topic. The two-week ceasefire in Iran. On Tuesday, President Donald Trump [announced](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116365796713313030?ref=readtangle.com) the U.S. had agreed to a two-week ceasefire with Iran, conditional on the Strait of Hormuz fully reopening to commercial shipping. President Trump announced the deal less than two hours before his 8:00 PM ET deadline for Iran to lift its restrictions on the strait or face strikes on civilian infrastructure. Trump also said that the U.S. received a 10-point peace plan from Iran he believed to be “a workable basis on which to negotiate.” After [issuing](https://www.readtangle.com/trump-iran-ultimatum/) his ultimatum on Sunday, Trump [posted](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116363336033995961?ref=readtangle.com) on Tuesday, “A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again,” if Iran missed the deadline. However, in the hours before 8:00 PM, discussions between the sides mediated by Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir produced a deal that evening. In a [statement](https://x.com/araghchi/status/2041655156215799821?ref=readtangle.com), the Supreme National Security Council of the Islamic Republic of Iran said Iran will “cease their defensive operations” provided the U.S. halts its strikes. Furthermore, it said passage through the Strait of Hormuz would be possible “via coordination with Iran’s armed forces and due consideration of technical limitations.” A small number of ships [passed through](https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/whats-happening-in-the-strait-of-hormuz-since-the-cease-fire-902f1ab0?mod=WSJ%5Fhome%5Fmediumtopper%5Fpos%5F2&ref=readtangle.com) the waterway on Wednesday, though the strait remains a substantial bottleneck. Additionally, Iran has reportedly begun charging ships $1 million or more for safe passage, and it has not indicated whether it will drop this toll as part of the ceasefire. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu [said](https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/netanyahu-backs-iran-ceasefire-says-lebanon-not-included-israeli-media-says-2026-04-08/?ref=readtangle.com) Israel supports the ceasefire but that it did not apply to Lebanon, and the Israeli military has continued heavy strikes over the past day. A [series of attacks](https://apnews.com/article/israel-lebanon-hezbollah-beirut-strikes-9402965418687c634d4a157c966ec6ea?ref=readtangle.com) in central Beirut on Wednesday killed 182 and wounded 890, according to Lebanon’s health ministry. On Wednesday, Iran [reportedly](https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-892378?ref=readtangle.com) shut down the strait again in response to Israeli strikes, insisting that Lebanon is included in the ceasefire (the United States disputes this). On Thursday, however, Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam [said](https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/04/lebanon-rejects-iran-negotiating-its-behalf-pm-says-only-beirut-handles-talks?ref=readtangle.com) his government is solely responsible for negotiating an end to the strikes Broadly, the state of the ceasefire [remains uncertain](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/04/09/trump-iran-war-ceasefire-terms-conflict/?ref=readtangle.com), with Iran accusing the United States of violating the terms of the agreement. Pakistani Prime Minister Sharif [urged](https://x.com/CMShehbaz/status/2041883560836264032?ref=readtangle.com) restraint so that “diplomacy can take a lead role towards peaceful settlement of the conflict.” Though he initially [expressed optimism](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116368825638596650?ref=readtangle.com) about a deal to permanently end the war, President Trump [posted](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116372694697146221?ref=readtangle.com) on Wednesday night that U.S. military assets will remain in place “until such time as the REAL AGREEMENT reached is fully complied with.” Future negotiations are expected to center on a 10-point peace plan [circulated](https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/iran-war-2026-trump-deadline-latest-news/card/what-s-in-iran-s-proposed-peace-plan-aXNBQUWI65SI0wCOtUVf?ref=readtangle.com) by Iran, as well as a 15-point U.S. plan that has not been publicly released. Iran’s plan includes several provisions that have previously been sticking points in negotiations with the United States, such as continued enrichment of uranium and removal of sanctions. Additionally, it calls for compensation for damages sustained during the war and a withdrawal of U.S. combat forces from the region. Today, we’ll share views from the right and left on the ceasefire. Then, Executive Editor Isaac Saul gives his take. ### What the right is saying. - **The right is mixed on the ceasefire, with many seeing opportunities and risks.** - **Some argue Trump’s threats produced a desirable outcome.** - **Others worry America’s strategic and moral standing has been degraded.** **National Review’s editors explored** [**“an uncertain cease-fire.”**](https://www.nationalreview.com/2026/04/an-uncertain-cease-fire/?ref=readtangle.com) “There were several problems in the strategic conception of the U.S.-Israel campaign. One was that regime change, the only event that would have brought a decisive end to the war, was unlikely to be achieved from the air. It’s possible that, after the pounding it has taken over the last several weeks, the Iranian regime will be considerably more vulnerable to a popular revolt in coming months… The fact remains, though, that the regime still has the guns and protesters in the street do not,” the editors said. “Another is that it was too hard to go and snatch Iran’s highly enriched uranium in a military operation.” “The Trump administration was correct to consider it intolerable that Iran might develop such a robust missile and drone force that it could deter military action to stop it from developing a nuclear weapon. We have presumably set back its missile and nuclear programs for years, as well as kneecapping its regional power,” the editors wrote. “The war has therefore enhanced our national security, but we shouldn’t look past the strategic costs — global economic distress, more turmoil in the Western alliance, depleted weapons stocks, benefits to the Russian oil economy, and the message that’s been sent to China.” **In The American Spectator, Francis P. Sempa said** [**“Trump confounds critics again.”**](https://spectator.org/trump-confounds-critics-again/?ref=readtangle.com) “President Donald Trump has once again confounded his many critics by agreeing to a two-week ceasefire in the war against Iran, after threatening to bomb Iran back to the Stone Age and end a civilization,” Sempa wrote. “Those same critics warned us last June that Trump’s authorization to attack Iran’s nuclear weapons facilities would lead to a quagmire and another ‘endless war’ in the Middle East that Trump had campaigned against. Trump confounded the critics then by stopping the war after 12 days once the objective was accomplished.” “The major dilemma is the Strait of Hormuz, the closure of which is wreaking havoc on the world’s energy markets. Trump’s ceasefire agreement is designed to resolve that dilemma. If the diplomatic route fails… the U.S. has three options: walk away and declare victory, which would leave Iran in control of the Strait; continue the air campaign, which might bring Iran’s leaders back to the negotiating table; and escalation,” Sempa said. “Iran’s threat to the region has been scaled-back. Any solution — military or negotiated — is likely to be temporary — that is the way international relations usually work.” **In The Federalist, John Daniel Davidson wrote** [**“Trump’s hyperbolic annihilationist rhetoric comes with a moral cost.”**](https://thefederalist.com/2026/04/08/trumps-hyperbolic-annihilationist-rhetoric-comes-with-a-moral-cost/?ref=readtangle.com) “Did Trump really call off some devastating (possibly nuclear) strike because of a deal that only came through 90 minutes before the White House deadline? Maybe. Was the deal already in the bag before Trump made his hyperbolic threat that ‘a whole civilization will die tonight?’ Possibly,” Davidson said. “What does seem clear amid the fog of war, however, is that Trump’s maximalist, annihilationist rhetoric — talk of destroying Iranian ‘civilization,’ ‘never to be brought back again,’ taking out ‘the entire country,’ bombing it ‘into the stone age,’ targeting critical civilian infrastructure like power plants — has already gravely damaged the United States. “Why? Because America should only wage just wars, and waging a just war means being subject to certain restraints. Just war precludes immoral means — like the mass killing of civilians — to achieve victory. Even threatening such means, as Trump has done, damages the moral conscience of a people as much as it degrades the moral standing of a nation,” Davidson wrote. “Whatever happens, we cannot lose sight of the moral dimension here. In both word and deed, if we do not hold ourselves to a high moral standard then we risk, in a very real sense, becoming the villains in an unjust war.” ### What the left is saying. - **The left is cynical towards the ceasefire, saying it highlights the pointless nature of Trump’s war.** - **Some suggest Iran will emerge stronger from this conflict.** - **Others contend the illusion of U.S. military dominance has been shattered.** **The Philadelphia Inquirer editorial board wrote** [**“\[the\] ceasefire leaves America with little to show for Trump’s war of choice.”**](https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/editorials/war-iran-ceasefire-trump-defeat-nuclear-surrender-20260408.html?ref=readtangle.com#loaded) “Whatever peace agreement ultimately emerges will be far from Trump’s ordered ‘unconditional surrender,’ let alone his goal of ‘regime change.’ Instead, the ill-considered conflict that upended the world economy and fractured U.S. alliances leaves Iran’s brutal and repressive government battered but unbowed,” the board said. “The might of the U.S. military remains unquestionable, as does the bravery and dedication of the men and women in uniform. But the war — spearheaded by fools and promising disaster from its inception — has delivered a different defeat: America’s standing in the world has been demolished and the president’s vacuous, unpredictable nature reaffirmed.” “Tuesday’s ceasefire was declared a victory by both sides. But what did the U.S. gain after spending $45 billion and counting? What do the deaths of more than 1,500 civilians, including 244 children, and 13 U.S. service members resolve?” the board wrote. “Iran’s nuclear ambitions linger, its hold over the Strait of Hormuz has tightened, the damage to its conventional weapons programs is unclear, its regional proxies remain entrenched, and there’s a new generation of ruthless hard-liners in Tehran.” **In MS NOW, Anthony L. Fisher said** [**“Trump’s war may also make \[Iran\] an even wealthier and more influential regional power.”**](https://www.ms.now/opinion/trump-iran-ceasefire-strait-hormuz?ref=readtangle.com) “In his zeal to project the U.S.’ ‘strength,’… Trump’s actions on Tuesday have signaled something else entirely: a weak and unstable leader who has done irreparable damage to America’s reputation and the global order,” Fisher wrote. “Among the most befuddling developments: Why did Trump declare Iran’s ‘10 point proposal’ (brokered through Pakistani mediators) ‘not good enough’ on Monday, but suddenly a ‘workable basis on which to negotiate’ on Tuesday? And how can Trump claim to have fully reopened the Strait of Hormuz when Iran still controls it?” “By essentially shutting down the Strait of Hormuz at the relatively low cost of blowing up a few oil tankers, Trump’s likely illegal war has arguably gifted the Iranian regime unprecedented clout as a regional power,” Fisher said. “So while… Americans can breathe a sigh of relief that unspeakable war crimes aren’t being committed against Iranian citizens in our name, we should not lose sight of the big picture: Our commander-in-chief has given us another reason to doubt his leadership, his mental acuity and his basic decency. Trump’s war has killed many civilians, upended the post-World War II international order and potentially made the Iranian regime a lot richer.” **In The Nation, James K. Galbraith argued** [**“US military power is obsolete.”**](https://www.thenation.com/article/world/iran-ceasefire-us-military/?ref=readtangle.com) “If the ceasefire holds, the vicious attack launched by the United States and Israel on February 28, 2026, will have exposed, for all to see, the obsolescence of US military power. That power consisted mostly of surface ships and bases, both of them impossible to protect from missiles and drones. The entire model, built up in World War II and the Cold War, is finished,” Galbraith wrote. “Acknowledgment of this reality around the world will have vast effects. It may hasten settlement of the other major conflict and tension zones: Ukraine on terms agreed with Russia, and Taiwan on terms agreed with the PRC.” “Two weeks of uncertainty lie ahead. Forces within the United States and in Israel could destroy the tentative settlement, resume the war, and deepen the damage. They will certainly try. Israel is still savagely bombing Beirut, inviting retaliation from Tehran,” Galbraith said. “Within the United States, a reckoning is overdue. At least since Clinton’s attack on Serbia in 1999, the US has been trapped in a web of delusions about its own power. In Afghanistan, Iraq, Ukraine, and the South China Sea, the US has come up against forces it could not (in the end) defeat. None of these have, so far, dented the psychological carapace of the American elite. Iran’s 10 points should, finally, force reality down their throats.” ### My take. **Reminder: “My take” is a section where we give ourselves space to share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, don't unsubscribe. Write in by replying to this email, or** [**leave a comment**](https://www.readtangle.com/us-iran-ceasefire-april/#ghost-comments-root)**.** - **When you sort through the confusion, the messaging over the ceasefire differs greatly from the reality.** - **Iran’s 10-point plan is no basis for negotiations — I don’t even think we really have a ceasefire.** - **Trump has painted himself into a corner, and there’s no end to this war in sight.** **Executive Editor Isaac Saul:** A lot has happened since we wrote about Iran 48 hours ago: On Tuesday morning, as we were writing the newsletter, Trump threatened to wipe out an entire civilization. In Iran, residents began planning for life without gas and power. European leaders, Wall Street traders, and reporters scrambled to understand the sincerity of the threat. Iranian officials pulled out of negotiations, telling Egypt that they would no longer talk to the U.S. Military lawyers [identified a small list](https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/trump-iran-threat-gripped-world-b8d789c9?mod=article%5Finline&ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Officials%20said%20the,civilian%20population%20excessively) of infrastructure targets feasibly tied to the Iranian military. In the late morning, Fox News host Bret Baier said he spoke to the president and that Trump assured him “8 PM is happening” if progress in negotiations wasn’t achieved. The president, remarkably, [went about his day](https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/trump-iran-threat-gripped-world-b8d789c9?mod=article%5Finline&ref=readtangle.com); he held meetings with tech investors, Justice Department officials, and even phoned into a rally in Budapest, where Vice President JD Vance was campaigning for Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. In the afternoon, criticism began to pour in, even from Trump’s allies: Perhaps most notably, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called on Trump to “clearly distinguish” between the regime and “millions of ordinary citizens.” Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) called the potential attacks on civilian targets a “huge mistake.” By mid-afternoon, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif publicly urged Trump (reportedly [in coordination with the White House](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/08/world/middleeast/trump-pakistan-tweet-iran.html?ref=readtangle.com)) to extend his deadline, Iran to reopen the Strait, and for a two-week ceasefire to snap into effect. This seems to be when everything shifted. At 6:32 PM ET, citing conversations with Sharif, Trump declared on Truth Social that the strikes were off. He said the U.S. received a “10 point proposal from Iran” that would be a “workable basis on which to negotiate.” Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf called it an “agreed framework.” What happened next is an area of serious contention, but this is the best I can discern: Iran circulated its 10-point plan, which would require all manner of major concessions from the U.S. Among other things, it demands the U.S. cease all military aggression, grants Iran control of the Strait of Hormuz, allows Iran to enrich uranium, lifts sanctions, requires war reparations to Iran, and calls for a ceasefire in Lebanon, where Israel was (and is) hammering Hezbollah and civilian centers in Beirut. The administration didn’t deny this was the 10-point plan Trump was referencing, even while it circulated through the media and drew criticism for being so lopsided in Iran’s favor. Eventually, U.S. officials came out to say they had forced concessions on the Iranian plan, and their revisions were the *actual* basis for negotiations. Also, Trump administration officials said, the U.S. had put together a different 15-point plan for ending the war. That’s three plans — Iran’s 10-point plan, the U.S. revisions to that plan, and a separate 15-point plan that the U.S. has — all of which are purportedly the basis for the ceasefire. As of this writing, only the Iranian 10-point plan is public. At the same time, those terms didn’t seem to be conditions for the immediate ceasefire. Instead, the U.S. [has demanded](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-agrees-2-week-ceasefire-iran-opens-strait-hormuz?ref=readtangle.com) the Strait of Hormuz be opened and Iran [has demanded](https://www.nbcnews.com/world/iran/live-blog/live-updates-iran-war-ceasefire-trump-hormuz-israel-lebanon-rcna267390?ref=readtangle.com) attacks in Lebanon stop. Yet neither of those things has happened, either. U.S. attacks in Iran ceased, but Iran began lobbing missiles and drones at Israel and surrounding Gulf countries shortly after Trump’s announcement, [claiming](https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/04/08/world/iran-war-trump-news/heres-the-latest?smid=url-share&ref=readtangle.com) that Israel violated the terms of its ceasefire by continuing strikes in Lebanon (#10 in Iran’s proposal: “Cease-fires on all fronts, including against Hezbollah in Lebanon”). Vance said this was a “legitimate misunderstanding,” adding that “the Iranians thought the cease-fire included Lebanon, and it just didn’t,” which strikes me as an almost unbelievable miscommunication and a remarkable diplomatic failure. As for the Strait of Hormuz, despite Vance and U.S. officials insisting it is now open, nothing seems to have changed. If anything, Iran has [tightened its grip](https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/iran-tightens-its-grip-on-hormuz-despite-cease-fire-5027521f?mod=WSJ%5Fhome%5Fmediumtopper%5Fpos%5F3&ref=readtangle.com). In the past 24 hours, just [six](https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/shipping-traffic-through-hormuz-virtual-standstill-despite-ceasefire-data-shows-2026-04-09/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=LITTLE%20TRAFFIC,%E2%81%A0to%20ship%20tracker%20Kpler) ships passed through the Strait of Hormuz, less than the pre-ceasefire average. Even publicly, Iran is saying it will limit passage to just a dozen ships a day, and those ships will pay a steep toll for passage. Before the war started, over a hundred ships a day were passing through the Strait of Hormuz freely. So, to sum up: There is a 10-point plan that nobody has agreed to and a 15-point plan that the public has not seen and a fundamental understanding that the Strait of Hormuz will open and the attacks in the region will stop, though the strait is closed and the attacks haven’t stopped. Seemingly the only thing that *has* changed is that the U.S. is not currently pummeling Iran while trying to set up future negotiations. Maybe this constitutes a ceasefire, but talks to end the war have purportedly been happening this whole time, so I’m not sure how meaningful all this is. For the media’s part, I’m also not entirely sure what we’re supposed to do. When the president announces a ceasefire and what’s left of Iran’s leaders say they have an agreement, we have to report that. We also have to report the on-the-ground reality, and in this case, the delta between the ceasefire terms as described and what is happening on the ground is egregious. As for the only 10-point plan we actually have access to, I can’t imagine how it’s even a “workable basis on which to negotiate.” Nearly every point in the plan looks like a nonstarter for the U.S., at least in the context of previous negotiations. If Iran were to get even three of the 10 points implemented in a ceasefire — any three, really — it’d constitute a major improvement from their position a few months ago. That certainly doesn’t mean Iran is somehow “winning” the war, which is an even more ridiculous claim than saying the U.S. has achieved a major victory. General Dan Caine’s [assessment](https://x.com/DAlperovitch/status/2041932473605530012?ref=readtangle.com) is that we’ve destroyed 80% of Iran’s air defense systems, 90% of its Navy, 90% of its weapons factories and 80% of its nuclear industrial base, among other things. Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is dead, as are most of his senior counterparts. Iran is obviously weakened, and their capacity for terrorism, nuclear proliferation, or attacking its neighbors is considerably degraded. Yet, at the same time, Iran has proven it can exert serious economic leverage on a global scale by controlling this single waterway. They’ve shown that they can tolerate an unspeakable amount of damage to their own leadership and their civilian population. They’ve weathered the most threatening, straightforward promises of mass destruction imaginable from a U.S. president and watched as almost none of them have come to pass. And now they are negotiating from what they clearly understand is a position of strength, given that they are demanding concessions they’d never have even swung for in these negotiations just a few short months ago. Trump, for his part, seems to be improvising in real time. He suggested that Iran and the U.S. could [enter a joint venture](https://thehill.com/policy/international/5821343-trump-us-iran-ceasefire-deal-joint-venture-strait-of-hormuz/?ref=readtangle.com) and control the Strait of Hormuz together, which is a rather shocking proposal when you pause to think about it for even a moment. “The terrorist regime we said we needed to wipe off the face of the earth on Monday will, on Wednesday, become our business partner for the future, and our ships will pay tolls that line their pockets!” That’s to say nothing of the precedent it sets for other nations to begin restricting free passage in international waters, a problem that doesn’t currently exist in large part due to American influence in our global trade system. Some will take away from this episode that Trump’s [“madman act” worked](https://www.thefp.com/p/trumps-madman-act-delivers-in-iran?ref=readtangle.com), that Iran blinked, and that “the media still doesn’t understand Trump after all these years.” *Trump says big scary thing. Big scary thing doesn’t happen. Supposed deal is agreed to.* Cue the takes about Trump the negotiator and a businessman, while the hysterical media are all rubes for pearl-clutching over meaningless words. The reality I see, though, is far more unsettling. I don’t think the Mad King act [is really an act at all](https://unherd.com/2026/04/against-the-mad-king/?edition=us&ref=readtangle.com); I think the president feels trapped and is finding his way out on the fly, leaving a trail of destruction in his wake. The evidence is right before us. To quote Sohrab Ahmari, the Iranian-American conservative commentator who [endorsed Trump](https://www.foxnews.com/transcript/the-untold-story-of-sohrab-ahmari?ref=readtangle.com) as recently as 2022: > The objectives were ever-shifting: changing the regime and putting Iran’s destiny in the hands of its people; degrading military capacity; stopping a nuclear program that had already been “obliterated” in the course of the earlier 12-Day War; reopening the Strait of Hormuz; not reopening the Strait of Hormuz, because we don’t need it anyway; you better “fucking open it, you crazy bastards,” otherwise America will “wipe out a whole civilization”; OK, how about we both run it in a joint venture? Worse yet, I think he is *still* trapped and *still* feeling the walls as he walks through the darkness, guessing on his next moves. I think this war is *not* over, Iran’s control over this economic lever has *not* been removed, and we have *not* found our way out. If you can even call this situation a ceasefire at all, I’m skeptical it will survive the time between me writing this sentence and it being published. I think Trump’s threats were genuine, and the fact they didn’t come to fruition was more happenstance, military bureaucracy, and good fortune than any semblance of a plan or an off-ramp. The “deal” Trump is negotiating is far worse than the one we had, if there is even a shared reality on what the deal is (and I’m not sure there is). And in this case, the media’s purported “hysteria” over the threats to wipe out an entire civilization was not just warranted but perhaps understated; that we’ve moved on so quickly, that it only took a few headlines about a ceasefire deal nobody seems to understand, is perhaps the most worrisome thing of all. Somehow, impressively, Iran and the U.S. are both losing this war. But that seems to be what war often is — a violent circle of sacrifice and downsides, justified by the people pushing it, and tolerated by the rest of us. **Take the survey:** How long do you expect the war with Iran to last? [Let us know](https://interrobang.vercel.app/survey/2f474181-5a60-46be-ab6d-8557a71ed39b?ref=readtangle.com). *Disagree? That's okay. Our opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we'll consider publishing your feedback.* ### Your questions, answered. *We're skipping the reader question today to give our main story some extra space. Want to have a question answered in the newsletter? You can reply to this email (it goes straight to our inbox) or* [*fill out this form*](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScQhqBSG%5F6%5FoBhwcTQMeS570n29XYbeQ9C9Bis7rjqI31g1tA/viewform?usp=header&ref=readtangle.com)*.* ### The road not taken. **In this section, we offer a peek behind the curtains at Tangle’s editorial process, highlighting at least one story from the week that we almost covered as a main topic — and an explanation for why we ultimately chose not to.* As we entered Easter weekend, we were watching a number of stories, especially Attorney General Pam Bondi’s dismissal and escalating violence in the Lebanon theater of the Iran War. We ultimately chose to focus on Trump’s deadline in Iran instead of Lebanon on Tuesday, as the level of the president’s threats had immediate and grave implications. Then, after choosing the White House’s budget plan as our main topic on Wednesday, we felt we had missed the window to discuss Bondi’s dismissal today. Were it not for the rapid development in Trump’s messaging over the weekend, both Lebanon and Bondi would likely have been main topics this week. SPONSORED by cleanweb ****Recipes Shouldn't Come With 37 Ads and a Tracking Pixel** Most sites are stuffed with third-party code tracking every click — [often without consent](https://get.surfshark.net/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=1566&aff%5Fid=35716&ref=readtangle.com). CleanWeb by Surfshark blocks ads, trackers, and malware before they load, so pages run faster and your browsing stays private. [****Easy install, $1.99/month, plus 3 free months**](https://get.surfshark.net/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=1566&aff%5Fid=35716&ref=readtangle.com)****.** ### Numbers. - [**6.**](https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/shipping-traffic-through-hormuz-virtual-standstill-despite-ceasefire-data-shows-2026-04-09/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=LITTLE%20TRAFFIC,%E2%81%A0to%20ship%20tracker%20Kpler)The number of ships that crossed the Strait of Hormuz in the past 24 hours, according to a Reuters estimate. - [**95.**](https://portwatch.imf.org/pages/cc317ba850e34c4dadbead6f7b336fb1?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=of%20AIS%20data.-,Strait%20of%20Hormuz,-Suez%20Canal%20%28located) The number of ships that crossed the strait on February 27, the day before the war in Iran began, according to IMF Portwatch. - [**130.**](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/08/business/strait-hormuz-ships-traffic-iran-ceasefire.html?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Before%20the%20war%2C%20more%20than%20130%20ships%20typically%20crossed%20the%20Strait%20of%20Hormuz%20each%20day.%20Only%20about%20120%20ships%20in%20total%20have%20made%20the%20passage%20since%20the%20start%20of%20the%20war%20more%20than%20a%20month%20ago%2C%20Ms.%20Parker%20said.) The average number of ships that crossed the strait each day before the war began, according to The New York Times. ### The extras. - **One year ago today** we wrote about [the Supreme Court’s deportation ruling](https://www.readtangle.com/supreme-court-on-trumps-deportations-el-salvador/). - **The most clicked link in our most recent newsletter** was Managing Editor Ari Weitzman’s [interview with former EPA Administrator Christine Whitman](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3o18TsEqAw&ref=readtangle.com). - **Nothing to do with politics:** A look into the world of [obsolete media](https://obsoletemedia.org/?ref=readtangle.com). - **Our last survey:** 2,759 readers responded to our survey on Trump’s 2027 budget with 90% opposing the plan and expressing concern over funding it. “National defense is the primary role of the federal government. However, the party of fiscal restraint continues to increase the national deficit and debt,” one respondent said. “We’ll only have peace when we pay more for it than we do for war,” said another. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/04/data-src-image-13a8e395-d7a3-4f40-baaf-90bf69c552b3.png) ### Have a nice day. Immediately after Texas’s crushing defeat in the Battle of the Alamo in 1836, Mexican soldiers looted the site, removing personal items from Texian combatants and important artifacts from the battlefield. On March 5, 2026, a day before the battle’s 190th anniversary, archaeologists uncovered a solid bronze cannonball in a layer dating back to the siege. Tiffany Lindley, the director of archaeology at the Alamo, said the cannonball was “very likely” from the 13-day battle and hopes to display it at the Alamo Visitor Center and Museum, which is scheduled to open in 2028\. [Fox News has the story](https://www.foxnews.com/travel/ncannonball-very-likely-fired-1836-battle-alamo-found-buried-near-church?ref=readtangle.com). ### Trump's 2027 budget proposal. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/trump-2027-budget-proposal-defense/ Last updated: 2026-04-08T15:56:42.000Z *I'm Isaac Saul, and this is Tangle: an independent, nonpartisan, subscriber-supported politics newsletter that summarizes the best arguments from across the political spectrum on the news of the day — then “my take.”* *Are you new here?* [*Get free emails*](https://www.readtangle.com/) *to your inbox daily. Would you rather listen? You can find our podcast* [*here*](https://shows.acast.com/66510864c0852400122bc7be?ref=readtangle.com)*.* ### Today’s read: 13 minutes. 💸 The Trump administration's 2027 proposal includes cuts to non-defense spending but a large increase for defense. How will this impact the federal deficit? ### New interview! Before break, Managing Editor Ari Weitzman sat down with former New Jersey Governor and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Christine Todd Whitman. Whitman explains her philosophy toward environmental regulation, why she left the Bush administration, and what she thinks has changed under President Trump. Plus, what even is the endangerment finding? You can [watch the interview here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3o18TsEqAw&ref=readtangle.com)! ### Quick hits. 1. President Donald Trump announced the U.S. agreed to a two-week ceasefire with Iran proposed by Pakistan. Iran and Israel also agreed to the deal, and Iran’s foreign minister suggested that ships will be permitted to pass through the Strait of Hormuz during the pause, though he did not give precise details. ([The ceasefire](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-2-week-ceasefire-iran-delaying-bombing/?ref=readtangle.com)) 2. U.S. journalist Shelly Kittleson was freed roughly one week after she was taken captive in Iraq by members of an Iran-aligned militia group. ([The release](https://abcnews.com/US/abducted-american-journalist-shelly-kittleson-freed-hezbollah-brigades/story?id=131805530&ref=readtangle.com)) 3. Clay Fuller (R) defeated Shawn Harris (D) 55.9%–44.1% in a runoff in the special election to fill the House seat vacated by former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R) in Georgia. ([The election](https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2026/us/elections/results-georgia-us-house-14-special-runoff.html?ref=readtangle.com)) Separately, liberal appeals court judge Chris Taylor defeated conservative appeals court judge Maria Lazar in Wisconsin’s state supreme court election, giving the court a 5–2 liberal majority. ([The election](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-election/liberal-chris-taylor-wins-wisconsin-supreme-court-race-rcna266253?ref=readtangle.com)) 4. Indianapolis City-County Councilor Ron Gibson said that 13 shots were fired into his home while he and his son were inside; neither were injured. The shooter reportedly left a note on the doorstep that read “No Data Centers.” ([The shooting](https://www.newsnationnow.com/crime/indianapolis-councilor-home-shot-data-center/?ref=readtangle.com)) 5. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche told reporters that he believes President Trump can and should take an active role in Justice Department investigations, while rejecting the notion that the president had “weaponized” the department. ([The comments](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/blanche-argues-trump-can-influence-doj-investigations-including-those-involving-political-foes?ref=readtangle.com)) SPONSORED by incogni ****Your personal info is everywhere. Here’s how to erase it.** Your personal data is scattered across hundreds of websites right now. Home addresses, phone numbers, emails, even your family members’ details — all sitting online for anyone who [knows where to look](https://deal.incogni.io/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=6&aff%5Fid=1007&ref=readtangle.com). And it doesn’t stop with data brokers. It’s on public records sites, obscure forums, and random people search engines you’ve never heard of. The internet never forgets. But you don’t have to leave your personal info out there. [****With Incogni**,](https://deal.incogni.io/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=6&aff%5Fid=1007&ref=readtangle.com) you can remove your private data from hundreds of sites and keep it from showing up again. Take back control today with: \- Automated removals from data brokers \- Custom removal requests for any site \- Continuous protection as new sites pop up. Use code ****TANGLE** today to get an [exclusive 55% discount](https://deal.incogni.io/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=6&aff%5Fid=1007&ref=readtangle.com) on unlimited removals from anywhere that exposes your data. ### Today’s topic. Trump’s 2027 budget. Last week, the White House released its [budget proposal](https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/budget%5Ffy2027.pdf?ref=readtangle.com) for fiscal year 2027, featuring an increase of 42% in defense spending to $1.5 trillion and a 10% decrease in non-defense spending to $660 billion. Specifically, the White House [requested](https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/rebuilding-our-military-fact-sheet.pdf?ref=readtangle.com) the budget to increase the capacity of the Navy, give pay raises to troops, resupply munitions, invest in critical resources, and build a “Golden Dome” missile defense system. The administration characterized the non-defense spending it had identified to cut as part of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and “woke programs” that drive government waste. **Back up:** Every year, the president [submits](https://www.crfb.org/press-releases/crfb-statement-overdue-presidents-fy-2027-budget?ref=readtangle.com) a budget proposal for discretionary spending that Congress uses as a starting point for appropriation negotiations. After Congress receives the proposal, the House and Senate [create](https://www.usa.gov/federal-budget-process?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Federal%20agencies%20create%20budget%20requests,president%20to%20sign%20or%20veto.) their own budget proposals that must be negotiated and merged into finalized funding bills. By law, the president is required to submit their budget to Congress by the first Monday in February, but no president has submitted their budget by the statutory deadline since 2015\. Furthermore, the Department of Homeland Security [remains unfunded](https://www.readtangle.com/dhs-partial-shutdown-ice-cbp-tsa/) for the current fiscal year, and Trump’s recent proposal will not affect the ongoing shutdown. The largest line-item increase in President Trump’s budget proposal is for the Department of Defense, [including](https://www.axios.com/2026/04/03/trump-2027-new-budget-proposal-cuts?ref=readtangle.com) 5–7% pay raises for troops, $65.8 billion for a new “Golden Fleet” of battle and non-battle force ships and funding for the Golden Dome, which is estimated to cost $175 billion. Additionally, discretionary spending for Veterans Affairs would increase from $133 billion to $145 billion, Pell Grant funding would increase from $23 billion to $33 billion, and the Department of Justice’s budget would increase from $36 billion to $41 billion. The largest decreases are $4.6 billion (52%) from the Environmental Protection Agency’s budget and $4.8 billion (55%) from the National Science Foundation; the budget also proposed rescinding $15.2 billion of renewable energy funding approved by the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. According to the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget (CRFB), the Trump administration’s economic assumptions [project](https://www.crfb.org/blogs/overview-presidents-fy-2027-budget?ref=readtangle.com) that debt held by the public would decrease from a current level of 100% of GDP to 94% in 2036\. However, the CRFB’s assumptions project public debt to increase to 125% of GDP by 2036 under the president’s plan, using a historical 1.8% GDP growth rate (opposed to the White House’s 3%) and factoring in the loss of tariff revenue deemed illegal by the Supreme Court. Democrats criticize the budget as increasing investment in the wrong areas. “Donald Trump is telling the American people our country somehow can’t afford child care, Medicaid, and Medicare, but is never too stretched to fund wars of choice,” Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-PA), ranking member of the House Budget Committee, [said](https://democrats-budget.house.gov/news/press-releases/boyle-statement-president-trumps-2027-budget-proposal?ref=readtangle.com). President Trump [defended](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-says-not-possible-us-pay-medicaid-medicare-daycare-re-fighting-w-rcna266381?ref=readtangle.com) the budget, saying that social programs should be funded at the state level. “We have to take care of one thing: military protection. We have to guard the country,” Trump said. We’ll get into what the left and right are saying about the budget below. Then, Senior Editor Will Kaback gives his take. ### What the left is saying. - **The left broadly decries the budget plan, criticizing the proposed hike in military spending and large cuts to domestic programs.** - **Some argue the budget would fuel the war in Iran while hurting the average American.** - **Others say the administration’s justification for increasing defense spending is misguided.** **In MS NOW, Bobby Kogan called the budget plan** [**“historic — in one of the worst ways possible.”**](https://www.ms.now/opinion/trump-budget-military-spending?ref=readtangle.com) “The budget called for steep cuts to funding for education, housing and health, funneling resources toward the military as the war in Iran reaches its fifth week. This shift would leave the portion of the budget known as ‘nondefense discretionary,’ or NDD funding, which accounts for most domestic activities aside from Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security and SNAP, at its lowest level since at least Dwight D. Eisenhower’s presidency,” Kogan said. “The proposed defense funding increases are similarly extreme.” “In fact, there’s nothing in the budget to suggest this jump reflects actual policy. The number is $1.5 trillion, I think, because Trump picked it: it’s a round number, and it’s big. That said, it is easy to imagine that the president will use this new war in Iran to justify this huge increase in military funding, and if Congress acquiesced, Trump would use that funding to conduct more immoral military strikes in Iran and in the process kill more civilians,” Kogan wrote. “As a percent of GDP, this would be the largest annual increase in defense funding outside a ground war in all of U.S. history.” **In Jacobin, Ben Beckett wrote** [**“Trump’s $1.5 trillion for war comes from Americans’ pockets.”**](https://jacobin.com/2026/04/trump-war-budget-proposal-cuts?ref=readtangle.com) “When Trump’s budget proposal came out on Friday, it became clear that he meant it. He wants Congress to increase the defense budget by 44 percent in 2027\. This would make *just the requested increase* nearly the same size as the total military budgets of China and Russia combined,” Beckett said. “Some of this spending would simply add to the national debt, but Trump proposes to offset part of it by cutting 10 percent of nondefense spending from the budget. Many of the proposed cuts would come from reducing or eliminating housing aid and health programs for marginalized groups, agricultural research, and teacher training.” “Trump’s budget proposal won’t be the final word on the budget, but there are strong reasons to believe he’ll get much of what he wants. And what Trump wants is war: most immediately, an unwinnable war on the Iranian people with shifting rationales and increasing brutality and sadism,” Beckett wrote. “Trump’s budget cuts are not just incidental to making war on Iran. They’re part of the same war that people in Trump’s income bracket are waging on Americans and Iranians alike. Let’s not be glib — bombing hospitals and schools is worse than defunding them. But while the tactics are different, the targets are strikingly similar.” **In The Los Angeles Times, Michael Hiltzik made the case for** [**“why Trump’s 2027 budget misfires.”**](https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2026-04-07/with-cuts-to-science-health-trumps-2027-budget-is-all-about-ideology-not-facts-or-needs?ref=readtangle.com) “The administration minimizes the overall budgetary effect of its spending plans by projecting average growth in gross national product at 3% annually over the next decade. That’s an ambitious goal, to say the least. Over the last 25 years — that is, in this century — U.S. economic growth has reached or exceeded 3% in only three years, including a pandemic-era surge to 6.1% in 2021\. Last year it was only 2.1%,” Hiltzik said. “On the other side of the ledger, the nondefense budget would be cut by 10%. But programs the White House has specifically targeted for being contrary to its ideology would suffer far more devastating cuts.” “NASA may be enjoying a moment just now… But Trump proposes slashing the agency’s budget by $5.6 billion, or 23%. It gets worse: Trump would cut NASA’s science division by $34 billion, or 47%, canceling more than 40 projects, of which about 20 are currently underway,” Hiltzik wrote. “None of this means that the budget proposal isn’t valuable, to an extent. It’s a convenient one-stop window into Trump’s personal fixations: the elimination of ‘radical gender and racial ideologies that poison the minds of Americans,’ the horrors of ‘the globalist climate agenda,’ the ‘invasion’ of violent criminals from abroad, and so on. In other words, there’s nothing new under the Trumpian sun.” ### What the right is saying. - **The right is split between support for the budget’s proposals and concern over its effect on the national debt.** - **Some on the right affirm the need to counter national security threats with military investment.** - **Others say the budget plan is fiscally irresponsible.** **In The New York Post, Rich Lowry explored** [**“why Trump’s huge $1.5T defense budget is worth every penny.”**](https://nypost.com/2026/04/07/opinion/trumps-huge-1-5t-defense-budget-is-worth-every-penny/?ref=readtangle.com) “We are not exactly living in a time of peace and stability. The United States is embroiled in a war in the Middle East that has rocked global energy markets, while Russia has repeatedly invaded a neighboring country to its west, and China could be on the cusp of precipitating the greatest major-power conflict since World War II,” Lowry said. “This is not a time — if one ever existed — when the fate of the country depends on robust federal funding for community development block grants.” “There is no doubt that the scale of the Trump budget, which would be the biggest single-year increase in defense spending since the Korean War, is equal to the international challenge that we face,” Lowry wrote. “In terms of bang for the buck, the administration has begun to fund more nimble, tech-driven defense firms, while it pushes the traditional big players like Boeing and Lockheed to become faster and more efficient. As a practical matter, the president is unlikely to get all the defense spending that he wants from Congress — which, when confronted with a choice between guns and \[butter\], always chooses both.” **The Washington Examiner editorial board said** [**“Trump is right to rearm America.”**](https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/editorials/4515415/trump-is-right-to-rearm-america/?ref=readtangle.com) “Now it is up to the Republican-controlled Congress to turn Trump’s budget blueprint into reality, a much-needed step since the new spending levels would bring us in line with the 5% of gross domestic product we are asking our allies in the Atlantic and Pacific to spend on defending themselves,” the board wrote. “The threat we face from China is far more severe than the challenge posed by Russia, and we should be prepared to meet it at sea, in the air, and in space. Critically, Trump’s budget makes investments in all of these areas, including a request for 123 new Navy vessels, resupplying our depleted missile stockpiles, and new capital spending on space-based missile defense sensors and interceptors.” “Unlike Biden, at least Trump has not made our Social Security more insolvent by promising benefits to even more retirees. But he still has not touched the program and has repeatedly promised he will not do so,” the board said. “Congress should approve Trump’s military buildup because the United States cannot deter China, reassure allies, and rebuild its industrial base on a bargain budget. But Republicans should not pretend that defense spending alone can secure us. Unless entitlement spending is addressed, today’s necessary rearmament will arrive alongside tomorrow’s avoidable debt crisis.” **In Cato, Dominik Lett wrote** [**“Trump’s budget falls short on the spending programs driving the federal debt.”**](https://www.cato.org/blog/trumps-budget-falls-short-spending-programs-driving-federal-debt?ref=readtangle.com) “The budget omits even mentioning, let alone spelling out, the needed reforms to the major entitlement programs driving the debt, such as Medicare and Social Security. For the second year in a row, the president’s budget abdicates the fundamental responsibility of putting the debt on a sustainable path,” Lett said. “With deficits at nearly $2 trillion and publicly held federal debt set to exceed the nation’s entire economic output this year, Congress desperately needs fiscal responsibility. Congress ought to reject the president’s proposed spending boosts.” “To be fair, the budget includes a number of worthwhile program cuts and eliminations. For example, the budget proposes eliminating Community Development Block Grants (CDBG), a federal subsidy program plagued by waste and pork-barrel politics,” Lett wrote. “The presidential budget is supposed to be the administration’s opportunity to explain to the American people how it would put our budget back on track. This budget entirely fails to do so. It includes no comprehensive 10-year fiscal plan to address mandatory spending and revenue, and thus no path to stabilizing the debt… And the budget continues the use of reconciliation to fund discretionary priorities, eroding the checks and balances that the appropriations process is supposed to provide.” ### My take. **Reminder: “My take” is a section where we give ourselves space to share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, don't unsubscribe. Write in by replying to this email, or** [**leave a comment**](https://www.readtangle.com/trump-2027-budget-proposal-defense/#ghost-comments-root)**.** - **The White House is trying to frame this as fiscal responsibility, but it’s really a massive spending increase.** - **Our current situation justifies some kind of increase in certain military spending.** - **The specifics for the request are unknown, but the source of funding is wishful thinking and it would continue our runaway federal deficits.** **Senior Editor Will Kaback:** The administration is presenting its budget as a blueprint for cutting wasteful federal programs, but the plan isn’t the vision of fiscal responsibility it claims to be. Right off the bat, in Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought’s [introduction](https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/budget%5Ffy2027.pdf?ref=readtangle.com#page=7), I was struck by the dissonance between claims that the Trump administration is in the midst of reining in out-of-control spending and the amount they requested in the FY2027 budget. Non-defense is given as a percent — a 10% decrease from FY2026 — while defense is given as a percent *and* a raw number — a 44% increase to $1.5 trillion. That’s an increase of roughly $500 billion; meanwhile, the 10% decrease to non-defense agencies would save about $73 billion. Even assuming all the cuts are made, which isn’t likely, they are overwhelmed by the increase in defense spending, meaning overall federal spending rises under this budget. Whether you think that level of defense spending is justified (more on that later), the overall budget is a continuation of over a decade of debt increases. In our [2024 review](https://www.readtangle.com/biden-2025-budget-proposal/#:~:text=I%20genuinely%20believe%20we%20are%20in%20a%20perilous%20moment%20with%20our%20debt%20and%20deficit%2C%20and%20I%20don%27t%20see%20anything%20in%20this%20budget%20that%20is%20new%2C%20innovative%2C%20or%20helpful%20in%20the%20way%20we%27ll%20need%20to%20escape%20said%20peril.) of President Biden’s budget and our [2025 review](https://www.readtangle.com/trumps-skinny-budget-proposal/#:~:text=Which%20is%20why%20I%E2%80%99ll%20repeat%20the%20same%20thing%20%E2%80%94%20verbatim%20%E2%80%94%20I%20said%20about%20Biden%E2%80%99s%20skinny%20budget%3A%20%E2%80%9CI%20genuinely%20believe%20we%20are%20in%20a%20perilous%20moment%20with%20our%20debt%20and%20deficit%2C%20and%20I%20don%27t%20see%20anything%20in%20this%20budget%20that%20is%20new%2C%20innovative%2C%20or%20helpful%20in%20the%20way%20we%27ll%20need%20to%20escape%20said%20peril.%C2%A0) of President Trump’s, Isaac offered the same topline takeaway, which once again applies this year: “We are in a perilous moment with our debt and deficit, and I don’t see anything in this budget that is new, innovative, or helpful in the way we’ll need to escape said peril.” In the non-defense categories, the proposal advances the ethos of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), shifting spending away from social programs, environmental spending, workforce programs, and foreign aid while seeking to downsize the overall federal workforce. If enacted, most agencies would lose a significant portion of their funding, and the Small Business Administration (–67%), Environmental Protection Agency (–52%), State Department and international programs (–30%), and Department of Labor (–26%) would be the biggest losers. Like most people, I’m very open to cracking down on wasteful government spending, of which [there is plenty](https://www.gao.gov/blog/federal-government-made-236-billion-improper-payments-last-fiscal-year?ref=readtangle.com). What stands out to me in this budget, though, is how lazily the White House identifies programs to cut, most frequently by labeling them as “woke,” “radical,” or “leftist.” The section on the Department of Agriculture [prescribes](https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/budget%5Ffy2027.pdf?ref=readtangle.com#page=10) $510 million in cuts for National Institute of Food and Agriculture formula grants, claiming the program had previously funded grants for “Clothing Needs of Transgender People” and “Expanding Green Infrastructure as a Response to Environmental Injustice and Climate Change.” The “trans clothing needs” example appears to refer to [one grant](https://portal.nifa.usda.gov/lmd4/projects?report%5Fcolumn%5Ffilters=%7B%22Keywords%22%3A%22clothing%22%7D&ref=readtangle.com) disbursed from 2018–2023 to the University of Hawaii. The “expanding green infrastructure” was one grant disbursed from the 2018–2020 [funding period](https://app.dimensions.ai/details/grant/grant.8827858?ref=readtangle.com). Both grants were initially or completely sent out under the first Trump administration. I note this less as a gotcha and more to underscore how far the White House had to reach to find a way to sell these cuts to the president’s supporters. The tactic repeats itself again and again. The word “woke” appears 34 times in the budget document, “DEI” 26 times, and “transgender” 16 times. To state the obvious, the federal government doesn’t have enough programs focused on DEI such that cutting all of them would improve our fiscal outlook. Our federal deficit is driven primarily by four areas: healthcare, Social Security, defense, and servicing the existing debt. Only one of those areas falls under discretionary spending — defense — and the president’s budget would increase it by nearly 50%. In fairness, these presidential budgets are essentially PR exercises, so I understand why the administration is taking this approach: Railing against perceived progressive excess was a successful strategy in 2024\. But even as a PR tactic I think it fails. How much more is there to cut after railing against these programs for a full year? People want to know about the Iran War, gas prices and broader economic uncertainty, not a handful of DEI grants from eight years ago. Any real discussion of this budget should focus on defense spending. Upfront, I think the administration is mostly focusing on the right areas. Amid the Iran war, reduced munitions stockpiles [loom large](https://thehill.com/policy/defense/5797004-war-iran-impact-us-military/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Washington%E2%80%99s%20munitions%20stockpiles,ship%2Dlaunched%20missiles.), as does the rising cost of damaged or destroyed aircraft, wear and tear on ships, and our elevated troop presence in the region. The budget proposal explicitly addresses these issues, highlighting shipbuilding, procuring critical munitions, aircraft development, and, perhaps [most importantly](https://cepa.org/article/how-are-drones-changing-war-the-future-of-the-battlefield/?ref=readtangle.com), new investments in drone systems as key areas of funding. On paper, investing more in these areas is prudent, and I’d support temporarily increasing the defense budget to support this effort… if we knew exactly how that money was going to be disbursed. Unfortunately, we don’t. The budget is light on details, [only specifying](https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/rebuilding-our-military-fact-sheet.pdf?ref=readtangle.com) $65.8 billion toward shipbuilding and a 5–7% pay raise for service members. How much is going toward modernizing our drone systems, and how much to glossy distractions like the “Golden Dome,” which will [conservatively](https://aei.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/WP-Estimating-the-Cost-of-Golden-Dome.pdf?x85095&ref=readtangle.com) take years and trillions of dollars to create? The budget doesn’t say. Absent those specifics, I can’t say whether $500 billion in new spending is justified. Either way, the White House’s assumptions about economic growth don’t support this level of spending. The administration [projects](https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/budget%5Ffy2027.pdf?ref=readtangle.com#page=81) real GDP growth will be 3.1% every year through the end of the decade, then drop only slightly to 2.9% in the first half of the 2030s. To put it mildly, this is a significantly rosier view of economic growth than most other forecasters. Annual GDP growth has [hovered around 2%](https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.MKTP.KD.ZG?locations=US&ref=readtangle.com) so far this century, and the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) [estimates](https://www.crfb.org/blogs/overview-presidents-fy-2027-budget?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=It%20is%20assumed%20that%20real%20GDP%20would%20grow%20at%203%25%20annually%20on%20average%20over%20the%20next%20decade%20%E2%80%93%20far%20above%20the%201.8%25%20projected%20by%20CBO%20or%20the%202.0%25%20in%20the%20Federal%20Reserve%E2%80%99s%20long%2Drun%20estimates.) that it will be more like 1.8% on average over the next decade. The Federal Reserve estimates 2.0%. The budget also assumes inflation, as measured by the GDP price index, will fall from 2.7% to 2.0% by next year, then remain at that level for a decade. Comparatively, the CBO [projects](https://www.crfb.org/blogs/overview-presidents-fy-2027-budget?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=This%20is%20compared%20to%20CBO%E2%80%99s%20projection%20that%20GDP%20price%20index%20inflation%20will%20be%202.7%25%20in%202026%2C%20decline%20to%202.4%25%20in%202027%2C%20and%20moderate%20at%202.0%25%20starting%20in%202030.) inflation won’t reach 2.0% until 2030\. The White House assumes unemployment will fall to 3.7% and stay there for a decade; the CBO [estimates](https://www.cbo.gov/publication/62105?ref=readtangle.com#%5FidTextAnchor068:~:text=The%20unemployment%20rate%20reaches%204.6%20percent%20in%202026%20before%20falling%20to%204.5%C2%A0percent%20in%202027%20and%20to%204.4%C2%A0percent%20in%202028.%20It%20reverts%20to%20its%20noncyclical%20rate%20of%204.2%C2%A0percent%20in%202032.) it will remain above 4.0% through at least 2032\. What’s more, lost tariff revenue negates some of the revenue the White House was counting on to fund its proposal. All this makes me deeply skeptical of the administration’s optimistic outlook. Vought argues that cutting wasteful spending, expanding domestic energy production, and revitalizing domestic industries will cumulatively put us on track for rapid growth and low inflation. The administration is assuming a best-case macroeconomic scenario across every major variable simultaneously — high GDP, low unemployment, low inflation, and low interest rates. These conditions very rarely coexist, but the administration assumes all these things will happen, for at least a decade… *starting next year*. To be fair, all modern presidential budgets contain some degree of fantastical thinking and suspect justifications. But I’m distressed by having this same conversation over and over, year after year, with neither party demonstrating a willingness to think outside the box or make tough decisions to address our spending dilemma. For now, two things seem clear: The Trump administration will likely end up with a lot less than it’s asking for here, and Congress will still authorize an unsustainable level of spending. We’ve been having this [same conversation](https://www.readtangle.com/biden-budget-proposal-2024/#:~:text=The%20worst%20part,sounding%20every%20alarm.) for years, and sadly, I don’t expect us to stop any time soon. ****Staff dissent — Managing Editor Ari Weitzman:** I appreciate Will’s reticence to judge this proposed defense increase absent specifics, but I don’t think we need granular details to say that this isn’t a good proposal. Environmental studies has a concept called “[shifting baseline syndrome](https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/fee.1794?ref=readtangle.com),” in which a neutral observer will compare any environmental change only to the current situation, without considering the longer historical context. We have experienced decades of neurotic levels of defense spending since 9/11, and every year we shift our baseline. We [gradually increased](https://www.davemanuel.com/us-defense-spending-history-military-budget-data.php?ref=readtangle.com) our rate of military spending after 2001, doubling it from $300 billion that year to $600 billion in 2008\. Then, during the financial crisis in 2008, we increased it further — starting **five straight* years of spending over 4% of our GDP on defense. We’ve hovered around 3% since then, with years of contraction under Obama followed by increased investments by Trump and Biden. If anything, defense spending was due for another contraction. Instead, Trump wants to increase it by **42%.* Before that, Bush set the mark for largest annual increase of our defense budget in the past 20 years at 11.8%. Our country doesn’t need to deploy its munitions in the Middle East, we don’t need to continue to in 2027, and our military doesn’t need $1,500 billion to not do those things. **Take the survey:** What do you think of the White House’s budget proposal? [Let us know](https://interrobang.vercel.app/survey/2375746f-26b2-49d5-9b22-2c8557e695c1?ref=readtangle.com). *Disagree? That's okay. Our opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we'll consider publishing your feedback.* ### Your questions, answered. **We aren’t including a reader question in today’s newsletter in favor of other sections, but we will be answering a lot of your questions in a dedicated reader mailbag edition this Friday.* **Have a question that you want us to answer? You can reply to this email (it goes straight to our inbox) or*[ **fill out this form*](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScQhqBSG%5F6%5FoBhwcTQMeS570n29XYbeQ9C9Bis7rjqI31g1tA/viewform?usp=header&ref=readtangle.com)**.* ### Under the radar. Last week, the Trump administration announced a planned restructuring of the U.S. Forest Service, including the relocation of its headquarters from Washington, D.C., to Salt Lake City, Utah. As part of the restructuring, 57 of the Forest Service’s 77 research facilities across 31 states will close, along with its nine regional offices, affecting hundreds of employees. The agency will concentrate its research division in Fort Collins, Colorado, and has plans to move researchers to positions in nearby states. [The New York Times has the story](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/03/climate/forest-service-research-stations.html?ref=readtangle.com). SPONSORED by incogni ****Your Data Is on Sites You've Never Heard Of** Home address, phone number, family details — scattered across brokers, public records, and obscure people-search engines. The internet doesn't forget, but you can make it [harder to find you](https://deal.incogni.io/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=6&aff%5Fid=1007&ref=readtangle.com). Incogni automates removals and keeps monitoring as new sites appear. [****Use code TANGLE for 55% off**](https://deal.incogni.io/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=6&aff%5Fid=1007&ref=readtangle.com)****.** ### A deeper look. ![President Warren G. Harding | Library of Congress](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/04/data-src-image-a1d85c1c-815e-45ff-84be-d242a2fa73c1-1.jpeg) President Warren G. Harding | Library of Congress After World War I, the federal government’s spending power and expenditures began growing exponentially. In 1921, Congress [enacted](https://www.cbo.gov/about/history?ref=readtangle.com) the Budget and Accounting Act, officially establishing a budget process for the executive branch by creating the Bureau for the Budget (now the Office of Management and Budget). The law also required presidents to submit annual budgets to Congress, and President Warren G. Harding was [the first to do so](https://www.visitthecapitol.gov/artifact/message-president-united-states-transmitting-budget-service-fiscal-year-ending-june-30?ref=readtangle.com) in 1923\. While the 1921 law initially centralized budget preparation in the executive branch, [impoundment controversies](https://www.readtangle.com/texas-gerrymander-california-response/?ref=tangle-newsletter#:~:text=Your%20questions%2C%20answered.) under President Richard Nixon led to the passage of the Impoundment Control Act in 1974, which restored some oversight power to the legislature. ### The extras. - **One year ago today** we covered [the HHS layoffs](https://www.readtangle.com/the-hhs-layoffs/). - **The most clicked link in our most recent newsletter** was the [ad in our free version for Finance Buzz](https://financebuzz.com/dumb-money-moves-yaez?adgroupid=BM-Tangle-dumb-money-moves-yaez-CPF-04072026&ref=readtangle.com). - **Nothing to do with politics:** A storm in Western Australia turned the sky [an apocalyptic shade of red](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/29/world/australia/australia-red-sky-tropical-cyclone.html?ref=readtangle.com). - **Our last survey:** 5,443 readers responded to our survey on Trump’s threats to strike Iranian infrastructure with 93% opposing strikes. “I’d like to think this is just another bluff, but I don’t know anymore,” one respondent said. “Responsible adults need to get involved. This is the problem of sycophants,” said another. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/04/data-src-image-ca4c2b7e-9c90-4f21-ac1f-f35f574f240f.png) ### Have a nice day. The number of parasitic worms in old cans of Alaskan salmon is increasing — that may actually be *good* news, according to University of Washington researchers. A higher number of worms indicates a strong and complex food web, because the worms need multiple species to survive, meaning the ecosystem has enough of the right creatures for reproduction. The Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, which helped seal, sea lion, and orca populations recover, likely contributed to this shift. “Everyone assumes that worms in your salmon is a sign that things have gone awry," said Chelsea Wood, an associate professor at the University of Washington. “I see their presence as a signal that the fish on your plate came from a healthy ecosystem.” [Science Daily has the story](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/04/260401022027.htm?ref=readtangle.com). ### A Former EPA Chief Explains Climate Policy URL: https://www.readtangle.com/a-former-epa-chief-explains-climate-policy/ Last updated: 2026-04-09T00:04:16.000Z In this interview, Ari Weitzman sits down with former New Jersey Governor and EPA Administrator Christine Whitman to unpack one of the most complex challenges in public policy today: how to balance environmental protection with economic reality. ### We're hiring for two full-time positions. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/were-hiring-for-two-full-time-positions/ Last updated: 2026-04-08T13:30:54.000Z Dear readers, I am thrilled to announce that as Tangle continues to grow, we are hiring two full-time positions opening this summer. The first is to replace our departing Associate Editor and Executive Assistant Lindsey Knuth, who we’re proud to announce will be attending Harvard Law School in the fall (congrats, Lindsey!). [This role](https://www.readtangle.com/associate-editor/) is in-person and based in the New York City area that works directly with me, Tangle’s founder and executive editor. The second is a full-time, [fully remote video editor position](https://www.readtangle.com/video-editor/) reporting directly to our Executive Producer Jon Lall. This position is part of our continued growth in YouTube videos and podcasts. We let our audience know first whenever we hire, because you are the people who organically care about our mission and have been along for the ride. So: You are the first to know about these openings, which we’ll announce more publicly and begin posting on job boards later this week. The two job listings are below: - [*Go here to see the Associate Editor opening*](https://www.readtangle.com/associate-editor/) - [*Go here to see the Video Editor opening*](https://www.readtangle.com/video-editor/) Information on how to apply for each position is in their respective listings, and the deadline to apply is May 1, 2026. Thank you, Isaac Saul ### Trump's ultimatum for Iran. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/trump-iran-ultimatum/ Last updated: 2026-04-07T15:52:23.000Z *I*’*m Isaac Saul, and this is Tangle: an independent, nonpartisan, subscriber-supported politics newsletter that summarizes the best arguments from across the political spectrum on the news of the day — then “my take.”* *Are you new here?* [*Get free emails*](https://www.readtangle.com/) *to your inbox daily. Would you rather listen? You can find our podcast* [*here*](https://shows.acast.com/66510864c0852400122bc7be?ref=readtangle.com)*.* ### Today’s read: 15 minutes. ❗ The president draws a bright red line in Iran. Plus, the latest on a lawsuit from The Federalist and The Daily Wire against the U.S. government. ### The return of decency. “According to polling from Pew, 79% of Americans would characterize our political discourse negatively — and 90% say they feel exhausted by politics,” Tangle Executive Editor Isaac Saul wrote on Friday. “A survey from Gallup supports this view; 69% of Republicans and 60% of Democrats say inflammatory rhetoric has gone too far, up 16% and 9%, respectively, since 2011\. And I think — I hope — what happens next is that Americans develop a thirst for the novelty of decency.” Check out Isaac’s piece, where he makes the case that decency is about to make a comeback. [You can read it here](https://www.readtangle.com/decency-is-about-to-make-a-comeback/). ### Quick hits. 1. The U.S. military rescued the second of two crew members of a fighter jet shot down over Iran on Friday (the first was rescued hours after the incident). The airman reportedly hid in the mountains near the crash site for two days while Iranian forces searched for him. The operation involved hundreds of U.S. aircraft and personnel, with Israel providing intelligence support. ([The rescue](https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2026/04/04/us-pilot-rescue-iran-f15-crash/?ref=readtangle.com)) Separately, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced that the group’s chief of intelligence, Majid Khademi, was killed in an Israeli airstrike. ([The strike](https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog%5Fentry/us-israeli-strikes-kill-irgc-intelligence-chief-iranian-state-media-reports/?ref=readtangle.com)) 2. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that payrolls rose by 178,000 in March after declining by 133,000 in February. The unemployment rate decreased slightly to 4.3%. ([The numbers](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/04/03/jobs-report-march-2026-.html?ref=readtangle.com)) 3. The White House asked Congress to approve $1.5 trillion for defense for fiscal year 2027, a roughly 40% increase over the current year’s budget. The request was part of the Trump administration’s new budget, which also calls for $73 billion in spending cuts across domestic agencies. ([The budget](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/03/us/politics/white-house-defense-budget.html?ref=readtangle.com)) 4. The Board of Peace, led by President Donald Trump, has reportedly issued a demand to Hamas to finalize an agreement to demilitarize the Gaza Strip by the end of this week. Board members are expected to meet with Hamas officials on Tuesday in Egypt for negotiations. ([The demand](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/06/world/middleeast/trump-board-of-peace-hamas-disarmament.html?ref=readtangle.com)) 5. In an unsigned order, the Supreme Court vacated an appeals court ruling upholding pro-Trump activist Steve Bannon’s conviction for contempt of Congress for defying a subpoena from the House committee investigating the January 6 Capitol riots. The Court sent the case back to the lower courts, and the Justice Department has moved to dismiss the charges. ([The order](https://www.wsj.com/us-news/law/supreme-court-paves-way-for-dismissal-of-steve-bannons-criminal-case-f470efb3?ref=readtangle.com)) SPONSORED by finance buzz ****12 Dumbest Things Americans Waste Money On** You’re clearly smart about your finances, whether it’s scouring the clearance racks for a deal, limiting your restaurant visits, or opting for the most affordable streaming services available. 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[****See the 12 Things You're Wasting Money On**](https://financebuzz.com/dumb-money-moves-yaez?utm%5Fsource=tangle&utm%5Fmedium=paid-newsletter-cpf&utm%5Fterm=Tangle&utm%5Fcampaign=BM-FBZ-Tangle-dumb-money-moves-yaez-CPF&adgroupid=BM-Tangle-dumb-money-moves-yaez-CPF-04072026)****.** ### Today’s topic. Trump’s Strait of Hormuz deadline. In a [post](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116353078945787501?ref=readtangle.com) on Truth Social Sunday morning, President Donald Trump appeared to set a deadline of 8:00 PM ET on Tuesday, April 7, for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to commercial traffic. In a preceding post, the president suggested that he will authorize strikes on civilian energy and transportation infrastructure if the demand is not met, [writing](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116351998782539414?ref=readtangle.com), “Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran. There will be nothing like it!!! Open the Fuckin’ Strait, you crazy bastards, or you’ll be living in Hell - JUST WATCH! Praise be to Allah.” In a Wall Street Journal [interview](https://www.wsj.com/world/trump-warns-in-journal-interview-that-he-could-strike-every-power-plant-in-iran-47556f0d?ref=readtangle.com) later on Sunday, Trump said Iran would “lose every power plant and every other plant they have in the whole country” if they block the strait beyond Tuesday. **Back up:** Amid its war with the U.S. and Israel, Iran has disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway connecting the Persian Gulf to the Indian Ocean, destabilizing global energy markets. In late March, President Trump issued a 10-day deadline to Iran to reopen the strait, which expired on Monday. The Trump administration is also reportedly [considering](https://www.readtangle.com/trump-weighs-ground-operations-in-iran/) ground operations to attempt to take control of the waterway. Iran has so far rejected Trump’s demands. On Monday, an Iranian military spokesman [said](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/06/world/middleeast/middle-east-iran-war-week-6.html?smid=url-share&ref=readtangle.com) the country would respond “more crushingly and extensively” if the U.S. attacks civilian infrastructure. Also on Monday, a foreign ministry spokesperson [said](https://abcnews.com/International/live-updates/iran-live-updates-casualties-reported-missile-strikes-israel/?id=131757074&entryId=131762463&ref=readtangle.com) the country was in talks with Oman on “a procedure for the safe passage of vessels through the Strait of Hormuz.” The U.S. and Iran [reviewed](https://www.axios.com/2026/04/06/iran-war-us-tehran-ceasefire-talks?ref=readtangle.com) a ceasefire proposal over the weekend that would pause the conflict for 45 days. However, Iran rejected the plan on Monday, offering a counterproposal for a permanent end to the conflict, removal of sanctions, and compensation for damages from U.S. attacks. In a news conference that evening, President Trump [reiterated](https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/iran-war-latest-news-updates-2026/card/trump-says-u-s-could-take-out-iran-in-one-night-might-be-tomorrow-night--lwgptr4Hn6RPKmNBUg2G?ref=readtangle.com) his demand for Iran to reach a deal on the strait by Tuesday at 8:00 PM ET. The president’s threat to strike Iranian civilian infrastructure drew criticism from U.S. lawmakers. Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) [said](https://x.com/ChrisMurphyCT/status/2040883102226997573?s=20&ref=readtangle.com) “blowing up bridges and power plants” would be “mass war crimes” and called on Republican leaders to stop the president from carrying out such strikes. In his Wall Street Journal interview, Trump said that the Iranian people are “living in hell” and want the U.S. to strike civilian infrastructure to undermine the government. In a separate interview with ABC News, he [said](https://x.com/rachelvscott/status/2040819658433966553?ref=readtangle.com) if the U.S. doesn’t reach a deal with Iran, “we’re blowing up the whole country.” Today, we’ll cover President Trump’s ultimatum on the Strait of Hormuz, with views from the right and left, followed by Executive Editor Isaac Saul’s take. ### What the right is saying. - **The right is mixed in its response to Trump’s threats, with some saying he should continue his aggressive posture.** - **Others say striking civilian infrastructure would be a strategic and moral error.** - **Still others suggest the U.S. can’t afford to end the war with the Strait of Hormuz closed.** **In The New York Post, Paul du Quenoy argued** [**“Trump must indeed blast Iran’s regime back to the Stone Ages.”**](https://nypost.com/2026/04/04/opinion/the-us-should-hold-the-course-with-the-war-in-iran/?ref=readtangle.com) “Looking for a negotiated off-ramp is undoubtedly tempting for Trump. As the midterm elections loom in November, the latest polls show that two-thirds of Americans ‘strongly’ or ‘somewhat’ disapprove of his war with Iran… When Trump suggests hostilities will end soon, as he did early last week, US stocks rally and oil prices drop. When he sounds more belligerent, as he did later in the week, markets jitter while oil rises,” du Quenoy wrote. “\[Trump\] must bear constantly in mind that these phenomena are temporary and that the real danger — for him, our country, and the world — is to let the mullahs and their murderous regime go on.” “With total air superiority, adequate naval deployments, and, possibly, the occupation of strategic land positions, Hormuz can be opened just as President Reagan did in the 1980s, including with the international help some allies are now offering,” du Quenoy said. “In the seven months to go before the midterms, his ‘excursion’ in Iran could soon become a matter for the history books instead of a majority-losing issue at the ballot box. But for that to happen, the mullahs must be destroyed.” **In The Free Press, Eli Lake wrote** [**“Mr. President, don’t bomb Iran’s civilian infrastructure.”**](https://www.thefp.com/p/mr-president-dont-bomb-irans-civilian?ref=readtangle.com) “If Donald Trump makes good on his latest threats, a just war could lose its moral standing… Some might argue that this is just the art of the deal. Trump is bluffing to keep Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps guessing as to what he might do next. And I certainly hope that he is. But threatening a war crime is no way to gain leverage over the hard men who now call the shots in Tehran,” Lake said. “A strategic victory in the war would be a color revolution that ended the threat posed by Iran’s revolutionary regime for good. So one must ask how destroying power plants that provide electricity for both the regime and the people advances that goal.” “The answer is: It doesn’t. It punishes the very people whom Trump at first said he was hoping to liberate. This is why Iranian opposition figures outside the country are counseling the president to reconsider,” Lake wrote. “Trump’s threats are a gift to the enemy. While it’s certainly true that losing power stations will make it harder on the regime to project power, the price that America and Israel will incur in global public opinion will advance the regime’s strategy of painting itself as the victim of Western aggression.” **In The Washington Times, Bradley Martin and Liram Koblentz-Stenzler said** [**“Trump should not end the war with Strait of Hormuz unresolved.”**](https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/apr/2/trump-not-end-war-strait-hormuz-unresolved/?ref=readtangle.com) “Iranian officials are not offering a compromise. They are setting conditions: removing American forces from the region, lifting sanctions, preserving their missile program and expanding control over the Strait of Hormuz. Those demands would shift the balance of power in Iran’s favor,” Martin and Koblentz-Stenzler wrote. “We have seen this logic before. After Iraq invaded Kuwait in 1990, Osama bin Laden offered to defend Saudi Arabia — on the condition that the kingdom reject American troops. The point wasn’t only security. It was also to push out the U.S. and replace it with a different kind of order.” “If U.S. policy is seen as responsive primarily to economic pressure, then Iran may conclude that escalation can force political concessions. That conclusion won’t stay confined to this conflict. If Iran comes out of this war with its leverage intact, then governments in Saudi Arabia and the UAE will have to reconsider how much they can rely on Washington alone,” Martin and Koblentz-Stenzler said. “That also creates room for other world players. Russia, already aligned with Iran, would have more space to expand its role. Turkey, which stayed out of the fighting, could emerge from it in a stronger position.” ### What the left is saying. - **The left opposes Trump’s threat to bomb civilian targets, saying it would be both immoral and ineffective.** - **Some argue such acts would clearly constitute war crimes.** - **Others say the situation in the Strait of Hormuz has only emboldened Iran.** **In Bloomberg, Marc Champion suggested** [**“escalation would make Trump’s epic Iran mistake worse.”**](https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2026-04-06/iran-escalation-would-make-trump-s-epic-mistake-worse?srnd=phx-opinion&ref=readtangle.com) “When a US president resorts to public expletives and the threat of war crimes to get his way in war, it takes a heroic effort to discern a strategy amid the disgrace. But to the extent Donald Trump is executing a plan, it is a version of the ‘escalate to de-escalate’ doctrine attributed to Russian nuclear planners,” Champion wrote. “This tactic very rarely works, either in the real world or war-gaming exercises… because de-escalating under duress requires both trust, or at least a belief in the credibility of the threats being made, and a willingness to endure public capitulation.” “Nothing we know about the regime in charge of the Islamic Republic of Iran suggests it would prove an exception to this rule. On the contrary, Trump’s threats to bomb Iran back into the stone age by an ever-shifting deadline are merely confirming Tehran’s long-standing belief that US cannot be trusted in general,” Champion said. “Every new day brings the risk of new unwanted consequences. And in this case, the victims include not just the protagonists themselves but the entire world economy. Without a clear and viable path to military success, it would be unforgivable to invite those risks by the scale of escalation Trump has proposed for Tuesday evening.” **In Just Security, Margaret Donovan and Rachel VanLandingham wrote about** [**“when war crimes rhetoric becomes battlefield reality.”**](https://www.justsecurity.org/135797/war-crimes-rhetoric-power-plants-iran/?ref=readtangle.com) “‘Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran. There will be nothing like it!!!’ posted President Donald Trump on Easter Sunday… Such rhetorical statements — if followed through — would amount to the most serious war crimes — and thus the president’s statements place servicemembers in a profoundly challenging situation,” Donovan and VanLandingham said. “Iranian power plants and other critical civilian infrastructure are protected from attacks by the law of war the United States helped craft after World War II. Such an object can lose its protection only if it is used for military purposes by the enemy and its destruction ‘offers a definite military advantage.’” “\[These strikes would\] pose a significant risk of moral and psychic injury for servicemembers. National soul-searching regarding how Americans fight followed the long U.S. wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, in which both civilian casualties and detainee abuse undermined strategic objectives and weighed heavily on soldiers’ consciences long after the fighting stopped,” Donovan and VanLandingham wrote. “The public record of intent to commit war crimes puts soldiers at risk of later liability. In any future war crimes or U.C.M.J. investigation — for which there may be no statute of limitations — their actions will be judged based on the reasonably available information at the time of the strikes.” **In The New York Times, Robert A. Pape said** [**“the war is turning Iran into a major world power.”**](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/06/opinion/iran-war-strait-hormuz.html?ref=readtangle.com) “Many analysts believe that Iran’s grip on the Strait of Hormuz is only temporary. A widespread expectation is that U.S. and allied naval forces will soon stabilize the situation and that oil flows will resume along familiar lines,” Pape wrote. “That expectation is flawed. It assumes that to continue to control the strait, Iran must physically close it off. But as we have already seen, you can control the strait without closing it. Today, the strait remains open to tankers. Traffic has dropped by over 90 percent since the war began, though, not because Iran has been sinking every vessel that entered the strait but because, given the credible threat of an attack, insurers withdrew or repriced war-risk coverage.” “The problem for the United States is one of asymmetry. Protecting each and every oil shipment that passes through the Strait of Hormuz against potential attacks — mines, drones, missile strikes — is a full-time operation. It requires continuous military presence. Iran needs only to hit an oil tanker once in a while to cast doubt on the reliability of the world’s oil shipments,” Pape said. “If uncertainty persists, the Gulf arrangement will inevitably change, giving way to a different regional order — one in which the Gulf states increasingly accommodate the actor that can most directly influence the reliability of their exports. That actor is now Iran.” ### My take. **Reminder: “My take” is a section where we give ourselves space to share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, don't unsubscribe. Write in by replying to this email, or** [**leave a comment**](https://www.readtangle.com/trump-iran-ultimatum/#ghost-comments-root)**.** - **Trump seems to have backed himself into a corner, and I worry for what comes next in Iran.** - **His rhetoric has gotten noticeably more unhinged this past week.** - **Polling doesn’t seem to matter, the president is surrounded by sycophants, and the recent developments are extremely concerning.** **Executive Editor Isaac Saul:** In retrospect, I think how we got here is pretty easy to explain. Trump came into the operation in Iran under the belief that it would be swift, dominant, and easy. In his mind’s eye, he saw another Venezuela — which he made clear in a statement before the initial wave of strikes and repeated afterward. But it wasn’t Venezuela. Rather than roll over or run into hiding, the new Iranian leaders have fought violently and mercilessly. They’ve attacked their Arab neighbors with force that we didn’t expect; they’ve strangled a global shipping route with an equally unexpected vigor; they’ve lobbed missile after missile at U.S. bases and Israel; and despite early claims that this capacity would be quickly “obliterated,” those missiles are still being launched six weeks later. The president [gave](https://nypost.com/2024/12/26/us-news/state-departments-global-engagement-center-accused-of-pushing-censorship-to-combat-online-disinformation-shuts-down/?ref=readtangle.com) the regime until March 23, and then Monday, and now until Tuesday night to do as they are told or their entire country will be obliterated. Who knows what will happen tonight? Less than two weeks after the initial strikes, Trump [declared](https://www.c-span.org/clip/white-house-event/president-trump-says-weve-won-iran-war/5196219?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=President%20Trump%20tells%20supporters%20at,00:00) we “won the war.” By mid-March he was asking NATO for help to open the Strait of Hormuz. By late March he was threatening war crimes against Iran if it didn’t open the strait. By the end of March he was [touting](https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/iran-sends-waves-missiles-into-israel-dismisses-trumps-talk-negotiations-fake-2026-03-24/?ref=readtangle.com) progress toward a deal. This morning, he [warned](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116363336033995961?ref=readtangle.com) a “whole civilization will die tonight,” assuming Iran refuses to acquiesce. Trump has repeatedly drawn red lines and then balked, only to announce some phantom breakthrough in negotiations. He has also drawn red lines and stuck to them, with the full force of the U.S. military raining down on its targets. Now, though, the president has backed himself into a corner, and how he will react is unclear. This part is important: In the past, Trump has navigated politics like a blunt-force tool. He is a hammer and everything else, every opponent and obstacle and rule, is a nail. But most of his actions up until this point can be, or have been, undone by opposition or courts or even himself reversing course or sending out a Truth Social post: A tariff is on, then it’s off, and that’s it. An executive order is signed, and then struck down by a court, and it’s over. War is not like that. Trump *wants* it to be like that; he wants to be able to abandon the Strait of Hormuz and leave it to the Europeans to figure out. He wants to install a new supreme leader and have everything resolved. He wants to dictate terms on social media and get everything he wants. But he can’t. Remember, the administration (eventually) communicated that our goals in Iran were to destroy their armed forces, missile capabilities, factories, and (later still) nuclear capabilities. I support these objectives. Indeed, I agree with the Trump administration that Iran should never be allowed a nuclear bomb and is deserving of its international label as a prolific sponsor of terrorism. Iran’s leadership, theocratic radicals hellbent on global dominion, are dangerous and unreliable. My agreement with Trump’s goals makes my disapproval of his methods even stronger. If we end the war now, without fulfilling our objectives and with Iranian leverage over the global economy fully intact, it will be framed as a victory for Iran *and* will bring long-term economic pain to us. This quagmire is of the Trump administration’s own making. And when the president’s furious posts on social media don’t yield the results he wants, they become more frequent and more furious. I’m genuinely afraid of what might come next, as the president seems not just irate but alarmed. He seems scared. As I said last week, in Trump’s second term, the times I’ve gotten him wrong were because I did not expect him to do some bad thing he ended up doing; I don’t want to fall into that trap again. Yet now I find myself thinking, “there’s no way he will actually bomb a power plant where hundreds of Iranians are [forming a human shield](https://x.com/osint613/status/2041522032639103394?s=46&t=7wfYUO2rNbHlrYyBDmVjCA&ref=readtangle.com), will he?” *Will he?* Here, the president must recognize the oil price shocks, the disruption to the global economy, and the consequences of an unfavorable outcome — not just for a temporary dip in the markets, but for the next three years of his term. And these are just the big, overarching narratives that are easy to spot. What about the ships stranded in the Persian Gulf [with no water or food or help](https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/life-and-death-aboard-ships-stranded-near-the-strait-of-hormuz-960e78f1?ref=readtangle.com)? What about the long-range missiles we have been launching that are [now in frighteningly low supply](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-04-04/us-deploys-bulk-of-stealthy-long-range-missile-for-iran-war?ref=readtangle.com)? What about the panicking energy experts and the [now-broken petrodollar](https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2026-04-06/the-petrodollar-loop-supporting-the-treasury-market-is-broken?taid=69d3321f1646ae00010c1469&ref=readtangle.com)? What about Iran [continuing to execute political dissidents](https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2026/apr/02/iran-iranian-protesters-surge-executions-death-penalty-war?ref=readtangle.com) while we focus on the war? What about the impact on [the largest war in Europe](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/07/world/europe/ukraine-attacks-russian-oil-exports.html?ref=readtangle.com) since World War II? These kinds of questions deserve straight answers, but good luck getting them from this White House. Punchbowl News — the D.C.-focused, insider politics newsletter — is often criticized for being *too* inside D.C., to the point that their reporting is overly soft to maintain their connections. Here is how they described the president on Monday: “Tracking and understanding Trump right now is very difficult, especially on the Iran war. It’s like trying to nail Jell-O to a wall. He’s all over the place on every issue — domestic policy, international affairs and Iran specifically — presenting Republicans with a political mess.” The tone is notable, but I’d say this undersells it in typical fashion. I’d say the president appears unwell. I feel the same way I did after the 2024 presidential debate, when my long-held fears that President Biden was not fit to serve [were confirmed](https://www.readtangle.com/should-president-biden-drop-out/#:~:text=to%20do%20it.%E2%80%9D-,My%20take.,-Reminder%3A%20%22My%20take). Trump looks to me like he’s truly unraveling. He does not seem fit for the job. Even by Trump’s norm-breaking, *oh my God did he just say that* standards, his social media posts over the weekend were jaw-dropping. I thought maybe the president had been hacked, not because he dropped an f-bomb but because he posted without his now-signature “Thank you for your attention to this matter” sign off, opting instead for “praise be to Allah.” But he wasn’t hacked. He really was using Easter morning to call Iranians “crazy bastards,” warn of impending attacks on civilian infrastructure, and mock Islam to top it all off. People like me are being misdiagnosed with Trump Derangement Syndrome because the president is acting deranged and we’re willing to say so — a very weird circular firing squad of derangement accusations. And some of Trump’s most ardent supporters arenoticing, too. Tucker Carlson suggested the thrill, for Trump, [was in the killing](https://x.com/RyanSaavedra/status/2041297905043333522?ref=readtangle.com), the ultimate kind of power. Across social media, I’m seeing a proliferation of Trump-friendly commentators announcing their [disappointment](https://x.com/JustTheTweets17/status/2041213037844050215?ref=readtangle.com), [fear](https://x.com/AlexBerenson/status/2040862869307179151?ref=readtangle.com), or [outright shame](https://x.com/ScottMcConnell9/status/2038781673827917971?ref=readtangle.com) in what Trump 2.0 has wrought. MAGA [still stands with Trump](https://www.ft.com/content/0abb6d7d-dac7-4d0e-9e7c-853c170c607a?syn-25a6b1a6=1&ref=readtangle.com), of course, and they may for some time. But Trump voter regret is [starting to register in polling](https://www.cnn.com/2026/04/04/politics/voter-regret-trump-2024?ref=readtangle.com), too, and among political independents he is now underwater — polling worse than he ever has. Trump is committing political suicide. The real question is: Does he care? This part, too, is important: *I don’t think he does.* Historically, Trump has been reactive to the polls, a quality of his I’ve treasured. But there is no next election for him, and his team doesn’t seem to care about the ramifications for the Republican Party. He already passed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, a massive tax cut and regulatory rollback. The border is quiet. He’s locked in for roughly three more years. He and his family are getting exorbitantly rich. He’s the center of the universe, again, as he flexes absolute military power across the globe. So no, I do not think he will be disturbed by any potential midterm losses, and I’m unsure he’s even aware of how bad the polling is or whether it would matter if he knew; it’s the markets, his personal relationships, and his own perception of his legacy that matter to him. From what I can tell, the cost of surrounding himself with sycophants is really coming due now, so much so that his own chief of staff [worries Trump’s advisers are giving him a rose-tinted view](https://time.com/article/2026/04/02/trump-iran-off-ramp/?ref=readtangle.com) on the Iran war. This means he won’t genuinely fear for his legacy or understand the polling; he will only hear how great his leadership is and how much MAGA is loving it. So now we are here: A president who, a few weeks ago, was promising to liberate the Iranian people is now threatening war crimes against them. The “stop wasting money on the Middle East wars”White House is now seeking to raise its historic $1 trillion 2026 Pentagon budget to $1.5 trillion for 2027, all while [talking about rebuilding Iran](https://x.com/Acyn/status/2041223814043091159?ref=readtangle.com). Meanwhile, Trump is saying the federal government can’t pay for Medicare, Medicaid and day care because “we’re fighting wars,” while gas is up to a national average of $4.11 per gallon — with no end in sight. Pointing all this out does not mean you are anti-American or rooting for Iran or hate the president; it’s an honest assessment of the state of the country, the folly of war, and the dangers that lie ahead. **Take the survey:** Do you think Trump should enforce his deadline by bombing Iranian infrastructure? [Let us know](https://interrobang.vercel.app/survey/2035f75a-1231-4427-a9df-b3af7b50e701?ref=readtangle.com). *Disagree? That's okay. Our opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we'll consider publishing your feedback.* ### Your questions, answered. **Q: What are the details of the results of The Daily Wire and The Federalist’s lawsuit against the federal government this week? It seems like the outcome was positive for free speech?** **— Anonymous from Texas** **Tangle:** As a quick recap, in December 2023, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) [sued](https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/news/releases/attorney-general-ken-paxton-sues-us-state-department-conspiring-censor-american-media-companies-1?ref=readtangle.com) the U.S. Department of State under President Joe Biden for conspiring to censor, deplatform, and demonetize American media outlets disfavored by the federal government. Texas was joined on the suit by The Daily Wire and The Federalist, who [claimed](https://nclalegal.org/case/the-daily-wire-the-federalist-state-of-texas-v-department-of-state-et-al/?ref=readtangle.com) that the government entity Global Engagement Center (GEC) funded tools that suppressed free speech by targeting conservative media outlets. The State Department, which oversees the GEC, [settled](https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/legaldocs/mopaowkknpa/04012026social.pdf?ref=readtangle.com) with the plaintiffs this past week. As part of the settlement, the government officially prohibited the State Department from supporting any censorship of Americans, decreed that it will monitor the State Department’s conduct for 10 years, and appointed The Daily Wire and The Federalist as compliance monitors for that time. On one hand, the settlement delivered a win for free speech by issuing a firm legal rebuke of the conduct of the GEC, which [played a role](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y68f9tAjG94&ref=readtangle.com) in the infamous government pressuring of social media companies that led to the Twitter files. On the other hand, the State Department didn’t need a lawsuit to close the GEC — the program had already been [defunded](https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/3266181/funding-global-engagement-center-cut-spending-bill-gop-backlash/?ref=readtangle.com) amid public scrutiny under Biden, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio [announced](https://www.state.gov/protecting-and-championing-free-speech-at-the-state-department/?ref=readtangle.com) it would be dismantled in April 2025\. Lastly, the stipulation that two specific media outlets can monitor the activity of the State Department is unusual. That allowance may create enforceability across different administrations, but it may also be an overcorrection that creates biases among the department in favor of conservative outlets. **Want to have a question answered in the newsletter? You can reply to this email (it goes straight to our inbox) or** [**fill out this form**](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScQhqBSG%5F6%5FoBhwcTQMeS570n29XYbeQ9C9Bis7rjqI31g1tA/viewform?usp=header&ref=readtangle.com)**.** SPONSORED by finance buzz ****You're Careful With Money — So Why Does It Still Disappear?** You hunt for deals, skip restaurants, pick the [cheapest streaming options](https://financebuzz.com/dumb-money-moves-yaez?utm%5Fsource=tangle&utm%5Fmedium=paid-newsletter-cpf&utm%5Fterm=Tangle&utm%5Fcampaign=BM-FBZ-Tangle-dumb-money-moves-yaez-CPF&adgroupid=BM-Tangle-dumb-money-moves-yaez-CPF-04072026). Yet somehow the math doesn't add up. We identified 12 common money drains that catch even disciplined spenders — and once you spot them, you'll likely find extra cash every month. [See All 12 Money-Wasters ](https://financebuzz.com/dumb-money-moves-yaez?utm%5Fsource=tangle&utm%5Fmedium=paid-newsletter-cpf&utm%5Fterm=Tangle&utm%5Fcampaign=BM-FBZ-Tangle-dumb-money-moves-yaez-CPF&adgroupid=BM-Tangle-dumb-money-moves-yaez-CPF-04072026) ### Numbers. - [**38.**](https://hormuzstraitmonitor.com/?ref=readtangle.com) The approximate number of days that the Strait of Hormuz has been effectively closed to most commercial shipping. - [**15.**](https://www.seatrade-maritime.com/security/iran-allows-15-ships-through-strait-of-hormuz?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=According%20to%20Iran%E2%80%99s%20Fars%20News%20Agency%2C%2015%20ships%20were%20allowed%20to%20pass%20through%20the%20Strait%20in%20the%20past%2024%20hours%20%28as%20of%202100%20hrs%20GMT%20on%205%20April%29.)The number of ships that passed through the strait over a 24-hour period over the weekend, according to Iran’s Fars News Agency. - [**138.**](https://www.seatrade-maritime.com/security/iran-allows-15-ships-through-strait-of-hormuz?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=but%20only%20a%20seventh%20of%20the%20historic%20average%20of%20138%20per%20day.) The historic average number of daily transits through the strait prior to the Iran war. - [**$4.14.**](https://gasprices.aaa.com/?ref=readtangle.com) The national average price of a gallon of regular gasoline in the United States as of April 7, according to AAA. - [**$3.41.**](https://gasprices.aaa.com/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=%243.149-,Month%20Ago%20Avg.,-%243.413) The national average price of a gallon of regular gasoline in the United States one month ago. ### The extras. - **One year ago today** we wrote about [the global response to Trump’s tariffs](https://www.readtangle.com/the-global-response-to-trumps-tariffs/). - **The most clicked link in our most recent newsletter** was again the University of Minnesota’s [scientific survey of the Tangle audience](https://umn.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV%5F0kB6jcQ71ZOGmhw?ref=readtangle.com). That survey is officially closed — thank you to all who have taken it! - **Nothing to do with politics:** A recent study could [confirm a strange, 75-year-old astronomical sighting](https://www.iflscience.com/mystery-of-odd-flashes-documented-in-sky-before-first-ever-satellite-was-launched-gets-even-odder-83021?ref=readtangle.com). - **Our last survey:** 2,662 readers responded to our survey on the Supreme Court case considering Trump’s executive order ending birthright citizenship with 69% saying the Court should and probably will strike down the order. “If the Constitution does not prohibit birthright citizenship for illegal aliens, then it needs to be amended to clearly prohibit it,” one respondent said. “I can see the court striking down the Executive Order but accepting a carve-out for parents in the country on a short-term tourist visa,” said another. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/04/data-src-image-9883d1a6-dd68-4bf0-ba18-9b66754640c4.png) ### Have a nice day. In 2020, Carroll Taylor Wiseman died of cancer at age 46, leaving behind her husband, Reid Wiseman, and their two children. Right now, Reid is in space, along with three other astronauts on the Artemis II mission that passed around the moon on Monday. During their voyage, the crew named some of the moon’s craters they could see from the ship, including one particularly bright spot. In an emotional broadcast back to Earth, astronaut Jeremy Hansen announced the crew had named it “Carroll.” [The BBC has the story and the video](https://www.bbc.com/news/videos/c5ylvz3rzyxo?ref=readtangle.com). ### The Sunday — April 5 URL: https://www.readtangle.com/the-sunday-april-5-2026/ Last updated: 2026-04-05T11:54:24.000Z *This is the Tangle Sunday Edition, a brief roundup of our independent politics coverage plus some extra features for your Sunday morning reading.* ### What the right is doodling. ![Steve Kelley| Creators Syndicate](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/04/data-src-image-a29e17fc-74ed-4c81-a8f6-ac1f2e2e5235.jpeg) Steve Kelley| Creators Syndicate ### What the left is doodling. ![Mike Luckovich | Creators Syndicate](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/04/data-src-image-70bd69ed-d828-49db-9600-30a2032ba68f.jpeg) Mike Luckovich | Creators Syndicate ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/04/data-src-image-84621734-2919-4f61-9d2d-1e82bc368936.png) ### We’re back! In this week’s *Suspension of the Rules*, Isaac, Ari, and Kmele take turns giving their best arguments in favor of something they’ve all opposed for different reasons — the Iran war — before discussing the effects of phone usage on our brains. Listen to the latest episode [here](https://shows.acast.com/tangle/episodes/suspension-of-the-rules-isaac-ari-and-kmele-steel-man-and-ti?ref=readtangle.com) or [watch](https://youtu.be/Y0zhqdEeUlM?ref=readtangle.com) it here! ### Monday, March 30. [Potential ground operations in Iran](https://www.readtangle.com/trump-weighs-ground-operations-in-iran/). On Saturday, March 28, The Washington Post reported that the Pentagon is planning for weeks of ground operations in Iran. According to defense officials, current plans are focused on targeted raids by Special Operations forces and infantry troops. President Donald Trump has not decided whether to approve ground operations, but reports from the past week indicate that the Pentagon is developing options for a “final blow,” which could combine troop deployments with an escalated bombing campaign. **Our take:** *“Trump says he is pursuing a short military engagement, while at the same time laying the foundation for a longer war. Getting accurate information and building an accurate understanding of this war is incredibly difficult. I fear, based on our knowledge, that a ground invasion is inevitable.”* **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/04/data-src-image-d85f62ef-0e12-4a21-95ea-d86707afe5b3.png) ### Tuesday, March 31. [The Department of Homeland Security shutdown](https://www.readtangle.com/dhs-partial-shutdown-ice-cbp-tsa/). On Friday, March 27, the Senate passed a bill that would fund most of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for fiscal year 2026, excluding Immigration and Customs Enforcement and some parts of Customs and Border Protection. Later that day, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) said he would not bring the bill to a vote. The House instead passed a separate bill that would fund DHS in its entirety for eight weeks. Both the House and the Senate have begun a two-week Easter recess, and the department is expected to remain shut down during that time. **Our take:** *“The shutdown persists because Congress is weak. I worry that this funding fight will only be resolved by further eroding the separation of powers. Democrats could take a deal and secure meaningful ICE reforms — but I doubt that will happen.”* **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/04/data-src-image-bc4bb473-7d29-4378-a3f3-d767cc962737.png) ### Wednesday, April 1. [Oral arguments on mail-in ballots](https://www.readtangle.com/scotus-mail-in-ballot-law-mississippi/). Last Monday, March 23, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in *Watson v. Republican National Committee*, a challenge to a Mississippi law that allows mail-in ballots postmarked by Election Day to be counted after Election Day. Several conservative justices appeared sympathetic to the challengers, who argued that the state law violates federal statutes defining the date of elections. If the Court rules in favor of the challengers, more than a dozen states with similar laws could be affected. **Our take:** *“Today, I reversed both of my prior beliefs about this case. The law seems to be on Mississippi’s side, while the effects of overturning it wouldn’t be some sweeping disenfranchisement. The pundits might be wrong, and the Court could easily keep the law in place.”* **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/04/data-src-image-6161df49-39e6-494a-aa5f-020b8781b9e3.png) ### Thursday, April 2. [Oral arguments on birthright citizenship](https://www.readtangle.com/scotus-considers-birthright-citizenship/). On Wednesday, April 1, the Supreme Court heard arguments in *Trump v. Barbara*, a case challenging President Donald Trump’s executive order restricting birthright citizenship. While a majority of justices seemed skeptical of the Trump administration’s argument that the order should be upheld, several conservative justices appeared similarly unconvinced by the plaintiffs’ case. President Trump attended the arguments, a first for a sitting president, though he left before they concluded. **Our take:** *“The Supreme Court seems on track to make the obvious and correct ruling here. Congress didn’t consider illegal immigration when it ratified the 14th Amendment, but that’s immaterial to the text of the law. This won’t end the debate about birthright citizenship, but it will settle the legal question.”* **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/04/data-src-image-2fcf5f0d-3d20-4d00-a114-02838b08887e.png) ### Friday, April 3. In this week’s Friday edition, Executive Editor Isaac Saul explores what he sees as a hopeful signal in our politics: the rejection of crass flame-throwing and the return of decency. [You can read Isaac’s piece here](https://www.readtangle.com/decency-is-about-to-make-a-comeback/). ### Further reading. We’ve covered oil instability during war, intraparty funding fights, skepticism of mail-in voting, and birthright citizenship before. Plus, a reader-favorite Friday edition, made available for all subscribers in 2023\. Take a look at our past coverage below: - In October 2022, we wrote about [OPEC cutting oil production](https://www.readtangle.com/the-opec-oil-cuts/) during the war in Ukraine. - In March 2025, we covered [Democratic disarray over a government funding bill](https://www.readtangle.com/democrats-split-pass-senate-funding-bill/). - In November 2020, Isaac broke down [accusations of election fraud](https://www.readtangle.com/election-fraud-claims-debunked-donald-trump/). - In December 2024, we covered [Trump’s comments about ending birthright citizenship](https://www.readtangle.com/trump-birthright-citizenship-debate/). - In August 2023, we republished Isaac’s essay on [his insufferable friend Jared](https://www.readtangle.com/my-insufferable-friend-jared-repost/). --- ### What just happened. Here’s a rundown of the major stories that have broken since our newsletter on Thursday. - On Thursday, President Donald Trump fired Attorney General Pam Bondi, saying she will transition to a job in the private sector. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche will become acting attorney general, and President Trump is reportedly considering Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin as his replacement pick. ([The firing](https://www.wsj.com/us-news/law/trump-ousts-attorney-general-pam-bondi-9874b02d?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Thursday, the House declined to take up a funding bill approved by the Senate earlier in the day to fund the Department of Homeland Security, excluding Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection. The move likely means the department will remain shut down until Congress returns from its current two-week recess. ([The update](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/02/us/politics/house-dhs-funding-shutdown.html?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Thursday, President Trump signed an executive order imposing 100% tariffs on imported brand-name drugs under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962\. ([The tariffs](https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/5813970-trump-signs-drug-tariffs/?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Thursday, Axios reported that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth asked Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George and two other military leaders to resign. The leaders have reportedly left their posts. ([The request](https://www.axios.com/2026/04/02/iran-war-hegseth-remove-gen-george-army-chief-staff?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Friday, a U.S. F-15 fighter jet was shot down over Iran, the first American fighter shot down by enemy fire since the start of the Iran war. U.S. forces rescued both of the aircraft’s crew members in Iranian territory. ([The incident](https://www.axios.com/2026/04/05/iran-f15-crew-member-rescued?ref=readtangle.com)) Separately, a U.S. A-10 attack aircraft crashed in the Persian Gulf, with the pilot ejecting safely. ([The incident](https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-israel-trump-lebanon-april-3-2026-a6365c6123cc8a696474f576d4ce7668?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Friday, the White House asked Congress to approve $1.5 trillion for defense for fiscal year 2027, a roughly 40% increase over the current year’s budget. The request was part of the Trump administration’s new budget, which also calls for $73 billion in spending cuts across domestic agencies. ([The budget](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/03/us/politics/white-house-defense-budget.html?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Friday, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that payrolls rose by 178,000 in March after declining by 133,000 in February. The unemployment rate decreased slightly to 4.3%. ([The numbers](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/04/03/jobs-report-march-2026-.html?ref=readtangle.com)) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/04/data-src-image-873e5cb6-a829-465c-bcc7-55066a7754fb.png) ### Reader essay. ![A ticket referencing Godwin's Law | Wikimedia Commons](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/04/data-src-image-9ef70b06-2691-4285-83df-c7a4fd806694.png) A ticket referencing Godwin's Law | Wikimedia Commons This week, we’re featuring an essay from reader Erez Levin, who argues for the need to stop comparing everything to Nazis and everybody to Hitler. To defend against what he calls “moral hyperinflation,” Erez pushes for us to use the power of taboos to change our societal norms. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Moral Hyperinflation: Why We Must Restore the Taboo of Demonization. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/otherposts/moral-hyperinflation-why-we-must-restore-the-taboo-of-demonization/ Last updated: 2026-04-10T18:47:55.000Z *By Erez Levin* --- When did it become socially acceptable to call everyday people Nazis? There was a time, perhaps only 20 years ago, when if someone earnestly called a political opponent "Hitler," they wouldn’t have been scolded — they would have been laughed at. The response was usually a dismissive roll of the eyes: *"Oh wow, you’re being dramatic."* The consequence for the speaker was subtle but real: a minor loss of credibility in their ability to assess character and impact. Parallel to this, the casual use of "bigot," "racist," and "sexist" has risen. What were once heavy, career-ending accusations reserved for clear acts of discrimination or hateful intent became common shorthand for any disagreement involving identity or social policy. The erosion of these taboos started with nuance. It began with comparisons — "slippery slope" arguments (á la [Godwin's Law](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godwin%27s%5Flaw?ref=readtangle.com)) that were easy to backpedal. Eventually, the slope gave way to a cliff; the "basically" dropped, the comparisons became identities, and the hyperbolic became the mundane. My own experience with this trend began following the attacks on October 7th, 2023, and the reactions that celebrated or defended them in the U.S. Like many others, I felt a deep, [moral disgust](https://elevin11.substack.com/p/the-shudder-of-the-many) to those reactions, though I didn’t immediately understand it. It was only after the assassination of Charlie Kirk, and the subsequent celebrations of his murder, that I realized we were witnessing the collapse of our most essential taboos, and that society by and large was willing to [hold the line](https://elevin11.substack.com/p/the-kirk-test-how-a-political-assassination) when sufficient pressure was applied. When I began arguing for a principled restoration of a "red line" against overt, hateful bigotry, I was often met with "whataboutism" regarding the "bigotry" of various politicians. It was through these conversations that I realized we have a structural problem: We have so over-inflated and cheapened our moral language that we can no longer distinguish between a crude provocation and a genuine existential threat. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Decency is about to make a comeback. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/decency-is-about-to-make-a-comeback/ Last updated: 2026-04-03T15:53:03.000Z **I’m Isaac Saul, and this is Tangle. You are reading a preview of a members-only Friday edition. To read it in full,* [**you'll be asked to subscribe*](https://www.readtangle.com/membership/)**.* ****Did someone forward you this email?** [****Sign up here**](https://www.readtangle.com/)****.** --- If I had told you in 2020 that shopping malls would make a comeback, you probably would have laughed in my face. And rightly so. Online shopping has been growing for years as its convenience, ease, and value have become too hard to pass up. To a new generation of shoppers, the experience of going out to a brick-and-mortar store to try on clothing or test out a new vacuum seemed silly and archaic — why waste that kind of time at a mall when you could have someone show up at your door with your order and then just return it if you didn’t like it, often free of cost? Covid-19 only increased that value and accelerated the death of America’s malls. Yet, today, malls aremaking a comeback — and with the group you’d least suspect: 18- to 24-year-olds. That’s right, the Gen Z kids are so tired of interacting entirely in digital spaces that they’ve [started to return](https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2026/03/26/gen-z-retail-shopping-malls-resurgence/89233505007/?ref=readtangle.com) to shopping malls, finding pleasure in the same exact thing older generations did: the social experience of hanging out with your friends outside of the house. This cohort made 62% of their general merchandise purchases [in-person last year](https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2026/03/26/gen-z-retail-shopping-malls-resurgence/89233505007/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Shoppers%20between%20the%20ages%20of%2018%20and%2024%20bought%2062%25%20of%20their%20total%20general%20merchandise%20purchases%20in%20stores%20last%20year%2C%20according%20to%20Circana.%20Shoppers%20ages%2025%20and%20older%20made%2052%25%20of%20their%20purchases%20in%20person%2C%20Circana%20said.), 10% more than shoppers aged 25 and older. And overall foot traffic at malls was up 4.5% in the first two months of this year compared to last. I think the resurgence of U.S. malls is emblematic of the human experience. A little bit of anything can be fun, refreshing, cathartic, or even exhilarating. But *a lot* of something — say, eight hours of screen time a day — can start to feel pretty crappy. The same is true in the political arena, where obscenity feels like it has become the norm. But this cycle of change suggests decency might make a comeback. When I say “decency,” I mean the quality of behaving in a polite, honest, and moral manner that is anchored by courteous behavior and treating others with respect. We have made descents into indecency in cycles throughout American history, and this one started decades ago. But I’ve watched it accelerate in the last 10 to 20 years. At times, I understood why it might feel refreshing. Seeing a journalist send a shoe flying at President George W. Bush or a member of Congress yell “you lie” at President Barack Obama felt cathartic for opponents of those politicians in part because that kind of direct confrontation was so rare and felt genuinely honest. By the time Donald Trump hit the political scene 10 years ago, many Americans were desperate for a break from the fakeness they perceived across our politics. Trump, in the political arena, *felt* authentic, even if the claims he was making were often exaggerated or untrue. He said the quiet parts out loud. He scoffed at the sacred cows in politics Americans had lost patience with. Jeb Bush was not safe from criticism because he was a Bush. Liberal politicians bought out by corporate donors were no longer able to wear working-class slogans like costumes without being called on it. For millions of Americans, there was something refreshing, something *honest* in the indecency. Speaking “truth,” however crass or bombastic (or, somehow, true), was more important than norms or class. It’s part of how Trump won over so many exhausted independent and Democratic voters, especially among working-class Americans. But we’re now well past *a little* bit of indecency. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### The Iran War Debate No One Is Having URL: https://www.readtangle.com/the-iran-war-debate-no-one-is-having/ Last updated: 2026-04-04T00:04:24.000Z In this episode of Suspension of the Rules, Isaac Saul, Ari Weitzman, and Kmele Foster take on one of the most complicated and contentious issues in global politics right now: the growing conflict with Iran — and the case for and against U.S. military action. ### Kid goes viral after blunt response to question on Artemis II. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/kid-goes-viral-after-blunt-response-to-question-on-artemis-ii/ Last updated: 2026-04-03T00:03:45.000Z A child watching the Artemis II launch has gone viral after his blunt response to a CNN interview question. ### The birthright citizenship case before SCOTUS. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/scotus-considers-birthright-citizenship/ Last updated: 2026-04-02T16:44:01.000Z *I'm Isaac Saul, and this is Tangle: an independent, nonpartisan, subscriber-supported politics newsletter that summarizes the best arguments from across the political spectrum on the news of the day — then “my take.”* *Are you new here?* [*Get free emails*](https://www.readtangle.com/) *to your inbox daily. Would you rather listen? You can find our podcast* [*here*](https://shows.acast.com/66510864c0852400122bc7be?ref=readtangle.com)*.* ### Today’s read: 15 minutes. ⚖️ The Supreme Court heard oral arguments in a case challenging President Trump's executive order restricting birthright citizenship. Plus, what does the data tell us about the efficacy of the National Guard's deployment to several cities? ****NOTE:** We will be off next Monday, April 6, in observance of Easter. ### Get texts from us. After oral arguments in the birthright citizenship case concluded yesterday, subscribers to Tangle’s free SMS messaging service, Subtext, got a first peek at Isaac’s analysis of the case. For more instant commentary on the biggest stories, as well as chances to help Tangle choose daily topics and occasional looks behind-the-scenes, join our Subtext channel [by clicking here](https://joinsubtext.com/c/tanglenews?ref=readtangle.com) or texting TANGLE to (850) 338-9163. ### Quick hits. 1. President Donald Trump delivered a national address Wednesday evening, calling the U.S. military’s operation in Iran a success and saying it was “very close” to fulfilling its objectives. He suggested the war will continue for up to three weeks. ([The speech](https://www.wsj.com/politics/national-security/trump-tries-to-sell-americans-on-war-in-iran-2bc1cdd2?ref=readtangle.com)) Separately, President Trump said in an interview that he is “strongly considering” pulling the United States out of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, expressing displeasure with member states’ refusal to support the U.S. military in Iran. ([The comments](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/04/01/donald-trump-strongly-considering-pulling-us-out-of-nato/?ref=readtangle.com)) 2. Republican House and Senate leaders announced a plan to end the Department of Homeland Security shutdown by passing funding that excludes Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection, later funding the agencies through the budget reconciliation process. They did not specify a timeline for a vote on the appropriations bill. ([The plan](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/republicans-announce-plan-end-dhs-shutdown-tsa-airport-delays-rcna266286?ref=readtangle.com)) 3. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration launched Artemis II, a roughly 10-day lunar flyby mission, from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The four astronauts on board will travel the farthest any human has been from Earth if the mission goes according to plan. ([The mission](https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/nasa-artemis-ii-launch/?ref=readtangle.com)) 4. The United States lifted sanctions on Venezuela’s acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, enabling her to work more freely with American companies and investors. ([The decision](https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-delcy-rodriguez-sanctions-maduro-d819e64fcdefa132c5b06c3ce0a81f88?ref=readtangle.com)) 5. The Federal Bureau of Investigation reportedly declared a recent China-linked cyber intrusion into an agency surveillance system a “major incident,” suggesting that hackers compromised sensitive data in the hack. The “major incident” determination denotes a significant risk to U.S. national security. ([The incident](https://www.politico.com/news/2026/04/01/fbi-hack-surveillance-system-major-incident-00854237?ref=readtangle.com)) SPONSORED BY SUPERHUMAN AI ![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/04/1000-chatgpt-prompts-v1.jpg) ****1,000+ Proven ChatGPT Prompts That Help You Work 10X Faster** ChatGPT is insanely powerful. But most people waste [90% of its potential](https://www.superhuman.ai/subscribe?utm%5Fsource=MI&utm%5Fmedium=tangle) by using it like Google. These ****1,000+ proven ChatGPT prompts** fix that and help you work 10X faster. Sign up for Superhuman AI and get: - 1,000+ ready-to-use prompts to solve problems in minutes instead of hours — tested & used by 1M+ professionals - [Superhuman AI newsletter](https://www.superhuman.ai/subscribe?utm%5Fsource=MI&utm%5Fmedium=tangle) (3 min daily) so you keep learning new AI tools & tutorials to stay ahead in your career—the prompts are just the beginning [Claim your free prompts](https://www.superhuman.ai/subscribe?utm%5Fsource=MI&utm%5Fmedium=tangle). ### Today’s topic. Oral arguments on birthright citizenship. On Wednesday, the Supreme Court [heard arguments](https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/supreme-court-us-birthright-citizenship-trump?ref=readtangle.com) in *Trump v. Barbara*, a case challenging President Donald Trump’s executive order restricting birthright citizenship. While a majority of justices seemed skeptical of the Trump administration’s argument that the order should be upheld, several conservative justices appeared similarly unconvinced by the plaintiffs’ case. President Trump attended the arguments, a first for a sitting president, though he left before they concluded. **Back up:** On the first day of his second term, Trump [signed](https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/protecting-the-meaning-and-value-of-american-citizenship/?ref=readtangle.com) an order saying that a child born in the U.S. will not get citizenship if their father is not a citizen or permanent resident, and their mother is either in the country illegally or only there temporarily. The order was immediately challenged on grounds that it violated the 14th Amendment; district judges in several states blocked the order, and appeals courts declined the government’s requests to lift or narrow the injunctions. The Trump administration [appealed](https://www.readtangle.com/supreme-court-birthright-citizenship-nationwide-injunctions/) the injunctions to the Supreme Court, which ruled 6–3 in June 2025 that the lower courts exceeded their authority. In December 2025, the Court agreed to consider a challenge to the merits of the order. The 14th Amendment’s Citizenship Clause [reads](https://constitution.congress.gov/constitution/amendment-14/?ref=readtangle.com), “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.” The Trump administration [contends](https://www.scotusblog.com/2026/03/the-key-arguments-in-the-birthright-citizenship-case/?ref=readtangle.com), among other points, that the executive order “restores the original meaning” of the amendment, which they claim was enacted to give citizenship to formerly enslaved people and their children but should not apply to children whose parents are in the country illegally. The plaintiffs argue that the Citizenship Clause clearly confers citizenship to anyone born in the United States, noting that the drafters of the 14th Amendment did not specify any exceptions to the clause’s language. A large portion of oral arguments centered on [*United States v. Wong Kim Ark* (1898)](https://constitutioncenter.org/the-constitution/supreme-court-case-library/united-states-v-wong-kim-ark-1898?ref=readtangle.com), which affirmed the principle of birthright citizenship for almost everyone born on American soil, regardless of their parents’ status. Arguing for the Trump administration, U.S. Solicitor General D. John Sauer [suggested](https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral%5Farguments/argument%5Ftranscripts/2025/25-365%5F1b8e.pdf?ref=readtangle.com#page=37) that a child’s parents had to be legal residents to confer citizenship. Justice Neil Gorsuch, among others, questioned this argument, noting that the U.S. did not have strict immigration laws when the 14th Amendment was ratified. Cecillia Wang, who represented the challengers, argued the residence question in *Wong Kim Ark* was not relevant to the current case. Chief Justice John Roberts asked why the question of “domicile,” a person’s intended permanent home country, should be ignored when it appeared “20 different times” in the ruling, but Wang noted that the majority said six times that domicile is irrelevant under common law. Today, we’ll break down oral arguments in the case, with views from the left and right. Then, Executive Editor Isaac Saul gives his take. ### Agreed. - **Commentators on the left and right think the Supreme Court will strike down the order, though perspectives vary on how they’ll do so.** ### What the left is saying. - **The left expects the order to be struck down, noting conservative justices’ pushback to the administration’s arguments.** - **Some say the ruling could be another major Supreme Court loss for Trump.** - **Others stress the relevance of Court precedent.** **In Vox, Ian Millhiser wrote** [**“even this Supreme Court seems unwilling to end birthright citizenship.”**](https://www.vox.com/politics/484535/supreme-court-birthright-citizenship-trump-barbara?ref=readtangle.com) “The Fourteenth Amendment’s ‘subject to the jurisdiction’ rule primarily excludes the children of foreign ambassadors and similar foreign officials from US citizenship, because the families of diplomats often enjoy diplomatic immunity from US law,” Millhiser said. “Trump’s attempt to expand this ‘subject to the jurisdiction’ exception to include children of undocumented immigrants and people here on a temporary basis received a cold reception from nearly all of the justices… Similarly, after Sauer claimed that we live in a new world where pregnant foreign nationals allegedly enter the United States to ensure that their child will be a US citizen, Chief Justice John Roberts responded that ‘It’s a new world; it’s the same Constitution.’” “Justice Amy Coney Barrett offered a clever hypothetical exposing a contradiction in Sauer’s legal argument,” Millhiser wrote. “Barrett asked about an enslaved person who was brought to the United States against their will, who always viewed themselves as a captive, and who never intended to remain in the US. Under Sauer’s ‘domicile’ rule, she pointed out, this person could not be a citizen even though Sauer concedes that the Fourteenth Amendment does give citizenship to freed slaves.” **In The American Prospect, Robert Kuttner explored** [**“Trump’s losing streak in court.”**](https://prospect.org/2026/04/01/trumps-losing-streak-in-court-birthright-citizenship/?ref=readtangle.com) “Chief Justice John Roberts observed to Solicitor General D. John Sauer that all of his attempts to extrapolate from rare situations where birthright citizenship did not apply were far-fetched,” Kuttner said. “Justice Brett Kavanaugh… reminded Sauer that Congress in 1940 and 1952 passed federal statutes codifying the language of the 14th Amendment’s birthright citizenship clause. Congress passed those laws, Kavanaugh said, well aware of the interpretation, dating to the 1898 Supreme Court ruling, that birthright citizenship applied to virtually everyone born on U.S. soil.” “Trump was in the front row of the gallery, the first sitting president to attend a Supreme Court argument. The justices did not acknowledge his presence,” Kuttner wrote. “If the idea was that his personal attendance would somehow intimidate the justices, it didn’t work. With each succeeding decision, most recently in its 6-3 ruling overturning Trump’s use of ‘emergency’ tariffs, a supposed emergency that Roberts ridiculed in his opinion, this Court grows bolder and more explicit in its restraint of Trump.” **In The New York Times, Stephen I. Vladeck said** [**“Trump will lose the birthright citizenship case. But in a way, he’s already won.”**](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/01/opinion/birthright-citizenship-case-trump.html?ref=readtangle.com) “This has always been an open-and-shut case under almost any approach to constitutional and statutory interpretation. What may get lost in the discussion of such an outcome is the uniquely twisted procedural path that this case took to the Supreme Court — one that, along the way, made it much harder for lower federal courts to block lawless executive action,” Vladeck wrote. “Initially, the issue the justices took up… \[was\] whether the three Federal District Courts that had blocked its implementation had exceeded their authority by having their rulings apply on a nationwide basis. In a 6-to-3 decision handed down in June, the Supreme Court’s Republican appointees all said ‘yes.’” “In the nine months since the Supreme Court’s ruling constraining nationwide injunctions, we’ve seen how difficult it has been to challenge everything from immigration detention to the conduct of federal agents in and around Minneapolis, to the administration’s summary cancellations of federal programs and grants authorized by Congress,” Vladeck said. “We must not lose sight… of the opportunities the court won’t have to rein in the administration when it overreaches — and the court’s own responsibility for creating such an increasingly dangerous reality.” ### What the right is saying. - **Many on the right support the administration’s arguments but expect the Court to strike the order down.** - **Some say the conservative justices poked meaningful holes in the government’s interpretation of the 14th Amendment.** - **Others argue the Court risks its legitimacy if it rules against Trump.** **In Fox News, Gregg Jarrett described the Court’s posture as** [**“wary.”**](https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/gregg-jarrett-trumps-birthright-citizenship-order-meets-wary-scotus-audience?ref=readtangle.com) “Sauer was an impressive advocate with a masterful command of the law and history. However, he faced a level of skepticism from a majority on the court which suggests that, in the end, Trump’s executive order may be struck down,” Jarrett wrote. “Granted, divining an outcome based solely on oral arguments can be equivalent to reading tea leaves. The dynamic could change behind closed doors and upon further deliberations. But it cannot be overlooked that even conservative justices at the hearing posed penetrating questions that seemed to manifest their doubt.” “Sauer quoted Sen. Lyman Trumbull, a moving force behind the 14th Amendment, who specifically stated that the citizenship clause does not encompass individuals still subject to any foreign power or ‘owing allegiance to anybody else,’” Jarrett said. “However, the justices seemed unmoved by the notion that citizenship should not apply to the children of people who broke the law coming here and have no permission to be in the U.S.” **In National Review, Dan McLaughlin wrote** [**“no big surprises at the birthright citizenship argument.”**](https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/no-big-surprises-at-the-birthright-citizenship-argument/?ref=readtangle.com) “Oral argument has a way of narrowing disputes. On the one hand, Sauer conceded that he is not asking the Court to overturn *Wong Kim Ark*, which significantly limits the swing-for-the-fences appeal of his argument for those who think that case was wrongly reasoned from the start,” McLaughlin said. “On the other hand, while Kavanaugh and a few other justices asked questions about the statutory argument, there seemed to be little appetite for using that as an excuse to avoid the constitutional questions.” “The move that Sauer makes to turn ‘lawful domicile’ into the test for who is subject to U.S. jurisdiction by saying that illegal aliens ‘lack the legal capacity to form’ legal residence here is a modern engraftment onto the 1866–68 debates, which discuss nothing of the sort,” McLaughlin wrote. “In fact — as Justice Barrett noted — if we move from domicile to a theory focused on legal competence to form an allegiance, we get into some of the logic followed by those of the antebellum defenders of *Dred Scott*, who argued that slaves had no legal capacity to be citizens… The odds of there being five votes for the administration’s entire position without even overturning *Wong Kim Ark* appear pretty distant.” **In The Federalist, Breccan F. Thies said the Court upholds birthright citizenship** [**“at its own peril.”**](https://thefederalist.com/2026/04/01/if-scotus-upholds-birthright-citizenship-it-will-do-so-at-its-own-peril/?ref=readtangle.com) “If the Supreme Court rules in favor of this view, allowing any foreigner circumstantially (or intentionally) born on U.S. soil to be automatically adopted into the Union as a citizen, it will mean the end of actual American citizens taking the high court seriously,” Thies wrote. “As Justice Clarence Thomas pointed out, the purpose of the 14th Amendment was to grant citizenship to black people and freed slaves after the Civil War. Making the point further, Thomas asked, ‘How much of the debates around the 14th Amendment had anything to do with immigration?’” “Sauer’s introduction of the issue of birth tourism led to a potentially telling exchange with Chief Justice John Roberts, where Roberts asked about birth tourism’s prominence,” Thies said. “Roberts has consistently postured himself as the chief justice most intent on preserving the institution of the Supreme Court… That is what makes his line of questioning both confusing and concerning, because it suggests he believes the proper constitutional interpretation of the 14th Amendment would continue to allow these birthright farms to send foreigners to the United States so their babies can receive rubber-stamp citizenship.” ### My take. **Reminder: “My take” is a section where we give ourselves space to share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, don't unsubscribe. Write in by replying to this email, or** [**leave a comment**](https://www.readtangle.com/scotus-considers-birthright-citizenship/#ghost-comments-root)**.** - **The Supreme Court seems on track to make the obvious and correct ruling here.** - **Congress didn’t consider illegal immigration when it ratified the 14th Amendment, but that’s immaterial to the text of the law.** - **This won’t end the debate about birthright citizenship, but it will settle the legal question.** **Executive Editor Isaac Saul:** *“It’s a new world, but it’s the same Constitution.”* When Chief Justice John Roberts delivered that line, the Court’s decision became obvious. The Trump administration will likely lose the case at least 7–2, with both Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas in the minority (I’m not sure where Alito will land, so it could be 8–1, though most courtwatchers believe he is certainly going to vote to end birthright citizenship). Fundamentally, I never thought the Trump administration had a shot here. The 14th Amendment’s language is direct: “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.” “All persons” is pretty clear-cut, and the one qualifier — “subject to U.S. jurisdiction” — had a very direct purpose that was well understood at the time and has been well understood since. It was designed to provide citizenship to slaves, but to exclude children of foreign diplomats or children of enemy soldiers from becoming U.S. citizens simply by being born here. It was also meant as a carveout for [Native American tribes](https://lettersandsciencemag.ucdavis.edu/self-society/brief-history-citizenship-14th-amendment-us-constitution?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=At%20the%20time,citizens%2C%E2%80%9D%20said%20Downs.) that did not pay taxes and did not want to live under U.S. law. To this day, ambassadors and their families can live on U.S. soil but have diplomatic immunity and owe allegiance to their home country, and their children do not become citizens if they are born here. The Indian Citizenship Act of 1924 later resolved the question about Native Americans, granting them full status as American citizens (and full protection of the law). Lastly, we’re not at war with an invading country, so the question of enemy soldiers having children here is moot. Credit to Solicitor General D. John Sauer, who had the nearly impossible task of arguing Trump’s case but came prepared with arguments that clearly engaged the Court. His arguments are stronger than many critics allow, and history is [replete with anomalies](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/15/opinion/trump-birthright-citizenship.html?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=This%20view%2C%20however,not%20considered%20citizens.) regarding the 14th Amendment that demand further inquiry. Sauer pulled quotes from late 19th century politicians who defined “subject to U.S. jurisdiction” as having some kind of allegiance to the United States. He also attempted to argue that 130 years of legal understanding of *United States v. Wong Kim Ark*, the 1898 Supreme Court case where the Court affirmed the citizenship of a child born to Chinese immigrants, was wrong (all while he refrained from asking the Court to overturn the ruling). Rather than offering citizenship for anyone born here to non-citizens (with exceptions for enemy soldiers and foreign diplomats), Sauer argued that the case’s description of “domiciled” meant that someone in the country illegally had to be permanent residents, with full allegiance to the U.S., for their children to be granted citizenship. Justice Sonia Sotomayor argued that even Wong’s parents did not have “full allegiance” to the U.S., but Sauer never directly defined — and wasn’t asked to define — how he would measure or gauge allegiance under such a test. Still, he seemed to argue that the circumstances of Wong’s life were the only circumstances the court greenlit, and precedent didn’t apply to every person born on U.S. soil. Putting aside the fact that no court or legislative body had ever interpreted the 14th Amendment or the ruling this way, Justice Amy Coney Barrett engaged Sauer on his terms. She asked him about a person brought to America as a slave who viewed themself as a captive and never intended to stay here. Under Sauer’s framework, this person’s child could not be a citizen, even though the 14th Amendment was *specifically* designed to give such a person citizenship. Sauer struggled to navigate the hypothetical. Traditionally speaking, “subject to the jurisdiction thereof” has been understood to mean bound by U.S. laws. Sauer’s interpretation suggests that children of immigrants are not subject to U.S. jurisdiction, and therefore not bound by our laws. As Vox’s Ian Millhiser pointed out (under “What the left is saying”), that would mean the federal government could not deport them even if they were in this country illegally, nor could they arrest them if they committed a crime. The idea makes no sense. When Trump issued this executive order, a Reagan-appointed judge with more than 40 years on the bench immediately struck it down, [saying](https://www.npr.org/2025/01/23/g-s1-44411/birthright-citizenship-immigration-trump-border?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=%22I%27ve%20been%20on%20the%20bench%20for%20four%20decades%2C%20I%20can%27t%20remember%20another%20case%20where%20the%20question%20presented%20is%20as%20clear%20as%20this%20one%20is%2C%22%20Coughenour%20said%2C%20describing%20Trump%27s%20order%20as%20%22blatantly%20unconstitutional.%22) he couldn’t “remember another case where the question presented is as clear as this one is.” The justices, at times, seemed similarly gobsmacked, though far more measured. Justice Brett Kavanaugh spent his time questioning Cecillia Wang, the ACLU lawyer representing the challengers, by effectively asking her how she might want the Court to strike the order down. Justice Elena Kagan criticized Sauer’s argument as drawing on obscure, out-of-context quotes, while Chief Justice Roberts said his reading was “quirky” and Justice Neil Gorsuch gently suggested Sauer may not want to rely on *Wong Kim Ark* — the very case that has, for 130 years, affirmed U.S. citizenship for anyone born on U.S. soil. Of course, I think the Trump administration *is right* that Congress and the states were not exclusively, specifically, or even partially considering the question of illegal immigration or birth tourism when they ratified the 14th Amendment. Illegal immigration didn’t exist then, as we had (actual) open borders. The law didn’t account for someone crossing the border, claiming asylum, giving birth to a child, and having that child become an American citizen — nor did statutes anticipate [navigating multi-million dollar birth tourism companies](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/01/us/politics/supreme-court-birth-tourism-birthright-citizenship.html?ref=readtangle.com). It wouldn’t be the worst thing for the Court to consider how to carve out some of those specific, more nefarious means of gaining citizenship, yet that sounds much more like a job for Congress than anyone else. These unintended consequences are true of all manner of rights and amendments. When Congress ratified the Second Amendment, they anticipated local governments maintaining regulated militias, not individuals building up entire armories in their basements. To anyone who wants to argue against it, the refrain is “you have to pass an amendment” — the same counterpoint applies here. The 1866 Congress wasn’t attempting to greenlight birth tourism or mass migration, but they didn’t pass the 14th Amendment to *limit* it, either. Both ideas are equally absurd, so we’re left with the actual text of the amendment, which is that anyone born here is a U.S. citizen, with very limited and narrow exceptions. That’s the rule of law, and if we don’t like it, we can elect people to change it. *It’s a new world, but it’s the same Constitution.* While Sauer and Trump do clearly seem destined for a loss here, the Court did briefly consider what might happen if they won. The open questions this produced made the practicality of radically altering the understood meaning of the 14th Amendment so fraught as to be nearly impossible. When a woman gives birth, would she have to immediately give proof of citizenship — and who would be responsible for confirming it? If someone didn’t have that documentation, would we start trying to measure their intent to domicile or allegiance to the United States? How would allegiance even be defined? Also, what if a presidential administration said it wanted to apply this standard retroactively? Would we then start revoking citizenship? On the *Advisory Opinions* podcast, Sarah Isgur had a funny exchange with her cohost David French where she wondered aloud if her own citizenship would hold up — she wasn’t sure her Irish immigrant ancestors ever got actual citizenship before having children. Much about this — from the early executive order, to Sauer’s re-interpretation of long-held laws, to the practical implications — seems so far-fetched as to produce a foregone conclusion. It won’t end the immigration debate, but it should put to bed any questions about what the 14th Amendment actually means. **Take the survey:** How do you think the Supreme Court will rule in this case? [Let us know](https://interrobang.vercel.app/survey/781f2a17-0b4c-4897-a5ad-00a15762089e?ref=readtangle.com). *Disagree? That's okay. Our opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we'll consider publishing your feedback.* ### Your questions, answered. **Q: I was wondering if there is some concrete data out there that helps us compare the effect of deployment of National Guard troops in our cities on crime reduction? Now that the troops are being withdrawn, it’ll help to check if things became safer before vs during and possibly vs after.** **— Debnath from Oakland, CA** **Tangle:** Yes, we have some preliminary data for several of these cities. As a reminder, President Trump deployed the National Guard to address crime in five different cities in 2025: Washington, D.C.; Portland, Oregon; Memphis, Tennessee; Chicago, Illinois; and New Orleans, Louisiana. The administration also deployed troops to Los Angeles in June, but [their deployment](https://www.readtangle.com/the-los-angeles-immigration-ice-protests/) was in direct response to violent protests in the city — not to address crime — and half the Guard was ordered withdrawn in July. The withdrawal in Los Angeles [was completed](https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2026/02/11/national-guard-los-angeles-chicago-portland/?ref=readtangle.com) in January, and guardsmen in Portland and Chicago were limited to protecting DHS facilities and quickly withdrawn, so we’ll only consider D.C., Memphis, and New Orleans in this analysis. Before we provide any before and after statistics on these cities, we have three points of caution. First, we don’t have enough information to say that any changes in crime rates here are caused by deployments; any number of factors could be driving these numbers one way or another. Second, these figures only represent a small span of time — troops have not been in these cities for very long, so the effect of their presence may be muted (and the National Guard is prohibited from arresting citizens, so they can only assist other agents, further dulling their potential effect). Third, crime rates were already trending down in these cities before deployments, so we should try not to analyze these numbers in isolation. For context, from 2023 to 2025, homicides [declined by 54%](https://mpdc.dc.gov/dailycrime?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=20%2DYear%20Homicide%20Trend) in D.C., [47% in Memphis](https://wreg.com/news/memphis-ends-2025-with-184-murders-city-data-shows/?ref=readtangle.com), and [54% in New Orleans](https://crimebulletin.metrocrime.org/new-crime-trends-page/?ref=readtangle.com). With that said, here’s the most up-to-date data. **Washington, D.C. (since August):** [Year-to-date data](https://mpdc.dc.gov/dailycrime?ref=readtangle.com) through April 2 shows 12 murders, compared to 34 during the same period last year, a 65% decrease. The city also had a 21-day homicide-free [streak](https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2026/02/01/crime-dc-homicides-january/?ref=readtangle.com) in January — the longest in nearly 30 years. Separately, assault with a dangerous weapon crimes are up 32%. **Memphis (since October):** In January 2026, Part 1 crimes (serious offenses) [were down](https://dailymemphian.com/article/55065/national-guard-deployment-memphis-tennessee-donald-trump?ref=readtangle.com) 48% compared to January 2025 (3,709 incidents down to 1,908). **New Orleans (since December):** As of March 27, 2026, murders [were down](https://www.fox8live.com/2026/03/27/murders-fall-new-orleans-nopd-adds-27-officers-highlights-changing-crime-fight/?ref=readtangle.com) 29% compared to the same point in 2025. **Want to have a question answered in the newsletter? You can reply to this email (it goes straight to our inbox) or** [**fill out this form**](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScQhqBSG%5F6%5FoBhwcTQMeS570n29XYbeQ9C9Bis7rjqI31g1tA/viewform?usp=header&ref=readtangle.com)**.** ### A deeper look. ![Wong Kim Ark, in a photograph taken from a 1904 U.S. immigration document | Wikimedia Commons](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/04/data-src-image-5273b658-e9ed-4738-bd8f-a92e9a2ed049.png) Wong Kim Ark, in a photograph taken from a 1904 U.S. immigration document | Wikimedia Commons The Supreme Court first affirmed that the 14th Amendment grants birthright citizenship in the 1898 decision [*U.S. v. Wong Kim Ark*](https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/169/649/?ref=readtangle.com#tab-opinion-1918089). The man at the center of the case, Wong Kim Ark, was born in 1873 in San Francisco, California, as the son of Chinese legal residents who were staying in the U.S. on business. His parents returned to China in 1890, but Wong intended to continue living in the U.S. as a citizen. After an 1895 visit to China, Wong was blocked from re-entry to the U.S. under the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, which denied citizenship to Chinese nationals — which the government argued Wong was. When his case reached the Supreme Court, the justices ruled 6–2 that the 14th Amendment granted Wong citizenship by birth. Wong Kim Ark’s great-grandson, Norman Wong, [lives](https://www.reuters.com/world/us/supreme-court-fight-over-birthright-citizenship-great-grandson-hears-echoes-1898-2026-03-29/?ref=readtangle.com) in the San Francisco area today. SPONSORED BY SUPERHUMAN AI ****The Gold Standard for AI News** AI will eliminate ****300 million jobs** in the next 5 years. [Yours doesn't have to be one of them](https://www.superhuman.ai/subscribe?utm%5Fsource=MI&utm%5Fmedium=tangle). Here's how to future-proof your career: • Join the ****Superhuman AI** newsletter — read by ****1M+ professionals** • Learn AI skills in ****3 mins a day** • Become the ****AI expert on your team** [****Start learning AI now**](https://www.superhuman.ai/subscribe?utm%5Fsource=MI&utm%5Fmedium=tangle)****.** ### The road not taken. **This is a new section offering a peek behind the curtains at Tangle’s editorial process, highlighting one story from the week that we almost covered as a main topic — and an explanation for why we ultimately chose another.* This week, the Tangle team considered covering the Supreme Court’s decision on conversion talk therapy. In *Chiles v. Salazar*, the Court sided 8–1 with a Colorado counselor’s challenge to a law barring therapy for minors intended to change their sexual orientation or gender expression, finding that the law regulates speech based on viewpoint and that lower courts did not apply sufficient scrutiny during review. We ultimately decided the importance of the recent oral arguments on mail-in ballots and birthright citizenship superseded covering the *Chiles* decision, since we had covered oral arguments in the case in October. As our staff expected then, the Supreme Court ultimately didn’t reject the Colorado law on the merits — it sent the case back to the lower courts. [You can review our original coverage of *Chiles* here](https://www.readtangle.com/conversion-therapy-the-supreme-court-colorado-chiles-v-salazar/). ### The extras. - **One year ago today** we covered [the election results in Florida and Wisconsin](https://www.readtangle.com/the-election-results-in-florida-and-wisconsin/). - **The most clicked link in our most recent newsletter** was the University of Minnesota’s [scientific survey of the Tangle audience](https://umn.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV%5F0kB6jcQ71ZOGmhw?ref=readtangle.com). Please take it if you haven’t already (and be entered into a lottery for a $200 Amazon gift card)! - **Nothing to do with politics:** A closer look at [NASA’s Artemis mission](https://www.nasa.gov/humans-in-space/artemis/?ref=readtangle.com). - **Our last survey:** 2,387 readers responded to our survey on the Supreme Court case considering mail-in ballots with 41% saying the Court should uphold the challenged law but predicting that it won’t. “I believe if the vote is ‘cast’ by Election Day, it should count. Also, have you experienced USPS services lately?” one respondent said. “Why is a grace period necessary? The options available — early, absentee or in person — are enough,” said another. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/04/data-src-image-46e9bcd1-9c69-451d-8e14-655955ee255f.png) ### Have a nice day. On March 21, Coloradans Emma Stasko and Logan Bonn found themselves stranded on a remote beach in the Hawaiian island of Oahu during a severe flood. The pair had planned to leave the beach earlier in the day but lost the keys to their rental car and weren’t able to find help before the storm began. They turned to one of the oldest tricks in the book: writing “SOS” in the sand. A helicopter crew assessing the damage from the storm saw the message and mobilized rescue crews, which quickly reached Stasko and Bonn and brought them to safety. [SFGate has the story](https://www.sfgate.com/hawaii/article/sos-oahu-floods-rescue-22098522.php?ref=readtangle.com). ### Artemis II lifts off, returning USA to the moon. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/artemis-ii-lifts-off-returning-usa-to-the-moon/ Last updated: 2026-04-02T00:03:11.000Z Artemis II, the first crewed trip to the moon in 53 years, has launched. ### HEGSETH LIFTS PUNISHMENT FOR AIRCREW THAT FLEW APACHE HELICOPTERs by KID ROCK’S HOUSE URL: https://www.readtangle.com/hegseth-lifts-punishment-for-aircrew-that-flew-apache-helicopters-by-kid-rocks-house/ Last updated: 2026-04-02T00:03:11.000Z After reports that the military suspended the aircrew responsible for flying Apache helicopters by Kid Rock’s house this weekend, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that he would lift the punishments. ### Mail-in voting before SCOTUS. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/scotus-mail-in-ballot-law-mississippi/ Last updated: 2026-04-01T15:53:56.000Z *I*’*m Isaac Saul, and this is Tangle: an independent, nonpartisan, subscriber-supported politics newsletter that summarizes the best arguments from across the political spectrum on the news of the day — then “my take.”* *Are you new here?* [*Get free emails*](https://www.readtangle.com/) *to your inbox daily. Would you rather listen? You can find our podcast* [*here*](https://shows.acast.com/66510864c0852400122bc7be?ref=readtangle.com)*.* ### Today’s read: 15 minutes. 🗳️ Last week, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in a case concerning a Mississippi law allowing mail-in ballots to be counted up to five days after Election Day. Today, we break down the case and its implications. ### A scientific survey of Tangle readers. Every day, we share an informal survey on our daily topic to get a sense of reader sentiment and show Tangle subscribers what their fellow readers may be thinking. This survey is not at all scientific. However, a team of researchers wants to take a more rigorous look at you, our readership. Today, we are sharing an opportunity to participate in an independent study led by researchers at the University of Minnesota examining how Tangle readers engage with other people about politics. It would be incredibly helpful for us if you participated. The survey is anonymous, takes five minutes, and gives you the option to enter a lottery for a $200 Amazon gift card. [**Take the survey here**](https://umn.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV%5F0kB6jcQ71ZOGmhw?ref=readtangle.com)**!** ### Quick hits. 1. President Donald Trump will deliver a speech with “an important update on Iran” tonight at 9 PM ET. ([The speech](https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/iran-war-news-trump/card/trump-to-address-nation-wednesday-on-iran-lWDrpC3w4qAFSNqzK1zo?ref=readtangle.com)) 2. President Trump signed an executive order directing the Department of Homeland Security to make a list of U.S. citizens in each state who are eligible to vote and barring the Postal Service from sending mail-in ballots to anyone not on the list. The order also instructs the attorney general to prioritize the prosecution of election officials who distribute ballots to “ineligible” voters; it is expected to be challenged in court. ([The order](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/03/31/trump-mail-in-voting-executive-order.html?ref=readtangle.com)) 3. The Supreme Court is hearing arguments on Wednesday in a challenge to President Trump’s executive order seeking to end birthright citizenship. Trump is in attendance. ([The arguments](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-attend-supreme-court-arguments-birthright-citizenship-case/?intcid=CNR-01-0623&ref=readtangle.com)) 4. U.S. and Iraqi authorities said that American journalist Shelly Kittleson was kidnapped in Iraq. A suspect with ties to an Iranian-aligned militia group was arrested in connection with the kidnapping, but Kittleson’s whereabouts remain unknown. ([The kidnapping](https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2026/03/31/shelly-kittleson-journalist-kidnapped-baghdad/?ref=readtangle.com)) 5. A federal judge temporarily blocked President Trump’s plans for the $400 million construction of a White House ballroom, finding the project requires Congressional authorization. ([The ruling](https://www.reuters.com/world/us-judge-halts-trumps-400-million-white-house-ballroom-project-now-2026-03-31/?ref=readtangle.com)) Separately, a federal judge blocked Trump’s executive order ending federal funding for National Public Radio and the Public Broadcasting Service, finding that the order ran afoul of the First Amendment. ([The ruling](https://apnews.com/article/trump-npr-pbs-funding-executive-order-fbd9500e5f7400deab84ead188c35694?ref=readtangle.com)) SPONSORED By The Penny Hoarder ****If you needed extra money, like, yesterday — you’re not alone.** Between inflation, gas prices, and life happening, a lot of people are scrambling for ways to [fatten their bank account](https://partners.thepennyhoarder.com/second-job-sdyn-prt/?aff%5Fid=409&utm%5Fsource=tangle&aff%5Fsub3=second-job-sdyn-prt) without taking on a second job. The thing is, most of us are leaving money on the table. We’re talking $300 from Amazon shopping smarter, ****$225/month watching movie previews**, even getting companies to forgive chunks of credit card debt. Some of this sounds like internet nonsense, honestly. But millions of people are already doing it. The Penny Hoarder compiled the most practical ways to pocket extra cash this month. [****Check out which ones make sense for your situation**](https://partners.thepennyhoarder.com/second-job-sdyn-prt/?aff%5Fid=409&utm%5Fsource=tangle&aff%5Fsub3=second-job-sdyn-prt)****.** ### Today’s topic. Mail-in ballots. Last Monday, March 23, the Supreme Court [heard oral arguments](https://www.scotusblog.com/2026/03/court-appears-ready-to-overturn-state-law-allowing-for-late-arriving-mail-in-ballots/?ref=readtangle.com) in *Watson v. Republican National Committee*, a challenge to a Mississippi law that allows mail-in ballots postmarked by Election Day to be counted after Election Day. Several conservative justices appeared sympathetic to the challengers, who argued that the state law violates [federal statutes](https://www.scotusblog.com/cases/case-files/watson-v-republican-national-committee/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Issue%3A%20Whether%20the%20federal%20election%2Dday%20statutes%2C%202%20U.S.C.%20%C2%A7%207%2C%202%20U.S.C.%20%C2%A7%201%2C%20and%203%20U.S.C.%20%C2%A7%201%2C%20preempt%20a%20state%20law%20that%20allows%20ballots%20that%20are%20cast%20by%20federal%20election%20day%20to%20be%20received%20by%20election%20officials%20after%20that%20day.) defining the date of elections. If the Court rules in favor of the challengers, more than a dozen states with similar laws could be affected. **Back up:** During the Covid-19 pandemic, Mississippi changed its election laws to allow mail-in ballots for the 2020 election to be counted up to five days after Election Day if postmarked by that date. A group led by the Republican National Committee (RNC) challenged the post-election ballot deadline in federal court in 2024\. In July of that year, a district judge [upheld](https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/24/24-1260/362512/20250606130022508%5FWatson%20v.%20RNC%20Petition%20and%20Appendix.pdf?ref=readtangle.com) the law, finding that the five-day period did not violate the intention of existing Election Day statutes. A three-judge panel for the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals [reversed](https://www.scotusblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Watson%5Fv%5FRNC-Petition-and-Appendix.pdf?ref=readtangle.com) that ruling on appeal, finding that those statutes require all ballots to be received by Election Day. Mississippi appealed that decision to the Supreme Court, which agreed to consider the case in November. Paul D. Clement, representing the RNC and other plaintiffs, argued that federal statutes require receipt of ballots by Election Day itself. “All agree that elections for federal office have to end on the day of the election specified by Congress, and all agree that you can’t have an election unless you receive ballots, and there must be some deadline for ballot receipt,” Clement [argued](https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral%5Farguments/argument%5Ftranscripts/2025/24-1260%5F8njq.pdf?ref=readtangle.com#page=71). “Nonetheless, Mississippi insists that ballots can trickle in days or even weeks after Election Day.” Mississippi Solicitor General Scott G. Stewart argued that voters are only required to make a final choice by Election Day. “States have broad power over elections. Throughout our history, they’ve used that power to change how they hold elections,” Stewart said. “The dispute is whether Congress blocked just one change, allowing ballots cast by Election Day to be received after that day.” Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Amy Coney Barrett and Brett Kavanaugh, along with Chief Justice John Roberts, all appeared at various times sympathetic to the arguments presented by the challengers. Justices Kavanaugh and Alito appeared particularly concerned about the “appearance of fraud” that would follow delayed elections, while Justices Barrett and Thomas pressed Stewart on what constituted a final decision. Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Ketanji Brown Jackson, and Elena Kagan all appeared to side with the defense, citing a lack of textual evidence that would abrogate responsibility from the states. As is typical, the Supreme Court has not indicated when it expects to issue a final decision in the case. If the Court rules on the case this summer, as is expected, states may have only weeks to implement new laws before voting begins in the midterm elections in November. We’ll get into what the right and left are saying about the case below. Then, Executive Editor Isaac Saul gives his take. ### What the right is saying. - **Most on the right think the Court should rule that mail-in ballots must arrive by Election Day.** - **Some say the case could have an outsized influence on the midterms.** - **Others push back on arguments that stricter standards will hurt voters.** **In The New York Post, Betsy McCaughey wrote** [**“what is Election Day? \[The\] Supreme Court’s answer could swing the midterms.”**](https://nypost.com/2026/03/25/opinion/supreme-courts-election-day-case-could-swing-the-midterms/?ref=readtangle.com) “The US Constitution reserves to state legislatures the authority to prescribe ‘the times, places, and manner of holding federal elections.’ True — but the Constitution empowers Congress to set the date,” McCaughey said. “In recent years the meaning of Election Day has been eroded — its finality and certainty upended by state laws allowing absentee ballots to be counted days later. At stake is a national treasure of civic virtue, long understood as the day on which the whole electorate’s votes get counted, and everyone knows the results.” “Democrats argue that striking down the Mississippi grace period would throw the coming midterms into chaos. But four states — Ohio, Kansas, North Dakota and Utah — eliminated their grace periods last year, when the Mississippi lawsuit was filed… These states expect the grace period to be struck down, and they are on the mark,” McCaughey wrote. “A clear majority of states require ballots to arrive by Election Day to be counted, and no one is protesting that’s a massive disenfranchisement problem. Getting to the mailbox with plenty of time to spare is a small price to pay for the privilege of living in a representative democracy.” **In Reason, Damon Root explored** [**“what’s at stake in *Watson v. Republican National Committee*.”**](https://reason.com/2026/03/24/mail-in-ballots-the-2026-election-and-the-supreme-court/?ref=readtangle.com) “Both sides agree that Congress may, if it wanted to, directly prohibit a state from counting mail-in ballots that arrived after a federal election. The disagreement is about whether Congress already has prohibited the states from doing so,” Root said. “Because federal election law does not explicitly say anything like that, however, the legal wrangling is largely over questions of congressional intent and statutory interpretation, as well as the related question of just how much deference the states ought to receive in this kind of dispute.” “Mississippi is one of more than a dozen states that currently have such mail-in balloting laws on the books. So the outcome of this dispute could impact election day practices well beyond the borders of the Magnolia State,” Root wrote. “With both a midterm election coming up this fall and a sitting president who recently argued that ‘Republicans ought to nationalize the voting,’ that leaves us with the makings of a Supreme Court decision that is as important as it is controversial.” **On The Wall Street Journal’s *Potomac Watch* podcast, Kim Strassel discussed speculation that the Court will cause** [**“chaos in elections.”** ](https://www.wsj.com/podcasts/opinion-potomac-watch/the-supreme-court-sounds-ready-to-end-late-mail-ballots/ba73cf73-e650-4846-aec0-5bbe614f099e?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=smoothly%20in%20November.-,Kim%20Strassel,-%3A%20Yeah.%20Let%27s%20separate) “All these headlines in the press right now \[suggest\] that if the Supreme Court goes this way and it kills these grace periods, that there’s going to be chaos around the country and chaos in elections. And I do think that it is incumbent on the Supreme Court. If they are going to get rid of these grace period laws… then they either need to get this opinion out extremely quickly, like right away, so that people have time to plan for it, or they possibly need to stay it,” Strassel said. “It’s not impossible though. I think that’s very different from the arguments that were made, which I found very unpersuasive in this case, that this is unworkable and unfair.” “There was a lot of talk about overseas and military voters… but \[Justice\] Kavanaugh also talked \[about\] how the importance here is simply knowing what the deadline is and then making sure that people have enough time to actually hit that deadline,” Strassel said. “Many states actually already allow their overseas military members to vote online, making sure that their ballots are actually cast and heard… There’s no reason that other states can’t do the same if they’re that concerned about military voters and overseas voters being able to get their ballots.” ### What the left is saying. - **The left worries the Court will side with the RNC on dubious grounds.** - **Some say the case only fuels Trump’s misleading claims about fraud.** - **Others criticize the Court’s justices for focusing on hypotheticals over substance.** **In The Nation, Elie Mystal wrote** [**“the Supreme Court looks likely to cave on mail-in ballots.”**](https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/supreme-court-mail-in-ballots/?ref=readtangle.com) “If you take the Republican arguments about Election Day to its logical conclusion, their theory of the case also kills the ability of states to have an early voting period. If the 1845 Election Day Act sets the date certain by which votes must be received, there’s every reason to say that it also sets the date certain for when votes must be *cast*,” Mystal said. “Obviously, in 1845, there was no ‘early’ voting. Since then, states have been given the power to decide for themselves when Election Day starts. If the Republicans’ theory holds, ballots cast before Election Day are just as invalid as ballots received after Election Day.” “The Republicans *shouldn’t* win this case. They *shouldn’t* have won it in front of the Fifth Circuit. We *shouldn’t* be here at all. The only reason their argument hasn’t already been thrown out of court is that Donald Trump lost an election and can’t handle that loss like an adult,” Mystal wrote. “But ‘Donald Trump is whining on social media and might launch another coup’ is often enough of a reason for the Supreme Court to upend settled law. They might do it again… My gut tells me it’s a 6–3 win for the hysterical man throwing a six-year temper tantrum.” **In New York Magazine, Ed Kilgore said** [**“\[the\] Supreme Court risks fueling Trump’s attack on mail ballots.”**](https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/supreme-court-risks-fueling-trumps-attack-on-mail-ballots.html?ref=readtangle.com) “The principal argument for federal-court intervention regarding this state-determined election administration issue is the claim that it violates a federal statute (itself authorized by the Constitution) creating a uniform Election Day for federal elections. Counting ballots received after this uniform day, it is suggested, eviscerates Election Day itself,” Kilgore wrote. “It’s rather a dumb argument if you think about it for a few minutes. Voters casting mail ballots prior to Election Day fill out a ballot, seal and sign it, and turn it over to the U.S. Postal Service. It is just as definitive an act as voting in person before or on Election Day and actually involves more of an effort.” “Voting-rights advocates shouldn’t overreact to a narrow but adverse decision if it comes. Post–Election Day mail-ballot-receipt allowances are mostly a vestige of the COVID-19 era, in which the Postal Service periodically struggled with handling a suddenly elevated number of mail ballots. Given proper notice, voters can likely comply with new ballot-receipt deadlines, much as they did before the pandemic,” Kilgore said. “But while it’s not inherently a blow to democracy, a restrictive decision in *Watson v. RNC* could give new impetus to Trump’s more general attack on voting by mail.” **In Slate, Mark Joseph Stern suggested** [**“the Alito wing of the Supreme Court sure sound\[ed\] sold on Trump’s voter fraud lies.”**](https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2026/03/alito-supreme-court-trump-voter-fraud-lies.html?ref=readtangle.com) “The Supreme Court may be poised to commit the single biggest act of disenfranchisement in modern history in a direct assault on the constitutional authority of states to set election laws… That news, in itself, is a five-alarm fire for democracy. But what makes it even more disturbing is the fact that so many justices proved eager to embrace a legal theory that is incoherent, dishonest, and rooted in paranoid hostility toward mail voting,” Stern wrote. “Because there is so little evidence of \[vote-by-mail\] fraud, these justices warned of the threat of ‘appearance of fraud’ as being just as dangerous.” “Justice Samuel Alito asked Mississippi Solicitor General Scott Stuart… if he thought it was ‘legitimate for us to take into account’ Congress’ passage of Election Day statutes ‘for the purpose of combating fraud or the appearance of fraud,’” Stern said. “Stuart explained that even the Trump administration had failed to identify ‘a single example of fraud from post–Election Day ballot receipt in this century.’ But Alito’s argument was not grounded in reality — or, for that matter, law. It is not the Supreme Court’s job to decide whether Mississippi’s law increases ‘fraud or the appearance of fraud’ (though it doesn’t). Its job is to decide whether Congress intended to foreclose grace periods for mail ballots when it set federal Election Day more than 150 years ago. It obviously did not.” ### My take. **Reminder: “My take” is a section where we give ourselves space to share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, don't unsubscribe. Write in by replying to this email, or** [**leave a comment**](https://www.readtangle.com/scotus-mail-in-ballot-law-mississippi/#ghost-comments-root)**.** - **Today, I reversed both of my prior beliefs about this case.** - **The law seems to be on Mississippi’s side, while the effects of overturning it wouldn’t be some sweeping disenfranchisement.** - **The pundits might be wrong, and the Court could easily keep the law in place.** **Executive Editor Isaac Saul:** One question I love to ask readers is: *When was the last time you changed your mind?* Try to imagine a moment in the last few months when your position on a political issue changed. And if you can’t think of one, meditate on why. [Nobody has ever been right about everything](https://www.readtangle.com/how-to-talk-politics-disagreement/), and there is pretty much a zero percent chance you’re the first person who is. Changing your mind is a sign of intellectual humility. I like to be open about when my mind changes, because I think we should talk about our intellectual evolutions without shame. For me, today is one of those days. When headlines about oral arguments came out, the consensus seemed to be that the Supreme Court would strike down Mississippi’s law and upend mail-in voting in several states. I messaged my team on Slack saying that I thought the Court would be right to do so, and I was ready to write about it. Yes, I would prefer if votes postmarked before or by Election Day count, because I want [more voices to be heard](https://www.readtangle.com/yes-you-should-vote-2024/). But I also believed that this was incongruent with the law — that Election Day *was intended* to beelection day, and our current condition of [chronically delayed election results](https://calmatters.org/politics/elections/2024/03/california-election-results-vote-counting/?ref=readtangle.com) is both untenable for public trust and also not the intended norm for our democratic process. In other words, I believed these grace periods were an important element of voter access, but I believed ending them would be the correct legal decision. After reading through oral arguments, though, my position changed. Not only did I come away thinking Mississippi had the law on its side, I *also* became less convinced about the practical importance of this system for voter access. Let’s start with the law. [Article I, Section 4](https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/article-1/section-4/?ref=readtangle.com) of the Constitution says, “The Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections for Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed in each State by the Legislature thereof; but the Congress may at any time by Law make or alter such Regulations.” So: States make election rules, unless Congress makes rules to alter those regulations? Clear as mud, I suppose. Both sides of this case agree that Congress *could*, if it wanted to, directly prohibit a state from counting mail-in ballots that arrived after a federal election. But that isn’t the question in this case — instead, the question is simply whether Congress has already done that. The federal statute at the center of the case is an 1845 law that established the Tuesday after the first Monday in November as “Election Day.” If ballots are counted later, the challengers argue, then the state is violating federal law. Paul Clement, arguing for the challengers, said that casting ballots was implicitly intertwined with Election Day, arguing that “no one would have thought of one without the other.” If that were true, I think he’d have a pretty good argument. In fact, that *was* my view. But after reading the arguments, I don’t think it is true. The justices spent a good deal of time on Civil War exceptions, arguing whether they were more analogous to absentee voting or mail-in voting. Justice Sonia Sotomayor [basically obliterated](https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral%5Farguments/argument%5Ftranscripts/2025/24-1260%5F8njq.pdf?ref=readtangle.com#page=18) the challengers’ argument when she referenced the history of states allowing soldiers in the field to vote *before* Election Day and the states that created a grace period for soldiers *after* Election Day, including by mail. This simple fact establishes that we’ve been receiving and counting votes after Election Day for more than a century, and that each state has handled its own elections independently under the existing federal laws. Even if the justices were to argue precedent and history to some kind of draw, in that case they should defer to the states, which have a [clearly defined primary role in administering elections](https://www.nationalreview.com/2026/03/the-supreme-court-should-let-states-run-their-elections/?ref=readtangle.com). All of this, to me, clearly supports a) that Congress has not pre-empted the states and b) that Mississippi is acting within historical precedent. Furthermore, mail-in voting continued to expand in the 20th century unencumbered because federal legislators understood these facts. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, whom I’ve criticized in these pages recently, also asked sharp questions about the core argument here, which is really not about election practices but *who decides* when ballots must be received and whether Congress prohibited states from making these decisions. Her focus seemed the most important. Until Congress changes the existing federal laws, these states can continue counting votes that arrive late so long as they were *cast* on time. To me, this pretty much resolves the legal question. On the practical outcomes, my opinion similarly reversed. Slate’s Mark Joseph Stern, a former [Tangle Live guest](https://www.youtube.com/shorts/mmlNgW%5F8zCk?ref=readtangle.com) and a court watcher whose opinion I respect, noted that more than 750,000 late-arriving ballots were counted as part of a state’s grace period in 2024\. He called the potential for those votes to be thrown out the “single biggest act of disenfranchisement in modern history” and a “five-alarm fire for democracy.” After reading more into this issue, I disagree. For starters, the law in Mississippi and many other states didn’t even exist six years ago. Going back to a pre-pandemic norm is not a five-alarm fire for democracy. Also, a five-day grace period is already a pretty arbitrary line to draw, which is kind of the challengers’ point. Would it be a major disenfranchisement if we were going from a ten-day grace period to five? Washington state’s grace period allows it to count ballots for *21 days* after the election; if it had to cut that to meet Mississippi’s five-day limit, would that be a five-alarm fire? I doubt we’d frame it in those terms, yet it’d be an order of magnitude larger of a change. Obviously, if Mississippi’s law goes, then so does Washington’s and all the others. And in that scenario, I think voters won’t be disenfranchised — instead, they will just change their behavior to ensure ballots get to their election offices by Election Day. I struggle to envision a scenario where, assuming the new rules are clearly communicated, a significant portion of voters would be unfairly restricted from casting a vote under this new standard. After all, voters in every state are always working on an established deadline as it is, and voters in the vast majority of states already have to have ballots in by Election Day. Even in states with generous deadlines, it’s not a foolproof system. Voters are human, which means they’ll push up against the deadline and sometimes miss it no matter what it is. In California, where votes are counted for a generous seven days after the election, 122,000 mail-in ballots were [rejected](https://www.calvoter.org/content/california-elections-officials-rejected-122000-ballots-2024-election-here%E2%80%99s-why?ref=readtangle.com) in 2024 for arriving too late, having mismatched signatures, or lacking any signature at all. In my final opinion shift, contrary to the general framing, I also don’t think it’s at all clear how the court will rule. Despite some tough questioning, Justice Roberts and Justice Barrett’s positions were not obvious to me, and I wouldn’t be shocked to see a 5–4 ruling in Mississippi’s favor. That isn’t just my view: Damon Root of Reason said (under “What the right is saying”) it was “too close to call,” while *Advisory Opinion* hosts David French and Sarah Isgur also [said](https://thedispatch.com/podcast/advisoryopinions/mail-in-ballot-deadlines-challenged-in-court/?ref=readtangle.com) they did not think the final ruling was clear. Amid the blaring headlines, those are courtwatchers I trust the most. Perhaps most interestingly, I’m not entirely sure which party benefits more from each potential outcome. Conventional wisdom seems to be that Republicans are pursuing these changes to help win November’s midterms, but the evidence is not as strong for this as it used to be. Most of the states with these grace periods are “blue,” but Democratic voters in today’s political alignment are more likely to follow the news closely and be aware of these rule changes. In 2024, higher voter turnout would have *hurt* Democrats and *helped* Republicans; and in red Ohio, Republicans [opted to preemptively end their grace period](https://www.kuow.org/stories/many-states-like-wa-count-mail-ballots-that-arrive-after-election-day-those-grace-periods-could-go-away?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Four%20states%20%E2%80%94%20Ohio,time%20to%20adjust.) ahead of this challenge, giving them more time to alert their voters about a change. That’s to say nothing of active duty military who may be overseas for the November election and often get exemptions for late-arriving ballots. Restricting grace periods could hurt Democrats, but it could hurt Republicans, too. An alternate theory is that both sides are fighting for honestly held principles, regardless of whether those positions help them electorally. Conservatives challenging this law in Mississippi believe in a stricter view of Election Day while liberals defending it want to maximize openness in the process. Ultimately, 72 hours ago, I believed a law requiring these ballots to be counted violated federal law, and that the Court was going to strike the law down. I also believed that doing so would infringe on voting access. Now, my view is that states are well within their established rights to make changes to their mail-in voting laws, and that the court should (and might) let Mississippi’s law stand. Yet if they opt to strike it down, it won’t be a sweeping disenfranchisement of voters. It’d just mean bringing 14 states in line with all the rest, and voters in those states adjusting their behavior accordingly. ****Staff concurrence — Associate Editor Audrey Moorehead:** Like Isaac, I also changed my mind about this case because of the sharp, historically grounded questioning from Justices Sotomayor and Jackson. They convinced me that Congress has thus far left states with the ability to determine early voting and post-Election Day grace periods, and the Supreme Court would exceed its authority if it were to strike down Mississippi’s law. Instead, Congress must act to restrict those grace periods. Public trust in our elections is eroding, and delays in vote-counting are an important factor in that erosion. While evidence of election tampering — like Russian collusion or mass ballot fraud — is non-existent, the public believes our system is ripe for such tampering, meaning changes to the system are still necessary. As Isaac mentioned, 14 states have laws similar to Mississippi’s. Creating a national law to limit grace periods would bring those states in line with the rest of the nation and represent a step toward restoring public trust in national elections. **Take the survey:** How do you think the Supreme Court should rule in this case? [Let us know](https://interrobang.vercel.app/survey/5740437b-f7fd-43e8-9a2b-64ae5b40ebae?ref=readtangle.com). *Disagree? That's okay. Our opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we'll consider publishing your feedback.* ### Under the radar. On Sunday, pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly reached a $2.75 billion deal with biotechnology company Insilico Medicine to bring drugs discovered and developed by artificial intelligence (AI) to market. Insilico has developed 28 drugs using generative AI, with approximately half in clinical stages of testing. It uses the technology to expedite preliminary research and synthesize molecules more quickly than traditional methods. A representative for Eli Lilly said the partnership seeks to “accelerate the identification of promising therapeutic candidates across multiple disease areas.” [CNBC has the story](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/03/29/eli-lilly-reaches-deal-to-bring-ai-developed-drugs-to-global-market.html?ref=readtangle.com). SPONSORED by the penny hoarder ****You’re probably overpaying for half the things you buy.** Your car insurance, credit cards, Amazon purchases — companies are banking on you not noticing. We found a list of ways to stop getting ripped off and [start pocketing that money instead](https://partners.thepennyhoarder.com/second-job-sdyn-prt/?aff%5Fid=409&utm%5Fsource=tangle&aff%5Fsub3=second-job-sdyn-prt). Some could save you thousands. See which ones apply to you. [Start Saving ](https://partners.thepennyhoarder.com/second-job-sdyn-prt/?aff%5Fid=409&utm%5Fsource=tangle&aff%5Fsub3=second-job-sdyn-prt) ### Numbers. - [**23.1%.**](https://usafacts.org/articles/how-many-voters-cast-ballots-early-and-by-mail/?ref=readtangle.com) The percentage of voters who voted by mail in the 2018 midterms, according to the Census Bureau. - [**43.0%.**](https://usafacts.org/articles/how-many-voters-cast-ballots-early-and-by-mail/?ref=readtangle.com) The percentage of voters who voted by mail in the 2020 election. - [**29.0%.**](https://usafacts.org/articles/how-many-voters-cast-ballots-early-and-by-mail/?ref=readtangle.com) The percentage of voters who voted by mail in the 2024 election. - [**25%–26%.**](https://usafacts.org/articles/how-many-voters-cast-ballots-early-and-by-mail/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Explore%20voting%20method%20data%20by%20demographic.) The approximate percentage of voters in the age 18–24, 25–44, and 45–64 demographics who voted by mail in the 2024 election. - [**36.8%.**](https://usafacts.org/articles/how-many-voters-cast-ballots-early-and-by-mail/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Explore%20voting%20method%20data%20by%20demographic.) The percentage of voters aged 65+ who voted by mail in 2024\. ### The extras. - **One year ago today** we wrote about [Trump’s executive order about law firms](https://www.readtangle.com/trumps-executive-orders-targeting-law-firms/). - **The most clicked link in our most recent newsletter** was the Supreme Court’s [ruling on conversion talk therapy](https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/supreme-court-opinion-conversion-therapy?ref=readtangle.com). - **Nothing to do with politics:** A look back at [a famous Google beta announced 13 years ago today](https://archive.google/nose/?ref=readtangle.com). - **Our last survey:** 2,413 readers responded to our survey on the options to end the current Homeland Security shutdown with 59% supporting funding the department, without ICE or CBP, as soon as possible. “Congress needs to do its job! It is shameful that they left Washington instead of staying to do their job,” one respondent said. “Frankly, government shut-down is a misnomer. For most Americans, life goes on as usual. The freeways operate, the airports, hospitals, everything keeps going,” said another. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/04/data-src-image-6ad1ac99-6217-4752-9fe0-a036e3131123.png) ### Have a nice day. When a bear attacked the Martinez family’s farm animals in Cordova, New Mexico, their 12-year-old dog Honey — half-blind and far outmatched — fought back. The next morning, the family found her severely injured; but Honey had done her job, saving dozens of animals (including 60 chickens). To help provide affordable care for Honey, Española Humane stepped in to bandage her wounds and give her the medication she needed. “She’s our little savior. She’s been nicknamed the bear slayer, and we’ve just come to find out that the bear slayer is afraid of the vacuum cleaner,” Denise Martinez said. [KOB has the story](https://www.kob.com/new-mexico/honey-the-hero-dog-protects-family-from-bear/?ref=readtangle.com). ### The DHS shutdown continues. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/dhs-partial-shutdown-ice-cbp-tsa/ Last updated: 2026-03-31T15:55:22.000Z *I'm Isaac Saul, and this is Tangle: an independent, nonpartisan, subscriber-supported politics newsletter that summarizes the best arguments from across the political spectrum on the news of the day — then “my take.”* *Are you new here?* [*Get free emails*](https://www.readtangle.com/) *to your inbox daily. Would you rather listen? You can find our podcast* [*here*](https://shows.acast.com/66510864c0852400122bc7be?ref=readtangle.com)*.* ### Today’s read: 15 minutes. 🧳 There’s no end in sight to the DHS shutdown after Congress failed to pass a funding bill. Plus, a question on the president’s authority to remove the vice president. ### Clarification and correction. We have two notes to make regarding yesterday’s newsletter. First, we wrote that the U.S. suffered 13 casualties so far in the war with Iran. We should have clarified that these were confirmed military fatalities — [over 300 personnel](https://abcnews.com/International/live-updates/iran-live-updates-trumps-48-hour-deadline-expire/?id=131316431&entryId=131468499&ref=readtangle.com) have also been wounded (the wounded are often included as part of “casualty” counts in the military). We also wrote that U.S. F-35s were shot down by friendly fire. In reality, three F-15s were accidentally downed by Kuwaiti air defenses (all crew survived); one F-35 made an [emergency landing](https://www.cnn.com/2026/03/19/politics/f-35-damage-iran-war?ref=readtangle.com) after passing through Iranian airspace, but it was likely damaged by an Iranian missile. This requires a correction. We are all officially awake and alert after our spring break. *This is our 153rd correction in Tangle’s 357-week history and our first correction since February 26\. We track corrections and place them at the top of the newsletter in an effort to maximize transparency with readers.* ### And, we’re off… Our new, moderated, members-only comments section is officially live on the Tangle [website](https://www.readtangle.com/). A big shoutout to everyone who participated yesterday — including a few readers who caught today’s correction and clarification. Tangle’s editors noticed an immediate and obvious change in tone of the comments, with much more level-headed disagreement, fewer instances of namecalling, and zero immediate or obvious comments we had to moderate. It’s a great start to what we’re trying to build. Thank you all. ### Quick hits. 1. BREAKING: The Supreme Court sided with a Colorado counselor’s challenge to a law barring conversion talk therapy in an 8–1 decision, finding that the law regulates speech based on viewpoint and that lower courts did not apply sufficient scrutiny during review. ([The ruling](https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/supreme-court-opinion-conversion-therapy?ref=readtangle.com)) 2. President Donald Trump reportedly told aides that he is willing to wind down U.S. military operations in Iran even if the Strait of Hormuz remains impassable for most commercial ships and oil tankers. The president may instead focus on weakening Iran’s navy and depleting its missile stocks. ([The report](https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/trump-iran-war-strait-of-hormuz-ee950ad4?ref=readtangle.com)) However, on Monday, President Trump said the U.S. would strike Iran’s energy plants and oil wells if it did not reopen the Strait to commercial traffic. ([The threat](https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/trump-calls-irans-current-leaders-very-reasonable-pakistan-prepares-host-talks-2026-03-30/?ref=readtangle.com)) 3. The Israeli Parliament voted 62–48 to pass a law making the death penalty the default punishment for Palestinians in the West Bank convicted in military courts of carrying out deadly terrorist attacks. Critics say the law will exclusively apply to Palestinians and not Israelis convicted of similar crimes, as the law excludes Israeli citizens or residents, who are never tried in military courts. ([The law](https://www.timesofisrael.com/knesset-passes-death-penalty-law-for-palestinians-convicted-of-deadly-acts-of-terror/?ref=readtangle.com)) 4. Spain announced it has closed its airspace to U.S. aircraft involved in the Iran war, with Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles calling the conflict “profoundly illegal and profoundly unjust.” Spain previously barred the U.S. from using its military bases for the war. ([The closure](https://apnews.com/article/trump-spain-united-states-iran-war-05e23ef4e0bda9cb226a16b10cd9437c?ref=readtangle.com)) 5. The national average for a gallon of regular gasoline rose to $4.02, passing $4 per gallon for the first time since 2022\. ([The prices](https://abcnews.com/Business/wireStory/gas-prices-soar-past-4-average-gallon-regular-131566500?ref=readtangle.com)) 6. A human rights organization reported that at least 70 people were killed and 30 others injured in a gang attack in Haiti’s Artibonite region, a significantly higher death toll than initially reported by police. ([The attack](https://www.dw.com/en/haiti-at-least-70-killed-in-massacre-says-rights-group/a-76600042?ref=readtangle.com)) SPONSORED by incogni ****Keep Your SSN Off The Dark Web** Every day, data brokers profit from your sensitive info — ****phone number, DOB, SSN** — [selling it to the highest bidder](https://deal.incogni.io/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=6&aff%5Fid=1007&ref=readtangle.com). What happens then? **Best case:* companies target you with ads. **Worst case:* scammers and identity thieves breach those brokers, leaving your data vulnerable or on the dark web. It's time you check out ****Incogni.** It scrubs your personal data from the web, confronting the world’s data brokers on your behalf. And unlike other services, Incogni helps [****remove your sensitive information**](https://deal.incogni.io/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=6&aff%5Fid=1007&ref=readtangle.com) from all broker types, including those tricky People Search Sites. ****Use code TANGLE today to get an** [****exclusive 58% discount**](https://www.readtangle.com/r/ec3f166d?m=2f4a0fd3-aea5-4207-acbc-5e8d98510689) **on unlimited removals from anywhere that exposes your data.** ### Today’s topic. The Department of Homeland Security shutdown. Early Friday morning, the Senate passed a bill that would fund most of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for fiscal year 2026, excluding Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and some parts of Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Later that day, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) said he would not bring the bill to a vote. The House instead [passed](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/trump-johnson-dhs-house-rebels-senate-bill-ice-cbp-rcna265507?ref=readtangle.com) a separate bill that would fund DHS in its entirety for eight weeks. Both the House and the Senate have begun a two-week Easter recess, and neither bill is expected to be considered during that time. **Back up:** DHS has been partially shut down since February 14 after lawmakers failed to come to terms on a deal to fund the department through September. DHS oversees many different government agencies, including ICE, CBP, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the U.S. Coast Guard, the Secret Service, and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). Unlike most of DHS, ICE and CBP are still largely [funded](https://www.readtangle.com/congress-government-funding-dhs/#:~:text=Last%20year%E2%80%99s%20One%20Big%20Beautiful%20Bill%20Act%20%28OBBBA%29%20allocated%20%24191%20billion%20to%20DHS%2C%20with%20%2475%20billion%20in%20funding%20for%20Immigration%20and%20Customs%20Enforcement%20%28ICE%29%20and%20%2467%20billion%20to%20Customs%20and%20Border%20Patrol%20%28CBP%29.%20The%20OBBA%20also%20specifically%20funded%20CBP%20and%20ICE%20through%202029.) by last year’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Many of the agency’s other employees are considered essential and must continue to work during the shutdown without pay. On Friday, President Trump [signed](https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/03/memorandum-for-the-secretary-of-homeland-security-and-the-director-of-the-office-of-management-and-budget/?ref=readtangle.com) a presidential memorandum directing DHS to reallocate funds to pay TSA employees affected by the agency’s ongoing shutdown. As a result, on Monday, most TSA officers [received](https://www.reuters.com/world/us/major-us-airports-returning-normal-tsa-workers-set-get-paid-2026-03-30/?ref=readtangle.com) most of the backpay owed to them, though it is not yet clear if and when additional checks will come. The TSA staffing shortfall, combined with spring-break travel, [produced](https://www.npr.org/2026/03/25/nx-s1-5760981/tsa-wait-times-lines?ref=readtangle.com) record-long security lines at airports. Last week, the Trump administration [deployed](https://www.instagram.com/p/DWPuVO2D1bN/?utm%5Fsource=ig%5Fweb%5Fcopy%5Flink&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==) ICE personnel to many of the nation’s busiest airports to try to reduce wait times. During a briefing on Monday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said President Donald Trump wants Congress to return to D.C. to finish DHS budget negotiations. Democrats have called for reforms to ICE and CBP as part of a deal for funding the agencies. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said that the House-passed bill was “dead on arrival in the Senate.” The Senate deal passed Friday did not include reforms to ICE and CBP. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) said that any DHS funding bill must include funds for ICE and CBP. “We’re not going to split apart two of the most important agencies in the government and leave them hanging like that,” he said. “We just couldn’t do it.” Below, you’ll read arguments from the left and right about the ongoing shutdown. Then, Senior Editor Will Kaback gives his take. ### What the left is saying. - **The left largely blames Republicans for refusing to make a deal to end the shutdown.** - **Some criticize Trump’s decision to send ICE to airports.** - **Others argue that continuing the shutdown will further erode Congress’s power of the purse.** **In Securing America’s Promise, Deborah Fleischaker observed** [**“one DHS funding battle after another.”**](https://securingamericaspromise.substack.com/p/one-dhs-funding-battle-after-another) “It’s striking that after everything we’ve seen over the past 15 months, Republicans are willing to block funding for DHS rather than constrain immigration enforcement in any way. I worry about how the DHS employees will pay their rent or child care costs, and about the work that may or may not be getting done during this time,” Fleischaker said. “I worked at DHS for almost 14 years, including a year as the acting ICE Chief of Staff, so I understand how important the agency’s mission is, even if I strongly disagree with the Trump Administration’s conception of it. I also experienced firsthand the depth of ICE’s structural, policy, and operational challenges.” “During previous shutdown fights, Democrats too often fractured under pressure. This time, even without much political leverage or agreement on a vision for immigration, they held firm,” Fleischaker wrote. “Democrats did not suddenly discover a love of immigration fights and they didn’t wake up eager to stake their position on one of the most historically fraught issues in American politics. They held firm because the political ground beneath them had moved. Their constituents had seen something they could not unsee. The risks of inaction or of enabling further excess now outweighs the risks of the political fight.” **In Bloomberg, Erika D. Smith said** [**“\[Markwayne\] Mullin’s new job at DHS keeps getting harder.”**](https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2026-03-25/long-tsa-lines-ice-at-airports-and-no-plan-to-end-the-dhs-shutdown?ref=readtangle.com) “A partial government shutdown continues to cripple DHS. Airport security workers aren’t getting paid and the resulting staffing shortages are creating lines so long that waiting travelers now regularly spill out of terminals and into parking lots,” Smith wrote. “In response, Mullin has vowed — as he wrote again on X on Tuesday — that his ‘first priority’ as secretary will be to ‘end the partisan fighting’ and reopen the department. Yet Trump has been largely working at cross purposes, prolonging the shutdown through self-interested ultimatums and self-defeating policy decisions.” “Democrats are hardly innocent. After all, they caused the shutdown, using it as leverage to force the Trump administration to agree on reforms for immigration enforcement, such as prohibiting ICE and border patrol agents from wearing masks. But the problem for Republicans is that the polling is largely on Democrats’ side,” Smith said. “Which is why Trump’s decision to send immigration agents — and possibly the National Guard — to more than a dozen airports this week seems like such a self-own… Lines at airports are still long and, although the ICE agents are supposed to be doing crowd management, they’ve mostly been seen wandering concourses, fiddling with their phones and standing in line on behalf of travelers who need to use the restroom.” **In Can We Still Govern?, Don Moynihan discussed** [**“Mike Johnson’s institutional betrayal.”**](https://donmoynihan.substack.com/p/mike-johnsons-institutional-betrayal) “Remember, ICE and CBP don’t actually need new money. They are funded for multiple years because of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Their employees are being paid during the shutdown,” Moynihan said. “So here is where the institutional betrayal comes in. Mike Johnson had a pretty clear choice: A) Reclaim the power of the purse for Congress by passing broadly popular legislation. B) Allow the President not only to dictate appropriations, but also to engage in a potentially illegal scheme to pay TSA employees to deal with public anger. Johnson chose B.” “We have been here before. During the last major shutdown, Trump claimed that he could decide that members of the military would be paid. There was no major uproar or legal appeal — after all, who is against paying the troops? — but it set a precedent. DHS is sitting on a mountain of money. So Trump could make the same dubious claim that he just needs to move a bit of it around, and the shutdown is over!” Moynihan wrote. “Except, that is not how it works. Either the shutdown — a lapse in appropriations means the executive must lay down its tools — is real, or it’s not. Either the legislative branch determines appropriations, or it doesn’t. The idea that it does is central to our constitutional scheme of government.” ### What the right is saying. - **The right blames Democrats for refusing to make a deal.** - **Some argue that the public will blame Democrats for the problems they encounter as the shutdown continues.** - **Others argue that the shutdown endangers national security.** **The Washington Post editorial board described** [**“another government shutdown that won’t end.”**](https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2026/03/27/shutdown-dhs-tsa-house-senate-ice-funding/?ref=readtangle.com) “After the deaths of Renée Good and Alex Pretti, it became clear that President Donald Trump had overreached in his deportation campaign. Democrats had the leverage to ask for some necessary reforms as Americans’ views on federal immigration enforcement agencies soured,” the board said. “Republicans conceded on some helpful oversight measures, like requiring agents to wear body cameras and identification. They also agreed to limiting enforcement in schools and hospitals. But Democrats have refused to budge from their original list of demands.” “The irony is that while Congress failed to strike a compromise, ICE and the Border Patrol remained funded through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Meanwhile, Americans dealt with the fallout of leaving the rest of DHS unfunded,” the board wrote. “Many Democrats are betting that the chaos will work against the party in power, and they can run on fighting to defund ICE. The political logic is sound, but Democrats may come to regret the tactic. It’s not hard to imagine Republicans refusing to fund agencies better aligned with Democratic priorities. Meanwhile, Trump stepped into the governing void with a legally questionable emergency order to fund the TSA. He has turbocharged the trend of concentrating more power in the executive branch, and a feckless Congress only makes it easier.” **In USA Today, Ingrid Jacques wrote** [**“Earth to Dems: your pointless ICE shutdown only hurts you.”**](https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/columnist/2026/03/26/ice-tsa-pay-dhs-funding-democrats-shutdown/89304976007/?ref=readtangle.com) “TSA workers don’t appreciate not getting paid. Hundreds of them have quit, and at least 10% of the workforce aren’t showing up to work. This has led to hours-long lines and missed flights at some of the country’s largest airports — at a time when many families are trying to celebrate their spring break,” Jacques said. “Instead of doing their most basic job — funding the government — lawmakers are playing games and offloading blame to members of the opposing party. Enough already.” “Perhaps Democrats have forgotten, but it was only a few short months ago that they forced a 43-day government shutdown — the longest on record. And they emerged from it with nothing of note. They didn’t get the concessions they wanted from Republicans on Obamacare subsidies. And public opinion in the end was not in their favor… What makes Democrats think this time will be any different?” Jacques wrote. “While Republicans in both the House and Senate have voted in favor of fully funding DHS, Senate Democrats (with the exception of Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman) have stubbornly refused to get on board. And some Democratic support is necessary in that chamber to overcome the 60-vote filibuster threshold.” **In Fox News, Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) said** [**“Democrats are gambling with our lives by not funding DHS.”**](https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/sen-john-kennedy-democrats-gambling-our-lives-not-funding-dhs?ref=readtangle.com) “My Democratic colleagues have opposed President Donald Trump’s agenda at every turn, and that’s their right. But their decision to shut down the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) isn’t some harmless act of political gamesmanship; it’s incredibly dangerous,” Kennedy wrote. “In the one month since Democrats voted to deny funding to DHS, the United States has faced at least four apparent terrorist attacks… These terrorists killed four Americans and injured dozens more. It makes me nauseous to imagine how many more could have died if not for the bravery of local law enforcement officers, the Temple’s armed security and Old Dominion’s ROTC students.” “At the heart of this meltdown is the fact that many of my Democratic colleagues want open borders. They don’t think we should deport anybody, and they’re holding funding for DHS hostage because they hate the idea that officers at Customs and Border Protection or Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) might actually enforce our immigration laws,” Kennedy said. “In turn, they’ve made a series of demands to resume funding. Some of the requests were reasonable, and the Trump administration agreed to implement them as soon as possible. For example, all ICE officers will wear body cameras during future operations. They’d do it right now, but it’s hard to buy cameras when Democrats won’t approve their funding.” ### My take. **Reminder: “My take” is a section where we give ourselves space to share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, don't unsubscribe. Write in by replying to this email, or** [**leave a comment**](https://www.readtangle.com/dhs-partial-shutdown-ice-cbp-tsa/#ghost-comments-root)**.** - **The shutdown persists because Congress is weak.** - **I worry that this funding fight will only be resolved by further eroding the separation of powers.** - **Democrats could take a deal and secure meaningful ICE reforms — but I doubt that will happen.** **Senior Editor Will Kaback:** The shutdown offers so many points of frustration, I have a hard time knowing where to begin. This current shutdown is now the longest in U.S. history, [surpassing](https://history.house.gov/Institution/Shutdown/Government-Shutdowns/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Funding%20Gaps%20Since%201977) last fall’s 43-day full shutdown. While only affecting one department, that department is an important one, comprising close to [200,000 employees](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/mar/29/dhs-longest-partial-government-shutdown?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=With%209.4%25%20of%20the%20total%20federal%20workforce%2C%20numbering%20193%2C867%20employees%2C%20the%20Department%20of%20Homeland%20Security%20has%20become%20a%20political%20football%20in%20a%20kick%2Daround%20game%20with%20no%20time%2Dkeeping.) and agencies with diverse, critical missions. Now Congress is in recess and both parties appear far apart on a deal, so the shutdown could plausibly extend beyond two months. The immediate consequences — hourslong airport security lines, droves of TSA agents calling out sick or outright quitting — are obvious. What worries me most, though, is that the problems that brought us here go deeper than policy differences on immigration enforcement. If it were that simple, both sides probably would have reached a compromise by now. Instead, the situation playing out highlights a constitutional fault line that has grown wider over the course of President Trump’s second term: Congress’s diminishing power of the purse. The seeds of this shutdown were planted with the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) in July 2025\. Remember: That law was passed via the budget reconciliation process, requiring only a simple majority to clear the Senate. Among its many provisions, the OBBBA gave CBP and ICE billions in new budget authority, allowing the agencies to operate normally even if DHS were shut down. On one hand, this was a savvy political move, anticipating this very moment and preemptively removing any leverage Democrats might have to slow down immigration enforcement. On the other, it’s a total subversion of how appropriations are supposed to work. As Cato’s Dominik Lett [wrote](https://www.cato.org/blog/one-big-beautiful-bill-made-ice-shutdown-proof-eroded-fiscal-norms?ref=readtangle.com) in February, CBP and ICE now effectively operate outside of the annual appropriations process, removing Congress’s ability to evaluate their performance and funding levels for several years. It’s a siphoning of the power of the purse by the executive branch, done with Congress’s explicit approval. The constitutional consequences of this approach to funding extend beyond the current shutdown fight. If the new norm is that the party that controls Congress can use reconciliation to pass years — even decades — of funding for agencies the other party is likely to scrutinize and rein in, the legislative branch effectively cedes its oversight authority. Right now, the fight is over immigration and ICE. Imagine a future Democratic Congress, with a Democratic president, passing a decade of funding for the Environmental Protection Agency, allowing the president to direct the agency to pursue progressive climate change policies without needing to secure funding each year or justify its actions. Our government was designed to give Congress financial authority and avoid unaccountable executive spending, and yet it now seems to be the direction we’re headed. Republicans and the OBBBA aren’t solely to blame — Democrats, for instance, used the budget reconciliation process to pass stimulus checks and green energy subsidies during the Biden administration — but the move away from standard appropriations is now accelerating. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) recently opened up the playbook for all to see, [saying](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/republicans-can-fund-ice-entire-decade-without-single-dem-vote-sen-cruz?ref=readtangle.com) that Republicans should use reconciliation to fund ICE for the next decade. Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) [told](https://x.com/atrupar/status/2036226146845524058?s=20&ref=readtangle.com) Fox News last week that Senate Republicans brought President Trump a version of this plan: a deal to fund TSA and other DHS agencies now, leaving ICE and CBP to be funded through reconciliation. Trump rejected it, and many commentators seized on the moment to blame Trump for the shutdown persisting. But these commentators miss that this outcome would have insulated the agency from Congressional oversight for years to come. Even more constitutionally troubling is President Trump’s Friday [memorandum](https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/03/memorandum-for-the-secretary-of-homeland-security-and-the-director-of-the-office-of-management-and-budget/?ref=readtangle.com) directing DHS and the Office of Management and Budget to “use funds that have a reasonable and logical nexus to TSA operations” to pay TSA agents. The order only cites 31 U.S.C. 1301(a), which simply [reads](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?path=/prelim@title31/subtitle2/chapter13&edition=prelim&ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=%28a%29%20Appropriations%20shall%20be%20applied%20only%20to%20the%20objects%20for%20which%20the%20appropriations%20were%20made%20except%20as%20otherwise%20provided%20by%20law.), “Appropriations shall be applied only to the objects for which the appropriations were made except as otherwise provided by law,” as a legal basis for this move. Beyond this threadbare justification, the source of the funds isn’t specified, either. I think most Americans want TSA agents to be paid, even if they [harbor doubts](https://www.readtangle.com/otherposts/terrorphobia/) about the efficacy of the agency. But that’s not what this memorandum is really about. It represents a significant expansion of Trump’s claimed power to use federal funds for purposes that Congress hasn’t approved. If the president — any president — can resolve political problems this way, the legislative branch has lost one of its key checks on executive power. In the [words](https://donmoynihan.substack.com/p/mike-johnsons-institutional-betrayal#:~:text=Except%2C%20that%20is%20not%20how%20it%20works.%20Either%20the%20shutdown%20%E2%80%94%20a%20lapse%20in%20appropriations%20means%20the%20executive%20must%20lay%20down%20its%20tools%20%E2%80%94%20is%20real%2C%20or%20its%20not.%20Either%20the%20legislative%20branch%20determines%20appropriations%2C%20or%20it%20doesn%E2%80%99t.) of University of Michigan professor Don Moynihan, “Either the legislative branch determines appropriations, or it doesn’t.” If this move is allowed to stand, we’ll have our answer. As the constitutional fault line widens, Congressional Republicans have shown little resolve to hold onto their power. Democrats, for their part, have shown little willingness to play ball and reach a deal. The prudence of this strategy is clear: Voter sentiment has turned against ICE and CBP since Renee Good and Alex Pretti were killed in Minneapolis in January, and recent polling [suggests](https://harvardharrispoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/HHP%5FMar2026%5FKeyResults.pdf?ref=readtangle.com#page=35) voters want substantive changes to immigration enforcement before Congress approves new DHS funding. Democratic lawmakers have also remained united on their [list of demands](https://www.govtrack.us/posts/577/2026-02-22%5Fdemocrats-demands-for-ice-reform?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=What%20do%20Democrats%20want%3F) for ICE reform, while President Trump and the GOP have appeared discombobulated, offering varying concessions, pulling back on potential deals, and failing to reconcile differences between chambers. Furthermore, Trump’s attempted gambit — sending about 100 ICE agents to assist with security at airports — seems to have backfired, doing little to alleviate long lines while [resurfacing fears](https://abc7.com/post/new-questions-emerge-tsa-tipped-off-ice-ahead-womans-arrest-san-francisco-airport/18790497/?ref=readtangle.com) of agency overreach. Why should Democrats compromise? The party’s leaders no doubt remember last fall’s shutdown fight, when their failure to win meaningful concessions on extending healthcare subsidies produced significant blowback from their base. Right now, with Trump waging an [unpopular war](https://www.natesilver.net/p/iran-war-polls-popularity-approval?ref=readtangle.com) in Iran, Republicans [racking up losses](https://floridapolitics.com/archives/787739-after-special-election-coup-will-it-be-democrats-expanding-the-congressional-map-in-florida/?ref=readtangle.com) in special elections and polls [showing](https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/polls/congressional-vote-2026.html?ref=readtangle.com) Democrats in a strong position ahead of the midterms, the case for making concessions is virtually nonexistent. But the erosion of the separation of powers degrades the very foundation Democrats are using for their leverage. Republicans are never going to agree to all of their demands, so short of ceding on some reforms, the next best option appears to be funding non-ICE/CBP agencies. The bill that passed the Senate early Friday morning would have done just that. Kicking the ICE and CBP can down the road only heightens the prospect that it will eventually be resolved by reconciliation, with Democrats getting none of their reforms. Ironically, the only thing blocking this path is President Trump’s opposition to the Senate deal, but that could change at any time. All the while, ICE and CBP continue to operate unimpeded. Instead of digging in, Democrats should take a deal. Of the 10 demands they released in February, at least four seem achievable in the immediate term: requiring a judicial warrant to enter private property, mandating body cameras, verifying non-citizenship before detention, and allowing states to investigate potential crimes committed by DHS agents. Banning agents from wearing face masks will remain a sticking point, but I don’t think this one reform is worth holding out over when others are within reach. My preferred outcome would be to fund *all* of DHS through an appropriations bill, but I know that is also unlikely at this juncture. Not only do Democrats seem willing to let the shutdown persist, but that kind of deal is not guaranteed to pass both chambers (or overcome a veto). And as bad as some of the airport security delays have been, I don’t think lawmakers are truly feeling the heat yet. President Trump’s TSA payment maneuver, while legally dubious, is already leading to airports [returning to normal](https://www.reuters.com/world/us/major-us-airports-returning-normal-tsa-workers-set-get-paid-2026-03-30/?ref=readtangle.com). As the shocking videos of TSA lines stretching out the door fade from our social media timelines, so too will the public’s urgency. I don’t see any end in sight, and that leaves me feeling deeply cynical. In an ideal world, Congress could strike a deal and send a message that its members can still compromise to resolve their differences — and that it intends to hold onto its delegated powers. But we simply don’t live in that world. Instead, we’re on a path to put more power in the hands of the executive. I don’t know where that path leads, but I don’t want to follow it. ****Staff dissent — Managing Editor Ari Weitzman:** I argued with Will a lot about this specific point during editing, but I think he’s overstating the constitutional issue at play here. Congress has ceded **oversight* authority by not funding CBP and ICE through an annual process, but it still exercised its **financial* authority in doing so. That isn’t giving the power of the purse over to the president. However, Trump paying TSA agents with funds not allocated for that use **is* an executive overreach into that authority. Describing these two different acts both as constitutional issues regarding Congressional power seems facially incorrect to me — and leaving the gradations out of the analysis risks watering down real constitutional crises. **Take the survey:** How do you think DHS should be funded? [Let us know](https://interrobang.vercel.app/survey/eab7d415-1890-4449-8800-0a7733d05f32?ref=readtangle.com). *Disagree? That's okay. Our opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we'll consider publishing your feedback.* ### Your questions, answered. **Q: If the vice president were to break ranks with the president in such a way that the president wanted to “fire” him, can he do that?** **— Chris from New Orleans, LA** **Tangle:** The short answer is no — the president cannot fire anybody elected to their office, and the vice president is an elected official. Like the president, the vice president can only be removed from office through impeachment. This is, admittedly, a little confusing, since the vice president is part of the president’s cabinet and the president can freely dismiss other cabinet members at will, meaning the vice president is a bit of an anomaly in the executive branch. The office was not always defined quite as well as it is today — and the Constitution did not initially provide the ground rules for the office that we have now. Our nation’s first vice president, John Adams, [considered](https://www.senate.gov/about/officers-staff/vice-president/overview.htm?ref=readtangle.com) himself to be more “the head of the legislative” than a part of the president’s cabinet (which was also not yet defined). In fact, from Adams’s election until 1804, the vice president was the person who received the second-most votes in the presidential election. With the ratification of the 12th Amendment that year, the vice presidency started to have its own dedicated candidates, allowing parties to run the unified tickets we see today. One thing that hasn’t changed since Adams’s time is that the vice president retains some independence from presidential oversight. Politically, the vice president’s office doesn’t have much authority outside what the president confers onto the office; but constitutionally, the president doesn’t have direct control over the vice president. **Want to have a question answered in the newsletter? You can reply to this email (it goes straight to our inbox) or** [**fill out this form**](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScQhqBSG%5F6%5FoBhwcTQMeS570n29XYbeQ9C9Bis7rjqI31g1tA/viewform?usp=header&ref=readtangle.com)**.** SPONSORED by incogni ****Your SSN Is Already Being Sold — You Just Don't Know to Whom** Data brokers [profit daily](https://deal.incogni.io/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=6&aff%5Fid=1007&ref=readtangle.com) from your phone number, birthdate, and Social Security number. Best case: more targeted ads. Worst case: **breaches* that land your info on the dark web. Incogni removes your data from all broker types — including People Search Sites — automatically. [****Use code TANGLE for 58% off**](https://deal.incogni.io/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=6&aff%5Fid=1007&ref=readtangle.com) [Get 58% Off ](https://deal.incogni.io/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=6&aff%5Fid=1007&ref=readtangle.com) ### A deeper look. ![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/03/Benjamin_Civiletti_-1979--4.jpg) **U.S. Attorney General Benjamin Civiletti | Rob Croes via Wikimedia Commons* Though they seem like business as usual today, government shutdowns didn’t always actually “shut down” the agencies experiencing a funding lapse. Prior to the early 1980s, agencies would often continue to operate even if they had no appropriated funds. That changed when U.S. Attorney General Benjamin Civiletti [succeeded](https://history.house.gov/Institution/Shutdown/Government-Shutdowns/?ref=readtangle.com) in his push for a stricter interpretation of the Antideficiency Act, requiring agencies to halt day-to-day operations and furlough many employees during a lapse in Congressional funding. ### The extras. - **One year ago today** we covered [the Signal chat controversy](https://www.readtangle.com/the-signal-chat-controversy/). - **The most clicked link in our last newsletter** was [the ad in our free version for the Dignity Index](https://www.dignity.us/2026-dignity-barometer?ref=readtangle.com). - **Nothing to do with politics:** How long Americans will [work in the same job, over time](https://flowingdata.com/2026/03/26/job-tenure/?ref=readtangle.com). - **Our most recent survey:** 3,272 readers responded to our survey on the U.S. deploying ground troops to Iran with 85% opposing deployment but considering it likely. “Having started the war, Trump needs to finish it in a way that puts an end to the issues he is supposedly trying to address,” one respondent said. “Invading a nation is never quick and easy. Putin thought he could take Ukraine quickly. Iran is at least as determined as Ukraine,” said another. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/03/data-src-image-c739448a-b394-455f-a3d6-176c6eb77eb6.png) ### Have a nice day. Of more than 40 million entries across all the major contests for the annual NCAA March Madness tournaments, one perfect bracket remained last Monday: a women’s bracket belonging to 14-year-old Otto Schellhammer, a Pittsburgh eighth grader with no previous basketball knowledge. Although Notre Dame’s victory over Vanderbilt on Friday means Otto’s bracket won’t be perfect, he still retains his last-perfect-bracket status. “I think it’s absolutely hilarious,” Amy Schellhammer, Otto’s mom, said. “It’s just so fun to see… He’s been watching and it’s making him more excited about it.” [The Associated Press has the story](https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-ncaa-perfect-bracket-f45ee69a8213108c5876987400949cfe?ref=readtangle.com) (and you can view Otto’s bracket [here](https://fantasy.espn.com/games/tournament-challenge-bracket-women-2026/bracket?id=f22e1380-23fd-11f1-8f87-4d9509aec57c&ref=readtangle.com)). ### Trump weighs ground operations in Iran. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/trump-weighs-ground-operations-in-iran/ Last updated: 2026-03-30T17:06:11.000Z *I'm Isaac Saul, and this is Tangle: an independent, nonpartisan, subscriber-supported politics newsletter that summarizes the best arguments from across the political spectrum on the news of the day — then “my take.”* *Are you new here?* [*Get free emails*](https://www.readtangle.com/) *to your inbox daily. Would you rather listen? You can find our podcast* [*here*](https://shows.acast.com/66510864c0852400122bc7be?ref=readtangle.com)*.* ### Today’s read: 14 minutes. 🪖 The Pentagon is reportedly drawing up plans for weeks of ground operations. Are boots on the ground inevitable? ### We're back. After a week off, we’re recharged and ready to dive back into the news — we hope you had a chance to take a little break from the news cycle, too. Every time we’re away for more than a few days, we like to start our first newsletter back with a rundown of key stories from the break. Here are eight you might have missed over the past week. - On Friday, March 20, former FBI Director Robert Mueller, who was also the special counsel responsible for investigating alleged links between 2016 Trump campaign officials and Russian operatives, died at 81\. President Donald Trump reacted to the news by saying that he was “glad he’s dead.” ([The announcement](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/03/21/robert-mueller-died-at-81.html?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Sunday, March 22, an Air Canada passenger jet crashed into a fire truck while landing at LaGuardia Airport, killing both pilots and injuring dozens of others. On Tuesday, March 24, the National Transportation Safety Board held a press conference detailing some preliminary findings. The board noted that the fire truck did not have a transponder, making it difficult for the airport’s early-warning system to track it, and that two air traffic controllers were carrying out the duties of four people, which is standard for the overnight shift though not recommended. ([The crash](https://www.nytimes.com/article/laguardia-airport-air-canada-plane-crash.html?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Monday, March 23, the Senate confirmed former Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) as Secretary of Homeland Security by a 54–45 vote. Mullin was sworn in on Tuesday. ([The confirmation](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/mullin-sworn-dhs-chief-after-gop-fracture-forced-dem-save-nomination?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Monday, March 23, Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers began deploying to airports. The Trump administration said officers will help alleviate long security lines amid ongoing staffing shortages at the Transportation Security Administration. ([The deployment](https://www.reuters.com/world/us/ice-agents-begin-deploying-some-us-airports-2026-03-23/?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Monday, March 23, the Supreme Court appeared likely to overturn a state law allowing late mail-in ballots to be counted as long as they were postmarked by election day. ([The arguments](https://www.scotusblog.com/2026/03/court-appears-ready-to-overturn-state-law-allowing-for-late-arriving-mail-in-ballots/?ref=readtangle.com)) The next day, the Court seemed likely to side with the Trump administration on its policy of turning back asylum seekers before they reach the southern border. ([The case](https://www.scotusblog.com/2026/03/court-appears-likely-to-side-with-trump-administration-on-rights-of-asylum-seekers/?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Wednesday, March 25, a jury found Meta (the owner of Facebook and Instagram) and YouTube negligent in operating social media platforms that are detrimental to teens’ mental health. The companies announced they will appeal. ([The decision](https://www.wsj.com/tech/meta-and-youtube-lose-landmark-social-media-trial-33e4c5cb?gaa%5Fat=eafs&gaa%5Fn=AWEtsqcguTiJ8gQ8yCs7Ni9FaEDHWZgrqhV--uCnsQqmpZzug8%5FMa6FNtrNTlLks860%3D&gaa%5Fts=69ca2800&gaa%5Fsig=DO-I4MHph8n18dNheWPXy5YnKzgon9ZmgRebRU8F0X6kK%5FkTxQt4fQuFqo4PoxHroSI4XlpSGZTGFwmA7yqKwg%3D%3D&ref=readtangle.com)) Separately, on Tuesday, a New Mexico jury found that Meta misled users about the safety of its platforms and enabled sexual exploitation of children. ([The finding](https://www.npr.org/2026/03/24/g-s1-115019/new-mexico-meta-children-mental-health?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Friday, March 27, the House Ethics Committee announced that its adjudicatory subcommittee found Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL) guilty on 25 ethics charges. The committee will meet again in mid-April to determine its recommendation to the full House for her punishment, which could include fines, censure, removal from committees, or expulsion. ([The determination](https://www.politico.com/news/2026/03/27/sheila-cherfilus-mccormick-guilty-ethics-00848019?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Friday, March 27, the House and Senate passed separate bills to fund the Department of Homeland Security but failed to reconcile them, extending the agency’s shutdown. ([The bills](https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/dhs-shutdown-2026-senate-funding-day-42/?ref=readtangle.com)) ### Quick hits. 1. President Donald Trump signed a presidential memorandum directing the Department of Homeland Security to reallocate funds to pay Transportation Security Administration employees affected by the agency’s ongoing shutdown. ([The order](https://federalnewsnetwork.com/government-shutdown/2026/03/trump-signs-order-to-pay-tsa-employees-amid-shutdown-standoff/?ref=readtangle.com)) 2. President Trump said he has “no problem” with a Russian vessel delivering oil to Cuba, adding that he would not oppose any country sending aid to the island as it experiences an energy crisis. On Monday, the Russian oil tanker reportedly arrived at the Cuban port of Matanzas with approximately 730,000 barrels of oil. ([The comments](https://apnews.com/article/cuba-trump-russia-oil-shipment-b6845987728e28d5d762992840ca6b69?ref=readtangle.com)) 3. Protesters in the United States and Europe demonstrated on Saturday in the latest “No Kings” rallies in opposition to the Trump administration. Organizers estimated that eight million people protested in roughly 3,300 events worldwide. ([The protests](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/no-kings-rallies-protest-trump-millions/?ref=readtangle.com)) 4. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced air defense agreements with Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates involving drone combat intelligence and production to counter Iranian attacks in the region. ([The agreements](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/28/world/europe/ukraine-air-defense-deal-qatar-saudi-arabia.html?ref=readtangle.com)) 5. Idaho lawmakers passed a bill barring transgender people from using bathrooms and changing rooms that differ from their biological sex in both publicly and privately owned spaces. Violations of the law will carry criminal penalties. ([The law](https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/5805263-idaho-transgender-bathroom-law/?ref=readtangle.com)) SPONSORED by dignity.us ****One finding might change how you think about the midterms** You probably already feel it: the way a family dinner can derail over politics, or how a stranger online can make your blood boil before 9 a.m. But here's what's striking: a new national survey found Americans now rank how we treat each other as a crisis on par [with the cost of living](https://www.dignity.us/2026-dignity-barometer?ref=readtangle.com). Not behind it — ***alongside** **it**. The Dignity Barometer from Dignity.us polled 1,503 Americans and uncovered a gap that explains a lot about why everything feels so broken right now — ****and one genuinely surprising data point**. [****See the full findings at Dignity.us**](https://www.dignity.us/2026-dignity-barometer?ref=readtangle.com) ### Today’s topic. Potential ground operations in Iran. On Saturday, The Washington Post [reported](https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2026/03/28/trump-iran-ground-troops-marines/?ref=readtangle.com) that the Pentagon is planning for weeks of ground operations in Iran. According to defense officials, current plans are focused on targeted raids by Special Operations forces and infantry troops. President Donald Trump has not decided whether to approve ground operations, but reports from the past week [indicate](https://www.axios.com/2026/03/26/iran-invasion-plans-kharg-island-trump?ref=readtangle.com) that the Pentagon is developing options for a “final blow,” which could combine troop deployments with an escalated bombing campaign. **Back up:** Approximately 50,000 U.S. service members are [currently stationed](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/29/us/politics/us-marines-middle-east-iran-war.html?ref=readtangle.com) across the Middle East, roughly 10,000 more than normal. In the past week, the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit and the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division were deployed to the region. On Thursday, President Trump [posted](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116295045718240014?ref=readtangle.com) on Truth Social that Iran was “begging” the United States to make a deal to end the war, adding, “They better get serious soon, before it is too late.” On Monday, Trump [said](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116317880658472708?ref=readtangle.com) that the U.S. will strike Iran’s “Electric Generating Plants, Oil Wells and Kharg Island (and possibly all desalinization plants!)” if Iran does not agree to a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to commercial ships and oil tankers. Kharg Island is a [potential target](https://www.axios.com/2026/03/20/iran-invasion-kharg-island-strait-hormuz?ref=readtangle.com) for a U.S. ground operation. Iran processes 90% of its crude oil exports through facilities on the Persian Gulf island, and seizing it could increase pressure on Iran to allow safe passage through the strait. However, military experts have warned that such an operation would pose a significant threat to U.S. troops and may not deter Iran from its current posture in the Strait. Other targets could [include](https://www.axios.com/2026/03/26/iran-invasion-plans-kharg-island-trump?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Zoom%20in%3A,the%20Hormuz%20Strait.) Larak Island and Abu Musa, both of which factor into control of the Strait. Separate ground operations could also target Iran’s nuclear facilities to seize their enriched uranium stores. As preparations for potential ground operations continue, Iran has carried out significant strikes on U.S. forces and bases in the region. On Friday, a [missile attack](https://apnews.com/article/iran-war-us-troops-wounded-saudi-base-8404fd9b67b76c756e543fc307565572?ref=readtangle.com) on Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia wounded at least 10 service members and damaged several planes. An E-3 Sentry — an airborne warning and control system aircraft — appears to have been [destroyed](https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/iran-war-middle-east-news-updates/card/crucial-e-3-sentry-aircraft-damaged-in-saudi-base-attack-8LibxBawXturwMIFOwTx?gaa%5Fat=eafs&gaa%5Fn=AWEtsqdJCYNtXwJGsoGKBXB0suhXsORGEAxtgRLsWRGiH4Ve%5Faq-SzJr9DZH6687&gaa%5Fts=69c93e53&gaa%5Fsig=p%5FaviKs2ZHko723KkeKbxGI5vAU0dn1Gkpe68cDZGBctwsYvhv8WWf6b2L0Lamq8zC--L4BsPFXOYZKVe2xQCg%3D%3D&ref=readtangle.com), potentially limiting the U.S. military’s reconnaissance capabilities. Iran has also [continued to strike](https://www.nbcnews.com/data-graphics/iran-war-drones-missile-strikes-military-attack-capabilities-rcna263382?ref=readtangle.com) targets in neighboring Middle Eastern countries and Israel, even as U.S. officials claim to have degraded most of Iran’s ballistic missile and drone capabilities. Democratic lawmakers mostly oppose any kind of U.S. ground operation, while Republicans are [split](https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2026/03/28/trump-iran-ground-troops-marines/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=While%20Democrats%20are%20almost%20universally%20against%20the%20war%20in%20Iran%2C%20Trump%E2%80%99s%20Republican%20backers%20in%20Congress%20are%20split%20on%20the%20possibility%20of%20ground%20operations.) on the prospect. Reps. Derrick Van Orden (R-WI) and Nancy Mace (R-SC) have publicly stated their opposition to sending troops to Iran, while Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) has called for the Marines to seize Kharg Island. On Tuesday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt [said](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-administration-iran-ground-troop-preparations/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=White%20House%20press,at%20this%20time.%22) that President Trump is “prepared to unleash hell” on Iran but has not made a decision on whether to escalate the war. Today, we’ll share views from the right and left on a potential ground operation in Iran, followed by Executive Editor Isaac Saul’s take. ### What the right is saying. - **The right is wary of ground operations, but many say they may be necessary.** - **Some warn that Trump risks repeating mistakes in Iraq and Afghanistan.** - **Others argue Trump needs to better communicate the merits of a ground operation.** **In The Wall Street Journal, Matthew Continetti wrote** [**“finish the job in Iran.”**](https://www.wsj.com/opinion/free-expression/finish-the-job-in-iran-58ce1e8b?ref=readtangle.com) “The worst thing President Trump could do now is stop America and Israel’s joint military campaign prematurely. Iran’s command and control, air defenses, navy, missiles, drones, nuclear program and defense industrial base may be severely damaged, if not destroyed. But plenty of targets remain,” Continetti said. “Critics of Operation Epic Fury draw analogies with Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan in 2001 and Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003… But they should also study Operation Desert Storm from 1991\. It was a remarkable campaign that left its central problem — what to do about Saddam once the guns fell silent — unresolved.” “Mr. Trump could avoid this fate. Even as the White House pursues negotiations to end war with Iran, U.S. ground forces are moving into position near the Persian Gulf. Marines, special forces and paratroopers will give the president options. They can be used to secure Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium, open the Strait, guarantee freedom of navigation and fulfill his objective of ending the threat from the Islamic Republic,” Continetti wrote. “The president must see Operation Epic Fury through to a successful conclusion — and finish what he started.” **In The American Spectator, Jed Babbin explored** [**“the missing definition of victory in Iran.”**](https://spectator.org/the-missing-definition-of-victory-in-iran/?ref=readtangle.com) “We haven’t won the war against Iran yet, as is demonstrated by their ability to launch missiles and drones against Israel, against ships around the Strait of Hormuz and against neighboring nations… President Trump has said we have destroyed military facilities on Kharg Island but the port, which sends out most of Iran’s oil exports, hasn’t been closed,” Babbin said. “So where do we go from here? It is pretty clear that we will have to deploy ground troops to really end the ayatollahs’ regime. About 5,000 more Marines and sailors are on the way to Iran. If the Marines are landed their small force will not be capable of removing the regime without help from the Iranian people.” “If we are to truly end the regime there will be a need to deploy many more troops there, perhaps thousands. Mr. Trump wanted to end our ‘endless wars’ but his action in Iran may take many months — even years — to do so,” Babbin wrote. “But stop right there. We know, from our experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan, that we cannot engage in nation-building in Iran. Not in any form. When and if the regime falls, we should get the hell out. If we need to bomb the snot out of them again, so be it.” **In National Review, Noah Rothman suggested** [**“Trump’s ‘Nixon to China’ moment is ‘boots on the ground.’”**](https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/maybe-trumps-nixon-to-china-moment-is-boots-on-the-ground/?ref=readtangle.com) “Trump did not ready the nation for the commitments he was making to the Middle East, nor did he solicit their support for the sacrifices that would be expected of them. If the war is destined to include a ground component, it would serve the president well to be honest about what that next phase could entail,” Rothman said. “The president’s allies are correct insofar as Trump himself has not been shy about deploying U.S. ground forces to hostile engagements, albeit with small footprints. But he’s also spent the better part of a decade arguing that most (all?) of his predecessors were reckless when sending U.S. forces off to fight ‘dumb’ wars.” “Whatever else the public knows about Trump, they know that his instincts are to use ground forces sparingly and with discrete objectives, if at all. Even if most voters are immune to the president’s powers of persuasion, such as they are, Republicans are listening. That’s a base from which Trump can build a case for the American project in Iran,” Rothman wrote. “Trump may prefer to stay his current course: Strike first and ask for the public’s buy-in later. Of all the many risks associated with deploying combat forces to Iran, that might be the riskiest of all.” ### What the left is saying. - **The left opposes boots on the ground, but many expect Trump to pursue that strategy.** - **Some argue Trump is digging himself a deeper hole in the conflict.** - **Others say any ground operation carries significant risk and limited upside.** **In The Atlantic, Thomas Wright explored** [**“the countdown to a ground war.”**](https://www.theatlantic.com/international/2026/03/ground-war-iran-israel-trump/686556/?ref=readtangle.com) “The war has not moderated the Iranian regime. It has hardened it. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps now dominates Iran’s internal deliberations to a degree unprecedented even under Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iran effectively controls the strait, and it knows that this control affords Tehran real leverage. Iran appears to have concluded that it is better positioned for a war of endurance than for a negotiated capitulation,” Wright said. “Trump could still choose to declare victory, or even accept terms closer to Iran’s position, if he concludes that the alternative is a longer and more uncertain war.” “The deeper problem is that military operations, however successful tactically, cannot substitute for what the war is trying to achieve strategically. Trump launched this conflict believing that Iran was weak, and that a short, sharp campaign would force a new leader to terms. The regime has proved more resilient and more capable of inflicting sustained damage on the region than the president expected,” Wright wrote. “Trump has a long history of claiming victory in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary. This may be the rare moment when that instinct serves the country — because the alternative appears to be doubling down on a losing strategy by launching a ground war.” **In Jacobin, Branko Marcetic called potential ground operations** [**“an idiotic idea for an idiotic war.”**](https://jacobin.com/2026/03/ground-troops-iran-war-trump?ref=readtangle.com) “\[Ground operations are\] such a bad idea that it has united both card-carrying members of Trump’s hated ‘deep state,’ such as former Defense Intelligence Agency official and former NATO supreme allied commander James Stavridis, and some of Trump’s closest political allies, such as Nancy Mace and Matt Gaetz in opposition,” Marcetic said. “It gets even more questionable when the mission turns to extracting Iran’s enriched uranium, all 440 kilograms (roughly 970 pounds) of it. Not only is this a massive quantity of material that is enormously difficult to access in the first place, given that it is stored in tunnels deep underground. But moving nuclear material around is an enormously logistically complicated process.” “Now think about every other aim this administration had when it first started the war and how miserably it has failed to achieve them: collapsing the Iranian state, doing Venezuela-like regime change, or encouraging a grassroots Iranian uprising. Even what progress they’ve made on destroying Iran’s missile-launching capability has stalled,” Marcetic wrote. “If the president is finding it hard to find a face-saving way out of this mess now, he will find it magnitudes harder if and when Iranian forces kill an even bigger number of American troops.” **In The New York Times, Nicholas Kristof wrote about** [**“the old man dreaming up wars for young men to fight.”**](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/28/opinion/iran-war-kharg-island.html?ref=readtangle.com) “I’m in favor of the diplomatic path, but let’s be honest: Any deal would be a pretty bad one and would strengthen a brutal regime that oppresses its people and menaces the region. Because the diplomatic option is so unappealing, Trump seems poised to seize an even worse one: dispatching ground troops to invade Iran,” Kristof said. “The United States has been unable to fully protect its own hardened military bases in the region at much greater distances from Iran, forcing soldiers to evacuate to hotels… If we can’t protect our bases, how will we protect Marines dropped off on an Iranian island?” “The truth is that any seizure of Iranian-controlled land would most likely lead Iran to retaliate by attacking energy infrastructure around the region — and, more terrifying, desalination plants that provide the water on which some Gulf cities depend. With refineries out of commission, we could face oil and gas shortages for years to come,” Kristof wrote. “For all the uncertainties, one truth I feel deeply from having seen war up close: Old men should not fix their messes by dispatching young people to die in unnecessary wars.” ### My take. **Reminder: “My take” is a section where we give ourselves space to share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, don't unsubscribe. Write in by replying to this email, or** [**leave a comment**](https://www.readtangle.com/trump-weighs-ground-operations-in-iran/ghost-comments-root)**.** - **Trump says he is pursuing a short military engagement, while at the same time laying the foundation for a longer war.** - **Getting accurate information and building an accurate understanding of this war is incredibly difficult.** - **I fear, based on our knowledge, that a ground invasion is inevitable.** **Executive Editor Isaac Saul:** While scrolling through X last night to get a sense of the latest commentary on the war in Iran, I came across a video that stopped me in my tracks. Vice President JD Vance is discussing the war with right-wing commentator Benny Johnson. Vance concedes to Johnson that gas prices have gone up because of what has happened in the Middle East, then [insists](https://youtu.be/0HsJk-wQAQI?si=EN9wm5YKSa6vNrrY&t=1155&ref=readtangle.com) that “we’re not interested in being in Iran a year down the road, two years down the road. We’re taking care of business, we’re going to be out of there soon, and gas prices are going to come back down.” *A year down the road.* When these strikes began, President Trump [said](https://www.newsweek.com/us-israel-launch-attack-iran-middle-east-live-latest-updates-11596461?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=%E2%80%9CWe%20figured%20it%20will%20be%20four%20weeks%20or%20so%2C%E2%80%9D%20Trump%20told%20the%20Daily%20Mail.%20%E2%80%9CIt%E2%80%99s%20always%20been%20about%20a%20four%2Dweek%20process%2C%20so%2C%20as%20strong%20as%20it%20is%20%2D%2D%20it%E2%80%99s%20a%20big%20country%20%2D%2D%20it%E2%80%99ll%20take%20four%20weeks%2C%20or%20less.%E2%80%9D) they would take “four weeks or less.” Now we’re at the four-week mark, and the vice president is suggesting we’ll be in Iran for less than a year. The president, in a Sunday night interview with The Financial Times, [suggested](https://www.ft.com/content/3bd9fb6c-2985-4d24-b86b-23b7884031f5?syn-25a6b1a6=1&ref=readtangle.com) that we may have to capture Iran’s oil depots. “Maybe we take Kharg Island, maybe we don’t. We have a lot of options,” Trump said, adding that we could “take the oil in Iran.” The president, as if adding a meaningless afterthought, said seizing Kharg Island would “also mean we had to be there for a while.” So this is where we are: President Trump is pursuing a kind of two-track war. On the first track, he claims to be making progress with negotiations to swiftly end the conflict (though Iran denies any negotiations are happening, and it’s not even clear whom he is negotiating with). On the second track, a massive troop deployment is underway, and all signs point to the commander-in-chief putting boots on the ground to attempt to take Kharg Island, or reopen the Strait of Hormuz, or seize Iran’s enriched uranium, or some combination of the three. We can see this duality in Trump’s messaging. In a Truth Social post at the end of last week, he instructed his followers to watch Mark Levin’s show on Saturday night, where Levin [made the case](https://x.com/allenanalysis/status/2038080680152707231?ref=readtangle.com) that we need boots on the ground in Iran to win a decisive war. But just this morning, Trump [posted](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116317880658472708?ref=readtangle.com) that the U.S. will “probably” reach a deal with Iran shortly. A month ago, columnists like John Podhoretz [suggested](https://www.commentary.org/john-podhoretz/first-thoughts-on-the-new-iran-war/?ref=readtangle.com) we’d achieve our military aims in Iran “commandingly” over “a period of days” and it’d be quick work for Iranians to “kick the mullahs to the curb.” This was a common refrain from people supporting a military operation — not a war, remember? — in Iran. The Wall Street Journal editorial board [promised](https://www.wsj.com/opinion/donald-trump-iran-talks-steve-witkoff-regime-change-ayatollah-ali-khamenei-f362676e?gaa%5Fat=eafs&gaa%5Fn=AWEtsqfFzUGXzCytfxZna4fnK7oas6YSmAdIUrhLzztDGb87skqTCi7y3NP2&gaa%5Fts=698d1045&gaa%5Fsig=WiS58nEwOMLcMM1vQ2-rRz11HDwPl8vRyE9u6qFh8uqboKqvERF%5FqJqUX%5Fe8F8zuNyKgk-tVZiwvQYM91r147Q%3D%3D&ref=readtangle.com) the U.S. “has options” to mitigate economic risk and keep the price of oil down and argued toppling the regime would give Iranians confidence to take back their country. Four weeks later, as oil prices continue to [surge](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/03/30/oil-price-today-wti-brent-yemen-houthis-israel-iran-war.html?ref=readtangle.com) without a clear mechanism to slow them, the same editorial board [insists](https://www.wsj.com/opinion/iran-regime-negotiations-steve-witkoff-donald-trump-3fb38794?ref=readtangle.com) ending the war now would create an “incomplete victory,” and “additional weeks can further degrade Iran’s capabilities and set back the regime’s threat to the region for years even if it survives.” That rhetoric sounds a lot like Israel’s just weeks after October 7\. Two and half years later, the Gaza War seems complete [in name only](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/04/world/middleeast/israel-gaza-strikes-palestinian-deaths.html?ref=readtangle.com). Why would we believe that the U.S. would be out of Iran in a matter of weeks or months? Many commentators (including me) doubted President Trump would take the political and strategic risk of putting boots on the ground, but that outcome seems more likely with each day. Even though the president ran on “no new wars,” he doesn’t seem to be shedding support from his base, either — almost [every single poll](https://www.wakeuptopolitics.com/p/there-is-no-maga-split-on-iran?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Here%E2%80%99s%20a%20look%20at%20GOP%20support%20and%20opposition%20for%20the%20Iran%20strikes%20in%20each%20of%20the%20three%20surveys%3A) shows something like 90% of MAGA Republicans supporting the war. Of course, ground operations could change that, and some Trump-aligned figures are [starting to sour](https://thehill.com/policy/defense/5803893-matt-gaetz-us-military-iran-ground-invasion/?ref=readtangle.com) on the conflict, so the political dynamics remain in flux even as a ground war starts to feel inevitable. Even more, the fog of war is real — the U.S. has already bombed a school, had allies shoot down our own F-15s, and very obviously killed more of Iran’s leadership tree than it initially thought. One high-ranking soldier I spoke to said he wasn’t actually sure about what mission he had been deployed to the Middle East to carry out. For the general population, wading through that uncertainty with an added layer of online misinformation is extremely messy. Anyone like me who believed this war would go badly can find plenty of evidence to confirm those priors. On the other hand, I was struck by a [piece in The Washington Post](https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2026/03/27/israel-iran-war-propaganda-disinformation/?ref=readtangle.com) by Jennifer Murtazashvili, a professor at my alma mater, the University of Pittsburgh, who described her experience living in Tel Aviv: It’s a mostly normal life, she says, interrupted by occasional rushes to the bomb shelter and text messages from friends back home who believe Tel Aviv has been decimated and the U.S. and Israel are losing. “What worries me more than the fake videos are the people who cannot fathom that this war is going well for the United States, for Israel and maybe even for the long-suffering people of Iran,” she wrote. “The strategic picture is more favorable than the online narrative suggests.” Maybe she’s right. I don’t have a crystal ball, and I don’t want to overconfidently predict the future because I got a few things right. Yet living through a war firsthand produces its own set of biases. Further complicating our ability to evaluate the war is a lot of confusion about our actual goals in Iran. President Trump launched the war while [offering multiple explanations](https://www.readtangle.com/war-with-iran-trump-middle-east/#:~:text=In%20an%20eight,supposedly%20can%E2%80%99t%20build%3F) for its purpose, yet none of those goals has been accomplished. We were supposed to destroy nuclear facilities that had already been obliterated, but now we might deploy ground troops to those facilities to smash and grab uranium. We were supposed to help the Iranian people topple the regime, but now we’ve killed most of Iran’s leadership, only for similarly minded ideologues to replace them. We were supposed to protect our allies in the Middle East from a deadly regime, but now that regime is wreaking havoc across the region, upending countries that had lived in relative peace for the last couple of decades. And fresh problems to address have arisen, requiring new goals: The Strait of Hormuz is being choked off, so we need to reopen it. Oil prices are rising, so we need to lower them. Helium reserves are drying up, so we need to find more. Fresh threats to our Gulf State partners manifest every day, so we have to protect them. All the while, Iran is [making a mint off the war](https://www.economist.com/finance-and-economics/2026/03/29/how-iran-is-making-a-mint-from-donald-trumps-war?ref=readtangle.com), charging more for oil and enjoying sanction relief from… [the United States](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c9d415g55nno?ref=readtangle.com). All signs point to more military commitment, not less. Three separate sources of varying ranks in the military have suggested to me that a ground invasion is likely, even if the administration’s internal divisions seem to be slowing down the decision-making process. Any potential ground mission would be incredibly dangerous. Extracting Iran’s uranium would require sending American troops into areas riddled with Iranian troops and landmines, and then buying our troops enough time to dig deep into the earth to get to the nuclear facilities. Taking Kharg Island means planting U.S. forces directly next to mainland Iran, well within the reach of their firepower. Enforcing an open Strait of Hormuz would be the worst of all these operations: U.S. troops on the Iranian mainland *and* battling all manner of Iranian attacks to buy time for ships to pass through safely. It’s also worth remembering that Americans haven’t *really* felt the pain yet. Gas prices are up, yes, and the U.S. has faced some casualties (13 confirmed U.S. casualties, as of Monday), but both of those realities could get a lot worse in the coming weeks. A ground invasion would of course invite more danger on U.S. soldiers. Meanwhile, [all across Asia](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1450zj6n48o?ref=readtangle.com), a fuel crisis is triggering national emergencies, forcing employers to shorten work weeks and universities to close for impromptu holidays. On Friday, crude oil hit $112 a barrel, a [56% increase](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/29/business/oil-stocks-gasoline-prices-iran.html?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=The%20price%20of%20Brent%20crude%2C%20the%20global%20benchmark%20for%20oil%2C%20rose%20to%20about%20%24115%20a%20barrel.%20On%20Friday%2C%20Brent%20settled%20at%20%24112.57%20%E2%80%94%20a%2056%20percent%20increase%20since%20the%20war%20began.) from when the war began. Average gas prices are now $3.99 for a gallon of regular and $5.41 for diesel, up from $2.98 and $3.75 a month ago, respectively. What happens if crude prices hit $200 a barrel, as the administration [is reportedly preparing for](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-03-25/trump-team-examines-what-oil-as-high-as-200-a-barrel-would-mean?ref=readtangle.com)? What happens if this lasts for 24 weeks instead of four? In our globally intertwined economy, it’s hard to imagine these kinds of disruptions not impacting our day-to-day lives. So, I don’t know where we go now, but I don’t feel any more confident than I did a month ago. The opposite, really. I realized over the weekend that when I was wrong about President Trump during his first term, it was mostly because I bought into media hyperventilation about big, bad actions that never ended up coming to fruition. When I’ve been wrong during this second term, it’s been mostly because I thought he wouldn’t do some dangerous, scary thing that he has ended up doing. Six weeks ago, I thought Trump would never deploy ground troops to Iran. Now, that outcome feels not only plausible, but likely. **Take the survey:** Do you think the U.S. will deploy troops to Iran? [Let us know](https://interrobang.vercel.app/survey/32d8de8b-5115-4b73-9f0f-b255ea3eed4f?ref=readtangle.com). *Disagree? That's okay. Our opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we'll consider publishing your feedback.* **Want to have a question answered in the newsletter? You can reply to this email (it goes straight to our inbox) or* [**fill out this form*](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScQhqBSG%5F6%5FoBhwcTQMeS570n29XYbeQ9C9Bis7rjqI31g1tA/viewform?usp=header&ref=readtangle.com)**.* ### Under the radar. On Friday, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) acknowledged that Iran-linked hackers gained access to FBI Director Kash Patel’s personal email and published photos of him on the internet. The agency said the hacker material was “historical in nature and involves no government information” and that it had taken steps to “mitigate ​potential risks” from the breach. The hacker group, Handala, is believed to be one of several personas operating under Iran's Ministry of Intelligence and Security. It also claimed responsibility for a cyber attack on medical devices and services provider Stryker earlier this month, as well as a data breach involving dozens of employees at defense company Lockheed Martin last week. [Reuters has the story](https://www.reuters.com/world/us/iran-linked-hackers-claim-breach-of-fbi-directors-personal-email-doj-official-2026-03-27/?ref=readtangle.com). SPONSORED by dignity.us ****There's now a number for that feeling you can't quite name** Americans now rank division as a crisis on par with the cost of living — and a [new national survey explains why](https://www.dignity.us/2026-dignity-barometer?ref=readtangle.com). The Dignity Barometer polled 1,503 people and found a gap between what we believe and how we actually behave that's hard to ignore. One finding might change how you think about the midterms. [****See the data at Dignity.us**](https://www.dignity.us/2026-dignity-barometer?ref=readtangle.com) ### The extras. - **One year ago today** we had just published a special edition about [our feature on *This American Life*](https://www.readtangle.com/otherposts/can-journalism-save-a-marriage/). - **The most clicked link in our last newsletter** was [the ad in our free version for Finance Buzz](https://financebuzz.com/money-moves-senior-benefits-yaez-1?adgroupid=BM-Tangle-money-moves-senior-benefits-yaez-1-CPF-03192025&ref=readtangle.com). - **Nothing to do with politics:** The Guinness World Record holder for [most teeth](https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2026/3/man-with-the-most-teeth-in-the-world-flashes-his-record-breaking-smile?ref=readtangle.com). - **Our most recent survey:** 4,662 readers responded to our survey on the SAVE America Act with 63% saying they might support different election-security legislation. “When election security is proven to be a threat then we may need a different approach, but till then we don’t need to fix something that isn’t broken,” one respondent said. “I have no issue with election-security laws as long as they take every possible precaution to ensure that no one is deprived of their ability to vote,” said another. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/03/data-src-image-095b4365-8fec-46dd-b122-8bfbbc7a4406.png) ### Have a nice day. Since its original run from 1968 to 2001, the Public Broadcasting Service television program “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” has nurtured generations of American children, teaching them about caring for themselves and others. Now, Fred Rogers Productions is partnering with Little Dot Studios to make the program archives available for free on YouTube. “The timeless messages of Fred Rogers are important to parents,” co-executive producer Kristin DiQuollo said, “and we want to find ways to bring that forward to new fans.” The series is expected to come to YouTube sometime this summer. [Axios has the story](https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2026/03/19/mister-rogers-neighborhood-youtube-channel-launch?ref=readtangle.com). ### I’m giving my team the week off. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/im-giving-my-team-the-week-off/ Last updated: 2026-03-23T16:50:56.000Z *I’m Isaac Saul, and this is Tangle: an independent, nonpartisan, subscriber-supported politics newsletter that summarizes the best arguments from across the political spectrum on the news of the day — then “my take.”* --- Dear readers, **The news:** I wanted to let you all know that Tangle will be on our annual spring break this week. That means we won’t be sending any newsletters (we will continue covering some breaking news on our [Instagram page](https://www.instagram.com/tangle.news/?ref=readtangle.com), so if you want that you can [follow us here](https://www.instagram.com/tangle.news/?ref=readtangle.com)). **Back up:** One of the top reasons people leave the media and journalism industries is burnout; so when I started Tangle, I built some systems to ensure my team could do this work sustainably. One of those systems is that we take three breaks throughout the year: One summer recess, a break around Christmas and the New Year, and a week off in the spring. **What we’ve learned:** I’ve found, without fail, that these breaks always bring my writers, editors, sales folks, and producers back to work refreshed and doing their best work. So we’ve made them a habit. I also use these breaks to encourage our audience (that’s you) to take a break, too. We’ll update you on what you missed when we come back. Based on how this week has started in the Middle East, I’m sure there will be plenty to talk about when we return. Consuming the news can be mentally exhausting, and I recommend you all pace yourselves to avoid news fatigue the same way we need to take breaks to avoid burnout. ***Don't forget:** *If you want to support a news organization like this, we're offering* [**20% off our yearly memberships*](https://www.readtangle.com/spring-break-discount) *right now — and those memberships help us build out our team to produce the best product possible for you.* [***Become a member here**](https://www.readtangle.com/spring-break-discount)**.* **In the meantime:** We have a few pieces of *very* interesting content to leave you with before we head off into break: We just published a two-part mega episode on the Epstein files. The first episode is with journalist Michael Tracey, who has criticized the media’s coverage of the files and attacked the credibility of some of Epstein’s highest-profile accusers. The second episode is with journalist Tara Palmeri, who believes the Epstein story is one of the most important stories of our generation and whose reporting has helped raise the profiles of and awareness about Epstein’s accusers. Tracey and Palmeri offer two very, very distinct views on the story, which is — of course — in the Tangle ethos. Part one, with Michael Tracey, is here: Part two, with Tara Palmeri, is here: They are meant to be watched or listened to in tandem. And you can find both episodes [on our podcast page](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tangle/id1538788132?ref=readtangle.com). Thank you, **and we’ll see you next week!** Best, Isaac ### The Epstein Story Is Worse Than You Think | Tara Palmeri URL: https://www.readtangle.com/the-epstein-story-is-worse-than-you-think-tara-palmeri/ Last updated: 2026-03-24T00:02:24.000Z In Part 2 of this two-part series on Jeffrey Epstein, Isaac Saul sits down with journalist Tara Palmeri to explore a very different perspective — one focused on the victims, the evidence, and the lasting impact of Epstein’s crimes. ### The Epstein Panic Has Gone Too Far | Michael Tracey URL: https://www.readtangle.com/the-epstein-panic-has-gone-too-far-michael-tracey/ Last updated: 2026-03-24T00:02:23.000Z In Part 1 of this two-part series on Jeffrey Epstein, Isaac Saul sits down with journalist Michael Tracey to examine one of the most controversial questions surrounding the case: has the public narrative gone too far? ### The Sunday — March 22 URL: https://www.readtangle.com/the-sunday-march-22-2026/ Last updated: 2026-03-22T21:55:48.000Z *This is the Tangle Sunday Edition, a brief roundup of our independent politics coverage plus some extra features for your Sunday morning reading.* ### What the left is doodling. ![Mike Luckovich | Creators Syndicate](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/03/data-src-image-ebf19def-ddfa-4d1b-b060-05557fc2e446.jpeg) Mike Luckovich | Creators Syndicate ### What the right is doodling. ![Al Goodwyn | Creators Syndicate](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/03/data-src-image-4cc7c1ec-7001-46ab-aa99-13f3ab6d08fb.jpeg) Al Goodwyn | Creators Syndicate ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/03/data-src-image-7fc24c6c-1855-476c-835a-01080428e6f3.png) ### We’ll see you next week! We are heading to our annual Spring Break for the next week, so this Sunday’s newsletter will be our last regular newsletter until next ****Monday, March 30**. We hope you have a good week! ### Monday, March 16. [The recent attacks in the U.S.](https://www.readtangle.com/attacks-in-michigan-virginia-new-york-texas/) Over the past three weeks, a series of attacks has taken place across the United States, with suspects allegedly linked to Islamic terror groups or ongoing conflicts in the Middle East. On Thursday, March 12, a man drove his truck into a synagogue in West Bloomfield Township, Michigan, then opened fire on the building. According to authorities, synagogue security engaged the assailant, who then shot himself inside his vehicle. Also on March 12, a gunman opened fire, killing one person and injuring two others, in a classroom at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. According to authorities, students in the classroom subdued and killed the shooter. On Saturday, March 7, police subdued and arrested two men from Pennsylvania who allegedly attempted to detonate two improvised explosive devices (IEDs) outside Gracie Mansion, the New York City mayoral residence (the IEDs did not detonate, and no one was injured). Finally, on March 1, a gunman opened fire on patrons of a bar in Austin, Texas, killing three people and injuring over a dozen others. **Our take:** *“What worries me most about these attacks is the lack of obvious warning signs. Preventing these attacks isn’t as simple as reducing immigration or deploying more surveillance. Solutions for our mass violence problem are as elusive as ever.”* **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/03/data-src-image-6aa4e8b9-efb8-4fb7-9e2f-805ec82e9968.png) ### Tuesday, March 17. [Refunds on tariffs](https://www.readtangle.com/government-emergency-tariff-revenue-returns/). Over the past week, the Trump administration has begun providing initial updates on its plan to reimburse $166 billion in tariffs collected over the past year that the Supreme Court invalidated in February. On March 4, Judge Richard Eaton of the U.S. Court of International Trade ruled that companies are entitled to repayment on the IEEPA tariffs and instructed Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to immediately begin processing refunds. On March 6, CBP told the judge that it could not immediately comply with his order, and Eaton temporarily suspended it to give them time to prepare a refund system. Approximately 330,000 importers are expected to be eligible for refunds, which must be paid with interest. **Our take:** *“Tariff reimbursements are going to be a mess. The government will try to delay and argue against repayments, and may be successful. Congress’s dereliction of duty created this predicament.”* **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/03/data-src-image-3032ab9c-56d6-46ac-8611-18a874a27941.png) ### Wednesday, March 18. [Cuba’s energy crisis](https://www.readtangle.com/cuba-energy-crisis-oil-trump/). On Monday, March 16, Cuba’s electrical grid failed, causing a blackout that affected the island’s nearly 11 million inhabitants. Cuba’s Ministry of Energy and Mines confirmed that it was investigating a complete disconnect of the island’s grid, which sparked both violent and non-violent protests. After 29 hours, power was restored to most of the island, although much of the country remains without service as of Wednesday morning. Cuba has been experiencing worsened power disruptions since the United States increased its economic pressure on the island. On January 11, President Donald Trump announced he would prevent Venezuelan oil from reaching Cuba, then announced heightened tariffs on any country selling oil to Cuba on January 29\. **Our take:** *“Many commentators are mistakenly thinking of Cuba in the same terms as Iran, Venezuela, and Greenland. The cases for and against some form of U.S. intervention are compelling. I’m genuinely unsure of what we should do, even as I’m wary of more conflict.”* **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/03/data-src-image-6dd65551-b774-48ef-a3ce-80ab169491a6.png) ### Thursday, March 19. [The SAVE America Act](https://www.readtangle.com/save-america-act-voter-id-law/). On Tuesday, March 17, the Senate voted 51–48 to begin debate on the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, also known as the SAVE America Act. The bill would require citizens to present documentation confirming their citizenship when registering to vote and require photo identification to vote in federal elections. Tuesday’s vote formally initiates discussion of the bill on the Senate floor, a precursor to a potential final vote. **Our take:** *“Election security has become perhaps my biggest area of expertise over my time with Tangle. Voter fraud happens and election fraud is very rare — however, laws to address them probably don’t cause voter suppression. I wouldn’t support this bill, but I would support a bill requiring ID to vote that also makes it free and easy to get IDs.”* **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/03/data-src-image-ac2b7304-ee3e-47bf-858e-ff840ba05869.png) ### Friday, March 20. In this week’s Friday edition, the Tangle staff shared new policies for our comment section, updates on our editorial guidelines, and changes to the newsletter’s structure. For each update, we explained what led to the decision, why it came now, and what we hope the effect will be. [You can read our update here](https://www.readtangle.com/its-time-for-some-change/). ### Further reading. We’ve covered domestic terrorism, court decisions, Cuba, and voting ID laws before. Plus, review our 2023 editorial guideline update (some things have changed, and some have stayed the same). Take a look at our past coverage below: - In December 2021, Isaac [interviewed former FBI agent Chris Watts](https://www.readtangle.com/russia-terrorism-misinformation-clint-watts/) about his counterterrorism work in a Friday edition (paywalled). - In June 2025, we covered [the Supreme Court ruling on universal injunctions](https://www.readtangle.com/supreme-court-trump-v-casa-universal-injunctions/). - In July 2021, we covered [protests in Cuba and the U.S. reaction](https://www.readtangle.com/protests-in-cuba-united-states/). - In April 2025, we wrote [an explainer on the SAVE Act](https://www.readtangle.com/the-save-act-separating-truth-from-fiction/). - In May 2023, we issued an [update to our editorial policies](https://www.readtangle.com/tangle-editorial-policy/). --- ### What just happened. Here’s a rundown of the major stories that have broken since our last newsletter on Thursday. - On Thursday, the Treasury Department released a general license adding Cuba, Iran, North Korea, and Russian-occupied regions of Ukraine to a list of territories barred from purchasing or accepting deliveries of Russian oil. The updates followed reports that at least one Russian tanker appears to be in transit to Cuba. ([The list](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-03-19/treasury-says-cuba-can-t-get-russian-oil-as-ship-heads-to-island?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Thursday, news outlets reported that former Federal Bureau of Investigation Director James Comey was subpoenaed as part of an investigation into ex-officials who investigated and brought charges against President Donald Trump. The investigation has reportedly produced over 130 subpoenas so far. ([The subpoena](https://www.axios.com/2026/03/19/comey-subpoena-conspiracy-trump?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Thursday, the Federal Communications Commission approved media company Nexstar’s $6.2 billion acquisition of rival media company Tegna. Earlier in the day, attorneys general for eight states filed a lawsuit seeking to block the merger on antitrust grounds. ([The approval](https://www.nbcnews.com/business/media/fcc-greenlights-nexstars-62b-merger-rival-tv-station-owner-tegna-rcna237953?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Thursday, news outlets reported that the Pentagon has requested $200 billion to fund the U.S. military in its operations in Iran. The request was sent to the White House, which will review it before formally requesting any funds from Congress. ([The request](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/19/world/middleeast/pentagon-200-billion-iran-war-funding-hegseth.html?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Friday, U.S. officials said President Trump is sending three warships and 2,200–2,500 Marines to the Middle East, the second large-scale Marine deployment in the past week. ([The deployment](https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/iran-us-israel-war-updates-2026/card/pentagon-sending-thousands-of-additional-marines-to-middle-east-eZKaCmWQ3vp12vhNbFbV?ref=readtangle.com)) Separately, on Friday, President Trump said he was considering “winding down” the war, saying the United States is “very close” to fulfilling its goals in the conflict. ([The comments](https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/03/20/world/iran-war-oil-trump?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Friday, CBS News’s leadership announced the outlet is cutting 6% of its staff and shutting down CBS News Radio, which will end service on May 22\. ([The announcement](https://thehill.com/media/5793260-cbs-news-radio-closes-layoffs/?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Friday, news outlets reported that Colombian President Gustavo Petro is under multiple narcotics trafficking investigations overseen by federal prosecutors in New York. The probes are still in their early stages, and no charges have been filed. ([The investigations](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/colombian-president-gustavo-petro-multiple-narcotics-trafficking-probes/?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Friday, the Treasury Department announced that for 30 days, it will lift sanctions on approximately 140 million barrels of Iranian oil that had been loaded onto vessels. The temporary waiver comes amid a surge in oil prices due to the ongoing conflict in Iran. ([The waiver](https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/us-authorizes-temporary-delivery-sale-oil-originating-iran-2026-03-20/?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Friday, former FBI director and U.S. Special Counsel Robert Mueller died at the age of 81\. ([The death](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/21/us/politics/robert-s-mueller-dead.html?ref=readtangle.com)) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/03/data-src-image-75fbcf4b-0255-4c07-846c-5080700d77d8.png) ### Reader essay. ![I had my name cards printed with the calligraphy I wrote of my name | Photo from Karen Hill Anton](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/03/data-src-image-df877a00-6b87-49db-9016-f720ae5edfcb.jpeg) I had my name cards printed with the calligraphy I wrote of my name | Photo from Karen Hill Anton This week’s reader essay comes from Karen Hill Anton, a well traveled American who has lived in Japan for decades. Karen’s latest meditates on the mean meme-ification of her name— and the beauty of its true meaning to her. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Our name is Karen. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/otherposts/our-name-is-karen/ Last updated: 2026-04-05T03:22:31.000Z ***That’s it*, I thought to myself. *That’s the last straw*.** A writer I admire, a woman I respect, read and listen to, a woman who has been identified with the impressive title “public intellectual” — spoke on a podcast in which she used the name Karen as a pejorative. I guess I shouldn’t have been shocked. I should have known that, eventually, even people I think highly of would feel free, indeed have license, to use my name in a derogatory manner. Of course, they don’t know me; they don’t know it’s *my name*. And they don’t care. It’s not personal, I’ve told myself. Still, it’s disappointing. How unfortunate that it’s now common to hear and read about people referred to as *Karens*, plural. Or, worse yet, *a* single, contemptible Karen, a name used as a noun as one might say “She’s a harridan.” Objectified, “She’s a Karen” tells us right away the person is obnoxious, rude, intolerant, and intolerable. It seems it won’t be long now before Karen becomes an adverb, *karenly* — not even requiring the dignity of capitalization at all. A contemporary pejorative, ‘a Karen’ typically means she’s an upper middle-class white American woman who’s overly demanding, entitled, privileged. Since none of those adjectives describes me, I could just ignore it. And, because I live in Japan, I almost never hear it. Even when my first name is used at all, it’s always appended with the honorific to become Karen-*san*. I recently had the following email exchange with a friend, an American woman who, like me, is a longtime resident of Japan and also a Karen: “How have you been doing with all the recent madness surrounding our name? It really disturbs me,” she wrote. My haughty reply: “I am aware of how our name is being debased. But please know I pay little attention to this kind of thing, and consider it just another manifestation of callousness — which seems to have no limits these days. Insensitivity abounds, and people hardly think twice about using insults and potentially offensive language that might demean others. I find it ridiculous — and deserving of my ridicule!” She went on: “It is so very stupid, harmful and misguided. I’m thankful it doesn’t exist in Japan. But I know women with our name not only in the USA but also the UK and Australia who are having a terrible time with it in their everyday lives.” **I‘ve heard from some of these women:** *“I didn’t even want to give my name at Starbucks for fear of having to do the walk of shame to pick up my coffee at the bar!”* _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### It's time for some change. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/its-time-for-some-change/ Last updated: 2026-09-11T15:43:43.000Z One of my primary goals with Tangle is to build the most trusted political news outlet in the world. Two important ways we’re working towards that goal are 1) responding transparently to audience feedback, and 2) creating a special place for our community to interact, debate, and learn from each other. Today, we’re making a series of announcements in service of those two objectives. First, we’re making several updates to our editorial guidelines — the first time we’ve done so [since 2023](https://www.readtangle.com/tangle-editorial-policy/). As we’ve learned at Tangle, it’s not just *what* we say but *how* we say it. I don’t think any news outlet is thinking harder about the ways in which we communicate on controversial issues; we are a big-tent media organization, and we are trying to win the trust of Americans from across the political spectrum. Language choice and editorial standards in service of this goal were the subject of [my 2024 TED Talk](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=543mYKKh1EE&ref=readtangle.com), and they’re part of how we continue to evolve for the widest, most politically diverse audience possible. Additionally, we’re going to share some explanations and commentary about internal dialogue that led to the choices we’ve made. Rather than just telling you what we’re doing, we hope to build some trust by explaining why we’re doing it. Given that we rarely have unanimous agreement on any of these decisions, we recognize some are bound to upset certain readers or groups. Our sincere hope is that if we explain our thought process, even if you don’t agree with our choice, you’ll be able to understand it. Second, we’re going to be making some adjustments to the structure of our newsletter. We always want to grow and evolve our core product, which means evaluating it periodically. We also want to remain true to what works and what our readers are getting value out of, so we aren’t trying to reinvent the wheel. A number of these changes we’ve already begun implementing — and we’re always willing to review whether our practices are working or not. Third, we’re announcing our first-ever moderation policies for the comments section. As with our editorial guidelines, we have put a tremendous amount of consideration into how to best build commenting rules that align with our mission. We want to embody the spirit of free speech and exchange while also trying to create a space for genuinely quality dialogue. The guidelines we’re laying out today, I think, meet that goal. But this is also the first time we’re doing this, and we’ll consider the feedback we get from our audience and adapt into the future to continue to pursue that quality space. We are also announcing that, starting next week, we’ll be making the comment section on our website accessible for members only. I know some readers will be disappointed about the decision to gate the comments. In anticipation of that feedback, we’re dedicating the first section of this edition to explaining our rationale and new policies for commenting. So, with that, let’s get into it: Our new moderation policy for the comments section, our newest editorial guidelines, and some updates on the structure of the newsletter. — Isaac Saul, Tangle Founder and Executive Editor --- ## Commenting policy. Today, we are announcing the rules behind our first comment-moderation policy. We are also announcing, in conjunction with these rules, that commenting privileges will only be available to paying Tangle members who are logged into the website. **This policy will go into effect on Monday, March 30.** We first want to explain how we came to the decision to begin paywalling our comments section: 1. We believe having a members-only comments section will encourage buy-in to our mission. If someone is paying to support or access our work, they are more likely to care for the space and conduct themselves in a way that comports with our vision. Given our affordable subscription price and our policy of giving free subscriptions to people who have financial barriers, we believe we can do this without creating unreasonable burdens, which is a core priority for us. 2. Free spaces to comment on Tangle already exist. An [active Reddit community](https://reddit.com/r/tanglenews?ref=readtangle.com) is constantly discussing our work. Platforms like X, Instagram, and Facebook offer readers more places to interact. Given that these spaces are out there, we think we can and should strive to make something special and distinct on our own website. This is our space, so we should own it. 3. In the process of monitoring our comments and preparing to embark on the moderation journey, we realized the people who are most likely to do or say things that degrade the quality of the space are overwhelmingly users who do not pay for our work (some of whom are not even subscribed at the free level). These are *not* people who level harsh criticisms about us, but people who intentionally use inflammatory language and sling insults at fellow Tangle readers. In short: We think forcing these people to either invest in the community or be unable to comment will improve the quality of the discourse on our website. Of course, this will also immediately box out the trolls and rabble-rousers who find our work online and show up in the comments just to be disruptive. ***With all this said,** ****if you want to subscribe to unlock those comments,** [****you can do that here**](https://www.readtangle.com/membership/)***.** Our goal is to create a robust community for dialogue that is unique from other spaces on the internet. In service of that goal, in addition to adding a paywall to the comment section, our team has agreed to a series of commenting rules and guidelines. While they represent our blanket positions on comment section behavior, they come with an important caveat: We will avoid drawing lines on live debates about what is and isn’t an acceptable view. Comments like “Boys can’t become girls” or “Trump supporters are all racists” are certainly offensive to some, but they will be allowed on our page (provided the comments do not otherwise violate our rules). We reserve some right to issue warnings or delete posts that we feel violate the *spirit* of the guidelines and the community standards we are trying to enforce. Additionally, we may disable commenting altogether for anyone who continues to post outside of these guidelines. We’re a small team, and comment moderation is time-consuming work. While we will enforce these guidelines as best we can, we can’t guarantee that we will catch and remove every violation, or that we will do so promptly. Ideally, our comments section will be a self-policing space — the less we have to get involved, the better. Making these rules is a difficult, fraught process, and as with any other Tangle decision, we’re open to reader feedback and may update our guidelines as we see the rules play out in practice. ### Rules. 1. **No direct name-calling.** This is pretty simple. Saying “Republicans are stupid” is permissible — saying “Kevin, you’re stupid” is not. Additionally, directing slurs of any kind at other commenters is unacceptable. 2. **No inciting violence.** Also pretty simple. Saying “Democrats want to burn things down” is allowed; saying “we should burn things down” or “I will punch you in the face” is not. 3. **No gratuitous obscenity.** Our obscenity standard is pretty relaxed. Swear as much as you want, but comments explicitly describing sexual actions or bodily functions will be removed. 4. **No sharing violent multimedia imagery.** We reserve the right to determine if graphic footage of violence is newsworthy and to share or reference it within the newsletter as we see fit. Discussion of graphic content in the comments section is fine, but direct links to footage and imagery will be removed. 5. **No spam, self-promotion, or advertising.** Comments advertising products, promoting your own work, or that are otherwise unrelated to the main article or ensuing discussion in comment threads will be removed. 6. **No excessive reports.** Unnecessary reports make it more difficult for us to find and take down actual violations. Do not report comments just because you find them offensive or you think they *should* be rules violations; report them only if you think they are already legitimate violations of the rules laid out above. Instead, if you think something is overly offensive in violation of the guidelines below, dislike the comment. ### Guidelines. If your comment isn’t in line with our guidelines, you may receive an email reminding you to keep these best practices in mind when posting. And, if you see a comment that violates the guidelines, downvote it. 1. **Be persuasive.** Our goal is to encourage dialogue across political lines. While commenting “Democrats are stupid” is allowed, it won’t change anyone’s mind. If you feel you need to say this, why not explain *why* you think Democrats are stupid? 2. **Approach arguments with curiosity.** We hope that you encounter ideas that you don’t agree with in the comments section. When you do, rather than dismissing them outright, we encourage you to ask questions about the points being made. Think of it as a conversation, not a post. 3. **Hold one another accountable.** If someone isn’t engaging in good faith, you can call them out directly. This is ultimately your community, and we want you to feel empowered to set high standards and expect rigorous conversation. Of course, you can always report a comment when someone oversteps. Again, all of these rules and guidelines are our attempts at making the comments better for everyone. If you think one of them isn’t working, or others will be more helpful, be sure to let us know. And we’ll see you in the comments! --- ## Language choices. ### Fascist and authoritarian. From the start of President Donald Trump’s campaign for president in 2015 up to the present, some scholars, writers, and critics have labelled Trump and his policies as “fascist” or “authoritarian.” We want to offer some clarity on these terms and our usage of them going forward. For our purposes, we’re focusing specifically on fascist and authoritarian political figures and governments — rather than, say, fascist art or authoritarian parenting. Fascism is a far-right form of governance that expresses hard power through the state. Fascist ideas originated in 19th-century European writings in response to rising progressivism and secular liberalism, but it wasn’t until the interwar period that the paradigmatic fascist governments we think of today — Nazi Germany and Mussolini’s Italy — came into power. [Encyclopedia Britannica](https://www.britannica.com/topic/fascism?ref=readtangle.com) notes that there is no universally agreed-upon definition of fascism, but finds several shared characteristics among fascist figures and governments: extreme militaristic nationalism, contempt for electoral democracy and political and cultural liberalism, a belief in natural social hierarchy, and subordinating individual interests to the good of the nation. Arguments promoting Trump as a fascist figure center on his [reinstatement](https://www.govexec.com/workforce/2026/02/trump-admin-moves-finalize-return-schedule-f/411239/?ref=readtangle.com) of Schedule F reclassification of federal workers, his targeting of immigrants and DEI programs, his attempted removal of birthright citizenship, and his domestic deployment of federal troops and masked DHS agents. Since the start of Trump’s second term, many readers have asked us whether we think these actions amount to fascism. We don’t, for a few reasons. The United States under Trump remains a healthy democracy with free and fair elections and a working judiciary. And although Trump is amassing executive power, he is largely doing so through existing legal avenues such as executive orders, which can be overturned by the next president. Encyclopedia Britannica [defines](https://www.britannica.com/topic/authoritarianism?ref=readtangle.com) “authoritarianism” as a form of government that has no mechanism for transferring executive power and that affords its citizens little to no rights. In authoritarian governments, all power lies in the hands of a single person or a small group of people. Modern authoritarian governments persist across the globe in North Korea, Russia, China and Saudi Arabia, among other places. We’ve [defined](https://www.readtangle.com/your-questions-answered-reader-mailbag-march-14/#:~:text=At%20the%20same%20time%2C%20it%E2%80%99s%20not%20impossible%20to%20conceive%20of%20things%20becoming%20increasingly%20more%20dangerous.%20Genuine%20danger%20signs%20for%20me%20would%20include%20these%20five%20things%3A%C2%A0) our own markers of a *shift towards* authoritarianism in the United States: prosecution of political enemies, using the military against peaceful protestors, the erosion of free and fair elections, the collapse of a legitimate opposition party, and genuinely restricted free speech. In previous writing, Executive Editor Isaac Saul has argued Trump is checking the first two of these five boxes. ### America. We refer to the United States of America as “United States,” or “U.S.” for short, and typically use “U.S.” as an adjective. However, we find it to be an awkward usage in many cases, as in “U.S. citizen” instead of “American.” Not only is it wordier, but it’s inexact — *nationality* is not the exact same thing as *citizenship*, and we should have a general word to refer to someone who is a legal and long-term resident of the United States of America. As such, we have adjusted our policy to allow for the use of the word “American” to refer to U.S. citizens or as an adjective describing U.S. governance or culture. A common criticism of this term is that “American” can refer to a resident of any number of countries in North America or South America. However, in practice, this criticism is pretty unconvincing, for three reasons: First, we rarely (if ever) hear people say “American” when they mean “North American” or “South American.” Second, it’s similarly rare to hear anyone use the word “American” to refer to residents of both continents at once. Lastly, nobody would refer to a Canadian or a Guyanan as an “American” when that person could just be referred to by their nationality; meanwhile, without the word “American,” the United States of America would have no such easy demonym. This usage of “American” has a history dating back to the pre-revolutionary British colonies. To use one particularly beautiful example, in Ron Chernow’s biography *Washington: A Life*, Chernow quotes a British soldier watching how Americans behave once the British officially withdrew from New York City: “Here, in this city, we have had an army for more than seven years, and yet could not keep the peace of it … Now \[that\] we are gone, everything is in quietness and safety. The Americans are a curious, original people. They know how to govern themselves, but nobody else can govern them.” Indeed. ### Governmental nomenclature. Speaking of America, we have made the editorial decision not to use new names for geographical places or government entities that a presidential administration has decided to use — unless, or until, an act of Congress officially acknowledges those changes. That means in our coverage, the “Gulf of America” will remain the “Gulf of Mexico,” the “Arabian Gulf” will remain the “Persian Gulf,” and the “Department of War” will remain the “Department of Defense.” This is not intended as an oppositional stance against the Trump administration, but as a precedent that would apply to any president who unilaterally renames geographical places independent of Congress. ### Suicide language. As a general guideline, if our word choices can theoretically decrease the odds of terrible behaviors being repeated, we will make those choices. That “contagion effect” drives our decision not to reprint the names of perpetrators of mass shootings, which we say every time we cover such an event in Tangle. We also refer to recommendations from professional groups to help guide our choices. On the flip side, we have a policy against using terms that feel or sound nicer just to protect the sensitivities of language users (as we have [written about before](https://www.readtangle.com/reader-mailbag-edition-august/#:~:text=Q%3A%20As%20an,from%20Oslo%2C%20Norway)). And we do not follow recommendations dogmatically — if a suggested guideline is not supported with sound reasoning and evidence, we won’t reflexively follow it over other alternatives. We very deeply want to make choices that could prevent suicides. And coming from that position, we want to commit to two important editorial choices. First, following the recommendations from the nonprofit [Reporting on Suicide](https://reportingonsuicide.org/recommendations/?ref=readtangle.com) (RoS), we are going to avoid describing suicide attempts as “successful,” “failed,” or “completed.” As the nonprofit describes, the contagion effect of suicides is real, and referring to the act of taking one’s life as something that can be done “successfully” could frame suicide as a goal to attain and arguably contribute to copycats. Deciding to follow that guideline is a relatively easy and straightforward decision for us. Our second decision is to use the phrase “killed themself” when describing an act of suicide, a phrase which is also recommended by RoS. We considered other possible alternatives, but ruled them out for different reasons. RoS also recommended the phrase “died by suicide,” but we believe that phrase goes against a common journalistic standard of avoiding passive language. The group also recommends against the term “committed suicide,” saying that it uses language consistent with crime or sin (as in “committed murder” or “committed adultery”) and that connotation can create a stigma that makes it less likely for suicidal people to seek help. However, several members of our staff found that justification unconvincing. And after combing through the [research](https://reportingonsuicide.org/research/?ref=readtangle.com) Reporting on Suicide has compiled, we found the data to be inconclusive that avoiding the term “committed suicide” would be preventative — meaning this phrase is unlikely to influence behavior in either direction. The [best study we can find](https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0217473&=&type=printable&ref=readtangle.com) on this term is a survey of “adults affected by suicide” about what terms they prefer; as shown below, the study found no association on the acceptability of the term among this group whatsoever, meaning there’s no demonstrated reason to avoid it. At the same time, the data *also* shows no relationship with the phrase “killed themself.” And since several members of our staff also felt that the stigmatization theory provided good reason to avoid the term “committed suicide” on its own, even if the data is inconclusive, the available reasonable alternative gave us an acceptable solution. ![The results of survey on language choices related to suicide.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/03/data-src-image-df66f4f9-0a17-4e30-8b38-ac376f6b669d.png) We know this is a particularly sensitive and difficult area, and we don’t consider ourselves to be the sole arbiters of what is right and wrong. These guidelines only represent the decisions that we’ve come to for our own writing, and for now. We are always very willing to hear other arguments from readers, and we will never enforce our preferred wording choices on others in the comments section. ### Political orientation. We’ve recently been paying closer attention to how we describe the political orientation of politicians, pundits, and public figures. While this impacts our word choices in a variety of ways, we’re making a particular effort to differentiate between conservatives, right-wingers, and Republicans, as well as between liberals, left-wingers, and Democrats. It has already been our practice to use “Republican” and “Democrat” only to refer to active or former U.S. party members or party-specific policies. The parties are a formal aspect of the American political system, and each party has represented a shifting variety of political ideologies over time. “Republican” is not interchangeable with “conservative”; nor is “Democrat” interchangeable with “liberal.” Moving forward, we will also be more specific in referring to ideologies across the political spectrum. Using the definition from Encyclopedia Britannica, [conservatism](https://www.britannica.com/topic/conservatism?ref=readtangle.com) is “a political doctrine that emphasizes the value of traditional institutions and practices.” More specifically, American conservatism has [long been defined by](https://www.britannica.com/topic/conservatism/The-United-States?ref=readtangle.com) commitments to free-market policies and opposition to government expansion. Liberalism is [defined by Britannica as](https://www.britannica.com/topic/liberalism?ref=readtangle.com) “tak\[ing\] protecting and enhancing the freedom of the individual to be the central problem of politics.” In the U.S., liberalism is [also associated](https://www.britannica.com/topic/liberalism/Liberalism-in-the-19th-century?ref=readtangle.com#ref237347:~:text=The%20modern%20liberal%20program) with the use of government programs to address broader societal restrictions on individual freedoms, such as poverty and inequality. However, traditional American conservatism is [not the only right-wing ideological position](https://www.aei.org/op-eds/what-is-post-liberalism-anyway/?ref=readtangle.com), and traditional American liberalism is [not the sole ideology](https://jacobin.com/2020/10/socialism-liberalism-marx?ref=readtangle.com) on the political left. Furthermore, ascendant figures on the left and the right increasingly represent ideologies that break from traditionally conservative and liberal ideals. Going forward, we will use “liberal” and “conservative” to describe figures and ideas in line with the traditional American understanding of these terms, and use “left” and “right” as umbrella terms to discuss other relevant political ideas and figures. ### Immigration. In our 2023 guidelines, we [wrote about](https://www.readtangle.com/tangle-editorial-policy/#:~:text=in%20monolithic%20terms.-,Immigration,-Specifically%2C%20immigrants%20who) our decision to use “unauthorized migrant” in place of “illegal alien” or “undocumented immigrant.” It was a straightforward compromise, avoiding two terms that felt politically loaded for another that adequately described what we were talking about at the time: people who crossed the border without authorization. However, over time, we have discovered a few reasons why this term wasn’t the catch-all solution we had thought it could be. When we landed on the phrase, border crossings were at an all-time high; now, they’ve shrunk to their lowest levels in recent history. Many of the people who crossed over during that elevated period of migration are now living in the country, legally or illegally. As such, we’re going to start using “unauthorized *im*migrant” as a default to describe “people who crossed into the United States illegally or residents who are not in compliance with their legal restrictions.” This term is also imperfect, because “immigrant” implies a person who has moved with the intention to repatriate to another country, but it’s as close as we can get without being too wordy. Lastly, we will always be as precise as possible when describing a person or group. So if we’re talking about “residents” or “H-1B visa holders” or “asylum-seekers,” or even the original term "unauthorized migrants” in the appropriate context, then we will use those terms. And if we are talking more generally about people not from the United States, we will use the terms “noncitizen” or “foreign national.” But again, and for clarity: When discussing “people who crossed into the United States illegally or residents who are not in compliance with their legal restrictions,” we will be using the term “unauthorized immigrant” — and may also use the phrase “immigrants here illegally” or describe someone as “in the country illegally.” --- ## Structural choices. ### Staff dissents/concurrences. We rolled out the “staff dissent” feature in September 2025, [describing it](https://www.readtangle.com/federal-courts-toss-trumps-reciprocal-tariffs-as-unconstitutional/?ref=tangle-newsletter#:~:text=it%20here.-,Staff%20dissent.,-Tangle%20readers%20rarely) as a way to “highlight the viewpoint diversity on our team” and “articulate criticisms from our audience that are often argued internally, but never seen.” Those tenets remain the same, though we’d add that dissents also serve to highlight areas of an issue that a staff member (or members) thought the take writer may not have sufficiently addressed. Separately, we recently debuted a “staff concurrence” feature to highlight areas where one of us agrees with the thrust of the take but wants to add additional color or reasoning on a related issue. In other words, it’s a new line of thought but not a substantive disagreement with the main argument. For example, in our [first-ever staff concurrence](https://www.readtangle.com/primaries-texas-north-carolina-arkansas-talarico-paxton-cornyn/?ref=tangle-newsletter#:~:text=surveying%20the%20field.-,Staff%20concurrence,-%E2%80%94%20Managing%20Editor%20Ari), Managing Editor Ari Weitzman added a thought to Isaac’s take on the Senate primary results in Texas. Ari’s concurrence offered an additional lens through which to view the election, but didn’t disagree with Isaac’s main conclusions. These features were inspired by Supreme Court rulings. We aspire to be something akin to the “Supreme Court of the media,” with robust ideological diversity among our staff and comfort in publicly sharing our disagreements (and different methods of reasoning) when they arise. The Tangle community seems to appreciate it, too; in fact, these features are the most popular additions we’ve made to the newsletter in some time. We should also note that if you don’t see a dissent after a take, that doesn’t mean the entire staff was in agreement. In many cases, the take writer will moderate or adjust their argument in response to internal feedback they found compelling. In others, we decide the level of disagreement is not significant enough to warrant a full dissent (it might be a dispute about how an issue is described, a minor difference over framing, or something else in that vein). Broadly, an internal debate merits a dissent when one or more staff members disagree outright with a core part of the take’s argument, and at least one member of staff doesn’t feel like their disagreement gets reflected in edits on the take. In cases where multiple staff members have separate disputes, we’ll publish two dissents (though likely never more than that). Dissents and concurrences will arise on an edition-by-edition basis. That said, we’ll never add one for the sake of keeping up a consistent cadence, only when it’s merited along the lines described above. ### Alternating sections. Editors are famous (or infamous) for telling writers to “kill your darlings” — accepting cuts to passages, characters, or story arcs that they personally love but don’t serve the overall piece. We value each newsletter section, but we recognize the time has come for a change. And if we want to experiment with adding new features, some things have to go. The good news: Nothing is going away permanently. Instead, we’re going to start rotating the sections around our main story to make the newsletter more dynamic, visually appealing, and digestible. Quick hits, the introduction to the day’s main story, what the left and right are saying, my take, the reader question, and the extras will remain fixtures. The other sections — under the radar, numbers, and have a nice day — will rotate in and out depending on what we want to prioritize in a given day’s edition (and to ensure we’re slimming down the overall length of the newsletter). Furthermore, we’re going to be working in some new sections. Some initial ideas include: - A quote, chart, or feel-good picture of the day - A spotlight on a new piece of Tangle original content - A highlight from the Tangle team Slack - A staff recommendation for a book, TV show, movie, recipe, or something else - A historical look back at this day in history - An original puzzle - A notable international story - A notable hyper-local news story - A cool personal fact or story from a member of the Tangle community If you have other ideas for new sections, send them in. We’re planning to roll out some of these ideas over the next few months, so don’t be surprised if you notice a section missing one day — or see something entirely new. ### Flex topics. Over the past six months, you may have noticed us occasionally choose to cover a thought-provoking topic outside of the current news cycle, like the debate over [physician-assisted suicide](https://www.readtangle.com/the-debate-over-physician-assisted-suicide/) or [sports betting](https://www.readtangle.com/the-nba-gambling-scandals/). Internally, we call these “flex topics.” Our criteria for these stories are straightforward: They should involve an issue that’s relevant to national U.S. politics, inspire debate across the political spectrum, and address a topic our audience has expressed interest in. Flex topics also comprise meaty enough issues that we don’t think they can be sufficiently addressed in a response to a reader question. We like having the flexibility to dip out of the news cycle from time to time, especially when the week’s dominant stories are ones we’ve recently covered, and the response to these pieces has been broadly positive. You can expect to see flex editions more often going forward, but we’ll always prioritize stories in the present news cycle. A final note: Please send in your ideas! We solicit them internally every week, but we’d love to build out a deeper queue of potential topics, and we want to know what issues you think would be interesting to tackle with the Tangle method. ### 2-2-2 format. When we cover stories that involve a specific group of people, a region or an area of technical expertise, we’ll break from our “three views from the left, three views from the right” format and add a third section of commentary with two arguments from each group. This “2-2-2” format allows us to share perspectives relevant to the story that don’t fit neatly into political boxes. Most often, these will be views from outside of the U.S., but we’ve also used this format for stories centered on American states, policy debates, and industries. We look to use it whenever possible to bring in views that you usually don’t encounter in national political punditry, but we don’t always have enough commentary to include it. ### AI. Tangle is a people-first organization. We do not rely on artificial intelligence to create any of our editorial content on any platform. We do the hard work of gathering sources, analyzing the research, and then refining our position through thoughtful debate with the rest of the team. Currently, we use AI in one step of our editorial process: fact-checking. After the newsletter and YouTube scripts have been through multiple rounds of edits and human fact-checks, we run the content through an AI fact-checker as a final review. AI isn’t perfect for this use case; it still flags things as incorrect that aren’t and misses things that human editors later catch. We think of AI as one of our team, but it certainly cannot replace any one of our team. We also use AI to assist with certain research tasks, like pinpointing information we’re looking for in long documents, synthesizing summaries of events, and identifying interview targets for reported pieces. We’ve found the technology helpful and efficient for these uses and haven’t encountered significant downsides when used with human oversight. Outside of fact-checking and research support, though, we don’t expect to meaningfully incorporate AI into other aspects of our work. ### “Why didn’t you tell me about Pearl Harbor?” Trump asks Japanese reporter after question on Iran. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/why-didnt-you-tell-me-about-pearl-harbor-trump-asks-japanese-reporter-after-question-on-iran/ Last updated: 2026-03-20T00:02:14.000Z After a Japanese journalist asked President Donald Trump why the U.S. did not inform allies before striking Iran, Trump said he wanted the attack to be a surprise. “Because we wanted surprise, who knows better about surprise than Japan? Why didn’t you tell me about Pearl Harbor?” ### The SAVE America Act before the Senate. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/save-america-act-voter-id-law/ Last updated: 2026-03-19T15:54:07.000Z *I'm Isaac Saul, and this is Tangle: an independent, nonpartisan, subscriber-supported politics newsletter that summarizes the best arguments from across the political spectrum on the news of the day — then “my take.”* *Are you new here?* [*Get free emails*](https://www.readtangle.com/) *to your inbox daily. Would you rather listen? You can find our podcast* [*here*](https://shows.acast.com/66510864c0852400122bc7be?ref=readtangle.com)*.* ### Today’s read: 14 minutes. 🗳️ The hotly debated SAVE America Act reaches the Senate floor. Plus, why do we measure oil production in barrels but oil spills in gallons? ### Change is coming to Tangle. We’re working to build the most trusted political news outlet in the world. As part of that effort, we fixate on the small things — language choices, structural tweaks, refined coverage approaches, and the like. As a staff, we’re constantly scrutinizing our editorial choices and thinking of ways they can be improved. And occasionally, every couple of years, we decide on a set of significant changes that we share with the Tangle community. In tomorrow’s Friday edition, we’ll give updates on our editorial guidelines, changes to the newsletter’s structure, and new policies for our comment section. For each update, we’ll talk through what led to the decision, why we’re making it now, and what we hope the effect will be. The full edition will be sent to free and paid members, so keep an eye out for it in your inbox tomorrow. ### Quick hits. 1. Russia has reportedly expanded its intelligence sharing and military cooperation with Iran to assist its attacks on U.S. forces in the Middle East. ([The report](https://www.wsj.com/world/russia-is-sharing-satellite-imagery-and-drone-technology-with-iran-0dd95e49?ref=readtangle.com)) 2. The Israeli military struck an Iranian natural gas processing facility, the first such strike in the current conflict. U.S. officials confirmed that the Trump administration approved the strike. ([The strike](https://www.axios.com/2026/03/18/israel-strikes-iran-natural-gas-infrastructure?ref=readtangle.com)) Separately, President Donald Trump waived the Jones Act, a law requiring goods shipped between U.S. ports to be transported on ships that are U.S.-built, -owned, -flagged and -crewed, for 60 days. The White House said the move is intended to “mitigate the short-term disruptions to the oil market” during the Iran war. ([The suspension](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/18/business/jones-act-oil-prices-trump-iran.html?ref=readtangle.com)) 3. The Federal Open Market Committee voted 11–1 to keep interest rates unchanged at its current 3.5%–3.75% range. The committee noted uncertainty in the U.S. economic outlook due to the conflict in the Middle East. ([The vote](https://www.foxbusiness.com/economy/federal-reserve-interest-rate-decision-march-18-2026?ref=readtangle.com)) 4. National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard testified before the Senate Intelligence Committee to update lawmakers on threats facing the United States. On Iran, Gabbard said the regime “appears to be intact but largely degraded” by U.S. and Israeli strikes. ([The testimony](https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/tulsi-gabbard-kash-patel-senate-intelligence-committee-hearing/?ref=readtangle.com)) 5. The Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs voted 8–7 to advance Senator Markwayne Mullin’s (R-OK) nomination as Department of Homeland Security secretary to the full Senate. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) says a final confirmation vote could come as soon as next week. ([The vote](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/03/19/markwayne-mullin-dhs-immigration-senate-vote.html?ref=readtangle.com)) SPONSORED by finance buzz ****Americans Born Between 1941–1979 Can Receive These 10 Benefits This Month** You could be missing out on $1,000s, and you [might not even realize it](https://financebuzz.com/money-moves-senior-benefits-yaez-1?utm%5Fsource=tangle&utm%5Fmedium=paid-newsletter-cpf&utm%5Fterm=Tangle&utm%5Fcampaign=BM-FBZ-Tangle-money-moves-senior-benefits-yaez-1-CPF&adgroupid=BM-Tangle-money-moves-senior-benefits-yaez-1-CPF-03192025). Sure, you might know about some senior discounts at diners or retail stores. 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But act fast — we don't know how long these programs will last! ****Unlock Your Savings:** [****See the Full 2025 Checklist**](https://financebuzz.com/money-moves-senior-benefits-yaez-1?utm%5Fsource=tangle&utm%5Fmedium=paid-newsletter-cpf&utm%5Fterm=Tangle&utm%5Fcampaign=BM-FBZ-Tangle-money-moves-senior-benefits-yaez-1-CPF&adgroupid=BM-Tangle-money-moves-senior-benefits-yaez-1-CPF-03192025)****.** ### Today’s topic. The SAVE America Act. On Tuesday, the Senate [voted](https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5788105-senate-save-america-act-debate/?ref=readtangle.com) 51–48 to begin debate on the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, also known as the SAVE America Act. The bill would [require](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/22?ref=readtangle.com) citizens to present documentation confirming their citizenship when registering to vote and require photo identification to vote in federal elections. Tuesday’s vote formally initiates discussion of the bill on the Senate floor, a precursor to a potential final vote. **Back up:** In September 2024, the House [rejected](https://www.readtangle.com/the-save-act-and-government-funding/) an attempt to pass an earlier version of the SAVE Act that was paired with a government spending bill. In April 2025, the House [passed](https://www.readtangle.com/the-save-act-separating-truth-from-fiction/) another version of the bill, but the Senate [did not](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/22/all-actions?ref=readtangle.com) take it up. The latest version of the bill has become a priority for President Donald Trump, with the president [saying](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-says-will-not-sign-bills-america-act-passes-rcna262336?ref=readtangle.com) earlier this month that he will not sign any legislation until the act is passed. The House [voted](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/11/us/politics/house-passes-voter-id-bill.html?ref=readtangle.com) 218–213 to pass the bill in February, but it still must overcome the 60-vote filibuster threshold to pass the Senate, where Republicans have a 53–47 majority. Under [current law](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/17/us/politics/trump-voter-id-bill.html?smid=url-share&ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=It%20would%20stiffen%20voter%20identification%20requirements%20nationwide.), people registering to vote must present their driver’s license or the last four digits of their Social Security number to verify their eligibility. If neither form is available, states can verify citizenship through a federal database. For those registering to vote by mail-in ballot, states verify identity by comparing the signature on the ballot to the one on file. The SAVE America Act [would](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/17/us/politics/trump-voter-id-bill.html?smid=url-share&ref=readtangle.com) limit mail or online voter registration and require documentary proof of citizenship (such as a birth certificate or passport) to register. The bill would also mandate government-issued photo ID at polling places. To vote by mail, voters would need to attach a copy of their identification when requesting a ballot and sending it back. Alternatively, people voting by mail could submit the last four digits of their Social Security number, along with an affidavit stating that they could not obtain a copy of a valid photo ID. Furthermore, the law would require states to submit their voter rolls to the Department of Homeland Security for cross-referencing with citizenship data. Republicans say the bill is necessary to maintain the integrity of U.S. elections, particularly by preventing noncitizens from voting. In recent weeks, some GOP lawmakers have called on Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) to force a “talking filibuster” — requiring Democrats to physically hold the floor to block the bill from coming to a vote — to work around the 60-vote threshold that stands in the way of a final vote. Thune, however, has so far [resisted](https://www.politico.com/news/2026/03/11/john-thune-save-america-act-talking-filibuster-00822428?ref=readtangle.com), saying that Republicans do not have sufficient votes for the move. In proceeding to debate on the bill, Republicans [say](https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5783688-senate-floor-takeover-save-america-act/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Trump%20allies%2C%20frustrated%20that%20they%20aren%E2%80%99t%20able%20to%20force%20Democrats%20to%20stage%20a%20talking%20filibuster%20to%20block%20the%20bill%2C%20are%20pressing%20Thune%20to%20keep%20the%20measure%20on%20the%20floor%20as%20long%20as%20possible%20to%20force%20Democrats%20to%20defend%20their%20opposition.) they want to bring national attention to the effort and force Democrats to go on record about why they don’t support it. Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-MO) is expected to begin debate with a [series of amendments](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/gop-triggers-marathon-senate-fight-expose-dems-opposition-trump-backed-voter-id-bill?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Sen.%20Eric%20Schmitt,surgeries%20on%20minors.) backed by President Trump, including ending unsolicited mail-in ballots (with exceptions for military service, disabilities, illnesses, and travel), banning biological males from competing in women’s sports, and prohibiting transgender surgeries for minors. On Tuesday, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) [said](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/gop-triggers-marathon-senate-fight-expose-dems-opposition-trump-backed-voter-id-bill?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=%22Not%20a%20single,as%20it%20takes.%22) that Democrats are united in opposition to the bill and will fight its passage for as long as the debate process lasts. Democrats claim the SAVE America Act addresses a nonexistent issue — voter fraud and noncitizen voting — and its restrictions would only dissuade or burden potential voters. Some have also suggested the effort is designed to promote mistrust in election security ahead of the midterm elections, allowing Republicans to claim the results are fraudulent if they suffer significant losses. Today, we’ll cover the latest developments in the push to pass the SAVE America Act, with views from the left and right. Then, Executive Editor Isaac Saul gives his take. ### What the left is saying. - **The left opposes the bill, with many arguing it would disenfranchise a significant number of Americans.** - **Some say the legislative push is derived solely from Trump’s grievances.** - **Others suggest Republicans have little shot of passing the bill.** **For The Brennan Center, Michael Waldman wrote about** [**the “SAVE Act reach\[ing\] the Senate.”**](https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/save-act-reaches-senate?ref=readtangle.com) “Why this bill, now? President Trump, in the middle of a drive to undermine future elections, calls it his number one priority. The public has a different idea. A recent *New York Times*/Siena poll asked voters what they see as the most important problem facing the country. The war? The economy? The percentage of voters who wanted Congress to focus on ‘election integrity’ was… zero,” Waldman said. “This legislation goes far beyond, say, requiring identification at the polls. The requirement to show a passport or birth certificate to register to vote would block many, many more American citizens from voting than any voter ID rule that has come anywhere close to passage.” “The newest version of the SAVE Act has been stuffed with bad ideas. It would require states to hand sensitive voter roll information over to the Department of Homeland Security to scrutinize. We already know that the federal government has requested — and, in some states, received — the ability to demand the removal of specific voters from the rolls,” Waldman wrote. “Again, we must ask: Why this, why now? Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) said the quiet part out loud. He posted a chart showing that the prediction site Polymarket now shows that ‘Democrats are the favorites to win control of the Senate in 2026.’” **In The New York Times, Jamelle Bouie asked** [**“this is what the president is fixated on right now?”**](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/18/opinion/trump-save-america-act.html?ref=readtangle.com) “As the president sees it, and as the name would have you believe, the SAVE Act is meant to secure American elections against corruption and malfeasance,” Bouie wrote. “But to this president, as we should know by now, a ‘rigged’ election is one that he lost or did not win to his satisfaction. To Trump, the 2016 presidential election, in which he won the Electoral College but lost the popular vote, was ‘rigged.’ So was 2020, where he lost outright and then led his supporters in a failed but destructive effort to ‘stop the steal.’” “Trump does not believe that he can legitimately lose an election… The SAVE Act is an attempt to make that distinction a political reality by removing as many mere Americans from the voting pool as possible and elevating the ‘true’ people of the United States — who just so happen to support Trump and the Republican Party — as the only legitimate players in American political life,” Bouie said. “The point of the SAVE Act… is to use a ginned-up panic over noncitizen voting to disenfranchise the tens of millions of Americans who oppose the president and who have, as a result, been placed outside the political community.” **In CNN, Aaron Blake suggested** [**“Republicans face a growing conundrum on the ‘SAVE America Act.’”**](https://www.cnn.com/2026/03/10/politics/save-america-act-trump-bill?ref=readtangle.com) “Congressional Republicans have spent years playing into President Donald Trump’s wild claims about undocumented immigrants and illegal voting… The party appears stuck between a rock and a hard place when it comes to the legislation the GOP has dubbed the ‘SAVE America Act’ to address this purported problem,” Blake wrote. “The rock is the increasingly apocalyptic demands of a base and a president who appear insistent about this legislation, and the hard place is the fact that Senate Republicans don’t appear to have any straightforward way to pass it like the House did.” “Perhaps the most oft-mentioned idea is implementing the ‘talking filibuster’… But this works better in theory than in practice. In reality, it could simply mean that the Senate’s efforts get gummed up for weeks or months, with no guarantee of success. The process would also mean Democrats could offer amendments that could torpedo that whole bill,” Blake said. “The final option would be to nix the filibuster entirely — the so-called ‘nuclear option.’ But similar to when Democrats floated this idea earlier this decade, the Senate GOP doesn’t seem to have the votes. And some more institutionally minded and centrist Republicans would surely fear what that would portend.” ### What the right is saying. - **The right supports the bill, and many note that its core provisions are overwhelmingly popular with voters.** - **Some worry that the Trump-backed version of the bill could backfire on the GOP.** - **Others encourage Republicans to accept a compromise.** **In The Daily Caller, Travis Taylor said** [**“if democracy means listening to voters, \[the\] Senate should pass SAVE America Act.”**](https://dailycaller.com/2026/03/10/opinion-if-democracy-means-listening-to-voters-senate-should-pass-save-america-act-travis-taylor/?ref=readtangle.com) “As a professional pollster, I can tell you that few political issues, if any, enjoy the kind of strong, bipartisan support that the SAVE America Act enjoys,” Taylor wrote. “When it comes to election integrity, there are two groups of people. One group wants to ensure only eligible Americans are casting ballots. The other group is willing to tolerate election fraud. There is no third group. The American people are overwhelmingly in the first.” “Despite what the elites say, Americans’ concerns about election integrity aren’t discriminatory or paranoid — they are perfectly reasonable. Democracy requires trust in elections — so that no matter who wins or loses everyone accepts the outcome. This leads to more civic harmony, a stronger society, and a government more in line with what people actually want,” Taylor said. “Senate Democrats should take a look at the polls and realize that supporting the SAVE America Act is a huge opportunity to deliver for most of their voters. And, if they won’t do that, then Republican Leader John Thune should force the issue and show the American people which party reflects their values.” **The Wall Street Journal editorial board wrote about** [**“why the SAVE America Act… won’t.”**](https://www.wsj.com/opinion/save-america-act-voter-id-donald-trump-senate-filibuster-a2331419?ref=readtangle.com) “Mr. Trump now wants to expand the SAVE America Act. One of his ideas is to countermand dozens of state laws on mail voting, by restricting such ballots to people who are sick, disabled, serving in the military, or traveling,” the board said. “As an election policy, this has real upside. Yet many GOP states let anyone vote absentee. Do Republicans really want to endorse having the federal government overrule the election laws in Florida, Georgia, Wisconsin, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Oklahoma, Kansas, and more?” “Audits in a variety of places — Georgia, Michigan, Texas, Utah, Idaho — have found noncitizen voting and registration to be rare. Other states might be worse, but consider incentives: Illegal immigrants who want to stay are trying to avoid being noticed by the authorities,” the board wrote. “But the SAVE America Act wouldn’t turn blue states red, and it can’t save Republicans from voter anger at unpopular policies. In the MAGA era, the bill could even marginally hurt the GOP. Kamala Harris in 2024 won college graduates and voters earning over $100,000 a year. Mr. Trump carried those with no degrees and lower salaries. Which coalition is most likely not to have passports and birth certificates handy?” **In Fox News, David Marcus argued** [**“\[the\] Senate GOP should take Fetterman’s deal on voter ID.”**](https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/david-marcus-senate-gop-should-take-fettermans-deal-voter-id?ref=readtangle.com) “Over the next several days, perhaps even stretching into next week, the United States Senate, that grave and august deliberative body, will performatively waste time with impassioned speeches over the SAVE America Act, which they all know will never pass,” Marcus said. “There may, however, be an off ramp to this Mobius loop of legislative futility: A proposal from Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., would have the upper body vote on a clean, simple, voter ID bill, without provisions regarding mail-in ballots or citizenship.” “Even without the provisions regarding citizenship and mail-in voting, a law requiring a valid ID to vote in federal elections would be a major victory for Republicans… Politically speaking, such a clean voter ID bill would put Democrats in a much tougher bind than they are in today, because they lose every one of their somewhat plausible-sounding objections to the SAVE America Act,” Marcus wrote. “The American people neither need nor desire a week of pointless speeches about a bill that can’t pass. Instead, let the Senate do some actual work, and at the very least pass a simple, popular and effective voter ID bill.” ### My take. **Reminder: “My take” is a section where we give ourselves space to share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, don't unsubscribe. Write in by replying to this email, or** [**leave a comment**](https://www.readtangle.com/save-america-act-voter-id-law/#ghost-comments-root)**.** - **Election security has become perhaps my biggest area of expertise over my time with Tangle.** - **Voter fraud happens and election fraud is very rare — however, laws to address them probably don’t cause voter suppression.** - **I wouldn’t support this bill, but I would support a bill requiring ID to vote that also makes it free and easy to get IDs.** **Executive Editor Isaac Saul:** I’ll cut to the chase and put my cards on the table immediately: 1. We do not need to change the proof of citizenship requirements for people to vote. 2. We *could* benefit from voter ID laws, with one important stipulation. Now that you know where I’m going to land at the end of this take, I’ll show my work here: As longtime Tangle readers know, I inadvertently became one of the more prominent reporters on the “election fraud” beat over the last six years. I had a [thread](https://x.com/Ike%5FSaul/status/1324435797374808066?s=20&ref=readtangle.com) on Twitter that went viral during the 2020 election, where I explained, debunked, or (in rare cases) validated voter- and election-fraud allegations in real time. I went on a radio show where the host was giving out cash awards to people who could share an election fraud theory that I couldn’t explain. Since then, I’ve investigated and written extensively about all manner of allegations that the 2020 election was stolen, from [Dinesh D’Souza’s film *2,000 Mules*](https://www.readtangle.com/2000-mules-fact-check-stolen-election/) to the way the story was proffered by [characters like Sidney Powell](https://www.readtangle.com/sidney-powell-admit-lie-stolen-election/). And, I’m proud to say, [I changed a lot of people’s minds](https://www.thisamericanlife.org/845/a-small-thing?ref=readtangle.com). In short: This is an area where I’ve become a bit of an “expert,” and one I’m deeply interested in because — honestly — if the 2020 election was stolen, or our elections were vulnerable to widespread fraud, it’d be the biggest story of my lifetime. I’d want to be the journalist who broke that story. But after years of reporting on this issue extensively, a few obvious truths stand between that theory and reality. First, voter fraud (that is, individuals casting illegal ballots) happens in most elections. A lot of people who trust our elections get caught by denying that, but it does happen — it’s just a very tiny fraction of all votes cast. Voter fraud is often caught and prosecuted, and I don’t know of a single election where instances of fraud changed the outcome. It often happens *accidentally*, through people voting at the wrong precinct or casting a ballot when they are no longer eligible. When it happens intentionally, it’s most often a family drama (like someone trying to cast a ballot for their dead parent who hasn’t yet been cleared from the voting rolls). Election fraud, which is the systematic manipulation of an election by groups, is extremely rare. Still, election fraud has changed the outcome of small, local elections in rare cases where a few hundred votes can decide the outcome — most recently, a 2020 New Jersey City Council election in Paterson, New Jersey. Another prominent example in the 21st century featured former Rep. Michael “Ozzie” Myers, who was caught bribing election workers to stuff ballot boxes in Philadelphia’s [2014 through 2018 elections](http://justice.gov/usao-edpa/pr/former-us-congressman-and-philadelphia-political-operative-sentenced-30-months-prison?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=United%20States%20Attorney,2018%20Pennsylvania%20elections). He pleaded guilty in 2022 and was sentenced to two and a half years in prison. That’s a good example of what *election* fraud usually looks like. Unauthorized immigrants casting ballots may be the least common version of both voter fraud *and* election fraud. We know this because many states — including Georgia and Texas — have spent millions of dollars auditing elections and investigating this very phenomenon. In Texas, the state [found 2,700](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/texas-finds-thousands-illegal-immigrants-registered-vote-state-voter-rolls?ref=readtangle.com) illegal immigrants on its voter rolls. On one hand, that is a lot of people. On the other hand, that is just the people *who could have* voted, not the people who tried to. And 18 million people are on the Texas voter rolls, so that’s 0.015% of all voters. Texas’s audit, in total, found one million people on voter rolls it deemed ineligible, so unauthorized immigrants make up a very tiny fraction of just this ineligible-but-registered population (and again, these weren’t people who voted, but simply *might* have been able to get away with voting because of bad voter records). Still, given all this, I don’t think this issue is quite as simple as “We’re trying to fix a problem that doesn’t exist.” There *is* a problem, which is that people lack trust in our elections. And in states like Texas, where voter rolls are not being kept up properly, we do end up with a lot of people who are still eligible to vote when they shouldn’t be. Have Trump and Republicans exacerbated this lack of trust? Of course. Do I think it’s absurd the president is talking about refusing to sign any legislation until this non-pressing problem is addressed? Definitely. Do I wish they were focused on solutions like better data sharing across state lines and keeping voter rolls more up to date? Absolutely. Am I happy about any of this? No. But is there a solution here that might be beneficial? Actually, I think so. In 2023, I wrote about [how I changed my mind on voter ID laws](https://www.readtangle.com/changed-my-mind-about-voter-id/). The upshot of that piece is that voter ID laws are commonplace across our Western peers, and it shouldn’t be that controversial to ask people to show their identification to vote. Also: Voters presenting IDs could reduce time and costs elsewhere, as it would almost certainly reduce the number of people accidentally voting in the wrong precincts, or voting as a dead relative, or casting a ballot that (later) needs to be cured because of a bad signature or some other minor, technical issue. It could even relieve some of the stress on states that have to cross-reference all manner of data points (from signatures to address changes) if we had a more direct system of voter verification. Just as very little evidence shows election fraud is a real problem, very little evidence shows that voter ID laws disenfranchise voters. We have [studied](https://www.nber.org/papers/w25522?ref=readtangle.com) this in the states that have implemented these laws. Obviously, regulations will impact more people if they’re implemented at the federal level, but I think the solution is simple: In conjunction with a voter ID law, include funding to provide government-issued IDs for free to anyone who doesn’t have one (often the elderly and low-income). If Republicans are serious about this issue, they could spend a little bit of money to make sure no American citizens are cut out of the process for lack of means. Short of that, I wouldn’t support a voter ID law. But I think that would be a real path to get it done. Indeed, Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) is [proposing](https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/david-marcus-senate-gop-should-take-fettermans-deal-voter-id?ref=readtangle.com) a standalone voter ID bill that, with some small amendments, could be just the kind of thing that (God willing) restores faith in our elections and does it without restricting the right to vote for any American. Another upside of this route is that it would avoid all the other negative impacts of the SAVE America Act’s complicated, and in some cases draconian, provisions. For example, requiring people who are registering to vote, or changing their precinct, to present not just photo ID but proof of citizenship would create all manner of complications, especially for married women who have changed their names (some 69 million Americans) and town clerks who would be responsible for processing millions and millions of documents for a very, very small issue. Given the cost, time, and absolute mayhem these changes would cause at the local level, the upside is very close to nonexistent. To learn more about this, I recommend reading our deep dive on [the original SAVE Act from April 2025](https://www.readtangle.com/the-save-act-separating-truth-from-fiction/). Maybe such a compromise doesn’t stand a chance in this iteration of Congress, but real reform that helps improve confidence in our elections, brings us in line with peer countries in the Western world, and does it all without disenfranchising anybody is the kind of thing most Americans would rally behind. **Take the survey:** What do you think of the SAVE America Act? [Let us know](https://interrobang.vercel.app/survey/0fa00266-40ae-49ab-b7e8-e7c84db71834?ref=readtangle.com). *Disagree? That's okay. Our opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we'll consider publishing your feedback.* ### Your questions, answered. **Q: Is there a reason oil production volume is measured in barrels but spilled oil is measured in gallons?** **— Morgan from Lenexa, KS** **Tangle:** Measuring crude oil production in barrels is a [vestige](https://www.goffpetroleum.co.uk/news/why-do-we-measure-oil-in-barrels-and-price-it-in-dollars?ref=readtangle.com) of the history of the oil trade between American and English merchants. In 1866, American oil producers met in Titusville, Pennsylvania, to agree on a standard unit of measurement when shipping oil. They [decided to use the tierce](https://aoghs.org/transportation/history-of-the-42-gallon-oil-barrel/?ref=readtangle.com), a specific type of 42-gallon barrel that had developed in England over centuries of craftsmanship. Watertight tierces were a common shipping container for a variety of goods in the 19th-century United States, and when filled with oil they weighed about 300 pounds, the most weight one worker could reasonably handle during shipping. Because of its standard use in shipping, the 42-gallon barrel became the industry standard measurement for oil production over the following two decades. It has remained the industry standard for measurement since then, even though [modern oil drums](https://whysteeldrums.org/history-of-steel-drums/?ref=readtangle.com) hold 55 gallons and most oil is transported in tankers or via pipelines. Measuring oil spills has its own complicated history. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [tracks](https://response.restoration.noaa.gov/oil-and-chemical-spills/oil-spills/largest-oil-spills-affecting-us-waters-1969.html?ref=readtangle.com) oil spills in both barrels and gallons. During and after the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill, the U.S. government also issued estimates in both [barrels](https://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/14/us/14oil.html?%5Fr=0&ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=The%20following%20day%2C%20the%20government%20%E2%80%94%20over%20public%20objections%20from%20BP%20%E2%80%94%20raised%20its%20estimate%20to%205%2C000%20barrels%20a%20day.%20A%20barrel%20is%2042%20gallons%2C%20so%20the%20estimate%20works%20out%20to%20210%2C000%20gallons%20per%20day.) and [gallons](https://response.restoration.noaa.gov/deepwater-horizon-oil-spill-case-study?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=On%20April%2020,depend%20on%20them.), and media coverage used [both metrics](https://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/14/us/14oil.html?%5Fr=0&ref=readtangle.com) to discuss the spill. Some writers criticized [this coverage](https://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/flowchart/2010/06/17/why-the-bp-spill-is-bigger-than-you-think?ref=readtangle.com), arguing that using barrels or switching between barrels and gallons was confusing for U.S. readers and misled them on the amount of oil that was spilled. Environmental organizations tend to primarily use gallons to describe spilled oil, arguing it is easier for the public to comprehend the measure; however, barrels spilled is the metric used to [impose fines](https://archive.epa.gov/emergencies/content/lawsregs/web/html/opaover.html?ref=readtangle.com) or track the economic impact of oil spills. **Want to have a question answered in the newsletter? You can reply to this email (it goes straight to our inbox) or** [**fill out this form**](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScQhqBSG%5F6%5FoBhwcTQMeS570n29XYbeQ9C9Bis7rjqI31g1tA/viewform?usp=header&ref=readtangle.com)**.** ### Under the radar. On Tuesday, Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes (D) filed criminal charges against prediction market platform Kalshi, alleging that the company operates an illegal gambling business. Kalshi and its rival platform Polymarket offer users the ability to place bets on real-world outcomes in politics, business, sports, and more. Arizona claims that Kalshi’s business runs afoul of state laws on unlicensed gambling by allowing bets on professional and college sporting events, as well as elections. Kalshi, which called the charges “meritless,” has argued that its platform is a financial marketplace and should not be subject to gambling regulations. Other states have sued these platforms on civil grounds, but Arizona’s criminal lawsuit raises the stakes in the ongoing fight. [The New York Times has the story](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/17/technology/arizona-criminal-charges-kalshi.html?ref=readtangle.com). 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[****See the Full Checklist**](https://financebuzz.com/money-moves-senior-benefits-yaez-1?utm%5Fsource=tangle&utm%5Fmedium=paid-newsletter-cpf&utm%5Fterm=Tangle&utm%5Fcampaign=BM-FBZ-Tangle-money-moves-senior-benefits-yaez-1-CPF&adgroupid=BM-Tangle-money-moves-senior-benefits-yaez-1-CPF-03192025)****.** ### Numbers. - [**71%.**](https://harvardharrispoll.com/press-release-february-2026/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=71%25%20of%20voters%20support%20the%20SAVE%20America%20Act%20%28Democrats%3A%2050%25%3B%20Republicans%3A%2091%25%3B%20Independents%3A%2069%25%29%2C%20with%2054%25%20prioritizing%20stopping%20voter%20fraud%20over%20access%20concerns%20for%20eligible%20citizens.) The percentage of U.S. voters who say they support the SAVE America Act, according to a February 2026 Harvard CAPS/Harris poll. - [**91%, 50%, and 69%.**](https://harvardharrispoll.com/press-release-february-2026/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=71%25%20of%20voters%20support%20the%20SAVE%20America%20Act%20%28Democrats%3A%2050%25%3B%20Republicans%3A%2091%25%3B%20Independents%3A%2069%25%29%2C%20with%2054%25%20prioritizing%20stopping%20voter%20fraud%20over%20access%20concerns%20for%20eligible%20citizens.) The percentage of Republicans, Democrats and independents, respectively, who say they support the bill. - [**54%.**](https://harvardharrispoll.com/press-release-february-2026/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=71%25%20of%20voters%20support%20the%20SAVE%20America%20Act%20%28Democrats%3A%2050%25%3B%20Republicans%3A%2091%25%3B%20Independents%3A%2069%25%29%2C%20with%2054%25%20prioritizing%20stopping%20voter%20fraud%20over%20access%20concerns%20for%20eligible%20citizens.) The percentage of U.S. voters who say stopping voter fraud should take priority over voting access concerns for eligible citizens. - [**58%.**](https://harvardharrispoll.com/press-release-february-2026/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=58%25%20of%20voters%20believe%20there%20is%20at%20least%20some%20voter%20fraud%20in%20U.S.%20elections%2C%20particularly%20among%20Republicans%20%2877%25%29%20and%20Independents%20%2858%25%29%2C%20despite%2060%25%20saying%20the%20elections%20are%20generally%20secure.) The percentage of U.S. voters who believe there is at least some voter fraud in U.S. elections. - [**83% and 16%.**](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2025/08/PP%5F2025.8.22%5Fvoting-policy%5Freport.pdf?ref=readtangle.com#page=4) The percentage of U.S. adults who favor and oppose, respectively, requiring all voters to show government-issued photo identification to vote, according to an August 2025 Pew Research poll. ### The extras. - **One year ago today** we wrote about the [deportations under the Alien Enemies Act](https://www.readtangle.com/trump-el-salvador-and-the-alien-enemies-act/). - **The most clicked link in yesterday’s newsletter** was our newest YouTube video about [American evacuations from the Middle East](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SrvBBYhcJM&ref=readtangle.com). - **Nothing to do with politics:** See what’s on the radio waves across the world with [Radio Garden](https://radio.garden/visit/sioux-falls-sd/L8SlenaN?ref=readtangle.com). - **Yesterday’s survey:** 2,501 readers responded to our survey on U.S. intervention in Cuba with 52% supporting no intervention. “We are taking on too many challenges at once. Fix the Iran mess and re-support Ukraine. Don’t light new fires,” one respondent said. “Use of military force should always be the last resort,” said another. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/03/data-src-image-e72a39ec-e1d1-4900-bac6-d747330621af.png) ### Have a nice day. Kakapo are large, lime green, flightless birds native to New Zealand that have become endangered — at the beginning of 2026, only 236 kakapo remained around the world. However, kakapo mating this year surged due to the season’s abundance of rimu berries, a necessary component of the birds’ mating ritual. The strong breeding cycle was particularly celebrated by the Ngai Tahu, a Maori iwi tribe that cares for the birds on New Zealand’s South Island. “It’s a taonga species, a treasure to us,” Tane Davis, representative for the tribe’s kakapo conservation efforts, said. [Scientific American has the story](https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/kakap-chicks-surge-after-rare-berry-bloom/?ref=readtangle.com). ### Cuba on the brink. URL: https://www.readtangle.com/cuba-energy-crisis-oil-trump/ Last updated: 2026-03-18T15:53:20.000Z *I*’*m Isaac Saul, and this is Tangle: an independent, nonpartisan, subscriber-supported politics newsletter that summarizes the best arguments from across the political spectrum on the news of the day — then “my take.”* *Are you new here?* [*Get free emails*](https://www.readtangle.com/) *to your inbox daily. Would you rather listen? You can find our podcast* [*here*](https://shows.acast.com/66510864c0852400122bc7be?ref=readtangle.com)*.* ### Today’s read: 15 minutes. 🇨🇺 Following a total grid failure in Cuba, President Donald Trump talks about “taking” the country. Plus, an update on the trial of captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. ### Stranded in the Middle East. When the United States and Israel launched strikes against Iran at the end of February, airspaces shut down and commercial flights were cancelled across the region. For Americans in the Middle East, the following days were marked by chaotic attempts to evacuate and inconsistent communication from U.S. embassies. Associate Producer Aidan Gorman has experienced embassy evacuations firsthand, and in our latest YouTube video he breaks down what happened, what *should* have happened, and the stark realities of evacuation policies. Check it out [here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SrvBBYhcJM&ref=readtangle.com): ### Quick hits. 1. The Israeli military said it killed Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, and Gholamreza Soleimani, commander of the Basij paramilitary group, in airstrikes. ([The strikes](https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2026/03/17/us-iran-israel-war-ali-larijani/?ref=readtangle.com)) Separately, on Wednesday morning, Israel said it killed Iranian Intelligence Minister ​Esmail Khatib in an overnight strike. ([The latest](https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israel-says-iranian-intelligence-minister-khatib-killed-overnight-2026-03-18/?ref=readtangle.com)) 2. National Counterterrorism Center Director Joe Kent resigned from his position, citing his opposition to the war in Iran. Kent also claimed the U.S. became involved in the conflict due to pressure from Israel. ([The resignation](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/17/us/politics/joe-kent-counterterrorism-resigns-iran-war.html?ref=readtangle.com)) 3. The Senate Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee is holding a confirmation hearing for Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), President Trump’s nominee for Department of Homeland Security secretary. ([The hearing](https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/markwayne-mullin-confirmation-hearing-live-updates-kristi-noem/?ref=readtangle.com)) 4. Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton defeated Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi in the Democratic Senate primary to replace retiring Sen. Dick Durbin. Former state GOP Chair Don Tracy won the Republican nomination for the seat. ([The results](https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/03/17/us/illinois-election-primary-midterms?ref=readtangle.com)) 5. Afghanistan said over 400 people were killed in a Pakistani strike on a drug rehabilitation hospital in the capital city of Kabul. Pakistan denied it was responsible for the strike. ([The incident](https://apnews.com/article/afghanistan-pakistan-conflict-kabul-airstrike-hospital-596bfd6c30d879be09af4d7a039972fe?ref=readtangle.com)) SPONSORED by incogni ****They made $93 million off stolen identities** Last year, a U.S. fraud ring used other people’s personal data to file fake tax claims — then tried to [kill their own ringleader](https://deal.incogni.io/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=6&aff%5Fid=1007&ref=readtangle.com) when the IRS closed in. It’s how modern tax scams work. They don’t guess identities, ****they buy them.** If your name, phone, or address is for sale, your identity can be used. [****Incogni removes your data**](https://deal.incogni.io/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=6&aff%5Fid=1007&ref=readtangle.com) from brokers and keeps it off the market — so criminals can’t weaponize it against you. Protect your identity before you file. [****Get 58% off with code TANGLE**](https://deal.incogni.io/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=6&aff%5Fid=1007&ref=readtangle.com)****.** ### Today’s topic. Cuba’s energy crisis. On Monday, Cuba’s electrical grid [failed](https://www.nbcnews.com/world/cuba/cuba-suffers-nationwide-blackout-announcing-economic-reforms-rcna263847?ref=readtangle.com), causing a blackout that affected the island’s nearly 11 million inhabitants. Cuba’s Ministry of Energy and Mines confirmed that it was investigating a complete disconnect of the island’s grid, which sparked both violent and non-violent protests. After 29 hours, power [was restored](https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/cuba-reconnects-electrical-grid-millions-still-without-power-2026-03-17/?ref=readtangle.com) to most of the island, although much of the country remains without service as of Wednesday morning. Cuba has been experiencing worsened power disruptions since the United States increased its economic pressure on the island. On January 11, President Donald Trump [announced](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/115876460615555838?ref=readtangle.com) he would prevent Venezuelan oil from reaching Cuba, then [announced](https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/01/addressing-threats-to-the-united-states-by-the-government-of-cuba/?ref=readtangle.com) heightened tariffs on any country selling oil to Cuba on January 29\. **Back up:** Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean governed as a single-party socialist state under the Communist Party, with a centrally planned economy and limited political freedoms. Since the nation’s communist revolution in 1959, the United States and Cuba have maintained a complicated diplomatic relationship; the Obama administration began moving towards normalizing relations in 2015, but those moves have been mostly [reversed](https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/16/us/politics/cuba-trump-engagement-restrictions.html?ref=readtangle.com) under subsequent Trump administrations. Cuba’s electrical grid is outdated and relies mostly on power plants fueled by imported oil, and the disruption caused by the U.S. blockade has sparked rolling failures. Cuba has [received](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/16/cuba-electrical-grid-collapses-amid-us-oil-blockade?ref=readtangle.com) only two shipments of oil this year, one regular shipment from Mexico in January and a discharge for liquefied petroleum gas — or cooking gas — from Jamaica in February. Cuba has not received a shipment of oil from Venezuela, which had been its main supplier, this year. China has been [increasing](https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2026/02/28/china-cuba-solar-trump-oil-blockade/?ref=readtangle.com) its energy investment in Cuba over recent years, and as much as 10% of the island’s electricity may now be produced by Chinese solar parks. The power outages have prompted rare [violent protests](https://www.nbcnews.com/world/cuba/protesters-cuba-attack-communist-party-office-rare-riot-blackouts-rcna263464?ref=readtangle.com) at the Communist Party’s headquarters in Morón, where [videos posted online](https://www.nbcnews.com/world/cuba/cuba-suffers-nationwide-blackout-announcing-economic-reforms-rcna263847?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=There%20are%20currently%20no%20mass%20protests%3B%20people%20here%20are%20used%20to%20the%20disruption.%20But%20on%20Saturday%2C%20some%20anti%2Dgovernment%20protesters%20attacked%20a%20Communist%20Party%20office%20in%20Mor%C3%B3n%20as%20anger%20rose%20over%20repeated%20blackouts.) appear to show protesters setting fires and ransacking the office. At least five people have been [arrested](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/15/world/americas/desperation-in-cuba-ignites-unusual-acts-of-defiance.html?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=At%20least%20five,state%2Drun%20store.) in connection to the protests, according to Cuba’s Interior Ministry. With Cuba in a compromised position, President Donald Trump has publicly considered taking over the communist nation. “I do believe I’ll \[have\] the honor of taking Cuba,” Trump [said](https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2026/03/16/cuba-blackout-energy-grid-collapse/?ref=readtangle.com) on Monday. “Taking Cuba in some form … whether I free it, take it, I think I can do anything I want with it if you want to know the truth. They’re a very weakened nation right now.” Cuba and the United States have engaged in talks to resolve the current situation. “Agendas are built, negotiations and conversations take place, and agreements are reached — things we are still far from because we are in the initial phases of this process,’’ Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel [said](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/13/world/americas/cuba-us-talks-trump-oil.html?ref=readtangle.com) of the talks. We’ll get into what the right and left are saying about the situation in Cuba below, followed by Executive Editor Isaac Saul’s take. ### What the right is saying. - **Many on the right support U.S. action to oust the Cuban regime, though not necessarily through force.** - **Some note that efforts to overpower Cuba have failed before.** - **Others say deposing Maduro also incapacitated the Cuban regime.** **In The New York Post, Daniel McCarthy said** [**“Trump is making Cuba an offer it can’t refuse.”**](https://nypost.com/2026/03/10/opinion/trump-is-making-cuba-an-offer-it-cant-refuse/?ref=readtangle.com) “Cuba is overdue for a profound change, and Trump is determined to bring it about. It’s been a lifelong goal of the Cuban-American who now serves as secretary of state, too,” McCarthy wrote. “What Trump and Marco Rubio have planned won’t look exactly like the operation that captured Venezuelan strongman Nicolás Maduro, or like the obliteration of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and most of his senior staff in the war now being waged against Iran. But Cuban officials have seen just how far the Trump administration is willing to go.” “Do they work out a deal with America, or do they take their chances with an administration that’s become very comfortable with the use of force? For now, Trump is using economic leverage to bring Havana around,” McCarthy said. “The president isn’t expecting Thomas Jefferson to replace Raul Castro or Miguel Diaz-Canel — the transition to democracy can take time, and the old regime can exit with a parachute, if it makes a deal… Cuba has a bright future, but those in charge in Havana today will have no future at all if they rebuff the *friendly* takeover Trump offers.” **In MS NOW, Daniel R. DePetris wrote** [**“Trump’s Cuba strategy is straightforward. The outcome will be anything but.”**](https://www.ms.now/opinion/trump-cuba-talks-challenges?ref=readtangle.com) “The strategy is straightforward: place so much financial pressure on the Cuban government that it has no option but to meet Trump’s demands, like opening up the country to a multi-party democracy,” DePetris said. “Trump seems confident he can do to Cuba what he did to Venezuela more than two months ago — decapitate the senior leadership, work with more pragmatic underlings and bring a former U.S. adversary into Washington’s orbit… But if the White House is looking to emulate its success in Venezuela, it’s likely kicking on a locked door.” “This is hardly the first time in U.S. history that an American president has tried to squeeze the island into submission… None of those efforts worked to change the Cuban regime from within, let alone topple it,” DePetris wrote. “The only people who have been negatively impacted by U.S. policy over the last six decades are the Cuban people themselves, whose lives are a constant struggle for basic necessities and who are effectively penalized for their own rulers’ incompetence. Is more of the same really going to bring different results?” **In The American Spectator, Scott McKay suggested** [**“Castro’s crumbling regime nears its end.”**](https://spectator.org/darkness-before-the-light-in-cuba/?ref=readtangle.com) “The Castroite regime is almost gone. It certainly can’t survive its inability to supply power to its people. And it can’t blame Trump or his ‘oil blockade.’… The executive order the president issued in January didn’t blockade Cuba. It threatened tariffs against countries giving Cuba free oil or selling oil to Cuba,” McKay said. “What Trump really did was to interdict Venezuela’s providing free oil to Cuba, and he did that not so much out of a blockade of Cuba but out of an enforcement of U.S. sanctions against Venezuelan oil exports. And then a raid on Caracas took down Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro, occasioning a Venezuelan government much more pliable to American interests, and that was the end of free Venezuelan oil for Cuba.” “It’s dark every night all over Cuba now, save for the light from the fire at Communist Party headquarters. But that darkness won’t last,” McKay wrote. “That regime is cooked. We’re down to days, not weeks, before it all comes down. This much is obvious. You can’t run a country so far into the ground that even those with influence can’t keep the lights on or the ceiling fan moving. And nobody believes Cuba’s dire straits are Trump’s fault. Especially not the Cubans, who are covering the crumbling walls of its buildings with pro-Trump graffiti.” ### What the left is saying. - **The left is critical of Trump’s actions against Cuba, suggesting his strategy could create long-term consequences.** - **Some call his energy blockade cruel and unnecessary.** - **Others say Trump’s pressure campaign is criminal.** **In The New York Times, Christopher Sabatini and Katrin Hansing said** [**“Trump isn’t ready for what he’s starting in Cuba.”**](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/12/opinion/cuba-america-war-trump-iran.html?ref=readtangle.com) “Any resolution forged in the current standoff between Washington and Havana risks being a hollow victory, offering only a temporary reprieve for Cubans and a fleeting achievement for an administration that has yet to define what lasting success in Cuba looks like. A continued squeeze on the island aimed at the destruction of the state could bring chaos and perhaps even a new refugee crisis. A deal limited to managed economic liberalization could offer a brief diplomatic win, but it would most likely close off the chance of a real political opening,” Sabatini and Hansing wrote. “Still, catastrophe in Cuba is not a foregone conclusion. It also presents an opportunity — a chance for broader international engagement that could head off impending disaster.” “Cuba’s decrepit state-led economic model has indeed failed. But an opening that injects market incentives without political change will not provide the security and predictability that an emerging private sector and foreign investors require,” Sabatini and Hansing said. “There is still an opportunity for a softer landing that could alleviate Cubans’ suffering and pave the way for a more stable and peaceful political and economic transition. But it requires Washington to coordinate with allies in the Western Hemisphere and in Europe.” **In The Guardian, Danny Valdes wrote** [**“for the sake of both countries, Trump’s siege must end.”**](https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/mar/06/trump-ice-cuban-american?ref=readtangle.com) “For Cuban Americans like me, the consequences of Trump’s declaration are not abstract. They are immediate, and devastating. Our families are running out of food. Our friends are unable to access medicine. While Marco Rubio, the secretary of state, speaks in the name of our ‘freedom’, he actively starves our communities of their most basic needs,” Valdes said. “In our community, this kind of doublespeak is nothing new. For decades, the United States has enforced a brutal embargo against the island, forcing its exclusion from the international systems of trade, finance, and tourism under the banner of ‘democracy promotion’.” “The crisis that we are inflicting in Cuba should thus be a call to conscience for the entire United States — not just our small diasporic community. No country that claims to stand for human rights can allow policies that deepen hunger and desperation. No citizen who believes in basic dignity can accept this suffering as collateral damage,” Valdes wrote. “Cuba is our nextdoor neighbor: just 90 miles away from the Florida coast. Its people are our relatives, our friends, our coworkers and our fellow students. And right now, they need us to act with compassion.” **In Jacobin, Helen Yaffe called for** [**“defend\[ing\] Cuba from US efforts to crush it.”**](https://jacobin.com/2026/03/us-cuba-socialism-trump-tariffs?ref=readtangle.com) “For any of its flaws, Cuba has demonstrated that after centuries of colonialism and imperialist domination, a subjugated people can take control of their land and resources and chart their own path in development, international relations, and values,” Yaffe said. “The historic commitments to sovereignty and social justice by Cuban revolutionaries link the nineteenth-century wars of independence with the 1959 Revolution, the adoption of socialism, and the struggle against imperialism and underdevelopment. They also underpin Cuba’s symbolism for the Global South.” “This Trump administration has shown utter contempt for international law. It has conducted extrajudicial killings in the Caribbean and Pacific Ocean, hijacked oil tankers, kidnapping crews and seizing the oil. It has abducted Venezuela’s president and his wife and threatened invasion, even of its own NATO allies,” Yaffe wrote. “In this context, calls on Cuba to ‘make a deal’ with Trump amount to veiled threats against its sovereignty. Instead of dispensing advice to the besieged island, intellectuals and analysts should make demands of the US government, holding it accountable for its crimes.” ### My take. **Reminder: “My take” is a section where we give ourselves space to share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, don’t unsubscribe. Write in by replying to this email, or** [**leave a comment**](https://www.readtangle.com/cuba-energy-crisis-oil-trump/#ghost-comments-root)**.** - **Many commentators are mistakenly thinking of Cuba in the same terms as Iran, Venezuela, and Greenland.** - **The cases for and against some form of U.S. intervention are compelling.** - **I’m genuinely unsure of what we should do, even as I’m wary of more conflict.** **Executive Editor Isaac Saul:** One of the most common errors in political analysis is creating patterns out of events that are actually distinct. Amid the wide array of commentary about Cuba, a lot of otherwise smart and thoughtful political writers are making this mistake. It is, in some ways, irresistible: President Trump just launched prolonged military operations against Iran, a country with a repressive regime whose citizens seem fed up by the state of affairs in their country. On the surface, that sounds like Cuba. In Venezuela, Trump just ambushed the regime, removed President Nicolás Maduro from power, and brought him back to the United States on charges of drug trafficking. An economically devastated, Spanish-speaking country in the Global South with an association to drug trafficking? That sounds a lot like Cuba, too. The surface similarities invite us to see a pattern of action that may not exist. So let me start with a moment of clarity: Cuba is *not* Venezuela. Cuba is *not* Iran. Cuba is not Greenland, Ukraine, Mexico, or any of the several countries Trump has had military, diplomatic, and economic standoffs with so far in his second term. And it should be written about distinctly. I think it is smart and healthy to look for patterns to anticipate potential outcomes. But I do not think it is wise to assume the outcomes will be the same, or create false equivalencies between Cuba and any other country. As readers of this newsletter know, I have been quite critical of some of Trump’s recent military, diplomatic, and economic interventions. I [criticized](https://www.readtangle.com/trumps-liberation-day-tariffs/#:~:text=I%E2%80%99m%20not%20trying,than%20tariff%20rates%3F) his global tariffs and (eventually) suspected they’d be struck down as illegal. I [recognized](https://www.readtangle.com/trumps-comments-greenland-purchsae/#:~:text=Here%27s%20the%20reality,process%20than%20them) the geopolitical value of Greenland, but criticized the communicated approach of “acquiring” it by force or fortune. I loathed the Maduro regime but [wondered](https://www.readtangle.com/us-trump-captures-arrests-maduro/#:~:text=is%20not%20clear.%E2%80%9D-,My%20take.,-Reminder%3A%20%E2%80%9CMy%20take) about the motivations (oil) to upend it and the new standard the operation set in international law. And in Iran, I’ve been more explicitly critical, [questioning](https://www.readtangle.com/iran-war-strikes-school-boat-oil/) the justification, the definition of a successful outcome, the legality, and the forward-looking plan. Yet with Cuba, I come into this potential intervention with much less certainty on whether the risks outweigh the upside. When I look at the specific geopolitical questions at play here, *I genuinely don’t know how I feel,* and I’m far less confident in my assessment of this issue than I was about the others. I feel torn. To start with the upside, a few things here feel very distinct from the examples everyone is comparing Cuba to: First, Cuba is not only in our sphere of influence, but it’s close enough — just 90 miles south of the Florida Keys — to be a legitimate security concern. Russia and China have been making inroads on the island for decades, which [further increases](https://warontherocks.com/2026/03/we-were-right-about-havana-syndrome/?ref=readtangle.com) our national security interest there. Also, Cuban Americans who fled the Communist regime and live in the United States appear to be broadly supportive of (if not outright giddy about) the prospect of America forcing new leadership in Cuba. Their political interests, especially given how many have family or friends still trapped in Cuba, carry some weight here. Second, Trump’s increased economic pressure seems to be advancing some diplomacy. The president’s pressure is not the core issue here. Cuba is in dire economic straits and has been long before Trump hit the political scene, because it is very reliant on imports, it doesn’t produce anything of value at scale ([not even sugar](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/01/opinion/cuba-trump-economy-oil-venezuela.html?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=There%20is%20no,the%20island%E2%80%99s%20landscape.)), its dilapidated [infrastructure](https://en.unav.edu/web/global-affairs/apagones-en-cuba-una-crisis-cada-vez-mas-oscura?ref=readtangle.com) has not been maintained, and its oppressive regime refuses to allow the proliferation of a free economy (for example: its “updated” laws [include](https://investmentpolicy.unctad.org/investment-laws/laws/55/cuba-foreign-investment-act?ref=readtangle.com) the state taking over [51% ownership](https://thecubaneconomy.com/articles/tag/joint-ventures/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Ra%C3%BAl%20Castro%20introduced%20a%20series,51%25%20control%20of%20these%20companies.) of foreign joint ventures). Even in September of 2025, before our operation in Venezuela and before any oil embargo, reports of the [dire situation in Cuba were everywhere](https://english.elpais.com/international/2025-09-28/in-cuba-the-revolution-has-broken-its-promises-hunger-and-homelessness-are-on-the-rise.html?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Marta%20would%20need,the%20local%20currency.). It is the peak of American-obsessive criticism, often proffered by non-interventionists and progressives, to look at Cuba and think we are responsible for all its struggles. As one Cuban economist [put it](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/01/opinion/cuba-trump-economy-oil-venezuela.html?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=What%20is%20happening%20in%20Cuba%20today%20is%20essentially%20the%20result%20of%20decades%20of%20structural%20economic%20failure%20under%20a%20rigid%20political%20system%20that%20has%20consistently%20resisted%20any%20reform.) in The New York Times, “What is happening in Cuba today is essentially the result of decades of structural economic failure under a rigid political system that has consistently resisted any reform.” Cuba’s communist leaders enjoy [exorbitant wealth](https://www.forbes.com/sites/keithflamer/2016/11/26/10-surprises-about-castros-extravagant-life/?ref=readtangle.com) while their people have struggled to feed themselves for decades. If you’re upset about the economic conditions there, be upset about that. Now, with the regime in a moment of genuine weakness, Trump can offer incentives (like removing tariff threats on oil sales, opening access to Cuban markets, normalizing relations to encourage tourism, etc.) to drive Cuban leadership toward democratic practices and normalized relations with the United States. The talks seem geared toward avoiding military confrontation and instead exchanging economic relief for the first free and fair elections in Cuba in over 70 years. There is a single legal political party in Cuba; maybe they can have two? It shouldn’t be crazy to dream of something as basic as that. Unlike Iran, the Cuban government seems willing to engage in good faith in meaningful negotiations. Unlike Venezuela, where a military build-up coincided with diplomatic pressure, the potential for military conflict seems less likely. Third, and importantly, Cubans themselves seem very interested in buying whatever it is the Trump administration is selling. Protests against their current government are [reaching a fever pitch](https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/protesters-cuba-attack-communist-party-office-rare-riot-over-blackouts-2026-03-14/?ref=readtangle.com), and the frustration is not about American policies but the decades of oppressive leadership and broken policies that have left nearly 11 million people to desperately imagine a post-Castro future. To sum up the case for intervention here succinctly: The Trump administration has a compelling case to intervene in Cuba in a way that supports human rights and democratic change, protects U.S. national security and economic interests, and delivers a major political win to a distinct domestic constituency. All of that, to me, feels unique and valid. But that doesn’t convince me U.S. intervention is a good thing, because even diplomatic intervention has plenty of risks too. The same Cuban people who stand to gain from intervention are also the ones most directly impacted by economic sanctions, not their exorbitantly wealthy communist rulers. Conditions on the ground in Cuba are already bleak — what if they get worse? And if economic conditions worsen, street violence escalates, and the already chaotic and precarious moment in Cuba becomes disastrous, what happens then? Economic pressure alone rarely topples authoritarian regimes; that usually requires military force, and it is often a precursor for it. Given the [history of our two countries](https://thehill.com/opinion/international/5769452-cuba-us-relations-history/?ref=readtangle.com), many Cubans are understandably wary of some “friendly U.S. takeover,” and it’s foolish to think U.S. soldiers could march through the streets of Havana to applause. A worsened economic situation could lead to a military confrontation of some kind, and one predictable outcome of that is thousands — if not hundreds of thousands — of Cubans fleeing the country. And, when they flee, we know where they’ll go: Florida. This, obviously, would create just the kind of refugee crisis that the administration wants to avoid; it would also set up the horrifying, and likely, possibility that the administration turns away refugees it helped create. For me, this would be the worst-case scenario, and it feels only a few steps away. So I just don’t know. On the one hand, our motivations for intervening in Cuba are more obvious, more grounded, more holistic, and more “just” than they have been in other countries in recent months. We have a Cuban-American secretary of State who has long sought this kind of change and seems well positioned to navigate it. Had this potential intervention begun last year, before fresh conflicts in Iran or military operations in Venezuela, I think the Trump administration could have much more easily sold me on this as a viable and worthwhile use of our resources, political capital, and economic might. On the other hand, this potential intervention is coming as a new war in Iran continues to expand and on the heels of an operation in Venezuela that does not seem to have satiated the administration’s thirst for regime change. Our president isn’t beating the drums of democracy; instead, he’s bragging about [how easily he could simply “take” the country](https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2026/03/16/cuba-blackout-energy-grid-collapse/?ref=readtangle.com) — “I could do anything I want with it,” he said — and as has become common, the quest seems more about his personal ambitions than the people he purports to be helping. So I come to this possibility in a moment of wariness — both of war, and of the reshuffling of power. I want a better future for the Cuban people, yes, and I want our national interests off the coast of Florida to feel stable, definitely. But it’s hard to be pollyannish about the risks given the global instability in nearly every direction I look. ****Staff dissent — Senior Editor Will Kaback:** I think Isaac is missing the forest for the trees in picking apart the ways that Cuba is different from other countries the Trump administration is in conflict with. To me, Cuba fits neatly into this administration’s pattern of bringing maximum pressure to international relations. Commentators on both sides are picking up on this dynamic; they’re not suggesting Cuba is the same as Iran, Venezuela, or Greenland. Personally, I think what the U.S. is doing in Cuba is straightforwardly wrong. I understand that we have no obligation to allow Cuba’s decrepit power system to limp along with the help of illicit oil shipments, but I don’t see why a de facto energy blockade should be anywhere near the top of our priority list. Trump is not responsible for the disastrous decisions and leadership of the Cuban regime, but he’s choosing to exacerbate the Cuban people’s suffering in the absence of a clear threat or compelling national interest. The president needs to keep his focus on the Middle East. **Take the survey:** What do you think of the current situation in Cuba? [Let us know](https://interrobang.vercel.app/survey/e7d5075f-1e98-4136-9130-618d81c4946f?ref=readtangle.com). *Disagree? That*’*s okay. Our opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we*’*ll consider publishing your feedback.* ### Your questions, answered. **Q: Any update on Maduro in prison? It’s been radio silence since his arrest.** **— Austin from Oakland, CA** **Tangle:** As a reminder, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was [captured](https://www.readtangle.com/us-trump-captures-arrests-maduro/) and brought to the United States on January 3\. Along with his wife, Cilia Flores, Maduro has been indicted in the Southern District of New York. He is charged with “Narco-Terrorism Conspiracy, Cocaine Importation Conspiracy, Possession of Machineguns and Destructive Devices, and Conspiracy to Possess Machineguns and Destructive Devices against the United States.” Maduro and Flores are [being held](https://www.cnn.com/2026/01/06/us/metropolitan-detention-center-brooklyn-maduro?ref=readtangle.com) at the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) Brooklyn in New York, a [waterfront facility](https://time.com/7343701/maduro-venezuela-trump-jail-nyc/?ref=readtangle.com) currently housing 1,400 inmates. Maduro and Flores appeared before U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein on January 5 and pleaded not guilty. The trial marks the first time the leader of another country has been tried in the United States since Manuel Noriega was [convicted](https://www.loc.gov/exhibitions/drawing-justice-courtroom-illustrations/about-this-exhibition/crime-corruption-and-cover-ups/manuel-noriega-on-trial/?ref=readtangle.com) in 1992 on charges of drug trafficking, racketeering, and money laundering after the U.S. invasion of Panama in 1989. Since Maduro was arrested as a sitting head of state, the trial is likely [to be complicated](https://www.npr.org/2026/01/06/nx-s1-5666370/nicolas-maduro-trial-legal-case-prosecution-explainer?ref=readtangle.com). The discovery process alone is fraught, as potentially classified evidence will have to be handled carefully, and the case is not expected to even reach trial before the end of the year. Most recently, the U.S. [blocked a request](https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/us-prosecutors-defend-block-venezuelan-state-funds-maduros-defense-2026-03-14/?ref=readtangle.com) from Maduro’s legal team to use Venezuelan state funds to support the defense effort. Maduro and Flores are [scheduled](https://joycevance.substack.com/p/the-week-ahead-46b) to next appear in court on March 26, where Judge Hellerstein is expected to hear arguments over the legal-fees dispute. **Want to have a question answered in the newsletter? You can reply to this email (it goes straight to our inbox) or** [**fill out this form**](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScQhqBSG%5F6%5FoBhwcTQMeS570n29XYbeQ9C9Bis7rjqI31g1tA/viewform?usp=header&ref=readtangle.com)**.** ### Under the radar. On Monday, a man charged with planting pipe bombs outside the Democratic and Republican Party headquarters the night before the January 6, 2021 Capitol riots asked a judge to dismiss the case, claiming clemency under President Trump’s pardon for January 6 rioters. The president’s clemency action applied to anyone convicted of or charged with crimes “related to events that occurred at or near the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021,” and the suspect’s lawyers argued that “unequivocally applies” to him. A White House official said the pardon does not cover this case, noting that the bombs were allegedly placed on January 5\. [Politico has the story](https://www.politico.com/news/2026/03/16/man-charged-planting-bombs-capitol-trump-pardon-00831086?ref=readtangle.com). SPONSORED by incogni ****A $93 Million Fraud Ring Didn't Hack Anyone — They Just Bought the Data** Last year, scammers [filed fake tax claims](https://deal.incogni.io/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=6&aff%5Fid=1007&ref=readtangle.com) using personal info purchased from brokers. If your name, phone or address is for sale, your identity is fair game. Incogni removes your data from the market before criminals can weaponize it. [****Get 58% off with code TANGLE**](https://deal.incogni.io/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=6&aff%5Fid=1007&ref=readtangle.com)****.** [Get 58% Off ](https://deal.incogni.io/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=6&aff%5Fid=1007&ref=readtangle.com) ### Numbers. - [**2.**](https://www.cfr.org/backgrounders/us-cuba-relations?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=of%20existing%20sanctions.-,HOW%20DID%20U.S.%2DCUBA%20RELATIONS%20NORMALIZE%3F,-U.S.%20President) The approximate length, in years, of the normalization of Cuba–United States relations from July 2015 to June 2017\. - [**11.2 million.**](https://www.worldometers.info/world-population/cuba-population/?ref=readtangle.com) Cuba’s approximate population in 2017. - [**10.9 million.**](https://www.worldometers.info/world-population/cuba-population/?ref=readtangle.com) Cuba’s approximate population in 2026. - [**100,000.**](https://www.usatoday.com/story/graphics/2026/03/17/cuba-power-grid-energy-oil-crisis/89191678007/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=The%20island%E2%80%99s%20decrepit%20power%20system%20uses%20aging%20thermal%20power%20plants%20from%20the%20former%20Soviet%20Union.%20The%20system%20uses%20about%20100%2C000%20barrels%20of%20oil%20a%20day%20for%20essential%20services.) The number of barrels of oil a day used by Cuba’s power system to provide essential services. - [**83.5%.**](https://www.usatoday.com/story/graphics/2026/03/17/cuba-power-grid-energy-oil-crisis/89191678007/?ref=readtangle.com#:~:text=Cuba%20depends%20on%20oil%20for%20electrical%20power) Oil’s share of electricity generation in Cuba’s power grid. ### The extras. - **One year ago today** we covered [the U.S. strikes against the Houthi rebels](https://www.readtangle.com/trump-strikes-houthi-rebels-in-red-sea/). - **The most clicked link in yesterday’s newsletter** was [the Tangle subreddit](https://www.reddit.com/r/TangleNews/?ref=readtangle.com). - **Nothing to do with politics:** What happens when you turn the worst Spider-Man movie [into an episode of The Twilight Zone](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDzSjRKUXuA&ref=readtangle.com)? - **Yesterday’s survey:** 1,853 readers responded to our survey on tariff refunds with 44% predicting only a small number of importers will receive refunds. “I think everyone will see a refund. The real question is when,” one respondent said. “We’ve seen this is the administration of playing favorites; I have no reason to think they won’t play favorites with who gets refunds, too,” said another. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/03/data-src-image-d4275efe-b407-4222-91b2-f2e8a4077cb0.png) ### Have a nice day. Three decades after the War of Independence ended, Croatia has officially declared itself free of landmines — a historic milestone for a country once devastated by conflict. At its peak, an estimated 13,000 square kilometers of land were contaminated with explosive remnants of war. Since signing the Ottawa Treaty in 1997, Croatia’s teams have found and destroyed around 107,000 landmines and 470,000 pieces of unexploded ordnance. “Croatia’s success provides a strong example of what can be achieved with sustained commitment,” said Jessica Hyland, Mines Advisory Group’s Regional Director for Eastern Europe. “Once hazardous landscapes can be safely returned to communities for homes, agriculture, and livelihoods.” [Mines Advisory Group has the story](https://www.maginternational.org/whats-happening/croatia-becomes-latest-landmine-free-country/?ref=readtangle.com). ### Americans Stranded After Iran Strikes — What Went Wrong? URL: https://www.readtangle.com/americans-stranded-after-iran-strikes-what-went-wrong/ Last updated: 2026-03-19T00:03:24.000Z In this video, we examine what happens when Americans are caught in the middle of a rapidly escalating conflict — and, in this instance, whether the U.S. government did enough to help them get out. _Truncated after 5 MiB. 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