8/31/26: U.S. Resumes Iran Strikes, Top Generals Rebel, Trump To Steal Venezuela Oil, NBC Crew Attacked By Settlers

U.S. forces took limited, precise action against IRGC mine-laying forces posing an imminent threat in the Strait of Hormuz.

The U.S. strikes were an act of aggression and a strategic, fatal mistake that will have significant economic and military consequences.

Iran responded by firing missiles toward Jordan and possibly a UAE base, with the U.S. claiming nearly all were intercepted.

The U.S. burned through a significant portion of its remaining Patriot missile interceptor stockpile in this limited engagement.

Iran may choose to delay its response and wait for a more opportune moment, potentially striking two or three weeks before congressional elections to maximize political damage.

Iran may be waiting for a particular moment shortly before the midterms to strike in order to maximize political damage.

Iran's strategy of absorbing economic pain now to escalate later makes sense in an asymmetric conflict.

Prolonged large-scale operations against Iran are unsustainable and risk weakening the ability to confront threats elsewhere.

Publishing classified assessments is a crime and a betrayal, and non-concurs are standard routine procedure.

The coordinated non-concur and leak show the Pentagon is trying to sound the alarm and cover itself for future historical accountability.

The leak is stunning and the White House reaction shows how upset they are that the information got out.

Pete Hegseth hired social media influencers as special government employees to defend the Pentagon online without disclosing their affiliation.

Having a government email as a special government employee means you work for the federal government, regardless of whether you are on a direct payroll.

Using tax money to pay secret shills inside the Pentagon to pump up the Secretary of Defense is deeply disturbing.

Between six and seven million barrels a day are exiting the Strait, about a third of pre-war levels, which is not enough to solve the crisis.

The Strait is open with 9 to 10 million barrels per day flowing through.

The White House's inflated numbers are damaging their credibility and losing the debate instead of celebrating legitimate progress.

The deal involves 65 billion barrels of proven reserves, but Venezuela has never produced near that level and requires tens of billions in investment over 5-10 years. Major oil companies passed on the investment, and the U.S. government taking a stake is unlikely to change the material reality of the market this year. Venezuelan heavy oil is unsuitable for the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve due to separation issues in the salt caverns.

Re-injecting neo-colonial language around seizing resources in a resource-nationalist economy will easily spoil any promising trajectory.

Masked men with Israeli license plates smashed the crew's windshield, hit them with clubs, and beat a Palestinian woman unconscious.

The criminal acts of violence by a handful of rioters harm Israel's standing in the world and hinder the IDF.

The violence reflects Israeli government policy and is not just the work of rogue actors, as the vast majority of the population supports it.

Israel does not act like a state with fixed borders and equal laws, but rather like a rogue regime menacing its neighbors.

Freedom of speech belongs to the people and is not the government's to take, applying to both citizens and non-citizens.

The ruling is a significant win for free speech that will have major implications for ongoing deportation cases.

The government spent massive resources arresting mild-mannered individuals to turn them into national symbols, making the court's defense of free speech crucial.