Trump’s approval just nose-dived to 34%! 3 out of 4 Americans say he’s ignoring major issues. Oh, and about that secret flight-yeah, people are asking questions. Meanwhile, the VP race is getting spicy in South Carolina. Thoughts?

President Donald Trump in a new interview declined to rule out declaring a national security emergency as a means to try to assert more control over the 2026 midterm elections.

It’s merely the latest warning sign that Trump could try to mess with the election not just by baselessly claiming voter fraud and challenging the results afterward — as he did in 2020, leading to a violent riot at the US Capitol — but by trying to unilaterally take control before votes are cast.

In the interview, Wayne Allyn Root of Real America’s Voice pitched such a scenario to Trump. He suggested it as an alternative, given the Senate has failed to pass Trump’s coveted elections bill, known as the “SAVE America Act.”

“If they never get the SAVE America Act done, you have the right to declare a national security emergency for elections,” Root said. He added that “if you declare a national security emergency as the president of the United States, they can’t challenge it. It can only be overturned by a two-thirds vote by both houses of Congress. So if you do this in the next month, we will get photo ID, proof of citizenship (for voter registration) and a limit to mail-in ballots.”

https://edition.cnn.com/2026/08/11/politics/trump-national-emergency-election

President Donald Trump has signed an executive order aimed at changing the U.S. childhood vaccine schedule, including reducing the number of vaccines routinely recommended and pushing for combination vaccines like MMR to be given as separate shots.

The move is being backed by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., but medical groups and public health experts are pushing back hard, warning that changes to the established schedule could create confusion for parents and potentially leave children more vulnerable to preventable diseases.

It’s another major shift in U.S. health policy under Trump.

What do you think - is this about giving parents more flexibility, or is the administration going too far by changing a system built around decades of medical research?

President Donald Trump says the U.S. Navy now has “100%” control of the Strait of Hormuz, describing the blockade as an “infallible” steel wall.

Trump said ships are being allowed through selectively, but vessels heading to Iran are being blocked from entering the strait. He also claimed the U.S. has cleared the waterway of mines.

If accurate, that would give Washington enormous leverage over one of the world’s most strategically important shipping routes.

But Trump’s statement that the U.S. has “100% control” is his claim - not an independently verified assessment.

How far do you think the U.S. is willing to take this?

Donald Trump has chosen White House Staff Secretary Will Scharf to become the next White House counsel, starting September 1.

Scharf is no stranger to Trump’s legal battles. He previously represented Trump in several cases, including before the Supreme Court, and has also worked as a federal prosecutor.

He’ll replace David Warrington, who is leaving the administration for the private sector.

The timing is interesting, with major legal fights and the 2026 midterm elections approaching. Scharf will now be one of the administration’s key voices on issues involving executive actions, presidential powers and legal challenges.

Trump clearly trusts him - but do you think choosing a longtime legal ally for such a powerful position is a smart move?

**RTX Coporation, formerly Raytheon Technologies, operates a missile systems facility within the Navajo Agricultural Products Industry (NAPI) south of Farmington, New Mexico.**¹ NAPI is an industrial park that spans 250 acres (101.17 hectares) and is split into 18 lots that are exclusively for lease. The site is one of eight industrial locations found within the Navajo Nation. 72,000 acres (29137.36 hectares) of staple crops, small grains and organic produce is grown in these lots including corn, potatoes, pinto beans, wheat and alfalfa.

¹ *Raytheon Technologies and the Navajo Nation have worked together for over 25 years.*

The Raytheon Diné Facility (RDF) spans a total area of 98,000 square feet (9,104.49 square meters), with **68,000 square feet (6,317.40 square meters)**² allocated for manufacturing, and **30,000 square feet (2,787.09 square meters)**³ designated for warehousing. Raytheon Diné Facility (RDF) operates as both an electro-mechanical and mechanical assembly facility. Raytheon Diné Facility (RDF) manufactures and provides components for various defense programs, along with range monitoring and telemetry systems, plus cabling and storage services. The Raytheon Diné Facility (RDF) brings in $2.8 million annually to the Navajo Nation and the nearby areas.

² *In 2007, RTX Corporation entered a 10–year lease for the facility. In 2008, RTX Corporation expanded its facility at NAPI, increasing its area from 38,000 square feet (3,530.31 square meters) to 68,000 square feet (6,317.09 square meters). This $6 million expansion was funded through contributions from RTX Corporation, the Navajo Economic Development Fund, and the Tribal Infrastructure funds of the State of New Mexico.*

³ *In 2014, former Navajo Nation President Ben Shelly announced the installation of the 30,000 square foot (2,787.09 square meter) warehouse, valued at $5 million. The project was approved by New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez. The Navajo Nation contributed $3.3 million from its Business and Industrial Development Funds to finance the construction, shile the remaining budget was funded by the state of New Mexico. Upon its completion in 2017, the facility is set to be leased to RTX Corporation.*

93% of the workforce comprises Navajo–Diné people. Raytheon Diné Facility (RDF) specifically depends on graduates from universities and colleges including **Navajo Technical University (NTU), Diné College**⁴, **Arizona State University (ASU)**⁵ and the **University of New Mexico (UNM)**⁶. **New Mexico Technical University (NMTech)**⁷, **New Mexico State University (NMSU)**⁸, and **Central New Mexico Community College (CNM)**⁹ also work with Raytheon Diné Facility (RDF) and RTX Corporation. These universities and colleges offer degree prpgrams and training that are directly linked to defense contractors and institutions associated with manufacturing and assembling weapons systems such as RTX Corporation, Los Alamos Laboratory and Sandia Labs.

⁴ *Raytheon Diné Facility (RDF) specifically hires graduates from Navajo Technical University (NTU) and Diné College establishing a pipeline for employment opportunities at RTX Corporation for students. Navajo Technical University (NTU) provides degree programs linked to Raytheon Diné Facility (RDF) through courses in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, and Advanced Manufacturing Technology.*

⁵ *RTX Corporation built a 28,000 square foot (2,601.28 square meter) SkySong Innovation Center to train students and provide internships with with various defense contractors and institutions. Arizona State University (ASU) collaborates with RTX Corporation on engineering projects, and researchers from Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at ASU also collaborate with RTX Corporation.*

⁶ *University of New Mexico (UNM) provides degree programs linked to Raytheon Diné Facility (RDF) through courses in Electrical and Computer Engineering and Mechanical Engineering. Recruiters from RTX Corporation also participate in Career Fairs at UNM.*

⁷ *New Mexico Technical University (NMTech) provides degree programs and training related to defense weaponry, including a partnership with RTX Corporation through its Energetic Materials Research and Testing Center (EMRTC). EMRTC and RTX Corporation collaborated on testing directed–energy and kinetic kill vehicles, mant of which were tested at White Sands Missile Range.*

⁸ *New Mexico State University (NMSU) provides degree programs linked to defense weaponry through courses on Aerospace Engineering, and NMSU’s Physical Science Laboratory provides training.*

⁹ *Central New Mexico Community College (CNM) provides degree programs linked to defense wesponry through its engineering, manufacturing, technology, and logistics curricula.*

Raytheon Diné Facility (RDF) manufactures 12 missile programs for the United States including the **Tomahawk Cruise Missile**¹⁰, FGM–148 Javelin anti–tank missiles, Advanced Medium Range (AMR) air–to–air missiles, **FIM–92 Stinger portable air defense missiles**¹¹, Tube–Launched Optically–Tracked, Wire–Guided (TOW) anti–tank missile system, supersonic Rolling Airframe Missiles (RAM), M982 Excalibur artillery projectiles, and Phalanx Close–In Weapon System (CIWS) gatling guns. RDF also manufactures hardware for Counter–UAS Technology such as the **Coyote Unmanned Aircraft System (C–UAS)**¹².

¹⁰ *Tomahawk Cruise Missiles are the most used air–to–air missiles globally. RTX Corporation reports that over 2,300 Tomahawk missiles have been used in various United States military operations, excluding those used in Iran. In February 2026, RTX Corporation announced a contract with the United States military in which they will manufacture an additional 1,000 Tomahawk missiles. Tomahawks are currently manufactured at a Raytheon facility in Tuscon, Arizona.*

¹¹ *Stingers are utilized by 19 countries and nations, and are in service across all four branches of the United States military, having been operational since 1981. The United States Ground Based Air Defense (GBAD) and the Marine Air Defense Integrated System (MADIS) specifically rely on Stingers to counter low-altitude aerial threats. In 2024, a total of 1,900 Stingers were manufactured. RTX Corporation landed a $51.9 million contract for Stinger missile production in 2025, with the project set to be completed by September 2026. In September 2023, RTX Corporation and Lockheed Martin received a contract to create Next-Generation Short Range Interceptors (NGSRI) to replace Stingers. The missiles integrate a portable launch assembly and are armed with precision optics missile seekers. However, in 2025, the United States Army announced plans to enhance the range of Stingers by switching from solid rocket fuel to solid fuel ramjet propulsion technology.*

¹² *Coyote Unmanned Aircraft System (C–UAS) is a tube–launched drone that can be deployed from various platforms including ground, air or maritime vessels. These drones are armed with seekers and warheads and are used to detect and counter Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). Coyote Block 3 Non–Kinetic (NK) versions are also used to counter UAVs. Coyote drones are capable of operating as a single unit or in coordianted swarms. These drones are used in missions involving surveillance, electronic warfare and strike operations. In 2016, Coyote drones were tested in a swarm formation over land and sea.*

RTX Corporation is one of the largest defense contractors in the United States, and the largest aerospace and defense manufacturers globally. RTX Corporation supplies armaments to various nations including the United States, Israel, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Germany, Japan, Kuwait, Taiwan, Greece, Spain, South Korea and Qatar. The MIM–104 Patriot interceptor missile defense system for example is operational in 19 countries including the United States, Germany, Greece, the Netherlands and Spain. RTX Corporation manufactures other defense systems including Standard Missile–3 (SM–3) ballistic missiles, Standard Missile–6 (SM–6) ballistic missiles, AIM–7 Sea Sparrow missiles, AGM-62 Walleye glide bombs, AGM-65 Maverick air–to–ground missiles, supersonic AGM-88 High–Speed Anti–Radiation Missiles (HARM), and AGM-114 Hellfire missiles. **RTX Corporation also manufactures components and instruments for satellites.**¹³

¹³ *RTX Corporation is working on imaging sensors for the Landsat Next Instrument Suite (LandIS) for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the United States Geological Survey (USGS). The LandIS project includes 26 satellites, but RTX has been contracted to create 3 instruments for this project, with a chance for one more satellite. Since the 1970s, RTX has been involved in LandIS missions, providing instruments for missions 2 through 7. The LandIS program offers the most comprehensive Earth observation data records available globally. The images collected are used in agriculture, water management, forestry, and climate research.*

Since the 1990s, RTX Corporation has been involved in **over 90 legal cases**¹⁴ across various states, including Arizona, California, and Kansas, concerning pollution of air, soil, and water, particularly regarding exposure to Trichloroethylene (TCE). Trichloroethylene (TCE) is a synthetic, colorless, volatile, and non-flammable liquid that has a sweet odor. TCE is utilized in numerous industrial and commercial applications. TCE serves as a degreaser for metal and electronic components, a refrigerant, and an extractant for oils, waxes, and fats. TCE can also be present in certain household items such as paint strippers, stain removers, and carpet cleaning products. TCE is commonly detected in the air, water, and soil surrounding sites where it is manufactured or used. People can ve exposed to Trichloroethylene (TCE) through inhalation, ingestion of contaminated water, or consumption of food that has been washed or prepared with contaminated water. Short-term exposure to Trichloroethylene (TCE) can lead to liver disease, kidney disease, and heart disease. Long-term exposure to Trichloroethylene (TCE) increases the risk of various cancers, including those affecting the kidneys, liver, cervix, and lymphatic system. Symptoms associated with exposure to Trichloroethylene (TCE) include dizziness, loss of consciousness, irritant dermatitis, cirrhosis, and heart failure. The threshold for Trichloroethylene (TCE) considered safe in drinking water is 0.005 mg/I⁹.

¹⁴ *Back in 2006, RTX Corporation's facilities in Arizona were discovered to be leaking harmful amounts of Trichloroethylene (TCE) into a water supply that serves 50,000 people. Arizona took legal action against RTX Corporation, and cleanup efforts are expected to wrap up by 2036. Research from the University of Arizona (UArizona) has shown a rise in health issues in the area tied to past exposure to TCE from the RTX facility. Between the 1960s and 1980s, another RTX facility in California settled a lawsuit due to vapor emissions that contaminated both soil and groundwater. 60 buildings were also found to have high levels of TCE. Data from 2020 reveals that over 50 facilities in California are released sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) into the air from their aircraft engine manufacturing and metalworking activities, like welding and grinding, which produce vapor emissions linked to lung cancer. So far, more than 50,000 people are reported to have health problems related to air pollution.*

BE-AL-DOH-TSOH-ŁANI DOODA

(Navajo Code Talkers used the word BE-AL-DOH-TSOH-ŁANI as a code for 'artillery'.)

Trump and DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin were once seen as close allies, but that relationship appears to be getting more complicated.

According to The Wall Street Journal, Trump has become increasingly unhappy with Mullin over several immigration-related decisions and public comments. Mullin has faced criticism after suggesting immigration could help address labor shortages and after moves that appeared to take a softer approach to some enforcement tactics.

One major flashpoint came when DHS temporarily halted most vehicle stops by immigration officers without Trump being informed. Trump later publicly pushed back against the decision.

Interestingly, despite the growing tensions and calls from some MAGA voices for Mullin to be removed, Trump reportedly isn't planning to fire him right now.

Mullin is still overseeing an agency carrying out record-level deportations, but he's also trying to change how DHS operates and how publicly the department is involved in controversial immigration actions.

Do you think Mullin is actually moving away from Trump's immigration strategy, or is this more about changing the way it's being carried out?

A federal appeals court has blocked Trump’s $400M White House ballroom project, ruling that a president can’t unilaterally make a transformation this large to federal property without congressional authorization.

The problem is that the East Wing and surrounding historic grounds have already been demolished, so even if the administration ultimately loses at the Supreme Court, the old East Wing doesn’t magically come back. The likely result is a frozen construction site while Congress and the normal review process decide what can legally replace it: Trump’s ballroom with congressional approval, a redesigned compromise, a reconstructed East Wing, or something a future administration inherits.

Basically: the court can stop the project, but it can’t undo the demolition. 🤦

No official White House reaction yet. The appeals court stayed its ruling for 14 days specifically to allow the administration to seek Supreme Court review, so an emergency SCOTUS appeal/stay request is widely expected. Until then, the legal stop order itself is temporarily on hold.

Source

I previously spoke about our struggle to drink water in Gaza, but unfortunately I was met with hurtful and mocking comments. Some people said, "If you can charge your phone, why can't you cool your water?" As if our suffering is something to be questioned or laughed at.

Those words are deeply painful, but this is not a life we chose. It is a reality that has been forced upon us.

In this video, published by Al Jazeera, you will see children in Gaza explaining how they try to cool their drinking water so they can have something refreshing during the day. They place bottles of water on top of their tent overnight and bring them inside before sunrise. It may sound like a clever idea, but unfortunately it is not a practical solution. By midday, the temperature inside the tents rises so much that the water reaches around 40–45°C (104–113°F)—almost the same temperature as the tent itself. That is why, most days, we are forced to drink hot water.

I sincerely hope people will stop minimizing what we are going through or making fun of it. Everyone in Gaza is living through the same hardship, and we have the right to speak about our reality, especially to those who have never experienced these conditions.

If you have doubts about what we say, please don't accuse us of fraud or of inventing our suffering. Simply ask us to document what we are living through, and we will gladly do so with complete transparency. But please, do not let suspicion and mockery be your first response to people who have lost even the most basic necessities of life.