politicsSaturday, August 15, 2026
Today's coverage is dominated by the Trump administration's systematic rollback of oversight, from anti-corruption rules to consumer protections. The through-line: a government that is actively dismantling the guardrails that keep money laundering, fraud, and corporate abuse in check.
The administration's deregulatory agenda is the day's biggest story, with multiple agencies moving to strip away oversight.
The Atlantic reports the Treasury's FinCEN quietly killed a rule targeting shell companies, a move that effectively reopens the US to money laundering and bribery. This is a concrete, high-impact deregulatory step with global consequences.
The CFPB's decision to stop publishing consumer complaint narratives is a gift to financial firms, hiding the surge in complaints about fees and debt collection. It's a direct hit on transparency and consumer protection.
Using an arcane budget rule, the administration is threatening Medicaid coverage for 200,000 low-income Arkansans. This is a test case for how the administration might shrink Medicaid nationwide.
Meanwhile, the administration's economic messaging is under scrutiny, with fact-checkers and critics pushing back on its claims.
FactCheck.org debunks Trump's claim that his drug pricing deals will give Americans the lowest prices in the world, noting the deals only cover a few brand-name drugs and haven't been fully implemented.
An Australian professor argues business leaders push trickle-down economics and then blame government for the failures, a critique that applies to the US debate as well. It's a useful frame for understanding the economic policy discourse.
‘The fear keeps building’: Residents of Russia’s Nizhnekamsk on life after a deadly Ukrainian drone attackmeduza.io
Nigel Farage beats Count Binface to win back seat in British Parliament | AP Newsapnews.com
Trump teased an Iran deal that didn't come, but markets soared. Here’s why it keeps happeningwww.cnbc.com
‘They’ve killed the whole point of the EU’ – Small exporters pause sales to bloc over new packaging ruleswww.independent.ie
Towns in Quabbin Reservoir fight get another ally in Gov. Healey | WBUR Newswww.wbur.org
“Stop Toxic Data Centers”: Justin Pearson on Elon Musk, AI & Winning Dem. House Primary in Memphiswww.democracynow.orgCongressional approval not needed for White House ballroom, Trump tells high court • Kansas Reflectorkansasreflector.com
President Donald Trump has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to intervene in a lower court ruling that blocks his $400 million White House ballroom construction project. The administration is requesting an immediate stay of a 2-1 federal appeals court decision that sided with historic
Trial lawyer Victor Henderson makes his case for Chicago school board presidentwww.chicagotribune.com
The article profiles Victor Henderson, a prominent white-collar civil litigation trial lawyer who is seeking the unpaid position of president of Chicago's school board. Henderson's motivation stems from his experience on the board of Urban Prep Academies, a charter school network
Iran war live: Trump vows to make Hormuz US territory ‘pretty soon’aje.news
A live news update covering US President Donald Trump's statement that he will "pretty soon" declare the Strait of Hormuz a US territory once Iran is defeated. The article also notes that the US Treasury chief says the US will use economic measures against Iran that have "never b
‘Blue Bloods’ Showrunner Rejects Bill O’Reilly Labeling ‘Boston Blue’ A “Woke Version”: “I Root For It”deadline.com
Blue Bloods showrunner Kevin Wade has responded to Bill O'Reilly's characterization of the CBS spin-off "Boston Blue" as a "woke version" of the original series. During a conversation with O'Reilly, Wade rejected the No Spin News host's take, noting that he's "happy for them" and
Gina Raimondo on Reclaiming the American Dream in the Age of A.I.www.newyorker.com
A Washington Roundtable podcast episode where Evan Osnos interviews former Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo about ensuring the A.I. revolution doesn't leave American workers behind. Raimondo draws on her father's experience of losing his factory job due to outsourcing to China, w
Five key takeaways from parliamentary hearings into client leaks at KPMGwww.theguardian.com
A parliamentary inquiry in Australia heard testimony from KPMG partners who resigned over leaking confidential client information. The partners claimed they didn't recall key elements of the allegations, while lawyers accused them of being misleading. The inquiry also heard from
Two charts that destroy MAGA economicsohhthatsrich.substack.com
This opinion piece argues against the MAGA/Republican economic narrative that taxing the wealthy punishes success. The author reframes the debate by examining how wealth is defined and how tax burdens have shifted over time. Using historical data, the article points out that in 1
Byline Podcast: Zack Polanski 'The Green Socialist'pod.fo
Adrian Goldberg hears from Russell Warfield about his new biography of Green Party leader Zack Polanski - 'Zack Polanski, The Green Socialist' -which is published in September by Pluto. Russell wor...
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