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August 16th – 2026 Presidential Politics – Trump Administration Day 574

In an effort to keep the Daily Open Thread a little more open topic we are going to start a new daily thread for “Presidential Politics”. Please use this thread to post anything relating to the Donald Trump Administration and Presidency.

This thread will refresh daily and appear above the Open Discussion Thread.

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Sunday August 16th – Open Thread

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. THY WILL BE DONE, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but DELIVER US FROM EVIL.

For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen †

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Promethean Action Reviews Current State of the Middle East as it Evolves

Within this video from Promethean Action, they look at the latest developments in the Middle East.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says the U.S. is escalating economic isolation measures against Iran and forecasts the Strait of Hormuz will become “irrelevant” within two years, while Energy Secretary Chris Wright argues shipping continues under escorts and rerouting, citing 8–9 million barrels/day still moving through the strait plus 6 million diverted via expanding pipelines.

The episode frames this as part of a broader strategy since March 2025 targeting Iran’s financial networks while expanding alternative energy supplies, including increased U.S. production, changes in Venezuela, UAE production outside old OPEC quotas, and Iraq pipeline deals to bypass Hormuz, alongside a nuclear power “renaissance.” It highlights remarks at Chatham House by Lebanese adviser Jean Aziz blaming Henry Kissinger’s 1976 actions for decades of conflict and IRGC entanglement, and Qatar’s Majed Al-Ansari describing a regional Gaza “20-point plan” leading to a Washington-based Board of Peace meeting on Feb. 19, 2026.

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South Carolina Senate Race – Darline Graham vs Ralph Norman

The South Carolina Senate race between Darline Graham and Ralph Norman will be very interesting to watch as the runoff date arrives soon, August 25th.

Darline Graham is supported by President Trump, the NRSCC, the professional republican class and the new endorsement from the 3rd place candidate Russell Fry.  Additionally, Darline Graham has been endorsed by Senator Lisa Murkowski, Senator Tim Scott and other very well-known Republican brand names.

Mrs Graham has also picked up a $1 million Super-PAC donation from the leftist “Invest in Tomorrow Coalition” a clean energy and climate change advocacy group.  They will be running ads against Ralph Norman.

That said, CTH has a strong hunch that Ralph Norman is going to win.  There’s an internal poll showing Norman with a 12-point advantage (52/40); however, that’s not the strongest indicator.

A very unscientific review of voter sentiment visible on social media reflects a profound rejection of the Lindsey Graham legacy vote.  While it is entirely possible those voices are just more algorithmically visible than Darline Graham supporters, there sure are a lot of South Carolina republican voters willing to support Ralph Norman over Graham.

It’s weird because no one seems overly enthusiastic for either candidate but voting Norman over Graham appears to be the least bad option.  Darline Graham’s record working for leftist NGOs has many people rejecting her as an option.

What are your thoughts?

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Eastern District of VA District Judge Enters Stay Order Blocking State Response to DHS Subpoena for Commercial Drivers License Records

The blue states and DC are desperately trying to avoid complying with a Dept of Homeland Security administrative subpoena for the records of their commercial driving license distribution.  In short, the blue states don’t want DHS or the American people to know how many illegal aliens are driving on CDLs.

Eastern District of Virginia Judge Anthony Trenga has just interceded to stop the states from forced compliance. Judge Trenga entered an administrative stay preventing DHS from obtaining roughly 17 million commercial driver’s license records it subpoenaed for immigration enforcement. [Read Administrative Stay Here]

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) previously issued subpoenas for approximately 17 million commercial driver’s license (CDL) records, which has led to a legal battle involving multiple Democratic run states.

A coalition of 22 blue states is now suing the DHS, claiming that the demand for this sensitive data is part of a broader effort to create a “nationwide surveillance system” and that the DHS lacks legal authority to access such records. The lawsuit argues that the data could jeopardize drivers’ privacy and violate federal privacy laws. {LAWSUIT HERE}

The states are seeking to block the DHS’s access to the records, which include personal information such as names, dates of birth, and Social Security numbers. The coalition argues DHS has no legal authority to demand the truck drivers’ license records and would jeopardize drivers’ privacy if they receive them.

American citizens are not permitted to know who and how many illegal aliens are operating dangerous trucks on the roadways.  The privacy of the illegal aliens is paramount to the safety of the American citizen motorist.

Think about that for a few moments.

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White House Asks Supreme Court to Intervene and Remove DC Circuit Court Injunction on Ballroom Complex

The White House has filed a petition with the Supreme Court asking for an immediate administrative stay of the DC District Court injunction blocking construction of the Ballroom and Military complex [SEE FILING HERE].

The baseline argument is very solid on several grounds, including standing. A single complaint from a woman who walks by the White House once per month and holds the opinion of the complex as an eyesore is not standing to block the construction. Additionally, several agencies of the Executive Branch stand in support of the construction on presidential security, safety and national security grounds.

[SOURCE]

The structure extends five stories deep into the ground, and is built with hardened concrete, steel, and rebar; protective missile-resistant columns, roofs, and beams; drone proof ceilings and roofs; and bullet, ballistic, and blast-proof glass. … The Project includes bomb shelters, state-of-the-art hospital and medical facilities, protective partitioning between all areas of the building, top secret military structures and equipment, military-grade venting, a single integrated air conditioning and heating system, sniper nests, and a drone port on top, elevated by the structure of the ballroom, to protect the White House and surrounding region from aerial attacks — “one of the nation’s largest emerging threats.”

President Trump has shared additional attachments to the filing, via Truth Social:

Secretary of State Marco Rubio: “In my work with heads of state and foreign ministers, I am frequently hosted in reception facilities that are visually impressive and reflective of the wealth and beauty of the nations I am visiting. In the United States, by contrast, we currently lack the ability to hold large events of a similar magnitude on White House grounds for those same heads of state and foreign dignitaries.

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August 15th – 2026 Presidential Politics – Trump Administration Day 573

In an effort to keep the Daily Open Thread a little more open topic we are going to start a new daily thread for “Presidential Politics”. Please use this thread to post anything relating to the Donald Trump Administration and Presidency.

This thread will refresh daily and appear above the Open Discussion Thread.

(more…)

Saturday August 15th – Open Thread

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. THY WILL BE DONE, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but DELIVER US FROM EVIL.

For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen †

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White House Notes Canada Biggest Enabler of Transshipped Chinese Products to U.S. Market

The White House Office of Trade and Manufacturing released an extensive report this week identifying the major nations who enable China to transship goods into the U.S market in an effort to avoid tariffs.  [REPORT HERE]

Within the report several nations and regions are identified as being used by Chinese manufacturers to avoid U.S. customs and duty enforcement mechanisms.  However, both Canada and Mexico are cited as primary enablers of the process.

[SOURCE HERE]

The issue strikes at the heart of the problem identified long ago with the NAFTA agreement, and the problem only worsens when the USMCA provisions on country of origin are not enforced.

When you remove oil and lumber, the majority of Canada’s manufactured exports to the USA contain Chinese component parts and this has been the source of much friction in the current trade negotiations.  The manufacturing supply chain within all free trade agreements only works when the source of component goods is accurately recorded.

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President Donald Trump Delivers Remarks from New York Event Celebrating Law Enforcement

President Donald Trump held an event in Long Island, New York today to celebrate law enforcement and show his support for first responders.  WATCH:

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