1.) AP: Cargo ship is struck in the Strait of Hormuz
The vessel reported damage off Oman while negotiators worked on a new arrangement for commercial shipping through the strait.
[RELATED] Bessent says a Hormuz deal could come “today or tomorrow”
Iran and Oman reported progress on safe inbound and outbound shipping lanes, but the terms remained unsettled. AP reported that one version would use an Iranian-controlled inbound route and an Omani-controlled outbound route with security fees; a U.S. official rejected any arrangement requiring Iranian approval or charges. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said a deal could come “today or tomorrow.”
2.) BBC WORLD: US states sue to block Trump tariffs impacting dozens of countries
_QUICK BITES_
NOTUS: Armed man arrested at Trump course
Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies arrested Jeanine John Taele, 38, after he allegedly monitored security preparations at President Donald Trump’s Rancho Palos Verdes golf course days before Trump’s Tuesday fundraiser there; authorities said there was “no credible threat” to the visit.
THE HILL: A SpaceX rocket is about to crash into the moon
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket stage is about to crash into the moon.
THE HILL: Judge blocks law banning ICE officers’ masks in New York
A federal judge preliminarily barred New York from enforcing mask and identification requirements against federal immigration officers.
CNN: Trump admin revokes visa of Brazilian ambassador to US
The Trump administration revoked the visa of Brazil’s ambassador to the United States.
POLYMARKET: Ohio governor — general election
Vivek Ramaswamy (R) faces Amy Acton (D).
POLYMARKET: Maine Senate — general election
Troy Jackson (D) faces Susan Collins (R).
POLYMARKET: Texas Senate — general election
Ken Paxton (R) faces James Talarico (D).
POLYMARKET: Alaska Senate — general election
Mary Peltola (D) faces Dan Sullivan (R).
POLYMARKET: Iowa Senate — general election
Ashley Hinson (R) faces Josh Turek (D).
POLYMARKET: Michigan Senate — general election
Abdul El-Sayed (D) leads the unresolved Democratic primary; Mike Rogers (R) is the Republican nominee.
POLYMARKET: Ohio Senate — general election
Sherrod Brown (D) faces Jon Husted (R).
POLYMARKET: Wisconsin governor — general election
Francesca Hong (D) faces Tom Tiffany (R).
POLYMARKET: Georgia governor — general election
Keisha Lance Bottoms (D) faces Rick Jackson (R).
POLYMARKET: Nevada governor — general election
Aaron Ford (D) faces Joe Lombardo (R).
Prices captured Aug 4, 11:17 PM CT. These are trader-implied estimates, not polls. Separate contracts trade independently, so opposing prices may not add to exactly 100%.
NOT NEWS NEWS
3.) GAO: More than 4,300 FEMA employees left as the agency cut staff without a readiness plan
Departures rose 55% from fiscal 2024; GAO says FEMA made 2025–26 staffing decisions without measuring them against mission needs.
[RELATED] Pentagon completed 17 of GAO’s 79 priority recommendations since May 2025
GAO’s June 2026 review leaves the Defense Department with 53 priority recommendations still open, concentrated in military readiness, weapons acquisition and modernization, and financial and fraud-risk management.
4.) THE NEW REPUBLIC: A proposed 60 Minutes segment on Epstein’s banking ties never aired before CBS fired Sharyn Alfonsi
Wyden says CBS pulled the segment; CBS says it was not ready and calls claims of suppression “categorically false.”
5.) LABPOP: 32% of Puerto Rico residents support statehood in a representative survey
The 2025 resident survey and the 2024 plebiscite measured different populations, producing statehood figures of 32% and 58.6%.
What else the survey found:
- 42% identified with no political party, nearly twice the 22% aligned with the pro-statehood Partido Nuevo Progresista.
- 72% said Puerto Rico’s government has little or no power to make independent decisions without federal intervention.
- 68% said the federally appointed Fiscal Oversight Board has more power over Puerto Rico’s laws than its elected government.