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POLIWednesday, August 19, 2026
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1world

[UPDATE] Trump says no Iran talks are planned as Hormuz traffic falls

Iran says the strait will stay shut until Washington meets its conditions, while confirmed crossings dropped again.

President Trump said Aug. 18 that the U.S. had no talks planned with Iran. Tehran says the Strait of Hormuz will not reopen until Washington meets its conditions, even as Trump insists the waterway is operating.

ContextConfirmed crossings fell from 118 to 95 last week, including only three on Sunday, according to Kpler data cited by the AP. That compares with more than 700 crossings in a typical week before the crisis, [the AP reported earlier this month](https://apnews.com/article/0220ceb7904e16c30869c8fe4cf2a3db). All of last week's confirmed crossings used the Iranian-designated route; none used the Omani routes. An unidentified projectile also damaged a ship's engine room near Oman and caused a crew casualty, British maritime monitors said.

ASSOCIATED PRESS10 sources

2world

US sanctions ICC president and senior trial lawyer

The measures freeze assets in U.S. jurisdiction as Washington presses its campaign against the court.

The Trump administration sanctioned International Criminal Court President Tomoko Akane and senior trial lawyer Abdoulaye Seye on Aug. 18. The sanctions freeze assets they hold in U.S. jurisdictions or that touch the U.S. financial system.

ContextThe State Department says the court has overreached by pursuing American and Israeli personnel over alleged crimes in Afghanistan, Iraq and Gaza. Similar U.S. sanctions have already made routine work such as banking and email harder for the court, according to earlier AP reporting.

ASSOCIATED PRESS4 sources

3us

US and Canada make last push to stop 50% tariffs on $20 billion in goods

The duties were scheduled for 12:01 a.m. Eastern on Aug. 19; they cover about 5% of Canadian exports to the U.S.

As of Tuesday evening, the U.S. and Canada were still negotiating before 50% tariffs on $20 billion in Canadian goods were scheduled to take effect at 12:01 a.m. Eastern on Aug. 19.

ContextThe [White House proclamations](https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/07/imposing-additional-duties-to-offset-canadian-discrimination-against-the-commerce-of-the-united-states-with-respect-to-dairy/) invoked Section 338 of the 1930 Tariff Act, which allows tariffs of up to 50% on countries the president says discriminate against U.S. businesses. The new duties would cover about 5% of Canadian exports to the U.S.; nearly $2 billion in goods crosses the border each day. Last month, Trump separately imposed 10% to 12.5% tariffs on 59 countries and the European Union over forced-labor enforcement.

ASSOCIATED PRESS3 sources

4not newsus

FBI estimates violent crime fell 9.3% in 2025

The preliminary national estimate is the bureau's largest reported one-year decline since 1937.

The FBI's preliminary national estimate shows reported violent crime fell 9.3% from 2024 to 2025. Murder and nonnegligent manslaughter fell 18.1%, robbery 18.5%, rape 7.6% and aggravated assault 7.2%.

ContextMore than 17,000 law enforcement agencies covering 96% of the U.S. population submitted data. Participation is voluntary, and the FBI says the estimates remain preliminary and subject to change before the final annual report.

FBI2 sources

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Executive summary4 stories

News news3

  1. [UPDATE] Trump says no Iran talks are planned as Hormuz traffic falls: Iran says the strait will stay shut until Washington meets its conditions, while confirmed crossings dropped again.
  2. US sanctions ICC president and senior trial lawyer: The measures freeze assets in U.S. jurisdiction as Washington presses its campaign against the court.
  3. US and Canada make last push to stop 50% tariffs on $20 billion in goods: The duties were scheduled for 12:01 a.m. Eastern on Aug. 19; they cover about 5% of Canadian exports to the U.S.

Not news news1

  1. FBI estimates violent crime fell 9.3% in 2025: The preliminary national estimate is the bureau's largest reported one-year decline since 1937.

News news3 stories

1.) ASSOCIATED PRESS: [UPDATE] Trump says no Iran talks are planned as Hormuz traffic falls

Iran says the strait will stay shut until Washington meets its conditions, while confirmed crossings dropped again.

[UPDATE] Yesterday: Trump threatened Oman as the Hormuz talks stalled

This is the next development in yesterday's lead: Trump had threatened to bomb Oman if it interfered with U.S.-Iran talks.

2.) ASSOCIATED PRESS: US sanctions ICC president and senior trial lawyer

The measures freeze assets in U.S. jurisdiction as Washington presses its campaign against the court.

[RELATED] How U.S. sanctions disrupted the ICC's work

Court staff and allies told the AP that earlier sanctions made basic operations and investigations increasingly difficult.

3.) ASSOCIATED PRESS: US and Canada make last push to stop 50% tariffs on $20 billion in goods

The duties were scheduled for 12:01 a.m. Eastern on Aug. 19; they cover about 5% of Canadian exports to the U.S.

Quick bites5

  1. AP: DOJ Whistleblower Alleges Antisemitism Probes Were Political

    A Justice Department whistleblower alleges that antisemitism investigations targeting Harvard, Columbia, Brown, and other universities were launched with little evidence and designed to strong-arm schools into cutting deals for political purposes.

    The Justice Department says it stands behind the integrity of the investigations. Brown separately agreed to fund Rhode Island workforce development groups to end three federal investigations, with no findings of wrongdoing.

  2. AP: Minnesota Sues Texas Over ICE Agent Extradition

    Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison sued Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to compel the extradition of ICE agent Christian Castro, who faces assault and false-reporting charges. Abbott has refused to sign extradition papers since Castro's arrest in Texas in May.

    Prosecutors say Castro fired through the front door of a Minneapolis home on Jan. 14, wounding Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis in the leg, then falsely accused Sosa-Celis and another man of attacking an ICE officer with a broom handle and snow shovel.

  3. AP: Disney, ABC Sue FCC

    Disney and ABC filed a federal lawsuit against the FCC, alleging the Trump administration is violating the network's First Amendment rights by challenging its broadcast licenses and investigating "The View." The suit seeks to block an early license-renewal process the network says targets it over editorial content.

  4. CBS NEWS: Appeals Court Blocks ICE Arrests at Some Houses of Worship

    A federal appeals court upheld a block on immigration enforcement actions at houses of worship affiliated with Quaker, Sikh, and Cooperative Baptist Fellowship religious traditions, siding with the congregations challenging Trump administration policy.

Elections1 races

Not news news1 stories

4.) FBI: FBI estimates violent crime fell 9.3% in 2025

The preliminary national estimate is the bureau's largest reported one-year decline since 1937.