The experience of being chased by a murderous kamikaze drone, a flying machine that behaves as if it were alive, is not one that humans are equipped to understand: www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...

The Dystopian Future Dawns in Kherson

Putin’s human safari in Ukraine is the beginning of a grim new normal.

theatlantic.com

Just a note that @jbendery.bsky.social is 100% worth following. Always finds stories like these that matter, and yet are a bit under the radar.

Jen Bendery@jbendery.bsky.social · 2h ago

Former J6 federal prosecutors are begging senators -- mostly GOPers, but a handful of Dems are in there, too -- to stop confirming election deniers to lifetime federal courts seats. “Please stop poisoning our courts." www.huffpost.com/entry/live-u...

El-Sayed on Islamophobia: "That's the only play they got. They're gonna point at me, they're gonna point at my name, like, 'Wow, he's different.' That's the best you got? You can't actually talk about what you want to do? My name is not raising your gas prices. My name is now taking us to war."

An excellent reminder of who Mike Rogers is. bsky.app/profile/stev...

Steve Vladeck@stevevladeck.bsky.social · 2h ago

When he was Chair of the House Intelligence Committee, Mike Rogers (the Republican candidate for Senate in Michigan) publicly took the position that "you can't have your privacy violated if you don't know your privacy is violated." Colbert had some fun with that: crooksandliars.com/cltv/2013/10...

Well done. Dems in array. Maybe someone will write that story. Probs not. But we can hope.

MeidasTouch@meidastouch.com · 3h ago

A gracious concession: “I want to congratulate Abdul El-Sayed on winning the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate. He is a doctor, a community health official, a Rhodes Scholar, and a dedicated Michigander. I am proud to offer my support as he takes on Mike Rogers in the general election…

Representative Shirley Chisholm, 1972: "[W]e have looked in vain to the Nixon administration for the courage, the spirit, the character, and the words to lift us, to bring out the best in us, to rekindle in each of us our faith in the American dream."

Shirley Chisholm: Declares Presidential Bid, January 25, 1972

YouTube video by NYC Department of Records and Information Services

youtube.com

The strongest available evidence supports a zoonotic origin for COVID-19. - The virus is genetically diverse in ways typical of natural viruses and atypical of gain-of-function (GoF) viruses. 🧵

🔴 Russian forces launched a massive overnight attack on Kyiv and the region using 24 ballistic missiles, 4 anti-ship missiles, and 115 drones. The strikes hit civilian targets, including warehouses, logistics centers, and a railway station.

Former J6 federal prosecutors are begging senators -- mostly GOPers, but a handful of Dems are in there, too -- to stop confirming election deniers to lifetime federal courts seats. “Please stop poisoning our courts." www.huffpost.com/entry/live-u...

Former J6 Prosecutors Beg Senators To Stop Confirming Election Deniers To Court Seats

huffpost.com

The Reflecting Pool saga is a perfect diorama of how right-wing media turns Trump’s fantasies into public reality, and then tries to quietly conceal the wreckage once the facts catch up.

Jeanine Pirro's Reflecting Pool reckoning

The former Fox News star couldn't sustain Trump's fantasy. Her downfall is classic MAGA tale

salon.com

National Night Out is a reminder of what makes our communities strong: neighbors coming together and supporting one another. Thank you to our local law enforcement and everyone who supported last night's events. Working together, we build safer, stronger neighborhoods for all.

Just 90 days until the midterms Democrats say they’re expanding the battlefield As Trump’s numbers flounder youtu.be/KgLioDOq5dw?...

🚨 Trump gets election news he FEARED in Michigan!

YouTube video by Scott MacFarlane Reports

youtu.be

Breaking News: The progressive Abdul El-Sayed narrowly won Michigan’s Democratic Senate primary, a victory for the left in a crucial state.

Michigan Election Results Live Updates: Abdul El-Sayed Wins Democratic Senate Primary

Dr. El-Sayed, a progressive former public health official, narrowly defeated Representative Haley Stevens, a moderate, in a bitter campaign dominated by the politics of Israel.

nyti.ms

Good riddance. If he had any honor he would leave now, but Mike Johnson needs his vote so Republican sexual harassers need to stay around. Probably want to keep young female staffers away from him though.

This is the guy in charge of overhauling the Pentagon's security clearance program. www.motherjones.com/politics/202...

Oh look, another far-right extremist at the Pentagon

He oversees defense intelligence and security agencies and helps shape military operations.

motherjones.com

Brown University has a widget that tracks the cost of the Iran war to American consumers (as contrasted to whatever the Pentagon is spending). Per-household cost now exceeds $600. iranwarcost.watson.brown.edu

And I'm sure it is no surprise that Sharyn Alfonsi’s 60 Minutes story that investigated the Epstein money trail somehow disappeared after Alfonsi was fired. Wake up America we are witnessing a massive cover-up

From today’s “Letters from an American” by @hcrichardson.bsky.social heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/p/august-4-2... Full carousel on Instagram. www.instagram.com/p/Dbp-BzpFoR... #lettersfromanamerican #heathercoxrichardson #protectdemocracy #factsmatter

This is a very important read and should not be buried by election news.

Heather Cox Richardson (TDPR)@hcrichardson.bsky.social · 11h ago

August 4, 2026

I liked America better when we were forgiving of immigrants and cynical about rich people. I also liked it better when people liked the rebel alliance and hated the Empire.

Heather Cox Richardson (TDPR)@hcrichardson.bsky.social · 11h ago

August 4, 2026

Fellow Scientist please consider signing the World Scientists’ Warning to Humanity: A Third Notice here forms.gle/BAfifGWesmoY... @hcrichardson.bsky.social #ScienceSky #TechSky #EngieeringSky #MedSky #MathSky #GreenSky #PhysicsSky #AstronomySky #ChemistrySky #BiologySky #VirologySky #VaccineSky 🧪🦠

In this 250 to 250 from @hcrichardson.bsky.social & team, Lexy White, social media producer, journalist & founder of Paddock Party LA, celebrates the Indianapolis 500, the race that fueled America's car culture & became one of the nation's greatest sporting traditions. youtu.be/6Aqb3rbQP6I?...

Indianapolis 500, Narrated by Lexy White

YouTube video by Heather Cox Richardson

youtu.be

Politics feels corrupt because it is. Billionaire mega-donors aren’t just buying yachts and jets — they’re buying power, and they’re using that power to rig our political system. jamestalarico.com/issue/corrup...

North Korean missile unit deploys in Russia for Ukraine war, Kyiv says. www.reuters.com/business/aer...

That sounds hot. Is it hot?

It’s 90 degrees in the Arctic right now

The Arctic is heating faster than the rest of the planet. New data illustrate how dire that is

scientificamerican.com

The decisive failure of GOP referenda in Kansas Amendment 1 and Missouri Amendment 4 yesterday is yet another reminder of something I've been saying for a while: Voters, even Republican voters, now regularly despise and repudiate GOP attempts to use them to destroy democracy.

Whenever you read a hot take from Politico that casts Dems in an unflattering light, remind yourself that the owner asked the executives to pray for Donald Trump’s reelection. It’s propaganda.

🚨BREAKING: Voting advocates filed a lawsuit Tuesday, asking a state court to quickly put a redistricting referendum on the November ballot as Missouri Republicans inch closer to thwarting voters’ efforts to block gerrymandered new voting maps. www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/...

Missouri voting advocates sue after redistricting referendum rejected

Missouri voters have fought for nearly a year to put the gerrymander to a statewide referendum vote in November.

democracydocket.com

I hope people will actually listen to the statements of El Sayed about his focus--improving the lives of the people of Michigan, getting money out of politics, unrigging the system, standing up to Trump, Rogers & MAGA--and tune out the inside-the-beltway soap opera about division peddled by pundits.

New U.S.-Iran deal expected for Wednesday; U.S. missile stockpile running dry due to Iran war; Iranians struggle with record 62% inflation.

New U.S.-Iran deal expected for Wednesday; U.S. missile stockpile running dry due to Iran war; Iranians struggle with record 62% inflation.

Meanwhile, Pakistan opens land routes to Iran and Yemen Houthis target Saudi ships in the Red Sea.

iranwar.news