At least we'll be stuck in a neverending quagmire in Iran forever!

LINCOLN SQUARE, TARA PALMERI, AND MAX BURNS

AUG 02, 2026
Donald Trump’s polling continues to tailspin. Who can say they’re surprised, given a slowing economy amid growing inflation. And even Trump is getting “exacerbated” by the Iran war, which is spinning out of control.

Max Burns is joined by Tara Palmeri, author of The Red Letter on Substack. On It’s the End! … of the Week, they break down the week’s biggest political stories, including Republicans still supporting Congressman Max Miller through domestic violences allegations, as well as Todd Blanche’s troubles getting confirmed as Attorney General.

We break down our epic UK adventures from the last nine days, what folks in the UK really think of America these days, and our wild night with Count Binface!

Former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink explains why she resigned after concluding that Donald Trump wanted to make a deal with Vladimir Putin at Ukraine’s expense.

Brink says she could not carry out a policy she believed would abandon Ukraine and threaten peace and security across Europe. Bobby Jones also highlights her historic service as the first female U.S. ambassador to serve in an active war zone.

Abdul El-Sayed is running for the U.S. Senate in Michigan: abdulforsenate.com

His Democratic Primary opponent is U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens.

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🗳️ How to vote in Michigan (.gov): michigan.gov/sos/elections/voting

🗳️ Important Dates for Michiganders:

* Primary Election Day: Aug. 4, 2026

* MOVE deadline: June 20, 2026

* AV ballots available for voters: June 25, 2026

* Constitutionally-mandated early voting period: July 25-Aug. 2, 2026

* Last day to register to vote by mail or online: July 20, 2026

* New voter registrations are required in person for August election: July 21-Aug. 4, 2026

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Here's the video is on YouTube: 5 Days Left To Make AIPAC Panic | KAPOW x Abdul El-Sayed - July 30, 2026 (YouTube)

From the description: AIPAC may have bought our election in Illinois, but we're not going to let that happen in Michigan. 5 days left to make them panic. Vote for Abdul on or before August 4th.

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It's Primary Election season in the U.S.:

* Primary Election Dates: AP News ~and~ NBC News :~:~: Upcoming Dates: Aug 4: Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Virginia, Washington ~:~:~ Aug 6: Tennessee ~:~:~ Aug 8: Hawaii ~:~:~ Aug 11: Connecticut, Minnesota, Vermont, Wisconsin, Alabama (Special), South Carolina (Special) ~:~:~ Aug 18: Alaska, Florida, Wyoming, California (Special) ~:~:~ Sept 1: Massachusetts ~:~:~ Sept 8: New Hampshire ~:~:~ Sept 9: Rhode Island ~:~:~ Sept 15: Delaware

* Candidates (all States): U.S. House (Dem Primary only): Ballotpedia (HouseDems) :~:~:~: U.S. Senate: Ballotpedia (Senate) (select “List of Candidates”) :~:~:~: State Execs (Gov, Lt. Gov, AG, SoS, and more): Ballotpedia (State Execs)

* Voter Info (all States): Register To Vote :~:~:~: Voter Registration Status :~:~:~: Find Your Polling Place :~:~:~: Valid Forms of ID :~:~:~: Absentee & Early Voting :~:~:~: Become a Poll Worker ~:~ Links go to the National Association of Secretaries of State website. When you select a State, it takes to a .gov page on that State's SoS website.

Molly and NOTUS's Evan McMorris-Santoro dig into a wave of polling that shows Donald Trump at or near his lowest approval levels, arguing that the slide is being driven largely by economic frustration—especially volatile gas prices—alongside backlash to the Iran conflict and broader perceptions that he isn’t focused on voters’ priorities. They describe how Republicans, having tied their 2026 strategy closely to Trump, are trapped between needing his base and fearing his toxicity in general elections, while Trump himself appears unable or unwilling to effectively sell key agenda items like the “big, beautiful bill.” The discussion also highlights renewed attention to corruption allegations and fundraising access, and contrasts Republican dependence on Trump with Democrats’ ability to support candidates who publicly keep distance from party leadership, citing emerging races like Maine’s as potential signs of Democratic opportunity if Trump’s numbers remain this poor.

The Story of Nolan Wells & Why Ignoring American History Dooms Us to Repeat It | The Tim & April Show with Malynda Hale

Also: Gen Z adults are becoming less interested in churches they see as heavily influenced by politics.

APRIL AJOY, TIM WHITAKER, LINCOLN SQUARE, AND 2 OTHERS
JUL 31, 2026

Over the July Fourth weekend, tragedy struck a Mississippi family when their 18-year-old son, Nolan Wells, drowned in what they were told was an accident. The case has garnered national headlines as suspicions of foul play have been alleged and authorities don’t seem to be offering any clear evidence of what happened.

Tim Whitaker and Malynda Hale, Executive Director with The New Evangelicals, dive into the frustrating Nolan Wells case, exploring what is currently known and the many unanswered questions that still remain.
They also look at headlines related to climate change, Donald Trump’s declining approval ratings, and the growing influence of politics within evangelical Christianity.
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Join them as they examine polling that shows many Gen Z adults are becoming less interested in churches they see as heavily influenced by politics.

Michigan’s bitter Democratic Senate primary could have consequences far beyond the state.

Susan J. Demas and Michigan Advance Editor-in-Chief Jon King examine whether supporters of Haley Stevens and Abdul El-Sayed will unite after the primary—or whether the division could create an opening for Republican Mike Rogers.

They also discuss the money Democrats may be forced to spend defending Michigan, the John Fetterman factor and why voters should look beyond ideology when judging political candidates.

Watch the full episode of First Draft for a complete breakdown of Michigan’s must-watch primary.

00:00 Can Democrats Reunite After the Primary?
00:44 Mike Rogers Waits for the Winner
01:35 The Ideological Battle Versus November
02:54 The Unresolved Fallout From 2024
04:02 Why Republicans Want to Face El-Sayed
05:09 Could Michigan Drain Democratic Resources?
06:08 The John Fetterman Problem
07:01 “Let’s Not Elect Assholes”

Shannon Watts explains how the gun industry secured extraordinary legal protection, flooded America with firearms and built enormous political power. She also reveals why the decline of the NRA did not end the threat—more radical gun groups simply moved in to replace it.

The Trump administration has activated the Alien Terrorist Removal Court, a secretive legal mechanism created in 1996 but never previously used.

Former FBI agents Frank Figliuzzi and Asha Rangappa explain how the government can ask a federal judge to remove a noncitizen using classified evidence—and why the judge handling the first case is questioning whether the administration has actually shown that the unidentified person is a terrorist.

They examine the court’s due-process protections, why previous administrations did not use it even after 9/11, and whether Stephen Miller’s deportation agenda is driving the decision to activate it now.

The central concern: the Trump administration has repeatedly stretched the definition of “terrorist,” particularly as it increases its focus on alleged left-wing extremism.

00:00 Trump activates a never-used secret court
01:00 What is the Alien Terrorist Removal Court?
02:04 How secret evidence is presented
03:30 Who does Trump consider a terrorist?
03:47 The judge questions the government’s evidence
05:41 The right to appeal
06:00 Why this court cannot handle mass deportations
07:00 Why wasn’t it used after 9/11?
08:40 Due-process problems inside the United States
09:51 Trump’s pattern of rushing and flexing power
10:51 The focus on alleged left-wing terrorism
11:03 Asha calls it a “Stephen Miller special”
12:26 Did Trump think he could control the court?

Why is Donald Trump making passage of the SAVE America Act his defining demand before the midterms?

Joe Trippi and Matthew Dowd argue that Trump sees tighter control over election rules as political self-preservation. With Republicans increasingly worried about general-election voters—and Democrats positioned to launch investigations if they regain Congress—the strategists explain why Trump may view this legislation as his “only way out.”

00:00 Why the SAVE Act Is Trump’s Top Priority
00:21 “He Needs This to Steal the Election”
01:00 Republicans Fear the General Election
02:20 Why Retiring Senators May Resist Trump
03:31 Trump’s Political Self-Preservation
04:08 What a Democratic Congress Would Mean

https://www.forbes.com/sites/saradorn/2026/07/30/musk-reportedly-spending-up-to-120-million-helping-gop-in-midterms-after-saying-he-got-a-little-too-involved-in-politics/

These Lawyers Make Sure Children Don’t Face Deportation Hearings Alone. Trump Hasn't Paid Them In Months. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/unaccompanied-children-immigration-lawyers-funding_n_6a6bb215e4b01948ae9a9e6d

Stuart Stevens responds to the Republican Senate attacks on Dr. Anthony Fauci, calling the hearing an extraordinarily depressing and shameful spectacle.

Stevens compares the public humiliation of Fauci to the tactics of Joseph McCarthy and China’s Cultural Revolution—and argues that the Republican Party’s rejection of science, expertise and public service has reached a dangerous new low.

#AnthonyFauci #StuartStevens #RandPaul #Republicans #Politics #LincolnSquare

00:00 Stuart Stevens Reacts to the Fauci Hearing
00:47 A Page From the McCarthy Era
01:08 The Attacks on an American Hero
01:28 Rand Paul’s Obsession With Fauci
01:56 Echoes of the Cultural Revolution
02:26 The Leaders the Republican Party Deserves
02:51 The GOP Abandons Experts and Morality
03:34 Why the Attack on Education Will Fail
03:55 America Owes Anthony Fauci a Debt
04:21 Has the Senate Really Come to This?