Happy Wednesday from the country where ICE reportedly wants to buy voter records from every state, the Pentagon has a secret list of journalists it refuses to talk to, and Trump is seriously considering renaming Lake Ontario because apparently the trade war with Canada needed a fucking branding department. Meanwhile, an Army sergeant’s wife was deported while he serves the country, the Justice Department is arguing about whether the Kennedy Center might need demolition, and researchers are reminding everyone that AI performing well on medical tests is not the same thing as replacing your doctor. Please remain calm but keep your claws out and elbows up. The institutions are merely smoking.
Key Takeaways
ICE Wants to Buy Voter Data From Every State
ICE investigators are seeking access to commercial voter data covering every state, including information that could reveal whether Americans vote and how frequently, while describing the purchase as a fraud detection tool. Apparently immigration enforcement looked at the voter rolls and thought, “You know what would make this less creepy? A subscription.”
Trump Is Considering Renaming Lake Ontario “Lake America”
Trump says he is seriously considering renaming Lake Ontario while his trade war with Canada escalates, even though Canada shares the lake and has shown no interest in participating in the rebrand. We have apparently reached the stage of diplomacy where the president fights with the neighbors and then renames their pool.
The Pentagon Keeps a Secret Blacklist of Journalists
The Intercept reports that U.S. Central Command maintains a secret list of journalists its press office will no longer engage with, raising obvious questions about retaliation and press freedom. Nothing demonstrates confidence in military policy quite like keeping a naughty list of reporters who ask irritating questions.
An Army Sergeant’s Wife Was Deported to Honduras
Cristy Maryori Villafranca Trejo, wife of active duty Army Sergeant Hedar Turcios Juárez, was deported to Honduras after more than two months in detention, leaving him at Fort Bliss with their six year old daughter. “Support our troops” apparently continues to exclude the inconvenient administrative detail of supporting their fucking families.
The Kennedy Center Fight Has Reached the “Maybe We Demolish It” Stage
Justice Department lawyers argue the Kennedy Center could face financial collapse and potentially demolition if renovations and fundraising connected to Trump’s involvement are blocked, while opponents say federal law prevents turning the memorial into another monument to Trump. Apparently the choices are now rename it after Donald or fetch the wrecking ball.
Trump’s “No Tax on Tips” Claim Does Not Match the Actual Law
FactCheck.org found Trump’s repeated claim that workers now pay no tax on tips is misleading because the law created a temporary federal income tax deduction with limits rather than eliminating every tax on tipped income. Turns out “some tax relief subject to rules and eligibility requirements” looked terrible on the hat.
AI Has Not Simply Surpassed Physicians
Recent research shows AI systems can outperform doctors on some knowledge based benchmarks while still struggling with clinical reasoning, multimorbidity, treatment decisions, and real world patient interaction. AI may become an extraordinary medical tool, but your chatbot winning multiple choice night does not mean it should remove your gallbladder.
The Justice Department Apparently Owns a Bar
Court Watch examines the unusual legal history that left the Justice Department connected to a bar property through federal forfeiture proceedings. Given the current state of DOJ, discovering it owns a drinking establishment feels less like news and more like employee wellness planning.
A January 6 Rioter and Former Underwear Model Ran for Congress
Former international underwear model John Strand, who served prison time following convictions related to January 6 and was later pardoned by Trump, entered Florida’s crowded Republican congressional primary. American politics has officially reached the point where “underwear model turned Capitol rioter turned congressional candidate” barely interrupts breakfast.
Louisiana Is Offering Enormous Incentives for Another Mega Project
Oligarch Watch examines Louisiana incentives connected to a massive proposed technology and infrastructure development and questions how much public money and environmental risk taxpayers may absorb. Billionaires continue demonstrating their passionate belief in free markets immediately after receiving the government subsidy package.
Trump Backed Darline Graham Won the South Carolina Republican Runoff
Darline Graham defeated Representative Ralph Norman for the Republican Senate nomination after Trump strongly backed her campaign, giving the president another endorsement victory after several recent losses. Trump’s political magic apparently still works in selected participating locations.
A Retired Republican Judge Is Warning About Trump
A retired Republican judge has joined the growing number of conservative legal figures raising alarms about Trump’s attacks on courts and institutional independence. When retired judges start abandoning polite judicial understatement, perhaps everyone should stop checking party registration and start listening.
Seasonal Vaccination Guidance Is Getting More Complicated
The 2026 seasonal vaccination guide walks through current recommendations for influenza, COVID, RSV, and other respiratory illnesses as federal vaccine policy continues changing. Public health advice should come from evidence and individual medical guidance, not whichever politician currently has access to a microphone.
Closing RK Thoughts
Today’s stories are about information and who gets to control it.
ICE wants voter information. The Pentagon decides which journalists deserve answers. Immigration databases determine who stays. Political messaging turns partial tax deductions into “no tax.” AI benchmarks become headlines about replacing doctors.
And Trump wants to rename a Great Lake.
Authoritarian politics loves controlling language because controlling the words makes controlling the story easier.
So read past the slogan.
Ask what data ICE wants. Ask who landed on the Pentagon blacklist. Read the actual tax law. Check the medical study instead of the headline. Protect voter information like democracy depends on it.
Because increasingly, it fucking does.
Claws out. Receipts ready.
Featured Resisters and Resources
- The Feelings Pit is an independent online resource focused on emotional awareness, self reflection, and mental health support. Designed as a space where people can explore and better understand their emotions, the project encourages honest conversations about feelings, mental wellbeing, and the challenges of navigating life’s complexities. Rather than promoting quick fixes or simplistic solutions, The Feelings Pit embraces the reality that emotions can be messy, complicated, and deeply human.
- Mutual Aid Hub is a nationwide digital platform that connects individuals with local mutual aid networks, community support groups, and grassroots resource-sharing initiatives. The site features an interactive map that allows users to locate nearby organizations offering assistance such as food distribution, housing support, medical aid, and emergency resources. It also enables users to directly contact groups, offer help, or submit requests for support.
What We Are Watching Today
- Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works Meeting Details
- Senate Special Committee on Aging Meeting Details
- Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works | 10:00 AM (EDT) | Meeting Details
- 10:00 AM EDT
Kristina Knickerbocker (D) Speaks to Reporters on GOP Rival Rep. Mike Turner’s Record on Women - 10:00 AM EDT
U.N. Security Council Holds Meeting on West Bank Violence - 1:40 PM EDT
California Gov. Newsom Announces New Economic Investments - 2:00 PM EDT
U.S. Senate Candidate Josh Turek (D-IA) Hosts Cancer Conversation in Cedar Rapids, IA - 2:30 PM EDT
U.S. Senate Candidate Abdul El-Sayed (D-MI) Campaigns with Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) in Ann Arbor - 3:00 PM EDT
Defense Secy. Hegseth Awards Marines for Service During Afghanistan Withdrawal - 5:15 PM EDT
U.S. Senate Candidate Abdul El-Sayed (D-MI) Holds Town Hall With Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) - 6:00 PM EDT
U.S. House Candidate Jamie Ager (D-NC) Campaigns at BBQ Event in Weaverville, NC
Today’s Call to Action
1. Read Today’s Resistance Survival Guides
2. Sign these Petitions and Send These Pre Written Letters
- Tell Congress: No more funds for war with Iran
- Don’t Let the Navy Swap a Black WWII Hero’s Name for Trump
- Sign the petition demanding Congress hold a public hearing on the OpenAI/Hugging Face breach.
- Add your name as a grassroots co-sponsor of the Social Security 2100 Act to demand Congress protect and expand Social Security by making the wealthy pay their fair share.
- Sign and send a petition your U.S. senators urging them to reject all four of Donald Trump’s nominees to the Postal Board of Governors.
- Sign and send a petition to your members of Congress: Oppose the Orwellian-named “Take Care of America’s Veterans Act,” which actually cuts billions of dollars in veterans’ benefits.
3. Verify your voter registration status and help at least one other person check theirs
4. Save contact information for local legal aid and voting support organizations
5. Attend an Event
- Join Organized Power in Numbers’ weekly Workers Over Billionaires Mass Call to hear from organizers on the frontlines and find your way into the organizing machine: workers.fyi/masscall
- AI and Surveillance and Incarceration Webinar
Wednesday, August 26 at 9:00 p.m. ET. This free virtual event examines how artificial intelligence is being used for surveillance, policing, and incarceration. - March on Washington: Defend the Vote
Friday, August 28 at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. Gathering begins at 8:00 a.m. ET, and the program begins at 9:00 a.m. The march will defend voting rights, civil rights, and economic justice.
6. Contact Your Lawmakers Directly
- Demand Public Testimony on the Epstein Files: “Hello, my name is [NAME], and I live in [CITY]. I am asking you to demand public testimony from Attorney General Todd Blanche about the missing Epstein records, redaction failures, and the treatment of Ghislaine Maxwell. Survivors and the public deserve answers. Please support subpoenas and full congressional oversight.”
- Reject Another Blank Check for the Iran War: “Hello, my name is [NAME], and I live in [CITY]. I am asking you to oppose the proposed $73 billion in additional Iran war funding. Congress must debate and vote on any authorization for war before approving more money. Please invest those resources in health care, housing, food assistance, and communities here at home.”
- Stop the Escalating Trade War With Canada: “Hello, my name is [NAME], and I live in [CITY]. I am asking Congress to block the threatened 50 percent tariffs on Canadian vehicles, parts, and steel. These tariffs could raise prices, disrupt American factories, and cost workers their jobs. Please reclaim Congress’s authority over trade and demand a negotiated solution.”
7. Who Are We Boycotting This Week?
- Chevron and Texaco: Avoid Chevron and Texaco gas stations. A coordinated boycott action on August 29 is protesting Chevron’s involvement in Israel’s energy industry and its environmental record.
- Target: The American Federation of Teachers has called for a nationwide Target boycott over the company’s response to aggressive ICE operations in Minnesota. Skip Target for back to school shopping and support local or union friendly stores instead.
- Palantir: Palantir provides surveillance and data technology used by ICE, police departments, and military agencies. Do not invest in Palantir, accept its sponsorships, or support institutions that purchase its technology.
