WALK AWAY FROM HORMUZ?
ALERT 8/9/26
“Hitler was a left-wing socialist” - Elon Musk
@insiderpaper
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BREAKING: The New York Times reported that Iran’s top security official said the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed until Washington fulfilled set of demands, including withdrawing U.S. forces from the region, paying war reparations and releasing frozen Iranian assets.
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JUST IN - Former U.S. President Joe Biden’s prostate cancer has spread beyond his bones, causing severe pain, his son Hunter Biden told the BBC.
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📢 🇺🇸 🇮🇷 Bessent on the Strait of Hormuz:
The strait is never going back to the way it was because the Iranians have used, or tried to use it, as a choke point.
What we are going to see over the next two years, the strait is going to become irrelevant.
It is going to become just another body of water, and I would say that more than 50 or 70% of the energy that moves through the strait now is going to go through underground pipelines.
📝 Carolina Lion: “This is an admission of defeat, by the way. It means they don’t have the means to force open the Strait militarily.”
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🛢 🇺🇸 📉 US crude oil inventories are experiencing an unprecedented decline:
Total US crude oil inventories have fallen for 17 consecutive weeks, the longest streak on record.
This surpasses the previous record of 16-straight weekly declines seen in 2021.
Since early April, total crude oil inventories have plunged -166 million barrels, to 712 million barrels, the lowest since March 1984.
The Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) alone has dropped -111 million barrels since March, to 305 million barrels, the lowest since February 1983.
Meanwhile, excluding the SPR, US oil inventories have fallen for 10 consecutive weeks, matching the 2018 record streak.
US oil supplies are experiencing a historic decline.
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🇺🇸⚔️🇮🇷 The U.S. blockade on Iran is unsustainable as living conditions on USS Abraham Lincoln resemble the living conditions experienced by the crew of USS Gerald R. Ford.
Moldy showers and no soap: Military families are outraged by conditions on USS Lincoln
The aircraft carrier’s long deployment in the Iran war is raising concerns that the sailors and Marines on board are facing poor conditions, low supplies and fatigue.
Moldy showers. Food shortages. Sailors running out of toothpaste, deodorant and soap.
Families of the sailors and Marines aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln are sounding the alarm that their loved ones are so exhausted they fear it could lead to deadly mistakes, as the carrier enters its ninth month at sea and its fifth consecutive month of combat operations against Iran.
MS NOW spoke to a dozen family members who say they are extremely concerned with the morale, safety and conditions on the ship. They described a crew straining under the demands of an unexpectedly long deployment, as President Donald Trump continues to extend his military campaign against Iran with no clear end in sight.
The families told MS NOW there is no indication of when their loved ones are going to return home, as the routine seven-month deployment for the 5,000-plus crew members appears to have been extended for a second time.
Most sailors are working excruciatingly long shifts, and depending on their job, some are rarely getting a day off, family members told MS NOW. One father, who is a Navy veteran, said his son described seeing holes that have worn through the Lincoln’s flight deck.
The flight deck of an aircraft carrier is already one of the most dangerous places in the military. High-speed aircraft with powerful engines can burn sailors and blow them overboard. Spinning propellers can cause accidents. And the constant loading and unloading of bombs, missiles and rockets pose the risk of explosions and fires.
It is a fast-moving, tightly packed, extremely loud environment that can lead to hearing loss from the relentless engine noise — and the work on deck is physically demanding and done in elements like wind, rain, heat and cold.
The crew of the Lincoln has had only two days off the aircraft carrier since it left its home port in San Diego in November. The ship had a short port call in Guam in December and then did not have another stop until July 7, when it briefly pulled into Oman after 208 continuous days at sea — a modern-day record for a Navy aircraft carrier.
🔗 https://www.ms.now/news/conditions-safety-uss-lincoln-iran-war
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🌹 🇺🇸 📊 DSA foreign policies that make younger Democrats (Under 50) more likely to support a candidate:
End detentions/deportations — 71%
End Israel aid to free Palestine — 56%
End Cuba/Venezuela/Iran sanctions — 52%
Cut military + close bases — 52%
Nationalize transport/energy — 41%
Felons vote — 41%
Abolish police/prisons — 29%
Noncitizens vote — 24%
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📝 🇺🇸 📊 Who supports free trade? Everyone.
Free trade is popular with every group in American politics. So why aren’t Democrats running more strongly against Trump’s tariffs?
Free trade is popular with every race, both genders, and even every income bracket. The working class likes free trade!
So much of what Democrats want to do comes with a cost - it’s either politically very difficult, or it requires an enormous amount of money.
But promising to rescind 100% of Trump’s tariffs would be popular, could be done almost immediately, and would cost nothing.
Dems are missing a golden opportunity on free trade: Tear down one of Trump’s signature policies, while also lowering the cost of living and boosting economic growth in one fell swoop:
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🕵♂️ 🇺🇸 ⚖️ The Democrats plan to investigate businesses and financial firms in President Trump’s orbit to obtain evidence for impeachment if they win control of the House, which seems increasingly likely.
Rather than impeaching him immediately, Democrats are developing a plan to launch a broad inquiry into administration officials’ conduct.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/democrats-plan-trump-investigations-over-100403454.html
📎 AF Post
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🗳 🇺🇸 📊 Generic Ballot among Likely Voters
(Field dates: 7/17-8/4)
🔵 Emerson: D+11
🔵 Big Data: D+11
🔵 John Zogby: D+11
🔵 Argument: D+10
🔵 Clarity Labs: D+10
🔵 J.L Partners: D+9
🔵 Marquette: D+6
🔵 Quantus: D+6
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AVERAGE
🟦 Democrats: 51.4% (D+9.4)
🟥 Republicans: 42.0%
📝 Hercules Strong: In 2010, generic polls said R+9.
That was the year Republicans gained 63 seats in the House of Representatives.
2026, generic polls say D+9.4.
📝 David: Current generic ballot polls point to the Dems having a 9 point advantage
If this came true the Democrats would win 234 House seats and 52 Senate seats, a historic BLUE WAVE
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🗳 🇺🇸 📊 Generic Ballot among Likely Voters
(Field dates: 7/17-8/4)
🔵 Emerson: D+11
🔵 Big Data: D+11
🔵 John Zogby: D+11
🔵 Argument: D+10
🔵 Clarity Labs: D+10
🔵 J.L Partners: D+9
🔵 Marquette: D+6
🔵 Quantus: D+6
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AVERAGE
🟦 Democrats: 51.4% (D+9.4)
🟥 Republicans: 42.0%
📝 Hercules Strong: In 2010, generic polls said R+9.
That was the year Republicans gained 63 seats in the House of Representatives.
2026, generic polls say D+9.4.
📝 David: Current generic ballot polls point to the Dems having a 9 point advantage
If this came true the Democrats would win 234 House seats and 52 Senate seats, a historic BLUE WAVE
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🗳 🇺🇸 📊 James Talarico (D) is now favored to win the Texas Senate race over Ken Paxton (R)
https://kalshi.com/markets/senatetx/texas-senate-race/senatetx-26
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🇺🇸🏀⚡️- WNBA star Sophie Cunningham, who has faced backlash for defending the removal of transgenders from women’s sports, was fouled hard by her Black opponent, DiJonai Carrington, who was then ejected from the game.
Carrington later took to social media and claimed that White privilege was the reason for her ejection. It’s worth noting that the WNBA does not seem to enforce strict rules against racial attacks within its league, as exemplified by Caitlin Clark being repeatedly attacked by Black opponents.
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📝 🇺🇸 🗳 Ex-GOP strategist: ‘This might be the year’ Democrats win Texas
Former GOP strategist Joseph Moreno said “this might be the year” that Democrats win in Texas after a three-decade drought since a Democrat has won in the Lone Star State.
In an appearance on CNN’s “The Lead,” host Jake Tapper asked Moreno about recent polling that showed Texas state Rep. James Talarico (D-Texas) leading Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) 47 percent to 45 percent.
“It surprises me, and it worries me a little bit, Jake. Normally, I would say, ‘I’m not worried about this,’ right? It’s been 30 years since a Democrat won statewide office in Texas,” Moreno said.
Paxton won a primary runoff against incumbent Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) earlier this year with the help of an endorsement from President Trump.
Talarico won the Democratic primary against Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D) in March and received heavy support from Democratic leadership including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.).
“The problem is, here’s what happens — in 2024, the Republican was up by 2 percent, wins by 8 percent. In 2020, Cornyn was up 10 percent, wins by 10 percent,” Moreno continued. “Now, you’ve got Talarico even, or maybe even ahead of Paxton. Paxton is so flawed. I’m embarrassed as a Republican.”
Paxton faced scrutiny from Texas state officials following a state House investigation that found he had “used, misused, or failed to use his official powers in a manner calculated to subvert the lawful operation of the government.”
He also was impeached by the Texas House, faces 20 charges of misconduct in office, previously faced three felony securities fraud charges and had an extramarital affair.
A Texas Pulse/Texas A&M Bush School poll released Friday had 47 percent of likely Texas voters planning to support Talarico, while 43 percent chose Paxton.
“I hate to say it, this might be the year for Democrats in Texas,” Moreno concluded.
The general election between Paxton and Talarico happens on Nov. 3.
https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/6018480-gop-strategist-moreno-texas-shift/
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🇦🇪🇮🇷⚡️- Iran targeted a UAE state owned oil tanker earlier today in the Strait of Hormuz.
“The United Arab Emirates has strongly condemned and denounced the hostile Iranian attack involving a missile that targeted a carrier affiliated with ADNOC [Abu Dhabi National Oil Company] as it transited through the Strait of Hormuz, with no injuries reported.” - UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
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🇺🇸🇮🇷⚡️- “A fleet of at least 56 visually identified tankers is currently operating in digital darkness to support oil exports from Arab nations neighboring Iran. These vessels transit the Strait of Hormuz to conduct covert ship-to-ship (STS) transfers in the Gulf of Oman; helping ensure that you can still afford to enjoy your summer holiday, even if it is only a day trip.” - TankerTrackers
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🇮🇷🇴🇲⚡- Without directly blaming Tehran, Oman has for the first time publicly condemned the “repeated attacks on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz. Such incidents violate international law, threaten maritime safety, and risk undermining regional security and stability.”
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🇮🇷🇮🇱⚡- “Israel is preparing for the possibility of unilaterally attacking Iran,” - Israeli Channel 13.
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🇺🇸🇵🇸🇮🇱⚡- “The United States is not leaving us many options and is pushing us towards a problem in Gaza,” - An Israeli official tells Israeli Channel 12.
Note, Washington is pushing for a two-week ceasefire to facilitate the phased disarmament of Hamas, a proposal the group has agreed to in principle. Hamas, however, insists that any such arrangement must be preceded by a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and an end to targeted assassinations. Under the proposed initial two-week phase, at least 150-500 Moroccan troops, serving as part of the International Stabilization Forces, ISF, would be deployed on a trial basis to help enforce the authority of the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, NCAG. The final approval of the entry of the ISF rests with Tel Aviv–which the Israeli government has yet to approve.
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BREAKING: The Senate has passed a stopgap funding bill to avert a government shutdown ahead of the 2026 midterms, which now heads to the House for approval.
@GeneralMCNews
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BREAKING: Benjamin Netanyahu is demanding an additional $17 billion for Israel’s defense budget, further boosting military spending amid ongoing regional tensions.
@GeneralMCNews
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BREAKING: Flock Safety plans to expand its nationwide surveillance network by converting up to 350,000 Uber, Lyft, and delivery vehicles into roaming license plate scanners, vastly increasing real-time vehicle tracking capabilities.
@GeneralMCNews
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The Pentagon is pressing U.S. defense companies to rapidly boost weapons production after the Iran war sharply depleted missile stocks.
Firms have 21 days to propose faster deliveries, expanded factories, and increased capacity.
The biggest concern is air-defense ammunition: Patriot inventories reportedly fell from about 2,200 to under 827, while THAAD stocks dropped from 452 to under 278.
The Pentagon is pursuing major production deals, including a $58.6 billion Lockheed Martin agreement, but much of the expansion depends on a $1.15 trillion defense spending bill stalled in Congress.
Source: WaPo
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Global Food Price Index hits 3-year high
The UN Food and Agriculture Organization’s Food Price Index climbed to a three-year high in July, extending its upward trajectory as conflicts across Eurasia (the Black Sea and the Hormuz chokepoint) disrupt critical trade routes and mounting El Niño risks threaten global harvests.
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization’s FAO Food Price Index, which tracks monthly changes in the international prices of a basket of globally traded food commodities, averaged 131.09 last month, up .6% from the previous month, led by gains in grain, sugar, and vegetable oils.
Wheat surged 5.8% during the month to a two-year high, while corn climbed 3.6%. Vegetable oil prices reached their highest since June 2022, while meat and dairy prices declined, according to the FAO.
For households, the best hedge may be to strengthen their own local food supply chains, whether by planting a backyard garden, buying directly from nearby farms, or building relationships with local farmers and cattle ranchers.
https://www.zerohedge.com/commodities/global-food-prices-hit-three-year-high-war-chokepoint-chaos-and-el-nino-spark-perfect
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BREAKING: Amazon is planning a major AI data center in Texas that could be powered by a natural gas plant, potentially making it the largest single source of power-plant pollution in the U.S.
@GeneralMCNews
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JUST IN - Yemen’s Houthis attack al-Mokha Red Sea port, saying they are targeting Saudi troop concentrations and weapons depots, this follows the earlier attack on Saudi Aramco’s Jazan refinery today.
Read here: https://www.disclose.tv/id/k7zl9hoyh8/
@disclosetv
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JUST IN - UK government announces nearly £130 million ($175 million) in funding for zero-emission vehicle technologies, UK has committed to ending sales of new petrol or diesel powered cars from 2030, and for all new cars to be zero-emission by 2035.
@disclosetv
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—❗️🇸🇦/🇾🇪 NEW: In a separate incident, the Ministry of Electricity announces that the Aramco refinery in Jazan caught fire once again
It is unclear if this was an accident or an attack, and who carried it out.
@Middle_East_Spectator
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—❗️🇸🇦/🇾🇪 BREAKING: The Yemeni Armed Forces have taken responsibility for targeting the Jazan Aramco refinery in Saudi Arabia last night, in response to airspace violations by drones
@Middle_East_Spectator
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🇺🇸🕊🇮🇷 Trump has privately told senior aides he may be willing to end the Iran war without a nuclear deal if Tehran fully reopens the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s sweeping new demands, however, are complicating his search for an exit. - WSJ
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🇺🇸⚡️- The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) reports that two unidentified aircraft were intercepted while violating the restricted airspace of Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey.
F-16C/D Fighting Falcons from the 1st Numbered Air Force (likely the 177th Fighter Wing or another nearby unit) were part of the mission.
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🇬🇧🏴🇵🇸 Pro-Palestine activists in the UK broke into the premises of Ultra I&C, in Aberdeen, Scotland, trashed the building, destroyed various office furniture and hundreds of documents.
Ultra I&C is an American defense technology business specializing in mission‑critical software, encryption, and edge‑compute products and allegedly, a partner of Elbit Systems Ltd. one of Israel’s biggest defense companies.
🔗 The Aftershock (@The_Aftershock_)
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🌹 Zohran Mamdani:
We’re not running away from the Democratic Party. We’re going back to what the party used to be.
You think about FDR and LaGuardia. You think about the New Deal. That’s what the Democratic Party once was. That’s what it could be again.
And if we want to win, I think that’s what we have to become.
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📝 🇺🇸 🌹 “We’re Here To Destroy The White Race”: Democratic Socialist Of America Hero Declares War On West
Marxist streamer Hasan Piker has emerged as an increasingly visible, if unofficial, spokesman for the Democratic Socialists of America’s rapidly expanding political action network. He campaigned for Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed and Wisconsin gubernatorial candidate Francesca Hong while cultivating close ties with socialist New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
Piker calls on his followers to “kill capitalists”.
Piker: “We want more immigrants to come into your countries and then they’re gonna f**k your sisters and then your daughters. We’re here to destroy the White Race, Bitch.”
Piker: “America deserved 9/11. I do not support the United States of America.”
Piker: “I don’t have any sort of patriotism in my heart for America.”
Piker’s close proximity to DSA-aligned candidates, combined with anti-American rhetoric and revolutionary Marxism that is hostile to America’s political and capitalist system, has federal investigators examining the possibility that revolutionary activity is being supported by foreign subversion networks.
https://www.zerohedge.com/political/inflection-point-arrives-dsas-unofficial-america-hating-communist-mascot
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🔥 🇨🇦 👨🚒 British Columbia declares a state of emergency as the Bald Range wildfire spreads near Summerland and Peachland. Over 20,000 people are evacuated, a major highway is closed and hot, dry weather threatens over 100 fires.
Al Jazeera’s Ferdia Carr reports.
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🌬 🇺🇸 🔥 The northern United States will trade Amazon rainforest-like levels of humidity for wildfire smoke this week.
In British Columbia, 11 new fires have been reported so far this weekend and a provincewide state of emergency has been declared — as smoke drifts east.
📎 Ben Noll
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⚠️UK Special Forces Drones meant to deploy to the Strait of Hormuz Caught Pinging China
Cameras aboard the Royal Navy’s new £12 million K3 Scout drone fleet were discovered secretly transmitting data back to China, the Telegraph revealed. Used by elite Royal Marines and SBS for months, these surveillance assets were meant to deploy to the high-stakes Strait of Hormuz. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) rushed to completely strip all internet connectivity from the devices.
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⚡🛢️Oil futures prices jump roughly 2.5% at market open.
Brent last seen at 87.64$, USOIL at 79$.
@medmannews
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Global Food Security at Risk as Ukrainian Grain Exports Drop 22% YoY
Due to Russia’s blockade in the Black Sea, Ukrainianwheat/barley/maize exports are down 22% Year-over-Year.
Ukrainian attacks on Russian vessels in the Sea of Azov (a key route for ~25% of Russian grain exports) have caused them to throttle exports there, prompting wheat prices to jump 7% on the news.
Notably, production itself is still solid — the problem is getting the grains out, and that’s not happening reliably right now.
source: https://www.world-grain.com/articles/23077-regional-review-war-taking-toll-on-black-sea-grain-shipments
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🇮🇷🇮🇱⚡- “You may have noticed that Iran has attacked every country in the region except us, the State of Israel.
That is because Iran knows the powerful retaliation we will deliver if it does decide to attack us,” - Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Prime Minister.
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🇾🇪⚡- Large-scale Ansarullah drone attack on the port city of Mocha, Saudi-backed Yemeni National Resistance Forces controlled southwest Yemen.
The attack has been ongoing for 3+ hours.
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BREAKING: President Trump says he is “low keying it with Iran” and he is prepared to allow economic pressure to mount as opposed to ordering a new military offensive, per Axios.
Details include:
1. On Saturday, Iran issued a new list of demands to allow shipping through the Strait of Hormuz
2. “We are only semi-negotiating with them,” Trump said
3. US officials say President Trump is looking to “de-escalate for now”
US stock market futures open in under 5 hours.
(@TheKobeissiLetter)
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WTI 78.78 ON UNCERTAINTY OVER REOPENING STRAIT OF HORMUZ - FX ...