Saturday News Updates: Iran Delivers an Ultimatum to the U.S.; Blanche Confirmed in the Dead of Night – 8/8/26
Here's your Saturday update
Hi all. Hope you’re Saturday is off to a good start. I hope you’re getting a much-needed break from all the chaos, but let me fill you in quick on what’s going on today.
Thank you again to all the comments from those who preordered the book I wrote with my brothers, WTF America?! If you haven’t preordered yet, today’s the perfect day to grab your copy! It’s available in hardcover, audiobook, and e-book.
OK, now to the top stories of the day…
Iran issues an ultimatum to the U.S. over the Strait of Hormuz
The UAE confirms our reporting that Iran struck an ADNOC tanker in the strait
Vance and Bessent tell contradicting stories on TV about what happens next in regard to the strait
Conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln remain dire
Join Chiefs Chairman General Dan Caine is quietly looking for an “off-ramp” to the war, per CNN
More senior military leaders have been purged by Hegseth
Former Air Force Sec. Frank Kendall had his security clearance revoked
The U.S. Senate confirms Blanche in at around 4:30am
Trump is increasingly annoyed at his new DHS Sec. Markwayne Mullin, per WSJ
Vance attacks Michigan U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, El-Sayed claps back
On that note…Pete Buttigieg, El-Sayed, Jocelyn Benson, and other Michigan Dems held a unity rally last night
If you find these recaps and our work valuable, consider joining now as a paid subscriber. You not only get full access to all of these midday updates and more, but you’re also directly supporting the growth of this independent network when it’s needed most.
Ok, let’s dive deeper…
Iran’s Ultimatum to the U.S.
Hi all. Hope you’re Saturday is off to a good start. I hope you’re getting a much-needed break from all the chaos, but let me fill you in quick on what’s going on today.
Thank you again to all the comments from those who preordered the book I wrote with my brothers, WTF America?! If you haven’t preordered yet, today’s the perfect day to grab your copy! It’s available in hardcover, audiobook, and e-book.
OK, now to the top stories of the day…
Iran issues an ultimatum to the U.S. over the Strait of Hormuz
The UAE confirms our reporting that Iran struck an ADNOC tanker in the strait
Vance and Bessent tell contradicting stories on TV about what happens next in regard to the strait
Conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln remain dire
Join Chiefs Chairman General Dan Caine is quietly looking for an “off-ramp” to the war, per CNN
More senior military leaders have been purged by Hegseth
Former Air Force Sec. Frank Kendall had his security clearance revoked
The U.S. Senate confirms Blanche in at around 4:30am
Trump is increasingly annoyed at his new DHS Sec. Markwayne Mullin, per WSJ
Vance attacks Michigan U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, El-Sayed claps back
On that note…Pete Buttigieg, El-Sayed, Jocelyn Benson, and other Michigan Dems held a unity rally last night
If you find these recaps and our work valuable, consider joining now as a paid subscriber. You not only get full access to all of these midday updates and more, but you’re also directly supporting the growth of this independent network when it’s needed most.
Ok, let’s dive deeper…
Iran’s Ultimatum to the U.S.
Iran believes it has won the war against the United States, and consequently, they are making their demands to the U.S. Iran’s foreign minister Aragchi says the negotiations with Oman (not the U.S.) remain ongoing are closer to being finalized, but he also made clear this does not mean there will be a full reopening of the strait. Instead, Aragchi says reopening the strait depends on the U.S. meeting very specific conditions.
Iran’s Supreme National Security Council put out a statement outlining exactly what their demands are.
Cease all threats and insults toward Iran.
Permanently end what Iran describes as its "war of aggression" against Iran and its allies in Lebanon, Palestine, Iraq, and Yemen.
Lift the naval blockade of Iran and withdraw all U.S. naval and air forces operating around the country.
Pay reparations for damage caused during the conflict.
Lift all sanctions imposed on Iran.
"Unconditionally" release all frozen Iranian assets.
You’ll notice at the end of the statement, they add that “these are the demands of the Iranian people who have been relentlessly showing up in the streets for 160 days,” adding the “Council will never back down, whether in war or in negotiation.”
The UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed our reporting from last night that Iran struck an ADNOC tanker transition the strait with a missile. No injuries have been reporting, but the UAE called it a flagrant violation of a UN Security Council resolution on freedom of navigation and accused the IRGC of piracy. Per the date, 15 ADNOC tankers have been struck by Iran’s missiles or drones since the war began.
Amid all the chaos, the Trump regime can’t seem to keep its storie(s) straight. Vance went on Fox with one story, and Bessent was on TV with another. Vance claimed on Fox that the U.S. has drastically reduced Iran’s asymmetric military capabilities and that shipping via the Strait would soon be restored and that it’s only delayed due to the need to clear mines. He also claimed Iran privately tells the U.S. they won’t toll the strait, despite saying they will in public. Well, Bessent, on the other hand, says that the strait will never return to its pre-war state. Instead, he claimed that the strait would soon be “irrelevant.”
By the way, I’m going to do a longer video hit on this soon, but there are still more than 5,000 sailors and Marines stuck aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln. They’re now in the 9th month of their deployment, which was originally supposed to last 7. Families are trying to sound the alarm, describing conditions like moldy showers, broken toilets, weeks without hot water, meals cut to just a half cup of rice and 2 tortillas, a ship’s store that is all out of soap, deodorant, and toothpaste. If you recall, families tried raising alarms about this month ago, and instead of dealing with it, Hegseth called it all fake news. It’s absolutely despicable to see our government treating those who serve so poorly.
Looking for an Off-Ramp
Per CNN, General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, has privately told top Trump advisers that the U.S. desperately needs an off-ramp from this war, because military options to escalate will likely backfire (as we’ve seen) and airpower alone is not likely to get any of Trump’s objectives achieved, whatever those even are at this point. Trump apparently wants to avoid boots on the ground, but thinks he can bomb Iran into submission, though Caine and others in his cabinet don’t think is a realistic plan for success.
Hegseth’s Purge Continues
While we’re on the topic of generals, Lt. Gen. Charles Costanza was abruptly removed from command of the Army’s V Corps in Europe, just two months before his term was going to be over anyway. Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George was pushed to retire immediately, reportedly because Hegseth wants someone in the role who will fully implement his and Trump’s vision for the Army. Gen. David Hodne, who led Army transformation and Training Command, and Maj. Gen. William Green Jr., the Army’s chief of chaplains, were also forced out. They reportedly got caught up in Hegseth’s ongoing feud with Secretary of the Army Daniel Driscoll, who could very well be on his way out soon himself. Gen. Christopher Donahue the last American to leave Afghanistan in 2021, stepped down as commander of US Army Europe and Africa after 18 months. His old four-start command was downgraded to a three-star post under new Pentagon orders.
Blanche Confirmed at 4:30am
The U.S. Senate confirmed Trump’s former (and essentially current) personal attorney to be attorney general at around 4:30am ET. The vote was 50-49, with only Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins voting NO on the Republican side. Cassidy voted yes. What a shameful day in American history.
Here’s an actual photo of Cassidy immediately following his announcement that he’d be voting for Blanche.
Mullin on Thin Ice
It appears Trump is not too pleased with his new DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin. Apparently, per the WSJ, Mullin keeps annoying Trump with many of his public remarks. Plus, Trump doesn’t think he’s doing a good job. There are no plans to fire Mullin, at least for now, but this growing rift is worth watching.
Dems Hold a Unity Rally in Michigan
Last night, Pete Buttigieg held a unity rally with the Democratic candidates in Michigan, including Abdul El-Sayed, Jocelyn Benson, and others. We streamed it live on the MeidasTouch YouTube channel. That unity is going to be crucial for Democrats to take the House and Senate later this year. This line that we caught from El-Sayed was particularly impactful:
El-Sayed: Now Mike [Rogers], I’m just going to remind you: if you don’t know how to say the name, keep the name out your damn mouth. Or just call me Abdul. But I got some opinions about his name. See, it’s very fitting for him: Rogers.
Cause that’s his answer every time a corporation or Donald Trump tells him to do something.
“Mike, we need you to put a data center in the backyard.” — “Roger!”
“Mike, we need you to hike their prescription drug prices.” — “Roger!”
“Mike, we need you to rubber-stamp this war we shouldn’t be fighting.” — “Roger!”
“Mike” — and this one’s Donald Trump — “I need you to lick these boots.” — “Roger!”
And I think—I think I speak for all of us here in Michigan when I say that we are done with Rogers. Go back to Florida where you belong!
Watch here:
That’s what’s going on so far this Saturday. Thanks for reading, liking, restacking—and thanks again to all who preordered WTF America.