Politics Chat, August 12, 2026

Topics covered in today’s Politics Chat: Trump said he asked Elon Musk to lift restrictions on Starlink and Starshield, the communications networks Ukraine relies on to fight off Russia. The slowdown of those networks during a massive Russian barrage left Ukraine unable to defend against incoming drones and missiles. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton suggested that Vladimir Putin has something on Trump. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s staff dropped and damaged a globe Dwight Eisenhower used to plan World War II. White House leaks suggest aides are jockeying for power as Trump heads toward lame duck status. Vice President JD Vance backed Vivek Ramaswamy’s attack ad against Amy Acton, which drew bipartisan revulsion. Secretary of State Marco Rubio appears to be iced out of talks with Russia. Republicans timed the biggest Medicaid and SNAP cuts in their budget bill for after the midterms. New candidates across the country are reshaping American politics much as in the 1850s. Attorney General Todd Blanche would not rule out challenging some votes. Watch today's live recording here. Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on Spotify

Topics covered in today’s Politics Chat: Socialism is a system in which the government owns the means of production. After the Civil War, opponents of Black voting used the term socialism to attack Black political participation. Two days before congressionally mandated sanctions on Russia were set to take effect, Trump said he would waive them. Russia has proposed a trilateral meeting with Trump and Chinese president Xi Jinping to decide the fate of Ukraine. Ukrainian forces lost control of their drones when Starlink slowed during one of the worst bombardments of the war. The Wall Street Journal reported that Elon Musk ordered the slowdown. Europe and Canada are working to build their own satellite systems. Republicans in Congress say they are frustrated with Trump’s actions, but they have not moved to stop him. Trump announced $8 billion for farmers, but payment rates will not be announced until after the election. Watch today's live recording here. Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on Spotify

Topics covered in today’s Politics Chat: Trump has flipped U.S. foreign policy away from the post-World War II rules-based international order. He is openly siding with Vladimir Putin over Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky. Trump removed sanctions on Russian oil, even as Congress voted overwhelmingly on a bipartisan basis for more sanctions. SpaceX communication systems that direct Ukraine’s defensive and offensive drones were disabled without warning. Elon Musk and the White House are trading blame over who gave that order. Reports from Ukraine indicate the systems are working again. Former representative Matt Gaetz and former Seminole County tax collector Joel Greenberg have been sued in a civil lawsuit alleging they coordinated payments, drugs, and travel to obtain commercial sex acts. Scandals are breaking across the administration as officials turn on each other. The Washington Post reported that nearly $300 million in donations to Trump’s ballroom are flowing through an opaque fund he controls. Watch today's live recording here. Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on Spotify

Topics covered in today’s Politics Chat: Trump posted videos of lions and tigers attacking humans. Right-wing influencers spread a false story that Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico was being treated for a mental health crisis in Ohio. The Wall Street Journal reported that Ken Paxton, the Republican Senate candidate in Texas, spent New Year’s Eve 2024 in Dubai with two fugitives charged with defrauding the health care system. ProPublica reported that criminal syndicates stole $470 million from SNAP benefit cards last year. New White House press secretary Katie Zacharia gave a widely criticized first press conference. Kimberly Guilfoyle resigned as ambassador to Greece after reports that she pressed a donor to pay her American Express bill. Soaring diesel prices are hitting rural Americans especially hard. Trump dropped US sanctions on Russian oil, giving Vladimir Putin a lifeline in his war against Ukraine. Representative Ilhan Omar’s Washington, DC residence was searched for five hours. No Kings rallies on October 17 aim to get Americans out to vote. Watch today's live recording here. Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on Spotify

Topics covered in today’s Politics Chat: The Wall Street Journal reported that Kimberly Guilfoyle, Trump’s nominee for ambassador to Greece, asked Trump loyalist Eric Deters to pay off 100,000 dollars of her American Express bill before her Senate hearing. Days after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Project Meridian, Anduril co-founder Palmer Luckey’s company received a 2.9 billion dollar contract. Hegseth said the execution of former Army major Nidal Hasan, scheduled for December 3, would be public, and the plan drew bipartisan backlash. Trump said after a call with Vladimir Putin that Russia will supply 300,000 tons of diesel globally. Trump posted that Minnesota is being taken over by Somali immigrants. CNN reported that Immigration and Customs Enforcement leaders verbally told agents to raise arrests from 1,000 to 3,000 people a day. An ICE agent shot and wounded a Dominican man in New York City with a child in the car. A Pew Research Center poll found 68 percent disapprove of Trump’s handling of the presidency. Watch today's live recording here. Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on Spotify