Top World News
'Beyond sad': Analyst aghast as 'big lie' Trump bought from adversary proves deadly
Iran has broken its word to President Donald Trump and has ramped up executions under the guise of war to cover up the deaths, an analyst told CNN on Wednesday.Iranian journalist and activist Masih Alinejad told CNN anchor Jake Tapper how the executions have impacted people inside Iran, where the United Nations has reported that at least 56 people have been executed by the regime since March. Tapper reported that the U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding, which was signed in June, did not include any human rights protections, which experts said has led to Iran intensifying executions. Last week, two men were executed after the Iranian regime claimed they were involved in the killing of four police officers during the anti-government riots in 2025.Alinejad told Tapper she felt "heartbroken" for Iranians living under the regime. "I'm in touch with a lot of people inside Iran, the relatives of those who have been executed," she said. "They cannot believe that the whole world stopped talking about them because the execution machine is still working, never sleeps. But as you see, barely media leaders, international community talk about the mass executions." Alinejad pointed out a concerning reality."You remember yourself that President Trump said that the Islamic Republic promised him to stop executing protesters," she added. "That was the big lie. And now it's beyond sad that teenagers are being hanged in public. And there is no TV inside Iran, no media inside Iran talking about the concern of the family members who are actually waiting for their beloved ones to be executed very soon."
MAGA senate candidate swiftly rebuked by critics after devastating gaffe
GOP Senate candidate Mike Rogers mixed up Democratic candidate Abdul El-Sayed with progressive influencer Hasan Piker on Wednesday — and swiftly drew backlash. Rogers' response to the Democratic Senate nominee's victory attributed Piker's comments to the Michigan candidate just hours after voters cast their ballots for him."I spent years hunting terrorists and bringing Osama bin Laden to justice," wrote Rogers, an Army veteran and former congressman. "Never in a million years did I think that I would be running against someone who believes America deserved 9/11."Piker, who campaigned for El-Sayed over the last several months, has gained a large following among progressive Democrats because of his criticisms of the U.S. government. He has been scrutinized for his past comments around the Sept. 11 attacks, which he made in 2019 during a livestream. He later clarified in an interview with his uncle, Turkish-American activist and media host Cenk Uygur, that the remarks were "inappropriate."The internet reacted to Rogers' comments, calling him out for misidentifying El-Sayed and tying Piker's words to the Democratic nominee.Democratic strategist Leslie Marshall called Rogers out for not knowing the difference between the two men."That was Hasan Piker. A different person. But I guess to Mike Rogers all those Brown people look alike," Marshall wrote on X.David Weigel, who covers politics for Semafor, responded to the mistake."The Hasan-Abdul transitive property on display; Rogers says he’s running against someone who 'believes America deserved 9/11,'" Weigel wrote on X. That was Hasan Piker A different person But I guess to Mike Rogers all those Brown people look alike https://t.co/VCqHx3lZE5— Leslie Marshall (@LeslieMarshall) August 5, 2026
Exiled PM vows to return to Bangladesh despite execution threat
Sheikh Hasina plans a December comeback two years after being ousted in a bloody uprising led by studentsBangladesh’s ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina has vowed to return home by the end of the year, even though she faces a death sentence.“They may put me in a cell. They may kill me. Anything may happen, but still I have to go,” said Hasina, two years after a student-led uprising toppled her government. Continue reading...
Pakistani authorities ban international media from reporting in most of country
Rules brought in soon after killing of dozens of protesters, news of which was reported only by overseas outletsPakistani authorities have imposed severe new restrictions on international media, including barring them from reporting in most of the country, in a move that has provoked a significant backlash from journalist organisations.According to the new rules anyone, including Pakistani nationals, should seek permission first if they want to report from anywhere in Pakistan except three cities – Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore. Continue reading...
Jon Stewart stumps Fetterman over 'weird line' behind his MAGA-friendly turn
Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) was stumped cold when comedian Jon Stewart pressed him on where he draws the line for political support.Fetterman appeared on Stewart's podcast, "The Weekly Show," for an interview that hasn't been released yet, but in a clip previewing the episode, Stewart repeatedly asked Fetterman to explain why he has increasingly embraced MAGA-friendly positions while feuding with his own party over issues like opposition to Israel."For you, you could agree with them 90 percent of the time, but Israel is the red line," Stewart said, seeking clarification from Fetterman on where he draws the line for his support. "Absolutely," Fetterman said. "Israel, for me, like, I can't ever turn my back on Israel."The interview focused on Israel as Stewart asked Fetterman about his opposition to Democratic Socialists who have won congressional seats and others running for office while criticizing Israel. Fetterman has said he would leave the Democratic Party if it "officially" became "anti-Israel," according to reports.However, Stewart seemed baffled by why Fetterman draws that line."I mean no disrespect on this," Stewart told Fetterman. "But that is not our country," Stewart said, referring to Israel. Fetterman reacted to the statement by throwing his head to the side, seeming to be frustrated."You're saying that these candidates may have great ideas for our economy; they may want to do the exact same thing you want to do in terms of getting money out of politics; they may want to increase the social safety net; they may want to change the balance of power from capital back to labor," Stewart continued. "But if they don't agree with you on Israel, you don't want them in your party.""I don't know who you're referencing specifically," Fetterman said. Stewart shot back, "I'm referencing what you just said."Fetterman shook his head and said, "Name one."Stewart threw out names like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Abdul El-Sayed, and Bernie Sanders. Fetterman responded by saying that DSA members should "run under your own banner" and "Why not have a DSA party?" Stewart explained, "We have a two-party system," and said it didn't make sense to throw them out because they don't support Israel but agree with Fetterman on most other issues."You're literally saying we can all have discussions except when it comes to Israel, which is not America," Stewart said. "It seems like a weird line to draw."Fetterman stammered and said, "I don't think that's weird," because historically the Jewish community suffers "when people or a government or people turn their back" on them."The Jewish community and Israel are not the same thing, brother man!" Stewart responded.Jon is joined by U.S. Senator John Fetterman (@SenFettermanPA) for discussion on the Democratic Party, Israel, and the issues that continue to shape his politics. New podcast out tomorrow! pic.twitter.com/QAmZazHzOQ— The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart (@weeklyshowpod) August 4, 2026
Ominous warning after Trump disaster 'lit the fuse' toward 'larger war'
A former Republican strategist warned on Tuesday that President Donald Trump's Iran conflict is the beginning of a "larger war."Steve Schmidt, co-founder of the anti-Trump group The Lincoln Project, outlined how Trump's ongoing military "quagmire," the "corrupt charade" of his attacks on American citizen David Hearn — which failed in court — and Trump's rage "at the Westchester wino" Jeanine Pirro have all revealed what could come next."She'll be gone soon, just like the Secretary of War, so-called, who's lost the war to Iran," Schmidt said, suggesting both Pirro and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth could be replaced.Schmidt also discussed how Trump would continue to blame others for his own failures."He made the world so much more dangerous and sentenced some score of tens of thousands of American soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines to death in a larger war that's coming to clean up this disaster, whether it be five years, or 10 years, or 15 years from now. Donald Trump has lit the fuse," Schmidt said. "The economy is unraveling. The debt bubble surrounding these AI companies is expanding to its explosive terminal point. And all of it is Donald Trump's fault."He asked his audience to consider why Trump's attacks on Hearn were something Americans should think deeply about."And all of it is coming at a time when an innocent man, an American Olympian, was finally freed from the clutches of a government that tried to lock him up for touching a Reflecting Pool that Donald Trump poisoned," he added.
Hegseth's swagger meets a reckoning as Pentagon moves to unwind 'pugnacious' purge: report
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is being pressured to backtrack after an airstrike gone wrong, according to The Atlantic.The Pentagon is moving towards restoring as many as half of the roles that Hegseth cut during a "pugnacious" purge at the Department of Defense, according to reporting by The Atlantic. Hegseth's downsizing included the firing or reassignment of staff dedicated to avoiding civilian casualties in war, the reporting noted."The potential reversal, which hasn't previously been reported, now awaits Hegseth's signature," according to The Atlantic. The Pentagon is considering bringing back staff as it deals with the fallout of an airstrike that killed almost 170 people, most of them children, at a school in southern Iran, The Atlantic reported.The Atlantic also noted that Hegseth said early in the conflict that the U.S. would fight with "no stupid rules of engagement" and "no politically correct wars."An anonymous Pentagon official confirmed to The Atlantic that the DoD is "currently undergoing a strategic reassessment to inform its future reorganization."A Pentagon inspector general report this spring determined that the DoD's cuts to civilian-harm protections may have violated laws designed to protect noncombatants, The Atlantic reported. Leaders of the Pentagon's combatant commands also support the restoration of personnel who can safeguard against civilian casualties, a U.S. official told The Atlantic."Over the last year, we have seen a total disconnect between the willingness to wage wars all over the world, at an unprecedented pace and scale, while at the same time all but abandoning their leading role in setting up the systems and approaches needed to better protect civilians," Emily Tripp, the head of Airwars, an independent UK-based watchdog, told The Atlantic.
'Momentous' under-the-radar story revealed by ex-GOP insider that threatens to rock Trump
A former Republican strategist on Friday argued that a major development in President Donald Trump's Iran war has gone under the radar and will change the outcome of elections in November.In an interview on his podcast, The Warning, Steve Schmidt discussed the disastrous fallout over the war in a conversation with Democratic Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear. The two talked about how Americans will rebuke Trump and his administration in the midterms this fall and how the latest incident has changed the shape of the conflict."There is a momentous event that occurred this week that I think is underreported and commented on, which is that a Ukrainian drone struck an Iranian ship in the Caspian Sea, combining these two theaters of war," Schmidt said. "What should the American people know about this moment in time and the danger we're facing?""The American people should know that Donald Trump and his foreign policy are absolute failures," Beshear said. "He got us into a war of choice that has only made the country that we went to war with more powerful. Iran is more powerful today based on their control of the Strait of Hormuz than they were before this war started."Beshear criticized Trump for starting a war without a realistic goal that could be achieved. And in the process, putting Americans at risk as the national deficit and debt rise."This is not just bungling international. It is really damaging at home," Beshear added. "And he doesn't have a way out of it. And part of it is look at who he sent to negotiate. We have amazing people in the Foreign Service that spend decades understanding every nuance of every word that an Iranian negotiator would say at the table to put us in the best position to get a peace deal that prevents a nuclear weapon. But we don't send them." He called Trump out for sending developer and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff with his son-in-law Jared Kushner, along with JD Vance, "a vice president who is way out of his league just being vice president, much less trying to negotiate and failing to negotiate any lasting peace.""It is bananas that foreign policy would be conducted this way and that the Senate and the House haven't stopped it and are allowing a president to just go to war and make decisions on his gut," Beshear added. "When we know our munitions are low, when we know our sailors have been on some of the longest deployments ever. It is the worst that you could ever potentially run a foreign conflict."
'Irresponsible as hell': Outrage as Trump doubts bombshell intel on hostile attack
President Donald Trump's remarks questioning whether Iran had hacked water systems in Minnesota sparked anger online Friday.Trump pushed back on the U.S. and state officials' reports about Iran hacking in Minnesota and several other states during a cabinet meeting at Camp David in Thurmont, Maryland."We heard in Minnesota there was a cyberattack and they blame it on Iran. I don't think so. I blame it on Minnesota because they're grossly incompetent."Nearly three dozen water plants were attacked in the state this week, according to reports. But Trump blamed Gov. Tim Walz instead, despite evidence from U.S. intelligence officials saying it was likely to have been Iranian hackers, MS NOW reported."Iran's got bigger problems than worrying about Minnesota," Trump said.Political experts and commentators pushed back on Trump's claims, suggesting that there could be more to the cyberattacks."Remember a few months ago when it was reported that Iran was psychologically profiling Trump to decode his behavior? One has to wonder if Iran targeted Minnesota specifically because they knew Trump would let them get away with it because of his deranged hatred of Minnesota," wrote behavioral scientist Caroline Orr Bueno, Ph.D, who has more than 377,000 followers on X."Let's be clear: Trump sees Minnesota as much as Iran (or maybe even more so) as constituting an enemy country," Greg Sargent, staff writer at The New Republic, wrote on X."At Helsinki, Trump undermined America’s intelligence community. At Camp David, he just did it again," Jessica Tarlov, Democratic strategist and co-host of Fox News show "The Five," wrote on X."Sure, sure, let’s just downplay an attack by a hostile foreign actor. Iran has some of the most persistent — and effective — hackers on the planet. This is irresponsible as hell from Trump," X political commentary account Angry Staffer, which has more than 565,000 followers, wrote."His own FBI assessed it was Iran. They also said they attacked multiple states," Sawyer Hackett, political strategist and content creator, wrote on X."The President of the United States is siding with Iran over Minnesota!" Political commentator Covie, who has more than 182,000 followers, wrote on X."Just like he did with Putin in the past, he takes the side of an enemy over his own country," anti-Trump group The Lincoln Project posted on X.Remember a few months ago when it was reported that Iran was psychologically profiling Trump to decode his behavior? One has to wonder if Iran targeted Minnesota specifically because they knew Trump would let them get away with it because of his deranged hatred of Minnesota. https://t.co/ECkw97aSQh— Caroline Orr Bueno, Ph.D (@RVAwonk) July 31, 2026
'Do not disrespect Bad Bunny': White House's mass deportation celebration slammed
The White House used a Bad Bunny song to promote its deportations and harsh immigration agenda — and Tik Tok was not happy about it, TMZ reported on Friday.A TikTok posted Thursday shows ICE agents handcuffing and hauling off detainees to Bad Bunny's "LA MuDANZA," according to TMZ.In the video, the White House took the original lyrics "un aplauso pa mami y papi porque en verdad rompieron," meaning "a round of applause for mom and dad, because they really crushed it" — and changed them.The video instead had: "A round of applause for Donald J. Trump because he really crushed it." The post was captioned "We're making America great again."Bad Bunny hasn't commented on the White House move yet, according to TMZ.The Puerto Rican rapper Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio has been a critic of the Trump administration and its policies. The international star performed at the Super Bowl halftime show in February, sending a message of pride to the Latino and immigrant community.Tik Tok commenters were outraged. Nearly 3,000 people responded to the video, the top comments were mostly condemnations."Do not disrespect Bad Bunny like that," wrote one. Said another, "This is just disgusting." @whitehouse We’re making America great again ♬ original sound - The White House
Trump resorting to yelling at White House staffers as his admin 'stuck' in neutral: author
President Donald Trump has been yelling at his White House staffers as he deals with a lingering frustration, an author revealed.In a recent episode of Inside Trump's Head, Trump biographer Michael Wolff explained to co-host Joanna Coles why the president has resorted to "yelling at people" to resolve his frustrations with the war in Iran. Trump's recent yelling about the Iran war has been reported in The Wall Street Journal and NBC News."He's stuck, he's stuck, he's stuck. He can't do anything," Wolff said. "He can retreat. He can admit defeat, which also he doesn't want to do. So he's yelling at people, 'Solve the problem! There must be something we can do.'"According to reports by the Journal and NBC News, Trump started shouting expletives and yelling at a meeting with his top national security officials over frustrations with the Iran war."He has been told over and over again — because there's effectively nothing left to tell him — that we have exhausted all military solutions," Wolff said. "We are running out of missiles. We will run out of missiles if we keep up the pace. We have done everything that an air campaign can do. There's nowhere to go. There is nothing more we can do except invade."Wolff framed Trump's 2024 campaign posture as Trump touting himself as "The 'No Forever Wars' president," which complicates his option of getting deeper into the war in Iran. However, "if he retreats, and even if he claims victory and says it's all marvelous, the Iranians still control now the Strait of Hormuz," Coles said."Trump is the Hormuz president," he concluded.
Trump declares 'complete disarmament' of Hamas and other 'armed groups'
President Donald Trump proclaimed on his Truth Social platform Thursday that he has reached a solution for the Gaza war."Today, the Board of Peace reached a HISTORIC agreement for the COMPLETE DISARMAMENT of Hamas and all other armed groups in Gaza," said Trump. "This is a monumental step toward lasting PEACE and SECURITY." He called the agreement a "critical step" toward "Gaza finally being governed by a new Palestinian government that will work closely with the Board of Peace to help the Palestinian people," while ensuring Israel's security."This is a major milestone in the implementation of the Trump 20-Point Plan," Trump continued. "The agreement will be carried out in carefully structured phases. As disarmament is completed, Israeli forces will withdraw, and the International Stabilization Force will work with a new Palestinian police force to take responsibility for Gaza being safe for its residents and its neighbors.""One year ago there was a violent raging war, humanitarian crisis and hostages kept in brutal captivity," the president continued. "We have made historic progress and there is still much work to do ... the threat that emerged from Gaza on October 7 will NOT be allowed to rebuild! Under this agreement, Gaza will finally be in the hands of a new Palestinian government that serves its PEOPLE. CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL ON THIS AMAZING DEVELOPMENT, THAT EVERYBODY SAID COULD NEVER BE ACHIEVED!"Trump has been trying to resolve the Israeli occupation of Gaza since taking office.He came into the conflict fully on the side of Israel, and still largely wants a solution that gives Israel everything it wants while making bombastic threats against Hamas, but has recently grown more frustrated with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
