DN Speak Daily

Thursday, August 6, 2026

Missouri rejects citizens’ bid for vote on Trump-backed redistricting plan

Supporters of the referendum had submitted hundreds of thousands of petition signatures in an effort to force a November election on whether to use a new US House map approved by the Republican-led state legislature. But the Republican secretary of state, Denny Hoskins, asserted on Tuesday that the petition was void because congressional redistricting plans cannot be subject to voter referendums…

“Secretary of State Hoskins is making a last desperate attempt to silence the people’s voice in Missouri,” Richard von Glahn, executive director of People Not Politicians Missouri, said in a statement, while asserting there were more than enough signatures to qualify the referendum for the ballot.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/aug/04/missouri-redistricting-plan-vote

Trump immigration crackdown ensnares families of US troops

An AP investigation found dozens of active-duty troops’ parents and spouses detained despite protections…

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/aug/05/trump-immigration-crackdown-troops

The Danube River's water is dropping so low that World War II ships are emerging | PBS News

Now, however, authorities are trying to keep traffic flowing on the Danube, which flows through 10 nations, as the dropping water levels create dangerous conditions. Experts have linked the unusually hot weather to global warming and other factors.

Krsta Brandic, a Prahovo resident, said the low water levels have almost stopped ship traffic: "As you can see, the (big) ships can't pass anymore."…

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/the-danube-rivers-water-is-dropping-so-low-that-world-war-ii-ships-are-emerging

New Mexico sues Justice Department over Epstein files - POLITICO

New Mexico’s Attorney General Raúl Torrez accused Todd Blanche and the department of “actively hurting our criminal investigation and delaying justice Epstein survivors deserve.”…

https://www.politico.com/news/2026/08/05/new-mexico-doj-epstein-files-01026071

‘They’re selling the safety of the traveling public’: TSA workers decry Trump privatization push

“A private company is going to be concerned with being profitable,” Finlay said. “They’re selling the safety of the traveling public for corporate greed. That’s what is happening.”

Gold+ is the latest TSA privatization effort, adding on to other initiatives, including an expansion of the screening partnership program that uses private contractors, overseen by the TSA, to handle security screenings at small and non-hub airports. The TSA plans to eliminate roughly 4,500 positions as the program expands to 220 US airports...

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/aug/05/tsa-trump-privatization-push

RFK Jr. is wrong. Peru had the highest COVID-19 death rate, not the U.S. – PolitiFact

Had Kennedy compared the U.S. with other high-income countries, he would have been more accurate, but he said the U.S. did worse than “any nation on earth.” …

https://politifact.com/factchecks/2026/aug/04/robert-f-kennedy-jr/rfk-jr-is-wrong-peru-had-the-highest-covid-19-death-rate-not-the-u-s/

Anti-Trump conservatives Tucker Carlson, MTG, Massie huddle about launching third-party movement - POLITICO

“We said no more foreign wars and we meant it and supported Donald Trump because he made that promise. But he’s betrayed us all,” Greene wrote in the post. “The movement has begun.”…

https://www.politico.com/news/2026/08/05/tucker-carlson-mtg-thomas-massie-joe-kent-trump-01025860

Trump targets El-Sayed, suggests voter irregularities after Michigan primary - Live Updates - POLITICO

President Donald Trump panned Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed in a social media post, calling the progressive Democrat a “Communist, who is not liked in Detroit,” while alleging without evidence rampant voter fraud in the state...

https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2026/08/05/congress/trump-el-sayed-voter-irregularities-michigan-01025314

NEW LINCOLN PROJECT AD: Mourning America

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4V4DHronVWE

RFK Jr has a new cooking show. Are any Trump officials doing their actual jobs?

Shouldn’t the health secretary have his hands full with the cyclosporiasis outbreak, measles or rabbit fever? Not when there are crispy salmon cakes to prepare …

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/aug/05/rfk-jr-youtube-cooking-show-are-trump-officials-doing-job

Trump-backed candidate in battleground Michigan district loses to opponent who dropped out - POLITICO

Amir Hassan lost to Tom Smith, who had suspended his campaign but is now jumping back into the race for the purple 8th District...

https://www.politico.com/news/2026/08/05/hassan-loses-michigan-house-primary-tom-smith-01025316

Silicon Valley leaders seek to block ICE detention centers - POLITICO

“We have zoning for a reason,” said Mahan, a moderate Democrat who mounted an unsuccessful bid for California governor earlier this year. “We should really scrutinize whether it’s a permissible use to turn a private farm into a mass deportation center.”…

https://www.politico.com/news/2026/08/05/silicon-valley-leaders-seek-block-ice-detention-centers-01026029

El Niño could push 50m people into acute hunger before end of next year

UN forecasters warn of worsening conditions in 45 countries currently experiencing severe food insecurity…

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/aug/05/el-nino-could-push-50m-people-acute-hunger-next-year

‘All hands on deck’: Oil industry rallies to keep Trump from stopping exports - POLITICO

Oil industry executives and White House officials, rattled by President Donald Trump’s growing criticisms of the sector, are making a renewed push to head off any move by the administration to curb U.S. petroleum exports, three people familiar with the effort said...

https://www.politico.com/news/2026/08/05/oil-industry-prevent-trump-stopping-exports-01025641