US Politics
The House Rules Committee declined to allow a floor vote on an amendment to NDAA Section 219, which integrates U.S. military technology, AI, cyber, drone, missile, and manufacturing supply chains with Israel’s. Rep. Thomas Massie stated that no debate or vote was allowed, and Rep. Ro Khanna urged the removal of the provision in conference. Massie’s separate aid-cut amendment was defeated 314-104. Full NDAA passage is expected tomorrow.
In election news, New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill stated that a Motor Vehicle Commission software error registered roughly 6,600 non-U.S. citizens to vote between June 2023 and June 2024. A preliminary review found fewer than 400 of them cast ballots. Sherrill said the flaw was fixed in June 2024, that erroneous registrations have been ordered removed and the vendor replaced, and accused the Trump administration of trying to weaponize elections. The White House cited the episode as justification for the SAVE America Act.
Iran War
Nearly five months into the U.S.-initiated conflict with Iran, the Washington Post reported that CIA and other intelligence officials have provided leaks indicating distance from the White House strategy. The Post described a new assessment, prepared primarily at Langley and briefed to President Trump, that concluded intensified air strikes would not alter Iran’s negotiating position and that the countries remain in a state between peace and war. A May CIA analysis found Iran could withstand a U.S. naval blockade for three to four months before serious economic effects. Jonathan Panikoff, former deputy national intelligence officer, told the Post that the administration’s view that harder strikes would increase flexibility is almost certainly incorrect. University of Chicago scholar Robert Pape told the Post that Trump underestimated Iran. The leaks occurred as Trump indicated plans for harder strikes after the deaths of three U.S. service members in Jordan and Iraq. Other commentary has described the strikes as demonstrating resolve amid Iranian vulnerabilities.
Meanwhile, the IRGC stated it would target U.S. and Israeli commanders in private residences, describing the action as retaliation for U.S. strikes on Iranian commanders’ homes. The Financial Times reported that Iran has shown the ability to track U.S. personnel in Gulf hotels and bases using SS7 mobile-network vulnerabilities and commercial ad data. Some accounts have questioned the verification of related Iranian claims amid mutual escalation.
Other Geopolitics
Another Wildberries distribution center in Nevinnomyssk, Stavropol Krai, was struck and set ablaze on July 22. This means that half of Wildberries’ 10 largest distribution centers have now been destroyed in just the past week.
Relatedly, Bloomberg reported that the Kremlin has decided against returning any occupied Ukrainian territory and intends to retain parts of Sumy and Kharkiv as permanent buffer zones. Moscow considers the informal understandings from last year’s Alaska summit ended, citing sharper U.S. rhetoric, tougher sanctions threats, and continued Ukrainian deep strikes. Putin is focused on seizing the remainder of Donetsk before serious talks, leaving Zelensky to choose between a worse deal or continued war.
Meanwhile, footage from Zaporizhzhia Oblast appears to show a Russian jet-powered Geran-4 one-way attack drone striking a passenger locomotive. Ukrainian defense intelligence stated that the Chinese Telefly turbojet-powered platform entered combat in May, exceeds 300 mph, climbs above 15,000 feet, and carries a 100–200 pound warhead up to 279 miles. Ukrainian firm SkyFall unveiled a 370 km/h P1-SUN Jetkiller counter-drone at Farnborough. Some commentary has described jet-powered Shahed variants as having shorter range and larger radar signatures than claimed advantages.
Energy
Ukraine’s strikes have forced the Caspian Pipeline Consortium to halt intake of Kazakh crude at its Novorossiysk terminal. Kazakhstan has formally demanded that Ukraine cease attacks on CPC tankers. Additionally, U.S. forces reportedly struck the Bidboland Gas Refinery in Mahshahr, Khuzestan, regarded as Iran’s largest gas refinery.
A DOE spokesperson told MarketWatch that the SPR’s operational floor is roughly 70 million barrels, contradicting other reports that the effective floor may be significantly higher. The reserve has fallen to 311.4 million barrels. A July GAO audit found that after a $1.4 billion overhaul, the SPR can draw down at 61 percent and refill at 56 percent of design rate.
With Hormuz traffic near collapse, Bloomberg reported that Sinokor Group is offering crews six months of extra salary for a one-month round trip lifting Saudi or Iraqi crude to the Gulf of Oman. GlobalMET’s Pradeep Chawla said many seafarers are refusing. Since the war began, at least 59 commercial vessels have been attacked in and around the Persian Gulf, killing 17 seafarers per UN figures. Kpler logged 30 verified Hormuz crossings between July 17–19. Reuters reported that shippers are avoiding the U.S.-designated corridor along Oman. Three Thai sailors have sued Precious Shipping over a March projectile strike that killed three crewmates.
Health
Records released by Senator Rand Paul show that on February 2, 2021, CBP’s National Targeting Center created a Tactical Terrorism Response Team examination for EcoHealth Alliance president Peter Daszak after his return from the WHO’s Wuhan origins mission, identifying him as an extremely high person of interest. Officers recorded his fifteen-year collaboration with WIV’s Zhengli Shi, two active NIH grants, and his DHS biothreat contracts, and noted that much of the funding Daszak receives supports gain-of-function research. They prepared questions on biological samples, WIV contacts, and January travel. On February 4, the FBI’s New York Field Office requested that CBP stand down, and the referral was changed to disregard with no rationale recorded. The unclassified file, forwarded internally only in September 2025, appeared days before Anthony Fauci was scheduled to testify to Paul’s committee on NIAID’s gain-of-function funding at WIV. Paul has opened a public archive of the documents. Daszak has described related probes as politically motivated.
Moderna has started a Phase 1 trial of mRNA-4200, an off-the-shelf cancer vaccine directing cells to produce seven tumor-associated proteins, tested alone or with Keytruda in 42 patients with solid tumors. Immunologist Jessica Rose stated that Moderna has not disclosed the seven antigens. CHD’s Brian Hooker cited innate immune suppression, exogenous nucleic acids, and DNA contamination linked to mRNA COVID shots as unresolved cancer risks. Analyst Jon Fleetwood and pharmacologist Hélène Banoun raised biodistribution and shedding concerns via extracellular vesicles. CHD’s Karl Jablonowski stated that reprogramming immunity carries risks of autoimmune disease.
Sources
CIA Leaks to Dodge Blame as Trump’s Iran Strikes Stall
Iran’s government is unlikely to feel significant impact or soften its negotiating position as a result of new rounds of U.S. military strikes like those now underway, according to a new intelligence assessment described by current and former U.S. officials.
Source | Submitted by Rodster
FBI Blocked Border Scrutiny of Daszak Over Wuhan Links
FBI requested not to stop subject. No further NTC action.
Source | Submitted by Mike from Jersey
Russia’s Jet-Powered Shaheds Shrink Ukraine’s Drone Defense Window
The Geran-4 compresses Ukraine’s detection and engagement windows while forcing Kiev to deploy faster and more expensive interceptor drones and missiles.
NJ Governor Admits Software Error Registered 6,600 Noncitizens to Vote
New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill said a software error in the state’s Motor Vehicle Commission system resulted in roughly 6,600 people who indicated they were not U.S. citizens being registered to vote between June 2023 and June 2024.
Moderna’s mRNA Cancer Vaccine Trial Draws Warnings It Could Spur Tumors
“It seems — and is — counterintuitive to promote a cancer therapy that causes cancer itself.”
Shipping Firms Dangle Massive Bonuses to Brave Hormuz Risks in US-Iran War
International shipping firms are offering crews large bonuses to transit the Strait of Hormuz despite the risks involved, Bloomberg reported Monday.
Ukraine Drones Torch Half of Wildberries’ Top Warehouses in Week of Strikes
Half of Wildberries largest 10 distribution centers have been destroyed in the last week.
House Silences Debate on US-Israel Military Supply Chain Merger
No debate or vote was allowed on section 219, integration of US military technology and supply chains with Israel’s
IRGC Vows Strikes on U.S. and Israeli Commanders’ Homes
Because you targeted the private residences of our commanders and their families, all your commanders in the region will now be targeted in their private residences as well,
US Strikes Iran’s Largest Gas Refinery in Khuzestan
The US has just struck the Bidboland Gas Refinery in Mahshahr, Khuzestan Province, Iran.
Ukraine Strikes Choke Caspian Oil Exports Through Russia
Ukraine’s maritime blockade against Russian energy hubs has triggered a major economic shockwave, paralyzing one of Central Asia’s most vital crude export arteries.
Russia Rejects Compromise, Eyes New Buffer Zones After Trump-Putin Talks Collapse
The Kremlin has reportedly decided it won’t give back any of the Ukrainian territory it occupies, and instead plans to keep parts of Sumy and Kharkiv as permanent buffer zones.
House Rams Israel Military Merger Into NDAA Without Debate or Treaty
This should require a treaty—2/3 Senate vote, full transparency.
DOE Redefines SPR Floor to Triple ‘Emergency’ Cushion as GAO Flags Half-Speed Pumps
The floor matters less than the flow.
In addition to sources submitted by community members, the following were also used in the creation of this report: @MarioNawfal, @grok, @SenRandPaul, @Web3Counsels, @vottak_tv, @MilitarySummary, @BasedMikeLee, @RepThomasMassie, @HormuzLetter, and @RusOilGasExpert.
by westcoastjan 
