US Politics
The Selective Service System has asked vendors to submit designs by August 14 for a “Readiness Simulation” that models mobilization steps, including MEPS processing, medical disqualifications, and capacity limits. The request precedes automatic draft registration for men aged 18 to 26, scheduled to begin December 19 under a 2025 law. The Army has also raised the maximum enlistment age to 42. The Selective Service System has noted that existing planning tools rely on outdated assumptions and historical data. No draft has been authorized, and Congress would still need to pass separate legislation to reinstate inductions.
Footage from British documentarian Alex Holder shows Sen. Lindsey Graham commenting favorably on the opening US-Israeli strikes on Iran. In a March call, Graham urged Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to lobby President Trump for simultaneous action against Hezbollah. Netanyahu replied that Israel was focusing on Iran. Graham had stated that Iranian cities would fall within weeks. Five months later, no cities have fallen. Later footage shows Graham criticizing Trump’s peace memorandum.
Energy
Satellite imagery confirmed strikes on at least two LPG tanks at Saudi Aramco’s Abqaiq facility, leading to a halt in operations and removal of roughly 7 million barrels per day of processing capacity. Saudi Arabia’s Defense Ministry attributed the attack to drones from the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, which denied involvement and pointed to Yemen’s Houthis. The Houthis separately claimed responsibility.
Meanwhile, Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak stated that the country’s two-month fuel supply constraints are easing as refineries resume operations, though shortages persist in Siberia, and diesel exports have been banned. Additionally, Kazakhstan resumed crude exports from Novorossiysk on Monday after a one-week suspension. The CPC disruption had reduced Kazakh output from 2.16 million barrels per day in June to roughly 1 million barrels per day. Chevron’s Tengiz field cut production by more than half during the outage.
Iran War
President Trump told Axios he had paused strikes to allow for negotiations, stating that military action would resume if talks failed. Iran has denied direct negotiations and stated that mediators from Oman, Qatar, Pakistan, and Egypt, along with envoys Witkoff and Kushner, are conveying messages. CENTCOM’s Admiral Brad Cooper reportedly assessed that two weeks of operations near Hormuz had reached operational limits, and General Dan Caine noted depleted interceptor stocks. Iran has maintained an “attack for attack” position.
The Wall Street Journal reported that Iran and Oman drafted a proposal for reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s position includes transit fees to fund reconstruction, while Oman has suggested a voluntary regional consortium for maritime security. An Iranian diplomat reportedly told mediators that Tehran seeks a comprehensive agreement before the November midterms.
Geopolitics
Analyst Chris Macintosh noted that Turkey reduced its US Treasury holdings from $16 billion to $1.8 billion in March, secured an additional $9 billion from Rosatom for the Akkuyu nuclear plant, and enacted tax incentives, including 0% income tax on foreign earnings for 20 years and a 9% corporate tax rate. These steps highlight Turkey’s deepening energy ties with Russia and a strategic repositioning away from traditional NATO/US/Israel alignments toward Russia and its partners. Israeli officials, including Culture Minister Miki Zohar and former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, have described Turkey as an adversary state.
Health
A study of urine samples from nearly 1,500 pregnant women linked higher mid-pregnancy glyphosate levels to an increased likelihood of delivery before 37 weeks. Prior research found detectable glyphosate in roughly 80% of Americans and in 99% of tested pregnant women in the Midwest. However, Bayer maintains glyphosate’s safety consistent with EPA assessments.
Separately, a peer-reviewed study in Issues in Law & Medicine reported measurable anti-progesterone activity in tap water samples from Austin, Blacksburg, and Carbondale at concentrations up to 41 parts per trillion. Conventional treatment did not consistently remove the compound. The authors have submitted the findings to the EPA.
In nutrition news, cooling cooked potatoes, rice, and pasta reportedly converts some digestible starch into resistant starch. A 2015 study found that cooked-then-cooled white rice contained 2.5 times the resistant starch of freshly cooked rice, with the increase persisting after reheating. A 2009 study on wheat reported resistant starch rising from 41% to 88% after cooking and cooling.
Canadian Politics
Canada’s Bill C-9, the Combating Hate Act, received royal assent on June 18 and took effect July 18. Since becoming law, the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms states that individuals have been visited by officials regarding social media posts made months or years earlier. The law creates standalone hate-motivated offenses, prohibits the display of listed terrorist symbols and two Nazi symbols, and increases maximum penalties to life imprisonment. Hatred is defined as “an emotion of an intense and extreme nature that is clearly associated with vilification and detestation.” The bill removes the good-faith religious-opinion defense and eliminates the prior requirement for attorney general consent before charges. Government statements indicate the law is non-retroactive and preserves good-faith religious expression protections.
Sources
Graham’s War Glee Caught on Tape: ‘I Almost Cried’ Over Iran Strikes
“Look what we’ve done here. I almost cried. I mean, like, how long have we been pushing this?”
Source | Submitted by PhilH
Cooling Carbs After Cooking Boosts Resistant Starch
One type of resistant starch is formed when foods are cooled after cooking.
Source | Submitted by davefairtex
Russia’s Fuel Woes Ease as Refineries Restart, Despite Drone Strikes
The situation is gradually stabilizing, a number of oil refineries became operational again.
Erdogan’s Ottoman Pivot: Turkey Dumps US Debt for Russian Energy and Capital Flight
Turkey is simultaneously dumping US Treasuries, deepening Russia’s energy embrace, rolling out a tax regime to poach capital fleeing the Gulf… and squaring off against an Israeli political class that now speaks openly of Turkey as an enemy. It’s strategic.
Kazakhstan Oil Exports Resume After Drone-Forced Black Sea Halt
Kazakhstan has resumed crude exports through the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) on Monday after the operator reopened its Black Sea marine terminal and resumed accepting crude from producers following a week-long suspension triggered by drone attacks, Kazakhstan’s Astana Times reported.
Trump Pauses Iran Strikes for ‘Deep Talks’ as Houthis Hit Aramco
We are in very deep talks with Iran. If they don’t work out, we will go back to very strong military action.
Trump Admin Seeks Draft Simulation Models in Under Three Weeks as Registration Goes Automatic
Vendors have until August 14 to turn in their simulation models.
Study Links Glyphosate to Preterm Births as SCOTUS Shields Bayer
Pregnant women who are exposed to the herbicide glyphosate face an increased risk of preterm birth, according to a new study.
Peer-Reviewed Study Finds Abortion Drug in U.S. Tap Water
A newly published peer-reviewed study has found measurable levels of the abortion drug mifepristone in municipal tap water samples collected from three American cities.
Canada’s New Hate Law Sends Officials Knocking Over Old Posts
We are receiving reports that some Canadians are being contacted at their homes by government officials about social media posts made months or even years ago
Abqaiq Drone Strike Halts 7M bpd as Iraq Denies, Yemen Accused
The Islamic Resistance in Iraq has denied responsibility for the drone attack on Saudi Arabia’s Abqaiq facility, per Telegram channel @Middle_East_Spectator.
Source | Submitted by Chris Martenson
Iran Eyes Pre-Midterm Hormuz Deal to Lock In Tolls
Iran is timing its diplomacy to American politics, betting a president facing $4 gas in October signs what he wouldn’t in July.
In addition to sources submitted by community members, the following were also used in the creation of this report: Steve Bryan, PhillyVoice, Rotary Club of Victoria, and Justice Canada.
by rodster 
