Odds and Ends — 10 August 2026

President Donald Trump signalled on Sunday he is prepared to let economic pressure mount against Iran, apparently backing away from ordering more military strikes even as Tehran issues tough demands.
Said Trump: “We are low-keying it.”

https://x.com/PhilGordonDC/status/2086434147304657097

Politics:

https://x.com/OlgaNYC1211/status/2086295654557495387
https://x.com/piyushmittal/status/2086441236286890346

https://x.com/rhcm123/status/2085928149510930861

Donald Trump Is Dismantling U.S. Guardrails

Donald Trump is following an autocrat’s playbook in his second term, weakening checks on his power and leaving the U.S. less safe, former senior intelligence officials have warned, as they step up public criticism of the president’s authoritarian style of governing.
Trump returned to office pledging war against the so-called deep state that he blamed for constraining his power during his first term. Since then, he has sought to silence critics and demanded loyalty from those around him.

https://x.com/thejackhopkins/status/2086201990623744183

https://x.com/RonFilipkowski/status/2085896809658941583

———— Bernie Moreno and Max Miller ————

Max Miller Won’t Drop Out

Representative Max Miller, the Republican from Ohio accused of physically abusing his ex-wife and young daughter, has defied calls from his own party to drop out and plans to stay in the race to keep his seat in Congress, according to his spokeswoman.
Mr. Miller would have had to withdraw by Saturday evening, at the latest, to allow local party chairs enough time to name a replacement on the ballot by Monday at 4 p.m. according to Ohio state law.

https://x.com/capitolhunters/status/2086276967494770922

https://x.com/BillKristol/status/2086443678302658689

“Idi Amin, you know, Putin, those people… The reality is, they’re pikers compared to what Trump is doing. He’s always been a malignant narcissist, but that narcissism now has no frontal lobe restraint.”

https://x.com/donwinslow/status/2086587667849068910