Good morning, everyone!
Be sure to check out one of my recent Notes on former President Joe Biden:
Today, we will look at the unfolding situation in the Middle East, Americans’ views on socialism, and a series of historical snapshots.
Let’s get to it.
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The Week Ahead
-Alaska, Florida, and Wyoming will hold statewide primary elections on Tuesday.
View a full list of the elections here.
-András Baka will be sworn in as Hungary’s president on Wednesday.
-Bangladesh will hold a presidential election on Thursday.
-Kazakhstan will hold snap legislative elections on Sunday.
Major Developments
-President Donald Trump said over the weekend that he would soon declare the Strait of Hormuz a U.S. territory.
The announcement came as negotiations to end the months-long conflict between the United States and Iran have stalled.
Before the war, the strategic waterway served as a conduit for approximately 20% of the world’s oil supply.
Meanwhile, the average U.S. gas price stood at $4.06 yesterday, amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, according to AAA.
-Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law and lead Middle East negotiator, held a rare meeting with Hamas’ senior leadership in Egypt on Sunday, where the militants reaffirmed their commitment to disarm as part of the U.S.-backed Gaza peace plan.
-Trump said yesterday that he had ordered the Pentagon to “substantially reduce” joint U.S.-South Korea military exercises planned for this week, citing his “very good relationship” with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
Pyongyang has long regarded the annual drills as “invasion rehearsals.”
-A majority of Democrats say they hold a positive view of socialism, while only a third say the same for capitalism, according to a new CBS/YouGov poll.
In the same poll, 66% of Americans view “the free market system” as good for the economy, while 34% see it as bad.
The poll comes as Democrats grapple with the ideological future of their party.
In the latest proxy battle to determine that future, Florida Congressman Jared Moskowitz is facing a primary challenge from Oliver Larkin, a self-described Democratic socialist, on Tuesday.
Larkin is backed by Hasan Piker and the national Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) organization, while Moskowitz has the support of traditional Democratic Party backers.
Yesterday, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, a prospective 2028 Democratic presidential candidate, said that “socialism is a failed experiment.”
View it here:
Separately, in an interview over the weekend, Vice President JD Vance issued a warning to Republicans, saying, “If we don’t get this right, don’t blame young people for being sympathetic to socialism, we’ve got to blame ourselves.”
View the full interview here:
In an appearance on NBC’s Meet the Press yesterday, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said, “I don’t support the DSA agenda, as has been articulated by the DSA itself.”
View it here:
-In an interview on Meet the Press yesterday, new Attorney General Todd Blanche said that he would not act independently of the White House but that he would serve with “integrity.”
View the full interview here:
-New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani posted a video speaking in Mandarin.
View it here:
Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani@NYCMayor
Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani @NYCMayor
People come to New York City from all over the world to experience Broadway. The kids who grow up here should be able to do the same. We’re partnering with @TDFNYC to give away over 2,000 free Broadway tickets to NYC High School students through a free-to-enter lottery. Break a
1:07 AM · Aug 16, 2026 · 11.4M Views
1.04K Replies · 3.09K Reposts · 50.5K Likes
-Last week, former President Bill Clinton delivered a graduation speech to the Golisano Institute for Business & Entrepreneurship.
View his remarks here:
-On this day in 1992, former President Ronald Reagan addressed the Republican National Convention in Houston, Texas.
The address would mark Reagan’s final appearance before the party gathering. He would announce his Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis just two years later.
View his remarks here:
In 1998, Clinton testified before the Office of Independent Counsel as part of its investigation into whether he lied under oath regarding his alleged extramarital affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky.
Clinton’s appearance marked the first time a sitting president testified before a grand jury as the subject of an investigation.
View the testimony here:
Following his testimony, Clinton addressed the nation, where he admitted to having a relationship with Lewinsky “that was not appropriate.”
Other Links:
Sen. Jon Ossoff rallies supporters in Midtown Atlanta as election nears - Fox 5 Atlanta
A Free-for-All in Alaska as 17 Candidates Compete to Be Governor - The New York Times
Aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, where hardship and resilience share quarters - CNN
Iran War Commander Visits the USS Abraham Lincoln - The Wall Street Journal
Hegseth calls conditions aboard USS Abraham Lincoln ‘completely misrepresented’ - The Hill
Trump says record USS Lincoln deployment ‘not nearly long enough’ - ABC
GOP Rep. Don Bacon says Congress “should have oversight” amid concerns about USS Lincoln conditions - CBS
Democrats Face a Potential Tea Party Moment - The New York Times
11 potential candidates to replace Karoline Leavitt - CNN
F.D.A. Classifies Egg Recall as Class I, for Highest Health Risk - The New York Times
At least 7 people have died from days of heavy rain and record-setting flooding in Indiana - AP
Morocco detains dozens of migrants trying to cross into Ceuta, reports say - BBC
Observers say Zambia’s vote marred by intimidation, counting pause - Africa News
Chad opposition figure, Succes Masra, calls for reconciliation after his release - Africa News
Mexico moves past Taiwan as the top AI server exporter to the United States - Mexico News Daily
Son of former Mexican President López Obrador says US revoked his visa and appeals directly to Trump - ABC
Mexico says Colombia rejected its earthquake rescue team - Al Jazeera
Brazil’s Lula and Flávio Bolsonaro return to their strongholds to kick off presidential campaigns - AP
US pulls last aircraft carrier in Asia as Trump focuses on Iran and the Western Hemisphere - AP
As China Pushes to Expand in Asia, Trump Focuses on Iran - The New York Times
US to tell partners they must pick sides in AI race with China - Reuters
Ukraine attacks Russia with hundreds of drones - one of Kyiv’s largest assaults of the conflict - CNN
Europe’s tallest Virgin Mary statue unveiled in small Polish village - The Guardian
Europe’s scorched landscapes seen from space after summer heatwaves - BBC
Covert Mideast Oil Flows Are Keeping Global Prices in Check - Bloomberg
This Sprawling Chinese Refinery Is Bankrolling Tehran - The Wall Street Journal
Syrian Convicted in Austria of Civil War Abuses Is Detained in Syria - The New York Times
That’s all for today. See you tomorrow.
Notes:
https://scowcroft.substack.com/p/tsg-weekly-calendar-august-17-23
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