August 19, 2026

Good morning, everyone!

Be sure to check out one of my recent Notes on former President Joe Biden:

Today, we will look at election results, the U.S. debt, and this day through history.

Let’s get to it.

United States

-Alaska, Florida, and Wyoming held statewide primary elections yesterday.

In Florida, Congressman Byron Donalds won the Republican nomination for governor in a crowded field.

He will now face off against Democrat David Jolly.

In the state’s U.S. Senate race, Angie Nixon defeated Alex Vindman for the Democratic nomination.

Vindman was a central figure in President Donald Trump’s first impeachment trial in his first term.

Nixon will now face off against Republican Senator Ashley Moody, who was appointed to the seat following Marco Rubio’s confirmation as Secretary of State.

Democratic Congressman Jared Moskowitz defeated Democratic socialist challenger Oliver Larkin in the state’s 25th Congressional District.

The race had been viewed as the latest proxy battle to determine the Democratic Party’s ideological future, with Larkin receiving the backing of leftist streamer Hasan Piker and Moskowitz having the support of traditional Democratic organizations.

Moskowitz will now face off against Republican Boca Raton Mayor Scott Singer in the general election.

The district was redrawn this year as part of the state legislature’s mid-decade redistricting meant to advantage Republicans in their efforts to maintain control of the House of Representatives this year.

Meanwhile, embattled Republican Congressman Cory Mills lost his bid for renomination as he faced a wave of domestic abuse allegations and campaign finance violations.

In Alaska, Republican Senator Dan Sullivan and former Democratic Congresswoman Mary Peltola advanced to the general election as part of the state’s ranked choice voting system.

In Wyoming, Congresswoman Harriet Hageman won the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate.

She will now face off against Democrat James Byrd in the general election.

View full election results here.

-South Carolina Senator Darline Graham and Congressman Ralph Norman faced off in a debate last night ahead of next week’s Republican primary runoff election.

During the debate, Graham was asked if Taiwan and the South China Sea are national security issues to the United States.

She responded: “I’m just gonna be honest here. I’m not that informed on national security so — but I do support the military.”

View the full debate here:

-Arizona Senator Mark Kelly and his wife, former Arizona Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, appeared at a campaign event for Georgia Senator Jon Ossoff yesterday.

-The average U.S. gas price stood at $4.06 yesterday, amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, according to AAA.

-The U.S. debt is set to hit $40 trillion this week, months earlier than initially expected.

Since the turn of the century, debt levels have soared under both Democratic and Republican presidents.

-A large majority of Americans “are uncomfortable with trans athletes playing on teams that don’t match their sex at birth,” according to new data published by Pew Research Center.

-In a new ad, Jason Kelce encourages fans to send their pee to AI data centers in an act of protest.

View it here:

Garage Beer@drinkgaragebeer

We want your pee. Please give us your pee.

1:01 PM · Aug 18, 2026 · 3.09M Views

185 Replies · 211 Reposts · 3.16K Likes

-On this day in 1946, former President Bill Clinton was born in Hope, Arkansas.

In 1976, President Gerald Ford accepted the Republican nomination for president in Kansas City, Missouri, following a contentious primary battle against California Governor Ronald Reagan.

Following his remarks, Ford invited Reagan to the podium to deliver remarks, where he gave an extemporaneous speech.

View it here:

View a short documentary on the battle between Ford and Reagan here:

In 2020, Kamala Harris accepted the Democratic Party nomination for vice president in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Other Links:

Trump casts mail ballot again in Florida despite efforts to restrict mail voting - ABC

Two Trump-backed candidates lose, Debbie Wasserman Schultz wins in Tuesday’s House primaries - NBC

DOJ issues grand jury subpoenas in dueling Dan Sullivans’ Republican Senate saga - NBC

Blanche: Congress has already approved White House ballroom project - The Hill

Minnesota attorney general sues Texas governor to compel extradition of ICE agent for trial - AP

Talarico campaign hires former top Cornyn staffer - The Hill

James Talarico’s Campaign Is Refunding Over $1 Million in Excess Contributions - NOTUS

Stevens says ‘it certainly makes sense’ for El-Sayed to end affiliation with Piker - The Hill

Mamdani Officials Will Skip Council Hearing on Second-Home Tax - The New York Times

Former Fauci aide pleads guilty to dodging federal public records laws - Politico

Jill Stein, repeat Green Party candidate, faces assault charges in Missouri - The Washington Post

Hayden Panettiere’s on-and-off boyfriend was at apartment where she died, police report says - AP

Africa

-Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema was declared the winner of last week’s presidential election, with the country’s election commission saying he received roughly 60% of the vote.

Hichilema’s main rival, Brian Mundubile, claimed irregularities in the vote.

-Liberia has agreed to accept 1,200 deported migrants from the United States.

-Somalian soldiers drove opposition forces out of one of the country’s largest cities this week after intense fighting there.

-The United Nations Security Council held a meeting on Libya yesterday.

View it here:

-On this day in 2005, Pierre Nkurunziza was elected president of Burundi following the country’s civil war.

He would go on to lead the East African country until his death in 2020. His tenure was marred by authoritarian and repressive tactics derided by human rights organizations.

Other Links:

Ramaphosa urges regional countries to tackle irregular migration - Africa News

Fresh scandal hits South Africa’s Democratic Alliance - Semafor

US lifts security restrictions on ships from Nigeria after 12 years - Reuters

Kariba ferry death toll rises to 93, making it Zimbabwe’s deadliest transport disaster - BBC

Mali jails government critic for ‘discrediting state’ - Africa News

Americas and the Caribbean

-President Trump postponed 50% tariffs on a wide range of Canadian goods just hours before they were set to take effect, saying Washington and Ottawa had reached an agreement.

-Colombian President Abelardo De La Espriella said yesterday that the economic losses caused by a devastating earthquake that struck his country last week could reach $9.58 billion.

The 7.4-magnitude quake killed 280 people and injured more than 4,000 others. As of yesterday, 143 people remain unaccounted for. More than 12,000 homes were destroyed.

The quake ranks as one of the strongest in Colombia’s recorded history.

It struck the country just days after La Espriella’s inauguration, which took place on August 7.

-On this day in 1847, U.S. soldiers led by General Winfield Scott defeated Mexican troops near Mexico City during the Mexican-American War.

Other Links:

U.S. quietly deporting Mexican migrants to Guatemala and Honduras, angering Mexico - CBS

Brazil’s President Lula hails oil discovery near Amazon river - BBC

Brazil’s Bolsonaro campaign adds Sachsida, market figures to policy team - Reuters

Adviser to Bolivia’s Paz, Argentina’s Milei detained over attack on analyst - Reuters

Billionaire Peter Thiel buys 1% stake in Argentine Vaca Muerta oil firm, filing shows - Reuters

Asia/Indo-Pacific

-Pakistan’s top court ordered the transfer of former Prime Minister Imran Khan to a hospital from prison yesterday amid health concerns raised by his family.

The 73-year-old former cricket player has been imprisoned since 2023 following his conviction in a string of cases that he says were politically motivated.

-Indians and Pakistanis see the other as their greatest threat, according to new Pew Research Center data.

The countries’ historical rivalry dates to the British partition of the subcontinent in 1947.

Since then, the nuclear-armed countries have fought four full-scale wars.

-On this day in 2011, Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping hosted Vice President Joe Biden in Beijing. Xi would visit Washington the following year, where he was received by Biden.

During their overlapping time as vice presidents, the two leaders spent nearly 80 hours together, according to Biden.

Other Links:

US Navy destroyer with 300 sailors aboard broke down for four days in the Pacific - AP

China’s data centers face little pushback amid AI boom: ‘that’s a matter for the state’ - NBC

Harvard, MIT among 30 US universities ordered to audit China research ties - South China Morning Post

Russia summons Japanese envoy following Putin’s visit to disputed islands - AP

Japan’s economy manages 1.1% growth rate despite headwinds - ABC

Europe

-The United States unveiled a slew of punitive measures targeting the International Criminal Court (ICC) yesterday, including financial sanctions and visa restrictions on its top officials.

The move comes as the Trump administration continues on its path to dismantle the institution, which it regards as a “corrupt and fatally politicized supranational court.”

Since Washington has undertaken its effort against the court, five countries have begun the process of formally withdrawing from it, including Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Venezuela, and Chad.

The ICC, headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands, was established in 2002 as an international authority to investigate and prosecute atrocities committed by countries when national courts are unable or unwilling to do so.

Although President Clinton signed the Rome Statute establishing the court in 2000, he did not submit the treaty for ratification in the U.S. Senate due to his concerns over sovereignty and the fear that it could be used to prosecute U.S. troops.

President George W. Bush withdrew the signature in 2002.

-Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted Myanmar’s junta chief-turned-president, Min Aung Hlaing, in Moscow for bilateral talks yesterday.

Hlaing’s visit to Russia marks his first to a non-neighboring country since he formally assumed office in April.

Hlaing led a military coup that ousted the democratically elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021.

-András Baka will be sworn in as Hungary’s president today in Budapest.

-On this day in 1934, German voters overwhelmingly approved a referendum that named Adolf Hitler “Führer und Reichskanzler” (“leader and chancellor”).

Other Links:

Ousted Ukrainian defense chief Fedorov demands elections in challenge to Zelenskyy - Politico

Ukraine launches 637 drones toward Moscow, mayor says, with Wildberries facility hit - ABC

The Moscow region is hit by a drone blitz as Russian missiles kill 10 in a Ukrainian village - AP

UK ‘supports Ukraine 100%’, Burnham says, after Russia’s drone warning - BBC

French PM booed on visit to wildfire-affected region as EU sends assistance to Belgium and Spain - The Guardian

Middle East

-President Trump posted a map of the Strait of Hormuz with the words “NEW U.S. Territory” yesterday.

Last week, Trump said he would soon declare the strategic waterway as a U.S. territory.

At the same time, he confirmed that there are no ongoing negotiations between the United States and Iran to end the months-long regional conflict.

-An Israeli attack on a Syrian airbase drew condemnations from the United States and Turkey.

-Frontline reaired a documentary on Dick Cheney’s role in America’s War on Terror.

View it here:

-On this day in 1954, the Iranian military, with the assistance of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency, overthrew the democratically elected government of Iranian Premier Mohammad Mosaddegh and restored the Shah of Iran to power.

Other Links:

Iran’s Attacks on Ships in Hormuz Mount, Testing U.S. Military Restraint - The Wall Street Journal

Iran disputes Qatar, Kuwait accounts of captured Iranian personnel - Reuters

Israeli settler confronts Palestinian American at his besieged West Bank home - Reuters

Deadly Israeli Strike on Gaza Cafe Raises Doubts About Progress on Peace Plan - The New York Times

Turkey’s Erdogan signs law offering conditional pardon for thousands of PKK militants - AP

That’s all for today. See you tomorrow.

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