Today's news: Why we need congressional oversight.

Hi, all. I am getting a very late start on the newsletter today; we drove to our cabin, and a technical glitch prevented me from getting my internet working. For future reference, a good place to start in solving technical issues is always to ask, “Is it plugged in?” After our last visit, I disconnected my Ethernet cable from the modem so I could bear-proof our cabin by locking the windows and closing the storm shutters. The bearproofing worked, but remembering to plug in the Ethernet cable was an epic failure

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Thursday brought a disjointed news cycle, with a half-dozen important stories highlighting the need for Democrats to take control of Congress and restore the Article I branch of government to its oversight role. Although we will need a trifecta to pass legislation, Congress can begin investigations, block nominations, and refuse new appropriations to agencies that are ignoring the rule of law

We have reason to be hopeful about the 2026 midterms, but no reason to be complacent. Republicans have a built-in, unfair advantage in House elections due to decades of partisan and racial gerrymandering. Moreover, Trump continues to engage in voter suppression efforts, though he has been thwarted for the most part. But lawyers in the pro-democracy movement are waiting with bated breath to see if the Supreme Court will overturn lower court injunctions that halted Trump’s efforts to turn the Post Office into an instrument of voter suppression. A decision is expected any day on the Trump administration’s application for an emergency stay. The delay in ruling on the Trump administration’s application is beginning to worry some observers. See Rick Hasen, Election Law Blog, “This delay is highly unusual.”

Still, pro-democracy advocates can take any punch Trump and his allies on the Supreme Court can throw at us. Voter suppression is a blunt instrument and will affect voters in both parties. But Democrats are better positioned to respond to voter suppression because they have been the object of such efforts for decades. And Democrats have an enthusiasm advantage in 2026. They are highly motivated to help restore the rule of law, while many Republicans are disillusioned and bitter over Trump’s broken promises regarding foreign wars and lowering prices “on day one.” While Democrats should show up in record numbers, many Republicans will stay home

As always, remember that victory in the midterms is not self-executing. It will come only if we successfully motivate people to show up as never before. We can do that; we are doing that; we must continue doing so.

With that background, let’s take a look at the leading stories.

I reported yesterday on the abysmal conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, which are due in large part to a record-breaking modern-day deployment. On Thursday, the story exploded in the press, on Capitol Hill, and among families of crew members of the USS Abraham Lincoln. Members of Congress, including Rep. Ro Khanna (on the House Armed Services Committee) and Sen. Richard Blumenthal (on the Senate Armed Services Committee) have called for an investigation.

The shabby and disrespectful treatment of the crew of the USS Abraham Lincoln is unforgivable. It impairs military readiness and operational performance. Those who volunteer to defend our country deserve to be supported and equipped so they can do their jobs safely and effectively.

The conditions on the USS Abraham Lincoln should be above politics. But a political backlash is emerging—and it is starting with family members of the crew members. The Acting Secretary of the Navy met with families of the Abraham Lincoln crew last month in San Diego. The two meetings did not go well. See MSNow, In fiery meeting, military families confront acting Navy secretary over conditions on the USS Lincoln

Per MSNow:

In a combative face-to-face confrontation on Thursday night in San Diego, angry military families challenged the acting secretary of the Navy, Hung Cao, over difficult conditions aboard the USS Lincoln as its combat mission against Iran stretches onward with no clear date to return home, according to two people who attended the in-person meeting.

Tensions boiled over again during a separate virtual meeting later that night between Navy leadership and family members of the 5,000 sailors and Marines aboard the Lincoln, according to audio and video recordings of the virtual meeting reviewed by MS NOW.

The Navy announced on Thursday that it would send the USS George Washington to replace the Lincoln in the Middle East, allowing the Lincoln to return to its home port in San Diego. Too little, too late, and the switch will compromise the US fleet in the Pacific, where Taiwan is at risk of a Chinese invasion.

This story will continue to develop—hopefully in a good way for the crew of the USS Abraham Lincoln. But the damage is done to Trump, Hegseth, and other senior officials in the Department of Defense and the Navy. They have broken faith with the military families, who will not forget the Commander-in-Chief's betrayal

In a rare interview, a senior adviser to the leader of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said that the war against Iran will last until the end of Trump’s second term. See PBS NewsHour, Top adviser to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard leader sits down for rare interview.

The senior adviser said,

The longer this war lasts, the more experience we gain. We had never seen a real war to gain real experience to learn how to fight with America. In these five months, we have learned how. We have also seen how the American military is weaker than what we perceived.

Look, we have to attain deterrence so that the enemy never dares to attack us, so we can live with security. One way is to prolong this war until we get to the next term of the presidency and cause attrition, so that if anyone else wants to attack Iran, they will know there is a cost.

In short, Iran wants to extend the war until the end of Trump’s term to send a message to other potential adversaries. That is bad news indeed. Trump rightly wants to end the war as soon as possible because of its cost and the damage to the US economy. But if Iran wants to extend the war for strategic reasons, all Americans will suffer from the direct and indirect effects of the war on the US economy. Trump didn’t have a strategy when he started the war and doesn’t have a plan for ending it.

In a revelation that is likely to reverberate through the 2026 midterms (at least), a court filing has revealed that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spied on unions and protesters in Minnesota. See The Guardian, US conducted ‘mass spying campaign’ against leftwing groups and anti-ICE protesters, records reveal

Per the Guardian,

The DHS investigative reports were disclosed by the government and submitted to the court by an attorney for one of the defendants. The records show that in January, DHS launched an inquiry called “Operation Puppet Master” to identify a “network of conspirators” organizing against US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The operation came as community organizing against ICE was swelling in the region in response to the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti.

To be clear, people will go to prison as a result of the DHS spying. But it will not be the innocent Americans exercising their First Amendment rights. It will be the members of DHS, DOJ, and other agencies who abused their power to investigate Americans for political reasons. A day of truth and reconciliation is coming. Those who abused their power will be held accountable.

Trump attempted to change the name oofthe Kennedy Center Memorial to the “John F. Kennedy and Donald Trump Center for the Performing Arts.” That change violated federal law and was blocked by a federal judge. In a humiliating defeat for Trump, he was forced to remove his name from the Kennedy Center, a defeat so embarrassing for Trump that he has kept a tarp over the Kennedy Center’s front facade ever since his name was removed.

On Thursday, the board of the Kennedy Center attempted to circumvent the court order that removed Trump’s name by voting to include a reference to Trump on the front of the memorial that it was “restored and renovated” by Trump. In addition, the plaza in front of the Kennedy Center will be renamed after Trump. See NYTimes, Kennedy Center Board Decides to Inscribe Trump’s Name on Building. (Gift link.)

The pathetic attempt to assuage Trump’s bruised ego will serve only to further anger voters who see a president consumed with his legacy while ignoring the needs of working Americans struggling to pay for gas and groceries. The move to place his name on the Kennedy Center comes as a new round of criticism has hit the president over his staggering increase in personal wealth while in office. See The Guardian, Trump has amassed staggering wealth in ‘most openly corrupt’ presidency | Donald Trump.

Per the Guardian,

A CNN poll in late July buttressed criticism of Trump’s monetizing his second term: the poll revealed that 66% of 1,225 respondents said Trump doesn’t put the good of the country over his personal gain and only 34% said he does.

Trump is trying to “win” the fight over placing his name on the Kennedy Center. Win or lose, what he is really doing is alienating voters who cannot stand his narcissism and ego.

When I appear before grassroots groups, a question I often get is, “What good does it do to take control of Congress in the midterms. Won’t Trump just veto any legislation we pass?”

While it is true that Trump will likely veto legislation passed by a Democratic Congress, each of the stories in today’s newsletter reminds us of the need for oversight: mismanagement of the military, the reckless war against Iran, Homeland Security’s spying on Americans, and Trump’s attempt to place his name on the Kennedy Center Memorial in violation of federal law.

Republicans in Congress should be conducting investigations into the above issues as we speak. But they see their job as protecting Trump and doing his bidding, no matter how silly, corrupt, or dangerous. Winning control of Congress will trigger immediate oversight hearings and investigations, both of which will remind senior officials in the Trump administration that their actions will be scrutinized for corruption, criminality, and ethical violations. Just knowing that fact will improve the behavior of senior officials in the Trump administration as they contemplate their lives after Trump’s term ends

Talk to you tomorrow!

SFValley Brigade; 101 Freeway in Encino, CA; 8/13/26

The sign was on the southbound side, which is typically the more Republican-leaning side, so we deliberately put it there. We got the usual amount of middle fingers, but we also got a pretty strong positive response — lots of honking.

We’re going to use the same sign, HAVING DOUBTS? LEAVINGMAGA.ORG, tomorrow on the 118.

Thanks, Robert, for the suggestion.

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Hartford Visibility Brigade feeling spicy this am! 8/13

10 of us on this sunny summer morning with important messages!

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Great support and a glorious overcast day!

West LA Freeway Brigade, Los Angeles 8/13/26

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Aug. 13th - dedicated citizens - Cambridge, MA

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Portland OR shine the light Aug 13

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Corte Madera, CA  101 Freeway, Indivisible Marin, August 12.

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Rise and Resit New York, NY vigil at Manhattan immigration court

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This Aug 13, 2026 photo is from our weekly honk and wave in Wilmington, DE. About 35 members of Indivisible Highlands and Beyond participated. Sure, we got the occasional one-finger-salute, but there were far more beeps, honks and even occasional long and exciting choruses of car, truck and bus horns, all blaring together as they passed by.

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It was 96 degrees, then a downpour, then a rainbow--16 months of weekly protests in Hopewell, NJ, every Thursday, 5:30-6:30.

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Sunnyvale, CA. Blue Turn Bannering's bridge action yesterday. Thank you again for all you do!

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11 Aug. Market St. Overpass Photos!!!

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Bend, OR

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Little Rock, AR. Here are a few pics of the first of two Thursday protests today. This is our 7:30-8:30AM protest. This afternoon’s group will face 100°+ temps! I’m the old white hippie. 😏

One protester this morning brought equipment to pick up trash and had a full bag before the hour was up! The last photo is of a white-haired protester/organizer who is 90 years old. She comes twice on Thursday’s, putting me (at 75 y/o) to shame!😏

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August 13, 2026 Hartford VB

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8/13/26 in Pasadena, CA

So dangerous to have non medical and non scientific individuals (RFK and DJT) making policy about vaccines. People, kids, will die.

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Baltimore Bridge Brigade on the W 41st St Bridge over I-83, Baltimore, MD

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We are a tiny (usually 3) weekly postcarding group in Jamaica Plain MA We’ve written over 1000 postcards in 2025 & 2026

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I can’t spot the ten differences but I’m telling all my FB friends to tune out of the static and tune in to your newsletter. Sanity will win. Thank you!

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North Cambridge, MA

Weekly Postcard Writers’ Gathering