<![CDATA[Underground USA: Evening News Brief]]>https://www.undergroundusa.com/s/evening-news-briefhttps://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Hv1W!,w_256,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fbucketeer-e05bbc84-baa3-437e-9518-adb32be77984.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc4e8bcb1-cdcf-4ca4-8209-ed929d72520a_1150x1150.pngUnderground USA: Evening News Briefhttps://www.undergroundusa.com/s/evening-news-briefSubstackThu, 30 Jul 2026 22:49:28 GMT<![CDATA[Underground USA Evening News Brief]]>https://www.undergroundusa.com/p/underground-usa-evening-news-brief-a1ahttps://www.undergroundusa.com/p/underground-usa-evening-news-brief-a1aThu, 30 Jul 2026 22:30:55 GMT🎧 LISTEN TO THE HEADLINES ON THE SUBSTACK APP

US Intelligence Chiefs Back Trump Claim On China Election Data Targeting

The heads of four U.S. intelligence agencies—the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the National Security Agency, the Central Intelligence Agency, and the Department of Homeland Security—approved a White House fact sheet supporting elements of President Trump’s assertion that China targeted American voter registration data, constituting election interference. The document states China obtained information on as many as 220 million voters, some of it nonpublic. Officials noted that targeting voter data falls under the intelligence community’s definition of election interference. The fact sheet was released July 30.

🏛️ News & Politics

New US Policy Restricts High-Risk Gain-Of-Function Biology Research

The Trump administration released a new government-wide policy that prohibits federal funding for dangerous gain-of-function research and strengthens oversight of other high-risk life sciences work. The framework also restricts U.S. support for research in countries lacking adequate biosafety standards. Officials described it as an effort to protect public health and national security while fulfilling a prior executive order. The National Institutes of Health director supported the changes.

Editor’s Note: Of course, policies change with administrations and, just like nuclear and biological weapons research, it tends to go on whether it’s policy or not.


Trump Floats Temporarily Withdrawing Todd Blanche Attorney General Nomination

President Trump said he may temporarily withdraw the nomination of Todd Blanche for attorney general if Sens. John Cornyn (R-TX) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) continue to oppose it. Trump suggested renominating Blanche after the two Republicans leave office next year. The senators have delayed a Judiciary Committee vote while seeking written assurances about a Justice Department settlement involving an anti-weaponization fund and tax audit provisions. Blanche currently serves as acting attorney general.


Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services To End Medicare Drug Plan Premium Subsidies

The Trump administration announced it will end a temporary subsidy program that helped limit premiums for Medicare Part D prescription drug plans after 2026. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services said insurers now have sufficient experience under redesigned rules to price plans without the taxpayer support. CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz stated most beneficiaries would see increases of less than $10, with some premiums falling. The program, created under the prior administration, cost billions annually.


Wisconsin Judge Upholds Rule Barring Absentee Ballot Revotes

A Dane County judge rejected a lawsuit by Democrat voters seeking to allow those who already returned absentee ballots to spoil them and cast new ones after candidates withdrew from the gubernatorial primary. Judge David Conway ruled that state law does not permit spoiling a returned absentee ballot. The decision upholds recent guidance from the Wisconsin Elections Commission. The primary is scheduled for Aug. 11.


Defense Company Deploys Drones To Schools For Active Shooter Response

Mithril Defense is equipping schools in Florida, Georgia and Colorado with non-lethal Campus Guardian Angel drones designed to respond to active shooters. The drones can reach speeds of 50 mph indoors, carry pepper spray, strobe lights and sirens, and are operated remotely from Texas. Officials aim for the devices to confront threats within 15 seconds while law enforcement responds. Pilot programs in the three states are set to begin with the new academic year, funded in part by state allocations.

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Michigan Secretary Of State Jocelyn Benson Served Papers Over SPLC Records

Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson was served with legal papers related to a lawsuit seeking records about her past service on the Southern Poverty Law Center board. Former Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox filed the action after alleging incomplete responses to a Freedom of Information Act request. The request concerns communications tied to her board tenure, which overlapped with a period covered by a federal indictment against the SPLC involving payments to informants linked to extremist groups. Benson is a candidate for governor.


Oregon Measure To Ban Hunting Fishing And Ranching Fails To Make Ballot

An Oregon ballot initiative that sought to ban hunting, fishing, ranching and other animal-related activities failed to qualify for the November ballot after signature verification. The measure, known as the People for the Elimination of Animal Cruelty Exemptions Act or IP 28, did not collect enough valid signatures. It would have treated many common practices as animal cruelty. Both the Democrat governor and her Republican challenger opposed the proposal.


Democrat Operatives Accused Of Connecticut Ballot Tampering Face Plea Or Trial

Two Democrat operatives charged in a Bridgeport, Connecticut, absentee ballot scandal have until Aug. 25 to accept plea deals or face trial. Wanda Geter-Pataky and City Councilman Alfredo Castillo face more than 100 charges combined related to the 2019 and 2023 mayoral primaries. Surveillance video previously showed repeated deposits of ballots into drop boxes, leading a judge to order a primary redo. Lower-level defendants in the case have already received suspended sentences.

Editor’s Note: If all politics is local, so, too, is all political corruption local.


Experts Flag Loneliness Risks As Young Adults Stay Home On Weekends

Behavioral experts warn that a growing number of young adults are spending weekends at home engaged in screen time, a trend linked to higher loneliness rates. A Harris Poll found 73 percent of adults ages 18 to 29 treat staying home as their default weekend plan, with half reporting weekend loneliness. Analysts cite reduced in-person socializing, digital entertainment, and financial pressures as factors. Some note rising interest in religion and low-cost social activities among young men.


Thousands Of Migrants From Morocco Storm Spanish Enclave Of Ceuta

Thousands of migrants crossed from Morocco into the Spanish North African enclave of Ceuta on Thursday, with many swimming around breakwaters or scaling fences. Local officials reported overwhelmed reception facilities and requested that Spain declare a national emergency and deploy additional forces, including the army. Estimates of arrivals ranged into the thousands amid ongoing attempts to enter the territory. Spanish authorities have coordinated with Morocco on returns while managing the influx.

🌐 International

US Launches Heavy Wave Of Airstrikes On Iran After Foiled Missile Attack

The U.S. military completed a heavy wave of strikes against Iran in response to an earlier Iranian missile attack targeting a U.S. base in Jordan. Central Command reported that dozens of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps targets were hit, including military command centers, missile and drone facilities, coastal surveillance sites and maritime capabilities. All of the Iranian missiles fired at the Jordan base were intercepted with no American casualties reported. The operation followed joint U.S. and Saudi strikes on Iran-backed militias in Iraq the previous day.


IDF Strikes Hamas Arms Depots Including One Inside Gaza Mosque

The Israel Defense Forces struck several Hamas weapons storage sites in Gaza, including one located inside a mosque in Gaza City. The military said the Al-Muttaqin Mosque and other locations were used to store arms intended for attacks. Palestinian reports described the strike as destroying the mosque and nearby shelters for displaced families. The IDF characterized the use of civilian infrastructure as a pattern by terror groups.

Editor's Note: Hospitals, mosques, schools—these terrorist scum will put weapons anywhere they can hide behind innocents.


Israel, US Discuss Land Blockade Of Iran To Increase Pressure

The United States and Israel are discussing a possible land blockade of Iran to intensify economic pressure amid ongoing hostilities. A senior Israeli official described the idea as one option under consideration to complement existing maritime restrictions. Iran borders multiple countries with varying relations to the U.S. and Israel, raising practical questions about enforcement. The talks coincide with continued military exchanges and high-level meetings between American and Israeli leaders.


Informal Poll Shows Costa Rica’s Grynspan Ahead In Race For UN Chief

An informal United Nations Security Council straw poll showed former Costa Rican Vice President Rebeca Grynspan leading the race to become the next secretary-general. Grynspan, who is not regarded as a conservative figure and is associated with social democratic politics, received 10 “encourage” votes, ahead of former Guyanese Foreign Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett with nine and Argentina’s Rafael Grossi with seven. The non-binding poll is the first of several expected as the council assesses candidates to replace Antonio Guterres. Multiple rounds of voting are anticipated in the coming weeks.


Berlin Queer Commissioner Blames Conservative Forces For Islamic Pride Attack

Berlin’s queer commissioner, Alfonso Pantisano, described last week’s van attack on a Pride event as driven in part by conservative and religious opposition to LGBT lifestyles. The attacker, Abdul Ballout, a German citizen of Lebanese descent with prior Islamist ties, drove into the crowd, killing one and injuring about 29 others before being shot by police. Pantisano acknowledged the Islamist nature of the assault while pointing to broader societal “queerphobia.” German conservatives rejected the framing and called for accountability on immigration and security.

Editor’s Note: A “phobia” is an irrational fear of something. I don’t think anyone “fears" the LGBTQ community.

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Explanation of Approach
First, we used an AI “browse_page” tool to verify that the provided URLs load without 404 errors and extract a comprehensive, factual summary of their content, focusing on the key points and facts, devoid of opinion and editorialization. This forms the basis for the one-paragraph summary, written in a politically non-partisan voice without injecting personal opinion, while maintaining a formal, reportorial tone. We then identify at least three independent corroborating sources by employing an AI “web_search” tool with a targeted query that excludes prohibited outlets proven to be propagandistic. These were chosen as non-clustered (distinct outlets) and to ensure timeliness. This approach guarantees accuracy, up-to-date relevance, and precise adherence to non-partisan, fact-based reporting. All videos are used courtesy of the sources and per Fair Use laws.
]]><![CDATA[Underground USA Evening News Brief]]>https://www.undergroundusa.com/p/underground-usa-evening-news-brief-c96https://www.undergroundusa.com/p/underground-usa-evening-news-brief-c96Wed, 29 Jul 2026 22:30:28 GMT🎧 LISTEN TO THE HEADLINES ON THE SUBSTACK APP

NYC Democrat Socialists Plan Curriculum Overhaul For Public Schools

Members of the Democratic Socialists of America discussed plans to overhaul New York City public school curriculum in a “democratic socialist frame,” including teaching Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels and promoting class consciousness. The meeting, titled “Planning for Socialist School Governance,” was led by DSA-affiliated teachers who said they would leverage ties to Mayor Zohran Mamdani and upcoming teachers union contract talks. Participants also called for educating teachers on race consciousness and institutional racism. Critics described the effort as an attempt to mold students toward socialist views.

Editor’s Note: This is why the DSA, even at the local level, is so dangerous.

🏛️ News & Politics

Rand Paul Seeks Contempt Charges After Fauci Invokes Fifth Amendment Over 100 Times

Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) announced plans to seek contempt of Congress charges against Dr. Anthony Fauci after the former NIAID director invoked his Fifth Amendment right more than 100 times during a Senate Homeland Security Committee hearing. Fauci refused to answer questions about COVID-19 origins and related matters, citing concerns over potential legal jeopardy despite a prior presidential pardon. Paul directed Capitol Police to eject Fauci’s lawyer for disrupting the proceedings. A committee vote on the contempt resolution is scheduled for next week.


Declassified CIA Note On Venezuelan Election Machines Compared To 2020 Fulton County Issues

A declassified CIA note summarizing intelligence on Venezuela’s electronic voting manipulation capabilities from 2004 to 2020 is being compared to problems in Fulton County, Georgia, during the 2020 election. The CIA document describes reported techniques involving insider access, virtual machines, hash file replication and methods designed to evade audits. An Election Oversight Group report on Fulton County cites untested software, removed memory cards, surrogate tabulators, missing authentication files and incomplete audit records. The analysis does not claim Venezuelan involvement in the U.S. election.


Senate Confirms Jay Clayton As Trump Intelligence Chief

The U.S. Senate confirmed Jay Clayton as Director of National Intelligence on Tuesday in a 51-47 party-line vote. Clayton, the former SEC chairman and current U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, succeeds acting director Bill Pulte. All Democrats opposed the nomination after Clayton declined during hearings to state that Joe Biden won the 2020 election. President Trump praised the confirmation, saying Clayton will do a spectacular job. The appointment comes amid ongoing debates over intelligence community staffing and surveillance authorities.


Thune Says At Least 15 Republican Senators Oppose Ending Filibuster For SAVE America Act

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) said roughly 15 of about 20 Republican senators who met with President Trump’s team are opposed to eliminating the filibuster to pass the SAVE America Act. Thune shared the figure during a Fox News interview with Sean Hannity and did not publicly identify the senators by name. The bill would require proof of citizenship to register to vote and photo ID requirements. Thune stated the necessary votes are not currently available despite White House pressure.


California AG Sued Over Changed Title For Voter ID Ballot Measure

Supporters of California’s Proposition 39, a voter ID initiative, filed a lawsuit against Attorney General Rob Bonta after his office changed the ballot title and summary. The original title was “Establishes Additional Voter Identification and Citizenship Verification Requirements.” The new version reads “Prohibits Citizens From Voting Unless They Present Government-Issued Identification.” The lawsuit argues the revised language is inaccurate and misleading because the measure regulates ballot counting rather than prohibiting citizens from voting. An expedited hearing is requested ahead of voter guide printing.

Editor’s Note: Words matter.

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Massachusetts Lawmakers Advance Bill For Muslim Preference Commission On State Hiring

Massachusetts lawmakers are advancing a bill to create a permanent commission on the status of American Muslims that would identify and recommend qualified Muslims for appointive government positions. The 11-member panel would be appointed by the governor and other state officials to address issues including business, healthcare, and civic engagement. Democrat state Sen. Jamie Eldridge is the primary sponsor. The proposal comes as the Trump administration works to roll back DEI programs nationwide.


Immigrant Business Group Votes To Sue New York City Over Mamdani Taxpayer-Funded Grocery Stores

An immigrant-led Multicultural Business Coalition has voted to sue New York City over Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s plan to open five taxpayer-funded grocery stores. The group, representing Asian, African, Caribbean, Hispanic, Middle Eastern and Jewish-owned businesses, claims the $70 million initiative with 30% discounts on staples will create unfair competition for nearby private stores and bodegas. Chairman Frank Garcia said the coalition plans to raise $1 million for the lawsuit and awareness efforts. Local store owners near planned sites, including in East Harlem, fear the subsidized prices will drive customers away since the city stores will not pay rent.


Wisconsin DSA Candidate Says She Does Not Recall Calling To Abolish The Senate

Francesca Hong, a Democratic Socialists of America-backed candidate for Wisconsin governor, said through her campaign that she does not recall posting in favor of abolishing the U.S. Senate in 2021 and that it is not her current position. Social media users shared screenshots of past posts attributed to her supporting the idea. Republican candidate Tom Tiffany highlighted the comments amid broader DSA positions on institutions. Hong is leading some Democratic primary polls in the state.


Eleven Shot Two Fatally In Chicago Overnight Violence

Chicago police reported that 11 people were shot, including two who died, and one person was stabbed in separate incidents across the city between Tuesday evening and early Wednesday morning. The fatal shootings took place in the South Shore and West Pullman neighborhoods. Victims ranged in age from 15 to 43 and suffered wounds to the head, chest, back, legs and arms. They were transported to multiple hospitals in conditions ranging from good to critical. No arrests have been announced as detectives from several areas investigate the cases.


HHS Awards $316,000 For University Of Alabama Study On Vaginal Health In Transgender Men On Testosterone

The Department of Health and Human Services awarded the University of Alabama at Birmingham a $316,000 grant to study vaginal health in transgender-identifying biological women using testosterone. The funding, which began under the prior administration and runs through 2029, supports research by Dr. Olivia Van Gerwen on symptoms and infections in this population. A previous related grant examined the impact of testosterone on vaginal microbiota. Testosterone use can suppress estrogen and lead to tissue changes similar to menopause.

🌐 International

Trump Vows To “Beat The Fucking Shit” Out Of Iran After Surprise Missile Attack

President Trump vowed a forceful military response after Iran launched a surprise ballistic missile attack targeting U.S. forces in Jordan. In a Fox News interview, Trump said, “We’re going to beat the fucking shit out of them. We’ll be hitting them hard. They’re going to get a beating.” U.S. Central Command confirmed all incoming missiles were successfully intercepted. The attack ended a brief pause in fighting, and U.S. and Saudi forces had already conducted joint strikes on Iran-aligned targets in Iraq the day prior.


US And Saudi Strikes Hit Pro-Iran Militias In Iraq

U.S. and Saudi forces conducted joint airstrikes on positions of Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces, killing at least 20 fighters and wounding others, according to the group. The strikes targeted weapons and logistics sites in response to drone attacks on Saudi facilities and U.S. forces that officials linked to Iran-backed groups. Iraq’s government condemned the action as aggression while President Trump said Baghdad had been informed. Iranian media reported that IRGC advisers were also among the casualties.


China Hits US, Europe With New Rare Earths Export Controls

China imposed new export controls on rare earth materials and dual-use items targeting US and European companies. The measures added firms including MP Materials and USA Rare Earth to restricted lists in response to prior US and EU actions. Beijing banned further shipments of critical minerals to 14 European entities involved in processing and manufacturing. The moves come as the US accelerates funding and projects to build alternative rare earth supply chains outside China.


US Backs Madagascar Rare Earth Project To Counter China Dominance

The United States is supporting the Ampasindava rare earths project in Madagascar through a commitment of up to $4.84 million from the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation. The funding will support pilot plant operations and testing for the project developed by Harena Rare Earths. The deposit contains key elements used in permanent magnets for defense and technology applications. The move is part of efforts to diversify critical mineral supplies away from Chinese control.


Chad Joins Growing List Of Countries Withdrawing From International Criminal Court

Chad announced plans to withdraw from the International Criminal Court, citing the tribunal’s limited and uneven effectiveness and its focus on African cases. The government said an in-depth review of the court’s record since 2002 prompted the decision. Chad notified the United Nations of its intent, becoming the latest nation after Venezuela, Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger to begin the process. Officials denied the move came solely at the request of the United States, which has criticized the court.

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Explanation of Approach
First, we used an AI “browse_page” tool to verify that the provided URLs load without 404 errors and extract a comprehensive, factual summary of their content, focusing on the key points and facts, devoid of opinion and editorialization. This forms the basis for the one-paragraph summary, written in a politically non-partisan voice without injecting personal opinion, while maintaining a formal, reportorial tone. We then identify at least three independent corroborating sources by employing an AI “web_search” tool with a targeted query that excludes prohibited outlets proven to be propagandistic. These were chosen as non-clustered (distinct outlets) and to ensure timeliness. This approach guarantees accuracy, up-to-date relevance, and precise adherence to non-partisan, fact-based reporting. All videos are used courtesy of the sources and per Fair Use laws.
]]><![CDATA[Underground USA Evening News Brief]]>https://www.undergroundusa.com/p/underground-usa-evening-news-brief-9cfhttps://www.undergroundusa.com/p/underground-usa-evening-news-brief-9cfTue, 28 Jul 2026 22:30:12 GMT🎧 LISTEN TO THE HEADLINES ON THE SUBSTACK APP

Investigative Reporter Names US Journalists Who China Funded

Investigative reporter Natalie Winters detailed in a Substack report that foreign-agent filings show the China-United States Exchange Foundation organized free trips for U.S. journalists selected for potential favorable coverage. Named participants include Ezra Klein and Matthew Yglesias of Vox, Ronald Brownstein of CNN and The Atlantic, Bradford Plumer of The New York Times, and others from outlets such as NPR, The Washington Post and the Associated Press. Some later published pieces defending Chinese policies or criticizing U.S. confrontations with Beijing. The report relies on cross-referenced filings, newsletters and contemporaneous accounts.

🏛️ News & Politics

Trump Administration Escalates Election Integrity Fight to Supreme Court Over Blocked Mail Voting Executive Order

The Trump administration requested emergency intervention from the Supreme Court to lift a lower court injunction halting an executive order aimed at strengthening safeguards around mail-in voting ahead of the midterm elections. Solicitor General D. John Sauer argued that an Obama-appointed district judge acted prematurely by blocking the measure before federal agencies had even finalized their implementing rules. The executive order directs the Department of Homeland Security and Social Security Administration to assist in compiling citizenship verification lists and instructs the Postal Service to restrict ballot deliveries to eligible voters on those rosters. Democratic state officials from 23 jurisdictions challenged the directive as an unconstitutional power grab over state-managed election procedures, winning temporary holds in lower federal courts. Justice Department attorneys countered that halting policy implementation inflicts irreparable harm on executive authority while preventing agencies from establishing basic voter verification standards before citizens cast ballots.


Audio Tapes Show Biden Discussing Classified Material With Ghostwriter For Book Deal

Newly released audio tapes from interviews with ghostwriter Mark Zwonitzer capture former President Joe Biden referencing classified notes he possessed and shared for his 2017 memoir “Promise Me, Dad.” Biden is heard saying phrases such as “the next thing I have here is classified” and “I just found all the classified stuff downstairs.” The recordings, obtained during special counsel Robert Hur’s investigation, were released by House Republicans after a legal battle. Hur previously noted Biden’s memory issues in declining to prosecute despite finding serious national security risks from the mishandling.


USCIS Fast-Tracks Asylum Cases by Sending Applicants Directly to Judges

The Trump administration issued a rule allowing U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to refer certain asylum applications directly to immigration judges without first conducting interviews. Officials said the change will shorten adjudication times and reduce the backlog. USCIS Director Joseph Edlow stated the asylum system has been exploited for delay and work authorization rather than legitimate protection claims. The interim final rule takes effect immediately and is open for public comment. The move aims to direct resources toward genuine persecution claims.


Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear Faces Heat Over Mitch McConnell Health Questions, Senate Replacement

Following weeks of silence and sparse updates regarding the health of 84-year-old Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear (D) sent a formal letter demanding the long-serving Republican senator publicly demonstrate his mental and physical capacity to carry out his duties or step down from office. Scrutiny intensified following reports of a 911 emergency call placed from McConnell's Washington home on June 14, in which dispatchers noted an unconscious individual undergoing CPR before the senator was transported to a hospital and subsequently transferred to a rehabilitation facility for extended physical therapy. With McConnell remaining absent from Capitol Hill for over six weeks and missing key votes, Beshear urged the senator to directly address Kentuckians verbally or have his staff provide transparent documentation regarding his cognitive and physical condition. The escalating confrontation highlights ongoing political tension over state succession statutes, transparency surrounding aging elected officials in Washington, and whether party aides and staff are masking severe medical incapacitation from voters.


Wisconsin Tornado Causes Extensive Damage and Cuts Power to Thousands

A tornado swept through northeastern Wisconsin on Monday, July 27, 2026, splintering homes, downing trees and power lines, and knocking out power to more than 30,000 people in areas including Appleton and Menasha in Winnebago and Outagamie counties. The National Weather Service confirmed the tornado via radar in Winnebago County, about 90 miles northwest of Milwaukee, with reports of twisted metal and wood debris on highways, heavily damaged warehouses, roofs and siding stripped from homes, overturned vehicles, and collapsed buildings. Officials, including Winnebago County Executive Gordon Hintz and Outagamie County Executive Tom Nelson, reported no known fatalities or injuries as searches continued, while the entire city of Menasha lost power due to a downed transmission line and opened a shelter; severe weather threats persisted into the afternoon with additional storms possible.

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Report Exposes Progressive Foundations Funding Children’s Charity Linked To Designated Terror Group

A new Network Contagion Research Institute report details how the Berkeley-based Middle East Children’s Alliance received millions from progressive donors including Open Society Foundations and entities tied to Neville Roy Singham. The charity disbursed about $35 million in foreign grants from fiscal 2017 to 2025, with some directed to groups having documented ties to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, a U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organization since 1997. Grant reporting grew opaque over time, often listing only generic “community projects.” Personnel overlaps and coalition ties further connect MECA to PFLP-affiliated networks. Foreign grants surged in recent years amid heightened pro-Palestinian activism.


Socialist Zohran Mamdani Promises City-Run Grocery Stores Will Undercut Private Supermarkets by 30 Percent

New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced a government-funded grocery initiative that promises municipal grocery stores will sell produce, meat, and dry goods at 30 percent below market rates. The proposal relies on taxpayer subsidies to offset operating losses, real estate procurement, and distribution logistics while positioning public storefronts to directly compete against private neighborhood grocers. Mamdani argued that state intervention is necessary to combat food deserts and elevated inflation, despite industry representatives warning that subsidized prices will squeeze razor-thin profit margins for local merchants and drive smaller family businesses out of neighborhood markets. Critics immediately raised questions about government inventory management and fiscal viability, noting that similar municipal retail experiments in other cities ran up severe operational deficits while struggling with distribution inefficiencies.


Illinois Liberal Judge Keeps Bench After Anti-ICE Post While Conservative Judge Fights Removal

Cook County Circuit Judge Cynthia Ramirez posted “F@ck ICE” and other critical comments about President Trump on Facebook yet remains on the juvenile court bench. Meanwhile, retired Judge James Brown, recalled to handle traffic cases and who cleared more than 1,000 of them, was removed by the Illinois Supreme Court without a hearing after bar groups objected to earlier private political comments. The Liberty Justice Center, representing Brown, has highlighted the differing treatment of the two judges under judicial conduct rules. A federal court has allowed Brown’s lawsuit challenging his removal to proceed.


New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill Refuses To Release Names Of 6,600 Noncitizens Registered To Vote

New Jersey Democrat Governor Mikie Sherrill announced she will not turn over the list of approximately 6,600 noncitizens who were registered to vote between June 2023 and June 2024 to the Trump administration. She cited concerns about private data and accused the federal government of weaponizing information against those who disagree. The state had blamed a software error by vendor IDEMIA, though the company stated the records accurately showed the individuals indicated they were not U.S. citizens yet still requested registration. Roughly 400 of those registered cast ballots, according to preliminary state analysis.


Michigan Senate Candidate Abdul El-Sayed’s Delayed Disclosure Lists Rental Properties In India And Dubai

Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed filed a delayed personal financial disclosure revealing rental properties owned by his wife in Bangalore, India, and Dubai, each valued between $100,001 and $250,000. The couple also jointly owns a rental property in Ann Arbor, Michigan, valued between $250,001 and $500,000. El-Sayed had requested an extension citing complicated overseas family assets and filed the day before the primary after criticism from opponent Rep. Haley Stevens. The disclosure covers the 2025 calendar year and shows combined income ranges from the properties.

🌐 International

Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Iraq Report Drone Attacks

Saudi Arabia’s defense ministry said Monday its air defenses intercepted and destroyed drones launched from Iraq by Iran-backed armed groups that targeted oil facilities in the Eastern Province and Riyadh. Jordan’s military reported shooting down two drones that entered its airspace with no casualties or damage. Iraqi security sources reported a series of drone attacks on camps housing Iranian opposition Kurdish forces in the north. The incidents occurred as the United States paused strikes on Iran. Yemen’s Houthis separately claimed attacks on Saudi oil infrastructure. Riyadh condemned the strikes and called on Iraq to prevent its territory from being used as a launchpad. Iraq’s prime minister ordered an investigation.


Houthis Claim Missile Strike On Saudi Oil Tanker In Red Sea Forcing Vessel To Turn Back

Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis announced late Tuesday they fired ballistic missiles at a Saudi oil tanker in the Red Sea. The group said the vessel violated their maritime blockade on Saudi shipping and ignored warning calls. Military spokesman Yahya Saree claimed the attack forced the tanker to turn back. The incident comes amid repeated Houthi threats against Saudi-linked vessels and follows earlier claimed strikes this month. Additional ships have diverted from planned Red Sea routes as a result. Saudi Arabia has condemned such attacks as illegal while independent confirmation of damage remains limited.


Secret Service Probes Iran-Linked Video Calling For Melania Trump Assassination

An IRGC-affiliated outlet, Tasnim News Agency, released a video on its Telegram channel titled “Where to Kill Melania?!” that includes suggestions for targeting First Lady Melania Trump and ends with a threat against Barron Trump. The U.S. Secret Service confirmed it is aware of the material and investigates any perceived threats to its protectees. The video surfaces amid heightened U.S.-Iran tensions and prior Iranian calls for harm against the Trump family. Officials have not publicly detailed any specific credible threat level.


Burka-Wearing Woman Awarded For Empowering Girls In Britain

Khadija Patel, who wears a full burka, received the British Citizen Award at the Palace of Westminster for founding the KRIMMZ Girls Youth Club in Bolton and empowering young women through sports such as archery, cricket, netball and cycling. Officials praised her for creating inclusive spaces that build confidence and break cultural barriers among hundreds of girls. The recognition comes despite the garment’s traditional association with female subordination in some interpretations of Islamic practice. Patel dedicated the People’s Honours award to her volunteers and community supporters.


Magnitude 7.1 Earthquake Strikes Southern Japan Causing Damage And Injuries

A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck the Kumamoto region on Japan’s southern Kyushu island on Tuesday, prompting a brief tsunami advisory that was later lifted. Officials reported dozens of injuries, power outages, damaged roads, bridges and buildings, along with fires. Part of an Aeon shopping mall collapsed, trapping people inside, with reports of deaths and ongoing rescue efforts. Japan’s prime minister activated a task force to assess damage and coordinate responses as aftershocks continued.

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Explanation of Approach
First, we used an AI “browse_page” tool to verify that the provided URLs load without 404 errors and extract a comprehensive, factual summary of their content, focusing on the key points and facts, devoid of opinion and editorialization. This forms the basis for the one-paragraph summary, written in a politically non-partisan voice without injecting personal opinion, while maintaining a formal, reportorial tone. We then identify at least three independent corroborating sources by employing an AI “web_search” tool with a targeted query that excludes prohibited outlets proven to be propagandistic. These were chosen as non-clustered (distinct outlets) and to ensure timeliness. This approach guarantees accuracy, up-to-date relevance, and precise adherence to non-partisan, fact-based reporting. All videos are used courtesy of the sources and per Fair Use laws.
]]><![CDATA[Underground USA Evening News Brief]]>https://www.undergroundusa.com/p/underground-usa-evening-news-brief-100https://www.undergroundusa.com/p/underground-usa-evening-news-brief-100Mon, 27 Jul 2026 22:30:22 GMT🎧 LISTEN TO THE HEADLINES ON THE SUBSTACK APP

Cash-Strapped DNC Puts Headquarters Up as Collateral for $15 Million Loan

The Democratic National Committee secured a $15 million line of credit by putting its Washington headquarters up as collateral. Federal records show the committee had about $16.3 million in cash on hand against more than $18.5 million in debts. The Republican National Committee reported far larger cash reserves with no debt. Officials said using the building as collateral is not new and has occurred in prior cycles. The DNC underwrote more than $20 million in residual debt from Kamala Harris’s 2024 campaign, a major contributor to the party’s ongoing money problems.

🏛️ News & Politics

Appeals Court Hands Trump Administration Setback on Mail-In Voting Order

The 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals declined to lift an injunction blocking key provisions of a Trump executive order on mail-in voting. The order sought to require citizenship verification and limit ballot delivery ahead of the midterms. U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani had ruled parts of the order unconstitutional after 23 Democratic states sued. The appeals court rejected the administration’s argument that the lawsuit was premature. The Justice Department may seek Supreme Court intervention.


ICE to Expedite Deportations of Haitians as Temporary Protected Status Ends

Immigration and Customs Enforcement plans to ramp up arrests and deportations of Haitian migrants as Temporary Protected Status expires. The Trump administration won a Supreme Court victory allowing the end of TPS for over 500,000 Haitians. Operations are set to begin as early as this week, including in places like Springfield, Ohio. DHS advised migrants that it is closing time and offered self-deportation incentives. Haiti remains in crisis with gang control in the capital.


Acting DNI Pulte Announces Fourth Round of Firings at Intelligence Office

Acting Director of National Intelligence Bill Pulte announced a fourth round of layoffs at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. Pulte said the moves carefully reduce the size of ODNI and refocus it on national security, the law, and its statute. Previous rounds included firing over 50 officials and sending dozens back to home agencies. The actions continue as the Senate prepares to confirm a permanent director. Pulte described the latest cuts as thoughtful and measured.


Education Department Repeals Disparate Impact Regulations on School Discipline

The U.S. Department of Education repealed disparate-impact provisions in its Title VI regulations. The rules had allowed federal action against school districts based on racial disparities in discipline rates even when policies were applied neutrally. Officials said the change aligns enforcement with the Supreme Court’s view that Title VI bans only intentional discrimination. Previous administrations used the regulations to pressure districts into reducing minority suspension rates. Critics argued the approach undermined classroom safety and order.


McConnell Out of Hospital but Not Medically Cleared to Return to Senate

Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) has been discharged from the hospital but remains in a rehabilitation facility after a fall at home in June. The Office of the Attending Physician said he is not yet medically cleared to leave rehab or return to the Senate. McConnell is undergoing multiple daily physical therapy sessions to rebuild strength. His childhood polio continues to affect his mobility. He has been absent from the chamber for over a month.

Editor’s Note: If you were upset about how Dianne Feinstein hung on at the end, you should be equally as upset with McConnell and his people.

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DNC Chairman Ken Martin Accused of Throwing Phone at Aide Amid Financial Strain

Democratic National Committee Chairman Ken Martin threw a phone onto a junior aide’s desk during a fit of frustration in early July. The incident prompted a formal human resources complaint. The outburst occurred as the DNC faces significant debt and has put its Capitol Hill headquarters up as collateral for a $15 million line of credit. The committee reported $16.3 million in cash on hand against higher debts. Martin has defended the party’s fundraising totals while dealing with internal pressures ahead of the midterms.


DSA Co-Chair Confirms Platform to Abolish ICE, Senate and Prisons

Democratic Socialists of America co-chair Megan Romer confirmed key platform positions during an appearance on FOX News Sunday. She said the group supports abolishing the Senate, ICE, borders, and prisons. Romer also backed defunding the Pentagon, mass amnesty for illegal immigrants, and public ownership of most large corporations. She described the Senate as an anachronistic institution meant to protect power. The positions were presented as long-term goals in response to inequality.


Mamdani Publishes Doxxes Wealthy Property Owners Subject to Second-Home Surcharge

The New York City Department of Finance released a searchable database containing the names and physical addresses of property owners who may face Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s newly enacted “pied-à-terre” tax. Covering non-primary residential properties valued above $1 million across the five boroughs, the public directory has sparked criticism over privacy concerns, with observers pointing out that City Hall has essentially exposed the personal details of affluent home buyers under the banner of municipal transparency. Mamdani took to social media to signal the crackdown, warning secondary property owners to check their mailboxes for official notification letters as the city works to extract additional revenue for public services. The targeted tax scheme, pushed through state budget negotiations with Governor Kathy Hochul, imposes an annual surcharge on unoccupied secondary residences to close city budget deficits. Although the administration insists the public directory serves administrative necessity, real estate advocates and privacy defenders argue that broadcasting individual names alongside high-value addresses puts a bullseye on property owners navigating vague city compliance guidelines.


Arizona State University Offers Bachelor’s Degree in Content Creation for Influencers

Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication is offering a Bachelor of Arts in Content Creation. The program is designed to prepare students to thrive as influencers in the creator economy. Students will learn content planning, video and podcast production, personal branding, and performance metrics analysis. A capstone requires growing an actual audience on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, or YouTube. Graduates are expected to leave with a digital following and published content.


Democrat Candidate Warns Christians “Feel Threatening” Amid Islamist Slaughter of Christians

Iowa Democrat congressional candidate and Lutheran minister Sarah Trone Garriott said in a 2023 speech that the conflation of faith and political power feels very threatening. She linked religion to political violence in public spaces. The remarks came as Islamist groups continue to kill thousands of Christians in Nigeria and elsewhere. Global Christian Relief has described Nigeria as an epicenter for the martyrdom of Christians. Garriott is running against US Rep. Zach Nunn (R-IA) in Iowa’s 3rd District.

🌐 International

Ukraine Strikes Iranian-Linked Vessels in Caspian Sea Supply Route to Russia

Ukrainian drones struck vessels in the Caspian Sea used to transport Iranian military cargo to Russia. President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed the operation targeted ships carrying ammunition and equipment. Iran said an Iranian commercial vessel was hit, killing one sailor and injuring another. Tehran summoned Ukraine’s diplomat and called the attack an act of aggression. The strikes mark the first time the Caspian has been drawn into the conflict as a logistics route between Tehran and Moscow.


Paris Knife Attacker Stabs Three Women and Claims Allah Commanded Him

A man attacked three women with kitchen knives on a sidewalk in northern Paris near Porte de Clichy on Monday. The victims were aged 19, 24 and 36, and one was pregnant. Two suffered severe wounds but are expected to survive. Bystanders tackled the attacker to the ground before an off-duty police officer detained him. While lying on the pavement, the man declared that Allah commanded him. French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said the motive remains unclear and the anti-terror prosecutor’s office is considering an investigation.


Somali Pirates Return Using Hijacked Cargo Tanker as Mothership

Somali pirates have resumed attacks off the Horn of Africa using a hijacked cargo ship as a mothership to launch raids on other vessels. The MV Sward cement carrier, seized earlier this year, has been used as a base. Pirates captured Iranian fishing boats and held multiple vessels off the Puntland coast for ransom. The resurgence coincides with naval forces stretched by the Iran conflict. A Tanzanian-flagged tanker was also reported held by the pirates.


Keiko Fujimori’s Conservative Party Wins Peru Senate Presidency Ahead of Inauguration

The conservative Popular Force party of Peru’s President-elect Keiko Fujimori secured the Senate presidency in alliance with the right-wing Popular Renewal party. Conservative Miguel Torres was elected Senate president with 30 votes out of 60. The vote came two days before Fujimori’s inauguration on July 28. No single party holds a majority in the newly restored bicameral Congress. The leadership selection aims to support the incoming conservative government after years of political instability.


Milei Enrages Brazil by Calling Government “Thieving Socialists”

Argentine President Javier Milei sparked a diplomatic row with Brazil after labeling its left-wing government “thieving socialists.” Speaking alongside former President Jair Bolsonaro in Sao Paulo, Milei also called Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva a “convict.” Brazil recalled its ambassador to Argentina for consultations in response. The comments came during a visit supporting conservative candidates ahead of Brazil’s elections. Ties between the libertarian Argentine leader and Brazil’s leftist government have been strained.

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Explanation of Approach
First, we used an AI “browse_page” tool to verify that the provided URLs load without 404 errors and extract a comprehensive, factual summary of their content, focusing on the key points and facts, devoid of opinion and editorialization. This forms the basis for the one-paragraph summary, written in a politically non-partisan voice without injecting personal opinion, while maintaining a formal, reportorial tone. We then identify at least three independent corroborating sources by employing an AI “web_search” tool with a targeted query that excludes prohibited outlets proven to be propagandistic. These were chosen as non-clustered (distinct outlets) and to ensure timeliness. This approach guarantees accuracy, up-to-date relevance, and precise adherence to non-partisan, fact-based reporting. All videos are used courtesy of the sources and per Fair Use laws.
]]><![CDATA[Underground USA Evening News Brief]]>https://www.undergroundusa.com/p/underground-usa-evening-news-brief-137https://www.undergroundusa.com/p/underground-usa-evening-news-brief-137Sun, 26 Jul 2026 22:30:17 GMT🎧 LISTEN TO THE HEADLINES ON THE SUBSTACK APP

Declassified Records Detail Chinese Blackmail Efforts Targeting Biden Family

Declassified intelligence records reference Chinese blackmail efforts believed to have targeted the Biden family. The materials were prepared for the president’s daily brief in connection with China’s 2020 election influence operations. The records and related intelligence on Chinese activities were largely overlooked by media outlets and intelligence agencies at the time. The revelations follow recent disclosures about China’s compromise of U.S. voter data systems. Prior investigations have documented financial ties between Biden family members and Chinese entities.

🏛️ News & Politics

Hundreds of Activists March in Madison for Man Shot After Pulling Knife on and Injuring Police

Hundreds of activists marched through Madison, Wisconsin, protesting the police shooting of Corey Ruiz. Ruiz, 38, was shot after pulling a knife during a confrontation with officers responding to reports of property crimes. One officer suffered a knife wound during the struggle. A Taser deployment failed before officers fired. Ruiz had at least 40 criminal convictions, including battery against a law enforcement officer and resisting arrest in 2023. He had recently been released from prison and absconded from supervised release. Activists called for defunding police during the march.

Editor’s Note: It appears the usual suspects, funded by the usual activist billionaires, have found their cause to riot about this summer.


75,000 Noncitizens Summoned for Jury Duty in New Jersey Each Year

Approximately 75,000 noncitizens are summoned for jury duty in New Jersey annually, according to judiciary figures. The state processes more than one million jury summonses using records from the Division of Elections, Division of Taxation and Motor Vehicle Commission. About 20% of respondents are disqualified for eligibility reasons, with one-quarter of those due to lack of U.S. citizenship. Officials say safeguards prevent noncitizens from serving. The disclosure coincides with revelations of noncitizens improperly added to voter rolls.


Peer-Reviewed Study Finds Abortion Drug Mifepristone in US Drinking Water

A peer-reviewed study published in Issues in Law & Medicine detected measurable levels of the abortion drug mifepristone in municipal tap water from Austin, Texas; Blacksburg, Virginia; and Carbondale, Illinois. Researchers found anti-progesterone activity consistent with the drug in eight of nine sampling categories, with concentrations up to 0.041 micrograms per liter. Conventional water treatment did not consistently remove the compound. The authors noted potential risks to aquatic animals and human fertility, pregnancy, and fetal development as an endocrine-disrupting substance. The study has been submitted to the EPA for review.


FBI Most Wanted COVID Fraud Fugitive Captured in Jamaica

Elaine Angene Escoe, a 41-year-old listed on the FBI’s Most Wanted Fraudsters list, was arrested in Jamaica while using a fake identity and returned to the United States. Prosecutors allege she helped fraudulently obtain more than $32 million in COVID-19 relief funds. She faces charges including conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering. Jamaican authorities captured her after a tip, and she failed to appear in court in 2025. FBI Director Kash Patel called it the fourth such capture in five weeks.


Hawaii Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke Indicted in State Corruption Probe

An Oahu grand jury indicted Hawaii Lt. Gov. Sylvia (D) Luke on charges of criminal conspiracy to commit bribery, bribery and falsifying candidate committee reports. Four others were also indicted, including former state Rep. Ryan Yamane (D), lobbyist Tobi Solidum, Ford Fuchigami and Leo Asuncion Jr. The case stems from alleged campaign contributions linked to a COVID-19 testing contract. Gov. Josh Green (D) called for Luke to resign. Bail was set for the defendants, with a no-bail warrant issued for Solidum.

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Minnesota Schools to Receive Transgender Dolls With Removable Genitalia

Minnesota public schools are set to receive MyGender Dolls featuring removable and swappable genitalia for use with children ages 4 to 10 this fall. The paper dolls were developed by researchers at the University of Minnesota Medical School over six years and funded by taxpayers. They include interchangeable clothing, accessories, and hairstyles. A project therapist said the goal is to help children learn about different options for who they can be. Prototypes were shown at a 2024 conference.


Harvard Reportedly Taps Former DHS Secretary Mayorkas for Resident Fellowship

Former Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas is expected to join Harvard University’s Institute of Politics as a resident fellow this fall. The appointment would involve mentoring undergraduates, leading study groups and holding office hours. Harvard has not denied the report and stated the institute will announce its full bipartisan slate of fellows later this summer. Mayorkas would join other former Biden administration officials who have held similar roles at the institute.


Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation Fires Attorney Over Anti-ICE Tirade

The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation terminated staff attorney Shannon Desherow after an internal investigation into her social media video. In the TikTok, Desherow urged resistance to ICE agents and said citizens should make their lives miserable. She claimed ICE has no authority over U.S. citizens. An OSBI spokesperson confirmed the firing as a personnel matter. Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond distanced the state from her comments.


Media Criticizes Trump’s Correspondents Dinner Jokes After Years of Hitler Comparisons

Journalists who have previously compared President Donald Trump to Hitler and labeled him authoritarian complained that his jokes at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner were mean-spirited. Trump delivered a speech at the rescheduled event that included insults directed at reporters and political opponents. Coverage described the remarks as rambling and insult-filled. The dinner had been postponed earlier due to a security incident. Media outlets highlighted the tone of the president’s performance.


Tucson Gunman Who Injured Nine Was on Probation After Felony Conviction

A 21-year-old man accused of wounding nine people in a Tucson shooting was on probation following a prior felony conviction. David Leroy French allegedly opened fire during an argument early Sunday morning. He had previously pleaded guilty to aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after pointing a rifle at a car wash employee in 2024. Pima County Attorney Laura Conover’s office dropped a dangerous-offense allegation, resulting in four years of probation instead of prison. French was shot by police and faces multiple aggravated assault charges.

🌐 International

NATO Intern Arrested in Belgium on Espionage Charges

A Canadian woman of Chinese origin who worked as an intern at NATO’s Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe in Belgium has been arrested on spying charges. Belgian prosecutors said she is suspected of spying on behalf of a third country and membership in a criminal organization. The suspect came to the attention of SHAPE security services, who reported her to Belgian intelligence. Investigators searched her home and workplace. NATO said there was no indication that operational readiness was affected.


Iran Reports Progress in Oman Talks on Strait of Hormuz as US Navy Provides Safe Passage

Iran said Sunday it made progress in talks with Oman on managing the Strait of Hormuz. Foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei noted negotiations between Iranian and Omani deputy foreign ministers occurred in Tehran on Friday and Saturday. The discussions focused on common principles and operational mechanisms for safe shipping passage while respecting sovereign rights. Baqaei described the talks as useful, with consultations continuing. Shipping traffic through the strait remains unchanged, according to Iran. The US Navy has been tasked with protecting safe passage through the waterway except for Iranian ships.


Islamic State Suspect Killed by Police After Deadly Berlin LGBTQ+ Gathering Car Attack

A 21-year-old German citizen with Lebanese roots, identified as Abdul Ballout, was shot dead by police after a manhunt following a car-ramming attack near Berlin’s LGBTQ+ parade. The attack on Saturday night killed one person and injured at least 29 others. Authorities said Ballout, known for Islamist ties and a prior attempt to join Islamic State, drove a van into a crowd and used a bladed weapon. Special forces located him in a garden shed in Berlin-Spandau on Sunday. Officials described the incident as an Islamist terrorist attack.


Two Drones Shot Down Over Romanian NATO Airspace in Less Than 24 Hours

Romanian and NATO forces shot down two drones that entered the country’s airspace near the Ukrainian border. On Friday, Italian Eurofighter Typhoons and Romanian F-16s engaged one drone over an unpopulated area. On Saturday, Romanian F-16s scrambled and downed a second drone. Defense officials indicated the pattern is consistent with previous Russian drone flights. The incidents mark increased spillover from the Ukraine conflict into NATO territory.


France Orders Largest Peacetime Evacuation Since WWII Amid Wildfires

France has ordered the evacuation of more than 220,000 people in the Gironde region near Bordeaux due to fast-moving wildfires. The operation is the country’s largest peacetime evacuation since World War II. Roughly 30 fires are burning, with 1,500 troops mobilized. Extreme heat and strong winds are fueling the blazes across southwestern France and into Spain, where additional tens of thousands have been affected. No rain is forecast in the fire zones.

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Explanation of Approach
First, we used an AI “browse_page” tool to verify that the provided URLs load without 404 errors and extract a comprehensive, factual summary of their content, focusing on the key points and facts, devoid of opinion and editorialization. This forms the basis for the one-paragraph summary, written in a politically non-partisan voice without injecting personal opinion, while maintaining a formal, reportorial tone. We then identify at least three independent corroborating sources by employing an AI “web_search” tool with a targeted query that excludes prohibited outlets proven to be propagandistic. These were chosen as non-clustered (distinct outlets) and to ensure timeliness. This approach guarantees accuracy, up-to-date relevance, and precise adherence to non-partisan, fact-based reporting. All videos are used courtesy of the sources and per Fair Use laws.
]]><![CDATA[Underground USA Evening News Brief]]>https://www.undergroundusa.com/p/underground-usa-evening-news-brief-dfchttps://www.undergroundusa.com/p/underground-usa-evening-news-brief-dfcSat, 25 Jul 2026 22:31:15 GMT🎧 LISTEN TO THE HEADLINES ON THE SUBSTACK APP

GAO Report Highlights Fraud Risks in $1.1 Trillion of State-Administered Federal Programs

The Government Accountability Office reported that 20 major federally funded programs administered by states, totaling about $1.1 trillion, face elevated fraud risks due to multiple layers of distribution. The agency estimates annual federal losses to fraud between $233 billion and $521 billion. Most of the reviewed programs lack complete documented fraud risk assessments. GAO noted 22 open recommendations for better prevention measures. House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer said the findings support pending legislation to combat waste and abuse.

🏛️ News & Politics

Trump Administration Implements New Immigration Fees to Self-Fund Enforcement

The Trump administration has begun rolling out new immigration fees required by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. These include a $100 charge to apply for asylum and annual fees for pending cases. The fees apply to various forms and are designed to fund stricter enforcement without relying on taxpayers. Failure to pay can result in rejection of applications. Officials present the measures as a way to deter abuse and make the system self-sustaining.


9/11 Families Petition to Bar NYC Mayor From Ground Zero Anniversary

Families of September 11 victims have launched a petition seeking to prevent New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani from attending the 25th anniversary ceremony at Ground Zero. The effort has gathered more than 1,100 signatures, including those from at least 300 relatives. Petitioners cite Mamdani’s associations with figures linked to radical Islam and his responses to certain rhetoric. They argue his presence would conflict with the solemn purpose of the event. Organizers of the National September 11 Memorial & Museum have been asked to consider the request.


Federal Panel Allows Tennessee Map Giving Republicans All Nine House Seats

A three-judge federal panel declined to block Tennessee’s newly redrawn congressional map from taking effect for the 2026 midterms. The judges found plaintiffs unlikely to prove that race rather than politics motivated the boundaries. The map splits Memphis into multiple districts and is poised to deliver a 9-0 Republican advantage. Lawmakers redrew the lines after a Supreme Court ruling limited the use of race in redistricting. Early voting is already underway under the new districts while the broader case continues.


DHS Issues $84 Billion in Fines to Over 100,000 Illegal Immigrants Refusing Removal

The Department of Homeland Security has issued approximately 103,000 civil fines totaling $84 billion to illegal immigrants subject to final removal orders who have not left the country. The agency has collected more than $1 billion in payments. Fines accrue daily for those remaining after being ordered to depart. The effort aims to encourage voluntary exits amid the administration’s deportation priorities. A DHS official confirmed the figures.


Federal Appeals Court Sides With Worker Fired Over COVID Vaccine Religious Exemption

A federal appeals court ruled in favor of Mimi Weiss, a longtime Kaiser Permanente employee fired after her religious exemption from the COVID-19 vaccine mandate was revoked. Weiss worked remotely and initially received approval before the company questioned her faith and medical history. The Ninth Circuit rejected Kaiser’s argument that she failed to adequately explain her objection. The court also ruled on her state privacy claims. Weiss had worked for the company for more than two decades.

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Former Democrat Operative Details Anti-White Bias in Party Book

Former Democratic operative Evan Barker’s forthcoming memoir “Nothing Left: Confessions of a Democratic Operative” describes systemic discrimination against white people within the party. Barker says she discarded resumes from white men during hiring and faced pressure not to hire them. She recounts associates routinely vilifying whiteness and maleness. The book is set for release next week and draws from her experience raising tens of millions for Democrat causes before leaving the party. Barker has discussed the claims in recent interviews.


Trump Orders Warning Signs at Smithsonian History Museum

President Donald Trump issued an executive order directing temporary signs outside the National Museum of American History. The signs will inform visitors that some exhibits contain inaccurate information according to a White House report. The report accused the museum of advancing social justice ideas over an honest account of American history. The Interior Department is instructed to place the signage on National Park Service walkways. The order also calls for efforts to correct identified issues at the Smithsonian.


Pentagon Suspends Official Caught Criticizing Trump on Hidden Camera

Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao confirmed the suspension of Brandon Newsom, Director of Business Operations, after a hidden camera recording by James O’Keefe. In the footage, Newsom called President Trump a narcissist and criticized the Iran conflict. He also expressed plans to reverse administration policies after Trump leaves office. Cao described the statements as inappropriate and incompatible with department standards. Newsom was placed on administrative leave pending further review.


Ilhan Omar Sister’s Firm Linked to Feeding Our Future Address

Sahra Noor, sister of Rep. Ilhan Omar, incorporated her consulting firm Grit Partners at a Minnesota home address connected to figures in the Feeding Our Future fraud case. The firm claims to have secured more than $20 million for health initiatives involving USAID and other agencies. Public records link the address to individuals convicted in the scheme that stole hundreds of millions in child nutrition funds. Neither Noor nor her firm has been charged in the fraud. The connections have prompted questions amid ongoing scrutiny of Omar’s ties to the scandal.


Long Island Residents Oppose Muslim Boarding School at Former Seminary

Residents in Bay Shore on Long Island are opposing plans to convert a former Catholic seminary into an all-boys Muslim boarding school with a mosque. The United American Muslim Association purchased the 13-acre property for about $5 million. Locals packed a five-hour zoning board meeting citing concerns over traffic, noise, and neighborhood character. Opponents argue the boarding dorm exceeds residential zoning rules. The Town of Islip Zoning Board of Appeals has not yet issued a decision.

Editor’s Note: This story is significant because it represents a distinct pattern of Muslims co-opting former and existing Christian and Catholic churches and buildings to erect Mosques and Islamic cultural centers.

🌐 International

Houthis Strike Saudi Oil Sites as US Pauses Iran Campaign

Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis fired missiles at Saudi oil installations in Jizan and Yanbu on Saturday. Saudi-backed forces responded with strikes on Houthi positions, including in Hodeidah. The attacks come as the United States paused its overnight bombing campaign against Iran after nearly two weeks of consecutive strikes. Video showed smoke rising near an Aramco facility in Jizan. The clashes risk further disruption to Red Sea shipping and global oil supplies already strained by the broader conflict.


Trump Signals Possible Escalation Against Iran Over Hardliner Resistance

President Donald Trump indicated he is considering intensifying military operations against Iran after a ceasefire breakdown. He stated Iran is not yet ready for a deal and needs more pressure. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Iranian leaders often break or alter agreements. U.S. forces have conducted ongoing strikes, and Trump mentioned a potential massive attack. Republican lawmakers expressed support for completing the campaign against Iran’s nuclear capabilities and proxies.


US Sanctions UK-Based Muslim Brotherhood Leader Over Hamas Ties

The United States sanctioned Mahmoud al-Abyari, a UK-based senior Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood official, along with six other individuals and entities for providing material support to Hamas. The Treasury Department said al-Abyari helped raise funds for previously sanctioned organizations linked to the terrorist group. The measures freeze U.S. assets and expose foreign institutions to secondary sanctions. Officials described the action as part of efforts to dismantle financial networks sustaining Hamas and Muslim Brotherhood affiliates. The designation builds on earlier steps targeting related groups.

US Treasury Dept, The Telegraph


Costa Rica Captures Most-Wanted Drug Fugitive Diablo After Firefight

Costa Rican authorities arrested Alejandro Arias, known as Diablo, after an hourlong armed confrontation in the Sarapiqui region. The 41-year-old had been a fugitive for nearly a decade and was sought by the United States on drug-trafficking charges. One associate was killed, and eight officers were wounded during the operation. Authorities seized high-caliber rifles, handguns, and drones. Officials linked Arias to a cocaine network moving drugs through Central America toward the United States.


Documents Show US-Funded UN Agency Worked With Hamas in Gaza

Documents obtained by NGO Monitor indicate the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs cooperated with Hamas-linked Palestinian Ministry of Social Development on Gaza aid from at least 2021 to 2025. The records show Hamas reviewing surveys, approving field operations, and influencing beneficiary lists. OCHA rejected claims of cooperation benefiting the group and cited strict humanitarian principles. The State Department has provided billions in funding to the agency with promises of better oversight. NGO Monitor called for an audit of OCHA activities in Gaza.

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Explanation of Approach
First, we used an AI “browse_page” tool to verify that the provided URLs load without 404 errors and extract a comprehensive, factual summary of their content, focusing on the key points and facts, devoid of opinion and editorialization. This forms the basis for the one-paragraph summary, written in a politically non-partisan voice without injecting personal opinion, while maintaining a formal, reportorial tone. We then identify at least three independent corroborating sources by employing an AI “web_search” tool with a targeted query that excludes prohibited outlets proven to be propagandistic. These were chosen as non-clustered (distinct outlets) and to ensure timeliness. This approach guarantees accuracy, up-to-date relevance, and precise adherence to non-partisan, fact-based reporting. All videos are used courtesy of the sources and per Fair Use laws.
]]><![CDATA[Underground USA Evening News Brief]]>https://www.undergroundusa.com/p/underground-usa-evening-news-brief-89ehttps://www.undergroundusa.com/p/underground-usa-evening-news-brief-89eFri, 24 Jul 2026 22:30:20 GMT🎧 LISTEN TO THE HEADLINES ON THE SUBSTACK APP

Lawmakers Draft Bill Classifying Birth Tourists as Invaders to Limit Citizenship

Texas Rep. Brandon Gill (R-TX) and Indiana Sen. Jim Banks (R-IN) introduced the Citizenship Act to declare that individuals who enter the United States without authorization or for birth tourism are invaders. The legislation would amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to exclude children of such individuals from birthright citizenship. It follows a Supreme Court ruling that struck down an executive order on the issue while noting Congress could adjust eligibility by statute. Banks described the measure as essential to American sovereignty after the court decision. The bill aims to address so-called anchor babies and birth tourism practices.

🏛️ News & Politics

Federal Judge Blocks New Hampshire Proof of Citizenship Voting Law

A Biden-appointed federal judge has blocked New Hampshire from enforcing a 2024 law requiring proof of citizenship for voter registration. U.S. District Judge Samantha Elliott ruled the measure imposes an unjustifiable burden on the right to vote in violation of the First and Fourteenth Amendments. The law was challenged by groups including the New Hampshire Youth Movement. Elliott denied a request to stay the ruling pending the state’s appeal to the First Circuit. The decision comes as similar citizenship verification requirements face national debate.


Alaska Moves Over 3,000 Voters to Inactive Status Over Citizenship Checks

Alaska election officials sent 3,048 letters to registered voters asking them to verify their U.S. citizenship ahead of the Aug. 18 primary. The recipients were placed on inactive status but can still cast provisional ballots if they do not respond. Division of Elections Director Carol Beecher said the high number appears linked to outdated data from a comparison with Division of Motor Vehicles records. Normal maintenance typically flags about 200 names. Some lawmakers raised concerns that the list includes U.S. citizens.

Editor’s Note: I don’t know of one US citizen who would be upset about having their citizenship checked for the purpose of voting.


Democrats View AOC as Party Leader After New Hampshire Poll Lead

Congressional Democrats say Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (DS-NY) has emerged as an ideological leader in the party following a University of New Hampshire poll. The survey showed her with 22 percent support among likely Democrat primary voters for 2028, narrowly ahead of Pete Buttigieg at 21 percent. Lawmakers including Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA) expressed openness to her as a viable candidate while others noted it remains early. Ocasio-Cortez declined to commit to a run and focused on the midterms. Sen. Bernie Sanders (S-VT) called her one of the great progressive leaders inspiring young people.


Democrats Select South Carolina for First 2028 Presidential Primary

The Democrat National Committee’s Rules and Bylaws Committee voted Friday to place South Carolina first on the 2028 presidential nominating calendar. The state received 26 votes to secure the leadoff position over Nevada with 18 and New Hampshire with four. Party leaders cited the importance of Black voters and Southern engagement in the decision. The full Democrat National Committee must still approve the calendar later this summer. Other early window states are expected to include Michigan, Nevada, and New Hampshire. The move continues South Carolina’s elevated role first established for the 2024 cycle.

Editor’s Note: Isn’t using race as a determiner in and of itself racist?


Chicago Mayor Pushes Referendum for Federal Compensation Over ICE Operations

Chicago City Council approved a referendum for the November ballot asking voters if the city should seek financial compensation from the federal government for costs tied to ICE enforcement actions. Mayor Brandon Johnson proposed the measure, citing Operation Midway Blitz, which resulted in more than 800 arrests, including individuals with serious criminal records. Johnson described the operations as disruptive to businesses and families and referenced plans for reparations to affected residents. The nonbinding question focuses on recovering lost tax revenue, public safety costs, and related expenses. Chicago remains a sanctuary city that has opposed federal immigration policies.

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Minnesota Jury Finds Shiloh Hendrix Guilty of One Disorderly Conduct Charge

A Minnesota jury found Shiloh Hendrix guilty of one count of disorderly conduct related to a 2025 playground confrontation in Rochester. The panel acquitted her on the charge involving an autistic Somali child but convicted her on the count involving the man who filmed the incident after an older child attempted to take property from her young child’s diaper bag. Hendrix’s attorney argued the case involved protected free speech even if some found the language offensive and announced plans to appeal. Judge Christa M. Daily sentenced her to a stayed 90-day jail term, supervised probation, 200 hours of community service and a $1,000 fine. The case stemmed from a viral video of the April 2025 encounter.

The Minneapolis Star-Tribune, The Post Millennial


Jeffries Plays the Race Card, Alleges Voter Suppression After Louisiana Lawmaker Retires

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries alleged voter suppression following the retirement of Louisiana Rep. Cleo Fields. Fields announced he will not seek reelection after Republicans redrew his district following a Supreme Court ruling that struck down a previous map as an unconstitutional racial gerrymander. Jeffries said Republicans targeted the district to deny equal representation to Black Louisianans. Fields plans to run for a state Senate seat instead.


Massachusetts Nonprofit Discriminated Against White Children, Offers Higher Pay to BIPOC Youth for Photoshoot

A Framingham LGBTQ youth nonprofit listed among state resources under Gov. Maura Healey advertised race-based pay rates for an August marketing photoshoot. OUT MetroWest stated white youth would receive $20 while BIPOC youth would receive $25 as a commitment to racial equity. The event seeks 20 participants ages pre-K through 29 for images used in social media fundraising and campaigns. The group has received past video endorsement from Healey when she served as attorney general. Massachusetts and federal laws prohibit race-based pay discrimination for employers meeting certain thresholds, though the status of photoshoot participants remains a point of analysis.


Ilhan Omar Office Located in Somali Center That Received Fraud-Linked Donations

Rep. Ilhan Omar’s Minneapolis district office is housed inside the Sabathani Community Center. Omar redirected $5,400 in 2022 campaign contributions from two donors later convicted in the Feeding Our Future fraud scheme to the center and other food pantries. The donors, Ahmed Abdullahi Ghedi and Abdihakim Ali Ahmed, pleaded guilty to wire fraud and money laundering after stealing millions in child nutrition funds. Omar has paid the center over $46,700 in rental fees since moving her office there in 2023.


Jewish Leaders Demand Hate Crime Charges After Upper West Side Stabbings

New York City Jewish leaders called for hate crime prosecution following the stabbing of two men on the Upper West Side. Suspect Raul Morales allegedly yelled “Allahu Akbar” during attacks on an Asian man and a Jewish man wearing a yarmulke near Central Park. UJA-Federation of New York CEO Eric Goldstein urged Mayor Zohran Mamdani to stop fanning the flames of hatred and division. Jewish Community Relations Council CEO Mark Treyger said the district attorney should prosecute the case fully. Police are investigating the incidents as potential hate crimes while noting mental health may have been a factor. Both victims were reported in stable condition.

🌐 International

US Conducts 13th Night of Strikes on Iran as Tehran Rejects Ceasefire

The U.S. military launched a 13th consecutive night of strikes on Iranian military targets, including headquarters, drone facilities, and naval sites. CENTCOM said the operations aimed to diminish threats to commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran rejected a ceasefire proposal from President Donald Trump delivered by the Iraqi prime minister. Iranian officials warned of broader escalation, including potential attacks on Tel Aviv, if the U.S. expands strikes on vital infrastructure. Trump indicated he was considering a larger attack and stated Israeli forces could join if requested. Explosions were reported in several Iranian cities amid ongoing regional tensions.


Trump Imposes New Tariffs on 60 Countries Over Forced Labor Practices

President Donald Trump is implementing new Section 301 tariffs on imports from 60 countries after a temporary global tariff measure expires. The rates are set at 10 percent for nations with forced labor laws deemed insufficiently enforced and 12.5 percent for those without such laws. U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer directed the action following investigations into trading partners’ failure to ban goods produced with forced labor. Officials said the tariffs will not stack with existing duties on steel and aluminum. The administration is negotiating potential carve-outs for critical products while emphasizing protection of American workers and reduction of the trade deficit.


Haiti Gang Violence Displaces Millions as Children Recruited Into Crime

Armed gangs control approximately 85 percent of the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area and continue expanding into other regions of Haiti. The United Nations reports more than 1.47 million people displaced by violence, with over 2,300 killed since the start of 2026. U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz briefed the Security Council after visiting the country and described brutal attacks, including the public execution of a volunteer and the grooming of children for violence. Children may comprise up to half of some gang memberships according to U.N. estimates. International forces have made limited gains in reclaiming territory, but officials stress that security operations alone cannot resolve the crisis.


Nicaragua’s Puppet Parliament Moves to Abolish Elections After Ortega Declaration

Nicaragua’s parliament is advancing plans to abolish elections following President Daniel Ortega’s announcement that there will be no more votes in the country. Lawmakers said the step will ensure peace, security, and stability while keeping Ortega and co-President Rosario Murillo in power. Ortega made the declaration during a speech commemorating the Sandinista revolution, targeting opposition he linked to foreign influence. The National Assembly has previously expanded presidential authority through constitutional changes. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the U.N. high commissioner for human rights condemned the move as authoritarian.

Legal Insurrection, FOX News


Wildfires Force 20,000 to Evacuate in Southwest France Near Bordeaux

Fast-moving wildfires in southwest France have forced more than 20,000 residents and holidaymakers to flee areas west of Bordeaux. Around 800 firefighters, along with gendarmes and soldiers, are battling flames that have scorched 3,400 hectares of pine forest. The blaze began near Saumos and spread toward Lege-Cap-Ferret, with flames reaching 10 meters high. Officials said a brush-clearing machine may have started the fire. Three houses were damaged and a caravan destroyed, but no casualties were reported. The European Union deployed water-bombing aircraft to assist as high temperatures and winds complicated efforts.

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Explanation of Approach
First, we used an AI “browse_page” tool to verify that the provided URLs load without 404 errors and extract a comprehensive, factual summary of their content, focusing on the key points and facts, devoid of opinion and editorialization. This forms the basis for the one-paragraph summary, written in a politically non-partisan voice without injecting personal opinion, while maintaining a formal, reportorial tone. We then identify at least three independent corroborating sources by employing an AI “web_search” tool with a targeted query that excludes prohibited outlets proven to be propagandistic. These were chosen as non-clustered (distinct outlets) and to ensure timeliness. This approach guarantees accuracy, up-to-date relevance, and precise adherence to non-partisan, fact-based reporting. All videos are used courtesy of the sources and per Fair Use laws.
]]><![CDATA[Underground USA Evening News Brief]]>https://www.undergroundusa.com/p/underground-usa-evening-news-brief-805https://www.undergroundusa.com/p/underground-usa-evening-news-brief-805Thu, 23 Jul 2026 22:31:29 GMT🎧 LISTEN TO THE HEADLINES ON THE SUBSTACK APP

Multiple States Found With Thousands of Non-Citizens on Voter Rolls Beyond New Jersey

New Jersey officials disclosed a software error that registered about 6,600 non-citizens to vote between 2023 and 2024, with roughly 400 casting ballots. The Department of Homeland Security identified far higher potential numbers, including 35,152 in New Jersey, 190,832 in California, 15,903 in Nevada, and 14,576 in Pennsylvania. Several other states, including Oregon, Pennsylvania, Illinois, California, Vermont, and Nevada, previously reported non-citizen registrations through motor vehicle automatic systems due to data or processing errors. Many states do not use the federal SAVE verification system for citizenship checks. Officials and the administration have cited these findings in calls for stronger voter roll maintenance and the SAVE America Act.

🏛️ News & Politics

Senate Rejects Iran War Powers Resolution After House Passage

The U.S. Senate on Thursday blocked a Democratic-led war powers resolution seeking to restrain President Donald Trump’s military actions in Iran by a 47-49 vote. Republican Sen. Susan Collins joined Democrats in support while Democratic Sen. John Fetterman opposed the measure. Sens. Rand Paul and Lisa Murkowski did not vote. The Senate action followed the House’s earlier 214-208 approval of a similar resolution where four Republicans sided with Democrats. The measures are largely symbolic and aim to require congressional authorization for continued hostilities. U.S. forces have conducted multiple nights of strikes amid ongoing conflict that has resulted in American casualties.


House Passes Stock Trading Restrictions With Voter ID Provision

The House of Representatives passed the Stop Insider Trading Act by a 232-198 vote on Wednesday. The measure, sponsored by House Administration Committee Chair Bryan Steil (R-WI), prohibits members of Congress, their spouses, and dependent children from purchasing new individual stocks. Existing holdings may be retained but require public notice at least seven days before any sale. Republicans attached a photo identification requirement for voting that draws from the SAVE America Act. Thirteen Democrats joined all Republicans in support. Critics, including the Congressional Black Caucus, called the bill insufficient for lacking broader reforms or coverage of the executive branch. The legislation now moves to the Senate.


New Jersey Joins Flawed ERIC System Allowing Non-Citizen Voter Registrations

New Jersey joined the Electronic Registration Information Center in 2022 to maintain voter rolls, yet its agreement bars reporting non-citizen status. The state does not use the federal SAVE system for citizenship verification, unlike 26 other states. A software error at the Motor Vehicle Commission improperly registered about 6,600 non-citizens as voters between June 2023 and June 2024 after they indicated non-citizen status during driver’s license applications. Roughly 400 of those individuals cast ballots in at least one election. ERIC bylaws prevent sharing non-citizen data with the system. SAVE enhancements under the prior administration enabled bulk processing and broader data checks at no cost, yet face ongoing legal challenges from activist groups.


Fifth Circuit Stays Lower Court Orders on Illegal Alien Detention

The full U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit issued a published order staying three district court rulings that required bond hearings or release for illegal aliens in removal proceedings. The unanimous decision blocks the release of three individuals who entered the country unlawfully and allows the Trump administration to maintain mandatory detention policies pending en banc review. A prior divided panel had ruled in favor of bond hearings after 90 days on due process grounds, creating tension with earlier circuit precedent. The order grants the government’s motion and expedites the case with a hearing set for September. Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate noted the ruling affirms that illegal aliens lack a constitutional right to remain free during deportation processes. This reinforces prior Fifth Circuit support for detention authority under federal immigration law for those who entered without inspection.


Three Airports Opt for Privatized TSA Screening Under Gold+ Program

Tampa International Airport, Charleston International Airport and Des Moines International Airport have joined the TSA’s new Gold+ privatized screening program. The initiative expands the existing Screening Partnership Program by allowing private contractors to own and manage screening technology in addition to staffing. Transitions are expected next year, with Des Moines citing improved technology for its new terminal. The TSA retains regulatory oversight while current officers may transfer to the private firm or seek other federal roles. The American Federation of Government Employees opposes the shift, arguing it risks lower pay, higher turnover, and reduced security standards. The program aligns with administration preferences for greater privatization following recent government shutdown disruptions.

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D.C. Judge Boasberg Faces Scrutiny for Repeated Dismissal of Pro-Life Free Speech Claims

Chief U.S. District Judge James Boasberg of Washington, D.C. has again dismissed claims by pro-life groups seeking a jury trial over alleged selective enforcement of graffiti laws. The groups were arrested in 2020 for chalking “Black Pre-Born Lives Matter” on a sidewalk while Black Lives Matter messages went unpunished. The D.C. Circuit previously reversed Boasberg for applying the wrong legal standard in the free speech challenge. Boasberg then dismissed the case a second time, finding the groups were not similarly situated. Plaintiffs have appealed once more. Legal observers note a pattern of expansive judicial rulings by the chief judge that have drawn reversals, including in other high-profile matters.


Michigan Widow Shocked by $150K in ActBlue Donations Listed Under Her Name

An 88-year-old Michigan widow living in a trailer on a modest pension was listed in Federal Election Commission records as making nearly 15,000 donations totaling about $150,000 to Democratic causes through ActBlue over five years. The records show an average of about eight donations per day, including dozens to Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed. Elizabeth Waffle confirmed making a few small legitimate contributions but said the volume and total were impossible given her limited resources and lack of a computer. Journalist Charlie LeDuff reported the findings after reviewing the data with her. ActBlue faces ongoing scrutiny over donor verification practices amid broader investigations into potential irregularities.


Post-Grads With Low Incomes Form Core of DSA Support

Democratic Socialists of America membership draws heavily from individuals with postgraduate degrees who report household incomes between $30,000 and $60,000. Surveys of DSA members indicate about 80 percent aged 25 and older hold bachelor’s degrees or higher, with 45 percent in households below the $60,000 income threshold. This combination stands out because education and income typically correlate positively across the population. Many pursue adjunct teaching positions or entry-level nonprofit roles while voicing complaints about living costs in expensive urban areas. Some hail from more comfortable family backgrounds yet adopt lifestyles that emphasize financial strain, while others encounter student debt burdens and disappointing job outcomes after completing degrees in fields with limited economic return.


Newsom Claims California Serves as Global Model for Fire Management

California Gov. Gavin Newsom stated that the state is a model for others on fire management, with visitors from across the United States and around the globe examining its approaches. He highlighted investments in artificial intelligence cameras, drones, satellites, and predictive technologies during a recent event at Sacramento McClellan Airport. The administration points to expanded fire protection budgets nearly doubling under his tenure, along with increased personnel and aerial resources. Officials noted early detection systems including AI-enabled mountaintop cameras and new satellite programs. The remarks come amid ongoing wildfire seasons and prior challenges with water availability and response efforts in the state.


Washington Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Support ISIS

A 21-year-old Kent, Washington, man pleaded guilty Wednesday to conspiring to provide material support to ISIS. Saed Ali Mirreh admitted planning to travel from Seattle to Turkey and then Syria to join the group as a fighter. He was arrested in November 2025 at his home shortly before a planned departure. Communications with co-conspirators included discussions of jihad, physical training, firearms, and explosive devices. The case linked to an alleged ISIS-inspired plot in Michigan. Sentencing is set for October with a possible maximum of 20 years in prison.

🌐 International

Trump Ties Saudi Nuclear Deal to Abraham Accords Membership

President Donald Trump stated that a newly signed civil nuclear cooperation agreement between the United States and Saudi Arabia is contingent on the kingdom joining the Abraham Accords. The deal signed Wednesday involves nonmilitary nuclear technology with no enrichment of material allowed, according to Trump. Energy Secretary Chris Wright described it as upholding nuclear safety, security, and nonproliferation standards while expanding U.S. industry access and jobs. The agreement has been sent to Congress for review. Some Israeli figures expressed concerns over potential proliferation risks in the region. Saudi Arabia has not yet normalized relations with Israel under the Accords brokered during Trump’s first term.


Houthis Strike Saudi Tankers in Red Sea Amid Iran-Backed Escalation

Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for attacks on two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea on Wednesday. The group declared a maritime embargo against Saudi Arabia days earlier in retaliation for perceived actions against Yemen. One tanker suffered a hit from an unknown projectile off the Saudi coast, resulting in a fire with no reported casualties. This follows Houthi threats to block the Bab el-Mandeb strait, which serves as an alternative route for Saudi oil exports bypassing the Strait of Hormuz. Several tankers carrying Saudi crude reversed course to avoid the area, adding pressure on global shipping and energy supplies. The incidents coincide with ongoing Iranian actions targeting vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and U.S. responses in the region.


Iran Denies Nuclear Work At Pickaxe Mountain Amid Fresh Threats To Gulf Allies

Iran rejected U.S. claims of nuclear activity at Pickaxe Mountain as a fabricated pretext for aggression. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned that any strike on Iranian bridges or power plants would prompt retaliation against energy infrastructure serving U.S. allies in the Gulf. Iranian forces claimed new attacks on U.S.-linked targets in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Jordan. President Trump has vowed to destroy a bridge or power plant for each Iranian strike on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and indicated plans to hit the mountain site heavily. Oil prices rose on the renewed tensions and threats to disrupt Gulf energy flows.


German State Bars AfD Candidates From Local Elections Over Constitution Doubts

Local election boards in Lower Saxony have begun excluding Alternative for Germany candidates from September municipal races. Authorities cite doubts about constitutional loyalty under new rules that allow reviews based on intelligence service classifications. AfD Bundestag member Martin Sichert was barred from a county board race in Friesland by a 5-1 vote. Another candidate, Reinhild Goes, was denied a mayoral bid in Nörten-Hardenberg. The AfD calls the moves a backdoor ban while officials reference the party’s classification as far-right. Multiple other AfD applicants face similar scrutiny ahead of the vote.


EU Hits Google With Nearly 1 Billion Euro Fine Under Digital Markets Act

The European Commission fined Google 890 million euros on Thursday for violations of the Digital Markets Act. One fine of 460 million euros addressed self-preferencing of Google’s own services such as flights and hotels in search results. A second fine of 430 million euros covered restrictions preventing app developers from directing users to offers outside the Google Play Store. EU officials stated the measures aim to boost competition and innovation. Google criticized the decision as forcing product degradation and removal of safety features. The company has 60 days to comply or face additional daily penalties. The action risks further trade tensions with the United States.

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Explanation of Approach
First, we used an AI “browse_page” tool to verify that the provided URLs load without 404 errors and extract a comprehensive, factual summary of their content, focusing on the key points and facts, devoid of opinion and editorialization. This forms the basis for the one-paragraph summary, written in a politically non-partisan voice without injecting personal opinion, while maintaining a formal, reportorial tone. We then identify at least three independent corroborating sources by employing an AI “web_search” tool with a targeted query that excludes prohibited outlets proven to be propagandistic. These were chosen as non-clustered (distinct outlets) and to ensure timeliness. This approach guarantees accuracy, up-to-date relevance, and precise adherence to non-partisan, fact-based reporting. All videos are used courtesy of the sources and per Fair Use laws.
]]><![CDATA[Underground USA Evening News Brief]]>https://www.undergroundusa.com/p/underground-usa-evening-news-brief-143https://www.undergroundusa.com/p/underground-usa-evening-news-brief-143Wed, 22 Jul 2026 22:30:08 GMT🎧 LISTEN TO THE HEADLINES ON THE SUBSTACK APP

State Department Report Exposes Cuba’s Guerrilla Warfare Ties to U.S. Leftist Networks

The Venceremos Brigade has forged ties to elected Democrats, labor leaders, and radical-Left groups, including BLM.

A State Department report released July 21, 2026, identifies the Venceremos Brigade as a key vehicle for Cuba’s efforts to advance urban guerrilla warfare and terrorism in the United States through ties to American leftist activists. The brigade, formed in 1969 with Cuban support, has brought some 10,000 U.S. activists to the island for propagandistic trips and weapons training while forging links with elected Democrats, labor leaders, and groups including the Black Lives Matter movement. It helped establish the Weather Underground, which carried out bombings, and maintains connections to figures such as Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, who visited Cuba frequently, along with nonprofits like Thousand Currents and the People’s Forum. The report describes these activities as part of a broader Cuban strategy to undermine the United States through influence campaigns, espionage and subversion, with officials labeling the network one of the largest vectors for hostile foreign influence in modern American history.

🏛️ News & Politics

US Media Treads Lightly on China Voter Data Revelations Due to Business Links with Beijing

President Donald Trump declassified intelligence documents revealing that China obtained more than 220 million U.S. voter registration records since 2020. He criticized major news outlets for not covering the disclosures vigorously after his remarks. Media organizations described the information as old news or downplayed its significance by noting that some voter data is commercially available. Security experts countered that the Chinese haul included sensitive details like phone numbers absent from public datasets. China analyst Gordon Chang suggested outlets may avoid angering Beijing over commercial interests. U.S. media companies have received substantial payments from China Daily, a state-run outlet, with past examples including millions paid to The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post. Some outlets have self-censored China-related stories historically to protect business ties, such as Bloomberg killing investigative pieces. Entertainment giants owning media properties also maintain financial stakes in China that could influence coverage.


Maine Democrat Senate Hopeful Troy Jackson Earns Union Pay While Posing as North Woods Logger

Troy Jackson, the likely Democrat nominee for U.S. Senate in Maine, presents himself as a logger from the North Woods of Maine. Federal and state disclosures show he has also served as a political operative and temporary organizer for District Council 35 of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, a Boston-based labor organization. He earned nearly $100,000 from the union intermittently between 2017 and 2025, including $21,820 in 2025. Jackson previously served as Maine Senate president from 2018 to 2024 and ran unsuccessfully for governor earlier this year. Democrats tapped him as a replacement for Graham Platner, who stepped aside amid controversies. Jackson’s campaign website and public statements highlight his logging roots in Aroostook County without mentioning the Boston union role.


Wisconsin Democrats Seek Absentee Ballot Recasts After Primary Candidate Changes

Wisconsin Democrats are pressing the state Elections Commission to let voters recast more than 80,000 already-returned absentee ballots for the Aug. 11 gubernatorial primary. Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez suspended her campaign on July 17. Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley reentered the race the next day after briefly dropping out. The push follows a July 9 bipartisan commission vote limiting ballot spoiling. Voters cannot now cancel a submitted absentee ballot and get a replacement simply because their preferred candidate withdrew. Democrats argue the guidance violates state law and prior practices. It also conflicts with a 2006 U.S. Supreme Court precedent against changing election rules close to voting. The party says the rule unfairly limits voter choice after ballots went out. Commission guidance stands for now. Clerks face administrative challenges with any last-minute changes.


IDEMIA Rejects Blame for Noncitizen Voter Registrations in New Jersey

IDEMIA rejected blame for the improper registration of about 6,600 noncitizens to vote in New Jersey. The company provides software to the state’s Motor Vehicle Commission for processing driver's license and identification card applications. It transmits voter registration information but maintains that the New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections is responsible for verifying eligibility. Noncitizens answered no to the citizenship question on applications yet were registered anyway between June 2023 and June 2024. Gov. Mikie Sherrill blamed a software error and said fewer than 400 of those registered voted. The state has removed the registrations and is replacing the vendor. The disclosure follows federal scrutiny of voter rolls.


High Taxes Drive New York Millionaire Out of State, Costing Billions in Revenue

New York lost an estimated $51.5 billion in personal income tax revenue between 2011 and 2022 as its share of the nation’s millionaires declined from 12.7 percent in 2010 to 8.7 percent in 2022. The number of New York residents earning more than $1 million rose from over 33,000 in 2010 to over 67,000 in 2022. Other states gained ground faster, with California and Texas tripling their millionaire counts and Florida quadrupling its total during the same period. A Citizens Budget Commission analysis found the state would have collected roughly $10.7 billion more in personal income taxes in 2022 alone if it had held its 2010 share of millionaires. Top earners in New York derive much of their income from capital gains and non-wage sources with 83 percent of income for those earning over $10 million coming from such investments. The state’s share of realized capital gains nationwide fell from 14 percent in 2010 to 8.9 percent in 2022 while Florida’s rose to lead the nation. New York ranks at the bottom in tax competitiveness according to relevant indexes.

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Arizona Whistleblower Exposes Drugging of Native Americans in Fake Rehab Medicaid Scam

A whistleblower in Arizona has detailed a sprawling Medicaid fraud operation targeting Native Americans that allegedly involved luring vulnerable individuals into white vans with promises of treatment. Operators then supplied them with fentanyl, methamphetamine, alcohol, and other drugs before confining them in unlicensed sober living facilities in the Phoenix area, where doors were locked from the outside and cameras monitored rooms. Reva Stewart, a Navajo advocate, said the scheme began drawing her attention after her cousin was plied with substances during transport and given a fentanyl pill when refusing to stay. State officials had known of related fraud since 2019, yet the operation reportedly generated billions in improper billings, with estimates ranging from $2.5 billion to as high as $12 billion. Up to 2,000 Native Americans may be dead or missing as a result. A related civil lawsuit accuses Arizona authorities of enabling the diversion of thousands of tribal members into these bogus homes where little to no actual care occurred, and patients were kept addicted to maximize reimbursements.


DSA Candidate Interned at Hamas-Linked West Bank University Known for Terror Recruitment

New York socialist congressional candidate Darializa Avila Chevalier taught professional competency courses at An-Najah National University in the West Bank from May 2014 to July 2014. International watchdog and Israeli government reports identified the public Palestinian Authority campus as a hub for terrorist recruitment and radicalization before and after her internship. Hamas recognized An-Najah as a “greenhouse for martyrs.” Students staged a Hamas-themed graduation during her stay with banners and flags honoring the kidnapping of three Israeli teenagers. Avila Chevalier won her Democratic primary in June with endorsements from the Democratic Socialists of America and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. She has described the West Bank experience as formative for her views equating American systems with oppression abroad.


George Washington University Runs Free Summer Program for Middle Schoolers Focused on Activism

George Washington University offers a free five-week Civic Changemakers summer program for middle school students in D.C. Public Schools through its Honey W. Nashman Center for Civic Engagement and Public Service. The initiative pairs participants with college student interns for community advocacy projects, field trips, and workshops that culminate in public presentations of student-led initiatives aimed at influencing their local communities. Past iterations included lessons centered on the Black Lives Matter movement to teach social justice, as well as surveys on gun violence promoted to encourage opposition to Second Amendment rights. The program emphasizes progressive causes over traditional academics while building skills in reading, writing, and critical thinking.


Teachers Unions Push DEI Mandates Into Classroom AI Tools

The National Education Association, America’s largest teachers union, is advancing efforts to integrate diversity, equity and inclusion principles into artificial intelligence systems used in schools. A report from Defending Education detailed how the NEA’s AI in Education Hub and sample school board policies emphasize equity and address supposed algorithmic bias rooted in the demographics of AI creators. The union’s materials claim AI tools require audits to mitigate biases based on race, gender and other identities. Similar initiatives from the American Federation of Teachers include guidance stressing that technologies must advance equity and fairness while avoiding widening divides. Other education groups have echoed these positions through policies requiring vendor transparency on equity standards before AI adoption.


Colorado Democrat Manny Rutinel Opposed Mandatory Sentences for Child Sex Crimes

Manny Rutinel, the Democrat nominee for Colorado’s Eighth Congressional District, voted with fellow Democrats on a House committee to kill a 2024 bill that would have imposed mandatory minimum prison sentences on adults convicted of crimes involving child prostitutes. The legislation targeted class-three felonies such as soliciting with at least four years behind bars and class-two felonies like coercing a minor into prostitution with eight years. Critics, including the Gazette Editorial Board, argued the defeat rolled out a welcome mat for those who exploit children. A similar but weaker bill later passed with Rutinel’s cosponsorship after removing the strict mandatory minimum for soliciting. The vote drew renewed attention amid Rutinel’s competitive race against Republican incumbent Gabe Evans (R-CO).

🌐 International

Trump Approves Nuclear Pact With Saudi Arabia Allowing Possible Uranium Enrichment

President Donald Trump has approved a 30-year nuclear agreement with Saudi Arabia that could give the kingdom uranium enrichment capability for a civilian program. The pact is expected to be announced publicly soon and involves U.S. companies in developing Saudi nuclear infrastructure, including a potential enrichment facility following a joint study. It aims to generate tens of billions of dollars for American firms such as Westinghouse while limiting roles for competitors like Russia and China. The deal lacks the so-called gold standard that bars enrichment and reprocessing, and it omits the IAEA’s Additional Protocol for enhanced inspections, drawing concerns from nonproliferation experts about risks in the Middle East amid regional tensions. The agreement will go to Congress for review but would be hard to block.


US Bombers Depart UK Bases Toward Iran Following Burnham Approval

US bombers reportedly departed UK bases shortly after new Prime Minister Andy Burnham approved continued American use of British military facilities. The aircraft left amid heightened tensions over Iran’s nuclear program and threats to the Strait of Hormuz. Reports indicate the move followed President Donald Trump’s warning about potential strikes on Iran’s Pickaxe Mountain nuclear facility. Burnham’s decision maintains the prior policy under Keir Starmer that permits US operations from sites including RAF Fairford for defensive purposes. No official statement came from Burnham’s office on the specific approval. The context involves ongoing efforts to address Iran’s nuclear activities and regional shipping security following earlier US-Iran agreements and subsequent breakdowns.


Trump Signals No Interest in Iran Talks Without Serious Commitments

President Donald Trump said Tuesday in the Oval Office that the United States has no interest in meeting with Iran at this time. He stated that Iranian officials want to meet desperately to end the conflict because they are getting decimated by U.S. actions. Trump added that Washington will only engage once Iran is ready for talks in a meaningful way. He spoke during a meeting with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and emphasized that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. Recent U.S. and Iranian attacks have escalated as their interim deal to end the war falls apart. The president also referenced upcoming dignified transfers for U.S. service members killed in Iranian attacks in Jordan and Iraq.


US Ukraine Sign Preliminary Deal Allowing Kyiv Drone Exports for Pentagon Testing

The United States and Ukraine have signed a preliminary agreement that permits Kyiv to export its drones to America for military testing. The deal, described as a statement of intent, follows months of negotiations and marks the first formal step toward deeper defense-industrial cooperation between the two nations. It gives the Pentagon access to Ukrainian unmanned aerial, ground and maritime systems refined during more than four years of conflict with Russia as part of the U.S. military’s Drone Dominance initiative, a $1 billion effort aimed at acquiring large numbers of small combat drones. While not a full production contract, the agreement opens the door to potential joint manufacturing on American soil and positions Ukraine as a supplier rather than solely an aid recipient.


Suspected Pedophile French Modeling Scout Named Thousands of Times in Epstein Files Found Dead at Home

A French modeling scout named more than 2,000 times in U.S. Department of Justice Epstein files was found dead at his home in Colombes, a suburb west of Paris, on Monday. Daniel Siad, 69, faced an ongoing French investigation over accusations that he helped traffic and abuse women for Jeffrey Epstein. Prosecutors said his cause of death remains unclear pending an autopsy. Siad had communicated with Epstein for about a decade, including emails in which he bragged about recruiting young women and likened the process to fishing. He denied any wrongdoing and claimed he did not know Epstein posed a danger. At least two women accused Siad of grooming them for Epstein, with one alleging rape.

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Explanation of Approach
First, we used an AI “browse_page” tool to verify that the provided URLs load without 404 errors and extract a comprehensive, factual summary of their content, focusing on the key points and facts, devoid of opinion and editorialization. This forms the basis for the one-paragraph summary, written in a politically non-partisan voice without injecting personal opinion, while maintaining a formal, reportorial tone. We then identify at least three independent corroborating sources by employing an AI “web_search” tool with a targeted query that excludes prohibited outlets proven to be propagandistic. These were chosen as non-clustered (distinct outlets) and to ensure timeliness. This approach guarantees accuracy, up-to-date relevance, and precise adherence to non-partisan, fact-based reporting. All videos are used courtesy of the sources and per Fair Use laws.
]]><![CDATA[Underground USA Evening News Brief]]>https://www.undergroundusa.com/p/underground-usa-evening-news-brief-7e9https://www.undergroundusa.com/p/underground-usa-evening-news-brief-7e9Tue, 21 Jul 2026 22:31:22 GMT🎧 LISTEN TO THE HEADLINES ON THE SUBSTACK APP

Michigan Clerks Reveal Widespread Fake Voter Registration Packages From GBI Strategies Across State

Fraudulent voter registrations exposed by Muskegon, MI city clerk.

Michigan clerks across the state received suspicious bundles of voter registration forms in October 2020 from GBI Strategies, also known as Empower Michigan. City of Muskegon Clerk Ann Meisch posted on the Michigan Clerks’ Facebook page about a “care package” delivered from a hotel in Auburn Hills with return label “EM,” containing forms that appeared to feature identical handwriting, fake addresses, incomplete information, and already-registered voters. Other clerks reported receiving large boxes and priority mail envelopes with similar irregularities, including forms for nonexistent or ineligible applicants, some lacking proper identification details. These packages tied into a broader Michigan State Police investigation of GBI Strategies activities funded partly by Democratic campaigns, which uncovered questionable practices but resulted in no widespread prosecutions despite evidence of fraudulent submissions. President Trump recently highlighted the matter and called for further FBI and DOJ review of the operation.

The Gateway Pundit, FOX News Grand Rapids

🏛️ News & Politics

Johnson Advances Voter ID Measures in Budget Package Despite Democrat Pushback

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) secured a key procedural victory in the House on Tuesday. The chamber voted largely along party lines to advance debate on a $95 billion budget reconciliation bill. This legislation allocates roughly $10 billion to help states implement election integrity requirements such as voter ID and proof of citizenship. These provisions draw directly from the Safeguarding American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act, which has passed the House multiple times but stalled in the Senate due to Democrat opposition. The reconciliation process allows Republicans to bypass the Senate filibuster for fiscal matters. The broader package also includes funding for defense efforts related to Iran and aid for American farmers. Fiscal conservatives have raised concerns about the overall spending levels and lack of offsets. Further steps include committee work on details followed by additional votes.


New Jersey Removes 6,600 Noncitizens From Voter Rolls After Software ‘Error’

New Jersey removed 6,600 noncitizens from its voter rolls. The action followed discovery of a software error in the motor vehicle commission system. Governor Mikie Sherrill said the error led to thousands of noncitizens being registered. Some of these ineligible non-citizen voters actually cast ballots in prior elections. The correction occurred amid scrutiny of voter roll integrity. State officials emphasized that there was no evidence of intentional fraud. The incident highlights challenges in maintaining accurate voter databases. Critics pointed to risks of noncitizen voting in elections. Officials assured systems were updated to prevent recurrence.


47 Republicans Push Amnesty Bill for Illegal Alien Agriculture Workers

Forty-seven House Republicans signed onto a bipartisan bill expanding H-2A visas for illegal aliens working in agriculture. The legislation grants legal status to those employed as of May 31, 2026, and waives certain immigration violations. It shields employers from accountability for hiring unauthorized workers. The bill extends visa durations to three years, reducing annual labor certification requirements. American Farm Bureau Federation strongly supports the measure. The proposal reflects agriculture lobby influence. Critics argue it undermines enforcement and rewards illegal entry.


RFK Jr Halts Over One Billion Dollars In Medicaid Payments To California, Minnesota Over Suspected Fraud

Health & Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced on July 21, 2026, that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is deferring more than one billion dollars in federal Medicaid payments to California and Minnesota. The hold covers roughly $867 million for California and over $200 million for Minnesota while officials review high-risk claims for fraud, waste, and abuse. Kennedy stated that the states must provide documentation proving the payments are legitimate before funds flow again. CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz highlighted suspicious spending patterns, such as California’s in-home services growing at twice the national rate and claims tied to individuals with unsatisfactory immigration status or even deceased beneficiaries. Officials blamed lax oversight from the prior administration for opening the door to theft of taxpayer dollars and are using AI and analytics to tighten controls as part of a broader push against improper payments in Democratic-led states.


Young Conservatives Embrace Richard Nixon as Unlikely Icon on Social Media

Young conservatives are reviving Richard Nixon’s image through TikTok videos and “Nixonmaxxing” merchandise. Clips featuring Nixon over rap music and apparel with slogans like “Pretty Girls for Nixon” are going viral. Influencers and figures like JD Vance praise Nixon’s legacy. The movement recasts Nixon as an America First precursor targeted by the deep state. Nixon Foundation repackages archival content into short-form videos. Critics note the Watergate scandal and post-Watergate reforms. The trend aligns with broader nationalist resurgence.

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Cuba-Linked Activists Prepare Coordinated Protests at Military Bases and ICE Sites

A State Department report details how Cuba has cultivated networks of American activist groups capable of rapid mobilization against U.S. interests. The National Network on Cuba distributed a June National Rapid Response Plan that directs more than 60 affiliated organizations to launch coordinated nationwide actions within 24 hours of any U.S. military action or imminent threat against Cuba. Demonstrations would target military bases, recruitment offices, federal buildings, courthouses, post offices, and ICE facilities to make intervention politically and materially costly while linking Cuba solidarity efforts to anti-ICE campaigns. The report ties the network to the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples, a government entity sanctioned for intelligence support, and highlights involvement from groups including Code Pink, the Democratic Socialists of America, the People’s Forum, and the National Lawyers Guild. It portrays these activities as part of Cuba’s long-running subversive strategy that blends espionage, influence operations, and ideological mobilization inside the United States.


National Lawyers Guild Exposed as Longtime Communist Front in State Department Report

The National Lawyers Guild presented itself for decades as a defender of First Amendment rights through legal observers at protests and advocacy for police accountability. A new State Department report released this week identifies the group as a de facto communist front organization since its 1937 founding. The report details its role in networks tied to the Cuban regime that promote ideology over free speech protections. It notes the guild’s early alliance with the Communist Party USA, described by a party leader in 1939 congressional testimony as a transmission belt for communist influence in American institutions. The guild has participated in Cuba solidarity efforts, including delegations opposing the U.S. embargo and a 2026 resolution aligning with the National Network on Cuba.


Warren Defies Schumer by Endorsing Far-Left Challenger in Key Michigan Senate Primary

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) endorsed Abdul El-Sayed for Michigan’s Democrat U.S. Senate nomination on July 20, 2026. This move directly opposes Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s (D-NY) support for Rep. Haley Stevens (D-MI) in the Aug. 4 primary. Warren highlighted El-Sayed’s rejection of corporate money and his push for Medicare-for-all and grassroots mobilization. El-Sayed has also secured backing from Sen. Bernie Sanders (S-VT) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (DS-NY). He previously drew controversy for past “defund the police” comments and sharp attacks on Stevens. Warren had earlier backed state Sen. Mallory McMorrow, who dropped out, and Maine candidate Graham Platner, who exited amid allegations. Schumer views Stevens as the stronger general-election pick against Republican Mike Rogers (R-MI) in the battleground state. The primary highlights tensions between progressive insurgents and the Democrat establishment over party direction and electability.


Convicted Illegal Migrant Murderer Sues President Trump for Emotional Distress

Brandon Ortiz-Vite, a Mexican national living illegally in the United States, was convicted of the 2024 murder of his girlfriend Ruby Garcia in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, carjacking, carrying a concealed weapon, and felony firearm after shooting Garcia multiple times, including a shot to the head, and dumping her body on the side of U.S. 131. He received a sentence with a minimum of 39 years in prison. Ortiz-Vite had prior DACA status that expired, was deported under the first Trump administration in 2020, and re-entered illegally after Biden took office. President Trump highlighted the case during his 2024 campaign using Ortiz-Vite’s mugshot and details to illustrate issues with illegal immigration and border policies. Following his conviction, Ortiz-Vite filed a handwritten federal lawsuit against Trump and White House Principal Deputy Press Secretary Steven Cheung, claiming emotional distress, humiliation, and ridicule from inmates due to the public attention. He demands $75 million in compensation, U.S. citizenship, counseling, and a public apology, alleging the campaign used pressure to influence his plea deal. Legal experts note the suit faces dismissal given public records, First Amendment protections for campaign speech, and presidential immunity considerations.


College Democrats Cheer Hasan Piker’s Attacks on America, Israel, and Party Moderates

Hasan Piker addressed the College Democrats of America national convention as a surprise speaker. He appeared dressed in a Mao-style suit and delivered a speech filled with grievances against the United States and Israel. The audience cheered as he rejected Democrats who compromise with Republicans on issues such as border security and aid to Israel. Piker has a history of praising Mao Zedong and making statements critical of America, including claims that it deserved the 9/11 attacks. He positioned himself as part of an insurgency within the Democratic Party aimed at those he called fascists. College Democrats leadership invited him to speak to the group, which serves as the official collegiate arm of the Democratic National Committee. The event drew internal criticism from the group’s Jewish Caucus, which condemned the platforming as a threat to Jewish safety and inclusion.

🌐 International

Marco Rubio Announces Venezuela Democratic Transition Talks Set for Early August

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that official talks to launch Venezuela’s democratic transition will begin in the first week of August, with August 1 as the target start date. Rubio made the remarks at Joint Base Andrews before departing for the ASEAN Summit in the Philippines. He described the development as very good news that deserved more attention. Representatives of the 2015 National Assembly, the last legislature recognized by the United States as legitimate and led by Dinorah Figuera, met with the interim government headed by figures including Jorge Rodríguez. The sides agreed to create a framework for reconciliation talks and to advance a transition process focused on restoring political stability, strengthening democratic institutions, modernizing the electoral system, and enabling broader political participation. This comes after devastating June 24 earthquakes that worsened Venezuela’s humanitarian crisis. Rubio outlined a three-phase US approach that includes stabilization after the disaster, economic recovery and reconstruction, and a full democratic transition with free and fair elections. The United States has already provided more than $180 million in humanitarian assistance and stands ready to expand support, including help with international financing. María Corina Machado is not involved in the current negotiations. The agreement reflects a pragmatic push amid ongoing challenges, with the United States pledging close involvement.


Chinese Academics Admit CCP Pressure Drives Widespread Data Falsification

Chinese academics have openly stated that intense pressure from the Chinese Communist Party compels them to falsify data in their research and reporting. This systemic issue stems from demands to meet political targets, secure promotions, and align with party narratives, resulting in manipulated statistics across economic, scientific, and academic fields. Local officials and researchers face career-ending consequences for failing to deliver favorable numbers, leading to fabricated figures that undermine the reliability of official Chinese data. Such practices have persisted despite occasional crackdowns, as the party’s control over institutions leaves little room for independent verification or honest reporting.


Trump Warns Houthis of Strikes to Protect Red Sea Shipping

President Donald Trump threatened military action against Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen if they follow through on their announced blockade of Saudi shipping in the Red Sea. Trump made the remarks during a July 21, 2026, Oval Office press conference with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun. He stated the U.S. had previously dealt with Houthi threats through powerful strikes lasting about 45 days and had enjoyed relative quiet since then. The Houthis issued their blockade announcement on July 20 in retaliation for Saudi actions, targeting the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. No Houthi strikes on vessels have been reported yet, though some tankers have reportedly altered course.


Andy Burnham Appoints John Healey as Chancellor in Surprise Reshuffle

Andy Burnham has appointed John Healey as Chancellor of the Exchequer. This replaces Rachel Reeves in a surprise move following Keir Starmer’s resignation. Healey previously served in Treasury roles under Tony Blair and resigned as Defence Secretary under Starmer over insufficient defense funding. The appointment comes as Burnham forms his new cabinet and promises devolution. He also pledges cost-of-living measures while sticking to fiscal rules. Analysts note Healey’s experience could signal shifts in economic priorities toward reindustrialization and supporting private sector growth amid high national debt.


Fulani Militants in Nigeria Cry Victim While Raiding Christian Villages

Fulani advocacy groups in Plateau State have accused Christian communities of using drones to monitor their settlements in areas like Barkin Ladi, Riyom, and Bokkos. Concerned Fulani in Plateau issued a statement condemning the alleged surveillance of Fulani homes, cattle, and locations after footage appeared on social media from a Berom TikTok user. Fulani militants have killed more Christians in Nigeria than Boko Haram and other jihadist groups combined through repeated raids on farming villages often carried out with AK-47s. Christian residents rely on lightly armed volunteer vigilantes for defense and face little formal security. Advocacy organizations like MACBAN frequently portray Fulani herders as victims after any resistance or deaths among attackers. Recent incidents include killings in Kum and Wereng-Camp where nine members of one family died. Data from local groups show over 120 deaths in affected local government areas between May and mid-July. Nigerian military accounts indicate Fulani groups often purchase weapons from illegal manufacturers who prioritize higher-paying buyers.

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Explanation of Approach
First, we used an AI “browse_page” tool to verify that the provided URLs load without 404 errors and extract a comprehensive, factual summary of their content, focusing on the key points and facts, devoid of opinion and editorialization. This forms the basis for the one-paragraph summary, written in a politically non-partisan voice without injecting personal opinion, while maintaining a formal, reportorial tone. We then identify at least three independent corroborating sources by employing an AI “web_search” tool with a targeted query that excludes prohibited outlets proven to be propagandistic. These were chosen as non-clustered (distinct outlets) and to ensure timeliness. This approach guarantees accuracy, up-to-date relevance, and precise adherence to non-partisan, fact-based reporting. All videos are used courtesy of the sources and per Fair Use laws.
]]><![CDATA[Underground USA Evening News Brief]]>https://www.undergroundusa.com/p/underground-usa-evening-news-brief-80chttps://www.undergroundusa.com/p/underground-usa-evening-news-brief-80cMon, 20 Jul 2026 22:30:15 GMT🎧 LISTEN TO THE HEADLINES ON THE SUBSTACK APP

Wall Street Repackages Toxic Private Credit Into Investment-Grade Bonds

Is Wall Street doing the same thing it did before the 2008 market crash?

Wall Street firms like UBS are packaging stakes in private-credit funds into bonds using insurance guarantees. The structures allow higher-risk assets to receive investment-grade ratings. Insurers provide wrappers that reduce regulatory capital requirements for buyers. The practice echoes pre-2008 mortgage-backed securities engineering. Private credit markets have grown to between $1 trillion and $1.75 trillion. Critics warn of opacity, concentration risk, and potential contagion. The arrangements shift risk to insurers and pensions while lowering capital held against it. Regulatory and ratings roles facilitate the transformation.

🏛️ News & Politics

Military Voter Files Exposed Deployment Locations to America’s Adversaries

Declassified documents showed Chinese entities accessed U.S. military voter registration files. The files contained deployment-related information exposing sensitive locations. Voter files include names, addresses, and dates of birth for overseas and military voters. Adversaries could correlate data to build dossiers on service members. Risks include espionage, blackmail, or harassment. Most bases are known but covert or temporary sites remain sensitive. The revelations underscore election data security concerns. President Trump highlighted the issue in an address on foreign interference.


GOP Pressure Mounts to Prosecute and Fire Intel Officials Who Hid Election Issues From POTUS

GOP lawmakers called for prosecution and termination of intelligence officials who concealed election-related intelligence from President Trump. Declassified documents revealed officials knew of vulnerabilities like outdated software and Chinese access to voter files. The intelligence community withheld information from presidential daily briefs. House Intelligence Committee Chairman Rick Crawford demanded accountability. Rep. Keith Self and Mike Davis advocated charges for obstructing and concealing intelligence. The materials were released following Trump’s address on foreign interference. Critics highlighted betrayal of public trust. Officials manipulated or concealed data to advance preferred policies.


RNC Sues Six States to Stop Non-Residents From Voting in Elections

The Republican National Committee filed lawsuits against Arizona, Nevada, Colorado, New Jersey, Virginia, and Nebraska. The suits target laws allowing non-residents to vote absentee based on a parent’s past residency. The RNC secured a win in North Carolina, striking down a similar loophole. Chairman Joe Gruters emphasized elections should be decided by legal residents. The mechanism stems from overseas voting guidance extended beyond military and diplomats. The RNC supports the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act. Nevada emerges as a key battleground in the challenges.


NYC Incendiary Device Attack Suspect Andrew Arrabaca Had Anti-ICE Material

Andrew Arrabaca was named the suspect in an alleged incendiary device attack outside 26 Federal Plaza in New York City. The building houses an FBI field office and immigration court. Arrabaca had anti-ICE material on him when detained. He deployed a device, causing a small fire with two minor injuries. The FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force is leading the investigation. Arrabaca was armed with a pellet gun. Mayor Zohran Mamdani condemned the incident. The event occurred amid tensions over immigration enforcement.


Abdul El-Sayed Hailed as Longtime DSA Friend, Socialist Fundraiser Headliner Before Denying Socialist Label

Abdul El-Sayed distanced himself from the Democratic Socialists of America, claiming he is not a socialist. El-Sayed headlined a 2019 Detroit DSA fundraiser with Rep. Rashida Tlaib. The DSA chapter called him a longtime friend. El-Sayed spoke at multiple DSA events between 2017 and 2020. He supports policies like Medicare for All and defund the police. El-Sayed faces Rep. Haley Stevens in Michigan Senate primary. Critics highlighted his ties to DSA amid battleground state dynamics. El-Sayed’s campaign emphasized progressive credentials while minimizing the socialist label.

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Democrat Chaos in Wisconsin as DSA Candidate Surges in Gubernatorial Primary

Wisconsin Democrats scrambled to recruit candidates after Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez dropped out of the gubernatorial race. The move left DSA member Francesca Hong as a frontrunner in the primary. Establishment Democrats expressed fears Hong’s nomination would lead to losses in the general election. David Crowley relaunched his campaign as an alternative. Gov. Tony Evers endorsed Crowley. Hong’s platform includes pro-Palestine positions and criticism of law enforcement. The August 11 primary highlights tensions between socialist and centrist factions. Republican Rep. Tom Tiffany is the presumptive GOP nominee.


NYC West Side Homeless Camp Stretching 12 Blocks Allegedly Stealing City Power

A sprawling homeless encampment on Manhattan’s West Side now spans roughly 12 blocks near the Intrepid Museum. Reports indicate residents are tapping into city electrical lines for power. The camp has grown over weeks with tents multiplying and sidewalks obstructed. Bus drivers and workers report complaints to officials yielding little response. Mayor Zohran Mamdani defended focusing on shelters and housing over dispersal. Police seized cords and ordered disconnections in some cases. The area reportedly attracts addiction and sex work issues. Nearby businesses and residents express deteriorating conditions.


Democrats Nominate Anti-ICE Candidate Accused of Mortgage Fraud for Maine Senate Race

Democrats in Maine selected former state Senate President Troy Jackson as their nominee for the U.S. Senate seat held by Susan Collins. Jackson supports abolishing ICE, Medicare for All, and expanding the Supreme Court. He replaced Graham Platner, who withdrew amid misconduct allegations. Jackson secured delegate majorities in nearly every county. Rivals including Shenna Bellows dropped out and endorsed him. Jackson faces ethics complaints over a 2019 home purchase and allegations of throwing a bottle at a woman. The nomination highlights Democratic shifts toward progressive positions.


Seattle Teachers Union President Remains in Office Despite Substantiated Abuse Allegations

Seattle Public Schools investigation substantiated that union President Ibijoke Idowu grabbed a special education student, causing bruises. The probe also found she yelled at students, with witnesses noting children flinching around her. Idowu remains on paid administrative leave from teaching while serving as president of the Seattle Education Association. The union certified her election despite the ongoing investigation. The student’s family criticized both the district and union response. Police investigated, but no criminal charges were filed. Idowu denied many allegations. The case highlights issues with union accountability in schools.


Male Passenger Invokes Sharia Law to Refuse Sitting Next to Woman Then Attacks Female Flight Attendant

A 29-year-old Turkish migrant refused to sit next to a woman on a flight, citing Sharia law. The incident occurred on a flight landing in Düsseldorf, Germany. The passenger punched or slapped the female flight attendant who intervened. Police arrested him upon landing. He admitted to the assault during questioning. The suspect also insulted officers in Turkish. The event highlights cultural clashes in Europe. Sharia law holds no legal standing in Germany. Similar incidents underscore integration challenges with migrants.

🌐 International

Iran’s President Pezeshkian Declares Regime in Full-Scale War With United States

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated the Islamic Republic is engaged in a full-scale war with the United States. The declaration came as Iran intensified attacks on regional targets. Yemen’s Houthi proxies announced a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia. Iran continued strikes on ships in the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. forces conducted multiple nights of retaliatory strikes on Iranian military sites. The conflict escalated after the collapse of an interim ceasefire. Houthis cited Saudi actions as justification for the blockade. Regional tensions threaten global energy supplies.


Yemen’s Houthis Declare Maritime Blockade on Saudi Arabia Amid Regional Tensions

Yemen’s Houthis declared a maritime blockade on Saudi Arabia. The announcement targets vessels linked to Saudi interests in the Red Sea. The move escalates Houthi actions against regional adversaries. Houthis cited Saudi involvement in conflicts as justification. The declaration affects shipping routes critical to global trade. Saudi Arabia has not issued an immediate response. The development occurs against broader Middle East instability. Analysts warn of potential disruptions to energy supplies and commerce.


Over 400 Ukrainian Drones Launched on Moscow in One of Biggest Attack Waves to Date

Ukraine launched more than 400 drones toward Moscow and its suburbs. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin reported most were intercepted far from the capital, with 85 downed closer in. The attack injured at least ten people, including three Chinese citizens. Strikes hit logistics centers and civilian areas, causing fires and damage. Russian regions bordering Ukraine also faced heavy attacks. At least four people were killed nationwide. Ukraine targeted warehouses claiming they stored drone components. The assault followed Russian strikes on Kyiv.


Nicaragua’s Daniel Ortega Announces End to Elections Consolidating Power

Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega declared the country will no longer hold elections. Ortega made the announcement during a speech commemorating the 1979 Sandinista revolution. The move eliminates challenges to his rule when his term ends next year. Ortega and his wife, Rosario Murillo, control whole branches of government, including the armed forces and judiciary. Nicaragua’s 2021 election was widely disputed after opponents were detained. Constitutional reforms named Murillo co-president and extended terms. The government faces UN accusations of authoritarianism and human rights violations.


Andy Burnham Becomes Seventh British Prime Minister in a Decade

Andy Burnham became the United Kingdom’s new Prime Minister. The Labour Party leader was sworn in following Keir Starmer’s resignation. Burnham is the seventh prime minister in a decade. Despite his progressive leanings, he plans to scrap digital ID schemes and accelerate North Sea oil and gas drilling. The moves signal a policy reset from previous Labour approaches. Burnham will focus on cost-of-living priorities. The transition occurs amid economic and energy challenges.


Sinaloa Cartel Co-Founder Ismael El Mayo Zambada Sentenced to Life in Prison With $15 Billion Forfeiture

Ismael El Mayo Zambada, co-founder of the Sinaloa Cartel, received a life sentence in U.S. federal court. Zambada pleaded guilty to drug trafficking and other charges. The judge ordered $15 billion in forfeiture. Zambada issued a mea culpa expressing remorse during sentencing. The cartel leader was extradited from Mexico. Prosecutors highlighted his role in fentanyl trafficking and violence. The sentence marks a major victory against one of the world’s most powerful cartels.

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Explanation of Approach
First, we used an AI “browse_page” tool to verify that the provided URLs load without 404 errors and extract a comprehensive, factual summary of their content, focusing on the key points and facts, devoid of opinion and editorialization. This forms the basis for the one-paragraph summary, written in a politically non-partisan voice without injecting personal opinion, while maintaining a formal, reportorial tone. We then identify at least three independent corroborating sources by employing an AI “web_search” tool with a targeted query that excludes prohibited outlets proven to be propagandistic. These were chosen as non-clustered (distinct outlets) and to ensure timeliness. This approach guarantees accuracy, up-to-date relevance, and precise adherence to non-partisan, fact-based reporting. All videos are used courtesy of the sources and per Fair Use laws.
]]><![CDATA[Underground USA Evening News Brief]]>https://www.undergroundusa.com/p/underground-usa-evening-news-brief-c0bhttps://www.undergroundusa.com/p/underground-usa-evening-news-brief-c0bSun, 19 Jul 2026 22:30:19 GMT🎧 LISTEN TO THE HEADLINES ON THE SUBSTACK APP

Ex-FBI Official Nikki Floris Behind Trump’s Shadow Government Remark on China Election Interference

Former FBI Nikki Floris testifies before the House Judiciary Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, Oct. 22, 2019, on election security.

Nikki Floris, former senior FBI counterintelligence official, wrote that she was running a shadow government across the FBI regarding a recalled report on Chinese election interference. The report alleged China produced fraudulent driver’s licenses for mail-in ballots. Floris served as the FBI’s 2020 election security lead. The remark resurfaced in declassified materials during Trump’s address. Floris was involved in recalling the intelligence report. She later left the FBI and joined Microsoft. The episode contrasts with the bureau’s handling of 2016 Russia investigations. Congressional Republicans highlighted concerns over two-tiered approaches.

🏛️ News & Politics

Texas Election Fraud Investigation Reveals Fake Chinese IDs Used in 2020 Voting Operation

A Texas voter registration facility operated like a drive-through for fraudulent votes using fake IDs from China with real people’s identities. Election workers scanned IDs from stacks to produce ballots for Joe Biden. An ex-cop described the abuse of normal processes where staff bypassed legitimate voters. The scheme disenfranchised American citizens and deceased individuals. Similar operations allegedly occurred nationwide. The revelations highlight foreign and domestic threats to election integrity.


Trump Administration Activates Long-Dormant Alien Terrorist Removal Court

The Justice Department filed the first application with the Alien Terrorist Removal Court on July 15. The court, created in 1996 under the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act, had never been used before. Chief Judge Joan Ericksen held a sealed hearing and requested additional information. The court reviews removal applications for suspected foreign terrorists under seal when other deportation methods pose national security risks. The move follows challenges to the Alien Enemies Act for gang members. Critics previously suggested the ATRC as the appropriate venue. The administration’s use of the specialized process strengthens its legal footing for national security deportations.


Declassified Docs Reveal FBI’s Handling of Alleged Michigan Voter Registration Fraud Scheme

Declassified memos showed the FBI’s probe into possible voter registration fraud by GBI Strategies in Muskegon County, Michigan. Canvassers admitted to submitting fake registrations and using false information. The investigation involved interviews and database checks revealing many fraudulent applications. The Biden Justice Department’s Public Integrity Section initially limited the scope. Agents raised concerns about the investigation’s narrow focus. The case ultimately closed without prosecution. Trump called for reopening the probe, citing slow-walking by the previous administration. The documents provide new details on the handling of election-related intelligence.


Somali Gangs Terrorizing Minneapolis Area With Shootings and Murders, Sheriff Says

Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher reported a dozen Somali gangs with hundreds of members, mainly teenagers, committing public shootings and murders in the Minneapolis area. Somali gangs accounted for at least 14 homicides in the past two years and over 100 shootings. Fletcher highlighted concerns over community denial and the potential tripling of gang-involved juveniles. His office documented incidents including drive-by shootings, gun battles, and assaults. Somali leaders criticized the sheriff’s comments as scapegoating. Fletcher invited dialogue with the Somali community for solutions. The gangs maintain ties with groups in other states like Ohio.


Trump Administration Shortens Foreign Journalist Visas to 240 Days With 90 for Chinese Reporters

The Trump administration shortened the duration of foreign journalist visas to 240 days. Chinese reporters face a further reduced limit of just 90 days. The Department of Homeland Security issued the new rules ending the previous duration of the status system. The changes require periodic assessments of compliance with immigration laws. The policy aims to enhance oversight of foreign media activities. Special administrative regions like Hong Kong and Macao receive longer durations. The rule takes effect 60 days after Federal Register publication. Critics from media advocacy groups expressed concerns over press freedom.

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DSA Member Claims Secret Nazis Acceptable If They Advance Socialist Agenda

Far-left podcaster and DSA member Emma Vigeland stated she does not care if progressive or socialist candidates are “secret Nazis” as long as they support the right platform. Vigeland made the comments on a Vox podcast while discussing candidate vetting. The remarks came amid scrutiny of DSA-backed candidates, including Graham Platner, with alleged Nazi symbols. Critics highlighted the ends-justify-the-means approach. Vigeland’s comments exposed priorities within the socialist movement. The exchange drew widespread backlash on social media.


Lifelong Democrat and Ex-Clinton Official Warns DSA Socialist Takeover Threatens America

Jamie Metzl, who served on President Clinton’s National Security Council and in the State Department, warned that the Democratic Socialists of America represent a fundamental threat to the Democratic Party and the country. Metzl described the DSA as a coordinated group of radical extremists pursuing an agenda to take over the party and dismantle the American system of government. He highlighted the DSA’s platform calling for abolishing the Senate and other radical changes. Metzl pointed to a DSA co-chair’s recent comments as evidence. The former Clinton official urged Democrats and all Americans to recognize the danger.


DSA Activist Linda Sarsour Calls for Replacing Declaration of Independence With Leftist Values Document

DSA activist Linda Sarsour proposed replacing the Declaration of Independence with a new document reflecting radical left values. She made the comments during a Working Families Party call in March 2026. Sarsour criticized the original Declaration as created by white men 250 years ago. She urged building something different that brings millions of Americans around leftist principles. The remarks resurfaced amid her association with figures like Zohran Mamdani. Critics viewed the statement as an attack on foundational American documents. Sarsour’s history includes leadership in the Women’s March before controversies over antisemitism.

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AOC Claims Senate Founded on Jim Crow While Defending DSA Abolition Calls

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez defended DSA calls to abolish the Senate by claiming it was founded on Jim Crow segregation laws. AOC made the remarks during a Fox News appearance while discussing institutional reforms. The Senate was established in 1789 under the Constitution, nearly a century before the Jim Crow era. DSA co-chair Gustavo Gordillo earlier called the Senate undemocratic for equal state representation. Critics noted AOC’s historical inaccuracy. The comments came amid DSA’s radical platform proposals. Several House Democrats distanced themselves from the agenda.


Secret Service Agents Protecting JD Vance Family Appear to Leak Private Travel Details to Media

Secret Service agents assigned to Vice President JD Vance’s family reportedly leaked grievances about travel requests to left-wing media. An MSNow article cited anonymous sources complaining about hastily arranged trips, including a canceled golf lesson for Vance’s son. Agents expressed frustration over last-minute changes and resource use. The Vance family uses Marine Two for security reasons to avoid motorcade disruptions. Administration officials noted diplomatic and family needs require flexibility. Leaks violate nondisclosure agreements post-2012 scandal. The Vance family seeks normalcy amid protection duties.

🌐 International

U.S. Renews Strikes on Iran Following Deaths of Two Military Personnel in Jordan Attack

U.S. forces conducted an eighth consecutive night of strikes against Iranian targets. The operations followed the deaths of two U.S. service members in an Iranian missile attack on a Jordan base. Central Command targeted coastal surveillance and air defense facilities to degrade threats to shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran launched retaliatory attacks on Gulf states including Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. The conflict intensified after the collapse of an interim ceasefire. Additional U.S. refueling aircraft headed to the region. The death toll among U.S. personnel reached 16 since the war began.


Venezuela’s Plans to Manipulate Voting Machines Raised Alarms in U.S. Intelligence Circles

U.S. intelligence monitored Venezuela’s plans to electronically manipulate voting machines from 2004 to 2020. The schemes involved substituting false votes undetectable by audits. Venezuela collaborated with Smartmatic, which acquired U.S.-based Sequoia Voting Systems. The intelligence community assessed risks to U.S. election systems due to Smartmatic’s ties. The U.S. forced divestiture of Sequoia in 2007. No interference was detected in U.S. elections. Trump declassified the documents highlighting vulnerabilities in voting systems. The revelations underscore the need for stronger election security measures.


Russia Launches Large-Scale Missile Attack on Kyiv as Ukraine Requests More Patriot Systems

Russia conducted a large-scale missile attack on Kyiv, causing significant damage and casualties. Ukrainian authorities reported multiple strikes across the capital. The assault is part of ongoing Russian operations against Ukrainian cities. Ukraine pleaded for additional Patriot missile interceptors to counter the deadly barrages. The latest incident underscores the intensity of the conflict and Ukraine’s defensive needs. International partners continue discussions on military aid.


UK Incoming Prime Minister Andy Burnham to Scrap Digital IDs and Boost North Sea Drilling

UK incoming Prime Minister Andy Burnham plans to scrap the controversial digital ID scheme. The program, introduced under Keir Starmer, faced backlash over surveillance concerns. Burnham’s spokesperson said resources will shift to cost-of-living priorities. Burnham is also set to announce accelerated North Sea oil and gas development. The move follows Trump’s calls to open reserves. It includes faster processing of existing projects like Rosebank and Jackdaw. Burnham will take office on July 20 as the seventh prime minister in a decade. The policies signal a reset from previous Labour approaches.


Trump-Backed Colombia Administration Pledges to Protect Western Civilization

Colombia’s incoming foreign minister Omar Bula reaffirmed commitment to Western civilization during a Heritage Foundation speech. The administration, backed by President Trump, resumed relations with Israel and plans to combat Chinese influence and narcoterrorism. Bula highlighted strengthening Colombia’s place in the Western Hemisphere for security and opportunity. The government will defend Christian-rooted principles and cultural identity. Bula discussed economic strategies to replace Chinese products with Colombian resources. The transfer of power occurs on August 7. The new leadership signals a shift from previous anti-Israel and left-leaning policies.

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Explanation of Approach
First, we used an AI “browse_page” tool to verify that the provided URLs load without 404 errors and extract a comprehensive, factual summary of their content, focusing on the key points and facts, devoid of opinion and editorialization. This forms the basis for the one-paragraph summary, written in a politically non-partisan voice without injecting personal opinion, while maintaining a formal, reportorial tone. We then identify at least three independent corroborating sources by employing an AI “web_search” tool with a targeted query that excludes prohibited outlets proven to be propagandistic. These were chosen as non-clustered (distinct outlets) and to ensure timeliness. This approach guarantees accuracy, up-to-date relevance, and precise adherence to non-partisan, fact-based reporting. All videos are used courtesy of the sources and per Fair Use laws.
]]><![CDATA[Underground USA Evening News Brief]]>https://www.undergroundusa.com/p/underground-usa-evening-news-brief-7f0https://www.undergroundusa.com/p/underground-usa-evening-news-brief-7f0Sat, 18 Jul 2026 22:30:12 GMT🎧 LISTEN TO THE HEADLINES ON THE SUBSTACK APP

Foreign IP Addresses From China, Iran, Serbia Linked to U.S. Election Servers in 2020

Data reportedly showed thousands of foreign IP addresses from countries including China, Iran, and Serbia sending and receiving information to election precincts and servers in swing states during the 2020 election. Reports indicated these connections occurred before, during, and after voting. The activity allegedly involved fluctuations in vote counts inconsistent with standard additive processes. Agencies such as CISA, DHS, the FBI, and the CIA were claimed to have knowledge of the foreign data transfers. Similar patterns were noted in subsequent elections without significant reforms to address vulnerabilities. The findings raise questions about election security and foreign interference in U.S. voting systems.

🏛️ News & Politics

Appeals Court Overturns Lower Ruling on 2020 USPS Mail Changes, Handing Win to Trump Administration

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled that states challenging 2020 Postal Service changes went to the wrong court. The decision throws out a district judge’s injunction blocking reductions in high-speed sorting machines, overtime, late trips, and other adjustments. The three-judge panel said challengers first needed to file with the Postal Regulatory Commission before seeking federal court relief. The changes were implemented amid a surge in mail-in voting during the pandemic. District Judge Emmet Sullivan had permanently barred some practices without commission input. The appeals court did not rule on the merits of the changes themselves. The case dates back to summer 2020 when states warned of delays to ballots. The ruling highlights procedural requirements for Postal Service disputes. It comes as mail voting debates continue ahead of future elections.


Federal Appeals Court Strikes Down New Jersey Ban on AR-15 Rifles and High-Capacity Magazines

The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled New Jersey’s ban on AR-15 rifles and magazines holding more than 10 rounds unconstitutional. Ten of the court’s 15 judges joined the decision, marking the first federal appeals court ruling against a state assault weapons ban. The court applied the Supreme Court’s Bruen decision standard that weapons in common use for lawful purposes receive Second Amendment protection. New Jersey will likely seek a delay while pursuing further review. The case was brought by gun rights groups and individual owners. Dissenters argued the majority departed from other circuits. The ruling aligns with challenges in other states and ongoing Supreme Court review of similar laws.


Trump Administration Moves to Cut Illegal Aliens From U.S. Banking System to Promote Self-Deportation

The Trump administration is implementing measures to remove illegal immigrants from American banking services. White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller announced the Treasury Department issued guidance to financial institutions. Officials plan meetings with banks to facilitate compliance. Miller described banking access as a major engine for illegal immigration. The policy stems from a May executive order addressing risks to the national banking system. Shutting off capital access is expected to drive voluntary departures. The effort targets direct deposits, credit cards, and other financial participation by illegal aliens.


Hawaii Supreme Court Launches Unprecedented Attack on U.S. Supreme Court Labeling It Racist

The Hawaii Supreme Court issued a ruling attacking the Roberts Court as racist and treating its landmark decisions as “white noise.” Justice Todd Eddins authored the opinion in Granillo v. State of Hawaii, which expanded state due process rules. The court declared Hawaii interprets its constitution independently from the U.S. Supreme Court. It criticized rulings on voting rights, equal protection, and campaign finance. The opinion claimed the Roberts Court advances a partisan project undermining democracy and civil rights. The decision ordered a new trial for a 34-year-old conviction based on debunked forensic testimony. Critics viewed the language as an assault on federal judicial authority.


GOP Sen. Bernie Moreno Prepares Sanctions Bill Against Canada Over Toxic Wildfire Smoke

GOP Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-OH) announced plans to introduce legislation imposing sanctions, asset freezes, visa bans, and tariffs on Canada. The bill addresses the country’s wildfire management failures, producing toxic smoke affecting millions of Americans. Air quality alerts covered the Northeast and Midwest with hazardous conditions in major cities. Exposure outdoors equated to smoking several cigarettes. The recurring plumes disrupted economic activity, including theme park operations. Critics highlighted inadequate forest management as exacerbating the issue. The proposed measures aim to hold Canadian officials accountable for cross-border pollution impacts.

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DOJ Launches Grand Jury Probe Into Neville Singham Over Funding of Marxist Groups

The Department of Justice opened a grand jury investigation into Neville Roy Singham for financial crimes related to funding Marxist organizations in the U.S. Singham, a billionaire Maoist activist, faces scrutiny for his role in supporting various left-wing groups. The probe examines potential violations tied to his financial activities and political donations. Reports detail Singham’s extensive support for domestic Marxist networks. The investigation highlights concerns over foreign-influenced funding of ideological movements. Singham has been linked to efforts promoting radical leftist causes. The grand jury proceedings remain ongoing as part of broader efforts to examine such financial flows.


AOC Uses Fake Black Accent at Tennessee Rally for Congressional Candidate

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez spoke at a rally in Tennessee for black congressional candidate Justin Pearson. She adopted an apparent Ebonics accent while addressing the crowd. AOC referred to Rep. Ayanna Pressley as “Sista Pressley” and discussed events in Montgomery, Alabama. The speech called for northern support in southern states against Republicans. Critics highlighted the accent shift from her usual speaking style. This marked at least the second instance of AOC using a similar accent at rallies. The event occurred amid Democratic efforts in the South.


DSA Official Displays Basic Ignorance of Senate Versus House During Fox News Appearance

Gustavo Gordillo, co-chair of the Democratic Socialists of America in New York City, appeared on Fox News and confused the roles of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. Gordillo criticized the Senate as undemocratic for giving equal representation to smaller states. Host Martha MacCallum pressed him on the DSA platform calling for the abolition of the Senate. The exchange highlighted a fundamental misunderstanding of the bicameral legislature where the Senate represents states equally and the House represents population. Gordillo’s comments drew attention to educational shortcomings among some leftist activists. The DSA has gained influence in Democratic primaries.


Maine Democrat Senate Debate Highlights Alarmingly Low Standards Among Candidates

A debate among Maine Democrat Senate candidates to replace Graham Platner showcased notably low qualifications. One transgender candidate responded to a question on Senate qualifications by citing unsuccessful runs for office, songwriting, and self-published books. The field included over a dozen contenders with varied backgrounds. The debate occurred as Democrats seek a nominee to challenge incumbent Sen. Susan Collins. Critics noted the bar for Democrat candidates appears significantly lowered. The event followed Platner’s withdrawal amid multiple controversies. Maine Democrats will select a nominee through caucuses and a convention.


Teachers Union President Randi Weingarten Loses It at Convention Railing Against Trump

American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten delivered an unhinged State of the Union address at the national convention in Washington, D.C. She jumped and screamed while criticizing the Trump administration and calling for union power against perceived threats. Weingarten stated Trump’s actions make her want to drink vodka. She emphasized fighting for freedom, opportunity, and justice while invoking Martin Luther King Jr.’s vision. The event included a panel discussion in which she discussed union efforts against billionaires. The speech highlighted contrasts between labor values and administration policies. Clips showed enthusiastic crowd responses to her remarks.

🌐 International

NGO Sea-Watch Accused of Cooperating With People Smugglers in Mediterranean Operations

Previously unpublished Frontex surveillance footage from May 11 showed a Sea-Watch rescue vessel approaching a migrant boat near Tripoli before any distress signal. Masked men in paramilitary uniforms distributed life jackets and supervised transfers to Sea-Watch tenders. The men then waved and gave thumbs up before departing at high speed after throwing migrant belongings overboard. The incident occurred about 40 nautical miles northeast of Tripoli with around 90 migrants on board. Italian authorities opened an investigation into possible aid to illegal immigration. Sea-Watch denied collusion, claiming the crew faced danger and acted to de-escalate while informing authorities. The footage revived long-standing suspicions of coordination between some NGOs and smugglers. European governments have criticized NGO operations as creating pull factors for irregular migration. Italy under Giorgia Meloni has tightened rules on NGO vessels.


U.S. Forces Destroy Iranian Surveillance Tower at Chabahar Port in Strait of Hormuz Area

U.S. forces successfully destroyed the Chabahar Shahid Kalantari Port surveillance tower. The strike targeted a key IRGC maritime surveillance site used to monitor vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. CENTCOM confirmed the operation degraded Iran’s ability to coordinate attacks on shipping. The action is part of broader efforts to protect freedom of navigation amid escalating tensions. Video footage showed the precision strike on the tower. Iranian responses included retaliatory strikes on regional targets. The development comes as the U.S. maintains pressure on Iranian logistics networks.


Russia Advances Rail Link With Iran and Azerbaijan to Bypass Maritime Route Strains

Russia is pressing ahead with a rail link project connecting to Iran and Azerbaijan. The initiative aims to ease pressure on maritime routes amid disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov highlighted the International North-South Transport Corridor as vital for trade. The project involves completing the Rasht-Astara section with Russian financing. Progress discussions occurred among railway chiefs from the three countries. The corridor links St. Petersburg to Mumbai, providing an alternative to sea routes. The development comes as U.S.-Iran tensions impact regional shipping. Russia views the corridor as increasingly important given current crises.


UNICEF-Funded Gaza School Holds Anti-Israel Drawing Contest Glorifying Prisoners Before U.S. Funding

A Gaza school funded by UNICEF held a drawing contest asking children to illustrate suffering Palestinians in Israeli prisons. The Al Itqan Educational School announced the event in late April and hosted a Hamas-linked official. UNICEF provided generous funding to the school for stationery and operations. The U.S. State Department awarded UNICEF over $200 million shortly after. The school later scrubbed related social media posts. Watchdog groups raised concerns about UNICEF partnerships with extremist-linked entities in Gaza. The incident highlights ongoing scrutiny of U.N. aid in the region.


Venezuela Earthquake Disaster Death Toll Surpasses 5,000 With 50,000 Still Missing

The death toll from twin earthquakes in Venezuela on June 24 exceeded 5,000 with more than 50,000 people remaining missing. The magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 quakes struck near La Guaira, causing widespread collapse of poorly constructed socialist housing projects. Rescue efforts recovered over 6,400 people from rubble while 16,740 sustained injuries. The United Nations estimates significant reconstruction costs. U.S. military assets, including ships and aircraft, supported humanitarian aid delivery. Acting President Delcy Rodríguez reported using IMF reserves for initial recovery. The disaster exposed issues with building standards under previous government programs.

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Explanation of Approach
First, we used an AI “browse_page” tool to verify that the provided URLs load without 404 errors and extract a comprehensive, factual summary of their content, focusing on the key points and facts, devoid of opinion and editorialization. This forms the basis for the one-paragraph summary, written in a politically non-partisan voice without injecting personal opinion, while maintaining a formal, reportorial tone. We then identify at least three independent corroborating sources by employing an AI “web_search” tool with a targeted query that excludes prohibited outlets proven to be propagandistic. These were chosen as non-clustered (distinct outlets) and to ensure timeliness. This approach guarantees accuracy, up-to-date relevance, and precise adherence to non-partisan, fact-based reporting. All videos are used courtesy of the sources and per Fair Use laws.
]]><![CDATA[Underground USA Evening News Brief]]>https://www.undergroundusa.com/p/underground-usa-evening-news-brief-c2ahttps://www.undergroundusa.com/p/underground-usa-evening-news-brief-c2aFri, 17 Jul 2026 22:31:09 GMT🎧 LISTEN TO THE HEADLINES ON THE SUBSTACK APP

White House Releases Documents Exposing Election System Vulnerabilities

The White House published a dedicated page on election integrity detailing the release of previously classified intelligence assessments and reports addressing vulnerabilities in U.S. election infrastructure. These materials cover electronic voting and ballot-counting systems long known to be exposed to attacks by adversaries including Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea. China is reported to have acquired data on approximately 220 million U.S. voters through what officials describe as the largest compromise of election-related information in history, with details including names, addresses, and other sensitive records. Further, China has been exposed for having printed fraudulent US election ballots. Additional disclosures include an FBI investigation into alleged fraudulent voter registration activities in Michigan involving a Democrat-linked operation and a Department of Homeland Security review identifying roughly 278,000 noncitizens registered to vote in federal elections. The administration emphasized the need for stronger safeguards such as voter ID and proof of citizenship amid concerns over foreign meddling, data exploitation, and inadequate protections in current systems.

🏛️ News & Politics

DHS Investigation Uncovers Hundreds of Thousands of Non-Citizens and Dead Voters on Election Rolls

A Department of Homeland Security investigation revealed approximately 278,000 non-citizens illegally registered to vote in federal elections based on data from cooperating states. Officials indicate the true figure is likely much higher, as many Democrat-led states refused to share full voter files. The review through the SAVE system processed over 68 million records and identified more than 400,000 deceased registrants along with over 28,000 non-citizens. States with policies prioritizing non-citizens showed disproportionately higher numbers of ineligible registrations. The findings underscore weaknesses in voter roll maintenance under existing federal laws like the National Voter Registration Act. DHS continues expanding the probe to additional states and supports Justice Department enforcement actions. The data highlights risks of vote dilution for eligible citizens due to inaccurate rolls and lack of robust verification.


Sen. Thom Tillis Threatens to Stall SAVE America Act Over Inane Election Timeline Concerns

Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) stated he would oppose and slow the SAVE America Act if it reaches the Senate floor. The retiring North Carolina senator criticized the legislation pushed by President Trump for requiring stronger voter identification and citizenship proof. Tillis argued the timeline for implementation before the 2026 midterms does not add up based on his experience with similar state-level changes. He warned against attaching the measure to reconciliation spending bills and urged focus on government funding instead. The bill aims to prevent non-citizens from voting through enhanced documentation requirements. Thirty-six states already have some form of voter ID laws. Tillis suggested alternatives like grants for states or audits while calling the current push a distraction. Senate Majority Leader John Thune has noted the lack of 60 votes needed without filibuster changes.

Editor’s Note: Using this logic, election integrity reforms would never come to pass.


DC Circuit Court Backs Pentagon Escort Policy for Journalists Amid Leak Concerns

The United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit issued a 2-1 ruling on July 16 that allows the Pentagon to continue requiring escorts for all journalists inside its facility. The decision stays a lower court order blocking the policy while litigation continues. The policy stems from a 2025 effort by the Pentagon to address leaks following a series of unauthorized disclosures. Multiple news outlets declined to sign related pledges and surrendered credentials while The Epoch Times complied. District Judge Paul L. Friedman had previously ruled against aspects of the restrictions, including the escort requirement. The appeals court found the government likely to succeed on First Amendment claims, noting the policy applies evenly without demonstrated unique harm to plaintiffs. The ruling signals the panel’s inclination toward the administration’s position on national security grounds, though full arguments remain scheduled. Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate welcomed the outcome, emphasizing no First Amendment right for reporters to roam freely.


National Guard Deployment in Washington DC Extended Through 2029 Inauguration

The National Guard will continue its deployment in Washington, D.C., through the 2029 presidential inauguration. Pentagon officials confirmed the extension of the D.C. Safe and Beautiful Mission on July 16. Troops first arrived in August 2025 to assist local and federal law enforcement in restoring order. Over 5,100 Guard members remain in the capital as of early July. The mission supports crime reduction efforts alongside summer events tied to Freedom 250 celebrations. Daily costs run about $607 per soldier according to Congressional Budget Office estimates. D.C. officials continue to oppose the presence of out-of-state troops and pursue ongoing litigation. A lawsuit by D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb was overturned on appeal. City leaders argue the Guard should focus on national emergencies rather than urban policing duties.


Strong 7.4 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Mexico Pacific Coast Triggering Tsunami Warning

A 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck off the southern coast of Mexico near the state of Chiapas on July 17. The tremor sent shockwaves felt across parts of Guatemala and El Salvador. Authorities issued a tsunami warning for the region, prompting recommendations to avoid beaches and coastal areas. The epicenter was located offshore, with initial reports indicating no immediate major damage or casualties. Mexican officials activated civil protection protocols and conducted assessments in affected zones. Tremors prompted evacuations of some public buildings as a precaution. Aftershocks followed the main event. The U.S. National Tsunami Warning Center monitored the situation for potential impacts.

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Radical Left Intimidation and Coercion Drive Democrat Rep. Adam Smith to Back Cut in Israel Military Aid

Representative Adam Smith (D-WA) voted to support Massie Amendment #8 to the National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, which aimed to eliminate $3.3 billion in U.S. military assistance to Israel. Smith affirmed his support for Israel’s right to exist and its defense against threats from Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran following the October 7 attacks. He highlighted how far-left activists have employed aggressive intimidation and coercion against him and his family, including vandalizing his home, setting a fire in his driveway, staging disruptive nighttime demonstrations that affected neighbors, shutting down town halls meant for open dialogue, and physically assaulting a staff member. Smith characterized these tactics as a dangerous and corrosive form of politics intended to intimidate and silence those who disagree. He described his vote as a difficult decision influenced by these pressures after years of such behavior. The amendment ultimately failed on a 104-314 vote, with Massie as the lone Republican supporter and more than 100 Democrats joining in favor.


Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass Defends Homeless Drug Use as Necessary for Sanity and Protection

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass faced criticism after comments at a City Hall press conference on July 16 where she suggested homeless people use drugs to stay sane and methamphetamine to remain awake for protection against assault. Bass made the remarks while discussing challenges faced by those living on the streets. When pressed by a reporter, she later denied saying meth provides protection and clarified her point about people using it to avoid sleep. Bass has also advocated for taxpayer-funded dental care for unhoused individuals, citing meth-related tooth loss. Former mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt responded by stating drug addiction causes homelessness rather than the reverse. The comments come amid ongoing criticism of Bass’s handling of the city’s homelessness crisis.


DNC Chair Ken Martin Requires Non-Disclosure Agreements for Party Finance Briefings

Democrat National Committee Chair Ken Martin required party officers to sign non-disclosure agreements before viewing financial records at a recent meeting. The move departed from past practices, according to sources familiar with the discussions. The DNC faces significant financial challenges, with nearly $15 million on hand but $18 million in debt as of its late-May filings. In contrast, the Republican National Committee holds $125 million with no debt. Martin has encountered criticism over leadership and fundraising amid preparations for the 2026 midterms. The requirement underscored sensitivity around the party’s money situation and ongoing internal concerns. Individual Democratic candidates have seen stronger personal fundraising, but the national committee continues to struggle.


Virginia Democrat Senator Pushes Bill to Codify Islamophobia Definition Into State Assault Laws

Virginia State Sen. Saddam Azlan Salim (D-Fairfax) introduced Senate Bill 624 to define Islamophobia in the state’s assault laws and require tracking of related bias crimes. The legislation would amend existing statutes to recognize Islamophobia as malicious prejudice or hatred directed toward Islam. It directs the Virginia State Police, Attorney General’s Office, and Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion to incorporate the definition into hate crime reporting. Virginia already enhances penalties for assaults motivated by protected characteristics, including religious conviction. The bill states it does not create new offenses or restrict First Amendment speech, but critics worry it could chill criticism of Islam. The measure comes amid broader debates over religious bias and free expression.


Sen. John Fetterman Draws Line Against Official Democratic Party Shift to Anti-Israel Stance

Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) stated he would leave the Democrat Party if it officially adopts an anti-Israel position in its platform. Fetterman made the comments following a House vote where over 100 Democrats supported an amendment to end U.S. military aid to Israel. He described the party platform change as a red line while viewing the House vote itself as symbolic. Fetterman reaffirmed strong support for Israel as a special ally and praised actions against Hamas and Hezbollah leadership. He expressed longstanding frustration with the party’s direction on Israel and noted an emerging pro-Hamas wing. Fetterman highlighted primary results electing intensely anti-Israel candidates. He pointed to his high approval among Republicans despite a strong Democratic voting record tied to his Israel support. Fetterman has not decided on his 2028 reelection plans.

🌐 International

Iranian Protests Intensify With Citizens Demanding End to Ayatollah Regime Rule

Protests in Iran have intensified as citizens call for the end of the Ayatollah’s rule amid ongoing regional conflicts and domestic hardships. Demonstrations have spread in various cities with reports of clashes with security forces. Protesters express frustration over economic conditions, repression, and the regime’s foreign adventures. Some chants target Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei directly. The unrest comes as the U.S. conducts strikes on Iranian targets and the regime faces international isolation. Iranian authorities have responded with arrests and internet restrictions. The situation remains fluid with calls for broader regime change gaining traction among segments of the population.


Secretary Marco Rubio Delivers Strong Warning on Resurgent Left-Wing Political Violence

Secretary of State Marco Rubio addressed leaders from over 60 countries on July 16 about the resurgence of left-wing political terrorism. Rubio highlighted a blind spot in counterterrorism efforts focused primarily on Islamist extremism while underestimating far-left threats. He cited rising statistics in the U.S., Germany, and Greece where left-wing and anarchist violence has increased significantly. The speech referenced specific incidents including attacks on immigration officers, sniper incidents, explosives, ambushes, a shooting at a Catholic school, the execution of a health care executive, assassination attempts on President Trump, and the murder of Charlie Kirk. Rubio called for an international response to address this form of extremism driven by hatred for civilization. The remarks mark an expansion of the administration’s priority on treating left-wing violence as a key terrorist threat. Civil rights groups have criticized the focus, but Rubio dismissed such concerns as partisan fiction.


U.S. Strikes Iranian Regime Logistics Network Hitting Bridges and Airport Targets

U.S. forces conducted strikes against Iranian military logistics infrastructure on July 16 and 17. Central Command described the operation as a major wave targeting coastal surveillance, air defense sites, and maritime capabilities. Regime media reported hits on multiple bridges in southern Hormozgan province, a railway station in Bandar Abbas, and the airport in Iranshahr. Additional strikes affected the Shahid Kalantari Port surveillance tower in Chabahar. The actions aim to degrade the regime’s ability to move troops, weapons, and monitor shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. This follows Iranian missile attacks on U.S. allies and attempts to disrupt regional shipping. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth shared imagery of damaged infrastructure from the operations. The strikes represent an escalation in efforts to pressure Tehran amid ongoing conflict.


Xi Jinping Positions China as Leader of Emerging AI Global Order

Chinese leader Xi Jinping addressed the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai on July 17. He cast Beijing as the champion of a new AI world order challenging U.S. dominance. Xi warned of new historical injustices from unequal technology access and urged countries to embrace open-source models. Chinese firm Moonshot unveiled what it claims is the world’s largest open AI model at the event. Xi emphasized seizing the historic opportunity presented by open models. Experts note China’s strengths in chips, energy, and other AI stack layers despite U.S. leads in advanced systems. The remarks underscore Beijing’s push for greater influence in global technology governance.


Israeli Knesset Dissolves After Legislative Blitz Setting October Elections

The Israeli Knesset dissolved itself early on July 17 following an overnight session of last-minute legislation by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition. Lawmakers passed bills rewarding allies and addressing key priorities before the scheduled summer recess. One measure grants the government expanded oversight of national media through a new regulatory body. Another temporarily suspends prosecution of ultra-Orthodox Jews for draft dodging, prompting an immediate High Court freeze. A supplemental bill declares Torah study a foundational national value. This marks the first completion of a full four-year term since 1988. Elections are now scheduled for October 27 amid challenging polls for the coalition. Speaker Amir Ohana expressed hopes for unity despite political differences.

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Explanation of Approach
First, we used an AI “browse_page” tool to verify that the provided URLs load without 404 errors and extract a comprehensive, factual summary of their content, focusing on the key points and facts, devoid of opinion and editorialization. This forms the basis for the one-paragraph summary, written in a politically non-partisan voice without injecting personal opinion, while maintaining a formal, reportorial tone. We then identify at least three independent corroborating sources by employing an AI “web_search” tool with a targeted query that excludes prohibited outlets proven to be propagandistic. These were chosen as non-clustered (distinct outlets) and to ensure timeliness. This approach guarantees accuracy, up-to-date relevance, and precise adherence to non-partisan, fact-based reporting. All videos are used courtesy of the sources and per Fair Use laws.
]]><![CDATA[Underground USA Evening News Brief]]>https://www.undergroundusa.com/p/underground-usa-evening-news-brief-5dehttps://www.undergroundusa.com/p/underground-usa-evening-news-brief-5deThu, 16 Jul 2026 22:30:21 GMT🎧 LISTEN TO THE HEADLINES ON THE SUBSTACK APP

Trump Prepares Primetime Speech Exposing Chinese Election Meddling

US President Donald Trump

President Trump is set to deliver a primetime address to the nation Thursday night focused on protecting the integrity of U.S. elections. The speech is expected to feature major revelations about Chinese Communist Party meddling, including evidence that Beijing compromised American voter data and that the CIA knew about it during Trump’s first term but withheld the information. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt signaled the significance of the disclosures during a briefing when questioned by CNN’s Kaitlan Collins about the lack of charges to date. Leavitt noted the documents have not been fully declassified yet and urged Americans to tune in to see the evidence for themselves before appropriate next steps. Trump will be joined by top officials including CIA Director John Ratcliffe, Acting DNI Bill Pulte, DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin, and FBI Director Kash Patel for the address. A White House task force has prepared newly declassified intelligence documents related to the 2020 election as the president continues to stress that free and fair elections form the foundation of the country.

🏛️ News & Politics

Trump Administration Revives Public Charge Rule for Green Card Applicants

US Citizenship and Immigration Services has rescinded a Biden-era regulation that limited which public benefits immigration officials could consider when determining whether an alien is likely to become a public charge. The new final rule restores broader discretion to officers, allowing them to evaluate an applicant’s age, health, family status, assets, resources, education, skills, and receipt of means-tested benefits such as food stamps, Medicaid, and housing assistance on a case-by-case basis. Under the Immigration and Nationality Act, individuals seeking visas, admission, or adjustment of status can be found inadmissible if they are deemed likely at any time to rely on taxpayer-funded government benefits. USCIS officials stated that the change aligns immigration policy with congressional intent for self-reliance and protects American taxpayers from subsidizing potential dependency. The policy shift could affect hundreds of thousands of green card applicants.


House Defeats Effort to Cut Israel Aid Amid Democratic Divisions

The U.S. House of Representatives defeated an amendment offered by Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) that sought to block $3.3 billion in annual security assistance to Israel. The vote was 314 to 104 against the measure, which was attached to a State Department spending bill. 103 Democrats joined the lone Republican supporter in backing the amendment, while party leadership remained split, with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) opposing it as overly broad. The proposal would have barred funds in the appropriations bill from being used for Israel and halted the longstanding security assistance package. Supporters cited concerns over civilian casualties in Gaza following the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack that killed 1,200 Israelis, according to Israeli figures, with Gaza health authorities reporting over 73,000 Palestinian deaths in the ensuing conflict. The amendment was largely symbolic as it would have required Senate approval and faced a likely veto from President Trump, who has prioritized strong support for Israel. The outcome highlights shifting views among some Democrats on U.S. aid policy toward Israel while the underlying spending bill advanced.

Editor’s Note: This illustrates how far the antisemitic far-Left radicals have infiltrated the Democrat Party.


DHS Mandates Body Camera On Every ICE Arrest Team

The Department of Homeland Security announced that every U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement arrest team will include at least one officer equipped with a body-worn camera. This policy takes effect nationwide following two recent fatal shootings by ICE agents who lacked such equipment. In Houston last week, an ICE agent shot and killed a Mexican man during a vehicle stop. Six days later, agents in Biddeford, Maine, fatally shot a Colombian man in a similar incident. Neither team had body cameras active. DHS attributed the rollout delays to funding interruptions from partial government shutdowns earlier in the year. The agency noted a sharp rise in assaults on immigration officers and stressed the need for transparency amid public scrutiny. Body cameras had already reached more than half of ICE field offices, with the rest scheduled within 60 days. Agents also received instructions to pause most vehicle stops temporarily for additional training.


House Passes Sunshine Protection Act to Make Daylight Saving Time Permanent

The House of Representatives passed the Sunshine Protection Act of 2025 on July 14 in a 308-117 bipartisan vote. The bill would establish daylight saving time as the permanent standard time nationwide and end the twice-yearly clock changes. Twenty-two Republicans and 95 Democrats opposed the measure. The legislation, introduced by Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL), now advances to the Senate. President Trump has endorsed it, citing the costs and inconvenience of seasonal clock adjustments for individuals, cities, and states. Supporters argue permanent daylight saving time would benefit public health, reduce accidents, lower crime rates, and boost outdoor activities and tourism, particularly in states like Florida. Critics, including Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR), have raised concerns about later winter sunrises that could affect school schedules and morning light. States that do not currently observe daylight saving time, such as Arizona and Hawaii, could opt out.


Canadian Wildfire Smoke Chokes Midwest and Northeast Skies

Heavy smoke from raging wildfires in Canada and northern Minnesota has spread across large parts of the US Midwest and Northeast, triggering air quality alerts and forcing residents to limit outdoor activity. Officials issued hazardous air warnings in states including Minnesota, Michigan, and Wisconsin as thick haze reduced visibility and raised health risks for sensitive groups. Fires in northeastern Minnesota, such as those in the Boundary Waters area, combined with hundreds of blazes across Canadian provinces like Ontario, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan to send plumes drifting south and east.

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Dem Rep Jahana Hayes Pushes Colonialism Lessons in Medical Training Amid DEI Hearing

Representative Jahana Hayes (D-CT) defended diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in medical schools during a House Education& Workforce Committee hearing. She argued that teaching about colonialism in healthcare addresses systemic roots of inequities and helps future doctors recognize historic power structures that affect care delivery. Hayes expressed disappointment that leaders from UCLA and UCSF could not immediately affirm the importance of such topics or the Black Panther Party’s role in healthcare discussions. The hearing examined whether DEI initiatives undermine core physician training at a time when federal investigations target potential race-based admissions practices in medical schools.


Michigan Senate Poll Shows Haley Stevens Leading Abdul El-Sayed Among Black and Working-Class Democrats

A new Detroit News/WDIV poll conducted July 8-11 of 500 likely Michigan Democrat primary voters found U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens (D-MI) leading former Wayne County health director Abdul El-Sayed 48 percent to 41 percent in the race for the U.S. Senate nomination, with 10 percent undecided. Stevens holds strong advantages with Black voters (67 percent to El-Sayed’s 21 percent), non-college-educated voters (56 percent to 34 percent), voters over age 55, Metro Detroit residents, and traditional Democrats. El-Sayed draws his strongest support from white voters at 51 percent to Stevens’ 39 percent, college-educated voters, those under age 55, outstate areas, and Democratic Socialists. The poll comes after state Sen. Mallory McMorrow dropped out of the race, and it highlights ongoing divisions in the Democratic primary electorate three weeks before the August 4 vote. Pollster Richard Czuba described the contest as wide open given the pool of movable voters.


Leftist Candidates Blast Elites While Burning Donor Cash on Luxury Hotels

Incumbent Democrat House candidates who routinely rail against wealthy elites and money in politics spent thousands of donor dollars on upscale hotel stays and resorts in recent months, according to newly released Federal Election Commission records. The campaigns of Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) and Squad members Reps. Summer Lee (DS-PA) and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (DS-NY) each covered costs exceeding one thousand dollars per visit at high-end properties, including a California golf resort with spa amenities for Lee, a four-star Manhattan hotel, and the Darcy in Washington for Khanna, and multiple four-star locations across several states for Ocasio-Cortez. These expenditures come as the lawmakers have criticized figures such as Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas for accepting luxury gifts and travel while pushing measures to curb elite influence and PAC donations. Lee, for instance, spoke against the upper class as adversaries in a Michigan rally weeks before her campaign listed travel expenses at the distant CordeValle Resort. Campaign representatives did not respond to requests for comment as the three face reelection in November.


FCC Readies Rulings on ABC’s The View and Disney Station Licenses

The Federal Communications Commission under Chairman Brendan Carr is preparing to rule that ABC’s daytime talk show “The View” does not qualify as a bona fide news program. This classification would subject the Disney-owned program to federal equal-time rules requiring comparable airtime for opposing political candidates when one appears. The expected decision could come before Labor Day. The FCC is also advancing its investigation into Disney’s eight ABC-owned television station licenses by moving toward an administrative hearing. This step follows an earlier order for early license renewals prompted by concerns over the company’s diversity practices and public interest obligations. The stations serve major markets including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, Houston, San Francisco, Raleigh-Durham, and Fresno. ABC has defended “The View” as a news interview program consistent with a 2002 FCC determination and has pushed back against the proceedings as government overreach into editorial decisions.


Ex Fed Adviser Gets 38 Months for Lying About Sharing Sensitive Info With China

John Harold Rogers, 64, a former senior adviser in the Federal Reserve Board’s international finance division from 2010 to 2021, received a 38-month prison sentence on July 15 from U.S. District Judge Dabney L. Friedrich in Washington. He was convicted in February of making false statements to investigators but acquitted on a charge of conspiracy to commit economic espionage. Prosecutors said Rogers developed a relationship with a Chinese intelligence operative starting in 2017 and shared restricted Federal Open Market Committee information, including Class II documents on economic forecasts and policy, during meetings in China under the cover of academic activities. He denied sharing any such information when questioned by the Fed’s Office of Inspector General in 2020. Rogers later took a professorship at China’s Fudan University, where he earned significant compensation. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro noted that Rogers abused his position of trust by funneling sensitive data that could aid Chinese interests in U.S. markets.

🌐 International

Iran Directs Houthis to Threaten Red Sea Closure Over Potential US Strikes on Power Grid

Iran has instructed Yemen’s Houthi allies to prepare to shut the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, the gateway to the Red Sea and a key energy route, if the United States targets Iranian power infrastructure. This escalation follows President Trump’s recent warnings about striking power plants and bridges unless Iran negotiates. The Houthis have deployed missiles and drones near the strait and are awaiting orders, according to sources. Such a move would compound disruptions from Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz, severely impacting global energy supplies and Saudi oil exports rerouted through the Red Sea. Recent Houthi actions, including missile strikes on Saudi targets after alleged airport bombings, signal renewed regional tensions.


US Reimposes Naval Blockade on Iran as Kuwait Intercepts Drones and Bahrain Sounds Sirens Amid Fresh Strikes

Kuwait’s air defenses intercepted dozens of Iranian missiles and drones targeting vital facilities in the country. Bahrain activated air raid sirens across the kingdom in response to the incoming threats. The United States reimposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports and conducted additional strikes on Iranian military sites, including command centers, air defenses, and coastal facilities near the Strait of Hormuz, after declaring the collapse of a recent ceasefire. A US vessel disabled a tanker attempting to breach the blockade. Iranian responses included missile and drone barrages while President Trump warned of further escalation if Tehran does not return to negotiations.


Rubio, Bessent, Miller Convene Dozens Of Nations On Resurgent Far Left Political Violence

Secretary of State Marco Rubio hosted delegations from more than 65 countries at the State Department for a ministerial meeting focused on countering what the Trump administration describes as a resurgence of far-left political terrorism and related subversion networks. Rubio highlighted rising incidents of left-wing attacks and plots in the United States and Europe, including a more than 40 percent jump in far-left violence in Germany over the past year. He pointed to Antifa receiving support from state actors like Iran and Cuba through international networks aimed at destabilizing the West. White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller described left-wing political violence as a fatal cancer on civilization and noted that the United States has formally recognized it as a national security threat to the republic. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent outlined efforts to target nonprofits and charitable entities exploited for illicit finance, foreign influence, and enabling violence, with accountability for officers and directors. The gathering signals an all-of-government push involving intelligence sharing and financial measures against transnational far-left extremism.


China and Russia Plot to Take Down Starlink Satellites

Classified documents from secret China-Russia military forums reveal plans to counter and potentially destroy Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite network. Chinese and Russian officials discussed the topic during meetings, including the Third China-Russia Military-Technical Cooperation Forum in Guangzhou in November 2023. Researchers from China’s state-owned China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation presented a three-stage strategy that starts with diplomatic and legal pressure to restrict Starlink’s expansion by claiming orbital congestion and spectrum issues. It escalates to joint electronic jamming operations and cyber attacks such as malware deployment through user terminals to paralyze the network. The final stage involves developing low-cost weapons to physically destroy multiple satellites faster than they can be replaced. The documents expose deeper military cooperation between the two nations in areas like space weapons and air defense while contradicting China’s claims of neutrality in the Ukraine conflict.


Meloni Coalition Stumbles on Election Reform Push

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s right-wing coalition suffered a narrow parliamentary setback on July 14-15 when an amendment to reintroduce preference voting in a broader electoral reform bill failed by a single vote in the lower house. The proposal, backed by Meloni’s Brothers of Italy party along with allies, sought to allow voters to select up to three preferred candidates from party lists for the first time in over three decades while maintaining locked lists for top candidates and a seat bonus for winning coalitions. Lawmakers conducted the vote by secret ballot at the opposition’s insistence despite Meloni’s call for an open vote. Some coalition members apparently defected, leading Meloni to remark that the swamp had won again and that missing votes from her own side required reflection. The opposition celebrated the defeat with calls for her resignation while the coalition vowed to press ahead with the rest of the reform in the Senate, where votes would be public.

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Explanation of Approach
First, we used an AI “browse_page” tool to verify that the provided URLs load without 404 errors and extract a comprehensive, factual summary of their content, focusing on the key points and facts, devoid of opinion and editorialization. This forms the basis for the one-paragraph summary, written in a politically non-partisan voice without injecting personal opinion, while maintaining a formal, reportorial tone. We then identify at least three independent corroborating sources by employing an AI “web_search” tool with a targeted query that excludes prohibited outlets proven to be propagandistic. These were chosen as non-clustered (distinct outlets) and to ensure timeliness. This approach guarantees accuracy, up-to-date relevance, and precise adherence to non-partisan, fact-based reporting. All videos are used courtesy of the sources and per Fair Use laws.
]]><![CDATA[Underground USA Evening News Brief]]>https://www.undergroundusa.com/p/underground-usa-evening-news-brief-b8ahttps://www.undergroundusa.com/p/underground-usa-evening-news-brief-b8aWed, 15 Jul 2026 22:30:21 GMT🎧 LISTEN TO THE HEADLINES ON THE SUBSTACK APP

AOC Calls for Networks to Censor Trump Speech on Election Integrity

US Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (DS-NY)

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (DS-NY) stated on Tuesday that television networks have an ethical obligation not to air President Trump’s upcoming address if it includes statements about elections that she views as not grounded in evidence or facts. She told reporters on Capitol Hill that media outlets should review transcripts in advance and avoid platforming what she described as lies about the election. Ocasio-Cortez added that the decision would depend on the speech’s contents. Trump confirmed earlier that day his prime-time speech on Thursday night would focus heavily on free and fair elections and related issues. He described it as really big news, essential to the country, because without fair elections, there is no country. Reports indicate the address may highlight reexamined government findings on election infrastructure vulnerabilities, including potential foreign access to voter data.

🏛️ News & Politics

Speaker Mike Johnson Warns of Communist Threat From Rising DSA Candidates

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) issued a pointed warning about the dangers of communism during a House Republican leadership press conference. He highlighted the growing influence of Democratic Socialists of America-backed candidates across the country, describing their agenda as a direct assault on American freedoms that echoes the deadly failures of the ideology throughout the 20th century. Johnson noted that these radicals seek policies such as defunding the police, abolishing prisons, eliminating the Senate, packing the Supreme Court, and granting government control over production, calling them a serious danger to families and the constitutional republic. He emphasized that this is not the Democrat Party of old but one increasingly dominated by Marxists who have brought the fight for such ideas to American shores, urging voters to recognize the stakes ahead of the midterms.


House GOP Releases Blueprint for 95 Billion Dollar Reconciliation Package

House Republicans released a budget blueprint on July 15, 2026. The measure would enable a third reconciliation bill to allocate $95 billion for defense, farm aid, and state efforts to implement voter ID requirements. It directs $73 billion toward defense and intelligence activities amid the conflict with Iran, $12 billion toward agricultural support, and $10 billion toward election integrity measures. Both chambers must approve identical budget resolutions to proceed with reconciliation, which permits passage of qualifying fiscal legislation by simple majority and bypasses the Senate filibuster. The House Budget Committee plans a markup on July 16. Committees on Armed Services, Administration, Intelligence, and Agriculture will develop the underlying legislation. The resolution lacks specified pay-fors for the new spending. This follows two prior reconciliation packages, one making 2017 tax cuts permanent with border security elements and another funding ICE and Border Patrol. President Trump has urged swift action on a third package incorporating the SAVE America Act.


Trump Reverses DHS Pause Orders ICE to Resume Vehicle Stops

President Trump directed the Department of Homeland Security to reverse a one-day pause on most ICE vehicle stops, calling the tactic one of the agency’s most important crime-fighting tools. The temporary halt followed two fatal shootings during vehicle stops in Texas and Maine within the past week, where agents fired on drivers, one of whom authorities said attempted to ram officers. DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin had implemented the indefinite pause pending new training, limiting stops to targets with serious or violent criminal histories except in specific cases. Trump pushed back via social media, stating that halting the practice would play into criminals’ hands and that agents must remain strong, fair, and smart in their operations while emphasizing that crime is down significantly. The White House confirmed the reversal, with Trump noting the need to remove unvetted individuals allowed entry under the prior administration.


Senate Hearing on Taxpayer Fraud Exposes Democrat Absence as Whistleblowers Demand Action

Democrats failed to attend a Senate Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee hearing on taxpayer fraud held on July 15, 2026, leaving their seats empty while independent journalist Nick Shirley and activist James O’Keefe testified. Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), who chaired the session, highlighted the vacant Democrat spots and questioned their lack of interest in addressing the theft of funds from American taxpayers. Shirley, describing himself as a 100 percent independent journalist focused on serving the people, emphasized that fraud steals money from hardworking citizens regardless of party affiliation and that the dollars involved have no political labels attached. He detailed his investigations that have uncovered billions in fraud, including schemes in Minnesota, California, and New York City where government-funded programs like adult daycares allegedly misused funds for activities such as ping-pong and Tai Chi for elderly participants. Shirley noted his prior work led to over 30 bills in Congress and the formation of a fraud task force, and he urged lawmakers to crack down on the issue to put Americans first.


House Passes Trump-Backed Measure Ending Clock Changes

The House of Representatives voted 308-117 on July 14 to approve the Sunshine Protection Act, which would make daylight saving time the permanent standard across most of the United States. The legislation ends the twice-yearly practice of adjusting clocks, keeping the current March-to-November schedule year-round unless individual states opt out through their legislatures before the law takes effect. President Trump has publicly supported the bill, calling the seasonal clock changes a ridiculous twice-yearly production that wastes time and money while urging Congress to pass it as a win for the Republican Party. The measure now heads to the Senate, where a similar version stalled in the past due to concerns from lawmakers like Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) about late winter sunrises in some regions.

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New Hampshire Democrat Lawmaker Claims Constitutional Shield After Speeding Ticket

New Hampshire state Representative Ellen Read, a Democrat from Newmarket, was clocked driving 107 miles per hour in a 65-mile-per-hour zone on Interstate 93 in Windham on December 2, 2024. Authorities say she was traveling away from the State House toward her job in Woburn, Massachusetts, at the time rather than heading to legislative duties. Read faced a second speeding citation for 92 miles per hour on the same highway in June 2025. She has argued in court that legislative privilege under the New Hampshire Constitution prevents officers from stopping or charging her while traveling to or from the Legislature. A judge rejected the claim in her first case, where she was found guilty of negligent driving and fined $1,240 with a potential license suspension for future violations. The New Hampshire Supreme Court declined to hear her appeal in June 2026.


Wisconsin Elections Panel Refers Elon Musk Bribery Complaints to Prosecutors

The Wisconsin Elections Commission voted five to one in a closed session to forward two complaints alleging that Elon Musk violated the state’s election bribery law by offering one million dollar payments to voters ahead of the 2025 Wisconsin Supreme Court election. The bipartisan panel determined there was probable cause that Musk’s social media post and related actions with his America PAC sought to induce people to vote in the race between conservative Brad Schimel and liberal Susan Crawford. Musk had handed out the large checks at a Green Bay rally and offered smaller incentives tied to a petition opposing activist judges as part of broader efforts that poured tens of millions into the contest. Prosecutors in Brown County now have forty days to decide on potential charges for what amounts to a Class I felony under Wisconsin law prohibiting anything of value given to encourage voting.


Med School Deans Dodge Basic Biology Questions in House DEI Hearing

Two medical school leaders from the University of California system struggled to answer straightforward questions about biological reality during a House Education and Workforce Committee hearing on DEI initiatives in medical education. When asked who can have babies, UCSF Chancellor Dr. Sam Hawgood acknowledged that the vast majority of pregnancies occur in women but equivocated on whether non-biological women have ever given birth, emphasizing care for transgender patients instead of a direct response. UCLA School of Medicine Dean Dr. Steve Dubinett similarly avoided confirming that a person with a uterus is a woman, citing compliance with laws and institutional materials that discourage assuming gender identity.


Black Historian Blames Racism for Scrutiny After Scholars Flag Errors in Her Prize-Winning Book

Kerri Greenidge, a Black historian formerly at Tufts University, faced criticism from fellow scholars for significant problems in her 2022 book “The Grimkes.” Reviewers identified factual errors, unsubstantiated claims, missing endnotes, and citation issues in the work about a slaveholding family and its abolitionist descendants. Retired professor Myra Glenn highlighted these flaws in a 2024 review, noting a lack of evidence for major assertions. Tufts conducted a peer review that confirmed multiple errors and citation problems, leading to Greenidge’s departure from the university. Her publisher removed the book from its site, and another of her works now draws similar questions. Greenidge responded by claiming the criticism represents an attack on Black women academics, expressed heartbreak over the treatment, and acknowledged possible misattributed citations while denying fabrication or plagiarism.


Americans Lose Further Confidence in Higher Education

Public confidence in American higher education has slipped once again after a short-lived recovery, with only 38 percent of U.S. adults now expressing a great deal or quite a lot of trust in the institution. This marks a decline from 42 percent last year and reflects a steep drop from 57 percent in 2015, as skepticism grows over partisan indoctrination on campuses, soaring costs that deliver questionable returns, and failure to equip students with practical job skills in an AI-driven economy. Gallup researchers noted that 31 percent of doubters point to political bias, 30 percent to excessive expenses, and 25 percent to inadequate workforce preparation, with Democrats fueling much of the recent downturn. The results highlight ongoing public frustration with an industry that once enjoyed broad respect but now struggles to justify its value to everyday Americans.

🌐 International

US Iran Clash Enters Fifth Day With Trump Threatening Power Plant Strikes

The United States and Iran continued trading heavy strikes for a fifth straight day as American forces targeted Iranian military sites including coastal infrastructure and a barracks while Iran launched retaliatory attacks on US positions in the Gulf region. US Central Command reported launching waves of strikes to degrade capabilities used against commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, with one wave lasting seven hours overnight and another 90 minutes the following day. President Trump warned that failure to negotiate would lead to escalated action next week, including strikes on power plants and bridges, stating that Iran better make a deal or risk having nothing left. Iranian officials reported at least 30 civilians killed and over 260 wounded from the recent US strikes, along with damage to sites such as a maritime control tower in Chabahar and a military barracks. Iran’s IRGC claimed hits on US-linked bases in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan, with reports of drones and missiles causing damage and injuries.


EU Advances Largest Enlargement Push in Decades on Super Tuesday

Four candidate countries made notable progress toward European Union membership on July 14-15, 2026, in what officials described as a Super Tuesday for enlargement—the most significant single-day advancement in over two decades. Ukraine and Moldova opened negotiations on a key cluster covering external relations, security, defense, trade policy, and humanitarian aid, building on the fundamentals discussions that began in June. Albania began closing chapters on education, culture, science, research, and external relations, while Montenegro, the frontrunner, provisionally closed additional chapters on competition policy and customs union, pushing it past half of its negotiating chapters complete. The moves reflect renewed momentum following shifts in Hungarian leadership that eased prior vetoes, amid ongoing requirements that candidates align with the EU’s 35 policy chapters on the rule of law, the economy, and more. Full accession remains years away and requires unanimous member state approval, but the steps highlight Brussels’ push to counter external influences through expansion.


Dark Web Leak Exposes Files From India Nuclear Power Project

A ransomware group called World Leaks published over 19,000 files on the dark web allegedly stolen from Reliance Group, a contractor involved in India’s largest nuclear facility at Kudankulam in Tamil Nadu. The documents include engineering drawings for ventilation and cooling systems, control room floor plans, equipment inspection reports, supplier and vendor lists, insurance documents, and internal meeting records related primarily to Units 3 and 4, which are under construction and slated to begin operations by 2027. The files do not contain reactor core designs or critical nuclear technology from Russia’s Rosatom. Reliance confirmed a partial data breach on a third-party server hosted by Yotta and notified the government. India’s Computer Emergency Response Team and the Nuclear Power Corporation of India are investigating. Cybersecurity experts note that while core reactor operations appear unaffected, the information could help hostile actors map support systems, identify access points, and target supply chains.


China Sees Slowest Economic Growth in Three Years Despite Export Surges

China’s economy expanded by 4.3 percent in the second quarter of 2026 compared to the same period a year earlier. This marked the weakest quarterly pace in more than three years and fell short of expectations as well as the lower end of Beijing’s annual target range of 4.5 to 5 percent. The slowdown came despite a strong export performance that saw shipments jump 27 percent in June and 17.6 percent in the first half of the year. Property sector woes continued to weigh on investment, which dropped sharply, while domestic consumption remained subdued, with retail sales showing only modest recovery in June. Officials acknowledged external uncertainties and domestic supply-demand imbalances but described the overall first-half performance as operating within a reasonable range, with first-half GDP growth at 4.7 percent.


Canadian Wildfire Smoke Drifts Across Multiple US States

Smoke from wildfires burning in Ontario, Canada, and northern Minnesota is drifting eastward across large portions of the United States, affecting air quality in numerous states. The National Weather Service has tracked the plume, which by Friday afternoon is forecast to cover or impact all or parts of Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, and Wisconsin. Superior National Forest in Minnesota reports 17 active wildfires burning approximately 33,000 acres near the Canadian border. Officials warn that the combination of smoke and extreme heat poses health risks, as fine particles can aggravate asthma, reduce lung function, irritate airways, and contribute to heart problems, particularly for vulnerable populations. Meteorologists note that smoke settling closer to the ground could create the worst conditions in areas such as northern Michigan and western New York, with advisories urging residents to limit outdoor activity and stay indoors where possible.

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Explanation of Approach
First, we used an AI “browse_page” tool to verify that the provided URLs load without 404 errors and extract a comprehensive, factual summary of their content, focusing on the key points and facts, devoid of opinion and editorialization. This forms the basis for the one-paragraph summary, written in a politically non-partisan voice without injecting personal opinion, while maintaining a formal, reportorial tone. We then identify at least three independent corroborating sources by employing an AI “web_search” tool with a targeted query that excludes prohibited outlets proven to be propagandistic. These were chosen as non-clustered (distinct outlets) and to ensure timeliness. This approach guarantees accuracy, up-to-date relevance, and precise adherence to non-partisan, fact-based reporting. All videos are used courtesy of the sources and per Fair Use laws.
]]><![CDATA[Underground USA Evening News Brief]]>https://www.undergroundusa.com/p/underground-usa-evening-news-brief-de9https://www.undergroundusa.com/p/underground-usa-evening-news-brief-de9Tue, 14 Jul 2026 22:31:18 GMT🎧 LISTEN TO THE HEADLINES ON THE SUBSTACK APP

House Conservatives End Blockade, Deliver Johnson Win on Voter ID Push

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) ad Republican leaders

House conservatives ended their weeks-long floor blockade on July 14, 2026, handing Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) a procedural victory that advanced key legislation, including a State Department appropriations bill paired with the Trump-backed SAVE America Act. The procedural vote passed 215-211 after Johnson agreed to attach the election integrity measure, which requires proof of citizenship for voter registration and photo ID to vote in federal elections, prompting holdouts like Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) to support unlocking the chamber. Republicans had stalled business since late June to pressure the Senate on the SAVE America Act and border security priorities, but the slim GOP majority left little room for defections amid demands to clear a backlog ahead of midterms. One Republican, Rep. Randy Fine (R-FL), opposed the rule while all Democrats voted no.

🏛️ News & Politics

South Carolina Governor Appoints Lindsey Graham Sister to Senate Seat

South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster (R) appointed Darline Graham Nordone, the sister of the late Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), to fill his vacant Senate seat on July 13, 2026. Nordone will serve the remainder of Graham’s term through early January 2027 after the longtime lawmaker died suddenly from an aortic dissection on July 11. President Trump endorsed the choice earlier that day, calling it a fitting tribute to Graham, while Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) and Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) also voiced support. The move helps Republicans maintain their narrow Senate majority amid other health concerns among GOP senators. Nordone, who has no prior elected experience and currently serves as commissioner of the South Carolina Commission for the Blind, becomes the first woman to represent the state in the U.S. Senate. A special primary election is scheduled for August 11 to select the GOP nominee for the full six-year term.


Senate Democrats Block Must-Pass Defense Funding Bill

Senate Democrats blocked a procedural step on the annual National Defense Authorization Act. This legislation funds the Pentagon and supports military operations. Many Democrats expressed frustration over the proposed funding levels and the ongoing situation with Iran. Sen. Jim Banks (R-IN), a Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, criticized the move as playing games with troop support. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) argued that the bill should not serve as approval for what he called unauthorized actions in Iran. Democrats like Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) cited needs for better explanations of funding sources and additional guardrails on war authorities. Republicans countered that advancing the bill would enable amendments and stressed the importance of a strong military amid threats.


ICE Orders Halt to Most Vehicle Stops After Fatal Shootings

U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement agents received instructions to immediately cease most vehicle stops nationwide during immigration enforcement operations. Agents will now limit such stops to targets with serious or violent criminal histories. The policy change follows two fatal officer-involved shootings in the past week. One occurred in Houston, Texas, where a Mexican national was killed after authorities said he tried to ram an ICE vehicle. The other took place in Biddeford, Maine, where a man was shot after allegedly attempting to flee during a stop. Both incidents involved individuals who were not the primary targets of the operations. Senior ICE sources described the shift as temporary until new training on vehicle stops receives approval from Department of Homeland Security leadership. The agency has relied heavily on vehicle stops for arrests in recent enforcement efforts.


House Passes Bipartisan Measure to End Penny Production

The House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved the Common Cents Act on July 14. The legislation codifies President Trump’s earlier directive to halt minting of new one-cent coins for circulation. Pennies already in existence remain legal tender. Each penny costs about $3.69 to produce. The bill aims to eliminate wasteful spending estimated at tens of millions of dollars annually for taxpayers. Lead sponsor Rep. Lisa McClain (R-MI) emphasized fiscal responsibility and modernization of the currency system to match current cash usage patterns. The measure includes provisions for cash transactions to round to the nearest nickel. It also permits continued production of pennies as collectibles. A Senate companion bill exists with bipartisan backing. Several countries have already phased out low-denomination coins using similar rounding systems.


Missouri Floods Prompt Hundreds of Swift Water Rescues

Severe storms dumped 6 to 12 inches of rain across south-central and southeastern Missouri from Thursday evening into Friday morning, triggering catastrophic flash flooding along the Black River in Reynolds and Iron counties. Crews conducted more than 350 water rescues involving residents, campers, and motorists as rapidly rising waters stranded people on rooftops, in trees, and in vehicles, with all roads in and out of Lesterville closed. National Guard Black Hawk helicopters airlifted over 200 children and counselors from Camp Taum Sauk to safety at a nearby school, while responders saved nearly 20 people from a collapsing building at Bearcat Getaway campground; two rescue boats also capsized, but all first responders were recovered safely. No serious injuries were reported in the initial response, though one person was missing in Crawford County, with rescue operations continuing amid ongoing threats and significant infrastructure damage, including a partial highway collapse.

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Democratic Socialists of America Co-Chair Pushes Abolition of US Senate as Platform Goal

Democratic Socialists of America co-chair Ashik Siddique stated in a C-SPAN interview that abolishing the US Senate forms part of the group’s official platform. He described the Senate as an institution historically designed to serve very wealthy landowners and argued it remains unrepresentative today. Siddique proposed expanding the House of Representatives to handle more legislative functions in order to make government more reflective of the population. The DSA has endorsed broader changes including public ownership of major corporations and elimination of the Electoral College. Critics note that such restructuring would undermine constitutional protections for smaller states and rural interests against dominance by densely populated urban areas.


Anti-ICE Agitators Assault Journalist at Susan Collins Office After Maine Shooting

An ICE agent fatally shot a 26-year-old Colombian man during an immigration enforcement operation in Biddeford, Maine on July 13, 2026. Authorities stated the man, who had a prior deportation order, attempted to flee in a vehicle toward the officer. Protesters quickly gathered at Senator Susan Collins’ (R-ME) district office, where they chanted “Vote her out” and banged on doors and windows. One agitator struck a journalist with a skateboard during the confrontation. Collins called for a full and impartial investigation by the FBI. Senator Angus King (D-ME) relayed details from Homeland Security indicating the man had weaponized his vehicle.


Big Tech Platforms Suppressed Damaging Stories on Maine Senate Candidate Graham Platner

Apple News and Google News published zero stories on controversies surrounding former Maine Democrat Senate candidate Graham Platner from November 2025 through May 2026. These included reports on his Nazi-linked Totenkopf tattoo, offensive Reddit posts mocking a teen’s suicide attempt and containing other troubling content, and other personal scandals. The Media Research Center study identified at least 112 stories from conservative outlets that the platforms failed to promote during this period while Platner appeared viable against incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME). Coverage shifted only after a May 30 New York Times report on his sexting activities and intensified further following a late June poll showing Collins ahead and new sexual misconduct allegations that led to his campaign suspension on July 8. Google disputed the study’s methodology as flawed, citing personalization and daily updates, while Apple did not immediately comment.


Ilhan Omar Boosts Antisemitic Democratic Socialist El-Sayed in Michigan Senate Race

Rep. Ilhan Omar (DS-MN) endorsed Michigan Democrat Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed on July 13, 2026, describing him as the strongest option to flip the seat from Republicans. Omar pointed to El-Sayed’s resistance to corporate influence, emphasis on affordability, and push for universal healthcare. El-Sayed, a vocal critic of Israel who has faced accusations of antisemitic rhetoric, including heavy attacks on AIPAC and reluctance to affirm Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state, thanked Omar and lauded her defiance on immigration matters. The move underscores the far-left shift in the Democrat primary, where El-Sayed aligns with Democratic Socialist policies and figures like Bernie Sanders (DS-VT) and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (DS-NY) while competing against more moderate Rep. Haley Stevens (D-MI) ahead of the August 4 vote.


Judge Frees Cuban Plane Hijacker from ICE Custody Pending Deportation

U.S. District Judge John E. Steele, appointed by President Bill Clinton, granted a habeas corpus petition and ordered the release of Miakel Guerra Morales, a Cuban national who hijacked a plane from Cuba to Florida in 2003 while assaulting crew members. Morales served more than 20 years in federal prison before an immigration judge ordered his removal but granted protection under the Convention Against Torture that prevented return to Cuba. ICE detained him again in December 2025 intending to deport him to Mexico, yet after more than six months the government failed to show a concrete removal plan or evidence that Mexico would accept him. The judge ruled that continued detention violated limits on holding individuals when deportation is not reasonably foreseeable, though ICE retains authority to re-detain him if removal becomes viable. DHS criticized the decision as undermining efforts to remove criminal aliens.

🌐 International

Iranian Forces Target Tankers in Strait of Hormuz Killing Crew Members Amid Escalating Tensions

Iranian forces launched cruise missile strikes on two UAE-linked tankers transiting the southern shipping lane of the Strait of Hormuz in Omani territorial waters on July 13. The attacks disabled the vessels Mombasa B and Al Bahiyah, sparked fires that crews later contained, killed one Indian seafarer aboard the Mombasa, and wounded eight others, including six Indians and two Ukrainians, with four injuries serious. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed responsibility, stating the tankers ignored warnings, switched off navigation systems, and entered a restricted area. The incidents occurred as the United States conducted additional strikes on Iranian targets and President Trump adjusted plans for a Hormuz transit fee in favor of broader trade and investment arrangements with Gulf states while maintaining pressure on Iranian ports. Shipping traffic through the critical waterway dropped sharply, with reports noting the lowest daily transits in weeks as mariners navigated heightened risks.


Trump Drops Shipping Transit Fee Proposal for Hormuz Strait

President Trump announced he is dropping a proposed 20 percent shipping transit fee for the Strait of Hormuz after productive talks with Middle East leaders. Oil flows freely through the vital waterway thanks to U.S. military efforts, with the passage now open to international shipping except for Iranian vessels. The U.S. maintains a blockade on Iranian ports following recent strikes. Trump highlighted strong U.S. military performance under leaders including Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Joint Chiefs Chairman Dan Caine, and CENTCOM’s Admiral Brad Cooper. In place of the fee, the administration pursues massive trade and investment deals with Arab Gulf states. Trump emphasized that Iran will never obtain a nuclear weapon and that the days of the regime’s widespread violence are over.


Hungary’s Parliament Ousts President in Shift From Orban Era

Hungary’s parliament passed a constitutional amendment on July 13 to remove President Tamas Sulyok from office. Prime Minister Peter Magyar’s Tisza Party pushed the measure as part of efforts to dismantle the power structures built during Viktor Orban’s 16-year rule. The amendment passed with 139 votes in favor and six against after Fidesz lawmakers boycotted the session. It cites a serious loss of confidence in Sulyok, whom Magyar has called an Orban puppet. Sulyok has five days to sign the amendment or face impeachment. The change also includes term limits for lawmakers, an age limit for constitutional court judges, and other reforms targeting Orban-era appointees. Magyar’s party secured a two-thirds majority in April elections, giving it the power to alter the constitution. Sulyok has criticized the move as a violation of democratic principles and the rule of law.


Communist Chinese Party Expels Politburo Member in Latest Purge

The Chinese Communist Party expelled former Politburo member Ma Xingrui from the party and removed him from public office on July 14 for serious violations of political discipline and rules. Ma, the former Xinjiang party chief and an aerospace engineer who once led a major state defense conglomerate, faced accusations of condoning misconduct by his staff, assisting family members in obtaining properties below market value, securing sexual favors through his position, and enabling rampant family corruption for financial gain. The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection announced the decision following a Politburo review on June 30, and Ma will now face prosecution. His removal marks the third vacancy in the Politburo amid Xi Jinping’s ongoing anti-corruption campaign, which has already ousted senior military figures including two other top officials from the body.


Andy Burnham Backs Labour Immigration Tightening Ahead of Premiership

Andy Burnham signaled support for a Home Office plan to tighten UK immigration rules as he prepares to become prime minister. The incoming Labour leader indicated he will back the Immigration and Asylum Bill despite resistance from dozens of his own MPs. The reforms aim to limit appeals by foreign criminals and failed asylum seekers using human rights claims. They also establish faster deportation tracks and require migrants to cover some accommodation costs. The changes double the wait for indefinite leave to remain from five years to ten years with retroactive application in some cases. Burnham’s team described the measures as steps toward a system that is compassionate yet credible while restoring public confidence by addressing illegal crossings and bolstering safe legal routes for genuine refugees.

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Explanation of Approach
First, we used an AI “browse_page” tool to verify that the provided URLs load without 404 errors and extract a comprehensive, factual summary of their content, focusing on the key points and facts, devoid of opinion and editorialization. This forms the basis for the one-paragraph summary, written in a politically non-partisan voice without injecting personal opinion, while maintaining a formal, reportorial tone. We then identify at least three independent corroborating sources by employing an AI “web_search” tool with a targeted query that excludes prohibited outlets proven to be propagandistic. These were chosen as non-clustered (distinct outlets) and to ensure timeliness. This approach guarantees accuracy, up-to-date relevance, and precise adherence to non-partisan, fact-based reporting. All videos are used courtesy of the sources and per Fair Use laws.
]]><![CDATA[Underground USA Evening News Brief]]>https://www.undergroundusa.com/p/underground-usa-evening-news-brief-badhttps://www.undergroundusa.com/p/underground-usa-evening-news-brief-badMon, 13 Jul 2026 22:30:19 GMT🎧 LISTEN TO THE HEADLINES ON THE SUBSTACK APP

Senate Republicans Face Tight Timeline as Mike Lee Pushes to Extend Work on SAVE America Act

US Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT)

Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) criticized Senate Republican leadership for the limited legislative calendar and urged lawmakers to work through weekends and recesses to advance the SAVE America Act. Congress has only about eight legislative days left in the House and 20 in the Senate before the next scheduled recess. The bill, which has passed the House, requires proof of U.S. citizenship for voter registration in federal elections and mandates photo voter ID at the polls. Lee argued that Congress controls its schedule and should treat election security as a priority by debating the measure until it passes, noting its broad public support and alignment with voter demands. He appeared on Fox News to make the case shortly after the death of Senator Lindsey Graham, who had discussed the legislation with President Trump.

🏛️ News & Politics

Trump Urges Senate Passage of Clarity Act to Counter China in Crypto Race

President Donald Trump called on the Senate to pass the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act as lawmakers returned to Washington on July 13, framing the legislation as essential to maintaining U.S. leadership against China and other competitors in digital assets and artificial intelligence. The bill, which cleared the House last July by a 294-134 vote and advanced from the Senate Banking Committee in May on a 15-9 bipartisan tally, aims to establish clear federal rules by assigning primary oversight of most digital commodities to the CFTC while the SEC retains authority over investment-contract assets. With roughly four weeks before the August recess, the merged Senate text from the Banking and Agriculture committees is expected soon, though hurdles remain around ethics provisions tied to government officials’ crypto holdings, protections for non-custodial developers, and securing the 60 votes needed for floor passage. Trump highlighted the late Sen. Lindsey Graham’s support in his Truth Social post, while White House adviser Patrick Witt stressed the urgency coinciding with the GENIUS Act’s anniversary.


Conservatives Push Congress for Constitutional Amendment to Lock Supreme Court at Nine Justices

A coalition of more than 50 conservative and legal organizations sent a letter to Congress urging passage of the Keep Nine constitutional amendment to fix the number of Supreme Court justices at nine. The Supreme Court has maintained this size since 1869, though the Constitution does not specify the number. Left-leaning groups and some Democrats have pushed to expand the court to 13 justices in response to its current 6-3 conservative majority. The letter warns that court packing would politicize the judiciary and undermine its legitimacy and independence, leading to retaliatory moves by whichever party holds power. It highlights bipartisan rejection of President Franklin Roosevelt’s 1930s court-packing attempt and notes past statements from Joe Biden opposing the idea. Signatories include leaders from Advancing American Freedom, the Liberty Justice Center, the John Locke Foundation, Americans for Limited Government, and the Independent Women’s Law Center, along with former Sen. Rick Santorum. The effort aims to start the amendment process via a congressional resolution to protect the court’s role as a check on government power.


Trump Recommends Lindsey Graham Sister For Interim Senate Seat

President Donald Trump recommended that South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster appoint Darline Graham Nordone, the sister of the late Senator Lindsey Graham, to serve out the remainder of Graham’s Senate term. Graham, 71, died unexpectedly on July 11, 2026, from an aortic dissection. Nordone, whom Graham raised and adopted after their parents died when she was young, has been a close family member and part of his inner circle. The appointment would cover the unexpired portion of the term until January 2027 ahead of a special election process with filing opening July 21 and a primary on August 11. Trump described the move as a fitting tribute to Graham, who had secured the Republican nomination for reelection. Governor McMaster planned to announce his choice at a press conference on July 13.


Nancy Mace Considers Senate Run in South Carolina After Lindsey Graham Death

Rep. Nancy Mace is strongly considering a bid for the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Sen. Lindsey Graham’s sudden death on July 11, 2026. Graham, 71, passed away from a brief and sudden illness shortly after returning from a trip to Ukraine, with preliminary reports citing an aortic dissection due to arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease. South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster will appoint an interim replacement to serve until January, while state law triggers a compressed special GOP primary process with candidate filing opening July 21 and a primary expected by August 11. The winner will face Democratic nominee Annie Andrews in November. Mace, who finished fifth in the recent Republican gubernatorial primary and previously challenged Graham unsuccessfully in the 2014 Senate primary, posted a Godfather reference on social media hinting at her interest and plans to field a poll to gauge viability. Other potential contenders include Rep. Ralph Norman and South Carolina Governor and US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley.


Washington State Officials Ignore Empty Daycares Raking in Taxpayer Cash

Washington state officials declined to pursue investigations into daycare providers that received substantial taxpayer subsidies despite evidence from reporters indicating little or no children were present at several locations. A West Seattle address received over $229,000 in subsidies from July 2025 to March 2026, yet residents there stated repeatedly that no daycare operated at the property and never had. Similar patterns emerged at other home-based providers, including one in Federal Way that took in $223,247 over nine months, where reporters encountered resistance, including a call to police. The Center Square visited roughly three dozen such providers over six months and found few signs of active childcare. A state audit identified an estimated $37 million in questionable childcare subsidy payments due to weak prepayment controls, but state officials including Attorney General Nick Brown and Auditor Pat McCarthy have not launched targeted fraud probes. Instead, responses focused on criticizing journalists for door-knocking while directing any concerns to other agencies without committing to enforcement actions.

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Smithsonian Displays Trans Child Diary and Sexual Items in American History Exhibits

The Trump administration’s White House report criticized the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History for including sexually suggestive and activist materials in its exhibits. These items featured a rubber crotch harness designed for sadomasochism, a chest binder belonging to a trans nonbinary skateboarder, and pages from a six-year-old girl’s diary in which she expressed fear of developing breasts and prayed nightly for a penis to grow. The report highlighted these as examples of the museum straying from objective historical education toward ideological activism that promotes gender fluidity and inappropriate content for family audiences, especially amid broader concerns about exhibits framing American history through lenses of oppression and identity politics rather than shared national achievements.


Mamdani Affordability Push Fails To Curb NYC Market Rent Surge

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and his allies promoted an affordability agenda featuring rent freezes for stabilized units and other interventions. Market-rate rents in the NYC metro area nevertheless climbed to fresh record highs in June 2026. Manhattan median rent reached $5,295, an 8 percent increase from the prior year, while Brooklyn hit $4,350, also up 8 percent. Vacancy rates tightened further with Manhattan at 1.49 percent, listings dropped sharply, and competition intensified as available apartments rented faster. City Comptroller Mark Levine described the broader housing situation as a crisis requiring more supply-side action.


Ivy League Trustees Heavily Favor Democrats in Registration and Donations

A study from the Buckley Institute examined the political affiliations and giving patterns of Ivy League university trustees. Researchers identified 233 trustees across the eight schools and found that 155, or about 67 percent, are registered Democrats while only 26, or 11 percent, are registered Republicans for a roughly six-to-one ratio. Yale stood out with no Republican trustees on its governing board. Trustees overall directed $85.5 million in political donations to Democratic candidates and causes compared to $22.4 million for Republicans. Yale trustees showed the widest gap by contributing to Democrats at a 50-to-one rate. Brown and Dartmouth also had very low Republican representation on their boards, while the University of Pennsylvania had the highest share among the Ivies at about 26 percent.


Feminist Historian Loses Tufts Position After Book Scrutiny

Kerri K. Greenidge, a tenured associate professor in Tufts University’s Department of Studies in Race, Colonialism, and Diaspora, is no longer employed by the university. Scholars raised concerns about factual errors, misleading details, and citation problems in her 2022 book “The Grimkes,” which examined a slaveholding family and its abolitionist connections. The book initially received acclaim, including placement on Publishers Weekly’s top books list and the American Historical Association’s Joan Kelly Memorial Prize for women’s history and feminist theory. A university review identified multiple issues of fact and citation. Publisher W.W. Norton removed the book from its website. Greenidge acknowledged some misattributed citations but denied fabrication or plagiarism and attributed the criticism to attacks on Black women academics. Tufts stated the external peer review was fair and objective.


Charlottesville Lee Statue Bronze Reshaped Into African Baobab Monument

The bronze from Charlottesville’s former Robert E. Lee statue, removed in 2021 and melted down in 2023, will form the core of a new public artwork called “Rooted.” A community group known as Swords Into Plowshares selected the design by Boston-based Model of Architecture Serving Society in partnership with sculptor Dana King following a ranked-choice survey of nearly 1,000 residents. The winning concept features a 27-foot bronze baobab tree, a pan-African symbol of wisdom, longevity, and interconnection, as the centerpiece of a redesigned Market Street Park with seasonal gardens, brick gathering spaces, and pillars. The announcement came on the fifth anniversary of the statue’s removal. Project leaders described the effort as transforming a symbol of division into one of shared values and reckoning.

🌐 International

Trump Announces U.S. Guardianship of Strait of Hormuz with Iranian Blockade Reinstated

President Donald Trump stated on July 13 that the United States will assume control as the guardian of the Strait of Hormuz. He announced the reinstatement of a blockade targeting Iranian ships and their customers while ensuring fair access for other nations. Trump proposed that the U.S. receive reimbursement at a rate of 20 percent on cargo value from wealthy nations benefiting from the secured waterway. This follows recent U.S. strikes on Iranian targets to degrade their ability to threaten shipping and comes amid ongoing tit-for-tat exchanges that have disrupted the vital oil transit route since the conflict began in late February. Markets showed modest reactions with Brent crude edging higher and U.S. gas prices rising slightly. Iran maintains its claim to manage the strait.


UK Designates Iranian IRGC as Terrorist Organization Over Attacks on Jewish Sites

The United Kingdom government designated Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps under new national security powers on July 13, 2026. Security Minister Angela Eagle stated that authorities identified IRGC-linked activity involving threats to life and intimidation on UK soil. Officials also targeted the Islamic Movement of the Companions of the Right, which claimed responsibility for seven arson and vandalism attacks on Jewish sites in Britain and operated under direction from the IRGC’s Quds Force. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced the measures alongside designation of a Russian GRU-linked group. Supporting or assisting the designated organizations now carries criminal penalties of up to 14 years in prison. The action responds to a rise in antisemitic incidents following the October 7, 2023, attacks and specific plots against Jewish communities and Iranian dissidents.


British MP Warns of Fabian Society Influence on UK Shift to Socialism

British MP Rupert Lowe recently appeared on Joe Rogan’s podcast and highlighted the Fabian Society as a long-standing organization deeply embedded in the Labour Party that has shaped Britain’s gradual move toward socialism over more than a century. Founded in 1884 as a reaction to Marxist ideas, the group promoted incremental social and economic changes rather than violent revolution, with early members including George Bernard Shaw and H.G. Wells endorsing concepts such as eugenics that later fell out of favor. Its emblem features a wolf in sheep’s clothing, which Lowe cited as symbolic of its stealthy approach to building dependency and reshaping society through policy influence. Lowe, who leads Restore Britain, argued that the society’s ideas continue to run through Labour’s veins, contributing to current challenges like welfare expansion and cultural shifts, even as critics dismiss the concerns as overstated conspiracy theories. The remarks come amid broader debates over Labour’s direction under Keir Starmer and ongoing questions about the balance between progressive reforms and national identity.


Macron Warns of Resurgent Antisemitism During Dreyfus Honor Ceremony

French President Emmanuel Macron inaugurated a statue of Captain Alfred Dreyfus on July 12, 2026, marking the first national day commemorating the 120th anniversary of Dreyfus’s exoneration by France’s highest court. Macron highlighted the resurgence of antisemitism in France, calling for constant vigilance against acts that target people for who they are and referencing the old demons that have persisted in the country. The event took place near the Court of Cassation on Île de la Cité, where Dreyfus was cleared in 1906 after his wrongful 1894 treason conviction exposed deep anti-Jewish bias in French institutions. Dreyfus’s 99-year-old grandson attended, noting the sadness of seeing antisemitism return with virulence. A suspicious vehicle near a synagogue in a Paris suburb with a large Jewish population prompted a terrorism investigation just before the ceremony. France has recorded a surge in antisemitic incidents since the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel.


Brazil Amazon Deforestation Drops to Lowest Level in Over a Decade

Deforestation in Brazil’s Amazon rainforest fell sharply in the first half of 2026. Satellite data from the National Institute for Space Research showed only 1,295 square kilometers cleared from January to June. This marks a 37 to 38 percent drop from the same period the previous year and the lowest level since 2014 or 2016, depending on the metric. Officials and environmental groups credited government enforcement actions against illegal logging and other crimes. The decline continues a trend since President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva returned to office after higher rates under his predecessor. The Amazon remains a key climate regulator. Lula has pledged to end illegal deforestation by 2030.

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Explanation of Approach
First, we used an AI “browse_page” tool to verify that the provided URLs load without 404 errors and extract a comprehensive, factual summary of their content, focusing on the key points and facts, devoid of opinion and editorialization. This forms the basis for the one-paragraph summary, written in a politically non-partisan voice without injecting personal opinion, while maintaining a formal, reportorial tone. We then identify at least three independent corroborating sources by employing an AI “web_search” tool with a targeted query that excludes prohibited outlets proven to be propagandistic. These were chosen as non-clustered (distinct outlets) and to ensure timeliness. This approach guarantees accuracy, up-to-date relevance, and precise adherence to non-partisan, fact-based reporting. All videos are used courtesy of the sources and per Fair Use laws.
]]><![CDATA[Underground USA Evening News Brief]]>https://www.undergroundusa.com/p/underground-usa-evening-news-brief-a6ehttps://www.undergroundusa.com/p/underground-usa-evening-news-brief-a6eSun, 12 Jul 2026 22:15:17 GMT🎧 LISTEN TO THE HEADLINES ON THE SUBSTACK APP

Senator Lindsey Graham Passes Away Unexpectedly at 71

US Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) | 1955-2026

Senator Lindsey Graham, the longtime Republican from South Carolina and close ally of President Trump, died Saturday evening at the age of 71 after a brief and sudden illness. Graham had just returned from a trip to Ukraine, where he met with President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday. Emergency responders were called to his Capitol Hill residence for a reported cardiac arrest. His office confirmed the passing early Sunday without further details on the cause. President Trump described him as one of the greatest people and senators he had known, a true American patriot who was always working. Graham served in the Senate since 2003 after time in the House, built a reputation as a foreign policy hawk particularly on Iran and a strong supporter of Israel and Ukraine, chaired the Senate Budget Committee, and recently won his Republican primary for re-election.

🏛️ News & Politics

Trump Warns Democrats Against Communist Takeover of America

President Trump posted on Truth Social on Saturday criticizing Democratic Party leadership for losing control to radical elements. He described party figures as led by loud and unattractive people who have lost their way and urged a fight back against what he called a sick Communist ideology seeking to dominate the country. Trump reiterated his longstanding view that America will never become a socialist nation and stated the Democrats have bypassed socialism straight into communism while declaring America will never be a Communist country. He also referred to the Democratic Party as a sinking ship in additional comments.


California Voting Rights Act Duo Targets Conservative Strongholds Like Huntington Beach

A duo consisting of attorney Kevin Shenkman and the Southwest Voter Registration Education Project continues its pattern of leveraging the California Voting Rights Act to challenge at-large election systems in conservative California cities. In late June, an Orange County Superior Court judge tentatively ruled that Huntington Beach must switch to ranked-choice voting for its city council elections. The change preserves the citywide at-large format required by the charter while altering how votes are tallied through preference rankings and potential redistribution. Plaintiffs argued the existing system dilutes Latino voting power in the city. Shenkman and the nonprofit have previously secured similar shifts and substantial attorney fee awards in other Republican-leaning areas including San Juan Capistrano, Highland, and Rancho Cucamonga. Critics note these efforts often coincide with outcomes favoring Democratic-leaning candidates in a state long dominated by one party and frequently rely on taxpayer-funded settlements.


Americans Skeptical of Capitalism and Democracy in WSJ-NORC Poll

A Wall Street Journal-NORC poll shows Americans’ views on capitalism are split but lean negative. Just over half of Americans, 51 percent, believe capitalism is functioning not too well or not at all well, while 48 percent say it is functioning very well or somewhat well. On the role of business versus government, respondents are divided but tilt toward wanting more regulation. Forty-five percent agree that America is successful due to respect for free markets and that government interference makes it weaker, while 52 percent agree that corporations have too much power and government should do more to limit corporate influence through laws, regulation, and taxes. A large majority believes power has shifted toward the wealthy, with 64 percent saying wealthy people have more power in society today than 50 years ago. Most respondents also see an imbalance of influence in Washington. Those who say billionaires have too much power and influence in Washington make up 76 percent, 78 percent say the same of political lobbyists, and 73 percent say the same of large businesses. Confidence in American democracy is also low. Fifty-six percent say democracy is not working well or not working at all, while just 12 percent say it is working very well or extremely well. Just 34 percent think the phrase committed to democracy and majority rule describes America extremely or fairly well, and 23 percent feel extremely or very proud of the way its democracy works. On trust in the political process, just 16 percent agree the average citizen has considerable influence on politics, while 50 percent agree that people like me don’t have any say about what the government does.


Minnesota Sheriff Sounds Alarm on Rising Somali Gang Violence in Twin Cities Enclaves

Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher warned that Somali gang activity has increased significantly in Minnesota, with his office tracking about 12 gangs involving roughly 300 young people out of the state’s Somali population of around 100,000. Authorities linked more than 100 criminal cases since 2023 to these groups, including illegal firearms possession, robberies, stabbings, and fatal shootings, many tied to retaliatory violence among teenagers and young adults that has escalated after events like the July 4 weekend. Fletcher and his investigators, including Deputy Ben Seidl, highlighted incidents such as large-scale shootings at public gatherings and noted connections extending across the metro area to places like St. Cloud and Burnsville, often involving guns modified with switches. The sheriff stressed that denial will allow the problem to grow and called for prevention efforts, including a community conference on July 21, while emphasizing the focus remains on helping at-risk youth exit gang life rather than targeting the broader Somali community.


California Gas Tax Climbs Higher on Automatic Hike

California’s gas tax rose another 2.2 cents per gallon to 63.4 cents on July 1 under a 2017 law. This adjustment, tied to the California Consumer Price Index, funds roads, highways, and public transportation. The state already imposes the nation’s highest combined gas tax and fee burden at around 70.9 cents per gallon before the latest increase. Average pump prices in California hovered near $5.43 per gallon recently, well above the national average. Critics, including Republican lawmakers, point out that the automatic yearly hikes add to the financial strain on drivers in a state with some of the highest living costs. Additional state mandates and fees push the total burden per gallon closer to $1.20 in many cases.

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Chicago Crime Wave Claims One Life as 13 Shot Overnight

More than a dozen people were shot in separate incidents across Chicago overnight into early July 12. A 14-year-old boy was among those wounded. One victim, a 43-year-old man shot in the chest in West Town, later died at the hospital. Other victims included a 16-year-old boy shot in the calf in Garfield Ridge, two women shot in the head while in a parked car near the United Center on the Near West Side, a 30-year-old man shot in the leg in West Garfield Park, and additional adults hit in locations such as Austin, Far Southwest Side, North Lawndale, and Roseland. Conditions ranged from critical to good. Police also noted a separate officer-involved shooting in Grant Park with limited details released. Area detectives continue to investigate each case with no immediate arrests reported.


Teachers Union Prioritizes Trump Impeachment Push While Students Struggle

The National Education Association, the nation’s largest teachers union, recently advanced a business item calling for the impeachment, conviction, and removal of President Donald Trump from office along with a national march on Washington before the November 2026 midterms at an estimated additional cost of over $5 million from member dues. Meanwhile, New York City public schools reported grim results, with 906 schools enrolling about 409,000 students, or roughly 43 percent of the district, where fewer than half the students passed state math or reading tests or both. The Success Academy analysis highlighted persistent failures despite high per-pupil spending around $36,000 annually in the city compared to the national average.


California Recruits Noncitizen Teens for Election Duties

California officials are directing public schools to recruit teenagers as young as 16, including lawful permanent residents who are not U.S. citizens, to serve as poll workers for the November 2026 general election. These students can check voters off rosters, issue ballots, handle election equipment, assist voters, prepare ballots for pickup, and help close polling locations. A June 30 letter from Secretary of State Shirley Weber and State Superintendent Tony Thurmond encourages high schools to identify eligible students with at least a 2.5 GPA who are U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents. California Elections Code Section 12302 permits the appointment of such students, up to five per precinct, even if they cannot vote. The state pays stipends for the work, and officials acknowledge limited tracking of noncitizen participation in these roles.


Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez Fresh Off Platner Debacle Stump for Far-Left Challenger in Michigan Senate Primary

Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, still reeling from their endorsement of scandal-plagued Graham Platner, plan to join progressive candidate Abdul El-Sayed for campaign events in Michigan on July 18 and 19 as part of their “The People vs. The Powerful” tour. El-Sayed, a former Wayne County health director running to replace retiring Sen. Gary Peters, faces Rep. Haley Stevens in the Aug. 4 Democratic primary. Sanders previously rallied with El-Sayed in May, while Ocasio-Cortez endorsed him on July 2 after staying selective in other races. The events include a Detroit rally on July 18 and stops in Lansing and Grand Rapids on July 19, highlighting the progressive push against more establishment-backed Democrats in a key swing state Senate contest.


James Carville Melts Down Over DSA Insurgents Targeting Fellow Democrats

James Carville unleashed a profane tirade against Democratic Socialists of America candidates and their insurgent push to primary and unseat establishment Democrats rather than focus on defeating Republicans. The veteran strategist, who helped steer Bill Clinton to victory, expressed deep frustration that these far-left challengers view moderate Democrats as the enemy and waste energy on internal battles instead of building broader electoral strength. In a clip from July 11, Carville highlighted how the DSA leverages the Democratic Party’s infrastructure while pursuing policies and rhetoric that clash with traditional party values, including on issues like Israel and pluralism.

🌐 International

Trump Declares Strait of Hormuz Open After US Strikes Hammer Iran Targets

President Trump stated Sunday that the Strait of Hormuz remains open for shipping despite Iranian attacks on vessels in the waterway. This followed US Central Command operations that struck about 140 Iranian military targets overnight, including missile and drone sites, naval assets, ammunition facilities, communication networks, and surveillance locations. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps had fired on a Cyprus-flagged container ship, the M/V GFS Galaxy, and claimed the strait was closed, a key passage for roughly 20 percent of global oil traffic. Trump described the strikes as a strong response, noted that Iran had agreed to a deal earlier but then launched a drone attack, and contradicted Tehran’s assertions while echoing CENTCOM’s position that Iran does not control the strait. Iran retaliated by targeting US facilities across the Middle East, including sites in Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, the UAE, and Bahrain, with reports of injuries.


Mexican President Seeks Legal Action Against US Over Migrant Deaths in Immigration Custody

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced on July 9 that her government plans to file criminal complaints with US prosecutors over the deaths of 17 Mexican nationals during immigration enforcement actions under the current administration. Fourteen died while in US Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody and three more perished during arrest operations. The move follows the fatal shooting of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, a Mexican national who had lived illegally in the US for decades, after authorities said he tried to ram agents with his vehicle during a targeted operation in Houston. Mexico also intends to pursue civil actions against private companies operating detention centers. US officials have maintained that detainees receive due process and that agents use minimum force necessary when facing threats.


Satellite Imagery Shows Iran Rebuilding Nuclear Sites

New satellite imagery indicates Iran has conducted repair and reconstruction work at suspected nuclear facilities damaged in recent U.S. and Israeli strikes. Images from early June through early July captured workers, vehicles, and equipment at sites including Taleghan 2 within the Parchin Military Complex, where crews excavated around bomb penetration holes, installed rebar mesh, and positioned concrete-mixing trucks to restore the roof. Similar activity appeared at the Pickaxe Mountain underground facility with vehicles moving in and out of tunnels, along with efforts at missile sites. These developments occurred around or after Iran signed a late-June memorandum of understanding with the U.S. that required it to maintain the status quo on its nuclear program and refrain from developing nuclear weapons.


Colombia’s President-Elect Halts Transition Amid Outgoing Leader’s Fraud Claims

Colombia’s president-elect Abelardo de la Espriella suspended the government transition process with outgoing President Gustavo Petro on July 8 after Petro refused to accept the results of the June 21 runoff election. Espriella, a right-wing lawyer and businessman endorsed by President Donald Trump, narrowly defeated leftist Senator Iván Cepeda by about one percent. Petro alleged electoral fraud involving algorithms and foreign interference without providing evidence while his administration’s transition coordinator suspended cooperation in response to Espriella’s accusations of a coup attempt to cling to power. Espriella called on institutions, the public force, and the international community to defend democracy and the constitution ahead of the August 7 inauguration.


Germany Sees Record Share of Foreign Suspects in Gang Rapes

Germany recorded 751 gang rape cases in 2025 with 772 victims. Fifty-three percent of the suspects, or 574 individuals, lacked German citizenship. Syrian nationals accounted for 110 suspects, followed by 64 from Afghanistan, 46 from Iraq, and 44 from Turkey, while 509 suspects held German citizenship. Eighty percent of the victims held German citizenship. Seventy-two percent of solved cases involved suspects already known to police. Authorities did not separately track migration backgrounds among German citizen suspects.

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Explanation of Approach
First, we used an AI “browse_page” tool to verify that the provided URLs load without 404 errors and extract a comprehensive, factual summary of their content, focusing on the key points and facts, devoid of opinion and editorialization. This forms the basis for the one-paragraph summary, written in a politically non-partisan voice without injecting personal opinion, while maintaining a formal, reportorial tone. We then identify at least three independent corroborating sources by employing an AI “web_search” tool with a targeted query that excludes prohibited outlets proven to be propagandistic. These were chosen as non-clustered (distinct outlets) and to ensure timeliness. This approach guarantees accuracy, up-to-date relevance, and precise adherence to non-partisan, fact-based reporting. All videos are used courtesy of the sources and per Fair Use laws.
]]><![CDATA[Underground USA Evening News Brief]]>https://www.undergroundusa.com/p/underground-usa-evening-news-brief-da7https://www.undergroundusa.com/p/underground-usa-evening-news-brief-da7Sat, 11 Jul 2026 22:31:07 GMT🎧 LISTEN TO THE HEADLINES ON THE SUBSTACK APP

Senators Request DOJ Fraud Data to Bolster Permanent Enforcement Unit

Half a dozen Republican senators led by Sen. Eric Schmitt of Missouri sent a letter on July 10 to Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and Assistant Attorney General Colin McDonald. They seek detailed performance metrics on the National Fraud Enforcement Division along with information on recovery amounts and statutory shortcomings. The request aims to support legislation that would make the division permanent with expanded authorities such as dedicated funding, nationwide jurisdiction, better data sharing, longer statutes of limitations, and mandatory minimum sentences for major fraud cases. The senators highlighted early successes under the Trump administration, including recoveries from welfare, entitlement, election-related, and contractor fraud schemes. They expressed particular interest in high-impact cases involving immigration benefits, universities, nonprofits, hospitals, Big Tech contractors, voter roll integrity, and barriers posed by sanctuary policies. The effort aligns with the Senate Anti-Fraud Task Force’s work to address waste, abuse, and threats to constitutional self-government through honest elections and proper use of taxpayer funds.

🏛️ News & Politics

DHS Ties FEMA Grants to Election Security Steps

The Department of Homeland Security announced on July 10 that states and other recipients must follow five specific election security measures to access full funding from FEMA’s roughly $1 billion Homeland Security Grant Program. These steps include submitting plans to shift away from electronic voting systems that rely on bar codes or QR codes toward equipment that uses hand-marked paper ballots, conducting manual audits of at least 5 percent of randomly selected ballots in federal elections to verify machine counts against paper records, reconciling the number of voters who participated with the number of ballots cast, using the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ SAVE system to verify the citizenship of everyone in state voter registration databases within 120 days of grant acceptance, and confirming that poll workers are U.S. citizens.


Housing Affordability Legislation Enters Force Without Presidential Signature

The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act became law at midnight on Friday without President Trump’s signature after he allowed the constitutional 10-day window to expire. Trump had announced he would not sign the bipartisan measure in protest over the Senate’s failure to advance the SAVE America Act on voter identification and citizenship requirements. The legislation passed the House 358-32 and the Senate 85-5. It includes dozens of provisions to increase housing supply by streamlining federal environmental reviews, easing rules for manufactured homes, incentivizing state and local governments to loosen zoning restrictions through federal grants, and limiting large institutional investors from purchasing large numbers of single-family homes.


Indiana Lt Gov Calls For Ban On Loudspeaker Muslim Calls To Prayer

Indiana Lieutenant Governor Micah Beckwith voiced strong support for prohibiting mosques from using loudspeakers to broadcast the Muslim call to prayer, known as the Adhan, five times daily in public spaces. Beckwith made the remarks during a late June appearance on the Conservative Review podcast with Daniel Horowitz, where he described the broadcasts as spreading “words of death and destruction” and asserted that states and localities have authority to restrict such public announcements. He later confirmed his position on social media on July 10, stating he fully backs banning these loudspeaker uses across American cities to prevent what he sees as an imposition on local communities. The comments raise questions about balancing religious expression with noise regulations and public order, though any formal ban would likely encounter First Amendment challenges regarding free exercise of religion and time-place-manner restrictions on speech.


Missouri Faces Catastrophic Flash Flooding Alongside Kentucky and Tennessee

Torrential rains hammered parts of Missouri on July 10, 2026, triggering life-threatening flash flooding that prompted hundreds of water rescues across multiple counties. Emergency crews pulled dozens of people, including campers, from rising waters along the Black River and other waterways after repeated thunderstorms dropped up to 12 inches of rain in some areas within hours, creating a 1-in-1,000-year event in spots like Reynolds and Iron counties. Missouri National Guard helicopters evacuated over 200 people from Camp Taum Sauk, while swollen rivers and overwhelmed roads disrupted travel and forced residents to higher ground. Similar heavy rain patterns raised flood risks across already saturated areas of Kentucky and Tennessee through the weekend, with officials urging caution amid ongoing threats to lives and infrastructure.


Judge Dismisses Seditious Conspiracy Charges Against Proud Boys Leaders in J6 Case

A federal judge in Washington, D.C., granted the Trump Justice Department’s motion on July 10, 2026, and dismissed with prejudice the seditious conspiracy convictions against several Proud Boys leaders tied to January 6, 2021, events at the Capitol. U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly, who oversaw the trial, approved the request from prosecutors to vacate the charges against Ethan Nordean, Joseph Biggs, Zachary Rehl, and Dominic Pezzola. Kelly noted the executive branch holds primary authority over charging decisions and stated the court had no power to block the dismissal even while expressing personal disagreement with the move. The action follows President Trump’s earlier commutations of their sentences and broader clemency for over 1500 individuals charged in connection with that day’s events.

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Georgia Election Chief Probes Voter Mail Sent to Dead Dog and Deceased Residents

Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger announced an investigation into third-party groups sending voter registration solicitations to deceased individuals and even a dead dog. One resident reported receiving a mailing addressed to Sheba, their deceased pet, with the note “You do realize Sheba is my dead dog.” Ready to Register, a nonprofit that describes itself as dedicated to encouraging civic participation, sent pre-filled forms using commercial data. Similar complaints involved mailings to dead humans, prompting family members to return them with notes about death certificates and dates of passing. Raffensperger highlighted how these efforts rely on unreliable databases unlike state standards, leading to voter confusion and extra work for election officials. He noted comparable issues in North Carolina and criticized the campaigns for shifting costs to taxpayers while prioritizing volume.


NYC Child and Teen Shooters Surge 133 Percent Since Raise the Age Law

New York City has seen a 133 percent increase in the number of children and teens arrested or identified as suspects in shootings since former Governor Andrew Cuomo signed the Raise the Age law in 2017, which raised the age of criminal responsibility from 16 to 18 and shifted many young offenders into family court. NYPD data shows 56 child suspects in shooting incidents so far this year compared to 24 at the same point in 2017, with even higher figures in prior years such as 57 in 2021 and 76 in 2022. The share of shooting incidents involving people under 18 has also climbed to 21 percent last year from 19 percent the year before, even as overall shootings have declined in some periods. Experts note that lenient handling in family court often results in quick releases, failing to match punishment to the severity of the crimes committed by these young offenders.


Tim Walz Claims Minnesota Not Safer Without Deported Child Rapist He Pardoned

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz stated in a resurfaced video that his state would not be safer or better off if a convicted child rapist were deported. The individual, Tou Lue Vang, a Laotian national, pleaded guilty in 2006 to repeatedly sexually abusing a 10-year-old girl over several years. He attempted to pay the victim for her silence and described the acts as a cultural matter while serving no prison time. Walz and the Minnesota Board of Pardons, which includes Attorney General Keith Ellison, granted Vang a full pardon in June that removed the conviction triggering his deportation proceedings. Federal officials under Secretary of State Marco Rubio then revoked Vang’s legal status. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested and deported him on July 10. Rubio emphasized that such criminals should not remain in the country to threaten American families.


Wisconsin Election Officials Dodge Responsibility for Noncitizen Voter Rolls

Wisconsin Elections Commission leaders informed the Department of Justice that they bear no responsibility for ensuring noncitizens stay off voter rolls. The commission signaled limited cooperation with Trump administration efforts to address potential issues in the battleground state’s election system. Officials maintained that state law limits their role in proactive citizenship verification while offering some data sharing. This stance comes amid broader federal pushes to maintain accurate rolls ahead of upcoming elections.


Leftists Revel In Murder Of Conservative Icon Ann Widdecombe

Ann Widdecombe, the 78-year-old former Conservative MP, prisons minister, and Reform UK spokeswoman, was found dead with serious injuries at her Dartmoor home on July 9, 2026. Devon and Cornwall Police launched a murder investigation and arrested a 26-year-old white British man on suspicion of the crime. The incident is not being treated as terrorism and has no indicated political motive, according to authorities. Rather than widespread condemnation, left-wing users on platforms like Bluesky openly celebrated the killing of the outspoken social conservative with derogatory posts, GIFs, cartoons, and comments labeling her a “racist old bitch” or claiming “science produced an answer” to her views on gender ideology.

🌐 International

Iran Admits Hormuz Attack Blunder as Regime Infighting Flares

Iran privately conceded to Trump administration officials that recent attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz amounted to a mistake carried out by rogue hardliners aiming to sabotage negotiations, while Tehran continues to press for resumed talks in Oman. Senior U.S. officials described the Iranian side attributing the strikes to an errant faction and expressing a desire to move forward despite the incident, which Washington views as a ceasefire violation. The administration has demanded a public acknowledgment from Tehran and warned of military and economic consequences for further provocations, even as Qatari mediators work to de-escalate and revive the memorandum of understanding framework. At the same time, deep fractures within Iran’s leadership have surfaced, with rival factions of clerics, IRGC figures, and officials clashing over the direction of negotiations and power distribution in the post-Khamenei era.


Cuba Faces Second Island-Wide Blackout in Days Amid Collapsing Power Grid

Cuba suffered its second nationwide blackout in a matter of days on Friday as the island’s fragile electrical system failed again. Authorities attributed the latest outage to a fluctuation in transmission lines between Santa Clara and Sancti Spíritus provinces following a prior collapse earlier in the week. The country of nearly 10 million people has endured repeated total blackouts this year due to chronic fuel shortages exacerbated by tightened U.S. pressure on oil shipments and longstanding issues with aging infrastructure that dates back decades. Officials reported beginning restoration efforts quickly but noted the grid’s vulnerability persists with multiple power plants offline and severe generation deficits during peak demand. Cuban leaders continue to cite external blockades while the underlying problems of mismanagement and underinvestment in the communist system compound the daily hardships for residents already facing prolonged rolling outages, water shortages, and disrupted services.


Iranian Supreme Leader Vows Revenge on Trump as US Prepares Retaliation

Mojtaba Khamenei issued a written message on July 11, 2026, following his father Ali Khamenei’s funeral. He pledged to avenge the blood of the martyred leader and all those killed in recent conflicts. He described the revenge as the demand of the Iranian nation that must be carried out. Khamenei stated that those responsible have been identified from top to bottom and will not die peacefully in their beds. He added that the mission does not depend on any one person and that freedom seekers worldwide will soon fulfill parts of it. President Trump responded by warning that 1000 missiles are locked and loaded, aimed at Iran. He stated the US military stands ready to decimate and destroy Iranian areas if any assassination attempt occurs against him.


Venezuela Ditches Socialist Oil Controls as Production Climbs

Venezuela’s acting president Delcy Rodriguez signed regulations this week reforming the country’s main oil law. The changes strip Petróleos de Venezuela SA of its monopoly control over the nation’s vast oil resources. Under the new rules private companies can now operate across the full value chain from wells to retail fuel sales. PDVSA receives no mention in the 29-page document. Oil output has risen from under 600,000 barrels per day in 2021 to nearly 1.2 million barrels per day this May following earlier steps toward reform. American firms including ExxonMobil and Chevron show renewed interest after years of hesitation due to past expropriations and infrastructure decay. The moves align with Trump administration guidance to unlock investment in the post-Maduro era.


Muhammad Tops Baby Boys’ Names In England And Wales For Third Year Running

Official data from the Office for National Statistics shows Muhammad remained the most popular name for newborn boys in England and Wales in 2025, with 5,957 boys given that spelling alone, ahead of Noah in second place and Leo in third. This marks the third straight year at the top for the single spelling of Muhammad, which has featured prominently in the top rankings for over a decade when variants are considered. Other spellings such as Mohammed and Mohammad also placed in the top 100, together adding thousands more instances and highlighting the name’s broad appeal in certain communities. Olivia led girls’ names for another year, with the top 10 boys’ names accounting for around 9 percent of all male births amid 300,715 total boys born that year. The figures reflect ongoing demographic patterns in the UK, where Muhammad ranked first in multiple English regions including the North West, Yorkshire and the Humber, West Midlands, and London.

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