Politics & World Affairs — August 3, 2026

Senate Republicans cite Trump risk. Senate Republicans said President Trump is a growing political liability ahead of the 2026 midterms, citing his attacks on vulnerable incumbents and demands to cancel August recess.

The Hill · Read more ↗

Trump calls off Iran strike. President Trump said Saturday he canceled a planned strike on Iran, citing progress in negotiations; Iran denied that new talks were scheduled for Monday.

According to Axios, the operation that was shelved would have been a major strike, and the president framed the decision as a response to diplomatic movement between the two countries. Tehran’s public rejection of any scheduled Monday meeting leaves the status of those negotiations unclear, with the two governments offering conflicting accounts of whether talks are actually underway or imminent.

Axios · Read more ↗

Trump executive orders target Smithsonian. President Trump’s executive orders target the Smithsonian Institution, arguing its exhibits prioritize decolonization and DEI over patriotic American history, according to a Fox News timeline.

Fox News Politics · Read more ↗