- Friday August 21st, 2026
- "It Is Not A Question of Who Is Right Or Wrong But What Is Right Or Wrong That Counts."
- --Geoff Metcalf
- Providing an on line Triage of the news since 1998
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World & Nation
Iranian president says it's time to end the war, appearing to take aim at radicals
Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkia called for an end to Iran's war with
the U.S. on Friday during a speech at the General Assembly of the
Islamic Association of the Medical Society of Iran.
"It is better to end the war today, when we are in power and dignity
and the whole world acknowledges our victory and emphasizes that
America, contrary to all regulations, attacked our schools, hospitals,
and infrastructure, and is hated in the world," Pezeshkia said,
according to a translation of a text copy of his speech posted to an
Iranian state media website.
Pezeshkia appeared to take a subtle jab at hardliners in his own country, criticizing people "sitting outside the circle."
"In the meantime, some people are sitting outside the circle; because
they do not know the state of the government, the state of the
parliament, and the state of the commanders, they make comments and
analysis, even though they have not experienced any suffering or
hardship, and then they talk about the cost. They do not find a single
clause in this agreement that indicates a commitment; all commitments
are related to the other party," he said.
The president also acknowledged the financial toll the war has taken on Iran.
US Aircraft Carrier Arrives in Mideast, Relieving Long-Deployed USS Lincoln
The Asia-based USS George Washington aircraft carrier is now operating
in the Middle East, the U.S. military said Thursday, relieving a
long-deployed carrier following reports of mental health challenges and
supply shortages aboard while it was supporting the Iran war.
U.S. Central Command, which oversees military operations in the Middle
East, said on social media that the carrier arrived in the region
Wednesday. It was not clear when the USS Abraham Lincoln would arrive
back in the U.S. or whether it would make a port stop along the way,
but the journey takes just over a month.
The Washington arrived as concerns have grown about the Lincoln's
lengthy deployment, which has included a record-setting uninterrupted
time at sea of more than 250 days, and about reports of crew stress and
poor mental health, as well as supply shortages, including food and
hygiene products.
Ukraine’s ‘Equalizer’ bomb aims to blow up reliance on US, European weapons
The Vyrivniuvach adds wings and guidance to conventional bombs dropped from MiG-29, Su-24 and Su-27 warplanes
Ukraine is buying a homegrown glide bomb that could help its pilots
strike Russian forces from a safer distance while relying less on
weapons supplied by the U.S. and Europe.
The new weapon is called the Vyrivniuvach, or "Equalizer." It was
developed by Ukrainian company DG Industry with support from Brave1, a
government-backed defense technology group.
A Ukrainian military official told Ukrinform that the bomb has finished
testing and is now being bought for the armed forces. Fox News Digital
has reached out to Ukraine's Ministry of Defense for more details.
Russia Open to New Ukraine Peace Proposals, With Conditions
Russia is open to listening to new proposals on how to reach a
settlement on the Ukraine conflict, a senior Russian diplomat said, but
any proposals should reflect the "realities on the ground."
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said in an interview
with media outlet News.ru published on Friday that the U.S.
demonstrated a readiness for "constructive dialog" and an
"understanding of Russia's position."
"At this stage, it is more important to what extent Washington is able
to influence the decisions of the Kyiv regime and its European
sponsors, who still dream of a 'strategic defeat' of Russia," he told
the outlet.
Trump Admin Inherited Biden 'Debt Bomb'
Vice President JD Vance told Newsmax on Thursday that the Trump
administration inherited a "debt bomb" from former President Joe Biden
but has a plan to get the U.S. economy growing faster than the national
debt.
The national debt recently topped $40 trillion, prompting "Carl Higbie
FRONTLINE" host Carl Higbie to ask Vance what the administration could
do to address the mounting debt.
"There's a weird way where American taxpayers are getting fleeced because of the very high debt charges," Vance said.
AOC blasted as too moderate by Maoist DSA faction as 2028 buzz grows
The Marxist-Leninist-Maoist caucus called AOC an 'opportunist dilettante' over her stance on 'Palestine' and policing
The Democratic Socialist of America (DSA) Liberation Caucus is
rejecting Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., as a potential candidate
for Democrats in the 2028 presidential election, arguing she is too far
removed from the socialist agenda.
"Liberation condemns Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's continued retreat from
socialist politics and rejects any effort to present her as the future
presidential standard-bearer for DSA, or for the broader socialist
movement," the DSA Liberation Caucus wrote in the statement.
DSA slammed Ocasio-Cortez as an "opportunist" and condemned her vote to
defend Israel’s right to exist and for not holding firm as an
anti-Zionist.
"In short, it was determined that she had failed to meet conditions concerning Palestine solidarity," the statement said.
US Assistant Attorney found dead in federal building after going missing
The search for a missing US Assistant Attorney ended after he was found
dead in a San Diego federal building, marking “one of the darkest days”
in the office’s history.
Local police discovered former Acting US Attorney Andrew Haden, 48,
dead inside an office at the Edward J. Schwartz Federal Building
Wednesday, but ruled that no foul play is suspected.
Haden was reported missing earlier in the day Wednesday and his body was found hours later.
Surprise election upset shows hating Trump is no longer enough as Democratic voters turn to new playbook
Alexander Vindman's double-digit loss in Florida's Senate primary is the latest defeat for impeachment-era Democrats
A major primary upset by Democratic Socialists of America member Angie
Nixon shakes the Florida Democratic establishment after a 12-point
victory. Representative Jared Moskowitz breaks down his own successful
primary strategy against a far-left challenger. He also hits back at
Senator Rick Scott for claiming moderate Democrats are too frightened
to stand up to the progressive wing of their party.
A growing number of Democrats who grabbed national attention as they
led the resistance to President Donald Trump during his first term in
the White House are the latest casualties in this year's primary battle
between the party's left-wing and the establishment.
The latest victim: Alexander Vindman, who gained national prominence
nearly a decade ago as the then-Army lieutenant colonel and National
Security Council official served as a key witness against Trump during
the president's first impeachment trial.
Trump Seeks to Bolster Graham Senate Bid With S.C. Rally
President Donald Trump heads to South Carolina on Friday to campaign
for Darline Graham, a political novice whose unexpected bid for a
six-year U.S. Senate term will test the president's influence in a
heavily Republican state.
Trump will appear at an evening rally for Graham at the Myrtle Beach
Convention Center, days after the sitting senator tripped over a basic
question about U.S. foreign policy in a debate this week with U.S.
Representative Ralph Norman, her opponent in next Tuesday's Republican
primary runoff.
"I'm just going to be honest here. I'm not that informed on national
security," Graham replied to the astonishment of the debate audience,
when asked if Taiwan and the South China Sea are national security
issues for the United States. "National security is not my thing."
Prince Harry ordered to pay staggering amount of money in court case ahead of his and Meghan Markle’s UK move
Prince Harry and his co-claimants have been ordered to pay $11 million
after losing their High Court case against the Daily Mail’s publisher
last month.
The payment is to be made in the coming week, the BBC reported Friday.
The Duke of Sussex is on the hook for the hefty sum, along with Sir
Elton John, David Furnish, Sir Simon Hughes, Sadie Frost, Liz Hurley
and Baroness Doreen Lawrence.
Criminal justice reform is a bust — and hidden data told the truth all along
By Ari Hoffman
America’s blue cities and states have made the criminal-justice system a revolving door for prolific offenders.
Police arrest them.
Prosecutors charge them . . . sometimes.
Then bail reforms, diversion programs and alternatives to incarceration
send them right back onto the streets to be arrested again. And again.
New York dramatically curtailed cash bail and pretrial detention.
I served as Trump’s NSA. SCOTUS need to stop courts putting the president's security at risk
In this era of advanced surveillance equipment the entire White House complex has to be hardened against prying eyes
By Robert C. O'Brien
"Where is the president? He’s got to move."
Those are words a National Security Advisor (NSA) never wants to hear.
Unfortunately, I heard them more than once during my term as NSA. In
those instances, we are quickly hustled out of the Oval Office to a
rendezvous with the First Family and top presidential aides and taken
somewhere safe. It all occurred in a matter of minutes.
I served as President Trump’s last National Security Advisor in his
first term and was honored to have done that and been his Special Envoy
for Hostage Affairs for two years before my two years in the corner
office of the West Wing. Being with President Trump in the Situation
Room for the mission to kill Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi or the first meeting
of the Covid task force after the outbreak from China are memorable,
history-making moments.
