U.S. President Donald J. Trump today signed an Executive Order which he claims mandates a one-year prison sentence for those who burn the American Flag, in direct violation of the First Amendment of the Constitution and upheld by Texas v Johnson. Despite claims by President Trump that the order imposes a prison sentence for flag burning, the actual order makes no mention of a prison sentence and only directs Attorney General Pam Bondi to look at cases where people burned flags and see if they can be charged with other crimes like disturbing the peace or breaking environmental laws, in an attempt to circumvent the First Amendment.

In a statement earlier by the Spokesman for the Israel Defense Force, Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin, the IDF claims responsibility for a series of strikes earlier today on the Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis, which resulted in the death of roughly two dozen civilians, including a number of journalists and rescue workers who were killed in an apparent “double tap” on the hospital by the Israeli Air Force.

Attached is the full transcript of the statement:

“Earlier today, IDF troops carried out a strike in the area of Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis. We are aware of reports that harm was caused to civilians, including journalists. I would like to be clear from the start - the IDF does not intentionally target civilians. The IDF makes every effort to mitigate harm to civilians, while ensuring the safety of our troops. Any incident that raises concern in this regard is addressed by the relevant mechanisms in the IDF.”

“We are operating in an extremely complex reality. Hamas terrorists deliberately use civilian infrastructure, including hospitals, as shields. They have even operated from the Nasser hospital itself. Hamas began this war, created impossible fighting conditions — and is preventing its end by still holding
50 hostages.”

“Having said that, as a professional military, committed to international law, we are obligated to investigate our operations thoroughly and professionally. The Chief of the General Staff has instructed that an inquiry be conducted immediately — to understand the circumstances of what happened and how it happened. Reporting from an active warzone carries immense risk, especially in a war with a terrorist organization such as Hamas, who cynically hides behind the civilian population. As always, we will present our findings as transparently as possible. We regret any harm to uninvolved individuals and are committed to continue fighting Hamas, while taking all the necessary precautions.”

U.S. President Donald J. Trump greets South Korean President Lee Jae Myung at the White House, hours after accusing South Korea of raiding churches and a joint military base as part of an investigation into supporters of Former President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was arrested and ousted earlier this year for a failed coup against the government in December 2024.

U.S. President Donald J. Trump states that he has made an agreement with China that will allow 600,000 Chinese students into the United States.

U.S. President Trump condemns today’s series of strikes by Israel on the Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis, which killed a number of journalists and rescue workers, stating that he is “not happy” about it.

Senior advisor to President Trump and Director of U.S. National Economic Council, Kevin Hassett, stated earlier today during an interview with CNBC that the government will take ownership stakes in more companies, similar to last week’s deal with the multinational tech corporation Intel. Hassett referred to the deal as a “down payment” on the creation of a Sovereign Wealth Fund for the United States.

The U.S. Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC) has announced the completion of a comprehensive inspection of roughly 8,000 SIG Sauer M18 Modular Handgun Systems, after the handgun was suspended from service on July 21 following the death of Airman Brayden Lovan, 21, a Security Forces Airman, who died from an M18 gunshot at F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Wyoming. Lovan’s death was initially reported as a misfire involving his M18, though this has since been proven false, with another Airman being arrested on charges of making a false official statement, obstruction of justice, and involuntary manslaughter, in relation to death of Lovan. The inspection revealed that just under 200 M18s were found to have some amount of wear on key firing mechanisms, though none were found to be responsible for any misfires, with the M18 being returned to active service throughout AFGSC.

On Monday, Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada Garcia, 75, one of the leaders and founders of the Sinaloa Cartel, pled guilty in the Federal District Court in Brooklyn on charges of drug trafficking and racketeer, with him expected to spend the remainder of his life within a federal prison in the United States. Zambada had been wanted by both the FBI and DEA for years, until July 2024, when he was tricked and kidnapped by Joaquín Guzmán López, the son of his former business partner Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, who flew him to El Paso, Texas, where they were both captured and arrested by the federal agents as part of a reported plea deal between the U.S. Department of Justice and the “El Chapo” Family.

Governor of the Federal Reserve, Lisa Cook, has released a statement via her lawyers following tonight’s attempt by President Trump to remove her from the Federal Reserve Board of Governors.

“President Trump purported to fire me ‘for cause’ when no cause exists under the law, and he has no authority to do so.  I will not resign. I will continue to carry out my duties to help the American economy as I have been doing since 2022.”

The “for cause” that President Trump gave for Cook’s removal was a criminal investigation opened into her last week by the Department of Justice for mortgage fraud, referred by Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte who has also referred several of the president’s other political enemies to the DoJ.

Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced on Tuesday that he had ordered the expulsion of the Iranian Ambassador to Australia, Ahmad Sadeghi, and the suspension of operations at the Australian Embassy in Tehran, after the Australian Security Intelligence Organization (ASIO) recently uncovered “credible intelligence” that Iran was behind two major antisemitic attacks in the country last year, the firebombing of Adass Israel Synagogue of Melbourne and Lewis' Continental Kitchen in Sydney. Additionally, Albanese announced that Australia would move to list Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), as a “foreign terrorist organization.”

Four years ago today, on August 26, 2021 at roughly 17:50, 13 U.S. Servicemembers and 169 Afghan civilians were killed in an ISIS–K suicide bombing on the main gate of Kabul International Airport, during the at the time ongoing chaotic and disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan. Findings afterwards determined that senior defense and intelligence officials knew about the threat of an ISIS-K attack on the airport during the evacuation, yet did almost nothing to warn or protect the American Airmen, Marines, Sailors, and Soldiers who were on the ground assisting in the evacuation and providing security around the permitter of KBL. Despite several congressional inquires, absolutely no member of military leadership or the Biden Administration has been held accountable for the bombing or the disastrous evacuation while led to it, as well as the eventual takeover of Afghanistan by the Taliban.

Today we remember and pray tribute to the Servicemembers we lost as a result of the attack:

-Marine Corps Lance Cpl. David L. Espinoza
-Marine Corps Sgt. Nicole L. Gee
-Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Darin Taylor Hoover
-Army Staff Sgt. Ryan Christian Knauss
-Marine Corps Cpl. Hunter Lopez
-Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Rylee J. McCollum
-Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Dylan R. Merola
-Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Kareem M. Nikoui
-Marine Corps Cpl. Daegan W. Page
-Marine Corps Sgt. Johanny Rosario
-Marine Corps Cpl. Humberto A. Sanchez
-Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Jared M. Schmitz
-Navy Petty Officer Third Class Maxton W. Soviak

The U.S. Navy has confirmed and sworn-in Adm. Daryl L. Caudle as the 34th Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), succeeding Adm. Lisa M. Franchetti, who was removed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in February. During his first speech yesterday as CNO, Adm. Caudle stated: “The Sailor will be front and center in my vision throughout my tenure as CNO – hands down, no exception. To ensure that they are ready to fight and win decisively–today, tomorrow, and well into the future—we will view everything we do we through an operational lens focused on three priorities: the foundry, the fleet, and the way we fight.” 

Speaking earlier today with CNBC, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said that the Trump Administration is considering acquiring equity stakes in a number of U.S. defense contractors, including Lockheed Martin, similar to the deal announced last week, in which the administration acquired a 10% ownership stake in the multinational tech corporation Intel.