Donald Trump2026-08-14 14:43:11Forbes: Trump and Musk Now Speak About Once a Month After Their Public RiftDonald Trump and Elon Musk have resumed regular contact after their public falling-out last year, according to Forbes. The report says the two now speak roughly once a month and often discuss topics such as artificial intelligence and international affairs. Even so, Trump has privately acknowledged that their relationship will never return to what it once was. Forbes said several figures had worked to repair ties between the two, including the late conservative activist Charlie Kirk, White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, and Vice President JD Vance, who viewed the relationship as too important to lose. The report also said Musk traveled to China with Trump and other business executives in May, where the pair discussed Musk’s plans to build a new factory in the United States, family matters, and Musk’s plan to commit $100 million to help Republicans win the November election. In an interview with The Economist last month, Musk said he had previously become too involved in politics and that it had, in his words, gotten out of control.1220
Donald Trump2026-08-10 00:25:26Trump says Will Scharf will become White House counsel on Sept. 1U.S. President Donald Trump said on social media on Aug. 9 local time that current White House Secretary Will Scharf will take over as assistant to the president and White House counsel starting Sept. 1, replacing David Warrington. Trump said Scharf performed strongly in his current role. According to China Central Television, Scharf previously served as chairman of the National Capital Planning Commission and helped advance the commission’s approval of a White House ballroom project with a budget in the hundreds of millions of dollars. The announcement was cited by BlockBeats on Aug. 10.1760
Trump2026-08-08 16:07:06Trump Coins Brand Unveils 'United We Stand' Silver Bar Honoring Signature SaluteOfficial Trump Coins, the commemorative coin brand linked to former President Donald Trump, announced on August 9 the release of a 'United We Stand' silver bar. The new collectible uses a vivid, full-color design to capture a signature moment from Trump's presidency: his salute in front of a waving American flag, a scene the brand said pays tribute to resilience, leadership and the enduring spirit of unity. Framed by the presidential seal and the words 'UNITED WE STAND,' the bar is being offered in two versions: a 1-ounce edition and a larger 10-ounce edition. Trump has personally promoted the brand's releases multiple times, describing them as 'the only official coins designed by me,' including the first-edition and second-edition silver medals released earlier. U.S. media have noted that the operation is actually run under license by Trump's sons, Eric and Donald Trump Jr., who are authorized to use the former president's name and likeness.1750
Trump2026-08-07 09:29:51Trump Says GOP Voters Angry at Party, Not Him; Expects Midterm WinPresident Donald Trump said Republican voters are angry with the party's lawmakers but not with him, and he expects the GOP to win the midterm elections. The remark was reported by Odaily's newsflash, citing Jinshi.1690
Prediction Ma2026-08-06 19:54:50Democratic Senators Urge CFTC to Ban Wildfire Prediction ContractsNine Democratic U.S. senators have sent a letter to Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Chairman Michael Selig, demanding a ban on prediction-market event contracts tied to wildfires. In the letter, the lawmakers stated that these contracts could encourage arson, enable insider trading, and jeopardize public safety. They specifically cited Polymarket, which accepted more than $1.2 million in wagers related to the 2025 Palisades and Eaton fires in California. The senators also noted that some newer platforms allow users to bet on wildfires, permitting speculation on destructive events. They argued that the CFTC should impose constraints before next year’s wildfire season gets underway, and that protective measures should be put in place for both U.S.-based and offshore markets. The letter arrives as prediction markets face continued regulatory scrutiny, with separate ongoing cases in Minnesota, Kentucky, and Michigan touching on the division of federal and state regulatory authority.1700
US politics2026-08-05 17:01:17Pro-Crypto PAC's $2M Push Fails as Thanedar Loses Michigan PrimaryMichigan state Rep. Donavan McKinney defeated incumbent U.S. Rep. Shri Thanedar in the Democratic primary for Michigan's 13th Congressional District. As of Wednesday, McKinney had 51.9% of the vote to Thanedar's 48.1%. The pro-crypto political action committee Protect Progress spent more than $2 million on media to support Thanedar and oppose McKinney. Protect Progress is affiliated with Fairshake, which is largely funded by crypto companies Coinbase and Ripple. Thanedar had voted for bills including the GENIUS Act and the CLARITY Act. McKinney faces Republican candidate Taras Nykoriak in the November general election.1820
Donald Trump2026-08-04 04:09:22CNN says Trump has not yet made a fatal escalation error in the Iran conflictCNN said U.S. President Donald Trump has so far avoided what it described as the biggest danger in the Iran conflict: escalating the war on a scale that spins beyond control. But with diplomacy at a standstill, Trump is now facing three options — keep escalating, widen military action, or step away from the conflict. According to the report, Trump issued another hard-line warning after Iran refused further talks, saying the country’s leadership was facing a “last chance.” CNN’s analysis said a broader air campaign alone may not force Iran to yield and could instead trigger attacks on infrastructure used by U.S. allies in the Gulf, raising the risk of a wider regional confrontation. For now, the United States is still limiting its operations mainly to military targets. CNN said that if Washington were to expand strikes to civilian infrastructure such as energy facilities and power systems, or even move toward ground action, the conflict could enter a much more dangerous phase. The report also pointed to Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan as examples of wars that deepened as leaders tried to avoid defeat or protect their reputations. CNN said the Iran conflict could become a major test of Trump’s political legacy, especially as U.S. midterm elections draw closer.1900
Trump2026-07-31 15:48:14Trump approval hits second-term low as Iran war and gas prices weigh on sentimentPresident Donald Trump’s approval rating has fallen to its lowest level of his second term, according to political analyst Nate Silver, who tied the drop to the ongoing Iran war and a sharp rise in gasoline prices. Silver said the timing closely matches the return of fighting with Iran and higher energy costs. With the war nearing the six-month mark, data from the American Automobile Association showed the U.S. average gasoline price at about $4.11 per gallon as of Friday morning, up from roughly $3.15 a year earlier. Polling averages from Decision Desk HQ put Trump’s overall approval at 40.6%, while his average disapproval stood at 57.5%. Other surveys point to broader public opposition to the conflict. A Quinnipiac University poll found 60% of U.S. voters opposed the war, the highest share since the conflict began on Feb. 28. Nearly three-quarters of Americans said they opposed sending U.S. troops to Iran. An AP-NORC poll found 64% of Americans viewed the war as “not worth it,” including 87% of Democrats, 37% of Republicans and 68% of independents.1880
