August 28, 2026

Who Does This?? David Gilmour of Mediaite: “...  Donald Trump ... declar[ed] himself the greatest president in American history on Thursday.... Trump shared the presidential tier list on Truth Social, placing himself alone in a category marked “The Greatest,” above Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, Thomas Jefferson, and Andrew Jackson, who were merely deemed 'Great.' The display quickly drew ridicule from liberal commentators over Trump’s decision to put himself at the summit of American presidential history, while conservative voices questioned some of the list’s more peculiar choices and omissions.... The graphic [in Trump's post] appears to be a modified version of a LIFE magazine ranking published in 1948 following a survey of 55 American history experts. Trump’s version largely retains those decades-old assessments while inserting more recent presidents, with some conspicuous alterations.” Thanks to Akhilleus for the link. See also his commentary below. ~~~

~~~ Marie's Polite Note to the White House: Most historians and political scientists rank President Trump among the worst U.S. presidents, alongside James Buchanan and Andrew Johnson. So I was genuinely shocked to see that he considers himself "the greatest" president, ahead of those who usually top the list: George Washington, Abraham Lincoln and Franklin Roosevelt. Since the time experts compiled their ratings, President Trump's standing has deteriorated: he has initiated and lost a disastrous war and has overseen an economy that has devastated ordinary Americans, largely because of his tariffs/taxes he imposed on consumer goods. Polls show him to have the lowest approval rating of any president in modern history. In light of all that, please ask the president to explain -- in detail -- to the American people why he thinks he is the best president in U.S. history. This is truly confusing to those of us who are suffering under his administration. Thank you for your assistance.  

Sarah Blaskey, et al., of the Washington Post: “The Trump administration told the Supreme Court two weeks ago that construction of a new White House East Wing was '65% finished,' part of its argument that the work was too far along for the court to halt. But by the White House’s own standard for measuring the project’s progress, established in a confidential agreement with contractor Clark Construction that was reviewed by The Washington Post, work on the controversial project was far less complete. The agreement, finalized before Clark began demolition last October, stipulates that payments to the contractor be proportional to the amount of work completed, and that work cannot begin until the government approves spending for it. Based on that, if 65 percent of the work has been done, then the government should already have paid 65 percent of the total cost of the project.... The 65 percent claim was made in a sworn declaration by Joshua Fisher, the director for White House Management and Administration, who is overseeing the construction project. In the declaration, Fisher did not explain how the percentage was calculated but said, 'Work has progressed too far to go back to the drawing board.'”

Don the Destroyer, Ctd. Rick Maese of the Washington Post: “Across East Potomac Golf Links..., newly cut stumps and bare patches of dirt mark the places where dozens of trees recently stood.... The Trump administration’s promised overhaul of the course has not officially begun. The trees, however, have been coming down for weeks.... Donald Trump said June 28 that work on the historical public golf facility would begin Sept. 1, but days before that date, his administration has released no final design, construction schedule or estimated cost. Officials have not said whether the course will close next week, what work might begin, or what golfers and other visitors to the national parkland should expect.

“An informal count Thursday found that more than 60 trees appeared to have been removed in recent weeks. Many were around the perimeter and parking lot, but others had been removed from playing corridors on the Blue, Red and White courses. Among the most conspicuous was a cherry tree near the 14th green of the Blue Course, one of East Potomac’s most picturesque holes, framed by cherry trees near the southern end of Hains Point. Nearby, two large sycamores had been removed around the fourth hole.”

Evan Halper, et al., of the Washington Post: “The Trump administration is negotiating a long-term stake in a vast share of Venezuela’s oil fields..., a costly and legally precarious proposal that aims to nudge reluctant energy companies to drill in the risky region. The contours of the plan, which is still evolving and could change or fall apart, would involve the United States taking more direct control over Venezuelan reserves as crime and steep logistical challenges discourage private investors. Under terms being discussed, the U.S. would acquire long-term contracts for a third of Venezuelan oil reserves, creating access to roughly 90 billion barrels of crude....”

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Remember way back yesterday morning when the Great lakes were H.O.M.E.S.? -- Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie and Superior? Well, now they're S.H.A.M.E., according to the Sharpie King. ~~~

~~~ Natalie Allison of the Washington Post: “... Donald Trump ordered Lake Ontario to be renamed Lake America, the latest broadside in his escalating feud with Canada. In the Oval Office on Thursday, Trump signed an order requiring that the U.S. Interior Department update geographic information systems to change the name of the lake, located between New York and Canada.... 'We filed all the necessary papers, documents, everything else,' Trump said. 'We notified all the various people that we have to notify. So we’ve done everything that you have to do. And this is official, effective immediately.' Trump said he made the change, which follows his order renaming the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America last year, because 'Canada has been ripping us off for a long time on trade, very sadly.... The Canadian officials have treated us very badly. They’re nasty people,' he continued, calling the country the worst in the world to deal with on trade.” (Also linked yesterday.) A Politico story is here. ~~~

~~~ Erica Green of the New York Times: “Like Mr. Trump’s order to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, Thursday’s order most likely requires only federal entities to recognize the change, but it does not have to be recognized by other countries.... On Thursday, [New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D)] reposted the White House’s new directive on social media, and said the state, which borders the lake, will not comply. 'New York won’t be calling it that,' she wrote.... Prime Minister Mark Carney also weighed in, saying in a social media post: 'We know that America is changing. Their trading relationships, their foreign policies, their national monuments, their hydronyms. Canadians also know that naming reality means calling it Lake Ontario — then, now and always.'” The link is a gift link.  ~~~

~~~ Ashleigh Fields of the Hill: “Vermont Gov. Phil Scott (R) on Thursday took issue with ... [Donald] Trump’s executive order renaming Lake Ontario as 'Lake America' as his trade war with Canada intensifies. 'This is petty and disappointing. We should be at the negotiating table, finding a path forward that strengthens both the U.S. and Canadian economies,' wrote Scott, who has hammered Trump over National Guard deployments and proposed mail-in voting restrictions, in a social media post about the order.”

Marie: Oddly, I had never noticed that Lake Epstein (formerly Lake Michigan) looks like a dangling penis, with some spikes near the top, possibly for the pleasure of his company. Ford squeet via Scott Lemieux in LG&$.

     ~~~ Marie: Of the many stupid aspects of Trump's rebranding effort is that both Canada and Mexico are among the "Americas," just as the U.S. is. So fake-renaming these bodies of water after "America" means nothing. I don't usually embed these highly-partisan videocasts, but sometimes it's appropriate to just be over-the-top horrified by the ridiculous, childish behavior of the nominal POTUS* ~~~

~~~ Marie: If you were wondering who that guy was who handed the unsigned executive order to Trump, it must be ~~~ 

     ~~~ Jerusalem News Syndicate: “Donald Trump said on Thursday that Ben Moss, deputy staff secretary at the White House, would become assistant to the president and staff secretary effective on Sept. 2. Moss, whom the president credited with doing a 'tremendous' job in the deputy role, succeeds Will Scharf, who is now White House counsel.”

Canada Poaches the Best & the Brightest. Vjosa Isai of the New York Times: “Twenty-one universities in Canada announced on Thursday the hiring of dozens of researchers to join their top academic ranks, poaching the majority of the recruits from the United States. Of the incoming 64 researchers, 48 will leave American campuses including Harvard, Yale and M.I.T., and the remainder are from Europe, Asia and Australia. Turmoil in American academia, precipitated by a crackdown on prestigious universities by the Trump administration and attacks on scientific research groups, has allowed Canada a rare opportunity to lure some of those schools’ top minds north.” The link is a gift link.

Trump's White House Construction Caused Air Safety Hazard to Himself and Others. Liam Scott of the Washington Post: “... Donald Trump’s Marine One helicopter took off from a temporary location due to White House construction earlier this month, leading to communication problems and a safety incident with Reagan National Airport, according to a preliminary report released Thursday. When Trump took off from a temporary spot at the Ellipse on Aug. 4, air traffic controllers at National Airport had not stopped commercial flights [as they are supposed to do].... According to a preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board, air traffic control recordings reveal the first attempt to contact the air traffic control tower was not received at all, and the second attempt was 'broken and completely unreadable.' Marine One was departing from the Ellipse while construction was underway at the White House, according to the report. Technicians later determined the temporary location was in a position that did not provide a direct line of sight for needed radio communications, according to the NTSB.” (Also linked yesterday.) 

Luke Broadwater of the New York Times: Donald “Trump has named Mark Paoletta, a lawyer in his administration and a close associate of Justice Clarence Thomas’s, to lead the panel that will oversee the construction of several of his prized construction projects, including the planned Triumphal Arch. Mr. Paoletta, who also serves as the general counsel for the Office of Management and Budget, will replace Will Scharf, a White House official who is set to become the White House counsel in September. As the chairman of the National Capital Planning Commission, Mr. Paoletta will be tasked with vetting Mr. Trump’s planned arch, the National Garden of American Heroes and the creation of a luxury golf course nearby, as well as other major construction projects the president undertakes. Mr. Paoletta previously worked for Vice President Mike Pence and represented Ginni Thomas, the wife of Justice Thomas, before the House committee that investigated the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol.” The link is a gift link. (Also linked yesterday.) 

A Coalition to Save the Nation from Demolition Don. Dan Diamond of the Washington Post: “A coalition of more than 600 historic preservation groups, architectural associations, tribal governments and other organizations is urging Congress to block ... Donald Trump’s efforts to weaken or evade laws intended to protect historic sites. Members of the new coalition say that they are seeking to safeguard sites in every congressional district — and that they intend to pursue legal action if Congress does not act.... The signatories want lawmakers to reject the administration’s revisions to a 60-year-old federal law that governs changes to landmarks such as the National Mall, sites that are significant to Indian tribes and other properties eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places.” (Also linked yesterday.)

Zach Montague & Julia Jacobs of the New York Times: “An effort to inscribe ... [Donald] Trump’s name on the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts was stalled on Thursday when a federal judge asked officials to delay the project while he considered a legal objection from a Democratic lawmaker. The center had said it planned to add the inscription — which would say 'renovated and restored by President Donald J. Trump' beneath the building’s main signage — as early as Sept. 8. Democratic officials have characterized the decision by the center’s Trump-allied board as an aggressive end run around an order by the judge, who said the center had unlawfully renamed the building the Trump-Kennedy Center. In May, Judge Christopher R. Cooper ordered the president’s name removed from the building, citing a 1964 law dedicating the memorial strictly to Kennedy. At a hearing on Thursday in Federal District Court in Washington, Judge Cooper told Justice Department lawyers that unless they agreed to delay the inscription, he might have to issue a ruling blocking the center from moving forward.... Late on Thursday, lawyers for the Justice Department said in a court filing that they would delay the inscription until Oct. 8, at the earliest.” The link is a gift link. ~~~

     ~~~ Gary Grumbach, et al., of NBC News: "The judge in a court battle over efforts to add Donald Trump’s name to the front of the Kennedy Center peppered the administration’s lawyers with questions Thursday on their rush to put his name back on it." 

Small Mercies. Maggie Haberman, et al., of the New York Times: Donald “Trump is not planning to attend a ceremony in Manhattan for the 25th anniversary of the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center, in part because he wanted to deliver a speech and the annual event has long barred remarks.... Mr. Trump’s team had conducted advance visits at the site and had initially signaled to officials in New York and in Washington that the president intended to visit the memorial space known as ground zero.... Since 2012, politicians have been barred from speaking at the site. The National September 11 Memorial and Museum, which oversees the site, has worked rigorously to keep the venue nonpartisan and focused on the solemnity of the day. Mr. Trump ... is now expected to commemorate them at the Pentagon....” The link is a gift link.

⭐Lawrence Hurley & Gary Grumbach of NBC News: “A federal judge Thursday blocked a Postal Service regulation that would exert control over mail-in ballots ahead of the midterm elections in the latest setback on the issue for ... Donald Trump.... The decision by Boston-based U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani in a case brought by the League of Women Voters and other groups means that part of the executive order remains blocked for at least 14 days with time running out to implement it ahead of the November election. Talwani wrote that the regulation is likely unlawful because the president cannot insert the federal government into elections without the express authorization of Congress. 'The court finds plaintiffs likely to succeed on the merits of their claims,' she added.” (Also linked yesterday.) The New York Times story is here; this is a gift link.

Eric Katz of NOTUS: "... Donald Trump’s push to have the U.S. Postal Service screen voters for eligibility in the midterm election is running up against tight deadlines that some officials are warning will cause massive errors and disenfranchisement.... While the rule faces several renewed legal challenges, USPS now has just weeks until some states begin sending out ballots ahead of the November elections, and it has to bring thousands of state and local offices up to speed on the new steps. USPS has proposed something it has never done before, which would require a heavy lift, said Tom Day, a Postal Service executive for 35 years who spent parts of his career personally responsible for developing the network technology the agency would need to carry out its rule." MB: Marc Elias said on MS NOW that some states were scheduled to print ballots next week. (Also linked yesterday.) 

Yunior Rivas of Democracy Docket: “A Democratic member of Congress is demanding answers from Trump’s Department of Justice (DOJ) about how it’s vetting the roughly 1,000 election monitors it plans to deploy this fall, citing Democracy Docket’s exclusive reporting on David Michael Levin — a lawyer who pleaded guilty to hacking government election websites and appears to have joined DOJ’s Civil Rights Division. In a letter sent Thursday to Attorney General Todd Blanche, Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.) said the report made previously raised concerns about the department’s monitoring plans 'even more urgent.' He pressed DOJ to explain whether it employs Levin, what role he played during the department’s monitoring of Minnesota’s August primary and whether officials knew about his criminal history before he appeared at a polling location.” See related reports, linked below, about the “very odd” behavior of DOJ monitors at Wyoming polling places.  

Here's the Latest Explanation of Why John Ratcliffe Went to Moscow. Adam Entous & Julian Barnes of the New York Times: “John Ratcliffe, the C.I.A. director, made a secretive visit to Moscow this week to privately share his bleak assessment of the state of the Russian war against Ukraine, and to urge the Russians to cut a deal before their military and economic situation gets worse, current and former officials said. Mr. Ratcliffe delivered the message to Aleksandr V. Bortnikov, the head of Russia’s F.S.B. intelligence service, and made no threats about potential consequences for the Russian side should President Vladimir V. Putin ignore the C.I.A. director’s assessment and choose to continue fighting. C.I.A. analysts have long questioned whether Mr. Putin’s advisers have given him honest assessments of the war’s trajectory and toll.... Last year, Mr. Trump and some of his top advisers appeared to hold the belief that a Russian battlefield victory over Ukraine was inevitable. Since then, the Russians have suffered massive losses, and their battlefield gains have stalled. It is not clear whether Mr. Ratcliffe’s message presages any change in U.S. policy toward Russia or Ukraine.” The link is a gift link. (Also linked yesterday.)

     ~~~ Warren Strobel of the Washington Post: “CIA Director John Ratcliffe’s mysterious trip to Moscow this week was preceded by fresh U.S. intelligence indicating that the Kremlin sees the United States as weakened by the Iran war, offering Russia an opportunity to escalate action against American interests and allies in Europe, according to two people familiar with the matter. The details of Ratcliffe’s talks with his Russian counterpart remain secret, but one of the people told The Washington Post that the CIA chief warned Moscow against ramping up its war against Ukraine, arguing that such a move would backfire.... The classified intelligence suggesting that Putin sees the U.S. as weakened by the six-month-old war in Iran follows reports of diminished troop readiness and munitions shortfalls as a result of the extended campaign against Tehran.”

Declare Victory and Get Out or Get Shot. Eric Schmitt, et al., of the New York Times: “The Pentagon is preparing to withdraw about 200 troops from Nigeria who were deployed this year to help fight Islamist militants, wrapping up a mission that American officials say could serve as a model for future operations in Africa. At a time when some 50,000 U.S. forces are involved in the war against Iran, American and Nigerian officials say the relatively small deployment to the West African nation had outsized results, including the killing of a top Islamic State leader.

“But the mission appears to have had limited success. The terrorists are a long way from being defeated and are still carrying out major attacks across the country. In recent days, gunmen killed more than two dozen people, including an imam, in northwestern Nigeria, and at least 25 people in an attack on a village in the central part of the country, according to news media reports. On Saturday, terrorists launched a large assault on a military base in the northeast.The U.S. troops were sent to northeastern Nigeria in February weeks after ... [Donald] Trump criticized the country for failing to protect Christians from terrorist attacks, though both Christians and Muslims have been victims of the violence.” The link is a gift link. (Also linked yesterday.)

Minho Kim of the New York Times: “Three journalists at the federally funded but independent Stars and Stripes news organization sued the government on Thursday, claiming that the Pentagon fired them in retaliation for writing about the worsening conditions inside a Navy aircraft carrier deployed to the Middle East. The journalists accused the government of violating their First Amendment right to free speech, asking the U.S. District Court in Washington to reject their terminations as well as new Pentagon policies that they say severely limit the editorial independence of their work. The lawsuit is the latest in a streak of public pushbacks against the Pentagon’s efforts to exert control over the storied newspaper, which started publishing during the Civil War and has had a long history of independent reporting.” The link is a gift link. Politico's story is here.

Sheera Frenkel of the New York Times: “The Trump administration acted illegally when it labeled the artificial intelligence start-up Anthropic a security risk and barred the company from working with the U.S. government, a federal judge ruled on Thursday. Judge Rita Lin of the U.S. District Court in the Northern District of California wrote in her 59-page ruling that the government had unlawfully retaliated against Anthropic 'for constitutionally protected expressive activities' after the A.I. company spoke out about how its technology should be used. 'The empty invocation of national security is not a blank check to punish and retaliate against government critics,' she wrote.... The ruling caps the first of two lawsuits that Anthropic filed on March 9 in response to the Trump administration’s action. The second lawsuit, filed in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, is ongoing.” The link is a gift link. The Guardian's story, gleaned from agency reports, is here.

This time, the monkey is Donald Trump: ~~~

~~~ Shades of the Scopes Trial, A Century Later. Michael Bender & Greg Jaffe of the New York Times: “After 17 years of teaching science at West Point, Dr. Adam Kalkstein says he was suddenly ordered last year to cut from his curriculum information about the human causes of climate change, according to a new lawsuit filed against the U.S. Military Academy. The change was immoral and potentially illegal, Dr. Kalkstein says he told Brig. Gen. Shane R. Reeves, who at the time was dean of West Point. Instead of upholding Army values, Dr. Kalkstein said he felt like a liar and a fraud. General Reeves stormed out of the room when Dr. Kalkstein declined a suggestion that he resign, according to the lawsuit. Six months later, the tenured professor was told his contract would not be renewed. Filed in the Southern District of New York, the lawsuit accuses West Point of breaking the law by violating Dr. Kalkstein’s First Amendment rights..., an order that required him 'to omit a massive, fundamental, essential component of the court and to defy science,' according to the suit.... [Donald] Trump has made frequent public statements dismissing scientific consensus on global warming, and his administration has categorized federal and international climate change programs as 'woke, weaponized and wasteful spending' along with diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and transgender policies.” The link is a gift link. (Also linked yesterday.)

Mitch Smith & Ernesto Londoño of the New York Times: “An immigration officer facing state charges in connection with a shooting in Minneapolis was released from jail on Thursday after Republican officials in Texas prevailed in an extradition battle with their Democratic counterparts in Minnesota. It is unclear whether the agent will ultimately answer those charges in court. The officer, Christian Castro of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, had been jailed for the last three months in Cameron County, Texas, while Minnesota officials sought to have him sent north to face assault charges related to a shooting in January that wounded a Venezuelan immigrant. Sheriff Manuel Trevino of Cameron County said Mr. Castro was released just before 7 a.m. local time. The case has tested the limits of state powers in an era of deep political mistrust.” The link is a gift link. Related story linked yesterday. (Also linked yesterday.)

Hamed Aleaziz & Zolan Kanno-Youngs of the New York Times: “The Trump administration plans to step up deportation flights to Haiti as soon as this week, according to documents obtained by The New York Times, a move intended to more quickly expel thousands of Haitians whose legal status expired this summer with the end of a humanitarian program.... The push comes after the Supreme Court ruled in June that the administration was free to end Haiti’s Temporary Protected Status, a program that blocks the deportation of people from designated countries deemed too dangerous to return its citizens to. The Trump administration concluded that Haiti is safe enough to be removed from the protected list, despite widespread lawlessness and gang activity in the country. The State Department has warned U.S. travelers not to visit Haiti 'due to the risk of crime, kidnapping, terrorism, unrest and limited health care.' The Federal Aviation Administration banned commercial airlines from landing in the country’s capital, Port-au-Prince, earlier this year, citing 'ongoing instability.' There have been reports of gangs firing on aircraft trying to land at the Port-au-Prince airport.” The link is a gift link. (Also linked yesterday.) 

Michelle Smith of the Guardian: “Newly obtained documents indicate that the US health secretary, Robert F Kennedy Jr, lied during two congressional hearings last year, when he told lawmakers who held the key to his confirmation that a 2019 visit to Samoa had 'nothing to do with vaccines'. Letters obtained by the Guardian and the Associated Press contradict that testimony. In one he wrote to the Samoan prime minister before the trip, Kennedy explicitly said he wanted to study the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine in the Pacific island nation. In it, he used the words 'vaccine' or 'vaccination' eight times.... Knowingly giving material false testimony to Congress is a crime that carries a possible prison sentence, though it is rarely prosecuted.... Kennedy was not under oath during the two confirmation hearings.” RAS linked the AP story yesterday. (Also linked yesterday.) ~~~

     ~~~ Michelle Smith of the Guardian: “A senior Democratic senator is calling for a criminal investigation into the US health secretary, Robert F Kennedy Jr, following reporting by the Guardian that indicated he lied during Senate confirmation hearings last year. Ron Wyden of Oregon said: 'RFK’s platform is built on lies and grifts that leave a trail of dead children in their wake. There are consequences for lying to Congress.'... Wyden said in a statement to the Guardian that he would be pressing Republican colleagues, who currently control the Senate, to issue a criminal referral of Kennedy to the Department of Justice for a criminal investigation. 'And when Democrats retake the majority in the Senate, RFK will be at the top of the list of Trump officials the finance committee will hold accountable for endangering American families,' he said.”

Anna Kramer of NOTUS: "For more than a year, the National Park Service has been quietly working to fulfill an unprecedented directive from Trump officials: Parcel off a corner of Yosemite National Park to give to a private developer. National Park Service staff in California and Washington, D.C., are trying to arrange a land exchange between a Nevada-based company and the federal government.... Since the spring of 2025, the Trump administration has been looking into ways it could cede a roughly quarter-mile strip of land inside Yosemite to a company that, through a web of limited-liability companies, is operated by real-estate developer and investment firm Kingsbarn Realty Capital." 

Karoun Demirjian of the New York Times: “Two air traffic controllers stepped away early from their posts at LaGuardia Airport, potentially leaving the tower short-staffed before a jet collided with a fire truck in March, killing two people, according to two people familiar with the matter. Those controllers are now among a dozen nationwide whom the Federal Aviation Administration is taking steps to fire, the people said, as the agency investigates a wide range of timecard irregularities at locations across the country. Early departures that are not recorded as such are considered a form of timecard fraud.” The link is a gift link.

Gosh, It Makes Sense to Me. Michael Luciano of Mediaite: “The Department of Education on Wednesday blasted out a wild social media post that seemingly compared ... Donald Trump and his administration to Adolf Hitler and Nazi Germany. The post was deleted after this story was published. In the post on X, the department wrote, 'No one does it like us.' Following those words was a tiger emoji. The text was accompanied by a 19-second video montage that began with a scene from Darkest Hour, the 2017 biopic about former U.K. Prime Minister Winston Churchill and the British fight against the Nazis. In the scene, Churchill, played by Gary Oldman, is urged to negotiate with Germany. Disgusted, he responds emphatically, 'You cannot reason with a tiger when your head is in its mouth!' The snippet posted by the Department of Education featured only Churchill’s response, which was followed by a montage of Trump clips in which the president is raising a fist or pointing.” See also RAS's entry on this in yesterday's Comments. (Also linked yesterday.) ~~~

     ~~~ Marie: Social media observers didn't seem to be sure if this was just a gigantic mistake by the uneducated Education Department or an intentional shoutout to their Nazi fanbase.

Annie Karni of the New York Times: “A backlash is underway within Democratic ranks after House leaders named a vocally pro-Israel Democrat to their top slot on a key panel that oversees Middle East policy, the latest reflection of bitter divisions in the party over support for the Jewish state. Democrats on Tuesday chose Representative Jared Moskowitz of Florida to serve as the ranking member of the Foreign Affairs Committee’s Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee, elevating a lawmaker facing a tough re-election race who has called for “unwavering support” for Israel. Mr. Moskowitz has backed continued U.S. aid to Israel even as many Democrats have turned against it, and aggressively condemns critics of the Jewish state. The selection put Mr. Moskowitz in line to lead the panel should Democrats win control of the House in November. Leaders also placed two other staunchly pro-Israel Democrats on the panel, Representatives Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida and Wesley Bell of Missouri, who like Mr. Moskowitz have been heavily backed by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. Progressives immediately condemned the moves, calling them tone-deaf and a sign that Democratic leaders have failed to grasp how voters in their own party have shifted on the issue of Israel and Gaza.” The link is a gift link.

“Affectionate Friendship.” Mariana Alfaro of the Washington Post: “Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-North Carolina) argued in a letter to colleagues Thursday that his conduct toward two young female staffers fell well short of sexual harassment and that he should not be censured by the House. In a 22-page letter, Edwards sought to rebut an Ethics Committee report issued this month that concluded he engaged in 'persistent unprofessional and inappropriate conduct' toward the staffers and should be punished with a censure. 'The report repeatedly relies upon interactions that it says “could be interpreted as romantic.” But something that could be interpreted as romantic is worlds apart from establishing an unwanted sexual advance,'  Edwards wrote. 'An affectionate friendship is not a sexual proposition. A gift is not sexual misconduct. A compliment is not sexual misconduct. Poetry is not sexual misconduct. Socializing with a colleague is not sexual misconduct.'”

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Wyoming Primary Elections. Tim Balk of the New York Times: “Two election monitors from the Justice Department tried to interview voters and examine voting machines at polling places during Wyoming’s primaries last week, local officials said, drawing pushback from the state’s Republican governor. The federal election monitors arrived at a polling site in Cheyenne, Wyoming’s capital and its largest city, without advance notice around 7 a.m. last Tuesday, said the Laramie County clerk, Debra Lee. They asked to interview voters and inspect the machines, but were denied, officials said. 'It was aggressive, unexpected, disruptive — certainly didn’t seem to show respect for the state,' Gov. Mark Gordon of Wyoming said in an interview on Thursday.... The monitors ultimately visited six polling places, showing their credentials only when asked for them, Mr. Gordon said in the interview, describing their behavior as 'very odd.' He said he had asked the state attorney general, Keith Kautz, to investigate the matter.” The Wyoming Tribune Eagle report is here.

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Norway. Alan Cowell of the New York Times: “King Harald V of Norway, whose 35-year reign opened an ancient monarchy to a contentious cast of family connections, including a draper’s daughter; a celebrity shaman; and Jeffrey Epstein, the disgraced financier, died on Friday. He was 89.” The link is a gift link.