News from the Note…
A round up of the day’s news that might be of interest to you.
This is an OPEN THREAD, folks. Chat about any of the stories listed, share links to stories that caught your eye today, and generally have a good time discussing whatever you want.
Trump’s rosy Hormuz claims collide with tanker data
— Politico (@politico.com) August 17, 2026 at 2:49 PM
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Trump threatens to bomb Oman, a US ally working to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, as 60-day deadline for a wider Iran deal expires. Follow live updates. https://cnn.it/4zhPAk5
— CNN (@cnn.com) August 17, 2026 at 12:30 PM
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The USS Washington is on its way to the Middle East to relieve the USS Lincoln amid concerns about conditions aboard. And, Jared Kushner is expected to meet with Prime Minister Netanyahu to move Gaza talks forward. n.pr/4zlQqw9
— NPR (@npr.org) August 17, 2026 at 8:40 AM
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A US Navy guided-missile destroyer spent four days last month without working toilets, galley services and air conditioning in the blistering heat of the South China Sea after the warship lost power. https://cnn.it/45y26hT
— CNN (@cnn.com) August 17, 2026 at 6:00 AM
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The head of U.S. Central Command visited the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln, an aircraft carrier that reported poor living conditions and morale after months in the Middle East. On Sunday, he acknowledged the difficulty of its deployment but said mental health cases were lower than on other vessels.
— The New York Times (@nytimes.com) August 16, 2026 at 8:10 PM
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Day after day over recent weeks, Ukrainian drones have pummeled giant depots belonging to Wildberries, the country's biggest online retailer, burning estimated billions of dollars' worth of merchandise and bringing the war home to the broad public.
— The Associated Press (@apnews.com) August 17, 2026 at 10:00 AM
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The United States’ military drills with South Korea have long served as an annual demonstration of American commitment to its key ally’s security. But the exercises were thrown into confusion after President Trump called for them to be scaled back hours before they began.
— NBC News (@nbcnews.com) August 17, 2026 at 3:00 PM
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Trump says North Korea's Kim has responded to his overtures reut.rs/3UmQThE
— Reuters (@reuters.com) August 17, 2026 at 2:25 PM
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Federal officials acknowledged that ICE special agents tracked a New York man to his house, the airport and a hotel to question him about a critical email he sent to the former head of ICE in January. n.pr/4g0bGQG
— NPR (@npr.org) August 17, 2026 at 9:39 AM
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The Supreme Court declines for a second time to take up President Trump’s bid to overturn a jury verdict that awarded $5 million to writer E. Jean Carroll for alleged sexual abuse and defamation.
— NBC News (@nbcnews.com) August 17, 2026 at 12:40 PM
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US home builder sentiment ticks up in August but remains weak overall reut.rs/4xELS2m
— Reuters (@reuters.com) August 17, 2026 at 12:40 PM
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Congo's fast-moving Ebola outbreak has now killed over 2,300 people.
— The Associated Press (@apnews.com) August 17, 2026 at 3:00 PM
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Trump votes by mail again in his home state of Florida
— Politico (@politico.com) August 17, 2026 at 2:54 PM
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