News On Tap For Wednesday, July 29, 2026

Political Theatre Vs Reality

Today’s “News On Tap” has a sharp taste, and makes clear the difference between reality & theatre. From Trump’s BS bluster as his Iran War Quagmire rolls on, to Sen. Rand Paul’s attack theatre on Dr. Fauci, & the ongoing search for Mitch, there’s plenty of political theatre. Meanwhile, the very real consequences of this Trump regime are hitting millions, with Trump & Republicans’ failed economy, & Trump’s new cuts to Medicare, along with their cruel & brutal Immigration Wars. Plus, we’ve got Elections & Politics news, & new Poll Positions too. Plus, big news in Media Matters, news in Movies, Theatre, Music, & More, and Sports news too. Plus, Bob Cesca is back tonight to pull his own brambles out of the bushes & talk about all of it. Grab a drink, read up, get informed, & we’ll see you here tonight!

First Round - Trump's Failed Foreign Affairs

The Iran Quagmire

• Trump Issues Menacing New Threat After Iran Targets U.S. Forces In Thwarted Surprise Missile Attack

• Oil Prices Jump More Than 7% After Trump Regime Claims Iran Attempted Surprise Attack

• Danger Of Conflict Growing: U.S. Forces Join With Saudis To Strike Tehran-Backed Militias In Iraq

• New Democratic-Aligned Poll Confirms Trump’s Poll Numbers Have Cratered Due To War In Iran

Other Foreign Affairs

• Impressed By Ukraine’s Battlefield Gains, Trump Warming To Zelensky Again

• 86 Senators Vote To Move Forward With New Harsher Russia Sanctions Bill Now Named For Fmr. Sen. Graham

• Momentum Shifting In Favor Of Ukraine In Dc, As Zelensky Meets With Congress & Trump

• Trump Regime Diplomats Stage Un Walkout After France Criticizes U.S. Human Rights Record Under Trump

• Death Toll Rises To 18 As Rescuers Comb Continue Combing Through Quake Rubble In Southwestern Japan

Second Round - Trump's Govt. Hates You

Trump & Republicans’ Failing Economy

• Trump’s Second Term Economy At 18 Months Is A Tale Of Unnecessary Shocks, Surprising Resilience, And Too Many Signs Of Stalled Progress

• Divided Fed Holds Interest Rates Steady, For Now - But Three Members Voted To Hike

• New Poll Confirms Americans Think Trump Is Not Paying Enough Attention To The Country’s Most Important Problems - The Economy, Health Care, & Wages

• Trump’s Tariffs Are Actually Sending Some Companies Back To China [Gift Link]

Trump’s Costly Medicare Lie

• Trump Administration To End Medicare Part D Drug Plan Subsidy

• Flashback: Apr. 2, 2026 - Trump Backs Off Campaign Promises To Protect Medicare, Help With Child Care

• Thom Walsh: The Big Ugly Bill’s Small Rural Market-Based Health Care Delusions

Immigration Wars

• ICE Arrests Surge At Airports, Opening New Front In Deportation Drive [Gift Link]

• ICE Arrests 13 In The Wilderness Of North Carolina’s Pisgah National Forest

• Newly Released Video From ICE Attacks In L.A. In Summer 2025 Show Federal Immigration Agents Calling Latinos Racial Slurs While Conducting Stops

• New Data Confirms Trump’s ICE Has Left A Record Number Of American Kids Without Parents

• A U.S. Citizen Auto-Deleted His Phone’s Data So CBP Couldn’t Access It. Now He Faces A Felony Charge. [Gift Link]

• State Terrorism: Minnesota Professor Baselessly Accused Of Conspiracy To Obstruct ICE Confirms Ice & Trump Officials Aiming To Scare All Who Oppose Them

National Insecurity

• Senate Confirms Jay Clayton To Lead U.S. Intelligence Community As New Dni [Gift Link]

• Trump’s Temp. Spy Chief DNI Pulte Spent His Final Hours In His Job Boasting Of The Mass Firings He Accomplished [Gift Link]

Third Round - Elsewhere In Federal Govt.

Cluster On Capitol Hill

• Enduring Verbal Beating From Republicans, Dr. Anthony Fauci Invokes Fifth Amendment Right Not To Answer Questions, Accurately Labels Sen. Rand Paul ‘Unhinged’ In Only Statement

• Democratic Sen. Gary Peters Blasts Sen. Rand Paul Over Pointless Abusive Fauci Hearing

• Open Letter From More Than 155 Scientists, Physicians & Public Health Advocates Demands The Trump Regime Stop ‘Public Harassment’ Of Dr. Fauci & Other Scientists

• Sen. Cornyn Meeting With Ag Nominee Blanche Canceled Ahead Of Key Judiciary Committee Vote Set For Thursday

• Sen. John Cornyn Says He Is ‘Not Prepared’ To Support Todd Blanche’s Confirmation; Tillis Suggests He Could Also Oppose Blanche

War In The Courts

• Former FBI Director Comey Asks Judge To ‘86’ Seashells Case, Alleging He Was Surveilled At Trump’s Direction

• Trump Asks Supreme Court To Overturn $83.3 Million Award In E. Jean Carroll Defamation Case

• Elon Musk’s Company X.Ai Sues Minnesota Over New Law To Bar Manipulated Images To Fake Nudity

• Kash Patel Loses Lawsuit Against Blogger Who Called Him A ‘Googly-Eyed’ Kremlin Asset

Fourth Round - More News To Drink About

Elections & Politics

• Frontrunner Francesca Hong Avoids Attacks As Wisconsin Democrats Meet For An Amicable Governor Debate Among Five Candidates

• Perry Bacon: If The Question Is Can Progressive Candidates Win In Swing States? They Already Have.

• Two Democrats Advance To Runoff In Georgia Special Election To Succeed Late Democratic Rep. David Scott

• House Republican Rep. Max Miller’s Brutal Abuse Allegations Are Finally Catching Up With Him In His Ohio House Race [Gift Link]

Poll Positions

• New YouGov Poll: Trump’s Job Approval Hits Record Low, Driven Down By Gen X, White Americans, And Independents

• Record Bad Poll Numbers For Trump In New CNN/SSRS Poll: Only 34% Approve, 66% Disapprove

• New CNN/SSRS Poll Shows Trump’s Approval Rating Also Crashing To Record Low – With White People

Proof Of Life

• Kentucky Gov. Beshear Tells Mitch McConnell: Prove You Can Serve Or ‘Resign’

• Lindsay Beyerstein: Why The Conspiracy Theories About McConnell Don’t Make Sense - & Why It’s Best For Democrats If McConnell Is Alive And Absent

Fifth Round - Media, Entertainment, & More

Media Matters

• Rest In Peace: Glen Hansard, Irish Musician & Actor Who Won Oscar For Best Song, Dies At 56

• Jared Leto Denies Sexual Assault Allegations, Calls Claims ‘Categorically False’ - But Only After Women Come Forward

• Right-Wing Religious Zealot Ross Douthat Made New Star Of ‘60 Minutes’; Other Right-Wing Hacks Also Added To 60 Minutes

• Bari Weiss’ CBS “News” Retracts Brazen Lie & Smear About NYC Mayor Mamdani, Claiming There Was A 9/11 Remembrance Petition With Thousands Wanting Him To Stay Away

• Judd Legum: The Truth About The Supposedly Viral 9/11 Petition Targeting Mayor Mamdani? They Don’t Even Have A List.

Movies, Theatre, Music, & More

• ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ Expected To Get $425m Worldwide Global Box Office Opening Weekend

• ‘Hadestown’ Musical Pro-Shot Theatrical Run Extended After Massive Box-Office Success

• Major Record Labels Call To Disqualify All ‘Ai Slop’ Songs From All Global Charts

• Ozzy Osbourne Gets His Own Universal Studios ‘Halloween Horror Nights’ House 1 Year After Death

Sports Entertainment

• Dominic Canzone’s 2-Run Homer In The 8th Lifts The Seattle Mariners Over The L.A. Dodgers, 7-6

• Washington Nationals Draw 6 Walks In 4-Run First Inning, Beat Toronto Blue Jays 8-6

• Caitlin Clark & Kelsey Mitchell Lead Indiana Fever To Their 4th Straight Victory, 105-95 Over The Seattle Storm

• Olivia Miles Scores 24 Points As Minnesota Lynx Extend Win Streak To 8 With 100-93 Victory Over Toronto Tempo

• KC Chief’s Offensive Coach Eric Bieniemy’s Wife ‘Making Progress’ After Shooting & Son’s Arrest

Your Bar Regular Tonight

Bob Cesca, podcaster, broadcaster, journalist, artist, & host of The Bob Cesca Show, as well as co-host of the award-winning Trek Politics is back at the bar tonight. We’ll talk about Bob’s latest piece for The Banter, God Damn Donald Trump, about Donald, the Tate Brothers, & how America has lowered our standards. We’ll also talk with Bob about Zombie Mitch, Trump & Republicans’ failed economy, and we’ll grab a few more rounds from the News On Tap. Plus, we’ll ask Bob about his latest episode of Trek Politics too. Join us tonight!

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