News On Tap For Wednesday, August 5, 2026

It’s Go Time - 90 Days To Election

Today’s “News On Tap” is filled to the brim with election news - and most of it is good! We’ve got all your primary elections recaps, from the candidate wins, to the ballot issues, to a pile of crazy election-related news. We’ve also got an update on Trump’s Middle East Mess, Trump & Republicans’ Failed Economy, Trump’s Failing Administration, and the ongoing War In The Courts. Plus, more on the Republican Max Miller scandal too. We’ve also got big Media Matters news, some Movie, TV, & Music news, and a Sports news update too. Plus, elections expert and our friend Carolyn Fiddler is back tonight to help us go through all of this. Read up, get informed, and we’ll see you here tonight!

First Round - Primary Goals

Primary Candidate Wins

• Abdul El-Sayed Wins Michigan’s Democratic Senate Primary, Notching A Solid Midwest Victory

• Rep. Haley Stevens Full Concession Statement, & Statement Of Support For Abdul El-Sayed

• Progressive Activist & Sunrise Movement Co-Founder William Lawrence Wins Michigan 7th District Democratic Primary, Defeating Two Centrist Challengers

• Michigan’s Current Sec Of State Jocelyn Benson Wins Democratic Primary For Governor

• Trump-Backed John James Wins Michigan’s Republican Primary For Governor

• U.S. House Rep. Wesley Bell Wins A Democratic Primary Rematch Against Former Rep. Cori Bush For Missouri’s 1st Congressional District In St. Louis

• Virginia Primary Election Results: Former Democratic Reps Luria & Perriello Set For Rematches Against Current Republican Officeholders Kiggans & Mcguire

• Pastor Adam Hamilton Wins Kansas Democratic Senate Primary, Giving Democrats A Chance Even In Deep-Red Kansas

• At Least 7 Clergy Members Now Running As Democrats This Cycle, As Republicans Question Their Faith & Patriotism

• Carolyn Fiddler: Yes We Michi-Gan, Unless We Kans...Ant

• Stephanie Ruhle: What Democrats’ Primary Battles Have Really Been About Is The Economy - It’s All About The Economy

• Brian Beutler: 27 Thoughts To Round Up A Tough Primary Season (That’s Mostly Done)

Ballot Issues

• Kansas Voters Reject Republican-Backed Measure To Directly Elect State Supreme Court Justices, In Another Attempt To Rig A Court To Kill Abortion Rights

• Missouri Voters Reject Republican Measure To Limit Their Power To Enact Citizen Referenda [Gift Link]

• Missouri’s Republican Secretary Of State Blocks Democratic-Backed Citizen Referendum Seeking To Undo Republican’s Gerrymandered Congressional Map

Other Election News

• Following Strong Primary Season, DCCC Adds 12 More Republican House Seats To Midterm Target Map, Bringing Their Total Target List Up To 58 Seats

• Minnesota Republicans Trying To Oust Trump-Endorsed Pick For Governor, Mike ‘My Pillow Guy’ Lindell, With One Week Left Until Primary Election

• Democratic Candidate Drops Out Of South Dakota’s Senate Race, Clearing Path For Independent Candidate To Make A Real Challenge

• Republican House Rep. Chuck Edwards Abandons Re-Election Following Ethics Committee Report

• North Carolina State Republicans Vote To Make Post-Election Challenges Easier, Cut The Early Voting Window, And Give The State Auditor New Election Authorities, Drawing Criticism From Democratic Gov. Josh Stein

• Maryland’s Democratic-Majority Legislature Approves Redistricting Referendum For 2028 Elections

Second Round - Fuzzed Up Foreign Affairs

Trump’s Middle East Mess

• Middle East Crisis Live: Iran And Oman Agree On Coordinates Of Route Through Strait Of Hormuz, As Israel Resumes Bombing In Lebanon

• Trump Official Now Claims Says 50-50 Chance Of Finalized Iran-Oman Deal To Reopen Strait Of Hormuz By Friday

• Related: Military Families Are Outraged By Moldy Showers, No Soap. And Other Poor Living Conditions Aboard USS Lincoln, Amid Extended Deployment Due To Iran War

Other Foreign Affairs

• Israeli PM Netanyahu Says Regardless Of Trump-Authored Deal, No Israeli Withdrawal From Gaza Will Happen Until Hamas Has Been Completely Disarmed

• Deadly Missile Attack On Kyiv Exploits Ukraine’s Depleted Air Defenses [Gift Link]

• Trump Regime Revokes Visa Of Brazil’s Ambassador To U.S. In Escalation Of Diplomatic Feud With Pres. Lula Da Silva

Third Round - Republicans Can't Govern

Republican Economics Has Failed

• In U.S., Grocery Prices Have Jumped 33% Since 2019, As Millions Are Couponing, Comparing, And Cutting Back

• Trump Taking Bs ‘No Tax On Tips’ Message For A Rally In Nevada Today, As Voters Continue To Sour On His Economy

• U.S. Federal Govt. Finally Refunds $100 Billion Of Trump’s ‘Liberation Day’ Tariffs To U.S. Businesses, Collected Before Scotus Ruled Them Illegal

Trump’s Failed Administration

• CDC Expands Largest Known Cyclosporiasis Outbreak To 15 States

• Update: New Report Says Cyberattacks Have Now Targeted Water Systems In At Least 12 States

• Watchdog Group Confirms Trump’s Fema Cut Staff Without Planning For Future Work

Immigration Wars

• Corruption Watch: Small 26-Employee Texas Law Firm Gets $150m Contract From Trump Admin. To Represent 24,000 Children In Immigration Court

• Trump Regime’s Immigration Crackdown Has Detained More Than 50 Military Spouses And Parents

War In The Courts

• Federal Judge Reluctantly Drops Final Seditious Conspiracy Case. Of Oath Keepers Leader Stewart Rhodes, Noting The Law Doesn’t Allow The Case To Continue

• Purple Heart Vet Sues After National Guard Troops Detained Her As She Sat Quietly In The Front Yard Of Her DC Home. Now She’s Suing.

• Lawyers In Reflecting Pool Case Now Admit Trump DOJ Knew Case Was Flawed

• Trump Suddenly Seeking Pause In $10b Defamation Lawsuit Against BBC, In Scramble To Prevent Public Disclosure Of His Finances

Fourth Round - More News To Drink About

When They Show You Who They Are

• Republican House Rep. Max Miller doubles down on staying in Ohio House race

• Speaker Mike Johnson breaks his silence on Max Miller, calls for ‘process to play out’

• Scandal-Ridden House Republican Rep. Max Miller’s CNN Interview Baffles Republican Strategists

Miscellaneous But Important

• Cooler Temps Aid In Battle Against Spokane Washington Fires That Have Forced Hundreds From Their Homes

• Armed Man Arrested At Trump’s L.A. Golf Course Ahead Of The President’s Visit

• No Surprise: Republican Sen. Collins, Up For Reelection, Says She’ll Oppose Blanche, Who Can Only Afford To Lose 1 More Republican Senate Vote

Fifth Round - Media, Entertainment, & More

Media Matters

• In Serious Blow To Ellison’s Team, Judge Sets Paramount-Warner Bros. Trial To Start In March 2027

• Hearst Media Clinches Deal To Buy Out Disney’s $1.2 Billion Stake In A+E Global Media, Parent Of Lifetime, History Channel, A&E Network And Other Assets

Movies, TV, Music, & More

• ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ Swings To $42m Tuesday, Hitting U.S. Box Office Record; Also Biggest Global Movie Box Office Ytd With $1.1b

• New Spinoff TV: Celebrity ‘Voice’ Season Set For 2027 On NBC With Keke Palmer As Host

• Jay-Z Drops First New Verse In Years On Beyoncé’s New Remix

• Perez Hilton: Disturbing Livestream Frightens Fans, As He’s Rushed To Hospital After Police Investigation

Sports Entertainment

• Cubs Spoil Tarik Skubal’s Debut With L.A. Dodgers In Chicago, With 5-1 Win

• Washington Nationals Lose Star Hitter James Wood To Injured List, Then Get Blanked 5-0 To Philadelphia Phillies

• Phillies/Nationals Game Forced Into Bizarre Delay As Trea Turner’s Face Lit Up Green By Fan-Held Laser During Game

• Corrupt Fifa Dodging Paying Millions To U.S. Host Cities Post-World Cup

Tonight’s Special Guest

Carolyn Fiddler is a political consultant, lawyer, and former Communications Director for multiple progressive & Democratic organizations. She’s also one of the nation’s foremost experts in state politics, and the author of the “This Week In Statehouse Action” newsletter on Substack. She’s the PERFECT person to talk about all the primary election wins last night, and what we could see over the next 90 days, so we’re thrilled to have Carolyn stop by tonight!

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