Tucker Carlson tells RT he’s not afraid to be killed for speaking his mind
American journalist Tucker Carlson has told RT that he is not afraid of being killed for using his platform to say what he believes is true.
Morning Digest
Wednesday, August 12, 2026
25 stories from 4 sources, 60 more held back.
RT
Germany’s domestic spy agency to be given offensive powers – Bild
Germany approves ‘revolution’ for spy agencies – Bild. The German government is expected to grant the country’s intelligence agencies greater powers, including offensive cyber capabilities against foreign adversaries, according to Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt.
Two killed in US Army Apache crash in Texas
Two pilots have been killed after a US Army AH-64 Apache attack helicopter crashed in a field in central Texas and burst into flames, sparking a large wildfire and prompting evacuations in the surrounding area. The helicopter, based at the Fort Hood military installation, went down near Salado at around 1:35pm local time on Wednesday, according to the US Army and the Bell County Sheriff’s Office.
Trump cuts federal funding for sex-change procedures for minors
US President Donald Trump has ordered an end to federal funding for so-called “gender-affirming care” for minors through two major government healthcare programs. The move comes amid a broader rollback of transgender-related policies introduced under previous administrations.
Israel accused of deliberately starting Lebanon wildfires
Israel deliberately setting southern Lebanon ablaze – firefighters to Guardian. Lebanese firefighters have accused Israel of intentionally igniting wildfires across southern Lebanon using drones and various munitions. They reported to the Guardian that both drones and incendiary weapons have been repeatedly employed to set fire to forests and agricultural land.
Tucker Carlson says US partisan divide hides ‘consensus at the top’
US political system is a ‘fraud’ – Tucker Carlson (VIDEO). Conservative journalist Tucker Carlson has accused the US political establishment of turning Americans against each other, telling RT that key decisions are made by unelected officials and the system no longer represents ordinary voters.
Israeli prosecutors to target Netanyahu’s aides – media
Israeli Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara is expected to decide whether to charge two close aides to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over alleged lobbying on Qatar’s behalf, local media has reported citing sources.
New York probes ‘predatory’ prediction markets Polymarket and Kalshi
New York City Council is investigating Polymarket, Kalshi, and other predictive market platforms for “deceptive and predatory” marketing practices, accusing the industry of encouraging gambling and insider trading. Council Speaker Julie Menin notified Kalshi, Polymarket, Coinbase, and Gemini Titan of the investigation on Tuesday.
Tucker Carlson says Netanyahu-linked Israelis brought him Hunter Biden laptop material
Israelis approached me with Hunter Biden’s laptop – Tucker Carlson to Rick Sanchez (VIDEO). US journalist Tucker Carlson has said that people linked to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu approached him with material from Hunter Biden’s laptop ahead of the 2020 US presidential election.
Beyond the headlines, Pakistan and Russia are drawing closer
Sometimes trust develops gradually in settings that most people are unaware of, such as a working group, a ministerial handshake, or an agreement made on the fringes of a summit that garners national attention for a single day. For the better part of a decade, Pakistan and Russia have been developing this kind of trust.
Most Poles want unemployed military-age Ukrainian men deported – IBRiS survey
Most Poles would back the deportation of unemployed military-age Ukrainian men, a recent survey by the Warsaw-based IBRiS Institute for Market and Social Research has indicated. Public perception of Ukrainians in Poland has deteriorated in recent months amid a diplomatic spat between the two countries linked to Kiev’s lionization of the perpetrators of WWII massacres of Poles.
Raw America
Breaking: ICE Quietly Equipping Agents with Terrifying New Weapons
Trump’s company is selling paying customers early access to his official posts. Now, a new lawsuit claims that’s unconstitutional. Sailors on the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln have reportedly tried to jump overboard as Trump’s Iran war drags on with no end in sight.
Revealed: Trump Flew with Young Blonde Aide While Leaving Cabinet Behind
New details are emerging about Donald Trump’s secret flight out of Turkey last month in a decoy jet, with a new report finding that he made sure his favorite young blonde staffer came with him while top Cabinet officials got left behind. Texas Republican Senate candidate Ken Paxton got publicly humiliated on a phone town hall when a voter asked him why he cheated on his wife.
ESPN
Russell Westbrook retires: His NBA legacy after 18 electric seasons
Russell Westbrook is stepping away from the NBA. The 2017 Most Valuable Player, nine-time All-NBA selection, two-time scoring champion and 2012 Olympic gold medalist announced Wednesday that he is retiring after a Hall of Fame career that spanned 18 seasons and seven teams and boasts the most triple-doubles (209) in league history. Where does Westbrook rank among the all-time greats?
Browns name Watson starting QB for preseason opener
BEREA, Ohio -- Deshaun Watson will start the Cleveland Browns' preseason opener against the Bears in Chicago on Saturday. Shedeur Sanders will start the team's second preseason game at home against the Buffalo Bills on Aug. 22. Browns coach Todd Monken informed the quarterbacks of his decision after practice Wednesday.
J.J. McCarthy wants to stay with Vikings after losing QB job
EAGAN, Minn. -- The decision to name Kyler Murray the winner of the Minnesota Vikings' quarterback competition this week was "out of my control," former starter J.J. McCarthy said Wednesday. "Obviously, every competitor wants to play," McCarthy said. "But moving forward, it's just about continuing to work hard and just staying ready for when my number's called."
WNBA task force discusses transgender athletes amid furor
In recent weeks, demonstrators have staged rallies for and against transgender inclusion at Indiana Fever games, after Fever guard Sophie Cunningham said in an ESPN article that she supports barring transgender girls and women from girls' and women's sports. The league's statement Wednesday, in full, reads:.
Lionel Messi back on Miami bench after dad's death
Lionel Messi rejoined Inter Miami CF on Wednesday following the passing of his father, Jorge Messi, for their Leagues Cup game against Club Leon on the bench at Nu Stadium. Jorge Messi died Saturday at a hospital in the central Argentina city of Rosario.
Chiefs' Travis Kelce says he can still 'play at a high level'
JOSEPH, Mo. -- Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce says he believes he can perform at a higher level in what could be his final NFL season, adding that he also wants to be more accountable as a leader in the locker room. "I've still got a lot of love for this game," Kelce said Wednesday. "I want to go out there and prove to myself that I can play at a better level than I did last year.
Rory McIlroy sure he'll keep PGA Tour status despite 14 starts
Masters champion Rory McIlroy said Wednesday that he's confident he'll reach a compromise with the PGA Tour to fulfill his minimum qualification of playing in 15 events this season to maintain his dual membership. After skipping the FedEx St. Jude Championship last year, McIlroy is playing in the first leg of the FedEx Cup playoffs this week at TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tennessee.
Russell Westbrook announces NBA retirement after 18 seasons
Westbrook, who was the No. 4 pick in the 2008 NBA draft by the Seattle SuperSonics, had career averages of 20.9 points, 6.9 rebounds and 8.0 assists per game. Westbrook holds the NBA record for most career triple-doubles with 209. He has held the league record since 2021 when he recorded his 182nd triple-double to surpass Oscar Robertson's long-standing mark of 181, which had stood since 1974.
Jets' Qwan'tez Stiggers in concussion protocol after collapsing
Glenn said that Stiggers has entered the NFL's concussion protocol after displaying symptoms Tuesday. "Talked to him a good amount last night and he's doing well," Glenn said Wednesday. "I talked to his wife and she's taking good care of him, so happy about that."
Aaron Rodgers wishes game at Lambeau, discusses retirement return
GREEN BAY, Wis. -- If this is indeed Aaron Rodgers' final season, he will end his career without playing at Lambeau Field as a visitor, something he thought might happen this season. In advance of Thursday's Packers-Steelers preseason game in Pittsburgh, Rodgers said when he first heard the teams were slated to play this summer, he had hoped it would be in Green Bay.
Ben Johnson wants Bears to have 'highest-scoring offense ever'
Ben Johnson is setting a high bar this season for the Chicago Bears -- even higher than winning the Super Bowl. Johnson outlined his goals for the 2026 season, his second as the Bears' head coach, as part of a wide-ranging profile published Wednesday by The Athletic. "You've got 31 other teams coming to training camp saying, 'Our goal is to win the Super Bowl.
The Rundown AI
Anthropic slips an invisible signature into Claude
That memo you just worked with Claude to write? It might soon carry an invisible signature that says so. Anthropic just quietly detailed the rollout of invisible watermarks that label everything its Claude models touch, and, like most features forced onto the world, a lot of users aren’t happy about it.
RT
Tucker Carlson tells RT he’s not afraid to be killed for speaking his mind
American journalist Tucker Carlson has told RT that he is not afraid of being killed for using his platform to say what he believes is true.
Germany’s domestic spy agency to be given offensive powers – Bild
Germany approves ‘revolution’ for spy agencies – Bild. The German government is expected to grant the country’s intelligence agencies greater powers, including offensive cyber capabilities against foreign adversaries, according to Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt.
Two killed in US Army Apache crash in Texas
Two pilots have been killed after a US Army AH-64 Apache attack helicopter crashed in a field in central Texas and burst into flames, sparking a large wildfire and prompting evacuations in the surrounding area. The helicopter, based at the Fort Hood military installation, went down near Salado at around 1:35pm local time on Wednesday, according to the US Army and the Bell County Sheriff’s Office.
Trump cuts federal funding for sex-change procedures for minors
US President Donald Trump has ordered an end to federal funding for so-called “gender-affirming care” for minors through two major government healthcare programs. The move comes amid a broader rollback of transgender-related policies introduced under previous administrations.
Israel accused of deliberately starting Lebanon wildfires
Israel deliberately setting southern Lebanon ablaze – firefighters to Guardian. Lebanese firefighters have accused Israel of intentionally igniting wildfires across southern Lebanon using drones and various munitions. They reported to the Guardian that both drones and incendiary weapons have been repeatedly employed to set fire to forests and agricultural land.
Tucker Carlson says US partisan divide hides ‘consensus at the top’
US political system is a ‘fraud’ – Tucker Carlson (VIDEO). Conservative journalist Tucker Carlson has accused the US political establishment of turning Americans against each other, telling RT that key decisions are made by unelected officials and the system no longer represents ordinary voters.
Israeli prosecutors to target Netanyahu’s aides – media
Israeli Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara is expected to decide whether to charge two close aides to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over alleged lobbying on Qatar’s behalf, local media has reported citing sources.
New York probes ‘predatory’ prediction markets Polymarket and Kalshi
New York City Council is investigating Polymarket, Kalshi, and other predictive market platforms for “deceptive and predatory” marketing practices, accusing the industry of encouraging gambling and insider trading. Council Speaker Julie Menin notified Kalshi, Polymarket, Coinbase, and Gemini Titan of the investigation on Tuesday.
Tucker Carlson says Netanyahu-linked Israelis brought him Hunter Biden laptop material
Israelis approached me with Hunter Biden’s laptop – Tucker Carlson to Rick Sanchez (VIDEO). US journalist Tucker Carlson has said that people linked to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu approached him with material from Hunter Biden’s laptop ahead of the 2020 US presidential election.
Beyond the headlines, Pakistan and Russia are drawing closer
Sometimes trust develops gradually in settings that most people are unaware of, such as a working group, a ministerial handshake, or an agreement made on the fringes of a summit that garners national attention for a single day. For the better part of a decade, Pakistan and Russia have been developing this kind of trust.
Most Poles want unemployed military-age Ukrainian men deported – IBRiS survey
Most Poles would back the deportation of unemployed military-age Ukrainian men, a recent survey by the Warsaw-based IBRiS Institute for Market and Social Research has indicated. Public perception of Ukrainians in Poland has deteriorated in recent months amid a diplomatic spat between the two countries linked to Kiev’s lionization of the perpetrators of WWII massacres of Poles.
ESPN
Russell Westbrook retires: His NBA legacy after 18 electric seasons
Russell Westbrook is stepping away from the NBA. The 2017 Most Valuable Player, nine-time All-NBA selection, two-time scoring champion and 2012 Olympic gold medalist announced Wednesday that he is retiring after a Hall of Fame career that spanned 18 seasons and seven teams and boasts the most triple-doubles (209) in league history. Where does Westbrook rank among the all-time greats?
Browns name Watson starting QB for preseason opener
BEREA, Ohio -- Deshaun Watson will start the Cleveland Browns' preseason opener against the Bears in Chicago on Saturday. Shedeur Sanders will start the team's second preseason game at home against the Buffalo Bills on Aug. 22. Browns coach Todd Monken informed the quarterbacks of his decision after practice Wednesday.
J.J. McCarthy wants to stay with Vikings after losing QB job
EAGAN, Minn. -- The decision to name Kyler Murray the winner of the Minnesota Vikings' quarterback competition this week was "out of my control," former starter J.J. McCarthy said Wednesday. "Obviously, every competitor wants to play," McCarthy said. "But moving forward, it's just about continuing to work hard and just staying ready for when my number's called."
WNBA task force discusses transgender athletes amid furor
In recent weeks, demonstrators have staged rallies for and against transgender inclusion at Indiana Fever games, after Fever guard Sophie Cunningham said in an ESPN article that she supports barring transgender girls and women from girls' and women's sports. The league's statement Wednesday, in full, reads:.
Lionel Messi back on Miami bench after dad's death
Lionel Messi rejoined Inter Miami CF on Wednesday following the passing of his father, Jorge Messi, for their Leagues Cup game against Club Leon on the bench at Nu Stadium. Jorge Messi died Saturday at a hospital in the central Argentina city of Rosario.
Chiefs' Travis Kelce says he can still 'play at a high level'
JOSEPH, Mo. -- Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce says he believes he can perform at a higher level in what could be his final NFL season, adding that he also wants to be more accountable as a leader in the locker room. "I've still got a lot of love for this game," Kelce said Wednesday. "I want to go out there and prove to myself that I can play at a better level than I did last year.
Rory McIlroy sure he'll keep PGA Tour status despite 14 starts
Masters champion Rory McIlroy said Wednesday that he's confident he'll reach a compromise with the PGA Tour to fulfill his minimum qualification of playing in 15 events this season to maintain his dual membership. After skipping the FedEx St. Jude Championship last year, McIlroy is playing in the first leg of the FedEx Cup playoffs this week at TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tennessee.
Russell Westbrook announces NBA retirement after 18 seasons
Westbrook, who was the No. 4 pick in the 2008 NBA draft by the Seattle SuperSonics, had career averages of 20.9 points, 6.9 rebounds and 8.0 assists per game. Westbrook holds the NBA record for most career triple-doubles with 209. He has held the league record since 2021 when he recorded his 182nd triple-double to surpass Oscar Robertson's long-standing mark of 181, which had stood since 1974.
Jets' Qwan'tez Stiggers in concussion protocol after collapsing
Glenn said that Stiggers has entered the NFL's concussion protocol after displaying symptoms Tuesday. "Talked to him a good amount last night and he's doing well," Glenn said Wednesday. "I talked to his wife and she's taking good care of him, so happy about that."
Aaron Rodgers wishes game at Lambeau, discusses retirement return
GREEN BAY, Wis. -- If this is indeed Aaron Rodgers' final season, he will end his career without playing at Lambeau Field as a visitor, something he thought might happen this season. In advance of Thursday's Packers-Steelers preseason game in Pittsburgh, Rodgers said when he first heard the teams were slated to play this summer, he had hoped it would be in Green Bay.
Ben Johnson wants Bears to have 'highest-scoring offense ever'
Ben Johnson is setting a high bar this season for the Chicago Bears -- even higher than winning the Super Bowl. Johnson outlined his goals for the 2026 season, his second as the Bears' head coach, as part of a wide-ranging profile published Wednesday by The Athletic. "You've got 31 other teams coming to training camp saying, 'Our goal is to win the Super Bowl.
Raw America
Breaking: ICE Quietly Equipping Agents with Terrifying New Weapons
Trump’s company is selling paying customers early access to his official posts. Now, a new lawsuit claims that’s unconstitutional. Sailors on the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln have reportedly tried to jump overboard as Trump’s Iran war drags on with no end in sight.
Revealed: Trump Flew with Young Blonde Aide While Leaving Cabinet Behind
New details are emerging about Donald Trump’s secret flight out of Turkey last month in a decoy jet, with a new report finding that he made sure his favorite young blonde staffer came with him while top Cabinet officials got left behind. Texas Republican Senate candidate Ken Paxton got publicly humiliated on a phone town hall when a voter asked him why he cheated on his wife.
The Rundown AI
Anthropic slips an invisible signature into Claude
That memo you just worked with Claude to write? It might soon carry an invisible signature that says so. Anthropic just quietly detailed the rollout of invisible watermarks that label everything its Claude models touch, and, like most features forced onto the world, a lot of users aren’t happy about it.