Morning Digest
25 stories from 6 sources, 131 more held back.
US accuses allies of China tariff ‘scam’. The White House has accused more than 40 nations, including some of its closest partners, of helping Chinese goods evade US tariffs by exploiting differences in levies imposed on third countries.
New Trump tariffs set to hit Ukraine’s drone export ambitions. US President Donald Trump has imposed steep tariffs on imported drones and their components, potentially complicating Ukraine’s plans to expand UAV sales to Washington.
Bill Gates’ daughter intentionally rigged shopping app commissions – Bloomberg. Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates’ daughter Phoebe has been accused of knowingly using a “cookie stuffing” scheme at her shopping startup that allowed the company to collect commissions for sales it did not actually generate, according to Bloomberg.
German camera maker Leica has excluded a Russian photographer from its prestigious Oskar Barnack Award (LOBA) following Ukrainian criticism over his links to the Russian RIA Novosti news agency. Valery Melnikov, a three-time World Press Photo winner, said in a social media post this week that his long-term series, ‘Mariupol.
Two Russian athletes won the first and the second places in the women’s all-around on the first day of the European Gymnastics Championship underway in Croatia. World champion Angelina Melnikova scored the gold medal, while her teammate Anna Kalmykova received the silver.
Palestinian families besieged by Israeli ‘terrorists’ – US envoy (VIDEO). US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee has branded Israeli settlers besieging three Palestinian families in their West Bank homes “terrorists. The days-long siege has targeted several properties, including one owned by a dual US citizen.
LOS ANGELES -- A Dodger Stadium crowd of 46,105 serenaded closer Edwin Diaz with a loud chorus of boos as he walked off the mound late Thursday night. Diaz had inherited a two-run ninth-inning lead against the first-place Milwaukee Brewers and watched it evaporate.
In the Raiders' 27-14 loss to the Arizona Cardinals, Mendoza had moments when he looked like a young player still adjusting to the NFL's speed. And moments when he showed why Las Vegas trusts the Heisman Trophy winner to be the future face of the organization. Coach Klint Kubiak's verdict: Mendoza looked like someone who has made significant strides in his development.
LAS VEGAS -- Jackie Young had a season-high 32 points and five 3-pointers, A'ja Wilson added 15 points and the Las Vegas Aces secured a playoff spot with an 83-76 victory over the Washington Mystics on Thursday night. The Aces (24-11) became the second team to clinch a postseason berth, joining the league-best Minnesota Lynx, and moved within a game of second-place Golden State (24-9).
The NBA's opening night Oct. 20 is headlined by the New York Knicks raising their championship banner against the new-look Philadelphia 76ers with LeBron James and Jaylen Brown. The Boston Celtics and Detroit Pistons face off in the NBC tripleheader that day in a rare matinee (3 p.m. The Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs close out the night in a rematch of the Western Conference finals.
DYERSVILLE, Iowa -- Kyle Schwarber smashed two home runs into the corn behind right field to stretch his major-league-leading total to 37, as the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Minnesota Twins 7-1 on Thursday night in the first game at the Field of Dreams movie site in four years.
WASHINGTON -- As Michael Busch slowed down at first base in the seventh inning on Thursday, cheers began to fill Nationals Park. They were both out of respect for Nationals righty Cade Cavalli’s bid at history, but also mixed with the Cubs fans on hand who were happy to see it end.
The prospect landscape has changed a lot since we launched our first 2026 Top 100 back in January. After the Draft, a Trade Deadline and the bulk of the 2026 season, we figured it was time to update our rankings. And it’s not just a new Top 100 we’re unveiling.
Expected return: August/September. Status: Shaw has increased volume/intensity with his swinging and is nearing hitting off a high-velocity machine. If things go well over Aug. 14-16 weekend at Wrigley, a Minor League rehab assignment could be next.
This story was excerpted from Jordan Bastian's Cubs Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
WASHINGTON – Alex Bregman was deep down a rabbit hole of video archives during the Cubs’ off-day on Monday night, comparing clips from different points in this season to other moments throughout his career. That included pulling up footage from a decade ago before he even reached the Majors. “I mean, we were watching Corpus Christi, Double-A video,” Bregman said.
Donald Trump’s handpicked Kennedy Center board is openly defying a federal court order by voting to close down the complex and put Trump’s name back on the building. The Trump administration could blow up a mountain in a national park in order to build a road that nobody actually needs.
An exclusive report by Raw America White House reporter Brian Karem. President Donald Trump boards Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, U.S., August 7, 2026. President Donald Trump’s secret ploy to escape an Iranian missile attack is drawing fire from both a former White House press secretary and even senior members of his own White House staff, Raw America can reveal.
Senate Republicans are loudly warning Trump that voters are exhausted with his endless war in Iran as gas prices become a real problem for the GOP heading into the midterms. CNN employees are pushing back on MAGA billionaire David Ellison’s plan for an “independent” editorial board, calling it a toothless PR move.
WASHINGTON — It couldn’t have been too happy of a flight home for the Cubs after a shutout loss Thursday in the nation’s capital. But a look at the standings ought to have them feeling all right. They woke up Thursday just three games back of the division lead in the NL Central, having taken advantage of the rival Brewers getting swept this week in San Diego.
WASHINGTON — It’s been more than a month since the big 250th-anniversary celebration in the nation’s capital. But the Cubs and Nationals still provided plenty of fireworks in this week’s battle between the two highest-scoring teams in baseball.
The Cubs’ series this weekend against the Cardinals is one of those that the national networks take over. Apple TV will carry the game Friday, and ABC has the game Sunday. But if it were up to Cubs analyst Jim Deshaies, that Friday game would be on Marquee Sports Network.
You know what the White Sox-Cubs series next week needs? As recently as the late aughts, Cubs manager Lou Piniella and Sox skipper Ozzie Guillen appeared in a Chevy commercial around the time of the crosstown series, rapping to their heart’s content. Guillen: “I’m a South Side guy.”
WASHINGTON – The way Alex Bregman’s season has gone, each productive day at the plate is cautiously described as “a step in the right direction.” Those steps are adding up, none more “right” than the three-homer, seven-RBI game he had in Wednesday’s 12-6 Cubs win over the Nationals.
Calling Grok a frontier model might have sounded ridiculous a year ago, but SpaceXAI’s latest model is paving a trajectory that likely doesn’t have rivals laughing anymore.
US accuses allies of China tariff ‘scam’. The White House has accused more than 40 nations, including some of its closest partners, of helping Chinese goods evade US tariffs by exploiting differences in levies imposed on third countries.
New Trump tariffs set to hit Ukraine’s drone export ambitions. US President Donald Trump has imposed steep tariffs on imported drones and their components, potentially complicating Ukraine’s plans to expand UAV sales to Washington.
Bill Gates’ daughter intentionally rigged shopping app commissions – Bloomberg. Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates’ daughter Phoebe has been accused of knowingly using a “cookie stuffing” scheme at her shopping startup that allowed the company to collect commissions for sales it did not actually generate, according to Bloomberg.
German camera maker Leica has excluded a Russian photographer from its prestigious Oskar Barnack Award (LOBA) following Ukrainian criticism over his links to the Russian RIA Novosti news agency. Valery Melnikov, a three-time World Press Photo winner, said in a social media post this week that his long-term series, ‘Mariupol.
Two Russian athletes won the first and the second places in the women’s all-around on the first day of the European Gymnastics Championship underway in Croatia. World champion Angelina Melnikova scored the gold medal, while her teammate Anna Kalmykova received the silver.
Palestinian families besieged by Israeli ‘terrorists’ – US envoy (VIDEO). US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee has branded Israeli settlers besieging three Palestinian families in their West Bank homes “terrorists. The days-long siege has targeted several properties, including one owned by a dual US citizen.
LOS ANGELES -- A Dodger Stadium crowd of 46,105 serenaded closer Edwin Diaz with a loud chorus of boos as he walked off the mound late Thursday night. Diaz had inherited a two-run ninth-inning lead against the first-place Milwaukee Brewers and watched it evaporate.
In the Raiders' 27-14 loss to the Arizona Cardinals, Mendoza had moments when he looked like a young player still adjusting to the NFL's speed. And moments when he showed why Las Vegas trusts the Heisman Trophy winner to be the future face of the organization. Coach Klint Kubiak's verdict: Mendoza looked like someone who has made significant strides in his development.
LAS VEGAS -- Jackie Young had a season-high 32 points and five 3-pointers, A'ja Wilson added 15 points and the Las Vegas Aces secured a playoff spot with an 83-76 victory over the Washington Mystics on Thursday night. The Aces (24-11) became the second team to clinch a postseason berth, joining the league-best Minnesota Lynx, and moved within a game of second-place Golden State (24-9).
The NBA's opening night Oct. 20 is headlined by the New York Knicks raising their championship banner against the new-look Philadelphia 76ers with LeBron James and Jaylen Brown. The Boston Celtics and Detroit Pistons face off in the NBC tripleheader that day in a rare matinee (3 p.m. The Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs close out the night in a rematch of the Western Conference finals.
DYERSVILLE, Iowa -- Kyle Schwarber smashed two home runs into the corn behind right field to stretch his major-league-leading total to 37, as the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Minnesota Twins 7-1 on Thursday night in the first game at the Field of Dreams movie site in four years.
Donald Trump’s handpicked Kennedy Center board is openly defying a federal court order by voting to close down the complex and put Trump’s name back on the building. The Trump administration could blow up a mountain in a national park in order to build a road that nobody actually needs.
An exclusive report by Raw America White House reporter Brian Karem. President Donald Trump boards Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, U.S., August 7, 2026. President Donald Trump’s secret ploy to escape an Iranian missile attack is drawing fire from both a former White House press secretary and even senior members of his own White House staff, Raw America can reveal.
Senate Republicans are loudly warning Trump that voters are exhausted with his endless war in Iran as gas prices become a real problem for the GOP heading into the midterms. CNN employees are pushing back on MAGA billionaire David Ellison’s plan for an “independent” editorial board, calling it a toothless PR move.
WASHINGTON -- As Michael Busch slowed down at first base in the seventh inning on Thursday, cheers began to fill Nationals Park. They were both out of respect for Nationals righty Cade Cavalli’s bid at history, but also mixed with the Cubs fans on hand who were happy to see it end.
The prospect landscape has changed a lot since we launched our first 2026 Top 100 back in January. After the Draft, a Trade Deadline and the bulk of the 2026 season, we figured it was time to update our rankings. And it’s not just a new Top 100 we’re unveiling.
Expected return: August/September. Status: Shaw has increased volume/intensity with his swinging and is nearing hitting off a high-velocity machine. If things go well over Aug. 14-16 weekend at Wrigley, a Minor League rehab assignment could be next.
This story was excerpted from Jordan Bastian's Cubs Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
WASHINGTON – Alex Bregman was deep down a rabbit hole of video archives during the Cubs’ off-day on Monday night, comparing clips from different points in this season to other moments throughout his career. That included pulling up footage from a decade ago before he even reached the Majors. “I mean, we were watching Corpus Christi, Double-A video,” Bregman said.
WASHINGTON — It couldn’t have been too happy of a flight home for the Cubs after a shutout loss Thursday in the nation’s capital. But a look at the standings ought to have them feeling all right. They woke up Thursday just three games back of the division lead in the NL Central, having taken advantage of the rival Brewers getting swept this week in San Diego.
WASHINGTON — It’s been more than a month since the big 250th-anniversary celebration in the nation’s capital. But the Cubs and Nationals still provided plenty of fireworks in this week’s battle between the two highest-scoring teams in baseball.
The Cubs’ series this weekend against the Cardinals is one of those that the national networks take over. Apple TV will carry the game Friday, and ABC has the game Sunday. But if it were up to Cubs analyst Jim Deshaies, that Friday game would be on Marquee Sports Network.
You know what the White Sox-Cubs series next week needs? As recently as the late aughts, Cubs manager Lou Piniella and Sox skipper Ozzie Guillen appeared in a Chevy commercial around the time of the crosstown series, rapping to their heart’s content. Guillen: “I’m a South Side guy.”
WASHINGTON – The way Alex Bregman’s season has gone, each productive day at the plate is cautiously described as “a step in the right direction.” Those steps are adding up, none more “right” than the three-homer, seven-RBI game he had in Wednesday’s 12-6 Cubs win over the Nationals.
Calling Grok a frontier model might have sounded ridiculous a year ago, but SpaceXAI’s latest model is paving a trajectory that likely doesn’t have rivals laughing anymore.