In Case You Missed It … This Week in News

A lot happened in the world this week – Make sure you didn’t miss it with Generation Liberty’s weekly news roundup!

Sunday, August 16, 2026

Iran Agrees with Oman Over Route Through Strait of Hormuz

Iran has agreed to a preliminary deal with Oman on a shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz following weeks of negotiations. “Despite US obstruction, the talks have made positive progress over the past three weeks and an agreement has been reached on the shipping route map,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei told local state-run television.

Five Wounded in Virginia State University Shooting

Five people were wounded, including one critically, in an August 15 shooting at Virginia State University. The Chesterfield County Police Department said Camron Harris, 19, of Henrico County, was arrested in connection with the violent attack. He is being held at Chesterfield County Jail, NBC News reported.

Israeli Airstrikes in Lebanon Kill 11

Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon killed at least 11 people on August 15. Lebanese officials stated that the attacks targeted a home in Ansar, killing seven people, including three children. They also confirmed that a second attack in Deir al-Zahrani killed four and wounded 17. The latest strikes come as Israel and Lebanon have been trying to keep a fragile truce intact.

Powerful Earthquake Devastates Indonesia, Triggers Tsunami Warning

A powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Indonesia on August 15, killing at least 47 people. The earthquake collapsed buildings and destroyed infrastructure, prompting concerns that dozens more could be dead, injured, and missing. Officials issued a tsunami warning and urged coastal residents to seek higher ground. Landslides have also been reported across the area.

Monday, August 17, 2026

CBS Poll: 58% of Democrats Have Positive View of Socialism

A new CBS News poll released Sunday shows 58% of Democrats surveyed have a positive view of socialism, with only 18% holding a negative view. The poll also shows just 32% of Democrats surveyed have a positive view of capitalism, with 50% holding a negative view.

AG Blanche: DOJ May Take State Voter Rolls’ Fight to SCOTUS

Attorney General Todd Blanche on Sunday said there is a “possibility” the Justice Department will ask the US Supreme Court to intervene in cases where lower courts have ruled against federal efforts to gain access to states’ voter rolls to ensure electoral integrity as the crucial November midterm elections approach.

Top FDA Official Asked Fauci for Vaccine Side Effect Study

A newly released email “suggests that the nation’s top vaccine regulator encouraged Dr. Anthony Fauci and Dr. Francis Collins to leverage billions in scientific research dollars to study COVID vaccine side effects – but they never followed through on her request,” The Daily Caller reports.

Trump Orders Military to Cut Back Exercises With South Korea

President Donald Trump on Sunday ordered the Pentagon to “substantially reduce” 10 days of scheduled joint military exercises with South Korea, noting his “very good relationship” with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un and South Korea’s refusal to help the US during its war with Iran.

Tuesday, August 18, 2026

Kushner: Gaza Demilitarization Efforts May Begin in 30 Days

US Special Envoy Jared Kushner on Monday said a move towards demilitarizing Gaza could begin with 30 days. Kushner made the remarks following a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Oil Prices Spike Up Again as Trump Expresses Iran Deal Doubts

The price of oil “jumped sharply Monday after President Donald Trump cast doubt on another deal with Iran to extend the expiring ceasefire,” NBC News reports. “They want to make a deal, but they’re not going to make the kind of a deal that I feel is necessary,” Trump told reporters at the White House.

Canada-US Trade Talks Down to Wire Before Trump Tariffs Hit

Canada and the United States “have still not landed a trade deal just a day before President Donald Trump’s latest tariffs are set to take effect, and Ottawa has signaled that it will retaliate, threatening to heat up an already-bruising, year-and-a-half-long continental trade war,” The Toronto Globe and Mail reports. Tariffs as high as 50% on some Canadian goods are set to take effect on Wednesday.

Wednesday, August 19, 2026

Fauci Advisor Pleads Guilty on COVID-Related Record Concealment

An indicted former senior adviser to Dr. Anthony Fauci on Tuesday “pleaded guilty to a federal conspiracy charge stemming from a scheme to conceal government records on coronavirus research grants from investigators probing the origin of the COVID-19 pandemic,” The New York Post reports.

Meta Child Social Media Addiction Federal Trial Gets Underway

Opening statements kicked off Tuesday “in a pivotal trial for Meta Platforms in a California federal court, where states are seeking billions of dollars in damages for social media harms to children,” CBS News reports.

Disney Sues FCC, Claims Attempt to Control ABC Content

Disney and ABC on Tuesday “sued the Federal Communications Commission, arguing that the Trump administration is attempting to censor journalists by urging the agency to conduct an early review of ABC’s broadcasting licenses,” The Hill reports.

Thursday, August 20, 2026

Trump Plans to Meet With North Korea’s Kim Jong Un

President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that he will meet with North Korea leader Kim Jong Un this year. The announcement came just a few days after Trump shared kind words for North Korea and expressed regret about US joint military exercises with South Korea.

National Debt Hits $40-Trillion Mark

The Treasury Department released new data on Wednesday showing the national debt surpassing $40 trillion, “representing a fiscal milestone that underscores the federal government’s mounting borrowing and interest costs,” CBS News reports.

Trump Administration Aims to Ban Tax Credits for Illegal Aliens

The White House announced a “proposed rule clarifying that hundreds of thousands of noncitizen taxpayers are ineligible for refunds from four individual income tax credits. The move could save the US up to $2.6 billion in 2026,” The Center Square reports.

Trump Pauses Tariffs on Canada for 3 Days

President Donald Trump added insight on Wednesday about a deal reached between the US and Canada. On Tuesday, he had announced that new 50% tariffs on Canadian goods, set to take effect on August 19, would be paused for three days.