Trump Wants Census Do-Over

Donald Trump rightly notes that a significant number of Democrat-held Congressional seats are in Democrat hands solely because illegal aliens are counted in apportioning districts. He wants to change that and do a census with only legal residents. CNN: President Donald Trump announced in a social media post on Thursday that he has directed the Department of Commerce to begin work on a new US census that excludes undocumented immigrants from the population count. “I have instructed our Department of Commerce to immediately begin work on a new and highly accurate CENSUS based on modern day facts and figures and, importantly, using the results and information gained from the Presidential Election of 2024,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post. “People who are in our Country illegally WILL NOT BE COUNTED IN THE CENSUS,” the president added. (CNN) Thirty seats or more might be lost to Democrats if only legal residents were counted; however, it isn’t clear whether Trump’s order is Constitutional, given prior Supreme Court rulings.

Trump and Putin Will Hold Summit on Ukraine War Next Week

Details have yet to be worked out, but Trump envoy Steve Witkoff’s talks in Russia are paying dividends. Putin has agreed to meet with President Trump next week to hammer out a ceasefire agreement in the Ukraine War. Ukraine advocates are wary, with some warning darkly that Trump is giving away the store. But most people see light at the end of the tunnel. New York Times: A day after Mr. Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, met with Mr. Putin in Moscow, the Kremlin confirmed on Thursday morning that Mr. Putin and Mr. Trump planned to meet in the coming days, but it did not set an exact date for the summit. Russian and U.S. officials said it could take place as early as next week. In a photo released by state media, Mr. Putin met with President Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, on Wednesday. Mr. Trump had told European leaders that he intended to meet Mr. Putin and then follow up shortly afterward by meeting with both Mr. Putin and President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine, together. However, a Kremlin aide said on Thursday that Moscow had not agreed to a three-way meeting. “That option was simply mentioned by the American representative during the course of conversation at the Kremlin,” Yuri Ushakov, Mr. Putin’s foreign policy aide, told reporters. He said that Moscow was “completely without comment” on the idea of a three-way summit and that it had not been discussed “concretely” with Mr. Witkoff. (New York Times) Daybreak’s opinion is that Trump wants a big win, and Putin is a tough negotiator, so remember that it’s not over until it’s over.

Associated Press Does Propaganda for Hezbollah, While German BILD Exposes How Hamas Stages Propaganda Photos

German newspaper BILD published an exposé on Hamas’ sophisticated photojournalist propaganda, and the Associated Press profiled Hezbollah terrorists as innocent victims of Israel’s pager attack. Jerusalem Post: The issue of staged photos or photos taken out of context came to a head at the end of July when the Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) said that a picture of a Gazan youth being portrayed as starving is actually suffering from a genetic disease.Except photos taken by others at the same site show that the hoard is actually standing opposite freelance photographer Anas Zayed Fteiha, commissioned by the Turkish news agency Anadolu, BILD argues. The pots and pans are not being held up to the food distribution site, but the photographer, which Bild claims is staging for means of propaganda.Undistributed photos show Gazans calmly receiving aidAdditionally, BILD adds that his photos at the Gaza aid distribution site show mainly women and children, but that other photos at the same site show mostly adult men calmly waiting for and receiving food. Fteiha did not distribute these ones. (Jerusalem Post) Associated Press: The hours of interviews offered a rare glimpse into the attack’s human toll. Survivors described how the incessantly buzzing pagers exploded when picked up, whether they pressed a button or not. Some said their ears still ring from the blast. ”I’ve put up with so much pain I never imagined I could tolerate,” said Jaffal, a university graduate. The survivors expressed ongoing support for Hezbollah but acknowledged the security breach. They blamed Israel for their wounds. Rights groups have argued the attack was indiscriminate because the pagers detonated in populated areas, and it was nearly impossible to know who was holding the devices or where they were when they exploded. The preacher, Mustafa Choeib, recalled that his two young daughters used to play with his pager and he sometimes found it among their toys. (Associated Press) David Strom was impressed by A.P.’s ingenuity. Hot Air: You would think that The Associated Press–you know, the news organization that shared office space with Hamas in Gaza for years–would struggle to find ways to become even more morally repulsive than it has been in recent years. You would be wrong. They are a creative bunch. No doubt they have a working group that collaborates with academics and Iranian mullahs to come up with ways to be more Satanic. (Hot Air)

As Genocide of African Christians Accelerates, the Media Focuses on Hamas and Hezbollah as Victims

ISIS, Boko Harem, and other Muslim extremist groups are burning down villages, beheading Christians, and have been committing a systematic genocide for years. The media shrugs, obsessed with defending Islamic extremists in the Middle East. Fox News: The Islamic State Mozambique Province (ISMP) recently released 20 photos boasting of four attacks on “Christian villages” in the Chiure district, in Mozambique’s northern Cabo Delgado province, according to MEMRI. MEMRI said the photos show ISIS operatives raiding villages and burning a church and homes. The images also allegedly depict the beheadings of a member of what the jihadists consider “infidel militias” and two Christian civilians. Rampaging jihadist groups celebrated the killings. Photos also showed the corpses of several members of those so-called “infidel militias,” according to the institute’s analysis. “What we see in Africa today is a kind of silent genocide or silent, brutal, savage war that is occurring in the shadows and all too often ignored by the international community,” MEMRI Vice President Alberto Miguel Fernandez told Fox News Digital. “That jihadist groups are in a position to take over not one, not two, but several countries in Africa – take over the whole country or most of several countries – is dangerous,” Fernandez, a former U.S. diplomat, said. “It’s very dangerous for the national security of the United States let alone the security of the poor people who are there – Christians or Muslims or whoever they are.”  The Islamic State Central Africa Province (ISCAP) also recently released several photos of their own documenting a July 27 attack against the Christian village of Komanda in the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Ituri province. Islamic State-affiliated soldiers opened fire at a Catholic Church and set fire to homes, stores, vehicles and possessions. At least 45 people were killed, according to MEMRI. The photos show burning facilities and the corpses of Christians. Fernandez explained to Fox News Digital that the goal of these jihadist groups is “eliminating Christian communities,” as they push down from safe havens and Muslims are “given a choice: ‘either join us or you too will face killing and annihilation.’” (Fox News) Substitute Hamas for ISIS and you have a good description of Gazan terrorists.

Iranian Intelligence Arrests Nuclear Scientists and Other Presumed Israeli Spies by the Score or More

For a country that hails its great victory over Israel in the 12-Day War that saw its nuclear program destroyed, its leaders sure are acting like a defeated power paranoid about its internal security. New York Times: Since the war ended, authorities have swept up hundreds of people, including activists and dissidents, on suspicions of spying and threatening national security, Iranian media reports and rights groups say. But the arrest and execution of a nuclear scientist is extremely rare in a nation that takes great pride in its domestic nuclear program, with scientists hailed as national heroes. It is also an embarrassing admission of the possible extent to which the Mossad, Israel’s foreign intelligence service, has infiltrated Iran. Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence said last week in a statement that it had arrested 20 spies and operatives linked to Israel. Iran has executed 10 people, including Mr. Vadi, on charges of spying for Israel since the war started in June, rights groups say. (New York Times) At this rate, Iran may end up killing more nuclear scientists than the Israelis did during the war. Daybreak doubts we will ever know the real number of “spies” the regime kills. In related news, Iran is threatening journalists and their families with death unless they stop reporting on Iran. Jerusalem Post: The London-based media outlet Iran International has filed an urgent appeal to the United Nations, revealing that 45 of its journalists and more than 300 of their relatives across eight countries have received explicit death threats from Iran’s Intelligence Ministry. The threats warn staff to stop reporting on Iran or face execution, including the execution of their immediate family members. (Jerusalem Post)

Egypt and Israel Ink Historic Trade Deal, Giving the Lie to Claims of Arab Anger at the Jewish State

Not that most media outlets would acknowledge it, but Israel’s Arab neighbors are more interested in good relations with the Jewish state than with the Palestinians. The Arab League has called for Hamas to surrender and disarm, Lebanon is disarming Hezbollah, and Egypt just inked a $35 billion deal for Israeli natural gas. Times of Israel: Partners in Israel’s Leviathan reservoir on Thursday inked a $35 billion deal to supply natural gas to Egypt, in the largest export deal in the country’s history. Israel’s NewMed Energy, formerly Delek Drilling (part of Yitzhak Tshuva’s Delek Group), which owns a 45.3 percent stake in Leviathan, off the country’s Mediterranean coast, said the partners will sell a total of 130 billion cubic meters (bcm) of natural gas to Egypt through 2040, or until all of the contract quantities are fulfilled. The deal is expected to funnel hundreds of millions of shekels in revenues from gas royalties and taxes to the country’s state coffers. “This is the most strategically important export deal to ever occur in the eastern Mediterranean, and strengthens Egypt’s position as the most significant hub in the region,” said NewMed CEO Yossi Abu. “This deal, made possible by our strong regional partnerships, will unlock further regional export opportunities, once again proving that natural gas and the wider energy industry can be an anchor for collaboration.” (Times of Israel) How ironic is it that Egypt refers to Israel as a “strong regional partner” while the UK, France, and Canada are throwing Israel under the bus? Strange times.

Trump Demands CEO of Intel Resign

It is unusual for a President of the United States to insert himself into the details of corporate governance, but President Trump is an unusual guy. He is calling for the resignation of Intel’s president over his ties to the Chinese Communist Party. CNBC: Intel shares slipped Thursday after President Donald Trump called for the chipmaker’s CEO to step down. In a Truth Social post, Trump said Intel Chief Executive Lip-Bu Tan “is highly CONFLICTED and must resign, immediately. There is no other solution to this problem.” Intel did not respond to a request for comment. Tan was named as Intel CEO in March as the company tried to rebound from declining sales under the stewardship of Pat Gelsinger. This week, Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., questioned Tan’s ties to Chinese companies and referenced a past criminal case involving Cadence Design, where Tan was CEO until 2021.Cotton wrote to Intel’s chair to “express concern about the security and integrity of Intel’s operations and its potential impact on U.S. national security.” “Intel is required to be a responsible steward of American taxpayer dollars and to comply with applicable security regulations,” Cotton wrote. “Mr. Tan’s associations raise questions about Intel’s ability to fulfill these obligations.” (CNBC) For those who do not follow technology companies, it is worth noting that Intel has been experiencing a multi-decade run of bad luck. Its share price is at the same level as in 1997. The last thing it needs is a fight with the president.

Donald Trump Is More Popular than PM Keir Starmer in UK

Nigel Farage is now the most popular politician in the United Kingdom—by a wide margin. But until recently, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer could console himself by noting that at least he was more popular with his constituents than the much-hated Donald Trump. No longer. Breitbart: Fresh off the heels of President Trump’s visit to his ancestral homeland in Scotland, during which he extraordinarily played host to his British counterpart at his Turnberry golf resort in South Ayrshire, a poll from Freshwater Strategies has found that Trump is more popular among Britons than their own prime minister. The survey, conducted for City AM over the weekend, found that 26 per cent of the British public hold a favourable view of President Trump. While still considerably underwater, it represented a nine-point increase over the past month for the American leader. Perhaps more strikingly, however, the poll found that President Trump bested both Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and the leader of the so-called Conservative Party, Kemi Badenoch. According to the survey, Starmer only enjoys a 23 per cent favourability rating amongst his own people, compared to a staggering 60 per cent unfavourability. Meanwhile, Badenoch only barely edges out the PM with a 24 per cent favorability. President Trump was only bested among leading British politicians by his longtime friend and ally, Brexit boss Nigel Farage, who scored a relatively muscular 37 per cent favorability. (Breitbart) No word on Starmer’s favorability compared to Vladimir Putin or Ayatollah Khamenei. Just as well, for Starmer’s sake.

Corporate America Drives Stake Into Heart of DEI Advertising

The Left has been anxiously awaiting American Eagle’s apology for featuring a beautiful woman in its commercials and was appalled that the company doubled down on its commitment to making people look attractive. Now Axios is reporting that other corporations are eager to follow its lead. Axios: What it’s saying: In response to the backlash, American Eagle said on Instagram the ad campaign “is and always was about the jeans. Her jeans. Her story.” “We’ll continue to celebrate how everyone wears their AE jeans with confidence, their way. Great jeans look good on everyone.” Between the lines: American Eagle’s statement was not the apology some consumers expected, and indicates a major shift in the way corporate America reacts to controversial moments, says Nathan Miller, founder and CEO of crisis management firm Miller Ink. “The corporate comms script is that you apologize when you offend people. … Now, they do the cost-benefit analysis and realize if you apologize, it’s not going to placate the critics and it will also promote further ire” from those that initially applauded the campaign, he said. The big picture: Brands are taking what experts call “calculated risks” by abandoning diversity, equity and inclusion commitments. “You’re seeing a lot of brands trying to distance themselves from what was previously described as ‘woke culture,’ and they believe there’s a market for those who don’t abide by the cultural norms that were previously enforced,” Miller says. (Axios) Daybreak’s take? Advertisers may discover that sex sells.

Trump Honors Purple Heart Recipients

August 7^th was National Purple Heart Day. In honor of this sacred day, it seemed like the entire Trump administration mobilized to thank veterans who spilled blood for our country. Cabinet members, agencies, and administration officials all made statements thanking veterans for their sacrifice. Just the News: President Donald Trump on Thursday is holding a ceremony at the White House that recognizes and honors Purple Heart recipients. The ceremony falls on National Purple Heart Day, which recognizes military servicemembers who were severely wounded or killed in action. Three of the recipients at the ceremony include Thomas Matteo, Gerald Enter Jr. and John Ford, who gave their Purple Heart medals to Trump last year after he survived an assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania (Just the News) Few people know that most Purple Hearts distributed since World War II were minted in 1945, because 1 million were created in anticipation of the invasion of Japan. If that doesn’t remind you of why Truman dropped the atomic bombs, nothing will. (X) (History News Network) New Purple Hearts are manufactured by Kennedy, Inc., to the exact specifications outlined in the 1930s. (Military.com) Daybreak thanks all veterans and current members of the military for their service, as well as their family members who shared their sacrifice.