This is the Tangle Sunday Edition, a brief roundup of our independent politics coverage plus some extra features for your Sunday morning reading.

What the right is doodling.

Gary Varvel | Creators Syndicate

What the left is doodling.

Mike Luckovich | Creators Syndicate

Read it all!

Hello to all our subscribers on the free list! We wanted to take a moment to say thank you for being a Tangle reader, so we’ve dropped the paywall on today’s Sunday edition so you can read the whole thing. 

We also wanted to shoot a quick reminder about our Friday edition. On July 4, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) officially shut down. This past Friday, our Executive Editor Isaac Saul wrote a retrospective on Elon Musk and DOGE. He wasn’t exactly delicate. “It’s clear DOGE was a failure,” Isaac wrote. “And a pretty catastrophic one, at that.”

You can check out the piece here, but you will be asked to subscribe to read the whole thing.

Suspension of the Rules.

This week, Isaac, Ari, and Kmele discuss the debate over what “Woke 1” means and what it says about shifts in the Democratic Party. They also dive into recent primary election results around the country, Senator Darline Graham’s (R-SC) debate response on foreign policy, and Senator Jon Ossoff’s (D-GA) recent remarks in Georgia. Check it out here:

Monday, August 17.

The Wisconsin primaries. On Tuesday, August 11, Wisconsin held primary elections for the 2026 midterms, headlined by the gubernatorial race to replace outgoing Gov. Tony Evers (D). U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany won the Republican nomination with 95% of the vote, while on the Democratic side, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley narrowly defeated state Rep. Francesca Hong 39.8%–39.4%. Crowley’s victory was a significant upset, as pre-election polls showed Hong with a double-digit lead.

Our take: “Coverage of this race was all about Francesca Hong, but some other things are capturing my attention. The top-level polling was way off — and a lot of the low-level details were fascinating. As for the actual primary winners, both candidates are far from moderate.”

Reader Survey:

Tuesday, August 18.

Flock cameras. In recent weeks, public opposition has grown toward vehicle-tracking cameras used by law enforcement in criminal investigations. Private manufacturer Flock Safety operates the largest network of Automated License Plate Readers (ALPRs) in the United States, with approximately 127,000 cameras across the country. The company has recently faced scrutiny for potential civil liberties violations and misuse by police officers, prompting some localities to review or cancel their contracts with the company.

Our take: “I can’t get past how dystopian these private surveillance networks feel. Even in a world where we sign so much of our privacy over to big tech, accepting a wide police dragnet that’s ripe for abuse is one step too far. We don’t have to accept these cameras as part of our society, but save for a few restrictions, I believe we probably will.”

Reader Survey:

Wednesday, August 19.

The USS Abraham Lincoln. On Friday, August 14, Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao announced that the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) is returning to the United States as part of a “planned rotation.” Cao’s announcement follows weeks of reporting on strained conditions aboard the ship, including food and supply shortages, mental health struggles among sailors, and multiple sailors reportedly attempting to jump overboard. Aside from brief stops in Guam in December and Oman in July, the carrier has been operating for 271 days at sea without its crew taking a port call. 

Our take: “Anyone can read the USS Abraham Lincoln’s story to confirm their priors. Yes, conditions are tough — and yes, conditions on a carrier are always tough — but the deeper story here is a poorly prepared administration. I’m now beginning to wonder how much longer we’re prepared to keep up the war effort.”

Reader Survey:

Thursday, August 20.

Trump’s vaccine executive order. On Monday, August 10, President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing the federal government to make changes to its recommended childhood vaccine schedule. In remarks at the White House signing event, the president also suggested that a link may exist between the number of vaccines children receive and increased rates of autism.

Our take: “The order’s recommended changes signal to parents that they should give their children fewer vaccines. The administration’s justification for this move is lacking — both in the order’s text and leaders’ public statements. Trump and Kennedy aren’t making decisions based on science, but personal hunches.”

Reader Survey:

Friday, August 21.

When the second Trump administration took office in January 2025, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) dominated headlines with its plans to radically rework the government in an effort to save money. But when the department officially closed without much fanfare in July 2026, Executive Editor Isaac Saul thought: What actually happened? Read Isaac’s essay exploring how DOGE went wrong here.

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What just happened.

Here’s a rundown of the major stories that have broken since our newsletter on Thursday.

• On Thursday, news outlets reported that the Federal Bureau of Investigation has seized electronic devices belonging to former Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) as part of an investigation into sexual misconduct allegations against him. (The reports)
• On Thursday, North Korea launched an estimated 10 short-range ballistic missiles toward the country’s eastern waters, days after President Donald Trump said the U.S. would scale back its military exercises with South Korea. (The launches) 
• On Friday, the chief of staff of Iran’s Armed Forces said that the country is preparing “crushing, punishing and devastating responses” to President Trump’s new round of large-scale economic sanctions. (The comments)
• On Friday, President Trump said the U.S. will exempt imports of up to 300,000 metric tons of product for ground beef from certain tariffs for the next three months. The president claimed the beef will be sold at 25% below current market prices. (The statement)
• On Friday, The Wall Street Journal reported that Army Secretary Dan Driscoll will step down from his position by the end of 2026, reportedly due to tension with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. (The report)
• On Friday, Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts issued an administrative stay of a lower court ruling that had suspended construction of President Trump’s White House ballroom. The decision will allow above-ground construction to continue while the Court considers the legal challenge to the project. (The stay)
• On Friday, a federal judge struck down the Trump administration’s planned ban on visas for immigrants from 75 countries, finding that Secretary of State Marco Rubio did not have the authority to impose the ban. (The ruling)
• On Saturday, the United States imposed 50% tariffs on approximately $20 billion of Canadian imports after trade discussions between the countries broke down. Canada said it will match the U.S. tariffs with its own. (The tariffs)

Reader essay.

Rabbi Shimshon Gansbourg menorah in London, England, at an event commemorating the shooting in Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia — December 15, 2025 | PA via Reuters

Tangle reader Michael Cohen can trace his Jewish roots in Sydney, Australia, back decades. In the aftermath of the 2025 Bondi Beach shooting that targeted the Jewish community, Michael reflected on how the Jewish culture in his community has, in his eyes, changed over time — and how it can return to what it once was.

You can read Michael’s essay here.

Have a personal story or local issue you want to write about? Pitch us! Fill out this form or reply to this email, and we’ll get back to you if we’re hooked.

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Reader comments.

In this section, we like to highlight reader comments that respond to our coverage from different perspectives. After our article on conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, two commenters offered diverging perspectives on the ship’s record-breaking deployment in the Middle East.

Vicki wrote that the conditions aboard the Lincoln are disrespectful toward American soldiers.

My brother is Retired Navy (20 years). We avoid talking politics, but I can say without a doubt that when he was at sea for months at a time, it was the leaves & weekend liberties that kept him sane. I'd be extremely worried about his state of mind if he were onboard the USS Lincoln, especially in his younger days.

There are many men and women who like my brother, joined the armed service because they lacked the advantages that so many attempting to dismiss the situation take for granted. These are good people, strong people, but most importantly proud people. If my brother is any example the men and women who serve don’t ask for much — except respect, and the only thing I can imagine being more disrespectful than being forced to defend this unsustainable vanity war, is being thrown under the bus by their commander-in-chief and the sycophants trying to convince the world that the leader of the United States of America isn’t a “fucking moron.”

James C Carrington remembered enduring difficult conditions during his own military service.

Let's set aside the issue of the Iran war and look at military service. I have served and I will say that most that served in my time would look at this as a non-issue. Combat zone deployments were and may still be 12-months. Living and working out of FOBS, oftentimes meant eating MREs or whatever other delicacy one was lucky to receive in the mail in the form of a care package. Mental health challenges in a combat zone, well, the reality is that there is little time for them which is why the after action mental health challenges are what they are in terms of suicide rates among veterans. I have never been at sea for 270-days, but can imagine it would suck. I have however lived in a tent city in the middle of the desert for an extended period of time and it sucked. We complained, but in the end, every one of us knew that was what we agreed to when we signed up to “serve.” I would venture a guess that most of the folks writing about the horrid conditions and “extended” service time of 270-days without a port of call, are making that value judgement from a very comfortable life, which is something the military does not promise.

On the channels.

VIDEO: For nearly a century, the reflecting pool has struggled with leaks, shifting ground, algae, and an increasingly complex system designed to keep its water clean. We break down why maintenance of the pool has been such a challenge in a YouTube video here. 

INSTAGRAM: As the national debt crossed $40 trillion, Vice President JD Vance blamed former President Joe Biden. We covered the event in an Instagram reel here. 

BONUS: TMZ released footage of Rep. Randy Fine (R-FL) looking through a constituent’s mailbox while campaigning for reelection. We showed the clip in an Instagram reel here.  

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Infotainment.

Arthur Ashe Stadium | Wikimedia Commons/Davidwboswell

The U.S. Open — tennis’s final Grand Slam event of the calendar year — kicks off its qualifying mixed doubles events tomorrow. While it has long been a closely watched competition, the tournament has exploded in popularity in recent years, drawing record crowds (and ticket prices). Now, the athletes are seeing that interest translate into bigger paydays, formalized in a new compensation agreement announced this past week.

• $108 million. The total compensation pool for this year’s tournament, a 20% increase from 2025 and a 44% increase from 2024.
• $5.5 million. The prize money the men’s and women’s singles champions will each earn in this year’s tournament. 
• $140,000. The base amount earned by any player who makes the 128-player singles main draw. 
• $1 million. The prize money the men’s, women’s, and mixed doubles champions will split in this year’s tournament. 

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Tangle’s favorites.

🌇10,000: How 10,000 American cities got their names.

🐈10,003: The Gettysburg Museum recreated the famous Civil War battle with 10,033 miniature… cats.

📼1999: Find what to watch next on different streaming services in a way that feels like browsing a Blockbuster Video with Binge Browse.

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Post of the week.

Enjoy this carousel of a man hilariously trolling ChatGPT. #BatEggs

https://www.instagram.com/p/Db_U5HeiKz4/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D 

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Ask the readers.

Last week, Michael from Miami, FL asked readers when they knew that they loved their significant other.

Tracey from Redwood City, CA: Early in our dating days, my husband read a spiritual book I was reading — just because it mattered to me. He had no interest in the subject and would never have picked it up otherwise. We had deep discussions while reading it, including all the ways he found it clashed with what his scientist brain believed. Through that, I learned something important: we don't have to share the same beliefs to be exceptional life partners. We can disagree and still meet each other with curiosity instead of frustration. But what really moved me was this — he spent hours reading and discussing something he privately thought was hogwash, simply because he cared about me. That was the beginning of me falling deeply in love with this amazing man.

Jayme from New Jersey: The moment I realized she was more important to me than I was.

Peter from New South Wales, Australia: When she was completely oblivious to my attraction to her, when there was no understanding, no dating, not anything at all between us, yet there were times when, completely unpremeditated, I would catch myself about to reach out to hold her, and would have to stop myself. 

Ten years later, we have been together for seven years of unqualified bliss. And yes, I hung out for three LONG years before she had even an inkling that I wanted her — and she found out by me ringing her up out of the blue, from the other side of the world, not to ask her to go out with me, but to marry me. And just three days later, she said yes!

Rich from Pittsburgh: My mother and the mother of my “significant other” (SO) were college roommates and remained best friends. I first met SO when she was ten months old. She is five years younger and was mostly ignored by me. I went on to college, the Army, and a career. SO went on to college and a career of her own in another city before returning to grad school in Pittsburgh. The families got together for a holiday meal and SO was there. Like in “The Godfather,” I was struck by the lightning bolt. Little SO has grown into an intelligent woman who was as cute as can be. Ten days later I proposed. She agreed. We have been married for 44 years. She is still as intelligent and cute as ever with the best laugh in the world.

Mary from Grafton, WI: The first time I saw him. 

This week’s reader question comes from Judy from Savannah, who asks:

What is your earliest childhood memory?

You can let us know your thoughts by replying through this form.

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