We ask one question that drives much of the morning: “Is it wrong to want more?” Nick Kayal grades President Trump’s second term at a C+, praising the border, immigration and crime policies while hammering tariffs, the Iran war and persistent affordability problems. We contrast Washington spending with Javier Milei’s push for a zero-deficit rule in Argentina, dig into Rand Paul’s contempt fight with Anthony Fauci, scrutinize the federal audit of DOGE’s “Wall of Receipts,” question reports about depleted U.S. munitions and ask what either party is actually offering voters heading toward the midterms.
We also take on the political obsession surrounding the WNBA. We dispute Angel Reese’s comments about growing up without dolls that looked like her, look back at decades of Black dolls tied to Barbie, and argue over how much coverage transgender athletes receive compared with how rarely the issue arises in college competition. Shawn Farash joins us for Friday’s Cut Sheet as we get into Charlie Hatcher’s upset of Andy Ogles in Tennessee, Abdul El-Sayed’s Michigan Senate primary victory, Mike Rogers’ chances in November, antisemitism concerns raised by Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel and the fight between social-platform reach, consultants and old-school door knocking.
Around all of that, we cover the Cape May County water-system cyber incident, charges against Delaware dance instructor Emily Pryor Albino, the Larry Pettis controlled-substance case and the Northeast Philadelphia Islamic Center arson case. Philadelphia sports brings Jaylen Brown’s 76ers introduction, “LeBronadelphia,” the Phillies’ 7-3 win over Washington and the return of preseason football. Then Amazon deliveries, QVC’s Toni Brattin, $20 burritos, Carrie Underwood and Fight Club send us toward Ana Hummel’s Big Three, featuring the Russia-NATO warning, the Turkey-Saudi Arabia-Pakistan defense pact and a Hawaii congressional hopeful’s bizarre beach saga before Moderna’s new mRNA flu vaccine and Phil Almquist’s August 7 rock-history close.
Aug 07, 2026
