U.S. Officials and Tehran Undercut Trump’s Claim of New Iran Talks
A live look of the Trump administration and the ongoing crisis in the Middle East.
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🔴 BREAKING (7:59 p.m. ET): Pirro Seen Leaving West Wing With White Box as Firing Speculation Intensifies
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro was spotted leaving on Monday evening with a rolling briefcase and white box, hours after she entered the White House amid reports that President Donald Trump is considering removing her from office
The departure came after Trump publicly accused Pirro of “folding like an umbrella” and “choking” when her office dropped the Reflecting Pool vandalism case after concluding that the damage resulted from a botched installation. Trump has discussed firing Pirro and was described as furious over the reversal, though the White House has not announced her dismissal.
*This is a developing story. This article will be updated as more information becomes available.
🔴 BREAKING (6:58 p.m. ET): Trump Has Discussed Firing Jeanine Pirro After Reflecting Pool Reversal
Donald Trump has discussed removing Jeanine Pirro as U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia after her office dropped criminal charges against a former Olympian accused of vandalizing the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, according to people familiar with the matter. Trump has reportedly told advisers that he is furious with Pirro and feels betrayed by the court filing, with the two expected to meet Monday evening.
Pirro’s office moved Friday to dismiss the case against David Hearn, concluding that the damage was caused by contractor error and a “botched installation not vandalism”—directly contradicting Trump’s insistence that vandals were responsible.
Trump publicly tore into Pirro earlier Monday, saying she “made a mistake,” “folded like an umbrella,” and “choked.” He ignored one question about whether he planned to fire her, then snapped at another reporter who pressed him about her future. The White House did not deny that Pirro’s removal was under consideration and referred questions back to Trump’s Oval Office remarks.
No dismissal has been announced, and Pirro has not publicly responded.
*This is a developing story. This article will be updated as more information becomes available.
🔴 BREAKING (6:15 p.m. ET): 25 States Sue Trump Administration Over Latest Global Tariffs
A coalition of 25 states sued the Trump administration Monday, arguing that Donald Trump’s latest round of global tariffs exceeds his legal authority and represents an unlawful attempt to replace import taxes already rejected by federal courts.
The lawsuit filed in the U.S. Court of International Trade challenges duties of 10% and 12.5% imposed on most goods from 59 countries and the European Union—economies that collectively account for 99.4% of U.S. imports. The tariffs took effect July 24 and cover major trading partners including the United Kingdom, Mexico, Canada, Australia, India, China, and the EU’s 27 members.
The administration imposed the tariffs under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, claiming the targeted economies had failed to adequately prevent imports of goods produced with forced labor. The states argue that justification is a pretext and that the administration rushed through investigations of 60 economies in less than three months to preserve Trump’s broader tariff policy after earlier legal defeats
“President Trump is so intent on raising the cost of living for Americans that he is willing to break law after law after law to do so,” California Attorney General Rob Bonta said.
“Tariffs are taxes, and the American people cannot and should not shoulder the extra costs that come from the President’s failed and illegal economic policy—no matter how much the President wants them to.”
The states are asking the trade court to declare the tariffs unlawful and block their enforcement. They argue the duties bear little meaningful connection to forced labor, pointing to uniform rates across widely different economies, broad product exemptions, and the absence of clear benchmarks countries could meet to have the tariffs lifted.
The challenge marks the administration’s third attempt to preserve sweeping global tariffs under a different federal statute. In February, the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act does not authorize a president to impose tariffs. The trade court ruled in May that Trump’s subsequent tariffs under Section 122 of the Trade Act were also unlawful, though that judgment was later stayed while the administration appealed.
*This is a developing story. This article will be updated as more information becomes available.
🔴 BREAKING (4:20 p.m. ET): Grassley Invites Jack Smith to Testify Before Senate Judiciary Committee
Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Chuck Grassley has invited former special counsel Jack Smith to testify before the panel on Sept. 22, bringing the former Trump prosecutor back before Congress as Republicans intensify their scrutiny of his investigations.
The invitation follows months of committee inquiries into Smith’s conduct and the sprawling Arctic Frost investigation, including the collection and review of text messages involving dozens of members of Congress.
Smith led the federal investigations into Trump’s handling of classified documents and his efforts to overturn the 2020 election. The cases were abandoned after Trump won the 2024 election, consistent with Justice Department policy against prosecuting a sitting president. Smith previously testified publicly before the House Judiciary Committee on Jan. 22, where he defended the prosecutions and said they were based on Trump’s conduct, not political pressure.
*This is a developing story. This article will be updated as more information becomes available.
🔴 BREAKING (2:50 p.m. ET): Trump Calls Iran Talks a ‘Last Chance,’ Says Strike Plan Remains Active
Donald Trump signed an executive order Monday creating what he called “the first ever presidential military spouse commission,” then used an extended Oval Office question-and-answer session to insist that negotiations with Iran are underway, warn that plans for a devastating U.S. attack remain active, and declare that Tehran is receiving its final opportunity to avoid further military escalation.
The commission will be chaired by Jennifer Hegseth, wife of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, with Desiree Thompson Sayle serving as executive director and Christy Mullin, wife of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, among its members. Trump said the panel would “provide recommendations for improving the quality of life for military spouses,” including “housing, employment, healthcare, education, child care, and just about everything else.”
“We cannot have the strongest military in the world without the love and devotion of our remarkable military spouses,” Trump said before signing the order to applause.
Here are the key takeaways:
Trump claimed the wars involving Venezuela and Iran were both going well. “As you know, we had a conflict with Venezuela, worked out very well, and we have a conflict with Iran, and that’s working out very well, very, very well.”
Trump insisted talks with Iran are “going on right now,” despite public denials from Tehran and U.S. officials. He said American forces had been “set to go” with a strike “harder than any attack” since World War II, then held off after Iran, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar requested negotiations. “This is a last chance,” Trump said, adding that the discussions center on “the denuclearization of Iran,” which he argued previous administrations failed to pursue for “50 years.”
Trump said the Strait of Hormuz could reopen “literally by tomorrow.” Asked where direct negotiations would occur, he replied: “You’ll find out today or tomorrow. They’re going to go quickly one way or the other. It’s not very complex.”
“The first phase is the opening of the straits. The second phase will be the denuclearization,” Trump said. “That’ll take a little while, but … we’re very strong on it.”
Trump ruled out allowing Iran to collect tolls from ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz. “I’m not going to let them charge anybody,” he said. “We have total control. You know, we have a thing called a blockade with the U.S. Navy.”
Trump said he was giving Iran “every last chance before decapitation.” Asked what distinguished the current pause in airstrikes from earlier delays, Trump said:
“I think we’re going to maybe get something, but I want to give them every last chance before decapitation. It’s very tough to do what I—what we—have planned. Still planned. We’ll see what happens. But it’s very, very tough thing to do. I think, I’m very proud of the fact that … I’ll give people a chance.”
Trump again claimed Iran initiated the renewed diplomatic push.
“They called me and they said, please don’t attack. We’ll make a deal. That’s the real truth. And everyone knows it. And who wouldn’t call?”
Trump repeatedly described the disputed talks as Iran’s final opportunity to sign an agreement.
“We are talking right now [with Iran] at the request of Iran, backed by Saudi Arabia, backed by the UAE, and backed by Qatar in particular, but others also. Many countries called … but if it doesn’t happen, this is the last chance for them to sign a good document.”
Trump claimed illegal crossings at the southern border had fallen to zero. “We had an open border a year and a half ago. We had the worst border in the history of our country. Now we have the best border.”
Trump went further, saying “not one person has come in through our southern border illegally,” based on charts he said he had reviewed. “Now that’s pretty amazing,” he added. Federal border data continues to record encounters at the southwest border, meaning Trump’s absolute claim is not supported by the government’s published statistics.
Trump declined to call for Republican Rep. Max Miller’s resignation amid domestic abuse allegations. Trump said he would “let the families figure that out,” described Miller as “a good person,” and called the dispute “a very sad thing.”
Miller’s former wife, Emily Moreno, has accused him in police reports of physically abusing her and their 2-year-old daughter, throwing her against a wall, previously holding a gun to her head, and throwing hot water on her. Miller denies the allegations and is suing Moreno for defamation. Her father, Republican Sen. Bernie Moreno of Ohio, and several Democratic lawmakers have called for Miller to resign.
Trump said Europe “has to stop” illegal immigration when asked about Nigel Farage’s proposal to deploy the Royal Navy against migrant boats. “You have to stop illegal immigration in Europe,” Trump said. “I know Europe better than anybody, better than the people that run it, and have great relationships.”
“Your two things are killing Europe. Number one is immigration. Number two is energy.”
Trump pressed Britain to expand North Sea drilling and claimed Prime Minister Andy Burnham appeared receptive. “You’re sitting on top of gold, better than gold, and you don’t do anything with it,” Trump said, claiming the fields are “good for another 500 years, maybe more, probably 1000 years.”
“I spoke to him, and he sounded terrific on this subject,” Trump said, adding that Burnham “sort of indicated to me” support for expanded drilling.
Trump told Britain, “you can be a wealthy country or a bankrupt country,” and claimed previous liberal governments had closed Aberdeen’s oil industry. North Sea production has continued since the 1970s, although output has declined significantly from its peak.
Trump accused major oil companies of profiting excessively from the Iran war and demanded immediate relief at the pump as soaring gasoline prices become a political liability ahead of the midterms. “I don’t like it. They’re making too much money, okay? Based on a shortage, they’re making too much money,” he said. ExxonMobil reported $14.5 billion in second-quarter profit, while Chevron posted $12.1 billion. “They ought to give some of that back to the public, and they better cut the retail price, the consumer price.”
Trump offered no firm timetable for deporting Haitians who lose Temporary Protected Status. He pointed to the Supreme Court’s June decision allowing his administration to end TPS for Haitians and Syrians, calling it “a big victory in court.”
Trump said he generally defers to his immigration team on timing, though he acknowledged that many TPS holders have lived in the United States for “12 years, 14 years” after fleeing hurricanes and other disasters. “Something’s got to be done,” he said. TPS-related work authorization deadlines for other countries, including Ethiopia and South Sudan, are also approaching as the administration accelerates its broader rollback of the program.
Trump demanded prison sentences for officials who leak military plans. “Leakers should be put in jail,” he said, urging lawmakers to “strengthen up the laws” against unauthorized disclosures.
“Leakers helped [Iran] because they said the severity of the attack, and Iran knew it,” Trump said.
Trump claimed the operation “was going to come last night,” would have continued “for a long time,” and would have left “essentially very little left” of Iran’s capabilities. “There’d be nothing left,” he said.
Trump publicly attacked U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro for dropping the Reflecting Pool vandalism case. Pirro’s office concluded that damage to the newly renovated Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool resulted from a “botched installation,” rather than vandalism by former Olympic canoeist David Hearn.
“I was disappointed with Jeanine Pirro. Really disappointed with Jeanine Pirro. She folded like an umbrella, and people get away with things. It’s a disgrace,” Trump said.
Trump also blamed the judge for being “extremely unfriendly” to Pirro. Asked whether she was on the chopping block, Trump snapped at the reporter:
“You’re fake news. Don’t, don’t ever talk again.”
*This is a developing story. This article will be updated as more information becomes available.
🔴 BREAKING (1:00 p.m. ET): U.S. Officials Undercut Trump’s Claim of New Iran Talks
There are no new negotiations scheduled with Iran, U.S. officials told CBS News, directly undercutting President Donald Trump’s insistence that fresh talks would begin Monday afternoon.
The officials said the only diplomatic activity underway is the same indirect process already being conducted through mediators, with Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, and the U.S. negotiating team communicating with their Iranian counterparts. Nothing new or separate has been arranged.
Trump claimed earlier Monday that Iran asks “for a meeting, some would say ‘beg’ talks begin, with more scheduled n the immediate future, and they say, openly and proudly they’re not having any discussions.”
He later threatened to continue the U.S. blockade, declaring:
“Nothing gets through to Iran, unless we want it to, and nothing will get through, unless a Deal, or Total Surrender, is accomplished.”
Iran has separately said it is not negotiating with the United States and that its current discussions are limited to talks with Oman over safe shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
*This is a developing story. This article will be updated as more information becomes available.
🔴 BREAKING (11:50 a.m. ET): Trump Threatens Iran With ‘Deal, or Total Surrender’ After Tehran Denies Talks
Donald Trump threatened Monday to maintain the U.S. military blockade against Iran until Tehran agrees to a “Deal, or Total Surrender,” escalating his rhetoric hours after Iran denied that negotiations with Washington were underway.
In an angry Truth Social post, Trump accused Iran’s leadership of being “unbelievably duplicitous” and insisted that talks had begun, with additional discussions scheduled for the immediate future. Iran has said it is negotiating only with Oman over a potential shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz.
“Iranian Leadership is unbelievably duplicitous! They ask for a meeting, some would say ‘beg,’ talks begin, with more scheduled in the immediate future, and they say, openly and proudly, that they’re not having any discussions, that nothing is being talked about, and they’re only dealing with ‘Oman.’ They then go on to give their usual blather in saying, the Strait of Hormuz will be operated powerfully by them, when it is already completely controlled by the United States Navy and our ‘Blockade’ or, as some say, ‘The United States Wall of Steel!’ Nothing gets through to Iran, unless we want it to, and nothing will get through, unless a Deal, or Total Surrender, is accomplished. Whether Iran wants to admit it or not, we are, in fact, talking of a solution to a problem that they have caused, for decades. It is very simple, IRAN WILL NEVER HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON!”
Trump’s ultimatum came one day after he said he had postponed new U.S. strikes at the urging of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, claiming negotiations would begin Monday. Tehran’s public denial has now exposed a sharp dispute over whether any direct diplomatic process exists.
*This is a developing story. This article will be updated as more information becomes available.
🔴 BREAKING (11:20 a.m. ET): Trump Rails Against Poll Showing His Approval at 33%
President Donald Trump lashed out at national polling Monday after a new AP-NORC poll found that only 33% of U.S. adults approve of his job performance—slightly below his standing at the same point in his first term. His approval of his handling of the Iran war has fallen to 28%, with roughly two-thirds of Americans saying the conflict has not been worth fighting.
“My REAL Polling Numbers, not those made up by the Fake News Media, are the best they have ever been,” Trump wrote.
“Why wouldn’t they be with the biggest tax cuts and employment numbers EVER, the biggest outside Investment in America in World history, a totally secure Border, a giant Victory in Venezuela, the Denuclearization of Iran, unparalleled respect and success throughout the World, and much more? Don’t believe the Radical Left’s Fake Poll numbers.”
Trump did not identify the “REAL” polling numbers he was citing.
The AP-NORC poll of 1,165 adults, conducted July 23-27, carries a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3.7 percentage points.
*This is a developing story. This article will be updated as more information becomes available.
🔴 BREAKING (10:45 a.m. ET): Cornyn and Tillis End Holdout, Clearing Blanche’s Path Out of Committee
Republican Sens. John Cornyn of Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina said Monday that they will vote to advance acting Attorney General Todd Blanche’s nomination, ending the Republican holdout that had blocked him from reaching the full Senate.
The two outgoing senators said their concerns were resolved through the “successful negotiation of a legally enforceable document” that formally terminates President Donald Trump’s $1.776 billion “anti-weaponization fund” and limits a separate tax settlement so it cannot indefinitely shield Trump, his family, or related entities from audits of future filings. The settlement’s sweeping release covering past conduct remains unchanged.
“We are pleased that the Department of Justice has issued a formal order terminating the anti-weaponization fund. Additionally, the department has acknowledged in a binding written order that the audit settlement is limited to the plaintiffs and the scope does not extend beyond the defendants in the lawsuit, the IRS and the Treasury, addressing concerns that multiple of our Republican colleagues share,” the pair wrote in a statement.
“We look forward to voting to advance his nomination out of the Senate judiciary committee soon.”
The reversal removes the immediate Republican obstacle to Blanche’s nomination before the Senate Judiciary Committee votes Tuesday at 9 a.m. ET. Approval would send the nomination to the full Senate for consideration.
*This is a developing story. This article will be updated as more information becomes available.
🔴 BREAKING (10:20 a.m. ET): CENTCOM Sought ‘Creative and Unconventional’ Ways to ‘Pressure and Punish’ Iran — Report
An officer in U.S. Central Command’s intelligence branch sent an unusual request to a broad group of military analysts, seeking new tactics for confronting Tehran as the Trump administration reassessed its strategy in the six-month war.
“We are looking for new creative and unconventional ways to pressure and punish Iran,” the officer wrote in the email Wednesday.
A second source confirmed that a senior military officer had circulated the request, with officials describing the crowdsourcing-style appeal as unusual and saying CENTCOM was “looking at everything.”
The message was sent before President Donald Trump threatened another round of strikes against Iran, then called off the attack over the weekend after Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and other Gulf leaders urged him to pursue a deal instead.
“U.S. Central Command has a long history of thinking and working in innovative ways,” CENTCOM spokesperson Capt. Timothy Hawkins said, adding that Adm. Brad Cooper seeks input across ranks “to achieve the highest levels of operational performance possible.”
*This is a developing story. This article will be updated as more information becomes available.
🔴 BREAKING (10:15 a.m. ET): Kay Granger, Trailblazing Texas Republican, Dies at 83
Former Rep. Kay Granger, the first Republican woman from Texas elected to the U.S. House, died Sunday at age 83, her son, J.D. Granger, confirmed. No cause of death was immediately disclosed.
Granger represented the Fort Worth area in Congress from 1997 until 2025, serving nearly three decades in the House. She became the first Republican woman to chair the House Appropriations Committee, placing her at the center of negotiations over federal spending during her final term. Before entering Congress, Granger served as Fort Worth’s first female mayor from 1991 to 1995.
House Speaker Mike Johnson paid tribute to Granger as a pioneering public servant.
“Throughout her career, she broke barriers for women in public service,” Johnson said, adding that she “was a dear friend who will be greatly missed.”
Granger largely withdrew from public view during her final months in office after announcing that she would not seek reelection. Her son said in December 2024 that she was “having some dementia issues” and had moved into an independent senior living facility located on the same property as a memory care community. He disputed reports that she was receiving treatment in the memory care unit, saying she lived in the facility’s independent living section.
*This is a developing story. This article will be updated as more information becomes available.
🔴 BREAKING (10:00 a.m. ET): Blanche Formally Scraps $1.776 Billion ‘Anti-Weaponization’ Fund Ahead of Senate Vote
Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche formally rescinded President Donald Trump’s $1.776 billion “Anti-Weaponization Fund” late Sunday, delivering the written commitment sought by two Republican senators whose opposition had stalled his nomination to permanently lead the Justice Department.
Blanche had repeatedly testified and told lawmakers that the fund was dead, though the department had resisted formally rescinding it in writing. That left lawmakers concerned the compensation program could later be revived, particularly after Trump continued to publicly support the proposal.
“My team and I have met with committee members and Senators over the past several weeks and addressed any concerns or outstanding questions,” Blanche wrote on X.
“We have enjoyed good faith discussions, and as a result issue the following order.”
The order states that “although the acting attorney general has repeatedly advised Congress through testimony, including under oath, as well as in written responses, that the Fund is not moving forward, and the Department has repeatedly represented to district courts that the Fund is not moving forward, today’s Order officially rescinds the May 18, 2026 Order.”
A spokesperson for Republican Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, one of the two senators withholding support for Blanche, confirmed the agreement. Republican Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina, the other holdout, did not immediately comment.
An accompanying memorandum also limits the department’s interpretation of a separate settlement provision that provided broad protections against government claims and tax examinations for Trump, members of his family, and related entities. The department now says the release “applies only retroactively” to matters open when the settlement took effect and does not shield future tax filings from examination. The underlying release remains in force.
The concession comes before the Senate Judiciary Committee’s scheduled vote on Blanche’s nomination at 9 a.m. Tuesday. Senate Judiciary Committee
Read the full story:
*This is a developing story. This article will be updated as more information becomes available.
🟢 Opening Summary:
WASHINGTON (Aug. 3, 2026) — Hello, and welcome to The Developer’s U.S. news and politics live blog, where we are tracking the day’s major developments in Washington and continuing our coverage of the war in Iran.
Iran on Monday rejected President Donald Trump’s claim that talks with the United States were set to begin, deepening uncertainty around a diplomatic effort Trump said persuaded him to halt a new American attack.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei told reporters during a weekly briefing that Tehran is not holding talks with Washington, has no plans to receive a U.S. delegation or send one of its own, and is focused instead on negotiations with Oman over a temporary route for commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
“We are now going to reach an understanding on a route acceptable to both sides—neither the northern route nor the southern route—but one that respects the sovereign rights of both sides and safeguards our national interests and security,” Baghaei said in an interview with Iranian state television.
Baghaei said an agreement with Oman would not, by itself, reopen the strait, and that conditions would remain unchanged while what Tehran describes as continued U.S. “aggression” persists. The negotiations are focused on establishing a mutually acceptable shipping corridor through one of the world’s most consequential energy routes.
Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday that he had held off on ordering American forces to carry out new strikes against Iran after appeals from Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia, including a phone call with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
“I said to the crown prince, ‘What would you rather do? Would you rather us do this or not?’” Trump said.
“They said we would much prefer a deal as opposed to an attack, because you don’t know where these attacks lead.”
Trump said negotiations would begin Monday afternoon, without identifying the participants, venue, or format. Iran’s denial leaves the immediate diplomatic picture unresolved as Gulf governments press Washington to avoid another escalation and the Trump administration weighs whether to resume military action.
This live blog will be updated frequently as developments come in. Check back and refresh the page for the latest.
A Quick Ask: Because Independent Journalism Does Not Fund Itself.
Press freedom does not survive on vibes. It survives because readers decide the work is worth protecting. The Developer is independent, ad-free, and reader-funded—which means your support goes directly into the reporting, not into some billionaire’s pocket. If my work helps you stay informed, consider upgrading to paid: $8/month or $80/year. If upgrading isn’t possible right now, sharing The Developer with someone who needs to read it matters just as much. Help keep independent journalism alive, loud, and impossible to buy.
*This is a developing story. This article will be updated as more information becomes available.
It's Sad that I believe Iran over my own government.
Orange turd must be talking to his shadow