You Think We Have It Bad

Can you imagine being in Ukraine and being trans? Being questioned to see if you transitioned to get out of the service.

Trans women now find it more difficult to obtain a diagnosis: Stereotypes, corruption and other challenges facing transgender people during wartime

Zmina

Date: 28 July 2026

Author: Olha Madzhumdar

As part of Pride Month, the three-day Trans Forum 2026 took place in Kyiv, Ukraine, in early June 2026, bringing together transgender people, activists and allies of the community. Today, the trans community in Ukraine faces a range of challenges – from corruption in healthcare and shortages of hormone medication to mobilisation-related problems and the risks posed by the new draft Civil Code.

Is the gender transition procedure in Ukraine really simpler than in European countries?

• Does being transgender constitute grounds for exemption from mobilisation, and how does this work in practice?
• What does the process of legal gender change in Ukraine currently involve?
• What could change once Ukraine transitions to ICD-11 – the latest revision of the International Classification of Diseases?

ZMINA discussed these and other issues with Emiliia Kovalenko, a trans woman and head of NGO “Emancipation”, Salvador Stryzh, a trans man and communications manager at NGO Resistance, and Nick, a community representative.

[…]

In addition to facing prejudice and a lack of understanding from officers of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine and staff of the Territorial Centre of Recruitment and Social Support (TCR and SS), trans people must also jump through numerous bureaucratic hoops to be removed from the military register, says Emiliia Kovalenko:

It must be hard to transition with a war, in such an unstably environment.

Turns To Dust

Have you noticed that everything Trump touches turns to S**t! One business after another he drove into the ground. Just like he is doing to our country.

President Trump 'Damaged' Important Soccer Fields With His Helicopter

The Spun

Tzvi Machlin

July 29, 2026

President Donald Trump might have made enemies out of an entire soccer team’s fanbase after he and some other world leaders damaged their field with helicopters.

According to the Mirror, President Trump and other leaders landed their helicopters on a French soccer field for the G7 Summit, damaging the fields in the process. That field was going to be used by the Premier League’s Brighton & Hove Albion FC for preseason training.

Per the report, the damage was so extensive that Brighton have been forced to cancel their trip to France for preseason training and move it to Austria instead.

Need I say more?

Remember The Reflecting Pool Fiasco?

Well, wait for round two... with a new, improved paint for the Eisenhower Executive Office Building (EEOB). Trump is going to paint over the granite because he doesn't like the color. It looks ugly.

Preservationists Move to Stop Trump from Testing New Paint on Iconic 1800s Landmark He Called ‘Ugly’ (Exclusive)

A law firm plans to seek an emergency injunction to block paint testing on the Eisenhower Executive Office Building

People

By Angelique Brenes

July 30, 2026

NEED TO KNOW

• Preservationists are seeking an emergency injunction to stop the Trump administration from testing paint on the historic Eisenhower Executive Office Building
• The proposed testing is part of Donald Trump’s plan to paint the National Historic Landmark white as part of a broader renovation effort
• “This is a terrible idea,” preservation attorney Greg Werkheiser said as opponents argue the project could permanently damage the iconic building

Preservationists are taking their fight against Donald Trump’s proposed makeover of one of Washington, D.C.’s most recognizable buildings back to court.

Groups challenging Trump’s plan to paint the Eisenhower Executive Office Building (EEOB) plan to file a renewed motion for a preliminary injunction on Thursday, July 30. They are asking a federal court to halt paint testing that could begin as early as Aug. 3 while the legality of the project is resolved, Cultural Heritage Partners said in a statement shared exclusively with PEOPLE ahead of the filing.

Cultural Heritage Partners said the planned motion comes after the White House announced its intention to begin a paint feasibility study on portions of the landmark. The group also said the administration had previously assured the court that no such work would move forward before complying with federal historic preservation and environmental laws.

Trump is like a bull in a china shop; he doesn't care what he breaks or who he breaks.

Trump has long defended the proposal, arguing a fresh coat of paint would improve the appearance of the historic building.

During an appearance on The Ingraham Angle in November 2025, Trump displayed a rendering of the proposed renovation.

“You know it was always considered an ugly building, and it’s actually one of the most beautiful buildings ever built,” Trump said.

The Washington Post writes;

Kelley is one of more than two dozen experts in preservation, materials and heritage arguing in district court against the Trump administration’s plan to paint the massive EEOB white, to match the nearby White House. It is unnecessary, costly and it could damage the stone, they say, leading to a “taxpayers’ nightmare,” as the building would have to be regularly repainted, keeping it potentially under scaffolding in perpetuity.

You see, the problem is no one knows what a coat of paint would do to the granite—will it stick or will it damage the granite? No one knows, so the National Park Service is testing the paint, but it is not fast enough for little Donny; he is sooo... impatient!

Trump plan to use ‘magic’ paint will ruin Eisenhower building, restoration experts say

Silicate paint won’t strengthen the exterior granite or keep water out, as President Trump has claimed, 25 specialists say in a Q&A prepared by preservationists suing to stop the renovation project.

Construction Drive

Robert Freedman

April 16, 2026

 A plan by President Donald Trump to paint the granite facade of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building next to the White House with a white mineral silicate-based masonry paint that he has called a “magic paint” won’t work in the way he has said, according to 25 restoration specialists.

“Mineral silicate paints are not suited for use on granite,” the specialists said in a Q&A prepared by preservationists seeking to stop the plan. “These paints do not chemically bond to granite in the manner necessary to activate their powers to strengthen and protect underlying stone.” 

Um... ah... um... Just like the paint that peeled off the Reflecting Pool!

Cultural Heritage Partners, the D.C. Preservation League and others sued President Trump, the General Services Administration and the National Park Service in November for violating federal laws that require work on a historically significant building to be undertaken only after public notice and in consultation with stakeholders.  

In the Q&A they prepared, the plaintiffs say President Trump has asserted there exists a “‘magic paint with silicate’” that, if applied to the exterior granite of the building, would strengthen the stone, keep water out, prevent staining, be easy to apply and rarely require repainting. None of those claims is true, according to the specialists.

That means nothing to Trump literally and figuratively... he just doesn't care if it comes out as crap.

Stay tuned for Round II of little Dutch Boy Donny with his can of paint!

Pollute!, Pollute Brother, Pollute

Question #1: What is a power plant?

A. A place where steam is made.

B. A place where make energy to run a factory.

C. A hydro electric dam.

D. All the above.

Question #2: Does a power plant have to feed the electrical grid?

Yes

No

Just about everyone knows that the answers are D and No. The only ones who don't agree are the ones who own stock in data centers, like Trump. Trump owns stock in companies that are allied to data centers, like chip manufacturers.

EPA exempts data center power plants from pollution limits seeking to prevent acid rain

The Hill

by Rachel Frazin

07/27/26

The Trump administration announced Monday that it is exempting power plants that only serve data centers and do not connect to the broader grid from pollution limits that seek to prevent acid rain.

The administration announced new guidance on Monday clarifying that these “islanded” power plants do not have to be part of the Clean Air Act’s Acid Rain Program (ARP).

This program requires power plants to reduce emissions of acid rain precursors sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides. 

Acid rain can cause environmental damage, including to aquatic wildlife, such as fish. In addition, exposure to sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides can worsen respiratory issues in humans.

"Acid in Rain Found Up Sharply in East" — The New York Times (June 13, 1974)

Trump pledge on data center power supplies draws skepticism

Reuters

By Jacob Bogage , Jarrett Renshaw and Tim McLaughlin

July 24, 2026

Summary

• Trump says tech companies have committed to fund or build infrastructure to meet their power needs
• Consumer anger at data centers' power use and rising electricity bills an issue for November midterm elections
• Data centers account for nearly 40% of grid operator PJM's capacity charges in latest auction
• Critics note that pledge is non-binding, call it a 'pinky promise'

President Donald Trump announced a non-binding pledge by U.S. power producers and ‌data centers on Thursday to fund or build energy infrastructure that would meet massive AI-related power needs while shielding consumers from high electricity costs.

Consumer advocacy groups and other administration critics, however, dismissed the pledge as an empty promise to consumers as Trump tries to balance his support for power-guzzling data centers against public anger over rising utility bills.

Trump has been pushing an aggressive build-out of AI-related infrastructure, as part of an economic agenda that includes winning the AI race against China.

But data centers' demands on overloaded transmission lines, compounded by the power sector's labor shortages and plant retirements, have made rising energy costs a volatile issue for ⁠voters going into November's midterm elections.

"Studies Warn About Menace of 'Acid Rain'" — The Washington Post (May 31, 1978).

Trump Disclosed Entergy Purchases Before Expanded Meta Data Center Deal

Quiver Quantitative

By: Matthew Kerr, Quiver Data Analyst

July 28, 2026

President Donald Trump disclosed three purchases of Entergy ($ETR) securities in 2026, including two before the utility announced a major expansion of its power agreement with Meta Platforms ($META). The investments were executed through third-party discretionary accounts described as independently managed.

• Trump’s accounts purchased $15,001–$50,000 of Entergy on March 10 and $1,001–$15,000 on March 16.
• On March 27, Entergy announced seven additional gas plants totaling more than 5,200 megawatts and approximately 240 miles of transmission infrastructure supporting Meta’s Louisiana data center.
• Entergy shares have risen about 10% since the announcement. A third purchase worth $1,001–$15,000 occurred May 15.
• Entergy signed the White House Ratepayer Protection Pledge and modeled its Fair Share Plus program on the administration’s framework. The utility projects approximately $7 billion in customer benefits, including $2.6 billion tied to Meta’s project.
• Entergy and its outside firms reported approximately $2.05 million in federal lobbying during the first half of 2026, covering AI, transmission, permitting, data centers, grid buildout and ratepayer policy.
• Meta and its outside firms reported approximately $15.13 million during the same period. Meta’s filings named AI, energy permitting, the Ratepayer Protection Act and outreach to the White House, DOE and FERC.
• USAspending lists multiple Entergy utility contracts since 2025 involving DHS, DOJ, Interior and the Department of Defense.

If there is a buck to be made... Trump is going to be in on it!

"Man-Made Air Pollution Blamed for Acid Rain" — The Washington Post (1983)

When I use to go to my summer job in Hartford in the early seventies, when I drove into Hartford I could see that there was a brownish haze over the city. And now we are returning to "those thrilling days of yesteryear." where acid rain was killing fish.

They are rolling back environmental laws...

Trump administration admits grants for clean energy were canceled based on politics

AP News

By  MATTHEW DALY

July 24, 2026

The Trump administration has acknowledged in court documents that it canceled $7.6 billion in grants for hundreds of clean energy projects “based solely on the political identity of the grant recipient’s state” — in this case, 16 states that voted for Democrat Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election.

The statement contradicts repeated assertions by Energy Secretary Chris Wright and other officials that the projects were canceled because they did not adequately advance the nation’s energy needs or had other problems that made them a poor investment of taxpayer dollars.

Democrats and environmental groups seized on the court filing Friday, saying the administration had “weaponized” the federal government to kill good jobs and punish working families because of their political views.

"New Report Calls Acid Rain a Problem in Most of U.S. and Canada" (1984)

Anything that Trump touches turns to sh*t. Now he is making a buck off the very air we breathe!

If You Can't Win Honestly... Cheat

Trump is getting nervous. I mean really nervous, that his whole house of card could start tumbling down!

Transcript: Angry Trump Urges GOP to Rig Midterms as Polls Turn Brutal

As a striking Fox News poll suggests the GOP midterm position is deteriorating, a voting rights expert walks us through what Trump is really gearing up to attempt this fall—and how to defeat it.

The New Republic

Greg Sargent

July 24, 2026

Greg Sargent: This is The Daily Blast from The New Republic, produced and presented by the DSR Network. I’m your host, Greg Sargent.

Donald Trump exploded at Senate GOP leader John Thune during a Wednesday rally, demanding that Republicans pass voter suppression legislation immediately. This prompted an angry response from Thune, which in turn triggered MAGA rage in response. It’s no accident that this comes amid new polls showing the GOP midterm position deteriorating, including in a major Fox News survey. Trump thinks voter suppression can save the party. This is all coming to a head because the House just passed something, and the pressure on the Senate is getting brutal.

This whole situation has gotten weird and complex, so to really understand it, we’re talking to the great voting rights reporter Ari Berman of Mother Jones. Ari, always good to have you on.

[...]

Sargent: So basically, what this is starting to look like is the House is passing $10 billion to use to essentially try to get states to pass by themselves, in their state legislatures, these things in the SAVE Act.

Voter suppression mechanisms like ending vote by mail, requiring proof of citizenship. You’d do all these things through the states, and the House would try and incentivize that.

Berman: Yeah, they’re basically paying states to do voter suppression. That’s the simplest way I can explain what the House is doing.

Also the clock is running out! There is only 98 days until the elections begins and many states their elections start in October.

So you know that the courts will block it saying it is too close to the elections to require everyone to get IDs. Also other states have said the requiring a passport or a birth certificate amounts to a poll tax.

Sargent: Yeah. It looks as if Donald Trump has just gotten it into his head that if he can get this passed, it saves the midterms for Republicans. He’s just simply not capable of grasping the situation at a very fundamental level, as he so often is not, right?

Berman: Number one, every time that Trump is about to lose or on the verge of losing, he starts blaming the mechanics of voting for his loss. We saw this in 2020 with mail voting. We’re seeing it again now with the SAVE America Act.

Secondly—and this is my real concern about all of this, Greg—is that I believe he’s using the SAVE America Act as a pretext to challenge the legitimacy of the midterms. So if it does not pass, which it won’t pass, he’s going to say, we don’t have the SAVE America Act, therefore the elections were rigged, therefore I have no choice but to challenge the legitimacy of the midterms. And he’s going to point to that crazy speech he gave and say, I laid out all the evidence—even though he laid out no evidence, but he’s going to say, I laid out all the evidence, the elections were rigged, the Congress didn’t act on this, therefore I have no choice but to issue a national emergency executive order, or seize voting machines, or take some kind of dramatic intervention to mess with the midterms.

I worry what Trump will do when he is boxed it and realizes the election is lost and this time he might actually be convicted and impeached.

The Draft!

There has been some talk about bringing back the draft because of Iran.

Stop right there... WHAT?

This just found its way onto my news feeds. I guess this was from March. But now, with Trump's war going down the tubes, it is getting more attention.

Could the Iran war trigger a military draft? Why experts say it’s unlikely

Comments about keeping military ‘options’ open sparked confusion online, but reinstating the draft would require Congress and remains highly unlikely

Poynter

By: Louis Jacobson and Zoe Weyand

March 11, 2026

The United States’ military attacks against Iran were barely a week old when a controversial topic surfaced: Could the war require the first military draft since the early 1970s?

After White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt spoke to Fox News host Maria Bartiromo March 8, some portrayed her comments as President Donald Trump opening the door to a military draft.

Here’s the exchange:

Bartiromo: “Mothers out there are worried that we’re going to have a draft — that they’re going to see their sons and daughters get involved in this. What do you want to say about the president’s plans for troops on the ground? As we know, it’s been largely an air campaign up until now.”

Leavitt: “It has been, and it will continue to be, and President Trump, wisely, does not remove options off of the table. I know a lot of politicians like to do that quickly, but the president, as commander in chief, wants to continue to assess the success of this military operation. It’s not part of the current plan right now, but the president, again, wisely keeps his options on the table.”

Now, with Trump's War going badly and Trump threatening to blow Iran out of existence... well, it kind of makes you think, with all the rhetoric, that it could be true.

Trump weighed in on ground troops — but not a draft — during March 7 remarks to reporters on Air Force One. Responding to a question about ground troops, he said, “Could there be? Possibly, for a very good reason. Have to be a very good reason.”

Now five months latter????? Will it hold true? Vox wrote last week,

The latest US casualties are a grim reminder that — for all the talk of drones and precision missiles — wars are still fought by actual, human people.

But major military powers are running short on soldiers: The US, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Japan have all recently struggled to recruit troops. And the forces driving that shortage aren’t easily reversed.

For starters, falling birth rates and aging populations have left many countries with fewer military-age adults. Being the right age is also only half of the equation. In the US, factors including weight, drug use and physical or mental health conditions would disqualify an estimated three-quarters of young Americans from military service.

Then there’s the military’s image problem: Polls show that young people around the world are becoming less willing to fight for their respective countries. And young Americans, in particular, have more negative views of both the military and the war in Iran than do their parents or grandparents.

There is another way to fill the ranks, of course…but it isn’t popular. The US ended its draft in 1973, and most Western militaries have similarly transitioned to all-volunteer forces. If the US did ever need to restart its draft, both the politics and the logistics could prove formidable.

I sure hope that they do bring back the draft!

Huh? What are you talking about? No way do we want a draft! Exactly! Nobody wants the draft again, so I am happy to see them talking about it now.

I wrote back in April:

The Vietnam war... why did we leave?

The protests? No!

The atrocities? No!

We were losing? No!

It was because of the draft! All of a sudden, little Johnny was being drafted!

All the White kids got college deferments (Including me.)

So now all these rich Republicans are saying "What wait a minute!" You're starting a daft again because of your war in Iran. Even though they are not drafting anyone... yet! They hear the silent "yet" and we are the Vietnam generation, we know where this leads!

If they do start a draft... it will probably be a lottery because of past history.

So it will be in November that in the voting booth... you're not getting my grandchild like you did me! It’s not just memories—it’s institutional memory with a human face.

It is true: if Trump & Company try to impose a draft for Trump's War in Iran, there will be a terrible backlash, and it could doom the Republican Party.

Don't Look Behind The Curtain.

Hegseth is playing the old shell game—hiding casualties from "Trump's War."

How does that old joke go about not liking something? "If you don't want the answer, don't ask the question." Well, the Trump administration is doing just that. They don't like the casualty numbers coming out of Trump's War, so they are fudging them.

Pentagon quietly updates how it categorizes Iran war casualties

18 U.S. service members have been killed since the war began.

ABC News

BySteven Beynon

July 26, 2026

The Pentagon has updated its public-facing casualty database after abruptly revising its Iran war casualty figures last week, when it reduced the number of U.S. troops listed as killed in Operation Epic Fury from 18 to 14 and removed dozens of wounded service members from that tally.

The Defense Department now appears to be tracking casualties in its Defense Casualty Analysis System (DCAS) under a new category labeled Overseas Operations rather than Operation Epic Fury, the namesake previously used for the Iran campaign – in effect restarting its accounting of dead and wounded in the war.

So the Trump administration goes to their fallback position... lie, fudge the numbers, and change the rules!

Parsing out individual phases of a war from a broader campaign, as the Defense Department is now appearing to do, is unprecedented and can make it difficult to get a clear accounting of U.S. casualties. 

Trump is trying to obfuscate the war dead in Iran; he knows that the nightly number is what did in his predecessors, so true to form, Trump hides the numbers.