The Paper Trail: August 25, 2026

Natalie Harp Worked Without a Security Clearance; DOD Admits It Has a Journalist Blacklist; Why Are U.S. Roads Exploding

August 25, 2026

Iran War

Hegseth covered up the real reason the USS Lincoln wasn’t resupplied

The USS Abraham Lincoln wasn’t able to be resupplied because the Navy’s main resupply base in the Gulf of Oman was destroyed by Iranian strikes in the first months of the war — a fact that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth chose not to make public. Recent events also call into question the president's claims that the Strait of Hormuz is open and under U.S. control.

(Edith Olmsted, The New Republic)

USS Lincoln sailor says immigration agents arrested his father
(Jackie Llanos, NOTUS)

The War on “Narcoterrorists”

Weaponization of the Government

Whistleblower says probes into antisemitism at colleges were ploys to harass and strip millions

A veteran DOJ civil rights attorney claims the Trump administration’s findings that Harvard, Brown, and Columbia violated civil rights law by tolerating antisemitism were predetermined by political priorities, ignored evidence, and bypassed standard investigative procedures.

(Ken Dilanian, MS NOW)

Trump administration has a different way to drain Harvard funding
(Mark Arsenault and Irena Hwang, New York Times)

Prediction Markets

Police Misconduct

Defense and Veterans Affairs

Pentagon spokesperson admits there’s a secret blacklist of journalists

“You’ll be put on a list of people to disregard,” Richard Allee, an executive assistant with CENTCOM public affairs, told this reporter. When asked for clarification — “You have a list of people to disregard?” — he confirmed it with an emphatic: “Yes.” When asked which reporters or outlets were currently on the list, he replied: “I’m not privy to give you that information.”

(Nick Turse, The Intercept)

Pentagon fires Stars and Stripes editor, publisher and reporter
(Svetlana Shkolnikova and Rose L. Thayer, Stars and Stripes)

Business and Finance

Infrastructure

Health Care

ICYMI

On the Lighter Side

Hot Docs

Nominations & Appointments

Nominations

Daniel Ballou: Judge, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky
Richard Bennett: Judge, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas
Courtney Coker: Judge, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas
Brad Kelley: Judge, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana
Robert Long: Judge, U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida
Peter Mansfield: Judge, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana
Heidi Overton: Commissioner, Food and Drug Administration
Trevor Pemberton: Judge, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma
Kyle Reardon: Judge, U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska
Zach West: Judge, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma