阿联酋宣布暂停与伊朗的一切贸易金融往来

2026年8月19日 07:34 / 联合早报

阿联酋8月19日凌晨说，鉴于地区局势持续升级，破坏地区和国际和平与安全，决定暂停与伊朗的一切贸易金融往来。图为阿联酋经济枢纽迪拜。 （法新社）

阿拉伯联合酋长国宣布暂停与伊朗的一切贸易金融往来，而伊朗否认前一天向阿联酋发射导弹。

法新社报道，阿联酋外交部战略传播主管哈米利星期三（8月19日）凌晨发表声明说，鉴于地区局势持续升级，破坏地区和国际和平与安全，阿联酋决定暂停与伊朗的一切贸易、商业往来、金融交易，恢复时间另行通知。

哈米利也驳斥有关阿联酋与伊朗经济关系状况的指控，重申阿联酋坚定致力于通过对话、合作和区域一体化促进地区和平、稳定与繁荣，并强调阿联酋将继续致力于维护国际金融体系的完整性。

另一方面，伊朗外交部否认伊朗前一天向阿联酋发射导弹。伊朗外交部发言人巴盖伊指阿联酋的指控毫无根据。

阿联酋国防部18日称，阿联酋防空系统监测到两枚从伊朗发射的弹道导弹，其中一枚落在阿联酋领海以外，另一枚落入其领海。阿联酋国防部表示高度戒备，已做好应对任何威胁的准备。

WATCH: Letitia James told ‘do her f—ing job’ by Republican enraged by inaction on antisemitic crimes

2026-08-18 12:30pm EDT / Fox News

New York Rep. Mike Lawler spoke days after a man burst into a Manhattan synagogue and assaulted congregants during Shabbat

By Hannah Brennan Fox News

Published August 18, 2026 12:30pm EDT | Updated August 18, 2026 1:05pm EDT

WATCH: Lawler slams New York AG as rising antisemitic crimes fuel outrage

Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., called out New York Attorney General Letitia James for failing to enforce the law and prosecute those committing antisemitic crimes in the state at a campaign event Monday. (Credit: Kyle Mazza/CNP)

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FIRST ON FOX: Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., unleashed a profanity-laden demand on New York Attorney General Letitia James for what he characterized as a failure to prosecute rising antisemitic hate crimes in the state.

“The Attorney General of the State of New York, Letitia James, needs to actually do her f- – -ing job,” Lawler said in response to the recent attack on a Jewish synagogue. “Which means prosecute antisemitic hate crimes.”

Lawler was questioned on the rise of antisemitism in New York during a campaign endorsement event with local law enforcement leaders.

MAN CHARGED WITH ASSAULT, HATE CRIMES AFTER ALLEGEDLY DISRUPTING SHABBAT SERVICES AT NYC SYNAGOGUE

Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., speaks at a campaign endorsement event with local law enforcement, ripping New York Attorney General Letitia James on her handling of rising antisemitic hate crimes in New York City.(Kyle Mazza/CNP)

“Rather than running around doing whatever the hell she does, where she plays politics every day, maybe she can actually focus on what her job is,” the Republican lawmaker continued. “Which is to ensure the safety and well-being of New Yorkers as the chief law enforcement officer in the state of New York.”

The comments come just days after a Bronx man burst into a Manhattan synagogue last week during Shabbat services, assaulting a congregant and a member of the synagogue’s security team.

In a statement to Fox News Digital on Lawler’s comment, a spokesperson for James’ campaign insisted: “Keeping New York families safe is the Attorney General’s top priority and has been since day one.”

“Since taking office in 2019, New York Attorney General Letitia James has removed nearly 10,000 firearms from New York streets through community gun buyback programs, dismantled dozens of gun and drug trafficking rings, and seized hundreds of kilograms of narcotics before they could flood New York neighborhoods.”

“The congressman should focus on his own campaign instead of political theater,” they added, pushing back on Lawler.

James is Trump’s biggest legal foe, she targeted him in New York during the time between his first and second terms, which the president and his supporters repeatedly denounced as politically motivated prosecutions.

TRUMP BACKS REPUBLICAN CHALLENGER TO OUST LETITIA JAMES AMID ONGOING MORTGAGE FRAUD FEUD

State attorneys general joined amicus briefs in gun cases originating in New York, including one naming New York Attorney General Letitia James.(Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

Earlier, James released a statement condemning the assault as “appalling and unacceptable.”

“I saw her statement she put out the other day, decrying what happened. Great,” Lawler brushed-off.

“Prosecute to the fullest extent of the law,” Lawler continued. “Stop releasing these people on cashless bail. Start going after criminals who jeopardize the safety and well being of law-abiding New Yorkers. That’s what needs to happen here.”

The suspect Larry Montes, 46, was arraigned Saturday night with his bail set at $10,000 cash and $30,000 in bonds. He was charged with two counts of assault as a hate crime and one count of criminal mischief as a hate crime.

Anti-Jewish attacks made up more than half of all hate crimes committed in New York City, an 8.5% increase on antisemitic hate crimes in the city since last year, according to New York Police Department (NYPD) officials.

“We have seen a rapid rise in attacks on places of worship,” Lawler said. “We have seen a rise in antisemitic hate crimes — people being attacked for practicing their faith.”

NY ASSEMBLYMAN CALLS FOR DOJ TO INVESTIGATE MAMDANI, PROTECT JEWISH NEW YORKERS AFTER STABBING ATTACKS

Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., speaks with local law enforcement about the rise of antisemitism in New York City during a campaign endorsement event at Haverstraw Elks Lodge No. 877 in Haverstraw, New York.(Kyle Mazza/CNP)

Lawler also claimed during the event that over 90% of antisemitic hate crimes are not prosecuted in the state of New York.

Both Lawler and James are up for re-election, seeking another term in their respective roles serving New York.

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The groups endorsing Lawler at the campaign event include the Police Conference of New York, Port Authority PBA, Rockland County PBA, New York State Fraternal Order of Police and other law enforcement groups.

Hannah is a Production Assistant for the Politics team at Fox News Digital.

Madonna leads 2026 Video Music Award nominees. See the full list.

2026-08-18T12:31:00-0400 / CBS News

Updated on: August 18, 2026 / 12:42 PM EDT / AP

Madonna, who has been nominated at the VMAs in every decade of her career, leads this year’s field with 11 nominations, including the top 3 prizes.

The pop superstar has 19 competitive MTV VMA wins and, in 1986, became the first solo female artist to receive the Video Vanguard Award.

She is up for 11 awards at this year’s ceremony, including video, artist and song of the year as well as best collaboration, dance, direction, art direction, cinematography, editing, choreography and visual effects.

If she were to sweep, she’d tie Beyoncé and Taylor Swift for the title of most-awarded musician in VMA history. They have 30 each. (Eminem is the male artist with the most VMAs, with 15.)

Speaking of Swift: She follows Madonna with the second-most nominations, with nine. If she takes home even one award, she will become the most-awarded artist in VMA history.

Swift is up for video and artist of the year as well as best pop, direction, art direction, cinematography, editing, choreography and visual effects.

Madonna and Swift are followed by Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter with seven nods to their name as well as Bruno Mars, PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson with five. Blackpink’s LISA has four and Shakira, Tate McRae, GENER8ION and Yung Lean are tied for three.

Rounding out the artist of the year category nominees are Grande, Mars, Carpenter and Morgan Wallen, in addition to Madonna and Swift.

The top prize of the night, video of the year, sees Swift’s “The Fate of Ophelia” compete against Madonna’s “Confessions II — The Film,” Grande’s “Hate That I Made You Love Me,” Mars’ “I Just Might,” Carpenter’s “Tear” and GENER8ION’s “Storm” starring Yung Lean.

The two-hour show will broadcast live on CBS on Sunday, Sept. 27, at 7:30 p.m. Eastern and 4:30 p.m. Pacific, from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. It will also simulcast on MTV and be available to stream on Paramount+ in the U.S.

The show will become available to stream globally the next day on Paramount+ and MTV.

CBS is home to a number of award shows, including the Tony Awards and the American Music Awards. It has aired the Grammys since 1973, though that show will head to ABC in 2027.

This year’s Video Music Awards features 26 first-time nominees, which include GENER8ION and Yung Lean (with their aforementioned three nods, for their “Storm” collaboration) and the K-pop boy band CORTIS and viral “Boston” singer Stella Lefty with two each. Other notable first-time nominees include Don Toliver, Kali Uchis, Noah Kahan, Olivia Dean, Tucker Wetmore and Sienna Spiro.

The best dance category has returned for the first time in seven years. Nominees include McRae’s “Nobody’s Girl,” Bebe Rexha and Faithless’ “New Religion,” Harry Styles’ “Aperture,” Lady Gaga and Doechii’s “Runway,” Madonna’s “Confessions II — The Film,” PinkPantheress’ “Stateside” with Larsson and Slayyyter’s “Dance …

Fan voting began online Tuesday across 13 categories and ends Sept. 25 at 6 p.m. Eastern and 3 p.m. Pacific.

Voting in the best new artist category will remain active during the show.

Paramount Skydance, MTV’s parent company, also owns CBS News.

Video of the Year

• Ariana Grande – “hate that i made you love me”
• Bruno Mars – “I Just Might”
• GENER8ION – “STORM” starring Yung Lean
• Madonna – “Confessions II – The Film”
• Sabrina Carpenter – “Tears”
• Taylor Swift – “The Fate of Ophelia”

Artist of the Year

• Ariana Grande
• Bruno Mars
• Madonna
• Morgan Wallen
• Sabrina Carpenter
• Taylor Swift

Song of the Year

• BTS – “Swim”
• Ella Langley – “Choosin’ Texas”
• HUNTR/X: EJAE, Audrey Nuna, REI AMI – “Golden”
• Madonna & Sabrina Carpenter – “Bring Your Love”
• Olivia Dean – “Man I Need”
• PinkPantheress + Zara Larsson – “Stateside”
• RAYE – “WHERE IS MY HUSBAND!”

Best New Artist

• Bella Kay
• CORTIS
• Magnus Ferrell
• Malcolm Todd
• Myles Smith
• Sienna Spiro
• Stella Lefty

Best Collaboration

• Clipse, Kendrick Lamar, Pusha T, Malice – “Chains & Whips”
• French Montana x Max B – “Ever Since U Left Me”
• Madonna & Sabrina Carpenter – “Bring Your Love”
• PinkPantheress + Zara Larsson – “Stateside”
• Shakira & Burna Boy – “Dai Dai”
• Teyana Taylor & Lucky Daye – “Hard Part”

Best Pop

• Ariana Grande – “hate that i made you love me”
• Charli xcx – “SS26”
• LISA – “Dream” feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi
• Olivia Rodrigo – “drop dead”
• Sabrina Carpenter – “House Tour”
• Tate McRae – “Nobody’s Girl”
• Taylor Swift – “The Fate of Ophelia”

Best Hip-Hop

• Cardi B feat. Kehlani – “Safe”
• Don Toliver – “E85”
• Drake – “Janice STFU”
• Megan Thee Stallion – “LOVER GIRL”
• Travis Scott – “DUMBO”
• Tyler, The Creator – “SUGAR ON MY TONGUE”

Best R&B

• Bruno Mars – “I Just Might”
• Chris Brown – “It Depends/Obvious”
• Dave & Tems – “Raindance”
• Justin Bieber – “YUKON”
• Kehlani – “Folded”
• Mariah the Scientist & Kali Uchis – “Is It a Crime”

Best Alternative

• Geese – “Taxes”
• mgk & Fred Durst – “FIX UR FACE”
• Noah Kahan – “The Great Divide”
• Olivia Rodrigo – “the cure”
• SOMBR – “Homewrecker”
• Tame Impala – “Dracula”
• twenty one pilots – “Drag Path”

Best Dance

• Bebe Rexha & Faithless – “New Religion”
• Harry Styles – “Aperture”
• Lady Gaga & Doechii – “RUNWAY”
• Madonna – “Confessions II – The Film”
• PinkPantheress + Zara Larsson – “Stateside”
• Slayyyter – “DANCE…”
• Tate McRae – “Nobody’s Girl”

Best Latin

• Anitta with Shakira – “Choka Choka”
• Bad Bunny – “NUEVAYoL”
• Fuerza Regida – “TU SANCHO”
• KAROL G – “Papasito”
• Rosalía ft. Yahritza Y Su Esencia – “La Perla”
• Ryan Castro, Kapo & GANGSTA – “LA VILLA”
• Shakira & Burna Boy – “Dai Dai”

Best K-Pop

• BLACKPINK – “JUMP”
• BTS – “SWIM”
• CORTIS – “REDRED”
• KATSEYE – “PINKY UP”
• LE SSERAFIM (feat. j-hope of BTS) – “SPAGHETTI”
• LISA – “Dream feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi”

Best Country

• Ella Langley – “Choosin’ Texas”
• Kacey Musgraves – “Dry Spell”
• Lainey Wilson – “Somewhere Over Laredo”
• Luke Combs – “Back in the Saddle”
• Shaboozey – “Cowgirl”
• Stella Lefty – “Boston”
• Tucker Wetmore – “Brunette”

Best Direction

• Ariana Grande – “hate that i made you love me”
• Bruno Mars – “I Just Might”
• GENER8ION – “STORM starring Yung Lean”
• Madonna – “Confessions II – The Film”
• Sabrina Carpenter – “House Tour”
• Taylor Swift – “Opalite”

Best Art Direction

• Charli xcx – “SS26”
• Lady Gaga & Doechii – “RUNWAY”
• Madonna – “Confessions II – The Film”
• PinkPantheress – “Stateside + Zara Larsson”
• SOMBR – “My Body Isn’t Ready”
• Taylor Swift – “The Fate of Ophelia”

Best Cinematography

• A$AP Rocky – “PUNK ROCKY”
• Ariana Grande – “hate that i made you love me”
• LISA – “Dream feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi”
• Madonna – “Confessions II – The Film”
• Shaboozey – “Cowgirl”
• Taylor Swift – “The Fate of Ophelia”

Best Editing

• Ariana Grande – “hate that i made you love me”
• Bruno Mars – “I Just Might”
• LISA – “Dream feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi”
• Madonna – “Confessions II – The Film”
• Sabrina Carpenter – “House Tour”
• Taylor Swift – “The Fate of Ophelia”

Best Choreography

• GENER8ION – “STORM starring Yung Lean”
• Harry Styles – “Dance No More”
• KATSEYE – “PINKY UP”
• Madonna – “Confessions II – The Film”
• Tate McRae – “Nobody’s Girl”
• Taylor Swift – “The Fate of Ophelia”

Best Visual Effects

• Ariana Grande – “hate that i made you love me”
• JISOO X ZAYN – “Eyes Closed”
• Madonna – “Confessions II – The Film”
• PinkPantheress – “Stateside + Zara Larsson”
• RAYE ft. Hans Zimmer – “Click Clack Symphony.”
• Taylor Swift – “The Fate of Ophelia”

Massive risk in South China Sea exposed after four-day power loss on US Navy destroyer

August 18, 2026 1:12pm EDT / Fox News

A generator failure left the destroyer without air conditioning, toilets and potable water while near contested waters

By Morgan Phillips Fox News

Retired Navy Captain Brent Sadler warns that the U.S. Navy is currently stretched too thin to adequately counter global threats from adversaries like China and Iran. Sadler highlights the strain of the USS Abraham Lincoln’s 250-day deployment as a key symptom of a shrinking fleet. He urges the U.S. government to build more ships to restore the traditional six-month deployment standard.

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A U.S. guided-missile destroyer spent four days without power in the South China Sea last month after an engineering casualty involving its generators, forcing the Navy to tow the warship to the Philippines for repairs.

USS Benfold lost power July 24 and was towed on July 28 to Subic Bay in the Philippines, where power was restored two days later, according to U.S. 7th Fleet.

The ship reported an “engineering casualty involving its generators, causing a loss of power,” Cmdr. Matthew Comer, a spokesperson for U.S. 7th Fleet, said in a statement to Fox News Digital. “There were no injuries to the crew, who demonstrated resilience, grit, professionalism and unwavering steadiness in their response.”

The power loss disrupted galley services, toilets, air conditioning and potable water aboard the nearly 10,000-ton warship.

CENTCOM COMMANDER TOUTS USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN MENTAL HEALTH RECORD AFTER MORE THAN 260 DAYS WITHOUT PORT CALL

A rigid hull inflatable boat (RHIB) passes by U.S. Navy destroyer USS Benfold on November 21, 1997, while at sea.(Rebecca Kearns/U.S. Navy/Getty Images)

The guided-missile cruiser USS Robert Smalls helped provide meals for the crew, while the strike group supported the destroyer during the casualty, 7th Fleet said, and no injuries were reported. The loss of power was first reported by USNI News.

The Navy has not publicly detailed whether the casualty affected the Benfold’s propulsion, navigation, communications, sensors, weapons systems or emergency power. Those facts will help define the operational impact of the failure as the Navy investigates its cause.

The ship is an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, which was operating with the USS George Washington Carrier Strike Group at the time of the power outage.

The breakdown occurred while the destroyer was in the South China Sea, a strategically vital waterway where the U.S. Navy routinely operates with allies and partners as China presses sweeping territorial claims. The Navy has described its regional missions as part of its commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific.

The incident also left the Benfold dependent on support from the carrier strike group at a moment when USS George Washington was preparing to leave the western Pacific for the Middle East.

In this handout image released by the South Korean Defense Ministry, South Korean Navy’s destroyer Yulgok Yi I (C), U.S. Navy’s USS Benfold (R) and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force’s JS Atago (L) sail in formation during a joint naval exercise in international waters on April 17, 2023, at an undisclosed location.(South Korean Defense Ministry via Getty Images)

The strike group is headed to relieve the USS Abraham Lincoln, which has been deployed since November.

PENTAGON RACES TO BUY 10X MORE MISSILES AS IRAN WAR DWINDLES ARSENAL, THREATENS READINESS FOR CHINA AGGRESSION

The Navy said on Aug. 14 that the Lincoln had been deployed for 266 days, including 200 days in a combat zone, and would return home as part of a planned rotation.

The shift underscores the operational demands on a Navy balancing commitments in the Middle East and Indo-Pacific. It is unclear whether The Benfold will rejoin the USS George Washington Carrier Strike Group for its Middle East deployment after regaining power.

A U.S. Navy fighter jet launches from aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) in the Arabian Sea.(CENTCOM)

The 7th Fleet did not immediately say whether the Benfold casualty has prompted maintenance checks or other action across the destroyer fleet. The Navy is investigating the cause of the failure.

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Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao said the Lincoln’s deployment was extended because “the mission demanded it” and said the ship would return home as part of a planned rotation.

Cao acknowledged that a small number of personnel had received mental health treatment and that meal plans were adjusted when fresh resupply was unavailable, while disputing broader media accounts of conditions aboard the carrier.

State Farm is sending $5 billion in dividend checks to customers. Here’s who qualifies.

August 18, 2026 3:14 PM EDT / CBS News

By Mary Cunningham

Mary Cunningham is a reporter for CBS MoneyWatch. She previously worked at “60 Minutes,” CBSNews.com and CBS News 24/7 as part of the CBS News Associate Program.

Read Full Bio

Millions of customers are now receiving checks from State Farm after the company announced its largest dividend in history earlier this year.

More than 7.2 million checks have been mailed since payments began on July 31, with another 3.8 million set to go out this week, Steve Baldwin, a spokesperson for State Farm, told CBS News in an email.

The payments are part of a $5 billion dividend being issued by the insurer, which will go to policyholders of 49 million vehicles. Here’s what to know.

Am I eligible?

State Farm customers with an auto insurance policy in force between Jan. 1, 2025, and Dec. 31, 2025, are eligible for a refund, State Farm previously told CBS News.

How do I get the payment?

Customers who already have an email address on file with State Farm will receive an email from “donotreply@e.sfdividend.com.”

The email will contain instructions on how to log in to a payment portal where they can choose whether to receive the dividend payment via digital payment (Zelle, Venmo or PayPal) or by mail as a check. Customers who do not have an email address on file will automatically get a check in the mail.

How much will I get?

The average refund size will be $100 per vehicle. However, the exact amount customers get will be based on a percentage of the premium they paid for each qualifying policy in 2025. Percentages vary by state, ranging from 4% to 10%, according to State Farm.

When can I expect a check?

Payments are being distributed in waves by state, Baldwin told CBS News. The payment process will take several months to complete, given the scale of the distribution, he added.

Customers can visit sfdividend.com or call 1-888-808-9532 with any additional questions about the dividend payments.

Edited by Aimee Picchi

Apparent human remains found in Lake Mead as water levels reach record low

August 18, 2026 / 12:08 PM EDT / CBS News

Apparent human skeletal remains, including a jaw with the teeth still attached, were found at Lake Mead on Sunday, officials said, as water levels sink to new lows amid a drought and scorching heat in the West.

“On Aug. 16, the Lake Mead Interagency Communications Center received a report of potential human remains at Boulder Beach,” the National Park Service said in a statement. “National Park Service rangers and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department responded to the scene. The incident remains under investigation, and no additional information is available at this time.”

The bones were discovered by a woman and her friend and his daughter on the shoreline of Boulder Beach, which is located on the western side of the lake within Nevada state lines.

“We just went to the lake to, you know, have fun for a little bit. My friend was playing with the rocks in the lake, and then he grabbed the jaw,” Dianelis Molina Cruz told Las Vegas CBS affiliate KLAS. “And when he looked, he saw the teeth and everything.”

The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department told KLAS it responded to the location alongside the Clark County Coroner’s Office, but they were not investigating the incident.

The reason the remains were found now can quite likely be chalked up to the concerning drop in water levels at the lake.

“We noticed that it’s very low. The water looks very low compared to where it should be,” Noel De Leon told KLAS on Monday. “As the water goes down, the skeletons come up.”

Boats and personal watercraft cruise by Boulder Beach in Boulder Basin on July 25, 2026, in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Nevada. Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Water levels have reached historic lows at Lake Mead, which is the largest reservoir in the United States. On Monday, the water level dipped to 1,039.77 feet above sea level, according to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, well below the previous record low set in July 2022.

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At the time the water levels dipped in the summer of 2022, several discoveries of human remains garnered national media attention. In May 2022, boaters spotted a metal barrel that ended up containing human remains. A shirt and belt were still visible on the remains, according to the couple who found it.

The body was found near Hemenway Harbor, which is just a couple of miles south of Boulder Beach.

The man in the barrel was found to have been shot and was declared a homicide victim. The remains were believed to be from the 1980s, police said. The remains have still not been identified, though police released a composite image of what he may have looked like in November 2023.

The barrel was just one of a number of discoveries of remains in Lake Mead that year. On three dates in July and August 2022, human remains were found in the Boulder Beach area. Those were later identified as the same person, Claude Russell Pensinger, who disappeared in July 1998, according to the Clark County medical examiner. His cause of death was not determined.

Human remains found on May 7, 2022, in Callville Bay, just days after the body was found in the barrel, were later identified as Thomas Erndt, who had drowned in 2002, according to the medical examiner. The remains of another drowning victim, Donald Smith, who was believed to have drowned in 1974, were found in October 2022.

Socialists accused of ‘motor mouth’ rhetoric as longtime Dem strategist unloads on far-left candidate

2026-08-18T14:15:55-04:00 / Fox News

James Carville shoots back after DSA candidate Oliver Larkin says socialism can win anywhere ahead of Tuesday’s primary

By Paul Steinhauser , Matthew Donnell Fox News

Published August 18, 2026 2:15pm EDT

James Carville insists he’s not worried about communists taking over the Democratic Party: ‘Pack of fools’

Democratic strategist James Carville says he is not concerned about socialists taking over the Democratic Party and discusses Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., distancing herself from past ‘woke’ rhetoric on ‘Jesse Watters Primetime.’

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Longtime Democratic pundit James Carville is firing back at recent jabs from a socialist candidate running to unseat a mainstream Democratic congressman in Tuesday’s primary elections in Florida.

After Oliver Larkin told Fox News this past weekend that “it may be time” for Carville “to take a back seat, to people with fresh ideas,” the strategist who first gained national attention as one of the masterminds behind former President Bill Clinton’s 1992 White House victory shot back.

Referring to Larkin, who is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), Carville told Fox News Digital he “has the attribute of every DSA member in the country, and that is he has a motor mouth.”

“He fits right in.”

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Oliver Larkin, Democratic candidate for Congress in Florida’s 25th District, addresses state Republicans’ newly approved congressional redistricting map on May 4, 2026, in Coral Springs, Florida.(Getty Images)

Carville, an establishment Democrat, has repeatedly railed against high-profile victories by far-left and socialist candidates over more mainstream candidates in primaries this spring and summer, which are framed by many pundits as a battle for the party’s ideological future.

“They’re a bunch of silly people… a pack of fools,” Carville said in his comments Monday in an appearance on Fox News’ “Jesse Waters Primetime.”

The 33-year-old Larkin, a veteran of Sen. Bernie Sanders’ 2016 Democratic presidential campaign, is the only DSA-endorsed House candidate running in a competitive congressional swing district. He is challenging more moderate Democratic Rep. Jared Moskowitz in Florida’s newly drawn 25th Congressional District.

DEMOCRACY ’26: STAY UP TO DATE WITH THE FOX NEWS ELECTION HUB

Rep. Jared Moskowitz is facing a primary challenge from socialist Oliver Larkin as he runs for re-election in 2026 in Florida’s newly-drawn 25th Congressional District.(Jemal Countess/Getty Images for Congressional Integrity Project)

Moskowitz is backed by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) as well as indirectly by AIPAC, a major pro-Israel political group.

Larkin, meanwhile, has support from prominent far-left figures, including controversial political streamer Hasan Piker.

“Democratic socialism can win in any district, in any race, for any office all across the country,” Larkin told Fox News on the campaign trail this past weekend. He added that he was “very proud” to be carrying the “torch forward as a DSA candidate.”

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And pointing to Carville and other mainstream Democratic strategists, Larkin said “they’re seeing their power over the Democratic Party establishment wane, and a new generation of leadership taking a step forward.”

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In an interview on “Fox News Sunday,” Larkin added, “I think it is very foolhardy to be excluding people from the Democratic Party that they’re going to be begging for our votes in 2028.”

Paul Steinhauser covers the national campaign trail from coast to coast for Fox News

Pandemic-era inflation left millions of workers with a lasting pay cut. Now it’s happening again

August 18, 2026 3:19 PM EDT / CBS News

By

Megan Cerullo Reporter, MoneyWatch
Megan Cerullo is a New York-based reporter for CBS MoneyWatch covering small business, workplace, health care, consumer spending and personal finance topics. She regularly appears on CBS News 24/7 to discuss her reporting.

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American workers’ wages are once again failing to keep up with inflation — a painful financial déjà vu of the pandemic years.

The repeat situation may feel even more acute given that many workers are still catching up from the 2021-2022 inflationary bout, when companies gave workers only moderate pay raises that fell short of four-decade high price increases, according to new economic research.

From February 2021 to June 2022, real wages — or the purchasing power of the average American’s paycheck — fell by more than 4%, according to the paper from the University of Chicago and ADP researchers.

That hit proved lasting for many, with the analysis finding that 37% of workers whose payroll records researchers examined earned less in inflation-adjusted terms in December 2024 than they had four years earlier. Those losses were never made up, and now many Americans are re-experiencing a similar trend.

The Iran war has reignited inflation by raising oil and gasoline prices, which pushed the Consumer Price Index to an annual pace of 3.4% in July. That outpaced the 3.2% increase in workers’ hourly wages over the same period, leading to a decline in workers’ real wages.

The “long shadow” of the pandemic’s high inflation is still hanging over workers, University of Chicago Booth School of Business professor Erik Hurst, a labor economist and co-author of the paper, told CBS News.

“Workers were already behind the eight ball in terms of affordability, even going into inflationary pressures that started earlier this year from the war in Iran,” University of Chicago Booth School of Business professor Erik Hurst, a labor economist and co-author of the paper, told CBS News.

Gloomy consumer sentiment

Researchers used monthly payroll data from ADP covering 16 million workers to analyze firms’ practices in setting wages and raises. They found that most firms peg annual raises to a common norm, making only modest adjustments during periods of high inflation.

That failure to peg pay raises to inflation caused real wage losses, the research found. Before the pandemic, workers were typically given pay increases of about 2% to 4%, but when inflation hit a 40-year high of 9.1% in June 2021, companies stuck with their regular pay hikes. Many workers lost financial ground as a result, according to the analysis.

Hurst said most companies have wage growth “norms” whereby workers, including himself, receive a relatively standard 3% wage increase each year.

“That’s what I got at Chicago, which works well when inflation is at 2%, because it gives us 1% real wage growth,” he said. “But when inflation exceeds 3%, then real wages start to erode.”

The latest bout of inflation, driven directly by oil price increases, is contributing to diminished consumer sentiment because workers can see they are losing ground financially, according to Hurst. In August, consumer sentiment dipped about 8%, reversing two months of improvement, according to the University of Michigan.

“When real wages are low, well-being is low because purchasing power has gone down,” Hurst said. “Consumer sentiment is low, despite unemployment being low and employment being relatively high.”

Inflation transfer

If a company gives a worker a 3% pay adjustment when inflation is at 4%, that effectively amounts to a 1% pay cut.

This dynamic creates an “inflation transfer,” effectively shifting the burden of higher prices from corporations to workers.

For example, assuming a worker’s productivity does not drop by 1% over one year, but their real wages fall by the same amount, a company benefits from that same productivity but is paying wages that are 1% lower.

“Real wages are low and firm profits are high, and they are not unrelated to each other,” Hurst said.

Job hopping and wages

One way to avoid real wage erosion is to switch jobs, according to the report, which found that job changers’ wages rose nearly in line with inflation. But that comes with its own costs, according to Hurst.

“People who switch jobs tend to keep up with inflation, which is great, but switching jobs is not free,” Hurst said. “You have to expend effort to look for a job, move your family and change your workflow. Some actions workers take to keep up with inflation are themselves inherently costly.”

Edited by Aimee Picchi

Rubio announces sanctions on ICC officials amid campaign to dismantle the court

2026-08-18T17:53:01.711Z / https://www.cnn.com/2026/08/18/politics/us-announces-sanctions-on-icc-officials

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio targeted two International Criminal Court officials with new sanctions Tuesday amid his campaign to “dismantle” the court.

Rubio announced in a statement he is imposing sanctions on ICC President Tomoko Akane, who is Japanese, and senior trial lawyer Abdoulaye Seye, who is Senegalese.

“These individuals have directly engaged in efforts by the ICC to investigate, arrest, detain, or prosecute officials whose government has not consented to ICC jurisdiction,” he said.

The ICC denounced the new sanctions, saying that they “undermine the rule of law.”

“The Court remains undeterred and stands firmly behind its personnel and behind victims of unimaginable atrocities,” it said. “The Court will continue to fully discharge its mandate with independence and impartiality, in full accordance with the Rome Statute and in the interest of victims of international crimes.”

The Trump administration has imposed a slew of sanctions against ICC officials for their attempts to investigate the United States and Israel, neither of which are members of the court. President Donald Trump’s criticism of the ICC goes back to his first term, when his administration targeted the court for seeking to investigate alleged war crimes committed by US forces in Afghanistan.

In November 2024, the court issued arrest warrants for several officials including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The court said it found “reasonable grounds” to believe that Netanyahu bears criminal responsibility for war crimes during Israeli military operations in Gaza including “starvation as a method of warfare” and “the crimes against humanity of murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts.”

Last month, Rubio announced a significant escalation of the administration’s efforts against the global court — a State Department-led, “whole-of-government campaign” to dismantle the ICC.

The US has asked other countries to join the pressure campaign and has threatened “increased scrutiny” against those that do not.

Rubio said Tuesday that he expects “more countries to join our campaign by ending their funding and participation in this politicized and unaccountable court.”

“The ICC’s ability to target American nationals and those of other non-States Parties must end,” he said, referencing countries that are not members of the court. “The Trump Administration stands ready to take additional measures, if necessary, to systematically dismantle the ICC until it is incapable of threatening American sovereignty.”

A US official said last month that countries “that partner with US law enforcement, host a US military presence, or benefit from the broader US security umbrella are being called upon to reject the ICC’s purported authority to prosecute American officials and servicemen.”

“We will watch with interest which nations join ranks with us against this threat to Americans who are willing to risk their lives to protect others,” they noted.

The US-backed interim government in Venezuela announced in late July it will pull out of the ICC. The foreign minister said that, under instruction from acting President Delcy Rodriguez, Venezuela had informed the United Nations of its “firm and irrevocable decision” to withdraw from the court. He argued in a post on X that the “Court’s actions reflect a demonstrated geographical bias” by focusing on African and Latin American countries.

The State Department praised the decision.

“The so-called court has been ‘investigating’ Nicolas Maduro since 2018 with no result. The ICC has instead wasted its resources on investigating and charging persons from countries that have competent, independent judicial systems and which never submitted to the jurisdiction of the court,” the department said in a media note at the time.

Chad also announced in late July its decision to withdraw from the ICC, after the launch of the US campaign.

The ICC’s Presidency of the Assembly of States Parties noted both decisions “with concern,” saying the withdrawals “risk undermining the collective pursuit of justice and weakening global efforts to end impunity.”

The story has been updated with additional reporting.

Ex-lawmakers, pardoned felons and carpetbaggers seek political redemption in chaotic Florida GOP House primary

2026-08-18 1:38 PM EDT / CNN

By Dana Bash, CNN

Ex-lawmakers, pardoned felons and carpetbaggers seek political redemption in chaotic Florida GOP House primary

Inside Politics

Dana Bash and the “Inside Politics” panel break down the list of Republicans in a Florida house primary that one GOP operative calls a “clown show.” Jeff Zeleny tells Bash, “I can’t think of any time when so many congressional misfits… and former felons and other things have arrived in the same place, the southwest corner of Florida, to run for this seat.”

3:18 • Source: CNN