Every terrible thing the Trump administration did in August 2026

With the 2026 midterms roughly two months away, the Trump administration is ramping up its attempts to interfere with and undermine the election. The main threat to be aware of is the USPS’s plan to screen ballots being mailed to voters and, reportedly, reject entire batches of ballots if even a single one could not be verified by its own internal system.

“As presently designed, if even one bar code on one single ballot in a bulk-mailing of 10,000 ballots fails to properly scan during the verification process, the entire batch is rejected and sent back to the state — effectively stopping the ballots from being mailed to voters,” the complaint reads. “Even under ordinary circumstances this would be problematic because of predictable errors in any barcode scanning process.”

As a result, states would have to resend hundreds if not thousands of ballots, potentially resulting in ballots reaching voters late and/or being returned late. While the plan is currently blocked by a federal judge, the Trump administration is sure to appeal the case to the Supreme Court (again). Keep Track will cover this and other election interference in more detail next week.

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IMMIGRATION AND DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Aug. 4: “Some Haitian immigrants in Ohio told to report to ICE and given ankle monitors,” ABC

Aug. 3: “Salvadoran Man Held at Delaney Hall Dies in ICE Custody,” City Reporter

Aug. 4: “A Man Died After Being Detained By ICE — And They Didn't Report It, Congressman Says,” HuffPost

Aug. 5: “DHS Wants Protesters’ Signal Group Chats,” Wired

Aug. 5: “Homeland Security buys former prison in west-central Minnesota for $500 million,” MPR

Aug. 5: “DHS Is Hiring Bounty Hunters to Find and Photograph Deported People’s Homes Abroad,” Wired

Aug. 5: “Trump’s immigration crackdown has detained more than 50 military spouses and parents,” AP

Aug. 7: “Trump signs new orders targeting birthright citizenship, weeks after Supreme Court ruling,” NPR

Aug. 7: “Trump Officials Deport Group of Mexicans Despite Torture Risk,” NYT

Aug. 7: “ICE will release body camera video only when seen in the agency’s ‘best interests,’ policy says,” AP

Aug. 7: “Questions over the death of Prisciliano Trejo: he got sick while in ICE custody and did not receive medical treatment,” El Pais

Aug. 8: “Private prisons announce $1.4 billion in revenue as immigration detentions climb,” NPR

Aug. 9: “CoreCivic sells Kansas ICE prison to the feds as activists allege medical neglect,” Kansas City Star

Aug. 10: “ICE to Pay LexisNexis Millions for Data to Feed to Palantir,” 404 Media

Aug. 11: “ICE plans to give officers gloves that can deliver painful electric shocks,” AP

Aug. 12: “Law firm [Burke Law Group] with ties to Trump administration declines offer to represent migrant children,” AP

Aug. 12: “Controversial group wins $158M-contract to represent unaccompanied immigrant children,” NPR; “Ex-ICE agent’s group awarded $158 million to represent migrant children,” WaPo

Our Rescue was founded in 2013 by Tim Ballard, a former U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent who quit his job and embarked on efforts to rescue children from sex trafficking rings in countries such as Colombia, Haiti, Mexico and Thailand. His work was loosely fictionalized in “Sound of Freedom,” a 2023 film starring Jim Caviezel that drew acclaim from conservatives. Others, however, said the movie catered to conspiracy theories, including those peddled by the far-right group QAnon.

Ballard abruptly left Our Rescue in July 2023, days before “Sound of Freedom” was screened at Trump’s private club in Bedminster, New Jersey. Three months later, a group of five women filed a lawsuit in Utah alleging Ballard had coerced them into sexual acts as part of his trafficking rescue missions tied to the organization, then known as “Operation Underground Railroad.” A separate federal lawsuit in 2024 accused him of sex trafficking and forced labor. Both lawsuits remain active.

Aug. 13: “CBP Workers Allegedly Used Government Databases to Spy on Exes, Crushes, and Colleagues,” Wired

Aug. 13: “Documents show how feds spied on protesters, left-wing organizations and unions during Metro Surge,” Minnesota Reformer

Aug. 14: “People detained at Mississippi ICE facility say they were sickened by gas leak and denied medical care,” Guardian

Aug. 15: “Justice Department expands military's power to detain migrants accused of trespassing,” CBS

Aug. 16: “ICE Shot a Journalist and Threw Him in Detention. He’s Approaching 300 Days Behind Bars With a Festering Wound,” Intercept

Aug. 18: “Minnesota attorney general sues Texas governor to compel extradition of ICE agent for trial,” AP; “Judge denies Minnesota bid to extradite ICE officer from Texas, paving way for his release from custody,” PBS

Aug. 18: “U.S. quietly deporting Mexican migrants to Guatemala and Honduras, angering Mexico,” CBS

Aug. 19: “Liberia agrees to take 1,200 third-country deportees from the U.S.,” NPR

Aug. 20: “Church group says ICE surveillance operation violated order banning agents from property,” MPR; “Judge orders federal government to justify spying at Minneapolis church,” MPR

Aug. 20: “ICE begins deporting Haitians who lost TPS back to homeland,” WaPo; “ICE sends second deportation flight to Haiti in a week. There are kids aboard,” Miami Herald

Aug. 25: “Deportees who refused to exit a U.S. flight in Liberia are sent to Equatorial Guinea,” NBC; “U.S. deportees assaulted, threatened at gunpoint in Equatorial Guinea, three say,” Tucson.com

Aug. 27: “Trump administration pauses all immigrant visa applications amid new screening policy,” NBC

Aug. 27: “These Local Jails Were Supposed to Detain Immigrants for Only 72 Hours. One Woman Was Held for a Total of 26 Days.” ProPublica

Aug. 27: “Trump administration starts border wall project in Arizona over tribe's objections,” ABC

Aug. 28: “ICE Plans to Spend Millions on Boston Dynamics Dog Robots,” 404 Media

Aug. 28: “ICE awards contract for San Antonio [warehouse] immigration detention center,” San Antonio Express News

Aug. 28: “White South Africans could get $4,500 in aid if they come to U.S. as refugees,” WaPo

Aug. 29: “Trump’s DHS is using an obscure law to secretly snoop on journalists, non-profits and unions,” Guardian

...DHS served Google with a different request for the YouTube information. This time, DHS utilized a different method that didn’t require approval from a judge, only a sign-off from a DHS official. It served Google an administrative summons citing an arcane provision of federal law – 19 USC 1509 – dealing with customs imports. The provision gives the DHS broad power to inspect records in order to determine whether duties and taxes are being correctly levied on imported items. It also instructed the recipients of the summons to keep it secret.

Aug. 29: “Relative of Afghans Who Helped U.S. Military Is Deported to Africa,” NYT

Aug. 30: “Deportees Recount Harrowing Journeys to Africa: Shackles, a ‘Freezer’ and Blows,” NYT

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, WAR, AND FOREIGN POLICY

Aug. 1: “Scope of Hacks on U.S. Water Supply Widens as Evidence Points to Iran,” NYT; “Trump blames Minnesota water hacks on Walz, while evidence points to Iran,” Politico

Aug. 1: “Trump’s Fixation on Arctic Ships Led to Billions in No-Bid Contracts,” NYT

Aug. 3: “‘They are murder victims’: Senator suggests US strikes have killed people who weren’t involved in drug trafficking,” CNN

Aug. 4: “U.S. has used ‘virtually all’ of its long-range precision missiles during Iran war,” CNBC

Aug. 4: “Landmark Deal Would Officially Add Laser Weapons to US Army Arsenal,” Wired

Aug. 4: “Navy Suddenly Ends 43-Year Blue Angels Uniform Deal with Florida Business,” Military.com

Aug. 6: “Women’s Share of Top Military Promotions Falls as Hegseth Blocks Nominees,” NYT

Aug. 8: “Sailors on the USS Abraham Lincoln reportedly dealing with poor conditions, weak morale, families say,” Task & Purpose

Aug. 8: “Greenland issues ‘strong warning’ as Trump-linked oil firm prepares to drill,” Guardian

Aug. 11: “Multiple USS Abraham Lincoln sailors have tried to go overboard amid extended deployment, families say,” Military Times; “Navy sailor who jumped off USS Lincoln faces disciplinary charges,” MS Now

Aug. 12: “They Spoke English, Wore U.S. Flags and Attacked Fishermen. Who Were They?” NYT; “Covert CIA program said to be behind mysterious attacks on Galápagos boats,” WaPo

Aug. 13: “Trump orders Pentagon to redesign US aircraft carrier to use steam catapults to launch jets,” Guardian

Aug. 17: “Trump says US to reduce military drills with South Korea after it stayed out of Iran war,” BBC

Aug. 20: “Navy weighs renaming carrier slated to honor Black war hero, potentially switching it to Trump,” CNN

Aug. 21: “Pentagon dismisses Stars and Stripes leadership after editor, reporter oppose military interference,” AP

Aug. 26: “Before Hegseth fired him, top general was advised to drop Kid Rock probe,” WaPo

Aug. 26: “Troops fighting against Iran and alleged drug smugglers say they are being asked to violate international law,” MS Now

Aug. 27: “Trump’s war on Iran is rapidly draining US navy budget, documents and interviews reveal,” Guardian

Aug. 27: “US Patriot missile stocks in Europe are ‘beyond critical’ due to Iran war, officials say,” AP

Aug. 27: “CIA chief asked Russia not to share intelligence with Iran, sources say,” NBC

Aug. 28: “Trump says U.S. has entered deal with Venezuela to take control of 65 billion barrels of oil reserves,” NPR

Aug. 31: “Army Secretary Dan Driscoll resigns amid tensions with Hegseth,” ABC

CORRUPTION, LEGACY PROJECTS, AND PARDONS

Aug. 2: “Capital One says it closed Trump Organization accounts over money-laundering concerns,” NPR

Aug. 3: “Park Service Finds Trump’s Arch Could Detract From Dozens of Historic Places,” NYT

Aug. 4: “Trump orders changes to new helipad after weeks of around-the-clock work,” WaPo

Aug. 5: “Freedom 250 Sponsors Failed to Disclose Donations — A Potential Lobbying Law Violation,” NOTUS

Aug. 5: “Trump Said Qatari Jet Was Destined for His Library. That May Change.” NYT

Aug. 5: “Trump Seeks a Boost for Hemp That Would Benefit a Top Aide’s Family,” NYT

Aug. 9: “Trump Crypto Took $100 Million From a Businessman With Red Flags,” NYT

Aug. 10: “Trump nominates loyalist to office that would oversee Reflecting Pool review,” WaPo

Aug. 10: “Contradicting public statements, Trump took secret flight from Turkey amid Iranian threat,” WaPo

Aug. 10: “Duffy’s son-in-law gets a natural gas boost,” Politico

Aug. 11: “Democrats want answers about 18-karat gold ring given to Trump: Weeks after Belgium’s diamond industry gave Trump a ring with 321 diamonds, 56 sapphires, 13 emeralds and six rubies, it was exempted from paying a U.S. tariff,” MS Now

Aug. 12: “Treasury Scales Back Scrutiny of U.S. Shell Companies,” NYT

Aug. 12: “Trump administration set to spend at least $900 million on White House construction,” WaPo

Aug. 13: “Kennedy Center Board Decides to Inscribe Trump’s Name on Building,” NYT

Aug. 14: “Top Trump official asked for more aircraft to fight a small fire near his Idaho ranch,” WaPo

Aug. 15: “Trump-linked crypto venture World Liberty Trust granted bank status in unprecedented move for president,” ABC

Aug. 16: “Trump says White House needs ‘military complex’ as courts block his ballroom,” WaPo

Aug. 19: “Trump, Who Has Amassed Enormous Wealth in Crypto, Hosts Industry Leaders,” NYT

Aug. 20: “New details of plans for the Kennedy Center and White House ballroom include columns carved in Italy, plaza named for Trump,” CBS

Aug. 21: “Supreme Court allows Trump to continue White House ballroom construction for now,” CNBC

Aug. 22: "Trump’s stock disclosure shows more than 1,000 trades in June,” Fortune

Aug. 27: “Before an emergency hearing, the Kennedy Center's board threatens to demolish it,” NPR

Aug. 27: “$900 million from a canceled wind deal will benefit a Trump donor,” NYT

Aug. 29: “Trump lauded low prices at Freedom Fuel. A supplier says some gas wasn’t paid for.” WaPo

Aug 31: “Supreme Court allows Trump to move forward with White House ballroom construction,” NBC

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Aug. 3: “Justice Dept. moves to dismiss Jan. 6 class action lawsuit,” CBS

Aug. 8: “Senate votes to confirm Todd Blanche as attorney general,” NPR

Aug. 11: “White House Asks Justice Department to Consider New Reflecting-Pool Prosecution,” WSJ

Aug. 12: “Extremism expert charged in case targeting Southern Poverty Law Center’s use of informants,” NBC

Aug. 14: “Little Thefts, Big Charges: Trump’s Justice Dept. Targets Lesser Fraud,” NYT

Aug. 17: “Trump Administration Moves to Restore Felons’ Gun Rights,” WSJ

Aug. 17: “Former federal prosecutor is suing DOJ for 'unlawful and retaliatory' firing,” NPR

Aug. 31: “DOJ Sues 4 More States Over In-State Tuition for Undocumented Students,” Inside Higher Ed

Aug. 31: “DOJ shuts down nearly 300 truck-driving schools in 23 states amid fraud investigation,” CBS

ENVIRONMENT, INTERIOR DEPARTMENT, AND ENERGY

Aug. 3: “Documents Undercut Trump’s Claims About Utah National Monument: President Trump said recreation in Bears Ears National Monument was virtually impossible,” NYT

Aug. 7: “Trump administration to pay German firm $1.2bn to halt US wind projects,” BBC

Aug. 7: “Trump nominates Project 2025 author to be Interior Department watchdog,” Hill

Aug. 11: “Federal government ends support for key Arctic climate report,” ABC

Aug. 12: “EPA to trim environmental justice rules,” E&E News

Aug. 14: “‘Devastating’: bulldozers plough through Big Bend national park as Trump’s border work pushes ahead,” Guardian

Aug. 14: “The EPA’s data on cancer risk from air pollution has gone dark,” Grist

Aug. 18: “The National Park Service Is Using Flock. Rangers Are Pissed,” 404 Media

Aug. 18: “Trump administration moves to open untouched national forests to logging,” NPR

Aug. 20: “Under Trump, Protected Wild Horses Are Going to Slaughter,” NYT

Aug. 20: “How Trump Is Trying to Crush California’s Environmental Policies,” NYT

Aug. 21: “A White House official helped an oil company advance its projects. Now she’ll lead its DC office.” E&E News

Aug. 25: “E.P.A. Moves to Curb Public Input on Data Centers,” NYT

Aug. 28: “Trump’s Quietly Working to Give Part of Yosemite to a Private Developer,” NOTUS

Aug. 30: “Trump EPA is manipulating safety data around a highly toxic flame retardant, advocates allege,” Guardian

CULTURAL CONTROL

Aug. 1: “Justice Dept. Subpoenas Times Freelancer in Effort to Identify Sources,” NYT

Aug. 5: “West Point won’t fight ban on school policy limiting professors’ speech,” WaPo

Aug. 6: “Johns Hopkins president helped craft Trump’s new higher education framework,” Banner

Aug. 14: “DOJ Declares 3 Race-Based STEM Programs Unconstitutional,” Inside Higher Ed

Aug. 17: “Paramount seeks $1.88 billion bond from state AGs to cover costs of WBD merger delay,” CNBC

Aug. 18: “ABC and Disney sue FCC, alleging First Amendment violations,” NPR

Aug. 18: “Whistleblower says probes into antisemitism at colleges were ploys to harass and strip millions,” MS Now

Aug. 21: “Trump Threatens Suit Over Report He Doesn’t Like, Aiming to Intimidate a Critic,” NYT

Aug. 21: “Trump Administration Has a Different Way to Drain Harvard Funding,” NYT

The funding, from the National Institutes of Health, currently lags about 18 percent behind the average pace of grants during the Biden administration, the analysis shows.

Last year, Harvard successfully sued the Trump administration, after the government announced it had frozen more than $2.2 billion in 2025, from multiple federal agencies. But unlike then, when Trump officials made a public spectacle out of announcing the cuts, the N.I.H. is mainly delaying, reducing or rejecting grant requests, often leaving researchers and university leaders in the dark about what is happening.

Aug. 21: “Trump administration recommends stripping American Bar Association of law school oversight authority,” Politico

Aug. 26: “West Point professor fired after pushing back on limitations to teaching climate change, lawsuit says,” Stripes

Aug. 26: “NSF shrinks support for social sciences in prestigious graduate fellowship program,” Science

Aug. 27: “Stars and Stripes employees sue Pentagon over firings at military newspaper,” WaPo

HEALTHCARE, REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS, AND LGBTQ+ RIGHTS

Aug. 4: “Medicaid work rule leaves homeless people in the cold,” NPR

Aug. 6: “Trump’s New CDC Head Said ‘Abortion Surveillance’ Will Be A Critical Focus,” HuffPost

Aug. 7: “White House drafting executive order linking vaccines and autism,” ArsTechnica

Aug. 8: “Federal funds can't be used to give test strips to drug users, raising overdose fears,” NPR

Aug. 13: “New regulation prohibits federal Medicaid funds from covering gender-affirming medical care for young people,” KFF

Aug. 14: “Judge wrongly blocked DOJ investigation into 'gender-affirming' telehealth clinic, Ninth Circuit finds,” Courthouse News (Note that the Trump administration lost a similar case last month seeking the medical records of young patients at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh)

Aug. 25: “Two unvaccinated people die of measles in Pennsylvania outbreak, health officials say,” NBC

Aug. 27: “Cyclospora outbreak linked to recalled iceberg lettuce tied to 3 more states, FDA says,” CBS; “FDA travels to Mexico a month after linking Taylor Farms to cyclospora outbreak,” WaPo

Aug. 27: “RFK Jr. said a Samoa trip had nothing to do with vaccines. New documents refute that,” PBS

Aug. 28: “Trump suggests cattle ranchers could bypass USDA-inspected meat plants,” WaPo