On the Strait of Hormuz, Trump increasingly prefers made-up boasts to reality

There’s a difference between the president’s routine dishonesty and claims that border on delusion. His claims about the Strait of Hormuz are the latter.

Wednesday, August 12, 2026 TODAY'S TOP MADDOWBLOG POSTS On the Strait of Hormuz, Trump increasingly prefers made-up boasts to reality On the Strait of Hormuz, Trump increasingly prefers made-up boasts to reality There’s a difference between the president’s routine dishonesty and claims that border on delusion. His claims about the Strait of Hormuz are the latter. MORE As average gas prices climb, Republicans face yet another election season headache Around this time of year, gas prices typically are falling. This year, however, is noticeably different. MORE As average gas prices climb, Republicans face yet another election season headache Around this time of year, gas prices typically are falling. This year, however, is noticeably different. MORE Lindell flop in Minnesota’s GOP gubernatorial primary adds to Trump’s endorsement woes After seven failed presidential endorsements in recent months, it’s clear the Republican incumbent is not the political colossus he has long claimed to be. MORE Lindell flop in Minnesota’s GOP gubernatorial primary adds to Trump’s endorsement woes After seven failed presidential endorsements in recent months, it’s clear the Republican incumbent is not the political colossus he has long claimed to be. MORE Trump offers odd explanation for why he secretly swapped planes at NATO summit The president’s first comments on the subterfuge included a claim that the second plane “was at greater risk” than Air Force One. That’s hard to believe. MORE Trump offers odd explanation for why he secretly swapped planes at NATO summit The president’s first comments on the subterfuge included a claim that the second plane “was at greater risk” than Air Force One. That’s hard to believe. MORE MORE FROM THE MADDOWBLOG On Trump’s voter suppression bill, GOP senators ignore his call to delay August recess Republicans meddle in Democratic primaries but fall short of their intended results Consumer prices inched higher in July, amid discouraging economic data Wednesday’s Campaign Round-Up, 8.12.26: Darline Graham pushed into S.C. runoff OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR “They picked on the wrong people,” she added. “I think they thought they would get away with it because they’re some nothing little town in rural Kansas. But we were a newspaper. We have access to immediately draw the attention of the whole nation.” Three years after police raid on Kansas newspaper, reporter settles lawsuit for $850K (Kansas Reflector) Minnesota is first state to set all-female matchups for the biggest races (Washington Post) "Video of an ICE agent pulling a gun on a wife and mother, who is a US citizen born and raised in the area, near Bailey's Crossroads in Northern Virginia yesterday. Chillingly, they claimed she “almost ran them over” until she told them she had video proving that was a lie." (Aaron Fritschner) "My office has been in contact with the woman who recorded this video of an ICE agent drawing a gun on her. She is a Northern Virginia native and a mother." (Related thread from Rep. Don Beyer) "The fiasco has cost American taxpayers $533 million, according to the Army. But the Army has not held General Dynamics or a key Turkish subcontractor — which provided the factory’s much-hyped but little-proven equipment — publicly accountable for the failures. Nor has it made General Dynamics pay a penny back.  Just the opposite: General Dynamics, one of the world’s largest defense companies, has been showered with new contracts, continuing its track record as one of the greatest beneficiaries of Pentagon spending. The company is still in charge of the factory. It recently announced that it will fix things there by bringing in another much-hyped but little-proven technology." (Pro Publica) Trump administration set to spend at least $900 million on White House construction — The price tag is much larger than what has been previously reported, according to a Post review of confidential contracts, and taxpayers would cover most of it. (Washington Post) "Far out in the Pacific Ocean, Ecuadorean fishermen have been attacked by unidentified “gringos” using drones, survivors say, spurring a mystery over whether the American military, the armed forces of another country or private military contractors were behind the strikes." (New York Times) "ICE plans to spend up to $20 million to purchase thousands of “conductive distraction and de-escalation devices” for officers and agents by March, according to a notice published Monday by the Department of Homeland Security." AP Exclusive: ICE plans to give officers gloves that can deliver painful electric shocks (AP News) Hilarious. "MyPillow founder Mike Lindell is refusing to concede in Minnesota’s Republican gubernatorial primary, alleging irregularities in the vote totals." (The Hill) Trump administration ends NOAA support for annual Arctic Report Card (Alaska Beacon) Follow Rachel Maddow on Bluesky here. PRE-ORDER NOW! Rachel has a new book! "Department of Fate: The Promise, the Power, and the Collapse of America’s Most Consequential Institution" comes out November 10 but you can pre-order now. See MS.NOW/DepartmentOfFate for links and options to pre-order. Was this newsletter forwarded to you? Sign up to follow it yourself or send this sign-up link to someone you know would appreciate it. PRE-ORDER NOW! NEWS TIPS? 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