Random News: August 8, 2025

DISCLAIMER: Zak's Random News is very random and doesn't cover many things, and not everything may be accurate, because I'm just some guy. Go find a real news source.

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Good morning. It’s August 8, 2025, and if you can believe it, it’s a Friday once again! Another busy day ahead, but I’m really looking forward to this coming weekend. Most of us know the sensation of needing a vacation after a vacation, so while I have various things to accomplish this weekend, it will also be appreciated to be relaxing at home.

• Let’s jump right in.
• Israel intends to take full control of the Gaza Strip, per Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a statement yesterday.
• A takeover of Gaza is going to put the lives of countless Palestinians (along with the 20 or so remaining Israeli hostages) at risk while further isolating Israel internationally. Israel already controls around three quarters of the devastated territory.
• Israel’s air and ground war has killed tens of thousands of people in Gaza, displaced most of the population, destroyed vast areas and caused severe and widespread hunger. Palestinians are braced for further misery.
• As Maysaa al-Heila, a Palestinian who is living in a displacement camp sadly said, “There is nothing left to occupy. There is no Gaza left.”
• The world can be a horrible place when horrible humans are put in charge… or allowed to remain in charge despite their actions.
• After Israel’s announcement, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, said this morning that “this further escalation will result in more killing, more unbearable suffering, senseless destruction.” He called for the offensive to be immediately halted.
• Yesterday alone, another 42 Palestinians were killed in Israeli airstrikes and shootings across southern Gaza. Israel’s military offensive has killed over 61,000 Palestinians.
• You would think that a country like Israel would be sensitive to genocide. It’s a depressing situation.
• What happened to all those protest voters from the 2024 election with their passion to “free Palestine?” Where did they go after not lending support to Kamala Harris?
• Hmm.
• Let’s move on with some news from the Immigration Desk.
• U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams has issued an order temporarily halting construction at the “Alligator Alcatraz” concentration camp in Florida's Everglades.
• The judge said the addition of lighting, paving, fencing, fill, and other building on the site must stop while she hears a challenge to the facility brought by environmental groups. However, immigration detentions and other operations at the facility will continue as the legal process moves ahead.
• She made the ruling following two days of testimony in the suit brought by the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians and Friends of the Everglades and the Center for Biological Diversity.
• This is only a 14-day restraining order, but any delay against the fascist takeover of the USA is helpful. Friends of the Everglades said the plaintiffs will be back in court for a hearing on Tuesday, arguing for a preliminary injunction to halt operations at the site.
• In more immigration news…
• Late yesterday, U.S. District Judge Deborah Boardman ruled that Dumpy’s administration cannot withhold citizenship from children born to people in the country illegally or temporarily, issuing the fourth court decision blocking Dump’s birthright citizenship order nationwide since a key U.S. Supreme Court ruling in June.
• Her preliminary injunction was expected after she said last month she would issue such an order if the case were returned to her by an appeals court. The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals sent the case back to her later in July.
• Since June, two other district courts, as well as an appellate panel of judges, have also blocked the birthright order nationwide.
• Because fuck Dump and his propensity to shit on our Constitution.
• Moving on.
• As we mentioned yesterday, Dump’s tariff taxes on the American people really kicked in yesterday. If affects goods we purchase from dozens of countries.
• If you think this is normal, you’re wrong. Dump’s tariffs are at a level not seen in the U.S. in almost 100 years, with Americans expected to pay an average of 18.3% more for imported products.
• That’s the highest rate since 1934. No matter who you are or where you live or what your political outlook is, if you think this won’t affect you, you’re very wrong… and you will find out the hard way.
• Let’s move on.
• Listen to this shit: it was the 41st birthday of Vice President Jeremiah Douchebag Vance last weekend, and we wanted to paddle a canoe down a rover.
• So the Secret Service had them raise the fucking water level in a goddamn river to protect little JD from getting a booboo.
• I’m serious. They increased waterflow for the Little Miami River to ensure motorized watercraft and emergency personnel “could operate safely” while protecting the Republican vice president, whose home is in Cincinnati.
• So while Dump’s government is slashing government spending, they spent millions of taxpayer dollars and enlisted the Army corps of engineers. While the rest of us can’t even enjoy a national park due to budget cuts, this fucking asshole has a whole river modified for himself.
• Pricks.
• In other news…
• There’s another massive wildfire going here in Southern California. It’s tearing through thousands of acres and forcing evacuations after igniting yesterday afternoon.
• The Canyon Fire started around 1:30pm and quickly burned through more than 4,800 acres of land by last night. It’s spreading east with 0% containment.
• Around 2,700 residents evacuated in Los Angeles County with 700 structures under an evacuation order. Another 14,000 residents and 5,000 structures were under an evacuation warning.
• This gives us a moment to look at the actual damage of fires beyond the immediate aspect of death and destruction. New research estimates there were hundreds more deaths that are attributable to the fires that ravaged Los Angeles at the beginning of this year. 
• Researchers analyzed data on the number of deaths in Los Angeles County from January 5 to February 1, 2025 — the period when the Palisades and Eaton fires tore though the city — and estimated that 440 more deaths could be attributed to the fires.
• These additional deaths likely reflect a combination of factors, including increased exposure to poor air quality, which may exacerbate heart or lung conditions. Wildfire smoke contains many toxic substances and particles.
• And it’s probably worse. The study did not account for deaths that may have occurred after February 1. 
• And now, The Weather: “Moneyman” by Sex Week
• From the Sports Desk… it's week 19 of the 2024 MLB season. How do the power rankings look?
• According to ESPN…
• 1. Brewers. 2. Phillies. 3. Cubs. 4. Dodgers. 5. Tigers. 6. Blue Jays. 7. Mets. 8. Padres. 9. Red Sox. 10. Astros. 11. Mariners. 12. Yankees. 13. Rangers. 14. Reds. 15. Guardians. 16. Giants. 17. Rays. 18. Royals. 19. Cardinals. 20. Marlins. 21. Diamondbacks. 22. Angels. 23. Twins. 24. Orioles. 25. Braves. 26. Athletics. 27. Pirates. 28. White Sox. 29. Nationals. 30. Rockies.
• In other Sports Desk news, the NFL preseason is now in full swing. Note: preseason games are meaningless and often are misleading toward the actual quality of a team and its players.
• Yesterday’s preseason week 1 games had the Ravens beat the Colts 24-16. The Eagles beat the Bengals 34-27, And the game between the Raiders and Seahawks somehow ended in a 23-23 tie.
• Today the Lions face the Falcons, the Browns are at the Panthers, and the Commanders take on the Patriots. None of this matters.
• Today in history… King James IV of Scotland marries Margaret Tudor, daughter of King Henry VII of England (1503). Bartolomeu de Gusmão demonstrates the lifting power of hot air in an audience before the king of Portugal (1709). Mont Blanc is climbed for the first time (1786). Following his defeat in the Battle of Gettysburg, Robert E. Lee sends a resignation letter which is turned down by Jefferson Davis (1863). Thomas Edison receives a patent for his mimeograph (1876). Wilbur Wright does the first public flight at Le Mans, France (1908). The German airship Graf Zeppelin begins an around-the-world flight (1929). First flight of the Convair B-36, the first intercontinental bomber and the first designed to deliver nuclear weapons (1946). The Beatles take the street-crossing cover pic for the album ‘Abbey Road’ (1969). President Richard Nixon, in a nationwide television address, announces his resignation from the office of the President of the United States effective noon the next day (1974). The first night baseball game in the history of Chicago's Wrigley Field was rained out in the fourth inning (1988). Space Shuttle Columbia STS-28 takes off on a 5-day secret mission (1989). Dave Matthews’ tour bus dumps 800 pounds of poop onto a boat full of passengers (2004). Opening of the 2008 summer Olympic Games in Beijing, China (2008). The Federal Bureau of Investigation executes a search warrant at former president Donald Trump's residence in Mar-a-Lago, Palm Beach, FL (2022).
• August 8 is the birthday of painter Godfrey Kneller (1646), cavalry officer/politician George Stoneman, Jr. (1822), physician/AA co-founder Bob Smith (1879), physicist Paul Dirac (1902), composer/musician Benny Carter (1907), producer Dino De Laurentiis (1919), producer/director William Asher (1921), swimmer/actress Esther Williams (1921), basketball coach Jerry Tarkanian (1930), actor Dustin Hoffman (1937), drummer Anton Fig (1952), radio host Robin Quivers (1952), actor Don Most (1953), musician The Edge (1961), politician Ron Klain (1961), rapper Kool Moe Dee (1962), singer-songwriter Scott Stapp (1973), tennis player Roger Federer (1981), and MLB player Anthony Rizzo (1989).

Well, there you have it. Some things to consider. I’m just going to remind you: things are going to continue getting worse in the USA and the world as these fascists become more emboldened. Don’t sleep on any of it. The time to cut off their power is at every single opportunity that comes up to do so. Don’t miss any of them. Enjoy your day.