August 2, 2026 - Trump Cancels Attack on Iran

You are passionate about Dr. Fauci! 

His testimony on Wednesday before a Senate committee was the subject of three different polls at smerconish.com this week. The voting was heavy in all, and together they paint a remarkably consistent picture of the way he is perceived by our voting audience.

When we kicked off on Wednesday by asking whether Dr. Fauci ultimately did more good or more harm, 86.56% of 37,549 respondents affirmed his decades of public service left a net positive impact.

As legal debate over his opening remarks unfolded, the audience stayed steadfast. On Friday, 89.93% of 37,092 voters agreed he was justified in pleading the Fifth. Rather than viewing his constitutional stance as an admission of guilt, voters saw it as a sensible move to protect himself from Capitol Hill posturing.

Then on Saturday—in a poll that followed a lengthy commentary I delivered on CNN, where I painted the full picture of how Donald Trump was a victim of lawfare, but has now used lawfare against his opponents in his second term—the numbers remained striking. I noted that while this climate gives legitimate pause to Fauci in testifying, it doesn't negate that Rand Paul is raising legitimate questions. In that poll, which is still active as I write this on Saturday night with 48,645 votes in, 86.74% said the Senate should grant him immunity in exchange for his testimony.

The bottom line? The political circus in Washington isn't changing many minds here. Our audience understands the legal maneuvering, wants the full story on the record, and simply isn't buying the effort to tear down a public health official who spent his career in service.

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President Donald Trump said he canceled a planned attack on Iran Saturday night after negotiations showed progress toward a potential agreement that he said could reopen the Strait of Hormuz and address Iran's nuclear program, while regional leaders continue urging de-escalation.

Axios

Independent voters in Florida, Texas and Pennsylvania say they are weighing candidates over party loyalty ahead of the midterm elections, underscoring the growing influence of unaffiliated voters in deciding closely contested races.

USA Today

As a Change.org petition opposing Mayor Zohran Mamdani's attendance at the 25th anniversary 9/11 memorial surpasses 66,000 signatures, families of victims and some first responders say his past remarks and associations make him an inappropriate presence at the ceremony, despite Mamdani's pledge to attend.

New York Post

Michigan's closely watched Democratic Senate primary between progressive Abdul El-Sayed and moderate Rep. Haley Stevens has become a high-stakes proxy battle over the party's future, with debates over ideology, corporate influence, Israel, and electability carrying national implications.

NPR

A contentious Senate hearing featuring Dr. Anthony Fauci's repeated invocation of the Fifth Amendment has deepened partisan divisions over the COVID-19 pandemic, underscoring how political polarization continues to hinder a broader reckoning with the crisis and its lasting consequences.

Deseret News

As Americans increasingly cut back on alcohol for health reasons, declining liquor sales are reshaping local economies, threatening bars, restaurants, jobs, and the cultural institutions long supported by the spirits industry.

The New York Times

A CNN analysis argues that the Justice Department’s decision to drop its Reflecting Pool vandalism case against former Olympian David Hearn, citing contractor error rather than vandalism, raises serious questions about the Trump administration’s handling of the investigation and its public claims.

CNN

A new Harris Poll report finds Gen Z is spending more weekends at home as loneliness, rising costs, and a preference for quieter, wellness-focused social activities reshape how young adults connect.

The Harris Poll

Former Vice President Kamala Harris named Franklin D. Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, and Barack Obama among America's most effective presidents at the National Urban League Conference, notably omitting Joe Biden despite having served as his vice president and previously criticizing his 2024 reelection bid.

The Hill

Vincent Pastore, the actor best known for playing Sal Bonpensiero on 'The Sopranos', has died at 80, leaving behind a prolific career that spanned nearly 200 film, television and stage roles after he began acting in his 40s.

The Hollywood Reporter