Reading Time: 3 Minutes
| By Scribe | August 16, 2026 |
Karoline Leavitt departs the White House to spend more time with her small children.
Hardworking people flee California in droves while a New York lawmaker claims stealing is okay if you “need” it.
Karoline Leavitt to Step Down as White House Press Secretary
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt is stepping down at the end of the month to spend more time with her young children. President Trump described her as irreplaceable and praised her for doing a great job.
He joked that she prefers her family over him while expressing full understanding of her decision. Leavitt will continue as one of his top outside advisors.
California Sees Continued Outflow of Taxpayers and Income
California faces significant taxpayer outflows driven by high taxes, with Los Angeles County alone losing nearly 17,500 filers and $1.9 billion in income.
Other major counties recorded similar large-scale departures according to IRS data. A proposed one-time 5% wealth tax on billionaires has intensified concerns about further capital flight.
Investor Mark Cuban warned the measure could push startups and investment out of the state.
New York Lawmaker Faces Backlash Over Shoplifting Comments
New York Assemblywoman Emily Gallagher, a portly democratic socialist, argued that shoplifting for basic needs should not be treated as a crime.
She claimed people steal items like toothpaste and soap out of biological necessity amid wealth inequality. Gallagher criticized jailing individuals for such acts while protecting large corporations.
Her comments sparked backlash for appearing to normalize theft as a response to poverty brought by far-left policies.
U.S. Inflation Rises Modestly in July
Consumer prices rose a modest 0.1 percent in July, following a sharper decline the prior month.
Year-over-year inflation eased to 3.4 percent, while core prices, excluding food and energy, increased just 0.2 percent to an annual rate of 2.5 percent.
Gasoline fell 2.9 percent, grocery prices dipped 0.1 percent, and prescription drugs dropped 0.8 percent. These moderate readings suggest continued progress in cooling inflation.
Trump Admin Looking to Founding Era for Cybercrime Strategy
The U.S. is taking an innovative, yet historical, approach to combating cybercrime.
President Trump’s recent memorandum authorizes vetted U.S. companies to conduct offensive cyber operations against foreign criminal groups under DOJ and DHS control.
This revives the Founding-era Letters of Marque and Reprisal, which once deputized private captains to hunt pirates. The approach targets ransomware gangs draining billions from Americans while federal resources remain stretched.
Safeguards include bonds, pre-approval, and strict oversight to keep private “cyber privateers” on a federal leash.
Catch up on what happened over the last month:
America This Week: NBA Alum, Woman of the Year? (August 3 – 9, 2026)
America This Week: Fall of Fauci (July 27 – August 2, 2026)
America This Week: POTUS Jokes “Trump 2028,” Leftists Triggered (July 20 – 26, 2026)
Freedom For Vietnam 