Salem News Channel

WASHINGTON (AP) — Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says new U.S. sanctions aim to block all potential sources of revenue for Iran and told nations to cut economic ties to Tehran or face retaliation. Bessent said it’s “no longer acceptable to operate in the gray spaces” of the conflict. He did not name what countries could face potential secondary sanctions from the United States, but China, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates are Iran’s largest trade partners.

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Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has declared an economic D-day for Iran, warning that the nation is facing the most significant financial crisis in its history. As tensions between the US and Iran, along with Israel, reach a critical point, Bessent announced plans to sever all economic ties with Iran. His goal is to cut off every economic lifeline that supports Iran, warning that any country doing business with Iran could face retaliation from the US. Iran has dismissed these threats and released a provocative video depicting an AI-generated image of Barron Trump being killed while playing Xbox. The economic strain on Iran is severe, with high inflation and widespread discontent among its people, who have felt neglected by the government for decades. As political and economic battles intensify, the situation in Iran remains highly volatile. For in-depth coverage, tune in to Salem News Channel.

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WASHINGTON, Aug 24 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump sought to boost pressure on Canada on Monday, warning that U.S. tariffs on all cars, trucks and automotive parts from the U.S.' northern neighbor would be increased to 50% starting January 1 after trade talks collapsed over the weekend. The trade deal on the table would have cut the top-line tariff rate on Canadian cars and light-duty trucks from 25% to 15% and the tariffs on aluminum and steel from 50% to 25% but the deal collapsed on Friday over a number of points of contention including whether the U.S. tariff relief would have applied to medium or heavy-duty trucks. "Build in the U.S. and there are ZERO TARIFFS. Canada will be treated like a State no longer!" Trump wrote. "On Trade, and in other ways, also, they are among the worst Nations in the World to deal with. They feel entitled, and yet, WE DON’T NEED CANADA, THEY NEED US!" Trump said. Canada has consistently been one of the top two U.S. trading partners and last year, U.S. goods and services trade with Canada totaled $872.3 billion, down 4.6%. Canada exported over three-quarters of its goods to the U.S. and imported almost half of its goods from the U.S. U.S. auto production is heavily integrated with Canada and Mexico and the tariffs — depending on the specifics — could have drastic impacts on American production. Flavio Volpe, the president of Canada's Automotive Parts Manufacturers' Association, said, "A threatened US tariff on Canadian auto parts will be paid by (the) US auto assembly. Without those specific parts, auto assembly throughout the U.S. would halt." The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment seeking more details on the threatened tariffs. Representatives for the Canadian government also did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Canada will impose tariffs on some U.S. goods starting September 8 in retaliation for 50% ?levies ordered by Trump on $20 billion in Canadian products. "You're at war when you get attacked. We got attacked," Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said on Saturday when asked whether Canada was engaged in a trade war. Many automakers have announced or are considering plans to scale back Canadian auto production and the trade standoff has led to a 22% reduction in Canadian imports of U.S. vehicles. Major automakers did not immediately comment on Trump's announcement. But auto executives, speaking to Reuters on the condition of anonymity, raised skepticism about Trump's threat, noting that the president has previously announced large tariffs that never materialized and that any tariff of that size would likely spark a massive Canadian retaliation. They also noted that January was months after November's midterm elections and that Trump's threat could be aimed at restarting talks. In January, Trump said the U.S. would decertify Bombardier Global Express business jets and threatened 50% import tariffs on all aircraft made in Canada until the country's regulator certified a number of planes produced by U.S. rival Gulfstream. Neither occurred but the following month Canada certified several Gulfstream planes.

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An 8-year-old girl in Louisiana has died after being infected by an extremely rare brain-eating amoeba that is found in warm freshwater, her family says. Lillian Smart died over the weekend after being diagnosed with an infection from Naegleria fowleri, according to Kyle Roberts, a spokesperson for her family. Health authorities describe it as a “brain-eating amoeba" that thrives in freshwater bodies around the U.S. and can shoot up the nose and cause an infection that almost always proves fatal. On average there are fewer than 10 cases annually in the U.S. “Last night Lillian ran from our arms to the arms of Jesus,” her parents, Daniel and Rebecca Smart, wrote Sunday in a public post on Facebook. “The injuries to her brain were too severe for her little body to recover from. Everyone did everything they could to keep her here.” The Louisiana Department of Health said last week that the state had experienced its first confirmed Naegleria fowleri infection since 2013. The department, which did not identify Smart, does not comment on individual cases or specific patients, according to spokesperson Stacey Grow. “Heartbroken over the news of Lillian’s passing,” Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry wrote on X. The infection was likely contracted while swimming in Lake Claiborne in north Louisiana, the Louisiana Department of Health said. The amoeba can lead to a fatal infection known as primary amoebic meningoencephalitis when water carrying the amoeba travels up the nose and into the brain. Between 1937 and 2025, there have only been approximately 180 confirmed infections in the U.S., according to the Health Department, which added that the cases are “nearly always fatal.” The infection cannot spread from person to person. Naegleria fowleri is found in warm freshwater lakes, rivers, canals and ponds throughout the U.S. The amoeba becomes dangerous in water that stays over 77 degrees Fahrenheit (25 degrees Celsius) and for years has been seen almost exclusively in the summer in the southern part of the country. A few recent cases have appeared in Maryland, Indiana and Minnesota, scientists said. “The amoeba is naturally occurring, and there is no routine environmental test for Naegleria fowleri in bodies of water,” the Louisiana Department of Health stated. Last year, a 12-year-old boy in South Carolina also died from an infection caused by the amoeba.

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RENO, Nevada (AP) — A wildfire that exploded in size in Reno, Nevada, over the weekend has forced authorities to urge more than 90,000 residents to leave their neighborhoods. Videos show some homes have already been destroyed. But there’s concern that shifting winds could push the flames into densely packed neighborhoods on the edge of the city. Schools across the Reno area are closed Monday because of the evacuations and to keep roads clear for emergency crews. Authorities said late Sunday that the Hawk Fire had stayed in its footprint and that firefighters were extinguishing hotspots. Those crews are working to keep the fire from jumping a main highway and reaching more homes.

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Elizabeth Pipko, a former national spokesperson for the Republican party and the Trump campaign, shares her thoughts on the recent attacks against Natalie Harp by Democrats. Pipko expresses her concern and disappointment over the negative treatment of Harp, a non-celebrity staffer, highlighting the sexism and misogyny involved. She hopes that undecided voters will be repulsed by such behavior and recognize that attacking a staffer is unacceptable, regardless of political differences. Pipko notes the troubling trend of attacking not just candidates, but also their families, staff, and supporters, which has been ongoing for years with President Trump. She emphasizes the importance of standing against such behavior, regardless of one's political stance.

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U.S. forces have struck another vessel in the eastern Pacific, killing two people accused of trafficking drugs. U.S. Southern Command announced the strike early Monday, and it's the first in about two months. The death toll from the Trump administration’s nearly yearlong campaign of bombing boats off Latin America’s Caribbean coast and in the eastern Pacific now exceeds 210 after more than 60 strikes. U.S. Southern Command says forces executed a strike on a “low-profile vessel operating along established narcotrafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific.” President Donald Trump has said the U.S. is at war with drug cartels. Critics have questioned the offensive's legality.

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A regime airs chilling surveillance fantasies and a multimillion-dollar bounty on a president’s son.

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A new poll shows massive support for nationwide Voter ID and the SAVE Act across Black, White, and Latino voters. Yet certain politicians and the left keep fighting it—raising questions about their real motives.

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Turning Point with Dr. David Jeremiah, August 30, 2026

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Real Life with Jack Hibbs, August 30, 2026

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Kim Richey, the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Education, discusses the Trump administration's policies concerning Title IX and the rights of students in government-run schools. Richey emphasizes the administration's aggressive enforcement of Title IX to protect students from discrimination based on biological sex. She highlights recent actions against school districts that allow students to use facilities based on gender identity rather than biological sex, including placing them on high-risk status, which affects their federal funding. Richey advises parents to be aware of their school's policies regarding Title IX, gender identity, and pronoun use. She encourages parents to attend school board meetings, ask questions, and file complaints directly with the Department of Education if they believe their children's rights are being violated. Richey explains that parents do not need to wait for school boards to address their concerns before seeking federal intervention. She also addresses concerns about pronoun policies in schools and mentions that the Office for Civil Rights is monitoring and investigating cases where children are punished for using correct pronouns. Richey provides guidance on how parents can file complaints online through the Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights website.

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Dr. Richard Lanham, a renowned neuropsychologist and frequent contributor to WMAL, delves into the intricate case of Lindsay Clancy. The discussion centers on whether her tragic actions were a result of undiagnosed or misdiagnosed mental health conditions, exacerbated by the over-prescription of pharmaceuticals. Dr. Lanham highlights the systemic issues in mental health care, including the lack of continuity among different healthcare providers and the potential for brain toxicity from multiple medications. He distinguishes between postpartum depression and postpartum psychosis, emphasizing the latter's severe break from reality and potential for hallucinations. The conversation also touches on the ethical and legal implications of mental health diagnoses in criminal cases, questioning the effectiveness of current psychiatric treatments and the broader societal response to such incidents.

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Canada is preparing retaliatory tariffs after the United States imposed new 50% duties on roughly $20 billion worth of Canadian goods following the collapse of trade negotiations between the two countries. Prime Minister Mark Carney said Canada will respond “dollar for dollar,” with new tariffs on U.S. products scheduled to take effect Sept. 8. The measures are expected to target American steel, dairy products, appliances, agricultural equipment, electronics and other goods. The new U.S. tariffs took effect Saturday after several days of negotiations failed to produce an agreement. Washington and Ottawa have each blamed the other for the breakdown, and Canada has suspended trade negotiations with the United States for now. The dispute marks a renewed escalation in trade tensions between President Donald Trump and Carney and could complicate broader negotiations over the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement.

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A suspect in the killings of five people at a rural Oregon property has been found dead in Washington state, authorities said Sunday. The Washington County Sheriff’s Office identified the suspect as 36-year-old Benjamin Charles Parker. Police located Parker inside his vehicle in Enumclaw, Washington, and investigators believe he died by suicide. Authorities say there is no ongoing threat to the public. The investigation began early Saturday when firefighters responded to a reported vehicle fire at a property near Forest Grove, roughly 30 miles west of Portland. Responders discovered the remains of five people along with several dead domestic animals. Authorities have not released the victims’ identities, ages or causes of death. Investigators also have not publicly detailed Parker’s connection to the victims or a possible motive. The sheriff’s office says the investigation remains ongoing.

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The Justice Department is planning to deploy about 1,000 federal election monitors across the country for November’s midterm elections, in what officials say will be a record-sized monitoring effort. The monitors will be assigned to polling locations to observe compliance with federal election laws, including the Voting Rights Act, which protects voters from discrimination and intimidation. The department plans to recruit volunteers from within the DOJ and U.S. Attorney’s Offices to help staff the operation. The planned deployment is significantly larger than recent efforts. The Justice Department sent 289 personnel to polling locations during the 2022 midterm elections. Officials have not yet released the complete list of locations that will receive monitors this November. The Trump administration says the expanded operation is intended to enforce federal election laws and protect the integrity of the voting process. Federal election monitoring itself is a longstanding practice used by administrations of both parties, though some voting-rights advocates have raised concerns about the scale and implementation of this year’s effort.

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Two Phoenix police officers have been fired and arrested after authorities say they assaulted a man and woman during an unreported traffic stop earlier this month. Former officers Antonio Felix and Luis Vasquez Jr. are accused of physically assaulting the pair and using a Taser during the Aug. 5 encounter. Police say the officers never reported the traffic stop and did not activate their body-worn cameras. The incident came to light after the male driver escaped and abandoned his vehicle in neighboring Tempe. A Tempe officer who later spoke with the pair initially believed they may have been attacked by people impersonating police officers because of the nature of their allegations. Investigators later used evidence including location data from a police vehicle to connect Felix and Vasquez to the stop. Both men face multiple felony charges, including aggravated assault and kidnapping. Phoenix Police Chief Matt Giordano called the allegations “egregious criminal conduct.” The department says its investigation and internal audit remain ongoing.

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Former Illinois sheriff’s deputy Sean Grayson has died while serving a 20-year prison sentence for the fatal shooting of Sonya Massey inside her Springfield-area home. Grayson’s attorney confirmed his death Sunday but did not provide additional details. Grayson, 32, was convicted of second-degree murder in October and sentenced in January. Massey, 36, had called 911 in July 2024 to report a possible prowler outside her home. Body-camera footage of the encounter showed Grayson shooting Massey in her kitchen after a confrontation involving a pot of hot water. Grayson had been diagnosed with colon cancer before Massey’s death, and his attorneys later said the disease had spread to his liver and lungs. He sought medical release from prison earlier this year, but the Illinois Prisoner Review Board denied the request last month. Massey’s killing sparked national protests and scrutiny of police hiring practices. Illinois lawmakers later passed the Sonya Massey Act, requiring law enforcement agencies to more closely examine applicants’ previous employment records before hiring them.

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President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump kicked off the inaugural Freedom 250 Grand Prix on Sunday, bringing IndyCar racing to the streets of the nation’s capital as part of America’s 250th birthday celebrations. The president and first lady began the event with a ceremonial lap through the downtown course in the presidential limousine. Trump then waved the green flag as drivers took off on the roughly 1.7-mile street circuit, which included Pennsylvania Avenue and stretches near some of Washington’s most recognizable landmarks. The race was established following an executive order Trump signed earlier this year as part of the administration’s yearlong celebration of the nation’s semiquincentennial. The event also featured military flyovers and other patriotic displays. American driver Kyle Kirkwood ultimately won the race, securing his second IndyCar victory of the season.

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A Texas judge has denied Karmelo Anthony’s request for a new trial, leaving his murder conviction and 35-year prison sentence in place for the fatal stabbing of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf at a high school track meet. Retired Judge Michael Chitty issued the decision Saturday following a two-day hearing. Anthony’s attorneys argued that problems during the original trial, including courtroom restrictions and a dispute over an informal agreement about what evidence could be presented, deprived him of a fair trial. Anthony was convicted in June after jurors rejected his claim that he acted in self-defense during the April 2025 confrontation in Frisco, Texas. His defense team says the legal fight is not over and plans to continue challenging the conviction through the appeals process.

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