One Thing: The Complicated Politics of Trump’s ‘Patriot Games’

Boat Capsizes in NYC, Flesh-Eating Bacteria, Tupac Trial and more

President Trump hits a roadblock in both Iran and Gaza pace talks.  A boat captain charged after a mother and baby were killed in New York City. Jury selection begins for a man charged in Tupac’s murder. There is a surge of flesh-eating bacterial infections on the Gulf Coast.  Plus, a raccoon is freed after getting its head stuck in a jar. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

One Thing: The Complicated Politics of Trump’s ‘Patriot Games’

This week, one male and one female teenage athlete from every state and US territory will take place in the first-ever ‘Patriot Games,’ an athletic competition tied to America’s 250th birthday celebrations. But the politics of the moment and comparisons to the dystopian ‘Hunger Games’ stories are complicating the optics of the event. We hear from multiple participants about why they are trying to block out the noise and explore how Trump has worked to reshape sports – and America’s 250th birthday – in his image. For more: Trump’s Patriot Games are billed as a youth sports contest. They’re also a test of patriotic branding [https://www.cnn.com/2026/08/09/politics/patriot-games-trump-partisan-patriotic-branding] ---  Guests: Isabelle Khurshudyan, CNN Senior Enterprise Reporter & Cari Champion, CNN Contributor  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Senior Director of Podcasts: Zach Goldbaum  Editorial Support: Piper Hudspeth Blackburn  Photo: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

5 Good Things: The Firefighters that Eat Grass

As firefighters battle blazes around the world, one man is reviving a generations-old wildfire prevention strategy [https://www.cnn.com/world/europe/firefighters-donkeys-spain-c2e-spc]. At this summer camp, grieving kids find support, friendship and fun. We have updates on the internet’s favorite bald eagle couple and the great lengths fans went to protect their nest. We revisit a 2018 CNN hero who turned a life-changing accident into a mission to help people with mobility challenges. Plus, we’ll tell you how a new dating experiment is using a photo booth to play matchmaker for strangers in NYC.  Host/Producer: Krista Bo Polanco  Producer: Eryn Mathewson   Senior Producer: Zach Goldbaum, Felicia Patinkin  Editorial Support: Daniel Olivares Gallego, Christie O’Reilly Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

Putin’s Potential Attack, Nolan Wells Investigation Latest, White House Ballroom Ruling and more

We start with what US intelligence believes could be Russia’s next move and how it could test NATO’s unity. President Donald Trump is weighing in on the GOP’s prospects in the November midterms. The Senate has passed a major bill in honor of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham. Three men are expected to return to Mississippi’s Horn Island, in an unofficial effort to investigate a Black teen's death. Plus, a federal appeals court has ruled on the legality of President Trump’s new White House ballroom. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

Blanche Gets Key Vote, Thai School Shooting, Key Reservoir Drying Out and More

A key Republican senator says he will vote to confirm Todd Blanche as attorney general. The July jobs report is out, and it isn’t pretty. A deadly school shooting rocks Thailand. A new defense pact involving Saudi Arabia is taking shape in the Middle East. And a major water source in the Southwest is in major trouble. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]