Global Corruption Watch: Week of August 17, 2026 — Kazakhstan Accuses Big Oil of Corruption in $10.7 Billion of Kashagan Contracts
Kazakhstan presses a $10.7 billion corruption claim against the Kashagan consortium, Daniel Kinahan faces a Dublin court after extradition from Dubai, Treasury ends beneficial ownership reporting for U.S. companies, and…
Nonprofit Watch: Week of August 17, 2026 — New York Moves to Dissolve a Veterans’ Retreat Charity
New York sues to dissolve a veterans' retreat charity, a dark money network hits a record $33.1 million, and Treasury moves to rewrite Form 990.
Capitol Watch: August 19, 2026 — Dueling Stopgaps Set Up a September Funding Showdown
With Congress in recess, the record left behind — two competing stopgap bills, a stalled $1.15T NDAA, and a widening prediction-market probe — defines September's fights.
DOJ Watch: August 19, 2026 — 17 Iranians Charged in IRGC-Directed Cyber Theft Campaign
A 14-count superseding indictment charges 17 Mabna Institute hackers with stealing 31 terabytes from U.S. universities for the IRGC; plus a $92M cartel-linked laundering sentence, Central Synagogue hate-crime charges, Operation…
Federal Register Watch: August 19, 2026 — White House Orders 100 Percent Tariff on Heavy Drone Imports
A presidential proclamation imposes 100 percent tariffs on heavy and thermal-imaging drone imports effective September 3, leading an issue that also includes a DOJ antitrust settlement, a deep-sea mining milestone,…
SEC Watch: August 19, 2026 — Former Tricolor Executives Charged in $1.9 Billion Subprime Auto Collapse
The SEC charges former Tricolor executives over an alleged $1.9 billion double-pledging scheme, plus a $74M pre-IPO boiler room, Netcapital revenue-fraud claims, Berkshire's 13F pivot, and disclosure notes from Home…
Afternoon Wire: August 18, 2026 — Iran Deal Window Expires as Three States Hold Primaries
The 60-day U.S.-Iran negotiating window lapses without a deal, voters head to the polls in Florida, Alaska and Wyoming, National Firearms Act provisions lapse after a Texas ruling, and Kushner…
Sanctions Watch: Week of August 18, 2026 — OFAC and BIS Settle Iran, Entity List Export Cases
A quiet week for new designations was a busy one for enforcement: OFAC settled an Iran transshipment case with Rice Lake Weighing Systems, BIS posted a settlement with Plexon over…
Spending Watch: Week of August 17, 2026 — CBO Raises FY 2026 Deficit Estimate to $2.1 Trillion
CBO now projects a $2.1 trillion FY 2026 deficit as interest costs climb, the Navy books a $55 billion logistics ceiling, and the FAA starts its air traffic network rebuild.
Capitol Watch: August 18, 2026 — Dueling Stopgaps Put Congress on a September Collision Course
Rival stopgap funding bills, a stalled defense authorization, a $275 billion battleship estimate, and a new oversight demand to McKinsey — the congressional record for August 18, 2026.