Well, howdy there, Internet people, it's Bell again. And welcome to the Roads with Bell. Today is August 3rd, 2025, and this is episode 102 of the Roads Not Taken, which is a weekly series where we go over the news that was unreported, underreported, didn't get the coverage we thought it deserved

or we just found it interesting. And then we go through some questions from y'all. Today is August 3rd,

and today is psychic day. And unless you knew I was going to say that, this day isn't for you.

And on this date in 1943, General George S. Patton slapped his first soldier suffering from

battle fatigue. Yes, I said first soldier. Between August 3rd and August 10th, Patton slapped two

different soldiers, which isn't a lot, but it's

weird that it happened twice, right? And on to the news. Starting with foreign policy,

Russian and U.S. leaders argued on social media, and it led to threats of nuclear war. Aren't you glad the U.S.

elected a meme? Zelensky called for regime change in Russia. South Korea's ex-president,

who is in jail, resisted questioning by taking off his clothes and laying on the floor.

My toddlers didn't even do that.

Putin basically told Trump his ultimatum over Ukraine didn't matter and displayed a total lack of respect for Trump.

Trump seems to be at a loss on how to deal with Gaza. He's gone from saying a ceasefire was right around the corner, to saying Israel needed to finish the job, to promising aid,

to reportedly backing a plan for Israel to annex portions of Gaza, to demanding allied nations don't recognize

a Palestinian state. At this point, it seems like maybe for the first time, he's starting to

understand his limitations. In U.S. news, the U.S. Office of Special Counsel has opened an investigation into Jack Smith for alleged Hatch Act violations.

It's important to understand that the U.S. Office of Special Counsel is not the same as a DOJ Special Counsel. The U.S. Office of Special Counsel cannot

bring charges. It can recommend disciplinary actions against federal employees, and in theory,

refer their findings to DOJ, which could then, in theory, start an investigation.

This really seems like part of Trump's flood the zone approach to deal with a relationship

with Epstein becoming public.

The Supreme Court of the U.S. signaled it might be getting ready to narrow the Voting Rights Act

...