Today is Wednesday, August 21st, and you're listening to the morning announcements presented by Bech's media.

I'm your host Sammy Sage and the morning announcements is your daily five minute breakdown of the headlines that isn't afraid to take aside and

roast the most consequential reality show there is, our government.

Starting with a few international headlines today, Secretary of State Anthony Lincoln is already back from his diplomatic trip to the Middle East,

and there is no significant progress on a ceasefire and hostage deal.

Hamas has instead accused the United States of carrying water

for Israel and wide gaps remain on the issues of whether Israel will continue to control

the Raffer crossing and the Philadelphia corridor between Egypt and southern Gaza, as well as over movement

restrictions between Southern and Northern Gaza. This comes as Israel's military recovered the

bodies of six hostages in an overnight operation in Gaza on Monday evening.

The over 100 hostages still reportedly remained captive.

Meanwhile, there is reporting that Donald Trump called Benjamin Netanyahu

last week to discuss the ceasefire and hostage deal.

That was unclear whether he was encouraging Netting Yahoo to accept a deal or pressuring him

not to.

Regardless, Netn Yahoo has denied that the two spoke at all.

And by the way, if they had, it would be illegal as civilians are not permitted to conduct

foreign policy.

I have no doubt that whatever was said, it was a perfect phone call. Our next story brings us back to March,

as new reporting reveals that at that time,

President Biden approved, but never announced

that the administration had revised a highly classified plan for strengthening America's focus on deterring Russia, China, and North Korea from growing their nuclear arsenals.

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