State Department calls Cuba an espionage superpower.
Today's events
Cuba report.
Secretary Rubio, asked about the department's 100-page report on Cuba, called the island an espionage and influence superpower and said its protest network is funded and organized, not organic.1Aug 2 · StateHospital drug discounts.
Federal health officials opened a revised pilot letting drugmakers meet discounted 340B prices through rebates instead of upfront discounts. The program covers 15,249 hospitals and clinics and reached $100 billion in purchases in 2025.2Aug 3 · HHSPrecursor chemical.
The Drug Enforcement Administration proposed extending controls on PMK glycidic acid to cover its esters, a class not currently listed under the Controlled Substances Act. Comments close September 2.3Aug 3 · DOJSubmarine command.
Submarine Squadron 20 relieved Cmdr. Joseph Sammur of command of the ballistic-missile submarine USS West Virginia at Kings Bay, Georgia, citing loss of confidence in his ability to command.4Jul 30 · NavyGerman paper duties.
Commerce found Koehler Paper sold thermal paper in the United States at fair value for the year to October 2024, setting a zero dumping margin; two Mexican converters get 0.76 percent.5Aug 3 · CommerceIntel's Arizona zone.
Phoenix asked the Foreign-Trade Zones Board to add three Chandler, Arizona sites to Intel's duty-free subzone; the application was docketed July 30 and comments close September 14.6Aug 3 · CommerceConstruction runoff permit.
All ten Environmental Protection Agency regions proposed a five-year permit for stormwater from construction sites where the agency is the permitting authority, replacing the 2022 version expiring February 17, 2027.7Aug 3 · EPAHospice payment.
Medicare set fiscal 2027 hospice rates and detailed a spending-variation index scoring providers on nine claims-based metrics to produce a ranking beneficiaries can use. Effective October 1.8Aug 3 · CMSNew destroyer.
The Navy set an August 1 christening at Bath Iron Works in Maine for the future USS William Charette, a guided-missile destroyer named for a Korean War medic awarded the Medal of Honor.9Aug 1 · Navy
Allied Governments
Tokyo and Ottawa.
Japan and Canada held their fourteenth political-military dialogue in Ottawa on July 31, agreeing to deepen security cooperation under the comprehensive strategic roadmap set at their March summit.aAug 3 · Japan MoFABritain's skills push.
National Grid put £5 million behind the prime minister's education reforms, funding a programme to move 5,000 young people into work.bAug 2 · UK No.10
Voices
“Cuba is the only country that consistently has implanted and embedded spies in our system without even paying them.”
Sec. of State Marco Rubio · Aug 21
“Consistent with HRSA's longstanding statutory authority, rebates will be used instead of upfront discounts.”
340B Rebate Model Pilot Program notice, HRSA · Aug 32
“Serving as the shield of the Fleet … this premier surface combatant will be a cornerstone of America's new Golden Fleet.”
Acting Sec. of the Navy Hung Cao · Aug 19
“[Commerce] determines that thermal paper from Germany was not sold in the United States at less than normal value during the period of review.”
Commerce Dept., final results of administrative review · Aug 35
“Commander, Submarine Squadron 20 relieved Cmdr. Joseph Sammur as commanding officer of USS West Virginia (SSBN 736) (Blue Crew) due to loss of confidence in his ability to command.”
Commander, Submarine Forces · Jul 304
“This final rule updates the hospice wage index, payment rates, and aggregate cap amount for fiscal year 2027.”
Medicare hospice final rule, CMS · Aug 38
Sources
- U.S. Dept. of State, “Secretary of State Marco Rubio On Fox News Channel's My View with Lara Trump,” August 2, 2026. state.gov/releases/…/rubio-my-view-lara-trump
- Health Resources and Services Administration, “Notice Regarding 340B Rebate Model Pilot Program,” August 3, 2026. federalregister.gov/…/340b-rebate-model-pilot-program
- Drug Enforcement Administration, “Amendment to 3,4-MDP-2-P Methyl Glycidic Acid, a List I Chemical,” August 3, 2026. federalregister.gov/…/pmk-glycidic-acid-esters
- U.S. Navy, “Navy Relieves USS West Virginia (SSBN 736) (Blue Crew) Commanding Officer,” July 30, 2026. navy.mil/Press-Office/…/uss-west-virginia-co-relieved
- U.S. Dept. of Commerce, “Thermal Paper From Germany: Final Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review; 2023-2024,” August 3, 2026. federalregister.gov/…/thermal-paper-from-germany
- U.S. Dept. of Commerce, “Foreign-Trade Zone 75; Application for Subzone Expansion; Intel Corporation; Chandler, Arizona,” August 3, 2026. federalregister.gov/…/ftz-75-intel-chandler
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, “National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) 2027 Issuance of General Permit for Stormwater Discharges From Construction Activities,” August 3, 2026. federalregister.gov/…/2027-construction-general-permit
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, “Medicare Program; FY 2027 Hospice Wage Index and Payment Rate Update and Hospice Quality Reporting Program Requirements,” August 3, 2026. federalregister.gov/…/fy-2027-hospice-wage-index
- U.S. Navy, “U.S. Navy to Christen Future USS William Charette,” August 1, 2026. navy.mil/Press-Office/…/christen-uss-william-charette
- Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “The 14th Japan-Canada Political-Military (PM) Dialogue,” August 3, 2026. mofa.go.jp/press/release/…/japan-canada-pm-dialogue
- UK Prime Minister's Office, “National Grid backs PM's education reforms with new £5 million jobs programme to help 5,000 young people into work,” August 2, 2026. gov.uk/government/news/…/national-grid-jobs-programme