Good Morning, and Happy Saturday! Welcome to The Flag's Five, your nonpartisan breakdown of the week’s five most pressing headlines. Dive into what happened, why it matters, and how perspectives from the left and right shape the conversation.

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1. Trump Slaps New Tariffs on 69 Nations

Here’s what happened: President Trump signed an executive order imposing new “reciprocal” tariffs ranging from 10 to 41 percent on imports from 69 countries and territories, saying many partners “tax American goods far more than we tax theirs.” The duties take effect August 7 and cover everything from autos to agricultural products, with Canada’s rate jumping to 35 percent and Brazil’s to 50 percent. (Jasper Ward et al., Reuters)

Here’s why it matters: Trade lawyers call the package the largest one-day tariff hike in modern U.S. history, warning it could spark a wave of WTO challenges and raise consumer prices just as inflation shows signs of easing. White House officials counter that the move gives Washington leverage to win quick bilateral deals before the 2026 midterms. (Daniel Desrochers et al., POLITICO)

Here’s what right-leaning sources are saying about this: Daily Wire praises the tariffs as “a powerful tool to put America First,” highlighting a White House fact-sheet that links decades-high trade deficits to lost manufacturing jobs and national-security risks. Commentators argue companies have had months to prepare and predict U.S. producers will “re-shore supply chains” once the higher duties bite. (Tim Pearce, Daily Wire)

Here’s what left-leaning sources are saying about this: The Guardian frames the order as election-year “economic nationalism,” noting Democrats charge it will “kill jobs and jack up prices” while alienating allies. Analysts quoted in the piece say consumers, not foreign exporters, historically shoulder most tariff costs and warn the policy could undercut global efforts to curb inflation. (Guardian staff, The Guardian)

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2. Patel Finds ‘Burn-Bag’ Trove of Trump-Russia Docs

Here’s what happened: FBI Director Kash Patel says agents uncovered several “burn bags” stuffed with thousands of classified documents tied to the 2016 Trump-Russia probe in a hidden room at FBI headquarters—evidence he claims was “deliberately buried” by predecessors. A 29-page annex to the 2023 Durham report reportedly warns the bureau helped spread an unverified collusion narrative. (NDTV News Desk, NDTV)

Here’s why it matters: The discovery could reopen battles over the FBI’s credibility and inject new material into congressional probes of “Crossfire Hurricane.” Legal experts tell The Times that if the annex is declassified it may fuel lawsuits over alleged civil-rights violations during the original investigation. (David Charter, The Times)

Here’s what right-leaning sources are saying about this: Daily Wire calls the find proof that the “Clinton-Russia hoax” was hidden “in a back room,” celebrating Patel for “pulling back the curtain on the Deep State.” Commentators urge immediate public release, predicting it will “vindicate” Trump and expose 2016 “election meddling from within.” (Zach Jewell, Daily Wire)

Here’s what left-leaning sources are saying about this: The Washington Post treats Patel’s claims as the latest flashpoint in an administration beset by transparency scandals, noting officials are still reeling from backlash over the Epstein files. Sources inside DOJ fear the episode is being weaponized to shift attention from the lingering Epstein furor rather than to reform FBI procedures. (Emily Davies et al., Washington Post)

3. Deportees Allege Abuse in El Salvador’s CECOT Prison

Here’s what happened: Nine Venezuelan men deported under Trump’s mass-expulsion policy say they were beaten, doused with dirty water and sexually assaulted during four months in El Salvador’s mega-prison, CECOT. Many had no U.S. criminal record; one was detained after reporting a change of address to ICE. (Perla Trevizo et al., Texas Tribune)

Here’s why it matters: Human-rights lawyers tell The Washington Post the allegations could violate U.N. conventions against torture and expose Washington to liability because U.S. funds help pay CECOT’s operating costs. Lawmakers are weighing hearings on whether the deportations breached court orders and basic due-process protections. (Samantha Schmidt et al., Washington Post)

Here’s what right-leaning sources are saying about this: Fox News highlights Salvadoran officials who insist most deportees are gang members and says the Biden-era asylum system let “dangerous criminals” roam U.S. streets. Commentators fault activist lawyers for “romanticizing violent offenders” and praise Trump for using foreign facilities to deter illegal migration. (Anders Hagstrom, Fox News)

Here’s what left-leaning sources are saying about this: The Guardian calls the prison “a horror movie,” quoting detainees who liken CECOT to a “cemetery of the living dead.” Progressive voices argue the episode shows how hard-line deportation tactics can lead to “offshored abuse” and demand Congress halt third-country transfers. (Marina Dunbar, The Guardian)

4. “Great Jeans” Ad Puts Sydney Sweeney in Hot Seat

Here’s what happened: American Eagle’s new campaign, “Sydney Sweeney has great jeans,” went viral after critics said the “genes/jeans” wordplay and focus on the blonde-haired actor echoed eugenics slogans. The retailer defended the spot as playful, but the video was quietly pulled from some channels. (Anne D’Innocenzio, ABC News)

Here’s why it matters: The Washington Post notes the backlash exposes how brands chasing “edgy buzz” can stumble into culture-war minefields, especially under a Trump administration that has moved to scrap federal DEI rules. Marketing analysts say controversy may drive short-term clicks but risks alienating diverse shoppers long term. (Rachel Tashjian & Shane O’Neill, Washington Post)

Here’s what right-leaning sources are saying about this: Fox News ridicules the uproar as another example of “cancel-culture hysteria,” quoting commentators who argue critics proved the ad’s point by giving Sweeney—and American Eagle—massive free publicity. Hosts say progressives see “Nazi propaganda” everywhere except in real authoritarian threats. (Christina Dugan Ramirez , Fox News)

Here’s what left-leaning sources are saying about this: In The Guardian, columnist Arwa Mahdawi calls the campaign “retro-sexist” and says leaning on a white, blue-eyed star signals brands are “done pretending to be progressive.” She argues the episode shows how “anti-woke” backlash is reshaping advertising toward narrower beauty ideals. (Arwa Mahdawi, The Guardian)

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5. Trump Breaks with Netanyahu on Gaza Starvation

Here’s what happened: Speaking in Scotland, President Trump said images of malnourished children prove “real starvation” exists in Gaza and pledged to help set up U.S.–European food centers, a rare public split with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who insists “no one is starving.” (Myah Ward, POLITICO)

Here’s why it matters: Reuters reports Trump has since dispatched envoy Steve Witkoff to push Netanyahu on aid corridors and a cease-fire, amid mounting international calls for famine designation and threats by France and Britain to recognize a Palestinian state. The rift underscores growing pressure on Washington to curb its closest Middle-East ally. (Maayan Lubell & Nidal Al-Mughrabi, Reuters)

Here’s what right-leaning sources are saying about this: Fox News notes Trump still blames Hamas for aid theft and urges tougher action to free Israeli hostages, but applauds him for “calling out U.N. exaggerations” while offering practical help. Commentators argue the president’s stance shows the U.S. can press Israel diplomatically without abandoning a key ally. (Rachel Wolf, Fox News)

Here’s what left-leaning sources are saying about this: The Guardian live blog highlights U.N. officials who warn Gaza faces “a humanitarian catastrophe of epic proportions” and welcomes Trump’s remarks as a “belated acknowledgement” of the crisis—but stresses aid corridors alone cannot avert famine without an immediate cease-fire. (Tom Ambrose et al., The Guardian)

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