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🎭 The Lighter Side

The Lighter Side — Thursday, August 13, 2026 at 4:15 PM

🎭 The Lighter Side8/13/2026🕐 4:15 PM⏱ 3:44ComedyDeadpan

Top stories, ranked by relevance.

Story cards stay below the sticky dock while audio, chapters, date, and brief navigation remain accessible.

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#1The Monologue

President Trump declared this week that the United States has complete and total control over the Strait of Hormuz. Iran responded by announcing the strait remains closed, issued a six-point list of conditions for when it might not remain closed, and called Trump's claim inaccurate. So — total control.
Re: CNBC — "Hormuz remains blocked": Iran disputes Trump claims as traffic sinks to near 3-month lows

Twelve state attorneys general filed suit this week to block the proposed $111 billion merger between Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery. The states say combining the two studios would harm competition. Critics note that combining two studios struggling to find an audience into one studio...is not mathematically how that gets fixed.
Re: Variety — Paramount Agrees to Postpone Warner Bros. Merger Until After Antitrust Trial

MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell lost his primary bid for governor of Minnesota on Tuesday, becoming the third Trump-endorsed gubernatorial candidate to lose this year. A man whose entire brand is built around helping America sleep — keeps putting his campaigns to bed.
Re: NPR — Four takeaways from Tuesday's primaries in six states

#3Minnesota Man Spikes Lawn to Stop Neighborhood Cyclists

Kyle James Steffen, 39, installed approximately 40 three-inch metal spikes across his front lawn to prevent neighborhood children from riding bikes through his yard on the way to a nearby park. He now faces charges for setting what the law classifies as a deadfall or snare, and up to 180 days in jail and a $1,000 fine. A fence would have run about $300.

#5Meanwhile, In Satire

'Karoline Leavitt Prepared For Motherhood After Spending Last Two Years Answering Millions Of Stupid Questions' — The Babylon Bee, babylonbee.com

'Mamdani Grocery Stores To Feature Innovative New "Queue Where You Wait For Loaves Of Leavened Flour Products"' — The Babylon Bee, babylonbee.com

'WNBA Brings In Revered Supreme Court Justice To Help Determine What A Woman Is' — The Babylon Bee, babylonbee.com

'Kamala Harris Issues Dire Warning That SAVE America Act Could Result In America Being Saved' — The Babylon Bee, babylonbee.com

#7The Groaner

I told my wife she was drawing her eyebrows too high. She looked surprised.

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