--- title: "While you were sleeping: 1 August 2017" description: "The Mooch Scaramucci given the scaraboot, sanctions placed on Maduro directly, and LA to host Olympics in 2028." type: "NewsArticle" publisher: "Daily Maverick" site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za" section: "South Africa" author: "John Stupart" author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/johnstupart/" canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2017-08-01-while-you-were-sleeping-1-august-2017/" published: "2017-08-01T05:59:36" lang: "en-ZA" word_count: 739 --- # While you were sleeping: 1 August 2017 > The Mooch Scaramucci given the scaraboot, sanctions placed on Maduro directly, and LA to host Olympics in 2028. By John Stupart · Published 1 August 2017, 07:59 SAST ## Content **Tuesday, 1 August 2017** *"Reince is a f----ing paranoid schizophrenic, a paranoiac..."* **Anthony Scaramucci** ![Image](https://i2.createsend1.com/ei/d/30/346/3BE/csimport/849x493q70grootes-lekgotla2.050016.jpg) STORY OF THE DAY [Analysis: At the ANC Lekgotla, much ado about nothing](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-kkujkhl-l-x/) By STEPHEN GROOTES The National Executive Committee of the ANC that will leave office in December is unlikely to be kindly remembered by history. It supported President Jacob Zuma through Nkandla, presided over the worst electoral outcomes, ever… and that’s about it. So it would be foolish to expect much from its final policy lekgotla. Still, this being election season, there is plenty of shade to throw around. [Scaramucci given his marching orders from General Kelly](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-kkujkhl-l-m/) Ten days into his job as White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci was given the boot. The move was an attempt at creating order from the chaos in the White House by same-day appointed chief of staff General John Kelly. The dismissal could have a lot to do with "The Mooch" and his fiery language against other colleagues. To the rest of the world, however, it looks like the White House is in a tail spin. [Sam Shepard passes away](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-kkujkhl-l-c/) Pulitzer prize winner and Oscar-nominee Sam Shepard passed away on Monday, aged 73. Losing his battle with ALS, Shepard's death resulted in a torrent of messages of sympathy worldwide. Shepard won the Pulitzer for his play "Buried Child" and starred in movies such as "Steel Magnolias" and "Black Hawk Down". [US slaps Venezuela with sanctions](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-kkujkhl-l-q/) While busily firing staff in the White House, some work was actually done. The United States announced on Monday that it would be placing direct sanctions on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Aimed at punishing the individual for his merciless grab for consolidation of power, the sanctions will freeze any assets Maduro may have in the US. If only various foreign powers would do the same in South Africa... [Paris to host Games in 2024, LA in 2028](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-kkujkhl-l-a/) In what both cities have been calling a "win-win-win" situation, Los Angeles announced it would host the 2028 Olympic Games, leaving Paris as the sole logical choice for 2024's event. Earthquakes and Tumpocalypse notwithstanding, LA accepted the later games after negotiations with the IOC itself, which also conveniently agreed to advance LA's organisers $180-million in funding for the event. IN NUMBERS 2.6 The percentage of the American population in 1926 who were members of the Ku Klux Klan. FACTS OF THE DAY Today in 1981 **MTV began broadcasting**music for the first time. The first song was "Video Killed the Radio Star" by The Buggles. **Earl Wild**was the first person to play the piano live on TV. He was also the first to do so on the internet 58 years later. ![Image](https://i6.createsend1.com/ei/d/30/346/3BE/csimport/GleakswN24.190025.jpg) FEATURED ARTICLES ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/849x493q70grootes-lekgotla2.jpg) [Analysis: At the ANC Lekgotla, much ado about nothing](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-kkujkhl-l-w/) BY STEPHEN GROOTES ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/849x493q70Thamm-Potty.jpg) [Bell Pottinger: Fallout continues as hearings set to kick off in UK](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-kkujkhl-l-yh/) BY MARIANNE THAMM ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/849x493q70hennie-declassified-subbed-JG-MAIN-PHOTO.jpg) [Declassified: Apartheid profits – Who funded the National Party?](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-kkujkhl-l-yu/) BY OPEN SECRETS ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/849x493q70greg-gwede.jpg) [ANC Lekgotla: ANC ‘free agents’ should take a walk – Mantashe](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-kkujkhl-l-jr/) BY GREG NICOLSON ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/849x493q70merten-funding.jpg) [Reporter’s Parliamentary Notebook: Private political donations under scrutiny in ad hoc committee](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-kkujkhl-l-jj/) BY MARIANNE MERTEN ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/849x493q70suttner-whereTo\(2\).jpg) [Op-Ed: As ANC abdicates a culture of debate, it is up to us to engage in ideas](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-kkujkhl-l-ji/) BY RAYMOND SUTTNER ![Image](https://images.www.dailymaverick.co.za/images/resized_images/849x493q70bheki-soccertragedy.jpg) [Soweto Derby Tragedy: Death of soccer fans an own goal for administrators](http://email.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-kkujkhl-l-jh/) BY BHEKI C. 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