Democrats on the House Oversight Committee shared a purported birthday message from Donald Trump to Jeffrey Epstein, retrieved from Epstein’s estate as part of a subpoena. The message, which included a hand-drawn image and a typed conversation, was immediately disputed by Trump, who denied authorship and that the signature was his. The authenticity of the note is further complicated by previous examples of Trump’s signatures, as well as a denial from White House officials. The Committee also received Epstein’s will, nonprosecution agreement and other records.
Read More
The Supreme Court ruled that federal immigration agents do not need reasonable suspicion to target individuals for immigration detention, opening the door to racial profiling. This decision overturned a lower court order that restricted ICE agents in Los Angeles from making arrests based on racially loaded categories. Justice Kavanaugh wrote the opinion, stating that factors like ethnicity, language, and occupation, combined with the high number of illegal immigrants in the area, could contribute to “reasonable suspicion.” Justice Sotomayor dissented, arguing that the ruling allows the government to target Latinos and those in low-wage jobs, disregarding Fourth Amendment protections.
Read More
On Sunday, law enforcement removed the White House peace vigil, a protest that had been in place for over four decades, following President Trump’s order to clear homeless encampments. Officials justified the removal by mislabeling the vigil as a shelter, despite it being protected by the First Amendment. The White House confirmed the removal, citing it as a hazard to visitors and part of the administration’s federal takeover of policing in the city. The vigil, established in 1981 to promote nuclear disarmament, is considered the longest continuous anti-war protest in U.S. history.
Read More
The Wall Street Journal published a photo of a birthday note Donald Trump wrote to Jeffrey Epstein, contradicting Trump’s assertion that it did not exist and the story was fabricated. The note, which was part of a collection celebrating Epstein’s 50th birthday, features a crude drawing of a naked woman and was signed by Trump. The president had previously denied writing the note and sued the Journal for its reporting on the matter, while Vice President J.D. Vance also questioned the story. Following the Journal’s story, sources close to Trump indicated his team attempted to stop the report’s release, but the story has still seen the light of day.
Read More
The Trump administration has petitioned the Supreme Court for an emergency order to maintain its hold on billions of dollars in frozen foreign aid. President Trump employed a pocket rescission, which effectively cut the budget without congressional approval. The central legal dispute revolves around $4 billion in congressionally approved aid that Trump stated he would not spend, citing a rarely used authority. The administration argues that the lower court’s injunctions harm the executive branch, while the opposition claims the funding freeze violates federal law and hampers critical international programs.
Read More
The deployment of over 2,200 National Guard members to Washington D.C. was initiated by President Trump, who claimed it would combat crime despite declining local crime rates. However, the National Guard’s role has proven largely ineffective, with soldiers primarily tasked with observing and reporting crimes to local police, rather than actively participating in law enforcement. Rules of engagement restrict the National Guard’s ability to make arrests or use weapons, while also potentially violating the Posse Comitatus Act. This deployment, costing a million dollars per day, is now being used for purposes like maintaining the city’s parks.
Read More
Johnson’s office stated that Donald Trump was the only individual, over a decade ago, willing to assist prosecutors in exposing Jeffrey Epstein, a claim echoed by the victims’ attorney. However, this statement was quickly contrasted with Johnson’s subsequent claim that Trump was an FBI informant. The implication that Trump acted as an informant in the 1990s while associating with Epstein appears highly improbable. This incident highlights the prevalence of deceit within the current administration.
Read More
President Trump’s political strategy hinges on projecting an image of strength and victory to maintain support. Following a disappointing July jobs report, Trump replaced the official overseeing the data to reframe the narrative. However, the August jobs report revealed a meager 22,000 jobs created, significantly less than the previous month, and a downward revision for June. Economists suggest the impact of Trump’s trade policies, specifically tariffs, played a significant role in the economic slowdown, despite the personnel change.
Read More
Following Donald Trump’s promise to lower food costs, California Governor Gavin Newsom has mocked the former president. Newsom shared a clip of Trump’s prior campaign statements promising to immediately lower prices upon taking office, and has since criticized his record. Despite Trump’s pledge, food prices, particularly beef, have continued to rise under his administration, reaching record highs according to USDA data. The rising costs are attributed to droughts, disease, and new tariffs, leading Newsom to highlight the disparity between Trump’s promises and the current reality.
Read More
The federal appeals court upheld the $83 million defamation verdict against Donald Trump, rejecting his appeal. The court found that Trump failed to demonstrate grounds for reconsidering the previous holding on presidential immunity and that the district court’s rulings were appropriate. The appeals court also concluded that the jury’s damages awards were fair, and the punitive damages award was appropriate due to the reprehensibility of Trump’s conduct. This ruling leaves Trump responsible for the full amount of the judgment, which has increased since the initial verdict.
Read More
John Q. Hosedrinker