Rep. Jamie Raskin has sent a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi questioning the Trump Administration’s decision to abruptly end a criminal investigation into Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell’s co-conspirators. The investigation, which was active until January 2025, involved nearly 50 survivors who provided detailed information to the SDNY prosecutors and FBI agents, identifying at least 20 co-conspirators. However, the DOJ and FBI closed the case in July 2025, citing a lack of evidence against uncharged third parties, despite the survivors’ credible testimonies and the previous reliance on their information to convict Ghislaine Maxwell. As a result, the House Judiciary Committee is seeking documents related to the investigation and considering reforms to the Crime Victims Rights Act.
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As a result of the ongoing government shutdown, Americans relying on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) face potential benefit cuts. While a federal judge has prevented the complete suspension of SNAP, the Trump administration has indicated that enrollees may only receive half of their usual benefits. The Guardian’s investigation revealed that many SNAP recipients, including the elderly, disabled, and those with health issues, are deeply concerned about the ramifications, fearing difficulty affording food and essential items. Many respondents voiced harsh criticism of the potential cuts, as they struggle with difficult choices between food and other necessities.
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In response to the Trump administration’s blame game regarding the government shutdown, several blue states have begun directly informing residents about the potential impact on SNAP benefits. Massachusetts, California, and Illinois have implemented alerts on their social services websites, explicitly attributing the potential pause in SNAP benefits to actions by President Trump and Congressional Republicans. These states are mirroring the tactics used by the Trump administration during previous shutdowns, which saw federal websites placing blame on Democrats. This shift is occurring amidst ongoing disputes over healthcare funding, with Republicans and Democrats disagreeing on extending subsidies and falsely claiming the other side’s motives.
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The Trump administration will restart SNAP benefits, but only at half the normal payment amount, using funds from the Agriculture Department’s contingency fund. This decision follows rulings from two federal judges who deemed the previous freeze on SNAP payments unlawful. The administration also warns that there could be delays in delivering these reduced benefits, as state agencies must recode their systems. Anti-hunger advocates express concerns that food banks will not be able to cover the difference, highlighting the potential for increased food insecurity.
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The Trump administration is reportedly planning a new mission involving U.S. troops and intelligence officers operating inside Mexico to target drug cartels. Early training for this potential operation, including ground operations, has commenced, although a deployment is not imminent. The mission would involve drone strikes and operate under the authority of the U.S. intelligence community, potentially circumventing direct coordination with the Mexican government. This shift represents a departure from previous administrations’ support roles and could escalate the military campaign against cartels in the Western Hemisphere.
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Trump Administration: The recent court ruling, mandating the Trump administration to reinstate SNAP benefits by Wednesday, has sparked a cascade of reactions. It’s hard to ignore the implications. The judge is clear: the benefits must be paid. The question that hangs in the air is, will they comply?
Trump’s response has been, as expected, a mix of defiance and blame. It’s the Democrats’ fault, he seems to imply. This is where it gets interesting, with the potential for further legal battles and political maneuvering. The administration has a track record of ignoring court orders, and the Supreme Court’s potential intervention also looms large.… Continue reading
During a televised debate, Katie Miller, a former Trump administration official, threatened progressive commentator Cenk Uygur with deportation after he criticized her and her husband. Despite Uygur’s criticism of her husband, Miller baselessly accused him of antisemitism, even though Uygur made no comments about her faith or ethnicity. Miller’s threat, suggesting Uygur’s citizenship could be scrutinized, echoes the Trump administration’s past actions of targeting individuals critical of U.S. policy, particularly concerning Israel. This move has drawn widespread condemnation from human rights and free speech advocates, who view it as a violation of fundamental rights.
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Federal judges ruled that the Trump administration must utilize emergency funds to partially cover food stamp benefits for millions of Americans in November. The rulings rejected the USDA’s claim that it couldn’t use the contingency fund, which holds billions, to cover benefits amid the government shutdown. While the orders won’t cover all payments, both judges, appointed by former President Barack Obama, also stated that the USDA may tap into a larger fund to pay November SNAP benefits in full. However, millions of recipients will still experience delays in receiving their benefits due to the administrative hurdles involved.
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A federal judge in Rhode Island blocked the Trump administration from cutting off SNAP benefits for 42 million Americans during the government shutdown. The judge ordered the administration to pay food stamp benefits “as soon as possible” after finding the cutoff to be arbitrary and causing a crisis for those relying on them. The Justice Department argued SNAP no longer existed due to lack of funding, but the judge mandated the use of contingency funds and exploration of other federal resources to sustain the program. This ruling follows a similar case where another judge found the suspension of SNAP benefits likely unlawful, and the Trump administration is expected to appeal the order.
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AP News reports that two federal judges issued nearly simultaneous rulings on Friday mandating the Trump administration continue funding SNAP, the nation’s primary food aid program, using contingency funds during the government shutdown. The judges’ decisions came a day before the USDA planned to halt SNAP payments, impacting the program that serves about 1 in 8 Americans and costs approximately $8 billion monthly. Democratic officials challenged the administration’s plan, arguing it had a legal obligation to keep the program operational, leading the judges to order the use of emergency reserves to maintain benefits and reinstate work requirement waivers, thus safeguarding millions from potential food insecurity.
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John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood