Good morning. Washington is reeling today after the explosive release of Donald Trump’s 50th birthday letter to Jeffrey Epstein — a revelation that raises far more questions than answers about Trump’s ties to the convicted sex trafficker. The fallout is shaking the White House and Capitol Hill, and the MAGA machine is in full attack mode. They’re not just demanding I be silenced — they’re hurling threats, desperate to shut this down.
But let me be crystal clear: I will not be intimidated. I will not back down. This platform exists because of you — not billionaires, not corporate media bosses. It is independent, it is fearless, and it survives only because of your support.
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With that, here’s the news you missed:
Republicans are in crisis mode on Capitol Hill and in the White House after House Democrats released a sexually suggestive letter and sketch from Jeffrey Epstein’s estate, allegedly signed by Donald Trump, contradicting his denials.
The note, part of Epstein’s 50th birthday “Birthday Book,” depicts a conversation between Trump and Epstein inside a drawing of a woman’s torso. Lawmakers called it “sickening” and demanded release of all Epstein files, while Trump’s team dismissed it as falsified and cited a defamation suit against the Wall Street Journal, which had first reported its existence.
While the Administration and those on Capitol Hill attempt to spin the letter as a “forged” signature, I analyzed Trump’s signature in comparison with his other signatures on other letters during that time period, and they are nearly identical.
ICE launched “Operation Midway Blitz” in Chicago targeting undocumented immigrants with criminal records, despite strong opposition from Mayor Brandon Johnson and Gov. JB Pritzker. DHS blamed Illinois’ “sanctuary” policies, while critics called the move reckless, unconstitutional, and political theater. The operation, announced amid Mexican Independence Day celebrations, was named after a fatal DUI crash involving an undocumented man. Trump has floated using the National Guard, previously deployed in LA during raids that sparked protests. Sen. Dick Durbin accused Trump of declaring “war on an American city.”
US immigration officers are ramping up sweeps in Los Angeles after the Supreme Court reversed a restraining order that barred targeting people by race, language, or job. LA border patrol chief Greg Bovino called the order “very poorly” written and “the worst” he’s seen.
Advocates warn this “effectively legalized racial profiling,” alarming immigrant communities where 1 in 3 residents is foreign-born. Mayor Karen Bass and Gov. Gavin Newsom condemned the decision, while Justice Sotomayor’s dissent warned it enables targeting anyone “who looks Latino, speaks Spanish, and works a low-wage job.” The Trump administration hailed the ruling as a victory for its mass deportation campaign, with DHS pledging to “flood the zone.”
Senate Republicans, led by Majority Leader John Thune, are moving to invoke the “nuclear option” to change Senate rules and confirm Trump nominees in blocs rather than individually, citing Democratic obstruction. The plan, starting with a package of 48 nominees including Kimberly Guilfoyle (ambassador to Greece) and Callista Gingrich (ambassador to Switzerland), would apply to sub-Cabinet posts, ambassadors, and other executive nominees but not judges.
Donald Trump’s second state visit to the UK (Sept 17–19) will involve a major police operation with drones over Windsor. King Charles will host Trump and Melania at Windsor Castle with a ceremonial welcome and state banquet.
Texas state Rep. James Talarico, 36, a Democrat and former teacher with a rising profile, launched a US Senate bid to unseat Republican Sen. John Cornyn. Known for viral challenges to GOP policies on vouchers and religion in schools, he joins a Democratic field that includes ex-Rep. Colin Allred. In announcing, Talarico called for an end to “Trumpian politics” and a return to sincerity, honesty, and compassion. A UT Austin and Harvard graduate, he is pursuing a Master of Divinity and hopes to one day lead his childhood church.
A Russian glide bomb strike on the village of Yarova in Donetsk killed at least 21 retirees waiting to collect pensions, Ukrainian officials said. President Zelenskyy denounced the attack as “brutally savage,” while his foreign minister called it a “heinous crime” demanding global action. The assault followed Russia’s largest air attack since the war began, with increasing use of glide bombs. Zelenskyy urged the US, Europe, and G-20 to impose tougher sanctions, criticizing slow responses as Russia controls 20% of Ukrainian territory and continues daily strikes that kill civilians.
A report found the WHO Foundation has taken $83M in corporate donations since 2020, hiding the sources of about 60%. By 2023, 80% of funds came from anonymous donors, fueling conflict-of-interest concerns. Critics warn dark money from firms like Meta, TikTok, and pharma companies threatens WHO’s credibility, while the organization insists strict reviews prevent undue influence.
The Murdoch family reached a deal giving Lachlan Murdoch control of the empire behind Fox News and the Wall Street Journal, ending a succession battle after Rupert Murdoch’s death. Siblings James, Elisabeth, and Prudence will each get about $1.1B by selling their Fox and News Corp shares, while a new $3.3B trust will benefit Lachlan and Rupert’s younger daughters, Grace and Chloe.
Nepal’s Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli resigned after days of mass “Gen Z” protests against a social media ban and corruption turned violent, with demonstrators torching leaders’ homes and Parliament. At least 19 people were killed when police opened fire on crowds defying curfews in Kathmandu and other cities.
Israel carried out its first known strike in Qatar, targeting Hamas leadership in Doha after explosions were heard, with both the IDF and Hamas confirming negotiators were hit in a joint operation with Shin Bet.
Israel ordered the full evacuation of Gaza City’s one million residents as it prepared a major ground takeover, dropping leaflets urging people to move south to Al-Mawasi. Netanyahu warned “this is only the beginning,” amid intensified airstrikes and tower demolitions.
The UN cautioned escalation would cause mass displacement and atrocities, while hundreds of thousands of Israelis protested the plan over risks to hostages and soldiers. Israel claims 40% of the city but says only ~70,000 residents have fled. Aid drops to Gaza City may halt as Israel seeks to “flood Gaza with tents” in the south, though only 3,000 of 100,000 promised tents have arrived.
Organizers of the Global Sumud Flotilla said a drone struck one of its aid ships in Tunisian waters en route to Gaza, sparking a fire, though Tunisian officials claimed the blast came from inside the vessel. All six crew and passengers were unharmed, but the Portuguese-flagged boat sustained deck and storage damage. The 20-ship flotilla, with activists from 44 countries including Greta Thunberg, is the largest civilian attempt to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza. Witnesses insist a drone dropped a bomb.
U.S. high school seniors’ math and reading scores fell to their lowest in over 20 years, continuing a decade-long decline worsened by the pandemic, according to the National Assessment of Education Progress. In 2024, 32% scored below “basic” in reading and 45% in math, while only 33% were ready for college-level math.
Good news:
After 8-year-old William lost his beloved plush dog “Dog” in Wyoming winds, his father contacted Carbon County Sheriff Alex Bakken, who dispatched deputies to search. Deputy Tyler Christen found Dog in roadside weeds and mailed him back in a care package with sheriff patches and souvenirs. The reunion taught William not only about loss but also kindness, as his dad noted he learned “there are great people in this world that will do things to help you, even when they don’t know you.”
Brazil recorded a 65% drop in Amazon rainforest burned by fire in 2025, the lowest level since monitoring began with MapBiomas after the 2019 wildfire crisis. Researchers credit heavier rains and more cautious local communities. Nationwide, burned land fell by 54%. The decline comes as President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva prepares to host COP30 in Belém, underscoring his pledge to end Amazon deforestation by 2030.
See you this evening.
— Aaron
