Good morning, everyone. But before we dive in, I want to say thank you. Your support means everything. MAGA Republicans are increasing their attacks on me because of my reporting on Elon Musk and Donald Trump. They don’t want the truth to come out. They want you distracted. I won’t let it happen.
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With that, here’s the news:
Los Angeles ICE Raids and Protests: Overnight, police officers in full riot gear showed up in downtown Los Angeles, clashing with protesters during a tense standoff. This came after a day of federal immigration raids that reportedly led to the detention of dozens of people throughout the city.
Large-scale immigration raids: On Friday, federal agents from ICE, DHS, FBI, and DEA carried out coordinated, military-style raids across Los Angeles, targeting undocumented individuals and those suspected of using fraudulent documents. At least 44 people were officially reported arrested, though advocacy groups say the real number could be as high as 80.
Aggressive tactics raise alarm: The raids featured heavily armed agents in tactical gear, use of drones, and blocked-off streets—actions civil liberties groups called excessive and potentially unlawful. Arrests were reportedly made without judicial warrants, prompting criticism from organizations like the ACLU.
Protests erupt downtown: News of the raids triggered mass protests outside the Roybal Federal Building, where detainees were being processed. Protesters blocked entrances, clashed with law enforcement, and were met with tear gas, rubber bullets, and riot police after LAPD declared the gathering an unlawful assembly.
Detainee conditions questioned: Rights groups allege that detainees, including children, were held overnight without adequate food, water, or bedding. ICE has denied mistreatment, but many detainees remain in custody with limited information about their status or whereabouts.
Union President detained: David Huerta, president of SEIU California—the state's largest public-sector union—was injured and detained during a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raid in Los Angeles on Friday. Huerta was observing the operation when he was reportedly pepper-sprayed and physically subdued by federal agents. He was hospitalized for treatment and later transferred to the Metropolitan Detention Center, where he remains in custody.
Trump has privately asked advisers whether Elon Musk’s recent actions and criticism could be linked to alleged drug use, suggesting confusion over the tech billionaire’s sudden shift in tone.
While Trump claims he’s not concerned about Musk and told CNN he’s “not even thinking about Elon,” behind the scenes he’s been actively discussing Musk’s motives and behavior.
As tensions escalate between Donald Trump and Elon Musk, key social media posts, including a controversial one by Musk, have been deleted. Musk had claimed Trump was named in Epstein-related files and suggested that was the reason for their limited release, but the post was removed from X by early Saturday. But, the internet is forever.
Elon Musk is learning that his massive financial support—around $275 million for Trump’s campaign—hasn’t earned him lasting loyalty from Republicans on Capitol Hill. After his very public fallout with Trump, most GOP lawmakers are siding with the president, not the billionaire, showing that political allegiance in today’s GOP still firmly follows the MAGA line, not Musk’s money.
The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to hear a challenge to Washington, D.C.’s ban on large-capacity firearm magazines. This leaves the existing restriction in place without further review.
The U.S. Supreme Court has refused to hear a Republican challenge to a Pennsylvania decision that mandates the counting of voters' provisional ballots. This leaves in place the lower court's ruling supporting ballot inclusion.
Thirteen House Republicans who supported the One Big Beautiful Bill Act are now urging the Senate to reduce and offset the harmful effects of the bill’s clean energy funding cuts. The effort is being led by Rep. Jen Kiggans of Virginia.
An international neo-Nazi group known as The Base is actively regrouping and organizing paramilitary training in the U.S., seemingly undeterred by local authorities or the FBI. Originally dismantled through a sweeping federal counter-terrorism effort, the group has resurged, emboldened by what it perceives as political conditions more tolerant of white supremacist extremism, especially under Trump-aligned leadership.
Republicans are increasingly concerned that budget cuts implemented by Elon Musk's DOGE could jeopardize their prospects in Virginia's upcoming gubernatorial election.
Carla Hayden, the first woman and African American to serve as the U.S. Librarian of Congress, says she received no direct communication from the Trump administration following her dismissal in May—aside from a single 31-word email. In her first interview since being fired, Hayden told CBS News she was given no explanation or follow-up, shedding light on the abrupt and impersonal nature of her removal from the role she was confirmed to in 2016.
Five leaders of the Proud Boys, a far-right extremist group, have filed a $100 million lawsuit against the U.S. government, alleging constitutional rights violations during their prosecutions related to the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. The plaintiffs—Enrique Tarrio, Joseph Biggs, Zachary Rehl, Ethan Nordean, and Dominic Pezzola—were convicted on various charges, including seditious conspiracy, and later received pardons or commutations from President Donald Trump upon his return to office in January 2025.
See you this evening.
— Aaron
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