Good morning, everyone. Over the weekend, we witnessed blatant media censorship and government intimidation in real time.
First, CBS News announced it will no longer edit taped interviews with DHS Secretary Kristi Noem — a change made only after her complaints. Why does a top Trump official get special treatment? Ask yourself that.
Second, the USTA reportedly instructed broadcasters not to air any booing or protests during Donald Trump’s appearance at the US Open, even though the crowd clearly showed its disapproval. That’s not journalism — that’s protecting power.
And finally, journalist Pablo Manriquez of Migrant Insider revealed that an ICE vehicle has been parked outside his home in what looks like an unmistakable act of intimidation, simply because of his reporting.
This is not hypothetical. It’s happening now. Major media companies are folding under pressure, and independent reporters are being targeted for telling the truth. And it’s only the beginning. I refuse to be silenced. I refuse to cave. If you value fearless journalism in this moment, I need your support. Subscribe today — it truly means the world.
With that, here’s the news:
House Speaker Mike Johnson backed off his earlier claim that Donald Trump was an FBI informant in the Jeffrey Epstein case, amid growing bipartisan calls for the release of more Epstein files; meanwhile, Trump rejected the push as a “Democrat hoax that never ends,” while pointing to his past decision to remove Epstein from Mar-a-Lago.
Last night, spoke with Lisa Phillips, a survivor of Jeffrey Epstein’s horrific crimes. Now in her 40s, Phillips was just 21 when she met Epstein—and was sexually assaulted by him. For years, she buried the memory. It wasn’t until Epstein’s death in 2019—while awaiting trial on charges of sex trafficking girls as young as 14—and through meeting other survivors, that she began to fully understand the truth of what had been done to her.
According to Robert Garcia, the Democratic Leader on the House Oversight Committee, the Committee is expected to get Jeffrey Epstein’s 50th birthday book in short order.
Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo admitted his department conducted no data analysis before lifting vaccine mandates, telling CNN’s Jake Tapper that the decision was about “right and wrong,” not scientific projections of public health impact.
Florida’s health department said the state’s plan to drop certain school vaccine mandates will not take effect for about 90 days and will initially cover only chickenpox, hepatitis B, Hib influenza, and pneumococcal diseases, while vaccines for measles, polio, diphtheria, pertussis, mumps, and tetanus remain required unless lawmakers expand the rollback; the move, pushed by surgeon general Joseph Ladapo and governor Ron DeSantis, has drawn fierce criticism from health experts who warn it will fuel outbreaks of preventable diseases amid rising measles and whooping cough cases nationwide.
A private Georgetown dinner erupted when Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent threatened to physically attack housing finance chief Bill Pulte over alleged backstabbing to Trump, highlighting escalating turf wars inside the administration over control of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. According to Politico, “Why the fuck are you talking to the president about me? Fuck you,” Bessent told Pulte. “I’m gonna punch you in your fucking face.”
After criticism from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, CBS announced it will no longer edit taped interviews on Face the Nation, instead airing them live or live-to-tape; the move, prompted by backlash over cuts to Noem’s remarks on a mistaken deportation case, raises concerns about unchecked falsehoods even as CBS frames it as a push for transparency amid scrutiny of its dealings with the Trump administration.
California Republicans warned of a looming “catastrophe” as Gov. Gavin Newsom and Democrats push a ballot measure to gerrymander congressional maps in response to Trump’s redistricting moves in Texas, a shift that could cost the GOP up to five House seats; at their state convention, Republicans decried one-party rule, appealed to voters on fairness, and scrambled to mount a defense despite long-standing weakness in California politics.
Despite the DOJ dropping its opposition to his appeal, Trump adviser Peter Navarro is pressing forward, demanding prosecutors explain why they abandoned the case that led to his contempt-of-Congress conviction; Navarro argues the fight is about principle, executive privilege, and protecting future presidential advisers from prosecution, even as he rejects a pardon and invites further legal battles.
The Trump administration confirmed federal immigration raids targeting Chicago and other sanctuary cities following the Hyundai plant sweep in Georgia, while also launching “Patriot 2.0” in Massachusetts; cities braced with legal challenges, protests, and canceled cultural events as Trump weighed National Guard deployments, escalating tensions between federal enforcement and local resistance.
As Chicago braces for a federal immigration crackdown and possible National Guard deployment, churches are urging calm resistance and community preparedness; clergy warn congregants to carry ID, stay connected with family, and assert their rights, while local leaders denounce Trump’s threatened intervention as authoritarian and unnecessary, calling instead for investment and resources to address crime and inequality.
Senate Homeland Security chair condemned JD Vance for “despicable” remarks endorsing extrajudicial killings after a US strike on a Venezuelan boat killed 11 alleged traffickers; Vance defended the action as protecting Americans, while Trump vowed more such strikes and escalated military deployments in the Caribbean amid rising tensions with Venezuela.
After a massive raid at a Hyundai plant in Georgia detained about 500 workers—300 of them South Korean—Donald Trump told foreign companies to “respect” US immigration laws, urging them to hire and train American workers as his administration’s largest anti-immigration sweep strained ties with South Korea.
Seoul said it is arranging voluntary returns while pressing Washington for resolution; the incident has sparked outrage in South Korea, threatened major business ties, and prompted Foreign Minister Cho Hyu to travel to the U.S., even as Trump defended the sweep and urged foreign firms to respect immigration laws and hire American workers.
The Trump administration’s sweeping review of Smithsonian content—aimed at aligning materials with “American exceptionalism” and removing “divisive” narratives—could reshape how history is taught nationwide, alarming educators who rely on Smithsonian resources for lessons on slavery, genocide, and civil rights, and raising fears of a sanitized, partisan version of U.S. history entering classrooms.
A new report from the Illinois Economic Policy Institute and University of Illinois shows that states protecting unions’ collective bargaining rights have seen growth in union membership and higher wages, while “right-to-work” states—mainly in the South and central US—face union declines, lower pay, and higher discrimination complaints, underscoring the divide between the two labor law approaches.
Donald Trump issued a “last warning” to Hamas to accept a Gaza ceasefire and hostage-release deal already approved by Israel, while Hamas responded that it was reviewing US-mediated proposals and reiterated willingness to negotiate a full hostage exchange in return for ending the war and withdrawing Israeli forces.
A two-year-old girl evacuated from Gaza to Italy is slowly recovering from severe malnutrition worsened by a rare genetic disease, highlighting both her personal progress and the wider child hunger crisis in Gaza, where nearly 12,000 children under five suffer acute malnutrition despite Israeli claims that adequate aid has been provided.
A new NBC News/SurveyMonkey poll finds Trump’s approval rating stuck at 43% with strong disapproval at 57%, as Americans overwhelmingly back vaccines (78% support) despite moves by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to limit access; inflation remains voters’ top concern, Republicans are increasingly prioritizing crime and safety, and most Americans prefer experienced political insiders over outsiders.
See you this evening.
— Aaron
