Good evening, everyone. As this weekend draws to a close, I come to you with a message that cannot wait until Monday morning. It’s time to stop normalizing what is happening in the United States of America.
As a journalist, my job is not just to report the facts, but to confront the truth, and the truth is that we are witnessing something deeply dangerous. If you believe the truth still matters then I’m asking you to subscribe and support this work. Because what’s happening in America is not normal, and silence helps no one.
Children are being separated from their families, bound together with zip ties in the streets of Chicago. The military is being deployed against American citizens in cities across this nation, including Portland and Chicago, despite court orders telling the government to stop. And, the President of the United States is calling for the arrest of Americans who burn the flag — an act of protest that is protected by the Constitution itself.
Let’s be absolutely clear: this is not politics as usual. This is not “business as usual.”
This is not normal.
I could sit here and soften it for you. I could tell you that these are complicated times, that maybe it’s just another political storm that will blow over. I could whitewash what’s happening and pretend that this is just how things go in America.
If I did that, the White House would be happy with me. Powerful people would applaud me. But I won’t. And no journalist, no anchor, no editor, no citizen with a conscience should.
Because history will not remember who played it safe. It will remember who stood up when democracy was under siege.
At this moment, the truth matters more than ever. That’s why this platform exists to report facts without fear, to expose power without favor, and to hold the line when institutions tremble.
With that, here’s what you missed:
California Governor Gavin Newsom announced plans to sue the Trump administration after it federalized and deployed 300 California National Guard troops to Oregon, calling the move—made a day after a federal judge blocked Trump’s attempt to deploy Oregon’s own Guard—an unlawful abuse of power that defied court orders.
The Trump administration authorized the deployment of 300 National Guard troops to Illinois despite opposition from Gov. JB Pritzker, who said he was given an ultimatum by the Defense Department to “call up your troops, or we will.” Pritzker condemned the move as “outrageous and un-American,” insisting there was no need for military intervention in his state and refusing to cooperate. The White House claimed the deployment was necessary to protect federal officers amid “ongoing violent riots,” while critics accused the administration of escalating tensions.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem called Chicago “a war zone” after federal agents shot a woman during a confrontation, defending the Trump administration’s deployment of 300 National Guard troops to the city.
A federal judge blocked President Trump’s plan to deploy 200 Oregon National Guard troops to Portland, ruling the move unconstitutional and “untethered to the facts,” as Oregon officials argued it violated state sovereignty and exaggerated unrest; the White House called the decision a “legal insurrection” and appealed, deepening the national clash over executive power, federalism, and the limits of military force in U.S. citie
Donald Trump has escalated attacks on liberal billionaire George Soros, suggesting he and other Democratic donors be investigated for allegedly funding “left-wing terrorism,” despite no evidence; critics say the move weaponizes antisemitic tropes and aims to intimidate major Democratic contributors ahead of the 2026 midterms by making Soros a political scapegoat and deterring donor support.
As the U.S. government shutdown entered its fifth day, House Speaker Mike Johnson blamed Democrats for stalling negotiations, accusing them of lacking seriousness, while Democratic leaders Hakeem Jeffries and Chuck Schumer countered that Republicans and President Trump were spreading lies and political attacks instead of addressing healthcare funding. The impasse, fueled by partisan recriminations and threats of federal layoffs, showed no sign of resolution as both sides sought leverage amid growing public frustration.
White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett warned that federal worker layoffs could occur if the government shutdown continues, while Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth cautioned that prolonged inaction could leave military personnel struggling without pay.
The Trump administration is drafting a plan to make it harder for older Americans to qualify for Social Security disability benefits by removing age as a factor in determining work capability—a move that could cut benefits for hundreds of thousands and significantly reshape the federal safety net for poor, elderly, and disabled individuals.
A mass shooting in downtown Montgomery, Alabama, on Saturday night left two people dead — including 17-year-old Jeremiah Morris and 43-year-old Shalanda Williams — and 12 others wounded, five of them critically. Police Chief Jim Graboys said the incident, which occurred near the Alabama National Fair, began when one person was targeted and others nearby fired back, creating a chaotic crossfire. Seven of the injured were under 20 years old.
Two separate shootings at South Carolina State University left one woman dead and one man injured, prompting a lockdown and the cancellation of homecoming events; authorities say the incidents appear unrelated and remain under investigation.
The Sunrise Movement, known for championing the Green New Deal, is expanding its mission to confront what it calls rising authoritarianism under the Trump administration, launching new campaigns to defend free speech, academic freedom, and protest rights. The group plans nationwide campus organizing, anti-deportation efforts, and activist training while continuing its fight for climate and social justice, arguing that meaningful climate action is impossible “under authoritarianism.”
See you in the morning.
— Aaron
