Good evening, everyone. I hope you had a great Friday. While today was lighter than usual in this whirlwind news cycle, there are still major developments worth your attention. First, the closure of Alligator Alcatraz comes amid shocking allegations that guards brutally attacked undocumented migrants inside the facility, compounding an already staggering $218 million pitfall for the Florida government. At the same time, America’s political map is shifting: Republican Senator Joni Ernst and a conservative justice on the Wisconsin Supreme Court both announced they will not seek reelection — moves that could reshape the balance of power in the months ahead.
But I also need to address something directly. Over the past 24 hours, MAGA Republicans and those tied to this White House have unleashed a wave of attacks — against me, against this platform, and against the community we’ve built together. They have threatened, smeared, and tried to intimidate us. Let me be clear: it will not work. The truth is too important. We will not back down, and we will never cave. While we are here, where are the Epstein files?
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With that, here’s the news:
A federal appellate court in a 7-4 decision has invalidated most of Donald Trump’s tariffs in a major loss for the Administration. The ruling does not go into effect until October to give Trump to appeal to the United States Supreme Court.
Detainees at Florida’s “Alligator Alcatraz” immigration jail alleged guards beat them with batons and used teargas to suppress a mini-uprising sparked by news of a family death, though state and ICE officials deny the claims; the incident comes as a federal judge has ordered the controversial Everglades facility closed within 60 days amid mounting abuse reports and protests.
A federal judge ordered Florida to wind down operations at the $218M Everglades migrant detention center known as “Alligator Alcatraz,” leaving the state facing massive financial losses, ongoing lawsuits over unsanitary conditions and legal access, and criticism for bypassing required environmental reviews, even as Gov. Ron DeSantis pushes plans for a second facility called “Deportation Depot.”
President Trump invoked a rarely used “pocket rescission” to cancel $4.9B in congressionally approved foreign aid, prompting legal and political backlash from Democrats and even some Republicans who argue the move is illegal, setting up a funding showdown ahead of a Sept. 30 government shutdown deadline.
President Trump hosted Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch III for a White House lunch as his administration reviews museum exhibits, criticizing the Smithsonian for what it calls an overemphasis on slavery and progressive themes, sparking debate over historical representation and cultural priorities in the nation’s public museums.
Iowa Republican Sen. Joni Ernst, 55, will not seek reelection in 2026, creating an open Senate seat that GOP Rep. Ashley Hinson is expected to pursue while Democrats already have a crowded field of candidates; the retirement reshapes the political landscape in a state trending Republican but where Democrats see new signs of competitiveness ahead of crucial midterms.
Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Rebecca Bradley announced she will not seek reelection, saying she believes her efforts to rebuild the conservative movement and fight for liberty are better pursued outside the court, where conservatives are currently in the minority.
The US ended its de minimis exemption for low-value imports today, meaning packages under $800 now face tariffs and fees, a shift expected to raise costs and slow deliveries for consumers and small businesses; the Trump administration says the move closes tariff loopholes and curbs illicit goods, but retailers warn it will drive up prices and limit access to affordable foreign products.
A federal appeals court blocked the Trump administration’s bid to end Temporary Protected Status for 600,000 Venezuelans, ruling Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem lacked authority to overturn prior extensions; the decision preserves protections for now amid uncertainty for hundreds of thousands already affected by job losses, detentions, and deportations.
A federal judge heard arguments but delayed ruling on Fed Governor Lisa Cook’s bid to block President Trump’s unprecedented attempt to fire her over fraud allegations, a move seen as part of Trump’s broader push to gain a majority on the Federal Reserve Board and exert political influence over monetary policy.
Trump adviser Stephen Miller defended Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. amid CDC turmoil, calling him a “crown jewel” of the administration despite backlash over his firing of CDC Director Susan Monarez and multiple senior resignations, while dismissing the agency’s staff as partisan and lacking credibility.
White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller said the administration will intensify immigration enforcement in “sanctuary cities,” framing it as a public safety and national security priority, while critics note such cities don’t shield immigrants from deportation but limit cooperation with ICE detainers.
The Trump administration is preparing to surge ICE personnel in Boston as part of a broader post–Labor Day immigration crackdown, drawing resistance from Mayor Michelle Wu, who reaffirmed the city’s sanctuary policies, while ICE leaders and Trump officials argue sanctuary rules endanger public safety.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed a controversial redistricting bill redrawing the congressional map to favor Republicans, eliminating several Democratic-majority districts in cities like Houston, Austin, and Dallas-Fort Worth after Democrats staged a weeks-long walkout in protest.
President Trump revoked Secret Service protection for former Vice President and 2024 Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris, canceling an extension granted by President Biden beyond the standard six-month entitlement.
Attorney General Pam Bondi announced federal law enforcement made 86 arrests in Washington, DC on Thursday, raising the total to 1,369 arrests by federal officers, according to the White House.
The Pentagon is restoring a controversial 20-foot portrait of Confederate General Robert E. Lee—depicting an enslaved man holding his horse—at West Point’s library, despite a 2020 law mandating removal of Confederate tributes, as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and President Trump push to reinstate such symbols.
Gaza news:
Israel announced it will no longer pause fighting to allow aid into Gaza City, declaring the area a “dangerous combat zone” as it steps up attacks ahead of a planned offensive, a move aid groups warn will worsen famine and civilian suffering, with over 63,000 Palestinians killed in the nearly two-year war.
The US State Department confirmed it is denying and revoking visas for members of the Palestine Liberation Organization and Palestinian Authority ahead of the UN General Assembly in September.
Hundreds of UN human rights staff signed an internal letter urging their leadership to declare Israel’s Gaza offensive a genocide and call for suspending arms sales, warning that failing to do so undermines UN credibility, while Israel rejected the charge as false and UN officials stressed only an international court can make such a ruling.
The UN Security Council extended the mandate of its Lebanon peacekeeping mission (Unifil) until December 2026 but ordered its withdrawal under US and Israeli pressure, ending a 47-year deployment that has monitored the Israel-Lebanon border, sparking relief in Beirut but concerns from allies like France and Italy about stability after the pullout.
Good news:
MIT researchers unveiled a new robotic pollinator modeled more closely on real bees, capable of 17 minutes of flight — 100 times more efficient than earlier prototypes — with potential applications in indoor farms, hazardous environments, and even space, offering a technological boost to support natural bee populations.
Mexico, Belize, and Guatemala signed an agreement creating the Great Mayan Reserve, a 14-million-acre trinational “biocultural” reserve protecting the second-largest intact rainforest in the Americas, safeguarding both biodiversity and Mayan cultural heritage through joint conservation, anti-crime measures, and sustainable development initiatives.
See you in the morning.
— Aaron
