1. Supreme Court takes up birthright citizenship: The justices will hear President Trump's challenge to birthright citizenship tied to illegal entry, revisiting long-standing interpretations of the 14th Amendment and the landmark Wong Kim Ark decision.
2. High-risk lending rules eased: Federal regulators move to loosen post-2008 lending restrictions, raising concerns about future financial instability as banks and private credit expand risk exposure.
3. New credit scoring model launches: VantageScore 4.0 rolls out nationwide, using rent, utilities, and alternative data to expand credit access — a shift that could help first-time borrowers but also raise systemic risk.
4. Epstein grand jury testimony ordered released: A federal judge authorizes the release of Epstein grand jury records following new congressional legislation, with redactions expected and public disclosure pending.

Erick Erickson breaks down the four major stories you need to know before the day ends. From political power plays in Washington to breaking developments the mainstream media is ignoring, this rapid-fire update cuts through the noise.

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1. Trump tightens migrant work-permit rules: Annual renewals return as the administration cracks down on temporary work authorizations and orders stricter vetting of H-1B visas to curb fraud and abuse.
2. Admiral Alvin Halsey forced out at the Pentagon: The Wall Street Journal reports Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth removed Halsey for being "too cautious," fueling rising GOP frustration with Hegseth's leadership and handling of military operations.
3. Gates Foundation warns of rising global child deaths: Declining vaccine access and reduced foreign aid could push mortality rates higher—raising broader questions about global dependence on U.S. assistance amid a $39T national debt.
4. MAGA Republicans consider deal to fund abortion & extend ACA subsidies: Elise Stefanik and allies are exploring a bipartisan package extending Obamacare subsidies and funding abortion services—drawing sharp backlash from conservatives who call it a red line.

Erick Erickson breaks down the four major stories you need to know before the day ends. From political power plays in Washington to breaking developments the mainstream media is ignoring, this rapid-fire update cuts through the noise.

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1. ADP job losses outweigh corporate hiring: Small businesses with under 50 employees shed tens of thousands of jobs, driving a bleak private-sector snapshot now shaping the national narrative.
2. Elise Stefanik escalates her fight with Speaker Mike Johnson: She's attacking him over a long-running provision she wants added to the defense bill.
3. Pentagon Inspector General blasts Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth: A new report says he improperly shared sensitive military information in a Signal chat, further eroding confidence among Republicans who already questioned his competence.
4. Epstein documents delayed again: Attorney General Pam Bondi still hasn't released the Epstein files despite clear direction from Congress and Democrats are using the delay to revive speculation and conspiracy theories.

Erick Erickson breaks down the four major stories you need to know before the day ends. From political power plays in Washington to breaking developments the mainstream media is ignoring, this rapid-fire update cuts through the noise.

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1. Trump Pardons Honduran Ex-President Accused of Flooding the U.S. With Cocaine - Juan Orlando Hernández, the former Honduran president prosecuted by Trump's first administration for drug trafficking and aiding narco-terrorists, is now a free man.
2. Confusion Deepens Over the Narco-Boat Strike - Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth claims he did not know survivors were on the targeted vessel as Congress demands answers.
3. Legal Fights Over Trump's Anti-Narco Strategy Intensify - Critics argue that because Congress defined narco-trafficking as a federal crime, the president cannot unilaterally classify traffickers as enemy combatants.
4. Minnesota Braces for Targeted ICE Raids Focused on Somali Immigrants - Federal authorities plan increased enforcement in Minnesota following widespread welfare-fraud investigations tied to Somali networks.

Erick Erickson breaks down the four major stories you need to know before the day ends. From political power plays in Washington to breaking developments the mainstream media is ignoring, this rapid-fire update cuts through the noise.

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• Zelenskyy seeks new security guarantees
• Tennessee's Special Election warning sign for GOP
• Trump's preventative MRI stirs media frenzy
• Federal court rules Alina Haba was serving unlawfully as U.S. Attorney

Erick Erickson breaks down the four major stories you need to know before the day ends. From political power plays in Washington to breaking developments the mainstream media is ignoring, this rapid-fire update cuts through the noise. Get the podcast on Apple, Spotify, or your favorite app. Stay grounded, stay informed, and keep the faith.

1. Ukraine peace talks fracture: President Trump declines Zelensky's request for a meeting and instead sends Steve Whitkoff to Moscow. Republican senators and European leaders warn the deal heavily favors Russia, and new reporting shows Whitkoff may have coordinated strategy directly with the Kremlin.
2. FBI Director Kash Patel under fire: Trump is considering firing Patel after reports he compromised investigations, used government aircraft for personal events, and tried to secure SWAT protection for his girlfriend. DOJ sources say his online behavior has become a liability.
3. Indiana reverses course on redistricting: Under intense pressure from the White House, Indiana Republicans now plan to reconvene and redraw districts following California's redraw and a Texas map freeze, a move aimed at preserving GOP control in 2026.
4. NYC socialist mayor surprises Left: Mayor Zoran Mamdani appoints a real-estate-aligned YIMBY housing advocate, infuriating socialists but signaling a pragmatic shift on solving New York's housing crisis.

Erick Erickson breaks down the four major stories you need to know before the day ends. From political power plays in Washington to breaking developments the mainstream media is ignoring, this rapid-fire update cuts through the noise.

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1. Bizarre Haiti Plot Exposed: Federal prosecutors charge two Texans for allegedly planning to recruit homeless Americans as a mercenary force to seize Haiti's Gonâve Island, a surreal and disturbing scheme raising serious questions about motive and intent.
2. Comey Case Tossed: A federal judge dismisses cases against James Comey and Letitia James after ruling the interim U.S. attorney was improperly appointed. With the statute of limitations expired, the DOJ has only a six-month window — and no clear path — to refile.
3. Federal Reserve Split Emerges: San Francisco Fed President Mary Daly signals support for a December rate cut, but internal Fed fractures are growing. Inflation concerns may block action and the swing vote could be Lisa Cook, the same governor Trump is trying to remove.
4. Senate vs. White House Showdown: Senators are furious over the Pentagon's handling of the Mark Kelly dispute and are privately working to undermine the Ukraine peace deal. GOP lawmakers warn the White House that the Senate still matters, and they won't be sidelined during Trump's lame-duck period.

Erick Erickson breaks down the four major stories you need to know before the day ends. From political power plays in Washington to breaking developments the mainstream media is ignoring, this rapid-fire update cuts through the noise.

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• Trump's Ukraine ultimatum: The president demands Ukraine respond to his 28-point peace plan by Thursday, a proposal angering Republicans, European allies, and Ukrainian officials for giving Russia territory it hasn't even captured.
• Georgia Senate race rocked: Frontrunner Rep. Mike Collins and his chief of staff are under House Ethics investigation, shaking up the most competitive Senate race of 2026.
• Bolton facing new charges: DOJ signals additional possible charges for former National Security Adviser John Bolton stemming from alleged mishandling of classified information in a compromised email channel.
• RFK Jr. controversy grows: The CDC quietly changes language on vaccines and autism after pressure from HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., alarming health officials and raising concerns about resurging preventable diseases.

Erick Erickson breaks down the four major stories you need to know before the day ends. From political power plays in Washington to breaking developments the mainstream media is ignoring, this rapid-fire update cuts through the noise.

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1. Wall Street tumbles: The Dow swings more than 1,000 points as AI-driven market fears spark a selloff. Erick breaks down the "circular money" fueling AI deals, why Nvidia's numbers aren't as strong as they look, and the warning signs echoing Enron, WorldCom, and the dot-com bubble.
2. CIA inside Venezuela: New leaks reveal President Trump has authorized CIA operations aimed at destabilizing Nicolás Maduro without deploying U.S. troops. Erick explains the real strategic target behind the moves — Cuba — and Marco Rubio's long-term push to topple the island's communist regime.
3. Walmart's rise signals economic stress: Strong Walmart sales hint at consumers trading down as the economy slows.
4. Epstein file release pressure intensifies: Senate Republicans warn Pam Bondi not to delay releasing Epstein records.

Erick Erickson breaks down the four major stories you need to know before the day ends. From political power plays in Washington to breaking developments the mainstream media is ignoring, this rapid-fire update cuts through the noise.

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Stay grounded, stay informed, and keep the faith.

1. Missing Economic Data Creates Turmoil - The Labor Department announces it will not publish October unemployment numbers due to shutdown-related data loss, leaving the Federal Reserve without critical indicators as it debates a December rate cut.

2. Fed Signals Doubt on December Cuts - With inflation still hovering around 3% and missing federal data, Fed governors are increasingly hesitant to proceed with previously expected rate cuts, raising recession fears as private data suggests unemployment is rising.

3. Ukraine Strikes Inside Russia With U.S.-Aided Targeting - Ukraine deploys long-range American missiles using U.S. intelligence guidance.

4. Major Prosecutorial Error May Collapse Comey Case - A stunning courtroom admission reveals the grand jury never saw the final Comey indictment text before approving it - a major procedural failure that may void the case entirely and damage the administration's credibility.

5. Trump to Sign Epstein Files Release Legislation - Despite Democratic claims of an impending cover-up, the president is expected to sign bipartisan legislation releasing Epstein documents — with national-security-related redactions certain to fuel new conspiracy narratives.

Erick Erickson breaks down the four major stories you need to know before the day ends. From political power plays in Washington to breaking developments the mainstream media is ignoring, this rapid-fire update cuts through the noise.

Get the podcast on Apple, Spotify, or your favorite app.

Stay grounded, stay informed, and keep the faith.