Today’s Headlines: The last 20 living Israeli hostages were reunited with their families yesterday as Israel and Hamas completed their biggest prisoner exchange yet—250 prisoners and 1,700 detainees released to Gaza. President Trump marked the moment by urging Israel’s president to pardon Bibi before heading to the Egypt peace summit, where Pakistan’s PM nominated him for next year’s Nobel Peace Prize. Sure, why not. The ceasefire deal came just days after Trump gave Qatar the green light to build a U.S. Air Force base in Idaho and guaranteed its national security—something we’ve never done for a non-NATO ally. Meanwhile, he’s threatening 100% tariffs on all Chinese imports starting November 1st, sending crypto prices crashing (but making one mystery trader $200 million richer). Next on his Nobel campaign tour, Trump meets Zelensky on Friday, floated giving Ukraine Tomahawk missiles. In other news, the DOJ is expected to charge his ex-adviser John Bolton for mishandling classified documents, the government shutdown hit day 11 with over 4,000 federal workers laid off—including teams from Education, HUD, and the CDC—while military families are turning to food pantries and Philly just lost its only rape crisis center. And finally, Dominion Voting Systems—the company Fox paid $800M for lying about—has been bought by a Missouri firm run by a former GOP election official.

Resources/Articles mentioned in this episode:

NBC News: Live updates: All living Israeli hostages released from Gaza; Trump, world leaders sign peace deal in Egypt

CNN: US announces it will allow Qatar to build an Air Force facility in Idaho

Axios: Trump, Zelensky to discuss Tomahawks for Ukraine at White House Friday

WaPo: China vows to retaliate if Trump makes good on 100 percent tariff threat

Yahoo: Trump tariffs live updates: Trump downplays China tensions; Goldman sees US consumers paying 55% of costs

Coin Central: How One Trader Made $160 Million Shorting Crypto Before Trump's China Tariff Bombshell

MSNBC: Criminal charges against Bolton expected as early as next week

WaPo: Trump administration begins laying off federal workers amid shutdown

Axios: CDC purge hits 600 workers in key offices despite reversals

The Guardian: Majority of special education staff in US education department laid off – report | Trump administration

Time: Shutdown Causes ‘Unprecedented’ Spike in Military Families Using Food Pantries

Inquirer: Philadelphia’s only rape crisis center is pausing services indefinitely amid state budget impasse. It’s a ‘colossal loss.’

Axios: Scoop: Dominion Voting sold to company run by ex-GOP election official

Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson

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Today’s Headlines: A ceasefire in Gaza officially took effect after Israel’s security cabinet approved the deal brokered in Egypt — Israel and Hamas agreed on mutual pullbacks and a hostage-prisoner swap, while aid groups are already mobilizing for Gaza. Meanwhile, Trump’s longtime nemesis, New York AG Letitia James, has been indicted for allegedly fudging a mortgage document to help her niece buy a house — federal prosecutors previously passed on the case, and James insists it’s a paperwork mistake, not a crime. In Chicago, a judge just blocked the Trump administration from sending in the National Guard for its immigration crackdown — which, if history is any guide, will only make Trump want to do it more. At the Pentagon, nearly 300 employees are under investigation for online comments about Charlie Kirk after his death — part of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s new “don’t speak ill of Charlie” policy. Also confirmed by the Senate: the same NOAA chief who presided over Trump’s infamous “Sharpiegate” hurricane stunt. So… good luck getting accurate forecasts, ladies — the pressure’s in your barometer breasts now. Economically speaking, it’s a spooky season — Moody’s says 22 states are either in or near recession thanks to tariffs, federal job cuts, and immigration slowdowns (sound familiar?), while cocoa prices have doubled and candy inflation is up 8%. Guess no one’s getting those full sized bars this Halloween. Overseas, the U.S. just bailed out Argentina with $20 billion after its libertarian president Milei crashed the economy. In return, China’s buying Argentina’s soybeans instead of ours, screwing over Iowa farmers — so Trump’s now considering a $10–14 billion bailout for them, too. And finally, Pope Leo dropped his first major document as pontiff, urging compassion for migrants and reminding Catholics that “the poor are part of our family.” In a world full of Stephen Millers, be a Pope Leo.

Resources/Articles mentioned in this episode:

CNN: Israel and Hamas agree to first phase of Gaza ceasefire plan

NYT: What Are the Charges in Letitia James’s Indictment?

Axios: Judge blocks Trump's deployment of National Guard to Chicago

WaPo: Hegseth’s hunt for Charlie Kirk critics spans nearly 300 investigations

NYT: Senate Confirms Neil Jacobs, ‘Sharpiegate’ Meteorologist, to Lead NOAA

Axios: 22 states are in a recession or close to it, new analysis finds

Axios: Halloween scare: Candy costs are soaring

Axios: The U.S. bought Argentine pesos, Bessent says

WSJ: Trump Explores Bailout of at Least $10 Billion for U.S. Farmers

Axios: Pope Leo's first encyclical: Faith means defending migrants

Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson

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Today’s Headlines: Former FBI Director James Comey pled not guilty to charges of obstruction and making false statements, with his trial now set for January 5th. Meanwhile, Trump’s picking new enemies, calling for Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson to be jailed for “failing to protect ICE officers.” Both fired back, with Johnson saying it’s not the first time Trump’s tried to have a Black man unjustly arrested. Adding to that authoritarian flavor, new data shows nearly a quarter of FBI agents are now focused primarily on immigration enforcement — a number that hits 40% in some major field offices. Donald Trump announced that Israel and Hamas have finally agreed on the first phase of their ceasefire plan — Israel will pull back troops, hostages will go home, and prisoners will walk free. Qatar and Hamas added that the deal also opens the gates for aid to enter Gaza. At the same time, his administration quietly inked an executive agreement giving Qatar near–NATO-level security guarantees — a move that normally requires Senate approval, but apparently we’re skipping that part now. In economic news, gold prices just hit a record high of $4,000 an ounce — the strongest rally since 1979 — while the dollar is down more than 9% this year, signaling a crisis of confidence in U.S. institutions. A 29-year-old Florida man was arrested for starting the January wildfires that destroyed over 17,000 homes in Malibu and Palisades, killing 30 people. And to end on a rare uplifting note, 64-year-old immunologist Fred Ramsdell won the Nobel Prize in Medicine — learning the news only after returning from an off-the-grid Montana vacation. Truly the anti-Trump.

Resources/Articles mentioned in this episode:

NYT: Comey Pleads Not Guilty and Will Seek to Dismiss Charges as Vindictive

Axios: Trump baselessly calls for Pritzker, Chicago mayor to be jailed

WaPo: A quarter of FBI agents are assigned to immigration enforcement, per FBI data

WSJ: Trump Says Middle East Deal Is ‘Very Close,’ May Travel to Region This Week

Axios: U.S. security guarantee for Qatar sparks jealousy and confusion

Axios: Gold's rally signals investors' eroding trust in the U.S.

AP News: Authorities charge man with sparking deadly January wildfire that leveled LA neighborhoods

Wired:Scientist Who Was Offline 'Living His Best Life' Stunned by Nobel Prize Win

Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson

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Today’s Headlines: White House hardliner Stephen Miller is out here saying the quiet part out loud — during a CNN interview about National Guard deployments, he claimed the president has “plenary authority,” aka limitless power, before mysteriously freezing mid-interview. Meanwhile, Attorney General Pam Bondi doubled down on that energy in her Senate testimony, stonewalling lawmakers on everything from the Epstein files to alleged FBI bribery and whether government officials actually have to follow court orders. The FBI just cut ties with the Anti-Defamation League and the Southern Poverty Law Center — two longtime watchdogs for extremism — after complaints from Trump allies that the groups were “biased.” In policy plotting news,  the administration is reportedly eyeing a partial selloff of the $1.6 trillion federal student loan portfolio to private buyers, and it’s refusing to guarantee back pay for federal workers during the ongoing shutdown, apparently to pressure Democrats on Obamacare tax credits. At the Supreme Court, justices seemed ready to strike down Colorado’s ban on conversion therapy after hearing arguments from a Christian therapist claiming free speech violations. A federal judge also blocked the administration’s attempt to force teen pregnancy prevention programs to comply with its anti–“gender ideology” policies. And finally, six former U.S. surgeons general are warning that HHS Secretary RFK Jr. 's health policies are an “unprecedented threat” to public safety — citing his anti-vaccine rhetoric and pseudoscience as proof the nation’s top health post has gone completely off the rails.

Resources/Articles mentioned in this episode:

CNN: CNN Show Transcripts

Axios: Bondi dodges senators' questions on Comey, Epstein probes

WBRC: FBI cuts ties with Southern Poverty Law Center, Anti-Defamation League following complaints

Politico: Trump administration considers sale of federal student loan debt

WSJ: White House Says Federal Workers’ Back Pay During Shutdown Isn’t Guaranteed

NBC News: Supreme Court skeptical of state bans on conversion therapy aimed at LGBTQ kids

AP News: A judge has blocked a Trump administration effort to change teen pregnancy prevention programs

Axios: "Unprecedented threat": Six former surgeons general sound alarm on RFK Jr.

Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson

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Today’s Headlines: President Trump marked the second anniversary of Hamas’ October 7th attack by telling reporters he thinks there’s a “really good chance” Israel and Hamas will finalize their ceasefire deal “within days.” Illinois and the city of Chicago sued to block Trump’s move to federalize the National Guard, but a judge has so far declined to stop him, giving the administration until tomorrow night to respond. That’s in contrast with a Trump-appointed judge in Oregon who blocked similar deployments in Portland, calling Trump’s rationale “untethered from reality.” Stephen Miller responded by accusing the court of a “left-wing legal insurrection.” Meanwhile, ICE is reportedly gearing up to expand its surveillance powers — buying tools to track people via phone data and social media to help target deportations. And the administration plans to slash refugee admissions from 125,000 to just 7,500 this year, prioritizing (checks notes) white South Africans for resettlement. The White House is also cooking up a rule that would make it harder for older Americans to qualify for Social Security disability benefits by raising the age threshold from 50 to 60 — a move that could cut off payments for hundreds of thousands of people. And in Trump’s ongoing campaign against his perceived enemies, the FBI is reportedly planning a “showy” arrest of former director James Comey — complete with tactical gear and cameras — after suspending an agent who refused to take part. Meanwhile, a top prosecutor in Virginia is reportedly resisting pressure to charge New York AG Letitia James with mortgage fraud, because, in her words, there’s “no probable cause.” In other news, the Supreme Court rejected Ghislaine Maxwell’s appeal of her sex trafficking conviction so back to the country club prison it is. Finally, a major Cambridge study found autism likely represents multiple distinct conditions, not one single disorder.

Resources/Articles mentioned in this episode:

Axios: Amid talks in Egypt, Trump says there's "a really good chance" for a Gaza deal

NPR: Federal judge declines to immediately block National Guard deployment in Illinois

CNN: Analysis: The White House claims a left-wing judicial ‘insurrection.’ But many GOP and Trump nominees are rebuking the president, too

Wired: ICE Wants to Build Out a 24/7 Social Media Surveillance Team

AP News: Trump considers cutting US refugee intake to 7,500, focusing on white South Africans, officials say

WaPo: Trump plan would limit disability benefits for older Americans

CBS News: The FBI is weighing an arrest and perp walk for Comey — and suspended an agent for refusing to help, sources say

MSNBC: Top prosecutor is rejecting Trump pressure to charge New York AG

Axios: Supreme Court rejects Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell's appeal

Wired: Autism Is Not a Single Condition and Has No Single Cause, Scientists Conclude

Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson

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Today’s Headlines: President Trump’s creeping authoritarianism tour continues. The White House ordered 300 Illinois National Guard troops federalized to “protect federal assets” during ongoing ICE raids in Chicago — even though a federal judge (a Trump appointee, no less) just blocked a similar deployment in Portland for being, quote, “untethered to the facts.” Meanwhile, California Governor Gavin Newsom is suing over Trump sending his state’s Guard to Portland, telling him to get his own troops. Those troops, by the way, are backing ICE’s new “Operation Midway Blitz,” a dystopian raid that saw helicopters, grenades, and tear gas used on a Chicago apartment building at 1am, and the administration has since pressured Apple and Google to remove apps that warn users of ICE activity — both complied within hours. In other weird Trump administration things, the Treasury Department is reportedly considering minting a $1 coin featuring Trump’s face and the slogan “Fight Fight Fight” for the U.S.’s 250th anniversary, while the longtime director of the Eisenhower Presidential Library was ousted after refusing to hand over a historic sword for Trump to gift to King Charles (yes, really). In South Carolina, a state judge and her husband barely escaped a massive house fire that’s now under investigation. Abroad, Trump says a Gaza ceasefire deal is “days away,” despite Netanyahu reportedly responding to him with classic Bibi pessimism. Over 450 activists, including Greta Thunberg, were detained after the Israeli navy intercepted the “Global Sumud Flotilla,” with reports of abuse in detention. Also, Sean “Diddy” Combs was sentenced to just over four years in prison on prostitution-related charges — and apparently had speaking gigs lined up for the same week. And finally,, the government remains shut down while Speaker Mike Johnson continues to block the swearing-in of congresswoman-elect Adelita Grijalva.

Resources/Articles mentioned in this episode:

ABC 7: Trump administration federalizing 300 National Guard members in Illinois, White House confirms

Axios: Newsom to sue Trump for sending California National Guard troops to Oregon

https://time.com/7323334/ice-raid-chicago-pritzker-trump/

AP News: Apple and Google block apps that crowdsource ICE sightings. Some warn of chilling effects

Politico: Treasury Department considers minting a $1 Trump coin

NYT: After Declining To Give Trump A Sword For King Charles, A Museum Leader Is Out 

NY Post: Beachfront home of South Carolina judge, ex-senator burned to ground, injuring 3

Axios: Scoop — Trump to Netanyahu on Gaza talks: "You're always so f***ing negative"

AP News: Gaza flotilla activists allege mistreatment while being detained in Israel

NYT: Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’s Future: Prison, Fine and a Shunning

E!: Sean “Diddy” Combs Scheduled Speaking Events Before Receiving His Sentencing

NYT: Both Parties Are Resigned to Deadlock as Government Shutdown Takes Hold 

Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson

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Today’s Headlines: President Trump has formally declared the U.S. to be in an “armed conflict” with drug cartels, invoking war powers and ordering military strikes on Caribbean boats the administration labels as “terrorist organizations.” Lawmakers in both parties are skeptical of the legal basis but—shocker—seem unlikely to act. Meanwhile, the government shutdown has left 750,000 workers unpaid or furloughed, and the White House is now threatening permanent firings with help from Project 2025 architect Russell Vought. Shutdown propaganda even seeped into federal employees’ auto-replies, which were forcibly edited to blame Democrats. The Energy Department axed $7.6 billion in clean energy grants, conveniently targeting states that voted for Kamala Harris. The administration also sent nine universities—including Vanderbilt, MIT, and Brown—a “compact” demanding they overhaul admissions, freeze tuition, and abolish certain departments in exchange for federal funds. Elsewhere, the FDA approved a generic version of the abortion pill mifepristone, sparking predictable outrage despite it being a routine process. Yom Kippur was marred by a deadly terror attack at a synagogue in Manchester, where two worshippers were killed and the attacker was shot dead. And finally, Commerce Secretary Howard “Laughin’” Lutnick, a former neighbor of Jeffrey Epstein, suggested Epstein blackmailed powerful men with videos, casually detonating months of damage control efforts with a single podcast appearance.

Resources/Articles mentioned in this episode:

AP News: Trump says US is in 'armed conflict' with drug cartels after ordering strikes in the Caribbean

WSJ: Lawmakers From Both Sides Pressed Pentagon on Legal Basis for Cartel Boat Strikes

Axios: Trump embraces Project 2025 after disavowing it during 2024 campaign

Wired: Government Workers Say Their Out-of-Office Replies Were Forcibly Changed to Blame Democrats for Shutdown

AP News: Trump administration cuts nearly $8B in clean energy projects in states that backed Harris

WSJ: Exclusive | Trump White House Asks Colleges to Sign Sweeping Agreement to Get Funding Advantage

AP News: FDA approves another generic abortion pill, prompting outrage from conservatives

Reuters: Synagogue attack on Yom Kippur kills two in UK's Manchester; suspect shot dead

ABC News: Howard Lutnick believes Jeffrey Epstein may have used blackmail to get a lighter sentence

Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson

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Today’s Headlines: The government is officially shut down, and OMB apparently spent its last working hours ordering at least 16 federal agencies to send out a pre-written email blaming Democrats for it—an illegal little parting gift to federal workers. With the shutdown, you can forget about getting jobs or inflation data for now (except from payroll firm ADP, which says companies shed 32,000 jobs in September—so, yeah, not great). Meanwhile, the Supreme Court told Trump he can’t just boot Fed Governor Lisa Cook on the spot, kicking that fight to January. At the Pentagon, Pete Hegseth is rolling out strict NDAs and even random polygraphs for thousands of staffers, including top brass, in his ongoing war against leakers. And in actual science news, researchers in Nature Communications announced they’ve managed to create functional human eggs from skin cells in a lab—early proof-of-concept that could eventually transform fertility treatments, though no babies are being made from them anytime soon.

Resources/Articles mentioned in this episode:

The Handbasket: Trump mandates all federal agencies send email blaming Dems for potential gov’t shutdown 

Yahoo: While the government is closed, jobs and inflation data go unreported

NBC News: U.S. companies shed 32,000 jobs in September in latest sign of labor market weakness

NYT: Supreme Court Allows Lisa Cook to Remain at Fed, for Now

WaPo: Pentagon plans widespread random polygraphs, NDAs to stanch leaks

Wired: Scientists Made Human Eggs From Skin Cells and Used Them to Form Embryos

Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson

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Today’s Headlines: Trump and his War Secretary Pete Hegseth dragged 800 generals from around the world to Quantico for what was basically a “threatening pep rally.” Hegseth banned beards, long hair, and “Nordic pagan” vibes. Trump then called U.S. cities like San Francisco and Chicago “war zones” that should be used as military training grounds, and even ranted about ugly stealth ships. Meanwhile, the government officially shut down at midnight. Around 750,000 federal workers are now unpaid or furloughed (with Trump hinting some might be permanently cut) and — conveniently — there’s no vote on releasing the Epstein files. In other news, the administration is moving to “debar” Harvard, potentially banning it from federal funds and grants after already threatening its tax status and student visas. Trump also struck a flashy Oval Office deal with Pfizer to sell Medicaid and cash-paying consumers cheaper drugs via a new website called “Trump Rx” while Pfizer invests $70 billion in U.S. manufacturing. Other pharma companies are being told to play ball or face tariffs. And on the tech front, OpenAI announced a new TikTok-style video app while a startup called Xicoia is shopping an AI-generated “actor” to Hollywood — so apparently we’re replacing performers before agents now.

Resources/Articles mentioned in this episode:

AP News: Trump calls for using US cities as a 'training ground' for military in unusual speech to generals

NYT: Government Shutdown Hours Away as Senate Spending Votes Fail

WSJ: Trump Administration Opens New Front to Strip Harvard of Federal Funding

WSJ: White House Unveils ‘TrumpRx’ Drug-Buying Site and a Pfizer Pricing Deal

WSJ: OpenAI Launches Video Generator App to Rival TikTok and YouTube

AP News: 'AI actor' Tilly Norwood stirs outrage in Hollywood

Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson

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Tuesday, September 30th, 2025 - Trump-Bibi Gaza plan; YouTube pays Trump $22M; EA’s Kushner-Saudi buyout; Bad Bunny Super Bowl; Gov’t shutdown looms

Today’s Headlines: Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu and Donald Trump stood at the White House to unveil a 20-point Gaza peace plan that starts with a 72-hour ceasefire and hostage release, phases out Israeli troops, and sets up a Trump-chaired “Board of Peace” with Tony Blair (yep, that Tony Blair). Hamas hasn’t signed on yet. Meanwhile, details emerged about the Michigan church shooter—Trump called it a “targeted attack on Christians,” but the guy was actually a hardcore Trump fan with a Trump flag and merch. Oregon and Portland are suing to block Trump’s National Guard deployment, YouTube is paying him $22M to settle his suspension lawsuit (funds earmarked for a White House ballroom, naturally), and EA might get scooped up by Jared Kushner, Saudi Arabia, and private equity for $50B. Missouri just locked in a gerrymandered map for Trump’s benefit, Moldova’s pro-EU party scored a decisive win despite Russian meddling, and Bad Bunny will headline the Super Bowl halftime show—get ready for Fox & Friends meltdowns. Oh, and unless Congress pulls a rabbit out of a hat, the government shuts down tomorrow.

Resources/Articles mentioned in this episode:

NBC News: Trump holds crucial talks with Netanyahu to push deal to end Gaza war

The Guardian: Mormon church shooting suspect had Trump sign outside home, records show

NBC News: Oregon sues Trump administration over deployment of National Guard troops to Portland

Axios: YouTube to pay Trump $22 million for suspending his account after Jan. 6 riot

WSJ: Videogame Giant Electronic Arts Nears Roughly $50 Billion Deal to Go Private

NYT: Missouri Governor Signs Congressional Map Redrawn to Boost Republicans

AP News: Moldova’s pro-EU party wins parliamentary election

NBC News: Bad Bunny to headline Super Bowl 60 halftime show

Axios: Trump, Democrats leave meeting without deal to avoid government shutdown

Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson

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