Today’s Headlines: Donald Trump had a not-so-stellar day yesterday. First, Indiana’s GOP-controlled state senate actually stood up to him and rejected his pressure campaign to pass a wildly gerrymandered congressional map. So instead of all nine districts going red, only seven will — proving that sometimes his bullying doesn’t work (shocking, I know). Then Congress did its favorite thing: nothing helpful. Both parties tanked bills that would’ve extended Obamacare subsidies, meaning everyone’s insurance premiums are about to skyrocket.  Over in the House, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem got grilled during the annual “worldwide threats” hearing — mostly about immigration and the administration’s messy due-process violations. She even denied ICE had detained veterans… until a deported veteran showed up…on zoom. Meanwhile, a federal judge ordered the release of Kilmar Abrego Garcia because ICE couldn’t produce a single legal document justifying why they were trying to deport him. CBP also wants to require travelers from 40 visa-waiver countries to hand over five years of social media, emails, phone numbers, and family history before visiting the U.S. And the administration is adding another militarized zone to the southern border just because. Trump also failed yet again to manufacture a criminal case against NY AG Letitia James — the second grand jury in two weeks declined to indict her for fake mortgage fraud. In New York, Gov. Kathy Hochul signed a new law requiring disclosure when ads use AI-generated actors and requiring consent for post-mortem likeness use. But Trump immediately tried to kneecap state AI rules with an executive order letting DOJ punish states that “restrict” AI — all part of the administration’s push for “AI neutrality” (whatever that means), including new federal guidance to ban “woke” AI. And finally, Disney struck a $1 billion deal with OpenAI to let Sora use Disney characters in AI-generated videos. So basically… they’re paying someone to copy their own IP.

Resources/Articles mentioned in this episode:

NYT: Indiana Senate Republicans Reject Trump’s Redistricting Effort

CNN: Live updates: Trump administration, health care vote and latest Venezuela news

PBS News: WATCH: Noem defends Trump immigration policy in House hearing on security threats

AP News: Foreigners allowed to travel to the US without a visa could soon face new social media screening

AP News: Trump administration adds militarized zone in California along southern US border

NYT: A Grand Jury Again Resists Trump’s Push to Reindict Letitia James

WSJ: Trump Signs Executive Order to Curtail State AI Laws

Axios: White House issues federal agency guidance against "woke" AI

Axios: N.Y. Gov. Kathy Hochul proposes major changes to AI bill

Deadline: Disney Inks Blockbuster $1B Deal With OpenAI, Handing Characters Over To Sora

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

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Today’s Headlines: Trump had a chaotic 24 hours — bragging at 3 a.m. on Truth Social that he “aced” his third cognitive test and accusing the New York Times of being “treasonous” for reporting he looked like he was asleep in a Cabinet meeting. By midday he’d moved on to claiming the U.S. seized the “largest tanker ever” near Venezuela, while Pam Bondi posted dramatic helicopter-raid footage with zero clarity on whose oil was involved. Meanwhile, another federal judge ordered the DOJ to unseal all Epstein grand jury records, giving Trump just eight days to release the files he’s been promising for years. In other news, the Fed cut interest rates again, six states struck deals with the administration to ban SNAP users from buying junk food, and Congresswoman Nancy Mace introduced a bill to rename Black Lives Matter Plaza after… Charlie Kirk. Over in foreign policy chaos, Rep. Thomas Massie introduced a bill to pull the U.S. out of NATO entirely. Election-wise, Democrats scored more surprise wins: Albuquerque’s mayor kept his seat and a Democrat flipped a deep-red Georgia district that Trump carried by 12 points. In tech bro land, Elon Musk hinted that SpaceX is going public next year, OpenAI warned (in its own report!) that its models pose “high risk” for cyberattacks, and Australia officially began its under-16 social media ban. And finally, Marco Rubio ordered U.S. diplomats to ditch Calibri and go back to Times New Roman because vibes.

Resources/Articles mentioned in this episode:

The Daily Beast: Trump, 79, Boasts About Taking Three Separate Dementia Tests

CNN: US seized oil tanker off Venezuelan coast, Trump says

The Independent: Epstein and Maxwell grand jury docs are being unsealed as Trump’s DOJ approaches deadline to publish files

CNBC: Divided Fed approves third rate cut this year, sees slower pace ahead

Axios: SNAP junk food ban expands to 6 more states

Axios: GOP bill would rename Black Lives Matter Plaza after Charlie Kirk

Thomas Massie: Rep. Massie Introduces Bill to Remove the United States from NATO

Albuquerque Journal: Mayor Keller wins third consecutive term in Albuquerque runoff election

Georgia Recorder: Democrat flips northeast Georgia state House seat, pulling off special election upset

Axios: Musk suggests SpaceX IPO reports are "accurate"

Axios: Exclusive: New OpenAI models likely pose "high" cybersecurity risk, company says

NYT: Australia’s Social Media Ban for Children Takes Effect

AP News: Calibri font becomes the latest DEI target as Rubio orders return to Times New Roman

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

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Today’s Headlines: Trump had a busy week: he gave himself an A++++++ on the economy, and in a Politico interview, openly admitted he has “no vision for Europe” while praising autocrats like Orban in Hungary and Erdogan in Turkey. European security officials are sounding alarms too, warning that Russia’s hybrid warfare campaign—political sabotage, infrastructure attacks, energy manipulation, and propaganda—could escalate into a full-blown war by 2029. Meanwhile, Netanyahu says he speaks to Putin “regularly” to protect Israel’s borders, particularly against Syria, so the lines are already being drawn. Over in tech, Elon Musk confessed on Katie Miller’s podcast that DOGE was only “somewhat successful” and that if he could do it again, he wouldn’t. And the Pentagon, under Pete Hegseth, is rolling out Google’s Gemini AI for unclassified work like onboarding and administrative tasks—but the NYT is suing because Hegseth’s new press rules forced reporters to sign gag orders or lose access. In Florida, Miami elected its first Democratic mayor in 28 years, Eileen Higgins, a former Peace Corps director and mechanical engineer, ending decades of GOP control and running on a government efficiency platform. Let’s travel back to Taylor Swift’s October album release real quick, remember the nazi, trad wife chaos around it? Turns out, less than 4% of accounts drove 28% of the conversation, and over 73% of the inflammatory posts came from inauthentic or conspiracy-focused accounts. Basically, most of the outrage wasn’t real—it was engineered.

Resources/Articles mentioned in this episode:

Politico: Full transcript: POLITICO's interview with Donald Trump

Financial Times: Russia’s hybrid warfare puts Europe to the test

Times Of Israel: In Knesset debate, Netanyahu says he regularly talks to Putin to safeguard Israel's 'vital interests'

WSJ: New York Times Sues Hegseth, Defense Department Over New Press Rules

Axios: Musk says DOGE was only "somewhat successful," wouldn't do it again

Axios: U.S. military to use Google Gemini for new AI platform

Politico: Miami elects first woman mayor, ends GOP’s 28-year control of City Hall

Rolling Stone: Taylor Swift's Last Album Sparked Bizarre Accusations of Nazism. It Was a Coordinated Attack

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

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Today’s Headlines: Trump is reportedly gearing up for his first big firing of Term Two — and no, it’s not Pete Hegseth or RFK Jr. The likely target is DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, because she’s not deporting people fast enough for Grandpa Joffrey. Rumor is she’ll be swapped out for Glenn Youngkin once he’s done being Virginia’s governor. Meanwhile, Alina Habba is officially out after her totally-not-real stint as U.S. attorney, Trump is still shielding Pete over that missing boat-strike video, and MTG is rebranding herself as “America First” — prompting Trump to call her a washed-up traitor. In Texas, Jasmine Crockett is in the Senate race, Colin Allred is out, and Democrats suddenly have… a plot twist. Trump and Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins dropped a $12B farm bailout to fix the tariff mess Trump created, because of course. Paramount is launching a hostile, Saudi- and Kushner-funded bid to snatch Warner Bros. Discovery away from Netflix — the messiest media custody battle imaginable. And finally, ABC renewed Jimmy Kimmel despite Trump rage-tweeting that he should be fired, even while Trump was busy giving himself a medal at the Kennedy Center Honors.

Resources/Articles mentioned in this episode:

The New Republic: Is Kristi Noem About to Get Fired?

WaPo: Trump says Hegseth will decide whether to release boat strike video

NBC News: Ex-Trump lawyer Alina Habba announces she's stepping down as U.S. attorney for N.J.

CBS News: Trump responds to "traitor" Marjorie Taylor Greene after "60 Minutes" interview

Yahoo: Jasmine Crockett in, Colin Allred out: A major shakeup for Democrats in their quest to finally win a Senate seat in Texas

AP News: Trump is giving farmers $12B in aid. They've been hit hard by his trade war with China

AP News: Jimmy Kimmel signs one-year contract extension with ABC

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

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Today’s Headlines: The Trump administration released its 33-page National Security Strategy — immediately praised by the Kremlin — outlining U.S. “dominance” in the Americas, embracing Middle East leaders “as they are,” warning Europe of “civilizational erasure,” and boosting far-right movements there. It also shifts U.S. policy in Africa toward extracting “latent economic potential,” and says avoiding conflict with China is suddenly a “priority.” At the Reagan Defense Forum, Pete Hegseth declared the end of America’s “utopian idealism,” saying the military should ditch democracy-building and climate concerns for “practical interests.” Sure, Pete. Israel, Qatar, and the U.S. met to build relations after Israel’s strike in Doha it was, of course, hosted by Steve Witkoff — who, along with Jared Kushner, also had a long call with Zelensky about territory and “security guarantees.” Meanwhile, the Supreme Court will hear Trump’s effort to end birthright citizenship, despite the Constitution spelling it out pretty clearly and Trump threw a fit after pardoned Democrat Henry Cuellar didn’t switch parties, accusing him of “disloyalty” and claiming “God was very happy” with his pardon. In other news, the Jan. 5 pipe-bomb suspect is cooperating with the FBI and says he planted them to support Trump, RFK Jr.’s HHS and anti-vax panel voted to end universal Hep B shots at birth, disregarding the risks to infants, and the Netflix–Warner Bros. merger is in trouble, with the Trump administration favoring a sale to Trump-ally-owned Paramount instead.

Resources/Articles mentioned in this episode:

The Guardian: Kremlin hails Trump’s national security strategy as aligned with Russia’s vision

Whitehouse: National Security Strategy | The White House

Politico:  Hegseth declares end of US 'utopian idealism' with new military strategy

Axios: Scoop: Israel and Qatar hold secret meeting in New York to rebuild ties

Axios: Zelensky, Trump advisers discuss Ukraine peace terms in 2-hour call

Axios: Trump blasts pardoned Democrat as lacking "LOYALTY"

NBC News: Pipe bomb suspect told FBI he believed 2020 election conspiracy theories

PBS: Fact-checking the CDC panel’s reasons for dropping universal newborn hepatitis B vaccine recommendation

Fox Business: Trump administration reportedly skeptical about Netflix and Warner Bros.' $72B deal

WSJ: Paramount Raises Concerns About Netflix’s Bid for Warner Bros. Discovery

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

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Today’s Headlines: Federal investigators finally arrested a suspect in the January 6th pipe bomb case — 30-year-old Brian Cole Jr. — though AG Pam Bondi says they still don’t know the motive and didn’t get any new tips. Meanwhile, pardoned J6 defendant Taylor Taranto popped up near Rep. Jamie Raskin’s house, prompting another bump in security during what’s starting to feel like a never-ending wave of threats. The DOJ is also trying to re-indict Letitia James and James Comey after their earlier cases collapsed thanks to the administration forgetting you actually need legitimate prosecutors. A new grand jury declined to indict James on mortgage fraud, and the GAO has now opened an investigation into FHFA director Bill Pulte — the guy reportedly cooking up the bogus mortgage probes against Trump enemies. Trump declared he’s solved war again, announcing “peace” between Rwanda and militant forces in the DRC… despite fighting still happening. Over in the real war he can’t magically fix, Putin rejected the latest Ukraine peace draft after chats with Kushner & Witkoff. And according to a leaked call, European leaders warned Zelensky that the U.S. might screw Ukraine over in negotiations. At home, the Supreme Court ruled 6–3 that Texas can use its aggressively gerrymandered congressional map for 2026 — a huge boost to Republicans. In”people who won’t go away” news, Mike Lindell is now running for governor of Minnesota. And finally, the NFL announced new uniform field-safety standards for all stadiums by 2028, presumably so players stop shredding their knees to enhance player safety.

Resources/Articles mentioned in this episode:

NBC News: Officials say a fresh review of evidence led to arrest in D.C. pipe bomb case

Axios: Scoop: Security upped for Rep. Jamie Raskin after alleged incident

Axios: Grand jury declines second attempt to indict Letitia James

Axios: Trump ally Pulte under investigation by congressional watchdog

Axios: Trump's peace deal without the peace between DRC and Rwanda

AP News: Putin says there are points he can't agree to in the US proposal to end Russia's war in Ukraine

Spiegel: Confidential Conference on Ukraine Peace: "We Must Not Leave Ukraine and Volodymyr Alone with These Guys" - DER SPIEGEL

WSJ: Supreme Court to Allow Texas to Use New Congressional Map in Win for Republicans

MS Now: MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell wants to run for Minnesota governor

AP News: NFL mandates playing surfaces for all stadiums meet new standards by 2028 to enhance player safety

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

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Today’s Headlines: The House Oversight Committee dropped another batch of photos and videos from Jeffrey Epstein’s island, but honestly, this is not a “paint me a picture” situation — Google is your friend. Meanwhile, Pete Hegseth’s Signalgate drama is heating up: an inspector general report says he put troops at risk, and Rep. Shri Thanedar is already drafting impeachment articles over both that and the whole “blow up random boats” era. Trump surprised literally everyone — including GOP leadership — by pardoning Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar, who was awaiting trial for allegedly taking $600k in foreign bribes. And the administration announced a pause on immigration applications from 19 “high-risk” countries, with no timeline for resuming them, while a judge ruled that ICE actually does need warrants to arrest people in DC. Trump also claimed Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff had a “very good” meeting with Putin on a Ukraine peace plan (sure), as European leaders slammed Putin for wasting everyone’s time. And in a peak bit of irony, the former U.S. Institute of Peace has now been renamed the Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace.Finally, the FDA recalled more than 250,000 cases of shredded cheese sold nationwide due to possible metal contamination — a divine sign to stop buying store-brand cheese before it saws your intestines in half.

Resources/Articles mentioned in this episode:

CNN: New images and videos from Epstein’s island released

CNN: Watchdog finds Hegseth risked endangering troops by sharing of sensitive war plans on Signal, sources say

Axios: Democrat announces articles of impeachment against Hegseth

Axios: Scoop: Johnson blindsided by Trump's Cuellar pardon

MS Now: Trump administration pauses immigration from 19 countries

Axios: Federal judge restricts warrantless immigration arrests in D.C.

Axios: Trump says Witkoff and Kushner had "a very good" meeting with Putin

AP News: Europeans accuse Putin of feigning interest in peace after talks with US envoys

Axios: Trump's name added to US Institute of Peace

AP News: Shredded cheese sold in dozens of states recalled due to potential for metal fragment contamination

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

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Today’s Headlines: Republican Matt Van Epps narrowly won Tennessee’s special election, which is… not exactly a flex for the GOP given the district. Meanwhile, Trump went on a full midnight Truth Social bender — 150 posts of pure nonsense — including a retweet of Kristi Noem calling for a “full travel ban” on basically whoever she feels like. He kept the chaos going at a two-hour Cabinet meeting where he bragged about his cognitive test, nodded off, and let Noem announce immigration crackdowns in Minnesota’s Somali community. Pete Hegseth used his time to deny ordering the killing of survivors of U.S. boat strikes and promised more strikes off Venezuela, as a Signalgate review is set to be released. Kash Patel didn’t fare much better in the news cycle, a leaked 115-page report from FBI veterans called the bureau under him a fear-soaked disaster run by a guy who once refused to leave a plane until someone found him a properly patched FBI jacket. In more anit-immigration adjacent news, Brooke Rollins is threatening to pause SNAP funds for states refusing to share immigrant data. Sabrina Carpenter, however, wants zero association with ICE after they used her music in a raid montage. And like we all knew would happen, Senate Republicans appear to have abandoned the plan to extend Obamacare subsidies before premiums spike in January (shocking). Finally, billionaire Michael Dell and his wife are tossing $6.25 billion into “Trump accounts” for kids, while Treasury kicks in $1,000 for children born during Trump’s term, and Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff spent four hours in the Kremlin with Putin discussing their ever-mutating “peace plan.” 

Resources/Articles mentioned in this episode:

NBC News: Tennessee House Special Election 2025 Live Results: Matt Van Epps Wins, NBC News Projects

The Independent: Trump goes on late-night social media rant demanding Democrats who spoke out on military justice be jailed

NYT: Kristi Noem Recommends New Travel Ban After National Guard Shooting

Axios: ICE coming for Minneapolis after Trump targets Somalis

CNN: Fact check: Trump delivers long list of false claims at Cabinet meeting

Axios: Scoop: Pentagon's internal "Signalgate" review sent to Congress

Yahoo: Kash Patel Justifies Jacket Meltdown by Saying He Wanted a Kid’s Size

Axios: SNAP benefits at risk as states resist Trump immigration data demands

AP News: Sabrina Carpenter and Franklin the Turtle publisher condemn Trump administration's use of their work

AP News: Chances dwindling for renewal of health care subsidies, risking premium spikes for millions

WaPo: Dell CEO pledges $6 billion to ‘Trump accounts’ for American children

Axios: Witkoff and Kushner met Putin for five hours on Ukraine plan

Telegraph: Putin: We’re ready for war with Europe

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

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Today’s Headlines: Trump’s personal lawyer Alina Habba just got bounced by the 3rd Circuit as New Jersey’s top federal prosecutor, because—surprise!—she was never legally appointed in the first place. Meanwhile, Trump picked a fight with Tim Walz, accidentally revealed he got an MRI, then insisted he has no idea what body part it scanned… but definitely not his brain because he “aced” a cognitive test. His doctor then released a memo assuring us his MRI was “pretty normal,” which is exactly what you’d say if it wasn’t. Trump is also defending Pete Hegseth, who’s accused of war crimes after reportedly ordering a second strike on survivors of a boat attack. House Democrats are digging into FBI Director Kash Patel for allegedly using government jets as his personal Vegas shuttle to visit his girlfriend (and let her take joyrides too). In totally normal news, the administration is also taking an equity stake—yes, equity—in a new chip startup founded by Intel’s former CEO, while Costco is suing to get refunds on tariffs that were apparently collected illegally. Additionally, three of Chuck Schumer’s offices got MAGA-themed bomb threats. And finally, new research says giving kids smartphones before age 12 dramatically increases their risks of depression, obesity, and terrible sleep. A separate study found that even a one-week social media detox noticeably improves mental health. 

Resources/Articles mentioned in this episode:

AP News: Former Trump lawyer Alina Habba is disqualified as top New Jersey prosecutor, US appeals court rules

PBS: Trump says he’ll release MRI results but doesn’t know what part of his body was scanned

WaPo: White House says Trump got MRI for ‘preventive’ cardiovascular check-up

Axios: Trump backs Hegseth as Congress plans boat strike review

Axios: House Democrats investigate Kash Patel's use of FBI jet

WSJ: Trump Administration to Take Equity Stake in Former Intel CEO’s Chip Startup

NBC News: Costco sues the Trump administration, seeking a refund of tariffs

Axios: Multiple bomb threats at Schumer's New York offices

Axios: Smartphones at age 12 linked to worse health

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

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Today’s Headlines: A CIA-trained Afghan asylum recipient shot two National Guard members in DC—one fatally—prompting Trump to announce (on his little app) a “pause” on all migration from “third world countries”. The administration is now freezing asylum and Afghan visas while somehow avoiding the question of why the National Guard is still posted in DC at all. Meanwhile, the Trump team is escalating its hunt for “sedition,” with the FBI now interviewing the six Democratic veterans who reminded troops not to follow illegal orders. And in the Department of Defense (War), Pete Hegseth allegedly ordered a second strike to kill survivors of a botched boat attack—something even a few Senate Republicans have decided is maybe a bridge too far. Trump also pardoned former Honduran president and convicted drug trafficker Juan Orlando Hernández, who immediately went home like it was checkout time at Club Fed. On the Ukraine front, Rubio, Kushner, and Steve Witkoff are still trying to spin their “peace plan,” which reporting suggests was always just a giant business deal in disguise. The drama deepened when Zelensky’s chief-of-staff Andriy Yermak resigned after a corruption raid and announced he’s headed to the front lines. In other news, the families of Americans killed or injured on Oct. 7 are suing Binance for allegedly helping fund Hamas and other militant groups—just weeks after Trump pardoned Binance’s founder. Over in Israel, Netanyahu is trying to get a presidential pardon mid-trial because sure, why the heck not. Additionally, hundreds of New Yorkers blocked what looked like an ICE raid with their bodies and literal piles of garbage bags, Senate Republicans are gearing up to fight basic car-safety rules, and RFK Jr. just ditched asbestos testing for talc cosmetics because…MAHA. Finally, GOP Rep. Troy Nehls is retiring, but don’t celebrate too hard—his identical twin is already lining up to take his spot.

Resources/Articles mentioned in this episode:

WSJ: National Guard Soldier Dies a Day After D.C. Shooting

AP News: US halts all asylum decisions after shooting of National Guard members

CNBC: FBI seeks to interview Sen. Mark Kelly, other Democrats Trump accused of seditious behavior

WaPo: Hegseth order on first Caribbean boat strike, officials say: Kill them all

The Hill: Senators vow oversight after report Hegseth told troops to ‘kill everybody’ in boat strike

AP News: Trump says he plans to pardon former Honduran President Hernandez for 2024 drug trafficking sentence

AP News: Rubio says US-Ukraine talks on Russia war were productive but much work remains in search of a deal

WSJ: Make Money Not War: Trump’s Real Plan for Peace in Ukraine

Kyiv Independent: Zelensky's ex-chief of staff Yermak says he's 'going to the front' after resigning amid corruption probe

NY Times: Hamas Victims’ Families Sue Binance, Accusing It of Aiding Terrorism

The Jerusalem Post: Netanyahu's pardon bid tied to pressure on Israel's courts

NYT: Several Arrested as Protesters Block ICE Agents From a Potential Raid in NYC

WSJ: Senate Committee to Challenge Auto-Safety Mandates That Hurt ‘Affordability’

The Guardian: FDA poised to kill proposal that would require asbestos testing for cosmetics

Axios: Trump ally Troy Nehls joins growing group of retiring House members

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

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