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Morning Announcements

Betches Media

Morning Announcements is your daily news rundown from Betches News--because the world’s a mess, and someone’s gotta explain it. Every morning, Betches co-founder and host Sami Sage cuts through the chaos to break down what actually matters, one unhinged headline at a time. All in under 10 minutes, so you can stay informed without spiraling.

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Friday · 8 min
Friday, September 18th, 2026 - Trump's Bomb Stock Trade, Russian Assassins Indicted in NY, OpenAI's Models Going Rogue Again
Today's Headlines: There’s quite a bit of geopolitical drama going on. Three Russian intelligence operatives were indicted by the Southern District of New York for allegedly orchestrating plots to assassinate Russian dissidents on US soil, with the Kremlin offering no comment, of course. Trump is planning to sell $2.8 billion in bombs to Israel — including 40,000 two-thousand-pound bombs — while having recently bought stock in General Dynamics, one of the manufacturers, and having made more stock trades than all members of Congress combined since taking office, so the conflict of interest is doing a lot of work there. The UN released a report finding the US may have committed war crimes in Iran during two specific strikes — one hitting an elementary school that killed 157 people, 123 of them under 13 — while military families told reporters that missile attacks on US bases in the Middle East are being actively hidden from the American public, alongside the true number of injured troops and the state of munitions supplies. On the vanity projects beat, a judge ruled the Trump administration must give 30 days notice before making any changes to the Kennedy Center — a day after fencing went up around the building and Trump was photographed with a poster board titled "KENNEDY CENTER DEMOLISHED" — buying it at least another month, despite the fact that it was $41 million in the black at the end of the Biden administration, nothing to see here folks. In tech, OpenAI disclosed six new alarming model incidents including concealing mistakes, attempting to access unauthorized credentials, and communicating across isolated training environments, so not cool. Finally, Nike cofounder Phil Knight and his wife Penny announced a $1.1 billion donation to build Oregon's first women's health hospital, which is the best news of the day, and Merriam-Webster added 1,400 new words including "looksmaxxing," "crash out," "Sunday Scaries," and "cuffing season." Resources/Articles mentioned: NYT: U.S. Charges Five Men in Russia-Backed Assassination Plots ABC News: Top Democrat places hold on Trump administration’s plan to sell heavy bombs to Israel MS Now: Trump’s reported plan to sell bombs to Israel spotlights his stock trading Axios: UN report: U.S. may have committed war crimes in Iran MS Now: ‘Sitting ducks’: Military families live in fear as U.S. troops face undisclosed missile attacks WaPo: Judge says Trump’s board may not demolish Kennedy Center without warning Axios: OpenAI discloses six new AI safety incidents AP News: $1.1 billion from Nike co-founder will build Oregon’s first women’s hospital WaPo: ‘Crashout’, ‘Looksmaxxing’: Merriam-Webster adds over 1,400 new words Subscribe to the Betches News Room and join the Morning Announcements group chat. Go to: betchesnews.substack.com Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Thursday · 7 min
Thursday, September 17th, 2026 - The EU Wants Canada, Fed Raised Rates, Trump Threatened to Withhold FEMA Over an Election
Today's Headlines: The EU is floating the idea of Canada becoming its first-ever associate member in response to Trump's trade war — which would be a historic geopolitical realignment — and separately proposed banning children under 13 from social media entirely across member states, with 13-15 year olds getting supervised mini accounts with one hour daily limits, Europe is actually doing the things we keep talking about doing. Back in the states, the Fed raised interest rates by a quarter point for the first time since 2023. As usual, markets fell, and Trump responded by demanding rates drop to 1% or less because "our country is booming," which is one way to describe $6 diesel and a $38 billion war. Congress had an unusually productive day: the House passed expanded Russia sanctions, voted to hold Leon Black in contempt for suing the committee that subpoenaed him rather than testifying about his Epstein ties, and the Senate blocked the crypto industry's self-written Clarity Act 50-49 — six votes short of passing — given the president's own ability to profit from crypto made it a tough sell even for some Republicans. Mitch McConnell returned for day two and nearly voted the wrong way on the farm bill before aides redirected him, which is either reassuring or alarming depending on how you look at it, but the bill passed and that's something. And Trump campaigned in North Carolina for Republican senate candidate Michael Whatley and told the crowd he would withhold FEMA disaster funding if Whatley loses, which is textbook extortion. Resources/Articles mentioned: Axios: EU chief floats associate membership for Canada after U.S. trade attacks Wired: The EU Plans to Ban Social Media for Under-13s CNBC: Fed approves interest rate hike, signals one more to come this year Axios: House passes Russia sanctions bill PBS: House votes to hold billionaire Leon Black in contempt of Congress over Epstein investigation NYT: Senate Votes to Block Crypto Bill in Major Blow to the Industry The Hill: Senate panel advances farm bill following McConnell’s return Trump tries to salvage 'tough' North Carolina Senate race for GOP Subscribe to the Betches News Room and join the Morning Announcements group chat. Go to: betchesnews.substack.com Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Wednesday · 9 min
Wednesday, September 16th, 2026 - Kash Testified About Bestiality, Kennedy Center Is Closing, Diesel Hit $6 A Gallon
Today's Headlines: Kash Patel testified before Congress for four and a half hours, during which Republican Senator John Kennedy asked why he would "even get into bestiality" — a reference to the FBI's new hiring policy — and Kash responded that "we're not into bestiality" before claiming the policy change was to help trafficking victims, which is not what the policy said, making it one of the more surreal exchanges in recent congressional history. Kash also defended firing FBI agents for being "disloyal" to Trump by having investigated January 6th or Iranian threats. The Kennedy Center voted to close itself after another judge blocked Trump's name going on the building, Trump posted that it's closing for repairs that will only happen if his name goes on it, and the courts said no again. To add to that loss, Trump went on a Truth Social rant against Kavanaugh, Coney Barrett, and Gorsuch for the mail voting ruling while calling Alito and Thomas "legends both," sent Todd Blanche out to clean it up on TV, and is still pressuring states for voter data and planning to send agents to polling sites in swing counties. On the war beat, the Iran war has officially cost over $38 billion as of August 1st and is projected to add at least half a point to inflation in early 2027 even if it ended today — which it won't — diesel hit an all-time high of $6 a gallon after Iranian drones hit a Saudi pipeline, and the Fed is expected to raise interest rates for the first time since 2023. All that is probably why Thomas Massie introduced a resolution to impeach Pete Hegseth for illegally continuing the Iran war, which probably won't work but will force Republicans on record. And finally, DOGE's approach to shrinking the government cost taxpayers $9.5 billion in 2025 paying federal employees not to work — 435% more in paid administrative leave than the prior year. Resources/Articles mentioned: NBC News: Kash Patel defends FBI’s new policy on bestiality at Senate hearing WaPo: FBI director faces sharp questions from senators about his firing of agents AP News: Live updates: Kennedy Center board votes to close most of the iconic performing arts venue NYT: Trump Slams Supreme Court Over Mail-In Voting Ruling WSJ: Trump’s Frustration With His Own Supreme Court Appointees Boils Over AP News: Iran war has cost the US more than $38B, budget office says WSJ: U.S. Diesel Prices Hit New Record High as Fuel Squeeze Bites Axios: Massie moves to impeach Pete Hegseth over Iran War WSJ: Pentagon Wants Only the Fittest Troops to Attend Upcoming Hegseth Speech NYT: Federal Employees Were Paid $9.5 Billion Not to Work in 2025 Under DOGE Effort Subscribe to the Betches News Room and join the Morning Announcements group chat. Go to: betchesnews.substack.com Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tuesday · 10 min
Tuesday, September 15th, 2026 - Mail Voting Victory, Putin’s friend Paid for Don Jr.'s Wedding, Mitch McConnell Is Alive
Today's Headlines: The Supreme Court blocked Trump's executive order restricting mail-in ballots with less than two months to the midterms — genuinely good news, though just one prong of a multi-pronged operation that also includes the DOJ sending threatening letters to 30 election officials demanding voter data, and a DHS whistleblower accusing the department of illegally directing agents to access voter rolls and investigate 40 voters a day each. Kash Patel, meanwhile, has reportedly been ordering FBI agents to find and respond to accounts that criticize him on Twitter — which is an excellent use of federal law enforcement resources. Back to vanity projects, the Kennedy Center distributed a 57-page packet to its board warning it could go bankrupt unless Trump's name is added to the building, at which point he will raise the money to save it, so is it extortion or a hostage situation? In other news, ProPublica revealed that a Putin-linked Russian oligarch named Umar Kremlev paid for significant portions of Don Jr.'s wedding celebration, including a fireworks show and a private island rental, with Bettina Trump clarifying on Instagram that Umar merely "hosted two incredible nights of celebrations" as "an extraordinarily generous wedding gift," which is totally normal. Let’s move on to President Trump who called AI safety concerns a hoax, compared warnings about AI risks to climate change warnings and called Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang mid-appearance on stage to deliver this message. Speaking of climate change, the EPA repealed rules limiting greenhouse gas emissions from coal and natural gas plants and added a separate rule preventing future administrations from ever regulating climate pollution from power plants. Great. And finally, Mitch McConnell showed up to work after three months, cast the deciding vote on a conservative judge confirmation. Resources/Articles mentioned: NYT: Live Updates: Supreme Court Rejects Trump's Restrictions on Voting by Mail NYT: Whistle-Blower: Federal Agents May Have Broken State Laws in Search For Voter Fraud The New Republic: Texts Reveal Kash Patel Ordering Staff to Fight “Ifindretards” Account WaPo: Kennedy Center could close as early as Tuesday, warns of bankruptcy, documents show ProPublica: Donald Trump Jr.’s Wedding Bankrolled by Putin-Linked Russian Oligarch AP News: Trump calls AI risks a 'hoax,' says there is a 'SICK conspiracy' against AI and data centers AP News: EPA eliminates rule that limits planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions from power plants AP News: McConnell returns to the Senate for the first time since his June hospitalization Subscribe to the Betches News Room and join the Morning Announcements group chat. Go to: betchesnews.substack.com Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Monday · 10 min
Monday, September 14th, 2026 - Trump’s Weekend Gaffes, AI CEOs Want Regulation, TX Stops Counting Maternal Deaths
Today's Headlines: Trump skipped the 9/11 memorial ceremony in New York to fall asleep at the Pentagon's 9/11 ceremony. He then flew to Ireland where the Irish president seated him behind a notably small desk, protests featured an inflatable Trump being inflatable-Netanyahu'd in the streets, and he called Irish reunification "fantastic" and "a cool thing," breaking 28 years of official US neutrality on an issue that has historically caused quite a bit of conflict. This landed at an awkward moment given that Northern Ireland, Wales, and Scotland are meeting today to discuss potentially dissolving the United Kingdom entirely. Trump also lunged at ABC reporter Rachel Scott when she asked about his $5,000 check promise and pointed out the national debt is $40 trillion, the White House called journalist Aaron Rupar a "sick, deluded freak" for noting Natalie Harp was in Ireland, and Trump blamed Zelensky for global energy prices and told him to stop hitting Russian diesel. It was quite the weekend for the President. While we’re on that, a Russian drone strike near the Polish border may have targeted a train carrying Boris Johnson and David Petraeus, prompting air raid warnings in Poland. In other news, An American diplomat accused of possessing child sex abuse material was quietly flown out of London on a secret military flight before police could question him. France expanded its Epstein investigation, identifying 13 new potential victims and multiple potential recruiters, one of whom was found dead in his home right before he was set to be questioned. On AI, Sam Altman, Elon Musk, and Dario Amodei all posted this weekend calling for AI regulation and a slowdown — simultaneously — very sketchy. And finally, ectopic pregnancy deaths have nearly doubled since the pandemic and increased even more in states with abortion bans, and Texas responded by simply deciding not to analyze maternal mortality data from 2022 and 2023 — the years the abortion ban went into effect — making it impossible to measure its impact. Resources/Articles mentioned: WaPo: At the Pentagon, Trump ties the legacy of 9/11 to his Iran war NYT: In Doonbeg, Trump’s Irish Open Visit Prompts Protests and Praise NYT: Trump Says Irish Unification Would Be ‘Fantastic,’ Breaking With Precedent Telegraph: Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish leaders meet to plan break-up of United Kingdom The New Republic: Trump Lunges at Female Reporter Asking About Those Supposed $5K Checks Newsweek: White House Calls Journalist ‘Sick, Deluded Freak’ Over Natalie Harp Post NYT: Trump Blames Ukraine for Global Diesel Shortage The Guardian: Train carrying Boris Johnson and ex-CIA chief may have been targeted in Russian strike, officials say | Ukraine Sky News: US officials 'secretly flew diplomat out of UK' after indecent image allegations NYT: France Widens Sex-Trafficking Investigation Linked to Jeffrey Epstein WaPo: Top AI leaders unite to warn the technology is advancing too fast Fortune: Sam Altman confirms OpenAI won't go public this year, saying an IPO now would come at an 'ill-advised moment' given AI safety concerns CNN: Ectopic pregnancy deaths have nearly doubled. It’s worse in states with abortion bans Texas Observer: Texas Maternal Mortality Committee's Next Report Will Skip Post-'Roe' Deaths. Lawmakers Suspect Political Influence. Subscribe to the Betches News Room and join the Morning Announcements group chat. Go to: betchesnews.substack.com Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
September 11 · 6 min
Friday, September 11th, 2026 - 9/11's 25th Anniversary, ABC Kills Talarico Interview, Trump’s Voting Restrictions Blocked Again
Today's Headlines: Today marks 25 years since September 11th — 2,977 people killed that day, and over 5,000 first responders who have since died from toxic exposure at Ground Zero. The 9/11 Memorial added a seventh moment of silence this year specifically to honor those who died in the years following. The Republican convention pregamed the anniversary with "Trumpapalooza" — featuring a "God Made Trump" video, promises of $5,000 checks nobody will ever see, and a crowd member screaming that James Talarico and Abdul El-Sayed should be shot. Speaking of Talarico, a new poll shows him leading Paxton 48-43, which explains why ABC refused to air Jimmy Kimmel's Talarico interview after the FCC threatened the network, its affiliates, and local Texas stations — the interview is up on Kimmel's YouTube now, and if the Colbert precedent holds, more people will watch it there anyway. On the election interference beat, an appeals court rejected Trump's mail-in voting restrictions on the grounds that the president doesn't have authority to regulate state elections — though he'll almost certainly appeal to the Supreme Court — and the Supreme Court rejected Missouri's gerrymandered congressional map for the second time, leaving the state past its ballot deadline with no guidance on what map to actually use in November, which is a mess entirely of their own making. And finally, benchmark mortgage rates hit a 14 year high, so yay. Resources/Articles mentioned: 9/11 Memorial: News Release: 9/11 Memorial & Museum Adds Moment of Silence to 25th Anniversary Commemoration, Honoring Those Lost to 9/11 Health Effects NYT: Republican Convention Live Updates: Vance and Trump to Speak on Day 2 of Midterm Event NBC News: Jimmy Kimmel says show won’t air James Talarico interview on TV, citing FCC threats The Guardian: US appeals court rejects Trump’s bid to restrict mail-in voting before midterms NYT: Supreme Court Again Blocks Republican-Backed Missouri Voting Map The Hill: Benchmark mortgage rate hits 14-month high as bond yields keep rising Subscribe to the Betches News Room and join the Morning Announcements group chat. Go to: betchesnews.substack.com Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
September 10 · 8 min
Thursday, September 10th, 2026 - Fetterman Goes Full MAGA, Trump's Illegal Cash Gifts to Aides, South Park now South America
Today's Headlines: The dumb (with a b) Republican convention kicked off in Dallas with John Fetterman appearing in a video praising Trump and calling Democrats extremists and socialists to no one's surprise. In semi-related news, Ken Paxton lost the endorsement of his own former top law enforcement official — a decorated Texas Ranger who blew the whistle on Paxton to the FBI in 2020 — to Democratic opponent James Talarico, because even the people who worked for him can't stand him. Moving on, Trump celebrated the AFD's German election win with "MGGA — Make Germany Great Again," actively cheering on the Nazi party with two more German regional elections coming in ten days. Trump also gave $45,000 cash gifts to Natalie Harp, communications director Margo Martin, and 26-year-old executive assistant Chamberlain Harris — nearly a third of each of their $150,000 salaries — plus $20,000 to Walt Nauta, all of which appears to violate federal law prohibiting supplementing government employees' salaries from outside sources. On the tech beat, an Anthropic researcher named Jacob Coxon quit his job and gave up significant equity because he believes his company and its competitors are building tools that could destroy humanity, while a colleague on Twitter put the odds at 10% that AI destroys humanity by 2030 — and separately, a human mathematician accused OpenAI of solving a century-old math proof only because they heard about his work through an Anthropic scientist, which would have given Anthropic the credit, so Sam Altman allegedly stole a math discovery, which tracks. Yesterday marked a year since Charlie Kirk was killed, Georgetown students held a lookalike contest in DC, and Turning Point USA was not amused. And finally, South Park is renaming itself South America for season 29, explicitly mocking Apple and Google for caving on Lake Ontario. Resources/Articles mentioned: AP News: Democratic Sen. Fetterman speaks at a GOP midterm convention, fueling party-switch fears WaPo: Paxton’s former top law enforcement official endorses Talarico Axios: Trump's "MGGA" praise collides with Germany's Nazi past WaPo: Trump gave $45,000 cash gifts to Natalie Harp, two other close aides WSJ: Anthropic Researcher Quits Over ‘Out-of-Control’ AI Fears WIRED: OpenAI Just Claimed a Huge Math Discovery. Some Academics Are Crying Foul WJLA: Georgetown students plan Charlie Kirk lookalike contest for anniversary of death: report Variety: ‘South Park’ Changes Name to ‘South America’ as Creators Roast Apple and Google for Obeying Trump’s Lake America Name Change Subscribe to the Betches News Room and join the Morning Announcements group chat. Go to: betchesnews.substack.com Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
September 9 · 8 min
Wednesday, September 9th, 2026 - Trump Angers Iceland, Smithsonian Chief Resigned, 9/11 Air Quality Docs Released
Today's Headlines: So Donnie’s AI slop posting frenzy over the weekend caused Iceland to summon the US ambassador after he posted a map with the American flag over all of North America, Greenland, and Iceland — Denmark called it "disturbing and completely inappropriate" — and Iceland is now accelerating its EU membership vote, having previously moved it up after Trump confused them with Greenland four times in one speech. Trump also threatened to ban Canadian aircraft manufacturer Bombardier from the US market unless they build planes domestically, despite Bombardier's supply chain already involving 3,000 American companies across 47 states, with wings made in Texas and engines from Phoenix. And on the Iran war, the US launched more strikes on Iranian oil tankers in response to Iran's latest attacks on American warships. Meanwhile, the Smithsonian's secretary Lonnie Bunch is stepping down by year's end, citing Trump's harassment of the institution and attempts to rewrite American history in its museums. The Republican Party's invented midterm convention kicks off in Dallas this week with Trump's approval rating at around 30%, and not every Republican is showing up — Susan Collins among the notable absences. This week marks the 25th anniversary of 9/11 and New York City released over 170,000 pages of documents suggesting city officials knew the air quality near Ground Zero after 9/11 was unsafe while telling the public otherwise, with more firefighters dying of related illnesses than were killed on the day itself. Speaking of 9/11, TSA launched a new program called Gateside allowing PreCheck members to enter airports without tickets to meet people at gates – a pre-9/11 experience making a limited comeback. And finally, a dozen countries including the UK, France, and Canada announced they're halting trade with Israeli West Bank settlements, with Israel responding by closing the British consulate in East Jerusalem and expelling British representatives from Gaza. Resources/Articles mentioned: CBC: Iceland summons U.S. ambassador over Trump's threat to take over Arctic nation AP News: Trump threatens Canadian jetmaker Bombardier, which has an extensive US footprint WSJ: U.S. Strikes Iranian Oil Tankers in Response to Tehran’s Attacks on Navy Ships AP News: Lonnie Bunch to retire from Smithsonian leadership following clash with Trump administration NYT: Which Senate Candidates Are Skipping Trump’s Republican Convention? Axios: NYC unveils records suggesting officials knew air was unsafe after 9/11 AP News: TSA brings back gate access for some people without plane tickets 25 years after 9/11 WSJ: European Nations Impose Trade Bans on Israel Over West Bank Settlements Subscribe to the Betches News Room and join the Morning Announcements group chat. Go to: betchesnews.substack.com Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
September 8 · 10 min
Tuesday, September 8th, 2026 - Trump Went Brunette, Canada's Tariffs Hit at Midnight, Hunter Biden $LAPTOP Meme Coin
Today's Headlines: It was a wild Labor Day weekend for Trump who spent the holiday posting AI images of himself as the Hulk, on the moon, with George Washington, and a map renaming New Mexico to "New America" and stepped off Air Force One as a brunette. Meanwhile, Tweedles Dum and Dee, Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff visited Kyiv for peace talks with Zelensky, raved about how respectful Putin has been to them personally, and promised announcements "in the coming weeks" before winter. In semi-related news, the Russia backed far-right AFD party won a landslide in Germany's Saxony-Anhalt regional election with 78% turnout, forming the first far-right state government since the original Nazis, with two more German regional elections coming September 20th. Canada's 50% retaliatory tariffs on over 700 American imports went into effect at midnight, doubling what they already had in place, because liberation day is the gift that keeps on giving. In disturbing news, the Tate brothers, picked up another set of Romanian indictments for trafficking minors, money laundering, and witness intimidation while sitting in Florida custody awaiting potential extradition to the UK, and seven Epstein survivors sued hairstylist Frederic Fekkai — named by Massie last week — alleging his salon was the "epicenter for victim grooming," with one of his locations inside a store owned by Les Wexner, also named by Massie, so the connections keep connecting. And finally, Hunter Biden announced a meme coin called $LAPTOP launching on Coinbase, with 20% of proceeds going to people who lost money on Trump's meme coin, which is something. Resources/Articles mentioned: Axios: Witkoff and Kushner make first Kyiv visit for peace talks NYT: Trump Floats Renaming New Mexico as ‘New America,’ Prompting Pushback The Independent: ‘What’s going on with Trump’s hair?’ Internet puzzled over president’s new brunette coiffure NYT: Is Work Starting for Trump’s Arch? It Depends Who’s Asking. AP News: Germany's Merz shocked by far-right state election triumph but doubles down on unpopular reforms NYT: Brushing Aside Trump’s Threats, Canada Retaliates on Tariffs NYT: Andrew and Tristan Tate Face New Charges in Romania: A Timeline of the Cases Against Them Allure: A New Lawsuit Alleges Frédéric Fekkai's Hair Salon Was Epstein's "Epicenter for Victim Grooming" WSJ: Hunter Biden (and His Laptop) Enter the Cryptosphere With New Meme Coin Subscribe to the Betches News Room and join the Morning Announcements group chat. Go to: betchesnews.substack.com Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
September 4 · 6 min
Friday, September 4th, 2026 - Gloria Steinem Dies at 92, ICE Building National Voter Database, Leon Black Ghosted Congress, AI Outage
Today's Headlines: Today's episode is dedicated to Gloria Steinem, who passed away at 92 years old. In what can only be described as a fitting tribute, ChatGPT, Claude, and Grok all went down simultaneously shortly after, forcing people to use their actual brains for a few hours. On the Immigration beat, ICE is spending $5 million to build a national voter database on behalf of DHS, acquiring voter registration and history files from specific states. A 17-year ICE veteran whistleblower also came forward accusing the Trump administration of fast-tracking unqualified candidates as agents before background checks were complete, calling it an "unprecedented lowering of standards" and a national security risk. In a rare moment of accountability, Trump's own DOJ charged an ICE officer with lying about shooting a Venezuelan immigrant in Minneapolis — the same officer Texas's governor previously refused to extradite to face state charges. In Epstein files news, Leon Black skipped his congressional testimony on his Epstein ties and instead sued the House Oversight Committee to block his subpoena, arguing they can't force him to hand over NDAs signed with women Epstein trafficked to him, and the committee responded by threatening contempt charges. We’ll see if that actually happens though. Meanwhile, Nvidia announced a $13 billion acquisition of Hugging Face — the AI platform OpenAI's model previously hacked — betting on an open-source AI future similar to China's approach, which is either brilliant or deeply ironic. And finally, for the first time in recorded human history, people over 65 now outnumber children under 5 globally, per a new US Census report — a milestone driven by declining birth rates and longer life expectancy. Resources/Articles mentioned: WIRED: ICE Plans to Pay $5 Million to Create National Voting Database NYT: ICE Skipped Basic Checks in Rush for Recruits, Whistle-Blower Says AP News: Live updates: ICE officer federally charged with lying about shooting of Venezuelan man, AP source says AP News: Billionaire Leon Black skips Epstein deposition and sues House panel over subpoenas Politico: House Oversight chair still wants attorney general to testify on handling of the Epstein files - Live Updates The Verge: ChatGPT, Grok, and Claude all went down at the same time Wired: Nvidia’s Hugging Face Acquisition Is a $12.9 Billion Bet on Open-Source AI Axios: Historic first: Older adults now outnumber the youngest children worldwide Subscribe to the Betches News Room and join the Morning Announcements group chat. Go to: betchesnews.substack.com Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
September 3 · 6 min
Thursday, September 3rd, 2026 - US Accused of War Crimes, Apple Caves on Lake America, Massie Names Epstein Associates
Today's Headlines: Iran accused the US of a war crime after strikes hit a wedding killing four civilians, the US denied targeting civilians, Iran responded by launching missiles at US bases in Jordan, Kuwait, Iraq, and Bahrain — so the ceasefire is going great. The USS Abraham Lincoln's 5,000-person crew finally docked in Thailand after nearly nine months at sea, were told by the military not to speak to journalists about the conditions they endured, and local authorities in Pattaya preemptively cracked down on prostitution ahead of their arrival. And to absolutely no one’s surprise, Apple caved to Trump and changed Lake Ontario to Lake America on Apple Maps following his personal request, which is a remarkable display of corporate spine from a company worth $3 trillion. It’s been a while but on the Epstein beat, Congressman Thomas Massie proposed the Epstein Files Transparency Act II, reading the names of 14 Epstein associates he believes need to be investigated — notably not mentioning the one person referenced in the files more than anyone else. In tech, GoPro is pivoting to AI, defense, and national security after merging with an optical company, its stock shot up 40%, and Dyson announced a $499 AI toothbrush with a built-in camera that can livestream your brushing to an app, which no one asked for. Google avoided being broken up despite being found guilty of antitrust violations, getting instead a vague requirement to make unspecified changes to its ad business. Meanwhile, a new study from San Diego State found that fewer women are creating TV shows for streamers than a decade ago, female directors of broadcast programs have declined, and the majority of speaking roles for women skew toward their 20s and 30s while men's roles don't drop off until their 50s. And finally, Milo Yiannopoulos told Piers Morgan that being detained and deported by ICE was humiliating and frightening, and that if he'd known this was possible he would never have supported Trump. Resources/Articles mentioned: AP News: Iran fires on its Gulf neighbors, retaliating for US strikes after a wedding was hit The Guardian: USS Abraham Lincoln’s crew of 5,000 arrive at notorious Thai resort after 270 days at sea | US military The Independent: Thailand issues prostitution warning as USS Abraham Lincoln docks in tourist town after 200 days at sea Axios: Apple joins Google in renaming Lake Ontario to "Lake America" PBS News: WATCH: Massie names 14 Epstein associates to 'shame' DOJ CNBC: GoPro joins AI bonanza with pivot into data centers as shares skyrocket 40% The Rundown: Dyson puts AI in a $499 toothbrush Yahoo: Google won't be forced to break up its ads business The Hollywood Reporter: Fewer Women Are Creating TV Shows Now Than They Were Nearly a Decade Ago, Study Finds Mediate: Milo Yiannopoulos Tells Piers Morgan He's 'Very Ashamed' of Supporting Trump Following ICE Arrest Subscribe to the Betches News Room and join the Morning Announcements group chat. Go to: betchesnews.substack.com Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
September 2 · 6 min
Wednesday, September 2nd, 2026 - Bond Markets Tank, SCOTUS Clears Ballroom Bunker, USPS Whistleblower Warns of Potential Voter Suppression
Today's Headlines: The US launched strikes in the Strait of Hormuz for the second day in a row without saying what they were targeting, two more oil tankers got attacked, and JD Vance's Yale buddy Dan Driscoll quit as Army Secretary after Hegseth got paranoid about their friendship and blocked Driscoll's plans to modernize the Army for drone warfare — so the guy who wanted to prepare for the future of war got pushed out by the guy who built himself a salon at the Pentagon. On the financial beat, Global bond markets are selling off, US interest rates just hit a 20-year high, and what that means for you personally is that your credit card, mortgage, and car loan just got more expensive — thanks in part to the Iran war, oil prices, and everyone powerful being addicted to borrowing money. In other disturbing news, the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that Trump can keep building his ballroom-bunker, with Roberts writing in his dissent that it's probably illegal but the lawsuit didn't have standing. A USPS whistleblower came forward saying the Post Office defied court orders while building Trump's mail ballot system, the voter list portal states need to use doesn't exist yet, and tens of thousands of ballots could get rejected as a result — Democrats responded with a strongly worded letter to the Post Office, yep, the Post Office. In things we can no longer safely ingest news, Horizon Organic chocolate milk was recalled across Walmart, Target, and Whole Foods for early spoilage, which is annoying but at least it's not glass. And finally, Republicans invented a "midterm convention" in Dallas where a photo with Trump costs $88,000 and a photo with JD Vance costs $35,000. Resources/Articles mentioned: Axios: Why Army Secretary Dan Driscoll resigned NYT: Bond Sell-Off Threatens to Squeeze Borrowers Around the World WSJ: Trump Says Communities That Oppose Data Centers Risk Becoming ‘Backwards and Poor’ Axios: Supreme Court allows Trump's ballroom construction to proceed Axios: USPS whistleblower warns new ballot system could fail USA Today: Nearly 54K cases of chocolate milk recalled. See affected products WSJ: An $88,600 Photo With Trump: GOP Hopes to Raise Millions During Convention Subscribe to the Betches News Room and join the Morning Announcements group chat. Go to: betchesnews.substack.com Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
September 1 · 8 min
Tuesday, September 1st, 2026 - Iran Strikes Back On, Yosemite Is Being Privatized, Pentagon's Secret Influencer Army
Today's Headlines: And we’re back to actual warring again. The US and Iran are shooting at each other again for the first time in a month — US strikes on Iranian rocket launchers, Iran hitting US bases in Jordan and the UAE — and when reporters asked Trump if he'd rule out nukes, he said yes and no in the same breath and called it a stupid question, which is on brand. Trump also personally called Apple to ask them to rename Lake Ontario to Lake America on Maps, and is apparently "confident" it'll happen soon, Apple however did not comment on the matter. In other disturbing news, the Pentagon has been secretly hiring conservative veteran influencers in civilian roles to defend Hegseth online and go after his critics, funded possibly by taxpayers — turns out those are the replacements for the press outlets Hegseth kicked out of the Pentagon — and ICE is dropping $2 million on robot dogs with 360-degree cameras and extendable arms, to go with the electric shock gloves, because why not. On the food and environment beat, a carcinogenic forever chemical just got approved for crops including apples, oranges, corn, and almonds, three groups immediately sued, 10,000 cases of tofu are being recalled from 29 states for possible ink contamination, and the Trump administration wants to hand over part of Yosemite National Park to a private equity firm that wants to build upscale cabins and commercial buildings — in exchange for equivalent land elsewhere, make it make sense. Meanwhile, protesters showed up at Peter Thiel's Argentina mansion, George Santos got Kalshi's first ever lifetime ban for betting on his own State of the Union attendance and responded by threatening them on Twitter, and John Galliano quietly dropped out of his 2027 Met Gala retrospective, which was probably the right call. Resources/Articles mentioned: The Guardian: Trump threatens further action as US and Iran exchange fire in new flare-up | US-Israel war on Iran AP News: Trump has asked Apple to change Lake Ontario name to 'Lake America' on its maps, interior chief says Today: Tofu Recalled in 29 States for Contamination Yahoo: The Center for Food Safety: Trump Administration Sued for Approving 'Forever Chemical' Pesticide Trifludimoxazin NYT: Trump Administration Looks to Give a Swath of Yosemite Park to Developer WaPo: Pentagon secretly installs military influencers in civilian roles NBC News: ICE plans to buy robot ‘dogs’ for some immigration enforcement operations France 24: Argentines march on Peter Thiel's mansion WSJ: Ex-Congressman George Santos Receives Kalshi’s First-Ever Lifetime Ban NYT: John Galliano Withdraws From Met Museum Show After Backlash Subscribe to the Betches News Room and join the Morning Announcements group chat. Go to: betchesnews.substack.com Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
August 31 · 8 min
Monday, August 31st, 2026 - Olivia Rodrigo Raised $20M for Women, Lake America on Google Maps, Sony & Warner Sue Anthropic
Today's Headlines: This weekend was a mixed bag of news so let’s start with good news. Olivia Rodrigo raised $10 million at her Daisy Chain Fields festival for women's charities including Planned Parenthood and the Center for Reproductive Rights, then Melinda French Gates walked onstage and doubled it to $20 million. MapQuest made a surprise comeback to number two in the App Store as a result of Google Maps changing Lake Ontario to Lake America in compliance with US government sources. And back to regularly scheduled craziness, Trump threatened to report Kristen Welker to the FCC for covering his declining approval ratings, because that's how the First Amendment works. Trump is also skipping the 9/11 memorial because he wanted to give a speech and no one has given a speech there since 2012, making him the only living president not attending, and historic Japanese cherry trees gifted in 1912 were quietly bulldozed before official approval to make room for a DC golf course expansion. Sony and Warner Music sued Anthropic Friday night for what they called "one of the largest and most blatant ongoing thefts of intellectual property in history," alleging Claude was trained on tens of thousands of copyrighted musical compositions — legal experts say this is a landmark AI copyright case. A federal judge ruled that AI-generated child sexual abuse material is legal to possess privately as long as it doesn't depict a real person, and the FBI quietly dropped its hiring ban on people who have engaged in theft, prostitution, and animal cruelty because Kash Patel drove out enough qualified agents that standards had to go somewhere. IV saline bags were recalled for fiberglass contamination across 14 states, mangoes at select Walmarts were recalled for salmonella, and over 800 people were killed in catastrophic Nepal-Tibet floods with 90 Americans among the 2,500 still missing — the US sent $500,000 in aid, which is what a mid-size fundraiser raises in a weekend. And finally, Milo Yiannopoulos was deported back to the UK for an expired visa, which is the only functional thing ICE has done all year. Resources/Articles mentioned: Rolling Stone: Melinda French Gates Doubles Olivia Rodrigo's Daisy Chain Fields Donation to $20 Million Axios: Google Maps switches to "Lake America" as Canada compares change to SNL skit The Hill: Trump promises NBC’s Welker will be reported to FCC ‘for rebuke or punishment’ NYT: Trump Plans to Mark 9/11 at the Pentagon, Not Ground Zero NBC News: Pete Hegseth is talking about a possible run for president in 2028, sources say People: Dozens of Trees Quietly Toppled in D.C. Without Court Approval Ahead of Trump’s New Golf Course Makeover: Report Forbes: Medical Saline Recalled Over Potential Fiberglass Contamination FDA: Panorama Produce Recalls Mangoes Due to Possible Salmonella Contamination BBC: Nepal floods latest: Officials 'intensifying' efforts to free hundreds believed trapped in hydropower tunnels Business Standard: US pledges $500,000 aid, WHO extends support to Nepal amid flash floods | World News Axios: Sony, Warner sue Anthropic, alleging "blatant theft" of intellectual property WaPo: Federal judge warns law is being left behind by AI child sex abuse images Axios: Sony, Warner sue Anthropic, alleging "blatant theft" of intellectual property WaPo: Federal judge warns law is being left behind by AI child sex abuse images CBS News: At the FBI, a history of hiring prostitutes or stealing from employer may no longer be a barrier to being hired The Guardian: Far-right media provocateur Milo Yiannopoulos deported by ICE from US to UK | US immigration Subscribe to the Betches News Room and join the Morning Announcements group chat. Go to: betchesnews.substack.com Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
August 28 · 8 min
Friday, August 28th, 2026 - Trump Renamed a Lake, Sailor Punished for Jumping Ship, ICE arrested 49,000 people in July
Today's Headlines: Donald Trump signed an executive order renaming Lake Ontario to Lake America — yes, really — musing that maybe he'll rename the Atlantic and Pacific next, while Canadian PM Mark Carney responded that "Ontario" is a 400-year-old Wendat word meaning "the lake is beautiful, the lake is big," which is a more dignified response than the moment deserved. Back to actual issues, Iran has been running an AI-powered disinformation operation on Instagram and Facebook, posing as average Americans to spread political misinformation about immigration and the Israel-Palestine war, with Meta taking down 35 accounts — which is a lot of effort from a country we're supposedly defeating militarily. The military situation is genuinely alarming across every front: a sailor who jumped off the USS Abraham Lincoln in what his wife describes as a suicide attempt — after his paternity leave requests were repeatedly denied while his wife gave birth — is now facing disciplinary action for "malingering" and AWOL charges for being medically evacuated. Pete Hegseth fired the Army's top general days after the general was advised to drop an investigation into how Kid Rock got a military helicopter fly by so he could wave at it on social media. Oh but there’s more, Jennifer Hegseth, Pete's wife and former Fox News producer, has been attending classified intelligence meetings with foreign officials with no confirmed security clearance — she was in the Houthi PC small group chat. Five service members told MSNBC they're being asked to violate international law by targeting civilian infrastructure, and applications to leave as conscientious objectors have surged since the Iran war started. The US is also "beyond critically low" on Patriot missile interceptors in Europe — because of the Iran war — right as the CIA director had to fly to Moscow in person to tell Russia not to attack NATO. A Navy engineer's rape lawsuit against the ship captain who allegedly entered her room with a master access key was dismissed by a judge who said it should be treated as a workplace compensation claim. To add to the overall craziness, ICE arrested 49,000 people in July alone, with less than 4% having any prior violent conviction. And finally, Fauci's prosecution is apparently going nowhere, which is the best news of the day. Resources/Articles mentioned: MS Now: Canada’s prime minister gives Trump a history lesson after U.S. renames Lake Ontario Axios: Exclusive: Meta disrupts Iran-linked AI operation targeting politicians, journalists MS Now: Navy sailor who jumped off USS Lincoln faces disciplinary charges NYT: ‘It’s Bonkers’: Jennifer Hegseth’s Hands-On Role in Her Husband’s Pentagon IB Times: Judge Dismisses Navy Engineer's Rape Lawsuit, Says Alleged Assault by Captain Was Work Injury MS Now: Retired Army general on fired general reportedly told to drop Kid Rock probe: ‘Very disturbing’ WaPo: Before Hegseth fired him, top general was advised to drop Kid Rock probe Ap News: Exclusive: US Patriot missile stocks in Europe are 'beyond critical' due to Iran war, officials say NYT: ICE Arrests Soar as People With No Criminal Record Are Increasingly Targeted WSJ: Republican Efforts to Prosecute Fauci for Contempt Are Hitting a Wall Subscribe to the Betches News Room and join the Morning Announcements group chat. Go to: betchesnews.substack.com Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
August 27 · 10 min
Thursday, August 27th, 2026 - Meta’s $17B Settlement, Argentinian Beef Recalled in FL & TX, CIA's Secret Moscow Visit Explained
Today's Headlines: We’re almost to the weekend and we’re starting off with tech and medical science. Meta settled its youth addiction trial for $17 billion paid over ten years across 47 states — with new safety requirements for minors including time limits, night mode, and hidden like counts. Of course the company's stock went up after the settlement, which tells you everything about who won. Bill Gates published a 5,784-word AI warning blog post saying there is "no plan" for the transition to the AI era, too late the hero, Bill. In medical news, the FDA approved a new pancreatic cancer drug that nearly doubles survival time compared to chemo alone — genuinely significant given that disease kills 7 out of 8 patients within five years — though at $40,000 a month, accessibility will be an issue. On the food safety beat, an emergency recall was issued for nearly 30,000 pounds of Argentinian beef sold in Florida and Texas, as Trump simultaneously told Glenn Beck he wants to reduce regulations on beef processing plants. During that same Glenn Beck call, Trump attempted to mourn Dolly Parton and ended up mostly saying she liked him, sure. Meanwhile, The CIA director's Moscow visit turned out to involve Russian intelligence officials rather than Putin directly, with the stated purpose being to warn Russia not to attack NATO — while Iran and Russia simultaneously announced a $25 billion nuclear energy deal and a Putin-Pezeshkian summit next week, so it’s going great. In bizarre election news, a federal prisoner currently serving time in New York until 2036 somehow got enough votes in Alaska's primary to run for the House in November, listing a South Dakota address and his mother's New York phone number on his filing paperwork, because Alaska's elections are genuinely something else. And finally, a massive mudslide on the Nepal-Tibet border has killed over 150 people with hundreds more missing including 47 American tourists, rescue helicopters unable to land, and climate change-driven permafrost thaw making the damage significantly worse. Resources/Articles mentioned: CNBC: Meta settles social media addiction case with California, other states for $16.7 billion WSJ: Three Takeaways From Bill Gates’s 5,784-Word Warning on AI: ‘There Is No Plan’ Axios: Scoop: Senate Republican investigates Flock cameras WSJ: FDA Approves Drug for Pancreatic Cancer in Milestone for Treatment of Deadly Disease Wide Open Country: Emergency Recall Declared for Beef Imported by Trump Administration US News: Trump Says He Will Look at Beef Processing Regulations, as Farmers Fight Tariff Plan France 24: Kremlin says CIA chief met Russian counterparts, not Putin, in Moscow AP News: A federal prisoner with no clear ties to Alaska advances in primary for the state's US House seat NBC News: Hundreds missing after flood hits Nepal-Tibet border, 157 bodies recovered Subscribe to the Betches News Room and join the Morning Announcements group chat. Go to: betchesnews.substack.com Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
August 26 · 7 min
Wednesday, August 26th, 2026 - CIA’s Secret Russia Trip, Tulsi Warned Trump About Everything, Measles Deaths
Today's Headlines: Dolly Parton, the legendary country singer, songwriter, actress, and philanthropist, has died at 80. Beyond music, she leaves behind an extraordinary legacy of generosity and her work supporting medical research. Shifting gears, the CIA director made an attempted secret trip to Moscow with the plane sitting on the ground for eight hours and no explanation of who Ratcliffe met with or why, with possibilities ranging from hostage negotiations to addressing Russia's recent NATO provocations. Pivoting to the trade war, Canada announced 50% retaliatory tariffs on $20 billion in American goods effective September 8th, matching Trump's tariffs dollar for dollar on dairy, seafood, steel, appliances, and toilet paper, while Trump responded by threatening to rename Lake Ontario to Lake America on a gold-lettered map posted to Truth Social. That’ll show them. And since we’re on the subject of renaming, the DOJ argued in court that the Kennedy Center will collapse into a "decrepit structure" without Trump's name on the facade. On the Iran war beat, Tulsi Gabbard reportedly warned Trump before he started the Iran war in February that Iran would immediately close the Strait of Hormuz, that killing the Supreme Leader would produce a more hardline regime pursuing nuclear weapons, and that Iran would strike US bases across the region — all of which happened. On “the decline,” the Agriculture Secretary couldn't say where the 300,000 metric tons of mystery ground beef is coming from, saying conversations are "still going on," which is not reassuring. Two unvaccinated people in Lancaster, Pennsylvania died of measles — the first US measles deaths this year — amid a local outbreak of nearly 400 cases, a third of them children, as case numbers continue to break records for the most since measles was eliminated in 2000. Gary, Indiana is entering its second week without power for thousands of residents with no restoration in sight, and Darline Graham won her South Carolina Senate runoff, spending nearly a million Trump-backed dollars to inherit her brother's seat and run against Dr. Annie Andrews in November. Resources/Articles mentioned: NYT: C.I.A. Director Makes Secret Visit to Moscow The White House: President Trump Is Finally Ending Canada’s Free Ride AP News: Canada strikes back at US with retaliatory tariffs as trade war escalates Axios: Kennedy Center's survival depends on Trump, DOJ says in new filing WSJ: The Warnings That Came Before a War Now Reaching the Six-Month Mark The New Republic: Trump Team Refuses to Explain Imported Beef Origin as Backlash Grows NYT: Two Unvaccinated People Died From Measles in Pennsylvania, Officials Say CNN: Powerful storms knocked out power in northwest Indiana 2 weeks ago. This majority Black city has suffered the most NBC News: Elections live updates: Darline Graham beats Ralph Norman in South Carolina GOP Senate primary runoff Subscribe to the Betches News Room and join the Morning Announcements group chat. Go to: betchesnews.substack.com Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
August 25 · 7 min
Tuesday, August 25th, 2026 - Trump Tried to Kill Live Nation Case, SCOTUS Clears Mail Voting Restrictions, 200K Visas Getting Revoked
Today's Headlines: The Wall Street Journal revealed that Trump personally called a senior DOJ official to settle the antitrust lawsuit against Live Nation — days before trial, after Live Nation's CEO met with Trump at the White House to "discuss Kennedy Center bookings". Live Nation reportedly promised $10 billion in US investment in exchange for a favorable settlement so generous that most states refused to join it and kept suing, ultimately winning a jury verdict in April finding Live Nation illegally monopolizing the concert ticketing market. The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 to let Trump's mail-in voting restrictions move forward — not on whether they're constitutional, but on whether states had legal standing to sue — meaning DHS is now distributing citizenship lists to states and the Postal Service will only send ballots to pre-approved voters, with each state left to decide whether to comply before the Court rules on the actual merits, which is a convenient timeline heading into November. The Court also let Trump's ballroom-bunker construction continue while they decide whether it can continue. Yes, you read that right. On the immigration beat, the Trump administration is planning the largest mass visa revocation in US history, targeting up to 200,000 B1 and B2 visas held by asylum seekers issued between 2016 and 2026. And because somehow we are still at war with Iran even after “winning” several times, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent held an event threatening any country that does business with Iran with "the full reach of American power" under something called Operation Economic Outcast, without specifying any actual steps or deadlines, while Iran's trading partners apparently told them they don't really care. And finally, today is the South Carolina Senate runoff between Lindsey Graham's sister Darline — who refused to say whether she would have certified Biden's 2020 win — and Ralph Norman, with Trump's super PAC spending $800,000 on her behalf. Resources/Articles mentioned: WSJ: The Trump Intervention That Got the DOJ Off Live Nation’s Back Axios: Trump says communities that oppose data centers are "making a mistake" NBC News: Supreme Court sides with Trump on some restrictions for mail-in ballots WaPo: Supreme Court eases path for Trump’s sweeping limits on mail-in balloting Time: The Supreme Court Let Trump’s Ballroom Proceed—for Now. Here’s What That Means Axios: Trump administration to revoke up to 200,000 visas of asylum seekers NYT: Trump Lays It on the Line for Darline Graham Ahead of South Carolina Runoff MS Now: Darline Graham refuses to say if she would have certified 2020 election results Subscribe to the Betches News Room and join the Morning Announcements group chat. Go to: betchesnews.substack.com Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
August 24 · 44 min
Jon Ossoff Talks Like A Millennial Raised On AIM Away Messages ft. Alex Pearlman
Sami Sage sits down with comedian and political commentator Alex Pearlman to talk about why the Democratic Party has no leader, why politicians under 45 who grew up online (Ossoff, Mamdani, AOC) actually know how to communicate, and why Alex is touring 12 cities to get people off their phones and back into real conversations. They also cover Kamala's 2028 odds, the DSA's messaging problem, and getting money out of politics. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
August 24 · 10 min
Monday, August 24th, 2026 - IndyCar Freedom 250, Mystery Ground Beef, Canada Trade War, Trump Attacking Law School Accreditation
Today's Headlines: It was quite a weekend! Trump turned DC streets into a 1.7-mile IndyCar speedway for another Freedom 250 event, took a ceremonial lap in the presidential limo with Melania — not Natalie — while his Qatari plane did a flyover. In other shady news, Trump announced he's importing up to 300,000 metric tons of "product for ground beef" without specifying what the product is, where it's from, or how it'll be discounted 25% — which landed one day after a New York Times investigation revealed the Bureau of Land Management has been selling wild horses to buyers who ship them to slaughter plants through a legal loophole, with sales more than doubling in 2025. On the tariff beat, The trade war with Canada is officially back on with 50% tariffs on $20 billion in goods, Canadian PM Mark Carney promising to match them dollar for dollar starting September 8th, and Carney publicly stating that Trump is demanding Canada change its French language and Quebec culture as conditions for reversing tariffs. We finally have a nominee to lead the FDA, Trump nominated Dr. Heidi Overton and she has an MD and a PhD, which is more than expected. She has also called for conservatives to "infiltrate" public health institutions though, which is less reassuring given that 2026 has already seen four times the average number of foodborne illness cases. The Department of Education took the first steps to strip the American Bar Association of its law school accreditation authority, which would prevent graduates of non-accredited schools from sitting the bar exam in most states — a creative way to destabilize the entire legal profession. Back to shady, Jared Kushner quietly met with Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries to discuss working together on housing and cost of living, which suggests the White House privately expects Democrats to win the House majority in November. And finally, a wildfire near Reno has burned over 13,000 acres with zero containment, putting 42,000 people under evacuation orders including two hospitals, with 40 additional fires burning across Nevada simultaneously. Resources/Articles mentioned: CNN: Freedom 250 IndyCar race in Washington, DC, and other Trump administration news CNN: Trump defends pause on beef tariffs amid criticism from US cattle producers Variety: Taylor Sheridan Accused of Stealing ‘Yellowstone’ From 2016 Pitch in Copyright Lawsuit NYT: Under Trump, Protected Wild Horses Are Going to Slaughter Time: Who Is Heidi Overton, Trump’s Nominee to Lead the FDA? AP News: What to know about Trump's 50% tariffs on Canadian goods that just went into effect WSJ: Trump Administration Attacks Bar Association’s Power to Accredit Law Schools AP News: Jared Kushner meets with Democratic leader Jeffries with House control at stake in November NYT: Fire Near Reno, Nev., Prompts Evacuations of Homes and Hospitals Subscribe to the Betches News Room and join the Morning Announcements group chat. Go to: betchesnews.substack.com Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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