Pirro's office won't pursue gun charges over carrying rifles, shotguns  —  D.C.'s top prosecutor said her office would continue charging violent crimes and firearms trafficking that involve those weapons.  —  Federal prosecutors in D.C. have been instructed not to seek felony charges …

White House eyes Budapest for peace talks with Zelenskyy and Putin … While the Secret Service often scouts multiple locations and the ultimate venue could change, Budapest is emerging as a first choice for the White House, said the two people, both granted anonymity to discuss private conversations.

More Texas Democrats plan to spend the night in the statehouse in protest amid redistricting fight  —  After fleeing the state over redistricting legislation, Democratic lawmakers had to agree to have security escorts in order to leave the chamber.  Now, a number are refusing.

Trump Revokes Security Clearances of 37 Former and Current Officials  —  The move is the latest effort by the Trump administration to shift the public's attention to the 2016 election.  —  President Trump revoked the security clearances of 37 current and former national security officials …

Trump Wants to Paint Border Wall Black So It's Too Hot to Touch  —  President Donald Trump has ordered the entire southern border wall to be painted black to stop migrants from crossing because it'll be too hot to touch, according to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.

Jeanine Pirro bragged about helping Trump and GOP while a Fox News host  —  The former Fox host complained of “CENSORSHIP” by Fox over her coverage of the 2020 election, according to newly unredacted documents in the Smartmatic defamation case.  —  Jeanine Pirro, then a weekend host on Fox News …

FDA Advises Public Not to Eat, Sell, or Serve Certain Imported Frozen Shrimp from an Indonesian Firm  —  Frozen shrimp imported from PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati is in violation of the Federal Food, Drug, & Cosmetic Act.  FDA's investigation is ongoing. … Current Update  —  August 19, 2025

Adam Schiff forms legal defense fund … Trump specifically alleges that Schiff illicitly claimed his primary residence was Maryland for financial benefit, and his administration has tapped Ed Martin — now pardon attorney and director of DOJ's Weaponization Working Group — to oversee the matter.

DC National Guard members actively training to carry pistols in capitol mission  —  If you want to support The Handbasket's 100% independent journalism, become a paid subscriber or leave a tip.  —  Sig Sauger P320 pistol  —  The DC National Guard is making sure all members have the requisite training …

Fascist Secret Police Cars  —  The next president should spend his first weekend feeding ICE into the wood chipper.  —  ∙ Paid  —  1. Car Talk  —  ICE has some new cars.  They are cartoonishly fascist.  Behold the Department of Homeland Security's hype video announcement:

Yosemite Employee Fired After Flying Trans Pride Flag  —  Shannon “SJ” Joslin says they were fired for exercising freedom of speech.  —  A federal employee of Yosemite National Park was fired last week after flying a large transgender pride flag from a prominent natural feature.

Trump escalates attacks against Smithsonian museums, says there's too much focus on ‘how bad slavery was’  —  President Donald Trump escalated his campaign to purge cultural institutions of materials that conflict with his political directives on Tuesday, alleging museums were too focused …

Trump budget officials claim sweeping spending power from Congress, records show  —  Russell Vought, the White House budget director and architect of Project 2025, would have vast authority to approve or block billions in federal spending, the records show.  —  The Trump administration …

Detentions of D.C. delivery drivers leave immigrant communities on edge … Washington, D.C., resident Tyler DeSue woke up tired and craving breakfast Saturday morning, so he did what many people in that situation would do: He used Uber Eats to put in an order for burritos.

Elon Musk Pledged to Start a Political Party.  He Is Already Pumping the Brakes.  —  The billionaire has sought to maintain ties with JD Vance, a potential heir to Trump's MAGA political movement  —  The billionaire Elon Musk is quietly pumping the brakes on his plans to start a political party …

Arkansas Housing Development Restricted to White Residents Sparks Legal Concerns … Eric Orwoll, president of Return to the Land, said his group can reject an applicant “who doesn't present as white.”  — 1.2k  —  In the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas, nearly an hour from the closest city …

IRS broke rules in firing probationary employees, Treasury Department watchdog finds  —  The IRS broke its own rules when it fired thousands of employees earlier this year on the orders of the Trump administration, the Treasury Department's internal watchdog agency found last week.

Is Trump's Hooters-Obsessed Ambassador Nominee Toning Down His Shtick?  —  NICK ADAMS, THE MASCULINITY HOBBYIST and naturalized immigrant from Australia whom President Donald Trump nominated to be U.S. ambassador to Malaysia, appears to be toning down his macho online persona as it grows likelier …

Trump Wants Universities to Show Him the Money, or No Deal  —  President Trump has personally stipulated that hefty financial penalties be part of agreements his administration is negotiating with the elite universities.  Critics call it extortion.  —  In May, cabinet officials …

Trump blasts appeals court for halting Resolution Copper land transfer  —  U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday criticized an appeals court's decision to temporarily block federal officials from completing a land transfer needed for Rio Tinto (RIO.L) and BHP (BHP.AX) to develop Arizona's Resolution Copper project.

White House aims to fast-track key Federal Reserve pick … “The White House has been aggressively pushing Dr. Miran's nomination to the Federal Reserve Board, setting the stage for his quick confirmation when the Senate returns in September,” said a White House official Tuesday.

6-Year-Old NYC Elementary School Student and Her Mom Deported  —  The mother's 19-year-old son remains in ICE custody in New Jersey, while her distraught teenage minor is now in the care of her 21-year-old brother.  —  Support local news today!  —  Our nonprofit newsroom relies on readers like you to power investigations like these.