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 …

Trump Energy secretary: 'We're going to get blamed' for rising power prices — but they're Democrats' fault … Wright's acknowledgment of economic reality offered a bit of a contrast to President Donald Trump's relentlessly sunny proclamations about the nation under his watch …

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 …

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:

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.

ICE Wrongly Suggests Lawmaker Doxxed Agents, and Racist Threats Follow  —  A state representative in Connecticut had posted on Instagram about immigration enforcement efforts in his district but did not give detailed information.  —  Federal officials shared a post on social media last weekend …

Trump bypasses the Senate — and the courts — to install loyal US attorneys … And when district judges have then rejected Trump's choices by exercising a 160-year-old power allowing them to appoint someone to the office after an interim U.S. attorney's term ends, the administration …

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.

US drops probe of gun-sales payment company backed by Donald Trump's son  —  CFPB suggests Biden-era investigation into Credova Financial was politically motivated  —  Donald Trump's administration has dropped a Joe Biden-era probe into a gun sales financing company backed by Donald Trump Jr …

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.