Top Items:
New York Times:
In Epstein's ‘Birthday Book,’ a Celebration of His Lecherous Exploits — The book containing 50th birthday tributes to Jeffrey Epstein was released on Monday by the House Oversight Committee. — One friend compared him to the main character in Ernest Hemingway's “The Old Man and the Sea …
Discussion:
Financial Times, Washington Post, Boston.com, Spitfire News, El País, The Sun, Plain Dealer, New York Magazine and TMZ.com
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Jonathan V. Last / The Bulwark:
Donald ❤️ Jeffrey — Caution: I'm going to avoid euphemism and reproduce images from the Epstein birthday book because I want everyone to see Jeffrey Epstein through the eyes of the people who knew him best. — Also: You're getting a bonus Secret pod today. Probably around 1:30.
Discussion:
The Dean's Report
NBC News:
Trump calls Epstein birthday letter a ‘dead issue’
Trump calls Epstein birthday letter a ‘dead issue’
Discussion:
The Bulwark, Media Matters for America, Politico, The Hill, Washington Post, The Guardian, Salon, The Mahablog, Reason, The Parnas Perspective, HuffPost, New Republic, New York Magazine, Daily Kos, Rolling Stone, Bloomberg, Mediaite, The Independent, The Wrap, Washington Examiner, Daily Mail, Raw Story, PoliticusUSA and LGBTQ Nation
Ramon Antonio Vargas / The Guardian:
Photo of novelty check suggests Epstein ‘sold’ Trump a woman for $22,500
Photo of novelty check suggests Epstein ‘sold’ Trump a woman for $22,500
Discussion:
New Republic, New York Times and Axios
Annie Karni / New York Times:
Republicans Shrug at Epstein Birthday Sketch Apparently Signed by Trump
Republicans Shrug at Epstein Birthday Sketch Apparently Signed by Trump
Discussion:
The Bulwark, Meidas+ and Raw Story
Andrew Solender / Axios:
Trump and Johnson likely doomed in effort to stop Epstein files vote
Trump and Johnson likely doomed in effort to stop Epstein files vote
Discussion:
New York Times, New Republic, Salon, The Daily Signal, MeidasTouch News and Raw Story
Wall Street Journal:
See More Pages From Epstein's 50th Birthday Book
See More Pages From Epstein's 50th Birthday Book
Discussion:
The Guardian, Page Six, New York Post, The Hill and New York Sun
Cheyanne M. Daniels / Politico:
Leavitt: White House would support handwriting expert's examination of Epstein birthday letter
Leavitt: White House would support handwriting expert's examination of Epstein birthday letter
Discussion:
Washington Post, Salon, New Republic, Vanity Fair, Raw Story, Mediaite, Deseret News, Deadline, Advocate, PolitiFact, Al Jazeera, Palm Beach Post, IJR, NewsMax.com and New York Sun
Garrett M. Graff / Doomsday Scenario:
ICE is Eating the Soul of America — Four things that show ICE increasingly considers itself outside the law … A big part of this newsletter is trying to mark the moments when America changes — when today is different from before. — A big change happened yesterday …
Discussion:
NBC News and Mercury News
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Gino Fanelli / WXXI News:
ICE agents in the Park Ave neighborhood spark large-scale protest — Federal immigration agents were seemingly forced to retreat from a roofing job site Tuesday in the Park Avenue neighborhood after being confronted by more than 100 protesters. — The group shouted “shame” and “Gestapo …
Discussion:
Washington Examiner, Raw Story, Teen Vogue, Block Club Chicago and Daily Kos
Matthew Cunningham-Cook / American Prospect:
DHS Claims Videotaping ICE Raids Is ‘Violence’
Discussion:
Daily Kos
Politico:
John Roberts allows Trump to withhold foreign-aid funds approved by Congress — for now — Chief Justice John Roberts has revived President Donald Trump's bid to slash $4 billion in foreign-aid funding without Congress' approval, adding new urgency to a legal clash over the power of the purse.
Discussion:
Associated Press and Law & Crime
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Lawrence Hurley / NBC News:
Supreme Court temporarily allows Trump to withhold $4 billion in foreign aid — Chief Justice John Roberts issued an order that blocks a lower court ruling while the Supreme Court decides how to proceed in the case. — WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Tuesday allowed the Trump administration …
Discussion:
Associated Press, Washington Post, Fox News, Axios, Reuters, Bloomberg, MSNBC, The Guardian, Raw Story, Michigan Advance, The Daily Caller and The Independent
Adam Liptak / New York Times:
Chief Justice Roberts Lets Trump Block Foreign Aid for Now — Acting on his own, the chief justice issued an “administrative stay” pausing a trial judge's ruling while the full court considers the matter. — Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. on Tuesday temporarily paused …
Josef Federman / Associated Press:
Israel says it targets Hamas leadership in Qatar's capital as blast heard in Doha — Israel launched a strike targeting Hamas' leadership in Qatar on Tuesday, officials said, further widening its campaign against the militant group as negotiations over ending the war in the Gaza Strip appears stalemated …
Discussion:
Axios, BBC, Reuters, New York Times, The Guardian, NPR, CBC News, Wall Street Journal, CNN, Bloomberg, New York Post, PBS NewsHour, Washington Examiner, ABC News, Associated Press, Al Jazeera, The Atlantic, NBC News, The Daily Signal, The Hill, KSTP-TV, Washington Times, Raw Story, Los Angeles Times, Truthout, Washington Post, Pressenza, israelhayom.com, Jerusalem Post, The Free Press, The Intercept, New Republic, The Forward, New York Sun, NewsMax.com, Breitbart, Fox News, CBS News, Military and Veteran …, Zeteo, Jewish Insider, Middle East Monitor, Jewish, WTOP News, Daily Mail, Lawyers, Guns & Money, The Daily Caller, Novara Media, UPI, Mediaite, Algemeiner.com, CNBC, The War Zone, Responsible Statecraft, The Sun, The Gateway Pundit, Drop Site News and HotAir
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Rusty Surette / KBTX-TV:
A&M Dean removed following student complaints over curriculum — The Department of Justice has also acknowledged the situation and said it would be investigating — COLLEGE STATION, Texas (KBTX) - A Texas A&M professor under fire by university, state, and federal leaders is under investigation …
Discussion:
The Texas Tribune, LGBTQ Nation, OutsideTheBeltway and Adventus
CNN:
Oliver North marries Fawn Hall, his document-shredding secretary at the center of Iran-Contra scandal — Two key figures in the Iran-Contra affair quietly married last month, nearly 40 years after the scandal rocked US politics and President Ronald Reagan's administration.
Discussion:
New York Post, al.com and Lawyers, Guns & Money
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Washington Post:
Oliver North weds Fawn Hall, his secretary during Iran-contra scandal — The two figures in the 1980s controversy tied the knot last month, according to a Virginia marriage license. — In what can only be described as a uniquely Washington love connection, Oliver North and Fawn Hall …
Discussion:
New York Times
Lindsay Whitehurst / Associated Press:
Supreme Court to quickly consider if President Donald Trump has power to impose sweeping tariffs — The Supreme Court on Tuesday granted an unusually quick hearing on whether President Donald Trump has the power to impose sweeping tariffs under federal law.
Discussion:
The Hill, New York Times, Associated Press, NPR, CNBC, Al Jazeera, Washington Times, The Gateway Pundit, Fox Business, Chicago Tribune and Los Angeles Times
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Justin Jouvenal / Washington Post:
Supreme Court to weigh legality of Trump's tariffs in key economic case
Discussion:
CNN, Reuters, CBS News, SCOTUSblog and Washington Times
Associated Press:
Man faces federal charge in killing of Ukrainian woman on Charlotte train — The Justice Department on Tuesday charged a man accused of fatally stabbing a Ukrainian refugee on a North Carolina commuter train last month with a federal crime that could carry the death penalty.
Discussion:
Reuters, CBS News, CNN, Washington Times, Townhall, Blaze Media, NewsMax.com, New York Times, twitchy.com, Newsweek and Mediaite
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Dan Diamond / Washington Post:
Fired CDC director who clashed with RFK Jr. set to testify in Senate — The hearing would give Susan Monarez a high-profile opportunity to respond to Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s claims about her ethics and their conversations about vaccines. — Just now — Susan Monarez is set to testify …
Discussion:
Reuters
Anna Bower / Lawfare:
The Judicial Learning Curve — District court judges watch each other struggle with the Trump administration—and adapt. — annabower.bsky.social — Meet The Authors … Around 3:00 a.m. Eastern Time on the Sunday of Labor Day weekend, a supervisor at the Compass Connections children's shelter …
Discussion:
NOTUS
New York Times:
Mamdani Holds Huge Lead in Mayor's Race, Times/Siena Poll Finds — Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic nominee in the New York City mayoral race, is way ahead of his three rivals, but his lead would diminish considerably if the field shrank to a two-man race. — Zohran Mamdani has opened …
Discussion:
New York Daily News, NBC News, The Liberal Patriot, Fox News, Siena Research Institute, The Hill, The Texas Tribune, Mediaite, The Gateway Pundit, New York Magazine, Virginia Political Newsletter, Hell Gate, Truthout, New York Sun, The Forward, Deseret News, BizPac Review, Townhall, New Republic, No More Mister Nice Blog, NewsMax.com, Daily Kos, Politico, Tampa Free Press and Washington Examiner
Politico:
'He's a nut': Hill Republicans sour on Trump housing official Bill Pulte … “I think he's a nut,” one House Republican said of Pulte. (Like others in this story, the lawmaker was granted anonymity to speak candidly about sensitive dynamics within the Trump administration.)
Discussion:
Axios, Washington Examiner and Raw Story
New York Times:
Gabbard Retracted Intelligence Report on Venezuela — The report, which remains classified, described work by Richard Grenell, a former top intelligence official in the Trump administration. — Tulsi Gabbard, the director of national intelligence, took the unusual step of ordering …
Jen Rice / Democracy Docket:
Missouri House Sends GOP Gerrymander to the Senate — The Missouri House in a 90-65 vote approved a Republican congressional gerrymander, advancing the map to the Senate as part of a national plan to try to rig the 2026 election by eliminating Democratic seats in Congress.
Discussion:
New York Times, CNN, NPR, CBS News, Talking Points Memo, Roll Call, NOTUS, The Hill, UPI and Washington Post
Anthony L. Fisher / MSNBC:
Trump is taking America down a slippery slope where the military can kill anyone — The president ordered the killings of suspected drug smugglers without due process and has used increasingly violent rhetoric about sending troops to U.S. cities. — President Donald Trump …
CNN:
Florida's surgeon general said he didn't calculate the costs of ending vaccine mandates in the state. But scientists have. — Florida's surgeon general said Sunday that he had not weighed the cost - in terms of infections, hospitalizations or deaths - of ending vaccine mandates in his state.
Axios:
U.S. added 911,000 fewer jobs than first estimated, BLS says — The U.S. economy added 911,000 fewer jobs in the year ending in March than estimated, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said on Tuesday. — Why it matters: The labor market had less momentum than previously known over the past year …
Discussion:
CNN, Washington Post, New York Times, Breitbart, Fox Business, CBS News, HotAir, Associated Press, The White House, Bloomberg, CNBC, PBS NewsHour, Financial Times, Blaze Media, Wall Street Journal, New York Sun, Issues & Insights, Blue Virginia, The Guardian, The Gateway Pundit, NPR, The Hill, twitchy.com, Newsweek, BizPac Review, Washington Examiner, Politico, Semafor, UPI, Mediaite, New York Post, Forbes, Washington Times, NewsMax.com, Raw Story, Fortune, Deseret News, The Daily Signal and Los Angeles Times
Lawrence Hurley / NBC News:
Supreme Court again gives no explanation in ruling for Trump, this time on immigration — The provisional decision only applies to one judge's decision in Los Angeles, but the Trump administration hailed it as a major win as it seeks to ramp up immigration enforcement.
Discussion:
The Hill and BizPac Review
Andrew Solender / Axios:
House Democrats fume at Schumer in closed-door meeting — House Democrats' weekly caucus meeting Tuesday included a vent session towards Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) on government funding, Axios has learned. … - “There was anticipatory anger rooted in what went down in March …
Discussion:
NOTUS, Military Times, Raw Story, Mediaite, PoliticusUSA and Associated Press
The Guardian:
The Gaza family torn apart by IDF snipers from Chicago and Munich — Five-month investigation reveals how four members of one family were shot and killed in a single day and highlights a pattern in which Israeli troops target unarmed civilians — Daniel Raab shows no hesitation …
Matt Novak / Gizmodo:
Vaccine Injuries, Violent Video Games, and Infertility Challenge: RFK Jr. Releases New MAHA ‘Strategy’ Report for Children — “Our young men have sperm counts half what they ought to be,” Kennedy said. … Robert F. Kennedy Jr. released a new “strategy” report from the Make America Healthy Again …
Discussion:
Politico, Axios, STAT, PBS NewsHour, Associated Press, Mediaite, The Hill, NOTUS, The Daily Caller, Newsweek and The Gateway Pundit
Robert McCoy / New Republic:
Amy Coney Barrett Gives Least Reassuring Answer on Trump Third Term — It's unclear whether President Trump plans to run again in 2028, despite the Twenty-Second Amendment unambiguously barring a president from being elected for a third term. — In a Monday evening interview …
Discussion:
Above the Law, The Hill, Daily Mail and The Independent
Politico:
Trump wants to punt shutdown deadline to Jan. 31 — The White House asked Congress on Tuesday to kick the upcoming government shutdown deadline to Jan. 31, a four-month punt Democrats and many Republican lawmakers oppose. That suggested date was conveyed as part of a wishlist …
Discussion:
NBC News, HotAir and Washington Examiner
Eli McKown-Dawson / Silver Bulletin:
Is Susan Collins toast? — This is the second article in our series on the most interesting 2026 House and Senate races. Make sure to check out the first entry in the series on Georgia's Senate race. — Before we get to the, uh, Maine event, Nate jumping in with a couple of quick announcements.
Scott Macfarlane / CBS News:
Democratic Sen. Ruben Gallego seeks to block Ashli Babbitt from military funeral honors — Sen. Ruben Gallego, Democrat of Arizona, will seek to block the Pentagon from offering full military funeral honors to Ashli Babbitt, a member of the crowd that rioted at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
Dell Cameron / Wired:
Cindy Cohn Is Leaving the EFF, but Not the Fight for Digital Rights — After 25 years at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, Cindy Cohn is stepping down as executive director. In a WIRED interview, she reflects on encryption, AI, and why she's not ready to quit the battle.
Discussion:
Electronic Frontier Foundation, more at Techmeme »
Bloomberg:
Trump Announces Crackdown on Drug Ads on TV, Social Media — The Trump administration announced plans to crack down on pharmaceutical advertising on television and social media platforms that could disrupt billions of dollars in annual ad spending. — President Donald Trump signed …
Discussion:
Associated Press, Fox News and Washington Times



