Top Items:
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:
All Rise News and The Dean's Report
RELATED:
Ross Douthat / New York Times:
Can Trump Deflate the Epstein Scandal? — Suppose that you work for the Trump White House and the boss calls you in with a special request: He wants stronger pushback against the attempts to keep the Jeffrey Epstein scandal in the headlines. — What might you offer him?
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, Wall Street Journal, The Guardian, Washington Post, The Sun, Plain Dealer, New York Magazine, Spitfire News, Boston.com, El País and TMZ.com
Ramon Antonio Vargas / The Guardian:
Photo of novelty check suggests Epstein ‘sold’ Trump a woman for $22,500 — Convicted sex offender appears in birthday scrapbook photo with giant check signed by ‘DJ Trump’ — A scrapbook for Jeffrey Epstein's 50th birthday released on Monday contains a photo of him holding …
Discussion:
New York Times, New Republic, Politico, Axios and Raw Story
ABC News:
'It's not my signature': Trump says about alleged Epstein ‘birthday book’ letter
Discussion:
Bloomberg, Washington Post, The Guardian, Patterico's Pontifications, Salon, New York Post, Al Jazeera and The Independent
NBC News:
Trump calls Epstein birthday letter a ‘dead issue’
Trump calls Epstein birthday letter a ‘dead issue’
Discussion:
The Bulwark, Politico, Axios, New York Times, Media Matters for America, Washington Post, Al Jazeera, The Guardian, NewsMax.com, The Hill, Reason, The Parnas Perspective, Salon, New Republic, Vanity Fair, Rolling Stone, Deseret News, Mediaite, The Independent, Palm Beach Post, New York Magazine, Advocate, The Mahablog, Raw Story, PoliticusUSA, PolitiFact, New York Sun, Deadline, The Wrap, Daily Kos, Bloomberg, New York Daily News, HuffPost, Washington Examiner and Daily Mail
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
RELATED:
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:
Chicago Tribune, Block Club Chicago, Teen Vogue, Washington Examiner, Daily Kos, Raw Story and ABC7
Tom Nichols / The Atlantic:
The Government Wants to See Your Papers — And the Supreme Court decides that the Fourth Amendment might not be for everyone. … This kind of behavior by government officials is now legal in the United States. — Yesterday, the conservative majority on the Supreme Court allowed ICE officials …
Discussion:
The Contrarian
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
RELATED:
Adam Liptak / New York Times:
Chief Justice Roberts Lets Trump Block Foreign Aid for Now
Discussion:
The Hill
Mark Sherman / Associated Press:
Chief Justice Roberts keeps in place Trump funding freeze that threatens billions in foreign aid
Chief Justice Roberts keeps in place Trump funding freeze that threatens billions in foreign aid
Discussion:
New York Post, Fox News, Salon, Townhall, The Guardian, The Gateway Pundit, Axios, Raw Story and MSNBC
Lawrence Hurley / NBC News:
Supreme Court temporarily allows Trump to withhold $4 billion in foreign aid
Supreme Court temporarily allows Trump to withhold $4 billion in foreign aid
Discussion:
Washington Post, Reuters, Bloomberg, The Daily Caller, The Independent and Michigan Advance
Michael Heath / Bloomberg:
Poland Deploys Jets, Shuts Warsaw Airport Over Russia Drones — Poland scrambled military jets, shut a major airport in its capital and urged residents to stay at home as it engaged Russian strike drones that “repeatedly” violated its airspace after crossing over from neighboring Ukraine.
Discussion:
Reuters, Washington Examiner, RedState and The Sun
RELATED:
CNN:
Poland says it has shot down drones that entered its airspace during Russian attack on Ukraine — Poland's military said early Wednesday that it had shot down drones that violated its airspace during a Russian attack on neighboring Ukraine, in what is potentially a major provocation for Europe.
Discussion:
Reuters
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, The Hill, Axios and Washington Examiner
RELATED:
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, NPR, CNN, Newsweek, Talking Points Memo, New Republic, Roll Call, The Hill, UPI, Washington Post, Daily Kos, New York Daily News and NOTUS
RELATED:
Reid J. Epstein / New York Times:
Democrats Narrow Gap in House After Victory in Virginia Special Election
Andrew Howard / Politico:
Democrats add 1 more vote in Congress after Virginia special election
Democrats add 1 more vote in Congress after Virginia special election
Discussion:
The Hill, Associated Press and Blue Virginia
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, Lawyers, Guns & Money and Washingtonian
RELATED:
President Donald J. Trump / The White House:
Memorandum for the Secretary of Health and Human Services the Commissioner of Food and Drugs — In 1962, the Congress vested the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) with the authority to regulate prescription drug advertising. These advertisements can mislead the public about the risks and benefits …
Discussion:
Politico, Washington Examiner, New York Times, Vogue, The Daily Caller, NewsMax.com, Tampa Free Press, The Gateway Pundit and Scripps News
RELATED:
Nathaniel Weixel / The Hill:
Trump signs order to crack down on prescription drug advertising
Discussion:
CBS News
New York Times:
Israel Attempts to Kill Hamas Leadership in Airstrike on Qatar, a Gaza War Mediator — The Gulf nation of Qatar has been trying to negotiate a cease-fire in the conflict. The attack threatened to destabilize those peace efforts. — 1.8k — Israel attempted to kill senior members …
Discussion:
BBC, HotAir, The Hill, Reuters, Associated Press, CBS News, Breitbart, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Al Jazeera, USA Today, CNN, Slate, Raw Story, Algemeiner.com, The Washington Free Beacon, Washington Post, Mediaite, Bloomberg, BizPac Review, The Daily Caller, Atlantic Council, Foreign Policy, Lawyers, Guns & Money, KSTP-TV, Politico, Zeteo and WTOP News
RELATED:
Barak Ravid / Axios:
Israel's attack in Qatar infuriated Trump advisers, officials say
Discussion:
The Hill, Pressenza, Canary, The War Zone, Fox News and New Republic
Michael Birnbaum / Washington Post:
White House rebukes Israel over strike on Hamas in Qatar
White House rebukes Israel over strike on Hamas in Qatar
Discussion:
Reuters, The Free Press, NBC News, New York Times, New York Post, The Guardian, NPR, Wall Street Journal, CBC News, Al Jazeera, Associated Press, The Daily Caller, WTOP News, PBS NewsHour, Breitbart, Bloomberg, National Review, The Intercept, Jewish Insider, Mediaite, Jewish Telegraphic Agency and Washington Examiner
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.
RELATED:
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:
Axios, The Hill, Associated Press, Al Jazeera, KSTP-TV, Los Angeles Times, Washington Times, Fox Business, CNBC, New York Times, NPR and The Gateway Pundit
RELATED:
Justin Jouvenal / Washington Post:
Supreme Court to weigh legality of Trump's tariffs in key economic case
Supreme Court to weigh legality of Trump's tariffs in key economic case
Discussion:
CNN, Reuters, Deseret News, CBS News, SCOTUSblog and Washington Times
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, Advocate, LGBTQ Nation and OutsideTheBeltway
New York Times:
Fears Return for L.A. Immigrants After Supreme Court Allows Raids to Resume … “With this decision, we lost confidence in the courts,” Roberto Cordero said in East Los Angeles.Alex Welsh for The New York Times — For much of the summer, undocumented immigrants in the Los Angeles region …
Discussion:
Townhall, OutsideTheBeltway, The Independent and CalMatters
RELATED:
Lawrence Hurley / NBC News:
Supreme Court again gives no explanation in ruling for Trump, this time on immigration
Supreme Court again gives no explanation in ruling for Trump, this time on immigration
Discussion:
The Hill, BizPac Review and The Guardian
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, Raw Story and Washington Examiner
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
Steve Kopack / NBC News:
Judge temporarily blocks Trump's firing of Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook — The ruling means Cook will remain on the board of the central bank until her case is heard at length. — A federal judge on Tuesday granted a temporary restraining order blocking President Donald Trump's firing …
Discussion:
Associated Press and The Gateway Pundit
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 …
Discussion:
CNN, The Hill, Raw Story and NewsMax.com
Megan Lebowitz / NBC News:
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and challenger Josh Kraft advance to one-on-one general election — The incumbent and her Democratic challenger finished first and second in Tuesday's primary election, NBC News projects. — Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and challenger Josh Kraft will move …
Discussion:
The Hill, Fox News, Boston Herald, WBUR, Boston.com and New York Times
Robert Draper / New York Times:
Nick Fuentes: A White Nationalist Problem for the Right — For years, conservatives hoped that the notorious white nationalist would go away. Instead, Mr. Fuentes has gained more traction, even while opposing the president. — For years, conservatives hoped that the notorious white nationalist would go away.
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:
The Athletic, New York Daily News, Politico, The Liberal Patriot, Siena Research Institute, RedState, Daily Kos, NBC News, Virginia Political Newsletter, The Texas Tribune, Deseret News, New York Magazine, Truthout, The Gateway Pundit, Mediaite, Townhall, New York Sun, New Republic, Fox News, Tampa Free Press, The Hill, The Forward, BizPac Review, Staten Island Advance, No More Mister Nice Blog, Hell Gate and Washington Examiner
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 …
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.
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 …

