09/29/25
Good morning! It’s Monday, September 29th.
National Coffee Day. And on National Coffee Day… you get free stuff from places like Dunkin and Krispy Kreme and Starbucks.
What kind of stuff? I don’t know. But still… if you’re already going over there, might as well get something free out of it.
And now, the news.
Weekend Shootings
-via NPR, Washington Post, CBS News, and Gun Violence Archive
We start how we start here in America – with two mass shootings leading the news.
Starting in Michigan, where at least four people are dead and eight others have been injured after the 40-year-old suspect, Thomas Jacob Sanford, who was killed by police, drove his car through a Mormon church about 60 miles north of Detroit.
Once inside, he opened fire. Officials say there were hundreds of people in attendance at the time of the shooting. The church was also set on fire, which is believed to have been intentional.
This happened just hours before I hit record. Investigators are going to search the suspect's house and cell phone records for a motive.
The night prior, in North Carolina, at least three people were killed, and five others were injured, after a boat parked outside of a waterfront bar and restaurant around 9:30 PM and then, from the boat, a suspect named Nigel Max Edge fired shots at the restaurant before fleeing on the same boat.
He was caught by the US Coast Guard.
In all, over the weekend at least 73 people were killed and 166 people were injured by guns.
Those two mass shootings were the 323rd and 324th mass shootings of the year. This is the 272nd day of the year.
Strikes in Gaza City Intensify
-via NY Times, The Hill, and The Guardian
In a statement released on Friday, Doctors Without Borders announced that they have been forced to suspend their work in Gaza because it had become too dangerous to work there.
“We have been left with no choice but to stop our activities, as our clinics are encircled by Israeli forces.”
According to Jacob Granger, the Doctors Without Borders emergency medical coordinator, last week alone, the clinic treated more than 1,600 people for malnutrition.
This news comes as Israeli forces continue their attack on Gaza City. In the two weeks since this new attack began (though, to be clear, it’s not like Israel Defense Forces were taking it easy on Gaza before. They’re just now stepping it up), 57 people have been killed in Gaza City alone.
Meanwhile, Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu told the UN on Friday that Israel, “must finish the job,” in Gaza. His visit was not well-received, as I’m sure you would imagine, with more than 100 diplomats from 50 countries, walking out as Netanyahu walked in.
Meanwhile, on Sunday Trump said the peace deal to end the Israel-Hamas was is in its “final stages.”
“All of the Countries within the Region are involved, Hamas is very much aware of these discussions, and Israel has been informed at all levels, including Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu.”
Uh oh. Hang on… are they involved, or do they just know about it?
“Everybody has come together to get a deal, but we still have to get it done.”
How close are we, actually, to a peace deal. What do you actually have? An idea? Did ya jot some thoughts down there? Buddy, did ya find a crayon and an Applebees menu and write be nice to each other and then lines for both sides to sign?
Hostile Government Takeover Heads to Portland
-via Washington Post and NPR
But what about things here in America? Let’s take a look at the “war-ravaged” and truly chilling city of… Portland, Oregon which Donald Trump has decided that he is finally going to get under control. Hide your books!... Is a joke I wrote because I realized it’s not funny because that’s a real concern.
"I am directing Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, to provide all necessary Troops to protect War ravaged Portland, and any of our ICE Facilities under siege from attack by Antifa, and other domestic terrorists. I am also authorizing Full Force, if necessary."
I’ll note that an ICE facility was under attack… in Texas. But, that state’s red.
Let me give you a very chilling pull quote that Trump gave last week while talking to reporters in the Oval: "We're going to get out there and do a big number on those people in Portland."
As has been the case in every city he’s done this – violence crime is down in Portland.
But again, why let facts get in the way of Hostile Government Takeover?
Unlike every other city – this mayor is white.
That’s neither here nor there, but I’m just noting that this is the first city he’s done this in where the mayor isn’t Black.
Oregon’s Governor and AG joined with Portland’s mayor to announce that they would be suing the administration, hoping to be in front of a judge within a week.
Trump invoked Title 10 to send troops to Portland. The invocation of Title 10 is how he lost his court case in California because it is the section of the US code specifically says the President can federalize the National Guard when: “The United States, or any of the Commonwealths or possessions, is invaded or is in danger of invasion by a foreign nation; there is a rebellion or danger of a rebellion against the authority of the Government of the United States; or the President is unable with the regular forces to execute the laws of the United States.”
Trump lost in California because he never said the state was in danger of rebellion. He literally never said the word (because, again – we were fine). Now, not only is Portland not in danger of a rebellion, but the man’s never learned a lesson in his life. So the big question of the case will, once again, be… did someone say rebellion??
ICE Raids in Iowa
-via CNN, The Guardian, and The Hill
But while we keep an eye on Hostile Government Takeover, we need to continue to be just as loud as ever about the ICE raids.
On Friday, Ian Roberts, the superindendent of Iowa’s largest school district in Des Moines, was detained by ICE as agents said he was in the country illegally and had existing weapon possession charges.
Roberts, who, oh by the way, is also an Olympic athlete, is, yes, from Guyana (which is where he competed in the Olympics.
The Department of Homeland Security said he had a loaded handgun, a hunting knife, and $3k in cash at the time of his arrest.
The weapons charge was related to a hunting rifle and was disclosed when he was hired.
His arrest has spurred a protest outside of a federal courthouse.
I expect we’ll learn more about this today, when the courthouse opens for work.
FBI Agents Fired Over 2020 Photo
Proving there is no rock bottom to how fueled by petty and First Amendment hate this administration is… about 20 FBI agents were fired on Friday. Their crime?
Being photographed kneeling during Black Lives Matter protests in 2020.
Which was believed to be, by some, a de-escalation tactic more than anything else.
*This administration strongly condemns de-escalations! Yuck!*
The FBI Agents Association put out a great statement though, as they asked Congress to investigate the firings:
"Leaders uphold the law – they don't repeatedly break it. They respect due process, rather than hide from it. Patel's dangerous new pattern of actions are weakening the Bureau because they eliminate valuable expertise and damage trust between leadership and the workforce, and make it harder to recruit and retain skilled agents—ultimately putting our nation at greater risk."
In response, Congressional Republicans said: oof. Yikes. Sounds bad! Someone should do something about it. Not us, obviously.
Shutdown Watch Continues
-via The Hill
Now we’re getting closer to the shutdown. Now we gotta really talk about it. Kind of. Nothing really changed over the weekend. Right now it’s all political soundbites. Trump won’t negotiate. The Republicans need the Democrats. The Democrats need to do something because of how we’re in fascism right now, and they should probably go ahead and at least try to stop it. So it’s a real pickle everyone finds themselves in right now.
It's Monday - let’s see what the day brings.
Update: Hegseth’s Meeting
-via CBS News
One thing the weekend did bring, at least, was a small amount of clarity regarding this meeting, which sounds like it could have been, and frankly would have been safer as, an email, that Pete Hegseth called for tomorrow in Quantico.
First, we know Trump will attend.
Second, according to Trump, it’s going to be a, "nice meeting talking about how well we're doing militarily, talking about being in great shape, talking about a lot of good, positive things."
Bringing generals and admirals in from all over the world to tell them great job?
Either what a waste of our money or… I don’t know. We’ll see tomorrow I suppose.
Oh No! Eric!
-via The Guardian
And finally – Eric Adams is dropping his bid to be the next mayor of New York City.
Oh no! Eric! I really… am shocked!
As you may recall, Mr. Ethics who has spent his time as mayor just enjoying being accused of crime after crime, was discussing an ambassadorship to Saudi Arabia if he dropped out and told people to vote for Andrew Cuomo, who lost in the democratic primary but is now suddenly an independent I guess, so he’s still in the race.
Apparently, the ambassadorship talks fell through, but he still found a way to blame the media (me? What did this very popular podcast—just kidding. I’m not the media. I’m just a Kim!) and then said voters should treat both Mamdani and Cuomo with suspicion.
Man… you really just… suck, huh? Never wasn’t terrible, start to finish. Started bad, and then at the end you were like – and even though the Republicans are doing fascism, you gotta treat both of these very different candidates as if they’re the same and also bad. Everyone’s bad. I’m Eric Adams and my politics are very confusing!
And that’s it. That’s the news.
I’m proud of coffee! This was recorded without any. I record at night – the coffee’s worn off by then. This about that.
But more than coffee, because just the very thought of you gives me all the energy I need… I’m proud of you.