Good afternoon, everyone. Today I sat down with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries for a wide-ranging conversation that cut straight to two of the most pressing issues in American politics.
First: redistricting. Jeffries told me unequivocally that he fully supports the aggressive efforts led by Governor Newsom in California and Governor Hochul in New York—moves that could reshape the balance of power in Congress.
Second: Jeffrey Epstein. This is a story I refuse to let vanish into the shadows. Jeffries confirmed two critical commitments: He will convene a Congressional hearing featuring Epstein’s victims and survivors—no matter what happens in next year’s elections. He and Oversight Democrats will push to make the Justice Department’s Epstein files public, so the truth cannot be buried.
And tonight, in an extraordinary and unprecedented move, Donald Trump will personally patrol Washington, D.C. alongside the National Guard. I’ll be out there on the ground covering it—because this moment demands real reporting, not stage-managed press releases.
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Here’s what you missed today:
The California Assembly approved the first bill in Governor Gavin Newsom’s redistricting plan, voting 57-20 along party lines to suspend the state’s independent commission maps and add five new Democratic seats; the measure now heads to the Senate and then to voters in a November 4 special election, part of a broader national redistricting fight sparked by GOP gains in Texas at Trump’s direction.
The Trump administration says it is reviewing all 55 million people with U.S. visas for potential deportable violations, with the State Department noting visas can be revoked for overstays, criminal activity, public safety threats, or terrorist ties.
Russia launched one of its largest overnight strikes of the war, firing 614 drones and missiles across Ukraine, killing one, injuring dozens, and destroying a U.S.-owned electronics factory in Mukachevo near NATO borders; President Zelenskyy called the strike on Flex Ltd. “very telling” after Trump’s peace efforts, while France said the attacks show Moscow has no genuine intent to negotiate.
President Trump announced he would personally patrol Washington, D.C. with law enforcement and National Guard troops as part of his crime crackdown, though the outing was not on his public schedule; the move follows his recent takeover of the city’s police force, which a majority of residents oppose according to a new poll.
I went to Union Station in Washington, D.C. today and confirmed with the members of the National Guard that they are from South Carolina. We expect more members of the Guard to be deployed in the coming days.
A New York appeals court voided the roughly $500 million civil fraud penalty against President Trump, ruling the fine was excessive and violated the Eighth Amendment; while Trump remains liable for fraud, the decision lifts major financial pressure, prompts Attorney General Letitia James to appeal, and marks a significant legal victory for Trump as he continues to face multiple ongoing cases.
The Florida Department of Transportation abruptly paved over Orlando’s rainbow crosswalk honoring the 49 victims of the Pulse nightclub massacre, drawing outrage from local officials who called it a “cruel political act”; Democrats accused Gov. Ron DeSantis of targeting LGBTQ+ symbols, while FDOT warned other cities their rainbow crosswalks must be removed by September 3 or the state will take action.
A federal judge ruled that Alina Habba is not lawfully serving as U.S. Attorney in New Jersey, with Judge Matthew Brann disqualifying her from prosecuting two criminal defendants who challenged her appointment.
A federal judge ordered Elon Musk to face a lawsuit brought by voters who allege he defrauded them into signing a petition in support of the U.S. Constitution by promising a chance to win his $1 million-a-day giveaway.
The Pentagon is asking civilian employees to volunteer for deployments of up to 180 days to support ICE and CBP in Trump’s mass deportation campaign, providing “critical support” such as logistics, data entry, and planning; the initiative, authorized by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, comes as the administration expands immigration enforcement with new ICE agents, detention centers, and joint operations with local police.
Protests in Los Angeles targeted hotels housing ICE and CBP agents during Trump’s immigration raids, leading the U.S. military to circulate a list of “LA Hotels to Avoid” due to harassment; activists say the demonstrations successfully pressured hotels to expel agents, disrupted enforcement operations, and boosted community morale in the fight against mass deportations.
Federal agents raided a warehouse in Edison, New Jersey, detaining dozens of immigrant workers as part of Trump’s immigration crackdown; CBP officers led some away in zip ties while those deemed legally present were marked with yellow wristbands.
In a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court allowed the administration to proceed with terminating NIH grants under Trump-era DEI/gender policies, but also, in a separate 5-4 vote, left in place a ruling that voided the NIH memos enforcing those policies. Chief Justice Roberts joined liberals; Justice Barrett was the swing vote.
The Justice Department signaled an investigation into Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook after Trump allies accused her of mortgage fraud, with DOJ lawyer Ed Martin urging her removal; Cook denied wrongdoing and said she won’t be “bullied” into resigning, as the probe underscores Trump’s escalating campaign to pressure the Fed and potentially reshape its balance of power.
President Trump again demanded the release of former Colorado election clerk Tina Peters, convicted and sentenced to nine years for breaching voting system data, calling her a “patriot” and threatening “harsh measures” if she remains imprisoned; Peters’ case, prosecuted in conservative Mesa County, has become a rallying cry for election deniers, though prosecutors stress her actions caused over $1 million in damages.
See you in the morning.
— Aaron
