Good morning, everyone. It’s a slow news day, but that makes it a good moment to refocus on the two major stories I’m tracking in the weeks ahead.
While Trump is amplifying calls for military tribunals on social media, I’m zeroed in on two far more consequential developments. First, the Epstein files: the DOJ is required to release them in roughly three weeks, and what emerges could have enormous implications. Second, the revelation that major right-wing Twitter accounts pushing MAGA messaging have been operating as foreign actors. Their narratives have shaped American discourse and seeped directly into our elections.
I’m genuinely stunned that mainstream outlets are barely touching the foreign MAGA network story. I’m spending hours every day mapping how this right-wing online ecosystem launders foreign-generated propaganda into the American conversation. This work requires time, rigor, and independence.
Donald Trump spent the weekend boosting several QAnon-themed posts from an account he has previously amplified, sharing AI-generated images portraying him as a heroic figure and repeating central QAnon slogans such as “Remember your oath,” “Tick tock,” “Q+,” “Do it Q,” and “Nothing Can Stop What Is Coming,” underscoring his continued political alignment with the conspiracy movement’s narratives.
Trump further amplified calls for military tribunals in lieu of going through the traditional justice system.
AOC publicly questioned Trump’s mental stability after he threatened Democratic lawmakers with jail and even death for urging the military to reject illegal orders, while Democrats say he is escalating rhetoric to distract from inflation and the impending release of the Epstein files; meanwhile, Trump continues issuing attacks on Democrats, touting executive actions and facing criticism over sinking polls and foreign policy tensions.
The Justice Department asked a Florida judge to reconsider unsealing Jeffrey Epstein grand jury transcripts, arguing a new law mandating release of all DOJ-held Epstein files within 30 days requires it, even though the statute doesn’t explicitly mention grand jury material, leaving uncertainty over what documents will ultimately be made public.
The U.S. and Ukraine said they made “meaningful progress” on a refined peace framework during intensive Geneva talks pushed by Washington, though no details were released; European leaders warned significant issues remain as the Trump-backed proposal is seen as forcing Ukraine to concede key territories to Russia, while Zelenskyy seeks compromise without weakening sovereignty and Moscow claims it has been excluded from the discussions.
Former Trump administration lawyers warn that his latest pardons, including mass Jan. 6 pardons and the pardon of billionaire ally Changpeng Zhao, represent a “clear quid pro quo,” arguing he is using clemency as a personal and political weapon to reward loyalists, undermine the justice system and signal that illegal acts are acceptable if done for his benefit.
Trump floated giving Americans $5,000 checks from planned DOGE cuts, but the program never materialized and no payments were issued because DOGE did not cut much money at all.
The U.S. is at serious risk of losing its measles elimination status as record outbreaks driven by falling vaccination rates and large unvaccinated pockets, especially in Texas, fuel continuous nationwide transmission, raising deaths, straining public health systems and prompting warnings that regaining elimination would be difficult if lost.
The Trump administration designated Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro and allied officials as members of a foreign terrorist organization linked to the so-called Cartel de los Soles, a move that expands sanctions and potential military options as the U.S. masses forces in the region despite strong public opposition to military action.
According to Semafor, Donald Trump, 79, is reportedly urging billionaire ally Larry Ellison to use his Hollywood influence to revive one of Trump’s favorite retired movie franchises, leveraging their close ties and Ellison’s ownership stake in Paramount’s parent company.
Trump is preparing to roll out a new health-care cost plan aimed at replacing soon-to-expire enhanced ACA subsidies used by nearly 22 million Americans; without action, premiums could more than double next year, and the proposal comes as the administration seeks to break a standoff with Democrats who demand a clean extension of the subsidies to reopen the government.
The G20 summit in South Africa concluded without any U.S. presence after the Trump administration boycotted the event over claims of anti-white persecution, leaving the ceremonial handover of the G20 presidency unfulfilled and overshadowing a landmark summit that advanced Global South priorities despite U.S. and Argentine opposition.
NBC News reports that months after its splashy launch, the Trump Mobile T1 phone remains undelivered, with shifting ship dates, altered design images, removal of its “Made in the USA” claim, and no clear explanation for delays as the company continues taking $100 deposits.
Morgan Geyser, who pleaded guilty in the 2014 “Slender Man” stabbing, briefly went missing after cutting off her monitoring bracelet but was later found asleep at an Illinois truck stop with a companion and taken back into custody, according to ABC Milwaukee.
Ethiopia’s Hayli Gubbi volcano erupted for the first time in nearly 12,000 years, sending ash clouds up to 14km high and drifting across Yemen, Oman, India, and northern Pakistan, with authorities yet to report casualties or displacement.
According to NBC News, Israel’s military chief dismissed and reprimanded senior officers, including former heads of intelligence, operations, and southern command, for systemic failures that allowed the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack, as public pressure mounts for a national inquiry into the assault and its aftermath.
Israel says it killed Hezbollah’s No. 2 commander, Haytham Ali Tabatabai, in an airstrike on Beirut that left five dead and 28 injured; Tabatabai, long designated a U.S.-listed terrorist and senior military leader involved in operations in Syria and Yemen, was struck in a densely populated area of southern Beirut.
The National Zoo announced that 12-year-old Asian elephant Nhi Linh is pregnant with the zoo’s first calf in 25 years, a major milestone for the endangered species; veterinarians report healthy ultrasound signs, staff are preparing the enclosure for a safe birth this winter, and the successful pregnancy also supports broader conservation and research efforts.
Good news:
A Canadian wellness center is helping children with mobility disorders take their first steps using the donated Trexo robotic exoskeleton, a ground-touching, sensor-guided walker that has enabled kids like Leo, once told he would never walk, to build strength and learn to move independently.
Sgt. Bo, a once-stray mutt turned Nashville police therapy dog, won the 2025 Hero Dog Award for comforting children and families after the Covenant School shooting and continues to support students in retirement, symbolizing resilience, compassion and the healing power of rescue animals.
A first-of-its-kind King’s College London study found that successful root canal treatment lowers inflammation, improves blood sugar control and enhances cholesterol levels, showing that treating dental infections may significantly reduce risks for heart disease and diabetes and highlighting the deep connection between oral and overall health.
