Good morning, everyone. I know these last ten days have been difficult — for many of you, and for me too. That’s why, at the end of today’s update, I’ve included a few uplifting stories to remind us that hope and humanity still shine through. But make no mistake: the news I’m tracking right now is serious.
First, Donald Trump is expected to fire a U.S. Attorney for refusing to secure an indictment against Trump’s political opponent, Letitia James. At the same time, the boycott of ABC and Disney is intensifying.
I started this work because I believe truth must always triumph over misinformation. That conviction hasn’t changed. Even as free speech is attacked, our responsibility is to keep pressing forward, to deliver facts with integrity and without fear. This is not about partisanship — it’s about defending democracy itself. Every classroom in America should be teaching ethics, civics, and media literacy, because informed citizens are the ultimate safeguard against authoritarianism.
That’s what I fight for every single day. If you believe in this mission, I ask you to subscribe and support this work. In the face of opposition, your support is what makes truth louder than lies.
Subscribe
With that, here’s what you missed:
According to ABC News, President Donald Trump is expected to fire U.S. Attorney Erik Siebert, who leads the Eastern District of Virginia, after he resisted pressure from Trump officials to pursue criminal charges against New York Attorney General Letitia James for alleged mortgage fraud — despite investigators finding no clear evidence of wrongdoing — a move that critics warn underscores Trump’s use of the Justice Department to retaliate against political adversaries, especially given James’ role in bringing a successful civil fraud case against him.
Donald Trump’s FCC chairman Brendan Carr, a close Trump ally praised as a “warrior for free speech,” has escalated scrutiny of major media companies, now vowing “we are not done yet” and celebrated ABC’s indefinite suspension of Jimmy Kimmel Live! following Kimmel’s controversial remarks about Charlie Kirk’s assassination.
The suspension of Jimmy Kimmel Live! after threats from Trump-appointed FCC Chair Brendan Carr has drawn sharp backlash from comedy hosts including Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert, and Jimmy Fallon, who mocked the administration and denounced the move as censorship, warning it reflects government intimidation of the press and entertainment industry — a concern echoed by Barack Obama, David Letterman, and others as Disney and Nexstar pulled the show amid looming FCC merger approvals.
Executives stressed the pause was to “lower the temperature,” with hopes of eventually bringing Kimmel back before his contract ends in 2026.
According to The Guardian, a growing network of U.S.-based neo-Nazi “active clubs” is exploiting the assassination of far-right commentator Charlie Kirk to recruit new members, framing his death as proof of “anti-White oppression” and urging white men to “fight back”; analysts warn these loosely organized fight clubs, tied to violent extremism and already spread across 27 countries, are leveraging Kirk’s killing, alongside other tragedies, to stoke racist anger, glorify violence, and expand one of today’s most dangerous far-right movements.
Tyler Robinson, the suspected shooter of Charlie Kirk, used the name “DonaldTrump” on his video game account per Bloomberg.
A CDC advisory panel has recommended restricting the combined measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (MMRV) vaccine for children under age 4 due to a small but known risk of febrile seizures, advising instead the use of separate shots at younger ages; while the guidance does not change overall vaccination schedules, the vote — shaped by new members appointed by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., many of whom are vaccine skeptics — has raised concerns among public health experts that it could undermine confidence in long-established immunization policies.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán announced that his government will designate antifa a terrorist organization, mirroring President Donald Trump’s move in the U.S.; while antifascist groups have little presence in Hungary, Orbán cited a 2023 assault tied to foreign activists and criticized the release of Italian activist Ilaria Salis — now an EU lawmaker with immunity — framing the designation as part of his broader alignment with Trump and crackdown on dissent.
The U.S. Senate, under new Republican rules, confirmed 48 of Donald Trump’s nominees in a single vote to speed up approvals stalled by Democrats. Among those approved were Jonathan Morrison as head of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Kimberly Guilfoyle as ambassador to Greece.
According to The Guardian, U.S. law enforcement agencies including the FBI, CBP, and NYPD have circulated internal reports claiming that certain emojis — such as trains, ninjas, swords, aliens, and even strawberries — could signal affiliation with Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan gang frequently cited by Donald Trump to justify his immigration crackdown.
At least 70 people — including 11 New York elected officials — were arrested after staging protests inside and outside Manhattan’s Jacob K Javits federal building, demanding access to an ICE intake facility accused of mistreating detainees. Among those detained were Comptroller Brad Lander, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, and several state senators and city council members, who denounced ICE as “cruel and violent” and called for its abolition.
Republicans in Congress are moving to roll back key protections against PFAS, the toxic “forever chemicals” widely used in U.S. military firefighting foam that have contaminated water supplies near hundreds of bases. Provisions in the new defense bill would delay the planned 2026 ban on PFAS foam until at least 2028, slash cleanup funding by $200 million, lift a moratorium on incinerating foam despite its ineffectiveness, and repeal a requirement for the Pentagon to buy PFAS-free everyday goods.
Trump is set to speak with Chinese leader Xi Jinping to finalize a deal that would allow TikTok to keep operating in the U.S., with discussions also addressing the ongoing trade war, tariff reductions, and technology disputes; the deal, still facing questions over TikTok’s algorithm and congressional approval, could mark both a breakthrough in negotiations and a test of U.S.–China competition in advanced technology.
In her forthcoming campaign memoir 107 Days, Kamala Harris reveals deep frustrations with Joe Biden during the 2024 election, describing herself as “angry and disappointed” after he phoned hours before her debate with Trump to warn of Philadelphia power brokers allegedly refusing to support her, and criticizing his frailty, verbal stumbles, and failure to champion her accomplishments.
The Taliban have released British couple Peter and Barbie Reynolds, aged 80 and 75, after holding them for more than seven months on undisclosed charges; the longtime residents of Afghanistan, who ran an education and training organization in Bamiyan, were freed with Qatari mediation and handed over to the U.K.’s envoy, highlighting ongoing Western concerns over Taliban detentions and efforts to gain international recognition.
Eleanor Holmes Norton, Washington DC’s 88-year-old longtime House delegate, is facing a primary challenge from city council member Robert White, who argues the district needs “strongest fighters” amid Trump’s unprecedented federal takeover of DC policing and Republican efforts to impose new crime laws.
Good news:
In Oklahoma, 9-year-old Branson Baker saved his parents after a tornado flipped their truck and left them with severe injuries by running a mile in the dark to get help. His bravery not only brought rescuers to the scene but also inspired a community GoFundMe that raised $100,000 for the family’s recovery.
Trail cameras in Thailand’s Huai Kha Khaeng Forest captured rare footage of a gaur, the world’s largest bovine, walking with her calves, thrilling conservationists. Officials say the sightings prove decades of protection efforts are paying off, with gaur, elephants, and tigers thriving in the UNESCO-listed sanctuary.
In British Columbia, 15-year-old Connor Belanger rescued a week-old baby beaver that clawed into his hands while tubing on a river, later bringing it to a wildlife rescue center where it was named “Little Timbre.” The beaver is now thriving and will be reintroduced to the same river in about 18 months, with the rescue hailed as a quintessentially Canadian act of empathy.
Cumberland Community School in London invested $150,000 to provide all 270 incoming students with new uniforms and laptops, easing financial burdens on low-income families. Headteacher Ekhlas Rahman said the move fosters pride, reduces social pressures, and ensures every child can focus on learning rather than costs.
See you this evening.
— Aaron
