Podcasts about justice department

Plus: Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche formally rescinds ‘anti-weaponization' fund in a bid to smooth his confirmation. And California's billionaire tax wins support from state democratic party. Luke Vargas hosts. Sign up for WSJ's free What's News newsletter. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Today's show kicks off with a discussion about the recent cyber attack on Minnesota's municipal water systems, which has left many wondering if Iran is behind the attack. Our guest, Morgan Wright, a cybersecurity expert, joins the conversation to break down the details of the attack and what it means for our country's cybersecurity. The conversation then shifts to the topic of voter integrity, with a discussion about New Jersey's automatic voter registration law and the potential for non-citizens to be registered to vote. Our guest, Hans von Spakowski, a senior legal fellow at Advancing American Freedom, weighs in on the issue and explains why the Justice Department has the right to access the state's voter rolls to ensure accuracy and prevent voter fraud. The episode also touches on the topic of gerrymandering in Maryland, where a proposed constitutional amendment would eliminate common sense from the election process and allow the legislature to create the most partisan maps in the country. Our guest, Nick Kipke, a former minority leader in the Maryland House of Delegates, shares his concerns about the proposal and why it's a threat to democracy. Finally, the show wraps up with a discussion about the importance of critical thinking and media literacy in today's world. Our host, O'Connor, shares his thoughts on the recent interview between Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Dana Bash, and how it highlights the need for a more nuanced approach to discussing complex issues like vaccine safety and autism.Become a Townhall VIP member with promo code "LARRY": https://townhall.com/subscribeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Justice Department delivered the disputed Jeffrey Epstein materials to U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan at the edge of the court-imposed deadline, complying only after Sullivan ordered the government to provide less-redacted records or justify why the information should remain concealed. The material included emails involving Epstein, names removed from a draft indictment, references to possible co-conspirators and underlying FBI interview records. Sullivan issued the order in journalist Katie Phang's lawsuit challenging the DOJ's compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act, after concluding that the department had failed to meaningfully answer several of her arguments and had already missed an earlier deadline.Although the last-minute submission technically placed the requested material before the court, it did not make the records immediately available to Phang or the public. Sullivan would still have to review the documents and determine whether the DOJ's redactions and withholding claims were legally justified. The timing reinforced criticism that the department was treating disclosure as something to resist until compelled, rather than an obligation to fulfill promptly. After months of delayed releases, incomplete explanations and litigation over the redactions, handing the records over at the deadline looked less like voluntary transparency and more like reluctant compliance under direct judicial pressure.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comsource:Blanche surrenders unredacted Epstein files within minutes of judge's deadline - Alternet.org

Newly released FBI records showed that, days after a July 2025 White House Situation Room meeting about the escalating Epstein controversy, FBI Director Kash Patel asked for information about sensitive material uncovered during the bureau's review. An FBI official responded with spreadsheets labeled “Flagged Items Lists,” which reportedly included references to public figures, potentially classified information and possible child sexual abuse material. The documents indicated that FBI reviewers had been instructed by the Justice Department to flag such material for discussion with DOJ attorneys while records were being processed and redacted. Todd Blanche, then serving as deputy attorney general, was identified as the senior Justice Department official overseeing the effort.The internal communications appeared to conflict with the Justice Department and FBI's public statement issued two weeks earlier, which said their exhaustive review had uncovered no evidence warranting investigations of additional uncharged people. The flagged material had reportedly been delivered to the Justice Department months before that declaration, raising questions about how quickly officials decided to close the matter and whether potentially significant leads received adequate scrutiny. The existence of prominent names in investigative records did not establish criminal wrongdoing, and flagged material could include unverified tips or incidental references, but the timing and apparent disparity between the private review and the government's public conclusions fueled suspicions that the department was rushing to shut down further examination of Epstein's powerful associatesto contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comsource:Scrambling DOJ rushed to shut Epstein case as 'flag list' surfaced big names: new docs - Raw Story

Glenn speaks with Stacey Young the Executive director at the non-profit group Justice Connection. They have become the leading voice delivering the message that the assault on the DOJ makes Americans more vulnerable to violent crime, corruption, climate change, civil rights violations, and terrorism—while eroding the foundation of our democracy. And by providing direct support to employees, tracking the damage, pressuring Congress and mobilizing alumni, they're standing up for the Department Glenn and Stacey once served. Glenn discusses the nomination of Acting Attorney General of Todd Blanche.Find Stacey Young and Justice Connection at: www.thejusticeconnection.orgFind Glenn on Substack" glennkirschner.substack.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Court records involving Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell were filled for years with anonymous labels such as “John Doe,” “Jane Doe” and numbered variations of those names. The pseudonyms appeared most prominently in records from Virginia Giuffre's defamation lawsuit against Maxwell, where depositions, emails, motions and exhibits discussed dozens of people whose identities remained sealed. Some were survivors entitled to privacy, while others were witnesses, employees, social acquaintances, public figures or people accused of participating in or having knowledge of Epstein's activities. The widespread redactions made the records difficult to follow and allowed speculation to grow over who was being protected and why. It is important, however, to distinguish between people accused of misconduct and those whose names appeared only because they crossed paths with Epstein or were mentioned during testimony.Successive rounds of unsealing and the broader releases commonly known as the Epstein files eventually connected some of those anonymous designations to real names. Judge Loretta Preska's court-ordered release of records beginning in January 2024 removed many of the “J. Doe” protections in the Giuffre-Maxwell litigation, exposing the identities of people who had previously appeared only as numbers or initials. Later federal releases under the Epstein Files Transparency Act placed millions of additional pages from the Epstein and Maxwell investigations into the public record, with the Justice Department stating that notable individuals and politicians were not to be redacted merely because of their status. The disclosures did not prove that every newly identified person committed a crime, but they helped reconstruct conversations, relationships and allegations that had been obscured for years behind anonymous placeholders.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-epstein-chronicles--5003294/support.

The Justice Department has still not turned over the unredacted Jeffrey Epstein records requested by New Mexico investigators, missing a July 31 deadline imposed by state Attorney General Raúl Torrez. New Mexico reopened its criminal investigation into allegations of sexual abuse and trafficking at Epstein's Zorro Ranch earlier this year, but the federal government has provided only 31 pages of largely useless material, including heavily redacted records, previously public documents and photocopies of local news reports. Torrez says the withheld files potentially contain the identities of survivors, witnesses, co-conspirators and other individuals who could help investigators determine what crimes occurred at the ranch and whether anyone can still be prosecuted.The standoff is especially troubling because New Mexico says it suspended its original investigation in 2019 after reaching an agreement with the Southern District of New York, which was supposed to share evidence gathered during the federal Epstein investigation. State officials now say the federal government never honored that commitment. Although the DOJ argues that federal law, court orders and privacy protections prevent it from releasing millions of unredacted documents, New Mexico maintains that prosecutors could seek modifications to protective orders and securely provide the relevant evidence to state law enforcement. Torrez has accused the department of obstructing the investigation and has left open the possibility of taking legal action to force the federal government to cooperate.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comsource:Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-epstein-chronicles--5003294/support.

This Day in Legal History: The Immigration Act of 1882On August 3, 1882, President Chester A. Arthur signed the Immigration Act of 1882, the first comprehensive federal law regulating immigration into the United States. Before this, immigration had largely been left to the individual states; this Act marked the moment the federal government claimed the subject as its own, and it built the first federal machinery for controlling who could enter the country.The Act did two enduring things. First, it imposed a “head tax”—fifty cents on every immigrant arriving by ship—to fund the administration of immigration, and it placed enforcement under the Secretary of the Treasury, creating the country's first federal immigration bureaucracy. Second, and more consequentially for the law that followed, it created categories of people who would be excluded: convicts, the “insane,” and—in language that would echo for the next century and a half—”any person unable to take care of himself or herself without becoming a public charge.” That public-charge concept, born here in 1882, is the same doctrine we discussed just a couple of weeks ago when the current administration revived an expansive version of the public-charge rule.The significance of August 3, 1882 is that it is the taproot of the entire federal immigration system. Coming just months after the Chinese Exclusion Act, it established the foundational premise that the national government decides the terms of admission to the United States, and it introduced the framework—head taxes, excludable categories, federal enforcement—on which everything since has been built. It's worth sitting with the tension in the date: 1882 is also, almost exactly, the moment Emma Lazarus was composing “The New Colossus,” with its welcome to the tired and the poor. The law and the poem were born together, and the distance between them—between the statute's exclusions and the sonnet's embrace—is a distance the country has been arguing about ever since.Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche has formally rescinded the $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization fund,” clearing what had been the biggest obstacle to his confirmation. If you were with us last week, this is the resolution of that story. The fund—created by a Justice Department order back in May—would have used taxpayer money to compensate people who claimed to be victims of the prior administration's Justice Department, a group that notably included those convicted in connection with the January 6 Capitol attack. Republican Senator John Cornyn had refused to support Blanche's nomination until the fund was killed, and this week Blanche did exactly that, signing an order declaring the May directive “rescinded” with “no force or effect,” and, as part of the deal, agreeing to limit the related immunity arrangement so it applies only to the IRS and not to other agencies. The significance ties together several threads we've followed all summer. This fund grew out of the same collusive IRS settlement that a federal judge voided as a sham, and it sat at the center of concerns about the Justice Department being used to reward the president's allies. That a senator from the president's own party forced its formal repeal as the price of confirmation is advice-and-consent working as a genuine check—and it means the incoming attorney general takes office having had to publicly dismantle one of the administration's most criticized initiatives before the Senate would trust him with the job.Acting US Attorney General Blanche rescinds ‘anti-weaponization' fund before confirmation vote | ReutersNPR · NBC NewsIn a court filing, Capital One has disclosed for the first time that it closed more than 300 Trump Organization bank accounts back in 2021 after an anti-money-laundering review—the first time a bank has formally tied such concerns to its decision to cut off the president's family business. The context is a lawsuit: the Donald J. Trump Revocable Trust and Eric Trump sued Capital One in Florida last year, alleging the bank “debanked” them for political reasons, having notified the Trump Organization of the closures in March 2021, just weeks after January 6. Capital One's filing reframes that story entirely. The bank says its compliance team did precisely what federal regulators expect—flagging accounts that raised anti-money-laundering red flags and acting on them. Here's the legal machinery underneath. Under the Bank Secrecy Act and related anti-money-laundering rules, banks are legally obligated to monitor their customers, file suspicious-activity reports, and, when warranted, close accounts; failing to do so can expose a bank to serious regulatory penalties. Importantly, Capital One did not accuse the Trump Organization of actual money laundering—flagging a risk and proving a crime are very different things. The significance is that this is a clean collision between two hot legal debates: the “debanking” complaint that financial institutions are dropping customers for political or ideological reasons, and the reality that banks operate under mandatory AML obligations that require them to shed risky accounts. A court will now have to decide which of those framings fits what Capital One actually did.Capital One says it closed Trump Organization's accounts after anti-money-laundering review | ReutersCNBC · NPRTom Goldstein, the prominent Supreme Court advocate and SCOTUSblog founder we've been following, has launched his appeal—asking the Fourth Circuit to overturn his twelve convictions for tax and mortgage fraud and to undo his six-year prison sentence. Recall the case: a jury found that Goldstein concealed millions from a secret high-stakes poker life, diverted his law firm's fees to cover gambling debts, and lied to mortgage lenders; he was sentenced to 72 months and ordered to pay more than $3 million in restitution. The appeal is a reminder that even a resource-intensive, headline conviction gets a second look, and Goldstein is raising some genuinely lawyerly arguments. The most interesting is venue—the constitutional requirement that a defendant be tried in the right place. His team argues that while prosecutors proved he filled out loan applications in Maryland, they never proved from where he actually transmitted the documents, leaning on a recent Fourth Circuit decision that took venue seriously. He's also challenging the admission of statements he made in media interviews and the wording of the jury instructions. Commentators describe his path as daunting, and it is—appellate courts rarely overturn convictions, and factual findings get real deference. But the significance is that these are exactly the kinds of technical, procedural issues on which serious appeals are built. Goldstein spent his career winning cases at the top of the appellate system; now he's testing whether that same system will scrutinize the government's work in convicting him.US Supreme Court lawyer Tom Goldstein appeals tax conviction | ReutersLaw360 · Bloomberg LawAnd finally, the Justice Department has moved to drop its criminal case against David Hearn, the former Olympic canoeist charged with vandalizing the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool—and the reason is striking. We covered Hearn's not-guilty plea back in July, when his lawyers called the prosecution an abuse of power built on a “concocted narrative.” It turns out that characterization may have been closer to the truth than the charge. In a 20-page filing, prosecutors acknowledged that evidence received after Hearn was indicted shows the damage to the pool “was the result of flawed installation by the contractor,” compounded by “the rush to complete the project” before the America 250 celebrations around July 4. In other words: not vandalism—shoddy construction. The U.S. Attorney's office said it only learned of the flawed-installation evidence after a grand jury had already indicted him. The significance goes right to prosecutorial power and its risks. A 67-year-old man was detained for hours and charged with a felony over damage that, by the government's own admission, he didn't cause. The case collapsing is the system correcting itself—but only after Hearn spent weeks as a felony defendant. It's a real-world illustration of a point we keep returning to: the decision to charge is one of the most consequential and least reviewable powers in the legal system, and when it's exercised on a flawed factual premise, the damage to the person charged is done long before the dismissal.US Justice Department drops case against former US Olympian over Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool | ReutersPBS NewsHour · CNN This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.minimumcomp.com/subscribe

Sens. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Thom Tillis, R-N.C., said Monday they'll back Todd Blanche's confirmation as attorney general after he issued an order rescinding the Justice Department's controversial “anti-weaponization fund,” but critics fear the government could still revive the fund in the future. Read the full story on Forbes: https://www.forbes.com/sites/alisondurkee/2026/08/03/todd-blanche-wins-key-confirmation-holdouts-but-questions-over-trumps-18-billion-fund-linger/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Like the vaccine and the return of live music and indoor dining, another gift was delivered to the masses when the FBI stormed the apartment of former Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani for a multitude of possible crimes. How this man has skated untouched for so long was no mystery. He was being protected from high up by Trump and his Justice Department. But with Biden's election and the appointment of Merrick Garland as AG, there's a new sheriff in town and Rudy is going down! Later I speak with the Washington Post's Greg Sargent about the demonization of the left, the MAGA victory in state and local elections and other fun topics.To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policyLearn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Todd Blanche's confirmation vote is in trouble as two republican senators hold out over the anti-weaponization slush fund and Trump tax immunity.  Jim Comey files motions to dismiss the seashells case for vindictive and selective prosecution.  Todd Blanche turns over a small batch of unredacted Epstein files to Judge Emmet Sullivan for in camera review pursuant to a lawsuit filed by independent journalist Katie Phang. Lawyers for Davey Hearn, the defendant in Jeanine Pirro's reflecting pool case, are accusing the Justice Department of improper grand jury conduct.  Plus listener questions. Do you have questions for the pod or something for HITMEINTHEHEADWITHABAT?  Shop Mint Unlimited Plans at MINTMOBILE.com/UNJUST Check out other MSW Media podcastshttps://mswmedia.com/shows/ Follow AGMueller, She Wrote SubstackMueller She Wrote on Blueskyhttps://twitter.com/MuellerSheWrotehttps://twitter.com/dailybeanspodMore from Andrew McCabeThe Real McCabe on Substack@therealmccabe.com on BlueskyThe Threat: How the FBI Protects America in the Age of Terror and Trump This Show is Available Ad-Free And Early For Patreon and Supercast Supporters at https://patreon.com/thedailybeansOr when you Subscribe on Apple Podcastshttps://apple.co/3YNpW3P Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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The contrast is the whole story. Trump had repeatedly claimed he possessed photos and video of a 350-foot gash being cut into the pool, and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum echoed that proof existed. Yet the dismissal filing attributes the damage to a defective installation that began failing almost immediately, and Hawk argues no criminal conduct occurred at all. He walks through why a prosecutor should never hold a national press conference without personally reviewing the evidence first. Hawk connects it to a broader pattern: DC grand juries declining to indict in several high-profile matters, other indictments dismissed over alleged grand jury misconduct, and federal judges increasingly wary of DOJ representations. He argues the reflecting pool collapse, like the stumbles around the Comey and James cases, reflects a Justice Department pursuing targets without the evidence to back the charges, and predicts Pirro's standing is slipping. SUPPORT & CONNECT WITH HAWK- Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mdg650hawk - Hawk's Merch Store: https://hawkmerchstore.com - Connect on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mdg650hawk7thacct - Connect on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hawkeyewhackamole - Connect on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/mdg650hawk.bsky.social - Connect on Substack: https://mdg650hawk.substack.com - Connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hawkpodcasts - Connect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mdg650hawk - Connect on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/mdg650hawk ALL HAWK PODCASTS INFO- Additional Content Available Here: https://www.hawkpodcasts.comhttps://www.youtube.com/@hawkpodcasts- Listen to Hawk Podcasts On Your Favorite Platform:Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3RWeJfyApple Podcasts: https://apple.co/422GDuLYouTube: https://youtube.com/@hawkpodcastsiHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/47vVBdPPandora: https://bit.ly/48COaTB

In this eye-opening episode of Talk Law Radio, host and attorney Todd Marquardt unpacks a hidden legal blind spot quietly reshaping the Texas hemp industry. Following the Texas Supreme Court’s landmark ruling in the Sky Marketing decision, state regulations regarding manufactured cannabinoids like Delta-8, Delta-10, and THCP are taking a dramatic shift. As of July 31st, these popular lab-derived compounds are classified as Schedule I controlled substances under Texas law, while the federal Justice Department simultaneously moves toward reclassifying medical marijuana. Todd walks listeners through the evolving legal landscape, explaining how an unintended loophole in the 2019 Texas Farm Bill led to a boom in synthetic hemp products—and why regulators are stepping in to end it. Whether you are a consumer, smoke shop retailer, or an industry entrepreneur concerned about civil asset forfeiture and business succession, this episode delivers critical legal context you won't hear on the standard news. Key Takeaways & Topics Covered The Birth and Closure of the Delta-8 Loophole: How technological advancements turned trace, naturally occurring cannabinoids into high-potency lab-made products—and why the state ruled that the 2019 Farm Bill was never meant to greenlight synthetic highs. The Sky Marketing Court Ruling: An analysis of the Texas Supreme Court decision granting state health officials the discretion to reclassify manufactured Delta-8, Delta-10, and THCP as Schedule I controlled substances. Texas vs. Federal Regulation Conflict: Why Texas state rules are getting stricter on hemp products just as the federal government prepares to reschedule medical marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III. What Remains Legal in Texas: Clear guidance on what can still stay on store shelves—specifically ingestible and topical hemp products containing 0.3% or less of naturally compliant Delta-9 THC. Compliance & Criminal Penalties for Businesses: A breakdown of severe penalties facing retailers, from Class A misdemeanors for prohibited vape products to third-degree felonies for falsifying cargo shipping manifests or lab reports. Estate Planning & Asset Protection Risks: How emergency reclassifications can turn business inventory into high-risk contraband overnight, exposing store owners to asset forfeiture under Chapter 59 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure. Connect & Join the Discussion Do you think Texas should fully legalize marijuana, or do you support stricter regulation of manufactured hemp derivatives? Let us know your thoughts! YouTube: Search for Talk Law Radio (look for the Lady Justice logo in red, white, and blue), find this video, and leave a comment. Radio Broadcasts: Tune in to Talk Law Radio every Saturday morning at 11:00 AM on KLUP 930 AM (San Antonio), AM 1070/103.3 FM (Houston), and KKNT, or catch us Sunday afternoons at 4:30 PM. Estate Planning Consultations: Protecting your legacy and business assets starts with proactive legal advice. Contact the Marquardt Law Firm at (210) 530-4278 or visit marquardtlawfirm.com to schedule an appointment. The mission of Talk Law Radio is to help you discover your legal issue blind spots by listening to me talk about the law on the radio. The state bar of Texas is the state agency that governs attorney law licenses. The State Bar wants attorneys to inform the public about the law but does not want us to attempt to solve your individual legal problems upon the basis of general information. Instead, contact an attorney like Todd A. Marquardt at Marquardt Law Firm, P.C. to discuss your specific facts and circumstances of your unique situation. www.TalkLawRadio.com Join Todd Marquardt every week for exciting law talk on Talk Law Radio! -Sponsored by Marquardt Law Firm and Financial Planning HQ -Go to marquardtlawfirm.com and financialplanninghq.netSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

OnApril 4, 2022, less than six weeks after Russian forces launched their attack on Ukraine, officers from Spain's Guardia Civil, the FBI and Homeland Security boarded Tango, a 255-foot superyacht in the Spanish port city of Palma de Mallorca.  Allegedly owned by sanctioned Russian billionaire Viktor Vekselberg (net worth: $9 billion), per the United States government, the $90 million vessel was seized under a U.S. warrant alleging bank fraud, money laundering and sanctions violations. It was the high-profile opening salvo in a Western campaign to punish the Russian oligarchs who “supported tyranny for financial gain.” “Today marks our task force's first seizure of an asset belonging to a sanctioned individual with close ties to the Russian regime,” boasted then–attorney general Merrick Garland. “It will not be the last.” Weeks later, Garland doubled down, promising to use all available Justice Department resources to seize the assets and transfer the proceeds directly to Ukraine.  By Giacomo Tognini, Deputy Editor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tonight on The Last Word: A new poll finds 77% of American voters say the Trump economy is overall poor. Also, the Justice Department plans to drop the Reflecting Pool case against a former Olympian. Plus, North Carolina students fight to restore campus voting sites. And The Wall Street Journal reports Trump is pushing RFK Jr. to cut back childhood vaccines. Rep. Greg Stanton, Rep. Brendan Boyle, Barbara McQuade, Anderson Clayton, Xavier Jones, and Dr. Celine Gounder join Vaughn Hillyard. To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Justice Department is admitting that President Trump's $14 million renovation of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool was “botched,” and it is dropping the criminal case against former Olympian David Hearn that accused him of vandalizing the pool, according to a new court filing from DC US Attorney Jeanine Pirro. Plus, the White House says the president held the first-ever live, televised cabinet meeting at Camp David today. We look at the key moments over the years at the presidential retreat.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Justice Department admitted that President Trump's $14 million renovation of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool was “hasty and botched,” and it is dropping the criminal case against former Olympian David Hearn that accused him of vandalizing the pool, according to a new court filing from DC US Attorney Jeanine Pirro. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rush Hour Bonus Saturday Episode Today's episode is sponsored by Vinted. Download the free app today. Sponsored by Quince. For free shipping and 365-day returns. Quince dot com slash rushhour. Sponsored by Hers. Go to forhers.com/rushhour to get started today! The Reflecting Pool controversy takes another dramatic turn as Donald Trump's Justice Department drops its criminal case against former U.S. Olympian David Hearn after new findings concluded the damage was caused by a flawed renovation—not vandalism. We'll break down what the reversal says about the investigation, the political fallout, and why critics are demanding accountability. We'll also cover the latest developments in the escalating conflict with Iran, including new military actions, international reaction, and the growing legal and ethical debate over whether some proposed or reported actions could violate the laws of war. Don't miss this fast-paced breakdown of the stories everyone will be talking about this weekend.

The overwhelming surge then reversal at Spains border after tens of thousands of migrants from Morocco crossed into a small Spanish territory then went back. Plus, the Justice Department moved to drop the criminal charges against the former Olympian who was accused of vandalizing the Reflecting Pool on the National Mall.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Despite Donald Trump's endless talking about the vandalism he said was done to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Poll, U.S. attorney and former Fox News host Jeanine Pirro was forced to drop the Justice Department's case against former Olympian David Hearn and admit that the problem with the pool's liner was the fault of the contactor Donald Trump selected.   The Wall Street Journal reports that after receiving a gift of a massive ring covered in diamonds and other jewels, Donald Trump made an exception from his tariffs for the diamond industry. Rep. Greg Casar discusses how Donld Trump's corruption and self-dealing, especially in contrast with the higher prices Americans are struggling with, has become a key issue for Democrats to campaign on as midterm elections approach. Marc Elias, founder of Democracy Docket, joins to discuss Donald Trump's efforts to use voter data to undermine the upcoming midterm elections. Donald Trump is so bitter about Minnesota Governor Tim Walz that he rejects the suggestion that his inexplicable war with Iran has led to a hacking attack on the water systems of several U.S. states and instead bizarrely insists that Minnesota somehow hacked its own water system. Rep. Seth Moulton joins to discuss Trump's apparent inability to take U.S. national security seriously. Texas State Rep. Gina Hinojosa joins to talk about how Democrats are surging in Texas and the stakes of the Texas elections for national politics. To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week, Jackie and Dunlap yell about: Trump's second term has moved into its painting horse statues gold and targeting Olympians for messin up reflecting pools phase (This was recorded before Jeanine Pirro and Justice Department dropped charges against Olympian David Hearn.)  Plus more of some of the dumbest horse-hockeyin' news of 2026 so far,  from Fauci's Fifth Amendment defense at his sham "watch me yell" trial, to peeks at the midterms (Is Andy Ogles in trouble in Tennessee?). CONTINUING: the Iran War, Trump's pardons, high priced gas 'n' groceries.  Also: Medicare cuts and the Epstein files, Todd Blanche and Ghislaine Maxwell, Stephen Miller and what "normal people" look like.  Oh right and is Mitch McConnell alive? Y'all subscribe and foller. Get 20 Extra Minutes with Jackie and Dunlap at http://www.patreon.com/redstateupdate Art by Yoni Limor Photos by Robyn von Swank Music by William Sherry Jr. Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, YouTube, BlueSky

Republicans spent the week chasing Anthony Fauci while their 2026 battlefield caught fire. Todd Blanche's nomination stalled, Trump's lawyers admitted the administration targeted blue states for political payback, the Iran war moved into a more dangerous phase—and nearly every major midterm indicator shifted toward Democrats.In this episode of Political Rehab, Republican strategist Matt Wylie and Democratic insider Matt Robison examine a disastrous week for the GOP—and why nearly every major political indicator is now moving toward Democrats.Anthony Fauci takes the Fifth before the Senate as Republicans revive the political battles of 2020. Todd Blanche's attorney general nomination stalls because the Trump administration refuses to provide two Republican senators with even the smallest assurance that the Justice Department's political weaponization fund is dead.Then Trump's own lawyers make an extraordinary courtroom admission: 283 of 284 canceled Energy Department grants were located in states that voted for Kamala Harris. At the same time, Democratic states are being denied disaster assistance at dramatically higher rates—even when those decisions directly hurt Republican congressional districts.We break down:• Why the Fauci hearing exposed Republican political weakness• Whether Todd Blanche's attorney general nomination could collapse• How the administration admitted it targeted federal grants based on election results• Why Trump's blue-state retaliation also harms Republican voters and lawmakers• What Laura Loomer's sudden conversion on Ukraine reveals about MAGA politics• Why the Iran war may be entering its most dangerous phase• How Democratic spending in Ohio, Iowa, Alaska and North Carolina is expanding the battlefield• Why Republicans are spending heavily in North Carolina but nothing in Texas• Whether Elon Musk can rebuild the GOP's weak turnout operation• How Trump's Medicare announcement created an instant Democratic campaign ad• Why Trump's falling approval and weak Republican enthusiasm could make him a midterm liability• What polling, race ratings and campaign spending reveal about the fight for CongressThe Battlefield delivers a clear verdict this week: Democrats won. Trump's approval is falling, independents are moving away from him, the generic ballot is shifting, five Republican-held House seats moved into the toss-up column and Democrats now have as many plausible House targets as they did before the 2018 wave.⏱️ TIMESTAMPS0:00 – Cold Open1:01 – Fauci Takes the Fifth as Republicans Relitigate COVID3:45 – Todd Blanche's Nomination Stalls Again6:21 – Trump's Lawyers Admit the Blue-State Payback Strategy9:46 – Laura Loomer's Shocking Conversion on Ukraine12:07 – The Iran War Reaches a Dangerous Tipping Point15:09 – The Battlefield: Less Than 100 Days Until the Midterms15:42 – Democrats Expand the Map as Republicans Abandon Texas18:44 – Can Elon Musk Rescue the Republican Ground Game?20:53 – Is Donald Trump Becoming a Midterm Liability?23:06 – The Scoreboard: Democrats Go Six for Six25:00 – The House Map Is Moving Toward Democrats28:32 – Dose of Hope: Technology Solving Real Problems29:56 – Karma Comes for Elise Stefanik, Elon Musk and MAGA

That reversal drew a sharp response. Senator Thom Tillis posted that despite Trump saying the fund was dead, he clearly intends to resurrect what Tillis called the payout pot, and that Blanche, whom Tillis considers qualified, likely will not be confirmed because of it. The Judiciary Committee vote is set for Tuesday, the same day as the Michigan Senate primary. Hawk makes his recurring point: Trump could have pardoned the January 6th defendants in his final two weeks in 2021 but did not, and now wants to compensate them. He also connects the dismissal of the reflecting pool case, where the DC US Attorney conceded a lack of evidence, to a broader argument about a Justice Department stumbling through high-profile cases. He notes Blanche can remain acting Attorney General even without confirmation. SUPPORT & CONNECT WITH HAWK- Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mdg650hawk - Hawk's Merch Store: https://hawkmerchstore.com - Connect on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mdg650hawk7thacct - Connect on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hawkeyewhackamole - Connect on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/mdg650hawk.bsky.social - Connect on Substack: https://mdg650hawk.substack.com - Connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hawkpodcasts - Connect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mdg650hawk - Connect on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/mdg650hawk ALL HAWK PODCASTS INFO- Additional Content Available Here: https://www.hawkpodcasts.comhttps://www.youtube.com/@hawkpodcasts- Listen to Hawk Podcasts On Your Favorite Platform:Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3RWeJfyApple Podcasts: https://apple.co/422GDuLYouTube: https://youtube.com/@hawkpodcastsiHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/47vVBdPPandora: https://bit.ly/48COaTB

Despite Donald Trump's demands - Senate Republicans have stalled the confirmation of acting Attorney General Todd Blanche while joining a unanimous Senate vote opposing any presidential pardon for Ghislaine Maxwell, delivering a major bipartisan pushback against Donald Trump's administration.Sounds like fake news, doesn't it? But it's not. It's actually a rare point of light coming out of the Senate.Find Glenn on Substack: glennkirschner.substack.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Even as Americans are dealing with the fallout of Elon Musk's devastating cuts to the federal government when Donald Trump let him run amok, with new terrible consequences still coming to light on a regular basis, Musk is reportedly planning on trying to use his vast wealth to influence the midterm elections in favor of Republicans. Polls suggest his involvement may do Republicans more harm than good. Alex Isenstadt, senior political reporter for Axios, Norm Eisen, founder of Democracy Defenders Action, and Democratic strategist Chuck Rocha discuss the many advantages Democrats are pursuing in the midterm elections. Stacey Young, an 18-year Justice Department veteran, and Norm Eisen, founder of Democracy Defenders Action, discuss Donald Trump's effort to install his criminal defense attorney as U.S. attorney general. A new report from Democrats on the Senate Homeland Security Committee shows how Donald Trump's deep cuts to counterterrorism agencies and repurposing of law enforcement resources to investigate his political enemies, his personal conspiracy theories and political pet projects has undermined important counterterrorism measures put in place after 9/11. Former CIA director John Brennan joins to discuss. Whether because of bad advice, manipulation or foolhardiness, Donald Trump apparently thought his military adventure against Iran would be quick and easy, and now reports say he is in a frustrated rage over his own inability to escape the conflict as Americans grow increasingly bitter at the hardships Trump's folly has wrought. Admiral John Kirby, former White House national security communications advisor, joins to discuss the challenge Trump is facing. To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Independent investigative journalism, broadcasting, trouble-making and muckraking with Brad Friedman of BradBlog.com

Story of the Week (DR):Cracker Barrel CEO is out after MAGA backlash to "Uncle Herschel" logo change MMBefore Julie Masino was brought in, Cracker Barrel was facing a slow-moving existential crisis:Their primary core customer base (older generations and rural highway travelers) was naturally shrinking, and younger diners were simply not replacing them.Kitchen tech, supply chains, and digital ordering lag behind competitors like Texas Roadhouse or Olive Garden.Some great fake populism from Fox: Cracker Barrel to pay for outgoing CEO's security, $4.6M severance after failed rebrandCracker Barrel names David Deno CEOBurger KingYum! Brands and Pizza Hut for 15 years, including serving as CFO and COO.Quiznos CEO.Best Buy: Served as President of Asia and CFO for Best Buy's International DivisionBloomin' Brands for 12 years: CEO, CFO and Chief Administrative OfficerOutback Steakhouse, Carrabba's Italian Grill, and Bonefish GrillBoard MembershipsCracker Barrel Old Country Store (2016-)Panera Brands (2024-): Audit Committee ChairKrispy Kreme (2016-)Bloomin' Brands (2019–2024)Peet's Coffee (2006-2012)Macalester College: Former Chair of the Board of Trustees (1998-2022).From Cracker Barrel to Boeing, Companies Are Turning to Retired CEOsThese retired CEOs are being hired to be "fixers." They are brought in to cut costs, repair supply chains, restore investor confidence, and act as a stabilizing force rather than reinventing the brand.Exxon and Chevron profits surge on rising oil prices due to Iran warChevron posted its highest profit in six years as the Iran war boosted oil pricesBig Oil Is Getting Sued for Heat Deaths. It's Fighting Back With an Army of Immunity LawsMore than a decade after investigations found that Exxon Mobil had known about the dangers of global warming since the 1970s but publicly downplayed the threat, lawsuits against oil companies have proliferated. There are nearly 40 of these cases pending across the countryIn the meantime, the industry has been mobilizing a counterattack against the lawsuits with the help of the Trump administration and Republican politicians.Republicans are trying to pass laws to grant oil majors immunity to these kinds of lawsuits, with success in several states so far.Utah, Iowa, Tennessee, Oklahoma, and Louisiana have recently signed laws shielding fossil fuel companies from lawsuits related to greenhouse gas emissionsOil executives have also gotten help from the federal government, following an executive order from President Donald Trump last year directing the attorney general to prioritize blocking climate lawsuits by states.This May, the Justice Department responded to Minnesota's climate lawsuit against Big Oil with a lawsuit of its own, just as the state's case was moving into the discovery phase. It said Minnesota was undermining “American energy dominance” and attempting to regulate greenhouse gases, which should fall under the purview of federal law—echoing the oil industry's well-known argument.Elon Musk Is Quietly Turning to This Fossil Fuel to Power His AI AmbitionsSam Altman Announces That the Singularity Has Arrived: a hypothetical future point in time when technological growth becomes autonomous, uncontrollable, and irreversible, fundamentally transforming human civilization“We are now, like, in the singularity ... Now we're actually in the moment that we used to talk about at the lunch table in a very not-serious way ...I've been waiting for this my whole life, and I think it's going to be incredible, hugely positive, awesome for the world.”Sam Altman says one of his biggest fears is that a small number of companies will control AI: 'That'd be very, very bad'Sam Altman says the Hugging Face hack is a reminder that an AI power monopoly could lead to 'long-term disaster'OpenAI says its rogue AI tried to hack other companiesMark Zuckerberg is urging the U.S. to accelerate AI development, not restrict it'No Way to Stop It': Elon Musk Warns Humans Will Lose Control of AI and Face Extinction by 2036Microsoft CEO Warns That Companies Embracing AI Could Drive Themselves Out of BusinessAI hackers are getting faster. The government may not be readyAnthropic says its Claude models 'gained unauthorized access' to other organizations' systemsAnthropic says its models went rogue and hacked 3 companies during testing'It Will Happen Frequently': Musk Warns of Rogue AI Threat After Anthropic Breached Three FirmsElon Musk Commits Up to $120M to Republican Midterms: Sets Feud With Trump Aside for Major Election PushGoodliest of the Week (MM/DR):DR: Gen Z women are having an entrepreneurship boomOf all women who started businesses in 2025, 47% of Gen Z women did so, compared with 38% the previous year. Gen Xers followed close behind at 46%. Then came millennials at 43% and baby boomers at just 23%.Overall, in 2025, 69% of new Black-owned businesses were started by women. The survey also found that women business owners are less likely than their male counterparts to depend on AIMM: Delaware judge rules public benefit corporations exempt from maximizing value in sale DRFiduciary duty is different - OpenAI, AnthropicAssholiest of the Week (MM):Fake man apologies MM‘I'm sorry ... but': Apologetic Alan Joyce tells his side of the Qantas storyJoyce has expressed some regret“So with the information we had at the time, I still don't think there was any other decision you could make,”“Hindsight is a great thing.”“I'm actually very, very proud of the fact that I'm not sitting here and apologising for Qantas going bankrupt, [something] that many airlines around the world did,”Australian Competition and Consumer Commission fined Qantas $120 million for selling tickets for 8000 already cancelled flights“I apologise for the angst that was generated [for] the customers on it, but the reality was we had 22 million bookings in the system [and] the system wasn't designed to do an automatic refund,”“Stop us!”More than 1,200 AI workers across Anthropic, DeepMind, OpenAI, and Meta are asking for Washington's help building an AI slowdown plan‘No Way to Stop It': Elon Musk Warns Humans Will Lose Control of AI and Face Extinction by 2036Elon Musk's new 5-year warning to Americans: AI will beat human brains by 2032 (then go wild). Get rich or get crushed?Sam Altman says the Hugging Face hack is a reminder that an AI power monopoly could lead to 'long-term disaster'It Will Happen Frequently': Musk Warns of Rogue AI Threat After Anthropic Breached Three FirmsBut also, DON'T stop us, obviously…Palantir CEO warns US against Europe's AI regulation path, urges Trump admin to not ban open modelsElon Musk's xAI sues Minnesota over law to ban 'nudify' appsMark Zuckerberg is urging the U.S. to accelerate AI development, not restrict itElon Musk Commits Up to $120M to Republican Midterms: Sets Feud With Trump Aside for Major Election PushIgnoring boardsHims & Hers mission:“Hims & Hers is the leading health and wellness platform on a mission to help the world feel great through the power of better health. We believe how you feel in your body and mind transforms how you show up in life. That's why we're building a future where nothing stands in the way of harnessing this power. Hims & Hers normalizes health & wellness challenges—and innovates on their solutions—to make feeling happy and healthy easy to achieve. No two people are the same, so the Company provides access to personalized care designed for results.”Hims & Hers board:CEO: Andrew Dudum, tech VC bro investor “serial entrepreneur” with deep health experience from Bungalow (airBnB knockoff in the UK), Homebound (a “homebuilding platform”), TalkIQ (an AI startup, duh), and Terminal (something about scaling engineering?)TWO directors from DoorDash (Kofi Amoo-Gottfried from Marketing, previously of Facebook, and Christopher Payne the COO, previously of eBay, MSFT, and Amazon)TWO pharma execs (one lawyer, Deb Autor, one with an econ degree, Kare Schultz)One guy from Netflix (David Wells) and one lady from Urban Outfitters (marketing/brand, Andrea Perez) and one pure law firm lawyer (Anja Manuel)ONE DOCTOR EXCLUSIVE: US FTC sues Hims & Hers for sending user health info to Meta, SnapUsers' sensitive health information was shared with online advertising companies including Meta ​Platforms and Snap despite the company leading customers to believe their ​data was private, the FTC alleged in the lawsuit filed along with Los ⁠Angeles County and Utah.Hims & Hers also started charging users for prescriptions before ​they have ⁠had a chance to meet with healthcare providers, the FTC alleged. Most customers do not receive a consultation with a provider, and instead are charged for ⁠prescriptions ​soon after filling out an intake form, ​according to the agency.Headliniest of the WeekDR: CEO apologizes for offering interviews to people who got tattoos of his AI company logoSan Francisco tech CEO Jordan Zietz, co-founder of an early stage AI startup called LemonLime. Stanford grad.“LemonLime learns your business and then automates your team's busywork in a single click, no coding or manual setup required.”Former Qantas CEO reflects on tenure, issues apology to passengers over post COVID chaos AND ‘I'm sorry ... but': Apologetic Alan Joyce tells his side of the Qantas storyMM: Amazon received $600 million in tariff refunds and will pass some back to customersMM: Trump Staff Cuts Blamed After Watermarked OpenAI Map Mislabels Africa at AIDS ConferenceIt's the fact that we have less staff that meant we couldn't bother to figure out which country was whichWho Won the Week?DR: Kohls: For getting some much-needed female influence on board: Kohl's Appoints Wendy Arlin as Chair of the BoardCurrently only 2: Robbin Mitchell (7%) and Wendy Arlin (1%)John Schlifske (27%) stepping downMM: The phrase “not due to any disagreement with the Company”Anne Sweeney Resigns From Netflix BoardOn July 26, 2026, Anne Sweeney notified Netflix, Inc. (the “Company”) that she was resigning from the Board of Directors of the Company effective as of that date. Ms. Sweeney's resignation is not due to any disagreement with the Company1,660 8-Ks in the last 5 years have the exact phrase “not due to any disagreement with the Company”So we're saying that 1,660 c-suite and board members resigned in 5 years - more than 300 per year - and NONE were due to a disagreement with the companies? That's only THAT phrase - no other details are given for most of them except occasionally:To pursue another jobPersonal reasonsFor scale, in the last 5 years, the term “was due to a disagreement with the Company” appears… 5 timesPredictionsDR: Qantas CEO Vanessa Hudson apologizes that it took former CEO Alan Joyce to apologize for something she already apologized for despite not being CEO when any of it happenedMM: Damion resigns from Free Float due to a disagreement with the zero dollars he gets paid, but Free Float puts out a statement saying it's “not due to any salary reason related to the company”

Despite Donald Trump's demands - Senate Republicans have stalled the confirmation of acting Attorney General Todd Blanche while joining a unanimous Senate vote opposing any presidential pardon for Ghislaine Maxwell, delivering a major bipartisan pushback against Donald Trump's administration.Sounds like fake news, doesn't it? But it's not. It's actually a rare point of light coming out of the Senate.Find Glenn on Substack: glennkirschner.substack.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Newly released FBI records showed that, days after a July 2025 White House Situation Room meeting about the escalating Epstein controversy, FBI Director Kash Patel asked for information about sensitive material uncovered during the bureau's review. An FBI official responded with spreadsheets labeled “Flagged Items Lists,” which reportedly included references to public figures, potentially classified information and possible child sexual abuse material. The documents indicated that FBI reviewers had been instructed by the Justice Department to flag such material for discussion with DOJ attorneys while records were being processed and redacted. Todd Blanche, then serving as deputy attorney general, was identified as the senior Justice Department official overseeing the effort.The internal communications appeared to conflict with the Justice Department and FBI's public statement issued two weeks earlier, which said their exhaustive review had uncovered no evidence warranting investigations of additional uncharged people. The flagged material had reportedly been delivered to the Justice Department months before that declaration, raising questions about how quickly officials decided to close the matter and whether potentially significant leads received adequate scrutiny. The existence of prominent names in investigative records did not establish criminal wrongdoing, and flagged material could include unverified tips or incidental references, but the timing and apparent disparity between the private review and the government's public conclusions fueled suspicions that the department was rushing to shut down further examination of Epstein's powerful associatesto contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comsource:Scrambling DOJ rushed to shut Epstein case as 'flag list' surfaced big names: new docs - Raw StoryBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-epstein-chronicles--5003294/support.

The Justice Department delivered the disputed Jeffrey Epstein materials to U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan at the edge of the court-imposed deadline, complying only after Sullivan ordered the government to provide less-redacted records or justify why the information should remain concealed. The material included emails involving Epstein, names removed from a draft indictment, references to possible co-conspirators and underlying FBI interview records. Sullivan issued the order in journalist Katie Phang's lawsuit challenging the DOJ's compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act, after concluding that the department had failed to meaningfully answer several of her arguments and had already missed an earlier deadline.Although the last-minute submission technically placed the requested material before the court, it did not make the records immediately available to Phang or the public. Sullivan would still have to review the documents and determine whether the DOJ's redactions and withholding claims were legally justified. The timing reinforced criticism that the department was treating disclosure as something to resist until compelled, rather than an obligation to fulfill promptly. After months of delayed releases, incomplete explanations and litigation over the redactions, handing the records over at the deadline looked less like voluntary transparency and more like reluctant compliance under direct judicial pressure.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comsource:Blanche surrenders unredacted Epstein files within minutes of judge's deadline - Alternet.orgBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-epstein-chronicles--5003294/support.

The House passes a CR with two months left on the clock.A punt is a concession you make when you've run out of downs. The House made this one on first down. With more than two months left in the fiscal year and none of the twelve appropriations bills finished, it passed a continuing resolution funding the government at fiscal year 2026 levels through December 4th, largely on party lines. Appropriations Chair Tom Cole calls the bill clean. Steve Ellis and TCS Director of Research and Policy Josh Sewell take that word apart. Clean means no partisan poison pills. It does not mean neutral. Extending the current base level for the Pentagon, for the Justice Department, for every agency, is a choice about priorities — just one nobody has to vote on.Then there's the White House anomalies list, transmitted before every CR. Some items are housekeeping: updating a program date, dropping funding for an inauguration three years away. Others are not. The list includes $1 billion to start building a Trump-class battleship whose design isn't finished — the same concurrent-design approach that produced an F-35 fleet fully mission capable about 30 percent of the time. It includes $3.2 billion in defense-wide procurement justified only by information available at a higher classification. And it would shield unobligated One Big Beautiful Bill Act funds from the standard 8 percent sequestration clawback, while the Pentagon sits on $89 billion of that money unspent and asks separately for $73 billion for the war with Iran.Steve and Josh also dig into Senate Majority Leader Thune's threat to fall back on reconciliation if Democrats won't deal, the Lankford-Hassan bill that would make automatic two-week CRs painful enough to keep members in town and working, and the record underneath all of it: Congress has finished all twelve appropriations bills on time four times in more than fifty years. The last was 1997.

This Day in Legal History: America's First PatentOn July 31, 1790, the United States issued its first patent under the newly enacted Patent Act of 1790. The patent was granted to Samuel Hopkins of Vermont for an improved method of producing potash and pearl ash, chemicals widely used in fertilizer, soapmaking, and glass production. President George Washington, Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson, and Attorney General Edmund Randolph personally signed the patent—a reminder that, in the nation's earliest years, the federal government itself directly evaluated patent applications.The Patent Act of 1790 was one of Congress's first major efforts to implement the Constitution. Article I, Section 8 authorizes Congress to “promote the progress of science and useful arts” by granting inventors exclusive rights to their discoveries for limited periods. Rather than viewing patents as natural rights, the Framers saw them as legal incentives designed to encourage innovation while ultimately benefiting the public.The original patent system was remarkably small. A board consisting of Jefferson, Randolph, and Secretary of War Henry Knox decided whether an invention was “sufficiently useful and important” to merit protection. As the country industrialized, that system quickly became overwhelmed, leading Congress to create a more formal Patent Office in 1836 with professional examiners and standardized procedures.The first patent issued on this day marked the beginning of what has become one of the world's most influential intellectual property systems. Today, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office grants hundreds of thousands of patents each year, and patent law continues to shape industries ranging from pharmaceuticals and biotechnology to software and artificial intelligence.President Donald Trump is pressing Senate Republicans to confirm acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, whose nomination has stalled because of a dispute over a proposed $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund. Republican Senators John Cornyn and Thom Tillis have withheld their support while demanding written assurances that the Justice Department will not establish the program. The fund emerged from a proposed settlement of Trump's $10 billion lawsuit accusing the Internal Revenue Service of improperly handling his tax records. Critics contend that the program could use taxpayer money to compensate Trump supporters who claim they were unfairly targeted by federal authorities, including people investigated or prosecuted in connection with the January 6 Capitol attack. Trump defended the proposal by arguing that victims of government misconduct deserve compensation and maintained that he would not personally benefit from it. Cornyn and Tillis have also objected to a separate provision that could shield Trump and certain associates from future IRS audits. Blanche reportedly met with the senators as the Justice Department attempted to resolve the disagreement. Even without confirmation, Blanche may be able to remain acting attorney general while his nomination is pending, provided that Trump does not formally withdraw it and the Senate does not reject it.Trump defends ‘anti-weaponization' fund as Blanche nomination stalls | ReutersNew York Attorney General Letitia James has sued prediction-market operator Kalshi, alleging that the company is offering illegal gambling without a state license. Kalshi allows customers to trade contracts tied to the outcomes of sporting events, elections, television programs, and other future events. New York argues that these transactions function as wagers because customers risk money on outcomes they cannot control. State officials also object to Kalshi allowing customers between the ages of 18 and 20 to participate, while New York generally requires mobile sports bettors to be at least 21. The lawsuit seeks to stop the allegedly unlawful activity, recover Kalshi's gains, impose civil penalties worth three times those gains, and obtain restitution for customers. James previously brought similar cases against prediction-market platforms operated by Coinbase and Gemini. Kalshi argues that its contracts are federally regulated derivatives under the exclusive authority of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, rather than gambling products governed by individual states. The CFTC has supported that position and filed an emergency request seeking to prevent New York from enforcing its gambling laws against the company. Courts in several other states have already restricted Kalshi's operations, while a federal judge in New York recently declined to protect the company from state enforcement. The litigation could determine whether prediction markets must comply with state gambling laws, federal commodities regulation, or both.New York Says Kalshi's Prediction Markets Are Illegal GamblingFormer federal health official Anthony Fauci could face a contempt-of-Congress referral after refusing to answer more than 100 questions during a Senate investigation into the government's response to COVID-19. Senator Rand Paul, the Republican chair of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, said the panel would consider referring Fauci for prosecution. Federal law makes it a crime for a person summoned by Congress to deliberately refuse to provide relevant testimony or requested documents. Congress cannot prosecute the offense itself, however, so a committee must approve a referral, followed by the full Senate or House, before the Justice Department decides whether to pursue charges. Reuters reported that a Senate referral would likely require 60 votes, meaning some Democratic support would be necessary. Prosecutors would then need to persuade a grand jury that Fauci intentionally refused to answer questions that fell within the committee's legitimate investigation. Fauci would likely argue that the Fifth Amendment allowed him to remain silent because his testimony could expose him to criminal liability. President Joe Biden previously pardoned Fauci for possible federal offenses committed between 2014 and January 2025, but that pardon does not cover conduct occurring after Biden left office. The pardon creates an unsettled legal issue because courts have not clearly decided whether a witness may invoke the Fifth Amendment regarding conduct already covered by a presidential pardon. Even if Congress approves a referral, the Justice Department and a Washington grand jury would still have separate opportunities to decline the case.Could Fauci face criminal charges for refusing Senate COVID questions? | Reuters This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.minimumcomp.com/subscribe

After surviving a terrorist nightmare, Justice Department lawyer Blake Hudson takes on a new enemy: the Chicago mafia. Assigned to the Organized Crime Strike Force, he dives into a world that's nothing like the movies. The Chicago Outfit may still live in Al Capone's shadow, but its power has evolved—slicker, smarter, and more dangerous than ever. At its center is Enzo Renzi—a polished consigliere with an Ivy League mind and a conscience buried beneath layers of loyalty. To Blake, he's the key to bringing the Outfit down. To others, he's a marked man. Ruthless killers close in, and neither Enzo nor Blake knows who's behind the crosshairs. When a secret meeting between rival gangs threatens to ignite a citywide war, Blake races to stop it—only to uncover something far darker than mob violence: a hidden network whose reach extends deep into America's institutions. Chad Boudreaux is a Washington insider hired by the U.S. Department of Justice the night before the September 11, 2001 attacks—launching him immediately into counterterrorism work that earned him high accolades at an early age. His success in the Justice Department carried him to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, where his role as Deputy Chief of Staff allowed him to work directly on significant policy, operational, and legal issues facing the Department. He currently is the chief legal officer of a publicly traded, Fortune 300 company and America's largest military shipbuilder. Boudreaux leverages his unique, high-level experience in global security matters and his extensive legal expertise to craft breathtaking, insider stories of mystery and intrigue that are ripped from today's headlines and are sure to shock his readers. book out now! 

President Donald Trump says he's reached a historic deal to disarm Hamas, but Hamas isn't publicly confirming it yet. Plus, Todd Blanche's attorney general nomination has stalled, but Trump is threatening to pull it instead. So how could that leave him still running the Justice Department? And a Georgia father is sentenced to 15 years for buying his son the rifle used in a deadly school shooting, adding another landmark case holding a parent criminally responsible. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Friday, July 31, 2026.

Remember the great reflecting pool caper? David Hearn, a 67-year-old Olympic canoeist, was riding his bicycle by the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool. He was curious, he reached down into the water and felt the pealing blue pool liner. Out of the blue - Hearn promptly was arrested, and charged by Jeanine Pirro with felony destruction of property for allegedly destroying more than $1000 worth of the pool liner - a crime that could land him in prison for 10 years.Now, it seems like that case may go the way of James Comey's first criminal case - dismissed for prosecutorial impropriety before the grand jury. Or it may go the way of the Leticia James prosecution - dismissed for prosecutorial impropriety before the grand jury. Or maybe it will go the way of the recent Broadview six protester case - dismissed for prosecutorial misconduct before the grand jury.Glenn talks on Substack about the latest reporting on how a witness the prosecution presented to the grand jury - might just send the whole case down the (reflection pool) drain. Find Glenn on Substack: glennkirschner.substack.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

White voters without a college education have been a core component of Donald Trump's base and key to putting him in the White House. But a new poll from CNN shows that group now disapproves of Trump more than approves by 8 percentage points. One insight in the poll is that Americans by a wide margin thing Trump is focused on the wrong priorities. Jen Psaki takes a closer look. Jen Psaki reports on the postponement of a Senate committee vote on the nomination of Donald Trump's former criminal defense lawyer, Todd Blanche, to be attorney general. A vote was contingent on Blanche agreeing in writing to drop his pursuit of a settlement with the IRS to fund payouts to January 6 rioters. Trump was apparently not willing to allow Blanche to make that agreement. Senator Adam Schiff joins to discuss. Jen Psaki talks with Josh Turek, Democratic candidate for Senate from Iowa, in his first interview since being endorsed by former President Barack Obama. And Maine's Democratic nominee for Senate, Troy Jackson, also joins Jen in the studio. To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Remember the great reflecting pool caper? David Hearn, a 67-year-old Olympic canoeist, was riding his bicycle by the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool. He was curious, he reached down into the water and felt the pealing blue pool liner. Out of the blue - Hearn promptly was arrested, and charged by Jeanine Pirro with felony destruction of property for allegedly destroying more than $1000 worth of the pool liner - a crime that could land him in prison for 10 years.Now, it seems like that case may go the way of James Comey's first criminal case - dismissed for prosecutorial impropriety before the grand jury. Or it may go the way of the Leticia James prosecution - dismissed for prosecutorial impropriety before the grand jury. Or maybe it will go the way of the recent Broadview six protester case - dismissed for prosecutorial misconduct before the grand jury.Glenn talks on Substack about the latest reporting on how a witness the prosecution presented to the grand jury - might just send the whole case down the (reflection pool) drain. Find Glenn on Substack: glennkirschner.substack.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jon Ossoff's 2020 interview is going viral again. Brian Derrick says Ossoff could win over median voters and that the internet's response right now is bananas, while Glennis Meagher is watching for a different problem entirely.The clip is from a November 2020 Axios on HBO interview and features a rapid round of yes or no questions: Green New Deal, Medicare for All, defunding the police, abolishing ICE, expanding the Supreme Court. Ossoff answered no to a lot of it. Nearly six years later it is circulating as a gotcha, and Brian's read is the opposite: this is how you win Georgia. Georgia is where the median voter lives, and Brian says Jon's clarity matters more than his answers. Glennis takes on the part of this convo few in the mainstream seem to be talking about, which is what happens to a candidate when a video from six years ago resurfaces mid campaign and they lose control of their own virality.This week we also get into the recently announced voting calendar for 2028. The DNC's Rules and Bylaws Committee signed off on the 2028 primary order: South Carolina January 22, Nevada February 1, New Hampshire February 8, New Mexico February 15, Michigan February 22, Virginia February 29, Super Tuesday March 7. Iowa is out. The full DNC votes on it in Austin next month. Brian explains why one national primary day would be a disaster for anyone who is not already rich, why going first is really about proving viability to donors before you spend down to zero, and what putting South Carolina at the front tells you about which voters the party is betting on.Plus what the Senate is actually trying to move in the two weeks before August recess: the NDAA and Trump's $1.5 trillion military ask, Reconciliation 3.0 and the attempt to bolt the SAVE Act onto it, and Jay Clayton's confirmation as Director of National Intelligence, replacing Trump's temporary pick Bill Pulte. Meanwhile John Cornyn and Thom Tillis have Todd Blanche's attorney general nomination stuck in committee until the Justice Department kills off Trump's $1.776 billion anti weaponization slush fund in writing. Brian Poindexter, the union ironworker and Brook Park councilman running in Ohio's 7th, is your Oath Candidate of the Week, and we explain how you can help him flip a seat that got a lot more competitive the day Max Miller's divorce filings went public.Also this week for Clickbait or Double-Click: the New York Times story about Ken Martin, the DNC's finances and a whole lot of phone throwing, the Campus Guardian Angel drones that spray pepper gel now heading into nine schools this fall, and Trump's Correspondents' Dinner bit about Kaitlan Collins that landed about as well as the plane in LOST. Then we send you off with a Good Vibe Goodbye involving Kathy Hochul, your kid's phone, and the end of the algorithmic feed that has been pumping AI slop into their brains.UPDATE: This episode was recorded Wednesday morning, July 29, 2026. Late that night the Senate Judiciary Committee postponed its vote on Todd Blanche, with Cornyn and Tillis still holding out for written assurances from the Justice Department.New episodes drop every Thursday morning! Hit FOLLOW and we'll help you stay informed for the midterms.EPISODE LINKSOath Candidate of the Week: Brian PoindexterSend us a text!Watch us on YoutubeFollow us on Instagram Oh, we're on TikTok tooFollow Brian on IG Follow Glennis on IG

This Day in Legal History: America's First Representative AssemblyOn July 30, 1619, in a wooden church at Jamestown, twenty-two elected representatives took their seats alongside the governor and his council, and the first representative legislative assembly in what would become the United States came to order. This was the Virginia General Assembly—soon known through its elected chamber as the House of Burgesses—and it marks the beginning of self-government by elected representatives in America.The mechanics were modest and the setting brutal: two burgesses were elected from each of the colony's eleven settlements, and they met in sweltering heat so severe that one burgess died during the six-day session. But the principle was revolutionary. Under instructions from the Virginia Company, Governor George Yeardley had called forth a body in which colonists—not just a distant crown or company—would have a hand in making the laws that governed them. It became the oldest continuous law-making body in the New World, and it planted an idea that would grow over the next century and a half into a full-blown theory of government by consent.The significance of July 30, 1619 is that so much of American constitutional order traces back to this cramped, miserable first session. The House of Burgesses trained generations of colonial leaders in the practice of legislative self-government; it was the venue where figures like Patrick Henry and Thomas Jefferson cut their political teeth; and its example fed directly into the revolutionary conviction that legitimate power flows from the consent of the governed and is exercised through elected representatives. It's a fitting anniversary for a day when one of our stories turns on that very principle—the Senate's constitutional duty to advise and consent on who leads the Justice Department.President Trump and the Justice Department have asked the Supreme Court to throw out the $83 million defamation verdict that writer E. Jean Carroll won against him, arguing that he can't be sued for statements he made while he was president. Some quick context: a Manhattan jury awarded Carroll roughly $83 million in early 2024 over defamatory comments Trump made in 2019 denying her sexual-assault allegation. This is now Trump's second trip to the Supreme Court in the Carroll saga—recall that back in June the justices declined to hear his appeal of a separate $5 million verdict, which we covered here. The new appeal leans heavily on the Court's 2024 presidential-immunity decision, which gave presidents broad immunity for official acts. Trump's lawyers argue that because he made the disputed statements in 2019 while in office, that immunity should shield him, and they accuse the appeals court of “procedural contortions” to avoid the question. The significance is about how far the 2024 immunity ruling stretches. That decision arose in the context of criminal prosecution for official acts; here it's being deployed to wipe out a civil defamation judgment for things a sitting president said to reporters. Whether “official act” immunity reaches a president's public denials about a private, decades-old personal matter is a genuinely consequential question—and the fact that the Justice Department has joined Trump's personal civil appeal is itself a notable signal about how the government is deploying its weight. Trump asks Supreme Court to throw out E. Jean Carroll's $83 million verdict | ReutersWashington Post · CNNTodd Blanche's bid to become attorney general has hit a serious snag: the Senate Judiciary Committee scrapped a planned vote after Republican Senator John Cornyn said he is “not prepared to vote yes.” We've tracked Blanche's nomination through his confirmation hearing, and the math has always been tight—with the recent death of Senator Lindsey Graham, committee Republicans have just one vote to spare, so Cornyn alone could sink it. What's notable is the substance of his objection, because it ties together several threads we've followed all month. Cornyn's concerns center on the administration's roughly $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization fund” and the settlement of Trump's lawsuit against the IRS—the very deal a federal judge voided weeks ago as a collusive arrangement, and which would have handed Trump and his associates protections from tax audits unavailable to ordinary taxpayers. In other words, the sticking point isn't Blanche's résumé; it's the integrity of the tax system and whether the Justice Department has been used to engineer special treatment. The committee said the vote is postponed while it works “to secure sufficient support.” The significance is a real-time illustration of advice and consent functioning as a check—not a rubber stamp. A president's nominee for the nation's top law-enforcement job is stalled because a member of his own party wants answers about a tax settlement that courts have already called unlawful. It's the Senate's constitutional role doing exactly what it's designed to do: forcing accountability before handing over power.Trump's attorney general nominee hits snag as senator withholds support | ReutersNPR · Washington PostAnd finally, a story close to home for anyone in this profession: the debut of the new national bar exam has gone badly wrong. This week marked the first-ever administration of the NextGen Uniform Bar Examination—a major overhaul of how aspiring lawyers are licensed—across ten jurisdictions. And in Washington State, it collapsed. Officials canceled the entire first day of testing after network bandwidth and Wi-Fi problems left hundreds of examinees unable to even access the exam; somewhere between 645 and 700 standard-time test-takers were affected. Missouri saw delayed start times, and a Maryland site had a shorter delay. The National Conference of Bar Examiners, which runs the exam, insists the NextGen platform itself performed as intended and pinned the failures on local network and site infrastructure rather than the software. That's cold comfort to the test-takers. Think about what's actually at stake for them: months of full-time study, bar-prep costs, and in many cases a job offer contingent on passing—all thrown into limbo. Washington is offering a make-up exam on September 1, or the option to transfer to the February 2027 sitting or get a refund, and there are already calls for a class action and even for “diploma privilege”—admitting these graduates without an exam. The significance is both practical and symbolic. Practically, hundreds of careers are on hold through no fault of the examinees. Symbolically, the gateway to the legal profession—the gatekeeping ritual that's supposed to certify competence—failed a basic test of its own on its most important day, and it's going to intensify the already-heated debate over whether the bar exam, in any form, is the right way to license lawyers.Tech problems, cancellation mar new US bar exam for some test-takers | ReutersBloomberg Law · Above the Law This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.minimumcomp.com/subscribe

July 28, 2026; 4pm: Two days ahead of a crucial vote scheduled to advance Blanche's nomination out of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Democrats on that committee are demanding answers and records on the subpoenas that were sent to New York Times reporters -- subpoenas that were so problematic that the Justice Department was actually forced to retreat and withdraw them. For more from Nicolle, follow and download her podcast, “The Best People with Nicolle Wallace,” wherever you get your podcasts.To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

A federal judge in Washington, DC - Judge Emmett Sullivan - has issued an order that is a huge step in the direction of full transparency/full disclosure of the Epstein files.Glenn talks about Judge Sullivan's order directing acting Attorney General Todd Blanche to deliver to the court some of the unreacted Epstein files and supporting documentation proving that what Blanche has been saying is true, and signaling that the judge will not take Blanche's word for anything he says about the substance of the Epstein files or the nature of the redactions.Glenn also discusses why this may prove to be a pivotal ruling that ultimately could lead to full disclosure of all of the Epstein files. Find Glenn on Substack: glennkirschner.substack.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It's Wednesday, July 29th, A.D. 2026. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 140 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com. I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Jonathan Clark and Adam McManus India looking to restrict foreign funding of Christian groups India's Parliament is considering a bill to restrict foreign funding of Christian and other faith-based groups.  The measure would allow authorities to seize the assets of such organizations if their registration is canceled. Officials have already canceled the registrations of over 22,000 non-governmental organizations.  Republican Congressman Chris Smith of New Jersey is calling on the Trump administration to address this issue with India. He wrote, “If adopted, the bill would sharply expand the ability of the Indian state to seize the property and assets of groups that receive foreign funding — the vast majority of these being Christian churches and charities, such as hospitals and schools.” According to Open Doors, India is the 12th worst country worldwide for the persecution of Christians. In John 10:10, Jesus said, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” 6.8-magnitude earthquake hit Japanese island A 6.8-magnitude earthquake hit Japan's southern island of Kyushu yesterday.  The quake caused a collapse at a shopping mall, killing several people. Dozens of people are missing or injured. The Fire and Disaster Management Agency advised over 260,000 people to evacuate the area.   Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority reported no issues with nearby nuclear power plants.  Please pray that God would comfort the Japanese families of those who have died and restore those who have been injured. Senate confirmed Jay Clayton as Director of National Intelligence The U.S. Senate voted on July 28 to confirm Jay Clayton, who was nominated by President Donald Trump to be the next Director of National Intelligence, reports The Epoch Times. Clayton's confirmation by the Senate came after the Senate Intelligence Committee voted 9–8 along party lines on July 21 to advance his nomination. He was ultimately confirmed with 51 senators' support to 47 voting against. SENATOR: “On this vote, the yeas are 51, the nays are 47, and the nomination is confirmed. And the president will be immediately notified of the Senate's action.” Previously, Jay Clayton served as the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York as well as the chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission under President Trump's first administration. Justice Department affirmed parents' right to disciple children The United States Justice Department issued religious liberty guidance to all executive departments and agencies last week. The memo reaffirmed many religious freedom protections in federal law. It also added a new piece of guidance.  The memo stated, “Parents have the right to direct the religious upbringing and education of their children. This right extends beyond a mere right to teach religion in the confines of one's home and encompasses the choices parents make for their children outside the home.” In Deuteronomy 6:6-7, God said, “These words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.” Drinking water in three cities contained Abortion Kill Pill A new peer-reviewed study found that the drinking water in multiple cities contained the Abortion Kill Pill called Mifepristone. Those cities include Austin, Texas; Blacksburg, Virginia; and Carbondale, Illinois. For years, pro-life groups have been calling on the Environmental Protection Agency to track Mifepristone.  Kristan Hawkins with Students for Life of America stated, “A study inspired by [our] clean water advocacy shows that our concerns are valid. In three cities where water was tested, the active metabolites of Mifepristone, the Chemical Abortion Pill, were in the water. We need the EPA to nationalize this examination, especially in light of so many struggling with infertility.” About 700,000 chemical abortions each year send long-lasting abortion drugs and human remains into America's wastewater systems. Mifepristone blocks progesterone, thus starving the baby. This drug has long-lasting metabolites that remain in the water because the water treatment plants are generally not capable of filtering out these chemicals. GOP Congresswoman Mary Miller of Illinois has introduced the Clean Water for All Life Act. Appearing on EWTN, Kristan Hawkins, President of Students for Life, said this. HAWKINS: “Mothers are taking these pills at home, in their dormitories, and when they are told when the cramping gets too severe to go on the toilet and to keep flushing and not to look -- meaning chemically tainted placenta and blood, as well as the human remains of our child, are being flushed in our waterways. And when you think about the fact that you're talking over 700,000 abortions a year are happening this way, this means, at a minimum, 50 tons of chemically-tainted blood and placenta are being flushed down our toilets with human remains every year, laced with anti-progesterone metabolites, which, shockingly, after they pass through the mother's body, starve the child and kill the child, do not go inactive. “They actually remain active as they pass through our water system. And is what we've tested across the country is that this water -- it's actually laced with these metabolites before they get to the wastewater treatment plant, after it passes through the wastewater treatment plant, and now we've proven it's actually in the tap water.” Through a special link in our transcript today at www.TheWorldview.com, you can send faxes to Congress and demand they take action to stop this public health threat. Or you can contact your two U.S. Senators and your U.S. Congressman by email, phone or letter to the district office nearest you.  (Because mail sent to the D.C. offices of U.S. Senators and U.S. Congressmen has to go through so many scans, it can take months to get there). Voters want political candidates to address the economy The U.S. midterm elections are coming up in November.  Pew Research surveyed voters on what issues they want candidates to address. The top issue was the economy. Voters are especially concerned about affordability and the cost of living. Americans are evenly divided over which party they agree with on economic policies.  If the election were held today, 43 percent of respondents said they would back a Democrat candidate for Congress. Meanwhile, 37 percent said they would back a Republican.  Younger churchgoers want more liturgy in worship service Lifeway Research released a survey on liturgy in worship services at Protestant churches. Liturgies can include elements like set prayers, readings, and formal patterns. Forty-two percent of churchgoers say their church has some of the liturgical style. Twenty-seven percent say they have no liturgical style. And 24 percent say they have a very liturgical style. Seventy-five percent of respondents said they are satisfied with the amount of liturgy at their church. Thirteen percent want more liturgy, while five percent want less. Surprisingly, younger generations are more likely to want their church to include more liturgy.  California lifeguard saved 10-year-old boy NBC Bay Area reports a lifeguard saved the life of a 10-year-old boy at a California beach this week. Waves were overwhelming the boy at Seabright Beach in Santa Cruz. A 16-year-old lifeguard rushed into the water to save him. Other joined in as well.  The dramatic rescue drew the attention of President Donald Trump. He wrote on X, “We're going to bring this heroic young man, and his family, into the White House with, perhaps, the boy he saved, to give him a High Civilian Honor. Very brave, he deserves it!”  Worldview listeners weigh in from Oregon and North Carolina Here at The Worldview in 5 Minutes newscast, Carole Crowley in Damascus, Oregon wrote, “Adam, I love starting my day with The Worldview. I love praying for specific needs of people throughout the world, using God's Word! Thank you so much for your love and dedication to our Lord and bringing the needs of others to us.” Julie Scott in Charlotte, North Carolina, who attached a picture of her addressed letter, said, “Adam, I wanted to show you that, as a result of your July 9th newscast, I wrote a note to Suzanne McCormick, President of the Young Men's Christian Association, objecting to the YMCA allowing men, pretending to be women, in women's bathrooms and locker rooms. In fact, I grabbed several note cards and put stamps and our return address sticker on them so I am poised for action! [You can join her and send a letter: Suzanne McCormick, President, Young Men's Christian Association, 101 North Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606.] “I also phoned the office of my U.S. Congressman and asked him to vote to continue to defund the abortion giant Planned Parenthood.   Thank you for including the link.” Minnesota college student gave $500 to help fund newscast And Maylivia in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, whom I spoke with on the phone last night for 20 minutes, wrote, “Adam, my family and I listen to The Worldview every morning. If I'm around when my dad, also named Adam, is preparing and eating breakfast, we listen to it on repeat about six times, literally. He says he doesn't want to miss any of the details. Now, if he's already gone to work, I listen to it on my computer with the transcript, but only once. My mom and sister also listen as part of starting their day. We love having a concise wrap-up of the news, especially for updates on persecuted Christians. “Considering that my family uses it so much, I've decided to give $500. I am a college student, living at home, working part time. This money is partly from my savings and partly from my tutoring business. I was hesitant to give at first. But God laid it on my heart and reminded me that He can provide for all my needs and my parents are providing many of them for me right now! Thank you for your newscast. May God guide the team in His wisdom and remind you of the hope of the cross.” 19 Worldview listeners gave $7,597 And finally, by Tuesday night at 8:00pm Central, 19 Worldview listeners stepped up to the plate and invested their treasure to fund the six-member team behind The Worldview for another year. Our thanks to Kelly in Montgomery, Texas who gave $10, Cathy in Fate, Texas who gave $15, and Paul in Brush, Colorado who gave $25. We appreciate Sarina in Barnwell, Alberta, Canada and Dan in Ingersoll, Ontario, Canada – both of whom gave $100, as well as Kevin in North Bend, Oregon, Eric in Castle Rock, Colorado, and George in Edinburgh, Indiana – each of whom gave $200. We're grateful to God for Steven in Plainview, Texas and Richard in Lometa, Texas – both of whom pledged $25/month for 12 months for a gift of $300 as well as Israel in Yuma, Arizona who gave $347. And we were touched by the generosity of Ed in Wellsburg, Iowa who pledged $30/month for 12 months for a gift of $360, Frances in Beacon, New York who gave $500, Maylivia in Eden Prairie, Minnesota who gave $500, Danny in Abingdon, Virginia who gave $500, Kimberly in Lebanon, Oregon who gave $500, Mary in Highland, New York who pledged $50/month for 12 months for a gift of $600, Stephen in California, Maryland who pledged $100/month for 12 months for a gift of $1,200, and our friend in Naples, Florida who generously matched the 4 donors who gave $500 with a gift of $2,000. Wow! Those 19 gifts add up to $7,597. Ready for our new grand total? Drum roll please. (drum roll sound effect) $79,344 (sound effect of people cheering) We need to raise $44,156 by midnight on Friday, July 31! That means in order to hit our final goal of $123,500 by this Friday, July 31st, God needs to prompt folks to give an astounding $44,156 in order for the six-member Worldview newscast team to be fully funded for another year. So, if you have been waiting until the last minute, this … is … it!  We could really use your help.  The finish line is in just 2 days! Count ‘em. Two! Would you consider being one of 20 people to pledge $100/month for 12 months or give a one-time gift of $1,200, one of 16 people to pledge $50/month for 12 months or give a one-time gift of $600, or one of 32 people to pledge $25/month for 12 months or give a one-time gift of $300? Remember, the next four people who give a one-time gift of $500 will be matched, dollar-for-dollar, by our friend in Naples, Florida. Just go to TheWorldview.com, click on Give, select the dollar amount, and make sure to click on the “recurring” button if that's your wish.  And remember this, if you want to continue your monthly pledge to The Worldview that you started in a previous year, please let me know so we can count your generous ongoing gift toward our total. This newscast team champions the truth and uses the Bible as our plumbline. We actually cite relevant Bible verses that come alive as we look at the news of the day.  Plus, we report on the persecuted church, the battles for life and a godly perspective on sexuality, often including action steps on how you can make a difference as a believer. What does God want you to give to sustain this one-of-a-kind newscast? Go to TheWorldview.com and click on Give. Close And that's The Worldview on this Wednesday, July 29th, in the year of our Lord 2026. Subscribe for free by Spotify, Amazon Music, or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com. Plus, you can get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

Katie Phang accused Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche of withholding foreign-language Epstein records that may contain crucial evidence linking members of the trafficking network and potentially supporting new charges against Ghislaine Maxwell. Judge Emmet Sullivan ordered Blanche to begin reviewing and producing those records under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, but the Justice Department missed the deadline and claimed the review was not practical. Phang blasted that excuse, arguing that Blanche was already months behind and that the unseen documents could be “huge keys” to identifying connections among alleged sexual predators.Phang said the urgency was underscored by the death of Daniel Siad, who was under investigation in France for allegedly helping run Epstein's international trafficking operation but died before French authorities ever questioned him. She argued that Maxwell could still be prosecuted in France because her U.S. conviction only covered crimes within the Southern District of New York. Phang also contrasted Blanche's treatment of Maxwell with his treatment of survivors: he interviewed Maxwell for nine hours over two days, survivors reportedly received only 90 minutes after waiting more than a year, and Maxwell was transferred to a minimum-security prison camp one week later. Siad's death, following Jean-Luc Brunel's death in custody, meant another potentially important source of information disappeared before investigators could obtain answers.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comsource:Todd Blanche accused of withholding 'huge keys' to new Ghislaine Maxwell charges - Raw Story

Manhattan prosecutors withdrew subpoenas issued to New York Times reporters that compelled them to reveal their sources for leaks about President Trump's Qatari jet. Preet Bharara and Joyce Vance are joined by their friend and former DOJ colleague Mimi Rocah to discuss. This is an excerpt from the conversation. In the full episode, they cover: – Representative Jim Jordan's criminal referral of former special counsel Jack Smith to the Justice Department over alleged false statements; and – Todd Blanche's upcoming Senate confirmation vote for his nomination for attorney general. Not an Insider? Now more than ever, it's critical to stay tuned. To join a community of reasoned voices in unreasonable times, become an Insider today. You'll get access to full episodes of the podcast and other exclusive content. Head to staytuned.substack.com. Insiders click HERE to listen to the full analysis.  Subscribe to our YouTube channel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tuesday, July 28, 2026 Today, Three people are dead and several injured after a mass shooting at the Seattle Center; Donald Trump is begging the Supreme Court to let him go ahead with mail voting rules ahead of the midterms; ICE is planning to target Haitians as their temporary protected status is set to expire; a former 60 Minutes correspondent details how her bosses tried to seed disinformation; unreleased documentary footage captures Lindsey Graham's aggressive push to bomb Iran; Amendments 4 and 5 threaten to reshape Missouri law; Jim Comey has filed a motion to dismiss the seashells case on the grounds that it's stupid; the Justice Department moves to drop its criminal case against California SEIU leader David Huerta; plus Allison delivers your Good News. Thank You, Mint Mobile Make the switch! MINTMOBILE.com/DAILYBEANS Join The Daily Beans and give a gift today to ensure The Trevor Project can continue its crucial work in the face of continued challenges. Donate to The Trevor Project - Daily Beans Podcast Guest: Miles Taylor https://www.defiance.org/The Trump Epstein Memorial Bookmobile The Daily Beans is proud to partner with Miles Taylor and our friends at DEFIANCE.org For a limited time, members of the Daily Beans community can receive a FREE 3-month full membership to DEFIANCE.org and gain access to one of the fastest-growing pro-democracy movements in America. Join here: https://www.defiance.org/beans The Latest Breakdown→ DOJ Must Hand Over Internal Emails About NYT Subpoenas StoriesBite of Seattle shooting: $5K reward offered by former Uvalde Foundation | Fox13 Seattle GunSenseVoter.org Trump administration urges Supreme Court to allow order targeting mail-in voting before midterms | AP News ICE plans to target Haitians as Temporary Protected Status is set to end, sources say | CBS News Former ‘60 Minutes' Reporter Cecilia Vega Details Claims of Meddling | The New York Times Unreleased Documentary Footage Captures Lindsey Graham's Obsessive Push for Iran War | WSJ Amendments 4 and 5 could reshape Missouri law | St. Louis American James Comey seashells case: Lawyers ask judge to dismiss Trump administration charges | NBC NewsDOJ moves to drop case against California labor leader | POLITICOGood Trouble Good Trouble - Gov. Beshear: appoint a Democrat to McConnell's seat! - petition.edwardswire.com/beshear Check your voter registration and deadlines → Voter Registration Deadlines - Vote.org →Blue Wave California- secure.actblue.com/donate/msw-bwc →Help save Texas from Ken Paxton! →Urge Democrats to Oppose and Stop Trump's Crypto Corruption | Indivisible Guide →Defiance.org/beans →Show up for our Libraries - action.ala.org →Stand With Minnesota →ICE List  →iceout.org Good Newshttps://indivisiblegco.com/ https://www.petereric.com/ https://www.instagram.com/instrumentofthemind/ dana-goldbergs-southwest-funnyfest Oct 9 -Email Dana@DanaGoldberg.com for sponsorship informationTickets for Dana Goldberg: Outrageous - Sep 23 - Den Theater - Chicago  →Share your Good News & Good Trouble - The Daily Beans →Beans Talk audio -beans-talk.simplecast.com →Email Dana LGBTQ Owned eating establishments in your area - hello@mswmedia.com Subject: “Dana's Project” Subscribe to the MSW YouTube Channel - MSW Media - YouTube Our Donation Links The Trevor Project - trevorproject.org/beans Blue Wave California - https://secure.actblue.com/donate/msw-bwc Donate to Public Citizen - https://citizen.org/beans/ Donate to It Gets Better / The Daily Beans Fundraiser Pathways to Citizenship link to MATCH Allison's Donationhttps://crm.bloomerang.co/HostedDonation?ApiKey=pub_86ff5236-dd26-11ec-b5ee-066e3d38bc77&WidgetId=6388736 Join Dana and The Daily Beans in support of Human Rights Campaign http://onecau.se/_ekes71National Security Counselors - Donate, ActBlue.com/donate/msw-bwc, WhistleblowerAid.org/beans Dr. Allison Gill - The Breakdown | Allison Gill, Mueller, She Wrote @muellershewrote.com - Bluesky, MSW & The Daily Beans Podcast @muellershewrote - Instagram, MSW Media - YouTube →Federal workers - email AG - fedoath@pm.me Dana Goldberg - Dana is on Patreon! At Dana's Dugout, @dgcomedy - Bluesky, @dgcomedy - IG, Dana Goldberg - Facebook,  DanaGoldberg.com More from MSW Media - Shows - MSW Media, Cleanup On Aisle 45 pod, The Breakdown | Allison Gill Reminder - you can see the pod pics if you become a Patron. The good news pics are at the bottom of the show notes of each Patreon episode! That's just one of the perks of subscribing! patreon.com/muellershewrote Listener Survey:http://survey.podtrac.com/start-survey.aspx?pubid=BffJOlI7qQcF&ver=shortFollow the Podcast on Apple:https://apple.co/3XNx7ckWant to support the show and get it ad-free and early?https://patreon.com/thedailybeanshttps://dailybeans.supercast.com/https://apple.co/3UKzKt0 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Donald Trump has pretty much announced that he'll be interfering in the upcoming midterm elections. We only need to look back to January 6, 2021, when Trump virtually ordered an angry mob to attack the US Capitol after lying to them, convincing them that their election was rigged. He said, 'if you don't fight like hell, you won't have a country anymore, now go to the Capitol and stop the certification - stop the steal!' Trump tried to use that angry mob to stop the certification of Joe Biden's election win and his election loss. So, of course, he is intending to interfere in the upcoming midterms. Why wouldn't he? He got away with it last time!And we've been hearing some recent rumblings from some of Trump's sycophants, about how he might try to use immigration officers - like ICE agents - to intimidate voters at the polls.Glenn sat down with a former Border Patrol agent Jenn Budd. Jenn shared her story about her journey from Border Patrol agent to immigrant advocate, which is what she's doing now. She also shared her concerns about how Trump might try to misuse the powers of immigration enforcement agencies to interfere in the upcoming midterm elections.Jenn is sounding the alarm, and Glenn thinks we would all do well to heed the call. He has said before that justice is a team sport. We all need to be in the game, including in an effort to protect and promote free and fair American elections.Find Jenn on Substack: jennbudd.substack.comFind Glenn on Substack: glennkirschner.substack.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This is an encore episode of 'The View' — new episodes return Tuesday, September 8! 'The View' co-hosts react after former FBI Director James Comey was indicted by the Justice Department over an Instagram post from last year that has since been deleted, as Comey speaks out to say he is “still innocent.” Alina Habba, former counselor to Pres. Donald Trump, joins the show to defend the DOJ's indictment and weigh in on the current state of the Trump administration, including the war in Iran and the administration's ongoing immigration crackdown. Plus, Craig Ferguson stops by to reflect on life after late‑night television and why his latest chapter feels like the perfect fit. The comedian explains why he's steering clear of politics on his 'Pants on Fire' comedy tour and shares how his family helped prepare him to host season two the hit game show 'Scrabble'. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's another jampacked episode of Mea Culpa! First, Michael sifts through the sordid wreckage of America's Creepiest Politician as we learn new details about Matt Gaetz and his taste for young girls. It's alleged that the Florida Rep lured girls as young as 17 to hotel rooms for sex romps on the club drug ecstasy. Later, as the Justice Department investigated his behavior, Gaetz sought a preemptive pardon from Donald Trump during the chaotic, final days of his administration. Later, John Dean, the OG, Washington operator and former Nixon White House Counsel, joins Mea Culpa to discuss Trump vs Nixon, Michael's own legal issues and how Nixon would've felt about the Donald. DON'T MISS THIS EPISODE!To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policyLearn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Monday, July 27, 2026 Today, Donald Trump TACOs again on major Iran war escalation as administration officials worry about running out of munitions; the Pentagon has inexplicably changed the number of troops killed in the war from 18 to 14 on their web site; as far right influencers whinge about the tiny voter registration error in New Jersey - they remain silent about a similar error in Texas; the Justice Department withdraws its subpoenas of New York Times reporters; the administration admits in court papers that it canceled state grants based solely on politics; Trump has ordered fake news warning signs placed outside the Smithsonian; a car plowed into the crowd at Berlin Pride in an act of terrorism; Donald switched out his Bribe Force One jet because of a credible threat from Iran; Paramount Skydance has delayed its Warner Bros. Discovery buyout; Rep. Yassamin Ansari is seeking testimony from Barron Trump about his relationship with the Tate brothers; Trump's anti mail ballot executive order has been blocked by an appeals court; California Democrats are ramping up their anti-voter ID fight; a Democrat-backed candidate has flipped Chandler Arizona's solidly red mayoral seat; Katie Phang notched a win in her Epstein Files lawsuit against Todd Blanche; plus Allison delivers your Good News. Thank You, DeleteMe Get 20% off your DeleteMe plan when you go to www.joindeleteme.com/DAILYBEANS and use promo code DAILYBEANS at checkout. The Trump Epstein Memorial Bookmobile The Daily Beans is proud to partner with Miles Taylor and our friends at DEFIANCE.org For a limited time, members of the Daily Beans community can receive a FREE 3-month full membership to DEFIANCE.org and gain access to one of the fastest-growing pro-democracy movements in America. Join here: https://www.defiance.org/beans Join The Daily Beans and give a gift today to ensure The Trevor Project can continue its crucial work in the face of continued challenges. Donate to The Trevor Project - Daily Beans Podcast The Latest Breakdown→ DOJ Must Hand Over Internal Emails About NYT Subpoenas StoriesTrump Switched to Old Air Force One at NATO Summit After Credible Iranian Threat | NYT Trump Holds Off on Major War Escalation Against Iran as Advisers Raise Concerns | NYT Number of U.S. Troop Deaths in Iran War Appears Lower on Pentagon Website | NYT Trump Administration Admits Canceling Grants to States That Did Not Vote for Him | NYT Car Plows Into Crowd at Berlin Pride Event in Suspected Terror Attack | NYT Trump Orders Warnings Placed at ‘Inaccurate' Smithsonian History Museum | NYT Paramount delays merger with Warner Bros. that would fold in CNN | The Washington Post House Democrat pushes for Barron Trump to testify on reported ties to Tate brothers | MS NOW Election errors found in Texas voter database ahead of November election | ABC25 Texas Trump's anti-mail voting order gets blocked again | Democracy Docket California Dems ramp up anti-voter ID fight | POLITICO Democrat-backed candidate flips Chandler mayor's office in Arizona | The HillGood Trouble Blue Wave California - secure.actblue.com/donate/msw-bwc Check your voter registration and deadlines → Voter Registration Deadlines - Vote.org →Help save Texas from Ken Paxton! →Urge Democrats to Oppose and Stop Trump's Crypto Corruption | Indivisible Guide →Defiance.org/beans →Show up for our Libraries - action.ala.org →Stand With Minnesota →ICE List  →iceout.org Good NewsHenry Art dana-goldbergs-southwest-funnyfest Oct 9 -Email Dana@DanaGoldberg.com for sponsorship informationTickets for Dana Goldberg: Outrageous - Sep 23 - Den Theater - Chicago  →Share your Good News & Good Trouble - The Daily Beans →Beans Talk audio -beans-talk.simplecast.com →Email Dana LGBTQ Owned eating establishments in your area - hello@mswmedia.com Subject: “Dana's Project” Subscribe to the MSW YouTube Channel - MSW Media - YouTube Our Donation Links The Trevor Project - trevorproject.org/beans Blue Wave California - https://secure.actblue.com/donate/msw-bwc Donate to Public Citizen - https://citizen.org/beans/ Donate to It Gets Better / The Daily Beans Fundraiser Pathways to Citizenship link to MATCH Allison's Donationhttps://crm.bloomerang.co/HostedDonation?ApiKey=pub_86ff5236-dd26-11ec-b5ee-066e3d38bc77&WidgetId=6388736 Join Dana and The Daily Beans in support of Human Rights Campaign http://onecau.se/_ekes71National Security Counselors - Donate, ActBlue.com/donate/msw-bwc, WhistleblowerAid.org/beans Dr. Allison Gill - The Breakdown | Allison Gill, Mueller, She Wrote @muellershewrote.com - Bluesky, MSW & The Daily Beans Podcast @muellershewrote - Instagram, MSW Media - YouTube →Federal workers - email AG - fedoath@pm.me Dana Goldberg - Dana is on Patreon! At Dana's Dugout, @dgcomedy - Bluesky, @dgcomedy - IG, Dana Goldberg - Facebook,  DanaGoldberg.com More from MSW Media - Shows - MSW Media, Cleanup On Aisle 45 pod, The Breakdown | Allison Gill Reminder - you can see the pod pics if you become a Patron. The good news pics are at the bottom of the show notes of each Patreon episode! That's just one of the perks of subscribing! patreon.com/muellershewrote Listener Survey:http://survey.podtrac.com/start-survey.aspx?pubid=BffJOlI7qQcF&ver=shortFollow the Podcast on Apple:https://apple.co/3XNx7ckWant to support the show and get it ad-free and early?https://patreon.com/thedailybeanshttps://dailybeans.supercast.com/https://apple.co/3UKzKt0 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.