Morning Announcements

• Thursday, October 9th, 2025 - Gaza-Israel deal; Gold soars to $4K; FL man arrested for Palisades fire; Off-grid immunologist wins Nobel

  Today’s Headlines: Former FBI Director James Comey pled not guilty to charges of obstruction and making false statements, with his trial now set for January 5th. Meanwhile, Trump’s picking new enemies, calling for Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson to be jailed for “failing to protect ICE officers.” Both fired back, with Johnson saying it’s not the first time Trump’s tried to have a Black man unjustly arrested. Adding to that authoritarian flavor, new data shows nearly a quarter of FBI agents are now focused primarily on immigration enforcement — a number that hits 40% in some major field offices. Donald Trump announced that Israel and Hamas have finally agreed on the first phase of their ceasefire plan — Israel will pull back troops, hostages will go home, and prisoners will walk free. Qatar and Hamas added that the deal also opens the gates for aid to enter Gaza. At the same time, his administration quietly inked an executive agreement giving Qatar near–NATO-level security guarantees — a move that normally requires Senate approval, but apparently we’re skipping that part now. In economic news, gold prices just hit a record high of $4,000 an ounce — the strongest rally since 1979 — while the dollar is down more than 9% this year, signaling a crisis of confidence in U.S. institutions. A 29-year-old Florida man was arrested for starting the January wildfires that destroyed over 17,000 homes in Malibu and Palisades, killing 30 people. And to end on a rare uplifting note, 64-year-old immunologist Fred Ramsdell won the Nobel Prize in Medicine — learning the news only after returning from an off-the-grid Montana vacation. Truly the anti-Trump. Resources/Articles mentioned in this episode: NYT: Comey Pleads Not Guilty and Will Seek to Dismiss Charges as Vindictive Axios: Trump baselessly calls for Pritzker, Chicago mayor to be jailed WaPo: A quarter of FBI agents are assigned to immigration enforcement, per FBI data WSJ: Trump Says Middle East Deal Is ‘Very Close,’ May Travel to Region This Week Axios: U.S. security guarantee for Qatar sparks jealousy and confusion Axios: Gold's rally signals investors' eroding trust in the U.S. AP News: Authorities charge man with sparking deadly January wildfire that leveled LA neighborhoods Wired:Scientist Who Was Offline 'Living His Best Life' Stunned by Nobel Prize Win Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• Wednesday, October 8th, 2025 - Miller melts down; Bondi’s silence; FBI ditches watchdog; Doctors warn against RFK Jr.

  Today’s Headlines: White House hardliner Stephen Miller is out here saying the quiet part out loud — during a CNN interview about National Guard deployments, he claimed the president has “plenary authority,” aka limitless power, before mysteriously freezing mid-interview. Meanwhile, Attorney General Pam Bondi doubled down on that energy in her Senate testimony, stonewalling lawmakers on everything from the Epstein files to alleged FBI bribery and whether government officials actually have to follow court orders. The FBI just cut ties with the Anti-Defamation League and the Southern Poverty Law Center — two longtime watchdogs for extremism — after complaints from Trump allies that the groups were “biased.” In policy plotting news,  the administration is reportedly eyeing a partial selloff of the $1.6 trillion federal student loan portfolio to private buyers, and it’s refusing to guarantee back pay for federal workers during the ongoing shutdown, apparently to pressure Democrats on Obamacare tax credits. At the Supreme Court, justices seemed ready to strike down Colorado’s ban on conversion therapy after hearing arguments from a Christian therapist claiming free speech violations. A federal judge also blocked the administration’s attempt to force teen pregnancy prevention programs to comply with its anti–“gender ideology” policies. And finally, six former U.S. surgeons general are warning that HHS Secretary RFK Jr. 's health policies are an “unprecedented threat” to public safety — citing his anti-vaccine rhetoric and pseudoscience as proof the nation’s top health post has gone completely off the rails. Resources/Articles mentioned in this episode: CNN: CNN Show Transcripts Axios: Bondi dodges senators' questions on Comey, Epstein probes WBRC: FBI cuts ties with Southern Poverty Law Center, Anti-Defamation League following complaints Politico: Trump administration considers sale of federal student loan debt WSJ: White House Says Federal Workers’ Back Pay During Shutdown Isn’t Guaranteed NBC News: Supreme Court skeptical of state bans on conversion therapy aimed at LGBTQ kids AP News: A judge has blocked a Trump administration effort to change teen pregnancy prevention programs Axios: "Unprecedented threat": Six former surgeons general sound alarm on RFK Jr. Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• Tuesday, October 7th, 2025 - Trump pushes Gaza deal; ICE’s stalker era, FBI’s Comey theatrics; Maxwell’s appeal denied; Cambridge autism study

  Today’s Headlines: President Trump marked the second anniversary of Hamas’ October 7th attack by telling reporters he thinks there’s a “really good chance” Israel and Hamas will finalize their ceasefire deal “within days.” Illinois and the city of Chicago sued to block Trump’s move to federalize the National Guard, but a judge has so far declined to stop him, giving the administration until tomorrow night to respond. That’s in contrast with a Trump-appointed judge in Oregon who blocked similar deployments in Portland, calling Trump’s rationale “untethered from reality.” Stephen Miller responded by accusing the court of a “left-wing legal insurrection.” Meanwhile, ICE is reportedly gearing up to expand its surveillance powers — buying tools to track people via phone data and social media to help target deportations. And the administration plans to slash refugee admissions from 125,000 to just 7,500 this year, prioritizing (checks notes) white South Africans for resettlement. The White House is also cooking up a rule that would make it harder for older Americans to qualify for Social Security disability benefits by raising the age threshold from 50 to 60 — a move that could cut off payments for hundreds of thousands of people. And in Trump’s ongoing campaign against his perceived enemies, the FBI is reportedly planning a “showy” arrest of former director James Comey — complete with tactical gear and cameras — after suspending an agent who refused to take part. Meanwhile, a top prosecutor in Virginia is reportedly resisting pressure to charge New York AG Letitia James with mortgage fraud, because, in her words, there’s “no probable cause.” In other news, the Supreme Court rejected Ghislaine Maxwell’s appeal of her sex trafficking conviction so back to the country club prison it is. Finally, a major Cambridge study found autism likely represents multiple distinct conditions, not one single disorder. Resources/Articles mentioned in this episode: Axios: Amid talks in Egypt, Trump says there's "a really good chance" for a Gaza deal NPR: Federal judge declines to immediately block National Guard deployment in Illinois CNN: Analysis: The White House claims a left-wing judicial ‘insurrection.’ But many GOP and Trump nominees are rebuking the president, too Wired: ICE Wants to Build Out a 24/7 Social Media Surveillance Team AP News: Trump considers cutting US refugee intake to 7,500, focusing on white South Africans, officials say WaPo: Trump plan would limit disability benefits for older Americans CBS News: The FBI is weighing an arrest and perp walk for Comey — and suspended an agent for refusing to help, sources say MSNBC: Top prosecutor is rejecting Trump pressure to charge New York AG Axios: Supreme Court rejects Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell's appeal Wired: Autism Is Not a Single Condition and Has No Single Cause, Scientists Conclude Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• Monday, October 6th, 2025 - Trump’s dictator vibes: troop raids & a ‘Fight Fight Fight’ coin; Israel-Gaza deal update; Flotilla, Diddy sentenced

  Today’s Headlines: President Trump’s creeping authoritarianism tour continues. The White House ordered 300 Illinois National Guard troops federalized to “protect federal assets” during ongoing ICE raids in Chicago — even though a federal judge (a Trump appointee, no less) just blocked a similar deployment in Portland for being, quote, “untethered to the facts.” Meanwhile, California Governor Gavin Newsom is suing over Trump sending his state’s Guard to Portland, telling him to get his own troops. Those troops, by the way, are backing ICE’s new “Operation Midway Blitz,” a dystopian raid that saw helicopters, grenades, and tear gas used on a Chicago apartment building at 1am, and the administration has since pressured Apple and Google to remove apps that warn users of ICE activity — both complied within hours. In other weird Trump administration things, the Treasury Department is reportedly considering minting a $1 coin featuring Trump’s face and the slogan “Fight Fight Fight” for the U.S.’s 250th anniversary, while the longtime director of the Eisenhower Presidential Library was ousted after refusing to hand over a historic sword for Trump to gift to King Charles (yes, really). In South Carolina, a state judge and her husband barely escaped a massive house fire that’s now under investigation. Abroad, Trump says a Gaza ceasefire deal is “days away,” despite Netanyahu reportedly responding to him with classic Bibi pessimism. Over 450 activists, including Greta Thunberg, were detained after the Israeli navy intercepted the “Global Sumud Flotilla,” with reports of abuse in detention. Also, Sean “Diddy” Combs was sentenced to just over four years in prison on prostitution-related charges — and apparently had speaking gigs lined up for the same week. And finally,, the government remains shut down while Speaker Mike Johnson continues to block the swearing-in of congresswoman-elect Adelita Grijalva. Resources/Articles mentioned in this episode: ABC 7: Trump administration federalizing 300 National Guard members in Illinois, White House confirms Axios: Newsom to sue Trump for sending California National Guard troops to Oregon https://time.com/7323334/ice-raid-chicago-pritzker-trump/ AP News: Apple and Google block apps that crowdsource ICE sightings. Some warn of chilling effects Politico: Treasury Department considers minting a $1 Trump coin NYT: After Declining To Give Trump A Sword For King Charles, A Museum Leader Is Out  NY Post: Beachfront home of South Carolina judge, ex-senator burned to ground, injuring 3 Axios: Scoop — Trump to Netanyahu on Gaza talks: "You're always so f***ing negative" AP News: Gaza flotilla activists allege mistreatment while being detained in Israel NYT: Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’s Future: Prison, Fine and a Shunning E!: Sean “Diddy” Combs Scheduled Speaking Events Before Receiving His Sentencing NYT: Both Parties Are Resigned to Deadlock as Government Shutdown Takes Hold  Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• Friday, October 3rd, 2025 - Trump’s cartel ‘war’; Project 2025 enters the chat; Generic Mifepristone; Yom Kippur attack; Lutnik talks Epstein

  Today’s Headlines: President Trump has formally declared the U.S. to be in an “armed conflict” with drug cartels, invoking war powers and ordering military strikes on Caribbean boats the administration labels as “terrorist organizations.” Lawmakers in both parties are skeptical of the legal basis but—shocker—seem unlikely to act. Meanwhile, the government shutdown has left 750,000 workers unpaid or furloughed, and the White House is now threatening permanent firings with help from Project 2025 architect Russell Vought. Shutdown propaganda even seeped into federal employees’ auto-replies, which were forcibly edited to blame Democrats. The Energy Department axed $7.6 billion in clean energy grants, conveniently targeting states that voted for Kamala Harris. The administration also sent nine universities—including Vanderbilt, MIT, and Brown—a “compact” demanding they overhaul admissions, freeze tuition, and abolish certain departments in exchange for federal funds. Elsewhere, the FDA approved a generic version of the abortion pill mifepristone, sparking predictable outrage despite it being a routine process. Yom Kippur was marred by a deadly terror attack at a synagogue in Manchester, where two worshippers were killed and the attacker was shot dead. And finally, Commerce Secretary Howard “Laughin’” Lutnick, a former neighbor of Jeffrey Epstein, suggested Epstein blackmailed powerful men with videos, casually detonating months of damage control efforts with a single podcast appearance. Resources/Articles mentioned in this episode: AP News: Trump says US is in 'armed conflict' with drug cartels after ordering strikes in the Caribbean WSJ: Lawmakers From Both Sides Pressed Pentagon on Legal Basis for Cartel Boat Strikes Axios: Trump embraces Project 2025 after disavowing it during 2024 campaign Wired: Government Workers Say Their Out-of-Office Replies Were Forcibly Changed to Blame Democrats for Shutdown AP News: Trump administration cuts nearly $8B in clean energy projects in states that backed Harris WSJ: Exclusive | Trump White House Asks Colleges to Sign Sweeping Agreement to Get Funding Advantage AP News: FDA approves another generic abortion pill, prompting outrage from conservatives Reuters: Synagogue attack on Yom Kippur kills two in UK's Manchester; suspect shot dead ABC News: Howard Lutnick believes Jeffrey Epstein may have used blackmail to get a lighter sentence Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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