Thursday, September 25, 2025

Creepy JD Vance tries to suck up to Chump again


First up, Katie Phang.


2nd up, disgusting Miss Sassy JD Vance took time out from plunging his bussy to declare that Chump's just a funny guy full of jokes.  Jazmin Tolliver (HUFFINGTON POST) notes:


Vice President JD Vance, a friend of slain right-wing activist Charlie Kirk, has claimed that President Donald Trump was “joking” when he ranted about hating his opponents during Kirk’s memorial.

“Well I think the president was joking … I think it’s interesting, if you go back and watch the full speech, what the president was trying to do, in this very humorous and very unique way, was highlight how hard it is for us to forgive our enemies,” the vice president told Nexstar’s Reshad Hudson in an interview during a stop in North Carolina on Wednesday. 



He's so full of s**t, he has to wipe his mouth with toilet paper when he burps.  Steve Benen (MADDOW BLOG, MSNBC) has the perfect reply to JD's bulls**t:


I won’t pretend to be able to read the president’s mind, but if he was kidding on Sunday about his hatred for his political foes, Trump is clearly committed to the bit.

In July, after whining about congressional Democrats voting against the GOP’s domestic policy megabill, Trump told an Iowa audience, “They wouldn’t vote only because they hate Trump, but I hate them, too, you know? I really do. I hate them. I cannot stand them.” There was nothing about his tone or delivery that suggested this was an attempt at humor.

Two weeks later, at a White House Faith Office luncheon, the president went even further, condemning Democrats as “evil people.”

All of this dovetailed with Trump telling Americans that his political opponents are “fascists,” who are also guilty of “treason.” His domestic foes, the president has added, are also “enemies of the people,” “the enemy within” and “threats to democracy.”
It was against this backdrop that, at the memorial service, Trump appeared to speak candidly, declaring that he “hates” his political opposition and doesn’t want what’s best for them.

I don't know what to say bout the James Comey indictment.  Chump is out of control.  John Roberts gifted him with this bulls**t.  The Supreme Court has destroyed this country.  I don't believe for one moment that Comey will be found guilty in a court of law. 


A growing number of Americans believe that gender-affirming care will become less accessible in their lifetime, a new 19th News/SurveyMonkey poll finds — reflecting a political landscape that has become increasingly hostile toward transgender health care. 

Nearly 4 in 10 Americans think gender-affirming care will become less accessible over the course of their lifetime. A year ago, The 19th and SurveyMonkey found only 20 percent of Americans felt that way. But since President Donald Trump returned to office, the federal government has subpoenaed doctors for trans patients’ private data and pressured hospitals in blue states to close their clinics that provided gender-affirming care to minors. The administration has pledged to investigate the care as medical fraud, despite the medical community’s broad endorsement of gender-affirming care as an effective treatment for gender dysphoria, which is persistent distress felt when one’s body is out of sync with their identity.

Thirty-one percent of Americans believe gender-affirming care will become more accessible in their lifetime, down from 48 percent in 2024. Women are generally more likely than men to think access will expand —  except for Gen Z. 
The SurveyMonkey poll, conducted online from September 8 to 15 among a national sample of 20,807 U.S. adults, provides a detailed window into what Americans believe about trans health care, after conservative groups have poured millions of dollars into anti-trans campaign ads. The survey had a modeled error estimate of plus or minus 1.0 percentage points.

A majority of Americans (53 percent) believe transgender adults should have access to gender-affirming care, while 37 percent believe that trans minors should have that same access. But they’re divided on whether politicians should intervene: Half of Americans oppose lawmakers banning or restricting care for transgender youth.  

I hope they're wrong.  I hope that Chump's stance on gender affirming care (he's against it) goes with him when he leaves the White House.  I hope we're better than Chump as a country.

Here's C.I.'s "The Snapshot:"


Thursday, September 25, 2025.  Senator Adam Schiff is calling for answers from the FCC following the commission's attack on free speech, is Putin mocking Chump, FOX "NEWS" calls for the United Nations to be bombed so let's all forget the nonsense about 'watch the rhetoric," Senator Elizabeth Warren is concerned that sports fans will be cheated by ESPN's new deal, a paper's reporting that despite Chump's claims that he knew nothing about Ghislaine Maxwell being moved to Camp Fed he and Pam Bondi had discussed it before the move took place, and much more.


Let me start with Jimmy Kimmel.  Ava and I have covered media at THIRD for twenty years and counting.  If there was a story to Jimmy's return, it would really go over there.  I covered Jimmy here as part of a news story -- it was a story of corruption and greed and a warning against media consolidation.  A number of e-mails indicate some thought I would be covering his return the day after.

Sorry.

I'm expecting a media narrative to be imposed.  If it is, the one I'm expecting, Ava and I will probably try to tackle it at THIRD.  Try.
 
I'm not saying, "Ava and I will cover it at THIRD."  Those days are gone, days where by Thursday we have some idea regarding what we'll be covering.  With a psychopath in the White House, advance planning is out the window.  When adults are in the White House, the weekends don't careen around from one story to the next.  Ava and I are, like the rest of the country, caught in a "Bitter Sweet Symphony."



No change, I can change
I can change, I can change
But I'm here in my mould
I am here in my mould
But I'm a million different people from one day to the next
I can't change my mould
No, no, no, no, no, no, no
-- "Bittersweet Symphony," written by Richard Ashcroft, first appears on The Verve's album URBAN HYMNS
 
A TV topic we do need to address in the snapshot?

Forget rhetoric

The death of The Demagogue showed you what trash MAGA, Chump and others are.  And also what liars.

A hate merchant dies and Pam da Bimbo Bondi threatens American citizens with what they can and cannot say.

And stupid asses in Congress -- both sides -- start calling for the rhetoric to be lowered.  As Mike noted last night, the idiot Markwayne Markwayne is a liar and an inciter so the idea that anyone's going to listen to that trash is already crazy. .  

Let's note these psychopaths for what they truly are.

Governor Gavin Newsome gets under their skin as he parodies dementia Donald Chump online.  FOX "NEWS" -- including mannish Laura Ingraham -- begin attacking Gavin and saying things like his social media posts are not dignified and no governor should be doing that.

No Democrat needs advice from FOX "NEWS" first of all.   Second, he is parodying Chump and FOX "NEWS" never frets over the social media posts of their dear leader.

Then they attack criticism of Chump especially critiques that liken him to Hitler or point out his fascist streak.  It's not hate speech to note how similar he is to Hitler.

Don't want to be compared to Hitler?  Stop acting like Hitler.

He has repeatedly attacked the left -- the entire left in this country.  And FOX "NEWS" never frets over that -- a president who attacks half the country.  This is supposed to be the United States and the president is supposed to lead by example.

This week, if you missed it, Donald Chump showed his ass at the United Nations and he was a public embarrassment.  Fatty had to walk up the escalator and the teleprompter didn't work.  See our group post last night:



To cover for his dismal performance, that White House -- chiefly Propaganda Pig Karoline Leavitt -- and FOX "NEWS" launched these nutty conspiracy theories -- the UN was out to get Chump.  

Jesse Waters was raging on FOX "NEWS" that the US needed to bomb the UN.  

As usual, who's preaching violence?

Don't you dare accuse the left of stoking violence when you've got FOX "NEWS" calling for violence and no one in the White House is calling that out. 

And the escalator?  Chump brought along his personal videographer to record the event.  The escalator was already dealing with the morbidly obese Chump and apparently the videographer Chump brought along set off some safety switch.
 

As for that substandard teleprompter the UN gave Donald?

It was the White House teleprompted.  They brought it with them.

Everything that said was a lie.

And they didn't wait for any facts before they started calling for the United Nations to be bombed.

Where's the violence coming from?  The right-wing as usual.  

The FCC has no control over FOX "NEWS" -- it's a cable station.  But any outlet calling for a bombing to take place -- especially without knowing the facts -- should be called out.  Find me the Republican that's called out FOX "NEWS" for lying -- that's what they did -- and for stoking hate and violence.  Until then, stop your advice about how we need to speak.

And Kristi Noem, to be seen by the public as a slut cheating on her husband for years and now being allowed to work with the man she's supposedly has had this long standing affair with?  Stop attacking Gavin for saying you'll have "a bad day."  No one needs to hear from the slut breaking number seven of The Ten Commandments.  (See Elaine's "Work for Chump and he'll pay you to cheat on your spouse too."  THE NEW YORK POST has been reporting on the alleged affair since 2023 and it supposedly started in 2020.) 


Another news topic re: TV?  From Senator Adam Schiff's office:

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) led eight Senate Democrats in demanding answers from Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chair Brendan Carr about the Commission’s unprecedented assault on freedom of the press, following its implicit threat to revoke’s ABC’s broadcast license if it refused to take action against “Jimmy Kimmel Live.” 

The Senators request all information on FCC communications with ABC, Disney, or any of their affiliates related to Kimmel, including programming content decisions and possible consequences for broadcasters airing certain content. Additionally, the Senators are seeking clarification of how the FCC justifies its threats to revoke licenses, given the First Amendment’s prohibition on government retaliation against protected speech. 

“The chilling effects of your public comments are evident in ABC’s response. While Disney reversed course on September 22, 2025, stating that “Jimmy Kimmel Live” will return to air following “thoughtful conversations,” the timing of your threats and the broader pattern of government intimidation make clear that broadcasters were operating under extraordinary duress,” wrote the Senators. 

According to reporting, executives at ABC, Disney, and their affiliates convened emergency meetings following the FCC Chair’s statements with sources indicating that executives’ fear of retaliation was the decisive factor in ABC’s initial decision to suspend “Jimmy Kimmel Live.” 

In the letter, the Senators also emphasize that this latest action by the FCC is part of a broader pattern of government coercion of the press emboldened by President Trump and designed to intimidate and silence critical coverage of the Administration. 

“As Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, you hold a position of extraordinary trust and responsibility. The FCC’s regulatory authority over broadcast licenses was never intended to serve as a weapon to silence criticism or punish satirical commentary. Your agency’s mission is to serve the public interest, not to act as an enforcement arm for political retribution against media outlets that displease those in power,”the Senators continued. 

This letter is also signed by Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Angela D. Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Richard J. Durbin (D-Ill.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.). 

The full text of the letters can be found here and below.  

Dear Chairman Carr:  

We are writing with grave concern regarding your agency’s role in what can only be described as an unprecedented, purposeful assault on press freedom and the First Amendment. ABC’s decision on September 17, 2025, to remove Jimmy Kimmel’s program following your implicit threats to revoke its broadcast license represents a dangerous watershed moment for free speech in America.  

On September 17, 2025, you appeared on The Benny Show podcast and called on licensed broadcasters to “push back on Comcast and Disney” and preempt coverage of Jimmy Kimmel Live!.  Furthermore, you warned that continuing to broadcast the program could result in “fines or license revocation from the FCC.” You then delivered what can only be described as an ultimatum to broadcasters: “We can do this the easy way or the hard way. These companies can find ways to change conduct and take action, frankly, on Kimmel or there’s going to be additional work for the FCC ahead.” 

The chilling effects of your public comments are evident in ABC’s response. While Disney reversed course on September 22, 2025, stating that Jimmy Kimmel Live! will return to air following “thoughtful conversations,” the timing of your threats and the broader pattern of government intimidation make clear that broadcasters were operating under extraordinary duress. According to reports, senior executives at ABC, Disney, and their affiliates convened emergency meetings following your statements. Multiple sources indicated that executives’ fear of retaliation from the Trump administration was the decisive factor, ultimately leading to the direct censorship of constitutionally protected speech. Meanwhile, Nexstar Media Group – while seeking FCC approval for a $6.2 billion acquisition – and Sinclair Broadcast Group – also lobbying for favorable regulatory treatment from the FCC in its review of its broadcast business – quickly reacted to your intimidations by preempting Jimmy Kimmel Live! on their stations. 

This fear parallels the same alarm you previously expressed regarding potential action by the FCC to censor disfavored speech. On several prior occasions, you warned of the “chilling transgression of the free speech rights that every media outlet in this country enjoys” and applauded political satire as “one of the oldest and most important forms of free speech.”  

Your latest statements are part of a broad pattern of government coercion of the press emboldened by President Trump and your leadership at the FCC, and designed to intimidate and silence critical coverage of the Administration. On July 17, 2025, CBS announced plans to cancel The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, just one day after Paramount paid President Trump $16 million to settle a frivolous lawsuit in time to ensure the FCC approved their $8 billion merger with Skydance. President Trump has also filed a $15 billion suit against the New York Times, claiming a series of articles “sought to undermine” the President’s reputation, and a $10 billion lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal over its reporting on his ties to Jeffrey Epstein.  

This apparent intimidation has achieved the intended effect. ABC News paid a $15 million settlement plus $1 million in attorney’s fees before Trump even returned to office, likely an effort to mitigate future retaliation from the President. Meta paid $25 million to settle a lawsuit over the President’s account suspension after the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, also just days into Trump’s second term. The administration has also moved to defund public media, with an executive order cutting funding to PBS and NPR on claims of “biased and partisan news coverage.” It pushed a rescissions package to claw back $1.1 billion in previously approved funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and removed The Associated Press from the White House press room after the organization refused to adopt the administration’s preferred terminology. Even private media ownership has bent to pressure, with Jeff Bezos dramatically shifting the Washington Post’s editorial direction in what many view as capitulation to the President. Viewed collectively, these actions represent the most blatant and coordinated attack on the free press in American history. 

As Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, you hold a position of extraordinary trust and responsibility. The FCC’s regulatory authority over broadcast licenses was never intended to serve as a weapon to silence criticism or punish satirical commentary. Your agency’s mission is to serve the public interest, not to act as an enforcement arm for political retribution against media outlets that displease those in power.  

In order to fulfill Congress’s constitutional obligation to perform oversight of regulatory agencies, we request responses to the following questions no later than October 1, 2025:  

  1. Have you, the Commission, or FCC staff had any communications with representatives of ABC, Disney, or any of their affiliates concerning specific programming content decisions, including Jimmy Kimmel Live! or other programs in the last 30 days?  
    •  If so, please name all individuals involved in those communications and provide the dates and documentation of all such communication.  
  2. Have you, the Commission, or FCC staff ever discussed with any media executives the potential consequences for their broadcast licenses, should they continue to air programming critical of the administration?  
    • If so, please name all individuals involved in those communications and provide the dates and documentation of all such communication.  
  3. Did you, the Commission, or FCC staff have any communications with the President or any of his associates, including any officials or employees of the White House, regarding Jimmy Kimmel Live! or other ABC/Disney programs prior to your September 17, 2025, remarks on The Benny Show?  
    • If so, please name all individuals involved in those communications and provide the dates and documentation of all such communication.  
  4. What specific statutory authority, if any, do you believe empowers the FCC to revoke a broadcaster’s license or impose fines on the basis of satirical or critical content?  
  1. Has the FCC opened any investigations into broadcasters related to the airing of late-night comedy or political satire programs?  
    •  If so, please provide details of each investigation, including the initiating authority, scope, and current status. 
  1. Has your agency consulted with the Department of Justice or any other federal agency regarding the legal or constitutional basis for sanctioning broadcasters based on their content? 
    • If so, provide the dates of and participants in such consultations.  
  1. How does the FCC justify its threats to revoke broadcast licenses over critical programming given the First Amendment’s prohibition on government retaliation against protected speech? 
  1. Do you acknowledge that threatening broadcast license revocation or fines for airing content deemed critical of the government risks creating a chilling effect on protected speech?  
  1. What specific safeguards will the Commission implement to ensure that broadcasters are not pressured to self-censor content critical of the President or other elected officials?  

We look forward to reviewing your responses. 

###


Is Putin mocking Chump?  Check out Ben's report for MEIDASTOUCH NEWS this morning.






Trashy Garbage, as Trina calls Tulsi Gabbard, was a fool before Chump made her DNI and she's lucky that, so far, as she demonstrated just how foolish she is, her ignorance has not been revealed on a massive scale.  Leigh Kimmins (THE DAILY BEAST) reports:


The investigation into former CIA chief John Brennan is in turmoil after intelligence head Tulsi Gabbard revoked the security clearances of potential witnesses, four Trump administration officials told Axios.

The witnesses were central to prosecution efforts to prove Brennan skewed a 2017 intelligence assessment to suggest Russian President Vladimir Putin had a “clear preference” for Donald Trump—and that Brennan later lied about it to Congress.


Let's stop there because we've already realized she was an idiot on her purge.  This is the list she published on her Twitter feed.  Remember?  That included the name of one undercover CIA agent.  She's such a damn idiot.  That move was already bad and she received harsh criticism for it (even within the Chump administration: "critics inside the administration said Gabbard’s office treated the clearance purge like 'a PR operation to get on Fox News' rather than a coordinated reform effort.").  The winner here is John Brennan as a result of Trashy's incompetence:  "Officials outlined three consequences, pointing out that prosecutors now face hurdles in handling classified material; witnesses may refuse to cooperate out of anger; and Brennan’s defense team can use Gabbard’s own claims to undermine their credibility."


The big picture: The controversy underscores the ongoing tension between Gabbard's office and other departments as she makes sweeping changes to the intelligence community.

"Tulsi is the right person for the job with the wrong team," a senior administration official said. "They've treated this like a PR operation to get on Fox, and not a serious intel reform process envisioned by the president."
The Wall Street Journal reported last month that Gabbard "blindsided" the CIA with the cancellation list that included an active undercover officer. Her office disputed the report and said the CIA had been notified.
The Guardian reported Saturday that Gabbard's office hadn't told the White House in advance, which Gabbard's team also disputed. Regardless, the Justice Department wasn't notified in advance. Gabbard's team says other agencies had ample time to weigh in.
The notification from Gabbard's office was emailed to agencies on Aug. 18 at 7 p.m., after work hours. Gabbard publicly announced the security clearance cancellations the next day, at 3:53 p.m.




Trashy Garbage, as Trina calls Tulsi Gabbard, was a fool before Chump made her DNI and she's lucky that, so far, as she demonstrated just how foolish she is, her ignorance has not been revealed on a massive scale.  



U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie, a Republican from Kentucky, and U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna, a Democrat from California, have 217 signatures from House members backing their bipartisan legislation that calls for U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi to release the Department of Justice's files on Jeffrey Epstein. The billionaire was once a bon vivant buddy for Trump before he pleaded guilty in 2008 on Florida charges of soliciting and procuring a person under 18 for prostitution.
Massie and Khanna need just one more signature on their discharge petition to force a vote in the House.


Troy Matthews (MEIDASTOUCH NEWS) points out an interesting detail about the election, "Grijalva’s 43-point victory on Tuesday trounces even her father’s 26-point victory over his Republican challenger in 2024. Raúl Grijalva was a Democratic stalwart who held his seat in congress representing Tucson, Arizona for more than two decades. Kamala Harris won in Grijalva's district by 22 points in 2024."  All politics are local.  I wouldn't argue one House election indicated how it would be across the nation.  But it is worth noting that she outperformed her late father who was very, very popular in the district.  That would mean one of two things -- or a combination of the two -- for that district -- either Democratic Party voters are especially focused on turn out or Republican voters are growing increasingly dissatisfied with Donald Chump.  I would argue, again, that it's a combination.  That's a read on one district.  That said her win and James Walkinshaw's win in Virginia two weeks ago are tracking with national polling on voter sentiment.  Were I a Republican member of Congress right now, I'd be trying to put a lot of sunlight between myself and Chump whose brand just gets more toxic with each passing day.  Charles P. Pierce (ESQUIRE) notes, "Grijalva’s victory also will underscore further how narrow the wire Johnson is walking as Speaker is. If Massie, Greene, and the others can defy him on the Epstein files, what’s to keep other Republicans from operating on their own hooks, especially those looking at dire reelection numbers in their home districts? That six-vote majority looks perilous depending on where you sit. It’s like a jungle sometimes, and Speaker Moses has to be wondering how he keeps from going under." 


Closer to the release of the documents.  FORBES reports on yesterday's press conference in Colorado Springs held by family and supporters of the late Virginia Guiffre.



Family members of the late Virginia Roberts Giuffre, an accuser of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, and other survivors called for the release of the Epstein files outside 5th District U.S. Rep. Jeff Crank’s office Wednesday in Colorado Springs.

“As Virginia’s brother, and on behalf of the survivors, I am here to remind you we won’t stop until justice is served,” Sky Roberts said. “If you think we’re going away, you are wrong.”

[. . .]

If the act goes into effect, the Justice Department would be required to publish all unclassified records, documents, communications and investigative material in the prosecution of Epstein. Records regarding Maxwell, flight logs and individuals involved also would be released.

More than 20 survivors of Epstein’s and Maxwell’s abuse support the legislation, according to Sky Roberts. The Justice Department also can protect personal information about the victims and materials that can harm ongoing investigations under the act.

“Congressman Crank: Why shouldn’t Colorado lead the way in standing up against this injustice?” Sky Roberts asked. “We cordially invite you, along with all representatives, to sit down and hear these stories directly from survivors and their families.”

Crank’s office doors were locked Tuesday and the family of Giuffre has not heard back from the lawmaker about this legislation. 



"Never again will the immense power of the state be weaponized to persecute political opponents," Donald Trump declared at his 2025 inauguration. Hold that thought.

Trump is now using the immense power of the state to distract from a scandal that could bring him down. That is, his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, a fiend who sexually trafficked girls young enough to be in junior high.

Watch how Trump uses the power of the state to change the subject. Note how his weaponizing of government to go after foes — or just attract attention — escalates into sheer spectacle.

It's no longer just insulting celebrities. No, he needs the big guns to force attention away from deeper questions about his close dealings with Epstein. He needs to send the National Guard into cities that didn't want them, bomb boats that may or may not be carrying drug smugglers and send immigrants who may or may not be undocumented to third-country dungeons.

News channels have jumped all over FCC chairman Brendan Carr's mafioso threats against news media that don't do Trump's bidding. He apparently intimidated ABC/Walt Disney into firing Jimmy Kimmel after the late-night comedian made comments at odds with state-sanctioned opinion. Carr used to make fiery defenses of free speech.

This is a serious story, but critics shouldn't let Trump lead them astray from the story that undoubtedly terrifies him: his relationship with the predator who provided rich men with underage sexual partners.


The statue of Epstein and Chump holding hands has been taken down at The National Mall as Lawrence O'Donnell explained last night.



They can pretend all they want but Epstein's not going away.  During the July 4th holiday, Chump thought he had buried the story.  It's September 26 and it's still in the news.


In other news of pedophiles Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, Christopher Bucktin and Ryan Carroll (THE RECORD) reported four days ago:


Humiliated US prison chiefs have launched a major probe after a million-dollar bid to keep sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell hidden collapsed.
Maxwell was pictured in the cushy Federal Prison Camp Bryan in Texas after being transferred under a cloak of secrecy. Mirror sources said that US Attorney General Pam Bondi had personally assured US President Donald Trump that her transfer would not embarrass him.
Trump is under pressure over his friendship with Maxwell’s pal, paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. However, the emergence of an image from inside the sprawling minimum-security complex has blown those promises apart. 

Maxwell was pictured in the cushy Federal Prison Camp Bryan in Texas after being transferred under a cloak of secrecy. Mirror sources said that US Attorney General Pam Bondi had personally assured US President Donald Trump that her transfer would not embarrass him. One insider said: “The President was told she would never come back to haunt him. He was assured by Pam Bondi that Maxwell would be buried in the system. It’s blown up in his face.”


Grasp what THE RECORD is reporting -- Pam Bondi and Chump discussed moving Maxwell to the cushy 'prison.'  Grasp that Donald has repeatedly insisted that he knew nothing about the transfer.

US House Rep Jasmine Crockett continues to fight for the truth to come out.




And US House Rep Jim Jordan -- himself accused of covering up the abuse of young men -- continues working to keep the truth about Epstein and Maxwell hidden.

Again, Jim Jordan's accused of already covering up one sex abuse scandal that he was aware of.


Let's wind down with this from Senator Elizabeth Warren's office:


“ESPN’s deals with the NFL and the MLB would give the sports media giant new degrees of control…for two of the most profitable sports leagues in the country. We have serious concerns that fans and competitors will suffer as a result.”

Members concerned about loss of ESPN as a source of independent sports journalism

“[These deals] would likely harm ESPN’s competitors, who could find it challenging to compete, ultimately resulting in higher prices and fewer choices for viewers”

Text of Letter (PDF)

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), along with Representatives Joaquin Castro (D-Texas), and Patrick Ryan (D-N.Y.) sent a letter to the heads of Disney, ESPN, the National Football League (NFL), and Major League Baseball (MLB), raising concerns that ESPN’s proposed deals with the leagues could restrict competition and raise prices for sports fans.

Last month, Disney-owned ESPN announced a $3 billion deal to acquire the NFL Network, the distributor of NFL games, as well as the NFL’s fantasy football league — a competitor of ESPN’s fantasy football league — and the rights to distribute NFL RedZone, a live-TV feed that shows whip-around coverage of Sunday football games. In exchange, the NFL will take a 10% stake in ESPN. This deal raises a number of concerns, including the possibility that the NFL could give ESPN preferential treatment over other media companies, entrenching ESPN’s dominance in sports distribution.

“[This deal] would likely harm ESPN’s competitors, who could find it challenging to compete, ultimately resulting in higher prices and fewer choices for viewers if disadvantaged competitors subsequently fail,” said the members.

The NFL’s stake in ESPN could give the NFL preferential treatment over other sports leagues, offering more advantageous terms, pricing, or time slots for games. The NFL’s partial ownership could also hurt fans, players, and anyone involved in the business of sports that relies on ESPN’s independent coverage of NFL news, which has included developing stories and, at times, scandalous behavior in professional sports.

“The ESPN-NFL deal raises concerns regarding whether reporters and journalists would be under pressure from ESPN executives or their new part-owner regarding coverage…[which] could negatively affect the public as well as League players and other industry stakeholders whose interests are tied up in decisions the leagues make,” wrote the lawmakers.

ESPN executives have suggested that the company is open to replicating these types of “unconventional” equity deals with other sports leagues, creating the potential for more consolidation and consumer harm.

In August, ESPN also announced an agreement to fold MLB.TV into its new direct-to-consumer service, giving ESPN the exclusive right to “sell out-of-market regular-season games digitally and in-market games for five clubs over the next three years.”

The move could allow ESPN to “make it more difficult and more expensive for…subscribers to watch games…[or] force fans to subscribe to the ESPN media ecosystem in order to access games and charge an additional price to watch local teams’ games,” said the Congress members.

“ESPN’s deals with the NFL and the MLB would give the sports media giant new degrees of control…for two of the most profitable sports leagues in the country. We have serious concerns that fans and competitors will suffer as a result,” concluded the members.

The lawmakers asked the recipients to respond by October 8, 2025, explaining how the announced deals will affect the prices for fans to access content, whether fans will have to buy add-on subscriptions to access MLB content, how NFL and ESPN will safeguard against giving each other preferential treatment to the detriment of competitors, how ESPN will prevent infringing on competitors’ distribution rights if it establishes RedZone-type channels for other sports leagues, and what steps ESPN will take to prevent conflicts of interest and preserve the journalistic independence of its reporters.

###




The following sites updated:


Posted by at

Wednesday, September 24, 2025

That idiot Markwayne Markwayne

First off, Katie Phang.

Second off, yesterday, I noted:



Get that.  C.I. noted lame duck Chump.  She did that Tuesday morning.  If you doubted her call, please note, Tuesday afternoon, Nicole Wallace (NBC) made the same call:

MSNBC host Nicolle Wallace began her Tuesday episode of "Deadline White House" discussing a blistering critique from former colleague David Frum, the speechwriter for President George W. Bush.

Frum, who now writes for The Atlantic, penned a column calling President Donald Trump akin to "a man trying to race upward on a downward-moving escalator." The column was published before Trump's Tuesday escalator fiasco at the United Nations.
As Trump continues his race, Frum seems him "pulled ever deeper below—and the escalator keeps moving faster against him."

Wallace called Trump "a flailing, lame duck president" who continues to be "dogged by questions surrounding his relationship with deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his administration's handling of the Epstein case."



Again, he's a lame duck.  Remember that.  I know we're having to fight so hard to save our country and keep it a democracy.  But it won't always be this hard.  

Anybody noticing how fat Miss Sassy JD Vance is getting?  The little suck up is in the news for praising Chump. Am I the only one who sees how Chump regularly cuts JD?  He's not going to support a JD Vance run for president in 2028.  

Speaking of stupid, Markwayne Markwayne.  Laura Mitchell (THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER) reports:

A bipartisan group of lawmakers, led by Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) and Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), convened a press conference to address the escalating political violence in the U.S., following the assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University. The lawmakers called for a renewed commitment to civil discourse, urging both parties to take responsibility for inflammatory rhetoric that has fueled tensions. They emphasized the need to reduce hostility to foster constructive dialogue and prevent further violence.
Mullin stated, “It’s all of our faults, right? I mean, we stir up the base. If you stir up the base, what do you expect is going to happen? If you stir a fire, coals are going to come out of it.”

He added, “If you pour gasoline on a fire, it’s going to explode. And sometimes we gaslight the base, and it’s been happening a lot.”

While acknowledging that both parties contribute to divisive rhetoric, Mullin pointed to Democrats as particularly responsible for using inflammatory labels. He said, “I am pointing fingers here because this happened to Republicans a lot lately, but it seems like Democrats are gaslighting this a lot more. And it goes from calling the president a dictator, from saying that we are Nazis, that it’s been an attack on Christian values.”

Gottheimer countered by highlighting President Donald Trump’s role in escalating tensions, stating, “I mean, [he] calls Democrats ‘vermin’ or ‘the enemy from within,’ you know the rhetoric. And the worst thing that could happen, to me, right now, is the president or any of our leaders coming out and saying, ‘It’s their fault,’ and going after the other side.”

Markwayne Markwayne is a filthy liar.  Yeah, he's wearing a cowboy hat in the photo for the article which is hilarious since he campaigned for the US senate on his Native American heritage.  He's one of those people who finds some heritage when he needs to be elected.  The Native Americans in Oklahoma can't stand him now due to his voting record.  But in terms of his lies, let me drop back to something I posted here September 19th in "Lying idiot Markwayne Markwayne and Sassy Bitch JD Vance:"


Our girlish senator from Oklahoma, Markwayne Markwayne, has done his best Chrissy Snow impersonation yet.  But this week's impressions, like previous ones, leaves out Chrissy's inherent goodness and compassion and instead just sports the stupidity:

Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA), the chairman of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, called out his Republican colleague, Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), for claiming during a Wednesday hearing that he had a recording to prove fired CDC Director Susan Monarez was lying.
Mullin made the bombshell claim during Monarez’s testimony before the committee about her firing, just a month after the Senate confirmed her to the post, which President Donald Trump appointed her.

Monarez tore into Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in her opening statement and said he fired her for refusing to fire key staffers and rubber-stamp his vaccine recommendations.

“It was a recorded meeting, so you can testify one way, or you can prove that you’re lying … and I’m giving you the opportunity to be honest here, because you’ve been really walking around the edges and not being truthful,” Mullin told Morarez during his time to question her.

“He told me he could not trust me and I told him, if he could not trust me, he could fire me,” Monarez insisted, repeating her claim on the topic.

Cassidy later addressed the committee on the exchange between Mullin and Monarez.
“While I was at a vote, I understand Senator Mullin implied there was a recording of the meeting or meetings between Dr. Manares and Secretary Kennedy. I will note that if materials have been provided to Senator Mullin and invoked in official committee business, they are committee records and all other senators on the committee have the right to see those records,” Cassidy said, adding:

I will also note… If HHS has a recording, I ask them to release the recording. I’d also like to know why it was recorded. But releasing the recording would be radical transparency. And this is about fulfilling the president’s vision of radical transparency; this is allegiance to President Trump’s values. And so I’d ask that that recording be released. I’ll also note that we put in a request for any documents or communications that would bring transparency to the situation. We have not yet received those documents. If a recording does not exist, I ask Senator Mullin to retract his line of questions.

Guess what?  Markwayne Markwayne didn't have a copy.  No copy exists.  Markwayne Markwayne lied:

Soon thereafter, the Oklahoma Republican told reporters he was mistaken, according to the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee’s chair, Bill Cassidy (R-La.). Cassidy called on the Department of Health and Human Services to release the recording if it had one, prompting HHS spokesperson Andrew Nixon to say there wasn’t one. “This was incorrectly stated at the hearing. There is no recording,” Nixon said.


Poor stupid liar.  I understand Markwayne Markwayne went home to Mommy Brenda and, to stop his crying, she gave him a side ponytail which caused him to jump up and down repeatedly so he could bounce those MOOBS he's always sporting.  Come and knock on his door, he's been waiting for you . . .

His MOOBS, by the way, have gotten bigger; however, he has not had surgery, he's just put on more weight.  No, Markwayne Markwayne is not pregnant. Yes, he does look it.  Nicole Lafond (TPM) notes:


Mullin persisted. “I tell my kids all the time, ‘You know, one thing I want from you, I can deal with any situation we walk into as long as I know you’re being 100% honest with me. The minute I can’t tell you’re being honest with me, I can’t trust you. From then on, everything you say is questioned,’” Mullin said, “because your personality and your answers aren’t correct.”

It is entirely unclear, however, what Mullin was talking about as he attempted to strong arm the ousted official. A bit later in the day, Mullin told reporters on Capitol Hill that he was actually mistaken and there was no recording of the meeting.

So where's his public apology?  He called her a liar in a public hearing and she wasn't the one lying.  He was.  Where's his public apology?

And per him, we need to forever more question everything he said because he always tells his kids, "You know one thing I want from you, I can deal with any situation we walk into as long as I know you're being 100% honest with me.  The minute I can't tell you're being honest with me, I can't trust you.  From then on, everything you say is questioned because your personality and your answers aren't correct."

Markwayne Markwayne, we can't trust you.  And we don't.

 




He has the nerve to talk about rhetoric from others after he attacked a woman with non-stop lies in a hearing and never apologized to her for his lying attack?

We don't call people like him men.  We call them capons.  (I didn't know what a capon was until C.I. used it recently in a snapshot.)  Just a scared little liar trying to pretend he's a man.  

In Betty's "Crooked John Roberts has declared war on the law" last night, she again tackled The Crooked Court and the idiot John Roberts..  Tonight, she's doing a joint-humor post so I'll steer you to this analysis of Chief Liar John Roberts at CNN.  Roberts' legacy will be the destruction of trust that We The People once had in the Supreme Court.

By the way, here are the group posts:


In other news, congratulations to Adelita Grijalva who is our newest member of Congress.  Yesterday she was elected to the US House of Representatives.  She is a Democrat and we need her so be sure to take a moment to be proud of her for winning.  

Be sure to check out Stan's "Rachel Maddow and Kamala Harris "  It's powerful and on point. 

Here's C.I.'s "The Snapshot:"


Wednesday, September 24, 2025.  The Epstein Files scandal takes the duchess, a statue of Chump and Epstein goes up to celebrate the sicko bros, Donald explodes at the UN, The Tom Homan Files scandal joins The Epstein Files scandal in demonstrating just how corrupt Chump is, leave it to Chump to allow two lovers to work together in the same office and conduct their affair far from the prying eyes of their spouses, ICE continues to hide their actions because their actions are illegal, and much more.


Yesterday, Convicted Felon Donald Chump spoke to the United Nations.  Andrew Feinberg,Oliver O'Connell and Joe Sommerlad (INDEPENDENT) report:


President Donald Trump has addressed the United Nations General Assembly in New York City at a contentious moment for international relations after France joined the U.K., Canada, Australia and Portugal in moving to recognize a Palestinian state in response to Israel’s actions in Gaza.
Trump, accompanied by First Lady Melania Trump, is back at the U.N. for the first time since the beginning of his second term in January.

His speech was among the most anticipated as America’s allies and adversaries wait to see what the president will say about ongoing efforts to end the wars in Gaza and Ukraine.

And guess what he told them?  He lied and told them grocery prices were down in the US -- no, they are higher than they were this time last year.  And he told them that  "your countries are going to hell." 

Did anyone connect it with Tuesday being The Day of Trumpets and all the crazies in the US -- Chump supporters, most of them -- had taken to the internet in the last week to explain that yesterday all the goodly would be raised from the earth to heaven?

Yes, there were fools around the world convinced they were 'ascending' yesterday but, in the US, it was mainly the same fools who support Chump -- the easily conned, the marks, the fools.


You know two Fridays ago when SUBWAY couldn't fulfill orders placed at their website because it kept going down and getting things wrong and even "Sammy" (their AI bot) couldn't get things right, I thought someone might report on that, some outlet.  No one did.  Or back in August that morning where a professional golfer was golfing live on THE GOLF CHANNEL and swore "F**K!" -- without any bleeping, it was live -- I thought some legacy news outlet might have covered that.  Or how THE GOLF CHANNEL keeps promoting Chump because it's so stupid -- the hosts refer to NEWSDAY as New York city's NEWSDAY.  It's not.  There is THE NEW YORK TIMES, THE NEW YORK POST and THE NEW YORK DAILY NEWS.  NEWSDAY, however, is out of Long Island -- hence their motto "NEWSDAY, your eye on LI" (LI being Long Island.) 

I guess it's going to fall to Mira Fox at THE FORWARD and Theo Burman (NEWSWEEK) to be the only ones in legacy/traditional/mass  media to cover the nut jobs (well, as Kamala Harris rightly pointed out to Rachel Maddow Monday night, NYC media thinks they are the center of the world).  But those nut jobs -- many of them Chump supporters -- have been all over YOUTUBE and TIKTOK in the last two weeks explaining how they will be leaving all the sinners behind and how they know this is true because they had dreams -- prophetic dreams.

Now I believe in dreams and use them all the time.  I'll go to bed thinking of a problem or something that I can't remember and I can zoom in on that in my dreams.  However, that's not being psychic or receiving messages from the dead.  (After Michael Ratner died, he did haunt me in my dreams -- that wasn't him -- that was our conversations regarding Julian Assange and my knowing he was no longer able to advocate for Julian so my guilty conscience was telling me to do it for Michael.  Again, I wasn't seriously being messaged from the great beyond by Michael Ratner.) 

But I wouldn't have a dream that I was me, an adult, and I was in classroom with children and teenagers and the teacher told us all to go to the board and write your ages on it and the teacher stepped out and some people were laughing about what age I would write and then I wrote my age and then say that this was proof that the rapture was a week out. I wouldn't do that. But one man did and shared it online and he was joined by many, many others.  

Credit to TABITHAS SPEAKS POLITICS, Coach D and other YOUTUBE outlets (new media) that did cover the crazies.


But maybe, convinced that the end was nigh, Chump saw himself needing to tell other countries that they were going to hell?

Where's Chump going?


 

I ask that mainly to recommend that you read Elaine's "Work for Chump and he'll pay you to cheat on your spouse too" and grasp that the party of family values and the Christians and 'Christians' supporting Chump aren't at all bothered that he's letting a couple work together -- a couple rumored to be sleeping together (that's been reported since 2023) despite the fact that they are both married to other people. 

How do the Christians and 'Christians' reconcile themselves to this daily sin, this violation of the 7th Commandment?  Chump and other loons want The 10 Commandments posted in schools despite the separation between Church and State but maybe the country would be better off it we just posted them in Kristi Noem's office?

Elaine notes this affair's been reported on forever:


The rumors of Corey and Kristi's affair predates the 2024 election.  Here's Emily Crane and Steven Nelson (NEW YORK POST) reporting on it in September of 2023 -- two years ago:

Married Republican South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem has engaged in a years-long affair with longtime Donald Trump adviser Corey Lewandowski, multiple sources told The Post Friday.

Though no images of the two getting frisky are known to exist, the pair have been less than discreet about their relationship, with one source recalling them making out at a hotel bar during the 2021 Conservative Political Action Conference in Orlando, Fla.

“I remember it was so absurdly blatant and public,” said the person, who recalled Noem and Lewandowski getting “handsy” at the bar of the Hyatt Regency Orlando with between 100 and 200 others around.

“It wasn’t like 2 a.m.,” the source said. “It isn’t like we caught them at some dive bar miles away. It’s a lobby bar where everyone is staying and so there’s a bajillion political operatives and journalists and electeds around. I remember I saw it with my own eyes and a couple other people saw it and the blatantness was absurd.”
“This has been a known, open thing and we’ve all been waiting for it to blow up at some point,” the person added.

The liaison emerged one week after Noem, a 51-year-old mom of three, formally endorsed Trump, 77, for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, raising the pitch of speculation that the 45th president would pick her as his running mate.

“He’s 100% banging her,” said a second person familiar with the relationship between Noem and Lewandowski, first reported by DailyMail.com.

The source added that they personally witnessed Noem “sitting on his [Lewandowski’s] lap” and “playing grab-ass” during an event at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in December 2020.

Elaine observes, "Well Chump didn't run as a fiscal conservative.  He also didn't run as a family values Republican.  So I guess the ongoing infidelity of two workers is no big deal -- even if they're allowed to work together.  I hope all of the Christians and 'Christians' who worship Chump are okay with two married people on the government payroll being paid to cheat on their spouses with each other."


In her article, Mira Fox notes:

Most of the people expecting a rapture seem to have a clear vision of what it will look like: people rising into the sky, as though they are being beamed up into an alien ship. (It seems likely that most of these ideas are based on popular media such as The Leftovers, an HBO show about those who remained after a rapture event.) Those left behind would then endure seven years of tribulations, after which Jesus would return to establish heaven on earth.

The idea of the rapture is a relatively new one in Christianity. While various lines in the New Testament refer to some sort of second coming of Jesus, also a raising of the dead, the idea that a rapture would come to save true Christians from the seven years of tribulations was only popularized by a British minister in the 1830s, John Nelson Darby. In the early 1900s, an American edition of the Bible called the Scofield Reference Bible further spread the idea of a rapture through its margin notes.

Pastors and historians online are desperately trying to calm those who are concerned about the rapture via videos discussing the recent history of the idea.

But for those readying themselves and their homes for the rapture, the details are irrelevant. The main thing to remember is not to look down.

Again, I believe she and THE FORWARD and NEWSWEEK were the only ones in legacy media  covering it.  Talk about avoidance.  


This morning at MEIDASTOUCH NEWS, Ben's covered Chump's trip to the UN and all the threats Chump and his minions made.



Ben also noted the new statue  New statue?  Kelly Rissman (INDEPENDENT) reports:


A massive statue depicting Donald Trump and late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein holding hands has appeared on the National Mall as the months-long Epstein Files saga continues to haunt the administration.

The 12-foot statue — a combination of foam, resin, wood and wire — shows Trump and Epstein standing on pedestals, holding hands and smiling at one another as they appear about to frolic through the park toward the Washington Monument in Washington, DC.

Below the statue, there are three plaques, two of which contain excerpts from the bawdy birthday letter Trump allegedly wrote Epstein for his 50th birthday. 

The whole world's talking as Chump, yet again, cannot escape his close and personal ties to pedophile Jeffrey Epstein or, for that matter, Ghislaine Maxwell.  NDTV notes, "The artwork, titled 'Best Friends Forever,' was created by an anonymous group called The Secret Handshake and will remain on display until the evening of September 28 under a permit granted by the National Park Service."


Sarah Ferguson can't escape her ties to Epstein either.  Monday in "Sarah Ferguson is a con-artist and a fake ass snake,"  Ann covered how Andrew's ex-wife said one thing publicly -- she wasn't against pedophiles -- but e-mailed Epstein to tell him that was just talk for public, she and Jeffery were tight and would remain tight. 


The revelations have not worked out well for Sarah -- nor should they have.

 

 


 


 

Meanwhile there are a million questions that Chump and his administration flunkies refuse to answer but that need to be answered as MTN points out.




On Epstein, let's note this from Senator Sheldon Whitehouse's office:


Latest episode of Making the Case available now on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube

Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Courts Subcommittee, released the fourth episode of season two of his podcast, Making the Case.  In the new episode, Whitehouse is joined by Representative Ro Khanna (D-CA), who leads a bipartisan discharge petition in the House of Representatives calling on the Trump administration to release the full Jeffrey Epsteinfiles, with redactions to protect survivors.  

“Trump and his MAGA underlings at the Department of Justice and FBI are brazenly breaking promises and doing everything in their power to cover up what’s hidden in the Epstein files.  If not for the bipartisan work of the determined Rep. Khanna, the American people would still be in the dark on key documents from Epstein’s estate and other closely held secrets,” said Whitehouse.  “Rep. Khanna is a champion for justice and transparency in Washington, and I’m thrilled to have him on this next episode of Makingthe Case to break down the latest developments in the Epstein Files saga.”

The fourth episode of season two of Making the Case is now available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and other podcast platforms.

Whitehouse has long been the Senate’s leading voice for improving transparency and accountability in politics and in Washington, delivering a series of speeches on the Senate floor about the special interest scheme to capture the judicial branch.  In August, Whitehouse wrote a letter to the director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons demanding more information on the transfer of Ghislaine Maxwell to a minimum-security prison camp in Texas.  Maxwell, the convicted sex trafficker and Jeffrey Epstein associate, was transferred without explanation to the cushy prison camp after an unusual visit by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche.

Whitehouse and Khanna have previously teamed up to investigate corruption in the fossil fuel industry, and introduced legislation to crack down on profiteering by Big Oil and return the industry’s excessive gains to working people.



Of course, Lawrence O'Donnell pointed out on MSNBC last night, Chump has The Epstein Files scandal to deal with but he also now has the Tom Homan scandal to deal with.



Note the clip of Homan O'Donnell plays from Homan's chat with mannish Laura Ingraham.  How dare anyone question him!  He has sacrificed for 34 years!  


I'm so sorry, Tom, which years did you serve in the armed service?


None, right?


But he wants to maintain working for the US government has been a sacrifice -- and a sacrifice for multiple decades. 


Anyone familiar with criminal law is aware that those kind of self-aggrandizing statements are the justifications that criminals make for taking bribes or stealing money.


So file it under "How To Confess Wihtout Dirctly Saying I'm Guilty."

 
Yesterday on MSNBC's THE WEEKNIGHT, US House Rep Jasmine Crockett provided the walk through on what Homan is accused of and how to pursue it. 


Again, it is The Homan Files scandal and it's further corruption on display.

 

 


Joe Patrice (ABOVE THE LAW) writes:


Over the weekend, it came out that Tom Homan, one of the senior architects of the Trump administration’s immigration policy, allegedly took $50K from undercover FBI agents posing as business executives hoping to bribe their way into government contracts if Trump won. He’s said to have accepted the funds — which the FBI reportedly captured on video — in a Cava bag. If the fast food chain doesn’t immediately capitalize on this with some sort of marketing campaign, then I’ve lost all faith in them.
Homan, interestingly enough, put himself front-and-center of the move to drop the Eric Adams bribery case. Homan never came across as the proper spokesperson for the administration’s decision, highlighted when he seemed to confirm a quid pro quo for dropping the Adams case, but in retrospect, he might have had a vested interest in putting out the message that bribery isn’t anything to be ashamed of.



On the topic of ICE, Dave Levinthal (CJR) reports:

Since late December, J. Dale Shoemaker, a reporter for the Investigative Post, a nonprofit newsroom based in Buffalo, has filed seventeen Freedom of Information Act requests with the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement and US Customs and Border Protection to guide his deep dives into federal law enforcement activity, deportation actions, and ICE detention centers in upstate New York. In return, he says, he has gotten only documents that were redacted beyond comprehension, or nothing at all. “I have not received a satisfactory response to a single one of them,” Shoemaker said.

Ryanne Mena, of the Los Angeles Daily News, sent ICE a FOIA request on January 24 for all grievance forms filed by detainees at facilities in Adelanto, California, between 2016 and early 2025. Nearly eight months later, she said, she’s received nothing: ICE “has failed to provide me with an estimated date of production despite repeated requests.” 

Monica Eng, a reporter for Axios, filed a FOIA request with ICE in February, seeking data she hoped would inform stories about where and why agents were apprehending people in Illinois. At first, she said, ICE officials appeared willing to cooperate. But by March, ICE had denied Eng’s request in full, citing “ongoing law enforcement investigations.” Axios filed an administrative appeal with ICE, but hasn’t received a response. “I have filed a lot of FOIAs, and my requests to the Trump Department of Homeland Security have been some of the least successful and least transparent,” Eng said.

ICE and CBP have become centerpieces of President Donald Trump’s quest to deport millions of undocumented immigrants from US soil through aggressive law enforcement tactics and billions of dollars in new federal funding. But CJR spoke to nearly two dozen reporters, editors, and other people at news organizations and open-records watchdog groups across the country who have filed FOIA requests with the agencies, and who say that ICE and CBP officials routinely deny or ignore those requests. The agencies have never been particularly open with the press, but many reporters believe that their experience is part of an enhanced effort by the Trump administration to conceal immigration agency operations, even in possible violation of federal law. Some also described the agencies’ press offices as functionally useless, with media officials providing few, if any, answers to even their most basic of inquiries.

Chioma Chukwu, the executive director of American Oversight, a nonprofit organization that advocates for public access to government records, said ICE and Border Protection have an “abysmal” track record of transparency. Of 137 requests her group has filed with ICE and CBP over the course of 2025, there has been a “substantive response” to just one—“and that took almost seven months,” Chukwu said. “ICE and CBP remain among the slowest and least transparent agencies we deal with, routinely flouting FOIA’s requirements and denying the public timely access to information about their operations.” 

This stonewalling comes at a time when ICE—and its parent organization, the Department of Homeland Security—has repeatedly cracked down on journalism about its operations. The department has described the video recording of ICE agents as “violence,” with a department spokesperson promising to prosecute those who “illegally harass ICE agents to the fullest extent of the law.” Multiple reporters have been arrested or injured while covering protests or anti-ICE rallies, including Salvadoran journalist Mario Guevaram, who was detained while covering a rally in Georgia in June, and Australian reporter Lauren Tomasi, who was shot in the leg with a rubber bullet as she reported on an anti-ICE protest in Los Angeles. In early September, a federal judge issued a preliminary injunction ordering DHS to stop using “nonlethal” weapons against journalists. “Under the guise of protecting the public, federal agents have endangered large numbers of peaceful protesters, legal observers, and journalists—as well as the public that relies on them to hold their government accountable,” the judge wrote. “The First Amendment demands better.”

Some news outlets told CJR they believe that, in ICE’s and CBP’s handling of their FOIA requests, the agencies are themselves violating federal law by ignoring statutory deadlines or failing to respond altogether. By law, government agencies must determine within twenty business days whether to fulfill or deny a FOIA request and “immediately notify” the requester of their decision. Agencies may also extend this deadline because of “unusual circumstances.” If fulfilling a FOIA request requires significant time, agencies are required by law to offer requesters an “opportunity to arrange with the agency an alternative time frame for processing the request or a modified request.” Requesters have the right to appeal agencies’ FOIA determinations, and if all else fails, they may sue the government in federal court.

Now why would ICE have anything to hide?  Travis Gettys (RAW STORY) reports:

Federal agents caught and detained a 5-year-old girl to lure her immigrant father outside the family's home following a brief traffic pursuit, according to a report.

Video of the incident Tuesday in Leominster, Massachusetts, captures the family's anguished screams as Immigration and Customs Enforcement held the 5-year-old girl outside after chasing her father, Edward Hip, a Guatemalan man who has lived in the U.S. for 22 years, reported WBTS-CD.

"Is that your daughter? Come here so I can see those IDs," one of the agents said, according to the video.

The girl's mother tells the agents her daughter is on the autism spectrum and begs for her return, saying agents had grabbed the girl as she followed her father inside.

Wow, acting like the mafia by targeting someone's child.  File it under "Another proud moment for ICE."  In fact, John Ross Ferrara (KRON) has another proud moment to cover:


U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrested a man inside the Wiley Manuel Courthouse in Oakland following a pre-trial hearing on Sept. 15, according to a statement issued by Alameda County public defender Brendon Woods on Monday.

Two ICE agents in plain clothes allegedly detained the man in a courthouse hallway and took him out of the building to waiting, unmarked vehicles. Agents took him to an ICE detention facility, where he remains in federal custody, according to Woods.
“ICE raids at our courthouses must stop immediately,” Woods said in a statement. “People who follow a judge’s orders to attend court should not have to fear federal agents kidnapping them and dragging them away to detention centers. Our democracy cannot function if this continues.”
The ICE arrest was the first made in an Alameda County courthouse under the authority of President Donald Trump, according to Woods. 

“Everyone -- our clients, victims, witnesses, staff, lawyers -- deserves to participate without fear,” Woods said. “Our justice system loses legitimacy when people do not feel safe entering a courthouse. We cannot allow a racist, authoritarian regime to interfere with our local courts like this. It’s time to pick a side. Either you allow this to happen to members of our community or you take action to prevent it.”


Cowards not wearing uniforms or any kind of a badge.  Cowards.  Thugs.  Kidnappers.  Andrew Stanton (NEWSWEEK) reports:

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers are holding a man living in New York who has lawful permanent residence status and has been caring for his wife with cancer.

The arrest of Duwayne Baugh took place last month but was only reported on Monday by The City, a New York-based news publication.

His wife, Kaiisha Baugh, wrote in a statement to Newsweek, “My husband has been a lawful permanent resident for years. A routine check-in should not lead to this kind of torture and separation. It’s becoming unbearable and I just hope the Judge sees the cruelty and unfairness here and allows him to come home.”

His attorney confirmed to Newsweek that he has lawful permanent residence status.

They're destroying lives.  And we're not going to let them forget it.  This will not be swept aside like the internments during WWII.  We, as a people and as a country will not spend the future pretending this was okay or alright.  Donald Chump's not the only one who is going to take the historical fall on this.  Crooks like Tom Homan and Kristis cheaty-cheaty bang-bang Noem and ICE agents and so many more.  We see you.  

ICE has so much to hide -- most crooks do. 
 

During the last Trump administration, California Democrats were so concerned about ICE making arrests at superior court buildings and potentially discouraging witnesses from testifying that they passed a law to forbid that kind of enforcement.

Picking people up at a courthouse can have a “potential chilling effect” on witnesses, victims and even suspects who are afraid to show up for court, California Supreme Court Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero said earlier this summer. 

“Making courthouses a focus of immigration enforcement hinders, rather than helps, the administration of justice by deterring witnesses and victims from coming forward and discouraging individuals from asserting their rights,” Guerrero said. 

But no one cares about 'state's rights' in what was once the Republican Party.  They don't care anymore.  They don't care about the law because The Crooked Court continues to break the law, to subvert the law and to reward the criminal behavior of Donald Chump.

I think we need serious Congressional oversight of the current Supreme Court.  I think they need to submit all financial records to the Congress so that we can find out exactly who's being paid off -- it's not just Thomas and Alito, it's much more than that.  For more on the failure that the Supreme Court has become, see Betty's "The Crooked Court" from last night.

But let's ponder something.  Chump's secret police?  They're getting bonuses.  Of $50,000.  How did they arrive at that figure?  Did Homan, acting director of ICE, brag in a meeting, "Hey, last fall I got a bonus of $50,000 when I took that bribe.  $50,000 all around!"? 

Now we're winding down with this from Senator Mazie Hirono's office:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) and Susan Collins (R-ME) and U.S. Representatives Adam Smith (D-WA) and Don Bacon (R-NE) introduced the Protect Adoptees and American Families Act, legislation that would grant U.S. citizenship to international adoptees who were legally adopted in the U.S. as children but lack citizenship status due to a loophole in the Child Citizenship Act of 2000.

“Thousands of American families and their internationally-adopted children have been living in fear and uncertainty due to an oversight in the Child Citizenship Act, which is why I’m proud to join my colleagues in introducing legislation that would provide a long overdue solution to address this issue,” said Senator Hirono. “The Protect Adoptees and American Families Act will help keep families together, and ensure that international adoptees are afforded the rights they deserve as U.S. citizens.”

Families who adopted children from abroad were previously required to complete a lengthy, expensive naturalization process for their adopted children, on top of the adoption process itself. In some cases, the paperwork was not completed in full, leaving adoptees unaware they were living in the U.S. without citizenship. The Child Citizenship Act of 2000 (CCA) streamlined this process by granting automatic citizenship to foreign-born children under 18 adopted by U.S. citizens. However, the law only applied to adoptees under age 18 at the time the CCA took effect in February 2001. Adoptees who had already reached adulthood were excluded, leaving tens of thousands of people without citizenship despite being raised in American families.

The Protect Adoptees and American Families Act fixes this oversight by confirming U.S. citizenship for internationally adopted individuals, regardless of when they were adopted or their age. Specifically, the bill:

  • Provides automatic citizenship to foreign-born children lawfully adopted by U.S. families who turned 18 before February 27, 2001; and
  • Establishes a path to citizenship for adoptees living abroad who meet eligibility requirements but currently reside outside the U.S. This process includes background checks and the resolution of any outstanding legal matters before citizenship is granted.

This legislation will provide long-overdue certainty for adoptees who have faced barriers to higher education, employment, and financial services, and who in some cases have even faced deportation to countries where they have no family or community ties.

The bill has been endorsed by Adoptee Rights Campaign; Korean American Grassroots Conference; National Council For Adoption; Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission; NAKASEC; Niskanen Center; Center for Adoption Policy; National Immigration Forum; National Asian Pacific American Bar Association; Adoptees for Justice; Family Coalition for Adoptee Citizenship; National Alliance for Adoptee Equality; and Alliance for Adoptee Citizenship.

“As a national network in five states, the NAKASEC network strongly urges the immediate passage of this legislation. Birth parents, adoptive parents, and sending countries partnered with the United States with the understanding that adoptees would be full members of their families – with all the rights, protections, and opportunities afforded to them. It’s important to note that citizenship for adoptees is an issue only in the United States. No other receiving country failed to confer citizenship for the children in their care. It’s time for the United States to fulfill their promises and secure citizenship for all intercountry adoptees,” said Becky Belcore, Co-Director of the National Korean American Service and Education Consortium (NAKASEC).

“We recognize the challenges faced by adoptees who, though raised in American families and contributing fully to our communities, continue to live without the protections of citizenship. We applaud the leadership of Rep. Smith, Rep. Bacon, Sen. Hirono, and Sen. Collins in introducing the Protect Adoptees and American Families Act, a bipartisan measure that offers long-overdue relief and recognition to those who are American in every way except on paper. With Korean American adoptees among the most affected, KAGC is committed to working with partners to ensure this vital legislation is enacted and justice is delivered to all impacted,” said Wonseok Song, Executive Director of the Korean American Grassroots Conference, the largest nationwide network of Korean American voters.

“NCFA supports the Protect Adoptees and American Families Act. Congress intended citizenship for children being internationally adopted by American citizens, but a complicated and confusing immigration and visa system resulted in some parents failing to complete the citizenship process on behalf of their minor children. The Protect Adoptees and American Families Act provides the citizenship that was initially intended for these individuals,” said Ryan Hanlon, National Council For Adoption.

“The Protect Adoptees and American Families Act fixes a 25-year loophole that has prevented internationally adopted Americans, raised by American families and fully integrated into American society, from achieving full United States citizenship. There is no excuse. Now is the time for Congress to get this commonsense bill over the finish line and provide a long-awaited solution for these families and for the betterment of our country,” said Kristie De Pena, Director of Immigration Policy at the Niskanen Center.

“We support this effort to strengthen American families by easing the citizenship process for international adoptees. The Protect Adoptees and American Families Act supports a core aspect of our national values, and we are glad to see Republicans and Democrats come together behind it. We look forward to seeing it passed and signed,” said the National Immigration Forum.

“Fundamental fairness demands that those children who were lawfully adopted and raised in the United States enjoy the full privileges and opportunities of American life.? Yet for thousands of international adoptees, so many of whom arrived from Asian countries and through no fault of their own, that basic promise has been denied due to inadvertent missing paperwork.? The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) commends the sponsors for introducing the Protect Adoptees and American Families (PAAF) Act, a pivotal step to ensure that those impacted within the Asian Pacific American community can finally enjoy stability and pursue a livelihood without fear of removal,” said Priya Purandare, Executive Director of NAPABA.

“Adoptees and their families across the country are living in fear, shock, and with a sense of betrayal – often learning they are not citizens when they are well into adulthood and after lifetimes as Americans. More and more adoptees are reaching out when they are approaching or in their senior years. Their stories underscore the urgent need for immediate legislative repair. The introduction of this bill shows that our country’s leaders recognize this profound injustice and are committed to adoptees and American families,” said Rachel Koelzer, Co-Founder of Adoptees For Justice.

“We’re thrilled at the introduction of this bill that will give aging adoptees the rights and protections that are rightfully theirs. Reintroducing this bill is an important step toward ensuring that no one is denied their rights or opportunities because of how they came to be a part of their families. This is the tenth year the bill has been introduced – let’s get it passed this session!” said Amanda Cho, Policy Manager with the Alliance for Adoptee Citizenship.

“To be adopted into a family is to be chosen, loved, and embraced as one of their own. Adoption is a bond that transcends borders, making you not just a citizen of a country, but a citizen of a family, forever. Somehow, we as adoptees have been forgotten. We were lost in the shuffle and are being held accountable for the responsibilities of adults that were ignorant of the process. Our adoptive parents were under the impression that we were citizens through the adoption process. Many of us were born in the 60s and grew up living as citizens because we were told we were. Why would we believe any different when we grew up being told we were citizens? We were given our social security numbers and our driver’s licenses with no questions asked. Why didn’t the government inform us then? If they did, we would have been able to right the wrong. Now years later, we are in limbo, many of us deported. How is this fair or humane? How is it fair to send someone to a country where they know no one, they don’t know the language, and have no means to make a living? This bill needs to be law for those innocent adoptees who are victims of a faulty system,” said H, an adoptee without citizenship.

The full text of the legislation is available here.

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