Today’s Headlines: A CIA-trained Afghan asylum recipient shot two National Guard members in DC—one fatally—prompting Trump to announce (on his little app) a “pause” on all migration from “third world countries”. The administration is now freezing asylum and Afghan visas while somehow avoiding the question of why the National Guard is still posted in DC at all. Meanwhile, the Trump team is escalating its hunt for “sedition,” with the FBI now interviewing the six Democratic veterans who reminded troops not to follow illegal orders. And in the Department of Defense (War), Pete Hegseth allegedly ordered a second strike to kill survivors of a botched boat attack—something even a few Senate Republicans have decided is maybe a bridge too far. Trump also pardoned former Honduran president and convicted drug trafficker Juan Orlando Hernández, who immediately went home like it was checkout time at Club Fed. On the Ukraine front, Rubio, Kushner, and Steve Witkoff are still trying to spin their “peace plan,” which reporting suggests was always just a giant business deal in disguise. The drama deepened when Zelensky’s chief-of-staff Andriy Yermak resigned after a corruption raid and announced he’s headed to the front lines. In other news, the families of Americans killed or injured on Oct. 7 are suing Binance for allegedly helping fund Hamas and other militant groups—just weeks after Trump pardoned Binance’s founder. Over in Israel, Netanyahu is trying to get a presidential pardon mid-trial because sure, why the heck not. Additionally, hundreds of New Yorkers blocked what looked like an ICE raid with their bodies and literal piles of garbage bags, Senate Republicans are gearing up to fight basic car-safety rules, and RFK Jr. just ditched asbestos testing for talc cosmetics because…MAHA. Finally, GOP Rep. Troy Nehls is retiring, but don’t celebrate too hard—his identical twin is already lining up to take his spot.
Resources/Articles mentioned in this episode:
WSJ: National Guard Soldier Dies a Day After D.C. Shooting
AP News: US halts all asylum decisions after shooting of National Guard members
CNBC: FBI seeks to interview Sen. Mark Kelly, other Democrats Trump accused of seditious behavior
WaPo: Hegseth order on first Caribbean boat strike, officials say: Kill them all
The Hill: Senators vow oversight after report Hegseth told troops to ‘kill everybody’ in boat strike
AP News: Trump says he plans to pardon former Honduran President Hernandez for 2024 drug trafficking sentence
AP News: Rubio says US-Ukraine talks on Russia war were productive but much work remains in search of a deal
WSJ: Make Money Not War: Trump’s Real Plan for Peace in Ukraine
Kyiv Independent: Zelensky's ex-chief of staff Yermak says he's 'going to the front' after resigning amid corruption probe
NY Times: Hamas Victims’ Families Sue Binance, Accusing It of Aiding Terrorism
The Jerusalem Post: Netanyahu's pardon bid tied to pressure on Israel's courts
NYT: Several Arrested as Protesters Block ICE Agents From a Potential Raid in NYC
WSJ: Senate Committee to Challenge Auto-Safety Mandates That Hurt ‘Affordability’
The Guardian: FDA poised to kill proposal that would require asbestos testing for cosmetics
Axios: Trump ally Troy Nehls joins growing group of retiring House members
Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson
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