Trump News for Wednesday, September 3, 2025

Trump administration illegally froze billions in Harvard funds, judge rules

Sequoia Carrillo, NPR

The ruling is a legal victory for Harvard but the White House says it will appeal the decision.

Oracle’s layoff train rolls on: 101 in WA, 250+ in CA - with more cuts looming

Thomas Claburn, Theregister.com

Big Red bloodbath not yet acknowledged by the company Oracle on Tuesday laid off more than 100 workers in Washington State and more than 250 in California, though we're told that the database giant may be firing thousands around the world.…

How this Afghan family ended up held by ICE in bureaucratic limbo

BBC News

Three migrants - a man who worked for the US in Afghanistan and his son and daughter - hope to be reunited with family in Canada.

It's 4,000 miles from Ukraine - but even this Asian city is part of Russia's war

BBC News

In Vladivostok, a city on China's and North Korea's border, Russia's war on Ukraine looms large.

US judge rules Trump unlawfully cut Harvard University research grants

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

The decision is a victory for the Ivy League university, which has been locked in a months-long feud with Trump.

Trump extends his reach into Congress in ways large and small

LISA MASCARO, Yahoo Entertainment

“Attendance will be tracked by Team Trump — see you there!” read the flyer obtained by The Associated Press. On Wednesday morning, staffers lined up to...

Kristi Noem Lies, Says National Guard Deployments To ‘Blue’ Cities Aren’t Politically Motivated

Tim Cushing, Techdirt

Kristi Noem made an appearance on “Face the Nation” last week, squaring off against Ed O’Keefe of CBS News. CBS, of course, has already engaged in plenty of capitulation. And O’Keefe’s interview — while containing some probing questions — didn’t contain much …

‘Will happen again’: Rubio hints at more US strikes against drug smugglers

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

US threats of expanding military attacks across Latin America has alarmed some regional leaders, including in Mexico.

Venezuela Claims Trump’s Video of Strike Against Suspected Drug Smugglers Is AI

Matt Novak, Gizmodo.com

Trump said just yesterday that anything bad should be blamed on AI.

Epstein survivors call on Trump, Congress to release records

Peter Charalambous, James Hill, ABC News

In an interview with ABC News' Linsey Davis, seven women who say they were sexually exploited by Jeffrey Epstein pleaded for the release of the remaining Epstein files.

Newsmax Sues Fox News for Having a ‘Monopoly’ on Right-Wing News

Lucas Ropek, Gizmodo.com

A brawl has erupted in the rightwing media ecosystem.

India cuts consumption taxes to boost demand after Trump’s tariff blow

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

Analysts say the cuts in consumer taxes is aimed at boosting demand in the wake of 50% tariffs on Indian goods.

Sydney Sweeney's American Eagle Campaign Drives Record Sales

TMZ Staff, TMZ

American Eagle just proved sex sells -- even when it stirs up drama. The company announced Wednesday its campaign with "Euphoria" star Sydney Sweeney has been its best advertising effort to date, helping the brand smash Wall Street expectations for…

The US strike on a Venezuelan drug boat, briefly explained

Cameron Peters, Vox

This story appeared in The Logoff, a daily newsletter that helps you stay informed about the Trump administration without letting political news take over your life. Subscribe here. Welcome to The Logoff: The Trump administration is promising to “wage combat”…

Influencers, podcasters among jobs covered by 'no tax on tips' plan...

Fatima Hussein | The Associated Press, NBC Staff, NBC New York

Influencers, podcasters among jobs covered by 'no tax on tips' plan... (Third column, 13th story, link) Related stories:How Trump lost the podcast bros...

Far-right activists 'looted' corporate assets to buy castle, NY AG says in lawsuit...

Kara Scannell, CNN

The New York attorney general’s office filed civil charges against far-right anti-immigration activist Peter Brimelow and his wife for allegedly misusing more than $2 million in assets, including a West Virginia castle, from a charitable foundation they run.

Man shot while riding in car on Interstate 10 near Bonnabel exit

Corbin Ross, WGNO New Orleans

METAIRIE, La. (WGNO) — A man was shot while riding in a car on Interstate 10 near the Bonnabel Exit in Metairie, according to the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s ...

Judge blocks Trump's $2.2 billion Harvard funding freeze

Peter Charalambous, Arthur Jones II, ABC News

A federal judge has stopped the Trump administration's attempt to axe $2.2 billion in research funding for Harvard University.

Trump v. YouTube settlement talks quietly drag on, and a judge demands a public update

Laura Italiano, Business Insider

Trump's 2021 "censorship" suit against YouTube and Sundar Pichai has been in private settlement talks for months. The judge wants an update.

Trump calls Epstein files 'irrelevant' as push for release gains steam

Lauren Peller, Jay O'Brien, John Parkinson, ABC News

Speaker Mike Johnson and the White House are opposing a bipartisan push to compel the DOJ to release all the files related to Jeffrey Epstein.

Trump says China should have mentioned US during 'beautiful ceremony'

Jeff Mason and Trevor Hunnicutt, Yahoo Entertainment

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that China's "beautiful ceremony" marking the end of World War Two should have highlighted the...

People Are Totally Shocked By What This Fox News Doctor Said About The Way Trump Speaks

Yahoo Entertainment

U.S. agencies offered $6B in Microsoft cloud savings — discounts span Office, Azure, and AI tools

Adam Hales, Windows Central

Microsoft has struck a $6B cloud savings deal with the U.S. government, cutting costs on Office, Azure, Dynamics, and cybersecurity tools, while offering a free year of Copilot AI to federal workers.

Trump hosts Poland’s Nawrocki, offers more US troops to European ally

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

Trump assures 'we're with Poland all the way' as he signals deeper security cooperation with Eastern European nation.

The Best Late-Night Jokes About Those Trump Death Rumors

Opheli Garcia Lawler, Cracked.com

Late night returned from vacation and had plenty of news to catch up

Epstein accusers say they are compiling list of his associates

BBC News

Victims of the disgraced financier give emotional accounts of abuse in a news conference on the steps of the US Capitol.

Top Democrat Says MAGA Influencer Laura LoomerΩ Derailed Classified Meeting

Lucas Ropek, Gizmodo.com

The rightwing influencer continues to brag about her influence over the White House.

JFK grandson Jack Schlossberg eyes bid for Congress...

Josh Marcus, The-independent.com

JFK grandson Jack Schlossberg eyes bid for Congress... (Second column, 9th story, link) Related stories:CHELSEA'S MOMENT... Speculation swirls Clinton could enter politics...

OOPS: Argentine officials forced to fly home from US after Noem failed to say visa ceremony canceled...

Ariana Baio, The-independent.com

OOPS: Argentine officials forced to fly home from US after Noem failed to say visa ceremony canceled... (First column, 5th story, link)

‘Not a single shred of evidence’: Bolsonaro pushes for acquittal in Brazil

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

Defence lawyers for the ex-president make their final arguments in the closing days of his coup trial in Brazil.

Florida top doctor pushes end to vaccine mandates, likens them to ‘slavery’

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

Critics warn Florida's plan to scrap vaccine mandates risks public health, calling it a 'disaster in the making'.

Putin open to meet Zelenskyy in Moscow, Kyiv says ‘unacceptable’

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

Putin says if such a meeting is worthwhile, adding that Moscow will achieve its goals military if no deal reached.

Israel intensifies Gaza City attacks as UN warns of 'horrific' consequences for displaced families

BBC News

Strikes reportedly kill 31 people in the city, home to a million people and where a famine was declared last month.

Trump administration agrees to restore health websites and data

MIKE STOBBE, Yahoo Entertainment

Federal officials have agreed to restore health- and science-related webpages and data under to a lawsuit settlement with doctors groups and other...

Trump’s New History Exhibit Features Fake Quotes From AI-Generated Founding Fathers

Matt Novak, Gizmodo.com

John Adams never actually said "Facts do not care about your feelings."

WATCH: Bipartisan representatives hold news conference with Epstein survivors

ABC News

A bipartisan group of House representatives spoke before introducing Jeffrey Epstein survivors on Capitol Hill on Wednesday as part of a push to have all files related to the accused sex trafficker released.

President Trump floats deploying National Guard troops to New Orleans

Franco Ordoñez, NPR

President Trump said the White House is considering whether to deploy National Guard troops to Chicago or a place with a governor who would welcome them, like New Orleans.

In a brawl over right-wing TV, Newsmax sues Fox News

David Folkenflik, NPR

Right-wing TV news outlet Newsmax sued Fox News on antitrust grounds, alleging the conservative media powerhouse had illegally sought to suppress its smaller rival's growth in cable news.

$7,500 EV Tax Credit Will Vanish in Weeks, but a New IRS Rule Eases the Deadline

Jon Reed, CNET

You can also get up to $4,000 back on a used electric car or truck if you act before Sept. 30.

Trump’s Decision to Relocate Space Command Is a Giant Waste of Time and Money

Passant Rabie, Gizmodo.com

The president cited Colorado's mail-in voting as a factor behind his decision.

Fifth Circuit Reverses Lower Court, Shuts Down Texas University’s Illegal Drag Show Ban

Tim Cushing, Techdirt

In September 2023, Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk decided it was constitutional for a Texas university (West Texas A&M) to shut down a “PG-13” drag show. This was a decision he arrived at despite this being said (on the public record!) by the university official ins…

FAQ: Why were 76 Guatemalan children pulled off deportation flights in the middle of the night?

Tovia Smith, NPR

A federal judge's emergency order stopped planes carrying Guatemalan migrant children. Attorneys said the rushed deportation effort violated the minors' due process rights.

Hybrid work is still going strong — unless you're a federal worker

Bryan Metzger, Business Insider

Federal workers have seen a massive shift from hybrid to fully in-person work since 2024. But broadly, hybrid work remains the most common model.

‘Men of War’ Trailer: Doc About a U.S. Merc Trying to Overthrow the Venezuelan Government Captures the Craziness of Our Times

Christian Blauvelt, IndieWire

A shaggy-dog story in documentary form, the film by Jen Gatien and Billy Corben is available on demand later this month.

US appeals court blocks Trump use of Alien Enemies Act in deportation drive

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

The Fifth Circuit Court is highest court so far to rule against Trump's use of the law to deport Venezuelan migrants.

It's time to call it: The Big Tech backlash is formally over.

Peter Kafka, Business Insider

The ruling in the Google antitrust case means it's time to formally acknowledge that the US's push to regulate or break up Big Tech is basically over.

Goodbye FEMA, Hello Disaster Consultants

Zoë Schlanger, The Atlantic

Pushing more responsibility for disaster response onto the states will mean depending more on private contractors.

The Censorship Crybabies Are Now The Censors: FDA’s Vinay Prasad Uses Copyright Claims To Silence Critic

Mike Masnick, Techdirt

It’s always fascinating to watch supposed “free speech warriors” reveal their true colors the moment they get a tiny bit of power. We’ve been covering the ongoing saga of various COVID contrarians who spent years falsely claiming they were “censored” by the B…

EU court's dismissal of US data transfer challenge raises privacy advocates' ire

Brandon Vigliarolo, Theregister.com

Now you've gone and done it: Privacy lawyer says he's working on challenge to 2023 Data Protection Framework The European Union General Court (EGC) has rejected a challenge to the US-EU Data Privacy Framework (DPF) allowing data to continue flowing across the…

PUTIN LAUNCHES BIGGEST BLITZ OF WAR

Michael D. Carroll, Matt Clemenson, Will Stewart, The-express.com

Vladimir Putin has launched one of the most devastating assaults on Ukraine since the conflict began, with NATO forced to scramble warplanes

MASKS BACK ON...

Rong-Gong Lin II, Yahoo Entertainment

MASKS BACK ON... (Top headline, 1st story, link) Related stories:COVID WAVE HITS CALIFORNIA... Drudge Report Feed needs your support!   Become a Patron

Putin vows not to back down in Ukraine

Victoria LUKOVENKO with Vladimir KURASHOV in Beijing, Yahoo Entertainment

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday vowed to carry on fighting in Ukraine if a peace deal cannot be reached, striking a defiant tone a day before...

The right debates just how weird their authoritarianism should be

Zack Beauchamp, Vox

What happens when you put four of the Trump right’s leading intellectuals together in a room? You see what it looks like when a political movement gets high on its own supply. The conversation in question is a recently published two-hour video roundtable host…

Democrats push Homeland Security Department on DACA recipients

Ximena Bustillo, NPR

After the agency called on DACA recipients to self-deport, Democrats are asking for answers on how mass deportations are affecting the group of immigrants also known as 'DREAMers.'

How did US strike on Venezuelan boat come about? What it means

Alex Kozul-Wright, Al Jazeera English

Trump says, ‘We took it out,’ referring to a military strike in international waters amid Washington-Caracas tensions.

Team Trump Tries to Rebrand His Law Slashing Medicaid as a ‘Working Families Tax Plan’

Andrew Perez, Rolling Stone

Trump’s campaign team reportedly advised Republican lawmakers to describe the president’s “Big Beautiful Bill” as a “working families tax plan.”

Putin says he is ready to meet Zelenskiy if he comes to Moscow

Reuters, Yahoo Entertainment

MOSCOW (Reuters) -Russian President Vladimir Putin told Kyiv on Wednesday that there was a chance to end the war in Ukraine via negotiations "if common sense...

UN pushes nations to submit overdue climate plans

Science X, Phys.Org

The United Nations on Wednesday urged nations late in turning in their climate plans to do so quickly, with major polluters among dozens of countries still to unveil new commitments.

Rebel Republican, leading Epstein push, makes explosive claim about Trump

Rachel Cohen, nj.com

The Kentucky Republican filed a discharge position on Tuesday.

MrBeast isn’t stopping at snacks — he could take on T-Mobile and Verizon next

Aman Kumar, Android Authority

MrBeast is reportedly planning to enter the US telecom industry and use the MVNO strategy instead of building things from scratch.

Jeffrey Epstein survivors set to speak on Capitol Hill

Lauren Peller, ABC News

A group of Jeffrey Epstein survivors are set to speak at the Capitol on Wednesday as a bipartisan pair of lawmakers push to force a vote on releasing the files.

China parade shows Xi as global leader, with military to rival US

BBC News

President Xi shows off his power and influence in an open challenge to US supremacy and the world order.

How false rumours of Trump’s untimely ‘death’ spread on social media

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

Amid speculation and misinformation about his health, President Donald Trump is well and playing golf.

Leaked Gaza Plans Show Trump May ‘Relocate’ Palestinians to Build ‘AI-Powered Smart Cities’

Lucas Ropek, Gizmodo.com

One region in the plans is dubbed "The Elon Musk Smart Manufacturing Zone."

Judge Says Trump FCC Being ‘Vague And Uninformative’ In Response To DOGE-Related Lawsuit

Karl Bode, Techdirt

Back in April, the Trump FCC was sued by Nina Burleigh and Frequency Forward, alleging that Elon Musk’s influence in government was “creating unmanageable conflicts of interest within the FCC.” There’s not much debate there; Musk is getting slathered in new t…

Police Video Shows Epstein Lair’s Nude Photos and Mysterious Clues

Ewan Palmer, Daily Beast

A look inside Jeffrey Epstein’s Palm Beach home has been included as part of the release of tens of thousands of files related to the late pedophile. The...

MiB: Special Edition: Neal Katyal on Challenging Trump’s Global Tariffs

Barry Ritholtz, Ritholtz.com

     On this special edition of the show, I speak with Neal Katyal, Milbank LLP partner and former acting Solicitor General of the US. We sat down in the studio on Wednesday, August 27th, just two days before the D.C. Court of Appeals issued its decision in …

What’s behind Donald Trump’s plan to move US Space Command to Alabama?

Sarah Shamim, Al Jazeera English

Trump has announced he will move the agency's headquarters from Colorado to Alabama.

Zelenskyy on security guarantees shuttle as fighting rages in Ukraine war

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

UK's Starmer and France's Macron will co-host a virtual meeting for the 'coalition of the willing' on Thursday

Xi, Putin and Kim show united front at huge Chinese military parade

Thomas Mackintosh - BBC News, BBC News

Speaking during the spectacle in Beijing, China's President Xi Jinping said the world faced a choice between peace and war.

Laura Loomer Ripped by Senator After Forcing Classified Intelligence Meeting to Be Axed

Isabel van Brugen, Daily Beast

Far-right activist Laura Loomer has derailed a classified intelligence briefing that she should never have known was happening, a senior Democratic senator...

Central witness in Epstein case speaks publicly for 1st time

Peter Charalambous, James Hill, ABC News

Marina Lacerda, who provided key evidence that allowed prosecutors to charge Jeffrey Epstein with sex trafficking in 2019, is speaking out publicly for the first time.

Why Fed cuts won't save you

Yahoo Finance Video, Yahoo Entertainment

You can catch Trader Talk on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. Can the Fed’s small rate cuts rescue Main Street, or will...

The Los Angeles Schoolteacher Leading the Fight Against ICE

Jonah Valdez, The Intercept

As the Trump administration ramps up its anti-immigrant campaign, activists like Ron Gochez of Unión Del Barrio are showing how to resist. The post The Los Angeles Schoolteacher Leading the Fight Against ICE appeared first on The Intercept.

Trump says US strike targeted Venezuelan drug smuggling boat

Al Jazeera English

Donald Trump says a US strike has killed 11 ‘narcoterrorists’ from a Venezuelan gang smuggling drugs in the Caribbean.

With federal money in doubt, California's high-speed train seeks a new path forward

Joel Rose, NPR

The leaders of California's high-speed rail project say they've learned from past mistakes. But the troubled megaproject faces an uncertain future with $4 billion in federal funding tied up in court.

'Founders Museum' from White House and PragerU blurs history, AI-generated fiction

Kristian Monroe, NPR

Historians say it's good to highlight America's founders, but the project takes too narrow a view of history.

Dutch pension fund PFZW ends link with BlackRock over clash on sustainability

Reuters, Yahoo Entertainment

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) -Dutch pension fund PFZW has ended its relationship with wealth manager BlackRock in an overhaul of its investment portfolio aimed at...

How much do India, Russia, China trade and what goods do they buy?

Hanna Duggal, Marium Ali, Al Jazeera English

Trade among India, China and Russia is valued at $452bn in goods. Al Jazeera breaks down the numbers.

NATO scrambles jets as Russia launches more than 500 drones, missiles at Ukraine

David Brennan, ABC News

Russia launched more than 500 drones and missiles into Ukraine overnight into Wednesday morning, according to Ukraine's air force.

Stephen Colbert Reacts to Trump Death Rumors: ‘Are You Dead? Were You in Those Bags?’

Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone

"Okay, so the president doesn’t sleep and is on the phone all night, proof that he is completely healthy, or he runs a phone-sex line," the host joked

Putin, Kim meet in Beijing; Kremlin says Russia not plotting against US

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

The Russian president and the North Korean leader travel to the talks together in the same car after a formal reception.

Australia moves to speed up third country deportation of non-citizens

Kirsty Needham, Yahoo Entertainment

SYDNEY (Reuters) -Australia is expected to pass a law on Thursday making it easier to deport non-citizens to third countries, reviving criticism from human...

Israeli drones drop grenades near UN peacekeepers in Lebanon in what UNIFIL calls a serious attack

Associated Press, Yahoo Entertainment

Israeli drones dropped four grenades close to U.N. peacekeepers in southern Lebanon near the border with Israel as they were working to clear roadblocks, the...

Papua New Guinea's 'bold climate action' earns praise from Guterres

ROD McGUIRK, Yahoo Entertainment

Guterres’ visit comes ahead of the developing nation commemorating the 50th anniversary of its independence from near-neighbor Australia on Sept. 16. “The...

Why have leading experts declared Israel’s war on Gaza a genocide?

Al Jazeera Staff, Al Jazeera English

The world’s leading genocide scholars have declared that Israel’s war on Gaza meets the legal definition of genocide.

'Trump's out, Xi's in': BBC correspondents react to China's military parade

BBC News

The display of might comes as Beijing positions itself as a global counterweight to the United States.

Epstein Prison Video Blows Up Bondi’s ‘Missing Minute’ Explanation

Cameron Adams, Daily Beast

New footage released from Jeffrey Epstein’s jail unit has blown up Attorney General Pam Bondi’s explanation about why a minute was missing from a previously ...

Jimmy Kimmel Shuts Down MAGA Rumors: ‘I’m Not Moving to Italy’

Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone

"I would move into Mar-a-Lago if I could, just to drive [Donald Trump] insane," said the late-night host

Hundreds of US military lawyers to serve as temporary immigration judges

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

Head of the American Immigration Lawyers Association says plan similar to having 'a cardiologist do a hip replacement'.

Appeals court rejects Trump’s bid to deport Venezuelan immigrants he deems ‘alien enemies’

Kyle Cheney and Josh Gerstein, Politico

It’s the latest legal setback for Trump’s invocation of the rarely used 1798 wartime law.

New Polish president who was endorsed by Trump is making his first White House visit

AAMER MADHANI, Yahoo Entertainment

Poland's new president, Karol Nawrocki, is set to visit the White House on Wednesday, looking to strengthen his relationship with President Donald Trump and ...

Fed Governor Lisa Cook 'did not ever commit mortgage fraud,' attorneys say

Lloyd Lee,Katherine Li, Business Insider

Lawyers for Fed Governor Lisa Cook said the alleged contradictions in her mortgage records were already disclosed to the government.

Trump ‘not concerned’ about China and Russia forming axis against US

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

Trump says Beijing and Moscow would never use military force against US due to its superior military.

US House committee releases over 33,000 pages of Epstein-related records

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

Committee on Oversight and Government Reform publishes documents but two lawmakers push for 'full release' of files.

White House Releases Video of Strike Trump Says Killed 11 Venezuelan Gang Members

TMZ Staff, TMZ

President Trump says the U.S. military conducted a missile strike against alleged Tren de Aragua narco-terrorists ... and the attack is on video! The White House just released wild footage from the mission ... and you see a speed boat suddenly…

WATCH: Wedding crasher steals $60,000 in gifts to bride and groom

ABC News

Police are searching for a wedding crasher who stole about $60,000 in cash and checks intended for a Southern California bride and groom.

Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 1,287

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

Here are the key events on day 1,287 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.

Trump says 11 killed in strike on alleged drug-carrying boat from Venezuela

Al Jazeera Staff, Al Jazeera English

The US military attack comes as the US surges military presence in the Caribbean, risking an escalation with Venezuela.