The Common Ills: 2025

Thursday, September 18, 2025

Thursday, September 18, 2025. Jimmy Kimmerl's cancelled by right wing freaks, yes, but also by idiots in the media who can't get their facts right and who make us all as stupid as they are with their poorly done jobs.

Let's start with Lawrence O'Donnell on MSNBC last night.

Lawrence is right. He usually is.

That said, while he can ignore the topic (and should), we can't ignore the topic even though I sat through two hearings yesterday planning to cover at least one at length in this snapshot. Now we probably won't.

But our scope demands we cover this and I can't wait until Sunday when Ava and I could cover it for THIRD. Too much damage has been done. In addition, it's our beat. We've always covered the media. And we especially need to call it when the left keeps promoting stupidity.

Idiots. I'm so sick of this country losing out because of idiots.

Jimmy Kimmel -- not calling him an idiot -- has lost his job. That's reality right now. There's a segment of Jen Psaki talking about that. I'm not seeing it on MSNBC's YOUTUBE page. Which is actually a good thing because no one ever needs to see that.

She doesn't do a good job.

Her guest is actually much, much worse.

He tells Jen that this could happen to her.

Are we talking about the FCC and Jen? Because -- as she understands (and as it actually is), the FCC has no control over this issue because Jen's on cable not over the airwaves. In the '00s on AIR AMERICA RADIO's THE LAURA FLANDERS SHOW had an FCC commissioner on one weekend night and our own Maria got a question to him. But he was too stupid to get it and I don't think Laura did either. Her question was about the FCC's control and the FCC commissioner and the idiot from the FCC ignored that. She was talking about what NYT had called the death of free TV in an editorial. And her question was, when over the airwaves TV dies what happens next? Does the FCC have any control over cable.

Preet Bharara is a f**king idiot and we can't afford his stupidity. We can't afford him. The country suffers enough without his idiotic mouth.

I found out the news about Kimmel via Jen's show. We're in DC to attend some hearings and we're speaking around this area to various groups. I grabbed a nine o'clock last minute invite because I could squeeze it in when I should have gone home since I'd have to get up at 4:30 in the morning. It lasted a little over two hours. When we were headed back to the hotel, I didn't return any calls, I didn't surf on my phone. I just yawned and tried to stay awake. (The nine o'clock group, y the way, was informed and wonderful and I'm not insulting them in any way.) I get back to the hotel, pose for some selfies and then get to my room and turn on the TV. Jen's show is just coming on and that was the first segment. That's when I learned that Jimmy was out of his job and when I learned that MSNBC needs to stop bringing on analysts who aren't qualified to speak on the topic.

Yes, Preet's an attorney. He has no expertise on the FCC. He's a f**king idiot who should be on the air tomorrow apologizing to viewers who might have made the mistake of trusting him.

Jen raised it but she's not the expert. She raised the topic of FOX NEWS letting Brian Kilmeade go on air and call for the homeless to be executed (Ava and I covered that in our piece at the start of the week) and get away with it Which he did. From Ava and my piece:

Four days later, today, he shows up to deliver this note of 'contrition:'

Now during that discussion, I wrongly said they should get lethal injections. I apologize for that extremely callous remark. I am obviously aware that not all mentally ill, homeless people act as the perpetrator did in North Carolina and that so many homeless people deserve our empathy and compassion.

Scapegoat an entire group of people -- you know, the way TD did his entire adult life -- and someone who points that reality out is fired but call for the homeless to be executed and offer a three sentence "apology"

Do you see us saying, "Contact the FCC!" No. We didn't and we honestly wouldn't because we're not right-wing nut jobs promoting cancel culture. It's funny when you grasp that they are always the one screaming for someone to be cancelled. But as usual, they lie and people go along with them. After 9/11, it wasn't left wingers, for example, calling for POLITICALLY INCORRECT to be cancelled. It was right-wingers. And they're the reason Bill Maher is on HBO now and not ABC.

Jen brings up the FOX & FRIENDS host and Preet rushes to sign off on it and to waste time and to not only demonstrate his own stupidity but to promote it to the masses.

We can't afford the stupid. Not now. Not ever.

The FCC has no control of FOX & FRIENDS. Why? Because it's not a broadcast TV show. It is not broadcast over the airwaves. It's a FOX "NEWS" -- cable channel -- program. FCC does not hand out a license to FOX NEWS.

The stupidity is appalling.

We're dropping back to May 2st of 2024 for that day's snapshot. Before we do, let me just bring you up to speed. Before nasty ass trash got on TIKTOK in the fall of 2024 attacking Black women for supporting Kamala Harris, this site covered the assault on Gaza. Daily. But when that trash told Black women to take Palestinians out of their mouths? We did as requested. And, no surprise, the country stopped caring. Because we were the best advocates for Gaza to America. Not you with your harsh views and pinched faces constantly bellowing. You divide yourself from the American public. And that's before you cost Kamala the election. So now you're on your own.

And too bad for you, FAIR doesn't do the work required. I do. I Matilda Joslyn Gage it. Because I learned in college that knowledge is power and stupidity is a prison.

Today's students face their own battles. In my day, the biggest one was liars as professors. They'd flat out lie to promote their prejudices. A foreign born sexist (mis)teaching one course I took hated women and felt the need to insult The WACS (Women's Army Corps). He stated, in class, that they were whores. That the only contribution they made to the US effort in WWII was to "hop in bed with horny GIs." He said that. And I'm aghast but everyone else in the room is nodding and taking notes. He co-wrote the text book for the class. No where in the text did that libel appear. I got the book the dean wrote which, being a true history book of that period, and it did not present lies about The Wacs. I documented everything in a six page typed evaluation and met with the dean to review it. Though the classes by the foreign born sexist had already been announced for the next semester, he didn't end up teaching them. He didn't teach another thing at that college. He administered the final and that was the only thing he ever did at my university after I met with the Dean with six page typed evaluation supported by my classroom notes.

You have to know what you're talking about. From the snapshot:

That's sound and basic journalism. Let's zoom in on a 'local' news report that was, in fact, aired nationally with a liar at each station pretending that they were the 'reporter' on the piece.

Who's a whore? So many but let's go to a big market, let's not pick on someone already struggling in a small one. So let's go to Los Angeles.

KTLA's Sandra Mitchell is a whore. I get it, I do. When you look like her in Chicago, viewers might just find you plain. But for Los Angeles TV? You're butt ugly. You're the one they take up an office donations for cosmetic surgery. So I get it, Sandra, you'll stoop to anything. But your decision to pass someone else's report from New York off as your own on local Los Angeles television?

Well, whore, that means you have to answer for it.

So she needs to answer for her report yesterday evening (which again she just narrated and pretended like she had done it herself) when you featured two people -- each billed solely as "Columbia student" -- praising the violent assault by the police. Onscreen they were just "Columbia student." And wasn't it, strange, Sandra, how "you" (reality: some reporter in New York) could only find two students to speak to and they weren't involved in the protest so they really weren't pat of the news. But the two you provide for context both hate the protesters and these two are just students, just two students with no dog in the battle.

No, they do have dogs in the battle. Take bow wow Jessica Schwalb who is actually a journalist and is actually a Palestinian hater who has been Tweeting hatred at the protesters for as long as it's been going on and this Laura Loomer fan girl goes back even further on her Tweets attacking the Palestinians and attacking their supporters -- no links to trash.

She's not the only nightmare. Playing a right-wing version of the Rupert Everett to her right-wing Julia Roberts, we get Jonas Du -- known as Jonas Doo-Doo to his friends? This "Columbia student" who is also the only other student interviewed by "Sandra" also happens to be a right-winger.

In fact, he and Jessica are working with the right-wing press as he noted before he and Jessica spoke to "Sandra" for "her" "report" -- he Tweeted:

It’s an honor to work with
@bariweiss
and
@TheFP
in collaboration with
@jessicaschwalb7
to cover the madness that has engulfed Columbia

Get it?

It took me less than two minutes -- while walking on the treadmill to warm up -- to find the information that "Sandra" should have found herself before putting a name to a report that she didn't do and couldn't have done.

But that is what happens thanks to media consolidation. Like far too many channels in this country, KTLA is owned by NEXSTAR MEDIA GROUP. They own 197 TV stations throughout the country.

Shame on Sandra and KTLA and every other of the 196 that the garbage 'report' got aired on. Sandra now resumes trying to pose her body seductively while doing hard hitting topics like dog safety. Does she think this is the pose of a journalist or a sexpot?

Normal women don't angle themselves in a chair like that -- nor, and this goes for her co-host as well -- do they were Joan Crawford f**k-me heels for a mid-day segment.

They won't tell the truth about the protesters because the truth hurts their side. The truth puts the blood on their hands. So they lie about the protesters and NEXSTAR viewers were under the impression that they were watching a locally produced segment (how did their local TV favorite get to New York and back!!!!) with fairness and no distortions. They didn't know that the students -- the only ones who got to speak on camera -- were both fright-wingers working with Bari The Transphobe Weiss. Don't worry, Zac and Gavin will find a way to brag about Bari's ethics in yet another edition of THE VANGUARD.

Media consolidation hurts us all. Might be something to remember as renewal licenses are sought.

NEXSTAR is brought up by Preet and Jen. And they just don't know a damn thing.

In fairness to them, we're the only ones who covered it. NEXSTAR could have lost every broadcast license they had for pretending -- LYING -- that a NYC report was done by a local reporter in Los Angeles, in every city that NEXSTAR owns a station.

FAIR has noted NEXSTAR five times in FAIR's history. First in August of 2017 "This Is a Company That Is Essentially Producing Trump TV" and last July 21, 2023 with "Covering 'Racist State'’ Backlash-- but Not the Reality That Israel Is a Racist State." That was it. But once student protests started on campus, NEXSTAR filed one lying 'report' after another. And FAIR didn't say a word and nobody did.

Your stupidity kills us.

Seriously, shut up.

You are killing our country. Just shut up. You don't know what you're talking about but it never matters to you.

NEXSTAR announced they would stop carrying Jimmy Kimmel.

In fact, FAIR's never covered it.

Now we have NEXSTAR killing Jimmy's show. And we can't even get reality there from MSNBC's supposed legal expert who knows nothing about the FCC or about stations or about anything to do with the topic.

MAUDE had an episode where Bea Arthur's Maude had an abortion in November 1972 -- some stations refused to air the two-part episode (Champaign and Peoria's CBS affiliates being two). Later in August of 1973, the two episodes were not re-run by 39 affiliates. And back then, summer TV was pretty much nothing but repeats -- the way CBS still programs -- and a few 'summer replacement shows. Norman Lear (who produced MAUDE) would have been the first to tell you that you can get away with that as long as it's just an episode or two. But when a large number of affiliates refuse to air the show, you cant get away with it.

NEXSTAR cancelled Kimmel. This was carried out by right-wing TV. And NEXSTAR is already the nation's largest owner of broadcast TV stations and has met the cap but it's now attempting to buy even more TV stations which will require the approval of the FCC.

Now there could be a miracle that saves Jimmy's show. I don't see it happening and no one I spoke to at ABC did either. NEXSTAR's actions have pushed us to where we are now.

I turned my ringer on while watching Jen last night and the calls poured in. I made a few myself. I talked to three suits at ABC. Jimmy's dead.

What could change it?

You could let ABC know how popular Jimmy is and they could try moving the show to DISNEY+ as an exclusive -- DISNEY+ and HULU are one in the same and they're phasing out HULU. They could keep it on the air at the same time if they wanted but with the understanding that half the country won't be able to see it via the broadcast airwaves. But they do need product for DISNEY+ and they don't really have a lot.

NEXSTAR viewers could express their anger to their NEXSTAR affiliates and that might -- I doubt it -- make NEXSTAR drop the boycott.

Again, this is a political decision made by a conservative group who right now wants to buy up even more TV stations and needs FCC approval to do so.

Are you getting why that idiot

A conservative organization controlling the most broadcast stations in the US, lying on air (and there were more lies than just that) and reaching more Americans than watch FOX "NEWS" and FAIR didn't bark. Nor did THE NATION.

It's not a surprise -- though Jen's show tried to pretend it was -- that NEXSTAR was the deciding factor. Preet doesn't know a damn thing. If you asked him about why TURN-ON aired only one episode in 1969, he'd say, "What?" He's an idiot.

He was presented as an expert and he knew nothing about the topic.

This stupidity harms us all.

Stop bringing on people presented as experts who don't know a damn thing. And stop ignoring NEXSTAR and other conservative outlets working to undermine our democracy. Maybe you won't get as many clicks as when you call out Laura Ingraham but NEXSTAR has more viewers each day than Laura will ever have at night on FOX "NEWS."

Your stupidity -- those of you on the left who have ignored NEXSTAR -- hurt us there.

Your stupidity also accounts for the power of The Demagogue. MSNBC, you went all in, flooded the one, day after day starting September 11th. And your first days -- plural -- coverage was appalling. Your appalling non-stop and fact-free coverage turned him into a folk hero.

Your Whiteness threatens us all.

Fortunately, those of us who are Black, are not playing your game of pretend.

As Ava and I noted at THIRD:

TD was not well known before his death.

Most Americans had no idea who he was. Sorry to break it to the political types -- whether you provide commentary, serve in Congress or work on campaigns, most Americans don't know who you are and don't care. The last true political celebrities emerged in 1992 and their names are Mary Matalin and James Carville. Their couple hood inspired a film (SPEECHLESS with Geena Davis and Michael Keaton). She worked on George HW Bush's campaign while he worked on Bill Clinton's campaign and they fell in love and married (and are still married today). It gave a human interest quality and it made them famous. No one knows who David Axelrod is married to -- not even the limited number of Americans who know the name David Axelrod is.

But damned if the panty-pissing, flood the zone that MSNBC led on and others followed didn't canonize TD. Especially when they wouldn't allow reality to be presented. Only hagiography. And as hour after hour was wasted on TD, the message became: Here is someone wonderful.

Why else would you be talking about them constantly? Especially when you weren't broadcasting the truth about them.

Chump saw the reaction, Chump saw it and used it. He and others calling for leftists to be arrested for remarks. The left's being demonized and it's a direct result of the coverage supposedly left MSNBC provided. There were real issues if you were going to cover the death of TD but MSNBC made clear with the firing of Matthew Dodd that real issues would not be allowed on air.

Your stupidity brought us to this point. You display weakness in front of Chump, he will bite your neck until you bleed out. And to not know that, to not grasp that you have to stand up to the bully, at this late date is stupidity and, MSNBC and the rest of you, your stupidity is hurting us yet again.

Let's bring in Ben and MEIDASTOUCH NEWS from this morning.

If you saw that awful segment on MSNBC that Jen and Preet Bharara I hope you noticed what Ben did above -- something not done in the MSNBC segment.

The Maga Gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered [The Demagogue] as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it.

No, Jen, he didn't blame the murder on MAGA.

Who the hell was in charge of that MSNBC segment?

It mischaracterized what Jimmy said. The idiot expert didn't know how the FCC worked (Jen is not going to by the FCC, they have no control over cable nor is FOX & FRIENDS a broadcast show), the idiot knew nothing bout NEXSTAR -- not how many stations they owned, not that they're conservative, not that they're now trying to buy more stations and will need FCC approval since they've already met the limit, nothing.

It was garbage and it was stupidity and we're all a lot worse for it.

The Demagogue was a hate merchant.

Should he have been murdered? Hell no. We don't support murder and that's why we have laws against it.

But he was not a saint. He was a hate merchant. Repeating, his death did not change how he lived his life and the hatred he spewed. But MSNBC and others DISNEY-fied him and said to the country -- again, most of whom never heard of him -- this is a folk hero and it's why we're going wall-to-wall with coverage.

Stupid. You gave Chump just what he wanted with your wall to wall -- and ignored a school shooting on the very same day as the murder to do that crap coverage.

That coverage was offensive to those of us who are Black. And the Whiteness of media players has still not led to any public reflection. As Rebecca noted last night, Ezra Klein has not apologized or acknowledged he did anything wrong, he's just doubled down:

people were bothered by ezzie klein's nonsense because it only factored in white people.

for ezzie, it was all just words. as a white man, he never knows how racism actually works. it doesn't impact him.

maybe next time, white ezzie, before you give some 1 a pass for words you 'disagree' with, take a moment, you stupid idiotic fool, to grasp that what's just words for you often morphs into targeted discrimination aimed at black people and targeted violence aimed at black people.

you don't know a damn thing you're talking about and you'd be better to shut up.

for a rejection of klein's stupidity, read k atherine kelaidis' piece at 'salon.'

We can't afford the stupidity. Did you read Kat's "Racist Amber Greene only harms her image further each time she speaks"? Please read it if you haven't but let's note it in a nutshell: At a workplace, a White woman states that something was N-word rigged. A Black employee objects to that term and the supervisor both-sides it -- like Ezra Klein -- and says 'let's call it Obama rigged.' And thinks she's funny. She's not. She failed to stop racism in the workplace, she not only failed to stop she encouraged it and spread it. And she was fired. She's now claiming it's not fair because they really only listened to one person No, they listened to the person who objected to Greene's unprofessional and racists response -- something that violated their written work code.

But this is MAGA. They think they can say and do whatever and then lie bout what they said or insist it was a joke so no harm.

And White racists like Green and Klein think because they're White that any debate on an issue begins and ends with them.

The world doesn't work that way.

Jimmy said:

The Maga Gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered [The Demagogue] as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it.

There's nothing wrong with that statement. It doesn't even acknowledge the hate that The Demagogue regularly spewed. Hate that leaves our children -- Black people's children -- open to violence, hate that fosters violence. Jimmy's statement doesn't even shine a light on that truth.

All it does is rightly note that MAGA has spent days trying to pin the shooting on other groups -- which they have -- and using it as a political football -- again, which they have.

And MSNBC couldn't get that right? Jen and Preet had to mischaracterize what was said. Couldn't quote it but couldn't even sum it up right. There was no factual error, Jen.

The stupidity is killing us.

Some of you really need to shut up.

Your actions last week are the reason Jimmy Kimmel's in trouble today. Know the facts and tell them accurately or STFU.

We don't need you both-sidings racism. It's sad that in 2025, I have to point out that is not needed, have to point out that both-siding racism is justifying racism and distorting reality.

We don't have a lot of room left I'm told by the friend I'm dictating this to. So we're not covering the House hearing yesterday. We're instead moving over to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell -- two criminals that Ka$h Patel wants to protect -- and Epstein's dead. They're pedophiles who both -- BOTH -- had sexual relations with underage girls. They sex trafficked those girls. The survivors are demanding justice.

Guess what?

They shouldn't have to.

Murder is a crime. The demagogue's family and supporters shouldn't have to demand legal justice for the murder. Sex trafficking is a crime. The survivors shouldn't have to demand justice.

But that's what's happening.

Aaron Blake (CNN) reports:

Tuesday’s Senate hearing featuring FBI Director Kash Patel didn’t shed a ton of light on the substance of the Jeffrey Epstein files. But it was hugely significant in another way: It signaled a new political effort by the Trump administration to ascribe blame.

And the target is none other than a former top Trump administration official – one whom Trump very notably once defended.

Testifying to the Senate Judiciary Committee, Patel seemed to make a point to fault Alexander Acosta, who was US attorney in Florida in the late 2000s and cut a nonprosecution agreement with Epstein. That deal came during the George W. Bush administration, years before Trump in his first term picked Acosta as labor secretary.

Patel twice brought Acosta up unprompted, including in his opening statement, during Tuesday’s hearing.

“I’m here to testify that the original sin in the Epstein case was the way it was initially brought by Mr. Acosta back in 2006,” Patel said at the start of the hearing.

It's good that they've found their fall guy. They appear to need one now more than ever. Yesterday, the House Oversight Committee released some portions of the closed-door testimony former US Attorney General William Barr gave the Committee back in August. Gabe Whisnant (NEWSWEEK) reports:

Former Attorney General William Barr told a House committee he spoke twice with Donald Trump about Jeffrey Epstein during Trump's first term, including after the financier died by suicide in a New York jail cell.

Barr said in a deposition released Tuesday by the House Oversight Committee that he called Trump immediately after learning of Epstein's death. "You better brace for this," Barr recalled telling him.

Trump, Barr said, reacted with the same shock he felt: "How the hell did that happen, he's in federal custody?"

So, uhm, it wasn't over? Their friendship -- Chump and Epstein's -- was over long before then, remember? That's what Chump insists. Epstein "stole" and employee from Chump eleven years ago and the friendship was over. And, as we've all seen in the previous Chump administration, when Chump's cut you loose, you're gone for good. Though many words have been attached to Chump, sentimentality has never been one.

Keep that in mind and read it again. Epstein's dead. And Barr has to rush to Chump -- "better brace for this." And Barr delivered the news and Chump was shocked.

Can you picture what Barr's describing? To me, it speaks of a much tighter relationship than Chump has ever indicated. Certainly much tighter than 'it was over in 2004 or 2005 and he was dead to me.'

Here's the section in the official transcript that the Committee released this week:

4Q So could you tell us about those two conversations?

5 A One was when I heard about the suicide, I called him up and said, "You better brace for

6 this," and I told him words to that effect, and I told him about it and told him we were going to be

7 investigating it very vigorously.

8 And the second one, I can't say for sure whether it happened before his suicide,

9 during -- meaning around the time of his arrest or whether it happened after his suicide during the

10 continued developments there.

11 But the topic of Epstein came up in the conversation. Multiple people were there. And,

12 sort of, the news of -- it was commented on being the news of the day.

13 And the President said something to the effect that he had broken off with Epstein long ago

14 and that he had actually pushed him out of Mar-a-Lago.

15 Q Okay. And just to clarify, those were both conversations with President Trump?

16 A Both involved with President Trump, yeah. Those are the only two conversations I can

17 remember where Epstein came up with the President.

18 Q And when you say that you told President Trump who the news of the suicide would

19 affect, what did you mean by that?

20 A Who it would affect? Did I say that?

21 Q I'm sorry. Unless I'm misunderstanding your characterization.

22 A I didn't mean to say that.

23 Q Okay.

24 A I said that I told him that he committed suicide and that he suspected it was apparently

25 suicide. And he had the same reaction I did, which was, "How the hell did that happen, he's in

26 Federal custody?" And the last everyone knew, he was being carefully watched precisely for that

27 reason.

28 And I think I conveyed to him that it was appalling and that we were going to investigate it

29 vigorously and I -- and he had the same reaction I did, which is this is going to certainly generate a lot

30 of conspiracy theories.

31 These are not his exact words, but that's what I remember about the conversation being

32 effectively -- maybe words to the effect, yeah.

33Q Did President Trump say anything else in that conversation?

34A That's all I can recall.

And before we leave the topic of Epstein and Maxwell, let's go back to the August questioning of Bill Burr to note this exchange during US House Rep Jasmine Crockett's questioning:

8 Ms. Crockett. Okay. Just to be clear for the record.

9 And, really quickly, I'm going to jump in just before we have to wrap.

10 Because we are talking about the investigations, Maxwell was investigated during your

11 tenure, not necessarily taken to trial, while you were still at the DOJ. She is someone that was

12 involved in this SDNY situation.

13 You are aware that Maxwell was not born in this country, correct?

14 The Witness. Yes.

15 Ms. Crockett. Okay.

16 You are also aware that a jury of her peers found her guilty of five out of six counts that were

17 brought against her by SDNY, including child sex trafficking and conspiracy, correct?

18 The Witness. Yes.

19 Ms. Crockett. In addition to that, have you been made aware through public reports -- well,

20 let me clarify this. Child sex trafficking is not considered to be a low-level offense in the Federal

21 Government, correct?

22 The Witness. I'm not sure what "low-level" means, but it's a serious offense.

23 Ms. Crockett. It's definitely a felony, correct?

24 The Witness. Oh, yes.

25 Ms. Crockett. And a person can face up to life imprisonment for it, correct?

1 The Witness. I haven't looked at the statute, but it wouldn't surprise me.

2 Ms. Crockett. Okay.

3 And typically when someone is classified by the time that they enter into the Bureau of

4 Prisons, their classification is usually based upon a multitude of things, one of them being how

5 serious of an offense a person has been found guilty of, correct?

6 The Witness. That's one of the factors.

7 Ms. Crockett. Okay. In addition to their criminal history and other things. But, long story

8 short, they are looking at whether or not a person is potentially a danger to the community, correct?

9 The Witness. That's another factor.

10 Ms. Crockett. When you are reading your public things, I'm assuming you've heard that

11 there has been a transfer approved for Ms. Maxwell to a minimum-security prison camp. Are you

12 aware of that?

13 Mr. O'Callaghan. You're referring to press reports, Congresswoman?

14 Ms. Crockett. Yes, because that --

15 The Witness. I've seen --

16 Ms. Crockett. -- that would be the only way that --

17 The Witness. I've seen those press reports.

18 Ms. Crockett. During your tenure as Attorney General, during either time, I'm curious to

19 know, are you ever -- is it ever within your recollection that there was someone who had been

20 convicted, finally convicted -- well, I guess it's not final; she's still on appeal -- convicted of five counts

21 of child sexual trafficking and they somehow ended up transferred to a minimum-security prison

22 camp?

23 The Witness. I mean, off the top of my head, I can't remember a situation like that.

24 Ms. Crockett. In fact, you'd agree with me that, in order for someone to be transferred

25 under those type of circumstances, it would actually take a higher level of approval. That is not

1 something that just any old low-level BOP person would be able to do, correct?

2 The Witness. I wish that were correct. You never know.

3 Ms. Crockett. Because mistakes happen.

4 The Witness. Yeah. Sometimes you wake up and you find that something's happened, like

5 taking someone off suicide watch.

6 Ms. Crockett. But you'd would agree with me that the policy in general is not to put

7 someone who's been convicted of those types of crimes into a minimum-security camp?

8 The Witness. I think -- actually, I think the way the system works is, the political level usually

9 allows the Bureau of Prisons broad leeway in determining how people are handled under their

10 structure and using their criteria, and if they disagree, they might intervene.

11 Ms. Crockett. Understood.

12 The Witness. That's how I think the system generally operates.

13 Ms. Crockett. Understood.

14 To the best of your knowledge, whether it's during your tenure or during reports, she's never

15 been in that type of facility in the last 4 years of her incarceration until now, correct?

16 The Witness. I gather that's the case.

17 Ms. Crockett. Okay. Thanks.

So what do we say to that?

"Uhm . . . so . . . when's the last time you think you were with Mr. Epstein when he got a massage."

The former AG says that was not normal - Maxwell being moved to Camp Fed after meeting with Deputy AG Todd Blanche.

Laura Mitchell (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER) reminds what we learned last week:

President Donald Trump and Department of Justice officials have faced scrutiny after convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell was moved to a minimum-security federal prison following a multihour interview with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. The transfer has prompted criticism from lawmakers and victims’ advocates who argued it raises questions about whether Maxwell received a benefit tied to cooperation and has increased calls for the release of Epstein-related records. Maxwell was moved after nine hours of questioning by Department of Justice (DOJ) officials and the transfer is being examined for any link to her cooperation.

When speaking on CNN regarding the case, Maxwell attorney Arthur Aidala stated, "When anybody who’s represented by a lawyer who knows what they’re doing goes in and meets with the government, there’s always a quid pro quo."

Aidala added, "You don’t just take your client in and say, ‘Let me talk to you about something.’ They wanted information from—hypothetically, anytime the government wants information from a citizen, the citizen says, ‘Well, I have a right to remain silent. If you want me to give up that right, I need something in return.’"

Former Biden administration adviser Neera Tanden said, "You just admitted to a quid pro quo with the Trump administration," to which Aidala stated, "But that’s how the whole system works!"

We need answers. We The American People are owed answers. Our government works for us, not the other way around. If we worked for them, we'd have to vote. There'd be a law demanding that we vote. We don't work for them. They work for us and that -- nd free speech -- is why we can and do criticize our public officals.

And let's tie this all together. You can't both-sides it. You're a nut job if you think you can. We have free speech or we don't, our government is answerable to us or it isn't, you're doing your job or you're not. And if you're not, get the hell out of the way because the country can't afford you or your 'reporting' that's incomplete and incorrect but didn't it fill up a TV segment for you.

We're winding down with this from Senator Patty Murray's office:

ICYMI LAST NIGHT: Senator Murray Calls for Inspector General Investigation into RFK Jr.’s Ousting of Top CDC Officials and Restrictions on Vaccine Access

ICYMI: Senator Murray, WA Health Secretary, Doctors Speak Out Against RFK Jr. Blocking Vaccine Access and Wreaking Havoc at CDC, Lay Out State of Vaccine Access in WA

*** VIDEO of Senator Murray’s Q&A with witnesses HERE***

Washington, D.C. — Today, at a Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee hearing with former Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Susan Monarez and Dr. Deb Houry, former CDC Chief Medical Officer, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA)—a former chair and senior member of the HELP Committee—pressed the public health experts on whether parents can trust the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)’s vaccine recommendations after U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.’s purge of the entire panel of experts. Murray also questioned Dr. Houry on how she, as Chief Medical Officer, learned that CDC was no longer recommending the COVID-19 vaccine for most pregnant women and children—to which Dr. Houry revealed that she found out through a social media post. Dr. Houry also shared that no scientific evidence has been provided for this vaccine guidance change by the Secretary to date.

Last night, Senator Murray requested an independent, comprehensive review by the HHS Acting Inspector General of recent actions taken at HHS to limit access to vaccines, and recent personnel changes at the CDC.

[ANNOUNCEMENTS ON VACCINE GUIDANCE]

Senator Murray began by questioning Dr. Houry on the CDC’s recent guidance no longer recommending the COVID-19 vaccine for most children and pregnant women—and how she found out about the change: “In May, Secretary Kennedy announced in a video on social media that the COVID vaccine was no longer going to be recommended under CDC guidelines for most children and pregnant women. The fallout was actually immediate, I heard from a nurse in my state who was pregnant, she was trying to get the vaccine, she was turned away from several pharmacies and ended up calling my office and saying, ‘what am I going to do?’

“Dr. Houry, I want to ask you, how did you learn about CDC’s new COVID-19 vaccination guidance?”

“The same as you, on social media,” Dr. Houry replied.

“What was your title at CDC when this happened?” Murray asked.

“I was the Chief Medical Officer of the agency,” Dr. Houry answered.

“It’s unthinkable to me that the Chief Medical Officer at CDC was left in the dark about such a consequential public health decision that affected real people,” Murray said. “Dr. Houry, how was this change in guidance supported by the scientific evidence?”

“We have not seen the data yet. In fact, after the tweet came out, we asked for a written memo from HHS, because I couldn’t provide guidance off of a tweet. The written memo didn’t say the same as the video. There was a difference between healthy versus all,” Dr. Houry replied.

“You can’t provide guidance off of a tweet,” Murray replied.

Dr. Houry replied, “I didn’t think that was prudent. And then we did ask for the data to back it up, and we have not received the data to date.”

Murray continued with her questioning: “To date, no evidence. Okay, well, the Secretary has made clear he wants to change the childhood vaccine schedule for measles and chickenpox and for Hepatitis B, as well as changes to COVID vaccine recommendations. And as we all know, the ACIP will meet starting tomorrow to consider these recommendations.

“Dr. Monarez and Dr. Houry, I want to ask you both, are you aware of any scientific evidence to support changing the age of which children should receive these vaccines that’s being considered by this advisory committee?” asked Murray.

“I am not. I was certainly open if there were scientific data sets or evidence associated with anything that would help keep our children safe, I was open to seeing it. I have not seen that data,” Dr. Monarez replied.

“We’ve asked for the data and asked for the modeling to support any decision that is done,” Dr. Houry responded.

“Are either of you aware of any scientific evidence to support changing eligibility for COVID vaccinations?” asked Murray.

“I have not seen any evidence, no,” Dr. Monarez responded.

“I think what’s pretty alarming here is that if there was such data [that] existed, the CDC Director and Chief Medical Officer would absolutely be aware of it. And apparently, there is none,” Murray replied.

[ACIP RECOMMENDATIONS]

Senator Murray continued her questioning by asking Dr. Monarez and Dr. Houry about CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and the meetings that have taken place this year, both before and after RFK Jr. fired the slate of 17 experts who previously sat on the board and replaced this with vaccine skeptics: “I want to continue asking about the ACIP, Dr. Monarez, you mentioned that Secretary Kennedy asked you to pre-approve the September ACIP vaccinations a month before the committee was scheduled to meet—without knowing what they were, or what evidence that was based on, correct?

“Correct,” responded Dr. Monarez.

“I find that troubling—and ironic, given what Secretary Kennedy said in June when he fired all 17 members of the ACIP without cause and called them, quote: ‘little more than a rubber stamp.’ That’s exactly what he wanted you to be—for his new board of unqualified vaccine skeptics. The former members of the ACIP actually met in April.

“Dr. Monarez and Dr. Houry, would you feel confident telling parents they could trust the recommendations of the Advisory Committee that were made back in April?” asked Senator Murray.

“The individuals who were participating in April had the commensurate skill sets and background to be able to evaluate the decisions before them,” Dr. Monarez replied. “The processes were regular in terms of using the evidence to recommend. There was working groups that substantiated this, the information, there was robust liberation during the ACIP meeting I would, I would say that it comported to the standards where the Americans could trust them.”

“Agreed, the data was presented, and the committee was filled with experts with experience,” Dr. Houry added.

Murray continued: “The newly chosen ACIP members met in June and will meet again starting tomorrow. Would either of you feel confident telling parents they can trust the ACIP recommendations that come out of this week’s meeting?”

“I’d feel very nervous about it,” Dr. Monarez responded. “I don’t know. They haven’t met yet. I know that the medical community has raised concerns about whether or not, again, they have the commensurate backgrounds to be able to understand the data and the evidence and to evaluate it appropriately. I have to pre-judge. I don’t know what will happen, but I certainly will be watching.”

“I have significant concerns,” Dr. Houry replied. “The public hasn’t been able to weigh in. The general vote should have been posted two weeks ago, so the public knew what was being discussed other than high-level things. There haven’t been work groups other than for COVID, and there haven’t been, as of yesterday, the data hadn’t been posted yet, so it’s unclear to me what decisions are being made.”

Senator Murray, a longtime congressional leader on health care who has led hearings on addressing vaccine hesitancy, has been a leader in raising the alarm over RFK Jr.’s nomination and handling of HHS since the beginning—speaking out on the Senate floor, holding numerous events, raising the alarm after meeting with him, and hammering the threat he poses to Americans’ health nonstop. She led the opposition to the Trump administration’s disastrous plan to dismantle HHS and fire tens of thousands of staff in critical positions across CDC, NIH, FDA, and other agencies, and spoke out forcefully against RFK Jr.’s ousting of the entire CDC vaccine advisory board, including one ACIP member from Washington state. Senator Murray has held countless events across Washington state and in Washington, D.C. with doctors, patients, and former HHS officials to lift up how Trump and Republicans’ attacks on health care will be devastating for families. Senator Murray recently took to the Senate floor to reiterate her call for RFK Jr. to be fired immediately; she also praised the launch of the West Coast Health Alliance to provide evidence-based public health guidance for Washington, Oregon, California, and Hawaii. Last week, Senator Murray called for RFK Jr. to testify publicly before the HELP Committee and for Director Monarez to be given the opportunity to testify publicly alongside other former senior CDC officials. Last Friday, Murray held a virtual press conference with Washington state health leaders on RFK Jr.’s increasingly dangerous attacks on vaccines and America’s public health infrastructure.

###

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The Snapshot

Wednesday, September 17, 2025. Ka$h Patel disgraces himself before a Senate committee as he whine he's doing the best he can ("But I was doing the best I could!"), Donald Chump is greeted loudly -- if not warmly -- in the UK, Senator Patty Murray is calling for the HHS Acting Inspector General to review Junior Kennedy's dangerous actions at HHS, Chump continues to wreck the economy, and much more.

That's Ben with MEIDASTOUCH NEWS setting up this morning for you.

Yesterday the Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing with the goal of fulfilling their duty to provide oversight on the FBI. Looking hung over and possibly strung out, tiny Ka$h Patel toddled into the hearing in a suit that seemed to swallow his tiny body and plopped down on the chair that left him sitting lower than anyone else in the room. What? No one thought to bring a booster chair for Little Ka$h? There's no way he's five feet and eight inches by the way. The diminutive FBI Director alternated in the hearing between looking bored as he pondered when recess started and being agitated as though he forgot to go pee-pee before he showed up to testify.

Senator Chuck Grassley is the Committee chair, Senator Dick Durbin is the ranking member. It was a loud and combative hearing and when Ka$h finally left the Dirksen Senate Office Building later that morning, there was no juice box in the world big enough to drown his sorrows.

A number of senators noted last week's murder in Utah and how Ka$h seemed lost throughout. Senator Dick Durbin specifically noted, "Director Patel again sparked mass confusion by incorrectly claiming on social media that the shooter was in custody, which He then had to walk back with another social media post. Mr. Patel was so anxious to take credit for funding Mr. Kirk's assassin that he violated one of the basics of effective law enforcement at critical stages of investigation: shut up and let the professionals do their job." At moments like these, Ka$h seemed to turtle and sink lower in his chair and deeper into his too large suit jacket.

But he could neither disappear nor disappear the fact that (a) he got it wrong, (b) the killer was on social media talking about plans ahead of the shooting, (c) the FBI did not capture the killer, the killer walked in and turned himself in.

Senator Peter Welch was among the Committee members raising this point.

Senator Peter Welch: Director Patel, at one point, you made an announcement that the suspect was in custody -- 'we got our man.' It turned out that was not true. In fact, I think that was about 27 hours before the person now in custody was apprehended. Why did you make that statement?

Ka$h Patel: I appreciate you letting me address this. What the FBI does is not just locate and find suspects. We also participate in eliminating subjects. And what we had at the time was a subject custody in relation to this investigation. So, in my commitment to work with the public to help identify subjects and suspects, I put that information out. And then when we interviewed him, I put out the results of that. And could I have been more careful in my verbiage and included a subject instead of subject? Sure, in the heat of the moment. But I was doing the best I could.

Senator Peter Welch: You know, in all candor, I don't quite get that. Because if we have our man, that would suggest to the public that everybody can rest and relax, and not then continue providing information to local law enforcement and to you. So, that was a mistake.

"But I was doing the best I could."

How sad.

There is no victory for Little Ka$h. Give him a participation trophy if you like -- for incompetence -- but don't pretend he did his job because he didn't and -- Republican or Democrat -- most weren't willing to play along in the hearing for the sake Ka$h's ego.

Let's note some of the exchange between Ka$h and Senator Cory Booker.

Senator Cory Booker: Mr. Patel, I want to start off where we left off last time. I asked you whether you had any knowledge or discussions about removing FBI officials and installing political personnel before you were confirmed to that position. And I wonder did you then understand or have conversations with the White House about the intentions to do so?

Ka$h Patel: Before I was confirmed?

Senator Cory Booker: Yes.

Ka$h Patel: Yes, sir. Did I have discussions with the White House to remove FBI personnel?

Senator Cory Booker: Yes.

Ka$h Patel: No.

Senator Cory Booker: So you're saying that you had no discussions with the White House before you were in the position about the removal of any of the personnel from the agency?

Ka$h Patel: As I was preparing for my confirmation hearing, I had numerous conversations involving the type of people that would be employed and those that were failing to meet the mark at the FBI would no longer be employed if I were --

Senator Cory Booker: And I'm assuming that mark had to do with loyalty to the Trump administration.

Ka$h Patel: No. You're wrong.

Senator Cory Booker: Ok. I'd like to revisit from that hearing. Did you -- did you testify -- Excuse me. You did testify before the Grand Jury that President Trump had declassified the documents at issue in the Mara-Lago classified documents case. Is that correct?

Ka$h Patel: I don't have the Grand Jury transcript. That's why I released it. Whatever it says is the best evidence.

Senator Cory Booker: You know, that's what you said to Senator Whitehouse -- that you're Grand Jury testimony was publicly released. It has not been. In fact, in July, a court denied a news outlet's bid to get that transcript. But you said -- But the court said quite clearly that you are free to discuss your Grand Jury testimony. So I ask you again: Did you testify before the Grand Jury that President Trump to classify the documents at issue in the Mara-Lago classified document case?

Ka$h Patel: And that is why I took your invitation to work with the department in the court -- to have that transcript released. And the transcript is the best evidence of what I said --

Senator Cory Booker: So you're saying right now to this Committee can have access to what you said before the Grand Jury?

Ka$h Patel: To whatever was released under my understanding, Senator, that the department --

Senator Cory Booker: You and I both understand the law. Let me finish. You and I understand under Rule 6 of the Federal Rules of Procedure, a Grand Jury witness -- in this case, you -- is not barred from sharing their Grand Jury testimony. This is an oversight hearing This is germaine to your integrity and your credibility. You know right now whether or not you testified that President Trump declassified the documents at issue in the Mara-Lago classified documents case. Why are you refusing to answer that simple yes or no question right now?

Ka$h Patel: Because the premise of your question is inaccurate --

Senator Cory Booker: There is no premise to my question other than trying to get an order of what is truth or not.

Ka$h Patel: How do you know? How do you know what was asked in the Grand Jury if you weren't there?

Senator Cory Booker: Mr. Patel,

Ka$h Patel: This is a mockery that you're making of this hearing and this simple question. If you have --

Senator Cory Booker: Mr. Patel, during your confirmation, you promised that "all FBI employees will be protected against political retribution." When I ask you: Are you aware of any plans or discussion to punish -- in any way, including termination -- FBI agents or personnel associated with the Trump administration, you specifically said -- under oath -- that you were not aware of any plans to punish FBI agents associated with criminal investigations of Donald Trump. I don't believe you were truthful. Firing FBI employees based solely on the cases that they are investigating -- their case assignments -- is illegal. And you know that. A new lawsuit that's been discussed numerous times -- filed by 3 FBI officials -- alleges that you carried out Donald Trump's "campaign of retribution" against FBI employees for "failure to demonstrate sufficient political loyalty." One of those plaintiffs has been discussed today: Brian Driscoll. Now we know 20 years of distinguished service to the FBI before you terminated him, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI's Newark field office where he operated with distinction. Medal of Valor winner, Shield of Bravery Award, he's a patriot. You terminated Driscoll via a letter dated October 8, 2025. And in that letter, you said that you were firing him pursuant to Article 2 of the Constitution. Well, you are not President of the United States and so I'm wondering under what authority you were allowed to terminate him?

Ka$h Patel: That matter is under litigation and I'm not able to discuss it.

Senator Cory Booker: Ok. Well discuss this: Did you have discussions with Stephen Miller about firing this particular person or about his continuance in the FBI?

Ka$h Patel: Not that I recall?

Senator Cory Booker: How often do you speak to Stephen Miller?

Ka$h Patel: Frequently on our Homeland Security Task Force.

Senator Cory Booker: You frequently talk with Stephen Miller about subjects other than Homeland Security Task Force Issues correct?

Ka$h Patel: I frequently talk to Mr. Miller about Homeland Security Task Force.

Senator Cory Booker: Has Stephen Miller ever given you his opinions on how to run your agency?

Ka$h Patel: Mr. Miller's inter-agency contributions are invaluable to the FBI. That's what we talk about.

Senator Cory Booker: So you frequently discuss your job and your responsibilities with Stephen Miller and Pam Bondi, I imagine, as well?

Ka$h Patel: Absolutely. She's the Attorney General.

Senator Cory Booker: Ok. Donald Trump promised to make us all safer. You have pushed out senior FBI agents with decades of knowledge and experience. In fact, this is the first time in FBI history that neither the director nor the deputy director have any experience with the FBI. You've shifted the agency's priorities primarily to pursuing Donald Trump's immigration enforcement agenda. According to ICE data, the Cato Institute -- which is a conservative think tank -- found that 20% of all agents have been diverted from their work to do assist ICE immigration enforcement. 20%. Part of this operation is the work of mass law enforcement who jump out of cars, snatch people off the streets at churches, schools and their jobs and hospitals. Have their been any FBI agents who investigate crimes against children that have been assigned to immigration enforcement? Yes or no?

Ka$h Patel: The premise of what you say --

Senator Cory Booker: Have their been enough FBI agents to investigate foreign or domestic terrorists?

Ka$h Patel: No, no, no! You don't get to say --

And this is where it got tense.

This?

Yes. If all that came before was tense -- and it was -- this is where it really got heated. Prior to this, Ka$h was able to gobble down his water whenever it appeared he was suffering from a case of the vapors. This was the end of it for Ka$h.

He became a strident, shrieking nightmare that probably only served to remind America that last week's big shooting happened after the FBI had information about it. The louder he shrieked and the more he protested, the more it became obvious he had a lot to cover up. He yapped away like a hysterical poodle and we all know what they say about the guilty dog. And he looked so weird -- for example, when Cory Booker noted he believed that Patel has made the country weaker and less safe -- as Ka$h began to become so excited that he was bouncing up and down in his chair. I think all of us present were afraid Patel was about to piddle on the carpet.

Cory noted, "You've been purging thousands of serious law enforcement professionals who spent their careers keeping us safe only to lower the hiring standards in order to find anyone to replace them. And shockingly you admitted in this hearing -- to Senator Coons -- that it would take 14 years to fill the vacancy at your agency -- many that are the result of your purge. 20% of FBI agents are doing low level immigration enforcement instead of mission critical work."

And that really was the takeaway.

There were many important exchanges in the hearing -- all the Committee members appeared to bring their A game with the exception of southern belle Miss Lindsey Graham.

But the exchange between Cory and Ka$h really got to the heart of the problem: The FBI is not functioning.

That is why the keep missing signals ahead of time -- signals in public -- before shootings. That's why they can't protect the American people.

It's not the fault of the agents, as Cory noted. It's that they've been pulled off the work they're supposed to be doing to work on Chump's deportation scheme, it's that experienced agents have been fired, it's that standards have been lowered to fill empty slots.

This is not the faul of any agent serving in the FBI.

It is the fault of the person overseeing the FBI.

That would be Ka$h.

And he had no experience. As Cory Booker pointed out, this is the first time in our country's history where neither the Director of the FBI, nor the deputy director has any prior FBI experience. None at all.

And this is what incompetence and ignorance results in.

Ka$h Patel was on the hot seat yesterday. But it could have been Junior Kennedy and how he's putting public health at risk because he's not qualified to be Secretary of Health and Human Services. Or is could be Kristi Noem and how she's putting the country's security at risk because of her mistaken belief that getting her hair styled and putting on a costume will count towards securing the nation. Or it could be Tulsi Gabbard -- Director of No Intelligence who is 100% unqualified for the job she holds.

The country needs to be paying attention to this. Chump has put TV personalities, nuts and cult members in charge of important agencies that exist to protect the American people. His nominees were never qualified and each day they prove they're not up for the job.

They put the country at risk.

Heaven forbid we have an attack on domestic soil but if that happens we need to be prepared to get honest about how a bunch of idiots should never have been nominated and that they have already demonstrated -- right now, as this point -- that months later they're still not qualified for the positions they hold.

Today, Ka$h Patel appears before the House Judiciary Committee. I don't expect that it will go any better. We've focused on the big issues of safety for today's snapshot but please be aware that the Committee also touched on corruption and abuse. One example, this exchange.

Senator Peter Welch: You were rightly critical of the way that the previous FBI Director used the FBI jet. You said you wanted to, "ground Chris Wray's private jet travel that he pays for with taxpayer dollars to hop around the country." [. . .] On April 5th, you attended a hockey game in New York City -- you don't live there, right?

Ka$h Patel: No, I don't.

Senator Peter Welch: By the way, everyday FBI agents who are assigned in Washington don't get to fly home on a private jet.

Ka$h Patel: Well, this is a great point. Do you know why I have to use a private jet? Because Congress made it mandatory.”

Senator Peter Welch: Well, we didn't make it mandatory that you go to UFC games with Mel Gibson.

Let's turn to the economy that Chump has wrecked. Worth Sparkman (AXIOS) notes:

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said Monday that the USDA is evaluating whether farmers may need economic assistance this fall.

Why it matters: Family farms are facing their worst crisis since the 1980s, both Rollins and Republican Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders told a crowd.

[. . .]

The bottom line: Both touted Trump administration relief programs, new trade deals and biofuel expansion as efforts to stabilize the farm economy, though many changes won't take effect until 2026.

Translation, Huckabee Sanders and Rolling lied. There is no help coming in 2025. This as farmers realize how much help that they need right now. Frank Yemi (INQUISITR) explains:

He voted for Donald Trump three times, but now Pennsylvania dairyman John Painter says the dream has curdled. “The whole thing is screwed up. We need people to do the jobs Americans are too spoiled to do,” the organic milk producer from Westfield said, describing a season of sleepless nights, empty milking stalls, and help-wanted signs that never get answered. His frustration mirrors a broader farm-country revolt as the labor crunch worsens under stepped-up immigration enforcement.

Across northern Pennsylvania, producers say they are selling off cattle and letting crops go unpicked because crews have vanished. Dairy farmer Tim Wood, who sits on the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau board, put it bluntly, “If we don’t get more labor, our cows don’t get milked and our crops don’t get picked.”

The numbers tell the same story. Agricultural employment fell about 6.5 percent from March to July, a sharp swing from the small gains seen in the same span the prior two years. At the same time, estimates suggest the immigrant share of the labor force dropped by more than 750,000 workers between January and June 2025, a sudden contraction that is rippling through farm towns.

On the ground, farmers connect those losses to on-farm enforcement that has spooked entire crews. Reports detailed actions that left fields idle and produce rotting, with some operations reporting 70 percent of workers no-showing after raids. “We don’t have enough workforce in the United States to do the manual work,” one advocate warned, predicting higher prices and shuttered farms if nothing changes.

Three times he voted for Chump. The same Chump who won't do anything to help the farmers right now. The same Chump who is more interested -- as Mike noted last night -- in playing the whiny cry baby and ignoring the Constitution than he is in helping the American farmers. At THE HILL, Lindsey Granger points out:

Immigration is one of those topics that always gets reduced to soundbites and slogans. But here’s the reality: it’s not just a political debate. It’s a workforce crisis that’s threatening the very foundation of America’s economy.

If you eat food in this country, this issue touches you.

In Pennsylvania — yes, the swing state President Trump won with 50 percent of the vote in 2024 — farmers are desperate for workers. They’re literally watching their livelihoods collapse because they can’t find enough people to milk cows, pick crops or keep farms alive. One farmer, John Painter, told Politico, “The whole thing is screwed up. We need people to do the jobs Americans are too spoiled to do.” That’s not coming from a progressive activist; that’s from a lifelong Republican farmer who voted for Trump three times.

And that’s the irony here: the very communities that backed Trump the hardest are now being squeezed the hardest by his immigration crackdown.

Deportations and red tape are slashing the supply of farmworkers. Economists say the U.S. lost 155,000 agricultural jobs in just a few months — and that’s before Trump’s latest promises to deport millions more. The Economic Policy Institute estimates that if he follows through, we’ll lose not only millions of immigrant workers but also millions of jobs for U.S.-born workers whose roles are tied to immigrant labor.

Let's join Rebecca in teaching everyone to sing along with the Cher song we all need to know "When The Money's Gone."

Hugh Cameron (NEWSWEEK) notes, "Ford is planning on cutting up to 1,000 roles in electric-vehicle production in Germany. In a statement released Tuesday, the Michigan-headquartered automobile company said demand for electric cars in Europe 'remains well below industry forecasts'." BUSINESS INSIDER's Ayelet Sheffey,Catherine Boudreau,Sarah Jackson,Sarah Perkel,Grace Eliza Goodwin,Brent D. Griffiths,Nora Redmond,Alex Bitter and Aditi Bharade add:

Ford raised prices in May on some models produced in Mexico, Reuters reported based on a notice sent to dealers.

Bloomberg also reported that the automaker planned to raise prices on new gas and electric cars starting in May unless Trump gives the industry some relief from tariffs.

Ford, in a memo to dealers viewed by Bloomberg, said that the company anticipates "the need to make vehicle pricing adjustments in the future, which is expected to happen with May production." Prices won't change for vehicles in inventory now.

On April 14, Trump told reporters that he was contemplating a temporary tariff exemption for autos to give manufacturers more time to move production to the US — but no blanket exemption has yet been instituted.

Meanwhile, Jennifer Sor (MARKETS INSIDER) reports:

The stock market is flashing a handful of signs that the latest rally may be about to reverse course, one of Bank of America's top technical strategists said.

Paul Ciana, the global chief technical strategist at BofA, said in a client note on Monday that the market looks like it is facing a handful of "key risks" from a technical perspective. Those factors could challenge the recent rally that's pushed the market to all-time highs.

"After reaching our 6,500 summer target, the SPX rose to another new high. Our 6,625 secondary/overshoot target is within striking distance," Ciana wrote.

Nupur Anand (REUTERS) notes, "Some U.S. consumers are showing increased signs of stress as inflation and higher interest rates are affecting affordability and leading to financial strain on borrowers, credit scoring company Fair Isaac Corporation, widely known as FICO, said on Tuesday."

Convicted Felon Donald Chump is in the UK. And they're letting him know they see him.

Let's wind down with this from Senator Patty Murray's office:

ICYMI: Senator Murray, WA Health Secretary, Doctors Speak Out Against RFK Jr. Blocking Vaccine Access and Wreaking Havoc at CDC, Lay Out State of Vaccine Access in WA

ICYMI: Senator Murray Calls for HELP Committee Hearing with RFK Jr. on Campaign of Destruction at CDC and Beyond

ICYMI: On Senate Floor, Senator Murray Demands Immediate Firing of RFK Jr.: “This Man is Burning Down Our Public Health System from the Inside”

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), a senior member and former chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, sent a letter to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Acting Inspector General Juliet Hodgkins requesting an independent, comprehensive review of recent actions taken at HHS to limit access to vaccines and recent personnel changes at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In the letter, Senator Murray calls for the HHS Office of the Inspector General (OIG) to initiate an independent investigation into the events that led to HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s decision to fire the newly confirmed CDC Director, Dr. Susan Monarez, and the subsequent departure of four senior CDC career scientists. Murray also requested an OIG analysis of the events that led to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)’s recent move to dramatically narrow access to the updated COVID-19 vaccines.

“Access to evidence-based vaccines is one of the best tools we have for preventing disease and death. Until recently, the American people have relied on HHS to evaluate the evidence and issue vaccine recommendations based on science, rather than political agendas,” wrote Senator Murray. “Now, following Secretary Kennedy’s destructive actions, millions of families may struggle to obtain or afford vaccines, given insurance coverage requirements are linked to CDC’s vaccine recommendations. I therefore request that the OIG investigate the events that led to Secretary Kennedy’s effort to fire CDC Director Monarez and his attempted ousting of other top leadership at CDC.”

“In addition, I am extremely concerned by Secretary Kennedy’s changes to CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), including the dismissal of all committee members in June, and the lack of transparency around the conflicts of interest and backgrounds of newly installed committee members,” Senator Murray continued. “The committee is scheduled to meet next on September 18 and 19 to review, and vote on, recommendations related to vaccines for COVID-19; Hepatitis B; and measles, mumps, rubella, varicella (MMRV). Former CDC Director Monarez alleged that Secretary Kennedy and his leadership attempted to force her to pre-approve the recommendations ahead of any opportunity to review the evidence. This is a serious allegation that would illustrate direct political interference in the vaccine approval process, and indicate that the ACIP’s vaccine recommendations were pre-manufactured based on a political agenda, rather than based on the scientific evidence as reviewed by independent health experts.”

“Undermining public trust in vaccines and vaccine availability will cause more families to suffer from preventable illnesses and deaths. Millions of Americans could also see their health care costs rise, as CDC undermines insurance coverage requirements for lifesaving vaccines, forcing families to pay out-of-pocket. Given the importance of vaccines in protecting our health and safety, I believe it is critical that an independent investigation be undertaken to determine where political interference at HHS has undermined the science and impeded vaccine access,” Senator Murray concluded.

Senator Murray recently took to the Senate floor to reiterate her call for RFK Jr. to be fired immediately; she also praised the launch of the West Coast Health Alliance to provide evidence-based public health guidance for Washington, Oregon, California, and Hawaii. Last week, Senator Murray called for Chair Bill Cassidy (R-LA) to compel RFK Jr. to testify publicly before the HELP Committee, as well as for the committee to hear from Susan Monarez and other former CDC officials. On Friday, Murray held a virtual press conference with Washington state health leaders on RFK Jr.’s increasingly dangerous attacks on vaccines and America’s public health infrastructure.

The full text of the letter is available HERE and below.

Dear Acting Inspector General Hodgkins,

I write today to request a comprehensive review of recent actions taken at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to limit access to vaccines, as well as the recent personnel changes at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In particular, I am requesting that the HHS Office of the Inspector General (OIG) initiate an independent review into the events that led to HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s decision to fire the newly confirmed CDC Director, Dr. Susan Monarez, and the subsequent departure of four senior-level CDC career scientists. Further, I am seeking the OIG’s analysis of the events that led to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issuing a restrictive authorization for the COVID-19 vaccine for this upcoming fall and winter season, and whether that authorization was based on science and evidence, or was due to political pressure from the Secretary or other HHS political appointees.

It has been publicly reported – and Dr. Monarez has verified – that Secretary Kennedy, alongside political appointee Stefanie Spear, attempted to force CDC Director Monarez to resign from her post – less than a month after she was confirmed by the Senate. Secretary Kennedy directed Dr. Monarez to endorse vaccine recommendations before they had undergone scientific review and to dismiss career officials responsible for vaccine policy. After she refused, Secretary Kennedy demanded her resignation. Access to evidence-based vaccines is one of the best tools we have for preventing disease and death. Until recently, the American people have relied on HHS to evaluate the evidence and issue vaccine recommendations based on science, rather than political agendas. Now, following Secretary Kennedy’s destructive actions, millions of families may struggle to obtain or afford vaccines, given insurance coverage requirements are linked to CDC’s vaccine recommendations. I therefore request that the OIG investigate the events that led to Secretary Kennedy’s effort to fire CDC Director Monarez and his attempted ousting of other top leadership at CDC.

Further, I am seeking the OIG’s analysis of all actions Secretary Kennedy has taken to-date to limit vaccine access and whether or not those decisions were based on the best available science and evidence. On May 27, 2025, Secretary Kennedy announced on social media that the COVID-19 vaccine had been removed from the CDC recommended immunization schedule for healthy children and healthy pregnant women. Several months later, on August 27, 2025, the FDA released a much narrower authorization of the COVID-19 vaccine than in previous years, since the vaccine’s initial development under President Trump’s Operation Warp Speed. This decision limits access to the updated COVID-19 vaccine and removes individual and provider choice in determining who can be vaccinated. As part of its investigation, I ask the OIG to examine the decision making around recent changes in vaccine authorizations and recommendations, with a particular focus on the basis for such decisions. I request the OIG examine whether these decisions were based in changes in science or were based in political or ideological interference from Secretary Kennedy or any other political leadership in the Trump Administration.

In addition, I am extremely concerned by Secretary Kennedy’s changes to CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), including the dismissal of all committee members in June, and the lack of transparency around the conflicts of interest and backgrounds of newly installed committee members. The committee is scheduled to meet next on September 18 and 19 to review, and vote on, recommendations related to vaccines for COVID-19; Hepatitis B; and measles, mumps, rubella, varicella (MMRV). Former CDC Director Monarez alleged that Secretary Kennedy and his leadership attempted to force her to pre-approve the recommendations ahead of any opportunity to review the evidence. This is a serious allegation that would illustrate direct political interference in the vaccine approval process, and indicate that the ACIP’s vaccine recommendations were pre-manufactured based on a political agenda, rather than based on the scientific evidence as reviewed by independent health experts. I also ask the OIG to review the firings of the former ACIP members, who were dismissed before their terms ended, and to investigate the vetting process used for installing the new ACIP members and whether all federal laws and regulations were adhered to. Additionally, I request the OIG examine whether there were efforts by Secretary Kennedy and other political leadership to pre-determine the ACIP recommendations and to bypass scientific review.

The Department plays a critical role in securing the health and safety of the American people. Families and health care providers need to be able to trust the guidance coming from the FDA, CDC, and all HHS agencies. Under Secretary Kennedy’s leadership, access to vaccines has been restricted, without regard for the evidence or the consequences for American families. Undermining public trust in vaccines and vaccine availability will cause more families to suffer from preventable illnesses and deaths. Millions of Americans could also see their health care costs rise, as CDC undermines insurance coverage requirements for lifesaving vaccines, forcing families to pay out-of-pocket.

Given the importance of vaccines in protecting our health and safety, I believe it is critical that an independent investigation be undertaken to determine where political interference at HHS has undermined the science and impeded vaccine access. Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.

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