Monday, September 8th, 2025 - “Chi-pocalypse Now”; RFK Jr.’s new conspiracy theory; DOJ probes Cook; Fed judges slam SCOTUS & more
Description
Today’s Headlines: The weekend brought another Trump classic: a meme threatening to send the military into Chicago, complete with an Apocalypse Now reference and the caption “Chicago about to find out why it’s called the Department of War.” Thousands protested in both Chicago and DC, while the new “Department of War” is now rebranding everything from uniforms to its website to fit the new name—on the taxpayer dime. In other news, RFK Jr., still smoldering from his Senate tantrum, is reportedly preparing a report linking autism to Tylenol use during pregnancy, a claim debunked by every credible medical body. His own family called for him to resign, former Surgeon General Jerome Adams said Trump should fire him, and even Trump broke with him to say vaccines “just work.” Meanwhile, VP JD Vance sparked a GOP mini-drama after bragging about a deadly US strike in the Caribbean; when a journalist called it a war crime, his response prompted Rand Paul to comment “despicable.” The DOJ opened a criminal probe into Fed governor Lisa Cook, who’s already suing the administration over Trump’s attempt to oust her—setting up a major fight over Fed independence. At the same time, a dozen federal judges voiced frustration with the Supreme Court for overturning lower court rulings with little explanation. On the economy, August jobs numbers were rough, with just 22,000 added and unemployment climbing to 4.3%. And finally, Paramount is in talks to acquire Bari Weiss’s Free Press for up to $200M, possibly putting her in charge of CBS News. She just hosted Justice Amy Coney Barrett at Lincoln Center, where ACB insisted the Constitution is “alive and well” and that the US is not in a constitutional crisis… though if you have to say it, maybe that’s its own answer.
Resources/Articles mentioned in this episode:
AP News: Trump threatens Chicago with apocalyptic force and Pritzker calls him a 'wannabe dictator'
Wired: Defense Department Scrambles to Pretend It’s Called the War Department
The Times: Kennedy family: RFK Jr is ‘threat to wellbeing of every American
Axios: Trump breaks from RFK on vaccines: "Pure and simple, they work"
CNN: Trump’s former surgeon general calls for RFK Jr. to be fired
CNBC: Payrolls rose 22,000 in August, less than expected in further sign of hiring slowdown
Axios: "Despicable and thoughtless": Vance's drug vessel strike praise slammed by senator
WSJ: DOJ Opens Criminal Investigation Into Fed’s Cook, Issues Subpoenas
NBC News: In rare interviews, federal judges criticize Supreme Court's handling of Trump cases
NBC News: Justice Amy Coney Barrett says country is not in a 'constitutional crisis'
Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson
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