Morning Announcements

• Wednesday, July 2nd, 2025 - Vance breaks tie; ICE’s Mobile Fortify; Penn’s trans athlete ban; Gaza ceasefire; DOJ eyes denaturalization; Diddy verdict stalled

  Today’s Headlines: Vice President JD Vance cast the tie-breaking vote to advance Trump’s budget bill in the Senate, though it now heads back to the House due to major revisions. Elon Musk—still unhappy about the bill’s impact on his businesses—threatened to fund primary challengers, prompting Trump to joke about deporting him and downplaying his success. Meanwhile, Trump toured Florida’s new “Alligator Alcatraz” detention center, touting its reptilian security. The DOJ is expanding efforts to denaturalize U.S. citizens under Trump’s deportation agenda, while Trump floated a new “temporary pass” system for immigrant laborers—essentially a work visa. ICE is also using a newly revealed app called Mobile Fortify, enabling agents to identify individuals with facial recognition via smartphone. Trump claimed Israel has agreed to a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza, though Hamas hasn’t confirmed. This follows his threat to cut Israel’s military aid unless Netanyahu’s corruption charges were dropped. At the University of Pennsylvania, a federal deal has banned transgender athletes from competing in sports and revoked swimmer Lia Thomas’s titles, aligning with Trump’s reinterpretation of Title IX. And finally, the jury in Diddy’s sex trafficking trial reached verdicts on 4 of 5 charges, but deliberations continue on the most serious racketeering count after jurors said they were deadlocked. Resources/Articles mentioned in this episode: PBS: Senate passes Trump’s reconciliation bill with Vance casting tie-breaking vote NYT: On Pivotal Day for His Bill, Trump Leaves Washington for ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ The  New Republic: Justice Department Announces Chilling Plan to Revoke Citizenship  NBC News: Trump says the administration is working on a 'temporary pass' for immigrants in certain industries  404 Media: ICE Is Using a New Facial Recognition App to Identify People, Leaked Emails Show AP News: Live updates: Trump says Israel agrees to 60-day ceasefire in Gaza  The New Republic: The Unbelievable Reason Trump Is Threatening to Cut Aid to Israel NYT: Penn Agrees to Limit Participation of Transgender Athletes  AP News: Jury reaches verdict on 4 of 5 counts in Diddy trial but is told to keep deliberating  Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• Tuesday, July 1st, 2025 - Budget bill stalls; Canada caves on tax; Iran strikes impact; Trump vs LA; AI goes rogue & more

  Today’s Headlines: As of Monday evening, Trump’s controversial budget bill hadn’t passed the Senate, held up by two GOP holdouts. The bill would cut healthcare for 17 million people, slash clean energy incentives while giving tax breaks to coal, ban AI regulation for 10 years, and fund a $50M MAGA statue garden. Elon Musk, critical of the bill, called it a “PORKY PIG PARTY.” Meanwhile, Canada walked back its digital services tax to reenter trade talks, and the S&P 500 hit a new high as markets calmed. Intercepted Iranian communications revealed U.S. strikes on their nuclear sites were less damaging than expected. Trump also sued Los Angeles over sanctuary city policies, claiming they enable lawlessness. In a massive DOJ bust, 324 people were charged in a $14.6B Medicare/Medicaid fraud scheme, involving international networks and stolen identities from over a million Americans. Authorities in Idaho confirmed a sniper ambush that killed two firefighters was planned using a brush fire as bait; the suspect was found dead. Finally, an alarming Anthropic report showed that several AI models simulated deception, blackmail, and even hypothetical lethal behavior when faced with shutdown scenarios. Resources/Articles mentioned in this episode: WaPo: White House urges GOP to ‘stay tough’ as Senate debates amendments to Trump’s bill CNBC: Canada rescinds digital services tax after Trump cuts off U.S. trade talks  Axios: Canada talks show tariffs have created a new world for investors  WaPo: Intercepted call of Iranian officials downplays damage of U.S. attack Axios: Trump admin sues LA, claiming sanctuary policy fueled ICE protests  DOJ: Eastern District of Michigan | National Health Care Fraud Enforcement Action Results in 324 Defendants Charged and Over $14.6 Billion in Intended Fraud Loss Charged  AP News: Man shot Idaho firefighters who had asked him to move his vehicle, killing 2, sheriff says Axios: Top AI models will deceive, steal and blackmail, Anthropic finds Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• Monday, June 30th, 2025 - Budget bill, ICE updates; SCOTUS decisions; Iran Fatwa; Canada-US trade clash; Idaho shooting & more

  Today’s Headlines: Trump’s budget bill advanced in the Senate with a narrow 51-49 vote, cutting $1 trillion from Medicaid and handing massive tax breaks to the wealthy while adding $3 trillion to the national debt. Two Republicans voted no, and the final vote was delayed as Democrats forced a reading of the 940-page bill. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court ruled that parents can pull kids from public school over LGBTQ content and narrowed lower courts’ power to block Trump’s executive orders. A Honduran mother is suing ICE after she and her two kids—one of whom has leukemia—were detained during an asylum court date. DHS also announced the end of Temporary Protected Status for over 300,000 Haitians, forcing them to leave by September. Iran’s top cleric issued a fatwa calling for the deaths of Trump and Netanyahu. At a Senate hearing, the U.S. military admitted it never used bunker-busting bombs in Iran strikes, contradicting Trump’s “total obliteration” claims. Trump abruptly ended trade talks with Canada over its digital services tax, prompting Canadian retaliation. Consumer spending and income both dropped in May, sparking recession concerns. Miami postponed its November election by a year, extending current officials’ terms—likely illegally. The University of Virginia’s president resigned under Trump administration pressure over DEI efforts. And in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, an active shooter killed two firefighters in an ambush; the story is still developing. Resources/Articles mentioned in this episode: WaPo: GOP Sen. Thom Tillis won’t seek reelection after opposing Trump tax bill  X: Elon Musk NBC News: Senate advances massive bill for Trump's agenda after GOP leaders sway holdouts NY Times: Justices Let Parents Opt Children Out of Classes With L.G.B.T.Q. Storybooks The Atlantic: The Supreme Court Put Nationwide Injunctions to the Torch Texas Publib Radio: ICE arrested a 6-year-old boy with leukemia at immigration court. His family is suing. CBS News: U.S. to revoke immigration status of Haitian migrants in September News 18: Top Iran Cleric Declares Trump And Netanyahu 'Enemies Of God' In New Fatwa | World News CNN Politics: US did not use bunker-buster bombs on one of Iran’s nuclear site, top general tells lawmakers NBC News: Canada retaliates against U.S. steel imports after Trump terminates trade talks Bloomberg: US Consumer Spending Drops in May, Price Pressures Remain Muted Miami Herald: It’s official: Miami cancels November election, postpones it to 2026 NYT: University of Virginia President Resigns Under Pressure From Trump Administration ABC News: 2 killed in Idaho after firefighters ambushed by gunfire, suspected gunman found dead: Sheriff Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• Friday, June 27th, 2025 - Trump-Bibi Gaza plan; Khamenei on US strikes; ICE death; DOJ vs MD judges; GOP budget blow & more

  Today’s Headlines: President Trump is pressuring Israeli PM Netanyahu to end the Gaza war in exchange for a sweeping regional deal: hostages released, Hamas exiled, Gaza jointly governed by Arab states, and a conditional Israeli endorsement of Palestinian statehood—with Saudi Arabia and Syria joining the Abraham Accords. But the plan faces major hurdles: Hamas resists exile, Arab nations want Palestinian Authority involvement (which Netanyahu opposes), and Trump’s meddling may be tied to helping Netanyahu dodge corruption charges. Meanwhile, Iran’s Supreme Leader Khamenei dismissed U.S. strikes as ineffective, contradicting Trump’s claims of “obliteration,” while intel reports show only a few months' setback to Iran’s nuclear program. Elsewhere, a Canadian man died in ICE custody, and GOP Rep. Andy Ogles called for NYC mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani to be investigated and deported over old rap lyrics referencing a terror case. In another first, the Trump DOJ is suing all 15 federal judges in Maryland for slowing down deportations. The Senate parliamentarian struck down major Republican budget cuts—like SNAP reductions and student loan crackdowns—as non-compliant with congressional rules, complicating Trump’s push to pass the bill by July 4.SCOTUS ruled states can block Planned Parenthood from Medicaid funding—even for non-abortion care—while Trump considers firing Fed Chair Jerome Powell early for not slashing rates fast enough. Finally, 280+ U.S. cities broke heat records this week as a “heat dome” scorched the Midwest and East Coast, affecting nearly 130 million Americans. Resources/Articles mentioned in this episode: The Times of Israel: Netanyahu, Trump said working on plan to end Gaza war and expand Abraham Accords Axios: Netanyahu wants to meet Trump at White House after Iran war success Axios: Iran's Khamenei claims U.S. strike didn't cause major damage to nuclear facilities ABC News: Trump, Hegseth slam news coverage of US intel report on Iran attack, say B-2 pilots upset CTV News: Canada ‘urgently seeking more information’ on death of Canadian in ICE custody Newsweek: House Republican Wants Zohran Mamdani Deported Axios: "Bizarre" DOJ lawsuit fuels Trump's war against judicial branch NYT: Top Senate Official Rules Against Several Key Provisions in G.O.P. Policy Bill AP News: States can block Medicaid money for health care at Planned Parenthood, the Supreme Court says WSJ: Trump Considers Naming Next Fed Chair Early in Bid to Undermine Powell Axios: Hundreds of heat records set across U.S. this week Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• Thursday, June 26th, 2025 - Trump’s NATO highlights; GOP budget bill pressure; Mamdani wins NYC primary; New US visa rules; RFK Jr. eyes vax cuts

  Today’s Headlines: At the NATO Summit, President Trump doubled down on claims that U.S. strikes “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear sites, despite his own intel saying otherwise. In response to internal leaks, the administration is limiting intelligence access for congressional Democrats. Trump also celebrated NATO’s new pledge to raise military spending to 5% of GDP by 2035—except for Spain’s carveout—and falsely claimed the NATO chief called him “Daddy Trump.” Back home, Trump is pressuring Senate Republicans to pass his unpopular budget bill, especially amid backlash over Medicaid cuts. Protesters in wheelchairs were zip-tied and arrested at the Capitol. In NYC, 33-year-old democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani won the Democratic mayoral primary, defeating a field including Andrew Cuomo and Anthony Weiner, both of whom lost big. Meanwhile, all U.S. visa applicants must now disclose and make public their social media handles from the past five years. This comes after a Norwegian tourist was denied entry and allegedly harassed by ICE agents over a JD Vance meme on his phone. And finally, RFK Jr.’s vaccine advisory board may recommend changes to federal childhood vaccine schedules—potentially affecting insurance coverage and pediatric guidance. Resources/Articles mentioned in this episode: Axios: Democrats rage as Trump limits classified intel sharing with Congress WSJ: How ‘Daddy’ Trump Learned to Love NATO NBC News: Senate Republicans scramble to resolve tense divisions as Trump threatens their vacation over his big bill NYT: NYC Mayoral Primary Live Updates: Polls Are Open in Tight Race Between Cuomo and Mamdani The Hacker News: New U.S. Visa Rule Requires Applicants to Set Social Media Account Privacy to Public  Dublin Live: Man 'refused entry into US' as border control catch him with bald JD Vance meme Axios: RFK Jr.'s vaccine advisors to re-examine childhood vax schedule Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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