Political Glance
Since the White House press office selected reporters from five pro-Trump, partisan news outlets to ask the president questions during his televised cabinet meeting on Tuesday, readers will not be shocked to learn that they largely avoided subjects he would prefer not to talk about.
In fact, two of them went even further than that, using the opportunity to help Trump make his point about crime in Washington DC by sharing their own stories of being assaulted or harassed.
The first to speak, in what was obviously a pre-planned moment, was Iris Tao of the conspiratorial Epoch Times.
Tao’s outlet, which was founded by Chinese exiles affiliated with the Falun Gong spiritual movement that is repressed as a cult in China, has heavily promoted Trump’s claims that the 2020 election was stolen from him and that China was responsible for the Covid-19 pandemic.
“I want to mention, you know about crime… we have a young lady here, Iris of Epoch Times,” Trump said, looked down at his briefing notes, where her name was written in large letters. “I heard you were very savagely mugged. Would you like to mention what happened?” he asked.
Tao then described the harrowing experience of being mugged at gunpoint outside her apartment building in January 2023, and struck in the face with a pistol by her attacker when she refused to hand over her phone.
Pro-Trump reporters in the cabinet room help him cast Washington DC as unsafe
Trump officials put some Fema staffers on leave for signing open letter of dissent
The Trump administration retaliated on Tuesday against some Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema) staffers who signed an open letter of dissent about the agency’s leadership one day earlier, the Washington Post reports.
On Monday, about 180 current and former Fema staffers sent a letter to members of Congress and other officials, arguing the current leaders’ inexperience and approach harms Fema’s mission and could result in a disaster on the level of Hurricane Katrina.
Man arrested in flag-burning incident near White House hours after Trump order
A man was arrested for setting fire to an American flag in a federal park outside the White House on Monday, just hours after President Trump signed an executive order seeking to crack down on those who burn the flag.
The U.S. Secret Service told The Hill they detained a person at approximately 6:15 p.m. Monday in Lafayette Park “for igniting an object” and turned the person over to the U.S. Park Police, which has jurisdiction.
The Park Police said it arrested one person in the park at about 6:30 p.m., citing a violation of 36 CFR 2.13(a)(1), which prohibits fire in public parks, except in designated areas.
The Park Police declined to identify the person, saying such information isn’t publicly available until charges are formalized through court.
Court tosses Trump administration lawsuit against Maryland judges
A federal judge on Tuesday threw out the Justice Department’s lawsuit against all 15 federal district judges in Maryland over an order slowing down speedy deportation efforts, calling the administration’s attacks on the judiciary “unprecedented and unfortunate.”
U.S. District Judge Thomas Cullen, an appointee of President Trump who sits on a federal court in Virginia, dismissed the lawsuit challenging a May standing order that automatically blocks the deportation of migrants in Maryland who file legal challenges over their detention for two business days.
The Trump administration had argued that the order, which was signed by the chief judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, interferes with the executive branch’s powers and violate various rules.
“Fair enough, as far as it goes,” Cullen wrote. “If these arguments were made in the proper forum, they might well get some traction.”
Jack Smith lambasts investigation into his prosecutions against Trump
Former special counsel Jack Smith, who led two criminal prosecutions against President Donald Trump before the real estate mogul's 2024 election victory, fired back against a reported investigation into his handling of those cases, according to a letter obtained by USA TODAY.
"This investigation is premised on a partisan complaint that suggests the ordinary operation of the criminal justice system should be disrupted by the whims of a political contest," wrote two lawyers, Lanny A. Breuer and Peter Koski, on Smith's behalf.
The investigation into Smith is one of several under the Trump administration that have prompted fears that Trump is using his second term to engage in a revenge campaign against perceived enemies. Some of the president's supporters argue that such investigations are important to correct previous overreach.
On Aug. 22, FBI agents raided the home of former national security adviser and fierce Trump critic John Bolton. The bureau said it had court authorization for the search, but didn't elaborate on the specifics of the investigation. The Justice Department has also reportedly opened an investigation into New York Attorney General Letitia James, who brought a major civil fraud lawsuit against Trump and his business associates.
Fed governor Cook to sue over Trump’s attempt to fire her from Fed. What's next.
In a letter shared on Truth Social, Trump claimed "sufficient cause" to remove Cook immediately, pointing to accusations that Cook made false statements on mortgage agreements.
Cook said Aug. 26 the president lacked authority to oust her from the board of the central bank. She plans to challenge the move in court, according to a statement from her attorney.
The move comes amid Trump's monthslong efforts to influence the Fed's decisions on interest rates. Trump had previously focused on pressuring Fed Chair Jerome Powell to lower rates through name-calling and termination threats, although he has since walked back threats to remove Powell.
Bruise on Trump’s hand won’t go away, and neither will questions about his health
A large bruise on the back on Donald Trump’s right hand, which the president appeared to be hiding, poorly, under a daub of makeup last week, was clearly visible during public appearances on Monday, renewing speculation that the White House might be concealing information about his health.
Last month, after similar speculation over Trump’s swollen ankles prompted questions, the White House physician, Sean Barbabella, revealed in a memo that the president was suffering from chronic venous insufficiency.
In the same memo, Barbabella said that images showing bruising on Trump’s hand were “consistent with minor soft tissue irritation from frequent handshaking” and his use of aspirin as a precaution against heart attacks.
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