Happy Tuesday, Kitties. ICE investigators are turning toward voter fraud in nine states, the Pentagon is quietly installing conservative influencers in government jobs, and Army Secretary Dan Driscoll has submitted his resignation after reported clashes with Pete Hegseth. Meanwhile, the CDC is fighting Pennsylvania over measles deaths, Trump wants the FCC involved because a journalist described his endorsement record, and George Santos finally found an institution with standards. It was a gambling website.
Key Takeaways
A Federal Judge Called the Pentagon’s Anthropic Blacklist Illegal
Judge Rita Lin ruled that the Pentagon unlawfully retaliated against Anthropic after the company resisted unrestricted AI use for domestic surveillance and autonomous weapons. Apparently “national security” is not a magical spell that makes the First Amendment disappear.
Randy Fine Got Cornered Over That Mailbox Video
Video appears to show Representative Randy Fine looking through a voter’s mailbox while campaigning, although it does not show him taking or tampering with mail. His office initially acknowledged him before Fine questioned whether the footage was real, because apparently AI is now the emergency exit from embarrassing video.
Labor Day Marks the Beginning of the Midterm Sprint
Organizers are pushing voter turnout, election protection, labor solidarity, boycotts, and creative actions as Election Day approaches. Democracy remains extremely inconvenient because apparently we have to keep showing up for the damn thing.
ICE Investigators Are Turning Toward Voter Rolls
Homeland Security Investigations begins a coordinated voter fraud initiative across nine states as DHS also explores acquiring voter registration and voting history data nationwide. An agency built for cartels and terrorism has apparently discovered your county clerk.
The New CDC Director Is Already Fighting Over Measles Data
CDC Director Erica Schwartz reportedly directed staff not to include two Pennsylvania measles associated deaths in the national count while the agency seeks more evidence about causation. Public health data should be boring, clinical, and trustworthy, which is apparently asking too fucking much.
Trump Wants the FCC Involved Because Kristen Welker Discussed His Endorsements
Trump threatened to report NBC journalist Kristen Welker to the FCC after she described his primary endorsement record as mixed. Journalism has apparently become a customer service department where the president asks for the manager whenever reality hurts his feelings.
Trump Is Taking Too Much Credit for Falling Drug Prices
FactCheck.org found that recent prescription price declines reflect multiple factors, including market competition, generic drugs and Biden era Medicare negotiations, not simply TrumpRx and Trump administration deals. Turns out economics stubbornly refuses to fit on a campaign hat.
CBS Is Facing Blowback Over Its Abdul El Sayed September 11 Story
CBS News faced intense criticism after framing old posts by Muslim Senate nominee Abdul El Sayed around September 11, with Status reporting Bari Weiss personally pushed the angle. His actual posts discussed pandemic deaths and the human costs of the War on Terror, which makes the framing considerably more revealing than the tweets.
Army Secretary Dan Driscoll Submitted His Resignation
Driscoll reportedly raised concerns directly with Trump about Army problems and his friction with Hegseth before submitting his resignation. The Pentagon leadership chart is starting to look less like an organization and more like a fucking evacuation map.
The Pentagon Secretly Installed Conservative Influencers in Government Roles
The Pentagon placed several conservative military influencers in civilian government positions while they publicly praised Hegseth and attacked critics without disclosing those roles. National security now apparently comes with a ring light and engagement analytics.
Military Leaders Warned Hegseth the Iran War Is Unsustainable
Top commanders reportedly signed a classified warning that the Iran conflict was stretching American forces dangerously thin. The Pentagon responded angrily to the disclosure, because apparently the readiness problem becomes much worse once taxpayers hear about it.
Trump Claimed He Probably Won All 50 States
This June report documents Trump claiming he probably won every state with an honest count before appearing to doze during the same event. Fifty states is an impressive electoral achievement considering several million voters apparently forgot to participate in the fantasy.
Austin Declared Itself a Book Safe Harbor
Austin moved to protect access to challenged books as Texas culture war battles continue over libraries and schools. Somewhere a banned novel just crossed the city limits wearing sunglasses and carrying a fake passport.
The White House Is Bleeding Staff
Multiple senior aides have announced departures as Trump heads toward difficult midterms with a shrinking circle of trusted advisers. The tight ship is apparently becoming considerably easier to manage because everyone keeps getting off it.
George Santos Earned Kalshi’s First Lifetime Ban
Kalshi permanently banned Santos and fined him more than $71,000 after finding he tried to manipulate prediction markets involving his own behavior. When a gambling platform tells George Santos his relationship with truth is unacceptable, frame the fucking letter.
Food Recalls Surged Through August
The New Republic catalogued a striking August wave of food recalls while broader 2026 data show food safety remains a significant concern. Grocery shopping increasingly feels like selecting tonight’s dinner from a federal evidence locker.
The Trump Administration Welcomed Russia Back Into G20 Talks
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent welcomed Russian participation in United States hosted G20 talks while European governments pushed back. Putin apparently found the diplomatic penalty box has a surprisingly convenient revolving door.
Trump Praised Cheap Freedom Fuel Before a $4 Million Lawsuit Raised Questions
A supplier alleges a distributor failed to pay nearly $4 million for more than one million gallons of gasoline, some of which later reached Trump promoted Freedom Fuel stations. The distributor disputes the allegations, so the patriotic discount apparently comes with discovery.
A Bitter Feud Has Broken Out Inside Trump’s Justice Department
A reported feud between Civil Rights Division leaders Harmeet Dhillon and Leo Terrell has become so severe that the two have barely spoken for months. Nothing says efficient weaponization of government like the alleged weaponizers refusing to fucking talk to each other.
Closing RK Thoughts
Today’s pattern is not subtle.
ICE is moving toward voter investigations. The Pentagon is installing political influencers while senior military leadership keeps leaving. Trump wants regulators pointed at journalists. Public health data is becoming another political battlefield.
And we are sixty three days from Election Day.
So check your registration. Protect election workers. Watch what federal agencies do around voting. Read the court orders. Follow the resignations. Save the documents.
The machinery matters more than the spectacle.
And if George Santos getting banned from gambling is the funniest thing you read today, enjoy it. Democracy is exhausting and sometimes the universe throws us a fucking snack.
Claws out. Receipts ready.
Featured Resisters and Resources
- Operation Lifeboat, hosted at translifeboat.org, is an emergency support initiative designed to assist transgender individuals who may need help relocating, accessing resources, or finding safe support networks during periods of heightened legal or political risk. The platform provides a centralized portal where individuals can request assistance and where volunteers can register to provide aid.
- The National Immigration Legal Services Directory is a free, searchable online resource that connects immigrants with nonprofit legal services providers across the United States. It allows users to search by state, county, detention facility, or zip code to find free or low-cost nonprofit lawyers, advocacy programs, and immigration legal assistance organizations. Only nonprofit organizations that offer immigration legal support are included, making it a focused tool for communities seeking trustworthy legal help.
What We Are Watching Today
- 9:38 AM EDT
European Union Defense Ministers Hold News Conference in Ireland - 10:00 AM EDT
HHS Secy. Kennedy Hosts Symposium on Harms of Screen Use on Children Live - 10:00 AM EDT
House Judiciary Subcommittee Examines Sanctuary Policies Live - 10:07 AM EDT
Homeland Security Secretary Mullin Holds News Conference on “Operation Rotten Apple” - 10:08 AM EDT
House Republican Leaders Hold News Conference - 10:15 AM EDT
Hearing on State-Led Child Care Solutions Live - 10:30 AM EDT
House Oversight Task Force Examines Birth Tourism Live - 10:32 AM EDT
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham Delivers First Address in House of Commons Live - 10:48 AM EDT
House Democratic Caucus Leaders Hold News Conference Live - 11:00 AM EDT
New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill Signs Energy-Related Legislation - 11:00 AM EDT
U.S. House of Representatives - 12:00 PM EDT
U.S. Senate Candidate Abdul El-Sayed (D-MI) Holds Roundtable Discussion in Detroit - 12:30 PM EDT
U.S. Senate - 4:00 PM EDT
Governor Candidate Zach Lahn (R-IA) Speaks With Voters in Atlantic, Iowa - 6:15 PM EDT
U.S. Senate Candidate Troy Jackson (D-ME) Holds Town Hall in Lewiston, Maine - 7:00 PM EDT
Nebraska U.S. Senate Debate - 7:00 PM EDT
Governor Candidate Zach Lahn (R-IA) Hosts Town Hall in Silver City, Iowa - 8:30 PM EDT
Senate Candidate Paxton (R-TX) Rally in Willow Park, TX - House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa | 10:00 AM Local Time | Meeting Details
- House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement | 10:00 AM Local Time | Meeting Details
- House Education and Workforce Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education | 10:15 AM Local Time | Meeting Details
Today’s Call to Action
1. Read Today’s Resistance Survival Guides
2. Sign these Petitions and Send These Pre Written Letters
- Tell Google Maps: Don’t Rename Lake Ontario for Trump
- Be a grassroots co-sponsor of the Break Up Big Medicine Act.
- Don’t Let Trump’s DOJ Send Election Hackers to the Polls
3. Verify your voter registration status and help at least one other person check theirs
4. Save contact information for local legal aid and voting support organizations
5. Attend an Event
- De-Escalation and Safety Training
- Build Your Community Voter Turnout Plan
Tuesday, September 1, from 11:30 a.m. to noon ET. Vot ER will explain how to create a practical, nonpartisan plan for increasing voter participation in your community. - Indivisible General Election Kickoff Call
Wednesday, September 2, from 8 to 9 p.m. ET. Join activists nationwide to discuss the midterm stakes, priority congressional races, and concrete ways volunteers can help flip Congress and hold the administration accountable. - Volunteer Training: Become an LGBTQ+ Activist
Thursday, September 3, from 6 to 8 p.m. ET. Equality Florida will train participants to advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, mobilize their communities, and turn righteous anger into organized action.
6. Contact Your Lawmakers Directly
- Stop Funding ICE Without Accountability
- “Hello, my name is [name], and I am a constituent from [ZIP code]. I am asking [lawmakers’s name] to oppose any funding bill that gives ICE or Border Patrol additional money without strict oversight, transparent reporting, and enforceable protections for civil rights. No more blank checks for masked agents. Please record my position and tell me how the lawmaker intends to vote.”
- End the Unauthorized War With Iran
- “Hello, my name is [name], and I live in [ZIP code]. I am asking [lawmaker’s name] to support an Iran War Powers Resolution and oppose additional funding for military action that Congress has not authorized. The Constitution gives Congress the power to declare war. Please use it before this administration drags us any deeper.”
- Protect the 2026 Election
- “Hello, my name is [name], and I am a constituent from [ZIP code]. I urge [lawmaker’s name] to support the Voting Systems Protection Act and the SHIELD Our Elections Act. Federal officials should not be able to seize ballots, voting machines, or election records to manipulate an election. Please protect state election officials, mail voting, and every legally cast ballot.”
7. Who Are We Boycotting This Week?
- Home Depot
ICE agents have repeatedly targeted workers around Home Depot stores and parking lots. Home Depot has refused to adopt a policy barring immigration raids without judicial warrants. Shop at locally owned hardware stores instead. - Amazon
Amazon Web Services provides cloud infrastructure used by ICE and DHS for data storage, surveillance, and immigration enforcement. Skip Amazon and Whole Foods when possible. Buy directly from manufacturers, independent retailers, local bookstores, and cooperatives instead. - Target
Target abandoned major diversity commitments, has refused to take a clear stand against ICE activity, and recently faced renewed outrage after selling a children’s costume condemned for evoking racist minstrel imagery. Apparently betraying your stated values was not enough for one corporate strategy meeting. Shop locally or use regional retailers instead.
