Morning, Kitties. New York prosecutors are reopening the criminal investigation into allegations that a Cornell student was drugged and gang raped by fraternity members, while newly public messages are intensifying questions about what investigators knew the first time around. Meanwhile, ICE wants robot dogs, the federal government is expanding the data machinery used to determine who gets healthcare and who gets to vote, Australia is weighing American access to biometric information, and humans are reportedly reviewing some Copilot conversations. Apparently we built the surveillance state, taught it to walk on four mechanical legs, and then handed it our fucking medical records.
Today’s American Horror Stories
The Cornell 7 Case Asks Whose Future Counts
Jessica Yellin examines the institutional response to allegations that a Cornell student was drugged and gang raped by fraternity members and asks whose future institutions prioritize when sexual violence is alleged. Prosecutors have now reopened the criminal investigation and plan to present evidence to a grand jury.
DOJ Makes an Extreme Argument Over Transgender Prison Healthcare
Law Dork examines the Justice Department’s Supreme Court position on transgender healthcare in federal prisons and the broader constitutional questions surrounding medically necessary treatment for incarcerated people. Prison walls do not erase the government’s legal obligations toward people in its custody.
How to Register and Vote in the 2026 Midterms
Charlotte Clymer provides a practical guide to voter registration and participation in the 2026 midterms. Election rules vary by state, so voters should verify their registration and requirements through official election authorities before Election Day.
The Cornell Allegations Force Another Reckoning With Campus Sexual Violence
Blue Letter examines the disturbing Cornell allegations and the institutional decisions that followed the original report. The reopened investigation means allegations, newly surfaced communications, prior investigative decisions, and the responses of the accused can now receive renewed legal scrutiny.
A Simple Police Checklist Reduced Intimate Partner Violence Failures
Resident Legal Diva examines evidence that structured police checklists can improve responses to intimate partner violence by forcing officers to document risk factors that might otherwise be overlooked. Sometimes reform is not a billion dollar AI system but a fucking piece of paper people actually use.
Medicaid Work Requirements Could Push Millions Toward Coverage Loss
New Medicaid work requirements will require many adults to document work, school, or volunteer activity while states build verification systems to enforce the rules. Critics warn that eligible people could lose coverage because of paperwork and documentation failures, while supporters argue the requirements promote work and reduce improper enrollment.
United States Seeks Access to Australian Biometric Data
Australia is negotiating an enhanced border security arrangement that could give the United States greater access to biometric and identity information. The proposal raises obvious questions about consent, data sharing, retention, security, and whether information could subsequently reach third countries.
This Is a Crucial Week in the Fight Over Trump’s Power
The New Republic examines major legal and political confrontations that could determine how far the administration can extend executive authority. The important question in each dispute is not which side produces the angriest headline, but what the courts actually authorize.
Trump’s Own Prosecutor Turns Against an Administration Position
Dworkin examines a legal confrontation in which a prosecutor appointed under Trump challenged or contradicted an administration position. Institutional independence becomes particularly visible when an official’s legal judgment conflicts with the political interests of the people who appointed them.
Russia’s Defeat Is Coming, Jason Jay Smart Argues
Jason Jay Smart argues that Russia’s economic, military, and political vulnerabilities are increasingly threatening Putin’s war strategy. That is analysis rather than an established prediction, and the ultimate trajectory of the war remains uncertain.
Dan Sullivan’s Leon Black Connection Gets Scrutiny
The Alaska Current examines Sen. Dan Sullivan’s political and financial connections involving Leon Black as congressional scrutiny of Epstein related relationships continues. Association alone establishes no wrongdoing, but documented money and political relationships are legitimate subjects for disclosure.
Trump’s CFTC Is Suing States Over Prediction Markets
The CFTC is suing states that are attempting to regulate prediction markets such as Kalshi and Polymarket under state gambling laws, arguing that federal regulators have exclusive authority. Donald Trump Jr.’s financial connections to the industry add another reason to scrutinize how policy and private interests intersect.
Humans Are Reviewing Some Copilot Prompts and Images
404 Media reports that human reviewers can see some user prompts and images submitted to Microsoft Copilot as part of moderation and quality processes. The cloud remains someone else’s computer, and sometimes apparently someone else’s fucking reading assignment.
Alina Habba’s New Husband Draws Scrutiny
The Daily Beast examines billionaire Turhan Mildon’s business history following his marriage to Trump ally Alina Habba. Reporting about past business disputes and associations should be distinguished from proven misconduct.
ICE Wants Robot Dogs
ICE is pursuing Boston Dynamics Spot robots for law enforcement operations, with officials describing potential uses in dangerous environments and surveillance. Boston Dynamics prohibits weaponizing its robots, but deploying robotic surveillance alongside immigration enforcement will inevitably raise civil liberties questions.
New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill Draws Fresh Attention
The piece examines New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill and current political developments surrounding her administration. Claims about individual decisions should be evaluated against official records and direct reporting as the story develops.
Byron Donalds’ Former Wife Warned About His Politics
A 2024 interview with Byron Donalds’ former wife resurfaced her criticism of his political trajectory and concerns about his public positions. Her comments provide personal perspective rather than independent proof of broader claims about his motives or conduct.
Education Department Reinstates Trump Era Title IX Rules
The Education Department has formally restored the 2020 Title IX framework after rescinding the Biden administration’s 2024 rule, affecting protections and procedures involving sex discrimination in federally funded schools. The change has particular consequences for transgender students and sexual misconduct proceedings.
Five Suicides in Five Weeks Raise Questions at Cyber Command
Five civilians supporting Cyber Command and NSA missions at Fort Meade died by suicide within roughly five weeks this summer, prompting lawmakers to demand answers about workplace conditions and mental health resources. No single cause has been established for the deaths, making careful investigation more important than speculation.
Closing RK Thoughts
Today’s stories are about systems deciding what happens to human beings.
A university decides how seriously to investigate sexual violence. A Medicaid computer decides whether paperwork is sufficient to keep someone insured. Border systems trade biometric information. Prediction market regulators fight over jurisdiction. Schools rewrite civil rights rules. Government agencies buy robots. Technology companies allow humans to review conversations users may have assumed were private.
Technology can make institutions faster.
It cannot make them just.
That still requires humans willing to ask who built the system, what data it uses, who can challenge its decisions, and what happens when it gets something catastrophically fucking wrong.
Follow the records. Protect your data. Verify your voter registration. Question automated decisions. Keep the receipts.
Claws out.
Featured Resisters and Resources
- Conscious Spend is a consumer action and ethical spending resource designed to help people make purchasing decisions based on their values. The platform provides information that consumers can use to evaluate companies, identify alternatives, and understand how everyday spending choices can support or conflict with social, political, environmental, and ethical priorities.
- The Scientific Working Group on Digital Evidence, commonly known as SWGDE, develops best practices, guidelines, technical documents, and educational resources for the collection, examination, preservation, and analysis of digital and multimedia evidence. The organization brings together professionals from law enforcement, government agencies, academia, and the private sector who work in digital forensics and related disciplines.
What We Are Watching Today
- 7:00 AM MDT
Jack Smith Stands By Decisions, Says He Will Not Be Silenced Live - 7:00 AM MDT
VP Vance & HHS Secy. Kennedy Join Admin. Officials and Health & Tech Industry Leaders at MAHA Summit Live - 7:04 AM MDT
British Prime Minister Addresses Labour Party Conference Live - 8:00 AM MDT
U.S. Senate - 8:00 AM MDT
Pres. Trump, Elon Musk & Admin Officials Announce New AI-Powered All-Inclusive Gov’t. Website - 11:00 AM MDT
U.S. House Candidate Paul LePage (R-ME) Attends Roundtable - 11:30 AM MDT
CA Gov. Gavin Newsom on Biodiversity & Natural Resources - 1:30 PM MDT
Sen. Van Hollen (D-MD) Holds Forum on Pres. Trump’s Immigration Policy - 2:00 PM MDT
Senate Armed Services Subcommittee Hearing on Golden Dome Antimissile Defense System - 6:00 PM MDT
Utah 1st Congressional District Debate - Senate Committee on the Judiciary | 9:00 AM (EDT) | Meeting Details
- Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Intellectual Property | 2:30 PM (EDT) | Meeting Details
- Senate Select Committee on Intelligence | 3:00 PM (EDT) | Meeting Details
Today’s Call to Action
1. Read Today’s Resistance Survival Guides
2. Sign these Petitions and Send These Pre Written Letters
- Stop Trump From Weakening Protections for Assault Survivors
- Sign the petition: Tell the Senate to vote YES today to expose human rights violations in the West Bank and hold Israel accountable!
- Tell the EPA: Protect Farmers, Not Bayer’s Profits
- Tell the Senate: Vote NO on Rudofsky for U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
- Stand with us to fight for the rights of women and moms. Sign our letter to Congress now!
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 a Virtual Event
- Tuesday, September 29, 4 to 5 p.m.:Working Families Party organizing committee. Join a virtual organizing session; no prior experience is needed. New York Working Families Party
- Wednesday, September 30, 4 to 5 p.m.:Black Voters Matter 10K26 phone bank. Help reach new and infrequent voters in Texas, Alabama and Louisiana. 10k26 · Common Cause
- Wednesday, September 30, 4 to 6 p.m.:Help Protect the Vote in North Carolina. Join the virtual voter protection phone bank.
6. Contact Your Lawmakers Directly
- Call your House representative about the Epstein files: “Hi, my name is [name], and I live in [ZIP code]. I’m asking Representative [name] to demand a public accounting of which Epstein records remain unreleased, why they are being withheld, and when they will be reviewed for release. Please protect survivors’ identities while making the government’s decisions transparent. Can you tell me the representative’s position?”
- Call your senators about oversight: “Hi, my name is [name], and I live in [ZIP code]. I’m asking Senator [name] to support hearings on how the DOJ and FBI handled Epstein evidence, including missing or withheld records. Survivors deserve answers, and the public deserves a documented explanation. Will the senator press for a hearing?”
- Call your lawmakers about survivor protections: “Hi, my name is [name], and I live in [ZIP code]. I’m asking [representative or senator] to put survivors first in every Epstein records review. That means protecting identifying information, consulting survivors before sensitive material is released, and explaining redactions without hiding institutional failures. Will [name] commit to those safeguards?”
7. Who Are We Boycotting This Week?
- Starbucks corporate stores: Skip a corporate Starbucks this week in solidarity with its workers. The AFL CIO’s current boycott list specifies corporate stand alone stores.
- Breyers, Klondike, Talenti and Yasso: Skip these Magnum ice cream brands. Ben Cohen has called for the boycott to pressure Magnum to sell Ben & Jerry’s to an independent owner; he has asked supporters to keep buying Ben & Jerry’s.
- Mondelēz and Nabisco snacks made in Mexico: Check the package and skip the products covered by the AFL CIO boycott. This is a targeted boycott, not a call to avoid every Nabisco product.
