Morning, Kitties. Kash Patel went to Congress and somehow bestiality became part of an FBI hiring discussion, Republican Thomas Massie introduced eight articles of impeachment against Pete Hegseth, and the Iran war has already cost the Pentagon more than $38 billion. Meanwhile, reporters are identifying more Russians at Don Jr.’s wedding, Jared Kushner is raising billions while participating in Iran diplomacy, ICE is purging employees, Palantir is expanding, and apparently even your fucking television is collecting receipts. Welcome to Wednesday, where the national group chat has officially become evidence.
The Chaos List
Who Were the Russians at Donald Trump Jr.’s Wedding?
Olga Lautman examines Russian guests who attended Don Jr.’s Bahamas wedding alongside Umar Kremlev and maps their political and business connections. Attendance itself establishes no wrongdoing, but the guest network adds another layer to questions surrounding the event.
Kash Patel Defends FBI Hiring Rules Involving Bestiality and Prostitution
Patel defended changes eliminating automatic disqualification in some cases involving prostitution and bestiality, saying the FBI did not want trafficking and abuse victims automatically excluded. Senators from both parties pressed him about how the policy actually distinguishes victims from voluntary conduct.
Osama Bin Laden’s Dream Come True
Lucian Truscott argues that decades of war, political division, spending, and institutional damage delivered some of the destabilization bin Laden hoped terrorism would produce. It is commentary, but the long term costs of the post September 11 era remain worth examining.
Thomas Massie Introduces Eight Articles of Impeachment Against Pete Hegseth
Massie introduced eight impeachment articles accusing Hegseth of violating war powers requirements and abusing Pentagon authority. These are allegations contained in Massie’s impeachment resolution, not findings that Hegseth committed the alleged offenses.
ICE Faces a Personnel Purge
The New Republic reports personnel upheaval inside ICE following controversies involving enforcement practices and internal warning signs. When an enforcement agency starts aggressively cleaning its own house, the personnel files deserve attention.
Jared Kushner Raises Billions While Participating in Iran Diplomacy
The New Republic examines Kushner’s private fundraising while he participates in sensitive diplomacy involving Iran. The overlapping private and public roles raise transparency and conflict questions without themselves proving an improper exchange.
Both Chambers of Congress Are in Session
Congress has a packed schedule involving war powers, spending, nominations, and other legislation. Enjoy the rare sighting of both chambers simultaneously doing congressional things.
CBS Boss Reportedly Had Private Calls With Hegseth’s Wife
The Daily Beast reports previously undisclosed communications involving CBS leadership and Jennifer Hegseth. What was actually discussed matters considerably more than the existence of a phone call, so disclosure beats speculation.
New Hampshire Chief Justice Resigns Amid Ethics Investigation
Chief Justice Gordon MacDonald resigned after admitting violations of New Hampshire’s judicial conduct code involving an employment arrangement benefiting a longtime ally. MacDonald said he accepted responsibility for his conduct.
Melania Distances Herself From Don Jr.’s Russian Wedding Benefactor
Melania Trump has distanced herself from Russian oligarch Umar Kremlev following reporting about his role financing portions of Don Jr.’s wedding festivities. The expanding wedding story has become considerably less about cake and considerably more about receipts.
Humans Can Review Some ChatGPT Conversations
Insider Paper examines circumstances in which human reviewers may access AI conversations for safety and system improvement. Your chatbot is software, not a priest with a confidentiality vow.
Former Senate Aide Takes His Allegations to CNN
Former deputy chief of staff Tre Easton expanded publicly on allegations involving his former Senate workplace. His claims should remain attributed while supporting evidence and responses are evaluated.
Kash Patel Uses Flash Cards During a Brutal Senate Hearing
Patel relied on prepared cards during contentious questioning about FBI management and policy. Considering the hearing eventually reached bestiality, the flash cards may have been the least fucking weird thing on the table.
Trump Administration Redirects Military Financing Toward Latin America
The administration is redirecting about $52 million in military financing from several European and Middle Eastern countries toward Panama, Peru, Ecuador, and Colombia as it emphasizes Western Hemisphere security.
DHS Whistleblower Sounds an Alarm
Olivia Troye highlights whistleblower allegations concerning DHS operations and internal practices. Whistleblower allegations require corroboration, but functioning channels for reporting potential misconduct are themselves essential oversight tools.
Welcome to the Burnerverse
Wired investigates an online ecosystem built around burner identities and anonymous accounts. Anonymity can protect vulnerable speakers while also enabling manipulation, harassment, and deception.
Another Russian Connected Executive Attended Don Jr.’s Wedding
Agents Media identifies another wedding attendee with professional connections to companies linked to Russian security services. Attendance does not establish wrongdoing, but identifying the full guest network helps establish who had access.
AOC Was Reportedly Blindsided by Palantir
Migrant Insider reports concerns about what lawmakers were told regarding Palantir and expanding immigration data capabilities. Government technology stops being boring when one database can suddenly talk to another database.
VoteSafe Raises Voter Privacy Questions
Oligarch Watch examines VoteSafe and raises questions about ownership, data collection, political technology, and voter privacy. Any election related platform collecting personal information deserves scrutiny over who controls that information and how it can be used.
Trump Administration Accused of Defying a Judge Over Loyalty Hiring
The PunchUp reports continued implementation of politically sensitive federal hiring practices amid litigation over the administration’s personnel policies. Court orders are traditionally where because I fucking said so stops qualifying as legal analysis.
Your Television May Be Watching You
Nightfire examines smart television tracking, automated content recognition, advertising profiles, and data collection. Congratulations on buying a television. The television may also have acquired you.
Trump Allies Vote to Close the Kennedy Center
Jim Acosta reports that Trump aligned Kennedy Center leadership voted to close the main building for renovations amid continuing disputes involving governance, funding, programming, and Trump’s effort to attach his name to the institution.
The Iran War Has Cost More Than $38 Billion
The Congressional Budget Office estimates Defense Department costs from the Iran war exceeded $38 billion through August 1 and could continue increasing by as much as $3 billion per month. The estimate also warns of pressure on American munitions inventories.
Boosie Badazz Releases Alleged Pardon Texts
Boosie Badazz released messages he says concern efforts surrounding a presidential pardon. Their authenticity and complete context matter before deciding what the messages actually establish.
Trump Tower Deal Sends $85 Million Toward a Foundation Linked to a Sanctioned Oligarch’s Family
The PunchUp reports that developers behind Trump Tower Tbilisi paid $85 million for property owned by a foundation associated with the family of sanctioned Georgian billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili. The relatives operating the foundation are not themselves sanctioned.
The DEI Crackdown Reaches Medical Education
The Preamble examines how the administration’s campaign against DEI is affecting medical schools, training programs, admissions, and healthcare institutions. The fight over three letters has officially reached the people we expect to keep us alive.
Closing RK Thoughts
Today’s chaos keeps returning to one question: who gets access?
Access to presidents. Access to their families. Access to government databases. Access to voters. Access to federal jobs. Access to pardons. Access to military power. Access to your television habits.
That is why the wedding guest lists matter. The contracts matter. The court orders matter. The data policies matter. The financial records matter.
Follow the people. Follow the money. Follow the databases. Save the receipts.
And when the FBI director is sitting before Congress explaining why bestiality entered a discussion about federal hiring standards, sometimes history has already written the fucking punchline.
Claws out. Receipts ready.
Featured Resisters and Resources
- Survivor Sisters is a survivor led advocacy and research initiative dedicated to truth, justice, healing, and accountability for survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s sexual abuse and trafficking network. Created by and for survivors, the organization combines survivor advocacy with documented historical research and practical support resources.
- 50501 Community Network is a decentralized, grassroots movement organizing across all 50 states to defend democracy, strengthen local communities, and mobilize people through peaceful civic action. The name grew from the movement’s original concept of coordinated action across 50 states through 50 protests on a single day.
What We Are Watching Today
- 9:00 AM EDT
House Debates Senate-Passed Russia Sanctions Bill Live - 9:00 AM EDT
Problem Solvers Caucus Announces Bipartisan Gerrymandering Reforms - 9:07 AM EDT
Democratic Lawmakers Call for Artificial Intelligence Regulations - 9:10 AM EDT
British Prime Minister Burnham and NATO Secretary General Rutte Hold News Conference - 9:30 AM EDT
Lawmakers Examine China’s Imprisonment of Democracy Advocate Jimmy Lai Live - 10:00 AM EDT
House Democrats Hold News Conference Live - 10:00 AM EDT
U.S. Senate Live - 10:00 AM EDT
Senate Hearing on Department of Health & Human Services Executive Nominations Live - 11:00 AM EDT
Reps. Kristen McDonald Rivet (D-MI) & Don Davis (D-NC) Hold Press Conference on Data Centers - 12:00 PM EDT
Michigan Governor Candidates Jocelyn Benson (D) and John James (R) Speak at Candidate Forum - 2:30 PM EDT
Federal Reserve Chair Warsh Holds News Conference on Interest Rates - 2:45 PM EDT
NASA SpaceX Crew-12 Astronauts Holds News Conference on ISS - 3:30 PM EDT
Senate Agriculture Committee Marks Up 2026 Farm Bill - 3:30 PM EDT
Health Professionals Testify on Menopause Care - 3:45 PM EDT
Gov. Greg Abbott (R-TX) Holds Roundtable in Amarillo, TX - 5:30 PM EDT
U.S. House Candidate Jennifer Balkcom (R-NC) Speaks at Campaign Event - 6:00 PM EDT
Capitol Hill Memorial Service for Former Members of Congress - 7:00 PM EDT
President Trump Gives Remarks in Gastonia, North Carolina - 8:00 PM EDT
U.S. Senate Candidate James Talarico (R-TX) Holds Rally at Baylor University - Today at 10:00 AM (EDT) House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa
- Today at 10:00 AM (EDT) House Committee on Homeland Security
- Today at 10:00 AM (EDT) House Appropriations Subcommittee on National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs
Today’s Call to Action
1. Read Today’s Resistance Survival Guides
2. Sign these Petitions and Send These Pre Written Letters
- Sign if you agree: Shut down DHS’s “Unlawful Voter Initiative.”
- Stop Trump From Weaponizing the IRS Against Nonprofits
- Sign if you agree: Investigate Donald Trump’s enormous, cash holiday gifts to four close aides.
- Don’t let Medicare Advantage insurers dump seniors
- Stop Trump from Giving Israel Tens of Thousands of Bombs
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
- Join us on Thursday, September 17 at 7:30 p.m. ET for Protecting the Vote: How You Can Help Keep Elections Safe.
- What’s on the November 3, 2026 Ballot
Wednesday, September 16 from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.
Attend virtually or at Eckerd College, Lewis House, 4200 54th Avenue South, St. Petersburg. This free League of Women Voters presentation explains the candidates, amendments, and issues appearing on the November ballot. - Hands Off Our Vote Election Protection Roundtable
Thursday, September 17 at 8:00 p.m. Eastern
Virtual training focused on election interference scenarios, protecting voters, responding quickly, and ensuring every valid ballot is counted. - WaveMakers Live: The 2026 Midterm Elections
Thursday, September 17 at 7:00 p.m.
The Commodore, 811 East 7th Avenue, Ybor City, Tampa. WMNF hosts and activists will discuss what the midterms mean for Tampa Bay, Florida, and the country. Tickets are $10 in advance or $15 at the door. - Vigil for Immigrant Justice
Sunday, September 20 from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m.
Pinellas County Courthouse, 14450 49th Street North, Clearwater. This peaceful vigil supports immigrant families and calls for an end to the detention and deportation of nonviolent community members.
6. Contact Your Lawmakers Directly
- Hold Leon Black in contempt “Hello, my name is [NAME], and I live in [CITY AND ZIP CODE]. I am calling to ask Representative [NAME] to support holding Leon Black in contempt of Congress for refusing to comply with subpoenas in the Epstein investigation. Billionaires do not get a special ignore Congress button. Please demand his testimony and full compliance. Thank you.”
- Protect mail voting “Hello, my name is [NAME], and I live in [CITY AND ZIP CODE]. I am asking [REPRESENTATIVE OR SENATOR NAME] to protect mail voting and oppose last minute Postal Service restrictions that could prevent valid ballots from being counted. Please support the Vote by Mail Protection Act and defend every eligible voter’s right to cast a ballot safely. Thank you.”
- Ban elected officials from profiting through cryptocurrency “Hello, my name is [NAME], and I live in [CITY AND ZIP CODE]. I am calling to demand strong and enforceable ethics rules in any cryptocurrency legislation. Presidents, members of Congress, federal judges, and their families must not be allowed to issue digital assets or profit from policies they control. Please require divestment, independent enforcement, and full public disclosure. Thank you.”
7. Who Are We Boycotting This Week?
- Home Depot
- Why: Home Depot uses Flock Safety license plate readers in store parking lots. Digital rights advocates are demanding that the company remove the surveillance cameras because the collected data could be accessed by law enforcement and used in immigration investigations.Boycott action: Avoid Home Depot stores and online purchases until the company removes Flock surveillance systems.
- Microsoft
- Why: The Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement identifies Microsoft as a priority boycott target because of its technology and cloud service relationships with the Israeli government and military.Boycott action: Cancel Microsoft subscriptions where practical and choose alternatives to Microsoft 365, Xbox, OneDrive, and other Microsoft services.
- The Magnum Ice Cream Company
- Why: Ben & Jerry’s cofounder Ben Cohen has accused the corporate owner of suppressing the brand’s independent social activism. The Free Ben & Jerry’s campaign is urging consumers to boycott other Magnum owned brands.Boycott action: Avoid Breyers, Klondike, Magnum, Popsicle, and Talenti products until Ben & Jerry’s independence is restored.
