White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt gave a three word response to a HuffPost reporter looking for a comment about who had suggested the location for a specific meeting: “Your mom did.”
The reporter in question, S. V. Dáte, had asked about a meeting that was planned in Budapest, Hungary, between President  Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The concern, according to Dáte, was that Russia had previously promised not to invade Ukraine in that very city in 1994. Dáte published Leavitt’s response:
<blockquote>In response to HuffPost’s query about who suggested Budapest, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt responded, “Your mom did,” and White House communications director Steven Cheung replied: “Your mom.”</blockquote>
Steve Guest responded to the article, saying, “Congratulations to HuffPost for eliciting the most legendary response from the White House. HuffPost asked who picked the location for Trump’s upcoming meeting with Putin …”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Congratulations to HuffPost for eliciting the most legendary response from the White House.
HuffPost asked who picked the location for Trump&#8217;s upcoming meeting with Putin.<a href="https://twitter.com/PressSec?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PressSec</a> responded: &#8220;Your mom did.&#8221;<a href="https://twitter.com/StevenCheung47?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@StevenCheung47</a> responded: &#8220;Your mom.&#8221;
Hilarious responses. <a href="https://t.co/jiRII8jGUz">pic.twitter.com/jiRII8jGUz</a>
— Steve Guest (@SteveGuest) <a href="https://twitter.com/SteveGuest/status/1979267771083993480?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 17, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Leavitt offered clarification a short time later, sharing screenshots of the full text exchange.
The way the question was framed, it was clear that the intention was to lay a trap for the Trump administration — either the person who chose that location would be framed as ignorant of the historical context, or they would be accused of selecting that location as an intentional slight to Ukraine.
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“For context, S.V. Dáte of the Huffington Post is not a journalist interested in the facts. He is a left-wing hack who has consistently attacked President Trump for years and constantly bombards my phone with Democrat talking points,” Leavitt posted along with the screenshot of the text exchange.
“Just take a look at @svdate’s feed, it reads like an anti-Trump personal diary. Here is my full response to his ‘inquiry,’” she continued, adding, “Activists who masquerade as real reporters do a disservice to the profession.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
For context, S.V. Dáte of the Huffington Post is not a journalist interested in the facts. He is a left-wing hack who has consistently attacked President Trump for years and constantly bombards my phone with Democrat talking points.
Just take a look at <a href="https://twitter.com/svdate?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@svdate</a>’s feed, it reads… <a href="https://t.co/NxWn2mdUsa">https://t.co/NxWn2mdUsa</a> <a href="https://t.co/v7owI5N4us">pic.twitter.com/v7owI5N4us</a>
— Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) <a href="https://twitter.com/PressSec/status/1980288128867877125?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 20, 2025</a></blockquote>
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White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt Holds Press Briefing At The White House

Read Karoline Leavitt’s Fiery Text To HuffPost Reporter

Huffington Post

Karoline Leavitt

Media

Politics

Russia

Ukraine-Russia War

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt unloaded on New York City&#8217;s Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani, commenting on his inability to answer a straight question about Hamas during his recent interview with Fox News host Martha MacCallum.
Leavitt, speaking on Thursday with &#8220;America Reports&#8221; anchors Sandra Smith and John Roberts, specifically addressed Mamdani&#8217;s refusal to say that Hamas terrorists should lay down their arms, refrain from killing Palestinian civilians, and step aside so that the Trump administration-brokered peace deal in Gaza can find footing.
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/PressSec?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PressSec</a> on Zohran Mamdani&#8217;s refusal to call on Hamas to lay down its arms: &#8220;This interview proved that the Democrat Party&#8217;s main constituencies are made up of Hamas terrorists, illegal aliens, and violent criminals — that is who the Democrat Party is catering to.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/wUPEt6rowS">pic.twitter.com/wUPEt6rowS</a>
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1978871661970817304?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 16, 2025</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;Well, that&#8217;s a classic case of &#8216;I don&#8217;t want to answer the question because I know it&#8217;s wildly unpopular,'&#8221; Leavitt observed, adding, &#8220;And the Democrat Party — this interview proved that the Democrat Party&#8217;s main constituencies are made up of Hamas terrorists, illegal aliens, and violent criminals — that is who the Democrat Party is catering to.&#8221;
&#8220;Not the Trump administration, not the White House, and not the Republican Party, who is standing up for law-abiding Americans — not just across the country but around the world, and that&#8217;s why President Trump worked so hard to end this conflict in the Middle East,&#8221; Leavitt continued. &#8220;It was President Trump who brought home the last living hostages out of Gaza.&#8221;
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&#8220;It&#8217;s President Trump who is actually pushing for peace. I would like to add, where are all the &#8216;Free Palestine&#8217; protesters?&#8221; she added, noting that Trump was the one who had paved the way for Gaza to be free.
The interview that sparked the conversation, which aired live on Wednesday&#8217;s broadcast of &#8220;The Story,&#8221; took a turn when MacCallum asked Mamdani about Hamas terrorists killing Palestinian civilians in Gaza even as the first phase of the peace deal was still unfolding.
&#8220;Do you believe that Hamas should lay down their weapons, and leave the leadership in Gaza?&#8221; she asked.
&#8220;I believe that any future here in New York City is one that we have to make sure that’s affordable for all. And as it pertains to Israel and Palestine, that we need to ensure that there is peace, and that is the future that we fight for,&#8221; Mamdani replied.
&#8220;But you won’t say that Hamas should lay down their arms and give up leadership in Gaza?&#8221; MacCallum asked again.
&#8220;I don’t really have opinions about the future of Hamas and Israel beyond the question of justice and safety, and the fact that anything has to abide by international law. And that applies to Hamas, that applies to the Israeli military, applies to anyone you could ask me about,&#8221; was Mamdani&#8217;s response.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt Holds Media Briefing

Press Sec Unloads On Mamdani Over Disastrous Hamas Question

Hamas

Israel

New York City

Zohran Mamdani

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is under fire for saying “every day gets better” for Democrats during the government shutdown.
Speaking to Punchbowl News, the New York Democrat explained why he was confident in the Democratic Party’s strategy as the government shutdown winds through its second week with no signs of stopping.
“Every day gets better for us,” <a href="https://punchbowl.news/article/senate/schumer-dems-momentum/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Schumer said.</a> “It’s because we’ve thought about this long in advance and we knew that health care would be the focal point on Sept. 30 and we prepared for it … Their whole theory was — threaten us, bamboozle us, and we would submit in a day or two.”
Republicans quickly took issue with Schumer’s comment.
“Better for Schumer. Worse for Americans,” Vice President JD Vance <a href="https://x.com/jdvance?lang=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wrote</a> on X. “What a vile sentiment from an alleged leader in our country.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Better for Schumer. Worse for Americans.
What a vile sentiment from an alleged leader in our country. <a href="https://t.co/P9bpss06s1">https://t.co/P9bpss06s1</a>
— JD Vance (@JDVance) <a href="https://twitter.com/JDVance/status/1976271822535696840?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 9, 2025</a></blockquote>
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“While federal workers stress over missed paychecks, military families turn to food pantries, and airports around the country face delays — Chuck Schumer and the Democrats are bragging that ‘every day gets better’ for them,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
While federal workers stress over missed paychecks, military families turn to food pantries, and airports around the country face delays — Chuck Schumer and the Democrats are bragging that “every day gets better” for them.
What a disgusting and revealing statement.
Democrats… <a href="https://t.co/OzugEJjSuS">pic.twitter.com/OzugEJjSuS</a>
— Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) <a href="https://twitter.com/PressSec/status/1976255131604627497?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 9, 2025</a></blockquote>
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“What a disgusting and revealing statement. Democrats are gleeful about inflicting pain on the American people.”
Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) wrote on X that Schumer “said the quiet part out loud.&#8221;
Schumer&#8217;s comment left Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-TN) with more questions than answers.
“Better for us. Who is us? Not our military working without pay. Not law enforcement. Not air traffic controllers,” the senator asked.
Schumer is very much aware of the shutdown’s disruptions, <a href="https://x.com/SenSchumer/status/1975974697595494645" target="_blank" rel="noopener">publishing</a> a lengthy list on X last night.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
It&#8217;s now been a full week of Donald Trump&#8217;s government shutdown.
700,000+ federal employees furloughed 
Disruptions to critical services 
Businesses nationwide with government contracts are in peril
Because Donald Trump and the Republicans would rather close the government than…
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) <a href="https://twitter.com/SenSchumer/status/1975974697595494645?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 8, 2025</a></blockquote>
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“700,000+ federal employees furloughed, the disruption to critical services, businesses nationwide with government contracts in peril.”
As the shutdown drags on, more and more government services will cease operating. The Daily Wire reported this week that the shutdown has led to massive <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/americans-face-flight-delays-as-government-shutdown-fuels-air-traffic-control-woes?author=Cameron+Arcand&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=2&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Americans+Face+Flight+Delays+As+Government+Shutdown+Fuels+Air+Traffic+Control+Woes" target="_blank" rel="noopener">flight delays</a> and prevented the release of the latest monthly <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/the-government-shutdown-means-theres-no-september-jobs-report-is-that-bad?author=Brecca+Stoll&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=The+Government+Shutdown+Means+There%E2%80%99s+No+September+Jobs+Report.+Is+That+Bad%3F" target="_blank" rel="noopener">jobs report.</a>
The shutdown could also have a negative impact on the economy as a whole.
“Each week, a shutdown subtracts about 0.1% of annualized GDP growth via reduced government activity,” Chief U.S. economist at J.P. Morgan Michael Feroli <a href="https://www.jpmorgan.com/insights/global-research/current-events/government-shutdown" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>. “For as long as the government shutdown goes on, we will be iterating a little bit blind.”
A growing number of Americans — including active-duty service members — will <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/americans-will-miss-paychecks-if-shutdown-doesnt-end-tonight?author=Brecca+Stoll&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=1&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Americans+Will+Miss+Paychecks+If+Shutdown+Doesn%E2%80%99t+End+Tonight" target="_blank" rel="noopener">miss paychecks</a> as the shutdown continues.
Instead of a paycheck, federal employees received a letter to pass along to their lenders and creditors asking for consideration given “the unforeseeable nature of this furlough when making decisions that affect employees finances.”
Lawmakers like Schumer are paid throughout the shutdown.

US Government Shutdown Looms With Trump, Democrats At Odds

Schumer Slammed For Shutdown Comments: ‘He Said The Quiet Part Out Loud’

Chuck Schumer

JD Vance

If Congress does not fund the government by Monday night, it will cost millions of Americans their next full paycheck, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt warned on Monday.
“Millions of American federal workers are under enormous financial stress as a result, wondering how they will pay their bills and take care of their families,” Leavitt said. “If the Democrats do not vote to open the government tonight, federal workers will not receive their next full paycheck.”
More than 620,000 federal workers have <a href="https://www.govexec.com/workforce/2025/10/more-employees-set-receive-furlough-notices-shutdown-drags/408629/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">already been furloughed</a> as the government shutdown approaches its second week. More and more workers will join their ranks in the coming days unless Republicans and Democrats come to an agreement on a funding bill. That includes more than <a href="https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/another-deadline-us-shutdown-will-troops-get-paychecks-october-15-2025-10-06/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">1 million active-duty troops</a> whose pay will lapse on October 15 absent an agreement.
Furloughed employees are issued letters they may present to landlords or creditors and will be issued back pay once the shutdown ends. Still, workers are already beginning to feel the strain of the shutdown, with some <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/US/fed-workers-stressed-financially-stretched-government-shutdown/story?id=126152597" target="_blank" rel="noopener">telling</a> ABC News they are living paycheck to paycheck.
Leavitt on Wednesday placed the blame for that financial strain firmly on Democrats, noting that just five defections would bring an end to the shutdown. That would not only protect federal workers’ pay, but also ensure federal nutrition programs for women and children operate uninterrupted.
Democrats thus far have refused to support funding bills that do not make permanent expanded Obamacare premium tax credits set to expire this year. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) took to X Friday to affirm that “Democrats will keep fighting to save health care for all Americans.”
Republicans say Schumer is keeping the government closed for fear of alienating extreme members of his party, who support the expanded tax credits because they would make it easier for illegal aliens to receive taxpayer-subsidized health benefits.
The Democrats’ “funding proposal would result in nearly $200 billion dollars spent on health care for illegal aliens and other non-citizens over the next decade,” Leavitt said Wednesday.
Republicans are pushing a “clean” funding bill, which would keep the government running without any additional provisions. The House of Representatives passed the bill on Sept. 19 by a vote of 217-212. The Senate has repeatedly failed to pass the bill, with the majority of Democrats voting to oppose.
Democratic Senators John Fetterman, (Pa.) and Catherine Cortez Masto (Nev.) have sided with Republicans.

Democrats Call On FCC Chair To Resign Over ABC’s Kimmel Decision

Americans Will Miss Paychecks If Shutdown Doesn’t End Tonight

Senate Democrats

U.S. troops

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt reminded CNN&#8217;s Kaitlan Collins that, as a reporter, it was her job to get to the bottom of things rather than to simply accept whatever party line came from the people in power.
While addressing the ongoing situation in Portland, Oregon — where Antifa rioters have squared off against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers while local police stand down and independent journalists get caught in the crossfire — Collins suggested that President Donald Trump&#8217;s plan to send in the National Guard was unnecessary.
&#8220;I spoke to the police chief of Portland last week. He said that the president&#8217;s claims just don&#8217;t match up with what&#8217;s happening on the ground,&#8221; Collins said, asking Leavitt whether she&#8217;d spoken to anyone who was in favor of a National Guard presence.
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/PressSec?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PressSec</a> smacks down Fake News <a href="https://twitter.com/kaitlancollins?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@kaitlancollins</a> for denying Portland crime: &#8220;I would encourage you, as a reporter, to go on the ground and to take a look for yourself&#8230; You&#8217;re probably talking to partisan Democrat officials who are opposed to everything this President does.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/ZVjKMBooVK">pic.twitter.com/ZVjKMBooVK</a>
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1975254876004491792?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 6, 2025</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;I would encourage you, as a reporter, to go on the ground and to take a look for yourself, because there&#8217;s been many members of the press — not the press in this room but independent journalists — some of whom we&#8217;ll be inviting to the White House very soon to share their stories,&#8221; Leavitt said. &#8220;Because they have been in the middle of these riots, and they have witnessed the anarchy that is taking place night after night. It&#8217;s on video!&#8221;
&#8220;You should play it on your show — you have a great opportunity in primetime on CNN to show your audience —&#8221; Collins started to interrupt, but Leavitt kept going. &#8220;You&#8217;re probably talking to partisan Democrat officials who are opposed to everything this president does.&#8221;
She also encouraged Collins to speak to the people who live in Portland and ask them how they felt about the chaos that was unfolding on their streets every night.
&#8220;These people are not there to peacefully protest, they are there to cause mayhem and havoc,&#8221; Leavitt said of the protesters.

Media Briefing Held By White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt

‘Take A Look For Yourself’: Press Sec Challenges CNN Reporter To Actually Report

Kaitlan Collins

National Guard

Oregon

Portland

The White House plans deep cuts to “Democrat agencies” as the government shutdown continues, a terrorist attacks an Orthodox synagogue killing two and wounding more, and Leonardo DiCaprio stars in a new political blockbuster.
It’s Friday, October 3, 2025, and this is the news you need to know to start your day.
Morning Wire is available on video! You can watch today’s episode here:
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If you would rather listen to your news, today’s edition of the Morning Wire podcast can be heard below:
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<h2 style="text-align: center;">Shutdown Day 3</h2>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-980289" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/Shutdown-Cuts-Inbound-300x169.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="169" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/Shutdown-Cuts-Inbound-300x169.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/Shutdown-Cuts-Inbound-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/Shutdown-Cuts-Inbound-768x432.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/Shutdown-Cuts-Inbound-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/Shutdown-Cuts-Inbound.jpg 1920w" sizes=" (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
Topline: The government shutdown enters its third day, as the blame game continues and President Donald Trump threatens mass firings of federal employees. 
The GOP strategy: The White House wants to make the shutdown about healthcare funding for illegal immigrants. It says the Democrat proposal would result in $200 billion in subsidies going to non-citizens over the next decade, primarily through Medicaid and mandatory emergency care. The White House argues that the American people elected President Trump to cut those exact policies, and by blocking him from doing so, Democrats are denying the will of the people.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt <a href="https://x.com/RapidResponse47/status/1973753810154889282">said</a>: “Trump ran on the promise to end taxpayer-funded benefits going to illegal aliens, and tens of millions of Americans voted him back to this beautiful White House to implement that promise … and now Democrats want to undo it — and they&#8217;re holding our country hostage.”
The White House says the United States will lose $15 billion in GDP revenue each week the shutdown drags on, and it wants to ensure Democrats bear the blame, posting news clips on social media describing national guardsmen going unpaid, food assistance for low-income single mothers drying up, etc.
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A number of federal websites had new banners on Thursday — the official Justice Department homepage, for example, read “Democrats have shut down the government … websites are not currently updated.” 
Trump’s austerity: The president is targeting “non-essential” federal employees for termination as part of his broader government efficiency efforts. He posted on social media that he “had a meeting today with Russ Vought, he of PROJECT 2025 Fame, to determine which of the many Democrat Agencies, most of which are a political SCAM, he recommends to be cut … I can’t believe the Radical Left Democrats gave me this unprecedented opportunity.”
<h2 style="text-align: center;">Yom Kippur Synagogue Attack</h2>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-980287" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/Manchester-Synagogue-Attacked-300x169.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="169" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/Manchester-Synagogue-Attacked-300x169.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/Manchester-Synagogue-Attacked-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/Manchester-Synagogue-Attacked-768x432.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/Manchester-Synagogue-Attacked-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/Manchester-Synagogue-Attacked.jpg 1920w" sizes=" (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
Topline: A knife-wielding man targeted a synagogue in Manchester, England, on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.
The U.K.’s counterterrorism police have deemed the attack a “<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/10/02/world/manchester-synagogue-stabbing-uk">terrorist incident</a>.”
Timeline: Authorities first received calls at around 9:30 a.m. local time about a man driving his vehicle into pedestrians outside the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation synagogue. The suspect, identified as Jihad al-Shamie, a 35-year-old British citizen who is of Syrian descent, then got out of his vehicle and began stabbing people around him. Authorities have confirmed that two people have been killed and four others were injured.
The suspect was shot and killed by police about 7-8 minutes after authorities were first called. 
The attack: The terrorist was not able to enter the actual synagogue because the entrance was locked and barricaded. When he exited the vehicle, he immediately encountered synagogue security and other members who stopped him.
Step back: About 30,000 Jewish people reside in Manchester – outside of London, it’s home to the largest Jewish community in the country. Antisemitic incidents in the U.K. have hit record levels after the October 7th attack by Hamas in Israel. In the first half of this year alone, there have been more than 1,500 reported incidents.
<h2 style="text-align: center;">“One Battle After Another”</h2>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-980285" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/Silver-Screen-Politics-300x169.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="169" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/Silver-Screen-Politics-300x169.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/Silver-Screen-Politics-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/Silver-Screen-Politics-768x432.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/Silver-Screen-Politics-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/Silver-Screen-Politics.jpg 1920w" sizes=" (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
Topline: A new film by celebrated director Paul Thomas Anderson starring Leonardo DiCaprio is earning high praise from critics and solid numbers at the box office – but it’s also stirring up debate about its potentially polarizing political themes.
National Review contributor Giancarlo Sopo joined Morning Wire to discuss the film, “One Battle After Another.”
What is the film about? “I think to understand ‘One Battle After Another,’ you have to understand the book that it&#8217;s based on, and it&#8217;s Thomas Pynchon’s ‘Vineland.’ Essentially, it&#8217;s a story about a bunch of radicals who have gotten burned out, have attempted to attack government installations and institutions using violence. Now they are being hunted. So, it&#8217;s a satire, right? You’ve got radicals on one side, and then on the right, you&#8217;re going to have a bunch of racist, autocratic thugs, essentially, coming after them who are part of this paramilitary organization that is also tied, by the way, to a secret society of races called the Christmas Adventurers Club.”
Is it a political movie? “I think the film&#8217;s political sympathies are obviously with the progressive left. At the same time, though, I wouldn&#8217;t necessarily call it a political movie. I would look at it more as Antifa Star Wars, as a friend told me, where the politics and the radicalism is kind of used as a vehicle to tell a father-daughter story. You have this burned-out dad who spends all day smoking weed and watching ‘The Battle Of Algiers,’ bringing up a young daughter, who&#8217;s a teenager now, entirely by himself. And he&#8217;s having a hard time communicating with her. There are very funny, generational conflicts as tends to happen to those who have kids now are starting to figure that out.”
Is there any sympathy for people considered to be on the right in the film? “The thing with the movie is that no one&#8217;s really in the center, right? Or really the center left or much less the middle. It follows a set of extremists on both sides. And what the story is telling you on the political side is that these ideologies are pulling people away from what matters most to them in life, which should be their own children. There are very clear passages in the film that communicate that. I don&#8217;t think anyone is portrayed here sympathetically in the film, to be candid with you, with the exception of the teenage girl.”
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MRN_251003-Thumbnail-V1

Morning Brief: Shutdown Day 3, Deadly Synagogue Attack, And Leonardo DiCaprio’s New Political Movie

Donald Trump

Leonardo DiCaprio

Morning Wire

Movies

Terrorism

United Kingdom

White House

With just hours to go before the looming government shutdown is expected to kick in, a poll by The New York Times suggests that most voters would actually prefer to see Democrats in Congress get to work and find a way to avoid it.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt posted a screenshot of a single poll question asking 1,075 voters which of the following statements “came closest” to an accurate representation of their opinion on the matter.
“New York Times Poll: 65% of Americans say, ‘the Democrats should not shut down the government, even if their demands are not met,’” Leavitt’s caption read.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
New York Times Poll:
65% of Americans say, “the Democrats should not shut down the government, even if their demands are not met.” <a href="https://t.co/x3CFjzqgm6">pic.twitter.com/x3CFjzqgm6</a>
— Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) <a href="https://twitter.com/PressSec/status/1973024518424743946?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 30, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The first choice read, “The Democrats should shut down the government if their demands are not met” — and just over one-fourth (27%) of respondents selected that answer. The second, which was chosen by 65% of respondents, read, “The Democrats should not shut down the government, even if their demands are not met.” Just under one-tenth (7%) of respondents did not choose one of the two options.
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Trump’s team shared the same data in graphic form:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
🚨 POLL: 65% of Americans say Democrats SHOULD NOT shut down the government <a href="https://t.co/9schOzvYfV">pic.twitter.com/9schOzvYfV</a>
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1973027165739643068?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 30, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
House Democrats are all-in on the imminent shutdown, and even shared a group photo celebrating their refusal to come to the table. “House Democrats are in DC and ready to cancel the cuts, lower the costs, save health care,” the caption claimed.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
House Democrats are in DC and ready to cancel the cuts, lower the costs, save health care. <a href="https://t.co/vnNRqGD3NS">pic.twitter.com/vnNRqGD3NS</a>
— House Democrats (@HouseDemocrats) <a href="https://twitter.com/HouseDemocrats/status/1972828851442204762?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 30, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), who proved to be the weak link in the last shutdown standoff, has made it clear that he does not intend to budge this time. Indeed, after he argued that it was more important to make sure that the government was funded and people were paid — a position that the NYT poll suggests voters share — Schumer took a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/its-already-happening-abcs-the-view-is-in-absolute-panic-mode-over-schumer-caving-on-cr">wave of backlash</a> from within his own party for giving Republicans a win. That experience, coupled with an increasingly likely primary from someone further to the left — possibly from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) — has apparently galvanized Schumer to stand his ground in the current fight.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) said as much on Tuesday, arguing that Schumer didn’t care if he was blamed for the shutdown because the optics were better for him if he was.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/LeaderJohnThune?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LeaderJohnThune</a>: &#8220;Politically speaking, Chuck Schumer needs a Schumer Shutdown&#8230; This is a made-up problem by the Democrats, who desperately need to satisfy a political base that is hostile to Donald Trump&#8230; This doesn&#8217;t have anything to do with health care.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/BwNdzwqJtn">pic.twitter.com/BwNdzwqJtn</a>
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1973012686796623956?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 30, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
“I&#8217;m going to tell you, just in the Senate at least, politically speaking, Chuck Schumer needs a Schumer Shutdown,” Thune said. “And I think that&#8217;s what we&#8217;re probably careening toward. But it&#8217;s up to the Democrats. This bill — this 24 pages is sitting at the desk in the Senate right now. It could be picked up and passed, the government stays open, and we complete our appropriations work.”
“They have the same leverage on November the 21st that they have right now,” Thune said of the Democrats, adding, “&#8230; This is a made-up problem by the Democrats, who desperately need to satisfy a political base that is hostile to Donald Trump. That&#8217;s what this is about &#8230; This doesn&#8217;t have anything to do with health care.”

US-POLITICS-TRUMP-CONGRESS

As Dems Prepare To Force A Government Shutdown, Poll Suggests The People Aren’t Falling In Line

As Dems Prepare To Force A Government Shutdown, Poll Suggests The People Aren't Falling In Line

Congress

Hakeem Jeffries

Mike Johnson

New York Times

Poll

The New York Times

More than 70% of Americans believe that violent crime in U.S. cities is &#8220;unacceptably high,&#8221; but nearly half of Democrats say that violent crime &#8220;isn&#8217;t that much of a problem,&#8221; according to a poll conducted earlier this month by NPR and Ipsos.
The <a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/26158921-npr-law-enforcement-topline-9232025/">poll&#8217;s findings</a> show yet another example of the Left&#8217;s disconnect from broader society as many Democrats brush off concerns about crime rates in American cities. While 71% of Americans agreed that &#8220;the level of crime and violence in American cities is unacceptably high,&#8221; including 93% of Republicans and 68% of independents, only 54% of Democrats said the same. Forty-five percent of Democrats, meanwhile, said that crime and violence in U.S. cities isn&#8217;t a big problem, according to the NPR/Ipsos poll.
The plurality (49%) of Democrats polled believe that crime has increased in the United States in the past year while only 18% of Democrats said that crime has decreased. Those findings are similar to what Republicans said, but many Democrats believe there is less of a crime problem when asked about major cities in their state.
Just 31% of Democrats said that crime has increased in major cities in their state since last year compared to 47% of Republicans who said the same. The NPR/Ipsos poll interviewed 323 Republicans, 289 Democrats, and 298 independents.
Democratic lawmakers have strongly opposed the Trump administration&#8217;s tactics for rooting out violent crime in American cities. Since President Donald Trump deployed National Guard troops and federal agents to crack down on crime in Washington, D.C., Democrats at the federal, state, and local levels have condemned the administration&#8217;s efforts.
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White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt pointed to the NPR/Ipsos poll on Monday, blasting Democrats for their &#8220;out of touch&#8221; stance on addressing violent crime.
&#8220;While President Trump is doing everything in his power to restore law and order in America – Democrats are doubling down on their failed soft-on-crime approach,&#8221; Leavitt wrote. &#8220;Democrats are completely out of touch with the concerns of the American people.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
While President Trump is doing everything in his power to restore law and order in America – Democrats are doubling down on their failed soft-on-crime approach.
Democrats are completely out of touch with the concerns of the American people. <a href="https://t.co/iNpw8NPXjL">pic.twitter.com/iNpw8NPXjL</a>
— Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) <a href="https://twitter.com/PressSec/status/1972693620013621429?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 29, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Trump moved to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-announces-next-deeply-troubled-american-city-national-guard-will-clean-up?author=Zach+Jewell&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Trump+Announces+Next+%E2%80%98Deeply+Troubled%E2%80%99+American+City+National+Guard+Will+Clean+Up">send</a> in the National Guard to Memphis, which is the most violent city in the United States, according to the most recent FBI crime data. The president also vowed to send National Guard troops to Chicago and Portland. In the weeks following Trump&#8217;s law enforcement surge and National Guard deployment in D.C., the Metropolitan Police Department reported a decrease in violent crime and property crime, with crime decreasing in all seven of the capital&#8217;s police districts, CNN <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-announces-next-deeply-troubled-american-city-national-guard-will-clean-up?author=Zach+Jewell&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Trump+Announces+Next+%E2%80%98Deeply+Troubled%E2%80%99+American+City+National+Guard+Will+Clean+Up">reported</a>.
The White House said that thousands of arrests had been made in the first month of Trump&#8217;s D.C. crime crackdown, including arrests of illegal immigrants and gang members. Still, 74% of Democrats strongly oppose deploying the National Guard to a major city in their state to address violent crime, while only 3% of Democrats said they would strongly support such efforts.
Earlier this month, Trump called out Democrats for allowing violent crime to get out of control in some cities.
“Almost every city that’s in trouble is run by Democrats,” Trump told “Fox &amp; Friends” on September 12. “Cashless bail is a disaster.”

Chicago

Nearly Half Of Dem Voters Believe Violent Crime In U.S. Cities ‘Isn’t That Much Of A Problem’

Crime

Democrats

Trump Administration

U.S.

Violent Crime

Federal authorities believe that the 40-year-old man accused of opening fire at a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and killing four worshipers in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan, on Sunday &#8220;hated people of the Mormon faith,&#8221; White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told &#8220;Fox &amp; Friends.&#8221;
During an interview on Monday morning, Leavitt said that based on her conversations with FBI Director Kash Patel, &#8220;All they know right now is this was an individual who hated people of the Mormon faith, and they are trying to understand more about this, how premeditated it was, how much planning went into it, whether he left a note.&#8221;
&#8220;All of those questions have yet to be answered, but certainly will be answered by the FBI,&#8221; Leavitt added.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
FOX NEWS ALERT: <a href="https://twitter.com/PressSec?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PressSec</a> reveals the suspect in the Michigan church shooting “hated people of the Mormon faith.” <a href="https://t.co/IriLn85r0H">pic.twitter.com/IriLn85r0H</a>
— FOX &amp; Friends (@foxandfriends) <a href="https://twitter.com/foxandfriends/status/1972645008907051221?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 29, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Authorities have not said whether any writings or information point to a specific motive in the attack, but Leavitt said that the FBI is executing &#8220;multiple search warrants at the residences and family homes&#8221; of the suspected shooter.
The suspected gunman was identified as Thomas Jacob Sanford, a U.S. Marine veteran who was deployed to Iraq for nearly seven months in 2007. The 40-year-old man had no criminal history and lived in Burton, Michigan, which borders Grand Blanc Township. The pickup truck the alleged shooter used in the attack had two American flags displayed in its bed. In a photo uploaded to Facebook in 2019, the gunman was pictured wearing a &#8220;Trump 2020&#8221; shirt that read, &#8220;Make Liberals Cry Again,&#8221; NBC News <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/what-we-know-thomas-jacob-sanford-suspect-michigan-church-shooting-rcna234309">reported</a>.
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The attacker was carrying explosive devices when he drove his Chevy Silverado into the church building on Sunday, but authorities said it was unclear if he used them. Officials believe that the gunman used gas to start a fire in the church, a blaze that engulfed the entire building. The 40-year-old veteran allegedly opened fire on congregants with a semiautomatic rifle. Two people were killed from gunshot wounds, and two more people were found dead in the church after first responders arrived. Another eight people were wounded in the attack.
Police responded to the shooting within 30 seconds and pursued the shooter to a parking lot behind the church, where the suspect was shot and killed.
On Sunday night, the FBI asked anyone with information about the attack to contact 1-800-CALL-FBI or visit <a href="https://tips.fbi.gov/home">tips.fbi.gov</a>.

US-SHOOTING-CHURCH

Feds Believe Michigan Church Shooter ‘Hated People Of The Mormon Faith’

Church

kash patel

Mass Shooting

Michigan

Mormonism

WASHINGTON — FBI Director Kash Patel shared on Thursday that the gunman who opened fire on an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Dallas yesterday had searched online for apps that tracked the locations of ICE agents.
Such apps are a &#8220;casting call to invite bad actors to attack law enforcement officers,&#8221; Marcos Charles, ICE&#8217;s Acting Executive Associate Director of Enforcement and Removal Operations, said at a Thursday press conference. &#8220;It&#8217;s no different than giving the hit man the location of their intended target, and this is exactly what we saw happen in Dallas yesterday.&#8221;
Charles called out mainstream media outlets for amplifying these apps, lamenting that &#8220;The media has been amplifying these apps even as we warned them it would only lead to more attacks on law enforcement.&#8221;
&#8220;We truly wish we didn&#8217;t have to say we told you so, but here we are.&#8221;
CNN came under fire earlier this year for its coverage of one such app, &#8220;ICE Block.&#8221; CNN&#8217;s story and segment dove into the intricacies of the app, sharing how it allows users to report ICE sightings and pinpoint the locations of federal agents in order to help illegal aliens avoid arrest.
Users could be anonymous, CNN noted.
&#8220;‘I wanted to do something to fight back’: This iPhone app alerts users to nearby ICE sightings,&#8221; reads the headline of CNN reporter Claire Duffy&#8217;s piece.  Her coverage shares that &#8220;users can add a pin on a map showing where they spotted agents — along with optional notes, like what officers were wearing or what kind of car they were driving,&#8221; adding: &#8220;Other users within a five-mile radius will then receive a push alert notifying them of the sighting.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
🚨NEW—CNN pushes new app &#8220;ICEBlock&#8221; meant to &#8220;track ICE activity in real time,&#8221; alerting illegal aliens before they are detained and deported.
The app is completely free and anonymous to use. <a href="https://t.co/f142PBR9Bo">pic.twitter.com/f142PBR9Bo</a>
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) <a href="https://twitter.com/townhallcom/status/1939691690614267986?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 30, 2025</a></blockquote>
ICE officials said in June that CNN&#8217;s segment endangered the lives of federal agents, and, pressed by The Daily Wire about the matter during a June press briefing, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt warned that the app sounded like &#8220;an incitement of further violence against our ICE officers.&#8221;
“It’s unacceptable that a major network would promote such an app that is encouraging violence against law enforcement officers who are trying to keep our country safe,&#8221; Leavitt said in June. The White House&#8217;s opposition to the coverage drew fire from liberal media outlets like MSNBC — which criticized the Trump administration and also interviewed ICE Block founder Joshua Aaron &#8220;to share his motive behind creating the app and why he&#8217;s not afraid of retaliation from the administration.&#8221;
On Thursday, following the tragic shooting at an ICE facility in Dallas, Leavitt slammed CNN once again.
&#8220;Three months ago, CNN irresponsibly gave free publicity to an app that recklessly shares the location of ICE Agents,&#8221; Leavitt said. &#8220;It has now been revealed the leftist lunatic shooter who opened fire on the Dallas ICE Facility was using one of these apps.&#8221; 
&#8220;The liberal media is complicit in the increased threats and violence against ICE,&#8221; Leavitt argued. &#8220;We see it every day — they are quick to write a fake story portraying ICE in a negative light, often omitting the real facts of these cases, and they hardly ever write about the vicious criminals that ICE is arresting every day to make our country safer.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/MaryMargOlohan?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MaryMargOlohan</a> asks <a href="https://twitter.com/PressSec?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PressSec</a> about CNN&#8217;s promotion of &#8220;ICEBlock&#8221;, an app that tells you where ICE agents are:
LEAVITT: &#8220;It&#8217;s unacceptable that a major network would promote such an app that is encouraging violence against officers who are trying to keep our country safe.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/Bkd8RpJYqJ">pic.twitter.com/Bkd8RpJYqJ</a>
— Daily Wire (@realDailyWire) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDailyWire/status/1939751696042782869?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 30, 2025</a></blockquote>
&#8220;This is an app that is publicly available to any iPhone user who wants to download it,&#8221; a CNN spokesman told The Daily Wire Thursday. &#8220;There is nothing illegal about reporting the existence of this or any other app, nor does such reporting constitute promotion or other endorsement of the app by CNN.&#8221;
In June, a spokesman defended the network&#8217;s coverage, saying in a statement that it &#8220;reported on a publicly available app, which is generating attention across the United States, and reached out to ICE for comment prior to publication,&#8221; and noting that &#8220;after CNN published its reporting, ICE posted a response, which is now included in the story.&#8221;
On Wednesday, 29-year-old Joshua Jahn opened fire on the Dallas ICE facility from a nearby rooftop. He killed one illegal immigrant detainee and injured two others before killing himself. FBI Director Patel said Thursday that FBI Dallas and FBI headquarters have been &#8220;working 24/7 to seize devices, exploit data, and process writings obtained on location and in the subject&#8217;s person/residence/bedroom.&#8221;
&#8220;This FBI is committed to providing timely updates, as promised,&#8221; Patel said, before sharing that &#8220;The perp downloaded a document titled &#8216;Dallas County Office of Homeland Security &amp; Emergency Management&#8217; containing a list of DHS facilities,&#8221; and noting that the killer &#8220;conducted multiple searches of ballistics and the &#8216;Charlie Kirk Shot Video&#8217; between 9/23-9/24.&#8221;
&#8220;Between 8/19-8/24,&#8221; Patel shared, &#8220;he searched apps that tracked the presence of ICE agents.&#8221;
One of the handwritten notes that the shooter left behind, said Patel, read: &#8220;Hopefully this will give ICE agents real terror, to think, &#8216;is there a sniper with AP rounds on that roof?&#8221;
Patel concluded that &#8220;further accumulated evidence to this point indicates a high degree of pre-attack planning,&#8221; promising further updates when available.&#8221;

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt Holds Press Briefing

Liberal Media Highlighted Anti-ICE Apps. A Murderer Used The Apps To Kill.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

President Donald Trump gears up for his highly anticipated United Nations address, the administration warns pregnant women against using Tylenol, and Trump moves to stop companies from “shipping in cheap foreign labor.”
It’s Tuesday, September 23, 2025, and this is the news you need to know to start your day.
Morning Wire is available on video! You can watch today’s episode here:
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If you would rather listen to your news, today’s edition of the Morning Wire podcast can be heard below:
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<h2 style="text-align: center;">Foreign Policy Roundup</h2>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-975713" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/U.N.-Awaits-Trump-300x169.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="169" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/U.N.-Awaits-Trump-300x169.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/U.N.-Awaits-Trump-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/U.N.-Awaits-Trump-768x432.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/U.N.-Awaits-Trump-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/U.N.-Awaits-Trump.jpg 1920w" sizes=" (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
Topline: Trump is scheduled to make a highly anticipated address to the United Nations on Tuesday.
What we’re tracking: Whether Trump will commit to more UN funding.
After taking office, Trump withdrew the United States from UN agencies like the Human Rights Council and World Health Organization, rescinded about a billion dollars in funding that Congress had already appropriated, and ordered a review of any future funds going to the UN, saying he wanted to ensure its mission “aligned with our national interests.”
As a result, the UN is facing a severe budget crunch — to save money, it has initiated plans to relocate its offices from New York and Geneva to lower-cost alternatives, such as Nairobi. It is also planning to cut thousands of jobs and consolidate several smaller agencies. 
Trump’s speech will reportedly touch on “his vision of how the United States is approaching the world” — the assembly is hoping that approach includes funding commitments for the UN.
The Waltz: Mike Waltz, a former Green Beret and Florida congressman, was confirmed by the Senate on Friday to serve as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and hit the ground running.
The Push for “Palestine”: Trump’s speech will coincide with a separate conference on Palestinian statehood that’s being led by France and Saudi Arabia.
Canada, Britain, and Australia each offered recognition of a Palestinian state for the first time this weekend. They joined about 150 of 193 UN member states that have done so.
But while Trump has seemingly grown more frustrated with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying he needs to “wrap up” the war in Gaza, he’s still expected to offer his support of Israel today. The State Department issued a statement calling the push for Palestinian Statehood a “publicity stunt” and “reward for terrorism”. 
Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas will make the case for statehood to the UN General Assembly on Thursday. He’ll have to do it remotely after the Trump administration canceled his visa. 
Taking back Bagram: Last week, President Trump announced his intention to reclaim Bagram Air Base, which was abandoned and taken over by the Taliban following the botched withdrawal from Afghanistan under former President Joe Biden. 
When Trump was asked if he was willing to deploy American troops to retake the base, he refrained from giving a clear answer.
“We&#8217;re talking now to Afghanistan, and we want it back and we want it back soon, right away. And if they don&#8217;t do it &#8211; if they don&#8217;t do it, you&#8217;re going to find out what I&#8217;m gonna do,&#8221; Trump <a href="https://x.com/RapidResponse47/status/1969552386076090849">said</a>.
<h2 style="text-align: center;">Autism Report</h2>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-975715" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Tylenol-Autism-Link-300x169.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="169" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Tylenol-Autism-Link-300x169.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Tylenol-Autism-Link-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Tylenol-Autism-Link-768x432.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Tylenol-Autism-Link-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Tylenol-Autism-Link.jpg 1920w" sizes=" (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
Topline: President Trump and Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced significant findings on research concerning a spike in national autism rates. 
For weeks, there had been speculation about this, but Trump and Kennedy both linked one medication to a possible cause of autism and another to a possible treatment.
The cause: They said that the use of acetaminophen during pregnancy is tied to an increased risk of autism. Acetaminophen is the active ingredient in Tylenol and is one of the most widely used medications globally for pain relief and fever reduction. 
FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary: “We have an epidemic of autism that has increased 400% in the recent decades and we don&#8217;t have a known cause. Now this may be a cause, but when you have enough evidence to suggest an association and you have no other plausible cause, we have a duty to notify parents and doctors.”
The cure: The other major part of this announcement was that a drug called leucovorin, also known as folinic acid, can potentially help treat autism symptoms.
Makary: “We recognized that some kids with autism actually have an autoimmune disease. … And some doctors have actually started to test for this folate antibody, and they will then move on to treat some kids with this folinic acid or vitamin B12 that bypasses the receptor.”
Pharma’s view: Kirk Perry, the CEO of Kenvue, which makes Tylenol, reportedly had a “hastily scheduled meeting” with Secretary Kennedy last week over reports about this announcement. Perry argued in the private meeting that there is no causal link between Tylenol use during pregnancy and autism. He told Kennedy that Tylenol is a safe option for pregnant women, especially if they spike a fever, and added that other options actually do have links to birth defects. 
Since early September, the Kenvue stock has <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/us/trump-admin-report-linking-tylenol-to-autism-sends-kenvue-stock-sliding/articleshow/124049521.cms?utm_source=chatgpt.com&amp;from=mdr">dropped</a> around 15%. 
<h2 style="text-align: center;">H-1B Visa Debate</h2>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-975717" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/H-1B-Price-Tag-300x169.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="169" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/H-1B-Price-Tag-300x169.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/H-1B-Price-Tag-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/H-1B-Price-Tag-768x432.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/H-1B-Price-Tag-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/H-1B-Price-Tag.jpg 1920w" sizes=" (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
Topline: President Trump signed an executive order that the White House says will curb abuse of the H-1B system that’s freezing Americans out of good jobs. The order has sparked confusion, leaving many wondering how it works and who it affects.
H-1B visas allow companies to hire foreign workers for specialized jobs when companies can’t find a skilled American to fill the position. Critics of the program argue that it has been abused to undercut American wages.
According to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, the order imposes a one-time $100,000 fee per employee on any company seeking a new H-1B visa. Leavitt said in an X post: “This is NOT an annual fee.” And it does not apply to any current H-1B holders who are outside the country or whose visas are currently up for renewal.
Divisive? Hardly: Some of the president’s supporters want the H-1B program massively reduced if not canceled entirely. But even among the president’s supporters in the tech sector, they’ll say that the system could use reform.
Back in December, Elon Musk, a strong supporter of the H-1B program, posted on <a href="https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1873191959441084531" target="_blank" rel="noopener">X</a> that it is “broken and needs major reform.” He said many complaints about abuse could be addressed by “raising the minimum salary significantly and adding a yearly cost for maintaining the H1B, making it materially more expensive to hire from overseas than domestically.”
Project Firewall: The Department of Labor <a href="https://x.com/USDOL/status/1969161021232148795">rolled out</a> Project Firewall on Friday.
“For too long, Washington politicians have stayed silent as employers abused H-1B visas under President Trump. This is coming to an end today. The Department of Labor is proud to launch Project Firewall,” the department said in a promo video released on X.
Project Firewall is intended to crack down on abuse in the H-1B program. <a href="https://www.dol.gov/newsroom/releases/osec/osec20250919">According to</a> the department, it “will conduct investigations of employers through Project Firewall to maximize H-1B program compliance.” Violations could result in back wages for workers, civil fines, or even disbarment from the H-1B program for a specified period. The goal here is to “safeguard the rights, wages, and job opportunities of highly skilled American workers by ensuring employers prioritize qualified Americans when hiring.”

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Morning Brief: Trump At The UN, New Visa Price Tag & Autism Bombshell

Department of Labor

Mike Waltz

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

United Nations

WASHINGTON—President Donald Trump promised Sunday that his administration is “very strongly” examining the string of transgender violence throughout the United States.
The president spoke with reporters aboard Air Force One late in the day as he traveled home from a memorial service for Charlie Kirk. Approximately 90,000 people attended the memorial at State Farm Stadium in Arizona, including many members of the president’s administration, who eulogized their murdered friend with emotion and called for Americans to follow Jesus Christ throughout the five-hour service.
Aboard Air Force One on the way home, Trump joined the press at the back of the plane to take questions. The Daily Wire pointed out to the president that Kirk’s alleged killer lived with his trans-identifying roommate and lover, that the horrific Annunciation Catholic School shooting was committed by a trans-identifying killer, and that the Covenant School shooting was committed by a trans-identifying killer, among other recent examples.
While he stressed that his administration is looking into the matter, Trump noted that he can’t make a definitive statement on the topic yet.
“You know, we’re looking at that,” the president responded gravely, asking, “What’s the reason for it?”
“Yeah, there seems to be something,” he reflected. “But we’re looking at it very strongly. Something seems to be going on.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
🚨Trump on the Daily Wire&#8217;s reporting that reveals Justice Kavanaugh&#8217;s attempted assassin identifies as transgender: <a href="https://twitter.com/MaryMargOlohan?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MaryMargOlohan</a>: We reported on Friday that the Kavanaugh attempted assassin identifies as transgender. Your reaction? <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>: &#8220;Wow, it&#8217;s too bad. It&#8217;s a very… <a href="https://t.co/dKnQRdYHJC">pic.twitter.com/dKnQRdYHJC</a>
— Daily Wire (@realDailyWire) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDailyWire/status/1970165235433476474?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 22, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Court documents <a href="http://dailywire.com/news/exclusive-attempted-kavanaugh-assassin-identifies-as-transgender-woman-legal-filings-show">first obtained</a> by The Daily Wire show that the man who attempted to kill Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh identifies as a transgender woman and was deeply mentally ill and suicidal. A footnote in the filing from Nicholas Roske’s defense attorneys, obtained exclusively by The Daily Wire, states that the defense will not use Roske’s legal name “out of respect” for the would-be assassin.
READ MORE: <a href="http://dailywire.com/news/exclusive-attempted-kavanaugh-assassin-identifies-as-transgender-woman-legal-filings-show">Attempted Kavanaugh Assassin Identifies As Transgender Woman, Legal Filings Show</a>
Asked by The Daily Wire about this development, the president responded: “Wow.”
<div id="attachment_975547" style="width: 869px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-leavitt-react-to-string-of-transgender-violence-additional-actions-to-come/white-house-press-secretary-karoline-leavitt-holds-press-briefing-4" rel="attachment wp-att-975547"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-975547" class="wp-image-975547 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/GettyImages-2236766182-859x576.jpg" alt="" width="859" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/GettyImages-2236766182-859x576.jpg 859w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/GettyImages-2236766182-300x201.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/GettyImages-2236766182-768x515.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/GettyImages-2236766182.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 859px) 100vw, 859px" /></a>A portrait of Charlie Kirk is displayed behind White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)</div>
“It&#8217;s too bad,” he said, “It&#8217;s a very sad thing going on with that and I&#8217;ll have to take a look at it.”
“We have to protect our Supreme Court justices,” the president said. “Justice Kavanaugh is a great guy, I mean, it’s horrible. He’s been through a lot with this. All of them have, in a way, [President Joe Biden’s administration] didn’t give them proper protection.”
The president emphasized that his administration is determined to protect the justices, saying, “We have to protect the Supreme Court, we have to.”
During Monday’s press briefing at the White House, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt similarly told The Daily Wire that transgender violence is “definitely something worth looking into.”
“I think anyone who denies that at this point is being willfully ignorant,” Leavitt argued. “And the administration is taking it seriously, all causes of violence and why these people would be driven to such evil and such hatred. And there [are] probably many answers to that question, but the administration is really focused on all of them.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/PressSec?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PressSec</a>: &#8220;Anyone who denies [the pattern of transgender violence] is being WILLFULLY IGNORANT.&#8221;<a href="https://twitter.com/MaryMargOlohan?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MaryMargOlohan</a> asks Karoline Leavitt about the increasing trend of transgender violence in the aftermath of Charlie Kirk&#8217;s assassination and recent school shootings. <a href="https://t.co/2wvEzdpEVU">pic.twitter.com/2wvEzdpEVU</a>
— Daily Wire (@realDailyWire) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDailyWire/status/1970184528044957921?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 22, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The White House press secretary said for individual investigations and cases, the FBI and Justice Department “are leading those.”
“But as for this overall violence and domestic terrorism that we’re seeing, the White House and the President’s policy team will be leading the charge,” she added. “And that really begins with designating Antifa as a domestic terrorist organization. And I can assure you there will be additional actions to come.”

Memorial Service Held For Slain Conservative Activist Charlie Kirk At State Farm Stadium

White House Reacts To String Of Transgender Violence: ‘Additional Actions To Come’

Charlie Kirk

Transgender

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