Episode Details

The estate of Jeffrey Epstein is scheduled to turn over a "birthday book" to the House Oversight Committee around September 8th. The central question is whether it contains a "raunchy drawing from Donald Trump alluding to secret fun times Trump and Epstein had together." Alexander Acosta, the former U.S. attorney who indicted Epstein in 2007, will testify before the Committee on September 19th. Democrats will press him on: "(1) Why was Epstein let off so easily when he was facing 45 years in prison? and (2) Was Acosta's later appointment to Trump's cabinet a reward for letting Epstein skate?"

he U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit ruled 7-4 that Trump "has no authority" under the invoked law to impose tariffs, duties, or taxes, affirming that "The Constitution specifically gives the Legislative Branch, not the Executive Branch, the power to levy tariffs and impose taxes."

U.S. District Judge Jia Cobb blocked the administration's fast-track removal process, finding it "violates the law." The ruling states that fast-track deportations were intended for migrants apprehended near the border and recently arrived, not for "people who had been in the country for years and were nowhere near the border when apprehended."

Funding for the government expires on September 30th, with a potential shutdown looming. Democrats are debating whether to concede to Republican spending demands or "fight, let the government shut down, and try to pin the tail on the elephant."

Charles Borges, the SSA's chief data officer, "resigned 'involuntarily'" after blowing the whistle on the SSA "improperly handling its data and rebuffing his efforts to correct the problem."

The share of Americans consuming any alcohol has reached "the lowest level since the Great Depression," with only 54% in 2025 reporting occasional alcohol consumption. This is a 9-percentage point decline from the historical average (1939-2024: 63%) The decline is steeper among younger generations. While the decline is plausible and welcome, the authors express skepticism, noting that "alcohol-related death rate... was still very high for pretty much every age bracket in 2023.

A Quinnipiac U. poll shows Donald Trump's approval at 37% and disapproval at 55%, putting him "18 points under water" and tying his low for Trump v2.0. His net approval is down 21 points since January.

The Future of the Republican Party and 2028 Presidential Field