What The Fuck Just Happened Today? ([syndicated profile] wtfjht_feed) wrote2025-07-29 04:01 pm

Day 1652: "A dagger."

Posted by Matt Kiser

1/ The Trump administration moved to repeal the scientific finding that allows the federal government to regulate greenhouse gases, calling it a $1 trillion drag on the economy. The EPA’s 2009 “endangerment finding” states that greenhouse gases threaten public health and forms the legal basis for most federal climate rules. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said repealing it would be “the largest deregulatory action in the history of America” and would “drive a dagger into the heart of the climate change religion.” The proposal cited a Department of Energy report led by climate skeptics who claimed U.S. emissions don’t “significantly” affect global climate trends or public health. (New York Times / NPR / Washington Post / Politico / Wall Street Journal / USA Today / Associated Press / Axios / CNBC / The Hill)

2/ Ghislaine Maxwell offered to testify before Congress but only if granted immunity, advance access to questions, and a delay until the Supreme Court rules on her appeal. Her attorneys said she would otherwise invoke her Fifth Amendment rights. The House Oversight Committee rejected those conditions and said it “will not consider granting congressional immunity.” Maxwell also suggested she would testify publicly if Trump granted her clemency, writing she would be “willing – and eager – to testify openly and honestly.” Trump, meanwhile, said Jeffrey Epstein “stole” young women from his Mar-a-Lago spa, including Virginia Giuffre, who was 16 at the time. “He stole her,” Trump said, adding, “she had no complaints about us whatsoever.” Giuffre later accused Epstein of trafficking her and died by suicide in April. Trump nevertheless insisted he banned Epstein for hiring away staff — not for misconduct — calling the two issues “sort of a little bit of the same thing.” (CNN / Politico / Associated Press / CNN / Washington Post / Axios / NBC News / NPR / Wall Street Journal / NBC News / USA Today / The Hill)

3/ In April 2025, the Trump administration cut $158 million in federal grants for gun violence prevention, eliminating 69 DOJ-funded intervention programs across cities like New York, Chicago, and Memphis. The programs trained outreach workers to de-escalate conflict and prevent shootings. On Monday, a gunman killed four people and injured one at a Manhattan office tower. Police said Shane Tamura, 27, carried an assault-style rifle and left a suicide note blaming the NFL for brain damage he believed he suffered playing high school football. The shooting occurred inside the same building that houses the league’s headquarters. (Reuters / New York Times / Washington Post / Wall Street Journal)

4/ A third whistleblower gave Congress an audio recording that appears to contradict testimony from Emil Bove, a former Trump lawyer nominated for a lifetime seat on the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The recording suggests Bove misled lawmakers about his role in the dismissal of corruption charges against New York Mayor Eric Adams. Senate Democrats, citing “serious concerns” and “substantial information relevant to the truthfulness of the nominee,” asked the Justice Department’s inspector general to investigate and urged Republicans to delay the vote, which could happen this week. The Justice Department, meanwhile, called the allegations a “bad faith attempt to sink a nominee.” (Washington Post / Associated Press / Politico)

5/ The U.K. said it will recognize a Palestinian state in September unless Israel agrees to a ceasefire in Gaza and a long-term peace plan. Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced the move after recalling his cabinet and citing “starving babies, children too weak to stand” as justification. Israel called the move a “reward for Hamas,” with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accusing Starmer of “punishing its victims,” and warning that “a jihadist state on Israel’s border TODAY will threaten Britain TOMORROW.” Trump, meanwhile, said the U.S. “has no view” but criticized the move as “rewarding Hamas,” and adding: “I’m not in that camp.” Trump also said he and Starmer “never did discuss it,” despite meeting one day prior. (NPR / Politico / Associated Press / Washington Post / New York Times / Reuters / NBC News / Politico / ABC News)

poll/ 32% of Americans support Israel’s war in Gaza – down from 42% in September and the lowest level since polling began in late 2023. Disapproval rose to 60%, with support dropping to 8% among Democrats and 25% among independents. Republican support, meanwhile, increased to 71%. 52% of Americans view Benjamin Netanyahu unfavorably – his worst rating since 1997. (Gallup)

poll/ 40% of Americans approve of the job Trump is doing as president – the lowest of his second term. Among Republicans, 83% approved of his performance, while just 3% of Democrats and about one-third of independents approved. (Reuters)

The midterm elections are in 462 days.

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What The Fuck Just Happened Today? ([syndicated profile] wtfjht_feed) wrote2025-07-28 04:28 pm

Day 1651: "You can't fake that."

Posted by Matt Kiser

1/ The U.S. and European Union reached a trade deal that sets a 15% baseline tariff on most European imports and avoids a 30% tariff threatened by Trump before the Aug. 1 deadline. He said the EU agreed to buy $750 billion in U.S. energy and invest $600 billion in the U.S., though EU officials admitted the investment pledge came from private companies and wasn’t guaranteed. “This is the biggest of them all,” Trump said, adding, “It’s great that we made a deal today instead of playing games.” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the deal eliminates tariffs on aircraft parts, semiconductor equipment, and some agricultural goods. Neither side released the full text, and major details remain unresolved. (CBS News / Wall Street Journal / Washington Post / NPR / New York Times / Politico / Wall Street Journal)

2/ During a meeting at his Turnberry golf resort in Scotland to discuss the U.S.-UK trade agreement with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Trump spent most of the session defending himself over his past ties to Jeffrey Epstein. In an extended exchange with reporters, Trump said Epstein “stole people that worked for me” and claimed that’s why he cut ties, adding, “I threw him out […] persona non grata.” Trump denied ever visiting Epstein’s island and dismissed a reported birthday letter to Epstein with a nude sketch and his signature as “fake,” saying, “I don’t do drawings of women.” The hour-long press conference overshadowed the trade agenda and took place during a $10 million taxpayer-funded trip centered on golf at his private resorts. Meanwhile, a viral video from the trip showed Trump pulling up his cart near a sand trap as his caddie walked ahead and appeared to drop a ball in the grass – reviving past accusations that he cheats at golf. Protesters across Scotland also mocked the visit with signs referencing Epstein, fake scores, and what one called “the most expensive round of golf in history.” (Associated Press / Axios / HuffPost / CNN / NPR / New York Times / CBS News / USA Today / CNN)

3/ Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche gave Ghislaine Maxwell limited immunity during two days of closed-door interviews, allowing her to name roughly 100 individuals without risk of self-incrimination. Trump sent Blanche – his former defense attorney – after Maxwell requested the meetings following a July 4 DOJ memo that denied the existence of a Jeffrey Epstein client list and said no further prosecutions were warranted. The memo contradicted earlier public promises from Attorney General Pam Bondi and triggered backlash from Trump’s base and Congress. Trump then ordered DOJ officials to pursue sealed grand jury records. Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking with Epstein, has since filed a Supreme Court appeal arguing that Epstein’s 2007 plea deal shielded her from federal charges. Her lawyer said the government “made a deal, and it must honor it.” The Justice Department, however, opposed the appeal, but hasn’t explained why its top official met with her privately and without input from the prosecutors who tried her case. Trump, whose name appears in the Epstein files, has denied any connection and sued The Wall Street Journal over a birthday letter included in the documents. When asked if he might pardon Maxwell, Trump said he hadn’t thought about it but added, “I’m allowed to do it.” Her lawyer confirmed, “She would welcome any relief.” Congress has subpoenaed DOJ records and scheduled a deposition with Maxwell next month. Senate Democrats are demanding transcripts of the interviews and a public pledge that Trump won’t grant a pardon. Trump’s efforts to deflect – including floating conspiracy theories about Obama and Harris, attacking wind turbines, and traveling abroad – have failed to contain the fallout. The Epstein case has stalled House business, divided Trump’s supporters, and exposed fractures inside his administration. (ABC News / Axios / Reuters / CNBC / NBC News / New York Times / CBS News / Axios / Washington Post / Washington Post / New York Times / Rolling Stone / Washington Post / HuffPost / CNN)

4/ Trump publicly rejected Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s claim that “there is no starvation in Gaza,” calling images of starving children “real starvation stuff” and saying, “you can’t fake that.” Trump added that “Those children look very hungry,” and said “We have to get the kids fed.” He said the U.S. and E.U. countries would “set up food centers” with “no boundaries,” but gave no timeline or logistics. Senior officials in the Israel Defense Forces, meanwhile, said they found “no evidence that Hamas regularly stole from the United Nations,” contradicting Israel’s long-standing claim used to justify aid restrictions. And for the first time, two major Israeli rights groups, B’Tselem and Physicians for Human Rights–Israel, said Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. B’Tselem cited “coordinated action to intentionally destroy Palestinian society in the Gaza Strip.” The Israeli government called the accusations “obscene and baseless in both fact and law.” (Associated Press / Washington Post / New York Times / Wall Street Journal / Politico / Washington Post / NBC News / USA Today /New York Times / Axios / Wall Street Journal / NPR / New York Times / ABC News)

5/ A federal judge blocked the Trump administration from stripping Medicaid funds from Planned Parenthood, calling the law “punitive” and likely unconstitutional. Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” banned Medicaid funds to any provider that both performs abortions and received over $800,000 in 2023. Judge Indira Talwani, however, said “Congress singled [Planned Parenthood] out with punitive intent” without naming them, forcing clinics to either drop abortion services or lose funding. Planned Parenthood said nearly 200 clinics were at risk of closing, affecting over 1 million patients. The White House called the ruling “absurd” and said it would appeal. (CNN / Associated Press / New York Times / The Hill / Reuters / Axios)

poll/ 63% of voters view the Democratic Party unfavorably – the worst rating in 35-year history. Voters said they trust Republicans more than Democrats on nearly every major issue, including the economy, inflation, immigration, foreign policy, and tariffs – even when they disapprove of how Trump handled those same topics. Democrats led only on healthcare and vaccine policy. However, when asked how they would vote in a congressional election held today, 46% said they would support a Democrat, compared to 43% for a Republican. In 2017, Democrats held an 8-point lead. (Wall Street Journal)

The midterm elections are in 463 days.


✏️ Notables.

  1. Twenty states and Washington, D.C. sued the USDA to block its demand for personal data from all SNAP applicants since 2020. The agency ordered states to turn over names, birth dates, Social Security numbers, addresses, immigration status, and household details by July 30. California Attorney General Rob Bonta called the move an attempt to “create a culture of fear.” (NPR)

  2. The Trump administration will release more than $5 billion in public school funding it withheld since June 30. The money supports teacher training, English-language instruction, and academic programs. Officials said the freeze was to review whether the funds supported a “radical left-wing agenda,” and announced new “guardrails” to ensure compliance with administration policies, but the funding delay drew bipartisan pushback and multiple lawsuits from states, school districts, and education groups. “This administration deserves no credit for just barely averting a crisis they themselves set in motion,” Sen. Patty Murray said. (Politico / Associated Press / Washington Post / USA Today)

  3. A federal judge dismissed the Trump administration’s lawsuit against Illinois, Chicago, and Cook County over their sanctuary laws. U.S. District Judge Lindsay Jenkins ruled the administration lacked legal standing and said the policies were protected by the Tenth Amendment. The White House said sanctuary cities “interfere with federal immigration enforcement at the expense of the safety and security of Americans.” (NBC News / Washington Post / Politico / USA Today)

  4. The White House ordered Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to stop using polygraph tests to find leakers after a senior adviser complained he might be forced to take one. Multiple tests had already been conducted on staff, including special operations personnel and a senior military aide, with guidance from Hegseth’s attorney Tim Parlatore. Hegseth also threatened polygraphs for top generals and later blocked a planned promotion for one of them, Lt. Gen. Douglas Sims. (Washington Post)

  5. The architect of Project 2025 launched a Republican primary challenge against Lindsey Graham in South Carolina. Paul Dans said the race was a “battle for the future of MAGA” and called Graham a “swamp critter,” citing his past criticism of Trump and support for Ukraine. “This is our Senate seat,” Dans said, rejecting Trump’s endorsement of Graham earlier this year and framing the race as a test of the movement’s future. Graham adviser Chris LaCivita said Dans “parachuted himself” into the race and predicted his campaign would “end prematurely.” (NBC News / Associated Press / USA Today / The Hill)

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What The Fuck Just Happened Today? ([syndicated profile] wtfjht_feed) wrote2025-07-24 04:40 pm

Day 1647: "Blood in the water."

Posted by Matt Kiser

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche met with Ghislaine Maxwell at a federal courthouse in Tallahassee for a six-hour interview, according to her lawyer, who called the session “very productive” and said Maxwell “answered every single question.” Maxwell is serving a 20-year sentence for trafficking minors for Jeffrey Epstein. The Justice Department initiated the meeting after Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel reversed course and announced they wouldn’t release anymore Epstein records or surveillance video, citing privacy concerns. The move contradicted months of public promises and came after Bondi had claimed the Epstein “client list” was “sitting on my desk.” This month, however, the DOJ released a two-page memo denying the list exists and reaffirmed Epstein’s 2019 death was a suicide – statements that have upset Trump’s base, which believes the government is hiding a “client list” of powerful Democrats who abused minors and helped cover up Epstein’s death.

In the spring, Bondi told Trump his name appeared in sealed files, along with others, though DOJ officials said those references don’t suggest wrongdoing. Blanche – who previously served as Trump’s personal lawyer – also attended that briefing. Blanche’s role in brokering the Maxwell meeting has fueled accusations from lawmakers and critics that the DOJ is politicizing the case to protect Trump – especially as the DOJ simultaneously asked the Supreme Court to reject Maxwell’s appeal to overturn her conviction based on Epstein’s 2008 non-prosecution agreement.

On Wednesday, a House Oversight subcommittee voted to subpoena both Maxwell and the DOJ in a bipartisan move that defied Trump and Speaker Mike Johnson. Three Republicans backed the motion, including Reps. Scott Perry and Nancy Mace. The subpoena demands internal DOJ communications and records involving Bondi, former FBI Director James Comey, and the Clintons. Maxwell has also been ordered to appear for a deposition at her prison on August 11. The revolt has fractured Republicans, forced an early recess, and reignited a discharge petition led by Rep. Thomas Massie to compel a floor vote on releasing all Epstein documents. “Democrats smelled blood in the water,” one Republican said.

Trump, who once called Epstein a “terrific guy,” was reportedly featured in a 2003 birthday book compiled by Maxwell, writing “Happy Birthday – and may every day be another wonderful secret” inside a sketch of a naked woman that was signed “Donald” below her waist to mimic pubic hair. Trump sued The Wall Street Journal for defamation, calling the letter a “fake thing” because “I never wrote a picture in my life. I don’t draw pictures of women. It’s not my language. It’s not my words.” The birthday album reportedly also includes letters from Bill Clinton, who praised Epstein’s “childlike curiosity.” Trump now calls the Epstein case a “hoax” pushed by “weaklings” and has tried to redirect attention by accusing Obama of treason. (New York Times / ABC News / Politico / NPR / New York Times / Politico / Washington Post / NBC News / CNN / Politico / CNN / Axios / Wall Street Journal / Wall Street Journal)


🍭 Dept. of Shiny Things Trump Is Doing to Distract from the Jeffrey Epstein Files.

1/ Trump staged a visit to the Federal Reserve to publicly call for Chair Jerome Powell to “do the right thing” and lower interest rates while accusing him of mismanaging a $2.5 renovation billion project. Trump claimed the project had ballooned to $3.1 billion, calling the spending “out of control.” Powell, however, cut him off and said, “You just added in a third building […] built five years ago” and stood by the Fed’s estimate of $2.5 billion, which staff said reflected inflation, security upgrades, and preservation costs. While Trump said he didn’t see the costs as a “fireable offense,” he did say, “I just want to see one thing happen, very simple: Interest rates come down.” Trump is the first president to visit the Fed in almost 20 when George W. Bush attended the swearing-in ceremony of Fed Chair Ben Bernanke in 2006. Trump later posted that the renovation “would have been much better if it were never started” and again demanded that Powell “LOWER INTEREST RATES!” (Bloomberg / Wall Street Journal / Associated Press / Politico / New York Times / ABC News / NBC News / CNBC / CNN)

2/ Trump signed an executive order directing cities and states to remove homeless people from public spaces and force them into treatment or institutional settings to “restore public order.” The order instructs federal agencies to prioritize grants for jurisdictions that enforce bans on camping, loitering, and drug use, and calls for reversing court rulings that restrict involuntary commitment. It shifts funding away from Housing First policies and blocks support for harm reduction programs. (Washington Post / USA Today / CBS News / The Hill / Bloomberg / NPR)

3/ The Trump administration sued New York City, claiming the city’s sanctuary laws obstruct federal immigration enforcement and violate the Constitution’s Supremacy Clause. The lawsuit names Mayor Adams, the City Council speaker, and city agencies including the NYPD and Department of Correction. The Justice Department said the city released undocumented immigrants with criminal records despite ICE detainer requests. (Wall Street Journal / New York Times / ABC News / Bloomberg / NBC News)

4/ Trump signed an executive order banning “third-party, pay-for-play” payments to college athletes, aiming to stop booster-funded Name, Image, and Likeness recruiting deals. The order allows brand endorsements, but directs schools to block outside money used to lure players and instructs federal agencies to enforce rules, protect non-revenue sports, and clarify athletes’ employment status. The White House called the current system a “chaotic environment” and warned, “many college sports will soon cease to exist” without federal guardrails. (The Hill / Bloomberg / The Guardian / NBC News / CBS Sports)

5/ The FCC approved the $8 billion merger between Paramount and Skydance after Skydance promised to drop all DEI programs and add a news ombudsman at CBS. The deal gives Skydance full control of Paramount, including CBS, Comedy Central, and Paramount Pictures. “It is time for a change,” Trump-appointed chair Brendan Carr said. Democratic commissioner Anna Gomez, however, called the vote “cowardly capitulation,” warning the FCC was “imposing never-before-seen controls over newsroom decisions.” The approval followed a $16 million settlement between Paramount and Trump over a “60 Minutes” interview with Kamala Harris. “A big fat bribe,” Colbert called it on The Late Show before CBS canceled the program, which had run for decades. In response, Trump said, “I love that Colbert got fired.” Colbert responded to Trump’s celebration, saying: “Go fuck yourself.” Paramount also signed a $1.5 billion streaming deal with South Park, which responded by mocking the company’s settlement with Trump, the cancellation of Colbert’s show, and Skydance’s promises to scrap DEI programs and monitor CBS News for bias. The episode depicted Trump repeatedly in bed with Satan, mocked his genitals, and portrayed him suing the town of South Park for criticizing him. In the final scene, the show aired a fake AI-generated PSA, resembling the style of Christian “He Gets Us” ads, but instead it focused on Trump. The ad showed Trump wandering naked in the desert as a narrator said: “No matter how hot it gets, he’s not afraid to fight for America.” As Trump removed his clothes, a small animated penis with googly eyes appeared and said, “I’m Donald J. Trump, and I endorse this message.” The narrator concluded, “Trump. His penis is teeny tiny, but his love for us is large.” The PSA directed viewers to HeTrumpedUs.com, a parody website mimicking Christian marketing campaigns. The White House, meanwhile, called the South Park PSA “a desperate attempt for attention” and said the show “hasn’t been relevant for over 20 years.” (Washington Post / New York Times / Wall Street Journal / NBC News / Bloomberg / Rolling Stone / Business Insider / Politico / The Hill / Variety / Hollywood Reporter / HuffPost / Entertainment Weekly / New Republic)

6/ A Florida man who sued Gawker into bankruptcy over a sex tape and got dropped by WWE after racist comments is dead at 71. Hulk Hogan (real name Terry Bollea), who called himself a “Real American,” died of cardiac arrest in Florida. His lawsuit against Gawker – secretly bankrolled by billionaire Peter Thiel, who had been outed as gay by the site in 2007 — ended with a $140 million verdict and forced the gossip site to shut down. The jury found Gawker had invaded Hogan’s privacy by publishing a one-minute clip of him having sex with his friend’s wife. Hogan said the sex tape was recorded without his knowledge or consent and wasn’t newsworthy. Gawker, however, claimed First Amendment protection, arguing he was a public figure who often spoke about his sex life, making the footage public interest. The case drew warnings from the ACLU and the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, who said it showed how wealthy individuals could weaponize privacy claims to punish the media. WWE cut ties in 2015 after leaked audio caught him making racist comments about his daughter’s boyfriend — then quietly reinstated him three years later. Whatcha gonna do now, brother? (Washington Post)

The midterm elections are in 467 days.

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What The Fuck Just Happened Today? ([syndicated profile] wtfjht_feed) wrote2025-07-23 04:47 pm

Day 1646: "One step at a time."

Posted by Matt Kiser

1/ Attorney General Pam Bondi told Trump in May that his name appeared multiple times in Justice Department documents related to Jeffrey Epstein. Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said the material included unverified hearsay about Trump and “many other high-profile figures.” Weeks later, the department reversed course it refused to release more Epstein files, citing the presence of child pornography and victim information. Following political pressure, Trump directed Bondi to request the release of grand jury transcripts. Trump, meanwhile, denied being told his name was in the files and later blamed former officials like James Comey, calling the documents “made up.” Although Bondi and Blanche admitted briefing Trump, they claimed “nothing in the files warranted further investigation.” White House spokesman Steven Cheung added that the report is “fake news” and claimed Trump expelled Epstein from Mar-a-Lago “for being a creep.” (Wall Street Journal / New York Times / CNBC / Reuters / NBC News)

2/ House Oversight Chair James Comer issued a subpoena for Ghislaine Maxwell to testify under oath at a Florida federal prison on August 11. The move followed a separate subpoena issued the same day by a House Oversight subcommittee demanding Justice Department records related to Jeffrey Epstein, which passed 8–2 after three Republicans joined Democrats. The vote, however, is non-binding and Comer can ignore it unless he formally approves the subpoena himself. Maxwell’s lawyer said she is “taking this one step at a time” and will decide how to respond after an upcoming meeting with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. Speaker Mike Johnson, meanwhile, supported the effort, but questioned whether Maxwell is “a credible witness” and “can be counted on to tell the truth.” (ABC News / Associated Press / CNN / The Hill / Axios / Politico / Washington Post / NBC News)

3/ A Florida judge denied the Trump administration’s request to unseal grand jury transcripts from the 2005 and 2007 federal investigations into Jeffrey Epstein. Judge Robin Rosenberg wrote that “the court’s hands are tied” and said the DOJ “effectively conceded” that the law does not permit disclosure under the narrow exceptions. Trump had ordered Attorney General Pam Bondi to seek the release after backlash from supporters over the DOJ’s conclusion that no new charges or evidence would be released. A separate request to unseal Epstein-related transcripts in New York is still pending. (NBC News / Politico / New York Times / CNN / Washington Post / CNBC)

4/ The Trump administration plans to end the EPA’s authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions by repealing the 2009 “endangerment finding,” which established that such emissions harm human health. The plan would eliminate the legal basis for current and future limits on carbon pollution from cars, factories, and power plants, including tailpipe rules that support electric vehicle production. The EPA claims the real harm comes from regulation, which it says raises costs and limits consumer choice. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said the agency would “formally reconsider” the finding to prevent policies that “throttle our industries, our mobility, and our consumer choice.” (New York Times / Washington Post)

5/ The International Court of Justice ruled that a “clean, healthy and sustainable environment” is a human right and countries have a legal “duty” to protect the climate. In its first-ever ruling on climate issues, the court said failing to act could be an “internationally wrongful act.” The court, however, has no enforcement power and the opinion is nonbinding, but the opinion does provide legal backing to future climate lawsuits and may increase pressure on high-emitting nations like the U.S. (Associated Press / Washington Post)

6/ The Supreme Court let Trump fire three Democratic members of the independent Consumer Product Safety Commission, despite federal law shielding them from removal without cause. Trump gave no reason for the firings. The court issued an unsigned order saying the case was “squarely controlled” by an earlier ruling that expanded presidential power over independent agencies. Without the three members, the five-member commission lacks quorum and is unable to do its job of protecting consumers from defective products. (NBC News / Bloomberg / Associated Press / NPR / Washington Post / New York Times)

The midterm elections are in 468 days.

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What The Fuck Just Happened Today? ([syndicated profile] wtfjht_feed) wrote2025-07-22 03:40 pm

Day 1645: "The constant nonsense and misinformation flowing out of this White House."

Posted by Matt Kiser

1/ The Justice Department plans to meet with Ghislaine Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking, amid growing pressure to release more details about Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said he contacted Maxwell’s attorneys and expects a meeting “in the coming days.” Hours later, a House Oversight subcommittee approved a motion to subpoena Maxwell, reflecting bipartisan frustration with the administration’s handling of the case. Trump said he was unaware of the outreach, but called it “appropriate,” while dismissing renewed calls for transparency as “a witch hunt.” (CNN / Politico / NBC News / CBS News / Axios / Politico / ABC News / Axios / New York Times / Bloomberg / Associated Press / New York Times / The Hill)

2/ Speaker Mike Johnson sent the House home early for the August recess to avoid votes on measures tied to Jeffrey Epstein. The move followed a standoff in the Rules Committee after Democrats threatened to force votes on amendments requiring the release of Epstein files. Johnson said there was “no purpose” in pushing the Trump administration to act on releasing documents, claiming the Justice Department was already doing so and calling the effort “political games.” He insisted, “we’re done being lectured on transparency,” and accused Democrats of turning the Rules Committee into “a political battering ram.” Johnson also attacked Rep. Thomas Massie for working with Democrats to force a vote, saying, “I don’t understand Thomas Massie’s motivation. I really don’t.” Without Rules Committee approval, major legislation was pulled and the House adjourned until September. (NBC News / Axios / CNN / New York Times / CBS News / Associated Press / ABC News / CNBC / Washington Post / Reuters / Wall Street Journal)

3/ Trump accused Obama of “treason” and told the Justice Department to prosecute him and other former officials in an effort to distract from the Jeffrey Epstein case. During an Oval Office appearance, Trump deflected questions about the DOJ’s outreach to Ghislaine Maxwell and instead named Obama, Clinton, Biden, Comey, and Clapper, claiming they orchestrated a plot to sabotage his 2016 campaign. He cited a new report from Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, which alleged that Obama officials “manufactured” intelligence to justify the FBI’s Russia probe. Gabbard’s report, however, conflated separate findings and ignored a 2020 bipartisan Senate review that affirmed the intelligence community’s conclusion: Russia worked to help Trump by spreading stolen data and disinformation but didn’t hack voting systems or change votes. Obama, meanwhile, issued a rare public response, calling the accusations “bizarre,” “ridiculous,” and “a weak attempt at distraction.” Spokesman Patrick Rodenbush said: “Out of respect for the office of the presidency, our office does not normally dignify the constant nonsense and misinformation flowing out of this White House with a response. But these claims are outrageous enough to merit one.” He added that “Nothing in the document issued last week undercuts the widely accepted conclusion that Russia worked to influence the 2016 presidential election but did not successfully manipulate any votes.” (New York Times / Politico / NPR / Axios / New York Times / ABC News / Reuters / Wall Street Journal)

4/ Federal judges in New Jersey voted not to extend Alina Habba’s term as interim U.S. attorney, replacing her with career prosecutor Desiree Leigh Grace. Trump nominated Habba, his former personal lawyer, to the role in March, but her 120-day term was set to expire this week without Senate confirmation. The Justice Department responded by firing Grace hours later with Attorney General Pam Bondi accusing the judges of threatening “the President’s core Article II powers.” Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, meanwhile, called the decision “a left-wing agenda, not the rule of law.” Habba remains under consideration for permanent appointment, but her nomination has stalled in the Senate Judiciary Committee. Until March, she had never worked as a prosecutor. (NBC News / CNN / Politico / Reuters / Washington Post / CBS News / New York Times)

5/ House Republicans voted to make federal funding for the Kennedy Center contingent on renaming its opera house the “First Lady Melania Trump Opera House.” The Appropriations Committee approved the amendment 33–25 as part of the fiscal 2026 Interior-Environment spending bill. Trump fired most of the center’s board earlier this year, named himself chair, and appointed close allies, including Susie Wiles and Dan Scavino. Rep. Mike Simpson said the name change “is an excellent way to recognize her appreciation for the arts.” (USA Today / NBC News / Washington Post / Politico)

6/ Birmingham man who barked at the moon, snorted ants, bit a bat, and rode the crazy train into heavy metal history has died at 76. Ozzy Osbourne, the Prince of Darkness and founding frontman of Black Sabbath, is dead. (Rolling Stone)

The midterm elections are in 469 days.

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What The Fuck Just Happened Today? ([syndicated profile] wtfjht_feed) wrote2025-07-21 04:07 pm

Day 1644: "This is all just going away."

Posted by Matt Kiser

1/ Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” will add $3.4 trillion to the national deficit over 10 years and leave 10 million more people uninsured by 2034, according to the final score from the Congressional Budget Office. The law, passed along party lines, makes Trump’s 2017 tax cuts permanent, adds tax breaks for tips and overtime, and cuts Medicaid, food aid, and clean energy funding. The CBO said the $1.1 trillion in spending cuts are outweighed by $4.5 trillion in lost tax revenue. Republicans argued the tax breaks should count as free since current rates are already in place and extending them doesn’t add cost. They asked the CBO to use a “current policy” baseline assuming the cuts would be made permanent; that version showed a $366 billion deficit increase. (Politico / NBC News / CNBC / CNN / Bloomberg)

2/ Affordable Care Act insurers proposed a median premium increase of 15% for 2026 across 105 filings in 20 markets — the largest since 2018 — citing rising healthcare costs and the expiration of enhanced federal subsidies that have lowered premiums since 2021. Over a quarter of insurers requested hikes of 20% or more. Without congressional action, subsidized enrollees will pay 75% more on average next year. Some insurers also cited tariffs on medical imports and uncertainty from new Trump-era rules. (Wall Street Journal / CNN / NBC News / NPR / KFF Health System Tracker)

3/ The White House removed the Wall Street Journal from the press pool for Trump’s trip to Scotland after it published a story about a sexually suggestive letter he allegedly sent to Jeffrey Epstein. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the paper was excluded due to “fake and defamatory conduct” and didn’t say if it would be allowed back. The reporter pulled from the trip, however, had no role in the Epstein story. Earlier this year, the White House took over pool assignments from the White House Correspondents’ Association. (Politico / CNN)

  • EARLIER:

  • Trump sent Jeffrey Epstein a sexually suggestive letter in 2003 typed inside a sketch of a naked woman and signed “Donald” below her waist to mimic pubic hair. The message, ending with “Happy Birthday — and may every day be another wonderful secret,” was part of a birthday album Ghislaine Maxwell compiled for Epstein’s 50th birthday. Trump denied writing the message, calling it a “fake thing” and said, “I never wrote a picture in my life. I don’t draw pictures of women. It’s not my language. It’s not my words.” JD Vance, meanwhile, called the the story “complete and utter bullshit.” He added: “Does anyone honestly believe this sounds like Donald Trump?” For over a decade, Trump and Epstein socialized, attended parties, flew on Epstein’s jet, and appeared in videos and photos together, including at Mar-a-Lago. Multiple women later accused Trump of misconduct after Epstein introduced them, including groping and sexual advances; Trump has denied all the allegations. The Justice Department and FBI declined to comment on whether the letter is part of their current review. (Wall Street Journal / New York Times / Politico)

  • Trump sued the Wall Street Journal, Rupert Murdoch, and two of the paper’s reporters for defamation over an article that described a lewd birthday letter he allegedly sent to Jeffrey Epstein in 2003. The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Florida, seeks at least $20 billion in damages and claims the story was “false, defamatory, unsubstantiated, and disparaging.” Dow Jones said it stands by the reporting and will “vigorously defend” against the lawsuit. (Variety / Axios / New York Times / Washington Post / CNBC / CBS News / NBC News / CNN / USA Today / Reuters)

  • The Justice Department asked a Manhattan court to unseal grand jury transcripts from the sex-trafficking cases of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. The request followed Trump’s public directive to Attorney General Pam Bondi to release “any and all pertinent Grand Jury testimony.” Trump issued the order one day after the Wall Street Journal reported that he signed a suggestive birthday letter to Epstein in 2003, which he called “FAKE” and sued over. The department said it would redact victim and personal information, but confirmed it still found no “incriminating ‘client list’” or evidence to justify further investigations. Trump posted: “This SCAM, perpetuated by the Democrats, should end, right now!” (USA Today / CNN / CNBC / Bloomberg / Wall Street Journal / NPR / New York Times / CBS News / Washington Post / CNN / Axios / Bloomberg)

  • The FBI instructed personnel reviewing Jeffrey Epstein’s case files to “flag” any documents that mentioned Trump, according to Senate Judiciary Democrat Dick Durbin. In letters sent Friday, Durbin said Attorney General Pam Bondi “pressured” the FBI to put 1,000 staff on 24-hour shifts in March to process about 100,000 records. “Why were personnel told to flag records in which President Trump was mentioned?” Durbin asked Bondi, FBI Director Kash Patel, and Deputy Director Dan Bongino. A Durbin aide said the information came from a protected whistleblower. (NBC News / The Hill / Axios / CNBC)

  • Trump said releasing Epstein grand jury records likely won’t satisfy critics, calling those demanding more information “troublemakers and radical left lunatics.” He wrote on social media that “even if the Court gave its full and unwavering approval, nothing will be good enough.” (ABC News / Politico / The Hill / CNBC / USA Today)

4/ A former Jeffrey Epstein employee told the FBI in 1996 and again in 2006 to investigate Trump’s ties to Epstein. Maria Farmer described an encounter in Epstein’s office where Trump stared at her legs and later said he thought she was 16, adding that Epstein told him: “She’s not here for you.” She said she had no evidence of wrongdoing by Trump, but believed authorities should have scrutinized his closeness with Epstein. The FBI didn’t confirm whether Farmer’s statements about Trump were ever investigated. (New York Times)

5/ House Speaker Mike Johnson said the House will not vote on a resolution to release Jeffrey Epstein-related documents before the August recess. Johnson said the Trump administration needs “space to do what it is doing” after Trump ordered Attorney General Pam Bondi to seek the unsealing of grand jury transcripts. Johnson said “we agree with the president” and claimed “there is no daylight” between Trump and House Republicans on “maximum transparency.” The move delays a bipartisan push led by Rep. Thomas Massie and Rep. Ro Khanna to force a vote through a discharge petition. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, meanwhile, warned that the base “will turn” if Trump doesn’t follow through. (The Hill / CBS News / Politico / Politico)

6/ Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard released a report accusing Obama-era officials of staging a “treasonous conspiracy” during the 2016 election. Despite no new evidence, Gabbard claimed they manipulated intelligence to falsely suggest Russia wanted Trump to win and said she referred the matter to the Justice Department for prosecution. Democrats dismissed the report, which contained 114 pages of redacted emails, as politically motivated and contradicted by years of investigations, including a bipartisan Senate inquiry that found “irrefutable evidence” of Russian interference benefiting Trump. Senator Mark Warner said Gabbard was “trying to cook the books” and warned she was undermining trust in her own agency. Representative Jim Himes called the accusations “baseless” and said Gabbard was rehashing “decade-old false claims.” (New York Times / Bloomberg / The Hill / Politico)

7/ Trump posted a fake video showing Obama being handcuffed and arrested in the Oval Office, as “Y.M.C.A.” plays and Trump smiles in the background. The fake video, originally posted on TikTok, uses altered footage from the two men’s November 2016 White House meeting and ends with Obama in a jail cell wearing an orange jumpsuit. The post followed Gabbard’s recent claims that Obama officials carried out a “treasonous conspiracy” to damage Trump in 2016. Obama’s office declined to comment. Trump has increasingly shared fake and manipulated content while facing pressure from supporters over his handling of the Epstein files. (New York Times / The Hill / New Republic / HuffPost)

The midterm elections are in 470 days.


✏️ Notables.

  1. Before she issued any ruling, Trump called the judge overseeing Harvard’s lawsuit over a $2 billion federal funding freeze “a TOTAL DISASTER” and said she was “an automatic ‘loss’ for the People of our Country.” The administration cut funding after Harvard refused to meet demands from a federal antisemitism task force, which included changes to hiring, admissions, and governance. U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs, who previously ruled against the administration in a separate case, questioned the legality of the cuts and whether they were tied to constitutionally protected speech. The Justice Department said Harvard “should have read the fine print” and that funding decisions reflect “agency priorities.” (Politico / Washington Post / New York Times / NBC News / Bloomberg)

  2. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent urged Trump not to fire Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, warning it could damage markets and create lawsuits that delay the Powell’s transition as Fed chair when his term expires in May 2026. Bessent said the Fed is already likely to cut interest rates twice this year and told Trump the firing was unnecessary since the economy is strong. Trump nevertheless denied the report, saying: “Nobody had to explain that to me. I know better than anybody what’s good for the Market.” (Wall Street Journal / Variety / CNBC / The Hill)

  3. CBS will cancel “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” in May 2026 – three days after Colbert called a $16 million settlement between Trump and CBS’s parent company, Paramount Global, a “big fat bribe.” The payment resolved Trump’s lawsuit over a 60 Minutes interview with Kamala Harris and came as Paramount seeks Trump’s approval for its $28 billion merger with Skydance Media. CBS said the cancellation was “purely a financial decision,” despite Colbert leading his time slot, earning an Emmy nomination days earlier, and facing no visible cost-cutting measures. “It’s not just the end of our show, it’s the end of ‘The Late Show’ on CBS,” Colbert told his audience. “I’m not being replaced. This is all just going away.” Trump, meanwhile, celebrated the move, posting: “I absolutely love that Colbert got fired.” He called Colbert talentless, praised Fox’s Greg Gutfeld, and predicted Jimmy Kimmel “is next.” The Writers Guild of America accused Paramount of “sacrificing free speech to curry favor with the Trump Administration” and called for a state investigation. Democratic senators Elizabeth Warren, Adam Schiff, and Bernie Sanders questioned the timing, with Warren calling the settlement “a deal that looks like bribery” and Sanders writing: “Do I think this is a coincidence? NO.” Paramount denied any connection between the cancellation, the merger, or Trump. (Associated Press / NPR / Bloomberg / New York Times / CNN / Washington Post / Hollywood Reporter / Axios / HuffPost / USA Today / Variety)

  4. The Trump administration released over 230,000 pages of FBI and CIA files related to the 1968 assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., despite opposition from King’s family and civil rights groups. The documents include surveillance memos, interviews, foreign intelligence, and materials tied to James Earl Ray’s alleged plot. The King family, given early access to the records, said the FBI conducted a “disinformation and surveillance campaign” against King and warned that the release could be misused “to undermine our father’s legacy.” Tulsi Gabbard called the release “unprecedented” and praised Trump for ordering it. Attorney General Pam Bondi said the move fulfills a public right to know “decades after the horrific assassination.” (ABC News / Associated Press / New York Times / CBS News / Axios)

  5. Trump threatened to block a stadium deal in Washington unless the NFL team now called the Commanders changes its name back to Redskins – a name long criticized as a racial slur against Native Americans. “I won’t make a deal for them to build a Stadium in Washington” unless they drop what he called the “ridiculous moniker.” Trump also demanded Cleveland’s baseball team return to the name Indians, claiming Native Americans want the change and adding, “MAKE INDIANS GREAT AGAIN.” Commanders owner Josh Harris and Guardians executive Chris Antonetti said they have no plans to revisit the name changes. Indigenous groups widely oppose restoring the names, calling them “offensive and dehumanizing.” (Washington Post / ABC News / NBC News / Reuters)

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What The Fuck Just Happened Today? ([syndicated profile] wtfjht_feed) wrote2025-07-17 04:43 pm

Day 1640: "A tyrant."

Posted by Matt Kiser

1/ The Justice Department fired the federal prosecutor who led the criminal sex-trafficking cases against Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. Maurene Comey is the daughter of former FBI director James Comey, who Trump fired in 2017. Her firing follows pressure from Trump’s supporters over the administration’s refusal to release more Epstein records. Influential pro-Trump figures, including Laura Loomer, demanded Comey’s firing and accused the DOJ of hiding evidence to protect elites. Trump has called the Epstein files “bullshit” and claimed they were “made up by Comey” and others. Comey said her dismissal was conveyed “summarily” by a memo signed by a political appointee, not her supervisor, and that no cause was given. One official, however, said: “Being a Comey is untenable in this administration.” (Associated Press / CNN / Politico / Washington Post / New York Times / USA Today)

2/ After being fired without explanation, Maurene Comey warned her former Justice Department colleagues that “fear is the tool of a tyrant.” Comey said her termination showed that “if a career prosecutor can be fired without reason, fear may seep into the decisions of those who remain.” She urged staff to resist intimidation, calling for “righteous indignation at abuses of power,” and to remain committed to “truth above all else.” The Justice Department has refused to explain the decision. (Politico / CNBC / Associated Press / ABC News / New York Times / NBC News)

3/ Trump rejected calls to appoint a special prosecutor in the Jeffrey Epstein case. Trump dismissed demands from allies like Rep. Lauren Boebert and activist Laura Loomer, who said the issue could “consume his entire presidency.” Press secretary Karoline Leavitt, however, confirmed that Trump wouldn’t recommend a special prosecutor, saying “That’s how he feels.” (USA Today / Politico / Wall Street Journal / The Hill)

4/ Senate Republicans pushed through Emil Bove’s nomination for a lifetime appointment to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit after cutting off debate and ignoring a whistleblower request. Every Democrat walked out of the Judiciary Committee hearing in protest after Chairman Chuck Grassley refused to delay the vote or allow testimony from whistleblower Erez Reuveni, who alleged that Bove encouraged lawyers to defy court orders during Trump’s deportation push. “This lacks decency. It lacks decorum,” Sen. Cory Booker said, who objected before leaving the hearing. More than 900 former DOJ lawyers and 75 retired judges opposed Bove’s nomination, citing his work as Trump’s defense lawyer, his role in firing DOJ staff tied to Jan. 6 cases, and his push to drop bribery charges against Mayor Eric Adams. Grassley, nevertheless, defended the vote, calling the misconduct claims “unsubstantiated.” (NPR / CBS News / NBC News / Politico / New York Times)

5/ The Senate voted 51–48 to rescind $9 billion in federal funding for foreign aid and public broadcasting. The bill eliminated $1.1 billion for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which funds NPR and PBS, and cut $7.9 billion from foreign aid programs. Two Republicans – Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski – joined Democrats in voting no, saying it gave the White House too much control over congressionally approved funds and failed to specify what programs would be cut. They also warned the rescissions would damage rural public media and gut foreign aid programs. The House must pass it by Friday to prevent the funds from being automatically released. Trump, meanwhile, has threatened to withhold endorsements from House Republicans who voted against the cuts. (NPR / New York Times / Politico / Washington Post / Wall Street Journal / Variety / Ars Technica)

6/ The House passed the GENIUS Act, sending the first major federal crypto bill to Trump for final approval. The bill, which won bipartisan support, sets rules for stablecoins – a win for an industry that spent over $130 million backing pro-crypto candidates. Crypto-backed PACs have already raised $141 million for the 2026 elections. The House also passed the Clarity Act, which would shift crypto oversight away from the SEC and toward the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, a federal agency that regulates markets for derivatives, like futures and swaps, and has some authority over commodities trading. The bill, however, faces an uncertain future in the Senate. Trump and his family also stand to benefit from the new rules through financial ties to World Liberty Financial, which launched its own stablecoin, USD1. “This is a vote to give Trump the pen to write the rules that would put more money in his family’s pocket,” Rep. Maxine Waters said. (New York Times / Axios / NPR)

The midterm elections are in 474 days.

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What The Fuck Just Happened Today? ([syndicated profile] wtfjht_feed) wrote2025-07-16 03:50 pm

Day 1639: "Weaklings."

Posted by Matt Kiser

1/ Trump disavowed his supporters demanding the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files, calling them “weaklings” who “bought into this bullshit.” Trump accused his “PAST supporters” of doing “the Democrats’ work” and said he didn’t want their support, calling the case a “hoax” that “nobody cares” about. “I don’t want their support anymore!” The statement follows a Justice Department memo concluding there was no Epstein “client list,” contradicting Attorney General Pam Bondi’s earlier claims that such documents existed and were under review. Bondi now says she was referring to general case files, not a list, and has refused to commit to releasing more. Trump’s base, meanwhile, has fractured parts of the MAGA movement with conservative figures like Laura Loomer and Alex Jones accusing Trump of betrayal. Loomer warned the scandal could “consume his presidency.” House Speaker Mike Johnson also split from Trump, calling for “transparency” and urging Bondi to clarify her role. Rep. Thomas Massie launched a discharge petition with Democrat Ro Khanna to force a vote compelling the DOJ to release all Epstein-related files. Other Republicans, including Marjorie Taylor Greene and Lauren Boebert, have backed the move, which could trigger a full House vote after the recess. Trump, meanwhile, insists any further release is up to Bondi, but repeated that only “credible information” should be made public. (NBC News / CNN / CBS News / Washington Post / New York Times / Politico / Axios / New York Times / Axios / The Guardian / Associated Press / Politico / ABC News / Wall Street Journal)

2/ Trump told House Republicans he was considering firing Fed Chair Jerome Powell, showing them a draft termination letter, but hours later publicly said it was “highly unlikely.” In that meeting, Trump asked if he should remove Powell and said “almost all of them said I should,” but added, “I’m more conservative than they are.” A senior White House official said Trump would “likely” act soon, while Rep. Anna Paulina Luna posted that Powell’s firing was “imminent.” Trump later denied the reports, saying “we’re not planning on doing anything,” but added: “I don’t rule out anything […] unless he has to leave for fraud.” Trump has demanded the Fed cut interest rates by up to 3 points, calling Powell a “total stiff” and “terrible,” while accusing him of wasting money on a “palace,” saying, “I think it sort of is” a fireable offense. Powell has defended the $2.5 billion renovation and asked the inspector general to review it. The Fed, meanwhile, has held rates steady while warning Trump’s tariffs could push inflation higher. (Washington Post / New York Times / Bloomberg / NBC News / CNN / Bloomberg / Wall Street Journal / CBS News / CNBC / Axios)

4/ The Justice Department asked at least nine states to turn over their voter rolls, with two states complying and others reviewing the requests. Separately, Republican election clerks in Colorado said a consultant claiming to work with the White House contacted them to request access to voting machines. Some clerks rejected the request outright, calling it a security risk. The White House, however, didn’t confirm its connection to the consultant, but said it supports ensuring only citizens are on voter rolls. (Washington Post)

5/ The Trump administration deported five men from Vietnam, Laos, Jamaica, Cuba, and Yemen to Eswatini in southern Africa, restarting third-country deportations after a recent Supreme Court ruling. Homeland Security said the men had criminal records including murder, child rape, and assault. The Eswatini government confirmed the men are being held in a local prison and plans to return them to their home countries, but didn’t say how long they will be held. ICE guidelines allow deportation to third countries within six hours, even without assurances against torture. (Politico / USA Today / New York Times / NBC News / Axios)

poll/ 79% of Americans want the government to release all documents related to the Jeffrey Epstein case. Two-thirds said the government is covering up evidence, including 82% of Democrats and 50% of Republicans. Belief that Epstein was murdered (39%) outweighed belief in the official suicide ruling (20%). 40% said they were unsure. (YouGov)

poll/ 61% of Americans oppose Trump’s domestic spending bill, his largest legislative action since returning to office. 51% said the bill would hurt the economy, while 29% said it would help it. 16% expect their families to benefit. (CNN)

The midterm elections are in 475 days.

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CaptainAwkward.com ([syndicated profile] captainawkward_feed) wrote2025-07-16 03:10 pm

July London meetup

Posted by katepreach

EDIT: We are on floor 3 mezzanine near auditorium door G Green Side

Announcement: the audience for these has changed, so I’m going to do them once every three or four months instead of monthly. So please come to this July one if you’re interested, there won’t be another until probably October.

26th July, 1pm, Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, SE1 8XX.

We will be on Level 2 (the upper levels are closed to non-ticket-holders), but I don’t know exactly where on the floor. It will depend on where we can find a table.

I have shoulder length brown hair, and will have my plush Chthulu which looks like this:



Please obey any rules posted in the venue.

The venue has lifts to all floors and accessible toilets. The accessibility map is here:

Click to access 21539-24-Access-Updated-Access-Map_Proof-2.pdf

The food market outside (side away from the river) is pretty good for all sorts of requirements, and you can also bring food from home, or there are lots of cafes on the riverfront.

Other things to bear in mind:

1. Please make sure you respect people’s personal space and their choices about distancing.

2. We have all had a terrible time for the last four years. Sharing your struggles is okay and is part of what the group is for, but we need to be careful not to overwhelm each other or have the conversation be entirely negative. Where I usually draw the line here is that personal struggles are fine to talk about but political rants are discouraged, but I may have to move this line on the day when I see how things go. Don’t worry, I will tell you!

3. Probably lots of us have forgotten how to be around people (most likely me as well), so here is permission to walk away if you need space. Also a reminder that we will all react differently, so be careful to give others space if they need.

Please RSVP if you’re coming so I know whether or not we have enough people. If there’s no uptake I will cancel a couple of days before.

kate DOT towner AT gmail DOT com