[Monday, September 22] US News Headlines from r/politics

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DAILY BRIEFING

By Dr. Headline, HeadlineSquare September 22, 2025

Executive Summary

Today’s news is dominated by actions challenging U.S. governance norms. President Trump reportedly ordered the Attorney General to prosecute political foes, an act critics call an “impeachment-level scandal.” The Supreme Court expanded presidential power, allowing the firing of an FTC commissioner and agreeing to review a precedent protecting agency independence. In foreign affairs, Russia is reportedly escalating its Ukraine war, calculating the U.S. will not act. Domestically, the administration promoted unproven links between Tylenol and autism, drawing scientific backlash. It also canceled the annual hunger report and designated antifa a terrorist organization.

1. Executive Power and the Rule of Law

1.1. Politicization of the Justice Department

The executive branch has reportedly taken direct action to wield the power of the Justice Department against political adversaries, part of what is described as a “retribution campaign” [1]. Multiple reports state President Trump has ordered Attorney General Pam Bondi to immediately prosecute his foes, with one quoting the President as saying, “We can’t delay any longer” [2]. This action has been met with severe criticism, with commentators framing it as a foundational crisis for the legal system. An analysis in The Atlantic calls it a “most profound transgression” against the norms of fairness and neutrality [3], while an MSNBC report argues the directive should be treated as an “impeachment-level scandal” [4]. The administration has also moved to install loyalists in key prosecutorial roles, with one headline describing its nomination for a top Virginia prosecutor as a “New Low” in the President’s “Dangerous Revenge Campaign” [5].

References: [1] Trump pushes Bondi to pursue cases against his foes as he ramps up retribution campaign, https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/trump-pushes-bondi-to-pursue-cases-against-his-foes-as-he-ramps-up-retribution-campaign
[2] Trump orders attorney general to prosecute his political enemies straight away: ‘We can’t delay any longer’ - ‘Imagine if Richard Nixon had just tweeted out the Watergate scandal rather than putting it on secret tapes,’ says Hillary Clinton, https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-bondi-prosecutions-james-comey-adam-schiff-doj-b2831016.html
[3] A Most Profound Transgression | In demanding that the attorney general go after his enemies, Donald Trump is upending fundamental norms of fairness and neutrality in the American legal system, https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2025/09/trump-bondi-doj/684293/
[4] Why Trump’s directive to AG Bondi should be seen as an impeachment-level scandal, https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/trumps-directive-ag-bondi-seen-impeachment-level-scandal-rcna232888
[5] With Appointment of Loyalist as Top Virginia Prosecutor, Trump’s Dangerous Revenge Campaign Hits ‘New Low’, https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/trump-loyalist-lindsey-halligan-eastern-district-virginia-letitia-james/

1.2. Supreme Court Action Radically Expands Presidential Authority

In a move that could fundamentally reshape the balance of power in Washington, the Supreme Court has cleared a path for a significant expansion of presidential authority. The Court granted an administration request allowing President Trump to fire a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) commissioner, Rebecca Slaughter [1]. Simultaneously, the Court agreed to hear a case in December that will reconsider a 90-year-old legal precedent that limits a president’s power to fire the heads of independent agencies at will [2, 3]. A reversal of this precedent threatens the independence of agencies like the Federal Reserve and FTC. In a pointed warning, Justice Elena Kagan wrote that the Court is “overriding” Congress to deliver a victory for the President [4].

References: [1] Supreme Court Allows Trump to Fire F.T.C. Commissioner, https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/22/us/politics/supreme-court-ftc-commissioner-firing.html
[2] Supreme Court will weigh expanding Trump’s power to shape agencies by overturning 90-year-old ruling, https://apnews.com/article/trump-fire-ftc-commissioner-supreme-court-2149d7c3802b3ddea6e157d3a0afd292?utm_source=onesignal&utm_medium=push&utm_campaign=2025-09-22-Breaking+News
[3] Trump’s independent agency firings bombard Supreme Court, https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5513358-trump-supreme-court-firings/
[4] Elena Kagan warns Supreme Court “overriding” Congress to give Trump a win, https://www.newsweek.com/kagan-supreme-court-congress-trump-win-ftc-2133934?utm_source=reddit&utm_campaign=reddit_influencers

1.3. Allegations Against Senior Administration Officials

A high-profile corruption allegation against a top administration official continues to draw attention. Reports allege that President Trump’s “border czar,” Tom Homan, was caught taking $50,000 in cash from undercover FBI agents [1]. The White House has issued a forceful denial, with one report stating the administration insists Homan “never took the $50,000” [2]. Further details from the allegation claim the purported bribe was “videotaped” and delivered inside a “Cava takeout bag” [3]. Separately, FBI Director Kash Patel is reportedly facing questions over his leadership of the Charlie Kirk murder investigation following unspecified “missteps” in the case [4].

References: [1] Trump’s border czar who promised to bring “hell” to Boston, caught taking $50K in cash from undercover FBI agents, media reports say, https://www.masslive.com/politics/2025/09/trumps-border-czar-who-promised-to-bring-hell-to-boston-caught-taking-50k-in-cash-from-undercover-fbi-agents-media-reports-say.html
[2] White House Denies Homan Took Bag of Cash in F.B.I. Inquiry, https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/22/us/politics/homan-cash.html?smid=re-share
[3] Trump border czar Homan ‘never took the $50,000’ cash, White House insists of alleged ‘videotaped’ bribe in Cava takeout bag, https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-border-czar-homan-bribery-allegation-b2831521.html
[4] After Missteps, Kash Patel Faces Questions Over His Leadership of Charlie Kirk Investigation, https://time.com/7319464/charlie-kirk-investigation-kash-patel/

2. Major Domestic and Immigration Policy Shifts

2.1. Health Policy: Administration Promotes Unproven Autism Links

The administration has launched a public campaign to promote unproven ties between autism and both Tylenol (acetaminophen) and vaccines [1]. At a White House press conference featuring HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and television personality Dr. Oz, President Trump announced he would direct the FDA to “advise doctors about link between autism, acetaminophen use during pregnancy” [2]. During the event, the President also claimed, “‘Amish have no autism,’” and declared, “Life Is Common Sense” [3]. The move has drawn immediate backlash from the medical and scientific communities, as well as the manufacturer of Tylenol [4]. Experts maintain that acetaminophen is considered safe for use during pregnancy and that the administration presented “flimsy evidence” to justify its announcement [5].

References: [1] Trump promotes unproven ties between Tylenol, vaccines and autism without new evidence, https://apnews.com/article/tylenol-cause-autism-trump-kennedy-0847ee76eedecbd5e9baa6888b567d66?utm_source=onesignal&utm_medium=push&utm_campaign=2025-09-22-Breaking+News
[2] FDA will advise doctors about link between autism, acetaminophen use during pregnancy, Trump says, https://www.cnn.com/2025/09/22/health/trump-autism-announcement-cause-tylenol
[3] Trump Claims Tylenol Causes Autism, Declares ‘Life Is Common Sense’ in Press Conference with RFK Jr. and Dr. Oz, https://people.com/trump-rfk-jr-says-tylenol-causes-autism-11814830?utm_campaign=peoplemagazine&utm_medium=social&utm_source=reddit.com&utm_content=post
[4] Trump and RFK Jr. make autism announcement as Tylenol maker and medical experts push back, https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-autism-tylenol-medical-experts/
[5] The flimsy evidence behind Trump’s big autism announcement, explained, https://www.vox.com/health/462311/trump-tylenol-autism-announcement-leucovorin

2.2. Immigration and Visa System Overhaul

A drastic overhaul of the H-1B visa program has “effectively ended” the system as it was known by imposing a new effective price of $100,000 per visa [1, 2]. The announcement triggered “panic” among tech workers, with reports of scrambled travel plans and “$3,800 Flights” [3]. The policy is causing U.S. banks to shift reliance to their hubs in India [4]. The administration has also rescinded a Biden-era rule that granted health insurance access to DACA recipients [5].

References: [1] Trump Just Effectively Ended the H-1B Visa Program, https://newrepublic.com/post/200718/trump-just-effectively-ended-h-1b-visa-program
[2] H-1B: What Trump’s $100,000 visa means for India and US industries, https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce3yy58lj79o
[3] $3,800 Flights and Aborted Takeoffs: How Trump’s H-1B Announcement Panicked Tech Workers, https://www.wired.com/story/dollar3800-flights-and-aborted-takeoffs-how-trumps-h-1b-announcement-panicked-tech-workers/
[4] US Banks to Lean on India Hubs After Trump Imposes Visa Fees, https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-09-22/us-banks-to-lean-on-india-hubs-after-trump-imposes-visa-fees
[5] Biden offered health insurance access to DACA immigrants. Trump took it away., https://westvirginiawatch.com/2025/09/22/repub/biden-offered-health-insurance-access-to-daca-immigrants-trump-took-it-away/

2.3. Social Programs and Federal Data

The administration has canceled the government’s official annual report on hunger in America. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has ended the survey used to measure food insecurity, a decision that follows “historic cuts to the nation’s safety net” [1, 2].

References: [1] Trump administration cancels annual hunger report after enacting historic cuts to nation’s safety net, https://www.cnn.com/2025/09/21/health/hunger-reports-usda
[2] USDA cancels survey tracking how many Americans struggle to get enough food, https://www.npr.org/2025/09/22/nx-s1-5549115/usda-food-insecurity-survey-hunger

2.4. New Executive Orders

President Trump has signed an executive order that officially designates “antifa as a ‘terrorist organization’” [1]. In a separate action, the President personally directed the cancellation of federal grants for trail and bike-lane projects, which he deemed “‘Hostile’ to Cars” [2]. Another order was reported to have caused shock at San Francisco International Airport, with one pilot describing the undisclosed action as “‘Unprecedented,’” though no further details were available [3].

References: [1] Trump signs order that designates antifa as a ‘terrorist organization’, https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/sep/22/trump-executive-order-antifa-terrorist-organization
[2] Trump cancels Trail, Bike-Lane Grants Deemed ‘Hostile’ to Cars, https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-09-22/trump-cancels-trail-bike-lane-grants-deemed-hostile-to-cars?accessToken=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJzb3VyY2UiOiJTdWJzY3JpYmVyR2lmdGVkQXJ0aWNsZSIsImlhdCI6MTc1ODU3NzIyMywiZXhwIjoxNzU5MTgyMDIzLCJhcnRpY2xlSWQiOiJUMlpXMlpHT1QwSkswMCIsImJjb25uZWN0SWQiOiI5NTY4NzY4MEU4NTc0MTQ1QUVFREFDMTdCOEQ3MEZGOSJ9.0zX_4sO2rgTvRyU8iPtsjTHv6YEKUJ8guhzWFTkBq3w
[3] ‘Unprecedented’: Trump order stuns pilot at SFO, https://www.sfgate.com/travel/article/complete-chaos-trump-policy-confusion-sfo-21061704.php

3. Congress: Shutdown Looms as Partisan Debates Intensify

With a government shutdown deadline nearing, President Trump is scheduled to meet with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries to negotiate a path forward [1, 2]. The high-stakes meeting comes as Congress remains “locked in a game of shutdown chicken” [3]. Partisan frictions are running high on Capitol Hill, exemplified by the deep divisions over a House tribute resolution for the late Charlie Kirk. While it passed, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez publicly condemned Kirk’s “ignorant rhetoric,” while Rep. Jasmine Crockett scolded fellow Democrats who did not vote against it [4].

References: [1] Trump to meet with Democratic Hill Leaders over shutdown, https://www.axios.com/2025/09/22/trump-meet-chuck-schumer-hakeem-jeffries-government-shutdown
[2] Congress locked in game of shutdown chicken as funding deadline nears, https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5513293-congress-shutdown-government-funding-deadline/
[3] Trump to meet with Schumer and Jeffries as government shutdown looms, https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-meeting-schumer-jeffries-government-shutdown/
[4] AOC Condemns “Ignorant” Rhetoric of Charlie Kirk in Response to House Tribute | “We should be clear about who Charlie Kirk was,” Ocasio Cortez said., https://www.latintimes.com/aoc-condemns-ignorant-rhetoric-charlie-kirk-response-house-tribute-589735

4. The Battle Over Free Speech and the Media

4.1. Case Study: The ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ Suspension and Reversal

The late-night program “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” is set to return to the air following its suspension by ABC parent company Disney, a move that ignited a massive backlash [1]. Over 400 prominent artists, including Meryl Streep, Tom Hanks, and Jennifer Aniston, signed a public statement backing Kimmel against what they termed “government threats” and a “Campaign to ‘Pressure’ Them Into Silence” [2, 3]. Reports indicated the FCC was also threatening to “look into” the ABC show “The View” [4].

References: [1] Disney Says ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ to Return Following Backlash, https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-09-22/disney-says-jimmy-kimmel-live-to-return-following-backlash
[2] Jennifer Aniston, Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks join 400 artists to back Jimmy Kimmel against ‘government threats’, https://www.cnn.com/2025/09/22/entertainment/kimmel-aniston-streep-hanks
[3] After Kimmel Suspension, 400+ Entertainers Rip Government Campaign to ‘Pressure’ Them Into Silence, https://www.commondreams.org/news/entertainers-protest-kimmel-firing
[4] GOP Senators Criticize FCC’s Threats Against ABC And Jimmy Kimmel, https://www.huffpost.com/entry/jimmy-kimmel-trump-carr-fcc_n_68d15e22e4b03fb4d93333ff

5. Foreign Policy and National Security

5.1. Geopolitical Shift: Russia Escalates Ukraine War

In a major geopolitical development, it is reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin has decided to “step up attacks on Kyiv,” based on a calculation that the Trump administration will not intervene [1].

References: [1] Putin Decides He Can Step Up Attacks on Kyiv and Trump Won’t Act, https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-09-20/putin-decides-russia-can-step-up-ukraine-attacks-and-trump-won-t-act

5.2. Alliance Tensions and Strategic Engagements

Tensions are evident across key U.S. alliances and diplomatic fronts. The president of South Korea has publicly stated his country “can’t afford Trump’s demands” [1]. The Taliban has rejected a U.S. bid to retake Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan [2]. U.S. Republicans have warned Australia of “punitive measures” if it recognizes a Palestinian state [3]. Concurrently, the administration is taking an assertive posture in Latin America, imposing sanctions on the wife of Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Moraes [4] and preparing billions in aid for President Milei of Argentina [5]. On the technology front, the White House has confirmed Oracle will manage TikTok for U.S. users, including overseeing its algorithm, following the completion of its sale [6].

References: [1] South Korean president says his country can’t afford Trump’s demands, https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5515351-lee-jaemyung-on-trump-tariffs-investment/
[2] Taliban rejects Trump’s bid to retake Bagram air base in Afghanistan, https://www.nbcnews.com/world/afghanistan/taliban-reject-trumps-bid-retake-bagram-air-base-afghanistan-rcna232708
[3] US Republicans warn Australia of ‘punitive measures’ over recognition of Palestinian state, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/sep/21/republicans-warn-australia-of-punitive-measures-over-recognition-of-palestinian-state
[4] US targets wife of Brazilian Supreme Court justice Moraes with sanctions, https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/us-targets-wife-brazilian-supreme-court-justice-moraes-with-sanctions-2025-09-22/
[5] US Treasury chief: US ready to support Argentina, leaders to meet Tuesday, https://www.straitstimes.com/world/US-Treasury-chief-US-ready-to-support-Argentina-leaders-to-meet-Tuesday
[6] TikTok’s algorithm will be overseen by Oracle in the US after the sale is completed, https://www.cnn.com/2025/09/22/tech/tiktok-sale-oracle-algorithm

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