News On Tap For Thursday, August 14, 2025

Promises & Lies

Today’s “News On Tap” is flowing a bit more normally - thought that’s all relative to the times we’re in. From Trump’s half-assed DC takeover, to Trump & Putin’s meeting in Alaska, to rising Trumpflation, there’s plenty of ugly news today. But there’s also some good entertainment & election news. Plus, we’ve got both Jared Rizzi & John Fugelsang in the bar tonight! But first..

First Round - Authoritarian Posturing

Trump's Half-Assed DC Takeover

• Federal Agents, As Part Of Trump's Authoritarian Push, Set Up Checkpoint In Popular DC Nightlife Area, Drawing Protestors

• Man Accused Of Hurling Sandwich At Federal Agent In DC Gets Hit With Felony Assault Charge

• Newly Released FBI Data Proves Violent Crime In Border Cities Actually Fell Below Record-Low National Crime Rate During 2024

• Greg Sargent: Trump’s Threat Of Troops In Other Cities Just Got Much Scarier

Couples Goals

• Even Before They Meet, Putin Is Already Getting A Win, As Trump Elevates The Russian Leader To Great-Power Status Again

• Trump Expected To Offer Putin Rare Earth Minerals In Alaska As Part Of Deal For Ceasefire

• Putin Also Expected To Offer Personal Financial Incentives To Trump At Summit Over Russia/Ukraine War

• Ukraine, Left Out Of Trump-Putin Summit, Fears Setbacks On Key Peace Issues

Second Round - Trumpflation Is Here

• Wholesale Inflation Has Biggest Surge In Three Years, A Sign Trump's Tariffs Are Finally Starting To Hit The Economy

• Trump Takes Pro-Corporatist/Pro-Monopolist Action, Revoking Biden's Antitrust Order Promoting Competition In The U.S. Economy

• Electricity Prices Are Surging Nationwide, Opening Up A New Line Of Attacks Against Trump & Republicans

• Fed Faces High Bar For Big Interest Cuts In September, Despite White House Pressure

Third Round - The Many Wars Of The Right

Redistricting Wars

• California Gov. Gavin Newsom Announces His Own ‘Liberation Day’ As Part Of Ongoing Redistricting War

• Illinois Court Rejects Texas Request To Enforce Arrest Warrants Against House Democrats

• As They Redraw Maps For Partisan Advantage, Texas Republicans Are Betting Latino Trump Voters Will Stick With Them. That’s No Sure Thing.

War On Good Govt.

• Trump Admin. Admits His Bureau Of Labor Statistics Nominee E.J. Antoni Was A 'Bystander' To The Insurrection On Jan. 6

• House Democrats Are Demanding Answers From Trump Admin. On Major Cuts To Firefighters During Critical Fire Season

• Treasury Sec. Bessent Has Yet To Fully Divest Assets, Raising Concern At Federal Office Of Government Ethics

War On Immigration

• Massive New Immigration Detention Facility In Texas Facing Major Setbacks

• ICE Sent 3 U.S. Citizen Children, Including Boy With Cancer, To Honduras With Their Deported Moms

• New Zealand Woman And Six-Year-Old Son Detained For Three Weeks By ICE In U.S. Enduring ‘Terrifying’ Ordeal

Fourth Round - More News To Drink About

The Trump/Epstein Scandal Rolls On

• Bombshell New CNN Timeline Casts More Doubt On Trump’s Attempts To Distance Himself From Epstein

• Donald Trump And Jeffrey Epstein’s Relationship: A Definitive Timeline

• Melania Trump Demands Hunter Biden Retract Comments Linking Her To Epstein; Hunter's Response: "That’s Not Gonna Happen."

Election Land

• Some Democrats Panicked Over Mamdani's Primary Win. Fmr. Pres. Obama Called Mamdani And Congratulated Him. [Gift Link]

• Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer Is Courting Former Democratic House Member Mary Peltola For Alaska Senate Race

• Former Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola Holds A Commanding Lead If She Chooses To Run In The 2026 Alaska Governor's Race

• Virginia Democratic Candidate For Governor, Abigail Spanberger, Wins Backing Of Police Group That Previously Endorsed Glenn Youngkin

Fifth Round - Entertainment & More

• Taylor Swift’s ‘The Life Of A Showgirl’ Sets October Release Date And Debuts Album Cover & Podcast With Her Boyfriend & His Brother

• Eight Things We Learned From Taylor Swift And The Kelce Brothers' Marathon New Heights Podcast

• Ana Navarro Urges Gloria Gaynor To Reject Trump’s Kennedy Center Nomination

• KISS Members Who Once Referred To Donald Trump As A ‘True Danger To Democracy’ React To Kennedy Center Honor Saying They're ‘Deeply Honored’

• Three WNBA Players Ejected As Connecticut Sun & Chicago Sky Game Gets Too Physical

• Federal Appeals Court Agrees NFL Can Be Put On Trial Over Claims Black Coaches Face Discrimination

• NCAA Informs Michigan Ruling On Their Sign-Stealing Investigation Will Be Released Friday, With Penalties Expected

Today’s Special Guest

Jared Rizzi, former White House Correspondent for SiriusXM during both the Obama and Trump administrations, & former reporter for CBS Radio News, is back at the bar. He’s a longtime resident of Washington, DC, so he can tell us whether it’s actually a hellhole like Trump & Republicans claim (it’s not). He’s also got experience covering high-profile events, like presidential meetings with Putin. We’ll ask him about those topics and more

Tonight’s Bar Regular:

John Fugelsang, author, comedian, broadcaster, podcaster, & friend – & the Host of “Tell Me Everything with John Fugelsang” weeknights on Sirius XM – is back at the bar, and back on the East Cost end of the bar. He’ll talk with us about all the fascistic horrors hitting the headlines. John’s latest piece at his Substack, “Oh, They're Also Burning Food For Starving Kids Now” also talks about one of the more cruel actions this current regime has taken that you might have missed. Plus, John’s great new book, “Separation of Church and Hate”- coming out Sept. 9th - is still available for pre-order! Put it in your book order, then join us all at the bar tonight!

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