News On Tap For Friday, Sept. 26, 2025

Courage In The Face Of Corruption

Today’s “News On Tap” may look like fascism, but it’s core flavor is standing up to Trump’s halfascism. We’ve got all the details on Trump’s BS indictment of Jim Comey, and more on Trump’s corrupt mob thugocracy. Democrats are holding strong in the Shutdown Showdown, & Trumponomics is failing, as the farm crisis is growing. We’ve got more news from the U.N. & some great entertainment news too. Plus, we’ve got Rebecca Buckwalter-Poza AND Karen & Anita from TruBlu Politics in the bar tonight. Lots of news - no room for clips today! So read up & get informed…

First Round - Trump’s Weaponized Government

Donald’s Empty Vengeance

• Former FBI Director James Comey Indicted Days After Trump Demanded His DOJ Move ‘Now’ To Prosecute Trump’s Political Enemies

• James Comey, In Response Video, Proclaims His Innocence, Saying ‘Let’s Have A Trial’

• Prosecutors’ Memo To New U.S. Atty Lindsey Halligan Found No Probable Cause To Charge James Comey

• Steve Benen: James Comey’s Indictment Is Plainly As Corrupt As It Appears

• Trump Escalates Retribution Campaign With Charges Against Comey And Threats Against Liberal Groups [Gift Link]

• George Soros’ Foundation Hits Back At Trump After Report That Trump DOJ Plans To Target His Group

Trump’s Corrupt Mob Thugocracy

• Trump Warns Of “Bad Things” To Come If Democrats Provoke The Right

• National Archives, Controlled By Marco Rubio, Released Mikie Sherrill’s Complete Unredacted Military Record To Ally Of Her Opponent In New Jersey Governor’s Race

• House Democrats Call For Investigation Into Release Of Mikie Sherrill’s Military Records By Rubio-Controlled National Archives

• New Jersey MAGA Republican Candidate Jack Ciattarelli Under Fire After Doxxing Democratic Candidate For Governor Mikie Sherrill

• Trump DOJ Sues Six States, Escalating Campaign To Seize Private Voter Data

Second Round - Halfascism, Cruelty, & Danger

Shutdown Showdown

• Democratic Voters Are Strongly Pressing Their Leaders Not To Cave In Shutdown Fight

• Why Democrats In Congress Aren’t Sweating Republicans’ Threats Of Mass Firings In A Shutdown

• Ryan Cooper: Russ Vought’s Empty Shutdown Threat

• As Democrats Fight To Extend ACA Subsidies, Leaders From 35 Republican-Supporting Organizations Urge Trump To Let The Subsidies Expire

Immigration Wars

• Chicago Area ICE Processing Center, At The Heart Of Trump’s Immigration Crackdown, Sparks Complaints Of Inhumane Conditions

• Immigrants With No Criminal Record Are Now The Largest Group In ICE Detention

A Worrisome Meeting

• Trump Contradicts Vance Over Hegseth’s Mystery Meeting, Saying It Is Actually A Big Deal

• Fmr. Gen. Mark Hertling: As Our Generals & Admirals Fly Home At Hegseth’s Demand, Our Adversaries Watch & Wait Hungrily

Third Round - Trump’s Failing Economy

Trumponomics Is Failing

• Trump To Put New Tariff Taxes On Pharmaceutical Drugs, Kitchen Cabinets, Furniture, And Heavy Trucks

• Millions Of Americans Now Face Food Stamp Cuts Due To Republicans’ Big Ugly Bill, As Grocery Costs Continue To Rise

• Starbucks To Cut 900 Jobs And Close Dozens Of North American Stores As Sales Struggle

The Dumbest Farm Crisis Ever

• China Doubles Argentine Soy Purchases After Argentine Export Tax Suspension, Leaving U.S. Farmers Shut Out

• Soybeans Were America’s Biggest Export To China, With China Buying $12.6b Last Year. Now, Sales Are Literally Down To $0.

• With Rural America Starting To See Huge Financial Losses From His Tariff Policies, Trump Offers Vague Aid Package To Farmers In The Heartland

Fourth Round - Foreign Affairs

• Dozens Of U.N. Delegates Walk Out In Protest As Netanyahu Condemns Leaders Who’ve Recognized Palestine In Belligerent Speech

• Trump Again Vows Not To Allow Israel To Annex Occupied West Bank

• Russian Foreign Minister Now Says Moscow Is In A ‘Real War’ With Nato, Europe

• Europe Is Readying For Direct Conflict With Russia

• New Documents Suggest Russia Is Helping Prepare China To Attack Taiwan

Fifth Round - Media, Entertainment, & More

• Trump Signs Order Approving Tiktok U.S. Deal Valuing It At $14 Billion, Giving Non-Chinese Investors 80% Ownership

• Bruce Springsteen In New Time Magazine Story Slams Trump Again: ‘If Congress Had Guts, He’d Be Consigned To The Trash Heap Of History’

• L.A. Dodgers Clinch NL West Title With Win Over Arizona Diamondbacks, Moving Out Of San Diego Padres’ Reach

• AL East Race Between NY Yankees And Toronto Blue Jays Comes Down To Final Weekend Of Season

• Detroit Tigers And Cleveland Guardians Tied Atop AL Central With 3 Games Left

• Minnesota Vikings & Pittsburgh Steelers To Play First-Ever Regular-Season NFL Game In Dublin, Ireland This Sunday

Today’s Special Guest

Rebecca Pilar Buckwalter-Poza is an experienced lawyer, legal analyst, journalist, and political commentator - and a friend of ours here at The Politics Bar. Rebecca has a great new piece up at The Advocate about how Democrats could work to win more elections that every Democratic candidate should read. She’ll also help us break down Trump’s lawless mob attack on James Comey, the left, and more

Your Bar Regulars Tonight…

It’s been a week filled with news, with big highs and some ugly lows. At times like this, it’s always good to get together with members of our community - like Karen from Chicago & Anita From San Antonio, the hosts of Tru Blu Politics! They’re both back at the bar tonight, to give us on the ground updates from their corners of the bar, as we talk, laugh, & recap another busy week of news. Grab a drink & join us!

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