Thursday, October 23rd, 2025 - OR Senator speech; Venezuela boat strikes; AZ AG sues Spkr. Johnson; Putin-Trump tunnel; SPED pawned off & more
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Today’s Headlines: Senator Jeff Merkley just pulled a 22-hour Senate marathon to warn that Trump is “shredding the Constitution” and that the U.S. faces its biggest threat since the Civil War. Over in the GOP, Indiana’s Sen. Todd Young wants answers on the administration’s Venezuela boat strikes, which have killed 32 people so far—though Trump has already posted the explosions on Truth Social, so technically, Congress has been briefed. Meanwhile, Speaker Mike Johnson still refuses to swear in Arizona’s congresswoman-elect Adelita Grijalva, blocking her from becoming the 218th vote to force release of the Epstein files. Arizona’s AG is now suing him for disenfranchising 813,000 voters. Trump also announced major sanctions on Russia’s oil giants, even as one of Putin’s envoys pitched Elon Musk on building a “Putin-Trump Tunnel” linking Alaska and Russia. Trump called the idea “interesting,” which means he’s 80% of the way to commissioning a gold plaque for it. On the America First economy beat, the U.S. and big banks are reportedly preparing a second $20 billion bailout for Argentina, this time framed as a “loan” while we import their beef instead of our own. In domestic chaos, Trump is demolishing the White House East Wing, and the Education Department is being gutted, with special ed services being shuffled to other agencies in what’s basically a slow-motion abolition of the department itself. And for a cherry on top, Don Jr., Laura Ingraham, and Chamath Palihapitiya are teaming up to launch a $260 million SPAC, though no one knows what it’s actually for—probably vibes and nepotism.
Resources/Articles mentioned in this episode:
CNN: Democratic Sen. Jeff Merkley delivers marathon floor speech to protest Trump’s ‘grave threats’
Axios: Exclusive: Congress needs to hear more about Venezuela operation, GOP senator says
NBC News: Arizona AG sues to force House Speaker Johnson to seat Democrat Adelita Grijalva
WSJ: U.S. Imposes Substantial New Sanctions on Russian Oil Giants
WaPo: Putin envoy pitches Elon Musk on a tunnel connecting Russia and Alaska
WSJ: U.S. Banks Are Hunting for Collateral to Back $20 Billion Argentina Bailout
NYT: U.S. Banks Are Hunting for Collateral to Back $20 Billion Argentina Bailout
WaPo: Trump administration seeks to move special education program to new agency
Bloomberg: Trump Jr. Firm Taps Palihapitiya, Influencers for SPAC
Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson
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