Today is National Recalled Corn Dog Day
Monday, September 29, 2025
Jump to:
-
Dallas ICE Shooting Fallout •
Vought Shutdown Threats (emptywheel) •
Vought’s Shutdown (Prospect) •
Politico: Vought’s Crusade •
DOJ Seeks Info on Fani Willis •
Research-Grant Preferences •
NSPM-7 Text •
NSPM-7 Indicators Report •
DOE Banned Words •
House Panel & Platforms •
Antifa EO Analysis •
ChatGPT Pulse •
AI ‘Workslop’ •
WaPo Writer Flight •
Anthropic–White House •
DOGEai Thread •
Kimmel Suspension •
Coal Revival Costs •
CRC on Environmentalism •
Illiteracy: Policy Choice •
Post‑Literate Society •
IRS Phasing Out Paper Checks
Headline: Trump’s Eruption of Rage at Texas ICE Shooting Hints at a Darker Story | The New Republic
What?
After the Dallas ICE shooting, Trump allies signal a crackdown linking liberal advocacy and media to “domestic terrorism,” previewing probes that could target speech and nonprofits.
So What?
Positions the incident as justification for wider investigations aligned with NSPM‑7, raising risk that immigrant‑rights and media orgs face scrutiny based on rhetoric rather than conduct.
Now What?
Watch for: DOJ guidance on “incitement” thresholds tied to anti‑ICE speech; possible Hill letters or subpoenas to advocacy outlets. Further reading: NSPM‑7 text.
Headline: Russ Vought Threatens to Do What He Already Did | emptywheel
What?
Analysis argues former OMB director Russ Vought’s shutdown threats reprise tactics already used to squeeze agencies and embed personnel policies.
So What?
Suggests governance by leverage—funding and personnel—that could pair with NSPM‑7 enforcement to pressure universities, media, and NGOs via compliance.
Now What?
Watch for: OMB lapse‑planning memos and any “Schedule F”‑style actions. Further reading: POLITICO.
Headline: Russ Vought’s Empty Shutdown Threat | The American Prospect
What?
The Prospect contends Vought lacks the votes or mechanisms for a lasting shutdown despite rhetoric.
So What?
If bluster, attention shifts to quieter tools—regulatory slow‑rolls and targeted enforcement—where NGOs are more exposed.
Now What?
Watch for: Agency guidance altering grant criteria or staffing during continuing resolutions. Further reading: WSJ Op‑Ed.
Headline: ‘Pain on the bureaucracy’: Vought’s crusade upends the shutdown fight | POLITICO
What?
Report details a plan to force attrition and layoffs during a shutdown to permanently shrink the civil service.
So What?
Capacity cuts could degrade civil‑rights enforcement and grant administration, concentrating discretion among political appointees.
Now What?
Watch for: OPM/OMB RIF guidance and agency RIF notices. Further reading: American Prospect.
Headline: Justice Dept. Seeks Information on Fani Willis | The New York Times
What?
DOJ requested records related to Fulton County D.A. Fani Willis, who prosecuted Trump, signaling possible federal scrutiny.
So What?
Reinforces use of federal tools against perceived opponents; raises selective‑enforcement concerns central to NSPM‑7 critiques.
Now What?
Watch for: Subpoenas or oversight actions targeting local prosecutors. Further reading: JURIST roundup.
Headline: White House eyes research‑grant advantage for aligned colleges | Washington Post
What?
Report says the administration is weighing preferences in federal research funding for universities that support its policy priorities.
So What?
Ideological screens for grants would reshape higher‑ed incentives and NGO‑academic partnerships.
Now What?
Watch for: OSTP/agency NOFO language for “alignment” criteria. Further reading: Washington Post.
Headline: NSPM‑7: Countering Domestic Terrorism and Organized Political Violence | White House
What?
The directive orders an all‑of‑government campaign to “investigate and disrupt” networks tied to political violence, tasking JTTFs and instructing IRS and FinCEN to act.
So What?
Elevates domestic counterterrorism posture toward civil society; expands pre‑crime‑style monitoring and financial/tax levers.
Now What?
Watch for: DOJ implementation guidance; early JTTF cases citing NSPM‑7. Further reading: Arnold & Porter analysis.
Headline: NSPM‑7 labels common beliefs as terrorism “indicators” | Ken Klippenstein
What?
Reporting highlights memo language listing “anti‑American,” “anti‑capitalist,” and “anti‑Christian” as investigatory indicia.
So What?
Clarifies belief‑based trigger risk for NGOs and funders; underscores First Amendment exposure in implementation.
Now What?
Watch for: Civil‑liberties litigation testing belief‑based indicia. Further reading: Common Dreams overview.
Headline: Energy Dept. adds ‘climate change’ and ‘emissions’ to banned‑words list | POLITICO
What?
Report says DOE internally discouraged use of climate‑related terms.
So What?
Language policing may throttle climate policy and research communications.
Now What?
Watch for: DOE internal comms/style guides and shifts in grant/NOFO language. Further reading: POLITICO.
Headline: House panel prods platforms on extremist activity | Semafor
What?
Homeland Security Committee queried Discord, Twitch, Reddit, and GitHub about flagging and sharing extremist threats.
So What?
Portends tighter cooperation with law enforcement post‑Kirk, intersecting with NSPM‑7’s emphasis on online radicalization.
Now What?
Watch for: Platform transparency reports and new law‑enforcement portals/processes. Further reading: Semafor.
Headline: What Liberals Get Wrong About Trump’s Executive Order on Antifa | The Intercept
What?
Argument piece reassesses the antifa designation order’s legal reach and practical effects.
So What?
Context for how NSPM‑7 could operationalize investigations without a formal “domestic terrorist organizations” list.
Now What?
Watch for: DOJ charging memos emphasizing conspiracy/material‑support proxies. Further reading: The Intercept.
Headline: Introducing ChatGPT Pulse | OpenAI
What?
OpenAI previews “Pulse,” a proactive daily update feature for ChatGPT, with integrations like Gmail and Calendar.
So What?
Personalized AI feeds may reshape information diets and privacy expectations.
Now What?
Watch for: Product launch notes, privacy‑policy updates, and enterprise offerings. Further reading: OpenAI post.
Headline: Beware coworkers who produce AI‑generated ‘workslop’ | TechCrunch
What?
Column warns low‑quality AI content is flooding workflows and undermining credibility.
So What?
Highlights reputational risk from unchecked AI output.
Now What?
Watch for: Newsroom/brand guidelines on AI provenance and review. Further reading: TechCrunch.
Headline: Writer Flight | CJR
What?
CJR tracks a talent exodus at the Washington Post.
So What?
Shrinking newsroom capacity may reduce investigative coverage of policy impacts.
Now What?
Watch for: Staffing announcements at major outlets and beats left uncovered. Further reading: CJR.
Headline: Anthropic may clash with White House over backers: report | New York Post
What?
Report claims Anthropic’s investor mix, including Ford Foundation, could put it at odds with White House AI policy/procurement priorities.
So What?
Foreshadows political scrutiny of AI firms’ funders and governance with knock‑on effects for philanthropy ties.
Now What?
Watch for: OSTP/NIST AI Safety Institute engagements and federal procurement signals. Further reading: NY Post.
Headline: DOGEai Chat thread | DOGEai Chat
What?
Discussion thread related to media interviews and policy reactions. [DETAILS NEEDED]
So What?
Shows how influencer commentary can catalyze narrative shifts around policy/tech. [DETAILS NEEDED]
Now What?
Watch for: If thread content is cited by major outlets or officials. Further reading: Thread.
Headline: Disney shareholders demand reasons for Kimmel suspension | Semafor
What?
Shareholders press Disney to explain the suspension of Jimmy Kimmel after political commentary.
So What?
Highlights corporate‑speech fault lines and potential chilling effects in entertainment media.
Now What?
Watch for: Disney board disclosures and advertiser statements. Further reading: Semafor.
Headline: How Trump’s Coal Revival Could Make Electricity More Expensive | OilPrice
What?
Analysis suggests efforts to revive coal could raise power costs due to aging plants and market dynamics.
So What?
Undercuts affordability claims; provides messaging openings on reliability and consumer impact.
Now What?
Watch for: Utility IRPs, PUC dockets, and EPA rule‑litigation calendars. Further reading: OilPrice.
Headline: Environmentalism is nearing retirement age | Capital Research Center
What?
Opinion argues legacy environmental groups are out‑of‑touch and anti‑energy.
So What?
Signals attack narratives likely to be paired with financial‑surveillance efforts against climate NGOs.
Now What?
Watch for: Coordinated op‑eds/think‑tank reports targeting major climate NGOs. Further reading: CRC.
Headline: Illiteracy is a policy choice | The Argument
What?
Essay argues literacy gaps stem from solvable policy and practice failures.
So What?
Provides evidence‑based frames for education advocacy amid culture‑war pressures.
Now What?
Watch for: State “science of reading” bills and implementation timelines. Further reading: The Argument.
Headline: The dawn of the post‑literate society | James Marriott
What?
Commentary predicts declining text literacy as audio/video AI rises.
So What?
Campaigns must adapt to short‑form audio/visual while guarding against synthetic‑media risks.
Now What?
Watch for: Platform product changes favoring audio/video over text. Further reading: Marriott Substack.
Headline: IRS to phase out paper tax refund checks starting in 2025 | Miami Herald
What?
IRS will move away from paper refund checks, shifting to direct deposit/debit‑card options.
So What?
May complicate refunds for unbanked households; impacts benefits navigators.
Now What?
Watch for: IRS implementation notices and taxpayer‑advocate guidance. Further reading: Miami Herald.
