Sleuths strip poorly redacted Epstein files, AI Deepfakes in Schools, and CBS struggles
Tuesday, December 23 2025
Welcome to The Instrum-Intel Daily, where we break down what you need to know, and why, using What? So What? Now What?.
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Politics • The Trump Administration • Climate • AI & Tech • Culture • Education • What the Right is Reading • Etc.
Politics
Headline: House Democrats Face Surge of Progressive Primary Challenges for 2026 | CNN
What?
CNN reports over two dozen congressional Democrats face serious primary challenges from progressive candidates backed by figures like Bernie Sanders and Zohran Mamdani, creating internal party tensions ahead of 2026 midterms.
So What?
Progressive challenges could drain resources from swing districts while centrist incumbents focus on survival rather than flipping Republican seats, potentially hampering Democrats' efforts to retake the House majority.
Now What?
Watch for: Campaign finance reports showing incumbent versus challenger fundraising; endorsements from national Democratic leadership; primary results in key districts like Goldman vs. Lander in Manhattan. Further reading: Analysis of whether 2026 primaries follow 2018 progressive wave patterns or 2022 establishment consolidation.
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NRA-ILA reports the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency uncovered evidence of financial institutions denying services to firearm businesses, while Trump administration implements rules prohibiting banks from closing accounts based on "reputational risk" tied to lawful industries.
So What?
The expansion of anti-"debanking" enforcement from firearms to other politically disfavored industries establishes precedent for using financial regulation to protect conservative businesses and organizations, potentially reshaping corporate accountability mechanisms progressives have used to pressure companies on issues from climate to civil rights.
Now What?
Watch for: Final rule implementation deadline (December 29, 2025 comment period closing); enforcement actions against major banks; expansion of protected categories beyond firearms; state-level FIND Act implementation. Further reading: Historical analysis of Operation Choke Point and its termination.
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Daily Kos reports that following Trump's pardons of January 6 leaders including Proud Boys and Oath Keepers, paramilitary groups are reorganizing with pardoned leader Stewart Rhodes pledging to rebuild the Oath Keepers as a militia "under Trump's command" while ICE expands recruitment without adequate vetting.
So What?
The combination of pardoned extremist leaders, inadequate screening for federal law enforcement positions, and NSPM-7's focus on left-wing rather than right-wing threats creates conditions for paramilitary intimidation at polling places and political violence around 2026 elections, testing democratic safeguards against organized voter suppression.
Now What?
Watch for: Oath Keepers recruitment activities and organizational structure; ICE hiring standards and applicant screening procedures; Election Day security protocols in contested districts; legal challenges to federal agents near polling places. Further reading: Historical parallels to 1970s political violence and deescalation strategies.
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Headline: Antifa Everywhere: How the War on Terror Playbook Threatens Dissent | In These Times
What?
In These Times reports Trump's NSPM-7 and domestic terrorism designation of antifa directs DOJ to prioritize "material support" charges against protesters, with nine Texas activists indicted for possessing "Antifa materials" like anarchist zines, while administration pursues foreign terrorist designations that could enable denaturalization, FISA surveillance, and prosecution of anyone associated with anti-fascist organizing.
So What?
Applying War on Terror legal frameworks to domestic political movements transforms protest participation, charitable donations to activist groups, and even academic research on anti-fascism into potential felonies, weaponizing counterterrorism infrastructure against left-wing organizing in ways that survived court challenges only because they targeted foreign organizations.
Now What?
Watch for: Material support prosecutions beyond the Texas nine; foreign terrorist designation legal challenges; FISA warrant applications targeting activist groups; International Anti-Fascist Defence Fund closure impacts; nonprofit sector responses to designation threats. Further reading: Holy Land Foundation case history and material support statute First Amendment concerns.
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Headline: The Storytelling We Need to Rebuild Belief in Government | Empty Wheel
What?
Marcy Wheeler argues that after Trump's year-long assault on federal government, progressives must tell better stories about what government services and workers actually provide to Americans' daily lives, highlighting the Washington Post's documentation of the DOGE and Russ Vought purges while noting CBS News capitulated to Trump's lawsuit over 60 Minutes editing.
So What?
Without compelling narratives connecting government functions to tangible benefits, Trump's destruction becomes normalized and Democrats' 2026 prospects for accountability hinge on whether they can translate bureaucratic devastation into stories voters understand as affecting their own lives, from air quality to roads to disaster relief.
Now What?
Watch for: Media coverage of government service failures in 2026; Democratic messaging strategies linking Trump's cuts to local impacts; investigative journalism on federal worker exodus consequences; voter attitudes on government effectiveness heading into midterms. Further reading: Historical examples of effective government storytelling from New Deal era.
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The Trump Administration
Headline: Justice Department releases new batch of documents in Epstein investigation | Cnn
What?
The Justice Department released additional documents related to the Jeffrey Epstein investigation this morning, including flight records involving former President Donald Trump and unredacted survivor names, amid ongoing scrutiny of redactions and transparency.
So What?
This release highlights ongoing power imbalances in the justice system, raises concerns about victims’ privacy and government transparency, and underscores opportunities for campaigners to push for stronger protections and greater accountability regarding sexual abuse cases involving powerful individuals.
Now What?
Watch for further document releases with potential revelations about other high-profile figures, continued debates over redaction practices, and legislative or advocacy responses to the Epstein Files Transparency Act at CNN Politics and related policy analyses.
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Headline: Trump administration moves to reexamine green card holders | Axios
What?
The Trump administration has directed a full-scale reexamination of green cards for individuals from "countries of concern" following a tragedy in D.C.
So What?
This shift creates a high-stakes environment for progressive legal advocates as permanent residency becomes a "conditional" status.
Now What?
Watch for: Court challenges regarding the legality of mass green card reviews.
Headline: Todd Blanche Shut Down Crypto Enforcement While Holding Assets | ProPublica
What?
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche issued a memo ending crypto-related fraud investigations while holding over $150,000 in personal crypto investments.
So What?
This blatant conflict signals a "de-regulatory" era where personal financial interests directly shape federal enforcement policy.
Now What?
Watch for: Congressional oversight hearings and potential calls for Blanche's recusal.
AI & Tech
Headline: Deepfake cyberbullying: Schools confront rise of AI-generated nude images | AP News | Apnews
What?
A 13-year-old girl and her friends at a Louisiana middle school reported AI-generated nude images of themselves circulating on social media in August 2025, leading to school disciplinary action and law enforcement charges against accused boys. This is no surprise to anyone following Instrumental's research into OpenAI's lack of teen safeguards.
So What?
This case reveals how deepfake technology exacerbates power imbalances and victimization in schools, highlighting gaps in school policies and the urgent need for progressive advocacy around digital rights, student protections, and updated cyberbullying legislation.
Now What?
Future coverage may focus on how schools update cyberbullying policies to address AI harms, enforcement of new laws regulating AI-generated content, and broader efforts to safeguard children’s civil liberties in digital spaces, with context available from sources like the Cyberbullying Research Center and Louisiana's AI-related legislation.
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Headline: Trump’s AI czar David Sacks under fire over vast tech investments | Politico
What?
White House AI and crypto czar David Sacks is facing scrutiny for maintaining over 400 tech investments while crafting federal AI policy.
So What?
This overlap suggests federal policy may be shaped by private financial interests rather than the public interest or safety.
Now What?
Watch for: Resistance from state-level attorneys general who are warning against federal preemption of their AI laws.
Headline: Palo Alto Networks Report Reveals AI Driving Cloud Risk Surges | Palo Alto Networks
What?
A new report reveals that 99% of surveyed organizations reported attacks on their AI infrastructure in 2025.
So What?
With insecure code being generated faster than teams can review it, the risk of critical data exposure has hit an all-time high.
Now What?
Watch for: Organizations moving toward the integration of cloud security and Security Operations Centers (SOC) to handle escalating threats.
Headline: Sam Altman believes ‘infinite memory’ is AI's next frontier | Indian Express
What?
Sam Altman states that OpenAI is prioritizing 'persistent memory' over 'sharper reasoning' for its 2026 AI vision.
So What?
This vision toward a 'personalized companion' raises urgent alarms for privacy advocates regarding how deeply personal data is stored and utilized.
Now What?
Watch for: Potential integration of high-level encryption to protect users as AI memory expands into 'every detail' of human lives.
Climate
Headline: Interior Dept. tries a new tactic to halt five offshore wind projects | Washingtonpost
What?
The Interior Department, led by Secretary Doug Burgum, announced on December 22, 2025, that it is pausing the leases of five offshore wind projects off the U.S. East Coast, citing national security concerns amid ongoing Trump administration efforts to block wind energy development.
So What?
This move represents a significant obstacle to clean energy infrastructure by leveraging national security rhetoric to delay projects already permitted and under construction, threatening climate progress and economic opportunities in renewable energy sectors crucial for a just transition.
Now What?
Watch for how federal agencies and state governments respond to these pauses, potential legal challenges to the national security justification, and ongoing debates around balancing energy security with climate goals, as detailed in coverage by the Environmental Defense Fund and national security analyses linked in the article.
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Culture
Headline: Inside Atlanta’s First Government-Funded Supermarket | Source
What?
In summer 2025, Atlanta opened Azalea Fresh Market, a publicly funded grocery store in downtown funded by $8 million from the city, aiming to serve neighborhoods underserved by large grocery chains and become profitable without subsidies within three years.
So What?
This initiative challenges traditional supermarket power dynamics by using public funding to ensure access to affordable, fresh food in low-income areas, highlighting possibilities for equitable food justice and new models of public-private partnerships for essential services.
Now What?
Progressive advocates should watch the performance and community impact of Atlanta’s second planned store in a high-poverty area, alongside similar government-supported grocery initiatives nationwide, such as those in New York City and Madison, Wis, for lessons on scaling and sustainability.
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Headline: Trump and television divide CBS newsroom | Semafor
What?
In December 2025 at CBS News, editor-in-chief Bari Weiss halted a 60 Minutes report on Venezuelan deportees in an El Salvador prison, leading to internal conflict over journalistic approach and perceived political pressures linked to network ownership and Trump's White House.
So What?
This incident underscores tensions between newsroom editorial independence and external political and corporate influence, highlighting challenges for progressive communicators in defending rigorous accountability journalism amid power struggles and media consolidation.
Now What?
Progressive observers should watch for the rescheduling and framing of the delayed CBS segment, internal newsroom responses, and broader patterns of media ownership influencing news coverage, as well as further discussions on journalism standards amid political pressures; more context can be found at Axios and Semafor reporting on media conflicts.
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The full spiked 60 Minutes CECOT package, clean & subtitled. 1/5
— Timothy Burke (@bubbaprog.xyz) December 22, 2025 at 8:28 PM
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What the Right is Reading
Headline: Resignations Continue at Heritage Foundation amid Frustrations with Leadership | Nationalreview
What?
In December 2025, multiple staff members from the Heritage Foundation’s economic, legal, and data centers resigned to join former Vice President Mike Pence’s advocacy group Advancing American Freedom amid internal conflicts and leadership frustrations at the conservative think tank in Washington, D.C.
So What?
This internal turmoil reflects fractured power dynamics within a major conservative institution, offering progressive campaigners insight into divisions in right-wing policy circles and potential opportunities to challenge or counter conservative influence more effectively.
Now What?
Watch for further resignations or leadership changes at the Heritage Foundation and developments within Advancing American Freedom, alongside ongoing controversies related to ideological disputes and organizational loyalty; additional context can be found in coverage of the Tucker Carlson controversy and previous Heritage Foundation leadership challenges.
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The WSJ newsroom agreed to take an AI vending machine. Then they declared psychological warfare on it. pic.twitter.com/Uf0FpQInQn
— Heidi N. Moore (@moorehn) December 18, 2025
