Monday, September 21 | By Elliott Davis and Steff Danielle Thomas
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It’s Monday. We’re already drinking from a firehose of news so far today, so let’s dive in.
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- Press pushes back on White House ban
- UN General Assembly kicks off in New York
- Trump weighs Iran options
- ICE faces fresh scrutiny after Texas shooting
Programming note: Hello! We are Elliott Davis and Steff Danielle Thomas filling in for Cate. Please send your tips, comments and story ideas to edavis@thehill.com or sthomas@thehill.com.
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Outlets strike back after Trump ban: |
© The Associated Press | Jacquelyn Martin
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News networks are standing in solidarity with CNN, MS NOW and Politico by not assigning a TV pool replacement for President Trump’s trip to New York City after he banned the three outlets from the White House.
The three major broadcast networks and Fox News are declining to assign a different White House pool camera crew to cover Trump. The news comes as CNN, MS NOW and Politico sued the Trump administration in response to the president’s ban.
The outlets confirmed over the weekend they were denied access to the White House grounds. The current and former presidents of the White House Correspondents’ Association have denounced Trump’s ban.
The president on Monday defended his actions, saying he is not assaulting the free press more broadly but rather the “FAKE NEWS.” He further accused the outlets of being “corrupt, purposeful, pervasive, fully coordinated, and totally out of control.”
Vice President Vance, who has long cast himself as a free-speech champion, also defended the move on his way to a campaign stop in North Carolina.
💬Follow today’s live blog
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Trump set for UN General Assembly, Xi visit: |
The president has a busy week ahead, including a meeting with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D) on the mayor's home turf ahead of Trump’s attendance at the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday.
Trump will deliver remarks at U.N. headquarters Tuesday morning as a number of international issues — including the Iran war and Russia-Ukraine war — remain top of mind. The president will meet with leaders of Gulf states and, separately, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky while he’s in the Big Apple.
And this all just covers the first couple of days of his week. On Wednesday, Trump will begin hosting Chinese President Xi Jinping in Washington, about six months after his own visit to Beijing.
The two leaders are expected to discuss national security, trade and artificial intelligence during bilateral meetings.
AI is a particularly hot issue in the U.S. right now after researchers warned the technology’s rapid development constitutes a threat to humanity. The odds of a major breakthrough on AI security or safeguards during Xi’s visit are low, however, The Hill’s Laura Kelly reports.
Even so, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Sunday the U.S. is proposing a notification system between Washington and Beijing on AI amid the concerns.
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Trump weighs Iran annihilation: |
The U.S.-Israeli war with Iran is still showing very few signs of a resolution anytime soon, and Trump is reportedly in “deciding mode” regarding next steps in the conflict that could soon enter its eighth month.
Fox News’s Trey Yingst reported on Sunday the president told him in an interview that he is weighing “wiping Iran out, letting them rot economically or making a deal.”
More specifically, Yingst said Trump wondered aloud “if and when do I blow the entire nation up?”
This is not the first time the president has threatened Iranian civilization.
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Austin shooting puts ICE back under the microscope: |
The Trump administration is facing fresh scrutiny over its immigration crackdown this week after another shooting involving an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer.
An ICE officer shot 28-year-old Venezuelan national Wilber Rafael Garces Perez during an operation in Austin, Texas, on Sunday. He was shot in the torso and as of Monday remains in stable condition, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
What’s unclear: The agency has not publicly explained what prompted the officer to open fire, but it emphasized that Garces Perez was in the U.S. “illegally.” His attorneys argue that he was delivering food with DoorDash when the incident happened, local outlets reported.
The DHS is now leading the probe, with help from the FBI.
Austin wants answers: The shooting sparked protests across Texas’s capital, while local officials are pushing for more transparency.
Mayor Kirk Watson (D) pressed the Austin Police Department to help provide “clear, third-party eyes.” Rep. Greg Casar (D-Texas) is also calling for footage and records to be released — and warned against deporting Garces Perez, who is now in federal custody pending removal.
Zoom out: The incident follows the fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens by federal immigration officers in Minnesota earlier this year. A separate ICE officer also pleaded not guilty Friday to federal charges alleging he lied to investigators about another January shooting in Minneapolis.
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— 🗳️ Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) says Republicans “need to do more” to lower costs with the midterms six weeks away. He also sidestepped committing to Trump’s proposed $5,000 dividend checks.
— ⚖️ The court system in Washington, D.C., is warning it’s reached a “critical inflection point” after years of flat funding collided with a surge in cases. Officials are now asking Congress for $298.1 million next year — even after House appropriators proposed an $18 million cut.
— 💰 Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) joined a growing group of GOP lawmakers criticizing Donald Trump Jr. for accepting lavish gifts from a Russian oligarch with Kremlin ties, calling the optics “really bad.” The president’s eldest son paid businessman Umar Kremlev back, which Cassidy said he was glad to see.
— ✈️ Travelers could have a harder time getting perks when flights go sideways. Starting Oct. 19, 10 types of disruptions — including some maintenance issues, unruly passengers and medical emergencies — will no longer be classified as within an airline’s control, potentially making meal or hotel vouchers harder to come by.
— 🏈 A bipartisan push to reshape college sports is nearing a Senate vote after clearing two procedural hurdles. The bill, led by Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), would set new rules for athlete compensation, agents and transfers — but it faces another test when the House returns. 📖 Insiders can read more here.
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The New York Times: Paramount to Resolve States’ Lawsuit, Clearing the Way for Warner Bros. Acquisition
The Washington Post: How Trump turned a refugee bureau into a $410 million deportation operation
Axios: More voters sour on Trump's defiant populism
Politico: Michigan’s Gary Peters to teach at USC after retirement
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The House and Senate are out. President Trump is in Washington. (All times EST)
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12:45 p.m.: Vance rallies voters in Greensboro, N.C.
1 p.m.: Trump holds signing time
1:45 p.m.: The president participates in a ribbon cutting ceremony
4:10 p.m.: Trump meets with Mamdani in New York City
5:35 p.m.: The president meets with French President Emmanuel Macron on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York
TONIGHT: Trump attends a reception hosted by the Republican National Committee followed by a MAGA Inc. dinner
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☕ Celebrate: Today is National Chai Day. And let’s be honest, the chai latte is superior to the pumpkin spice latte.
💉 Shedding it all: Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D) revealed he has lost 80 pounds after taking a GLP-1 medication for roughly two years, calling the treatment “life changing.”
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We don’t know if these dogs believe in freedom of the press or not, but one thing they clearly DO NOT believe in is personal space.
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