Straight Up News Summaries 09-03-25
By Jim Reynolds | www.reynolds.com
Unifying Introduction
Today’s docket reads like a country tugged in opposite directions—federal muscle tightening crime-ridden cities even as Democrats warn of creeping authoritarianism; schools and unions tangled in cultural politics while parents demand clarity; and foreign leaders howling as Trump’s blunt-force policies ripple abroad. Add in whispers about dynasties, engagement rings, and bureaucrats grumbling about commuting again, and the through-line emerges: institutions look shaky, insiders look evasive, and the public is leaning hard toward order, accountability, and results. The stories carry a conservative undertow—whether on crime, spending, or education—that highlights a simple truth: leadership means acting, not posturing.
Note: All of today’s summaries come from The Daily Caller.
Ireland Owens
Dem Voters In Key Swing State Say Party Is ‘Fractured,’ ‘Powerless’
Several registered Democrats in Pennsylvania told the Washington Post they see their party as rudderless, risk-averse, and short on compelling leaders. Some couldn’t even define what Democrats stand for now and want “young blood.”
The piece notes donor malaise, Third Way’s “don’t sound elitist” memo, and 2024 results that boosted the GOP in the state. It frames 2026 as a test of whether Democrats can find a message that isn’t a muddle.
Link: https://dailycaller.com/2025/09/03/pennsylvania-democratic-voters-party-powerless-washington-post/
Nicole Silverio
NBC’s Hallie Jackson: Epstein Victims Wouldn’t Allege Trump Did Anything ‘Inappropriate’
On NBC News Now, multiple Epstein victims told Hallie Jackson they had no knowledge of Trump acting inappropriately in connection with Epstein. That undercuts renewed speculation amid fresh DOJ document releases.
The story also cites Ghislaine Maxwell’s prior statement that Trump behaved like a “perfect gentleman,” and Trump’s denial—and lawsuit—over the WSJ’s “birthday card” claim.
Link: https://dailycaller.com/2025/09/03/nbc-news-hallie-jackson-epstein-trump/
Nicole Silverio
Scott Jennings vs. Ana Kasparian: What Really Drives The Debt?
CNN’s Scott Jennings clashed with TYT’s Ana Kasparian after she tied debt mainly to foreign wars and aid. Jennings countered with basic math: Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid dwarf foreign aid lines.
The write-up runs numbers (e.g., ~$1.5T Social Security in FY2024 vs. $17.9B in Israel military aid) while noting post-9/11 war costs are vast—but still smaller than lifetime entitlement outlays.
Link: https://dailycaller.com/2025/09/03/scott-jennings-ana-kasparian-national-debt-social-security-israel/
Derek VanBuskirk
2A Groups Sue Colorado Over Sweeping Semi-Auto Restrictions
Colorado’s NRA affiliate and allies filed suit to block SB3, which clamps down on purchasing and transferring a wide range of semiautomatic firearms and “rapid” devices. Plaintiffs call it a rights-choking maze of permits and training.
One plaintiff, a disabled Air Force vet, says the law ignores practical accommodations; another, a trainer, says he’s forced to “learn from people less proficient.” Expect a Bruen-era constitutional brawl.
Link: https://dailycaller.com/2025/09/03/second-amendment-national-rifle-association-colorado-gun-law-jared-polis/
Daily Caller Staff
‘She Has Transformed Me’: Cory Booker Gets Engaged
New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker, 56, announced his engagement to Alexis Lewis, a Brasa Capital SVP, after a Kauai beach proposal with ukulele and dancers.
He posted that Lewis “transformed” him and praised the “joys of building a nurturing home.” Booker has never been married.
Link: https://dailycaller.com/2025/09/03/cory-booker-alexis-lewis-engagement-marriage-new-jersey-senator/
Adam Pack
Ted Lieu Likens Trump’s DC Crime Crackdown To A Police State
Pressed on falling DC crime since Trump’s federal takeover, House Democratic leader Ted Lieu referenced North Korea to warn about troops in the streets.
The piece cites a 21% drop in total crime (Police Union data), gang arrests, and missing-child rescues, plus Mayor Bowser’s executive order cementing coordination with federal authorities.
Link: https://dailycaller.com/2025/09/03/ted-lieu-north-korea-trump-crime/
Audrey Streb
Back To The Office: Feds’ Hybrid Era Collapses After Trump Order
Gallup says fully on-site federal workers jumped to 46% (vs. 21% U.S. average), while hybrid plunged from 61% (late 2024) to 28% in Q2 2025.
The White House frames it as respect for taxpayers; Sen. Joni Ernst calls remote abuses out and pushes to unload vacant buildings. Cultural tug-of-war meets bureaucratic reality.
Link: https://dailycaller.com/2025/09/03/federal-workers-flock-back-to-office-in-droves-after-trumps-order-respecting-taxpayers-who-pay-their-salaries/
Harold Hutchison
Sanjay Gupta Douses Trump Health Conspiracies
CNN’s Gupta said Trump’s public exam results and doc briefings match age-typical issues: chronic venous insufficiency could explain ankle swelling; aspirin can make hand bruising look worse.
After a quiet stretch fed rumor mills, Trump reappeared at length; Gupta’s bottom line: lots of speculation, not much substance.
Link: https://dailycaller.com/2025/09/03/cnns-sanjay-gupta-dumps-cold-water-on-trump-health-conspiracy-theories/
Ashley Brasfield
Alleged Epstein Victim: System Elevated Maxwell Before Survivors
At a Capitol Hill event backing the “Epstein Files Transparency Act,” alleged victim Teresa Helm blasted DOJ’s interview with Ghislaine Maxwell, saying survivors’ voices came last.
Helm called Maxwell’s tone “manipulative,” mirroring the grooming she alleges. The push: transparency first, platform games later.
Link: https://dailycaller.com/2025/09/03/jeffrey-epstein-teresa-helm-thomas-massie-ro-khanna-ghislaine-maxwell/
Ireland Owens
Trump Weighs Sending Troops To New Orleans Next
After green-lighting Guard deployments to DC (and eyeing Chicago), Trump said he could move on New Orleans within “two weeks.” Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry publicly welcomed the help.
New Orleans’ mayor’s office stressed existing coordination with federal partners and crime-reduction progress—signaling support for results, if not the rhetoric.
Link: https://dailycaller.com/2025/09/03/trump-troops-new-orleans-crime/
Hudson Crozier
Russ Vought: Trump’s ‘Spend Less’ Moves Have Long Presidential Roots
At NatCon, the OMB chief defended “pocket rescissions” to withhold wasteful funds, citing practices from Washington through Nixon—despite GAO objections under the post-Watergate regime.
The White House says a $5B slice of foreign-aid “woke/weaponized/wasteful” items is on the chopping block; Vought argues the executive can choose to spend less than Congress’s ceiling.
Link: https://dailycaller.com/2025/09/03/russ-vought-trump-pocket-recissions-national-conservatism-conference-2025/
Ireland Owens
EXCLUSIVE: Banks & Cotton Re-Up Bill To Stop Schools From Hiding Gender Transitions
The “Empower Parents to Protect Their Kids Act” would bar K-12 schools from concealing a child’s gender identity shift and let parents sue districts that do.
Backers tie it to Trump’s executive order curbing “gender ideology” in federally funded schools; the story also cites national counts of minors who’ve had medical interventions.
Link: https://dailycaller.com/2025/09/03/jim-banks-tom-cotton-schools-transitioning-kids-parents-exclusive/
Mary Rooke
ROOKE: Chelsea Clinton Rumors Swirl—And A Denial
With Rep. Jerry Nadler not running in 2026, chatter landed on dynasty names—Chelsea Clinton among them. A spokesperson says “no truth to this.”
The column contrasts the denial with Hillary’s history of late entries and muses that influence often hides off-stage anyway. It’s gossip-watch with a lesson in power.
Link: https://dailycaller.com/2025/09/03/rooke-chelsea-clinton-hillary-donald-trump-jerry-nadler-new-york-representative/
Adam Pack
Censure Fails Against Dem Accused Of Assaulting ICE Officers—With GOP Help
A move to censure Rep. LaMonica McIver and boot her from Homeland Security flopped after five Republicans voted to table; one (Turner) called his vote an accident.
The background: federal charges over a May detention-center confrontation; Democrats counter-launched a censure at GOP’s Cory Mills. It’s hardball—committee seats included.
Link: https://dailycaller.com/2025/09/03/lamonica-mciver-censure-effort-fails-five-republicans/
Jaryn Crouson
EXCLUSIVE: Teacher Says District Prioritized ‘Culturally Responsive’ Politics Over Merit
Madison (WI) special-ed teacher Kally Bishop filed an EEOC complaint alleging she was forced to transfer under a rubric elevating “culturally responsive practices” over performance and seniority.
Her reviews were glowing, she says, yet she scored low on the DEI-weighted measure and couldn’t see the scoring details. WILL calls the system illegal race-based decision-making.
Link: https://dailycaller.com/2025/09/03/exclusive-teacher-forced-to-transfer-schools-for-not-prioritizing-certain-races/
Nicole Silverio
Comer: Dem Wants Another Maxwell Hearing Because She ‘Exonerated Trump’
Oversight Chair James Comer sparred with Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez, saying Democrats are furious Maxwell didn’t implicate Trump in her deposition.
The piece re-quotes Maxwell’s “never saw [Trump] in any inappropriate setting,” notes her transfer to a Texas camp, and revisits Epstein-death controversies stoking public suspicion.
Link: https://dailycaller.com/2025/09/03/james-comer-teresa-leger-fernandez-ghislaine-maxwell/
Jaryn Crouson
EXCLUSIVE: Parent Groups Torch AFT/CTU For Boycotting Target Over DEI Retreat
Union chiefs Randi Weingarten and Stacy Davis Gates want Target to recommit to big DEI pledges; parental-rights orgs say maybe teach kids first.
Target once chased Pride/DEI headlines, then backed off under backlash and sliding sales; critics call the unions’ boycott politics by other means.
Link: https://dailycaller.com/2025/09/03/exclusive-parental-rights-groups-rip-teachers-union-bosses-boycotting-target-instead-of-helping-kids/
Wallace White
Colombia’s Petro Calls U.S. Narco-Boat Strike ‘Murder’
After Trump designated cartels as terrorist groups and a strike killed 11 Tren de Aragua operatives, Colombia’s president blasted the action, calling boat pilots “poor young people.”
Context: UN pegs Colombia’s 2023 cocaine exports at a record; Petro favors dialogue with armed groups, a stance critics say hasn’t curbed expansion.
Link: https://dailycaller.com/2025/09/03/worlds-biggest-cocaine-producing-country-calls-trumps-narco-vessel-strike-murder/
Jason Cohen
At 88, Eleanor Holmes Norton Needs Help Leaving The Podium—Still Bashes DC Crackdown
DC’s long-time delegate appeared to need assistance walking after remarks slamming Trump’s crime push as a power play that jeopardizes safety.
The story juxtaposes that with Bowser touting an 87% drop in carjackings during the federal surge and fresh arrest tallies—including illegal aliens—since the takeover.
Link: https://dailycaller.com/2025/09/03/eleanor-holmes-norton-cant-walk-a-few-feet-without-help/
Postscript Grook
When leaders stall, the people see,
That power’s spent on pageantry.
But order grows where courage lands—
A steadier world in firmer hands.