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Morning Announcements

Morning
Announcements
Morning Announcements is a daily show brought to you by the Betches Sup, here to help you make sense of the world in the wake of 2020’s chaos. Every morning, Betches co-founder and host Sami Sage gives you quick daily updates with the most important info you need to know about politics and current events.

Latest Episodes

Where to Start

Friday, May 23rd, 2025 - D.C. shooting; Hamas motive; ‘Beautiful’ bill passed; Harvard ban; NOAA forecast; FDA limits vax access; Trump’s crypto dinner

Today’s Headlines: On Wednesday night, a shooting outside the Capitol Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C. left two dead following a multifaith event focused on Gaza. The suspect, Elias Rodriguez, reportedly told attendees he acted “for Palestine” before being arrested. The DOJ is weighing terrorism and hate crime charges. Separately, newly revealed Hamas documents confirm the October 7 attacks were aimed at sabotaging Israel-Saudi peace talks. Meanwhile, the House narrowly passed Trump’s sweeping “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” extending 2017 tax cuts, cutting green energy incentives, and tightening welfare requirements. In education, the Trump administration moved to block Harvard from enrolling international students, potentially prompting legal action. The Supreme Court issued two major rulings—blocking Oklahoma’s religious charter school due to a 4–4 tie, and granting Trump more power to fire independent agency members, though not the Fed chair. NOAA forecasts a severe hurricane season, and the FDA will limit COVID vaccine availability this fall to high-risk groups due to new testing rules. Lastly, Trump hosted a White House dinner for his $TRUMP coin holders—most of them foreign, including controversial crypto figure Justin Sun. Resources/Articles mentioned in this episode: AP News: Court papers say suspect in embassy killings declared, 'I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza' WSJ: Hamas Wanted to Torpedo Israel-Saudi Deal With Oct. 7 Attacks, Documents Reveal CNBC: Trump tax bill clears the House in a victory for Republicans, advances to the Senate  NY Times: Trump Administration Says It Is Halting Harvard’s Ability to Enroll International Students NY Times: Deadlocked Supreme Court Rejects Bid for Religious Charter School in Oklahoma  NBC News: Supreme Court grants Trump request to fire independent agency members but says Federal Reserve is different NBC News: NOAA forecasts above-average Atlantic hurricane season NBC News: FDA says Covid vaccines likely not available for healthy kids and adults this fall WSJ: A Crypto Billionaire Who Feared Arrest in the U.S. Returns for Dinner With Trump  Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson

Thursday, May 22nd, 2025 - VA Rep Connolly dies; Trump-Ramaphosa meeting; DOJ investigates Cuomo and more

Today’s Headlines: Representative Gerry Connolly of Virginia passed away at 75 from esophageal cancer, just weeks after announcing he would not seek re-election and being named the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee. Meanwhile, President Trump hosted South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, derailing trade discussions by screening a video alleging a white genocide in South Africa—claims Ramaphosa rejected. This comes as the administration continues to deport refugees from numerous countries while welcoming white Afrikaners. Separately, the DOJ has launched a criminal investigation into Andrew Cuomo over his COVID-era decisions as governor, raising suspicions of political motives ahead of his likely NYC mayoral bid against Eric Adams, whose own federal charges were recently dropped. The DOJ also announced it will dismiss police reform consent decrees in Louisville and Minneapolis and rescind earlier findings against the Phoenix Police Department, effectively reversing major civil rights investigations. Finally, a federal judge found the Trump administration in violation of a court order after it deported migrants—most not from South Sudan—to South Sudan, only for the flight to be rerouted to Djibouti, again without legal basis. Resources/Articles mentioned in this episode: CNN: Democratic Rep. Gerry Connolly dies at 75 after battle with cancer  The Guardian: Trump makes baseless claims about white genocide in chaotic meeting with South Africa’s president - live The NY Times: Justice Dept. Opens Inquiry Into Andrew Cuomo, Singling Out Another Political Target  Axios: Trump's DOJ to halt police reform deals in Louisville, Minneapolis  Axios: DOJ to drop civil rights probe into Phoenix police, rescind findings  NY Times: Judge Finds Trump Administration Violated Court Order With Deportation Flight to South Sudan  Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson

Wednesday, May 21st, 2025 - Trump’s “big beautiful bill”; Golden Dome plan; Noem flubs habeas corpus; Mortgage rates surge and more

Today’s Headlines: Congress is currently hashing out a sweeping reconciliation bill—dubbed by President Trump as “one big beautiful bill”—that outlines his administration’s tax and spending priorities, though its final form remains uncertain. Key provisions include extending the 2017 tax cuts, which would add an estimated $2.7 trillion to the national deficit by 2034, ramping up ICE funding, and introducing Medicaid work requirements. Trump visited Capitol Hill to rally support amid internal GOP resistance, as Speaker Mike Johnson aims to pass the bill before Memorial Day recess. As part of this package, Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced a $25 billion down payment for a proposed $175 billion missile defense system called the “Golden Dome,” modeled on Israel’s Iron Dome and intended to guard against nuclear and hypersonic threats. Meanwhile, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem sparked backlash after incorrectly defining habeas corpus during Senate testimony, raising alarms as the White House reportedly considers suspending the constitutional protection. On the economic front, mortgage rates have surged past 7%—a 25-year high—following a U.S. credit downgrade by Moody’s. And in tech-meets-politics news, Elon Musk told the Qatar Economic Forum he plans to scale back political donations, though quickly added he might resume them if he sees a reason—fueling speculation his political capital may be waning. Resources/Articles mentioned in this episode: WA Post: Trump tries to persuade, and threaten, GOP to support his budget bill  Axios: Trump and Hegseth unveil $175 billion plans for Golden Dome missile shield AP News: Trump's Homeland Security secretary says habeas corpus lets him 'remove people from this country' CBS News: Mortgage rates climb back above 7% after Moody's U.S. debt downgrade  Bloomberg: Elon Musk Interview In Full Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson

The Host

Sami Sage
Sami Sage is the co-founder and Chief Creative Officer of Betches. She’s the host of @Betches, and Morning Announcements and in her spare time likes to scroll on her phone and stare at her dogs, Bruce Bader Ginsburg and Larry David.

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