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Here’s what we’re talking about today.
This is a quick rundown of the topics we’ll be covering on today’s show. You can hit play to listen, or read the transcript below if that’s more your style.
Transcript:
Today is Friday, August 8, 2025, and this is your news and preview of today's show.
House Republicans, supported by Donald Trump, are pushing an aggressive redistricting effort ahead of the 2026 midterms. They aim to gain a dozen or more seats and block a possible Democratic majority. Key states targeted include Florida, Texas, Ohio, Missouri, and Indiana. Democrats are scrambling to respond, including efforts to amend California’s constitution. However, they face challenges matching Republican gains in pro-Trump red states.
Republicans criticized Democrats over an American Eagle ad campaign featuring actress Sydney Sweeney. Some progressives claimed the slogan “Sydney Sweeney has great jeans” contained coded references to eugenics or white supremacy. But analysis shows initial criticism came from a small fringe and was amplified by right-wing voices.
Anita Dunn, former senior communications adviser to President Joe Biden, testified before the House Oversight Committee. She said Biden remained fully engaged and in control during her interactions, despite his physical aging. Dunn denied claims that White House staff made major decisions without Biden’s consent.
Trump held an unexpected Oval Office event with economist Stephen Moore to defend the U.S. economy after a weak jobs report and firing of the Bureau of Labor Statistics chief. Trump and Moore claimed the BLS overstated job growth under Biden by 1.5 million jobs but offered no proof. Job growth under Trump slowed to 73,000 in July, while inflation pressures rose, partly due to Trump’s tariffs.
The Trump administration moved forward with a plan to end collective bargaining rights for federal unions, including over 400,000 Department of Veterans Affairs workers. Despite earlier court orders pausing the move during legal battles, a federal appeals court allowed the administration to proceed.
Under Trump, top tech CEOs like Apple’s Tim Cook and Meta's Mark Zuckerberg built close ties with the administration through praise, gifts, and promises of investments. These relationships influenced policies including tariff exemptions and eased regulations. Cook gave Trump a plaque marking Apple’s $100 billion U.S. manufacturing investment, helping secure tariff exemptions.
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