Here are today's featured stories, posted by DU members and curated by the Administrators. More news items can be found in our Latest Breaking News forum, and for all the most up-to-the-minute stories that are being talked about by DU members, visit the Latest Discussions page.
July 29, 2025
'We're not shielding anything,' Vance says of Epstein files
(ABC News) Speaking in Canton, Ohio, on Monday, Vice President JD Vance was asked about the Jeffrey Epstein files and took an opportunity to defend President Donald Trump and his handling of the ongoing saga, which has caused controversy among his base. Vance went straight to Trump's defense, saying the president has been transparent about the situation. "First of all, the president has been very clear. We're not shielding anything," Vance said.
Go to discussionVance brazenly lies about cuts to Medicaid in his home state
(Daily Kos) JD Vance returned to his home state of Ohio on Monday, speaking at a steel plant in Canton. When asked about the hundreds of thousands of Ohioans whose Medicaid coverage is in jeopardy as a result of Donald Trumps One Big, Beautiful Bill, Vance simply lied. An analysis from the Ohio-based Center for Community Solutions found that up to 450,000 Ohio residents are at risk of losing their health insurance once the GOPs Medicaid work requirement waiver takes effect.
Go to discussionNancy Mace admits she loves watching YouTube videos of ICE agents dragging people from court for deportation
(The Independent) Rep. Nancy Mace admitted that one of her favorite things to watch on YouTube is videos of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents dragging people from court and detaining them for deportation. The South Carolina congresswoman shared the revelation as she railed against sanctuary cities on Fox News, as she hailed the administrations aggressive anti-immigration tactics.
Go to discussionNew documents show how passport and Social Security rules would change to enforce Trump's birthright citizenship order
(CNN) After months of avoiding details about a divisive plan to end birthright citizenship, President Donald Trumps administration is rolling out a series of new documents that offer a stark glimpse into how it would implement an executive order that upends the century-old understanding about the benefits of being born in the United States. The trove of documents from half a dozen federal agencies in recent days are a direct result of a blockbuster Supreme Court decision last month that allowed the administration to develop plans for ending birthright citizenship even though the effort has once again been placed on hold.
Go to discussionTrump Admits He Has Much More Important Things to Do Than Play Golf as He Plays Golf
(Daily Beast) Trump admitted hes got much more important things to be doing than playing golf as he headed out to play golf on Monday. Speaking at a ribbon-cutting ceremony while opening his new course in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, Trump told reporters that he will play a round quickly before returning to his main job as commander-in-chief. I look forward to playing it today. Well play it very quickly, and then I go back to D.C. and we put out fires all over the world, Trump said.
Go to discussionAuthor of Texas abortion ban accused of paying for multiple abortions during alleged 17-year affair
(Heartland Signal) Prominent Texas state Rep. Giovanni Capriglione (R-Southlake) has been accused of having a 17-year affair with an exotic dancer, who says the anti-reproductive rights lawmaker paid for multiple abortions for his own personal gain. Last Friday, conservative media outlet Current Revolt released a 25-minute interview with Caprigliones accuser Alex Grace. The interview was published three days after Capriglione unexpectedly announced that he would not seek an eighth term in 2026.
Go to discussionDropped cases against LA protesters reveal false claims from federal agents
(The Guardian) US immigration officers made false and misleading statements in their reports about several Los Angeles protesters they arrested during the massive demonstrations that rocked the city in June, according to federal law enforcement files obtained by the Guardian. The officers testimony was cited in at least five cases filed by the US Department of Justice amid the unrest.
Go to discussionJudge blocks Trump administration's efforts to defund Planned Parenthood
(Stat News) A federal judge on Monday ruled Planned Parenthood clinics nationwide must continue to be reimbursed for Medicaid funding as the nations largest abortion provider fights President Donald Trumps administration over efforts to defund the organization in his signature tax legislation. The new order replaces a previous edict handed down by U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani in Boston last week.
Go to discussionTrump tells judge Rupert Murdoch might die before he gets to court
(Raw Story) President Donald Trump asked a federal judge to order Rupert Murdoch to give a sworn statement soon due to his advanced age. The president has sued the Murdoch-owned Wall Street Journal for $10 billion over its reporting about his relationship with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, and he wants the 94-year-old media baron to sit for a deposition on the matter as quickly as possible.
Go to discussion'Targeting Epstein's 'sweetheart' deal, Senate Republican forgets who was president in 2008'
(MSNBC) Its been a little weird to see just how many Republicans have, in recent years, forgotten who was president in 2020 a problem that Joe Bidens critics make with surprising frequency. Last week, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Scott Turner went even further, suggesting that the former Democratic president was also in the White House in 2018. (He wasnt.) The problem, however, isnt limited to GOP officials and Biden... Republican Sen. Markwayne Mullin tried to rope Barack Obama into Donald Trump's Jeffrey Epstein scandal. It went horribly awry.
Go to discussion