Random News: September 2, 2025

DISCLAIMER: Zak's Random News is very random and doesn't cover many things, and not everything may be accurate, because I'm just some guy. Go find a real news source.

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Good morning. It’s September 2, 2025, and it’s a Tuesday. Today is that back-to-work day after a holiday weekend, and for many people, it’s back-to-school day after a whole-ass summer. Either way, I’m trying to convince myself that there’s no need to panic. I’ll just do my thing as I always do. It’s worked thus far, so I’ll keep doing what I do and things will be okay.

• I’m not a gossip column. I don’t report on speculative shit that random people say in social posts.
• At the same time, I do think it’s good to consider among the multiple possibilities regarding what might be going on with some important situation at any given time.
• So while it’s been reasonably established that Dump remains alive, what is unknown is what the fuck is actually going on with him.
• Yes, there have been various proclamations and social posts with his name on them. But it’s been a week since he made any kind of televised personal appearance or even a call-in to one of his favorite little news shows.
• And that is unusual for a narcissist like Donnie.
• Some people believe — with no real evidence supporting the idea — that Dump had a major medical situation. Perhaps he went to Walter Reed Medical Center for a planned procedure, like having a stent put in to combat his ongoing heart failure.
• It would take a little while to recover from that, especially for a guy who’s nearly 80.
• Anyway, as I said… there’s no legitimate news source reporting any of this, which could be entirely bullshit. I’m just saying, if you want to speculate that something major is going on with the Count of Mostly Crisco, there are reasons to be suspicious.
• The one tangible thing that may (or may not) be related to any or all (or none) of this rumor-mill speculation…
• Last night, the White House announced that today at 2PM ET, Dumpy was going to “make an announcement” at the Oval Office.
• That’s what the press notice says. “2:00 PM - THE PRESIDENT makes an announcement”
• The entire White House Press Pool is invited. And obviously, I’ll be interested to see what’s going on with ol’ Dumpy. It’s almost certainly nothing… just some more fascism bullshit.
• In fact, it’s probably less than nothing. The speculation is that he’s going to official announce the change of the Department of Defense to the Department of War.
• I’m serious. This coming from the guy who campaigned on “no more wars” and wants the Nobel Peace Prize. What an asshole.
• But for the moment… let’s do some real news, starting with some breaking news from this morning.
• Today, U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer ruled that Dump and Hegseth violated federal law by using our military to carry out law enforcement activities in and around Los Angeles this summer.
• Breyer concluded that Dump’s use of thousands of federalized California National Guard members and U.S. Marines to provide protection to federal agents during an aggressive immigration crackdown in the Los Angeles area ran afoul of the Posse Comitatus Act, a 19th century law that prohibits the use of troops for domestic law enforcement purposes.
• We had brought up the Posse Comitatus Act the moment that we heard Dump’s troops were on their way, so (pats self on back) good for us for knowing some shit about America. and its laws, unlike Dump.
• And this ruling from Breyer has an impact on the ongoing plans for Dump to send the military around to many more cities to try and intimidate Americans.
• Breyer sees what’s happening. He wrote, “President Trump and Secretary Hegseth have stated their intention to call National Guard troops into service in other cities across the country, thus creating a national police force with the President as its chief.”
• Correct. And that is illegal.
• In an effort to stave off further violations of the Posse Comitatus Act in California, Breyer blocked Dump and Hegseth from using troops there for “arrests, apprehensions, searches, seizures, security patrols, traffic control, crowd control, riot control, evidence collection, interrogation, or acting as informants.”
• As is typical in a case such as this, the judge paused that part of his ruling until next Friday to give the administration time to appeal it, which they certainly will.
• For now, moving on.
• Massive Labor Day rallies took place across the USA yesterday. few places were more revved up than in the city of Chicago, where at the “Workers over Billionaires” demonstration in the West Loop neighborhood, Mayor Brandon Johnson sharply denounced Dumpy’s threat to deploy federal troops to the city.
• He said, “We’re going to defend our democracy. We’re going to protect the humanity of every single person in the city of Chicago,” and then led the crowd in chants of “No troops in Chicago.”
• There were hundreds of protests organized across the country as part of the national “Workers Over Billionaires” effort, a mass action calling for the protection of social safety nets such as Social Security; the funding of public schools, healthcare, and housing; amid other demands.
• Tens of thousands of people took part in cities as diverse as New York, Houston, Washington D.C., Los Angeles, Cleveland, Greensboro, and hundreds of other places.
• Those of you who know me are aware I’d typically have attended such an event in person, but I’m actually reserving my energy for other upcoming actions, which I’ll be telling you about soon.
• Let’s get back to Dump’s shitty (and apparently illegal) plans to invade our cities.
• Over the weekend, Homeland Security Secretary and puppy murderer Kristi Noem confirmed that Dump plans to expand Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations in major cities, including Chicago.
• Asked about what an expansion of ICE operations would look like in Chicago and whether it would involve a mobilization of National Guard troops to assist with immigration raids and arrests, Noem wriggled out of a commitment, saying, “That always is a prerogative of President Trump and his decision. I won’t speak to the specifics of the operations that are planned in other cities.”
• Later in the interview, Noem was asked whether Boston would be one of the cities where the federal government would surge immigration enforcement agents.
• “There’s a lot of cities that are dealing with crime and violence right now, and so we haven’t taken anything off the table. I’d encourage every single big city — San Francisco, Boston, Chicago, whatever they are — if they want to help make their city safer, more prosperous, allow people the opportunity to walk in freedom like the people of Washington, D.C., are now.”
• Fuck you, you disgusting scum. There’s my personal response.
• A relevant side note to all this, as pointed out by respected military veteran and former Republican politician Adam Kinzinger (R-IL).
• Dump put the national guard on 29 day orders. That seems oddly specific, don’t you think?
• What’s the significance of that? Well, the National Guard doesn’t pay full housing allowance, and pays no health insurance, until the orders hit 30 days.
• “What an abusive commander in chief,” says Kinzinger, and I full agree.
• Moving on.
• Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-NY), the longest-serving New Yorker in the House, will not seek reelection in 2026, stating that there's a "necessity for generational change in the party."
• He’s right, and I applaud his decision.
• Interestingly, Nadler — who is 78 — said that it was last summer, when he saw Joe Biden withdraw from the 2024 election following his rough debate against Dump, that he decided a younger successor "can maybe do better, can maybe help us more."
• I want to note something: I am not an ageist. If someone’s physical and mental skills remain up to the task of any job, I encourage them to continue as long as they want. Bernie Sanders will turn 84 this weekend, and he seems every bit as sharp and feisty as could be.
• If anything, I exhibit signs of ageism in the opposite direction, like when Dump handed a 19-year-old named Big Balls access to the entire nation’s personal Social Security info.
• Anyway, Nadler said, "I'm not saying we should change over the entire party. But I think a certain amount of change is very helpful, especially when we face the challenge of Trump and his incipient fascism."
• I agree. Nadler — whose district is in Manhattan — was chair of the House Judiciary Committee from 2019 to 2023. He also served as a manager of Dump's first impeachment.
• Let’s move on.
• Our AOTDOTD (Asshole of the Day Other Than Dump) today goes out to two assholes.
• David Taylor, 53, and Michelle Brannon, 56, were arrested last week after a federal grand jury indicted them on 10 counts, including conspiracy to commit forced labor and money laundering conspiracy.
• These leaders of a multi-state human trafficking ring lured in victims under false pretenses and had them solicit donations under the guise that they were working for a religious ministry.
• They forced victims to work at call centers and solicit donations for their supposed ministry. Victims were also allegedly forced to work as Taylor's personal servants, which he called his “armor bearers.”
• The call centers they set up — in Michigan, Missouri, Florida and Texas — received millions of dollars in donations each year, which Taylor and Brannon mainly used to purchase luxury properties and vehicles. The scheme brought in around $50 million in crooked donations.
• Taylor demanded that victims cut off ties with any family members or friends who questioned him or the church. Workers were not allowed to date or to work outside the call center; and employees were required to sleep at the call center.
• I’m not sure how any of you can participate in organized religion with so much shit like this happening so often.
• And now, The Weather: “Waiter” by Living Hour
• RIP going out to Graham Greene, the Canadian actor best known for his Oscar-nominated turn in the 1990 film “Dances with Wolves.” He died yesterday at 73.
• Greene was a pioneer for Indigenous actors in Hollywood. He made his debut on a Canadian drama series in the late ‘70s, and got a Best Supporting Actor nomination at the 1991 Oscars.
• Let’s do a chart.
• It’s early September of 1973. I am four years old and living in Massachusetts. Already playing piano, I should add. Guitar would come a few years later.
• This is the top of the Billboard 200 albums chart at the time. The pop realm was pretty rockin’ back then.
• 1. Brothers And Sisters (The Allman Brothers Band). 2. Chicago VI (Chicago). 3. We're An American Band (Grand Funk Railroad). 4. Killing Me Softly (Roberta Flack). 5. Touch Me In The Morning (Diana Ross). 6. Innervisions (Stevie Wonder). 7. The Dark Side Of The Moon (Pink Floyd). 8. Foreigner (Cat Stevens). 9. A Passion Play (Jethro Tull). 10. Los Cochinos (Cheech & Chong). 11. Long Hard Climb (Helen Reddy). 12. Deliver The Word (War). 13. Diamond Girl (Seals & Crofts). 14. Houses Of The Holy (Led Zeppelin). 15. The Smoker You Drink, The Player You Get (Joe Walsh). 16. Machine Head (Deep Purple). 17. Fresh (Sly & the Family Stone). 18. There Goes Rhymin' Simon (Paul Simon). 19. The Captain And Me (The Doobie Brothers). 20. Made In Japan (Deep Purple).
• From the Sports Desk… another set of final NFL preseason power rankings, this time via ESPN. They have a very grim outlook on my Raiders, but I’m not saying anything.
• Though I reserve the right to put ESPN on full blast and roast the shit out of them if they’re wrong.
• 1. Baltimore Ravens. 2. Buffalo Bills. 3. Detroit Lions. 4. Philadelphia Eagles. 5. Kansas City Chiefs. 6. Tampa Bay Buccaneers. 7. Denver Broncos. 8. Los Angeles Rams. 9. Minnesota Vikings. 10. Green Bay Packers. 11. Washington Commanders. 12. Cincinnati Bengals. 13. Chicago Bears. 14. Los Angeles Chargers. 15. Pittsburgh Steelers. 16. New England Patriots. 17. Houston Texans. 18. Arizona Cardinals. 19. San Francisco 49ers. 20. Indianapolis Colts. 21. Seattle Seahawks. 22. Miami Dolphins. 23. Atlanta Falcons. 24. Dallas Cowboys. 25. New York Giants. 26. New York Jets. 27. Jacksonville Jaguars. 28. Tennessee Titans. 29. Carolina Panthers. 30. Las Vegas Raiders. 31. Cleveland Browns. 32. New Orleans Saints.
• Today in history… Pharaoh Cleopatra VII of Egypt declares her son co-ruler as Ptolemy XV Caesarion — it doesn’t last long (44 BC). Cicero launches the first of his oratorical attacks — Philippicae — on Mark Antony (44 BC). The United States Department of the Treasury is founded (1789). The Great Fire of London breaks out and burns for three days, destroying 10,000 buildings (1666). The United States Department of the Treasury is founded (1789). Union forces enter Atlanta as the city surrenders, ending the Atlanta campaign as a victory for General William T. Sherman (1864). 150 white miners in Wyoming attack their Chinese fellow workers, killing 28, wounding 15 and forcing several hundred more out of town (1885). Vice President Theodore Roosevelt utters the famous phrase, "Speak softly and carry a big stick.” (1901). Arthur Rose Eldred becomes first Eagle Scout of the Boy Scouts of America (1912). Japan signs their official surrender in WWII aboard the battleship USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay (1945). CBS Evening News becomes U.S. network television's first half-hour weeknight news broadcast, when the show is lengthened from 15 to 30 minutes (1963). Google launches its Google Chrome web browser (2008). The 2010 Israeli-Palestinian peace talks are launched by the United States (2010).
• September 2 is the birthday of organist/composer Georg Böhm (1661), baseball player/businessman Albert Spalding (1850), pianist Horace Silver (1928), businessman Arnold Greenberg (1932), businessman Peter Ueberroth (1937), singer-songwriter/keyboardist Billy Preston (1946), NBA player Nate “Tiny” Archibald (1948), NFL player Terry Bradshaw (1948), teacher/astronaut Christa McAuliffe (1948), actor Mark Harmon (1951), tennis player Jimmy Connors (1952), skateboarder Tony Alva (1957), keyboardist/composer Steve Porcaro (1957), NFL player Eric Dickerson (1960), UK prime minister Keir Starmer (1962), actor Keanu Reeves (1964), actress Salma Hayek (1966), singer-songwriter K-Ci (1969), comedian Katt Williams (1971), NFL player Brian Westbrook (1977), and NBA player Brandon Ingram (1997).

You know that curse that goes, “May you live in interesting times”? Well, I’m pretty sure times are about to be even more interesting than they’ve already been. This is… not good. But I believe that you will have more courage and strength than you realize. Don’t ever give in to these pieces of shit. Fight. Protest. Make your voice heard. You will not regret it. Enjoy your day.