The Political Markup for Tuesday, September 9, 2025
U.S. House Republicans are focused on Epstein and January 6. Economic issues continue to grow. CBS News names an ombudsman to counter bias. Trump ordered a secret mission against North Korea.
Politics
U.S. House Republicans received various documents and materials from Jeffrey Epstein’s estate, which they had sought through a subpoena. The materials include a book of well wishes from friends, including Donald Trump, that Epstein had received for his 50th birthday. Trump said it didn’t exist when The Wall Street Journal first reported on it in July.
Republicans continue to work at reshaping the narrative of January 6. The U.S. House passed a rule which included a resolution to establish subcommittee to investigate the infamous day in 2021.
U.S. House Democrats’ plans for the midterm elections are getting analyzed and scrutinized.
A conservative polling firm finds that Republican voters are not against vaccines.
Media
A former Trump official and past president of the Hudson Institute has been named an ombudsman at CBS News and will review complaints of bias at the network. The position was part of the deal to merge the network with Skydance. CBS has been under scrutiny since conservatives claimed it edited stories to the benefit of Democrats.
In its lawsuit alleging that Fox News has created a conservative news monopoly, Newsmax ignores all the work that Fox has done over nearly 30 years to get to where it is today. A judge has dismissed the case, but still allowed Newsmax to refile.
Economy
Middle-class earners are spending less and becoming more pessimistic on the economy.
Home Depot also finds that customers are spending less, focusing on smaller home projects rather than large, costlier ones.
Business
The Wall Street Journal profiles six American who changed the course of capitalism.
A founder of Starbucks coffee and Redhook beer passed away.
Larry Ellison is investing in Oxford and planning to establish his Ellison Institute of Technology there to study issues such as food security.
Trendy, pricey Jellycat toys are being targeted in thefts.
Agriculture
U.S. soybean farmers are being hurt as China blocks exports in response to President Trump’s trade policies.
John Deere is struggling due to Trump’s trade policies and low commodity prices. Agco is also facing issues.
The Wall Street Journal breaks down issues with the H-2A worker visa program, the agricultural and economic implications, and how President Trump and Congress could help.
The effort to grow kernza in Minnesota and elsewhere is supported by the outdoors company, Patagonia, which has a small but growing food division.
Trade
The Trump Administration will soon begin reviewing the USMCA and getting feedback from industries on the vast trade deal.
In recent months, China has significantly increased its exports to Africa. This builds on its ongoing infrastructure investments in the continent and further establishes its dominance there, while President Trump pulls back U.S. foreign investments and trade in Africa and elsewhere.
China imposed antidumping duties on pork products from the EU.
International
Two men from the suburbs of Minneapolis were charged with leading and financing an effort in the African country of Cameroon to create a new country called Ambazonia.
Canada’s unemployment rate increased to 7.1 percent due to global economic issues and U.S. tariffs.
Nigel Farage continues to be a conservative political leader in the United Kingdom and around the world. The Washington Post gives an updated profile of Farage following his recent visit to D.C.
Profound Story for the Day
In 2019 during his first administration, President Trump had SEAL Team 6 attempt to plant an electronic device in North Korea to monitor the country’s leader, Kim Jong Un.
This followed a previously unreported SEAL mission to North Korea in 2005 during the administration of President George W. Bush.
Mistakes made during the Trump mission led Lloyd Austin, President Biden’s Defense Secretary, to conduct an investigation in 2021.
Read the full story, How a Top Secret SEAL Team 6 Mission Into North Korea Fell Apart, from The New York Times by Dave Philipps and Matthew Cole.
Questions that this story creates:
Does this indicate a trend for Trump? He recently authorized a strike on a Venezuelan drug boat and his Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, said more strikes would happen.
How is Trump reacting to the story? What does he say about the mission today? The Times article says the White House declined to comment.
How is Congress reacting? The Times says they weren’t informed by the Trump Administration, neither before nor after the failed mission. Key congressional members were later briefed by the Biden Administration.
How is Kim Jong-un reacting?
How are global leaders that align with Kim Jong-un reacting? Kim recently was in China, where he met with Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin.
Will this provoke North Korea to use the very weapons the U.S. has been working against and trying to slow down?
What other nuclear-preventative steps has the U.S. taken in North Korea, Iran, and elsewhere?