The Daily Herold: September 29, 2025 – Shutdown Standoffs, RICO Battles, and Global Flashpoints

Jon Herold opens the week with a deep dive into the looming government shutdown, breaking down Trump’s negotiations with Congress, Republican infighting over ACA subsidies, and the DoD’s contingency plans prioritizing border security and Middle East operations. He connects these developments to broader devolution themes, highlighting continuity of operations and Trump’s strategy of using shutdowns as leverage to force real change. The episode also covers Trump’s White House meeting with Netanyahu and the 21-point Gaza peace plan, along with speculation about signals tied to military aircraft sales. Jon examines the devastating LDS church shooting in Michigan, Rudy Giuliani’s Dominion settlement, and new rulings against Mike Lindell, before turning to Oregon’s lawsuit challenging Trump’s National Guard deployment under Title 10.

Other stories include China’s ferry buildup for Taiwan, misleading narratives about drug prosecutions, and EA’s massive $55 billion buyout led by Saudi funds and Jared Kushner. With sharp humor, first-principles thinking, and plenty of rug metaphors, Jon ties together shutdown brinkmanship, legal showdowns, and geopolitical maneuvering into one packed episode.