The Run Down - Aug. Sep.
- Amari
- Oct 22, 2025
- 4 min read
Charged up! The last three months have been a decade. It’s been hard to keep up, so I did it for you!
This edition of The Run Down covers August, and September, pulling together everything you might’ve missed while classes, life, and the news cycle all ran at full speed. August brought federal court rulings, a D.C. “emergency,” leadership resignations at the CDC, and sadly a school shooting in Minnesota. Unfortunately that was just the beginning.
Let’s start with August, where the headlines were nonstop and so was the chaos!
August
DC Takeover & Troop Deployment
The Department of Transportation announced it will re-assume management of Washington Union Station, just as Donald Trump declared a “crime emergency” in DC and deployed over 2,000 National Guard members." President Donald Trump rolled out the deployment of troops on August 11 as part of his anti-crime agenda in the nation’s capital, which has also included a surge in federal officers from other agencies and an attempted takeover of the city’s police department." (CNN).
CDC Leadership Resignations
Dr. Susan Monarez, sworn in as Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director on July 31, is reportedly being removed with several senior agency officials resigning on the same day.
Immigration Ruling
A federal judge blocked the deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia to Uganda, granting more time to evaluate his legal challenge. "Xinis was the first federal judge to order the Trump administration to facilitate Abrego’s return from El Salvador after the government admitted it had mistakenly deported him to a megaprison for gang members in March. Xinis clashed with government lawyers during those proceedings, accusing them of failing to comply with her rulings." - The Washington Post
Tariff Expansion
The administration announced new tariffs that apply to 90+ countries. Economists however argue that this will increase the prices of our goods. "Trump administration tariffs imposed this year on dozens of nations and a range of industries are fueling inflation, especially for goods that are widely imported into the U.S., a recent analysis shows." (CBS) https://www.cbsnews.com/news/inflation-tariffs-trump-prices-consumers/
‘Epstein Gate’
The U.S. Department of Justice released interview transcripts of Ghislaine Maxwell and began turning over files related to Jeffrey Epstein to a House oversight committee.
Minnesota School Shooting
On August 27, a shooting at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis left two children dead and 17 wounded during a morning Mass. https://www.npr.org/2025/08/28/nx-s1-5519768/minneapolis-school-shooting-church-what-we-know
There have been 205 school shooting this year. There have been 148 students or faculty that have been killed or wounded due to school shootings.
September
(The month that was a political thriller.)
Florida Ends All Vaccine Requirements
Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo announced the state will become the first in the nation to ban all vaccine requirements, calling it a matter of “personal freedom.” The new rule would remove the long standing mandates for school children, including vaccines for hepatitis B, chickenpox, flu, and meningitis.Lawmakers could go even further by repealing requirements for measles and polio. (PBS). https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/as-florida-moves-to-end-vaccine-mandates-pediatricians-fear-more-states-could-follow
Supreme Court Legalizes Racial Profiling in Immigration Stops
In a controversial decision, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that law enforcement can make stops based on race, language, or profession as immigration enforcement intensifies under ICE. Critics say the ruling effectively legalizes racial profiling and erodes civil-rights protections.(PBS) https://www.npr.org/2025/09/13/nx-s1-5507125/the-supreme-court-clears-the-way-for-ice-agents-to-treat-race-as-grounds-for-immigration-stops
Charlie Kirk Assassinated at Political Event
The killing of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk sent shockwaves across the country. Police arrested Tyler Robinson, 22, of Washington, Utah, who now faces aggravated murder charges.(Essence – Girls United) https://girlsunited.essence.com/events/feed-to-funds/
ICE Office Shooting in Dallas
A gunman opened fire at an ICE office in Dallas, Texas, killing two migrant detainees after firing rapidly.The shooting is being investigated as a hate-motivated act of domestic terrorism.(NPR / Local Texas Reports) https://www.npr.org/2025/10/16/nx-s1-5571111/ice-dallas-shooting-immigrants
Antifa Declared a “Domestic Terrorist Organization”
President Donald Trump officially designated Antifa as a domestic terrorist organization, citing “ongoing threats to national order.” Civil-liberties groups condemned the move as an assault on free political expression and a step toward criminalizing dissent.(PBS/ White House Briefing)
Jimmy Kimmel Suspended — Then Reinstated
Jimmy Kimmel was suspended from ABC following his on-air criticism of Trump’s response to the Kirk assassination. The FCC chair, Brendan Carr, threatened to revoke ABC’s broadcast license, calling Kimmel’s remarks “indecent.”The suspension sparked nationwide protests, and hundreds of Hollywood creatives signed a letter defending Kimmel. Days later, ABC reversed course and reinstated him. (BBC News). https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1wle4dx4qwo
Government Shutdown Enacted
With Congress unable to pass a new spending bill by September 30, the federal government officially shut down at midnight. Non-essential agencies were forced to suspend operations, while both parties blamed each other for the standoff.
The Shut down has been in effect for 21 days.
Snap benefits will cease after October
Federal employees are not being paid
Government agencies are running out of funds.
In Short
September blurred the line between political theater and crisis. Vaccine mandates were overturned, free speech was tested, the government is shutdown, and political violence is rising. Stay alert for October's update. Dont be scared of it, be aware of it
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