Headlines

October 16, 2025

SCOTUSblog

SCOTUS Eyes Voting Rights Cut

The Supreme Court appeared poised to weaken a core provision of the Voting Rights Act after hearing arguments over Louisiana’s 2024 congressional map, with conservative justices signaling support for limiting race-based redistricting.
Read Full Story
Associated Press

Reporters Exit Pentagon Over Rules

Dozens of Pentagon reporters surrendered their badges rather than accept Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s new restrictions limiting unapproved reporting, a move backed by Trump and widely condemned as a blow to press freedom.
Read Full Story
The New York Times

Tomahawk Missiles Explained

President Trump is considering sending Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine, potentially enabling Kyiv to strike targets deep inside Russia with long-range, precise, and relatively inexpensive American weaponry.
Read Full Story
Times of Israel

Freed Hostages Share Harrowing Tales

Freed Israeli hostages described brutal Hamas captivity marked by torture, starvation, psychological warfare, and years of isolation in tunnels, with some losing massive body weight and enduring severe trauma before release.
Read Full Story
The Wall Street Journal

Trump Plans IRS Overhaul

The Trump administration is preparing changes at the IRS to target left-leaning groups, with a Trump ally set to lead the agency's criminal unit.
Read Full Story
Fox News

Mamdani Appears on Fox News

New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani said the city should honor the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu if he visits, despite U.S. rejection of ICC authority.
Read Full Story
CBS News

Prosecutor Jack Smith Sounds Off

Former special counsel Jack Smith criticized the Justice Department for prosecuting James Comey while ignoring alleged misconduct by officials like Pete Hegseth, accusing Attorney General Pam Bondi of politicizing investigations.
Read Full Story
Politico

Swastika Found in GOP Office

Capitol Police are investigating after a swastika-altered American flag was found in Rep. Dave Taylor’s office. Taylor condemned the symbol, calling it vandalism and ordering an internal review.
Read Full Story
Pew Research Center

Can You Fix a Flat Tire?

A Pew Research Center survey reveals Americans are confident in practical tasks like cleaning wounds, but fewer are confident fixing car engines, with differences noted by gender, education, and age.
Read Full Story
The Hollywood Reporter

YouTube Just Ate TV

YouTube's growing influence in sports and TV is highlighted by its landmark NFL partnership and its role as a platform for creators like Jesse 'Jesser' Riedel, reshaping media consumption.
Read Full Story
Vanity Fair

Virginia Giuffre in Her Own Words

In an excerpt from her posthumous memoir “Nobody’s Girl”, Virginia Roberts Giuffre recounts meeting Ghislaine Maxwell at Mar-a-Lago at age sixteen — a moment that led to years of exploitation by Epstein.
Read Full Story
CNN

When Extremists Wear a Brand

Fashion brands like Stone Island and Fred Perry face challenges when extremists adopt their clothing. Experts say companies can’t control wearers but can counter hate through inclusive messaging.
Read Full Story

Looking for previous newsletters?

The Mingle Project

Michael is on a mission to restore civility and compromise in public discourse. His solution for addressing societal disconnect, The Mingle Project — now on Smerconish.com with exclusive video clips, news articles, author interviews, live event info, and more!

Independent doesn’t mean indecisive.

The Latest News from Smerconish.com in Your Inbox

Join our community of over 100k independent minds

If you can’t find the confirmation email in your inbox, please check your junk or spam folder. 

 

We will NEVER SELL YOUR DATA. By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: Smerconish.com. You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Aweber

The Latest News from Smerconish.com in Your Inbox

Join our community of over 100k independent minds

If you can’t find the confirmation email in your inbox, please check your junk or spam folder. 

 

We will NEVER SELL YOUR DATA. By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: Smerconish.com. You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Aweber