Trump appears in fresh Epstein records, Chicago ICE raids underway: Unbiased Updates, Sept. 9, 2025
The House Oversight Committee releases new documents from Jeffrey Epstein’s estate, including a so-called “birthday book” with pages Democrats say contain Donald Trump’s name. The president insists the notes are fake.
Plus, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) launches “Operation Midway Blitz” — a federal crackdown targeting undocumented immigrants in Chicago. Officials said it’s aimed at “criminal illegal aliens,” but Illinois leaders call the move political theater.
And the Supreme Court sides with the Trump administration, clearing the way for ICE to conduct so-called “roving raids” in Los Angeles.
These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025.
House panel releases Jeffrey Epstein’s ‘birthday book’ with alleged Trump note
Democrats have shared new Epstein files with the public, and President Donald Trump’s name is front and center. A congressional panel has the so-called “birthday book” from Jeffrey Epstein’s estate, and Democrats are posting pages publicly.
First, a page with a doodle bearing the president’s name appeared. Then, late Monday night, Democrats on the House Oversight Committee posted another page.
It features a photo of Epstein holding a large check, with a caption joking about “Selling a fully depreciated woman to Donald Trump for $22,500.”
Earlier on Monday, Democrat Robert Garcia re-posted a picture on X of an alleged birthday note Trump had sent Epstein in 2003.
In the post, Garcia wrote, “The note Trump says doesn’t exist. Time to end this White House cover-up.”
We got the Epstein note Trump says doesn’t exist. Time to end this White House cover-up: https://t.co/AWfDqLESkF
— Congressman Robert Garcia (@RepRobertGarcia) September 8, 2025
Trump has already sued The Wall Street Journal, the first outlet to report on the alleged card, calling the story defamatory.
Until now, the public had not seen it.
The House Oversight Committee, led by Republican James Comer, subpoenaed documents from Epstein’s estate last month.
But in a statement Monday night, he accused Democrats of “cherry-picking documents and politicizing information.”
The White House is pushing back hard.
In a post on X, press secretary Karolina Leavitt insisted, “It’s very clear President Trump did not draw this picture, and he did not sign it.”
Deputy Chief of Staff Taylor Budowich went further, posting side-by-side shots of Trump’s known autographs to argue the card is fake.
The letter and the image aren’t the only new material.
The estate also handed over Epstein’s will, bank records and pages from his contact book.
Both sides of the panel say this is just the start, with more documents and more names still to come, including former president Bill Clinton and high-profile attorney Alan Dershowitz, who are listed as “Friends” of Epstein.
ICE launches ‘Operation Midway Blitz’ in Chicago
A new immigration crackdown is underway in Chicago. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is calling it “Operation Midway Blitz.“
In a statement on Monday, ICE said the mission is aimed at “criminal illegal aliens who flocked to Chicago because of sanctuary policies.”
Officials also dedicated the operation to Katie Abraham, who was killed earlier this year in a drunk-driving hit-and-run. The driver, a Guatemalan citizen in the U.S. illegally, was caught in Texas days later trying to flee to Mexico.
ICE says the blitz is already netting arrests and will expand.
“We have successfully arrested some criminal aliens over the last few days. We just began our surge. We’re going to be bringing in our partners, our other DHS partners, DOJ partners, CBP partners coming in. So they’ll be coming in and participating in this ICE-led operation,” said Marcos Charles with ICE enforcement and removal operations.
Chicago’s mayor and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker say they got no advance notice.
It’s unclear how long the blitz will last, but ICE insists it has always operated in Chicago, and will keep targeting those it calls “dangerous criminal aliens.”
Supreme Court clears path for ICE ‘roving raids’ in Los Angeles
In a win for the Trump administration, the Supreme Court has cleared the way for ICE to resume so-called “moving raids” in Los Angeles.
The 6-3 ruling blocks a lower court opinion that had banned agents from stopping migrants at big box stores, bus stops and car washes. The ban came after critics said those sweeps relied on stereotypes: Spanish speakers looking for day labor.
Justice Brett Kavanaugh wrote that it is “common sense” to question people who meet certain criteria, including limited English proficiency.
Homeland Security celebrated the decision as a victory for public safety and the rule of law.
But Justice Sonia Sotomayor blasted the ruling, saying: “We should not have to live in a country where the government can seize anyone who looks Latino, speaks Spanish, and appears to work a low-wage job.”
Hegseth visits Puerto Rico as Pentagon considers new cartel missions
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth arrived in Puerto Rico on Monday, an unannounced visit that signals the Pentagon is ramping up its fight against Latin American drug cartels.
Puerto Rico Gov. Jenniffer González-Colón posted images of Hegseth arriving, alongside Joint Chiefs Chair General Dan Caine. Their visit comes just days after a U.S. strike in the Caribbean Sea targeted a Venezuelan boat, resulting in 11 deaths.
Trump claimed the attack killed members of a drug cartel and the gang Tren de Aragua, although the White House hasn’t released evidence.
Vice President JD Vance endorsed the strike on X, writing, “Killing cartel members who poison our fellow citizens is the highest and best use of our military.”
Over the weekend, outside a military base in Puerto Rico, “Mothers Against War” led a protest, accusing the administration of using cartels as a pretext for a wider conflict with Venezuela and the Maduro regime.
The Washington Post reported that the Pentagon is considering launching missions directly from Puerto Rico, including fighter jet deployments.
Hegseth also visited the USS Iwo Jima, telling troops they’re “on the frontlines of defending the homeland.”
France removes third prime minister in a year
France’s government has fallen after lawmakers voted to remove Prime Minister François Bayrou in a surprising rebuke. A total of 364 MPs voted against Bayrou, far exceeding the 280 votes required to remove him.
Bayrou triggered the confidence vote while attempting to pass a €44 billion austerity plan that cut public holidays and froze government spending.
After only nine months in office, he’s now gone.
French President Emmanuel Macron is expected to appoint a new prime minister in the coming days. Whoever he selects will be France’s fourth prime minister in just twelve months.
New Banksy mural to be removed from London court
A new mural by famous street artist Banksy has sparked debate in London.
The work, displayed on the wall of Britain’s royal courts of justice, depicts a judge in a wig and gown using his gavel to strike a protester.
Banksy posted a photo of the piece on Instagram on Monday. Many see it as a critique of how pro-Palestinian activists have been treated. But the controversial art won’t stay up for long. Officials said it will be taken down.
For now, the mural is covered up and monitored by security guards and surveillance cameras.
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Ella Rae Greene, Editor In Chief
