Morning Announcements

Betches Media
  • 4.6 (1.5K)
  • DAILY NEWS
  • UPDATED DAILY

Morning Announcements is your daily news rundown from Betches News--because the world’s a mess, and someone’s gotta explain it. Every morning, Betches co-founder and host Sami Sage cuts through the chaos to break down what actually matters, one unhinged headline at a time. All in under 10 minutes, so you can stay informed without spiraling.

  1. 16H AGO

    Tuesday, January 13th, 2026 - Trump vs. The Fed; NYC nurses strike; Meta in its political era; Mark Kelly v Hegseth; AK senate seat

    Today’s Headlines: After a year of publicly badgering Fed Chair Jerome Powell for not bending interest rates to his personal preferences, the Trump administration is now having the DOJ investigate Powell over his testimony about renovations to the Fed’s DC headquarters. Powell responded with a rare straight-to-camera video accusing Trump of using the probe as retaliation for not manipulating rates. Meanwhile, the Defense Department announced it’s taking a $150 million preferred equity stake in ATALCO, the only major U.S. producer of gallium — a critical mineral used in military radar and satellites — in a move that looks a lot like soft nationalization but for national security. Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly is suing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth after Hegseth tried to strip him of his Navy captain rank and retirement benefits, a fight that is very much still unfolding. Trump’s EPA also announced it will stop factoring in lives saved and health benefits when setting air pollution regulations, which feels like an interesting new definition of “cost-benefit analysis.” In labor news, roughly 15,000 nurses at major NYC hospitals went on strike demanding safer staffing ratios, better pay, and improved security — aka the bare minimum to keep hospitals functioning. On the tech-politics crossover beat, Meta named Dina Powell McCormick — former Trump deputy national security adviser and wife of GOP Sen. David McCormick — as its new president and vice chair, a hire Trump was thrilled to personally endorse online. Elsewhere, a 19-year-old appeared in federal court on arson charges for allegedly setting fire to Mississippi’s historic Beth Israel Congregation synagogue, and former Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola announced she’s running for Alaska’s U.S. Senate seat in 2026, giving Dems at least one race to daydream about. Resources/Articles mentioned in this episode: WSJ: U.S. Prosecutors Are Investigating Fed Chair Jerome Powell Bloomberg: Trump Administration Takes Stake in Critical Mineral Firm ATALCO Axios: Mark Kelly hits Hegseth with lawsuit over Navy rank demotion threats NYT: E.P.A. to Stop Considering Lives Saved by Limiting Air Pollution NYT: Nearly 15,000 Nurses Go on Strike at Major New York City Hospitals Alaska Public: Mary Peltola enters Alaska U.S. Senate race NYT: New York Seeks Ban on A.I.-Generated Images of Candidates CNBC: Meta names former Trump advisor Dina Powell McCormick as president, vice chair Clarion Ledger: Hearing set for Madison County man accused of setting fire at Beth Israel in MS Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    7 min

  2. 1D AGO

    January 12th, 2026 - Iran protests; ICE to go door to door; Trump’s Greenland obsession; Venezuela chaos; Jobs report is…fine-ish

    Today’s Headlines: After two weeks of nationwide protests, Iran looks closer than ever to a regime collapse. The government shut down the internet all weekend, blamed the U.S. and Israel, and threatened retaliation — while Trump publicly backed protesters online, which historically only makes things messier. In the U.S., a 160-year-old synagogue in Jackson, Mississippi was set on fire early Saturday. No one was hurt, a suspect is in custody, and the congregation — which survived a KKK bombing in 1967 — says it will rebuild. Trump also sat down with the New York Times and said the only thing restraining him is “my own morality,” claimed owning Greenland is “psychologically needed for success,” and suggested NATO could be optional. Around the same time, references to his impeachments quietly disappeared from his Smithsonian portrait label. In Minneapolis, tensions escalated after video showed ICE officer Jonathan Ross switching hands to draw his gun before killing Renee Good. Instead of de-escalating, DHS announced hundreds more federal agents, ICE plans to hire 10,000 more officers, and JD Vance promised “door-to-door” deportations, as a Washington Post report detailed ICE’s push to churn out violent arrest videos for social media. Trump also failed to convince oil companies to reinvest in Venezuela, then declared a national emergency anyway to shield $2.5 billion in Venezuelan oil revenue, calling it a U.S. national security issue. Finally, courts blocked Trump from freezing $10 billion in welfare funds to blue states and from cutting NIH research grants, while December jobs numbers showed modest growth — data Trump leaked early on social media because, apparently, impulse control is optional. Resources/Articles mentioned in this episode: The Atlantic: Is the Iranian Regime About to Collapse? Axios: Trump says U.S. is ready to help Iranians get freedom AP News: Suspect arrested on suspicion of arson after a fire damages a historic Mississippi synagogue NYT: An Interview With Donald Trump AP News: Reference to Trump's impeachments is removed from the display of his Smithsonian photo portrait NBC News: New cellphone video shows victim interacting with ICE officer moments before fatal shooting in Minneapolis NYT: ‘Hundreds More’ Federal Agents to be Deployed to Minneapolis After ICE Shooting USA Today: Immigration enforcement ramp-up has only just begun, VP Vance promises WAPo: Inside ICE’s social media machine creating viral arrest videos Politico: ‘Uninvestable’: Trump pitch to oil execs yields no promises Axios: Trump declares national emergency to shield Venezuelan oil cash Texas Tribune: Texas hands over complete list of registered voters to Trump administration Politico: Judge blocks Trump’s $10B welfare fund freeze Seattle Times: Judges block Trump plan to cut research money, including $120M for WA AP News: Trump brushes off early posting of confidential jobs figures Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    11 min

  3. 4D AGO

    Friday, January 9th, 2026 - ICE shooting (again); Epstein files are back; Gabbard sidelined; WB rejects Paramount; UK is over Grok & more

    Today’s Headlines: In Portland, Customs and Border Patrol agents shot two people during a vehicle stop — both were hospitalized, the FBI is now on scene, and DHS says it was “targeted.”  In Minneapolis, the Trump administration continues to fully defend the ICE officer who killed Renee Good. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem announced the FBI is taking over the investigation, cutting Minnesota out of access to its own evidence, while insisting the officer followed his training. Governor Tim Walz pushed back hard, accusing ICE of raiding a nearby school and using chemical agents on school grounds, forcing closures and prompting him to warn protesters to stay peaceful as the administration appears eager to escalate. Vice President JD Vance then took the podium to claim the ICE officer has absolute immunity, shame the media for portraying Good as innocent, and argue the officer’s past injury explains his behavior. Public pressure is starting to land: Avelo Airlines is cutting ties with ICE and shutting down its Arizona base, while Hilton dropped a Minneapolis-area franchise after it refused to host ICE agents. The Epstein saga keeps unraveling, with House Oversight approving subpoenas for Les Wexner and Epstein’s estate executors, and lawmakers pushing for a special master to force DOJ compliance on the files. On Venezuela, Trump has sidelined intelligence chief Tulsi Gabbard, Senate Republicans advanced a War Powers resolution to curb further military action, and Trump responded by calling for those senators to be voted out. Elsewhere in chaos, Trump floated buying $200 billion in mortgage bonds, Warner Bros. rejected Paramount again in favor of Netflix, the White House may add an entire story to the West Wing for “symmetry,” and the UK is openly considering banning X over Grok-generated deepfake porn. Resources/Articles mentioned in this episode: ABC News: Man, woman shot by federal agent in Portland during 'targeted' vehicle stop: Officials WSJ: FBI Blocks State Law Enforcement From ICE Shooting Investigation KARE 11: Walz speaks with press after ICE agent shoots, kills woman PBS: WATCH: Vance blames victim of fatal ICE shooting at White House briefing Axios: Key airline used by Trump for deportations cuts ties with ICE Reuters: Hilton drops Minneapolis hotel over cancelled ICE bookings NBC News: House committee votes to issue more subpoenas related to Jeffrey Epstein WSJ: Tulsi Gabbard Sidelined From Venezuela Planning Axios: These Republicans broke from Trump in rare split over Venezuela war powers Axios: House passes ACA subsidies extension CNN: Trump orders ‘my representatives’ to buy $200 billion in mortgage bonds in effort to lower housing costs Reuters: Paramount again tells Warner Bros its offer trumps Netflix's WSJ: White House Ballroom Architect Says a West Wing Addition Is Under Consideration Telegraph: Elon Musk’s X could be banned in Britain over AI chatbot row The Atlantic: Fast Times at Immigration and Customs Enforcement - The Atlantic Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    9 min

  4. 5D AGO

    Thursday, January 8th, 2026 - ICE kills Renee Good; US seized oil tanker; Greenland asks for NATO talks & DeSantis’ special gerrymander session

    Today’s Headlines: Officials identified Renee Nicole Good — a U.S. citizen — as the woman shot and killed by an ICE officer in Minneapolis after he fired three rounds into her car at close range. Video shows Good waving agents around her stopped vehicle before they approached on foot. Despite the footage, Trump and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem labeled her a “domestic terrorist,” a claim Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey called “bullshit” while telling ICE to leave the city. Meanwhile, the administration says the U.S. will take over selling Venezuela’s blockaded oil “indefinitely,” with proceeds routed through offshore accounts overseen by Trump — though Energy Secretary Chris Wright insists the money will eventually benefit Venezuelans. Trump also bragged that the U.S. seized a massive Russian-flagged oil tanker and, when asked what happens to the oil, replied: “We keep it, I guess.” On Greenland, leaders in Greenland and Denmark are rejecting any U.S. move to acquire the territory and have requested emergency NATO talks — warning it could destabilize the alliance. European partners are now prepping contingency defense plans of their own. In other news, Trump floated banning large investors from buying single-family homes (details TBD… allegedly coming “in two weeks”), while also publicly pressuring defense contractors to cap executive pay and ramp up production — singling out Raytheon as not sufficiently obedient. And in Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis is calling a special session to gerrymander.  Resources/Articles mentioned in this episode: Axios: Woman killed by ICE in Minneapolis identified as Renee Nicole Good WSJ: U.S. to Control Venezuelan Oil Sales Indefinitely AP News: Trump says US has seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela The Guardian: Marco Rubio says he will meet Danish officials to discuss Greenland next week Kyivpost: Germany Could Join Multinational Force From Outside Ukraine, Merz Says CNBC: Trump says U.S. to ban large investors from buying homes Axios: Trump threatens to nix Raytheon's defense contracts AP News: Gov. Ron DeSantis calls for special session in April to redraw Florida's congressional districts Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    7 min

  5. 6D AGO

    Wednesday, January 7th, 2026 - Trump grabs Venezuela’s Oil, floats buying Greenland & rewrites Jan 6; Klobuchar’s possible MN Gov bid

    Today’s Headlines: Venezuela’s getting even more chaotic as interim leader Delcy Rodríguez cracks down hard on any shows of support for Maduro’s ouster — with arrests, detained journalists, and armed gangs patrolling Caracas in the name of “order.” Meanwhile, opposition leader María Corina Machado went on Hannity to shower Trump with praise and offer to “share” her Nobel Peace Prize… which is extra awkward given reports that Trump-world thinks she would’ve become president if she’d literally handed that prize to him.Trump’s also insisting he consulted U.S. oil execs around the operation — the execs say “absolutely not,” and also that Venezuelan oil wouldn’t be profitable for a decade — but he’s now promising taxpayer-backed reimbursements anyway and claims up to 50 million barrels of sanctioned oil will be turned over, with the revenue controlled by… him. Obviously nothing concerning there. Feeling bold, the White House is floating military-backed options to acquire Greenland for “Arctic security,” because why not escalate imperial cosplay while we’re here. On the fifth anniversary of January 6th, the administration launched a new government website rewriting the riot — denying officer deaths and blaming Democrats, Capitol Police, and Mike Pence — while the memorial plaque for officers quietly vanished and the Proud Boys marched again. House Democrats held their own hearing, where “MAGA Granny” Pamela Hemphill rejected her pardon and warned against Trump rewriting history. And in Minnesota, Sen. Amy Klobuchar is seriously weighing a run for governor to replace Tim Walz, though she hasn’t decided yet. Resources/Articles mentioned in this episode: WaPo: Fear grips Caracas as a new wave of repression is unleashed in Venezuela WaPo: Venezuela’s Machado gushes over Trump while calling for new elections BOE Report: Trump administration has not consulted US oil majors about Venezuela, oil execs say NBC News: Trump says the U.S. may reimburse oil companies for rebuilding Venezuela's infrastructure Axios: Trump: Venezuela to turn over 30-50 million barrels of oil to U.S. Reuters: Trump discussing how to acquire Greenland, US military always an option, White House says NYT: Trump Administration Posts False Jan. 6 Narrative on Riot’s 5th Anniversary PBS News: WATCH: House Democrats hold special Jan. 6th hearing on five-year anniversary Politico: ‘A unique moment for Minnesota’: Dems await Klobuchar’s future move Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    7 min

  6. JAN 6

    Tuesday, January 6th, 2026 - Maduro’s “Still President”; Trump drops more threats; Hegseth vs Kelly; RFK Jr. vax rollback & more

    Today’s Headlines: Trump’s Venezuela operation keeps getting weirder. Nicolás Maduro and his wife pled not guilty in Manhattan court and Maduro insists he’s “still president” — despite currently living at the detention center. Trump walked back his claim that Marco Rubio would “run Venezuela,” and is now elevating Stephen Miller to help oversee things with interim leader Delcy Rodriguez — while warning he’ll launch more strikes if she doesn’t cooperate. Meanwhile, Trump allies say opposition leader María Corina Machado blew her shot at power by… not giving Trump her Nobel Prize. To make things…more chaotic, Trump has started floating similar threats toward Cuba, Mexico, Colombia — and Greenland — prompting Greenland’s prime minister to remind him that their country is “not an object of superpower rhetoric.” Congress only got briefed on the Venezuela strikes after the fact, because Trump says lawmakers “leak,” though somehow oil companies heard before and after. Also suspicious: someone made $400k on Polymarket betting Maduro would be deposed in January. Abroad, protests in Iran continue, and a British intel report says Ayatollah Khamenei has a “Plan B” escape route to Moscow if things collapse. In other news, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth censured Sen. Mark Kelly in the first step toward possible rank demotion — all because Kelly appeared in a video noting it’s legal to refuse illegal military orders. The administration also slashed the number of recommended childhood vaccines from 17 to 11 — a move that could reshape insurance coverage and access next year and Arizona’s Supreme Court building was evacuated after a suspicious package containing homemade explosive material was found. Lastly, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz announced he won’t seek a third term following months of harassment fueled by Trump and right-wing trolls resurfacing an old Somali daycare fraud case. Resources/Articles mentioned in this episode: NBC News: Live updates: Maduro arrives at New York courthouse for first court appearance since capture in Venezuela The New Republic: Trump Wants Stephen Miller to Have a Terrifying New Role in Venezuela WaPo: U.S. plan to ‘run’ Venezuela clouded in confusion and uncertainty Newsweek: Cuba’s ‘Days Are Numbered’—Lindsey Graham Yahoo: Greenland's Prime Minister Just Delivered A Brutal Reality Check To Donald Trump The Independent: Gunfire heard near Venezuelan presidential palace The Times: Ayatollah Khamenei plans to flee to Moscow if Iran unrest intensifies AP News: Hegseth censures Sen. Kelly after Democrats' video urging troops to resist unlawful orders PBS: Trump administration cuts number of vaccines it recommends for every child The Guardian: Arizona supreme court evacuated after package tests positive for explosives AP News: Walz, Democrats' 2024 VP pick, drops bid for third term as Minnesota governor; Klobuchar considers Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    7 min

  7. JAN 5

    Monday, January 5th, 2026 - Maduro detained; Russia saves oil tanker; Zelensky’s Mar-a-Lago hang; Jack Smith testimony; Epstein files & more

    Today’s Headlines: Looks like there's no easing into this new year. Trump dramatically escalated his Venezuela fixation this weekend, launching major strikes in Caracas and having Nicolás Maduro pulled from his home and flown to federal detention in Brooklyn. Maduro was re-indicted on familiar narcotrafficking charges, while Trump bragged that the U.S. is effectively “running Venezuela now” alongside American oil companies. But instead of installing Trump’s preferred opposition figure, Venezuela’s Supreme Court tapped Maduro’s vice president Delcy Rodríguez as interim leader. Before all that, the U.S. had spent weeks chasing a Venezuela-bound oil tanker — until Russia swooped in on New Year’s Eve, added it to its registry, and painted a Russian flag on the side to shield it from seizure. Trump also hosted President Zelensky at Mar-a-Lago with Stephen Miller, Jared Kushner, and Pete Hegseth, claiming “progress” while simultaneously echoing outrage on Putin’s behalf after a friendly call with him. Abroad, Switzerland’s army chief warned the country couldn’t withstand a major attack, protests in Iran turned deadly as Trump threatened to “intervene,” and Trump ordered Christmas Day strikes on ISIS militants in Nigeria. On the home front, Trump froze all childcare payments nationwide after citing a Minnesota welfare fraud case involving a small group of Somali immigrants — while simultaneously moving to garnish wages from millions of student loan borrowers in default starting in January. One notable check on his power: the Supreme Court ruled 6–3 against his National Guard deployments to several U.S. cities. Meanwhile, the newly released Jack Smith testimony says he had evidence Trump committed multiple felonies that could rise to treason before his cases were shut down — and the massive Epstein document dump is already under scrutiny for delays, missing records, and questionable redactions, including internal DOJ emails noting Trump flew on Epstein’s plane more than previously known. Resources/Articles mentioned in this episode: NBC News: Maduro arrives in New York after capture in Venezuela NYT: How Trump Fixed On a Maduro Loyalist as Venezuela’s New Leader NYT: Russia Asks United States to Stop Pursuit of Fleeing Oil Tanker NBC News: Trump and Zelenskyy project optimism about prospects for a Ukraine-Russia peace deal despite 'thorny issues' The Daily Beast: Putin Burns Trump With Embarrassing Details of Phone Chat Reuters: Army chief says Switzerland can't defend itself from full-scale attack PBS: Trump threatens to intervene in Iran if regime continues to kill protesters NYT: U.S. Strikes ISIS in Nigeria After Trump Warned of Attacks on Christians NYT: Trump and Netanyahu Exchange Praise After Meeting, Showing Few Signs of Strain CNN: Israel becomes first country to formally recognize Somaliland as independent state AP News: Trump's attacks on Minnesota's Somali community cast a spotlight on fraud cases The Guardian: Trump administration reportedly freezes all childcare payments to all states CNBC: Trump administration to start seizing pay of defaulted student loan borrowers in January WaPo: Trump ends effort to keep National Guard in Chicago, Los Angeles, Portland PBS: Read Jack Smith's full deposition on the decision to indict Trump Axios: Mike Pence's think tank poaches top Heritage staff as MAGA rift grows NBC News: Justice Department is reviewing 5.2 million pages of Jeffrey Epstein files NBC News: The president, the plane and the prince: Top takeaways from the 3rd Epstein files release Des Moines Register: Democrat wins Iowa Senate election, holding off GOP supermajority CNBC: USPS changes may delay postmark dates. What it means for your tax returns, ballots, bills and more Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    15 min

  8. 12/23/2025

    Tuesday, December 23rd, 2025 - CBS kills 60 Minutes; Trump tries to buy Greenland (again); Kash Patel’s custom BMW; “Trump Class” warships

    Today’s Headlines: CBS News is in full self-own mode after killing a 60 Minutes segment on El Salvador’s CECOT megaprison—right before airtime—because leadership said it didn’t “advance the story” or sufficiently platform the administration, despite months of reporting and unanswered requests for comment. Predictably, the backlash ensured way more people now care about the story than ever would have otherwise. Meanwhile, a federal judge let former CECOT detainee, Kilmar Abrego-Garcia remain free while his case continues, openly questioning whether ICE can be trusted to follow court orders at all. The DOJ, in the spirit of never taking a hint, is also appealing the dismissal of Trump’s revenge prosecutions against James Comey and Letitia James, insisting Halligan was totally legit, therefore the indictment stands. At the FBI, Director Kash Patel is reportedly cruising around in a custom armored BMW with massage seats—purchased at his request—because Suburbans apparently don’t scream “covert.” Elsewhere, the US is chasing another Venezuelan oil tanker in international waters (Venezuela calls it piracy), Trump is back to casually trying to acquire Greenland via a part-time envoy who is also the governor of Louisiana, and the administration is pulling dozens of career diplomats from posts around the world for reasons it will not explain. Dems seek to find Bondi in contempt, because actual accountability isn’t a thing anymore. And finally, Trump capped off 2025 by announcing plans for new “Trump Class” Navy warships, which feels spiritually correct as a closing note. Resources/Articles mentioned in this episode: WaPo: ‘I ultimately had to comply’: ‘60 Minutes’ EP faces fallout after Bari Weiss shelves story PBS: Abrego Garcia can remain free while judge considers arguments for returning him to immigration custody Politico: DOJ appeals ruling that tanked Comey, James criminal cases MS Now: Kash Patel’s new ride of choice: An armored luxury BMW Axios: U.S. pursuing third oil tanker as Venezuela hostilities intensify Axios: Denmark summons US ambassador over Trump's renewed Greenland push Politico: Trump ousts more Biden-era ambassadors WaPo: Two lawmakers seek to find Bondi in contempt over Epstein files NYT: Trump Administration Live Updates: President Announces Plans for New ‘Trump Class’ Battleships Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    10 min
See All (1.3K)

Trailer

Hosts & Guests

4.6
out of 5
1,517 Ratings

About

Morning Announcements is your daily news rundown from Betches News--because the world’s a mess, and someone’s gotta explain it. Every morning, Betches co-founder and host Sami Sage cuts through the chaos to break down what actually matters, one unhinged headline at a time. All in under 10 minutes, so you can stay informed without spiraling.

Information

  • Creator
    Betches Media
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    1.3K
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Betches Media. All rights reserved.
  • Provider
    Betches Media

You Might Also Like