The Life of a Shutdown

Checks Returned for Insufficient Balance

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The Life of a Shutdown

After a much-needed end of summer break, the Political Pour Up is back to distill the headlines and filter the facts from the unnecessary BS being deployed to distract and divide. What we thought would be a pleasantly uneventful August, with Congress in recess, turned out to be prime time for the administration’s unprecedented militarization of American cities, with ground zero right in our nation’s capital. But fear not, as soon as Congress reconvened, they got RIGHT to work—shutting down the government. After all, a government that is shut down can’t release any files that may be of particular interest to the general public. But that’s probably just a coincidence. Links from the show: https://www.cnbc.com/2025/09/05/jobs-report-august-2025.html [https://www.cnbc.com/2025/09/05/jobs-report-august-2025.html]  https://thehill.com/opinion/international/5524821-trump-un-foreign-policy/ [https://thehill.com/opinion/international/5524821-trump-un-foreign-policy/]  https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/23/world/trump-un-seven-wars.html [https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/23/world/trump-un-seven-wars.html]  https://lailluminator.com/2025/09/19/ice-abuse-louisiana/ [https://lailluminator.com/2025/09/19/ice-abuse-louisiana/]  https://abcnews.go.com/Health/mass-layoffs-resignations-major-vaccine-policy-timeline-turmoil/story?id=125056783 [https://abcnews.go.com/Health/mass-layoffs-resignations-major-vaccine-policy-timeline-turmoil/story?id=125056783]  https://abcnews.go.com/US/trump-admin-links-tylenol-pregnancy-increased-risk-autism/story?id=125802080 [https://abcnews.go.com/US/trump-admin-links-tylenol-pregnancy-increased-risk-autism/story?id=125802080] https://chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/2025/10/01/massive-immigration-raid-on-chicago-apartment-building-leaves-residents-reeling-i-feel-defeated [https://chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/2025/10/01/massive-immigration-raid-on-chicago-apartment-building-leaves-residents-reeling-i-feel-defeated] https://www.msnbc.com/top-stories/latest/government-shutdown-congress-trump-spending-deal-rcna234815 [https://www.msnbc.com/top-stories/latest/government-shutdown-congress-trump-spending-deal-rcna234815]  https://people.com/trump-touts-russ-vought-project-2025-ties-11823410 [https://people.com/trump-touts-russ-vought-project-2025-ties-11823410]  https://shontelbrown.house.gov/media/blog-post/2025-federal-government-shutdown-frequently-asked-questions-faq [https://shontelbrown.house.gov/media/blog-post/2025-federal-government-shutdown-frequently-asked-questions-faq] This Week's Cocktail: We’re Not FALLin for it! 🍁 2oz Tequila  1oz Sour Mix 2oz Apple Cider Shake with ice. Pour into rocks glass with a cinnamon sugar rim. Garnish with a cinnamon stick. Send a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2409938/open_sms] Connect with us on Instagram: @politicalpourup

If It Pleases the Court

If we took a shot every time some legal scholar said “they can’t do that, it’s illegal” in response to something this administration is actively doing, we’d all be pretty drunk right now. Is anyone else surprised that the party of LaW aNd OrDeR more accurately represents Organized Crime. And since we know a fish rots from the head down, we have about a snowball’s chance in hell that any of the president’s men or women will be standing on business to uphold the rule of law. Which is why so many are now looking to the courts to levee the surge of unconstitutionality from the executive branch, as our system of checks and balances demand. But we can’t put all our eggs in the “our courts will save us” basket (especially with a brokered and bougie SCOTUS conservative supermajority). We are gonna have to save ourselves! Links from the show: Amid Scramble for Food, Prices in Gaza Reach Extraordinary Heights - The New York Times [https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/31/world/middleeast/gaza-market-prices-flour.html?campaign_id=9&emc=edit_nn_20250731&instance_id=159623&nl=the-morning®i_id=208607669&segment_id=202981&user_id=4fb092c29bba6d6b9ba44a84e473f6e7] Greene calls Gaza crisis a ‘genocide,’ hinting at rift on the right over Israel | The Seattle Times [https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/marjorie-taylor-greene-is-first-republican-lawmaker-to-call-gaza-crisis-a-genocide/] Gunman in NYC office shooting left a note and many questions. Here's what we know about the investigation. - CBS News [https://www.cbsnews.com/news/nyc-shooting-gunman-note-victims-investigation/] Jeffrey Epstein files: Democrats turn to obscure rule to compel release [https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5427765-schumer-obscure-rule-epstein-files/] Todd Blanche's past hangs over him as top DOJ official on Epstein case [https://www.npr.org/2025/07/29/nx-s1-5484129/todd-blanche-epstein-ghislaine-maxwell-trump]  Who is Emil Bove, Trump's former lawyer and nominee for federal judge? [https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4g2n74lv00o] The People’s Guide to the U.S. Supreme Court: Summer Update 2025 [https://democracyforward.org/peoples-guide-scotus-summer-update/?sourceid=1100771&utm_campaign=20251401_newsletter&utm_medium=em&utm_source=df&emci=38e1dd40-4a62-f011-8dc9-6045bdfe8e9c&emdi=ea000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000001&ceid=&=]  SCOTUS and Judiciary Resources: * https://www.scotusblog.com/ [https://www.scotusblog.com/] * https://www.oyez.org/ [https://www.oyez.org/] * Strict Scrutiny Podcast [https://crooked.com/podcast-series/strict-scrutiny/] * Audio Arguendo  * https://afj.org/ [https://afj.org/]  * https://www.brennancenter.org/ [https://www.brennancenter.org/]  This Week's Cocktail: Clockwork Orange * 2oz Cachaca (Brazilian Rum) * ½ Lime (quartered) Juice other ½ of lime for extra sour * 1tbsp Raw Sugar * ¼ Nectarine (chopped) * 1oz blood orange juice Muddle lime, sugar, and nectarine. Add Cachaca and blood orange juice. Shake with ice. Pour into Collins glass, garnish with lime or orange wedge.   Send a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2409938/open_sms] Connect with us on Instagram: @politicalpourup

The Grift That Keeps On Grifting

“To Deflect and Swerve” should be the administration’s new motto as they use every distraction they can conjure up to get the world to stop talking asking for the Epstein files. However, despite their most valiant (i.e. nefarious) efforts, even some of the president’s most ardent supporters remain undeterred. And with House members opting for an early vacation to delay any semblance of accountability, it may be a while until those promises made on the 2024 presidential campaign trail are kept. But keep hope alive! After all, a dream delayed is not a dream denied… Is it?  Links from the show: House Republicans Muscle Through the Rescission Bill as the Epstein Storm Gathers on Capitol Hill [https://www.notus.org/congress/house-republicans-rescission-bill-epstein-storm] What Trump’s Feud With Jerome Powell Is Really About [https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2025/07/trump-powell-federal-reserve/683621/] I Worked With Stephen Colbert. Here’s Why His Cancellation Should Scare You [https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-commentary/stephen-colbert-canceled-lizz-winstead-1235393208/]  Trump wants Texas to redraw its congressional map to pick up more GOP seats. [https://www.cbsnews.com/news/texas-congressional-map-redistricting-trump-republicans/] Playing fair won’t save Democrats from the redistricting war [https://www.vox.com/congress/420827/texas-fair-map-democrats-republicans-new-redistricting-war-gerrymandering-congress-trump] Johnson Retreats on Demand for Epstein Disclosures, Saying Trump Needs ‘Space’ [https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/21/us/politics/mike-johnson-epstein-files-trump.html] How Trump Deflected MAGA’s Wrath Over Epstein, at Least for Now [https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/21/us/politics/trump-epstein-maga-base.html] Jeffrey Epstein’s Friends Sent Him Bawdy Letters for a 50th Birthday Album. One Was From Donald Trump. [https://www.wsj.com/politics/trump-jeffrey-epstein-birthday-letter-we-have-certain-things-in-common-f918d796?mod=hp_lead_pos7] Trump Escalates Attacks on Obama and Clinton as Questions Swirl About Epstein [https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/22/us/politics/trump-obama-clinton-epstein-treason.html] Trump Releases Thousands of Martin Luther King Jr. Files [https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/21/us/politics/mlk-jr-files-trump.html] Justice Department Told Trump in May That His Name Is Among Many in the Epstein Files [https://www.wsj.com/politics/justice-department-told-trump-name-in-epstein-files-727a8038?gaa_at=eafs&gaa_n=ASWzDAgFqYeKpSziB6kXemDAq61HumCdi9dRP07nGk9paRZMUa20Ao3-XNLAWOKHI84%3D&gaa_ts=688193cb&gaa_sig=v0XT8aZT7YyGkWqUtBeLbGdCTrRsw6dMPyzGzhwzSjG23ZCobItDawN5vMUKOyJXp0RjKItfUzDYakuj8QAk4Q%3D%3D] Send a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2409938/open_sms] Connect with us on Instagram: @politicalpourup

America, You in Danger Girl

Nothing says Happy 249th Birthday, America quite like kicking millions off their healthcare while giving tax breaks to billionaires. This week, Sue, Jas, and Jenn discuss the aftermath of the big ugly/stupid/bulls*t/betrayal bill and when we can expect to see its real impact. Spoiler alert, the most detrimental provisions go into effect exactly a month after the lawmakers who voted for it humbly ask their constituents to send them back to Washington. But before the sharpie ink dried on the big horrible bill, the headlines were dominated by another disaster, another scandal, and another miscarriage of justice. Thank goodness we have some of the most unbiased, skilled, and competent leaders ready to protect and defend our national interests… oh wait… Links from the show: https://www.cbsnews.com/baltimore/news/mayor-brandon-scott-baltimore-city-first-term/ [https://www.cbsnews.com/baltimore/news/mayor-brandon-scott-baltimore-city-first-term/]  https://www.cnn.com/politics/trump-agenda-bill-provisions-timeline-vis [https://www.cnn.com/politics/trump-agenda-bill-provisions-timeline-vis]  https://www.vanityfair.com/news/story/florida-elected-officials-visit-alligator-alcatraz [https://www.vanityfair.com/news/story/florida-elected-officials-visit-alligator-alcatraz]  https://www.axios.com/2025/07/07/jeffrey-epstein-suicide-client-list-trump-administration [https://www.axios.com/2025/07/07/jeffrey-epstein-suicide-client-list-trump-administration] https://www.mediamatters.org/fox-news/right-wing-media-are-flailing-response-trumps-doj-memo-about-jeffrey-epstein [https://www.mediamatters.org/fox-news/right-wing-media-are-flailing-response-trumps-doj-memo-about-jeffrey-epstein]  https://www.politico.com/news/2025/07/05/elon-musk-third-party-00440033 [https://www.politico.com/news/2025/07/05/elon-musk-third-party-00440033]  https://www.270towin.com/2026-house-election/ [https://www.270towin.com/2026-house-election/]  This Week's Cocktail: When Life Gives You Lemons 1.5 oz Gin 1 oz Limoncello 2 oz Lemon Juice 1 oz Honey Ginger Syrup (boil 1 cup water, ½ cup honey, fresh ginger root; strain and cool) Shake with ice; strain into champagne flute; top with sparkling wine or club soda Send a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2409938/open_sms] Connect with us on Instagram: @politicalpourup