Six VIP tickets—and the festival was off
Patriots Day Freedom Fest in Kentucky was canceled after organizer Eric Deters said only six of the $1,000 VIP packages had sold; he had planned on roughly 100 purchases to finance the otherwise free event. Kid Rock, Dog the Bounty Hunter and James Comer were among the advertised guests. Our reel puts that failed funding plan against the big MAGA names on the lineup: the promised support did not turn into the purchases the organizer needed.
Sources: Original reel · Festival cancellation reporting
Trump TV’s 556-viewer moment
Our reel captures Trump TV showing 556 people watching at the moment we checked the newly launched round-the-clock channel. That small live count is what makes the contrast with the scale of the presidential publicity machine so striking. Watch the number on screen and our reaction to a channel built around keeping Trump in front of an audience all day.
Sources: Original reel and on-screen count
Putin gets an invitation to Trump’s own resort
Marco Rubio confirmed that the United States had invited Vladimir Putin to the December G20 summit in Miami, which is set for Trump National Doral. The setting is central to our reaction: a major international gathering at the president’s private property, with an invitation extended to the Russian leader while the war in Ukraine continues. Rubio described engagement as the rationale; we question the welcome and the choice of venue.
Sources: Original reel · Rubio’s announcement · Doral summit venue
Gas prices are hurting. Tuberville is talking about furries.
Our afternoon reel pairs the pressure families face at the gas pump with Tommy Tuberville’s Senate remarks about pilots, flight attendants and air traffic controllers being part of the furry community. Listen to his choice of subject, then the question we raise about Republican priorities. People trying to afford the next tank of gas deserve more than another culture-war diversion.
Sources: Original remarks and our response
El-Sayed takes the argument to the gas pump
Abdul El-Sayed criticized Trump for focusing on a helipad and ballroom decor while people struggle with fuel costs, then took that argument to a gas station. The footage shows the Michigan Democrat using “I did that” stickers to make his point about political responsibility. Our reel follows both the blunt message and the visual follow-through, keeping the focus on the expense drivers encounter every time they fill up.
Sources: Original reel · Gas-station campaign coverage
The Joint Base Andrews moment: watch the reaction
Trump welcomed Chinese President Xi Jinping at Joint Base Andrews on Wednesday evening, at the start of Xi’s visit to the United States. Our final reel draws attention to Trump’s reaction during the flyover at the arrival ceremony. The short clip preserves the moment and our immediate response—watch the footage for yourself.
Sources: Original clip · Arrival ceremony reporting
Which moment stood out to you? Share this Catch-Up with someone who missed it.



The entire premise of this war with Iran is ridiculous. And who is trump to say that Iran should never be allowed to have an atomic bomb? Countries all over the world have atomic bombs. North Koreans Kim Jong nut-ball, the man that trump said he “fell in love with” has about 60 nuclear weapons. Can you imagine what people would say if Joe Biden had said that he "fell in love"with the dictator from north korea? He would be eviscerated. But for trump this is normal speaking behavior. And let's not forget that five years ago, trump led a violent insurrection at our nation's capital.He told his supporters to go there and "fight like hell, or they wouldn't have a country any more". His supporters attacked the Capitol, attacked the police protecting the capitol, got into the capitol and carried confederate flags, And were shouting things like "Hang Mike Pence", because the vice president wouldn't agree to trump's demand that he decertified the true election results. Trump watched all the violence on tv and DID NOTHING. to intervene. Many police officers that help defend the capitol later committed suicide, because they were so traumatized by this ugly and horrible event. Trump is full of s**t, and is a crazy, demented, mean-spirited old man. And he's getting worse by the day. His next birthday he will be 80, and his declining cognitive health will be more and more obvious to everyone that listens to him. He gets his words mixed up and often he can't even pronounce things, let alone utter sentences that make sense. And it serves the American people right, in some ways, because they voted for this idiot maniac, Trump! TWICE! Trump said he would put an end to foreign wars and lower the cost of living for Americans. Instead, he he bombs, Iran. Even though they posed no imminent threat. and as a result of the war that trump started, the American consumer is paying much more money for gasoline, for housing, for transportation, for health care,and many other things. Trump is a clear and present danger to the United States and to the entire world. Quite frankly, I am ashamed to be an American citizen. It will take many years to undo the damage that Mitch McConnell and donald trump have done to the United States reputation, and its place in the world. This corrupt and idiotic Trump administration cannot end soon enough! Sincerely, David Morris who was born long ago in Fort Wayne Indiana.
Trump and The murderous dictator club!!!
I hate this!!!