The Brief: The Clintons Just Told Congress to Pound Sand
Plus: Trump flips the bird at a Ford plant, Iran burns while the Left worries about ICE, and SCOTUS signals trans athlete bans are here to stay.
Happy Wednesday, friends. I’m writing this from Rachel’s house—while the assistant to the reginal manager sleeps on a cot—after a whirlwind trip to DC that included navigating Capitol Hill, dodging traffic, and interviewing congressmen about reconciliation bills.
More on that adventure in tomorrow’s podcast. For now, I’m caffeinated, slightly sleep-deprived, and ready to break down the news cycle that never stops.
Let’s get into it.
The Clintons Dare Congress to Do Something About It
Bill Clinton was supposed to show up for his deposition before the House Oversight Committee yesterday. He did not. His chair sat empty at 10:07 a.m. while committee counsel noted for the record that the former president had simply declined to appear.
Hillary was scheduled for today. She also didn’t show. Chairman Comer has confirmed that contempt proceedings will now apply to both Clintons, with votes expected next week. The joint defiance strategy is now fully operational.
The subpoenas—issued back in August and approved by a biapartisan unanimous committee vote—stem from the ongoing Epstein investigation. Chairman James Comer has been fairly restrained in his framing: “No one’s accusing Bill Clinton of any wrongdoing. We just have questions.” Those questions include why Jeffrey Epstein visited the Clinton White House 17 times and why Bill flew on the guy’s plane roughly 27 times after leaving office.
The Clintons’ response? A joint statement posted to X with comments disabled, declaring this their moment to “fight for this country.” They called the investigation a “partisan exercise” and accused Comer of ignoring the real issue—the Trump DOJ’s handling of the Epstein files.
Here’s the deal. The Clintons openly acknowledged they’re defying the subpoena and essentially dared Congress to hold them in contempt: “You will say it is not our decision to make. But we have made it. Now you have to make yours.”
That’s... certainly a legal strategy.
Comer announced contempt proceedings will begin next week for both of them now. Will this lead to anything meaningful? Who knows, but watching the Clintons frame their refusal to testify about their Epstein connections as some noble act of resistance is rich.
The statement oozes of self-importance, entitlement and evasion. They complain that other subpoenaed witnesses were let off easy while simultaneously arguing they’ve provided “the same or more” than those witnesses. They demand the DOJ release all Epstein files while refusing to answer questions under oath. Can have it both ways Billy.
My take: Ditch the performative manifesto about fighting tyranny. Answer the questions, why were you in the hot tub? To be fair the last time he testified under oath it did not got well.
Iran Burns While Democrats Find Other Things to Worry About
The protests in Iran have now killed over 2,000 people according to the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency. Other estimates run as high as 12,000 to 20,000. The regime has shut down internet access for five days and is openly executing dissenters.
But in a notable shift today, Trump claimed Iran has “no plan for executions” and that “the killing has stopped” based on notifications received by the U.S.—though activists on the ground and reports of military movement signal otherwise. Whether this signals a genuine de-escalation or a rouse from the president remains to be seen.
Trump’s earlier response was characteristically unsubtle. He cancelled meetings with Iranian officials, posted “HELP IS ON ITS WAY” to Truth Social, and threatened “very strong action” if the regime hangs protesters. The National Security Council met Tuesday to prepare military options, though advisers are reportedly presenting choices without preference.
New tariffs of 25% on any country doing business with Iran took effect immediately.
Meanwhile, DNC Chairman Ken Martin decided this was the perfect moment to compare Iranian protesters to American anti-ICE demonstrators. His tweet drew a parallel between “brave protestors” confronting a “far-right theocratic regime” in Iran and “tens of thousands marching” against ICE after a shooting in Minnesota.
This comparison was, predictably, mocked into oblivion.
The anti-ICE protesters are marching with the full support of Hollywood celebrities and Democratic politicians. They face no risk of execution. They can go home afterward and post about their activism on Instagram. Iranian protesters are risking their lives against a regime that has demonstrated, repeatedly, its willingness to massacre its own citizens.
These are not the same thing. Pretending they are doesn’t elevate the American protesters; it exposes their privilege and self importance and trivializes the courage of Iranians who are actually dying for political change.
What to watch: Trump’s advisers remain divided on military action, but his rhetoric today suggests potential de-escalation, or at least a wait-and-see approach. The administration has assets stretched thin after Venezuela operations, but options including cyberattacks and strikes on security forces remain on the table. Whether Trump’s claim about halted killings holds up against ground reports will determine what comes next.
SCOTUS Signals Trans Athlete Bans Will Stand
The Supreme Court heard over three hours of arguments yesterday in cases challenging Idaho and West Virginia laws that ban transgender athletes from female sports teams. The conservative majority appeared ready to uphold the bans.
Justice Kavanaugh, who has coached girls’ basketball, noted that sports are “kind of a zero-sum game” where transgender athletes taking roster spots means other girls don’t make the team. He suggested the court shouldn’t “constitutionalize a rule for the whole country” given ongoing scientific uncertainty.
The craziest part was when Justice Alito asked about how girls are women would be defined under title IX the petitioners (trans athletes) did not have an answer and said it would essentially be up to the state. I am sorry what!?
The liberal justices focused on narrowing potential losses—either getting one case dismissed or limiting the ruling’s scope.
While the conservative majority’s lean toward upholding the bans solidified during questioning. The justices repeatedly emphasized deference to states on questions of scientific uncertainty and competitive fairness—signaling a ruling that could greenlight similar laws nationwide.
Twenty-five states have similar laws on the books. A ruling is expected by June.
The bigger picture: This case could affect transgender policies well beyond athletics—military service, bathroom access, passport designations, and more. The court’s recent rulings on gender-affirming care for minors and military service suggest a pattern that transgender advocates won’t like.
Trump Gives a Heckler Exactly What He Asked For
During a tour of Ford’s F-150 plant in Detroit yesterday, President Trump flipped off a factory worker who shouted “pedophile protector” at him from the floor below.
The cellphone video shows Trump mouthing what appears to be “f*** you” twice before raising his middle finger and continuing his walk. The White House’s response, via Communications Director Steven Cheung: “A lunatic was wildly screaming expletives in a complete fit of rage, and the President gave an appropriate and unambiguous response.”
Is it presidential? No. Is it funny? I giggled but I guess that depends on your sense of humor.
The heckler, identified as TJ Sabula, a 40-year-old UAW line worker, told the Washington Post he has no regrets. He’s been suspended pending investigation, which he characterizes as “political retribution.” Ford’s statement said it went again the companies core values and processes for dealing with inappropriate behavior.
Look, screaming insults at a sitting president in a factory setting is absolutely your right as an American. It’s also a great way to get yourself noticed by your employer in ways you might not enjoy. Sabula seems to understand this tradeoff and made his choice.
The Epstein reference is doing a lot of work in progressive circles right now. Trump has been criticized for slow-walking the release of DOJ files on the investigation—criticism that isn’t entirely unfair. But yelling “pedophile protector” at someone who hasn’t been accused of participating in Epstein’s crimes is a specific rhetorical choice that says more about the heckler than the target.
Think about it: This incident happened after a week of protest resulting in thousands of Iranians were being shot in the streets for protesting their government. In America, you can call the president a pedophile protector to his face and your main consequence is a work suspension. In Iran, you chant “Death to Khamenei” and your family might not find your body. Think about that Ken Martin.
RIP Scott Adams
The creator of Dilbert passed away on January 13 at age 68 from metastatic prostate cancer, which he had disclosed in May 2025. His ex-wife, Shelly Miles, announced the news during a livestream, sharing that Adams had prepared a final statement thanking supporters and asking them to “pay it forward.”
Adams spent three decades as the biggest cartoonist in America before being dropped from newspapers in 2023 after calling out the rising accepted racisim against white americans. Before that, he was one of the first commentators to recognize Trump as a “clown genius” rather than a buffoon, a prediction that proved correct.
His comic strip wasn’t just workplace humor. It was a sustained critique of credentialed mediocrity, the idea that America’s professional class is composed of well-dressed incompetents. In hindsight, he was ahead of his time.
Quick Rundown
Greenland talks conclude with “fundamental disagreement”: VP Vance met with Danish and Greenlandic officials today. Result: no deal, but a new working group formed to explore options in coming weeks. Greenland’s PM still says if forced to choose, they choose Denmark. Trump will be briefed and maintains U.S. control is “vital for security.”
Planned Parenthood funding quietly restored: The Trump administration restored tens of millions in frozen Title X funds to Planned Parenthood affiliates with no explanation. The ACLU and family planning groups dismissed their lawsuit this week after full restoration was confirmed.
Defund ICE brewing—but Democrats divided: Progressive Democrats are pushing to leverage a potential shutdown (deadline around January 30) to defund ICE. The Congressional Progressive Caucus vows to oppose DHS funding without ending “militarized policing.” But centrist Democrats are pushing reforms, body cameras, retraining, over full defunding, citing lack of votes. Internal war incoming.
Let’s Hear It
So will the Clinton’s testify? Should they be held in contempt like the Steve Bannon was?
What’s up with Trump’s comments on Iran? Deescalation or a rouse? Are military operations incoming? And be honest—does Ken Martin’s comparison of anti-ICE protesters to Iranians risking execution make you want to laugh or scream? (Both is an acceptable answer.)
Was Trump’s response to the Ford plant heckler unpresidential and embarrassing, or exactly the kind of authenticity we all expect from him at this point? Does a guy screaming “pedophile protector” at you deserve the dignified presidential treatment, or did Trump give him precisely what he ordered?
Drop your thoughts. More tomorrow, including our DC trip breakdown on the podcast.