This is the Tangle Sunday Edition, a brief roundup of our independent politics coverage plus some extra features for your Sunday morning reading.
What the left is doodling.
Mike Luckovich | Creators Syndicate
What the right is doodling.
Al Goodwyn | Creators Syndicate
Monday, September 22.
Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension. On Wednesday, September 17, ABC suspended Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night talk show indefinitely in response to comments the host made in his comedy monologue, which discussed the assassination of Charlie Kirk and the political ideology of his suspected shooter. Kimmel’s remarks prompted significant backlash from the right and drew a rebuke from Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr, who suggested his agency could take regulatory action against ABC. Note: Kimmel’s show returned to the air on Tuesday, September 23.
Our take:“Kimmel’s suspension is the latest example of how this is the most chilling restriction on free speech in my lifetime. Other presidents have restricted speech in the past, but never made so many attacks at once. That this episode is in response to genuine political violence makes the current moment that much more dangerous.”
Reader Survey:
Note: Due to an error, we did not include a link to our survey in our initial email. Thus, a smaller sample of readers is represented in these results.
Tuesday, September 23.
The new H-1B visa requirements. On Friday, September 18, President Donald Trump signed a proclamation adding new requirements for H-1B visas, which grant temporary work authorization to noncitizens in specialty occupations. The new rules compel new applicants to pay $100,000 to apply for the visa (with exceptions granted by the secretary of Homeland Security) and direct the secretary of State to ensure compliance with the new regulations. The $100,000 fee will begin to apply at the start of the next H-1B lottery cycle in March 2026.
Our take:“Trump wants to prevent companies from abusing the system and restricting jobs for U.S. workers. This policy could certainly work — it could also just as easily create new advantages for the companies already abusing this system. I don’t think the H-1B program needs a sledgehammer, but it needs reform.”
Reader Survey:
Wednesday, September 24.
The Trump administration’s autism claims. On Monday, September 22, President Donald Trump, Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and other Trump administration officials announced a pair of actions the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will take to address the increase in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in children. First, the FDA will update the warning labels for acetaminophen — the active ingredient in pain relievers like Tylenol — to note a potential association between the ingredient and neurological conditions — such as ASD and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder — in children (though it also emphasized that no causal link has been established). Second, the agency has initiated the approval of leucovorin calcium tablets for patients with cerebral folate deficiency.
Our take:“Trump and Kennedy ignored the evidence that undermines the fundamental premise of their claims. There are genuine open questions about why autism rates are increasing, and they are not all explained by diagnostic criteria. Once again, Kennedy is raising awareness about a real issue while offering an ill-informed solution.”
Reader Survey:
Thursday, September 25.
Trump’s UN speech and Ukraine comments. On Tuesday, September 23, President Donald Trump delivered an address to the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in New York sharply critical of the international organization and member countries over immigration, climate policy, and other issues. The president also touted his efforts to resolve global conflicts, suggesting that the UN was hindering his push for peace. After his speech, President Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, then posted on Truth Social that he believes Ukraine can win back all of the land taken by Russia since its all-out invasion in 2022.
Our take: “The UN certainly isn’t perfect, and many of Trump’s critiques at the General Assembly were valid. At the same time, Trump had some cringeworthy boasts and diversions. I remain frustrated by the constant changes but fully welcome the president’s newest turn on Ukraine.”
Reader Survey:
Friday, September 26.
On Friday, Executive Editor Isaac Saul wrote about a phenomenon he’d been seeing on the front pages of the country’s biggest newspapers, in fringe corners of the internet, and among his friends and family: a brewing backlash against technology. You can read his take on the phenomenon here.
What just happened.
Here are a few stories that have broken since our last newsletter on Thursday.
On Thursday, former Federal Bureau of Investigation Director James Comey was indicted on charges of making false statements to Congress and obstructing its investigation of Russian election interference. Comey is due to be arraigned on October 9. (The indictment)
On Thursday, The Washington Post reported that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered hundreds of the U.S. military’s generals and admirals to gather in Virginia this coming week for an unspecified meeting. (The directive)
On Thursday, President Donald Trump signed an executive order outlining the framework of a deal to transfer majority ownership of the social media app TikTok’s U.S. business to American owners. (The order)
On Thursday, President Trump announced new tariffs, including 100% duties on branded drugs and 25% duties on heavy-duty trucks. The president did not specify whether the new tariffs would add to existing levies on U.S. trading partners. (The tariffs)
On Friday, the Supreme Court lifted a federal judge’s preliminary injunction that would have required the Trump administration to disburse congressionally allocated foreign aid. The ruling will allow the government to freeze roughly $4 billion in aid for the time being. (The ruling)
On Friday, federal immigration authorities arrested the superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools, Iowa’s largest school district. According to the Department of Homeland Security, the superintendent received a removal order from an immigration judge in 2024. (The arrest)
On Saturday, President Trump said that he will send U.S. troops to Portland, Oregon, in response to alleged threats from antifa and other “domestic terrorists.” (The announcement)
Earlier this month, we published an edition covering Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID), a controversial topic that sparked a lot of discussion among our readers in both our comments section and our inbox. Today, we’re doing something different: We’re publishing two reader essays from two readers with different perspectives on this issue.
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