The Paper Trail: September 29, 2026

More Cops Accused of Flock Misuse; ICE Wasting Millions on Detention Projects; Who Owns This Chunk of Mars?

September 29, 2026

Announcements

Iran War

U.S. has suffered more casualties in Iran since the conclusion of Operation Epic Fury

In the 12 weeks since the administration attempted to rebrand the war, more U.S. military personnel have been injured and killed than in the 18 weeks of Epic Fury. Of 880 total casualties, 444 have occurred since July 7. There are still problems with the Pentagon’s official tally of the dead and wounded.

(Nick Turse, The Intercept)

Eight Marines injured with smoke inhalation and possible TBIs in previously unreported Iranian attack
(Katherine Plummer, Military.com)

Prediction Markets

Epstein Files

Weaponization of the Government

Police Misconduct

Five Indianapolis officers charged following reporting on Flock misuse

Nationwide, at least 100 police department employees have been charged with or accused of misusing license-plate readers for unauthorized purposes, including stalking romantic partners and ex-spouses.

(Douglas MacMillan, Aaron Schaffer, and Drew Harwell, Washington Post)

Flock Safety adds safeguards to license-plate camera data
(Angus Loten, Wall Street Journal)
Flock wants the most detailed map of its surveillance cameras taken offline
(Nikita Mazurov, The Intercept)

Defense and Veterans Affairs

Business and Finance

Tech

Infrastructure

Health Care

Trump admin using AI to deny medical care for seniors in disastrous experiment

In January, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services rolled out a pilot program that uses AI to authorize or deny certain types of care for Medicare patients. Not long after, the media began reporting disastrous outcomes, including technical difficulties, long delays in decisions and care, and puzzling denials. Still, the program appears to be moving ahead unabated, with plans to expand in the years to come.

(Beth Mole, Ars Technica)

Battle of hospital AI vs. insurer AI is pushing medical costs higher
(Reed Abelson and Teddy Rosenbluth, New York Times)

Kennedy drew $4 million in book advances from publisher who also monetized MAHA

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. accepted $4 million in book advances and more than $270,000 in gifts while his wife, Cheryl Hines, accepted $210,000 in consulting fees from allies who are working to advance his Make America Healthy Again agenda. Experts say the arrangement may violate federal ethics rules and call into question Kennedy’s independence and impartiality.

(Christina Jewett and Sheryl Gay Stolberg, New York Times)

RFK Jr.’s enhanced security was funded with money from minority health office
(Liz Essley Whyte, Wall Street Journal)

Sickened coal miners plead for their black lung benefits as cases surge

The federal black lung program was created in 1969 to provide coal miners disabled by black lung with monetary compensation and medical benefits, but many families have struggled with appeals and long delays in obtaining benefits. Those delays come as the Trump administration moves to boost the coal industry and as cases of black lung are surging.

(Michael Sainato, Mother Jones)

Black lung disease remains a threat, but federal officials delay effort to address it
(Taylor Sisk, KFF Health News)

ICYMI

On the Lighter Side

Upcoming Events

Hot Docs

Nominations, Appointments & Withdrawals

Nominations

John Coale: Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs
Reid McAlister Creswell: U.S. Marshal for the District of South Carolina
James Christopher Edge: U.S. Marshal for the Western District of North Carolina
Christian Ehrhardt: Ambassador, Cameroon
Gregory Ibach: Under Secretary of Agriculture for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs
James Richard Jackson: U.S. Marshal for the Eastern District of Texas
Scott Krueger: U.S. Marshal for the Northern District of Indiana
Dino LaVerghetta: Ambassador, Kuwait
William Makaneole: Ambassador, Turkmenistan
James Russell Middleton: Member, Farm Credit Administration Board
Mark Priebe: Inspector General, Department of Education
Justin Schwab: Assistant Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency
Robert Steinau: Inspector General, NASA
Jeffrey Zisk: Commissioner, Postal Regulatory Commission