Privacy & Surveillance
The Florida Department of Transportation revoked permits for automated license plate readers on state highway rights-of-way, citing data-privacy concerns. Governor Ron DeSantis said the state would not become a surveillance state. In what has become a trend, multiple jurisdictions across the country have also ended or paused Flock contracts.
At the national level, Reps. Thomas Massie and Eric Burlison introduced the Flock-Off Act to prohibit federal funds for automated license plate readers and biometric surveillance cameras, with limited exceptions for border and toll systems.
Law enforcement officials have described the cameras as valuable tools for solving crimes and locating missing persons.
US Politics
A Center for Immigration Studies analysis reports that the illegal immigrant population fell by 2.3 million from January 2025 to July 2026, while the legal foreign-born population dropped by roughly 600,000. Research director Steven Camarota attributes the changes to stricter enforcement, deportations, and self-deportation. He notes that wages, housing, and school and hospital capacity should improve as a result. Only about 44 percent of those who left participated in the workforce. Some observers have argued that enforcement involves harassment of American citizens and falls short of Obama-era deportation numbers.
Separately, the Department of Justice Office of Legal Counsel issued an opinion stating that states participating in the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families and Supplemental Security Income programs must direct all agencies to report individuals known to be unlawfully present to the Department of Homeland Security. Deputy Assistant Attorney General Joshua Craddock said the opinion restores the statute’s original meaning and applies prospectively.
On welfare-for-vices, Florida barred recipients of its Temporary Cash Assistance Program from using benefits for tobacco, vaping products, tattoos, video games, theme park tickets, pornography, and psychic services. Governor Ron DeSantis stated the rules target fraud and misuse and will be enforced at checkout where possible.
On free speech, New Hampshire State Rep. Calvin Beaulier filed legislation that would bar state courts and agencies from recognizing foreign judgments targeting speech protected by the First Amendment. Similar measures are under consideration in Wyoming and West Virginia. An Australian perspective noted the proposal could limit authorities’ ability to prosecute U.S. tech companies under their online safety rules.
Economy
President Trump authorized steps to allow farmers and ranchers to process their own meat and directed an antitrust investigation into beef processing. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins is expected to announce regulatory waivers and expanded interstate sales. Rep. Thomas Massie urged passage of the PRIME Act to make the changes permanent.
European Politics
Tens of thousands marched in Spain to protest Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s handling of recent migrant crossings into Ceuta. Demonstrators called for the removal of those present unlawfully. Opposing views criticized the protests for ignoring Ceuta’s status as a long-occupied Spanish enclave on African soil.
Meanwhile, Iceland voters rejected reopening EU membership talks by 52.8 percent to 47.2 percent. Prime Minister Kristrun Frostadottir had argued membership would protect against trade disputes, while opposition leader Gudrun Hafsteinsdottir said domestic reforms offered a better path. Fishing interests drove much of the opposition. EU-perspective commentary described the result as a wake-up call for enlargement efforts.
Education
The Trump administration launched the Foundry School, a national program to train entrepreneurs and technicians for manufacturing roles. The initiative partners with Stanford and seven other universities and is expected to address projected workforce shortfalls. Vice President JD Vance will headline the launch event. Some have questioned the initiative’s funding sources and raised concerns about occupational hazards in manufacturing.
Sources
Trump’s Deportation Push Slashes Migrant Population by 3 Million, First Net Drop Since 1930s
The numbers mark the first time in nearly a century — since the 1930s — that the U.S. has recorded a sustained net decrease in migration.
New Hampshire’s GRANITE Act: A Fortress Against Foreign Censorship
With the New Hampshire GRANITE Act, New Hampshire will be the world’s granite fortress of free speech.
DOJ Restores Broad Mandate: States Must Report Illegal Aliens to Keep TANF Funds
States that accept TANF funding must abide by federal law, and failure to comply may lead to serious consequences, including loss of program funding.
Trump Cleaves Big Meat Monopoly, Hands Ranchers Power to Process Their Own Beef
So, in order to break this powerful monopoly, with much of its ownership based outside of the U.S., I am authorizing legal documents to be drawn in order to allow farmers and ranchers to be given the right to process their own food.
Iceland Rejects EU Bid to Keep Fishing Waters Sovereign
Icelanders voted to stay out of the European Union, referendum results showed on Sunday, as they rejected a government push to reopen membership talks and sided with those who said Iceland’s fishing waters were too important to risk.
Source | Submitted by Mike from Jersey
Florida Bans Welfare Cash for Tattoos, Vapes, Theme Parks
Florida is implementing a first-in-the-nation crackdown on what people can buy with certain government-assistance benefits.
Florida Axes Flock Cameras on State Roads to Curb Surveillance Overreach
I don’t want this to become a surveillance state.
Cities Cancel Flock Cameras at Record Pace Amid Surveillance Backlash
In August alone, 93 US jurisdictions ended their contracts with Flock.
Trump’s Foundry School Targets Manufacturing Skills Gap
A 2024 Deloitte study estimated 3.8 million new manufacturing positions would open by 2033, with only about half likely to be filled without major training efforts.
Dallas Ditches Hundreds of Flock Cameras as Privacy Concerns Ground Surveillance Push
The police department in Dallas has announced it will shut down hundreds of Flock cameras due to a funding pause, making it another U.S. city to remove the controversial camera system.
Spain’s Ceuta Crisis Ignites Nationwide Protests Against Sánchez’s Morocco Stance
Tens of thousands of people marched across Spain on Wednesday to show support for the exclave city of Ceuta
Massie, Burlison Introduce Flock-Off Act to Defund Surveillance Cameras
The Flock-Off Act withholds federal money from municipalities and police departments that deploy Flock cameras to surveil law-abiding citizens.
In addition to sources submitted by community members, the following were also used in the creation of this report: @shareeelis, @familyfirstnz, @POLITICOEurope, @HarYohAkwan, Treasure Coast Newspapers, @emperor_ahmad, and @thelastraza.
by westcoastjan 
