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 right is doodling.

Gary Varvel | Creators Syndicate

What the left is doodling.

Mike Luckovich | Creators Syndicate

Monday, February 2.

The charges against Don Lemon. On Thursday, January 29, former CNN anchor and independent journalist Don Lemon was arrested in Los Angeles and charged with federal civil rights violations for his alleged actions at a protest inside a Minnesota church in January. The Department of Justice charged Lemon, activist Nekima Levy Armstrong, Minnesota-based journalist Georgia Fort, and six others with conspiracy to interfere with the civil rights of church congregants and with violating the federal Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act. Lemon, who has maintained that he was covering the protest as a journalist, was released without bond after appearing in federal court on Friday afternoon. His next hearing is scheduled for February 9 in Minneapolis.

Our take: “Disrupting a church service is an abhorrent form of protest. Whether Don Lemon broke any laws is another matter, and this episode is the latest questionable prosecution from Trump. In a perfect world, Lemon’s reputation would be scarred and the protesters would face charges.”

Tuesday, February 3.

Trump’s pick for Fed chair. On Friday, January 30, President Donald Trump announced his nomination of former Federal Reserve Governor Kevin Warsh to be the next chair of the Federal Reserve, choosing him to succeed current Chairman Jerome Powell when Powell’s term expires in May 2026. The nomination will now go to the Senate for confirmation, where Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) has vowed to block its advancement in the Senate Banking Committee until a Justice Department probe into Powell is resolved. 

Our take: “I’m relieved that Trump eschewed a more extreme nomination, and Warsh is a commendable pick in his own right. Warsh’s view on containing inflation could bring him into conflict with the president. His biggest idea — cutting the Fed’s balance sheet as a disinflationary tool — is risky but intriguing.”

Wednesday, February 4.

The government funding deal. On Tuesday, February 3, the House voted 217–214 to pass a full-year funding package for several federal agencies, excluding the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), ending a four-day partial government shutdown. The funding bill previously passed the Senate 71–29, after Democrats pushed to remove appropriations for DHS following the shootings of two U.S. citizens by federal immigration officers in Minnesota in January. 21 Democrats voted for the measure in the House, while 21 Republicans voted against it. President Donald Trump signed the bill on Tuesday, funding most federal departments through September 30; the deadline to fund Homeland Security was set for next Friday, February 13. 

Our take: “This is not the way our government was designed to function. Democrats won’t want to compromise on their position, but halting TSA and FEMA operations will be painful. It’s hard to guess what will happen, but a solution within nine days seems unlikely.”

Thursday, February 5.

The latest Epstein files release. On Friday, January 30, the Justice Department published approximately three million pages of materials related to the government’s investigation into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said this release concluded the department’s review of files related to Epstein, having released roughly 3.5 million pages in total. The release was mandated by the Epstein Files Transparency Act, a law passed in November 2025 with near-unanimous Congressional approval. 

Our take: “New releases will never dispel the many conspiracy theories about Epstein. These files don’t make anyone look good, but they don’t demonstrate widespread criminality either. I worry that each new Epstein release takes us further from justice and closer to mob rule.”

Friday, February 6.

For the past few months, we’ve gotten tons of questions from readers about immigration enforcement: Can ICE really arrest U.S. citizens? What are my rights if a DHS agent approaches me? Do these agents need judicial warrants? Why, or why not? We answer these questions and more in this week’s Friday edition. 

You can read the piece here.

Further reading.

We’ve covered government protests, Jerome Powell, a government shutdown, and the Epstein files all before — mostly under the Biden administration. You can see what we had to say in past editions below.

• In September 2023, we covered the Biden administration’s First Amendment violation.
• In September 2021, we covered the fight over Jerome Powell.
• In October 2023, we covered the narrow avoidance of a government shutdown under Biden.
• In July 2025, we covered the Epstein files for the first time when the Trump administration tried to close the case.

What just happened.

Here’s a rundown of the major stories that have broken since our last newsletter on Thursday.

• On Thursday, the Trump administration launched TrumpRx, a website offering discounted drugs through government agreements with pharmaceutical companies. The site had approximately 40 drugs available at launch, and customers can purchase them through a manufacturer’s direct-to-consumer site or coupons they present at select pharmacies. (The launch)
• On Thursday, Axios reported that the United States and Russia are nearing a deal that would extend the terms of the New START treaty, an agreement that limits each country’s nuclear-weapons production and formally expired on Thursday. (The report) Separately, on Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that the U.S. has given Russia and Ukraine a June deadline to come to an agreement to end the war. (The statement)
• On Thursday, the U.S. military struck a boat allegedly trafficking drugs in the Eastern Pacific, the second disclosed strike on an alleged drug boat in 2026. The military said two people on the boat were killed. (The strike)
• On Thursday night, President Trump’s Truth Social account posted a video that included imagery depicting former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama as apes. On Friday, the post was removed, and President Trump claimed he hadn’t seen the full video before it was posted. The post drew widespread condemnation, including from Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC), who called it “the most racist thing I’ve seen out of this White House.” (The post)
• On Friday, officials from the United States and Iran met in Oman to discuss Iran’s nuclear program, the first in-person meeting between the sides since June 2025. A second round of talks is expected in the near future. (The meeting)
• On Friday, Rep. Mark Amodei (R-NV) announced he will not seek reelection in 2026, making him the 30th House Republican to not run for a new term in this year’s midterms. To date, 21 House Democrats have said they will retire or leave the House to seek higher office. (The announcement)

Reader essay.

Team USA in a preparation match for the 2023 Ice Hockey World Championships at the PSD Bank Dome in Dusseldorf, Germany | Wikimedia Commons

The 2026 Winter Olympics have begun in Milan, Italy! This week, Tangle reader Michael Tyler offers an exciting preview of the upcoming men’s ice hockey tournament, with a deep dive into the competing nations’ teams and recent records, as well as the exciting return of National Hockey League players to the global stage.