Trump Welcomes Xi in High Stakes US Visit, Judge Weighs Media Ban, AOC Teases 2028: AM Update 9/24

Summary of Trump Welcomes Xi in High Stakes US Visit, Judge Weighs Media Ban, AOC Teases 2028: AM Update 9/24

by SiriusXM

16m•September 24, 2026
Listen to Episode

Overview of Trump Welcomes Xi in High Stakes US Visit, Judge Weighs Media Ban, AOC Teases 2028: AM Update 9/24

This SiriusXM AM update covers a packed news morning: President Trump’s high-profile White House meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, a federal court fight over the White House’s ban on several media outlets, and the early jockeying already underway for the 2028 presidential race. The segment closes with a culture/business story out of Massachusetts, where a lesbian bar’s decision to relax its mask policy sparked intense backlash and a still-unsolved business crisis.

Trump Hosts Xi Jinping in a High-Stakes White House Visit

  • Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Washington for his first White House state visit in more than a decade.
  • Trump and Melania greeted Xi and his wife at Joint Base Andrews, with a red-carpet welcome, military honor guard, and flyovers.
  • The visit included:
    • A formal White House arrival ceremony
    • A Rose Garden military review
    • A state dinner featuring major tech figures like Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk, Jensen Huang, and Sam Altman
  • The two leaders are expected to discuss:
    • Trade
    • Rare earth minerals
    • Artificial intelligence / “superintelligence”
    • Efforts to curb precursor chemicals used to make fentanyl
  • The segment framed the visit as both diplomatic theater and a serious negotiation over economic and security tensions.

White House Media Ban Faces Judge’s Scrutiny

  • A federal judge heard arguments over Trump’s decision to bar CNN, MSNBC/MSNOW, and Politico from the White House.
  • The White House initially said the ban was because the outlets published “fiction and lies,” but in court the administration argued national security concerns.
  • Key legal points raised:
    • The outlets say the White House cannot bar them over unfavorable coverage without warning or a chance to respond.
    • The administration argues White House access is a privilege, not a right.
    • Judge Timothy Kelly questioned the timing of the supposed appeal process and whether reporters were ever told the standards they allegedly violated.
  • The judge, a Trump appointee, previously ordered the White House to restore Jim Acosta’s press pass in 2018, which made the hearing especially notable.
  • No ruling was issued during the hearing.

2028 Presidential Speculation Is Already Underway

Even with the midterms still ahead, several major political figures are already being discussed as possible 2028 contenders.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

  • AOC reportedly said she will decide after the midterms whether to run for president in 2028.
  • She described the moment as a potentially rare political opening and acknowledged the personal stakes of a national campaign.
  • The segment noted her reflections on:
    • Freezing her eggs
    • Her age and timing
    • Whether voters would elect a Latina woman after Clinton and Harris losses

J.B. Pritzker

  • Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker is also drawing attention, with reports of early primary-state travel and a political group aimed at helping Democrats in the midterms.
  • He revealed he has lost 80 pounds after starting a GLP-1 medication following a diabetes diagnosis.
  • He has not decided whether he’ll run in 2028.

Kamala Harris

  • Harris is also leaving the door open.
  • At a Michigan appearance, she again declined to definitively say whether she will run in 2028.
  • Her comments emphasized that the immediate priority is the 2026 midterms.

Chris Christie

  • Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie said he is considering another White House run after previous losses.
  • He acknowledged he would need a strong reason to believe a different outcome is possible this time.

Massachusetts Lesbian Bar Sparks Backlash Over Mask Policy

  • The Boston Globe reported on Last Ditch, a lesbian bar in Greenfield, Massachusetts, that opened with strict masking rules and no police allowed.
  • To help keep the business afloat, the bar announced that Saturday nights would become mask-optional.
  • The move triggered a fierce online backlash from some supporters and critics of masking.
  • The bar’s financial situation appears strained:
    • Falling attendance
    • Overdue rent
    • A startup loan
    • The owner reportedly working multiple jobs and having lived in her truck for a period
  • A community meeting followed, but the dispute remained unresolved, and the bar still struggled to draw customers.
  • The story also turned into a major win for the Boston Globe, which reportedly saw a big subscription bump from the coverage.

Key Takeaways

  • Trump’s meeting with Xi signals both diplomatic pageantry and real pressure points in US-China relations.
  • The White House media-ban case is becoming a test of presidential discretion versus press access rights.
  • The 2028 presidential field is already taking shape, with Democrats and Republicans both floating possible contenders.
  • A Massachusetts bar’s mask-policy change became a flashpoint for broader cultural tensions and the realities of small-business survival.

Notable Lines / Themes

  • Trump’s team is trying to recast the media ban as a national security issue, not just a fight over coverage.
  • AOC emphasized that “28 won’t matter if we don’t get through 26,” underscoring how much the midterms still matter.
  • The bar story highlighted the gap between ideological purity and the practical need to keep a business open.