$5 Million Down, $83.3 Million to Go

8.17.26

Happy Monday! Welcome back to Common Sense with Ally Sammarco. Let’s break down the latest news.

Supreme Court Issues Blow To Trump…The Supreme Court has officially closed the door on Donald Trump’s attempt to overturn the $5 million jury award in E. Jean Carroll’s 2023 civil case. The justices declined to reconsider their earlier rejection of Trump’s appeal, without explanation or any noted dissents. Trump has already paid the $5 million judgment. Carroll was found to have been sexually abused by Trump in the 1990s and defamed by him after publicly denying her allegations. Trump is still appealing a separate $83.3 million defamation judgment from 2024, arguing that statements he made about Carroll while president should be protected by presidential immunity.

Common Sense Takeaway: Pay up, Donald. You can’t worm your way out of this one. She deserves her money. And how ridiculous that he thinks “presidential immunity” applies to making disparaging statements about a private citizen. The ruling was about immunity for official acts taken as part of the president’s constitutional duties—not using the office of the presidency as a shield for defaming someone. Even then, the ruling is questionable. But it most definitely shouldn’t stop him from coughing up the $83.3 million.

Elizabeth Warren Demands Answers Over Massive Foodborne Illness Outbreak….Sen. Elizabeth Warren is demanding answers from HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. over what she calls the Trump administration’s “calamitous” response to the largest cyclosporiasis outbreak in U.S. history. At least 24,000 people across 47 states have been sickened, with two deaths and more than 740 hospitalizations—far above the roughly 3,000 cases typically reported in a year. Warren is questioning whether politics played a role in the delayed response after lettuce from Taylor Farms was linked to nearly 10,000 cases. The company’s parent donated $1 million to a pro-Trump PAC in 2025, while reports indicate its lobbyists sought more time before federal agencies publicly implicated the company. Taylor Farms denies receiving or seeking favorable treatment because of its political contributions.

Common Sense Takeaway: Would anyone be shocked if corruption played a part in the mishandling of a deadly outbreak? Let’s rewind to COVID-19. Yep, not shocked. Under this administration, downplaying and lying is a key part of the response. In this case, there was a positive test correlating cyclospora to Taylor Farms that later became a “false positive.” This connection made by Elizabeth Warren would make a lot more sense.

Hayden Panettiere Dies at 36….Actress Hayden Panettiere, best known for her roles in Heroes and Nashville, has died at 36. Her father confirmed her death Sunday, after police and EMS responded to a report of an unresponsive woman at a home in Greenville, South Carolina. The cause of death has not been released, and the investigation remains ongoing; police say there are no preliminary signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances. Panettiere recently published a memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning, in which she opened up about her struggles with postpartum depression, addiction and recovery. She is survived by her daughter, Kaya, and was remembered by friends and co-stars as a gifted actress and a deeply caring person.

Common Sense Takeaway: A tragic passing by a person who was very candid about her struggles. She detailed her abusive relationship and how she felt stuck in a “hamster wheel” loop, as well as her struggles with depression and addiction. At the time, she was reconnected with the abusive boyfriend, so I sincerely hope there is a thorough investigation into what happened. I feel for her and her family—and I will miss watching her on TV. The Bring It On movies were some of my favorite.

That’s it for today. Thanks for reading Common Sense with Ally Sammarco. Check back tomorrow for more.