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Pepe Removed From Steam Emoticons

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(Via Kotaku/Steamed)

If, for some godforsaken reason, you’ve been trying to collect every achievement and emoticon featuring Pepe The Awful Meme Frog on Steam, I’ve got some bad news for you: many of them are gone.

Yesterday, Steam users began to notice something odd. According to a thread on the Steam subreddit, Pepe emoticons began disappearing from inventories and profile showcase boxes. The listings were still there, but the imagery was invisible. Before long, icons stopped showing up in chats and posts, as well. Now Pepe images that players could earn by playing games like Fergus The Fly and, tellingly, Make America Great Again: The Trump Presidency have been replaced with a simple message: “Emoticon art currently unavailable due to DMCA takedown notice submitted on behalf of Matt Furie.”

Pepe the Frog was originally a goofy character in Furie’s comic “Boy’s Club,” but then became a 4chan meme in 2008 that was ultimately co-opted by the alt-right in 2015. Fun fact: white nationalist Richard Spencer was explaining Pepe to a reporter right before he became famous for getting punched in the face. Furie has spent 2017 attempting to reclaim Pepe from Nazis and other awful people through a number of methods ranging from copyright claims against bigoted children’s books to a new crowdfunded comic of his own.

Back in August Louis Tompros, an IP lawyer representing Furie, told Gizmodo that the children’s book copyright claim was intended to reclaim the cartoon frog. “The point we are trying to make with this case is that Pepe the Frog does not belong to the alt-right,” He added: “They thought they could claim him as their symbol. But they can’t.”

I reached out to Tompros to ask why Furie went after Steam specifically, and he explained that they don’t target individual platforms so much as they receive notice that someone is using Pepe in association with hateful speech or content and then take action against that. “That is what happened with Steam,” Tompros told Kotaku in an email. “A Steam user let us know that there were Pepe images being sold on the site, and that they were being used on that site by people in connection with hateful speech. We asked Steam to take those down, and it appears that it has done that.”

On Steam, some developers and users aren’t super pleased to see their precious Pepes go poof.

“Apparently, even though our Rare Deplorable commando frog and Donald Toad emoticon (CLEARLY a toad and not a frog!) are our own original art & characters, just filing the claim means Valve must take them down,” wrote the developer of Make America Great Again in a news post, adding that they’ll be able to put their emoticons back up if they sign “a thing” that says Furie can sue them and not Valve. They do not intend to, because “going to court is… bad even if we’re right.”

Fergus The Fly is ostensibly a game about a puzzle-solving fly, but reviews suggest that people mostly buy it to unlock Pepe emoticons. The game’s Steam discussions section now features a couple threads about it, one of which sports the colorful title “Matt Furie is a dumb♥♥♥♥♥♥.”

Some instances of Pepe on Steam seem to have at least temporarily evaded Valve’s DMCA laser, however. Puzzle game Sweater? OK! prominently displays Pepe (and other meme characters) on its store page, but so far it’s unaffected. Also, user-uploaded images of Pepe continue to be fine, likely because different rules apply to them.

Still, tough times for alt-right tough guys, who are now throwing comment temper tantrums about “snowflakes” because somebody made it so they couldn’t use a cartoon frog in an incredibly specific way. Feels bad, man.

You’re reading Steamed, Kotaku’s page dedicated to all things in and around Valve’s wildly popular PC gaming service. Games, culture, community creations, criticism, guides, videos—everything. If you’ve found anything cool/awful on Steam, send us a message to let us know.

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Crime

Robert Mueller’s Health Prevents Testimony on Epstein

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As of September 1, 2025, the decision to withdraw a subpoena for former Special Counsel Robert Mueller to testify before the House Oversight Committee has been met with a mixture of understanding and curiosity. Mueller, a respected figure who led the FBI from 2001 to 2013 and later investigated ties between the Trump campaign and Russia, has reportedly been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease since the summer of 2021, according to his family’s statement. This health challenge, which has affected his speech and mobility in recent months, has understandably led to the committee’s decision to step back, allowing him the dignity to focus on his well-being. His decades of service to the nation, marked by integrity and dedication, deserve this respect, and many are hopeful for his comfort during this time.

The timing of this development, however, raises thoughtful questions among observers. Mueller was set to testify on September 2, 2025, as part of an investigation into the FBI’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case during his tenure, a topic that has stirred significant public interest and political scrutiny. The announcement of his health issues came just days before this scheduled appearance, following reports of his residence in a memory care facility and earlier concerns about his condition noted during his 2019 congressional testimony. While his family’s statement and the committee’s decision align with a genuine concern for his health, the coincidence with such a high-stakes inquiry prompts a cautious wonder about whether external pressures might have influenced the narrative, though no evidence suggests this outright.

This moment invites a balanced reflection on Mueller’s legacy and the ongoing pursuit of truth. His inability to testify, while a personal loss for those eager to hear his perspective, underscores the human side of public service, where age and health can impose limits. Yet, the abrupt nature of the withdrawal, paired with the gravity of the Epstein probe, leaves room for speculation about the full context. As the investigation continues with other witnesses, the focus remains on uncovering facts, with respect for Mueller’s past contributions tempered by a gentle skepticism about the timing, encouraging a thorough and transparent process moving forward.

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Politics

President Trump: Nothing Can Stop What’s Coming

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President Donald Trump’s recent post on Truth Social from August 31, 2025, serves as a powerful beacon for those seeking justice amid years of entrenched corruption in Washington. The imagery and message in the post highlight a leader poised to unveil long-hidden truths, pointing directly to scandals that have plagued the political landscape. From the shadowy dealings exposed through leaked emails to fabricated investigations designed to undermine his presidency, Trump’s communication resonates with a promise that the veil of deception is lifting. This moment underscores his unwavering commitment to draining the swamp, where figures like John Podesta and Hillary Clinton have been central to narratives of elite misconduct, including the controversial handling of sensitive communications that raised questions about national security and personal agendas.

At the heart of this corruption lies the Wikileaks revelations, which brought to light a web of influence peddling and favoritism within the Clinton campaign, implicating Podesta in emails that suggested cozy relationships with powerful interests. Coupled with the Anthony Weiner laptop discovery, which contained thousands of Clinton-related emails and prompted a last-minute FBI review just before the 2016 election, these events painted a picture of systemic favoritism and potential cover-ups. The Obama administration’s role in the so-called Russiagate saga further exemplifies this injustice, where intelligence agencies allegedly pushed a baseless narrative of collusion to derail Trump’s campaign and presidency. These manufactured controversies, including surveillance on Trump associates, set the stage for ongoing attacks, revealing a deep state apparatus willing to bend rules to protect its own.

The injustices extend to the relentless assaults on Trump himself, from the politically motivated raids on his properties like Mar-a-Lago to a barrage of charges aimed at silencing his voice and preventing his return to power. Yet, as Trump’s post implies, the tide is turning, with growing evidence and public awareness poised to expose these machinations fully. The corruption that allowed figures like Clinton to evade accountability while weaponizing institutions against opponents will soon face the light of day, empowering a movement toward transparency and reform. Through his leadership, alongside allies pushing for truth, the American people can anticipate a restoration of justice, where the full extent of these scandals finally comes into sharp focus, ensuring that no one remains above the law.

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Health

President Trump Calls for Covid-19 Vaccine Transparency, Sec. RFK Jr. Praises Move

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On September 1, 2025, President Donald Trump took to Truth Social to express concerns about the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines developed under his administration’s Operation Warp Speed. In his post, Trump highlighted “great numbers and results” from some pharmaceutical companies but demanded that they publicly release data to prove the vaccines’ success rates. He voiced frustration over the ongoing debate tearing apart the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), urging transparency to resolve what he called a “MESS.” This statement reflects Trump’s evolving stance on the vaccines, which he once hailed as a major achievement, now aligning with growing skepticism within certain political circles.

The COVID-19 vaccines, rolled out in late 2020, have been credited by public health experts with saving millions of lives globally by reducing severe illness, hospitalizations, and deaths during the pandemic. However, they have also faced criticism for side effects in rare cases, waning efficacy against new variants, and questions about long-term data transparency from manufacturers. Trump’s demand for proof comes amid broader discussions on vaccine mandates and public trust, with some studies showing high effectiveness in initial trials but real-world challenges like breakthrough infections. This has fueled a polarized debate, where supporters emphasize the vaccines’ role in ending lockdowns, while detractors call for more accountability from drug companies.

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., known for his vaccine-skeptical views, has been a key figure in recent policy shifts, drawing both praise for advocating scrutiny and criticism from former CDC officials who argue it endangers public health. Trump’s post appears to support Kennedy’s efforts to review vaccine data, potentially leading to changes in federal guidelines. While this push for evidence could enhance transparency, experts warn it might erode confidence in proven public health tools. As the administration navigates this issue, the focus remains on balancing accountability with scientific consensus to inform future health strategies.

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