Good evening everyone. Final update for the night. We’re covering major new Epstein revelations about who funded Jeffrey Epstein, California officials responding to possible Iranian drone threats, the rapidly rising cost of the Iran war as tankers are attacked in the Gulf, and Trump declaring the United States has won the war.
As I mentioned in the video, I will be on CNN tonight at 11 PM EST on Laura Coates’ show, so tune in if you are watching. If not, I will post the clips for you in the morning.
Let’s keep growing this community. We are expanding the team so we can deliver accurate, fact-based news to more people and help close the gap left by the lack of civics and media literacy education in many schools across America. If you can, please subscribe to support this work.
And to everyone who already has, thank you from the bottom of my heart. We will also be hosting a subscriber-only live soon, so stay tuned. Here’s the news:
- California Gov. Gavin Newsom said his administration is “aware of that information” after the FBI warned local law enforcement that Iran could potentially retaliate for U.S. military action by launching drone attacks against unspecified targets on the West Coast. State officials said they are coordinating with federal and local agencies through California’s emergency operations system to monitor the threat and share intelligence with local partners.
- U.S. and state law enforcement officials told CBS News there is no credible intelligence supporting a bulletin that warned Iran might retaliate for U.S. strikes by launching drones at the West Coast. Officials said the alert from the FBI’s Los Angeles field office was based on an old, unverified tip that surfaced before the current conflict and was shared only to keep law enforcement informed, not because of an actionable threat.
- Epstein’s accountant named several wealthy Epstein clients who allegedly paid millions in fees: Les Wexner, Glenn Dubin, Steven Sinofsky, the Rothschilds, and Leon Black.
- This is what Congressman Subrmanyam posted during the deposition:
- Former White House counsel Kathryn Ruemmler is scheduled to answer questions on April 21 about her connection to Jeffrey Epstein.
- According to the New York Times, Pentagon officials told Congress in a closed-door briefing that the first six days of the U.S. war with Iran have already cost more than $11.3 billion, one of the first comprehensive estimates shared with lawmakers. The figure excludes several major expenses — including the military buildup before the strikes — meaning the total cost of the conflict is expected to rise significantly as more spending is accounted for.
- Two oil tankers were reportedly attacked by Iranian boats using explosives, according to Reuters, raising new concerns about escalating threats to shipping in the Persian Gulf.
- Donald Trump said the U.S. has effectively “won in many ways” in the war with Iran, portraying the conflict as largely successful and near completion. However, he also indicated the fighting is not fully over yet, saying the U.S. still intends to continue operations to achieve what he called “ultimate victory.”
- The Pentagon barred press photographers from recent briefings after photos of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth from a March 2 briefing were considered “unflattering” by his staff. In response, photographers from outlets such as the Associated Press, Reuters, and Getty were excluded from the following briefings, leaving only Defense Department photographers to document the events. The decision drew criticism from press freedom advocates, including the National Press Photographers Association, which warned it raises First Amendment concerns.
- The White House believes it can withstand a short-term spike in oil prices caused by the Iran war and thinks it has about three to four weeks before higher fuel costs become a serious political problem. Officials say they expect prices to stabilize if the conflict ends quickly, though they are monitoring market volatility and potential disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
- U.S. inflation held steady at 2.4% annually in February, but food and energy prices surged as markets anticipated conflict with Iran and potential disruptions to oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz. Economists warn inflation could worsen in March as gasoline prices jumped sharply and supply disruptions tied to the war push up energy, transportation, and food costs.
- Donald Trump said the U.S. will release crude oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to try to bring down fuel prices that have surged following the U.S. war with Iran and disruptions to oil shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. He did not specify the size or timing of the release, but said the administration plans to replenish the reserve later and suggested the move could help stabilize markets as global oil supplies tighten.
- Two foreign tankers carrying Iraqi fuel oil were attacked in Iraqi territorial waters in the Persian Gulf, according to an Iraqi port official. Both vessels caught fire, and Iraqi authorities evacuated all 25 crewmembers from the ships.
- While first responders handled a medical emergency in the crowd during his event, Donald Trump asked staff to play “Ave Maria.” The moment occurred as the rally paused while emergency personnel assisted the individual.
- Donald Trump said, “Wait until you see the numbers by the end of the year,” adding that the U.S. “did an excursion,” which he described as “a little trip to get rid of some evil, very evil people.” The comment appeared to reference recent U.S. military action, framing the operation as a mission to eliminate dangerous adversaries.
- The war with Iran is rapidly consuming U.S. air defense missiles, including Patriot interceptors, raising concerns that future supplies for Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Ukraine could be reduced. Officials warn that the diversion of these weapons could weaken Kyiv’s ability to defend against Russian missile attacks and give Vladimir Putin an opportunity to escalate strikes while U.S. and allied resources are focused on the Middle East conflict.
- The Trump administration asked the Supreme Court of the United States to allow it to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for roughly 350,000 Haitians living legally in the United States. The request comes after a federal judge blocked the move, ruling that the decision to terminate the protections may have been influenced by racial bias and lacked adequate review of conditions in Haiti.
- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is seeking access to a restricted federal database containing employment and child support information on millions of Americans, raising concerns it could be used for immigration enforcement. Current and former officials warn the request could violate federal law and expose sensitive data from systems like the National Directory of New Hires, which includes employment records for most U.S. workers.
- According to Politico, Senate Republicans are planning marathon floor sessions to force extended debate on the SAVE America Act, an elections bill backed by Donald Trump, in an effort to put Democrats on the defensive. The bill is expected to fail to reach the 60 votes needed to pass, but GOP leaders, including John Thune, are preparing amendments tied to Trump’s priorities, such as limits on transgender participation in women’s sports and new restrictions related to mail voting.
See you in the morning.
— Aaron
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