Good evening, everyone. We have a tremendous amount of news to cover this afternoon. From additional documents reportedly scrubbed by the DOJ that contain disturbing allegations involving Donald Trump, to articles of impeachment expected to be filed against Pam Bondi, to the backlash from both the men’s and women’s hockey teams over Trump’s misogynistic comments, to falling ratings for his State of the Union, and much more. There is no shortage of major developments.
I also want to thank all of you who watched my interview with Vice President Harris earlier today. Let me be absolutely clear. I will be interviewing a wide range of potential 2028 candidates, from AOC to Kamala Harris, and I have already spoken with several. An interview is not an endorsement. It is an opportunity for you to hear directly from people who may shape the next chapter of this country and to decide for yourself where you stand on the future of our nation and its electoral prospects.
That said, airing the interview has led to an escalation of threats and attacks from individuals who did not want it broadcast. Let me be clear about something else. I answer to you. That is why the noise does not intimidate me, and it does not dictate what we cover.
On a personal note, this will be my final update after an intense 72-hour sprint. Between covering the State of the Union and pushing through the flu, it has been an exhausting few days. I am deeply grateful for your support. If you are able, please consider subscribing or gifting a subscription. We have major interviews scheduled for the rest of the week and exciting projects to announce soon. None of it happens without you.
Here’s the news:
- An NBC News analysis found that the Justice Department failed to release summaries and notes from three of four FBI interviews conducted in 2019 with a South Carolina woman who alleged Jeffrey Epstein sexually abused her at age 13 and who also accused Donald Trump of sexual abuse, with only the July 24, 2019 interview summary disclosed—omitting any reference to Trump—prompting concerns from lawmakers that the missing records may violate the Epstein Files Transparency Act and a House Oversight subpoena, while DOJ maintains it produced all responsive, non-privileged, non-duplicate materials.
- A CNN review found that more than 90 FBI witness interview records, including three tied to a woman who accused Jeffrey Epstein of abuse and alleged Donald Trump sexually assaulted her, appear to be missing from the Justice Department’s Epstein files release, raising questions from Democrats about compliance with transparency laws, while DOJ denies deleting records and says only duplicates, privileged materials, or documents tied to ongoing investigations were withheld. The Department of Justice issued the following response this evening:
- Larry Summers announced he will resign as a tenured Harvard professor and step down from a research center leadership role amid fallout over newly released emails revealing closer-than-known ties to Jeffrey Epstein, expressing shame over continuing contact with Epstein after his conviction, though he has not been accused of criminal wrongdoing.
- Nobel laureate Richard Axel resigned as co-director of Columbia University’s Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute and stepped down from a Howard Hughes Medical Institute role after DOJ files revealed extensive contact with Jeffrey Epstein following his 2008 conviction, with Axel apologizing for the “serious error in judgment” but Columbia saying he violated no laws or university policies.
- Bill Gates told Gates Foundation staff in a town hall that he had two affairs and called his past association with Jeffrey Epstein a “huge mistake,” saying he saw nothing illicit, never spent time with victims or visited Epstein’s island, but acknowledged continued meetings after Epstein’s 2008 conviction and apologized for the reputational damage caused.
- According to the New York Times, former Sen. Bob Kerrey resigned as chairman of Nebraska clean energy start-up Monolith after newly released DOJ documents showed he met and corresponded with Jeffrey Epstein years after Epstein’s 2008 conviction, saying the revelations could hinder the company’s success
- A senior DHS official told state election leaders that ICE agents will not be present at polling places during the midterms, pushing back on fears that Trump’s immigration operations could interfere with voting, but several Democratic secretaries of state said they were not reassured—citing the official’s past ties to 2020 election denial efforts and criticizing the administration for providing few details and remaining silent on affirming state control over elections.
- Congresswoman Summer Lee says she will introduce articles of impeachment against the Attorney General:
- Compared with 2025, Fox News’ 2026 State of the Union coverage saw a 15% drop in total viewers and a 24% decline among adults 25–54, while CNN and MSNBC both posted double-digit year-over-year ratings gains.
- U.S. women’s hockey captain Hilary Knight called President Trump’s remark about needing to invite the women’s team to the White House a “distasteful joke,” saying it overshadowed the team’s Olympic gold victory, while emphasizing mutual respect between the men’s and women’s teams despite the controversy.
- U.S. men’s hockey goalie Jeremy Swayman said the team “should’ve reacted differently” to President Trump’s postgame joke about inviting the women’s team to the White House, stressing strong respect and support for the gold medal-winning women’s squad as players seek to quell backlash over the viral moment.
- A USA Hockey spokesperson said it is still “TBD” whether the U.S. women’s hockey team will visit the White House, following President Trump’s remark that they would come “soon,” with scheduling and prior commitments still being worked out.
- Cuban officials said a Florida-registered speedboat entered Cuba’s territorial waters and opened fire on border guard troops, triggering a clash that left four people on the boat dead and several others injured, including a Cuban commander, as U.S. and Florida officials called for investigations amid heightened U.S.-Cuba tensions over oil restrictions.
- The FBI executed court-authorized search warrants at Los Angeles Unified School District headquarters and at Superintendent Alberto Carvalho’s home, as well as a related property in Florida, in connection with an ongoing investigation, though officials have not disclosed the allegations and the district says it is cooperating.
- JD Vance said the administration will temporarily halt certain Medicaid funds to Minnesota, arguing the pause is intended to ensure the state fulfills its obligations as a responsible steward of taxpayer dollars.
- Dr. Mehmet Oz, standing alongside Vice President Vance, announced plans to “defer” $259 million in federal Medicaid funding to Minnesota—framing it as the first major action of its kind—affecting programs that support pregnant women, seniors, and people with disabilities.
- President Trump, after previously claiming U.S. strikes had “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear program, now says the U.S. may have to bomb Iran again, citing renewed enrichment and missile development, while Iran denies seeking nuclear weapons, U.S. intelligence assessments remain mixed on the extent of damage and timelines, and analysts caution that even highly enriched uranium does not equate to an operational nuclear weapon. This is what Vice President Harris had to say about the possibility of war in Iran:
- According to the Investigative Post, Nurul Amin Shah Alam, a 56-year-old nearly blind Rohingya refugee from Burma, was found dead days after U.S. Border Patrol agents took custody of him upon his release from the Erie County Holding Center, then dropped him off at a Tim Hortons five miles from his Buffalo home without notifying his family; he had posted bail after pleading guilty to trespassing and possessing a curtain rod used as a walking stick, and police are now investigating the circumstances and timeline leading to his death.
- According to The Guardian, the University of Southern Maine revoked its venue for a Palestine conference days before it was set to occur, citing federal sanctions against U.N. rapporteur Francesca Albanese, though organizers and free speech advocates argue that Treasury guidance does not prohibit her virtual participation and say the university’s decision reflects political pressure and an overbroad chilling effect of sanctions law.
- Politico has confirmed that Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos is set to visit the White House to discuss Netflix’s bid to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery amid a bidding war with Paramount and heightened political pressure, including President Trump’s public demand that Netflix remove board member Susan Rice, while the Justice Department reviews the deal for antitrust concerns.
See you soon.
— Aaron
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