Good evening, everyone, and thank you for being here. It’s been another intense news day, and I appreciate your patience with a later-than-usual update. I have been working on a story that I have just confirmed.
Over the past few hours, I’ve confirmed that ICE is distributing flyers in Minneapolis offering “food assistance” to families, a move that has alarmed parents and educators. One school has urged families not to respond, warning it could be a trap. At the same time, federal prosecutors say they are overwhelmed reviewing the Jeffrey Epstein files, highlighting how strained the system is right now.
Before moving on, I want to say this. I hear you. I read your messages. I know how heavy all of this feels.
The overwhelm is real. The exhaustion is real. And if you are struggling to keep up, you are not alone.
Because of you, this platform has reached tens of millions with accurate, verified information at a moment when misinformation is spreading aggressively. We have challenged false narratives, debunked lies from those in power, and told the truth together.
Here’s what you need to know:
- Federal prosecutors in the Southern District of New York are overwhelmed reviewing and redacting more than two million files tied to Jeffrey Epstein, with most attorneys—up to senior leadership—diverted from other major cases to protect victim information, slowing prosecutions including those involving Nicolás Maduro and following Epstein-related cases like that of Ghislaine Maxwell.
- Families at Anne Sullivan STEAM School were warned after Immigration and Customs Enforcement distributed flyers offering food support amid a major enforcement surge in Minneapolis, deepening community fears following recent ICE activity near schools and the fatal shooting of Renée Good that drew condemnation from leaders including Tim Walz and Jacob Frey.
- Attorney General Pam Bondi was reportedly “enraged” after a federal judge rejected criminal charges for journalist Don Lemon, per NBC News.
- Capitol Police Officer Fanone coughs "go fuck yourself" to Republican Trey Nehls as Nehls blames Capitol Police leadership for January 6.
- During a press gaggle on Air Force One, Trump says that “we have a massive armada heading toward Iran” right now. He further confirmed that drilling for oil in Venezuela will begin soon.
- The House narrowly passed a DHS appropriations bill funding ICE, 220–207, with seven Democrats—Jared Golden, Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, Henry Cuellar, Tom Suozzi, Laura Gillen, Don Davis, and Vicente Gonzalez—joining Republicans in support, while the lone GOP “no” vote came from Thomas Massie.
- A 5-year-old Minneapolis-area boy, Liam Conejo Ramos, was taken by Immigration and Customs Enforcement during an arrest targeting his father and is now being detained with him at the South Texas Family Residential Center, as officials from Department of Homeland Security and JD Vance defend the operation amid growing backlash over aggressive immigration enforcement involving children.
- Minneapolis businesses and residents plan an “ICE Out” protest Friday—closing shops and halting work, school, and shopping—to oppose recent immigration enforcement actions, show solidarity with immigrant communities, and respond to heightened ICE activity following a fatal shooting by an ICE officer.
- The Trump administration finalized the U.S. withdrawal from the World Health Organization, cutting all funding and participation through the Department of Health and Human Services despite owing roughly $260 million, a move championed by Donald Trump and criticized by global health experts who warn it weakens pandemic preparedness even as officials say the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will pursue bilateral alternatives.
- The White House is now claiming that this bruise happened after Trump hit the back of his hand on a table.
- A New York judge ruled Rep. Nicole Malliotakis’ Staten Island–Brooklyn House district unconstitutional for diluting minority voting power and ordered it redrawn—potentially giving Democrats a pickup opportunity if the decision survives expected appeals before the 2026 elections.
- On the eve of the March for Life, the Trump administration rolled out sweeping anti-abortion actions—targeting Planned Parenthood funding, fetal tissue research, abortion-friendly states, and foreign aid—but anti-abortion leaders welcomed the moves while saying they fall short of key demands like restricting abortion pills and fully enforcing the Hyde amendment.
- Amy Klobuchar filed the paperwork required to run for Minnesota governor, a preliminary step ahead of an expected decision announcement, as Democrats look to shore up the race after Gov. Tim Walz declined to seek reelection and amid GOP primary jockeying.
- Donald Trump sued JPMorgan Chase and its CEO Jamie Dimon for at least $5 billion, alleging the bank “debanked” him after the January 6 Capitol riot—claims JPMorgan denies as meritless, saying any account closures were based on legal and regulatory risk, not politics.
- Trump again criticized NATO allies, claiming their troops stayed “off the frontlines” in Afghanistan and saying he’s “not sure” the alliance would defend the U.S., prompting a rebuttal from NATO chief Mark Rutte that allies did fight and die alongside Americans after 9/11.
Good news:
- A new report from the American Cancer Society shows U.S. cancer survival rates have climbed to a record 70% living at least five years post-diagnosis—up sharply over the past 20 years thanks to earlier detection and breakthroughs like immunotherapy and CAR-T—marking major gains even in once-deadly cancers, according to experts including the Cleveland Clinic.
- Several major space missions are slated for 2026, including NASA’s Artemis II crewed lunar-orbit mission, Blue Origin’s first Blue Moon lunar lander test, China’s Chang’e-7 Moon and Tianwen-2 asteroid sample-return missions, and Japan’s JAXA MMX probe to Mars’ moons—highlighting a busy year for human and robotic exploration beyond Earth.
- Engineers at the Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials developed a lightweight, shirt-like soft exoskeleton that weighs under 2 pounds yet can assist lifting up to ~35 pounds, significantly reducing muscle strain for users with degenerative conditions—results validated in trials at Seoul National University Hospital and praised by participants like Myung Ha-yul for restoring everyday mobility at a fraction of the cost of traditional exoskeletons.
- Three rescued lions—Cyrus, Zephora, and Juancito—were relocated from Honduras to lifelong care at Turpentine Creek Wildlife Sanctuary after a complex air-sea-land journey, part of a historic operation that also moved five tigers to Carolina Tiger Rescue, marking a national milestone in conservation and international wildlife cooperation.
- Scientists in Austria documented the first known case of tool use in a cow after observing Veronika deliberately use a brush and stick to scratch different parts of her body—behavior confirmed through experiments led by cognitive biologist Alice Auersperg and published in Current Biology, challenging assumptions about livestock intelligence.
See you soon
— Aaron
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