Good morning everyone. It’s State of the Union day, and unfortunately I have the flu. I’ll be covering the speech from bed tonight, but I will be watching every minute so you don’t have to, and you’ll get a full update as soon as it ends.
The day has already brought major news. A new investigation found that the Justice Department withheld or removed Epstein-related documents mentioning allegations against Donald Trump, including claims of sexual abuse of minors. At the same time, Trump heads into tonight’s speech with some of the lowest approval ratings of his presidency.
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Here’s the news:
- An NPR investigation found that the Justice Department withheld or removed dozens of Epstein-related documents mentioning allegations against President Trump, including about 53 pages of FBI interview records tied to two women who accused him of sexual abuse as minors, despite a law requiring full release, while the DOJ denies withholding records for political reasons and says some files were temporarily removed for victim privacy review.
- President Donald Trump will deliver a lengthy State of the Union address defending his first year in office and highlighting his record on the economy, immigration and foreign policy, even as polls show declining approval ratings and a recent Supreme Court setback on tariffs.
- White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said President Donald Trump will announce new policies aimed at addressing the affordability crisis she attributed to Joe Biden, despite Biden having left office more than a year ago.
- Multiple new polls show President Donald Trump entering his State of the Union with just 39 percent approval and 47 percent strong disapproval, including sharp declines among independents, widespread dissatisfaction with his handling of immigration, the economy, inflation and tariffs, and majorities saying the country is worse off than a year ago, even as Republican support remains comparatively strong and Trump dismisses the surveys as fake.
- A new Reuters/Ipsos poll finds that six in ten Americans, including a notable share of Republicans, believe President Donald Trump has become erratic as he has aged.
- House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries announced he is inviting the family of civil and human rights leader Rev. Jesse Jackson to the State of the Union, while several other lawmakers plan to bring survivors of sexual assault by Jeffrey Epstein as guests to spotlight related issues during the address.
- The USS Gerald R. Ford, a $13 billion aircraft carrier commissioned in 2017, is reportedly grappling with persistent failures in its vacuum based sewage system, including more than 200 breakdowns over several days due to undersized pipes, heavy use by over 4,500 crew members and clogs caused by improper materials, creating unsanitary conditions and costly maintenance concerns as the warship deploys toward West Asia amid escalating US Iran tensions and questions about operational preparedness.
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio will privately brief congressional leaders and top intelligence committee members at the White House on Iran as the administration considers potential military strikes, amid a US force buildup in the Middle East and growing calls from some lawmakers for a vote requiring congressional authorization before any use of force, though such a resolution currently appears unlikely to pass.
- According to NBC, President Donald Trump’s revised global tariff took effect at 10 percent despite his announcement it would rise to 15 percent, creating confusion among markets and trading partners as the administration works to potentially increase the rate under Section 122 following a Supreme Court ruling that struck down much of his earlier tariff agenda.
- Rep. Tony Gonzales is facing mounting pressure from House Republican women and primary challengers to resign or end his reelection bid over allegations of an affair with a staffer who later died by suicide, as Speaker Mike Johnson calls the claims serious but urges due process while ethics and state investigations continue.
- The Guardian has now confirmed that President Donald Trump is reportedly growing frustrated as he considers possible airstrikes on Iran, after advisers warned any attack would not be a singular decisive blow and could draw the United States into a prolonged Middle East conflict, with his decision hinging partly on whether envoys believe Tehran is stalling on nuclear negotiations ahead of a final round of talks in Geneva.
- France barred U.S. Ambassador Charles Kushner from meeting government officials after he failed to appear when summoned over U.S. comments criticizing left wing extremism following the killing of a far right activist, marking the latest diplomatic clash between Trump appointed envoys and European allies.
- An analysis by disinformation detection firm Cyabra found that more than 18,000 fake accounts, representing about one third of the profiles examined, coordinated to amplify Nicki Minaj’s pro Trump and conservative posts on X through repetitive praise and synchronized engagement, significantly boosting her visibility online, while Minaj’s allies deny the findings and the company maintains its conclusions are data driven.
- Allies of President Donald Trump, including U.S. Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz and media adviser Alex Bruesewitz, defended Nicki Minaj after a disinformation detection firm reported that thousands of bots amplify her social media posts, especially on right leaning issues, rejecting the findings as biased while the company’s CEO insisted the analysis was data driven and uninfluenced.
- A former ICE training instructor told a congressional forum that the agency’s deportation officer training program has been drastically shortened and weakened amid a rapid hiring push, alleging recruits are inadequately prepared and that key exams and use of force training were cut, while the Department of Homeland Security denies reducing standards or training hours.
- Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger, a pragmatic former CIA officer known for bucking party leadership, is set to deliver the Democratic response to President Donald Trump’s State of the Union, aiming to contrast his leadership style by focusing on affordability, political chaos and global uncertainty while navigating internal party divisions and launching into the midterm campaign.
- Investigators say a masked suspect seen tampering with 84 year old Nancy Guthrie’s doorbell camera the morning she disappeared may have approached her home on a prior occasion, as authorities continue reviewing thousands of hours of video, analyzing DNA evidence and pursuing tips in the ongoing search for the missing Arizona woman.
- As Russia’s war enters its fifth year, Volodymyr Zelenskyy is showing growing frustration over stalled peace talks, rejecting territorial concessions despite pressure from Moscow and Washington, as Ukraine faces mounting battlefield losses, civilian suffering, political strain at home, and a continued Russian refusal to compromise.
- Meta has struck a $60 billion artificial intelligence chip deal with Advanced Micro Devices that includes the supply of six gigawatts of AI hardware, custom energy efficient CPUs and a performance based warrant allowing Meta to potentially acquire up to 160 million AMD shares, deepening its investment in AI infrastructure alongside separate purchases from Nvidia and signaling a major strategic bet on AMD as its stock rises in response.
- Michelle Hundley Smith, a North Carolina woman who disappeared in 2001, has been found alive and well more than 24 years later at an undisclosed location in the state at her own request, prompting relief and complex emotions from her daughter while officially closing a long running missing persons investigation.
- Reuters has confirmed that Iran is nearing a deal to purchase Chinese made CM 302 supersonic anti ship cruise missiles that could significantly boost its ability to threaten US naval forces in the region, with negotiations accelerating after last year’s Israel Iran war as Washington amasses military assets near Iran amid rising tensions.
See you soon.
— Aaron
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