Good evening everyone. This is a heavily focused Epstein update because there is a significant amount of important news right now. First, a newly unredacted Epstein file directly undercuts many of Trump’s claims about his relationship with Epstein. In addition, a new investigation reveals deeper ties between Epstein and Russia, as the DOJ briefs lawmakers on the Epstein files in what appears to be an effort to head off action on a subpoena.
There is also major global news, with oil prices surging following Israeli strikes on Iranian gas facilities and Iranian strikes on Qatari infrastructure. And I spoke with Juliana Stratton following her major win last night in Illinois.
I’ve said this from the beginning: I will not stop reporting on the Epstein files until survivors get justice. Many people want this coverage to go away, and at times it would be easier to move on. But your support makes it possible to keep going, and I’m not stopping. Subscribe if you want to support this work and help keep it going.
Here’s the news:
- Congressman Dan Goldman obtained an unredacted, previously concealed FBI interview summary from the Epstein files—despite DOJ redactions—and entered it into the congressional record this afternoon. The document, which remains redacted on the public Epstein files website, directly contradicts key claims made by Donald Trump.
- Specifically, it undermines Trump’s assertion that he expelled Jeffrey Epstein from Mar-a-Lago. The file consists of an email summarizing notes from Trump’s attorney, prepared in lieu of sworn deposition testimony. Those notes state that Epstein was neither a member of Mar-a-Lago nor ever asked to leave, and they indicate that Trump may have been on Epstein’s plane and at his residence.
- Here are the full remarks from Congressman Goldman today:
- Senator Ron Wyden accused Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche of blocking the DEA from releasing a fully unredacted Epstein-related document tied to a 2015 investigation into drug trafficking and money laundering involving Epstein and others.
- A detailed investigation from my friend Scott Stedman found that longtime Epstein associate Svetlana Pozhidaeva—who acted as a gatekeeper in his inner circle for years—had direct family ties to Russia’s security apparatus, including a father who was a Soviet military officer and later held senior security roles in state-linked enterprises with reported FSB connections. Epstein financially supported her and her family, including wiring roughly $237,000 to a Moscow-linked account and making additional payments and benefits through his network of trusts and accounts.
- Emails show she facilitated aspects of Epstein’s operations, including interacting with powerful figures, coordinating access, and in some cases sending him information about young women, while also receiving hundreds of thousands of dollars in payments over time.
- The reporting also highlights Epstein’s broader network, including contacts with high-profile business and political figures, and suggests he maintained relationships that intersected with individuals tied to Russian government and intelligence circles. Altogether, the findings raise significant new questions about the scope of Epstein’s international connections, particularly his financial and personal links to people associated with Russian state and security institutions.
- Rep. Ansari said the sudden classified briefing appears tied to Attorney General Bondi facing a subpoena and impeachment effort, accusing her of playing a direct role in a cover-up to protect powerful men implicated in child abuse and arguing she must be held accountable.
- Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said he will not step down amid a Trump DOJ investigation he called an “intimidation” tactic, as a federal judge blocked related subpoenas for lack of evidence; despite ongoing political pressure and efforts to remove him, Powell plans to remain in his role until the probe is fully resolved and may continue serving beyond his chair term, underscoring tensions over Fed independence.
- Powell warned that underlying job growth may be far weaker than reported, suggesting that after adjusting for potential overcounting, there has effectively been zero net private-sector job creation in recent months.
- According to Politico, the World Health Organization says it is actively preparing for a worst-case nuclear scenario tied to the U.S.-Israel war with Iran, warning that any nuclear incident—whether from a strike on facilities or weapon use—could cause devastating, long-term global consequences, as officials update emergency response plans amid escalating attacks on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure and growing fears of broader escalation.
- Iran has threatened imminent retaliatory strikes on major energy infrastructure across Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar after Israeli attacks—reportedly coordinated with the U.S.—hit its South Pars gasfield, marking a major escalation into targeting core oil and gas assets. The Revolutionary Guards warned Gulf facilities are now “legitimate targets,” raising fears of a broader regional energy war and urging civilians to evacuate potential strike zones.
- The escalation has already disrupted global energy markets, with oil prices surging toward $110 per barrel and gas prices spiking amid concerns over supply shocks and threats to key production and export hubs. The conflict has severely reduced regional oil exports—down roughly 60%—as attacks on infrastructure and Iran’s control over the Strait of Hormuz choke global energy flows.
- Officials tell The Guardian that the situation risks spiraling into a full-scale economic and geopolitical crisis, with global energy security, regional stability, and environmental safety increasingly at risk.
- Estonia signaled openness to assisting the U.S. in securing the Strait of Hormuz amid tensions with Iran—potentially offering demining support—while many other NATO allies remain reluctant, highlighting divisions over the conflict and concerns about lack of prior coordination.
- Finnish President Alexander Stubb warned that Russia is deepening its support for Iran by providing Shahed drones and intelligence that could be used to target U.S. forces, raising serious concerns about escalating coordination among U.S. adversaries and potential threats to American troops.
- Spain is claiming vindication as the European Union shifts toward its anti-war stance, with more leaders now condemning the U.S.-Israel attack on Iran as a unilateral violation of international law, warning it threatens global stability, drives energy price spikes, and risks broader geopolitical and humanitarian fallout.
- The Trump administration is aggressively promoting the Iran war through viral, TikTok-style videos that blend real combat footage with video games, memes, and movie clips, aiming to drive massive online engagement—reportedly, according to Politico, billions of views—while abandoning traditional wartime messaging norms, a strategy that critics say trivializes the seriousness of war, alarms allies and military leaders, and reflects a broader effort to shape public opinion, especially among younger audiences, despite growing public skepticism and internal political backlash.
- According CBS, a growing TSA staffing crisis during the government shutdown—driven by workers missing paychecks—has led to sharp increases in call-outs and resignations, with absentee rates rising well above normal levels and reaching double digits at some airports, causing hours-long security lines, missed flights, and widespread travel disruptions.
- With more than 300 officers already quitting and others continuing to call out due to financial strain, officials warn the situation could worsen significantly, potentially forcing operational changes or even temporary airport closures if staffing shortages deepen.
- The Federal Reserve held interest rates steady at 3.5%–3.75% despite intense pressure from Donald Trump, as policymakers weigh the inflationary impact of surging oil prices driven by the Iran war against a weakening labor market and economic uncertainty, with officials signaling caution amid rising energy costs, slowing job growth, and volatile markets.
- According to NBC News, Cuba’s deepening economic crisis—worsened by fuel shortages, blackouts, and sanctions—is severely straining the healthcare system, even at top hospitals. Doctors are cutting operations, improvising treatments, and working under extreme constraints due to unreliable electricity and limited fuel. Patients face major barriers to care, including transportation challenges and shortages of essential medications. Many rely on relatives abroad or black-market sources, while staff pool leftover doses to avoid leaving patients untreated. Although widespread deaths have been avoided so far, ongoing outages and supply shortages are putting patient care at serious risk.
- A 20-year-old University of Alabama student, James Paul Gracey, has gone missing in Barcelona after becoming separated from friends during a night out at a beachfront nightclub, prompting an active police investigation and urgent pleas from his family for information.
- A Bronx high school student, Dylan Contreras, was released from ICE detention after 10 months despite having no criminal record and pursuing legal status, highlighting ongoing disputes over aggressive immigration enforcement policies and their impact on families.
See you soon.
— Aaron
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