Good evening, everyone. We have major news tonight. Members of Congress have begun reviewing the unredacted Epstein files, and what they are finding is explosive. Lawmakers have now confirmed that the Department of Justice redacted the names of six men who may be co-conspirators of Jeffrey Epstein, despite previously claiming there was no evidence to charge anyone else. That alone raises serious questions about who is being protected and why.
The unredacted records also directly undermine a key claim made by Donald Trump about his relationship with Epstein, contradicting his public account and adding new urgency to calls for transparency and accountability.
Before I get into the details, I want to pause and mark an important moment. Tonight is the one-year anniversary of my decision to go full-time in journalism. It was the hardest and most frightening decision I have ever made. I stepped into the unknown without institutional backing, without guarantees, and with everything on the line.
One year later, we made history. Together, we reached more than 100 million Americans. We did it independently, and we did it together. And this is only the beginning.
Here’s the news:
- Jamie Raskin said after reviewing unredacted Department of Justice files on Jeffrey Epstein that many redactions were “mysterious” and appeared to shield non-victims, including Donald Trump and Les Wexner. Raskin said one redacted email from Epstein to Ghislaine Maxwell described Trump’s lawyers telling Epstein he was welcome at Mar-a-Lago, contradicting Trump’s claim that he kicked Epstein out.
- After reviewing the unredacted Jeffrey Epstein files, Reps. Thomas Massie and Ro Khanna said the Department of Justice redacted the names of six men they believe are likely incriminated, intensifying accusations that the department is shielding potential perpetrators rather than prioritizing transparency.
- After reviewing the unredacted Jeffrey Epstein files, Rep. Jared Moskowitz said he saw “lots of co-conspirators” named in the documents. He described the material as “disgusting,” saying it detailed how girls were trafficked around the world and involved numerous individuals beyond Epstein himself.
- Lawmakers said some Jeffrey Epstein files remain partially redacted despite the Department of Justice’s pledge that Congress could view them in full. Reps. Jamie Raskin and Jared Moskowitz said they saw names of non-victims blacked out, including references to Les Wexner and Donald Trump, while some victims’ names were left unredacted.
- Congressman Raskin said the DOJ redacted a synopsis from Epstein's lawyers which quoted Trump saying that Epstein was a guest at Mar a Lago and had never been asked to leave. Trump claimed that he kicked Epstein out. This would represent a significant lie on the part of the President, it would call into question the President’s explanations of his relationship with Epstein, and continues to raise questions about why this information was redacted in the first place.
- Jamie Raskin said the only appropriate redactions in the Epstein files should have been victims’ names, arguing the Justice Department violated that standard by releasing identifying information about many victims. He said the failure was either “spectacular incompetence and sloppiness” or a deliberate act that could intimidate other survivors from coming forward.
- Asked whether there were specific redactions related to Donald Trump or Bill Clinton in the Epstein files, Jamie Raskin said he did not see any redactions connected to President Clinton.
- An Epstein victim alleged in a lawsuit filed in Palm Beach that Donald Trump was aware of Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse and his interest in underage girls. The filing includes claims involving other powerful individuals as well. Full file here.
- Melanie Stansbury said lawmakers will scrutinize who the Department of Justice may be shielding after redacted files allegedly obscured perpetrators and co-conspirators. She said the committee is maintaining an active list of people it plans to subpoena. Stansbury specifically named Howard Lutnick as someone the committee wants to question and said she personally believes he should step down immediately.
- British police are assessing claims that Andrew shared confidential trade “visit reports” with Jeffrey Epstein in 2010 while serving as a U.K. trade envoy. The allegations stem from newly released Justice Department files showing emails that appear to forward sensitive documents shortly after they were received. The claims have reignited scrutiny of Andrew’s relationship with Epstein, prompted an anti-monarchy group to consider private prosecution, and drawn expressions of concern from the royal family, while Andrew continues to deny any wrongdoing.
- Ghislaine Maxwell refused to answer questions before the House Oversight Committee by invoking the Fifth Amendment, but her lawyer said she would give a full account of Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes if granted clemency by Donald Trump; Trump has not ruled out a pardon, while lawmakers from both parties rejected the idea, noting Maxwell’s 2021 sex-trafficking conviction, 20-year sentence, and ongoing legal challenges, and victims’ families condemned her refusal to testify without leniency.
- Logan Paul publicly criticized brother Jake Paul for calling Bad Bunny a “fake American” over the Super Bowl halftime show, defending Puerto Ricans as U.S. citizens and sparking broader backlash involving politicians, celebrities, and debates over patriotism, immigration, and culture.
Callers reacted to Bad Bunny’s and Kid Rock’s shows:
- Caller reacts to Bad Bunny’s Halftime Show: “You wouldn’t ask an Italian opera singer to convert her songs into English. That’s ridiculous. The most important thing he said at the end was God Bless America. It was a great performance, it was all love.”
- Caller reacts to Bad Bunny’s Halftime Show: “I’ve never heard of Bad Bunny... The concept of saying God Bless America, all the flags of the Americas, was a brilliant, wonderful way to bring us together.”
- Republican caller reacts to Kid Rock's halftime show: "I flipped to it for about 10 or 15 seconds and all it was some song trying to rile up the MAGA base. Not all republicans support Donald Trump."
Back to more news:
- Donald Trump claimed in a Truth Social post that if Canada strikes a trade deal with China, Beijing would retaliate by ending all ice hockey in Canada and “permanently eliminat[ing]” the Stanley Cup. The assertion, made without evidence, was widely mocked as an exaggerated and unrealistic warning about trade consequences.
- Savannah Guthrie publicly pleaded for help as the search for her missing mother, Nancy Guthrie, entered its second week, saying the family believes she is still alive and asking anyone who sees or hears anything unusual to contact authorities. Law enforcement, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pima County Sheriff’s Department, is treating the case as a possible abduction, working around the clock amid reports of mysterious messages and potential ransom notes, though no suspects or persons of interest have been identified.
- The Guardian confirmed that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is accused by multiple members of Congress and Hawaii Gov. Josh Green of misleading the Senate during his confirmation hearings about a 2019 trip to Samoa, after newly revealed emails showed the visit was tied to vaccine safety concerns despite his denials. Lawmakers say the trip boosted anti-vaccine activism ahead of a deadly measles outbreak that killed 83 people, mostly children, and argue the disclosures amount to lying to Congress.
- Lindsey Vonn’s father said her severe downhill crash and broken leg likely ends her racing career, insisting she won’t return to competition or the Olympics despite being stable after surgery and surrounded by family.
See you in the morning.
— Aaron
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