Good evening. We have several major developments tonight. The FBI deemed credible the woman who says Donald Trump abused her as a child, according to new reporting tied to the Epstein files. At the same time, Attorney General Pam Bondi could be in serious trouble, with reports that up to 20 Republicans may support holding her in contempt.
Democrats are also pushing for investigations or possible impeachment of Kristi Noem after her firing. Meanwhile, Trump’s war with Iran is already hitting the U.S. economy. The Dow just had its worst week in nearly a year, oil and gas prices are rising, and airlines warn ticket prices could soon increase.
My focus right now, alongside covering the war, is the Epstein survivors. I’ll be interviewing major members of Congress next week and continuing to push for answers.
Here’s the news:
- The Justice Department released FBI interview summaries in which a woman alleged that Donald Trump sexually assaulted her when she was a teenager after being introduced by Jeffrey Epstein, claims Trump denies and that have not been substantiated or led to criminal charges. The documents’ release has intensified scrutiny of the administration’s handling of the Epstein files and prompted a House committee to subpoena Attorney General Pam Bondi over the issue.
- A Justice Department source told the Miami Herald that FBI agents considered the woman who made allegations in the Epstein files credible enough to interview four times, though she later declined to cooperate further with the investigation and agents ultimately lost contact with her.
- Attorney General Pam Bondi is facing growing pressure from both parties in Congress over her handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files, with several Republicans joining Democrats to subpoena her testimony and some lawmakers considering contempt proceedings if more documents are not released. The controversy has weakened her support within the GOP and raised questions about her political future, especially after President Trump recently fired Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, showing he may remove Cabinet officials who lose backing from Republican lawmakers.
- Rep. Ro Khanna said he believes around 20 Republicans may support holding Attorney General Pam Bondi in contempt if she fails to release more Epstein-related files, adding that he thinks “she’s in trouble.”
- U.S. stocks fell sharply as the Iran conflict pushed oil prices above $90 per barrel, with the Dow dropping about 453 points Friday and posting its worst week since April. Rising energy prices and a weak jobs report showing the U.S. lost 92,000 jobs and unemployment rose to 4.4% increased fears of inflation and economic slowdown.
- Russia is aiding Iran by providing satellite intelligence on the locations and movements of US troops, ships, and aircraft, potentially helping Iranian drone strikes and continuing years of cooperation on missile and drone technology between the two countries. CNN has also confirmed that China, meanwhile, may be preparing to provide Iran with financial assistance, spare parts, and missile components, but is acting cautiously because it relies heavily on Iranian oil and wants the conflict to end to protect its energy supply.
- When Peter Doocy suggested Russia might be helping Iran, Donald Trump briefly praised Doocy but dismissed the question as “a stupid question.”
- President Donald Trump told Axios that his demand for Iran’s “unconditional surrender” could mean destroying the country’s military capabilities so it “can’t fight any longer,” rather than requiring a formal surrender announcement. The U.S. says its goals include eliminating Iran’s ballistic missile threat, preventing it from obtaining a nuclear weapon and weakening its regional proxies as the war continues.
- Trump administration officials told lawmakers in closed-door briefings that U.S. forces were operating in the same area of Iran where a strike hit an elementary school in Minab, killing at least 168 people, though officials say the incident is still under investigation and insist the U.S. does not deliberately target civilians. The administration also told Congress the strike was not carried out by Israel, while Iranian officials claim the school was hit by American missiles, an allegation U.S. officials have not confirmed.
- The Washington Post has confirmed that the Army abruptly canceled a major training exercise for the 82nd Airborne Division’s headquarters, fueling speculation that the elite unit could soon deploy to the Middle East as the conflict with Iran escalates, though no official orders have been issued. Officials say more than 50,000 U.S. troops are already involved in operations, which have relied on air and naval strikes so far, while the Trump administration has not ruled out the possibility of sending ground troops.
- Jet fuel prices have surged since the war in Iran began, with industry data showing sharp increases that airlines warn could soon translate into higher ticket prices. United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby said fare increases will “probably start quick,” as jet fuel prices have already jumped about 15% in the past week, adding pressure on airline costs and potentially on travelers.
- Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said “tonight will be our biggest campaign and we’ll do the most damage,” signaling an escalation in planned U.S. operations as the conflict intensifies.
- Three UNIFIL peacekeepers were injured after heavy firing hit their base in Al Qawzah, southwestern Lebanon; one was hospitalized in Beirut, and the attacker has not been identified.
- According to The New York Times, the Justice Department is investigating Cuba’s leaders and Communist Party officials for drug, immigration, economic and violent crimes, with prosecutors in South Florida aiming to bring rapid indictments. The effort comes as President Trump escalates rhetoric against Cuba and has suggested potential military action after the Iran war, with charges potentially providing a legal pretext similar to the case used to capture Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro.
- Even after President Trump fired Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Democrats say they will continue pushing for investigations into her tenure, including possible probes into contracts, allegations of perjury before Congress and even impeachment to prevent her from holding future office. Some lawmakers also raised the possibility of criminal investigations tied to deaths during immigration enforcement operations and other alleged abuses under her leadership at DHS.
- Senator Richard Blumenthal said he plans to pursue a perjury investigation into soon to be former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, alleging she lied to Congress about whether adviser Corey Lewandowski had influence over DHS contracts and spending. Blumenthal argued her firing does not shield her from potential liability and said investigators will examine evidence that Lewandowski may have approved contracts tied to political allies.
- Senator Kennedy said he was surprised Noem claimed the president approved everything; Trump later called him angrily denying involvement, leading Kennedy to believe Noem’s tenure was effectively over.
- A measles outbreak in Utah that began last summer has grown to 358 cases, with more than 120 emergency room visits, 31 hospitalizations, and several severe complications, including life-threatening anemia and liver inflammation, mostly among unvaccinated people. Nationwide, the U.S. has recorded 1,281 measles cases across 30 states in 2026, with 93% occurring in unvaccinated individuals, while health officials stress that two doses of the MMR vaccine provide about 97% protection and are critical to slowing outbreaks.
- At a memorial service in Chicago for civil rights leader Rev. Jesse Jackson, former President Barack Obama said Jackson’s presidential campaigns in the 1980s helped pave the way for future Black leaders, including himself, praising his legacy of fighting for voting rights, economic opportunity and racial equality. The service drew major political figures including Obama, Joe Biden and Bill Clinton, as well as thousands of mourners honoring Jackson’s decades-long role in the civil rights movement.
- Kamala Harris said she and others anticipated many of the current developments, noting they “saw it coming,” while saying she’s not trying to say “I told you so.”
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection told a federal judge it cannot immediately stop processing tariffs ruled illegal by the Supreme Court and begin issuing refunds, saying it needs about 45 days to build a system to handle the massive workload. The agency said the tariffs generated about $166 billion across roughly 53 million import entries from more than 330,000 importers, making the refund process unprecedented in scale.
- According to The Guardian, an Arkansas man charged with murdering his teenage daughter’s alleged abuser won the Republican nomination for sheriff in Lonoke County, receiving more than 53% of the vote while awaiting trial. Aaron Spencer admits he shot the man but says he acted legally to protect his daughter, while prosecutors argue the killing was planned; he would be unable to serve if convicted.
See you in the morning.
— Aaron
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