Today has been a whirlwind of news, but I need to start with something that matters deeply: the Jeffrey Epstein files.
For all the public talk about their release, the truth is this story is being buried. Say “Epstein” on TikTok and your video risks being censored or your account suspended. The coverage is fading, the pressure is slipping — and that’s exactly what those in power want.
Make no mistake: Epstein’s network, and Trump’s ties to it, should not be forgotten or quietly swept aside in the 24-hour news cycle. Tonight, I’ll publish a full breakdown you can share with your audience — everything you need to know about where this story stands.
But here’s my promise to you: I will not let the Epstein story die. I will keep it front and center. If you believe this matters, subscribe and support my work. Together, we can make sure the truth is not silenced.
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With that, here’s the news you missed today:
Ukraine and Russia:
Trump met with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy at the White House for about an hour today to talk about ways to end the war.
Afterward, Zelenskyy sat down with top European leaders — including von der Leyen, Rutte, Starmer, Merz, Macron, and Meloni — for a closed-door meeting that lasted two hours.
Trump also met separately with Putin in Alaska on Friday. He called the meeting “productive,” but no ceasefire was announced, and Zelenskyy wasn’t included.Russian media showed a video claiming they captured a U.S. vehicle from Ukraine, now flying both Russian and American flags. Zelenskyy reported new strikes that killed seven people in Kharkiv and three in Zaporizhzhia.
During the Oval Office meeting, Trump turned to Zelenskyy directly and questioned Ukraine’s suspension of elections amid the ongoing war, drawing an awkward comparison to the U.S. system saying: “During the war you can’t have elections? So let me just see — three and a half years from me, if we happen to be in a war with somebody, no more elections. That’s good.”
Pressed on whether Russia would face severe consequences for rejecting a proposed 30-day ceasefire, Trump dismissed the premise outright.
Trump signaled talks with Zelensky and Putin are a matter of “when, not if.”
Trump on a hot mic on Putin: "I think he wants to make a deal for me. Do you understand? As crazy as it sounds."
Zelensky fired back and subtly trolled one of the reporters who attacked him for not wearing a suit during the last meeting.
Defending his earlier invitation to Vladimir Putin, Trump rejected critics who cast the visit as a diplomatic misstep. Trump said: “They said because of the fact that Vladimir Putin came to American soil, this was a tremendous defeat for Donald Trump. No, it was really wonderful that he did it … it was the opposite of what they said.”
General News:
House Oversight Chair James Comer said the Justice Department will begin providing Congress with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell records by the end of the week, following his subpoena to Attorney General Pam Bondi.
Trump announced lawyers are drafting an executive order to end mail-in voting, citing alleged fraud and echoing Putin’s claims — despite evidence disproving widespread fraud, his own past use of mail ballots, and data showing dozens of countries allow the practice.
At a press conference with Zelensky, Trump doubled down on false claims that mail-in ballots are “corrupt” and voting machines are unreliable — despite data showing dozens of democracies use mail voting and experts affirm machines are more accurate, faster, and cheaper than hand counts.
State superintendent Ryan Walters is rolling out a 50-question certification exam for teachers from California and New York, gauging alignment with conservative values — including religion, gender, US history, and even false claims about the 2020 election — to prevent what he calls “indoctrination” in Oklahoma classrooms.
Tate Reeves approved sending about 200 Mississippi Guard troops to Washington, DC, to support Trump’s federal policing crackdown amid rising protests over his executive order that federalized local police and activated 800 DC guard members.
Mayor Muriel Bowser and DC officials pushed back against Trump’s federal takeover of the city’s police, with Bowser calling the use of troops “#UnAmerican” and the attorney general suing over a “hostile takeover”; a judge’s intervention forced the administration to keep DC’s police chief in place.
Dining in Washington fell by up to 31% after Trump deployed federal troops and national guard to patrol the city, with Democrats calling the move a political stunt to distract from Epstein-related controversies and steep Medicaid cuts.
After a two-week Democratic walkout over GOP-drawn congressional maps, the Texas House regained quorum, enabling Republicans to advance redistricting plans that could net them five US House seats — while California lawmakers prepare a counter-map push to offset Texas gains.
Conservative outlet Newsmax agreed to pay $67M to settle Dominion’s defamation lawsuit over false 2020 election claims, avoiding trial after a judge ruled the network had defamed the voting company; Dominion previously secured $787.5M from Fox and $40M from Newsmax in a Smartmatic case.
ACLU argued in federal court that detainees at the Florida Everglades immigration jail face systemic rights abuses and due process violations, while a separate case by environmental and tribal groups seeks its closure over irreversible wetland damage; the facility, praised by Trump, currently holds about 700 detainees.
Twenty-one Democratic attorneys general (20 states plus DC) sued the Trump administration, alleging it is unlawfully withholding over $1 billion in crime victim funds to pressure states into adopting federal immigration enforcement policies.
See you this evening.
— Aaron
