Good morning, everyone—today is going to be a big day in pursuit of the truth. Overnight, Paramount got what it wanted: an approval of its merger with SkyDance. That means CBS News, 60 Minutes, and more are all on the chopping block. And now we are learning that Trump may soon go after the View next.
At a time when corporate news outlets are retreating in the face of authoritarian threats, fearless, independent journalism has never been more essential.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche continued his interview with Ghislaine Maxwell today after a full day of questioning in Florida yesterday, where, according to her lawyer, she answered all questions without invoking privilege, amid growing public pressure over the Justice Department's transparency regarding Epstein-related documents.
The New York Times confirmed that Donald Trump’s name appeared on a contributor list for a book celebrating Jeffrey Epstein’s 50th birthday, indicating he participated in the tribute alongside dozens of Epstein’s acquaintances. The Justice Department also currently has more than 100,000 pages of relevant Epstein files that it has not released to the public.
The New York Times uncovered that before the 2003 birthday book, Donald Trump had written Jeffrey Epstein an admiring note in a copy of The Art of the Comeback, inscribed: “To Jeff — You are the greatest!”
The 2003 Epstein birthday book, compiled by Ghislaine Maxwell, included a section labeled "Friends" that listed Donald Trump, Bill Clinton, and Alan Dershowitz among Epstein's close associates.
The New York Times obtained a photo showing Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein posing with music legend James Brown.
“We’re terribly sorry.” South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone responded with dry humor to White House outrage over the show's season premiere depicting a naked Donald Trump in bed with Satan, revealing at Comic-Con they spent days negotiating to avoid blurring Trump’s animated genitals, while the episode also mocked Paramount’s recent $16M settlement with Trump and referenced CBS’s abrupt cancellation of Stephen Colbert’s show.
The Trump administration’s Justice Department has joined Catholic dioceses in a federal lawsuit challenging Washington state’s new law requiring clergy to report child abuse, arguing it violates religious freedom by forcing priests to break the confessional seal—a move critics say prioritizes institutional secrecy over child protection and could set a national precedent limiting state power to enforce abuse reporting laws.
Donald Trump departed the White House this morning for a five-day visit to Scotland, where he’ll meet UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and visit his golf properties, with protests planned by various groups under the “Stop Trump Coalition”; he and Melania will return to the UK in September for a state visit hosted by King Charles.
The FCC, under Trump-appointed leadership, approved the $8 billion merger between Paramount Global and Skydance Media, sparking backlash from Democrats who allege political interference, citing Trump’s public criticism of CBS News, a $16 million settlement tied to his presidential library, and commitments by Skydance to scrap DEI policies and install a CBS ombudsman to address perceived bias—all amid accusations of corruption and threats to press freedom.
Fox News asked FCC Chair Brendan Carr whether President Trump was involved in the cancellation of Stephen Colbert's show, but Carr deflected, saying that Trump “ran right at these legacy broadcast media outfits” during his campaign, prompting the interviewer to note that he hadn’t actually answered the question.
When asked by Fox News if The View is now in the crosshairs of the Trump administration, FCC Chair Brendan Carr responded, “It’s entirely possible there are issues over there,” adding that “the consequences aren’t quite finished.”
President Trump signed an executive order making it easier for local governments to remove homeless individuals from public spaces, directing the Attorney General to reverse legal barriers and prioritize relocating people to rehab and substance misuse centers, drawing sharp criticism from advocates who warn the policy will worsen homelessness and increase criminalization amid record-high homelessness levels in the U.S.
Former DOJ officials Michael Gordon, Patty Hartman, and Joseph Tirrell—who worked on January 6 cases—have filed a lawsuit against Attorney General Pam Bondi, alleging unlawful termination; the suit argues DOJ employees are protected by rules against arbitrary firings, with Tirrell citing additional protections as a Navy veteran, and Hartman criticizing the erasure of the DOJ’s independence from the White House after the Capitol cases database was taken offline.
Trump's DOJ has cleared the way for Alina Habba to continue leading as the top federal prosecutor in New Jersey by naming her acting U.S. attorney just as her interim term expires, allowing her to remain in charge for at least another 210 days.
The Trump administration is reportedly seeking to fine universities—including Harvard, Cornell, Duke, Northwestern, and Brown—for allegedly failing to curb antisemitism on campus, following Columbia’s $220 million settlement, with fines potentially tied to continued access to federal funding.
According to CNN, internal FEMA memos reveal the Trump administration plans to cut nearly $1 billion in disaster and security grants, eliminating programs that support emergency preparedness, terrorism protection, and public alert systems—despite warnings from FEMA officials that the cuts will leave the nation more vulnerable to catastrophes, wildfires, and terror attacks, especially in high-risk cities like Miami and D.C.; critics, including lawmakers and emergency managers, have slammed the move as irresponsible and dangerous.
Democratic lawmakers Robert Garcia and Summer Lee are demanding answers from DHS Secretary Kristi Noem over ICE agents using masks and unmarked vehicles during arrests, citing constitutional concerns, a rise in impersonation crimes, and eroding public trust, as the Trump administration ramps up immigration enforcement and prepares to scale up arrests under a new spending bill.
Israel and the U.S. recalled negotiators from ceasefire talks after Hamas responded to the latest proposal; U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff said the reply showed “a lack of desire” for a truce, while Hamas called that claim “dishonest.”
France announced it will formally recognize a Palestinian state in September; Israeli PM Netanyahu condemned the move, and UK PM Keir Starmer plans an emergency call with France and Germany over the worsening Gaza crisis.
The UN warned that starving Gazans are beginning to look like “walking corpses,” as Palestinian officials report dozens of deaths from malnutrition; Israel denies creating famine and accuses Hamas of manipulating food supplies.
Good news:
Nash Keen, born at just 21 weeks gestation and weighing only 10 ounces, has defied all odds to celebrate his first birthday, becoming the world’s most premature baby to survive; after 189 days in intensive care at the University of Iowa’s Stead Family Children’s Hospital, he is now thriving at home with his parents, who say he’s growing and changing like any other baby.
A two-legged rescue Chihuahua named Champ saved his owner’s life by detecting a heart attack before symptoms fully appeared—prompting 63-year-old Andrew Kuzyk of Georgia to seek emergency care, where he underwent life-saving surgery; Kuzyk, a cancer survivor with a deep bond to his special-needs dogs, credits Champ’s instincts and devotion for keeping him alive through multiple health crises.
