Good evening, everyone. I’m on the road tonight, so this update is shorter than usual—but I wasn’t about to let you go without the news. As we speak, the White House is doubling down on its claim that Donald Trump did not sign Jeffrey Epstein’s 50th birthday letter. At the same time, we are on the edge of a government shutdown, with Congress and the White House locked in a standoff.
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With that, here’s what you missed:
A reporter questioned what the working theory of the White House was since Donald Trump claimed that he did not sign the Epstein 50th birthday letter. In response, Leavitt emphasized that the president has one of the most famous signatures in the world and asserted that he did not write the letter or sign those documents.
Leavitt, addressing the Epstein files, said it is a distraction. She explained that Democrats see the story as nothing more than an attempt to divert attention from the accomplishments and achievements of the administration, which is why they refer to it as a hoax.
Meanwhile, on Capitol Hill, A reporter asked if Mike Johnson wanted to take a question about Epstein, to which Johnson ran away.
Republican James Comer, the Chairman of the House Oversight Committee confirmed Republicans will not investigate Donald Trump's signature on the Epstein birthday letter because he will take Trump "at his word."
With a government shutdown looming on Oct. 1, Democrats—facing pressure from their base after backing down in March—are weighing tougher demands such as extending Affordable Care Act subsidies, while Republicans show some flexibility, yet both parties appear more willing to fight this time, making the odds of a shutdown around 50–60%.
The Trump administration ended ICE’s long-standing requirement for officers to complete detailed worksheets before making immigration arrests, shifting from targeted enforcement to broad street sweeps; critics warn the change increases arbitrary stops, racial profiling risks, and legal liability for officers, while the White House pressures ICE to ramp up mass deportations despite court challenges.
A Michigan judge dismissed felony charges against 15 of Trump’s 2020 fake electors, ruling prosecutors failed to prove intent, a decision criticized by Attorney General Dana Nessel but celebrated by defendants and supporters as vindication, with some of the same electors later serving as real electors for Trump in 2024.
RFK Jr.’s new “Make Our Children Healthy Again” report lays out broad goals for improving kids’ health — including nutrition, exercise, and a new vaccine framework — but is criticized for lacking specifics, avoiding strong action on food and chemical regulation, and reflecting Kennedy’s long-standing skepticism of vaccines, raising concerns among public health experts about weakening established protections.
Decarlos Brown Jr., a repeat violent offender, has been federally charged with fatally stabbing 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska on a Charlotte train, with the Justice Department vowing to seek the maximum penalty, including life without parole or death.
William McNeil Jr., a 22-year-old Black man punched in the face by a white Jacksonville officer during a February traffic stop, has asked the DOJ to investigate possible civil rights violations, with his attorneys citing viral video evidence and a pattern of unaddressed excessive force complaints, while local authorities defended the officer’s actions and cleared him of wrongdoing.
The U.S. added 911,000 fewer jobs through March 2025 than initially reported, according to BLS revisions, raising concerns about a weakening labor market amid Trump’s tariffs and AI disruptions, with unemployment at 4.3%, recent job losses in key sectors, and Trump lashing out at the agency despite economists stressing such revisions are routine.
Firefighters are battling California’s Garnet fire, which has burned nearly 55,000 acres and is only 14% contained, as it threatens the ancient giant sequoias of McKinley Grove; precautionary sprinkler systems and fuel clearing have helped so far, but spot fires remain, air quality has deteriorated, and officials warn the coming days will be critical in determining whether the 2,000-year-old trees can survive.
French President Emmanuel Macron appointed Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu, 39, as France’s new prime minister after François Bayrou’s government fell in a confidence vote, marking the country’s fourth PM in a year; Lecornu, architect of a major military buildup amid Russia’s war in Ukraine, is seen as a loyal ally expected to bring continuity during France’s budget crises and political instability.
Nepal’s prime minister KP Sharma Oli resigned after deadly protests over a government social media ban left 19 dead and parliament set ablaze, with Gen Z–led demonstrators demanding accountability for corruption and police violence, as the army was deployed to restore order and the president invited protest leaders for talks.
A badly decomposed body was discovered in a bag inside the trunk of singer D4vd’s impounded Tesla at a Los Angeles tow lot, with police treating it as a death investigation; the artist, currently on tour, is said to be fully cooperating with authorities.
Israel and Gaza news:
Israel launched an attack on senior Hamas members in Doha, reportedly including the group’s chief negotiator; Israel’s Channel 12 cited an official claiming Donald Trump approved the strike, a move seen as shocking since Qatar has been a key mediator in Gaza ceasefire talks.
Karoline Leavitt called Israel’s strike on Hamas leaders in Doha “unfortunate,” stressing Qatar is a strong U.S. ally; said Trump was notified only shortly before, directed envoy Steve Witkoff to alert Qatar, reaffirmed U.S.-Qatar friendship, spoke with Netanyahu and Qatari leaders, and framed the incident as both regrettable and a potential opportunity for peace.
White House clarified that the U.S. military was notified about Israel’s strike in Doha only “this morning, just before the attack,” according to press secretary Karoline Leavitt.
Qatar’s foreign ministry spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari denied reports that Doha was informed in advance of Israel’s attack, saying the U.S. call only came as explosions were already being heard.
Reuters reported that Hamas sources said the ceasefire negotiating delegation survived the attack; video from Doha showed a massive blast in a residential area with smoke rising and people fleeing.
Hamas claimed the U.S. proposal under discussion was a deception meant to lure its members into a meeting to be attacked.
Eyewitnesses described multiple blasts in Doha’s Katara district, a popular tourist area; Al Jazeera said Hamas sources confirmed the blasts targeted a delegation involved in talks.
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu said he ordered the strike on Hamas leaders in Doha after recent attacks in Jerusalem and Gaza, calling it “entirely justified” and saying the decision was made at noon after spotting an “operational opportunity.”
Good news:
After decades of pollution, the Chicago River is set to welcome swimmers for the first time in over a century thanks to the Clean Water Act, major sewage and stormwater infrastructure upgrades, and nonprofit projects like Urban Rivers’ “Wild Mile,” which have restored wildlife and transformed the waterway into a biodynamic, swimmable, and revitalized urban asset.
Global rice prices have fallen to an 18-year low of about $365 per ton as per-acre yields nearly doubled to 4.7 tons since 1975, with 2025’s Asian rice crop expected to hit 541 million tons—advances in farming technology and irrigation driving record harvests that could help ease food insecurity despite ongoing crises.
See you in the morning.
— Aaron
