Amidst a vote to compel the full release of FBI files related to the Jeffrey Epstein investigation, U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett expressed skepticism towards the recent shifts in stance by former President Donald Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson. Initially dismissing the investigation as a “hoax,” Trump now supports the file’s release, prompting Johnson to follow suit, a move Crockett believes is insincere. Crockett suggests that Trump and Republicans aim to stall the release, potentially through the Senate or by using ongoing investigations as a legal justification, despite their public pronouncements. Furthermore, concerns exist, including from Republican Congressman Thomas Massie, that Trump’s call to investigate others involved in the Epstein case may further delay or obstruct the file’s release.
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During a recent meeting in the Oval Office, former President Trump downplayed the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, calling him “extremely controversial” and suggesting that raising the issue was intended to embarrass Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Trump maintained that the Crown Prince was not involved in the murder despite the CIA’s assessment that he likely approved the assassination. In his own defense, the Crown Prince acknowledged the murder was a “huge mistake” and claimed Saudi Arabia conducted a proper investigation. The visit marked the Crown Prince’s first to Washington since before the murder.
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Texas’ redrawn Congressional map blocked by court in shocking blow to GOP, and what a story it is. The news hit like a thunderclap, especially for a party that’s been riding high on its ability to reshape the political landscape. The whole plan was about shifting power, about getting a leg up in the midterms by strategically redrawing district lines. They were aiming for five more seats, a significant boost to their numbers, a real power play. But the court, in a move that’s sent ripples through the political world, has slammed the brakes on their carefully laid plans.
The court’s decision, handed down by a panel of judges in El Paso, essentially throws a wrench into the gears of the upcoming primary election.… Continue reading
A federal court has blocked Texas from using a redrawn U.S. House map, which was a key part of Trump’s efforts to maintain a Republican majority. The court ruled that the map racially gerrymandered the districts, reducing the influence of minority voters and violating the Voting Rights Act. The decision, made by a panel of judges, grants the critics’ request to block the map, forcing the state to use the 2021 map for upcoming elections. The ruling suggests the state intentionally manipulated district lines to create more majority-Hispanic and Black districts, despite the elimination of coalition districts.
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Investigators believe a misplaced label on a signal wire during the ship’s construction ultimately caused the Dali to lose power and collide with the Francis Scott Key Bridge. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has identified the label as the root cause, as it prevented a proper connection in a circuit breaker leading to a blackout. The initial blackout resulted in loss of steering and critical equipment failure, followed by a second blackout when power was not restored quickly enough. The NTSB is expected to vote on the cause of the crash and approve a final report with the collapse projected to cost 4.3 to 5.2 billion with the bridge opening by late 2030.
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In a call for his Republican colleagues to break with President Trump, Rep. Thomas Massie is pushing for the release of the Epstein files, emphasizing the long-term ramifications of their decision. Massie is leading a “discharge petition” that could force a vote to compel the Department of Justice to release the files, despite opposition from House leadership. The initiative gained enough support after the swearing in of a Democratic Rep., with new documents released also mentioning Donald Trump, while the White House has criticized the efforts as a smear campaign.
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Chicago police are investigating a brutal attack on the “L” train system where a 26-year-old woman was set on fire. Following an argument with a man, the suspect poured an unknown liquid on the woman and ignited it, causing her to catch fire. The suspect fled the scene, and the victim, who sustained severe burns, was rushed to Stroger hospital in critical condition. Authorities are still searching for the suspect, and the train lines were temporarily shut down for the investigation.
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Mark Epstein has alleged that the highly anticipated Epstein files are being edited to remove the names of Republicans, claiming the release is a “sabotage” of the documents. He stated an unnamed source informed him that the Trump administration is scrubbing the files to protect Republican officials, a claim that follows former President Donald Trump’s shift in encouraging their release. Additionally, Mark claimed that his brother had damaging information on Trump during the 2016 election cycle, further adding to the controversy surrounding the files. These allegations have surfaced amidst growing calls for transparency regarding the documents and the circumstances surrounding Jeffrey Epstein’s death.
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According to a Polish government official, the explosion on the railway line used for delivering aid to Ukraine was initiated by Russian secret services. Two individuals, Ukrainian collaborators with Russian intelligence, have been identified and are believed to be in Belarus. Prime Minister Donald Tusk has declared the act an “unprecedented act of sabotage,” with authorities investigating the incidents as “acts of sabotage of a terrorist nature.” As a result, the government will increase the threat level on specific railway lines and employ military protection for crucial infrastructure.
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The Trump administration removed the congressionally mandated “Not One More Report” on missing and murdered Native Americans from the Department of Justice website nearly 300 days ago, citing compliance with an executive order targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. The report, produced by the Not Invisible Act of 2020, aimed to provide solutions and educate the public on the crisis affecting Indigenous communities. Senators who championed the legislation, like Catherine Cortez Masto, expressed outrage and have reached out to the administration to have the report restored. The report detailed recommendations for alleviating the crisis, and its removal has been criticized as a misclassification of tribal nations and a lack of understanding regarding the issue.
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John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood