White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles confirmed that President Donald Trump’s name is in the Epstein files, stating that the late sex offender and Trump were once “young, single playboys together.” Wiles also mentioned that Trump was on Epstein’s plane, the Lolita Express, and that the president is not in the file doing anything awful. The chief of staff offered criticism of Attorney General Pam Bondi’s handling of the Epstein matter. Wiles also denied the authenticity of an alleged birthday letter Trump sent to Epstein, dismissing it as “not his.”
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In a series of interviews with Vanity Fair, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles provided surprisingly candid assessments of President Trump, his allies, and his second-term agenda. Wiles described Trump’s personality as akin to an alcoholic and acknowledged a degree of retribution driving some of his actions. She also revealed instances where her advice was disregarded, particularly regarding deportations, pardons, and policy decisions like the boat-bombing campaign in Venezuela. Despite her critical comments, Wiles has been praised as the “most powerful woman in the world” by Trump, who claimed she has done a “fantastic job.”
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Elon Musk is funding Republican congressional candidates, signaling a thaw in tensions with Donald Trump and the Republican party. The world’s richest person and largest donor of the 2024 election cycle intends to continue donating through 2026. This comes after Musk reportedly paused efforts to create a new political party, the “America Party,” as he sought to maintain good relationships with prominent Republicans, including JD Vance, to whom he plans to give his backing in the 2028 election. Although Musk may be focused on his business ventures, he will continue to spend money to back candidates, despite the failed Trump experiment and shareholder disapproval.
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A recent poll indicates a surge in popularity for New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani since his election last month. The Siena College poll revealed improved favorability ratings across the state, with particularly strong support within New York City. The survey also highlighted support for some of Mamdani’s proposed policies, such as universal free childcare and eliminating fares on city buses. Experts suggest that Mamdani has entered a “honeymoon” period with voters, but his ability to advance his agenda will be a crucial test of his success in office.
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During an interview with Vanity Fair, Donald Trump’s chief of staff, Susie Wiles, confirmed the president’s name appears in the Epstein files but denied any wrongdoing. Wiles described Trump and Epstein as “young, single playboys together.” The article also mentions Trump’s claims of having a falling out with Epstein years ago and his denial of sending a birthday card to Epstein. Furthermore, Wiles disagreed with Trump’s claims about Bill Clinton’s involvement, stating that “the president was wrong.”
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In a significant move, former WWE star Mick Foley announced his departure from the company for at least three years due to WWE’s association with Donald Trump. Foley cited the President’s “incredibly cruel comments” regarding the death of Rob Reiner as the tipping point, expressing concerns over Trump’s treatment of immigrants and others. This decision was conveyed to the WWE, reflecting Foley’s dissatisfaction with the company’s ties to Trump and his administration. The WWE Hall of Famer, known for his diverse wrestling personas, further stated he would not represent the company while Trump remains in office.
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CBS News’ recent town hall featuring Erika Kirk, moderated by editor-in-chief Bari Weiss, garnered significantly low viewership, drawing only 1.548 million total viewers, a 27% decrease compared to standard programming in the same time slot year-to-date. Despite the network’s efforts to promote the event, including social media hype and preview airings, the online interest was also limited, with the YouTube video of the event receiving a mere 105,000 views. This contrasts with Kirk’s appearances on Fox News, which drew significantly larger audiences, and has led to criticism of Weiss’s decision to moderate, with some CBS News staffers deeming it “embarrassing.” The event’s commercial breaks featured direct-response advertisers, raising questions about advertiser wariness of the special.
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A leaked Justice Department memo from Attorney General Pam Bondi directs the FBI to establish a cash reward system targeting “Antifa-aligned extremists” and those promoting “radical gender ideology” for domestic terrorism investigations. The memo outlines priorities that diverge from addressing the far-right extremism linked to the majority of domestic terrorist incidents, and instead focuses on viewpoints related to immigration and anti-American sentiment. These actions align with a trend of shifting blame away from far-right actors, despite data demonstrating their significant role in domestic terrorism, including an increase in attacks in recent years. Furthermore, the memo’s focus on leftist groups and gender ideology appears to follow a pattern of downplaying far-right extremism, as evidenced by related events and the removal of data that contradicted the framing.
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Yale historian Greg Grandin posits that President Trump’s foreign policy is destabilizing the international order established after World War II. Grandin highlights the administration’s embrace of the Monroe Doctrine, suggesting a return to a world divided into spheres of influence, particularly in Latin America. Evidence includes military actions and political interference in the region, including military build-up in the Caribbean. Grandin warns that this shift toward a more aggressive, sphere-of-influence approach increases the risk of global conflict and “brinkmanship” similar to what was seen leading up to World War II.
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Regarding the BBC, the article highlights a defamation lawsuit filed by Trump in Miami, alleging the broadcaster maliciously spliced his comments to falsely portray him encouraging violence. Despite an apology from the BBC, the lawsuit proceeds, sparking controversy and prompting calls for action from British political figures. Internal concerns about the editing were raised, leading to the resignations of key BBC officials. Notably, the BBC’s funding comes from a mandatory license fee in the UK, adding another layer of complexity to the situation.
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John Q. Hosedrinker
Susie Wiles: Trump “Has an Alcoholic’s Personality” in Candid Interviews
In a series of interviews with Vanity Fair, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles provided surprisingly candid assessments of President Trump, his allies, and his second-term agenda. Wiles described Trump’s personality as akin to an alcoholic and acknowledged a degree of retribution driving some of his actions. She also revealed instances where her advice was disregarded, particularly regarding deportations, pardons, and policy decisions like the boat-bombing campaign in Venezuela. Despite her critical comments, Wiles has been praised as the “most powerful woman in the world” by Trump, who claimed she has done a “fantastic job.”
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