Newly released documents reveal that Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, despite previously distancing himself from Jeffrey Epstein, planned a visit to Epstein’s private island in 2012. Emails show Lutnick’s request for a dinner invitation to the island, which was then followed by an invitation to lunch on Little St. James. Furthermore, documents indicate Lutnick invited Epstein to a Hillary Clinton fundraiser in 2015. These details cast further doubt on Lutnick’s previous claims of minimal interaction with the disgraced financier, especially considering Lutnick’s previous acknowledgement of having seen the massage room in Epstein’s townhouse.
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The Department of Justice and the United States Postal Service awarded its first-ever whistleblower reward, totaling $1 million, for information that helped dismantle a $16 million fraud scheme involving EBlock Corporation, an online vehicle auction company. The whistleblower’s tip led to criminal and antitrust charges against the company, which allegedly engaged in placing fake bids to inflate used vehicle prices. Consequently, EBlock Corporation will pay a $3.28 million fine and implement remedial measures, including a compliance program. The DOJ’s new Whistleblower Rewards Program, which offers rewards for reporting postal-related antitrust crimes, aims to combat corporate collusion and protect consumers.
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Speaking in the Oval Office, President Trump claimed his “silent majority” of supporters “don’t riot” while defending his deportation policies, seemingly referencing anti-ICE protests. This statement was made weeks after the fifth anniversary of the January 6th Capitol riot, in which Trump supporters stormed the Capitol building. Social media users quickly pointed out this contradiction, sharing footage of the riot that resulted in multiple deaths and accusations that Trump incited the insurrection. Polls show that the majority of Americans disagree with Trump’s immigration policies, which indicates a vulnerability for Republicans in the upcoming 2026 midterms.
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Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has previously downplayed his association with Jeffrey Epstein but was subpoenaed in 2023 regarding potential referrals to JPMorgan Chase. Newly released documents, including emails from 2012 and 2013, show Musk communicating with Epstein about potential visits to his island and mentioning his then-partner. While Musk has denied ever traveling to Epstein’s island, these emails reveal detailed plans and logistics. Furthermore, the documents indicate Musk forwarded Epstein’s inquiries about SolarCity services to his cousin, who was a SolarCity founder.
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Project 2025, a detailed conservative agenda, presented a rare opportunity for accurate prediction but was instead met with journalistic surprise despite its public availability. While advocacy groups like the ACLU warned of the plan’s negative impacts, their concerns were often dismissed as partisan, whereas Trump’s denials, even when demonstrably false, were treated as newsworthy facts. This journalistic approach, prioritizing neutrality and minimizing the appearance of bias, ultimately allowed Trump’s lies to be laundered into legitimate disagreements, hindering voters from understanding the gravity of the situation. The failure to simply acknowledge the obvious – the existence of the document, its authors, Trump’s endorsements, and his lies – directly hampered the ability of the press to inform the public.
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The federal government has entered a partial shutdown as lawmakers failed to pass a funding package before the deadline. The Senate approved a measure encompassing five appropriations bills and a short-term resolution for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), but the House, which is scheduled to vote on Monday, still needs to pass it. Disagreement over DHS funding, particularly regarding immigration enforcement, delayed the process, leading to the current shutdown. With some House Republicans already seeking changes, and concerns about a long-term DHS funding bill, the path forward remains uncertain.
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Recent data reveals the detrimental impact of President Trump’s tariff policies on American alcohol manufacturers, particularly in Canada. Provincial liquor store boycotts in Quebec and Ontario have led to a staggering 91% decline in U.S. wine sales to Canada since 2024, causing major losses for companies like Brown-Forman and prompting production suspensions at plants like Jim Beam’s. This situation has forced smaller distillers to drastically reduce sales and shift production to Canada, alongside a rise in prices and scarcity of imported goods in American bars. Despite these consequences, the President has shown no inclination to alter his course, even threatening further tariffs on foreign products in response to political disagreements.
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Previously a vocal advocate for the release of the Epstein files, Elon Musk now claims they are a “distraction” that “doesn’t matter” after his emails planning to visit Epstein’s island were exposed. In released emails from 2012 and 2013, Musk actively sought invitations to Epstein’s parties and even requested Epstein’s help in finding a party scene. These revelations contradict Musk’s earlier denials of ever visiting the island and portray a stark contrast to his past insistence on the files’ importance. After the release of the files, Musk’s supporters attempted to defend him on X, while his critics took the opposite stance.
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Senator Bernie Sanders’ amendment, which proposed redirecting $75 billion from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to Medicaid, failed to pass the Senate by a slim margin of 49-51. The amendment was brought forth in response to the growing concern over ICE’s actions, particularly in cities like Minneapolis. Sanders argued that the funding would be better utilized to provide healthcare for Americans, especially since ICE’s actions are reflective of a “domestic army” terrorizing communities, and therefore should not be funded further. Despite the amendment’s failure, Sanders voted against the broader appropriations bill, citing his opposition to continued funding for ICE without fundamental reforms.
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The Justice Department’s recent release of three million files related to Jeffrey Epstein has sparked controversy, particularly concerning the identities of his associates and potential protection by the department. Ghislaine Maxwell, an Epstein accomplice, alleged that 29 of Epstein’s friends were shielded through secret settlements. Critics point out the incongruity of having extensive files detailing Epstein and Maxwell’s trafficking but an inability to identify those involved, suggesting a potential cover-up by the Justice Department to protect wealthy abusers.
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John Q. Hosedrinker
Trump Claims Followers Don’t Riot, Ignoring January 6th
Speaking in the Oval Office, President Trump claimed his “silent majority” of supporters “don’t riot” while defending his deportation policies, seemingly referencing anti-ICE protests. This statement was made weeks after the fifth anniversary of the January 6th Capitol riot, in which Trump supporters stormed the Capitol building. Social media users quickly pointed out this contradiction, sharing footage of the riot that resulted in multiple deaths and accusations that Trump incited the insurrection. Polls show that the majority of Americans disagree with Trump’s immigration policies, which indicates a vulnerability for Republicans in the upcoming 2026 midterms.
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