Trump's Epstein Fiasco Takes Darker Turn as Dem Senator Drops New Bomb  —  A few days ago, as the Jeffrey Epstein scandal gripped Washington, Senator Ron Wyden offered a striking revelation in an interview with The New York Times.  The Oregon Democrat said that his investigators had discovered …

I Watched It Happen in Hungary.  Now It's Happening Here.  —  As the most recent U.S. ambassador to Viktor Orban's Hungary, I'm often asked if the Trump administration's tactics and policies feel familiar.  The short answer is yes.  But the more important — and unsettling — question is this …

About That Japan Deal  —  So the Trump administration has triumphantly announced a trade deal with Japan, and I guess I should post something about it, even though my regular morning post — on a completely different topic — is already up.  —  There are three main things you should take away from this deal:

‘POTUS is clearly furious’: White House is frustrated by all-consuming Epstein coverage … “POTUS is clearly furious,” said a person close to the White House, who, like others in this story, was granted anonymity to discuss the mood inside the West Wing.  “It's the first time I've seen them sort of paralyzed.”

U.S. deportees, freed from Salvadoran prison, describe ‘horror movie’  —  Three Venezuelans, released last week from the Terrorism Confinement Center, said they were repeatedly beaten and denied access to lawyers.  —  just now  —  Julio González Jr. had agreed to be deported to Venezuela.

Investigation of Harvard University Participation in the Exchange Visitor Program  —  The U.S. Department of State is opening an investigation into Harvard University's continued eligibility as a sponsor for the Exchange Visitor Program.  —  All sponsors participating in this program …

JD Vance Claims One of Our Worst Traditions as His Own  —  More than most recent vice presidents, JD Vance seems to be locked out of the room where it happens.  —  Stephen Miller, the White House deputy chief of staff, is by most accounts the president's point person on mass deportation and immigration enforcement.

Trump's Epstein Denials Are Ever So Slightly Unconvincing  —  Sign up for Trump's Return, a newsletter featuring coverage of the second Trump presidency.  —  Imagine you were an elected official who discovered that an old friend had been running a sex-trafficking operation without your knowledge.

Johnson defends House GOP Epstein strategy amid legislative chaos  —  Speaker Mike Johnson is on the defensive as he prepares to let the House leave early for August recess rather than allow his conference be hammered further by agitation on both sides of the aisle over votes to release the Jeffrey Epstein files.

E.P.A. Is Said to Draft a Plan to End Its Ability to Fight Climate Change  —  According to two people familiar with the draft, it would eliminate the bedrock scientific finding that greenhouse-gas emissions threaten human life by dangerously warming the planet.

Exclusive: Newly discovered photos and video shed fresh light on Trump's ties to Jeffrey Epstein  —  Newly uncovered archived video footage and photos reveal fresh details about Donald Trump's past relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.  —  Photos from 1993 confirm for the first time that Epstein …

When you're a star, the Supreme Court lets you do it  —  “When you're a star, they let you do it.  You can do anything.”  - Donald J. Trump  —  Renewed scrutiny of Trump's ties to Jeffrey Epstein reminds us of just how Trump's strategy with women — assaulting them without permission …

Skydance Tells FCC It Will Create CBS News Ombudsman, Eliminate DEI at Paramount  —  The company said it would commit to a “comprehensive review” post-transaction. … Skydance has told the Federal Communications Commission that once its acquisition of Paramount Global is complete …

Behind the Curtain: Losing by winning  —  President Trump, in terms of raw accomplishments, crushed his first six months in historic ways.  Massive tax cuts.  Record-low border crossings.  Surging tariff revenue.  Stunning air strikes in Iran.  Modest inflation.

Silicon Valley AI Startups Are Embracing China's Controversial ‘996’ Work Schedule  —  In an industry once known for cushy perks, some founders are now asking staff to commit to a 72-hour weekly schedule.  You're either in or you're out.  —  Would you like to work nearly double the standard 40-hour week?

The Administration Wants Military Women to Know Their Place  —  Pete Hegseth seems to be on a mission to erase women from the top ranks of the U.S. armed forces.  —  President Donald Trump and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth seem to be on a mission to erase women from the top ranks of the U.S. armed forces.

Jeffrey Epstein's Former Attorney Who Secured Plea Deal Dead at 80  —  Roy Black, the prominent defense attorney who helped secure Jeffrey Epstein's 2008 plea deal, has died, according to his law partner.  —  Black died on Monday at his home in Coral Gables at the age of 80 after an illness, his law partner Howard Srebnick said.

Lawler Will Seek Re-election to House, Forgoing Run for N.Y. Governor  —  Representative Mike Lawler's decision clears a path for his Republican House colleague, Elise Stefanik, to challenge Gov. Kathy Hochul.  —  Representative Mike Lawler, Republican of New York, plans to seek re-election …

How Many Obama Arrest Threats Does It Take to Change a Storyline?  —  Among the various silly and dangerous things House Republicans are doing these days—about which more below—perhaps the silliest is trying to rename the opera theater inside the Kennedy Center after Melania Trump.

Macrons file US lawsuit over claims France's first lady was born male  —  Case against rightwing influencer Candace Owens is a rare defamation suit from a serving world leader  —  Kaye Wiggins in New York, Leila Abboud in Paris and Lauren Fedor in Washington

‘You Could Throw Out the Results of All These Papers’  —  David Geier has previously used the CDC's vaccine-safety database to publish research with glaring flaws.  Now he seems to have his hands on the data once again.  —  Mark and David Geier were a father-and-son team of researchers …

Democratic memo: The party's redistricting problem goes much deeper … The memo indicates that 39 of 50 states give state legislatures control over congressional lines, and Republicans have been significantly more successful in controlling statehouses since investing millions into their “REDMAP” strategy in 2010.

The High Costs of Trump's ‘Big Beautiful’ New Car Loan Deduction  —  By letting some buyers deduct interest on auto loans, the GOP megabill promises to lower transportation bills.  But this tax break could do the opposite.  —  On July 4, US President Donald Trump signed the $3.4 trillion fiscal package …

Georgia has gone from luxury to necessity for Democrats  —  Luckily for them, Jon Ossoff has an edge. … When Bill Clinton won the state of Georgia in 1992, he didn't really need it.  Even without the Peach State, Clinton would have walked away with 357 electoral votes — a blowout by modern standards.

Exclusive: Sen. Slotkin prepared to go “nuclear” over Texas redistricting  —  Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) says she's not going to fight “with one arm tied behind” her back as Texas Republicans pursue a Trump-backed mid-decade redistricting. … - As House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries …

Republicans Are Panicking Over the Virginia Governor's Race … When the Republican Governor's Association convened this week for its annual summer fundraiser in Aspen, Colorado, there was an elephant in the room at the St. Regis: How little can it get away with contributing to its all-but-hopeless candidate for Virginia governor?

Columbia disciplines 70 students for protest as school pleads with Trump for funding … We rely on your support to make local news available to all  —  Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2025.  Donate today  —  Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

Exclusive: “Release the damn” Epstein files, Tillis says  —  Sen. Thom Tillis R-N.C.) said Wednesday that the Trump administration should “release the damn” Jeffrey Epstein files as the best way to put the whole issue in the rearview. … - “It makes no sense to me,” Tillis told Axios' Stef Kight …

Lying ex-Rep. George Santos admits his chin is fake — as he shares his biggest fear about prison ahead of 87-month sentence  —  WASHINGTON — Even his chin is fake!  —  George Santos — the onetime Brazilian drag queen-turned-politician-turned- convicted liar — revealed his biggest fear …

Tortured Logic  —  We need to stop abusing migrants, now … Dear Matt,  —  Could sending illegal immigrants to war-ravaged, inhospitable countries be anything other than torture?  —  Brian M.  —  I see what's going on here.  You're trying to bait me into moralizing again, aren't you?

Trump advisers abandon effort to find new chief of staff to serve Pete Hegseth  —  Exclusive: White House has left Ricky Buria to continue in role in an acting capacity as efforts to block him fizzled  —  Donald Trump's advisers have for now abandoned an effort to find a new chief of staff …

HFC losing influence in Trump's Washington  —  The House Freedom Caucus has a reputation for wreaking havoc.  But the far-right group is falling flat in Donald Trump's Washington.  —  Just a few recent examples: … But the package passed with the group getting little in return.

US-funded contraceptives for poor nations to be burned in France, sources say  —  U.S.-funded contraceptives worth nearly $10 million are being sent to France from Belgium to be incinerated, after Washington rejected offers from the United Nations and family planning organisations to buy …