Epstein files become a fiasco of Trump's own making  —  Four months ago, President Trump blocked the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files.  Wednesday's disclosure of thousands of Epstein emails showed why. … But they shed new light on the relationship between the two men, with gossipy, unflattering descriptions of Trump by Epstein.

How a 17-Year-Old Girl Became Enmeshed in the Matt Gaetz Scandal  —  A 17-year-old with a homeless parent wanted money for braces and ended up having sex for money with powerful men.  She wants the public to have a fuller understanding of how she was victimized.  —  She was 17 and a high school junior in Florida.

Trump official refers Rep. Eric Swalwell for a federal criminal probe over alleged mortgage fraud  —  Swalwell is the latest Democrat to face mortgage fraud allegations from Federal Housing Finance Agency head Bill Pulte, who sent a letter to the Justice Department on Wednesday.

Top officials present Trump with military options for Venezuela in the coming days  —  Senior military officials on Wednesday presented President Trump with updated options for potential operations in Venezuela, including strikes on land, according to multiple sources familiar with the meetings at the White House.

Judge appears skeptical of Lindsey Halligan's appointment as interim US attorney … Currie seemed particularly concerned that a portion of the grand jury proceedings that led to Comey's indictment was “missing,” leaving certain aspects of Halligan's interactions with the grand jury unreviewable.

BU College Republicans president says he called ICE to ‘detain these criminals’ at Allston Car Wash  —  The president of Boston University College Republicans wrote on X he called the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement requesting it detain employees at Allston Car Wash, the site of a Nov. 4 raid where nine employees were arrested.

Record Numbers of Younger Women Want to Leave the U.S.  —  Desire to migrate among younger American women has quadrupled in the past decade  —  WASHINGTON, D.C. — For the second straight year, about one in five Americans say they would like to leave the U.S. and move permanently to another country if they could.

Justice Department sues to block California US House map in clash that could tip control of Congress  —  The Justice Department on Thursday sued to block new congressional district boundaries approved by California voters last week, joining a court battle that could help determine which party wins control of the U.S. House in 2026.

Designations of Antifa Ost and Three Other Violent Antifa Groups  —  Today, the Department of State announces the designation of Antifa Ost, Informal Anarchist Federation/International Revolutionary Front, Armed Proletarian Justice, and Revolutionary Class Self-Defense as Specially Designated …

In Explaining His Gaffe, Heritage Foundation Leader Pleads Ignorance … Kevin D. Roberts is the president of the Heritage Foundation, a powerful think tank at the center of conservative politics.  He makes more than $800,000 a year.  He manages a budget of $100 million.  He has a doctorate in history.

Sen. Fetterman hospitalized after collapsing near home due to heart issue  —  In a statement, the freshman senator's office said Fetterman is “doing well and receiving routine observation at the hospital.”  —  Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pennsylvania) was hospitalized in Pittsburgh following …

BBC apologizes to President Trump for documentary edit  —  The BBC apologized to President Trump after criticism over how a documentary edited his Jan. 6 speech, and said it does not plan to rebroadcast the program. … - A lawyer for President Trump had sent a letter to the British broadcaster threatening …

Justice Dept. Struggled to Find Lawyers to Handle Maurene Comey Suit  —  Ms. Comey sued the Trump administration after she was abruptly fired over the summer, saying the action was retaliation.  Federal attorneys in New York City and a Justice Department branch in Washington have declined to handle the case.

Letter from Chicago broadcast veterans: Federal immigration agents have traumatized us and eroded our rights  —  You know us.  —  For years, you watched and listened to our coverage of the Chicago area.  As journalists, we did our best to bring you accurate, objective information about the people, events and issues that mattered.

Rubio instructs US diplomats to consider obesity as a cause for rejecting visas … KFF Health News was first to report on the missive.  —  Adult obesity increases the risk of conditions including high blood pressure, breathing problems, gallstones and gall bladder disease, according to the cable …

“I Lost Everything”: Venezuelans Were Rounded Up in a Dramatic Midnight Raid but Never Charged With a Crime  —  On the night of the raid, heavily armed federal agents zip-tied Jhonny Manuel Caicedo Fereira's hands behind his back, marched him out of his Chicago apartment building and put him against a wall to question him.

Google Has Chosen a Side in Trump's Mass Deportation Effort  —  Google is hosting a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) app that uses facial recognition to identify immigrants, and tell local cops whether to contact ICE about the person, while simultaneously removing apps designed …

Drop in U.S. Religiosity Among Largest in World  —  Religion still more important in U.S. than in many OECD countries  —  WASHINGTON, D.C. — The 17-point drop in the percentage of U.S. adults who say religion is an important part of their daily life — from 66% in 2015 to 49% today …