Good afternoon, everyone—and happy Friday!
There’s no shortage of urgent stories demanding our attention, and not nearly enough time to tell them all. But here we are, doing the work anyway.
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With that, here’s the news:
When asked about the Justice Department’s investigation into Ghislaine Maxwell and speculation over a possible pardon, Trump dismissed the matter, saying, “This is no time to be talking about pardons,” denied knowing details, and deflected blame toward Bill Clinton and Harvard’s former president, insisting the media “don’t talk about Trump.”
Donald Trump again says he was never briefed that his name was in the Epstein files.
Ghislaine Maxwell’s lawyer said she fully cooperated during two days of DOJ questioning, answering every question without invoking privilege, and confirmed no clemency offer was made by Trump’s Justice Department—though prosecutors have previously accused her of lying under oath and refusing to take responsibility for her crimes.
Kenny Laynez-Ambrosio, an 18-year-old US citizen, secretly recorded his violent arrest by immigration agents in Florida, who told him “You’ve got no rights,” as they used chokeholds and a stun gun on his undocumented friends—footage that has sparked renewed scrutiny of aggressive enforcement tactics, officer misconduct, and controversial arrest quotas under the Trump administration.
A Tennessee woman was denied prenatal care by a doctor citing “Christian values” because she is unmarried, forcing her to seek treatment across state lines—an alarming consequence of Tennessee’s new Medical Ethics Defense Act, which allows providers to refuse care based on moral or religious beliefs, further compounding fear and risk for pregnant people in a state already facing the nation’s highest maternal mortality rate.
Isaiah Martin, a Democratic congressional candidate and University of Houston graduate, was arrested inside the Texas State Capitol after protesting GOP-led redistricting efforts; video shows Martin being forcibly taken to the ground, and he now faces misdemeanor charges—his supporters argue the arrest was meant to silence dissent against election manipulation.
In response to escalating ICE raids under the Trump administration, the Los Angeles archdiocese has launched a Family Assistance Program to deliver food, medication, and essentials to parishioners too afraid to leave home—reflecting growing fear among immigrant communities and a faith-based effort to fill critical gaps as thousands face arrest, including some with no criminal record.
A former DOJ lawyer has submitted internal documents to a watchdog, corroborating claims that Trump ally Emil Bove—now under consideration for a lifetime federal judgeship—knowingly instructed DOJ attorneys to defy court orders, raising serious concerns about the integrity of prosecutions under the Trump administration.
Disgraced ex-Representative George Santos has reported to a federal prison in New Jersey to begin a seven-year sentence after pleading guilty to wire fraud and identity theft charges tied to his deceptive congressional campaign, marking a dramatic fall from grace for the ousted New York Republican.
Attorney General Pam Bondi is recovering from a torn cornea, according to a DOJ official, which led her to cancel a CPAC appearance—but the injury hasn’t stopped her from performing her duties, amid growing speculation about her absence during the ongoing Epstein controversy.
As Texas Republicans push to gerrymander congressional districts at Trump’s urging, 15 Texas Democrats met with Governors Gavin Newsom and JB Pritzker on Friday to explore countermeasures, slamming GOP efforts to manipulate elections amid a deadly flood crisis—while Newsom considers controversial legal avenues to bypass California’s independent redistricting commission.
Two senior NOAA officials who led the “Sharpiegate” investigation into Trump’s false hurricane forecast were placed on administrative leave just days before a Senate vote on Trump’s nominee for NOAA administrator—raising concerns of political retaliation, especially as the agency faces morale issues, budget cuts, and scrutiny over scientific integrity.
Over 130,000 Thai civilians have been evacuated amid the deadliest clashes in over a decade between Thailand and Cambodia, as artillery fire spreads to 12 locations along the disputed border; with rising casualties and both sides trading accusations, Thailand’s acting prime minister warns the conflict “could develop into war,” prompting international calls—including from the UN, US, China, and Malaysia—for an immediate ceasefire.
Good News:
Two University of Calgary students canoeing on Alberta’s Kananaskis River rescued a drowning foal trapped under a bridge, ultimately reuniting it with its mother after carrying the exhausted animal in their boat and contacting a local First Nations community—an act of compassion that likely saved the foal’s life.
A beloved pet parakeet named Rambi stunned his London family by turning up over 100 miles away in Dorset after escaping during a backyard barbecue; found by a stranger in a Sainsbury’s parking lot and confirmed by his ID tag, Rambi’s miraculous journey has inspired a potential children’s book and a joyful reunion that the owners call “unheard of.”
See you in the morning.
— Aaron
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