Good morning, everyone. There is a lot of major news to cover this morning.
Trump is reportedly furious over revelations that the Qatari Air Force One jet does not meet U.S. security standards. Now, in what critics are calling a major assault on the First Amendment, his administration is subpoenaing journalists at their homes. At the same time, the administration is obstructing key Epstein investigations, Kash Patel has been summoned to the White House, and Trump is reportedly preparing for the possibility of his own death by ordering missiles locked and loaded at Iran as Tehran vows to avenge the Ayatollah’s death.
I also spoke today with Epstein survivor Lara Blume McGee ahead of Todd Blanche’s confirmation hearing. For the first time, she shares her story on camera and says this Department of Justice has done nothing to protect survivors or deliver justice.
I told you I would never stop talking about the Epstein files, and I meant it. More interviews are coming. I know some people unsubscribe because I spend so much time covering this story, but I cannot stop until survivors get the justice they deserve.
Here’s the news:
Epstein News:
New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez accused the Justice Department of obstructing the state's reopened criminal investigation into Jeffrey Epstein's activities at Zorro Ranch by failing to provide requested unredacted federal records despite repeated requests since February. Torrez argues the withheld documents contain names of survivors, witnesses, and potential co-conspirators that are essential to pursuing state prosecutions, warning that delays are causing evidence to grow stale and investigative leads to disappear. While the Justice Department says it supports New Mexico's investigation and is prepared to assist, the dispute has complicated the state's renewed effort—which includes searches of the ranch, subpoenas, and a bipartisan truth commission—to fully investigate alleged crimes connected to Epstein's New Mexico property.
Reps. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) and Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) urged acting Attorney General Todd Blanche to fully comply with the Epstein Files Transparency Act, arguing the Justice Department has failed to release all required unredacted Epstein records and has overused redactions without sufficient explanations. Their letter, sent ahead of Blanche’s Senate confirmation hearing, cites a recent court order requiring additional document disclosures and criticizes the DOJ for missing deadlines while maintaining it has already complied with the law. The lawmakers contend that protecting victim privacy should not be used to broadly withhold records, saying full compliance is necessary to ensure transparency, accountability, and justice for survivors.
First Amendment Attack:
Overnight, while many were asleep, the Trump administration issued subpoenas to several New York Times reporters following the newspaper’s reporting on security concerns involving President Trump’s new Qatari-donated Air Force One. The subpoenas seek to compel the journalists to testify before a federal grand jury in Manhattan about an alleged violation of federal criminal law, though they provide few details. In some cases, federal agents delivered the subpoenas directly to reporters’ homes, an unusual step that the newspaper described as an escalation in the administration’s actions toward the press. The reporting in question cited anonymous sources discussing sensitive national security matters related to the aircraft.
Before one of the stories was published, an FBI official asked The New York Times to delay publication, citing national security concerns, and requested that the newspaper identify its confidential sources. The Times declined to reveal its sources and proceeded with publication. The newspaper strongly criticized the subpoenas, arguing they threaten press freedom and the public’s right to independent reporting. Statement from The New York Times: “Our journalists report the facts and advance the American public’s right to know how their government is operating and their taxpayer dollars are being used. This brazen act should be seen as nothing more than an attempt to prevent the public from knowing what is happening in their country by intimidating journalists from doing their jobs.”
The subpoenas come amid broader tensions between the Trump administration and major news organizations. While both Democratic and Republican administrations have pursued leak investigations, subpoenas targeting journalists are relatively uncommon, and First Amendment advocates warn they may discourage investigative reporting. It also highlights other recent legal disputes involving The New York Times, including lawsuits over Pentagon access, an employment discrimination case that the newspaper says is retaliatory, and a separate defamation lawsuit brought by President Trump. Together, these events reflect an ongoing legal and political conflict between the administration and the news media.
Trump’s Death Planning:
Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei vowed to avenge the death of his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, saying revenge “must certainly be carried out,” while President Trump warned that any Iranian assassination attempt against him would trigger a massive U.S. military response, claiming he had already issued orders to “completely decimate and destroy all areas of Iran.”
It comes as fears grow in and around the White House about threats on Trump’s life. Trump said he has left standing "instructions" for the U.S. to respond with overwhelming military force if he is assassinated by Iran. In an interview with the New York Post, he claimed he has been a long-term target of Iranian threats and said that, if anything happens to him, the response should be to "literally bomb them at levels that they've never seen before." His comments come as the conflict with Iran continues into its fifth month and after he declared a recent ceasefire effectively over. Trump also repeated similar remarks he made earlier in his second term about Iran being "obliterated" if it carried out an assassination.
Overnight, Trump warned that if Iran carries out an assassination attempt against him, the U.S. military has standing orders to launch an overwhelming response, claiming "1000 Missiles are Locked and Loaded" and threatening to "completely decimate and destroy" Iran. His comments followed reports of an alleged Iranian assassination plot shared by Israeli intelligence and renewed threats from Iran's new Supreme Leader, while Trump said he has long been Iran's "No. 1 target" and confirmed he has already left instructions for a massive military retaliation if he is killed.
Israeli intelligence recently warned the United States of a specific alleged Iranian plot to assassinate President Trump, though U.S. officials had not independently verified the intelligence and some viewed it as potentially aimed at influencing Trump's decisions on Iran. U.S. intelligence has long assessed that Iran could target Trump in retaliation for the 2020 killing of General Qasem Soleimani, and officials say they continue to monitor multiple potential threats. The report comes as U.S.-Iran tensions remain high, with diplomacy continuing alongside military preparations despite the breakdown of a recent ceasefire.
Kash Patel:
According to MS Now, FBI Director Kash Patel abruptly canceled a planned trip to Chicago after being called to the White House, though administration officials disputed reports that he was summoned over internal frustration. According to the report, some White House officials were concerned about Patel's recent actions, including criticism over his use of FBI resources for travel, a combative social media post, and negative publicity surrounding trips tied to his girlfriend's performances.
Patel had planned to combine an official visit to the FBI's Chicago field office with attending his girlfriend's country music festival performance, prompting internal complaints that the work event was added to justify the travel. The White House said Patel's visit was for unrelated meetings, while the FBI declined to comment and defended his travel as compliant with federal rules. The report also says President Trump and some senior aides have grown frustrated with recurring controversies surrounding Patel because they believe they distract from the administration's broader agenda.
Patel responded to criticism over his reported use of government resources by posting on X, "Nah, my jet ski is gold plated… dumbass," after criticism that he should keep a lower profile amid growing scrutiny. Patel is facing questions from lawmakers about his travel, spending, and use of FBI resources, while the FBI has denied any wrongdoing and disputed the allegations. His social media response drew widespread criticism online, with many users arguing it reinforced concerns about his judgment and leadership rather than addressing the substance of the allegations.
Other news:
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced two consumer protection measures aimed at reducing hidden costs and subscription hassles: a Click-to-Cancel rule, taking effect October 1, that requires businesses to make canceling subscriptions as easy as signing up, and a proposed all-in pricing rule that would require upfront disclosure of total prices for services like hotels, event tickets, and deliveries. City officials estimate the cancellation rule could save New Yorkers up to $162.5 million annually, while businesses that violate the proposed pricing rule could face $525 fines and be required to issue refunds after a public hearing on August 7.
A federal judge granted the Justice Department's request to permanently dismiss the remaining convictions of four Proud Boys leaders involved in the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack, following President Trump's 2025 pardons and sentence commutations for many Jan. 6 defendants. Although Judge Timothy Kelly approved the dismissal because the executive branch chose to abandon the prosecution, he emphasized that his ruling should not be interpreted as agreement with that decision, noting the convictions were for serious crimes. The ruling closes one of the last major Jan. 6 criminal cases, with the defendants and former Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio celebrating the outcome.
Dr. Mehmet Oz became the latest Trump administration official to post a workout video, demonstrating what he described as proper squat technique.
European governments are considering a proposal that would allow voluntary navigation service fees in the Strait of Hormuz, modeled on the Strait of Malacca, while rejecting any mandatory tolls that would give Iran control over international shipping. The discussions come as the U.S. presses Iran to publicly guarantee safe passage through the waterway, diplomatic efforts continue through Oman, and disagreements persist over the future governance of the strait following renewed U.S.-Iran tensions and recent attacks on commercial shipping.
Severe flooding in southeastern Missouri prompted the rescue of more than 200 children and staff from Camp Taum Sauk by National Guard Black Hawk helicopters after roads became impassable, while another 20 people were rescued from a campground where a building collapsed under floodwaters. Officials reported no confirmed fatalities, though one woman remained missing after her home was swept away, and Governor Mike Kehoe declared a state of emergency as rivers continued rising, major roads closed, and forecasters warned that additional heavy rain could worsen flooding.
See you soon.
— Aaron
