Good morning, everyone. There is a lot to cover today. I am currently watching Todd Blanche’s confirmation hearing and will be speaking this afternoon with a senator who is questioning him. The Trump administration has informed the New Mexico attorney general that it will not cooperate with the state’s only active criminal investigation related to the Epstein files. That comes as Epstein survivors continue urging the Senate to reject Blanche’s confirmation. Meanwhile, the bombing campaign in Iran is escalating, Trump is demanding that ICE resume traffic stops, and there is much more to cover.
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Here’s the news:
Epstein Investigation:
New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez is escalating a dispute with the Justice Department, accusing federal officials of refusing to provide unredacted Jeffrey Epstein records needed for the state’s active criminal investigation into alleged crimes at Epstein’s Zorro Ranch. Torrez said the DOJ has failed to honor earlier assurances of cooperation and gave the department until July 31 to release the records or face legal action. The Justice Department rejected those claims, saying it cannot legally release millions of unredacted documents because of federal law, court orders, and privacy protections for victims and witnesses. The dispute centers on New Mexico’s effort to investigate allegations that Epstein trafficked and abused girls at his ranch, including claims tied to a 2019 email alleging two foreign girls were buried on the property.
The New Mexico Attorney General confirmed that the Trump Administration will not comply with their criminal investigation into the Epstein files.
Former Goldman Sachs chief legal officer Kathryn Ruemmler is scheduled to appear before the House Oversight Committee for a closed-door interview about her relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Lawmakers say recently released Justice Department records indicate Ruemmler remained in contact with Epstein between 2014 and 2019, years after his 2008 conviction, and allegedly provided informal legal advice while receiving expensive gifts. Ruemmler has denied any wrongdoing, saying she never formally represented Epstein, regrets knowing him, and has sympathy for his victims. She resigned as Goldman Sachs’ chief legal officer earlier this year but remains with the bank as an adviser. Her testimony is part of the committee’s broader investigation into Epstein’s network, which has also included interviews with other prominent political and business figures.
Todd Blanche:
Epstein survivors are urging the Senate to reject Todd Blanche's nomination for attorney general ahead of his confirmation hearings, arguing the Justice Department mishandled the release of Epstein files under his leadership. Advocacy group World Without Exploitation says the DOJ exposed survivors' names, phone numbers, and home addresses while keeping many alleged abusers and powerful associates redacted, putting victims' safety at risk and revictimizing them. The group also criticized the department for failing to release millions of remaining Epstein-related documents and for not pursuing others allegedly involved in Epstein's crimes. Blanche has defended the DOJ's handling of the records, saying the Epstein files should no longer be an issue after the department released the documents under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, but survivors continue calling on senators to vote against his confirmation.
I spoke with Jess Michaels yesterday:
I asked Epstein survivor Jess Michaels what would she tell Senators during Todd Blanche's confirmation hearing. She said it simply: You cannot say an investigation is concluded when you have not met with the survivors.
I also spoke with Lara Blume McGee:
Senator Dick Durbin said Todd Blanche admitted, “I made a mistake,” regarding the Trump administration’s controversial IRS settlement and the proposed anti-weaponization fund during a private meeting ahead of Blanche’s confirmation hearing. Durbin said Blanche acknowledged the error after lawmakers raised concerns about the arrangement, which has faced bipartisan scrutiny. The reported admission comes as Blanche seeks Senate confirmation for a top Justice Department role. The settlement and fund have become a key issue in his confirmation process, with senators pressing him over his judgment and independence.
Durbin to Blanche: Under your leadership, more than 1,000 FBI personnel were pulled off of other priorities and directed to flag Epstein Records for any mentions of Trump. When scrutiny of the cover-up intensified, you participated in meetings in the White House Situation Room to strategize about how to protect Trump, not Epstein survivors. In clear violation of the Epstein Files Transparency Act, your explanation, “It isn’t a crime to party with Mr. Epstein.” These survivors deserve much better.
The New York City Bar Association urged the Senate Judiciary Committee to reject Todd Blanche’s nomination for U.S. Attorney General, arguing that his record as Deputy and Acting Attorney General shows he lacks the independence, ethics, and commitment to the rule of law required for the position. The letter accuses Blanche of pursuing politically motivated prosecutions, placing loyalty to President Trump above the Constitution, undermining the Justice Department through firings and restructuring, and violating professional ethical standards. It also criticizes his role in the Trump IRS settlement and his handling of the Jeffrey Epstein investigation, arguing those actions demonstrate conflicts of interest and abuse of authority. The association concludes that Blanche is unfit to lead the Justice Department and calls on the Senate to reject his confirmation.
Iran:
The U.S. dramatically escalated its war with Iran by launching a new wave of airstrikes after four consecutive nights of attacks, targeting military sites tied to threats against commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran retaliated with missile and drone attacks aimed at U.S. allies including Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan, while Iranian officials said recent American strikes killed at least 30 people and wounded more than 260. President Trump warned that unless Iran agrees to negotiate, the U.S. will expand its campaign to target bridges, power plants, and other critical infrastructure next week.
The battle over the Strait of Hormuz remains at the center of the conflict, with Iran insisting the waterway is closed to all vessels and claiming it fired warning shots at commercial ships attempting to pass through. The Trump administration, however, says the strait is open to all shipping except Iranian vessels as the U.S. reimposes a naval blockade targeting Iran’s ports and cargo. Ongoing attacks have effectively brought commercial traffic through the vital oil route to a standstill, despite competing claims over who controls it. European aviation authorities have also warned airlines to avoid flying over much of the Persian Gulf because of the growing risk posed by missiles, drones, and air defense systems.
The renewed fighting is driving economic and global security concerns as oil prices remain elevated, with Brent crude trading above $85 a barrel after surging on news of the blockade and intensified strikes. CENTCOM said its latest operations are intended to weaken Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping and civilian crews, while both countries continue exchanging military attacks. The collapse of the ceasefire has raised fears that the conflict is sliding back toward a broader regional war with no immediate diplomatic breakthrough in sight. Military operations, retaliatory attacks, and threats against shipping lanes continue to escalate as both sides show little sign of backing down.
Other News:
Trump said Wednesday that ICE should continue using traffic stops despite the agency’s recent decision to suspend most of them following a series of fatal shootings involving immigration officers. The apparent reversal comes after ICE officers fatally shot motorists in Maine and Texas and another man died while fleeing federal agents in Florida, fueling criticism of the agency’s enforcement tactics. Trump called traffic stops one of ICE’s “most important and effective” crime-fighting tools and argued ending them would benefit criminals. At least 11 people have died during immigration enforcement operations since the administration’s mass deportation campaign began, with several deaths involving vehicle encounters. Critics, including law enforcement experts and some lawmakers, have urged ICE to reconsider the tactic, warning that shootings involving moving vehicles pose serious risks to both officers and civilians.
Civil rights leaders, including Rev. Al Sharpton and Martin Luther King III, have announced a “March on Washington 2026: Defend the Vote” on August 28 to push for stronger voting rights protections. Organizers say the march is a response to recent Supreme Court rulings they believe have weakened key provisions of the Voting Rights Act, particularly protections against racial discrimination in elections. The demonstration will mark the 63rd anniversary of the historic 1963 March on Washington and aims to pressure lawmakers while mobilizing public support for voting rights. A broad coalition of civil rights, labor, and advocacy organizations, including the NAACP and National Urban League, is expected to participate alongside members of Congress. Organizers say the event is intended to highlight what they view as growing threats to voting access and representation in the United States.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent unveiled the first images of a new $1 gold coin featuring President Donald Trump’s likeness, saying the U.S. Mint will begin striking it to commemorate America’s 250th anniversary. Bessent said the coin is intended to celebrate American liberty, patriotism, and the nation’s semiquincentennial, and its design matches one of the proposed 250th anniversary concepts released earlier this year. The unveiling is likely to spark legal scrutiny because federal law generally bars living people from appearing on U.S. currency, although the Trump administration argues a 2020 law authorizing special 250th anniversary coin designs allows the coin to proceed. The announcement comes just weeks after the administration also introduced a new $250 bill bearing Trump’s image, raising broader questions about the legality of featuring a sitting president on U.S. currency.
Jay Clayton, President Trump's nominee to become director of national intelligence, is expected to receive a relatively favorable reception at his Senate confirmation hearing as lawmakers from both parties seek to replace acting DNI Bill Pulte. Democrats view Clayton as a more conventional choice than Pulte but are expected to press him on whether he would protect the intelligence community from political interference ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. The hearing comes as the White House prepares to declassify intelligence documents related to the 2020 election and ahead of Trump's planned speech on election integrity. Clayton has previously questioned election security, arguing mail voting creates greater opportunities for fraud, despite repeated findings that there was no widespread fraud in the 2020 election. Republicans also hope Clayton's confirmation will help break a congressional stalemate over renewing key U.S. surveillance authorities, which Democrats have tied to replacing Pulte as acting intelligence chief.
Engineers at U.S. startup Tornyol demonstrated a tiny autonomous drone that successfully intercepted and knocked a flying moth out of the air, marking what the company called its first successful mid-air insect takedown. The 40-gram drone uses ultrasonic sensors, microphones, and AI-powered software to detect the unique wingbeat signatures of insects, with the long-term goal of identifying and targeting mosquitoes by species and sex. The company says swarms of about 10 drones could eventually clear mosquitoes from an area of one square kilometer, though that claim has not yet been tested outside the laboratory. Tornyol hopes the technology will provide a chemical-free, lower-cost way to reduce mosquito populations and combat mosquito-borne diseases.
The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has surpassed 2,000 confirmed cases and claimed at least 754 lives, making it the fastest-growing outbreak of its kind on record. Health workers at hospitals in the hardest-hit areas have gone on strike, saying they have not been paid despite working on the front lines of the crisis. The World Health Organization says roughly 80% of new infections are coming from unknown chains of transmission, while ongoing conflict, population displacement, and mining activity have made contact tracing extremely difficult. Officials have also been unable to identify the outbreak’s first patient, and there are currently no approved vaccines or treatments for the Bundibugyo strain driving the outbreak. Researchers have begun clinical trials of two potential treatments as health authorities race to contain the rapidly spreading virus.
Capt. Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger, the pilot celebrated for safely landing US Airways Flight 1549 on the Hudson River in 2009, announced that he has been diagnosed with early-stage Alzheimer's disease at age 75. In a statement, Sullenberger said he is beginning a "long journey" with the disease but hopes speaking publicly will encourage other families affected by Alzheimer's to come forward. He said he remains committed to serving others and continuing his advocacy for aviation safety despite the diagnosis. Alzheimer's affects roughly 7 million Americans, has no cure, and is the most common form of dementia, though treatments can help manage symptoms and slow progression.
England's run to the World Cup semifinals has provided a major financial boost for pubs across the country, with millions of extra pints sold and some establishments seeing around 15% of their annual sales generated during the tournament. Pub owners say Wednesday's semifinal against Argentina is expected to be the busiest night yet, with more than 6 million additional pints projected to be sold nationwide. Despite the surge in business, industry leaders warn that rising taxes, business rates, and operating costs continue to force pubs to close, with 161 shutting their doors in the first three months of the year alone. Hospitality groups argue that temporary government relief is not enough and are calling for long-term tax and business rate reforms to keep pubs financially viable. Many owners say the World Cup offers a welcome boost, but stress that the industry cannot rely on a major sporting event every four years to survive.
New York City health officials are responding to a Legionnaires' disease outbreak on the Upper East Side after 76 building cooling towers tested positive for Legionella bacteria. Sixty people have been diagnosed with the disease this month, including 15 who remain hospitalized, though no deaths have been reported. Officials have ordered building owners to disinfect contaminated cooling towers, with most already completing the required cleanup while others face a deadline to do so. Health authorities say the outbreak is linked to cooling tower mist, not drinking water or air conditioners, and are urging anyone who recently visited the affected area to watch for symptoms such as fever, chills, fatigue, confusion, and diarrhea. The city says the outbreak appears to be slowing but continues to investigate the exact source while warning that additional cases may still emerge due to the disease's incubation period.
A Utah man has been arrested after police say he stabbed a Muslim man multiple times inside a shopping mall because of the victim’s religion. Authorities allege the suspect told investigators he intentionally targeted the victim because he was Muslim and expressed violent anti-Muslim beliefs, leading police to describe him as a significant danger to the public. The victim, a kiosk worker, remains in critical condition after reportedly being stabbed numerous times before bystanders subdued the attacker until officers arrived. The suspect now faces attempted murder and weapons charges, while Muslim advocacy organizations have condemned the attack and called for accountability. The incident has renewed concerns about anti-Muslim violence and rising religiously motivated hate crimes in the United States.
A Louisiana man has been charged with the murder of Deputy U.S. Marshal Drew Hanson after authorities say he opened fire on law enforcement officers attempting to arrest him at his home in Alexandria. Clarence A. Frazier Jr., 48, allegedly shot Hanson while U.S. marshals and sheriff’s deputies were serving an arrest warrant after he failed to appear for trial on rape and sexual battery charges. Prosecutors charged Frazier in federal court with the murder of a federal officer, an offense punishable by life in prison or the death penalty, before he was taken into custody following a standoff. Frazier had been scheduled to stand trial that day on felony rape and sexual battery charges and was also listed as a registered sex offender. Acting U.S. Attorney Todd Blanche said Frazier will be prosecuted “to the fullest extent of the law.”
One person is dead and three others remain missing after a 50-foot cabin cruiser carrying 20 adults capsized near Alcatraz Island during a family memorial service in San Francisco Bay. Authorities believe rough waters and a large wave may have caused the boat to overturn, throwing passengers into the water. Thirteen people were rescued, while three others were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries and were expected to recover. Rescue crews, including the Coast Guard, firefighters, divers, helicopters, and local law enforcement, continued an extensive overnight search for the missing passengers. Officials also confirmed that a dog aboard the vessel died in the incident as investigators work to determine the exact cause of the capsizing.
China’s economy grew at an annual rate of 4.3% during the April-June quarter, its slowest pace since late 2022 and well below the previous quarter’s 5% growth. While exports surged thanks to strong demand for artificial intelligence technologies and electric vehicles, weak consumer spending, sluggish investment, and a prolonged property downturn continued to weigh on the broader economy. Chinese officials acknowledged an imbalance between strong manufacturing output and weak domestic demand, as the country increasingly relies on high-tech industries such as AI, semiconductors, and robotics for growth. Economists have warned that heavy investment in advanced technologies may come at the expense of job creation and other sectors of the economy. Despite the slowdown, China is maintaining its 2026 growth target of 4.5% to 5%, though international forecasts expect growth to remain below that level.
The U.K. government has announced plans for a voluntary overnight social media curfew for 16- and 17-year-olds, alongside new default settings that disable features like autoplay to reduce excessive screen time. The proposal follows last month’s announcement of a social media ban for children under 16 and will require parliamentary approval before taking effect. Officials say pilot programs showed the curfew reduced overnight social media use while improving sleep and concentration, arguing most teenagers kept the default settings enabled. Critics and child safety advocates welcomed the move but warned voluntary measures alone will not fully address the addictive design of social media platforms. The proposal is expected to move forward even after Prime Minister Keir Starmer leaves office, with his anticipated successor signaling support for the plan.
See you soon.
— Aaron
