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Good morning, everyone. We have a doozy of an update. This morning brings a bombshell Epstein revelation that confirms what many suspected: senior officials across the Trump administration and the Justice Department worked together to shield Trump from the fallout of the Epstein files. According to the reporting, they held emergency Situation Room meetings, coordinated messaging, and repeatedly looked for ways to contain or delay disclosures that could politically damage the president. And the effort is still ongoing. Meanwhile, the White House is scrambling to save its UFC event, with administration lawyers comparing it to George W. Bush allowing kids to play T-ball on the South Lawn. Trump is also escalating his rhetoric toward Iran, warning that the country will “pay the price” after taking too long to negotiate, fueling new concerns about a wider conflict. The Epstein story is serious, and it’s exactly why I’m ramping up my work in the files today, especially with key hearings approaching. Some of you have reached out to say you’re concerned about my safety. I appreciate that. Don’t worry, I’m taking steps to protect myself. Your subscriptions and support help make that possible. They not only grow this work, they give me the resources to keep digging and to fight back when necessary. If you’re able, please consider subscribing today.
Here’s the news: Bombshell Epstein Developments: There is a bombshell New York Times investigation this morning: it reveals that senior officials across the White House, Justice Department, and FBI were consumed by a months-long effort to manage the Epstein files in ways that would protect Donald Trump from political damage. Drawing on accounts of private meetings, internal discussions, and conversations among top aides, the investigation portrays an administration that viewed the Epstein issue not merely as a transparency question but as a potentially existential political threat. Top officials, directly in coordination with the Attorney General of the United States, repeatedly gathered in the White House Situation Room to discuss how to contain growing pressure from Congress, conservative media, and Trump's own supporters. According to the reporting, the central challenge was balancing demands for disclosure against fears that further releases could generate headlines about Trump's past relationship with Epstein. The result was a strategy that often prioritized political protection over full transparency.
Vice President JD Vance repeatedly pushed for far greater disclosure than many of Trump's other advisers were willing to accept. Vance argued that Congress would eventually force the release of the files and that the administration would be better off releasing everything voluntarily, including material that mentioned Trump. He reportedly warned colleagues that every delay would deepen public suspicion and make the eventual fallout worse. In one extraordinary proposal, Vance suggested that the White House arrange for Tucker Carlson to interview Ghislaine Maxwell in prison, believing that if Maxwell publicly stated Trump had not participated in wrongdoing with Epstein it could help defuse the crisis. He also encouraged exploring congressional involvement and broader public disclosure, repeatedly pressing the case that transparency was ultimately safer than continued secrecy.
The investigation details how senior officials repeatedly searched for ways to appear transparent without exposing Trump to unnecessary political risk. During one Situation Room meeting, officials discussed seeking the release of grand jury materials even though some believed courts would almost certainly refuse. The strategy would allow the administration to publicly claim it wanted transparency while shifting blame for continued secrecy onto judges. Other discussions centered on interviewing Maxwell, publicly releasing transcripts, and finding ways to rebut allegations involving Trump without opening the door to a broader release of sensitive material. Throughout these debates, officials were openly assessing how different disclosure strategies might affect Trump politically. The article portrays the president's interests as the dominant factor shaping decision-making. The Times also finds that the administration was trapped by expectations it had helped create. Before taking power, figures such as Kash Patel, Dan Bongino, JD Vance, Tucker Carlson, and others had spent years suggesting that hidden Epstein information was being suppressed by the government. Attorney General Pam Bondi further fueled expectations by publicly implying that major revelations and possible client-list information were under review. When the Justice Department eventually released a memo concluding there was no Epstein client list and no evidence supporting many of the theories promoted by the MAGA base, supporters reacted with outrage. Rather than ending the controversy, the memo triggered accusations of betrayal and cover-up from many of the same voters who had expected the administration to expose hidden truths. Perhaps the investigation's most damaging conclusion is that officials repeatedly altered or abandoned transparency plans after confronting how much potentially embarrassing material involving Trump existed throughout the broader Epstein record. The article describes discussions about creating a searchable public database of Epstein-related documents, only for concerns to emerge about allegations, witness statements, and references to Trump that could attract renewed scrutiny regardless of their credibility.
Officials debated how to handle documents already available in court records, worried about how the media and political opponents would use them, and sought ways to comply with congressional demands while limiting political fallout. By the end, according to the Times, the administration found itself trapped between a president who wanted the issue buried and a political movement demanding more disclosure. Billionaire philanthropist and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates is set to testify before the House Oversight Committee as part of its investigation into Jeffrey Epstein. Lawmakers are expected to question Gates about his past relationship with Epstein after millions of newly released documents included references to Gates, photographs, and records showing multiple meetings between the two men. Gates has repeatedly denied any involvement in or knowledge of Epstein's criminal conduct and says he welcomes the opportunity to answer the committee's questions. Ahead of the closed-door session, Gates again described his association with Epstein as a "huge mistake," saying he met with him to discuss philanthropy but never witnessed or participated in any illegal activity.
White House UFC Fight in Trouble: The Justice Department has filed a 40-page court brief defending President Trump’s planned UFC event at the White House this weekend, blasting the plaintiffs seeking to block it as “people who believe they have superior taste and want to spoil the event for everyone else.” According to the filing, the administration has already spent more than $60 million and invested tens of thousands of labor hours preparing for the event. Here is the current state of the UFC cage:
 More than 4,000 spectators are expected on the South Lawn, including over 1,000 service members, while another 120,000 people could watch from the nearby Ellipse after winning tickets through a lottery. In defending the legality of the event, DOJ lawyers argue that previous presidents have hosted entertainment and sporting activities on White House grounds, citing youth tee-ball under President George W. Bush and performances by Elton John and Beyoncé during the Obama administration. The filing comes in response to a lawsuit seeking to halt the event, with the administration arguing that courts should not second-guess the president’s authority over activities hosted at the White House.
Iran War to Restart: Other news: U.S. inflation rose to 4.2% year-over-year in May, its highest level in three years and up from 2.4% in February before the Iran war, driven primarily by higher energy and gasoline prices (about 60% of the increase), along with rising shelter and food costs; monthly inflation was 0.5%, while core inflation (excluding food and energy) climbed to 2.9%, its highest since September.
Democrats selected Graham Platner as their Senate nominee in Maine, where he won the primary despite months of scrutiny over past controversies and will now face Republican Senator Susan Collins in a closely watched general election. In South Carolina, President Trump continued to demonstrate his influence in Republican primaries, with Senator Lindsey Graham securing renomination while Congresswoman Nancy Mace, who had called for the release of the Epstein files, was defeated. In Nevada, Democrats nominated Attorney General Aaron Ford for governor, setting up a competitive race against Republican Governor Joe Lombardo. The results across four states provided an early snapshot of the political landscape ahead of the 2026 midterms, highlighting both Democratic efforts to target key seats and Trump’s continuing sway within the GOP. South Carolina Republican voters advanced Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette and Attorney General Alan Wilson to a runoff in the state’s closely watched gubernatorial primary, while Congresswoman Nancy Mace finished a distant fifth. After conceding, Mace argued that her support for releasing the Epstein files cost her political support, saying she chose to stand against what she called an Epstein cover-up even if it hurt her campaign. The result marks a setback for one of Trump’s most outspoken allies, while Trump-backed Senator Lindsey Graham easily secured renomination despite facing multiple challengers. The Republican nominee will face Democratic state Representative Jermaine Johnson in November, though Republicans remain favored in the deeply conservative state. Trump is moving forward with plans to install Bill Pulte as acting director of national intelligence, despite bipartisan concerns over his lack of national security experience and warnings that the move could derail efforts to renew a key federal surveillance program before it expires this week. Trump said Pulte, who currently leads the federal mortgage agency, will take over from Tulsi Gabbard on June 19 while remaining in his current role. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries called Pulte "deeply unqualified" and warned Democrats would oppose reauthorizing Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act if the appointment proceeds. The controversy comes amid criticism that Pulte has used his government position to pursue allegations against political figures viewed as adversaries of Trump. Former New York City Comptroller Brad Lander is set to stand trial in federal court over his arrest during a September 2025 protest at Manhattan’s main immigration court. Lander and 10 other elected officials were arrested after attempting to inspect ICE holding areas at 26 Federal Plaza following a federal judge’s ruling that conditions there were unconstitutional and inhumane. Prosecutors say the group illegally blocked access inside the federal building, while Lander argues he was carrying out oversight responsibilities and protesting conditions facing detained immigrants. Federal officials later offered to drop the case if Lander agreed not to protest inside federal buildings for six months, but he refused the deal. A new survey across 15 European countries found confidence in the United States as a security partner has fallen sharply, with just 11% of respondents now viewing the U.S. as an ally that shares their interests and values. Majorities in every country surveyed said they no longer believe the U.S. would come to their defense if attacked, while support is growing for Europe to strengthen its own military capabilities and reduce dependence on American weapons and security guarantees. Researchers attributed the shift in part to concerns over President Trump’s approach to NATO, threats to withdraw U.S. troops from Europe, and broader uncertainty about America’s long-term commitment to the alliance. Despite the decline in trust, most Europeans still expect relations with Washington to improve after Trump leaves office and do not support replacing NATO with a Europe-only defense alliance. According to Politico, Belgium has rejected U.S. pressure to impose a travel ban on people arriving from the Democratic Republic of the Congo amid the ongoing Ebola outbreak, setting up a dispute between Washington and European governments ahead of the World Cup. Belgian Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke said Belgium would follow scientific guidance rather than political demands, arguing that screening and quarantine measures are more appropriate than blanket entry bans. The disagreement comes after reports that the Trump administration urged European countries to adopt tougher restrictions and warned that nations refusing to do so could face U.S. entry restrictions. Belgian officials also accused Washington of undermining the global response through cuts to international aid, a claim the U.S. government denies.
See you soon. — Aaron You’re currently a free subscriber to the Parnas Perspective. For the full experience, more content, and to support Aaron, upgrade your subscription.
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