Friday, July 18 | By Cate Martel |
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Happy Friday! There has been so much news since yesterday (!), but there's one thing the internet seems to agree on: the Coldplay concert scandal is riveting. If you don't know what I'm talking about, keep scrolling. | - WSJ Epstein report rocks Trump World
- Trump directs DOJ to seek partial release
- What to know about POTUS's vein diagnosis
- Reaction after Colbert's 'Late Night' nixed
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Everyone in Washington is talking about the same thing: |
The Wall Street Journal published a bombshell report detailing an alleged letter sent to Jeffrey Epstein for his 50th birthday in 2003 that bore President Trump's name. It has set off a firestorm across Washington and MAGA World — and Trump has lashed out. |
➤ FIRST, HERE'S WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THE LETTER: |
The letter allegedly includes several lines of text "framed by the outline of a naked woman," according to the Journal. The newspaper wrote that "the future president's signature is a squiggly 'Donald' below her waist, mimicking pubic hair." The alleged letter ends: "Happy Birthday — and may every day be another wonderful secret." The message bearing Trump's name was an imaginary conversation between Epstein and Trump, written in the third person, according to the Journal. 🔎 Read the imaginary conversation The Journal's reporting says the letter was used in the Justice Department investigation of Epstein, though it's unclear whether it's part of the recent Trump administration review. Read the WSJ bombshell report: 'Jeffrey Epstein's Friends Sent Him Bawdy Letters for a 50th Birthday Album. One Was From Donald Trump.' |
➤ HOW HAS TRUMP RESPONDED?: |
The Journal spoke with Trump on Tuesday evening, several days before the story was published. He told the outlet, "This is not me. This is a fake thing. It's a fake Wall Street Journal story." He also said, "I never wrote a picture in my life." Trump threatened to sue the Journal if it published a report. He lashed out after the report was published: He fired off several Truth Social posts, mentioning that he personally told Wall Street Journal owner Rupert Murdoch to kill the story. "Mr. Murdoch states that he would take care of it but, obviously, did not have the power to do so." Trump then said he will sue Murdoch and the paper "soon." 🔎 Read Trump's full post He then directed Attorney General Pam Bondi to release relevant grand jury testimony in the Epstein case. Bondi then said she is "ready to move the court" today to do so. It's worth noting that grand jury testimony is a small fraction of the material the government has in the Epstein case. It's still top of mind for Trump this morning: He asked why Democrats never released the files when they controlled the House and the Senate. "BECAUSE THEY HAD NOTHING!!!" he argued on Truth Social. |
➤ TRUMP'S ALLIES RUSHED TO DEFEND HIM: |
Vice President Vance called the story "complete and utter bulls---." Even tech billionaire Elon Musk, who reignited this controversy last month, argues "the letter sounds bogus." Conservative activist Charlie Kirk said he doesn't believe it. "This is not how Trump talks at all," he posted on X. Far-right activist Laura Loomer, who has been publicly critical of the Trump administration's handling of the Epstein files, jumped to Trump's defense. "I'm calling bullshit on this Trump 'birthday letter' to Epstein. It's totally fake," Loomer wrote. She then listed reasons she doesn't believe it's real. |
The Epstein controversy spilled over to Capitol Hill: |
The fight over how the Trump administration has handled the Epstein files held up a bill yesterday on the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) cuts. Eventually, the House Rules Committee advanced a resolution to call for — but not legally require — the Department of Justice (DOJ) to release more information related to Jeffrey Epstein. 📹 Watch this shouting match last night — whewww. 📸 Photo of the resolution — which Punchbowl's Jake Sherman stresses has "no legal weight." Now what?: It's unclear when leadership plans to hold a floor vote on the Epstein measure. My colleague at The Hill asked Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) if he would commit to putting the measure on the floor. Johnson stopped short of saying yes or no and said he would evaluate the situation. The Hill's Mychael Schnell and Emily Brooks were on Capitol Hill last night covering the saga. Read their reporting |
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President Trump has been diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency, a condition that is common for people older than 70. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt shared that Trump underwent medical testing for "mild swelling" in his legs and bruising on his hand. Leavitt said Trump had ultrasounds and a "comprehensive exam." Leavitt also said there was no evidence of deep vein thrombosis (a type of blood clot) or arterial disease. Tidbit: Photos have shown bruising on the back of one of the president's hands. Trump's doctor said that's "consistent with minor soft tissue damage from frequent handshaking" and with regular aspirin use. 📸 The hand bruising🎙️ What does this mean?: Rep. Greg Murphy (R-N.C.), the only practicing physician in Congress, explained the diagnosis to NewsNation's Blake Burman. 📹 Watch the segment |
CBS to cancel 'The Late Show': |
CBS News announced it is canceling "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert." This news rocked the media world. Why?: CBS said it was "purely a financial decision." 📹 Watch Colbert's announcement Timing: This came just weeks after CBS's parent company settled an expensive lawsuit brought by President Trump over its "60 Minutes" interview with former Vice President Kamala Harris. Trump is thrilled by this decision: He says that he "absolutely [loves] that Colbert got fired." He then slammed other late-night talk show hosts, including ABC's Jimmy Kimmel. Colbert has been one of Trump's fiercest critics. Trump has repeatedly bashed him as a "complete and total loser." Democrats have their eyebrows raised: Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) called for transparency over why Colbert got fired. Warren argues the public "deserves to know if his show was canceled for political reasons." Schiff agreed. When will the last episodes air?: May 2026 |
The Atlantic's David A. Graham writes, "Is Colbert's Ouster Really Just a 'Financial Decision'?" Excerpt: "[The] network that once made Cronkite the most trusted man in America no longer gets the benefit of the doubt. CBS's owners have made a series of decisions capitulating to President Donald Trump, and the surprise choice to allow Colbert—a consistent, prominent Trump critic—to walk seems like part of that pattern." |
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The House and Senate are out. President Trump is in Washington. (All times EST) |
1:30 p.m.: Trump swears in the commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service.
2:30 p.m.: Trump signs the cryptocurrency bill into law.💻 Livestream
7 p.m.: Trump hosts Republican senators for dinner at the White House.
Monday: The Senate returns with its first vote at 5:30 p.m. 📆 Monday's agenda |
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🍭 Celebrate: Today is National Sour Candy Day. And for your weekend planning purposes, Sunday is National Ice Cream Day!! Here's a list of where you can find free ice cream this weekend! 💋 OK, let's talk about the Coldplay incident: Coldplay's "kiss cam" zoomed in on a cozy couple at its Boston concert. Once the couple noticed they were on screen, they looked mortified and ducked. Chris Martin then joked, "either they're having an affair or they're very shy." 📹 Watch the viral clip. People on the internet think they've ID'd the couple. Read Page Six's reporting 😎 Could it be?: Washingtonian's Jessica Sidman writes, "Is Georgetown Now Actually . . . Cool?" Sidman's reasoning: "Some of DC's most exciting restaurant openings are coming to the neighborhood." 🥤 Out with the Pepsi, in with the Coca-Cola: Costco warehouses have begun switching out their food courts' Pepsi products with Coca-Cola products. ^ Are you happy or upset about this? Let's take a poll — are you a Coca-Cola person or a Pepsi person? Click the corresponding link! |
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