12:30 REPORT

May 29, 2026 | By Cate Martel

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Happy Friday! This post about the White House UFC arena construction actually made me laugh out loud. “I know everyone hates them but this is why HOAs exist,” the caption reads.

Oh, and did you know this is the one of the longest unofficial summers? That’s because Memorial Day was early and Labor Day is late. It’s 106 days long, seven days longer than last summer! 🌞

In today's issue:

Bondi grilled on botched Epstein file release
GOP dreads questions over E. Jean Carroll probe
Judge pauses $1.8B compensation fund
5+ performers withdraw from America 250 concert
Blue Origin rocket explodes
Scooter Braun opens up about Taylor Swift feud

📰 NEWS THIS MORNING

Trump is currently deciding whether to agree to the Iran deal:

Carlos Fyfe/The White House via AP

President Trump says he is headed to the White House Situation Room “now” to make a “final determination” about the tentative peace agreement between the U.S. and Iran.

He also included his demands for Iran in his social media post late this morning. I almost feel like I’m in the room! 🔎 Read Trump’s demands

Where it stands: The U.S. and Iran had agreed to a tentative peace deal between the two countries, but as of yesterday, it was just waiting for President Trump’s signoff. Then, Iranian state media said it wasn’t finalized on their end, either.

🖐️ Five things to know about the tentative deal

✍ ON CAPITOL HILL

Bondi says Blanche was in charge of botched Epstein redactions

Former Attorney General Pam Bondi is facing questions from House investigators today about the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) release of the Jeffrey Epstein files.

How is it going?: Bondi acknowledged “redaction errors” in the botched public release of the files but defended the DOJ’s “accountability and transparency,” according to Politico.

Bondi also says she had assigned the Epstein file release to her then-deputy, Todd Blanche, who is now serving as the acting attorney general since her removal.

Can we watch it?: No, it’s not being filmed. Democrats on the House Oversight Committee are angry about that. But the interview will be transcribed.

Two reasons why today’s hearing is unusual:

1) This is not a formal deposition, despite her being subpoenaed. Instead, it’s a transcribed interview.

2) A DOJ lawyer will accompany Bondi. Democrats question whether that means the DOJ is trying to serve as her personal attorney. Read more

💬 Follow today’s live blog

Why Senate Republicans are having ‘Sunday scaries’ before returning to Washington:

Reports that the DOJ is investigating E. Jean Carroll, the writer who won $83 million in a lawsuit against President Trump after accusing him of sexual assault.

This puts Senate Republicans in an awkward spot: The Trump administration is targeting another one of Trump’s enemies. And now, Senate Republicans will likely be forced to defend the controversial investigation when they return in June, reports The Hill’s Alexander Bolton.

What is the DOJ investigation specifically about?: CNN says it’s focused on whether Carroll committed perjury in her 2022 deposition.

Keep in mind: The top federal prosecutor in Chicago denies that his office opened a Carroll investigation.

Read Bolton’s reporting: ‘Criminal probe of E. Jean Carroll creates major headache for Senate GOP’

RELATED READ:

The Atlantic’s David A. Graham argues the DOJ’s reported willingness to investigate Caroll “shows that Trump has no issue with politicized justice—he just wants it on his side.”

📌 IN THE WHITE HOUSE

Put a pin into that $1.8 billion slush fund:

A federal judge just temporarily blocked the Trump administration’s $1.776 billion “anti-weaponization fund,” which was created to doll out compensation for people who claim they were wronged by the federal government.

Remember: Jan. 6, 2021, rioters may have been eligible for a payout from this fund. Oh, and MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell said last week that he would apply for compensation.

Why it was blocked: “U.S. District Judge Leonic Brinkema indicated the pause is to ensure that no funds are ‘irreversibly disbursed’ from the fund until she can rule on an emergency motion to block it. … Brinkema is an appointee of former President Clinton who serves on the federal bench in Alexandria, Va.” Read more

WHERE ARE THE RESULTS OF TRUMP’S LATEST PHYSICAL?:

A White House official said to expect a readout of Trump’s Tuesday physical exam within the next day, writes CBS News’s Kathryn Watson. But it’s been three days and it still has not been released. Trump says it went “PERFECTLY,” so keep an eye out for it.

IS TRUMP A GAY ICON?:

The Atlantic’s Ashley Parker published a great piece today about President Trump’s fixation with gay culture despite publicly bashing transgender rights and saying he’s only attracted to women.

Parker’s reporting begins: “President Trump delights in playing what he calls ‘the gay national anthem’ whenever he wants to rev up a crowd. He’s obsessed with Elton John, was once friendly with Liza Minnelli, and has a Liberace-esque flair for gilded interiors. One of his favorite sports to watch—mixed martial arts—is basically sweaty, semi-naked dudes. And he is a deep and vocal admirer of the physique of fellow men, often announcing which ones he would cast in a movie…”

Read the full piece: ‘The King of Queens: President Trump loves “handsome” men, especially the muscular ones.’

AT LEAST FIVE PERFORMERS HAVE PULLED OUT OF THE AMERICA 250 CONCERT:

Country singer Martina McBride pulled out of the America 250 concert, claiming she was misled about the political nature of the event. And so did rock singer Bret Michaels, becoming the fifth performer to withdraw.

Keep in mind: Event organizers insist this fair is nonpartisan and not associated with the White House despite blowback.

📰 OTHER NEWS:

➤ QUICK HITS:

— A Blue Origin rocket exploded during a test on Thursday night. Jeff Bezos says no one was injured. 🎥 Watch the footage — yikes!

— Bravo’s Andy Cohen and CNN’s Anderson Cooper will host a live, New Year’s Eve-style July 3 countdown to America’s 250th birthday and I cannot wait. 🥂

— If you’ve had an Android phone any time since Nov. 2017, you may qualify for Google’s $350 million settlement. Roughly 100 million people may be eligible. What we know

➤ MORE READS:

The Wall Street Journal: Inside Putin’s $26 Billion Quest for Longevity — I could do without seeing this editorial cartoon again. 😅

The New York Times: The Politics of the Downwardly Mobile Professional Class

Vox: Brett Kavanaugh just won a surprising victory for racial justice. Really.

The Washington Post: ICE allows mother it deported without her toddler to return for his burial

🗓️ COMING UP

The House and Senate are out. President Trump is at the White House for the weekend. (All times EDT)

1:30 p.m. Trump holds Oval Office policy meetings.

2:30 p.m. KTreasury Secretary Scott Bessent speaks at the Reagan National Economic Forum, delivering a warning on U.S. manufacturing. 💻 Livestream

3:30 p.m. Trump signs executive orders.

4:30 p.m. Trump participates in another policy meeting.

6 p.m. Dr. Stephanie Haridopolos, who is handling Surgeon General roles, will appear on NewsNation’s “The Hill” to discuss the tick season and combatting Lyme disease.

🐝 INTERNET BUZZ

🍲 Celebrate: Today is National Coq Au Vin Day.

🥊 It’s no longer the Coke vs. Pepsi fight: Coke Zero is creeping up on Diet Coke’s popularity, according to The Wall Street Journal. Read: ‘The Ice-Cold Civil War Between Diet Coke and Coke Zero Drinkers’

Which do you think is better? Coke Zero or Diet Coke — click one to vote in my extremely informal poll.

🎸Scooter Braun opens up: This one is for the Swifties. Retired talent manager Scooter Braun, who is long rumored to have a feud with Taylor Swift over owning her music, talked about Swift. He says he doesn’t know her personally and that he’s “confused” about the situation and public hate. Read more

👋 AND FINALLY…

To get your weekend off to the right start, watch these dogs experience the biggest thrill of their lives.

The best part? We can see it happen in slow motion!

Stay Engaged

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