Monday, December 22nd, 2025 - Epstein files release (ish) ; Trump-Epstein BFFs; Brown-MIT shooting twist; Stefanik exits NY Gov’s race

Today’s Headlines: The Epstein files were legally due to drop on Friday — and instead, the DOJ punted. Rather than releasing everything as required, the department said it’ll roll documents out gradually because it “ran out of time,” and posted about 13,000 heavily redacted files. Some documents then mysteriously vanished from the DOJ website, including a photo from Epstein’s apartment that showed Donald Trump, prompting Democrats to demand a timeline and an explanation for what’s now very likely an illegal partial release. DOJ leadership insists nothing — and no one — is being protected. Meanwhile, the New York Times filled in some gaps the DOJ didn’t, publishing extensive reporting that describes Trump and Epstein as close friends, citing more than 30 former employees, victims, and witnesses. The report alleges Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell introduced Trump to at least six women who later accused him of grooming or abuse, including one who was a minor at the time. Trump has denied the allegations. In other news, authorities say the suspect in last weekend’s Brown University shooting — now deceased — may have targeted MIT fusion researcher Nuno Loureiro, whom he reportedly knew from an academic program in Portugal. The motive remains unclear, but the case has raised eyebrows amid Trump Media’s sudden merger with a nuclear fusion company and new reporting that Putin heavily influenced Trump’s Ukraine envoy. Add in fresh revelations about Stephen Miller pushing for military strikes wherever he could find a target, murky inflation data thanks to shutdown gaps, Trump rescheduling marijuana (and nodding off while doing it), and Elise Stefanik abruptly dropping out of New York’s governor race — and yes, it was another very normal news week. Resources/Articles mentioned in this episode: NYT: What to Know on the Initial Release of Materials From the Epstein Files CNBC: Epstein files: A number of documents, including Trump photo, reportedly removed from DOJ release site Yahoo: Trump’s FBI Spent Nearly $1 Million on Redacting Epstein Files The Independent: Epstein files live: Whistleblowers could hold key, says Democrat, while Bondi tweet provokes fierce backlash ABC News: Top DOJ official denies there's any effort to redact mentions of President Trump from Epstein files NYT: ‘Don’s Best Friend’: How Epstein and Trump Bonded Over the Pursuit of Women WaPo: Brown, MIT Professor Shootings linked, suspects found dead The Guaardian: Why is Truth Social owner Trump Media merging with a fusion energy firm? | Mergers and acquisitions Substack: The Russia-adjacent “connective tissue” points that are real, documentable, and potentially problematic if Trump Media (TMTG / Truth Social) is merging with TAE. WSJ: How Putin Got His Preferred U.S. Envoy: Come Alone, No CIA WaPo: Stephen Miller's hard-line Mexico stragtegy morphed into deadly boat strikes WSJ: The Data Problems in Thursday’s Inflation Report Will Linger for Months CBS News: Trump signs executive order to reclassify marijuana as a Schedule III drug NBC News: Trump endorses Bruce Blakeman in New York governor's race after Elise Stefanik drops bid Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices