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1 The Epstein Scandal Continues To Intensify For AG Pam Bondi, Justice Department
House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Trump ally, pressed Attorney General Pam Bondi to directly explain her past statements about Jeffrey Epstein’s files yesterday. During an interview, Johnson said Bondi must clarify whether she truly meant she was reviewing a “client list” or was referring to a broader case file, and to “come forward and explain that to everybody.” Bondi sparked the controversy in February, when she told Fox News a “list” was “sitting on my desk right now.” Later, after a joint DOJ–FBI memo confirmed no such list exists, she said she only meant the general investigation file and not an actual roster of names. Johnson emphasized the need for full transparency, stating the public deserves clarity and supporting bipartisan calls for former Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell to testify before Congress. He voiced confidence in Bondi’s past work but stressed, “we need the DOJ focusing on major priorities.” Additional Republicans, including Reps. Tim Burchett and Josh Hawley, echoed his demand for documents to be released, while GOP Rep. Thomas Massie plans a discharge petition to force a House vote on those files. As MAGA influencers and right-wing media amplify the pressure, Bondi has said she’ll remain in her role “as long as the president wants me here.”
2 Trump Administration Pulls 2-Thousand National Guard Members Off Duty In Los Angeles
The Pentagon has ordered about 2,000 California National Guard troops to stand down and stop supporting immigration-enforcement missions in Los Angeles. Roughly half of the 4-thousand troops deployed under Title 10 earlier this summer were federalized by President Trump to back up ICE and guard federal buildings during city-wide protests. With the drawdown, approximately 2,000 Guardsmen and 700 U.S. Marines will remain in place. Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said the release followed signs that “lawlessness in Los Angeles is subsiding.” Mayor Karen Bass praised the move, calling it a “retreat.” Governor Gavin Newsom and city leaders had demanded the withdrawal, saying the deployment was unnecessary and politically motivated. While a federal court challenge upheld Trump’s authority, local officials asserted their concerns helped force the demobilization. The remaining troops will still protect designated facilities.
3 Inflation Was Up 2.7-Percent For June
New U.S. inflation data shows consumer prices climbed in June, countering hopes of a sustained cooldown amid ongoing tariff pressures. The report revealed noteworthy shifts: consumer prices rose 2.7-percent year-over-year, up from the 2.4-percent rate in May but down from January’s 3-percent. Costs for electronics and appliances climbed, likely due to recent tariffs on imported goods. A White House statement attributed the mixed trends to President Trump’s fiscal strategy, claiming “data proves” he is stabilizing inflation and dismissing economists’ concerns that tariffs stoke rising prices. Core inflation has matched or beaten expectations every month since President Trump’s second term began. Meanwhile, Federal Reserve officials maintain that trade policy uncertainties add strain to the central bank’s inflation-fighting mission. They argue that elevated prices could persist unless tariff impacts are minimized. Economists warn that prolonged trade barriers could worsen supply-chain disruptions and consumer costs, potentially forcing the Fed to delay interest-rate cuts or hike rates again. The policy split intensifies as the White House claims tariff leverage is guiding economic stability, while the Fed seeks clear signals that inflation is truly returning to the 2 -percent target.