The pot thickens
The US, the UK, France, China, the EU, and Japan.
Hello,
Here are the five things you need to know today:
UNITED STATES. Trump may escape Epstein’s trap, but others won’t.
BRITAIN. Starmer intercepts a challenge, but the knives are out.
FRANCE. Lecornu folds to fight another day.
CHINA. EUROPE. Xi makes nice with Brussels as he stalls on Washington.
JAPAN. Takaichi rattles the region with tough talk on defence.
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UNITED STATES. Follow the honey
Trump may escape Epstein’s trap, but others won’t.
House Democrats released emails from Jeffrey Epstein indicating Donald Trump “knew the girls” and “spent hours” with a trafficking victim, contradicting previous claims. A vote was scheduled to release all unclassified records on Epstein.
INTELLIGENCE. With the House returning to pass the continuing resolution, Democrat Adelita Grijalva became the 218th representative to sign a release petition Speaker Mike Johnson and the White House have resisted so far. Trump described the move as a “trap”, which some saw as a Freudian slip, coming just as his social media team publicised “Operation Dirtbag” to target groomers. Separate emails alleged Epstein had links to a senior Mossad spy.
FOR BUSINESS. Epstein may not deliver Trump a knockout, but unlike other scandals, Democrats have found a blow that lands. This will dent Trump’s momentum into the midterms and encourage GOP moderates to push back. Votes next year on healthcare and another continuing resolution will indicate their number. As for Epstein’s other contacts, his alleged activities have the growing appearance of a state-backed honey pot operation. If so, there’ll be more flies.
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BRITAIN. Wes wally
Starmer intercepts a challenge, but the knives are out.
Keir Starmer said any attack on his cabinet was “completely unacceptable”, after local media suggested his chief adviser was behind a pre-emptive attack on a potential challenger, Health Secretary Wes Streeting. Sterling and gilt prices fell.
INTELLIGENCE. Streeting has feigned loyalty, but, like Manchester mayor Andy