🗞️WSJ drops Trump–Epstein report, Trump calls it "fake"

July 18th, 2025

What happened today 🇺🇸,

• The Wall Street Journal published a report alleging that President Trump sent a "bawdy" 2003 birthday letter to Jeffrey Epstein, including a crude drawn picture and his signature, found in a photo album compiled by Ghislaine Maxwell (Epstein’s girlfriend and associate)…President Trump has denied the claims, calling the letter fake and the article defamatory, while threatening legal action against the WSJ and its owner Rupert Murdoch…after this article Trump has directed Attorney General Bondi to seek the release of all relevant grand jury testimony related to the Jeffrey Epstein case

• The House of Representatives has passed President Trump's proposal for $9 billion in spending cuts, targeting public broadcasting (including PBS and NPR) and foreign aid programs…the bill now heads to Trump’s desk for his signature

• President Trump signed the GENIUS Act into law today establishing the first comprehensive federal framework for regulating dollar-backed stablecoins

• The White House announced today that it will release about $1.3 billion in previously frozen funds for before- and after-school programs…read more here

• CBS has announced it will cancel "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" at the end of its current season in May 2026…CBS had said this is a financial decision rather than issues with ratings or content

• Delta Air Lines is moving to eliminate set ticket prices in favor of an AI-driven system that determines how much each customer is likely to pay…this new system will personalize ticket prices based on data like travel behavior, demand, and market conditions

• Chevron has completed its $53 billion acquisition of Hess Corporation following a favorable arbitration ruling against ExxonMobil, which had attempted to block the deal over Hess’s stake in Guyana’s Stabroek Block oil field

• Wells Fargo has suspended employee travel to China after Chenyue Mao, a U.S. citizen and managing director at the bank, was placed under an exit ban by Chinese authorities during a recent business trip…the bank is working through diplomatic and official channels to secure Mao’s return

• DOW down .32% / S&P down .01%

Bonus: A look at financial crimes by state

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