Well, releasing more information really hasn’t quashed the conspiracy theories.
Members of Congress and victims of Jeffrey Epstein are unhappy about the issuance Friday of around 10k documents and photos, saying the material is too heavily redacted and incomplete. The Justice Department says it’s planning to release more documents in the coming weeks, but didn’t have enough time to go through all of its files and finish redacting by the congressional deadline.
Causing further consternation were some decisions that seemed to be second-guessed over the weekend. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche defended the removal of several images that had originally been posted, including one showing President Donald Trump, saying the move was done to protect victims. “We are not redacting information around President Trump,” he said.
On Sunday, the department un-redacted a 119-page grand jury document, stating, “Documents and photos will continue to be reviewed consistent with the law and with an abundance of caution for victims and their families.”
A good deal of the lawmaker ire seems to be focused on Attorney General
This Year’s Winners and Losers in Congress
If politics is, in fact, a blood sport, Erik Wasson and Steven T. Dennis have been tallying the winners and losers from the past year in Congress.
Among the winners:
Nvidia: America’s most valuable company successfully fought off multiple efforts to throttle sales of its chips.
Private Equity: In one of the rare instances this year when congressional Republicans stood up to Trump, members rebuffed the president’s early demands to raise taxes on carried interest.
Crypto: Passage of a light-touch regulatory law for dollar-pegged stablecoins cleared the way for broader use of the technology in everyday finance, and more industry-favoring legislation is on the way.
And the losers:
Hospitals: A $50 billion bailout for rural hospitals included in Trump’s tax cut plan won’t offset the loss of funding from Medicaid cuts in the law, plus the millions who are likely to no longer have health insurance in coming years.
Casinos: Under the tax bill, professional gamblers could still owe income tax if they break even over a year or lose money overall. Major casino companies are pushing to repeal the provision.
Green Energy: Congress repealed the Biden adminstration’s signature tax credits for solar, wind and other renewable energy sources and curtailed the $7,500 consumer electric vehicle tax credit for cars.
For a list of potential Christmas gifts to members of Congress, see Jonathan Tamari’s naughty/nice list in today’s Congress Tracker.
House Freedom Caucus Finds Its Center
During his first term, Trump sometimes tangled with members of the Freedom Caucus, a hard-right group that found fault with him over the debt limit and budget deal.
In this term, with moderates now serving in the role of legislative flamethrowers, Trump and the Freedom Caucus are moving largely in lockstep, Maeve Sheehey reports.
“When leadership comes your way and the conference comes your way, we’re not going to push them away,” Freedom Caucus Chair
Pulling Strings on Merger
Congress doesn’t have a vote on whether Netflix or Paramount ultimately claim Warner Bros., but lawmakers can lean on the executive branch, hold hearings, and shape the the public narrative. And that’s an opening for Capitol Hill lobbyists, Kate Ackley reports.
Even with Trump focused on the proposed Netflix-Warner Bros. deal and his strong sway over Washington, strategists said overtures to lawmakers offer a way to help line up allies or quiet foes. Read More
Also Read:
- Ellison’s Hardball Warner Bros. Tactics Gave Netflix an Opening
- Netflix Refinances Part of $59 Billion Loan for Warner Bros. Bid
How Well Do You Know Washington — Got Milk Edition
Congress has voted to change the National School Lunch Program to let cafeterias serve whole milk in addition to fat-free or low-fat varieties (
A) 1974
B) 1989
C) 2012
D) 2015
Scroll down for the answer.
Scalia’s Legacy
Antonin Scalia died nearly nine years ago, but you wouldn’t know it given how frequently he’s mentioned at the Supreme Court.
References to the late justice spiked during oral arguments this year — reaching nearly three dozen times just since October — highlighting his lasting influence on how the court interprets the law, Jordan Fischer and Justin Wise report.
Scalia, known more for his biting dissents in the minority during his 30 years as justice, is now a “reference point for how arguments are framed,” said John Elwood, the head of Arnold & Porter’s appellate practice.
Crypto Tax Measure and Lummis Exit
More crypto legislation is bubbling up, indicating Congress’ interest in tackling the subject in 2026, Caitlyn Reilly and Zach Cohen report.
A bipartisan House duo is drawing up a cryptocurrency tax framework that would provide a safe harbor for some stablecoin transactions and delay taxation of rewards earned by verifying blockchain transactions. The cryptocurrency sector has clamored for legislation that would clarify its tax treatment, even as a broader measure to establish regulation of the assets is still under negotiation.
The movement comes after the surprise announcement Friday by Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.) not to seek re-election. Lummis is the first-ever chair of a new Senate subcommittee devoted to digital assets, and has been a champion for the crypto space. She said in her announcement that she will be working to get bills signed before she leaves. Rep. Harriet Hageman (R-Wyo.) is likely to announce a run for her seat, Lillianna Byington and Sheehey report.
Also Read:
Did You Ace the Quiz?
Raise a glass if you chose Option C — 2012. The 2010 Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act aligned allowable milk offerings to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which recommends limits on saturated fat, added sugar, sodium, and more.
The USDA rule on school milk options went into effect in March 2012. Schools had to implement the final rule by the 2012-2013 school year. BGOV legislative analyst Olivia Gyapong explains more in this bill analysis.
What Else We’re Reading
Health Costs Rise Everywhere in 2026, Not Just With Obamacare
Americans will pay more for health care next year, and it’s not just because of congressional inaction over Obamacare.
Top GOP Appropriators Clinch Topline Government Spending Deal
The lead Republican appropriators have agreed any funding deal for the rest of the fiscal year should cut spending compared to current levels, setting up high-stakes talks with Democrats ahead of the government shutdown deadline at the end of next month.
Hassett Says Supreme Court Risks Creating Tariff Refund Problem
A Supreme Court ruling that scraps
Trump Taps Louisiana Governor Landry as Greenland Envoy
President
US, Ukraine Held ‘Constructive’ Florida Talks, Witkoff Says
US special envoy
US Pursuit of Third Oil Tanker Intensifies Venezuela Blockade
The US Coast Guard’s pursuit of a third oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela has intensified a blockade that the Trump administration hopes will cut off a vital economic lifeline and isolate the government of President
15 People Have Died in Crashes Where Tesla Doors Wouldn’t Open
For years, people have lodged complaints about
Trump Endorses Blakeman for NY Governor After Stefanik Drops Out
President
Add Us To Your Inbox
Sign up here to get Starting Line for free on weekday mornings.
To contact the reporter on this story:
To contact the editors responsible for this story: