In today’s newsletter: One month after the Epstein files deadline, lawmakers and victims express outrage that many records have yet to be released. Trump’s Greenland threats strain NATO relationships as European leaders put on a united front. And the return of Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza to his hometown for the College Football Playoff national championship divides fans.
Here’s what to know today.
One month after the Epstein files deadline, only a fraction of the DOJ's records have been released
Today marks one month since the deadline for the Justice Department to release all of its files related to Jeffrey Epstein, but only a fraction of the records have been made public. The agency has acknowledged that there are “millions” of pages of materials outstanding.
The delays have frustrated victims and brought warnings of repercussions from the bipartisan co-authors of the Epstein Files Transparency Act, Reps. Thomas Massie and Ro Khanna.
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Massie claimed that “Attorney General Bondi is making illegal redactions and withholding key documents that would implicate associates of Epstein.”
Khanna said the “DOJ’s refusal to follow the law” is “an obstruction of justice.”
Victims have complained that the Justice Department is protecting the wrong people, calling redactions “selective” and saying that the DOJ’s failures have “caused renewed harm to survivors.”
Among the documents that have yet to be released are any internal discussions about a controversial joint memo from the FBI and DOJ, where they said they had conducted an “exhaustive” review of the files and determined that there wasn’t evidence to charge anyone else in the case.
Here’s what we know about the delays.
Europe may have reached its breaking point with Trump over Greenland
President Donald Trump’s tariff threat over Greenland has drawn signs of fatigue and impatience from European leaders, who have long been reluctant to confront him directly. They moved quickly to convene an emergency meeting yesterday, condemning the duties as unacceptable and warning of its serious consequences.
Europe’s strategy of “buttering up” the president in the hopes of trade and foreign policy concessions has failed, analysts tell NBC News. The episode has raised fresh questions about how much longer Europe is willing to absorb pressure from Washington in the name of a NATO alliance that appears to be bursting at the seams.
In the short term, European governments are considering a range of options including their own tariffs. Another is the European Union’s “bazooka” — officially known as the Anti-Coercion Instrument, which has never been used before.
Global lawmakers aren’t the only ones pushing back against the escalation. An estimated 10,000 Danes gathered in Copenhagen over the weekend to protest the U.S. president’s rhetoric. Many donned MAGA-style caps with “Make America Go Away,” and signs saying, “Hands off Greenland.”
At Fernando Mendoza's high school, students are 'torn' over who to root for in the championship
The college football season culminates tonight as the Miami Hurricanes face the Indiana Hoosiers for the national championship.
Miami is a five-time champion but has struggled since its last victory in 2001 and is looking to regain dominance. Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza will try to lead the Hoosiers to their first national title, which would cap an undefeated season and a major turnaround for the program.
But team stats aren’t the only thing making this matchup interesting. The game is happening in Miami, which is Mendoza’s hometown. At his high school, football fans are torn on who to root for.
“Even my daughter tried to get an answer out of me, and I wouldn’t give her one,” said Dave Dunn, the football coach at Christopher Columbus High School. Five of his former players are on tonight’s roster across both teams, including star quarterback Mendoza.
Here is what students are saying.
Related news from the NFL playoffs:
- The Los Angeles Rams are advancing to the NFC championship after a 20-17 victory over the Chicago Bears, won in overtime after they intercepted quarterback Caleb Williams.
- Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud threw four interceptions in a 28-16 loss to the New England Patriots, who will advance to the AFC championship.
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- At least 39 people are dead and dozens are injured after two high-speed trains collided in southern Spain. The tail end of an evening train traveling from Malaga to Madrid with 300 passengers went off the rails near Córdoba at 7:45 p.m. local time, officials said. It slammed into a train coming from Madrid to Huelva, according to rail operator Adif.
- The FBI has asked agents from field offices across the country to voluntarily travel to Minneapolis for temporary assignments, according to two sources.
- Bruce Springsteen lambasted the federal crackdown on immigrants during a performance over the weekend as he dedicated a song to the memory of Renee Nicole Good, who was killed by an ICE officer in Minneapolis..
- “60 Minutes” aired its story about Trump administration deportations that was abruptly pulled from the newsmagazine’s lineup a month ago.
- Senegal stormed off the field in protest at a penalty awarded against them before returning to beat hosts Morocco 1-0 after extra time and win the Africa Cup of Nations amid farcical scenes in Sunday’s final.
- Tennis star Venus Williams became the oldest woman to compete in an Australian Open singles main draw at 45.
Staff Pick: A viral question for young Chinese people living alone: 'Are you dead?'
Forget asking “How are you?” in China. These days a more common question you might hear is, “Are you dead?” It is the (bleak) name of an app that has exploded in popularity among young people in the country. For about $1, it acts like a personal safety check where users clock in each day to show that they are, well, still alive.
The app is targeting the growing number of young, urban "solo dwellers" who share the same nightmare — dying alone in their apartment without anyone noticing. The fear is not entirely groundless: China’s relentless work culture in sprawling cities has a generation worried they could work themselves to the point of collapse.
It also speaks to demographic changes here, with a decline in marriages and birthrate expected to see some 200 million people living on their own by 2030. With no spouse or children to check on their wellbeing, young workers are turning to technology for a sense of security.
— Dawn Liu, researcher
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