Stunning Texas flood video, TSA's shoe drop, NASA on Netflix: The week in review
Good news for shoe-stingy travelers: Effective immediately, you no longer need to remove your footwear at airport TSA checkpoints. 'We've gone back and looked at our security processes,' Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced, and determined that the shoe removal policy was no longer an effective screening tool and that the TSA is confident in its existing technology. (Some travelers, she added, may still be asked to take off their shoes if additional screening is needed.) The removal policy had been around since 2006 after a passenger tried to conceal a bomb in his shoe in December 2001.
Epstein didn't have a 'client list,' FBI says
Case closed, the government says: There's no evidence sex offender Jeffrey Epstein kept a 'client list,' nor was he murdered in prison, the Justice Department and the FBI concluded in a memo. The announcement didn't sit well in conservative circles, which had long expected Attorney General Pam Bondi to unveil something huge, especially after she seemed to suggest in an interview in February that a client list was 'sitting on my desk right now.' Despite rampant conspiracy theories, the FBI has concluded Epstein died after he hanged himself in federal prison on Aug. 10, 2019, the memo said, just as New York authorities initially determined.
MAGA cries foul: Conservatives turn on Bondi, Trump administration over Epstein files
New Barbie dresses for diabetes
Who says a glucose monitor can't be chic? Barbie is launching a doll with Type 1 diabetes, complete with blood sugar meter and insulin pump, for its Fashionistas line in a partnership with the diabetes research organization Breakthrough T1D. The new Barbie 'marks an important step in our commitment to inclusivity and representation,' Mattel's Krista Berger said in a news release. The doll, available now at a suggested retail price of $10.99, also comes with a mini-phone with tracking app, blue polka dot top and matching skirt (symbols of diabetes awareness), and a pastel blue purse to carry essentials like diabetes supplies and snacks.
And it's liftoff for NASA and Netflix
Netflix is joining NASA in reaching for the stars. The streaming giant and the space agency announced that live space coverage now offered on NASA+, formerly NASA TV, such as rocket launches and spacewalks, will also be coming to Netflix soon this summer, alongside other popular series. (In May, NASA+ similarly arrived on Amazon Prime without requiring a subscription; Netflix, however, will require a subscription.) As for SpaceX, the big dog in the modern space race, it has its own online coverage; its launches are on NASA+ only when NASA is a mission partner.
Hot dog contest ends with an upchuck
Yes, there's an ugly underbelly to the annual July Fourth Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest. The thrill of victory went to Joey Chestnut (again, with 70½ dogs and buns) and Miki Sudo (the women's champ at 33 dogs), but the agony of defeat landed on Madison Barone, who was disqualified because judges found she 'experienced urges contrary to swallowing' before the contest was officially over. She later confirmed to USA TODAY Sports that, indeed, 'everything came up.' No elaboration necessary, said contest announcer George Shea: 'We never utter other words. It is like saying Voldemort.' − Compiled and written by Robert Abitbol, USA TODAY copy chief
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30 minutes ago
Johnson says Bondi needs to 'come forward and explain' handling of Epstein files
House Speaker Mike Johnson on Tuesday urged Attorney General Pam Bondi to "come forward and explain" the Trump administration's handling of Jeffrey Epstein files. In an interview with podcaster Benny Johnson, the speaker urged Bondi to further clarify her past comment about reviewing Epstein's alleged "client list." "Pam Bondi, I don't know when she originally made the statement. I think she was talking about documents, as I understood, that they were on her desk. I don't know that she was specific about a list or whatever, but she needs to come forward and explain that to everybody," Johnson said. "I like Pam. I mean, I think she's done a good job. We need the DOJ focusing on the major priorities," Johnson said during the interview. Bondi came under fire over her comments to Fox News in February when asked about Epstein's alleged "client list." She told the outlet at the time, "It's sitting on my desk right now to review." After the Justice Department and FBI last week stated they found no evidence the deceased financier kept a "client list" of associates whom he blackmailed or conspired with to victimize dozens of women, Bondi said her comments to Fox News were simply referring to a "file" on Epstein. That explanation, though, has done little to quell outrage from MAGA supporters on the administration's handling of Epstein. Johnson also weighed in on growing calls from Republican lawmakers to have Epstein's convicted associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, testify before Congress. "I'm for transparency. We're intellectually consistent in this" Johnson said when asked about Maxwell potentially testifying before Congress. Johnson said while he is not "privy to facts" and "this isn't my lane," he also said "we need to put it out there." "We'll see what happens. I do trust the president. I know his heart and head is in the right place. I don't question that at all. I am convinced they are going to sort this out," the speaker said. Tennessee Republican Rep. Tim Burchett told ABC News he is "not happy" with how Bondi has handled the Epstein matter. Like Johnson, he called on Bondi to explain her past comments on the "client list." "You know, I know it's the 1,000-pound gorilla in the room, but I'm not happy. Nobody's happy about it. Nobody knows what's going on," Burchett said. Republican Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri said the Epstein files should be made public and directly called for Maxwell to appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee. "I think all this stuff ought to be public. I mean, I think all of the all the documents, should all be public," Hawley said. "I think we'd all ought to be out in the open. I'm a big fan of declassifying-- I think this isn't technically classified. It's just, you know, close hold for prosecution, but I think we ought to put it all out there." "I think it's reasonable for the American people to ask who he [Epstein] sex trafficked these young women to -- if anybody besides himself," added Louisiana Republican Sen. John Kennedy. "And if there were others involved, why haven't they been prosecuted? That's a perfectly understandable question, and I think the Justice Department is going to have to answer it." Late Tuesday afternoon, Kentucky GOP Rep. Thomas Massie said he plans to pursue a procedural gambit to trigger a House vote on legislation that would force the release of the 'complete' Epstein files. Massie plans to offer a discharge petition, which requires 218 signatures and allows the majority of the chamber to circumvent GOP leaders. There would only be floor action if the resolution receives enough support. A waiting period of seven legislative days kicks off once the petition has enough signatures, so this could become a headache for GOP leaders after August recess. 'We all deserve to know what's in the Epstein files, who's implicated, and how deep this corruption goes. Americans were promised justice and transparency. We're introducing a discharge petition to force a vote in the US House of Representatives on releasing the COMPLETE files,' Massie said in a post on X. GOP Rep. Lauren Boebert of Colorado, also speaking to the podcaster Benny Johnson in a separate interview, said she would support creating a special counsel to investigate the Epstein matter. "There has to be a special investigation into this if we aren't going to be provided information," she said. Boebert also had a suggestion for who should lead the probe. "Matt Gaetz as a special counsel? Absolutely," she said. Gaetz, a former GOP congressman from Florida, was once the subject of a multiyear federal sex-trafficking investigation. Gaetz had long denied any wrongdoing and the probe ended with no charges against Gaetz. Meanwhile, Democrats in the House on Tuesday tried to force a vote and debate on California Rep. Ro Khanna's amendment that would have demanded the release of all the Epstein files. Their effort failed by just one vote after a nearly 45-minute vote. House Judiciary Democrats penned a letter to committee chairman Jim Jordan on Tuesday demanding a hearing with Trump administration officials from the DOJ and FBI on the Epstein files. Jordan, though, publicly expressed unwavering support "I have total confidence in President Tump and his team," Jordan told ABC News when asked if he had any questions regarding the Epstein case or if Bondi mishandled the situation.
Yahoo
36 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Bill O'Reilly Corrected On-Air Over False Claim Biden Oversaw Epstein Conviction: ‘How Do You Convict a Guy That Is Dead?'
Bill O'Reilly falsely doubled down that Jeffrey Epstein was convicted under Joe Biden's administration. While appearing on NewsNation Monday night, host Leland Vittert had to correct O'Reilly multiple times after the former 'O'Reilly Factor' star asserted that the disgraced film financier was convicted under Biden's admin by Attorney General Merrick Garland. Epstein was both arrested and committed suicide in 2019 – a full year and a half before Biden took office. More from TheWrap 'The Summer I Turned Pretty' Season 3 Release Schedule: What Time Are New Episodes Streaming? 'Superman' Breakout Edi Gathegi on His Comic Book-Accurate Mister Terrific – and Potential TV Spinoff Bill O'Reilly Corrected On-Air Over False Claim Biden Oversaw Epstein Conviction: 'How Do You Convict a Guy That Is Dead?' | Video Apple's Matt Cherniss Teases 'Very Bright' Future for 'Severance,' 'The Studio' and 'Shrinking' After Record Emmy Noms 'Epstein was convicted during the Biden administration,' O'Reilly said. 'Hold on, Bill,' Vittert interrupted. 'You said Epstein was convicted during the Biden administration. Epstein committed suicide during the Trump administration.' 'Yeah, so?' O'Reilly asked. 'How do you convict a guy that is dead?' Vittert responded. Bill O'Reilly doubled down: "Epstein was convicted under Merrick Garland's Justice Department."Leland Vittert: "He was arrested in 2019, and he committed suicide in 2019… So the Biden administration was not involved in a conviction or a trial of him."O'Reilly: "But he was… — Blue Georgia (@BlueATLGeorgia) July 15, 2025 'I believe he was convicted under Merrick Garland's justice department,' O'Reilly said attempting to regain his footing. 'Then he was incarcerated. Then he committed suicide. The suicide thing is bull…' At that point, Vittert interrupted O'Reilly once more to clarify the timeline. 'Bill, I think this is important, he was arrested in 2019 and committed suicide in 2019, died August 10th of 2019. So the Biden administration was not involved in a conviction or a trial of him.' 'He was arrested and indicted under Merrick Garland,' O'Reilly continued to falsely claim. 'Who had all the information…' 'No! Under Trump,' Vittert corrected again. 'Epstein was arrested, indicted and committed suicide under Trump in 2019. Trump was president. Merrick Garland was not the attorney general.' A new fervor in Epstein and his purported client list arose after a new memo released by the DOJ and FBI released last week insisted the Trump-mandated investigation into Epstein's criminal past 'did not uncover evidence that could predicate an investigation against uncharged third parties.' This came mere months after Bondi told Fox News that she was in possession of a list of that very nature. The news – or lack thereof – about the Epstein list created a schism in Donald Trump's MAGA base with some passionate for information on one end and those ready to move onto the next topic on the other. For O'Reilly, it meant falsely breaking down the timeline of Epstein's conviction. 'I stand corrected,' O'Reilly finally conceded. You can watch the full exchange in the video above. The post Bill O'Reilly Corrected On-Air Over False Claim Biden Oversaw Epstein Conviction: 'How Do You Convict a Guy That Is Dead?' | Video appeared first on TheWrap.
New York Post
43 minutes ago
- New York Post
Federal grand jury indicts ‘Minny Maniac' accused of killing former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman
A federal grand jury indicted a man Tuesday on charges that he fatally shot a prominent Minnesota state representative and her husband and seriously wounded a state senator and his wife while he was allegedly disguised as a police officer. The indictment handed up lists murder, stalking and firearms charges against Vance Boelter. The murder counts in the deaths of former Democratic House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, could carry the federal death penalty. 'This political assassination, the likes of which have never occurred here in the state of Minnesota, has shook our state at a foundational level,' acting U.S. Attorney Joseph Thompson said. 6 A picture shared on 15 June 2025 via social media by the Ramsey County Sheriff's Office of the arrest of Vance Luther Boelter. HANDOUT/RAMSEY COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE HANDOUT/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock He said a decision on whether to seek the death penalty 'will not come for several months' and will be up to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi. Minnesota abolished its state death penalty in 1911, but President Donald Trump's administration says it intends to be aggressive in seeking capital punishment for eligible federal crimes. Prosecutors initially charged Boelter with the same counts. But under federal court rules they needed a grand jury indictment to take the case to trial. Boelter's federal defender, Manny Atwal, did not immediately return messages seeking comment on the indictment and the new allegations. Political extremism as a motive Thompson also disclosed new details at a news conference. He said investigators had found a handwritten letter by Boelter addressed to FBI Director Kash Patel in which he confessed to the shootings and made bizarre claims. 6 Acting U.S. Attorney for Minnesota, Joe Thompson, speaks to reporters at a news conference on Tuesday, July 15, 2025, in Minneapolis. AP 'In the letter, Vance Boelter claims that he had been trained by the U.S. military off the books and he had conducted missions on behalf of the U.S. military in Asia, the Middle East and Africa,' Thompson said. Boelter also said in the letter that Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz had approached him about killing the state's two U.S. senators, fellow Democrats Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith. Asked by a reporter if all that was a fantasy, Thompson replied: 'Yes, I agree.' 'There is little evidence showing why he turned to political violence and extremism,' Thompson said. 'What he left were lists: politicians in Minnesota, lists of politicians in other states, lists of names of attorneys at national law firms.' 6 This image provided by the FBI on Saturday, June 14, 2025, shows part of a poster with photos of Vance Boelter. FBI Friends have described Boelter as an evangelical Christian with politically conservative views who had been struggling to find work. At a hearing July 3, Boelter said he was 'looking forward to the facts about the 14th coming out.' In an interview published by the New York Post on Saturday, Boelter insisted the shootings had nothing to do with his opposition to abortion or his support for Trump, but he declined to discuss why he allegedly killed the Hortmans and wounded the Hoffmans. 'You are fishing and I can't talk about my case…I'll say it didn't involve either the Trump stuff or pro life,' Boelter wrote in a message to the newspaper via the jail's messaging system. 6 Minnesota Rep Melissa Hortman at the White House Christmas party 2024 with husband Mark. Melissa Hortman/Facebook Boelter also faces state murder and attempted murder charges in Hennepin County, but the federal case will go first. Other details of the case Prosecutors say Boelter, 57, who has lived in rural Sibley County south of Minneapolis, was driving a fake squad car, wearing a realistic rubber mask that covered his head and wearing tactical gear around 2 a.m. on June 14 when he went to the home of Sen. John Hoffman, a Democrat, and his wife, Yvette, in the Minneapolis suburb of Champlin. He allegedly shot the senator nine times, and Yvette Hoffman eight times, but they survived. Prosecutors allege he then stopped at the homes of two other lawmakers. One, in Maple Grove, wasn't home while a police officer may have scared him off from the second, in New Hope. Boelter then allegedly went to the Hortmans' home in nearby Brooklyn Park and killed both of them. Their dog was so gravely injured that he had to be euthanized. 6 In this handout provided by Hennepin County Sheriff's Office, Vance Luther Boelter poses for a booking photo on June 16, 2025 in Green Isle, Minnesota. Getty Images Brooklyn Park police, who had been alerted to the shootings of the Hoffmans, arrived at the Hortman home around 3:30 a.m., moments before the gunman opened fire on the couple, the complaint said. Boelter allegedly fled and left behind his car, which contained notebooks listing dozens of Democratic officials as potential targets with their home addresses, as well as five guns and a large quantity of ammunition. Law enforcement officers finally captured Boelter about 40 hours later, about a mile (1.6 kilometers) from his rural home in Green Isle, after what authorities called the largest search for a suspect in Minnesota history. Remembering the victims 6 Minnesota Rep Melissa Hortman and husband Mark Hortman pictured in 2024. Mark Hortman/Facebook Sen. Hoffman is out of the hospital and is now at a rehabilitation facility, his family announced last week, adding he has a long road to recovery. Yvette Hoffman was released a few days after the attack. Former President Joe Biden visited the senator in the hospital when he was in town for the Hortmans' funeral. Biden and former Vice President Kamala Harris joined mourners at the Hortmans' funeral June 28. Gov. Tim Walz, Harris's running mate on the 2024 Democratic presidential ticket, eulogized Melissa Hortman as 'the most consequential speaker in Minnesota history.' Hortman led the House from 2019 until January and was a driving force as Democrats passed an ambitious list of liberal priorities in 2023. She yielded the speakership to a Republican in a power-sharing deal after the November elections left the House tied, and she took the title speaker emerita.
