The Latest: 07/19/2025 01:58am ET

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
This is your twenty four to seven use update the
latest use this hour in just four minutes.

Speaker 2 (00:08):
More fallout from the Jeffrey Epstein case and the Trump administration.
The Wall Street Journal's parent company is standing behind the
Jeffrey Epstein birthday letter story. Dal Jones said Friday it
has quote full confidence in the rigor and accuracy of
its reporting, adding it will vigorously defend against any lawsuit.
President Trump is suing The Wall Street Journal owner Rupert

(00:31):
Murdoch and dal Jones after the outlet reported he sent
the letter to Epstein for his fiftieth birthday in two
thousand and three. Trump suit alleges defamation and seeks at
least twenty billion dollars. President Trump denies making any drawings
when asked about Jeffrey Epstein, but there's evidence he has,
Brian Schook explains.

Speaker 1 (00:51):
The Washington Post reports Trump has created several drawings over
the years, and at least four have been publicly auctioned.
The report comes out after a sketch of a naked
woman bearing Trump's name was allegedly part of a letter
sent to Epstein for his fiftieth birthday. The Post story
includes drawings Trump made of the Empire's State Building and

(01:11):
the George Washington Bridge. I'm Brian Shook.

Speaker 2 (01:15):
Authorities are investigating an apartment complex in Santa Monica in
connection to the explosion that killed three La County Sheriff's
deputies Friday morning. The explosion happened at a training facility
and rocked the surrounding East LA neighborhood. The La Times
reports the deputies were handling a device that had been
picked up Thursday in Santa Monica. The explosion is currently

(01:37):
being investigated as a negligent homicide. County Sheriff Robert Luna
says it's the department's largest loss of life since eighteen
fifty seven, and Tulci Gabbart is calling for the prosecution
of former officials from the Obama administration. In a recently
declassified report, the Director of National Intelligence alleged several former

(01:59):
officials or part of a quote treasonous conspiracy connected to
the twenty sixteen election. I'm Jim Forbes. The White House
will release one point three billion dollars in frozen federal
funding for after school programs. The move comes after pressure
to release the funds started coming within President Trump's own party.
The Trump administration earlier this month announced it was withholding

(02:22):
nearly seven billion dollars in school funding, citing what it
called instances of the money quote being grossly misused to
subsidize a radical left wing agenda. Schools were in the
process of telling mostly low income working parents that the
programs for their kids would not be available. Trash continues
to pile up in California as trash pickup grinds to

(02:45):
a halt during a growing nationwide strike. Restaurant owners say
the piles of trash aren't the only challenge.

Speaker 3 (02:52):
Dinakodiak explains it's costing them more money, with some hiring
hauling companies to take it away because it's self stressful.
Rights to have a restaurant, not to a thing like this.

Speaker 1 (03:01):
I know what is on ending about it.

Speaker 2 (03:03):
Literally, it's been.

Speaker 3 (03:04):
Almost two weeks Francisco flores Zon's, a restaurant in the
Bay Area. Residents across the state are raising health concerns
as garbage overflows and vermin become more visible in neighborhoods.
Over two thousand Republic Services workers are protesting over wages
and benefits, with the strike starting in Boston and spreading west.

Speaker 2 (03:21):
I'm Dinakodiak tech company Astronomer is launching an investigation after
its CEO was caught on camera snuggling up with the
head of human resources. Andy Byron and Kristin Cabot were
shown on the jumbo tron at a Coldplay concert in Boston,
and they immediately tried to hide their faces from the camera.
The company said it's looking into the matter and we'll

(03:42):
share details quote very shortly. A clip of the embrace
went viral on TikTok, getting more than twenty million views.
And the executive director of the NHL Players Association is
stepping down after he reportedly built the union for two
strip club visits. Oid How Junior was signed Thursday after
two years as the head of the union. I'm Jim

(04:04):
Forbes