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A bipartisan group of Congress members are trying today to force a vote to make the Trump administration release more of the Jeffrey Epstein files. The Justice Department initially promised to release more details on the convicted sex offender, then abruptly said there was nothing more to see. This has been a focal topic surrounding the administration, as President Trump was a longtime friend of Epstein until a falling out in the early 2000s. Some of the women Epstein victimized are expected to appear at the Capitol today, including Lisa Phillips, who spoke to NPR. She says that to her, releasing the files isn’t a political issue; it’s a human rights issue.
Trump’s family cryptocurrency business, World Liberty Financial, began trading publicly on Monday. The launch added approximately $5 billion to the family’s wealth — at least on paper. The business was co-founded by the president and his sons. A few years ago, Trump referred to crypto as a scam, but he has now embraced it and has vowed to make the U.S. the crypto capital of the world.
China flexed its military and diplomatic muscles today at a military parade marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. The event was the first time since the height of the Cold War that the leaders of China, North Korea and Russia have met in one place. Leaders of 26 nations, including Slovakia, Serbia, and Cuba, were in attendance. No other Western leaders were in attendance.
This year, more states than ever before are instituting bans on student devices during school hours. Many states say students learn better in a phone-free environment. Removing cellphones from the classroom has garnered bipartisan support, leading to a rapid adoption of policies across red and blue states. However, not everyone is on board with the change.
The Ndlovu Youth Choir has released an exciting new project: a Zulu-language version of Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody.” The choir originated in South Africa’s rural Limpopo province and gained international fame on America’s Got Talent in 2019. The project marks the first time Queen has authorized a translation of the iconic rock song. Coinciding with the song’s 50th anniversary, the new version incorporates African musical traditions, blending styles from township music like isicathamiya with the Congolese swing of kwassa kwassa. Listen to a snippet of the Zulu-language version of the song, or read more about the project.
