The Jeffrey Epstein scandal has shut down Congress, triggered a revolt among Republicans, and left President Donald Trump grasping for distractions .

TRUMP: “Crime in American Cities started to significantly rise when they went to CASHLESS BAIL. The WORST criminals are flooding our streets and endangering even our great law enforcement officers. It is a complete disaster, and must be ended, IMMEDIATELY!”

Even President Donald Trump doesn’t seem to think his angry and chaotic efforts to end the renewed storm over convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein will work.

National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard leveled allegations against former President Barack Obama yesterday, claiming there is “irrefutable evidence” that he and his national security team manufactured a “false” intelligence analysis to show Russia helped Donald Trump win the 2016 election.

From the daily newsletter: the fracturing of the MAGA base. Plus: how Dartmouth College became the Ivy League’s Switzerland; and what “Eddington” tries to say about America.

Impact Weather: Flooding concerns in Central Florida | July 22 forecast Army reveals the real cost of Trump’s birthday parade in Washington Kenneth Washington, Last Surviving Main Cast Member of ‘Hogan's Heroes,' Dies at 89 WSJ makes double request in Trump's Epstein case

The White House is not denying that President Donald Trump's name appears in the files associated with financier Jeffrey Epstein, an administration official told Reuters on Wednesday. The official said the fact of Trump's name appearing in the files had been acknowledged in briefing binders that were shared with influencers.

We don’t yet know the full story of the Trump administration’s sudden reluctance to release the Jeffrey Epstein files. Its reversal appears to have coincided with the president being told his name appeared in the files,