Hi all, the news is moving quickly today, so let me get right into the latest updates.
When I woke up this morning, the first thing I looked at was latest economic data.
The Producer Price Index (PPI) came in hotter than expected. Inflation at the wholesale level rose to 2.9% in January, far more than projections. Core PPI jumped even more sharply to 3.6%. This counters the Trump narrative that inflation is easing, and is a major signal of things to come in regards to future consumer inflation data.
When producer costs rise, it doesn’t stay confined to supply chains. It hits grocery stores, gas pumps, housing costs, and everything else Americans feel in their daily lives. It also makes interest rate cuts far less likely in the near term, which keeps borrowing expensive and growth constrained.
So while families are still navigating elevated prices, this data points to renewed pressure rather than relief. It doesn’t help that Trump’s only plan is seemingly to deny reality, and worse, proactively work to make things more expensive with his tariffs.
But the economic picture wasn’t the only thing deteriorating.
At the same time, U.S. personnel in Israel were being warned to evacuate as tensions with Iran escalated rapidly. Other allied nations were issuing similar warnings to their citizens. The USS Gerald Ford was being repositioned toward the region, and conversations inside military circles were already raising a stark concern: the United States is not equipped for a prolonged engagement.
Senior defense officials have reportedly warned that the country lacks the ammunition reserves and logistical capacity for an extended conflict. Even more concerning, the usual coalition of allies that would typically support a U.S. military effort appears absent. NATO partners are reluctant. Regional players are staying on the sidelines.
That leaves the possibility of the U.S. acting largely alone alongside Israel — a scenario that carries enormous strategic risk.
Against this backdrop of economic stress and potential military escalation, you would expect leadership to focus on stability and clarity. But not when it comes to Donald Trump.
Trump spent the morning posting demands that political opponents be imprisoned over the 2020 election. He shared fabricated electoral maps to claim a victory that did not happen. He amplified calls to prosecute investigators like Jack Smith. And he circulated communications suggesting federal regulators should pressure private companies like Apple to alter its News app in ways favorable to him.
This all reflects a broader pattern that has intensified in recent months — using government authority to reshape media environments and influence public perception. There have already been major shifts in media ownership, with consolidation efforts that place enormous influence in fewer hands. Moves involving Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery are part of that trend, and don’t bode well for our democracy.
At the same time, another development deserves attention.
In Miami and across South Florida, even traditionally conservative voices have begun voicing unease about Trump’s posture toward Venezuela’s leadership. His openness toward figures aligned with Nicolás Maduro’s regime, like interim leader Delcy Rodríguez, has triggered backlash in communities that fled authoritarian rule.
Local political commentary reflects what we’ve been saying all along. Trump’s moves in Venezuela aren’t about supporting democratic values, but rather finding ways to extract the country’s resources (oil) for the benefit of Trump and his cronies.
Meanwhile, back in Washington, House Oversight Republicans convened a closed-door deposition of former President Bill Clinton related to the Epstein investigation.
Democrats participated and raised an important question that cuts to the heart of the matter: if the goal is accountability, why not seek testimony from Donald Trump?
His name appears repeatedly throughout the materials that have already been made public. Yet large portions of the Epstein files remain withheld or heavily redacted.
Some survivor accounts have not been fully released. Allegations connected to powerful individuals remain buried behind layers of secrecy. Lawmakers who have reviewed the documents privately report inconsistencies between what was promised and what was actually disclosed.
Instead of transparency, Republicans quickly turned the deposition into a political spectacle.
Republican members characterized Hillary Clinton’s appearance as combative, despite her having requested a public setting for the testimony. That request was denied. Democrats say that selective descriptions from the GOP completely distort what actually occurred. Hopefully, we will soon see the footage. If and when we do, we will be sure to post it in its entirety.
Behind all of this are the survivors — more than a thousand individuals whose lives were permanently altered by abuse connected to Epstein and his network. For them, the investigation is not an abstract political exercise. It is a search for justice.
And justice requires completeness.
Representative James Comer left the Bill Clinton deposition during a break to speak with the press, where his goal was clear: ensure everyone that Trump is not implicated in Epstein’s crimes. It’s clear that these Republicans view themselves as Donald Trump’s personal crisis law firm, and not legitimate investigators seeking facts.
Representative Maxwell Frost, who was part of the deposition, issued a quick clarification regarding Comer’s remarks: “I’m happy to clarify. President Clinton brought up a conversation he had with Trump in NYC re: Epstein. President Clinton said that Trump told him that he had a falling out with Epstein due to a land dispute. This directly refutes Trump’s claims about why he fell out with Epstein.”
Back in D.C., Trump was asked about Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick’s relationship with Epstein. Trump' told the press that Lutnick is a ““very innocent guy.” Meanwhile, the DOJ was caught yesterday removing a photo of Lutnick from the Epstein Files that showed him alongside Epstein on Epstein’s island. Just months ago, Lutnick insisted that he thought Epstein was disgusting the first time they met and never associated with him after. That’s now been proven to be a massive lie.
Meanwhile, other signals of institutional pressure are emerging. The FCC has begun promoting a “Pledge America” campaign encouraging broadcasters to incorporate “patriotic programming” tied to the nation’s 250th anniversary.
On its face, celebrating civic identity is not controversial. But when such initiatives are introduced alongside calls to shape news narratives and pressure media companies, it raises a whole lot of red flags.
I also have to mention a clip of Representative Lauren Boebert that we caught while she was being interviewed by Piers Morgan. Honestly, I really recommend you watch my video report above to see it for yourself. Boebert was asked a simple question: what is inflation? Nowhere in her word salad response about the “Green New Scam” did she provide a clear answer. And these are the people who are supposed to be solving the issues facing our nation?
There’s a whole lot going on. We’re going to keep following it all. Later today, Ron Filipkowski will publish his Friday bulletin with all the day’s top stories, so stay tuned. Keep your eyes on the MeidasTouch YouTube channel and podcast for more updates.
See you soon.
