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NEWS: Jeffrey Epstein Survivor Jess Michaels Speaks Out. Share Her Story.

Please watch this powerful interview. I also highlight all the news you missed overnight in this newsletter.

Aaron Parnas Jul 30

Good morning everyone. Before we get to the news you missed overnight, I want to begin with something far more urgent and deeply personal. Today’s interview is one of the most difficult—and important—I’ve ever done. I spoke with Jess Michaels, a survivor of Jeffrey Epstein’s horrific abuse, and one of the most powerful, courageous women I’ve ever encountered.

In this extended conversation, Jess shares—publicly—how he raped her in the early 1990s. She walks us through the manipulation, the grooming tactics, and the brutal truth of what she endured. But she also makes clear why now, more than ever, the voices of his victims must be heard, amplified, and believed—especially as the horrific crimes of the man and his co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell dominate headlines again.

This interview is longer than usual because Jess' story demands space. It deserves to be heard in full, without rush or reduction. I ask you—please—take the time to listen. Share it. Talk about it. Because what Jess and others lived through must never be erased, ignored, or allowed to fade into silence. The resources Jess mentioned on our interview today are: Valor.us and Projectcallisto.org.

If you haven’t yet, I’d be grateful if you subscribed. My reporting isn’t backed by billionaires or corporations—it’s supported by readers like you. Subscribing helps me continue to do this work independently, and without compromise. Thank you.

With that, here’s the rest of the news you missed today:

• The Trump administration is pushing to release grand jury transcripts from the Epstein and Maxwell sex trafficking cases, amid growing criticism over its lack of transparency; Trump, facing pressure, claimed Epstein “stole” young staffers from Mar-a-Lago, including Virginia Giuffre.

• Journalist Michael Wolff claims the White House suspects Ghislaine Maxwell’s family leaked Epstein’s “birthday book” to the Wall Street Journal as a signal to Trump that she has damaging information on him, prompting urgent DOJ meetings with Maxwell and reportedly leading Trump to consider pardoning her.

• The US has been placed on a global rights watchlist by the civil society group Civicus, which cites a “narrowed” civic space rating due to increasing restrictions under Trump’s second term, including militarized responses to protests, crackdowns on press freedom, and criminalization of Palestine solidarity activism; the group warns of a growing slide toward authoritarianism.

• The Senate confirmed Emil Bove, a former Trump defense lawyer and DOJ official, to a federal appeals court seat, despite whistleblower claims he pushed to ignore court orders; the vote passed narrowly with all Republican support.

• Indian exporters are preparing for possible US tariff hikes of 20–25% starting August 1, as trade talks with Washington have stalled; Trump confirmed no final decision yet but warned the increase is likely without a deal.

• Trump suggested he may skip the G20 summit in South Africa this November, criticizing the country’s policies and saying he might send a representative instead.

• The US has repatriated an American child from Syria’s al-Hawl camp, which holds thousands of people with suspected links to ISIS, according to the State Department.

• Vinay Prasad, the FDA’s top medical and science official, has resigned, the Department of Health and Human Services confirmed on Tuesday.

• Delta Air Lines is being sued by a South Carolina family after a vendor employee allegedly stole their child’s forgotten iPad, used it to film explicit videos that synced to their cloud, and hacked their accounts; the family claims Delta failed to act on their repeated complaints, prompting legal action for negligence and emotional distress.

• Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te postponed a planned Latin America trip amid reports that the Trump administration blocked his proposed stopover in New York to avoid angering China; while Taiwan cited domestic issues like typhoon recovery and tariff talks, critics accused the US of bowing to Beijing during sensitive trade negotiations.

• Harvard University has agreed to comply with the Trump administration’s demand to hand over employment eligibility forms for thousands of staff but is holding off on releasing records for student-only roles, as it navigates privacy concerns amid a broader legal and financial standoff with the federal government over funding cuts tied to campus protests and diversity policies.

• A legal dispute is unfolding over the Trump administration’s effort to keep Alina Habba as U.S. attorney for New Jersey beyond her expired term, with defense attorneys challenging her authority and arguing the move violated constitutional limits, potentially jeopardizing active criminal cases and sparking broader court challenges.

Tsuanmi and Earthquake:

• A powerful 8.8 magnitude earthquake off Russia’s far eastern coast — tied for the sixth strongest ever recorded — triggered tsunami waves that struck multiple nations across the Pacific, including the US, Japan, and Russia.

• Tsunami waves reached US shores in Hawaii, California, Oregon, Washington, and Alaska; nearly 2 million people were evacuated in Japan, while Russia’s Severo-Kurilsk saw widespread coastal damage and a state of emergency declared.

• Hawaii’s tsunami warning has been downgraded to an advisory, though officials stress continued vigilance; chaotic evacuations on Maui left tourists and residents sleeping in cars as roads became gridlocked.

• Southern California has experienced milder but notable effects, with water surges, rip currents, and minor coastal flooding — prompting officials to urge residents to stay alert despite apparent improvement.

• Tsunami alerts were issued from Japan to Chile, impacting areas from French Polynesia (with predicted 4-meter waves) to the Galapagos Islands, while some regions like Guam, the Northern Marianas, and the Philippines have since lifted their advisories.

• Central and South American countries, including Colombia, Chile, Panama, and Ecuador, have issued tsunami warnings and ordered evacuations along their Pacific coasts following the massive 8.8 quake off Russia; Colombia urged evacuations in Nariño and Chocó, Chile suspended coastal school classes and warned Easter Island, Panama advised residents to stay inland, and Ecuador declared imminent tsunami danger for the Galápagos Islands.

Gaza News:

• At least 46 Palestinians were killed overnight by Israeli strikes and gunfire in Gaza, including over 30 people seeking humanitarian aid, according to local hospitals.

• Deadly incidents occurred in multiple areas, including Jabaliya, Beit Lahiya, Beit Hanoun, and Khan Younis, where aid seekers were targeted near distribution points and corridors.

• Gaza’s health ministry reported that 7 Palestinians, including a child, died of malnutrition in the past 24 hours, with a total of 89 children and 65 adults now dead from hunger-related causes since the war began.

• Israel’s military did not comment on the latest strikes but maintains it targets militants, blaming Hamas for operating in densely populated zones.

• The U.K. announced it will recognize a Palestinian state in September unless Israel agrees to a ceasefire, following a similar move by France — a decision Israel strongly rejected.

• Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene broke with most Republicans to call Israel’s war in Gaza a “genocide,” criticizing fellow GOP Rep. Randy Fine for endorsing starvation as a tactic and warning his comments fuel antisemitism.

See you this evening.

— Aaron