Today’s Headlines: Billionaire retail mogul Les Wexner testified before Congress about his ties to Jeffrey Epstein — but instead of appearing on Capitol Hill, lawmakers traveled to his Ohio mansion, where the 88-year-old was deposed with family members present. Notably, no Republicans on the House Oversight Committee showed up. Wexner, who once granted Epstein power of attorney, said he was “naive, gullible, and foolish” and claimed he was conned, despite building a multibillion-dollar empire. It wasn’t the only billionaire hot seat of the day. Mark Zuckerberg testified in a landmark trial against Meta over allegations the company knowingly made its platforms addictive and harmful to children. The case could influence more than 1,500 pending social media addiction lawsuits. Meanwhile, The New York Times reported Meta has set aside $65 million to back state-level politicians friendly to the AI industry through new super PACs in Illinois and Texas — timing that feels… strategic. In federal agency cleanup news, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration removed a webpage warning against bogus autism “treatments” like chlorine dioxide and raw camel milk, calling it routine housekeeping. On the foreign policy front, Donald Trump met with advisers to discuss Iran, as mixed signals emerge from nuclear talks in Geneva and two U.S. aircraft carriers sit in the Mediterranean. The administration also plans to withdraw roughly 1,000 U.S. troops from Syria over the next two months, though officials say the move is “conditions based.” Meanwhile, a potential U.S. arms sale to Taiwan is reportedly in limbo ahead of Trump’s planned meeting with Xi Jinping in Beijing. Back home, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced the city will resume clearing homeless encampments following at least 19 deaths during a recent cold snap, with outreach led by homeless services rather than police.



Resources/Articles mentioned in this episode:



AP News: Billionaire Les Wexner says he was 'duped' by adviser Jeffrey Epstein, 'a world-class con man'

Axios: Zuckerberg testifies in landmark social media addiction trial

NYT: Meta Begins $65 Million Election Push to Advance A.I. Agenda

ProPublica: Chlorine Dioxide, Raw Camel Milk: The FDA No Longer Warns Against These and Other Ineffective Autism Treatments

Axios: Trump meets with top Iran advisers as war threat grows

WSJ: U.S. Is Withdrawing All Forces From Syria, Officials Say

WSJ: U.S. Arms Sale to Taiwan in Limbo Amid Pressure Campaign From China

AP News: Mamdani reboots homeless encampment sweeps in New York City



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