What we're covering here
• Epstein files: After months of delay — and despite resistance from President Donald Trump — the House will vote this week on whether to release more files from the case of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
• Political breakup: Trump is feuding with GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, once a staunch ally, who told CNN’s “State of the Union” today that the rift “has all come down to the Epstein files.” Greene is among a handful of conservatives who have been adamant about releasing the documents, though more Republican defections are expected in the vote.
• Military buildup: The US military’s most advanced aircraft carrier has arrived in the Caribbean as Trump weighs potential operations in Venezuela. President Nicolás Maduro has condemned the military buildup near South America as US forces target alleged drug-trafficking operations.
Democratic senator questions the Trump administration's endgame on Venezuela
Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, the ranking member on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, says she isn’t clear on the Trump administration’s ultimate aims with its military activity in the Caribbean.
“I don’t think it’s clear what the endgame is for this administration with respect to Venezuela,” Shaheen said on CBS’ “Face the Nation” today, as the US mounts a growing show of force near South America and President Donald Trump mulls a potentially scaled-up military operation in Venezuela.
Shaheen said the administration has already not been transparent on the legality of its strikes on alleged drug trafficking boats in the Caribbean.
The senator expressed concern that a potential military operation in Venezuela poses risks to US service members, and while she called President Nicolás Maduro a “bad character,” she said he is not a threat to the US.
“What (President Trump) has done here is to put at risk other parts of the world, and Americans in other parts of the world, for this fascination on trying to get rid of Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela,” Shaheen told CBS.
“He’s been involved in drug, illegal drugs, but he is not a threat to the United States of America, and what the president is doing is raising real questions,” she added.
Prices will drop after latest tariff exemptions, top White House economic adviser says
National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett declined to say that tariffs are feeding inflation but suggested prices for food staples like bananas, beef, coffee and tomatoes will come down after the Trump administration announced new exemptions.
Some context: To address rising costs of groceries amid a spending pullback from weary Americans, the Trump administration announced last week that agricultural imports would largely be exempt from “reciprocal” tariffs, instead of rates as high as 50% on coffee from Brazil or 10% on goods from most South American countries.
Average grocery prices in the US were 2.7% higher in September compared to last year. Coffee prices, for instance, were up nearly 21% year-over-year in August, and bananas are about 8% more expensive than they were a year ago.
Meanwhile, lawmakers are grappling with post-shutdown fallout and how to move forward on health care
We’re hearing from lawmakers and Trump administration officials on where things stand after Congress voted to reopen the government following the longest shutdown in US history.
If you’re just joining us, here’s the latest:
Republicans still have no clear solution on the expiration of key health care subsidies, which was at the center of the shutdown debacle.
- Dr. Mehmet Oz, administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, was sharply critical of the Affordable Care Act during an interview on CNN’s “State of the Union” but did not provide specific solutions to fix it, with just six weeks remaining before the enhanced subsidies expire. Watch the interview here.
- GOP Sen. Rick Scott of Florida signaled in a Fox News interview that he supports President Donald Trump’s proposal to send health care subsidy funds directly to consumers — a plan that’s been met by skepticism from some experts. Scott said Obamacare would ultimately not be repealed, but that it needs to be “fixed.”
- Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire called for bipartisan discussions to begin immediately with her GOP colleagues, arguing partisanship cannot bog down the urgent need to extend the subsidies. Speaking on CBS, Shaheen said she’s open to some changes to Obamacare, including income caps for people who receive benefits.
We’re also watching the soul-searching within the Democratic Party, which is dealing with internal divisions and political fallout from the shutdown vote.
- Voters dissatisfied: A majority of Democrats (55%) say their party compromised too much to end the shutdown, while half or more across party lines agree that Trump and the Republicans got more of what they wanted out of the deal, according to a new poll from CBS News and YouGov.
- Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia is still fending off criticism of his vote to end the government shutdown last week, saying today on NBC that he “knew if we wanted to get to the health care discussion, we had to open up government.”
- And for our subscribers: Read more about the heat faced by Senate Minority Lead Chuck Schumer after eight Democrats broke rank and voted with Republicans to end the shutdown.
The US military's most advanced aircraft carrier has arrived in the Caribbean
The USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group has entered the Caribbean Sea, according to the US Navy, putting the world’s most advanced carrier at the center of deepening tensions in the region.
The group is joining US forces already in the Caribbean as part of the Trump administration’s effort to “defeat and dismantle criminal networks,” the Navy said in a news release.
The Ford arrived in the broader US Southern Command area of operations on Tuesday, following orders from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Why this matters: The Trump administration has been building up military assets in the region and conducting deadly strikes on alleged drug trafficking boats. The US president is now weighing a potentially scaled-up campaign, possibly including land strikes inside Venezuela or an effort to oust President Nicolás Maduro.
Maduro has condemned any US intervention and other regional leaders have warned of potential destabilization. The Trump administration has conducted the boat strikes with little transparency.
“Ready, if asked”: US Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll said today that the US military is standing by if ordered to take action in Venezuela.
He declined to specify whether any order had been given, saying, “We would be ready, if asked.”
CNN’s Haley Britzky contributed to this report.
Watch CNN's full interview with Marjorie Taylor Greene
GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene had a wide-ranging conversation with CNN’s Dana Bash on “State of the Union” today, marking her first interview since President Donald Trump withdrew his endorsement of her and attacked the lawmaker online as a “traitor.”
If you missed it, you can watch the full interview below:
House speaker downplays Epstein files vote but indicates it will advance
House Speaker Mike Johnson appeared to concede today that the House will vote this week to release the Epstein files.
Johnson dismissed the push to release the documents as a political stunt by Democrats, despite a number of lawmakers in his own conference supporting the move, including lead GOP co-sponsor Rep. Thomas Massie.
He said the discharge petition forcing the vote doesn’t mention the Epstein estate files, which contains the “treasure trove of documents.”
Keep in mind: While the House bill to release the files is expected to pass, it awaits an uncertain fate in the Senate.
If the bill were to pass through the upper chamber, it would still need Trump’s signature unless it earns a veto-proof majority, which would require a huge number of GOP defections. Massie has voiced confidence that could happen.
Trump's DOJ probe could prevent release of more Epstein files, California lawmaker says
Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna says he’s concerned that President Donald Trump’s demand for a Justice Department investigation into high-profile figures, including some of his political enemies, will get in the way of releasing more files from the case of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
“So what I’m for is transparency. Release the files and then have the accountability for anyone, regardless of their party,” he added.
Khanna said he’s hoping around 40 Republican lawmakers will vote to release all the Epstein files this week. He said Trump is “sowing the seeds for his own lame duck presidency” by going after Republicans in Congress that support the documents’ release, like Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene.
GOP senator says Congress shouldn't slow down Trump's military actions near Venezuela
Republican Sen. Rick Scott voiced support for President Donald Trump’s military intervention in the Caribbean, saying the president is doing “the right thing” in going after drug cartels and that Congress should not stand in the way.
“I’m appreciative that this is a president that cares about the health and safety of America. He’s doing everything he can to stop these drugs from coming in and killing our kids,” Scott said on “Fox News Sunday.”
Scott said Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, the strongman leader who remains in office following an election that was marked by widespread accusations of fraud, is not a duly elected leader.
The big picture: Trump suggested last week that he has made up his mind on a course of action in Venezuela following multiple high-level briefings this week and a mounting US show of force in the region, where his administration has already been carrying out deadly strikes on alleged drug trafficking boats.
The US president is now weighing the risks and benefits of launching a scaled-up campaign, potentially including land strikes inside Venezuela or an effort to oust Maduro.
Marjorie Taylor Greene apologizes for spreading "toxic" rhetoric
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene apologized for her role in “toxic politics” during an exclusive interview with CNN today. It came as the Georgia lawmaker says she’s facing death threats due to her growing rift with President Donald Trump.
“The most hurtful thing (Trump) said, which is absolutely untrue, is he called me a traitor, and that is, that is so extremely wrong, and those are the types of words used that can radicalize people against me and put my life in danger,” Greene told anchor Dana Bash on “State of the Union.”
Bash pushed back: “We have seen these kinds of attacks or criticism from the president at other people — it’s not new — and with respect, I haven’t heard you speak out about it until it was directed at you.”
Greene, who embraced far-right conspiracy theories during her rise into politics, said she realizes she has participated in or supported rhetoric that resulted in threats toward others, and that it has been a point of reflection for her.
Ties to White nationalist: Greene also defended her association with White nationalist and Holocaust denier Nick Fuentes, including her appearance at a conference hosted by Fuentes in 2022.
While she acknowledged the speaking engagement, Greene said she doesn’t know Fuentes personally and that she doesn’t want “anything to do” with “toxic politics” or antisemitism.
Greene says she never spoke about political ambitions with Trump
Marjorie Taylor Greene is responding to President Donald Trump’s claim that her recent criticism of him is because he discouraged her from running for Senate or governor in Georgia, telling CNN that is “absolutely not true.”
“Actually, I never had a conversation at all with the president about running for Senate or running for Georgia, and those were decisions I came to on my own,” the lawmaker told Dana Bash on “State of the Union.”
Greene said her disagreements with the president were over other issues, including Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s visit to the White House, the issuing of H1-B visas and the president’s level of involvement in foreign affairs.
That perceived focus on foreign issues over domestic priorities — in addition to Trump’s handling of the Epstein files — has been central to recent public criticism from Greene on media outlets including CNN and ABC’s “The View.”
Marjorie Taylor Greene says feud with Trump "has all come down to the Epstein files"
Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene lamented the fracture between her and President Donald Trump, saying today that the rift centers on her push to release files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
In an exclusive interview with CNN’s Dana Bash, Greene said her relationship with the president deteriorated because she has been among a handful of conservatives adamant about releasing all files related to the Epstein investigation. Trump has been trying to stop Republicans in the House from voting to release the files.
“Unfortunately, it has all come down to the Epstein files,” Greene said on “State of the Union.”
The Georgia lawmaker said she doesn’t understand why the president is fighting against the files being released, as she doesn’t believe he has been implicated in anything illegal by any of Epstein’s victims.
GOP co-sponsor predicts a "deluge" of Republican votes for bill to release Epstein files
Rep. Thomas Massie, the lead GOP co-sponsor of a bill to release more Jeffrey Epstein case files, predicted today that a large number of Republicans in the House could break with President Donald Trump and back the documents’ release when it comes up for a vote as soon as Tuesday.
Massie touted the predicted success of his discharge petition effort with Rep. Ro Khanna, a California Democrat, calling it a big win over the resistance of the House speaker, attorney general and the president himself, among other Trump officials.
Massie said he thinks Trump is “trying to protect a bunch of rich and powerful friends, billionaires, donors to his campaign, friends in his social circles” and told his fellow GOP lawmakers that the “record of this vote will last longer” than Trump’s presidency.
Keep in mind: While the House bill to release the files is expected to pass, it awaits an uncertain fate in Congress’ upper chamber.
If the bill were to pass through the Senate, it would still need Trump’s signature — unless Massie succeeds in earning the veto-proof majority he referenced, with two-thirds of the House. That’s nearly 290 votes, if all members are present.
The administration's immigration surge in Charlotte is causing some businesses to shutter
President Donald Trump’s nationwide deportation push has come to Charlotte, North Carolina, this weekend.
Federal officials confirmed yesterday that a surge of immigration enforcement in the state’s largest city has begun, as agents were seen making arrests in multiple locations.
Local officials including Mayor Vi Lyles criticized the crackdown, saying in a statement that it is “causing unnecessary fear and uncertainty.”
What residents are saying: Manuel “Manolo” Betancur closed the doors to his family’s bakery yesterday after men in green uniforms chased and tackled people outside the popular shop on Central Avenue, he told CNN. He said he isn’t sure when he will reopen.
Betancur said he doesn’t want his customers to risk a similar encounter with federal agents — not when they’re just trying to buy some Colombian cakes or pastries.
Security video viewed by CNN shows agents chasing two people down on foot outside the bakery.
After coming to the United States with just $900 in his pocket, Betancur has become a US citizen, owns three businesses and employs almost 35 people — proof that the American dream exists, he said. Now with federal agents on the prowl, he says he’s closing the bakery to protect his community.
Elsewhere: The focus on Charlotte comes as Texas National Guard troops ready to leave Chicago, according to a source familiar with the planning. The city has been one of the epicenters of resistance to Trump’s crackdown, and the administration said it deployed the troops there to help protect Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and other federal personnel.
The Associated Press and CNN’s Dalia Faheid contributed to this report.
Catch up on Trump's feud with onetime ally Marjorie Taylor Greene
We’re also monitoring the fallout from a major political breakup, which boiled over this week after stewing for several weeks: President Donald Trump announced Friday he is officially rescinding his endorsement of Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene.
The president attacked Greene in personal terms, claiming she has “gone Far Left” and calling her a “ranting Lunatic.”
Greene, who arrived in Congress in 2021, has until recently been an ardent and outspoken Trump supporter.
How we got here: The onetime allies have grown apart as Greene criticized Trump on a number of fronts, including his handling of files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his perceived focus on foreign affairs.
Greene has publicly warned in recent weeks that Trump has spent too much time on foreign policy and is not doing enough to sell his domestic agenda at home, taking her message to outlets like CNN and ABC’s “The View.”
Greene is also one of four House Republicans who signed on to a discharge petition to force a vote on release of Justice Department documents pertaining to the Epstein case.
Trump has repeatedly and emphatically described calls for transparency around his ties to Epstein as a “hoax.” Greene has said her focus is on justice for Epstein’s victims and exposing the “deep state,” including shared Democratic foes.
Safety fears: The Georgia Republican says she is facing threats fueled by Trump’s rhetoric.
“I am now being contacted by private security firms with warnings for my safety as a hot bed of threats against me are being fueled and egged on by the most powerful man in the world. The man I supported and helped get elected,” Greene wrote on X.
Greene is appearing on CNN’s “State of the Union” this morning, and we’ll have updates for you on her remarks.
Here are some key factors to keep in mind for this week's Epstein files vote
In today’s coverage, we’ll be looking ahead to this week’s House vote on the release of more files from the Jeffrey Epstein case.
If you haven’t been following the latest political drama surrounding documents related to the late convicted sex offender, here’s what to know:
First, let’s set expectations: The looming vote will not mark the end of this saga either way. It’s not like the House passes the bill, and suddenly the Justice Department releases the full Epstein case files.
The bill would still need to be passed by the Senate and signed by the president.
But here’s why it’s pivotal: House Speaker Mike Johnson and President Donald Trump have been resisting this vote anyway.
The fear here seems to be that it 1) creates a very difficult decision for many Republican lawmakers, and 2) could apply pressure on the Senate and the administration to follow suit — particularly if it passes by a large margin in the House.
And a large margin appears to be what many are anticipating. CNN reported this week that House GOP leadership is expecting mass defections.
A key threshold: Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, the lead GOP co-sponsor of the discharge petition, has set a threshold for success at two-thirds of the House, or nearly 290 votes, if all members are present. That’s the point at which enough members support the measure that it could overcome a presidential veto.
That would indeed be a very symbolic victory. It would not only demonstrate that a wide, bipartisan majority of the House wants the files released, but also suggest that the chamber could override Trump if he attempts to block it. This would place tremendous pressure on the senators who face a vote next.
Read CNN’s full breakdown of the stakes in this week’s vote.
Trump is mulling military operations in Venezuela. Here's what to know
Another key element of President Donald Trump’s agenda we’ll be tracking today involves growing tensions in the Caribbean, where the administration has been mounting a show of force as it targets alleged drug traffickers in the region.
Here’s what to know:
Trump mulls options: The president suggested last week that he has made up his mind on a course of action in the South American country following multiple high-level briefings this week.
Officials briefed Trump on options for military operations inside Venezuela, four sources told CNN, as he weighs the risks and benefits of launching a scaled-up campaign to potentially oust President Nicolás Maduro.
The president indicated Friday he was drawing closer to a path forward on his attempts to cut down on illegal flows of migrants and drugs — and the possibility of regime change.
What Maduro is saying: In remarks at a Caracas rally yesterday, Maduro accused the US of pursuing a “criminal war” and decried recently announced US military drills in Trinidad and Tobago as “irresponsible.”
On Friday, Maduro warned that US military intervention could lay the groundwork for what he described as “another Gaza,” a “new Afghanistan” or “Vietnam again.”
In recent weeks, the US has amassed its naval forces in the Caribbean as the Trump administration has launched at least 20 strikes on alleged drug-trafficking boats. Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, in turn, has said Caracas is launching a “massive mobilization” of military personnel, weapons and equipment.
The political stakes: Extended US military involvement runs the risk of upsetting the political coalition that propelled Trump into office on promises of keeping America out of overseas wars. Both Vice President JD Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth served in the military during the Iraq War and have since expressed skepticism about entangling the US in foreign conflicts.
“The American people did not vote for Trump to draw the US into a sustained conflict in Latin America,” one GOP congressional staffer told CNN.
Catch up more on this topic here.
CNN’s Zachary Cohen, Jim Sciutto, Mary Triny Mena, Stefano Pozzebon, Isa Cardona and Mitchell McCluskey contributed to this report.
The Trump administration is using the White House website to troll Democrats
CNN’s Kit Maher breaks down some of the ways the Trump administration is using the official White House website to take political jabs at Democrats:
CNN's Kit Maher breaks down some recent changes the Trump administration has made to the White House website to try and troll the Democrats.
