Week of Nov 16: Epstein Files to be Released, Trump & Zohran

This week, we cover a whirlwind of headlines spanning transparency, tech, city–federal politics, national security, immigration, and the 2026 landscape. Congress green-lights the release of the Epstein files. Larry Summers steps off OpenAI’s board. NYC’s new mayor meets President Trump in the Oval—yes, there’s outfit discourse—while the short-lived “DOGE” department quietly shutters months early. We break down Operation Southern Spear in the hemisphere, the administration’s push to pare back the Endangered Species Act, and Laura Loomer’s viral claim that the GOP has a “Nazi problem.” Plus: ICE plans stepped-up operations in New York City, and Republican senators balk at Trump’s proposed $2,000 “tariff checks.” Clear context, crisp stats, and what to watch next—no fluff.

Topics Covered

• Congress votes to release the Epstein files: what’s actually supposed to be made public and the 30-day clock

• Larry Summers resigns from OpenAI’s board: why governance and reputational risk matter for AI labs

• Zohran Mamdani meets Trump in the Oval Office: optics vs. outcomes on public safety, housing, and federal dollars (and yes, the suit-and-tie chatter)

• The DOGE department disbands 8 months early: what happens to the promised “efficiency” savings and projects

• Operation Southern Spear: targets, authorities, and escalation risks in the Western Hemisphere

• ESA rollback proposal: what changes, who’s affected, and why litigation is a near-lock

• Laura Loomer’s “Nazi problem” warning for the GOP: intra-right fault lines and 2026 candidate vetting

• Border czar says ICE will ramp operations in NYC: sanctuary politics, legal flashpoints, and resources

• GOP senators uneasy about $2,000 tariff rebates: fiscal hawks vs. populist transfers—and the path (or lack of one) through Congress