NAME GAME

How large is the list of Epstein associates now being compiled by his victims? It’s got dozens of names, one of the disgraced financier’s survivors exclusively told What A Day.

• Survivors of the deceased child sex trafficker made headlines last week by announcing a plan to draft their own list of people associated with the deceased sexual predator Jeffrey Epstein. That list includes roughly 30 to 50 names, Lisa Phillips, the Epstein survivor who first discussed the effort during a press conference outside the U.S. Capitol last week, told What A Day today.

• Not all of those individuals are accused of wrong-doing, she cautioned, and some of them might just be people who were in the billionaire’s orbit and may have knowledge of his activities.

• “I know the list consists of maybe 30 to 50 names being tossed around over the years,” said Phillips, who now hosts a podcast dedicated to survivors of abuse, “From Now On.” “I mean, it's very sensitive, so it could have just been friends that are there but don’t know about what’s going on,” she continued. “We’re only concerned with people who saw or participated or that know something.”

• Phillips’ comments come on a big day of Epstein news in Washington. Moments before she spoke, House Democrats released the infamous birthday letter that they say President Donald Trump sent to Epstein for the financier’s 50th birthday — featuring a drawing of a woman’s naked body, and a bizarre poem.

Trump has vehemently denied drawing the picture. But questions surrounding Trump’s long friendship with Epstein have persisted, despite his attempts to change the subject.

• Lawyers for Epstein’s estate gave Congress a copy of the 50th birthday book today. That features letters from his social circle, including one that appears to be signed by Trump, as reported in the Wall Street Journal in July. “Happy Birthday — and may every day be another wonderful secret,” the note reads… with a signature below the waist that mimicked pubic hair.

• Missing from that original report, however, was the outline of a naked woman that framed the text. Now the full letter, drawing included, is public. Trump denied writing the letter, which he called “a fake thing,” and filed a $10 billion lawsuit against the Journal for its reporting. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt continued to deny the legitimacy of the letter today, saying that litigation will continue.

• “It shows what we are up against,” Phillips said of the letter and the drawing. “It shows the mentality of the powerful people, and what they think about, what they focus on, what’s most important to them. And it shows our fight is going to be a tough one, because they don’t want to take away that right that they feel they have … they just feel like they’re invincible.”

• Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY), an advocate for releasing more Epstein files, has floated the idea of reading names of Epstein’s associates on the House floor, since lawmakers have constitutional immunity and couldn’t be sued for doing so. But Phillips described the situation as “sensitive,” and said there is no set plan for what to do with the list once it is finalized. “I'm not quite sure what's going to happen,” Phillips said.

The Epstein files issue isn’t going away, no matter how badly Donald Trump wants it to.

COCKTAILS & PUNCH 👊

Can Donald Trump’s economic advisors successfully steer the country away from a future recession?

Hell… can they just make it through dinner together without a fistfight?

The answer to that second question is: Barely. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent caused a scene inside one of Washington’s swankiest dinner clubs last week, by threatening to punch out Trump’s top housing official, Bill Pulte.

The showdown took place at the conservative social club Executive Branch, where membership costs $500,000. While the club is believed to serve sushi and other small plates, Bessent reportedly offered Pulte a knuckle sandwich after being told that the housing finance official had been badmouthing him to the bossman.

“Why the fuck are you talking to the president about me? Fuck you,” Bessent told Pulte, offering to take things outside, according to Politico. “I’m gonna punch you in your fucking face … I’m going to fucking beat your ass.” Eventually, the two manchildren sat at opposite ends of the dinner table, and this incredibly awkward dinner wrapped up without actual fisticuffs.

These tensions are a bad sign for anyone hoping Trump’s erratic, impulsive economic decision-making will be leveled off by the cooler heads of sober advisors around him, in time to avoid the worst damage from his trade war. The economy is flashing warning signs, job creation has ground to a standstill, Trump is laying siege to the Federal Reserve, and concerns about inflation are rife.

Fortunately, these mature gentlemen are on the case!

WHAT ELSE?

Israel’s military threatened Hamas with a “hurricane” of strikes on the Gaza Strip if the militant group doesn’t surrender. The attacks are already devastating: Israel struck a 12-floor building in Gaza City where displaced families were sheltering, only three hours after urging civilians there to leave. Hamas says that it is studying the latest ceasefire proposal.

Donald Trump said that he’ll direct the Education Department to protect the right to pray in public schools. I wonder if this will apply to all religions, or just the ones he likes?

The Trump administration said it began immigration enforcement in Chicago today, but local officials said they haven’t seen many signs of the so-called “Operation Midway Blitz.” I guess we’ll see if there’s another chilling citywide crackdown, or if Kristi “ICE Barbie” Noem just likes to come up with stupid nicknames.

On that note, the Supreme Court lifted restrictions on “roving” ICE raids at places like bus stops, car washes or Home Depot parking lots. A lower court judge had deemed the raids unconstitutional, saying people were being detained without probable cause. Justice Brett Kavanaugh, however, wrote that it’s reasonable to question people based on “common sense” criteria… i.e. if they can’t speak English well, or work as daylaborers. This is a heinous ruling, even for him!

A venture capital fund linked to the Trump family now has more than $1 billion in assets, according to Reuters. 1789 Capital’s coffers blossomed dramatically after Donald Trump’s election, which came the same month that Don Jr. was named partner at the fund. Since then, the organization has struck tons of deals — in yet another glaring example of the president’s corruption.

The trial of Ryan Routh, the man charged with attempting to assassinate Trump at his Florida golf course last year, begins today. This dude is… um, a character: After firing his legal team in July, Routh proposed a “beatdown session” with Trump, and suggested trading himself to China or Iran in a prisoner exchange, in court filings. “It was ridiculous from the outset to consider a random stranger that knows nothing of who I am to speak for me,” Routh wrote in a letter to the judge. “Best I walk alone.”

Light at the End of the Email…

House Speaker Mike Johnson walked back his own comment describing Donald Trump as an “FBI informant” on deceased child sex predator Jeffrey Epstein. Nice try, Mike!

A 20-year-old American pilot accused of landing his plane illegally in Chilean territory was released over the weekend. He has flown to six of the seven continents to raise money for childhood cancer research, and I really hope he gets to the last one!

A ‘Star Wars’ aficionado bought Darth Vader’s lightsaber for $3.6 million at auction — the very same one used by David Prowse during “The Empire Strikes Back” and “Return of the Jedi.” The buyer’s name wasn’t made public, but I have a feeling Scott Bessent would really like to use the force on some of his colleagues.

Hikers in Colorado were greeted at the top of Huron Peak, one of the state’s tallest mountains at 14,000 feet, by a man wearing an ice cream cone costume and a fake moustache… handing out free ice cream. The guy had climbed the peak with a 60-pound pack of treats and dry ice, set up a camping chair, and cracked open a beer while waiting for visitors. This is legend dairy.