18 JULY 2025: Headline Brief: Trump’s Letter to Epstein - Real or Fake? // Good News on Tariff Wars, Energy, Mining, MAHA // Global News: Panama Canal, Ukraine’s Drones, Australia’s Sleep Research
Donate (no account necessary) | Subscribe (account required) Join Bryan Dean Wright, former CIA Operations Officer, for Friday’s Headline Brief as he covers the top stories shaping America and the world. Trump Sues Wall Street Journal Over Epstein Birthday Letter Allegation President Trump files a lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal and News Corp over a report claiming he drew a suggestive birthday card for Jeffrey Epstein in 2003. Trump calls the letter fake and denies the language or drawing style matches his. Bryan explains this is what prompted Trump to denounce the Epstein case earlier this week and argues the leak may be tied to fired DOJ official Maurene Comey. Congress Moves to Slash Billions from Global Aid and Public Broadcasting The House is expected to approve a rescissions bill that cuts $9 billion from foreign aid and media outlets like NPR and PBS. Democrats call the cuts cruel, while Trump’s budget chief confirms more clawback bills are coming. Thailand Ups Tariff Offer to Avoid Trade Penalties Thailand increases its offer to allow 90% of U.S. goods tariff-free, part of Trump’s broader strategy to open global markets for American products. The White House has not yet said if it will accept the revised deal. 93% Tariff on Chinese Graphite Set to Boost U.S. Mining The U.S. announces steep tariffs on graphite imports from China, a critical mineral for batteries and aerospace. The move is expected to revive domestic projects in Alaska, Alabama, and Louisiana that have long struggled to compete with Chinese state-subsidized graphite. Trump Halts Plan to Remove Columbia River Hydropower Dams Reversing a Biden-era decision, Trump defends the Pacific Northwest’s dams from removal. The decision preserves 24/7 electricity for AI data centers, agriculture, and irrigation, while ensuring continued barge access for inland cities like Lewiston, Idaho. Coca-Cola Drops Corn Syrup Under Health Secretary RFK Jr.’s Push The company will shift from high-fructose corn syrup to sugar, a change long advocated by Health Secretary Bobby Kennedy Jr. Farmers in the Midwest worry about lost income, while Florida and Brazil sugar producers stand to gain. Ice Cream Industry to Remove Synthetic Dyes by 2027 Forty major ice cream brands will eliminate petroleum-derived colorants, but the transition will take years due to the farming cycles of natural color sources like beets. New Delays for Air Force One Due to Security Clearance Issues Skilled workers at Boeing’s Seattle plant are failing security screenings, slowing production of the next presidential jets. Even the Qatar 747, once floated as a backup, will need similar vetting. Chinese Investors Buying Up U.S. Homes in Record Numbers Chinese buyers spent $13.7 billion on U.S. homes this year, up 83 percent, mostly in Democrat-led states like California. Bryan raises concerns about affordability and national security. China Pushes to Control Panama Canal Deal, Trump May Respond Beijing threatens to block a port sale in Panama unless its state-owned firm COSCO gets a share. Trump is reportedly furious and may use military pressure to prevent Chinese involvement in canal operations. Ukraine Proposes Drone-for-Weapons Swap with U.S. President Zelenskyy offers U.S. access to battlefield-hardened drone technology in exchange for American missile systems. Trump is reportedly intrigued, and Bryan calls it a win-win—though argues we should get the tech for free. Study Links Bright Evening Light to Heart Risk Australian researchers find that excessive nighttime light exposure increases the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and heart failure by up to 45 percent. Bryan urges listeners to shut off devices before bed—or just go full Amish. "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." – John 8:32
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