Mark Schiefelbein/AP

The New York Times’s Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan published exclusive reporting of what happened in the White House Situation Room as President Trump’s top advisers tried to contain the Jeffrey Epstein scandal.  

📂 So much talk about nipples: There were unverified claims reportedly in the searchable Epstein files about Trump knowing a woman in Epstein’s “sex-trafficking ring.” The Times reports a file mentioning that Trump has a “predilection for nipples.”  

There were internal discussions about whether those documents should be released. Vice President Vance argued Trump would be OK with releasing those nipple-released documents because he’s been accused of worse. “One official would later describe it as a ‘surreal’ experience to be discussing nipples in the White House Situation Room.” 

📂 Vance wanted it all released: Vance reportedly wanted the administration to release all the files, including ones that included unsubstantiated claims about Trump.  

📂 Bongino snapped at Bondi: “You f---ed this thing up from the start,” former FBI deputy director Dan Bongino yelled at former Attorney General Pam Bondi. “The way you’ve been talking about this — that dumb fucking charade with the Epstein files, the ‘They’re on my desk’ nonsense, all the promises to the folks out there.” 

📂 An idea that was floated: Vance reportedly floated an idea of having conservative commentator Tucker Carlson interview Epstein’s longtime associate Ghislaine Maxwell in prison.  

📂 What Wiles told some about Vance: “Some senior officials had the impression that Vance had bought into the darkest theories about Epstein and a cabal of predators hidden within the country’s ruling class. Wiles would tell others that the vice president had proved himself to be a major conspiracy theorist.” 

Read the full NYT report: ‘Inside the White House Freakout Over the Epstein Files’ 

Plus: ‘6 Takeaways From the Story of How the Epstein Files Paralyzed the White House’ 

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates is testifying on Capitol Hill today to answer questions about his ties to Epstein.  

Can we watch?: No, his deposition is happening behind closed doors. Instead, it will be transcribed, and the transcript will later be released, per NPR. 

You can watch Gates’s brief statement to reporters before his testimony, though. 🎥 Watch 

What Gates told lawmakers: He told the House Oversight Committee that he has “never victimized anyone” and never knew that Epstein engaged in criminal conduct. 🔎 Read Gates’s prepared opening remarks 

How this deposition came about: Gates says today that he is “voluntarily” testifying to “help the committee’s work,” stressing that he hopes his testimony is helpful “to find justice for the victims.” Gates has denied knowledge of Epstein’s crimes. He was named in the files, though.  

Inflation just hit its highest point in the past three years, surging to 4.2 percent over the past year and 0.5 percent in May alone.  

This marks the first time inflation has surpassed 4 percent since May of 2023. 

📊 See the data  

If you’ll focus your attention to Iran: The cost of energy and other goods have risen due to the conflict.  

Where gas prices stand: “The Energy Information Administration reported that the average price for gas reached $4.49 in mid-May, compared to $4.09 in mid-April. In June, the national average has so far dropped to $4.15, according to AAA.” Read more 

💬 Follow today’s live blog 

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) is going back to the White House today after meeting with President Trump on Tuesday to hash out the looming Friday deadline for renewing the U.S.’s warrantless spy powers. 

What could happen now?: Johnson told Punchbowl’s Jake Sherman that he may try to pass a short-term spy powers bill in the House (though it’s not clear that it could pass). Johnson also says the Trump team is considering using an executive order to extend the deadline. Read more 

The U.S. has renewed strikes against Iran after Iran’s military  shot down a U.S. helicopter.

Trump warned today that  Iran “will have to pay the price” for the stalled peace negotiations. He then told reporters that “we’re going to hit them again hard today.” A reporter asked Trump if he meant he would resume bombing. “Yeah, we are,” Trump replied.

How close are we do a deal?: “We were really close to a deal, but they keep tapping us along,” Trump told reporters. 🎥 Watch

Trump signed the $69 billion budget reconciliation bill into law. Republicans can finally exhale a bit. 💻 Watch the bill signing 

The annual Congressional Baseball Game! It kicks off at 7:05 p.m. 💻 Watch it live 

🦞 Maine Senate race: Progressive oyster farmer Graham Platner easily won his primary last night to challenge Maine Sen. Susan Collins (R) in November. Observers had wondered whether Mainers would instead vote for Maine Gov. Janet Mills (D), despite her suspending her campaign, because of the scandals that have roiled Platner’s campaign. But he had a strong showing.

🌴 South Carolina Senate race: Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) successfully fended off five GOP challengers in his reelection primary on Tuesday. Trump congratulated him in an online post and called for Graham to focus his time on passing his voting regulations bill.  

🌴 South Carolina governor’s race: The GOP primary race for governor of South Carolina governor is headed to a runoff, but Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) didn’t make the cut. That means Mace’s three-term tenure will come to an end next year. Meanwhile, Trump’s candidate of choice, South Carolina Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette (R), did advance. 

🖐️ Five takeaways from Tuesday’s elections 

Both candidates that progressive Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) endorsed won last night. Politico notes that Sanders is on a hot streak. Read: ‘Bernie Sanders' candidates just keep winning’ 

— New World screwworm, a parasitic fly that had been eliminated from the U.S. since the 1960s, is back, spreading and threatening the beef and cattle industry. The Hill’s Nathaniel Weixel reports that the Trump administration is blaming the Biden administration. Read more: ‘Trump officials play Biden blame game as screwworm spreads’ 

— The Trump administration has asked a federal judge to reject a lawsuit that would block Sunday’s White House UFC fight from happening. 

— Former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), who had a public falling out with Trump last year, teased a “new series.”  

The Wall Street Journal: The Fading Fun of Trump 2.0: From empty concert stages to fractured group chats, the president’s cultural movement is hitting an establishment wall 

The Hill: How a coming Supreme Court decision on mail-in ballots could impact California 

The Washington Post: As war reshaped the World Cup, Iran’s team found an unlikely home in Tijuana