Friday 28th November: Epstein, Ukraine, & a Terrorist in Washington
Wherever you are, grab a coffee with me and let's quickly blast through the hottest headlines of this week. My first weekly newsletter, 'News in a nutshell', aims to add some context to the chaos.
The past week has seen yet another flood of insomnia-inducing developments in the political football game that the Epstein scandal had sadly been exploited into - but while my main focus for the past five years has been my investigation into everything Epstein, the world, of course, keeps on turning.
I’ve been sat at my desk in my apartment here in Kyiv, Ukraine, slightly tired from air raid sirens, typing away a few highlights of what’s happened across the world this week, and fact-checking the disinformation being pumped out by politicians and the press so that you don’t have to.
Here are some fast facts - from Epstein, Maxwell, crime and politics, to celebrity gossip, the British Royal Family, and links to my latest articles.
Epstein-Maxwell files
Interest in the long-sealed Epstein investigative archive intensified this week as Democrats exploiting the case to smear Trump renewed pressure for the FBI to release portions of the files. The bureau has been conducting a substantial redaction review costing eye-watering sums of cash and involving tens of thousands of pages of records and digital evidence. Debate continues over whether uncharged individuals should have identifying details redacted or released in the public interest. My own take: There is no ‘public interest’ in having innocent men and women intentionally harassed and defamed by journalists (translation: activists) and thrown to the mob.
Meanwhile, Ghislaine Maxwell continues to prepare her habeas corpus petition. This will highlight serious flaws and miscarriages of justice in her trial, along with new evidence that has come to light since she was sentenced. Although she has not yet filed the application, lawmakers have already begun issuing statements opposing any clemency.
From what I know behind the scenes, it may be advisable for this petition to be delayed even further. Moves taking place right now are clearly orchestrated by the Democrats and by lawyers who have represented her accusers. This is all being intentionally timed to influence the outcome of her habeas corpus, and it follows the same MO deployed by the likes of attorney David Boies during lawsuits and trials, to weaponise politics and the media to unethically pressure judicial outcomes from outside the courtroom.
Another example of this plot could be seen just yesterday, when several political figures were revealed to be pushing for pre-emptive votes requiring lawmakers to publicly declare opposition to pardons or commutations. It is an irregular move tat critics rightly say is designed to force political theatre rather than address legal substance. The proposed votes, though symbolic, reflect a deepening battle between political branches and judicial independence.
What to Watch:
Even before any documents are released or applications are filed, political tensions are rising. Should any portion of the Epstein archive become public, and are manipulated and misrepresented by journalists (inevitable) significant social, political and legal aftershocks are expected.
Over the weekend, I’ll be releasing another interview on Substack for paid subscribers. It comes from my five year investigation into the case for my upcoming book, NAKED LIES: The Epstein Scandal that Rocked the Royals & Troubled Trump.
I’ll then be releasing more interviews for you to read/watch/listen to, along with a breakdown of some of the key depositions in the case that the media refuse to cover.
In the meantime, feel free to read some of this week’s articles I’ve written on the scandal:
EXCLUSIVE: An Interview With Ian Maxwell, From My Investigation Archive.
Washington, D.C. shooting and Afghan immigration freeze
Two members of the West Virginia National Guard on deployment in Washington, D.C. as part of a security support mission were shot in what authorities described as a targeted ambush near the Farragut West metro station, just blocks from the White House. The gunman, a 29-year-old Afghan national who entered the United States in 2021 through the Afghanistan evacuation program, opened fire on Guardsmen performing high-visibility patrols. He was shot by responders and taken into custody.
The two service members remain hospitalised in critical condition, and the suspect is being treated for injuries sustained during the confrontation. Investigators have not yet disclosed a motive but confirmed the attack appeared premeditated rather than spontaneous.
In response, federal officials announced an immediate and indefinite halt to all Afghan immigration processing, including humanitarian parole applications and special immigrant visa reviews. The suspension is part of a broader security audit of vetting standards, data-sharing across agencies, and screening protocols used during the post-Afghanistan withdrawal relocation process.
UKRAINE: Battling Betrayal
Frontline pressure intensifies as diplomacy accelerates
Russian invaders escalated their assault on Ukrainian cities this week with a barrage of drone and missile strikes targeting energy facilities in the Kyiv region and surrounding oblasts. Several civilians were killed, including children, residential buildings were damaged, and significant power outages rippled across the country. Emergency teams have been working day and night to stabilise power grids as temperatures continue to drop, raising renewed concerns about winter energy shortages.
This war is not being covered sufficiently by our western media. Trust me, Russia’s ongoing attacks and war crimes occur daily, a lot more than you’d be led to believe by the press back home. Russia is intentionally targeting civilian areas, and has been doing so throughout this war. I’ll be releasing some of my footage in the coming days and weeks, documenting war crimes.
Meanwhile, behind closed doors, the United States has been circulating a 28-point peace proposal, originally developed with seemingly huge input from a document drafted by Russian-linked advisors. Its delivery was suspiciously helped by Witkoff, whose Russian ties, along with a conversation in which he advised the Russian side on how to deliver the peace deal to President Trump, has placed him under growing press and public scrutiny. President Zelenskyy has signalled a willingness to discuss “sensitive points,” but public sentiment here in Ukraine remains deeply opposed to any ceasefire that legitimises Russia’s territorial gains or pardons the many Russian war criminals who have raped and murdered civilians.
What to Watch:
Russia’s battlefield momentum may pressure Ukraine toward talks that would otherwise be politically unacceptable. Western partners supporting negotiations face increasing scrutiny, and European nations have been urged to stop talking and start acting to help Ukraine, finally tackle age-old Russian interference and aggression, and restore stability to the continent.
Marjorie Taylor Greene’s resignation and the GOP’s internal fault lines
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s announcement that she will step down in early 2026 continues to reverberate across Capitol Hill, but its longterm impact is likely minimal. According to aides, Greene feels her priorities — including transparency around the Epstein investigation and hard-line stances on immigration and national security — have been sidelined by party leadership.
Her departure will shrink the already narrow Republican House majority, but she’ll be easy to replace - not to mention that Republicans in general are still overwhelmingly supportive of president Trump, and many are now turning against Greene and casting her out into the wilderness.
UK Government: The Budget & The Backlash
This week the government — under Rachel Reeves as Chancellor — unveiled a sweeping new budget. Major moves include:
An increase in taxes totalling around £26 billion to fund expanded public spending.
The abolition of the controversial two‑child benefit cap. Under the old rules, families with more than two children saw cuts — now that cap is lifted, a change hailed by many as a step toward reducing child poverty.
A freeze on income‑tax thresholds, meaning as wages rise via inflation or pay increases, more people could find themselves pushed into higher tax bands even without a real rise in spending power.
New taxes and levies targeting wealth and large properties — including proposals sometimes described as a “mansion tax” — aimed at raising more revenue from higher earners and property owners.
Additional measures aimed at easing cost‑of‑living pressures for some groups: a modest boost to the minimum wage, a freeze in rail fares, and steps to temper energy‑bill burdens.
Supporters argue these steps are part of a broader attempt to balance social justice (supporting children, families, lower‑income households) with fiscal responsibility. The removal of the benefit cap, in particular, stands out as a bold social‑policy move. Many in the Labour parliamentary ranks celebrated that decision as aligning with long‑standing party values.
But not everyone is pleased. Critics — both inside and outside Labour, and among opposition parties — have strongly condemned the budget as a betrayal of campaign promises and a heavy burden on ordinary earners. Their main gripes are:
The freeze on income‑tax thresholds and resultant tax burden increases are perceived as directly hurting “working people,” often those the party claimed it would protect. Many voters worry their raises or inflation‑driven wage increases will yield little real benefit after taxes.
Some view the budget as putting the burden of economic fixes on middle‑ and lower‑income households while wealthier individuals — who benefit from property and wealth taxes — might escape much of the pain, despite rhetoric about “everybody contributing.”
There’s unease over the breadth of measures: many analysts warn that this budget reads like a grab-bag of tax rises, levies, and benefit changes rather than a coherent long-term economic strategy.
Some within Labour admit discomfort. Though many MPs welcomed aspects such as the benefit‑cap abolition and increased minimum wage, there’s quiet concern about how constituents — especially working-class and middle‑income households — will react.
Politically, the budget may have stabilised — at least temporarily — internal pressure within Labour. Facing dissent and murmurs about leadership or policy drift, the mix of social benefit moves and broad revenue‑raising could buy the government some breathing space.
Economically, supporters argue the increased tax revenues and welfare investments offer a chance to shore up public services, reduce child poverty, and create buffers in uncertain global conditions. The government frames this as a necessary trade‑off to protect the most vulnerable.
But long-term risks remain: as critics warn, repeated tax hikes and freezes on thresholds could erode public trust, especially among working and middle-income voters. If living standards continue to feel squeezed, the political cost could be steep.
For Labour’s identity: once seen as the party of working people, many now question whether the “new Labour” remains that, or has morphed into a high‑tax, high‑welfare administration that forces ordinary workers to struggle to subsidise welfare.
FIRE IN HONG KONG
A massive fire erupted in the public‑housing complex Wang Fuk Court in the Tai Po district, engulfing multiple high‑rise apartment towers that were undergoing renovations. The fire rapidly spread across scaffolding, plastic netting and renovation materials.
As of Thursday morning, the confirmed death toll stands at at least 55 people, including one firefighter. Rescue operations are ongoing; over 250–300 residents remain unaccounted for, and many have been hospitalised. Hundreds of families are displaced.
Police have arrested three individuals from the renovation contractor firm on suspicion of manslaughter and gross negligence. Early investigations point to the use of flammable foam, plastic netting, and bamboo scaffolding that violated fire‑safety norms — factors believed to have accelerated the spread of the blaze.
The estate undergoing renovation housed roughly 4,600–4,800 residents; the scale of horror and loss has shaken public confidence — prompting government orders for immediate inspections of other renovation projects city‑wide. An anti‑corruption watchdog has also launched a probe into possible misconduct related to the renovation contract.
Rescue crews — more than 1,200 firefighters and dozens of specialised teams — continue searching through scorched buildings despite dangerous heat, smoke and structural instability. Many residents remain missing; families have been urged to register their missing loved ones via hot‑lines and shelters set up nearby.
CRIME
Amber Mary Czech — Murder in Minnesota
On November 11, 2025, police in Wright County, Minnesota responded to a disturbing workplace homicide at Advanced Process Technologies in Cokato. There, 20‑year‑old Amber Czech — a young welder — was found dead at her welding station, suffering what investigators described as “significant head trauma.”
Prosecutors charged her co‑worker, David Bruce Delong (age 40), with second‑degree intentional murder. According to criminal complaint documents, Delong allegedly approached Czech with a sledgehammer after walking past her without incident, struck her five times, and later told authorities he had acted because he “did not like her.” Delong was booked on $2 million bail.
The court has ordered a mental‑competency evaluation for Delong, to be completed in January 2026.
CRUEL GRAVESIDE MURDER IN ENGLAND - HUSBAND SENTENCED
A man has been sentenced to life imprisonment, with a minimum term of 27 years, for the “wicked” killing of his ex-wife at their son’s graveside in Hampshire, England.
Martin Suter, 68, waited for five hours at his son’s grave, until his ex-wife, 71-year old Ann Blackwood arrived to lay some flowers. He then pounced on her and stabbed her to death. The attack coincided with what would have been the 36th birthday of their son, Christopher.
Suter admitted to the murder. In addition, he received a sentence for the indecent assault of a girl under 14, a charge he had pleaded guilty to in May 2023 at Manchester Crown Court. Prosecutor Robert O’Sullivan KC noted a “significant degree of planning,” saying: “The defendant armed himself with a large kitchen knife from his home address and he took it with him to the cemetery that morning while he laid in wait to attack Ann Blackwood, rightly anticipating she would visit her son’s grave that day.”
O’Sullivan explained that Christopher’s death in 2003 had been ruled accidental by a coroner, and that the couple — who had two children and formerly lived in Stockport, Greater Manchester — divorced in 2004.
He added: “The defendant stabbed her in the back with a kitchen knife and, the blade having broken off, he repeatedly stabbed her in the neck with a pair of scissors that she had brought with her to cut the flowers she had planned to put on her son’s grave.”
Tony Haase — Cold Case Acquittal Draws Backlash and Lawsuit
In a case that dates back more than three decades, Tony Haase was acquitted in 2025 of a 1992 double murder in Royalton, Wisconsin. The victims — a young woman and her boyfriend — had been stabbed in a farmhouse. The case drew renewed attention when DNA obtained during a 2022 traffic‑stop matched evidence from the crime scene, and Haase confessed under interrogation. But defence lawyers challenged the validity of the decades-old DNA evidence and questioned the reliability of Haase’s confession given the passage of time and potential contamination. The jury acquitted him this week, finding that reasonable doubt remained.
The verdict reopened painful wounds for the victims’ families and frustrated long-standing demands for closure. It also raised pressing questions about the reliability of cold-case evidence, especially in cases where forensic material is decades old.
The victims’ relatives have filed a wrongful‑death civil suit seeking $17 million. Haase denies liability; legal proceedings are ongoing.
The Curious Case of Lola Doll
Known publicly as “Lola Doll,” Lolita Callender is a 33‑year-old social‑media influencer and singer from Guyana, known for lifestyle content and music videos. She has tens of thousands of followers across various platforms, and is best known for releasing the raunchy ‘Cement Body’ music video.
On September 6, 2025, Callender was shot multiple times by a man on a motorcycle while sitting in her car outside her residence in Georgetown. Investigators say she suffered gunshot wounds to her neck, face, hands, and right leg, and was rushed to the public hospital in critical condition. Police quickly issued a wanted bulletin.
The police identified a suspect as Paul Daby Jr. — a businessman previously sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury for alleged drug‑trafficking activities — and declared him wanted for attempted murder.
Two days after the shooting, Daby Jr. surrendered himself to police accompanied by his lawyer. He remains in custody pending charges.
This week, authorities confirmed they are still reviewing CCTV footage, analysing ballistic evidence, and conducting interviews. The investigation is active and public appeals have been issued for anyone with information to come forward.
I’ll be writing a separate article about this shortly, and will soon be interviewing someone close to the case.
BRITISH ROYAL FAMILY
King Charles appears to be quietly reshaping how the royal household will function in coming years. Recent reports say he is considering giving his nieces — Princess Beatrice of York and Princess Eugenie of York — more visible roles and occasional royal duties. This comes even as the monarchy navigates the fallout from the controversies involving their father and the Epstein Scandal. The move seems intended to shore up support for the institution while keeping it as a leaner, more modern operation under his reign.
At the same time, the King was recently linked with a controversial plan at his Sandringham estate: the construction of a large slurry (manure) lagoon near residences connected to Prince William and Princess Catherine - a development that has already generated some pushback from local residents.
Prince William & Princess Catherine — balancing duty, family and public optics
This week, the Prince and Princess showed a blend of public service, personal warmth, and long-term planning. For starters, they returned for the first major red‑carpet appearance in two years: attending the Royal Variety Performance at London’s Royal Albert Hall. Notably, they shared a rare moment of public affection: William offering her an air kiss on the hand and placing a hand on her back as they walked the carpet.
Beyond ceremonies, the couple is being cautious about the future of their family’s privacy — particularly when it comes to their eldest child’s schooling. Reports suggest they are likely to wait until the “eleventh hour” before announcing which secondary school their son will attend, a pattern they’ve previously followed to avoid intense media scrutiny.
On the public‑service front, William recently traveled to North Wales to highlight and support marine‑conservation work by the Marine Conservation Society, while Kate — in her role as Patron of the Anna Freud Centre — issued a thoughtful statement marking the start of Addiction Awareness Week, calling for greater empathy toward people suffering from addiction.
Altogether, William and Kate appear to be projecting stability, discretion, and commitment — quietly reinforcing their public roles while preserving as much normalcy for their private family life as possible.
Harry & Meghan — public outreach, blurred optics, and royal tensions
This week, Harry and Meghan made headlines with a community‑service outing — volunteering with their children at a Los Angeles kitchen serving food to those in need ahead of Thanksgiving. The appearance emphasised themes of charity, family values, and grassroots outreach, tying into the mission of their Archewell Foundation. While some praised the gesture, others flagged the timing: it coincided with major events and initiatives undertaken by William and Kate, fuelling debate about overlapping public profiles and media positioning.
Beyond outreach, the ongoing estrangement remains a focal point. Reports continue that Kate has encouraged Harry to return to the U.K. without Meghan, hoping perhaps that a solo visit might ease tensions — though sources say William remains deeply mistrustful, and there is little sign of true rapprochement.
Meanwhile, royal watchers interpret Harry and Meghan’s public moves — like the charity outing and media productions — as part of a broader strategy to maintain relevance and influence outside traditional royal constraints. That positioning, however, also underscores the ongoing cultural and institutional clash between them and the “working royals.”
CELEBRITY & CULTURE
Sydney Sweeney - Box Office Problems, But Love is in the Air (Maybe)
Sydney Sweeney remained in the spotlight this week for two reasons: her struggling biopic Christy and high-profile developments in her personal life.
First, Christy — the film in which Sweeney portrays pioneering boxer Christy Martin — recorded an extremely weak opening, generating roughly $1.3 million domestically. Industry analysts described the release as “historically low” for a wide-released biographical film. Critics cited uneven storytelling and emotional thinness, though many praised Sweeney’s physical commitment to the role, including training injuries such as a concussion sustained during sparring sessions.
The film’s problems may also be partly down to a bizarre and toxic campaign against her for simply appearing in a jean advert, which some (tedious folk) deemed to be controversial.
In the media sphere, Sweeney’s relationship with music executive Scooter Braun became unmistakably public after new photos circulated of the pair spending time together at her Florida Keys home. The images sparked debate online, with fans divided over the pairing. Sources close to the actress described the relationship as “serious” and “ongoing for months.”
In response to the film-related criticism, Sweeney told a major magazine interview published this week that she does not measure success solely through box-office performance, emphasising artistic fulfilment and creative risks.
Johnny Depp — comeback continues
Johnny Depp continued his resurgence with steady attention on his film Modi: Three Days on the Wings of Madness, released earlier this month. Actors involved in the production praised his directing style, highlighting his collaborative approach and willingness to embrace unconventional takes.
This week also brought fresh attention to his upcoming lead role in Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol, slated for a 2026 release. Industry analysts say this represents the most significant mainstream casting Depp has received since years of legal turmoil.