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It's a three-year high as President Trump reveals new details about a U.S. military effort to keep oil flowing through the strait of Hormuz. Staff were instructed, quote, do not reject contributions for a single suspicious characteristic. The CEO of Act Blue pleads the 5th on Capitol Hill as Republicans investigate whether the Democratic fundraising giant let illegal foreign money flow into U.S. elections. And a Somali World Cup referee blocked from entering the USA after officials reportedly uncover terror-related concerns. All that and more coming up in just a moment on your AM Update. Everybody's talking about weight loss injections because the results can be so dramatic. They work by lowering blood sugar and reducing appetite. But what if you're looking to lose weight but you're not interested in painful weekly injections? Especially when you hear about some of those intense side effects. 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Gates, not accused of a crime, testifying before the committee after the Epstein files revealed he met and communicated with Epstein years after the disgraced financiers 2008 sex crime conviction, with those contacts centered according to Gates on potential philanthropic work. AM Update previously reporting Gates admitted to meeting with Epstein multiple times between 2011 and 2014 and that Epstein knew about some of Gates's extramarital affairs. The Epstein files also reportedly including more than 1000 emails connected to Gates, his foundation, or people who worked for him. Gates previously apologizing for the association telling Gates Foundation employees earlier this year that meeting with Epstein was a mistake while insisting he quote did nothing illicit and saw no criminal activity. Gates appearing before the committee voluntarily speaking to reporters before the meeting. I'm glad to be here voluntarily to testify to help with the committee's work. I'll start with an opening statement in the hearing room. I hope my testimony is helpful to the work, important work of the committee to find justice for the victims. Thank you. According to prepared remarks obtained by the Wall Street Journal, Gates telling lawmakers Epstein discovered Gates had had affairs during his marriage and then tried to use that information against him. Gates saying quote these affairs had nothing to do with my interactions with Epstein but they were painful for my family. During questioning the journal reporting Gates told lawmakers he had sexual encounters with three women, two Russians and a third woman who was an American doctor and that one of Gates's mutual contacts with Epstein knew about it. Gates telling the committee he cut off contact with Epstein in 2014 after concluding Epstein was not going to deliver on his promises to help raise money for Gates's global health work. Gates saying Epstein tried to use information about Gates's infidelities to pressure him back into Epstein's orbit. Gates adding Epstein was unsuccessful but said the episode showed quote some of the ways Epstein tried to leverage his interactions with me to further his agenda. Congressman Tim Burchett, Republican from Tennessee speaking to reporters during the Gates deposition. It's pretty clear to me though that Epstein was a friend collector. You know he just liked to have people around him that were big deal and get his picture made with him and hang out with him and I think that's how he reeled them in. So is there anything that you're learning then during this testimony that you think could change the course of the investigation, lead to new convictions, anything that kind of advances what we already see? Well of course Mr. Gates is very couched in his replies and I mean he's very well coached too. He's got great attorneys I assume and he's probably made more money and interest since more than all of us will make in a year just in this time I'm talking to you. So I don't know that we'll gather too much from this actually. Gates for his part telling lawmakers he did not quote fully understand the extent of Epstein's crimes when they first met. He also repeated that meeting with Epstein was quote a grave error in judgment putting the reputation and work of the Gates Foundation at risk. But Gates insisting he never witnessed Epstein engage in criminal conduct and never had any indication that criminal conduct was ongoing. Nor he said did he ever visit Epstein's Island, New Mexico Ranch or Florida home. Congressman Robert Garcia, Democrat from California telling reporters Gates' testimony raised more questions about who else the committee may need to hear from. So far Mr. Gates has been cooperative in answering our questions. Mr. Gates has discussed and provided us information about other folks that were in Mr. Epstein's orbit which we want to discuss with. He didn't mention a few names of folks involved within the Gates Foundation or the Gates Orbit that we're interested in speaking with. He also reiterated some names of folks that we have heard before. I'll just say for example Larry Summers of which he was involved with in other meetings with Mr. Epstein or other activities who we haven't spoken with. And look, Mr. Summers is someone that we have this committee has not had a chance to speak with that we would like to speak with. It seems that his name continues to come up. And Larry Summers not the only name under discussion. Chairman Comer also saying he is looking to bring in Epstein attorney Alan Dershowitz and that he's been in contact with the Justice Department about possible testimony from acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. The committee expected to release a transcript of the Gates deposition in the coming days. Consumer prices rising at the fastest annual pace in three years as the war with Iran keeps leading to increased energy costs. The Bureau of Labor Statistics monthly inflation report known as the Consumer Price Index or CPI tracks what Americans are paying across the economy for things like groceries, rent, gas, electricity and more. In May prices rising 0.5 percent that's since April pushing the annual inflation rate to 4.2 percent. This marks the first time inflation increased to more than 4 percent in three years, hitting the highest rate since April of 2023. However when stripping out volatile food and energy prices so called core inflation rising just 0.2 percent for the month and 2.9 percent compared to a year ago. Shipping disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz remain the key driver behind increasing energy prices. Brent Oil prices the international benchmark for oil prices that refers to oil from fields in the North Sea between the UK and Scandinavia jumping again in the early hours of yesterday morning. After the president warned Iran on truth social quote, Iran is all talk and no action, the bully of the Middle East is dead. They've taken too long to negotiate a deal that would have been great for them, now they will have to pay the price. Mr. Trump asked about the latest inflation numbers yesterday during an unrelated White House event, countering that actually he loves the new inflation report. We can serve as the president about the latest inflation number which came out this morning. Could that be a... No I love it. The numbers were great. You know what I really love, I love the inflation. You know why? Because as soon as this war is over, you know I can say it now, something you didn't know. You know we've been taking out millions of barrels of oil, nobody knows it. You know who doesn't know about it? Iran until right now. You took out the other night 22 ships, late at night with no lights because they don't have any radar because we blasted the crap out of it. Millions of barrels of oil has come out, that's why it's at $85-$90 a barrel instead of $250 but we have the greatest military in the world, the toughest military in the world, the great... Just the best in every way, nobody even close. The president elaborating further in a follow up post on truth social quote, last month I directed our great US military to execute a secret mission to support oil tankers and other commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz. Today I am pleased to announce that this effort has resulted in more than 100 million barrels of oil making its way through the Strait and into the open market. Oil prices dropping shortly after the announcement before bouncing back up, closing the day at $94.60 that's up $2 from the days open per the Financial Times. Coming up, the Democrat Party's fundraising machine under fire as ACT Blues CEO pleads the 5th before Congress over allegations of weak fraud controls and a Somali World Cup referee denied entry into the US after border officials flagged possible terror related concerns. For the first time since World War II, our national debt has exceeded the gross domestic product. America's reckless government spending keeps catching up with us, higher inflation, higher prices, higher cost of living expenses, and higher interest payments on the national debt. Every dollar Washington spends on interest is a dollar it has to tax, borrow, or print. Smart retirement planners prepare for potential setbacks and they can do that by diversifying with a time-tested asset known for weathering the storm. Consider physical gold from Birch Gold Group. Text MK to the number 98998 and Birch Gold will send you a free info kit on converting an existing IRA or 401K into a tax-sheltered IRA and physical gold. You don't pull the ripcord on your parachute once you've already hit the ground. Don't wait for economic turbulence to diversify. Text MK to the number 98998 and consider owning some gold from Birch Gold. The CEO of Democrat fundraising engine ACT Blue Regina Wallace Jones, refusing to answer questions and pleading the Fifth Amendment on Capitol Hill yesterday, as House Republicans investigate whether the platform allowed illegal foreign donations to flow into federal campaigns. The massive fundraising site processing roughly 19 billion in donations since its founding in 2004, with thousands of candidates and left-wing organizations benefiting from millions of donors. Since 2023 ACT Blue under investigation by multiple Republican-led House committees after viral reporting from independent journalist James O'Keeffe alleged suspicious donation patterns tied to the platform. Republicans now probing whether ACT Blue kept its fraud controls deliberately weak, allowing illegal foreign donations and other potentially unlawful contributions to flow through the platform only to later claim it was shocked, shocked to see the foreign connections. The probe gaining new momentum in April when the New York Times reported ACT Blue's own lawyers warned the group it may have misled Congress about its foreign donation safeguards. Wallace Jones telling lawmakers ACT Blue used quote, multi-layered screening to root out foreign contributions. But internal legal memos reportedly warning ACT Blue did not have the rigor it claimed to Congress and that there was a quote, substantial risk some funds may have come from foreign nationals. ACT Blue later dismissing the Republican investigations as a witch hunt while also telling Congress it had strengthened its foreign donation safeguards. House administration chairman Brian Stile, Republican from Wisconsin, opening the hearing by arguing internal ACT Blue documents show the platform was not merely missing red flags on fraud, but training staff to work around them. This committee issued subpoenas for documents related to fraudulent and foreign donations and alleged misconduct by ACT Blue staff. In ACT Blue meeting notes turned over to this committee, staff were instructed quote, remember that we want to look for reasons to accept contributions. Do not reject contributions for a single suspicious characteristic. Look for the forest and not the trees. End quote. Further in ACT Blue memo titled fraud prevention 101 for new associates in the workflow, advises that quote, if an otherwise legitimate donor uses a fake name, we would want to accept their donation. End quote. We have additional evidence of ACT Blue detecting at least 22 significant fraud campaigns. Nine of those fraud campaigns had a foreign nexus. Chairman Stile noting Wallace Jones was only appearing before the committee due to a subpoena. Here to her appearance on the Hill, Wallace Jones releasing a video to social media. President Trump and his allies are abusing their power to target ACT Blue. I was called to testify before Congress and I will invoke my Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. Invoking the Fifth Amendment is not an admission or even an insinuation of guilt. It is the only reasonable response to a highly partisan proceeding that is about harassing its largest political opponents fundraising platform, not genuine oversight. These attacks did not start with ACT Blue. And sadly, we know they are not stopping here. They are part of a much bigger trend of retaliation and retribution. It was universities. It was law firms. Then civil rights organizations. We will not be intimidated. That's a tough talk online, but inside the hearing room Wallace Jones, a less forthcoming. In 2023, I sent you this letter with five straightforward questions with a goal of confirming that foreign funds are not in our elections and that ACT Blue had adequate fraud prevention measures in place. You replied a month later with a four-page letter describing your fraud prevention policies and procedures that you had in place at ACT Blue. But according to the New York Times, your response to this committee may have been false and misleading. Ms. Wallace Jones, when you signed this letter to me, did you believe that this letter was false and misleading? On the advice of my counsel, I respectfully declined to answer this question pursuant to my Fifth Amendment rights under the Constitution. Wallace Jones going on to invoke the Fifth Amendment 21 more times with a hearing wrapping after roughly an hour. Democrats for their part largely dismissing the hearing as a partisan witch hunt, accusing Republicans of targeting ACT Blue while ignoring similar questions about the GOP fundraising platform, WinRed, the House probe running alongside a separate DOJ investigation ordered by President Trump last year. A Somali World Cup referee denied entry into the USA just days before the tournament kicks off over security concerns. From June 11th through July 19th, the 2026 World Cup will be held across cities in three countries, the U.S., 11 cities, Mexico, three cities, and Canada, two cities. FIFA, the governing body for international soccer, selecting Omar Abdul Qadir Artan as one of 52 referees for the 2026 World Cup, making him the only Somali referee chosen for the tournament and putting him on track to become the first Somali official ever to referee a World Cup match. But over the weekend, Artan, arriving at Miami International Airport from Istanbul, then being pulled in for additional inspection by Customs and Border Protection, or CBP, and ultimately sent on a return flight back to Istanbul. Artan decision-drying outrage from the usual corners, with critics framing it as an embarrassment for a World Cup host country and an alleged example of Trump-era immigration policy gone too far. Here, a segment from Tuesday on MSNow. However, a Trump administration official telling Fox News, Artan was flagged by CBP for, quote, times that, based on what he had learned, CBP was, quote, probably right to deny Artan entry. Congressman Larson adding, quote, CBP has the authority to look at people's phones and communications, and it seems they determined that some communications in this particular person's devices were concerning enough to deny him entry. FIFA confirming Artan will now be unable to train or officiate at the tournament, saying the organization is not involved in host country immigration decisions and has been told Artan's status will not be changed. The World Cup kicks off today, the first match set for this afternoon in Mexico City, Mexico, between Mexico and South Africa. The tournament running through July 19th expected to draw millions of travelers into the U.S. The final match of the tournament will be played at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, home of the New York Giants and also the Jets. Federal officials now coordinating security across immigration enforcement, intelligence, counterterrorism, cybersecurity, and local law enforcement agencies. Executive Director of the White House Task Force on the FIFA World Cup 2026, Andrew Giuliani, telling the BBC, quote, we also want to make sure that we are not going to allow a soccer tournament to be the opportunity for terrorists to potentially get into the country or anybody who is actually talking to them. And that'll do it for your AM update. I'm Megan Kelly. Join me back here for the MK show live on Sirius XM's The Megan Kelly Channel 111 at New East on YouTube.com slash Megan Kelly and on all podcast platforms. When you put the right things together, boom, great things happen. It's like having a chat with the Cambridge Building Society. You'll always find us in tune with you. The Cambridge Building Society. Mortgages and savings. We can work it out.
