Jack Smith’s Closed-Door Testimony
Jack Smith, the former Justice Department special counsel, is scheduled to give a closed-door deposition to House Republicans on Wednesday. The interview follows the committee’s decision to reject his earlier offer to testify publicly about his investigations into President Donald Trump. Smith was subpoenaed earlier this month to provide testimony and documents, and his lawyers confirmed he would cooperate with the congressional demand. Although he had volunteered more than a month earlier to answer questions before the committee, the House Judiciary Committee insists on a private hearing. According to an anonymous source familiar with the investigation, Smith will discuss both investigations of Trump but will not answer questions that call for grand jury materials, which are restricted by law.
## Trump’s Tonight Address
President Trump announced that he will address the nation on Wednesday night, speaking live from the White House at 9 p.m. EST. In a post on his social media site, he said he would discuss what he accomplished this year, the first of his second term, and his plans for the next three years. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that the president will outline his achievements and future agenda. The address is expected to be a key moment for Trump’s campaign and public messaging. The timing coincides with the closed-door testimony of Jack Smith.
## West Wing Damage Control
The West Wing has had to engage in damage control after Chief of Staff Susie Wiles published interviews in Vanity Fair criticizing Attorney General Pam Bondi’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case. Wiles offered an unvarnished take on Bondi and other members of the Trump orbit. The comments were described as understated but influential. The administration has been working to mitigate the fallout from Wiles’ remarks. No further statements have been released by the White House regarding the situation.
## FCC Chair Under Scrutiny
Senate Commerce Committee members are expected to question FCC Chair Brendan Carr on Wednesday about his actions that led to the suspension of ABC’s late-night host Jimmy Kimmel. Carr has aligned closely with Trump’s aggressive stance toward media outlets deemed hostile, launching investigations into ABC, CBS, and NBC News, as well as local stations. ABC announced Kimmel’s suspension hours after Carr’s warning that “We can do this the easy way or the hard way.” The show returned to air within a week amid bipartisan criticism. Senate Commerce chair Ted Cruz warned, “It is unbelievably dangerous for government to put itself in the position of saying ‘we’re going to decide what speech we like and what we don’t’.”
## Brown University Shooting
In the wake of a shooting that killed two students and wounded nine others at Brown University, President Trump posted on Truth Social questioning the number of security cameras on campus. He wrote, “Why did Brown University have so few Security Cameras? There can be no excuse for that. In the modern age, it just doesn’t get worse!!!” Brown President Christina Paxson responded that the campus has 1,200 cameras, though none captured the shooter clearly. Paxson said, “I have been deeply saddened by people questioning that,” adding, “As time goes on, there is a natural instinct to assign responsibility for tragic events like this … but the shooter is responsible.”
## Zoe Kass’s Perspective
Zoe Kass, a senior who fled the engineering building as police stormed in Saturday, said, “The issue isn’t the doors, it’s the guns.” She argued that security measures create an illusion of safety. Kass’s comments highlight the debate over campus security versus gun control. Authorities released a video timeline that may show the shooter, and they are seeking additional footage from the public. No arrests have been made.
## Health Care Subsidies Fight
House Speaker Mike Johnson has moved to push ahead with a GOP health care bill that excludes efforts to extend pandemic-era subsidies. Johnson had discussed allowing more politically vulnerable GOP lawmakers to vote on an amendment that would temporarily extend subsidies for ACA coverage. After private talks, leadership sided with the conservative wing, which has labeled the subsidies as propping up a failed marketplace. The result is that many Americans will see higher insurance costs in 2026. In the Senate, a bipartisan group is still working on a compromise to extend subsidies, a dispute that fueled this year’s government shutdown. Senators said any potential legislation would likely wait until January after the holiday break.
## Venezuela Naval Blockade
President Trump has announced a naval blockade of all “sanctioned oil tankers” targeting Venezuela. He said the United States will move its military pressure beyond water and start strikes on land. Trump accused Venezuela of using oil to fund drug trafficking and other crimes and vowed to continue military pressure. Venezuela’s government responded with a statement accusing Trump of assuming the nation’s oil, land, and mineral wealth as his property and demanding that Venezuela hand over all riches. Congress is divided over supporting or challenging U.S. military strikes on boats in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific that have killed at least 95 people.
## Warner Bros Takeover Battle
Warner Bros. has urged its shareholders to reject a hostile takeover bid from Paramount Skydance. Paramount is offering $30 per Warner share, compared to Netflix’s $27.75. Paramount seeks control of the entire company, including CNN and Discovery, while Netflix’s bid would close only after Warner completes its separation of cable operations. Paramount noted its offer contains $18 billion more cash than Netflix’s bid and argued it is more likely to pass scrutiny from the Trump administration. Paramount is run by David Ellison, the son of Oracle CEO Larry Ellison. A private equity firm owned by Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, is no longer backing the Paramount deal, the firm confirmed Tuesday.
## Trump’s Transfer of National Guard Remains
President Trump will travel to Delaware on Wednesday to participate in the dignified transfer of two Iowa National Guard members killed in an attack in the Syrian desert. The ceremony will take place at Dover Air Force Base and honors U.S. service members killed in action. Trump has called the event “the toughest thing” he has to do as president. The transfer is part of a solemn duty undertaken by the commander in chief. No further details have been released about the ceremony.
## Key Takeaways
– Jack Smith will give a closed-door testimony to House Republicans while Trump prepares a nightly address.
– FCC Chair Brendan Carr faces Senate scrutiny over the suspension of Jimmy Kimmel.
– Trump criticized Brown University’s security cameras, sparking debate over campus safety.
The day’s events illustrate a complex mix of congressional investigations, executive messaging, media controversies, and international policy moves. Each story reflects the high stakes and intense scrutiny that define the current political landscape. As the week progresses, observers will watch how these developments unfold and influence public perception and policy decisions.
