Good morning. This is your Up First summary to start the day. Subscribe for delivery and listen to the Up First podcast.
Top stories
1) Clinton deposition
– Hillary Clinton spent more than six hours in a closed-door deposition yesterday with the House Oversight Committee, part of an inquiry tied to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. She repeatedly denied any knowledge of Epstein. Committee Chair James Comer said she answered nearly every question, sometimes deferring to former President Bill Clinton. The Clintons had resisted subpoenas but agreed to testify after threats of contempt of Congress. Bill Clinton, who appears more often in the Epstein records, is scheduled to testify today; Comer expects a longer session.
Key takeaways:
– Format and tone: A lengthy, closed-door session; Hillary later said the hearing should have been public and found some questions repetitive.
– Central claim: She consistently denied knowing Epstein.
– Committee tactics: Republicans used subpoenas and contempt threats to compel testimony and plan extended questioning for Bill Clinton given his documented contacts.
2) Paramount outbids Netflix for Warner Bros. Discovery assets
– Warner Bros. Discovery’s board declared Paramount’s upgraded takeover offer superior to Netflix’s $83 billion proposal. Netflix had offered to buy the company’s streaming business, studios and intellectual property but pulled back instead of trying to top Paramount’s roughly $111 billion bid. If the deal closes, it would combine CBS, CBS News, CNN, Comedy Central, TBS and other assets into a powerful media conglomerate positioned against Netflix, Apple and Amazon. The transaction will face antitrust review.
What to watch:
– Industry consolidation: The merged company would be a major content and distribution player across entertainment and news.
– Regulatory scrutiny: Antitrust regulators will be central to the deal’s fate.
– Political angle: Paramount CEO David Ellison and his family have ties to former President Trump, raising concerns about potential influence over news outlets, especially CNN.
3) Iran tensions
– President Trump has not ruled out military strikes on Iran but has not defined objectives, sought congressional authorization or publicly explained the rationale. U.S. and Iranian officials are set to resume talks next week about Iran’s nuclear program. U.S. planners appear focused on two military paths: limited strikes aimed at missile or nuclear infrastructure or leadership, or a broader campaign meant to pressure or destabilize the regime. Iran is refusing to negotiate limitations on its ballistic missile program, a major sticking point.
4) Trump White House ballroom project
– A federal judge allowed President Trump’s $300 million White House ballroom project to proceed for now, denying the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s request to pause construction. The preservation group alleges procedural shortcuts in demolishing parts of the East Wing and in soliciting private donations; the judge left open the possibility of a revised challenge. Trump celebrated the ruling on social media.
Life advice: Prior authorizations
Prior authorization is often required by insurers for expensive tests or treatments. Your doctor submits a request that the insurer reviews to decide whether it will pay. The insurer trade group AHIP says prior authorizations help ensure safety, evidence-based care and cost control. Practical tips:
– Call your insurer or pharmacy benefit manager to learn how long approvals last.
– Tell your clinician if your medication supply is low or your health is worsening; ask for an expedited review.
– Ask about alternative treatments that may be easier to get approved while you appeal a denial.
Weekend picks
– Film: The President’s Cake, Hasan Hadi’s debut about a 9-year-old asked to bake a birthday cake for Saddam Hussein, examines childhood under dictatorship.
– TV: The Traitors remains appointment viewing for its drama and shifting alliances.
– Book: Allegra Goodman’s This Is Not About Us invites readers to see family dynamics reflected on the page.
– Music: NPR Music highlights recent releases from Lana Del Rey and U2.
– Quiz: Try this week’s newsletter quiz to test your knowledge.
Three things to know before you go
1. New York City Councilmember Zohran Mamdani presented President Trump with a mock newspaper headlined Trump to City: Let’s Build during a housing meeting.
2. U.S. mortgage rates have dropped below 6 percent for the first time since September 2022.
3. A personal moment: When Olivia Joffrey’s father missed a Father’s Day softball game because of early Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, a coworker named Bob stepped in and helped her feel included.
This newsletter was edited by Suzanne Nuyen.