If it's Wednesday, President Trump urges Republican lawmakers to deflect and distract, telling them to repeat baseless claims about former President Obama in the 2016 election, if they're asked about the Epstein files.

As the Director of National Intelligence touts newly released documents, she says, backs up those claims.

Plus, America's rural radio stations are reeling after Congress slashed billions of dollars

in crucial federal funding.

I'll talk to one station manager who says the shortfall is threatening his operation and the

flow of essential information in hard-to-reach communities.

And President Trump and his top economic advisors

tout new trade agreements with Japan, Indonesia, and the Philippines,

but give very little information about the deals

as the president signals an agreement with the EU could come next.

Thank you. Welcome to meet the press now. I'm Kristen Welker in Washington, where we've had a flurry of developments in the ongoing saga over the Jeffrey Epstein case, even as the White House is desperately trying to force that story off the front page.

Just moments ago, the Wall Street Journal reporting that the Justice Department told the president

in May that his name is among many in the Epstein files. That's according to senior administration

officials from the Wall Street Journal's report. A White House spokesman called it a, quote,

fake story.

Now, we should note that being mentioned in those records is not a sign of wrongdoing.

It comes as President Trump is publicly telling Republicans to use his latest strategy to navigate

the Maga-led uproar over the deceased convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein just deflect.

Mr. Trump now making baseless accusations that former President Obama tried to influence

the 2016 election as a way to change the subject.

You should mention that every time they give you a question that's not appropriate.

Just say, oh, by the way, Obama cheated on the election.

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