Welcome to the beat. I'm Melissa Murray in for Ari Melbur. We start tonight with the scandal consuming the Trump White House as MAGA leaders, top Democrats, and nonpartisan journalists demand answers about the Epstein files. This is new and dangerous territory for Donald Trump. As for the first time, he appears unable to control his own base.

This morning, D.C. woke up to headlines like these.

Maga revolt. Trump discovers Maga has no off switch.

Trump and Maga are no longer the same thing.

Images of Maga supporters literally burning their red Maga hats are going viral online. And all of this comes a day after

Trump berated Republicans as, quote, stupid and foolish for wanting more information about the

disgraced financier who died by suicide while in federal custody. Today, Trump's secretary was

bombarded with Epstein questions at this press conference.

Does the president believe that justice has been served at the obscene case?

Does he have knowledge or an understanding of what is in the files related to Epstein that have not been released?

Has the White House been directly in touch with some of the MAGA influencers that are still not satisfied.

The president said that he floated the idea of a special cross-feater in the Epstein case.

Can you confirm that?

Do you know what the president's reaction was to Mike Johnson saying that he wants additional files released, the Epstein files?

Harold, and one more.

Elizabeth.

Will the president consider pardoning Julian Maxwell if the Epstein case is aole. And one more. Elizabeth. Will the president consider pardoning Jilline Maxwell if the Epstein case is a hoax?

Was there a conversation with Mike Johnson about that following his comments?

There's been a lot of discussion about the Epstein files.

The president's comments yesterday calling it a hoax.

Can you clarify which part of the Epstein hoax is the hoax part?

An absolute barrage of questions with no relief in sight. Politico writes this, quote,

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