I want to welcome everyone to the beat. I'm Ari Melbert, and out of Washington, we are following

what can truly be described as unusual breaking news. This is truly unusual breaking news.

You know the breaking news animation. You know sometimes the news is big, significant, serious.

This one is unusual. A major escalation in what is increasingly a kind of political, quiet, peaceful civil war,

but a civil war of political proportions for MAGA over these Epstein files. And it's roiling the Trump

administration at quite literally the highest levels. Sources detailing the ongoing clash over a fight

that could cost someone their job. Trump's Attorney General

Pam Bondi clashing with the FBI number two official Dan Bongino. As everybody who follows

these kind of stories knows, technically the AG oversees the FBI. But if you remember Comey or other

strong-willed FBI officials, when you're at that number one, number two level, they sometimes

fight with the DOJ.

Sources say Bongino is so upset about all this. He's saying maybe he'll just leave, which would

be a very quick tenure, by the way. And he would be leaving in a sort of protest or criticism of

Bondi's handling of the Epstein files, other outside agitators, including Tucker Carlson,

saying she's lost confidence. Maybe she has to go.

He was not at work today, reportedly. Sources also say Bonnie and Bongino got into a heated clash

Wednesday in a high-level meeting with him, her, FBI director Patel, and Donald Trump's number one

person who tracks all this stuff and makes the big staffing decisions, Susie Wiles, the chief of staff,

who of course also ran the victorious campaign. Axios has a report on this where Pam says her

peace, Dan says his piece, didn't end on friendly terms. Von Gino left angry. And you don't need to be a

scholar of reporting or Watergate level intrigue to know somebody in this small meeting is leaking

this stuff to Axios if it's true. A source close to Bonjino is saying he ain't coming back.

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