Judge Orders Release Of Epstein Grand Jury Transcripts; White House Unveils Controversial Security Strategy — U.S. Roundup

A federal judge in Florida has ordered the release of grand jury transcripts connected to the federal sex‑trafficking investigations of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, saying a newly enacted law requiring disclosure overrides long‑standing grand jury secrecy rules.

Epstein Transcripts To Be Made Public

U.S. District Judge Rodney Smith approved the request to unseal grand jury material tied to the Epstein probes after Congress passed the Epstein Files Transparency Act. The law, signed by President Donald Trump, directs the Justice Department, the FBI and federal prosecutors to publish related investigative records in a searchable, downloadable format — with agencies given a statutory deadline to comply.

Vaccine Advisory Panel Narrows Hepatitis B Birth Recommendation

A federal vaccine advisory committee voted to stop recommending a universal hepatitis B vaccine dose for all newborns at birth and instead recommended the birth dose for infants whose mothers test positive or whose maternal infection status is unknown. The change, made by a panel appointed under Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., drew sharp criticism from many public‑health experts who say the universal birth dose helped prevent thousands of liver infections.

New National Security Strategy Invokes Monroe Doctrine Corollary

The White House released a new national security strategy that sets out what it calls a “Trump Corollary” to the Monroe Doctrine, proposing a more assertive U.S. posture in the Western Hemisphere to combat drug trafficking, control migration and project military power when deemed necessary. Democrats and some foreign‑policy experts criticized the approach as risking U.S. alliances and increasing global tensions.

Supreme Court Will Consider Birthright Citizenship Order

The Supreme Court agreed to review President Trump’s executive order limiting birthright citizenship for children born to parents present in the U.S. illegally or temporarily. The justices will hear the case next spring after a lower court struck down the order; a final ruling is expected in early summer.

World Cup Draw And Diplomatic Moments

President Trump drew wide attention at the 2026 World Cup draw, which included a reception where a newly created FIFA peace prize was presented and musical performances drew an enthusiastic reaction from attendees. Leaders from Mexico and Canada were present, and the event provided a stage for diplomatic engagement and a high‑profile U.S. appearance ahead of next summer’s tournament shared by the three countries.

Other Notable Developments

Key additional items in this roundup: the Supreme Court temporarily allowed Texas to use a contested congressional map while litigation continues; Indiana’s House approved a Republican‑backed redistricting plan; U.S. and Ukrainian negotiators continued talks on a peace plan; and U.S. Southern Command faced congressional scrutiny after deadly strikes on small boats raised questions about rules of engagement.

Economic and domestic news included a rise in the Fed’s preferred inflation gauge in September, a modest increase in U.S. consumer sentiment, a federal judge temporarily blocking layoffs of roughly 250 State Department employees, and an expansive immigration enforcement operation in Louisiana that has prompted local concerns and closures in immigrant communities.

The Epstein document releases in Florida could begin to appear later this month under the new law. Separate unsealing requests in New York remain pending, with courts signaling they will move quickly to resolve outstanding filings from victims, Maxwell’s attorneys and other parties.