The release of roughly 3 million Jeffrey Epstein–related documents has sparked investigations across Europe and forced former minister Peter Mandelson to resign amid an active Metropolitan Police probe. In the U.S., Bill and Hillary Clinton will testify before the House Oversight Committee, while courts and Congress have preserved major science funding after proposed cuts. Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos faced Senate scrutiny over a proposed $72 billion Warner Bros./HBO deal and accusations of politically slanted programming; elsewhere, an Israeli strike in Gaza killed at least 17.
Epstein Document Dump Triggers U.K. Probe as Netflix Faces Senate Scrutiny Over 'Woke' Shows — Morning Rundown
President Trump shakes hands with then-British ambassador to the United States Peter Mandelson at the White house in May, 2025. (Jim Watson / AFP via Getty Images file)(Jim Watson)
About 3 million documents tied to Jeffrey Epstein’s network have reignited controversy across Europe and the U.K., prompting fresh scrutiny of high-profile figures and renewed investigative activity.
U.K. Fallout: Mandelson Resigns, Police Open Probe
Attention in Britain shifted to former Ambassador to the U.S. Peter Mandelson after emails reportedly showed he passed sensitive political and market information to Epstein. Mandelson resigned his seat in the House of Lords and issued an apology, saying he wanted to “repeat my apology to the women and girls whose voices should have been heard long before now.” London’s Metropolitan Police confirmed it has opened an inquiry into a 72-year-old former government minister on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
Ted Sarandos, chief executive officer of Netflix Inc., speaks during a Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy, and Consumer Rights hearing in Washington, DC, US, on Feb. 3, 2026. (Graeme Sloan / Bloomberg via Getty Images)(Graeme Sloan)
U.S. Reactions: Clinton Testimony, Science Funding Survives Cuts
In Washington, former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have agreed to testify before the House Oversight Committee about their past connections to Epstein as investigators sift the newly released material.
Meanwhile, fears that federal research would suffer deep, lasting damage appear to have eased: court challenges and advocacy by scientific, education and civil-rights groups preserved billions in research funding after the Trump administration proposed steep cuts to agencies such as NASA and the National Science Foundation (NSF). Congress approved a spending package that includes a modest increase for biomedical research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), rejecting a proposed 40%-plus cut.
Undocumented parents in hiding from ICE stand for a photo with their daughter as she gets ready for graduation at their home in Minneapolis on Jan. 28, 2026. (Christian Monterrosa for NBC News)(Christian Monterrosa for NBC News)
Netflix Hearing Turns to Culture Wars and Competition
In a Senate hearing about Netflix’s proposed $72 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. and HBO, co-CEO Ted Sarandos sought to reassure lawmakers that the deal would not harm competition. Republican senators instead pressed him on the streamer’s perceived political slant — calling the platform’s content “overwhelmingly woke” and accusing it of promoting a “transgender ideology.” Democrats warned the merger could reduce jobs and consumer choice. Sarandos defended the transaction as a driver of U.S. economic growth; President Donald Trump has voiced reservations and financial disclosures noted reported purchases of related bonds valued at roughly $1 million.
International, Science and Human Interest Highlights
An Israeli strike in Gaza killed at least 17 Palestinians, hospital officials said, reporting most victims were women and children. New research questions the sleep benefits of “pink noise,” suggesting it may worsen rest for some listeners. In sports, Terry Rozier was placed on unpaid leave amid a gambling probe while his attorney insists he should receive his full $26.6 million salary; Shohei Ohtani discussed an upcoming children’s book; and skier Lindsey Vonn plans to compete in the Winter Olympics despite a recent ACL rupture.
A human-interest report profiles a mixed-status family in Minnesota living in constant fear of deportation, highlighting how immigration enforcement shapes everyday life and family dynamics.
This Morning Rundown was curated by Marissa Martinez, Platforms and Newsletter Editor. For full coverage, see the original reporting on NBCNews.com.
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