And the Names Keep Coming

US News

And the Names Keep Coming

What's going on: Bipartisan calls for Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick’s resignation intensified this week after newly released Jeffrey Epstein documents showed he remained in contact with the convicted sex offender as recently as 2018. Yes, that’s a decade after Epstein initially pleaded guilty to state charges — including soliciting prostitution from a child — and avoided federal prosecution through a secret deal. The revelations undercut Lutnick’s own public account. Last fall, he said on a podcast that after first meeting Epstein, he and his wife decided they would “never be in the room with that disgusting person ever again.” But new information shows they didn’t follow through on that. When pressed during a Senate hearing yesterday, Lutnick responded: “I looked through the millions of documents for my name, just like everybody else.” Not exactly reassuring. Meanwhile, the White House is standing by its man so far. 

Who else is involved: Of course, Lutnick is just one name in an appallingly long list that also includes President Donald Trump. The New York Times found 5,300 files containing more than 38,000 references to Trump, his wife, and Mar-a-Lago so far (though none included direct communication between the president and Epstein). Meanwhile, the latest release alone features three million pages of documents collected by the Justice Department, which recently unredacted six additional names after bipartisan pressure. One Democratic lawmaker read those names aloud on the House floor yesterday, including that of American billionaire Leslie Wexner of Victoria’s Secret and Abercrombie & Fitch. Meanwhile, Steve Bannon, entertainment and sports agent Casey Wasserman (who represented Chappell Roan until yesterday), and high-ranking former UK ambassador Peter Mandelson have been mentioned in other documents as of late. It’s worth noting, being named in the files doesn’t equate to criminal liability.

Up next: NBC News reports that all members of Congress will eventually gain access to the files. At least three million more documents remain sealed. The files have already triggered subpoenas and depositions, with former President Bill Clinton and former First Lady Hillary Clinton scheduled to be deposed later this month. Now, a House committee has subpoenaed Epstein’s accountant, lawyer, and Wexner. As this unfolds, Democrats have just introduced “Virginia’s Law” alongside Virginia Giuffre’s family and other Epstein victims.

Related: Sarah Ferguson Says Princess Beatrice Was a “Witness” to Her Call Defending Epstein (InStyle)

The News in 5

🗞️ At least nine people were killed and dozens of others injured in a shooting at a high school and residence in British Columbia, Canada, according to police. The suspected shooter was found dead inside the school.

🗞️ Law enforcement officials released a person they had detained for questioning in the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie. It came hours after authorities released new surveillance video in the case.

🗞️ The FDA will not review Moderna’s application for an mRNA flu shot, according to the pharmaceutical giant — the clearest sign yet that the agency is taking a tougher approach to vaccine approvals. 

🗞️ Meta, TikTok, and Snap agreed to a new safety rating system for their teen users. The bar is… not high. 

🗞️ President Trump quietly ordered the removal of the Pride flag from the Stonewall National Monument in New York, a major LGBTQIA+ landmark. State and local officials are pushing back. 

Tech

Manfluencers Are Reminding Us Why They Don't Deserve a Platform

What’s going on: Between gripping keys on the walk home and tracking footsteps behind us, women already run constant safety checks. Now, smart glasses just joined the list. Some “manfluencers” chasing after views are using them to secretly film women in public. In videos that rack up millions of views, men approach women to flirt and ask them out — all while recording through their glasses. The clips typically get framed as dating advice for other men and, in many cases, a path to monetization. Women told the BBC and CNN they often had no idea they were being recorded, and many learned only later that the videos were posted online without their consent. Several described their experience as a “violation.” Pick-up artists are nothing new, but experts warn this latest version runs on the same old misogyny — now scaled by tech.

What it means: Tech keeps sprinting ahead while women get left more exposed. Regulation? Sparse. Guardrails? Nonexistent. The real kicker: If you think someone is filming you, there’s often very little you can do. In 38 states plus Washington, DC, laws allow recording as long as one person agrees — even if that person is holding the camera. Those blinking lights meant to signal the camera is rolling? Easy to cover with tape. The University of San Francisco (USF) recently issued a public safety announcement about smart glasses after reports that a man asked female students lewd questions. So no, reacting on instinct (like this woman) doesn’t make you dramatic — it makes you human. If something feels off, trust that instinct, create distance when you can, and don’t hesitate to alert other people nearby. (Shout-out to the passerby who intervened after spotting a man filming with his tiny little glasses.) Community still works.

Related: The Most Online Generation Is the One Most Concerned About Privacy (WaPo Gift Link)

We Needed This

On Our Calendar

A few things to jot down today…

🗓️ The delayed January Jobs Report drops. Here's why it could be a doozy. 

🗓️ Cardi B kicks off her Little Miss Drama Tour. Safe to say the title aged well. 

🗓️ The Olympic ice dancing free skate begins at 1:30 pm ET. This year’s theme is the '90s, and if this “Vogue” routine doesn’t get you amped, we can’t help you. 

Psst…For more dates worth knowing this week, check out the Skimm+ calendar.

Tell Us

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Skimm'd by: Rashaan Ayesh, Mallory Simon, Molly Longman, Maria del Carmen Corpus, and Marina Carver. Fact-checked by Sara Tardiff.