Podcasts about senate finance committee

A new personalised vaccine given in combination with a drug has stopped skin cancer returning in patients during a trial, representing a potentially watershed moment in cancer treatment. Scientists used mRNA technology, which was used for some Covid-19 vaccines.But that technology - and vaccines more generally - have become increasingly controversial in the United States since the Covid-19 pandemic. The Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, is a vaccine sceptic. In August 2025 cancelled $500m (£376m) in funding for mRNA vaccine research. The move impacted 22 projects being led by major pharmaceutical companies, including Pfizer and Moderna, for vaccines against bird flu and other viruses, according to Kennedy's department. We speak to Tom Whipple, host of the BBC's Inside Science programme, about the science of this new vaccine. And we ask how funding cuts for vaccine research could impact health outcomes not just for Americans, but for the world.Producers: Lucy Pawle and Sam ChantarasakDigital producer: Sam GruetMix: Travis EvansEditor: James ShieldSenior news editor: China CollinsPhoto: US Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. testifies during the Senate Finance Committee's hearing on The President's Health Care Agenda on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, USA, 04 September 2025. Credit: Shawn Thew/EPA/Shutterstock

Investors sued Barclays and its former chief executive, Jes Staley, alleging that the bank misled shareholders about the true nature of Staley's relationship with Jeffrey Epstein and concealed risks that eventually damaged the company and its investors. The securities class action, led by pension funds, alleged that Barclays repeatedly presented Staley's connection to Epstein as essentially professional even though evidence later revealed a far closer relationship, including extensive communications in which Staley referred to Epstein as “family.” The investors argued that Barclays either knew or should have known that its public statements were misleading and that the bank's handling of regulatory inquiries understated the reputational, financial and legal danger surrounding its CEO's Epstein ties. When additional information about the relationship became public and Staley ultimately left Barclays amid regulatory scrutiny, the lawsuit alleged that the bank's share price suffered and investors were harmed. A federal judge allowed important portions of the case to proceed, including claims against Staley and narrowed claims against Barclays and chairman Nigel Higgins, finding that investors had plausibly alleged that statements portraying the Epstein relationship as merely professional could have been misleading.At the same time, House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer dramatically escalated his confrontation with billionaire Leon Black over Black's own relationship with Epstein. Comer warned that Black could face contempt of Congress if he failed to appear as required or refused to fully comply with subpoenas demanding nondisclosure agreements potentially relevant to the committee's Epstein investigation. Black had previously appeared voluntarily before the committee but walked out after refusing to answer certain questions concerning NDAs, prompting Comer to issue subpoenas compelling both additional testimony and production of the agreements. The dispute was particularly significant because Black paid Epstein roughly $170 million for purported tax and estate-planning services between 2012 and 2017, years after Epstein had become a registered sex offender, while a Senate Finance Committee investigation had separately questioned why Epstein received such extraordinary sums and how that money moved through the financial system. Comer maintained that Black could not personally decide which agreements were relevant to Congress and warned that continued resistance could trigger contempt proceedings, turning another Epstein associate's attempts to limit congressional scrutiny into a direct test of whether lawmakers were actually willing to enforce their subpoenas.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comsource:Barclays faces legal fight with investors over ex-boss's Epstein linksComer threatens contempt as Black faces more Epstein probe heat - Live Updates - POLITICO

Senator Ron Wyden's Senate Finance Committee investigation concluded that major Wall Street institutions repeatedly failed to detect, scrutinize, and promptly report financial activity that helped sustain Jeffrey Epstein's sex-trafficking operation. The report focused primarily on JPMorgan Chase, Deutsche Bank, and Bank of America, alleging significant failures under federal anti-money-laundering requirements. Investigators found that Epstein moved enormous amounts of money through the banking system, including millions in cash withdrawals and thousands of wire transfers, while banks frequently failed to file timely suspicious-activity reports. JPMorgan alone retroactively flagged thousands of transactions worth more than $1 billion years after much of the activity occurred, while Deutsche Bank later identified hundreds of millions of dollars in questionable transactions. The report also examined roughly $170 million that billionaire Leon Black paid Epstein between 2012 and 2017 for purported tax and estate-planning services, arguing that Bank of America failed to adequately investigate payments so unusual that the bank eventually acknowledged they lacked a verifiable business purpose. Wyden's investigators alleged that senior bankers knew Epstein presented serious reputational and compliance risks, yet continued protecting or cultivating the relationship because Epstein himself was lucrative and because he provided access to other extraordinarily wealthy clients.The report portrayed those failures not as isolated mistakes but as a systemic breakdown in which wealth and profitability repeatedly outweighed meaningful compliance. It alleged that JPMorgan executives continued interacting with Epstein even after the bank removed him as a client in 2013, while suspicious activity was not comprehensively reported to federal authorities until after his 2019 arrest. Wyden's staff called for federal investigations of individual bankers at JPMorgan, Deutsche Bank, and Bank of America, as well as Epstein associates Darren Indyke, Richard Kahn, and Harry Beller, arguing that individuals involved in moving or overseeing Epstein's money deserved greater scrutiny. The report also emphasized the absence of meaningful accountability, noting that Epstein-related banks, his estate, and Leon Black had collectively paid more than $900 million in settlements and penalties while most bankers identified in the investigation had faced no known regulatory or financial consequences. It further accused several banks of refusing to cooperate voluntarily with Wyden's investigation. In response, Wyden proposed strengthening anti-money-laundering laws by requiring senior officials to personally attest that ultra-high-net-worth accounts had been properly monitored, imposing stronger penalties on bankers who failed to report suspicious activity, requiring enhanced scrutiny of transactions involving high-risk clients, and mandating prompt government notification when banks terminate customers because of suspected criminal or suspicious financial behavior.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.com

Senator Ron Wyden's Senate Finance Committee investigation concluded that major Wall Street institutions repeatedly failed to detect, scrutinize, and promptly report financial activity that helped sustain Jeffrey Epstein's sex-trafficking operation. The report focused primarily on JPMorgan Chase, Deutsche Bank, and Bank of America, alleging significant failures under federal anti-money-laundering requirements. Investigators found that Epstein moved enormous amounts of money through the banking system, including millions in cash withdrawals and thousands of wire transfers, while banks frequently failed to file timely suspicious-activity reports. JPMorgan alone retroactively flagged thousands of transactions worth more than $1 billion years after much of the activity occurred, while Deutsche Bank later identified hundreds of millions of dollars in questionable transactions. The report also examined roughly $170 million that billionaire Leon Black paid Epstein between 2012 and 2017 for purported tax and estate-planning services, arguing that Bank of America failed to adequately investigate payments so unusual that the bank eventually acknowledged they lacked a verifiable business purpose. Wyden's investigators alleged that senior bankers knew Epstein presented serious reputational and compliance risks, yet continued protecting or cultivating the relationship because Epstein himself was lucrative and because he provided access to other extraordinarily wealthy clients.The report portrayed those failures not as isolated mistakes but as a systemic breakdown in which wealth and profitability repeatedly outweighed meaningful compliance. It alleged that JPMorgan executives continued interacting with Epstein even after the bank removed him as a client in 2013, while suspicious activity was not comprehensively reported to federal authorities until after his 2019 arrest. Wyden's staff called for federal investigations of individual bankers at JPMorgan, Deutsche Bank, and Bank of America, as well as Epstein associates Darren Indyke, Richard Kahn, and Harry Beller, arguing that individuals involved in moving or overseeing Epstein's money deserved greater scrutiny. The report also emphasized the absence of meaningful accountability, noting that Epstein-related banks, his estate, and Leon Black had collectively paid more than $900 million in settlements and penalties while most bankers identified in the investigation had faced no known regulatory or financial consequences. It further accused several banks of refusing to cooperate voluntarily with Wyden's investigation. In response, Wyden proposed strengthening anti-money-laundering laws by requiring senior officials to personally attest that ultra-high-net-worth accounts had been properly monitored, imposing stronger penalties on bankers who failed to report suspicious activity, requiring enhanced scrutiny of transactions involving high-risk clients, and mandating prompt government notification when banks terminate customers because of suspected criminal or suspicious financial behavior.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.com

Senator Ron Wyden's Senate Finance Committee investigation concluded that major Wall Street institutions repeatedly failed to detect, scrutinize, and promptly report financial activity that helped sustain Jeffrey Epstein's sex-trafficking operation. The report focused primarily on JPMorgan Chase, Deutsche Bank, and Bank of America, alleging significant failures under federal anti-money-laundering requirements. Investigators found that Epstein moved enormous amounts of money through the banking system, including millions in cash withdrawals and thousands of wire transfers, while banks frequently failed to file timely suspicious-activity reports. JPMorgan alone retroactively flagged thousands of transactions worth more than $1 billion years after much of the activity occurred, while Deutsche Bank later identified hundreds of millions of dollars in questionable transactions. The report also examined roughly $170 million that billionaire Leon Black paid Epstein between 2012 and 2017 for purported tax and estate-planning services, arguing that Bank of America failed to adequately investigate payments so unusual that the bank eventually acknowledged they lacked a verifiable business purpose. Wyden's investigators alleged that senior bankers knew Epstein presented serious reputational and compliance risks, yet continued protecting or cultivating the relationship because Epstein himself was lucrative and because he provided access to other extraordinarily wealthy clients.The report portrayed those failures not as isolated mistakes but as a systemic breakdown in which wealth and profitability repeatedly outweighed meaningful compliance. It alleged that JPMorgan executives continued interacting with Epstein even after the bank removed him as a client in 2013, while suspicious activity was not comprehensively reported to federal authorities until after his 2019 arrest. Wyden's staff called for federal investigations of individual bankers at JPMorgan, Deutsche Bank, and Bank of America, as well as Epstein associates Darren Indyke, Richard Kahn, and Harry Beller, arguing that individuals involved in moving or overseeing Epstein's money deserved greater scrutiny. The report also emphasized the absence of meaningful accountability, noting that Epstein-related banks, his estate, and Leon Black had collectively paid more than $900 million in settlements and penalties while most bankers identified in the investigation had faced no known regulatory or financial consequences. It further accused several banks of refusing to cooperate voluntarily with Wyden's investigation. In response, Wyden proposed strengthening anti-money-laundering laws by requiring senior officials to personally attest that ultra-high-net-worth accounts had been properly monitored, imposing stronger penalties on bankers who failed to report suspicious activity, requiring enhanced scrutiny of transactions involving high-risk clients, and mandating prompt government notification when banks terminate customers because of suspected criminal or suspicious financial behavior.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.com

Senator Ron Wyden's Senate Finance Committee investigation concluded that major Wall Street institutions repeatedly failed to detect, scrutinize, and promptly report financial activity that helped sustain Jeffrey Epstein's sex-trafficking operation. The report focused primarily on JPMorgan Chase, Deutsche Bank, and Bank of America, alleging significant failures under federal anti-money-laundering requirements. Investigators found that Epstein moved enormous amounts of money through the banking system, including millions in cash withdrawals and thousands of wire transfers, while banks frequently failed to file timely suspicious-activity reports. JPMorgan alone retroactively flagged thousands of transactions worth more than $1 billion years after much of the activity occurred, while Deutsche Bank later identified hundreds of millions of dollars in questionable transactions. The report also examined roughly $170 million that billionaire Leon Black paid Epstein between 2012 and 2017 for purported tax and estate-planning services, arguing that Bank of America failed to adequately investigate payments so unusual that the bank eventually acknowledged they lacked a verifiable business purpose. Wyden's investigators alleged that senior bankers knew Epstein presented serious reputational and compliance risks, yet continued protecting or cultivating the relationship because Epstein himself was lucrative and because he provided access to other extraordinarily wealthy clients.The report portrayed those failures not as isolated mistakes but as a systemic breakdown in which wealth and profitability repeatedly outweighed meaningful compliance. It alleged that JPMorgan executives continued interacting with Epstein even after the bank removed him as a client in 2013, while suspicious activity was not comprehensively reported to federal authorities until after his 2019 arrest. Wyden's staff called for federal investigations of individual bankers at JPMorgan, Deutsche Bank, and Bank of America, as well as Epstein associates Darren Indyke, Richard Kahn, and Harry Beller, arguing that individuals involved in moving or overseeing Epstein's money deserved greater scrutiny. The report also emphasized the absence of meaningful accountability, noting that Epstein-related banks, his estate, and Leon Black had collectively paid more than $900 million in settlements and penalties while most bankers identified in the investigation had faced no known regulatory or financial consequences. It further accused several banks of refusing to cooperate voluntarily with Wyden's investigation. In response, Wyden proposed strengthening anti-money-laundering laws by requiring senior officials to personally attest that ultra-high-net-worth accounts had been properly monitored, imposing stronger penalties on bankers who failed to report suspicious activity, requiring enhanced scrutiny of transactions involving high-risk clients, and mandating prompt government notification when banks terminate customers because of suspected criminal or suspicious financial behavior.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.com

Senator Ron Wyden's Senate Finance Committee investigation concluded that major Wall Street institutions repeatedly failed to detect, scrutinize, and promptly report financial activity that helped sustain Jeffrey Epstein's sex-trafficking operation. The report focused primarily on JPMorgan Chase, Deutsche Bank, and Bank of America, alleging significant failures under federal anti-money-laundering requirements. Investigators found that Epstein moved enormous amounts of money through the banking system, including millions in cash withdrawals and thousands of wire transfers, while banks frequently failed to file timely suspicious-activity reports. JPMorgan alone retroactively flagged thousands of transactions worth more than $1 billion years after much of the activity occurred, while Deutsche Bank later identified hundreds of millions of dollars in questionable transactions. The report also examined roughly $170 million that billionaire Leon Black paid Epstein between 2012 and 2017 for purported tax and estate-planning services, arguing that Bank of America failed to adequately investigate payments so unusual that the bank eventually acknowledged they lacked a verifiable business purpose. Wyden's investigators alleged that senior bankers knew Epstein presented serious reputational and compliance risks, yet continued protecting or cultivating the relationship because Epstein himself was lucrative and because he provided access to other extraordinarily wealthy clients.The report portrayed those failures not as isolated mistakes but as a systemic breakdown in which wealth and profitability repeatedly outweighed meaningful compliance. It alleged that JPMorgan executives continued interacting with Epstein even after the bank removed him as a client in 2013, while suspicious activity was not comprehensively reported to federal authorities until after his 2019 arrest. Wyden's staff called for federal investigations of individual bankers at JPMorgan, Deutsche Bank, and Bank of America, as well as Epstein associates Darren Indyke, Richard Kahn, and Harry Beller, arguing that individuals involved in moving or overseeing Epstein's money deserved greater scrutiny. The report also emphasized the absence of meaningful accountability, noting that Epstein-related banks, his estate, and Leon Black had collectively paid more than $900 million in settlements and penalties while most bankers identified in the investigation had faced no known regulatory or financial consequences. It further accused several banks of refusing to cooperate voluntarily with Wyden's investigation. In response, Wyden proposed strengthening anti-money-laundering laws by requiring senior officials to personally attest that ultra-high-net-worth accounts had been properly monitored, imposing stronger penalties on bankers who failed to report suspicious activity, requiring enhanced scrutiny of transactions involving high-risk clients, and mandating prompt government notification when banks terminate customers because of suspected criminal or suspicious financial behavior.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.com

Senator Ron Wyden's Senate Finance Committee investigation concluded that major Wall Street institutions repeatedly failed to detect, scrutinize, and promptly report financial activity that helped sustain Jeffrey Epstein's sex-trafficking operation. The report focused primarily on JPMorgan Chase, Deutsche Bank, and Bank of America, alleging significant failures under federal anti-money-laundering requirements. Investigators found that Epstein moved enormous amounts of money through the banking system, including millions in cash withdrawals and thousands of wire transfers, while banks frequently failed to file timely suspicious-activity reports. JPMorgan alone retroactively flagged thousands of transactions worth more than $1 billion years after much of the activity occurred, while Deutsche Bank later identified hundreds of millions of dollars in questionable transactions. The report also examined roughly $170 million that billionaire Leon Black paid Epstein between 2012 and 2017 for purported tax and estate-planning services, arguing that Bank of America failed to adequately investigate payments so unusual that the bank eventually acknowledged they lacked a verifiable business purpose. Wyden's investigators alleged that senior bankers knew Epstein presented serious reputational and compliance risks, yet continued protecting or cultivating the relationship because Epstein himself was lucrative and because he provided access to other extraordinarily wealthy clients.The report portrayed those failures not as isolated mistakes but as a systemic breakdown in which wealth and profitability repeatedly outweighed meaningful compliance. It alleged that JPMorgan executives continued interacting with Epstein even after the bank removed him as a client in 2013, while suspicious activity was not comprehensively reported to federal authorities until after his 2019 arrest. Wyden's staff called for federal investigations of individual bankers at JPMorgan, Deutsche Bank, and Bank of America, as well as Epstein associates Darren Indyke, Richard Kahn, and Harry Beller, arguing that individuals involved in moving or overseeing Epstein's money deserved greater scrutiny. The report also emphasized the absence of meaningful accountability, noting that Epstein-related banks, his estate, and Leon Black had collectively paid more than $900 million in settlements and penalties while most bankers identified in the investigation had faced no known regulatory or financial consequences. It further accused several banks of refusing to cooperate voluntarily with Wyden's investigation. In response, Wyden proposed strengthening anti-money-laundering laws by requiring senior officials to personally attest that ultra-high-net-worth accounts had been properly monitored, imposing stronger penalties on bankers who failed to report suspicious activity, requiring enhanced scrutiny of transactions involving high-risk clients, and mandating prompt government notification when banks terminate customers because of suspected criminal or suspicious financial behavior.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.com

Senator Ron Wyden's Senate Finance Committee investigation concluded that major Wall Street institutions repeatedly failed to detect, scrutinize, and promptly report financial activity that helped sustain Jeffrey Epstein's sex-trafficking operation. The report focused primarily on JPMorgan Chase, Deutsche Bank, and Bank of America, alleging significant failures under federal anti-money-laundering requirements. Investigators found that Epstein moved enormous amounts of money through the banking system, including millions in cash withdrawals and thousands of wire transfers, while banks frequently failed to file timely suspicious-activity reports. JPMorgan alone retroactively flagged thousands of transactions worth more than $1 billion years after much of the activity occurred, while Deutsche Bank later identified hundreds of millions of dollars in questionable transactions. The report also examined roughly $170 million that billionaire Leon Black paid Epstein between 2012 and 2017 for purported tax and estate-planning services, arguing that Bank of America failed to adequately investigate payments so unusual that the bank eventually acknowledged they lacked a verifiable business purpose. Wyden's investigators alleged that senior bankers knew Epstein presented serious reputational and compliance risks, yet continued protecting or cultivating the relationship because Epstein himself was lucrative and because he provided access to other extraordinarily wealthy clients.The report portrayed those failures not as isolated mistakes but as a systemic breakdown in which wealth and profitability repeatedly outweighed meaningful compliance. It alleged that JPMorgan executives continued interacting with Epstein even after the bank removed him as a client in 2013, while suspicious activity was not comprehensively reported to federal authorities until after his 2019 arrest. Wyden's staff called for federal investigations of individual bankers at JPMorgan, Deutsche Bank, and Bank of America, as well as Epstein associates Darren Indyke, Richard Kahn, and Harry Beller, arguing that individuals involved in moving or overseeing Epstein's money deserved greater scrutiny. The report also emphasized the absence of meaningful accountability, noting that Epstein-related banks, his estate, and Leon Black had collectively paid more than $900 million in settlements and penalties while most bankers identified in the investigation had faced no known regulatory or financial consequences. It further accused several banks of refusing to cooperate voluntarily with Wyden's investigation. In response, Wyden proposed strengthening anti-money-laundering laws by requiring senior officials to personally attest that ultra-high-net-worth accounts had been properly monitored, imposing stronger penalties on bankers who failed to report suspicious activity, requiring enhanced scrutiny of transactions involving high-risk clients, and mandating prompt government notification when banks terminate customers because of suspected criminal or suspicious financial behavior.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.com

Senator Ron Wyden's Senate Finance Committee investigation concluded that major Wall Street institutions repeatedly failed to detect, scrutinize, and promptly report financial activity that helped sustain Jeffrey Epstein's sex-trafficking operation. The report focused primarily on JPMorgan Chase, Deutsche Bank, and Bank of America, alleging significant failures under federal anti-money-laundering requirements. Investigators found that Epstein moved enormous amounts of money through the banking system, including millions in cash withdrawals and thousands of wire transfers, while banks frequently failed to file timely suspicious-activity reports. JPMorgan alone retroactively flagged thousands of transactions worth more than $1 billion years after much of the activity occurred, while Deutsche Bank later identified hundreds of millions of dollars in questionable transactions. The report also examined roughly $170 million that billionaire Leon Black paid Epstein between 2012 and 2017 for purported tax and estate-planning services, arguing that Bank of America failed to adequately investigate payments so unusual that the bank eventually acknowledged they lacked a verifiable business purpose. Wyden's investigators alleged that senior bankers knew Epstein presented serious reputational and compliance risks, yet continued protecting or cultivating the relationship because Epstein himself was lucrative and because he provided access to other extraordinarily wealthy clients.The report portrayed those failures not as isolated mistakes but as a systemic breakdown in which wealth and profitability repeatedly outweighed meaningful compliance. It alleged that JPMorgan executives continued interacting with Epstein even after the bank removed him as a client in 2013, while suspicious activity was not comprehensively reported to federal authorities until after his 2019 arrest. Wyden's staff called for federal investigations of individual bankers at JPMorgan, Deutsche Bank, and Bank of America, as well as Epstein associates Darren Indyke, Richard Kahn, and Harry Beller, arguing that individuals involved in moving or overseeing Epstein's money deserved greater scrutiny. The report also emphasized the absence of meaningful accountability, noting that Epstein-related banks, his estate, and Leon Black had collectively paid more than $900 million in settlements and penalties while most bankers identified in the investigation had faced no known regulatory or financial consequences. It further accused several banks of refusing to cooperate voluntarily with Wyden's investigation. In response, Wyden proposed strengthening anti-money-laundering laws by requiring senior officials to personally attest that ultra-high-net-worth accounts had been properly monitored, imposing stronger penalties on bankers who failed to report suspicious activity, requiring enhanced scrutiny of transactions involving high-risk clients, and mandating prompt government notification when banks terminate customers because of suspected criminal or suspicious financial behavior.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.com

Senator Ron Wyden's Senate Finance Committee investigation concluded that major Wall Street institutions repeatedly failed to detect, scrutinize, and promptly report financial activity that helped sustain Jeffrey Epstein's sex-trafficking operation. The report focused primarily on JPMorgan Chase, Deutsche Bank, and Bank of America, alleging significant failures under federal anti-money-laundering requirements. Investigators found that Epstein moved enormous amounts of money through the banking system, including millions in cash withdrawals and thousands of wire transfers, while banks frequently failed to file timely suspicious-activity reports. JPMorgan alone retroactively flagged thousands of transactions worth more than $1 billion years after much of the activity occurred, while Deutsche Bank later identified hundreds of millions of dollars in questionable transactions. The report also examined roughly $170 million that billionaire Leon Black paid Epstein between 2012 and 2017 for purported tax and estate-planning services, arguing that Bank of America failed to adequately investigate payments so unusual that the bank eventually acknowledged they lacked a verifiable business purpose. Wyden's investigators alleged that senior bankers knew Epstein presented serious reputational and compliance risks, yet continued protecting or cultivating the relationship because Epstein himself was lucrative and because he provided access to other extraordinarily wealthy clients.The report portrayed those failures not as isolated mistakes but as a systemic breakdown in which wealth and profitability repeatedly outweighed meaningful compliance. It alleged that JPMorgan executives continued interacting with Epstein even after the bank removed him as a client in 2013, while suspicious activity was not comprehensively reported to federal authorities until after his 2019 arrest. Wyden's staff called for federal investigations of individual bankers at JPMorgan, Deutsche Bank, and Bank of America, as well as Epstein associates Darren Indyke, Richard Kahn, and Harry Beller, arguing that individuals involved in moving or overseeing Epstein's money deserved greater scrutiny. The report also emphasized the absence of meaningful accountability, noting that Epstein-related banks, his estate, and Leon Black had collectively paid more than $900 million in settlements and penalties while most bankers identified in the investigation had faced no known regulatory or financial consequences. It further accused several banks of refusing to cooperate voluntarily with Wyden's investigation. In response, Wyden proposed strengthening anti-money-laundering laws by requiring senior officials to personally attest that ultra-high-net-worth accounts had been properly monitored, imposing stronger penalties on bankers who failed to report suspicious activity, requiring enhanced scrutiny of transactions involving high-risk clients, and mandating prompt government notification when banks terminate customers because of suspected criminal or suspicious financial behavior.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.com

Roger and Annie take a midyear look at how the IRS is holding up: call center struggles, a wave of CP2000, CP05, and CP14 notices, and the sudden departure of top Treasury tax official Ken Kies. They break down the new automatic penalty abatement replacing the old first-time abatement process, updates to Trump accounts, and a long list of OBBBA provisions kicking in for 2026, from the educator expense deduction to a higher 1099-K threshold. They close with practical tips for managing the fall extension crunch and a prediction on whether the TAS Act clears its Senate Finance Committee markup.SponsorsPadgett -  Contact Padgett or Email Jeff PhillipsGet NASBA Approved CPE or IRS Approved CELaunch the course on EarmarkCPE to get free CPE/CE for listening to this episode.Links mentioned in this episodeChapters(00:00) - Welcome and Catch Up (00:31) - Summer Tax Conference Circuit (04:06) - Why IRS Phones Struggle (06:22) - Digital Self Service Push (08:44) - Staffing Tech and Leadership Shift (12:34) - Tips and Overtime Reporting 2026 (14:39) - Refund Notices and Paper Checks (16:53) - Most Common IRS Notices (21:05) - Trump Accounts Guidance Update (24:03) - Kwong Case Status and Deadlines (27:00) - Fall Extension Survival (28:43) - Client Info Deadlines (31:13) - Systems and Automation (33:07) - Midyear Client Touchpoints (34:00) - Advisory in AI Era (35:21) - Automatic Penalty Relief (38:00) - AEP Tradeoffs Explained (42:36) - Key Changes for 2026 (45:59) - Business and Reporting Updates (48:50) - TAS Act Outlook (53:43) - Conference Plans and Farewell Follow the Federal Tax Updates Podcast on Social Mediatwitter.com/FedTaxPodfacebook.com/FedTaxPodlinkedin.com/showcase/fedtaxpodConnect with the Hosts on LinkedInRoger HarrisAnnie SchwabReviewLeave a review on Apple Podcasts or PodchaserSubscribeSubscribe to the Federal Tax Updates podcast in your favorite podcast app!This podcast is a production of Earmark MediaThe full transcript for this episode is available by clicking on the Transcript tab at the top of this pageAll content from this podcast by SmallBizPros, Inc. DBA PADGETT BUSINESS SERVICES is intended for informational purposes only.

Ben Black, Donald Trump's appointee to lead the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, is facing scrutiny after released DOJ Epstein records showed personal and business connections between him, his family, and Jeffrey Epstein. The records reviewed by the Guardian show that Black and family members invested in Environmental Solutions Worldwide in 2011, a company where Epstein held a stake through his Virgin Islands entity, Financial Trust. Ben Black and his brother Joshua became directors of the company that same year, while Epstein's involvement intersected with Leon Black, Ben's father and Epstein's highest-paying known client. The Guardian also reported records suggesting Epstein was scheduled to meet Ben Black, obtained his contact information after a family estate-planning meeting, claimed to have attended Ben Black's 30th birthday, weighed in on Ben's $11.5 million townhouse purchase, and appeared in correspondence involving a woman who sought Epstein's advice about communicating with Ben. Black has not been accused of wrongdoing, and his spokesperson denied that he had any personal or professional relationship with Epstein.The controversy matters because Black now oversees the DFC, a taxpayer-backed overseas investment agency whose lending cap was recently tripled to $205 billion, dramatically increasing the power of the office he runs. Trump appointed Black after Black and Palantir co-founder Joe Lonsdale promoted a more market-driven approach to foreign aid, but the Guardian reported that some DFC staff had already questioned his qualifications before the Epstein records became an internal concern. The broader issue is not just whether Ben Black personally did anything improper; it is that another person placed in a high-level federal role sits inside the sprawling overlap of Epstein, elite finance, inherited power, private investment, and political appointment. The reporting also places Ben Black's rise against the backdrop of Leon Black's long financial relationship with Epstein, including the Senate Finance Committee's finding that Leon Black paid Epstein $170 million for what Black described as legitimate tax and estate-planning services.to contact me:bobbycapuccI@protonmail.comsource:Trump appointee leading $205bn US agency had personal ties to Epstein, emails show | Trump administration | The GuardianBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-epstein-chronicles--5003294/support.

The Senate Finance Committee held a hearing yesterday on how to prevent deep cuts to Social Security benefits in a few years. The math is simple but the politics are not.Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show's perks include sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

At a moment when organizations are navigating volatility, fragmentation, and mounting compliance pressure, small- and medium-sized enterprises increasingly rely on trusted external networks to navigate legal, regulatory, and compliance challenges they often lack the capacity to manage alone. In this episode of Democracy That Delivers, Michele Crymes speaks with Rick Johnston about crisis response, reputation, regulatory complexity, and how business associations, chambers of commerce, industry groups, and organizations like CIPE can help businesses build resilience. The discussion also explores where civil society can be a practical partner rather than an outside critic. The takeaway is clear: collaboration works best when it starts with trust, shared interests, and concrete issues like anti-corruption. Rick Johnston is Chair of the Executive Board of Business at OECD (BIAC) and Managing Director of Global Government Affairs at Citibank. In his BIAC role, he represents the global business community in engagement with the OECD and helps guide business input on international economic policy. At Citi, he leads engagement with governments and political stakeholders, overseeing geopolitical analysis, issue advocacy, and relationships with policymakers across more than 100 countries. An expert in international trade and investment, Johnston has advised U.S. and foreign government leaders as well as multinational companies on complex transnational issues. He previously served as International Trade Counsel to the U.S. Senate Finance Committee and as an advisor at the U.S. International Trade Commission.

P.M. Edition for July 22. WSJ special writer Theo Francis explains how startup founders, hedge-fund managers and Silicon Valley insiders are using IRAs to supercharge their wealth. Plus, trade uncertainty comes roaring back. WSJ trade and economic policy reporter Gavin Bade explains the Trump administration's new front on tariffs. And Journal reporter Sam Federman explains how the New York Mets turned baseball's highest payroll into its biggest waste of money. Danny Lewis hosts. Sign up for the WSJ's free What's News newsletter. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In a key move for fertilizer tariffs, the Senate Finance Committee advanced five of the president's nominees to the International Trade Commission for confirmation.

Senator Ron Wyden is pressing for deeper answers about Leon Black's financial relationship with Jeffrey Epstein as congressional scrutiny of Black intensifies. According to the reporting, Wyden's Senate Finance Committee investigation has focused on why Black transferred an estimated $170 million to Epstein between 2012 and 2017, payments Wyden argues were far larger than what Black paid to established tax and estate-planning professionals already handling his affairs. Wyden has sent his findings to the House Oversight Committee ahead of Black's congressional appearance, urging investigators to dig harder into financial records, settlement payments, and the movement of money connected to Epstein's network.The central issue is whether Epstein's role in Black's financial life was truly limited to tax and estate advice, as Black has maintained, or whether the money trail points to something broader and more troubling. Wyden has raised questions about whether Epstein acted as an intermediary for payments to women and whether records exist involving settlement agreements. The article also notes Black's multimillion-dollar settlement with the Government of the U.S. Virgin Islands, which resolved civil claims without Black admitting wrongdoing, as another area now feeding congressional interest. The broader picture is that Black's Epstein ties are no longer being examined merely as a reputational problem; they are being treated as a financial, legal, and oversight problem that Congress still believes has unanswered questions at its center.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comsource:Wyden Presses for Answers as Congressional Scrutiny of Leon Black Deepens

Senator Ron Wyden is pressing for deeper answers about Leon Black's financial relationship with Jeffrey Epstein as congressional scrutiny of Black intensifies. According to the reporting, Wyden's Senate Finance Committee investigation has focused on why Black transferred an estimated $170 million to Epstein between 2012 and 2017, payments Wyden argues were far larger than what Black paid to established tax and estate-planning professionals already handling his affairs. Wyden has sent his findings to the House Oversight Committee ahead of Black's congressional appearance, urging investigators to dig harder into financial records, settlement payments, and the movement of money connected to Epstein's network.The central issue is whether Epstein's role in Black's financial life was truly limited to tax and estate advice, as Black has maintained, or whether the money trail points to something broader and more troubling. Wyden has raised questions about whether Epstein acted as an intermediary for payments to women and whether records exist involving settlement agreements. The article also notes Black's multimillion-dollar settlement with the Government of the U.S. Virgin Islands, which resolved civil claims without Black admitting wrongdoing, as another area now feeding congressional interest. The broader picture is that Black's Epstein ties are no longer being examined merely as a reputational problem; they are being treated as a financial, legal, and oversight problem that Congress still believes has unanswered questions at its center.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comsource:Wyden Presses for Answers as Congressional Scrutiny of Leon Black DeepensBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-moscow-murders-and-more--5852883/support.

Senator Ron Wyden is pressing for deeper answers about Leon Black's financial relationship with Jeffrey Epstein as congressional scrutiny of Black intensifies. According to the reporting, Wyden's Senate Finance Committee investigation has focused on why Black transferred an estimated $170 million to Epstein between 2012 and 2017, payments Wyden argues were far larger than what Black paid to established tax and estate-planning professionals already handling his affairs. Wyden has sent his findings to the House Oversight Committee ahead of Black's congressional appearance, urging investigators to dig harder into financial records, settlement payments, and the movement of money connected to Epstein's network.The central issue is whether Epstein's role in Black's financial life was truly limited to tax and estate advice, as Black has maintained, or whether the money trail points to something broader and more troubling. Wyden has raised questions about whether Epstein acted as an intermediary for payments to women and whether records exist involving settlement agreements. The article also notes Black's multimillion-dollar settlement with the Government of the U.S. Virgin Islands, which resolved civil claims without Black admitting wrongdoing, as another area now feeding congressional interest. The broader picture is that Black's Epstein ties are no longer being examined merely as a reputational problem; they are being treated as a financial, legal, and oversight problem that Congress still believes has unanswered questions at its center.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comsource:Wyden Presses for Answers as Congressional Scrutiny of Leon Black DeepensBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-epstein-chronicles--5003294/support.

Chris Boyer and Reed Smith bring in two people who worked the problem from the inside. Chris Hemphill of Modular Feedback, who builds AI for a living, and Heather Nairn, a healthcare economist who reads this as an access problem first. The reflex across the industry is to point AI at the mess. Standardize the data, set some agents loose, let the model sort it out. Hemphill and Nairn tested that reflex against a plain deterministic workflow on exactly this job. The workflow won on accuracy, on speed and on cost. Their point is not that AI is useless here. It is that the most useful skill in this work is knowing when not to reach for it. The deeper problem is structural. Provider data is a commodity. Every payer and every health system chases the same handful of fields, guards its copy as proprietary, and rebuilds the same record in parallel. Every cycle spent on that is a cycle not spent on the access work that moves outcomes. Transportation, care coordination, the patient in crisis who just needs a number that connects. Mentions from the Show: U.S. Senate Finance Committee, Ghost Network Secret Shopper Study, May 2023: https://www.finance.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/050323%20Ghost%20Network%20Hearing%20-%20Secret%20Shopper%20Study%20Report.pdf HHS Office of Inspector General, behavioral health network issue brief, October 2025 (72% of listed clinicians non-participating) New York Attorney General, "Inaccurate and Inadequate: Health Plans' Mental Health Provider Directories" (EmblemHealth investigation) American Psychiatric Association class-action complaint against EmblemHealth, January 2026: https://psychiatryonline.org/doi/full/10.1176/appi.pn.2026.03.3.15 CMS Final Rule CMS-4208-F2, finalized September 2025 (MA directory data to Medicare Plan Finder by plan year 2027; 85% accuracy threshold) Ideon, CMS Provider Directory Requirements compliance guide, March 2026 (48.74% of MA provider locations carry at least one inaccuracy): https://ideonapi.com/resources/blog/cms-provider-directory-requirements-a-complete-compliance-guide-for-2026-2027/ JAMA, AI-assisted directory inconsistency study, University of Colorado researchers (81% of physicians show inconsistencies), via Healthcare Dive: https://www.healthcaredive.com/news/inconsistent-physician-directories-no-surprises-act/645307/ Modular Feedback (Chris Hemphill), deployment write-up: https://modularfeedback.com/blog Chris Hemphill on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrishemphill/ CONFIRM handle Heather Nairn on LinkedIn: CONFIRM URL Reed Smith on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/reedtsmith/ Chris Boyer on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisboyer/ Chris Boyer website: http://www.christopherboyer.com/ Chris Boyer on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/chrisboyer.bsky.social Reed Smith on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/reedsmith.bsky.social Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“B” is for Brown, Edgar Allan (1888-1975). Edgar Allan Brown was a fiscal conservative and politically was one of the most powerful men in state government through his position as president pro tempore of the Senate and chair of the Senate Finance Committee.

Ben Black, Donald Trump's appointee to lead the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, is facing scrutiny after released DOJ Epstein records showed personal and business connections between him, his family, and Jeffrey Epstein. The records reviewed by the Guardian show that Black and family members invested in Environmental Solutions Worldwide in 2011, a company where Epstein held a stake through his Virgin Islands entity, Financial Trust. Ben Black and his brother Joshua became directors of the company that same year, while Epstein's involvement intersected with Leon Black, Ben's father and Epstein's highest-paying known client. The Guardian also reported records suggesting Epstein was scheduled to meet Ben Black, obtained his contact information after a family estate-planning meeting, claimed to have attended Ben Black's 30th birthday, weighed in on Ben's $11.5 million townhouse purchase, and appeared in correspondence involving a woman who sought Epstein's advice about communicating with Ben. Black has not been accused of wrongdoing, and his spokesperson denied that he had any personal or professional relationship with Epstein.The controversy matters because Black now oversees the DFC, a taxpayer-backed overseas investment agency whose lending cap was recently tripled to $205 billion, dramatically increasing the power of the office he runs. Trump appointed Black after Black and Palantir co-founder Joe Lonsdale promoted a more market-driven approach to foreign aid, but the Guardian reported that some DFC staff had already questioned his qualifications before the Epstein records became an internal concern. The broader issue is not just whether Ben Black personally did anything improper; it is that another person placed in a high-level federal role sits inside the sprawling overlap of Epstein, elite finance, inherited power, private investment, and political appointment. The reporting also places Ben Black's rise against the backdrop of Leon Black's long financial relationship with Epstein, including the Senate Finance Committee's finding that Leon Black paid Epstein $170 million for what Black described as legitimate tax and estate-planning services.to contact me:bobbycapuccI@protonmail.comsource:Trump appointee leading $205bn US agency had personal ties to Epstein, emails show | Trump administration | The Guardian

Ben Black, Donald Trump's appointee to lead the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, is facing scrutiny after released DOJ Epstein records showed personal and business connections between him, his family, and Jeffrey Epstein. The records reviewed by the Guardian show that Black and family members invested in Environmental Solutions Worldwide in 2011, a company where Epstein held a stake through his Virgin Islands entity, Financial Trust. Ben Black and his brother Joshua became directors of the company that same year, while Epstein's involvement intersected with Leon Black, Ben's father and Epstein's highest-paying known client. The Guardian also reported records suggesting Epstein was scheduled to meet Ben Black, obtained his contact information after a family estate-planning meeting, claimed to have attended Ben Black's 30th birthday, weighed in on Ben's $11.5 million townhouse purchase, and appeared in correspondence involving a woman who sought Epstein's advice about communicating with Ben. Black has not been accused of wrongdoing, and his spokesperson denied that he had any personal or professional relationship with Epstein.The controversy matters because Black now oversees the DFC, a taxpayer-backed overseas investment agency whose lending cap was recently tripled to $205 billion, dramatically increasing the power of the office he runs. Trump appointed Black after Black and Palantir co-founder Joe Lonsdale promoted a more market-driven approach to foreign aid, but the Guardian reported that some DFC staff had already questioned his qualifications before the Epstein records became an internal concern. The broader issue is not just whether Ben Black personally did anything improper; it is that another person placed in a high-level federal role sits inside the sprawling overlap of Epstein, elite finance, inherited power, private investment, and political appointment. The reporting also places Ben Black's rise against the backdrop of Leon Black's long financial relationship with Epstein, including the Senate Finance Committee's finding that Leon Black paid Epstein $170 million for what Black described as legitimate tax and estate-planning services.to contact me:bobbycapuccI@protonmail.comsource:Trump appointee leading $205bn US agency had personal ties to Epstein, emails show | Trump administration | The Guardian

Ben Black, Donald Trump's appointee to lead the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, is facing scrutiny after released DOJ Epstein records showed personal and business connections between him, his family, and Jeffrey Epstein. The records reviewed by the Guardian show that Black and family members invested in Environmental Solutions Worldwide in 2011, a company where Epstein held a stake through his Virgin Islands entity, Financial Trust. Ben Black and his brother Joshua became directors of the company that same year, while Epstein's involvement intersected with Leon Black, Ben's father and Epstein's highest-paying known client. The Guardian also reported records suggesting Epstein was scheduled to meet Ben Black, obtained his contact information after a family estate-planning meeting, claimed to have attended Ben Black's 30th birthday, weighed in on Ben's $11.5 million townhouse purchase, and appeared in correspondence involving a woman who sought Epstein's advice about communicating with Ben. Black has not been accused of wrongdoing, and his spokesperson denied that he had any personal or professional relationship with Epstein.The controversy matters because Black now oversees the DFC, a taxpayer-backed overseas investment agency whose lending cap was recently tripled to $205 billion, dramatically increasing the power of the office he runs. Trump appointed Black after Black and Palantir co-founder Joe Lonsdale promoted a more market-driven approach to foreign aid, but the Guardian reported that some DFC staff had already questioned his qualifications before the Epstein records became an internal concern. The broader issue is not just whether Ben Black personally did anything improper; it is that another person placed in a high-level federal role sits inside the sprawling overlap of Epstein, elite finance, inherited power, private investment, and political appointment. The reporting also places Ben Black's rise against the backdrop of Leon Black's long financial relationship with Epstein, including the Senate Finance Committee's finding that Leon Black paid Epstein $170 million for what Black described as legitimate tax and estate-planning services.to contact me:bobbycapuccI@protonmail.comsource:Trump appointee leading $205bn US agency had personal ties to Epstein, emails show | Trump administration | The GuardianBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-moscow-murders-and-more--5852883/support.

Ben Black, Donald Trump's appointee to lead the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, is facing scrutiny after released DOJ Epstein records showed personal and business connections between him, his family, and Jeffrey Epstein. The records reviewed by the Guardian show that Black and family members invested in Environmental Solutions Worldwide in 2011, a company where Epstein held a stake through his Virgin Islands entity, Financial Trust. Ben Black and his brother Joshua became directors of the company that same year, while Epstein's involvement intersected with Leon Black, Ben's father and Epstein's highest-paying known client. The Guardian also reported records suggesting Epstein was scheduled to meet Ben Black, obtained his contact information after a family estate-planning meeting, claimed to have attended Ben Black's 30th birthday, weighed in on Ben's $11.5 million townhouse purchase, and appeared in correspondence involving a woman who sought Epstein's advice about communicating with Ben. Black has not been accused of wrongdoing, and his spokesperson denied that he had any personal or professional relationship with Epstein.The controversy matters because Black now oversees the DFC, a taxpayer-backed overseas investment agency whose lending cap was recently tripled to $205 billion, dramatically increasing the power of the office he runs. Trump appointed Black after Black and Palantir co-founder Joe Lonsdale promoted a more market-driven approach to foreign aid, but the Guardian reported that some DFC staff had already questioned his qualifications before the Epstein records became an internal concern. The broader issue is not just whether Ben Black personally did anything improper; it is that another person placed in a high-level federal role sits inside the sprawling overlap of Epstein, elite finance, inherited power, private investment, and political appointment. The reporting also places Ben Black's rise against the backdrop of Leon Black's long financial relationship with Epstein, including the Senate Finance Committee's finding that Leon Black paid Epstein $170 million for what Black described as legitimate tax and estate-planning services.to contact me:bobbycapuccI@protonmail.comsource:Trump appointee leading $205bn US agency had personal ties to Epstein, emails show | Trump administration | The GuardianBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-moscow-murders-and-more--5852883/support.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent opened a Senate Finance Committee hearing by going directly after Sen. Ron Wyden, accusing him of attacking the Treasury Department over Epstein-related financial records while ignoring his own son's past contact with Jeffrey Epstein. Bessent pointed to Adam Wyden's 2016 meeting at Epstein's Manhattan mansion, where Wyden reportedly sought backing for his hedge fund, and referenced an email included in released DOJ files. The confrontation came as Wyden has continued pressing Treasury over Epstein's suspicious financial activity reports and broader money trail, arguing that the department is withholding material that could shed light on Epstein's network.Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent opened a Senate Finance Committee hearing by going directly after Sen. Ron Wyden, accusing him of attacking the Treasury Department over Epstein-related financial records while ignoring his own son's past contact with Jeffrey Epstein. Bessent pointed to Adam Wyden's 2016 meeting at Epstein's Manhattan mansion, where Wyden reportedly sought backing for his hedge fund, and referenced an email included in released DOJ files. The confrontation came as Wyden has continued pressing Treasury over Epstein's suspicious financial activity reports and broader money trail, arguing that the department is withholding material that could shed light on Epstein's network.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comsourceScott Bessent goes scorched earth against Sen. Ron Wyden over Epstein claims

Ben Black, Donald Trump's appointee to lead the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, is facing scrutiny after released DOJ Epstein records showed personal and business connections between him, his family, and Jeffrey Epstein. The records reviewed by the Guardian show that Black and family members invested in Environmental Solutions Worldwide in 2011, a company where Epstein held a stake through his Virgin Islands entity, Financial Trust. Ben Black and his brother Joshua became directors of the company that same year, while Epstein's involvement intersected with Leon Black, Ben's father and Epstein's highest-paying known client. The Guardian also reported records suggesting Epstein was scheduled to meet Ben Black, obtained his contact information after a family estate-planning meeting, claimed to have attended Ben Black's 30th birthday, weighed in on Ben's $11.5 million townhouse purchase, and appeared in correspondence involving a woman who sought Epstein's advice about communicating with Ben. Black has not been accused of wrongdoing, and his spokesperson denied that he had any personal or professional relationship with Epstein.The controversy matters because Black now oversees the DFC, a taxpayer-backed overseas investment agency whose lending cap was recently tripled to $205 billion, dramatically increasing the power of the office he runs. Trump appointed Black after Black and Palantir co-founder Joe Lonsdale promoted a more market-driven approach to foreign aid, but the Guardian reported that some DFC staff had already questioned his qualifications before the Epstein records became an internal concern. The broader issue is not just whether Ben Black personally did anything improper; it is that another person placed in a high-level federal role sits inside the sprawling overlap of Epstein, elite finance, inherited power, private investment, and political appointment. The reporting also places Ben Black's rise against the backdrop of Leon Black's long financial relationship with Epstein, including the Senate Finance Committee's finding that Leon Black paid Epstein $170 million for what Black described as legitimate tax and estate-planning services.to contact me:bobbycapuccI@protonmail.comsource:Trump appointee leading $205bn US agency had personal ties to Epstein, emails show | Trump administration | The GuardianBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-epstein-chronicles--5003294/support.

Ben Black, Donald Trump's appointee to lead the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, is facing scrutiny after released DOJ Epstein records showed personal and business connections between him, his family, and Jeffrey Epstein. The records reviewed by the Guardian show that Black and family members invested in Environmental Solutions Worldwide in 2011, a company where Epstein held a stake through his Virgin Islands entity, Financial Trust. Ben Black and his brother Joshua became directors of the company that same year, while Epstein's involvement intersected with Leon Black, Ben's father and Epstein's highest-paying known client. The Guardian also reported records suggesting Epstein was scheduled to meet Ben Black, obtained his contact information after a family estate-planning meeting, claimed to have attended Ben Black's 30th birthday, weighed in on Ben's $11.5 million townhouse purchase, and appeared in correspondence involving a woman who sought Epstein's advice about communicating with Ben. Black has not been accused of wrongdoing, and his spokesperson denied that he had any personal or professional relationship with Epstein.The controversy matters because Black now oversees the DFC, a taxpayer-backed overseas investment agency whose lending cap was recently tripled to $205 billion, dramatically increasing the power of the office he runs. Trump appointed Black after Black and Palantir co-founder Joe Lonsdale promoted a more market-driven approach to foreign aid, but the Guardian reported that some DFC staff had already questioned his qualifications before the Epstein records became an internal concern. The broader issue is not just whether Ben Black personally did anything improper; it is that another person placed in a high-level federal role sits inside the sprawling overlap of Epstein, elite finance, inherited power, private investment, and political appointment. The reporting also places Ben Black's rise against the backdrop of Leon Black's long financial relationship with Epstein, including the Senate Finance Committee's finding that Leon Black paid Epstein $170 million for what Black described as legitimate tax and estate-planning services.to contact me:bobbycapuccI@protonmail.comsource:Trump appointee leading $205bn US agency had personal ties to Epstein, emails show | Trump administration | The GuardianBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-epstein-chronicles--5003294/support.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent opened a Senate Finance Committee hearing by going directly after Sen. Ron Wyden, accusing him of attacking the Treasury Department over Epstein-related financial records while ignoring his own son's past contact with Jeffrey Epstein. Bessent pointed to Adam Wyden's 2016 meeting at Epstein's Manhattan mansion, where Wyden reportedly sought backing for his hedge fund, and referenced an email included in released DOJ files. The confrontation came as Wyden has continued pressing Treasury over Epstein's suspicious financial activity reports and broader money trail, arguing that the department is withholding material that could shed light on Epstein's network.Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent opened a Senate Finance Committee hearing by going directly after Sen. Ron Wyden, accusing him of attacking the Treasury Department over Epstein-related financial records while ignoring his own son's past contact with Jeffrey Epstein. Bessent pointed to Adam Wyden's 2016 meeting at Epstein's Manhattan mansion, where Wyden reportedly sought backing for his hedge fund, and referenced an email included in released DOJ files. The confrontation came as Wyden has continued pressing Treasury over Epstein's suspicious financial activity reports and broader money trail, arguing that the department is withholding material that could shed light on Epstein's network.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comsourceScott Bessent goes scorched earth against Sen. Ron Wyden over Epstein claimsBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-moscow-murders-and-more--5852883/support.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent opened a Senate Finance Committee hearing by going directly after Sen. Ron Wyden, accusing him of attacking the Treasury Department over Epstein-related financial records while ignoring his own son's past contact with Jeffrey Epstein. Bessent pointed to Adam Wyden's 2016 meeting at Epstein's Manhattan mansion, where Wyden reportedly sought backing for his hedge fund, and referenced an email included in released DOJ files. The confrontation came as Wyden has continued pressing Treasury over Epstein's suspicious financial activity reports and broader money trail, arguing that the department is withholding material that could shed light on Epstein's network.Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent opened a Senate Finance Committee hearing by going directly after Sen. Ron Wyden, accusing him of attacking the Treasury Department over Epstein-related financial records while ignoring his own son's past contact with Jeffrey Epstein. Bessent pointed to Adam Wyden's 2016 meeting at Epstein's Manhattan mansion, where Wyden reportedly sought backing for his hedge fund, and referenced an email included in released DOJ files. The confrontation came as Wyden has continued pressing Treasury over Epstein's suspicious financial activity reports and broader money trail, arguing that the department is withholding material that could shed light on Epstein's network.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comsourceScott Bessent goes scorched earth against Sen. Ron Wyden over Epstein claimsBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-epstein-chronicles--5003294/support.

On Capitol Hill, Republicans are finally moving their reconciliation package forward. The Senate voted this afternoon to begin debate on the measure, which no longer includes funding for President Trump's proposed White House ballroom. The bill also comes after Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche confirmed that the administration's proposed $1.8 billion IRS "Anti-Weaponization Fund" has been dropped from the package. Democrats, however, are vowing a fight as Republicans push to advance the legislation using the reconciliation process. We'll have the latest on where the bill stands coming up. It was also a busy day of hearings on Capitol Hill. Secretary of State Marco Rubio faced questions from lawmakers on Iran and U.S. foreign policy before the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent defended the administration's settlement with the IRS during a Senate Finance Committee hearing. And Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin told lawmakers he is reviewing contracts signed during the tenure of former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. Plus, Campaign 2026 enters a new phase following primary elections in seven states. We'll look at the results and hear what candidates had to say in several closely watched races, including contests in California and Iowa. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Send us Fan MailEpisode 445 — Bob Dole: The Life That Brought Him There (Part 26)The 1981 Tax Bill, TEFRA, and Ronald ReaganIn Episode 445 of our continuing series on the life and career of Bob Dole, we examine one of the most consequential policy chapters of the early 1980s — and one that placed Dole at the center of economic policymaking in Washington.This episode focuses on two landmark pieces of legislation:• The sweeping 1981 tax cuts championed by Ronald Reagan — a cornerstone of the Reagan economic program that aimed to stimulate growth and reshape the federal tax system • And the follow-up legislation, the Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1982 (TEFRA), designed to close loopholes and address the fiscal challenges that emerged in the wake of those cutsAs Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, Bob Dole played a critical and often underappreciated role in navigating both efforts — balancing ideological goals with the practical realities of governing.This episode explores:• How the 1981 tax bill was crafted and passed • The economic and political consequences that followed • Why TEFRA became necessary just one year later • The tension between tax reduction and fiscal responsibility • The working relationship between Dole and President Reagan — cooperation, negotiation, and occasional frictionAt the heart of the story is a fundamental question: how do you govern when policy goals collide with fiscal reality?Through these debates, we see Bob Dole not just as a political figure, but as a legislative strategist — working within the system to make ambitious policy function in the real world.From bold tax cuts… to difficult corrections… and a partnership that helped define an era.This is the story of policy, power, and pragmatism in the early Reagan years. Questions or comments at  , Randalrgw1@aol.com ,  https://twitter.com/randal_wallace   , and http://www.randalwallace.com/Please Leave us a review at wherever you get your podcastsThanks for listening!!

Send us Fan MailEpisode 444 — Bob Dole: The Life That Brought Him There (Part 25)Mr. Chairman!! The Finance Committee ChairIn Episode 444 of our continuing series on the life and career of Bob Dole, we arrive at a defining moment in his rise to power in the United States Senate — his elevation to Chairman of the powerful Senate Finance Committee.For years, that gavel had been held by Russell B. Long, one of the most influential figures in the Senate and a master of its internal workings. His tenure symbolized an era when seniority and institutional control defined leadership.But with the arrival of the Reagan era, the ground beneath Washington began to shift.As the political realignment of Ronald Reagan took hold, Bob Dole stepped into the chairmanship — marking not just a personal milestone, but a broader transition in power, policy, and direction.One moment captures it all.When the new chairman was called upon for his vote — for the first time, that chairman was Bob Dole. And in a telling, almost poetic gesture, Russell Long himself responded “aye,” acknowledging both the change in leadership and the passing of an era.In this episode, we explore:• How Dole rose to claim one of the most powerful positions in the Senate • The significance of the Finance Committee in shaping national policy • The transition from Russell Long's leadership to Dole's • What this moment revealed about the changing nature of Washington in the early 1980s • How the Reagan Revolution reshaped both policy and power inside the SenateThis is more than a change in chairmanship — it is a moment of transformation.From Long to Dole… from one era to another… and from the old Senate to a new political age. Questions or comments at  , Randalrgw1@aol.com ,  https://twitter.com/randal_wallace   , and http://www.randalwallace.com/Please Leave us a review at wherever you get your podcastsThanks for listening!!

On this Friday edition of Sid & Friends in the Morning, Sid recaps last night's Round 1 of the 2026 NFL Draft which was live from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania last night - covering the first round picks that both the New York Jets and Giants made with their first round selections. In other news of the day, the Knicks' comeback fell short in a 109-108 loss to the Hawks in Game 3 of their first round playoff matchup - leaving the Knicks trailing the series 2-1, billionaire Ken Griffin is appalled after Mayor Zohran Mamdani spotlighted his Manhattan penthouse in a viral video announcing a new pied-à-terre tax – and the hedge fund titan signaled he might even yank a $6 billion development project in the city, Bill O'Reilly rips Bruce Springsteen for his boring far-left hypocrisy on the rockstar's North-American tour, and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. testifies before the Senate Finance Committee amid brewing controversy over his vaccine policies and a measles outbreak. Blaire White, Brian Kilmeade, Joe Tacopina, K.T. McFarland, Randy Sutton, Scott LoBaido & Stephen A. Smith join Sid on this Friday installment of Sid & Friends in the Morning. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. appeared before the Senate Finance Committee and the Senate HELP Committee Wednesday to answer questions about measles, vaccines, nutrition and budget cuts. NPR's Selena Simmons-Duffin reports.Support NPR and hear every episode of Trump's Terms sponsor-free with NPR+. Sign up at plus.npr.org.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

On today's Midday Report with host Terry Haines: Civil rights advocates are suing over Alaska's decision last year to share confidential voter data. The state Senate Finance Committee released its first revision of the state's operating budget YESTERDAY, including a $1,000 Permanent Fund dividend and a $150 energy relief check. The Chilkat River, in Southeast Alaska on a list of ten most endangered waterways.Photo: The Chilkat river and broader watershed, pictured above in March 2026. (Avery Ellfeldt/ KHNS)

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. testifies before the Senate Finance Committee on April 22 about the department's fiscal year 2027 budget request. It's the sixth of seven hearings on that budget plan.Virginia voters on April 21 approved a new congressional map that could boost the chances of the Democratic Party winning four additional U.S. House seats in November's midterm elections.Democrats are looking to offset GOP gains in Texas after its new map was drawn to favor the Republicans in Congress.

UCSB undergraduate students pay around 240 dollars to Associated Students every school year. Where does this money go and who is in charge of disbursing it? KCSB's Tatiana Jacquez interviewed AS Finance Committee Chair, Jenny Jiang, to learn more about financial allocations by the Finance Committee, and how their budgetary process works.

Max Baucus served for more than 35 years in the United States Senate before becoming the United States Ambassador to China. The longest-serving U.S. Senator in Montana history, Senator Baucus was the Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee - one of the most powerful positions in Congress - and played a central role in shaping the Affordable Care Act. Senator Baucus joins Adam to share his journey and his best lessons and advice. Senator Baucus and Adam discuss leadership, career success, negotiations and dealmaking, decision making, trust, and much more.

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for April 14, 2026: we look at the Senate Finance Committee's version for the budget and hear from the state's chief economist on how healthy revenues are; we hear from SCDOT Secretary Justin Powell on a major groundbreaking for the I-95 bridge over Lake Marion; Sen. Lindsey Graham has one fewer challengers; and more!

Director of Advocacy Casey Fields and Legislative and Public Policy Advocacy Daina Riley Phillips discuss the differences between the Senate Finance Committee's version of the state budget and the House version, including the funding amounts for a road buyback program, bridge modernization and beach renourishment grants.

Lawmakers in both chambers of Congress are taking a closer look at a range of bipartisan IRS administration changes. House tax writers have advanced several pieces of legislation that would fix problems identified by taxpayer advocates and tax professionals. Some have become law. Senate Finance Committee lawmakers, meanwhile, recently introduced a large package that includes dozens of provisions that include digitizing more paper returns, providing more online information about refunds, and enhancing standards for tax return preparers. The interest in tax administration suggests there's a willingness among tax writers to try to take action—the key question is how. The two chambers' different approaches show an emerging disagreement over strategy. On this episode of Talking Tax, host David Schultz talks to Bloomberg Tax reporter Chris Cioffi about how a tax administration legislation has been taking shape, as well as the path forward in Congress. Do you have feedback on this episode of Talking Tax? Give us a call and leave a voicemail at 703-341-3690.

The lawsuits filed against Leon Black in connection with Jeffrey Epstein are among the most graphic and disturbing to emerge from Epstein's orbit. Several women, including Cheri Pierson and a plaintiff identified as Jane Doe, accuse Black of violent sexual assaults that allegedly took place inside Epstein's Manhattan townhouse. Pierson claims Black raped her in 2002 after Epstein arranged what was supposed to be a massage appointment, describing the encounter as brutal and coercive. Another lawsuit alleges Black sexually assaulted a 16-year-old girl with autism and Down syndrome, leaving her bleeding and traumatized. Both cases portray Black as a predator who exploited Epstein's network to target vulnerable women, echoing the broader pattern of abuse associated with Epstein's inner circle. Black's legal team has vehemently denied all allegations, dismissing the claims as false and opportunistic.Compounding the scandal is Black's series of high-dollar settlements and legal maneuvering. In 2023, he quietly paid $62.5 million to the U.S. Virgin Islands to avoid potential litigation tied to Epstein's trafficking operations there. He also succeeded in getting parts of other lawsuits dismissed on procedural grounds, including a defamation case brought by former model Guzel Ganieva, which was thrown out in early 2025. Still, the volume and nature of the claims — combined with his massive financial ties to Epstein and the Senate Finance Committee's scrutiny of his payments — have left Black mired in controversy. The lawsuits' explicit, violent allegations and the perception of systemic leniency have solidified his position as one of the most controversial figures to emerge from Epstein's shadow.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-moscow-murders-and-more--5852883/support.

For a demo of the Behavioral Governance Special Purpose Avatar - contact Eric Dyson at edyson@90northllc.com Don Trone, GFS™, is the CEO of the Behavioral Governance Institute (BGI), where he leads the development of Special Purpose Avatars (SPAs) designed to accelerate the professional development of leaders, stewards, and fiduciaries with governance responsibility. Widely known as the “Father of Fiduciary,” he has spent decades shaping fiduciary standards and governance practices. He was the founding CEO of fi360, the Center for Board Certified Fiduciaries, and the Foundation for Fiduciary Studies, and previously directed the Institute for Leadership at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy.A former U.S. Coast Guard helicopter rescue pilot, Don brings real-world experience from high-stakes environments to his focus on clarity, foresight, and accountability in governance. He has also testified before the U.S. Senate Finance Committee and the Department of Labor on fiduciary best practices.In this episode, Eric and Don Trone discuss:The origins of the Behavioral Governance Institute and why fiduciary standards alone are not enoughHow leadership behaviors and decision-making frameworks influence retirement outcomesThe development of “Special Purpose Avatars” is designed to support governance professionalsHow AI-powered avatars can deliver personalized professional development and trainingKey Takeaways:Behavioral governance expands the traditional fiduciary framework. Instead of focusing only on procedural prudence, it integrates leadership, judgment, ethics, and decision-making into governance responsibilities.AI-powered avatars are emerging as powerful tools for professional development. By curating expert knowledge in closed systems, these avatars help professionals strengthen their understanding of complex governance and fiduciary responsibilities.The future of professional education is shifting from traditional classroom-style programs to on-demand learning experiences. AI avatars enable a “Netflix-style” training model where professionals control when, how, and what they learn.Mastery-based learning loops represent a major advancement in professional education. Instead of allowing professionals to pass certification tests with partial understanding, avatars keep users in a training loop until they demonstrate full mastery of the subject.“If we had a better understanding of how certain leadership behaviors impact the quality of decision-making outcomes, we could have a material positive impact on the management of investment decisions.” - Don TroneConnect with Don Trone:Website: https://www.3ethos.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/don-trone-89873013/ Connect with Eric Dyson: Website: https://90northllc.com/Phone: 940-248-4800Email: contact@90northllc.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/401kguy/ The information and content of this podcast are general in nature and are provided solely for educational and informational purposes. It is believed to be accurate and reliable as of the posting date, but may be subject to change.It is not intended to provide a specific recommendation for any type of product or service discussed in this presentation or to provide any warranties, investment advice, financial advice, tax, plan design, or legal advice (unless otherwise specifically indicated). Please consult your own independent advisor as to any investment, tax, or legal statements made.The specific facts and circumstances of all qualified plans can vary, and the information contained in this podcast may or may not apply to your individual circumstances or to your plan or client plan-specific circumstances.The opinions expressed by guests on the Be More Than a Fiduciary podcast are not necessarily the same as the opinions held by 90 North Consulting, or of Executive Director Eric Dyson.

In July 2023, billionaire Leon Black, co-founder of Apollo Global Management, agreed to pay roughly $62.5 million to the U.S. Virgin Islands to resolve potential claims tied to his financial dealings with Jeffrey Epstein. The USVI had been pursuing Epstein's estate and associates for enabling or benefiting from his trafficking network, and Black was facing scrutiny over large payments made to Epstein's companies for so-called “financial advice.” The settlement gave Black immunity from criminal liability in the USVI and ended the possibility of a lawsuit there, though it did not include an admission of wrongdoing. Black has consistently said the payments were legitimate professional fees and that he had no knowledge of Epstein's crimes.The deal, however, did not put all questions to rest. Around the same time, the Senate Finance Committee, led by Senator Ron Wyden, released documents showing Black paid Epstein far more than originally known—over $150 million between 2012 and 2017—sparking deeper concerns that such vast sums may have indirectly financed Epstein's operations. The revelations intensified scrutiny not only of Black's judgment but also of whether banks and institutions involved properly flagged or investigated the transactions. While the $62 million settlement resolved matters with the Virgin Islands, it left lingering doubts about the true nature of Black's relationship with Epstein and whether full accountability was ever reached.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.com

In July 2023, billionaire Leon Black, co-founder of Apollo Global Management, agreed to pay roughly $62.5 million to the U.S. Virgin Islands to resolve potential claims tied to his financial dealings with Jeffrey Epstein. The USVI had been pursuing Epstein's estate and associates for enabling or benefiting from his trafficking network, and Black was facing scrutiny over large payments made to Epstein's companies for so-called “financial advice.” The settlement gave Black immunity from criminal liability in the USVI and ended the possibility of a lawsuit there, though it did not include an admission of wrongdoing. Black has consistently said the payments were legitimate professional fees and that he had no knowledge of Epstein's crimes.The deal, however, did not put all questions to rest. Around the same time, the Senate Finance Committee, led by Senator Ron Wyden, released documents showing Black paid Epstein far more than originally known—over $150 million between 2012 and 2017—sparking deeper concerns that such vast sums may have indirectly financed Epstein's operations. The revelations intensified scrutiny not only of Black's judgment but also of whether banks and institutions involved properly flagged or investigated the transactions. While the $62 million settlement resolved matters with the Virgin Islands, it left lingering doubts about the true nature of Black's relationship with Epstein and whether full accountability was ever reached.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-epstein-chronicles--5003294/support.

The Senate Finance Committee hosted a hearing on the importance of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement. Chad Smith has more.

Newt talks with Brian Blase, president of Paragon Health Institute and former special assistant to the President for Economic Policy at the White House's National Economic Council. Their discussion centers on the rising cost of healthcare in the United States, a pressing issue that Blase recently addressed before the Senate Finance Committee. Blase explains the mission of the Paragon Health Institute, which he founded to fill a void in the free market community by analyzing government healthcare programs and developing policy solutions that expand choice and market competition. Their conversation highlights significant issues such as fraud and corruption in government healthcare programs, with examples of the massive fraud in Minnesota and improper enrollments in Obamacare. Blase emphasizes the need for reform in Medicare payment policies and the importance of consumer control over healthcare financing to reduce costs. They conclude their discussion with a call for transparency in healthcare pricing.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

President Donald Trump really, really, really hates wind and solar power. He made sure to make that point very clear during a Cabinet meeting last week, where he ranted about windmills for…way too long. At the end of August, the Trump team ordered construction be stopped on a 4-billion-dollar wind farm project off the coast of Rhode Island that was nearly finished. The administration alluded vaguely to national security threats, suggesting, among other things, that wind farms could be used to launch drone attacks on the U.S. None of this is good. Not just for, you know, preventing the very worst outcomes of climate change that could put billions of lives at risk and alter the very nature of human existence. But also for Americans dealing with spiraling energy bills. So we spoke to Bill McKibben, environmentalist and author of a new book, Here Comes The Sun: A Last Chance for the Climate and a Fresh Chance for Civilization, about climate change, to help us feel more optimistic about the future of the Earth.And in headlines, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. vs. the Senate Finance Committee, and former Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has some thoughts on how we got here.Show Notes:Check out Bill's new book – wwnorton.com/books/Here-Comes-the-Sun/Call Congress – 202-224-3121Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcastFollow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday