A federal judge dismissed Donald Trump’s $10 billion defamation suit against The Wall Street Journal and Rupert Murdoch over a report about a letter allegedly linked to Trump and Epstein, ruling the claims did not meet the actual malice standard.

The court’s order follows a procedural history: the case was initially dismissed in April, an amended complaint allowed in May, and a final dismissal with prejudice in October 2026.

The Journal’s report described a hand-drawn letter with the line, ‘Happy Birthday—and may every day be another wonderful secret,’ as part of its Epstein-related coverage.

Impact of the ruling extends beyond the case, sustaining public discussion of Epstein-related revelations and shaping investigations, with ongoing attention from lawmakers and media.

Separately, the DOJ is seeking to separately store Alaska voting ballots to probe potential voter confusion amid a Senate race.

A DHS hacking incident reportedly exposed contact details of more than 41,000 employees, including ICE officers.

The story sits within broader Trump-related legal and political developments around the 2026 midterms, including House Oversight disclosures.

Trump has labeled certain imports as national security risks and directed agencies to report back within six months without imposing immediate tariffs.

The Associated Press is cited as the source of reporting, with timing noted as roughly an hour before access to the article.

The AP holds the copyright to the article.

Tensions with Cuba continued as the U.S. expelled a Cuban diplomat following a UN dispute involving allegations of a Cuban diplomat pushing a U.S. diplomat.

In Florida, Angie Nixon is challenging incumbent Ashley Moody in a Senate race, mounting a final campaign push in Miami-Dade County.