‘Depths Of Cringe’: Critics Slam Karoline Leavitt Over ‘Disgraceful’ Trump Demand
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Watch MAGA Brains Break When Jordan Klepper Talks About Donald Trump And Jeffrey Epstein
“The Daily Show” aired a montage of past exchanges with Donald Trump supporters about late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The MAGA supporters expressed outrage over Epstein’s crimes, but then backpedaled when Klepper pointed out his ties to Trump. “I’m sure we can expect a very rational response … or maybe not,” Klepper asked.
The MAGA supporters expressed outrage over Epstein’s crimes, but then backpedaled when Klepper pointed out his ties to Trump.
One woman agreed she could “never support someone who associates with somebody like Epstein,” only to fume when Klepper pointed out the Trump-Epstein link, likening him to a “fake fucker” who thinks “you’re a journalist, you’re not.” Klepper calmly replied, “I’m not.”
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The clip underscored what Klepper described as a clear “double standard” among Trump’s base, who are now demanding the release of documents on Epstein, which is being stalled by the Trump administration.
“So how will this group react if the Epstein files are released and Trump is in there?” Klepper asked. “I’m sure we can expect a very rational response … or maybe not.”
Watch here:
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Gloomy times ahead for European political advertising
Meta announced it will discontinue all political, electoral, and social issue advertising on its platforms in response to a European Union regulation that is set to take effect in October 2025. Google made a similar announcement in November 2024, signaling a major shift in the digital advertising landscape for political campaigns across Europe. The platforms have decided to opt out because the TTPA outlines strict obligations that result not only in high compliance costs, but also in the need to disclose many practices to a broad range of people – while also minimising the effectiveness of advertising per se. Political candidates or NGOs will likely have to spend more to reach their intended audience, as they’ll need to target wider, less specific demographics. Personalised advertising would be de facto abolished, as the use of personal data, such as ethnic origin or political opinions, is prohibited for profiling and targeting purposes. Estonia and Austria abstained from the vote on theTTPA (with possibly anticipating the unintended consequences to emerge), anticipating the beginning of the beginning to reach new audiences.
Last week, Meta announced that it will discontinue all political, electoral, and social issue advertising on its platforms in response to a European Union regulation that is set to take effect in October 2025.
Google made a similar announcement in November 2024, signaling a major shift in the digital advertising landscape for political campaigns across Europe.
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The Transparency and Targeting of Political Advertising (TTPA), like many well-intentioned regulations, set out to address real challenges, such as foreign interference in European elections and the need to harmonise fragmented political advertising rules.
However, as it developed, its scope expanded significantly, leading to unintended consequences – not theoretical or distant ones, but immediate and tangible impacts affecting a broad range of actors.
In practice, this means that political parties, candidates, and policy-focused organisations (such as think tanks, non-governmental organisations, and civil society groups) will no longer be able to use sponsored, personalised advertisements on Google and Meta platforms to reach their audiences starting in October.
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This restriction applies not only during election periods but also in any instance where the intent is to influence legislative or regulatory outcomes at the EU, national, or even regional level.
Why the platforms opted out
The platforms have decided to opt out because the TTPA outlines strict obligations that result not only in high compliance costs, but also in the need to disclose many practices to a broad range of people – while also minimising the effectiveness of advertising per se.
The TTPA provisions requiring political ads to carry so-called “transparency labels” are not the issue – many EU member states already require candidates to disclose sponsorship. Nor are the requirements to block sponsored campaigns from third countries during the three months prior to elections; in today’s context, that may be a strict but necessary measure.
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What is problematic is that these “transparency labels” must be accompanied by “easily retrievable transparency notes,” which would disclose not only the sponsor (fair), and the election or referendum to which they are linked (also fair), but also the amounts paid and the use of targeting techniques.
Advertising platforms would also be required to disclose their internal advertising policies and retain and share this information for seven years (Article 19, TTPA).
Targeted advertising has long been on the European Commission’s agenda, and with the TTPA, it becomes a reality, specifically under Article 18. Targeted political ads will only be allowed if users give separate, explicit consent for their data to be used for political advertising (consent that can be withdrawn or modified at any time).
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Moreover, personalised advertising would be de facto abolished, as the use of personal data, such as ethnic origin or political opinions, is prohibited for profiling and targeting purposes. In other words, users would be shown a broad mix of ads, including ones that do not align with their political views.
As a result, political candidates or NGOs will likely have to spend more to reach their intended audience, as they’ll need to target wider, less specific demographics.
Additional obligations for Very Large Online Platforms (VLOPs) include record-keeping requirements (Article 9) and the obligation to share those records with a broad range of stakeholders – journalists, civil society organisations, researchers, and even political competitors of those who ordered sponsored advertising (Article 17).
What civil society groups and EU countries may have overlooked
What many civil society groups and EU member states may have overlooked is that the TTPA’s definition of political advertising extends far beyond electoral campaigns.
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According to Article 3, section 2, it also applies to any advertisement “designed to influence the outcome of an election or referendum, voting behaviour or a legislative or regulatory process, at Union, national, regional or local level”.
In other words, any advertisement – from environmental groups, civil society organisations, or industry representatives – intended to support or oppose legislation or regulation, whether at the EU, national, or even municipal level, falls under the scope of the TTPA.
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There is a limited exemption under Article 18, which allows NGOs to communicate with existing subscribers, members, or former members without being subject to the regulation – but, in practice, this is a minor exemption, limiting civil society groups from reaching new audiences.
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Notably, back in March 2024, only digitally advanced Estonia and Austria abstained from the vote on the TTPA (with Hungary voting against), possibly anticipating the unintended consequences now beginning to emerge.
What these changes mean for Europe
Political candidates and advocacy organisations will likely be forced to shift toward traditional media campaigns, which are typically more expensive and less efficient.
Reaching new audiences will become more complicated, and many will need to rely on organic growth or find workarounds to expand their user base – without promoting issue-specific content through paid ads.
Meanwhile, the actors that often pose the greatest security risks to Europe – those with opaque funding and questionable ties to third countries – normally already possess large user databases and employ flexible, tech-savvy outreach strategies.
These include leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) tools and influencers with established followings, allowing them to continue reaching European audiences with little disruption.
Trump says he ‘doesn’t know’ why Jeffrey Epstein ‘stole’ girls from Mar-a-Lago
Donald Trump said he ‘didn’t know’ why girls were being taken from his Mar-a-Lago resort by Jeffrey Epstein. The US president was queried by an ABC journalist on comments he made earlier this week that the disgraced financier ‘stole’ women who
Taking questions from the press on Thursday (31 July), the US president was queried by an ABC journalist on comments he made earlier this week that the disgraced financier “stole” women who worked at the beach club spa.
Asked if he knew why this happened, Trump slammed the broadcaster as a “fake news” channel, before denying any knowledge.
He said: “No, I don’t really know why, but I said, if he’s taken anybody from Mar-a-Lago, he’s hiring or whatever he’s doing, I didn’t like it. And we threw him out because we didn’t want him there.”
Middle East updates: German air force begins Gaza aid drops
The German military has begun airdropping humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul will hold talks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the occupied West Bank. U.S. special presidential envoy Steve Witkoff is visiting Gaza. UK PM Keir Starmer has said unless Israel takes significant steps toward peace, the UK will recognize a Palestinian state.. German air force transport planes have reportedly dropped 34 pallets with a combined total of 14 tons of food and medical supplies over the besieged Palestinian enclave.. Germany to contribute a further €5 million ($5.7m) to the United Nations’ World Food Program (WFP) to support the operation of bakeries and soup kitchens in the Gaza strip. The United Nations says Gaza needs some 62,000 tons of aid a month in order for inhabitants to survive. The German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) cautioned that airdraps only have a limited effect on the starving people of Gaza. The U.N. has called the situation in Gaza “a terrible thing” in response to remarks from far-right Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene.
Welcome to DW’s coverage of developments in the ongoing crisis in the Middle East on Friday, August 1. You can catch up on Thursday’s developments here.
What’s behind UK foreign policy change on Palestinian state?
British PM Keir Starmer has said unless Israel takes significant steps toward peace, the UK will recognize a Palestinian state.
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He’s using the “inalienable right of the Palestinian people” as a diplomatic tool.
Read the full story on Keir Starmer’s change of position on Palestinian statehood.
German military begins Gaza aid airdrops
The German military, the Bundeswehr, has begun airdropping humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip, the Defense Ministry in Berlin confirmed on Friday.
German air force transport planes have reportedly dropped 34 pallets with a combined total of 14 tons of food and medical supplies over the besieged Palestinian enclave.
According to the United Nations, Gaza needs some 62,000 tons of aid a month in order for inhabitants to survive.
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Amid mounting international criticism of its conduct in Gaza, which has resulted in increasing reports of mass starvation, Israel has been allowing aid to enter the territory via land and air since Sunday.
Regional neighbors Jordan and the United Arab Emirates have been leading the airdrops, with Germany also contributing two aircraft operating from a Jordanian base.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) nevertheless cautioned that airdrops only have a limited effect. “Food and medication is lacking in Gaza,” he said. “For many people, including for many children, it’s about sheer survival.”
Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul (CDU), who is currently visiting the region, also warned that airdrops cannot replace land deliveries when it comes to ensuring that vital aid reaches those who need it most.
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“That’s why we’re calling urgently on the Israeli government to allow secure access [to Gaza] for the United Nations and international aid organizations and to facilitate secure distribution [of aid],” he said.
US special envoy Witkoff to visit Gaza
US President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, is set to travel to the Gaza Strip on Friday, where he will observe the humanitarian situation on the ground and inspect aid deliveries alongside the US ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee.
“The special envoy and the ambassador will brief the president immediately after their visit to approve a final plan for food and aid distribution into the region,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Thursday.
Witkoff’s visit to the region comes after President Trump called the situation in Gaza “a terrible thing” in response to remarks from far-right Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene who on Tuesday called Israel’s offensive in the Palestinian enclave a “genocide.”
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“Oh, it’s terrible what occurring there,” Trump told reporters. “People are very hungry.”
Shortly after Witkoff’s arrival in Jerusalem on Thursday, Trump posted on his Truth Social platform: “The fastest way to end the Humanitarian Crises in Gaza is for Hamas to SURRENDER AND RELEASE THE HOSTAGES!!”
Hamas militants took 251 Israelis hostage during their attack on October 7, 2023, and the militant group is still believed to be holding around 50 of them. Only around 20 are still believed to be alive.
Germany to provide additional €5 million for humanitarian aid in Gaza
Germany will contribute a further €5 million ($5.7m) to the United Nations’ World Food Program (WFP) to support the operation of bakeries and soup kitchens in the Gaza Strip.
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The announcement was made by German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul (CDU) while visiting UN aid facilities in Jerusalem on Thursday, where he also announced the opening of a new field hospital in Gaza.
The individual, pre-built parts of the field hospital reportedly arrived in Israel in April. The facility is expected to be erected in the north of the Gaza Strip, where it will offer basic healthcare services.
According to the AFP news agency, this is the first German humanitarian aid on the ground to the Palestinian territories since the start of the current conflict.
Germany’s Wadephul to visit occupied West Bank
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul (CDU) will visit the Israeli-occupied West Bank on Friday where he will hold talks with Palestinian leader Mahmous Abbas.
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Increasing Israeli settler violence against Palestinians is expected to be high on the agenda in Ramallah, as is a non-binding resolution passed by the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, last week supporting the total annexation of the West Bank by Israel.
After meeting with leading Israeli politicians in Jerusalem on Thursday, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Isaac Herzog and Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, Wadephul warned that “Israel runs the risk of becoming increasingly isolated internationally” over what he called a “humanitarian disaster” in Gaza which is “beyond imagination.”
Welcome to our coverage
Hello and welcome to our coverage of developments in the continuing conflict in the Middle East on Friday, August 1.
After warning Israel on Thursday to do more to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip or face increasing international isolation, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul will today travel to the occupied West Bank for talks with Mahmoud Abbas, president of the Palestinian Authority.
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Elsewhere, US President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, is also in the region and is set to visit Gaza alongside the US ambassor to Israel, Mike Huckabee.
Meanwhile, there are renewed reports of Palestinians being shot and killed by Israeli troops while trying to access food and aid.
And if you missed anything, you can catch up on yesterday’s developments here.
Witkoff, Huckabee Visit Aid Distribution Site In Gaza As Humanitarian Crisis Worsens
U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff visited southern Gaza on Friday during international outrage over starvation, shortages and deadly chaos near aid distribution sites. The Israeli military says it has only fired warning shots at people who approach its forces. Human Rights Watch called it “a flawed, militarized aid distribution system that has turned aid distributions into regular bloodbaths” Israel’S military and prime minister’ office did not respond to request for comment on the report.“We were met on the road by tens of thousands of hungry and desperate people who directly offloaded everything from the backs of our trucks,” said Olga Cherevko, an OCHA staff member.
Witkoff and U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee toured one of Gaza Humanitarian Foundation’s distribution sites in Rafah, Gaza’s southernmost city, according to an official involved with the visit.
The official requested anonymity because he was not authorized to brief the media.
All four of the group’s distribution sites are in zones controlled by the Israeli military and throughout their months in operation have become flashpoints of desperation, where starving people scramble for scarce aid. Hundreds have been killed by either gunfire or trampling.
The Israeli military says it has only fired warning shots at people who approach its forces, and GHF says its armed contractors have only used pepper spray or fired warning shots to prevent deadly crowding.
Witkoff’s visit comes a week after U.S. officials walked away from ceasefire talks in Qatar, blaming Hamas and pledging to seek other ways to rescue Israeli hostages and make Gaza safe.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Thursday that he was sent to craft a plan to boost food and aid deliveries as part of an effort “to save lives and end this crisis,” while Trump wrote on social media that the fastest way to end the crisis would be for Hamas to surrender and release hostages.
International organizations have said Gaza has been on the brink of famine for the past two years. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, the leading international authority on food crises, said recent developments, including a complete blockade on aid for 2 1/2 months, mean the “worst-case scenario of famine is currently playing out in Gaza.”
Though the flow of aid has resumed, including via airdrops, the amount getting into Gaza remains far lower than what aid organizations say is needed. A security breakdown in the territory has made it nearly impossible to safely deliver food to starving Palestinians, much of the limited aid entering is horded and later sold at exorbitant prices.
In a report issued Friday, Human Rights Watch called it “a flawed, militarized aid distribution system that has turned aid distributions into regular bloodbaths.”
Israel’s military and prime minister’s office did not respond to request for comment on the report.
A July 30 video published Thursday by the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs showed an aid convoy driving past a border crossing as gunfire ricocheted off the ground near where crowds congregated.
“We were met on the road by tens of thousands of hungry and desperate people who directly offloaded everything from the backs of our trucks,” said Olga Cherevko, an OCHA staff member.
The war between Israel and Hamas started when Hamas attacked southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing around 1,200 people and abducting 251 others. They still hold 50 hostages, including around 20 believed to be alive. Most of the others have been released in ceasefires or other deals.
Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed more than 60,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. Its count doesn’t distinguish between militants and civilians. The ministry operates under the Hamas government. The U.N. and other international organizations see it as the most reliable source of data on casualties.
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