Laura Smitherman

Supervising Producer, Justice

[Erin Burnett OutFront @OutFrontCNN]

CNN’s @KFILE reveals the man leading the hantavirus response in the U.S. is a specialist in penile implants with little public health experience and hosted a podcast called “Erection Connection.”

[Alayna Treene @alaynatreene]

A good look at how Saturday night unfolded for the intensely private First Lady, who had not previously experienced a shooting like that, from @betsy_klein

Security had long been top of mind for Melania Trump, given the three prior assassination attempts on her husband's life. Trump acknowledged this weekend that the experience was a bit traumatic for her

https://t.co/BiGaJcOIYn

[Paula Reid @PaulaReidCNN]

Acting Attorney General Blanche traveled to FL on Monday where he met w/new prosecutor handling investigation into former CIA director & Trump critic John Brennan. In his first few weeks on the job, Blanche has tried to show Trump he can deliver on what others could not:
https://t.co/ANDXiJVNwu @caseyagannon

[CNN @CNN]

FBI Director Kash Patel has filed a $250M defamation suit against The Atlantic over a story detailing allegations of excessive drinking and unexplained absences.

The Atlantic called the suit "meritless." https://t.co/8rCOCZmnzv

[Kaitlan Collins @kaitlancollins]

I asked President Trump why he's fighting with the Pope.

Trump: "I have to do what's right. The Pope has to understand that. Very simple, I have nothing against the Pope. His brother is MAGA all the way..."

So why are you fighting with him?

Trump: "I'm not fighting with him. The Pope made a statement. He says Iran can have a nuclear weapon."

He didn't say that.

[MJ Lee @mj_lee]

We set out to tell the story of a Jeffrey Epstein survivor -- the abuse, including the before and after; their deep fear of law enforcement; what they found when they started looking through the Epstein files.

Please watch (w/ @NickyGRobertson and team)
https://t.co/bUUhhIQt3q

[Kaitlan Collins @kaitlancollins]

CNN's Tom Foreman analyzed roughly two thousand videos of Jeffrey Epstein released by the Justice Department. Here's what they showed.

[Kaitlan Collins @kaitlancollins]

It appears as if Trump has deleted his post portraying himself as Jesus after facing some backlash from his own supporters.

[Paula Reid @PaulaReidCNN]

Pam Bondi's sudden departure from DOJ will not deter lawmakers from seeking her testimony on the Epstein files. I joined @Boris_Sanchez and @brikeilarcnn with the latest.

[Kaitlan Collins @kaitlancollins]

Trump this a.m.

[Paula Reid @PaulaReidCNN]

Today, in one of the most closely watched cases of the term, SCOTUS sent a challenge to Colorado’s ban on “conversion therapy” back to the lower courts for them to apply a new standard. This has created a lot of confusion, but I will explain here in 60 seconds:

[Paula Reid @PaulaReidCNN]

Will we ever get to see more Epstein docs? CNN has learned some lawmakers are considering new legislation to force DOJ to release docs withheld. FULL STORY: https://t.co/wfkFoXjryN w/@AnnieGrayerCNN @kpolantz @Tierney_Megan

[Kaitlan Collins @kaitlancollins]

I asked the White House about Secretary Hegseth’s comment where he criticized reporting on US troop deaths, saying, “When a few drones get through or tragic things happen, it's front page news. I get it. the press only wants to make the president look bad, but try for once to report the reality.”

[Paula Reid @PaulaReidCNN]

Exclusive: Trump's one-time weaponization chief Ed Martin expected to depart Justice Department in coming weeks. w/ @caseyagannon
https://t.co/zKCbDSXBAV

[MJ Lee @mj_lee]

New: Lawyers representing victims of Jeffrey Epstein are asking judges to force the Justice Department to take down the Epstein files.

The failure to properly redact victims’ information has triggered an “unfolding emergency," they say. https://t.co/uxC98tDOk2

[MJ Lee @mj_lee]

New: Jeffrey Epstein survivors are waiting in the dark for the DOJ's release of the Epstein files.

They spoke to me about what it's been like to process the disclosures, never knowing what's next.

The photos have been especially hard, some of them say.
https://t.co/UXTZqsCITW

[Acyn @Acyn]

Britzky: I spoke with one enlisted soldier in a combat arms unit who told me that shortly after the secretary’s remarks, her noncommissioned officer made a comment to her that “all you women are getting out now.” She told me, “I want nothing to do with the military after this.”

[Brianna Keilar @brikeilarcnn]

https://t.co/fR1jCCskp0

[Daniel Dale @ddale8]

Here's a fact check of 18 of the false claims President Trump made in his lie-filled interview on "60 Minutes" last night: https://t.co/OYyyfdzoju

[Asma Khalid @asmamk]

Last Show! Join us live on the radio on Here & Now 📻 🎙️

It has been such a privilege to bring you the news at NPR all these years. Thanks for putting your trust in me. If has never been lost on me that trust is earned not given.