WH on Epstein Files, ICE Release Order, Last Penny and more

Summary of WH on Epstein Files, ICE Release Order, Last Penny and more

by CNN Podcasts

6m•November 12, 2025
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Overview of WH on Epstein Files, ICE Release Order, Last Penny and more

This episode of CNN’s daily roundup (hosted by Afoma D.K.) highlights the five top stories for Wednesday, November 12: newly released Epstein-related documents and the White House response; the possible end of the government shutdown and related congressional actions; a federal court order affecting ICE arrests in the Chicago area; a court appearance in a California missing‑child case; and the retirement of the U.S. penny. The episode also plugs CNN’s tech podcast Terms of Service (one‑year anniversary) and the new CNN streaming subscription.

Key stories and takeaways

1) New Epstein estate documents and White House response

  • Democrats on the House Oversight Committee released 20,000 private emails from Jeffrey Epstein’s estate that mention Donald Trump and associates over the past 15 years; Republicans on the committee released another 20,000 documents shortly afterward.
  • White House press secretary (named in the transcript as Caroline Levitt) said the emails “prove absolutely nothing other than the fact that President Trump did nothing wrong,” and called some leaks selective and intended to embarrass the president.
  • The committee subpoenaed the estate earlier in its investigation. Committee Democrats and Republicans disagree on the significance of the documents; Rep. Robert Garcia (a Democratic member referenced in the report) disputed the White House’s characterization of selective leaking.
  • Notable context/corrections: Jeffrey Epstein died by suicide in 2019. The transcript contains a factual error implying Virginia Giuffre died by suicide; she is not known to have. The episode emphasizes that Trump has denied wrongdoing and called the story a “hoax” on Truth Social.

2) Government shutdown — stopgap funding and House politics

  • The Senate passed a short-term continuing resolution; the White House indicated President Trump was expected to sign a stopgap bill to end the shutdown that night.
  • House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries criticized the deal and said Democrats would try to bring a bill to the floor to extend Affordable Care Act subsidies for three years — an approach unlikely to pass given current dynamics.
  • Representative Adelita Grijalva (Democrat from Arizona) was sworn into Congress after a 50‑day delay; Speaker Mike Johnson had withheld swearing members while the House was out of session during the shutdown.

3) Federal judge orders release of some ICE arrestees in Chicago area

  • A federal judge ordered that more than 600 people arrested by federal immigration agents be released by noon on November 21.
  • The ruling stems from a lawsuit (filed by the National Immigrant Justice Center and the ACLU) alleging ICE violated a 2022 settlement on warrantless arrests in the Chicago area.
  • DHS warned the decision could endanger public safety and said ICE would continue its operations despite the order.

4) Court appearance in California missing‑child case

  • Ashley Buzzard, the mother of a nine‑year‑old girl who disappeared last month, appeared in court and pleaded not guilty to a false imprisonment charge (a charge stated to be unrelated to her daughter’s disappearance).
  • A social‑media post from an alleged victim (later deleted) said they went to Buzzard’s home to help find the missing girl and that the situation escalated. Buzzard was ordered released on condition she wear a GPS monitor.

5) The U.S. penny is retired

  • The U.S. Mint in Philadelphia struck the final five one‑cent coins, marking the end of routine penny production after more than 230 years.
  • The administration cited production costs making pennies economically impractical. Pennies remain legal tender and about 300 billion pennies remain in circulation.
  • The last five coins are slated to be auctioned as historic items.

Other mentions

  • CNN’s “Terms of Service” podcast (host Claire Duffy) celebrated its one‑year anniversary and discussed AI’s impact on jobs, citing Amazon’s announcement to cut 14,000 employees in part because of expected AI-driven workforce changes.
  • A promo notes CNN’s new all‑access streaming subscription for combined reading, watching, and streaming.

Notable quotes

  • “These emails prove absolutely nothing other than the fact that President Trump did nothing wrong.” — White House press secretary (as cited in the episode).
  • On Truth Social, President Trump called the Epstein document coverage “a hoax,” blaming Democrats.

Bottom line / What to watch next

  • Expect further committee analysis and potential political fallout from the newly released Epstein‑estate documents.
  • Watch for the House vote and the president’s signature to confirm whether the shutdown is officially over, and for any follow-up Democratic measures on ACA subsidies.
  • The ICE‑related court order sets a near‑term deadline (Nov 21) and may prompt further litigation or appeals; follow DHS/ICE statements for operational guidance.
  • The penny retirement is largely symbolic for daily life (coins remain legal tender), but it signals a policy shift in U.S. minting and currency cost considerations.

Note on transcript accuracy

The episode transcript contained a few factual inconsistencies (for example, references that could be read to imply Virginia Giuffre died by suicide). Where possible, this summary corrects or clarifies those points using widely reported facts (e.g., Epstein’s 2019 death).