Today's EPSTEIN story

House committee subpoenas Epstein files

What happened
The House Oversight Committee yesterday issued subpoenas to the Justice Department for documents related to its investigation of Jeffrey Epstein. The Republican-led committee also demanded testimony or files from six former attorneys general, two former FBI directors, former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. The Justice Department's decision last month to withhold much of the subpoenaed information has caused an enduring political headache for President Donald Trump, a former friend of Epstein.

Who said what
The subpoenas showed that "interest in the Epstein files is still running high," even with Congress "on a monthlong break," The Associated Press said. If the Justice Department fails to comply by an Aug. 19 deadline, it could "set up a high-profile clash" between the Trump administration and the GOP-led House over an "issue that has sharply divided Republicans," The New York Times said.

What next?
Oversight Committee Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) was "required" to issue yesterday's subpoenas following a bipartisan vote in a subcommittee last month, prompted by Democrats, Politico said. But the Bill Clinton summons "in particular seems more symbolic than substantive," as no former president has ever "testified to Congress under the compulsion of a subpoena."

Today's SPORTS Story

NFL gets ESPN stake in deal with Disney

What happened
The Walt Disney Co. and National Football League yesterday announced a deal that would give the NFL a 10% stake in Disney's ESPN sports empire and give ESPN ownership of NFL Network and rights to other NFL media properties, notably the fan-favorite RedZone channel.

Who said what
The "tie-up between two of the biggest names in entertainment and sports" takes the "symbiotic relationship between media companies and athletic leagues" up a level, said The Wall Street Journal. ESPN will strengthen its bond with its "most important content provider" as it prepares to launch a new $30-a-month streaming service, while the NFL "gets a piece of a key Disney asset" and "ensures the future" of its two "popular" but isolated channels. RedZone was reportedly "a key component of the deal," The Washington Post said.

The NFL also has distribution deals for certain games with NBC, CBS, Fox, Amazon, Netflix and YouTube, and its stake in ESPN "should raise the question of whether that entity is getting favorable treatment relative to other networks and streamers," Guggenheim Securities analyst Michael Morris told the Journal.

What next?
The "no-cash deal," valued at an estimated $2 billion to $3 billion, is "subject to regulatory approval, which could take nine months or more," The New York Times said. If regulators approve, Disney would own 72% of ESPN, from 80%, and minority stakeholder Hearst would own 20%, from 18%.

It's not all bad

Brush-tailed bettongs have returned to the wild for the first time in a century, with 147 of the marsupials released into Australia's Mount Gibson Wildlife Sanctuary. The Australian Wildlife Conservancy raised the kangaroo-like animals in an adjacent enclosure. After taking steps to manage the population of foxes and other local predators, the conservancy moved the brush-tailed bettongs to the sanctuary. The rewilding is part of a plan to restore native species and protect 5% of Australia's land by 2035.

Under the radar

The gamble of military base slot machines

You might not find a full casino at U.S. military bases, but that doesn't mean gambling isn't happening. In fact, much of it is sanctioned and encouraged by the U.S. armed forces in the form of on-base slot machines. With easy access, gambling addiction in the military has reached critical levels, researchers say, with many service members stationed overseas finding a dangerous solace in these slot machines.

The machines are coordinated by the Army Recreation Machine Program (ARMP) and are located on military bases across the world. (The ARMP runs slot machines for the Army, Navy and Marines, while the Air Force has their own program.) The exact numbers are unclear. Officially, there are "1,889 slot machines in 79 locations abroad, including Korea, Japan and Germany," Neil Gumbs, the general manager of the ARMP's installation program, told Wired. However, the National Council on Problem Gambling claims there are over 3,100 machines.

They "are often found on bases where there is precious little to do," said NPR. This includes the small Indian Ocean island Diego Garcia, where the "Navy runs 52 slot machines." Notably, these slots can be "played by service members as young as 18 — individuals who wouldn't be allowed to enter most casinos in the U.S. before they turn 21."

Not only are these slot machines causing widespread gambling addictions, but "gambling is a blind spot in the military's approach to mental health," said Task & Purpose. Addiction numbers come from unreliable voluntary surveys, and each military branch "treats problem gambling differently, ranging from a mental health issue to a 'crime against society' like prostitution."

On this day

August 6, 1890

William Keppler became the first person executed via electric chair. Keppler, a convicted murderer, was put to death at Auburn Prison in New York. While the electric chair remains controversial due in part to a history of botched executions, it remains an option for death row prisoners in numerous states.

TODAY'S newspaperS

'Suffering in silence'

"Trump's ICE uses new way to split migrant families," with "children detained in separate centers," The New York Times says on Wednesday's front page. Migrants are "caught off guard" as "dormant deportation cases are revived," the Los Angeles Times says. "'Overwhelmed' caregivers face suicidal thoughts" as they are "suffering in silence," USA Today says. "Many are earning more but are in worse financial shape," says The Wall Street Journal. "Israelis briefed on war options" but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is "set on occupying Gaza," says The Washington Post.

► See the newspaper front pages

Tall tale

This is their fight yodel

Opponents of Germany's far-right AfD party are using yodeling as a tool of resistance. During a live television interview in Berlin on Sunday, AfD co-leader Alice Weidel was drowned out by a speaker blasting "Scheiss AfD Jodler" (S--t AfD Yodelers), a protest song recorded in the Alpine style of singing by the activist choir Corner Chor. The music blared for most of the hour-long chat. AfD leaders later claimed Weidel was "victimized" by the tune, said The Guardian.

Morning Report was written and edited by Nadia Croes, Catherine Garcia, Scott Hocker, Anya Jaremko-Greenwold, Justin Klawans, Rafi Schwartz, Peter Weber and Kari Wilkin, with illustrations by Stephen Kelly and Julia Wytrazek.