The release of the files in the federal investigation into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein is dividing President Trump's base. The Free Press' Olivia Reingold joins CBS News 24/7 to dive into the debate.

Washington

Recent developments have highlighted growing divisions within President Trump's MAGA base, particularly over the handling of the Epstein files and concerns about economic affordability. Georgia Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene has faced criticism from Trump after demanding the release of the files, reflecting broader skepticism and distrust among some supporters.

Reporting from a strongly pro-Trump district in Georgia, journalist Olivia Reingold found that many voters are now identifying more with 'America first' than MAGA, citing dissatisfaction with Trump's approach to both the Epstein files and economic promises. Greene's public criticism of the administration's economic record has resonated with voters across party lines, signaling a potential realignment within the Republican base.

Is Trump's MAGA base showing fractures?

The Epstein files are just one issue that's divided President Trump's MAGA base. Georgia Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene has been the target of fierce attacks by President Trump, who called her a traitor over her demands to release the files. Our Nicole Killian asked Taylor Greene if she expects the administration will release the full files. I'll only believe it when I see it. And that's how I feel about government in every capacity. And I think that's where Americans are too. They no longer trust what they are told in some meme or some red meat rant speech or some ad they see from a candidate or a politician. I'll believe it when I see it. And I really hope the Trump administration does the right thing. So is the president's base showing fractures? The headline in the free press yesterday, the base is done with MAGA. It wants America first. Senator Olivia Reingold, who wrote that piece, joins us now live. So Olivia, is Representative Taylor Greene right? Is this Epstein case causing a MAGA base to no longer trust what they're being told? So obviously this whole debacle has caused a huge rift between the president and Marjorie Taylor Greene herself. But yes, it has also caused a rift within the party. And where I went is it is the reddest congressional district in Georgia. So that said, you know, the national findings are limited, but at least, you know, we went there because this is really a loyal MAGA base here. And what I found is that a lot of the voters, either over affordability or this issue of the Epstein files and the way that President Trump slow walked the release of them, has been huge cause for concern. And a lot of them actually are identifying as America first over MAGA when I spoke with them. Yeah, that's interesting. So what do people tell you about what's making them split from MAGA? What do they mean by America first? So I think it's fair to say that most were a little conspiratorial, but not all. You know, and when I say that they have deep concerns about the Epstein files, which many people do, but they are very concerned about the possibility that, you know, Israel infiltrated the whole dynamic and can help explain why President Trump slow walked the release of the files. But not all of them really fell into that that bucket, you know, which aligns with Marjorie Taylor Greene's past. Many were just concerned about affordability. They said that President Trump promised that he would bring prices down, and that is just not what they are experiencing. You know, I spoke to people like a 19-year-old college student who has a goal for himself that by the time he's 26, he wants to be able to have a home and start a family. And he says that even in his small town in Georgia, there's just, he doesn't see any way for that to be possible. Yeah, and to your point, President Trump calls the affordable crisis a democratic hoax. So how are Americans in his base reacting to his remarks? Probably just like that college student. Yeah, exactly. And just like Marjorie Taylor Greene, who said, you know, when she's asked about this, she said, I go to the grocery store. And actually, recently, she has been getting a little more personal. You know, in the past 24 or 48 hours, she gave an interview in which she said, I go to the grocery store. I don't think President Trump is going to the grocery store pointing out, you know, his wealth. And so she's kind of, this is a very interesting realignment in which she is one of the only members of the Republican Party who's willing to really call out the state of the economy. And it's resonating with a lot of voters across the aisle, too. Olivia Reingold. Olivia, thank you.

For the first time, Amnesty International has accused Hamas and its allies of committing crimes against humanity, following an investigation into the 7 October 2023 attacks on Israel. The organization found that 1,221 people were killed and said the mass killing of civilians amounted to extermination.

Jerusalem

Middle East Conflict

Amnesty accuses Hamas of 'crimes against humanity' for Oct. 7 attack

The “Architects of AI” were named Time's person of the year Thursday, with the magazine citing 2025 as when the potential of artificial intelligence “roared into view” with no turning back.

Rise of AI

Time magazine names 'Architects of AI' as person of the year for 2025

Message board website Reddit filed a lawsuit on Friday (December 12) asking Australia's High Court to overturn the country's social media ban for people under 16 as well as its inclusion in it, calling the law an infringement of free political expression.

Council of the City of Sydney

Reddit sues to overturn Australian social media ban

As tensions rise with Venezuela, U.S. President Donald Trump said land operations could start "pretty soon." Sources tell CBS News the administration is also planning more tanker seizures.

Trump says Venezuela land operations could begin 'pretty soon'

One day after capturing an oil tanker off Venezuela's coast, the U.S. has sanctioned three of Nicolas Maduro's nephews, along with six other oil tankers.

Trump ramps up pressure on Maduro with new sanctions

The EU has decided to keep the assets of the Russian Central Bank immobilised for the foreseeable future. The ban, which is based on a provision for economic emergencies, pushes back against external attempts to release the €210 billion in assets before Ukraine is compensated.

Moscow

Ukraine Invasion

EU triggers emergency clause to indefinitely immobilise Russian assets

Nobel Peace Prize laureate and Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado said she planned to take her award back to Venezuela, but declined to say when she would return to her home country after leaving in great secrecy to receive the honor.

Caracas

Nobel peace laureate Machado vows to take award home to Venezuela

Japanese authorities are assessing damage after a 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck northern Japan, followed by multiple aftershocks. In response, officials have issued a warning about the possibility of a megaquake, defined as a magnitude 8.0 or higher event.

Tokyo

Japan alerts citizens about possible megaquake

A Maryland judge has ordered the Trump administration to immediately release Kilmar Abrego Garcia from ICE custody. Abrego Garcia was wrongfully deported to El Salvador and was later detained for potential deportation to another country.

Judge orders Kilmar Abrego Garcia's immediate release from ICE custody

About 500,000 people are fleeing renewed clashes on the Thailand-Cambodia border. Over a dozen were killed as fighting shatters a US-Malaysia-brokered peace deal amid a decades-old temple land dispute.

Samraong

Half a million flee as Thailand-Cambodia border clashes escalate

The U.S. has seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela, President Donald Trump said on Wednesday, ratcheting up tensions with Caracas.

Trump confirms seizing of Venezuelan oil tanker

The U.S. House has approved a bill to end all Caesar Act sanctions on Syria, sparking cautious optimism in Damascus as the measure moves closer to becoming law.

U.S. House votes to lift Caesar Act sanctions on Syria

Myanmar's military bombs a hospital in western Rakhine state, at least 31 people are killed and dozens injured.

Rakhine

Air strike in Myanmar killed at least 31 people, dozens injured

The U.S. military seized a large oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela. Attorney General Pam Bondi said the ship had been used to violate sanctions on oil from Venezuela and Iran.

U.S. seizes oil tanker off Venezuela coast

The daughter of Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado has accepted the Nobel Peace Prize on her mother's behalf in Oslo, Norway. Machado, who lives in hiding in Venezuela, is set to make an address on Thursday.

Oslo

Venezuela's Machado awarded Nobel Peace Prize in absentia

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is commenting on potential elections in Ukraine under certain conditions. Former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine John Herbst joins CBS News with more on the war against Russia.

Kyiv

Zelenskyy prepared to hold elections after Trump questions motive

A renewed outbreak of fighting between Thailand and Cambodia has derailed a US-brokered peace agreement, with cross-border shelling and air raids forcing more than half a million civilians to flee their homes.

Bangkok

Border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia flares up again

U.S. immigration agents used pepper spray against protesters in Minneapolis on Tuesday as residents blocked the officers’ vehicles and forced them to leave the area.

Minneapolis

Minneapolis protests erupt over ICE operation targeting Somalis

In Australia, millions of kids' social media profiles are going dark, as the country's new social media ban takes effect for anyone under 16. Jo Ling Kent reports.

Canberra

Australia's social media ban takes effect for kids under 16

President Trump, in recent months, has dismissed concerns about affordability, but this evening, in the battleground state of Pennsylvania, he is focusing on the crisis and touting his administration's efforts to lower the cost of living. Nancy Cordes has more.

Pennsylvania

Trump tries to flip the script on affordability

Dozens of protesters blocked a highway near Tel Aviv to demonstrate against moves by the Israeli government to force some ultra-Orthodox Jews into mandatory military service, something they are currently exempt from so they can study the Torah full time.

Tel Aviv-Yafo

Bill over ultra-Orthodox military conscription sparks protests in Israel

President Trump has told Politico that Nicolas Maduro's "days are numbered" in Venezuela. Political strategists Kevin Sheridan and Hyma Moore join with analysis.

Trump says Maduro’s “days are numbered”

The FBI has released a new photo of former Olympian Ryan Wedding, whom the bureau’s director has described as a “modern day iteration of Pablo Escobar.” The ex-skier and snowboarder remains at large as agents continue their search.

FBI releases new photo of alleged drug kingpin Ryan Wedding

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met Pope Leo XIV and Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni in Rome on Tuesday (December 9), meanwhile voicing his refusal to surrender territory to Moscow despite pressure from Washington for territorial concessions.

Rome

Zelenskyy seeks backing from Pope Leo XIV, Italian PM Meloni

A federal judge said Tuesday (December 9) that the Department of Justice can unseal the Ghislaine Maxwell sex trafficking case records. CBS News' Scott MacFarlane has more details.

Judge says DOJ can unseal Ghislaine Maxwell trafficking case records

Prosecutors on Monday (December 8) released new evidence seized from Luigi Mangione on the day of his arrest. He is accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson a year ago and has pleaded not guilty.

Manhattan

New evidence introduced in Luigi Mangione case

The EU antitrust enforcer has opened an investigation into the U.S. tech giant over its use of online content to power its AI services, a move that threatens to ratchet up transatlantic relations.

Brussels

EU Commission opens probe into Google over AI

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Trump gives Nvidia green light to sell H200 chips to China

Ukraine is set to present a revised peace plan to the United States on Tuesday following President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s talks in London with the leaders of France, Germany, and Britain.

London

Ukraine to share revised peace plan with U.S., Zelenskiy says

The International Criminal Court Tuesday handed down a sentence of 20 years to a Sudanese militia leader for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during the country's civil war two decades ago.

Breakdown