Deadly Gaza Aid Chaos, Trump’s Epstein Reversal, Deportations to Eswatini, Weather Cuts, AI Expansion, and Downtown LA Struggles

At least 20 Palestinians die in a stampede at a Gaza food distribution site, with conflicting accounts of what triggered the deadly panic. Meanwhile, President Trump shocks his own supporters by dismissing demands to release Jeffrey Epstein’s client list, calling it a “Democrat hoax.” The U.S. sends migrants from Jamaica and Cuba to Eswatini under new third-country deportation deals. California’s National Weather Service faces dangerous staffing cuts as wildfire season intensifies. San Francisco and San Jose emerge as national leaders in AI innovation, while Los Angeles ranks close behind. And downtown LA businesses call for help to recover from immigration raids, tariffs, and pandemic-related losses. Listen for these stories and more from LA Times Studios.