The Introspective

The week ended with drug policy changes, renewed scrutiny of Epstein ties, and military action abroad.

Trump’s 48th week ended with updates to executive orders, the Jeffrey Epstein files, and the military. Trump signed an executive order reclassifying marijuana as a Schedule 3 drug, placing it in the same category as Tylenol with codeine, testosterone, anabolic steroids, and ketamine.

As the Jeffrey Epstein scandal continues, Democrats on the House Oversight Committee released photos of passports, famous men who associated with the late child sex offender, and text messages recruiting women for Epstein. This comes as the Department of Justice (DOJ) began releasing Epstein-related files Friday.

The U.S. military later launched strikes on ISIS infrastructure in Syria after two American soldiers and a civilian were killed in an attack by the terrorist group. Meanwhile, following a previous report from The Introspective detailing the U.S. seizing an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela, another vessel was seized in international waters as tensions with Latin America continue.

Executive Order and Epstein Files

Trump signed an executive order rescheduling marijuana from a Schedule I drug—substances with “no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse”—to a Schedule III drug, substances with a moderate to low chance of dependence.

“Today I’m pleased to announce that I will be signing an executive order to reschedule marijuana from a Schedule I to a Schedule III controlled substance, with legitimate medical uses,” Trump said, adding, “I probably have received more phone calls on this, on doing what we’re doing—I don’t think I received any calls on the other side of it.”

“We have people begging for me to do this. People who are in great pain,” he continued.

“For decades, this action has been requested by American patients suffering from extreme pain, incurable diseases, aggressive cancers, seizure disorders, neurological problems and more.”

More than 24 states have legalized marijuana for recreational use, and 40 states allow medical use.

At the same time, as the Jeffrey Epstein scandal continues, Democrats on the House Oversight Committee released photos of passports, famous men who associated with the late child sex offender, and text messages recruiting women for Epstein.

One of the photos included a quote from Lolita, a 1955 novel about a professor sexually abusing a 12-year-old girl, with a paperback copy of the book in the background.

“She was Lo, plain Lo, in the morning, standing four feet ten in one sock,” read the quote, handwritten on someone’s foot.

Other photos included text messages about recruiting women to meet Epstein.

“I will send u girls now,” read one message.

“Maybe someone will be good for J?”

Another photo showed Epstein’s final passport, which was issued in 2019.

Foreign Policy & Military Action

The U.S. military launched strikes on ISIS infrastructure in Syria after two American soldiers and a civilian were killed in an attack by the terrorist group.

“Because of ISIS’s vicious killing of brave American patriots in Syria, whose beautiful souls I welcomed home to American soil earlier this week in a very dignified ceremony, I am hereby announcing that the United States is inflicting very serious retaliation,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

“We are striking very strongly against ISIS strongholds in Syria, a place soaked in blood which has many problems, but one that has a bright future if ISIS can be eradicated.”

In an X post, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the strikes killed “lots of enemies.”

“Earlier today, U.S. forces commenced OPERATION HAWKEYE STRIKE in Syria to eliminate ISIS fighters, infrastructure, and weapons sites in direct response to the attack on U.S. forces that occurred on December 13 in Palmyra, Syria,” he wrote.

“This is not the beginning of a war—it is a declaration of vengeance.”

The soldiers killed in the attack were identified as Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar and Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard, while the civilian was identified as Ayad Mansoor Saka, an interpreter from Michigan.

Meanwhile, following a previous report from The Introspective detailing the U.S. seizing an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela, another vessel was seized in international waters as tensions with Latin America continue.

“The United States will continue to pursue the illicit movement of sanctioned oil that is used to fund narco terrorism in the region. We will find you, and we will stop you,” Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem wrote on X.

The tanker—identified as Centuries—allegedly carried oil subject to U.S. sanctions, days after Trump threatened to impose a blockade on all tankers coming in and out of Venezuela.