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Good afternoon and welcome to your afternoon news update from AP. Today, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles’ Vanity Fair interview sends shock waves through Washington; Rob Reiner’s son Nick skips his court appearance for medical reasons; and militant groups are experimenting with AI.

UP FIRST

White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles listens during a cabinet meeting at the White House in April. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Susie Wiles, White House chief of staff, criticizes Bondi and opines on Trump in Vanity Fair

Susie Wiles, President Donald Trump’s understated but influential chief of staff, criticized Attorney General Pam Bondi’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case and offered an unvarnished take on her boss and those in his orbit in a series of observations that were published Tuesday in Vanity Fair. The magazine’s two-part profile of Wiles immediately sent shock waves through Washington while sending the West Wing into damage control. Read more.

TOP STORIES

Killings of Rob Reiner and his wife stun Hollywood as son skips court appearance for medical reasons

Los Angeles police are set to present a case to prosecutors following Nick Reiner’s arrest in the killings of his parents, Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner, which stunned their communities in Hollywood and Democratic politics, where both were widely beloved. Nick Reiner’s attorney Alan Jackson said his client will not be in court Tuesday for medical reasons. Jackson told reporters outside the courthouse that he did not know what the medical issue was, but he said Reiner will not appear before Wednesday. Read more.

Militant groups are experimenting with AI, and the risks are expected to grow

As the rest of the world rushes to harness the power of artificial intelligence, militant groups also are experimenting with the technology, even if they aren’t sure exactly what to do with it. For extremist organizations, AI could be a powerful tool for recruiting new members, churning out realistic deepfake images and refining their cyberattacks, national security experts and spy agencies have warned. Read more.

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TRENDING

This image released by Voracious shows Kat Lieu's lychee-frosted sugar cookies. (Voracious via AP)

Indulge in lychee-frosted sugar cookies with citrus notes and buttercream

The recipe for Kat Lieu's Lychee-Frosted Sugar Cookies, from her cookbook “108 Asian Cookies,” might look simple at first, but they pack a flavorful punch. They have a rich buttery base with citrus notes and a slight chew. They're topped with lychee-infused buttercream, berry compote and chopped lychees.