Epstein's Sympathy for Kavanaugh, Trump's IVF Discount, and Rising Ukrainian Casualties: A Week in Review

As the world navigated a complex web of news this week, three distinct stories caught the public's attention. Newly released emails revealed that convicted sex abuser Jeffrey Epstein sympathized with Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh during his contentious 2018 confirmation. Meanwhile, President Trump's long-awaited prescription discount program, TrumpRx, went live with limited discounts on fertility treatments, and researchers reported a disturbing 26% surge in Ukrainian civilian casualties in 2025. According to emails and text messages released by the Department of Justice, Epstein closely monitored Kavanaugh's confirmation process and suggested that Republicans should have been harder on Christine Blasey Ford, who accused Kavanaugh of sexual assault. Epstein's messages showed a keen interest in the confirmation, with the convicted sex abuser seemingly convinced that Ford's allegations could derail the process. While Epstein's emails shed new light on his views on Kavanaugh's confirmation, President Trump's TrumpRx program went live earlier this month with coupons available for just 43 medications, including four required for in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedures. Experts say this is likely a half-measure to fulfill Trump's 2024 campaign promise to make IVF treatment universally accessible. "We've been hearing about TrumpRx for a long time," said Dr. Richard Paulson, a professor of reproductive medicine at the University of Southern California. "TrumpRx was supposed to fix all of the problems in terms of prescription drug costs and so on, and it has not done that. The only two classes of drugs that are actually cheaper on TrumpRx are the G class and the IVF class." However, experts argue that the discounts offered by TrumpRx are only a fraction of the total cost of IVF procedures, which can range from $15,000 to $20,000 or more per cycle. "It's a nice gesture, but it's not going to make a huge difference for most people," said Dr. Paulson. Meanwhile, researchers reported a 26% surge in Ukrainian civilian casualties in 2025, reflecting increased Russian targeting of cities and infrastructure in the country. According to the global conflict monitoring group, Action on Armed Violence (AOAV), the figures showed "Ukraine fits a wider collapse of restraint that is now visible across multiple wars." Iain Overton, executive director of AOAV, said the figures showed respect for the distinction of proportionality in war "has broken" and that "the international community needs to take a long, hard look at itself and ask why it's not doing more to protect civilians in conflict zones." As the world grapples with these complex issues, it remains to be seen how these developments will shape the future of politics, healthcare, and global conflict. One thing is certain, however: this week's news has left many questions unanswered and has sparked a renewed sense of urgency for action.