Japan wants to 3X departure tax to combat overtourism

Japan is weighing a plan to triple its departure tax from 1,000 yen ($6.40) to 3,000 yen ($19.20) per person as record visitor numbers fuel growing concerns about overtourism’s toll on local communiti

The Rebel Yellow - Issue #147

Congress approved the Epstein Files Transparency Act with near-unanimous votes in both chambers, sending the bill to President Donald Trump for his signature. The measure follows the release of emails from Jeffrey Epstein’s estate and requires federal agencies to disclose all unclassified investigative records related to Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. Other developments this week include a class-action lawsuit alleging inadequate conditions at California’s largest ICE detention facility, the release of a Texas permanent resident after months in immigration detention, a Chinese migrant’s sentencing after crossing the Rio Grande, new scrutiny of FBI Director Kash Patel’s use of agency resources, rising tensions between Japan and China over comments on Taiwan, and a proposal in Japan to increase the country’s departure tax.

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Khanna-led Epstein files bill heads to Trump’s desk

The bipartisan Epstein Files Transparency Act, introduced by Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) and Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), which secured the 218 signatures needed last week, culminated in an overwhelming passage in both the House and the Senate on Tuesday. The legislation is now on its way to President Donald Trump for his signature.

How the votes went

The discharge petition successfully compelled a House floor vote, after newly sworn-in Rep. Adelita Grijalva (D-Ariz.) became the 218th and final signatory last week. On the same day, Democrats on the House Oversight Committee released several highly scrutinized emails from Epstein’s estate, including a 2011 email in which Epstein referenced President Donald Trump and a 2019 message that said “of course he knew about the girls as he asked Ghislaine to stop.”

On Tuesday, the U.S. House of Representatives voted on the bill and passed it in a decisive, near-unanimous 427-1 vote, with the sole opposing vote coming from Rep. Clay Higgins (R-La.). Hours after the House vote, the Senate quickly followed suit, passing the bill via unanimous consent.

President Trump, who had reversed his previous opposition, stated he would sign the measure.

What the bill mandates

Introduced in July, the bill directs the Justice Department, the FBI and related federal agencies to release all unclassified investigative records tied to Epstein’s activities and Ghislaine Maxwell’s involvement. The legislation specifies that materials subject to release include: flight logs, call records, internal communications, travel documents, correspondence and any referenced names contained in the case files.

It allows only narrow redactions, which are strictly limited to protecting victim identities or safeguarding active, ongoing investigations. The law explicitly forbids the withholding of information due to “embarrassment, reputational harm, or political sensitivity.” The release must be in a searchable and downloadable format.

What the emails show

The newly available emails were part of a larger 23,000-page production from Epstein’s estate under review by staff. They included a 2011 exchange in which Epstein wrote to Maxwell that Trump spent a day with a trafficking victim at Epstein’s Palm Beach home, with the victim’s name redacted in the documents. Another message from 2019 stated that “of course he knew about the girls as he asked Ghislaine to stop.” The tranche also contained internal notes from Epstein’s assistants on travel logistics, guest arrivals and scheduling arrangements tied to movements between Epstein’s properties.

The White House rejected the claim by pointing to the victim’s own past public comments. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said, “These emails prove absolutely nothing other than the fact that President Trump did nothing wrong.” She added that the victim referenced in the message was the late Virginia Giuffre, saying Giuffre had “repeatedly said President Trump was not involved in any wrongdoing whatsoever and ‘couldn’t have been friendlier’ to her in their limited interactions.”

Case for disclosure

Khanna has made the release of unclassified Epstein records a central priority this year, arguing that Congress cannot rely on federal agencies to provide complete information without a statutory mandate. He has cited gaps in flight manifests, withheld internal correspondence, and incomplete investigative files as reasons the bill is needed.

Speaking after the passage, Khanna said, “This fight isn’t about politics –– it’s about humanity. It’s about justice for the courageous survivors and taking on the Epstein class who have been shielded for too long. Passing my bipartisan bill with Representative Thomas Massie today is a step toward changing our rotten system and standing up for American values. When we are united and work across the aisle, amazing things can happen.”

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Immigrants sue DHS, ICE over “inhumane” conditions at California detention center

Seven immigrants detained at California’s largest ICE facility filed a federal class-action lawsuit last week against the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), alleging constitutionally inadequate care and punitive conditions at the California City Detention Facility in the Mojave Desert.