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Good afternoon and welcome to your afternoon news update from AP. Today, the Justice Department begins releasing case files on Jeffrey Epstein; health care rises sharply as a concern for Americans heading into 2026, a new AP-NORC poll finds; and Pakistan says India released water from dams without warning.

UP FIRST

Gary Rush of College Park, MD, holds a sign before a news conference on the Epstein files in front of the Capitol In November, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib)

Live updates: Justice Department begins releasing case files on Jeffrey Epstein

The Department of Justice has begun releasing its files on Jeffrey Epstein. Among the thousands of records released by the Justice Department are photos, call logs, grand jury testimony and interview transcripts. Many of the documents have been redacted and at least some have already been in the public domain. Read more.

TOP STORIES

Health care rises sharply as a concern for Americans ahead of 2026, AP-NORC poll finds

A new AP-NORC poll finds that Americans are more likely to prioritize health care than they were last year. About 4 in 10 U.S. adults named health care or health issues when asked to name up to five issues they want the government to work on in the coming year. The shift comes after President Donald Trump’s Republican administration reduced spending on Medicaid and decided to end coronavirus pandemic-era subsidies for the Affordable Care Act, essentially guaranteeing that millions of people will see a steep rise in costs early next year. Immigration and rising costs remain pressing issues. Read more.

Pakistan accuses India of ‘weaponizing water’ and threatening stability

Pakistan’s deputy prime minister on Friday accused neighboring India of “weaponizing water” by releasing water from Indian dams without warning, saying the move violates a World Bank-brokered water-sharing treaty and threatens peace and stability in the region. There was no immediate comment from New Delhi. Read more.

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