Epstein Investigation Getting Under Trump's Skin | Heather ‘Digby’ Parton | TMR
Quick Read
Summary
Takeaways
- ❖The Department of Justice's delay in releasing Epstein files is viewed as an attempt to manage public perception, similar to the handling of the Mueller report.
- ❖Donald Trump's past associations with Jeffrey Epstein, including alleged competition for young women and Mar-a-Lago incidents, are highlighted as long-standing character issues.
- ❖Trump's recent public speeches are characterized by 'whining' and demonstrably false claims, such as 400-600% drug price cuts, which are not resonating with independent voters.
- ❖The U.S. Department of Justice under the current administration is experiencing a significant loss of talent and expertise, leading to a high dismissal rate for cases.
- ❖The Democratic Party's approval ratings are at historic lows, even among its own base, indicating a profound dissatisfaction with its leadership and direction.
- ❖The DNC's decision to withhold its 2024 election autopsy report is criticized as an act of self-preservation, preventing public accountability and hindering necessary course correction.
- ❖Grassroots activism and voter behavior in special elections suggest a public willingness to vote against the status quo, even when party leadership is unresponsive.
Insights
1DOJ Delays Epstein File Release Amidst Speculation of Trump's Involvement
The Department of Justice delayed the full release of the Epstein files, despite having ample time for redaction. The hosts suggest this delay is a 'Bill Barr' tactic to control the narrative, releasing less damaging information first to taint public perception before the full scope is revealed. They speculate that the files could contain damaging information about Donald Trump, given his historical ties to Epstein, including alleged competition for young women and incidents at Mar-a-Lago where underage models were present.
DOJ claiming more time needed for redaction (), reports of dozens of FBI agents combing material (), New York Times article detailing Trump and Epstein's 90s exploits (), Mara Maples' alleged warning about Trump at Mar-a-Lago ().
2Trump's 'Whining' Rhetoric and False Claims Alienate Voters
Donald Trump's recent public address is described as a 'whinefest' characterized by anger, narcissism, and mathematically impossible claims, such as cutting prescription drug prices by 400-600%. This approach is seen as ineffective and 'grading on people,' with polling indicating that independents are 'fleeing in droves' and even some MAGA supporters are disengaging due to economic concerns.
Trump's 'whining' speech (), claim of 400-600% drug price cuts (), Fox News host John Roberts questioning the mathematical impossibility (), polling showing people blaming Trump, not Biden ().
3DOJ's Declining Competence and High Case Dismissal Rates
The Department of Justice is experiencing a significant decline in competence and talent, resulting in a 22% dismissal rate for its cases on motion, which is 21% higher than the average. This is attributed to experienced attorneys leaving due to a perceived disregard for process and the law, leading to an undermined ability to prosecute crimes and navigate the courts effectively.
DOJ's 22% case dismissal rate on motion (), loss of talent and expertise (), attorneys prioritizing law over outcome leaving ().
4DNC Buries 2024 Autopsy Report, Prioritizing Power Over Accountability
The Democratic National Committee (DNC) completed but then buried its 2024 election autopsy report, refusing to release it publicly. This decision is criticized as an attempt to maintain internal power, shield top party consultants, and protect figures like Kamala Harris from potentially damaging information, rather than transparently addressing the party's shortcomings and voter feedback, such as concerns over foreign policy like the Gaza conflict.
DNC refusing to release autopsy report (), Axios article stating Democrats believe burying the report helps Harris and shields consultants (), Harris campaign allegedly telling canvassers to stop reporting Gaza concerns ().
5Democratic Party Faces Historic Low Approval Ratings and Voter Disconnect
The Democratic Party, particularly congressional Democrats, has reached historically low net approval ratings, including a negative 61 points among independents and even a negative rating among self-identified Democrats. This widespread dissatisfaction indicates a profound disconnect between the party's leadership and its base, suggesting that current strategies are failing to resonate with the American public.
CNN graphic showing Democrats' net approval rating at lowest ever (), negative 61 points among independents (), negative approval among Democrats themselves ().
Bottom Line
The DNC's decision to bury its autopsy report, while seemingly self-serving, might inadvertently force a more organic, grassroots-driven shift in party policy and leadership.
If official channels for feedback are blocked, the party's direction will be increasingly dictated by voter behavior in special elections and primary challenges, rather than top-down directives.
Progressive candidates and grassroots movements can leverage this institutional vacuum to gain influence, as evidenced by Hakeem Jeffries' shift in rhetoric on foreign policy, potentially reflecting internal findings the DNC won't publicly acknowledge.
The perceived incompetence and talent drain within the Department of Justice, while problematic for governance, could paradoxically act as a brake on authoritarian tendencies.
A less effective DOJ might struggle to implement politically motivated directives, offering a small, unintended safeguard against abuses of power, alongside judicial pushback and public resistance.
This highlights the importance of supporting judicial independence and grassroots legal organizations that can challenge government overreach, as institutional checks and balances may be weakened internally.
Lessons
- Scrutinize official narratives and delays in information release, especially concerning politically sensitive investigations like the Epstein files, as they may be attempts to control public perception.
- Recognize that political rhetoric, particularly from figures like Donald Trump, often relies on 'whining' and factually incorrect claims that are increasingly ineffective with a broader electorate.
- Engage with grassroots movements and local elections, as these are becoming crucial arenas for driving political change and holding unresponsive party leadership accountable, even when official party structures resist transparency.
Notable Moments
Mara Maples, then Trump's wife, allegedly warned a mother to protect her 14-year-old daughter from 'any of these men, especially my husband' at a Mar-a-Lago party where young models were present.
This anecdote, if true, provides a stark, personal account from someone close to Trump, suggesting a long-standing pattern of concerning behavior and awareness of it within his inner circle, predating his political career.
Fox News host John Roberts questions the mathematical impossibility of Donald Trump's claim of cutting prescription drug prices by 400-600%, highlighting the absurdity of the statement.
This moment signifies a break in the typical pro-Trump media narrative, indicating that even within supportive outlets, some of Trump's claims are too outlandish to defend, potentially eroding his credibility with his base.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer gives an evasive, rambling answer when asked by Jake Tapper if he disagrees with Trump's goal of regime change in Venezuela, avoiding a direct stance.
Schumer's non-answer exemplifies the perceived lack of clear principles and responsiveness from Democratic leadership on critical foreign policy issues, contributing to the party's low approval ratings and voter disconnect.
Quotes
"They're pulling a Bill Barr right where before the Mueller report came out he did his little, you know, his little uh what analysis of what it was going to say and it and it you know it it tainted the the perception of what the Mueller report was said and that's what this is about."
"Mara Maples took some young girl and her mother aside and don't, you know, said protect her. Don't let my husband near her."
"If you cut something by 100% the cost goes down to zero. If you cut it by four or five or 600% the drug companies are actually paying you to take their product."
"The DNC here said that they're they're not going to put it out. And the uh the reason why is because they've been winning in special elections. So, in other words, like the anti-Trump fervor is enough. We don't need to course correct on anything."
"Democrats in the minds of the American public are lower than the Dead Sea. What are we talking about here? Well, let's take a look. The net approval rating for Democrats in Congress, you said it, Kate Bowwin, the lowest ever. Look at this. Overall, they are 55 points underwater. Their approval rating is south of 20%."
"I don't support the Maduro regime, but there are bad actors all across the world. And we've got a lot of problems here in this country that we need to resolve in order to make sure that, you know, people have the ability uh to provide for themselves and their families. Far too many people like literally middle class people are struggling to live paycheck to paycheck cannot thrive and can barely survive. Let's work on that problem."
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