Trump Attempts to Bury Truth (again)

Early this morning, the Senate approved to “clawback” $9 billion in Congressional spending for things like public broadcasting and foreign aid. Two Republicans did not sign the measure, Maine’s Collins and Alaska’s Murkowsky. This move is part of a concerted effort by Trump to gain more control in the executive branch over federal spending, a power the Constitution gives to the legislative branch.

“The bulk of the funds targeted — about $8 billion — was for foreign assistance programs. The remaining $1.1 billion was for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which funds NPR and PBS. The House is expected to give final approval to the package later this week, sending it to Mr. Trump for his signature.”

What boggles my mind is if this is unconstitutional why can’t he be stopped? PBS and NPR will survive, according to the NY Times, a small percentage of their budget comes from the government. But local stations will suffer, some may have to close down; bad news for getting the truth to people who rely on local news.

The Jeffrey Epstein saga continues, and such it is a clear thorn in Trump’s side. He is positioning the story to attempt to change the narrative, and of course he is lying. When the Epstein files first became known, he said they should be made public, MAGA supporters loved that. Many of those supporters believe the files contain evidence that Democrats are sex offenders and that the files will prove it. We don’t know who is listed in the files as clients of convicted sex offender Epstein’s trafficing of underage girls— potentially many high level offiials of both parties are in there. But we also know Trump was a close friend of Epstein’s, was seen photographed with him many times and those who were around the men back then attest that they were “close friends.” That does not mean Trump is listed as a client in those files. But it doesnt’ add up: we know Trump is a convicted sex abuser and has spoken on tape to that affect (Access Hollywood tapes, 2016), he is no angel in these matters (again, innocent until proven guilty). Those MAGA supporters who believed Trump would expose the Democrats are now angry with him, and some of those people are high profile influencers on the right.

Trump now claims that the Epstein files are a Democratic ploy to take him down, he says they made them up. He is calling the files an “Epstein Hoax” and speaking about it in the context of “Russia, Russia, Russia,” a refernce to when he was accused of working with Russia to steal elections. Trump is also calling those of his followers who are angry at the files not being release “stupid.” From Heather Cox Richardson’s post this morning:

Trump is blaming the “Radical Left Democrats” for creating the story of the Epstein files. “Their new SCAM is what we will forever call the Jeffrey Epstein Hoax,” he wrote, and then he turned on his own supporters for demanding the administration release the files. “[M]y PAST supporters have bought into this ’bullsh*t,’ hook, line, and sinker. They haven’t learned their lesson, and probably never will, even after being conned by the Lunatic Left for 8 long years. I have had more success in 6 months than perhaps any President in our Country’s history, and all these people want to talk about, with strong prodding by the Fake News and the success starved Dems, is the Jeffrey Epstein Hoax. Let these weaklings continue forward and do the Democrats work, don’t even think about talking of our incredible and unprecedented success, because I don’t want their support anymore! Thank you for your attention to this matter. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”

Of course, those of us who love democracy, kindness and compassion hope this is what will bring Trump down. It is still to be seen whether he can convince these skeptical followers—even as he insults them- that the files are a hoax and shouldn’t be released (it’s sadistic that he calls them names in hopes they will be shamed into dropping their skepticism of Trump. It might work).

Another idea being floated is to appoint a special investigation, and that will delay it all. But that may not assauge angry MAGA conspiracy theorists. Right wing Trump confidant and influencer Laura Loomer said on Politico that this will consume the presidency.

“Obviously, this is not a complete hoax given the fact that Ghislaine Maxwell [Epstein’s collaborator. Epstein died in prison a few years ago while awaiting trial] is currently serving 20 years in prison in Florida for her crimes and activities with Jeffrey Epstein, who we know is a convicted sexual predator. This is why I said, and I’ll reiterate it again, the best thing that the president can do is appoint a special counsel to handle the Epstein files investigation.”

The Manhattan prosecutor who handled the Epstein case, Maureen Comey, was abruptly fired by Trump yesterday. She is the daughter of former FBI director James Comey, a Trump advisary and who Trump is currently investigating (for what?). Trump and his attorney general Pam Bondi are trying everything to quell this story, yet keep adding fuel to the fire. In recent days, Trump has claimed without evidence that files related to Mr. Epstein’s crimes were concocted by Comey, as well as by Biden and Obama.

A Quinnipiac University poll yesterday found that a whopping 63 percent of voters disapprove of how the Trump administration is handling the Epstein-files controversy, with a scant 17 percent approving.

Every morning I wake up to read the news and can’t believe this nightmare. But as I am driving in Maine, I am listening to Jon Meacham’s The Soul Of American: The Battle for Our Better Angels; it’s so inspiring. We have been in worse situations as a country, and gotten out.

But we can’t just expect it to go away. In the end, it’s the people who prevail. I know we can do it.

One thing I am hearing from people I trust in the media: we have to speak out constantly. Use your voice, write, make a video, a drawing, share a post that alarms you or one that encourages you. Talk to friends, family, make it known how upset you are and talk about how to make change.

Thanks for being here! I hope your Thursday is a good one, see you tomorrow.

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