Are We Not Shocked?
- Liam F.
- Aug 26, 2025
- 28 min read
(!) All views expressed here are the author’s own and should not be attributed to any institution, employer or future legal defense fund.
“There are costs and risks to a program of action, but they are far less than the long range risks and costs of comfortable inaction.” - John F. Kennedy
Over the last ten years of Donald Trump’s “politics era”, there have been a lot of “shocking” quotes, stories and incidents surrounding the president. At least, they should’ve been shocking…
“I could ... shoot somebody, and I wouldn't lose any voters”, said Trump in 2016. Just a couple of weeks later Trump finished second in Iowa, then a week after that, won handily in New Hampshire and never looked back.
Howard Dean’s infamous scream squandered his presidential chances in 2004. An excited “YEEEEEAAARGH” from the longest-serving governor in Vermont’s history helped kill his chances at a Democratic nomination.
"Oh my God! Now I hear the cows in Iowa are afraid of getting mad Dean disease. It's always a bad sign when at the end of your speech, your aide is shooting you with a tranquilizer gun." - Jay Leno
It wasn’t a scandal surrounding a hot mic and Billy Bush or mocking a disabled reporter. It was nothing that compared to being found liable for sexual abuse or having at least twenty-seven others accusing him of similar acts.
The “scream” doesn’t match up with two impeachment trials, including one for helping to incite an insurrection to overturn an election.
America no longer has the ability to be shocked. Is it the post-9/11 world? The twenty-four hour news cycle that normalizes sensationalization? Easy access to gruesome videos online, even sometimes being suggested to users?
When I was in middle school, no older than eleven, a group of students were crowded around an iPhone in the gym locker room. Originally avoiding the commotion because of the smell, curiosity eventually killed the cat.
The cat, or me in this case, walked over and saw a man in a white shirt kneeling in the desert on the screen. His eyes were wide as he looked directly into the camera, sobbing and presumably pleading to whoever was watching.
Soon after, the half dozen of us sixth graders watched as his head was slowly sliced off of his body and onto the ground, where it rolled in front of his kneeling, headless body.
Then, after I thought it was over, the man’s head was placed back onto his body which at that point was being held up by one of the beheaders. The man’s once white shirt was closer to a dark brown or black than a blood red.
It was a loud noise from above that broke me out of the trance. It was the bell and it was time for English class.
Sixth grade was a formative year. In October, over one hundred were killed in a suicide bombing at a Turkish train station. Less than a month later, November had the Paris attacks that killed 137 and not even a month after that, was the San Bernardino shooting, the deadliest since Sandy Hook.
In March, it was the Brussels airport and metro attacks. Just in time for summer recess was the Pulse nightclub attack, which, at the time surpassed Sandy Hook and Virginia Tech for the deadliest mass shooting in United States history.
Through that school year, there was no tragedy or bombshell headline that shocked or perturbed me as much as that video did. To this day, next to nothing compares. I don’t want to call it a “traumatic experience,” because there are truly traumatic things I have been blessed enough to never witness. But man, I still think about it from time to time and I still feel a bit sick.
The worst part, the world didn’t give us an opportunity to process it. It’s widely agreed eleven year olds shouldn’t watch fictional horror movies, but we were seeing real people getting their heads chopped off in fucking gym class. How can a kid figure out what to think, do or feel in the ten minutes after watching that when a test was in front of them?
I speak from personal experience and for so many other young people who have been prematurely exposed to violent or sexually explicit content suggested by the apps. Videos that would invoke a “scarred for life” reaction twenty years ago are suggested when you open an app like Instagram today. With that, a complete desensitization to everything.
So it’s understandable and makes sense to not be shocked, concerned, or even care to pay attention to the President of the United States possibly covering up a global child sex trafficking ring. And when Ghislaine Maxwell is pardoned, or her sentence is commuted, I won’t be shocked. That’s only because we’re rapidly moving in that happening.
Shock used to drive action. That’s why Emmett Till's mother insisted on an open casket funeral. She believed “everybody needed to know what had happened to Emmett Till.”
“Emmett’s murder would never have become a watershed historical moment without Mamie finding the strength to make her private grief a public matter.” - excerpt from ‘The Blood of Emmett Till’ by Timothy Tyson
Shock drove Americans to historic levels of patriotism and trust in government after the visuals of 9/11. Americans were in support of force in Iraq in 2002, 73% of Americans. 92% felt that if Bin Laden was killed, more action was still needed. 56% of Americans supported the use of force in Iraq, even if it meant “thousands of casualties.”
However that same shock killed the support in government after the visuals of Hurricane Katrina. Two thirds of Americans were critical of Bush’s handling of the disaster, in stark contrast to his 86% approval rating after 9/11.
Most recently, shock drove Americans to break lockdown orders to march following the death of George Floyd. From big cities to small towns, people of all races, creeds and religions came out of their homes in the height of a pandemic to fight for a greater good.
Five years later, we seem to have lost our touch. A busy news day is no excuse for the seeming acceptance of what just occurred. A lack of shock is no excuse for inaction.
The Interview
On Friday, the Justice Department released the Maxwell Interviews. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, Trump’s former personal attorney questioned convicted child sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell, as an act of appeasement to the MAGA faithful’s anger over the Epstein case.
President Donald Trump appointed Todd Blanche, his criminal defense attorney, as deputy Attorney General in January.
In another life, Blanche unsuccessfully represented Trump in his New York document case and Maxwell was charged with two counts of perjury.
“The most important part of this agreement is that this isn’t a cooperation agreement, meaning that by you meeting with us today, we’re really just meeting, I’m not promising to do anything.” - Deputy AG Blanche
Maxwell ‘answered every single question’ according to her lawyer, which means nothing if it ain’t the truth and the Justice Department promised nothing to Maxwell for providing the interview, which also means nothing if it ain’t the truth. With that, here’s Ghislaine Maxwell contradicting everything ever made true about the case:
“First of all, let’s just state, I did not introduce him to Prince Andrew. I did not introduce him to Prince Andrew or to Sarah Ferguson. That is a flat untruth. I’ll start with that.” - Ghislaine Maxwell
This directly contradicts Prince Andrew’s account of being introduced to Epstein “through his girlfriend” in 1999. It’s not a smoking gun, because a letter from his private secretary alleged they met in the “early 1990s.” The letter made no indications of who introduced Epstein and the Prince.
Prince Andrew and Maxwell met in the mid-eighties while studying at Oxford, which checks out both the “early 1990s” and “1999” claims. Maxwell and Epstein met in 1991 according to Maxwell, so both support Prince Andrew’s claim that at the very least, Maxwell introduced the two.
“And then with respect to [REDACTED] and Prince Andrew, what do you know about that relationship?” - Blanche
Now enters the late Virginia Giuffre, one of the most prominent Epstein accusers, who alleged she was paid $15,000 to sleep with Prince Andrew when she was 17. Although the name being referenced was redacted, we know from Giuffre’s public accounts that they’re discussing her.
Virginia Giuffre.
“We're all formed by like all the publicity and information around what everybody else has said, but like, what do you know? What do you think or what did you see? What did you hear?” - Blanche
“What's an even bigger word than bullshit?” - Maxwell
This is when Maxwell becomes evidently giddy and in her words, excited. Cackling and making herself laugh throughout the entire portion below:
“I'm going to tell you right now. I'm so happy to tell you. I'm like excited. I'm beyond excited… I'll tell you what I know versus what I saw and what I physically have in here, but it's helpful for you to know… The allegation was that at my house in London, in March, whatever that was, 2001 I believe, we went to London, especially so that [REDACTED] could have a relationship with Prince Andrew and she was paid a vast amount of money for that purpose.”
“And that she then got in the -- in my bathroom in my house in London and had sex, sexual relations with him and then went into my guest room and had full blown sex and then left my house, or he left, and she felt used and disgusting. And a photograph was taken of them just before all these events took place in my study. That is what is the story. Oh, and then after that she met him several other times. But we'll come to that. We'll come -- this is where it will -- allegedly started.” - Maxwell
She later explained why it would’ve been impossible for Andrew and Giuffre to have had relations in the bathroom, since it was an “old Victorian bath.” She also said Andrew was “so English” and “had a tie on”, saying there was “no-way, no-how” it could’ve happened.
Silly me, I must’ve forgotten that Englishmen in ties can’t get it done in Victorian bathrooms.
She continued for a while before mentioning the infamous photo of Prince Andrew with a seventeen year old Virginia Giuffre and Maxwell lurking in the background. According to Maxwell, the photo is fake.
“When all this nonsense took place, where this whole story with the picture and the this and the that and this bullshit, I believe that this whole thing was manufactured, and I can point you to some potentially corroborating evidence of this… The fake, just to be clear.” - Maxwell
Ghislaine Maxwell seen behind Prince Andrew holding Virginia Giuffre in 2001. US DISTRICT COURT / AFP / GETTY IMAGES
Maxwell claimed the dates written on the back of the photo didn’t match Giuffre’s account of when it happened, changing her story around to “fit with the flight logs.”
“The second thing is that -- oh, I'm so excited to tell you this. There is a journalist, I know you guys are quite -- well, I don't know. The fake news is at work here.” - Maxwell
Maxwell dropping a fake news bomb on us! Did someone write her a script?
She went on to allege that a journalist, Sharon Churcher, an attorney Brad Edwards and federal prosecutor Marie Villafana colluded to create the story for financial purposes, to “attack” the Royal Family and for "serialization.”
“I believe it's literally a fake photo.” - Maxwell
Blanche and Maxwell go back and forth about why she believes the photo is a fake, Blanche ultimately finishing that “line of questioning” (a complimentary thing to say about Blanche’s tactics) asking if it was remotely conceivable that the three were in a house together at one time.
“The issue is, could Andrew have come to the house to see me or see Epstein, and say hi and she had been there? Yes. I can't say that that didn't happen. But what I can absolutely, categorically say is that I never, at any time, set Andrew up to have relations with her or any other human being ever.” - Maxwell
What are the odds of having a seventeen year old at your townhouse, at night, when the Duke of York just happens to stop by and say hi?
Blanche moved on. One of the most publicized cases involving a Prince and a seventeen year old was spoken about for about eight minutes, with Maxwell controlling the narrative and Blanche accepting her word as gospel.
“There is no list. We'll start with that. The genesis of that story, I can actually trace for you from its absolute inception, if that is what you're interested in.” - Maxwell
“It is.” - Blanche
“No, there is nothing like that.” - Maxwell
Doubling down.
“That you know of.” - Blanche
Is he giving her an out?
“That I -- obviously.” - Maxwell
And there is a Deputy Attorney General assisting a convicted child sex trafficker from potentially incriminating herself. Maxwell will do a lot of dancing around throughout the interview.
First, she’ll say things with such conviction, leaving no room for any other versions of the story but her own. But it always came back to something along the lines of “I can’t say for sure,” “I don’t recollect” or “not that I witnessed.” Those statements would come sometimes on her own accord, but often following questions from Deputy AG Blanche. He would rarely push back.
Maxwell then tells this long and tedious story about the list possibly being fabricated by attorney Brad Edwards who in her words, worked with a federal prosecutor, Marie Villafana, “creating fake evidence in Epstein's case.”
The whole screed is hard to understand, it’s quite possible this is where Trump began nodding off whilst writing her script, but eventually she did answer some questions directly.
“But the list itself -- where is it?” - Blanche
“There is no list, but Brad Edwards said that he created the list.”
“Brad Edwards says that he got Alfredo Rodriguez to mark up the book of all the people who were involved. It includes Alan Dershowitz, for the record, who's marked. I don't remember what it does with Donald Trump. I don't -- I don't know. You'd have to look. I don't have it.” - Maxwell
Alfonso Rodriguez, former butler of Epstein who was sentenced to eighteen months in prison for trying to sell Epstein’s “Little Black Book,” has never been publicly implicated by Edwards. That statement is from Maxwell’s recollection, a damning one if true.
Blanche spends some time trying to confirm with Maxwell that they’re talking about the same thing, just long enough to stray off from it and move on. Never digging deeper into her allegation of Edwards asking Rodriguez to mark the book up.
"There is no list. I'm not aware of any blackmail. I never heard that. I never saw it and I never imagined it." - Maxwell
Onto the next thing.
"There's recently been reports about a birthday book that you assembled for Mr. Epstein, I think, for his 50th birthday in 2003." - Blanche
"That's true." - Maxwell
"And what was in the book? Like what was the ask of the people you called?" - Blanche
"It's his 50th birthday, say anything you want on a piece of paper." - Maxwell
She seems to have a good idea of what the book was about. Will that change?
"Do you remember specific names of individuals who did send letters or who did contribute?" - Blanche
"It's been so long. I want to tell you, but I don't remember." - Maxwell
Bill Clinton, Donald Trump, Alan Dershowitz and Vera Wang were in it. She can’t remember some of the most recognizable names in politics and popular culture?
A page from Jeffrey Epstein's 50th birthday book containing a letter handwritten by Ghislaine Maxwell. NEW YORK TIMES
"The article talks about several names, the article, which is on Donald Trump. Do you remember President Trump submitting a letter or a card or a note?" - Blanche
"I don't." - Maxwell
I guess you can’t blame her; I would also try and erase what Trump wrote in the book from my memory.
"And do you remember -- but separate and apart from your discovery, do you remember one way or the other whether President Trump submitted a letter for his 50th birthday?" - Blanche
"I do not remember." - Maxwell
"And the article that references the letter talks about like a -- sounds like either a naked -- a picture of a naked woman or something like that." - Blanche
Sounds like Blanche never read the article. That’s kind of an important piece of background information.
"Do you have any recollection of that?" - Blanche
"I do not. But just -- no, I don't." - Maxwell
Maxwell mentions the close to “five million documents” involved in her case. Saying she wasn’t able to access, “maybe as much as 30 to 35 percent.”
“But you -- but you do remember?” - Blanche
“I do remember some pages.” - Maxwell
“-- seeing some pages of the book?” - Blanche
“I do, yes.” - Maxwell
Are we finally getting somewhere?
“Okay. Do you remember what pages you saw? Like from -- it was from -- who had written those letters or no?” - Blanche
“I really don't remember. I'm sorry.” - Maxwell
What happened?!
“Okay. It's okay.” - Blanche
Okay?! It’s okay?!
She adamantly said she remembered some pages, in fact she said it twice; with a lot of confidence, might I add. Until she conveniently couldn’t remember and the Deputy Attorney General moved on.
He then began to ask about other public figures, starting with Bill Gates, who he focused on for a bit. Next was Reid Hoffman, who endorsed Kamala Harris for president and even criticized democratic donors for withholding $90 million from the Biden campaign after his disastrous debate. He couldn’t focus on the boss for too long.
Blanche also asked Maxwell if Jeffrey Epstein was a Mossad operative:
"Well, I don't believe so, but I wouldn't know. I mean, I would be very surprised if he did. I don't think so. No." - Maxwell
Blanche did try and go back to the birthday letter, but again, no recollection from Maxwell.
“And you mentioned that early -- in the very beginning of the conversation, you mentioned President Trump in the early '90s. What -- what's -- what did you observe, as far as President Trump, and his relationship with you or Mr. Epstein?” - Blanche
Here is where she distances herself from Trump, before quickly commending Trump’s “extraordinary achievement” of being elected president.
“Well, I just want to say for my relationship with President Trump -- relationship's a big word -- but I just want to say that I met him or I believe I may have, because of my father in the '90s. So my father liked him very much, and he was loved -- really liked his wife as well, because we were both Czechoslovakian.
And as far as I'm concerned, President Trump was always very cordial and very kind to me. And I just want to say that I find -- I -- I admire his extraordinary achievement in becoming the President now. And I like him, and I've always liked him. So that is the sum and substance of my entire relationship with him.” - Maxwell
The “fake news” line, her praise and “admiration” for the president, are obviously all done for the purpose of receiving a pardon. A textbook job at trying to woo the wooable president.
As a reminder, the “law and order” candidate pardoned over 1600 insurrectionists, some who were also charged with crimes such as “rape, sexual abuse of a minor, domestic violence, manslaughter, production of child sexual abuse material and drug trafficking.” Maxwell can’t rush the Capitol or punch a cop, but she can say nice things about the man.
“What about Mr. Epstein's relationship with him?” - Blanche
“I think they were friendly like people are in social settings. I don't -- I don't think they were close friends or I certainly never witnessed the President in any of -- I don't recall ever seeing him in his house, for instance.” - Maxwell
What did Mr. Epstein have to say about President Trump? In 2017 he claimed he was “Donald Trump’s closest friend for ten years.” Trump of course in 2002 called Epstein “a terrific guy” who “liked beautiful women” as much as Trump did, “many on the younger side.”
“I actually never saw the President in any type of massage setting. I never witnessed the President in any inappropriate setting in any way. The President was never inappropriate with anybody. In the times that I was with him, he was a gentleman in all respects.” - Maxwell
We know at least part of that is bullshit because she referred to him as a gentleman.
“Do you know whether masseuses from Mar-a-Lago's spa ended up giving massages to -- private massages to Mr. Epstein? I'm not asking for what you may have read, but from -- at the time, from your personal knowledge, do you know whether that's true?” - Blanche
“I -- I don't -- I don't recall. Is it possible? Yes. But I don't remember -- I don't remember that. So I don't want to -- I don't recall that, but it's possible.” - Maxwell
“Do you have a recollection of you ever recruiting a masseuse from Mar-a-Lago spa to give -- to go give a private massage to Mr. Epstein?” - Blanche
“I've never recruited a masseuse from Mar-a-Lago for that, as far as I remember. I can't ever recollect doing that.” - Maxwell
“Okay. So what -- what I think we should do now, it's about 12:15. We'll take a -- we'll take a break and we will come back in a little bit.” - Blanche
That was all Blanche apparently needed to know. Either that or his Uber Eats order had arrived.
A week later, Blanche’s former client alleged Epstein “stole” young women from Mar-a-Lago. Directly contradicting Maxwell’s “recollection.”
“I think you said this in an interview, but if I'm wrong forgive me. Do you have a view of Mr. Epstein of whether he committed suicide or whether something else happened?” - Blanche
“Can we take a break?” - Maxwell’s Attorney David Markus
“Yeah. We can take a break. Yeah. Sure. Actually, it's a good time to take a break anyway, because it's to be the last one of the day.” - Blanche
“Do you want a hot cup of tea and a magazine while you wait?”
We’ll revisit the suicide topic when they do. Here is what was discussed after the break:
“Well, we talked a few minutes ago about this birthday book that there's press about. I understand you don't remember anything with President Trump or a lot about the book anyway. Do you remember asking President Trump to submit a letter for that?” - Blanche
Back to the birthday letter. Let’s see if anything changes.
“I do not.” - Maxwell
“And do you remember -- would you have been the one to do that or could somebody else -- would somebody else have done that?” - Blanche
“I did ask some people. I don't remember Mr. Trump. I don't remember who I did ask, but Epstein also asked people himself directly. So it could have happened that way, if it happened at all.” - Maxwell
In the same breath, Maxwell admits she asked some people, admits Epstein asked people as well, but of course ended by raising the “if it happened at all” flag. The last time she was asked, she couldn’t remember anything about it.
That was the extent of the birthday letter conversation.
“Do you -- so you think he was -- he did not die by suicide, given all the things we just talked about.” - Blanche
“I do not believe he died by suicide, no.” - Maxwell
“And do you believe that -- do you have any speculation or view of who killed him?” - Blanche
“I -- no, I don't.” - Maxwell
“And I ask that because, if you don't believe that there's any truth to the allegations of blackmail or that he had kind of a list, or that he had reasons to have people hate him, why would somebody kill him in prison?” - Blanche
Finally, a decent follow up question from the man whose job is to ask follow up questions.
“In prison, where I am, they will kill you or they will pay -- somebody can pay a prisoner to kill you for $25 worth of commissary. That's about the going rate for a hit with a lock today.” - Maxwell
What we can tell from the prison surveillance tape, it’s incredibly unlikely another prisoner would’ve been able to get past the desk guard and into Epstein’s cell to kill him. If anyone were to have gotten in, would it be a prisoner looking for some commissary cash?
Blanche didn’t go on to dig much deeper. He mostly asked clarifying questions, to which Maxwell did her “it didn’t happen, but maybe it did” tap dance about someone on the outside trying to silence Epstein.
The conversation lasted a few more minutes before wrapping up for the day.
The second day was where Blanche asked about Bill Clinton's involvement with Maxwell and Epstein, Ted and Bobby Kennedy, Chris Tucker, George Soros among others.
Trump’s name was not mentioned by Blanche a single time on the second day.
Maxwell made one statement towards the end of the interview that stands out. Perfectly encapsulating the true meaning of this case. The reason why people are outraged ten years later.
"So that narrative that was created and then built upon, and it just mushroomed into what -- basically this is like a Salem witch trial. People have gone and lost their minds for this thing. I understand that.
But the issue is, how do you satisfy a mob who can't understand the lifestyle because it's like P. Diddy in Redux on TV with Clintons and Trump. I mean, it's -- it's bananas. And while some of it is real, he did do those things. I'm definitely not disputing that.
But this was a man, they didn't even believe he had a real business. I happen to believe he did. Did he grift? I don't know, because I wasn't really in his business. But this is -- this is one man. He's not that interesting. He's a disgusting guy who did terrible things to young kids. You're not going to hear me say what he did to people who are over the age 18. I'm sorry. I'm not going to go there. That's just not what I'm here to -- I mean, I -- okay?
But to suggest that Larry Summers or Clinton would certainly go, oh my gosh, this is like a guy I'm going to get my body rubbed and have some sex. They're men that went and had a massage and maybe did something sexual, they're men, I wasn't in the room. I cannot tell you if that happened.
And if it did, not -- I never paid for that. Just so that we're clear. Nobody ever said to me, oh, you know, we had sexual intercourse and that was a three, uh-uh (negative). I'd be like, okay. TMI, no, not my business. You want to -- it's just not. And I didn't want to know. Maybe there's that.
But did I, like, think these guys were coming for that? I really don't. If you met Epstein, there is no way that this cast of characters, of which it's extraordinary, and some are in your cabinet, who you value as your coworkers, and you know, would be with him if he was a creep or because they wanted sexual favors. A man wants sexual favors, he will find that. They didn't have to come to Epstein for that.
Now did some? Okay. I don't know. I wasn't there. I didn't see it." - Maxwell
Comparing the case to a witch hunt, and not just any witch hunt: THE SALEM WITCH TRIALS. Admitting Epstein did horrible things to underage girls and wouldn’t “say what he did to people who are over the age 18.”
And her defense for someone like Larry Summers or Bill Clinton for not going to Epstein for “sexual favors” was “they didn’t have to come to Epstein for that.”
People can’t let it go because, in her words, “P. Diddy in Redux on TV with Clintons and Trump.” Calling it “bananas.” Admitting “some of it is real, he did do those things. I'm definitely not disputing that.”
So why didn’t Todd Blanche press her on what the “some” was, even if she “couldn’t recollect” or came up with some elaborate way to spin her way out of it? The guy is the number two official in the Justice Department and according to legal minds was more of an “accommodation than an interrogation.” Or even described as “staged for public consumption.”
A week after the interview, Maxwell was moved to a women's prison in Texas. A low security prison where Elizabeth Holmes is serving her sentence for fraud, Maxwell can now enroll in foreign language or business classes, pick up a sport, or watch television while serving her sentence.
Maxwell and her legal team stated she would testify in front of Congress on what she knows, an opportunity for questioning from bipartisan members of the House Oversight Committee. It was scheduled for mid-August.
However the Committee Chair, Republican James Comer from Kentucky decided to postpone the hearing indefinitely, citing “immense public interest and scrutiny” as an excuse. In my opinion, the interest and scrutiny was the reason why a convicted sex offender would even testify in front of Congress in the first place.
Even while she said “nothing incriminating,” the words in-between the lines tell a lot more about the real story than her words ever will.
Ghislaine Maxwell's Metropolitan Detention Center mugshot.
The Distraction
Rule 1: “If somebody comes after you with a knife, you shoot them back with a bazooka.”
Early Friday morning in Bethesda, Maryland, the home of former National Security Advisor John Bolton was raided by the FBI. Six FBI vehicles and a swarm of agents were seen taking boxes likely filled with anything they could find. The search was for classified documents that Bolton was allegedly holding on to.
It's not the first time that classified documents have been the center of FBI raids or investigations, both President Trump and former President Biden’s personal properties were raided in 2022.
Despite all three cases being rooted in documents, the three couldn’t have been more different. Trump’s case came first, when in early 2022, the National Archives retrieved fifteen boxes of documents from Mar-a-Lago. When he was subpoenaed for the rest, an attorney for Trump signed off on a statement alleging all of the documents have been turned over to the Feds.
In August 2022, the FBI raided Mar-a-Lago, finding over a hundred additional documents strewn around the property in storage rooms, a ballroom and in the bathroom (there are more boxes behind the shower curtain, just up and to the left of the window).
via U.S. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT
Biden’s case also occurred in 2022, when attorneys for the former president found classified documents inside of an old office space Biden utilized before office. They immediately alerted the National Archives, who took the documents the following morning. The FBI began “an assessment consistent with standard protocol” and a special counsel, Robert Hur, was appointed by then Attorney General Merrick Garland.
In February 2024, a 345 page report by Hur concluded no charges were warranted, unlike Trump who was indicted on 42 counts of willfully retaining national defense information, obstruction of justice, withholding documents or records, corruptly concealing documents in a federal investigation, scheming to conceal, falsifying statements and representations, altering, destroying, mutilating or concealing an object and corruptly altering, destroying, mutilating or concealing an object, document or record.
Talk about a run-on sentence.
John Bolton, former Trump national security adviser, stands outside his home in Bethesda, Maryland as the FBI search through it. ANDREW HARNIK / GETTY IMAGES
In Bolton’s case, all signs point to there being no notice from federal authorities prior to the raids. Bolton has been an outspoken critic of Trump after his tenure as National Security Advisor in the first term. His 2020 memoir, The Room Where It Happened, made damning accusations about Trump asking Xi Jinping to help him win reelection, thinking Finland was a part of Russia and being unaware of the United Kingdom’s nuclear power.
Before the book was released in 2020, the Trump administration sued to delay the publication citing nondisclosures Bolton signed as part of his employment would be breached and that the book contained information that would “endanger national security.” The judge declined to block it.
Before the 2020 election, the Trump administration began investigating Bolton related to the allegations of sharing national security information. The Biden administration closed the investigation once he was in office, clearing all civil charges as well.
Last month, it was Tulsi Gabbard alleging the Obama administration engaged in treason in an attempt to throw everyone off the scent of Epstein. With the Justice Department releasing the Maxwell Interview later in the day, there would be no better time to begin the path of retribution against “the sinister cabal of corrupt law enforcement personnel, intelligence agents, and military officials” than the same morning.
This will continue. There will be more raids, subpoenas, and don’t be surprised if there are congressional hearings on Bolton or other officials like Ex-FBI Director James Comey and ex-CIA Director John Brennan, former Rep. Liz Cheney, N.Y. AG Letitia James and Sen. Adam Schiff.
The cases against Letitia James and Adam Schiff have nothing to do with their handling of classified information or government corruption, but mortgage fraud. A new way to weaponize his power, he can only play the hits for so long.
He will use the mask of financial crimes, campaign finance violations, ethics investigations, ties to foreign governments, the misuse of government funds and whatever else ChatGPT spits out to them. It’s all fair game.
Most of these cases will amount to nothing, mostly because they don’t have much merit. The Bolton case stems back to a book released over five years ago, the Comey investigation is rooted in an Instagram post. Trump is using the facade of the 2016 election “Russia, Russia, Russia Hoax” as a basis for Brennan’s investigation.
The goal is exhaustion. Trump spent his four years out of office being indicted on nearly 100 separate charges. Spending time in courthouses in Manhattan, U.S. federal court (twice) and in Fulton County, Georgia. Civil suit losses even lasted into his first week in office. He wants everyone to feel what he felt. From the people who laughed at him, to the ones that prosecuted him.
But that’s a story for another day. Trump’s pseudo-events have taken shape in the form of meaningless things like a new flagpole on White House lawn to the Bolton raid and Gabbard’s treason allegations.
Even the deployment of National Guard troops to Los Angeles, and now Washington D.C. are just man made to distract us from the Epstein situation. It was in May when Pam Bondi briefed Trump that his name was in Epstein files and Elon dropped the “big bomb.” It was in early June when Trump deployed the National Guard to LA.
National Guard members inside the Metro Center metrorail station in Washington D.C. on Friday, August 22nd, 2025. SAUL LOEB / AFP / GETTY IMAGES
So expect more of the same, but remember the important things:
The “Big Beautiful Bill” will shut down hospitals, nursing homes and will result in deaths.
Trump is covering up for pedophiles.
We are funding a genocide and disappearing people.
The Coverup
Rule 2: “What is a truth in life? Deny everything, admit nothing. You know what’s truth? What I say is truth.”
It’s quite simple, either Trump used the Epstein “list” and island to lie his way into the Oval, or he’s currently lying his way out of a ditch. But with the help of Maxwell, he can control the narrative and make sure that whatever he’s doing and done, doesn’t ultimately backfire on him:
Possibility 1: Maxwell is telling the truth and there was no list or island for massages. It was all a fabrication by the democrats to try and take down Trump. So what would Maxwell be in jail for? Outcome: Pardon.
Possibility 2: She knew nothing about anything, but it all happened. Trump is guilty, Clinton is guilty and so is everyone else who has ever been implicated in the story. An extreme possibility, but not outside the realm. If she was truly oblivious, how would she be complicit? Outcome: Pardon.
Possibility 3: She knows everything and is covering it up. She is being coached by the Trump administration on what to do and say and in return, will get what she wants. She’s already been moved to a “country club prison”, she’s already being painted out as a “victim” by right-wing talking heads like Greg Kelly. But she‘ll continue to keep the secret safe as long as she has no reason to speak. For now, there is none. Outcome: Impunity.
Possibility 4: She knows everything and begins to spill. She is conveniently killed for $25 worth of commissary because “that’s what happens in prison.” In her new stomping grounds, a minimum security prison called a “Federal Prison Camp” has as much of a fence as a suburban home. An “accident” or a “lapse” in security is easier to pallet than in a higher security facility like the one in Florida. Outcome: Silence.
Whatever outcome is reached, know that we won’t be shocked because we’re desensitized, we won’t be shocked because we’re actively being conditioned for it. We just don’t realize it.
To Wrap
Rule 3: “No matter how fucked you are, you never ever ever admit defeat. You always claim victory, always.”
It’s easy not to be shocked. It seems we’ve already become used to troops in the street or having masked men popping out of vans, snatching people from schools and churches. It’s very easy to get comfortable with letting the endless amount of shit thrown at your wall of attention not stick.
We’re all out of shock if a significant portion of us are either indifferent or in support of our tax money actively funding a genocide. Maybe it’s hate, ignorance or a mixture of both. But here it is, at the time of this writing, there are half a million people in Gaza suffering from famine. The factors leading to the famine are “entirely man made.”
There is a very good chance that the number is way higher than that, but we’d have no real idea. The journalists have been killed.
Between what Donald Trump can control and the things that he can’t, the whirlwind of news and “news” can overwhelm us. But just like with Trump’s political opponents, that’s the point.
Big tech has contributed to the destruction of our prefrontal cortexes more than any other industry and they’ve found a spot in Trump’s heart. Whether he realizes it or not, letting them have free reign over the internet helps him immensely.
As long as Instagram and X continue to promote unrealistic body ideals to young women, young women will continue to suffer from eating disorders and cut themselves. How are you supposed to be happy with your life when you watch eight unrealistic “day in my life” videos before you brush your teeth? You can’t.
As long as Instagram and X continue to promote porn, crypto millionaires and violence to young men, young men will continue to engage in self-destructive habits. Personally, my feeds are filled with gambling ads disguised as influencer videos and car crashes. Young men are three times more at risk for gambling addiction than the general population. Young men are also more at risk to acting out on violent thoughts to themselves or others.
Suicide deaths among 10-to 24-year olds increased 62% from 2007 to 2021. Suicide deaths among 8-to 12-year olds increased 8.2% annually from 2001 to 2022, or in simpler terms, the number tripled. If you think eight to twelve year olds are too young for social media, you’re right. But 40% of children that age are active on social media. 95% between thirteen and seventeen are too, with a third using “almost constantly.”
Big tech is raising a generation of people who don’t care enough about themselves to give a shit about others. It’s the fascist playbook.
If you’re waiting to be shocked before taking action, waiting for the image on the news that galvanizes you off the couch and to the streets, you’ll never get up. This should all be shocking.
So we can’t be shocked anymore, admission is the first step. It doesn’t mean we have to be inactive or just roll over and let it happen, we can’t rely on shock for being the only catalyst.
Understand that the Trump administration is not as strong as you think it is, it’s truly a house of cards. If he were an evil genius, he wouldn’t puff his chest out like a child. He’s creating the illusion of power through the visuals of force. That shouldn’t be enough to scare us.
President Donald Trump with foundation blotched onto his right hand on Friday, August 22nd, 2025. AP
Orders will be followed as long as there is no pushback. As long as the outraged continue to be looked at as the “loud minority,” no resistance would be taken seriously.
That does not mean violence.
Action is dirty work. It means calling your representatives and senators, both at the state and federal levels. Try to get a hold of them and if you don’t, leave a message and try again later. It means joining local political organizations, speaking your mind and listening to others, but always listen more and speak less.
Organizing rallies and protests, because like cleaning toilets, “somebody’s gotta do it.”
It means voting and doing so in an informed manner. Not down party lines or name recognition, but because of an information backed decision. Don’t forget your primaries and local elections. Don’t do it for the “I Voted” sticker, do it to make sure you can keep it that way.
Once we mobilize our metaphorical troops, the tides turn. Once this is treated like the once in a lifetime, hell, a once in a nation’s lifetime event, things will get done.
The facts are there, it’s more than enough to impeach him, charge him, prosecute him and sentence him. With many different routes to choose from!
Even if Trump continues to take victory laps over nothing-burgers, it goes back to Roy Cohn’s well documented “three rules.”
Attack, attack, attack
Admit nothing, deny everything
Never admit defeat, always declare victory
These aren’t “rules for success” as much as they are defense mechanisms for weak men. The more attacks, the more lies and the more “wins” are all proof of fear on Trump’s side. Despite it being a scene in a movie, Trump is following the three rules Sebastian Stan shared in the final scene of The Apprentice, a movie Trump tried so hard to block, to a tee.
Let this serve as a warning, but also a reminder, that they are not stronger than the people.
The fight will be exhausting, arduous and tedious. But if you would like to go back to being comfortable without having to worry about the impending end of democracy on a regular basis, it’ll take a bit of work.
Either that, or we’re next.
