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Selena Long's avatar

It’s like the Dems can’t walk and chew gum. The lack of a coordinated response to the presence of government monitors at Columbia and CBS - AND - Epstein and the Crypto Lobby and the Dept of Ed and research funding … I could go on … there is zero organization STILL!! Insane.

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Ann M.'s avatar

It’s so frustrating.

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David J. Sharp's avatar

Indeed, what happened to the soaring voices of old—JFK, RFK, MLK? Hakeem Jeffries is fine - but those accordion hands! - but we need heat too, not just a reasoned response.

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Jessica Moats's avatar

I do think it is best Dems lean into this scandal, but I feel like a big chunk of media is going to “fall for” some big lie Maxwell is going to provide as cover. As sick as I am hearing about this over and over is, I think it’s important it stays in whatever media possible so the non-total-cult public remembers. I just keep thinking about the victims having to stomach this. How long did they talk about HER EMAILS. Somewhere I saw that a chunk of voters this last election supposedly hadn’t heard the “grab them by the” comments because it fell out of media attention.

And watch Mike Johnson on Meet the Press laying the groundwork to accept the pardon idea. Reporter asked him if he would support a pardon and he did gymnastics to try and both sound anti-pedo but pro-Trump. (paraphrasing) “It would give me great pause but I would like to hear what she has to say.” The reporter pointed out how untrustworthy her “truth” would be but he just tried drawing attention back to some “truth” that needs to be known. So obvious the truth is going to be she was “pressured” by evil cabal to lie… until now. The reporter did NOT point out how he shutdown an entire legislative branch just to keep “truth” from coming out. But we all know it is because he and the Trump regime are crafting this dramatic reveal of what Maxwell “reveals.” Johnson can just then recycle his speech about J6 terrorists getting pardons and deserving “redemption” because treason, rape, child trafficking are all forgivable as long as white Christian Nationalist power is furthered.

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drholden3's avatar

Epstein is a great gift to Democrats. But Epstein should not be the only target and the sole issue Dems are relying on to get them out of the predicament in which they have led themselves.

Reposting my earlier suggesttion from Off Comment this morning:

Would it not benefit Democratic credibility as a party willing to fight for honesty and decency in government to single out both Stephen Miller and Russell Vought as the poster boy villains of current Republican rule?

They are running much of the worst aspects of Trump regime policy, are totally lacking in personal appeal or charisma, and seem less capable than Trump of just shrugging off criticisms or defledting blame.

They seem like easy targets with little potential cost. It seems harder for Republicans in Congress to defend supporting the "Miller agenda" or the "Vought agenda" as compared to hiding behind supporting the "Trump agenda" or claiming "this is what the voters said they wanted." No one voted for Stephen Miller.

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David J. Sharp's avatar

Well, that requires backbone and that is way beyond the normal politician’s low bar to get donor

money. Funny how the only loud voices from Democrats are those of the young progressives.

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Michael's avatar

Completely agree.

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Eva Lockhart's avatar

Look at this sniveling coward. He is practically kissing Trump's hand…God, what the hell is wrong with these people???

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Carl Selfe's avatar

We all have to move now—and into action against a harmful government that sponsors pedophiles and covers up for them. The needy and children are being abused—by our government. We must protest in the streets until we go down or we oust tyrants, outright crooks, and pedophiles. I made 33 protest signs, and will make many more to share. You will see something different in these signs! Help yourself to this first batch, and share them as far as you can. https://hotbuttons.substack.com/p/free-protest-signs?r=3m1bs

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Daniel Howley's avatar

Does congress bow to the president?

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Michael's avatar

Judging by the essay photograph, Daniel, they literally do. I've never seen a Speaker bow so deeply to a president.

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Eva Seifert's avatar

In theory, in the Constitution, the Speaker is the president's co-equal. Johnson is anything but. He doesn't dare look at POS, doesn't dare say a word against him, takes his orders from him. Johnson's value is that of a worm hanging on a fish hook to bait who will eat him. He might as well have lain down on the floor and kissed his new god.

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David J. Sharp's avatar

Despite his “piety” Speaker Johnson (and the gang) seem to be accepting male sexual harassment as just a part of being male.

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Michael's avatar

I'm not sure as to what depth he would not sink. But I wouldn't trust Johnson for a moment were I Trump no matter how obsequious he might seem. He has the look of a viper that should not be held too close to the bosom.

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Michael's avatar

To paraphrase Jane Wagner, humans invented politics out of a deep need to complain without having to resort to fighting with stones, clubs and fists.

And democrats have a lot to complain about right now. They're getting hammered and are falling back on all fronts. They think the Epstein scandal may give them a wedge issue, but I think that will badly disappoint them in the end. I just hope they don't bank on it as an all-conquering issue in 2026, just as Kamala counted on the Dobbs decision in 2024.

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Deepak Puri's avatar

DemLabs created these infographics and maps to make it easier to follow the Epstein scandal.

Follow the money behind the Epstein, Trump and Putin connection with this relationship map

https://thedemlabs.org/2025/07/25/epstein-trump-putin-relationship-map/

Mar-a-Lago Crime Scene

https://thedemlabs.org/2025/07/23/mar-a-lago-crime-scene/

Follow the money and billionaires behind Epstein and Trump with this interactive map

https://thedemlabs.org/2025/07/22/follow-the-money-and-billionaires-behind-epstein-and-trump-with-this-interactive-map/

Follow the locations where it went down with the Trump — Epstein Scandal Map

https://thedemlabs.org/2025/07/19/trump-epstein-scandal-map-timeline-relationship-network/

Follow the Trump — Epstein Timeline with this interactive chart.

https://thedemlabs.org/2025/07/16/trump-epstein-timeline/

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MPT's avatar

Wow. 'Democratic representatives are actually fighting. And, lo and behold, sometimes when you fight, you win.' The last time dems fought the status quo was during the LBJ Eera with voting and civil rights, along with Medicare and Medicaid. Maybe dems have been sucker punched enough times that they have finally woken up from their drowsy fog of trying to please everyone and pleasing no one. Why do republicans hold the house, senate, presidency, scotus and most state legislatures? Because dems suck ay fighting. They play patty cake with the bully all the time and them go home crying because the republicans didn't play fair.

Maybe even feeble dems can understand that keeping trump tied to Epstein is important. And then they can always do their usual kitchen table to-do list. They might convince themselves that they can walk Epstein and chew economics at the same time. That would be a welcomed change of pace for dems... They might even gain some respect for fighting! A person can at least hope, can't they?

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David J. Sharp's avatar

Oh, Mikey! It’s one thing to condone sexual harassment - hey, they’re just broads and a man gotta do what a man gotta do - but child molestation? How does that mot obliterate the concept of male superiority? WWJD?

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