I agree! It's a dense, sometimes rambling discussion, but how could it not be. This is a big web, a giant octopus, the Indian goddess with dozens of arms (Khali?)…. It's hard NOT to mix metaphors, as Ruth was saying. I'm not a “conspiracist” by nature, but show me a bunch of evidence that tumbles the existing wall of bullshit and my eyes might open. Lots of walls tumbling here. “Fascinating and frightening” is what I called it when I just now sent the link to some friends - - but “terrifying” works, too. It's maybe not all new stuff but it's like a Rosetta Stone where a bunch of things are all together. Translation may take a while, but this is a glimpse into how these dark worlds quietly work on such a massive scale, as we little folks toil away, go to the beach, bake cakes, go to kids soccer games, find a plumber to fix the drain… It's worth the time to listen to scholars like this while we still can.
The Epstein files barely scratch the surface. They’re the first cracks in a wall built out of money, greed, power, and those desperate to keep their names buried inside it. The scale of human trafficking and sexual exploitation hidden and protected by the powerful is far beyond what most people can even imagine.
The most disturbing part? The number of individuals who chose silence, distraction, or outright obstruction over accountability including Donald Trump, who’s still trying to stop the release of the remaining files. That silence didn’t just protect predators; it enabled them.
Watergate was nothing compared to this. We had Woodward and Bernstein and the Washington Post for fearless investigation and reporting. Barry Goldwater, a stanch conservative Republican, met with President Nixon to inform him that he must resign or be impeached. The entire process took about two years.
Where I must profoundly disagree with Ruth is exactly to the point that her guest just made: Trump's being in power is not of his own making (he is such an illiterate idiot) , but that of a huge right wing apparatus (Heritage, Leo, Roberts & all) joined by the billionaire techbros who all found the right puppet to carry their agendas (to the point of funding his ballroom) , which, for some, go far beyond fascism. In fact, it's not a right wing apparatus, it is much worse. In their minds the epithet right wing means nothing. Nor does fascism. Ruth: get acquainted with the work of Yanis Varoufakis on what is the present day capitalism and what will happen to the US economy.. Nothing to do with those of the past you so aptly describe who were at odds with their own forms of capitalist control.. Also, to further your great knowledge, get your hands on the book Empire (Hardt and Negri) PS: there are updates to the book. Although the tendencies you describe are the same as those in the past, so to with the strategies, what is at work is much worse. Very different than what you and Applebaum talk about. With my best regards.
When the teens told Teen Model Contest MC Ivanka, who always participated in every one of Trump's evil depraved enterprises, that her daddy was sexually assaulting them she just shrugged and said "Yeah, he does that". The entire repulsive corrupt Trump mob family is dirty.
Everyone should hear this discussion. Fascinating and terrifying. Thank you to Ruth and others for waking us up to a great danger, named Trump!
I agree! It's a dense, sometimes rambling discussion, but how could it not be. This is a big web, a giant octopus, the Indian goddess with dozens of arms (Khali?)…. It's hard NOT to mix metaphors, as Ruth was saying. I'm not a “conspiracist” by nature, but show me a bunch of evidence that tumbles the existing wall of bullshit and my eyes might open. Lots of walls tumbling here. “Fascinating and frightening” is what I called it when I just now sent the link to some friends - - but “terrifying” works, too. It's maybe not all new stuff but it's like a Rosetta Stone where a bunch of things are all together. Translation may take a while, but this is a glimpse into how these dark worlds quietly work on such a massive scale, as we little folks toil away, go to the beach, bake cakes, go to kids soccer games, find a plumber to fix the drain… It's worth the time to listen to scholars like this while we still can.
The Epstein files barely scratch the surface. They’re the first cracks in a wall built out of money, greed, power, and those desperate to keep their names buried inside it. The scale of human trafficking and sexual exploitation hidden and protected by the powerful is far beyond what most people can even imagine.
The most disturbing part? The number of individuals who chose silence, distraction, or outright obstruction over accountability including Donald Trump, who’s still trying to stop the release of the remaining files. That silence didn’t just protect predators; it enabled them.
Thanks to both of you for clearing things up for all of us out there.
“Lying Frump”
He lies when he pees,
He lies eating cheese,
He lies in the morning,
He lies in the breeze!
He lies in December,
He lies in July,
He lies on the ground,
And he lies to the sky!
He lies when he’s chewing,
He lies when he’s tweeting,
He lies when he’s losing,
He lies when he’s beating!
He lies for attention,
He lies for applause,
He lies just because—
Well, he lies just because!
He lies when he’s golfing,
He lies when he’s still,
He lies when he’s scheming,
And always will.
He lies when he whispers,
He lies when he shouts,
He lies so much
That the truth tapped out!
Watergate was nothing compared to this. We had Woodward and Bernstein and the Washington Post for fearless investigation and reporting. Barry Goldwater, a stanch conservative Republican, met with President Nixon to inform him that he must resign or be impeached. The entire process took about two years.
Nixon did not have Fox News
both of you are amazing. Explanation so clear and informative
Where I must profoundly disagree with Ruth is exactly to the point that her guest just made: Trump's being in power is not of his own making (he is such an illiterate idiot) , but that of a huge right wing apparatus (Heritage, Leo, Roberts & all) joined by the billionaire techbros who all found the right puppet to carry their agendas (to the point of funding his ballroom) , which, for some, go far beyond fascism. In fact, it's not a right wing apparatus, it is much worse. In their minds the epithet right wing means nothing. Nor does fascism. Ruth: get acquainted with the work of Yanis Varoufakis on what is the present day capitalism and what will happen to the US economy.. Nothing to do with those of the past you so aptly describe who were at odds with their own forms of capitalist control.. Also, to further your great knowledge, get your hands on the book Empire (Hardt and Negri) PS: there are updates to the book. Although the tendencies you describe are the same as those in the past, so to with the strategies, what is at work is much worse. Very different than what you and Applebaum talk about. With my best regards.
Nothing to see here…
When the teens told Teen Model Contest MC Ivanka, who always participated in every one of Trump's evil depraved enterprises, that her daddy was sexually assaulting them she just shrugged and said "Yeah, he does that". The entire repulsive corrupt Trump mob family is dirty.
I think so! The dam has broken…
Nina is a great writer!
Thank you so much for this! It is wonderful to listen to such a thoughtful and informed discussion of these troubling events.
thank you for helping me grasp this fearful evil
Time for us men to what? ... "Man up"?
Excellent dialogue- Dr. Rick Lippin