Jeffrey Epstein’s longtime assistant, Lesley Groff, disclosed during a closed-door committee interview that she arranged several phone calls between Epstein and Donald Trump prior to Trump’s presidency. Groff, who worked for Epstein for approximately 18 years, stated that while the calls were infrequent, they did occur. Groff also sought to distance herself from Epstein’s criminal activities, describing him as a “monster” and a “master manipulator.” Despite her claims of ignorance regarding Epstein’s abuses, some panel members and survivors expressed skepticism about her assertions.
Read More
During a recent Pride Gala, U.S. Rep. Sarah McBride addressed the South Carolina Republican gubernatorial primary, where her colleague, Rep. Nancy Mace, faced a significant defeat, finishing a distant fifth. McBride, who has been a frequent target of Mace’s anti-transgender rhetoric, offered a brief, pointed remark: “Happy Pride, Nancy.” This moment of political role reversal garnered a standing ovation from attendees, highlighting the contrast between Mace’s public criticism and McBride’s measured response. Despite Mace’s efforts to position herself as a prominent voice against transgender rights, her electoral performance suggests a shift in political fortune.
Read More
President Trump has continued his pattern of questioning election results, even in seemingly straightforward races. Following a L.A. mayoral runoff where Republican Spencer Pratt initially led but was overtaken by Democrat Nithya Raman as mail-in ballots were counted, Trump claimed the outcome was impossible and indicative of a “3rd World Nation.” This aligns with his past baseless accusations of fraud in the 2020 election and his continued attempts to erode public faith in the electoral process. Despite legislative efforts and executive orders aimed at altering election processes being met with legal challenges and expert condemnation, Trump’s strategy appears focused on sowing chaos by promoting claims of fraudulent results, a tactic that foreshadows his potential reaction to future election outcomes.
Read More
Pete Hegseth’s attempts to “simplify” the military’s religious coding system have inadvertently exposed the exclusionary nature of Christian nationalism. By reducing religious designations to 31 from 211, and granting Christians multiple subcategories while others receive only one, Hegseth signaled a hierarchy that marginalized non-Christian faiths and even excluded Mormons from the “Christian” label. This move, driven by Christian nationalist inclinations, backfired by revealing the deep divisions within Christianity itself, a stark contrast to the unified “Christian nation” often promoted by its proponents. Ultimately, this episode demonstrates that the pursuit of Christian nationalist power is not only about excluding non-Christians but also about the potential marginalization of various Christian factions.
Read More
Power demands constant scrutiny, particularly in areas like immigration, government spending, and the suppression of dissent. This publication is committed to holding those in positions of authority accountable for their actions and decisions. Membership directly supports the vital work of asking difficult questions and pursuing truth, regardless of where it leads.
Read More
Nine months into the Trump administration’s campaign against suspected drug boats, a pattern of over 60 attacks resulting in more than 200 extrajudicial killings has emerged. The anomaly lies in the first strike on September 2, 2025, which resulted in 11 deaths, prompting questions about the unusually large crew. Military officials have suggested these individuals may have been victims of human trafficking or other forms of illicit cargo, raising concerns about the accuracy of targeting protocols and the potential for civilian casualties.
Read More
Proposed Postal Service rules present states with a critical decision: share voter lists with the Trump administration or risk the delivery of mail-in ballots. These rules stem from an executive order directing Homeland Security to compile state-specific citizenship lists, raising significant concerns about potential voter roll purges. Election officials suggest this is an attempt to acquire voter data after similar Justice Department requests were denied by courts. If upheld, this could grant the federal government an unprecedented role in elections and place sensitive voter information in the hands of administration officials.
Read More
Vice President JD Vance has echoed concerns from Donald Trump and other MAGA figures regarding the Los Angeles mayoral primary. Vance stated that it appears “pretty shady” that Republican candidate Spencer Pratt was overtaken by Democrat Nithya Raman as mail-in ballots, historically favored by Democrats, were counted. The assertion is that the lengthy counting process, including the late arrival of ballots, seems to have engineered a Democrat-versus-Democrat runoff, raising questions about the election’s integrity.
Read More
House Democrats, with the support of 20 Republicans, successfully passed the Faster Labor Contracts Act, a bill aimed at expediting first-time contract negotiations for newly formed unions. This legislation, spearheaded by Rep. Donald Norcross, bypasses GOP leadership through a discharge petition, compelling a floor vote on the measure. The bill amends the National Labor Relations Act to mandate employers begin negotiations within 10 days of a union’s request and establishes timelines for mediation and resolution. While supporters believe it ensures employers negotiate in good faith, opponents argue it represents federal overreach. A companion bill has been introduced in the Senate, though its future remains uncertain.
Read More
The federal government, through actions taken by the FCC and the President, appears to be exceeding constitutional bounds by using regulatory pressure and intimidation to silence speech it dislikes. This approach, exemplified by the scrutiny of ABC and Jimmy Kimmel’s commentary, goes beyond prohibiting direct censorship to employing indirect coercion, a practice deemed unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. Such weaponization of regulatory power, regardless of the content of the speech, erodes First Amendment protections and sets a dangerous precedent for future administrations.
Read More
John Q. Hosedrinker