Trump appears in the Epstein files, President Obama does not.
Trump and the Republicans spend so much time trying to deflect what is becoming a steady stream of bad news for them and their policies these days that there are ricochets flying around everywhere.
Trump’s posts and comments get more twisted the more his schemes are revealed and he is confronted. You need to spin a wheel of fortune to guess what Trump is trying to avoid with each looney word he hopes will become a headline — and often do, thanks to compliant media.
The deflection du jour is the Epstein files, the notoriously salacious and incriminating FBI dossier, and the documents, photographs, drawings and transcripts it is said to contain. Trump and his minions were engaged in such a pronounced build up for the release of the scandalous Epstein files there had to be something there. Right? Mesmerized MAGA conspiracy theorists were salivating at the thought of the world’s most notorious pedo ring of the rich and famous being revealed.
The promises of full disclosure continued after Trump returned to the White House. Asked on Fox News in February whether the Epstein client list would be released, Attorney General Pam Bondi responded, "It's sitting on my desk right now to review. That's been a directive by President Trump." In June, Trump was asked on Fox News, "Would you declassify the Epstein files?" Trump responded, "Yeah, yeah, I would."
Bondi tried to walk back her Epstein list comment, but the damage was done. Trump and Bondi were playing with fire. There was a very high likelihood that Trump’s name and a picture or two would emerge in the Epstein files.
So not so surprisingly but suddenly, on July 12, Trump ordered the MAGA faithful to forget about the Epstein conspiracy. “For years, it’s Epstein, over and over again,” Trump posted on Truth Social. “Why are we giving publicity to Files written by Obama, Crooked Hillary, Comey, Brennan, and the Losers and Criminals of the Biden administration.”
Trump sent MAGA into a confused tirade, threatening to divide the Trump rank and file supporters, who wanted to finally see some names of members of the mythical Deep State they were promised.
For sure, Trump is freaking out about the Epstein files’ MAGA dissenters, but that isn't what’s really put a briar in Trump’s buttocks. No, what is troubling Trump is an underlying rampant ego and ratings-craving existence and predates this Epstein firestorm.
It’s the polls, folks.
In poll after poll, Trump’s numbers are underwater, and they are starting to linger there, suggesting the problem for Trump and his policies is trending with voters. Take a look at the CBS News and YouGov poll taken mid-July:
Some 62% of Americans say prices will rise under Trump
Some 61%of Americans oppose the Trump/GOP Big Beautiful Bill
Some 60% of Americans oppose Trump’s tariffs
Some 57% of Americans disapprove of Trump's handling of Israel-Hamas conflict
Some 51% of Americans oppose Trump immigration policy
And some 89% of Americans say release Epstein files
As MAGA support for Trump has been scrutinized as part of the Epstein fallout, it's the slew of independent voters abandoning Trump that should be giving Trump nightmares. Trump can't hypnotize independent and swing voters with his loony threats and accusations the way he can MAGA.
Axios sums up the polling trends quite succinctly:
“President Trump, in terms of raw accomplishments, crushed his first six months in historic ways. Massive tax cuts. Record-low border crossings. Surging tariff revenue. Stunning air strikes in Iran. Modest inflation,” write Jim VandeHei and Mike Allen in their Behind the Curtain column. “Yet poll after poll suggests most Americans aren't impressed. In fact, they seem tired of all the winning.”
So let’s use this moment and make it last. Nobody helps to involuntarily unite Democrats like Trump, the GOP majority in Congress and Republican governors in staunchly Red States. Their policies drive up costs and create logjams in the supply chain, and their tactics are intended as malicious threats of mayhem. It’s abnormal behavior, and most Americans agree it’s gone far enough and must be stopped.
“Donald Trump is ruining the economy on purpose. He is ruining the economy on purpose,” said Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii). “I'm not sure if there's ever been an American president, let alone a chief executive of any country that has ruined the economy on purpose.”
We need to use this Summer of ‘25 to organize and plan as we head into the off-year elections this fall. Two states, New Jersey and Virginia will choose a new governor, Pennsylvania will hold state supreme court elections, and hundreds of municipalities and counties will vote on local posts, from mayor to town councils. Join a Democratic campaign, they will love to have you, and/or donate to the candidates and PACs that represent your values, so we can elect Democrats at every level. We sure could use your support.
So if preserving democracy is your issue, then get involved, but don’t lose sight that we cannot accomplish your goals if we do not defeat Trump Fascism.
If restoring law and order is your issue, then get involved, but don’t lose sight that we cannot accomplish your goals if we do not defeat Trump Fascism.
If protecting a woman’s right to choose is your issue, then get involved, but don’t lose sight that we cannot accomplish your goals if we do not defeat Trump Fascism.
If the cost of living amid rising prices is your issue, then get involved, but don’t lose sight that we cannot accomplish your goals if we do not defeat Trump Fascism.
If fighting hunger and homelessness is your issue, then get involved, but don’t lose sight that we cannot accomplish your goals if we do not defeat Trump Fascism.
If ending the tariff chaos that threatens business, job creation and enterprise is your issue, then get involved, but don’t lose sight that we cannot accomplish your goals if we do not defeat Trump Fascism.
If protecting education at all levels from Trump/GOP cuts is your issue, like those in the Republicans' Too Big and Anything But Beautiful bill, then get involved, but don’t lose sight that we cannot accomplish your goals if we do not defeat Trump Fascism.
You get the point. “We may have all come on different ships, but we’re in the same boat now,” to quote the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.
There is no compromise to reach with Trump and his malicious policies and his attempt to impose a hardline Scary State government on Americans. We agree that Trump, his fascist regime and allies must be stopped.
"We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented," said Elie Wiesel in his Nobel Acceptance Speech, December 1986, at Oslo City Hall.
To borrow from author Dean Koonz and others, inaction counts as a choice – a really bad choice.
While we have your attention, your support is needed and appreciated to make the goals a reality. Every dollar means we reach more voters. At Left of Center we know how to make your contributions go a very long way. We’re building our war chest bit by bit, so we can hit the ground running. In the coming months we’ll identify our targets and share our goals. If you can kick in a few bucks, we’d be very grateful and you have our solemn promise we won’t waste it. We are proud of our team, our dependable and talented freelancers, like Ken and others who work hard and believe in the difference we make in this space where we move the dial as part of a broad collective effort to elect good people. Thank you again and let's win this one together. With gratitude and clarity of purpose, Deb and Mara