I completely disagree with your observation that you “couldn’t help but feel that the women (who spoke to the media in front of the Capitol) were being used.” A more compassionate and less judgmental observation would be that this was the first time those women, en masse, had a forum in which to be heard. Your view cheapens their courage. It’s disappointing, Gabe.
Hi Dave, my goal with that statement wasn’t to pass judgement on the women themselves. I agree it’s courageous to speak out on sexual abuse. I was passing judgement on the people (in both parties and in the media) suddenly listening to the women’s stories only to serve their own ends.
Yes, Gabe, I figured your primary point was a critique of the agendas of both political parties and the media who were using (and abusing) the event. But you could have balanced that viewpoint with a touch of sympathy and a show of respect for the women and all they’ve been through. Simply a matter of balance, my friend.
I also had a problem with your comment, Gabe. Yes, it's true that only NOW they are listening to these women's stories. The sad truth is that violence against women is dismissed over and over and over again. (Read _No Visible Bruises_, by Snyder.) Another sad truth is that until now these women had no way to have a voice or find each other or have anyone believe them and understand their trauma.
So, yes, some leaders are using them to some degree for their own purposes. I also think there's plenty of appropriate concern for what they've been through and the extent of these un-investigated and unpunished crimes that include many prominent men. What do you think are MTG's motives? She has everything to lose by standing for the victims.
I read a lot news. Yet, I had no idea of the magnitude of Epstein and Maxwell's trafficking that was going on until now. It is truly shocking. Only Julie Brown (a woman) really cared to report on the magnitude of the crimes. Yet for various sad reasons the extent of the criminality and abuse didn't hit mainstream news.
So, now these women are finally being heard and believed. And people are really seeing how sickening Epstein was and Maxwell still is. And we are finally seeing the scope of the racket, how many wealthy, prominent men knew and participated. And how much money was trading hands, approaching $1B. (I'm setting aside the talk about arms trafficking and influence peddling.) And the ONLY person that has been held to account is Maxwell (a woman), and now she's getting special treatment.
In summary, these women were not heard before because powerful people quashed the story and no one else cared. I'm really glad they're getting their opportunity to speak. So, I think your comment is just out of place.
Off topic: Steve Vladeck wrote a dynamite post this morning gaging how the courts have reined in the Trump administration to a significant, but limited degree. He allowed me to restock the post on my sub stack where you can read it for free:
I do wish you had described Epstein’s victims as having been exploited in lieu of “used.” That aside, this edition sparked a rare and precious glimmer of hope, thank you for your outstanding reporting!
Long time reader (since your HS days), first time commenting, but I’ve been turning people on to your work since waaay back. Keep at it Gabe, we need your voice!
Sure, Democrats are using the Epstein victims, but the victims also needed a forum that people will see and Congressional displays are more likely to be seen. But do you think that the fact that the stake holders in this democracy, the voters, pay so little attention to the horrors of Epstein or Congressional manipulation to get rich that they have to resort to this? Do you think that those same people go to any effort to find the truth beyond the show? If you want to write about something why not write about the causes of our lousy participation in our own democracy, like the 17% primary turnout where I live in August.
It seems weird to repeatedly call out politicians in this post for using the Epstein issue for their own benefit. When are politicians *not* publicly hammering an issue because they think it will benefit themselves? It seems like this issue is getting special treatment, because otherwise every article would be filled with the same callouts.
Stop trying to assess whether politicians are sincere—there’s very little sincerity ever in politics, they’re pulled in too many directions. You need to read Garry Wills’ great essay “Politicians,” in The Confessions of a Conservative.
But sincerity hardly matters: what matters is what they *do*—which we don’t have to guess at.
Hi Gabe - I was bothered by your article from yesterday about the Epstein survivors who spoke up. I don’t feel that they are being used at all. These women have been waiting for decades to have their stories heard and believed. Alex Acosta swept them all under the rug, and they’ve lain there for years. Trump and Pam Bondi brought all this back to the surface, by making promises during the campaign, by saying the report was on Bondi’s desk, and then by refusing to release it. If you listened to any of them speak after the press conference, they expressed relief at finally joining together and telling their stories, and they expressed hope that the rich and powerful will finally be brought to justice. I say: bring it on! Convict every one of them who was involved, Republicans and Democrats alike!
"As I stood there, though, I couldn’t help but feel that the women were being used: by Democrats, who view the issue as a way to attack Donald Trump; by Republicans, who see the issue as a way to advance various conspiracy theories; by the media, whose questions to the women focused mainly on the president." You're right. Most politicians act primarily to get reelected and to sway elections in their party's favor, or at least away from the opposing party. This is nothing new. However, I'll piggyback on @DaveKagan's comment: These women NEEDED the opportunity to tell their truths to the public at large. They were robbed of the chance to do so in a courtroom when Epstein took the cowardly way out, or was murdered. They were there among a supportive group of fellow victims, finally given a microphone. Men cannot understand the damage such violation of one's person causes, a burden that one never forgets and that will never go away, but that may be lightened a bit, even if these women realize that perhaps only the other victims who were there heard and understood their pain. THE VICTIMS should be the focus of the push to publish the files. We should know who the other perpetrators were. I read that the victims may be collaborating to create their own list, and I hope they do.
were there better, token media-friendly congressional members to perform this latest political show? if those representatives with opposing views can work together to potentially pass something that will help others and reduce cronyism or corruption a little bit, instead of digging deeper trenches like the online groups they are representative of, that's a win. they've been talking about it for a while anyway. besides, the more they find common ground to potentially defeat the shitgibbon, the merrier
Questioning the reasoning for holding a press conference for women speaking out against a criminal implies a level of complicity by the women. I think the phrase is victim shaming, and should have no place here.
Didn’t I hear that Marjorie Taylor Greene made a killing off stock trades at the beginning of Trump’s on again/off again tariffs?
It would be interesting to know how her personal stock portfolio has fared during her congressional tenure. Amazing she’s right in front of the cameras for this particular bill.
I completely disagree with your observation that you “couldn’t help but feel that the women (who spoke to the media in front of the Capitol) were being used.” A more compassionate and less judgmental observation would be that this was the first time those women, en masse, had a forum in which to be heard. Your view cheapens their courage. It’s disappointing, Gabe.
Hi Dave, my goal with that statement wasn’t to pass judgement on the women themselves. I agree it’s courageous to speak out on sexual abuse. I was passing judgement on the people (in both parties and in the media) suddenly listening to the women’s stories only to serve their own ends.
Yes, Gabe, I figured your primary point was a critique of the agendas of both political parties and the media who were using (and abusing) the event. But you could have balanced that viewpoint with a touch of sympathy and a show of respect for the women and all they’ve been through. Simply a matter of balance, my friend.
I also had a problem with your comment, Gabe. Yes, it's true that only NOW they are listening to these women's stories. The sad truth is that violence against women is dismissed over and over and over again. (Read _No Visible Bruises_, by Snyder.) Another sad truth is that until now these women had no way to have a voice or find each other or have anyone believe them and understand their trauma.
So, yes, some leaders are using them to some degree for their own purposes. I also think there's plenty of appropriate concern for what they've been through and the extent of these un-investigated and unpunished crimes that include many prominent men. What do you think are MTG's motives? She has everything to lose by standing for the victims.
I read a lot news. Yet, I had no idea of the magnitude of Epstein and Maxwell's trafficking that was going on until now. It is truly shocking. Only Julie Brown (a woman) really cared to report on the magnitude of the crimes. Yet for various sad reasons the extent of the criminality and abuse didn't hit mainstream news.
So, now these women are finally being heard and believed. And people are really seeing how sickening Epstein was and Maxwell still is. And we are finally seeing the scope of the racket, how many wealthy, prominent men knew and participated. And how much money was trading hands, approaching $1B. (I'm setting aside the talk about arms trafficking and influence peddling.) And the ONLY person that has been held to account is Maxwell (a woman), and now she's getting special treatment.
In summary, these women were not heard before because powerful people quashed the story and no one else cared. I'm really glad they're getting their opportunity to speak. So, I think your comment is just out of place.
Off topic: Steve Vladeck wrote a dynamite post this morning gaging how the courts have reined in the Trump administration to a significant, but limited degree. He allowed me to restock the post on my sub stack where you can read it for free:
Bonus 176: Law, Lawlessness, and Doomerism
Guest post by Professor Steve Vladeck
https://kathleenweber.substack.com/p/bonus-176-law-lawlessness-and-doomerism
I do wish you had described Epstein’s victims as having been exploited in lieu of “used.” That aside, this edition sparked a rare and precious glimmer of hope, thank you for your outstanding reporting!
Long time reader (since your HS days), first time commenting, but I’ve been turning people on to your work since waaay back. Keep at it Gabe, we need your voice!
Sure, Democrats are using the Epstein victims, but the victims also needed a forum that people will see and Congressional displays are more likely to be seen. But do you think that the fact that the stake holders in this democracy, the voters, pay so little attention to the horrors of Epstein or Congressional manipulation to get rich that they have to resort to this? Do you think that those same people go to any effort to find the truth beyond the show? If you want to write about something why not write about the causes of our lousy participation in our own democracy, like the 17% primary turnout where I live in August.
It seems weird to repeatedly call out politicians in this post for using the Epstein issue for their own benefit. When are politicians *not* publicly hammering an issue because they think it will benefit themselves? It seems like this issue is getting special treatment, because otherwise every article would be filled with the same callouts.
Stop trying to assess whether politicians are sincere—there’s very little sincerity ever in politics, they’re pulled in too many directions. You need to read Garry Wills’ great essay “Politicians,” in The Confessions of a Conservative.
But sincerity hardly matters: what matters is what they *do*—which we don’t have to guess at.
You nailed it
Rep. Pramila Jayapal is a Democrat
Of course the victims will speak out. They are not kids anymore. They are strong, grown women who want justice. They can handle the publicity.
Nice way to "both sides suck" this, kiddo. Your rich parents must be happy Trump cut their taxes
Hi Gabe - I was bothered by your article from yesterday about the Epstein survivors who spoke up. I don’t feel that they are being used at all. These women have been waiting for decades to have their stories heard and believed. Alex Acosta swept them all under the rug, and they’ve lain there for years. Trump and Pam Bondi brought all this back to the surface, by making promises during the campaign, by saying the report was on Bondi’s desk, and then by refusing to release it. If you listened to any of them speak after the press conference, they expressed relief at finally joining together and telling their stories, and they expressed hope that the rich and powerful will finally be brought to justice. I say: bring it on! Convict every one of them who was involved, Republicans and Democrats alike!
"As I stood there, though, I couldn’t help but feel that the women were being used: by Democrats, who view the issue as a way to attack Donald Trump; by Republicans, who see the issue as a way to advance various conspiracy theories; by the media, whose questions to the women focused mainly on the president." You're right. Most politicians act primarily to get reelected and to sway elections in their party's favor, or at least away from the opposing party. This is nothing new. However, I'll piggyback on @DaveKagan's comment: These women NEEDED the opportunity to tell their truths to the public at large. They were robbed of the chance to do so in a courtroom when Epstein took the cowardly way out, or was murdered. They were there among a supportive group of fellow victims, finally given a microphone. Men cannot understand the damage such violation of one's person causes, a burden that one never forgets and that will never go away, but that may be lightened a bit, even if these women realize that perhaps only the other victims who were there heard and understood their pain. THE VICTIMS should be the focus of the push to publish the files. We should know who the other perpetrators were. I read that the victims may be collaborating to create their own list, and I hope they do.
were there better, token media-friendly congressional members to perform this latest political show? if those representatives with opposing views can work together to potentially pass something that will help others and reduce cronyism or corruption a little bit, instead of digging deeper trenches like the online groups they are representative of, that's a win. they've been talking about it for a while anyway. besides, the more they find common ground to potentially defeat the shitgibbon, the merrier
True horseshoe theory is based on shared authoritarian beliefs and behavior
https://terikanefield.com/heres-why/
Great news about the bipartisan stock exchange bill. What’s the temperature on the senate should this bill pass to them?
Questioning the reasoning for holding a press conference for women speaking out against a criminal implies a level of complicity by the women. I think the phrase is victim shaming, and should have no place here.
Didn’t I hear that Marjorie Taylor Greene made a killing off stock trades at the beginning of Trump’s on again/off again tariffs?
It would be interesting to know how her personal stock portfolio has fared during her congressional tenure. Amazing she’s right in front of the cameras for this particular bill.