What’cha Doin’ JD?
The Long Twilight Struggle is a newsletter focused on opposing authoritarianism, Christian nationalism, corruption, tech broligarchs, and wrongful convictions. I also share comments about other stories I’ve found interesting in politics, sports, and culture.
In this edition:
- It’s about time that all of the connections between Trump and Epstein are making news; I was skeptical about a conspiracy theory involving Vice President Vance and the Murdochs until Trump made a post today; thoughts about law enforcement using AI to make false arrests, Peter Thiel’s Antichrist theology; Hulk Hogan was a racist scab; clearing my tabs; and what’s giving me hope!
Here we go. I’m glad you’re here.
“It might be helpful for you to know that you are not alone. And that in the long, twilight struggle which lies ahead of us, there is the possibility of hope.” “The Long Twilight Struggle.” Babylon 5, created and written by J. Michael Straczynski, Season 2, Episode 20, 1995.
Leading Off
MAGA has a solid motivation for its anger about the Jeffrey Epstein scandal. His crimes demonstrate how elite and powerful individuals frequently escape accountability for their actions while officials ignore the victims.
After all, how was Epstein able to operate his sex trafficking ring for so long? Why did Epstein receive a sweetheart nonprosecution agreement from the Department of Justice in 2008?
Was the DOJ told to make a deal? Vicky Ward, who has been writing about Epstein since 2003, reported that the U.S. attorney in charge of making that plea deal, Alexander Acosta, told Trump transition officials that he “was told Epstein ‘belonged to intelligence’ and to leave it alone,” while preparing for his 2019 Secretary of Labor confirmation hearings.
And some people wonder why people want to get to the bottom of what the hell has been going on with Epstein and the government? Where are the files that the Trump Regime promised?
I have been frustrated for years that the MAGA cultists have ignored President Trump’s long-time connection with Jeffrey Epstein.
There is overwhelming evidence that Trump and Epstein were close friends. As Nina Burleigh explains in a post that summarizes what we know about Epstein and Trump’s interactions, “More than half of all the photos of Epstein in the Getty archive between 1987 and 2004 seem to be with Trump or at Mar-a-Lago.” Virginia Giuffre, Prince Andrew’s late accuser, was working as a locker room attendant at Mar-a-Lago when Ghislaine Maxwell recruited her.
People have been reposting their previously largely ignored reports on BlueSky and other social media sites. And if you are online at all, you’ve seen the collages of all of the photos of Trump, Epstein, and Maxwell together. Media outlets have been unearthing new photos and videos of them together at events—including Trump’s 1993 wedding to Marla Maples.
It is useless to complain today about the lack of this kind of media follow-up at any point since Trump came down that golden escalator in 2015. (So, let me take a deep and cleansing breath.)
However, we are witnessing how the media can prioritize a story when they choose to do so. We see how the media can keep a story on its front pages and keep advancing it with follow-up reporting.
But after all the scandals involving Trump: why this story? Are publications keeping it alive because people across the political spectrum (and not just liberals) are angry at what they see? Do we finally have a Trump scandal they are willing to flood the zone to cover because they can’t be accused of liberal bias since MAGAites are also upset?
Well, yeah, duh.
It’s about time. The victims deserved this kind of serious coverage long before now.
So, About the Vice President
In the midst of all the coverage of the president and his inelegant attempts to cover up his relationship with Epstein, there was a news nugget that I want to make sure we don’t overlook.
It may be nothing. But given JD Vance’s—and his patron, Peter Thiel’s—ambitions, it is notable how the Vice President has been a bit cagey in his support of Trump throughout the past week.
Jonathan V. Last explains how Vance has been hedging his support of Trump since Elon Musk went rogue at the beginning of June. Vance didn’t condemn Musk at the time. He didn’t express full support for the Iran bombing. And he’s refused to say that Trump has no connections to Epstein. Given the many other instances where Vance has willingly denied reality, I agree with Last that these are posts worth noting.
Right after the Trump-Musk falling out, Vance went to Montana for a secret meeting with Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch. There was confusion this week about whether there were one or two meetings, and whether the potential second meeting happened after the Wall Street Journal published its scoop about the profane birthday letter Trump allegedly wrote to Epstein.
After clarifications, it appears that there was just one secret meeting among them on June 10. But why was Vance meeting with the Murdochs after Musk provided the initial fire to the Epstein-Trump connection’s flames? Given Vance’s refusal to fully support Trump the past few weeks, was that meeting an attempt by Vance to solidify connections in case Trump is unable to survive this attack?
Even more intriguing, I wonder if Vance was actually pushing the story forward since the tech broligarchs—like Thiel and Musk—are his primary supporters?
Yeah, that may be a bit far-fetched. And after the clarification of the Vance-Murdoch meeting’s timeline, I grew more skeptical of this conspiracy.
That is, until today, when President Trump posted this on his knockoff social media site:
I could go down a rabbit hole here about how Trump’s altered image here does not support his false claim that Obama is a traitor. (I’ll just note that Trump has previously said that he thought Simpson was framed and O.J. was not driving the Bronco, so how does this make his deranged case that Obama is guilty?)
Anyway, what I’m most interested in about this sloppy and racist altered photo is the image of Vance in the police car on the left. Adam Parkhomenko enhanced the photo of Vance in a BlueSky post.
That’s a version of the Babyface Vance meme. No, it is not a compliment.
Donald Trump is one of the all-time great social media trolls. He is also quick to take offense at people who he feels are not 100 percent loyal to him.
Given Trump’s history, I believe the use of the Babyface Vance meme is not a mistake. Whether or not Vance is doing something sneaky, it’s pretty clear that Trump is taking a shot across the bow of his Vice President.
And I am left to wonder why.
No, none of this is normal.
Tabs I Closed Above
- Is JD Vance Out to Destroy Trump? (Jonathan V. Last, The Bulwark, Link to Article)
- Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein: A Timeline of Their Long Bromance (Nina Burleigh, American Freakshow, Link to Article)
- Jeffrey Epstein’s Friends Sent Him Bawdy Letters for a 50th Birthday Album. One Was From Donald Trump. (By Khadeeja Safdar and Joe Palazzolo, Wall Street Journal, Link to Article)
- Virginia Giuffre: What we know about Prince Andrew's accuser (BBC, Link to Article)
- “I Was Told Epstein ‘Belonged to Intelligence’ And to Leave It Alone.” (Josh Marshall, Talking Points Memo, Link to Article)
- Jeffrey Epstein's Former Prosecutors Used 'Poor Judgment' In Deal, DOJ Says (Jaclyn Diaz, National Public Radio, Link to Article)
Authoritarianism
- Tulsi Gabbard’s Dangerous Disinformation Campaign Against America (David Corn, Mother Jones, Link to Article)
The Trump Regime’s war against former President Obama and members of his administration is based on a series of fabrications. Here’s how far she had to sink to get back into Trump’s good graces. - Woman says 'pro-life' Texas Republican paid for multiple abortions (Laura Bassett, Nightcap, Link to Article)
The Texas state representative who wrote the state’s abortion campaign ended his reelection campaign this week after admitting a 17-year affair with a woman who says he paid for several abortions. These are the people stripping women of their rights. - The intolerable memes of Alligator Alcatraz (Gaby Del Valle, The Verge, Link to Article)
I am old enough to remember when the consensus was that concentration camps were not funny. And make no mistake, what is happening in Florida is a concentration camp. There must be consequences for this cruelty. - I Watched It Happen in Hungary. Now It’s Happening Here. (David Pressman, The New York Times, Link to Article)
A former ambassador to Hungary explains how Trump is running Victor Orbán’s playbook to sideline the press as part of his authoritarian attempt.
Christian Nationalism
- If MAGA Is So Upset About Epstein, They Should Hear About Baptists! (Evan Hurst, The Moral High Ground, Link to Article)
Evan Hurst provides his latest monthly update of the “Christian” pastors, priests, youth leaders, teachers, and others who have been arrested or convicted of sex crimes against minors. He’s up to 125 through the first half of the year. - Trump and the Catholic Church Fight a Law Requiring Clergy to Report Child Abuse (Alex Ashley, Rolling Stone, Link to Article)
Given everything else going on with Trump right now, it certainly is interesting that he is opposing a vital effort to protect children from abusers. Catholic doctrine about confessions is not more important than the safety of children.
Corruption
- Trump, Epstein, and the WWE Ring Boys (Karim Zidan, Sports Politika, Link to Article)
While we are discussing Donald Trump’s connections to pedophiles, let’s not forget the World Wrestling Entertainment ring boy scandal cover-up allegations involving his Education Secretary, Linda McMahon.
Tech Broligarchs
- Stop Pretending Chatbots Have Feelings: Media's Dangerous AI Anthropomorphism Problem (Parker Molloy, The Present Age, Link to Article)
The media needs to stop misleading the public about how it is covering artificial intelligence. Large language models are unable to engage in self-reflection. The real story, as Molloy explains, is the tech broligarchy’s failure to implement basic safety measures before releasing these programs to the public. Our reporters should stop being cheerleaders for corporate negligence. - Peter Thiel and the Antichrist (Interview of Peter Thiel by Ross Douthat, The New York Times, Link to Article)
Given his connections to Vice President JD Vance, and as the closest thing we have to an intellectual leader of the tech broligarchs, understanding Peter Thiel’s bizarre worldview is vital. - Is Peter Thiel the Antichrist? NYT Didn’t Think to Ask (Gil Duran, The Nerd Reich, Link to Article)
Thiel thinks climate emergency activist Greta Thunberg is the Antichrist because, well, because he is a bizarre man. However, his wealth and connections make him an influential figure. As Duran writes, “The whole DOGE destruction of government? Thiel wanted to do that during the first Trump term. Curtis Yarvin’s influence over the Republican Party? Thiel funded him and pushed his ideas for decades. Vice President JD Vance? Thiel funded his entire career and political rise.”
Wrongful Convictions and False Allegations
- California cops are breaking surveillance laws. Who’s going to stop them? (Tomoki Chien, The San Francisco Standard, Link to Article)
It’s well past time for the police agencies breaking this law to be held accountable. No more letters of concern. The stakes are too high given what other states are trying to do to criminalize women traveling to other states for abortions and reproductive health services. Time for bad cops to go to jail. We need to see California Attorney General Rob Bonta and his team make this issue a higher priority. - Police Use Busted Facial Recognition System, Arrest Random Man and Accuse Him of Horrible Crime (Joe Wilkins, Futurism, Link to Article)
Here’s another example of law enforcement’s misuse of facial recognition systems leading to a wrongful arrest. It is well past time to establish safeguards as these tools become more prevalent.
Other Reflections
- Hulk Hogan, Trump idol and enemy of the free press, dead at 71 (Josephine Riesman, The Handbasket, Link to Article)
Oh, how Hogan deserves this fuckeulogy. The line between Peter Thiel using Hogan to destroy Gawker and our current authoritarian hellscape is quite short. Oligarchs destroying media outlets and demanding huge payments is bad for a democracy. - Hulk Hogan Was a Racist, Liar, and Scab (Dave Zirin, The Nation, Link to Article)
I love it when the headline is to the point. No, I won’t be celebrating such a legacy. - Hulk Hogan Was A Racist Scab, And Now He's Dead (Robyn Pennacchia, Wonkette, Link to Article)
I thought I would say it louder for the people in the back.
The Possibility of Hope
- I am encouraged by the people who are opposing the ongoing mass deportation efforts by confronting the secret police agents who are taking people off our streets. We need them to feel shame for doing their secret work behind masks and unmarked cars.
What’s giving you hope? Please e-mail me at craig@thelongtwilightstruggle.com.
Post-Game Comments
Today’s Thought from my Readwise collection:
“Consider how this evasion plays out in our current discourse:
We don’t say “Trump is implementing fascist policies.” We say “Trump’s approach raises concerns about democratic norms.”
We don’t say “Republicans are supporting mass deportation operations.” We say “There are disagreements about immigration enforcement strategies.”
We don’t say “Conservative media spreads lies designed to enable authoritarianism.” We say “Different sources present different perspectives on complex issues.”
We don’t say “MAGA supporters have chosen to enable fascism.” We say “There are legitimate grievances driving political polarization.”
Each euphemism makes the reality a little less clear, a little less urgent, a little less morally demanding. Each hedge creates space for people to avoid confronting what they’re witnessing or participating in. Each refusal to name plainly is a small act of collaboration with the forces that depend on confusion to operate." (Mike Brock, The Moral Imperative of Clear Language, TechDirt, July 1, 2025)”
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Thank you for reading my newsletter. Please let me know what you think about what you’ve read—and send me things you’ve found interesting or are giving you hope today! You can email me at craig@thelongtwilightstruggle.com.
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On January 6, 2021, Donald Trump instigated a violent insurrection against the United States government. Here’s a video from the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol that one can review if their memory fades.
People were hurt and police officers died protecting the Capitol. Vice President Pence and other elected officials just barely escaped danger. Our national streak of peaceful transfers of power ended.
It was not, as Trump claims, a “day of love.” And we must resist his efforts to rewrite the history of that dark day.
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