110 Comments
User's avatar
Steve Forman's avatar

Let’s hope the Judge does not fall for any last minute delays.

The Peaceful Solution-Plan B's avatar

Trump Knows: Midterms Won’t Matter

From Axios, August 2, 2026

“President Trump doesn't much care if Republicans lose the House and/or the Senate in the midterms this fall.

• Yes, he'd prefer a big win, but he seems indifferent to the election and the possibility of endless Democratic investigations of his family, wealth and policies, his closest advisers tell us.

• A big reason: Trump knows he'll emerge just as strong, or even stronger, heading into his final two years, at least among Republicans.

Why it matters: Trump will enjoy a more pro-Trump Republican Congress, win or lose; gleefully play '28 kingmaker and further test the boundaries of presidential power beyond legislating, his preferred method anyway. He'll use pardons to protect his people, the advisers say.”

Three dramas to watch post-November:

1. Trump will flirt with running again in '28 until the bitter end, but it's all about PR and keeping Vance and Rubio in their place.

2. As potential outside-the-walls competition in '28, the White House is watching Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Sen. Ted Cruz (Texas) and Sen. Josh Hawley (Mo.).

Most importantly: A constitutional clash over congressional oversight, among the last and most vital powers lawmakers hold dear. What happens if Trump orders his entire administration, family and friends to just ignore Congress?”

From The Peaceful Solution:

The Midterms Will Not Solve the Problem

Most Americans disapprove of His Royal Heinous, but they are looking for an easy solution. One that will not require even a small sacrifice on their part, or any disruption to their life.

They are putting too much faith in what the midterms will do. The midterms may have a beneficial psychologic effect but in reality the outcome will have little or no practical effect, unless the Dems can get 2/3 majority in the house and senate, which they won’t. They will not be able to undo anything His Royal Heinous has done or pass new legislation, because of his veto power.

There will be investigations if the Dems take the House, but to what end. HRH will pardon all perpetrators, and they know it.

They will impeach HRH, but we’ve seen that movie twice before. Convicted in the senate and removed from office? Please.

He will continue to rule by “National Emergency“ and Executive Orders .

The greatest danger in all this is that it will appear that something beneficial is happening. The majority of people will believe the system is working. After about a year they will realize that nothing is changing. Then they will think, Oh well, he’ll be gone after the election next year.

Or will he? It took the Hungarians 16 years to get rid of Orban, and the Project 2025 people will certainly not make the same mistakes that Orban did.

What can we do?

We, the people, still have the power of the purse. No one can control our spending, or lack of spending. The other peaceful options are failing. Time is of the essence. The longer the fascist takeover goes on, the more difficult it will be to undo.

We must go on a spending strike until the business community stops supporting His Royal Heinous and the politicians who enable him.

Nearly 70% of the U.S. economy is driven by consumer spending. You and me. Hobble the economy and the stock market.

Economic warfare is the only thing the oligarchs, the business community, will understand and act on. Call it a Surreptitious General Strike (Quiet Quitting). Go to work, do as little as possible. Stop spending money except on essentials. Quit feeding the corporate beast that supports HRH.

Please: Resist. Stop cooperating. Stop spending. Stop the fascist takeover.

Thank you for restacking, and sharing, to help Spread the Word!

Joyce's avatar

Nothing like taking away any glimmer of hope. At this rate, people won't have any money to spend by then as many are having a hard time now with buying essentials. Speaking for myself, I have never thought it was my job to keep the billionaires, billionaires. Frankly, I'd love to see them close to penniless - the state they are hoping we attain.

MY hope for f47 is the BBO, likely most are waiting for. Should that happen, Vance, aka the couch guy not to be confused with the pillow guy, will not likely be voted in as president when elections do occur. Rubio really isn't any better.

Connie Larsen's avatar

I just don’t see couch cougar or lil marco moving up! Move‘em out!!! With the lil nazi miller, vought et al!

Joyce's avatar

Yep, move 'em out.

The Peaceful Solution-Plan B's avatar

Reality often sucks, but if you read my comment to the end you’ll see the hope.

Joyce's avatar

I did read it to the end twice.

Tessa Jackson's avatar

Ben and Katie this is such a great conversation- thank you.

DJT_1946-2025's avatar

How do you figure Democrats have the power of the purse??

The Peaceful Solution-Plan B's avatar

They don’t. We the People do.

Debi Willis's avatar

I totally agree with this thats why we need section2 article 4

Terry's avatar

It's Article II Section 4 for future reference 😊

Debi Willis's avatar

Yep...i knew that didn't sound right in my head😅

Deborah Crawford's avatar

With laws broken in every direction and the structural damage to the nation's architecture (including the garish Oval Office decorating) how is it possible that there is no way out?

The Peaceful Solution-Plan B's avatar

The Peaceful Solution-Part 1

How much do you want to stop His Royal Heinous and the fascist takeover of the country?

Enough that you’re willing to make a small sacrifice? Like altering your spending habits for a month or two or three? That could be all it would take to get the attention of the oligarchs (formerly known as The Robber Barons in the first Gilded Age, also The Fat Cats, The Greedy Bastards).

A brief demonstration of We, the People’s, power of the purse could persuade them to quit supporting HRH and the politicians who enable him.

We quit spending, except on essentials, businesses lose money, stock market goes down, Greedy Bastards pay attention to our demands.

Greedy Bastards own most of the politicians of both major parties. GBs start losing money, tell politicians to change course and do what We, the People want.

We are running out of peaceful options. The legislature and Supreme Court are controlled by HRH. He controls the executive branch, including the Military, Justice Department, FBI, ICE, the IRS. He controls all levers of power.

We, the people, still have the power of the purse. No one can control our spending, or lack of spending. When all else fails we can go on a spending strike until the business community stops supporting HRH and the politicians who enable him.

Economic warfare is the only thing the oligarchs, the business community will understand and act on. Call it a Surreptitious General Strike (Quiet Quitting). Go to work, do as little as possible. Stop spending money except on essentials. Quit feeding the corporate beast that supports the HRH.

Stop participating. Nearly 70% of the U.S. economy is driven by consumer spending. All of us. Hobble the economy and the stock market. Mahatma Gandhi drove the British from India by peaceful civil disobedience and economic disruption. We can stop the fascist takeover in  the same way.

We can keep rehashing past and present atrocities until our access to the internet is taken away by the regime, or we can DO something!

Please: Resist. Stop cooperating. Stop spending. Stop the fascist takeover.

Thank you for restacking, and sharing, to help Spread the Word!

Carolyn Anderson's avatar

Does Todd Blanches nomination flush your case down the toilet, hope not.

Terry's avatar

There's some of that I believe, especially of trump saying he'll run again in 2028, because he's already said it. But this comes from Axios, the same place that maga cultist who's always tweeting out trump's greatest lies, Barack Ravid. I won't read Axios because of his dumbass. I don't believe the whole place anymore if they employ a liar like Ravid.

Case in point, his latest tweet:

"A diplomat from one of the mediating countries told me Iranian negotiators are waiting for final approvals from the Iranian supreme national security council about the deal with Oman and the US. "We expect this approval soon", the diplomat said." ‐ Barack Ravid Aug 7, 2026

He's always claiming "sources". What sources? "US Official". What US Official?

The Peaceful Solution-Plan B's avatar

Axios is generally rated as having a lean-left political bias and high factual credibility by major media watchdog organizations. [1, 2]

Political Bias

• AllSides: Rates Axios as Lean Left, citing story choices and framing on cultural and social topics that tend to favor a progressive or liberal perspective. [1]

• Media Bias/Fact Check (MBFC): Categorizes Axios as Left-Center, noting a slight-to-moderate liberal slant in story selection alongside a strong factual record. [1]

• Editorial Approach: Axios explicitly avoids traditional opinion columns and promotes a direct, "clinical" style of reporting. However, critics argue that subtle biases still emerge through the selection of topics and word choices. [1, 2, 3, 4]

Factual Credibility

• High Factual Reporting: Watchdog groups consistently award Axios high marks for accurate sourcing, transparency, and a lack of failed fact-checks. [1]

• Reporting Style: Known for its signature "Smart Brevity" format, the outlet focuses on delivering concise, direct news summaries rather than sensationalized narratives

Terry's avatar

They employ Ravid, who's an avid trump mouthpiece.

"Axios reporter Barak Ravid faces criticism and credibility questions on social media for publishing direct, unverified claims from Donald Trump regarding Middle East negotiations. Critics argue that passing along these unfiltered statements acts as a mouthpiece for Trump rather than objective journalism, while Ravid maintains he is simply reporting high-level scoops from a primary source."

There's also this:

Barak Ravid Has Unusual Access to Trump. But at What Cost? https://share.google/cstuI0czDssoSmKNE

bLUEduRham's avatar

Stop discouraging people from voting. FFS.

The Peaceful Solution-Plan B's avatar

I’m not discouraging people from voting. I’m trying to look beyond the election. HRH is going to continue operating as before unless the dems get a 2/3 majority in the senate. They won’t. This is the reality of the situation.

Terry's avatar

Do you have a crystal ball that's giving you insight into 2027 and 2028 that you know for a fact that dems, along with republicans, won't have a 2/3rds majority, and vote to impeach and remove trump? It absolutely can happen. Look how many maga senators are resigning because they've had enough of trump. It's over 20 anyway.

The Peaceful Solution-Plan B's avatar

Read the polls.

Trump Knows: Midterms Won’t Matter

From Axios, August 2, 2026

“President Trump doesn't much care if Republicans lose the House and/or the Senate in the midterms this fall.

• Yes, he'd prefer a big win, but he seems indifferent to the election and the possibility of endless Democratic investigations of his family, wealth and policies, his closest advisers tell us.

• A big reason: Trump knows he'll emerge just as strong, or even stronger, heading into his final two years, at least among Republicans.

Why it matters: Trump will enjoy a more pro-Trump Republican Congress, win or lose; gleefully play '28 kingmaker and further test the boundaries of presidential power beyond legislating, his preferred method anyway. He'll use pardons to protect his people, the advisers say.”

Three dramas to watch post-November:

1. Trump will flirt with running again in '28 until the bitter end, but it's all about PR and keeping Vance and Rubio in their place.

2. As potential outside-the-walls competition in '28, the White House is watching Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Sen. Ted Cruz (Texas) and Sen. Josh Hawley (Mo.).

Most importantly: A constitutional clash over congressional oversight, among the last and most vital powers lawmakers hold dear. What happens if Trump orders his entire administration, family and friends to just ignore Congress?”

From The Peaceful Solution:

The Midterms Will Not Solve the Problem

Most Americans disapprove of His Royal Heinous, but they are looking for an easy solution. One that will not require even a small sacrifice on their part, or any disruption to their life.

They are putting too much faith in what the midterms will do. The midterms may have a beneficial psychologic effect but in reality the outcome will have little or no practical effect, unless the Dems can get 2/3 majority in the house and senate, which they won’t. They will not be able to undo anything His Royal Heinous has done or pass new legislation, because of his veto power.

There will be investigations if the Dems take the House, but to what end. HRH will pardon all perpetrators, and they know it.

They will impeach HRH, but we’ve seen that movie twice before. Convicted in the senate and removed from office? Please.

He will continue to rule by “National Emergency“ and Executive Orders .

The greatest danger in all this is that it will appear that something beneficial is happening. The majority of people will believe the system is working. After about a year they will realize that nothing is changing. Then they will think, Oh well, he’ll be gone after the election next year.

Or will he? It took the Hungarians 16 years to get rid of Orban, and the Project 2025 people will certainly not make the same mistakes that Orban did.

What can we do?

We, the people, still have the power of the purse. No one can control our spending, or lack of spending. The other peaceful options are failing. Time is of the essence. The longer the fascist takeover goes on, the more difficult it will be to undo.

We must go on a spending strike until the business community stops supporting His Royal Heinous and the politicians who enable him.

Nearly 70% of the U.S. economy is driven by consumer spending. You and me. Hobble the economy and the stock market.

Economic warfare is the only thing the oligarchs, the business community, will understand and act on. Call it a Surreptitious General Strike (Quiet Quitting). Go to work, do as little as possible. Stop spending money except on essentials. Quit feeding the corporate beast that supports HRH.

Please: Resist. Stop cooperating. Stop spending. Stop the fascist takeover.

Thank you for restacking, and sharing, to help Spread the Word!

Merry's avatar

“During the interview, Meiselas and Phang explained how the department has invented exceptions not found in the Epstein Files Transparency Act. Phang also sounded the alarm about the DOJ’s handling of individuals claiming victim status. Essentially, the DOJ argues it can label anyone a victim to justify redacting their name, without having to present any proof.”

So. Trump’s DOJ, with his “defense attorney” now at the helm, can label ANYONE as “VICTIM STATUS”. Hm. So are these “victims” actually the “special friends” Marjorie Taylor Greene was referring to?

“According to a profile published by The New York Times and subsequent statements from Greene, Trump called her office to express heavy frustration with her public advocacy for full transparency surrounding the Epstein files. Greene had met with Epstein survivors and threatened to use her congressional privilege to name alleged abusers on the House floor.

“She claimed that during this heated conversation, Trump yelled at her and stated that his friends would be harmed if the information came out. This disagreement contributed to a sharp political rift, leading Trump to pull his endorsement of Greene and prompting her resignation from Congress effective January 2026.”

“Oh, what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive!" ~ Sir Walter Scott

https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5665887-trump-greene-epstein-coverup-claims/

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/feb/02/epstein-files-trump

Scottnsx2025's avatar

I hope you burn his ass to the ground. This Cover-up is purposely slow and incredibly frustrating.

Jfandress1's avatar

Go Katie! Keep up the fight for the victims!

Foremans's avatar

Katie, you have me holding on to hope for justice.

Don Davis's avatar

Lock them up! Orange lunatic too!!

Pats's avatar

Thats giving tools a bad name

Vikki's avatar

Ikr! Even tools can be useful. I'd call him a plank, but you can do useful things with wood, too. He's abhorrent and a fucking moron.

Robert F. W. Whitlock's avatar

Debar Blanche! #Florida #statebarassociation

Scott's avatar

Thank you, Katie Phang

Kim McLaren's avatar

I hope Katie crushes it — just like she has been! She gives me hope!

Sylvia Arrowood's avatar

You are a real hero Katie. Thank you for everything you are doing for the real victims of the Epstein monster machine. I hope everyone involved with Epstein burns in hell. I wonder what excuses Blanche will come up with for August 13 if he even shows up. Or something I have been thinking, what if there are attacks made on Jude Sullivan and yourself. Please keep yourselves safe.

Robin's avatar

I've been thinking the same...I hope Katie, the judge and others have security.

Jeanne Hodgson's avatar

Blanche is going to keep the files hidden that implicates him, Trump, Epstein and Maxwell. Until there is a Dem., Pres., in the WH will we know who, what where and how.

sheryl jeffries's avatar

Todd Blanche is not going to comply.

Dawn's avatar
2hEdited

Well done! Interesting how the redaction log is the road map of what they are hiding in the EFTA. August 13th will be very interesting. I love how Judge Sullivan is putting Blanche’s lying assertions to the fire with the "show me(s)" to force Blanche to prove his assertions in the Judge's chambers.

Konrad Hayashi's avatar

Thank you for your patriotism and persistent professionalism. If only there were major US Media corporations that had the resources, & dedication to democracy, who could pursue the convicted felon & his regime’s crimes? If only the majority of Congress had the resources, & dedication… 🇺🇸

Mariah JS's avatar

She’s awesome!!!

BTAM Master's avatar

Awesome work Ms Phang! Watch your back!

Steven M.'s avatar

If Blanche refuses to comply with Judge Sullivan's order to release the rest of the Epstein files, he would be that much closer to disbarment. It's one good thing that could be the result of this case.