The Epstein-Trump Saga: A Persistent Political Quagmire. The Jeffrey Epstein story continues to be a major political challenge for the current administration, drawing parallels to the Watergate scandal due to its sustained "drip, drip, drip" nature of revelations and its potential to deeply entangle high-profile figures. The executive branch is "completely tied in knots by the Epstein mess." The House of Representatives has recessed, strategically avoiding a vote on Epstein files, fearing a forced vote from a Democrat or disaffected Republicans like Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY).

"Bending the Knee": Examples of Trump's Influence. The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee announced it would "yield to 'guidance' from Trump" and ban trans women from U.S. Olympic/Paralympic teams, despite studies suggesting trans women who have undergone hormone treatment do not have an athletic advantage. The Senate Appropriations Committee voted along party lines to name the Kennedy Center's unnamed opera venue after Melania Trump, an act of "transparently not genuine" flattery. Trump is initiating the process to pull the U.S. out of UNESCO for the fourth time (the fourth time for the U.S. generally, and second under Trump's presidencies), citing reasons of it being "too woke/pro-DEI," "too pro-Palestine," and "too pro-China. Stephen Colbert, whose contract with CBS is ending, responded aggressively to Trump's public insults about his firing. Colbert's "gloves are off" approach, including a bleeped "Go fuck yourself"

Iowa Democrats are advocating to reclaim their lead-off position in the presidential nominating calendar, despite past logistical failures and demographic concerns.