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Is the Epstein Affair a Watershed Moment?
July 25, 2025

Perhaps when we look back on the Epstein Affair, we'll understand that it broke the back of Americans' faith in their political and law enforcement institutions.

We're being told the Epstein Affair is old news, nothing to see here, move along--but I'm not so sure. It could be the opposite of old news, a watershed moment in American history.

Watershed moments can be sudden, dramatic events that we all experience as "nothing is the same after this," or long-brewing crises that we only discern were watersheds when looking back.

The Epstein Affair may be the second type of watershed, only recognized in the rear view mirror. In his post Jeff Epstein, MAGA, and Monopolies, Matt Stoller made two noteworthy observations:

1. The MAGA movement--which includes many factions--attached great importance to the Epstein case as the most egregious manifestation of elite abuse of power. To have the files buried yet again only proves the powerful who would be exposed have yet again evaded being held accountable.

2. The scandal isn't what's been hidden, it's that Epstein operated in plain sight.

Naomi Wolf's essay, "The Network" in the Worlds of the Elites, reveals the enormous reach of Epstein's recruitment of elites across the entirety of America's power structure, what I've called since 2007 (see diagram below) Elites Maintaining and Extending Global Dominance.

This structure isn't The Deep State, it's far larger and just as entrenched, for it's "the sum is greater than the parts" assembly of all of America's elites and elite institutions of soft and hard power projection. (Soft power: cultural, institutionalized influence, non-military systems; hard power: military, diplomatic, financial.)

Epstein's operation was an informal hub-and-spoke network of power elites ranging from politics to academia to science to media to Big Tech and beyond.

The French word engrenages comes to mind here: commonly translated as gearing, but more appropriately perhaps it also denotes being caught up in gearing that is irreversible due to the design and mechanics of the system, and then being caught up in an inescapable series of events.

In other words, Epstein's hub-and-spoke network wasn't an aberration, it was the optimization of the status quo system. This is the taboo that cannot be said out loud. Now everyone who is caught up in the gearing is also a participant in an inescapable series of events.

My summary of the Epstein Affair is: the elites aren't above the law; there is no law. This is what's being displayed in plain sight, but we recoil at recognizing it, for it means democracy and rule of law are both convenient fabrications deployed to maintain public compliance.

Recall Smith's Neofeudalism Principle #1: If the citizenry cannot replace a kleptocratic authoritarian government and/or limit the power of the financial Aristocracy at the ballot box, the nation is a democracy in name only.

Donald Trump was elected to "drain the swamp," but the Epstein Affair makes it clear that both of America's political parties are The Swamp. Neither party did anything but cover up, misdirect or pointedly refuse to expose the Epstein Affair to open air.

The Social Security trust fund could face insolvency by late 2032, per CRFB estimates.

That would trigger a 24% automatic benefit cut—about $18,000 annually for a dual-earning couple.

LOS ANGELES - Millions of seniors could face devastating cuts to their Social Security benefits in just over seven years, according to a new analysis released Thursday by the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget (CRFB).

The report projects that the Social Security and Medicare trust funds are on track to run out of reserves by late 2032. When that happens, federal law requires that payments be limited to incoming payroll taxes, triggering an automatic 24% benefit cut for retirees unless Congress acts.

The cause, in part, is linked to new tax provisions under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA)—a sweeping piece of legislation that reduced revenue into the trust funds, speeding up depletion.

Higgenbotham wrote: Thu Jul 24, 2025 8:04 pm The level of nastiness and vindictiveness seems to be ratcheting up a lot:

Trump vs Powell
Macron vs Candace Owens
Gabbard vs Obama

are the examples I can think of where I said, wow, this is different.

FullMoon wrote: Thu Jul 24, 2025 12:11 pm You said once that the use and proliferation of plastics was a mistake and it seems the chemical industry has done well but we and our proginy will surely suffer for several generations.

Higgenbotham wrote: Thu Jul 24, 2025 10:38 am

Actor Jeff Daniels laments Kamala Harris’ loss, suggests she would have governed like Abraham Lincoln

https://www.foxnews.com/media/actor-jef ... am-lincoln

No, she would have governed like Lincoln's dog Fido.

Actor Jeff Daniels laments Kamala Harris’ loss, suggests she would have governed like Abraham Lincoln

Higgenbotham wrote: Wed Jul 23, 2025 1:01 pm Ogallala Aquifer Could Dry Up in 20 Years—Yet It’s Rarely Discussed
https://climatecosmos.com/climate-news/ ... discussed/

Florida Citrus Production Falls to Lowest Level Since 1919
https://centralflorida.substack.com/i/1 ... evel-since

States of emergency, agricultural disaster declared in parts of drought-stricken Manitoba
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba ... -1.7588473

This is the summer of flooding across the US, and scientists know why
https://www.cnn.com/2025/07/20/climate/ ... f-flooding

Extreme weather caused by climate change is raising food prices worldwide, study says
https://www.cnn.com/2025/07/21/business ... hange-intl

FullMoon wrote: Tue Jul 22, 2025 1:44 pm https://youtu.be/wom8kSdgmVs?si=fYni1l_jD7BAnuQM
This Martin Armstrong interview was the most informative I've heard from him maybe ever. Looks like huge change is upon us. We knew it was coming and that it was getting closer.

"Plan On It!" Martin Armstrong Sees '100% Chance Of Nuclear War'

by Tyler Durden
Monday, Jul 21, 2025 - 06:20 AM
Via Greg Hunter’s USAWatchdog.com,

Six weeks ago, legendary financial and geopolitical cycle analyst Martin Armstrong was signaling a big turn toward war.

Now, Armstrong says, “The chances of war with a nuclear exchange is at 100%. . .. Plan on it, this is coming.”