Donald Trump the Megathread part II - Mod Warning updated in OP 12/2/26

Regardless, I’m just celebrating the fact that it was published at all - it gives some hope that the press are starting to grow a pair

Did they hold back? Can you back this up?

Democrat administrations (and for balance most GOP administrations up to GWB) have allowed the DOJ to correctly act as an independent entity. They may or may not wanted something released, but wouldn't put excessive pressure on. Biden was the very epitome of doing things the proper old-fashioned way, learned through his 50 year career.

The weaponisation of the DOJ and other quasi-independent branches of government is very much a Trump thing - though only really started near the end of his first term. Up to then he was surrounded by 'protocol people'.

While you may get individual actors in the press who believe it is their job to keep the public informed, the general thrust of the press, independent or otherwise, is to entertain people. Like any other form of media, it's stories people want. Whether those stories are true or particularly important is incidental.

Trump and cronies have understood that better than anyone. Steve Bannon openly bragged about how exactly his 'flood the zone' strategy works and the press still hasn't adjusted because what they care about is money. The just want eyes for ad sales, for clicks, for subscriptions and buys. They'll happily chase the outrage bait to that end.

Lads, I just asked a question, I'm no Republican lover, far from it. I was just curious and seriously, attacking a poster for just asking a question, makes you guys just as bad as the Maga's who are brainwashed not to question anything.

I refer to the second article in the BBC report below which made me wonder but thanks to @ArmaniJeanss who very kindly explained what I needed to know. Thank you.

https://www.bbc.com/news/live/c75ry4vy159t

As bad as MAGA? I'd say it's a pretty huge leap to conclude the Democrats were covering for the Clintons.You've implied the Democrats were holding back the files but haven't actually produced any proof that they were. So I'm not inclined to not take somebody particularly seriously when they turn the discussion in a pretty random direction without a solid foundation.

Also it's pretty logical that Trump would absolutely be using the files against his enemies if there was anything worthwhile to utilize.

So I get asking questions but I'd expect a basis for them beyond Epstein knowing them. Also I'd say my response was pretty reasonable to start with and same for @ancapailldorcha .

It's a huge leap to accuse us of being vicious in our responses. You basically faced some basic fact checking. Best of luck!

The guarantee with that place was all photography and phones were banned. Nobody was allowed to film other people.

Those were the rules. No agreement, no entry. I'd say it would be pretty difficult to get a "smoking gun" from that place.

Was that rule not just for ''customers'' so to speak?
I wouldn't be at all surprised if Epstein/Maxwell and their people had there own clandestine audio/video recording systems in place on the island.

Indeed it suited their needs at the time - they took a lot of “mud” from this box of tricks for their own end and some of it stuck - unfortunately for them, the baying crowd now want to see what’s in the box 😀

I’m enjoying this week immensely - it’s given me some “hope” that MAGA are not invincible - I’m not quite sure if America is fully awake or are there still journalists, opposition politicians and commentators still asleep at the wheel - this isn’t an opportunity they will get every day so they need to use it wisely - no harm in indulging in fake news MAGA tactics for a while - the more we see of Trump and Epstein pictured together, the better

Do you think his base really cares though? It does seem to have cracked a little? Says a lot that Bill Clinton was brought down by a banal affair a few decades ago and this is what it would take to bring down a much, much worse man.