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A protester holds a sign related to the release of the Jeffrey Epstein case files outside the US Capitol in Washington, DC, November 12, 2025.
(Photo by Saul Loeb / AFP via Getty Images)
Be Not Distracted: On Trump, Epstein, and War With Venezuela
The allegations are shocking, but the larger danger lies in what happens next.
Nov 13, 2025
House Democrats dropped a political bombshell on Wednesday, releasing emails they say came from Jeffrey Epstein’s estate that allegedly show Donald Trump was not just aware of the abuse taking place in Epstein’s orbit but “spent hours at my house” with one of the presumably-underage girls.
The documents—now the focus of fierce scrutiny and verification efforts—raise three searing questions: What did Trump know, and when did he know it; what did he do and who did he do it to/with; and is he preparing to start a war to distract us from his exposure?
The allegations are shocking, but the larger danger lies in what happens next. Every time the walls close in, this man reaches for spectacle—rage, chaos, or even war—to change the subject.
Already, Washington feels the rumble of an upcoming diversion.
Just this past Sunday, the president of Colombia publicly pointed to Trump and his military buildup off the coast of Venezuela and said, “A clan of pedophiles wants to destroy our democracy.”
With tension rising in the Caribbean and the Trump administration’s talk of “protecting democracy” against Venezuela, we have to ask the question that no one in corporate media wants to say out loud:
“Will Trump try to light another foreign fire to drown out the headlines at home?”
History warns us that autocrats in crisis reach for military might as a political life-raft.
That’s why this moment demands vigilance from every American who still believes in truth over theater, democracy over autocracy, and has been disgusted by previous presidents’ efforts to lie us into wars for purely political purposes like in Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan.
If the evidence against Trump proves false, let it collapse under scrutiny. But if it’s real—if a morbidly rich and powerful man has once again used wealth and influence to shield unspeakable crimes—then no war, no distraction, no flag-waving speech should be allowed to bury it.
And if Trump does try to start a war with Venezuela to distract us from his crimes, we all must speak out loudly and unceasingly. Let your members of Congress know your thoughts (202-224-3121).
Justice and peace must come first, or democracy itself will be the next casualty.
We are at a crossroads
This country and this world are at a monumental crossroads. US voters have an opportunity to beat back the forces of fascism and confront the billionaires who are rigging the economy, our media system, and our democracy, making it increasingly impossible for ordinary people to get by. We’re not just talking about the election. We’re talking about what must be done once these fascist elements are vanquished from power. We need a bolder set of solutions than what either major party has so far been willing to offer and a working-class movement ready to fight like hell for it. Trump didn't emerge from nowhere. The conditions that fueled MAGA authoritarianism were created by decades of radical neoliberal economic policies and a corrupt political system dominated by corporate interests. They slashed taxes on the super-rich, promising that the benefits would trickle down. They said giveaways to the corporate titans would make life more affordable for the rest of us. It was all bullshit. And when a bitter, betrayed populace searches for someone to blame, right-wing demagogues have little trouble finding scapegoats. People know when they're being lied to, but you won't hear any of this from the corporate media. Only independent journalism—powered and funded by people who believe in building a better world—can deliver truly trustworthy daily news. If you share our vision, please contribute whatever you can to sustain our work. |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
Thom Hartmann
Thom Hartmann is a talk-show host and the author of "The Hidden History of Monopolies: How Big Business Destroyed the American Dream" (2020); "The Hidden History of the Supreme Court and the Betrayal of America" (2019); and more than 25 other books in print.
House Democrats dropped a political bombshell on Wednesday, releasing emails they say came from Jeffrey Epstein’s estate that allegedly show Donald Trump was not just aware of the abuse taking place in Epstein’s orbit but “spent hours at my house” with one of the presumably-underage girls.
The documents—now the focus of fierce scrutiny and verification efforts—raise three searing questions: What did Trump know, and when did he know it; what did he do and who did he do it to/with; and is he preparing to start a war to distract us from his exposure?
The allegations are shocking, but the larger danger lies in what happens next. Every time the walls close in, this man reaches for spectacle—rage, chaos, or even war—to change the subject.
Already, Washington feels the rumble of an upcoming diversion.
Just this past Sunday, the president of Colombia publicly pointed to Trump and his military buildup off the coast of Venezuela and said, “A clan of pedophiles wants to destroy our democracy.”
With tension rising in the Caribbean and the Trump administration’s talk of “protecting democracy” against Venezuela, we have to ask the question that no one in corporate media wants to say out loud:
“Will Trump try to light another foreign fire to drown out the headlines at home?”
History warns us that autocrats in crisis reach for military might as a political life-raft.
That’s why this moment demands vigilance from every American who still believes in truth over theater, democracy over autocracy, and has been disgusted by previous presidents’ efforts to lie us into wars for purely political purposes like in Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan.
If the evidence against Trump proves false, let it collapse under scrutiny. But if it’s real—if a morbidly rich and powerful man has once again used wealth and influence to shield unspeakable crimes—then no war, no distraction, no flag-waving speech should be allowed to bury it.
And if Trump does try to start a war with Venezuela to distract us from his crimes, we all must speak out loudly and unceasingly. Let your members of Congress know your thoughts (202-224-3121).
Justice and peace must come first, or democracy itself will be the next casualty.
From Your Site Articles
- 'What Are They Hiding?': Republicans Block Vote to Release Epstein Files ›
- An Open Letter to the United States: Stop Interfering in Venezuela's Internal Politics ›
- Critics Allege White House 'Propaganda' After US Bombs Boat Off Venezuela Coast ›
- Opinion | What the Pearl Clutchers of Congress Can Learn From Pritzker’s List | Common Dreams ›
Thom Hartmann
Thom Hartmann is a talk-show host and the author of "The Hidden History of Monopolies: How Big Business Destroyed the American Dream" (2020); "The Hidden History of the Supreme Court and the Betrayal of America" (2019); and more than 25 other books in print.
House Democrats dropped a political bombshell on Wednesday, releasing emails they say came from Jeffrey Epstein’s estate that allegedly show Donald Trump was not just aware of the abuse taking place in Epstein’s orbit but “spent hours at my house” with one of the presumably-underage girls.
The documents—now the focus of fierce scrutiny and verification efforts—raise three searing questions: What did Trump know, and when did he know it; what did he do and who did he do it to/with; and is he preparing to start a war to distract us from his exposure?
The allegations are shocking, but the larger danger lies in what happens next. Every time the walls close in, this man reaches for spectacle—rage, chaos, or even war—to change the subject.
Already, Washington feels the rumble of an upcoming diversion.
Just this past Sunday, the president of Colombia publicly pointed to Trump and his military buildup off the coast of Venezuela and said, “A clan of pedophiles wants to destroy our democracy.”
With tension rising in the Caribbean and the Trump administration’s talk of “protecting democracy” against Venezuela, we have to ask the question that no one in corporate media wants to say out loud:
“Will Trump try to light another foreign fire to drown out the headlines at home?”
History warns us that autocrats in crisis reach for military might as a political life-raft.
That’s why this moment demands vigilance from every American who still believes in truth over theater, democracy over autocracy, and has been disgusted by previous presidents’ efforts to lie us into wars for purely political purposes like in Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan.
If the evidence against Trump proves false, let it collapse under scrutiny. But if it’s real—if a morbidly rich and powerful man has once again used wealth and influence to shield unspeakable crimes—then no war, no distraction, no flag-waving speech should be allowed to bury it.
And if Trump does try to start a war with Venezuela to distract us from his crimes, we all must speak out loudly and unceasingly. Let your members of Congress know your thoughts (202-224-3121).
Justice and peace must come first, or democracy itself will be the next casualty.
From Your Site Articles
- 'What Are They Hiding?': Republicans Block Vote to Release Epstein Files ›
- An Open Letter to the United States: Stop Interfering in Venezuela's Internal Politics ›
- Critics Allege White House 'Propaganda' After US Bombs Boat Off Venezuela Coast ›
- Opinion | What the Pearl Clutchers of Congress Can Learn From Pritzker’s List | Common Dreams ›
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