Interesting article. I’ve been pointing out how focusing on one trans athlete allows us ignore the abuse and cheating in the entire sports recruiting system. If we were to address the flaws in this system, trans athletes would be playing as well as anyone that wanted to do so at the appropriate level for their ability.
On that note, these are systemic problems that may be impossible to completely address without the collapse of all of them and even then there’s always seems to be at least one person that will ruin it for everyone else.
The fall of the American empire in real time. We are living through a time marked by unfathomable greed, cruelty and depravity. Most would rather turn away than face our new reality. I guess it’s human nature.
This right here is why the mystery sells better than the truth. As long as the Epstein files remain Schrödinger’s documents, both damning and unreleased, we don’t have to confront the predators teaching Sunday school, running board meetings, or coaching our kids’ soccer teams.
The spectacle gives cover to the familiar. We cast demons into billionaires on islands while turning a blind eye to the ones pouring our communion wine or chairing our school boards.
We already know. We’ve always known. And the longer we pretend there’s some secret truth still hiding in a sealed envelope, the longer we delay the moral inventory that starts with the mirror.
Suspended belief isn't a glitch in the system. It's the system. And as long as we’re hypnotized by the island, we won’t drain the swamp in our own zip codes.
Virgin Monk Boy has seen enough. So has your neighbor. So have you.
Every crisis in America is going to get worse. I knew that excess deaths for babies, pregnant women, and children were higher than when I was young, and they are. And they are about to get even worse. As the closure of rural hospitals accelerates, mortality rates will increase. And no one will do anything about it.
Like every other crisis in America, thoughts and prayers for magic to happen. Magic doesn’t exist.
Outstanding Jessica. I love when you get lucid. It's like an epiphany. The same case can be applied to white supremacy. Patriarchy doesn't need to be dismantled it needs to be destroyed at this point. Matriarchy isn't the answer either, Miss Pimp(Ghislaine Maxwell)proves that. But a turnover to women leaders is a gainful start for society and cultures to be holistically balanced.
Respectfully, the gender is indeed the problem right now. It's a man's world. Patriarchy is global. Patriarchy is sociopathic. Women are accomplices, but they don't own or run shit. Epstein was the ruler.
Trump and Epstein were best buddies and party playboys together for years. And Maxwell and Melania were partners with these two perverts posing for pictures having the time of their lives! People knew what a disgusting pig Epstein was but it took years for him to face arrest. Meanwhile even Prince Andrew got in on the action and now he’s the skunk at the royal garden party. Trump can’t run away from his association with the crimes of his bestie and there’s enough evidence suggesting he may have participated in this vile behavior too. Trump’s obviously nervous about the files.
Good essay, and I totally agree that the present brouhaha over the Epstein Files is a distraction. The Musk claim that he is privy to the damaging evidence is clearly an emulation of Trump’s gameshow act to hold the spotlight.
"America remains fixated on the one case they’ll never know every last detail of, and never hold anyone accountable for. Everyone talks about Epstein because it alleviates them from reckoning with the sexual predators in their own political parties, and in their own communities." Good analysis, thanks. Hope it lands and settles a bit with people.
Uh. No. This is way different, and I say this as a survivor. And it’s not just MAGA. Clinton, Gates, etc are also implicated. More, this is about money laundering, arms sales, permission to commit genocide.
Great insights - and the points you’re making are very similar to the works of Alice Miller. She wrote extensively of child abuse and adults’ cognitive dissonance as a key reason why adults refused to address it in a substantive way. Add elite privilege and it’s a ticking time bomb of harm to the most vulnerable.
Interesting article. I’ve been pointing out how focusing on one trans athlete allows us ignore the abuse and cheating in the entire sports recruiting system. If we were to address the flaws in this system, trans athletes would be playing as well as anyone that wanted to do so at the appropriate level for their ability.
On that note, these are systemic problems that may be impossible to completely address without the collapse of all of them and even then there’s always seems to be at least one person that will ruin it for everyone else.
Thank you, Jessica.
The Epstein victims, and every other victim of (mostly male) sexual violence — especially but not exclusively children & minors — deserve justice.
But the scale is something few are willing to confront, as it legitimately horrific.
Australian report on CSA prevalence, and my thoughts, from 2 days ago:
https://substack.com/@digitalcanary/note/c-132975460
Thanks for the link. Yeah, the scale is hard to wrap your head around, even for us.
The fall of the American empire in real time. We are living through a time marked by unfathomable greed, cruelty and depravity. Most would rather turn away than face our new reality. I guess it’s human nature.
This right here is why the mystery sells better than the truth. As long as the Epstein files remain Schrödinger’s documents, both damning and unreleased, we don’t have to confront the predators teaching Sunday school, running board meetings, or coaching our kids’ soccer teams.
The spectacle gives cover to the familiar. We cast demons into billionaires on islands while turning a blind eye to the ones pouring our communion wine or chairing our school boards.
We already know. We’ve always known. And the longer we pretend there’s some secret truth still hiding in a sealed envelope, the longer we delay the moral inventory that starts with the mirror.
Suspended belief isn't a glitch in the system. It's the system. And as long as we’re hypnotized by the island, we won’t drain the swamp in our own zip codes.
Virgin Monk Boy has seen enough. So has your neighbor. So have you.
Justice delayed is justice deflected.
Every crisis in America is going to get worse. I knew that excess deaths for babies, pregnant women, and children were higher than when I was young, and they are. And they are about to get even worse. As the closure of rural hospitals accelerates, mortality rates will increase. And no one will do anything about it.
Like every other crisis in America, thoughts and prayers for magic to happen. Magic doesn’t exist.
https://www.bu.edu/sph/news/articles/2025/us-excess-deaths-continued-to-rise-even-after-the-covid-19-pandemic/
Our verdict: GUILTY UNTIL PROVEN INNOCENT
How long before Ghislaine Maxwell's "suicide"?
Outstanding Jessica. I love when you get lucid. It's like an epiphany. The same case can be applied to white supremacy. Patriarchy doesn't need to be dismantled it needs to be destroyed at this point. Matriarchy isn't the answer either, Miss Pimp(Ghislaine Maxwell)proves that. But a turnover to women leaders is a gainful start for society and cultures to be holistically balanced.
imho it's not the gender. It's the personality. Sociopaths come in all shapes and forms.
Respectfully, the gender is indeed the problem right now. It's a man's world. Patriarchy is global. Patriarchy is sociopathic. Women are accomplices, but they don't own or run shit. Epstein was the ruler.
Trump and Epstein were best buddies and party playboys together for years. And Maxwell and Melania were partners with these two perverts posing for pictures having the time of their lives! People knew what a disgusting pig Epstein was but it took years for him to face arrest. Meanwhile even Prince Andrew got in on the action and now he’s the skunk at the royal garden party. Trump can’t run away from his association with the crimes of his bestie and there’s enough evidence suggesting he may have participated in this vile behavior too. Trump’s obviously nervous about the files.
Good essay, and I totally agree that the present brouhaha over the Epstein Files is a distraction. The Musk claim that he is privy to the damaging evidence is clearly an emulation of Trump’s gameshow act to hold the spotlight.
Spotlight article, Priest abuse, Boston.
"America remains fixated on the one case they’ll never know every last detail of, and never hold anyone accountable for. Everyone talks about Epstein because it alleviates them from reckoning with the sexual predators in their own political parties, and in their own communities." Good analysis, thanks. Hope it lands and settles a bit with people.
I like them apples. Keep them apples coming.
Uh. No. This is way different, and I say this as a survivor. And it’s not just MAGA. Clinton, Gates, etc are also implicated. More, this is about money laundering, arms sales, permission to commit genocide.
Thank you, Jessica. A great, unique take on this - as usual.
Great insights - and the points you’re making are very similar to the works of Alice Miller. She wrote extensively of child abuse and adults’ cognitive dissonance as a key reason why adults refused to address it in a substantive way. Add elite privilege and it’s a ticking time bomb of harm to the most vulnerable.
Spot on.