Just Answering Questions: The Flamethrower!

On the election, war with Iran, Trump, Epstein, DOJ complicity, and more.

Welcome to another edition of “Just Answering Questions”! This is a new feature in which paying subscribers send in questions and I answer them. You sent a LOT of questions, to the point that I had to shut down the call for questions after 24 hours! I believe I answered them all; if you submitted one, search for your name. They were fantastic questions, so I recommend reading the whole article below.

If you’d like to submit a question in the future, become a paying subscriber. You can do that here:

The Q & A is free for all to read! With no further ado, here we go…

Am Reed: What do you think Trump was referring to when he said at Madison Square Garden: “I think with our little secret we are gonna do really well with the House. Our little secret is having a big impact, he and I have a little secret, we will tell you what it is when the race is over.” States not certifying the vote counts and kicking the election to the house? Does it concern you at all? Or is it a narcissistic fantasy?

SK: According to reports, Trump is referring to Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, and to the worst-kept secret ever, which is Trump’s propensity for coups. Trump has never been shy about threatening violence if he is not installed as president. In 2016, Trump advisor Roger Stone promised a “bloodbath” if Trump were not proclaimed the victor and in 2020 Trump cheered a violent insurrection. Now Trump promises that the GOP will control the House and Johnson will hand him the election. Why Trump is singling out Johnson is interesting, since the most likely body to decide the election is SCOTUS. Trump’s statement can be viewed as a threat against a lackey — a bit of insurance in case the sedition doesn’t take.

But there may be another dimension. Johnson has met with Israel’s right-wing extremists, the Kahanists, more than any representative except Jim Jordan. The Kahanists were banned as a terrorist group in both Israel and in the US until Biden removed them from the watchlist in 2022. Now they dictate Israeli policy, and Israel shapes US policy through donations, threats, and espionage.

Trump has been deeply tied to Netanyahu for decades. His father, Fred, was friends with Netanyahu when Netanyahu worked at the UN in the 1980s, and Netanyahu is so tight with the Kushner family that he slept in Jared’s room on US visits. Both Trump and Johnson are wedded to Israel’s government in disturbing ways. Johnson believes his alliance with the Kahanists is fulfilling a Biblical prophecy and will result in the destruction of Al-Aqsa Mosque, the building of the Third Temple, and Armageddon.

Perhaps Armageddon is Johnson and Trump’s real “secret.”

Dan B: How do you recommend engaging with the closest people in your life, "good people", to whom we’ve learned genocide is not a red line, regardless of who becomes President? Have we lost all “liberals” to propaganda and the Overton Window?

SK: This is an important and painful question. I understand why people are refusing to vote for Harris or Trump or anyone who backs this genocide, which is funded and made possible by the US government. Genocide is not a side issue. It is a catastrophe that our government could stop but won’t. It’s the worst atrocity I’ve seen in my lifetime because I’ve never seen a country spend a year deliberately murdering children. Palestinian children are not accidental casualties; they’re being shot in the head by Israeli snipers. (Here is a long thread of testimony and evidence.)

I also understand why people vote for Harris in order to block Trump, especially in swing states, and especially since Trump also backs genocide. They want to prevent Trump’s horrific domestic policies. What I don’t understand is not seeing this “choice” as a soul-crushing moral horror to which no one should be subjected. The scariest thing about fascism is not the dictator — it is how easily good people accept atrocities. The American voter deserves sympathy for being forced into a bad position — but the people who deserve the most sympathy by far are the Palestinians, and it is disappointing how many Americans refuse to see that.

Steve C: Sometimes, for me, it comes down to how do we stay afloat in a sea of deception? So demoralizing, discouraging and dehumanizing. All those "D" words. Damn!

SK: It’s very difficult — another D word!— especially now. What makes it bearable: 1) Know your morals and never compromise them, regardless of what others are doing 2) Do things you enjoy that no one can take away. For me, it’s reading, writing, embroidery, music, being out in nature. Pursuits that expand the imagination and soothe the soul. Go easy on yourself. This is a terrible time and if all you can do is get through the day in order to make it to the next one, that’s enough.

Tracy A: I'm curious how you handle sharing what you know and understand about our political system with your children, and how they take in that info. David: What would you tell the parent of a three-year-old? Kelly: What would you tell the parent of a six-year-old? I want my kids to have hope that they will get to have good lives and can make the world a better place. But I also feel so betrayed, and my anger turns into cynicism.

SK: I recently wrote a book on this topic, THE LAST AMERICAN ROAD TRIP, which will come out in April. It’s a travelogue that is also a book about being a parent in the 21st century. Over the past decade, the question I got the most was “How do you raise your kids, knowing what you know?” When Trump was elected, my kids were 5 and 9; now they are 13 and 17. I’ve raised them in a collapsing country and taken them to nearly every state to see America, for fear it would be gone. I showed them the beauty of the US, and I showed them its horrors, and we sought to reconcile the two in the midst of ongoing battles over what it means to be American. That’s what I wrote about in the new book, which ended up being very personal.

Parents have my sympathy. On one hand, it is very hard to raise kids during multiple existential crises. Children make you think of the future, and these days, thinking of the future can feel like an act of mental violence. But children also bring joy and make crystal clear that the future is worth fighting for. There is something liberating about seeing the world through the eyes of a child and answering the straightforward political and moral questions from children that adults tend to avoid.

Now that I have teenagers, I am envious of parents with little kids. It is such a special time. You’ll miss it later, even if you are currently buried in diapers and dread. Childhood takes a long time to go by so fast.

The most important thing is to love your kids and let them know it. Whatever they have to bear as Americans in 2024 is easier when they know that. When they ask about this country, answer honestly. Show them historical sites and natural beauty — local places are fine — and encourage them to read. They will develop empathy and curiosity, and those traits will get them — and you — through hard times. Don’t stress too much about conventional measures of success and security because they don’t exist. Security is gone; success is something to define on your own terms. Treasure your time with your kids. There is so much left to enjoy in life.

Rebecca: Is there a fun movie you like to watch when life gets stressful, and you need to escape to a happier place? Movies like Clueless, Indiana Jones, Bridesmaids, etc?

SK: SPACEBALLS! The greatest movie of all time.

TS: In your opinion what is the most effective method not being tried to get the American electorate to care about our brutal humanitarian footprint — either through geopolitical action or inaction — and begin to advocate for more action and funding?

SK: The biggest barrier is denial about institutional rot. Propagandists have waged a double-edged campaign — QAnon for MAGA; Mueller/Garland for liberals — that relies on a “deep state savior”. This encourages passivity and cult-like behavior. The longer it persists, the more delusional people become. Folks need to see that Americans have been betrayed and that the US is responsible for global travesties — and that the rescue crew is in on the plot. Propagandists want us to blame each other instead of corrupt institutional actors — because once people can identify the problem, they will be better able to organize and act.

Geri D: Which Duran Duran album is the best? (Yes, hi, I'm disassociating today.)

SK: Ha! I wish I had a better answer for you besides “Greatest Hits” but I was too young for their heyday. “Union of the Snake” was on the mix I made while writing THEY KNEW, the Pavlovian mix that I use to hypnotize myself into book writing.

Bill C: I guess the basic question is what realistically we can do if this election is won by Trump. I think his cognitive decline is real and I wouldn’t be surprised to see the 25th amendment invoked. But what do we do in the face of his threats and the mouth breathers ready to drop Project 2025 on us? Jendi: If, as seems likely no matter who wins, politicians are not going to save us, what are some things that ordinary citizens can do to protect each other and resist fascism?

SK: Like any career mobster, Trump is a pro at faking infirmity. But I do think that, at 78, he is declining somewhat, and that he does not want to be president, mostly because it’s boring. I could see him stepping down now that he has SCOTUS immunity, which means Vance would be in charge, and in that case, you need to look out for a far-right technocracy with Musk and Thiel in the background.

It’s frustrating to be asked what to do to stop Trump since the advice I gave in 2016 would have worked, but officials ignored it (because they were in on the plot!) As for what ordinary Americans can do to survive this time, my advice from this 2016 column still stands.

Note for Denise, who was looking for a quote from me about kindness — click on the article above and see if this is the one: “Do not accept brutality and cruelty as normal even if it is sanctioned. Protect the vulnerable and encourage the afraid. If you are brave, stand up for others. If you cannot be brave — and it is often hard to be brave — be kind.”

Brock: Sarah, I think I can confidently state that your readers and long-time fans/followers love your voice. Any chance of starting a YouTube channel so we can hear it more often?

SK: I wouldn’t be sure about folks loving my voice, given my enunciation-free Polish-American accent. (Read up, the glottal stop is real and it’s not my fault!) Genius that I am, I’ve now written a travelogue where I’ll have to say the word “mountain” (aka “MAH-in’”) over and over in the audio version. Anyways, it’s doubtful I’ll move to YouTube because I prefer writing. I will continue to stop by on other shows though.

Jane W: What are your thoughts on Merrick Garland's "position" if the election results go to Trump, of even if it doesn't? It's energy draining, and hard to speculate. But as you’ve documented the history of Garland and Gorelick running cover for Trump, do you think the DOJ will remain as it exists with no agency?

SK: Merrick Garland was hired to protect Trump’s criminal cohort and their accomplices in the DOJ and to run out the clock on accountability. (For those who don’t know his background, read this.)

Now that Garland has completed his task, I expect him to cash out with a book deal. He’s a replaceable cog in a corrupt machine. I would watch where Gorelick lands, since she’s been involved in every administration, once worked for Kushner, and is a witness or accomplice to state crimes spanning four decades. No one has ever refuted my article about her and Garland. They do not want her name brought up since it opens a wormhole of depravity that sucks in everyone.

Bethany R: How do you (we) still maintain and nurture your (our collective) sense of justice when it’s been so betrayed by corrupt political powers? I’m exhausted of feeling like we’re in an anti-gravity chamber with everything floating upside down. I’d just like to be grounded in reality as a collective.

SK: I’m as disheartened as anyone. That’s why I focus on maintaining moral clarity, because it is under constant assault. I do not want corrupt people to convince me that what I know is wrong is right or even acceptable. I’m sick of feeling alone in that, in terms of people who hold institutional power. But I’m grateful to not feel alone in terms of regular folks, many of whom (like you) see what I see and feel what I feel.

Marina: Why doesn’t Biden’s administration go after Elon now? He’s obviously paid by Russian money. What is it about the American mentality that makes so many people bow down to Putin so quickly and willingly? Freedom is obviously underrated in this country. By contrast, the Russian mentality is formed by centuries of oppression, vicious propaganda, and mass killings.

SK: That the US government continues to fund Musk when he’s a national security threat shows how little they value the sovereignty of the US. Musk’s backing of Vance is one of my main concerns about Vance holding federal power. As for Putin: most Americans dislike Putin, most Democratic officials pretend to dislike Putin (even though they take Russian oligarch money delivered through proxies like Len Blavatnik), and most Republican officials like Putin because those oligarchs also fund them. Putin’s Russia models the hyper-capitalist autocracy the GOP desires.

Many Americans are poorly informed about the real nature of the Russian threat. What they heard about was mainly bot farms and propaganda, whereas the big threat is actually the mafia and its infiltration of US business and government. That’s a transnational threat in which Russia is a key node.

Glenn: I am thinking a lot about Timothy Snyder’s On Tyranny, especially where he wrote, decide now what you will do before it is too late. I’m trying to get my courage together for when the time will demand that we get in the streets. How do you feel about how average people can rise to meet such an occasion? Sythys: I get confused trying to reconcile Snyder’s “Defend Institutions” with the reality of institutions that fail us, if this is a topic you’re keen to address. In your view, is this rule of Snyder’s like what you talk about regarding defending the integrity of the USA in the face of folks who think secession is attractive?

SK: Snyder’s On Tyranny has been grossly misinterpreted and weaponized by bad actors. When Snyder says to defend institutions, he means to defend them before they are taken over and corrupted. You don’t defend an institution because it’s an institution; you defend it because it’s ostensibly doing something for the public good. People have used Snyder’s arguments to defend the DOJ and SCOTUS on the grounds that “defending institutions stops fascism” — whereas in reality, defending two institutions abetting fascism obviously furthers fascism.

As for secession, I am extremely against it. I lay out my arguments in THEY KNEW and other places. But I think the way people will push for secession will be by claiming “irreconcilable differences between red and blue states” (bullshit, there is no such thing as a red or blue state; we are all purple like a bruise) rather than by claiming the US has lost its integrity. It did lose its integrity, but secession will only make that worse by turning the US into separate warring oligarch fiefdoms. Detailing what secession will look like in pragmatic terms — the violence, chaos, and poverty it will cause — will turn people away from secessionist movements more than arguments about the value of the US as an institution.

As for rising up in the streets, fight for your rights — but be very strategic and careful. If the people who were telling you the government was going to save us suddenly switch to calling for mass protests, it’s probably because they want everyone gathered in one place to be shot and killed. They built Cop Cities for a reason.

Jack A. Roe: Is there some sort of collective insanity gripping the world in many nations? Is it a constant barrage of propaganda that has people living in fear and now yearn for a strongman to protect them? Why now? What made us susceptible to the appeal of fascism? Is it simply big money in the right places? It wasn’t like this since the 1930’s.

SK: My theory is that we are repeating the 1920s and the white mob violence and xenophobia that emerged after the Spanish Flu along with 1920s-style inability to handle social change brought on by the rapid influx of new technology and soaring wealth inequality. Instead of WWI, we had the 2008 financial collapse to set us down that road. We still feel the destabilizing effects 16 years later, now heightened by the oligarch wealth transfer that arose after covid appeared. These are the conditions in which fascism thrives, and a global axis of autocrats has emerged to entrench them. We are headed toward the ‘30s — again.

Roger: Van Halen or ZZTop?

SK: I love ZZTop, but this is not even close; it’s Van Halen, the Roth years! What do I know though, I’m just a Little Dreamer…

Susan P: What kind of political shift, if any, have you seen in Missouri and other midwestern states? Any chance of dumping Hawley? I grew up in Nebraska so I follow some of the political stories there.

SK: My hope for Missouri is that people will vote Yes on Amendment 3 and restore the right to bodily autonomy. There is indeed a chance of dumping Hawley, since he is widely loathed, but the Democrats as a party are even more widely loathed. It’s not about the candidates; it’s a party image problem. Missourians spent 2021 and 2022 with members of the national Democratic party telling them they hoped they died of Delta covid or botched abortions. This happened to people all over the state. If I had a dollar for every time a Democrat said I deserved to die, not knowing I live in MO, I could buy back my representative from AIPAC.

Missourians are scapegoated simply for existing, and Lucas Kunce — Hawley’s opponent — is stuck with a tarnished brand. It’s not his fault. If he didn’t have a D next to his name and ran the same campaign, he’d likely win. The Democrats should reconsider publicly delighting in the death of citizens if they’d like to win in the future. And yes, the GOP does this too, but like Sherriff Bullock said on Deadwood:

Laura H: Long-time reader and supporter. One of the themes from your first book that has really stuck with me is your description of how professional journalism, like many professions, is now closed off to all but the affluent and well-connected because of the emphasis on internships (unpaid, in expensive locales, etc.). We see the blurring of the lines between the "news" and entertainment and just plain pandering. Substack and other tools have enabled the rise of at least some serious investigative outlets, and of course your own and others' writing. What do you see as the evolution of serious journalism in the next 5-10 years? Options both for reporters/writers and for readers?

SK: When I wrote about this in The View From Flyover Country over a decade ago, we were in a terrible age for journalists but, in some sense, a golden age for journalism. There were tons of outlets, nearly all of which paid poorly or not at all. The working conditions were awful but the writing was often good. Now there are few outlets and what’s left is paywalled, causing an information crisis worse than anything caused by propaganda. (Though it is exacerbated by propaganda, since propaganda is free.)

Substack has a lot of potential, but I don’t understand the multimillionaire journalists who paywall their articles. I am a mom living on a budget in Missouri, paying the household bills with this newsletter, and I don’t paywall anything. I understand why investigative reporters with big expenses paywall, or why people resort to paywalls if there’s no other way to financially survive. But if I can keep my newsletter open, relying on the goodwill of my readers, so can others, especially if they’re rich. If they keep it closed, people will gravitate to what’s free: propaganda, nonsense, and lies.

I’m most concerned about how people will get basic safety information about climate catastrophes in the coming years. Trying and failing to figure out what happened in the aftermath of the two recent hurricanes made me very worried about the future.

Shannon S: My question involves the recent decision by major news outlets to refuse to run presidential endorsements. While I was not dependent upon such endorsements to make my decision, I do worry the decision has broader implications for journalists. Gary S: Is Jeff Bezos intentionally destroying the Washington Post?

SK: Pundits are excessively focusing on media to avoid focusing on state corruption and questions like “Why is the US the first country in history to let a coup plotter face no punishment and run for president again?” That’s why there are all these goofy posts about what made “the front page” of a paper when almost no one sees the print version. Pundits treat the media as far more influential than it is.

The endorsement obsession somewhat falls into this category, but the difference is that Trump seems to have bullied them, either directly or tacitly. The daughter of the LA Times CEO says they didn’t want to endorse Harris because of her support for genocide. While that’s a solid argument, I am doubtful it’s the real reason. For billionaires, a newspaper is a side project. They purchased it for power and now its power has waned. They are far more interested in other business ventures — ventures that may require government approval. That’s why they are wary of offending Trump.

And yes, I do think Bezos may be intentionally destroying the Washington Post. It is of little value now but can be threatening when it actually does investigative journalism. Very few outlets have the resources to do in-depth investigative journalism or foreign correspondence anymore — but WaPo does. Plutocrats and politicians would prefer a world in which such a feat is impossible.

Philip G: Considering the term the "installation" of Trump in 2016 which you use; would you say he was the first president of the U.S. that was installed? Would you clarify how that works? Would you agree that the real "powers that be" are nameless, faceless individuals whose wealth & influence dwarf Bezos, Gates, etc.? Valeria S: Do you think Trump is going to win? And what do you think (if he does) will be the primary 3 implications/outcomes/consequences of said victory? Jac Qui: If Trump is elected, how long will we have before he puts his plans (Project 2025) into action?

SK: The days of “winning” are over. Installation is what remains. You can tell because neither Trump nor Harris are trying to win over voters. They are both doing things to alienate them — Trump holding a racist mega-rally that freaked out even his base; Harris sneering at Muslims in the swing state of Michigan. One gets the feeling this election will not be decided by voters but by courts — or by something else, namely donors and billionaire backers, many of whom are indeed unknown. I do not think Trump was the first president to be installed. But I do think that past elections relied more on dirty tricks — the October Surprise, for example — to make installations seem natural. Now they don’t even bother with a pretense.

If Trump is reinstalled, the biggest foreign policy change will be Ukraine. That’s the only way in which Trump differs substantially from Biden in this arena. Trump will switch US support to Russia and Russia will likely steal eastern Ukraine. I’ve long had a theory that a deal was in place for Russia to end its support of Iran if it were allowed to invade Ukraine without consequence. I wonder if we will now see that in action should an Iran War begin. (An Iran War is likely regardless of who is installed.)

Trump differs from Harris more on domestic policies, but mostly in terms of rhetoric and speed, not action. He will seek a rapid gutting of all forms of government assistance, including public health, public schools, voting rights, labor protections, environmental protections, and civil rights — i.e, the Project 2025 plan, some of which has already been enacted under presidents from both parties. There will also be harsher attacks on free speech and free assembly, and vicious assaults on migrants.

Unfortunately, I see a milder version of this happening under Harris as well, especially if there is a GOP House and Senate, because it happened under Biden. The last four years have been disastrous. Biden carried out many of the policies I assumed only Trump would (for example, his “let ‘em die and stop counting the corpses” covid response.) The real question is whether we end up with Trump or Vance. Stay very wary of technology. Try to wean yourself off of anything that’s not absolutely necessary. Relearn a 20^th century lifestyle. They’re watching you.

Tom L: In a recent interview you said that regardless of who won the coming election, the U.S. would soon be at war with Iran. Can you elaborate on your reasons behind that statement? Sky: Why is a war with Iran so attractive to so many in the US government? What do US business interests (since they really run our government) gain from attacking or invading Iran?

SK: I lay out why it seems like they are preparing for an Iran War here. As for why it’s attractive, I don’t think it is, which is why it hasn’t begun despite radical operatives clamoring for an Iran War since I was a baby in 1979. There are people like Iran-Contra criminal Elliott Abrams — formerly of the Reagan, Bush, and Trump admins; now advising the Biden admin— who have devoted their lives to this aim.

The main reason is Israel and Israel’s own desire for a war with Iran. We are at the point where many long-held, illegal Israeli plans are reaching fruition. They wanted to annihilate Gaza and they’ve done it. They wanted to ethnically cleanse the West Bank and they’re doing it. They wanted to invade Lebanon, declaring that it’s their territory, and they’re doing it, and no international agency is stopping them.

People should become familiar with the 1982 Yinon Plan and the concept of “Greater Israel,” long part of the Kahanist vision. This was once dismissed as a conspiracy theory, but Israel is now carrying out the plan and displaying the emblem of “Greater Israel” on their uniforms and at rallies. Iran is a major regional obstacle to “Greater Israel” and so they seek to annihilate it — but Israel cannot do that alone, and therefore they use US money and weaponry and individuals like Anthony Blinken and Jared Kushner with longstanding ties to Israeli espionage.

There are other reasons some US officials want this war: religious fanaticism (Mike Pompeo, for example, bases foreign policy around the Rapture and sees an Iran War through that lens); revenge for the hostage crisis; natural resources to pillage (as they did in Iraq), etc. Many architects of the Iraq War are involved in plotting the Iran War. What frightens me is that there was always a more rational group that held radical officials back, and now the power of the rational actors is diminished — in part through Israel’s blackmail and willingness to use nukes. Israel is a rogue state. My deepest fear is that officials thought an Iran War would bring about WWIII, and they still do, only now they shrug because they feel like the world is ending anyway.

Gene L: Sarah, have you or any of your supporters sent a copy of Hiding in Plain Sight to Kamala Harris/Tim Walz or anyone influential in her campaign? If so, any response as to what, if anything they will do to stem the tide if elected?

SK: Not to my knowledge. It was a bestseller, so they may know it already. I don’t expect Harris to do much to stem the tide I discuss in that book, since it is the blood-dimmed tide of transnational organized crime.

Nathanael: Is there tension between the fascists and the mobsters? If so, and in the event that they come to power, which faction do you think would end up on top? Mark S: You have said, “you can’t vote out the mafia.” Please elaborate. If a President chooses the right Atty General for DOJ and some decent prosecutors wouldn’t that go a long way toward cleaning out that corruption?

SK: The question Nathanael raises — the possibility of battle between the mobsters and the fascists — is important. Yes, there is crossover, and one of the hallmarks of the 21^st century is terrible people once at odds now working together. But there is still a difference between what the fascists want (autocratic control with China-style tech surveillance) and what the mobsters want (the US to collapse like the USSR so they can loot it.) It is difficult to say who would win because of technology changing so rapidly and playing such an enormous role in perception of value. I worry about digital currency. Since this is a war over money, the rise of digital currency greatly impacts how they see the nation-state.

As for whether this can be cleaned up by a noble DOJ, it can certainly be exposed — and it should, forcefully — but the time to act was years if not decades ago. They should still try, though it’s hard for me to believe anyone there has a conscience. It’s always better to try and fail than not to try. After that, though, the DOJ needs to be disbanded so that only the elements that benefit the public good (battling domestic militias, for example, and not using that term loosely) remain. The DOJ has mostly functioned to streamline organized crime, especially the FBI. It’s done more harm than good. By the way, if you hear Trump making the same argument as me, dismiss him. It’s his way to bait and switch you on implementing his personal Gestapo.

Tricia F: I keep wondering what it’s like for you to see the mainstream finally address what you have been saying (screaming into the void?) for years.

SK: Like a Black Mirror episode run on eternal repeat, and I am the involuntary star.

Donald M: A favourite childhood book?

SK: A Wrinkle in Time, which I’ve mentioned before. It was a huge influence on me as a kid. A few years ago, Madeleine L’Engle’s granddaughter sent me a wonderful letter and some items of encouragement, which was very special. I came full circle.

Pat M: How involved are we in the Sudan conflict? Or in the Congo? Are our business interests fueling the conflicts? Is the CIA involved?

SK: These are not my areas of expertise. I’m going to guess yes, the CIA is involved, because it’s rare that the CIA is not involved. But I don’t know specifics. The US is involved in the sense of American corporations exploiting the Congo for minerals and abiding humanitarian catastrophes in both countries, but I don’t think the US government is as directly involved in funding as it is in other countries, like Israel.

Andy B: Hi Sarah, huge fan here. In THEY KNEW you explained the growth of Q Anon as an example of "preemptive narrative inversion", distracting the public from the very real network of wealthy pedophiles surrounding Jeffery Epstein. My question is specifically about the memeification of Epstein's death; the "Epstein didn't kill himself" phenomenon. Was this just spontaneous evolution, or do you feel that it's another example of narrative inversion, an attempt to further align any discussion of Epstein with "tinfoil hat" talk? And if so, are you aware of bad actors working to promote it, in the way that Michael Flynn was active in early days of Q Anon?

SK: I think the “Epstein didn’t kill himself” phenomenon was largely spontaneous and then weaponized by bad actors. Even the most condescending “that’s just a conspiracy theory” assholes were suspicious of Epstein’s death. Memes were ways of expressing their curiosity without showcasing their fear. Epstein’s life and death speak to a form of sadism and impunity among powerbrokers that is evil to the point of seeming demonic. The truth is terrifying, and memes are a coping mechanism.

As I wrote in THEY KNEW, Epstein went from not being covered at all to being covered so much, it was hard to keep the facts straight. That was intentional: they wanted people to become overwhelmed and quit looking. On that note, it was horrifying to see how many people stayed silent until they thought he was dead. Now we are reverting to the earlier era of information suppression. This is evident on Twitter, where the search function no longer works and people are unable to find old threads on Epstein and his associates. They did a fake suicide and a real reburial.

Jennifer L: How can I verify that we’re the only country that hasn't prosecuted (or worse) failed insurrectionists? I’d love to feel more solid about this as a historical fact. What sources should I look at to answer that question?

SK: If anyone knows another country where this happened — specifically where the insurrectionist serves no prison time and is allowed to run for president again while his fellow insurrectionists stay in office and make laws — name it! No historian I know can name one. Some get squeamish when asked!

Krys A:  I know we shouldn’t believe in institutions that are failing us, but I’d really like to know why no journalist has cracked the story that labor law in this country has become defunct.

SK: This is also not my area of expertise, but on the topic of labor, I recommend journalist Kim Kelly.

Frank: In The Netherlands we now also have a fascist government trying to roll out the Orban playbook. It makes me sad and feel powerless. At the same time, I just keep consuming as a dumb capitalist and I am not protesting or anything. I doubt I can start a Greta Thurnberg- kinda movement. What can I do, besides trying to stay sane and taking care of my loved ones?

SK: You answered it — stay sane and take care of your loved ones. Be kind to people and help those less fortunate when you can. If you see a cause that interests you, consider organizing with a group. The responsibility of saving the world isn’t on you alone. But if everyone does something small to help others, everyone benefits.

Carl L: I have heard three times now in the last month some version of “my fear is that Trump is not our Putin but our Yeltsin.” What personalities do you think will rise from the ashes of this mess since the rhetoric will have to be continued or heightened to keep the masses entertained?

SK: That’s a really interesting question because we’ve been living in a gerontocracy for the past decade and a half. Most of the villains are people who have been villains my whole life. A new generation is emerging, but in terms of politicians, they lack the tactical ability of the older generation (see the failed cults of DeSantis, Vance, Cruz, etc.) The greatest power for evil young people lies in tech, which is why a partnership between Silicon Valley and the hardcore right emerged. The tech villains hold more power over our lives than the state did, and the more technological dependence exists, the more we will be trapped. I do think the comparison of Trump to Yeltsin instead of Putin is, at this point, accurate. They seek collapse and looting, and Trump is not the mastermind, but a bulldozer for bigger interests.

Ann F: Why does the US continue to support the genocide in Gaza? What is in it for them? And what would happen if they broke with tradition and just said we no longer support Israel re Gaza — or anywhere where gratuitous annihilation was occurring.

SK: I don’t understand how anyone supports this genocide. It is an incredible shame on the US that it does. It is a shame that the US should bear forever, in the same way the countries who aided Nazi Germany or Stalin’s USSR bear their shame. This genocide is not “self-defense”: it is a mass murder of children. Israeli officials routinely confess their war crimes and desire for territorial conquest. The mask is off, and US funding should be cut. My guess is that if we do this, Israel will attack the US with blackmail and possibly with violence. But we cannot support a genocide of children.

Vickie: Have you ever been to Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota? The picture of the Painted Desert reminded me of it. It is gorgeous. Also, North Dakota could use more rest areas with bathrooms! I read that if Trump is elected Judge Aileen Cannon is on the short list to become AG. Thoughts?

SK: I love Theodore Roosevelt National Park! I drove across North Dakota from Fargo to visit and wrote about it THE LAST AMERICAN ROAD TRIP. It’s the main national park I’d recommend for young families — it has a lot of the same wildlife as Yellowstone with a fraction of the crowds and expense.

Trump might select Cannon, but my guess is he’ll want more of a Bill Barr type — a corrupt institutionalist who has been running cover-ups for a long time. Cannon’s appointment is likely a rumor to piss off Democrats and keep Cannon in line.

Gretchen P: As you've mentioned numerous times, one of the most (if not the most) frustrating and egregious aspects of the last several years is the failure of our justice and congressional systems to hold Trump et al accountable. What do you think needs to be systemically changed so that our laws are actually enforced and someone like Trump and his acolytes can never be eligible to hold public office again? Do we actually need additional laws? Thanks for your writing and photography!

SK: We have laws to prevent Trump and his mafia circle from taking power, but our officials refuse to use them. We need an honest assessment of complicity in government. Trump could have never succeeded alone. He has been in a long partnership with the FBI against the American public and in the service of organized crime. Everyone who abets that needs to be removed from power. But since officials won’t admit this crisis even exists — a problem that’s been at play for nearly a century, going back to the days when J Edgar Hoover declared “There’s no such thing as the mafia” — it is difficult to work toward a solution.

Amy: I was in one of our local, um, vintage malls last week and came across a book called "A Fool for a Client" by Roy fucking Cohn. Have you read this?! Full disclosure, I probably won't but I did have to buy it for Apocalypse Library purposes.

SK: I have not, but I’m glad you spelled Roy Fucking Cohn’s name properly!

That’s it! My thanks to everyone for their questions. If you’d like to submit one, or to support this newsletter in general, please become a paid subscriber!