David Cay Johnston on Trump, Epstein Files, and Ukraine War

Delay in Swearing In Congresswoman Grijalva

• 📌 House Speaker Mike Johnson is delaying the swearing-in of newly elected Congresswoman Adelia Grijalva from Arizona.
• 💡 This delay is strategically aimed at preventing a vote on the release of the Epstein files, as Grijalva's swearing-in would provide the 218th signature needed for a discharge petition.
• ⚠️ Democrats and some Republicans, like Thomas Massie, are calling out this delay as an unprecedented cover-up tactic.

The Epstein Files and Donald Trump

• 🔍 The core issue is the alleged presence of Donald Trump's name within the unreleased Epstein files.
• 🏛️ Critics question why the Trump Justice Department and the House committee have not released these files, and why witnesses with "no probative value" are being called.
• 🚫 Speaker Johnson denies a link between Grijalva's swearing-in and the Epstein files, claiming a commitment to transparency while also suggesting redactions for victim protection.
• 📈 Thomas Massie has publicly criticized Speaker Johnson's continued "cover-up" and noted that at least 20 men are implicated in the files.

Pentagon Policy and Press Access

• 📰 Major US news organizations, including Fox News, have refused to sign a new Pentagon policy restricting journalists' access and ability to gather information.
• 🚫 The policy is seen as an attempt to limit reporting, with penalties including revocation of press credentials.
• 🗣️ David Cay Johnston views One American News as a propaganda outfit and believes legitimate news organizations will find ways to cover the Pentagon without direct access, focusing on actions rather than statements.

Trump, Russia, and Ukraine

• 🚀 Donald Trump has stated he "might" send Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine, a move that reportedly rattles Putin.
• 📉 Johnston criticizes both Biden's initial intelligence release and Trump's incremental approach, arguing that neither has effectively ended the war.
• 🌍 Putin has secured new energy deals with China and continues to sell refined products to the US via India, indicating resilience despite sanctions.
• ⚠️ There is concern that Putin's ultimate goal is to rebuild the old Soviet Union's satellite system, posing a threat to NATO and European stability.

Trump's Approach to Negotiation and Leadership

• 🤔 Johnston describes Trump's worldview as transactional: friends are those who do what he wants, and opponents are those who don't.
• 🗣️ Trump's belief that personal relationships with leaders like Putin can resolve conflicts is seen as naive, given his lack of public service experience.
• ⏳ Trump's claim to settle the Ukraine war in one day if elected is contrasted with the ongoing conflict, highlighting his perceived ineffectiveness.
• ✨ Johnston acknowledges Trump's role in brokering the Hamas-Israel hostage release as a significant achievement, suggesting it might embolden him to take a more assertive stance on Ukraine.
• 🤝 When negotiating with Trump, flattery and praise can make him more amenable, a tactic Zelensky might employ to gain more support.