Republicans: continued

[pErvinalia]

The shittiverse.

[Tero]

https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/ ... s-00452358
Ward breaks the MAGA crowd into eight different groups.

The 'Nothing to See Here'-ers

"Several members of Trump’s administration — including Bondi and Patel — entered their new jobs stoking suspicion about a government coverup of the Epstein files and promising to use their new power to get to the bottom of the case. But now that they’re in the government, they’re claiming that they’ve gotten to the bottom — and there’s nothing much to see down there."

The Deep State Haters

"Another group of Trump’s supporters have revived a favorite MAGA leitmotif to explain the lack of disclosure in the Epstein case: that the “deep state” is outmaneuvering Trump’s deputies to thwart the democratic will and protect itself and its elites." The most prominent of this group is Steve Bannon.

The Israel Skeptics

"A slightly distinct slice of the MAGA movement has zeroed in on Epstein’s alleged ties to Israel, suggesting that Epstein’s sex trafficking activities could have been part of a joint U.S.-Israeli “honeypot” operation designed to ensnare valuable intelligence targets." Prominent in this group is Tucker Carlson.

The Loyalty Enforcers

Most prominent in this group is Laura Loomer who has exiled people from MAGA for not being sufficiently "loyal". Now she is aiming at Attorney General Pam Bondi. “She drags the administration down and the base doesn’t want her as AG.” Trump, of course, is not in the slightest to blame."

The Lukewarm Podcast Bros

"So-called podcast bros like Joe Rogan and Andrew Schulz jumped on the Trump train in 2024, but the Epstein files controversy — as well as Trump’s other recent moves backing away from his more populist agenda items — seems to be giving them second thoughts."

The Conspicuously Silent Crowd

"Chief among the newly silent crowd is MAGA-media-personality-turned-Deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino, who entered the government vowing to get to the bottom of the many theories about Epstein that he once pushed, only to clam up since the report dropped."

"Bongino is joined in his awkward position by Vice President JD Vance, who has publicly cast doubt on the details of Epstein’s death and called on the government to release Epstein’s client list during the 2024 campaign. Vance has reportedly been playing the role of mediator in the intra-administration showdown about the recent report, but he has not spoken publicly about the controversy."

The Plan Trusters

"Throughout the recent tumult for the MAGA coalition, a solid bloc of Trump’s supporters has effectively coalesced around a new motto: “Trust the plan.” You may not understand what Trump is up to, so the thinking goes, but Trump certainly does — and that should be good enough for the rest of us."

Team Elon

"Elon Musk, as a team of one, has not passed up on the opportunity to beat up on his ex-bestie as he tries to stake out a new political lane separate from Trump. “How can people be expected to have faith in Trump if he won’t release the Epstein files?”