What's the difference between Trump's movement and a fish?

Crash Course subscribers can join in the conversation. Click the speech bubble icon to leave a comment or tap the heart to like this post.

The news, in brief …

• Dems accuse Waltz of “profound cowardice” during Signalgate scandal

  Democrats don’t have the numbers to halt Mike Waltz’s nomination to serve as UN ambassador. Instead, they used a Tuesday hearing to tell him about himself. Read more.

• The IRS is building a vast system to share millions of taxpayers’ data with ICE

  Trump might be cutting the IRS’ budget to go after wealthy tax cheats, but that doesn’t mean the agency won’t be able to make migrants’ lives hell. Read more.

• Stephen King roasts MAGA over “Epstein files”

  That's one layup gift for your conservative dad down. Read more.

• Trump floats controversial redistricting plan in Texas, Newsom threatens retaliation

  Trump promoted a plan to get five more Texas Republicans into the House, leading California’s governor to threaten a similar move. Read more.

• House Republicans block release of Jeffrey Epstein files

  The Democrat-led legislation would have forced Attorney General Pam Bondi to share DOJ files on the late sex trafficker. Read more.

• “Spineless creeps”: ICE lawyers are hiding their names in court

  The Gestapo’s attorneys are getting in on the act premeired by its faceless, nameless agents. Read more.

Make me smarter …

Trump doesn’t realize why MAGA needs the Epstein files

The president’s base is desperate for a story where they're the heroes, not the villains. Read more.

MAGA rots from the tail up

Mike Johnson has been a reliable capo for Donald Trump, gamely marching onto press shows to smugly protect this thing of theirs.

Every Constitution-shredding move, every tax code kickback to Trump’s wealthy associates, every new, no-work job created for AI companies and defense contractors, Johnson’s been the one to play defense in public. He rarely breaks a sweat when asked by Jake Tapper if he’s serious and hard data from Kristen Welker will never sway him from his talking points.

The bond between this made man and the boss seemed unbreakable, until yesterday. The House majority leader made a clear break from the man just a few steps up the ladder and asked for more transparency around the case files of Jeffrey Epstein.

“It’s a very delicate subject, but you should put everything out there, let the people decide it,” the Louisiana Republican told conservative commentator Benny Johnson.

For the uninitiated, Donald Trump ran for office on a platform of releasing the Department of Justice’s files concerning the late financier, who died in prison while facing charges of sex trafficking minors. The DOJ shared a memo last week that said they do not know of any list of Epstein’s clients and found no reason to suspect foul play in his death. This led to a revolt among the president’s conspiratorial base, who feel that Trump has welched on a years-long promise.

Johnson’s call to release the so-called “Epstein files” is the highest-profile defection so far among the GOP, showing that the choler of cranks is spreading. After Trump and White House Spox Karoline Leavitt spent days defending Pam Bondi’s handling of the case, Johnson called for more information from the attorney general.

Bondi had told conservative news outlets that she had a list of Epstein clients on her desk awaiting review. Johnson said he’s willing to give her leeway to speak metaphorically, but added that she needs to clear up the current confusion.

“I think she was talking about documents, as I understood that were on her desk. I don’t know that she was specific about a list or whatever, but she needs to come forward and explain that to everybody,” Johnson said.

What do you think? Is MAGA outrage over the Epstein client list the thing that will finally bring Trumpism down? Will they forget about this as quickly as they did tan suits and critical race theory? Sound off in the comments.

Support our bold journalism: Become a Salon member today.

Before you go …

Claudia Sheinbaum has a story to tell — and we need to listen

Mexico's president is being defined in relation to powerful men. Allowing that to happen will be our loss. Read more.