Kurt Andersen

FYI, at Bluesky I’m @kurtandersen and at Threads I’m @kurtbandersen.

Panicked. @SpeakerJohnson before: “Put everything out there and let the people decide. I’m for transparency.” Now: “We’re done being lectured on transparency" and the "endless efforts to politicize the Epstein investigation. We’re not going to play political games with this."

50-100 million people listen to & watch public radio & TV. Public media revenue--of 900 local radio stations + NPR, PRX & APM, and 350 local TV stations + PBS--Is ≈$6 billion. Of which the government has provided $500 million. The ignoramuses' defunding is a blow, but not fatal.

I encourage everyone, especially those who are or have been sympathetic to Israel, to read this long, thoughtful, powerful piece by an Israeli-American historian of genocide. An IDF company commander in the 1973 war, he’s lived in the U.S. since 1989. theguardian.com/world/article/…

Yes, still 3 1/2 months until the NYC election. But given that it’s the most interesting election in America this fall, for the mayor of the largest city in the country, a little surprising to me that in this poll-o-rama era we’ve gone 2 weeks without a new Mamdani-Cuomo-etc. p

Literally the only evidence in this article of having “Deflected MAGA’s Wrath Over Epstein” is three people in his circle—Steve Bannon, Laura Loomer, Elon Musk—saying the @WSJ story is no big deal. nytimes.com/2025/07/21/us/…

How he’s randomly recycling and polishing tired old pieces of his BS—make it the Washington Redskins again, strip Rosie O’Donnell of citizenship, prosecute Schiff, prosecute Obama, why’s Samantha Power rich—is an exceptionally desperate attempt to change the subject from Epstein.

So good. Such a skillful and modern politician. In the pantheon with Obama, Clinton, and in his Bizarro World fashion Trump.

The one fact iI hadn’t known: “Trump hosted a party at Mar-a-Lago for [28] young women. Epstein was the only other guest.” At which his event planner’s GF & business partner says “Trump took her into a bedroom and forcibly kissed and fondled her, and restrained her from leaving.”

In Haaretz, @gideonle on Israel’s “far-reaching plan” for forced relocation of Palestinians out of Gaza. Powerful lede by this Israeli son of survivors about the Israeli son of a survivor in D.C. last week seeking U.S. help for the mass deportation. To Ethiopia, Indonesia, Libya.

Now I wish I’d been in town, just so I could’ve gone to the party for @grynbaum’s undoubtedly excellebt book. Welk-played, @donetodeath. 🙏🏻

Trump & Epstein became buds in the 1980s, when an Epstein financial client was crooked Saudi arms dealer Adnan Kashoggi. In 1988-89 Spy magazine sent 3 checks for diminishing tiny amounts to dozens of rich people. Only 2 cashed the $.13 ones—future bankrupts Trump & Kashogggi.

"I could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody, and I wouldn't lose any voters, OK?" Is Epstein the shooting-somebody-on-Fifth-Avenue move that finally does lose him voters? Does coverup-not-the-crime eventually come true even with him?

Maybe as the owner of CBS David Ellison will do Trump's bidding. He's routinely identified on social media as a conservative like his dad. But per Open Secrets his only donations are to Democrats, most of it the ≈$1M he gave In February 2024 to Biden. 🤷‍♂️ opensecrets.org/donor-lookup/r…

To his party buddy he’s just told @NYMag (wink-wink) “likes beautiful women as much as I and on the younger side,” he gives a nudie doodle inscribed (wink-wink): “We have certain things in common, Jeffrey…A pal is a wonderful thing…may every day be another wonderful secret.” 🤫

I look for silver linings. And CBS ending hilarious, brilliant, wise @StephenAtHome’s show after eleven years—“a financial decision not related in any way to the show's content”—has one. Colbert now has a whole year to satirize his bootlicker bosses and all the booted villains.

My favorite @washingtonpost journalist @pbump is taking a buyout, and I’ll eagerly follow him wherever he goes. His political columns and his illuminating, delightful weekly newsletter on infographics have been indispensable. Also: might actually make me cancel my Post sub.

Late this morning it was reported he might fire thenFed chair. There’s a reason it’s Wall Street people who coined TACO.