February 9, 2026

Ebony Davis of MS NOW: “Convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell pleaded the Fifth Amendment virtually before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee on Monday as part of a high-profile inquiry into Jeffrey Epstein’s activities and the federal government’s handling of related files. Maxwell is serving a 20-year federal prison sentence for her role in aiding Epstein’s sexual abuse of underage girls and is in custody at a federal prison camp in Bryan, Texas. The co-conspirator was expected to invoke the Fifth Amendment on a 'blanket basis' and refuse to answer substantive questions during the deposition, according to a letter from Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., sent to Committee Chair Rep. James Comer, R-Ky.... Maxwell’s attorney, Davis Oscar Markus, told the committee that his client invoked her constitutional right and said that Maxwell would only answer questions if she is granted clemency by ... Donald Trump. 'She must remain silent because Ms. Maxwell has a habeas petition currently pending that demonstrates that her conviction rests on a fundamentally unfair trial,' he added.”

Marie's Sports Report

Here's what got Donald Trump so upset. I'm not a big fan of extravaganzas, but as extravagant half-time shows go, this seemed like an especially good one. And since it irritated Donald Trump, I'd say the show was great. Update: Oops! looks like you have to watch it on the YouTubes. That's okay, too: ~~~

     ~~~ RAS found an explanation of the show's content on Reddit by someone who calls himself Traditional-Rice-682. ~~~

~~~ Marie: Maybe Trump enjoyed the "alternative half-time show" that Turning Point USA mounted when the organization found out Bad Bunny would headline the Super Bowl half-time show. All did not go well. Apparently, TPUSA's "headliner" Kid Rock (some "kid"; he's 55 years old) obviously lip-synced his way through his performance. The show was originally to run on X, but because of a licensing dispute, was not allowed at the last minute to run on X. and ran on YouTube, Rumble and elsewhere. (I'm not sure if his performance included a recording/lip-sync of his 2001 song "Cool, Daddy Cool" which includes lyrics about young girls and how he "likes 'em underage." ~~~

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~~~ Cheyanne Daniels of Politico: “First-time Olympian Hunter Hess has drawn the ire of ... Donald Trump just days after the freestyle skier spoke out against the administration’s political priorities. [In a social media post,] Trump bashed Hess, who said he has 'mixed emotions' representing the U.S. at the Italian Olympic Games due to the current political climate.... 'U.S. Olympic Skier, Hunter Hess, a real Loser, says he doesn’t represent his Country in the current Winter Olympics,' Trump posted on Sunday. 'If that’s the case, he shouldn’t have tried out for the Team, and it’s too bad he’s on it. Very hard to root for someone like this. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!' Ahead of the opening ceremony in Italy on Friday, Hess said he feels like he’s representing aspects of the U.S. 'if it aligns with my moral values.'... 'It’s a little hard. There’s obviously a lot going on that I’m not the biggest fan of, and I think a lot of people aren’t. … Just ‘cause I’m wearing the flag doesn’t mean I represent everything that’s going on in the U.S,' Hess said....

“In her own press conference, figure skater Amber Glenn said it has been a 'hard time' for the LGBTQ+ community under the Trump administration. The administration has taken several steps that have sparked outrage from LGBTQ+ advocacy groups, such as shutting down a crisis hotline specifically designated for the community and attempting to limit passport sex markers.... Meanwhile, freestyle skier and gold medalist Chris Lillis said he is 'heartbroken' over the recent actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers.”

     ~~~ Marie: As usual, Trump faults his critics instead of listening to them.

Daily Beast, republished by Yahoo! News: "The Obama Foundation posted support of Bad Bunny ahead of his Super Bowl LX halftime show, sharing a clip on X Sunday that compiled all the times the 31-year-old Puerto Rican artist, real name Benito Martinez Ocasio, has appeared in [President] Obama’s annual ‘Favorite Songs of the Year’ lists. The foundation captioned the video, 'From one natural-born US citizen to another, have a great Benito Bowl!'” ~~~

AND Now for a Few Words from an All-American Spoilsport. The Super Bowl Halftime Show is absolutely terrible, one of the worst, EVER! It makes no sense, is an affront to the Greatness of America, and doesn’t represent our standards of Success, Creativity, or Excellence. Nobody understands a word this guy is saying, and the dancing is disgusting, especially for young children that are watching from throughout the U.S.A., and all over the World. This 'Show' is just a 'slap in the face' to our Country, which is setting new standards and records every single day — including the Best Stock Market and 401(k)s in History! -- Donald Trump ~~~

~~~ Joseph McBride of the Mirror, republished by MSN: "Former President Barack Obama sent a congratulatory message to the Seattle Seahawks after their Super Bowl LX win, while Donald Trump focused on slating Bad Bunny's halftime show performance. The Seahawks beat the New England Patriots 29-13 as quarterback Sam Darnold completed a stunning comeback story and Kenneth Walker was named Super Bowl MVP.... Trump wished the nation a fun Super Bowl before kickoff, but then slammed Bad Bunny for his 'disgusting' halftime performance, which he branded an 'affront to America.'... Trump called out one of the worst performances he'd ever seen, and somehow managed to use it as an opportunity to moan about the NFL's kickoff rule.... Obama ... sent a positive message to the Seahawks. 'Congratulations to the Super Bowl champion @Seahawks!' Obama wrote. 'This defense was special,' he continued. 'MVP Kenneth Walker was dominant. And Sam Darnold gave us one of the best comeback stories in a long time. Enjoy the celebration.'" ~~~

     ~~~ Marie: Trump says, "Nobody understands a word this guy is saying," because Trump is a stupid, narrow-minded old man. Although there are more people who speak English in the world than any other language, there are more native Spanish speakers than native English speakers. And there are more Spanish-speakers in "America" than there are English-speakers, according to the Googles' Art Intel. 

~~~ Marie Sherman of the AP: “The artist born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio brought Puerto Rican culture to the Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, for his 2026 Super Bowl halftime show in what was always going to be a landmark moment for Latinos. He started with his huge reggaeton-and-then-some hits, 'Tití Me Preguntó' moving into 'Yo Perreo Sola,' as he remerged on top of the casita ('little house') from his Puerto Rican residency — Cardi B, Jessica Alba, Pedro Pascal, Karol G, Young Miko, Ronald Acuña Jr., Alix Earle and Dave Grutman were guests at his pari de marquesina ('house party.')... The strings of his song 'Monaco' played — then, a surprise Lady Gaga emerged at a real wedding scene, singing her portion of the Bruno Mars-duet 'Die with a Smile,' joined by the salsa band Los Sobrinos.... As they performed, the couple was married and Benito served as their witness and signed their certificate.

“Bad Bunny performed entirely in Spanish — as all of his music is recorded in the language, though he has collaborated with English-language artists. The only English singing came from Gaga. He did speak in English at the end of the set, however, when he said, 'God Bless America,' and then named countries in the Americas: 'Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Brazil' and so on, including the United States and Canada — a reminder that while it is common to use 'America' as a synonym for the U.S. in the U.S., it is the name used across two continents.” The New York Times story is here.

The Sleaziest, Cheesiest President* in U.S. History. Kenneth Vogel, et al., of the New York Times: Donald “Trump’s allies are offering access to him and other perks to donors who give at least $1 million to a new group supporting flashy initiatives he is planning around the nation’s 250th birthday, according to documents and interviews. The group, Freedom 250, is threatening to overshadow years of plans meant to reach the broadest cross section of Americans for semiquincentennial celebrations. They are now taking on a Trumpian flare, replete with marble and machismo. But Freedom 250 has also emerged as another vehicle, akin to the White House ballroom project, through which people and companies with interests before the Trump administration can make tax-deductible donations to gain access to, and seek favor with, a president who has maintained a keen interest in fund-raising, and a willingness to use the levers of government power to reward financial supporters.” (Also linked yesterday.)

     ~~~ Marie: Of course Trump doesn't care about -- but he is also too stupid to understand -- the irony of reducing to a private party for a tiny group of ultra-wealthy elites and oligarchs what was meant to be a national celebration of the 250th anniversary of what would become an inspirational democracy. Maybe somebody should point out this part of the Declaration's text: "That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends [that is, Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness], it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness."

The Second-Most Sleazy, Cheesy President in U.S. History. Danny Hakim of the New York Times: “Jeffrey Epstein’s longtime companion, Ghislaine Maxwell, played a substantial role in supporting the creation of the Clinton Global Initiative, one of President Bill Clinton’s signature post-White House endeavors, new documents released by the Justice Department show. Ms. Maxwell took part in budget discussions related to the first Clinton Global Initiative conference; talked through challenges about it with both Clinton aides and Publicis Groupe, the company that produced the inaugural event; and arranged to wire $1 million to pay Publicis for its work on 'the Clinton project,' according to emails in the massive cache of documents collected as part of the government’s investigations of Mr. Epstein. The source of the money is unclear, including whether Mr. Epstein provided the funds. However, the emails show that he was aware of the payment....

“Ms. Maxwell’s involvement in the launch of the Clinton Global Initiative took place in 2004, before Mr. Epstein’s 2006 indictment and 2008 guilty plea for solicitation of prostitution with a minor, and long before Ms. Maxwell, a daughter of the media baron Robert Maxwell, was sentenced in 2022 to two decades in prison for conspiring with Mr. Epstein to sexually exploit underage girls. The emails support an assertion Ms. Maxwell made last year in an interview with the Justice Department that she played a key role in helping set up the global conference.” (Also linked yesterday.)

Michael Sisak, et al., of the AP: “... while investigators collected ample proof that Epstein sexually abused underage girls, they found scant evidence the well-connected financier led a sex trafficking ring serving powerful men, an Associated Press review of internal Justice Department records shows. Videos and photos seized from Epstein’s homes in New York, Florida and the Virgin Islands didn’t depict victims being abused or implicate anyone else in his crimes, a prosecutor wrote in one 2025 memo. An examination of Epstein’s financial records, including payments he made to entities linked to influential figures in academia, finance and global diplomacy, found no connection to criminal activity, said another internal memo in 2019. While one Epstein victim made highly public claims that he 'lent her' to his rich friends, agents couldn’t confirm that and found no other victims telling a similar story, the records said.... The documents [released under the Epstein Files Transparency Act ] which include police reports, FBI interview notes and prosecutor emails, provide the clearest picture to date of the investigation — and why U.S. authorities ultimately decided to close it without additional charges.” ~~~

     ~~~ Marie: This is a story that definitely begs for follow-up. Did FBI agents find "scant evidence" because they discounted the women's and girls' accounts? And/or because agents didn't look in the right places? The AP report says the documents "include police reports, FBI interview notes and prosecutor emails," but it says nothing about bank records, which could point to payments to Epstein and/or to the young women that might suggest sex trafficking activity and corroborate the women's stories. Of course Epstein's trafficking activities were probably a sideshow: the "bait" for his gaining access to the rich and powerful. I'll show you a "good time," hook you up with young girls, introduce you to other rich & powerful men; you'll do something for me. ~~~ 

     ~~~ Marie: The next thing I read after I wrote that was Krugman: ~~~ 

~~~ Paul Krugman: “I believe that a lot of [Epstein's] reach came from his skill at seducing people by providing them with a sense of exclusivity and privilege. To be associated with Epstein meant receiving invitations to participate in fancy dinners or to stay at one of his many luxurious residences in all the best places, including his private island. If you were chums with Jeffrey Epstein, you felt that you were a member of a glittering set of insiders. And that was enough to make you look away when the young woman pouring your drink looked just a little bit too much like your teenage daughter.” Krugman links the Epstein effect to JayDee's embarrassing visit to Milan: “... the Daily Mail reports that he and his entourage arrived 'on multiple aircraft carrying staff, security personnel, food supplies and vehicles' and that 'His ground convoy, made up of dozens of Chevy Suburbans, struggled through Milan’s narrow streets.' Like many others who’ve been there, my first reaction was 'He brought food to Milan?'... My second reaction was to ask why he would bring such a massive presence to a city like Milan.... The answer is that JD Vance is being swaddled in a golden blanket of privilege and luxury.”

James Gordon of the Daily Mail: "A federal statement announcing Jeffrey Epstein's death has surfaced in newly released Justice Department files but it carries a date that appears to precede the moment he was officially found dead inside his New York prison cell. The document, issued by the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York and dated Friday, August 9, 2019, states that Epstein had already been found unresponsive and pronounced dead. But prison records and official accounts show Epstein was not discovered unresponsive until the morning of August 10, 2019, when a corrections officer delivering breakfast found him in his cell at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Manhattan." The article includes a facsimile of the original draft memo created by the office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York. (Also linked yesterday.) ~~~

     ~~~ Marie: On YouTube, I saw two videos by fairly reliable lefties who also put up on the screen a copy of the actual SDNY announcement, dated August 10, 2019. The August 9 memo said only that Epstein was "found unresponsive in his cell and was pronounced dead shortly thereafter." The August 10 memo appended to the end of that sentence, "... of an apparent suicide." You can see for yourself here. As Aaron Parnas (yes, Lev's son!) says, if DOJ wants to clear up this date anomaly, they could simply "release the metadata behind [the document dated August 9] ... to show that it was actually created on August 10...." At any rate, the date discrepancy, along with some other bits that Parnas points out don't fit the official narrative, raise questions. I promise I'm not going crazy on you here, but our federal government is truly screwing up everything (Trump was president* in 2019), and taking care of a VIP criminal in their custody is one of the screw-ups.

Heather Cox Richardson compares Trump's lying tactics with Joe McCarthy's lying tactics. 

Josh Gerstein of Politico: “Local officials in Georgia demanding that the FBI return hundreds of thousands of ballots from the 2020 presidential election contend that the seizure took place with 'callous disregard' for the constitutional rights of voters and county officials, according to court filings unsealed Saturday. Judge J.P. Boulee, a Trump appointee, has been assigned to rule on a motion Fulton County, Georgia, officials filed last week challenging the Jan. 28 seizure of 24 pallets containing about 700 boxes of ballots and other records.... In addition to unsealing the Democratic-run county’s legal arguments, Boulee issued an order Saturday giving the Justice Department until 5 p.m. Tuesday to file publicly the arguments federal prosecutors put forward to persuade Magistrate Judge Catherine Salinas to issue the search warrant authorizing the seizure of all of the physical ballots from the 2020 election.... Boulee ... said he will allow Justice Department lawyers to redact the names of 'non-governmental witnesses' from the version that is made public.”

Paul Rosenszweig, the UnPopulist: “More than 2,000 years ago, the Greek philosopher Plato predicted ICE’s tactics. He knew, even then, that the character of a certain type of man or woman was corrupt and that anonymity would enable brutality. In short, he knew that ICE agents would want to wear masks not to protect themselves from danger, but rather to enable their immoral conduct. Plato’s prescient understanding of ICE agents arose during a discussion of the parable of the ring of Gyges.... Plato knew that the anonymity of the ring of Gyges [-- wearing it rendered the wearer invisible --] was a cause of injustice. ICE’s masks today are the modern-day equivalent.... Glaucon, one of the participants in the Socratic dialogue, opined that ... no person would be of 'such adamantine resolve as to abide by justice' if he could engage in unjust behavior without any fear of punishment.”

Joe Wilkins of Futurism, republished by Yahoo! News: “The US government has found a frighteningly efficient way to keep tabs on citizens who criticize the government: just demand their personal data from Google. According to recent reporting from the Washington Post, a 67-year-old retiree sent a polite email to an attorney for the Department of Homeland Security urging mercy for an asylum seeker facing deportation to Afghanistan.... Five hours later, per WaPo, Jon received a response — not from [the DHS attorney] or the DHS, but from Google..., advis[ing] Jon that [they would honor] an administrative subpoena, issued by DHS. Soon, government agents would arrive at his home.... When Jon finally received a copy of the subpoena from Google — 22 days after they issued their seven-day notice — it demanded his data going back weeks....” I linked to the original WashPo story when it ran last week, but the slant Wilkins puts on it makes it worth revisiting.

When historians write the chronicle of this scoundrel time (not in the Washington Post, obviously) they will point to what Bezos did for Melania while gutting his own newspaper as the most glaring symptom of cultural collapse in a democracy hanging on to truth and knowledge by the barest of threads. -- Historian Simon Schama ~~~

 ~~~ Annals of “Journalism,” Ctd. Ed Pilkington & Jeremy Barr of the Guardian: “Jeff Bezos’s axing of more than 300 jobs at the [Washington Post] has renewed fears about the resilience of America’s democracy to withstand Trump’s attacks.... Robert McCartney, a 39-year veteran of the Post until he retired five years ago..., has been astonished by the stark contrast between Bezos’s handling of the newspaper during Donald Trump’s first term in office and his conduct now in Trump 2.0. McCartney was a senior journalist on the paper during Bezos’s initial eight years of ownership, through Trump’s first presidency. Back then, he, like many others, was grateful for Bezos’s tutelage. 'We saw him as a savior. He pumped money into the Post, didn’t meddle in the newsroom and stood up to Trump,' he said....  Bezos sank $75m into that pile of “gilded trash” [-- that is, the 'Melania movie' --] yet, unlike the Post, seems unfazed by the film’s paltry return on investment....

“While many papers have been folding, others have fallen into the hands of a new breed of super-wealthy tech and venture capitalist owners who, like Bezos, see journalism as an asset to monetize: the Los Angeles Times was acquired in 2018 by a biotech billionaire, Patrick Soon-Shiong. Like Bezos, Soon-Shiong has displayed symptoms of Trump Appeasement Syndrome.... Trump has taken his vendetta against truth-seekers to a new level. He has stripped public media channels NPR and PBS of more than $1bn in federal funding, launched full-frontal attacks on individual journalists and outlets exposing his corruption and lies and sustained a bullying campaign against corporate owners designed to browbeat them into subservience. CBS News is the consummate example.” (Also linked yesterday.)

Marie: James Rosen wrote an op-ed for the New York Times about a secret Nixon deposition. I think the op-ed is pretty important, but I haven't been able to read it in full, as it's quite long, and my time right now is quite short. So I'm just posting the link, and you can find out for yourself at your leisure. I will get to reading the op-ed later, but in the meantime, this is all I've got. The link appears to be a gift link. Rosen, BTW, is a reporter who gained fame/notoriety at Fox "News" and now works for Newsmax.

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U.K. Michael Shear of the New York Times: “Morgan McSweeney, the chief of staff to Prime Minister Keir Starmer of Britain, resigned under pressure on Sunday after days of political upheaval over his role in the appointment of Peter Mandelson, a friend of Jeffrey Epstein, as ambassador to the United States. Mr. McSweeney, a longtime protégé of Mr. Mandelson’s, said in a statement that 'the decision to appoint Peter Mandelson was wrong. He has damaged our party, our country and trust in politics itself.' He added, 'When asked, I advised the prime minister to make that appointment, and I take full responsibility for that advice.' Mr. Starmer’s allies in the Labour Party have been calling for Mr. McSweeney to depart for days, after emails released by the U.S. Justice Department revealed a much closer relationship than had previously been known between Mr. Mandelson and Mr. Epstein, the wealthy sex offender and disgraced financier who committed suicide in prison in 2019.” (Also linked yesterday.)