Welp, we have had us a week of ups and downs when it comes to the potential release of all of the Epstein files and exposure of his pedophile “friends”. This week has been followed quite closely on the DKos website, so I will provide a brief(ish) recap of events and then add my own closing thoughts. For much more detail, please search this site for “Epstein,” if you wish.
Helpfully, ABC provided a timeline from last year through earlier this week. Notably:
- Prior to $Rump being re-elected $Resident (my little nod to all the moneyed corruption too), he and the Gaslighting Old Perverts party claimed to be all for the release of the files to expose the pedophiles.
- Then $Rump gained office and appointed Pam Bondi as AG, who in February claimed to have all the files for “review”. Then she released “Phase 1,” but it was mostly old information.
May 8, 2025
The House's Task Force on the Declassification of Federal Secrets demanded the release of the Epstein files in a letter to Bondi. Bondi did not respond to the request before the May 16 deadline.
- Bondi is still avoiding complete release of the files, so far.
- In July, supposedly they had determined that there was no client list, no “uncharged parties” to be investigated.
July 15, 2025
Republican Rep. Thomas Massie and Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna seek a House vote for a discharge petition to release the Epstein files. The same day, House Speaker Mike Johnson called on Bondi to "come forward and explain" her handling of the probe.
- $Rump waffles, deputy AG Blanche interviews Ghislaine Maxwell, who claims there is no client list and then gets her cushy prison upgrade. Johnson, of course, ends up pretending this is all fine.
Sept. 8, 2025
Democrats on the House Oversight Committee released a 238-page PDF document of the 50th birthday book to Epstein that includes a prologue by Maxwell and a page allegedly written by Trump.
- That’s the infamous $Rump doodle that he denied. Eww. Doubtful that anybody believes that he didn’t draw it.
- On October 1, the government shut down, Johnson refused to swear in Adelita Grijalva, and some of the delay in reopening government may have been because Johnson now wants to keep the Epstein files under wraps.
- On November 12, this past Wednesday, Democrats released emails from the Epstein estate. Epstein emailed others stating that $Rump spent time with the girls, although he never specifically said that $Rump had sex with underage girls in any emails released so far. Also November 12, Adelita Grijalva was finally sworn into office as the government shutdown has come to an end. She became the final needed signature for a discharge petition and Johnson has agreed to vote on the release of the Epstein files next week.
- [Note that IF there is a vote to release the files, it has to go to the Senate for a vote and then be signed by the $Resident! So not likely to be approved. But the GOP protection of perverts will become more obvious, pressure on $Rump increases, and more MAGA fans break away.]
As of Friday, November 14, $Rump has continued to deny there is any incriminating evidence against him, yet “for some reason” doesn’t want the files released. He has asked for the DOJ to investigate Democrats tied to Epstein, though; and Bondi has agreed, assigning Jay Clayton to lead the investigation. Note above — they previously claimed that there were no “uncharged parties”.
I say do it! Investigate them all (See Who Else Was Mentioned in the Latest Epstein Emails) and let the chips fall where they may! If Bill Clinton, Larry Summers, and/or Reid Hoffman had sex with girls, they should be in prison. If $Rump, Peter Thiel, and/or Steve Bannon had sex with girls, they should be in prison. Stop coddling wealthy white men who think their status means they can get away with anything. Period. When it comes to heinous felonies, political party should not matter!
Note that Larry Summers was Secretary of Treasury under Clinton, former president of Harvard, economic advisor to Obama, board member for OpenAI; and Reid Hoffman was founder of LinkedIn, frenemy of Elon Musk, and a big donor to Democrats; suggesting reasons $Rump might mention them other than any wrongdoing on their part. Note also that Hoffman has now fired back, calling $Rump’s comments a “baseless” “obvious ploy” and continuing to push for release of all the files.
And finally, a shout-out to the many brave women who came forward to testify about Epstein, Maxwell, and others such as Prince Andrew, under oath in courts and in public. Because we all know the likelihood of harassment, abuse, stalking and threats by $Rump-associated bullies because of their testimony, I will not name them again here. Note, though, that there have been many, many girls and young women abused by Epstein and his accomplices; in one of Epstein’s first deals with the federal government, Epstein agreed to pay restitution to 36 victims, www.tallahassee.com/....
However, I will say the names of the three of the testifying survivors who are now beyond reach of further harassment:
Virginia Roberts Giuffre, perhaps the most well known, who testified that she was “passed around” starting at age 14. Sadly, she committed suicide earlier this year.
Carolyn Andriano, who testified that she was paid for sexual contacts beginning at age 14. “She said she used the money to buy drugs.” Sadly, she was found dead in Florida in 2023, ruled a drug overdose but her family questions those findings, www.usatoday.com/…
Leigh Skye Patrick, was “offered a modeling job” by Epstein at age 16. She was also found dead at age 29 in a Florida hotel room in 2017, ruled as an accidental drug overdose. Her family stated that she used drugs since Epstein, to deal with the trauma of being trafficked by him, www.timesnownews.com/….
Since many people in Epstein’s orbit have died somewhat mysteriously, including Epstein himself, I think it would not be surprising to find that someone(s) tried to get rid of witnesses. On the other hand, it is surely not surprising that trauma can drive people to drugs.
If you have suicidal thoughts, are suffering emotional distress, need help with others, and/or want help with drugs and/or alcohol, please call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline from anywhere in the US, Canada, or US territories. Help is available 24/7, is free and confidential, and is usually local. Chat and hard-of-hearing services are also available. lifeline.org
Virginia Roberts Giuffre speaking in New York in 2020 (h/t DKos staff). Rest in Power.
In Other News
Gettin outta dodge
Record Numbers of Younger Women Want to Leave the U.S.: Desire to migrate among younger American women has quadrupled in the past decade.
The sharp rise in younger women wanting to leave the U.S. has created a large gender gap between them and their male counterparts. Today’s 21-percentage-point gap between younger men (19%) and women (40%) wanting to leave the U.S. is the widest Gallup has recorded on this trend.
-snip-
The growing trend in younger women in the U.S. looking to leave their country is not evident in other advanced economies. Across 38 member countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the percentage of younger women who say they would like to migrate has held relatively steady for years, typically averaging between 20% and 30%.
-snip-
Across demographic groups, Americans with lower confidence in institutions such as the government, judicial system, military and integrity of elections are consistently more likely to express a desire to leave the country.
The only surprise is that this trend started before the Dobbs decision.
Environment
UN Women call for a strong Gender Action Plan at COP30 to keep gender equality as a central pillar for climate action:
Climate change is not gender neutral. Its impacts exacerbate existing inequalities, placing women and marginalized groups at the frontlines of climate-related displacement, food insecurity and loss of livelihoods. The adoption of a strong Gender Action Plan at COP30 is therefore not only a matter of justice, but also a strategic imperative for effective climate action.
“Failure to adopt a robust GAP would set back gender equality and human rights, undermining hard-won progress and signaling that women’s leadership and experience are expendable in the climate fight”, says Sarah Hendriks, Director, Policy, Programme and Intergovernmental Division at UN Women.
The first Gender Action Plan, adopted in 2017, has been instrumental in embedding gender considerations across the UNFCCC process – from mitigation and adaptation to finance, technology and capacity-building. The GAP has enabled countries, institutions and civil society to make gender equality a tangible part of climate decision-making.
From IFAW: Jenga Mama: A silent revolution for women and wildlife in Amboseli:
At IFAW, we believe that you cannot safeguard natural resources unless you also empower those who live alongside wildlife. That’s why the initiative known as Jenga Mama (Swahili for “empower a woman”) was born. The truth is simple: women are deeply connected to nature—they fetch water, gather fuel, feed their families—but all too often they are excluded from economic decisions and leadership roles. By training women in tailoring, plumbing, hairdressing and beauty, computer technology, and catering, Jenga Mama places them at the heart of both community and conservation.
We started by reaching the most marginalised and vulnerable women in this beautiful yet challenging landscape. Sixty women now have marketable skills, and they are already becoming agents of change.
-snip-
Perhaps the most powerful change is in how natural resources are now used and safeguarded. When women gain economic alternatives, the direct pressure on the land decreases. But beyond that, women are gaining voice and influence in local resource‑management decisions. For example, women who trained through Jenga Mama are now active governing‑committee members of the newly established Illaingarunyoni Conservancy and Ole Narika Conservancy. They are shaping how land is used, how wildlife corridors are maintained, and how community‑conservation relationships are built.
Environmental Dog:
(h/t strawbale)
Violence
Domestic violence nonprofits are winning against the Trump administration in court: A series of lawsuits has, at least temporarily, blocked the administration from putting ideological demands on groups that combat domestic violence and sexual assault.
Domestic violence groups and the broader network of gender-based violence nonprofits have been on high alert since the Trump administration issued a series of executive orders — followed by a temporary federal freeze in late January — to end federal funding for programs or organizations out of step with the administration’s ideology. The funding, advocates say, is essential to providing life-saving services to vulnerable victims, who are more likely to be women.
Through agency rules, the administration is actively trying to restrict the use of federal grants to fund what it calls “illegal” diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility activities and “gender ideology extremism.” It is also trying to restrict federal grants from organizations that in any way express support for abortion and that serve immigrants without permanent legal status in the country.
The restrictions go even further: Nonprofits that want to continue to receive federal funding from the Office on Violence Against Women, part of the U.S. Department of Justice, are not allowed to “frame domestic violence or sexual assault as systemic social justice issues rather than criminal offenses.”
Judges William Smith and Melissa DuBose, both of US District Courts in Rhode Island, issued preliminary injunctions against $Rump. Judge DuBose called the $Rump administration’s restrictions “baseless and arbitrary”. That could sum up the whole $Residency.
Science
L'Oréal USA Announces 2025 For Women in Science Awardees, Underscoring Commitment to Advancing Careers in STEM: Five postdoctoral scientists receive grants, mentoring and networking, supporting the next generation of women scientists.
The five awardees are:
- Rebecka J. Sepela, Harvard University, studying animal-microbe interactions;
- Kaitlyn A. Webster, Harvard Medical School, studying fish reproduction;
- Georgia Squyres, California Institute of Technology, studying biofilms;
- Kaveeta Kaw, Emory University School of Medicine, studying pulmonary arterial hypertension using 3D technology; and
- Sydney Aten, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center/Harvard Medical School, studying circadian rhythms.
Each will receive $75,000 grants for their contributions to STEM.
Medicine
Aspirin can prevent a serious pregnancy complication — but too few women get it, new report suggests: Pre-eclampsia, a condition that causes dangerously high blood pressure, is a leading cause of death among mothers and babies.
Some medical centers are taking a dramatic step to save mothers and babies after studies have shown too many doctors fail to follow guidelines for preventing pre-eclampsia, a potentially deadly pregnancy complication.
These hospitals now recommend that all of their pregnant patients take low-dose aspirin. Studies show the drug is safe and can help prevent pre-eclampsia, a condition characterized by high blood pressure, and other pregnancy dangers.
-snip-
Pre-eclampsia, a leading cause of death among mothers and babies, affects about 1 in every 25 pregnancies in the U.S. Black mothers and women with high blood pressure or diabetes, or who are 35 or older, among other factors, are at increased risk.
Doctors have said that screening is “too complicated,” so some haven’t been recommending when they should. It doesn’t seem that complicated to me and I’m not a genius doctor, but whatevs. At low doses, aspirin has few risks, they also say.
China
Xi directs quashing of Chinese feminists even as he praises advances at women’s conference: Chinese president is behind patriarchal turn in politics with activists silenced for ‘promoting gender antagonism’.
Addressing dignitaries gathered in Beijing on Monday, Xi Jinping praised the “historic achievements” of women’s rights in China. In the past 30 years, the Chinese president said, maternal mortality rates had dropped by nearly 80%, and women were now participating in the project of national governance with “unprecedented confidence and vigour”.
-snip-
Lü Pin, an activist based in New Jersey who founded an influential feminist organisation in China that was forced to close in 2018, [stated], “… Feminist activities beyond personal life are severely limited, including public discussion, let alone policy advocacy, accountability and collective action,” said Lü, who has been based in the US since 2015, when several of her associates, known as the “feminist five”, were detained in China after a protest they staged about sexual harassment on public transport.
-snip-
Although social attitudes towards divorce and workplace equality have become more liberal, the government routinely exhorts women to fulfil what it says are traditional responsibilities of marriage and child-bearing, especially to help the country tackle its falling birthrate. In 2023, Xi said that China should “cultivate a new marriage and child-bearing culture”.
That last sounds eerily familiar.
Humour
Ariel Dumas in The New Yorker, I’m the Woman Who Ruined the Workplace — Link to the archive so you can enjoy the whole without the paywall. We might as well laugh at the stereotypes they keep insisting upon!
Much of how I ruined the workplace has to do with the accommodations that I, as a woman, require. Because of me, male employees are no longer allowed to make lewd jokes, hold men-only work gatherings, or type with their penises. Yes, this has ruined the workplace, although it has also drastically reduced typos.
And a final brain cleanse: A professional therapy cat!
(h/t strawbale)
This Week in the War on Women is never written alone. Many thanks to Tara and Angmar for items and discussion this week.
TWitWoW needs writers. If you would like to write for us, please let us know in the Comments!
