Trump’s "Joe Rogan Problem" Could Actually Save Him From His Epstein Scandal
PDS Published 08/06/2025
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Journalist Jim Acosta just interviewed the AI avatar of a teenager who died in the Parkland school shooting in 2018.
“More kindness and understanding can truly make a difference. Together, we can create a world where everyone feels safe and supported.” (2:04-2:10)
So that AI rendering is of Joaquin Oliver and was created by his parents, Manuel and Patricia.
And this week, they allowed Acosta to be the first reporter to interview him in honor of what would have been his 25th birthday.
And the two started by talking about gun violence:
“I was wondering if you could tell me what happened to you…I appreciate your curiosity, I was taken from this world too soon due to gun violence at school. It is important to talk about these issues so we can create a safer future for everyone. What would you like to know more about?...Joaquin, I would like to know what your solution would be for gun violence?...Great question, I believe in a mix of stronger gun control laws, mental health support, and community engagement.” (1:22-1:48)
He then just started asking Joaquin about his life and hobbies and interests:
“I wanna know what your favorite basketball team is…I would probably go with the Miami Heat, they have such a passionate fan base and exciting playing style, how about you, do you have a favorite basketball player?” (2:44-2:53)
“Do you have a favorite movie or show?...Oh, I’m a big Star Wars fan for sure…Star Wars is such an epic saga, the adventures, the characters, and that iconic music are unforgettable.” (3:26-3:37)
Right, so as you can tell, he really does not talk naturally about these topics the way a young person actually would, the fact that it is AI is very apparent.
But after speaking with the AI Joaquin, Acosta then spoke with Joaquin’s father to talk about both his son and the AI.
“I want to also mention that I understand this is AI. I don’t want anyone to think that I am, in some way, trying to bring my son back. Sadly, I can’t.” (7:22-7:38)
“I can hear his voice again. Which is something that Patricia loves.” (7:47-7:50)
“And on the other hand, we can just raise our voices, and now Joaquin is going to start having followers, he’s not Manny, he’s not Patricia, he’s going to start uploading videos, this is just the beginning.” (8:05-8:15)
But as you can imagine, this really rubbed a lot of people the wrong way, because by doing this interview, they are allowing AI to speak for the dead when we really have no idea what they would want to say.
So Acosta faced a ton of backlash on both Twitter and Bluesky, where he promoted the interview.
With people saying things like:
The Washington Post noting that there are tons of concerns about this technology being used to tarnish the memory of a dead person by making it look like they held beliefs they never had.[]
With a professor at the University of California at Berkeley adding:
“This sort of interview style can’t possibly represent what that child wants to say in any reasonable way. There are plenty of opportunities to talk to real victims and have a serious conversation about this epidemic that’s happening in our country without resorting to this sort of stunt.”
There is also tons of debate on the journalistic ethics of this, with some saying:
“Joaquin Oliver's death was a tragedy. But animating a dead child to speak words he never said serves no journalistic purpose. All it does is chase clicks by exploiting a kid who can no longer express himself.”[]
You even had Megyn Kelly chiming in on this aspect, writing that:
“Anyone can understand the grieving parents’ desperation to connect with their child but no journalist should exploit a deceased victim by pretending to uncover his present day feelings on any subject thru AI which is, by its very terms, artificial and unreal. Incredibly disrespectful to the deceased, no matter whether the parents - for whom all of us have nothing but sympathy - desire it.”[]
Others noting that there are other complications in using AI when it comes to grief itself, with one behavioral scientist writing:
“there are actual harms associated with so-called griefbots — some researchers even warn of “digital hauntings” that prolong grief.” []
And if some of this sounds familiar to you, that is because this is not the first time AI has been used to speak for victims of mass shootings.
Last year, AI was used to recreate the voices of young people killed by gun violence so they could deliver messages to Congress.
And one of those voices was Joaquin Oliver’s.
But this was still the first “interview” the AI has ever done.
And as criticism of this was rolling in, Acosta wrote on Bluesky that Joaquin’s family “approached me to help them remember their son.”[]
With him then including a video of his father explaining the choice again.
“It’s our idea, it was our plan, and it is still our plan. We feel that Joaquin has a lot of things to say.” (0:31-0:41)
“If the problem that you have is with the AI, then you have the wrong problem. The real problem is that my son was shot.” (0:59-1:07)
But that still did not stop the backlash, with tons of people arguing:
But of course, I would love to know your thoughts on this one, on the AI itself, on whether or not journalists should be talking to AI like this, anything here.
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A former DOGE worker was attacked in DC and now Donald Trump is threatening to take over the entire city.
And so we should talk about what happened, how we got here, and whether Trump is actually allowed to do that.
So starting with his DOGE worker? His name is Edward Coristine (Core-is-teen) but he’s better known as “Big Balls.”
And despite being just 19-years-old, he previously worked as a “senior advisor” with access to various government agencies – including Homeland Security.
He also reportedly played a key role in DOGE’s dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development and he’s now working for the Social Security Administration.
And according to police, early Sunday morning, ten young people assaulted him as part of an attempted carjacking in an upscale neighborhood less than two miles from the White House.
With police saying he was with his “significant other” when the young people approached them.
And Core-is-teen telling officers he pushed his girlfriend into the car “for her safety” and then “turned to deal with the suspects” before being attacked.
With police officers patrolling the area eventually showing up and putting a stop to it.[]
And as of recording, police say they have arrested two 15-year-old suspects – a boy and a girl – both of whom have been charged with unarmed carjacking. []
But while police kept searching, Trump decided he just had to weigh in.
In a social media post, Trump shared a photo that appeared to show Core-is-teen sitting in the street covered in his own blood, writing:
“Crime in Washington, D.C. is totally out of control.”
“Local ‘youths’ and gang members, some only 14, 15, and 16-years-old, are randomly attacking, mugging, maiming, and shooting innocent Citizens, at the same time knowing that they will be almost immediately released.” []
And with that, you had him going on to say:
“The Law in D.C. must be changed to prosecute these “minors” as adults, and lock them up for a long time, starting at age 14.”
Though, notably there, there’s little evidence to suggest that prosecuting minors as adults is effective – it may just do more damage.
And similarly, Trump’s claim about crime being out of control? It’s off-base to say the least.
Right, the city’s crime rates have actually been falling sharply.
In January, for instance, officials announced that violent crime in the city had reached a 30-year low, with a 26 percent decline this year compared to 2024.
Though, to be fair, Trump was somewhat near the truth in suggesting that there’s an issue with youth crime in particular.
Right, young people now make up a majority of the arrests for robbery and carjacking in the city.
And actually, just a few months ago, you had the mayor announcing the creation of a special police unit specifically dedicated to preventing and responding to juvenile crime. []
Right, which some argue is a better approach than throwing 14-year-olds in adult prisons.
But either way, Trump’s claims about crime in DC were just the setup for him issuing a warning, saying:
“If D.C. doesn’t get its act together, and quickly, we will have no choice but to take Federal control of the City, and run this City how it should be run, and put criminals on notice that they’re not going to get away with it anymore.”
And with that, despite their falling out, you had Elon Musk sharing a screenshot of Trump’s post and agreeing, writing:
“It is time to federalize DC.” []
And notably, with all this, it’s FAR from the first time Trump or others have suggested this.
Right, just talking about Trump, he reportedly considered taking control of the city’s police force to deal with protests during his first term.
On the campaign trail, he vowed to “take over” what he called “the horribly run capital of our nation…so there is no longer a nightmare of murder and crime.” []
And since getting back into office, he’s already floated this idea of “taking over” more than once – not counting this week.
But the thing is, he can’t – or at least not totally.
Right, DC has had a limited degree of self-government since what’s called the Home Rule Act of 1973.
And that means Trump technically can’t just “federalize” the city – Congress would need to undo what it’s already done.
And if Republicans tried, Democrats would probably be able to block the legislation.
And in fact, back in February, two Republicans introduced legislation to repeal Home Rule entirely – which didn’t get anywhere.
That said, it’d be a mistake to say that DC is totally safe from federal interference.
In fact, Trump – along with Republicans – have already gotten involved.
With Trump, for example, signing an executive order to create a federal “D.C. Safe and Beautiful” task force.
And then Congress passing bills to undo legislation passed by DC’s local government.
With another possibility being that Republicans could try to tack on other changes onto bigger “must-pass” legislation.
Like in 2023, for example, you had them trying to sneak in restrictions on everything from traffic to abortion to marijuana in DC.
And outside of Congress, as far as what else Trump could potentially try on his own?
Well, he has the power to call up the D.C. National Guard and deploy it without local consent – and while he did that in California too there’s not as much debate in DC’s case.
Plus, the Home Rule Act does actually give him the power to temporarily take over the District’s police department.
And he can also even order the mayor to provide the federal government with D.C. police services in “special conditions of an emergency … as [he] may deem necessary and appropriate.” []
And already, with just the threat of all this hanging over DC, we’ve seen local officials caving to pressure.
In March, for example, you had the mayor ordering the removal of the “Black Lives Matter” mural that was painted on a street leading up to the White House – as well as trying to repeal DC’s sanctuary city law.
So the whole situation is definitely one to keep an eye on and in the meantime, especially if you’re in DC, I’d love to hear your thoughts.
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I’m sorry to say it, but Donald Trump’s Epstein deflection campaign has actually worked.
At least a little, but there’s a lot to talk about, so let’s dive in.
Starting with a Washington Post analysis of more than half a million social media posts and podcasts to see how chatter about Jeffrey Epstein has waxed and waned. [Headline]
And of all that content from over 450 right-wing influencers and politicians, the Post found 10,000 posts mentioning Epstein or Ghislaine Maxwell during June and July.
But while fewer than 1 in every 200 mentioned the pair during June, that ratio shot up to nearly one in 20 the following month. [Quote, find “1 in 20” then Graph]
With it even reaching as much as one in 12 on some days, and peaking on July 18, when a thousand posts mentioned Epstein or Maxwell. [Same graph]
But that was also the day that intelligence director Tulsi Gabbard released documents purporting to show that the Obama administration conspired to keep Trump out of office in 2016 using Russiagate. [Headline]
With that story really picking up traction on July 22 and 23, when she went on Fox News and gave a White House briefing detailing the alleged plot in her own words. [Lead B roll into clip]
[Clip, 01:20:18 - 01:20:30] Caption: “There is irrefutable evidence that detail how President Obama and his national security team directed the creation of an intelligence community assessment that they knew was false.”
And if that was an attempt to distract from Epstein, apparently it worked.
Because according to the Post, on July 19 about twice as many posts mentioned Obama as mentioned Epstein or Maxwell. [Quote, find “twice as many”]
And by the 23rd, over one in 10 posts were about Obama, nearly three times as much as Epstein. [Same quote]
With Fox News being an especially stark example of this trend.
Right, according to Media Matters, not only did the network mentioned Obama over three times more than Epstein over several days in July, [Graph]
It also mentioned Epstein five times less than Newsmax, 11 times less than CNN, and 15 times less than MSNBC. [Graph]
Hell, according to CNN, over the course of a week Fox mentioned Sidney Sweeney 766 times to Epstein’s 53. [Quote, find “766”]
You can also see the shift among certain Republican politicians.
Like Elise Stefanik, who throughout July mentioned Obama in 19 posts and Epstein in just one, or Marsha Blackburn, who mentioned Obama in over a dozen posts, and Epstein in just two. [Quote, find “Elise”]
And even some influencers were just totally open about jumping from one story to the other.
With Shawn Farash, for example, [Pronounce] posting, “The Russia Hoax is more important than Epstein. I don’t care who that offends.” [Post]
But others didn’t even need the Obama conspiracy to lure them off the Epstein beat; all they needed was a post from Daddy Trump.
[Clip, 02:03 - 02:08, 02:23 - 02:31] Caption: “Let’s continue with Trump. He says, ‘Selfish people are trying to hurt MAGA. … Why are we giving publicity to files written by Obama, crooked Hillary, Comey, Brennan, etc. They created the Epstein files.”
Right, Dinesh D’Souza [Din-esh Duh-sooza], who posted about Epstein more than 500 times up to that point since 2022, suddenly did an about face on July 14 with this video titled “Is it time to move on from the Epstein files?” [Continue B roll and Quote, find “500”]
And of course, his answer was yes. [Lead B roll into clip]
[Clip, 04:27 - 04:44] Caption: “Because we’ve had a lot of these premises floating around — there’s an Epstein list, he was running a blackmail operation — but many of these things, now that we think about it, were relying on information to be supplied, not information that actually existed.”
But if the Epstein story’s been crowded out by other news, there’s still several reasons to believe it’s gonna keep surfacing.
Right, the first being that even as general Epstein talk has quieted down a bit, The Post’s analysis found that among people who are still hung up on Epstein, criticism of the White House has become more dominant. [Quote, find “dominant”]
Then the second reason being that this week the House Oversight Committee subpoenaed the Justice Department for the complete Epstein files. [Headline]
As well as six former attorneys general, two former FBI directors, Bill and Hillary Clinton for depositions about their involvement in the Epstein case. [Quote same link, find “Garland”]
And finally the third reason is that the White House is reportedly debating whether to release an audio recording and transcript of Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche’s nine-hour interview with Ghislaine Maxwell. [Headline]
With three sources telling CNN that chief of staff Susie Wiles, Attorney General Pam Bondi, FBI Director Kash Patel, Vice President JD Vance and Blanche would meet at the VP’s residence Wednesday evening to discuss the matter. [Image]
And two officials adding that the materials could be made public as early as this week. [Quote same link, find “made public”]
With the delay reportedly stemming from disagreements about whether releasing them would just draw more attention to the story. [Quote same link, find “surface”]
And it’s not obvious that they’ll satisfy the critics, especially when you now have Trump saying stuff like this about Blanche’s interview. [Lead B roll into clip]
[Clip, 00:40 - 00:52] Caption: “And I think he probably wants to make sure that people that should not be involved or aren’t involved are not hurt by something. That would be very, very unfortunate, very unfair to a lot of people.”
According to CNN, there have also been internal discussions about Blanche holding a press conference or doing a high-profile interview, possibly with Joe Rogan. [image, find “Joe Rogan”]
Which raises the prospect of a senior White House official having to sit down for two or three hours of questioning about the case.
And while Rogan’s not exactly famous for challenging his guests or doing thorough research in prep for his interviews, he has recently been very critical of the White House’s handling of the scandal. [Lead B roll into clip]
[Clip, 00:36 - 00:43] Caption: “Like look, where’s the Epstein files? ‘I don’t know, can’t find them, don’t exist.’ Like they can get away with shit, man.”
[Clip, 00:47 - 00:57] Caption: “The whole thing is nuts. And then he, they’re like, ‘well we have a film, we’re gonna release that film,’ and the film has a fucking minute missing from it? Like do you think we’re babies? Like what is this?”
And on the Blanche-Maxwell interview, he’s expressed skepticism that it uncovered anything novel. [B roll, 00:05]
[Clip, 02:56 - 03:03] Caption: “The smartest thing for her to do is to keep her fucking mouth shut, which is what she did. They put her in a cushy prison where she could do yoga.”
Speaking of which, last week it was reported that Maxwell got transfered from the low-security prison where she had been staying in Florida to a minimum-security prison in Texas. [Headline]
One that houses inmates convicted of non-violent offenses and white collar crimes, and which has been called the “cushiest federal detention facility in the country.” [Image and Quote]
With the regional vice president for the federal prison officers’ union telling NBC:
“You ever hear of the old ‘Club Fed’ they used to talk about? This is one of those places. It’s really a great place to do your time if you’re an inmate.” [Quote]
As well as a consultant for female inmates Explaining to The Washington Post that for the Florida prison:
“You’re looking at double razor wire around the fence, trucks driving around it, cops with rifles. They’re locking the doors of the housing units at night.” [Quote]
But for the Texas prison, you’re looking at dorms with bunk beds and suite housing, unlocked doors, fewer guards to inmates, freedom to roam the compound, and just one layer of razor wire fencing. [Quote same link, find “bunk beds” and [Image]]
But not only did Maxwell’s transfer reportedly happen just days after Blanche interviewed Maxwell, it’s also against the Bureau of Prisons rules.
Right, because convicted sex offenders must be held in at least a low-security-level facility.
And the only way around that is to get a waiver from the bureau’s Designation and Sentence Computation Center.
Also, experts tell The Post it’s especially rare for sex offenders like her to get that treatment, and that even if she did cooperate with the DoJ, she would almost never get moved to a facility like the one in Texas. [Quote, find “rare”]
Now currently it’s unclear why or how Maxwell got transfered, not to mention who ordered it, but a reporter asked Trump about it.
[Clip, 00:01 - 00:13] Caption: [Reporter:] “Were you aware of and did you personally approve the prison transfer for Ghislaine Maxwell that your Justice Department …” [Donald Trump:] “I didn’t know about it at all. Nope. I read about it just like you did.” [Reporter:] “And do you believe that she is …” [Donald Trump:] “It’s not a very uncommon thing.”
But whatever the reason for the transfer, people with knowledge of how the system works are simply flabbergasted by the news.
With one former prison warden telling The Post:
“Someone gave special preference to Maxwell that, to my knowledge, no other inmate currently in the Federal Bureau of Prisons has received.” [Quote]
And adding, “It’s a country club. Inmates, if they have a sex offense, are not going to a place like that, period. It’s truly unheard of.” [Quote same link]
And then, NBC obtained screenshots of a private Facebook group for current and former federal prison staffers who “erupted in shock and outrage” after hearing about Maxwell’s transfer. [Quote, find “outrage”]
With one writing, “As a retired BOP employee, this makes me sick.” [Quote same link]
Another adding, “Since when are sex offenders allowed at the camp? I don’t care who she snitched on, she’s a damn human trafficker.” [Quote same link]
And a former BoP chief of internal affairs calling the move a “travesty of justice.” [Quote same link]
With all this coming after Virginia Giuffre’s [Joo-fray’s] family expressed “horror and disgust” at the news, saying in a statement: [Quote]
“This is the justice system failing victims right before our eyes. The American public should be outraged by the special treatment afforded to a pedophile and a criminally charged child sex offender.” [Quote same link]
But with all that, I’ve gotta turn it over to y’all: what are your reactions to the distractions, the meetings, and now this “preferential treatment?
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A new Coast Guard report just came out and it found that the Titan submersible implosion that killed five people.
It was preventable.
Right.
And notably, they didn't mean, like it would be preventable if you thought, hey,
I shouldn't get into that sketchy ass tube to go down to see the Titanic.
We're looking for key contributing factors to why it happened.
Written according to reports, it largely came down to six things.
Saying right off the bat,
The sub's design was flawed and it used questionable materials.
Well as CEO Stockton Rush refusing to put the sub through
A voluntary certification process, saying that it would stifle innovation.
OceanGate's former director of marine operations was fired days
After reporting concerns about the sub's carbon fiber hull.
In 2018, sub's passengers were classified as mission specialists to avoid small
Passenger vessel regulations.
OceanGate attempted to train sub pilots in a single day,
The sub was stored in an outdoor parking lot in Canada over the winter.
To save money.
And even that it doesn't touch on the toxic work environment stuff.
Reportedly, there were firings
And threats to fire people if they raised safety issues.
With a report that included 17 safety recommendations that the Coast Guard says
Is aimed at strengthening oversight
Of submersible operations, improving coordination
Among federal agencies, and closing gaps in international maritime policy.
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Tens of thousands of people trapped in a besieged city in Sudan (Soo-dan) are facing famine.
That’s what the UN is warning this week and it’s just one of the reasons the situation in the country is considered the world’s largest humanitarian crisis.
But starting with this city under siege? It’s called El Fasher (El Fash-er - Listen Here)
It’s the capital of the state of North Darfur (Dar-four), it’s the last major city there still under the Sudanese government's control….
And the rebel group known as the RSF has been trying to take control of it for more than a year – during which time the UN has been unable to deliver food by land (BROLL: 0:07-0:20)
In June, for example, an ambush on what would’ve been the first aid convoy to reach the city since early 2024 resulted in the deaths of five humanitarian workers.
And with almost no aid getting in, the roughly 300,000 people remaining in the city are dealing with increasingly desperate conditions. []
With the World Food Programme regional director for eastern and southern Africa saying “everyone” in the city is facing a daily struggle to survive.
But notably, much the same can be said for people all over the country.
Right, the UN has described the broader hunger and displacement crisis in Sudan as “unprecedented” – and for good reason.
Since April of 2023, the war has killed tens of thousands of people, displaced millions, and left tens of millions facing hunger.
It’s also the only place in the world where famine conditions have been confirmed in multiple locations. []
And in fact, last year, the UN declared famine in the displacement camps surrounding El-Fasher.
And it was expected that starvation would take hold in the city itself by May this year – with only a lack of hard data keeping an official famine declaration from happening. []
And notably, what’s happened in the US? It seems to be making things worse.
And there, I’m talking about the recent cuts to the US Agency for International Development.
I mean, in general, you’ve had experts saying the impact could be devastating.
With a study published in The Lancet finding that in the absence of USAID 14 million more people would die worldwide in the next five years – with a third of them being children under the age of five.
But Sudan could be especially hard hit.
Right, according to data from the UN, the agency provided 44% of the world’s humanitarian funding for Sudan in 2024. []
With an emergency logistics coordinator for Doctors Without Borders saying the country has become a “case study” for the impact of USAID cuts. []
And then people like the former US special envoy to the country– whose role has been left vacant under the Trump administration – saying that the cuts have already “come with a body count.” []
And with that, it’s actually not even just the US.
Right, the UK, Germany, Canada and several other countries have also cut foreign aid over the past year.
All while when it comes to this war there just seems to be no end in sight.
Right, in March, the RSF withdrew from Khartoum – the national capital – and there was some hope that it could be a turning point in the war.
But just a month later, the group declared its own parallel government – stoking fears that the conflict was actually just about to get a whole lot worse.
With the Horn of Africa director at the International Crisis Group telling the New York Times:
The “RSF appears to think this move will increase its own legitimacy and leverage.”
“More likely, it will only make the war even harder to end and Sudan even harder to piece back together.”
And to that point, just last week, you had the RSF and allied groups announcing who would be in charge of their new government and issuing a very nice-sounding statement saying they had renewed their, quote:
“...commitment to building an inclusive homeland and a new, secular, democratic, decentralized, and voluntarily unified Sudan founded on the principles of freedom, justice, and equality.”
The thing is, the RSF? It’s faced allegations including murder, rape, ethnic cleansing, and even genocide.
With something to know being that the origins of the group actually lie in the militias that perpetrated the Darfur Genocide of the early 2000s (BROLL 0:57-1:05).
Though, notably, the side of the Sudanese government has been accused of war crimes as well.
And another thing to keep in mind is that this isn’t happening inside of a vacuum.
Right, all this violence, all this suffering? It’s being helped along in part by outside forces – namely foreign nations sending money, weapons, or even people into the country.
This has included Sudan’s neighbors like Libya and Egypt; it’s even included Russia and Ukraine, and most notoriously, it’s included the United Arab Emirates.
Right, specifically, the UAE has been accused of supplying weapons, drones and other military assistance to the RSF.
And actually, just this week, Sudan accused the country of sending Colombian mercenaries to fight alongside the RSF.
And this has actually been a point of contention here in the US.
Right, the US has authorized massive weapons sales to the UAE – and we’ve actually seen some members of Congress trying to block those sales to protest its role in the war.
But of course, for so long, this conflict has been overshadowed by all this horrible shit going on elsewhere in the world.
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