ABOUT FACE:  Facing the likelihood that even Republicans will vote to release the investigative files on the late sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, President Trump reversed himself posting last night that, “House Republicans should vote to release the Epstein files, because we have nothing to hide.”

  He went on, “It’s time to move on from this Democrat Hoax perpetrated by Radical Left Lunatics in order to deflect from the Great Success of the Republican Party, including our recent Victory on the Democrat ‘Shutdown.’”

  This morning Trump said of the Epstein clamor, “It’s a Democrat Hoax for purposes of deflection, just like the Russia, Russia, Russia Scam!!! They had the sleazy relationships with Epstein, and should be prosecuted!!!”

  The House may vote tomorrow on releasing the files.

LA MIGRA: The Trump administration crackdown on illegal immigrants moved into Charlotte, North Carolina over the weekend with the arrest of at least 81 people.

  The sweep was led by the Border Patrol’s Gregory Bovino, who personally directed similar operations in Chicago and Los Angeles, now startling the residents of Charlotte, a city with a fast-growing immigrant population.

  The North Carolina operation is named “Charlotte’s Web” after the famous EB White children’s book about a pig saved from the slaughterhouse by a spider who writes messages in her web. 

  While the administration claims it is going after the criminal element among immigrants and “the worst of the worst,” among those detained in Charlotte were a man participating in a church cleanup day, workers at a Home Depot, a landscaper putting up Christmas decorations, and an Hispanic US citizen whose truck window was smashed by an agent.

THE WAR ROOM: The Pentagon announced over the weekend the destruction of another suspected drug boat in the eastern Pacific, killing three men on board. The announcement said the boat was operated “by a Designated Terrorist Organization,” but didn’t say what that organization is or provide evidence that they were carrying drugs.

  US forces so far have blown up 22 suspected drug boats and killed 83 people.

  The aircraft carrier strike group led by the USS Gerald Ford arrived in the Caribbean, ratcheting up the US threat against Venezuela and its leader Nicolas Maduro.  Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced yesterday that  

the United States will designate the drug Cartel de Los Soles as a foreign terrorist organization and declare Maduro to be its leader.

  Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that the war on drug boats has a name, “Operation SOUTHERN SPEAR,” and “secures our Homeland from the drugs that are killing our people.” 

  The Pentagon has been listing the dead in these attacks as “KIA,” Killed In Action, even though the operators of the drug boats are not attacking anyone, haven’t shot at anyone, and may not even be armed. There is no “action” component to the “Killed in Action.”

TURNCOAT: Eventually Donald Trump turns against every friend and ally.

  This time it’s Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, one of the most high profile Republicans and fervent MAGA supporters of the President. Trump posted on his Truth Social feed that he is withdrawing support for Greene and that, “All I see “Wacky” Marjorie do is COMPLAIN, COMPLAIN, COMPLAIN!” He went on:

“Lightweight Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Brown (Green grass turns Brown when it begins to ROT!), betrayed the entire Republican Party when she turned Left, performed poorly on the pathetic View, and became the RINO that we all know she always was. Just another Fake politician.”

  He called Greene “a traitor.” 

  Trump does not tolerate disagreement or anything less than blind loyalty. What the President did not mention in his condemnation was that Greene has been demanding release of the full investigative files on the late sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein … files in which Trump is mentioned.  Greene said she is standing with the women who were Epstein’s victims. She said on CNN, I don’t believe that rich powerful people should be protected if they have done anything wrong.

  Greene also criticized her party for allowing the government shutdown and broke with the White House calling the Israeli war in Gaza a “genocide.”

  Regarding the Epstein files and Republican opposition to releasing them, Greene posted, “It really makes you wonder what is in those files and who and what country is putting so much pressure on him?”

THE REGIME:

— The Department of Homeland Security posted news coverage of police confronting ICE protesters in Chicago with the following political and childish message:  “Womp womp, cry all you want. These criminal illegal aliens aren’t getting released. Like clockwork, violent rioters have arrived at the Broadview ICE facility to demand the release of some of the worst human beings on planet earth. Get a job you imbecilic morons.”

  That’s the Trump government.

  In an article titled “Confederacy of Toddlers,” Tim Nichols wrote for The Atlantic that, “The United States is now a nation run by public servants who behave no better than internet trolls, deflecting criticism with crassness and obscenity.”  

THE SPIN RACK: New York jets cornerback Kris Boyd is in critical but stable condition after being shot twice in the stomach early Saturday leaving a trendy New York restaurant. Boyd is reported to have told police that he and two other members of the Jets and another friend left because he didn’t like the “vibe” and sensed some tension between other groups who were arguing with each other.  The shooting occurred outside. — Civil rights leader Jesse Jackson is in the hospital being treated for an advancing neurological disorder. He’s 84.

BELOW THE FOLD: The Detroit Red Wings and New York Rangers got into a bench-clearing brawl last night after Red Wings forward Mason Appleton slid the puck into an empty net after the game-ending buzzer sounded. Ranger goalie Jonathan Quick took that as an insult and everyone paired off for a punchfest that didn’t alter the score, Red Wings 2, Rangers 1.

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