House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (NY-8) could barely muster a coherent answer when pressed by a reporter on why anyone should trust Democrats on the Jeffrey Epstein scandal — especially given that one of his own caucus members was caught texting with Epstein during a 2019 congressional hearing. Jeffries stumbled over the question, offering little more than deflection, and in the process reminded everyone why Democrats have zero credibility on this issue.
For anyone who needs a refresher, it involved Democrat Del. Stacey Plaskett, who the Washington Post exposed for texting back and forth with Epstein in real time during a 2019 House hearing involving disgraced former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen. According to the report, she was even adjusting her questions for the anti-Trump witness based on Epstein’s guidance.
To absolutely no one’s surprise, most of the media has gone radio silent on Stacey Plaskett’s communications with Epstein — even though, in any sane world, that should be a political bombshell. After all, we’re talking about a delegate who not only traded messages with Epstein during a congressional hearing, but also took sizable donations from him and initially resisted returning the money. All of this happened the same year Epstein died in prison awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges.
But while the press seems determined to memory-hole the whole episode, one determined reporter actually confronted Jeffries about it — and his reaction spoke volumes.
“Why should Americans trust you and House Democrats on the Jeffrey Epstein files when one of your own—Congresswoman Plaskett—was found to be texting with Jeffrey Epstein during a hearing, getting information from him, using that in her questioning during a congressional hearing, at one point he tells her ‘good job’?” the reporter asked.
The House Democratic leader’s non-answer should be a case study in deflection for political science courses.
“This is a bipartisan effort to make sure that, consistent with what the survivors have requested, that there’s full and complete transparency and every single predator that may be in those Justice Department files doesn’t escape accountability,” Jeffries stammered.
Not a single mention of Plaskett. Just the sputtering, halting cadence of a man desperately trying to assemble a thought on the fly. And when he couldn’t? He defaulted to the usual routine — smirking his way through a non-answer and pretending the question hadn’t been asked in the first place.
It’s hard to believe anyone ever compared this guy to Barack Obama — whatever else you think of Obama, at least he could string together a coherent sentence. Jeffries, by contrast, can barely manage a deflection without tripping over his own talking points.
And speaking of Obama, it’s no wonder Hakeem suddenly isn’t so eager to field Epstein questions. A newly uncovered email shows a Democrat fundraising group reaching out to Epstein back in 2013 about none other than “Brooklyn’s Barack” — Jeffries himself. You say “Brooklyn’s Barack,” I say “Temu Obama.” Or “Dollar Store Obama.” Take your pick.
The fundraising group urged Epstein — who by then had already been convicted in 2008 for procuring a minor for prostitution and soliciting a prostitute — to get in touch by email or phone so they could discuss how he might support Jeffries. They even described Jeffries as “an impressive guy” who would be “a progressive voice in New York politics for years to come.”
Somehow, I doubt Hakeem Jeffries is any more eager to talk about that email than he is to revisit the Plaskett–Epstein texting scandal. What a joke.
Just as the world slumbered, the ground beneath suddenly roared to life.
Without a hint of warning, the earth convulsed and cracked, sending shockwaves through sleeping towns. Buildings shuddered violently, some giving way entirely.
Barefoot and disoriented, people poured into the streets, their faces etched with fear. What began as a subtle tremor rapidly escalated into one of the most powerful earthquakes the region has seen in years—a terrifying ordeal that had only just begun.
In the early morning hours of Monday, a massive 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck near the China–Myanmar border.
The quake’s epicenter lay a mere 10 kilometers beneath the surface, according to the U.S. Geological Survey, unleashing violent shaking felt across southern China, northern Thailand, and parts of Myanmar.
Tragically, initial reports confirm dozens of lives lost and hundreds more injured, with countless others feared trapped under collapsed structures.
The quake’s reach extended far beyond its epicenter, rattling major northern Thai cities such as Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai, where panicked residents evacuated buildings en masse.
Rescue teams are battling immense challenges—damaged infrastructure, power failures, and broken communication networks—to deliver urgent aid.
Around the clock, emergency responders strive to provide shelter, medical attention, and relief to those caught in the disaster’s wake.
In Summary
As the devastation becomes clearer, the race to save lives intensifies. This powerful quake has left a wide swath of destruction across several countries, underscoring the critical need for swift international cooperation and humanitarian assistance. The hours ahead will be crucial in determining how many can be rescued and cared for.
The parents of a two-year-old New Mexico girl are reeling after their daughter died due to being left alone in a hot car. According to authorities, the child’s babysitter is now facing charges.
Police in Hobbs, New Mexico, received a 911 call on Sept. 17 around 1:30 p.m. in reference to an unresponsive child. Zariah Hasheme was pronounced dead at the scene.