Epstein War
As big name celebrities were stepping down, the biggest name needed a distraction
30 January 2026 - The largest stash of the Epstein files was dropped by the Justice Department. It had an explosive effect.
While several American billionaires and politicians were named in the files, Pan Bondi said, if we were to go after all the people who are named in the files, the entire system would collapse.
The reaction of the American people was ‘Meh’. Late-night hosts made fun of it. The women who came forward felt stupid. Life moved on.
Incidentally, Donald Trump was named 5300 times in the files and as someone usefully pointed out on Twitter, Harry Potter is named fewer times in all of the 7 books put together.
Across the Atlantic, there was far more enthusiasm to do something about the people named in the file. At one point, it even seemed like the British government would collapse not because the current Prime Minister, Kier Starmer, was named in the files, but because he had appointed Peter Mandelson as the Ambassador to the US, and his name figured prominently.
The former Norwegian PM Thorbjørn Jagland was rushed to the hospital since he attempted suicide because his name surfaced in the files and triggered corruption charges.
Thomas Pritzker, the Chairman of Hyatt Hotels, stepped down from his role.
Kathy Reummler, the Chief Legal Officer of Goldman Sachs, who had previously served as the White House Counsel during the Obama Administration, stepped down.
Peter Attia, the Logetivity influencer, had his CBS show cancelled.
Richard Axel, a Nobel laureate and Professor at Columbia University, said he would be stepping down from his position.
Larry Summers, the former president of Harvard University who served as treasury secretary during the Clinton administration and head of the National Economic Council in the Obama administration, said he would step away from teaching at Harvard.
The list is long, but the highlight is that Former Prince Andrew, brother of King Charles, was arrested in England.
The Harry Potter of this saga was beginning to feel the heat. Hence, the bombing began in Iran.
Israel and the US had bombed Iran in 2025. Iranians had launched missiles towards Qatar and then informed the US that retaliation was on the way. Damages were avoided, but so was contagion. Iran did not want an escalation, unlike Israel. Turned out, Iran was the country with greater statesmanship and forbearance.
Iran had strategically ensured that it had put its country right next to all the US bases, expecting a situation like this.
Source: Al Jazeera
Israel and the US were aware, if they attacked, all the countries around Iran with US bases would be attacked. With absolutely no concern for their bases but also for the people living in all of those smaller nations, an attack was launched with no clarity of purpose or an end goal. This has to be perhaps the dumbest CIA operation.
Without a legitimate replacement in the country, they assassinated the Ayatollah. A regime change is either effected by sending troops to decapitate the state completely, as they did in the case of Iraq or by supporting an actor who has the respect of the masses and the military, like they did in Bangladesh when Sheikh Hasina was ousted.
So now what?
The Epstein story is buried, and all of the attention has shifted to Iran.
With no clarity of purpose or goal, the bombing of Iran continues. The economies of the Gulf nations will suffer as this bombing endures. For one thing, three of the largest airlines in the region - Emirates, Etihad and Qatar Airways are not able to fly.
They have given a huge jet and invested heavily in Trump’s businesses. The pressure is going to be on Trump to end this soon.
The real question is, what is the exit ramp? After having engaged in this escapade, when they stop bombing, what will be justified as victory?