DOJ release of “Epstein Files” creates more questions than answers

February 28th, 2025

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SGT
February 28, 2025

Salty Ginger Talk Newsletter

February 28th, 2025

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CURRENT EVENTS

DOJ release of “Epstein Files” creates more questions than answers

Our take: One of the big themes underscoring the support for Donald Trump’s candidacy was the vow to make government transparent to the people. In the past 50 years or so, there has been a trend towards more and more secrecy in all government activity. Many times bureaucrats would withhold information from even lawmakers and legal disputes, hiding behind the shroud of “national security.”

Jeffrey Epstein’s underage sex trafficking activity is not a national security issue. The late financier somehow developed relationships with many rich and powerful people while at the same time building a network of underage victims who would be taken to private residences, flown internationally, and even to a Caribbean island where they would be exploited and forced into sexual acts with unknown (at least to date) perpetrators.

Epstein died in jail under suspicious circumstances. Despite being on suicide watch and in a unit with video cameras, somehow the cameras stopped working and the guards were not watching long enough that he allegedly hung himself in his jail cell. His right hand woman, Ghislaine Maxwell is in prison, and to date has not provided much detailed information about who else participated in these crimes.

That brings us to the much awaited release of the “Epstein Files”. AG Pam Bondi made the press tour this week teasing the release of all information related to Epstein’s case. Advocates for government transparency were beyond excited for one of the pledges made by Trump to come to fruition. Unfortunately, the release of information that came out yesterday was anti-climactic.

Bondi told Fox News on Wednesday the DOJ plans to release a “lot of flight logs, a lot of names, a lot of information" related to Epstein—who has been accused of sexually abusing more than 100 women, including minors—teasing, “I think tomorrow … you're going to see some Epstein information being released by my office.”

Bondi said her office’s delay has been due to protecting information about Epstein’s victims, but said Trump gave a “directive” for her to review the documents.

This is not as hard as they are making it. Redact the victims name and release all the files. Period. Anything short of complete transparency here will lead to a huge loss when an easy win is available. If this information is not released shortly, there will be immediate (and appropriate) conjecture about who is being protected, what is being withheld, and who is behind the obfuscation.

It would be unfortunate for the Trump administration to lose the momentum it has built over the past month by bungling this issue. If they don’t get this fixed ASAP, that is exactly what will happen.

COURTESY: AP NEWS

Oregon DMV resumes automatic voter registration despite concerns

Our take: Oregon has always been a progressive state. The first state in the nation to start charging deposits on plastic bottles and cans, leading the way on assisted suicide, and supportive of decriminalizing many drugs. Unfortunately, they also have a track record of not thinking about the consequences of their well intentioned actions.

Exhibit A is the Oregon “motor voter” law, where anyone who gets a drivers license is automatically added to the state’s voter roll unless they specifically opt out. In a shock to no one, this led to over 1,600 non-citizens being added to the voter rolls in the last 8 years.

After the issue was uncovered, the process was paused in October of 2024 by Oregon Governor Tina Kotek. Apparently they have fixed all the issues and will now resume this well intentioned but clearly flawed program.

In a Wednesday news release, the DMV said it has put new controls in place. It hired a “voter registration integrity analyst” and changed the computer interface for DMV staff entering identification document information, and now requires a manager to review all files for accuracy at the end of the day before sending voter registration information to the Secretary of State.

Sure! I bet they have it all fixed. This strikes us as similar to the “I’ll just put the tip in” promise made in the back seat of a car on prom night. Just like that situation, if I were Oregon residents, I’d start picking out baby names because they are in for quite a surprise 9 months from now.

COURTESY:MSN

Hall of Famer Larry Bird talks about his winning mentality

Our take: Larry Bird is one of the most iconic players to set foot on an NBA court. His arrival in Boston changed the trajectory of the franchise, taking them from a middling team to a championship contender immediately.

The rivalry between the Lakers and Celtics dominated much of the 1980’s, and revived interest in the flagging league. In this article, Bird talks candidly about what drove him to be great, and some mistakes he made that shortened his career.

“I always felt that I had to do more, more, more. That’s why I broke down,” Bird stated during an interview with ESPN’s True Hoop in 2016. “I had to run my 3 miles to warm up. I had to ride my bike 12½ miles. I had to sprint,” he explained. “The one thing I would’ve liked to have had was core strength… That core strength, I think, would’ve taken care of most of that, other than the conditioning.”

I had that thing in my body that told me to get up and go, that clock. When it’s time to run, you go run. That’s just the way I was. I knew I wasn’t going to last long. I knew I was breaking down. It was just the way it is. I had this desire to win every game and the only way I felt, in my mind, that I could do that was to be in the best condition.”

Bird was a three-time NBA champion in 1981, 1984, and 1986, as well as a three-time consecutive league MVP. That legacy was not only built on his immense talent but also on his relentless competitive mindset. “One game. My thoughts were always that that night was the most important game in the world. Everybody in the world was watching that one game. And I had to be the best player on the court and win that game that night,” he said.

Bust your ass and focus on what you can control. Good things will happen for anyone if they take this approach at whatever they are doing.

COURTESY: MSN

TIP OF THE DAY

Keep in mind that striving for perfection usually leads to disaster. Set small goals and stair-step your way to success by developing daily healthy habits. Celebrate those wins, regardless of perfection.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

The only bad workout is the one that didn’t happen.

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