Trump’s Shutdown Diversion Fails As Democrats Demand Epstein Files, Confront GOP Cowards, Defend Healthcare, and Call Out Racist AI and Military Cosplay While Trump stages distractions, real leaders rise and real people demand real solutions Scott Dworkin Oct 1 Since Trump and his GOP accomplices shut the government down, I’m glad to have some good news for you today. I hope it gives you relief from all the chaos—even if just for a moment. Thanks for being here. Let’s dive in. THEIR FACES SAY IT ALL Hegseth and Trump spoke at their gathering of generals as if it were a maga rally, but it ended up being a complete dud. The whole thing was a pathetic waste of time and money, and I won’t repeat any of the terrible things they ranted about. Ret. Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling said the event was “shocking” and “offensive … I would suspect it’s not being taken well … I found my mouth open, I just couldn’t believe some of the things that were being said.” Neither could we, but I’m glad the event was a major failure for the regime. HEALTHCARE OVER BILLIONAIRES There was a rally held in DC yesterday, calling out Trump for stealing healthcare from millions of Americans. People shared personal healthcare horror stories, and Democrats delivered powerful speeches. Dem Rep. Greg Casar said: “We’re willing to fight to make sure that everyday people don’t have to check their bank account on their way to the doctor.” While Dem Rep. Sarah McBride stated: “Congress cannot afford to wait to address this healthcare cost crisis.” McBride said that’s why Democrats are “holding the line” in the shutdown fight, while “Republicans in their shameful and cowardly actions are nowhere to be seen.” KELLY LAYS IT OUT Dem Sen. Mark Kelly spoke plainly about the key issue in the shutdown fight, stating: “This is a question about how much people have to pay for their healthcare. Trump and Republicans ... prioritized billionaires over hardworking people and stuck them with a really bad deal … their healthcare costs are gonna skyrocket.” Democrats may not get another chance to push back like this until after the 2026 midterms, so it’s imperative they don’t back down now. SHAME ON YOU More than 100 Democrats were present in the House when Republicans called for a recess yesterday—refusing to work on a plan to keep the government open. Democrats chanted “swear her in,” referring to Rep.-Elect Adelita Grijalva—who Mike Johnson has refused to swear into office. Grijalva will be the last signature needed to trigger a vote on releasing the Epstein files. You could also hear Democrats chant “shame on you!” CONFRONTING A SNAKE Dem Rep. Madeleine Dean confronted Mike Johnson on Capitol Hill yesterday, demanding accountability for Trump’s latest gross behavior. Dean wanted Johnson to condemn Trump for posting an AI video of Leader Hakeem Jeffries. Dean said: “It’s disgraceful. It’s bigoted. It’s racist. You should call it out.” The fact Johnson refuses to is absolutely deplorable. CROCKETT BRINGS THE FACTS When it comes to Republicans trying to blame everyone else for their shutdown, Dem Rep. Jasmine Crockett laid out the truth. Crockett stated: “Fact: Trump wants to distract from Epstein. Release the files. Fact: Republicans run the House, Senate, & White House … Real Math says it’s the Republican’s shutdown. Fact: Republicans only know how to break s**t & then deflect & deny any accountability.” This is the kind of fire that needs to be brought to Republicans at a constant. Just like we’ve done while taking on Trump for nearly a decade. For 451 days straight, we’ve delivered unfiltered news briefs to 173 countries around the world. Our Contact Congress campaign has reached lawmakers half a million times. And our social media operation is the biggest ever mobilized against Trump. Yesterday, we led the charge behind the #DonaldTrumpsShutdown hashtag—which trended #9 on Twitter/X, generating 534 million impressions. We do it all with no advertisers and no outside investors, because everything we do is funded solely by readers like you. So if you haven’t yet, help us keep up the fight by becoming a paid subscriber today: Onward! Scott Don’t forget to like this post and re-stack using the ♻️ button below! It helps this news break through the noise! Here is my interview with James Talarico: https://tinyurl.com/mmu4eydj Tell Congress Campaigns NEW: Demand Brendan Carr Resign: https://tinyurl.com/35xjx8dj NEW: Demand Tom Homan Resign: https://tinyurl.com/3e5ku3um Pass the bipartisan Epstein Files Transparency Act: https://tinyurl.com/3yfw2m7a Demand Kennedy Resign: https://tinyurl.com/2324bmrh Demand answers about Trump’s visibly deteriorating health: https://tinyurl.com/sk9xm38v Protect our use of voting by mail: https://tinyurl.com/bde676xm Push back on Trump’s DC takeover: https://tinyurl.com/2jpp94yk Support law to unmask ICE: https://tinyurl.com/bp8cau82 Investigate the Jeffrey Epstein trafficking case: https://tinyurl.com/4pfh2p4f Links to everything we are doing: https://www.dworkinsubstack.com/p/how-were-fighting-trump Have you ever seen anyone in a military uniform that wasn’t perfectly groomed???!!!??? As a military brat we knew outside our home we were to be neatly groomed, hair, fingernails, clothing. What a colossal clusterf*** of waste, fraud and abuse. This administration has spent $34B more than the Biden administration in 2023 and 2024 combined! And they just keep on wasting our tax$, abusing the system, and they are all frauds. If this is accurate: "This administration has spent $34B more than the Biden administration in 2023 and 2024 combined!" then it needs to be major headlines in the news!!! Oh- but, that's fake news. This was a couple months ago. Looking for it, found this which has this administration spending $200B more in the FIRST 100 days!!! What ever way you paint it, this administration is the worst in our history, bunch of incompetent, unintelligent, non-qualified greedy bastards that have made America a f’ing hell spot for everyone unless you are white and rich and bend over to the psychotic felonious maniac and his vile cretins. https://youtu.be/mUR8og6tPTw?si=ljS_b6WTiyIJqstO Again, what I want to know, where in the hell is all this money truly going? Follow the money!!! And where is all that tariff $$$ we are paying??? True that. My dad did inspections at his last base. He would scold anyone with a sunburned nose...lol...we were in So. Cal. I was inspected before I went to school... I learned yesterday that military personnel, especially the highest echelons are not usually inclined to applaud political speak because they’re supposed to be apolitical. The majority of them I hope saw and understood what a farce and ridiculous display yesterday was and their thought bubbles were saying WTF?! I heard a few chuckles but mostly total silence. Of course the 2 hyenas speaking were of the fraternity of bros in Govt and believe that being assbags is a sign of strength. I only hope the Brass in that room looked upon them as they would a cage of performing baboons at a zoo. Clowns! I posted an article, not going to loo for it. It essentially said DON'T BELIEVE ANYTHING THIS ADMINISTRATION SAYS!  Because the ORANGE TURD fired the BLS HEAD (a numbers crunchers) &  in her place a 'HERITAGE ECONOMIST' with no experience, WALL STREET, BANKS & those who depend on ACCURATE NUMBERS are relying on sources they've created.  They're pissing away money on ICE GESTAPO RECRUITMENT BONUSES they put the THUGS in communities to abuse PEOPLE & FAMILIES! They're building CONCENTRATION CAMPS with no oversight, disappearing people. What the GUANTANOMO FIASCO costing?  DEMENTIA DON praises the ECONOMY? HUH?  During his first reign of IDIOCY, there were ADULTS IN THE ROOM dedicated to protecting the nation....now there are only incompetent BOOBS.  DRUNK HEGSETH is gonna do what?  SEAN DUFFY fired AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS - he's gonna keep planes in the air?  (Should have stayed with making his naked posts that were circulated in GLOBAL MEDIA)  Paul Krugman wrote that there are some things TRUMP will destroy that cannot be re-buit.  Slashing RESEARCH has allowed other nations to RECRUIT these talented people with promises of independence & support.  This morning, I posted a series of articles about the distruction of BIOTECH & layoffs.  Layoffs From Just 6 Pharmas Could Wipe Out Over 39,000 Jobs September 18, 2025  https://www.biospace.com/job-trends/layoffs-from-just-6-pharmas-could-wipe-out-over-39-000-jobs  How many were on the cusp of finding cures? PLEASE DON'T FORGET ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENTAL DESTRUCTION & WILDLIFE SLAUGHTER!  Destroying environmental laws, the ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT, CLEAN WATER ACT, CLEAN AIR ACT will not be easily undone.  MASSACHUSETTS fought for years to eliminate the DIRTY DOZEN - DIRTY COAL POWER PLANTS.  Communities had elevated asthma rates & respiratory problems.  But this is a BLUE STATE that fought. RED STATES lack the organizations & information to protect themselves. Pollution knows no boundaries.  CHINA is promoting CHEAP CLEAN ENERGY & BUILDING HIGH SPEED RAIL. Recent reporrts indicate that they are reducing their consumption, while DAFFY DON wallows in DIRTY ENERGY MONEY & cancels permits for OFFSHORE WIND.  VINEYARD WIND is scheduled to be in full production by the end of the year & will produce enough energy for 400,000 homes.  The other WIND TURBINE PROJECT will produce enough energy for 500,000 homes.  (Careful protection has been included for RIGHT WHALES that are victims of vessel collisions & fishing gear entanglements.)  In addition to the great work that SCOTT does, consider participating in CIVIC SHOUT - single click petitions that have offered significant impacts.  JUST KEEP SPEAKING OUT!  WHERE ARE THE EPSTEIN FILES?  How bad must the contents be that KASH PATEL LIED?  NEW MEXICO's new Congresswoman, REP. ANDREA ROMERO, introduced legislation to investigate the ZORRO RANCH where a victim testified that she was sexually assaulted as a minor. A New Mexico lawmaker plans to introduce a bill to investigate activities at Jeffrey Epstein's former Zorro Ranch, aiming to uncover the truth and potentially change laws for justice.  https://youtu.be/Kj7gwEg6v6g?si=6V-I48nv3DWNfK94