Journalist Sidney Blumenthal, who served the Clinton White House, as well as an advisor for Hillary, is seeing a situation that may become the “biggest Trump scandal in history.” The recent arrests of MAGA influencers Andrew and Tristan Tate who are facing extradition to the UK for human trafficking, rape and child pornography may be related to “the greatest international crime syndicate with the greatest political influence in history,” all related to “the politics and the network at the center of the Trump world where the Trump world is an underworld.”

Calls for an investigation are getting louder, with journalist Nina Burleigh who is known for investigating Jeffrey Epstein, dubbed the Tate Brothers as the “millennial version of Epstein.” Arrested in Romania in 2022 on rape and human trafficking charges, the Tates were free to leave that country after the Trump administration intervened, being “welcomed back into the fold” by Trump’s allies, and getting an invitation to the White House. Burleigh reports that they were “swatting all over the world, given a free pass by the US government to our great shame, and they have lived here for the past year and a half.”

Citing Trump’s envoy for special missions, Richard Grenell, as playing “a key role in springing the Tates from Romania,” he is also seen as being “closely tied” to the two brothers. That mission alone is “material for an investigation because that was a foreign legal matter that our country used to pressure” release of the duo claims Burleigh. “They’re the millennial version of Epstein; they have a type of network that is similar in that it relies on the trading of females and the abuse of women as the glue that connects them to each other. But it’s also a financial and political power node that they inhabit,” she concludes.

The Tates are fighting extradition, denying the criminal allegations, but as the case unfolds it is taking on additional political ramifications with scrutiny of their ties to Barron Trump, which has become an increasingly uncomfortable topic in the GOP camp. This twist may or may not be meaningful, but Republicans would rather not consider the alleged communications involving Barron and Andrew Tate, despite a lack of a publicly confirmed relationship. Nevertheless, observers see the jeopardy for the Trump family, apart from any legal battles for the White House. President Trump has no power to pardon foreign criminal charges or unilaterally stop extradition proceedings.

Congresswoman Yasemin Ansari of Arizona is urging an investigation into whether associates of the Trumps‘ used their influence to aid the Tate brothers. Even if Barron isn’t charged, his involvement in the presidential campaign and his family’s crypto escapades are high on the radar, and should the Democrats gain House control after the mid-terms, a deeper probe could be in the offing. In a letter to House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, Ansari referenced reports about the Tate brothers’ communications with Barron and other members of the president’s inner circle, “which raise extremely grave national security, diplomatic, and ethical concerns,” and calling for subpoenas for Barron and other officials to testify before Congress.

As Bryan Cohen Tyler of Daily Dose of Democracy says, “Baby Trump getting his first subpoena! Daddy must be so proud!” Likely his only response was, “Person, man, woman, camera, tv,” acing it once again.

Regardless of how the Barron/Tate scandal works out, Daddy is still “dying, grasping at anything to keep him immortal,” as Lisa Needham writes on Daily Kos, in reference to his building of ‘The Triumphal Arch‘. He has to see tangible proof of his lasting presence, “to revel in his destruction of the nation’s capital and of Democracy until his last breath. And of course, he wants to use your money to do it.” We have seen photos of the ground-breaking on which the NPS crews supposedly will work 20 hours a day, year-round, an “unusually aggressive” timeline in order to complete the project before Trump leaves office, surely to ruin all the carefully-planned sight lines in DC.

In Tom Tomorrow’s ‘This Modern World‘ political cartoon, Stephen (Creepy Guy) Miller is telling President Trump, tanning lotion dripping from his face, “Sir, people are complaining that the arch will obstruct views of the Lincoln Memorial.” Trump answers, “Then tear the Lincoln Memorial down! Do I have to do ALL the thinking around here?” Creepy Guy replies, “Right away, sir,” as he turns to VP Vance, dressed as a hotel bellhop, telling him, “Okay, we need an A.I. video of the Memorial being demolished.” Vance turns to go, agreeing, “On it!”

Not only will this ugly Tacky Trumpian Triumphal Trophy be hastily constructed, it will be cheap-looking and cheap — made of “concrete clad in granite” instead of natural materials which constitute the makeup of nearby monuments. It is not yet known how many taxpayer dollars Trump will have to siphon off to fund his non-emergency project — just the usual no-bid contracts to his cronies for shoddy work with the usual kickbacks — so get ready for another decrease in Social Security or Medicare. On The Bulwark, William Kristol writes, “Look on the bright side. With all the surrounding monuments think of all the flexibility you’ll have finding a good seat to watch them knock down the arch later.”

Trump biographer Michael Wolff finds it odd that the president dragged his cabinet and other top goons of the administration to Camp David last week, especially since he absolutely hates the secluded retreat, proclaiming it as insufferable for any stay beyond a half hour in his past remarks. Wolff calls the visit “odd,” and a potentially telling sign of trouble within the administration for which Trump deemed a third trip in his second term a necessity to appear presidential. Biographer Wolff says it’s “more of the Trump show, which he is compelled to do, but at the same time a sign of some desperation.”

As expected, the inner circle entourage took turns in a round-robin competition to shower Trump with praise, similar to the Cabinet meetings at the White House. A photo release shows the president standing in front of ‘Aspen Lodge‘ which is traditionally Camp David’s presidential cabin; however, because of a ‘bedding problem‘ he returned to his Bedminster golf club for the weekend, seeking better accommodations. Trump arrived at the New Jersey club along with his blonde executive assistant, 34-year old Natalie Harp who is said to fuel his Truth Social rampages by typing them out for the boss. Several readers posted that Harp has taken over Melania’s duties as his steady and loyal female companion — more of a Stormy Daniels or a modern day Eva Braun?

The TACO president is unable to exit the Iran “excursion” that Bibi Netanyahu pushed him into, after announcing numerous cease fire agreements and backing off from at least 37 threats to level Iran. Yet, he goes along with Pete Hegseth’s request for Congress to fund another $67 billion to continue the war, replenishing the ammunition to allow Trump to keep shooting himself in the foot. Ben Meiselas of MeidasTouch points out that the morning news from the White House continually says a deal is basically done, needing only signatures; but, by evening the US and Iran are exchanging love missiles across the Strait of Hormuz — the same cycle every day. “Person, man, woman, camera, tv.”

Former Republican strategist, Steve Schmidt, in a recent The Warning post, says that Trump is losing control, which explains his increasing rage, recklessness, and frantic aggression. Schmidt argues that Trump’s political power was never about ideology, conservatism, or patriotism — “It was always fear — of retaliation, humiliation, exile from the cult, the mob, the tweet and the primary, the foundation” of The Don’s hold on the GOP. It’s apparent that the foundation is cracking as courts rule against the administration’s thrust, and as Congress members see that Trump can no longer protect them.

“Strongmen must appear invincible,” Schmidt says. “Trump suddenly doesn’t.” He cites parallels with Richard Nixon and Joseph McCarthy who appeared untouchable until they suddenly were not. “Cornered strongmen are dangerous strongmen,” Schmidt concludes, “And underneath the screaming, the threats, the vulgarity and the spectacle sits a frightened old man watching the thing he values most begin to slip away from his grasp: the perception of power. Once that goes, everything goes.”

As Timothy Noah writes in The New Republic, leave it to Whizmaster Donald Trump to create problems out of whole cloth that were never a concern before — his latest being the Freedom 250 Grand Prix, an Indy 500 race around the National Mall on August 22 and 23. Of concern is possible damage to what may be the densest concentration of historic, scientific, and fine arts treasures anywhere in the US. Two days of vibrations from twin-turbocharged V-6 engines threaten the National Archives, the National Gallery of Art, and the National Air and Space Museum, along with other structures along the route. If you need a distraction from the Iran Excursion, the ICE killings or the unreleased Epstein documents, how about watching the National Museum of History be consumed by flames?

Directors of the various facilities have already started to move irreplaceable items away from the adjacent raceway, or shoring up larger objects in danger of falling or tipping over. Noah writes, “It’s hard to imagine a worse place than the National Mall for an Indy 500 race, and having to brace facilities from potential damage.” Some frescoes in the Cohen Building have existing cracks in the plaster already from everyday activity, so fear of further damage from vibrations on race days is justified. Mary Okin, assistant director of the Living New Deal, says, “It has become clear to us that this event would include substantial potential for adverse effects due to vibratory impacts during the race…sound waves well above normal street traffic and even jackhammers, pile drivers and freight trains.”

Okin questions the necessity and cost of the event, being concerned not only about the buildings and the contents, but outdoor collections and sculptures. “Why would we risk any of that just for a Grand Prix at a place that is just patently not appropriate?” Timothy Noah doesn’t claim to be an expert on the impact of vibrations in museum, but it is a fact that the institutions keep track of vibrations created by simple footfalls — anything above 80 decibels can cause some damage, so what of the 140 decibels in a road race? Let’s hope that Freedom 250 Grand Prix celebrating the signing of the Declaration of Independence doesn’t end up smashing into the case holding that document.

The recent showing of Nicolle Wallace’s ‘The Best People‘ podcast on MS NOW with guest Sue Gordon is a must-see! Gordon is a former Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence, regarded as one of the most accomplished leaders of national security for nearly forty years. She was pressured into resigning in 2019 by the Trump administration after serving as a nonpartisan public servant, but interestingly, she would serve again if asked, fighting Trump policies everyday for the benefit of the country. Sadly, she is fighting stage 4 inflammatory breast cancer, and realizing that her remaining time is probably shorter than she initially anticipated.

Trump appointed former Senator Dan Coats as his first Director of National Intelligence, who in turn asked that Gordon be appointed as his deputy, whose job was to keep the president up to date. Coats was a straight-shooter, resulting in Trump’s frowning upon his investigation into Russian meddling in our elections, so after two years of friction, he was out. Trump then concluded that Gordon was disloyal, undeserving of promotion into Coats’ job, so she resigned, with Trump loyalists then stepping into the picture. At the end of Wallace’s interview with Gordon, she asked her if she had any words for the audience; and in consideration of her public service, along with her current health battle, Gordon advised, “If you have a minute, do something with it!” Simple, but strong guideline for us all!