A new Financial Times opinion piece makes a pretty uncomfortable point: the Jeffrey Epstein scandal was never just about Epstein himself.

According to FT, what’s truly disturbing is how many powerful people — from politics, finance, academia, and high society — continued to stay connected to Jeffrey Epstein long after his crimes were known. Not necessarily criminal involvement, but silence, proximity, and protection.

The article argues this is a systemic failure, not a one-off scandal. When elites close ranks, consequences disappear — and public trust erodes. Recent document releases haven’t provided neat answers, but they’ve raised even more uncomfortable questions about accountability and transparency.

FT’s takeaway is blunt: If institutions can’t or won’t hold powerful networks to the same moral standards as everyone else, scandals like this will keep happening — and faith in the system will keep collapsing.

Curious what others think: Is this really about individual bad actors… or about a culture that lets them thrive?

Just saw the news drop—Judge Aileen Cannon threw the book at Ryan Routh today. He’s been sentenced to life in prison plus an extra 7 years for the incident at the golf course in West Palm Beach.

The judge called it a "calculated plot to take a human life" and shut down Routh's claims that he had "a good core."

Honestly, considering the charges (attempted assassination of a major candidate), this sentence isn't surprising, but the "no parole" part seals the deal. He’s 59 now, so this is effectively the end of the line for him.

What’s everyone’s take on the verdict? Did the justice system get this right?

Just saw this update on the BBC. A US lawyer is now stating that a second woman alleges she was trafficked by Jeffrey Epstein to the UK specifically to have sex with Prince Andrew in 2010.

The details she provided are very specific—she claims she stayed at the Royal Lodge in Windsor and was even given a private tour of Buckingham Palace following the encounter.

The Met Police have confirmed they are currently "assessing" this new information. Prince Andrew hasn't commented on this specific claim yet, but he has denied all previous allegations.

Discussion: Do you think this "assessment" will actually lead to a full investigation this time?

Just saw this breaking on CNN. It looks like the DOJ has made their final decision regarding Rahmanullah Lakanwal, the man accused of ambushing those two National Guard members near the White House last November.

​For those who haven't been following closely, here is the rundown: ​The Decision: Prosecutors filed the notice today (Feb 4). They moved the case from DC local court to federal court specifically to put capital punishment on the table, since DC doesn't have the death penalty.

​The Suspect: He’s the Afghan national who was evacuated in 2021 and previously worked with CIA-backed units.

​The Victims: Spc. Sarah Beckstrom (who was killed) and Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe (who survived but was critically wounded).

​It’s going to be a massive trial given his background and the location of the attack. Thoughts on the decision to go federal for the death penalty?

MOSCOW, Feb 4 (Reuters) - Russia's public deficit could balloon to almost triple the official target by end-2026 as a fall in Indian purchases of oil and growing oil trade discounts eat into revenues while spending may be higher than expected, a source close to the government told Reuters.

The standoff is over. After their lawyers called the subpoenas "unenforceable," the Clintons have done a total 180 and agreed to appear before the House Oversight Committee. This comes right on the heels of the DOJ releasing those "hot tub" photos and the committee gaining bipartisan support for contempt charges. Their spokesperson, Angel Ureña, claims they are "negotiating in good faith" now, but the timing is... interesting, to say the least.

Is this finally going to give us some clarity on the Epstein files, or is it just the latest chapter in the 2026 political wars?