January 22, 2026
What ever happened to the Epstein scandal? Gone. Out of sight. Hey presto, vanished by the wave of a magic wand. It seems that Master Illusionist Donald Trump has dodged this lethal bullet – at least for the time being.
Trump’s Invasion of Venezuela and kidnapping its president Maduro, a former bus driver, removed Epstein from the news. Now Trump and his henchmen are beating the drums over his claim to world greatness launched at Davos, Switzerland. This rather ugly alpine resort – which is not great for reliable skiing – was the perfect venue for showman Trump. The annual Davos jamboree is the world stage for big egos, conmen and show-offs.
Chief among them was former British prime minister, Tony Blair, a politician of unparallel slipperiness and the ability to sugar-coat lies and half-truths. Blair has just agreed to join Trump’s so-called Board of Peace, a collection of louche politicians. The entry fee is $1 billion, a typical Trump fund-raiser.
Blair acted as a US mouthpiece during the invasion of Iraq, standing in for the inarticulate George W. Bush to sell the US invasion to the world that may have resulted in close to one million casualties. Today, oil-rich Iraq remains a US occupied state.
Europe, except for two members, refused to play along with the so-called Board of Peace charade. Canada, normally obedient to Washington’s demands, refused to join marking an important step forward in its independence from US tutelage. Mark Carney, Canada’s new prime minister, stood firm against Trump’s blandishments and threats to invade while many other US allies shivered in their boots or longed for the placid says of dotty old President Joe Biden. We applaud Carney’s courage.
But this is all so crazy. Trump’s claims that armadas of Red Chinese and Russian warships threaten the high Arctic are either outrageous lies formulated by the neocon propagandists at Fox News or else fever dreams by an aging brain. One must ask if Trump really believes any of this Arctic nonsense or if he is using manufactured crises to enlarge and intensify the scope of his power. Will Canada be next?
At the same time, each day brings increased influence over Washington by Israel’s far right government. At this time, it’s hard to figure out whether it’s Israel’s Netanyahu or Trump who is calling the shots. The whole Board of Peace is a ruse created to fatally undermine the UN, which is hated by both Trump and Netanyahu, because it helps defend the marginalized Palestinian people.
Trump clearly seems himself as chairman of the Board of Peace and the world’s premier political leader or monarch. This is certainly ambitious for a former habitue of New York’s Studio 54 and seller of run-down hotels. Many Americans enjoy Trump because he has brought entertainment to politics. Comedian Paul Begala put it well when he quipped that `politics is Hollywood for ugly people.’
Trump also gained prominence by figuring out how to monopolize the TV news at a time when print news was dying out. Every night, every morning there was Trump, creating a new daily crisis, hogging the screen. Trump’s alarms over foreign invasions, Chinese threats, black criminals, liberal communists, and drugs worked like magic with poorly educated older voters. He was right about some things but dead wrong about many others.
Over the fake Arctic crisis and Venezuela, he has often appeared like a schoolboy thrilled by Christmas gift time. For the man who said he hoped to be a war leader (after evading the military draft) what more exciting a gift than the Pentagon, loaded with military toys.
Copyright Eric S. Margolis 2026
Former War Correspondent and Soldier
From the perspective of January 27th, to keep the focus off the Epstein files, it’s almost time for the satirical song from the 50s, Bomb bomb bomb, bomb bomb Iran, bomb bomb bomb, bomb bomb Iran. That’ll get that epstein off the front page. As well as the ICE murdering protesters. It’ll surely help Trump’s image and ratings for the all important mid terms. Looks like Jessie Ventura was right. The US has become a third world country with the army on the streets, and a brewing civil war of the federal government attacking the blue states. Now the feds saying the sacrosanct 2nd amendment is null and void around protests. Yes indeed. It is time to bomb Iran. Who needs a Netflix drama. Lol
Then there is Trump trying to start a war with Iran and Iran’s hypersonic missiles will show how obsolete the American Navy really is.
Take heart. Trump has only 3 years left in the Oval Office, and after this year’s mid terms he will be a lame duck with a Congress at least partly hostile to him. I wouldn’t be surprised if a new impeachment drive gets started in 2027.
The disturbing side to all this is the fact that as Trump damages the Republican brand he risks handing power over to a Democratic Party that is looking a little dodgy, being increasingly infested with Leftie lunacy and all. The one good thing Trump has done is push back against “woke” identity politics, and that could all be undone come 2028.
Hmm, Trump. What else can be said of this pathetic old man that hasn’t been said already.
He is suffering from delusions of grandeur, like all dictators. I think HE thinks he is a modern day Julius Caesar, the difference being Trump never spent a day in the military.
He should do like Hitler did and retreat to his underground Bunker and shoot himself in the head. The world would be a MUCH better place without him as President.
As for Carney, it was brave of him to say what he said at Davos but it was also equal parts foolish and naive.
Speaking openly and honestly about Trump or to Trump is a fools errand. Trump loves having his ego stroked, I don’t know if he can even tell when he is being played. People gushing about him is so intoxicating for him.
Carney should have chosen to be a good little soldier and go along with Trump for the sake of Canada instead of poking him with a stick.
As I write this Trump has already threatened Canada with 100% Tariffs.
Carney, like Zelensky “Doesn’t have the cards”.
Carney may rue the day he opened his big mouth in Davos.